HISTOEY
of
3IIDDLESEX COUNTY.
MASSACHUSETTS,
WTTU
BIOI.HAPHICAL SKETCHES
UF MANY OF IT.-i
Pioneers and Prominent Men.
1 OMl'tl.ED INDKR TItK SLFF.KVISIOX (JF
1 ! \ \[ I [ . [< >S I L t i; I )
VOL. III.
I Hj LTJ S T I^ J^ T E 3D -
PHILADELPHIA:
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CONTENTS OF VOL. III.
CITIES AND TOAVNS.
CHAPTER [.
CHAPTER XIII.
Xewtox
1 i Ari.in-gtox
173
CHAPTER n.
CHAPTER XIV.
Newton — {Cimtinued) . . .
Tlip First C'hurcii in Xuwlciii.
CHAPTER III
Xkwtos" — {Con(iiuieil)
£(lnc;tlinnnl.
CHAPTER IV
N'ewt(jS — iContiniieih ■
Npwt'.n Tliroloeical tustituri-in.
CHAPTER V.
Newton' — it'onlinufd'
Til- Lilirarie-
CHAPTER VI.
N nv.Ti )>• — ( t 'oniiii ueil >
Itaiikini: Tiitero^ls.
CHAPTER VII.
Newton — (Continued) ■ ■ ■
Iiiilu:jtries anil Mnniiraclures.
CHAPTER VIII.
Newtos — (Continued)
(.'luba. S4»«'i«»ti.'3. i-xr.
CHAPTER IX.
.Vewton — i Conliiniedi
Jlilimry Hi-'torv .if NVMtoli.
CHAPTER X.
Newton — t Continued) .
.^(f*•UcAl History.
4(1 .VRLiNfiTON— (Confinued) 198
Mnrltet Gardening in Arilogton and Beltnont.
CHAPTER XV.
49 Mei,ro.se
CHAPTER XVI.
■ .Melrose — (Contmued)
71
SI
Kccl4»iii8tlc;il iiiiU Educacioual Hiatorj.
CHAPTER XVII.
Melrose — (Continued)
.^lilitiiry History — Societies. AssociatiODB, Clubs, etc
CHAPTER XVIII.
.Melrose— {Continuet/) .
lliliUo^i-HpItT and Mlscelianeous.
CHAPTER XIX.
S9
Pepperell
P-lrocbiivl nod Eccle^iasticHl.
205
209
212
214
22U
110
125
l.-.o
CHAPTER XX.
Peppebell — (Contimud) 227
Muiiicipal and Slititant.
CHAPTER XXI.
Peppebell— ( Continued) .... 236
CHAPTER XXII.
Pkpperell — ( Continued)
lodnstriiil Piir^nitfl.
Hudson-
chapter XX m.
chapter XXIV.
Teavksburv .
chapter XI.
^EWTOS— [Continued) H'
Huni'ioiMtliy.
chapter XII. chapter XXV
yEWToy— [Continued) loU | Tewk.<dubv— (Condnued)
Ocili'L'V of N-evvt.iii. I Tlie ('Imrch.
241
250
281
287
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXVI.
Tewksbury — (Conlinued) 203 Belmont
The French and Indian War — The Revolution.
CHAPTER XXVII.
Tewksbury — ( Continued)
CHAPTER XI, IV
CHAPTER XLV.
302
The Poor— Slavery— Natural History.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Tewksbury — (Continued) . . . .
The Civil War— Civil and Biographical.
CHAPTER XXIX.
! Wa
70.0
CHAPTER XLVI.
I W.vLTi[.\M — (Continued)
304 I Mililary Hiatorv
CHAPTER XLVII.
Watertown .
\Valtha:m — ' Continued)
CHAPTER XXX.
Watertown — (Continued) . . . . 325
Ecclefliaatical History.
CHAPTER XXXI.
Watertown — (Continued) . . . :M4
Early People — Land Grants — Tlie Proprietors' Bouk— Town
GoverDmeot— Schools— The Wears — The South riide.
CHAPTER XXXII
Watertown — ^Continued) . 377
Military History — Indian Ware — Revolutionary PrrioiJ — Tlio
Civil War.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Watertown — (Cimtinverl ' ... 3'J'J
Budiiiei^s Intereats — Banks.
CHAPTER XXXIV
Watertown (Continued) ...
Mainiractuhug and Mechanical Intlustries
CHAPTER XXXV.
Watertow.s — (Continued)
Societies. Pbysicians, etc.
CHAPTER XLVI II.
Waltham - ■ Continuedi
CducatioHHl H!.ituiy — Banks.
CHAPTER XLiX.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
HOLLISTON .
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Malden .
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Malden — (Continued)
The Gccleilutlcal History of Maiden.
397
414
^3l
456
477
Waltha.m — ( Continued)
>chnoU and N'l-vvHpnpers-
CHAPTER L.
Waltha.m — Conlinueil)
The Aiiienriui U'.ililium Wiittli (Vmipauy,
CHAPTER LI.
\VALTllA.M^(Con(/nu«/i
Pul'lic Lihrrtrr.
CHAPTER LI I.
vValth.im — (Continued)
Mftinifuctories.
72G
730
734
750
CHAPTER LI II
>O.MERVILLK
■5f|
CHAPTER LIV.
HOPKINTON 7.SII
CH.\PTER LV.
Medford
SOT
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Malden — (Continued) 527
Societies.
CHAPTER XL.
ASHI^MD .53,5
CHAPTER XLI.
Everett 576
CHAPTER LVr.
CHAPTER XLII.
Framinoham
607
CHAPTER XLIII.
Framingham— (Oantmued)
. 653
Marlbohough .
Original Grant — Indian Grant— First .Meelln^ ''f PropritTors
— tjwners of House Lota in Ifi&i — First Settler.*— Kine
Philip's War— French and Indian War.
CHAPTER LVII.
>I xRLBoKOL'GH — ' Conlimied). . . . ...
".Var of the Revolution -The Lexin^tun AIaidi— The Minure-
Mcn — List of Soldiers — Vote.-, etc. — Horn;, Uaruea, the
Royalist.
CHAPTER LVril.
Marlborough — iContinuea) .
Ecclesiastical Hidtor>'— Union Congregstional Chtirch — The
:recoud Pariah. Unitarian. Methodiut Epiecopai- First Bap-
tist— Church of the Holy Trinity— Univerwilist — Immacu-
late Conception, Roman i^athulic — .St. Mary's, French Cath-
olic—French Kvaugelical Church.
siy
821
8l>.'^
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER LIX.
Marlborough — {Continued)
Educational— The Press— First National Bank— Public Li-
brary—Water Works — Fire Department — Steam Railway.
— Marlborough Savings Bank
CHAPTER LX.
832
>[arlboroi:gh- -(Con<tnu€(i)
Manufacturing Interests.
CHAPTER LXT.
yiARhBOROVGn—t Continued)
Masonic.
837
840
CHAPTER LXII.
Mari.bukough — {Continued) ... 844
Civil History-Incorporation— First Selectmen — Selectmen
from lOlil to 1890— Town Clerks from 1660 to 1890— Treas-
urers—Representatives — State Senators — County Commis-
sioners— Delegates to Provincial Congress — Delegates to
Constitntlonal Convention- Assistant Treasnrer of United
."States — Popolation — Valuation.
CHAPTER LXiri.
Marlborouoh — (Continued) 846
Odd Fellowship— Celebration of Two Hundredth AnniveF^
sary of Incorpoistiou of Tovro — War of BebelUon — Socie-
ties, etc.
CHAPTER LXrV.
WiLMINOTON 859
CITIES AND TOWN'S.
CHAPTER I.
NEWTON.
BY REV. S. F. SMITH.
The history of Newton is rooted in the history of
Boston, the metropolis of New England. The settle-
menf of Boston was commenced September 17, 1630,
by the removal thither of Mr. Wjlliam Blaxton, whose
name is perpetuated in Blackstone Street, at the
north part of the city, and Blackstone Square, on
Washington Street, at the south end. Mr. Blaxton
was attracted to Boston by the existence of a spring
of pure water, such as he failed to find in Charles-
town, his former residence. Boston was at first but a
diminutive place in territory. In the northern part
it was but three streets wide from east to west, the
three streets being Fox Street, Middle Street and
Back Street; the first being now North Street, the
second the north part of Hanover Street, and the
third the south part of Salem Street. The northern
portion of Boston, originally "the court end," was
separated from the southern by a creek called Mill
Creek, reaching from water to water, and occupying
the space of the present Blackstone Street. The
southern portion of Boston was joined to the conti-
nent by "the neck," so-called, being the upper part
of Washington Street, towards Roxbury. The neck
was so narrow that farmers bringing their produce to
market in Boston in the morning, used to hasten back
at evening in the periods of high tides, lest the rise
of the water should cut off their return. Long Wharf,
at the foot of State Street, commenced at India Street.
Large vessels were moored close to Liberty Square.
Harrison Avenue was washed by the tide. The
Public Garden and most of Charles Street, and Tre-
mont Street, south of Pleasant Street, was under water.
The territory of Boston was small, but the inhabit-
ants of the little peninsula thought it necessary to
have a fortified place to flee to in ease of invasion by
the neighboring tribes of savage Indians. Other
towns, already commenced — Charlestown, Watertown,
Roxbury and Dorchester — shared in this spirit of
wise precaution, and felt equally the need of a sure
place of defence. At first they fixed upon the neck,
between Boston and Roxbury, which was, on some
1-ui
accounts, a strategic point, shatting off the possibility
of assault by Indians of the continent. But this plan
was abandoned on account of the lack in that vicinity
of springs of running water. It was finally decided to
build the place of defence on the north side of Charles
River, laying the foundations of a new town near
where Harvard College now stands. Here they began
to build in the spring of 1631. They laid out a town
in squares, with streets intersecting each other at
right angles, and surrounded the place with a stock-
ade, and excavated a fosse inclosing more than a
thousand acres; and, as a historian of 1683 remarks,
" with one general fence, which was about one and a
half miles in length. It is one of the neatest and
best compacted towns in New England, having many
fair structures, with many handsome contrived streets.
The inhabitants, most of them, are very rich. Half
a mile westward of the town is a great pond (Fresh
Pond), which is divided between Newtowne and Wa-
tertown on the south side of Charles River."
In 1632 the General Court levied a rate of £60 upon
the several plantations towards building the palisade
around Newton. The tax levied was thus distributed :
Watertown, £8; Newton, £3; Charlton, £7; Medford,
£3 ; Saugus and Marblehead Harbor, £6 ; Salem, £4
lOa.; Boston, £8; Roxbury, £7; Dorchester, £7; Wes-
sagusrus, £5; Winethomet, £1 30«. The fence passed
near the northwest corner of Gore Hall, in the col-
lege yard, eastwardly to the line between Cambridge
and Somerville, and southwardly from GSore Hall to
a point near the junction of Holyoke Place with
Mount Auburn Street. This £60 levy for building
the stockade was probably the first State tax. Wa-
tertown objected to the assessment as unjust, and a
committee of two from each town was appointed to
advise with the Court about raising public moneys,
" so as what they agree upon shall bind all." " This,"
says Mr. Winthrop, " led to the Representative body
having the full powers of all the freemen, except that
of elections."
Boston, as was natural, came to be regarded as the
old town, and this new and fortified place beyond the
river acquired the title of the new town, or Newtown.
When Harvard University was founded, in 1638, the
General Court ordained "that Newtowne should
thenceforward be called Cambridge," in compliment
to the place where so many of the civil and ecclesiaa-
1
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
deal fathers of the town had received their education.
The large territory on the south side of Charles River,
beyond the stockade and Cambridge, and comprising
most of what is now Brighton and Newton, was at first
called the "south side of Charles River,'' and some-
times "Nonantum," the Indian name. After relig-
ious services came to be held regularly on the south
side of the river, about 1654, the outlying territory
was called "Cambridge Village," or, "New Cam-
bridge," until 1679. The General Court decreed that
after December, 1691, it should be called " Newtown."
The change of the name from "Newtown" to "New-
ton" seems to have come about spontaneously with-
out any formal authorization. The change is first
noticed in the records of town-meetings by Judge
Fuller in 1766 and ever afterwards. The question of
spelling the name of the town was never put to vote;
but it is deemed that Judge Fuller was fully justified
in assuming such a responsibility.
Before leaving London the company forming the
first plantations in New England received the follow-
ing instructions : " If any of the salvages pretend
right of inheritance to all or any part of the lands
granted in our pattent, wee pray you endeavor to pur-
chase their tytle, that wee may avoyde the least scru-
ple of intrusion." Accordingly, at the session of the
General Court, March 1.3, 1638-39, Mr. Gibbons was
desired to agree with the Indians for the land within
the bounds of Watertown, Cambridge and Boston.
" The deed of conveyance is missing, but there is
sufficient evidence," says Mr. Paige, " that the pur-
chase was made of the Squaw-sachem, and that the
price was duly paid. The General Court ordered.
May 20, 1640, ' that the £13 8«. ed. layd out by Capt.
Gibons shall be paid him, viz., £13 Ss. 6rf. by Water-
town, and £10 by Cambridge, and also Cambridge is
to give Squaw-sachem a coate every winter while she
liveth.' This sale or conveyance to Cambridge is
recognized in a deed executed Jan. 13, 1639, by the
Squaw-sachem of Misticke and her husband, Web-
cowits, whereby they conveyed to Jonathan Gibbons
' the reversion of all that parcel of land which lies
against the ponds of Misticke aforesaid, together with
the said ponds, all which we reserved from Charles-
town and Cambridge, late called Newtowne, and all
hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belong-
ing, after the death of me, the said Squaw-sachem.' "
This Squaw-sachem is supposed to have died in
about the year 1662. Twenty years previous to her
death she, with four other Indian rulers, put herself
under the government and jurisdiction of the Massa-
chusetts, to be governed and protected by them, and
promised to be true and faithful to the said govern-
ment. The inhabitants of Cambridge lived on terms
of amity with the Indians.
The early history of Newton is involved with the
history of Cambridge. Indeed, Newton was required
to pay taxes for the support of the church in Cam-
bridge till 1661. In 1656 the inhabitants of Cam-
bridge Village organized a distinct congregation for
public worship, and petitioned the General Court to
be released from paying rates for the support of the
ministry of the church in Cambridge. The commit-
tee reported adversely to the petition, and the peti-
tioners had leave to withdraw. Dr. Holmes, however,
says that in 1656, when the inhabitants of the vil-
lage had become so numerous as to form a distinct
congregation for public worship, " an abatement was
made of one-half of their proportion of the ministry's
allowance during the time they were provided with
an able minister according to law." In 1661 they
renewed their petition, and the Court granted them
'' freedom from all church rates for the support of the
ministry in Cambridge, and for all lands and estates
which were more than four miles from Cambridge
Meeting-house, the measure to be in the usual paths
that may be ordinarily passed."
The petitioners were not satisfied with this line,
and in 1662 petitioned the Court for a new one. A
committee was appointed in October, 1662, to give
the petitioners and kheir opponents a hearing. This
new committee settled the bound, as far as ministerial
taxes were concerned, and " ran the line which is
substantially the line which now divides Newton from
Brighton."
In 1672 the inhabitants of Cambridge Village pre-
sented to the Court another petition, praying to be
set ofl' from Cambridge and made an independent town.
The following year the Court granted the petition-
ers the right to elect annually one constable and three
selectmen dwelling among themselves, " but requiring
them to continue to be a part of Cambridge so far as
related to the paying of certain taxes." The action
of the committee did not satisfy the petitioners, and
they declined to accept it or to act under it. In 1677
another attempt was made to determine a satisfactory
dividing line, through a committee of referees, two to
be chosen by Cambridge, two by Cambridge Village
and the fifth by the four others jointly. The line pro-
posed by these referees did not differ materially from
the line run in 1662.
Again, in 1678, fifty-two out of sixty-five of the
freemen of Cambridge Village petitioned the General
Court to be set off from the town of Cambridge and
to be made a town by itself Cambridge, by its select-
men, presented a remonstrance. The Court, however,
30 far granted the petition as to order " that the free-
holders should meet on the 27th August, 1679, and
elect selectmen and other town officers to manage the
municipal affairs of the village." This was an im-
portant concession on the part of the Court, though it
did not fully meet the desires of the petitioners ; and
nearly ten years more passed away before they fully
obtained the object of their requests.
Until August 27, 1679, all the town-meetings were
held iu Cambridge, and all town officers were elected
there. After this date town-meetings were held in
Cambridge Village (Newton) by the freemen of the
NEWTON.
village only, and they transacted their town business
free from all dictation or interference of Cambridge.
On that day they took into their own hands the man-
agement of the prudential affairs of the village as
completely as any other town, and conducted them
according to the will of the majority of the freeholders
until Newton became a city. For town purposes they
were independent, but for a number of years they
were still taxed with Cambridge for State and county
purposes, to wit, the repairs of the Great Bridge be-
tween Cambridge and Brighton. Nor were they per-
mitted to send a deputy to the General Court till 1688,
when the separation was fully consummated, and
Newton became a free and independent corporation.
Dea. John Jackson, the first settler of Cambridge
Village, and nine others were dead when the town of
Newton became wholly independent.
After an extended and careful investigation by dif-
ferent historians, " there seems," says Mr. Paige, in his
" History of Cambridge," " no reasonable doubt that
the village was released from ecclesiastical depend-
ence on Cambridge and obligation to share in the ex-
penses of religious worship in 11561 ; became a pre-
cinct in 1673; received the name of Newton in De-
cember, 1691 ; and was declared to be a distinct vil-
lage and place of itself, or, in other words, was incor-
porated as u separate aud distinct town by the order
passed January 11, 1687-88, old style, or January 11,
1688, according to the present style of reckoning.
" While by her separation from Cambridge, Newton
lost iu territory, she found, in due time, more than she
lost. By the limitation of her boundaries she cut
herself off from ' JIaster Corlet's faire grammar
schoole,' though she retained iis much right in the
University as belonged to any and every town in the
Commonwealth. She was deprived of the prestige of
the great men whose dignity and learning brought
fame to the Colony ; but she has since been the
mother of governors and statesmen, of ministers and
missionaries, of patriots and saints. .\.nd in the progress
of years she added to her reputation as the scene of
that great enterprise, the translation of the Bible into
the language uf her aborigines, and the first Protes-
tant missionary efforts on this Continent. Subse-
quently she had the first normal school for young
ladies (continued from Lexington) ; several^ of the
earlier and the best academies and private schools,
and finally the theological institution, whose profess-
ors have been and are known and respected in all
lands, and whose alumni have carried the gifts of
learning and the gospel to every part of the earth.
She left the rustic i^hurch near the College, by the in-
convenience of attending which she wa.s so sorely
tried ; but she has attained to more than thirty
churches within her own borders."
The first appearance of the name of the town in
the form of Newton appears in the following town-
meeting record :
" Newton, 3Iay 18, 1^94. The Selectmen then did tneet, and leaTy a
rate npon the town of twelve pound six shilling. Eight pound ia to pay
the debety for bia serrice at the General Court in 1693, and the other
fore pound six shilling is to pay for Killing of wolve* and other nesea-
serey charges of the Town."
This record is signed by Edward Jackson, town
clerk.
The organization of the First Church in July, 1664,
and the ordination of Mr. John Eliot, Jr., aa pastor,
had in the meantime consummated the ecclesiastical,
though not the civil separation of Cambridge Village
(Newton) from Cambridge. The first meeting-house
in Cambridge Village was erected in 1660.
Six years after Charlestown was settled, the whole
State of Massachusetts consisted of only twelve or
thirteen towns, of which Newton paid the largest
tax. In the records of a court held at Newtown, Sep-
tember 3, 1634, is this item: " It is further ordered that
the sum of £600 shall be levied out of the several plan-
tations for publique uses, the one-half to be paid
forthwith, the other half before the settingof the next
Court, viz., Dorchester, 80 ; Roxbury, 70 ; Newtowne,
80 ; Watertown, 60 ; Saugus, 50 ; Boston, 80 ; Ipswich,
50; Salem, 45; Charlestown, 45; Meadford, 26 ; Wes-
sagasset (Weymouth), 10 ; Barecove (Hingham), 4."
It is evident from this record that Newton possess-
ed at that time as much wealth as any plantation,
and, excepting Dorchester and Boston, more than any
other in the Colony. In 1636 Newton had so prosper-
ed that she stood in wealth at the head of all the
towns, and numbered eighty-three householders.
This year the rates levied upon the several towns
stood as follows: Newton, £26 5«. ; Dorchester, £26
5». ; Boston, £25 10».; Watertown, £19 10». ; Rox-
bury, £19 5s. ; Salem, £16 ; Charlestown, £15 ; Ips-
wich, £14; Saugus, £11 ; Medford, £9 15*. ; New-
bury, £7 10?.; Hingham, £6; Weymouth. £4.
The question of the boundaries of the new towns
in the wilderness was not readily nor easily settled. It
was necessary thatagriculture, in its various branches,
should be an important factor in the occupations of
the early settlers. Hence they felt the need of much
land for cultivation, and for their flocks and herds.
At the outset, after the extinction of the Indian titles,
generous grants were made by the General Court to
towns and individuals. The people of the various
towns, however, began, at an early period, to demand
more land. The farmers specially craved meadow
land, free from wood, and suitable for mowing fields
without the labor of clearing, of which they could
avail themselves at once for the support of their
stock. A committee was appointed in 1636 to inves-
tigate the Shawshine country, now including the
town of Andover, and to report whether it was suit-
able for a plantation ; and 1641 this order wag passed :
" Shawshine is granted to Cambridge, provided they
make it a village, to have ten families there settled
within three years ; otherwise, the Ckmrt to dispose
of it."
The report of the committoe to examine the grant
HISTOKY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
was rendered in 1642, and being unfavorable, the
Court enlarged their grant, and gave the petitioners
further time to effect a settlement. This new grant
read as follows : " All the land lying upon the Shaw-
shine River, aud between that and Concord River,
and between that and the Merrimack River, not for-
merly granted by this Court, are granted to Cam-
bridge, so as they erect a village there within five
years, and so as it shall not extend to prejudice
Charlestown village or the village of Cochitawist, nor
farmes formerly granted to the now Governor of 1200
acres, and to Thomas Dudley, Esq., loOO acres, and
3000 acres to Mrs. Winthrop ; and Mr. Flint and Mr.
Stephen Winthrop are to set out their heade line
toward Concord."
No settlement having been made within the period
designated, this grant was modified by the Ibllowing
order, passed by the (xeneral Court : " Shaw.shine i.*-
granted to Cambridge without any condition of mak-
ing a village there ; and the land between them and
Concord is granted all, all save what is formerly
granted to the military company, provided the church
present continue at Cambridge."
"The limits of this grant of Shawshiue, as of most
of the grants of that period, are very indefinite, and it
is not possible to define with precision what i.i in-
cluded. But it is generally admitted that the Shaw-
shine grant extended to the Merrimack River. We
know it included all the town of Billerica, the greater
portion of Bedford, and all that portion of Lexington
north of the eight-mile line. Billerica was incor-
porated in 1655 into a town by the consent of Cam-
bridge. It was at that time a large territory, bounded
on Cambridge Farms (Lexington), Chelmsford, Wo-
burn and Concord." And thus Newton, from being
territorially the smallest township in the Colony, be-
came, at least for a season, the largest.
The small portion of Watertown, on the south side
of Charles River, according to the settlement in 1635,
included about seventy-five acres. The settlement ol
1675 increased the extent to about eighty-eight acres
— enough to protect their fishing privilege — and after-
wards called "Ihe Wear (weir) lands." " In the year
1679, when the town lines were established between
Cambridge and New Cambridge, or Cambridge Vil-
lage, it was expressly stipulated that this Watertowo
reservation on the south side of Charles River — 200 by
60 rods — should be maintained and held by Water-
town for the protection of her fish-weirs. They did
not wish to enter into co-operation with this new Col-
ony iu the carrying on of the fish business, and were
very strenuous to have their rights protected. Indeed,
they became dissatisfied and grasping, and in 1705
called for a commission to readjust the line for the
better protection of their fishing interests. John
Spring, Edward Jackson and Ebenezer Stone, on the
part of Newton, with Jonas Bond and Joseph Sher-
man, of Watertown, composed that committee. They
agreed upon a settlement which shortened the easterly
line a few rod^, and lengthened the southerly and
westerly lines a few rods each from the original grant.
Since this time there have been further re-adjust-
ments of these boundaries, and it is evident in each
of these that Watertown has lost nothing. The total
acreage now held to Watertown, on the Newton side
of the river, is nearly 150 acres, or a gain, above what
was originally intended for her fish protection, of
nearly seventy-five acres."
We have this record under date of March 3, 1636 :
" [t is agreed that Newton bounds shall run eight
miles into the country from their meeting-house, and
Watertown S, Roxbury 8, Charlestown 8."
" In the year 1708, as appears from an article by
Dr. Homer, in the ' Massach usetts Historical Collec-
tions ' for that year, the extent of Newton from north
to south, measuring ti-om Watertown line to Dedham
line, Wiis six miles and thirty-six rods, the measure
being made along the county road, from east to west,
measuring from the bridge at Newton Lower Falls to
Cambridge, which at that date included Brighton or
Little Cambridge, four miles, three-quarters & fifty-one
rods. The whole town, including the -reveral ponds,
was, at that time, by careful estimate, reckoned to
embrace 12,!'40 acres. At the same time Charles
River, with its various windings, washed the edges of
the town for about sixteen miles.
•'In 1838, 1800 acres of the extreme southerly part
of Newton were set off to Roxbury. In 1847 about
1)40 acres at the extreme northwesterly part were stt
otJ" to Waltham. After the construction of Chestnut
Hill Reservoir by the city of Boston, a slight change
was made in the eastern boundary of Newton by an
exchange of land, so that these beautiful sheets of
water might be entirely within the limits of Boston,
and under its jurisdiction. Brighton having been an-
nexed to Boston, the two cities — Newton and Boston
— lor a considerable distance near this point, border
on each other."
The first settlers in Newton did not come in a body,
but family after family. Of those who came into the
town between 1639 and 1664, the date of the organ-
ization of the first church — twenty in number — the
ages of the majority were between twenty-one and
thirty-five. Only five had reached the age of forty;
two only were more than fifty. Notwithstanding the
hardships of frontier life to which they were subjected,
fourteen out of thirty, whose date of death is recorded,
died more than eighty years of .ige, only eight under
seventy, and only two under fifty.
One of the earliest settlers — Samuel Holly — was in
Cambridge in 1636, and owned a house and eighteen
acres of land adjoining John Jackson in 1639. He
sold six acres of this estate to Edward Jackson in
1643 for five pounds, and died the same year. The
following are the names of the first twenty male set-
tlers of Newton, extending to 1664, which was the
date of the organization of ihe first church, and the
ordination of John Eliot as the first pastor :
NEWTON.
» o
1639
1640
1643
1644
1617
1617
1649
163(1
1650
1650
1650
1650
leM
1654
1658
1661
1662
1664
lant
1664
w- 1 " ' Inventory,
39 Dea. John Jackson. . .
30 Dea. Samuel Hyde. . .
42 Edtrard Jackson . . .
3.1 John Fuller
21 Jonathan Hyde ....
Richard Park
29 Capt. Thonias Prentice
35 John Parker
Thomas Hammond . .
Vincent Druce . . . .
27 John Ward
21 ijames Prentice . . ,
. Thomas Prentice (2d)
Thomas Wiawall . . .
40 John Kenrick , . . .
23 Isaac Williams . . . .
34 '.\braham Williams . .
28 James Trowbridge . .
34 .John Spring
i!8 John Ellot, Jr
London
London
London
England
London
Cambridge 1665
England . ITIO
Wingham iwr,
1675
1078
1708
1710
1674-5 75 £1230 0
1689 79
1681 79Vi 2477 19
1698 87 534 i
1711 85 '
Sudbury .
England .
Dorchest'r 1683
Boston . . 1686
Ro.xbury . 1708
Watert'wn 1712
Dorchester 1717
Waterfwn 1717
Roxbury . 1668
89
71
972 0 0
412 2 0
1139 16 2
271 19 0
88 16 10
286 14 0
.340 0 0
33 457 2
At the time of Mr. Eliot's ordinatioD (1664), there
were twelve youDg men in Newton of the second gen-
eration, nearly all unmarried.
From the year 166-1 to 1700 history presents a list
of fifty additional names of settlers within the limits
of Newton :
<
1666
1667
1669
1670
•j7
1672
26
1673
1674
1674
26
1674
1675
20
1675
30
1678
1678
31
1678
1678
1678
1678
1678
1678
1678
27
1679
1680
58
168U
1681
40
1682
1686
■-■.i
1686
24
1686
1687
1688
30
1688
30
1689
1692
38
169 J
1692
169:1
l«M
169S
1095
1695
1696
1696
1697
1698
24
1700
1700
1700
170.1
40
1700
24
Names.
3 _^
Where from, o a
Gregory Cook 1691
1720
1..91
hM
16',i5
1702
1712
1G97
Humphrey osland
Daniel Bacou Hridgewiiter
Thomas Gretn\vo.id
Samuel True»lale Boston. . .
Jusepli Biirtlett Cuinbridge ,
\ehemiab Hobard Ililizliam
Jose'ph .Miller (_'liarlesloivn
Henry Seger
John Wimdivard \V*ileito\vu
.lohn ^lason "
Isaac Beach "
Stephen Cook '*
Daniel Ray Charleatown
\. McDaniel (.'^.otch) .... Ilosbury . .
John Alexander
David Mead Waltbani . .
John Parker (South)
Simon tjng Watertown lti78
P. Stanchett or Hanchelt . . Ro.xbury
William Robinson
5il
19
1732
17:iil
1736
17:i»
1710
16'.i4
16(P6
16:i
1 i;'.l5
17I1C.
17:i;i
1751
54
Satliuniel Wilson Ro.vbury. .
Diiuicl .Macoy "
1<»lin i.'lark Brookline .
-[t.hn >Iirick (;:harIestowu
.lohn Koapp Watertou-n
Ebenezer Stone "
Nathaniel Crane
William Thonias 1697 . . .
John Staples 1740 82
Nathaniel Healy Callihridge . 1734 76
Thomas Chaml^erlain .... '*
Joseph Bush 1723 . . .
Ephniim Wheeler
.\braham Chamberlain . . . Rrooklioe
Nathaniel Parker Dedham
William Tucker Boston
John Foot
Andrew Hall 175" . . .
William Brown
Jonathan (.^reun .Maiden . . I73G . . .
^ehrean (Juster
.lohn Smith i.'anibiiJge
Ebenezer Littlelield Dedhau . 1723 . . .
John Holland Watertown
Jacob (^chamberlain 1771 . . .
John Grimes
Samuel Paris
.lonathan Coolidt<e Watertown
Nathaniel Longley 1732 56
The descendants of some of these are still living.
Deacon Jackson had a numerous progeny, — five sons
and ten daughters, and .about fifty grandchildren.
The name has been familiar in Church and State from
the beginning until now. Deacon Samuel Hyde and
Jonathan Hyde still live in name in the history of
horticulture and in the beautiful Common of Newton
Centre. The Fullers were equally renowned for relig-
ious and civil influence. The Wards have held a place
of honor in every generation. The name of Williams is
perpetuated in the whole world through their labors
of love and through Williams College, at Williams-
town, Mass., which had its origin in the bequest of
one of them, and which is itself the mother of all the
missionary organizations in the United States; for
there the seed was planted which has brought forth
fruit in many lands. John Eliot, Jr., died young,
but through his work he seems to be living still. The
Kenricks have ever held a distinguished place. Ho-
bart and Stone and Parker have left their names em-
balmed in their history. Woodward and Clark were
worthy of their posterity, who flourished more than
200 years after them, the .sons worthy of such sires.
John Staples, the schoolmaster, taught well the boys
of his period. His broad acres, still distinctly marked,
and his comely caligraphy in the town records, — for
he was town clerk twenty-one yeara, — and the church
of which he was long a deacon, are his enduring
monuments. .\.nd not these alone. The plantation
was founded in faith and prayer, by sturdy sons of
the soil and independent thinkers, — men not to be
turned aside from the right, and cherishing from the
beginning the spirit and the principles which entitled
them, as soon as the Colonial government was abol-
ished, to all the privileges and prerogatives of freemen.
A considerable accession of settlers came to the
original plantation of Cambridge as early as August,
1632. The Braintree Company, so-called, number-
ing forty-seven, headed by the Rev. Ifr. Hooker, be-
gan a settlement at Mount Wollaston, but were com-
pelled by the Court, for what reason is not stated, to
remove to Newt<m. Dr. Holmes says : " It is highly
probable that this company came from Braintree, in
Esses County, in England, and from its vicinity.
Chelmsford, where -Mr. Hooker was settled, is but
eleven miles from Braintree, and Mr. Hooker was so
esteemed as a preacher, that not only his own people,
but others from all parts of the County of Essex,
flocked to hear him." "The same year" (1632), says
Mr. Prince, " they built the first house of worship at
Newtowne (Cambridge) with a bell upon it;" which
indicates that the early settlers were not summoned
to worship by heat of drum, like Mr. Eliot's Indian
congregation later. No record shows when a bell
was first used on the first charch in New Cambridge
(Newton). Mr. Hooker's company arrived in Boston,
September 4, Ki-S.*?. Mr. Hooker was installed pastor
and Mr. Stone teacher of the church October 11th,
following, with fasting and prayer.
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Two of this company, Simon Bradstreet and John
Hayne3, attained to the ofiSce of Colonial Governors
of Massachusetts. Mr. Bradstreet owned the estate
now held by ex-Grovernor Claflin. Mr. Haynes re-
ceived the earliest and largest grant of land in New-
ton, in 1634 ; was chosen Governor in 1635 ; removed
to Connecticut with Hooker's company in 1636, and
was Grovernor of Connecticut in 1639. He died in
1654, and this tract of land passed to his heirs.
The addition of the Braintree company to the pop-
ulation made the settlers feel that their territory was
insufficient for their needs, and in May, 1634, they
petitioned the General Court, either for enlargement
or the privilege of removal. Messengers were sent by
Mr. Hooker to explore Ipswich, and the Merrimack
and Connecticut Rivers, and lands adjacent. The ex-
plorers of the Connecticut Valley brought a favorable
report, which led to a petition to the Court, in Sep-
tember, 1634, for leave to move thither. The ques-
tion was a very exciting one, and was debated by the
Court many days. On taking the vote, it appeared
that the Assistants were opposed to the removal and
the Deputies were in favor of it. " Upon this grew a
great difference between the Governor and Assistants,
and the Deputies. So when they could proceed no
further, the whole Court agreed to keep a day of hu-
miliation in all the congregations. Mr. Cotton, by
desire of the Court, preached a sermon that had great
influence in settling the question."
After various and unsuccessful efforts to come to an
agreement, finally, the donations of land, which had
been made provisionally, reverted to their original
owners, and Mr. Hooker and his company obtained
from the Court leave to remove wherever they
pleased, only " on condition that they should con-
tinue under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts." They
took their departure the following year, and settled in
what is now Hartford, Conn. Therefore Connecticut
and its capital city must be ever regarded as the
daughter of Newtou. Mr. Trumbull thus describes
their journey :
"About the beginning of June Mr. Hooker, Mr.
Stone and about one hundred men, women and chil-
dren took their departure from Cambridge and trav-
eled more than a hundred miles through a hideous
and trackless wilderness to Hartford. They had no
guide but their compass, and made their way over
mountains, through swamps, thickets and rivers with
great difficulty. They had no cover but the heavens,
nor any lodgings but those that simple natiue af-
forded them. They drove with them 160 head of
cattle, and by the way subsisted on the milk of their
cows. Mrs. Hooker was borne through the wilder-
ness on a litter. The people carried their packs,
arms and some utensils. They were nearly a fort-
night on their journey. This adventure was the
more remarkable aa many of the company were per-
sons of high standing, who had lived in England in
honor, affluence and delicacy, and were entire strang-
ers to fatigue and danger."
Among the most interesting relics of antiquity are
the records of early times. The quaint forms in
which their doings were expressed, the acts of legisla-
tion made necessary by the emergencies of a new
country, and the minute affairs c.irefully written
down by those conscientious people, the announce-
ment of which in our own times would hardly be
deemed worth the breath which told them or the ink
which recorded them, form an integral part of his-
tory. They reproduce the men and the times in
vivid pictures. They are valuable and instructive,
as showing the elements and beginnings of the civil-
ization, the culture, the security and the elegance
which we now enjoy. The records of the Colony, of
Cambridge, of New Cambridge, and of Newton after
its separation from Cambridge, and t he Registry of
Deeds of Middlesex County all give copious speci-
mens, on which the historian deligiits to linger.
The following have reference to various matters
pertaining to the iutei^sts of the town, taken, under
the respective dates, from the records of Cambridge
before the separation of Newton :
"At the Court held in Xewtowue, Sept. 3, 1634, it
was ordered that no person ^liall take tobacco pub-
liquely under the penalty of eleven shillings, nor
privately, in his own house, or in the house of an-
other, before strangers ; and that two or more shall
not take it anywhere under the aforesaid penalty for
each offence."
"At a Court held at Newtou on the 2nd day of the
yth month, 1637, it was ordered that no person shall
be allowed to sell cakes and bunns except at funerals
and weddings."
1647. April 12. "The Town bargained with Waban,
the Indian chief (Eliot's first convert to Christian-
ity), who lived in a large wigwam on Xonantam Hill,
to keep six score head of dry cattle on the south side
of Charles river, and he is to have the full sum of
£8, to be paid as follows: viz., 30«. to James Cutler,
and the rest in Indian corn, at 3;!., after Michaeltide
next. He is to take care of them from the 2l3t day
of this present month, and to keep them until three
weeks after Michaelmas ; and if any be lost or ill, he
is to send word unto the town ; and if any be lost
through his carelessness, he is to pay, according to
the value of the beast, for his defect."
It is said that Waban became an excellent pen-
man, though this record was signed by his mark.
Two deeds at least are in existence in which he wrote
his name, Waban, with Thomas — the name given
him by the English — above it.
1648. Joseph Cooke, Mr. Edward Jackson and Ed-
ward Goffe were chosen commissioners, or referees, to
end small causes, under forty shillings, — and for
many years succeeding.
1649. " It is ordained by the townsmen that all
NEWTON.
persons provide that their dogs may do no harm in
cornfields or gardens by scraping up the fish, under
penalty of three pence for every dog that shall be
taken damage feasant, with all other just damages."
A large body of lands at Shawshine (now Billerica)
was granted by the General Court to the proprietors
of Cambridge, in 1652. Seven Newton men shared
in this distribution. Edwin Jackson obtained 400
acres, which he gave, by will, to Harvard University ;
Thomas Prentice, 150 acres ; Samuel Hyde, 80 ;
John Jackson, 50; Jonathan Hyde, 20; John Parker,
20 ; Vincent Druce, 15. In 1662 267 acres of the
common lands in Cambridge Village were divided
among ninety proprietors. In 1664 a further distri-
bution was made of remaining lauds in Cambridge
Village, and 2675i acres were divided by lot among
133 proprietors. In this distribution Edward Jack-
son received 30 acres ; John Jackson 20, and Thomas
Prentice, 9.
In 1668, Elder Wiswall, Edward Jackson and
John .Jackson were appointed to catechise the chil-
dren at the new church at the village. Tnis was four
years after the settlement of Mr. Eliot as pastor, and
the year of his death. In 1660 it was ordered that
none shall be freemen (voters) but such as are in full
communion with the church of Christ. In 1674 ii
was ordered '" that Cambridge Village should be a
distinct military company of themselves, and so to be
exercised according to law,'' and James Trowbridge
was appointed lieutenant.
The doctrine of religious toleration was one of slow
growth among these sturdy Puritans. The following
records stand in striking contrast with the Christian
charity and harmony of modern times :
" 1678. Forasmuch as it hath too often happened
that through differences of opinion in several towns,
and on other pretences, there have been attempts by
some persons to erect new meeting-houses, — although
on pretence of the public worship of God on the
Lord's day — yet thereby laying foundations, if not for
schism, and seduction io errors and heresies, — for per-
petuating divisions and weakening such places where
they dwell, in comfortable support of the ministry or-
derly settled among them. — for prevention thereof, it
is ordered that no person whatever, without the consent
of the freemen of the town where they live, firstorderly
had and obtained at a public meeting assembled for
that end, etc., and every person or persons trans-
gressing this law, every such house or houses where
such persons shall so meet more than three times,
with the land whereon such houses stand, and all
private ways leading thereto, shall be forfeited to the
use of the country, or demolished, as the Court shall
order."
" 1680. A society of Baptists were censured by the
Governor in open Court, and prohibited meeting as a
society in the public place they have built, or any
other public house, except such as have been allowed
by lawful authority." In political matters, however,
intellectual advancement led very early to greater
freedom. In 1689 the deputy elected to the General
Court from New Cambridge, John Ward, was "in-
structed to advocate an enlargement of freemen, —
that all freeholders that are of an honest conversa-
tion and competent estate may have their vote in all
civil elections." This John Ward served as deputy,
or representative, fifty-four days, and was paid one
shilling and six pence per day. He was elected eight
years in succession by his fellow-citizens, and, as the
first of a long series, did efficient service.
The first person who died in Newton after it was in-
corporated was Nathaniel Hammond, son of Thomas
Hammond, Sr., May 29. 1691, aged forty-eight. The first
couple married were Josiah Bush and Hannah ,
December 25, 1691, Christmas day. They were mar-
ried by James Trowbridge, the first town clerk, and
had three children. The first meeting-house stood
in the centre of the old cemetery ou the east side of
Centre Street ; it was built in 1660. The second was
erected on the opposite side of the street, nearly on
the site of the house of the late Gardner Colby. The
vote to build it was passed in 1696 ; the work was
begun in the spring of 1697, and finished early in
1698. The site was given to the town by John Spring.
In 1717 the first meeting-house was still standing,
though for what purpose it was or had been used is
unknown. Mr. Ripley says, in his " History of Wal-
tham," that a committee appointed by that town
was authorized to purchase the second meeting-
house of Newton for a sum not exceeding £80, and
that it was so purchased, and taken down and remov-
ed to Waltbam in October, 1731, and there it remain-
ed till 1776. The house in Newton being finished, a
vote was passed " that the Building Committee should
seat the meeting-house, and that age and gifts (towards
the building) should be the rule the Committee should
go by." This absurd custom of " seating the meet-
ing-house," or " dignifying the the pews," created
much ill feeling. It was finally abolished in March,
1800. Before the erection of the first meeting-house,
it is conjectured, in the absence of records, that
meetings were held in a hall in the house of Edward
Jackson. Mr. Jackson's house was near the dividing
line between Newton and Brighton, and the meetings
were probably held here four or five years.
In 1699 it was voted to build a school-house before
the last of November, sixteen feet by fourteen, and
the next year " John Staples was hired to keep the
town-school at five shillings per day."
The citizens were not forgetful of the claims of
charity. In March, 1711, it was voted "that once in
the year, upon the Thanksgiving Day that falls in
the year, there shall be a contrybution for the poor,
and that it shal be put into the town treasury, and to
be ordered to the poor by the Selectmen, as they see
need." The deacons were formally set apart to their
office. A price was set ou the heads of wolves, black
birds, jays and gray-headed woodpeckers. Proviaion
8
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
waa made in 1733 for a work-house, or almshouse, and
the school-house waa set apart, in the recess of the
school, as a place of labor for idle and disorderly per-
sons. Sheep and swine, under proper restrictions,
were permitted to run at large, the latter being " care-
fully yoked and ringed." Deer were protected in the
town by law; and a commission was appointed with
reference to the free passage of fish up and down
Charles Kiver. By vote of the town in 1796 the
deacons were allowed to " have liberty to sit out of
the deacons' seats in the meeting-house, if they
choose." As late as 1707 the selectmen were appoint-
ed "Aaeasores, to ases the contrey rates." In 1796
the town voted to have a stove to warm the meeting-
house. Thia waa one hundred and thirty-six years
after the building of the first meeting-house; and
during all that period, the strong and the weak, the
old and young had gone to the house of God in
company, and sat shivering in winter during the two
services of the Sabbath day, forenoon and afternoon,
knowing only the comfort of an hour'd heat in their
" noon houses," in the recess of worship, when the
women might also refill their little foot-stoves for the
second session.
In 1647 the selectmen of Cambridge, including, at
that time. New Cambridge, made a careful estimate
of the estates in the town at that date, from which it
appears that there were in the whole town 135 ratable
persons ; 90 houses ; 208 cows, valued at £9 each; 131
oxen, valued at £6 each ; 229 young cattle ; 20 horses,
valued at £7 each ; 37 sheep, at £1 10«. ; 62 swine, at
£1 ; 58 goats, at 8».
The vote of the town of Newton in 1699 to build a
school-house is the first record looking to the educa-
tion of the children of Newton, — sixty-eight years
after the first settlement in Cambridge, or Newtowne;
sixty years after the first record of the sale of land in
Newton by Samuel Holly to John Jackson, and
twenty years after the first town-raeeting, when the
first selectmen and town officers of Newton were chos-
en ; eleven years after Newton became an independent
town. Cambridge, however, had a " a fair grammai'
school under Master Corlet," in which New Cambridge
had a right until its separation wa^ consummated. As
the early settlers were well-to-do, very likely they
availed themselves of this right for their elder chil-
dren. And, as they were generally intelligent people,
the younger were undoubtedly taught the elements of
learning at home.
The act of the town passed in 1717 to prevent the
destruction of deer, implied that at this date deer
still roamed in the forests of Newton. The late Rev.
James Freeman Clarke said that among his recollec-
tions of the house of Gen. William Hull, his mater-
nal grandfather (now ex-Gov. Claflin's), was a pair of
deer's horns suspended in the hall, belonging to a
victim which was shot by the general from his front-
door.
The " uoon houses," above referred to, where the
people could eat their frugal lunch and warm their
freezing limbs on the Sabbath between the services,
were three or four in number. One of them was
erected very near the church ; a sec^ond stood on land
which is now at the junction of Centre and Lyman
Streets, under a great oak tree which formerly stood
there. A chimney was built in the middle of the
floor, resting on four pillars, so that the largest pos-
sible number could sit around the common hearth.
The First Baptist Society, one year earlier than their
neighbors, in January, 1795, passed a vote "to pro-
cure a stove to warm the meeting-house." But it was
not till November, 1805, eleven years later, that the
Federal Street Church in Boston, Rev. Dr. Chan-
ning's, by their committee, " voted that a stove be
permitted to be placed in the Federal Street Church
without expense to the society, to be erected under the
direction of the church committee, — its use to be dis-
continued at any time when the committee shall di-
rect." Thus Newton showed itself in this provision
for the comfort of the worshippers in the house of
God eleven years in advance of one of the wealthiest
churches in Boston.
The first actual settler in Newton was John Jack-
son. He " bought of Miles Ives, of Watertown, a
dwelling-house and eighteen acres of land, very near
the present dividing line between Newton and
Brighton, 24 rods on Charles river, and extending
southerly 120 rods. The same year Samuel Holly
owned a like lot and dwelling-house adjoining Jack-
son's estate, iind Randolph Bush owned a like lot and
house adjoining Samuel Holly's estate, and William
Redson or Redsyn owned four acres and a dwelling-
house adjoining Bush's estate, and William Clements
owned six acres and a dwelliug-house, adjoining John
Jackson's west, and Thomas Mayhew owned a dwell-
ing-house next the spot where Gen. Michael Jackson's
house stood. These six dwelling-houses were in the
Village in 1639, and perhaps earlier. Samuel Holly
died in 1643, and left no descendants in the town.
We cannot tell who occupied the houses of Mayhew,
Clements, Bush and Redson ; they were transient
dwellers, and were soon gone. Edward Jackson
bought all these houses and the lands appurtenant be-
fore 1648, and all except Mayhew's were in what is
now Brighton." Twenty-two landholders established
their residence in New Cambridge between 1639, the
date of the coming of John Juckson, and 1664, the
date of the formation of the First Church. Some
historians add two or three others, as William Healy,
Gregory Cook and a third family bearing thenameof
Prentice. John Jackson, the first on the list, and
one of the first deacons of the church, brought with
him tjrom England a good estate, and gave an acre of
ground for the first church and cemetery. Thia acre
now constitutes the old part of the cemetery on the
east side of Centre Street. He was prominent in the
efforts for the incorporation o/ Newton as an inde-
pendent town, but died eighteen years before it was
NEWTON.
accomplished. A son of his, Edward Jackson, was
killed by the Indians at Medfield, when they attacked
and burned that town, February 21, 1676. The cellar
of his house is still visible at the northeastern part of
the town on the Smallwood estate, and the pear trees
still standing there are supposed to have been planted
by him.
The First Settlers of Newton. — Samuel Holly
is supposed to hare been in New Cambridge in 1636.
In 1643, the year of his death, he sold six acres of
hia land to Edward Jackson for £5.
Samuel Hyde, the second settler, came from London
in 1639, and settled here in 1640. He and his brother
Jonathan bought of Thomas Danforth forty acres of
land in 1647, and 200 of the executors of Nathaniel
Sparhawk, which they held in common until 1662,
when it was divided. He was a deacon of the church.
His descendants to the seventh generation have con-
tinued to own and occupy a part of the same land.
He died in 1685, and his wife the same year.
Edward Jackson, brother of John Jackson, was
born in London about 1602. His youngeat son by his
first marriage, Sebas Jackson, according to tradition,
was bom on the passage to this country. He took
the freeman's oath in 1645, and purchased a farm of
500 acres in Cambridge Village of Governor Brad-
gtreet for £140. Bradstreet bought the same farm in
1638 of Thomas May hew for six cows. This farm ex-
tended westward from what is now the line between
Newton and Brighton, and included what is now
Newtonville. The house of Michael Jackson, built
near the centre of this farm, was probably the first
house erected in Newton; it was built before 1638.
Edward Jackson's bouse was built with a spacious
hall, where probably the first religious meetings were
held. He was representative to the General Court
seventeen years in succession, and was constantly
present at Rev. John Eliot's meetings with the In-
dians. In his will he left 400 acres to Harvard Uni-
versity. He divided his land among his children in
his life-time. From the inventory of his estate it ap-
pears that he owned two slaves, valued at £5 each.
Probably he was the first slaveholder in Newton. He
had nineteen children, and more than .sixty grand-
children. Forty-four of his descendants were in the
army of the Revolution.
Joseph Fuller, who settled in New Cambridge
in 1644, bought 750 acres next west of Edward Jack-
son for £160. His farm was bounded north and west
by Charles River, south by Thomas Park. By sub-
sequent purchases he increased his lands to 1000
acres, intersected by Cheesecake Brook. He had
eight children, and twenty-two of his descendants
were in the Revolutionary Army. Edward Jackson
and John Fuller had a larger number of descendants
than any other of the early settlers.
Jonathan Hyde, brother of Deacon Samuel Hyde,
came into New Cambridge in 1647, and bought, in
common with Samuel, 240 acres, which they held to-
gether fourteen years. In 1656 he bought eighty
acres, which was one-eighth of the tract recovered by
Cambridge from Oedham in a lawsuit ; and settling
upon it, he increased it by later purchases to several
hundred acres. He seemed to have had a taste for
buying and selling land. His house stood on Centre
Street, not far from the residence of Honorable Alden
Speare. His home lot ran 160 rods on Centre Street
and 1 00 rods deep, and included the site of the present
Congregational and Baptist Churches in Newton
Centre. Wiswall's Pond was its southern boundary.
He was twice married, and had twenty-three children.
Some years before his death he divided 400 acres of
his land, with several dwelling-houses standing
thereon, among twelve of his children, and in 1705
gave half an acre to the town for a school- house, at
the junction of Homer and Grafton Streets. This was
six years after the vote of 1699 to build a school-
house. The Common in Newton Centre, or a large
part of it, is supposed to have been his gift ; there is
no record of the gift. He deeded to his children, " for
a cartway forever," the land which is now the high-
way known as Grafton Street.
Richard Park owned land in New Cambridge in
1636, and in Lexington, three Cambridge farms in
1642. His house probably stood within a few feet of
the site of the present Eliot Church, and was pulled
down in 1800. His farm was bounded west by the
Fuller farm, north by Charles River, east and south
by Edward Jackson, and contained about 600 acres.
He bequeathed his land to his only son, Thomas.
This son built a corn- mill on the river, where the
Bemis factory was afterwards erected (now called
Nonantum). His inventory showed that the property
standing in his name at the date of his death
amounted to £872. The Cambridge Church owned a
farm and other property in Billerica, and in 1648
ordained that " every person that from time to time
hereafter removed from the church, did thereby resign
their interest in the remaining part of the church
property.'' During the contest for the separation of
Cambridge Village from Cambridge in 1661, Richard
Park petitioned the Court that, in case of a division,
he be permitted to retain his connection with the
Cambridge Church. Possibly this vote might have
influenced him to present such a petition.
Captain Thomas Prentice, born in England in
1621, was in New Cambridge in 1649; for the record
shows that in November of that year he became the
father of twins, Thomas and Elizabeth. He was a
man of military tastes, and chosen lieutenant of cav-
alry in 1656 and captain in 1662. In 1663 he bought
of Elder Frost eighty-five acres of land, in the east
part of Newton, adjoining land of John Ward, and
occupied the place as his homestead fifty years, con-
veying it by deed of gift in 1765 to his grandson,
Captain Thomas Prentice. His house stood on the
site of the old Harbach house, at the comer of Wav-
erly Avenue and Ward Street. He was very prom-
10
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY", MASSACHUSETTS.
inent in the Indian wars, and distinguished for his
bravery. He waa hardy and athletic, and continued
to ride on horseback till the end. His death waa
caoaed by a fall from his horse at the age of eighty-
nine. He was Representative to the General Court
three years, 1672-74. He had eight children, two of
whom died in childhood.
John Ward married a daughter of Edward Jackson.
His father came from England afier the birth of
John, and settled in Sudbury. He was the first rep-
resentative of Cambridge Village in the General
Court, and continued to be a representative for eight
years. He was also selectman nine years, from 1679.
His house stood on the site of the residence of the late
Ephraim Ward, near the Newton reservoir, and was at
first constructed for a garrison-house in 1661, and used
as such during King Philip's War. It was demolished
in 1821, having stood 170 years — the home of seven
generations. He had eight sons and five daughters,
and died in 1708, aged eighty-two.
Thomas Hammond sold his land in Hingham,
where he had been one of the earliest settlers, in 1652,
and his house in 1656. In 1650, in coDuection with
Vincent Druce, he bought land in Cambridge Village,
and in 1658 600 acres more, partly in Cambridge Vil-
lage and partly in Brookline, embracing what is now
Chestnut Hill. They held this land in commoD until
1664. When a division was made the pond fell
within Hammond's part, and hence bears his name.
John Parker was also one of the earliest settlers
of Hingham. He bought land adjoining John Ward
and Vincent Druce in 1650. He had five sons and
five daughters. After his death his property passed
into the hands of Hon. Ebenezer Stone, and after-
wards became the John Kingsbury estate. The
Parkers of Newton are from two progenitors, — John
Parker, of Hingham, and Samuel Parker, of Dedham.
Nathaniel Parker, a son of the latter, was born in
Dedham in 1670. The third meeting-house in New-
ton Centre waa built on land purchased of him and
conveyed to the selectmen of Newton, measuring one
and a half acres and twenty rods, and valued at £15.
The sale occurred in August, 1716. On this spot of land
the First Congregational Church baa stood ever since.
Vincent Druce came from Hingham, where his
name is found in 1636. The highway from Cam-
bridge to Brookline waa laid out through the land of
Druce and Hammond. The old Crafts house on the
Denny place waa built by Druce in the end of the
seventeenth or beginning of the eighteenth century,
and must be now nearly two hundred years old.
John Druce, the third of that name, graduated at
Harvard University in 1738, and became a physician
in Wrentham. The first John Druce was a member
of Captain Prentice's troop of horse. He was mor-
tally wounded in a fight with the Indians at Swanzey
in 1675, and brought home and died in his own
house. He was probably the first vicrim from Cam-
bridge Village who fell in the Indian waia.
James Prentice, Sr., and Thomas Prentice, Jr.,
bought of Thomas Danforth four hundred acres in
March, 1650, in Cambridge Village, and in 1657 one
hundred acres more. A part of this purchase is now
included in the old cemetery on Centre Street, from
which it extended southerly beyond the estate of the
late Marshall Rice. The house was taken down in
1800. It stood a few rods southeast of the Joshua
Loring house, on the east side of Centre Street.
Thomas Prentice (2d) married Rebecca, daughter
of Edward Jackson, Sr. This Edward Jackson gave
him, by will, 100 acres of land called Bald Pate
Meadow, near Bald Pate Hill, and to his daughter
several other parcels of land. Prentice lived to a
great age, and conveyed land to his two sons and two
grandsons. It is recorded that in 1753 " he held one
end of a chain to lay out a highway over Weedy Hili
in New Cambridge."
Elder Thomas Wiswall came to this country from
England about 1637, and was prominent among the
first settlers of Dorchester. He removed to Cam-
bridge Village in 1654, and was ordained " ruling
elder" of the church at the same time with the ordi-
nation of Rev. John Eliot, Jr., as pastor. His home-
stead of 300 acres included the pond at Newton Cen-
tre, called after him, " Wiswall's Pond," afterwards
"Baptist Pond" and "Crystal Lake." His house
for many years continued in the Wiswall family.
Later, it was occupied by Deacon Luther Paul and
his heirs, and removed in 1889 to the west side of
Paul Street. He had seven children and more than
thirty grandchildren. Hia sou Noah was killed in
1690 in an engagement with French and Indians at
Wheeler's Pond, afterwards Lee, N. H. He had
also a son Ichabod, who was minister in Duxbury.
John Kenrick in 1658 bought 250 acres in the
southerly part of Cambridge Village. Kenrick's
Bridge over Charles River is near his house, and per-
petuates his name. In bis will he left to his pastor.
Rev. Nehemiah Hobart, four acres of meadow land
or ten pounds, at the option of his son John, who was
his executor.
Captain Isaac Williams was the son of Robert Wil-
liams, who came from Norwich, England. He was
bom in Roxbury in 1688 and twice married. He
owned 500 acres adjoining John Fuller. Thomas
Park, John Fuller and Isaac Williams were the first,
and probably for a season the only, settlers in West
Newton. He was a weaver by trade, selectman three
years, and representative to the General Court six
years. His house was about thirty rods northeast of
the West Parish meeting-house. He died in 1707, and,
being a military man, was honored with a military
funeral. He had twelve children and more than fifty
grandchildren. The youngest son, Ephraim, was
father of Colonel Ephraim Williams, Jr., the founder
of Williams College. William, a son of Isaac, grad-
uated at Harvard University in 1683, being one of a
class of only three members. Through the thought-
NEWTON.
11
fulness and enterprise of Colonel Ephraim, Jr., the
First Church in Newton became the mother of all the
foreign missionary efforts of the Christian church o'
all denominations iu the United States. For the first
foreign missionary organization in this country origin-
ated in the zeal and piety of a few students in Wil-
liams College in the year 1808.
Gregory Cook was a constable in Cambridge Vil-
lage in 1667. He removed afterwards to Mendon
and Watertown. In 1668 he bought sixteen acres of
Samuel Hyde, bounded on what is now Centre Street,
and south on Samuel Hyde. In 1665 he bought the
mansion house and six acres, the house being near
the Watertown line. In 1672 Jeremiah Duramer, of
Boston, conveyed to him 112 acres, with house and
barn, lying partly in Cambridge and partly in Water-
town, and reaching to Charles River. The house,
having stood about 150 years, was pulled down in
1823. He was twice married, the second time three
months after the decease of his first wife. He was a
shoemaker by trade.
Abraham Williams bought twelve acres, with a
house, near Mr. Cook, in 1654. After living in Newton
eight years he removed to Marlborough, in 1688. He
was colonel of militia, and representative to the Gen-
eral Court. He kept a public-house in Marlborough
many years, and died 1712, aged eighty-four.
Deacon James Trowbridge, son of Thomas, was
born in Dorchester in 1636. His father was a mer-
chant in the Barbadoes trade, and came from Taun-
ton, England, where his father founded a generous
charity for poor widows, which still is in existence.
Thomas, the father, went home to England in 16-14,
leaving his three sons in charge of Thomas Jetfries.
who also came from the same vicinity in England.
In 1637 or 1638 Jeffries removed to New Haven, and
afterwards to England, leaving all his estates and
goods in charge of Henry Gibbons, his steward. The
sons of Thomas obtained possession of their father's
property by a suit at law. The wife of James was
one of the constituent members of the First Church
in Newton. James also became deacon after the
death of John Jackson. He was selectman of Cam-
bridge Village nine years, and one of the first board
elected. He bought of Giovemor Danforth eighty-
five acres, with a dwelling-house, bounded by the
highways west and south. He was clerk of the writs,
lieutenant, and two years representative to the Gen-
eral Court.
Lieutenant John Spring was born in England in
1630, and brought to this country in 1634 by his par-
ents, who settled in Watertown. The son John re-
moved to Cambridge Village about the time of the
ordination of Rev. John Eliot, Jr., in 1664. His
house stood on the west side of Centre Street, oppo-
site the cemetery. He built the first grist-mill in
Newton, on Smelt Brook, afterwards Bulloughs' Mill,
on Mill Street, near the centre of the town. It is
supposed that he gave the land for the second meet-
ing-house, near his own house. On its removal to
Waltham, and the adoption of the present site by the
First Church, the town re-conveyed the land to his
son John. He died in 1717, aged eighty-seven. He
had ten children, of whom the first nine were daugh-
ters. He was selectman eight years, and representa-
tive three years, and served in various other offices,
one of which was sweeper of the meeting-house.
Daniel Bacon removed with his family to Cam-
bridge Village from Bridgewater about 1699, and
bought land in Newton and Watertown, portions of
which were afterwards conveyed to General William
Hull, Oakes Angler and others. The Nonantum
House at Newton stands on one of these estates.
From Oakes Angler this part of the town was at one
period called Angier's Corner.
Captain John Sherman was an early settler of New-
ton, coming from Watertown. His grandson, Wil-
liam, a shoemaker, was the father of Roger Sherman,
one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence,
who was born here, and was also, like his father, a
shoemaker. The family residence, where Roger Sher-
man was born, was on Waverly Avenue, near the es-
tate formerly of Dr. James Freeman, and later of
Francis Skinner, Esq.
Rev. John Eliot, Jr., worthy to close these sketches
of the early settlers of Cambridge Village, was the
son of Rev. John Eliot, the Apostle to the Indians of
Nonantum, and ordained first pastor of the First
Church in Newton, July 20, 1664. He was born in
Roxbury, where his father was pastor, in 1636, grad-
uated at Harvard University in 1656, and began to
preach in 1658, in his twenty-second year. He ac-
quired proficiency in the Indian language, and aided
his father in his missionary work until his ordination,
and afterwards preached once in two weeks to the In-
dians of Stoughton, and occasionally to the Indians
in Natick, whither the Nonantum Indians subse-
quently removed, and' where the first Indian Church
was organized ; for the converts were never gathered
into church estate in Newton. He died at the early
age of thirty-three, four years and three months after
his ordination. He is said to have been " an accom-
plished person, of a ruddy complexion, comely pro-
portions, cheerful countenance, and quick apprehen-
sion, a good classical scholar, and having considerable
scientific knowledge for one of his age and period."
He lived on the west side of Centre Street, about
sixty rods north of the old cemetery. The estate was
sold, after the death of his son John, to Henry Glbbs,
and by Gibbe to Rev. John Cotton, Eliot's successor
as pastor, and by heirs of John Cotton to Charles
Pelham, in 1765.
"The number of freemen within the limits of Cam-
bridge Village in 1688 — the date of its complete sep-
aration from Cambridge — was about sixty-five. In
forty years — from 1639 to 1679 — forty-two freemen be-
came permanent settlers, some from England, others
from the neighboring towns. During the same period
12
HISTORY OF xMIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
thirty of their sons had reached their majority, mak-
ing in all seventy-two. But five had died and two
had removed, leaving the sum total sixty-five. There
were six dwelling-houses in Cambridge Village in
1639, all being situated near the present dividing line
between Newton and Brighton (Boston), and all on
farms adjoining one another.
The early inhabitants of Newton, as of New Eng-
land generally, had little idea of the future growth of
the sapling which they had planted. A committee
appointed to lay out a road westward from Boston,
having fulfilled their task, reported to the body which
appointed them, that they had laid out a road twelve
miles, as far as Weston, and in their opinion that was
as far westward as a road would ever be needed.
The Indians. — The relations of the settlers of
Newton and the Indian population among them, or
on their borders, were never otherwise than friendly.
Besides the original bargain with the Squaw-sachem,
the labors of Mr. Eliot for their religious improve-
ment had a happy influence in winning their good-
will. Nevertheless the brave men of Newton sympa-
thized with the persecuted colonists in other towns,
and readily took up arms in their defence. In King
Philip's War, which broke out in 1675, Captain
Thomas Prentice was a distinguished figure. On the
26th of June in that year he marched for Mount
Hope, with Captain Henchman, of Boston, and a
company which included twenty men from Cambridge
Village and twenty-one from Dedham. In the first
engagement with the foe, William Hammond, ol
Newton, was killed, and a few days later John Druce
was fatally wounded. In December following, with
five companies of infantry and his troop of horse, he
marched to Narragansett, and performed remarkable
exploits in destroying or scattering the enemy and
protecting the white settlers. In April, 1676, he
rushed to the aid of the colonists and of the troops at
Sudbury, whom the Indians had overpowered, reach-
ing the town in his headlong haste with only six of
his company, and after a brave conflict the Indians
were put to flight. Four men of Cambridge Village —
Hanchett, Woods, Hides and Bush, — also served in the
war against Philip ; so also did Edward Jackson.
When the Indians in 1690 committed depredations
upon the white settlements in New Hampshire and
Maine, Newton soldiers volunteered at once for their
defence. Captain Noah Wiswall, Gershom Flagg
and Edward Walker defended Portland. Two sons of
Henry Seger were among the military forces at Gro-
ton, of whom one was killed and the other taken
prisoner. A son of Nathaniel Healey also perished,
and on petition of his father to be remunerated for the
gun which was lost by the young hero, the General
Court ordered that twenty shillings should be paid
him out of the public treasury for the lost gun. John
Gibson was slain by the Indians at Portland in 1711.
Epbraim Davenport, another of Newton's citizens,
was stationed some time at Bethel, Maine, to protect
the inhabitants, and afterwards received a pension.
Benjamin Clark, son of Norman Clark, was taken
prisoner with Nathaniel Seger. Ebenezer Bartiett, of
Newton, had six sons, all of whom went to the de-
fence of Bethel. In the war with the French and In-
dians, in 1755, several citizens of Newton took part,
prominent among whom were Samuel Jenks, Lieuten-
ant Timothy Jackson, whose wife carried on the farm
while her husband was gone to the war ; Colonel
Ephraim Jackson and Colonel Ephraim Williams,
the founder of Williams College, who was shot
through the head in a battle with the French and In-
dians near Lake George, in September, 1755.
Eliot and the Nonantum Indians. — One of the
most interesting portions of the history of Newton is
that which relates to the labors of Rev. John Eliot, in
behalf of the Nonantum Indians. The interest arises
from the fact that this was the first Protestant mis-
sionary undertaking on the continent of America ;
the first converts from heathenism in modern times
were among the aborigines of Newton, and the first
translation of the Bible into a heathen language was
here consummated. And thus the town of Newton,
by a double right, has gained the honor of being
the mother of all the Protestant missionary efforts
from America in modern times — first, through the
labors of Mr. Eliot, and secondly through the found-
ing, by one of her sons, of AVilliams College. The
Indians of Newton congregated on the slope of
Nonantum Hill, where the ground descends to the
village of Newton and the limits of Brighton. Here
Waban, their chief, had his house, and here Eliot
preached his first sermon to the Indians, October 28,
1646, near the spot where a monument has been be-
gun to his memon,-. Mr. Eliot was born at Naseby,
England, in 1604, and died in Roxbury, where his
remains rest, in the cemetery at the corner of Eustis
and Washington Streets, May 20, 1690. When he be-
gan his labors for the Indians he was forty-two years of
age, his age, by a singular coincidence, being the same
as the age of Waban. The companions of Mr. Eliot
at this first service for the Indians were Major Gookin,
Rev. John Wilson, of Boston, Elder Heath, of Rox-
bury, and Rev. Thomas Shepard, of Cambridge. The
Indians, by intercourse with the white people, had
gained some ideas of their religion, and were anxious
to know more. The service was opened by prayer in
English. Mr. Eliot's text was Ezek. 37 : 9 — " Prophesy
unto the wind," &c. The Indian word for wind was
Waban, which, doubtless, prompted Mr. Eliot to
choose this text ; and it must have been most impres-
sive to the Indian chief to find that his own name was
thus distinctly recognized in Holy Writ, and a
Divine message thus sent, as it were, personally to him.
The discourse lasted an hour and a quarter, and the
whole service three hours.
After the sermon the Indians affirmed that they
had understood all, and, when liberty was given them
to ask questions, they proposed these six : 1. How
NEWTON.
13
they could learn to know Jeaus Christ ? 2. Did God
understand Indian prayers? 3. Were the English
ever so ignorant as ths Indians at that time? 4.
What is the image of God, which it is forbidden in
the second commandment to worship? 5. If all the
world had once been drowned, how was it now so full
of people? 6. If a father be bad and the child good,
will God be offended with the child for the father's
sake ? Being asked at the close if they were weary,
an Indian replied, " No," and " they wished to hear
more.'' A few apples were given to the children,
some tobacco to the men, and another meeting ap-
pointed a fortnight later. At the second meeting more
Indians were present, and deep interest manifested.
The next day one of the Indians visited Mr. Eliot,
at his house in Rosbury, and reported how all night at
Waban's the Indians could not sleep, partly from trou-
ble of mind and partly from wonder at all the things
they had heard.
A work of grace, similar to modern revivals o<
religion, followed the services. Many of the English
people came together from neighboring towns to
witness the marvelous effects of the Gospel. Many
Indians from Concord and other towns removed to
Nonantum, that they might be more fully instructed
in the truths of religion. Soon after the third meet-
ing three men and four children begged Mr. Eliot to
establish Christian schools among their people. No
suitable arrangement could be made, and they were
sent back to their native forests. But it is an inter-
esting fact that the first call for a mission school came
from the heathen themselves.
Au effort was made at Nonantum to bind the peo-
ple together under a civil government. Many Eng-
lish customs were adopted by the Indians. Their
clothing became more seemly, and they gave them-
selves more to the cultivation of the soil as their
dependence for ths means of subsistence. There were
doubtless many true converts among them, but never
an Indian church in Newton. It was after their
removal to Natick that a church was first formed, and
the institutioaa of religion and a civilized life first
took root.
The success of missionary effort among the Indians
created a strong sensation in England. The British
Parliament passed an act, July 27, 1649, ordering a
collection to be taken up in all the churches of Eng-
land for the advancement of the work. The Society
for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge was formed
in 1698, and the Society for the Propagation of the
Gospel among the Indians and Others in North
America in 1701, and the Scottish Society for the
Propagation of Christian Knowledge in 1709 — all of
which grew out of Mr. Eliot's efforts in behalf of the
Indians. " Most of the Indians," says Mr. Shepard,
" set up family prayer and grace before meat, and
seemed in earnest in their devotions."
The new Indian town in Natick, to which they
removed, was commenced in 1651, with a day of fast-
ing and prayer, and the preparations for forming the
church by another day of prayer and confession,
October 13, 1652. Under the superintendence of Mr.
Eliot the Indiana built afoot-bridge in Natick, across
Charles River, securing to them communication with
other Indians as far south as Pegan HUl, in Dover,
near which many traces of dwellings remain, and
many traces of their civilization have survived in the
rose-bushes and fruits growing around their homes.
A fire-proof building, for a free library, now stands
in South Natick, on the site of this central point of
Indian civilization and church life. A single head-
stone remains here, the memorial of the Indian pas-
tor, Daniel Takawambait, who died September 17,
1716. In 1670 there were two teachers and between
40 and 50 communicants. In 1763 there were only
37 Indiana; in 1797 not more than 20; and in 1843
but a single individual known to be living in whose
veins flowed Indian blood.
In 1687 Cotton Mather wrote, " There are six regular
churches of baptized Indians in New England and
IS assemblies of catechumens, professing the name of
Christ. Of the Indiana there are twenty-four preach-
ers of the word. There are also four English preach-
ers who preach the gospel in the Indian tongue." In
the year 1671 Mr. Eliot recognized missionary sta-
tions in places now known as Natick, Stoughton, Graf-
ton (between Natick and Grafton), Marlboro', Littleton ,
Tewksbury and Pawtucket Falls, near Lowell. Sev-
eral of them had regular worahip and anative preacher.
At Natick the meetinga were asaembled by beat of
drum.
Mr. Eliot's evangelistic efforts bore fruit on the
other side of the globe. Dr. Leusden wrote to Cotton
Mather that the example of New England had awak-
ened the Dutch to attempt the evangelization of the
heathen in Ceylon and their other Indian possessions,
and that multitudes there had been converted to Chris-
tianity. This is another star in Newton's crown.
The most remarkable service performed by Mr.
Eliot for the Indians was the translation of the whole
Bible into their tongue. To prepare himself for this
work, as well as for preaching to the people, he took
into hia family an Indian who could speak both lan-
guages. Mr. Eliot's early training fitted him specially
for the work. He was proficient in linguistic studies,
as well as in Hebrew and Greek. He is said to have
written out the entire translation with one pen. The
New Testament was printed at Cambridge in 1661,
and the whole Bible, with the Psalms in metre, in
1663. It was the first Bible printed in America. A
thousand dollars in gold haa been refuaed, of late, for
a copy. An Indian who had been taught the art of
printing was employed in the work. A second edi-
tion was printed in 1685. There were 2000 copies of
each edition.
During Philip's War the Indian converts mani-
fested unshaken fidelity to the English, and often
served as guides and otherwise. The English, how-
14
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
ever, were so sensitive, and so suspicious of every red
man, that the General Court, on the breaking out of
the war, ordered them to be removed, 200 in number,
to Deer Island, in Boston harbor.
It is not difScult to trace the way in which the ter-
ritory of Newton was distributed among its early in-
habitants. A map drawn in 1700 marks the bounda-
ries of the first settlers. Charles River at first
bounded three sides of Newton, except the small por-
tion denominated the " Watertown weirs," and deter-
mined mainly the location of its several villages.
Wherever the falls or the river indicated a water-
power, and thepossibility of a profitable manufactory,
there a village sprang into existence. Such was the
origin of Newton, long called .Angler's Corner and
Newton Corner, being at the northeast corner of the
town, and adjacent to the Watertown fisheries, New-
ton Upper and Lower Falls, and Bern is' Factories,
since called North Newton and Nonantum. In later
times, the stations of the Boston and Albany Rail-
road, and the New York and New England, now all
included in the Newton Circuit Railroad, determined
tbe villages of Newtonvilie, West Newton, Auburn-
dale and Riverside, and Chestnut Hill, Newton Cen-
tre, Highlands, and the younger stations, Waban,
Eliot and Woodland. The cession of a small terri-
tory to Waltham sacrificed a part ot this water limit.
The first settlers of Newton were in the northeast
comer of the town, John aud Edward Jackson, Holly,
Bush and Radson, reached to the river. William
Clement name next to Edward Jackson, and the lat-
ter owned all the remainder to Centre Street. Cross-
ing Centre Street, westwardly, came Gregory Cook ;
next him the large estate of tiOO acres of Richard
Park ; then John Fuller, extending west, to the river.
South of Fuller was Capt. Isaac Williams. South of
Gregory Cook, on the west side of Centre Street, was
the great farm of Thomas Mayhew, of .500 acres, sold
to Gov. Bradstreet in 1638, aud by the latter, in 1646,
to Edward Jackson, including much of Newtonvilie.
Returning to Centre Street, on the east side were
some smaller estates, and south of them Deacon Sam-
uel Hyde, on both sides of the street, still bearing his
name. South of this, on the west side. Rev. .John
Eliot, Jr., afterwards Rev. John Cotton, John Spring,
and then the large holdings of Jonathan Hyde, reach-
ing to the Baptist Pond. South of Samuel Hyde, on
the east side of Centre Street, were Col. Ward, Rob-
ert Prentice and Henry Gibbs (the Rice estate), and
a little farther south, Wiswall, John Clark and the
great estate of Governor Haynes. East of Gibbs was
Joseph Bartlett, and east of Bartlett, Thomas Ham-
mond, including Hammond's Pond and reaching I
nearly to the limit of Newton in that direction. John
Parker and Ebenezer Stone were west and southwest i
of Thomas Hammond. Thomas Prentice was on
Waverly Avenue, and .south of him the Wards and
Clark. The larger farms soon began to be divided
among many proprietors. John and Elijah Kenrick
settled near tbe river at the south part of the town,
and John Kenrick on Waverly Avenue. As the
northeast corner of Newton was the first to be set-
tled, the southeast, in later times, seems nearly the
last. Vincent Druce was there at first, whose name
was spelled six difierent ways. Could Erosamon
Drew, whose saw-ruill hummed there on a little brook,
be a kinsman of Druce, under this kindred name ? This
large tract of land, lying, till lately, in a nearly wild
state, was in early times in the hands of Tories, who,
it is said, hid in the thick woods some of King
George's cannon, intending to use them, when cir-
cumstances should favor, in behalf of the Royal cause.
The Tories, however, were forced to flee to the British
Provinces, and their property was confiscated and
sold, and divided among many proprietors. Erosa-
mon Drew'.s house was called " the Huckleberry
Tavern," because the tenant then occupying it was
remarkably successful in making a kind of wine from
the huckleberries of the neighboring pastures, which
the scattered residents of the neighboring portions
of Newton and Brookline were fond of r|uaffing when
they viaited the locality on election days aud other
festive occasions.
In West Newton beyond the meetiug-house was
Miller, Bartlett, the Segers and .lohn Barbour, who
set out the great elm-tree by 'the Tavern House,"
and, in the progress of years and in the transitional
period from the old to the new, was Seth Davis, who
first taught geography and astronomy in his private
academy, and ^vaa blamed for it, and who set out
most of the trees on the older public streets of West
Newton ; the (Treenoughs, Stones and Fullers, and
Samuel Hastings, with his tan-yard near the meet-
ing-house. In what is now .\uburndale, the estate of
John Pigeon, the stiirdy patriot whose donation of
two field-pieces to the town sounded the alarm of the
Revolutionary War; Thomas Greenwood, Alexander
Shepard, Daniel Jackson and William Robinson ; on
the road to the Lower Falls, the Mnrdock and Dix
estates ; still farther south, John Staples, the first
school-master, also deacon and town clerk, who gave
to the town '' seventeen acres of woodland for the
.-upport of the ministerial fire from year to year
annually ; " the Collins families. At the Lower
Falls we find the names of Jonathan Willard, the
iron-worker, Wales, Curtis, Crehore, Hagar and
Rice, the latter extensive paper manufacturers, — one
of them, Thomas, selectman eighteen years, repre-
sentative three years, twice elected to the Senate and
two years member of the Executive Council, at whose
mill the paper was manufactured (or the Boston Daily
Transcript forty years, and who, in the days of the
War of the Rebellion, was to Newton what .John A.
Andrew, the war Governor, was to Massachusetta ;
and his younger brother, Alexander K., mayor ot
Boston in 18.56-.57, and Governor of Massachusetts in
1875-76, and member of Congress eight years. Still
farther south and southeast were the estates of Gap-
NEWTON.
15
tains Clark, Hyde and Woodward, in whose house,
still standing, family worship has been maintained
for nine generations ; at the Upper Falls, Cheney,
Gibbs, Bixby, Elliott and Pettee, a man of infinite
ingenuity and perseverance, whose machine-shops and
factories built up the village, and who. more than any
other, secured the building of the first railroad from
Needham, through Newton Centre to Boston ; on the
southern extension of Centre Street, Mitchell's
tavern, the Winchieaters ; at Oak Hill, the Richard-
sons, Stones, Wiswalls, Deacon King, Hall, Richards,
Wilson, Rand, Kingsbury and Goody Mary Davis,
the widow, who died aged 116 years, and cultivated
her garden with her own hands in her old age, and
whose portrait hangs on the walls of the Massachu-
setts Historical Society in Boston.
Historical Items. — In the early periods of New
England history the parish and the town were co-
extensive. The laws of Massachusetts did not recog-
nize the church as distinguished from the parish;
hence parish business was town business and eccles-
iastical legislation was only town legislation. The
town called and settled the minister, and provided
for his support. The town also paid the funeral ex-
penses of the pastors when they were dead. When
Mr. Meriam, the fourth pastor, died, in August, 1780,
the town appointed a committee to make provision
for the funeral. Colonel Benjamin Hammond lent
£195 towards these expenses, " which included £60 to
Deacon Bowles, for making a coffin," and £31 paid
to Joshua Murdoch " for half barrel of beer and half
a cord of wood for the funeral." The town also regu-
lated the exercises of worship. About 1770 a peti-
tion was offered for a committee " to consider respect-
ing the introduction of the version of the Psalms by
Tate and Brady, with the Hymns annexed.' The
report was favorable, and adopted. About the same
time it was voted in town-meeting " that trees be set
out to shade the meeting-house, if any persons will
be so generously-minded as to do it."
The first five ministers of the town were called and
settled under this system. The first church was prop-
erly a colony of the First Church in Cambridge.
The records of the church were burned with the
house of Mr. Meriam, the fourth pastor, March 18,
1770. King Philip^ War broke out soon after the set-
tlement of the second pastor, Mr. Hobart. Had the
Nonantum Indians remained unchristianized and un-
civilized, and joined with the other Indian tribes to
exterminate the English .settlers, humanly speaking
the latter would have been forced to leave the coun-
try. But, remaining faithful to their friends, they
saved the situation, and New England was preserved
from destruction, almost in its inception, through the
induence of Christian missions to the heathen.
In 1779 six new pews were built in the First Parish
meeting-house, slips or long benches being removed
to make room for them. These pews were leased at
auction annually at the March meeting, "the rent to be
paid in Indian corn, not less than half a peck to be
accepted as a bid, and delivered to the Treasurer."
The first year twenty-two bushels were received, and
at the next annual meeting " sold in lots to suit pur-
chasers." After eight years the custom was discon-
tinued, and pew rents were ever afterwards paid in
money.
Near the ancient meeting-house were erected the
stocks, for the punishment of those who misbehaved
at church or in town-meeting. We do not know pre-
cisely where they stood, or at what date they were
erected. But in the Town Records of 1773 it is
stated that " a committee was chosen to examine the
church stocks." The office of constable of Newton,
we may infer, was not eagerly sought after. One part
of his duty was to collect the annual taxes. In 1728
Mr. Joseph Jackson was elected constable, but declin-
ed the office, and " did immediately pay his fine, as
the law required." The amount was £5. The pay of
the Representative to the General Court in 1729 was
£4') 6«. A new pound for the confinement of stray
cattle was built of stone near the site of the Unitarian
Church, Newton Centre in 1755, where it remained
about 110 years. Cypress Street, on which it stood,
was hence called Pound Lane until a recent period.
In 1755 it was voted to provide a cotton velvet pall
for use at funerals, and in 1763 to " let the velvet pall
to other towns," when not in use in Newton, " the
persons hiring it to pay half a dollar every time it is
hired." In 1799 it was voted to buy two hearses for
the use of the town, when the money could be spared
out of the treasury. Also in 1760, " that persons
(vorking out their highway taxes on the road should
be>paid three pence per hour, and each team that is
able to carry a ton weight, the same sum."
Newton Upper Falls. — The beginning of New-
ton Upper Falls was a saw-mill erected by John
Clark about 1688, on Charles River, where the water
falls twenty feet perpendicularly, and then descends
about thirty-five feet in half a mile. There was an
eel-weir above the falls which John Clark bought of
the Indians, together with all the water power, for £3
lawful money. The river was called by the Indians
Quinobequin, and the Indian who signed the deed of
conveyance of the water privilege was William
Nehoiden or Nahaton. The eel-weir was a dam built
by the Indians near the upper bridge, and the yard of
the present cotton-mill. Its foundation atones can
atill be seen in the bed of the river. Greneral Elliott
erected snuff-mills at that point later, on the Newton
•hore. In 1720 this busy spot included a saw-mUl,
fulling-mill, grist-mill and eel-weir, and Noah Parker
became the sole owner. The property afterwards fell
to Thomas Parker, and was sold later on to Simon
Elliott, a tobacconist from Boston, a man of much
enterprise. In the first decade of the nineteenth
century he was the owner of one of the only three
" family carriages " in Newton. ,
The first dwelling-house in the village of the
16
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Upper Falls was erected about 1800 and still stands.
Some of the timber used in building the cotton factory
on the Needham side was taken from a prize at sea,
daring the War of 1812, and carried into Boston and
sold at auction. About 1829 a hotel was built at the
Falls, and kept as a house of entertainment twenty
years. It became afterwards a private dwelling. A
stage-coach for Boston, until near 1850, left New-
ton Upper Falls every morning at 9 o'clock, going
through Newton Centre and Brighton, and left Boston
on its return at 3 p.m. ; fare, fifty cents. It was through
the energy of a Mr. Whiting, of Dover, Massachusetts,
who for ten years courted fortune in the gold-mines
of Mexico, that cotton manufacturing was first intro-
duced into Tepic, a city near the western coast of that
republic. The cotton machinery was built by Mr.
Prttee at the Upper Falls, and sent to Mexico in 1837,
in charge of workmen employed for three years to go
thither and set up the machinery and instruct the
native workmen, till they could manage the business
themselves. Other factories followed, and were estab-
lished with satisfactory results in Durango, Tunai,
Colima, Santiago, Cura^oa, Mazatlan and other
places.
The Worcester Turnpike (Boylston Street) was
chartered March 7, 1806, and the road constructed
through Newton in 1808. Of the 600 shares of stock,
valued at $250 each, sixteen were held by citizens of
Newton. The road paid but few dividends, and
finally the stockholders lost their entire capital. In
1833 the county commissioners laid out the portion
in Newton as a public highway, and in 18-11 the pro-
prietors surrendered their charter.
The village of Newton Upper Falls lies outside of
the Newton Circuit Railroad, on the line of the
Woonsocket Branch of the New York and New Eng-
land Railroad. It has the appearance of an old vil-
lage, built more for utility than beauty, although
the natural scenery is not equaled by that of any
part of Newton. The river Charles here cuts its way
between the hills, and in some places, as in the rear
of the Baptist meeting-house, the landscape has strik-
ing charms. The first owner, Nahaton, a sagamore of
the Punkapoag tribe, sold a part of it to John Man-
gus for a gun. It was bought of him by the English
colonists. In 1700 the rest of it was sold to Robert
Cooke, of Dorchester, for £12.
The large " stone bam," so-called, on Oak St., a con-
spicuous feature of the Upper Falls, was built by Mr.
Otis Pettee, Sr., in the period of the silk excitement
in Eastern Massachusetts, when Mr. John Keurick,
nurseryman, living on Waverly Street, had for sale
many thousands of Jlorus Mullicaulis trees, deeming
that the raising of silk-worms and the manufacture of
silk was likely to become an important industry
of Newton. It was generally conjectured among the
villagers that the " stone bam " was designed for a
nursery of silk worms and a depot for the manufac-
ture of silk. But Mr. Pettee would never reveal to
I any one his purpose in rearing the structure. It stood
I unused for years, and then part of it was utilized for
a common stable. It is a singular fact that, after
i more than half a century, the silk manufacture is
j actually established at last as a feature of the industry
I of Newton Upper Falls. The weather-beaten brick
! mills, once a cotton factory, employ 130 operatives,
I engaged in spinning silks, silk yarns, filoselles, em-
broidery-silk and other goods of like character, the
I raw material in the original packages being brought
from France, Italy, China and Japan.
In 1639 certain parties in Dedham dug a canal de-
signed to divert the waters of Charles River into East
Brook, a tributary of the Neponset, and actually se-
cured to themselves one-third of the water of the
Charles. In 1777 a petition to the Governor and
Council, and another in 1807, by General Elliott,
invoking the aid of the town of Newton in behalf
of its own citizens, saved the remainder of the
water to its rightful proprietors. The settlement
caused much litigation.
It is said that salmon, shad and alewives used to
find their way, before dams were built, as far as this
point.
At the northeast corner of Boylston and Chestnut
Streets, Upper Falls, is a large, wooden house, which,
from 1808 to 1850, bore the name of the " Manufac-
turers' Hotel," a place of considerable business, where
merchants from Boston and the manufacturers of the
village held frequent sessions to discuss their mutual
interests.
The Lower Falls on Charles Rivee are two
miles below the Upper Falls. In 1703 John Lever-
ett, of Boston, conveyed to John Hubbard, also of
Boston, four acres of land at the Lower Falls, bound-
ed on one side by a forty-acre lot, then belonging to
Harvard University. This land has since been the
site of all the mills on the Newton side of the river.
In 1705 John Hubbard conveyed to his son, Nathan-
iel, one-half of this lot, with half the iron works
thereon, and half the dam, flume, stream and run-
ning-gear belonging to the forge. Jonathan Willard
erected here, in 1704, iron works, forge and trip-ham-
mer, which was the beginning of business at tha
Lower Falls. In 1722 Mr. Willard became sole
owner of the entire plant, and ^as the principal
man of the iron works and of the village for
nearly half a century. He was the first Baptist
in Newton, and a member of the First Baptist
Church in Boston ; and for many years he and
his daughter were the only professors of that faith.
Many kinds of business requiring water-power have
been carried on here, as iron works, saw, grist, snuff,
leather and paper-mills, calico-printing, machine-
shops, etc. But for the last half-century the manu-
facture of paper has been the leading industry.
Eight or ten paper-miils, in constant operation, have
supplied the traders and newspaper presses of Boston
and other cities and towns. The names of ex-Gov-
NEWTON.
17
ernor Rice and Hoq. Thomas Rice, an influential and
patriotic citizen, are prominent in tills manufacture.
The first paper-mill was erected by Jlr. John Ware,
son of Professor Ware, Sr., of Harvard College, in
1790, and father of Mrs. Eb nezer Starr, whose hus-
band was the physician of the Lower Falls. The
business was afterward enlarged under the manage-
ment of the Curtises, Crehores and Rices. The work
was at first done by hand ; but after the invention of
the Fourdrinier press, in England, the capacity of
manufacture was greatly enhanced. The first ma-
chine of this kind in use in the United States was
placed in a mill at the Lower Falls.
In 1800 there were only thirteen houses in the vil-
lage. The only post-office in Newton, previous to
1820, was at the Lower Falls. A stagecoach ran
from the Lower Falls to Boston three times a week.
The old Cataract Engine Company, at the Lower
Falls, is the oldest tire organization in Newton.
Their first tub was of wood, afterwards replaced by
copper. Stringent rules were adopted to prevent the
members from using spirituous liquors to an immod-
erate extent. The members paid an admission fee of
§5.00. The organization lasted from 1S13 to 184(>.
Paper-making has bsen carried on here for much
more than a century. The Crehore Mill, still in op-
eration, as well as others, has proved a benefit to the
whole country. Silk and hosiery manufactories and
machine-shops have also been among the industries
of the village. Mr. Isaac Hagar, of the Lower Falls,
wa.1 a member of the School Committee thirty years.
West Newton. — Early in the present century
West Newton became a kind of centre of several
lines of stage-coaches ; at one period as many as
thirty made it a regular stopping-place daily. The
private academy of Master Seth Davis, and his pub-
lic spirit, enterprise and taste, probably did more than
anything else in the first ijuarter of this century to
bring the village into prominence. The fixing of a
station of the Boston and Albany Railroad here was
among the important elements of its prosperity in
modern times. The Normal School removed hither
from Lexington, and the presence of those rare edu-
cators, Rev. Cyrus Pierce and Mr. Eben Stearns, the
head masters of it, and the influence of Horace Mann,
the first secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Edu-
cation, who lived in his estate on Chestnut Street
while he held that office, and the academy of the Al-
iens afterwards, and the educating influences of the
town-meetings held there, at one period, alternating
with sessions at Newton Centre, completed the circle
of elements which gave the village fame and distinc- j
tion. As early as IGGl Thomas Parker. John Fuller
and Isaac Williams were probably the only settlers in
this part of Newton. Thi- house of Isaac Williams
stood about thirty rods northeast of the site of the
present meeting-house. The old Shepard house was
near by, and, not far away, Peter Durell. The names
of Fuller, Park, Craft, Jackson and Captain Isaac
2-iii
I and Col. Ephraim Williams were among the most
I prominent. The Robinson farm, of 200 acres, cov-
ered what is now Auburndale, reaching to the river.
Here also was the Bourne house, Nathaniel Whitte-
more's tavern, in 1724, and John Pigeon, that sterling
patriot of the Revolution. Capt. Isaac Williams was
the ancestor of all of that name whom Newton delights
to honor, who shone in the pulpit and the field, as
scholars, statesmen nnd soldiers. Here also lived,
till 1739, Col. Ephraim Williams, whose will, estab-
lishing Williams College, has perpetuated his name
and fame. Two or three roads were laid out through
the Williams land, which are still among the most
important highways of the town. Dr.Samuel Wheat,
the village physician, in and after 1733, bought fifty-
five acres of this farm. In 1767, a hundred and three
years after the formation of the First Church in
Newton, Jonathan Williams and others petitioned
the town that money might be granted from the town
treasury to support preaching in the meeting-house
in the west part of the town in winter. The petition
was not granied ; but in 1778, eleven years later, by
order of the General Court, in October, a line was
drawn establishing and defining the West Parish.
This implies that the people had already quietly built
a church for their accommodation, in faith that their
reasonable request would at some future time be
granted. The action of the Court gave the inhabit-
ants liberty to elect to which parish they would be-
long. For the erection of this new parish was not
without opposition. The parish covered a wide ter-
ritory, and numbered not more than thirty-five or
forty families, and from fifty to sixty dwellings. The
first church built here, of very modest dimensions,
and afterwards enlarged, was, after a time, removed,
and became first the Town Hall, and when Newton
grew into a city, was again variously enlarged and
improved, and is now the City Hall. The three elm-
trees in front of what was the Greenough estate were
planted by fond parishioners. John Barbour kept
the hotel and set out the great elm before it. The
salary of Parson Greenough, the first minister in
West Newton, was £80 and fifteen cords of wood an-
nually. All the ministers of his day on public occa-
sions wore powdered wigs. Rev. Mr. Greenough
held on to the last to small clothes, knee-buckles and
shoe-buckles, and to the cocked hat, until the boys
followed him when he walked in the streets of
Boston.
As the settlement of Newton (Newton Corner)
was the beginning of Cambridge Village (Newton),
its growth in population and wealth has wonderfully
extended. The earliest station of the Boston and
Albany Railroad at this point, and until 1845-50,
was a small room partitioned oflf from the westerly
end of a harness-maker's shop. The village naturally
extended southerly towards Newton Centre, where the
meeting-house has stood since 1721, and onwards
toward Newton Highlands and Oak Hill, and later in
18
HISTORY UF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
every other direction. Farlow Park was the generous
gift of a citizen, Mr. J. P. Fariow,given on condition
that the-ground should be graded and adorced by the
city authorities. The first important streets in Cam-
bridge Village were made in this part of Newton, —
the road from Brighton westward (Washington
Street) and the Dedham Road (Centre Street). Non-
antum Hill, overlooking the village, was the home of
Waban, and here, among the wigwams, near the Eliot
monument, the apostle to the Indians first preached
to them the Gospel. Farther south, on Waverly
Avenue, was the home of Mr. John Kenrick, Jr.,
the first to embark in the nursery business in
the vicinity of Boston, and the Hydes, in the same
business on Centre Street, both descendants of the
first settlers. Mr. Kenrick was a man of substance,
the first president of the first Anti-Slavery Society in
the United States, and a liberal contributor to its
funds; also, an efficient helper of the temperance
reformation, and a friend of the poor and unfortu-
nate in his native town. He left a fund, still exist-
ing, to be loaned to enterprising young mechanics
just starting in business. In his vicinity lived Dr.
James Freeman, grandfather of Dr. James Freeman
Clarke. He was once pastor of King's Chapel, Boston,
and under his lead that ancient church passed from
the Episcopal faith to the Unitarian. Indian Lane
(Sargent Street) was probably a path olten trodden
by the aborigines, and hence its name. Cotton
Street, on the south side of the first cemetery, was
one of the great streets of the town, accommodating
all who came from " the east part,'' either to church
on the Sabbath or to Lieut. John Spring's mill, on
Mill Street.
Newtonville was chiefly known, in early times, as
the Fuller farm, the residence of Judge Fuller (whose
house occupied the same site now owned by ex-Gover-
nor Claflin}, and afterwards of his son-in-law, Gen.
William Hull. This land was part of the farm pur-
chased in 1638 of Thomas Mayhew, by Governor
Simon Bradstreet. Newtonville in 1842 was only a
flag-station of the Boston and Albany Railroad. A store-
house for the Miller Bullough's grain stood near the
track on Walnut Street, and an occasional traveler,
wishing the cars to stop for him, was obliged to raise
the flag. The establishment of the mixed high
school here, and, later, the high school for the whole
town, have given it importance.
Newton Highlands was chiefly known as the site
of Mitchell's Tavern, kept in later times by Nancy
Thornton, at the corner of Centre and Boylston
Streets, and Bacon's Tavern, afterwards the estate of
Dea. Asa Cook, wheelwright and undertaker, at the
junction of Boylston and Elliott Streets. These two
hotels caught the patronage of an extensive travel
before the days of railroading, and were also the
scene of convivial gatherings. A stone shop, for
the blacksmith's craft, at the corner of Woodward
Street, completed the conveniences of village life.
The railroad depot, of pink granite, was built by the
Boston and Albany Railroad Corporation in 18S6.
The station has been fated to wear various names.
The first was Oak Hill, though there was never a
more level plain, and the heights of Oak Hill were
far to the southeast ; then it became Newton Dale
and finally Newton Highlands ; but the high land is
a considerable distance away, to the southeast, south-
west and west. In this vicinity reside the twin
brothers Cobb, Darius and Cyrus, artists; they were
born in Maiden, where their father, Rev. Sylvauus
Cobb, was settled as a Universalist minister, and first
saw the light of this world in the same house and
the same chamber with the celebrated missionary to
Burmah, the Rev. Adoniram Judson.
AuBURXDALE anciently was beat known as the home
of the fervent patriot of the Revolution, John Pigeon.
His house afterwards became, for several years, the
Newton Almshouse. In 1800, within the present
limits of Auburndale, extending to the Weston Bridge,
there were only seven hoiisfs. The old Whiltemore
tavern stood near the bridge, at Woodland Avenue,
and was known as a house of entertainment in 1724.
The starting of the village is due to a casual conver-
sation in Newton Centre between Rev. Messrs. Gilbert,
of West Newton, and Rev. Chas. du Marisque Pigeon,
a scion o: the John Pigeon household, in reference
to Hull's Crossing, .is the possible site of a future
village, and a good place for the profitable investment
of funds. Lasell Seminary has been one of the chief
elements of its prosperity. The Rev. Mr. Pigeon and
Rev. Messrs. Woodbridge and Partridge, his neigh-
bors, in this ao-called "Saints' Rest," alter protracted
consultation, agreed, in memory of the liue,
" Sweet .\uburD, loveliest vitluge of the pluio,"
on the name Auburndale, which it has ever since en-
joyed.
The three new stations on the Newton Circuit Rail-
road, lying between Newton Highlands and River-
side, are just becoming the nucleus nf new villages in
Newton.
Eliot, near Elliott Street, and near the old toll-
house, still standing, on the former Worcester Turn-
pike, seems, from its spelling, to be designed as a
memorial of Rev. John Eliot, the apostle to the
Indians. Very near it is the house of the renowned
General Cheney, and the home of the Ellis family, the
birthplace of two distinguished Unitarian clergymen
of Boston, Rev. Messrs. Gtorge E. and Rulus Ellis.
The plain north of Eliot is said by geologists to have
once been an extensive lake, whose dark ooze is turned
up twenty or thirty feet below the surface. Singular
hollows exist, of funnel shape, at various points, at the
bottom of which large trees are growing.
Chestnut Hill, now a lovely and cultivated swell
of land, adorned with tasteful dwellings and evergreen
shrubbery, was for many years a dry and breezy ex-
panse of pasture. On Beacon Street, on the northern
NEWTON.
19
side of the hill, still stands the old Hammond house,
built in 1730, an ancient unpainted structure with its
rear facing the street, and the roof descending almost
to the ground. The ancient Kingsbury house was
the home of John Parker, who came from Hingham
in 1650. Its huge chimney and broad, uncomely
barns near the house, and mighty overhanging elm,
proclaim its age. In 1700 part of the estate passed
into the hands of Hon. Ebenezer Stone. The Dr.
Slade house, corner of Beacon and Hammond Streets,
was honored by the reception of Dom Pedro, Emperor
of Brazil, when he visited the United States in 1876.
The house of Judge Lowell was built by one of the
Hammonds in 1773, and remained in the family over
eighty years. It came to the Lowells after 1850.
Hammond's Pond covers about twenty acres. Thomas,
after whom it was named, was one of the three richest
colonists of Newton, the other two being John and
Edward Jackson. Another settler in this vicinity
was Vincent Druce, who built the house on the Denny
place, about 1695. Before the war of King Philip
Thomas Greenwood, the weaver and town clerk, lived
in this vicinity. Up to 1850 all Chestnut Hill, except
the forests and pasture lands, was occupied as market
gardens by Messrs. Kingsbury, Woodward and the
Stones.
Up to that time the streets were grassy lanes,
bordered by weeds and brush. In about 1850 an arti-
ficial channel was dug from Hammond's Pond, by
which the overflow w.is to be conducted into Smelt
Brook, thus increasing the power of the mill on Mill
Street, formerly Lieutenant John Spring's. The
grounds near the railroad station were laid out by
Frederick Law Olmstead. and the station itself is a
gem of architecture by the late H. H. Richardson, of
Brookline. The more recent inhabitants have been
sometimes called "the Essex Colony," because its
chief families originated in Essex County, Mass.; the
Saltonstalls and Lees being from Salem, and the
Lowells from Newbury.
Waban is said to have been a favorite hunting-
ground of Waban, the chief of the Nonantum Indians,
where he encamped spring and fall with parties of
his people, to hunt and tish along the banks of the
Quinobequin (Charles River). He was Eliot's first
convert, and it is fitting that these two villages, side
by side, should be a memorial of their relations, as
Gospel teacher and catechumen. The region now
constituting Waban was the farm of John Staples,
the first schoolmaster of Newton. The farm has
passed through several hands since his time, as Moses
Craft, 1729; Joseph Craft, 1753; William Wiswall,
1788; David Kinmouth, merchant of Boston, and
William C. Strong, whose extensive nurseries are
everywhere celebrated. Moffatt Hill, on this estate,
was so called after the name of a resident on it for a
brief period. When the new streets of Waban were
built to its summit, the name was changed to Beacon
Hill, because for several years the beacon of the
United States Coast Survey and of the State Survey
of Massachusetts was its most striking feature.
WooDLAjfD Station is chiefly interesting, thus
far. as the seat of the Woodland Park Hotel and the
Newton Cottage Hospital. Near the former is the
site of the old Stimson place, so called, well known
by residents of a hundred or more years ago. It owes
its importance to the station built here on the Newton
Circuit Railroad. Being continuous with Auburn-
dale, of which it is really only a suburb, the pleasant
scenery and palatial homes of that village are justly
claimed as belonging to both villages alike.
Riverside. — This station, the seat of Miss Smith's
Home and Day School, is the point between Wood-
land and Auburndaie, where the Charles River, just
below the tracks of the railroad, furnishes a delight-
ful naval station. Here the Boston and Albany Rail-
road sends off a branch from the main road to the
Lower Falls, and on the opposite side the circuit road
comes in from Newton Centre. The club-house of
the Newton Boat Club, and the romantic boat-build-
ers' shop on the river below, are the main features.
The club was organized in 1875, having now about
200 members. The boating-ground is about five miles
long, from Waliham to the rapids, near County Rock.
An annual gala day festival is held in the autumn,
when sometimes four hundred boats are in line.
The North Village, or Nonantum, was on both
sides of Charles River, and for many years known as
Bemis' Factory. All the land on the Newton side of
the river, from near the Watertown line to the north
end of Fox Island, for a century or more from the
first settlement belonged to Richard Park and John
Fuller and their heirs. This tract now belongs, by
cession of Newton, to Waltham. John Fuller had
seven sons. With some or all of them he went out
once upon a time to explore the surrounding wilder-
ness. At noon-day, hungry and weary, they sat down
to refresh themselves on- the banks of a brook with
cheese and cake ; and the stream hence acquired the
name of Cheesecake Brook. Previous to 1764 David
Bemis bought sixty-four acres of land on the Water-
town side, embracing all the land now covered by the
village on that side of the river. In 1778, in connec-
tion with Dr. Enos Sumner, who owned the land on
the Newton side, he built the original dam across the
river. A paper-mill was erected in 1779, and the
Bemises, father and son, carried on this business,
alone or in association with others, till 1821, when the
water-power was sold to Seth Bemis. Captain Luke
Bemis is regarded as the first successful paper manu-
facturer in Massachusetts. He had to overcome great
difficulties, and to import many of his workmen and
most of his machinery from Europe. But so important
was the manufacture to the interests of the country,
that when bis works were destroyed by fire, the Leg-
islature of Massachusetts voted a special grant to en-
able him to rebuild his mill.
While David Bemis and his son Luke were mann-
20
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUXTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
facturing paper on the Newton side of the river, the
former built a grist-mill and snuff-mill on the Water-
town side, which was inherited^ by his sons Luke and
Seth. The latter carried on successfully the manu-
facture of chocolate, dye-woods and medicinal roots
till 1803, and then turned his attention to cotton ma-
chinery. The profits derived from his cotton-warp
were said to be almost fabulous. With the aid of
foreign weavers, in 1808 or 1809, Mr. Berais began the
manufacture of sheeting, shirting, bed-ticking, satinet
and cotton-duck, Mr. Bemis being the first manu-
facturer of the latter article in the United States. In
1812 Mr. Bemis built a gas-house in connection with
his works. This is said to have been the first attempt
in the United States to manufacture coal-gas. Thus
carburetted hydrogen for illuminating purposes
gleamed out over the water of Charles River from the
windows of the Bemis factory and irradiated the in-
tervales of Newton two years before it was in use in
England.
For the first eighteen or twenty years the em-
ployees in this busy village were summoned to their
work by the blast of a horn. This led to the ludi-
crous name of " Tin Horn," long afterwards applied to
the village. From the original purchase in 1753 this
property was in the Bemis family a full century and
a quarter on the Watertown side, and nearly a cen-
tury on the Newton side. A bridge, which was pri-
vate property, was built across the river by the Be-
mises between 1790 and 1796. For ten or twelve
yards it was without railing. In 1807 the Watertown
end was carried away by a freshet, and only a foot-
bridge took its place for -two or three years. Anew
bridge was built for teams, but in 1818 the same end
was again carried away. The road leading across the
bridge was laid out as a public highway in 1816, and
in later times received the name of California Street.
Cemeteries. — The first cemetery in Newton was
that on the east side of Centre Street, opposite the
estate of the late Gardner Colby. An acre of land
was given by Deacon John Jackson " for a meeting-
house and for a burying-place." The firstchurch wasin
the centre of the cemetery. The place was afterwards
enlarged by another acre, given by his son, Abraham
Jackson; but no deed of this acre being recorded, and
a later heir setting up a claim to it, the town, in 1765,
relinquished the piece on the southwest corner,
bounded on Cotton and Centre Streets, and voted " to
settle the bounds and fence the burying-place, meas-
uring one acre and three-quarters and twenty rods."
An addition on the east side was purchased in 1834,
making the whole area nearly three acres. The
twenty-acre lot east of the cemetery was anciently
called Chestnut Hill. The first tenant of the ceme-
tery was the wife of John Eliot, Jr., the young pas-
tor. She was the daughter of Thomas Willett, the
first mayor of New York City, and died April 13,
1665. It is a singular coincidence that the wife of the
apostle Eliot, father of this John, is said to have been
the firil tenant of the Eustis Street Cemetery in Ro.^-
bury, where the Indian apostle also is buried. The
second is supposed to have been the young pastor
himself. On a mound not far from the entrance of
the cemetery, the two later pastors. Homer and Graf-
ton, who labored together side by side, the one a pas-
tor more than half a century and the other not much
less, .sleep under fitting monuments. Near the grave
of General William Hull is a spreading willow, raised
from a slip of a willow which grew on the resting-
place of Napoleon on the island of St. Helena. From
the time when the ceremony of Decoration day began
to be kept, Mr. Seth Davis, of West Newton, then a
nonagenarian, took pains, annually and alone, to
travel two miles from his home to lay his tribute on
the grave of General Hull. He was a friend of the
general, and thought he had been treated unjustly.
In 1823 the town erected a monument to the memory
of John Eliot, Jr., with a suitable inscription. The
descendants of the families of the first settlers erected
a conspicuous but modest monument in the centre
of this ancient cemetery in the year 1852, designed
to perpetuate ths memory of their early ancestors.
It is a piain obelisk or pillar, having recorded on it
the names of the first twenty settlers of Newton, with
the dates of their settlement and death, and ages at
the time of their death. The inscriptions on the other
three sides of the monument are as follows : Thomas
Wiswall, ordained Ruling Elder July 20, 1664. His
son, Enoch, of Dorchester, died November 28, 17C6,
aged seventy-three. Rev. Ichabod, minister of Du.x-
bury thirty years, agent of Plymouth Colony in Eng-
l.'.nd, 1690. Died July 23, 170(i, aged sixty-three.
Captain Noah,of Newton, an officer in the expedition
against Canada, killed in battle with the French and
Indians, July 6, 1690, aged fifty, leaving a son
Thomas. Ebenezer, of Newton, died June 21, 1691,
aged forty-five.
Rev. John Eliot, Jr., first pastor of the First
Church, ordained July 20, 1664. His widow married
Edmund Quincy, of Brainlree, and died in 1700.
His only daughter married John Bowles, Esq., of
Rosbury, and died ilay 23, 1687. His only son,
John, settled in Windsor, Connecticut, where he died
in 1733, leaving a son John, a student in Yale Col-
lege.
Deacon John Jackson gave one acre of land for
this burial-place and First Church, which was erected
upon this spot in 1660. Abraham Jackson, son of
Deacon John, gave one acre, which two acres form
the old part of this cemetery. Edward Jackson gave
twenty acres for the parsonage in 1660, and thirty-one
acres for the ministerial wood-lot in 1681. His widow,
Elizabeth, died September, 1S09, aged ninety-two.
On a green mound, not far from the entrance, stand
two white monuments, similar in form, dedicated to
the Rev. Dr. Homer and Rev. Mr. Grafton, pastors
for about half a century each over the neighboring
Congregational and Baptist Churches. They lived
NEWTON.
21
and labored side by side, in harmony, as faithful
shepherds, and in death they are not divided. These
monuments were erected by subscriptions of >^1.U0
each, through the energy of Mr. Thomas Edmunds.
A multitude were glad in this way to honor their be-
loved pastors.
Colonel Nathan Fuller gave to the West Parish for
a cemetery an acre and a half of land, in September,
1781, about the time of the settlement of the first pas-
tor. Rev. William Greenough. It lie.s about sixty rods
north of the meeting-house. The first tenant of the
cemetery was a young woman seventeen years of age,
who died of the small-pox. The first man buried
here is John Barbour, who kept the tavern near the
meeting-house, and set out the great elm in front of
icon Washington Street in 17G7. His widow mar-
ried Samuel Jenks, father of Rev. Dr. William Jenks,
of Boston.
The South Burial-ground, near the corner of Cen-
tre and Needham Streets, was laid out in 1802. A
committed of the inhab'.tants of the south part of the
town bought three-quarters of an acre of land of
Captain David Richardson for a cemetery. Part of
the ground was laid out in equal family lots for the
original subscribers. About 1833 Mr. Amasa Win-
chester gave to the town three-quarters of an acre ad-
joining, and the town purchased the cemetery of the
proprietors. This shaded nook was used for many
years for the convenieuce of families living in and
near Oak Hill and the Upper Fall.-'. The residents
of the Upper Falls had no other burying-place.
St. Mary's Parish, Lower Falls, was incorporated
by the General Court in 1813, and about the same
date two acres of land were presented to the corpora-
tion for the church and cemetery by Mr. Samuel
Brown, of Boston. One of the most interesting of
the memorials of the silent sleepers in this cemetery
is that of Zibeon Hooker, a drummer in the Revolu-
tionary War, who died aged eighty. His bass-drum
was perforated by a British bullet in the battle of
Bunker Hill.
The older cemeteries being small and crowded, and
the spirit of the times' demanding an improvement in
the matteroftheburialof the dead, the beautiful ceme-
tery on Walnut Street, near the centre of Newton, was
commenced in 1855. At first, thirty acres of land
were purchased, admirably adapted to such a use,
and later, thirty-five acres additional, extending from
Beacon Street nearly to Homer Street. Dr. Henry
Bigelow was the first president of the Board of Trus-
tees. Mr. Henry Ross was appointed superintendent
in 1861. The cemetery was dedicated by public ex-
ercises June 10, 1857 : prayer by Rev. D. L. Furber ;
address by Prof. F. D. Huntington, of Harvard Col-
lege. The gateway was completed in 1871. The Sol-
diers' Monument, near the entrance, was dedicated by
prayer and eloquent addresses July 23, 1864. The
oration was by Rev. Prof. H. B. Hackett,of the Newton
Theological Institution. It was one of the first
memorials, if not the first, erected in honor of the
patriots who fell in the Civil War. Hon. J. Wiley
Edmands headed the subscriptions for the monument
by a pledge of $1000. Nearly §1200 were raised by
pledges of one dollar each by the citizens of Newton ;
more than 1100 children of the public schools gave
one dime each. The monument and surroundioga
cost $5220.50 ; the land constituting the soldiers' lot
was given by the city. The entablature records the
names of 59 Newton men who sacrificed their lives
for their country. The chapel, built at an expense of
$20,000, was a gift of the city by J. S. Farlow, Esq.
One of the lots in this cemetery, called "the Mission-
ary Lot," belongs to the American Baptist Mission-
ary Union, where veteran missionaries, returning to
this vicinity and dyiug at home, may be buried, unless
their friends direct otherwise. The first to be laid
here was Rev. Benj. C. Thomas, 1869, for twenty
years a missionary in Burmah ; the second, Mrs. Ash-
more, missionary in China.
The Revolution. — Newton has been distinguish-
ed from the beginning by its patriotic and mi'itary
spirit. The Common at Newton Centre was given to
the town for a training-field forever, nearly two-thirds
by Jonathan Hyde and one-third by Elder Wiswall.
No deed of the gift remains, but it is known to have
been in possession of the town since 1711. In 1799 a
powder-house was built on it, on the east side, near
where Lyman Street begins, and stood about fifty
years. A second training-field, measuring 136 rods,
and bounded on all sides by townways, was laid out
at Newtonville in 1735, by Capt. Joseph Fuller, and
given "to the military foot company forever." But
after the Revolutionary War was ended, and the gov-
ernment established, this field was discontinued and
returned to the legal heirs. A large number of New-
tou's citizens bore military titles. In a register ex-
tending to the year 1800 there are two generals, nine
colonels, three majors, forty-oue captains, twenty-one
lieutenants and eight ensigns. In the events preced-
ing and accompanying the Revolution, " the inhab-
itants of Newton, almost to a man," says Mr. Jackson,
" made the most heroic and vigorous efforts to sustain
the common cause of the country, from the first hour
to the last." Oct. 21, 1765, ten days before the Stamp
Act was to go into operation, the town recorded its first
patriotic and revolutionary action in the form of in-
structions to Capt. Abraham Fuller, their representa-
tive to the General Court. The instructions closed
with these heroic words : " Voted that the foregoing
instructions be the instructions to the Representative
of this town, and that he is now enjoined firmly to
adhere to the same; also, that the same be recorded
in the Town Book, that posterity may see and know
the great concern the people of this day had for their
invaluable rights and privileges and liberties."
The General Court passed a series of resolutions
Oct. 29th, atfirmiag their conviction of the injustice of
an attempt to enforce the right of taxation on the col-
22
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
onists, without granting them at the same t'me the i of the passage of this act, they were not allowed to
right of representation. In consequence of the unjust j trade with any foreign country, nor export to Eng-
' land their own merchandise, except on British vts-
and oppressive act passed by the Parliament of Great
Britain, great riots took place in Boston. Governor
Hutchinson's house was sacked, and much property
destroyed. The people of Newton, in town-meeting
assembled, affirmed their abhorrence of this lawless
destruction of property, and instructed their repre-
sentative to use his influence to have the losses made
up out of the public treasury or otherwise, "as shall
seem most just and convenient." But the spirit of
opposition was not quelled. More than two hundred
merchants of New York held a meeting in which
sels. Iron abounded in the Colonies, but not an arti-
cle could be manufactured by the people ; all must
be imported. Wool abounded, but no cloth could be
manufactured except for private use ; and nota pound
of the raw material could be sold from town to town ;
but all must be sent to England, to be ultimately re-
turned as manufactured cloths, burdened with heavy
dulies. Beavers were plenty all along the streams;
but no hatter was permitted to have more than two
apprentices, and not a hat could be sold from one
they "resolved to import no goods from England i Colony to another. These are specimens of that vast
until the Stamp Act be repealed ; to immediately
countermand all orders sent for spring goods, and to
sell no goods from England on commission." The next
year the Stamp Act was repealed, and the gratitude
of the people found utterance in the erection of a
leaden statue of George III. on horseback on Bowling
Green, New York City. A few years afterwards, in a
revulsion of feeling on account of the tax on tea, this
same statue, the horse and his rider, was torn from the
pedestal and run into thousands of bullets by the
wife and daughters of Oliver Walcott, Governor of
network of restrictions upon trade-acd commerce in
which Great Britain encircled the thirteen Colonies.
"This was not alone. The Parliament added hu-
miliation to extortion. Navai officers acting under
the law were insolent towards Colonial vessels.
They compelled them to lower their flags in token of
homage, fired on them on the slightest provocation,
and impressed their seamen whenever they chose.
"The Mutiny Act, as it was called, required the
inhabitants of the Colonies to furnish quarters, and,
to some extent, supplies, for all the soldiers that
Connecticut. These bullets did good service to the i might be sent over from England to oppress them."
American patriots, subsequently, in the invasion of ! .September 22, 1768, a representative meeting was
Connecticut by the British soldiery, — a mine of am- j held in Faneuil Hall, Boston, forming a convention,
munition easily accessible and made ready to their ! to consult and advise such measures as the peace and
hand. j safety of the subjects in the Province may require.
In 1767 it was unanimously voted by the townsmen i Abraham Fuller was chosen unanimously .is a mem-
" strictly to adhere to the late regulation respecting I ber of this convention. The report of their commit-
funerals, and not to use any gloves but what are
manufactured here, nor procure any new garments
upon such occasions but what shall be absolutely
necessary." Also, " that this town will take all pru-
dent and legal measures to encourage the produce and
manufactures of this province, and to lessen the use
of superfluities, and particularly the following enum-
erated articles imported from abroad, viz.: loaf sugar.
tee was accepted at an adjourned meeting of the
convention, and "ordained to be printed in pam-
phlet form, and distributed agreeably to the original
vote."
"Jan. 4, 1772, Edward Durant, Charles Pelham,
Esq., Alexander Shepaid, William Phillips and Noah
Hyde were chosen a Committee to consider and re-
port what it may be proper for the town to do, relat-
cordage, anchors, coaches, chaises, and carriages of [ ing to the present unhappy situation the country is
all sorts, horse furniture, men's and women's hats,
men's and women's apparel ready made, household
furniture, gloves, men's and women's shoes, sole
leather, sheathing, duck, nails, gold and silver and
thread lace of all sorts, gold and silver buttons, wrought
plate of all sorts, diamonds, stone and paste ware,
snuff", mustard, clocks and watches, silversmiths' and
jewellers' ware, broadcloths that cost above ten shil-
reduced to by some late attacks made on our consti-
tutional rights and privileges."
In a brave and earnest report the committee pre-
sented live resolves, expressing the sense of the citi-
zens, which were unanimously adopted. These
resolutions affirmed that no good man can be silent
at such an alarming period, when such arbitrary
measures are taken as tend to the oppression of a free
ings per yard, muffs, furs, tippets and all sorts of j people; that the Colonists had been and were dis-
millinery ware, starch, women's and children's stays,
fire-engines, china ware, silk and cotton velvets,
gauze, pewterers' hollow-ware, linseed oil, glue, lawns,
cambric, silk of all kinds for garments, malt liquors
and cheese."
" This action of the citizens was provoked by the
Navigation Act, so called, of the British Parliament,
which restricted home industry in the Colonies, and
tended to destroy their commerce. In consequence
posed to be loyal to the mother country, so far as may
be consistent with their rights and privileges as Col-
onists; that no civil officer could safely be dependent
on the Crown for support, or on grants made by the
Crown; that all taxation without representation, for
the purpose of raising a revenue, is unconstitutional
and oppressive ; that the extension of the power of a
Court of Admiralty, and the introduction of a mili-
tary force into the Colony in a time of profound
NEWTON.
23
peace, and other measures of his Majesty's ministers
are a grievance of which we justly complain, and
must continue to do so, till they are redressed. These
resolves were committed to the representative, Abra-
ham Fuller, with instructions enforcing them, and
closing thus :
" We therefore think it proper to instruct yon, our representative in
General Aesemltly, that you unite in such measures as shall place the
j;nlse3of the Superior Court of .lu'licature of this Province upon a con-
stitutional hisis, and make, when that is ilotie, snitj*ble provision for
their support, utleqiiato to their merit and station.
'* We further instruct you that you use your uttnost en<learors that
alt our rights be restored and established 03 heretofore, and that a de-
cent, though manly remonstrance be sent to tlio Kins, assurin;; liis i
Majesty that universal discontent prevails in Aiuerica, and ULithiu;; will !
restore hai-uiony aud insure tbu attachmeut of the people to ttie Crown,
but a full restoratiuD of ull their liberties."
The selectmen of Boston having .»ept to the select-
men of Newton a circular in reference to the state of
public affairs, soliciting advice and co-operation, a
most patriotic answer was returned, applauding the
course taken by the town of Boston, and recommend-
ing as follows :
"We do recommend it 'to the Town, that they order the foregoing
rps*dve3 aud instructions to the rcpre-*entalive, and letter to the town of
Ilustou, to bo recorded iu the Town Book of Records lielouKing to the
Town, that posterity may see and know the great concern the people of
this day had for their invaluable rijhta, piivi'eges and liberties.''
At a town-meeting held December 20, 1773, a
''Committee of Five was appointed to draft such
measures as they shall think best for the town to
come into at this emergency, and report at the next
meeting." Also, " a Committee of Fifteen to cou-fer
with the inhabitants of the town as to the expediency
of buying, selling or using any of the Indian teas."
At an adjourned meeting held .Tanuary 6, 1774, the
committee of five reported the following resolves:
"We do with tirnuicss of mind, on njatui-e deliberation, estLiblish the
followin-.; resolves, viz. :
" I. That an .Vet pa-vsed in the last sessions of Parliament, empower,
ins the Honorable Last Imlia Company to e.tport tea to .Vnierica, subject
to a duty upon its arrival iu .Vmerica, is a fresh att.ack upon our ri.lits,
cniflily planned by a few of our inveterate enemies la the ministry, iu
onler to establisri a tax on us plainly contrary to the constitution of
England itself, and glaringly repugnant to our charier ; which we deem
a tjrievance greatly aggravate*! by the cruel partiality therein shown
against millions of hi> 3lnjcsty'8 loyal and good subjects in .\nierica, iu
favor of . I few, very few, opulent subjects iQ Uritain. This we cannot
brook, and do therefore solemnly bear testimony against it.
'■■i. That in justice to luirselves, our fellow-cilizens anil our posterity,
we cannot, norwtll, voluntarily and tamely submit to this or any bux
laid oQ ua for the express pnriHjso of raising t. revenue, when imposed
without our consent given Uy ourselves or our Representatives.
"3. That ;i3 part of f>e C.ilonies laboring under oppression, we are
determined to join the rest iu ail and e\ery lawful aud just iiiclhud of
obtaining redress, or preventing the oppression, uveu to the risk of our
lives and foiluues.
" 4. That all aud every person or persona, who have been, are, or
shall be advising or assisting iu the aforesaid, or any such acts, or are
active or aiding in the e.xecitlou of them, are, so far, at least, inimical
to this country, and thereby incur our just resentment ; iu which liglit
we shall view all merchants, tr.iileis and others, who shall helicefoith.
presume to import or sell .my India lea, until the diuy we so jnslly
complain <>f be taken olT.
"5. That we. each aud every one of lis, will not. directly or indirect-
ly, by ourselves or any fur or under tis, purchase or use, or sorter to be
used in our respective families any India tea. while such tea is subject
to a duly payalde upon its nrrival iu America; and recommend that a
copy hereof be transmitted to the Committee of Correspondence in Bos-
ton.
" 0. That a Committee of Corrcsponiience be appointed, to confer and
correspond with the Committees of any or all our sister towns in the
Province, as occasion may require."
The committee appointed in accordance with this
resolution were Edward Durant, William Clark, Cap-
tain Jonas Stone, Joshua Hammond and Captain
John Woodward.
The famous tea party in Boston Harbor took place
but a few days before the meeting took place which
reported these resolutions, and undoubtedly contrib-
uted to the unanimity and enthusiasm of the action
of the town. On the 16th December, 1773, a company
of men disguised as Indians, boarded three British
vessels at Liverpool Wharf, Boston, commanded by
Captains Hall, Bruce and Coffin, broke open with
their hatchets 342 chests of tea, and in less than four
hours mingled the whole with the waters of Massa-
chusetts Bay. Newton was represented on that occa-
sion by two or more of its citizens. One, in particu- •
hir, who drove a load of wood to market, stayed very late
on that day, and was not very willing the next morn-
ing to explain ihe cause of his detention. But as tea
was found in his shoes, it is easy to understand what
he had been doing. This was Samuel Hammond, son
of Ephraim, then a young man twenty-five years of
age, and ripe fi;r such an expedition.
A vote was passed by the town enjoining upon the
committee of fifteen " to lay before the inhabitants of
this town a paper or papers, that each of said inhabit-
ants may have opportunity to signify it under their
hands, that they will not buy, sell or use any of the
India teas, until the duties are taken off; and such
.as will not sign, to return their names to the town at
the adjournment.'' It does not appear that any one
refused to sign.
The Reconstruction Acts of 1774 were the crowning
acts of British oppression. The effect of these acts
was to cut otf almost every vestige of freedom which
remained, and to substitute for civil, martial law; to
prohibit town-meeting'', excepting twice a year, at
which the people could do nothing but elect their
town officers. Five thousand regulars were quartered
in B'ston ; the Common was occupied by troops and
the Neck fortified. Troops were sent to Salem to
disperse a meeting of citizens. The time for action
hail come. John Pigeon and Edward Durant were
appointed delegates to join the Provincial Congress
at Concord or wherever the Congress should meet. The
selectmen were requested, by vote of Newton, to use
iheir best discretion to provide firearms for the poor
who were unable to provide for themselves. Two
field- pieces were given to the town by John Pigeon,
and accepted with thanks. January 2, 1775, a com-
mittee was charged with the duty of obtaining eub-
scriptions to mount them. It was also voted to raise
men to exercise them. A committee, consisting of
Captains Fuller and Wiswall and Major Hammond,
24
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
was chosen to enlist thirty-two minute men, and to
add as many us they think necessary for oiBcers, to
meet once a week during the winter season half a day
for exercise; also, "that each man of the Company of
Minute-men be paid one shilling for half a day exer-
cising, and eight shillings a day for the eight officers,
over and above the one shilling each ; the Minute-
men to train once a week, at the discretion of the com-
manding officer."
April 19, 1775, the day of Lexington and Concord,
there were three companies of infantry in Newton —
the West Company, commanded by Captain Amariah
Fuller, the East Company, commanded by Captain
Jeremiah Wiswall, and a company of minute-men,
raised in 1775, commanded by Captain Pbineas Cook, —
all of which were in the batiles of that day, and
marched twenty-eight miles. The rolls of each com-
pany were returned to the secretary's office, and
sworn to by their commander as follows: West Com-
pany,105; East Company, 7f' ; minute-men, 37 — total,
218. Besides these, many Newton men not attached
to either of these companies were in the action. In
the West Company were thirty-seven volunteers, called
the alarm list, — men who had passed the age for mil-
itary duty. Among the members of the alarm list in
the West Company, Captain Joshua Fuller was seventy-
six years old, and Deacon Joseph Ward, sixty-nine.
Onlyone, Captain Edward Jackson, was under fifty. In
the East Company Noah Wiswall was seventy-sis ; Eb-
enezer Parker, seventy-three. Wiswall'sson Jeremiah,
was captain of the company, and two other sons and
some of his sons-in-law were in the same company.
The old veteran could not be induced to remain at
home, because, as he said, " he wanted to see what the
boys were doing;" and, when he was shot through
the hand by a bullet, he coolly bound up the wounded
member with his handkerchief, and brought home the
gun of a British soldier who fell in the battle. Both
the East and West Companies were in the battle of
Lexington.
The Bravery of Michael Jackson. — He was the
son of Michael Jackson, and about forty years of
age, and had been lieutenant in the French War. At
the opening of the Revolution he was a private in the
volunteer company of minute-men. At the early
dawn of April 19, 1775, a signal announced that the
British troops were on their march to Lexington and
Concord. The signal was a volley from one of John
Pigeon's field guns, kept at the gun-house at Newton
Centre, near the church. So '" the shot heard round
the world," according to Emerson, was fired from the
lips of a Newton cannon and at Newton Centre. The
company of minute-men were early on their parade-
ground ; but none of the commissioned officers were
present. The orderly sergeant had formed the com-
pany and a motion was made to choose a captain for
the day. Michael Jackson was nominated, and chosen
by uplifted hands. He immediately stepped from
the ranks to the head of the company, and, without a
word of thanks for the honor, or the slightest formal-
ity, he ordered the company, — "Shoulder srmsl Pla-
toons to the right, wheel ! Quick time 1 Forward
march ! " These few words of command were uttered
and the company were on the march to join the regi-
ment at Watertown meeting-house. On their arrival
there the commissioned officers of the regiment were
found holding a council in the school-house, and he
was invited to take part in their deliberations. He
listened to their discussions, but soon obtained the
floor, and affirmed that there was a time for all things ;
but that the time for talking had passed, and the time
for fighting had come. '' Not now the wag of the
tongue, but the pull of the trigger.'' This pro tempore
captain accused the officers of wasting time through
fear of meeting the enemy. He told them, if they
meant to oppose the march of the British troops, to
leave the school-house forthwith, and take up their
march for Lexington. He intended that his company
should take the shortest route to get a shot at the
British. And, suiting the action to the word, he left
the council, and took up his march. The blunt
speech broke up the council so that there was no con-
cert of action, and each company was left to act as
they chose. Some followed Captain Jackson ; .some
lingered where they were, and some dispersed. Jack-
son's company came in contact with Lord Percy's re-
serve near Concord village, and were dispersed after
exchanging one or two shots. But they soon rallied,
and formed again in a wood near by, and were joined
by a part of the Watertown company. They hung
upon the tlank and rear of the retreating enemy with
much elTect until they reached Lechmere Point (Etist
Cambridge I, at nightfall, and the British regulars took
boats for Boston. After they had rowed beyond the
reach of musket-shot, this company received the
thanks of General Warren, upon the field, for their
bravery. Soon afterwards. Captain Jackson received
a major's commission in the Continental Army, then
quartered at Cambridge, and was subsequently pro-
moted to the command of the Eighth Regiment in the
Massachusetts Line, than which no regiment was more
distinguished for bravery and good conduct during
the war. William Hull was a major in this regiment.
The sword of Michael Jackson did service at Bunker
Hill and in other conflicts of the Revolution. One of
his relatives presented it to the Newton Public Li-
brary, where it is now preserved.
On the same historic day Col. Joseph Ward, of
Newton, who was master of one of the public schools
in Boston, learning that the British troops were in
motion, left at once for Newton, mounted a horse, and,
gun in hand, rode to Concord " to encourage the
troops, and get a shot at the British.'' He also great-
ly distinguished himself at Bunker Hill, where he
served as aid-de-camp to Gen. Artemas Ward, and
held that office until Gen. Ward resigned in Decem-
ber, 1776. He rode over Charlestown Neck through a
cross-fire of the British floating batteries to execute
NEWTON.
25
an order from Gen. Ward, at which time a broadside
was fired at him by a Brit'sh man-of-war. He con-
tinued to hold important positions in the army, and
was honored by receiving the thanks of Gen. Wash-
ington in a letter written to him near the close of the
war, as follows :
'* You have my thanks for your constAut atteDtion to the buBiuessof
yoiii' department, the iimnner of its execution, und your ready and faith-
lul complhiuce with nil ruy orders ; and, I cnunot help adding on this
occa&iuu. for the zeal you have discovered at all times and under ail
circumstances to promote the good of the service in general, and tlie
great objects of our aiuse.
" George Washington."
Col. Thomas Gardner, who lived at what is now
AllstoD, had Newton men in his regiment. On the
16th of June, 1775, he received orders to be on Cam-
bridge Common with his regiment at daylight of the
17th. He was there, and ordered to Bunker Hill,
where he was mortally wounded, and his regiment
suti'ered severely, A man known later as " Daddy
Thwing," wlio lived near the Mitchell Tavern at
Newton Highlands, was a private soldier in that bat-
tle, and in his extreme age loved to repeat the inci-
dents of the tight, in which he was proud to have
been a partaker. We have spoken elsewhere of Zib-
eon Hooker, the drummer, whose drum was pierced by
a bullet at Bunker Hill. Major Daniel Jackson, of
Newton, was also in the battles of Bunker Hill, Con-
cord and Dorchester Heights. He is said to have
pointed the cannon which destroyed four British ves-
sels in the North River, for which service he was pro-
moted to the rank of lieutenant. Two new compan-
ies were raised in Newton not long after the battle of
Bunker Hill. Seventy-four of these men joined the
army at Cambridge March 4, 1776, to serve eight
months.
In the terrible struggle of the years which followed,
it is estimated that full 430, out of Newton's popula-
tion of not over 1400, served in the Continental army,
in the militia, and in the duty of guarding the cap-
tured army of General Burgoyne ; 275 enlisted in the
Continental army for a longer or shorter period. In
August, 1775, Captain Jos. Fuller, of Newton, raised
a company of ninety-six men and marched to Ben-
nington and Lake George, to oppose Burgoyne. The
same year sixty-four men enlisted for three years. In
1778 Captain Edward Fuller raised a company of
sixty-eight men. In 17S0 fifty-four men marched to
reinforce the Continental army. Mr. J.ickson says,
" The number of men who served more or less in the
Continental army and in the militia during the war
was about one-third of the entire population." Had
the war continued longer than it did, it seems impos-
sible that Newton should have furnished more men.
With an eye to the supply of gunpowder, March 4,
1776, the citizens of Newton, in town-meeting, ap-
pointed Alexander Shepard, Jr., Capt. Ephraim Jack-
son and John Pigeon a committee to use their influ-
ence to promote the manufacture of saltpetre. July
10, 1775, the whole number of the troops in Cam-
bridge was 8076 ; John Pigeon, of West Newton (Au-
burndale), was commissary-generitl. The East Com-
pany, of Newton (forty-seven men), and the West
Company (fifty-eight men), with a few others, on the
4th of March, 1776, marched, at the request of Gene-
ral Washington, to take possession of Dorchester
Heights, but as the British evacuated Boston March
17th, their service was of short duration. Many of
the citizens who, through enterprise and frugality,
had accumulated a small property, freely loaned it to
the town towards the expenses of the war. The
names of thirty-one citizens are on record in this hon-
orable list. Persons suspected of a lack of loyalty to
the cause of freedom were carefully examined and
two such persons were escorted out of the town.
On the 10th of May, 1776, the General Court pass-
ed the following resolution :
"ResoWeU, as the opinion of this House, that the inhabitants of each
town in the Colony ought, in full meeting, warned for that purpofie, to
advise the person or persons who shall be chosen to represent them in
the next General Court, that if the Houoruble Congress should, for the
safety of these Colonies, declare them independeut of the Kingdom of
Great Britain, they, the said inhabitants will solemnly engage vrith their
lives and fortunes to support them in the measure."
The town-meeting of Newton was held on the 17th
of June, 1776, that great anniversary, and the first of
the battle of Bunker Hill. Capt. John AVoodward
was moderator. The second article of the warrant
summoning the meeting was as follows :
"That in case the Honorable Continental Congress should, for the
safety of the American Colonies, declare them independent of the King-
dom of Great Britain, whether the inhabitants of this town will solemn-
ly engage with their lives uud fortunes to support them in the measure."
After debate the question was put and the vote
passed unanimously in the affirmative.
Newton was then only a little country town of
about 1400 inhabitants. But, as Mr. Jackson says,
'■ Newton men formed a part of every army and ex-
pedition, fought in almost every battle and skirmish
throughout the contest. Scarcely a man in the town,
old or young, able or unable, but volunteered, en-
listed or was drafted, and served in the ranks of the
army from the hardest fought battles down to the
more quiet duty of guarding Burgoyne's surrendered
army, partly by aged men.
The Declaration of Independence, adopted by the
Continental Congress in Philadelphia, July 4, 1776,
was received at once, and the Massachusetts Council
took immediate measures to give publicity to the
document, by ordering that a copy be sent to every
minister of each parish in every denomination with-
in this State ; and that they severally be required to
read the same to their respective congregations as
soon as divine service is ended in the afternoon, on
the first Lord's day after they shall have received it ;
and after such publication thereof, to deliver the said
Declaration to the clerks of their several towns or
districts, who are hereby required to record the same
in their respective town or district books, there to re-
main as a perpetual memorial thereof.
26
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
In obedience to the above order, the Declaration
of Independence was copied into the town records by
vote of the town, the citizens thus adopting the action
of the Continental Congress as their own.
Roger Sherman, a native of Newton, was one of the
committee who reported the Declaration to the Con-
gress in Philadelphia.
In March, 1777, a committee was appointed by the
town of Newton to hire soldiers, if need be, to make
up Newton's quota for the next campaign. Among
those of whom the town treasurer borrowed money i
under this vote, thiriy-oue in number, two were
women, and all but three were in the army — by a
double sacrifice, devoting their treasure as well as
their lives co the cause of freedom. The amount bor-
rowed was £2989 13s. Many loaned smaller sums,
whose names are not given. The town paid faithfully
to their soldiers the sums that were promised. Dur-
ing the entire continuance of the war Newton was
not backward in voting supplies of money and provis-
ions as they were needed by the army, in hiring sol-
diers and providing for the wants of the families of
those in the service. In 1779 a vote was passed to
raise more men ; the same again in June, 1780, and
£30,000 were appropriated to defray the expenses ; in
the following December, £100,000, depreciated cur-
rency, were appropriated for the same purpose. In
September, 1781, voted that £400 in silver money be
assessed ; in March, 1782, £800 ; in April, 1783, £1000 ;
in March, 1784, £1500.
Finally, October 19, 1781, the end came, and Lord
Cornwallis surrendered his whole array to Washing-
ton, at Yorktown, Va. Terms were agreed upon, and
the British army, to the number of about 7000 men,
marched out and capitulated as prisoners of war, with
seventy-live brass and ItJO iron cai:non, nearly 8000
stand of arms, l;_wenty-eight regimental colors and a
large quantiiy of munitions of war.
• "These records of the Town," says Mr. Jackson,
"and the facts here grouped together, will serve to
prove how fully, and at what sacrifices, the pledge of
1776 was redeemed. History, we think, will be
searched in vain to find a parallel to the indomitable
and long-contiuued exertion and devotion which, in
common, doubtless, with New England generally, the
inhabitants of this Town exhibited."
In consulting the military records of the Revolu-
tionary period, we find the names of the following
Newton men who bore oflSce among their fellow-sol-
diers: Col. Joseph Ward, aid-de-camp of Major-Gen.
Ward; Michael Jackson, colonel, and William Hull,
lieutenant-colonel of the Eighth Massachusetts Regi-
ment; Ephraim Jackson, colonel of the Tenth Mas-
sachusetts Regiment; Nathan Fuller, lieutenant of
the Thirteenth Massachusetts Regiment ; seven cap-
tains, nine lieutenants and two ensigns. Almost i
every one of the families of the early settlers of New- i
ton had their representatives among the soldiers of I
the Revolution. Forty-four descendants of Edward
Jackson, bearing the name of Jackson, were in the
armies, representing the patriotism and the military
spirit of Newton ; twenty-two bearing the name of
Fuller ; sixteen, the name of Parker ; fifteen, of Hyde ;
eleven, of Stone: nine, of Clark; six, of Seger.
Capt. Henry King, of Newton, was one of the guard
at the execution of Major Andre.
After the close of the war came a period which was
marked by few excitements. "Shays' Insurrection."
as it was called, ran its brief course, but, though so-
licited, Newton did not care to be embroiled in it.
The Baptist Church at Newton Centre was formed in
1780, and its first edifice built, but that was only a
matter of local interest. The most important event of
public concern was the settling of the Constitution of
Massachusetts. A State Convention met in 1778, to
agree upon a form of a Constitution. The plan of the
proposed Constitution was, in due time, reported to
the Convention, and submitted to the people of New-
ton, as to the other towns. It was read publicly and
fully debated, and rejected. The voters present num-
bered eiahty, of whom only five favored its accept-
ance. The ne.'ct year a new form was proposed to
the town and approved, and the people of Newton
held their first town-meeting under it in 1780, for the
election of Governor, Lieutenant-Governor and five
Senators from Middlesex County. Hon. John Han-
cock received the whole number (eighty-six) of votes
for Governor. The votes for Lieutenant-Governor
were about equally divided ; Benjamin Lincoln had
twenty-six and Azor Orne, twenty-five. For Sena-
tors, Josiah Stone and Abraham Fuller had forty-one
and forty votes respectively; the other three Senators,
forty, thirty and twenty-three each. At the first
meeting for the choice of Presidential electors, De-
cember 18. 1788, Nathaniel Gorham and Abraham
Fuller had eighteen votes each, and were chosen. At
the same meeting, Nathaniel Gorham was elected
Representative for the District of Middlesex in the
Federal Government. Four times in twenty years
the vote of Newton for Governor was unanimous,
viz.: in 1780, 1782 and 1784, for John Hancock; and
in 1794 for Samuel Adams. From 1789 to 1800 the
citizens were apparently very negligent of the right
of suffrage ; twice in that period the votes cast were
over 100 (118 and 117); seven times, less than fifty;
average for twenty years, about fifty-nine. The
smallest vote was four only, in the year 1785, for John
Hancock, his sixth nomination ; after one year they
returned to him again for six years.
The War of 1812 was unpopular with the people of
Massachusetts, and the people of Newton expressed
very clearly their disapproval of it and remonstrated
against it. Gen. William Hull, of Newton, who was
at that time Governor of the Territory of Michigan,
two or three weeks after the declaration of war, col-
lected an army of upwards of 2000 men, and crossed
the line into Canada, as if he designed to attack Mon-
treal. But, hearing that the Indians had invaded his
NEWTON.
27
territory, and that the British forces were near at
haad, he retreated, and was besieged by Gen. Brock,
in Fort Detroit. Feeling that he was not adeq^iately
supported by his Government with arms and ammu-
nition to sustain an attack, he surrendered to the
British general. For this act he was tried by a court-
martial and condemned to be shot ; but recommended
to the mercy of the President, on account of his dis-
tinguished services in the Revolutionary War, and
pardoned. Many thought his condemnation unjust.
He afterwards published a defence of his conduct.
If any of the citizens of Newton were in any of the
contiicts of the War of 1812, they must have engaged
in the service as individuals only, and no record of
the facts remains.
For a considerable period following the war there
were few incidents claiming a place in the history of
Newton. It was mainly a season of silent growth,
and preparations for the stirring periods to come.
The most important events were the founding of New-
ton Theological Institution, and the slow unfolding of
the educational !ipirit, which issued in the change
from district to graded schools, from a lower, though
necessary, intellectual training, to the broader meth-
ods of modern times. But thia long period was not
without its excitements. These arose from an agita-
tion, which lasted many years, in reference to a di-
vision of the town. AH the villages were disposed
along the edges of Newton and remote from one
another, generally not less than two miles apart. The
First Church was established at the centre of the town,
and in 1830, " after the separation of the civil and ec-
clesiastical state in the Commonwealth of Massachu-
setts, the proprietors of the First Parish meeting-
house objected to having the town-meetings holden
there." The proprietors judged that the time had
come when the town ought to have a place tor hold-
ing its meetings, which should be provided at the
town's expense, and be under the town's control. The
residents of the four villages, Newton Corner, West
Newton, Newton Upper Falls and Newton Lower
Falls, had no special interest in the Centre of the
town, except that they must travel thither, twice at
least every year, to the town-meeting3; nor any inter-
est in one another; nor had the Centre any interest
in them. Neither business nor social interests, nor
the worship of God on the Sabbath, bound them to-
gether. As early as 1807, the infelicity of the situa-
tion began to press itself upon the attention of the
citizens ; and they endeavored to meet it by distrib-
uting the town into five wards, and ordering that one
selectman and two surveyors should be chosen from
each ward. For several years they lived in peace
under this arrangement. But in 1830 the ^-ituation
became a matter of heated controversy, which lasted,
with varying aspects and with great vigor, full a
quarter of a century. Methods without number were
proposed; to divide the town into two separate, in-
corporated organization', now by one line of division
and now by another ; to hold the town-meetings in
rotation in the meeting-houses of the several villages ;
to build a town-house, now in one village, and now
in another, and now in the forest in the geographical
centre of the town ; and again to build two town-
houses, one at the Centre and one in the village of the
West Parish. The controversy was so earnest that it
parted friends, and embittered the relations of social
life. A serious proposal was made to set off the
Lower Falls to Needham or Weston, but the question
was at once dismissed. April 19, 1841, an historic an-
niversary, a vote was passed to appoint a committee
to consider the division of the town ; December 22d
following, another historic day, the vote was recon-
sidered. If the town were divided, where should the
line of separation be drawn ? And which portion
should retain the old and venerable name, and which
should content itself with a new one, abandoning the
prestige of its honorable history ? The solution of
the question was aided by the cession of the extreme
southern part of the town to Roxbury, in 1838, and
the " Chemical Village," about 600 acres, in the
northwest part, in 1844, to Waltham. The residents
in those remote parts of the town were thus relieved
from the necessity of traveling many miles to the
town-meetings, whether held in West Newton or in
Newton Centre. But the minds of the citizens were
gradually coming together. In 1848-49 a vote was
passed by the towu to hold the town-meetings in
West Newton. And on the 12th of March, 1855, a
resolution was passed " that the inhabitants of New-
ton will oppose any and all measures for the division
of the town, and that they will regard with disfavor
the disturbance of their peace and harmony by the
further agitation of the subject." The motion was
carried by a very large vote. Many who had taken
part in the agitation in its earlier stages belonged to
a former generation, and had long since passed away.
And now, as one great and populous city, one wide,
wealthy and prosperous organization, with its
churches, its schools, its libraries, its Fire Department,
its gas and electric works, its water works, its tele-
graphs and telephones, and all its common interests,
perhaps not a citizen walks in the streets of Newton,
through its whole extent, who is not glad that the
whole is bound together and cemented in one peace-
ful union.
Churches.' — Second Congregational Church, We$i
Nexvton. — During the ministry of Mr. Meriam in the
First Church, as early as 1760, meetings were held
in the west part of Newton, a century after the for-
mation of the First Church, and a Second Parish in
Newton was thus distinctly foreshadowed. At first,
subscriptions were solicited to build a meeting-house,
and a minister was hired to teach school during the
winter season and to preach on the Sabbath. About
I The history of the First Church is given in a separate article, by
ReT. D. L. Fiirl'er. U.D.. ^aslot emeriiui.
28
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTr, MASSACHUSETTS.
eight rods of land for the meeting-hoiiae were sold to
the Building Committee by Phineas Bond, innholder,
for £2 Ss., bounded on his own land and land of
Isaac Williams. The meeting-house was forty-three
by thirty feet. In 1767 Jonathan Williams and
others petitioned the town that a sum of money might
be granted to support preaching in the meeting-house
in the west part of the town in the winter season.
The request was refused. The petitioners renewed
their request in 1770, 1772, 1773 and 1774, trying the
virtue of importunity. In 1775 they petitioned the
General Court for a grant from the town treasury to
support preaching four months, though it is not clear
that that body had any right to assume the manage-
ment of the finances of an incorporated town. In
1778 the General Court granted an act of incorpora-
tion, setting off West Newton as an independent par-
ish. The church was organized October 21, 1781,
with twenty-six members. The First Church granted
to the organization four pewter tankards and one
pewter dish for the communion service ; the Second
Church in Boston gave a pulpit Bible, and Deacon
Thomas Greenough, father of the pastor, Rev. Wil-
liam Greenough, who was elected November S, 1781,
presented a christening basin, two flagons and two
dishes for the communion service. One who was pres-
ent at the ordination service writes ; "A small hou.ae
and a little handful of people." Mr. Greenough's
pastorate continued fifty years and two days. In
1812 the church was enlarged and a gallery, spire and
belfry added. The house, when Dr. Gilbert began
his ministry in West Newton, had fifty windows, above
and below, without blinds, and two^oors. The poet's
"dim, religious light" had no place there. The
church was furnished with square pews, seats hung
on hinges, and no "great waste of paint, outside or
in." The gallery was occupied by children or tran-
sient people, and the seats were never very lull.
The second meeting-house was dedicated March 29,
1848. The parish included that part of Waltham,
south of Charles River, since ceded to Waltham by
Newton, Auburndale, Newtonville and Lower Falls,
a territory which then included only fifty-five or sixty
dwelling-houses. Dr. Lyman Gilbert, then a young
man, was elected colleague pastor and ordained July
2, 1828. The new church was extensively repaired
in 1870. A parsonage was erected in 1866. The
church has had five pastors: Rev. William Green-
ough, 1781-1831; Rev. Lyman Gilbert, 1828-56;
Rev. Joseph P. Drummond, 1856-.57 ; Rev. George
B. Little, 1857-60; Rev. H. J. Patrick, I860—.
The Sabbath-school was first held in a f chool-house,
the pupils numbering from twenty to forty. The
school was held only in summer. The Newton Sab-
bath-school Union, embracing all the Sabbath-schools
in the town, was formed in the church at West Newton.
First Baptist Church, Newton. — The first Baptist
residing in Newton, of whom we have any account,
was Mr. Jonathan Willard, of the Lower Falls. For
some years he and his daughter were alone, being
members of a church in Boston. In 1749 Noah Par-
ker was added, who was also a member in Boston. In
connection with the preaching of George Whilefield
a New Light Church was formed in the southeast
part of Newton about 1740. The majority of the
members, after a time, became Baptists, and the first
Baptist Church, of which they were the nucleus, was
organized July 5, 1780, the public services being held
in the house of Mr. Noah Wiswall, since the estate
of Deacon Luther Paul, opposite the lake in Newton
Centre. Elhanan Winchester was an effective preacher
among them, and many of his name were among the
early members. Mr. Wiswall received forty pounds a
quarter as rent forthe room in which the meetings were
held. Often, iu mild weather, the congregation as-
sembled under the large elms which still overshadow
the yard. Mr. Wiswall gave the land for the build-
ing of the first church, which still stands, altered into
a dwelling-hou.ie, on the west side of Centre Street,
on the border of the pond, and where the congrega-
tion continued to wor.ship till December, 1836. It
was fourteen years from the date of the vote to build
till its completion, the congrejration, in the mean time,
worshiping in the unfinished building. The house
was enlarged in ISOo. In 1795 the society voted " to
procure a stove forthe warming of the meeting-house."
It W.1S also voted " that the singing be carried on in
a general way by reading a line at a time in the fore-
noon and a verse at a time in the afternoon." The
last service held in the old edifice wa.s the funeral of
the aged pa-stor, Mr. Gralton, December, 1836, when
a new church, erected on land given for the purpose
by one of the members, !Mrs. Anna (King) White,
was ready for occupancy. The present stone edifice
was erected in 1888. The following have been the
pastors: Rev. Caleb Blood, 1780-87; Rev. Joseph
Grafton, 1788-1836; Rev. F. A. Willard, 1835-38;
Rev. S. F. Smith, 1842-54; Rev. O. S. Ste.irns,
1855-68; Rev. W. N. Clarke, 1869-80; Rev. Edward
Braislin, 18S1-86 ; Rev. L. C. Barnes, 1887—.
First Relir/ious Soclttij, Newton Upper Falls. — A
religious society was formed in Newton Upper Falls
without a church and without denominational pledges,
— the first in the village, — in consequence of the gift
by the Elliott Manufacturing Company, of land for a
meeting-house, that the people might be supplied with
religious privileges without the necessity of traveling
full two miles away from their homes. The meeting-
house was begun in 1827, and dedicated February' 27,
1828. The pulpit was supplied chiefly by Unitarian
ministers. In 1832 the building was sold for a Method-
ist Church, and the first religious society was dis-
solved.
Universalist Church at Newton Upper Falls. — A
Uoiversalist Church was organized at Newton Upper
Falls in 1841, and a meeting-house erected on High
Street, and dedicated in Jlay, 1812. There were
twenly-two proprietors. Rev. Samuel P. Skinner
NEWTON.
29
was the only pastor. He served about three years,
after which the pulpit was occupied by various sup-
plies. After a career of six or seven years the
society was dissolved. The church building became
useful as a village hall, denominated Elliott Hall
for several years, and finally was utilized for a private
residence.
The Second Baptist Church of Newton was organiz-
ed at Newton Upper Falls in 1835, with fifty-five
original members, dismissed from the First Baptist
Church, Newton Centre. The meeting-house had
already been built by proprietors, of whom Mr.
Jonathan Bixby was the most prominent, aud was
dedicated March 27, 1833. The pastors have been
Origen Crane, 1836-40; C. W. Dennison, 1842-43;
S. S. Leighton, 1840-17; Amos Webster, 1848-
54 ; William C. Richards, 1865-71.
Methodist Episcopal Church, Newton Zipper Falls. —
The church edifice of the " Religious Society of
Newton Upper Falls" passed into the hands of
the Methodist people in 1832, and the Methodist
Church was 'organized November 11, 1832, with fifty-
three members. The pastors best known have been
Rev. Charles K. True, who was the first minister, and
Rev. Z. A. Mudge, known also as an author. Mar-
shall S. Rice, of Newton Centre, bought the church
edifice of the original proprietors for $2660 on his
personal responsibility. In 1836, enlarged and im-
proved, it was conveyed to the First Jlethodist Epis-
copal Church in Newton. In 18S3 a bell was placed
in the tower, which served twenty-eight years, and,
having been cracked, was replaced by a better one in
1861. The church has been since that date repeatedly
enlarged and altered. Two large rock maple trees in
front of the church were pulled up out of the grass in
New Ipswich, New Hampshire, by Mr. Rice in 1835,
and brought home in his chaise-bos. Three similar
trees in front of his housa at Newton Centre, have a
similar history.
St. Mary's Church, Xeiiiton Upper falls (Catholic). —
The lirst Roman Catholic services in Newton were
held at the Upper Falls from time to time, as early as
1843, and there was a Roman Catholic missionary
here from 1852 to 1864, who purchased an acre of land
for a church site. The Catholic Church was built in
1867, and enlarged in 1875, so as to accommodate
about 1000 hearers. The parish embraces a large
territory, including the Catholic population of Need-
ham, Newton Upper Falls, Newton Lower Falls
and Newton Centre as far as Beacon Street.
St. Mary's Church, yeicton Lower Falls (Episcopal). —
For more than fifty years St. Mary's Episcopal Church
was the only church at Newton Lower Falls, and
people of that persuasion in all Newton, Need-
ham and Weston united in its support. April
7, 1812, an Episcopal parish was organized. Services
were held first in the school-house, and afterwards in
a hall at the corner of Main and Church Streets, con-
ducted by candidates for the ministry. The parish
was incorporated in 1813. Mr. Samuel Brown, of
Boston, gave the parish two acres of land for a church
and cemetery. The corner-stone was laid by the
Society of Free and Accepted Masons, September 29,
1813, and the house dedicated April 29, 1814. Bishop
Griswold preached the dedication sermon. Services
were conducted by various clergymen till November,
1822, when the Rev. Alfred L. Baury was ordained
priest and rector. The number of fi).milie3 in the
parish in 1847, when Mr. Baury preached his quarter-
century auniversary sermon, was over one hundred.
The rectors have been Rev. A. L. Baury, 1822-51 ;
Rev. Henry W. Woods, 1851-.53 ; Rev. Andrew
Crosswell, 1853-56; Rev. Henry Burroughs, 1856-
58 ; Rev. A. F. de Costa, 1859 ; Rev. W. W. Sever,
1860-65; Rev. Joseph Kidder, 1865-68; Rev. R.
F. Putnam, 1868-75; Rev. Henry Mackay, 1876-
82 ; Rev. B. T. Hutchins, 1883-84 ; Rev. William
G. Wells, 1885—.
Methodist Episcopal Church, Newton Lower Falls. —
A separate charge, known as the Methodist Episco-
pal Church of Needham and Newton Lower Falls,
began to hold worship in Wales' Hall, Lower Falls,
in April. 1867, and afterwards in Boyden Hall and
Village Hall. A church edifice wa%erected and dedi-
cated in 1889. The Village Hall was purchased by
the society for its permanent place of worship, pre-
vious to the erection of the church.
The Eliot Church, Nevrton. — Among the most eflS-
cient promoters of the Eliot Church, at Newton, were
Deacon William Jackson and family, descendants of
the founders of the First Church in the town of New-
ton or Cambridge Village, as it was then called,
180 years before. The Eliot Church was organized
in 1845 with thirty-seven members, thirty-one of
whom were dismissed from the First Church to con-
stitute the new body. The comer-stone of the First
Church edifice was laid March 19, 1845, and the
building dedicated, and at the same time the church
re-organized by an ' Ecclesiastical Council, July 1,
1845. The first pastor was ordained December 3,
1845. The congregation increased so much, in con-
nection with the gradual growth of the village, that
better accommodations were demanded. The church
was therefore sold, and removed a few yards farther
north, and changed into a hall, called Eliot Hall,
and afterwards destroyed by fire. A new church was
erected on the site of the former one, very large and
commodious, built of wood, with tall steeple, bell and
clock, and dedicated April 4, 1861. Cost, $42,500.
So far as known, twenty-one young men of this church
and congregation enlisted in the army during the war
for the preservation of the Union. This church was
burned in 1887, and the present edifice of stone took
its place. It was dedicated in 1889. Pastors, Rev.
William S. Leavitt, 1845-53; Rev. Lyman Cutler,
1854-55 ; Rev. J. W. Wellman, 1856-73; Rev. S. M.
Freeland, 1875-78 ; Rev. Wolcott Culkina, 1880—.
Unitarian Church, Newton. — The Unitarian Church
30
HISTOKY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, iMASSACHUSETTS.
of Newton held its first meetings in Union Hall. The
society was formed in 1851, and the Sabbath-school
in 1852. Dr. Henry Bigelow was tbe first superin-
tendent. The first pastor was Joseph C. Smith. The
first church edifice was erected on the south side of
Washington Street, and after having been occupied
for several years, was changed into an armory for
military drill, and the new and beautiful building of
stone was erected on Farlow Park. During the war
sixteen members of the congregation served in
the army. Pastors : Rev. Joseph C. Smith, supply
for four years ; Rev. Edward J. Young, 1857-69 ;
Rev. Eli Fay, 1870-73; Rev. George W. Hosmer,
1873-79 ; Rev. F. B. Hornbrooke, 1879—.
Newton Baptist Church. — Worship was begun by
this society in Middlesex Hall, April 10,1859; re-
moved'April, 1860, to Union Hall. The church was
publicly recognized July 12, 1860. The first church
building was erected at the corner of Washington and
Hovey Streets, and dedicated March 16, 18G4. When
the cellar was dug, the remains of five Indians were
found in the soil, two feet below the surface, ai.so
several arrow heads and copper coins, one of them
dated 1720 or 1729, indicating that the spot might
have been once afi Indian burying-ground. Pastors :
Rev. Gilbert Robbing, 1860-61; Rev. J. Chaplin,
1862-63; Rev. J. Tucker, Jr., 1865-70; Rev. Thomas
S. Sampson, 1873-80; Rev. H. F. Titus, 1880-88;
Rev. George E. Merrill, 1890 — . Theold church edifice
was sold and the location abandoned, and the new
edifice of stone erected on Church Street, and dedi-
cated in 1888. The plans were drawn by the celebrated
architect, H. H. Richardson, E=q., who was the
architect of Trinity Church, Boston.
Grace Episcopal Church, Newton. — The parish of
Grace Church was organized in the parlor of Mr.
Stephen Perry, corner of Galen and William Streets,
just across the limits of Ntwton, in Watertown. The
services were first held in Union Hall. The corner-
stone of the first church building was laid May 28,
1858, and the church erected on the southeast corner
of AVashington and Hovey Streets. It was Gothic in
style, and suifed to accommodate 225 hearers. Cost,
$4000. The first rector, Rev. John Singleton Copley
Greene, erected a parsonage and gave it to the parish.
The present stone edifice, on Farlow Park, was first
used in December, 1873. The chime of bells was
given by Mrs. Elizabeth T. Eldredge, the first chime
introduced into Newton. Rectors : Rev. J. S. C.
Greene, 1855-64; Rev. P. N. Steenstra, 1864-69; Rev.
Henry Mayn, 1870-72 ; Rev. Joseph H. Jenckes,
1872-74; Rev. George W.Shinn, 1875—.
Methodist Church, Newton. — The Methodist Epis-
copal Church in Newton held its first service in
Union Hall in April, 1864, and the church was recog-
nized in the same place. The church building, on
Centre and Wesley Streets, was dedicated September
26, 1867. The land where it stands was originally
low and wet, but was raised by filling, forming an
eligible lot, as well for the church and parsonage as
for the Methodist Orphans' Home.
The "Church of Our Lady Help of Christians." —
This Roman Catholic Church, standing on the cor-
ner of Washington and Adams Streets, was com-
menced November 1, 1872 ; the corner-stone laid
August, 1873, and the first service held in the base-
ment, November 1, 1874. The conspicuous lot on
which it is erected was a rough gravel bank when the
church was erected. Until August, 1878, the parish
included part of Watertown, Newton Centre and New-
tonville.
The Newton and Watertown Universalist Society was
incorporated in 1827, and built a meeting-house just
across the boundary of Newton, in Watertown,
which was dedicated in 1827. A church was formed
in 1828. Fourteen ministers in succession supplied
the pulpit. The society was dissolved about 1866,
and the building utilized as a school-house. The bell
was sold to the Second Baptist Society, Newton Upper
Falls, and removed thither. The communion service
was " a set of silver plate, formerly the property of
the First Universalist Church of Boston " (corner of
Hanover and Bennett Streets), and " one of the cups
was brought from England by Rev. John Murray,"
who founded the Universalist Church in Gloucester,
Massachusetts, and was the first minister of that faith
in this country. The communion set is now in the
possession of the Universalist Society in Newtonville.
The Evangelical Congregational Church of Auburn-
dale was constituted November 14, 1850, with thirty-
four members, and religious services were held for
several years in the village hall. The church was
dedicated July 1, 1857. During a violent storm,
March 4, 1862, the steeple was blown down and fell
upon the roof, causing much damage to the building.
For two or three years the pulpit was supplied by
resident clergymen, Rev. Sewall Harding, Rev. J. E.
Woodbridge and others. Pastors: Edward W. Clark,
1857-61 ; Augustus H. Carrier, 1864-66; Calvin Cut-
ler, 1867—.
The Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church of Au-
burndale began in weekly meetings, held in the
house of Mr. John Mero, August, I860. Afterwards
the services were held in a school-house. The first
preacher was George W. Mansfield, Noverabep 18,
1860. The church at first numbered twelve mem-
bers. In July, 1865, the hall where they worshipped
was destroyed by fire, and a chapel was soon alter
built on Central Street, and dedicated May 25, 1867.
A new church was dedicated in 1889.
Church of the Messiah of West Newton and Auburn-
dale. — Previous to 1858 worship according to the
Episcopal form was held in a hall at Auburndale.
The hall having been burned, the services, for a
season, were suspended, but resumed in the Village
Hall, West Newton, July 16, 1871, and continued
thereafter in the hall or the Unitarian Church ; and
then, for several months in 1877, in the chapel of
NEWTON.
31
Lasell Seminary. A church edifice was begun in
1880, on Auburn Street, Auburndale, built of the
brown freestone once used in building the Baptist
Church in Rowe Street, Boston, which had been taken
down and the place of worship transferred to Claren-
don Street, on account of the demand for business
houses in the original locality. Rectors: Rev. N. G.
Allen, Rev. C. S. Lester, 1872-73; Rev. H. W. Fay,
1873-75 ; Rev. F. W. Smith, 1875-77. During a va-
cancy Rev. George W. Shinn officiated in addition to
hia work in Newton. Rev. Henry A. lletcalf is the
present rector. In 1888 a commencement was made
of an English Gothic church of brown stone, the pres-
ent building being utilized as a portion of the new
structure.
7 he NoHh Eranqelicnl Chnrcli, JS'onantum, com-
menced June 2, 1861, with a Sabbath-school in the
railroad depot at Bemis' Crossing, on the Watertown
side of the Charles Rivf r. A chapel was afterwards
erected on Chapel Street, ou land given for the pur-
pose by llr. Thomas Dally, at a cost of about $1200;
this chapel was afterwards enlarged, as the growth of
the society demanded it. The church was organized
July 11, 1866. Rev. Samuel E. Lowry, the first pas-
tor, wa.s ordained October 21, 1867. The chapel was
burned June 2, 1872, and replaced by a stone edifice
on the same site, which was dedicated October 16,
1873 ; the cost, .S18.000, was fully paid before the ded-
ication. Pastors : Rev. Samuel E. Lowry, who died
in office-, and Rev. W. J. Lamb.
St. Bernard's CUUolic Church, West Newton. — The
corner-stone of the church was laid November 12,
1871, and the church dedicated about 1874. Cost,
about S38,000. Rev. Bernard Flood was the first offi-
ciating priest. Rev. JI. T. McManus was pastor from
1876. In 1888 the church was burned, but imme-
diately rebuilt and dedicated in 1889.
yewton Hiijlilands Conriregational Church. — Meetings
were first held in Farnham's Hall in November, 1871,
a church and chapel erected in 1S72, and after nearly a
year the meetings were removed from the hall to the
chapel. The church was dedicated in 1875 ; the land
on which it stands was given by Mr. Moses Crafts.
The church was organized June 13, 1872, with twenty-
seven members, of whom twenty were dismis-^ed for
that purpose from the First Church, Newton Centre.
The church has had but two pastors : Rev. S. H. Dana,
1871-77; Rev. George G. Phipps, 1877 — .
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Xewton Highlands. —
The church building, a modest structure of wood, built
in 1884, stands on Walnut Street. The first rector.
Rev. Carlton P. Milis.'remained in office till the close
of 1889, when he became rector of a church in Kala-
mazoo, Mich. Near the close of his period of service
he was instrumental in the commencementof an Epis-
copal parish at Newton Centre as a mission of St.
Paul's, which, after his transferral, was cared for by
members of the Episcopal Theological Seminary at
Cambridge.
Episcopal Church, Newton Centre. — Worship was
first commenced in 1889, Rev. Carlton P. Mills,
rector of St. Paul's Church, Newton Highlands, offi-
ciating. The services were held in the small hall of
the building of the Newton ImproTement Associa-
tion.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, Newton Centre, be-
gan with a weekly meeting in the old engine-house in
June, 1875. In January, 1876, a Sabbath-school and
preaching services followed. It was regarded at first as
a mifsion station of the Methodist Church at Newton
Upper Falls. In October, 1877, provision was made
for permanent preaching by a stated supply. The
late Marshall S. Rice left by will one thousand dollars
to the society for a church edifice. The church was
organized in 1879. Hon. Alden Speare, ex-mayor
of Newton, purchased the lot of land at the corner of
Centre and Station Streets, and presented it to the
society for a church, which was dedicated July 7,
1880.
The Unitarian Church, Newton Centre, was begun in
I the fall of 1877 by residents of Newton Centre and
I Newton Highlands. The firat service was held in a
I hall in the brick block on Station Street, commencing
; November 11, 1877. The church was dedicated July
I 1, 1880. The only pastors have been Rev. Rufus P.
] Stebbins and Rev. Horace L. Wheeler.
The Central Congregational Church, Newtonville, was
recognized by public services September 8,
1868; original members, thirty-six. The Methodist
Chapel, corner of Washington and Court Streets,
was bought by members of the society, and opened
for regular services April 8, 1868. The building has
been twice enlarged. Pastors : Rev. Joseph B. Clark,
1868-72: Rev. James R. Danforth, 1873-74; Rev. E.
Frank Howe, 1876-82 ; Rev. F. W. Gunsaulus, 1883-
85; Rev. Pleasant W. Hunter, 1886-89; D. Henry
Taylor, 1890—.
The Universalist Society, Newtonville, was the out-
growth, in 1870, of the extinction of the Newton and
Watertown Universalist Church and a society in
Waltham. The first meeting was held in a small hall
in Newtonville Square, and later in Tremont Hall.
The society was legally organized in 1871, and the
church dedicated June 26, 1873. It is built of stone,
in the Elizabethan Gothic style, to accommodate 300
hearers. Cost, about 820,000. Rev. J. Coleman
Adams, the first pastor, was ordained December 19,
1872. In 1880 he removed to Lynn and afterwards to
Chicago. His successors have been Rev. C. E. Nash,
1881-84 ; and Rev. Rufus A. White.
The Methodisl Episcopal Church, Newtonville, began
in a Methodist class formed in 1857. The first public
meeting was held in a piano- forte wareroom March
24, 1860, and the services were afterwards removed to
Tremont Hail. A chapel, since belonging to the
Central Congregational Church, builtby Hon. William
Claflin and Mr. D. Lancey, on the corner of Wash-
ington and Court Streets, was hired, and dedicated ia
32
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
April, 1860, in which year the church was formed
with twenty-four members. The brick chapel near
the railroad station, begun by another society and
sold by them before it could be fini^ihed, on account
of embarrassment owing to the removal of members,
was purchased by the Methodist Society, completed,
and dedicated in 1863.
The Swedenborgian Society, or New Church, Newton-
vilie, began with services in the dwelling-houses of
Mrs. Davis Howard and Mr. T. H. Carter, soon after
1846, and aftenvards were continupd in the Village
Hall. In eleven and a half years the services were
held in four different halls. In 1868-69 the chapel
now occupied by the society was built on Highland
Avenue, the site having been given for the purpose
by Mr. T. H. Carter, and dedicated April 11, 1869. A
society of twenty-nine members was instituted, and
Rev. John Worcester installed December 26, 1869 — .
In 1886 a handsome structure of stone was erected in
the rear of the chapel for the convenience of social
gatherings and other meetings in the interest of the
church. The society has been a prosperous one,
having more than doubled the number of its original
members.
Chestnut Hill Chapel was dedicated in October,
1861. Rev. W. A. Whitwell (Unitarian) was the first
pastor, followed by Rev. A. B. Muzzey and Rev. John
A. Buckingham. Soon afterwards Unitarian services
were discontinued, the number of worshipers of that
faith having declined.
<S<. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Chestnut Hill, under
the charge of Rev. Arthur W. Eaton, commenced
services here after the Unitarian worship was discon-
tinued, and an Episcopal parish is now (1890) about
to be formed, a temporary rector being supplied from
the Episcopal Theological Seminary in Cambridge.
Thompsonville Chapel was erected by private sub-
scription by members of the First Baptist Church,
Newton Centre, and dedicated November 9, 1867, as
a locality for a Mission Sabbath-School and other
meetings. At the end of eleven years not a Sabbath
had passed without a public service. In this part
of Newton, in 1750, the New Light excitement began
under Mr. Jonathan Hyde, and after the lapse of a
century religious services were again inaugurated.
TTie First Baptist Church of West 2\'ewton is a con-
tinuation of the organization which began at Newton-
ville October 23, 1853, in Tremont Hall. This was
the first church of any denomination in Newtonville.
The church was organized with sixteen members, and
publicly recognized April 20, 1853. The brick chapel
near the railroad station in Newtonville was com-
menced by this church, but the subscriptions being
insufiicient to meet the expense of building, and the
society being depleted by the removal of members,
the site and structure, as it stood, unfinished, was
sold to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and com-
pleted by them for their church edifice. After a tem-
porary suspension of services, the members voted,
June 5, 1866, to revive their organization and to hold
their meetings thereafter in West Newton, and to take
the name of the Firit Baptist Church in West New-
ton. Meetings were held in the Village Hall till their
church on Lincoln Park was finished and dedicated
August, 1871. Pastors : Rev. B. A. Edwards, 1851 ;
Rev. R. H. Bowles, 1866 ; Rev. R. S. James, 1869-70;
Rev. William Lisle, 1870-75; Rev. T. B. Holland,
1875-78 (died while in office); Rev. O. D. Kimball,.
1883-89 ; Rev. D. W. Faunce, 1890—.
First Unitarian Church, West Xewton. — Meetings
were held in the hall of the brick hotel, Washington
Street, opposite Centre Street, in the summer of 1844,
and again in 1847. In the fall of 1848 Rev. William
Orne White was ordained the first pastor and a church
organized. The services were held in the Village
Hall till 1860. A church edifice was dedicated
November 14, 1860, enlarged in 1867 and again in
1879. Pastors: Rev. William Orne White, 1848-50;
Rev. W. D. Knapp, 1851-53; Rev. Charles E. Hodges,
supply for a year; Rev. Washington Gilbert, Joseph
H. Allen, two years each; Rev. W. H. Savary, Rev.
J. C. Zachos, Rev. Francis Tiifany, Rev. J. C.
Jaynes.
The Myrtle Baptist Church (colored) was organized
September, 1874, with twenty members. The first
pastor was Rev. Edward Kelly. The chapel was dedi-
cated in 1875. The church has often been without a
pastor and its pulpit has been dependent on supplies
mainly from the Newton Theological Institution.
The Church of Yahveh (Second Advent), at Newton
Upper Falls, was organized April IS, 1886.
Slavery. — From the records of Newton it appears
that slavery, in a mild form, existed many years ago
within its borders. The laws of Maajachusetts allowed
the sale into slavery in foreign countries of some In-
dians, supposed to be loyal to the colonists, but who
took part against them in King Philip's War. This
prompted John Eliot, the apostle to the Indians, to
send a petition to the Governor and Council in 1675,
protesting against the measure. In 170.^ a duty of
£4 w&s laid on every negro imported into the town of
Boston, and the few persons engaged in such traffic
took their cargoes into the southern Colonies or the
West Indies. The negro trade declined about the
period of the Stamp Act, and in 1788 it was prohib-
ited by law. The abolition of slavery began to be
discussed as early as 1766, and was warmly pursued
for several years in pamphlets, speeches and news-
paper articles. Slaves in the families were generally
treated as kindly as if they were children. During
the period from 1681 to 1802 about thirty-seven slaves
were held by about twenty-five owners ; one person
owned four, two owned three each, five two each,
about seventeen one each. Mrs. Fitch, mother of
Mrs. Rev. Jonas Meriam, owned a slave woman, whom
Mr. Meriam bought of his mother-in-law for SlOO ;
one day, when he saw her treated unkindly, he im-
mediately set her free. The last slave in Newton was
NEWTON.
33
an iucumbrance on the estate of General William
Hull, Tillo (Othello) by name, who enjoyed much
liberty, apparently working only when he chose to do
so. He steeps in the old cemetery beside his master.
Jonathan Jackson had a slave (Pomp) who was in the
Revolutionary War, and set free in 1776. He settled
afterwards on the banks of " Pomp's Pond," in An-
dover. Others of the Jacksons were slave-holders,
but the wrong has been nobly retrieved by the sturdy
opposition to slavery of Hun. William Jackson, Mr.
Ftancis Jackson, leaders of the Liberty and Free-Soil
parties in Massachusetts ; Hon. Horace Mann, a citi-
zen of Newton ; Mr. John Eenrick, first president of
the American Anti -Slavery Society, and many others.
Temperance. — As the Rev. Mr. Eliot took the
lead in protesting against selling human beings into
slavery, so, also, he took the lead against the sale of
intoxicating drinks. In 1648. about the time of his
first preaching to the Indians, he presented a petition
to the General Court, begging " that there might be
but one ordinary in all Boston who may have liberty
to sell wine, strong drink, or any strong liquors unto
the Indians ; and whoever shall further them in their
vicious drinking, for their own base ends, who keep
no ordinary, may not be suffered in such asinne with-
out due punishment." In 1816 it is stated that Dr.
James Freeman, of Nonantum Hil), " allowed no rum
on his place, but paid his men a dollar a month extra
in commutation therefor." De'iember 15, 1826", a
meeting was held in Newton which took active meas-
ures on the subject of Temperance, and addressed a
circular to all the inhabitants of the town to awaken
general interest in it. A meeting was held at the
school-house in Newton Centre early in January,
1827, to form a temperance society, and twenty -seven
members subscribed their names. This is supposed
to have been the second town organization of the
kind in New England, the first being at Andover.
Notwithstanding some opposition, hundreds were
added to its ranks. Weekly meetings were held in
West Newton, which resulted in the formation of a
library for the intellectual improvement of the mem-
bers. It was denominated " The Adelphian Library,"
and was furnished with several hundred volumes.
Through this association was originated the Newton
Institution for Savings. At the weekly meetings
various subjects were presented and discussed, so that
the temperance society was substantially a literary
society of a high order, and its meetings were numer-
ously attended. At the second anniversary, Dr. Gil-
bert delivered a discourse on temperance, which was
printed and widely distributed. It was one of the
first publications advocating the doctrine of total ab-
stinence. The town from time to time passed resolu-
tions engaging to execute the laws of the State of
Massachusetts, regarding the sale of intoxicating
liquors. In April, 1850, the selectmen were appointed
a committee to prosecute all violators of the liquor
law of the town. In 1853 a vote was passed not to
3-iii
license any to sell intoxicating liquors. In 1862 a
certificate was issued to a single individual, signed
by the whole Board of Selectmen, appointing him
sole agent for the sale of intoxicating liquors in New-
ton, under the laws of the Commonwealth, for the
year ending May 1, 1863. In 1864 the town- assumed
the responsibility of all such sales through its ap-
pointed agent, the stock of liquors being deposited at
the alms-house. In 1870 the town voted " that no
person shall be allowed to sell ale, porter, strong beer
or lager beer, in the town of Newton." This vote
was repealed May, 1871, and from that time the sub-
ject of temperance has been left to the laws of the
State, magistrates being appointed to execute them,
and to the voluntary efforts and influence of the citi-
zens.
The Fire Department. — The Cataract Engine
Company, at the Lower Falls, is the oldest fire organi-
zation in Newton. It was 125 years after the incor-
poration of the town before any public provision was
made for extinguishing fires. Previously, all build-
ings were submitted only to the protection of Provi-
dence, or, in case of fire, to the benevolent exertions
of the public. In 1813 the Legislature of Massachu-
setts granted authority to certain residents of Newton
Lower Falls to form a fire-engine company. The ad-
mission fee of members was five dollars. The com-
pany bought their own engine, fire-buckets and other
machinery.
Though the temperance, movement had not yet
been inaugurated, except in the formation in Boston
of the " Massachusetts Society for the Suppression of
Inteniperance," the engine company made stringent
rules to prevent the members from the immoderate
use of spirituous liquors. Many of the prominent men
of the village and town belonged to the organization.
They held monthly meetings at the village inn, be-
sides the annual " Enginemen's Supper," which was
always regarded as a great occasion. From time to
time, at subsequent dates, the town appropriated money
to purchase engines and ladders for the several vil-
lages, and gradually increased the pay of fireman and
the quantity of apparatus, till, in 1878, the amount of
property of the Fire Department, in buildings, land
and machinery, including the fire-alarm telegraph,
was valued at $148,100. The first fire-warden chosen
was Solomon Curtis, of the Lower Falls, in 1818. In
1823 eight fire-wards were chosen, and in 1824, ten.
In 1823 a vote was passed " empowering the select-
men to bnild engine-houses when and where they may
deem them necessary, provided that the proprietors
of the engine or engines will provide land at their
own expense to build said houses upon." In 1824 a
vote was passed by the town, offering a reward of $300
for the detection of incendiaries guilty of canning the
late fires in the town. In 1825 there were engine* at
the Upper Falls, Lower Falls, Newton Centre, West
Newton and Elliott Factories, and four fire-wards
were chosen to each, which were increased in nnnaber
34
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
in 1826 and 1827. In 1835 $1000 were appropriated
to put the engines in repair or to purchase new ones.
It was part of the duty of the tire-wards to provide
refreshments for the tngiuemen and others who may
come from neighboring towns to aid in extinguishing
fires, and to present the bills to the selectmen for
payment. In 1842-43 $600 were appropriated for
fire purposes to each of the villages of the Upper
Falls, Lower Falls, West Newton, Newton Centre and
Newton Comer. In 1849, by vote of the town, the
firemen were allowed five dollars each and the abate-
ment of their poll-tax, in compensation for their ser-
vices. The Fire Department, however, caused much
anxiety to the wisest of the citizens. It was di£Bcult
to decide how much liberty should be granted to the
several companies, and yet how they should be kept,
so far as waa necessary, under the control of the select-
men of the town. And the question seems not to
have been fully solved until the city government was
established, and the whole matter subjected to muni-
cipal regulation. In 1867 there were six engines. In
May of that year the tirst steam fire-engine was intro-
duced at Newton Corner, and a bell for fire-alarm
purposes at West Newton. An appropriation was
made for a steam fire-engine at West Newton in 1871,
and for Newton Centre in 1872, and shortly after-
wards the fire-alarm began to strike the noon hour in
ever)' part of the city. In 1889 the Fire Department
of Newton consisted of three steamers, five hose com-
panies and one hook-and-ladder company, with ap-
propriate buildings and horses.
Almshouses. — In 1731, more than forty years after
the incorporation of Newton as an independent-town,
the citizens voted to build a work-house ; so they de-
nominated the place of shelter and comfort for the
poor, probably dreading lest the benevolence of the
town might be imposed upon by artful persons, seek-
ing to be supported in idleness. In .1734 the first
Board of Overseers of the Poor was chosen. In 1763
a vote was again passed to build a work-house,
twenty- four feet by twenty-six, and one story high,
" on the town's land near Dr. Xing's, or some other
place," and appropriating fifty pounds for that- pur-
pose. In 1768 a code of regulations for the work-
house was reported to the town by a committee prev-
iously appointed, and accepted. These rules indicate
a spirit of strictness and severity which, in these
days, seems gratuitous, but they may have been justi-
fied by the circumstances of the age. In 1818 the
house and land formerly belonging to John Pigeon,
in Auburndale, were bought for an almshouse, the
price paid being $2500 ; there was also a mortgage on
the farm of $1500. This continued to be the locality of
the almshouse till it was relinquished by the town, and
a lot purchased and the necessary buildings erected
near the residence of Mr. Matthias Collins, and in the
vicinity of what is now the new village of Waban.
It was among the regulations that the poor who were
able should regularly attend church. In this last lo-
cation sittings were provided for them in the Method-
ist Church at Newton Upper Falls. Forty or fifty
years ago, Divine service used to be held in the din-
ing-room of the house, and the ministers of the town
in rotation preached ou Sabbath evenings. When it
was Dr. Homer's turn to preach, it is said he always
used to preach sitting.
Thl Home fok Okphan and Destitute Girls,
first established in Newton Centre, '.vas opened in De-
cember, 1866, in the house which was erected as the
boarding-house of the Newton Female Academy —
Mrs. Rebecca R. Pomeroy, superintendent. The
house having been destroyed by fire, the Home was
removed to the house of Mr. Ephraim Jackson, and
after a short experiment in the new quarters, discon-
tinued. But one or two of the inmates became the
nucleus of another Home of similar character, also
under Mrs. Pomeroy, and which has pursued its be-
nevolent work for many years in a large dwelling-
house on Hovey Street, Newton Corner.
The Pine Farm School for boys, at West Newton,
in charge of the Boston Children's Aid Society, was es-
tablished in 1864. It has continued to be a fountain of
good to many of the poor waifs from the streets of
Boston, where they are educated, and taught to sup-
port themselves by some handicraft, which may ren-
der them blessings to society and honored in the
world. The farm, of twenty acres, is situated one mile
from West Newton. The house is very old, being the
old Murdock place. Alterations were made in it, for
the time, and a new house was built later. The boys
remain at the Home from six months to two years or
more, helping in all departments of the work of the
institution. Out of school-hours they are also em-
ployed in farming, printing, knitting and the use of
tools. The barn was destroyed by fire in 1877, and a
new one built in its place.
The Home for the Children of Missionaries
(Congregational) was established in 1S6S on Hancock
Street, Auburndale, as a private enterprise by Mrs.
Eliza H. Walker, widow of Rev. Augustus Walker,
missionary in Turkey twelve or fourteeu years. The
children of missionaries are boarded here at moder-
ate cost, and have all the privileges of the public
schools, and the advantages of other residents, and all
the influences of a Christian home. The institution
has been very prosperous, and the building greatly
enlarged. The house was built for Mrs. Walker by
her father, Rev. Sewall Harding.
The Wesleyan Home for the Orphan Chil-
dren OF Missionaries and others, connected with
the Methodist Episcopal Church, is on Wesley Street,
Newton. It was commenced in 1884, in a house given
for the purpose by Hon. Alden Speare. The sum of
$20,000 has been given by Hon. Jacob Sleeper, of
Boston, as an endowment.
The Missionary Home at Newton Centre
{Baptist) was established in 1880 by the Woman's
Baptist Foreign Missionary Society, with the un-
NEWTON.
35
derstanding that missionaries, or their friends, in
their behalf, should pay annually $200 for each
child received, the society standing responsible
for any deficit. Two children of Rev. S. B. Par-
tridge, missionary in China, were the first to enter
the Home. The building which it occupies, at the
junction of Centre and Willow Streets, was erected
at the expense of the society in 1881-S2,and enlarged
in 1889. Mrs. McKinlay, widow of a Scotch clergy-
man, has been the competent and admirable superin-
tendent from the beginning.
A Singing-School for the whole town was taught
in 1780 by a Mr. Billings, well-known as the composer
of many popular tunes. This was at the time when
the " New Light " excitement in Newton began to
have influence, and created a fondness for social sing-
ing. Another singing-school was taught in Newton
Centre in 1805-06, in the old Deacon Ebenezer White
house, which formerly stood on the site of the brick
block, near the corner of Centre and Pelham Streets.
Another was held at West Newton in 1821, and sev-
eral in following years. In 1816 there was a musical
society in the town, called St. David's Musical Soci-
ety, which sometimes held its meetings at Bacon's
Hotel, on Boylston Street, afterwards the home of
Deacon Asa Cook, Newton Highlands. The Newton
Musical Association was formed at Newton Corner in
1861. This society, besides several concerts, sacred
and secular, gave a number of performances of a high
order, with much success — the oratorio of the " Mes-
siah," five times; the" Creation," four times; ''Elijah"
and " Samson," once each, and Mendelssohn's " Hymn
of Praise," twice. At the first National Jubilee
Peace Concert, held in Boston in June, 1869, 221
members from Newton attended, and aided during
the entire performace ; and at the second, in June,
1872, 300 participated.
The Newton Scnday-School Union was organ-
ized December 18, 1838, representing, at the begin-
ning, only sis Sunday-schools, but aftei wards all the
Sunday-schools in Newton. The association held
anniversary exercises for the children of all the
schools on the 4th of July, 1839, with a procession of
children, addresses and a collation, in a grove at
Newton Upper Falls ; in 1840, in a grove at Newton
Centre, when there was a procession of 1300 to 1500
children, and an audience of between two and three
thousand was present at the exercises, followed by
music and a collation. The third anniversary was
celebrated by services in the First Parish Church,
Newton Centre, and a collation in a grove near* the
pond. The fourth anniversary was at the Methodist
Church, Newton Upper Falls. After that date the
children's celebrations of July 4th were dropped.
The twenty-fifthacniversary was held at Eliot Church,
October 16, 1863. The contributions of the Union
have been devoted to the support of .a Sunday-school
missionary in destitute places in the Western States.
The Newton Natural History SoniExy was
formed in October, 1879, for the purpose of awaken-
ing an interest in natural history with special refer-
ence to the locality of Newton, and lo gather speci-
mens in the geology and mineralogy, and in the flora
and fauna of Newton and its vicinity. The society
keeps its collections of minerals, birds and other
curiosities in a room in the Newton Free Library.
The Claflin Guard was organized in September,
1870, by fifty young men of Newton, and was assigned
to the First Regiment Massachusetts Militia, and
designated as Company L. An elegant American
flag was presented to the company by the ladies of
Newton, May 30, 1871. The first captain was Isaac
F. Kingsbury, 1870; the second, John A. Kenrick,
in 1878. The name of the company was adopted in
compliment to the Governor of the State, an honored
resident of Newton.
Water-Works. — .4t a regular town-meeting held
in April, 1871, a committee was appointed to investi-
gate tl^e best method of supplying the town with
water, and to report at a subsequent meeting. The
committee reported November 13, 1871, in favor of
taking water from Charles River, and the same com-
mittee were appointed to petition the Legislature of
Massachusetts for full power to carry the report into
efiect. By an act paosed in 1872 the town of Newton
was authorized to take " from Charles River, at any
convenient point on the same within said town, suffi-
cient water for the use of said town and inhabitants,
not exceeding one and a half million gallons daily,
for the extinguishment of fires, domestic and other
purposes." This act was accepted by vote of the
town May 27, 1872.
The work, however, was delayed. Many d'labted
the expediency of engaging in so expensive an under-
taking. Others doubted as to the best source of sup-
ply, maintaining that the ponds and'streams within
the borders of Newton would be preferable to the
water of Charles River. In accoi dance with the
views of this portion of the citizens, an act was ob-
tiined from the Legislature in 1874, "authorizing the
city to take and hold the water of Hammond's Pond,
Wiswall's Pond, Bullough's Pond and Cold Spring
Brook, all in Newton, for fire and other purpoHes,
together with the waters which flow into the same,
and any water-rights connected therewith." And
this act was accepted by the City Council October 20,
1875.
In 1874 the citizens were called upon to vote by
ballot, " Yes " or " No," on the question, " Shall the
City of Newton be supplied with water for fire and
domestic purposes at an expense not exceeding six
hundred thousand dollars, in accordance with the
special Act of the Legislature of 1872, chapter 304,
authorizing the same? " The vote was taken by bal-
lot December ], 1874, and resulted in "yeas," 928;
" nays," 443.
Three wati-r commissioners were appointed Decem-
ber 9, 1874, — Royal M. Pulsifer, Francis J. Parker
36
HISTORY OP MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
and fi. R. Bishop, — who reported in May, 1875, rec-
ommending as a source a " well at a point on Charles
Eiver, above Pettee's Works at the Upper Falls ; "
advising the use of a reservoir for distribution, and
estimating the cost at not over $850,000.
The order constituting the Board of Water Commis-
sionera was passed June 2, 1875 ; and on the 7th of
Jane the commissioners, the same as above, were
elected by the City Council. Their first formal meet-
ing was held June 16th. The board was organized
by the choice of Royal M. Pulaifer chairman and
Moses Clark, Jr., clerk. On the 12ih of June, 1875,
it was voted to purchase the reservoir site on Waban
Hill. October 25th work on the pump-well was com-
menced, and October 28th the first pipe was laid on
Washington Street, near Woodland Avenue. Janu-
ary 7, 1876, the commissioners voted to request the
City Council to ask of the Legislature authority to
take land in the town of Needham for the water-
works. In compliance with the petition, a law was
enacted by which the city of Newton was authorized
■'to take and hold, by purchase or otherwise, any
lands within the town of Needham, not more than
one thousand yards distant from Charles River, and
lying between Kenrick's Bridge, so called, and the
new bridge near Newton Upper Falls, on Needham
Avenue, and to convey water from the same to and
into said City."
Water was first pumped into the reservoir on
Waban Hill October 30, 1876, and the hydrants sup-
plied with water along forty-eight miles of street
mains. The first service pipes were laid in October,
1876, and the number of water-takers two years later,
in 1878, was about 1600. The coat of the works to
November, 1877, was $766,157.22 ; the amount of the
appropriation was $850,000; leaving an unexpended
balance of $83,842.78. The reservoir on Waban Hill
holds fifteen million gallons. Seven artesian wells
were sunk in 1886, capable of drawing from the sub-
terranean currents three hundred thousand gallons
per day, supplementary to the supply from Charles
River.
CoNDuira OF the Boston Water- Works pass-
ing THKOUGH Newton. — The conduit of the Boston
Water-works from Lake Cochituate passes through
the whole extent of Newton from west to east, from
Charles River, near the Upper Falls, to the Chestnut
Hill Reservoir. The conduit enters Newton a little
below the village of the Upper Falls. The groond
for this aqueduct was broken August 20, 1846, and
water was introduced into the city of Boston with
imposing ceremonies October 25, 1848. The Newton
Tunnel is excavated through porphyritic rock of ex-
treme hardness, 2410 feet in length. Two perpen-
dicular shafls on the Harbach property, between the
estates of the late Messrs. N. Richards Harbach and
John W. Harbach, were sunk to a depth of about
eighty-four feet. Several specimens of copper were
found in this shaft The Chestnut Hill Reservoir, at
the time of its construction, was situated in the towns
of Newton and Brighton ; but by a subsequent ces-
sion of land, it is now within the limits of Boston.
Beacon Street, which formerly ran in a straight line
across the valley, was turned from its course lo allow
the construction of the re-^ervoir. The reservoir is in
two divisions, — the Lawrence Basin and the Bradley
Basin. Together they are two and a half miles in
circumference. The land bought by the city of Bos-
ton for this structure was two hundred and twelve
and a half acres. This land was a portion of the
Lawrence farm, previously Deacon Nathan Pettee's
and owned, before him, by Deacon Thomas Hovey.
The Sddbury River Condcit. — The supply of
water from Lake Cochituate proving inadequate to
meet the necessities of the city of Boston, a supple-
mental source was sought from the Sudbury River,
which involved the construction of a second tunnel
through Newton. The " Sudbury River Conduit,"
bringing the additional supply of water to Boston, is
about fifteen and three-quarters miles long, from Farm
Pond, in Framingham, to the Chestnut Hill Reser-
voir. It enters Newton in the Upper Falls Village,
passes through that village to the north of Newton
Highlands and through Newton Centre to the reser-
voir. The principal features of this work in Newton
are the bridge carrying thegreat conduit of water- works
fifty-one feet above the stream, over Charles River
to the Upper Falls, and the tunnels near the crossing
of Pleasant Street and under Chestnut Hill. The
bridge, generally known as " Echo Bridge," is five hun-
dred feet in length, and consists of seven arches — five
of thirty -seven feet span ; one, over Ellis Street, of
thirty-eight feet, and the large arch over the river.
It is constructed mainly of solid granite, and rests on
foundations of solid rock. The large arch, spanning
the river, is the second in size on this Continent, and
one of the largest stone arches in the world. To one
standing beneath it, the arch has a very slender and
beautiful appearance, being only eighteen feet in
width at the crown. There is a remarkable echo in
this arch, the human voice being rapidly repeated
upwards of fifteen times, and a pistol-shot twenty-five
times. A shout of moderate intensity is reverberated
with so many and so distinct iterations, that all the
neighboring woods seem full of wild Indians rushing
down from the hillsand threatening to annihilate all
traces of modern civilization. This bridge was built
during 1876 and 1877.
Newton Cottage Hospital is near the new
station of Woodland on the Circuit Railroad, and
about one mile from the Lower Falls. It was first
suggested by Rev. Dr. G. W. Shinn, rector of Grace
Church, Newton, and an Act of Incorporation was
obtained in 1881. In 1884 nine acres of the old
Granville Fuller estate on Washington Street were
procured, and the building was erected in 1885-86.
The hospital was furnished by the Ladies' Aid Associ-
ation. Mrs. Elizabeth Eldridge gave $10,000 towards
NEWTON.
37
the building and support of the hospital ; Mrs. J. R
Leeson, of Newton Centre, gave S7000 ; at least
twenty other persons gave each five hundred dollars
or more. Appropriations have also been added from
the city treasury. One Sabbath in every year is
termed Hospital Sunday, and on that day a collection
is taken up in all the churches in Newton to aid in
the benevolent work of the institution. Pupil nurses
are taught in the hospital, and lectures are given oc-
casionally on important subjects pertaining to
hygiene, by the physicians in charge and others. An
additional building for private patients is about to be
erected.
Woodland Park Hotel, in the immediate vicin-
ity of the hospital, the chief public-house of Newton,
half a mile from Woodland Station, is an imposing
Queen Anne structure, built in 1881-82 by Messrs.
Haskell, Andrews and Pulsifer, connected with the
Boston Herold, and Mr. Frederick Johnson, as a sub-
urban retreat for persons of weak throat and lungs
desiring to escape from the rough winds of the New
England coast. The first, and hitherto the only
landlord is Mr. Joseph Lee, a gentleman from Vir-
ginia, once connected with the purveying department
of the United States Navy.
Many visitors, especially those in delicate iiealth,
from the wealthy portions of Boston and elsewhere,
take refuge here in the spring and summer. Wood-
land Avenue, in front of the hotel, about 1750, and
for many years before and after, was one of the most
important highways of the town. At the time of the
Revolution Burgoyne's captured army were marched
ov^r this road to the quarters where they were to be
held under guard. In the early part of the present
century, and especially after the building of the Wor-
cester turnpike through the Upper Falls, in 1809, it
was almost abandoned. But within ten years past it
has again become famous. From Vista Hill, near by,
sixteen towns can be seen, with Bunker Hill Monu-
ment, the Blue Hills and the Atlantic Ocean.
The Town of Newton becomes a City. — After
making history two hundred and thirty-five years
from the date of the coming of its first settler, and
one hundred and eighty-six years from its incorpora-
tion as a spparate town, Newton became a city with
the beginning of the year 1874. In the warrant is-
sued for the town-meeting, April 7, 1873, wca this
article : " To see if the town will instruct the Select-
men to apply to the General Court for a City Charter,
or for annexation to Boston, or for a division of the
Town, or anything relative thereto."
In reference to this article the following action was
taken : Gen. A. B. Underwood was moderator — J. F.
C. Hyde offered the following, viz., "Voted, that the
Selectmen, with a Committee of seven — to be ap-
pointed by the Chair — be instructed to petition the
General Court, now in session, for a City Charter for
Newton."
The whole subject was fully discussed. Some fa-
vored a city charter for Newton ; some advocated
remaining longer under a town government, and one
or two favored a union with Boston. Finally, the
motion of Mr. Hyde was put and carried ; and the
following were appointed a committee, to be joined
with the selectmen, to petition the General Court for
a city charter : J. F. C. Hyde, C. Robinson, Jr., C.
E. Ranlett, K. M. Pulsifer, E. F. Waters, J. B. Good-
rich and Willard Marcy.
On the 26th September a warrant was issued for a
town-meeting to be held Monday, Oct. 13, 1873, noti-
fying the inhabitants to bring in their votes to the
selectmen, " yes " or " no," on the acceptance of the
act of the Legislature, entitled " An Act to establish
the City of Newton."
The meeting notified was held in the town hall, as
summoned, Oct. 13, 1873. At fifteen minutes past
eight o'clock, A.M., the chairman of the selectmen
called for ballots, "yes" or "no," on the acceptance
of Chapter 326 of the General Laws and Resolves
passed by the last session of the Legislature of Massa-
chusetts, entitled "An Act to establish the City of
Newton."
The ballots were counted by the selectmen, and
declared by their chairman as follows : " no," 391 ;
" yes," 1224. And the meeting was dissolved.
On the 4th of November following, the annual
meeting was held for the State elections (Governor of
the Commonwealth, etc.). After all the returns had
been made out, signed and sealed, and after the vot-
ing lists and votes bad been sealed up in envelopes,
endorsed, and delivered to the town clerk, Mr.
William R. Wardwell moved that this meeting, — the
last town-meeting in the town of Newton, — be dis-
solved, and the motion was carried unanimously.
The following is the closing record of the town clerk :
'*Tbe To70-Me«ting held Nor. 4, 1873, aboTP recurded, wu the last
Town- Meeting held io the Town of Newton. Newton becomee a City
Jacaary 5, 1674.
" Maeshall S. Ricx,' ram Oerk of Uu Town of Sewlom."
Thus Newton was the home of the English colo-
nists as a part of Cambridge, and more or less under
the municipal control of Cambridge about fifty
years ; and a separate town, under an independent
government, like other Masssuihosetts towns, one hun-
dred and eighty-six years. Under the auspices of the
city government, the centennial day of Newton's vote
to sustain the cause of freedom at any expense, at the
beginning of the Revolution, was honored and com-
memorated by an imposing celebration Jnne 17, 1876.
Many historical relics and mottoes were displayed.
Several of the descendants of the old settlers were
dressed in the costumes of a hundred years ago.
Thirteen of the descendants of the original families
of Newton took part in the singing. Thirty-nine
pupils of the High School represented the thirty-nine
States. An historical address was delivered by Hon.
James F. C. Hyde, the first mayor of Newton.
On the two hundredth anciversary of the action of
38
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
the General Court granting to Newton all the rights
and immunities of an independent town, a formal and
enthusiastic ceJebratiou was held in the auditorium
of the City Hall at West Newton. The audience was
entertained by addresses, music and poetry, followed
in the evening by a banquet at the Woodland Park
Hotel.
The following is a list of mayors : Jaraes F. C.
Hyde, 1874^75; Alden Speare, 1876-77; William
B. Fowle, 1878-79 ; Royal M. Pulsifer, 1880-81 ;
William P. Ellison, 1882-83 ; J. Wesley Kimball,
1884-88 ; Heman M. Burr, 1889-90.
MISCELLA^'EOUS ITEMS.
Many items of historical interest belong to such a
sketch as the present which are hardly reducible to
any of the heads treated in the foregoing chapters.
Some of them are appended here as valuable remi-
niscences.
The Worcester Railroad was opened for pas-
sengers from Boston as far as West Newton, April 16,
1834. A locomotive ran from Boston to Newton, and
return, three times a day, having from two to eight
passengers on each trip. The engine used was the
"Meteor,"' built by Mr. Stephenson, in England. The
cars commenced running on the Hartford and Erie
Railroad, then called the Charles River road, — which
extended from Brookline to Needham, — in Novem-
ber, 1852. At first season tickets by the year between
Boston and Newton Centre were sold for §35. Pre-
vious to this time passengers were conveyed from
Newton Upper Falls and Newton Centre to Boston by
a daily stage, which went to Boston at 9 a.m. and left
Boston to return at 3 p.m. Fare from Newion Centre
to Boston, 37 J cents. A stage or omnibus also run be-
tween the Upper Falls and West Newton, and New-
ton Centre and Newton Corner to convey passengers
to and from the Worcester Railroad.
The Newton Journal, i.he first newspaper print-
ed in Newton, a weekly, was issued in September,
1866. The Newton Graphic has been issued since
1872. A paper called the Newton Transcript was pub-
lished and edited by Henry Lemon, Jr., in West
Newton, from 1878 to 1885, when the subscription list
was sold to the Newton Graphic and the publication
suspended.
A Post-office was first established in Newton Lower
Falls in 1816 ; Newton Corner, 1820, Newton Centre,
not till sometime after the foundation of the Theolog-
ical Institution; the students and professors were
obliged to travel two miles, to Newtoc Corner, for their
matl. In 1847 there were five post-olfices in the town,
eight meeting-huuses, and about 5000 inhabitants.
Lafayette in Newton. — The Marquis de Lafay-
ette, during his last visit to this country, in 1825,
p.-issed through Newton and shook hands with a
number of Master Davis' pupils, arranged by the side
of the road to receive him.
The First Contribdtion to the Home for
Little Wanderers in Boston was made at the
Baptist Church, Newton Corner; and the first dollar
was subscribed by a young girl, a member of that
church. In the first fifteen years of its existence that
institution cared for 4877 children, many of wl.ora
became valuable members of society — lawyers, minis-
ters, clerks, farmers, physicians and representatives
of various trades and professions.
Church Bell, West Newton. — The first church
bell in West Newton was raised to its tower in the
Second Congregatiorial Church in 1828. It was
bought of the town of Concord, having been the gift
of an English lady to that town. It was a very small
bell for a meeting-house. On its surface, in raised
letters, was this couplet:
" I to the church the liviog caII,
I to the gTBTe do summon all."
Revolutionary Reminiscences. — Near the
bridge over the Charles River in Watertown village,
on the Watertown side, stood, in Revolutionary times,
the old printing-ofiice of Benjamin Edes, who remov-
ed his type and press hither early in the year 1775,
and who did the printing for the Provincial Congress.
Near the bridge, on tiie Newton side of the river,
stands a large old house on the east side of the road,
called, in the time of the Revolution, the Coolidge
Tavern. From 1764 to 1770 it was kept as a public-
house by Nathaniel Coolidge, and afterwards by " the
widow Coolidge." This house was appointed, in
1775, as the rendezvous for " the Committee of Safe-
ty," in case of an alarm. President Washington
lodged in this house in 1789. An old house opposite,
occupied by John Couk during the Revolution, is one
of hi.itoric interest. It was in a chamber of this
house that Paul Revere engraved his plates, and with
the help of Mr. Cook struck off" the Colony notes, is-
sued by order of the Provincial Congress. Adjoining
this estate were the famous weir lands along the
river.
The Finest Houses in the North and East
Parts of Newton were those of Dr. Morse, on the
west side of the road, on the heights near the river ;
Mrs. Coffin's and John Richardson's (the Nonantum
House) ; Hon. Jonathan Hunnewell's, on the road to
Brighton ; the Haven and Wiggin houses, on Nonan-
tum Hill ; John Peck's, Newton Centre, afterwards
the Theological Institution ; the Sargent place, on
Centre Street, now the Shannon place; John Cabot,
corner of Cabot and Centre Streets, since removed;
a house occupied by Nath. Tucker, afterwards Mr.
Thomas Edmands, opposite his son's, J. Wiley Ed-
mands ; the Col. Joseph Ward place, afterwards
Charles Brackett ; the Dr. Freeman place, afterwards
Francis Skinner, and Gen. Hull's, now ex-Governor
Claflin's. Most [of these are still standing (1890),
though some of them have been removed to another
location.
Buried Treasure. — At the time of the Revolu-
NEWTON.
30
tioD, three young men of the Prentiss family, living
in the Joshua Loring house, on Centre Street, oppo-
site Mill Street, are said to have buried considerable
property near the brook north of the old cemetery,
and going to the war, they never returned. Parties
are said to have sometimes dug for the treasure, but it
is not known that any has ever been found.
Two Lists of Freeholders — that is, of persons
holding some estate and competent to vote — remain;
the first, dated 1679, contains sixty-seven names; the
second, ia 1798, contains 211 names. The latter list
is a tax-list, taken under an act of the Congress of the
United States, levying upon the country a direct tax
of two millions of dollars. The list embraced the
houses with their valuation, acres with their valua-
tion, and total valuation. Twenty persons are re-
corded as owning each one-half of a house; one, two-
thirds ; sixty-five, one house each ; one, two, and one,
three. We know not on what principle the assessors
determined their estimate of the value of houses in
Newton a century ago. Possibly they designedly set
the value very low, for the purposes of taxation, com-
passionating the slender resources of the townsmen and
their own. But even if they put upon it no more than
a two-thirds valuation, it seems to us that the dwell-
ings of the fathers of the town in the fourth genera-
tion after its incorporation were ridiculously cheap.
According to this list, there were only two houses in
the town valued above S2000 ; only eleven, above
SIOOO ; only thirty-seven above S600 ; more than two-
thirds of the whole, less than S500 ; sixty-eight less
than 8300 ; forty-five less than $200 ; seven less than
SIOO. The ihree ministers were not required to pay
taxes, though each of them owned both house and
land. The largest number of acres owned by any in-
dividual was 249 ; twenty-seven owned between one
and two hundred; 141 less than one hundred; four
le:-3 than twenty ; twenty-two less than ten ; thirty-
four none at all; 531}^ acres stood in the names of
women.
A Large Bocldee in the Middle of Charles
River, called " the County Rock," marks the spot
where the counties of Norfolk and Middlesex and the
towns of Newton, Wellesley and Weston adjoin one
another.
Newton has a Surface FiNELr Diversified
by hills of considerable elevation. The following,
with their respective heights, are worthy of mention :
Bdld Pate Hill, the highest of all, is 318 feet; Waban
Hill, near the Chestnut Hill reservoir, 313 ; Institu-
tion Hill, 301 ; Oak Hill, 296 ; Chestnut Hill, 290 ;
Sylvan Heiihts, 252; Nonantum Hill, 249; Cottage
Rill, 230 ; Moffait Hill, 223 ; Mount Ida, 206.
The Population of Newton, at various periods,
is as follows : In 1820, 1850 ; 1830, 2376 ; 1840, 3351 ;
1850, 5258; 1860, 8382; 1870, 12,825; 1880, 16,995;
1885, 19,759.
Churches and Public Schools in Newton. —
In 1889 Newton had thirty-two churches and twenty
school buildings, including one High School. After
116 years the First Church saw its first shoot; after
148 years there were three; after 226 years, thirty-
two.
The Newton and Watertown Gas-Liqht Co.
was organized March 18, 1854.
A little below Riverside, on the Waltham side of
Charles River, is " the Norumbega Tower," erected by
Prof. Horsford, of Cambridge, and dedicated in 1889.
The tower marks the site, as Prof. Horsford believes,
of the principal settlement of the aboriginal tribe
which once roamed over these forests.
Statistics. — In 1885 there were in Newton ninety-
five farms, valued at $189,886. The woolen-mills, em-
ploying 343 laborers, produced goods valued at $600,-
406; the hosiery-mill employed 46 female operators;
the watch factory, 40 ; the cordage factory, 67. Ma-
chinists, iron-workers and blacksmiths numbered 192.
There were five houses employed in furniture manu-
facturing and thirty, clothing. The aggregate of goods
manufactured was valued at $2,389,018. Deposits in
the two savings banks at the end of 1889, $1,563,750.
At the close of 1888 there were 4018 dwelling-houses
in the town. The valuation by the assessors for the
purpose of taxation was $33,278,642.
Mount Ida. — The story of Mount Ida is interest-
ing. It is the magnificent swell of land which rises
immediately south of the railroad station at Newton,
and is adorned with many fine residences. In the
year 1816 John Fiake bought the entire hill for $3300.
In 1850 thti same was held at $10,000. After the
Civil War it was bought by Langdon Coffin, Esq.,
who named it Mount Ida and laid it out in building
lots. At that date there were only three houses on
the whole estate ; now the real estate of the same
territory is valued at over half a million dollars.
From the summit of Mount Ida admirable views
are obtained of the valley-towns on the north — Cam-
bridge, Watertown and Waltham, the long and shaggy
ridge of Prospect Hill, the blue highlands of Essex,
the spires and towers of Boston, the shining waters of
Massachusetts Bay, the many villages of Newton
and the crests of Wachusett, Monadnock and other
inland mountain peaks.
Block-house on Centre Street. — On Centre
Street, north corner of Cabot Street, the residence of
E. W. Converse, Esq., on the site of the mansion,
once stood a block-house, with a stone base and open-
ings above for defense, to which the neighboring col-
onists planned to retreat in case of hostile invasion
by the Indians, who had shown at Sudbury, Medfield
and Medway how much their attacks were to be
dreaded. The old refuge at last fell to decay, having
never been practically tested. The present house was
erected and the grounds were graded at an expense
of $60,000 by the late Israel Lombard, Esq. The
property passed into the hands of the Converse fam-
ily in 1866. The old garrison -house was occupied in
its latter days as a residence by Enoch Baldwin,
40
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
whos« SODS were afterwards known among the able
finaociers of Boston.
PAaK3 IN Newtox.— Besides the Common at New-
ton Centre, the city has several pleasant open spaces,
more or less adorned. The most noted is Farlow
Park, at Newton, given to the city by the gentleman
whose name it boars, and adorned at the public ex-
pense, in 1885. Eenrick Park, also at Newton, was
laid out in 1854 by William Eenrick, under the name
of Woodland Vale. Linwood Park, between Walnut
Street, Crafts Street and Linwood Avenue, was
founded by a contribution of $2000 by citizens in the
vicinity, a handsome donation by W. J. Towne, Esq.,
and an appropriation of $1000 from the city treasury.
Washington Park, at Newtonville, was laid out by
Dustin Lancey in 1865. It is one-sixth of a mile
long and sixty feet wide. Lincoln Park is a pretty
open space on Washington Street, West Newton, in
front of the First Baptist Church.
Dickens at Newton Centre. — When Charles
Dickens, the renowned novelist, was in the United
States he, with three companions — George Dolby,
James R. Osgood and James T. Fields — undertook a
walking-match, February 29, 1868, from the begin-
ning of the mill-dam in Boston to Newton Centre
and back, " for two hats a side and the glory of their
respective countries." Dickens and Osgood were the
contestants, the other two companions and spectators.
Dickens, in describing the contest, says that " at their
turning-point, Newton Centre, the only refreshments
they could find were five oranges and a bottle of black-
ing" (which was a fib). Dickens reached the goal
first, but Osgood finally won the match by seven min-
utes ; and they celebrated the contest at night, with
a few friends, by a dinner at Parker's.
Goody Davis, of Oak Hill, who lived to the age of
one hundred and sixteen years, was thrice married, had
9 children, 45 grandchildren, 200 great-grandchildren
and above 800 great-great-grandihildren before her
death. She was oft*n seen, after she was a hundred
years old, at work in the field. She was at last
supported by the town, though she retained her
faculties till she was a hundred and fifteen years old.
Dr. Homer remarks that "She had lived through
the reigns of Charles I., Oliver Cromwell, Charles
II., James II., Wiiliam and Mary, Queen Anne and
George I. and U. She was visited by Governor Dud-
ley and also by Governor Belcher, who procured
the painting of her portrait, now in possession of
the Massachusetts Historical Society.
Newton Cihcuit Railroad.— In 1886 the Boston
and Albany Railroad Corporation bought of the New
York and New England that portion of the road
and franchise lying between Brookline and Newton
Highlands, about five miles and one-tenth, for $415,-
000, to form a part of the Newton Circuit Railroad,
and immediately proceeded to complete its line across
Elliott and Boylston Streets to Riverside; thus opening
three new stationa— Eliot, Waban and Woodland—
and bringing into market a large quantity of desira-
ble land suited to residences and business.
CHAPTER II.
NEWTON— { Continued).
THE first church IN NEWTON.
(At Newton Centre.)
BY REV. DANIEL L. FURBER, D.D.
The first church in Newton was formed in 1664,
and was a colony from the church in Cambridge, of
which Rev. Jonathan Mitchel was at that time pas-
tor. Newton was a part of Cambridge and was called
Cambridge Village. The people of this place, in go-
ing to meeting on the Lord's Day, went through
Watertown as we do now.
In 1664 Charles the Second was on the throne of
England, Sir Isaac Newton was a young man, John
Milton was writing " Paradise Lost," John Bunyan
was in Bedford jail, and Richard Baxter was preach-
ing the gospel " as though his soul was drenched
therein."
Our early ministers used forms of expression which
would sound strange if we should hear thfm now.
One of them says, " We should show thankful resent-
ment to God for his favors to us ;" " Let us resent the
hand of God in the death of so many of his useful ser-
vants ;" " I will now shut up all with an exhortation."
Another says, " Christians should chew over their
former consolations ;" that is, they should call them
to mind and ruminate upon them as an ox chews his
cud, and thus renew their enjoyment of them. The
word "ingenuity" is used for "ingenuousness:"
" Let us with candor and ingenuity confess our
faults."
In 225 years this church has had only nine minis-
ters— John Eliot, Jr., son of the apostle Eliot, Nehe-
miah Hobart, John Cotton, great-grandson of the
famous John Cotton, of Boston, Jonas Meriam, Jon-
athan Homer, James Bates, William Bushnell, Dan-
iel L. Furber and Theodore J. Holmes. Seven of
these nine ministers were ordained here, and the
work of six of them was both begun and ended here.
The original members of thi^ chuch were an intel-
ligent people. Trained as they had be*n in the vicin-
ity of Harvard College, and listening every Lord's
Day to the same preaching to which the professors
and students listened, they bad been under highly
educating influences. No doubt we are in some
measure indebted to this fact for the intelligence
which now characterizes our people, for the character
which is stamped upon a church or town in the begin-
ning of its history is apt to go down to succeeding
generations.
NEWTON.
41
Sound doctrine has always prevailed here. In the
early part of this century, when ninety-six of the 361
Congregational churches of Massachusetts became
Unitarian, and thirty more were nearly so, when all
the Boston churches but one abandoned the ancient
faith, together with the churches in Roxbury, Dor-
chester, Cambridge, Watertown, Dedham, Brookline,
Brighton and Waltham, the church in Newton and
its first-born child in West Newton stood firm. The
doctrinal belief of our fathers was thoroughly Calvin-
istic. John Cotton, of Boston, said that after study-
ing twelve hours a day, he wanted to sweeten his
mouth with a morsel from John Calvin before he went
to sleep. If our fathers used some liberty, as no doubt
they did, in the interpretation of Calvinism, we prob-
ably use still more, lopping off what Dr. Woods, of
Andover, used to call the " fag ends" of it. Still, we
are Calvinists, and we agree with James Anthony
Froude, when he says, "If Arminianism most com-
mends itself to our feelings, Calvinism is nearer to
the facts, however harsh and forbidding those facts
may seem." But we have the warmest Christian af-
fection for those who differ from us, and join hand
and heart with them in the grand endeavor to give
the Gospel to mankind.
Calvinism, notwithstanding all the prejudice which
there is against it, is a mighty system. It has asserted
human rights and the equality of all men before God
as no other system ever did. David Hume said that
England owed all the liberty she had to the Puritans,
and George Bancroft says that the monarchs of Eu-
rope, with one consent and with instinctive judgment,
feared Calvinism as republicanism. John Fiske says
that "the promulgation of the theology of Calvin
was one of the longest steps that mankind has taken
towards personal freedom." We boast of what New
England did in the War of the Revolution. It fur-
nished more than half of theiroops that were raised.
The descendants of the Puritans did that. The Con-
gregationalists at that time were seven times as
numerous as all other denominations put together,
and they were descendants of the Puritans, and the
Puritans were Calvinists. Let this show what kind
of moral and religious forces achieved our indepen-
dence. Everywhere the influence of this system of
belief has been to establish human freedom, to edu-
cate the masses, to elevate society, and to free the en-
slaved. " Take the Calvinists of New England," said
Henry WardBeecher; "persons rail at them, but they
were men that believed in their doctrines. They put
God first, the commonwealth next, and the citizen
next, and they lived accordingly, and where do you
find prosperity that averages as it does in New Eng-
land, in Scotland and in Switzerland? Men may
rail as much as they please, but these are the facts."
Our church has been blessed with a godly and
faithful ministry.
Rev. John Eliot, Jr., was called one of the best
preachers of his time. Hubbard's "History of New
England " says he was second to none as to all litera-
ture and other gifts, both of nature and grace, which
made him so generally acceptable to all who had the
least acquaintance with him. We have no sermons
from his pen, but there is a record of precious utter-
ances made by him upon his dying bed, which can be
found in the Congregational Quarterly for April, 1865.
It was not known until about that time that the
record was in existence. Cotton Mather had said
nearly two hundred years ago that Mr. Eliot "upon his
death-bed uttered such penetrating things aa could
proceed from none but one upon the borders and con-
fines of eternal glory. It is a pity," said he, "that so
many of them are forgotten." About twenty-five
years ago was found in the attic of an old bouse in
Windsor, Conn., in which lived and died Mr. Eliot's
son, Judge John Eliot, a portion of a manuscript,
yellow with age, in which was a copy of the "dying
speech." While containing language of the deepest
self-abasement it is a speech of triumph. The pros-
pect of being so soon in glory with one whom he
loved with all his soul, filled him with exultation and
rapture. As old John Trapp says: "He went gal-
lantly into heaven with sails and flags up and trum-
pets sounding." This for a young man only thirty-
two years old, with the brightest prospects before him
in this world, loved and admired by all who knew
him, was certainly most remarkable.
After Mr. Eliot's death dissensions arose in the
church, about which we know almost nothing. But
in 1672 Nehemiah Hobart came and healed the divi-
sions and restored harmony. In him a rich blessing
came to the little church, and he is to be reckoned
among the eminent men of his time. President
Stiles, of New Haven, requested an aged clergyman,
Rev. John Barnard, of Marblehead, whom Dr.
Chauncy called " one of our greatest men," to give
him the names of those New England divines of
whom he had conceived the highest opinion for sanc-
tity, usefulness and erudition, and he gave him the
names of eighteen men, among whom wag the name
of Nehemiah Hobart, of Newton. Other names in
the list are Samuel Willard and Ebenezer Pemberton,
of the Old South Church in Boston ; Cotton Mather,
of the Old North Church ; BeuJHinin Colman, of Brat-
tle Street Church, and Increase Mather and Benjamin
Wadsworth, presidents of Harvard College. But if
Mr. Hobart is entitled to rank with such men aa these,
why is he not better known ? The reason mxy be that
he was an extremely modest man. A minister who
knew him intimately said that his modesty was ex-
cessive, and that he had a singular backwardness to
appearing in pnblic.
Mr. Hobart died August 25, 1712. Eight days be-
fore his death he preached morning and afternoon,
and at the close of the day blessed the congregation
in the words prescribed in Numbers 6 : 24-26, which
made an impression upon many. They thought that
he had taken have of them and that they should never
42
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
hear him again. He had used that form but once be-
fore. He aaid to President Leverett, of Harvard Col-
lege, who made him a vit-ita few days before his death,
that he had been atfortynine commencement", never
having missed one from the very first time that he had
" waited on that solemnity." The President said that
he was a great blessing and ornament to the Corpora-
tion of Harvard College. Judge Sewall states that
the Governor (Dudley) was present at his funeral
with four horses. " A great many people there.
Suppose there were more than forty graduates." The
President was one of the bearers, and the Governor
and Judge Sewall followed next after the mourners.
Mr. Hobart's ministry continued forty years, during
which lime an unshaken harmony subsisted between
him and his people. If there were revivals and large
additions to the church under his ministry, or under
the ministry of Mr. Eliot, we know nothing of them,
for '.he records of our church have been twice burned,
once in 1720 and again in 1770.
Our next minister was Rev. John Cotton, who was
ordained here in 1714. The desire of the people to
secure him for their minister was very strong. Rev.
Edward Holyoke, a'terward President of Harvard
College, had preached here as a candidate, but Mr.
Cotton was preferred. When he came, a youth of
twenty-one, the whole town went in procession to
meet and welcome him. Dr. Colman, of Brattle Street
Church, spoke of him aa a man iu whom the name
and spirit of the famous John Cotton revived and
shone. Twelve of his sermons were published and are
preserved. Fifty persons were added to the church
.soon after the earthquake of 1727, in consequence of
that awful event, and of the use which he made of it
in his preaching. One hundred and four were added
in 1741—42 in a revival which probably began with
the preaching of the celebrated Gilbert Tennent.
As an illustration of the attention which in former
times was bestowed upon the young, there were many
towns in New England about the year 1727 in which
young men set up meetings for religious exercises on
the evenings of the Lord's Day. Such meetings were
held here, and Mr. Cotton delivered fjur sermons on
the text " Run, speak to this young man." In the re-
vival of 1741 scores of children and young people
called upon their minister from week to week for re-
ligious conversation. This interest was greatly deep-
ened by the death of Mr. John Park's three children,
who died within the space of two weeks, after very
brief illness, one of them eighteen years old, another
sixteen, and the other ten. These deaths produced
such an effect upon the young that the scores who had
called upon the minister were increased to hundreds,
and Mr. Cotton states that more than three hundred
had been with him, expressing a serious concern about
the salvatiiin of their souls. This is really a most as-
tonishing instance of deep and wide-spread interest in
religion among the young. We are apt to think that
the young were not cared for in past times as they are
now, but who ever saw anything like this ? Who ever
heard of a place before, uo larger than this, where
three hundred and more of the children and youth
were calling upon their minister to know what they
must do to be saved ? The young came from sur-
rounding towns to attend the meetings here, and in
one instance at least Mr. Cotton made a special ad-
dress to them. Now it is impossible for such a wave
of religious interest to roll over this place without
leaving ineffaceable marks of itself. Accordingly,
when Dr. Homer, forty years after, received his call
to this place, he said, '• I have noticed the diligent and
solemn attention of the people and especially of the
youth of this place to the public services of religion,
in which I have seldom, if ever, found them equaled
elsewhere. This is a circumstance of my call which
I cannot resist, and would prefer to every other possi-
ble consideration.'' There is no doubt that we feel
to this day the effect of the revival among the young
which occurred here one hundred and fifty years ago.
Mr. Cotton died in 1757, in the sixty-fourth year of
his age and in the forty-third year of his ministry.
In 1758 began the ministry of Rev. Jonas Meriam,
which continued twenty-two years. He is remembered
as the minister who bought and gaveliberty to a slave
nearly one hundred years before slavery was abolished
in our country. His second wife was granddaughter
of Dr. Ziibdiel Boylston, of Brookline, the man who
introduced the practice of inoculation for small-pox, in
the face of such outrageous opposition that he did
not dare to go out of his house in the evening,
knowing that men were on the streets with halters in
their hands ready to hang him.
During his ministry Anna Hammond, who lived to
be one hundred and four years old, joined the church.
She married Rev. Joseph Pope, of Spencer, and
spent the remainder of her life in that town, occupy-
ing one sleeping-room eighty-two years. Her longev-
ity was owing in great measure, it is believed, to
her habitual cheerfulness. She believed that she had
had the best husband, the best children and the best
grandchildren that ever a woman had. " Your
grandfather, my child," said she, " was as good a
man as God ever made, and no minister ever had a
better parish, and no old woman ever had better or
kinder care." And so her life was one continued
hallelujah.
The doors of the Spencer parsonage were continu-
ally open wiih hospitality. The leading ministers of
the time, Emmons, Spring, Bellamy, Backus and such
men, were often entertained there, and they made the
long evenings lively with their theological discussions
protracted to late hours of the night around the old
hearth-stoae. During the depreciation of the Conti-
nental currency, when it is said that a whole year's
salary went to buy a block tin tea-pot, the hospitality
was still kept up, though nobody knew how, and the
large-hearted hostess said she never knew what it was
to want. Here was a character of the true New Eng-
NEWTON.
land type, in which were piety and intelligence fed
by God's word, and by the writings of Edwards, Bel-
lamy, Hopkins and men like them.
The allusion to SpriLg and Emmons as her guests
is the more interesting when it is known that both of
them were her suitors. The tradition is, that Dr.
Spring, when a young man, was on his way to New-
ton in search of a wife, when he met Mr. Pope on hia
way to the same house and with the same intent.
The situation was delicate and perplexing. After
some deliberation Dr. Spring said, " Brother Pope,
you have a parish and I have none ; I give way to
you."
When Mrs. Pope was a widow about seventy-five
years old, and Dr. Emmons was a widower of about
eighty-five, he sent her by the hand of a ministerial
bi other, probably his son-in-law, Rev. Dr. Ide, ofMed-
way.aproposalofmarriage. The offer was declined, and
when it was pressed with some urgency, with refer-
ence, probably, to the eminence of the suitor, she re-
plied, "No elevation of character or circumstances
could have a feather's weight toward inducing me to
change ray name- I hope to bear it while I live, and
lie by the side of him who gave it to me when I die."
The mini-try of Dr. Jonathan Homer began in
1782, and continued fifty-seven years. When he ac-
cepted his call to this place he had declined a call to
the new South Church in Boston, the church whose
edifice was on " Church Green," in Summer Street,
near the head of Lincoln Street. It was a noble
triumph of Christian principle for him, for conscience'
sake, and on the ground that the " half-way covenant "
was in use in the new South Church, as, in fact, it
was in most of the churches in Boston, to prefer New-
ton, with a small salary, to Boston, with j. large one,
and with its refined and literary society. He had
a deeply religious spirit, literary taste, a pleasing
style of writing, spoke easily in the pulpit without
notes, and excelled in conversation. Blake's ''Bio-
graphical Dictionary "^ays he waa one of the most be-
loved clergymen in Massachusetts, universally es-
teemed as a man of learning and piety. He read
Greek, Hebrew and Latin, and learned Spanish after
he was sixty years old.
Many of the later years of his life were devoted to
an enthusiastic study of the different English trans-
lations of the Bible, from that of Wycliffe to that of
1611. He intended to write a history of them. The
late Professor B. B. Edwards, of Andover. said he
was better qualified to do it than any other person
in the country. .A. conclusion which Dr. Homer
reached waa that King Jame»'s Bible was IN NO paet
a new tramlation taken directly Jrorm the originals. He
had the most ample facilities for ascertaining the
truth of this statement. His shelves were filled with
rare and choice books bearing upon the subject, many
of them obtained from England with great painstak-
ing and expense, and he performed the almost incred-
ible labor of finding oat by personal exr.mination the
source from which the translation of every verae in
the Bible was taken, and he showed, what he had
previously asserted, but what had been denied by
Biblical scholars, both English and American, that
not a single verse in King James's version was newly
translated, but that the whole of it waa taken from
other versions, and was a compilation. He showed
that thirty-two parts out of thirty-three were taken
from former English versions, chiefly from the Bish-
ops' Bible, and that the remaining thirty-third part
was drawn from foreign versions and comments.
Having announced this result of his investigations,
he quoted the words of the translators themselves, that
they " had never thought from the beginning of the
need of making a new translation."
It has been generally admitted that in the time of
the Unitarian defection Dr. Homer waa considerably
influenced by his many friends who had embraced
the erroneous views, and especially by Dr. John
Pierce, of Brooklice, and Dr. James Freeman, of
King's Chapel, in Boston, whose wife was a sister of
Mrs. Homer. But Dr. John Codman, of Dorchester,
who was an intimate friend of Dr. Homer, aud who
preached his funeral sermon, said that he waa decid-
edly evangelical and orthodox, though liberal and
catholic in his feelings towards other denominations.
"There was no bigotry in him. His heart overflowed
with love to all who love the Lord Jcsua Christ of
every sect and name. He was not a denominational
Christian, but a member of the church universal." His
heart was full of the tenderest sympathy for the suf-
fering. He took orphans and homeless children to
his own house and gave them a home until they could
be provided for. More than thirty were cared for by
him in this way.
A smile is sometimes awakened at the mention of
Dr. Homer's name, because of the many queer and
strange things that have been told of him. He was
a very absent-minded man, and bis wife was constantly
expecting some odd event to occur from his eccentric
ways. Professor Park, of Andover, says that he and
Professor Edwards and others were once invited to
dine at Dr. Homer's. When they were called to
dinner they went into the dining-room and took their
places around the table, their host not being present.
Soon, however, he appeared at the door of the room,
and seeing that the company were waiting for him,
immediately commenced asking the blessing. By the
time he had reached his place at the table be got
through with the blessing and then saluted his
guests. Other stories about Dr. Homer, under the
name of " Parson Carryl," may be found- in "The
Minister's Housekeeper," one of Sam Lawson's " Old-
town Fireside Stories," by Mrs. Harriet Beecber
Stowe. "You may laugh as much aa you will at
brother Homer," said Father Greenough, of the West
Parish ; '' there is no man among us who carries with
him the spirit of the gospel from Monday morning to
Saturday night better than he."
44
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
The year 1827 waa the crowning year of thia long
ministry. Seventy-one persons were received into
the church in tiiat year, as many as had been receiv-
ed in the previous nineteen years. The revival of
that year is remarkable as showing what can be done
by a few earnest laymen when religion is low, and
when the minister ia not the man to be the means of
reviving it. Dr. Homer was growing old ; he waa
absorbed in the study of English versions of the
Bible, and he had not the faculty for conducting a
revival, even if one were in progress. In four years
only four persons had been received into the church
on confession of faith, and one of these was a woman
in the ninety-eighth year of her age. During this
period Hon. William Jackson, a deacon, and a man
ben to be a leader among men, had spoken of the
good state of feeling in the church. Perhaps his
hopeful and enthuniastic spirit made it seem better
than it was. Such a spirit is contasious, and he
found large numbers in the church in full sympathy
with him. " They labored," said he, " and loved to
labor, both men and women, in season, and out of
sea-son, for Christ and the welfare of souls." Speak-
ing of Elijah F. Woodward, Increase S. Davis and
Asa Cook, he said, " We were four brothers indeed !
Together in the Sunday-school, together in the
prayer-meeting, and together in every good work
which our hands and hearts found to do. In these
good works we continued with one heart and with
one soul, until the fall of 1827, when God poured us out
such a blessing that we had hardly room to receive
it, and sure I am that none of us knew what to do
with it, or how to behave under it. It was the hap-
piest year of my life. Notwithstanding I gave my
mind and very much of my time to this work, to an
extent, in fact, which lookers on. Christians even,
would have thought, and probably did pronounce,
ruinous to my business, yet when I came to take an
account of stock the following June, I found that it
had been the most profitable year of my life, that I
had never before laid up more money in one year.
This blessed revival continued with more or less
strength until 1834, when more than two hundred
members had been added to our church. The mem-
bers of the church, young and old, seemed all to love
to pray and to labor, and f >und their chief happiness
in doing their Master's will."
Deacon Jacksou's leadership was felt at every step
of that revival. He said to Dr. Homer, " There is
need of a great deal of work here, and we ought not
to tax you at your time of life ; if you please, I will
call in help from outside." The minister had such
confidence in his deacon, that be allowed him to do
whatever he pleased. Accordinglv, Rev. Jonathan S.
Green came and labored here several months, and
after him, Rev. Isaac R. Barber. Deacon Jackson
went about the parish with them, introducing them
to the families and assis'ing them in conducting
neighborhood meetings. Often he conducted such
meetings himself. Saturday night meetings were held
at his own house. " This carpet will be ruined," said
his wife, " by so many muddy boots." "Nevermind,"
said he, "wait till the roads are dry, and you shall
have the handsomest carpet there is in Boston."
Such was the fervor and intensity of his spirit that
the meetings were full, even if it was known that
he was going to read, as he sometimes did, a printed
sermon. He spent much time in visiting the sick,
and in more specifically spiritual work with individ-
uals. For four or five years this kind of religious
activity went on. Deacon Jackson, Deacon Wood-
ward and others were never weary in well-doing, and
we might almost call the revival of 1827 the deacons'
revival.
Rev. James Bates waa ordained as colleague pastor
with Dr. Homer in November, 1827. He waa a
man whose soul was habitaally penetrated with the
thought of the infinite and amazing interests which
the preaching of the Gospel contemplates. The eter-
nal future of those to whom he ministered was to
depend in great measure upon his fidelity. To be
the means of their salvation was the pission of
his life. Large additions were made to the church
under his ministry. It is true that other agencies
were at work. The revival of 1827 had not spent
itself when he came here. A very successful four
days' meeting was held in 1831, at which Dr.
Lyman Beecher and Dr. B. B. Wisner were among
the preachers, and the period from that time to
1835 was one of those great revival eras in which
the windows of Heaven are open all over the
land to pour down salvation. These considerations,
however, should not detract from the value of the
labors of Mr. Bales, for he was equally successful in
Granby after he had left Newton.
Mr. Bates had for helpers two such deacons aa any
minister might be thankful for — Elijah F. Woodward
and William Jackson. Deacon Woodward came of a
goodly stock. Four generations of his ancestors had
lived and prayed and died in the house in which he was
born. His father and grandfather were deacons. He was
made deacon at the age of twenty-eight, and held the
office as long as he lived. He was twenty-nine years
superintendent of tho Sunday-school. He entered
the choir at the age of eleven, and remained there
forty-eight years, half of which time he was the
leader with voice and viol of thirty or forty singers
and players. He lived two miles from the meeting-
house, and yet no one was more constant or more
punctual than he in attendance upon all the meetings
of the church and of the choir, both in the daytime
and in the evening. Often he took a shovel in his
s'eigh to make a path through snowdrifts. He waa
farmer, teacher, surveyor, town clerk and treasurer,
and yet his duties to the church were never neg-
lected. His horse had heard the Doxology in Old
Hundred sung so many times that he learned to rec-
ognize the singing of it aa the closing exercise of aa
NEWTON.
45
evening meeting, and when he heard it he backed
out of the shed and wallced up to the chapel door,
where he waited till his master came out. One of Deacon
Woodward's duties as town clerk was to announce in-
tentions of marriage. This he did from his place in
the choir on the Sabbath, just before the benediction-
Few men render the public so much service as he did>
in so quiet and noiseless a way, and with so little
desire to get the glory of it to himself. The appreci-
ation in which he was held was shown by the attend-
ance at his funeral. The meeting-house was full.
People came from every part of the town, and from
surrounding towns, and the procession of those who
walked to bis burial was more than half a mile long.
This was their tribute to the goodness of a man in
whom everybody had confidence.
Deacon Jackson was the champion of every right-
eous and good cause, whether popular or unpopular.
If it was unpopular it had all the more attraction for
him, because it needed him the more. He was the
first mover in the temperance cause in this town, and
delivered the first temperance address. Hia action
upon the subject of license, as selectman of the town,
raised a storm of opposition which caused the subject
of intemperance to be more thoroughly discussed and
better understood than in any other town in the Com-
monwealth. When he began to agitate the question,
he said he knew of but three total abstinence men in
the town — Captain Samuel Hyde, Increase S. Davis
and Seth Davis. This was in 1826, the year that Dr.
Lyman Beecher delivered his famous six lectures on
intemperance. In less than two years from that time
Deacon Jackson was sent to the Legislature as a tem-
perance man. In the Legislature he opened his lips
against Free Masonry and for that was sent to Con-
gress two terms. While in Congress he saw the
usurpations of the slaveholders, and this made him an
anti-slavery man. When the Liberty party was formed
he was its first candidate for Governor. When the
American Missionary Association was formed in
1846 he was its first president, and held the office eight
years. In 1828 he began to advocate the construction
of railroads. For sixteen or eighteen years no
subject engaged so much of his attention or occupied
80 much of his time as this. In 1829 he delivered
lectures and addresses in the principal towns of the
State, and wrote articles for the newspapers of Bos-
ton, Springfield, Xorthampton, Haverhill and Salem.
This was considered by many of his friends to be
evidence of partial derangement In May, 18.31, the
building of the railroad from Boston to Worcester
was commenced, and there is no man to whom the
public is more indebted than to him for the railroad
facilities of the present day.
William Jack.son was a leader among men without
trying to be, and perhaps without knowing that he
was, by the excellence and force of his character, by
his knowledge of men and of atfairs, by hia quickness
and sagacity, by the depth and strength of his con-
victions, by his loyalty to trulh and duty, by hia
capacity for being possessed and controlled by the
conclusions to which his judgment and conscience
conducted him, by the simplicity, earnestness and
public spirit with which he urged his views upon the
attention of others, and by his enthusiastic disregaid
of his own ease and time and money, if public in-
terests might be subserved, and righteousness main-
tained, and the kingdom of heaven brought nearer ;
and when men saw in him these qualities and this de-
votion to the public welfare, they gave him their
confidence, acknowledged his leadership and felt safe
in following him.
The devotion of this remarkable man to public
interests was never allowed to interfere wi'.h his duties
to hia church. He spent a great amount of time and
money in promoting ita welfare. He knew nothing
about the love of money for its own sake, or for
luxury and display. He accumulated that he might
give, and he could not say no to any person or cause
needing aid. He wrote the early history of this
church aa contained in Jackson's " History of New-
ton." Though in early life he was a Uaitarian and an
admirer of Dr. Channing, when he changed his belief
he became one of the stoutest defenders of the
orthodox faith we ever had. He ever maintained the
most cordial social relations with his Uaitarian friends,
and he gave them his hand and his heart as co-
workers with him for temperance and anti-slavery.
The pastoral relation of Mr. Bates and of Dr. Homer
ceased at the same time, in April, 1839.
The seventh pastor of our church was Rev. William
Bushuell, installed in 1842. As a preacher he was
clear, sound, scriptural and instructive. He published
sermons commemorative of Deacons Woodward and
Jackson. His ministry terminated in 1846.
My own ministry began in 1847, and continued
thirty-five years. In 1854 we enlarged the meeting-
house and built a new chapeL In 1869 we again en-
larged both the meeting-house and the chapel, at a cost
of twenty-two thousand dellars. In twenty-six years
our contributions to benevolent objects, including gifts
of individuals and the work of the Ladies' Benevo-
lent Society, amounted to nearly sLxty-three thousand
dollars.
The present pastor, Rev. Theodore J. Holmes, waa
installed in 1883. He has a apecial gift for interesting
children and youth. Their attendance upon the
services of religion has been greatly increased under
hia ministry and additions of young persons to the
church have been numerous.
We have no means of knowing how many persons
were received into our church by ita first four
ministers. It is probable that aeveral hundred names
were lost by the burning of the church records. Dr.
Homer, as sole pastor for forty-five years, received
two hundred and fifty-seven. He and Mr. Bates to-
gether received, in eleven and a half years, one hun-
dred and ninety-four. Mr. Bushnell in his four yean
46
HISTORY OF MIDDLliSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
received seventeen. In my own ministry five hundred
and thirty-six were received, or two hundred and
fifty-four by profession and two hundred and eighty-
two by letter. Brother Holmes has received in six
years one hundred and fony-one, or sixty-six by pro-
fession and seventy-five by letter.
The men whom this church has sent into the
ministry are Ichabod Wiswail, William Williams,
Thomas Greenwood, John Prentice, Caleb Trowbridge,
Edward Jackson, Joseph Park, Samuel Woodward,
Nathan Ward, Jonas Clark, Ephraim Ward, Calviu
Park, Increase Sumner Davis, James M. Bacon,
Edward P. KiQg>bury, James A. Bates, Gilbert R.
Brackett, Charles A. Kingsbury, Frank D. Sargent,
James A. Towle, Erastus Blakeslee and John Bar-
stow.
An incredible story is told about the strength of
Nathan Ward's voice. He was a disciple of White-
field and was settled in Plymouth, N. H. A family
living more ihan a mile from his meeting-house said
they could remain at home and hear the sermon.
Jonas Clark, of Lexington, illustrates the remark of the
elder President Adams, that "American independence
was mainly due to the clergy." He was ao intimate
friend of Samuel Adams and John Hancock, who
often visited him. Increase Sumner Davis was a man
who could take a walk of twelve or fifteen miles before
breakfast, and call it pleasant exercise. When his
preaching places were distant he went to 'hem on
foot. On one of his walks in Piermont he met a man
who had been drinking, and who came up to him and
challenged him to a trial of strength. Mr. Davis
tried to avoid him, but the man persisted. " Let me
alone," said Mr. Davis, "or you will find that you
have caught a full-gtown man." But the man would
not let him alone, and the result was tbat he was soon
lying on his back in the snow with his head plunged
into a snow-bank, where he was held till he promised
to be peaceable and begged to be released. On
being suffered to get up, he wiped the snow from his
face and muttered : " You are a full-grown man any-
way."
Among the women from this church who have been
wives of ministers was Abigail Williams, ancestor of
President Mark Hopkins, of Hon. Theodore Sedg-
wick, judge of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts,
and of Catharine Maria Sedgwick. Her first husband
was Bev. John Sergeant, and her second husband
General Joseph Dwight. She was a woman of fine
talents and acquirements, of dignified manners and
of elevated Christian character. While teaching
Indian girls as a missionary, she corresponded ex-
tensively with persons eminent for learning and piety
on both sides of the Atlantic. Miss Eliza Susan
Morton, of New York, who became the wife of Presi-
dent Josiah Quincy, of Harvard College, gives the
following account of her personal appearance:
" When Madame Dwight visited us in 1786 she was
between sixty and seventy years of age, tall, straight.
composed, and rather formal and precise, yet so be-
nevolent and pleasing that everybody loved her. Her
dress was always very handsome, generally dark-
colored silk. She always wore a watch, which in
those days was a distinction. Her head-dress was a
high cap with plaited borders, tied under the cbin.
Everything about her distinguished her as a gentle-
woman, and inspired respect and commanded atten-
tion."
Three mi-ssionaries have lately gone from us —
Harriet N. Childs, to Central Turkey ; Bertha Robert-
son, to Southern Georgia ; and Sarah L. Smith, to
Micronesia.
Several of the ministers of our church have been
nobly connected. Mr. Cotton was great-grandson of
the man for whom Bcston was named. Mr. Hobart
was uncle to Dorothy Hobart, the mother of David
Brainerd, one "of the holiest men that ever lived.
Mr. Eliot's first wife was great-aunt to Mrs. Jonathan
Edwards, and his second wife was an ancestor, by a
second marriage, of Josiah Quincy, president of Har-
vard College. It is enough to say of Mr. Eliot that
he was a son of the apostle Eliot, but his brother
Joseph, of Guilford, had a son Jared, who was a re-
markable man. He was the minister of Killingworth,
Conn., where he never omitted preaching on the
Lord's Day for forty years. He delighted in the
gospel of God's grace to perishing sinners, and yet
i he was a physician, a philosopher, a linguist, a miner-
I alogist, a botanist and a scientific agriculturist. He
I knew so much about diseases and their treatment that
I he was more extensively consulted than any physician
I in New England. Being on the main road from New
York to Boston, he was visited by many gentlemen of
distinction. He was a personal friend and correspond-
ent of Bishop Berkeley. Dr. Franklin always called
upon him when passing through the town. This
man was nephew to Rev. John Eliot, Jr., and he once
preached in this place.
The record of the town of Newton for patriotism in
the French and Indian Wars, and in the War of the
Revolution, is a noble one. The church shares this
honor with the town. The name of Captain Thomas
Prentice was a terror to the hostile Indians. He was
an original member of the church in 1664, and so
were two others, and probably more, who fell in the
Indian Wars. In the army of the Revolution were
four of the deacons of our church — John Woodward,
David Stone, Jonas Stone and Ebenezer Woodward ;
also Col. Joseph Ward, who received the thanks of
Washington for his services. Col. Benjamin Ham-
mond, General William Hull, and that brave and im-
petuous soldier. Col. Michael Jackson, who had with
him in the army five brothers and five sons. Two of
our men were nearly sixty years old when they en-
listed, two were nearly seventy and one was seventy-
three. Fifty-seven names of soldiers of the Revolu-
tion are on our church roll, forty of whom were mem-
bers of the church at the time of the war, and seven-
NEWTON.
47
teen joined it afterward. More than h.iif the male
member:) of the church performed military duly. Thia
shows how he ivy the draft was that was made upon
the population of the country to fill. the ranks of the
army. The population was small, and every able-
bodied man of suitable age was needed in the struggle
for independence. In the War of the Rebellion the
population was so great that, though the armies were
immense in size, the proportion of eclisted men was
much smaller. Only nine of the members of this
church were in the Union army, and three of these
were not members at the time of the war, but became
such afterward. Their names are Col. I. F. Kings-
bury, Sergeant-Major Charles Wa.'d, Captain George
F. Brackett, Major Ambrose Bancroft, Roger S.
Kingsbury, Edward A. Elli:', John E. Towie, Cap-
tain Joseph E. Cousens and William H. Daly.
Edward P. Kingsbury enlisted and went into camp,
but was compelled by ill health to return home.
William H. Ward, brother of Charles, might prop-
erly be counted among the soldiers from this church,
for here was the home of his boyhood, and this was
the church he first joined.
In July, 1862, Charles Ward, who was almost
ready to enter college, having the ministry in view,
said to his friends : " I believe it is my duty to en-
list.'' They said to him: "If you enliit for three
years you will never come back." His only reply
was : " I do not expect to come back." On the
evening of his enlistment he said : •' We hear the
call of our country summoning us to her defense in
the hour of peril. Is there a life too precious to be
sacrificed in such a cause? I do not feel that mine
is. I rejoice that I am permitted to go and fight in
her defense. I have come here to enroll my name as
a soldier of my country, and I hope I am ready to die
for her if need be." For a time he was detailed as
clerk at division headquarters, but as soon as the call
to arms was heard he dropped his pen for his place
in the rank?, saying, " I cannot sit here writing when
my company are going into battle." This was the
battle of Chancellorsville, in which he fought bravely
with his comrades.
His moral and religious character nobly stood the
test of army life. He was as little affected by its de-
moralizing influences as the three Hebrews were by
the fury of Nebuchadnezzar's furnace, when they
came forth from it without the smell of fire upon
them. The whiskey that was furnished to the sol-
diers he would neither drink nor commute for other
rations. He regularly took it and poured it on the
ground. His religious influence was felt in the sol-
diers' prayer-meetings, and in his habitual use of his
Bible. !
His calm and unwavering courage in battle, or in
prospect of a battle, was a tonic to the whole regiment.
Every man in it knew that he had given his life to
the cause of his country, and that he stood ready to
complete the sacrifice whenever his duty as a soldier
[ required it. At Gettysburg, on the very crest of the
wave of that gigantic war, he laid down his life. In a
charge across an open field under a deadly fire, a
bullet pierced his lungs and he fell. He lived several
days after this and was left in a barn with other
wounded soldiers. One of them said, " I am sorry I
ever enlisted.'' Charles overhearing him, said, '' I
do not feel so ; I am glad I came; this is just what I
expected." He sent loving messages home to his
friends, and said to them, " Death has no fears for
me ; my hope is still firm in Jesus."
Such was the death in his twenty-second year of a
Christian soldier, a young man who gave his life first
to God and then to his country. An oflicer of his
regiment said of him, "A pattern of goodness and
7»orth, he became endeared to all, so refined and cul-
tivated even amidst the rough usages of camp life, a
necessity to the regiment." Fitly the Army Post of
this city bears the name of Charles Ward.
Our church has supplied for the service of the
country in wars early and late, seventy men, and it
is believed that in the French and Indian Wars there
were soldiers whose names have been lost.
Twenty two ministers have gone out from us,
seventeen ministers' wives, and one young woman
unmarried, as a missionary. Twenty-five descend-
ants of these ministers and ministers' wives have
been ministers, and twenty-one ministers' wives. No
doubt the number is greater than this, but these have
been counted. Two of the ministers stayed forty
years each in one place, one forty-six years, one forty-
seven, two fifty, one fifty-three, one fifty-five, and
the husband of one of the wives sixty years. We
have then a total of eighty-six persons who have
been engaged in ministerial or missionary service, —
namely, forty-seven ministers, of whom five were
missionaries, thirty-eight wives of ministers, of whom
three ware missionaries, and one missionary unmarried.
A large number of eminent men have either been
members of this church or. descendants of members.
First of all should be mentioned our own deacon,
Isaac William;', ancestor of a long line of distinguish-
ed men. His son William, of Hatfield ; his grandsons,
Solomon, of Lebanon, Conn., Elisha, President of Yale
College, Colonel Ephraim, founder of iWilliams Col-
lege; andhisgreat-grandsons,Eliphalet, of East Hart-
ford, Conn., and William, of Lebanon, Conn., a
member of Congress and a signer of the Declaration
of Independence, are conspicuous representatives of
this notable family. Rev. Dr. Joseph Buckminster ;
his son. Rev. Joseph Stephens Buckminster ; Judge
Theodore Sedgwick ; his daughter, Catharine Maria
Sedgwick ; President Mark Hopkins, Professor Al-
bert Hopkins, and Mrs. E. S. Mead, president of
Mount Holycke Seminary and College, are descend-
ants still further down the line.
Jonas Clark, of Lexington, minister, patriot, states-
man, and his grandson, Henry Ware, Jr., professor
in Harvard Divinity School, were eminent men.
48
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Joseph Park, of Westerly, R. I., had a Sunday-
school in his church thirty years before the time of
Robert Raikes. Thomas Park, LL.D., was professor
in Columbia College, South Carolina. Rev. Calvin
Park, D.D., waa professor in Brown University. His
son, Edwardi A. Park, D.D., LL.D., has been editor
of the Bibliotheca Sacra forty years, professor in
Andover Theological Seminary forty- five years, a
preacher and author sixty years, and la still preparing
works for the press.
From John Eliot, Jr., the first minister of our church,
descended his son, Judge John Eliot, and from him
Henry C. Bowen, Esq. From his widow by a second
marriage was descended Josiah Quincy, LL.D.,
President of Harvard College.
From Mr. Hobart, the second minister of our
church, have descended Rev. Dr. R.S. Storrti, of Brain-
tree ; hia son. Rev. R. S. Storrs, D.D., LL.D., of Brook-
lyn, N. Y. ; Dr. Joseph Torrey, president of the Uni-
versity of Vermont, and Judge Robert R. Bishop, of
this place.
From Mr. Cotton, our third minister, were de-
scended Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Thayer and his son by
the same name, patron of Harvard College.
Other descendants of members of this church are
Rev. Dr. James Freeman Clarke, Rev. Dr. William
Hayes Ward and Professor William G. T. Shedd,
D.D., LL.D., of New York, a prolific author and the
greatest master of the Augustiniaif theology in our
land.
William Jackson, pioneer in temperance and anti-
slavery, father of railroads, member of Congress as an
anti-Mason, a pillar in the church, zealous in all good
works, waa a member of this church from 1814 to 1845.
Included in this enumeration are three judges, two
members of Congress, several authors, three college
professors, three professors ia theological seminaries
and five college presidents. What opportunities
for usefulness do such positions as these afford, and
what sense of security we have when the right
men fill them ! Those who are called to instruct
and guide the young in the forming period of iheir
lives are sitting at the very fountains of influence.
They direct the thinking of the time, for they teach
those who are to be the thinkers. If all our colleges
and schools were provided with anch teachers as those
whose names have just been mentioned, we might
almost say that society would be safe in their bands.
John Wesley, when a young man, declined a curacy
that, he might spend ten years at Oxford. If he had
taken a pulpit, he felt that he should purify only one
particular stream : therefore he went to the Uni-
versity, that he might " sweeten the fountain."
It is exceedingly gratifying to us to find in how
many ways the church that we love has been of ser-
vice to the interests of mankind, through ministers
and missionaries and teachers, and gifts of money;
through the lives of men and women who, like Moses
on the mount, had power with God in prayer, and
through the lives of men who, like Joshua, when the
life of the nation was threatened, could go out and
fight against her enemies. It is simply amazing to
see in how many directions the influence of a single
local church may go out, and how its agencies for do-
ing good may extend and multiply in successive gen-
erations, when the children of ministers, their grand-
children, and great-grandchildren, and descendants
still more remote, are found perpetuating the work of
their ancestors and keeping alive the fragrance of
their name. This is a kind of- fruit which it is the
peculiar privilege of an ancient church like ours to
gather up. Is it not also the privilege of a country
church in distinction from a city church? Churches
which are remote from the excitements, the diver-
sions and the frivolities which are incident to city
life furnish by far the larger proportion of the men
who stand in the pulpits of the land, and exert a con-
lolling influence upon society, as well as of those
who carry the gospel to the ends of the earth. Es-
tablish a local church where one is needed, either in
country or city, and you open a fountain of living
waters which may flow on to the end of time. Its
worii goes on quietly, but constantly, like the flowing
of a gentle river, in sermons, and prayer-meetings,
and Sunday-Schools, in pastoral visitation, and in
benevolent contributions, and sometimes we are cast
down in spirit because there are no more visible
results. But God has said, " My word shall not re-
turn to me void; it shall prosper in the thing
whereto I sent it." This is always true, and when we
look through long periods of time we see it. " Every-
thing lives whithersoever the river cometh."
An ancient church is often a mother of churches.
As the banyan tree in the East sends down shoots
from its branches to take root in the earth and be-
come the stems and trunks of new trees, so this church
sent down a shoot into the soil of the West Parish in
1781, and a new tree sprang up there. In 1845 it
sent one down on the spot where E'.iot Church now
stands, and what a banyan tree is there ! Another
was dropped at Newtonville in 1858, and another at
Newton Highlands in 1872, and the trees all flourish,
and their prosperity is our joy. The work of the
scores of ministers who have gone out into the world,
tracing their roots back to this hallowed spot, sends
back its benediction upon us and fills us with thanks-
giving. For "so is the kingdom of God as if a man
should cast seed upon the earth and should sleep and
rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and
grow he knoweth not houo. The earth beareth fruit
of herself" under the smile of God, and so does a lo-
cal church. It is an institution filled with unspeak-
able blessing to all within its reach. Continually, in
one way and another, often in ways that we do not
observe, and in ways that we never shall know in this
world, it is bringing forth fruit unto God.
If this church through its long history has been a
blessing to others, it has been a blessing to this partic-
NEWTON.
49
ular locality. Sound Joctriae and true religion bring
with them everything that is desirable in human
society. We love the city where we dwell, we enjoy its
good name and its fair fame among the cities and
towns of our Commonwealth. If society among us
is established upon right principles, and if the char-
acter and conduct of the people are such as to adorn
those principles ; if all this is true iu an eminent de-
gree, as we think it is, we are largely indebted for it
to those who have gone before us, and especially to
the early ministers. Their faithful preaching and
godly living were the foundation on which society
was built. They formed the channel which shaped
the direction of the stream that has been flowing ever
since. Their spirit is in the air, and it has been
breathed by every successive generation, and it is in
great measure because of this that the lines have
fallen to us in such pleasant places and that we have
so goodly a heritage.
CHAPTER III.
J\rE WTON-{ Continued).
EDUC.VTIOyAL.
BY MRS. liLECTA N. L. W.VLTON'.
Before Newtox became a. Towxsiiip. — Pre-
vious to the separation of Cambridge Village (New-
ton) from Cambridge her school interests were identi-
cal with those of Cambridge, in which place there
was established, in 103(), "A public school, or col-
ledge," and soon after, by the side of the college, "A
faire Grammar .■^choole for the training up of young
schollars, and fitting them for Academicall learning,
that still as they were judged ripe, they might be re-
ceived into the coUedge." It is not definitely known
when this grammar school was established, but it
must have been previous to 10-13, as the record quoted
above was published in that year.
The inhabitants of both Cambridge and Cambridge
Village were taxed for this school, and Cambridge
Village had an equal right to its advantages, though
how far the people availed themselves of the right ;s
not known. Its distance was certainly too great for
general daily attendance. It was a good school, for
the record further states: "Of this schoole Jlaster
Corlet is the Mr., who has very well approved hira-
selfe for his abilities, dexterity an painfulnesse in
teaching and education of the youth under him."
But the school was poorly attended. As late as 1G80
a report sent to the County Court states of Mr. Corlet,
" his scholars are in number, nine, at present." For
the encouragement of 3Ir. Corlet to continue teach-
ing, various sums were voted by the town from time
to time to be added to the fees received from his
patrons. The following action is of interest to New-
4-iu
ton : In 1648 it was voted to sell land off the Com-
mon to raise ten pounds for Mr. Corlet, "provided it
should not prejudice the Cow-common." For this
purpose, forty acres " on the south side," in or near
what is now Newtonville, were sold to Mr. Edward
Jackson.
Master Corlet taught nearly half a century, till hia
death, Feb. 25, 1687, aged seventy-eight years.
There is no record of any public or private school
for elementary instruction available to the village
before 1698, if we except those named in a report
sent from Cambridge to the County Court in 1680,
which states that " For English, our school dame is
Goodwife Healy, at present but nine scholars," and
" Edward Hail, English Schoolmaster, at present but
three scholars," which schools Cambridge Village
children could hardly have attended. But that an
attempt was made to see that all the children were
instructed in some way is shown by the following ex-
tract taken from the Cambridge records of 1642 :
"According to an order of the last General Court it is ordered that tbe
towDsmeo see to the educating of children, and that the town \m di-
vided into six parts and a person appointed for each division to taka
care of all families it contains."
The order of the General Court referred to, re-
quired of the selectmen of every town to " have a
vigilant eye over their brethren and neighbors, to see
first that none of them shall suffer so much barbarism
in any of their families as not to endeavor to teach,
by themselves or others, their children and appren-
tices so much learning as may enable them perfectly
to read the English tongue and [obtain a] knowledge
of the capital laws, upon penalty of twenty shillings
for each neglect therein." Again, in 1647, a law was
passed requiring every town containing fifty house-
holders to appoint a teacher "to teach all such chil-
dren as shall resort to him to write and read ; " and
every town containing one hundred families or house-
holders was required " to set up a grammar school,
whose master should be able to instruct youth so far
as they may be fitted for the University." The pen-
alty for non-compliance was five pounds per annum.
With such a law and such a penalty there can scarce
be a doubt that some provision was directly made for
the elementary education of the youth of the entire
township of Cambridge, including Newton, even if
no records of the same have been preserved. How
far the early settlers availed themselves of the oppor-
tunities given can never be known ; it would not be
strange if, in their struggles for existence, many set-
tlers should have neglected them altogether.
After the Separation of Newton from Cam-
bridge.— For some years after the separation of New-
i tou from Cambridge no school building was provided,
I but the children, if taught collectively, were accom-
modated in some room furnished by a citizen. The
first movement towards building a school-honae, of
which we have any record, was made in 1696. Kev.
Jonathan Homer, in his historical sketch of Newton
written in 1798, says :
50
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
" In this year (169r.) the town nprefd fo build a school-boxiEe (since
mulliplied to six) and clioose a ctmniittee to treat with aod persuade
JoljD Staples (afternards a wortliy dearoD of the cliurrb) lo keep the
school To him they gave, agreeably to Iheir day uf sluall things, one
shilling and sixpence per day." '
But it feema that the school-house was not then I
built; indeed, the people had much trouble about its i
erection, and that they were not able to overcome all
the obstacles to their enterprise is shown by the fol-
lowing curious extracts from their town records:
3Iayl,ViaS. — "Then voted that the town shall build a school-house
as soon as they can."
March 6, 1699. — "Voted that the town will build a school-honse the
dimensions sixteen-foot long aud fourteen foot wide, and tbut it shall be
finished by the last of November, 1(199."
Jan. 1, 1700. — ".\t a town-meeting upon dne warning given January
ye 1. 170(1, the seleclnien and Inhabilaols did hiere and agree with John
Staples to continue the keeping uf the eclioul four days iu a week until
^arcb. and to have two shillings per day."
March 4, 1700. — " Voted that the school-house be set in the highway,
neer to Joseph Bartlet's, and that it be finished by the 1 of October,
1700."
[XoTE. — Joseph Bartlet's house was just north of Institution Hill, in
Kewton Centre.]
At a town-meeting November 25, 1700, "the Select-
men and Inhabitants did agree with John Staples to
keep school one month 4 days in a week for one pound
fore shillings, and allso voted that the Selectmen
shall hire a roome or place to keep school in, and
shall agree with John Staples or some other to keep
and continue the school till the town-meeting of
election in March.''
" March 10, 1701, voted that those that send schollers to shool shall
pay 3 pence per week for Ibuse that lern (o read, ;ind 4 pence per week
for those that lern to Sypher and write, and Ihut they maysend scholers
to either school."
" YoUd^ at the same time that Capt. Prentice, Lieut. Spring and John
Hyde be Joined with Ibo selectmen for a committee to build said school-
houses."
There is no record of that date or of any earlier
date concerning "said scbool-huuses," but reference
is probably made to plans given in the following entrv,
dated a month later, the discrepancy in dates being
accounted for on the supposition (borne out by the
appearance of the records) that the town clerk made
his entries some time after the town-meetings occurred,
and in almost any convenient and vacant space in his
book :
"At a town-meeting upon warning given .\pril \^, 1701, the inhabit-
ants generally assenilded, and upon lualuro consideration had, did iinani-
niouely agree to build two school-houses — one to be set at the meeting-
house and the dimensions 17 foot fquare besides chimney roome and the
' It is gratifying to find that the differences concern-
ing sites for the school-houses were thus happily set-
tled. The first "ccntrybution," as recorded for the
purpose, was a gift by Abraham Jackson of one acre
of land adjoining an acre previou^ly given to the town
by bio father. The record under date of May 14,
1701, states that
" .\brabam Jackson added and gave for the eelting of the srhool-liooFe
upon and enlarging of the buo'ing-place and the convenience of the
training place, one acre more, which said two acres of land was then laid
out and bounded."
The town immediately commenced to build at least
one of the school-houses, for we find the following in
the town treasurer's account:
"Pelivered to .Vbraliaui Jackson, .Alay 2S. 1701, ye sum of one pound
thirteen shillings to by bords and nailes for ye scbool-liuuse. "
The gift of Abraham Jackson's was followed the
next February by a similar gift by Jonathan Hyde of
"a half-acre near Oak Hill, for the use and benefit of
the school at the south part of the town." Gilts of
money are also recorded .ts received and various sums
as paid out for the buildings:
" P.iid .lohn Hide, one of the commity for the school-house. September
yc 'i'^, 1702, two pounds, three shillings and fete pence ; "' alsn
*• Paid to .\linih"iu [.lack^oiij. one of the Colnmity fur the ^rlioi'I-liouse,
Scptenjber yo 'Jt^. ITiiJ. unc pouml, >ixteen sliilliugs and eleviMi pence,
being in full of the tweniy-fi\e pounds alowed by the town to ye Ijiiiid-
iiig both scbool-lioii.-es."
[XoTE. — Tbo " meeliug-house '' stood In what is now old cemetery on
Centre Street.]
It is hoped that the site of the Oak Hill school-
house was more happily chosen than the .site giv?n
by Mr. Jackson, at which latter location the child
must haie imbibed very conflicting impressions from
bis daily surroundings reminded on the one hand, by
his vicinity to the raeeling-hoiise, of his obligations
to the Prince of Peace, and taught by the nes.r train-
ing-place, with all the attractions of music and ginger-
bread, the enforcement of that semi-barbarous law,
"an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,'' while the
exhilaration of "tag" and "I spy" must have been too
often hindered by the funeral train by dav or tem-
pered by fears of possible hobgoblins at nigbt.
A Change in Schoolmasters. — It is possible
that about this time John Staples began to tire of
school-keeping, for we read, " Voted, allso, Novem-
ber 21. 1701, that Ephraim Wheeler, John Hide, Na-
thaniel Healy, Edward Jacksou be joined with the
other in the southerly part of the town neer Oke Hill, 10 foot B.)uare ^ selectmen to treat with and per.suade Jolin Staples to
keep the school, and if they cannot, to use their best
discretion to agree with and bier some other person."
This committee probably procured the services of
Mr. Edward Godard, foi»a record of the treasurer, un-
der date of March 31, 1702, reads, " Paid to Mr. Ed-
ward Godard, schoolmaster, fourteen shillings." and
there is no record of any money paid later to Mr.
besides chimney roome ; and farther, there shall be one schoolmaster wlioe
shall teach two-thirds of the time at the school ut the Meeting-House,
and one-third of the lime at the school at Oko Hill ; and farther, the
town granted twenty five pounds towards the building of said school-
houses, to be equally divided between both houses, and what is wanting
to be made up by those who will freely conlrybute towards the building
of the same."
This arrangement was carried out and the two
Echool-houses were built; the school-house "at the i Staples for teaching,
meeting-house" being north of Joseph Bartlet's, and j It further appears, by the treasurer's account, that
that "at Oke Hill" being south, thus accommodating j Mr. Godard taught till November, 1705, when he was
the scattered settlers better than before. | succeeded by John 'Wilson, Daniel Baker, Caleb Trow-
NEWTON.
51
bridge and Mr. Webb, theu by Caleb Trowbridge :t
secoad time, who taught till 1714, after which Joha
Brown became knight of the ferule. The names of
nine other miaters occur up to 1739, making, in
twenty-seven years, fifteen different teachers, enough,
with no regular 'vstera, ta ensure but little progress.
al90 to hear the prnpesiaioD of suadrey persoug, yt if ye gramar schoole
be kept ID but one place, yt tliere should be a consideration granted to
ye remoat parts of ye tou-ne for ?choolio5 anions tbemsetveB. Thu io-
babitaac, being lawfully warned by Mr. Epbiuini WiUiama, constabil, to
meet att ye meeting bouse on said eleventh day of 3Iay, and being a»-
aembled on said day, did first trye a voat for three schoole housies and
was negatived.
2. Did trye a voate for to have ye gramar schoole to be kept but in
Of all these schoolmasters John Staples appears to j one place, and it waa voated to have but one achoole-house to keep
taught the gramar schoole in for the towne.
'^ "a. Voated to grant the reraoat parts of yeTo^vnea consideration for
schooling among themselves.
"4. Voated to choose a Commity to consider whear said one schoole-
house should be erected for to keep the gramer schoole in ; as also to con-
sider who ye remoat parts of ye towne are yt cannot have ye benefit of
but one schoole, and what alowanc they shall have for schooling among
themselves ; and to make theire repoart of what they do agree upon at
ye next publick town raeetiug for confirmation or non-conftrmation.
-\nd then did choose Lieut. Jeremiah Fuller, Mr. Joseph Ward, 3Ir.
have been most acceptable, and to have
greatest length of time. He was a person of note in
the town, of which he was an inhabitant from 1688
till the time of his death, November 4, 1740, at the
age of eighty-two. Besides being a schoolmaster for
some years, he held the office of deacon of the church,
waa selectman from 1701 to 1709 and town clerk from
l/l-ttO i/o4. I yathaniel Langley, Mr. Richard Ward and Insiue Samuel Hide to be
CONDITIOy OF THE SCHOOLS. — Up lo this time and \ ,[,j ,^^^^ commuey,
for years after, the schools were not free in the sense
in which our present schools are free. They were
open to all children, but those who attended paid
tuition, the amount being generally decided upon
by the town, and any deficiency in the master's pay
being made up by drafts upon the treasurer. There
was little system in the management of the schools,
the people from year to year voting in town-meeting
how and where the schools should be taught. The
"Recrded per me, John Staples, ToumClerk."
Then follows a remonstrance of the same date,
signed by twenty-five citizens :
" WHie, whose names are underwritten, do enter our decenta agiost
tbisvoate of having but one schoole-bouse in this towne."
I On December 7, 1720, the " Commity " chosen re-
ported a site for the school-house ; also recommenda-
tion to allow twelve pounds a year to the remote
- o , , ^ ..^ 1 f J . fl,.,, ' parts of the town for schooling, and thirdly, did
duties of School Committees were limited at nrst i ' • l . . r i ,. •.
suppose vt there is about sixty fammilyes yt are two
simply to hiring a schoolmaster, and at times they
shared even that duty with the selectmen. They
were chosen for but one year at a time, and the board
was often entirely changed. But the aim of the peo-
ple was always to secure greater faciliaes for better
teaching; and from these small beginnings, as experi-
ence dictated, has steadily grown a common-school
system of which we are justly proud.
The following record is one of the earliest pre-
served which shows any additional power delegated
to the School Committee :
" ^lay 0, ITl-J, at a public town-meeting, the inhabit.ints of this town
did p:i»s a Vote that the cominilty cho^en at the last town-uleetin;; to
take care of the school, shall agree with a tchoulraaster as to his sallery
fer the present year."
Further School Privileges Demanded. — It
was not long before the school at the north, " by the ' thing for the use of it,—
meeting-house" and that at the south, "near Oke
Hill," proved insufficient for the needs of the people
al the west, who petitioned for further school privi-
leges, and on March 10, 1718, the citizens voted ten
pounds to the northwesterly, west and southwesterly
inhabitants for the promoting of " Larning" among
them " in such plaices as a committy hereafter chosen
miles and a halfe from ye meeting-house, and about
forty fammilyes yt are about three miles from ye
meeting-house," which reports were accepted, and
votes were passed in accordance with the report. But
in three months a different counsel prevailed, and the
inhabitants on March 13, 1721^ —
" ". Did try a voat for ye granting ye remoat parts of ye towne twelve
pounds annualy for schooling among themselves. So longaa ye schools
should be kept in one place, and it was negatived.
" 4. Dill trye a voat y t ye gramer school should be keept att ye school-
house by the meeting-house for ye present year. Negatived.
"j Did try to have it kept at ye school-house at ye south part of y©
town, and it was negatived."
Mr. Samuel Miller, promising before the town in
said meeting, that he would find a room in his own
house to keep school in, and not charge the town any-
"7. The inhabitants did voat yt the school should he kept att ye
house of said Mr. SamL Miller for the present or ensuing year."
ilr. 'Miller lived in the W«st Parish. This arrange-
ment of having but one school — and that at the west
— waa unsatisfactory, and at the next March meeting
they voted that the school should be kept two-thirda
of the time at the meeting-house, and oce-third of
shall appoint ; and to be paid to [such] schoolmaster I i\^q time at the south end of the town.
or schoolmasters as shall teach." About the year j gut apparently the stormiest sessions were in 1723.
1720 there seems to have been some disagreement in ' ^t the March meeting the inhabitants provided for
regard to the location of schools and many exciting j ^ school one-half of the year at the west, and at the
north and south parts one-quarter each; in October
they changed their plan, and changed again in De-
cember, at which lime they voted twelve pounds ten
shillings toward the buildingof a school-house within
fortv rods of the house of Samuel Miller, also that the
sessions were held, —
" May 11, 1720. Xt a towne meeting, appointed by ye selectmen, for
to bear the peiitiou of sundry of ye inhabilanc on the westerly side of yo
towne for to have three schoole-housics iu ye towne, and to have theire
proportion of scooling, as also to hear ye request of sundrey of ye inhab-
itanc to have but one school-bouse to keep ye grauiar schoole in ; as
52
HISTORY OF iMIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
inhabitants of the town should have the privilege of
sending to either school they chose, or to all three.
This apparently settled the difBculty. In 172(> Mr.
Miller gave four rods of land for the school-house.
Several Masters Hired, And School Taught
Only in the Winter Months. — The next change
in the management of the schools worthy of note
occurred in December, 1751, when winter schools were
provided for all the districts, to be kept at the same
time, thus requiring two more school-masters. This
proved satisfactory, and three winter schools after
this were taught from year to year, continuing till
March.
The Character of the " Grammar School." —
It is difficult, if not impossible, at this late day, to
ascertain if the expression "Grammar School," a.^
used in the records, meant a school in which Latin
and Greek were taught, and students fitted for the
university, or simply a school for English studies. A
record of 1751 stands :
" Dec. 4, 1751. — The <iueHtioi) was put « honther their phonid be two
more scbuul-niabters provided to keep English schools id town, that tliere
may be u stiioul kept at each school House iiutiU the auiversar)' iu
March next, aud it passed iu the attirmative."
A record of 1754 stands:
**rofed, that the committee that w.-is chosen in March last to provide
a GruDimnr School 31aater, should be the coniniittce to provide two mas-
ters more."
If we look back in the records of 1731, we shall
find that a committee was appointed to petition the
General Court for a grant of land to enable the town
to support a grammar school. As common Euglish
schools had been supported by the town ever since
its organization, the inference certainly mu.'-t be that
the people in 17.31 were looking towards the estab-
lishment of a grammar school a.s defined by the
General Ct urt. The record quoted above, as well ;is
the following record, dated March, 1761, certainly
seems to imply the e-xistence of such a school, or an
attempt to make what schools they had answer the
requirements of the law :
" Votett, that fifty pounds of the Town rate shall and hereby ia ap-
propriateil for the (jrummar-acbool.
'* loted, that if the said Fifty pounds shall not be expended for the
support of the Grammar School, the reniuiuder sliall be laid out in other
schooling at the discretion of the Committee that ia to provide the
Grummar School Maater.**
Probably some subterfuge was here used, and but
little of this was expended for the said "Grammar
School," for the next year the town was presented
for not setting up a grammar school, as the laws of
Massachusetts required, and the selectmen were in-
structed to endeavor to defend the town before the
next Court of General Sessions to be held in Cam-
bridge. The selectmen would hardly have attempted
to defend the town if they had not some defense to
Ttiake. After this for some years it was voted to keep
the grammar school at the house of Edward Durant,
and then, in 17C7, "at such school-house as the com-
mittee shall think proper."
Increased Interest in the Schools. — The year
1703 seems to have been a year of increased interest
in school afl^airs, and several changes were made in
the schools and in their administration. First, the
people voted for four schools to be opened at the four
I school-houses " beside the grammar school ;" also
voted that the selectmen should apportion the school
: money and school time according lo the list of polls
. and valuation of estates the preceding year, " except-
; ing this allowance, viz. : that those persons who are
unable to pay their pollx, as large a share as if tliey
I had been able and did pay for the same.'' Under this
j direction the following apportionment of school
I money was made. For the school near the meeling-
I house, £19 9s. ; Northwest, £13 lis.; Oak Hill, £10
10s. ; Southwest, £G 10s. total, £50.
! The apportionment of school time was ; — At the
. Centre, 20 weeks, 2 days ; Northwest, 14 weeks, 0 days ;
I Oak Hill, 10 weeks, 6 days ; Southwest 0 weeks, 5
days — total, •j2 weeks, 1 day.
There had been some trouble in regard to the fur-
nishing of wood tor ihe schools, and after some
debate concerning the method of providing it, it was
i voted that it should be paid for from the town treas-
ury ; at the same time the people showed their thrift
by choosing one person tor each of the five schools to
purchase wood " at as low a rate as they can.'
This year the School Committee was increased from
three to five.
School-houses. — As a sample of the school-houses
of the time, that located in the Southwest District,
near the spot where the railroad station in Newton
Highlands now stands (1^90), is thus described in
Smith's " History of Newton :'"' The building was
brick, 14 by 10 I'eet square, and chimney room.
It was covered with a hip roof coming together at a
point in the centre. A fireplace about six feet wide
and four feet deep, with a large chimney, in which
they burned wood four feet long, occupied one side of
the room. This house became very much dilapidat-
ed, and the roof so leaky in its later years, that it
was not uncommon for the teacher to huddle the
scholars together under an umbrella or two to prevent
their getting wet during the summer showers." The
house was rebuilt in 1811.
An amusing incident may be recorded here to illus-
trate the capacity of chimneys in those days. It is
related of a Master Hovey, who taught in one of the
school-houses last used in 1809, corner of Ward
Street and Waverly Avenue, that a roguish boy once
let down a fish-line and hook from the chimney-top,
which hook an equally roguish boy in the room
fastened to the wig of the venerable master, when,
presto ! the w;g suddenly disappeared up the chimney.
Women E.mployed as Teachers. — At the May
town-meeting in 1766 the people took a new depart-
ure, and, " after some debate, voted: — that sixteen
pounds be assessed in the polls and estates in Newton,
by an addition of said sum to the town rate, and to be
NEWTON.
53
laid out in paying school mistresses for the instruction
of chiklrea this present year at the discretion of ihe
committee chosen in March last to provide a gram-
mar school-master."
Like appropriations of sixteen pounds a year were
made, and school-mistresses employed " for the in-
struction of young children " till 1774, after which,
till 1S03, only masters were employed. These " wo-
men's schools '' were summer schools, while the mas-
ters' schools, with the exception of the gra.iimar
school, were taught in the winter. In 1773 and for |
Several subsequent years the town voted '' that the \
grammar school be taught in the summer."
Inspection axd Sipekvisiox of Schools. — It '
does not appear that there was much supervision of '■
the schools in those early days, by any one. In the !
year 1761 and after, the committee who provided the |
school-masters were empowered to expend the school '
money at their discretion ; the selectmen were often
employed to perforin other duties which now pertain i
to the office of School Committee, while special com- !
inittees were appointed for many specific purposes —
to locate school buildings, to make repairs, to appor- ]
tion school money and school time, to district the
town, to provide wood, etc., etc.
In the record of December 22, 1772, is found the
first item that looks towards much supervision of any
kind, as follows :
" The 'juestion was put whether the svlocctmen :*hoiiM he eiiji'iiieii to
itl^pert tile several ttcilwold ill the tort'ii uutl. see thill the leveral >ehoi)l-
niiibteis iiQii iiiUti'efified <lu their re?[ifctive iliitie? in keeping mid sebuols,
ui.-l white i>ruliciel)t.-y the schulur^ liialie in tlieir leurilttr^, iiiiU the vote j
puesetl ill tlie U(-.;ittive."
Then
•' Voted th.lt the Pciiool ciiinniittoe. ^o Ciilleil, be onjuiiieil to vi..it the
aevenil tchuols iilnl see thiit tlie sevenil 'cliool-ltuistern iiml scliuol iiiis-
tre-ses ilo flieir l-e^[»ective iiiitiea uliil see what prolieieuey the schular*i
iiiiiUe iu tlieir leurniuir.'
In 1790, also in 1791, in the vote that the School
t'oinmittee should locate the .-chools, etc., it was added
" t/(i; -laid ciuiimiltei: to iuapert /he .-iecerid si-hooU and -tee
l/i xl thfi/ are keyt «•« the law dirat",'' and at a later
meeting the .same year, after voting that the East
School Society might lay out their money as they
thought proper, they added to their vote: j
" Xotwith-itandiui/, the school coiiiini/f-ic to exercise
the S'tme autkoritij as they were directed to when chosen
la March last.''
This year the Lower Falls District wiis set off, and
the money apportioned accordingly.
Ownership of School Buildings.— In the year
1793 measures were taken for the purchase of the sev-
eral school-houses, which were hitherto owned by the
several school districts, and a committee of eleven
was chosen to draw up a plan respecting the school-
houses and schooling and to report al the next meet-
ing. The next year the town voted to reconsider all
former votes respecting school-houses and schooling
and chose a committee of live to draw up a plan,
Colonel Benjamin Hammond being the only person
on this committee that was on the committee of
eleven. The report of this committee seemed to sat-
isfy, and the same committee were directed to pur-
chase, as soon as convenient, as many of the fchool
buildings, with the land, as could be obtained on rea-
sonable terms. The price paid varied from £40 to £100.
Regulation and Government of the Schools.
— Ill the year 1795 the town voted to choose a commit-
tee of six persons to prepare rules and regulations to
be observed by the several schools within the town,
and made choice of Colonel Joaiah Fuller, Major
Timothy Jackson, Captain William Hammond, Lieu-
tenant Caleb Kendrick, Dr. John King and Dr. Eb-
enezer Starr. This committee was directed to give
the several ministers of the Gospel within the town
an invitation to assist them, and to report at the next
May meeting. With a committee thus made up of
men devoted either to the spiritual, physical or bellig-
erent interests of the community, it might be sup-
posed that a fine set of rules would be presented and
adopted. But, alas ! no report appeared ; at least, none
is recorded.
In 1S02 another committee was chosen to join with
the ministers for the same purpose, and the next year
a third committee, but no report was forthcoming.
Yearly Appropriation for Schools to 1800.
— The yearly grant for schooling from the town treas-
ury was, from 17Gl-t)5, £50 ; 17titj-73, £66; 1774. £60;
1775-76, £50; 1777. £40; 177S, £80; 1782-85, £60 ;
1786-89, £80; 1790, £90; 1791-94, £100; 1795, £130 ;
1796-99, SSdO.
The school appropriations of 1778-81 are given in
depreciated currency; thus, 1779, £200; 1780, £2000;
1781, £2000. The other appropriations are in silver
coin.
The Schools from 1800 to 1817.— From 1800
to 1817 little can be gleaned coaceraiug the public
schools of Newton which is of interest to the general
reader. The town owned its several school-houses,
and in 1808 it was divided into seven school wards —
the West, the North, the East, the South, the South-
west, the Lower Falls and the Centre.
From the winter of 1809-10 to that of 1812-13, and
again from 1814-17 Mr. Seth Davis, a well-known
centenarian of Newton, taught in the public schools
in the West and North Wards. It is related of him
that, in 1810, he introduced into his school decla-
mation and geography, with map-drawing. This
created a great sensation, and a special town-meet-
ing was called to consider whether such a dangerous
innovation should be tolerated. After loDg discus-
sion on the demoralizing tendencies of the times, it
was decided by a large majority that map-drawing
might be continued, but declamation must not be
allowed. Mr. Davis' determined will undoubtedly
chafed under such limitations, and in 1817 he estab-
lished a private school, a notice of which school will
be found later in this article.
54
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
From 1817 to 1827— At the March meeting of
1817 anolher attempt was made to secure some plan
for the better rfgulation and government of the
schools, and a committee of the three ministers, with
one person from each school district, Eev. William
Greenougb, chairman, was requtsted to draw up a
plan and report, On the 12th of May following the
report was presented, and, with the exception of the ,
eighth clause, was adopted. The report is given en- ■
tire as an exponent of the prevailing opinions of the j
times : i
"Tour committee, appofDted to dete7mine eonie regulations for the
echools in Newton, have attended to that service and report as follows ;
" 1. For tbe purpcee of tsritine in the minda of the scliolars a rever- j
ence for the Word of God, and of aiding tlieni in reading it with propriety, j
it is recuiiimeuded that a portion of it be publii ly and daily read in the
morning in each sthool hy ihe Preceptor or Preceptrefs, and that tbe
ecbolara shall read the same after bim or her. j
"2. That whereas there has been lon^ and frequent complaint of |
great deficiency of books among tbe scholars in several nf tbe scboold^ :
it ia earnestly recommended that all parents and guardians procure suit-
able books for rat h of the (hildren or youth under ibcir care, and that
the Selectmen be requested by the Conimiitet men of the district to fur-
nish books at the expense of the town for those tcliolars whose parents
or guardians, in his opinion, are unable to purchase them.
*' '.'.. That the New Testament be one of tbe standard resdiuf; books in
all the schools in this town. .\nd your committee <lo, in a special
manner, rcn mmend Cumminge' New Testament, designed for schools,
\\ith maps of Ihe countries and places mentioned in the Scriptures and
explanatory notes.
"4. That Murrey's English Iteader or Lyman's American Reader be
recon. mended for instruction in reeding in the schools of this town.
"5. That whereas, it appears, upon euquii-y, that Walker's Dictionary
has become a growing and general standard for pronunciation iu tbe i
collegt 3 of the State, and in the colleges and academies of the L'nited
States, your Committee recommend Walker's Pronouncing Dictionary as,
in the general tenor of the work, tbe best standard lo be used by in-
structors in the public schools ; and that the scholars of the first class
be prnviaed with tbe small edition of this Dictionary.
*' Your committee, however, in recommending Walker's Dictionary,
would be understood aa having reference principally to the accent, and
Dot as deciding on Ihe propriety or impropriety of his mode of pro-
nouncing virtue, nature, creature, — virtshu, natshure, cretsbure, — and
a few other words.
**6. That the town recommend to every religious teacher of the schools
to open and close Ihtm daily by prayer.
*' That every master be desired to comply with the laws of the Com- I
monwenlth, which requires bim to give moral and religious instruction
to bis pupils.
" 7. -Vs most of your committee have been called frequently to visit the '.
schools in this town, and have been satisfied that tbe number of chil- I
dren in several of them is greater than can be taught or governed to
advantage, they earnestly reconimend, as an essential and important
aid in instructing and governing the public schools, that no children I
shall he admitted into the winter schools until the complete age of seven ',
years.
"9, It is recommended to the town that a fourth part of tbe moneys
annually granted for the support of public schools be devottd to the
support of summer schools. '
" to. That the Town Clerk be requested by the town annually to fur- ,
Dish, at the town's expense, copies of these votes to each school commit-
teemaD-
"11. We recommend renewed attention on the part of the town to a '
former vote of Ihe town, | relative to tbe commilteeuien of the several
schools acting in concert, not separately, in employing instructors."
The adoption of these measures was a great step in i
advance of previous legislation. !
For some years the committee in their united ca- [
pacity provided the several teachers, but this did not ]
satisfy, and in 1821 the committee of each district '
was empowered " to employ such instructors and i
spend their proportion of money in such a way as
they think proper, complying with the law of the
Commonwealth for governing schools under tbe direc-
tion of the inhabit.ints qualified to vote in town
affairs in the district for which he is chosen. But it
shall be the duty of each committeeman to notify
the inhabitants of the district for which he is cho.=en,
qualified as aforesaid, to meet at some convenient
place within said district before he proceeds to hire an
lustruttor to make arrangements for said school." A
similar vote was passed in 1S23. This arrangement
was unsatisfactory, and in 1826 the committee, as a
whole, was again required to provide instructors.
The school law of 182G first made^ it obligatory
upon the towns to elect a School Coaaniittee, and by
the statutes of 1827 every town was required to elect
three, five or seven persons, and towns containing
four ihousanil inhabitants were empowered to chooi-e
an additional number, not exceeding five. Newton
contained less than three thousand inhabitants.
Fro.m 1827 TO THE Abolition of the Dlstrict
Sy.'^tem .4ND THE Establishment of Graded
Schools in 1S5'2-.j3. — In accordance with the law of
1827, the town chose a general School Committee of
three, con?isling of Rev. Alfred J. Barry, Hon. Wil-
liam Jackson and Deacon Elijah F. Woodward ; the
next year Rev. James Bates and Mr. Seth Davis were
atlded to the committee. After this, Superintending
Committees of five were generally chosen. Prudential
Committees were also chosen from year to year, one
for each district, sometimes by the school districts
themselves. The duties of the Prudential Committee
of each district were to keep the school-house of his
district in repair, to furnish it with all things suitable,
to provide fuel, to contract conditionally with tbe
teacher, and to keep the Visiting Committee informed
of the condition of the school. The Visiting Com-
mittee were required to examine all candidates for
teaching, to cenily to their ability, and also to have
a general charge of all school interests. This sub-
division of duties and responsibilities had some few
advantage?, hue they were more than counterbalanced
by its disadvantages, and too often caused much
friction in the working of the school machinery.
Thus, tbe method of securing and examining teachers
was frequently complained of by the Examining
Committee. The Prudential Committees would some-
times secure teachers and send them to the Examin-
ing Committee for approval without any notice, when
it would be absolutely impossible to give a thorough
examination. It often happened, even, that the
teachers commenced their schools before examination,
or were examined and rejected so late as to delay the
commencement of school at the proper time, the Pru-
dential Committee being, meantime, in search of an-
other candidate. If a relative or favoiite of the local
committee chanced to be rejected, hard feelings were
thereby engendered. In the report of 1844 the com-
mittee complained that teachers had been allowed to
NEWTON.
55
teach through the term and even to draw their pay
either without examiuation or on the approval of a
previous certiticate, though the statute provided that
no teacher should commence without a certificate for
the occasion, while the fact that a person had taught
the year before might furnish the best possible reason
why his application should be rejected.
In their report of 1847-4S the Superintending Com-
mittee cited Stale rules for the guidance of the Pru-
dential Committee, and earnestly and solemnly urged
that no pains should be spared and no reasonable
compensation refused that might secure teachers of
the right stamp. In 1849-50 they urged the advis-
ability of having the teachers chosen and contracted
for by the Examining Committee, and reminded the
citizens that by a law of the State this should be so,
unless a town having an article in the warrant for the
purpose should expressly vote to give that duty to
the Prudential Committee.
Under the double committee system the schools
lacked unity of method and of results, and though stead-
ily linprovinuf, yet made slow progress. The duties
of Prudential Committee were finally merged into
those of the Superintending Committee, and the Pru-
dential Committee was abolished in 1852-53.
Since the first,eslabli=hmeat of the general Visiting
Cciniiuittee, names of respoiijible. painstaking and
able persons are found upon the Newton lists, and
earnest etlorts were constantly made to better the
schools. After the establi-hment of the iliissachu-
setts Board of Education, great assistance was derived
from the annual reports of the secretary of '.he board,
which were sent to the School Committee of each
town, and perhaps quite as much, from the necessity,
imposed upon every town, of reporting in detail the
con Jitiou of every public school within its boundaries.
These reports are on tile at the State-House, and
afford ample evidence of conscientious, painstaking
service.
Rev. Lyman Gilbert and Mr. Ebenezer Woodward
were for many years members of the committee, and
to them may be attributed much of the progress of
education in their day. Jlr. Woodward was a practi-
cal teacher, and kept a very successful private schgol
in Newton Centre from 1SS7 till 1S43 ; Mr. Gilbert
had, for a short time, been usher in Phillips Acad-
emy, Andover. The reports in which their names
appear evince ability, patience, interest and fearless-
ness, and are at once critical and iurpiring. The
following extract from the report of 1838-39 may not
be out of place ;
" Tlie iJea uf having learning enough for coramun business merely,
slioiltj be suuteQceii to perp.>tuiil banialiiiienc. Le.aroine; in aD>* of its
brariclitis can be useless to no one. Tlje acquisition of knowledge ia
moreover a design of life. This considerttioil :iliouI<l be oftener present
to tlie mind, as well as tlie moral obligation all are under to uluke tbe
must and the Ifeat of ttioir faculties, aud to be satisried with no decree of
attainment so lon^ as a lii^ber attainment is vvitbin tlieir reacb."
ST.i.TlsTlC3 OF 1839-40.— In the year ending April,
1840, Newton had eleven public schools ; the whole
number of pupils was, iu summer, 534 ; average at-
tendance, 420; in winter, 632; average attendance,
520. There were ten female teachers in summer; in
the winter nine male and two female teachers. Ave-
rage monthly wages of male teachers, including board,
S34.88 J average board, §10.44; average monthly
wages of female teachers, including board, S14.50 ;
average board per month, $6.55 ; aggregate length of
the winter schools, forty weeks ; of the summer,
forty weeks, fourteen days.
There were two incorporated academies ; aggregate
number of months in session, twenty-two; average
number of pupils, fifty; aggregate paid for tuition,
$800.
Books ix Use. — The books used in the public
schools at this time were :
For Spellinj. — Webster's Spellias-Book and Dictionary ; National
Spelling-Uook.
For lieiiding, — Pierpont's Keadiag-Books, Abbott's Reading-Books,
Worcester's Fourtb Book, Testameut.
For CFfojrnji/iy.— Oloey's Geography.
For Griimmtr. — Parley .t Fox's, -Suiith'a.
For Aritlimetic. — Emerson's, Smith's, Colburn's.
For Atfjebra. — tAjlliurn's, Day'd.
For History. — Worcester's History, Whelpley'a <3ompend, Goodrich's
History of the L'uited States.
Other Books. — Blake's Philosophy and .Astronomy, Watt's On the
Mlud, Book of Commerce.
School Apparatl'S. — At quite an early period
there were those in town whose ideas upon education
were much advanced, and in 1833 they succeeded in
getting into the warrant for town-meeting an article
to see if the town would furnish each school district
with acopy of the Family Encyclopedia, but the article
was dismissed. In 1835 they induced the town to
vote that a terrestrial globe be purchased for each of
the district schools, and instructed the committee in
each district to provide a box for its safe keeping.
But, alas 1 of what use is the best apparatus without
the power or inclination to use it? In 1847-48 the
committee reports " Globes in school, but not in use."
''They had never seen one in any school." On in-
quiry as to their whereabouts, some were found buried
in dust in broken boxes, some were stowed away in
the entries among wood and other rubbish, and some
could not be accounted for, "' perhaps removed with
the old house and regarded as too superannuated to
be introduced intoa modernstructure." . . . "As
if the earth was not round still, and America where it
was a century since and China its antipodal, and as if
these and a thousand otner parts of the earth's sur-
face could be made plain as daylight to the learner
by any other means than the very miniature of the
earth itself."
Not all teachers were thus neglectful, for it rs re-
corded in 1841-42 that one teacher, being unable in
any other way to obtain maps and diagrams, supplied
them himself, and the committee added, " It is to be
hoped that the time is not far distant when the public
will be satisfied that something more than a teacher
56
HISTOKY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
i3 requisite to promote the best interests of moral
beings."
School-Houses. — In 1846—17 the town commenced
a radical reform in school-house architecture. Two
large double school-houses were built on the most im-
proved plans, and a third was thoroughly repaired
and new seated. This prepared the way for a general
reform through the several districts of the town.
That there was need of this reform is evinced by
the report of 1845, which speaks of sloping floors so
arranged as to make it impossible for pupils to stand
up in their seats, and of ventilation so bad that after
silting an hour the visitor m.irveled that the tcaiher
had succeeded so well, both in instruction and man-
agement, " for to say the least, it was utterly impossi-
ble for anybody either to study or to impart instruc-
tion under such circumstances, vigorously." The ne.xt
year, when undertaking repairs, some regard was paid
to ventilation, and the use of thermometers was re-
commended.
In 1849 the school-houses were much improved;
eight out of eleven were well supplied, and all to
some extent provided with suitable apparatus.
FiKST Yearly School in Neavtox — On the
7th of December, 1848, a union was formed be-
tween School District No. 7, which included West
Newton .and Auburndale, and the State Normal
School, then established in West Newton. The ob-
iect of this union was the formation of a model school
where all the most approved methods of instruction
should be adopted and the best talent be employed to
develop the young, and to show by example what a
true school should be.
By the terms of the agreement, the district was to
furnish school-room, etc., and one permanent male
teacher, approved by both parties, and to allow such
addition to their number by pupils from abroad, on a
small tuition, as circumstances mightjustify.
TheState Normal School was to furnish a portion
of the apparatus and two assistant teachers, each
to observe a week previous to teaching, and to
teach two weeks under constant supervision. This
was the first yearly public school ever taught in New-
ton ; it was kept in the basement of the town hall.
Mr. Nathaniel T. Allen, a graduate of the Bridge-
water State Normal School, was appointed its princi-
pal at a salary of S300, to be paid by the district, and
the remainder to be paid by pupils admitted from
abroad. The whole number of pupils the first year
was 125; the number from abroad was 50 ; the average
age of the pupils, 14 years. Thirty-five of the young
ladies from the Normal School served as assistants.
By an additional agreement, ou May 1, 1850, the
Primary School of West Newton became also con-
nected with the State Normal School ; at firat taught
only by students of the Normal School ; but in 1851
a permanent female teacher was employed, and one
assistant from the Normal School. The number of
teachers furnished to this department in 1S50 was 22;
the whole number of pupils 75 ; their average age, 7
years.
The practice which this arrangement offered to the
students of the Noimal School, of observing and
teaching under the eye of an experienced and pains-
taking critic, was ol unmeasured value to them,
while the quality of the teaching was such as to
attract a large number of visitors continually from
Boston and other places, and applications for ad-
mission increased so much after the first year, that
many applicants were turned away. When the Nor-
mal School was removed from the town in 1853. the
Model School as such was given up, and the school
put upon the same basis and taught in the same man-
ner as the other district schools. The names of a
thousand visitors were enrolled on the register of the
school during the last year of its existence.
HI^"DEA^■CEs to Progress. — Among the hin-
drances to good progress in the schools at this time
may be enumerated frequent absences and tardiness,
the patronage of private schools, and the lack of co-
operation on the part of parents.
.\b.sexces to Tardiness. — These hindrances are
named and deplored in almost every school report of
this period. In that of 1845 the committee state that
in many cases more than half the school time is lost
by absences, and that the habit is universal. They
cite one school in particular, the teacher of which re-
ported that in a term of nineteen weeks there
were 3223 half-day absences, equal to an gggregate of
more thsn five and one-half years. In this school
seven pupils were absent respectively 115, 117, 121,
107, 102, 117 and fifty-five half school-days. The
committee added, " When we take into consideration
these obstacles to progress in our schools, what ought
we to e.Kpect ? Who can complain if the teachers
should not be able to get much knowledge into the
heads of those who rarely put their heads into the
school- house ?" That parents and guardians are re-
sponsible is the burden of the reports. The attend-
ance for some years alter this was fearfully low. In
the list of 311 towns in the State for the years 1847— 18,
Newton stood the 244th in attendance. Of the forty-
eipht towns in Middlesex County, Newton stood the
lowest, with an average attendance of forty-three per
cent. In the year 1848-49 she stood the 246th in the
State, having an average attendance of 57.07 per cent.
I quote from the school report of one of these years ;
"The question is getting to be seriously ai-ked in
high places and in all directions. What shall be done
to remtdy this evil? Shall it be a penal offence to
keep a child from school for any reason short of sick-
ness or what may be thought equally imperative?
Shall the vagrant, schoollcss boy be provided for by
the Stale as one already an offender against the peace
and well-being of society ? . . . People will dift'er
very much as to the propriety or justice of adopting
such extreme measures. The largest liberty is cor4-
ctnded for in this free republic ; the liberty to get
NEWTON.
57
drunk and abuse our God-given natures, to eschew '
the good that is around us and hug the evil, and the j
liberty to give the hungry and thirsty souls of our |
immortal offspring stones instead of bread, fire in- i
stead of water ; to hand them over to the dominion I
of unbridled passions, uniultivf.ted desires, to let them
grow up an everlasting disgrace to their parentage,
unmitigated pests to society. What will be done is j
not for us to say; 1 ut only will we heartily aflSrm
that when every child of the proper age shall be re-
ceiving that education which can alone fit him to fill
aright his place among men and prepare him to re-
ceive a holier unction for another kingdom, our eyes
shall no longer be pained, as now, with seeing boys '
spending their springtime of life in mental and bodily i
idleness at the corncrj of the streets or in the stable [
rioting in profanity, obscenity and all malignity. ... I
Railroads are a blessing, but not unmixed; their
depots are lounging-pliices for idlers and truant boys
wherein to concoct mischief; . . . drsm-shopa and |
oyster saloons and candy palaces still hold out their '
tempting lures, otfering to the idle a comfortable re-
pose, to the craving stomach a sweet morsel, but to
the gaping mind gall and wormwood. These you
have among you. tfee to it, see to it." :
By persistent efforts of the School Committees i
and teachers, much was finally accomplished by way j
of school attendance, though it took years and the
system of grailed schools to permanently fix the rate ]
of attendance at a hi^h rank.
The percentage of attendance and rank therefore in
the towns of llassachusetts at the close of the five |
decades from 1S4S-49 is as lollowa : I
lS4>:-40 — percentflse of altondauca . 57,
18,i.S-'.0 •• " •• 71,
lSi;S-ii'.) " " " 7';,
l»7S-7n " '• " <4,
li>6-?0 ■' " " ^2.S
rank in the ^tate . 240
" -JCiO
' " ir.9
.. .. ., ,. jo^
The apparent falling away of the percentage for
1888-89 may be accounted for by the increasing pop-
ular sentiment in favor of deferring the admission of
pupils to school till a later age than five ; the parents :
in Xewton now rarely comraeuce sending so early.
The percentage of attendance based on the average
whole membership in the schools for the year 1888- i
89 is 9j!.4 per cent.
Private Schools. — As another hindrance to the i
best success of the public schools the establishment
of private schools in the several villages was fre- '
quently mentioned. They are spoken of in almost •
every report : iu the early years taking away the most
favored pupils, "leaving the a-b-c-darians and other
small scholars to constitute many of the schools."
In 1849 there were eight private schools, in most of
which the languages and many of the higher branches
of a good education were taught, and in 1S51 not less '
thau 249 pupils attended private schools. Many of
these schools were excellent ai;d will be named later.
It is a fact worthy of mention, however, that as the
private schools flourished, a corresponding lack of
interest was evinced for the public schools, and their
attendance and efficiency proportionately decreased.
The cause of the establishment of so many private
schools and the decline of the public may be traced
to the repeal, in 1824, of the law concerning the re-
quirements for teaching the languages in towns of
not less th.an five thousand inhabitants ; not because
the teaching of languages is absolutely necessary to
great culture in other directions, but because the acqui-
sition of know ledge sufficient to teach Latin and Greek,
and to fit for the university, necessarily accompanied
higher attainments in other directions. After 1824
the quality of the teaching declined, as those best fitted
for teaching chose other professions. There was no
revival till the movement began which resulted in
the establishment of the Board of Education and
Normal Schnols, and the influence of these was not
materially felt over the State for years.
Want of Co-operation of Parents. — The
extent of the co-operation of parents never entirely
satisfied any committee. On the first establishment
of a Supervisory Committee they ask if that is the
reason for the indifference of parents; as if parents
thought they thus delegated all responsibility. Some
difficulties occurred in one of those early years which
were greatly increased by the unguarded utter-
ance by parents of expressions derogatory to the
teacher. But the committee were loyal to the schools'
best interests, and, among other good things, said, "Is
it not advisable that the people of the districts con-
sent to sacrifice individual opinion in some degree
and give their co-operation and support to (he teach-
er for the time being, under the supervisory direction
of the committee which they have themselves se-
lected for the purpose? By such a course, defects
which may really exist would be rendered less injur-
ious, and whatever was good in the management of
schools be made more advantageous. Would parents
generally enjoin upon their children regular and
punctual attendance at school, and subordination
and obedience to the teacher; would they notice
their progress and examine them occasionally at
home as to their proficiency, and in this way encour-
age and interest them in their studies, many of the
diffiLulties which teachers have now to encounter
would be removed, and the character of our schools
much advanced."
Corporal Puxishmext. — It is an open question
whether corporal punishment should be spoken of as a
help or a hindrance to good government in our schools.
At the commencement of one school, in 1842, it was
in a very disorderly state, and the teacher, so said the
committee, undertook to restore and maintain order
by " that mistaken course — a resort to the rod —
which many teachers have adopted frequently, and
as often experienced not only failure, but a worse
state of things than before." "But," the committee
continued, ' as a whole, the discipline of the schools
58
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
has been good thronghout the town, especially during
the winter, and it is believed this has been ihe result
of a less frequent resort to the birch and feruie."
As the years rolled on, the rod seems to have been
less frequently used, and in the report of 1847, the
teachers being those generally of experience, " the rod
was sparingly used," and the subject made a promi-
nent topic in the report, in which it is stated that
" the teacher is in school to represent the parent's kind-
ness, interest and love, as well as the parent's author-
ity," and "the teacher who lakes this attitude in
school, and respects the feelings of his pupils, wins
their affections and gives them enough to do, in a
manner to awaken their interest, will have little
difficulty in the maintenance of order." An interest-
ing case of discipline for that year might be cited.
The case was one of insubordination on the part of
the scholar, who was too large to be reduced to order
without the determined co-operaliou of the parents.
The committee, after repeated efforts to reclaim him
to obedience, and the exercise of all due forbearance,
without success, came to the conclusion to suspend
him from the school for the remainder of the term.
But that they might act deliberately concerning the
case, which was exciting much feeling, and some
threats, they availed themselves of legal counsel,
through which they obtained the opinion of the thief
justice of the Superior Court, and then acted accord-
ingly. The expulsion had the desired effect ; the
pupil returned to the winter school and behaved him-
self with such propriety as fully to redeem his char-
acter.
This circumstance is of especial interest, as show-
ing the extent of the authority vested in the Superin-
tending Committee, and the futility of any attempt
to change an adopted course of action, except through
the School Committee itself. But the question may
be rightly asked : Ought not a State which provides
that a committee may expel a bad boy also provide a
good reformatory where the boy can be sent, even
before he has committed any crime, except that of
wilful disobedience to authority ?
Female Teachers and their Wages. — Inex-
perienced teachers are frequently complained of, es-
pecially the females. Lack of experience is a source,
at all times, of much short-coming in both discipline
and instruction. But it is pleasant to note that while
the committees justly complain of this deficiency,
they have the grace to attribute much of it to one true
cause. In 1842 they say : " Yet the public generally
have established and approved a course directly cal-
culated, not only to continue, but to increase, the evil
so universally condemned. It is certain instances of
this kind will occur while the services of the sexes
are so unequally appreciated. But a (ew females iit
service can be found that are not better rewarded
than many female teachers of youth. To feel satis-
fied with uncomfortable school-rooms and encourage
the employment of such teachers as can be obtained
at the lowest rate, is a practice which has been some-
what prevalent, consequently the wages offered to fe-
male teachers have formerly been of very little induce-
ment for them to make suitable preparations to take
upon themselves the arduous and responsible duties
of a teacher."
In the winter of 1843-44 females were employed in
both the Centre and the South Schoi/ls, and the com-
mittee reports : "The successful instruction and man-
agement of this (the South) and the Centre School by
females, has convinced theco-rimittee that ladies such
as these may be more extensively employed during
the winter with great advantage to the schools, since
the period of instruction may be considerably pro-
longed without additional expense, while the instruc-
tion itself would be equally thorough. The principal
oi)jection would be probably on the ground of govern-
ment. But we feel bound injustice to them to say
that in respect to good order, the schools of these
ladies were not behind any other of the winter
schools." As we look back upon this record through
the viata of nearly half a century, the que-ticjn furces
itself upon us : "Where is tiie justice of cheapening
the salary of either of these women ? Of paying them
less than men teachers would have received for work
no better done?" Under such circumstances what
worldly incentive had the female teacher to prepare
herself especially for her work, or to do her very best
after she had prepared ?
But with all the hindrances incident to the limes,
the schools did decidedly improve, and were taking a
.stronger hold upon the sympathies and affections of
the people generally, who manifested their interest
by more liberal appropriations ibr current expenses
and for schotjl buildings.
Teachers' Meetings. — During the year 1S50-51
a town teachers' association was formed to bring
teachers and committee together bi-weekly fur dis-
cussing topics of teaching and government, thus giv-
ing less experienced teachers the benefit of learn-
ing the methods of those more experienced. The
effect was very beneficial.
From 1852-53 to 1890.— At the March meeting in
1852 measures were taken looking towards a radical
change in the school system. Sis successive articles
in the warrant concerniug schools were referred to a
committee of eighteen citizens to report at an adjourn-
ed meeting. Of this committee. Dr. Barnas .Sears,
then secretary of the State Board of Education, was
the chairman. The committee reported in favor of
abolishing the district-school system, of establishing
the graded system and of authorizing the School Com-
mittee to establish either one school embracing High
School studies for a term of ten months, or a larger
number of schools having such studies for an aggre-
grate period of twelve months.
The town adopted these measures, raised the ap-
propriation for the schools, and voted to build two
new .school-houses, one at Newton Centre and one at
NEWTON.
59
Newtonville. The houses were soon after erected at
a cost of §9,556.
In the school year 1Sj2-.53 all the schools except
that at Oak Hill came under the graded system. On
account of the small number of pupils, Oak Hill con- i
tinued as an ungraded school, taught by a man in the
winter and by a woman in the summer. The town
was divided into six school districts, each containing
grammar and primary grades, as follows:
No. 1, Xcwton Centre, including Oak Hill ; No. 2,
Upper Falls ; No. 3, Lower Falls; No. 4, West New-
ton, including Auburtdale ; No. 5, Newtonville; No.
C, Newtou Corner. Newton Corner had one interme-
diate grade also.
It was arranged that the school year should con-
tain foity-two wetks, divided into three terms ; the
first terra to begin the third Monday in April.
The list of books was revistd, and measures taken
for High fcfchool instruction.
ESTABLISHMEXT OF THE HlGH ScHOOL DEPART-
MENT.— The following is ihe preamble and vote of
the committee establishing the tirst High School de-
partment in the schools :
** Whf.rea^, in view of the iimguitude and cIrcumstADces of the town
of Xewton, it i9 ubviouj tbut Iliqb :^choul principles ouglit itt no liia-
tiint diiv to be fiirnislitfj tu more p«rt3 u( iho town than one, und wliere
as it i8 desintb'e to meet, iis fur us possible, the wants and relations nf
every part u( the town present and prospective, and whereoa it is expe-
dient tbut Siiate definite Hrrau;^enient in this respect be made without
delay, at least in regard to one -iich school —
" i7e»o(iV/, that a High School department he, and hereby is located by
the School i.'omoiittee at Newton Centre."
The new school building at Newton Centre was ar-
ranged to accommodate the High School department
and was dedicated .Ian. 1, 1S53. The school began
January 3d, with Mr. John W. Hunt, formerly prin-
cipal of the High School at Plymouth, as the master,
selected i;Ut of twelve candidates. This department
was open to pupils of the whole town. Pupils out-
side of the district were admitted on examination by
written questions, being expected to read correctly
and fluently, to spell words in oidinary use, to write
a fair and legible hand, to have a thorough knowledge
of intermediate geography and of arithmetic as far as
evolution. This department was to teach the lan-
guages, the higher English branches >ind to fit for col-
lege. More than sixty pupils were members of this
department before the close of the first term, and
an assistant was required.
The marked enthusiasm of the teachers awakened
enthusiasm on the part of parents and a hundred
visitors were recorded where before scarce a parent
entered. Many were present at the public examina-
tion at the close of the first term of thirteen weeks.
Twenty-two pupils had not been ab>ent during the
term, and the average .attendance of the si.xty-one
pupils w.os fifty-seven. Si.x hundred dollars were sub-
scribed by the citizens for useful apparatus and
books, and the school made fair promise of great use-
fulness.
The next year a High School department was estab-
lished at West Newton, and, soon after, another at
Newton Corner.
Success of the Graded System. — Theoperation
of the graded system generally proved satisfactory,
bearing fruit in increased interest of all classes. Out
of 1015 children between five and fifteen years of age,
924 attended the public schools ; about half of the
remainder attended private schools, and most of the
others were under seven years of age and were kept
at home.
Establishment of the High School. — With
the growth of the town it soon became evident that
the establishment of a school devoted entirely to
high school studies was a necessity. This was urged
id 1857-58 and accomplished in 1859 by a vote of the
town at the March meeting of thai, year. Under the
direction of an efficient architect and building com-
mittee a fine structure was erected in Newtonville,
and the school opened on the 6th of September with
seventy-five pupils, under -Mr. J. N. Beals as princi-
pal, and Miss Amy Breck as assistant. At the close
of the first year Mr. Beals resigned and Mr. T. D.
Adams became principal, with Miss Breck and Miss
Spear as assistants. The school was well supplied
with apparatus, much being loaned from the High
School department at Newton Centre. It possessed
a limited supply of chemicals and some books of ref-
erence, among which was the New American Ency-
clopedia.
In the school report of 1861-62 can be found the
course of study then adopted, the questions tor ad-
mission and other matters of interest.
T.TO things are essential to the successful working
of any advanced school, — a regular and systematic
course of study with definite branches for each year
and an exact distribution of the pupils into yearly
classe.s. The first of these conditions the High
School enjoyed from its commencement, but the sec-
ond was not attained till after the fourth year. From
this time the school advanced with little friction. In
1865-t)6 a valuable addition of standard works was
made to the library, comprising forty-two volumes in
history and the natural sciences, and all necessary
appliances were freely given as required.
At the close of the .summer term, in 1866, a great
loss was experienced, not only to this school, but to all
the city schools, in the death of Dr. Henry Bigelow,
chairman of the School Committee, and the great
central force in the school organization. One day's
examination of the school was omitted that teachers
and pupils might join in the public obsequies and
pay their last tribute of respect to the honored dead.
The first decade of the High School, was completed
in 1869; the condition of the school was most satis-
factory; the school building was enlarged, the force of
teachers doubled, the pupils reached nearly one hun-
dred and fifty in number and the course of study was
greatly amplified. Fifteen pupils graduated on exam-
60
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
ination day, making sixty-one graduates since the
commencement.
During the first years of this decade frequent
changes in principals had been made, which were un-
favorable to discipline and progress ; but now, at its
close and at the commencement of the second, there
seemed to be a fair promise of uniform progress under
one competent guiding mind, that of Mr. Francis A.
Waterhouse, from Augusta, Me., who had had charge
of the school .since 1868, and had already attained to
eminent success in its arrangement.
In 1873 the committee adopted a modified plan of
studies, consisting of ihree courses, with a large num-
ber of electives in each course. The minimum of
recitation hours entitling one to a diploma was twelve
hours a week. — one in singing, two in drawing and
nine in studies which were more difficult and de-
manded careful preparation. Provision was also
made for special students. Thi? new arrangement of
courses proved very attractive and a large number of
pupils were in attendance. In 1S75 a business course
was added, making four courses in all — the classical,
general and business courses of four years each, and
a limited three years' conr.-e, which wa.", in effect,
simply the first three years of the general course,
provided for such as could not remain longer.
It would be gratifying to trace the growth of the
school from this time on, but thu limit of this article
forbids details. Moreover, the changes of these later
years have hardly passed into the region of history
and could not well be read with impartial eyes. Suf-
fice it, that in 1880 Mr. Waterhouse resigned to take
charge of the English High School in Boston and was
succeeded by Mr. Edward H. Cutler, from Provi-
dence, R. I., who came with a high reputation as a
classical teacher, which reputation he eminently sus-
tained during his connection with the school. At
the close of the school year in 1888 he was succeeded
by Mr. Edward J. Goodwin, from Nashua, N. H., an
accomplished and faithful teacher and a wise disci-
plinarian, r
With his able corps of assistants, of whom it would
be a pleasure to speak individually, the school holds
a rank of excellence second to no other institution of
its grade in the State. Of some of ita special features
mention will be made in another connection. In 1887
an institute course was added with the des gn of fitting
pupils for instiiutes of technology. From its organ-
ization to the close of the school year in 1889 the
number of pupils graduated from the different courses
was nine hundred and sixty-six.
The following is a list of names of the successive
principals of the school, with their terms of service :
Mr. J. N. Beals, from 1859 to I8G0 ; Mr. T. D. Adams,
from 1860 to 1867; Mr. E. B. Hale, from 1867 to
1868; Mr. F. A. Waterhouse, from 1868 to 1880; Mr.
E. H. Cutler, from 1880 to 1888 ; Mr. E. J. Goodwin
since 1888.
A Newton High School Association was formed in
1861 with the object of continuing t"bs friendships
and acquaintances of school life encouraged by an
annual re-union. This association has since continued
its existence, and is much prized by the alumni. A
High School paper, edited and published by members
of the association, is regularly issued.
The Employment of a Superixtexdext. — The
school report of 1853 contains a minority report of
the member from Newtonville, suggesting to the citi-
zens the wisdom and economy ot creating an ofBce of
superintendent of the public schools, to be filled by a
competent person whose whole energies shall be de-
voted to that object. The report is very able and
offers cogent reasons for the adoption of his plan. In
his earnestness to enforce consideration of the matter
he speaks of Newton as behind many other suburban
I towns in her educational advantages, which is " a
great impediment to the choice of Newton aa a place
of rfsidence for men of wealth who have families of
children,'' and urges the town, as a ine.Tsure of sound-
est policy, to acquire a reputation for her schools- quite
equal, at least, to other towns in the immediate vicin-
ity of Boston, and " such an arrangement as suggest-
ed would accomplish this, which it would be difficult
to accomplish in any other way."
His advice was sound and his pcsition in advance
of his time, whether his estimate of the schools was
right or wrong. But it was noticed that he was not
elected on the School Committee the following year.
The nest year, 1854, the State itself saw the neces-
sity for better supervision of the schools, and a law
] was passed that any town by legal vote might require
the School Committee annually to appoint a superin-
tendent of public schools, "who, under the direction
and control of said comtnittee, should have the care
and supervision of the schools," etc., etc.
The committee, as a body, do not at this time seem
' quite satisfied with their at;empt3 at supervision, and
from year to year try various plans among themselves.
In their report of 1804-55 they say " the more schools
( brought under the supervision of one man, the more
1 accurate and just would be his estimate of their rela-
tive efficiency, and the value of his counsels and en-
couragement to any teacher would increase with the
extent of his observation and experience." " It is
hoped at no remote day the town shall decide to
appoint a superintendent and authorize him to devote
I himself mainly, if not exclusively, to the improve-
I mentof our schools."
] At the March meeting, in 1866, the town voted that
" the School Committee of Newton be authorized and
I required to appoint a superintendent, if, in their
1 judgment, it be deemed advisable." The matter was
' discussed at subsequent committee meetings, and, on
November 22d, it was resolved that " it was expedient
to employ a superintendent of schools." But they
I failed to procure a suitable per=on for the amount ap-
! propriated, ^2500.
In the year 1870-71 the committee again asked for
NEWTON.
61
an appropriation for a superintendent of scliooli',
" without purposing to use it unless we feel convinced
that we have secured the right man." The town made i
the required appropriation, and ilr. Thomas Emerson,
from Woburn, was elected superintendent at a salary
of S3000. Under his efficient management many
radical changes were made, especially in the grammar
department, which was reduced to six years' lime, not
by crowding more inio each year, but by striking out
really superfluous matter; so that the course was
much improved by omissions made. Thus, in arith-
metic, the subjects of duodecimals, alligation, ex-
change, etc., were omitted ; in geography broad-
er outlines and general facts were given, and unim-
portant details omitted ; less technical grammar was
taught, and more attention to language was given in
all the divisions, aiid time enough saved for the study
of "Hooker's Child's Book of Nature." Many
changes were also introduced into the primary schools,
perhaps the most important that of substituting
writing for printing; and a very detailed course of
study was arranged for all grades, for the purpose of
systematically developing, in their proper order, the
perceptive, conceptive and reasoning powers of the
child. A plan for a course of oral instruction in ob-
ject-lessons was arranged for all but the High School,
and systematic and progressive instruction in morals
and in manners was made a part of the school cur-
riculum. Regulations were adopted for the school
sessions, for the teachers' attendance before school, for
recesses, for detention of pupils, limiting the time to
fifteen minutes after the morning session, and to an
hour alter the close of school in the afternoon.
After serviug two years as superintendent, Mr-
Emerson resigned to accept a more flattering offer i
elsewhere. The following are the names and terms
of service of his successors in office : Mr. H. M.
Willard, 1873 to 187(3 ; Mr. Warren Johnson, 1876 to
1877; Mr. Ephraim Hunt, 1877 to 1881 ; Mr. John E.
Kimball, 1881 to 1885; Mr. Thomas Emerson, 1885
to 1890.
It would bie gratifying to enumerate in detail the
progressive steps in the administration of each of
these gentlemen, who served the schools with ability
and success, and to whose efficient labors, seconded
by an appreciative committee, is largely due the
high rank attributed to Newton's schools. It would
be unjust in this connection to omit the name of Dr.
Henry Bigelow, chairman of the School Committee
for nearly twenty years, until his death in 1866, whose
services, marked ability and direct personal supervis-
ion gave to the schools a service not less efficient than
would be rendered by the most accomplished superin-
tendent. Superintendents can accomplish little with-
out the stimulus and co-operation of the School j
Board. Newtou has generally been fortunate in her [
choice of school officers. That she appreciated the
efficient, untiring, unpaid labors of some of them, at
least, is shown by their long continuance in the ser-
vice, alike creditable to themselves and to the city.
The names of those who have served the longest siace
the introduction of the graded system, with their term
of service, are as follows : Mr. John A. (Jould,
thirty years ; Mr. Isaac Hagar, twenty -two years ;
Rev. George W. Shinn, fourteen years; Mr. George
A. Allen, twelve years; Mr. Noah S. King, twelve
years; Mr. Julius E. Clark, ten years; Mr. Lincoln
R. Stone, ten years; Mr. Elijah J. Wood, nine years;
Rev. William S. Smith, nine years ; Miss A. Amelia
Smead, nine years.
Mr. John A. Gould, whose name heads the above
list, served also for several years as Prudential Com-
mittee.
WoMEK ON THE SCHOOL BOARD. — The first at-
tempt to have women represented on the School
Board was spasmodic and short-lived, three women
being elected in 1873, for one year, and serving only
for that lime. In December, 1879, Miss A. A. Smead,
from Ward Two, was chosen, and served very accep-
tably till her removal from the city. Since 1879,
other women have been elected to the Board, two
holding the office since 1887.
Statistics of 1890. — On the 1st day of May,
1889, the number of children between five and fifteen
years of £ige was 4,202, the number attending the pub-
lic schools was 3359, and 225 were attending private
schools, and seventy-four were at work in mills and
elsewhere. The remaining number of these children
were mostly under seven years of age and kept at
home by their parents; 566 children, over fifteen,
were attending the various schools.
The average daily attendance during the school
year of 1888-89, was 92.4 per cent, an increase of
four-tenths per cent, on the previous year. The whole
number of tardinesses was 3797, a decrease of seventy-
five on the previous year, and less than an average of
one to a pupil.
The number of school-houses was 22; of occupied
rooms, 106; sittings 4712.
The total value of the school-houses, furniture and
land was .^81,600. The value of three of the school
buildings, with land, etc., was less than $10,000 each ;
the value of the remainder varied from §10,000 to
$44,000, except the High School building, which was
worth $113,000.
The number of schools was as follows: One High
School, 48 grammar schools, 38 primary, 1 mixed —
total, 88.
The number of teachers in the High School was 12
— males 5, females 7. Special teachers 3 — males 1,
females 2.
The number of teachers in the grammar schools was
48— males 10, females 38.
The number of teachers in the primary schools
was 38, in the mixed school 1.
Special teachers in sewing, 3 ; in music, 1. Total,
106— male teachers 17, female 89.
Of the teachers in the High School, two have
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
served over ten years — Mr. Ezra W. Sampson, since
1870, and Miss Jennie E. Ireson, since 1879. Of tiie
principals of tiie grammar schools, the following
have taught ten years or more : Mr. Luther E. Leland
since 1858, Mr. Levi F. Warren since 1869, Mr. H.
Chapin Sawin since 1871, Mr. Albert L. Harwood
since 1876, Mr. George E. Edwards since 1879 and
Mr. William A. Spinney since 1879.
Of the other teachers three have served over thirty
years — Miss Eliza E. Simmons since 1860, Miss Sarah
E. Foster since 1863 and Miss Martha L. Perkins
since 1866.
The maximum salary for males is $3000, that of
the High School master ; the maximum salary of the
grammar masters is $1900 ; of the High School assis-
tants : male, S2000 ; female, S1200. The maximum
salary of females in the other schools is $750, the
minimum $500.
The amount expended for schools, exclusive of
school buildings, was $118,706.38. The average cost
per pupil was $33.14, including an average cost of
$1.36 per pupil for books and school supplies.
Comparing the towns and cities with reference to
the average cost per pupil, based on the whole num-
ber belonging, it will be found that Newton holds the
first place in the county and the fourth in the State.
If the comparison is based on the percentage of their
taxable property, Newton stands the fourteenth
among the cities of the State and the thirty-third
among the towns and cilies of Middlesex County.
The number of diplomas awarded in the grammar
schools for the year was 218 ; the number of High
School certificates awarded, 209.
The number of pupils graduated from the High
School was 82. Of these 32 had completed the general
course, 25 the classical, 12 the institute and 13 the
mercantile course.
The number of gradu.ates who took the final ex-
aminations for colleges and the Institute ofTecanology
was 25 ; of these, 17 were admitted without conditions.
The whole number of conditions was 11 ; of honors,
14. Twenty-four took preliminary examinations, 15
were unconditioned. The whole number of conditions
was 12 ; of honors, 6.
Among the features of the Newton school system
which are somewhat different from that of other
cities, and which deserve especial mention, may be
named
The Flexibility of the Entire System, by
means of mid-year promotions. This pian, up to 1890
has been in operation four years, with a success which
has varied according to the conditions that have
attended its execution. It has been especially success-
ful where the teachers have given it the impulse of
their faith and enthusiasm, aud the care and vigilance
it requires. A full explanation of the plan may not
be out of place.
The pupils in the schools are classified in thirteen
grades according to their qualifications ; the first
three grades constitute the primary section ; the
fourth to the ninth the grammar section, and the
tenth to the thirteenth the High School section.
Each grade covers a period of one year. Hence the
time required for the completion of the full course is
thirteen years if the pupil is promoted each year, as is
the case with the mass of pupils.
But by the arrangement described below, individu-
als or sections may be promoted according to their
attainments within the year.
Each primary grade is subdivided into sections of
ten to fifteen pupils each, three being assigned to
each room, thus making thirty the minimum, aud
forty-five the maximum cumber of pupils in each
room. The pupils are assigned to the different sec-
tions according to their attainments, and are advanc-
ed by sections, thus making ihe section rather than
the grade the unit of promotion. Hence a room may
have at any time one section that is just compieiing
the year's work, another that has done one-half of it,
and still another just entering upon it. In some
rooms two sections may be upon the work of one
year, and the third section upon that of another.
This advancement of sections is an advantage to the
individual pupil, as the transition from one section
to another requires but little effort, and makes the
gaining of time an easy accomplishment. The teacher
is led constantly to study the conditions of each in-
dividual, and to adapt her instruction to his needs,
while she feels a personal responsibility for hi^i im-
provement.
The same general plan is pursued in the grammar
grades. "Each room is divided into two sections,
and the pupils are assigned to one or the other
section according to their proficiency. The pupils
in the two sections may belong to the same grade or
they may represent two different grades. The latter
arrangement is the more common and has its advan-
tages. During the first half of the year each grade
passes over all the work prescribed for the year in
language and arithmetic, giving attention chiefly
to the most important principles and their application
in the simplest form of expression and computation.
The last half of the year is given to a more minute
study of the ground already traversed, together with
a more extended application of principles. This
adjustment of work enables the individual pupil to
pass from one grade to the next higher at the close of
the first half-year with no loss of time, with little
friction, and without the omission of a single prin-
ciple that will affect his future progress in these two
branches of study. It is not so necessary that the
work in other branches should be so consecutive. But
work in geography, history, spelling, etc., is so adjust-
ed as to prevent no obstacle to individual promotions,
the general knowledge of a subject acquired in one
grade becoming the basis of a more minute study of
that subject in the next grade.
The condition of individual promotions in every
NEWTON.
63
case are punctual and constant attendance, high rank,
good conduct, good health and the consent of the
parents. The number of individual promotions since
the adoption of this plan has been from five to seven
per cent, of the total enrollment.
This plan for promotions has many obvious advan-
tages. It substitutes stimulation for repression,
which is a much more powerful and healthful motive
for all, and it gives the pupil larger opportunities for
personal application, and makes him leas of a machine,
while it leads the teacher to study the needs and con-
dition of the individual pupil.
Although there are (in 1890), no mid-year promotions
in the High School, yet the advantages of the plan
are secured by other means in the general and insti-
tute courses, — in the general course by the extension
of the elective .-ystem, the number of electives allow-
ed to each pupil being determined solely by his
ability to do the work; to those in the institute course
by arranging the work of four years in such a man-
ner that pupils may complete it in three years. Of
the eight graduates of this school admitted to the
Institute in 1889, four had completed the work in
three years. This system may be easily adjusted
for the class'ical course, and probably soon will be by
extending the course to live years, and arranging itso
that it can be complete.! iu four.
Regular Grade Promotion's. — These are made
at the beginning of the school year in September, in
which the daily work and conduct of the pupils
during the year and the test examinations are con-
sidered.
Test Exa.minatiox.s. — The test examinations, writ-
ten and oral, begin at the close of the first quarter and
continue through the year. In the primary and
grammar grades not more than one examination is
made in any week, and not less than one in two
weeks. The questions are prepared by the teacher of
the class, the master of the school or the superintend-
ent, and the examination takes the place of the regu-
lar class exercise in the branch of study in which the
pupils are to be tested, and without previous notice,
thus saving any nervous anxiety which might attend
a formal examination. The results of these ex-
aminations are not made known, except in case of
pupils who need .spurring to greater etibrt, when the
parents are notified.
The examinations by the teachers are given "to fix
the thoughts already awakened in the minds of the
pupils; to cultivate their powers of expression ; and
to ascertain what subjects, if any, need to be re-
viewed."
The examinations by the superintendent are to test
the thinking power of the pupil and to ascertain his
ability to work in the next higher grade.
A wise provision is made that "' pupils who have
been two years in any grade, and who have been
faithful and regular in their work, may, on recom-
mendation of their teachers and superintendent, with
the approval of the committee in charge of the school,
be advanced to the next grade without having reached
the required standing."
Quality of the Teaching. — One advantage
which the Newton schools enjoy above that of many
neighboring towns, is in the fact of the salary being
somewhat in advance, thus attracting to her ranks ex-
perienced teachers of marked ability. Add to this
fact the insight and perseverance of the superintend-
ent who compasses sea and land to find and secure
the right kind of teachers, in one case visiting over
seventy schools before finding just the teacher for a
certain position, and it would be strange if the schools
of Newton did not attain a first-class rank in the
estimation of the community. From one-half to
three-fifths of the teachers are Normal Graduates and
more than one-half of these Framingham Normals,
no better material than which, according to the super-
intendent, can anywhere be found.
Each teacher is allowed to exercise his or her own
individuality in the details of the methods, unless
they are vicious, and provided the re^ults are right.
Special attention, however, is given to methods which
are natural and philosophic, the schools being
supplied with real objects of knowledge, and with
simple illustrative apparatus. Subjects, not books,
are taught.
Teachers' Meetings and Training -Schools. —
It has been conceded for years by the Newton school
otBcials that something more than simple book knowl-
edge on the part of the teacher is needed for a suc-
cessful school, and that there is both a science and
an art of teaching, for the attainment of which
previous preparation of the would-be teacher is
needed. As early as the year 18-10^1 the committee
recommended the employmeut of Normal graduates,
and from time to time the teachers sought to improve
their methods and results by mutual consultation and
comparison of work. Teachers' meetings have been
held with more or less regularity since 1869. At first
the meetings were general, but since the appointment
of a superintendent, grade teachers' meetings have
generally been held. These meetings have been of
great service in unifying the teachers' work, and
giving the superintendent an opportunity of directing
specifically the work of any grade. A training-school
was established in 1873, and at the close of the first
year much was said in its praise, but as a whole the
school proved, in the opinion of many, a measure of
doubtful utility, and it was abolished in the third
year of its existence.
Physical Training.— In the year 1851-52, through
the exertion of the teacher and the generosity of the
citizens, a good gymnasium was arranged for the
model school, and used by boys and girls alternately.
In 1863-64 calisthenics were in use with great ac-
ceptance in District No. 1. These and other interest-
ing exercises secured good order and unusually rapid
progress in the regular studies. The committee by
64
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
special order established gymnastics in the High
grammar and intermediate schools as one of the re-
quired exercises, but the innovation met with oppo-
sition from without. It was feared that " the exer-
cise might cripple and derange the nervous constitu-
tion of the children;" "the children had exercise
enough already;" "there was no use in it." But
the committee did not yield to the opposition, for
they were aroused to their action by the fact that
of every fortv-three who died in the army at this
time, forty died from disease, showing a great want of
proper physique in the soldiers as well as of better
regulations in the army. Since this time physical
exercises have been encouraged and more or less
practiced in all the schools. In 1877 military drill
for boys was introduced into the High School for two
hours a week, the drill master being a lieutenant of
the regular army on the retired list from disability.
It was claimed that this drill developed and strength-
ened the limbs and chests of the lads in a remarkable
degree, and military drill has become a favorite exer-
cise of the schools under a special drill master. Some
diflerence of opinion in regard to the advisability of
its continuance has been expressed by many of the
citizens, but a majority of the people and of the com-
mittee seem to be in favor of it.
In 1879 a special teacher was provided for teaching
calisthenics and elocution to girls of the High School,
and happily. Miss Jennie Ireson, the teacher, has
continued in charge ever since (to 1890), with marked
benefit and increased enthusiasm on the part of
teacher and pupils.
In March, 1890, the committee established calis-
themics as a regular exercise, in the grammar and
primary schools, under the supervision of a special-
ist.
Vocal Music. — From an early period in the his-
tory of the schools vocal music was used to give a
variety to the school exercises ; some regular instruc-
tion in this branch was given by Mr. Allen in the
Model School as early as 1849, and by Mr. Adams in
the High School in 1SG2. In 1863-64 vocal music
was introduced into the grammar and intermediate
schools as a regular study, with Mr. Trowbridge as
the special director. The innovation met with favor,
some musical entertainments were given, and it was
soon found that the teaching of this branch in all the
schools below the High, at least, was a necessity, and
generally a special music director has since been em-
ployed.
In 1869-70, pianos were furnished for the schoois.
No appropriation has been more faithfully used than
that for these instruments, or has gladdened so many
hearts.
Drawing. — The subject of drawing received early
attention as a school exercise. It was elevated to a
regular study in the grammar department in 1870-71,
a systematic course marked out and a set of Bail's
drawing charts put in every district. The next year
the services of Mr. Bowler, a very successful writing
and drawing master, were obtained. Mr. Bowler con •
tinned in the service till his death, in 1874, devoting
himself principally to teaching penmanship. Mis.
Bowler having charge of the drawing at first, and
alter the death of Mr. Bowler, of both writing and
drawing for most of the time till 1888. To the skill-
ful teaching of Mr. and Mrs. Bowler, XewCon owes
much of her success in these dnpartments.
In 1873 art rooms were fitted up in the High School
building, and furnished at considerable expense with
an imported set of casts, models and flat examples,
pronounced by Mr. Walter Smith, State Supervisor
of Art, to be unsurpassed by any collection iu the
State. A carefully arranged course of study by Mr.
Smith was adopted, and evening schools for industrial
and mechanical drawing established in three of the
villages — Newton proper, and the Upper and Lower
Falls. For some years after, evening drawing schools
continued to be taught, and were often quite I'ully
attended. Drawing continues to be a regular study
in the schools with a special supervisor for the pri-
mary and grammar grades.
INDUSTRIAL Education — Sewing. — In ISSl the
attention of the West Newtou Women's Educational
Club was turned to the needs of youni; girls who were
growing up ignorant of the common rudiments of
sewing. By permission of the School Committee, one
of their number, as an experiment, gratuitously taught
a class in the Franklin School without detriment to
the regular studies and with much benefit to the chil-
dren. From six or eight who commenced with her
the number soon grew to thirty.
The next year the question of making sewing a
regular study was referred to a sub-committee consist-
ing of the two lady members of the School Board
with one gentleman, who reported strongly urging its
adoption. The entire committee favored the plan ;
two ladies were engaged as special teachers, a specific
and graded plan for teaching was adopted and sewing
has since been one of the regular studies of the fourth,
fifth, sixth and seventh grades in the grammar
schools.
Evening Schools for Common Branches. — As
early as 1853-54 an evening school for common
branches was established in West Newton of about
forty scholars, ch'efly children of foreign parents, with
some adults, whose circumstances forbade their at-
tendance on the public schools. This was started and
sustained by a few benevolent individuals, among
whom was Rev. Charles Barnard, of Warren Street
Chapel. They were assisted by senior pupils from
other schools. It was open two evenings in the week
and continued through the winter "with increasing
interest and growing numbers." No pupils in town
with the same amount of instruction profited more.
By a vote of the town, in the winter of 1859-^50, an
evening school was taught in District No. 2, and con-
tinued three months, but without the eminent success
NEWTON.
65
which attended the private effort in West Newton,
and it was not thought best to make these schools a
permanent institution.
En 1870-71 an evening school was taught in West
Newton with good results; in 1871-72 one was taught
in the North Vill.ige with flattering success, attended
by fifty-eight adults and ninety children; the average
attendance of the former being forty-three and of the
latter fifty-seven. Progress in the studies was good.
Evening schools continued to be taught for some
years in the village, and since then evening schools
have generally been taught in some viliage accessi-
ble to the others. Sometimes they have been taught
for men and boys only, but latterly for both sexes.
They have been most successful when under the
supervision of one of the principals of the grammar
schools.
Private Schools, Academies axd some other
Institutions for Higher Education. — Of many
of the early private schools and institutions for higher
education little is now known ; a brief sketch of some
of them will be attempted. In West Newton may be
named
The Fuller Academy, 1832-34.— In the year 1794, by
the death of Judge Abraham Fuller (who had suc-
cessfully taught a private school previous to 1760),
a legacy of £300 was left for the purpose of laying
the foundation of an academy in Newton. But the
payment of the legacy was delayed and it was not till
1832 that the building was erected. It stood in West
Newton, on the corner of Washington and Highland
Streets. The academy was incorporated in 1833 and
the school opened in the spring of that year, and was
taught for the next two years by Master Perkins.
The town then decided to abandon the enterprise and
the building was sold for $1600.
Mr. StthDavW Private School, 1817-39.— In 1817
Mr. Seth Davis established a private academy on
Waltham Street for boys and girls. The best teachers
are not always the greatest scholars. Mr. Davis never
claimed great scholarship, yet many of his pupils,
who have attained the highest culture, admit he was a
rare teacher, much in advance of his times. He had
knowledge enough to answer all the requirements of
his pupils and the power to impart by happy illustra-
tions, no matter how difficult the subject might be.
The school was small and he gave personal attention
to his pupils with regard to their endowments and
tastes, and endeavored to kindle enthusiasm and de-
velop thought. The school-house was unique as the
teacher, and apparently designed to secure good order
without much trouble. The school-room is thus de-
scribed by Hon. Alexander H. Rice, who was one of
his pupils :
'"The centre of the room was a clear space, and
around the room ran a series of stalls, each separated
from the next by a high partition, after the fashion
seen in some eating-houses now, and in each stall was
a short and narrow seat, so that its occupant could
•"i-iii
see no fellow-pupil except on the opposite side of the
rcom, or at least beyond speaking distance, while each
and every one was visible to the master. I say that
each one was visible to the master, though it is mani-
fest that when seated in his chair in the centre of the
room, the master's back must be towards some of the
stalls on one or more of the four sides of the room.
But while the fact is recognized as a physical neces-
sity, it seemed then of no practical importance, for
any mischievous vibration behind him, though as del-
icate as the step of a velvet-footed mouse, seemed to
. reverberate upon his sensitive and expectant tympan-
um as the summons to an instantaneous and whirling
jump that brought him, chair and all, face to face
with the entrapped ofiender. The rebuke of those
piercing grey eyes, fixed and imperturbable, was
worse than the soundest flogging."
While engaged in teaching, Mr. Davis devoted his
evenings to study and giving scientific lectures in
Newton and adjoining towns. The study of astron-
omy was a strong passion with him, and he con-
structed an orrery designed to illustrate the solar sys-
tem ; this he used in school and in the lecture-room.
The teaching of arithmetic was a problem he could
not solve with the facilities ofiFered him, and he com-
piled an arithmetic which he used in school and
which was adopted by the town some years later.
Many eminent persons were once his pupils;
among them may be named Hon. Alexander H. Rice
and Prof Daniel B. Hagar, who fitted for college un-
der his tuition.
Miss Harriet L. Davis, a daughter of Seth Davis,
was a pupil and an assistant to her father. She was
a gifted woman, studious and helpful to all, ever
Htimulating others to better efforts. Her gentleness
and tact enabled her '..o adjust misunderstandings and
promote harmony when necessary. She had a thor-
ough knowledge of the classics and higher mathe-
matics, and was prepared to teach the necessary studies
to fit for college when she established her school,
after her father retired from his profession, in 1839.
Miss Davis' school was successful. — Her health being
impaired from close application, her father assumed
the responsibilities of her school and added fresh
laurels to his fame as a teacher. Soon after the death
of his daughter ha gave up teaching, but not his in-
terest in education. He was progressive, public-
spirited and far-sighted, and aided in many ways the
improvement of the town. He died June 25, 1888,
at the great age of 100 years, nine months and twenty-
two days.
The State Xormal School, 1844-53.— In 1844 the
Lexington State Normal School, for women, having
outgrown its quarters, it became necessary to seek for
better accommodations. The Fuller Academy build-
ing, in West Newton, offered more ample room, and
was very favorably located on the line of the Boston
and Albany Railroad. It was not in use and coald be
had for $1500.
66
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
But in those days Normal Schools were reg;arcled
by many as merely an experiment at best; the State
was very chary in its appropriations, and the Board
of Education had no means at hand with which to
purchase (he building. In this dilemma, Hon. Hfir-
ace Mann, then secretary of tbe Board, went into the
office of his friend, Hon. Josiah Quiucy, Jr., and in
an emphatic, semi-humorous manner, said : " Quincy,
if you know any man who wants the highest seat in
the kingdom of Heavn, it can be had .^or $1500." An
explanation followed, and Mr. Quincy immediately
gave his check for the amount to Mr. Mann, direct-
ing him to take the deed in his own name, and if the
building was ever sold, to apply the proceeds to any
purpose that he thought would best promote ths in-
terests of popular education.
The citizens of West Newton contributed $G00 to-
wards fitting up the building; $1300 were also given
jointly by Mr. Mann and Rev. Cyrus Peirce, the prin-
cipal of the school, and the building was properly
furnished and ready for occupancy in the summer of
1844. The citizens welcomed the normal pupils to
their homes and the school was opened in the early
fall under very favorable auspices. The seats were
rapidly filled by intelligent and earnest pupils, some
of them residents of the town, and the graduates were
sought for to teach in responsible and lucrative
places. Its proximity to Boston made it easy of ac-
cess to visitors, and it soon became widely and favor-
ably known. Scarce a day passed but distinguished
and interested visitors were seen either seated on the
platform or following the various class exercises.
The leading characteristics of the school were per-
fect sincerity and entire fearlessness in tbe search of
truth, wherever it might lead ; the methods inculcated,
both of research and for teaching, were natural and
objective. All sham of every kind was despised, and
for even their public days there was little of what
might be called " fixing up ;" it was the aim of the
teachers then, as on other days, to bhow things ju.'-t
as they were.
The Normal School and the model department con-
nected with it drew many families from Boston and
its vicinity to make West Newton their home, that
they might avail themselves of the facilities for edu-
cation they oflered, not only to their daughters, but
to their younger children. Among others thus at-
tracted was Hon. Horace Mann, whose presence in
the village proved a great uplift not only to the
school, but to the entire community.
In April, 1849, Mr. Peirce was compelled by failing
health, incident upon overwork and care, to resign the
charge of the school to whose welfare he had devoted
every power of his body and mind for eight years,
three in Lexington and five in Newton. To him
more than to any other of the Normal teachers is due
the continued existence of our present Normal School
system. Hon. Henry Barnard but echoed the senti-
ments of many distinguished educators when he once
said : " Had it not been for him (Mr. Peirce), I con-
sider the cause of Normal Schools would have failed
or have been postponed an indefinite period." In the
next annual report of the Board of Education the
visiting committee of the Board, in alluding to Mr.
Peirce's Normal School work, stated that " Never was
a success more signal ; never was it more clearly pur-
chased by the sacrifice of health and almost of life."
In September, 1S49, Rev. Eben S. Stearns, of New
Bedford, took charge of the school. In the interval
between the administrations of Mr. Peirce and Mr.
Stearns, Miss Electa N. Lincoln, the first assistant,
took charge of the school and carried it on success-
fully. Under the administration of Mr. Stearns it
increa.«ed in popularity till it became overcrowded,
when more rigid examinations were adopted ; but it
.-ioon became evident that s^me further meai-ures must
be taken to accommodate the school, and in 1853 it
w;is removed to a larger building in Framingham
Centre.
On the first establishment of Normal Schools in Mas-
sachusetts, determined opposition was manifested by
many. conservative educators, and efforts were made in
the Legislature of 1S40 not only to abolish the school,
but the Board of Education also. This opposition be-
came gradually le!-s active, but while the school was
located in West Newton, the pent-up bitterness of its
opponents broke out with renewed virulence, and hap-
pily, for the la.st time. The circumstatices of the on-
slaught are of historical value as bearing upon the
progress of education, and will be of interest in this
connection.
In 1844 !\Ir. Matin's celebrated "Seventh Annual
Report' appeared, in which he eulogized the schools
of Germany to the implied disparagement of the
schools in America. This so exasperated the " Thir-
ty-one Boston Schoolmasters " and others, that a whirl-
wind of opposition was raised, not only against
Mr. Mann, but against the measures he advocated.
Old teachers set themselves once more against the
school because it :aught methods which interfered
with their ways of doing things, and was a standing
declaration that there was something in the art of
teaching which experience alone did not give. Re-
ligious fanaticism, at first busy against the school and
only quieted because it had nothing to fight against,
was again roused. " The school was opposed to the
Bible " because it discouraged the U:^e of Solomon's
sovereign remedy; "it was irreligious" because it
did not teach the dogmas of " their " church, or en-
courage exclusive attendance on "their" places of
worship. These and many more charges were mali-
ciously circulated. The attacks finaly culmin-
ated in a disgraceful article which appeared in
the Ijostoii Recorder oi June 3, 1847, maligning the
morality and even decenc)' of the school, and which so
aroused the indignation of the student-*, more than
half of whom were of that religious faith against
which the principal was represented as plying his se-
NEWTON.
C7
ductions, that, without any communication with the
principal, they unanimously adopted and published a
series of resolutions in which the charges were, witli-
out any qualification, forcibly denied. (These may be
seen in the Report of the Board of Education for the
year 1889-90, article " Historical Sketch of the Lex-
ington-Framingham Normal School," and in the Bos-
ton Courier of June 10, 1847.)
The principal himself challenged his enemies to
prove their charges, but no proof appeared, and in
their next report the visitors of the school declared
them to be groundless, and the board added that "the
charges referred to could only be attributed to a cul-
pable ignorance or perversion of facta." Thus ended
one of the stormiest epochs in the history of the new
education.
Private Schools at Newton Centre. — TTie
BoardingSchool of Marshall S. Rice, 1825-47. — This
school was opened in Newton Centre, on the first
Monday of May, 1825, and wag continued until No-
vember, 1847, a period of twenty-two years and a half
The location was selected because it was healthful,
without tavern or grog-shop, and in daily communi-
cation by stage with Boston. The homestead of Mr.
Obadiah Thayer, nearly opposite the Congregational
meeting-house, and often called the "Gibbs Place,"
was first rented for a year and then purchased by Mr.
Rice, as well suited to the needs of such a school as
he wished to establish, the purpose of which, as de-
fined by himself, was to " train up young men and wo-
men to be teachers in common schools, and to fill
important places in business." The school year was
divided into four quarters of twelve weeks each, and
the tuition of day scholars was fi.xed at $5.00 a quarter,
while the boarding scholars were charged §24.00 a
quarter, unless they were children of widows, in
which case the usual charge was diminished one- fourth.
Yet during the last few years of the school $30.00 a
quarter appears to have been the customary price for
boarders. Thirty boarding scholars and ten day
scholars were considered a full school, though more
than forty scholars were often in attendance. The
whole number of pupils from first to last was not less
than a thousand. Some of these, after further study,
entered the Christian ministry, several became pro-
fessors in colleges, the legal profession was chosen by
some, and the medical by others ; but a large part of
the pupils engaged in business, and many of them
with marked success. The names that appear on the
school catalogues are generally household words with
the people of Newton, though many pupils came from
Boston, and some from distant places.
The eminent success of this school was due in great
measure to the energy, decision, promptness and
sterling character of Mr. Rice, seconded by the moth-
erly care of his excellent wife. By their earnest co-
operation it was made one of the best schools in New
England, ilr. Rice had remarkable tact in the man-
agement of boys; his methods of discipline were
various and often original. For example: an offender
was sometimes tried by a court and jury of fellow-
students, and their decision as to his guilt or inno-
cence, and the extent and quality of punishment of
the guilty, was respected by Mr. Rice. The severest
punishment imposed upon the offender by the court
was confinement at meal times and during play hours
for one, two or three days, according to the gravity of
the offence, in " the dungeon," a dark closet under the
front stairs. A jailor was appointed to carry bread
and water to the culprit.
It is said that among the pupils were sometimes
boys who preferred to stay from church on Sunday,
and who would complain of illness as meeting-time
approached. Master Rice always respected their ex-
cuses, kindly put them tombed for the day, and fed
them on gruel. It may be superfluous to say that
this treatment not only cured the disease, but gen-
erally prevented any recurrence.
Mr. Rice was also ingenious in methods of awaken-
ing interest in study, and in testing the self-control
of his pupils. He would occasionally give them a
diflScult example in arithmetic, and while they were
doing it, tell a most interesting story. His un-
swerving integrity and religious life were also sources
of power, and it would be difficult to estimate more
I highly than we ought, their effect on the characters
of the young people under his charge.
Mr. Rice became interested in temperance and
joined the Friendly Society, a temperance organiza-
I tion, about the year 1830, at which time he had in
[ his cellar a quantity of cherry bounce and other
home-made liquors, closely sealed in kegs, and the
question rose : "What shall be done with it?" It
stayed in the cellar two winters, but the following
spring Mr: Rice had made up his mind as to its dis-
position, and, calling his boys together, he directed
I them to take the kegs to an adjacent hill-side, out
I with the bungs, and let it run down the water-courses,
I thus effectually giving them an object lesson on the
I best use of intoxicants.
I He was very successful in interesting his pupils in
gardening, giving each a plot of ground which he
! could plant with vegetables or flowers, and tend at his
I pleasure. If any of his pupils have failed to be good
I citizens or capable men of business, or sincere Chris-
I tians, it is not for want of wise counsel and worthy
1 example on the part of their teachers, Mr. and Mrs.
I Rice.
Mr. Moses Burbank's School. — The next year afler
I Mr. Rice closed his school, Mr. Moses Burbank opened
I a private school for boys in the basement of Ihe old
! Baptist Church, and kept it till 1852.
i The Academy iit Xetc/on Centre, 1831-60. — In Sep-
tember, 1830, several persons who realized the poverty
of the public schools, and desired to furnish for their
girls an opportunity for higher and better education,
met and took measures to establish a female academy
in the village. Mr. Rice's school was mostly for boys,
68
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
and he heartily entered into the project, and sold to
the Building Commiltee land for a site, for the small
sum of fifty dollars. The academy was incorporated
March 5, 1831, under the name of " The Newton Fe-
male Academy." Miss Leach was appointed its precep-
tress March 9th, with a salary of $250 for six months,
or, if she should remain a year, §350 for the year.
Tuition was fixed at §5 per term, the year to contain
four terms. A hoarding-house was erected in 1831,
and provision made the next year for furnishing din-
ner to outside pupils, if they desired, at ten cents a
day.
In 1832 the preceptress was changed, and again
changed in 1833. In 1834 Mr. Elbridge Hosmer took
both the academy and boarding-house; these he
bought in 1836 for 13500^ and sold the same in 1837
to Mr. Ebenezer Woodward, who kepta very successful
school for six and a half years, when he sold to Mr.
Wood, who resold the property in 1848 to Rev. John
B. Hague. Under Mr. Hague the school took high
rank. During the year ending April 9, 1850, it num-
bered fifty pupils, with special teachers in Latin, Ger-
man, French and Italian, also in music and drawing ;
Dr. Alvah Hovey, afterwards president of the Newton
Theological Seminary, instructing in Latin and Ger-
man. Attention was paid to the higher mathematics,
rhetoric and belles-lettres, intellectual and moral
science, the natural sciences and history. The school
year was divided into three terms; price of board and
tuition, fifty dollars a term.
The academy seems to have been very unfortunate
in the frequent changes of teachers. Mr. Hague sold
his interest in 1851 to Mr. E. H. Barstow, who changed
it into a school for boys and young men, receiving
many of Mr. Burbank's pupils (Mr. Burbank having
closed his school about this time). Mr. Barstow taught
about nine years, when his health failed and the
school was abandoned, the building being sold and
changed into a boarding-house.
Othee Private Schools. — Many other private
schools might be named in this and the other vil-
lages, but of which little is known. There was Dr.
Charles Siedhofs fine classical school, kept for some
years in Newton Centre, on the German system ; here
half a dozen boarding pupils and a dozen day pupils
were ably instructed iu ancient and modern lan-
guages ; an excellent boys' school, opened by Mr.
Hunt when " his occupation was gone," on the closing
of the High School department in the Centre Public
School. There was a good girls' school in the same
village, established about 1860, and kept for some
years by a Miss Cornelius, daughter of the Mrs. Cor-
nelius whose cook-books have added much since
their publication to the health of our tables and the
comfort of our homes.
The Preston Cottage and Hillside School, near
Newton proper, and Mr. Weld's school in Auburn-
dale, about 1850, should be named. Undoubtedly,
many more might be numbered and teachers might
be named who labored faithfully and well, but who
cannot now be singled out from the shades of the past.
Young Ladies' Academy, Nexvtoi>.. — But there was
one famous school and one famous teacher in Newton
in the very earliest part of this century, of whom
much can be gleaned — the priv.-ite school for girls
commenced some time previous to 1807, and taught for
about twelve years in the brick part of the Nonantum
House by Mrs. Rawson, who, with her husband and
son, resided in the building. Mrs. Rawson was a
noted woman in her day, brilliant and versatile, "an
authoress, poet and editor." " Charlotte Temple,"
the well-known novel, was from her pen. She wrote
several other novels and some popular songs ; among
them, "America, Commerce and Freedom," and
" When Rising from Ocean." Her father, who had
been retired from the British navy, was a Tory, and
lived in Revolutionary times in Hull, Mass., till be
was banished from thence in 1778, when he went to
England, and there his daughter Susanna married
William Rawson, a trumpeter of the Royal Horse
Guards.
Mr. Rawson was a famous trumpeter, and after
coming to this country he used to play the trumpet
for the Handel and Haydn Society in Boston. It is
said that when his trumpet sounded in the "Messiah,"
at the passage, "The trumpet shall sound and the
dead shall be raised," one could almost see the graves
opening and the dead quickening into life.
While in Newton, caring for her sixty young lady
pupils, whom she instructed in manners and in morals
as well, she publi.'-hed a volume entitled "Miscellan-
eous Poems," by Susanna Rawson, Preceptress of the
Ladies' Academy, Newton, Mass., a volume of 227
pages wiih 245 subscribers, whose names were printed
in the book. She also prepared and published many
other books while teaching. Her adopted daughter.
Miss Frances M. Mills, assisted and succeeded her,
and afterwards became the mother of Mrs. Georgianna
Hall, the authoress, and by a second marriage, of
Richard S. Spofford, the Essex County statesman.
It is said that Mrs Rawson's school was among the
first, female seminaries if it was not the very first in
the United States. The date of its establishment is
put by one author at 1803, by another somewhere after
1804, and by another at 1800, which makes it difficult
to decide which should claim seniority and bear the
palm for being the first female seminary of the United
States, this or the Ipswich Female Academy, founded
in 1803.
Mrs. Rawson numbered among her pupils young
ladies from far and near. Many a beautiful girl from
the West Indies made her home with her, and two
young daughters of Governor Claiborne, of South
Carolina, graced her fireside. The following an-
nouncement of her school appeared in the Columbia
Sentinel, April 15, 1807:
'* Young Ladies' Academt, Newton.
"Mre. Bawson and Mn. Hoawell bog leave to inform tbcir friends
/ / 1 ( -^
>Z--.
NEWTON.
69
that their spring quarter will commence in April, and that every accom-
modation 19 provided for the comfort of their pupils, and every attention
will be paid to their mADuen, morals und improvemeDt. The drawing
will be taught, the ensuing season, in a new and superior style, Mrs.
Ranson having received instructions lately for the purpose from a pro-
feiised master of the art. Terms as usual. Music by Mr. G. Graupner.
Dancing by Mr. G. Shaffer."
After leaving Newton Mrs. Rawaon established a
similar school in Roxbury.
Private Schools ix Successful Operation ix
1890. — Laseil Seminary for Young Women, Auburn-
dale, established in 1851. — Lasell Seminary was found-
ed by Edward Lasell, Professor of Chemistry in Wil-
liams College, and incorporated in the same year. It
was fortunately placed in Auburndale, a charming
and healthful ward of Newton.
Professor Lasell lived only long enough to see his
plans for a girls' school of high rank successful. For
ten years after his death the work was carried on by
his brother Jos iah, and his brother-in-law, George W.
Briggs.
In 1862 Rev. Charles W. Gushing became principal
and proprietor. In 1873 he sold the seminary and
grounds to ten prominent men of Boston, who became
a body of trustees. They refitted the institution with
bteam heat, gas, new furniture, pianos, etc., and in
1874 made Mr. Charles C. Bragdon principal. He
soon proved to be the right man for the place.
Though young, he had had seven years' experience in
leaching. Graduated by a university at home, he had
entered one abroad, and while continuing his studies
gained much from travel and keen observation. Of
great energy and perseverance and " extraordinarily
independent in mind and character," he takes the
broadest views, yet is patient with the smallest detail.
He put a determined shoulder to the wheel and the
progress, year by year, has been phenomenal.
In 1874 there were twenty pupils; now there are more
than six times as many. The building was doubled
in size in 1881 at a cost of over thirty thousand dol-
lars, yet every year from thirty to forty applicants are
refused for want of room, the persistent policy being
in favor of a small school. And while paying otf
heavy debts the improvements without and within
make the old place almost unrecognizable.
Among these improvements are the pictures that
turn the beautiful studio into an art gallery, adorn
the walls everywhere, and fill the folios and the cabi-
net. There are a goodly number in color, oil and
water, — a fair number originals, — with many photo-
graphs and engravings. In all, the catalogue has
nearly nineteen hundred, and additions are frequent.
Mainly the collection was made by the principal in
Europe, where he takes summer parties of the pupils
and their friends.
The library is the nucleus of a fair one for reference.
The old dining-room has given way to a large and
handsome successor. The old gymnasium is now a
well-fitted laboratory for class and individual work.
The new gymnasium, built in 1883, an uncommonly
fine one, ia in charge of a pupil of Dr. Sargent, of
Cambridge, ia carried on upon the principles of which
he is the chief apostle, and is in some sease still in
his care.
The lower story holds a ten-pin alley and natator-
ium. The water in the ample tank ia heated and
changed often. An accomplished instructor in swim-
ming ia employed.
A resident physician looks after the health, habits
of dress, recreation, etc., of the pupils. With the
care and regular hours many a weak girl gains
strength, and to be " delicate " is no longer in good
taste.
One teacher is devoting herself to the training of
the nerves, having recently studied the subject in
London. The direct object is not health, — though it
must serve it, — but concentration of the facUltiea to
obtain the highest activity by self-control.
In 1877 Lasell took a new departure. Believing the
chief buainess of women to be home-making, and see-
ing that the conflict with the present dire domestic prob-
lems is often greater than they can bear, experts and
specialists were brought to counsel and instruct. Mra.
Helen Campbell treated of domestic acience in gene-
ral ; Mrs. Croly (Jennie June), of dress. Miss Mar-
ion Talbot, of Boston, gives annually a course of lec-
tures upon home sanitation. This, with practical il-
lustrations, visiting buildings to examine the plumb-
ing, etc., is a feature of the school of much importance
—a unique one it is believed.
Miss Parloa began giving demonstrations in cook-
ingj and has had several worthy successors, while vol-
unteers and advanced pupils cook in small classes,
and prizes are given for the best bread. Dreaa-cutting
and making have long proved a succeaa, and one
notable class of juniors at their reception wore dresaea
of their own handiwork, and served the guests with
viands of their own cooking.
Millinery is taught, also photography, ahort-hand
and type-writing. Some pupils have found in these
lines their natural power, and means of pecuniary
profit.
Lasell is a pioneer in another direction. In 1882
Mr. Alfred Hemenway, of Boston, gave a course of
lectures explanatory of the principles of common
law. This has become a yearly course, but now in
1890 he also sends a lady, a practitioner of Boston,
who especially emphasizes the peculiarities of the
law aa applied to women. The girls receive her
simple, untechnical instruction gladly. They begin
to understand that women have suffered bitterly from
ignorance on these pointa.
With all the practical work, the standard of the
school has constantly risen. Algebra is now a study
of the Preparatory year, and the demands for entrance
to the Freshman class are on a scale commensurate
with this level. The work in history, literature,
English and natural sciences is specially ample. Mr.
William J. Rolfe has a class in Shakespeare, and
70
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
eminent specialists in various departments use all the
time that can be spared in the most valuable lectures,
free to all pupils. The persistent refusal to gratify a
natural ambition for a /ar^re school bears its fruit in
the more careful attention to those who share its
many rich opportunities.
The pupils edit and publish a monthly, the profits
of which form a loan fund to help girls in education.
The pupils are not required to pais regular or fore-
known examinations, nor to recite in pubiic on any
occasion. The whole plan shows intelligent and
fearless consideration of the serious problems of the
education of girls. The overflowing patronage
proves the estimate of thoughtful parents of their
solution at Lasell.
West yewion English and Classical School was estab-
lished 1S54. This school is an outgrowth of the Nor-
mal School system of the State ; the principal and
associate principals having been trained in the Nor-
mal School at Bridgewater.
On the removal of the West Newton State Normal
School to Framingham the building and groutds
which it had hitherto occupied were purchased, and
the school was opened under its present title in 1854,
by Mr. Nathaniel T. Allen, who had successfully
taught the Model School for the six previous years,
and Rev. Cyrns Peirce, former principal of the Nor-
mal School. Among its early patrons and constant
friends were Hon. Horace Mann, Rev. Samuel J.
May (second principal of the Normal School,) Dr.
Samuel G. Howe (superintendent of the Blind
Asylum, Boston ) Hon. Charles Sumner, Hon. George
B.Emerson, Rev. Theodore Parker and Dr. Thomas
Hill, ex-president of Harvard College.
In 1855, an act of incorporation was secured from
the Legislature. The incorporators were Nathaniel
T. Allen, George E. .\llen and James T. Allen. Mr.
George E. Allen died in 1888; the Messrs. Nathaniel
T. and James T. Allen are still (1890) at the head of
the institution. Mr. Peirce taught in the school but
a short time and died in 1860.
Among the former and present teachers of the
school may be named many of a world-wide reputa-
tion. Dr. William A. Alcott's book on " The Laws of
Health" was first delivered in the form of lectures to
this school ; Dr. Die Lewis was connected with the
school for eight years, and here taught his first class
in free gymnastics in Massachusetts; Mr. Joseph
Allen, the successful superintendent of the Westboro'
State Reform School, was for many years an associate
principal in the school ; Rev. T. Prentiss Allen, Mrs.
S. R. Urbino, Rev. Jo.ieph H. Allen, professor at
Harvard University, William F. Allen, professor in
Madison University, and many others might be
named.
The instruction is baaed on the principles of Froebel
and Pestalozzi, and aims symmetrically to develop the
body, mind and heart. Here the first kindergarten
in Massachusetts was established in 1864.
The course of study embraces full English and
classical courses for* a secondary education ; also pre-
paratory studies. The regular academic course occu-
pies five years ; the classical course, four years.
Throughout the latter, written translations and
analyses of the authors studied are required. Pro-
vision is made for pupils who require direct personal
attention, as in the case of exceptionally backward
pupils, or those pursuing an advanced course of study
or of foreigners. Among the teachers are those who
speak French, German, Spanish and Italian.
The library contains five 'hundred volumes. The
mineralogical cabinet is large ; the natural history
collection is good; the apparatus is excellent ; the
drawing-room is well supplied with casts and models.
There is a complete supply of apparatus for heavy
and light gymnastics. Instruction is given, and ex-
ercise is required of all in the gymnasium. A swim-
ming pond at the residence of one of the principals is
an added attraction. Music and dancing are taught.
In addition to the instruction g'iven in school-
hours, the pupils enjoy the privilege of the School
Lyceum and Natural History Society. The weekly
meetings of the Lyceum, conducted by ofl^icers of
their own number, chosen by the members, ailbrd
in many ways opportunity for manly development,
mental discipline and self-reliance, to which graduates
of the school look back in grateful remembrance.
One of the principals is present at all the meetings of
the Lyceum. With this constant supervision the
Lyceum is regarded as among the most valuable
advantages offered by the institution.
From the first this has been a family school for
both sexes. It is believed by the proprietor.'* of the
school that in many ways .association of the sexes in
the family and in the school has great advantages,
aflbrding a better moral development and a more
healthy stimulus than is possible where the sexes are
educated separately. Pupils from out of town are
grouped in families. This secures a careful oversight
of each of the number grouped together and provides
for much of family life and of individual study and
discipline. It is believed that this school, by rigid
discipline, wise training and careful culture of all the
powers with reference to individual peculiarities and
needs, educates its pupils to useful citizenship, to
single-hearted patriotism, and to a noble Christian
manhood and womanhood.
Since its organization, up to 1890, over one thou-
sand pupils havegraduated from the school; more than
one hundred have come from foreign countries, be-
tween three and four hundred from States outside of
Massachusetts, and nine hundred from towns outside
of Newton.
Miss Spear' n English and Classical School. — This
school was established in 1865, on Washington Street,
Newton. Its aim is to furnish a through practical
English and classical education for girls. To this end
the school is divided into three departments, each
NEWTON.
ri
under charge of a special teacher ami all under the
general supervision of the principal. The work of
each department occupies from three to four years.
The average number of pupils ii fifty; their ages
from six to twenty years. There are five regular
teachers and three pupil teachers, also special teach-
ers in French, German, Music and Elocution.
Riverside Uoine and Day School for Girls. — This
school was established in 1882. Its special design is
to prepare girls for Wellesley and other colleges.
The resident pupils are limited to twenty, under the
care of the principal. Miss Delia T. Smith. The
couree of study i.« regular and systematic. Pupils
who satisfactorily complete the college preparatory
course are received at Wellesley College without
furtlier examination. French and German are taught
by resident native teachers of successful experience.
Lectures and concerts at Wellesley Ccllege are open
to pupils of this school.
Mr. E. H. Caller's Preparatory School for Boys and
Girh, Seidon.—ln. September, 1887, Mr. E. H. Cutler
opened a preparatory school for boys. At the close
of the second year seven of the graduates were pre-
pared for college. At the commencement of the third
year, at the solicitation of some citizens of Newton, a
department for girls was established, and up to ^^arch, \
1890, the total number of pupils was: boys, thirty;
girls, four ; total, thirty-four. By limiting the num-
ber of pupils, Mr. Cutler is enabled to give each pupil
his personal attention ; and, having had a long and |
successful experience in preparatory work, is admir-
ably fitted to prepare pupils for college or for techni- '
cal school*. :
The Misses Allen's Day and Boarding-School, Vernon !
Street, Newton, 1888. — Here girls can be prepared for
college with all the advantages of a home life. There
are special teachers in the classic?, modern languages,
music, drawing and painting. Miss Alice Ranlett is i
the acting principal. Although in the second year
only of its existence, the school is pronounced a sue- i
cess. I
[N'oTE. — Since tlic abovo was writtPQ, ihis hi:1iooI, by rca&ou of tlio
death of one of the propriutors, has beeu gh'eu up. J [
CHAPTER IV.
NE rrrOA— ( ConHmied).
N'KWTON THKOr.OtaCAI, IN.STITL'TtON.
RV PROF. ALVAH HOVrV.
This school was opened at Newton Centre on the
2Sth of October, 1825, and was incorporated by an
act of the General Cuurt of Massachusetts, approved
by Governor Levi Lincoln on the 22il of February,
182(). It was the first theological seminary o( a high
grade established by Baptists in the United States,
and it will therefore be suitable to mention a few
things which led more or less directly to its estab-
lishment.
At the annual meeting of the Boston Baptist Asso-
ciation on September 21 and 22, 1814, the letter of
the Second Baptist Church in Boston, written by Dr.
Thomas Baldwin, suggested " the propriety and im-
portance of forming an education society to aflTord aid
to those of our young brethren who are desirous of
engaging in the ministry, in obtaining literary and
theological information." This suggestion was re-
ceived wiih favor, and referred to a committee of three,
— the Rev. Daniel Merrill, the Rev. Luther Rice and
Mr. Ensign Lincoln. The report of this committee
recommended the formation of the society proposed,
"and presented the draft of a constitution, which
was promptly adopted." Thus the Masiachuaetts
Baptist Education Society came into existence. In
the eleventh annual report of this society, written by
Rev. Ebenezer Nelson, and presented in 1825, cccurs
the following paragraph :
'* Besides attending to the ordinary duties the post year, your Com.
niittee have, iu compliance with the recomroendation of a larf^e tueetiug
of niiiiisters and other brethren convened in Boston, May'25, 1825, tukeu
into conbidemtioD the estabtisboient of a Theological Seminary in the
vicinity of Boston. This measure has for many years been in contem-
plation. Your Committee are now convinced that the time has arrived
to buiid this part of tho Lord's house. Although attempts have been
made to establish Theological departments in connection with two of
our colleges, and some success has &ttended them, yet your Committee
are of upiuion that a Theological lostitution established by itself aluno,
where the combined powers of two or three or more men of experience,
and men of God, can be employed in instructing and forming the ruan-
ucrs and habits and character of young men for the work of the minis-
try, is pically to be preferred. They have therefore appointed two sub-
committees— one to draw up a genenil plan for an [nsiitutiun and
inquire concerning a suitable place for its location, and the other to
solicit donations and subscriptions, both which have made some progress.
The Committee are well aware that the step they are about to lake is .-i
very important one. The work before them involves great responsibil-
ities. Whatever is done iu relation to this Institution will have a bear-
ing upon the great Interests of the Redeemer's Kingdom, and especially
upon the denomination with which we stand connected,"
The " two colleges" which had Theological Depart-
ments connected with them were located, one in
Waterville, Me., and the other in Washington, D. C.
— now Colby University and Columbian University.
At the head of the former was Dr. Jeremiah Chaplin,
an able scholar and divine, and in the faculty of the
latter was Dr. Irah Chae, afterwards so influential
in fixing the character of Newton Theological Insti-
tution. But the trustees of Waterville College had.
at length, become satisfied that they could not build
up a good seminary and college together with the
resources at their command, and about the same time
Dr. Chase had reached the conclusion that a satisfac-
tory course of theological instruction could not be main-
tained in Columbian College. The way was therefore
open fortheestablishment of an independentaeminary
wherever it could be most useful, and providentially
there were at that time a number of far-seeing and
liberal Baptists in Eastern Massachusetts who were
72
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
prepared to commence the important work. But
they did not expect to tinish it in their own day.
For it has been Irulysaid: " The denomination was
not yet strong enough in men of intelligence and
wealth to justify an efTort on a large scale. The be-
ginning must necessarily be small ; but men of faith
and hope felt that the beginning should not longer
be delayed. They would do what they could by lay-
ing a foundation on which their successors might
build, and thus gradually make the school, such as
the growing wants of the churches might demand.
They had no experience in such an enterprise; they
had no precedent as a guide ; but they understood
what was needed, and were disposed to do their best
towards furnishing a supply."
Although the founders of this institution had no
expectation of completing the work which they began
or of making a great school at the start, with large
appliances in the way of teachers, books and build-
ings, they had a very definite grade of instruction in
mind, and purposed that it should not be inferior in
quality or amount to that furnished by the best theo-
logical seminaries of which they had any knowledge.
Those seminaries were Andover, founded in 1807, and
Princeton, founded in 1812, in both of which a full
course occupied three years. It was their purpose to
establish a school of equal excellence with those at
Andover and Princeton, yet differing from them in
the emphasis which should be laid upon biblical
study. The following statement was published by
the Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Bap-
tist Education Society, November 9, 1825, less than
two weeks after the seminary was opened by the Rev.
Irah Chase, who had been appointed, for the time
being, Professor of iJiblical Theology :
" The regular course is to occupy three jeare, and embrace the Hebrew
language aod aDtiquities, with the Chaldee and Greek uf tiie sciiptures,
Kccleaiaatical Uistory, Biblical Theology, Pastoral Duties, and, in bliurt,
the Tarloua studies and exercises appropriate to a theulogical institution
dbsigned to assist those who would understand the Bible clearly, and, as
faithful ministers of Christ, inculcate its divine lessons the njoat use-
fully." More particularly :
"To the department of Ecclesiastical HUtory will be referred in-
struction on the evidences of the Chrialiiin religion ; on the formation,
preservation, transmission and canonical authority of the sacred vol-
ume ; on the history, character, influence, and uses of the ancient ver-
sions and manuhcripts of the Old Testameut and of the New ; on mod-
em translations, especially on the history of our common English ver-
sion ; on the principal editions of the original Scriptures ; on the ancient
and the Bubsefjuent history of the Hebrews, and, aa far as may be re-
quisite, of the nationa with whose hirttory that of the Hebrew is con-
nected ; on the history of CUrislianity, and the various opinions and
practices which, under its name, have been supported, with tbe causes
and tbe consequences ; un the attempts of reformation, and on the pres-
ent state aa well aa the origin of the different denominations of pro-
fessed Christiana, and of unbelievers, and the unevangelized throughout
the world.
*' To the sphere of Diblical Theology it will belong to aid the students
in acquiring a knowledge of the s.icred Scriptures in the original lan-
guages, as well aa in the Eng'ish ; t > guide them to correct principles of
interpretation, and habituate them to employ, in seeking to underntancl
the various parte of the Bible, all those heipt which may be derived
from the different branches of biblical literature ; to analy2e, and lead
the students to analyze, in the original, the most important portions of
the Old Testament, and tbe whole, if possible, of Iho New, exhibiting
the scope of the respective paris, and whatever of doctrinal or of prac-
tical import they may contain, and showing hoic they are applicable at
the preseut day, and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction ii: righteousness ; and having thus surveyed the rich
field of Scrtpture; and viewed the products as scvtlered profusely on
every ?ide by the bounteous hand of God, the professor is, for the sake
of convenient reference, to clitasify and arrange the particulars, and, for
tbia purpose, to bring the students to the examination of a series of
theological subjects, in such a manner as most to awaken tbe efforts of
tbe genuine disciple of Christ, and lead him to search the Scriptures.
" Under the head of Pastoral Duties, it will be required to give in-
struction in the nature, objects, difficulties, responsibilities and supports
of the pastoral office ; on the greai work of preaching the Gospel ; on the
various ways and occasions of promoting the welfare of a church, and
commending the Gospel to the consciences of luen by private labors aa
well an by public preaching, exhoriation and prayer; on the dangers of
the preacher, and the appropriate guards ; on his visits to persons in
health and in ^iickness, and in other aitliction ; and on ndmiuistering
consolation, or reproof, or instruction, or entreaty, as different individ-
uals may need, and us becomes one who is to watch for souls as they thac
must give account.'*
This prospectus establishes two points; Jirst, that
students for the ministry were believed, by the found-
ers of the seminary, to need a course of instruction
more thorough and extended than could be given by
any pastor; for no one can read it without recogniz-
ing the importance of nearly everv part of the course
proposed, and, at the same time, the vast amount of
investigation which it presupposes ; and, second, that
the range of study thus marked out was pre-eminently
Biblical, comprising the history, the criticism, the in-
terpretation, the analysis, the application, and the in-
fluence of the sacred Scriptures, together with suitable
training for the work of preaching and pastoral duty,
but assigning a very subordinate place to systematic
theology, and avoiding the expression altogether. It
may be added that the prospectus quoted above bears
internal evidence of having proceeded from the mind
and pen of Professor Chase. One of his early pupils,
the Rev. William Hague, D.D., testifies that the par-
agraph describing the work to be done in Biblical
Theology " was of his own framing," and " was the
definition of his own life-work." But that paragraph
was of a piece with all the rest, and must have ema-
nated from the same source. And if, as Dr. Hague
affirms, " it is radiant with the idea that had been the
secret of his strength," an idea " which imparts a liv-
ing freshness and energy to every scholar, teacher or
preacher that apprehends it, and is yet destined to
unfold a hidden power in composing the strifes of
Christendom," it is proper to state the fact that thi.-i
idea of making instruction in theology primarily and
chiefly Biblical, instead of systematic or speculative,
has been adhered to through all the history of the
institution. A committee of which the Rev. Baron
Stow, D.D., was chairman, thus refers to the influence
of Dr. Chase upon tbe character of the seminary :
" He was the central mover in the enterprise of
founding it, and around him the friendly elements
cr_vstallized and coalesced. The plan of the institu-
tion was his ; and scarcely a principal feature in its
organization has been changed. For twenty years
his labors as professor were unwearied and self-deny-
ing, and, through all the subsequent years, he never
NEWTON.
73
faltered in its support, or in hope of its perpetuity.
So long as Newton Institution shall remain, it will
bear the impress of his formative hand."
As before stated, the work of the institution was
begun October 28, 1825, and the act of incorporation
approved February 22, 1826. Eleven trustees were
named in the act, viz.: Joseph Grafton, Lucius
Bolles, Daniel Sharp, .Jonathan Going, Bela Jacobs,
Ebenezer Nelson, Francis Wayland, Jr. and Henry
Jackson, clergymen ; and Ensign Lincoln, Jonathan
Bacheller, Nathaniel R. Cobb, laymeu. At the first
meeting of the trustees, held in Boston, March 13,
1826, the act of incorporation was accepted, a profes-
borship of Biblical Theology established, and the
Rev. Irah Chase elected professor. At the annual
meeting, in Newton Centre, September 14, 1826, a
professorship of Biblical Literature and Pastoral
Duties was established, and the Rev. Henry J. Rip-
ley elected professor. Six years later, on September
13, 1832, this professorship was divided, and the Rev.
James D. Knowles, of Boston, elected to the chair of
Pastoral Duties, an office which he ably filled till
1836, when he resigned that he might become the ed-
itor of the Chrialian Review. Yet, at the request of
the trustees, he continued his services as professor of
Sacred Rhetoric and Pastoral Duties until his death,
in May, 1838. The Rev. Barnas Sears was chosen
professor of Ecclesiastical History in 1836, and the
Rev. Horatio B. Hackett pro.^ssor of Biblical Litera-
ture and Interpretation, in 1839. There were now
four professors, and in the adjustment of their work,
Barnas Sears was made president and professor of
Christian Theology, Irah Chase, professor of Ecclesi-
astical History, Henry J. Ripley, professor of Sacred
Rhetoric and Pastoral Duties, and Horatio B. Hack-
ett, professor of Biblical Literature and Interpreta-
tion. By uaceaaingand enthusiastic labor, these men
were able to do a large part of the work contemplated
by the founders of the institution.
But what was done meanwhile for the financial
support and general equipment of the institution.
It has been already stated that the Executive Com-
mittee of the Massachusetts Baptist Education So-
ciety appointed two sub-committees in the summer of
1825, " one to draw up a general plan for the Institu-
tion, and to inquire concerning a suitable place for
its location, and the other to solicit donations and
subscriptions." The site fixed upon was in Newton
Centre, about eight miles from Boston, containing
eighty-five acres, on elevated ground commanding a
delightful prospect." Upon the summit of the hill
was a large dwelling-house, with other buildings,
.adapted to a genteel country residence. It was known
as the " Peck E-itate." " The main edifice was of suffi-
cient capacity for all the immediate purposes of the
institution, and the whole property was purchased
for $4250. The necessary alterations in the so-called
"Macision House," were promptly made at an ex-
pense of $3748 ; so that the whole cost of the prem-
ises, fitted for use, was $7998." This sum was con-
tributed by thirty persons and one missionary society.
The committee which solicited and expended this
money was composed as follows: Levi Farwell, Jon-
athan Bacheller, Nathaniel Ripley Cobb, Heman
Lincoln, Ensign Lincoln.
These names should never be forgotten. The men
who bore them were distinguished in their day
for Christian enterprise and liberality. They .were
pillars in the churches to which they belonged, and
steadfast supporters of the foreign mission work. With
moderate incomes, and connected with a denomina*
lion of little wealth, they yet had faith to begin a
school, which, as they foresaw, would never cease to
call for pecuniary assistance. Each of the first three
contributed S1070.15 to the sum raised for the pur-
chase of the estate and the alterat'ona required in the
" Mansion House," while the Lincolns gave respec-
tively $500 and S250, as much perhaps, when mea-
sured by their ability, as was given by the others.
Levi Farwell, of Cambridge, whose name stands at
the head of this committee, was the first treasurer of
the institution, an office which, as Dr. Baron Stow
testifies, "he filled eighteen consecutive years, until
the time of bis death — a period when the institution
was an experiment, and, in many minds, of doubtful
success; when it had no endowment, and when the
funds for current expenses were often procured with
difficulty. Many a time he stood under heavy bur-
dens, sometimes bending, occasionally well-nigh dis-
heartened, yet giving money with a liberal hand, and
personal service to an extent little known and imper-
fectly appreciated." Mr. Farwell was a dignified and
courteous gentleman, moving with grace in the best
society. For many years he was registrar of Harvard
College. In 1833, when the Constitution of Massa-
chusetts was so amended that, for the first time, " the
support of ministers became wholly voluntary," he
was representative fiom the town ol Cambridge, having
been elected with reference to his vote and influence
in favor of religious equality.
Jonathan Bacheller, of Lynn, was a diligent, clear-
sighted, trustworthy man, a Christian of settled prin-
ciples and definite aims, who spent little on himself
and put much into the treasury of the Lord. He was
in business over fifty years, beginning at the age of
twenty-two, with a capital of $200. "He accumulat-
ed," according to the statement of Mrs. Bacheller, after
his death, " about one hundred and fifty thousand dol-
lars, one-third of which he gave away while living,
one-third he lost in business, and the remaining third
he gave away at hia decease." His ample forehead,
clear eye and firm mouth were expressive of charac-
ter, intelligence and efficiency.
Nathaniel R. Cobb was a Boston merchant. He is
said to have been a man of great business capacity,
of " acute penetration, rapid decision and uncon-
querable perseverance." Yet he was less distin-
guished for the rapidity with which he accumulated
74
HISTORY OP MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
property than for the method with which he dis-
bursed it. His alms were a steady stream, increasing
as his means increased. Soon after entering into
business for himself he drew up the following docu-
ment : " By the grace of God, I will never be worth
more than $50,000. By the grace of God, I will give
one-fourth of the net profits of my business to chari-
table and religious uses. If I am ever worth 820,000
I will give one-half of my net profits; and if I am
ever worth $30,000 I will give three-fourths ; and the
whole after §50,000. So help me, God, or give to a
more faithful steward, and set me aside. N. R. Cobb.''
Under these resolutions he was enabled, within thir-
teen years to give away more than $40,000.
These three original friends of the institution,
Me.'srs. Farwell, Bacheller and Cobb, gave it, in
about equal sums, during life and at death, the aggre-
gate of $57,150 — a small sum in comparison with the
munificent gifts of millionaires in our day — but a
generous sum for the time in which they lived and
for the property which they possessed. Others gave
less, but with equal love to the institurion.
During the first twenty-eight years of its history,
the institution had no permanent endowment. It lived
from hand to mouth in a constant struggle with want.
i\Iore than once its trustees were on the point of giv-
ing up the enterprise. Less than two years after the
seminary was opened, it became evident that the
Mansion House would not long accommodate the in-
creasing number of students. " In 1827, a committee
was appointed to devise a plan for a new building and
to procure the mepns for defraying the expense."
The work was accomplished, and "in 1829 the treas-
urer reported that such a building had been erected
and paid for by subscriptions collected, amounting
to 810,594.12. Towards this sum, the Hon. Nicholas
Brown, of Providence, gave §4,000.'' But it was found
more difficult to meet the current expenses of the
Institution than to obtain subscriptions for the erec-
tion of a necessarj' building. These expenses were j
constantly increasing. In compliance with a petition
addressed to the trustees in 1827, an English and
Preparatory Department was connected wiih the sem-
inary ; but after a few years it was discontinued. In-
crease iu the number of professors was, however,
indispensable, and every additional professor cost at
least §800 a year. On the 11th of March, 1829, be-
tween $5000 and §6000 were reported due to the
treasurer, and Professor Ripley was requested to act
as agent during his next vacation. In April, 1830,
the Rev. E. Nelson was appointed agent to provide
for the professors' salaries by procuring subscriptions
for the annual payment of fifty dollars a year for five
years, and on the 0th of September sixteen shares,
enough to support one professor, had been obtained.
Soon after it was proposed to raise a sinking fund of
$20,000, to support two professors twenty years. On
the 13th of April, 1832, the trustees were informed
that this sum had been subscribed. But at the same
session they received from Professor Ripley a request
for the appointment of a third profefso''. Thus the
struggle between ihe growing w.iuts of the seminary
and the iniideqiiate resources of the Board went on
from year to year, and from lus'jum to lustrum. Plan
followed plan; expedient succeeded expedient; the
cloth was not enough for the garment. For a short
time the Institution was free from debt, but soon its
property must be mortgnged, or the work cease.
In April, 1848, the Rev. T. F. Caldicott was ap-
pointed financial agent to raise the sum of §30,000,
but his efforts to accomplish this were unsuccessful.
In August, 1849, the treiusurer was authorized to sell
a part of the Institution lands to remove a mort-
gage of 810,000 on the property, and soon after ten
shares of stock in the Western Railroad, to meet the
needs of the treasury. In April, 1851. the Rev. J. W.
Parker, D.D., was invited to raise §-30,000, but his
attempt to do this was attended with only partial suc-
cess, for it was seen that the sum was ni.t large enough
to place the seminary out of danger. Hence the Rev.
Horace T. Love was chosen financial agent on the 23d
of February, 1852, and on the loth of the next month
it was voted to raise a permanent fund of 8100,000,
and the trustees subscribed on the spot 835,000 to-
wards this amount. In due time the whole sum,
§117,228.38, was raised, andof this $100,000 was made
the beginning of an endowment to meet the regular
expenses of the school.
But the joy of the guardians of the Institution soon
gave way to anxiety and fear. For, contrary to the
hopes of many, it soon appeared that the interest of
8100,000 would not support a first-class seminary.
The foe, which it was fondly thought had been van-
quished, was still in the field, and was preparing to
come upon them again, "like an armed man.'' But
they naturally dreaded the encounter, and more than
ten years were passed in feints and skirmishes and
guerilla warfare, before the trustees and friends re-
newed the battle in earnest. It was decided in Decem-
ber. 1867, that " an additioual endowment of $150,000
ought to be raised at an early day," and after two or
three unsuccessful experiments, the Rev. W. H.
Eaton, D.D., was appointed in December, 1869, to
raise money for this endowment. By his well-directed
efforts, supplemented, at, the last, by the powerful ex-
ertions of a few distinguished brethren, especially
Gardner Colby, the president of the Board, and the
Hon. J. Warren Jlerrill, the sum of 8211,404.00 was
raised by subscriptions varying from §1 to §18,000.
This was expected to net, after expenses and possible
losses, at least $200,000. It was felt to be a great and
wise contribution to the cause of sacred learning, and
those who shared in it were certainly entitled to re-
joice.
In 1866 a new building for the library, chapel and
lecture-rooms was completed at a cost of nearly §40.000,
and was dedicated on the 10th of September. It was
named Colby Hall, in honor of the largest con-
NEWTON.
70
tributor, Mr. Gardner Colby. In 1870-71 Farwell
Hall, the central building, wa3 refitted, provided with
a fourth story, mansard roof, and with apparatus for
heating it with steam, at an expense of $12,000. In
1872-73 Sturtevant Hall was erected at a cost of about
$40,000, more than one-half of which was contributed
by Mr. B. F. Sturtevant, of Jamaica Plain. About
the same time the Mansion House was taken down
and a brick edifice built for a gymnasium.
During the last twelve years the scholarships of the
institution have been increased to the number of
forty-two ($42,000), a Professors-hip of Elocution has
been founded ($50,000), the Library <und has been
raised from $10,000 to $22,400 ; $60,000 have been
added by two bequests to the general endowment, and
a special bequest of $20,000 towards a new library
building will probably be soon paid into the treasury.
It may also be stated, in this connection, that a mem-
ber of the North Orange Baptist Church, N. J., gave
$500 yearfy to five students selected by the Faculty,
during a period of about sixteen years ; that Mr. D.
S. Ford paid for three courses of lectures, delivered to
the students by distinguished scholars, at a cost of
about $300acourse; that the Hon. J. Warren Merrill
provided five courses of eight or ten lectures each, at
a cost of $2700, and that a great number of practical
addresses, at once instructiveand inspiring, have been
made without charge to the students by ministers
and laymen. The following are the names of paid
lecturers from a distance : Dra. George P. -Fisher,
Henry G. Weston, George Dana Boardman, Edwards
A. Park, George Ide Chace, Ebenezer Dodge, John A.
Broadus, John C. Long, William H. Green, G. D. B. j
Pepper, Samuel L. Caldwell, James B. Angell, John 1
Hall, Frederick Gardner, David J. Hill, Selah Mer- \
rill. The full course of lectures by William Henry !
Green, D.D., on "The Hebrew Feasts," was published i
by the .Vppletons, N. Y., 1885, and the course by
President David J. Hill. LL.D., on "The Social
Influence of Christianity,", by Silver, Burditt & Co.,
Boston, 1888. The lectures of Prof. George Ide
Chace, LL.D., on "The Existence of God," were
printed in " A Memorial " after his death, and are
worthy of general circulation.
This reference to lectures and addresses by dis-
tinguished gentlemen not belonging to the Faculty,
during the last twelve years, furnishes a natural
point of transition from the financial history of
the institution to the enlargement of its curriculum
and work. For, in education, buildings and funds are
only means to an end, while occasional lectures and
addresses have an immediate though intermittent
relation to that end. But the character and growth
of a theological seminary depend chiefly on its
teacher-*, that is, on the enlargement and improve-
ment of their work. This may be easily shown in
the present case by tracing the widening range of in-
struction in several depaitments.
At first the Professor of Biblical Literature and In-
terpretation was required to give instruction in
Homiletics also. This continued about seven years.
During the next twelve years the professor was reliev-
ed of his work in the Department of Homiletics, but
still had sole charge of the work in Hebrew and
Greek literature and interpretation. During the next,
twenty-two years he was provided with an assistant
instructor in Hebrew, whose service covered a little
more than half the academic year. During the
eighteen following years two professors were assigned
to the Department of Biblical Literature, one for the
Old Testament and one for the New, while a course
of interpretation in the English Scriptures was given
by otht-r officers to those who could not take
Hebrew and Greek. Since 1886 two professors have
given their whole time, and a third half his time, to
the Biblical department. And the amount of in-
struction in this department has increased pari passu
with the increase of the teaching force. This will
not aurpri.se any one who is familiar with Biblical
inquiries.
Thus, instruction is now given in the Syriac,
Arabic and Assyrian languages, as well aa in the
Greek, Hebrew and Aramiean. In relation to the
New Testament, textual criticism has been raised
during the last fifty years to the dignity of a science,
while in rtlation to the Old Testament it is claiming
more and more attention. Hence textual criticism
has been introduced into the course of studies. Again,
the so-called h'gher criticism, which discusses ail
questions respecting the age, character and author-
ship of the several books, paragraphs or sentences
of Scripture, has become an engrossing study, thrust
I'pon scholars by the advocates of religious evolution.
Meanwhile geographical research- in the lands of the
Bible has been prosecuted with wonderful success,
and the fruits of it have a distinct place assigned
to them in the curriculum. The topographical sur-
veys of Palestine, the exhuming of cities, palaces
and temples in Egypt and Babylonia and the decipher-
ing of inscriptions in stone and brick, have cast a
flood of light on the sacred record. Jewish Antiqui-
ties are revealed, not only by the Bible and Josephus,
but also by uncovered pillars and walls.
Again, no regular provision was made in the early
years of the seminary for instruction in elocution.
Occasionally a small sum of money was contributed
by the students, and duplicated by the trustees, for
the purpose of securing a dozen or twenty lessons in
elocution from some professional teacher ; but the
state of the treasury forbade anything more than this
until, in 1870, the Rev. Alva Woods, D.D., of Provi-
dence, established an elocutionary fund of $3000,
soon increased by him to $5000. By reason of this
fund the senior classes, during the next fourteen
years, had the benefit of vocal training once a week
by such teachers as Stacy Baxter, Lebrun T. Conlee
and L. A. Butterfield. The results were encouraging,
but not perfectly satisfactory. Too little time was
76
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
given to the culture of the voice; and when, by a
bequest of Samuel C. Davis, of Roxbury, in 1884,
$20,000 was offered to the trustees, provided they
would raise $30,000 in addition to this bequest, and
with the whole sum of 5550,000 establish a Professor-
ship of elocution, the condition was fulfilled by the
friends of the institution, and since 1885 Mr. S. S.
Curry, of Boston, has been Acting Davis Professor of
Elocution, to the great advantage of the students.
Looking back over the history of the institution,
the following gentlemen have contributed for its sup-
port not less than the sums put after their names :
Gardner Colby, $100,000; J. Warren Merrill, S50,000;
Samuel C. Davia, $30,000 ; B. F. Sturtevant, $24,000 ;
J. C. Hartshorne, $22,000 ; Levi Farwell, $19,050 ;
Jonathan Bacheller, $19,050; Nathaniel R. Cobb,
$19,050; Gardner R. Colby, $11,000; Lawrence
Barnes, $10,000 ; George S. Dexter, $13,000; Thomas
Nickerson, $9000; J. H. Walker, $7000, and Michael
Shepherd, Elijah Corey, Nicholas- Brown, H. K. and
H. A. Pevear, H. S. Chase, George Cummings, George
D. Edmunds, Robert O. Fuller, George Lawton, Alva
Woods and Lewis Colby, from S5000 to $8000 each,
while hundreds more have given smaller sums with
no less sacrifice.
It is needless to describe the increase of work in
other departments, but it may be said, with truth,
that in every one an attempt has been made to keep
pace with the progress of sober, theological inquiry,
so that the school may fulfill the purpose of its found-
ers. The amount of work to be done has increased as
rapidly as the number of teachers who are expected
to do it. Neither Dr. Chase nor Dr. Ripley, neither
Dr. Sears nor Dr. Hackett, had more in.struction
upon his hands than any one of the six professors
now engaged in service. Yet for many years there
were but three professors in the seminary. Then and
now the field of investigation was practically unlim-
ited. Acd then, during the first twenty-five years of
the seminary, the professors were men of eminent
worth and ability. Frequent reference has been
made to Dr. Irah Chase, the first professor. It is uot
too much to say of him that he was distinguished for
patient investigation, accurate learning and consist-
ent piety. Though slow of speech, what he said was
always to the point and worthy of confidence, so that
he commanded respect when he did not excite ad-
miration. Many of his writings were controversial,
but they were models of candor and courtesy. " On
all the pages that he has written," said Dr. Hackett
at his funeral, "you will search in vain for one cen-
sorious word." And Dr. Ripley testified on the same
occasion that "religion in him was all pervading and
absorbing." Such a man was the first professor.
And the second, Dr. Henry J. Ripley, was his peer
in Christian devotion and learning. A native of Bos-
ton and a meda! scholar of its Latin School, he was
graduated from Harvard College in 181G, and from
Andover Theological Seminary in 1819. Then he
labored several years as a missionary pastor in the
State of Georgia. In the autumn of 1826 be entered
upon his work in Newton, where he filled a profes-
sor's chair thirty-four years. As a teacher and writer
he was distinguished for exactness of knowledge,
soundness of judgment, clearness of expression and
sweetness of spirit. He was loved and revered by his
pupils, trusted by his brethren and respected by Chris-
tians of every name. Firm without being obstinate,
he was gentle without being weak. In controversy
he united the utmost firmness of mind with a strict
adhesion to truth. His commentaries on the four
Gospels, on the Acts and on the Epistles to the Ro-
mans and the Hebrews, were both scholarly and per-
spicuous, while his volumes on Church Polity and
Sacred Rhetoric were highly useful. The value of
such a teacher's influence is inestimable.
The Rev. James D. Knowles, the third professor,
was graduated from Columbian College, D. C, where
he also took his theological course. For nearly seven
years he was pastor of the Second Baptist Church,
Boston, and tor nearly six years, until his sudden
death (May 9, 1838), Professor of Sacred Rhetoric and
Pastoral Duties in Newton. Dr. Baron Stow speaks
of his character and attainments in these words :
" Hundreds admired him for his superior talent, his
pure taste, his literary culture, and his refinement of
manners, but only those whom he admitted to his
confidence understood the warmth of his heart. With
the appearance of cold reserve and self-satisfaction,
he was really one of the most simple-hearted and
child-like of men. . . . I have never known the man
whom I loved more, or who proved himself, on long
acquaintance, worthy of greater respect." He was
the author of two admirable biographies, one of Roger
Williams, and the other of Mrs. Ann Haseltine Jud-
sou, and he proved himself to be an accomplished
teacher.
The fourth professor appointed was Dr. Barn as
Sears, a graduate of Brown University and of New-
ton Theological Institution. On his return from a
considerable period of study in Germany, he was
chosen Professor of Ecclesiastical History (1836), a
position which he honored with eminent service three
years. At the close of this period (1839) he was
transferred to the chair of Christian Theology, and,
at the same time, made president of the seminary.
Nine years later (1848) he resigned the place which
he had so ably filled, that he might; become secretary
of the Massachusetts Board of Education. This office
he held for seven years and then relinquished it for
the presidency of Brown University (1855). The
presidency of Brown he held about twelve years, and
then (in 1867) became secretary of the famous Pea-
body education fund, retaining this position until his
death, in 1880. As a teacher of Christian Theology
in the seminary, he brought all his varied attain-
ments to bear upon the student's mind with remark-
able skill, and succeeded wonderfully in stimulating
NEWTON.
77
thought and research. "He made his pupils feel the
greatness and the richness of the treasures to be
sought in the domain of inspired truth. The peculiar
charm of his teaching was due in part to his enthu-
siasm, in part to his confidence in the ability of his
pupils to judge for themselves, and in part to his
habit of pointing out and commending to them the
sources of knowledge. They were made to feel that,
without concealing his own belief, he would give
them, as nearly as possible, 'all sides of every ques-
tion,' and lead them to answers founded on reasons,
rather than on human authority." And it will not be
deemed superfluous if we add a testimony as to his
connection with the Peabody fund. " It is quite
doubtful whether any of Mr. Peabody's princely be-
quests has been administered more judiciously, or
whether ever a great capital devoted to popular edu-
cation has been applied more successfully and more
effectually than Dr. Sears applied the fund of which he
held charge during a most trying and responsible
period of over twenty-three years."
A very larf;e part of the published writings of Dr.
Sears must be found in reports and addresses per-
taining to education, but he published in 1846 " Select
Treatises of Martin Luther in the Original German,"
with valuable notes, and in 1850, " Life of Luther,"
with special reference to its earlier periods and the
opening scenes of the Reformation. Other less im-
portant works need not be specified in this article.
His Influence on the students was powerful and
wholesome.
The fifth professor in theorderof appointment (1839)
was Dr. Horatio B. Hackett, a graduate of Amherst
College andof Andover Theological Seminary. As ad-
junct Professor of the Latin and Greek Languages in
Brown University from 1S34 to 1S39 he achieved dis-
tinction as a classical teacher, and, during thetwenty-
nlne years (1839-1868) of his connection with the
Xewton Theological lustitution he gained a national
reputation for the accuracy and extent of his Biblical
knowledge and for bis skill and enthusiasm In the
work of Instruction. Few men have excelled him in
the class-room. His preparation for it was uniformly
thorough, while the music of his voice, the richness
of his thought and the beauty of his language moved
and charmed those who were under his tuition. He
was a safe and a great teacher. But, in 1868, he re-
signed his place In the faculty for the purpose of giv-
ing his undivided strength to literary work, and the
Department of Biblical Literature was assigned to Dr.
Oakman S. Stearns and Prof. Ezra P. Gould. Yet,
missing the grateful variety and stimulus of contact
with young men, Dr. Hackfitt, after two years, accept-
ed the Professorship of New Testament Interpretation
in the Rochester Theological Seminary, where he re-
mained five years (ISTO-lSTo), until his death. During
his connection with the Newton Theological Institu-
tion he spent about three years abroad, residing first in
Germany (1841—42), and pursuing the studies of his
department, then traveling (1852) in the East, and
especially in Palestine, besides revisiting Germany,
and finally residing in Athens six months (1858-59),
and exploring those parts of Greece mentioned in the
New Testament, under the auspices of the American
Bible Union. He went to Europe aga<n in 1869-70,
and a fifth time shortly before his death, in 1875. Two
or more of these later journeys were occasioned, in
part, if not altogether by the impaired state of his
health. The published writings of Dr. Hackett are
somewhat numerous, and a few of them may properly
be mentioned, e. g. : " Exercises in Hebrew Gram-
mar" (1847) ; " Illustrations of Scripture suggested by
a Tour through the Holy Land" (1855); " Comment-
ary on the Original Text of the Acts of the Apostles"
(1st ed. 1851, 2d ed. 1858, last ed. [edited by A. Hov-
ey] 1882) ; " Notes on the Greek Text of the Epistle
to Philemon " (1860); thirty articles in the first ed. of
Smith's " Dictionary of the Bible " (1863); and "The
Book of Ruth," published in 1876, after his death.
To the American edition of "Smith's Dictionary,"
edited by himself and Dr. Ezra Abbott, he made very
numerous and valuable contributions.
Of the late professors, aud especially of Drs.
Robert M. Pattison, Albert N. Arnold, Arthur S.
Train, Heman Lincoln and Samuel L. Caldwell, who
have all passed away from the seen into the unseen,
it would be interesting to speak more at length than
space will permit. But the life of the institution
cannot be described without a brief reference to each
one of them. Mr. Pattison was called to be the suc-
cessor of Dr. Sears in the chair of Christian Theology.
It was not an easy place to fill, but he held it with
credit to himself and advantage to the school more
than five years, until he was called a second time to
the presidency of Waterville College (now Colby Uni-
! versity). He was one whom it was only necessary to
I know in order to trust. A thoughtful student, a
j sound theologian and an effective preacher, there were
j in his spliit and manner a certain indescribable sin-
j cerity, friendliness and frankness which secured the
love and confidence of his pupils. They found in
I him not only a teacher, but a counselor and a father,
I and they sometimes spoke with admiration of the
episodes in his lessons, when, giving free play to hia
rising emotions, and illustrating his thoughts by inci-
dents drawn from his own experience, he strove to kin-
dle in their hearts a holy ardor for the work of God.
During his lustrum of service, and in pursuance of
his advice, the trustees obtained a modification of
the charter by which their numbers could be doubled
(made forty-eight instead of twenty-four), and the
duty of electing one-half that number could be
assigned to the Northern Baptist Education Society.
Dr. Arnold, a graduate of Brown University and of
Newton Theological Institution, had been several
years a missionary in Greece, but, upon his return to
this country, he was elected Professor of Church
History in his theological Alma Maler (1855), an
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
office which, owing to the straitened finances of
the school, he retained but two years. Yet while he
was here a singular and beautiful union of culture
and principle, of courtesy and firmness, of wit and
learning, made his presence a well-spring of delight
and his friendahip a Christian benediction.
Dr. Train, a graduate of Brown University, which
he then served for a time as tutor, was elected lo the
chair of Sacred Rhetoric and Pa.storal Duties in New-
ton (1859), after ministering to the First Baptist
Church of Haverhill, Massachusetts, twenty-five
years with marked ability and usefulness. Though
to a stranger his bearing may have seemed unduly
self-reliant and almr-st careless of the opinion of
other?, yet upon closer acquaintance he was found to
be gentle as well as manly, sympathetic as well as
resolute, tender-hearted as well as conscientious.
Naturally a superior scholar, he was also distinguished
for good sense and practical sagacity. After seven
years of faithful service in the seminiry, he preferred
to resume his favorite calling in Framingham, Massa-
chusetts.
Dr. Heman Lincoln, a son of Ensign Lincoln,
one of the founders of the school, was a graduate of
Brown University and of Newton Theological Insti-
tution, was elected Professor of Church History in
1868, and served in that department, or in the chair
of Horailetics and Pastoral Duties nineteen years,
until his death, in October, 1887. He was remarkable
for diligence, energy and versatility ; he was a vora-
cious reader, a rapid writer and a fluent speaker. It
was his custom to preach every Sabbath, and rarely
did he fail of doing this during the nineteen years of
his service in the institution. He was also accus-
tomed to write one article at least weekly for the
religious press, and often two; of course, upon cur-
rent topics. Feeling at times a profound solicitude as
to political issues, he resorted to the daily secular
press for the communication of his views to the public,
and some of his articles were exceedingly vigorous
and trenchant. In a word, he was an incessant
toiler, with hand and voice and pen, in garden, study,
public library, class-room and pulpit, in behalf of
learning, virtue and religion. But this rich variety
of service rendered it impossible for him to make
original investigations in church history, or to pro-
duce any standard treatise in that department. He
labored for his pupils and cotemporaries, and he will
live in their characters and memories. But neither
his newspaper correspondence, however brilliant or
timely, nor his more extended essays which found
their place in reviews, are likely to be collected into
volumes.
Dr. Samuel L. Caldwell was a graduate of W.ater-
ville College and of Newton Theological Institution.
Soon after leaving the seminary he was settled as
pastor of the First Baptist Church in Bangor, Maine,
where he labored twelve years, and then as pastor
.of the First Baptist Church in Providence, K. I.,
which he served fifteen years. From 1873 to 1878,
a period of five years, he was a professor in the
Newton Institution. His work was divided between
homiletics and church history. And the amount
of labor which he performed can never be under-
stood by one who has not delved in the same
mines and tried to polish the same kind of gems.
Think of church history : how vast the libraries to be
explored I how diffi<;ult the task of just interpretation I
how numerous and vital the disputed questions! how
rare the discernment that can cast away the error and
preserve the truth ! and how remarkable the power
which can reproduce in a well-ordered narrative the
results of faithful inquiry ! Yet this wide and diUicult
field was ably cultivated by Dr. Caldwell, though
only for a brief period. Of his service in l:onii!etical
instruction it is enough to say that it was faithful and
excellent. All looked up to him as a master of ex-
pression. In the faculty he was courteous and wise,
a helper in council, and loved as well as honored by
his associates. But after a terra of five years he ac-
cepted a call to the presidency of Vas«ar College, an
cttice for which he was thought to be pre-eminently
qualified by character and culture.
Dr. Caldwell was editor of " The Bloudy Tenent of
Persecution," by Roger Williams, and of " The Bloody
Tenent of Persecution yet more Bloody by Jlr. Cot-
ton's endeavor to wash it white in the Blood of the
Lamb," by the same author, in the " Publications of
the Narragansett Club." His editorial work in pre-
faces and notes is scholarly and just, iloreover, iu
connection with Dr. A. J. Gordon, he prepared fur
publication a hymn and tune-book, "The Service of
Song," which is one of the best ever offered to the
churches. The task of selecting and editing the
hymns, a part cff which consisted in restoring their
original text, is understood to have been performed
by Dr. Caldwell. A considerable number of his ser-
mons and addresses were published from time to time
during his life, and a volume of his lectures and es-
says is soon to be issued by a Boston house.
Of the profeisors now living (1890) seven are con-
nected with the seminary and three are teaching in
other schools. Dr. Galusha Anderson, who was Pro-
fessor of Homiletics from 181)0 to 1873, tills the same
chair at present in the Baptist Theological Seminary
at Morgan Park, 111. ; Dr. Ezra P. Gould, who was
Professor of New Testament Interpretation from ISOS
to 1882, is now teaching in the same depfirtment at
the Episcopal Seminary in Philadelphia, and Dr. E.
Benjamin Andrews, who filled the chair of Homilet-
ics from 1879 to 1S82, is now president of Brown Uni-
versity. All these were accomplished teachers, mak-
ing a deep impression on the minds of their pupils.
The posii;ions which they now hold are such as none
but able men could fill.
The faculty is at present composed of the following
persons : Alvah Hovey (since 1849 instructor, since
1853 professor — first of Church History and later of
NEWTON.
Christian Theology — and since ISGS president), Oak-
man S. Stearns (Professor of Biblical Literature, Old
Testament, since 1868), John M. English (Professor
of Homiletics and Pastoral Duties since 1S82), Chas.
R. Brown (Professor of Hebrew and Cognate Lan-
guages since 1SS3), Earnest D. Burton (Professor of
Biblical Interpretation, New Testament, since 1883',
and Jes^e B. Thomas (Professor of Church History
since 1888). Jlr. S. S. Curry has been an acting pro-
fessor since 1885, though giving but a part of the
time to this seminary and not being a member of the
faculty. Professor Shailer Mathews, of Colby Uni-
Tersity, has also assisted in New Ttstament interpre-
tation a part of the time during the last year and
the present. It may be remarked, in this connection,
that the members of the faculty are not called upon
to subscribe their names to any particular creed. As
members of regular Baptist Churches they are pre-
sumed to believe in the divine authority of the Scrip-
tures and in the essential truths which they teach, or,
in other words, to be in accord, as to all great princi-
ples and duties, with the founders and trustees of the
school. The trustees have authority to depose them,
should their teaching prove unsatisfactory.
• Br(t the character of a professional school may be
inferred more or less correctly from the work of its
alumni. Indeed, its history would be aa incomplete
if no notice was taken of their work, as the history of
a family would be if nothing were said of the chil-
dren after leaving the parental roof. And the case
will be still clearer if it be remembered that the work
of the ministry embraces several forms of Christian
service, besides the pastorate ; e.g., that of teaching
in some of its higher ranges, that of missionary ser-
vice in all its branches, that of editorial work for the
religious press, that of providing a Christian litera-
ture in book-form for the people, and that of con-
ducting the work of evangelical or reformatory socie-
ties as agents and secretaries.
About eleven hundred candidates for the Christian
ministry have studied in this school, and not far from
three-fourths (725) of them have served the churches
of their native land. Of these very many have been
simply intelligent pastors, able to instruct the people
by truth drawn from the sacred record, and content
to labor for the Master wherever the providence of
God directed their way. Many of them, though little
known to the world, have been earnest and wise
builders of the Lord's house. It is to tiiis class of
ministers that churches located in villages. East and
West, have been indebted for much of their intelli-
geni;e and stability, while it is from these churches that
manv young men of sterling worth find their way to
the academy, the college, the seminary and the pul-
pit. The intiuence of a village pastor in a rural dis-
trict, if he is well-informed, sound in faith, pure in
life and earnest in work, is something which an angel
might covet. Some of these pastors have held on
their way in the same village until their influence be-
came far-reaching and inestimable. Two or three
may be named as specimens of a class : Cornelius .V.
Thomas, D.D. (Brandon, Vermont), Elijah Hutchin-
son, D.D. (Windsor, Vt.), and Daniel W. Phillips,
D.D. (Medfield, Wakefield, Massachusetts; Nashville,
Tennessee), William H. Eaton, D.D. (Sjlem, Nashua,
Massachusetts ; Keene, New Hampshire), and Charles
M. Bowers, D.D. (Lexington, Clinton, Massachu-
setts). Without possessing the gift of eloquence in
such a degree as to draw after them the multitude
hungry for excitement, they have known how to
speak well, commending truth to the minds and hearts
of men, so that their influence was ever growing and
salutary. Still more conspicuous and perhaps useful
have been such city pastors as Drs. William Hague
(Boston, Providence, Albany, New York), Rolliii
H. Neale (Boston), Samuel B. Swain (Worcester);
Joseph W. Parker (Cambridgeport, Boston, Wa«h-
ingtjn, D. C), William Lamson (Gloucester, Ports-
mouth, Brookline), William Howe (Boston), William
H. Shailer (Brookline, Portland), Elias L. Magoon
(Richmond, Cincinnati, New York, Albany, Phila-
delphia), Thomas D. Anderson (Salem, Roibury,
New York, Boston), J. Wheaton Smith (Lowell, Phila-
delphia), George Dana Boardman (Barnwell, Roches-
ter, Philadelphia), James B. Simmons (Providence,
Indianapolis, Philadelphia, New York), George
Bullen (Skowhegan, Wakefield, Pawtucket), Htnry
A. Sawtell, (Limerick, San Francisco, Chelsea, Kala-
mazoo,) Henry M. King, (Roxbury, Albany,) A. J.
Gordon, (Jamaica Plain, Boston,) Henry F. Colby,
(Dayton,) and numbers more (like Drs. D. N. Bur-
ton, J. W. Warder, Edwin T. Winkle, John H.
Luther), whose names command respect wherever
they are spoken. Many of those given above were
selected because their fields of labor were in Eastern
Massachusetts, and they will be remembered by the
citizens of Jliddlesex County.
Next to the graduates whose field of labor has
been their native land must be placed those who
have devoted their lives to service in foreign coun-
tries. For in so far as the religious atmosphere and
instruction of a theological school tend to foster a
missionary spirit, it may be regarded as doing good to
men. And in this respect the institution has made
an honorable record. For not less than one student
for each year of its history has gone to the foreign
field. John Taylor Jones pursued his theological
studies in Andover and Newton. He was a mission-
ary in the East twenty years, eighteen of which were
spent in Siam. During this time he translated the
New Testament into the Siamese language. Francis
Mason, D.D., a classmate of Dr. Jones in the semi-
nary, preceded him about three months in the voyage
to Burmah. His term of service extended over a period
of about forty-four years. He translated the Scrip-
tures into the Sgau Karen and Pwo Karen dialects,
and published two works on Burmah, one entitled
" Terasscrim ; or, Notes on the Fauna, Flora, Min-
80
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
erals and Nations of British Burmah and Pegu," and
the other, " Burmah ; its People and Natural Produc-
tions." He wrote also a memoir of his second wife,
and a "' Life of Ko-thah-byu," and still later, " The
Story of a Working-Man's Life."
He was studious, hopeful, enterprising : " a mathe-
matician, a naturalist, a linguist, and a theologian."
Rev. William G. Crocker finished the full theological
course in 1834, and in July of the next year embarked
for Liberia to preach the Gospel among the Bassas.
Within less than nine years his work was finished,
and he was called to his reward. But his missionary
record was a noble one, for during that short period
he endured extraordinary hardships on the burning
and sickly coast where he was stationed. He was
distinguished for sweetness of temper, simplicity of
manners, large good sense and intense activity.
Josiah Goddard was graduated from Newton in 1838,
and sent out the same year as a missionary to the
Chinese. For that people he labored earnestly and
wisely sixteen years, first in Bankok, next in Shang-
hai, and lastly in Ningpo. Besides his work as a
preacher, he translated the whole New Testament and
the first three books of the Pentateuch into a dialect
understood by the people. He was a man of fine
judgment, scholarship and temper, mastering the
difficulties of the language as few Americans can, and
accomplishing a very important service in a compar-
atively short period. In his place, and worthy of his
name, labors to-day a son. Rev. Josiah R. Goddard, j
also a graduate of the seminary. Rev. Benjamin C.
Thomas, of the class of 1849, sailed for Burma soon
after graduating, and toiled for the Karens twenty
years in Tavoy, Henthada and Bassein, though more
than half of this period was passed in Henthada.
His temperament was ardent and poetic, his piety
deep and fervent; but he was at the same time a man
of sound judgment and practical spirit. His enthu-
siasm was intense, but it was guided by reason, and
he united in himself nearly all the qualities most
useful to a missionary. Rev. Nathan Brown, D.D.,
was graduated in 1831, was a missionary in As:'am
more than twenty years, returned to his native land
in 1859, and then after fifteen years went to Japan,
where he labored fourteen years. He was a man of
vigorous intellect and unbending principle. In addi-
tion to his other work he translated the New Testa-
ment into the Assamese and the Japanese languages.
Rev. Edward O. Stevens, D.D., graduated in 1836,
was a missionary to the Burmese more than fifty years,
serving the cause which he loved with a clear head
and true heart till the day of his death. His son, the
Rev. Edward D. Stevens, class of 1864, has been a
faithful missionary in Prome, Burma, from that time
till 1889, when he was transferred to Maulmain.
Another consecrated man, the Rev. Lyman .lewett,
D.D., class of 1846, whose gentleness of manner and
of spirit is only surpassed by his devotion to the will
of Christ, labored among the Telugus about forty
years, until he was compelled by the impaired health
of Mrs. Jewett to return home. He is a superior
scholar as well as au heroic servant of the Master. The
Rev. Chapin H. Carpenter, of the class of 1862, was
a missionary in Rangoon, Burma, six years, being
most of the time in charge of the Karen Theological
Seminary, located in that city, and twelve years in
Bassein, where he was in charge of a large and im-
portant field. He was a devoted servant of Christ,
a thorough scholar, and an earnest believer in the
wisdom of calling upon the native churches to
support all their pastors and schools, though not
the missionaries sent to them from this country.
His volume entitled "Self-Support, illustrated in the
History of the Bassein Karen Mission from 1840
to 1380," must be reckoned a classic on the subject
which it discusses. Much of the narrative is of thrill-
ing interest, independently of the theme which it is
used to elucidate. The Rev. Josiah N. Gushing, D.D.,
class of 1865, has been since his graduation a mis-
sionary to the Shans of Burma, and has translated the
whole Bible into their language. He is a fine scholar
and teacher, as well as preacher. The Rev. D. A.
W. Smith, D.D., class of 1863, was a missionary in
Rangoon three years, Henthada ten years, and since
1876 presidentof the Karen Theological School, Ran-
goon, Burma. An accurate scholar and teacher, he
is also ('.ike his father, the Rev. Samuel F. Smith,
D.D.), said to be a writer of beautiful Christian
hymns in the Karen language. Besides this work he
has translated or composed a brief commentary on
the whole Bible for the u-e of the Sgau Karens.
This enumeration of faithful missionaries might be
carried much further, embracing other names as emi-
nent as those mentioned ; but enough have been spe-
cified to show that the institution has always been
friendly to the work of heathen evangelization. And
it may, with equal truth, be said that it has been a
source of laborers for the destitute part? of the home
field. Many of the freedmen's schools at the South
have been presided over by graduates of Newton.
The Rev. D. W. Phillips, D.D.. Nashville, Tenn. ;
Charles H. Corey, D.D., Richmond, Va. ; Henry M.
Tupper, D.D., Raleigh, N. C. ; G. M. P. King, D.D.,
Washington, D. C. ; Edward C. Mitchell, D.D.,
Nashville, Tenn., and New Orleans, La. ; Charles
Aver, Jackson, Miss. ; J. L. A. Fish, Live Oak, Fla.,
have been and are at the head of superior schools in
the places named. And whether they be called mis-
sionaries or presidents, uniting as they do these two
forms of Christian service, they are doing a great and
good work in a very satisfactory manner, and are to be
numbered with the choice jewels which adorn the
brow of their alma mater.
The institution has likewise furnished presidents
for a considerable number of colleges and theological
seminaries. Of these may be named : Drs. Eli B.
Smith and James Upham, New Hampton Literary
and Theological Seminary; Barnas Sears, Newton
NEWTON.
81
Theological Institution and Brown University, Joel
S. Bacon, Columbian College, Washington, D. C. ;
David N. Sheldon, Henry C. R)bins, G. D. B. Pep-
par and Albion W. Small, Cjlby University ; E. G.
Robinson, Rochester Theological Seminary and Brown
University; George W. Samson, Columbian College,
Washington, D. C, and Rutgers College, N. Y.;
Martin B. Anderson, Rochester University ; Henry
G. Weston, Crozier Theological Seminary; Ebenezer
Dodge, Madison University; Kendall Brooks and
Monson A. Willcox, Kalamazoo College ; Basil
Manly, Georgetown College, Ky. ; Samuel L. Cald-
well, Vassar College; Samson Talbot and Alfred
Owen, Denison University, Granville, 0. ; Artemas
W. Sawyer, Acadia College, WolfviUe, N. S. ; D. A.
W. Smith, Karen Theological Seminary, Rangoon,
Burmah; S. W. Tindell, Carson College, Tenn. ; S. B.
Morse, Oakland College, Cal. ; Charles S. Corey,
Richmond Theological Seminary, Richmond, Va. ;
Alvah Hovey, Newton Theological Institution and
probably several others.
A still greater number have served as professors in
colleges or theological seminaries, and of these it may
be proper to mention, in addition to those previously
named, Professors John S. Maginnis, D.D., John L.
Lincoln, LL.D., James L. Reynolds, D.D., James S.
Mims, D.D., Robert A. Fyfe, D.D., Peter C. Edwards,
D.D., Samuel K. Smi'.h, D.D., John B. Foster, LL.D.,
Joseph H. Gilmore, David Weston, Svlvester Burn-
ham, D.D., Fletcher O. Marsh, Richard S. Colwell
and Samuel Brooks, though others have done as good
work as these. It would not be easy to overrate the
service rendered to higher and Christian education
by this body of presidents and professors, or to deter-
mine how much of their influence and usefulness
were increased by their course at Newton.
Moreover, the institution through its Alumni, has
had an influence on public thought by means of the
press. Its sons have contributed much to the relig-
ious literature whioh has moulded the belief and life
of the people, and especially of those connected with
the Christian denomination supporting this school.
But no record of the books written by the sons of
Newton is known to have been kept, and no state-
ment of the number of graduates that have been edi-
tors or sub-editors of quarterly, monthly or weekly
periodicals would be more than conjectural. Yet it is
easy to form a considerable list of names that will
suggest the character of the service which has in this
way been rendered to mankind. Reference has already
been made to the published writings of Barnas Sears,
one of its earliest graduates, and of its most distinguish-
ed professors. It will besufEcient to mention the names
of others, with an accompanying word as to the kind
of literary work performed by each. The abbrevia-
tion, auth., will be used for the writer of anything
published in book form ; ed., for the editor-in-chief
or an assistant editor of any periodical or important
work, and com., for an interpreter of any book of
6-iii
Scripture. The other abbreviations need no explana-
tion. Francis Mason (auth. and transl.), William
Crowell (ed. and anth.), Joseph Barnard (auth.),
David N. Sheldon (auth.), Ezekiel G. Robinson (auth.,
ed. and transl.), Lucius E. Smith (ed. and auth.), Ell-
as L. Magoon (auth.), Martin B. Anderson (ed. and
auth.), Edwin T. Winkler (ed. and com.), Basil Manly
(auth.), Nathan Brown (ed., transl. and poet), Albert
N. Arnold (auth., com.), Ebenezer Dodge (auth.),
George W. Samson (auth.), John L. Lincoln (auth.),
Heman Lincoln (ed.), Franklin Wilson (ed.), Samuel
L. Caldwell (auth.), Alvah Hovey (auth. and com.),
George Dana Boardman (auth.), Oakman S. Stearns
(auth.), Nathaniel M. Williams (auth. and com.), John
H. Luther (ed.), Samuel K. Smith (ed.), Edward 0.
Mitchell (auth.), Chapin H. Carpenter (auth.), H.
Lincoln Wayland (ed. and auth.), David B. Ford
(auth. and com.), Henry A. Sawtelle (auth. and com.),
D. A. W. Smith (com. and auth.), Joseph A. Gilmore
(poet), Theron Brown (poet and ed.), Henry S. Bur-
rage (auth. and ed.), D. W. Faunce (auth.), W. S. Mc-
Kenzie (poet), George E. Horr, Jr. (ed.), George E.
Merrill (auth.), J. B. G. Pidge (com.), W. A. Stevens
(com.), E. P. Gould (com.), E. Benj. Andrews (auth.),
Sylvester Burnham (auth.), A. J. Gordon (auth. and
ed.). More than a hundred volumes worthy of atten-
tion have been given to the people by the persons
named above, to say nothing of the much greater
amount of valuable truth discussed by them in news-
papers and reviews.
CHAPTER V.
NE WTON—( Continued).
THE LIBRARIES.
BY ELIZABETH P. THURSTOX.
West Pakish Social Library. — As early as 1798
a library was organized in the west part of the town
by a society called " The Social Society in the West
Parish in Newton." The constitution provided that
a library be formed of the value of $150 ; that it be
divided into a number of equal rights of the value of
$3.00 each, and that each proprietor pay annually
tweuty-five cents upon each of his rights. The li-
brarian was required " to be possessed, in his own
right, of an estate of at least double the value of all
the books which the library may contain." The
books selected, about 165 in number, were mostly of
a serious nature.
Adelphian Libeaey. — The Adelphian Library
was formed about 1827. Quite a valuable collection
of books was procured by William Jackson throngh
earnest efforts in various ways : many volumes were
gathered through the Newton Temperance Society,
formed in 1826, which believed that " if the people
82
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
staid at home and saved their money, they would
need books to read.'' One part of the lihrary was
placed in the West Pari-h in the Acadi my of Seth
Davis, ^ho was for a time librarian ; the other part
was under the care of Marshall S. Rice, librarian in
the East Parish.
West Newton Athen^um. — The West Newtou
Aihenseum was the name of an association formed in
1819. District No. 5 had accepted the offer of the
State to donate fifteen dollars to any district which
would raise the same and fiirnisii the District School
Library. Mr. Nathaniel T. .\llen, as suhool- master
in District No. 5, had charge of the District School
Library, which he kept in the school-house, now the
City Hal! Building. Being interested in starting the
AthenjEum, Mr. Allen sent for and obtained posses-
sion of the Adelphian Library of the West Parish,
which, added to the District School Library and the
books of the old library of 1793, forme J the nucleus
of the Athenxum Library. Many volumes were pre-
sented by citizens, Captain Charles T. Savage giving
the largest number, and new books were purchased.
The value of the shares was placed at ten dollars
each. The Athenieum started with William B. Fowle,
Sr., as president ; Rev. Joseph S. Clarke, secretary ;
Captain Charles T. Savage, treasurer ; Nathaniel T.
Alien, librarian. The meetings of the shareholders
were held in the old Town Hall under the school-
rooms, and the library was kept in a small side room
until removed to the room over the market, corner of
Washington and Chestnut Streets. One aim of the
West Newton Athenaeum was to promote libenil cul-
ture iind social improvement, and the details of the
history of the institution will be found in the chapter
on Clubs, Societies, etc.
Newton Book Club. — In January, 1S48, an asso-
ciation was formed at Newton Corner, known as the
"Newton Book Club," to which there were originally
twenty-six-subscribers, and a form of by-laws and reg-
ulations was adopted, placing the club in the care of
a committee of five, who should see that the books
were "treated with care, as they are intended to form
a Permanent Library for the benelit of the village."
The annual assessment for membership to the clnb
was placed at five dollars, and any person approved
by the committee might join. More than 100 vol-
umes were purchased the first year.
Newton Library Association. — In January,
1849, the members of the Book Club, " desirous of
promoting the cause of Intelligence and Literature
in this place," formed themselves into a corporation
under the title of the "Newton Library Association,"
and 117 volumes were given by the Book Club to the
new organization. The records at the close of the
year 1850 showed that the number of volumes had
been increased by gift .nnd purchase to about lOOO,
and that 2000 books had been drawn from the library
during the year, while not one had been lost or ma-
terially injured. It was voted that the library be open
\\'edne:-d!iy afternoon and Friday evening of every
week, and that a copy of the catalogue be sent to
every hou.'e in the vill.nge not occupied by cither a
stockholder or subscriber to the library. At the an-
nual meeting in 1552 :.n anicrdmtnt to the constitu-
tion provided that " the directors shall have authtriiy
to loan books to other persors upon such teims and
under such regulations as they may deem expedient."
Library Land Fund Association.— For a long
time the public-spirited citizens of Newton had had
it m;ich at heart to establish a free library, which
should be open to all, and many efforts were made to
bring the subject to the notice of the citizens. In
June, 1SG6, a subscription paper was circulated to
buy the lot of land, 20,5j0 square feet, uptn which
the present Newton Free Library building stands, on
condition that it be offered to the N( wton Library As-
soc iiitiou, or, if declir.ed by that association, to any other
orgaLization which would agree to erect such a siruc-
ture as the trnstees of the Land Fund should require.
The names of the subscribers to this paper are as fol-
lows : D. R. Emerson, J. C. Chafiin, Albert Bratkett,
Joel H. Hills, Jusejih N. Bacon, Fred Davis, Geo. H.
Jones, Win. 0. Edniands, H. D. Dassett, J. W. Well-
inan, I. T. Burr, F. Skinner, G. D. Gilraan, Louisa S.
Brown, A. B. Underwood, Aaron F. Gay, Jas. French.
j The subscription amounted to $3320.
I On Sept. 20th the subscribers to the Library Land
' Fund met, organized and chose a board of trustees.
I It was voted '' that the trustees are empowered to c(d-
I lect the amounts subscribed to the I'und, to have the
transfer of the pro; erty made to them, to receive the
deeJs of ths same, and to hold the property for the
proprietors for the use and ])urposes of the subscrib-
ers as set forth in the substription-paper.'' It was
also voted " that the trustees take the initiative in any
measures that will promote the interests of a Free
Public Library in thi^^. place, and in the erection of a
suitable building on the land purchased by the sub-
scribers to the fund." On Jan. 6, 1868, the trustees
tendered to the Newton Library Association the lot
of land as a site fir a library building, on the-e con-
ditions : The building to be of brick or stone, two
stories hi^h; the building to be completed on or be-
fore June 28, 1871 ; the building to cost not less ihau
$10,000 ; and received from the association this reply r
" Voted, that while the Association tender to the
Trustees their thanks fur the offer made in the com-
munication presented, the Association is compelled to
decline the gift. Voted, that the Association will
transfer all its books and other property to the Trus-
tees of the Library Land Fund, when any Associa-
tion shall accept the lot of land named in the com-
munication of the Trustee.", and guarantee to erect
such a building as is therein mentioned, to be held in
trust by said Trii-tees until the completion of the said
building, when they ;-hall transfer the same to the
new association, provided it shall be maintained aa a
NEWTON.
83
free library, and be located in that part of this town
called Newton Corner."
The trustees then called a meeting and reported
that the Hon. J. Wiley Edmands had offered to con-
tribute fifteen thousand dollars, ten thousand towards
a building and five thousand in yearly instalments,
for the purchase of books, on the following condi-
tions: "First, that a like sum, or 815,000, shall be
fully secured by the Trustees previous to the first day
of March next ; second, that a building shall be erect-
ed under the general supervision of the present
Trustees or their successors in office, and in accord-
ance with plans which shall be satisfactory to him ;
third, that when completed it shall be organized
under the name of the Newton Free Library, with a
board of control consisting of eleven managers, three
of whom shall be the present Board of Trustees or
their successors, the remaining number to be elected
from the contributors to the above specified amount ;
fourth, that all contributors of $10 and upwards shall
have a right to vote; fifth, that these conditions shall
be fully entered in the subscription book." By per-
sistent effort, public meetings and private exertions
the subscriptions were obtained and the sum of $36,-
683 was secured.
lu June, 1868, ground was broken for the present
library building, and on Aug. 13th the corner-stone
was laid. In it are deposited copies of the town and
school reports for 1868, the Newton Journal, Boston
papers, the American Almanac, specimens of coins,
bank-notes and currency in use, the "History of the
Newton Free Library," and reports of public meet-
ings, with a copy of the subscription-book engrossed
on parchment, giving the names and amounts sub-
scribed. The material of the building is Newton
stoue wiih granite trimmings from New Hampshire,
The style is English Gothic. The cost was, for land,
83300 ; for grading and finishing the same, 81650.20 ;
for the building and fixtures, $31,745 ; total, 836,695.-
20.
The land and building were conveyed to the
Newton Free Library, and the Newton Library
Association delivered to the same its books, amount-
ing to sixteen hundred and twenty volumes.
Newton Free Library. — The Newton Free
Library was organized September 29, 1869, with a
board of eleven managers, composed of the follow-
ing names: Geo. H. Jones, John C. Chfiffin, Isaac T.
Burr, Hon. J. Wiley Edmands, Geo. W. Bacon, John
S. Farlow, A. B. Underwood, Joel H. Hills, Geo. S.
Bullens, Geo. S. Harwood and Abner I. Benyon.
It was found that the cost of the building, with
all its surroundings and furnishing, had some-
what exceeded the estimate, and it was not deemed
expedient to dedicate the building until the
bills could be paid, and until a sufficient sum
be raised to provide a suitable supply of books,
papers, etc., in order that the institution might be
opened in a proper manner. It was therefore neces-
sary to procure a further subscription, and at this
critical period the managers received a letter from a
gentleman who desired his name withheld, promising
four thousand dollars provided the further sum often
to twelve thousand dollars be obtained. The man-
agers pledged themselves to raise the balance needed,
which was subsequently done, and six thousand
dollars was then appropriated for the purchase of
books under the supervision of the Library Com-
mittee. The building was dedicated June 17, 1870,
and the library was opened with about seven thousand
bonks on the shelves, obtained partly from purchase
and partly from gifts. Geo. W. Bacon was elected
superintendent and Hannah P. James and Cornelia
W. Jackson assistant librarians. In 1871 the Legis-
lature of Massachusetts passed an act to incorporate
the Newton Free Library, granting the corporation
leave to hold real and personal estate to the value of
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. In 1873 the
Newton Centre Library Association presented its
valuable collection of between fourteen and fifteen
hundred books to the Newton Free Library.
In his inaugural address in January, 1875, relating
to the Newton Free Library, Mayor Hyde said:
" I venture to express the hope that at no distant
day this library will pass into the hands of the city
and become the city library."
At the annual meeting of the subscribers on
November 3, 1875, it was "Eesolced, that the managers
are empowered to make a transfer of the franchise
and property of the Newton Free Library to the City
of Newton, ou the city's assuming the conditions of
trust of its present organization." The gift was ac-
cepted by the Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council
on behalf of the city, and the Legislature of Massa-
chusetts passed an act authorizing the transfer, which
was formally made on the evening of March 16, 1876.
The title deeds of the property and the keys of the
building were tendered ro the city through Mr.
Edmands, president of the Board of Trustees, and the
response was made by Mayor Speare. Addresses were
also made by ex-Mayor Hyde, Messrs. Farlow and
Peirce, and a copy of the remarks intended to have
been made by Mr. Jones, who was unable to be
present, was furnished to the mayor. A code of by-
laws was adopted by the City Council for the govern-
ment of the library, placing it in the hands of seven
trustees to be elected by the City Council, one from the
Board of Aldermen and one from the Common
Council to serve for their elected terms of oflSce, and
five members chosen at large. The first Board of
Trustees consisted of the following men : Hon. J.
Wiley Edmands, John S. Farlow, Bradford K. Peirce,
D.D., Hon. Julius L. Clarke, and Hon. Jas. F. C.
Hyde, as members at large, and Wm. W. Keith from
the Board of Aldermen, with Wm. I. Goodrich from
the Common Council. At its first meeting the
board elected Hon. J. Wiley Edmands, president ;
Frederick Jackson, superintendent; Hannah P.
84
HISTORY" OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
James, librarian ; and Caroline B. Jackson, assistant
librarian.
In 1877 Hon. Alden Speare, then mayor of Newton,
gave to the library $250. During the following year
he increased the gift to $1000, desiring that the in-
come from the whole amount be Osed for the pur-
chase of works upon manufacturer and the mechanic
arts. The gift was called the "Alden Speare Fund
for the Promotion of Manufactures and the Mechanic
Arts." Thns the library has been enabled to add
many valuable works to the great satisfaction and
advantage of those interested in these branches of
industry. In 1880 the trustees received from the
estate of Mrs. Lydia M. Jewett a legacy of S5000, with
which a fund was established called the "Jewett Art
Fund," and the inccme was to be used for the pur-
chase of works of art, including such books as may
not properly be bought with the regular city appro-
priation. A large copy of Raphael's Transfiguration
had been previously received from the executors of the
will, given in conformity with her late husband's inten-
tion. The library has been able to obtain, through
this fund, a groat number of beautiful books and pic-
tures, including a valuable collection of five or six
hundred photographs of sculpture from the Italian
galleries. It has also added four massive volumes of
photographs of the English cathedrals. These photo-
graphs were collected in England and mounted by
Miss James, and title pages, elegantly illuminated,
were furnished by the artistic skill of Gen. A. Hun
Berry, Miss L. P. Merritt and others. Each cathe-
dral has a title page, with the coat of arras of the See,
the autograph of the Bishop, ground plan of the cathe-
dral, etc., thus producing a work unique in design
and execution.
Through the bequest of Charles A. Read, a citizen
of Newton, the library has received yearly, since
1884, about $400, which income is known as the
" Read Fund," and is used for the addition of books
of a general nature. A fourth fund was given to the
library in 1887, through the liberality of John S. Far-
low, president of the Board of Trustees. He has
contributed $5000, the income of which is to be
spent for books for the Reference Library, and the
fund to be called the " Farlow Reference Department
Fund."
In 1881 the Jersey Stock Club, of Newton, pre-
sented to the library a full-length portrait of Hon. J.
Wiley Edmands, which was hung in Edmands Hall.
The nest year the same club made a second gift of a
full-length portrait of George H. Jones, following it
in 1890 by the presentation of the portrait of John S.
Farlow ; thus the library now has portraits of its three
presidents, who have all proved themselves such
warm friends and liberal benefactors of the institu-
tion.
In 1886 the City Council made an appropriation
for a much-needed enlargement of the library build-
ing, so that its capacity is now more than double
that of the original building. An excellent reference
department is furnished, a spacious, well-lighted book-
room, an admirably designed librarian's room, also a
room specially intended for teachers from our public
schools and their classes, and on the lower story a
commodious room for a magazine and periodical
reading-room, with a room exclusively for public
documents. About $25,000 was required for the
additions. The library was closed for three months
in the spring of 1887 while the work was being
completed, and re-opentd after the exercises of re-
dedication, on the evening of June 17th. With the
re-opecing the library suffered a loss in the with-
drawal of its librarian. Miss James, who had held
her position from the establishment of the institution,
seventeen years previous, and who was thoroughly
identified with it and its progress. She had been a
moving spirit in all the improvements inaugurated,
and largely to her practical judgment is due the
present attractive and convenient building. The
library has always been very fortunate in having
among its officials men ready to devote both money
and time to its service. Its superintendents, George
W. Bacon, Frederick Jackson, Bradford K. Peirce,
D.D., Warren P. Tyler, and John C. Kennedy, have
been deeply interested in its advancement, and spent
many hours and much labor and thought over its
affairs.
The library shows a steady growth from the begin-
ning in size as well as in usefulness to the commun-
ity. About half the number of volumes circulated
are delivered at the library itself, and the remainder
are distributed through nine agencies in other parts
of the city. As early as 1874, while the institution
was supported by private subscriptions, the practice
was begun of sending the books to the other villages
once a week at first, and oftener as soon as practica-
ble, until now, 1890, seven w.irds receive daily a bas-
ket of books, and two others once and twice a week
respectively. The librarian, in 1 885, feeling how
important is a close connection of the library and
the schools, began extending especial privileges to the
teachers of the public schools. Since that time
teachers have been allowed ten books at a time
for the use of their classes, and have availed them-
selves very generally of the opportunity. Works
on history, geography, natural science and constitu-
tional history have been most in demand, and the
teachers are almost unanimous in affirming that the
books have been of inexpressible value to them.
They are usually sent to the schools by the express-
man who carriea-the books to the agencies. During
the year 1889, 4496 volumes were distributed to the
schools.
The city government makes an annual appropria-
tion for the support cf the library of upward.s of
810,000.00. The Board of -Management for 1890 con-
sists of John S. Farlow, Julius L. Clarke, Wm. Claf-
lin, A. Lawrence Edmands, Edwin B. Haskell, mem-
NEWTON.
85
ber^i at large ; E. S. Hamblen, from the Board of
Aldermen ; and Edward L. Collins, from the Com-
mon Council; John C. Kennedy, superintendent;
Elizabeth P. Thurston, librarian.
The library now contains 30,700 volumes, and the
circulation during the paat year was 105,230 books.
Newton CE>fTRE Library Association. — The
Newton Centre Library Aswciation was founded in
1S59 by "sundry individuals who subscribed out of
regard for the public good," Hon. James F. C. Hyde
being the chief mover in its establishment. The
value of the shares was ten dollars each. Auy persou,
by paying one dollar and a half per annum or twenty-
five cents per month, wa-i admitted to the use of the li-
brary, which was open one a'ternooneach week. The
officers for 1S60 were J. Wiley Edmands. president;
R. W. Turner, vice-president ; Chas. L. Fowle, secre-
tary ; Jiis. F. C. Hyde, treasurer; David H. Mason,
Leverett Saltonslall, Alvah Hovey, Wm. C.aflin and
Jas. F. C. Hyde, directors. In 1S73 the association, by
vote of the proprietors, merged its library in the
Newton Free Library and presented to it its valuable
collection of books, numbering from fourteen to fif-
teen hundred volumes.
The North Village Library Association. —
The North Village Library Association was instituted
January, 186G, in order " to cultivate belter general
intelligence and aiTord suitable facilities for perusing
valuable books and wisely employing valuable time."
The management was in the hands.of eleven officers.
The shares were fixed at fifty cents each, and members
were lequired to pay a monthly fee of ten cents each.
The library was open two evenings in each week, and
nearly four hundred volumes were gathered.
Newton Lower Falls Free Library. — The
Newton Lower Falls Free Library was established in
1SG9. Rev. R. F. Putnam, rector of St. Mary's
Church, first proposed the formation of a parish li-
brary, but bis suggestion met with so ready a response
that the plan was changed and a village library was
organized. Donations of books from private libraries
were received, supplemented by purchases from funds
contributed for the purpose, and the library was placed
in Mr. Pillsbury's apothecary shop under the charge
of Mr. W. W. Jackson as librarian. Mr. Wm. Wai-
lia acted as treasurer, and the management was vested
in a board of trustees, — Judge George White, and
Samuel G. Thaxter being the members in addition to
the gentlemen already named. It contained a very
good selection of works, and additions were made to
it from time to time, either from donations or pur-
chases from contributions. In IWl there were be-
tween thirteen and fourteen hundred volumes in the
catalogue. The library was largely used by the inhab-
itants of Wellesley, who contributed liberally to its
support. Its usefulness began to decline when the
Newton Free Library was established, and the system
adopted later of a free local delivery seemed to gender
its continuance unnecessary. At the desire of parties
in Wellesley the trustees agreed to its being removed
to that town. On the establishment of the Hunne-
well Library the books that had been contributed by
Newton parties were returned, and are now in the
possession of St. Mary's Pariah. Many of the stand-
ard works are valuable, and will be kept for public
use in the parish library of that society.
Note. — Id coonKtioD with the foregoing excelleut history of tha Libn-
ries of Newton it may Dot be uoprofitable to ouke note of some of the
steps takea by tbo eoterpriaiDg aod beoeTolcDt citizena of Newton from
time to time and which led up to the completion of the present beautiful
I Library Building. Meetings of citizens for mntuaJ improTcment were
held itt Newton Corner, and on October 20, 1859, a definite organization
was formed under the name of the Newton Debating Society. Among
the early members were K. W. Holnun, F. H. Forbea, H. R. Wetherill,
Wm. D. Thayer, Chas. Sturtevant, J. S. Watson, S. Chiam, H. D. Busett,
A. G. Brown, John Warner, Wm. Preston, A. B. Ely, Wm. Guild, David
K. Hitchcock, Rev. E. D. Moore, II. L. Vinton, F. W. Felton, H. M. Ha-
gar and others. The early meetings of the Society were held in Middle-
sex Hall, but when thiit hall was demolished the place of meeting wafl
changed to the private i-esidence of Hon. David K. Hitchcock, where for*
many yeatv the current questions of the day, both State and National,
were ably discussed. At a meeting held February 16, 1865, by a vote of
the Society its name was changed to The Neujton Literary Aaociation.
Dr. Hitchcock, who for eight years had been appointed one of thecom-
mittee on the exuminatton of the library of Harvartl UniTersity, became
much interested in the mutter of a Free Public Library for Newton, aod
frequently at the meetings of the Literary Association urged a consider-
' atiun uf the value of the free system where the public could have the ad*
{ vaniuges to be derived from such a valuable source, and at the meeting
I of March '2, (8ti5, he offered, as appears from the report of the secretary
i of the .\s8ociatioo, tbe following resolution : ** WHeEi£A8 the ancient and
highly favored town of Newton, with all its wealth and enterprise, and
' withitsrapidlyiucreasingpopntationlsnlike remarkable for intelligence,
public spirit and benevolence, and Whekkas the t>est interBSta and
■ claims of the people have in one important particular been overlooked,
'. therefore Uetohed, That the town should be furnished with a Free Pub-
I lie Library." March lu, 1865, a standing committeeon the subject of a
iFree Public Library for Newton was appointed, consisting of Dr. D. K.
Hilcbcock. Dr. Henry Blgelow, Geo. W. Bacon, ,Geo. 0. Lord, H. M.
Hugur and others, whose duty it was from time to time to bring up the
\ subject for considemtlon by the Association and to report progress. As
I by the members of the Association Dr. Hitchcock was considered the
Hither of the agitation of this subject, so also was he the one to take the
I tirst definite step towards its fulfillment as attests the following:
" Boston, March 21, 1865.
" This certifies that Hon. David K. Hitchcock has deposited with me
I the sum of one hundred dollars towards the endowment of a Free Public
Librat-y in Newton. The above sum, which id the Jirtt aubtcription to-
wanU the object named, is subject to call on demand by the treasurer on
completion of such organization as is necessary for the safety and ac-
complishment of the object above named.
" Signed H. D. Bassett, President of the Newton Litermxy Asaocia-
tioD.*'
This money was paid into tbe treasury of the Newton Free Public
Library, August 12, 1868.
The standing committee of the Association, at a meeting held Marrh
22, 1865, decided that the time had come to take steps to Interest the
gener.il public in the matter of a free library, and Dr. Hitchcock, Dr.
Bigelow and G. W. Bacon were chosen aj a committee to secure the co-
operation of certain gentlemen of standing and property, enlisting their
. support and ioflueuce in the enterprise. A public meeting was held
.\pril, 1865, at which Hon. D. K. Hitchcock was elected chairman and
presided, .\ddresses were made by the president, Goremor Bollock,
, Judge Russell and others. Much enthoaiasm prBvailed, and tha
matter of a free library was sotnequently taken in hand by the CiCizena
and carried forward to the desir. d consummation, "Tbe NewtoD Lite-
rary .Association," with its library, being merged in "The NewtOD
i Free Public Library."— EDlTOa.]
i
86
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTS'. MASSACHUSETTS.
CHAPTEE VI.
NEWTON— {Continued).
BANKING INTERESTS.
The Newton National Bank — The institution
which now bears the name of "The Newton National
Bank " or.'ginated as a State Bank, and was known
as the " Newton Bank." It was first projected in the
tall of 1847. At that time there was, with the ex-
ception of the bank at Brighton, no such institution
in this section of the county. The idea ofestabli>h-
ing a bank in Newton seeniB to have been first sug-
gested by Joseph N. Bacon, the president of the
bank to-day. Mr. Bacon was in 1S47 engaged in
erecting a business block at Newton Corner, and it
occurred to him that, in view of the activity in real
estate which was making its^elf evident in the village,
a bank would be found very useful to a large class of
citizens. This notion he communicated to his friend,
Hon. William Jackson, who, after some consideration,
became convinced that the scheme was feasible, and
together they concluded to carry out the project.
It was decided to try to raise a capital of $100,000.
A meeting of prominent landowners and investors
was shortly afterward, January, 1S4S, called at the
residence of Mr. Jackson. At this meeting there
were present, among others, Capt. .Samuel Hyde, Otis
Pettee, Capt. Joseph Bacon, Benjamin Dana, John
H. Richardson, Levi Thaxter, Marshall S. Rice,
Allen C. Curtis, Seth Davis, Amos Tenney, Joseph
N. Bacon and William Jackson. This meeting
adopted the plan suggested by Messrs. Jackson and
Bacon, and $32,000 of stock were subscribed on the
spot. This amount was within a short li-nne increased
to $42,000, but when this last point was reached the
subscription seemed to have come to a standstill. By
dint of personal solicitation, however, Mr. Bacon,
aided by Mr. Jackson, succeeded, after con^-iderable
difficulty, in pushing the tigures up to $87,000, some
of the original subscribers increasing their amounts
against their names now that 'he success of the
enterprise seemed assured.
Meanwhile, the subscribers had been considering
the questions of site, salaries, etc., and it had been
decided that a separate building isolated in a public j
square, if possible, would be most desirable for i
safety — for it must be remembered that this was be- ■
fore the day of time-locks — and the site which the i
bank has ever since occupied was selected as best |
fitted for a bank building. |
The necessary preliminary steps having now been i
taken, the subscribers organized as stockholders on i
June 21, 1848, meeting in the vestry of the Eliot '
Church. The charter was accepted at this meeting, ■
and the following Board of Directors was chosen: j
William Jackson, John H. Richardson, Joseph j
Bacon, Levi Thaxter, Andrew Cole, Allen C. Curtis,
Otis Pettee, Marshall S. Rice, Pliny B. Kingman,
Henry B. Williams and Edward Walcott. This Jjoard
of directors met at the same place on June 26th, and
elected William Jackson to be their president. They
also appointed committees to engage a cashier and to
make arrangements for a banking-house. A week
later they voted to erect a building on the present lo-
cation. The work of erection of the banking-house
was pushed along very rapidly during the summer, so
that October found the building ready for occupancy,
and on October 10, 184S, the bank opened for business,
and in its own house. Daniel Kingsley, formerly of
the Brighton Bank had been chosen cashier, and
arrangements were made for procuring clerical as-
sistance.
The bank proved a success from the start. Its cap-
ital, as has been said, was limited to §100,000, which
was finally subscribed in full and was all paid in by
November 2, 1848. The first report of the condition of
the bank was made at the directors' meeting of March
26, 1849, and showed net earnings of S4472. A divi-
dend of three and a half per cent, was accordingly
declared and $972 carried to the reserve fund.
It was in this year of 1849 that a somewhat singu-
lar incident occurred. Two sheets of bills disappeared
most unaccountably. In those days, as in these, the
bank-bills were signed by the jiresident and cashier,
and it was then not unusual for these officers to per-
form this formality at their homes in the evening.
Now it so happened that one night President Jackson,
after signing a bunch of bills, put ihem under his pil-
low for sale-keeping, but in the morning when he re-
turned the bills to the bank be overlooked two sheets
of them which he had lelt in his bed. The di^ap-
pearance of the bills was a deep mysiery to the bank
otficers until some days after, when, on Mr. Jackson's
inquiry, his servant-girl confessed to finding the bills
and appropriating them. One of the sheets was re-
covered and the other was charged to profit and loss.
The directors soon after this passed a vote that the
bills should at all times thereaiter be signed at the
bankitg-house.
The second dividend was four percent., and S2270
was carried to the reserve, and soon after the stock-
holders voted to petition the Legislature for an
increase of capital. This was in October of 1849,
and in April of the following year, an act of Legisla-
ture having been obtained, the directors voted an in-
crease of capital of $50,000. This amount was all
paid in by June 4, 1850.
Business continued good for many years. Between
1849 and 1859 the deposits gradually rose from
$12,000 to $47,000. The amount of paper discounted
also increased largely— from $193,000 in 1S49, to $284,-
000 in 1859. During these ten years the semi-annual
dividends were uniformly four percent., and the re-
serve was constantly growing.
In ibis period the pjesidency of the bank twice
changed hands. Wiiliam Jackson, who had been the
NEWTON.
87
first president, awl who had seen the bank attain suc-
cess under his careful management, ditd iu February,
1855, and Hon. Levi Tbaxter was chcisen to fill the
vacancy. Mr. Thaxter's failing health, however, did
not allow him to hold the office long, and in the fall
of 1857 he resigned, and Joseph N. Bacon, one of the
original projectors and founders of the bank, was
elected to the presidency, which position he has ever
since held. Mr. Bacon had been a director since
1850, and during Mr. Thaxter's illness had done a,
large .share of the president's work.
The number of directors had originally been
eleven, but this number was, in 1840, cut down to
nine, in 1852 to seven, in 1855 to six, and in 1857 to
five. But in 18G0 the number was re=tored to seven,
and has since remained there.
The Boston business of the bank had for several
years been done through the Suffolk Bank, which was
the depo.'itory of most of the New England banks.
But in 1S55 the Newton Bank joined in the general
secession of the country banks from the Suffolk, sub-
scribed $5000, and subsequently S2500 more, to the
capital of the new " Bank of Mutual Redemption,"
and in 1855 transferred its deposit to this new insti-
tution.
In this period of the bank's history came the tem-
porary suspension of specie payment, which affected
the whole country in 1857. Money had been tight
for some time and the suspension had been, to a cer-
tain extent, foreseen. On the morning of October
14th, of that year, Mr. Bacon, the prfsident, went to
Boston as usual to make the exchanges, and on ar-
riving there learned that the Boston banks were then
deiberating whether to suspend or not. Within an
hour he learned that su.;pcnsion had been decided
upon. Tills was before the days of the telegraph and
telephone, and the quickest way to get word out to
Newton w;i3 by railroad. There was no train to
Newton for an hour or more, so he took the horse-
car for Watertown, and arrived at the bank ten min-
utes before it cl: sed for the morning, and half an
hour before steam-cars were due. News of the sus-
pension or' s|>ecie payment by the Boston banks had
not yet reached Newton, so that there had been as
yet no unusual demand at the bank, but the news
was certain to arrive with the train from the city and
unless some action was taken before the re-opening
of the bank at two o'clock, it was sure to be stripped
of its specie during the alternoon. This being the
case, it became necessary to call immtdiately a meet-
ing of the directors. This was not an. easy thing to
do at that time of the day, when most business men
would he in the city; but alter some difficulty a
quorum of the Board of Directors was got together in
a special meeting, and just before the bank opened
for business in the afternoon it was voted to 'suspend
specie payment owing to similar action having been
taken by the city banks. Only one deposit had been
withdrawn that morning in anticipation of this sus-
pension, and within a few days, when it was seen
that it would be but temporary and confidence was
partially restored, this deposit w.is returned into the
bank by its owner. Following again the lead of the
Boston banks, the Newton Bank resumed specie pay-
ment December 17th of the f=ame year.
From 1859 until the breaking out of the Rebellion
the bank was still more prosperous. After paying a
semi-annual dividend of four per cent, for ten years,
a dividend of four and one-half per cent, was voted
in March of 1859, and this rate was kept up until
September, 18G1, when it fell off to three per cent, for
a time.
The presence of the Civil War is indicated in the
bank records only by temporarily reduced dividends,
and by the following vote, which was unanimously
passed by the directors on April 18, 1861: "In view
of the present national emergency, this bank tenders
to the Commonwealth a loan of $25,000," — a monu-
ment to the patriotism of the directors and their con-
fidence in the government. During the war, as has
been said, the dividends fell off. Four successive
semi-annual dividends of three per cent, were paid,
but were followed in the fall of 1863 by one of three
and one-half per cent, and in 1864 by dividends of
four per cent.
The National Bank Act of 1863 was not regarded
with very general favor by the stockholders, who voted
seventy to sixty-six, not to become a national bank
under its provisions. The act of 1864, however, met
with general acceptance, and in October of that year
the stockholders voted unanimously — ninety-nine
votes being cast — to authorize the directors to take
the necessary steps to become a national bank under
that act. The directors soon after this voted to organ-
ize as a national institution, the articles of association
as a national bank and the organization certificate
were duly signed, and in January, 1865, the cashier
was instructed to forward to the treasurer of the
United States a sufficient amount in United States
bonds to receive 8100,000 in national currency. The
" Newton Bank " ceased to exist as such at the close
of business March 31, 1865, and commenced business
as the " Newton National Bank" on the following
day.
The bank now entered upon a long period of great
prosperity. Just at the time of its conversion into a
national institution an extra dividend of eight per
cent, was declared, the balance available for division
having been nearly 827,000. This extraordinary div-
idend was followed by successive aemi-annual pay-
ments of five per cent., which continued, with but one
slight interruption, for eleven years, from 1865 to
1876. The only instance in this period when the
semiannual dividend fell below five per cent, was in
March, 1870, the capital having recently been increas-
ed from 8150,000 to $200,000. The dividend that
month dropped to four per cent., but the wisdom of
the increase of capital was soon made apparent by
88
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
additional business and a speedy return to five per
cent, dividends, on the enlarged capital.
The back was without the services of a regularly
appointed cashier during a part of 1874 and 1875.
Daniel Kingsley, who had faithfully and efficiently
performed the duties of that position during the twen-
ty-six years since the organization of the bank, was,
in 1874, so disabled by continued sickness that be was
obliged to give up work. ' In September of that year,
at the annual meeting, although still without the ser-
vices of a cashier, the directors did not elect any one
to take the position, hoping that Mr. Kingsley might
yet be able to return to work. This state of things
lasted until the spring of 1875, when B. Franklin
Bacon, who as messenger and later as assistant cash-
ier, had been connected with the bank from its be-
ginning was chosen to take the higher post made
vacant by the prolonged illness of Mr. Kingsley.
Mr. Bacon has held the position ever since and has
most acceptably filled the place of his predecessor.
The history of the bank from 1876 to the time of
writing, 1890, may be shortly stated. Owing to the
large increase in the number of banks, and the low
rate of interest obtainable, the dividends fell off, as
has been the case with all banks ; but with a better
rate for loans the earnings and dividends are once
more increasing satisfactorily. The bank has never in
its history "passed" a dividend. The semi-annual
payments have run as low as two per cent, and once as
low as one and one-half per cent., but they are now
three per cent, and the earnings are constantly in-
creasing. The salary expense account has never been
large. On the contrary, in comparison with the
amounts paid the officers of similar institutions in the
county, the salaries in the Newton Bank have been
small. When it began business the amount paid
yearly for salaries was $1500. This has been increased
as the business has grown and now amounts to $5300
per annum, this sum paying for the services of the
cashier, president, bookkeeper and messenger. The
banking building has been twice enlarged to meet the
needsof the bank and of the savings institution which
occupies a wing of the same building. The bank's
Boston correspondent is now the Maverick National
Bank.
The statement of the condition of the bank at the
close of business March 31, 1890, just prior to the
payment of the last semi-annual dividend of three
per cent., shows the deposits to be $237,291.23 ; dis-
counted notes, $376,094.96 ; surplus, $40,000 on capi-
tal of $200,000; circulation, .$45,000 ; dividend No.
50, $6000 ; and undivided profiU, $3164.19.
The Board of Directors is composed as follows :
Joseph N. Bacon, president ; George Hyde, B. Frank-
lin Bacon, Charles E. Billings, Francis Murdock, W.
Henry Brackett, John R. Farnum.
The First National Baxk of West Newton. —
The credit for the establishment of the First National
Bank of West Newton is due Mr. James H. Nicker-
son. For a number of years he had carried on at
West Newton a private bank under the name of " The
Exchange Banking Company." The success of this
private enterprise was so material, and its business
grew so rapidly, that he was led to believe that there
was an opening in Newton for another National Bank.
He broached the project to a number of the leading
residents of Newwn, and it was received with so much
favor, that he immediately took steps to carry out his
plan. The result of his efforts was, that on January
1, 1887, the "FirsD National Bank of We.n Newton"
opened its doors. The capital was $100,000, and Us
place of business was Nickerson Block, Washington
Street, West Newton.
The first Board of Directors w.ismade upas follows :
J. E. Bacon, A. L. Barbour, P. C. Bridgham, E. W.
Gate, F. E. Crockett, A. B. Mitchell, J. H. Nicker-
son, George Pettee, C. A. Potter.
The first president of the bank was Mr. James
H. Nickerson, and Mr. Austin E. Mitchell was the
first vice-president, Mr. M. L. Parker was the first
cashier. The same officers and Board of Directors
have been retained to the present time with two ex-
ceptions. Mr. J. E. Bacon, after a service of some-
thing more than a year, resigned from the Board of
Directors, .and Mr. B. F. Houghton w.as chosen to fill
his place. Mr. M. L. Parker also resigned his posi-
tion after a time, and Mr. E. P. Hatch now holds that
office.
The bank has been in operation for so short a
period of time, that there is little to say of it except
that it has been transacting a profitable and growing
business. The number of depositors has rapidly in-
creased ; the amount of the deposits at the present
time is about $200,000; and the increasing trans-
actions of the institution have fully justified the belief
of its projector, that the city of Newton was not only
large enough to maintain two National Banks, but that
the needsof the community required their existence.
The West Newton Savings Bank.— froon after
the opening of the First National Bank of West New-
ton, it became apparent to the directors of that insti-
tution that the establishment of a Savings Bank
would be of benefit to the community. Steps were
at once taken to secure one, and on ^Nlarch 10. 1887,
Austin R. Mitchell, J. Upham Smith, Fred. E. Crock-
ett, Edward W. Gate and Alfred L. Barbour were
incorporated as the West Newton Savings Bank, with
its place of business at West Newton. The bank
began business May 1, 1887, with the following list
of officers:
President, Austin R. Mitchell; treasurer, James
H. Nickerson; clerk, Alfred L. Barbour; trustees,
Austin R. .Mitchell, Beuj. F. Houghton, Dwight'
Chester, Edward L. Pickard, Prescott C. Bridgham,
Samuel Barnard, Fred. E. Crockett, Alfred L. Bar-
bour, Edward W. Gate, Adams K. Tolman, George
Pettee, Lyman K. Putney.
The officers of the bank still remain the same, ex-
NEWTON.
89
cepting that Messrs. Pettee and Putney have retired
from the Board of Trustees, and their places have been
filled by the election of Messrs. C. F. Eddy and F. E.
Hunter. The business of the bank has been uniformly
successful, the amount of the deposits has reached ihe
sum of $140,000, and its future growth is no longer
problematical, but is assured.
CHAPTER VII.
NEWTON— ( Continued).
INDUSTRIES AND MANUFACTURES.
BY OTIS PETTEE.
Of the early history of the industries and manu-
factures in the town of Newton, Massachusetts, pre-
vious to the War of the Revolution, or in the Colonial
period of the history of our nation, but little is known
beyond a few traditions and an occasional record, or
from recollections handed down from generation to
generation. Nearly every farm-house had its hand-
cards and spinning-wheels, and. foot-power looms for
providing clothing for the families from wool or flax ;
and in the long winter evenings the ordinary duties
of farm life would be laid aside, and a miniature fac-
tory put iu operation by the good housewives and
daughters, before the blazing fires of winter upon the
hearth, to spin and to knit or weave the fabrics for
the next season's wear ; while the sires and the sons
would be engaged at the bench, in their little work-
shops, making and repairing their farming tools for
spring time and summer's work; or very likely some
of them were employed in making boots and shoes or
other articles required to make the household comfort-
able.
The increase in the population of the Colonies
brought with it a corresponding increase iu the labor
of producing supplies to meet the demands. The en-
ergies of the early settlers were of necessity put forth
to provide shelter, food and raiment for themselves,
and a comfortable protection for their cattle and im-
plements of husbandry. While the many were en-
gaged in agricultural pursuits, a few who were
endowed with mechanical ingenuity and inventive
powers turned their attention towards better and more
rapid and convenient facilities for simplifying the
means of production. Power saw-mills were built to
take the place of the old hand-pit saw and hewer's
axe. Grist-mills displaced the mortar and pestle for
grinding corn. Large factory buildings fitted with
power machinery sprang up here and there, for the
spinning and weaving of cotton and woolen fabrics,
thus assigning the spinning-wheel with spindle and
distaff to some quiet nook in the farmer's garret,
nevermore to be disturbed by the nimble and cunning
hands that used them.
In rambling over the town of Newton, and visiting
the old historic spots, we find sufficient evidence to
warrant the assertion that Newton can well and truly
be placed in the front ranks of progress in manufac-
turing industries, although but little was done during
the Colonial period, beyond the erection of a few saw
and grist-mills and forges.
The ruins of an old grist-mill a little to the north
of the territorial centre of Newton, and quite near the
junction of Walnut and Mill Streets (formerly known
aa Mill Lane), indicates very nearly the spot where the
first power-mill stood. This mill was built on Smelt
Brook by Lieutenant John Spring, in 1664, for grind-
ing corn and other grains. Mr. Spring waa an Eng-
lishman by birth, and very early in life came to this
country with his parents, who settled in Watertown,
where he is supposed to have resided until he removed
to Newton about the time he built the mill. He waa
an energetic man of more than ordinary ability. In
addition to his occupation as a miller, he served the
town as selectman, representative in the General Court
a number of years, and sealer of weights and measures ;
and in various other ways made himself a valuable
and honored citizen of the town of his adoption.
The precise length of time that Mr. Spring operated
his mill solely on his own account is uncertain.
There is a record previous to 1690 of the transfer of
the property to John Spring, Jr., John Ward, Jr.,
Thomas Park and Captain Isaac Williams, each a
quarter part. In the settlement of the Thomas Park
estate in 1694, his part was set off to his son Edward.
In the division of Captain Williams' estate in 1708
his son Isaac received his share, who sold it to his
brother Ephraim in 1722. John Ward, Jr., by will
in 1727 gave his portion to his daughter's husband,
Deacon William Trowbridge, who by will in 1744
gave it to his son, Thaddeus Trowbridge. In 1777 the
property passed into the hands of Captain E Iward
Trowbridge. It is impossible to obtain the names of
all parties engaged in the mill. A Mr. Brigham and
his son George ran the mill in the early part of the
present century. Their successors were Mr. John
Bullough, Messrs. White & Bullough, Mr. John Jen-
nings, Mr. Brackett Lord and probably others. This
mill being the largest one in town, and centrally
located, had a large share of the patronage. It con-
tained two sets of mill-stones, a corn-cracker, and
other apparatus for doing a large business.
The scarcity of water in the mill-pond in dry sea-
sons prompted the owners of the mills to negotiate
with the land-owners abutting upon the northerly side
of Wiswall's Pond (now Crystal Lake), a short distance
southerly and upon a higher level than the mill
pond, to open a small canal fr-om that pond to the
mill-pond brook, as a feeder to supply the deficiency.
This incroacbment upon their rights caused the
owners upon the other side of the Wiswall Pond to
rebel, and after a few years the feeder was discontin-
ued and filled up again.
90
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Mr. Bullough had an extensive trade from the
home market. Mr. Lord was an operator in Western
graics, and shipped large quantities to the Eastern
market, to sell in bulk, or to grind for retail trade at
the milL Verv soon after the death of Mr. Lord, in
1872, the mill was closed, and finally destroyed by
fire, July 5, 1886.
In the Reverend Dr. Jonathan Homer's "History of
Newton," published in 1798, we find the following ac-
count of a brewery then in operation in the town ; and
it is the only record of it that can be found. He
says: "A very capacious brick building has lately
been erected by General William Hull, for brewing
ale and strong beer, and ia occupied by an eminent
English brewer. It is one of the most favorable situ-
ations within the State for a brewery, as it is supplied
with the purest spring water proceeding through tubes
from living springs of superior quality, and from its I
situation upon the Charles river, it furnishes an easy
and cheap conveyance of iis manufactures to the
capital." The brewery was partly in the ravine
northeast from the Nonantum House, and near the
Brighton line.
Hammond's Pond, in the easterly part of Newton,
is the most elevated sheet of water in the town. It
h.as an area of about twenty acres, and is one hundred
and sixty fe^t above tide water. Palmer Brook, some- |
times called Pond Brcok, the principal outlet to this
lakelet, flows in a southeasterly direction tiirough a ;
large tract of flat, swampy land localized as Trouble- |
some Swamp. Great Bald-pate Meadow, Little Bald-
pate Meadow and Stake Meadow (which derived its j
name from a stake or wooden post driven there to de- '
fine an angle formed by boundary lines between New-
ton and Brookline.) From thence the brook winds
its way on to the Charles River. In the seasons of '
high water there is an overflow from Hammond's
Pond westward to Smelt Brook, near the grist-mill of
Mr. John Spring. Bald-pate and Oak Hills border |
the mead.)w on the south, and were once covered with |
a heavy growth of timber; in fact, the whole region
thereabouts was a dense forest. The growing demand ;
for manufactured lumber brought this wealth of tim-
ber lands into the market, and in the year 16S3 Mr.
Erosmond Drew, an energetic young man of Irish
parentage, purchased a large tract of land near the
foot of Bald-pate Hill, lying partiy in the town of
Brookline, and partly in Newton, and built a saw- i
mill and water-power just about on the boundary
line between the two towns. His mill pond over- '■
flowed a coasiderable portion of the meadow lands in i
that vicinity. There are no records or traditions that 1
impart any knowledge of the amount of business done ;
by Mr. Drew, but he undoubteJly had a ready mar-
ket for all the lumber that he could furnish. '
In the year 1720 Mr. Drew conveyed his mills to ;
Nathaniel Parker, who continued the business already I
so well established by his predecessor. In addition |
to ihe timber cut upon their own lands, there can be I
no doubt hut that the settlers for milfs .nround carried
their Iol's to this mill for sawing into dimension lum-
ber tor various uses ; and until within the las- rtlty years
the old mill was in a running condition and last oper-
ated by Mr. David Wardwell. There are still sufEcient
ruins remaining to mark the ''pot where the old
Erosmond Drew saw-mill was built.
A little more than a mile distant, across the divide
f.'om Drew's mill in a southwesterly direction, the
ruins of an old dam across South Meadow Brook still
remain. The object for which it was constructed is
somewhat of a mystery. There is a tradition tliat
this (lam was built lor the sole purpose of flowing the
Great Meadows, to kill the alders and other shrubbery
in that low ground ; but it hardly seems possiblf that
such massive retaining walls, with earth-work and
flumes, would iiave been built, unless there was some
object to be accomplished other than the extermi-
nation of the undergrowth of a forest, particularly
when therecould be no appreciable value to the land
when cleared. As early as 172i this tract of land
was ownt-d by Mr. David Richardson, a blacksmith
by trade, and having afo'ge upou his premise*. It is
possible that he built the dam toobtain wator-power
to drive a haminer-mill, or bloomery in connection
with his forge, but history fails to inpart any positive
information in that direction. There is, however,
traditionary evidence of there once being a saw-mill
upon that spot.
A mile ar.d a half farther on our trail brings us to
the Charles River — the Quinobequiii of the Indians
— at the Upper Falls ; and as we stand upon the brink
of the falls, and view the narrow gorge between the
blufls of rugged rocks that tower above us on either
side, between which the river tunnbles and rolls on its
way to the ocean, and contemplate the primitive
grandeur of this, — one of the most charming and
picturesque spots ill Eastern JIassacluisetts, — we can-
not wonder that the Indians selected these blufl's a* a
place of rendezvous. It was here they built an eel-
wier of large stone-t across the channel to entrap the
lish as they came down the stream. It was here, too
they built a stone ho.ise, with thatched roof, for the
double purpose of a shelter, and a place for preparing
their game and fish upou the bare rocks around them.
This place evidently was the ideal of the Indians, for
when they sold their rights in the land to the white
men, they reserved this spot for the sole use of their
race, together with the rock house, and game-drying
grounds, absolute and forever. The natural fall in
the river at Upper Falls is about twenty-six feet, and
is divided into two sections of fifteen and eleven feet
respectively, by dams about a hundred rods apart.
In the year 1688, Mr. John Clark, of Watertown,
purchased a large tract of land bordering upon the
Charles River at the Upper Falls, in Newton. His
purchase included the water-power of the river, and
the right to build mills there; and before the end of
the year he built the upper dam across the river, and
NEWTON.
91
erected a saw-mill, — thus inaugurating one of the
principal manufacturing industries of the town. He
died in 1(J95, and by will gave his mill, wi'.h eight
acres of land adjoining, to his two sons, John and
William Clark. In May, 1708, John Clark 2d con-
veyed one-quarter part of the saw-mill and water
privilege, with half an acre of land to Mr. Nathaniel
Parker, for twelve pounds sterling. A short time
afterwards Mr. William Clark conveyed a quarter
part of the mill to Nathaniel Longley. These
sales made Messrs. John Clark, William Clark,
Nathaniel Parker and Nathaniel Longley equal
owners in the mill property. The new com-
pany increased their business by enlarging the
mill building, and adding a grist-mill and fulling-
mill. A fulling mill isamechanical device to thicken
or shrink woolen cloths by the use of fuller's earth
and water and by the same operation any oiiy sub-
stances that may be in the wool are extracted. The
goods to be fulled are laid in a trough partially filled
with water, and fuller's earth, and pounded by a
system of pounders or beetles arranged perpendicu-
larly over the trough, whirh are lifted and dropped
alternately by means of a series of revolving cans
placed in a horizontal shaft, in a manner that will
allow the beetles to drop upon the cloth as it lies sub-
merged in the water. Fuller's earth is a variety of
litliomarge, which is a valuable absorbent fore.xtract-
ing oils used in the manufacture of wool. It is com-
posed of aluminum, sile.T, oxide of iron, magnesia
and other chemicals, which impart to it a diversity of
color; and it is rapidly dissolved in water to a very
fine powder.
Between the years 1717 and 1725 the several
owners of the mill property conveyed their entire in-
terest to Mr. Noah Parker, son of Nathaniel Parker.
And in 1725 Mr. Noah Parker sold his fulling-mill,
with one-quarter of an acre of land, for one hundred
and twemy pounds in bills, to Mr. Samuel Stowell, of
Watertown, upon the condition that Mr. Stowell, his
heirs or assigns, were never to build any other than a
fnlling-mill upon this land: and that Jlr. Parker or
his heirs or assigns were never to build a fulling-mill
on the adjoining lot, under a forfeiture of one hun-
dred pounds, for violation of contract.
There is no record of any change being made,
either in the mills or the ownership, until the time of
the death of Mr. Noah Parker, in 1768. Of these gen-
tlemen but very little is known beyond theii business
abilities. The Middlesex Court records inform us
that Mr. Joseph Bartlett sued Mr. John Clark for
pulling down a frame house, and received judgment
against him in the sum of one pound and fourteen
shilling-! sterling. Mr. Nathaniel Parker served the
town as selectman in 1716. Mr. Nathaniel Longley,
perhaps, was more identified with the public weal
than any of the others. He was a member of the
School Committee in 1721. a selectman in 1725 and
also a member of a coramitt<>e appointed by the town
to assign the seats and pews in the meeting-house to
the parishioners, according to their rank or station in
society.
In the year 1768, Mr. Thomas Parker, eldest son of
Noah Parker, was appointed by the Probate Court as
administrator of his father's estate. In 1771, Thomas
Parker conveyed to Jonathan Bixby, a blacksmith by
trade, one-quarter of an acre of land, with water
privilege and right to build a scythe-mill, and operate
a power trip-hammer and bellows for the same. The
same year Mr. Bixby granted to Mr. Parker the free
liberty of erecting fulling-mills upon his own land
adjoining the mill-pond, with a free use of the stream ;
also a right of way past the scythe factory to get to
his mills.
Mr. Thomas Parker was a leading and honored cit-
izen of the town, an influential member of the Board
of Selectmen for three years, and occupied a seat as
Representative in the Great and General Court of the
Commonwealth for six years. He was an active mem-
ber of the Baptist Church, and made himself gener-
ally useful in the society in which he dwelt.
In the autumn of 1778, General Simon Elliot, a
wealthy merchant and tobacconist of Boston, pur-
chased a portion of the factory property belonging to
Mr. Thomas Parker, for 300 pounds, lawful money,
and built a snuff-mill. Four years later, in 1782, Mr.
Elliot bought the balance of the Parker mills prop-
erty, including water privilege and all other rights
thereto belonging, for the sum of 1400 pounds, law-
ful silver money, and enlarged his facilities for man-
ufacturing snufF to four mill buildings, containing
twenty mortars for crushing the tobacco leaf. Mr.
Elliot took up his residence in Newton, and lived in
the Noah Parker house. He purchased large tracts
of land upon both sides of the Charles River, and
built a farm-house, barus, cider-mill and other build-
ings requisite to carry on the farming business. The
snuff-milis gave employment to quite a number of
workmen, under the supervision of Mr. John Clough,
of German nativity, — a professional snuff-maker.
Under the United States excise laws, enacted in
1798, Mr. Elliot was assessed and paid a direct tax to
the government on lands and mill property valued at
§8730. He also held by appointment a major-gener-
al's commission in the State militia. It is said that
in the year 1800 but three family carriages were
owned in Newton, and one of them belonged to Gen-
eral Elliot.
In January, 1809, Mr. Jonathan Bixby, for a con-
sideration of ninety dollars, paid by General Simon
Elliot, conveyed to him three undivided ninth parts of
his privilege to turn one or more grindstones by water-
power at the iron-mill, a few rods below the snnff-
mill property.
The early part of the present century witnessed a.
marked change in the textile manufacturing interests
of the country. The work, already so well commenced
in previous years, was rapidly extended by building
92
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
larger factories, and filling them with improved ma-
chinery for spinning and weaving cotton and wool
fabrics. The War of 1812 created a temporary reac-
tion in most mechanical pursuits, but at the close of
hostilities, every branch of industry was again pros-
perous.
In November, 1814, General Elliot sold his entire
mill property at the Upper Falls, consisting of four
snuff-mills, one-grist-mill, one wire-mill, a screw-fac-
tory, blacksmith-shop, annealing-house — with all of
his rights in the water-power of the Charles River,
together with fifty-seven acres of land, tenement-
houses and farm buildings, and all privileges thereto
belonging — to Messrs. James & Thomas H. Perkins,
merchants of Boston, for the round sum of twenty
thousand dollars. The object of their purchase was
to build immediately a first-class cotton-factory of six
thousand spindle capacity, for making sheetings.
But before these gentlemen had matured their plan
of operations the United States Congress enacted
tariff laws adverse to the interest of home manufac-
turers, and by so doing opened the market to foreign
competitors, and the overwhelming influx of goods
from abroad brought wi;h ir, a corresponding stagna-
tion of business at home ; and the Messrs. Perkins
postponed their factory enterprise until a better mar-
ket could be secured. At the end of seven years
there was a healthy improvement in the market, and
work was once more resumed upon the manufactory.
For the purpose of increasing their capital and busi-
ness, they obtained an act of incorporation from the
General Court in the spring of 1823, under the cor-
porate name of the Elliot Manufacturing Company —
for the purpose of manufacturing cotton-goods at
Newton, in the county of Middlesex — with a capital
not exceeding three hundred and thirty thousand
dollars. The new company organized by electing
Mr. Thomas H. Perkins, president ; George H. Kuhn,
Esq., of Boston, as treasurer; and Mr. Frederick
Cabot, as resident agent. The directors employed
Mr. Otis Pettee to superintend the mechanical de-
partment of their factory. Mr. Pettee was a native
of the town of Foxboro', Massachusetts, and a son of
Mr. Simon Pettee. Very early in life he exhibited a
remarkable interest in mechanical works, and even in
infancy this development was apparent. His father
— a man of superior judgment and ability, and en-
dowed with great inventive powers — was a blacksmith
by trade, and carried on an extensive bu-iness in Fox-
boro'. During the War of 1812 he was employed by i
the United States Government to manufacture imple- i
ments of warfare. His son Otis, then a youth of six- I
teen or seventeen summers, was particularly inter-
ested in the various designs and mechanisms of the
articles to be made, and rendered valuable assistance |
to his father in the work-shops. His education was
limited to the advantages of the ordinary district :
schools of his town, arithmetic being his favorite
study. While he took a great interest in mechiinical
works generally, he made a special study of textile
machinery and manufactures, and qualified himself
for almost any position in a cotton factory. Mr. Pet-
tee had served several brief engagements elsewhere,
and owned a small thread-factory in his native town
before he engaged with the Elliot Company, in 1823.
The limited facilities for procuring machinery from
shops already established caused considerable delay
in the completion of their factory ; so the company
decided that they would put up a large machine-shop,
and build a portion of the machinery them^selves ;
and with the addition of a brass foundry, they were
enabled to make castings for the more delicate parts.
Early in the season of 1824 the hum of the spindle
and the clashing of the loom testified to the outside
world that they were in full operation, making thirty-
six inch wide sheeting. We copy from a label placed
upon the cloth as it is baled for market : " The whole
process of manufacturing these goods is performed by
water-power machinery, which makes them more
even and uniform than can be done by hand, and
every piece warranted perfect." From twenty to
twenty-five yards of cloth a day per loom was a fair
production, for machinery sixty years ago was not
run upon the high pressure principle of the present
day ; and when we compare the time required for a
day's work then, with the hours of labor now, we can
truly say that the machinery of other days ran at a
very moderate speed.
In order that the reader may make a comparison
between old rules governing a day's work and the
rules laid down at the present time, we will give a
copy of an old poster that occupied a conspicuous
place in each department of a well-regulated manu-
factory, viz.: "Machinery will be put in motion at
five o'clock in the morning, from March twentieth to
September twentieth, and ail workmen or operatives
are required to be in their places ready to commence
work at that hour. A half-hour is allowed (or break-
fast— from half-past six to seven. At twelve o'clock
three-quariers of an hour is allowed for dinner, and
at seven o'clock In the evening the day's labor will
end. From September twentieth, during the winter
months, to March twentieth, breakfast will be taken
before commencing work, and the wheels will be
started at early daylight in a clear morning; cloudy
or dark moruiugs artificial light will be used ; the
dinner hour the s-ame as in the summer ; the afternoon
run will continue until half-past seven in the even-
ing, with the exception that Saturday's work will end
with the daylight." These rules were not limited to
any particular class of industries, but were general
throughout the land.
Lightibg up day in September would be ushered in
with a kind of gloomy, funereal aspect by the work-
men. While, on the other hand, blowing-out time
in March would be greeted with much joy and a deal
of good humor. Frequently the old jacket-lamps
would be seut hurling through the workshops' by
NEWTON.
93
some over-jubilant workmen, while others might be
seen going out of an open window or under a bench,
and the day's jubilee end with a grand " blow-out"
ball in the old tavern hall or some other convenient
place, and be kept up until the wee sma' hours of the
morn.
After awhile the questiou of reduction of service
was agitated, and workmen asked that twelve hours
be considered as a day's work, and in process of time
the request was granted, only to be followed by agi-
tating the eleven-hour system. At the end of a more
protracted consideration by the employers this request
was granted, with the proviso that there should be no
more agitation of the hours-of-labor qneation. It re-
quired but a comparatively short time, however, to
lose sight of all compromises, and the question came
up anew, and more vigorous than before, demanding
that ten hours must be recognized as the maximum
time for a day's work. The arguments advanced
were that the laboring classes needed more time for
reading and study to improve their minds. At length
the ten-hour rule was adopted, and all was quiel again.
But now the working people are as anxious and earn-
est to bring about an eight-hour system, and even
more so than were the agitators of a twelve-hour sys-
tem fifty years ago. This is simply a matter of his-
tory, and is incorporated here without comment or
criticism.
Previous to 1840 the best mechanics or skilled
workmen would command a dollar and a half per
day, and others a less price, according to their
rank as workmen ; apprentices usually a half-dollar
per day for the first year, seventy-five cents per day
for the second year, and a dollar per day for the
third year; and when we consider the number of
hours required for a day's work then, as compared
with the present time (1890), it will be looked upon
as a very moderate compensation. In many ways
the cost of living was less ; good board and lodging
at regular lodging-houses could be had at two dollars
per week for men, and for boys, at a dollar and a half
per week. The aim of very many of the family men
was to procure a small lot of land and build them-
selves a comfortable little home, and cultivate a small
garden-patch for table use in its season; and in many
other ways a family could save a trifle here and there,
and have a few dollars left from their yearly earnings
to lay aside for support in their old age.
About the year 1824 there was a great demand for
thread. The Elliot Company had completed their Mill
No. 1, and were putting in foundations for Mill
No. 2. The growing pressure for thread induced
them to fill the new factory with thread machinery.
Mr. Pettee had previously made thread in a small
factory of his own at Foxboro', and was thor-
oughly familiar with the details of the business. The
labor of building the requisite machinery was pressed
forward to the utmost to complete the mill, and the
next year the thread factory was doing a thriving
business, the company finding a ready market for all
the thread they could make. Other manufacturing
companies started the thread business simultaneously
with the Elliot Company, and in accordance with
true Yankee enterprise, it took but a very few years
to overstock the market and fill up the shelves and
store-houses with large stacks of thread. Meantime,
the market for sheetings, that had been dull for a con-
siderable time past, rapidly increased and prices ad-
vanced. The Elliot Company were divided as to the
best course to pursue, but at length concluded there
never would be any further demand for thread, and
their success in manufacturing was in the loom, rather
than in the thread-twister. Mr. Pettee was di.^posed
to look farther into the futtire than the stockholders of
the company and advised them not to disturb their
thread-mill, for there surely would be a greater call for
thread in the near future than there had ever been
before. The company, however, were very decided
in their conclusions to discontinue the thread busi-
ness, and gave orders to take out the machinery and
replace it with looms. This change of machinery
consumed nearly a year's time, and when it was just
about half completed there was a loud call for thread
again. Ware-houses were cleared and shelves made
vacant, and thread-makers urged to a greater produc-
tion. It was now that the Elliot Company waked up
to a realization of their mistake in not listening to
the advice of their mechanical men ; but it was too
late, and their only alternative was to complete the
alterations already so far advanced; and by the time
they were ready to weave in Mill No. 2 the market
was dull for sheetings.
After the Elliot Company had completed the ma-
chinery for their own use they were prepared to build
for other parties; in fact, they already had filled a few
small orders from neighboring factories at Dedham,
Waltham and other places. About this time the
Jackson Company were building a large factory in
Nashua, New Hampshire, and entered into negotia-
tions with the Elliot Company for machinery. On
account of the magnitude of the job and the limited
time allowed to complete the work, the directors hesi-
tated in deciding whether to undertake to do it or not.
Mr. Pettee was sanguine as to their ability to fill the
contract in a satisfactory manner and within the speci-
fied time; still the directors hesitated. Meantime Mr.
Pettee canvassed the country for material and work-
men, and found that there would be no delay in that
direction, urged the company still more earnestly to
undertake the work, which they at last reluctantly
decided to do. Unfortunately for the company there
had been a little friction in the management, which
still existed to a moderate extent. There is no doubt
but that this element had many times been a barrier
to more prompt actions in the board ; and when we
consider the contingencies attending such an under-
taking, at a time when the facilities for accomplish-
ing it were anything but reliable, we may not be but-
94
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
prised at the delay ia deciding the beat thin? to be
done. Now that the question was settled, the next
step to be taken was to procure the requisite material
for the job — which was no small task. Previous to
this time a very large percentage of cotton and woolen
manufacture had been done in the State of Rhode Is-
land and in the Massachusetts towns bordering upon
that State. This very naturally made the city of
Providence the mercantile centre of the business, and
the market to be depended upon for that line of goods,
although Boston and Salem sustained a fair market
for manufacturers' supplies.
The slow process of travel and transportation was
another item for consideration. No railroads for
rapid transit, no telegraph to transmit orders, no tele-
phones to communicate with parties at a distance ;
mail-coaches were slow, driving one's horse was
tedious, and heavy cartage by ox-teams with snail-
like pace was exceedingly trying to the patience of
any progressive parties. Nearly three mouths of the
time had already elapsed, with very little apparent
progress in the work, while the real advance was
almost marvelous. Drawings and designs had been
perfected and patterns made ; and in the foundries
for castings at Wulpole, Foxborough and Easton,
lumber, bar-iron and other commodities ordered from
Providence aud elsewhere, and in transitu. Such was
the condition of things when the company became
alarmed at the prospect before them, and called a
special meeting to take council together as to the best
course to pursue. The same element that retarded
action at the commencement was still more decided
that work could not be done, and so a vote was
passed to cancel their obligations with the Jackson
Company. Mr. Pettee laid the whole matter before
them, insisting that the work was really progressing
rapidly, and could be accomplished — but to no avail.
And for the time being, he took the responsibility
upon himself and carried it through to completion,
satisfactorily to the Jackson Company, as the follow-
ing inscription upon a silver service presented to him
by them will testify : " Presented to Otis Pettee by
the Jackson Company, in token of their approbation
of the machinery he built for their mills in the year
1831."
There had been for a long time a growing necessity
among cotton manufacturers fur improvements in
speeders, or roving machinery. Mr. Pettee turned his
whole attention to the end that this long-needed im-
provement should be brought about, and it at length
led him to the discovery of a process of making rov-
ing, or roping, as it is called, upon thoroughly scien-
tific principles, which were based upon mathematical
calculations. This process required a machine in
which any desirable change in the velocity of some
of its parts could be automatically produced without
changing the velocity of other parts of the same
machine. To illustrate : the top rollers of a roving
frame will deliver to the flyer a given number of
yards of roving in a given time, and by a tube in the
bow of the flyer, it is conveyed to an aperture mid-
way between the top and bottom of the same, where
it passes out and is wound upon a spool. The twist
in the roving is regulated by the velocity of the flyer.
So far in the proce3< of making roving, the motions
are arbitrary aud of uniform speed. The spool upon
which the roving is wound traverses up and down
alternately within the bows of the flyers to receive
the roving as it passes our, from the aperture
already mentioned. This traverse motion of a spool
upon a spindle is slow and variable. The rotating
velocity of the spool when empty must be adjusted
so as to wind the roving upon it in precisely the same
time it is delivered to it from the flyer; otherwise it
would stretch or kink, or pull apart, as the c.ise may
be. The traverse motion must always be arranged to
lay the delicate roving side by side. Now, us the
diameter of the spool is increased by the layers of
roving coiled upon it, the velocity of the spool must
be decreased in proportion to the increasing diameter
in order that the surface, whatever the diameter may
be, shall always retain a uniform speed ; while, at the
same time, the speed of the traverse motiou must
correspondingly decrease. To produce all of these
combinations and variations by a gear, cone or
double speeder, with gears in hyperbolic series, was a
mathematical problem that taxed the inventor's brain
to the utmoat for mure than three years to solve ; and
when it was perfected and put into practical use it
proved to be the crowning etibrt of his life, and was
pronounced by one of the most celebrated practical
philosophers and engineers of this country to be
absolutely perfect; and he added that its principles
are eternal, and can never be improved upon so long
as the world stands.
The old method of producing similar results with
treacherous leather belts moving upon conic.'il
drums, was superseded in this invention by inflexible
metallic gear-work, and with the mathematical pre-
cision thus only attainable, all the relative move-
ments, with all the changes in series by variables, de-
pendent upon other changes in series by variables,
necessary to spin aud coil on spools the delicate rov-
ings, of whatever fineness.
The first one of Mr. Pettee's letters patent for his
speeder bore the date of March 15, 1825, as for " a
new and useful improvement for producing any re-
quired change in the velocity of machinery while in
motion, etc." Other improvements were covered by
patents granted a few years later. This improved
double-speeder went into general use by nearly all
cotton manufacturers — in fact, it was about the only
one used for the next twenty-five years following its
invention.
Before the end of the year 1831 3Ir. Pettee left the
employ of the Elliot Company, and started the cotton
machinery business on his own account. He built
extensive works, about a half-mile distant, in a south-
NEWTON.
95
easterly direction from the Elliot fiictory. Atthesarae
time the Elliot Company discontinued the machine
busintss, and gave their undivided attention to cotton
manufacture, and sold their shop equipment to Mr.
Pettee. The demand for machinery ff< m all parts
of the country kept the new works continually sup-
plied with orders, and this establishment became one
of the foremost in ISew England. An iron foundry
was added to the " piant," and the first cast made on
7th day of August, 1837. While his geared double-
speeder was a specialty of these works, the proprietor
was prepared to lurnisi; any and ali machinery used
in the manufacture of cotton, from the opener to the
loom.
Although the workshops, when built, were ccnsid-
ered ample to accommodate all of the business that
would be likely to come to iheni, time developed a
different result. Large additions hud to be made from
year to year, and within five years after commencing
operations the principal shop building had reached
to the length of 3lJ5 feet; and the greater portion of
it was three stories in height. With the exception of
the foundry buildings and patterns, all the entire
works were destroyed by fire, during a fierce southerly
gale, on the evening of Xovf mber 25, 1S39, entailing
a loss of nearly S10O,000, which was partially covered
by insurance. As soon as the embers had cooled off,
work was commenced on reconstruction, and by the
end of six weeks' time wheels were again in motion,
but not to so great an extent as before the fire.
In the year ISiii the Elliot Company discarded a
large portion of their old machinery and replaced it
with new and improved machinery, and by so doing
were enabled to make sheetings at a less cost per yard
than before. A part of the new machinery was pur-
chased in Paterson, X. J., and the balance of it from
Mr. Pettee.
A long way back in the history of the Colonies
there was an effort made by parties in interest on the
Neponset River to divert a portion of the Charles
River water in that direction, as a feeder to that river.
By what authority or by whose order this was done
there seems to be no record.
About half a mile eastward from Dedham Court-
House a ditch was opened across the meadows towards
East Dedham and Hyde Park. And when parties
were interviewed in relation to it, the ouly reply to it
would be that the draining of the meadows was a
necessity to the land-owners. There is a record, in
1G39, in which it is ordered that a ditch shall be dug
through the upper Charles meadow into East Brook
(now Mother Brook) for a partition fence and also for
a water-course to supply a mill there. Little by little
the ditch became widened and deepened as more fac-
tories were built upon it. Meantime the manufac-
tories along the river in Xewtou and Waltham be- -
came alarmed at the pnspect before them by this i
diversion of the water Irum its natural flow in the
Charles River. Litigation and ill feeling followed '
the line of this encroachment upon their rights, and
not until a lapse of more than two hundred years
a ter the first act was done was the vexed question
settled in the courts, ordering water-gauges to be
placed both in the river and Mother Brook, allowing
the former to receive two-thirds, and the latter the
remaining third, thus legalizing a wrong that should
never have been inflicted upon the legitimate busi-
ness of the river owners. For these reasons, and
from a system of drainage that was gradually going
on, conducted by the farmers, to reclaim their mea-
dow lands and swamps bordering upon the river,
the water-power annually decreased in value, so
that by the year 1836 the Elliot Manufacturing Com-
pany was obliged to put in a powerful steam-engine
for an auxiliary power to bridge over a dry season.
The fluctuations in prices and sales of cotton fab-
rics had a tendency to arouse the diversity of opin-
ions which had so long existed in the management of
the company's business; this variance finally resulted
I in the stockholders voting, in 1839 or '40, to purchase
j no more cotton, but to work up what they had on
j hand, in bale, and in process of manufacture — close
I their books in liquidation, and sell their property.
j The loss of the machine-shops by fire in 1839 and
, the closing of the cotton factory in the spring of 1840
; had a damaging effect upon the village people who
i were dependent upon them for a livelihood. How-
ever, this embarrassment proved to be but temporary,
for Mr. Pettee had already built large workshops to
replace the burnt ones, and in September of 1840 he
purchased the entire cotton factory property, and put
it in operation under the title of " Elliot ilills ; "
and once again, all wheels were in motion and the
community made happy.
At this time the demand for print cloths was sulfi-
[ cient to warrant the changing of machinery from the
broad sheeting loom to the calico width, and at the
same time enlarge the factory buildings and put in
additional machinery sufficient to nearly double the
! productive capacity of the mill, by these changes.
Two hundred and fifty-two new looms were placed in
a single room, and all driven from below instead of
the usual method of belting down to them from lines
of shafting overhead. This system presented a very
neat and attractive appearance to the beholder, and
the room was reputed to be the largest of its kind in
New England ; and when in full operation would
weave 60,000 yards of cloth per week.
About the year 1835 or '36 the Mexican Republic
interested itself in the work of encouraging home
manufactures, by enacting stringent excise laws that
wouidalmost prohibit the importation of foreign goods
that could be made from raw material found within
its borders ; and by the same acts left their ports open
for free admission of the requisite machinery and
other apparatus necessary for establishing the various
industries that might be carried on within their own
limits. This enactment was intended to eacourage
96
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
home productions, and had its desired effect, more
particularly in the manufacture of cotton and paper.
Mr. Ithamar Whiting, a New Englander by birth,
who had been employed in that country about a dozen
years in gold and silver-mining, at once grasped the
situation, and from the little knowledge he had of the
success of our New England manufacturers, was very
sanguine of similar results in Mexico. He earnestly
advocated the introduction of machinery, and solicit-
ed capital to embark in the manufacturing of cotton
fabrics. At length he succeeded in finding a few cap-
italists who would make the venture ; but when it was
estimated to cost from seventy-five to a hundred thou-
sand dollars for a very small factory, all but one firm
declined to undertake it. Further effortj to procure
funds were unavailing, and finally the remaining
company, Messrs. Barron, Forbes & Co., of Tepic,
concluded to take the entire responsibility upon them-
selves, and arranged with Mr. Whiting to come to the
" States " and procure a compFete outfit for a cotton
factory.
Early in the spring of 1837 Mr. Whiting started
from the city of Tepic near the western coast of Mex-
ico, to fulfill his mission, and after a. two months'
journey he received a cordial welcome from the loved
ones under the roofof theold homestead, in the town
of Dover, Massachusetts, — once more to breathe his
native air, and tread his way over old and familiar
highways and byways, as he was wont to do in the
days of his childhood.
After visiting most of the principal factories in
New England, he left his order for machinery with
Mr. Otis Pettee, of Newton, to execute. The sub-
stance of the contract was embodied in a very few
words, to wit: " We want machinery that will produce
seven hundred and fifty yards of sheeting per day, of
about No. 16 yarn, — including all of the supplies of
whatever kind, to put it in operation, — water-wheels
and shafting, plans for factory buildings, window-
frames, sashes and glass, door frames and doors, etc.
The buildings are to be built of adobe, or mud-bricks,
dried in the open air, as is the custom in hot climates.
The machinery when finished must be taken apart
and securely packed in strong boxes, to be shipped
via Cape Horn and the Pacific coast to Port San Bias ;
and so far as possible the gross weight of each pack-
age not to exceed one hundred and seventy-five
pounds, for convenience in transportation upon mules'
back^ from the port of entry to the factory at Tepic,
a distance of about sixty miles." While the machin-
ery was building, Mr. Whiting spent considerable
time in the workshop in order to familiarize himself
with the details of construction, which he considered
would be of valuable service to him in after life. Upon
his return to Tepic he took with him a number of
men experienced in the art and mystery of manufac-
turing cottou, to have the supervision of the several
departments of the factory, and to instruct the natives
how to spin and weave cotton by power machinery,
as their only knowledge of the business up to that time
was limited to the hand-work done at home.
By this experiment of Messrs. Barron, Forbes & Co.
the early history of cotton manufacture in the Mexi-
can Republic is associated with the industries of New-
ton. About five years later the same company built
another factory for carding and spinning warps to
supply a demand from country towns and farming
communities for hand-weaving.
Mr. Whiting, in a letter to Mr. Pettee, dated Feb-
ruary, 1848, says, "So far we have done very well
with our factory, but I am afraid our harvest is nearly
over. The state of the country is such at this time
as to induce the belief that no business will prosper
much longer. The last two years have been the best
we ever had, — not because our manufactured articles
have sold better, for the price has fallen, — but because
we have got our cotton on better terms, aa well as of
better quality. In 1846 we made $113,419.82, and iu
1847, S180,331.17 ; and since we commenced work we
have cleared $873,077.12 ; and this has nearly all been
made by the first machinery. We did wrong in put-
ting in spinning. We should have followed your ad-
vice, and put in the same kind of machinery as the
first, with more looms, and then we should have made
more money."
The venture of this company was closely watched
and studied by moneyed men throughout the Repub-
lic, and as soon as their success was made known,
other companies were formed and more factories
built. The first one to follow Messrs. Barron, Forbes
& Co. was a German gentleman from Durango. a Mr.
Stahlknecht, who ordered machinery from Newton iu
1839. He afterwards built another factory in Tunal.
The last time he visited Newton, he remarked that he
had given up the cotton manufacturing business, as
he was quite too near the Texan frontier, and goods
were run over into tlieir country. Eighteen cents per
yard was all he could get for his cloth and it cost
him thirteen cents per yard to manufacture it, and
five cents profit on a yard did not pay. What
will our new New England manu&cturers say to
that?
A company was organized in Guadalajara in 1840,
under the corporate title of the Guadalajara Spinning
and Weaving Cjmpany, and they sent their treasurer,
Mr. John M. B. Newbury Boschetti, to Newton to
buy machinery. They also took out machinery for
making paper. Other factories were established at
Santiago, Guymas, Mazatlan, Colima, Curagoa and
elsewhere, and filled with Newton machinery. Al-
though these factories proved to be profitable invest-
ments to their owners, none of them were as remuner-
ative as the Tepic Mills. Orders were received from
the Mexican customers for machinery and supplies
by Mr. Pettee as long as he lived.
In addition to his New England and Mexican
trade, Mr. Pettee frequently received orders from the
South and West; Several large cotton factories in
NEWTON.
97
Tennessee were filled with machinery from his work-
shops; and consignments were made to Georgia, the
Carolinas, Maryland and elsewhere.
Mr. James Lick, of telescopic fame throughout the
world, and whose name is associated with the astro-
nomical study and research of all nations, was a cus-
tomer of Mr. Pettee's in 1852, for a large invoice of
machinery for his extensive flouring-mills at San
Jose, California.
Mr. Pettee was not only engaged in the business
interests of the town, but was largely interested in its
general welfare and prosperity. He was an earnest
and indefatigable worker to construct the Woonsncket
Division of the New York & New England Railroad
(then the Charles River Branch), through the south-
erly section of the town, to the Upper Falls and
Needham, in 1851 and 1852. By his simple consent
to a proposal of the Boston & Worcester Railroad
Company in 1844, they would have, at their own ex-
pense, extended the Lower Falls Branch of their road
from Riverside to the Upper Falls. But he declined
to accept the proffered branch, because he considered
it would be doing great injustice to the future welfare
of the village, by placing it at least fifteen miles by
rail from Boston, when the same terminus could
easily be reached by a more (firect route within a dis-
tance of less than ten miles.
He actively co-operated with all benevolent and
philanthropic movements and real reforms. A thor-
ough temperance man and worker from his youth up ;
a despiser of the use of tobacco in any form what-
ever; a friend of the slave and down-trodden; an old
time Whig, but one of the foremost to come out and
organize the Abolition party ; and was a delegate to
the National Liberty Convention held in Buffalo, Oc-
tober 7, 1847.
As to the spirit of his business qualities, eminent
Bos'ton merchants with whom he had dealings bear
testimony, not only to his business capacity, but also
to his being the most thoroughly honest man they
ever knew. He was, in short, an upright man of
great inventive genius, solid judgment, extensive en-
terprise and beneficent life. He died on the 12th day
of February. 1853, at the age of fifty-seven years.
The next following June the cotton factory property
and tenement houses belonging with it were sold to a
company of Boston merchants under the corporate
name of Newton Mills, with F. M. Weld, treasurer.
This company continued in the business until August,
1884, and then closed up for an indefinite period.
In the autumn of 1853 the machine-shop property
was sold to Messrs. Otis Pettee, (2d), George Pettee
(sons of the late Otis Pettee) and Henry Billings, who
formed a co-par*nership in the name of Otis Pettee &
Company ; and continued in the business until Janu-
ary 1, 1880, when the partnership was dissolved, and
the property sold to a stock company, who assumed
the name of Pettee Machine Works, and still con-
tinue the business of building cotton machinery.
7-iii
I In the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics' As-
sociation report for 1841, No. 998, we find the fol-
lowing, viz. :
j "Otis Pettee, Newton Upper Falla— Cottou Loom: — an attempt to
I improve upon the usual melbod of delivering the warp, and simultA.
neouaty to vvind up the cloth \vliile weaving by power.
I "This operation 18 performed in a manner simildr to other older mm-
I chines by suspending the r«ed-frame at the top, and allowing the bottom
I to yield, although opposed by a spring, as each thread of the filling is
I inserted; the spring in yielding looeens a friction^strap passing round
I the warp-cylinder, thereby allowing the warp to unwind without un-
I necessary strain upon the threads, the spring at the same time operating
j on a ratchet-wheel connected with the cloth^ylinder, causing it to wind
I up the clucb at the same rate it is woven."
I
I Turtle Island divides the Charles Birer about an
I eighth of a mile below the snuff-'mill-dam, and the
[ rapids there afford another good water-power. In
: 1782 Mr. Thomas Parker, who owned the island and
land on tiie Newton side of the river, purchased a
j small lot on the Needham side (now Wellesley) ; he
• built a dam at this point, and started a saw-mill upon
a rocky bluff in Newton just abreast of the head of
j the island. As Mr. Parker was now well advanced
j in life he retained the saw-mill but a very few years,
and then sold all his mill property to his son-in-law,
Mr. Jonathan Bixby, who continued the business
until he sold his entire interest in the estate upon
both sides of the river, including water-power and
other privileges in the river, to the Newton Iron
Works Company, a co-partnership formed principal-
ly of Boston gentlemen, for the purpose of manufac-
turing iron. Mr. Rufus Ellis was appointed general
manager and resident agent, and assumed the duties
and responsibilities of his office in 1799. And by the
beginning of the year 1800 he had built a permanent
dam across the river, and erected a building upon
the island, and put in the required furnaces and ma-
chinery for rolling and slitting iron into a variety of
sizes and shapes.
For the first twenty-five or thirty years after the
mill was started, wood was the only fuel used for
heating the furnaces and ovens. Anthracite coal lay
quietly slumbering in the depths of the mountain
passes and ravines of Eastern Pennsylvania and
other places, and unknown to man as an article
of fuel which so soon came into general use the
world over. It may be true that the hunter
and trapper, Philip Ginther, while in search of
game in the forests of the Lehigh Valley, did ac-
cidentally make the discovery of anthracite coal in
I the year 1791. One day, while hurrying down a steep
j declivity on the side of Sharp Mountain, homeward
1 bound, bis attention was arrested by a pecnliar black
I rock formation, Recently uncovered by the nprootal
I of a large tree in his pathway. He gathered a few
I samples, and sent them to Philadelphia for scientistB
to examine, which resulted in the decision that itwas
a kind of coal of considerable value. With the ex-
, ception of a few trials of the new fuel by country
I blacksmiths, it was thirty years before any really snc-
I ceisful test was made of its combustible merits as a
98
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
substitute for wood. This experiment was made by
a nail-maker near Philadelphia. A half-day's tinue
was spent by the workmen in trying to make the
black stones burn, as they called it, but of no avail,
and at the noon hour they left the furnace in disgust,
for their dinner, with the determination that upon
their return they would clean out the fire-box, and
fire up in the usual way for the afternoon's work.
But much to their surprise, when they came back the
furnace was seething and roaring with a white heat,
such as they had never seen before: and the year 1817
marks the era in revealing the true secret of burning
anthracite coal, which is to let it alone as much as
possible, and to manipulate the fires from beneath.
As soon as the burning of hard coal ceased to be an
experiment, it was brought into general use, and the
Newton Iron Works Company reconstructed their
furnaces, by putting in a system of coal-burning ap-
paratus.
Nail-making is an industry that occupies a place in
the list of early manufactures. Quite a number of
nail factories were built in this country in the tenth
decade of the last century and the first decade of the
present century — one at Fairmont, near Philadelphia,
— one at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, — and several in
New York State. Massachusetts bad its share of the
pioneers in the business ; a factory at Wareham, one at
Bridgewater, another at Weymouth ; the little town
of Dover boasted of a nail factory, and in several
other places the click, clack of the nail-machine was
heard.
The increasing demand for nails called for better
machinery for making them. It is now (1890) about
a hundred years since the introduction of power ma-
chinery for cutting nails from rolled iron plates.
Previous to that time a greaterproportion of the nails
used were made from rods of iron cut otf the required
length for different sizes of nails, and headed by crude
machinery, or forged by hand on the anvil. Occa-
sionally a blacksmith mada a specialty of forging nails
as a partial supply to the market for builders' use.
From 1790 to 1800 the nail-making business was
greatly enhanced by the valuable improvements on
inventions of earlier dates. The priority of these in-
ventions has been claimed by a number of persons,
notably Benjamin Cochran, in 1790. Ezekiel Reed, of
Bridgewater, Jacob Perkins, of Newburyport, and \
Walter HuEt, of New York. The first letters patent
in this country for nail-cutting machinery were i
granted to Josiah G. Pearson, in 1794. And while
Jacob Perkins perfected his invention 111790, he did
not obtain his patent until 1795.
The present century opened with a continuation of
the study for better machinery. Jesse Reed, a son of
Ezekiel Reed, so far advanced the process of nail-
making machinery as to cut off the plate, and head
the nail by a single turn of the machine. Still an-
other device was applied to the same machine by a
Mr. Kipley. His attachment consisted of a pair of
nippers, so adjusted as to grasp the nail as soon aa it
was cut from ihe plate, and then turn it so as to give
it what is termed a flat grip, instead of the edge grip
in use previous to his inventions. Mr. Thomas
Odiorne, of Mllford, Massachusetts, was the inventor
of a very good machine for cutting xmall nails and
brads. His machine was said to be a complicated in-
vention that required a skilled workman to operate it.
Still another nail-machine was patented by Mr. Jon-
athan Ellis, one of the proprietors of the Newton Iron
Works. His machine was rather cumbersome, and
never very much used.
Mr. Seth Boyden, a son of the old town of Foxbor-
ough, Massachusetts, but who removed to Newark,
New Jersey, in early manhood, invented a nail-ma-
chine, and secured his patent in 1815. Mr. Boyden
was one of the greatest inventors of his generation.
The world to-day ia indebted to him for malleable
iron, and '' patent" or enameled leather, and valua-
ble improvements in both stationary and locomotive
steam-engines, and many other inventions of a lesser
magnitude.
In lS09the Newton Iron Works Company builta nail
factory, and at first useil the Odioine machines. These
machines were securely fastened to the top and sides of
heavy, white-oak post, about a foot and a half square
and firmly set in the ground. Whether the " Odi-
orne " was not adapted to their class of nails, or
whether it was too complicated and inconvenient to
operate, or for other reasons, it was soon laid aside,
and the Reed machine, with Mr. Ripley's improve-
ments, was put in its place.
The annual production of manufactured iron from
the rolling and slitting- mills was about iiOOO tons ;
and 1200 tons of nails per annum were shipped from
the nail factory. None but the best quality of Rus-
sian and Swedish irons were used in the mills — im-
ported direct from those countries by the company's
ships. In addition to the home markets large cocsign-
mects of manufactured goods were shipped to the West
India Islands, New Orleans, Savannah, Charleston
and other Southern ports.
In 1814 Mr. Rufus Ellis built a cotton factory of
3000 spindles on the Needham side of the river, for
weaving sheetings, which he ran on his own account
until 1840, when he leased it to Mr. Milton H. San-
ford, of Medway, to manufacture Osnaburgs for the
Southern market. At the close of his lease perma-
nent improvements were made in the cotton-mill
property by putting in new water-wheels and flumes
and other connections ; and in 1844 Mr. Barney L.
White took a lease of it and replaced the sheeting
machinery and continued the business for nearly five
years, and gave it up to Mr. Salmon S. Hewitt; and,
under his direction, it was operated until the factory,
building and machinery were totally destroyed by fire
on May 8, 1850, and never rebuilt. As a whole, this
factory had been a successful and profitable business
enterprise.
NEWTON.
99
In 1821 Mr. Rufus Ellis purchased the eatire inter-
est of the Newton Iron Works Company, which he
held for two years, and then formed a new company
consisting of seven stoekliolders, under a new corpo-
rate title of Newton Factories, with Mr. Ellis as resi-
dent manager, ihe same as heretofore. After ten or
twelve years of -luccessful business the co-partnership
was dissolved, and Mr. Rufus and David Ellis became
sole owners of the property.
In 1844 Mr. Frederick Barden lea^ed the rolling
and slitting-mill property from the Me3<rs. Ellis and
put the same in thorough repair by building new and
larger furnaces, new and improved trains of rollers
and new water-wheels and gearing; and by the me of
an additional heating furnace he was prepared to
manufacture at least 5000 tons of iron annually, and
gave employment to quite a number of workmen.
After a very successful run of twenty-five years or
more, Mr. Barden fully realized that close application
to business was undermining his health, and retired
from active duties in 1870. The mills remained idle
for a few years, and finally were broken up, thus end-
ing a thriving iron business of nearly three-quarters
of a century.
A short time after the loss of the cotton factory by
fire Mr. Ellis erected a new nail factory building
upon the same site, and removed the machinery from
the old factory into it. At the end of five or six years
the nail business was abandoned and the machinery
sold out — mainly as old iron — which terminated a
thrifty nail-making business that had given steaoy
employment to the nail makers for more than fifty
years. The building was subsequently used for a
grist-mill and planing-mill, and at last licked up by
the flames in IS"!?.
The old nail factory building was leased in Septem-
ber, 1863, to Mr. Benjamin Newell, of Dover, Ma-s*.,
who fitted it up for a paper manufactory, and, after a
profitable business for twenty years, making coarse
paper, he sold his interest in it to Mr. Hudson Keeney,
of the town of Everett, in 1873. The old rolling-
mill, made vacant by removing the machinery, was
leased to Mr. Keeney in 188(1, and filled up with pa-
per machinery, thus doubling his facilities for filling
his orders. Mr. Keeney availed himself of a good
opportunity to sell his property in the mills, in 1882,
to Charles P. Clark, Jr., and William F. Wardwell.
In 1886 they sold to the Superior Wax Paper Com-
pany. They laid out several thousand dollars in pre-
paring to make the paper, but, were financially obliged
to discontinue the business and close up the works
before really getting ready for operation.
In 1888 Mr. Willard Marcy and Mr. Eugene L.
Crandell, of Newton, and Mr. John M. Moore, of
Baldwinsville, Massachusetts, under the title of E. h.
Crandell & Company, purchased the paper-mill prop-
erty belonging to the Superior Wax Pa[)er Company,
and the real estate connected with it, which included
the entire interest in the water-power of the Charles
River and reservoirs and land adjoining, of the David
Ellis heirs, and engaged in making wrapping and
sheathing papers of good quality ; and by adtUtional
machinery and improvements can make about four
tons per day when in full operation.
In 1843 Mr. William E. Clarke built a shop on
Boylston Street, at the Upper Falls, and employed
about fifty men mainly on cotton-spinning machinery
for New England manufacturers. He also furnished
the machinery for a small cotton factory in Rio Janei-
ro, South America. The next year, 1844, Mr. Pliny
Bosworth built a shop ou High Street, on proportions
similar to that of Mr. Clarke, and carried on the
machinery busine-s. His specialty was cotton cord-
ing machines. The value of the machinery sent out
by these two shops while in operation would aggre-
gate about a hundred thousand dollars. At the end
of a term of five years' business they were both
closed up by the owners, and the buildings taken down
or removed ; and before the year 1850 they had become
items of history.
In 1849 Messrs. Jenkins and Inman started a
braided shoe-string factory upon a small scale in a
leased room in oneof the factory buildings al the Up-
per Falls. The enterprise, on their part, was at the
time experimental, but proved to be a succes-s. For
the want of more room to accommodate their rapidly-
growing business they removed, in 1852, to Carver,
Massachusetts. The outcome from their experiment
in Newton has been the establishment of one of the
most extensive snoe-string and lacing factories in the
country.
In 1859 Mr. Norman C. Munson, of Shirley, Massa-
chusetts, a contractor for filling in a large tract of flat
and marshy land in the Back Bay of Boston, part-
ly belonging to the Commonwealth, partly to the
Miil-dam Water-Power Company, and partly to the
city of Boston, came to Newton Upper Falls as a
convenient central station for carrying on the work.
He purchased a range of gravel hills along the line of
the Woonsocket Division of the New York and New
England Railroad, adjacent to the Charles River up-
on the Needham side. A large building upon the
Newton side was leased by him for a machine-shop
and engine-house, with a larffe area outside for storage
and repairs to rolling-stock; two powerful steam ex-
cavators were placed in position by the hill-sidea to
load the trains. New and powerful locomotive en-
gines that would handle forty heavily-laden cars, ag-
gregating one hundred and fifty cubic yards of gravel
to each train, were used for transportation; and by
day and by night for a period of at least ten years a
train was loaded and started off" from the pit at very
nearly regular intervalsof forty-five minutes. Switching
engines were used in the pit in loading and making
up trains, and a similar system was in use at the
dump. This arrangement prevented any loss of time
or delays to the train men. Mr. Munson furnished
employment to about two hundred workmen, and lev-
100
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
eled more than a hundred acres of gravel hills in ful-
filling his contracts. .
In 1872 Mr. Phineas E. Gay, a contractor from
Boston, took several jobs of filling the marshes, and
opened a gravel pit at the Upper Falls in a large sand
blufl^, formerly belonging to the Amasa Winchester
estate, bounding on Needham Street, and ran steam
excavators and gravel trains to Boston most of the
time for two or three years.
After Mr. Munson had finished his Back Bay con-
tracts, he made others for filling a large area of South
Boston flats, and removed his machinery to Readville
for gravel. At the end of Mr. Gay's orders for filling
flats, he went out of the business.
One of the finest and most perfect pieces of stone
masonry in the world is the massive bridge of the
Sudbury River Aqueduct, across the Charles River at
the Upper Falls. The principal arch spans the river
from Needham to Newton, a distance of 132 feet be-
tween abutments. It is segmented in shape, and
nearly seventy feet high, — twenty feet broad at the
base, and eighteen feet at the keystone. Six arches
of leaser proportions are required to complete the
span across the chasm, a distance of five hundred feet
between the headlands. This spot is peculiarly
adapted for a structure of this kind, for the bluffs
upon either side of the river are of solid rock forma-
tion. The trestle frame across the river, to support
the arch while building, was firmly secured upon solid
foundations in the bed of the river, jjnd upon a plat-
form above high water there were placed a large
number of jack screws, upon which the trestle rested.
These jack-screws had a triple mission to fulfill, —
first, to sustain the burden, — second, to raise the
superstructure in case of settling, and third to let down
and loosen the trestle, so that it could be easily re-
moved after the arch was finished. More than a
hundred thousand feet of timber were required to form
the trestle and supporting platform : the arches are
built of Rockport granite, and was all dressed at the
quarries. The contractor, Mr. Phelps, of Springfield,
Mass., an expert bridge builder, had the work in
charge, and proved himself to be thoroughly master of
the situation. 2700 tons of stone had to be held up
by the trestle before the key-stones were placed. It
required nearly two years to complete the job, which
was finished in 1876, at a cost of nearly 8200,000 ;
and, during the whole time, no injury was done to any
of the workmen ; neither was there any breakage of
hoisting machinery or other appliances for doing the
work.
Thousands of people visit this charming spot every
year, not only to .idmire the symmetrical proportions
of the bridge, but to hear the repeating echo that is
produced under the main arch by reverberating tones
from a shout by the visitors. As a piece of mechani-
cal work it is attractive to the eye, an honor to its
designers, and of great credit to the builders.
I have heard it said that more than a hundred years
ago, a Newton man, with a good degree of " push" in
him, and I think he must have been of that type of
I man termed "a live Yankee,'' — who had a desire to
turn an honest penny, so started an industry entirely
upon his own account and resources, by placing a
grindstone in position under a shed, and by means
of a rude water-wheel improvised for the purpose,
applied power to turn the stone, and no doubt but
that he had up his "shingle" with the words plainly
chalked out, giving notice to the passer-by that
" Grinding was done here."
His neighbors could have the use of the stone to do
their own grinding by paying the toll of a fourpence
ha'penny, or a ninepence,or a pistareen, according to
the time wanted ■ — no dimes, half-dimes, or nickels
in those days. Or, if parties preferred, they could
leave their edged tools with him to grind, which he
was always ready to do for a consideration.
Lower Falls — By following the river banks from
below the L'pper Falls for a distance of two miles we
reach the Lower Falls. Here the river makes a leap of
j sixteen feet over a ledge of rocks, and an eighth of a
; mile farther down the stream there is another fall of
six feet, making a total fall of twenty-two feet. Dams
have long since been placed across the river at each
of the Falls, and furnish water-power for many
manufacturers' use.
In the colonial days of two centuries ago, the lands
in this vicinity upon the Newton side were supposed
to be owned in common by the Town of Cambridge in
Middlesex County ; and the land upon the Needham
(now Wellesley) side belonged to Sufliblk County.
A forty acre lot, a little distance easterly from the
Falls had already been assigned to the Harvard Uni-
versity ; and in 1094 Mr. Samuel Green, of Cambridge
conveyed a lot of four acres of land more or less, to
John Leverett, bordering upon the river, including
the Falls, together with all woods, water rights, com-
monage liberties and privileges thereto belonging.
Whether Mr. Green had previously purchased this
land of the Town of Cambridge, or whether he sold it
as a representative of the Town, is uncertain.
In 1704 Mr. Leverett sold his land and water
rights, and all other interest in the same to Mr. John
Hubbard, of Roxbury, a blacksmith by trade, this
land now being the present site of all the paper mills,
and other works on the Newton side of the river.
Mr. Hubbard formed a co-partnership with Mr.
Caleb Church, a bloomer by trade, of Watertown,aud
improved the water power by building a dam at the
head of the rapids, and a forge shop with two fire
hearths and a hammer wheel for manufacturing iron.
Just what kind of machine or piece of apparatus a
hammer wheel is, we will leave for the mechanical ex-
perts of the present time to determine for themselves,
as they peruse these pages.
In 1705 Mr. Hubbard conveyed to his son Nathaniel
Hubbard, one-half of the four acre lot bounded
north by the highway, and south by the river, to-
NEWTON.
101
gether with a half interest in the iron works, with as
much of the stream as may be required to drive the
machinery, including half of the dam, flume, sluice-
ways, utensils and appurtenances thereto belonging.
The new company continued the business until the
death of the senior Mr. Hubbard, in 1717. For the
next four or five years the premises were rented to
Mr. Jonathan Willard, a bloomer who had previously
been in the employ of the company ; and in 1722 Mr.
Willard purchased the Hubbard interest in the works.
In consequence of the death of Mr. Caleb Church
about the same time, his interest was deeded by John
Cooledge of Watertown, administrator of the Church
estate, to his son, Caleb Church, Jr., on April 11th,
1723.
A few years after his purchase of the iron works,
Mr. Willard builta saw-mill, a short distance below
the forge-shop, and did quite a large business in the
manufacture of lumber.
October 27th, 1740, Jlr. Church, then residing in
the town of Westerly, Rhode Island, sold his moiety
of the iron works to Mr. Jonathan Willard and Henry
Pratt, former partners iu the concern. Who Mr.
Pratt was, or when he first bought an interest there,
we find no record.
May 26th, 1739, Mr. Jonathan Trowbridge, of New-
ton, conveys to Henry Pratt, bloomer, three acres of
land adjoining said Pratt's land at the Lower
Falls. To show how accurately lines were defined in
those days, we copy from the deed. " Bounded west-
erly by t^aid Pratt's land, northerly and easterly by
land of John Parker, easterly and southerly by Trow-
bridge's land — northwesterly corner being a stake
and heap of stones ; thence to a stake and stones be-
tween Parker and Trowbridge, thence to a white oak
tree, thence to a black oak tree, thence to a white oak
stUQip with stones on it, thence to two black oak
trees, thence to stake and stones at southwesterly cor-
ner."
By an indenture made on the 10th day of Novem-
ber, 1748, by and between Henry Pratt and Jonathan
Willard, who were equal owners in the iron works
property and land, it was divided, giving to each a
separate and distinct moiety of the same, each giving
to the other certain rights and easements for con-
venience in the transaction of their business. Special
mention is made of the great dam belonging to them,
which is to be maintained and kept in repair jointly
by them and their successors, each to pay half of the
cost; and the said dam shall not be made any higher
than is indicated by a hole in the face of the rock in
the stream. And it is further agreed that when there
is a scarcity of water in the river, it shall be equally
divided between them and their successors in owner-
ship.
Mr. Jonathan Willard continued to carry on the
iron-works, and was closely identified with the man-
ufacturing business for more than fifty years. A
prominent citizen and an ingenious man, he lived to
the ripe old age of ninety-five years, and died May 22,
1772.
Mr. Joseph Davenport, a clothier by occupation,
settled at the Lower Falls about the year 1730 or
1731, and built a dwelling-house a third of a mile
distant from the forges on the Boston Road (now
Woodward Street) ; and opened a shop near the ful-
ling-mills and gave employment to a namber of
workmen in the manufacture of clothing, until his
death, in 1752. As we find no record of other cloth-
iers in Newton at that time, it is fair to presume that
he held a monopoly in the business among the in-
habitants for several miles around.
Mr. Azariah Ware may have been a successor of
Mr. Davenport in the clothing business. His name
is mentioned as a clothier in a deed given by him to
Moses Grant & Son, in 1809. In his description of
the property conveyed to said Grant, he included
clothier's-shop and fulling-mill as one building.
Mention is made of other industries at the Lower
Falls, including a grist-mill, a snutf-mill with four
mortars, and a calico printing-works. But these were
discontinued, and passed into history more than sixty
years ago, so it is diflScult to procure satisfactory in-
formation as to ownership or the amount of business
done by them. Mr. Simon Elliot may have been the
owner of the snuff-mill, and may have run it in con-
nection with his extensive factories at the Upper Falls.
October 20, 1789, Mr. John Ware, of Sherborn,
brother of the Rev. Henry Ware, professor in Har-
vard University, bought of Timothy Ware, of Need-
ham, about fourteen acres of land at the Lower Falls,
including dam, stream, water courses, saw-mills and
forge, also a dwelling-house and barn. The next
spring he built the first paper-mill in the village-
The old hand method of paper-making was in vogue
at that time, and we presume Mr. Ware had his stone
vats for prepared pulp, and rectangular moulds with
wire cloth strainers and deckles to form the sheets of
pulp to be placed in layers, alternating between sheets
of felting cloth for pressing out the water, as well as
to give them a uniform thickness. Two or three
repetitions of re-packing and pressing are usually
sufficient to give the pulpy fibres an affinity to hold
together while hanging in the drying lofts. This
slow process of paper making was superseded in the
early part of the present century by power machin-
I ery for spreading the pulp upon an endless felt car-
I rier, and passes italong to a series of steam-drying cyl-
I inders, and is finally rolled into large coils for the
rotating shears to divide into sheets of uniform dimep-
sions, when it is ready to be bundled into reams for
market. The latest improved paper-making machine
was patented in England or France by Mr. Four-
drinier, and has since been in general use by all fine
paper makers. From the records of the late Benja-
min Neal, Esq., we learn that one of the first Four-
drinier machines imported into this country was placed
in a mill at the Lower Falls.
i02
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX CUUNTi', MASSACHUSETTS.
August 29, 1808, Mr. John Ware sold to Mr. Aza-
riah Ware a small lot of laud, with clothiers' shop
and fuiling-rnill thereon, and on the fourth day of
September of the next year Azariah Ware sold the
same property to Moses Grant & Son, of Boston, re-
serving a perpetual right of way over the land, for
teams and workmen from the county road to Curtis
and Elliot's paper mills and other mills. The Messrs.
Grant built a paper mill upon the land for the manu-
facture of glazed boob-board, and other use, and on
August 9, 1811, Moses Grant, Jr., conveyed his inter-
est in the property to his father, who then became the
sole owner of the same.
Between the years 1812 and 1832 upwards of thirty
sales and transfers of property were made among the
several mill owners that depended upon the water
from the river to operate their machinery ; and so far
as the water-power was concerned, it became a com-
mon interest to them all. These divisions and sub-
divisions of mill property conveyed with them cor-
responding divisions of the water-rights each enjoyed
in the river; questions were continually arising, par-
ticularly in the seasons of low water, relative to this
or that owner's draught from the stream. The grow-
ing complesity of this difference of opinion created a
question of paramount importance to the several pro-
prietors, which terminated in the spring of 1816 by a
new apportionment of the water.
The old adjustment of water-rights by and between
Jonathan Willard and Henry Pratt in 1748 was still
in force, but was not considered sufficient to answer
the present requirements, and July 26th a new appor-
tionment was made and .ngreed to by all parties in
interest, to-wit : — Simon Elliot and Solomon Curtis
owned the two southern papef mills ; Kurd and Bemia
owned one paper-mill and the saw-mill ; Moses Grant
owned one paper-mill, and John Ware one fulling-
mill, all on the Newton side. Simon Elliot and Sol-
omon Curtis owned two-thirds of the paper-mill and
two-thirds of the s-aw-mill, and Hurd and Bemis
owned the remaining one-third of the mills on Need-
ham side. By this agreement all of the paper-mills
and fulling-mills were to lla^e the first right of water,
the aaw-mill on Newton side the second right, the
glazing machines in the several paper-mills to have
the third right, and the saw-mill in Needham to have
the fourth water-right.
This agreement further entailed upon the several
parties in interest an apportionment of the co.st of
keeping the main dam in the best of repair, and to
keep the flumes and water-ways to their respective
mills in good order, and perfectly tight at all times.
This indenture was signed and sealed by Simon Elliot,
Solomon Curtis, Moses Grant, William Hurd,ChRrle3
Bemis and John Ware ; and for a season the vexed
question was amicably adjusted.
In the year 1834 imporiant changes in ownership
were made upon both sides of the river. These changes
may have been brought about by a destructive fire
that swept down the river bank on the morning of
May 19th of this year, totally destroying Messrs. Amos
Lyon & Co.'s paptr-mill, and Mes^srs. Eeuben Witre
and William Clark's machine-shop, all on the Need-
ham side of the river.
In October Mr. Lemuel Crehore, by purchase, be-
came the sole owner of the Moses Grant and William
Hurd mills on the Newton side, which included the
old saw and fulling-mills, and the John Ware paper-
mill. And at the same time Mr. William Hurd pur-
chased Mr. Crehore's rights in a paper-mill upon the
Needham side. More than two years previous to
this transaction, Jlessrs. Allen C. and William Curtis,
sons of Solomon Curtis, had acquired the entire fee in
the Solomon Curtisand Simon Elliott mill. By these
sales of property the varied interests upon the New-
ton side were separated from the Needham property,
and grouped into the hands of two ownerships.
Mr. Lemuel Crehore commenced the paper-making
business in company with Mr. William Hard in 1825,
and at the time of his purchase of the property in
lS34,the partnership heretofore existing was dissolved,
and Mr. Benjamin Neal became a partner with Mr.
Crehore and remained in the business until 1845.
For the next following two years Mr. Crehore was
alone. In 1854 his son, Geoige C. Crehore, was ad-
mitted as a partner under the title of L. Crehore &
Son. The next change made was in 1867 by Mr.
Charles F. Crehore taking the place of Mr. George C.
Crehore, deceased; and tlie next year the senior Mr.
Crehore retired from the business and soon af.er died,
which left the mills in the hands of Mr. C. F. Crehore
until 1SS3, when Mr. Fred. M. Crehore was admitted
to the business, and the company thus formed assumed
the name of C. F. Crehore & Son.
^Messrs. Allen C. and William Curtis built a new
and commodious stone mill, with new machinery and
all modern improvements in 1834, and removed the
old and worn-out buildings and machinery. They
continued the paper manufacturing business until re-
verses in fortune compelled them to make an assign-
ment about the yrar 1860. Their property was sold
by the assignees to Hon. J. Wiley Edmands and
Gardner Colby, Esq., co-partners in the manufacture
of wool.
Instead of improving the mills, ,is at first intended,
! hey sold it to Messrs. William S. and Frank Cord-
ingly in 1864. The new firm made thorough repairs
and built additions to the buildings, and put in
special machinery for the manufacture of wool ex-
tracts, and have done a large and properous business
since their occupancy of the premises.
A difference in opinion as to the ownership of the
fulling-mill water-rights had existed for a long time
between William Hurd, Allen C. Curtis and otheri",
which finally resulted in a lawsuit between them in
1845; and in the April term of the Supreme Judicial
Court it was agreed between the parties to refer the
whole case to three arbitrators — the decision of any
NEWTON.
103
two of them to be binding on the parties, not only as
to the questions in controversy, but in award of dam-
ages to either party, if any may be found; and they
shall further arbitrate and determine finally the future
respective rights of both parties in the use of the
water forever. The result of this arbitration was re«-
ported to the Court, and in the October term of 1847
Chief Justice Shaw decided the said fulling-mill
water-rights belonged to the Messrs. Curtis and others
to be used at their pleasure. New and more accurate
water-gauges were now placed in position along the
water-courses to distribute the water proportionately
to its several owners; and all interested parties upon
either side of the river acquiesced in this adjustment
of ihe difficulties heretofore exi.sting.
The mills upon the Needham side were owned suc-
cessively as follows: The upper mill by Amos Lyon
& Co., Wales & Mills, Tbomas Kice, Jr., and the
Thomas Rice Paper Company. The second mill,
owned by William Hurd, Charles Rice, Jr., and Moses
Garfield, Thomas Rice, Jr. and Thomas Rice Paper
Company. The third or lower mill, on the upper
dam, owned by John Rice and Moses Garfield, Thomas
Rice, Jr., and the Dudley Hosiery Company since
1862.
The machine-shop built by Mr. Reuben Ware and
William Clark in 1832 went into the hands of Mr.
Joseph Stowe in 1840; and in 1850 Messrs. Henry P.
Eaton, Rufus Moulton and Harvey Eaton formed a
co-partnership and bought the shop of Mr. Stowe. In
the autumn of 1853 the present stone-sliop building
was put up to replace the old wooden one, burnt the
preceding June.
Mr. Harvey Eaton died in 1S52. In 1S76 Mr.
.\dam Beck, who had been a partner in the business
since IS.JS, by purchase became the sole owner of the
works, and still continut-s in the business.
The second, or lower dam, at the Lower Fulls, was
probably built by Mr. William Hooga about the year
ISOO. He started the leather tanning business about
ten years before, near the ford across the river, below
Pratt's Bridge (now Washington Street Bridge). Mr.
Hoogs next built a paper-mill, which he ran in con-
nection with his tannery, until he sold out to Mr.
Peter Lyon, June 21, 1809. Mr. Lyou increased his
business by building a grist-mill. In 1809 he con-
veyed the paper-mill to Jlr. Joseph Foster, with one-
half of the water-right, and reserved the other half
for the grist-mill. March 8, 1822, Mr. Allen C. Cur-
tis bought the paper-mill, and in 1823 he re-conveyed
the same to Mr. Foster. On the same day Mr. Foster
conveyed it to Mr. Peter Lyon and William Parker.
Parker and Lyon sold to Amasa Fuller, January 28,
1824; and on September 3, 1830, the paper-mill was
sold to Mr. Joseph H. Foster by the executors of the
estate of .\masa Fuller, deceased. Mr. Foster con-
tinued the paper-making business until his death,
December 7, 1853. His son, Joseph Foster, Jr., then
ran the mill for two or three years, when it was sold
to Thomas Rice, Jr., who rented it to Mr. Charles
Rice for a term of years, and finally sold it to Augus-
tus C. Wiswall & Son, who still continue the paper
manufacture.
On the Needham side of the river there are two or
three mills that depend upon the water from the
lower dam for their power, but the complications in
relation to the division of water have been compara-
tively few and far between.
It would be impossible to ennmerate the different
varietiesor kinds of paper manufactured at the Lower
Falls for the past century. Prominent among the
varieties are wrapping papers, book -binders' board
and cardboard. The Mes«r8. Crehore have always
made the manufacture of Jucquard cards and press
papers a principal business, while the Messrs. Curtis
gave their attention to a fine quality of book paper.
Three or four other mills have been kept busy on
newspaper work. Great quantities of this paper have
been printed by the daily press and popular journals
and magazines of the day, that have been scattered
broadcast all over the civilized world.
While the matiufactiirers have been busily engaged
in the daily routine of their duties, many of them
hav3 found time to serve the State and the town in
public capacities with credit to themselves and with
honor to their constituents. Mr. William Hoogs,
Joseph Foster and Thomas Rice, Jr., have been
placed upon the Board of Selectmen and School Com-
mittees. Mr. Allen C. Curtis, Joseph Foster, Lemuel
Crehore and Thomas Rice, Jr., have been honored
with seats in the popular branch of the General
Court of the Commonwealth. Mr. Rice was twice a
Senator and twice in the Governor's Council.
The manufacture of sulphuric acid (oil of vitriol)
was started in Waltham by Mr. Patrick Jackson, in
1819. About the year 1825 the works were removed
across the Charles River, into the town of Newton,
very nearly opposite to the Waltham cotton factories
and were incorporated as the Newton Chemical Com-
pany. The chem-stry buildings covered a large area
of laud upon the rising ground about an eighth of a
mile distant from the river. Under the excellent man-
agement and excutive ability of Horatio Moore, Esq.,
resident agent of the company, the works were en-
larged to a capacity that made it one of the leading
vitriol manufactories of New England.
Mr. Moore was a leading and much respected citi-
zen of the town, and was frequently appointed in
town-meetings upon important committees, and occu-
pied a chair in the Board of Selectmen of Newton.
The business of the chemical company was so com-
pletely identified with the town of Waltham that it
was deemed expedient by them to be set off to that
town, which, by act of the General Court, was done
in April of 1849.
After a continuous and successful industry of more
than half a century, the business was discontinued
and the buildings removed in 1872.
104
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
The late Hon. William Jackson, of Xewton, when
at eighteen years of age, was apprenticed by his
father to a Boston firm to learn the soap and candle
business. At the age of twenty-one years he started
a small factory in his own name in that city. As he
depended largely upon the Southern markets for the
sale of his goods, he concluded it would be more
profitable for him to transfer a branch of his business
to the South, and in 1S13 he built a factory in Sa-
vannah, Ga.. and the next year he built another one
in Charleston, S. C. The wars of 1812 made these
factories profitable ; but when peace was restored, in
1816, the profits dwindled away, and they were given
up. In consequence of the death of his parents, Mr.
Jackson sold his Boston manufactory in 1820, and re-
turned to the ola homestead to take care of the farm.
The monotony of farm life was insufficient to satisfy
his active business habits, and in 1823 he built a fac-
tory near his residence, and continued the candle
business until his death in 1855. Mr. Jackson had
already erected a factory building in Brighton,
for doing a portion of his coarser work, and after his
death the whole business was transferred to the
Brighton factory. A very large proportion of his
goods were consigned to the West Indies and most of
the principal Southern ports of this country. Large
importations of tallow were made from Russia and
England to make up the deficiency in home produc-
tions for supplying his works.
Mr. Jackson became a leading and honored citizen
of the town ; he was a true philanthropist and bene-
factor. He occupied a seat in the National House of
Representatives at Washington from 1832 to 1836. He
was a strong Abolitionist, and a friend to the slave ; a
member of the first temperance society organized in
Newton in 1826, and ever after kept the pledge. As
was the custom fifty years ago, Mr. Jackson kept his
grog in the factory for bis employees, and regularly
at half-past ten he dealt oat to each one his ration.
This custom of grog-drinking so antagonized his prin-
ciples that he offered his workmen an advance in
wages if they would give it up ; and it was not very
long until it was his privilege to remove the accursed
thing from his sight.
A few rods to the west from Mr. Jackson's works
there was a small calico printing works, and near by
a large laundry building and small mill-pond. Very
nearly upon the same site Mr. Artemas Murdock had
a chocolate factory a hundred years ago. These build-
ings long since were removed, and the land is now
occupied by the Roman Catholic Church of " Our
Lady, Help of Christians," corner of Washington and
Adams Streets.
Mr. Thomas Smallwood, an Englishman by birth,
and a cabinet-maker by trade, came to this country
with his family and landed in Boston July 4, 1817.
After a few months' residence in Charlestown he re-
moved to Newton, and started the furniture business
in a small building a little way north from the
Nonantum House, and about on the dividing line
between Newton and Watertown. Before the ex-
piration of two years he was obliged to seek more
convenient and commodious quarters for his busi-
ness, and built a new shop on Washington Street,
near the Brighton line. He continued in the manu-
facture of furniture until 1846. Jlr. Smallwood was
one of the leading builders of hair-cloth and plush
parlor furniture in New England, and probably in
the country. He had in his employ about sixty
workmen most of the time. His son, Edwin A.
Smallwood, was his successor. He built another
factory in the valley, on Waverly Avenue, and more
than doubled the production of goods. Still another
factory was built by him on the corner of Waverly
Avenue and Washington Street in 1848, which he
ran for a few years, and then rented to Mr. George
F. and William Whall for about two years. This
building was destroyed by fire September 29, 1857.
Previous to the Rebellion of 1860 Mr. Smallwood
had regular trade customers in every State in the
Union, as well as from Egypt, Australia and else-
where. The march of local improvements made in-
roads upon his premises, and he abandoned the
business in that neighborhood iu ISTo, and the shop
buildings were removed to Brighton.
The north village of NeWton, bounding upon the
Charles River and Watertown — now called Nonan-
tum— is another locality of considerable historic
interest in manufactures. Like the Lower Falls,
this water-power is available upon both sides of the
stream. It was first utilized by Mr. David Bemis,
who owned the adjacent land in Watertown, and
Dr. Enos Sumner, the proprietor on the Newton
side. There seems to be a little uncertainty us to
the exact date when these gentlemen first com-
menced business. Mr. Jackson, in his "History of
Nev.-ton," informs us that the Bemis dam was built
about 1760, aiid at the same time a paper-mill was
built there.
The Waltham Sentinel of April 29, 1864, in an his-
torical article, gives the time of building the dam
as 1778. Which of these dates, if either, is correct,
we have been unable to ascertain. It appears that
Dr. Sumner sold his interest iu the enterprise to
John McDougall, of Boston, Michael Carney, of
Dorchester, Mass., and Nathaniel Patten, of Hart-
ford, Conn., who erected a paper-mill in 1779. A
large proportion of the requisite machinery for paper-
making was imported from Europe.
About two years later Mr. David Bemis acquired
a controlling interest in the business, and, in con-
nection with his son, Captain Luke Bemis, carried
it on until his death, in 1790. By this event the
property passed into the hands of his sous, Luke
and Isaac Bemis.
In the winter of 1792, or the early spring of 1793,
the paper-mill was burnt, entailing a total loss upon
the owners. The rebuilding of the factory was con-
NEWTON.
105
sidered of so great importance by the community at
large that a petition was presented to the General
Court, on June 19, 1793, representing the great suf-
ferings of Luke and Isaac Bemis in the loss of their
paper-mill and stock by tire, and praying lor aid
to rebuild the same ; and, in consideration of the
public advantages to be derived from the encour-
agement of the manufacture of paper within the
Commonwealth, it was, —
'* Resohfd, Thnt there be loaned from the treasury of thia comraon-
weHlIli ttie 9uni of one tboiiBand pounds to the said Luke BeniM and
Isaac Bemis, upon (heir boodd, with guorl and siidicient rollalenil secur-
ity to thiscotiimonueaith fur tlie repayment of the eame sum at the end
of flve years ; and also to be conditiuued tliat tlie said Luke and Isaac
sbull rebuild or cause to be rebuilt, uitliiu two years from the making
of siicb loan, suitable paper'iiiills of at least equal size and extent of the
Diitis lately destroyed by lire, aud by themselves or their assigns shall
prosecute the manufacture of paper therein.'*
Supplementary resolves were passed January 30,
1799, and June 17, 1799, in relation to the detail of
payment of said loan.
The work of rebuilding the mills was hardly com-
pleted before there was another interruption in the
business, caused by the death of Mr. Isaac Bemis, in
1794. After this, Mr. Luke Bemia continued thebusi-
ne.ss, either alone, or in partnership with his brother-
in-law, Mr. Caleb Eddy, of Boston, until 1S21, when
the whole property was purchased by his brother, Mr.
Seth Bemia. Soon after this time the Boston Manu-
facturing Company, who were using the water-power
of the river in the manufacture of cotton cloth in
AV'altham, were co"isiderably annoyed by the water
from the Bemia dam backing up to their water-wheels,
and interrupting their works; and for a relief to their
wheels, they olfered Mr. Seth Bemis a thousand
dollars an inch, for each and every inch be would
reduce the height of his dam. This very tempting
otfer induceil him to takeoff twelve inches, — for which
he received twelve thousand dollars.
Mr. Seth Bemis became interested in the cotton and
woolen manufacture, and built a factory on the Water-
town side. The paper business was abandoned on the
Newton side, and the buildings were used tor the
manufacture of dye-woods and drugs by Mr. Bemis,
until 1S47, when he sold out the logwood business to
Mesars. William Freeman & Company, who continued
in the dye-stufi' business for a number of years. In
1S60 the Messrs. Freeman & Company purchased the
Watertown mills, and soon after sold the whole plant
on both sides of the river to the -Etna Mills Manu-
facturing Company, for the manufacture of woolen
goods.
Before the days of bella and steam whistles in New-
ton, Mr. Bemis used to give a shrill blast upon a huge
tin horn to call his workmen together at the appointed
hours for resuming their labors; hence the name of
" Tiu Horn " by which this section of Newton was
called for several years, but now obsolete.
The small factory near the Watertown line, vacated
by Mr. Smallwood, was occupied by Mr. John and
Ebenezer Bilson, church organ-makers. They built
a very good instrument, and filled a number of orders.
The first organ placed in the New Baptist meeting-
houae at Newton Centre was made by the Messra.
Bilson in ]<S36 : and at that time it was considered to
be one of their best productions, both in volume and
mellowness of tone. This whole business enterprise
went into history between thirty and forty years ago.
Nearly a half-century ago, the manufacture of glue
in Newton employed considerable capital, and in the
season of making it, several workmen were employed
at the factories. The Hon. Edward J. Collins was
one of the first men to start the buainesa. A few
yeara later, his brother, Frederick A. Collins, built a
factory. Mr. Samuel N. Woodward was another of
the prominent manufacturers of glue.
The season for glue-making was limited to the sum-
mer and early autumn months, when it could be dried
in the open air, protected from the rain or night
dampness by a shed covering, while drying.
For a period of from thirty to iorty years the glue-
makers reaped quite a harvest in the business. Of
late years, with improved facilities, glue can be made
in winter as well as in summer, and the old methods
of manufacture have been discontinued.
Since the year 1825 quite a number of small factor-
ies and workshops have started business in Newtou,
some of which are worthy of brief mention.
Dr. Samuel Clark, of Boston, built a small chemis-
try building on Cold Spring Brook, a half-mile above
the John Spring grist-mill ; but beyond a little ex-
perimental work, nothing was done. Perhaps the
most important result of his etfort was to successfully
bleach bees- wax to a pure white. The factory was
[ burnt in 1830, and a few weeks later the doctor died.
I Mr. Rufus Bracket purchased the property, and
j built a morocco factory upon the same site; he made
j a good quality of morocco for a number of years.
; Nothing now remains of the works but the ruins of
I the old (Jam, within the Newton Cemetery grounds.
j Sixty years ago there was a demand for iron ore to
supply blast furnaces in Eastern Massachusetts. Sev-
eral pockets of bog ore, or limonite, were found in the
meadows and swampy lands of Newton ; and consid-
erable quantities were dug in the more southerly dis-
tricts of the town and sent to Walpole or Foxborough
furnaces for smelting.
Mr. Joshua Jennison was a successful manufac-
turer of bar soap of superior quality for a period of
fifty years ; and since his death the business haa con-
tinued in the handa of his son, Edward F. Jennison,
in the northern part of the town, near the Watertown
line.
Mr. A. Hayden Kuapp, an inventor of a lamp for
burning roain oil, started a small laboratory for gen-
erating oils from crude rosin. The project was aban-
doned within two or three years, however, as the in-
troduction of kerosene oil superseded the rosin oil.
A large factory buildigg on Cherry Street, West
106
HISTORY OF JIIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Newtou, was occupied by ^lessrs. James H. Bogle &
Co., for making oil-clotii carpeting. At the end of
five or six years they removed from Newtou, and in
1S61 this building was burnt.
Mr. Bradstreet D. Moody, from Bangor, Elaine,
came to Newton in 1859, .ind built a large hat factory
on Pearl Street, where they employed a large num-
ber of workers on gentlemen's hats.
Mr. Joseph White, of English parentage, had a
small factory on Brookline Street, and employed a
number of weavers and knitters in the manufacture
of gentlemen's underwear and hosiery; this business
he carried on for a period of thirty years or more, and
at the time of his death, about thirty years ago, it was
discontinued.
The Silver Lake Company was chartered for man-
ufacturing solid braided cord and steam packing, and
commenced operations with a paid-up capital of S80,-
000, in 1866. They built a large four-storied brick
factory with buttressed walls and mansard roof, on
Nevada Street, near Newtonville. Charles C. Burr,
Esq., was its firut president, and Mr. Charles Scott,
treasurer. The general management of the factory
was placed in the hands of Mr. William J. Towne.
Financially this company was not a succes?, and
closed up their books in 1869, and the original stock
became worthless. The next ye.ar a new company
was formed, with more capital. They bought the old
factory and machinery, and started businesi upon a
firmer basis; and since that time they have been suc-
cessful, under the management of Henry W. Welling-
ton, Esq., treasurer and selling agent. A large ad-
dition was made to their factory in 1880, which about
doubled its capacity for business. This company has
an extensive trade throughout the United States and
Canada, and a share of the patronage from European
and Australian consumers.
Window-weight cords, curtain cords and numerous
other varieties of lines and small rope and steam
packing are annually shipped from this establishment,
tc the value of §300,000 or more.
Mr. Thomas Dalby, an Englishman by birth, came,
to this country when a young man, and in 1852 he
started a few hand-looms for knitting or weaving
hosiery in the north village of Newton. He found
ready sale for his goods as fast as he could make them,
and pressing demands caused him to import more
machinery, and build larger work-shops to enable
him to fill his orders. In 1858 he built a large fac-
tory building at a cost of about §12,000, and i)ut in
machinery adapted to making a greater variety of
goods. When the Rebellion broke out, in 1860, he
had a large lot of woolen yarn and manufactured
goods 00 hand, which he sold at a high rate, and
from the profits upon these sales he built a large
brick factory with heavy buttressed walls, in 1862,
and put in carding and spinning machinery for mak-
ing woolen yarn. On February 1, 1S65, he sold all of
his factory property to the»Dalby Mills Company, a
corporation organized with a capital of .■?200,iXi0. The
uew company, unfortunately, was of short duration,
from shrinkage in values and other reverses. After
the Rebellion they were compelled to make an as-
signment to their creditors, and the property wiii sold
in 1867 to Lewis Cclein:in, of Boston. The large
wooden building erected in 1858 was destroyed by
fire on August 5, 1871.
The most extensive manufactory at the north vil-
lage of Newton, and one of the most important, is
that of the Nonantum Worsted Company, a corpora-
tion organized under the State laws, in 1867, with a
capital of half a million of dollars, for the manufac-
ture of worsted yarn. Mr. George S. Hall was its
first president, and Mr. George F. Hall its first and
only treasurer. This company purchased the factory
property vacated by the Dalby Mills Company, and
at once started business by putting in new machinery
and apparatus especially adapted to their class of
worsted goods. The whole process of manufacturing
wool from the sheep's back, to the spinning, twisting
and weaving of the same into the finest and most
delicate fabric, is performed under their roof; and the
almost endless variety of color, and beautiful tint of
soft shades to the yarns are produced by the artisans
of the dyeing and coloring departments connected
with their works. Hence, the name of "Starlight"
Worsteds, by which these goods are known to the
trade.
In 1880 another large factory building was added
to the "plant." The demand for a superior quality
of worsted machinery for their own use, and by the
worsted manufacturers generally, incited this corpo-
ration to take a controlling interest in the Newton
Machine Company, who built a large shop adjacent
to the worsted company's factory in 1886. The de-
sign and quality of their machinery is unsurpassed
bv any in the countrj-. The worsted company give
employment to about six hundred operatives, and are
consigning their goods to all parts of the country as
well as to foreign markets.
The Newton Rubber Company has an establishment
which for completeness of equipment is fully equal to
anv other similar concern of its size in New England.
Their factory issituated upon the banks of the Charles
River at the Upper Falls, a few rods below the won-
derful " Echo Bridge." Their buildings and ma-
chinery are entirely new, having been built in 1888.
The machinery consists of washers, mixing mills, cal-
endar, presses, vulcanizers, etc., all from the latest
and most approved patterns and workmanship. A
" Putnam " steam-engine of one Imndred and twenty-
five horse-power is required to drive the machinery,
and the steam used for power, and for drying and
heating purposes in the rubber manufacture is gener-
ated in a " Hazelton " boiler. This company make a
specialty of manufacturing springs, adapted to all
kinds of machinery. Another branch of the manu-
facture is insulating material in sheet, rod or tube, as
NEWTON.
107
well as boxes or cases for secondary or storage batter-
ies, etc.
Perhaps one of the most important branches of
manufacture at the present time is that of tire and po-
lice system of telegraphy, or cude of electric signals
for Calling out the various departments. The appli-
cation of electricity for transmitting signals or alarms
was tirst mentioned in an article in the Bos/on Daily
Advertiser, in .Tune, 1845, which article very likely
was written by Prof. William Channing, of Boston, a
gentleman who gave the subject considerable study
in its early conception, and in connection with Mr.
Mose-t G. Farmer, of Salem, a practical electrician of
those days, succeeded in making an apparatus of suffi-
cient perfection to te.st the experiment. The Hon.
Josiah Quincy, Jr., then mayor of Boston, recom-
mended its adoption in his inaugural address before
the City Council in January, 1848. Beyond the rec-
ommendation of the mayor, nothing was done until
1851, when the City Council appropriated $10,000 to
test the practicability of the system ; and under the
direction of Mr. Farmer the apparatus was built and
jilaced in position, and the first successful official fire
alarm was tolled upon the bells of Boston in 1852.
About the year 1855 a co-partnership w.is formed
by Mr. John N. Gamewell and others of New York,
for continuing the fire alarm telegraph business, who
purchased all of the patents and interest belonging to
Messrs. Channing and Farmer, and they were success-
ful in the work of placing the system in most of
the principal cities in the couutry. Every improve-
ment which inventive genius and mechanical skill
could develop was secured by the company. Mr. Moses
G. Crane, who had been manufacturing fire-alarm
telegraph apparatus, moved his business from Boston
to Newton Highlands in 1873, having fitted up a fac-
tory for that purpose. His first year of manufactur-
ing in Newton demonstrated that the business would
not be a success under old conditions. Buston work-
men would not stay here wiihout extra wages. Expert
workers being scarce and in great demand, be could
see no way out of the difficulty but to get young men
and train them. He did so and soon found that grad-
uates of the high and grammar schools made rapid
progress, and in a few years he had acorpsof over fifty
as expert and reliable workmen as could be found in
the State.
His manufacturing was done almost exclusively for
John M. Gamewell & Co., of New York, until that
firm was succeeded by the Gamewell Fire Alarm Tel-
egraph Company, a New York corporstion formed in
1877 with a capital of §750,000. Mr. Crane con-
tracted to do all their manufacturing, they to have
free use of his patents duringlhecontract time, which
arrangement continued until 1886, when Mr. Crane
sold to the above company his manufacturing busi-
ness and everything pertaining to it. The company
occupied his factory until 1890, when they moved
into their new and commodious quarters at Upper
Falls, where they employ above a hundred workmen.
It may not be out of place here to state that it is gen-
erally conceded that to Mr. Moses G. Crane is to be
credited a very large share of the great success of tel-
egraphic fire alarms as shown in its practical working
to-day. His inventions, the mechanical construction
and conscientious and perfect manufacture of the in-
struments and machines used therein, have been
greatly admired for their simplicity and for the per-
fect manner in which they perform their functions.
Their systems of fire and police alarm telegraphy
are in use in most of the large cities and towns of this
country, as well as in foreign lands.
Including machinists, linemen and operators, this
company furnishes employment to more than five
hundred men during the working seasons of the year.
The United States Fire Works Company was or-
ganized at Portland, Maine, in February, 1886, with
a capital of 810,000, for the manufacture of pyrotech-
nic.". The next winter it was reorganized withapaid-up
capital of $20,000, and the works removed to Newton
Upper Falls, with its business offices and salesrooms
in Boston. This company manufacture the highest
grade of goods in their line of business; and have
given some of the finest and most elaborate exhibits
ever given in this country. Among the most notable
may be mentioned the displays given at the National
Military Drill at Washington, D. C, in May, 1887>
and witnessed by the vast assemblage gathered at that
festal occasion. These displays gave the company a
national reputation, aud since that time they have
filled orders from all sections of the country — par-
ticularly from the fashionable watering-places in the
vicinity of Boston.
During the busy season the company employ from
fifty to sixty workmen in the manufacture of their
fireworks, and have an annual sale of at least $50,000
worth of goods from their laboratories.
Silk culture and manofacture is an industry that is
already well established in this country, and is one
that is rapidly increasing year by year ; it already oc-
cupies a prominent place in the manufacturing com-
munity.
The first attempt at silk culture on this side of the
Atlantic of which we find any record was made in
Virginia in 1C23. Twenty-five years later it was or-
dered by the colonial authorities that every planter
should raise at least one mulberry tree for each and
every ten acres of land they owned, or pay a fine of
ten pounds of tobacco. A few years later the govern-
ment of Virginia offered a bounty of 5000 poundR of
tobacco to any one who should produce a thousand
pounds of wound silk in a single year.^ This impetus
given to silk culture so increased the production that
the bounty was withdrawn in 1666. This withdrawal
virtually ended the silk culture, for a time at least,
and planters turned their attention to the more profit-
able crops.
Several brief attempts at silk manufacture were
108
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
made during the latter years of the colonial period; i
and one that probably was more successful than many
of the others was made by Major William Molineaux, '■
of Boston, in spinning, dyeing and manulacturingsilk. .
The authorities, in 1770, gave him the free use of a
suitable building in which to carry on his business. i
In 1790 the silk manufacture was commenced in !
the town of Ipswich, Massachusetts, but was limited '
to handkerchiefs, ribbons, laces and edgings.
During the early part of the present century quite
a number of small silk manufactories were started in j
Massachusetts. Mr. Jesse Fewkes had a small factory
in Newton about the year 1822, where he manufac- I
tured a superior quality of tine laces, from linen or
silk fabric. A thread as fine aa No. 250 or 300 was
required for his goods, and even a thread of No. 360
would be used on his finest work. 1
Perhaps the factory of Mr. Jonathan H. Cobb, of ,
Dedham, in 1830 or thereabouts, was one of the most
thriving and successful in Eastern New England. His ,
production of sewing silk in 1837 amounted to more
than S10,000, and the entire production of the State j
aggregated at least $150,000 the same year.
Mr. Cobb early interested himself in silk culture, i
and gave considerable attention to growing the
mulberry tree and the feeding of silk-worms. The j
Morus MuUicaulis, or Chinese Mulberry, was the
most proli6c in foliage and furnished a tender leaf ;
which was a favorite of the worm. But our climate |
proved to be too cold to admit of its economical
culture. Still, there was quite an interest manifest in
the agricultural community generally in regard to
the propagation of the mulberry, and the principal
nurserymen of Newton were among the numbers to
enter largely into the growing of the Multicaulis. ,
Several large fields of the Chinese Mulberry were :
cultivated in the years 1838 to 1840, and thousands
of siik-worms were fed. But beyond the reeling of
small quantities of silk from the cocoons, colhing was
done ; and for the next ten or twelve years the silk
culture and manufacture in Newton was an item of
history. But in 1852 Mr. Joseph W. Plimpton built
a large ribbon factory on Margin Street, West New-
ton, and employed a number of skilled workmen in
weaving a great variety of fancy ribbons and dress
trimmings. In the statistics of industries of the Com-
monwealth, in 1855, we find that Mr. Plimpton's pro-
ductions amounted to $38,000, and the silk products
of the State aggregated $750,000.
In 1857 Mr. Plimpton sold his factory to his super-
intendent, Mr. Charles R. Garratt, who continued
the business about two years, when the works were
destroyed by fire in 1859.
Early in the sixties, Mr. Isaac Farwell, Jr., started
a sewing silk factory, at Newton Lower Pal Is, and was
quite successful in his enterprise. About the year
1870 he removed his machinery to Newton Village,
near the Watertowa line, and continued the business
for a few years longer, then removing to Connecticut.
The cotton factory property belonging to the New-
ton Jlills Company at the U|)per Falls, which had
been idle for about tv.-o years, was purchased by
Messra. Waller T. Phipps and Franklin M. Train, co-
partners in business — late in the summer of I'^SB.
The old cotton machinery was taken out, and silk
machinery put in its place, thus establishing one of
the largest and most flourishing silk factories in the
State. The company give employment to about 225
operatives, and require 100,000 pounds of raw mater-
ial annually to supply their mill. The raw material
used is commercially known as " waste silk," and is
imported principally from Japan and China, with
occasional invoices from Italy. The manufactured
goods are, in the main, spun silk warps, used in
plushes, upholstery and dress silk goods — and some
hosiery work. The coloring department furnishes
any variety of shade required by the purchasers.
To follow a pound of raw material through all of
its various stages of manufacture would occupy more
space than this article will allow, but, in brief, an out-
line of the process may be given. The first operation
is to tease up the waste or raw material into a loose
and flaky condition, and then plunge it into large
vats to steam or boil, to eliminate the gum and other
foreign substances adhering to it. Next it is rinsed
and placed upon a system of crates for drying. After
becoming thoroughly dried it is taken to the filling
and dressing machines, where the process of separa-
ting and straightening ihe conglomerate mass of fibre
is commenced. And by repeated operations upon
these machines, the fibres are laid out perfectly
straight. It is next put through a process of gill
machinery, and from thence to the spinning-frames.
The drawing and spinning machinery used for silk
is in many respects similar to worsted machinery,
with the exception of the adjustment of the draught
rollers, which must be made to conform to the dilfer-
ence between the lengths of the staple or fibre.
After the thread is spun to the required fineness
for the web, it is ready for finishing. By examina-
tion with a microscope a soft down or fuzz will be
seen along its surface, which must be removed. This
is done upon what is termed a " gasing " machine,
where the threads are drawn rapidly through a mild
gas dame, so regulated as to remove the fuzz without
in any way injuring the thread. Now the silken
threads receive their final finish, and are grouped into
the required numbers of threads for a warp, or are
reeled icto hanks, aa may be required for weav-
ing.
The demand for this company's goods has at times
been so great, that they were obliged to employ a
duplicate number of operatives, and run their ma-
chinery during the entire night-time, for weeks, and
sometimes for months together, to fill their orders.
In the summer of 1867 Mr. George E. and William
H. Wales, who lived on Greenwood Street, in the Oak
Hill district of Newton, started the fruit preserving
NEWTON.
109
business in a small way, under the firm-name of
AVales Brothers.
From the want of better accomodations, the first
season's work was done vnith an old cooking stove set
up under a large elm tree near their house.
The year's production was about filty dozen tum-
blers of jama and jellies, and the gross amount of
sales realized nearly §600. The next season a small
building with two rooms about ten by twenty feet
each was provided for the business. In 1873 Mr.
George E. Wales purchased his brother's interest,
and since that time he has remained the sole proprie-
tor. The same year he built a new building twenty-
four by forty feet, and two stories high, to accommo-
date his steadily increasing demands for preserves.
In the year 1884 the works were removed to Cedar
Street, Xewton Nen'.re, and a commodious new
factory erected, with about 8500 square feet of floor
space; and last year (1889) the production of pre-
serves reached 2500 dozens of tumblers, a.', a value of
nearly 825,000.
The value of the works in 1867 was about twenty-
five dollars, and at the present time about S7500 are
invested in building and apparatus for carrying on
the business.
At first the sales of the Messrs. Wales' goods was
slow, for they adopted the rule to commence with,
that nothing but good fruits and the best of sugar
should be used in their manufactory, which enhanced
the cost beyond that of other manufacturers. This
standard they have strictly adhered to.
They al-o adopted at the beginning the name of
" Home-made" preserves, a name well earned by the
scrupulous care taken at all times to keep everything
clean, pure and free from adulteration by chemicals
or coloring materials. These merits have given them
the first prizes at several exhibitions in mechanics'
fairs and other places. The goods are largely sold in
Boston and vicinity, although consignments are fre-
quently made to some of the principal Southern and
Western cities. Certain varieties are shipped to Eng-
land, China, and even to Africa and elsewhere.
In the year 1807 Mr. Ziba Bridges removed from
the town of Holliston to Newton, and purchased about
two acres of land with a forge-shop thereon, of Ed-
ward Fisher, at the Lower Falls, where he started
what proved to be a thriving and profitable business.
A few years later he purchased a few acres of land
upon the top of the hill near the Newton factories at the
Upper Falls, and built a brick dwelling-house, and a
frame forge shop upon the premises, thereby extend-
ing his business, in which he continued for about
twenty year?.
Mr. Bridges had two sons, twin brothers, who de-
veloped in childhood a strong mechanical turn of
mind. These lads had for playmates the sons of
Mr. Joseph Davenport, a near neighbor to them, —
and as the Davenport boys were also mechanically
I inclined, it was very natural for them to spend their
I leisure hours in rudely constructing mechanical de-
I vices with jack-knives and hammers. In after-life
I these lads formed a co-partnership in business for
building railway cars.
Mr. Charles Davenport and Albert Bridges located
in Cambridgeport, and Mr. Alvin Davenport and Al-
fred Bridges in Fitchburg, and carried on their works
with a firm-name of Davenport & Bridges.
They made valuable improvements in the railway
car, first by building the long eight-wheeled car, with
end doors and platform such as are now in general
use.
Their second improvement was a peculiar mechan-
ical arrangement to give the body of the car an easy
and gracelul motion while running.
From the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics' As-
sociation report for 1837, No. 429, we make the fol-
lowing extract, viz. :
" The improTement here ctuimed by Davenport i Kimball (Mr.
Kinibull uuB fiitlier-ili-liiw of Mr. .\lb«rl Bridges), we uutlemtaud to be
flrst, llie iiiunner uf uttacbio); tbe cars to the engine, ae well an to each
other, by wbicli the eiiddeu sliock in starting or blupping will be avoid-
ed. And secondly, tbe cure are to be cuunected by a platforiu uC the
ends. Uy this means one may pass thioiigb the whole length of tbe
train on tbe inside, as tbe doors are at the euda of Ibe car, and you enter
by Btcppiog upon a platform betweeo them."
In the report of the same association for 184], No.
378, we copy another extract, viz. :
" Most persons who travel by railroad experience a continual repeti-
tion of sudden Jars or shocks, aiisiug frotu the sideway uiovenieuts ot
the flanges of the wheels of tbe car against the rails of ttie track. The
iniprovenieut made by Messrs. Davenport i Blidgesisto obviate tbe above
effects of the litteral motion by springs, suitably arranged. .\ud in order
to accomplish this the body of tlie car is supported on tspriugs by means
of euspeiidiiii; or pendulous ban, which permit a lateral motion of the
running nmcliincry, independent of the body of the carriage, and side-
si)rin;;s are di.-^posed so as to reduce the shock of the wlieels u|)on the
rails. .\ letter written in a car with these improvements, uhile run-
ning at the rate of twenty-rive miles per hour was exhibited, which to
all appearances was as well written as if done m a counting-room."
The inventors of these improvements in passenger
cars received a silver medal from the association.
By the foregoing extracts and descriptions it will be
seen that the valuable improvements in railway car-
riages at that time belonged to Newton's sons. And
very likeiy the early conceptions of them were made
in their native town, before developing them in iheir
workshops in other places.
In ihe extreme northeasterly part of Newton, quite
near to the Brighton line on South Street and upon
the eastern slope of the Norcross, or Waban Hill, was
the residence of Mr. Hiram Tucker, who was a paint-
er by trade, and who followed the business for several
yeais of his early life. He had a desire to improve
the quality of painters' supplies, and gave the subject
special study, which resulted in his compounding a
liquid bronze, for coating metals used in the manu-
facture of chandeliers, lamps, bedsteads and other
metallic household goods. The Penrhyn marble, or
110
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
painted slate, or other stone or iron used for mantels
and fire-frames, is another of his inventions.
About the year 1872 he built a large varnish fac-
tory at a cost often thousand dollars, near his dwell-
ing, and manufactured a superior quality of coach-
varnish, which he was enabled to produce by a pecu-
liar method he had of treating or preparing the oils and
other compounds used in its manufacture. From
eight to ten thousand gallons of varnish was consid-
ered by him to be a fair annual production. He car-
ried on this branch of his busintss in connection with
manufacturing enterprises he had in other localities
outside of Newton, until his de.ith, only a few years
ago, when the works were discontinued, and his
buildings utilized for other purposes.
In my research for historical matter and incidents
I have spent considerable time in looking up old rec-
ords at the Middlesex and Norfolk registries of deeds,
and at other places where information could be found.
The Boston Public Library has been a prolific source
of valuable information — so has the Newton Library;
and the town and city records have been of value in
preparing this article.
I am also indebted to quite a number of the older
inhabitanis of our city fur valuable assi.stance in pro-
curing many facts pertaining to the earlier industries,
both from record and memory, or tradition.
I am specially indebted to Dr. Charles F. Crehore,
of the Lower Falls, for valuable records and docu-
ments connected with the paper manufacture of that
village; and from the citizens generally, whom I
have interviewed, I have received a willing and
hearty response to my interrogatories, for which I
return thanks for their kindness in assisting me in
the work.
CHAPTER VIIL
ATIITO.V— ( Coutinned).
CLUBS, SOCtETlES, ETC.
BY EDWIN B. HASKELL.
Newton is a city of villages, mainly the homes of I
people whose business is in Boston. Eight flouri-h- j
ing villages have grown up on the lines of the two
railroads which run through the city liniiis. These 1
are thoroughly equipped with post-offices, stores,
churches, schools and public halls, making each '
section essentially a distinct community. There are
several others still in embryo about the new stations of
the so-called Circuit Railroad, which forms an ea.sy
means of communication between the different sec-
tions. The number of villages has naturally led to I
the formation of an unusually large number of clubs
and societies in proportion to the population, each '
village having its full quota, while some of more gen-
eral interest have all parts of the city represented in
their membership. Of the latter class the Newton
Horticultural .'society is a good example, and, as it is
one of the oldest and most useful .societies iu the city,
it is proper to give it 'he place of honor.
The Newton Horticultural Society. — This
society was the outgrowth of a series of meetings
held at Newton Centre by the active and enterprising
young men of that place. The first annual meeting
was held in Lyceum Hall, October 16, 1854.
The officers of the permanent organization were:
President, Alfred Morse; Vice-Presidents, John
Ward, Jr., and B. W. Kingsbury; Secretary, C. N.
Brackett ; Treasurer, Henry Paul; Executive Com-
mittee, Geo. K. Ward, B. W. Kingsbury and E. J.
Collins.
The society started under very favorable circum-
stances financially, and its affairs were conducied by
those who were very much interested in its workings,
some of whom are the active members today.
The meetings were at first held at the houses of the
members, where horticultural and agricultural ques-
tions were discussed, but they soon outgrew the limits
of private accommodations.
It Was the custom in the early years of the society
to hold monthly meetings during the winter, at which
refreshments were provided, and the social part was
quite an important feature.
At the annual exhibition of the year 185(5 every
section of the town (now city) was represented.
In 1S02 an exhibition and festival was held at
Newton Corner, the proceeds of which were placed
in the hands of a committee of three to be divided
among the soldiers of the town. Winter meetings
were held that year and they were addressed by ]ier-
scns well known in horticulture. In April, 180(3, a
member made a report in the form of an address,
urging a more systematic effort to destroy the cater-
pillar. The address was printed and distributed
among the residents of Newton. Successful efforis
were being made from time to time to increase the
membership of the society and, by a vote, ladies were
invited to join the society.
In the season of 18GG-(j7 committees were ap-
pointed to study the habits of birds beneficial to
horticulture and to awaken an interest in the citizens
to set shade-lrees by the side of the streets. A series
of prizes were offered for the best and most succesE-
fuUy grown group of shade-trees.
A committee was appointed in April, 1S6S, to culti-
vate and propagate various plants, seeds and vege-
tables to be distributed among the members. Mr.
Henry Ross was chosen chairman of that committee,
and under his supervision a report was made in the
Ibllowing ."pring that there were several thousand
plants and many bushels of improved potatoes await-
ing distribution among the members.
For a number of years past the Agricultural Bureau
NEWTON.
Ill
at Washington has distrihuted seeds to the citizens of
Newton through the society.
In 1875, in an essay read at one of the meetings on
" How to Beautify our City," the removal of fences
from the front of residences was advocated. The
society passed the following vote : "jResulved, That
the members of the Newton Horticultural Society use
their influence toward beautifying the City of Newton
by advocating the removal of fences from fronts of
residences, thus giving the efl"ect of a series of parks
without the outlay of large sums of money."
A committee was appointed to prepare a list of the
best varieties of pears, which list was printed and dis-
tributed among the members and others.
The society has had a continuous existence for
over thirty-five years, and its members claim for it a
fair share of the praise given to Newton for its
beautiful streets, set with fine trees, the taste displayed
in laying out private places, and the absence of
fences'.
The thanks of the residents of the city are due to
the members of the society who were present at its
birth, who have clung to it through its many years
of existence, who have given it energy and theabiliiy
to perform its work and shed an influence over the
whole city. Among those who can be mentioned are
J. F. C. Hyde, Geo. K. Ward, John Ward, C. N.
Brackelt, John Stearns, Geo. F. Stone, Lyman Morse,
H. H. White, Wm. Aiken and Henry Rots. Among
those who joined later we find E. W. Wood, Geo. S.
Harwood, Chas. W. Ross and many others.
The present oflicers are:
President, D. D. Sl.ade ; vice-presidents, A. T. Syl-
vester aud N. W. Farley ; treasurer, E. .V. Wood ;
auditor, W. H. Gould ; executive committee, E. W.
Wood, C. N. Brackett, J. R. Leeson, C. W. Ross,
L. H. Farlow.
The Jersey Stock Club of Newton. — On the
17th of May, IStiG, a meeting was held at the resi.
dence of Hon. Wm. Claflin for the purpose of organ-
izing a club having for its prime object " The breeding
and improvement of Alderney or Jersey Cattle." At
this meeting a committee was appointed to prepare a
constitution and by-laws, and to nominate a list of
officers for the club. The first organization was pre-
sided over by the following list of oflicers, elected
June 11, 18G6 : President, Hon. William Claflin ; vice-
president, Geo. C. Rand; corresponding secretary,
Edwin F. Waters ; recording secretary, James T.
Allen ; treasurer, E. Porter Dyer ; board of directors,
J. J. Walworth. George Frost, Wm. E. Plummer, J. j
F. Edmands, Henry Billings, N. P. Coburn, Thos. j
Rice, Jr. ; herd book committee, Thomas Drew,
George E. Allen, Joseph Walker. i
A constitution and by-laws were adopted June 20, !
1866. The club immediately provided itself with j
pure blood Jersey bulls for the improvement of the
herds owned by members, and yearly exhibitions of
stock were held until the year 1870, when the mem-
bership becoming so large as to make the club too
cumbersome as a social institution, it was dissolved in
January of that year.
Immediately after the first club was dissolved it was
thought best to form another one, limiting the member-
ship to twenty persons, and making it eminently a
social club, holding meetings at the residences of var-
ious members once in two months.
This new organization was formed on March 14,
1870, and the list of oflicers elected at that time was
as follows: President, George H.Jones; secretary and
trea.=urer, J. F. Edmands ; executive committee, George
Frost, John C. Chaffin, John C. Potter, Jr.
-A. constitution and by-laws were adopted at this
meeting and the club named "The Jersey Stock Club
of Newton." The object of the club, as declared; was
to promote the keeping and improve the breeding of
Jersey stock in Newton, and social intercourse among
the members.
The membership of twenty is always full, and is
composed of the most prominent citizens of the city.
The original members were: Isaac T. Burr, John C.
Chaffin, Hon. Wm. Claflin, Nathaniel T. Coburn, E.
W. Converse, Fred'k Davis, Hon. J. Wiley Edmands,
D. R. Emerson, J. F. Edmands, George Frost, Joel
H. Hills, D.ivid B. Jewett, David H. Mason, George
H. Jones, George C. Lord, John C. Potter, Jr., George
C. Rand, Hon. Alden Speare, J. C. Stanton, Jos. H.
Woodford.
The club has done a good work in this section of
the country in the introduction, by selection and im-
portation from the Isle sf Jersey, of a superior class
of cattle, and it is quite probable that the fine taste
for Jersey butter and rich milk has been cultivated
by its influence.
The club occasionally holds exhibitions of stock
owned by members; the last show of this kind was
held on the ample grounds of the late Hon. John S.
Farlow, when forty-one head of the beautiful pure-
blood Jerseys were brought together, and eminent
breeders and prominent gentlemen from other parts of
the country were congregated at that time to pass
judgment on the cattle and their products. Actual
demonstrations like the above are feit far and wide,
and it is pleasant to note the influence as expressed
in all the country fairs, and more particularly at the
late State Fair of the New England Agricultural So-
ciety, where Jersey cattle aud their products were
more prominent than all the other cattle on exhibi-
tion.
The present oflicers of the club are : President, E.
B. Haskell ; Vice-president, John S. Farlow;' Secre-
tary, Jos. H. Woodford ; Treasurer, A. Lawrence Ed-
mands ; Executive Committee, George Frost, John
C. Chaffin, John C. Potter.
Newton Natural History Society. — The New-
ton Natural History Society dates from the autumn
1 DeceRS«i ilRTch, 18S0.
112
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
of 1879. The first regular meeting was held October
28th of that year. Its avowed objects were the study
of natural science and the developraeni of interest in
such matters among young people and in the public
schools.
The membership and attendance soon outgrew the
capacity of a private house, and a small room was
rented in Eliot Block, in Newton, and this was after-
ward exchanged for the lower hall in that building.
The interest shown at this time has not always been
maintained, as the membership changed through re-
movals and deaths, but at the present time the soci-
ety has a live membership, and is probably doing
more than ever to justify its existence. Its usual pro-
gramme includes an essay on some scientific subject
by a member of the society or by an invited essayist.
Valuable features of the meetings are the short talks
given by members upon subjects which they have
been investigating. These talks, illustrated by the
blackboard, are especially calculated to assist begin-
ners, and to call attention to the many points of in-
terest in things easily accessible. The society has
made a collection of objects pertaining to natural his-
tory, and by the donation of several valuable private
collections it has formed a nucleus of a useful collec-
tion. Among its recent gifts may be mentioned a
fine collection of plants by the late Gen. A. B. Under-
wood, a collection of minerals from Mr. Edward
Fearing, and another from the late Judge J. C. Park.
Until the society shall have a building of its own, it
will labor under a serious disadvantage. To be of
use, its specimens ought to be accessible, and avail-
able for study and comparison. Since February 26,
1883, the society has been incorporated under the laws
of Massachusetts. With the organization it already
possesses, it is easy to claim a far higher degree of
u^^efulness when suflScient public interest can be
awakened to provide it with proper means for extend-
ing its work. Its meetings are held on the first Mon-
day evening of each month at Eliot Lower Hall,
Newton. The public is invited to attend.
Eliot Memorial As.sociation. — One of the
earliest incidents in the history of Massachusetts is
associated with a portion of Middlesex County, and
the scene lies in what is now the city of Newton.
Nothing but Plymouth Rock antedates, in historic
interest, the Hill Nonaatura, where the Apostle Eliot
began his work among and for the Indians. The
Eliot Memorial Association has secured a plot of
ground on the southern slope of Nonantum Hill,
off Kendrick Street and Waverly Avenue, and
erected a handsome stone terrace with freestone
balustrade, ornamented with allegoric design and
with appropriate inscriptions. On the completion of
ihe memorial by the introduction of a fountain, or
other suitable decoration, the Eliot Jlemorial will
be given over to the city of Newton, and form one
of the most effective wayside monuments within its
borders. The scene is one of the most attractive
possible, overlooking the valley between Nonantum
and Waban Hills, and embellished, towards the
east, by two pleasant lakes and the spires of Brighton
and Boston. Ntwton has for its seal a representa-
tion of Eliot preaching to the Indians, and the
Eliot Memorial fixes upon the landscape the scene
so thoroughly identified with her history. The
principal inscription upon the memorial tersely
puts, with historic accuracy, the events commemo-
rated. It is as follows :
"Here at NoQtintum, Oct. 2S, 1G4''>, in Waban'^ Wigwam,
Neiir this spot. Julin Eliut beizati to picat-h tlie gospel to
The Indians. Heie was fuiirnieil the first Clirisliiia
Community of luUiaus within tlie English Colonies.'*
Carved in the corbels of the balustrade are the
names Waban, Heath, Shepard and Gookiu ; these
are the names of Eliot's companions at that first
service in 1646.
Eliot wrote in a little pamphlet, published in Eng-
land (" Day-breaking of the Gospel ") : " L'pon Octo-
ber '28, 1646, four of us (having sought God) went
unto the Indians inhabiting within our bounds with
desire to make known their peace to them." They
met Waban, " one of iheir principal men," and pro-
ceeded to his wigwam, where the first service was
held, Eliot preaching in the Indian tongue, he hav-
ing, with infinite pains, learned their language, and
he was already engaged upon his translation of the
Bible. The interesting details of this and following
services have been often rehearsed. Eliot now
brought the Indians together in a village, gave them
spades and other tools, encouraged them to plant
apple-trees and build walls and dig ditches. To civ-
ilize and Christianize at the same time was his aim.
" Wee have much cause to be verv thankful to God,
who has moved the hearts of the General Court to
purchase so much land for them to make their towne,
in which the Indians are much taken with." " This
towne the Indians desired to kuow what name it
should have, and it was told them it should be called
' Noonatomen ' (sic), which signifies in English, ' re-
joicing,' because they, hearing the Word and seeking
to know God, the English did rejoice at it, and God
did rejoice at it, which pleased them much." (From
" Day-breaking if not the Sun Uprising of the Gospel
to the Indians.")
Five years later this community, of Indiana was re-
moved to Natick. Nonantum was too near the white
man's fire-water and attendant vices. The westward
march of the Indians then commences and has never
ceased, and now we have come back to the Apostle
Eliot's thought that civilization and Christianity
must go hand-in-hand to benefit the Indian.
In 1676, when the praying Indians were brought
up from Deer Island, after King Philip's AVar, many
of the Indians returned to Nonantum and settled
" near where Mr. Eliot first preached to them." A
school-house was built for them on land of Deacon
Trowbridge, and here Mr. Eliot continued to preach
NEWTON.
113
to them, and Daniel Gookin, a magistrate, held court
every fortnight.
Abraham Hyde, who was born a quarter of a cen-
tury later, remembered well the orchard and walls
and ditches of Nonantum, and spolce of their location
to Jonathan Homer, who wrote of the same in his
slcetch of Xewton, printed in 1793.
Thus history and tradition unite in the site of No-
nantum, the Indian village, and it has been the good
fortune of the Eliot Memorial Association to fix upon
the landscape a memorial, as enduring as history itself,
of the scene where John Eliot began his work for the
Indians.
The Newtox Cottage Hospital. — The need of
the city of Newton for an institution for the care of
the sick was first publicly suggested in the autumn of
1S80. It was seen that the Boston hospitals were
usually full, that the danger from severe accidents
was increased by transportation to them, and that a
better result in all diseases was probable when treated
in the purer air of the suburbs. For these and other
reasons it seemed to some of the citizens desirable
that a hospital should be established in a healthful
location in Newton. A number of gentlemen met on
November 10, 1880, in response to an invitation signed
by the mayor of the city and others, and voted unani-
mously that it was expedient to establish in Newton
a " Cottage Hospital." This name was adopted from
England, where for several years small buildings for
the care of the sick, frequently a cottage-dwelling con-
verted from its original use, had been established,
and with such favorable results in the treatment of
disease, as compared with the large city hospitals, that
their number increased rapidly.
These were called Cottage Hospitals, and even
where moderate-sized buildings were erected, espe-
cially designed for the purpose, the same term was
applied to them. It is an attractive designation for
an institution usually regarded with dread, and there-
fore was selected by the Newton organization. At the
meeting of November 10th a committee of twelve
was appointed to take the matter into consideration
and report a plan of action at a subsequent meeting.
The committee met November 26th and voted to es-
tablish the hospital as a private corporation, and
articles of association and by-laws were considered
and laid over for future action. The committee met
again December ISth and adopted a set of provisional
by-laws as a basis of action. The association, which
was subsequently constituted the Newton Cottage
Hospital Corporation, was formed December 18th by
the committee of twelve and nine other gentlemen.
This association met Jan. 4, 1881, and organized a
corporation by adopting a code of by-laws and elect-
ing a clerk, a treasurer and five trustees. The trus-
tees met January (3, ISSl, and elected apresident and
vice-president. The certificate of incorporation was
granted January 11, 1881. The first annual meeting
of the corporation was held January 17, 1881, when
8-iii
forty-three ladies and gentlemen who were present
were elected members, and twenty-four trustees, twelve
ladies and twelve gentlemen, were chosen, and a clerk
and treasurer elected. At a meeting of the trustees
January 22d, a committee was appointed to investi-
gate the subject of hospital buildings and report upon
the character of such as would be required. At a
meeting of the trustees, March 16th, the president,
Royal M. Pulsifer, announced that he had secured
twelve subscriptions of five hundred dollars each, and
a committee was appointed to decide upon a location
for the hospital and purchase the necessary land.
This committee examined several sites and reported
to the trustees from time to time; but no definite ac-
tion in the matter was taken until June 27, 1884,
when the trustees voted to purchase a lot on Washing-
ton Street, containing about nine acres, at $400 per
acre. This lot is beautifully situated, with a south-
western aspect, and has a frontage of 468 feet on
Washington Street. January 2, 1885, the trustees
examined plans and estimates for buildings, and ap-
pointed a building committee with full powers.
In the summer of 188u the ladies of the city formed
a Ladies' Aid Association, which has always been an
invaluable adjunct to the hospital. At the trustees'
meeting, March 23, 1886, the Executive Committee
submitted a code of rules for the management of the
hospital which were approved. May 11, 1886, the
Executive Committee reported that they had appoint-
ed a Medical Board, and that this Medical Board had
prepared rules for the medical government of the
hospital. The buildings were erected in the winter
of 1885-86, and the hospital was dedicated June 5,
1886. The hospital was furnished by the Ladies'
Aid Association. The land and buildings cost about
$14,000. A peculiarity of the organization of the
hospital is that the two leading schools of medicine
are equally represented in the Medical Board. The
executive ofiicer of the hospital is the matron. A
training-school for nurses has been established, which
performs an important use both to the hospital
and the community. A much-needed addition was
made to the hospital by a new ward, built by one of
the citizens of Newton, Mr. J. R. Leeaon, as a me-
morial to his wife, at a cost of §6240. This new ward,
which is used for women, was dedicated May 4th,
1890.
The hospital is supported by an annual appropria-
tion from the city of Newton, by subscriptions of $300
each for the support of f:ee beds, by donations, by
contributions in the churches on Hospital Sunday,
by income from funds which have been given by
sundry individuals, and by the amount received for
board and care of patients. For the year ending
December 31, 1888, over $8000 was received from
these sources ; the expenses for the year being about
$6000. The total number of patients in the hospital
for three years and five months was 373. There were,
Dec. 1, 1889, accommodations for twenty-nine patients,
114
HISTORY OF .MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
and in 1890 a new ward was added which nearly
doubles the accoraodatiou.-'.
Newton Hospital Aid Ai^sociatiox.— In June,
1885, the trustees of the Newton Cottage Hospital
issued a call to the ladies of Newton. In response to
this call, thirty-three ladies, representing all the New-
ton villages, held a meeting at the Eliot Church,
Newton, July 3, 1885. Mrs. Alvah Hovey was chosen
chairmaD. IShe announced that it was the desire of
the trustees that the ladies of Newton form themselves
into an association to furnish the rooms and provide
for the running expenses of the hospital. The fol-
lowing resolution was adopted :
''Resolved, Tliat the Ifldiea of Newton ossociate thenieelvea na a
Ladies' Aid Asaociatiou for the purpotie ol woikiDg tur tlie Ijus|)ital."
A committee were appointed to arrange by-laws.
September 2'!, 1885, an organization meeting was held
at Grace Church, Newton. A board of oflSeers were
elected, and it was voted to adopt the name, " The
Newton Hospital Aid Association. "
The furnishing of the hospital was accomplished
through the association by contributions from in-
dividuals, churches, literary societies and Sunday-
schools.
Two directors are chosen each year to visit the
hospital before each meeting, and consult with the
matron in regard to the needs of patients.
The directors have been responsible for the col-
lection of membership fees in their various districts
and by their earnest etibrts have interested the people
to care for the sick and give of their abundance to
alleviate suffering and pain. There is a membership
of over three hundred ladies.
The Newton Athen.eum. — The Newton Athense-
um was organized at West Newion in 1S4'J under the
general statutes of Massachusetts.
The stock was held in shares of ten dollars. Its
object was to maintain a library for the use of its
shareholders.
Mr. Wm. B. Fowle, Sr., was chosen the first presi-
dent and the Hon. Horace Mann one of its directors.
The library was opened in a small room in the
Town Hall building February 25, 1850. It numbered
640 volumes, many of them gifts from members and
others.
At first the library was open on Mond.ays — after-
noon and evening — and '' on Town Meeting days
during the hours of each meeting."
As some fifty to one hundred citizens of both se.xes
and all ages would be meeting at the library on these
Monday evenings " to exchange books and saluta-
tions," the suggestion was soon made that they should
adjourn to the Town Hall, the use of which they
could have by furnishing fuel, lights and care, and
with the simplest organization devote a half-hour or
more to the discussion of some interesting theme,
usually suggested by the last new book. The ex-
periment proved satisfactory, and the meetings were
kf-pt up from March ISth until late in the autumn,
when they gave place to a course of lectures given
under the auspices of the Athenreum.
From that time on (with a few short lapses) meet-
ings of the same general character have been held
each season, the exercises usually consisting of short
lectures, discussions and music, " home talent "
being mainly depended upon for their support. These
meetings of the "West Newton Lyceum" have be-
come somewhat ncted beyond the town limits as be-
ing almost the sole survival of a class of institutions
once held in high esteem throughout New England.
In May, 1860, the library, containing 2000 volumes,
was moved to better quarters and deliveries made
three times a week.
Until 1867 only the families of shareholders and
persons paying a small annual fee used the library.
In that year the directors were authorized to allow-
any resident of Newton to take out books. For
several years thereafter this was the only free library
in Newton.
In 1875 the library was removed to .still more
spacious (juarters, a reading-room was opened and a
daily delivery established. The directors were led
to this by the action of the town, which in town-
meeting had adopted, upon the petition of the
Atheutcum and upon the recommendation of the
Hoji. J. Wiley Edmands, the policy of appropriating
money in aid of free incorporated libraries. The city
government endorsed and continued this policy until,
in 1876, it assumed the entire support of the Newton
Free Library at Newton (Corner), since which time
it has ceased to do anything for the West Newton
Library. It has, however, for several years paid a
part of the expenses of the reading-room.
The library contains (in 1890) 5.300 volumes, and is
e.'pecially strong in history, biography and travel-".
The annual deliveries range from 8000 to 12,0u0, be-
sides from 4000 to 4500 volumes which are distributed
by the Athenivum as the agent of the Newton Free
Library.
The Newton Club. — Early in April, 1887, a cir-
cular was addressed by Mr. Austin R. Mitchell to
some forty or fifty gentlemen, requesting them to meet
at his residence. Walnut Street, Newtonville, to con-
sider the advisability of forming a social club for
Newton. The project was not a new one, as several
previ(;u3 attempts to form a social club, which should
embrace in its membership gentlemen from all parts
of Newton, had been made, but none with success.
The present, however, seemed ripe for such a pro-
ject. The Newton Circuit Railroad had recently been
completed, rendering communication between the dif-
ferent sections of the city easy and expeditious, and
the "Roberts House," so-called, the historic mansion
formerly occupied by General Hull, had lately changed
hands and become available for club purposes, for
which use its large and numerous rooms and close
proximity to the railroad station made it peculiarly fit.
NEWTON.
115
The greater part of those receiving Mr. Mitchell's
circular attended at his house on the evening of April
12, 1S87, and it was unanimously decided to attempt
the formation of a club. A committee of twenty-two
was appointed to secure an act of incorporation from
the Legislature, and also to take all other necessary
preliminary steps.
The act of incorporation was signed by Governor
Ames May 26, 1887, and the club immediately organ-
ized. The first officers to serve the club were as fol-
lows: President, Royal M. Pulsifer; Vice-Presidents,
William Claflin, Robert R. Bishop, Isaac T. Burr,
Levi C. Wade; Secretary, Edward W. Gate; Treas-
urer, Francis A. Dewson ; E.xecutive Committee,
Henry E. Cobb, Prescott C. Bridgham, William M.
BuUivant, Moses G. Crane, Edward H. Mason, Wil-
liam J. FoUett, J. Edward HoUis, Samuel L. Powers,
John W. Carter, Arthur C. Walworth; Committee on
Elections, Lewis E. Coffin, George F. Churcbhill,
George L. Lovett, Henry C. Churchill, Eben Thomp-
son, Harry W. Mason, Sydney Harwood, Austin R.
Mitchell, Frederick L. Felton, James W. French.
The Roberts House was at once leased, but it was
not until the following October that the neces-sary al-
terations in it and its furnishing were completed.
On the evening of December 19, 18S7, the club-house
was formally opened with a reception, which was at-
tended by some three or four hundred of the most
prominent citizens of Newton. While the member-
s-hip of the club is composed exclusively of gentlemen,
it has always been the policy of its management to
extend its privileges in some degree to ladies. With
this end in view, a number of entertainments have
been given each winter in the club-house parlors,
and a reception has become an annual feature. The
club is now in its third year; its member.-'hip has
steadily increased, and includes many of the best-
known and most influential residents of the city, and
gives promise of being a permanent feature in the
social life of Newton.
Newtox Civil Service Reform AssoriAxiox. —
The Newton Civil Service Reform Association had
its origin in a suggestion made by Rev. Henry Lam-
bert at a meeting of the West Newton Book Club,
held April 1, 1S81. At this meeting Messrs. Henry
Lambert, E. P. Bond and N.T. Allen were appointed
a committee to secure the co-operation of other citi-
zens of the ward in forming a civil service reform
organization. In accordance with a notice published
in the y^est Xewton Transcript, and signed by these
gentlemen and twenty-two others, a meeting wa.s held
at the City Hall, West Newton, April 20, 1881, at
which was adopted a preamble and constitution for
the " West Newton Civil Service Reform Association."
The organization started with nearly eighty members
.".ud the following list of olBcers: President, Rev.
Heury Lambert; vice-presidents, Rev. Increase N.
Tarbox, Henry A. Inmau ; treasurer, John J. Eddy;
secretary, Fisher Ames ; directors, Thomas B. Fitz,
F. F. Raymond {2d), Arthur Carroll, Alfred L. Bar-
bour.
At the annual meeting, April 24, 1882, the name
of the society was changed to the "Newton Civil Ser-
vice Reform Association." Since that time it haa
aimed to make its lists of members and officers repre-
sentative, as near as may be, of the entire city.
The officers elected at the annual meeting April 22,
1889, were: President, Rev. Henry Lambert; vice-
presidents, Leverett Saltoastall, John S. Farlow, Ed-
win B. Haskell, Robert R. Bishop, Wm. P. Ellison,
Edwin P. Seaver, Nathaniel T. Allen; treasurer,
Stephen Thacher; secretary, James P. Tolman; di-
rectors. Thomas B. Fitz, Edward P. Bond, F. F. Ray-
mond (2d), H. E. Bothfeld. The number of members
December, 1889, was 127.
The association, by its executive committee, haa
adopted and published resolutions on many occasions
of moment in the progress of the reform. It has
usually sent several representatives to the meetings
of the National Civil Service Reform League, and
has always sent delegates to the Massachusetts
League ; has each year contributed to the support of
the National League, and has distributed the litera-
ture of the reform very freely among its members and
others.
In 1885 the association published and circulated
a historical sketch of the movement, in the form of a
pamphlet, by President Lambert, entitled "The Prog-
ress of Civil Service Reform in the United States."
In behalf of the association the executive commit-
tee Las frequently addressed letters of inquiry to
public officers and candidates for office. Its corre-
spondence with Hon. John W. Chanler, then Rep-
sentaiive to Congress from the district, led to the
organization of the independent movement which
elected Hon. Theodore Lyman to Congress in the
fall of 1882, and apparently much hastened the pas-
sage of the National Civil Service Act in January,
ISS3.
Pise Farm School.— In the year 1863 a farm
containing about twenty-five acres on Chestnut
Street, corner of Fuller, West Newton, was purchased
and fitted as a home for boys living in such exposed
and neglected circumstances as to be likely to fall
into vicious habits.
In June, 1864, the place was dedicated by appro-
priate exercises to the purposes for which it had been
obtained.
In 1865 an act of incorporation was granted by the
Legislature to the Boston Children's Aid Society, the
members of which had been united in starting and
carrying forward the enterprise. Mr. Rufus R. Cook,
familiarly known as " Uncle Cook," acted as agent,
and sent to the home such boys as he found in the
city morally exposed, and who in his judgment could
be saved if placed under better influences.
The number of boys to be in the school at one time
is limited to thirty, and it is designed to be a home in
116
niSTORY OF JIIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
the true&t and highest sense. The boys attend school
every day except Saturday, and on Suaday attend
the Congrfgational Church and Sunday-school. The
day-school is upon the grounds, the teacher residing
on the farm. The boys are given up by the parents
or guardians to the care of the society till eightfen
years of age, being received betv/een the ages of nine
and fifteen years.
After remaining in the school until, in the judg-
ment of the superintendent (usually between one and
two years), they are sufficiently trained to do well,
they are placed in some family, but are still under
the care of the society, a visitor being continually
employed in visiting them to see that they are well
cared for in their new homes. Between twenty and
thirty boys are usually sent out in a year, and the re-
sults show that a very large percentage of these boys,
taken from their parents and placed under better in-
fluences, may be saved from the criminal life almost
certain to follow as the result of their evil surround-
ings. Indolent and injudicious parents, to say nothing
of those who are intemperate and criminal, make
many homes the training-school for lives of lawless-
ness and criminality. During the quarter of a cen-
tury of the existence of Pine Farm School there has
been no death among the boys and but little serious
illness. They soon yield to a kind but firm disci-
pline, and with regular diet and sleep, improve in
bodily health.
Kebecca Po.meroy Xewton Home for Orphan
Girls. — In the year 1872 Mrs. Rebecca R. Pomeroy,
with the aid of friends, assumed the care and support
of four little girls who were made homeless by the
disbanding of the " Girls' School " connected with the
" Boston Children's Aid Society." This was the
nucleus of what has grown to be the " Rebecca Pom-
eroy Newton Home for Orphan Girls." With rare
industry, tact and thrift combined, it has been en-
abled to feed, clothe and educate its twenty inmates
during the pa-st seventeen years, mainly from the
gifts of the women of Newton, although generous aid
has been given by friends, both old and young, in
neighboring cities.
The present location of the home on Hovey Street,
Newton, was purchased by the citizens of Newton as
a memorial to its founder, Mrs. Pomeroy.
There have been connected with the home fifty-two
orphan and destitute girls. The number who have
completed a full course of training, and have gone
out prepared to enter upcn life-work well equipped
to earn a livelihood, is eighteen ; the number re-
turned to friends, able to furnish good homes for
them, ten. Three are married. Nineteen are now
earning a support. Not one has died at the home,
and only two since leaving it.
When thoroughly prepared each girl goes to ser-
vice in a place carefully secured in a good family, a
country home preferred. A bank-book is provided
and all savings above necessary expenses are depos-
ited in the Newton Savings Bank. The treasurer of
the " Home " corporation has now in her care nine
such books with an aggregate of six hundred dollars
invested.
One of the lady directors, in connection with the
superintendent, continues watchful care and over-
sight of these girls after leaving the home, as would
a good mother.
The principle involved- in the management of the
home is unique. From each of the twenty-seven
Protestant churches of the city one or more ladies or
gentlemen are secured. These constitute a Board
of Corporators, who, at an annual meetinc, elect a
Board of Directors, upon whom devolves the imme-
diate management of the home.
It is an unwritten law that each of the Protestant
religious sects in the city shall, if possible, be repre-
sented upon this Board of Directors. It is not true
that sectarianism in any objectionable sense ever has
been or could be justly charged to the home.
The public are cordially invited to visit the home
and witness the spirit which animates the whole
household, and to remember it is only by the gener-
ous gifts of its friends that the home has been en-
abled to seek and save many a friendless orphan girl
and elevate them to virtuous womanhood.
Firemen's Relief Associatiox. — The above as-
sociation was organized August 2, 1S78, and incor-
porated December 4, li^84, with the following list of
names as incorporators: — Henry L. Bixby, F. H.
Humphrey, W. S. Higgins, Bernard Early, H. H.
Easterbrook, George H. Haynes, Charles W. H. Boul-
ton, J. E. Trowbridge, F. D. Graves, T.C. Nickerson,
W. S. Cargill, John Dreary.
The object of this association is set forth in the fol-
lowing preamble :
" WiiEEEAS, the members of tlie Fire Department of the City of N'ew-
ton nre liable, in llie UiM-liiirge of titeir duty, to many casualties to wliiub
citizefib lire generally not exposed, and,
" WiiEttEA?, These cusuallies nre frequently very injurious, and some-
times ruinous to health, couilort and pecuniary circumstances of ihoae
on wliom they fall —
'* It is therefore,
" Itestthvti, by the undersigned, being all members of the Xewton Fire
Department, that we form ourselves into a society for the purpose of
material aid and assistance, under the calamities to which the public
duties of llreiuen may expose tliem, and for the better management and
control thereof we accept the following constitution, by which we mu-
tually agree to be governed."
I The present fund is maintained by annual assess-
I ment of each member, by public contributions, and
1 the small amounts realized from public entertain-
' ments.
I The present amount of this fund ia S2200, depos-
; ited in savings banks.
! The officers for 1889 are Henry L. Bixby, presi-
dent; W. S. Cargill, vice-president ; Willard S. Hig-
gins, secretary and treasurer.
YonxG Men's Christian Association. — Some
time during the summer of 1877, Dr. H. B.Jones was
impressed with the necessity of doing some special
NKWTON.
Ill
work for temperance, and for that purpose invited
about a dozen gentlemen to meet at his house to con-
sider the subject.
While discussing the temperance question it was
brought to the notice of those present that there were
a number of young men in Xewton whom the
church did not reach, and it was considered desirable
to take some united action to supplement the church
work, and at the same time do more for temperance
than was being done. To this end it was suggested
to unite Christian workers from all the evangelical
churches as a Young Men's Christian Association.
A public meeting to consider it was called at Eliot
Lower Hall, October 16th. • Quite a large number of
gentlemen responded to the call and the meeting was
organized with Mr. E. P. Wright as chairman and
Mr. George S. Trowbridge as secretary. Dr. H. B.
Jones eloquently presented the object of the meeting,
and was followed by several others, awakening con-
siderable enthusiasm in the matter. It was voted to
organize an association and a committee was appointed
to prepare a constitution and report in one week, to
which time the meeting adjourned. At the adjourned
meeting the organization was perfected, a constitution
adopted and the following board of officers elected:
President, George S. Harwood ; vice-president, Geo.
S. Trowbridge ; secretary, Geo. C. Dunne ; trea-surer,
F. M. Trowbridge ; directors, Edward B. Earle, Ed-
ward W. Gate, J. M. Kalloway, Dr. H. B. Jones,
Daniel E. Snow.
The association was fairly launched, and has been
an active organization ever since, doing good work
in its chosen field. Its anniversary occasions are
always of special interest, and at its last one, when
Eliot Hall was well filled, the erection of a Y. M.
C. A. building was advocated, which has so awakened
public opinion to its necessity that active etibrts are
being made in that direction with very gratifying
results.
The presidents since its organization have been :
George S. Harwood, one year; G. D- Gilman, three
years; H.J. Woods, three years; D. E. Snow, two
years; R. F. Cummings, two years; and D. Fletcher
Barber, who is now serving his second year.
The Newtox Sunday-School Uxiox. — This
Union of the Sunday-schools of the town of Newton
for the discussion of practical questions, designed to
prepare teachers and officers for better work, was organ-
ized December 18, 1838, with Hon. William Jackson as
its first president. Six schools comprised the Union
at its bifth, and its earliest anniversaries were held in
groves, with procesffions of children, addresses from
prominent citizens, and large gatherings, as their
features. Its regular meetings were then held
monthly, but afterwards made quarterly, changing
from village to village on Sunday evenings, each Sun-
day-school there reporting its condition. Through
its enterprise a colporteur was maintained in 1849 and
subsequently to labor in West Virginia and Ohio.
October 16. 1863, the Union celebrated the twenty-
fifth anniversary of its organization with an address
by Rev. A. L. Stone, D.D., of Park Street (Boston)
Church, in the first Eliot Hall. June 27, 1863, the
lOOlh anniversary of the organization of Sunday-
schools by Robert Raikes was celebrated in the new
Eliot Hall, with an historical address by Rev. Brad-
ford K. Pierce, D.D., and a centennial hymn by Rev.
S. F. Smith. The singing upon this occasion was by
a choir of 350 children from the various schools,
trained and conducted by Mr. George S. Trowbridge.
In I860 the Union represented a Sunday-school mem-
bership of 1405; in 1870, 2870; and in 1880, 3085,
teachers and scholars. Jleetings have been held reg-
ularly all these years. October 19, 1881, a gold medal
was offered as a prize for the best essay on " Sunday-
School Interests." It was subsequently awarded by
the committee to Mr. D. E. Snow, who had served as
secretary of the Union from 1S69 to 1877 and as its
president during the year 1878. Among the promi-
nent citizens of Newton who have served as its presi-
dents may also be mentioned Messrs. Marshall S. Rice,
Deacon Ebenezer F. Woodard, Frederick A. Benson,
George S. Harwood, Joseph A. Newe'.l, General A. B.
Underwood and Hon. J. C. Park.
The Goddard Literary Uniok. — The Goddard
Literary Union was organized October 28, 1874, in the
Universalist Church at Newtocville with forty-four
members and the following officers : Robert P. Gould,
president ; Lewis E. Binney, secretary ; C. B. Fille-
brown, treasurer. Its object was " Religious, Mental
and Social " improvement. Its membership consists
only of those connected with the above church.
Regular meetings are held twice a month, and " Pub-
lic" concerts or plays are given about four times a
year. The vestry, where meetings are held, is finely
i adapted to these pl.^ys, being fitted with stage,
scenery, fuot-lights, etc., and combining this advan-
tage with the fact that plenty of talent is available,
and earnest, working committees can be easily chosen.
Some fine plays as " Once Upon a Time," written by
Mr. H. N. Baker, a member ; " High Life," by Mr.
Monday, another member ; " Longfellow's Dream," a
fine amateur play, and "Among the Breakers," one
of Walter Baker's famous dramas, have been most
successfully rendered to crowded houses. By this
means the Union has been able to make handsome
contributions to the church funds, its yearly subscrip-
tion having been as high as $500.
At present (1889-90 season) the membership baa
grown to about 165, including prominent business
men, and a large percentage is composed of real active,
working members.
The Union is in a flourishing condition and gov-
erned by the following officers : President, Rev. R. A.
White; Vice-President, F.M.Whipple; Secretary, W.
Henry Cotting; Treasurer, Alfred B. Tainter.
The Tuesday Club.— The Tuesday Club was or-
ganized November 1, 1877, for social and literary
118
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
purposes. Xo constitution or by-laws were adopted,
but instead a few simple features were agreed to, such
as that there should be from twenty to twenty-tive
members, that meetings be held fortuightly, and that
the proceedings include essays and discussiocs. The
club has been in existence now for nearly fourteen
years, and the interest of its members appears to be
unabated. Among those who have been on its list,
but who have passed away from this life, are the fol-
lowing gentlemen : The Rev. Dr. G. W. Hosmer,
Lucius H. Buckingham, Ph.D., Mr. Calvin Brooks
Prescott, Hon. William S. Gardner, General Adin B.
Underwood, the Rev. Dr. B. K. Peirce, the Hon.
John C. Park.
The present list of member»is as follows : Mr. Wil-
liam C. Bates, Rev. Dr. Walcott Calkins, Hon. Wil-
liam Claflin, Mr. E. H. Cutler, Rev. J. B. Gould, Mr.
E. B. Haskell, W. S. Hutchinson, Esq., Rev. F. B.
Hornbrooke, Hon. R. C. Pitman, Mr. Edward Saw-
yer, Rev. Dr. George W. Shinn, Rev. Dr. L.E.Smith,
Rev. Henry G. Spaulding, Dr. Lincoln R. Stone,
Hon. Heman M. Burr, Dr. William W. Jacques. The
officers for the current year are : President, E. Sawyer;
Secretary, G. W. Shinn ; Treasurer, L. R. Stone.
Newtosville Woman's Guild. — The Newton-
ville Woman's Guild was founded JIarch 21, 1884, by
a few ladies, who, led by one who had given the sub-
ject much careful thought, had succeeded in matur-
ing a broad and comprehensive plan for a society,
which, it was hoped, would unite the women of New-
tonville from all churches and all neighborhoods, for
the purpose of charitable work, intellectual improve-
ment and social intercourse._
It was thought, in the beginning, that the Newton
Cottage Hospital, which then existed only in the
minds of its projectors, would form a good basis for
the work of the society, and with the hospital the
Guild has always been identified in the minds of
Newton people, a standing committee having its in-
terests in charge.
Aside from this work, however, the Guild has done
far more, through its charitable committee, to relieve
such local need as exists in Newtonville, than is gen-
erally known, and has always responded, to the ex-
tent of its means, to any outside call for aid.
On its social side, it has done a work eminently
worth doing in bringing into agreeable intercourse
many Newtonville women, who might otherwise
never have known of each other's existence.
Meetings are held once a fortnight from October to
May, lor literary instruction and entertainment.
At present, December, 1889, the Guild has an ac-
tive working force of more than 100 members.
Newton Centre Women's Cli^b. — In January,
1887, Post 62, G. A. R., invited from the pulpits of
the churches in Newton Centre all interested in the
relief of disabled soldiers and their families to meet
on the afternoon of January 11th, to devise means for
raising additional funds for that purpose.
At that meeting a board of five ofiicers and a com-
mittee of twenty-one, representing the four churches
of Newton Centre, werecho.sen to co-operate with sim-
ilar organizations in other wards in the city in the
management of a Soldiers' Fair.
At the close of the fair this committee, with its
officers, twenty-six in all, formed a permanent organ-
ization called "The Ladies' Union." A constitution
was adopted and a president, vice-president, secre-
tary and treasurer at the Soldiers' Fair were elected
to the same positions in the new club.
In February, 1888, the membership was doubled,
and in November of the same year a new name was
adopted — " The Newton Centre Women's Club."
It is both a literary and charitable a.ssociation. Ac-
cording to its constitution, "At each regular meeting
there shall be a paper read, by some person engaged
for the purpose, or some entertaiument of a literary or
educational interest."
Its charitable work has been chiefly in connection
with the purchase of "The Children's Play-ground."
The first contribution, twenty-five dollars, received by
the Newton Centre Improvement Association for this
purpose was made by this club in October, 1888, and
by a recent entertainment, "The Festival of Days,"
about $2500 was realized for the same object.
The club now cumbers about fifty. It holds its
meetings the last Friday in each month at the house
of one of its members. Its original and present offi-
cers are : — Mrs. R. R. Bishop, president ; Mrs. Charles
Grout, vice-president ; Miss Anna C. Ellis, secretary ;
Mrs. D. B. Claflin, treasurer.
"The Neighbors." — On the evening of January
13, 1878, at the house of Rev. Alvah Hovey, D.D..
LL.D., in Newton Centre, the following-named gen-
tlemen met and organized a club for the purpose of
literary culture, and for the promotion of social inter-
course smong its members, viz. : Robert R. Bishop,
Edwin F. Waters, AldenSpeare, William E. Webster,
Alvah Hovey and Thomas L. Rogers. The same
evening it was voted that the name of the club be
" The Neighbors." The number of members is lim-
ited to twenty-five.
The meetings are held upon the firstMonday even-
ings of every month from October to May inclusive, at
the houses of the members, in rotation, the host upon
each occasion acting as chairman. The secretary for
eleven years, until his removal from the city, was
Thomas L. Rogers.
An executive committee of four, annually elected,
together with the secretary, attend to the appoint-
ments, presenting new names for membership, and
whatever other business may arise. The members
are expected to present in rotation essays upon sub-
jects selected by themselves and previously announced,
followed by comments by the other members and
guests.
Among the subjects presented to the club are two
at least which have led to lasting and beneficial re-
NEWTOX.
iin
suits in the village. In December, 187S, Rev. A. E.
Lawrence gave an address upon "Village Improve-
ment," which was the immediate cause ol the organi-
zation of the Xewton Centre Improvemeut Associa-
tion, still in the height of its vigor and usefulness.
In April, 1SS8, Hon. Robert R. Bishop read a paper
entitled, " What Cau We Do for Newton Centre?" in
which was first presented the plan of improving the
low land in the centre of our village and laying out
an extended public park and play-ground.
The present members are : Charles C. Barton,
Elisha Bassett, Robert R. Bishop, Dwight Chester,
Judson B. Coit, George E. Gilbert, Albert L. Har-
wood, Alvali Hovey, William E. Huntington, Amos
E. Lawrence, Eiward H. Mason, Theodore Nickerson,
Herbert I. Ordway, William E. Webster, Avery L.
Rand, Thomas L. Rogers, J. Herbert Sawyer, Edwin
P. Seaver, Alden Speare, Oakman S. Stearns, Arthur
C. Walworth.
Formerly members : Samuel F. Smith, Edwin F.
Waters, Charles P. Clark, Albert D. S. Bell, William
C Strong, Samuel L. Caldwell, Emil C. Hammer,
Bradford K. Peirce, Walter Allen.
The Yoon'g Men's Social Union of Newton
T'entre. — In the autumn of 1882 the Rev. Edward
BraisKn co:;ceived the idea of a non-sectarian club
which would unite socially the young men of Newton
( 'entre. To carry out this idea a meeting of young
men was called.
.\. constitution and by-laws were adopted and the
following officers were elected to serve six months :
President, R. W. Waters ; secretary, G. G. Sanborn ;
treasurer, E. S. Lyon.
Executive, membership and missionary committees
were aUo chosen for a term of three months.
Admission to membership was made conditional only
upon the acceptance of the candidate by the member-
ship committee and his signature to the by-Uws. No
membership fees were asked, as it was the wish of the
founders of the Union that no obstacle should be put
in the way of any one who wished to become a mem-
ber of the Union.
The offer of the free use of the Baptist Church
Chapel for meetings was accepted and the monthly
meetings soon interested nearly all of the young men
of the village.
Programmes of literary and musical exercises and
debates were given, and the Union had the cordial sup-
port of the citizens of Newton Centre.
In the year 1884 a course of popular entertainments
was given under the auspices of the Union, but the
main financial support has been the voluntary c<jn-
tributions of its members and friends. In 1885 the
membership was ninety-five, and until its dissolution
in 1S8G it was highly successful in fulfilling the pur-
pose of its organization.
AuiiURXDALE Improvement Society. — The or-
ganization of the Auburndale Village Improvement
Society dates from October 31, 1883. Its objects, as
defined in the first article of the constitution, are the
beautifying and adorning of the streets and public
grounds of the village, especially by planting trees
and shrubs, and caring for and preserving the same ;
to create and encourage in the community a spirit of
improvement that shall stimulate everyone to seek to
make his own surroundingj more attractive ; to
attend to matters affeciiug the public health ; and to
provide such entertainments as the Board of Govern-
ment shall think proper. Soon after the organization
of the society an opportunity offered itself to secure
ft public hall in the village, by obtaining control of
the lately disused Williams School building. The
society promptly raised about $1000, and fitted up a
neat hall, having leased the building from the city
for five years. Another public benefit aided largely
by the society is the tunnel beneath the tracks of
the Boston & Albany Railroad uniting the two sec-
tions of the village. Whenever there has been
opportunity to carry out its purposes the society has
striven to do all it could. It has assisted in clearing
the streets of rubbish ; it has set out and cared for
shade-trees ; it maintains bulletin boards in various
locations. At the present time it Is interesting itself
j in securing access for the public to Charles River
, over ways that have been unlawfully closed up. la
all ways where public interest is aroused, the society
stands ready to push matters through its organization
! and, numbering, as it does, on its roll the names of a
I large number of the most influential citizens, its in-
fluence is capable of accomplishing much by way of
! permanent improvement.
West Newton Women's Educational Club. —
This club was formed in July, 1880. In the autumn
I of that year its membership was largely increased,
and the meetings were held at first monthly and
afterwards fortnightly. The club soon outgrew the
accommodation of private parlors, and was fortunately
1 able to secure the commodious parlor and supper-
room of the Unitarian Society for its regular meet-
ings. Its range of discussion has been broad, includ-
i ing Woman Suffrage, Temperance, Domestic Econ-
i omy. History, Biography and Art. It has made a
special study of municipal affairs, going through, as
an object lesson, all the fonns of an election. One
afternoon in the year is devoted to descriptions of
summer outings ; another is given to short essays of
ten minutes on practical or literary subjects. The
I club has a " gentleman's night " at New Year's, and
an annual supper in May. It interests its members
in the public schools, and was instrumental in intro-
ducing the regular instruction of the girls in sewing.
It supports a scholarship at the Tuskegee Normal
School for Freedmen in Alabama, and every year
sends to it contributions of money and clothing.
Woman Suffrage League. — The Newton Non-
partisan Woman Suffrage League was organized in
West Newton in March, 1885. The objects of this as-
sociation, as stated in its constitution, are " to procure
120
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
the right of suffrage for women, to effect such changes
in the laws as shall place women in all respects on an
equal legal footing with men, to combine the woman
suffrage sentiment in Newton, to circulate woman suf-
frage petitions and woman suffrage literature, and to
endeavor to have men of integrity nominated and
elected to the Legislature who favor municipal suffrage
for women."
Hon. William Claflin was chosen president ; Mr. S.
Warren Davis, secretary ; Mrs. James P. Tolman,
treasurer, and Mrs. E. N. L. Walton, chairman of the
Executive Committee.
At the close of the first year Mr. Claflin resigned,
and Hon. Robert C. Pitman was elected and .served
two years. The present officers (1890) are : Mr. Na-
thaniel T. Allen, president; Mrs. Louise A. Chap-
man, secretary; Mrs. James P. Tolman, treasurer;
with three vice-presidents and an Executive Commit-
tee of ten representatives, men and women.
The League has been the means of exciting much
thought on the subject, and of extending a belief in
the value of equal suffrage, to man as well as to wo-
man.
It has held each year one or two public meetings
in the City Hall and elsewhere, and several smaller
parlor meetings in the various villages from Auburn-
dale to Newton.
It has also furnished speakers to the West Newton
Lyceum when the subject of woman's suffrage has been
debated, thus reaching a large class not otherwise ap-
proachable. Among the most interesting speakers at
their various meetings have been Mrs. Lucy Stone,
Mr. H. B. Blackwell, Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, Mrs
Mary A. Livermore, Mrs. E. D. Cheney, Mrs. Laura
Ormiston Chant, of England ; Mrs. S. S. Fessenden,
of the W, C. T- U. ; Hon. J. C. Wyman, of Rhode
Island, and T. W. Higginson. Some meetings have
been held in the interest of school suffrage especially,
and they have done much toward placing and keep-
ing women on the School Board. Mrs. Electa L. N.
Walton and Mrs. Abby E. Davis have been the most
active and influential members of the Executive Com-
mittee of the League.
" The Pla-xers."— This is the name of a dramatic
association, organized March 16, 1887, composed of
active and associate members. The active members
take part in dramatic performances, of which six are
given every season at City Hall, West Newton. The
a8.sociate members are limited to 150, each paying an
annual fee of eight dollars, and receiving two tickets
for every entertainment. The associate membership
has been full from the beginning, with from fifty to
seventy-five names on the waiting list. The first per-
formances were on the evenings of May 13 and 14,
1887, when Byron's comedy, " Our Boys," was given.
Among the other plays produced have been " London
Assurance," "Old Love Letters," "Rough Diamond,"
"A Russian Honeymoon," " Randall's Thumb," and
"Engaged." These plays have been given with dra-
matic skill and ample stage effects. The officers of
the association are as follows: President, George H.
Phelps; vice-president, John A. Conkey ; treasurer,
Edward C. Burrage ; secretary, Pierrepont Wise. The
above named, together with William T. Farley, T.
E. Stutson and Herbert S. Kempton, constitute the
Board of Directors.
The Monday Evenixg Club. — This club was
established at the suggestion of Mr. J. H. Nichols
and Dr. Wm. E. Field. The first meeting was held
November 5, 1880. The number at first was limited
to twenty-five members, but it has since been changed
to thirty.
Meetings are held twice a month for five months of
each year beginning in December.
The club has a constitution and by-laws. The of-
fice of chairman is filled by members, succeeding al-
phabetically each evening from season to season. The
secretary is chosen annually by ballot.
Each member has to subscribe to the constitution
and by-laws.
Four successive absences forfeit membership, unless
excused by vote of the club.
The secretary organizes the meetings at eight
o'clock and selects the chairman. The period from
eight to nine is devoted to regular business and to
five-minute talks by members in turn, at the call of
the chairman. From nine to ten there is an essay by
one of the members and its discussion. After the
essay a collation is served. The meetings are held at
the residences of the members in turn.
Newton Congregational Ch;b. — In the minds
of many members of the Congregational Churches
in Newton there had existed a feeling of the necessity
of some organization which would bring together the
Congregational Churches from the different sections
of the city for the sake of a more intimate acquaint-
ance, and thereby more concerted action in church
work. The great drawback had been the lack of a
ready means of communication between the churches
on the south and north sides of the city.
During the year 1885 a communication written by
James F. C. Hyde, appeared in the ytivlon Journal,
calling attention to this need of the churches, and
expressing the hope that, when the " Circuit Rail-
road," which was then building, was completed, af-
fording the desired communication between the dif-
ferent portions of the city, a Congregational Club
might be organized.
On October 13, 1886, in accordance with this sug-
gestion, an invitation, signed by five pastors and three
deacons, was sent to the pastors, the deacons, the
standing committees, and Sabbath-School superin-
tendents of each of the seven Congregational Churches
in Newton, to meet on Wednesday evening, October
20th, at the parlor of the Second Church, West New-
ton, to consider the expediency of forming such a
club.
Rev. Henry J. Patrick was chosen chairman of this
NEWTON.
121
meeting, and William B. Wood, secretary. It was
voted to form a Congregational Club, and a committee
was appointed to dralt a constitution and by-laws.
An adjourned meeting was held at the same place
the following Wednesday evening (Oct. 27th), and a
constitution and by-laws were adopted. The objects
of the club, as expressed in the constitution, are " to
encourage among the members of the Congregational
Churches of Newton, a more friendly and intimate
acquaintance, to secure concert of action, and to pro-
mote the spiritual life and eflBciency of the churches."
llegular meetings are held on the third Monday of
each month, from October to March inclusive. The
January meeting is the "annual meeting" for the
choice of officers, etc. The membership is limited to
150 ; each church was ent'tled to ten members (this
was afterwards amended so that the largest church,
the Eliot, is entitled to sixteen members, and the
smallest church, the North, is entitled to four mem-
bers), and the balance of the 150 (or eighty members)
is divided pro rata between the different churches,
according to their resident membership. A vote was
passed at this meeting that it is desirable that ladies
attend the regular meetings as guests of the mem-
bers.
Another adjourned meeting was held November 3d,
and the organization completed by the choice of offi-
cers. At the annual meeting, the following January,
the same officers were re-elected fur the year 1887,
viz. : President, Hon. James F. C. Hyde ; vice-presi-
dents. Rev. Henry J. Patrick, Dea. William F. Slo-
cum ; secretary, William B. Wood ; treasurer, Daniel
E. Snow.
The succeeding presidents have been : Granville B.
Putnam, in 1888; Albert L. Harwood, in 1889 ; and
Winfield S. Slocum, Esq., who is now serving for the
year 1890.
The club started with an "original membership"
of forty-six ; its present membership is 112.
In the selection of topics for discussion, the aim
has been to confine them to such as have a special
relation to the interests of the Newton churches, and
the club has been addressed very largely by indi-
viduals selected from its own membership ; although
it has listened to others from abroad also, includ-
ing Rev. Francis E. Clark, of the Christian En-
deavor Societies; Rev. Reuea Thomas, D.D., of
Brookline ; Chas. W. Hill, Esq., of Roxbury ; Rev.
E. B. Webb, D.D., of Wellesley ; Rev. David Gregg,
D.D., and Rev. E. K. Alden, D.D., of Boston ; Rev.
Alexander McKenzie, D.D., of Cambridge; Prof.
J. M. English, D.D., of Newton Centre; Rev. A. E.
Winship, of SomerviUe ; Rev. A. E. Dunning, D.D.,
of Boston ; Rev. Arthur Little, D.D., of Dorchester;
Rev. A. G. Lawson, D.D., of Boston.
The meetings have been held in the parlors and
chapel of the Second Church, West Newton, which
is well adapted, both by location and arrangement,
for the purpose. Assembling at live o'clock, a social
time in the parlors is enjoyed until supper is an-
nounced at six o'clock. This is spread in the chapel,
after which, the tables having been cleared, the
meeting is called to order about seven o'clock and the
exercises for the evening taken up.
The meetings have been most enjoyable and
profitable, a pleasant feature being the presence of a
goodly number of guests to participate with the mem-
bers in the privileges of the club.
The Newton Boat Club. — The Newton Boat
Club was organized September 1, 1875. Its first boat-
house was a cheap structure on the shore of Charles
River, near the foot of Islington Street, Auburndale.
The location was not favorable, especially for mem-
bers living in other villages, but the club remained
there, with varying fortune, holding several regattas,
until it entered into new and much better quarters
and a broader scale of existence, on the completion
of its new club-house at Riverside in the summer of
1886. Here is a handsome and commodious building,
with ample space for boats, bowling alleys, dancing
hall, pool table, etc., inside, and tennis courts in the
spacious grounds outside, all within two minutes'
walk of the Riverside Station on the Boston and
Albany Railroad, from which frequent trains run over
both sides of the "Circuit'' through the Newton
villages to Boston. And so far as the opportunity
for the pastime of boating is concerned, there is
nothing better in the country. From this point to
Waltham, two miles below, and to Newton Lower
Falls, one mile above, the Charles winds through a
succession of charming sylvan views, here and there
varied by glimpses of cultivation and ornamental
architecture. The large dam at Waltham makes the
current very light, and the limpid waters are alive in
the boating season with every variety of light craft,
canoes, propelled by paddles, being the special favor-
ites of the last two or three years. There are several
hundred light and graceful boats owned and in con-
stant use on this lovely stretch of water, and a good
portion of those who propel them are young ladies.
Newton Boat-Club house and grounds, quite a val-
uable property, is owned by a separate corporation,
the stockholders of which are friends and generally
members of the club. The club leases the property,
pays a rent equal to the interest of the money in the
plant, and will gradually invest its surplus income in
the stock until it shall acquire the whole. The club
has an active membership of about 200. The annual
assessment is $15. During the winter months the
club-house is a favorite resort for bowling. The
officers of the club for 1890 are : President, William
S. Eaton, Jr.; Vice-President, Sydney Harwood;
Treasurer, Charles W. Loring ; Secretary, Horatio
Page ; Captain, William A. Hall.
The Wesleyan Home. — The Wesleyan Home was
incorporated in 1S83 and organized in December of
that year. Its first money was the savings of a little girl
in Taunton, Mass., who, in her fatal illness, expressed
122
niSTOllY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
a desire to give all her money to a home for orphans.
This contribution amounted to about twenty dollars.
It has had larger gifts since, including a spacious and
comfortable house on Wesley Street, Newton, from
Hon. Alden Speare, and an endowment fund of
$20,000 from Hon. Jacob Sleeper. The house fur-
nishing was also provided by generous friends — Mrs.
Charles W. Pierce, the family of Hon. Jacob Sleeper,
and others. The institution was originally intended
for orphan and destitute children. Later its scope
was enlarged to embrace the care of children of
Methodist missionaries working in foreign fields.
The building affords accommodations for about twenty
children, it is presided over by a matron, aided and
advised by a board of managers, composed of twelve
ladies who reside in the neighboring villages. Children
are taken at the age of four years or over. They have
home training and care, and attend the pul)lic schools.
These who can afford it pay from SlOO to S150 a year.
Others are taken free. Officers : President, Hon.
Alden Speare; Vice-Presidents, Bishop R. S. Foster,
Rev. J. B. Gould ; Secretary, J. R. Prescott ; Treas-
urer, E. W. Gay ; Matron, Miss A. Thompson.
The Newtox Fanciers' Club. — In view of the fact
that Newton had a large number of breeders of thor-
oughbred poultry, and quite an interest had been devel-
oped throughout the city in regard to the same, some of
the most prominent breeders deemed it advisable to
form an association of those interested, and a meeting
of fanciers was called, which resulted in the formation
of the Newton Fanciers' Club, December 22, 188S.
The object of the club is to aid and encourage the
breeding of thoroughbred poultry by holding exhibi-
tions and furnishing such information as may be
deemed expedient. The first exhibition given by the
club was held in Armory Hall, Ward One, February
5, () and 7, 1S89, and was one of the largest held in
the East outside of Boston. Birds were shown from
several of the New England States and from New
York. Artificial incubation was carried on in the hall
during the exhibition. The attendance was excellent,
among the visitors being some of Newton's most prom-
inent citizens. The following are the officers of the
club elected at the time of organization : President,
W. R. Atherton ; Vice-presidents, John Lowell, Jr.,
F. A. Hondlette, E. T. Rice, C. B. Coffin ; Secretary,
Geo. Linder, .Jr.; Treasurer, W. W. Harrington.
QtJiNOBEQuiN Association'. — This asiociation has
a location at Newton Upper Falls. It was organized
in 1868 and incorporated in 1872, It is a literary as-
sociation, meeting once a month from October to
May, inclusive. It has seventy-five members and a
library of a miscellaneous character, numbering about
500 volumes. Its officers at the present time (1890)
are as follows: President, Frank Fanning; Vice-
president, H. A. Smith; Secretary, W. F. Bird;
Treasurer, John A. Gould, Jr.
Grand Ar.my of the Republic. — Charles Ward
Post, No. 62. — This post of the Grand Army was or-
ganized July 21, 1S68. The ten charter members
were Wm. B. Fowle, A. B. Underwood, Thos. P.
Haviland, J. Gushing Edmand<, Fred. S. Benson, All-
ston W. Whitney, Hosea Hyde, George S. Boyd, I.
F. Kingsburj' and Albert Plummer. Captain Wm. B.
Fowle was the firit commander. The post has been
quite active since its formation. The total number of
members borne on its rolls has been 33i, and those
now enrolled are about 150.
Tbe post was named for Sergeant-major Charles
Ward, of the Thirty-second Regiment Massachusetts
Volunteers, who was wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July
2, 1863, and died there July 9th, being only twenty-one
years of age at the time of his death. His remains
were brought home and deposited in the Newton
Cemetery.
The amount expended for charity since the organi-
zation of the post lias been $9,592.22. Amount ex-
pended from the post fund, ^12,310.39. Total, S21,-
902.61.
A handsome lot in the beautiful Newton Cemetery
has been provided by the city and consecrated as a
"soldiers' lot.''
The present officers of the post are: Commander,
Samuel S. Whitney ; Senior Vice-commander, Charles
W. Sweetland ; .Junior Vice-commander, Seth A,
Ranlett ; Quartermaster, E. E. Stiles ; O. D., Samuel
A. Langley ; Chaplain, S. E. Morse; Surgeon, J. L.
Sears; O. G., Cbas. A. Twitchell ; Adjutant, E. Gott ;
S. M., Benj. Hopkins; Q. M. S., Joseph Owens; Sen-
tinel, Wm. J. Holmes.
Newtox Centre I.mprovemext Association. —
The people resident in Newton Centre have for
many years shown an active interest in the subject of
village improvement, for .as far back as 1852 there
was formed the Newton Centre Tree Club, having for
its object, as quoted from its constitution : " The orna-
menting of roads, lanes and public places, by plant-
ing trees and shrubs, and preserving those already in
existence, and the encouraging of land-holders to lay
out their roads in manner according with the general
convenience and taste." The main efforts of this
society seemed to have been directed to planting
trees, and in this work much good was accomplished ;
but its life was short, covering only a period of about
two and a half years.
Again in 1869 an executive committee of twenty-
four was appointed in a mass-meeting, who should
have "special charge of the local interests of the
village, particularly in regard to sewerage, gas,
water, police, railroad facilities and the development
of the natural advantages of the village." The
records of this committee's work have been lost and
we are not able to give in detail their labors, but one
most important object was attained at about thi?
time, and presumably largely through their influence
and with money raised by their efforts. When the
Mason School was built the town owned scarcely any
land on the east side, and the lower half of what is
NEWTON.
123
DOW known as the school-house lot was owned by
private parties and covered with a tenement-house,
blacksmith and wheelwright-shop. By private con-
tribution this land was purchased for the town and is
to-day one of the finest school-house lots in Massa-
chusetts.
In the fall of 1870, mainly through the efforts of
Mr. Edwin F. Waters, a public meeting was called
looking towards the organization of a society which
should take in hand those matters which are every-
body's business and therefore nobody's business. The
lirst meeting was held September 10, 1879, though
the final organization was not effected and constitu-
tion adopted till March 22, 1880. The first officers
were: President, Hon. ,Jobn Lowell; Vice-Presidents,
Edwin F. Waters, Wm. C. Strong ; Secretary, Lewis
E. ColHa ; Treasurer, Dvvight Chester; E.xecutive
Committee, including the above officers, E. M. Fowle,
Samuel M. Jackson, Rev. E. P. Gould. Hon. James
F. C. Hyde, E. B. Bowen, Rev. A. E. Lawrence, D.
B. ClaHin. Hon. John Lowell held the office of
president for two years, and in 1882 Rev. Amos E.
Lawrence was elected to the office and re-elected the
following year. In the years 1884, 1885, 1886 and
1887, Mr. William B. Young most etticiently guided
the Association as its leader, and for the two years
1888 and 1889, Mr. Dwight Chester held the highest
official position. At the annual meeting in April,
1890, Mr. J. R. Leeson was elected president for the
ensuing year.
The work of the Association has been much varied.
It has worked in harmony with the city official.^, of-
ten leading in an improvement which would not be
begun by the city, and always aiding in every public
improvement.
Trees have been planted every year, and in variety,
so that there is hardly a street in the village which
has not its one or both sidewalks lined with trees,
all vacant places having been filled by the Association.
The common, extending from the junction of Cy-
press and Centre Streets, nonh to Lyman .Street, cov-
ering three large pieces of ground, has been graded,
grassed and planted with trees and shrubs, and orna-
mented with flower-beds. All triangular pieces of
ground at the junctions of streets have been reclaimed
and are now kept as lawns. In one or two instances
land has even been purchased and improved at street
junctions, and the entire bank of the Sudbury River
Conduit from Centre to SummerStreet has been made
a beautiful grassy slope from a rough and unsightly
bank of earth. The Association was instrumental in
securing and contributed towards the improvement
on the lake front at Lake Avenue.
A feature of its labors has been provision for the
public entertainment during the winter, and it has
been a rallying centre around which all citizens have
gathered without distinction of clique or sect, thus
assisting largely towards that fraternity of spirit char-
acteristic of the village.
The celebration of the -1th of Juiy has for a num-
ber of years been undertaken through a special com-
mittee, funds being raised by subscription for the
purpose. It is not an incorporated body and for its
funds has been dependent on the annual membership
fee of $1 per member and such profits as have been
derived from entertainments under ils care. It has
never been in debt ; it has raised and expended over
S4400 and through its efforts the city haa expended
about the same amount in this ward on public im-
provements, besides much money that has been con-
tributed and spent through its efforts, not passing
through its hands.
The village long needed a public hall, and through
discussion at the annual meeting in 1886 steps were
taken by many of the citizens which resulted in the
purchase of the old Baptist meeting-house by a cor-
poration called the Xewton Centre Associates, who
removed the building to land which they had pur-
chased, refitted it for its present use and established
in the vestry a free public reading-room which is sup-
ported in part by the Associates and by the city.
At the annual meeting in 1881 a committee was ap-
pointed to see what could be done towards furnishing
the boys with a play-ground, for the play-ground
which had been on the Common for years could no
longer be used for that purpose. From time to time
various reports and suggestions were made and tem-
porary grounds provided, and at the annual meeting
in 1888 the following gentlemen were appointed a
committee to provide a permanent play-ground : —
Messr.". Hon. Robert R. Bishop, Alden Speare, Mel-
ien Bray, Edward H. Mason, Daniel B. Claflin, Ar-
thur C. Walworth, J. R. Leeson.
The committee have carried their labors over two
years, devoting, for a good portion of the time, one
evening each week to the purpose, and contributing
of their energy, business foresight, tact and money.
The result is the purchase of a tract of land from
Centre to Pleasant Streets, extending also north to
Homer Street, containing about twenty acre.", bought
from seven individuals, costing over §25,000. The
city of Newton gave SIO.OOO, and the balance, over
.$15,000, was contributed by the residents of Newton
Centre. The Improvement Association gave S1400
from its funds. It is the plan to lay out this land
with ample play ground facilities for boys and girls,
and the remainder for ornamental park purposes,
Hon. J. F. C. Hyde and Mr. J. R. Leeson having offer-
ed to contribute an extensive herbarium.
The re-location of Union Street, just accomplished,
and a new station on the Boston and Albany Rail-
road are results of the efforts of a special committee
appointed by the Association for the purpose.
All these things show what has been and may be
attained as the result of co-operation, and as year by
year passes, the power of the Newton Centre Im-
provement Association for all that tends to the public
welfare increases, and the fact that it endorses any
124
HISTORY OF xMIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
plan gives immediate and powerful impetus to the
movement.
Newton Prohibition League. — The League has
had an informal existence since the summer of 18S7,
but on the evening of February 11, 1888, at a meeting
held in the Police Court-room, West Newton, a con-
stitution aud by-laws was adopted, and the following-
named persons were chosen officers for the ensuing
year : — President, Myron L. Henry ; Secretary, G.
Lyman Snow; Treasurer, David B. Filts ; Execu-
tive Committee, Edwin F. Kimball, Henry A. Inman
and the officers of the League. The mottoes of the
League, adopted at that meeting, were : " Educate,
agitate, legislate." Terms to the Liquor Traffic: —
" Unconditional surrender: we propose to move im-
mediately upon your works."
The following have been some of the most promi-
nent and active members of the League: Hon.
Robert C. Pitman and William H. Partridge, of New- I
ton; Prof. Edwin F. Kimball, Dr. Levy Parker,'
Henry A. Inman and N. C. Pike, of West Newton ; i
James M. Gordon, Rev. W. R. Newhall, Myron L. ]
Henry, Frank F. Davidson, of Auburndale; Rev. W.
H. Cobb, James Cutler and Ruel W. Waters, of
Newton Centre.
The League has been instrumental in largely in-
creasing the interest in prohibition in Newton by
holding numerous public meetings, bringing into tlie
city such speakers as the Hon. John P.St. John, Mrs.
Mary Livermore, Volney B. Cashing, Rev. Thomas
Dixon, Jr., Hon. W. H. Earl, Rev. Dr. Gordon, Rev.
O. P. Gifford and Rev. Dr. Miner. Judge Pitman, of
Newton, has been among the most logical and con-
vincing of the speakers. The increased interest has I
been shown in the enlarged vote from 52, the largest j
vote previously recorded for a Presidential candidate,
to 212 votes cast for Gen. Clinton B. Fiskeatthe la.st
election.
The Every Saturday Club. — The Every Satur-
day Club, of Newtonville, was organized in 1870. Its
officers are a president, vice-president, secretary and
treasurer, and an executive committee. For enter-
tainments a special committee is appointed. Its
membership is strictly limited to forty ladies and
gentlemen. Among the members are clergymen,
lawyers, private and public school teachers, the sec-
retary of the State Board of Education, publishers
and business men. The meetings have been held of
late years every other Saturday night, in private par-
lors, from October to May. Its main object has been
literary work, and every member, both ladies and
gentlemen, is expected to contribute a paper each
season. These papers are read or talked by the
writers, and afterwards discussed. English literature,
from Chaucer down, has been considered ; also, in con-
nection with the special author, the history of the
times. Shakespeare has been studied for several
years. One year Hawthorne and Art alternated.
" Representative Americans " occupied one season ;
''Fireside Travel" another. Last season thirteen
representative novels were reviewed and discussed.
Next year " Medireval History," " Greek Literature "
and "Topics of the Day " will form the programme.
-V large siereopticon is owned by the club, and has
added much to the interest of many meetings.
The social features have been varied aud success-
ful. Club suppers, dinners, Dickens parties, a dis-
trict school, costume parties, the Peak Sisters, and
other social entertainments have been given. To
these many friends of the club have been invited.
Harmony has always prevailed in this organization,
and one might travel far to find a club which has sus-
tained for twenty years as well its work, membership
and individual character.
Masonic. — Balhouiic Lodge. — Chartered June 24,
1861. Its regular meetings are on the second Wed-
nesday of each month, at Masonic Hall, Newtonville.
Annual meeting in June. Officers for 1890 : John
W. Fisher, Master ; George P. Whitmore, Senior War-
den ; Robert Bennett, Junior Warden ; Edwin W. Gay,
Treasurer; E. E. Morgan, Secretary; G. W. Blodgetc,
Chaplain ; Elliott J. Hyde, Marshal ; George A. Glea-
son. Senior Deacon ; C. W.Brown, Junior Deacon; C.
A. Kellogg, Senior .Steward ; A. F. Winslow, Junior
Steward; H. E. Boothby, Inside Sentinel ; George H.
Brown, Organist; Alex. Chisholni, Tyler.
Newton lioyal Arch Chapter. — Chartered June 17,
1870. Regular meetings second Monday of each
month, at Masonic Hall, Newtonville. Officers for
1890: Dr. Wm. O. Hunf, E. H. P.; H. A. Thorn-
dike, E. King; George Breeden, E. Scribe ; G. D. Gil-
man, Chaplain ; D. E. Binney, Treasurer ; S. F. Chase,
Secretary ; A. L. Harvard, P. S. ; G. A. Gleason, R. A.
C. ; Jas. Pickens, M. of 3rd V. ; C. F. Mason, M. of
2nd V. ; John Glover, M. of 1st V. ; G. H. Brown,
Organist; Alex. Chisholni, Tyler.
Gethsemane Commandery, K. T. — Chartered May 20,
1872. Regular meetings third Tuesday in each month,
in Masonic Hall, Newtonville. Officers for 1890 :
Geo. T. Coppins, E. C. ; R. G. Brown, Gen. ; C. A.
Peck, Capt.-Gen. ; J. W. Fisher, Prelate; George
Breeden, S. W. ; A. Nott, J. W. ; F. K. Porter, Stand
Bearer; J. P. Browning, Sword Bearer; K.W.Hobart,
Warden ; Alex. Cliisholm, Armorer; Geo. E. Bridges,
Sentinel ; G. H. Brown, Organist.
Union Masonic Relief Association of Massachisetts. —
This association is located at Newtonville. It has
paid out in benefits since its organization $8.5,848.
Its membership now numbers about 500. Officers for
1890 : President, Luther E. Leiand, Newton Lower
Falls; Vice-President, Jesse H. Walker, Newton-
ville; Clerk, Joseph W. Grigg, Newtonville; Treas-
urer, Robert L. Davis, Watertown.
Independent Order OF Odd Fellows — Waban
Lodge, Xo. 156.— .Instituted April 19, 1871. Meets
every Thursday at Cole's Hall, Newton. Officers for
1890: N. G., Geo. A. Fewker; V. G., M. C. Rich ; R.
Sec'y, R. A. Oldreive ; P. Sec'y, Geo. H. Manley ;
NEWTON.
125
Treasurer, Geo. P. Rice; W., W. S. Rirg ; Cod., L.
Ashley; I. G., J. H. Robblee; O. G., E. Bown ; R.
S. to N. G., A. Nutting; L. S. to N. G., J. K. Rob-
blee; R. S. to V. G., F. Tainter ; L. S. to V. G., R.
Chapman ; R. S. S. ; L. S. 8. ; Chap., ;
P. G., W. Howes.
Home Lodge, No. 162.— Instituted April 3, 1873.
Meets Thursday evenings at Od i Fellows' Hall, New-
ton Highlands. Officers for 1890 : N. G., G. N. B.
Sherman ; V. G., R. Blair ; Sec'y, F. A. Watson ;
Treasurer, J. Wilds; W., J. Temperley : Con., B.
Stronic ; I. G., P. McKenzie ; 0. G.. A. R. Roath ; R.
S. to N. G., W. Bemis ; L. S. to N. G., J. S. Richard-
son ; R. S. to V. G., C. Gould ; L. S. to V. G., W.
Hockridge ; R. S. S., W. Estelie ; L. S. S., W. Skid-
more ; Chap., G. Loomer ; P. G., A. Muldoon.
Xewton Lodge, Xo. 92.— Instituted June 15, 1887.
Meets every Thur.^day at Knights of Honor Hall,
West Newton. Oificers for 1890 : N. G., Wm. E.
Brown; V. G., Wm. B. CoUagan ; Sec'y, Wm. E.
Glover; Treasurer, Geo. H. Baker; W., R. L.Wil-
liams ; Con., F. F. Patterson ; I. G., W. P. Scamman ;
O- G., J. L. Christie; R. S. to N. G., J. Anderson ;
L. S. to N. G., E. W. Bailey ; R. S. to V. G., H. E.
Johnson ; L. S. to V. G., W. B. Davis ; R. S. S., J. D.
Cooper ; L. S. S., C. M. Potter; Chap., C. W. Carter;
P. G., 0. S. W. Bailey ; Organi^^t, Geo. E. Trowbridge.
Garden Cil'j Enca-npment, Xo. 62.— Instituted in
1886. Meets first and third Mondays of each month, at
Cole's Hall, Newton. Officers for 1890 : C. P., C. E. A.
Ross; H. P., Geo. A. Fewker; S. W., M. C. Rich, J.
W., E. A. Dexter; R. S., M. Bunker; F. S., J. L.
Curtis ; Treasurer, Geo. 0. Brock ; G., F. H. Hobart ;
1st W., B. F. Barlow ; 2d W., E. A. Kennedy ; 3d
W., W. A. Prescott ; 4th W., Geo. W. Bush ; I. S., C.
O. Davis ; 0. S., G. S. Noden.
Royal AECA^"L■^t — Charming Council, Xo. 76. — In-
stituted April, 1878. Meets first and third Tuesdays
of each month at Arcanum Hall, Newton.
Triton Council, Xo. 547.— Instituted August, 1883.
Meets second and fourth Mondays of each month at
Knights of Honor Hall, West Newton.
Echo Bridge Council, Xo. 843.— Instituted June,
1884. Meetings first and third Wednesdays in each
month at Quinobequin Hall, Newton Upper Falls.
United Order of the Golden Cross.— Crescent
Commandery, Xo. 86. — Instituted January, 1880.
Meets fin-t and third Mondavs of each month at
Knights of Honor Hall, West Newton.
Order of the Iron- H.\ll — Branch Xo. 39?. — Or-
ganized September 28, 1886. Meets first and third
Tuesdays in each month at Cole's Hall, Newton.
Branch Xo. 395. — Meets first and third Tuesdays of
each month at Kuichtsof Honor Hall, West Newton.
Sisterhood Branch.— '^levts in We^t Newton.
Royal .Society" of Good Fellows — Xeuion As-
sembhj, Xo. 39. — Organized October 27, 1S86. Meetings
held first Wednesday evening of each month in
Knights of Honor Hall, West Newton.
Auburn Assembly, Xo. 142 — Meetings held in Au-
burn Hall, Auburndale.
Knights of Honor — Eliot Lodge, i\'b.638. — Insti-
tuted June 1, 1877. Meets first and third Mondays of
each month, at Masonic Hall, Newtonville.
Garden City Lodge, No. 1901.— Instituted in 1879.
Meets first and third Tuesdays in each month, at
Knights of Honor Hall, West Newton.
Crystal Lake Lodge, No. 2235.— Inttituted 1880.
Meets first and third Mondays in each month, in hall
corner Lincoln and Walnut Streets, Newton High-
lands.
Independent Order Good Templars— Zoya//y
Lodge, No. 154.— Instituted 1888. Meets every Wed-
nesday evening in Good Templars' Hall.
American Legion of Honor. — Newton Council,
No. 859, was instituted in 1882. It meets on the
second and fourth Tuesday evenings of each month,
at Knights of Honor Hall, West Newton.
Ancient Order United Wo^ikmen. — Newton
Lodge, No. 21, was organized May 9, 1884. It meets
on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month
at Cole's Hall, Newton.
Massachusetts Catholic Order of Foresters.
—St. Bernard Court, No. 44, was instituted in 1882.
It meets on the first and third Mondays of each month,
at Foresters' Hall, West Newton. Annual meeting
in December.
United Ordee of Pilgrim Fathers — Nonantum
Colony, No. 77.— Instituted December 15, 1886. ' Meet-
ings second and fourth Mondays of each month, at
Cole's Hall, Newton.
Wo.men's Christian Temperance Union.— Or-
ganized in September, 1878. Meetings held last Satur-
day of each month, in the Congregational chapel, Au-
burndale. President, Miss E. P. Gordon ; secretary.
Miss E. M. Strong.
Improved Order of Red Men — Nontmbega Tribe,
No. 76. — Meets in Cole's Hall, Newton, first and third
Tuesdays of each moon. Sachem, W. S. Slocum.
CHAPTER IX.
NE WTON—{ Continued).
MILITAKY" HISTORY' OF NEWTON.
(^Subsequent to 1S60).
BY ARTHUR C. WALWORTH.
The military history of a Massachusetts town sub-
sequent to 1860 necessarily has two parts, one relating
to the action of the authorities and people at home,
the other to the experiences and exploits of the vol-
unteers in the field. In the case of Newton we will
first relate the events that took place in the town —
for it was not then a city — at the beginning of the
war and during its prosecution.
126
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, .MASSACHUSETTS.
At the time in question there was no militia company
in Newton, nor had there been any for many years,
owing, perhaps, to the isolation of the separate vil-
lages and the absence of a centre of more dense
population ; but the citizens were no more lacking in
military spirit than those of the cities and towns
around them. Many of them were members of mili-
tary companies in Boston, such as the " Cadets," the
" Lancers," and the "Fusiliers," and it was the train-
ing received in this way that enabled Gen. Edmands
and Gen. Underwood to render such effective service
and obtain such rapid promotion.
The firing on Fort Sumter produced the same ex-
plosion of patriotism here as everywhere throughout
New England, and party ties were forgotten in the
common indignation against the South Carolina
rebellion and the attack upon our iiag.
Moved by the spirit of patriotism, the selectmen
issued their warrant for a town-meeting for the 29ih
of April, 18Gl,to see, as the warrant read, if the town
would appropriate money and make other provision
for the relief of families of volunteers, and if money
should be expended for the purchase of uniforms and
equipments for such companies as might be formed in i
the town.
James F. C. Hyde, aflerwarris first mayor of the
city, was moderator of this meeting, and patriotic
speeches were made by Hon. David H. Mason, ex-
Congressman J. Wiley Edmands, Andrew H. Ward,
Jr., and others, the last-named being a very promi-
nent Democrat, wiiose remarks were significant of the
loyalty of all parties to the old flag. Appropriate
resolutions were passed, ending with the sentiment
"The cause of this Union is our cause, and to its
.support, with a firm reliance on the protection of
Divine Providence, we pledge our lives, our fortunes
and our sacred honor."
And they not only made pledges, but they appro-
priated $20,000 and appointed a committee to obtain
arms, uniforms and underclothes for auch company
or companies as should be formed. A paper was
read, which had been received Irom representative
ladies of the several village?, in which the women of
the town volunteered to make up all the undergar-
ments necessary for the outfit of a military company.
The selectmen were also given authority to pay, if
advisable, S20 per month extra to volunteers in addi-
tion to the government pay.
A company was soon enrolled, organized and drilled, ■
but the Government, accepting Mr. Seward's view
of the short time necessary to crush the Rebellion,
would not accept any more troops, although repeated
efforts were made to have the company mustered in,
and on June 11, 18G1 the selectmen reported to that
effect, and that they bad expended about $12,000,
and asked for instruc ions. The time and money,
however, that was expended on this company was not
misspent, for in it many young men learned their
first lesson in military duty, and afterwards enlisted
in other companies, where they were able to take a
higher rank and be of more service than would have
been the case otherwise. The fact that has been
st.ited, that no military company was maintained in
Xewton before the war, placed the young men under
a disadvantage in respect to military training that
was partially remedied by this drill company. Others
of the young men joined Colonel Salinac's battalion
or the Massachusetts Rifle Club, of Boston, in which
good military instruction could be obtained.
In the record of every town-meeting we find the
patriotism of the citizens exercised in a watchful care
over the volunteers in the field and their families at
home. In 1SG2 the Government began to make calls
lor more troops, and the town fathers were prompt
and active in filling the quotas asked for. Thus on
November 4, 1862, $40,000 was appropriated to pay
bounties and expenses of holding meetings for recruit-
ing, $2000 for burying soldiers who died in the ser-
vice, .$3000 for relieving the extraordinary necessities
of residents of the town serving in the army, $2000 for
the relief of discharged and returned soldiers, $2000
for the recovery and burial of deceased soldiers, and
$1000 for the support of the families of men serving
in the navy.
In 18(52 Newton first realized the horrors of the war
in the death of William R. Benson, of Company I,
First Regiment Miissachu-<ett3 Voiunteers, who was
killed .It Williamsburg, Va., on May oth, ofthat year.
His body was brought from the field of battle and
buried with all the military honors in the Newton
Cemetery. A military escort, headed by a band
playing dirges, marched from Newton Corner to the
cemetery, bearing its sad burden through crowds of
sympathizing people, who, by this object-lesson,
began to learn than patriotism meant something more
than orations and enthusiasm.
Duritig the summer of 1862 two companies were
raised in Newton, one for three years' service — which
became Company K, Thirty-second Regiment — and
one for nine months. Company B, Forty-fourth Regi-
ment. The recruiting of these companies was chiefly
in charge of James F. C. Hyde, Thomas Rice, David
H. ilason and J. Wiley Edmands, they being, per-
haps, the four leading citizens of the town.
Rallies were held in each village, with music and
speeches, and one hundred and one names were soon
placed on the rolls of Company K, which was re-
cruited especially by E.S.Farnsworlh, of Newton ville,
afterwards captain and brevet-major, but then taking
the position of orderly sergeant.
Partly in consideration of the services of hia father,
J. Gushing Edmands was chosen captain, he afterwards
rising to the command of the regiment, and Ambrose
Bancroit and John F. Boyd, lieutenants. Major
Farnsworth's name was the first on the roll, Boyd's
second, John Doherty third, and the fourth recruit
was a Universalist minister. Rev. W. L. Gilman, who
was made a corporal and received his death-wound at
NEWTON.
127
Gettysburg. The recruits reported at the Lynnfield
camp, and went to the front August 20, 18t)2, where
those who were not disabled served through the war
in the Fifth Corps of the Army of the Potomac, Grif-
fin's Brigade.
On August 4, 1S62, President Lircoln issued a call
for 300,000 men to serve nine months, 19,000 of whom
were to be furnished by Massachusetts, with authority
to raise them by draft ; but Governor Andrew was con-
fident that they could be raised by voluntary enlist-
ment, and the event proved that he was right.
On the morning of August 5th a number of young
men decided that the time had arrived for them to
enter the military service of their county. Among
them were John M. Griswold and John A. Ksnrick,
who were among the first to enroll their names and
to undertake the recruiting of the company. The
first meeting was held at the town-hall, West Xew-
ton, the second at the hall at Newton Corner, which
was the old church altered over, standing where El-
iot Hall now stands. The full number of men was
soon raised and the recruits began their army life at
Readville, as Company B, Forty-fourth Eegiment,
under John M. Griswold, captain, and Frank H.
Forbes and John A. Kenrick, lieutenants. The reg-
iment left for the front October 23, 18(52, or about two
months after the three-years' compauy of the Thirty-
second.
The next important event in the home history of
the war was the erection and dedication of the sol-
diers' monument. The movement for the construc-
tion of this memorial, the first raised in New Eng-
land, was iuitiated soon after the return of Company
B, of the Forty-fourth, and on August 7, lSC-3, a com-
mittee of nine prominent citizens was chosen at a
public meetins and empowered to erect a .■■uitable
monument. This took the shape of an obelisk of
(■iuincy granite, resting on a die and plinth of the
same material, with an entablature at the base of
the mound surmounied by a cannon and bearing the
namei of fifty-nine heroes of Newton who laid down
their lives on the altar of their country. The monu-
ment was dedicated on July 23, 18(54, with appropri-
ate and solemn ceremonies in the open air, in the
presence of a large audience; the addresses and
poems delivered on this occasion were preserved in a
pamphlet printed by the town.
On these tablets will be preserved the names of
those who gave their lives for their country, but rec-
cords can never show nor history relate the etTorts
and sufferings and bereavement of those at home as
well as those in the army ; the sacrifices and anxietv of
the mothers and the young wives, who scanned the
liat of the killed and wounded after every battle,
thinking that they might read there the uame of
him who was dearest of all on earth to them. One
day, not long after the battle of Gettysburg, in one of
the churches four biers were placed side by side,
bearing the remains of four young soldiers of Newton,
whose shattered forms had been sought out and ten-
derly brought home to be buried by the side of their
kinsfolk. Loving words of eulogy and of consolation
were spoken by their pastors, fervent prayers were ut-
tered and the solemn services impressed thegrtat
audience in a manner that will never be forgotten.
One of these young men was Charles Ward. At a
public meeting at Newton Centre, called to promote
the recruiting of the first Newton three-years' com-
pany, he had come forward and pledged himself to fight
and to die, if such should be his lot, for his beloved
country. The names of five of his family were upon
the rolls of the Revolutionary army, and two of the
name are found in the list of those killed in battle dur-
ing the Rebellion. The picture in the Grand Army
quarters, at Newtonville, shows a handsome, slender
young soldier, with a delicate but bright and intelli-
gent face, for he was just out of school and fitted for
college.
At that meeting he arose in the assemblage and spoke
of his prospects and the hope he had of becoming a
minister of the Gospel of peace. "But," said he, " if
my country needs my services, I am willing, for her
sake, to make the sacrifice." In the battle of Gettys-
burg, Ward, then risen to the position of sergeant-
major of the Thirty-second Regiment, was shot
through the lungs. Colonel Stephenson, of the
Thirty-second, gives the following account of his
last hours : " Juat at night the attendants brought to
the place whete I wa.s lying a young soldier of
ray regiment, and laid him beside me. It was
Charles Ward, of Newton. I remembered him well
as one of the youngest of the regiment, one whose
purity of character and attention to duty had won
the esteem and love of all who knew him. The
attendants placed him in the tent, furnished us with
canteens of water, and left us for the night, for, alas !
there were thousands of wounded men to be cared
for, and but little time could be spared for any oue.
ily young companion had been wounded by a ball
passing through his lungs, and it was with diflSculty
he could breathe while lying down. To relieve him
I laid fiat on my back, putting up my knees, against
which he leaned in a sitting posture. All night long
we remained in this position, and a painful, weary
night it was. At intervals we would catch a few
moments of sleep; then, waking, wet our wounds with
water from the canteens, try to converse, and th«n
again to sleep. 6o we wore away the night, longing
for the light to come.
" No one came near us ; we heard far away the drop-
ping fire of musketry on the picket lines, the occa-
sional booming of the cannon and the groans wrung
from the lips of hundreds of wounded men around
us. My young friend knew that he must die; never
again to hear the familiar voices of home, never to
feel a mother's kiss, away from brothers, sisters and
friends ; yet, as we talked, he told me that he did not
regret for a moment the course he had taken in
128
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
enlisting in the War of the Union, but that he was
ready, willing to die, contented in the thought that
his life was given in the performance of his duty to
his country.
In 1868 a post of the Grand Army of the Republic
was organized in Newton, and adopted the name of
Charles Ward as that of a most distinguished and
heroic soldier of the town. This post has flourished
greatly, and now numbers 150 members, including
many well-known merchants and professional men.
The town was liberal from first to last in the treat-
ment of soldiers and their families. At various times
$113,000 was appropriated for this purpose in town-
meetings and aid was sent to many non-resident
families of soldiers who bad been enlisted in Newton's
quota in Washington and elsewhere. But besides
this, the citizens contributed thousands of dollars
through the Sanitary and Christian Commissions, be-
sides the barrels and boxes containing clothing,
hospital supplies and loving gifts sent by thrse who
remained at home to the boys in the field. On one
summer Sabbath day news was brought of the great
battle fought by Hooker in the Wilderness, and the
urgent need of hospital supplies. Services in the
churches were suspended, people went home to tear
up their old theets for bandages and to pull lint, so
that by nightfall the supply train starting out from
Boston took on at each station in Newton a great pile
of boxes and barrels filled with the desired supplies,
which were hurried to the field hospitals at the front
as fast as steam could carry them.
The whole number of men that Newton was called
upon to furnish under all the calls made by the State
in response to the demands from Washington was
1067, but the town actually furnished 1129, a surplus
of sixty-two, and these were all raised by volunteer-
ing except a few who at one time were drafted un-
necessarily, as it afterwards proved, but who cheerfully
accepted their lot and served faithfully in the Union
Array. Three hundred and twenty-three of the num-
ber above were mustered in for " three years or the
war." The town also furnished forty-three com-
missioned officers, including one brevet brigadier-
general and one brevet major-general.
The latter was Adin B. Underwood, colonel of the
Thirty-third Massachusetts Regiment, who distin-
guished himself especially at Lookout Mountains,
where, at night, with only seven companies, he
charged up an almost inaccessible hill, through
woods and underbrush, and carried the rebel in-
trenchments after two assaults with fixed bayonets,
and drove a brigade of Longstreet's men from the
hill. In this charge Col. Underwood was desper-
ately wounded in the hip, so that his life was des-
paired of and one leg crippled for life. Gen. Hooker,
in his otficial report, recommended him for immedi-
ate promotion to the command of a brigade, and his
advice was followed.
The following table shows the distribution of Newton
I men in the several regiments and batteries, and it will
I be seen tha*; there was hardly a regiment in the State
\ in which the old town w»s not represented. It will
beseen that Newton had a full company in the Thirty-
I second Regiment, one in the Forty-fourth and nearly
enough men for a company in the Fifth Cavalry, al-
\ though in that case they were distributed through the
several companies.
THREE VE\RS' TROOPS.
First Regiment, Ij men ; 2d, 2 men ; Ttli, 2 men ; 0th. 5 men ; lltli, 0
men ; 12tb, 4 njen ; l:Jth, 5 men ; 15tli, 2 men ; IGth, 17 men ; 17tli,-l
nmo ; 18tli, 2 men ; 2Uth, 5 men; 21ht, 1 miiD ; 22d, 3 men; '.mb, I'l
men; 2;?tb, 1 man ; 2'Jtll, 2 men ; ;iOth, 1 miiu ; 3l8t, ;j men ; o2ii, S utli-
cers, 27 lluti-commissiuned olHcerti and 7S men; ;i3d, 2 men; :;5tli, 2
men ; ;;8th, 2 men ; 54th, I man ; jjth, 1 man ; 07th, 2 men ; .*VJth, I
umu ; <il»t, 12 men ; 02d, 1 man.
t'auutry. — First Regiment, 20 men; 2d, G men ; 3d, 9 men ; 4tli, 7
men ; 0th, S2 men.
Aitillerij.— First Battery, 1 man; 0th, 1 man; IJth, 3 men; Ijtli, I
man ; IGth. 1 rniin.
Fir^t Heavy .Vnillery, 3 men ; 2d, 7 men ; 3d, 3 men.
NINE 3I0NT1IS' TROOPS.
oth Regiment, 1 man ; Gtli, 1 man ; 42d, I man; -i3d, 2 men ; 44Ih, 0
olllcerctuud lul men ; 40th, 28 men ; 47tll, 3 men ; 4btli, 1 man.
ONE lIl'NDllEn n.vVs' TROOPS.
.'itli Regiment, 3 men ; Gth, 4 men ; 8th, 1 man ; 42d, 0 men ; Gnth, 2
men ; 22d L'liuttached Cunipauy, 2 men.
THREE MONTHS' VOLUNTEERS.
jtb Regiment, 2 men ; Reg. Army, 4iJ men ; Navy, 41 men.
RO!^TER OF NEWTON OFFICERS IN SIASSACIifSETTS REiilMENT.S.
Tlionias B. Uitchcoclf, a&>t. -surgeon, 42d Infantry.
Col. F. L. Lee, Capt. Jolin M. Griswold, Ut Lieut. F, II. Forbes, lat
Lieut. John .\. KeuricI,-, ail of 44th lufaiitry.
F. A. Dewson, quartermaster, Harri-non Gardner, lat lieutenant, and
I. H. Robinson, 2d lieutenant, of 40th Infantry.
Fdwurd W. ^'lark, chaplain, 47tb Ititautry,
Ut Lieut. L'has. D. Slack, 13tb Battery.
Major Andrew Washliurn, 1st Heavy .Vrtillery.
Major Henry T. I.awson, 2d Heavy .\rtiilery.
Major George H. Teague, Ist Cavalry.
2d Lieut. Jeremiah Dyson, 3d Cavall-y.
2d Lieut. George F. Scott, 0th Cavalry.
1st Lieut. Wm. B. Morrill, Uth Infantry.
Lieut. Col. T. iM. Bryan, Jr., .\33t. -surgeon .\. A. Kendall and 1st
Lieut. T. P. Haviland, all of I2th Infantry.
let Lieut. Henry S. Benson, 20th Infantry.
1st Lieuts. H. .\. Royce aud F. S. Benson, 22d Infantry.
.\sst. -Surgeon Cyrus 3. Mann, 31bt Inf.uitry.
32d Regiment Infantry as follows; Col. and Brevet Brig. -Gen. J.
Cusbing Kdmands, Capt. A. Bancroft, Capt. E. S. Farnaworfh, Cap. Geo.
A. Hall, Capt. I. F. Kingahury, 2d Lieuts. J. F. Boyd, Woi. F. Tufts,
Cbaa. E. Madden — to which should be added the lamented Chaa. Ward,
sergeant. major.
Brig -Gen. A. B. Underwood and Capt. Geo. M. Walker, 33d Infantry.
Capt. Jus. E. Cousins, 01th Infantry.
Surgeou Burt G. Wilder, 00th Infantry.
Capt. A. B. Ely, Aaat. Adj. Gen. L'. S. Voluntcera.
IN THE UNITED STATES NAVV.
.Acting Master? F. F. Baury, W. II. Garfield, Alfred Wnslihurn, Act-
ing Ensign Lowell U. Breck, Lieut. -Com. Jos. B. Breck, .Vast. -Surgeon
I. H. Uazelton, Paymaster 11. B. Wetherell, Jr.
In the event of another war, Newton will not be
without a company or without many young men of
military training, for about two years after the war an
excellent miliiia company was organized under the
command of Captain I. F. Kingsbury, who had been
adjutant of the Thirty-second Massachusetts, and
NEWTON.
129
numbering in its ranks other young men who had
been in the service. The company was named the
Clartin Guards, in honor of the then Governor of the
State, and became Company C of the First Regi-
ment il. V. M. At the time of the reorganization
of the militia it passed successfully the ordeal that
threw out so many companies, and became Company
C of the Fifth Infantry M. V. II., where it is keep-
ing up in good shape its own reputation and that of
the city, which has generously provided it with a
handsome armory, made by remodeling the old Uni-
tarian Church ou Washington Street, near Newton
Station.
The Newtox Me-s in the Field.— Up to the
summer of 1862, Newton men had enlisted in many
of the organizations that bad been sent to the front,
but there was no distinctive Newton company. The
drill-club that had been formed by the citizens had
tried in vain to get accepted by the Government, but
no more troops were wanted. It served its purpose,
however, in educating in military tactics many young
men wno aftewards enlisted, or were commissioned in
other commands. In the spring of 1862 the disasters
of the Shenandoah Valley, and the desperate resis-
tance of the rebels aroused the Government to the seri-
ousness of the situation, and ou May 25th news was
received that General Banks had been defeated, that
Stonewall Jackson menaced the Capital, and that af-
fairs at the front were getting desperate. With this
news came a frantic appeal from the War Department
to Goveyior Andrew for aid, giving him ample pow-
ers to raise troops, provide transportation and cut red
tape generally. There was at this time doing garrison
duty at Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, an organization
known as the First Battalion of Massachusetts Infan-
try, commanded by Major Francis J. Parker, a New-
ton man. These troops had been on duty there for
six months, and liad become well drilled and thor-
oughly disciplined under the watchful eye of Colonel
T. E. Dimmock, an old army officer, who was the
commandant of the post.
No better troops could have been available for the
emergency, and the Governor, without a moment's
delay, sent for Major Parker, commissioned him lieu-
tenant-colonel and constituted his six companies the
Thirty- second Massachusetts Regiment — a corps that
was to obtain later a fighting record second to none
in the army, and that wai not mustered out until it
had been " in at the death " at Lee's surrender. It
was to tliis regiment that the Newton company that
fought through the war was attached, and the history
of the company and the regiment is one. The bad
news and the call for succor came on Sunday, and on
Monday, May 25, 1862, the regiment, then consisting
of six companies, marched through Boston, stacked
their smooth-bore muskets, received their rifles and
left for the front six hundred strong, the Governor
promising to raise four more companies to fill up the
regiment to the regulation number. The Newton
9-iii
company was the last of these and was not with the
regiment in its Peninsular campaign with McClellan,
during which the battalion of six companies obtained
an excellent record for both discipline and courage.
At this time a company had been enlisted in New-
ton, especially through the eflforts of the authorities
and of Hon. J. Wiley Edmands, whose son, J. Cushing
Edmands, was elected captain, afterwards rising to the
command of the regiment. Ambrose Bancroft was
commissioned as first lieutenant, and John F. Boyd,
second lieutenant, all on July 30, 1862. Both the
lieutenants ro^e to the rank of captain in 1864 and
1865. Ezra S. Farnsworth, who raised the company,
went out as orderly sergeant, and George A. Hall as
sergeant, the former coming home a brevet-major and
the latter a captain. Promotion was somewhat rapid
in this regiment becaiise so many officers were killed
in action. I<aac F. Kingsbury was commissioned
second lieutenant December 15, 1862, and rose to be
captain of the company. William F. Tuft and
Charles E. Madden were also second lieutenants in
1865. It was noticeable that very many of the fam-
ilies who first settled the town and had members in
the Revolutionary Army were also represented in this
company, for we find on the rolls the names of Ward,
Kingsbury, Hyde, Fuller, Jackson and Trowbridge,
some of them having three representatives. This
company, being the last recruited for the regiment,
was the letter "K." Companies H I and K were
assembled at the Lynnfield camp and were sent out
to join the regiment on August 20, 1862, under Cap-
tain Moulton, proceeding to New York by the Ston-
ington line and reaching Washington on the 22d.
At this time the movement to effect a junction be-
tween the armies of McClellan and Pope was in pro-
gress. The Thirty-second was with Pope, and the
battalion set out to find the regiment, marching first
to Alexandria; but as not even the commander-in-
chief knew where Pope jvas, it was no easy matter to
find the regiment. At length Porter's corps was
located, and the battalion joined the other seven com-
panies of the regiment on September 3d. Then
Lieut.-Col. Parker was promoted to be colonel, Capt.
G. L. Prescott to be lieutenant-colonel— he afterwards
was in command and was killed in action at Peters-
burg June 16, 1864"and Capt. L. Stephenson was raised
to the rank of Major. The Newton company was
soon in active service, for on September 12th, the regi-
ment took up its march with McClellan's army for the
Antietam campaign. In that battle the regiment,
contrary to its usual fortune, was not in the thick of
the fight, but at Fredericksburg, not long after. Com-
pany K received its baptism of fire, on December 13,
1862. The Thirty-second was in Griffin's division,
which was sent to the support of Sumner across the
new bridge of boats, through the town and halted in
a hollow, piled knapsacks and blankets and stripped
to fighting trim. Col. Parker describes the actual
fighting as follows :
130
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
"Our regiment rejoined the division, There, one behind the otiier nnd
cloue togetlier in the rHJIro^id cut, were three brigades waiting fur the
order to attack. We recall the terrific acce»eion to the roar of battle
with which the enemy welcomed eacli brigade before us as it left tlie
cover of the cut, and with which, at last, it welcomed us. We remem-
ber the rudh across that open field, where, in ten minutes, evt-ry
tenth man was killed or nounded and how, coming up with llie G2d
Penn. of our brigade, their amnninition exhausted and t'le meu lying
flat on the earth for protection, uur men, proudly disdaining cover,
stood every man erect, and, witli steady file-firing, kept the rebels dcwu
behind the cover of their stone wall, and held this position until night
fall ; and it was a pleasant consequence to this that the men of the gal-
lant 62d, who bud before been almost foes, were ever after our fast
frienda."
That night the regiment passed sleeping, if at all,
in the mud and literally on their arms ; the next
night the brigade was withdrawn into the town and
thence across the river the night after. In this battle
of Fredericksburg the Thirty-second lost thirly-flve
killed and wounded, including one captnin, Charles
A. Dearborn, Jr., but no Newton man was killed, al-
though Lucius F. Trowbridge died sixteen days
afterwards. The next spring the regiment was at
Chancellorsville, but lost only one killed and four
wounded. Soon after came Lee's invasion of Penn-
sylvania, and the Fifth Corps, to which the regiment
belonged, was moved northward on parallel lines to
iutercept him. It was on the afternot n of July 2d
that this corps became actively engaged, but a battle
like that at Gettysburg, or the part that the Xewton
company had in it, can only be well described by a
participant. The late S. C. Spaulding who was ser-
geant in the company, wrote for the Xeivton Journal a
graphic account of the tight as seen and participated
in by the men of Xewton, which we quote at length :
"At 4 A.M., after a hearty breakftist, we marched
again, reaching the vicinity of Gettysburg at 8 A..M.
Halting about two miles east of the town, we formed
in line of battle, our corps being held in reserve until
the arrival of the Si.xth Corps, to which had been as-
signed that place. Immediately on their arrival, we
were relieved at the rear and ordered to the front.
Our brigade advanced to the Ridge at the right of
Little Round Top, where we halted in line of battle.
From that elevated position we had a splendid bird's-
eye view of the rebel army, then massed on Seminary
Ridge. Our halt there was short. As the battle
waxed hot in our front, we were pushed forward to
support our troops engaged. We advanced into, and
nearly through a belt of woods, halting within sup-
porting distance of our single line of battle, which
extended along the edge of the open field in which
the battle raged.
" Our line of battle was formed in the woods, with
the ground descending to the opening in our front.
The enemy occupied the woods on the opposite side
of the field, and within easy musket range, and were
pouring a murderous fire into our troops ahead of us,
who, from their exposed position, were being terribly
cut up. It was evident that they could not long with-
stand the shock and must fall back ; therefore we were
ordered to uusling our knapsacks and prepare for the
worst. Scarcely had we resumed our places in line,
when the remnant of our line engaged fell back
through our ranks to the rear.
"Having now been brought face to face with the
enemy, we were ordered to kneel and fire that we
might be less exposed. We were ordered to load and
fire at will, and as rapidly as possible, and (if I may
judge by the storm of bullets that poured into our
ranks) I should say the enemy were faithfully exe-
cuting the same order.
"Icannot better portray our situation and the danger
to which we were exposed, than by giving a state-
ment of my own experience during the fev moments
we held that position. I was in the front rank, on
the right of our company. No sooner h?d we got
into line and commenced firing, than two comrades
next on my right were hit, — one in the body who w.is
mortally wounded, the other in the head and instant-
ly killed. The first comrade on my left was wounded
in the foot, and went to the rear, as did our first ser-
geant, with a wound in his side, who was hit directly
behind me (whiie standing I presume). A little
bush at my right and within my reach was repeatedly
hit with bullets, which clipped its leaves and twigs.
Twice was I forcibly reminded that somebody was mak-
ing good line shots, by bullets which struck directly in
front of me, and near enough to throw the dirt and
leaves into my face. Notwithstanding the excitement
of the conflict, the unmistakable evidences of the
danger to which I was expo.sed made me tremble, for
I expected every instant to be hit, and doubtless
should, had we remained there a little longer. But
just then we were ordered to change our position, and
as we withdrew I felt that I had a new lease of life.
" I think we could have held our ground against the
enemy in our front, but the removal of troops on our
right left our flank exposed to the enemy in that di-
recti'. n, who instantly took advantage of oursituation
and compelled us to fall back, which we did in good
order, bringing our dead and wounded with us. We
marched by the flank to the lelt a little way, then
forward through the woods to an opening, where
three regiments of our brigade, viz.: Fourth Michi-
gan, Sixty-second Pennsylvania and ours (the Ninth
Massachusetts being on picket), charged across the
field to the woods on the opposite side, where
we haired behind a stone wall, adjusted our line
and commenced firing at the enemy, who occu-
pied the woods in our front in large numbers. We
had fired but a few rounds when we discovered that
we were under fire from flank as well as front. Our
right having again been left exposed by a break in
our line, the enemy had turned our flank, and our
brigade was in danger of being annihilated or cap-
tured. The command was given to fall back, and, not-
withstanding the terrible fire we were subjected to,
our line was not broken, except as our ranks were
thinned by the bullets of the enemy who swarmed
upon our flank and rear, and the sharpest contest we
NEWTOX.
131
ever hail experienced ensued. Our rank?, which had i and of the Confederacy itself ; and it was Lieutenant-
already been fearfully decimated, now became broken | Colonel Cunningham, then in command, who re-
by the shock of the enemy upon our flank, and the j ceived the flag of truce sent by General Lee prepara-
handto-hand encounter of not a few of our number
with the enemy, who had gained our rear." Sergeant
Spaldiug, who wrote the above account, was pensioned
by a special act of Congress for the loss of a limb
caused indirectly by his service in the war.
At Gettysburg the Newton company lost in killed
and wounded just one-half the number that went into
action, while the regiment lost over one-third.
After Gettysburg the Fifth Corps followed the en-
emy southward, crossing the Potomac on July 17th,
to Warrenton, August 8th ; thence to Beverly Ford,
where the Thirty-second encamped five weeks iu a
beautiful forest of young pines, which enabled the
men to decorate their quartern with evergreen arches
at the heads of the company streets; Company K
putting up a Maltese cross (the corps badge) over its
entrance.
The regiment spent the winter of 1863-64 in quar-
ters at Liberty, near Bealton Station, on the Orange
and Alexandria Railroad, where the company was vis-
ited by the Hon. J. F. C. Hyde, who, as chairman of
the selectmen, had been devoting ail his energies for
the past two years to keeping the Xewton quota full,
and watching for opportunities to help the boys in
the field and take care of the families left at home.
During this winter most of the men of the Thirty-
second re-enlisted for a term of three years, in return
for which the regiment was allowed a furlough for
thirty days, and on Sunday, January 17, 1864, they
marched from the Old Colony Staliou to the State-
House, and thence to Faneuil Hall, receiving the
enthusiastic cheers of the great crowd of citizens who
lined the streets.
The next day an enthusiastic reception was given
by the towa of Xewton to Company K.
But the regiment was soon in the field again, and
on ilay 4. 1864, crossed the Rappahannock for the
fifteenth time. On May 5th it was in line of bat-
tle in the " Wilderness," and was under arms for
seventeen succesiive days and nights without respite,
and always in the front line. On June ISth it
charged the enemy in front of Petersburg, and it was
while leading the regiment in this charge that Colonel
Prescott was killed. On July 21st and September 1st
the regiment helped repulse the attack of the enemy
on the U'eldon Railroad. On September 30th Griflin's
brigade checked the enemy at Peeble's Farm as they
were driving in the Ninth Corps; it was in this en-
gagement that Major Edmands was wounded.
The next spring, in February, 1865, the Fifth Corps
was engaged in the final campaign of the war, east
and south of Richmond. On March 29th it was in
the battle of Gravelly Run ; the ne.\t day it was in
the skirmish line. On April 4th it was in the front
line of skirmishers at Five Forks, the day that proved
fatal to the last lingering hopes of Lee and his army.
tory to negotiations for the final surrender.
In the Wilderness Campaign, in May, 1864, the
battle of Laurel Hill, on May 12th, deserves especial
mention, as the loss of the regiment in proportion to
the number engaged was greater than in any other
battle it was ever in. As this battle merits a detailed
description, the following relation is quoted from
Col. Parker's "Story of the Thirty-second."
"That tnorntDK found us whpre we had been for two or three da ye,
io front of Laurel Uilt and distant hardly more than a quarter of a
mile from the woriiB of the enemy. At>out Dine o'clock a.m. we re-
ceived orders to attack the position of the enemy on Laurel Hill, and
tiie brigade, commanded by Col. Prescott, advanced witlj a rush across
the intervening apace. Ae the line of battle surted it overran tba
picket line, dashed down the little depression in their front, over the
next rise of ground, but at the foot of Laurel Hill the men, whose
momentum had carried them thus fur, faltered under the terrible fire and
laid down within a short distance of the enemy's Hue of works. Here Che
ground did not cover the left of the regiment, and while Lieut. -Col.
Stephenson ^in command), \vas trying to draw his left under shelter, be
saw that the regiment on his right bad broken and was falling back in
great disorder, and at once ordered the men to save themselves.
" The advance hod been disastrous, but as usual the retreat was far
more so. In the 32d, five bearers fell before the colors reached the old
position behind our works ; of the 190 men who advanced in the regi-
mental line 103 were killed or wounded, and from the time that they left
the works uutU the remnant bad returned, leas than tfair y minutes had
elapsed. Among the wounded were Lieutenants Lauriat, Hudson and
Furnsworth ; .\djutaDt L F. Kingsbury; Capt. Bancroft (the three
latter being Xewton men), and Captain Hamilton, the latter fatally."
In the final campaign before Richmond, in the
absence of Col. Edmands, disabled by sickness, and
Major Shepard, prisoner of war, the regiment was
under the command of Lieut-Col. Cunningham, (after-
wards Adjutant General of Massachusetts), Capt. Ban-
croft acting as major and Capt. I. F. Kingsbury as
adjutant. At the end of the war Cunningham was
breveted Brigadier-general, and was afterwards Ad-
jutant-General of Massachusetts, while Kingsbury
was appointed assistant adjutant-general with the
rank of lieutenant-colonel.
The Sixteenth Massachusetts Infantry deserves no-
tice as containing, next to the Thirty-second and
Forty-fourth, the largest number of Newton men.
This regiment went to the front August 17, 1861, and
remained there three years. Its flags bear the names
of sixteen battles, and after the battle of Glendale,
Gen. Hooker wrote to Gov. Andrew : "There is no
doubt but at Glendale the Sixteenth Massachusetts
saved the army." The Twenty-fourth regiment, with
fifteen Newton men, had a parallel record, and at the
end of three years the men almost universally re-
enlisted, and fought through the war.
The raising of a nine months' company in the sum-
mer of 1862 has been referred to. This company
joined the Forty-fourth Regiment at Readville, the re-
cruiting camp near Dedham. This regiment was
formed from the old " New England Guards," then
the Fourth Battalion, M. V. M.,as a nucleus, and was
composed of a very intelligent class of men, mainly
132
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
clerks ^nd student?, one company being made up in
part of Harvard College men. The average age of
the regiment was only twenty-two years, seven
months, while the Newton Company, B, was theoldest,
having an average age of twenty-four years, seven
months. This company also had in its ranksagreater
variety of trades and professions than any other com-
pany, and could detail an expert for almost any special
duty. This preliminary encampment, says the sur-
geon of the regiment, was for a time a sort of picnic,
at which daily drill was relieved by moonlight prom-
enades to the strains of the Boston Brass Band. The
severity of commissary diet was tempered by an
abundant overflow from home tables. Nothing was
too good for the "flower of the youth of Boston," and
they fared sumptuously every day. Contractors'
shoddy was rejected for custom-made uniforms, and
boots made to order took the place of army shoes.
On October 22, 1S62, Company B, with the rest of
the regiment, packed its kna|. sacks for the last time
in that camp, and "fell in" to march to the station,
where they were honored with a salute by the "Cadet
Regiment,' the Forty-dfth, drawn up to receive them.
In Boston they had a reception on the Common, then
marched to the wharf, where they embarked on the
steamers "Mississippi" and Merrimac" for North
Carolina. The voyage was a compound of the aver-
age amount of fun and misery usually found on a
transport ship, and on October 2lJih ihey landed at
Beaufort Harbor, N. C, whence they were transported
to New Berne, forty miles away, on platform-cars in a
pouring rain. Here the regiment went into barracks
and was placed in General Thomas G. Stevenson's
brigade, Wessells' division. Eighteenth Army Corps,
Major General J. G. Foster commanding. Foster and
Wessells were West Pointer.-*, while Steveason was a
former commander of the Fourth Battalion, Massa-
chusetts Militia.
Only three days after their arrival the regiment
was put in actual service and embarked on steamers for
Little Washington, N. C, where they remained until
November 2d, when the brigade marched forTarboro'.
Wheu within a few miles of Williamstown the ad-
vance was fired into and the troops were formed for
action. Companies H and C being sent forward as
skirmishers; as these were fording a creek known as
Little Creek, they were fired into by a large force of
the enemy concealed in the woods only a few yards
away, killing one man and wounding seven. The
rest of the brigade was brought up, the woods shelled
and the enemy driven back to Rawle's Mill, about a
mile beyond, where they made another stand. Here
the Forty-fourth lost several more men, but the enemy
finally fell back, burning the bridge as they went. So
this regiment, that left camp at Readville only on
October 22d, was in action in Noith Carolina on No-
vember 2d, eleven days afterwards. The forced
march was continued nearly as far as Tarboro', which
was found to be strongly reinforced; the men were
fatigued, footsore and broken by the continuous
marching, lack of rest and sufficient food. AW that
day, Thursday, after a lively skirmish in '.he morning
the boys marched through mud, rain and snow back
to Hamilton, many falling out through exhaustion ;
on Friday they marched through an inch of snow to
Williamstown. On Sunday they marched twenty two
miles down the river to Plymouth. Here they em-
harked on November lltb, aud in two days more
were back in their old quarters at New Berne.
This two weeks' campaign was a rough initiation
for the Newton boys, accustomed to fine roads and
soft beds, but they suffered less proportionately than
some of the other regiments, the youth of the men
proving more elastic in recovery from the effects of
hardship and privations, and the lung marches at
Readville, which at the time seemed so unnecessary,
had done much to toughen and prepare them for cam-
paigning in the field.
Thus was accomplished the first expedition of actual
service, whose object was to destroy the Rebel ram
" .\lbemarle," then constructing at Tarboro', to save
Plymouth from capture, and if possible to circumvent
the force gathered for that purpose ; and if it was not
entirely succe.-slul it was useful in inuring the men to
hardship and accustoming them to the presence and
fire of the enemy. The regiments who were with the
Forty- fourth on this march were the Fifth Rhode Is-
land, Tenth Connecticut and Twenty-fourth Massa-
chusetls.
After this the regiment was besieged at Little
Washington by overwhelming numbers of the enemy,
but held the post bravely uniil reinforced by an ade-
quate ♦brce; but as the Newton company was at that
time detailed on picket, the story of the i-iege does not
properly come within the scope of this narrative.
The following description of the picket duty of the
Newton company at Batchelder's Creek was written
for the regimental history by Charles C. Soule, the
lieutenant of the company, and gives the pleasant
side of a soldier's life:
" On Monday, March 2, 18G3, Companies B and F,
under the command of Captain Storrow, were taken
three miles up the railroad and relieved two compan-
ies of the Fifty-first Massachusetts on picket. On
the Sixth the battalion marched three milts faither
out and went into camp in the pine woods near Batch-
eldei's Creek. Former occupants of the post bad
nearly finished eight log huts in the thick woods.
These were not utilized as quarters for the battalion,
but around them as a centre smaller huts were con-
structed, roofed in by shelter trees, littered with straw,
warmed by brick fire-places, and rendered homelike
by conveniences and ornaments. These occupied three
sides while the wall tects of the officers filled the
fourth side. In the centre of the camp was erected a.
double-masted flag-pole topped with a weather-vane
and bearing on its cross-trees the legend ' Camp Lee,
March G, 1SG3.'
NEWTON.
133
" The two companies remained in this camp for two
months, enjoying the brightest and pleasantest part
of a soldier's life. There wa« a good deal of uight
work, but not enough to wear the men out. The
open-air life in the pine woods was so invigorating
that there was very little sickness in the detachment.
There was enough of excitement, a sufficient con-
sciousness of the proximity of the enemy to give a
zest to the routine of duty. The se.ison of the year
was a delightful one. As the spring advanced, violets,
anemones, honeysuckle and the fragrant jessamine
blossomed thickly among the lanes and roads. The
woods were full of rabbits, 'possums and 'coons
(which the men were successful in trapping), with
traces now and then of a prowling fox. The creek
was full of fish, — herring, horn-pout, and robin or
red-fin (bream), — for which we angled with hooks
baited with worms or soaked hard-tack. With this
plenitude of game came a disagreeable accompani-
ment in the profusion of snakes, — black snakes, four
or five feet long; moccasins as large as a child's arm,
and 'copperheads, even more venomous than their
namesakes in the North.' The chief duty to be per-
formed was the picketing of the line of Batchelder's
Creek. The details were quite as much as two com-
panies could perform, and brought each man on duty
about every other day.
"Ano'her and favorite duty was the scouting by land
and water. When the companies first occupied the
picket posts there were no boats of any kind to be
found. A vigorous search was instituted along the
banks of the creek, and several canoes and flat-boats
were found concealed in the dense cane-brakes. These
were brought to the Washington Road and repaired,
and every few days a scouting company was sent down
the creek and up the river on a reconnoisance. The
' Reba ' were rarely seen; and th5 principal result of
these expeditions was the collection of a number of
useful articles of camp equipage from the deserted huts
and houses along the creek." .\t the last of April
Company F took part in the " Green Swamp Expedi-
tion," but the Newton company was not in it, and
missed a lot tif terrihiy hard marching and skirmish-
ing in reeking swamps deluged with pouring rains.
On May 2J the two companies were relieved by two
of the Forty-sixth Massachusetts, and were marched
back to the barracks at New Berne. During May and
June the Newton men, with the rest of the regiment,
were engaged in doing provost duty in that city.
As the regiment had arrived in a rain-storm, it left
in another, on June otli, Co. B being the left wing,
under Capt. Storrow, on the steamboat '■ George Pea-
body." On June 'Jth the steamer ran along the
eastern shore of Cipe Cod and just before sunset
<lropped anchor in Boston Harbor. How glad the
Newton boys must have been to see the dome of the
State-House once more — that dome that they could see
from their own homes. That night the steamer
anchored near Fort Independence, waiting for the
other wing of the regiment. The next day the boys
on landing were met by several companies of reserves
and home guards, with Gilmore'a Band, and escorted
to the Common. Then the regiment was furloughed
until the final mustering out at Reedville. The New-
ton company waa the only distinctively local one
in the regiment, and shortly after the muster out the
citizens of the town gave them a rousing reception at
Newton Corner. The stores were closed, schools dis-
missed and the whole town put on a holiday aspect.
Mr. Otis Edmands was chief marshal and Hon. J.
Wiley Edmands (whose son, Thomas S., was a member
of the company) presided. Appropriate speeches of
welcome were made and festivities were concluded
with a banquet in the old Eliot.Hall.
This forty-fourth Regiment waa not called a "fighting
regiment," as fate had not ordered that it should be
plunged into the desperate battles of theArmy of the
Potomac ; but it must be remembered that it was often
compelled to endure hardships equal to any inflicted
on any of the army, and that it lost in killed and
by disease twenty-sis men in nine months, thirty-two
wounded, sixty-five disabled and twenty-five on the
invalid guard, besides three men taken prisoners. It
must also be remembered that 173 men went back into
the army, seventy-nine of them as commissioned otH-
cers, twenty-nine of the number giving their lives to
their country.
In compiling the above record the facts and figures
have been drawn in part from Dr. S. F. Smith's
" History of Newton," in which the muster-rolls are
given in full; from Ccl. Francis J. Parker's "Story
of the 32d," and from the '' Record of the 44lh,'' by
the Regimental Association.
CHAPTER X.
^E WTOX—l Cunlinned).
MEDICAL HISTORY.
BV JESSE P. FRISBIE, .U.D.
Arraxgejiexts were originally made for the prep-
aration of this article with Dr. Henry M. Field.
Failing health finally compelled him to abandon the
task, and the writer accepted the responsibility of
preparing this chapter when only a few weeks were
left before the manuscript must be in the hands of the
printer. Consequently it must (}f necessity be frag-
mentary and imperfect.
Six months would have been none too mach time
for a thorough search and investigation among old
records and of the " oldest inhabitants." Of the
nearly 100 written letters and lists of questions sent
out, there has been no reply to many. Doubtless in-
vestiga ions are being prcsecuted and replies will
134
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
come containing much valuable historical material,
but too late for insertion in this work.
Appended is a list of the names of physicians who,
at some time, have lived in Newton, but of whom
there is no tangible record, as want of time and op-
portunity preclude the necessary investigation into
their past history. What few facts could be obtained
in the limited time are given.
Ebenezer Stake, M.D., son of Dr. Josiab Starr,
of Weston, Mass., was born in Weston, August 24,
1768, and died in Neivton Lower Falls August 24,
1830.
He was educated at Harvard College ; studied med-
icine with Dr. Spring, of Watertown, and graduated
from Harvard Medical College in 1789.
He settled in Newton Lower Falls in the year 1790.
He was a prominent man there and bad an exten-
sive practice. He was honored with a seat in the
House of Reiyesentatives for three years — 1815-16-17.
He served on a committee to prepare rules and regu-
lations for the schools of Newton. September 19,
1808, Dr. Starr, with others, was appointed on a
committee, in town meeting called for the purpose,
to draw up a remonstrance against the embargo
placed on our commerce and proclaimed in the De-
cember preceding.
He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and
was Master of his lodge.
Prior to 1824 Dr. Starr was the principal physician
at the Upper Falls. Like many men, the doctor had
his peculiarities, and would be very apt to make some
remark in the sick-room that would have a tendency
to divert the minds of his patients from themselves
and give them greater hopes of speedy recovery. Up-
on one occasion, when called to see a sick woman, who
was very tall in stature — some six feet two or more
inches— he found her standing, and proceeded with
his usual methods for a diagnosis of the case, until he
desired to see her tongue. Then he remarked, ■' If I
had a ladder I would go up and see it."
This remark turned the scale of the patient's
slight illness at once into recovery, and a second visit
was unnecessary.
Dr. Starr married Miss Lydia Ware, daughter of
John H. Ware, January 22, 1794.
At his decease he left three sons and two daugh-
ters.
Samitel Clarke, M.D., son of Samuel Clarke,
v/aa born in Boston, 1779. He was in the Latin
School, Boston, in 1790, and afterwards in a store
with an importer of British goods. Subsequently he
became a partner in the firm.
In 1810 he went to Hanover, New Hampshire, and
studied medicine with Professor Nathan Smith, of
Dartmouth College; and there his son. Rev. James
Freeman Clarke, D.D., was born. In 1811 he re-
turned to Newtou to practice medicine. In 1816 he
went to Boston and continued to practice there, and
conducted a drug-store at the corner of School and
Washington Streets till the year 1829. Then he re-
turned to Newton and built a chemical factory. He
died of fever in Newton November 30, 1830. He
married Rebecca Parker Hull, daughter of General
William Hull, of Newton. He left at his decease a
widow, five sons and one daughter. His widow died
in Boston May 25, 1865.
Dr. John King was a self-taught physician and
successor of Dr. John Cotton. His parentage is not
known. He died March 20, 1807. He married Miss
Sarah Wiswall, daughter of Captain Noah Wiswall.
After her death -he married Miss Elizabeth Cookson,
April, 1799. He was a modest and unassuming
man, but able, energetic and one that could be de-
pended upon. " For many years he was moder.itor
of town-meetings; selectman; one of the Committee
of Correspondence in 1774, and to prepare instruc-
tions for their Representatives ; on various commit-
tees during the war and after; was a delegate to the
convention (1779) to form a Constitution for Mass. ;
was at the battle of Lexington, and one of the sol-
diers from Newton to guard Burgoyne's army, in the
fall of 1778. He was Representative in 1792, etc."
He was evidently a valuable man for the times, and
was freely called upon by his towns-people to do ser-
vice in their behalf. However much his professional
services were appreciated, his public duties must
have occupied a large share of his time.
Dr. Bowen Parker was born in the town of Pem-
broke, now South Hanson, Mass., in the year ISOO,
and came to Newton to practice medicine in 1824 or
'25, and remained here about two years, and then re-
moved to South Hanson, where he continued to prac-
tice until he died, Nov. 22, 1874. He was a promis-
ing young man when in Newton, and interested
himself in the progressive work of this vicinity. He
was a member of Newton's first temperance society.
Simeon Burt Carpenter, M.D., son of Dr.
William Bullock Carpenter, was born June 5, 1801,
in Freetown, Bristol County, Mass. He died July 24,
1843, in Dedham, Mass., leaving a wife and three
daughters.
He was fitted for college by the Rev. Mr. Andros,
of Berkley, the author of "The Old Jersey Captive."
He graduated from Brown University, Providence, R.
I., September, 1827. " He was old in college because
his father opposed his going till he was o'd enough
to act for himself." He took the degrees of A.B. and
M.D. at Harvard University in 1830. Soon after
the death of Dr. Starr, of Newton Lower Falls, he
was called to fill his place. He set'.led there in the
year 1830. He married Angeline Louisa, youngest
daughter of .^rtemas Murdock, of Newton, on May
17, 1835.
He removed to Dedham and settled there, making
it his home till bis death.
Dr. Carpenter was a busy and useful man, highly
respected and beloved in Newton and Dedham. He
was a public-spirited man and interested himself in
NEWTON.
135
the important questions of the day. ,He was one of,
the first to form a temperance society in Newton, \
which did a good work. He was an anti-slavery man
from the time Garrison was mobbed. He lectured
in Newton and Dedham on medical and other sub-
jects. So able a man was he considered, he was in-
vited to edit an anti-slavery paper; but that he felt
obliged to decline, as he could not spare the time from
his professional work, and Mr. Edmund Quinsy was
selected in his place.
He was interested in education, and served on the
School Committee in Newton for some time. He was
one of the directors of the Savings Bank in Dedham,
and held other offices. He died at the age of forty-
two, as his widow writes, "just as he began to reap."
He was a member of the Massachusetts Medical So-
ciety.
Stephen Hodgman Sp.^lding, son of Joseph
Spalding, was born in Chelms-ford, Mass., August 4^
1787. He died in South Natick, July, 1866. He
commenced his medical studies under the tuition of
a Dr. Wyraan, at that time a practicing physician in
Chelmsford. He attended two courses of lectures in
Boston, and graduated after studying three years at
the Harvard Medical School.
He commenced practice in Littleton, Mass , re-
mained a few years, then removed to Dublin, New
Hampshire, where he secured an excellent and lucra-
tive practice. After a few years he found that the se-
verity of the winters, and the almost impassable state
of the roads — being obliged to travel with snow-
shoes without any regard to boundary lines or fences
— was telling upon his health, and this decided him
to accept an invita'ion to settle in South Natick,
Mass., where .Tgain he succeeded in building up an
extensive practice.
In about 1841 he removed to Newton Upper Falls,
and associated himself with his son-in-law, Dr. Sam-
uel S. Whitney, who had married his only child, Sarah
W. Spalding, in general practice. In 1843 his house
and stable were burned. He then settled in Reading,
Mass., and continued in practice there for several
years. Later in life, after an active practice of thirty
years, he retired, and removing back to South Natick,
made that his home till he died. In his last years he
was a great sufferer from dise.ise. He was a member
of the Unitarian Church and Parish of South Natick,
and the large number at his funeral attested the re-
spect and esteem of his towns-people.
S.\.MtJEL Stillvax Whit.n-f.y, M.D., SOU of George
Whitney, was born at Natick, Mas-"., January 6, 1815.
He died June 30, lSo.5, leaving a wife and several
children, one of whom, Stillman .Spalding Whitney,
born August 11, 1849, became a physican and died at
Allston, Mass., November 7, 1886.
Dr. Whitney fitted for college at Leicester, Mass.,
and entered Harvard College at the age of fourteen.
After remaining a year at Cambridge, he removed to
Amherst, Mass., to complete his collegiate course in
Amherst College. Toward the close of it, however, a
long sickness having intervened to prevent his grad-
uating with his cliiss, he decided not to take a de-
gree.
Soon after he entered the office of Dr. S. H. Spald-
ing, then practicing in Natick, Mass. The next year
he entered the office of Dr. John D. Fisher, of Boston,
and continued his medical studies there. The last six
months of his studentship he passed in the City In-
stitutions at South Boston. He graduated at Harvard
Medical College in 1838. Immediately after the
death of Dr. Alfred Hosmer, at Newton Upper Falls,
he settled in that place, and, from his ene.'gy and su-
perior ability, rapidly won the esteem and confidence
of the community, and a large and widely-extended
practice. Within a year of his settlement there, he
married Misj Sarah W. Spalding, only child of his
first teacher in the study of medicine.
Dr. Whitney remained at Newton Upper Falls six
years, and then removed to Dedham, Mass., in 1844,
having been invited to go there by the citizens of the
town. He was an early and enthusiastic follower of
Laennec, and in the early years of his practice he wrote
a paper on " Auscultation and Percussion," which
was printed in the American Journal of the Medical
Sciences. It was considered of so much value, it was
reprinted in the British Medical Journal.
He was one of the first operators in this country
for strabismus. He successfully attempted staphy-
lorraphy. He performed this operation successfully
many times ; once on a gentleman from Canada, who
had been operated upon unsuccessfully by the cele-
brated Diffenback. He p'erformed a series of opera-
tions for the surgical relief of epilepsy.
Before permanently locating in Dedham he went to
Europe and spent a year in travel and study at the
leading medical centres, especially following Laennec,
Velpeau, Andral and Piorry. On leaving Paris,
Piorry presented him with his own long-used plessi-
metre as a parting gift, of which he was always very
proud, although in general practice he much pre-
ferred his own phalangeal bones. His delicacy,
quickness and acuteness of ear rendered him very ex-
pert in his favorite field of auscultation and per-
cussion.
He was a skillful surgeon, successful in all the
larger operations and especially in arts of modem
surgery for the cure of congenital or accidental de-
formities.
In the autumn of 1818 he was attacked with
diarrhrea — a sub-acute enteritis — from which and its
eU'ects he never fully recovered. He was sometimes
relieved by a sea voyage or a short residence in a
warmer climate. In 1853 he began to feel a numb-
ness in his lower limbs, which increased till paralysis
ensued. A few months later, with a medical attendant,
he sailed for Havana. There, while standing on
the capstan of the vessel, he' was seized with para-
plegia. He returned to New York, was placed on the
136
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Fall River boat in a helpless condition, and, in the
care of a son of Secretary William Seward, was con-
veyed to his home and died, peacefully and resigned
at the age of forty years.
Many interesting anecdotes are related of Dr.
Whitney, illustrating the precocity and wonderful
mental powers that he possessed. It is related that
before he was fifteen years old he taught school, and
in the morning reading in the Bible he would follow
the pupils in Hebrew and correct them when in error.
Samuel Warren, M.D., son of Nathan Warren,
was born in Weston, Mass., April 23, 1802. His
early education was obtained in Framingham, Mass.,
and at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., 1819
-22. He entered Yale College in 1822 and re-
mained there for two years, then went to the Harvard
Medical School and graduated in 1827. He was a
deacon in the West Newton Congregational Church.
He was a biblical student and some of his writings
were published in the Bibllotheca Sacra. '
Dr. Warren was interested in horticulture, and his
botanical studies took a wide range. At one time he
was at the head of an academy in West Newton.
For several years he practiced medicine in West
Newton, where he held valuable real estate.
Dr. Warren was a modest man with a retiring dis-
position, without worldly ambition, but was greatly
respected and beloved by his neighbors and towns-
people. The estimation in which he was held was
shown at his funeral, when the entire church was
filled by those who wished by their presence to testify
their appreciation of him.
He married Miss Ann Catherine Reed, of Charles-
town, Massachusetts, August 25, 1829. He died Oc-
tober 25, 1S67, leaving a widow and one son. Professor
S. E. Warren.
Alfred Hosmer, M.D., son of Jonas Hosmer, was
born in Walpole, New Hampshire, November?, 1802.
He died at Newton Upper Falls, November 27, 1837,
very suddenly, of disease of the heart, the result of
rheumatism in early life. He was a brother of Hirara
Hosmer, the well-known physician of Watertown.
He married Miss Mary Ann Grahame, in December,
1831. At his decease he left a wife, two sons and one
daughter, who died early in life. One of his sons, Dr.
Alfred Hosmer, a prominent physician, is living in
Watertown, Massachusetts.
His early education was obtained in Alstead, New
Hampshire. He graduated at the Harvard Medical
College in 1828. He located first in Marlboro', Mas-
sachusetts. In the autumn of 1829 he went to New-
ton Upper Falls, where he practiced till his death.
Dr. Hosmer seldom rode in a carriage, almost in-
variably on horseback. His horse was saddled and
at the door when he dropped dead. He was a skillful
physician and highly estemed, not only by the citi-
zens of the town, but throughout a wide region.
Edward Warren, M.D., son of Professor John
Wirren, M.D., was born in Boston, December, 1804,
and died in Boston, 1878. He was a brother of the
celebrated Dr. John C. Warren, of Boston.
He graduated at Harvard C^iUfge in 1829. He was
a member of JIassachusetts 3Iedical Society — at one
time a councilor; Boston Society of Natural History,
&c. Twice he visited Europe, and traveled quite ex-
tensively there.
He wrote the life of Dr. John Collins Warren,
which was published in 1859; and the life of Dr.
John Warren, which was published in 1874. He
commenced practice in Boston after his graduation,
but soon removed to Newton, where he resided from
1840 to 1857.
He was eminent as a general practitioner and a
skillful surgeon. As a diagnostician he was not ex-
celled. The most obscure case seemed to open clearly
before his acute investigation. His rapidity in arriv-
ing at a correct diagnosis sometimes seemed like intu-
ition, when, in fact, it was the result of clear insight
and rapid generalizations. He suffered from an im-
pediment of speech, which was aggravated by over-
fatigue from his practice.
He was an excellent physician, and called widely
in consultation. He was greatly interested in horti-
culture and floriculture. He was also a devoted
churchman, liberal in his gifts to the Episcopal
Church at Newton's Lower Falls.
In 1835 he married Caroline Rebecca Ware, daugh-
ter of Professor Henry Ware, of Cambridge, Mas, -
chusetts.
David H. Gregg, M.D., was a prominent physi-
cian in Newton, between 1820 and 1840. He took an
active part in the temperance work of his day. He
delivered an address upon the " Evils of Intemper-
ance," before the Newton Temperance Society, July
4, 1828, in which he said, " To promote virtue and to
prevent vice — to augment human happiness and to
dry up the sources of human wretchedness and want
and woe — are the ultimate ends for which this society
now assembled has been instituted.''
Joel Brown, M.D., son of John Brown, was born
in Bradford, N. H., October 22, 1812. He died in
West Newton, Mass., March 19, 1865, leaving a
widow, who still survives him. His youth was spent
on a farm. He wa.s educated at the academy in
Hopkinton, the Kimball Union .\cademy, located at
Meriden, N. H.; and entered Dartmouth College,
Hanover, N. H., from which he graduated in 1841.
He taught school successfully in several towns and
also in Boston previous to and alter his graduation.
President Lord, of Dartmouth College, in a recom-
mendation of him, said: "He is a — t of unblem-
ished character."
While in college he decided to make the practice
of medicine his profession. He entered the Harvard
Medical School and afterwards graduated from Dart-
mouth Medical College.
While attending lectures at the Harvard Medical
School he ascertained there was another Joel Brown,
NEWTON.
137
and, to save annoyance to either, he interpolated sk
middle-name — Henry — which he ever afterward used.
He was a member of the Massachusetts Medical So-
ciety. He first settled in Weymouth, Mass., but
removed to West Newton in January, 1848, where he
resided till hia death.
In February, 18 i9, he married Miss Sarah R. P.
Richmond, of Boston, Mass. One daughter ivaa born
to them, who died in her eighth year.
Dr. Brown was a broad and liberal-spirited man —
and a reformer. He was an abolitionist of the Gar-
rison stamp, save that he believed in voting. He
was an earnest peace man on principle, and when, at
college, it was attempted to force him to do military
duty, he refused, saying they could fine bim or put
him in prison, but he would not act the soldier in
preparations for war. He was full of humor and
witty ; exceedingly dry in his jokes and witticisms,
genial, pleasant and loving; true as steel to his
friends, and just to all. In religious matters he was
a liberal Congregationalist, and highly esteemed in
the West Newton Congregational Church, as, in fact,
he was by all who knew him. He was one of the
founders of "The West Newton Athenreum " in 1849.
Truly, to hundred* of families he was " the beloved
physician."
In the Congregationalist, March 24, 1865, the Rev.
Dr. Tarbox pays the following tribute to his memory:
' Jr. Brown was a most coble example of a Christian
physician; eminently skillful in his profession ; most
winning in hia manners; always welcome in his visits
to the sick-room; able and willing to give religious
instruction and consolation. We speak the mind of
the great body of the people in Newton and in the
neighboring towns when we say that hardly a man in
the town could have been called away whose death
would have brought such a sense of personal loss
and bereavement to so many individuals."
In the Newton Cemetery has been erected a monu-
ment to his memory by loving friends.
De. Henry Bigelow, the son of Lewis Bigelow,
was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, May 20. 1817.
He was educated in his native town, was fitted in the
public schools for Harvard College, which he entered
at the .age of fifteen years, graduating in the class of
'30. Though his own inclination at that time was to
become a civil engineer, he yielded to the desire of
his father, that he should enter the medical profes-
sion, fcr which after-events showed him to be .so well
fitted. He entered the Harvard Medical School,
graduating from there in 1839. He attended acourse
of lectures ir^"'iiladelphia also, the medical school
there standing very high at that time; he also studied
with Dr. John Greene, of Worcester. He first settled
as a practicing physician in Buxton, Maine, in 1S40.
In the same year. August 2oih, he married Matilda
A. Poole, of Boston, Mass., and one child, a daughter,
was born during their stay in Buxton. He remained
there four years, but he desired a larger field, with
more means of advance, so with his family he moved
to Boston in 1844, but remained there less than twp
years, then moved to Newton early in 1846, where he
passed the remainder of his life. He died January
21, 1866, at the early age of forty-eight years, leaving
a widow, two daughters and one son. In that com-
paratively short life much had been accomplished,
not only in his profession, in which he held a high
position, as the records of the medical society would
show (of which he was a member), as well as the tes-
timony of all to whom he ministered, in whose hearts
he held so high a place as friend as well as physician.
To him Newton owes much of its early prosperity.
A small town when he settled there, its growth was
rapid and vigorous. He had shown his interest in
education by taking a position on the School Board in
Buxtoii, and in Newton he soon received a similar
position, and held it during his life, being chairman
of the School Committee for many years. In religion
, he was a strong and earnest Unitarian, one of the
j founders of the Channing Unitarian Society of New-
I ton, one of the ten whose generosity and devotion
1 enabled the society to build their first church. He
remained on the Standing Committee of that church
till his death, and was also for many years superin-
tendent of the Sunday-school. He never enteied the
arena of political life in an active way, but his inter-
j est was quick and strong in all matters of public im-
portance,— his hand, his purse and his time ever
ready to aid any just cause. In him the poor had a
' wise and helpful friend. Not only were his profes-
sional services often gratuitous, but Hymnathy and
I aid were ever generously bestowed. Many were the
knotty questiims and matters of disagreement which
1 were brought to him for arbitration by those who had
perfect confidence in his wisdom and just discrimina-
[ tion. He was influential in securing and laying out
j one of Newton's most attractive spots, her beautiful
I cemetery, of which he was one of the trustees, aijd
where nineteen years after his death was raised a
' most beautiful tribute to his influence — a memorial
j chapel, testifying the grateful and lasting recollection
! of one who knew and honored him so truly
j He held many minor offices of trust and respoosi-
I bility, from time to time, as he always had the power
j to fill them satisfactorily, nhough the constantly in-
: creasing calls of his profession during the later years
of his life left him less and less time for other duties.
Friexd D. Lord, M.D., son of James Lord, was
born in Limington, Me., March 3, 1322. He died in
Newton Lower Fall.', December 8, 1883. His early
education was obtained in Limington Academy, Me.,
and Wilbraham Academy, Mass. He was a teacher
before and after his graduation.
He graduated from Bowdoin Medical College,
and then studied in the hospitals of New York and
Philadelphia. He settled in Ciisco, Me., West Ded-
ham, Sterling and Newton Lower Falls, Mass. Jan-
uary 29, 1856, he married Harriet H. Hill.
138
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Levi Fahb Warner, M.D., was born October 25,
1822, at Norwich, Chenango County, N. Y. He died
in Boston, October 12, 1889. " He received his early
education at the academy at Mexico, N. Y. He
studied for his profession during 1842-43 at Geneva
Medical College, and subsequently graduated, in 1862,
at Lind University, Chicago. He commenced practice
at Vienna, Oneida County, N. Y., and removed thence
to St. Louis, where, during the war, he was assistant
medical examiner for the First District of Missouri.
He then removed to Boston, Mass., and was admitted
a Fellow of the Massachusetts Medical Society.
" He was one of the founders of the Gynsecological
Society of Boston, and soon became recognized as
of special skill in diagnosis and treatment of diseases
of women.
"He conducted successfully a large practice until his
death, which was from cerebral hemorrhagic effusion,
the result of an accident." He was a member of
many scientific societies in which he was an able
and active man, and at one time held the office of
vice-president of the American Medical Association.
He was too buay a man to write much for publication,
but one of his articles, a paper, " On the Connection
of the Hepatic Functions with Uterine Hyperremia^,
Fluxions, Congestions and Inflammations," in the
Transactions of the American Medical Association
for 1878, vol. xxix., exerted a distinct influence
towards obtaining in New England a wider respect
by general practitioners for the specialty of gynae-
cology, then still upon its trial, and at the same time
served to curb the somewhat inordinate zeal of a por-
tion of its younger enthusiasts.
He was, for many years, associated with Dr. Horatio
E. Storer in his practice at Hotel Pelham, Boston.
As a physician he was able, skillful and untiring in
his efforts to relieve and cure his patients, readily ob-
taining and continuing to hold their confidence,
respect and friendship. When patients did not pro-
gress as satisfactorily as he desired or expected, he
was not easily discouraged, so wonderful were his re-
sources. In fact, he never seemed at fault.
His father, the Rev. H. Warner, was of Scotch
descent, and the doctor was well grounded in the
Presbyterian doctrines and thoroughly conversant
with the Scriptures. As a friend he was true as steel ;
honorable, upright in his dealings with all and ever
the friend of the poor, whom he preferred for his
patients, for there he found the most gratitude.
A little volume " In meraoriam " was published
after his death, containing the funeral services ; a
memorial tribute to him, read by Dr. H. M. Field, of
Newton, Mass., before the Gynaecological Society of
Boston, followed by loyal and loving words from
other members of the society; and letters from many
persons, including prominent medical men in various
parts of the country, testifying to his worth, his skill,
his noble Christian manhood and his charities — so
freely given to the poor.
. Earely has a physician been called from his life-
work to cross the river to the " Home Beyond the
Tide," leaving so many sorrowing and living friends
to mourn their loss.
Thadeus Pulaski Robinson, M.D., son of Noah
Robinson, was born in Laconia, N. H., Sept. 5, 1825,
and died January 5, 1874, in Newton Centre, MasE.,
leaving a wife and daughter.
He fitted for college at the Lowell (Mass.) High
School and New Hampton (N. H.) Academy, and
entered Dartmouth College with the class which was
graduated in 1848. He left college before graduation
and entered theemploymentof the Essex Manufactur-
ing Company, in Lawrence, Mass., as a civil engineer.
In 1849 he went to California. While there he was
commissioned engineer-in-chief to establish the bound-
ary of the northern part of the State. He returned
to Massachusetts in 1857, and began the study of
medicine at the Harvard Medical School, and gradu-
ated in 1860.
He settled at Newton Centre, Mass., April, 1860.
He was admitted a member of the Massachusetts
Medical Society in 1862. He was a Mason, and a
member of Dalhou-fie Lidge, Nswtonville. June 6,
1860, he married Fanny Rebecca Smith.
Dr. Allsto-V Waldo Whitney, son of Simon
and Mary (Walker) Whitney, was born at Framing-
ham, Mass., January 12, 1828. He attended the Frara-
ingham and Leicester Academies until July 1, 1846,
when he entered the United States Military Academy,
West Point. On the 1st of July, 1848, he resigned
and began the study of medicine with his father, a
much-beloved and respected physician, with whom
he continued until he entered the Harvard Medical
School, where he graduated in 1852. Upon receiv-
ing his degree, he settled at South Framingham, and
remained there until the breaking out of the Rebellion.
It was while at this place that he first manifested
those abilities as a physician and surgeon which
afterwards made him so well known.
In July, 1861, he joined the Thirteenth Regiment
Massachusetts Volunteers, at Fore Independence,
Boston Harbor, and was mustered into service as its
surgeon July 16, 1861, continuing as such until his
muster out with the regiment , August 1, 1864. During
his service he was atone time assigned to duty as
medical director of the Second Divieion, First Army
Corps, and as brigade surgeon. He was brevetted
lieutenant-colonel for gallant conduct and great
humanity to the wounded.
August 24, 1SG4, he was married to Miss Sarah
Ellen Bishop, of Boston, and settled in that city at the
corner of Washington and Dedham Streets. In
March, 1865, he removed to West Newton, and there
resided until his death. He was the father of four
children, two of whom, Charles Simon and Mary
Ellen, are now living.
The disease which resulted in his death first showed
itself during the winter of 1880-81, and on the 2d of
NEWTON.
139
February he went to the Massachusetts General Hos-
pital for treatment, remained two or three weeks and
then returned to his home. After several weeks of
rest and good nursing he resumed his professional
duties, apparently iu much better health than for
some months previous. On the evening of Novem-
ber 8th, while preparing a de.scription of the wound
which caused ihe death oJPresident Garfield, which he
was to read and illustrate to the school children of
West Newton, he reached for some object needed,
and, upon resuming his seat, complained of violent
pain in his side. He grew worse rapidly, and at three
o'clock Friday morning, the 11th of November, he
died of angina pectoris.
He was a member of the Jlassschusetts Medical
Society, 'he Masonic Fraternity, the Royal Arcanum,
the Knights of Honor, Military Order of the Loyal
Legion, Post G2, G. A. R., Boston Light Infantry
Association, and the Threottyne Club.
On the 30th of April, 1863, Dr. Whitney was put
in charge of the hospital at the Fitz Hugh House, on
the Rappahanock River, and on the 10th of May the
army moved northward, the wounded being sent to
Washington as fast as they could be removed with
safety. On the loth of June the hospital was cap-
tured by the rebels, and about forty men, all badly
wounded or very sick, and the nurses and guard,
numbering about twenty, were made prisoners. Dr.
Whitney had remained with the wounded men, and
protested against their capture and removal in such
strong terms that he was also made prisoner. All
were taken in freight cars and army wagons to Libby
Prison. During the trip he was unceasing in his
efforts to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded men,
and at Libby Prison he was active in their welfare.
He made (he acquaintance of the officers, and so
gained their good- will by that charm of manner which
was almost irresistible, that he was allowed to visit
his men, and his etlbits hastened their exchange by
many months ; for, until he represented the truth,
the authorities of the prison insisted upon it that they
were Union officers in disguise. He was kept a pris-
oner for about six months, belbre the expiration of
which time almost .ill, his men had been exchanged.
In appearance Dr. Whitney waa a noticeable man,
about five feet six inches in height, quite corpulent,
and very dignified iu hi.s bearing. He had dark hair,
very heavy eyebrows, clear and keen blue eyes, and
wore a gray mou.»tache somewhat extended on either
cheek. His life was one of rare usefulness. His
kind and sympathetic nature made him beloved bv
rich and poor, and his skill in the practice of medi-
cine and surgery was of the highest order and re-
ceived recognition as such by the best men in his pro-
fession. In battle he was calm, undisturbed by the
exci ement and dangers about him, saw clearly his
duties, and steadily pursued them with a coolness,
fearlessness) and persistency that commanded the ad-
miration of all.
"Joseph Huckins Warren, M. D., son of Joseph
and Caroline E. (Huckins) Warren, was born in
Effingham, Carroll County, N. H., October 2, 1831.
His father was the seventh son of James Warren, of
Scarboro', Me., and grandson of John Warren, of
French and Indian war notoriety. This is the historic
war family of Revolutionary fame. His maternal
ancesters were in the line of descent from the Duchess
of Marlboro'. His maternal grandfather, Joseph
Huckina, was a very prominent man ; he was high
sheriff of New Hampshire and grand master of F.
and A. M. in New England, holding the jewels and
archives of the Order wiien the Morgan excitement,
against Masonry was so bitter."
At sixteen years of age he entered West Lebanon
Academy, Me. Hfi commenced the study of medicine
at the medical school, Castleton', Vt., in 1849, and
afterwards attended lectures at the Harvard Medical
School. He graduated from the Medical School, Bow-
doin College, Me., in 1S53. He went to New York and
took a special courseof study with Dr. Valentine Mott,
then returned to Massachusetts, joined the Massachu-
setts Medical Society, and begau the practice of med-
icine in Newton, Ma?s. Htre he practiced three
years, during which time he was a member of the
School Board and held other offices of trust and
honor. From overwork his health broke down, and
he removed to Dorchester, Ma>s.
At the breaking out of the Rebellion, Dr. Warren
was among the first to volunteer, and was in Balti-
more with the Massachusetts troops when the first
volunteers were mobbed in the streets of that city
He was particularly recommended to President Lin-
coln, by Hon. Henry Wilson, as a most loyal and
trustworthy person and skillful surgeon. He was
commissioned, by President Lincoln, medical director
and brigade surgeon in General Casey's division.
He labored zealously to alleviate the sufferings of the
soldiers and partly through his influence barrack hos-
pitals were erected for the sick and wounded. He saw
active service before Yorktown, and being disabled
while bearing special dispatches to Washington, was
obliged to resign.
Dr. Warren has traveled abroad quite extensively
for health and pleasure ; and officially as delegate
from the American Medical Association. He has
read papers before the British Medical Association at
Cambridge, and the Academy of Medicine at Paris.
He published in London " A Practical Treatise on
Hernia." This work was republished in America in
1882. He operated in Guy's Hospital, London, and
ehewhere, to demonstrate his method.
He published "A Plea for the Cure of Rupture,"
and has written many monographs and medical pa-
pers, as well as articles relating to general literature.
He was among the fir.-it, if not the first, to aspirate
the pericardium (.Vpril, IS.'io), and to perform the
operation of paracente.«is thoracis.
While traveling in Florida lor his health, he pub-
140
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
lished "Technics" and established the Southern
San, a newspaper of independent character. " Tech-
nica " and " Modern Life " are now published in Bos-
ton under "Notes Current."
Dr. Warren is a member of the British Medical
Association ; permanent member of the American
Medical Association, and vice-president of the latter
for 1889-90; Fellow of the Massachusetts Medical
Society ; honorary member Vermont State Medical
Society ; Otsego Medical Society of Ne^ York ; past
resident member of Putnam County Medical Society,
and State Medical Society, Florida ; and is a member
of numerous other literary, historical, scientific and
social societies. . He is trustee of the Boston Penny
Savings Bank, &c., &c.
Dr. Warren was, with others, one of the founders
and incorporators of the Massachusetts Home for In-
temperate Women, and has been on the Board of
Managers siuce its incorporation, March 30, 1881.
He was chairman of the building committee and aiso
attending physician.
Dr. Warren was married, September 24, 1854, to
Caroline Elizabeth Everett, of Newton. Two chil-
dren were born to them — a daughter, deceased, and a
son, Charles Everett Warren, M.D., who is associated
with him as attending physician at the Massachusetts
Home for Intemperate Women,
During his residence in Washington he had special
opportunities of seeing President Lincoln. He wa.s,
for that period, the medical attendant of that remark-
able man. Perhaps the most important of his con-
fidential interviews, for its influence on the President,
and, through him, on the country at large, was one in
which he introduced the emiuent author, Nathaniel
Hawthorne, to Mr. Lincoln. Mr. Hawthorne was a
Friend in his aversion to force, and in his visit to
AVashington with Messrs. Tickncr and Field, his
sensitive and peace-loving spirit was overcome by the
horrors of war, and he fell into a state of great dis-
tress. Dr. Warren, in the hope that an interview
with Mr. Lincoln would tend to restore Mr. Haw-
thorne's confidence in the future of his country, took
him to the White House on one of his professional
evening calls. It seemed at first an unfortunate
moment. Mr. Lincoln was greatly agitated by the
discovery of treachery in an unexpected quarter, and
told his vi-itors that he was overcome by difficulties,
not knowing who were friends and who were traitors,
his burden in public life, failing strength aud do-
mestic sorrows beiog beyond his strength.
To this Mr. Hawthorne replied by a few words of
sympathy and encouragement, and, finding these of
little avail, knelt and offered a prayer which might
be called inspired — full of confidence, utterly casting
all care on the Infinite Power — invoking strength in
this crisis, and ending in an ascription of adoration
that seemed to lift his hearers to the visible presence
of the Almighty.
As they rose, Mr. Lincoln said to him, with strong
emotion : "Mr. Hawthorne, God sent you here in my
darkest hour, yow I am strong. He placed me here
and I know that He will sustain me to the end."
From that time all undue anxiety seemed to disap-
pear, and Mr. Lincoln, by his decision, firmness and
undoubting belief in his position as the servant of
the Lord, inspired strength and courage in all who
approached him.
Hexry Bradshaw Bradley, M.D., was born iu
Cheshire, England, October 15, 1848, and died in
Bollin Grove, Builey, England, August 31, 1881. He
was graduated at the College of Physicians and Sur-
geons, London, England, and was professionally asso-
ciated with his uncle, Professor Bradshaw, at Man-
chester, England. Later he practiced a short time
in Trageda, Wales, and left there to accept a position
as ship-surgeon on the Cunard Line of steamships.
In 1877 he settled on California Street, Newton,
Ma^s., where he practiced medicine until his health
failed, a few months before his death, when he re-
turned to England and died.
.Ja.mes Henry McDonnell, M.D., wns born in
Ireland; studied medicine at St. -Mary's College,
Virginia, and graduated from Harvard Medical Col-
lege in 1871. He settled in Wakham, removed to
Newton, thfn to Watertown,and died in Wakham in
188tJorl887.
He married Miss Kate Donahue, of Wakham.
He was a bright, active man, a loyal friend and a
skillful physician.
WiLLARD Everett Smith, M.D., son of F. L.
Smith, of Newton, was born in Newtonville, Novem-
ber 11, 1856; was educated in Newton Grammar and
High Schools, and entered Harvard University in
1875, and graduated in his class in 1879. He entered
Harvard Medical .School in 1S79, aud graduated in
1882.
After a little preliminary practice he went to Bos-
ton and settled there, and immediately attained a
reputation as a successful practitioner in diseases of
the throat and lungs. He was employed by the
Massachusetts Medical Society, of which he was a
member, to prepare and report on the climatology of
Massachusetts. And for two years he prepared and
read papers on this subject in a most acceptable
manner.
He was a brilliant young man, with prospects of
rising to an eminent position in the medical pro-
fession.
He was taken ill and died suddenly, July 13, 1890.
September 15, 18S6, he was married to Miss Alice
L. Newell, of Framiogham, Mai-s. He left a widow
and one daughter.
John P. Mayxard, M.D., son of Elias Maynard,
of Boston, was born in Boston, Mass., in 1816. He
was educated at the Boston Latin School and Phillips
Academy, Andover, Mass. He graduated from the
Medical School, Harvard University, in 1848. He
settled in Newton Lower Falls in 1848, where he
NEWTON.
141
practiced medicine till 1852. He then removed to
Dedhiim, Mass., where he now resides and continues
to practice his profession. He is a prominent man
and widely known as a skillful physician. He was
president of the Norfolk Medical Society in 1876, 77,
78, 79.
In 1850 Dr. Maynard married Miss Caroline E.
Fales, of Boston, Mass.
Alfred C. Smith, M.D., son of James Smith, was
born in Bathurst, New Brunswick. He graduated at
Harvard Medical College. For several years after
his graduation he had charge, under the Dominion
Government, of the Lazaretto, at Tracadie, N. B., for
the care of the leprous community.
He afterwards moved to Newton and settled at No-
nantum, where he remained in practice for a few
years. He afterwards moved to Nev/ Castle, New
Brunswick, where he now resides.
Oris El'gen'e Hunt, M.D., son of Joseph G. and
Lucy H. Hunt, was born in Sudbury, Mass., July 7,
1822. His early life was spent on a farm and his ele-
mentary education was acquired in the district schools
of the town. He fitted for college in the Wayland
Academy and in the academy at Wilbraham, Mass.,
and entered the Wesleyan University at Middletown,
Connecticut, in the class of 1844. After nine months
he left the university in consequence of ill-health.
Read medicine for a time with Levi Goodnough,
M.D., of Sudbury, Mass. Later was a pupil in the
Boylston Medical School in Boston, under the tutor-
age, chieily, of Dr. E. C. Buckingham and Dr. Edward
H. Cl.irk. During his studies here he was present at
the Massachusetts General Hospital when ether was
administered for the first time. And he was the nrst
to administer it in the towns of Sudbury, Wayland
and Weston.
He attended medical lectures at Woodstock, Vt.
and at Pittntield, Mass., and graduated in medicine
at the Berkshire Medical College in 1848, and was ad-
mitted to the Massachusetts Medical Society the same
year. During his course of study he taught school in
Sudbury four consecutive winters.
He settled in Weston, Mass., in 1848, and continued
to practice medicine there till the autumn of 1864,
when he removed to Waltham, Mass., where he con-
tinued active in professional work till 1870. He dis-
continued general practice at that time in conse-
quence of failing health, selling his business and good
will to Dr. E. R. Cutler.
Three years later, after extensive travel in this
country, including a visit to California and the Pacific
slope, and becoming improved in health, he moved to
Newtonvilje, Mass., where he now resides, and recom-
menced the practice of his profession. In 1883 he
retired from practice to a large extent. He is fre-
quently called in consultation by younger and less ex-
perienced men. His son, William O. Hunt, M.D.,
succeeded to his practice.
While residing in Weston he served four years as
secretary of the Middlesex South District Medical
Society, once as its anniversary orator. He was a
member of the School Committee for ten consecutive
years, and three yearsof this time served as chairman.
He also was a member of the School Committee in
Waltham for two years.
He has been president of the medical board con-
nected with the Newton Cottage Hospital and con-
sulting physician since it was f ,unded.
He was married Oct. 8, 1849, to Aroline E. Thomp-
son, of Sudbury, Mass. He has two children — Mrs.
Nina M. Fenno and William 0. Hunt, M.D.
Daniel Desisox Slade, M.D., son of J. Tilton
Slade, was born in Boston, Mass., May 10, 1823.
Graduated from the Boston Latin School, then enter-
ed Harvard College, from which he graduated in 1844.
He studied medicine in the Tremont Medical School,
and received his medical degree at Harvard in 1848.
Passed one year as house surgeon in the Massachu-
setts General Hospital, and three years in the hospi-
tals of Great Britain and on the Continent. Com-
menced practice in Boston in 1852, being visiting
surgeon of the Boston Dispensary for several years ;
was admitted a member of the Ma-^sachusetts Medical
Society in 1848, and became a member of the Boston
Medical Improvement Society and Boston Society of
Observation in 1855. In 1856 he married Misa M.
Louise Hensier.
During his professional career in Boston he deliver-
ed courses of lectures to students on surgical subjects
and received four prizes on medical subjects — two
from the Massachusetts Medical Society : one on
Bronchitis and its consequences, the other on Sper-
matorrhwa; and two from the Rhode Island Medical
Society, being "The Fisk Fund Prizes."
He also has contributed many papers to the various
medical journals. In 1863 he was appointed one of the
inspectors of hospitals in Baltimore, Annapolis and
Philadelphia. He was the author of the report on
the subject of amputations, printed by the committee
of the associate medical members of Sanitary Com-
mission'.
He settled at Chestnut Hill, Newton, in 1863. In
1871 he was appointed Professor of Agriculture and
Zoology in the Bussey Institute, Harvard University,
which chair he held until a severe sickness, in 1882,
compelled him to resign.
In 1884 he was chosen one of the assistants in the
Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, and ap-
pointed lecturer on comparative osteology, which
position he still holds.
He has always been interested in horticulture and
agriculture, and has contributed various papers on
these subjects, and received two prizes for essays from
the Massachusetts Horticultural Society ; — one on the
"Construction of Country Roads," the other on the
" Treatment of Small Suburban Places." He also re-
ceived the prize offered by a gentleman of Newton,
on " How to Improve and Beautify Newton." At the
I
142
HISTOllY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
present time he is president of the Newton Horticul-
tural Society, and has retired from practice.
Tappan Eustis Francis, M.D., son of Nathaniel
Francis, was born in Boston, Mass., August 28, 1823.
He was educated at the Boston Latin School and then
entered Harvard University, from which he graduated
in the year 1844. He at once entered the Harvard
Medical School and graduated in 1847. He settled in
Roxbury, Mass., and during part of the years 1846 to
1847 he was city physician. In 1848 he removed to
Newton Lower Falls and practiced medicine therefor
about three years. Then he settled in Brookline,
Mass., where he now resides and continues the prac-
tice of his profession. He served for several years on
the School Board and as trustee of the Public Library.
For one year he was chairman of the Board of Health.
He is a member of the ilassachusetts Medical Society
and honorary member of the Roxbury Medical Im-
provement Society.
Julius Blodget, M.D., son of Alden Blodget, was
born in Stafford, Conn., September 22, 1825. He re-
ceived his early education at Monson and Wilbrahami
Mass., alternating his school-days by work on a farm.
He studied medicine at and graduated from the Uni-
versity of New York. He practiced medicine in
Stafford Springs from 18.53 to 1857, and in West
Brookfield from 1857 to 1876, and in Newtonville,
Mass., since 1876. He has been a member of the Con-
necticut State Medical Society and United States
Medical Society.
In 1854 he was married to Miss Sarah L. Arnold,
of Warren, Mass., and after her death was married, in
1861, to Mrs. Eliza F. Dunnells, of West Brooktield,
Masi.
John Dudley Lovering, M.D., son of Oilman
Lovering, was born in Raymond, N. H., March 8,
1827. He wjs educated at Darfmomh College. Be-
fore he entered college he was a teacher, and during
his course of studies there he taught a part of the
time. Ill 1861 he settled in Essex, Mass., and con-
tinued to practice medicine there nearly twenty years.
He graduated at the Albany Medical College, N. Y.
He is a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society.
He married Mi>8 Sarah H. B. Cogswell, of Essex, Mass.
Charles F. Crehore, M.D., son of Lemuel Cre-
hore, was born June 18, 1828, in Newton Lower Falls.
After studying at the academy in Milton, he gradu-
ated at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in Troy,
N. Y., in 1848. He afterwards entered the Harvard
Medical School, and graduated in 1859.
Before studying medicine he was employed, as a
civil engineer, in building United States roads in
Minnesota during the year 1854. In 18G7 he retired
from medical practice, and since that time has devoted
himself to the manufacture of paper.
He went to Europe in May, 1852, and remained
traveling abroad till September, 1853. He settled in
Boston in 1859, and made that his home until 1866.
He now resides in Newton Lower Falls.
Dr. Crehore has an excelientand distinguished war
record, extending from the beginning to the end of
the contlict. May, 1861, he was appointed surgeon on
the armed transport" Cambridge." In December, 1S6I,
he was appointed acting assistant-surgeon to the
Twentieth Regiment ilassachusetts Volunteer Infan-
try. He was promoted and appointed surgeon of the
Thirty-seventh Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer
Infantry, and served with that regiment from August,
1862, till December, 1864. During this time — from
April, 1863, to April, 1864, — he served as medical in-
spector. Sixth Array Corps', and surareon-in-chief First
Division, Sixth Army Corps. At the battle of Win-
chester, Va., in September, 1864, he had charge of the
wounded of the Sixth Corps.
Dr. Crehore is a member of many medical and
other scientific societies, including the Massachusetts
Medical Society, Boston Society for Medical Observa-
tion, Natural History Society, etc., etc.
He has written articles for medical and other jour-
nals, on professional and other topics. He has been
an active member of the Newton Water Board. He
was married, September 29, 1857, to Mary W. Loring,
daughter of Henry Loring, of Boston.
D. Waylaxd Jones, M.D., son of Daniel Jones,
was born in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, January
14, 1829. His early education was obtained in West-
minster and Winchendon, Massachusetts. He grad-
uated from the University of New York in 1852. He
practiced in Medfield, Massachusetts, from 1854 to
1866, when he removed to Newtonville, Massachusetts,
where he continued in general practice till 1878, and
then settled in Boston. Since that time he has made
diseases of the rectum a specialty and has given up
general practice. In his specialty he has been very
successful and is obtaining a wide reputation.
In 1871-72 he went abroad and traveled extensively
through a large part of Europe, visiting and studying
in the leading hospitals of the principal cities.
He is a member of the Massachusetts Medical So-
ciety, which he joined in 1852. In this society he
has been censor and councilor. He became a member
of the American Medical Association in 1874.
Dr. Jones married Misa Minerva P. Tyler in 1853.
She died in 1858.
In 1860 he married Josephine D. Bullard. She
died in 1871. In 1877 he married Miss E. N. Sfuart.
Henry Martyx Field, M.D., son of Deacon John
Field, was born in Brighton, Massachusetts, October
3, 1837, in what is known as the " Old Worcester
House," which was built about the year 1685.
His mother was Miss Sarah Elliott Worcester, a
lineal descendant from Noah Worcester, LL.D., the
I great lexicographer. She died about two years after
I Henry was born, leaving an infant brother, John
I Worcester Field.
j In early childhood he was a nervous, puny, deli-
cate child, and even when he reached mature man-
hood was never strong and robust, although he has
NEWTON.
143
accompiished a vast amount of professional work.
His early education was obtained in Cliauncy Hall
School, Boston, and Phillips Academy in Andover,
Massachusetts.
He entered Harvard College in 1855, and gradu-
ated with honor in 1859, having the part of orator at
commencement. During his years of study in col-
lege he had a strong predilection for the medical pro-
fession.
After his graduation be went to New York, and
made his home with the eminent and celebrated Dr.
E. R. Peaslee, and commenced the study of medicine.
Dr. Peaslee was at that time Professor of Diseases of
Women in Dartmouth Medical College, Hanover, N.
H. Dr. Field accompanied him to Dartmouth that
autumn, and on his return took a full course of lec-
tures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in
New York City. During his course of study he held
a position of considerable importance in the Dewitt
Dispensary.
He was valedictorian of his class when he gradu-
ated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in
the spring of 1862.
He immediately opened an office at No. 77 Lexing-
ton Avenue, in New York City, and entered into
practice. Soon after he was mustered into the United
States Army as assistant surgfon, and was sent to
Hilton Head. There he contracted malaria and was
transferred to the hospital at Beaufort, S. C. He has
never entirely recovered, and at times still suffers se-
verely. Soon after he returned home, and remained
several months till somewhat improved, then went to
W;ishington, D. D., and was stationed at Carver Gen-
eral Hospital, on Fifteenth Streeet, for about one
year. In October, 18G3, he resigned and came to his
father's home in West Cambridge (now Arlington),
Mass.
October 20, 18(3.3, he married Miss Lydia Morgie
Peck, daughter of Abel G. Peck, Esq., of West Cam-
bridge, and sister of the wife of Gov. J. Q. A. Brack-
ett. Soon after his marriage he removed to New
York, and entered into practice with his friend, Dr.
Peaslee.
In the spring of 18C7 he left New York, and settled
in Newton, Mass. Here he had a large and remun-
erative practice till his health, which was never
strong, became so much impaired he was compelled
to abandon it for a time, and seek the climate of
Southern California for the winter of 1887-88. On
his return, the following summer, he was given an
enthusiastic public reception by his numerous friends.
The following year and a half he remained at home,
and attended to a part of his practice, but again I
breaking down, he was compelled to return to Cali-
fornia for the winter of 1889-90. He owns a small
ranch at Passedena, where he made his home during
his stay. He returned to New England the following
summer, still very much broken in health.
In 1S69 he was offered and accepted the chair of
Materia Medicaand Therapeutics in Dartmouth Med-
ical College, which professorship he still holds.
Dr. Field published, in 18S7, a work on " Cathart-
ics and Emetics," which was well received by the
medical profession. Beside that, he has published
numerous addresses and monographs on various sub-
jects, the most noted of which were those on sulpho-
nal, which have attracted much favorable notice in
the medical journals.
He was admitted a member of the Massachusetts
Medical Society in 1867. For several years he was
one of the censors in that society. He is a member
of the GynoBcological Society of Boston, — was one of
the original founders — for six years was secretary,
and afterwards was president for one year. On ac-
count of ill health he was obliged to decline a second
term. He is one of the Medical Board connected
with the Newton Cottage Hospital, and also holds the
office of consulting physician in diseases of women.
He was one of the original members cf the Newton
Natural History Society, and has delivered before it
many able and interesting papers on scientific sub-
jects.
Dr. Field has always been a profound student and
he is one of the most scholarly men in the medical
profession in New England.
In practice he was noted for his skill and assiduous
care of his patients, easily winning and holding their
confidence and esteem to a remarkable degree.
Jesse F. Frirbie, M.D., son of Captain Jesse
Frisbie, of Kittery, Me., was born in Rochester, N.
H., July 12, 1838. For a time he was a student at
Phillips Exeter Academy, N. H. He taught Gram-
mar and High Schools in Maine and New Hampshire
for several years, and then commenced his medical
studies with his uncle, Dr. J. H. York, a prominent
and successful physician of Boston, Mass., in 1858,
and graduated Irom the Harvard Medical College in
1861.
A little more than one year he practiced medicine
in Framingham Centre, Mass., and entered the
United States Navy in December, 1862. He served
in the Potomac Flotilla and afterwards in the East
Gulf Blockading Squadron. While in service on the
Potomac he contracted malaria, and in the Gulf of
Mexico he was prostrated with bilious remittent
fever and placed in the hospital at Key West, Fla.
He left the navy in January, 1864, on account of ill
health.
May, 1864, he entered the United States Army and
served in Fairfax Seminary Hospital, near Alexan-
dria, Va.; Carver General Hospital, Washington, D.
C, and for nearly a year was in charge of Wisewell
Barracks Hospital, in Washington, D. C.
He practiced medicine in Woburn and Boston and
settled in Newton, Mass., in October, 1872, where he
now resides.
Dr. Frisbie was a member of the Newton City gov-
ernment in 1883, and a member of the Newton Board
14i
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
of Health from 1886 to 1890, when he resigned. He
has served on the staff of the Newton College Hos-
pital from its opening every year.
He early became interested in Natural Science,
and while in the United Slates service made large
collections, especially of Tertiary Fussil?, for the
Smithsonian Institution at Washington. In 1863 he
was placed in charge of a scientific expedition for the
investigation of the Tertiary formation in parts of
Virginia and Maryland. la 1865 he was urged to go
to New Mexico for two years for the purpose of study-
ing the Zani Indians and other tribes, and the Cliff-
dwellings and other evidences of pre-historic races
and habitations, in the interest of the Smithsonian
Institution. Owing to 'ill health he was obliged to
decline what to him was a most attractive field of in-
vestigation. It was the work afterwards accomplished
by Lieutenant Cashing. Through his influence the
Newton Natural History Society was formed and he
was president of it tor the first seven years. He is a
lecturer on Geology and Archa?ology and has pub-
lished many papers and monographs on these sub-
jects.
He was admitted a member of the Massachusetts
Medical Society in 186.), American Medical Associa-
tion in 1880, Gynecological Society of Boston in 1880.
He is a member of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science, and other medical and sci-
entific societies in the State and elsewhere.
Dr. Frisbie was married, in November, 1866, to
Harriet M. Dunlap, daughter of General Richard T.
Dunlap, of Brunswick, Maine.
He is a member of Charles Ward Post, No. 62,
G. A. R.
Edw.vrd a. Whistox, M.D., son of Francis C.
Whiston, was born at Roxbury (now Boston High-
lands), Massachusetts, October 19, 1838. His early
education was obtained at the Brimmer School, Bos-
ton, and Framingham High School. He graduated
from the Harvard Medical College in 1S61. Dr.
Whiston has a brilliant war record extending over a
period of three years. He was appointed assistant
surgeon of the Sixteenth Massachusetts Volunteer
Infantry, August 1, 1861, and was connected with
that regiment till March 5, 1863, when he was pro-
moted to surgeon and transferred to the First Massa-
chasetta Volunteer Infantry. He left the service May
28, 1864. After the expiration of this term of ser-
vice in the army he was appointed acting surgeon of
Board of Enrollment at Greenfield. Massachusetts,
and United States inspector of camps of Veteran
Reserve Corps.
For two years, during 18C5-66, he was resident
physician to the Boston City Institutions on Deer Is-
land, Boston Harbor, and also port physician.
He has been a member of the Board of Trustees of
the Newton Cottage Hospital since its organization,
January 4, 1881, and secretary of the corporation
since January 16, 1882.
For many years he was a member of the Massachu-
setts .Medical Society. He gave up practice of med-
i icine in 1808 and went into mercantile life. Has been
I for the past ten years business manager of the Massa-
j chusetts New Church Union, Boston ; is treasurer of
the New Church Theological School at Cambridge,
and of the New Church Board of Missions.
He was married, October 13, 1870, to Miss Emily
Pay son Call.
Henry B. Stoddard, M.D., son of William H.
Stoddard, was born in Northampton, M.assachusetts,
September 28, 1840.
He was educated in private schools in Northamp-
ton, Brookfield and Longmeadow, and then entered
Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts, from
which he graduated in 1862.
In 1863 he served as volunteer medical cadet at the
military hospital, Newark, New Jersey.
From October, 1866, to May, 1868, he served as
interne in Bellevue Hospital, New York. He grad-
uated from Bellevue Medical College in 1865.
After graduation he settled in Northampton, Mass-
achusetts, and practiced there from May, 1868, to
November 1, 1878, when he removed to Newtonville,
Massachusets, where he has since resided.
He became a member of the Massachusetts Medical
Society in 1868, and is also a member of the Gyneco-
logical Society of Boston. He has served on the staff
of Newton Cottage Hospital.
June 30, 1880, he married Miss Jeannie A. Oakes,
of Newtonville, JIassachusetts.
James H. Bodge, M.D., son of Noah Bodge, was
born in Boston, .M.issachusetts, in 1840. He was edu-
cated in the Boston Latin School, Dartmouth and
Harvard Colleges. He graduated from Harvard Med-
ical College in 1867. He settled in Newton Centre,
Massachusetts, in 1874. He was appointed on ;he
staff of the Newton Cottage Hospital in 1888. He also
had an appointment as coroner for Middlesex County.
He joined the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1867.
In 1875 he married Miss Florence Brown.
William Hartwell Hildketh, M.D., son of
John C. Hildreth, wns born in New Ipswich, N. H.,
April 19. 1843. He was educated at the New Ipswich
Appleton Academy. In 1864 enlisted in the Fourth
Regiment Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, and re-
mained with the regiment till the close of the war in
1865.
He graduated at the Dartmouth Medical College,
Hanover, N. H., in 1869, and then located in Fitch-
burg, Mas?., in 1870. Removed to Newton Upper
Falls in 1874. He served five years in the Massachu-
setts State Militia as assistant surgeon, and surgeon
of the Tenth Regiment of Infantry. He went abroad
in 1888, traveling in England, France, Germany,
Switzerland and Italy. He was married to Miss
Helen Josephene Flagg, of New Ipswich, N. H., in
1869. He became a member of the Massachusetts
Medical Society in 1870.
NEWTON.
145
Francis E. Porter, M.D., son of Edward F. Porter,
was born in Scituate, Mass., August 28, 1844. He
was educated at Wesleyan Uuiversity, and studied
medicine in the Harvard Medical School. Hegradu-
ated from the Harvard Medical College, and then
went abroad for a time, traveling through England,
Germany and Italy. On his return he settled at
Auburndale, Mass., in October, 1875, where he now
resides and practices medicine.
From time to time, articlei from his pen have been
published in the Medical Record of New York, and
the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal.
He was admitted a member of the Massachusetts
Medical Society in 1877. He is on the medical
and surgical staff of the Newton Cottage Hospital.
In 1875 he was married to Miss Christian W. Taylor.
Herman' F. Titus, M.D., son of Moses Titus, was
born in Pepperell, Mass., in 1852. He was educated
at Lawrence Academy and Colgate University. He
first studied theology and was settled as Baptist min-
ister in Ithaca, N. Y., and Newton, .Mass. He gradu-
ated from Harvard Medical College in 1890, and now
practices in Newton. He has fine scientific attain-
ments, and is an expert botanist.
William Otis Hunt, M.D., son of Otis E. Hunt,
M.D., and 0. E. Hunt, was born in Weston, Mass.,
May 28, 1854.
He was educated in the public schools of Weston
and Waltham, one year at Phillips Academy, An-
dover, one year special course at Harvard University
and three years at Harvard ^ledical School. He also
studied medicine one year in Vienna and eight
months in London ; a part of the time he was house-
surgeon in London Hospital.
He graduated from Harvard Medical College in
1878. He practiced medicine one year (1878 to 1879)
in Waltham, Mass., and then went to Europe for two
years, for the purpose of study. In May, 1881, he
settled in Newtonville, where he still is in practice.
He is visiting physician on the staff, and consult-
ing surgeon at the Newton Cottage Hospital. He
became a member of the Massachusetts Medical So-
ciety in 1878. He is a member of the Gyntecoiogical
Society of Boston. January 29, 1879, he married
Miss Mary F. M. Gibbs, of Waltham, Mass. His wife
died August 15, 1887, leaving two children, Harold
O. and Richard F. Hunt.
Edward Bigelow Hitchcock, M.D., D.M.D.,
son of David R. Hitchcock, M.D , was born in New-
ton, Mass., February 5, 1854.
After studying in the Newton High School, he
went to Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., and there
graduated in 1873. He graduated from the Harvard
Dental School in 1877, and the Dartmouth Medical
College in 1878.
He settled in Boston in 1877 and removed to New-
ton in 1882. He has never practiced medicine, but is
widely known as a skillful dentist.
He has been president of the Harvard Odontologi-
10-iii
cal Society, president of the Massachusetts Dental
Society, corresponding secretary of the American
Academy of Dental Science. He has written several
valuable papers which have been published in dif-
ferent magazines. He was married in 1885 to Miss
Lillie B. Comstock.
Charles Henry Bure, M.D., son of Henry W.
Burr, was born in Colchester, Conn., July 19, 1855.
He was educated in Boston Public. Schools, Law-
rence Scientific School, Harvard University and Har-
vard Medical School. He received the degree of
S.B. in 1879, and M.D. from Harvard Medical College
in 1882. He was house officer of the Carney Hospital,
South Boston, in 1882-83. He practiced a short time
in South Framingham and then in Roxbury till
1887. Since that time he has attended exclusively to
medical examinations for various insurance asso-
ciations. He was elected supreme medical examiner
of the New England Order of Protection, November
12, 1887, and still holds that position.
He has served two years as assistant surgeon of
the First Battalion Light Artillery, M. V. M.
He was admitted a member of the Massachusetts
Medical Society in 1883.
While a student in the Lawrence Scientific School
he published " Plans of the Doric Temple." In 1887
he married Miss Eva Stevens, of South Framingham.
He resides at Newton Highlands.
Robert P. Loring, M.D., son of Joshua Loriug,
was born in Chelsea, Mass., February 18, 1852. He
was educated at Chauncy Hall School, Boston, Mass.;
Brookline High School, Institute Technology, Boston.
He graduated at Harvard Medical College in 1875,
and joined the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1876.
He settled in Newton Centre, Mass., in 1876. After
practicing medicine there for awhile he went West
and spent three years. While there he received the
appointment of assistant surgeon Chicago, Rock
Island and Pacific Railroad Company, at Kansas
City, Mo., and Professor of Physiology in Kansas City
Medical College. On his return East he again settled
in Newton Centre, where he continues to reside and
practice medicine. He is a member of the medical
board, a member of the medical staff and one of the
consulting surgeons at the Newton Cottage Hospital.
Dr. Loring married Miss Adelaide L. Nason, of Ken-
nebunk, Me.
David E. Baker, M.D., son of Erastus E. Baker,
was born in Franklin, Norfolk County, Mass., March
30, 1857. Educated in the Grammar and High
Schools of Franklin, and in 1878 received the degree
of B S. from the Boston University. In his boyhood
he was a farmer; after hia graduation he was a
teacher for a time.
He entered Harvard Medical School in 1879; Bos-
ton City Hospital as house surgeon in 1882-83. Re-
ceived his degree of M.D. from Harvard University
in 1883.
He settled in Newton Lower Falls in' December,
146
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
1883, succeeding Dr. F. D. Lord. He remained there
in practice till the summer of ISiiO, when he removed
to Newtonville.
In 1886-88 he served on the stf.ff of the Newton
Cottage Hospital.
He was elected a member of the School Board for
the years of 1887, '88, '89 and '90, and was elected
chairman of the board in September, 1890; a director
of Newton Associated Charities, 1889-90 ; member of
the Newtcn Board of Health, 1890. He is a member
of the Newton Natural History Society, Newton
Civil Service Reform Club. Boston City Hospital Club,
Ma.-8achu8ett3 Association of Boards of Health, etc.
He was admitted a member of the Massachusetts
MedicalSociety in 1883.
He went to Europe in 1888, and .spent a year in
travel and study in Berlin iind Vienna. Some of his
papers have been published in the medical journal.^.
Oct. 21, 1885, he married Miss Harriet E. Lord,
daughter of Dr. F. D. Lord, of Newtoa Lower Falls.
Philip Vikcext, M.D., .'on of Philip Vincent,
M.D., was born at Camborne, County of Cornwall,
England, on Feb. 7, 18-08. He is a descendant of a
line of doctors. In early life he spent six years at
the Royal Medical College, Epsom, County Surrey,
England. Alter continuing his studies in the Royal
Medical College and Royal College of Surgeons, Lon-
don, he spent four years in the London University
College and Hospitals, and there took his degree M.
R.C.S. (Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons,
England). The next year, at Edinburgh, Scotland,
he received the degrees, L.R.C.P. and L.M. (Licen-
tiate of the Royal College of Physicians and Licen-
tiate of Midwifery).
He entered into practice in England for a time,
then was appointed surgeon on several steamships of
the Great Western and Cunard Companies' lines.
Retiring from service, on the vessels he came to
America and settled in Boston in 1884. In 1886 he
removed to Newton, where he continued to practice
medicine till July, 1890, when he moved to Waltham.
Dr. Vincent has held the position of ophthalmic
bouse surgeon at University College Hospital under
the celebrated Wharton Jones. He is a member of
the London University College Medical Society. He
has published articles on sea-sickness in the British
medical journals.
William Henry McOwen, M.D., son of Timo-
thy McOwen, was born in Lowell, Mass., March 5,
1860. His early education was obtained at the
Grammar and High School.". He graduated from
Harvard Medical College and settled iu Lowell in
July, 1883. He removed to Newton Upper Falls in
July, 1885, where he now resides and practices medi-
cine. He has been city physician of Lowell and also
on the stafl of Lowell City Free Dispensary. He is
medical examiner for various life insurance com-
panies in the State and elsewhere.
On June 30, 1888, he was married to Miss Ellen
! Theresa Daly, of Newton, Mass. He is a member of
the Ma^.'iacluisetts Medical Society.
Francis M. O'Doxnell, M.D., son of James
O'Donnell, was born in Marlboro', Mass., April 9,
1863. His early education was obtained in theGram-
[ mar and High Schools. He afterwards entered Bos-
I ton College, from which, in 1882, he received the de-
i gree of A.B. and in 1887 the degree of A.M.
j In 1882 he entered the Haivard Medical School,
I and from Harvard Medical College received his ce-
I gree of M.D. He settled in Newton in 1885; became
I a member of the Massachusetts iledical Society in
': 1887. He married Mi;9 Rose A. Harkius, of Newton,
I July 2, 1888.
D. Waldo Stearxs, M.D., son of Daniel Stearns,
j was born in Newton, Mass., November 12, 1864. He
was educated in the Newton Grammar and High
School?, and then entered Harvard College. He eii-
i tered the Harvard Medical School in 1883 and grad-
I uated I'rom Harvard Medical College in 1887. The
I following year he was resident physician at the Lynn
I (Mass.) City Hospital. Then he went to Europe. He
I spent some time studying at Guy's Hospital, London,
i and continued his medical studies in the schools and
t hospitals of Paris. He returned to the United .States
I and settled on Watertown Street, Newton, in 1S89, in
I what has been the family homestead for live geiiera-
I tions. He was elected a memberof theMassachusttts
I Medical Society in 1889. He is a member of the
I Newton Natural Hi.-tory Society.
' Tho.mas Francis Carroll, M.D., son of Owen
I Carroll, was born in Lowell, Mass., July 9, 1864. He
! was educated in the public schools in Lowell and
Boston College, Boston, Mass. He graduated at
Harvard Medical College and settled in Roxbury,
i Mass. He removed to Newton, Mass., in 1889, where
he continues to practice medicine. He is a member
I of the Massachusetts Medical Society.
j Myrox j. Davis, M.D., settled in Newton in 1886.
I Afterwards removed to New York; served in the
j United States Army during the War of the Rebellion ;
j was appointed on the statf of the Newton Cottage
' Hospital as specialist in diseases of the eye.
I Lincoln R. Stone, M.D., graduated at Harvard
'• Medical College in 1854. He joined the Massa'hu-
j setts Medical Society in 1854. He has been presi-
dent of the Middltsex South District Medical Society.
He served in the United States Army in the late War
of the Rebellion. He is now in practice in Newton,
Mass. He served on the Newton School Board ior
many years.
Francis G. Curtiss, M.D. — He joined the Massa-
chusetts Medical Society in 1887. Is now in practice
in Newton Centre, Mass.
James R. Deane, M.D., graduated at Bowdoin
(Me.) Medical College in 1860. He joined the Mas-
sachusetts Medical Society in 1874 ; is now in prac-
tice in Newton Highlands, Mass.
Albest Nott, M.D., graduated at the University
NEWTON.
147
of Vermont Medical Department in 1869. He joined
the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1875. He is
dean of the College of Physicians and Surgeons,
Boston, Mass. Is now in practice in West Newton.
Mass.
Frederick L. Thayer, M.D., graduated at Har-
vard Medical College in 1871. He joined the Massa-
chusetts Medical Society in 1872. Is in practice in
West Newton, Mass. He is a member of the Medi-
cal Board and on the medical staff of the Newton
Cottage Hospital.
Frederick W. Webber, M.D., son of A. C. Web-
ber, M.D., of Cambridge, graduated at the Harvard
Medical College in 1879. He joined the Massachu-
setts Medical Society in 1880. Is in practice in New-
ton, Ma.s3.
Dr. Samuel Wheat, son of Moses Wheat, of
C mcord, Mass., came from Boston to Newton about
1713. He was born in 1703. He died in 1770. At
one time he was selectman. Among his sons was
Dr. Samuel Wheat, Jr., who had a numerous
family, si.xteen in number. One of his daughters
married Dr. Lazarus Beale.
Dr. Johx Cotton', son of Rev. John Cotton. He
was born in 1729 and died in 1758. He married
Mary Clark, July 8, 1750. He graduated at Harvard
College in 1747.
Dr. John Staples Craft, son of Moses Craft,
married Eliz.abeth Parle, M;iy, 1758.
Dr. John Druce, supposed to be the son of John
Druce, M. Graduated at Harvard College in 1738.
Married Margaret Trowbridge, daughter of Deacon
William Trowbridge, in April, 1749.
Dr. Henry Pratt died in 1745. Married Ruth
Learned, Dec, 1709.
Dr. S.4..MUEL Whitewkll, West Newton, born
1754; died 1791. A.'terwards settled in Boston as
he.id of the firm Whitewell, Bond & Co., auctioneers.
Dr. John Allen, son of John Allen, died 1758.
Married Jerusha Cook, of Windham, Ct., in 1745.
He left at his decease one son (7) and five daughters,
one of whom, Jerusha, married Dr. Samuel Wheat,
Jr., in 17G6.
Dr. LAZ.4.RU3 Beale, son of Lazarus Beale, of
Hingham, Muss. Married Lydia Wheat in 1749. She
was probably a daughter of Dr. Samuel Wheat, Jr.
Dr. Edward Durant, son of Edward Durant,
Jr., married Mary Park, daughter of Edward Park,
Nov., 1762. He went privateering during the Revo-
lutionary War and was never heard of afterwards.
Dr. Abrah.am D. Dearbor.v was born in Eseter,
N. H. (?) Bought the practice of Dr. Samuel S.
Whitney and settled at Newton Upper Falls in 1844.
He left Newton in 1854 or 1855. He was well edu-
cated in his profession, particularly courteous in man-
ner and greatly respected.
Dr. James H. Grant was the immediate successor
of Dr. Abraham D. Dearborn at Newton Upper Falls
in 1854 or 1855. He left Newton after a few years
and went to New Hampshire. He was succeeded by
Dr. William H. Hildreth.
Dr. J. F. HiGGlNS settled in Newton Upper Falls
in 1854 or 1855. He practiced medicine five or six
years and died there.
Dr. William Read settled in Newton Upper Falls
in 1836. He practiced medicine there about one year
and then removed to Boston, where he practiced as a
specialist, in diseases of the rectum. He died in Bos-
ton in 1889.
Albert Kendall, M.D., was born in 1828 and
died in 1862. He was admitted a member of the
Massachusetts Medical Society in 1855.
Luther Clark, M.D. -Graduated at Harvard
Medical College in 1836 and settled in Newton.
Henry G. Davis, M.D. — Graduated at Yale Col-
lege Medical Department in 1839; settled in Newton.
W. Sargent, M.D. — Graduated at Department of
Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania in 1847;
settled in Newton, Mass.
Thomas D Smith, M.D. —Graduated at Bowdoin
Medical College, Brunswick, Me., in 1867; settled in
Newton, Mass.
John F. Boothby, M.D. — Graduated at Dartmouth
xMedical College, Hanover, N. H., in 1879. Settled in
Newton Centre, Mass.; afterwards removed to Chelsea,
Mass.
Dr. Ezra Nichols settled in Newton Lower Falls.
Dr. Jones, no record, except name.
Dr. Norman Stevens joined the Massachusetts
Medical Society in 1851. Died in West Newton,
Mass., in 1871.
Dr. Cyrus Sweetser Mann joined the Massachu-
setts Medical Society in 1843. Lived in Newton,
Mass.
Dr. Enos Sumner, recorded as a land-owner in
Newton in 1778.
CHAPTER XL
NEWTON— { Continued).
HOMCEOPATHY.
BY HOWARD P. BELLOWS, M.D.
The history of homoeopathy in Newton begins in
the year 1849, when Dr. Joseph Birnstill, a native of
Germany, removed from Boston to Newton Corner, as
it was then called, and introduced the new system of
practice. For twelve years he remained not only the
pioneer, but the sole representative of this school in
Newton. At the end of that time, in the year 1861,
Dr. Frederick Niles Palmer, a graduate of the HoraoB-
opathic Medical College of Pennsylvania of the year
1853, removed from Gardiner, Me., and settled first
in West Newton, and two years later, in 1863, in
Newton, where Dr. Birnstill was still practicing. In
148
HISTORr OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
this same year and month — April, 1863 — a third rep-
resentative of this school, Dr. Edward P. Scales, a
graduate of Dartmouth '55 and of •he Cleveland
Homoeopathic Hcspital College, of the year 1859,
came to Newton and joined his colleagues in building
up homoeopathy in this city. Dr. Scales had first
practiced for two years following his graduation in
Norwood, Mass. (now South Dedham), and during
the next two years in Winchester, Mass., — removing
from thence to Newton, where he still remains in the
full practice of his profession with unabated vigor,
being not only the senior representative of the homoe-
opathic school, but also the longest resident physi-
cian of any kind in Newton. As such he took a lead-
ing part in the establishment of the Newton Cottage
Hospital, which will be spoken of later as the most
interesting and important event connected with the
history of homoeopathy in Newton.
Of Dr. Scales' two earliest colleagues Dr. Birnstill
died suddenly, of hemorrhage of the lungs, February
16, 1867, aged fifty-?ix years, having practiced in
Newton for eighteen yer.rs. Dr. Palmer continued
to practice in Newton until the autumn of 1869, eight
years in all, when he removed to Boston, introducing
as his successor in Newton Dr. T. S. Keith. After
seventeen years' residence and practice in Boston Dr.
Palmer died. May 10, 1886, aged seventy-two years;
a faithful and skilful physician, punctilious in every
courtfsy, and of such kindly spirit that his genial
presence is still missed at every gathering of his col-
leagues.
Three years after the coming of Drs. Palmer and
Scales, in the year 1866, Dr. W. H. Sanders, a brother
of Dr. 0. S. Sanders, of Boston, also settled in Newton.
After two years of practice here he removed to Wis-
consin in 1868, leaving as his successor Dr. J. H.
Osborne, from New York, who remained, however,
but six months. About this same lime Dr. Charles
W. Taylor, a graduate of the Homceopathic Medical
College of Cleveland in 1853, settled in Newtonvilie.
Dr. Taylor first practiced in Westfield. Masn., then in
Maiden, Mass., whence he removed to Newtonvilie.
Never a strong man, the fatigue and exposure of prac-
tice induced bronchial consumption, and in hopes of
arresting this disease Dr. Taylor, in the fall of 1873,
sold his practice to Dr. Morgan J. Rhees, and removed
to South Carolina. Receiving no benefit from the
change, he returned North and resided in Wilbraham,
Mass., until January 13, 1875. when he died, in his
fifty-fifth year.
It was shortly after the settlement of Dr. Taylor in
Newtonvilie that Dr. Theodore S. Keith came to New-
ton in 1869, and assumed the practice of Dr. Palmer.
Dr. Keith began his professional life during the war,
being appointed medical cadet in the United States
Army May 12, 1862. He served in the hospitals
in Alexandria and Washington until Jan. IG, 1863,
when he entered the naval service as acting assistant
surgeon, and April 6, 1866, was promoted to acting
p.ist-assistant surgeon. He was first ordered to the
U. S. steamer " E. B. Hall," doing duty in the Si.uth
Atlantic Squadron. In 1864 he was ordered to the
U. S. steamer " Peterhoft"' at New York, and after-
wards to the U. S. steamer " Cimarron " lor further
duty in the South Atlantic Squadron. Later he was
ordered to the U. S. steamer " Passaic " and returned
to Philadelphia, and then to the U. S. steamer
" Monoe.acy " at Baltimore. He was finally relieved
at Washington, D. C, and ordered to duty at the
Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Navy Department,
where he remained until he received his honorable
discharge, July 2nd, 1868. la the same year, 1S68,
he graduated from the Harvard Medical School. His
practice in Newton extended over a period of nearly
nineteen years, from (October 18, 1869, to Sept. 13,
1888, when death removed him from the large circle
of patients and friends which he bad formed around
him.
In the year 1873 Dr. Morgan J. Rhees purchased
the practice of Dr. Taylor and settled in Newtonvilie.
Dr. Rhees was a graduate of the Jetierson Medical
College of Philadelphia, of the year 1841, and came to
Newtonvilie from Hollidaysburgh, Pennsylvania. In
1878 he sold his practice to Dr. George S. Woodman
and removtd to Wheeling, West Virginia, where he
still resides and practices. About the time of Dr.
Rhees' settlement in Newtonvilie, Dr. Levi Pierce
came to Newton Centre, but remained little longer
than one year, when he removed to Everett, Mass.
Up to this time additions to the number of practi-
tioners of the new school were made very slowly, but at
the end of this period the success and popularity of
the new treatment seems to have created a demand
for more physicians, for in the next few years we find
their number increasing steadily and their practices
increasing in the same ratio. First in this group
came Dr. F. E. Crockett, a graduate of the Philadel-
phia University of Medicine and Surgery of the year
1867. Dr. Crockett began the practice of his profes-
sion in Norway, Maine, where he remained until the
year 1874, when he came to this city and settled him-
self at West Newton, where he is still engaged in
practice. In the following year Dr. S. A. Sylvester, a
graduate of the Boston University School of Medi-
cine, of the year 1875, settled himself in Newton Cen-
tre and there still remains in practice. The next
year, 1876, Newton itself received an accession in the
coming of Dr. James Utley, from Taunton, Ma.ssachu-
setts. Dr. Utley received medical degrees from Bow-
doin, in 1874, and from the Hahnemann Medical Col-
lege of Philadelphia in 1875. He practiced in Taun-
ton two years before his settlement in Newton, but
has no reason to desire any further change of residence
or field of practice. He is at present assisted by his
son, Dr. E. R. Utley, a graduate of Amherst and of the
Harvard Medical School. During the term of 1888-89
Dr. James Utley was Lecturer on Minor Surgery in
the Boston University School of Medicine.
NEWTOX.
149
The next village in Newton to receive a physician
was the Upper FalU, where Dr. Eben Tliorapson, a
graduate of the Pulte Medical Collepe, of Cincinnati,
began a practice which he still continues. Newton-
viile was selected by the next comer, Dr. George S.
Woodman, who left a practice in Lynn, Ma.ssachu-
setts, in 187S, to purchase that of Dr. M. J. Rhees.
Dr. Woodman received degrees from Amherst College
in 1846 and 1849, and from Harvard University Med-
ical School in 1849. At the beginning of the war, in
1861, he was appointed by Abraham Lincoln surgeon
of the Board of Enrollment for the Second District of
the State of New York, which oflSce he held until the
end of the war. Since 1878 he has continued to re-
side in Newtonville and is still in active practice.
Towards the close of the same year, 1878, Dr. Howard
P. Bellows settled in Auburndale, having previously
practiced in Boston. Dr. Bellows received degrees
from Cornell University in 1875 and 1879, and from
the Boston University School of Medicine in 1877.
With the exception of one year he has been connected
with the faculty of the Boston University School of
Medicine since his graduation, first as Lecturer on
Physiology, and, after further preparation abroad, as
professor in the same chair; and later, after another
course of special study abroad, as Lecturer on Otol-
ogy, afterwards Professor of Otology, which chair he
still occupies. In the spring of 1890, after eleven and
a half years of practice ia Auburndale, during the last
five of which he was also engaged in special practice
in Boston, Dr. Bellows sold his entire general prac-
tice to Dr. Mortimer H. Clarke, confining his own
practice exclusively to his specialty, diseases of the
ear, and changed his residence from Auburndale to
West Newton. After Dr. Bellows the next physiciati
of this school to choose a location in Newton was Dr. E.
N. Kingsbury, a graduate of the Hahnemann Medical
College of Philadelphia, of the year 1880, who came
from Spenser, Massachusetts, to Newton Centre in
1884, but removed two years later to Woonsocket,
Rhode I-hind. The following year Dr. W. E. Rich-
ards, of Boston, removed his residence to Newionville
while continuing his office in Boston, practicing in
both places. After about three years he discontinued
this arrangement and returned to Boston to reside
there as formerly.
Coming to more recent arrivals, we find, within
about three years past, eight new physicians of this
s-chodl settling in the various villages of Newton,
several of whom siill remain. Dr. Virginia F. Bry-
ant, a graduate of the Boston University School of
Medicine of the year 1884, settled at Newton High-
lands in 1887 — having practiced for three years pre-
viously ill Boston. In the latter part of 1889 she re-
moved to Jamaica Plain. In thesumraer of the same
year, 1887, Dr. Clara D. Reed, a graduate of the Bos-
ton University School of Medicioe of the year 1878,
removed from Bellows Falls, Vt., where she had prac-
ticed for nine vears, aud settled at Newton. In the
following year, 1888, Dr. George H. Talbot, a gradu-
ate of the Boston University School of Medicine of the
yea.- 1882, also removed from Bellows Falls, Vt., after
five years of practice there, and settled in Newton-
ville. The same year, 1888, Dr. F. L. Mcintosh, a
graduate of the Hahnemann Medical College of Phil-
adelphia of the year 1881, sealed in Newton. From
1881 to 1886 Dr. Mcintosh practiced in Claremont,
N. H., and thence removed to Melrose, Mass., where
he practiced for two years before coming to Newton.
He came to assume the practice of Dr. T. S. Keith
upon his decease. The third physician to settle in
Newton in the year 1888 was Dr. Mortimer H. Clarke,
son of the late Dr. Henry B. Clarke, of New Bedford,
Mass., who came from the service of the Brooklyn
Homoeopathic Hospital to associate himself in practice
with Dr. Bellows and became his successor eighteen
months later. Dr. Clarke received degrees from
Harvard University '83 and from the Boston Univer-
sity School of Medicine in the year 1888. In 1889
Dr. C. H. Fessenden, a graduate of the Boston Uni-
versity School of Medicine of the year 1886, removed
from Manchester, N. H., where he had practiced for
three years, to Newton Centre. In the same year Dr.
Samuel Lewis Eaton settled at the Newton High-
lands. He is a graduate of Yale College '77 and of
the Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago of the
year 1882. For the first year after receiving his med-
ical degree he practiced in the office of Dr. C. W.
Butler, in Montclair, New Jersey, thence removing to
Orange, N. J., where he practiced a little over five
years before coming to Newton. The last physician
of the new school who has settled in Newton is Dr.
Henry P. Perkins, who came in April, 1890, to take
up his residence and begin practice in West Newton.
Dr. Perkins graduated from the Harvard Medical
School in 1881 and practiced first in Lowell, later in
Canandaigua, N. Y., from whence he removed here.
Hesides the foregoing physicians several others have
made Newton their place of residence, or field of
practice, for longer or shorter periods and then gone
elsewhere. In Newton Dr. Harriet A. Loring, a grad-
uate of the Boston University School of Medicine of
the year 1876, practiced for a yeai or two and then
removed to Boston. In West Newton Dr. Samuel
Ayer Kimball, of the Boston University School of
Medicine, class of '83, practiced about six months and
thence removed to Melrose, Mass., and later to Bos-
ton. At Auburndale, during the absences of Dr. Bel-
lows, his practice was conducted by Dr. George R.
Southwick, of Boston, upon two occasions, once for a
full year, and upon another occasion by Dr. S. H.
' Spaulding, now of Hingham, Mass. Also at Auburn-
: dale, at the Lasell Seminary, there have been settled
i two resident physicians — first. Dr. Maude Kent, a
I graduate of the Boston University School of Medi-
: cine, of the year 1886, and at the present time Dr.
i Martha C. Champlin, who graduated from the same
medical school in the vear 1889
150
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Aside from the evidence of the growth and spread
of homoeopathy in Newton as furnished by the in-
creasing number of physicians who settle here and the
size and quality of their practices the chief interest
attaching to the development of the new school in
this city, and of the public sentiment with which it
is regarded, centres about the Newton Cottage Hos-
pital. This institution, which is now in the full ex-
ercise of its usefulness, was fir^t projected in 1880.
The first meeting was held in January of that year at
the house of the Rev. Dr. Shinn, and was attended by
the friends of both systems of medical practice. It
was then determined to enter upon the work for the
good of the community at large, and afford lo all who
came for treatment the same facility for choosing a
physician of either school that they enjoyed at their
own homes. Upon these lines the work went forward.
Money was subscribed by all who felt interest in the
hospital as a hospital, irrespective of the school of
treatment which its inmates might prefer lo employ.
When, in the further development of the plan, it be-
came necessary to provide a staff of physicians and
surgeons, and a supply of medical and surgical appli-
ances, as well as a building and a matnin and nurses,
the executive committee and trustees created a Medi-
cal Board consisting of eight physicians, four from
each school of practice, who received a standing ap
pointmenc with power to nominate annually the mem-
bers of the medical and surgical staff of the hospital
and regulate their terms of service ; to recommend
purchases and renewals of medical and surgical sup-
plies; to recommend any measures or changes which
may increase the usefulness of the hospital so far as
relates to the medical and surgical service; and, in
short, to act between the executive committee and
trustees on the one hand and the medical and surgical
staff on the other in whatever manner seems wisest
for the best usefulness and success of the hospital.
Upon the first meeting of this Medical Board, April
9, 1886, the most perfect harmony was found to ex-
ist between its several members, and it became
evident at once that each member present felt that
the interests of the hospital itself came before every
other interest, and that all questions of school would
be administered with perfect fairness and forbearance
to secure the common end in view. The president of
the board was chosen from one school and the secre-
tary from the other, and all committees were chosen
in the most equitable manner possible. Questions re-
lating to one school alone were referred to a commit-
tee from that school only, and all questions interesting
both alike were treated without the slightest sugges-
tion of any difference in school. Rules and regula-
tions for the working service of the hospital were
arranged and passed to the Executive Committee for
adoption, and these secured the perfect equality of
the two schools — providing that two complete medical
andsurgical staffs should always be in attendance at
the same time, one consisting wholly of members of
the Massachusetts Medical Society and ;he other of
members of the Massachusetts Homoeopathic Medical
Society; that the patients of the two staffsjhould be
assigned to opposite sides of the wards, v hen practica-
ble, or be otherwise kept distinct; that each patient
upon entrance should choose the school by which he
wished to be treated, and that when no choice was ex-
pressed the matron should assign them in regular altei-
nate order to each school. The result of this provision
has been perfect harmony from the beginning. In
the board there has not from the very first been a sin-
gle jar or discordant element, and upon the staffs no
trouble has ever arisen between the schools in a single
instance. This working harmony in the same hos-
pital, and in the same wards, which has heretolore
been deemed an impossibility as a matter of theory,
has in our Newton Cottage Hospital been shown to be
entirely possible as a matter of practical demonstra-
tion.
The Medical Board of the hospital, as it has stood
unaltered from the first, is as follows :
Otis E. Hunt, M.D., president (R.) ; H. P. Bellows,
M.D., secrttary (Hi; Henry M. Field, M.D. (R) ;
Edw. P. Scales, M.D. (H) ; F. L. Thayer. M.D. (R) ;
F. E. Crockett, M.D. (H) ; R. P. Loring, M.D. (R) ;
S. A. Sylvester, M.D. (H).
The staff upon the homoDopathic side, as originally
appointed in 1SS6, and as it served the first year, was
as follows :
Physicians — Edw. P. Scales, M.D. ; T. S. Keith,
M.D. ; S. A. Sylvester, M.D.; G.S. Woodman, M.D. ;
F. E. Crockett, M.D. ; W. E. Richards, M.D.
ConauUiiiij Physicians — Edw. P. Scales, 31. D. ; F. E.
Crockett, M.D.
Surgeon — James Utley, M.D.
Specialist, Diseases of the Ear — H.P. Bellows, M.D.
For the present year of service there are no changes
save that Dr. Mcintosh takes the place of Dr. Keith,
deceased ; Dr. Talbot takes the place of Dr. Richards,
removed from the city ; and Dr. Clarke has received
appointment aa surgeon.
CHAPTER XII.
SEWTON—( Continued.)
GEOLOGY OF NEWTON.
BY J. F. FRISBIE, M.D.
Newton is bounded on the north, west and south
by the valley of the Charles River, and on the east
by another depressed area. Between the north and
south boundaries rises a range of hills with the
axis running east and west. The outcropping ledges
are slate, slate-breccia, conglomerate (pudding-stone)
and amygdaloids.
The northern side of the city ia underlaid — in
NEWTON.
151
places
ing specimens
verlaid — by slate and slate-breccia, contain- 1 thii knowledge aids largely in giving the formation
finely ripple-marked. On Jewett I to which they belong. On the (vestern side of
Street is an outcrop of slate-breccia of unusual in-
terest. This breccia is formed of angular fragments
of an older slate inbedded in a newer. The ledge
was upfolded, and in after-time that huge planing-
machine, the glacier, slow-moving but ponderous and
irresistible, plowed it.s way across, smoothing its ir-
regularities, leaving long strise to mark where some
sharp, angular fragment of quartz or other hard,
firm rock chiseled a line as it moved along. In
places these parallel lines have been traced sixty
to seventy-five feet. On Homer Street another out-
cropping ledge shows the glacial striae running in the
Slime direction — from north to south.
At Newton Centre and southeastward the conglom-
erate (pudding-stone) crops out in hills and bold
escarpments, very fine and picturesque, as seen near
Hammond's Pond.
When the upfolding took place — when this region
arose from its watery bed — huge fissures and grad-
ing, down to the minutest seams, were formed as
the crust folded and wrinkled, and into these was
forced and ejected the semi-plastic and melted
material from deep down below, and dykes and traps
cut these older rocks in ever\' direction, of varying
width and extent ; and some of these narrow cracks
were filled, in after-time, by a deposit of mineral held
ill solution by the hot, boiling water bubbling up
from the depth of miles below.
A large part of the city is covered with glaciated
materials, either spread out broadly or heaped up
in characteristic forms — sharp ridges of sand, gravel
and water-worn boulders, like those seen at Auburn-
dale and Xewtonville, or gently-rounded elevations
— lenticular hills, known among geologists as ground
moraines, composed of fine clayey material, with
angular fragments of rock interspersed, like Mt.
Ida and Institution Hill. The first were formed on
top of the glacier — the latter beneath it.
River terraces can be traced on both sides of
Hammond's Pond ii a bold ej^arpmsnt of conglom-
erate, the result of a fracture in the crust ages ago,
producing "a fault. A little farther away a huge
fragment of the cliff has been thrown off, through
the action of water and frost, leaving the rock-bor-
dered amphitheatre, where the Newton Natural
History Society often hold their exercises on their
"Field-Day" excursions.
Glacial Moraines. — Every change of level in a
country produces a change of c^|mate. Ascend to the
height of 350 feet and you have reached the sapie
temperature you would have found by going one de-
gree, sixty miles, towards the north. Therefore we
see that an elevation of any part of a country is a
practical northward journey in temperature, and con-
sequently in the Fauna and Flora.
Preceding the glaciers, there had been a long period
of progressive elevation, till so large a part of North
America had been raised above the line of perpetual
snow, that it was covered with snow and ice piled up
4000 or 5000 feet, almost a mile in thickness ; and
then this mass, slowly, almost imperceptibly, but re-
sistiessly, moved on southward to a warmer clime.
As It journeys onward, the m luntain crags and tow-
ering peaks, through the weight of accumulated snow
and the action of cold winds and frosts, come down in
crashing avalanches, forming deck-loads of crumbled
stones and boulders to be carried aud deposited in the
valleys far away.
As these glaciers pressed south, southeast and
southwestward, their eroding and grinding power was
incalculable, and the tops of the hills and lower
mountains, and sides of the higher, were ground away
by these mighty planing-machines, leaving behind
traces of their movements on the solid rock, in long
striated scratches and groovings.
In one place a sharp, projecting angle of stone cuts
its line in the solid ledge; in another, a loose rolling
stone crushed the ledge as it rolled along, leaving
Charles River, clearlv showing the former level of! slight horizontal crackings; and again the solid ledge
the .'iver-bed, and the down-cutting that has re- 1 was gouged to a foot or more in depth as a hard
suited from erosion during the long ages that have [ boulder, securely fixed beneath, and in the enormous
elapsed since the ice-sheet disappeared from our i ma?8 of ice, plowed across the naked rock. Gravel,
midst and our land was with "verdure clad," and sand and earth imbedded in sideorbottomoftheglacier,
bright flowers dotted the hills and the valleys. smoothed and polished the ledge over which it passed.
Dendiitesare found abundantly in the slates; some Following this period of high elevation, accompan-
are very beautiful. An outcrop of slate at the 1 led with Arctic cold, came a subsidence, and these
drive-way entrance to the estate of Hon. R. R.
Bi-hop, Newton Centre, is well worth an examina-
tion. The folding and wrinkling is beautifully
shown ; the laminations can easily be recognized in
the face of the cliff, where it dips sharply to the
north, and the dendrites are readily found. This is
an interesting locality from the fact that the .slate
glaciers slowly melted away as the warmer climate
followed ; and rock, boulder, gravel and sand, consti-
tuting the drift, was left behind. Where the glaciers
had pushed immense quantities of this material, torn
and worn away from the hills and mountains, we now
find the terminal moraines; beneath, where it had
been carried alo«g on top, we find the medial mo-
rests on the conglomerate, and is overlaid by the | raines ; and on either side of these moving rivers of
conglomerate. Points of contact between different I snow and ice, the lateral moraines are left to tell the
rock-strata are eagerly sought for by geologists as ' stor>" of their breadth
152
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Again a part of Ihe land was covered by the ocean,
and.the St. Lawrence and Lake Champlain were arms
of the sea. The ocean waves re-arranged and leveled
much of this debris, spreading it out over the shallow
ocean bed.
Time passes on and the everlasting forces acting
below, again change the ever-changing surface, and
a slow upheaval takes place ; and the waters begin
to drain off, and our part of the planet assumes more
nearly its- present limit and form. As the waters
drain off, the river channels are formed and the
river systems are developed, and down through the
drift the waters readily cut their way. "The falling
rain-drops gather on the land and a little rill forms ;
as this moves along it cuts down a little furrow ;
several of these rills combining form a rivulet which
enlarges the furrow into a gully as it goes down the
river-bank ;" and these again combining pour down
in torrents, cutting wider and deeper, as with gather-
ing force the waters sweep down the declivities, ex-
cavating deep ravines and gorges, leaving behind the
higher summits as ridges, cliffs and banks.
We find the Drift in every direction in Xewton and
the adjoining towns, in rounded hills, ridges, spurs
and elevated plateaux composed of sand and gravel
with boulders. Standing on the .belt and ridge
of land south of Cabot Street, you find a peculiar
arrangement of hill and valley spread out on every
side. Cabot Street cuts through an arm of this
ridge, which stretches northward. There, and on the
path through the woods, is exposed a fine picture of
the unmodified Drift, sand, gravel and boulders,
water-worn throughout. This entire ridge is Drift,
and walking southward through Newton Centre the
same formation is seen on ever)' hand. Beyond
there the country slopes to the south, leaving New-
ton Centre, Newton Highlands, and onward to Au-
burndale and Lower Falls, an elevated plateau and
ridge of this Drift material, constituting a divide or
water-shed.
The drift is very distinctly seen where it crops out
on the Watertown shore of Charles River, nearly op-
posite the home of Mr. Henry Claflin.
At Auburndale and Riverside is a high bluff of
Drift on the south side of the railroad, showing
beautifully the enormous accumulations of this
material ; and as we cross to the north side we find
another ridge of the same Drift which has been
separated from the other by the water cutting a
channel between ; and then across the Charles River
in Weston, rising to an equal height, the belt of Drift
can be traced for many miles. Among the boulders
lying scattered on the hills and occasionally in the
plains, we find granite, gneiss, slates, green-stones
and conglomerates. With the exceptions of the
latter, all these boulders, sand and gravel, have been
torn away from other rocks and transported to their
present position through the agency of ice and
water.
Then come back to the point of observation I have
' referred to on the ridge, and at once the conclusion
is reached that this level plateau has, at some distant
' time, extended across the valley where Newtonville
stands, to the plain on which Waltham is built, to a
I corresponding height in Watertown, and that the
i valley of the Charles is the result of the action of
water since the depositions of the Drift, although this
higher plain and ridge have been worn away much be-
low its former height.
Now, descending and advancing towards the river,
we find Newtonville is built on another level plateau,
the same on which stands the lower part of the
villages of Newton, West Newton and Auburndale,
composed of the same materials ;is that we have left,
and as we near Charles River another descent is
made. These latter constitute the river terraces, and
differ in many respects from the first.
Again we will retrace our steps to the ridge south
of Cabot Street, near Newtonville, and endeaver to
read the history of this problem spread out before
us. First the ridge on which we stand is the old
unmodified, unstratified Drift, proved by the mate-
rials composing it. These were brought and deposit-
ed here by the glaciers when the subsidence of this
part of our continent caused a warmer climate, and
the glaciers melting, disappeared. Now, as this im-
mense quantity of water was drained off, accelerated
by the gradual upheaval, wonderful changes took
place; the river valleys were washed out, terraces
formed, and with the exceptions of a slight deepening
of the river channels and the present flood plains,
the dry land was left nearly in its present condition,
only now covered with grass, flowers, shrubs and
forests.
Where glaciers have swept over the country, the
northern slope is long and gentle, and the southern
shorter and often abrupt ; the glaciers ground,
smoothed, polished, as they gradually ascended to the
hill or mountain-top, then passing over they crumb-
led, falling down the other side, leaving no strire or
grooves to mark their tremendou^ power. As the ir-
resistible force behind pushed them over, it exerted
no influence on the falling mass farther than to con-
tinue piling more and more on top of that which had
already fallen ; and conequently its grooving, plan-
ing power was lost till it again had consolidated and
gained a steady headway. Therefore on the north
slope and top of ledges and mountains we find evi-
dences of glacial action, while on '.he south we look
in vain for them. The side of the advance was the
side of wear and greatest erosion.
Some of the rounded hills standing isolated in the
valleys, and nearly all the ridges in this vicinity,
have, as a centre or backbone, an internal foundation
structure, composed of granite, conglomerate or slates,
all worn from pre-existing or primary rocks and consti-
tuting what is termed the secondary or stratified rocks.
Where these ledges crop out we often find they
NEWTON.
153
have been rounded, polished, grooved and scratched
by the ponderous, southward-moving glacier. On
Jewett, just beyond Pearl Street, the ledge bears am-
ple evidence of glacial action. Before it had been
much cut away, I traced grooves more than fifty feet,
rounding up over the ledge to its summit as far as it
was uncovered. Although this stone had been sub-
ject to the well-known agencies following exposure,
still the tracings are at once apparent.
Ws have spread out before us to-day one of the
problems science unraveled and made clear only
after the Glacial Theory had been accepted.
From base to lop of this mass of snow and ice
slowly moving southward, the materials composing
the Drift were carried from the north to warmer cli-
mates. From jagged hill-tops and mountain-crags
the rocks were gathered, which, after rolling and
wearing, were finally deposited as clay, fine sand and
gravel, or coarser stones and boulders over Canada,
New England, and westward beyond the Mississippi.
These boulders seldom exceeded a cubic foot in size,
although sometimes they are found containing 20,000,
30,000, and even 40,000 cubic feet.
The Drift, while covering the lower lands and val-
leys, is found high up the mountains — 2000 feet on
the Green Mountains, .3000 on Monadcock, and 6000 i
on Mt. Washington. On the very summit of Mt.
Washington drift boulders have been found.
Large and small boulders are found on the sum- i
mits of most hills and smaller mountains in New !
England.
The loose, unstratified gravel and boulders over }
New England, New York, and the States west over
the same latitude are called Drift. In some excep- \
tional cases it is in layers; then it is called Modified I
Drift.
This is the result of a working over of the Drift I
material by the streams of water beneath the glacier |
or in subsequent time by the rivers or ocean. I
The Drift is derived from the rocks to the north of '
where it lies, mostly between northeast and north- )
west. The material is coarsest towards the north, j
grading down to finer gravel and sand without stones i
towards the southern limit. Wiih the exception of \
pieces of wood the Drift is nearly bare of fossils, and '
nothing to suggest marine origin. |
Glaciers will move on slopes of one or two degrees, I
and at the present time the requisite slope is found to t
exist in New England and Eastern New York. When ;
the winters come and the mantle of snow covers our
country from the sea-coast lo the far, frigid North,
we have a stationary glacier; but the depth is only
a few feet, instead of 4000 to 5000, and is light,
porous snow, diflfering from the old-time glacier,
which was mostly ice, with, perhaps, a few hundred
feet of snow on the top.
The glacier in this part of North America would of
necessity move southward, for, if for no other reason,
the enormous accumulation of ice and snow to the
northward would effectually present a barrier to its
movement in that direction, while to the South there
would be a limit resulting from the warmer climate.
In the farther North the ice-mantle may have been
many miles in thickness. Therefore the glaciers
would push southward, rounding and polishing off
the hills and lower mountains, scoring the sides and
tops with regular marked striae, produced by the
rocks, boulders and sand rubbing over them as with
gigantic power the glacier moved along. •
The Glacial Epoch and the Drift Epoch were the
same. It was a period of intense cold, following and
accompanying a wide-spread elevation in the cold
latitudes in both the Northern and Southern hemis-
pheres. In the warmer regions there are no traces
of Glacier nor Drift material.
Below the perpetual frost-line a stream of water
always flows, which works over that part of the
glacial dibria of angular and rounded stones and
earth within its reach, transporting it to the valley,
where it is deposited on the banks in a more or less
stratified form.
The glacier has its sides and bottom set with stones
of large or small size, and sand and gravel, and is a
"tool of vast power," scratching, plowing and planing
the rocks over or against which it moves: it even
widens and deepens valleys.
Prof. Hitchcock says, "The Mountain Tarns,
known as ' Lakes of the Clouds,' just below the sum-
mit of Mt. Washington, resulted from the excavating
power of the glacier."
Sometimes the accumulated Drift material formed
immense barriers and dammed up streams and shut
in valleys, giving us to-day beautiful ponds and lakes.
I have referred to the avalanches falling upon the
glaciers and forming deck-loads of debris. This detri-
tus which was precipitated upon the top of the gla-
cier was only a small part of the material gathered
into this snow and ice-masa. From the tops of the
mountains over which it passed; from the sides against
which it crushed its way, and even from the valleys,
it gathered material which became incorporated into,
and distributed throughout the vast sheet of ice; and
these materials eroded, broken, crushed and taken
from one place, were the implements that ground, pul-
verized, polished and produced the striae on other and
perhaps far distant rocks. This debris, taken from
different rock-formations, comprised fragments of all
the rocks exposed, from the granites down to the more
recent formations, and to-day we find it scattered
broad-cast over our hills and valleys.
To produce the Drift there must be the glacier.
To form the glacier there must be elevation above the
line of perpetual frost, and an abundance of moist-
ure in the atmosphere. Were the thermometer never
to rise above freezing point our earth would be a
rainless, snowless sphere. For, to produce rain and
snow, there must be moisture, and this is only the re-
sult of a temperature of above 32° Fahrenheit.
154
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Thus far in speaking of the Drift, I have referred
only to that form of it over which we passed. But
there are two other conditions in which the glaciated
dibrii ia presented for our examination and study,
differing in material and position from that we have
observed to-day.
lu Newton we have a few of those beautiful shaped
hills, characteristic of the Glacial Period, found so I
frequently in the eastern parts of Maine, New Hamp- |
shire and Massachusetts.
These hills are supposed to have been formed
beneath, the ice-sheet by the gradual accumulation
of the material torn and worn away from the rocks
and valleys over which it moved. They are compos-
ed of clay, sand, boulders and fragments of rock in-
discriminately heaped up, without stratification ; very
hard and compact.
The name given them appears to be very charac-
teristic and appropriate — ground moraines— and if the
theory i^i correct that they were formed by the con-
stant addition of new material as the glacier moved
onward, their composition and compactness can
readily be understood. They have been named
by Prof. Hitchcock, " Lenticular hills." They are
elliptical in shape, the long diameter corresponding
very nearly with the strife and glacial groovings
found in the immediate vicinity. Mt. Ida is a typical
specimen of a lenticular hill — elliptical in shape,
steep sidfs, gently rounded top and always a beautiful
picture in the landscape.
Beside Mt. Ida; Brighton Hill, par'ly in Newton
and Brighton; Nonanlum Hill; Prospect Hill, near
the Newton reservoir; Institute Hill at Newton Cen-
tre; Moffit's Hill, lying between Fuller and Beacon
Streets, and Ouk Hill, near Newton Highlands, are
all composed of the same materials and present the
same shape.
The other form remaining to be described is that
of a cover, or sheet of material, consisting partly of
that just described, mingled with sand, gravel and
detritus generally, dropped loosely upon the hills and
valleys when the ice melted beneath it. This form
of the Drift covers nearly all New England to a
depth varying from one to ten, or even twenty feet;
and in connection with this are found the large
boulders so abundant in some localities.
The distinction between these three glacial deposits
is readily apparent.
The first is composed of sand, gravel, pebbles and
boulders (not striated) all, water-worn and rounded ;
more frequently unstratified. This is generally found
in the valleys; but sometimes it occurs on elevated
plateaux. It often overlies the other two forms of
deposit.
The second overlies the " lenticular hills," and
nearly the whole of the elacier-swept region, forming
a thin cover of only a few feet in thickness, com-
posed of the materials found in the lower and upper
deposits.
The lenticular hills, built up of clay, sand, pebble
and angular fragments of rock, hard and compact,
comprise the third or lower division of the Drift.
These two latter are also known by the name of upper
and lower Till.
In Hiasvatha, Longfellow assigns other cause than
glaciers for the boulders found scattered far and wide
over the elevated plateaux of the distant Northwest.
You will remember the terrible conflict between Hi-
awatha and his father, Mud-je-kee-wis, when Hia-
watha,
" With threatpDJng look nnd cesture
Laid his hunii np«jn the lilack rock.
Upon the fulal Warbeek laid it,
With \i\i initteo^, iliu-jek-aii-wnn.
Rent the jtittinc; eras asumler,
Smote and crushed it into frai^inenta.
Hurled tliem nmdly at his father,
But the ruler of the West-Wind
Blew the fragments bacU\v4ird from him,
With the hreathiiiijs uf his nostrils,
With the tempest of his anger;
Blew them back at hib assailant ;
Stitl the hunter sees Its traces
Scattered far o'er hill and valley ;
*♦«****•
Sees the masses of the Warbeek
Lying still in every valley."
Scattered throughout Newton, in every direction,
; especially on the ridges and hills, are found the boul-
ders left by the ice. On the hill-t'ips and slopes they
I are or have been very abundant, in full view, the tiner
j material having been washed away, leaving them
, exposed. The walls built by farmers are composed
I entirely of these rocks, various in form and material,
I but showing unmistakable evidences of water action.
On the top of the ridge I have referred to, lying
! between Newtonville and Bullough's Pond, I found
the fragments of a large boulder, a well-worn traveler
from some distant crag or mountain-top, .-tranded,
like many another castaway, on a gravelly beach.
Also on the southwest slope I found fine specimens
of asbestos where another boulder had landed and
was slowly and surely crumbling back to dust.
This ridge shut off the pond from the plain on
which Newtonville stands, and dammed back its
waters when the pond occupied a much greater area
than now; but, following the elevation of the land,
the water burst through the barrier at the northwest
corner, and the greater part esqaped where the " Old
Mill " now stands. Beyond are beautiful forest-
crowned ridges, water-worn hollows and romantic
dells, rimmed with shrub and tree, dotted with the
trailing vine, the purpling bloom and the flowers
nodding in the gentle breeze; dark and sombre in
the shadows ; lovely places to wander on a summer's
day to study the great problems of life and the changes
and growth of this, our terrestrial home.
,3r¥\Ync\yHrrj
NEWTON.
155
BIOGRAPHICAL.
HON. DAVID H. MASON.
Hon. David Haven Mason, son of John and Mary
(Haven) Miison, was born in Sullivan, N. H., on
March 17, liSlS. Hia career offers a shining example
of the success of a self-made man, in the deepest sig-
nificance of that familiar phrase. By his own unaided
exertion, by rigid economy, without ihe assistance of
wealthy or influential friends, he procured the means
lor .Sis professional eoucation, graduating at Dart-
mouth College in 1841, and entered upon the chosen
field of his labors in Boston, Mass., an entire stranger
to the city and its institutious. After securing a lo-
cation at 20 Court Street (now the site of Young's
Hotel), and by the purchase of the necessary otfice
furniture with a few elementary law-book-', his last
dollar was spent. Thus he entered upon his business
career without a solitary friend in the city from whom
he could claim the privilege of the smallest loan; but
by his untiring energy, industry, sturdy devotion to
his profession and fidelity to his clients he soon com-
manded a respectable and lucrative practice, while by
his many honorable and genial traits of character he
was rapidly gathering about him a large circle of ar-
dent and appreciative friends.
After several years of tireless devction to the tw
he entered the arena of public life and by his admin-
istration of the various otKcial positions entrusted to
him, whose functions he discharged with admirable
judgment, zeal and success, he made his influence felt
as a noble public benefactor in Newton, where he re-
sided, in the neighboring city of Boston and through-
out the whole Commonwealth. Many of the most
useful and important public improvementsof the period
in which he was so conspicuous in active otlicial ser-
vice owe their origin and their successful achieve-
ment, with all their untold utility, to his wisdom in
preparation and his remarkable skill in execution.
.Mr. Mason was a resident of Newton for twenty-
five years, and during this entire perind he was an
honored and cherished leader in the educational and
social improvement of the community, exercising to a
remarkable degree his peculiar faculty of bringing
out the good qualities of those with whom he came in
contact and greatly enriching his townsmen by this
contribution. The precise value of his services to the
town of Newton during the long period that he was
its counsel and the zealous promoter of its interests
can never be estimated and therefore will never re-
ceive a just and proper appreciation.
He early won the confidence of his fellow-citizens,
and was a very active and influential member of the
House of Representatives during the years 1863, '66
and '67. The patriotic Governor John A. Andrew
admitted him to his personal intimacy, and often ex-
p.'essed himself by word and letter as leaning with
implicit confidence upon the sag.icious counsels of his
triecd in many important and diflScult emergencies.
In the struggles of the country during the War of
1861-65 he evinced the most devoted and ardent pa-
triotism, and his tongue and pen were never deficient
in the e.Kigencies of any occasion. He was a friend
to the poor and a helper to the distressed. Mindful
of his own early struggles, he sympathized with young
men and was ever ready with his advice and influence
to encourage and stimulate them in the preparation
for spheres of usefulness and honor. He declined tha
honor of the Republican nomination for the Senator-
ship and the higher position of National Representa-
tive, each of which he was strongly urged to accept,
giving as his reason the claims of his profession. He
also repeatedly declined elevation to the Bench on the
ground that no emolument or judicial distinction
could induce him to surrender the delights or avoid
the tender responsibilities of his home and family, a
sentiment of which the practical interpretation formed
a legacy now most deeply cherished in the hearts of
his children.
The most influential journals of hia lime contained
many sterling articles from his pen, advocating pub-
lic improvements and adapted to guide public opinion
upon points involving the financial or educational in-
terests of hifl town, of the city of Boston, and the
Common,wealth.
In 18-37 Mr. Mason was invited to deliver the ora-
tion at New London, Coun., at the celebration of the
eighty-first anniversary of American Independence.
The papers of that city, without distinction of party,
spoke of the oration "as a sound, able and patriotic
production, beautifully written and very effectively
delivered." On a similar occasion in Boston he was
invited to read the Declaration of Independence and
he performed the service according to the journals of
the day " in a forcible and truthful manner, and the
audience warmly evinced their approbation.''
In 1859 he was the orator of the day, at the cele-
bration of the eighty-third anniversary of indepen-
dence at Newton Centre, and his oration gave great
satisfaction to his hearers. It was a refreshing ex-
ample of originality, bold in expression as well as
conception, and naturally suggested by the time-
hallowed history of the scenes and struggles which
gave birth to the anniversary. " It was marked by
careful research and sound judgment, and replete
with noble sentiments and lofty eloquence.'' On the
14th of July, 1864, Mr. Mason delivered the address
at the centennial anniversary of the town of Lancas-
ter, N. H., a very interesting production now in print.
While he was a member of the House of Repre-
sentatives Mr. Mason attended to the business of the
Commonwealth with great fidelity, and won for him-
self the reputation of being one of the best debaters
of that honorable body. He watched carefully every
measure that came before the Legislature, bringing
the entire weight of his powerful influence in favor
of any worthy project, and by his scrupulous adhesion
to the right he made himself a power among hisasso-
156
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
ciates. His speeches before the Legislature and com- ! cornea persistent oppusition, and in its darkest hours
mitteea thereof upon the consolidation of the We-stern j wlien its firmest friends were almost tempted to de-
and the Boston & Worce.-ter Railroad corporations, on ! spair, liis voice was lifted in tones of start lirg elo-
equalizing the bounties of the soldiers, on tlie adop- ' quence, till success crowned his efforts. And the en-
tion of the Fourteenth Amendment to the National j thusiasm with which his name and speech were re-
Constitution, on making the mill-dam free of toll, , ceived showed that this was not the hour of his pride
and his immense contribution to the business facili- i alone but the pride of his friends for him." The
ties and prosperity of Boston by the leveling of Fort I " Mason School " at Newton Centre was named for
Hill, are specimens of the noble efforts by which he ! him as an honorary testimonial by his townsmen of
proved himself preeminently a public benefactor.
In the course of an extended comment upon the last
of these undertakings, one of the daily journals of
Boston remarked: "The credit of engineering the
matter (the Fort Hill improvement) through the T<eg-
islature, and reducing the details to a practical work-
his noble interest in the cause of education.
Allusion has been made to Mr. Mason's patriotic
spirit. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Governor
Andrew chose him from the ranks of the Democrat
party and placed him upon the Military Commission —
the only civilian in that important selection. He was
ing level, is due to D. H. Mason, Esq., whose eiTorts i an ardent War Democrat, threw the full current of
in bringing to an adjustment the long contested | his powerful influence in favor of the re-election of
Brighton Bridge case, and the prominent part he has ' Abraham Lincoln, and during the war he was un-
taken as counsel for railroad corporations before the i wearied in his zeal to preserve the country and its
Legislature, has caused him to be regarded as one of
the most eminent and successful counsel that appears
free institutions unharmed, and to stimulate his fel-
low-citizens to all right and noble etlbrts. A notable
in that body. This enterprise was entrusted to him instance of this occurred in an emergency in the war,
and the many difficulties that stood in the way were, i when a large and enthusiastic meeting of citizens was
by his untiring energy, all removed, and Boston will : held in the town of Newton. The design of the meet-
soon reap the advantage of hiving wide and well- : ing was to lake measures for equipping one or more
graded streets in place of narrow lanes lading to companies of volunteer militia, and to take further
crowded tenement-houses." ' measures for the support and comfort of the families
Of the action of the municipal and State authori- ! of such as should be called into service. Mr. Mason
ties in removing the toll gates from the mill-dam : offered a series of resolutions which he supported
road and making the great thoroughfare free to the ' with eloquent and patriotic remarks. He alluded to
public, the same journal says: " It is but just that it a previous meeting where the patriotic men of the
should be known that the credit of this is due princi- town expressed themselves as willing to sacrifice
pally to the persistent efforts of David H. Mason,
Esq., of Newton, who for several years has given at-
tention to this matter, presenting its importance be-
everything for the cause of their country ; but the
present meeting was one where prudence and calm
judgment should rule the hour. The minds of men
fore successive Legislatures until at last the public should not, in their enthusiasm, be carried beyond
enjoy the great privilege secured." i the proper line of duty ; while they are willing to
In 1860 Mr. Mason was appointed to a position up- give of their substance, judgment and discretion
on the Massachusetts Board of Education, of which should so guide their actions, that, while everything
he was for several years a very efficient member, and '. needed should be given unsparingly, nothing should
discharged the duties of that office with exemplary i be wasted. •' Millions of gold and rivers of blood will
faithfulness. No demands of his business were per- | not compare with the influence of this question ; for,
mitted to interfere with his obligations to the State on its solution hang tlie hopes of civil liberty and
in this department of service. It was to him a labor
of love and he loved even the labor itself. Recog-
nition of his eflbrts in behalf of the State Normal
School at Framingham were showered upon him in a
civilization throughout the world for agts to come.
Let it not be said that we, of this generation, have
been unfaithful to the high and holy trust." The
preamble and resolutions, which were unanimously
thousand different ways and added to the pleasures ' adopted, were as follows :
of success in this undertaking. " Wheeeas, for the first lime in the history of our government, the
Mr. Mason was also deeply interested in sustaining | R<'P"l'li<; >» P'acod in greKt peril by an armed rebelll&n of several of the
the high character of the schools in the town of New-
ton. In an account of the dedicatory exercises of the
High School building at Newtonville, it was written :
" It would not be invidious to the other friends of the
enterprise to say that to Mr. Mason, perhaps more
than to any one else, is the town indebted for the con-
summation of this enterprise. For three years he
has devoted to it his time and energies. Through his
eloquent appeals and forcible arguments he has ovei-
United StuteB, threatening the destruction of our National Archives and
our Xational Capitol, and a sudden resort to an armed resistance lias
become necessary for the preservation of our lives and liberties, and
" Whereas, by Boletnn proclanjation the President of the I'nited States
has called upon the good Commonwealth of Massachusetts for themeaus
of eiTecttial resistance —
" Now, therefore, we, the inhabitants of the Town of Xewton in town-
meeting ;isscmbled, loyal to the constitution and the laws of the land,
do hereby instruct and direct the selectmen of our said town to take
and appropriate from any moneys at any time in the treasury of said
t-.wii, during the current year, a sulficient sum, not exceeding £20,iimii,
to fully tirm and equip in the most approved manner one company or
NEWTON.
157
more of vohmleer militia «-ho have enlisted or may hereafter enlist
f,oni =a,d town, in the sertice of the State or General Ooxc.nn.ent, ..nd
if any such pei^ns are called into actual service, leaving their fn.iiiliee
unprovided for, the selectmen are also directed ic take especial care to
provide for them all the needed and necessary comlorie of life, in sick-
ness and in health, durinp the continuance of said service, and as long
aa the exigency of the case requires. And if any should perish in said
service the town will tenderly care for their remains, and furnish them
a suitable burial.
" lleioked. That the people of this town have the most perfect con-
fidence and trust in our present form of Government, that we have
faith in ihe wisdom and patriotism of its founders, and that without
distinction of party or recognition of party lines, in our heart of
heart^ we revere and love their virtues and their memories. The
cause of this Union is our cause, and to its support, in firm reliance
on the protection of Uivine Proiidence, we pledge our lives and our
sacred honor."
Thfse resolutions, passed unanimoufly amid great
eDthusias-m, are hocorable alike to the lofty intellect
from which they sprang, to ihe pen that drew tbem
and to the loyal citizens of the town who found in
them the elcquent expression of their sentiments.
When the elevated and lucrative office of United
States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts be-
came vacant by the resignation of Hon. George S.
Hillard, a large number of the most famous members
of the Suti'olk Bar volunteered their intiuence in sup-
port of the appointment of Mr. Mason to that honor-
able position. He was nominated by President Grant,
confirmed by the Senate, and appointed upon Decem-
ber 22, 1870, his elevation being regarded as a strong
one for the Government and highly acceptable to the j
people and the bar of Mas.sachusetts. He was at 1
this time a leading member of the Republican Party, j
having joined its ranks at the close of the Civil War. |
Mr. Mason's administration of this, his last public 1
office, evinced to the highest degree the attorney's j
legal knowledge and acumen, and was a fitting close j
of°an active and noble professional career. He wa.s i
counsel for the Government in some very important j
and celebrated cases during his term of office, securing
two of the largest verdicts ever obtained by the Gov-
ernment in this district. His methods were marked
with dignity and principle, without exception, and
won for him the highest public and private commen-
dation.
Mr. Mason, in his domestic and social relations,
displayed even more decisively the charming dignity
and purity of his character. On June IC, 1845, he had
married Sarah Wilson (daughter of John Hazen and
Roxanna) White, of Rutland, Mass., and he loved to
ascribe a greater part of his prosperity and success to
the unwavering sympathy and love of his faithful
wife. In a letter by Gov. Emory Washburn to Mrs.
Mason after her husband's death he says : " I have
again and again heard him, almost reverently, express
how strongly he was sensible of having what, to a
generous-minded man, is the highest element of en-
couragement and success— the counsel and sympathy
of one whose lot was inseparably cast with his.''
Mr. Mason died in Newton on the 29th of May,
1873, after a lingering illness of several months. His
widow, a daughter (Mabel White) and three sons sur-
vive him ; his sons (Edward Haven, Harry White and
Frank Atlee) following the profession of their father.
The lofty moral and intellectual culture that illum-
ined every element of his sterling character eminently
fitted him for intimate association with the distin-
guished men of his time, and through it he enjoyed
the sincere friendship and personal intimacy of such
men as Henry Wilson, Charles Sumner and Governors
Andrew and Washburn.
The eloquent messages of condolence that poured
in after his death, the resolutions passed by the courts
and by the various associations of which he had been
a member, the many distinguished persons high in the
Church and State who paid him the last sad honor at
his burial, and the thousands of every rank of life that
thronged to his final resting-place, bore silent and
touching testimony how widely he was mourned and
how deeply he had been beloved.'
JOHN WILEY EDMAKDS.'
John Wiley Edmands, son of Thomas Edmands,
Esq., and Roxa (Spragne) Edmands, daughter of
William Sprague, of Leicester, Mass., was born in
Boston, Mass., on the 1st of March, 1809. The rec-
ord of tis life is from fiirst to last a chronicle of great
activity and grand achievements; while in enter-
prises, more particularly connected with the manu-
facturing industry of New England, in which the
broad scope of his intellect was most successfully
concentrated, he displayed a comprehensive mastery
of the economical and administrative principles of
business rarely met with.
In his boyhood he was educated in the Boston
Grammar School, and upon his graduation therefrom
he entered the English High School of Boston when
it was founded, in 1821, graduating from this institu-
tution in 1823, having been favored with the honor
of a Franklin medal.
j His tender recollections and rich appreciation of
the educational advantages afforded him by this now
1 famous school were touchingly embodied in an ad-
dress delivered at its semi-centennial in 1871 before
j the assembled graduates and scholars. It was a
I glowing tribute of his love for the institution and for
j the cause of educational culture, and proved one of
1 the most cherished efforts of his life.
! Upon his graduation at the High School he began
his business career in the famous house of Amos &
Abbott Lawrence. In 1830, during his absence in
Europe, he was made a partner in the concern and
soon afterward became its acting manager, conduct-
ing its involved and multifarious business with re-
markable application and success, ^e retired from
the firm in 1843, having acquired at this early age a
I Re-written from Dr. S. F. Smith's " HUtory of Newlon." by Frank
A. Maaon. Esq.
■' By Frank A. ^Imoq.
158
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTr, MASSACHUSETTS.
wide-spread reputation of being a most intelligent,
able and zealoua business manager. As such his ser-
vices were eagerly sought by many of the leading
railroad and manufacturing corporations throughout
New England, but these flattering offers he was for
the present compelled to decline that he might fortify
his already overtasked strength in preparation for the
greater labors to come. During this period he was
interested in one of his most profitable enterprises,
the Maverick Woolen-Mills, in Dedbam, Mass., and
carefully acquired a familiarity with the cloth manu-
facture.
Mr. Edmaads' rare intelligence upon economical
questions enabled him to exert a powerful influence
upon national financial legislation, and upon his elec-
tion to the National House of Representatives in the
fall of 1852 he was at once delegated a distinguished
position upon the financial committees. His term of
service in Congress was brief, for at the next election
in his district he resolutely declined a renomination
for good and sufficient private reasons, and though
afterwards repeatedly urged to accept the nomination,
he could not be persuaded to separate himself from
his more pressing responsibilities. But he main-
tained a searching interest in national and political
questions to the very close of his busy life ajid the
wisdom of his consultation was eaeerlj- sought by the
legislators from his district and the New England
Republican members of Congress. He was chosen
Presidential elector from his district in 1SC8 by the
Republican party and was president of the first great
convention, that at Boston, which nominated General
Grant for the Presidency. Without his request or
knowledge he was honored with the enthusiastic en-
dorsement and support of influential business men
for his appointment to high official position at Wash-
ington, including that of Secretary of the Treasury,
under the .administrations of Presidents Lincoln and
Grant, and subsequently by leading men of the West
for the position of Minister to England.
In 1855 he took one of the most significant business
steps of his life, that of assuming the treasurership of
the Pacific Mills, at Lawrence, a position that he re-
tained to the very end of his business career. He
undertook this tremendous responsibility at the earn-
est solicitation of Mr. Abbott Lawrence ; and the
firm of A. & A. Lawrence, by their support and sacri-
fices, followed the varied vicissitudes of his adminis-
tration with implicit and unwavering confidence in
its success.
Through the financial and manufacturing ability of
Mr. Edmands, this most colossal of the manufacturing
establishments of New England was resuscitated al-
most at the very point of death, and raised from a
state of almost hopeless bankruptcy to one of unpar-
alleled success and prosperity. He successfully eneiu-
eered his company through the financial crisis of
1857. With his acute insight into the demands and
requisitions of the future, he penetrated the cloud-
bank of threatened disaster and calmly put into prac-
tical operation his theory of making the Pacific Mills
one of the greatest individual manufacturing estab-
lishments of the world.
As the orgiinization of the National Association of
Wool Manufacturers, Mr. Edmands at once took an
active and conspicuous part in its afl'air.s, reluctantly
becoming its president in 1871.
At a meeting of tbis association in the city of New
York on the 7th of March, 1877, certain resolutions, of
which the following is an extract, were introduced by
Mr. Bigelow, of Boston, and were uninimously
adopted :
^'Resolved, That the XKtiooal Association of Wool Manufacturers
Bufferij, in Ilie (JispenaHlion of Providence which has removed from his
earthly hihorB its respected and heloved asaociate anil President, Hon.
J. Wiley Ednmnds,— a loss which profoundly affects its interests, and
coiues borne to its luemhera as a private calaniity.
'' lieBoIveil, That this Association recognizes the unreniittini;; devotion
of our departed ataociate diirinj* the whole period of our organizatiou,
his elficienry ad PreMideilt of onr Itody. both iti counsel and action, Ilia
wise and temperate views of political ecoDomy, his ;;reat personal influ-
ence with public men, and the weii;lit of character which Rave dignity
and power to the body over wIulIi he presided.''
In the presence of this eloiiuent testimony, his zeal
in the interests of tbis association needs no further
commentary.
At a meeting of the National Wool-Growers' and
Sbeep-Breeders' Association, held iu Columbus, Ohio,
on February 15, 1877, the following resolution was
unanimously passed :
" Itesohed, That in the death of Hon. J. Wiley EdniaDds, late Presi-
dent oftUe National Associalioa of \V(>ol ^lauufactiirers, we aciinowl-
ed(;e the loss of a most intelli^^ent, able and zealous advocate for the
advancement and protection of the woolen interests of .Vmerica."
Mr. Edmands took up his residence at Newton in
1847, and remained one of its foremost citizens for thirty
years. He at once identified himself with the chari-
table and educational interests of the town of his
adoption, offering freely of his means and generous
in support of every worthy project with what was to
him and them still more valuable — his wise counsel
and precious time. Of the Newton Free Library he
was the principal benefactor, favoring the institution
with pecuniary gifts to the amnunt of nearly 820,000,
and bestowing upon it an untold wealth of valuable
counsel and advice. When chairman of a committee
for the consideration of a petition from the West
Newton Athenaeum for a town appropriation towards
increasing its usefulness, Mr. Edmands made the sage
suggestion that the town lend its assistance to this
and similar institutions by appropriating each year a
sum equal to that secured by private subscription for
the .same objects, thereby making private apprecia-
tion a test for public liberality. Upon the establish-
ment of a humble orphan school in his village, organ-
ized with the holy purpose of guarding the helpless
orphans from the early encroachments of temptation
and vice, Mr. Edmands at once gave his enthusiastic
support to the charitable project, and became one of
the most liberal contributors toward the establish-
NEWTON.
159
ment aud maintenance of the famous " Newton
Home." One of the most tender of his charities was
in the direction of his devotion to the Eye and Ear j
Infirmary in the ciiy of Boston, of which from its
foundation he was the treasurerand business manager.
Under his generous and skillful administration, as-
sisted by the unpaidservicesof its surgeons, this insti-
tution became one of the most admirable of public
charities, relieving as many as 7000 patients in a
year.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, in 1861, Mr.
Edmands promptly declared himself for the defence
of his country's institutions and the perpetuity of the
Union. He was a constant attendant, and often
presided, at the local meetings called in Newton for
the enlistment of volunteers. With his worldly goods
he strengthened the oedii of the Board of Selectmen
in their generous promises to care for the sick and
■wounded ard to provide for the necessities of the fam-
ilies of such as might perit-h in the impending strug-
gle. In confi<leut anticipation of a vote of the town
sanctioning such expenditure, he advanced a large
sum of money at a critical moment to meet certain
necessary liabilities. Two of his sons — Joseph Gush-
ing Edmands aud Thomas Sprague Edmands — enter-
ed the army and performed honorable service in the
Union cause.
At the close of the war, when it was determined to
erect a permanent monument to the memory of those
who fell in the service of their country, Mr. Edmands
advanced a large sum for this purpose; at the same
time suggesting that a popular subscription be en-
couraged, and amounts, however small, be received
and credited, that young and old might be given an
opportunity, according to their means, to contribute
towards this praiseworthy testimonial. Contributions
of one dime each from more than 1100 pupils of
the public schools, and of one dollar each from nearly
1200 inhabitants of the town assured the success of
the undertaking and resulted in the erection of the
monument.
Mr. Edmands, besides being treasurer and director
of the Pacific Mills, was vice-president of the Provi-
dent Institution for Savings, treasurer of the Eye and
Ear Infirmary, president and trustee of the Newton
Free Library, a director of the Ogdensburgh Rail-
road, of the Suffolk Bank, of the Massachusetts Hos-
pital Life Insurance Company, and president of the
National Association of Wool Manufacturers. He
was also a director of the Arkwright Mutual Fire
Insurance Company, and for a time treasurer of the
Ogdensburgh Railroad.
Mr. Edmands died on the 31st of .lanuary, 1877, at
the age of sixty-seven years and eleven months. His
last days were spent at his beautiful country-seat at
Newton, where he had found such rest and domestic
happiness as his busy life permitted.
Thus closed the natural existence of one of the
leading characters of this period, a man possessed of
the highest qualifications in our power to achieve,
those of personal, intellectual and moral culture; who
quitted the responsibilities of this life with an un-
spotted name and highly honored reputation, an ex-
ample of devotion to business, to public trusts, and to
the most refined of private moral obligations.
Throughout his life he possessed the greatest distaste
for ostentation, and it was his often-expressed desire,
that after he had passed away, his memory might be
spared all manner of extravagant panegyric. Time
has proved his most glowing eulogy to lie in the
eloquent testimony from the mourning hearts of all
who knew him, of all who had felt his noble in-
fluences.
At a meeting of the Newton City Council shortly-
after his death. Mayor Alden Speare thus referred to
him : — " Should I say that Newton has lost the man
who stood highest in the esteem of all her citizens, I
am sure that I should but echo the sentiments of all ;
but a life and mind like that of our late honored
fellow-citizen is not confined in its influence and
benefits to any single community.
" Should I say that Boston, the metropolis of New
England, has lost one of its largest-minded and most
honored merchants ; that the largest manufacturing
establishment, not only in Massachusetts, butofthe
world, had lost its controlling mind, and our nation
had lost one whose counsels for many years have been
sought after in shaping its legislation, the influence of
which made them national, I should then come short
of the measure of the influence of the life and labors
of the Hon. J. Wiley Edmands."
GARDNER COLBY.'
Gardner Colby, son of Josiah C. and Sarah (David-
son) Colby, was born September 3, 1810, in Bowdoin-
ham, Maine. Previous to the War of 1812 his father
had been for several years a successful ship-builder,
but in that war all his property was swept away by
the capture of vessels at sea or by the depreciation of
shipping kept in port by the embargo. From the
discouragement produced by this failure iu business
he never rallied, and the support of the family thence-
forth depended on the mother. But her resolution
and capacity were great, and it has been said that
" she seems to have early impressed upon Gardner
the habits of concentration, energy, courage and
hope, which characterized herself, and which were so
conspicuous in his later life." The subject of this
sketch was the second of four children, and, owing to
the straitened circumstances of the family, was en-
gaged in the service of business firms from the age of
fourteen to twenty-one, with the exception of six
months of eager study in a boarding-school. He was,
therefore, what is commonly meant by a self-educated
man. But the action of his mind was always quick
1 By Eer. .\lnh Hovey, D.D.
160
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
and clear, and the lausuage which he used was di-
rect, concise and well-chosen.
Upon reaching hia majority, Mr. Colby rented a
store on the corner of Washington and BromSeld
Streets, Boston, making laces, gloves and hosiery a
specialty. Starting with about S200 capital, he con-
ducted his business with such skill and economy as
to make $4000 the first year and a larger sum the sec-
ond. After five years he had acquired sufficient
means to warrant his undertaking a larger enterprise.
He therefore became an importer of dry goods, on
Kilby Street, a business which he continued during a
period of ten years, when he was able to retire from it
with a handsome competency.
This was in 1847. But in 1850 he went into regu-
lar business again, purchasing cue-half of the Mav-
erick Mills, of Dedham, Mass., and thus becoming as-
sociated with his neighbor, the Hon. J. Wiley Ed-
mands, in the manufacture of woolen goods. He was
himself the selling agent of these goods in Boston,
first on Milk Street, and later on Franklin Street. In
the war a large amount of soldiers' clothing was sold
by this firm. But in 1863 Mr. Colby disposed of his
interest in the mills and once more retired from busi-
ness with increased wealth. He was now fifty-three
years of age, and might have enjoyed an honorable
and useful leisure the rest of his life.
But he was not content to do this. Fond of large
enterprises, he became interested after about six
years, iu the construction of the Wisconsin Central
Railroad. After careful examination, he took hold
of it with vigor and resolved to make it the great
work of his life. For a year everything went on pros-
perously. But in 1872 a change came. The " Ala-
bama " claims excitement in England drove all
American securities from that market ; the fire in
Chicago, the fire in Boston, the money panic iu
England and on the Continent, and the great panic in
New York in 1873, supplemented by hoatiie legis-
lation in the West, and business prostration every-
where, sadly crippled the Wisconsin Central Railroad.
All these things taxed the strength of Mr. Colby
unduly, and it is not surprising that he was not long
able to bear the pressure of anxiety and care that
came upon him. Yet he always had confidence in the
ultimate success of the road. " He bought a large
amount of bonds and stock of this compan}', and
never sold any of either. He received no compensa-
tion for the years of service and labor which he ren-
dered; and, although he at different times indorsed
the company's paper for large amounts, he never
charged anything for the use of hiri name and credit."
But if his health was broken, and his purpose to make
the road an immediate financial success was defeated,
he had the satisfaction of seeing it completed, and in
full operation before his retirement from the presi-
dency in 1876. In the autumn of that year he passed
through a long and dangerous illness, which termi-
nated his business career, though he recovered his
strength so far as to enjoy friendship and travel
during nearly three years, losing, indeed, no part of
his interest in human welfare as affected by religion
and education.
For Mr. Colby ■va.s no less remarkable for the use
which he made of his property than for his energy
in acquiring it. At the age of twenty he made a pub-
lic profession of his faith in Christ, and was always
from that time a generous supporter of Christian in-
stitutions. He began to give when he began to gain;
and in his later years he sometimes expressed a be-
lief that, if he had refused to give in early life, he
would probably have continued to do so to the end.
His beneficence was rarely misdirected. It rested
upon principle, and was applied to the support of
enterprises which commended themselves to his judg-
ment as well as to his heart. His courage and assist-
ance did much to save the Newton Theological Insti-
tution and Waterville College in dark hours; his bene-
factions were liberal to Brown University, from which
two of his sons were graduated ; and his gilts flowed
in a perennial stream to the great missionary socie-
ties of his denomination, especially to the Missionary
Union, as well as to the churches with which he was
successively connected in Boston and Newton Centre.
It has been truly said that " the most noticeable
thing about his service to the cause of Christ was the
fact that he was far broader and wiser than his early
training would lead us to expect. He had but small
school advantages in his youth ; yet he gave his money
and hia influence, and not a little hard work, to schools
of higher learning.'" More than half a million dol-
lars must have been contributed by him to the pro-
motion of learning and religion.
And when to this is added the time which he gave
to the churches, schools and missionary organizations
which he loved, it will be seen that a considerable
part of his life was consecrated to the well-being of
mankind. He was an active member of the Execu-
tive Committee of the American Baptist Missionary
Union several years, and during the last third
or more of his life was a trustee of Brown University
and of Waterville College (now Colby University, in
honor of his name). From the age of thirty-two to
the age of fifty-six — twenty-four years — he was the
wise, courageous, indefatigable and unpaid treasurer
of the Newton Theological Institution. Upon his
resignation of this office he was elected president of
the Board of Trustees, a position which he held with
eminent ability ten years. By these aud other less
conspicuous, but no less laborious and useful services,
Mr. Colby was a benefactor to thousands. His stren-
uous and useful life came to an end on the 2d day of
April, 1879.
LEMUEL CEEHORE.
Born in Dorchester, Mass., March 2, 1791 ; died in
Boston, August 18, 1868.
6f./.6:>cr^^ii^J
NEWTON.
161
The record of the early life and family history of
Mr. Crehore has, properly, no place in a history of
Middlesex County. During a century and a half pre-
ceding his birth five generations of bis ancestors re-
sided in Milton and Dorchester, adjoining towns in
Norfolk county. In the former of these he passed his
childhood and early youth. His first entrance into
the business world was as a clerk to Mr. Robbins,
who had a general store in Roxbury.
Some years later he crossed the Allegheny Aloun-
tains — making the journey on horseback in the com-
pany of Mr. E. V. Sumner, of Milton (late major-
general United States Array), and settled in Cincin-
nati, Ohio, where he remained some years.
In 1S25 he returned to New England, and there first
became a resident of Newton as a co-partner with
William Hiird, Esi|., who had been forsonietime en-
gaged in the business of paper-making at the Lower
Falls.
The firm of Hurd & Crehore dissolved by mutual
consent in 1^34 — Mr. < 'rehore purchasing a portion
of the ;>Iant from Mr. Hurd. He associated with
himself in the business .Mr. Benjamin Neai, then en-
gaged a.-^ a mill-wright in the village. The firm ol
Crehore i*c Neal ceased liy limitation in 1845. From
thi.s date the busiue.ss has been exclusively in the
hands of Mr. Crehore and his descendants. In 1S4(>
he purcliased the remainder of .Mr. Kurd's interest in
the property and the whole was then consolidated in-
to a Mingle mill.
From l.'<''>4 to If^il" .Mr. Creliore's youngest son,
< ieorge ('., was a co-partner with him. In 18t>7 the
elder -on. • 'hailes FrcdiTic. took his brother's place,
Mild since .Mr. i relioiv'.-, ilealh, in KSii8, haMitrried on
the Ijusim-ss, in wliicii latterly his son has had an in-
terest.
.Mr. (.'rt'liore was adviTso to holding oltice, ami,
with the exieptioii of one term in the State Legiala-
tuie and one or two years ;ia selectman, he rendered
no official public service.
He, however, always look an active interest in pub-
lic artairs and contributed freely of his means to aid
any movement for public or social advantage. His
ailvice was fre'iuently sought by those having respon-
sible charge in such matters.
In his private c.ipacity as a neighbor and friend
his native kindliness of disposition won for him gen-
eral regard. None hesitated to go to him in their
trouble, none were ever repiilseil. Of the strictest
moral integrity, his reputation as a citizen, a business
man and a iieighbur was unblemished.
He married, August I, 1S27, Mrs. Mary Ann Dodge,
widow, daughter of Thomas and Lydia (Farmer)
Clark, of Burslem, Staffordshire, England, where she
was born March 12, 1795. She survived her husband j
andiliedat the homestead, then occupied by her elder I
son, .lanuary 1, 187-">. During a large portion of their
married life they resided in Newton, but a few years
previous to Mr. Crehore's death they removed to Bos-
ton, where he died August 18, 1868. Of their two
children, the younger, George Clarendon, born Au-
gust 24, 1832, lived the greater portion of his life in
Newton, being connected with his father in the paper
business from 1854-67. He married, November, 1855,
Lucy Catherine, daughter of Otis and Mary Ann
(Grout) Daniell, of Boston. Five children were born
to them, all of whom, with the mother, are now living,
resident in Boston. In 1867 the family removed to
Boston, where Mr. Crehore died December 23, 1870.
The elder son, Charles Frederic Crehore, born June
18, 1828, after being engaged in the practice of medi-
cine in Boston and serving as military surgeon during
the Civil War, returned to Newton in 1867 and went
into business with his father, as above stated. He
married, September 29, 1857, Mary Wyer, daughter of
Henry and Elizabeth Farris (Tracy) Loriog, of Boston.
The only public office held by him to date is that of
member of the Newton Water Board from 1885-88
inclusive. He has two children, a son and daughter,
both residents of Newton.
The former, Frederic Morton Crehore, born July
16, 1858, as already stated, is a co-partner in the
paper manufactory of C. F. Crehore & Son. At the
date of writing (18t)0) he is a member of the Common
Council of the city of Newtou.
EllWARI) .(ACK.SON f.OLMX.'i.'
The ("Collins family are of English origin and de-
scent; the progenitors of this particular branch set-
tling in .Marblehead, Mass., where Matthias Collins,
Sr., held the office of high sherifl".
Matthias Collins (2d) married the daughter of
Ebenezer Davis, of Brookline, and moved to New-
ton ill 1778, where he purchased one hundred acres
of land of .losepli Craft, on the Sherburne Road,
adjoining John Woodward. Here he settled and
lived until his death, in 1785. He left an only son
and heir, Matthias Collins (3d), and a widow, who
survived him thirty-four years, having reached the
ri[ie old age of eighty-five.
Matthias Collins (3d) married Hannah, daughter
of Edward Jackson, in 1708.
Tlie family of Hannah Jack.«ou were identified with
Newton from its earliest history. Her father, Edward,
was the son of Col. Ephraira Jackson, a lieutenant
in the old French Warduiing 1755 and 17.56. Twenty
years later he w!is one of the Newton alarm list, and
when Paul Revere called
" For the countrj' folk to l»e up and to urm,"
Lieut. Jackson joined the Revolutionary Army and
was promoted to lieutenant-colonel under Marshall.
He participated in the several battles that preceded
the capture of Burgoyne, and died in camp at Valley
Forge.
' Oy Ertnard h. Collina.
162
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Col. Jackson was the grandson of Sebas Jackson,
who, as tradition has it, was born on the passage from
England to this country; and great-grandson of
Edward Jackson, Sr., a very conspicuous figure in the
early colonial history of this county, a companion
of John Eliot and one of the pioneer settlers of New-
ton.
Matthias (3d) increased his inheritance in many
ways. In his native town he held positions of trust
and honor. He was assessor, selectman, town trea-
surer and representative to the General Court.
Te Matthias and his wife there were born eight
children — Mira, Davis, Amasa, Charles, Abigail,
Edward J. (the subject of this sketch), Ann M., and
Frederick A.
Mira married Rufus Mills, of Needham. Davis
moved to Brandon, Vt., and married the daughter of
Deacon Palmeter. Amasa joined his brother and like-
wise married a Brandon lady, the daughter of Deacon
Blackmer. For many years the firm of "D. & A.
Collins " was engaged in the moat extensive, lucrative
and well-known grocery and wool business in that sec-
tion of the countr}'. Charles, the fourth child, died at
the age of twenty-one. Abigail married John Mills,
of Needham. Ann M. married Amos Lyon, of New
York. Frederick A., the youngest of the children,
and the only survivor of the entire family, has, like
his brother Edward, made Newton his life-long home.
After completing his education at Deacon Wood-
ward's private school, Frederick spent one winter with
his brothers in Vermont. Returning to Newton the
next spring, he began the manufacture of glue, which
he successfully continued for a number of years.
In 1S47 he married Amelia M., the daughter of
George Revere, of Boston, a lineal descendant of him
who stood
" Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every ^liddlesex village and farm.'*
Previous to 1861, Frederick served a number of years
on the Board of Assessors, an ofl5ce he resigned to
fill the position of selectman, a service he rendered
acceptably to the town during the entire war.
After the battle of Gettysburg, together with Thomas
Rice, Jr., Frederick was commissioned to visit that
bloody battle-field and search out and bring home
Newton's dead.
The sad errand was fulfilled, and the bodies of
Hawkes and Cutter were returned to their native town
and sorrowing friends.
Public services were held over the remains and the
day was one of mourning throughout the town.
Frederick was a member of the first board of alder-
men after Newton became a city, and since his retire-
ment from business has resided on the old estate.
Edward Jackson Collins, the third youngest child
of Hannah and Matthias, was born in Newton, on the
old homestead, April 24, 1811.
Like other country boys of that date, hb time was
divided between the farm and the district school. In
the matter of education, however, he enjoyed several
terms under the late venerable Seth Davis, whose
wise precepts and sound principles laid the corner-
stone of that vast practical knowledge developed by
Mr. Collins in later years.
At the age of twenty-one, together with his friend,
Mat. Mills, of Needham, Edward started on a jour-
ney through the neighboring States, but spent most
of his time in Maine, with a view of entering the
glue business. Returning home, he put into active
operation his long-cherished idea. He purcha.sed five
acres of land from his father, erected suitable build-
ings, and began in earnest, but in a small way, an in-
dustry which proved very profitable. At this time
there were but few glue-makers in the country. Fish
and hone glues were unknown ; and where to-day
there are a hundred extensive manufacturers, there
was then but one— Peter Cooper, of New York.
From a small beginning Mr. Collins constantly in-
creased his business until about 1870, when his public
offices made so many demands on his time that he dis-
1 continued.
I At the age of thirty-eight Mr. Collins was elected
' to his first important political office, of town assessor.
j This position he tilled until ix.nt;, when he declined to
I serve, altliouah elected for that year. In 1S51 he was
I also chosen one of the selectmen and served until
! 1855, the last year as chairman of that body.
At a meeting of the Newton National Bank, held
I October 17, ISoO. Mr. Collin.-* was elected a director
I of that institution, only two years after its founda-
I tion. ?iome of his early associates on the Board of
i Directors were William Jackson, John H. Richard-
son, Joseph N. Bacon, Levi Thaxter, Otis Pettee, Al-
len r. Curtis, Edward Walcott, Marshall S. Rice, H.
B. Williams :ind P. E. Kingman.
As treasurer of the Newton Savings Bank, he suc-
ceeded Deacon Paul, when the project was only in
its infancy. The duties of both these offices Mr.
Collins continued to discharge until his death.
On the 3d of August, 1854, 5Ir. Collins was married,
at Bradford, Mass., to the beautiful daughter of Capt.
Nathan S. Lunt, of Newburi-port. Although Miss
Lunt had only just graduated from Bradford Acad-
emy, and was still quite young, notwithstanding the
fact taat Mr. Collins was a number of years her sen-
ior, she shrank from no responsibility, but became the
trusted adviser and able coadjutor of her husband. In
after years Mr. Collins' successes, political and finan-
cial, can be traced to the noble, guiding, sustaining
influence of his wife. Coming to Newton early in life,
her associations were centred here, and her friends
were Newton people. She was imbued with a loyal
devotion to Newton and its welfare, which character-
ized her to the last.
Eight years after their marriage a son and only
child was born.
In 1855 Mr. Collins was elected town treasurer, and
five years later the duties and responsibilities of col-
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NEWTON.
163
lector of taxes were added. Both of these offices he
held continuously until his death, and wa.s best
known, perhaps, in that capacity.
In 18oS and the year following, Mr. Collins was
elected to the General Court, and was present when
John A. Andrew made his famous reply to Gushing.
During the war Mr. Collins' devoted attachment
to his native town displayed itself more conspicu-
ously than at any other time ; for when so much
money was needed for the credit of cities and towns,
he came forward to aid Newton, and with his own
personal endorsement on the notes of the town estab-
lished its credit, so that money could be raised with-
out trouble or delay, and consequently her quota was
always ready.
He also went through the lines to Fortress Monroe,
in order that those men who enlisted from Newton in
the navy niiglit be properly accredited to her quota.
After the war ilr. Collins was chosen one of the
county cocimissiouers. a position he hlled with
marlied ability for twelve years. At the expiration
of that time, the duties of treasurer and collector of
taxes had so multiplied and become so complex, that
his whole lime was taken up in the administration of
these offices. With watchful and jealous care he guard-
ed the (inanciiil interests of Newton until the last. He
died in office, at bis beautiful Newton home, .fuly 2."),
l.*7!i.
After Mr. ( '.■llins death, the settlement and man-
aging iif a liirgf '-itiite I'ell upon his wife. Thai ability
and /.eal that liaii -o olti'u aided licr liu.tband, became
tier diMtinu:ui>liiii;;- pi'iniliarity. In the handling of
tbe e.state :iii<i tlu- tducatiipii nt' her .•ion she displayed
:i I'usincs.- aliility .mil foresight possessed by few
women. Her 'inio :imi1 money were given freely to
liirwaid ;iny pulilic iiiiiTpri>e. She was one of the
oiiiriiial trustees of the Newton Cottage Hospital, a
work in uliiih <1r' t'H'k die ileepest interest. The
iintbitunate about lier were n<jt forgnlten, and with
open purse or witli word of Lonnsel or encouragement,
-he assisted many, and many who came lo her with
their trouble. ."^Iie died at her Newton residence,
.Tanuary Jli, l8!Hi— fifty lour years of age. The entire
I'.stale was inherileil by her son, Kdward I^.
Kdward .lacksoii l 'ollins was a man of large stature
and a broad iiiiml. .\bove tbe petty carpings of the
world, be ileall wiili great questiofis or trivial matters
in the >ame broad way.
Vithoiiirli Moi a moniber, he was a regular attend-
ant at Dr. I>aniel L. Fiirbur'a Church, Newton
Centre, where for years the Collins family had wor-
shipped, and between the two there existed an
unostentatious but strong attachment.
Personally, Mr. Collins wa.s rather stern and austere,
but back of it all there was the warmest of hearts.
He was a loving husband, a devoted father. How
many were his acts of kindness to others will only be
known to the hundreds the " old Squire " befriended.
With him ihe sense of duty was uppermost. The
question was, " la it right? " and so strong was his will
that, when once determined, nothing could shake him
from his purpose.
For twenty-five years and more Mr. Collins held
continually important positions of honor, trust and
responsibility, and in them all showed himself effi-
cient, wise and faithful. His integrity was never
questioned — his word never doubted. Whatever po-
sition he held, he seemed to inspire the perfect con-
fidence of all. There seemed to be a combination of
qualities in the man's character that commanded pro-
found admiration and respect, — a man of strict in-
tegrity, a man of great capacity. The personal in-
terest he took in the men who went from Newton to
the front from 18fil to 1865, and in their families, is
the key-note of a quality that won him hosts of
' friends.
i His temperament was kind, his manners courteous,
and his ability and probity were characteristics so
! marked as to place him above the plane of question
1 or criticism.
j Mr. Collins, as we have seen, was a representative
of the good old stock which has made Newton noted
for the honesty, enterprise, morality and sobriety of
its people. He possessed little of that brilliancy that
I exhausts itself iu a few fitful flashes, but his light was
I a steady flatne that proceeds from the warmth of de-
votion to duty. His principles were surely founded,
and the adverse storms of fate might beat upon it at
will — the rock grew more rounded^ but its base was
never shaken.
HON. wrr.LiAM CI.AFI.rN".'
William, son of Hon. I.ee ClaHin and Sarah
(Adams) Claflin, was born in .Milford, Mass., March
i\, 1818, in an old-fashioned story-and-a-half house
situated about two miles north of the centre of the
town. In brief outline the record of his early years is
that of the tj-pical New England bred boy. His child-
hood was passed amid rural scenes where pure brac-
ing air and plain nourishing food supplemented the
affectionate parental influences of this country home.
About a mile from his home was located the district
school where he received his first instructions and
where he remained for five or six years, making such
good progress in that time as to be admitted to the
Milford Academy, where he was prepared for college,
and in 1833 entered Brown University. During his
freshman year he sustained a great loss in the death
of his mother, a very estimable woman who was very
anxious that her son should receive a liberal education,
and who through his early school-days secured such
books as would be helpful to him in the prosecution
of his studies.
Being of slight frame and lacking the raggedness of
physique so necessary to withstand close application
to study, his health failed and he left college to enter
1 CoDtributed.
164
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
the boot, shoe and leather manufactory of his father
in Milford, Mass., where he remained for three years,
when, on the advice of the family physician, he
sought by change of scene and travel to regain hi.s
health, in which he was successful. Mr. Claflin as-
sociated with him Messrs. Howe and Allen at St.
Louis in 1841, in the wholesale boot, shoe and leather
business, which concern continued up to 1884. Leaving
St. Louis as a place of residence, he came East, and in
1847 established himself in Hopkinton, Mass.,' where
he lived until 1855, when he removed to his present
lovely home in Newtonville, with its beautiful and ex-
tensive grounds and its historic associations.
For more than a quarter of a century Mr. Claflin
has been the senior partner of the Boston firm of
William Claflin, Coburn & Co., doing a large and
successful business. The members of this firm besides,
Mr. Claflin, are N. P. Coburn, of Newton ; James A.
Woolson, of Cambridge, and William F. Gregory and
Dliver B. Root, of Framingham.
Mr. Claflin h:is always taken a great interest in ed-
ucational matters, and has contributed liberally to-
wards the maintenance of the public schools as well
as of the higher institutions of learning. From the
organization of Wellesley College he has been a
member of its Board of Trustees, and has interested
himself in many ways for its advancement. Upon
the completion of the organization of the Boston
University, ^It. Claflin was chosen a member of its
Board of Trustees, and for several years has been
the president of the Board. While not seeking pub-
lic oflici', Mr. ChiHiii has held many positions of trust
and honor and has shown himself to be possessed of
administrative ability of a high order. In 1848 he
was chosen to represent the town of Hopkinton in
the Legislature, and as a Free-Soiler took an import-
ant part in ihe conduct of aflairs and was re-elected
successively in 184'J, 1850 and 1851, and during these
years was appointed on many of the more important
committees of the House. He was elected to the
ytate Senate in 1859, and in 1861 was chosen presi-
dent of that body. In 1860 he was chosen a delegate
to the Chicago Convention, assisting in the nomina-
tion of Abraham Lincoln for the Presidency of the
United States. He was again chosen a delegate to
the National Convention in 1864, 1S68 and 1872.
In 1868 he was made chairman of the National Com-
mittee, and look an active part in the flrst campaign
for the election of General Grant to the Presidency.
In 186G, '67 and '68 he was Lieutenant-Governor of
Massachusetts. In 1869 he was elected to the highest
ofiice in the gift of the people of the Commonwealth,
and as Governor of the State hia administration was
marked by a dignified and sagacious discharge of the
duties incident to this high office. In 1869 Governor
Claflin received ihe honorary degree of Doctor of
Laws from Harvard University, having also some
time previously received the same degree from Wes-
leyan University.
Governor Claflin early took advanced ground on
the temperance question, and also was widely known
as an anti-slavery man all through that period of agi-
tation when loyal adhesion to, and earnest work for,
the emancipation of the black man was likely to
make him unpopular; nevertheless he was always
true to his convictions, and saw the fruition of his
hopes in the enactment of the Emancipation Act
by Congress. In 1876 Governor Claflin was elected
Representative to Congress, and re-elected in 1878,
at the close of which public service he retired to pri-
vate life, universally respected, and is now giving his
attention to his extensive business interests, as well
as meeting the many social demands naturally inci-
dent upon such prominence.
Governor Claflin has for many years been connect-
ed with various financial institutions. He has been
a director of the National Hide and Leather Bank
since its organization, and for several years its presi-
dent. He has been a director of the New England
Trust Company; also director in the International
Trust Company, the Roston Five Cent Savings Bank
and other financial institutions.
Governor Claflin is an influential and consistent
member of the IMethodist Church, a genial gentle-
man, easily approached by any one, and ever ready
to extend a helping hand to his fellow-man.
HON. THO.VAS RICE.
We may contemplate with great advantage the
personal history (if those men who, by their talents,
their high standard of honor and their unwearied
industry, have contributed to the material pros-
perity of our country in their own time and have
demonstrated to those who came after them
that the true path to success lies in an uudeviating
adherence to the purest and noblest principles of
action. Among the many distinguished sons of New
England whose record is that of a self-educated and
self-made man, who rose to distinction by the practice
of those virtues which in all time must secure the
respect and confidence of all good citizens, was the
subject of this biographical notice.
He was the third son of Thomas and Lydia (Smith)
Rice, and was born in that part of Needham which is
now known as Wellesley Hills, December 20, 1810.
When two months old his father (who was a paper-
raaker) moved his family to Newton Lower Falls and
established them in what has since come to be known
as the " Rice Homestead." Here Thomas, Jr., passed
his childhood days, and in due time attended the
district school, where, for the most part, his school
education was acquired. At the age of twelve years
he left the public schools and attended, for some
time, a private school in West Newton, kept by
" Ma.ster Joseph Jackson."
After leaving this school he went to work in his
father's paper-mill, where he mastered the art of
0'
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NEWTON.
165
paper-making, and where, from 1834 up to the time of |
his death, he was engaged in the paper business and ]
became widely and favorably known as an eminent
paper manufacturer, having large dealings with !
numerous customers, executiug large contracts, ex- |
tending over long periods, in a business-like and satis- ]
factory manner for more than forty years. The Boston
Daily Transcript was printed on paper made in the
establishment of Mr. Rice, and for nearly the whole
of this period he waa the directing and controlling
head. While organizing and carrying on this great |
business enterprise he found time to answer to the i
call of the citizens of the town for him to take part |
in public affairs, and he brought to this work rare j
skill and good judgment. For eighteen years he
was a member of the Board of Selectmen, having
been first elected in 1830. Here he labored diligently
and faithfully for the best interests of the town and
was for ten years chairman of the board. In 1867 he
was elected a. member of the General Court, serving
in the House for three years and in the Senate for
two years (1863 and 1864). In 18t)J-<56 he was
chosen a member of the Goveruor's Council.
During the Civil War he was especially active in
filling the quotas of the town, often working day and
night to accomplish this important work. He was
found almost everywhere in the discharge of these
duties, — now at home arranging to fill up the de-
pleted ranks of the soldiers, now repeatedly at the
front, looking after the necessities of the soldiers,
ministering to their needs, comforting them in
hardship and defeat, looking after the dead and
tenderly conveying their remains to their frieods
at home, giving the sorrowing families tender sym-
pathy and material aid. He was indeed a true patriot
and a lover of his country. His younger brother was
Hon. Alexander H. Rice, who was Governor of the
Commonwealth in 187i)-78. Thomas was thrice mar-
ried,— tirst, to Violet Hibbard in 1833 ; second, to
Jerusha (a sister of his first wife), in 1842 ; the third,
to Rebecca R., a niece of Hon. .Joseph Breck, of
Brighton, September 24, 184-3. She still survives him,
and her children are Edward Thomas, born October
9, 1847, and Frederick William, born January 30,
1850, who died February 17, 188o. The children by
the first wife were Jane Isabella and Edward Everett,
by the second, Mary L. W. Mr. Rice died January
11, 1873, amd was buried in the village cemetery at
Newton Lo^er Falls. Various associations and
public bodies attended his funeral and passed resolu-
tions testifying to his worth and their sorrow. In one
of the newspapers of Newton there appeared shortly
after his death the following notice, which attests his
worth in the public estimation:
" There were some traitt) of character in Mr. Rice which w ere aulfi-
cieDtly remarkable tojiucify calling special attention to ihenj.
" Xo other man of hia years, perhaps, hae ever been honored by the
town, by important olfices during so many yeatd.
" tie had been Chairman of the Board of Selectmen for many con-
secutiTe yeara ; and eo well did he till hia otiice that it ie doubtful
whether, even in Newtun, where there are Bo many able men, bis place
can be made good.
" It has sometimes been said that he waa fond of office ; but it waa
evident it was not altogether for the sake of office. He had
great pride in having the busineae of the town done in the best possible
manner, and was always ready to give time and ^itreugtli to secure
this. Nothing was neglected in any department with wliich he h.td to
do. Whether it waa an office of greater or lesser honor, all its drudgery,
even, was done with a fidelity worthy of the noblest cause.
" Uis familiarity with the business of the town whs such, that when-
I'Ver.any man sat down to convense witli him, he would feel at once that
he waa talking with one who knew his business thoroughly. This waa
• iften npparent when some one wonld come before the Selectmen who
felt that he had been wronged. The patient, clear and uniiiipassioned
way in whicii he would present the case, would almost invariably con-
vince the agi^rieved that he not only had not been wronged, but in many
instances, that be had got even more than he deserved.
" Let the young men who may follow bim remember that this is the
road to success and honor that is fadeless. — Editob."
GEORGE HYDE.
George Hyde is one of the solid men of Newton.
His ancestor, Samuel Hyde, who came from England
in 1639, was the second settler of Newton. This Sam-
uel Hyde bought 250 acres of land in Newton in
1652 for £50, and the subject of our sketch, in the
seventh generation, still occupies a portion of the an-
cestral estate.
His father, Samuel Hyde, married Lucy Hall, she,
as well aa her husband, being born in Newton. They
had six children — Samuel, Fanny, Pr.rtheuia P., Ed-
ward, Mary K. and George, who was born April, 1810,
and has consequently passed his eightieth year. He
married Rebecca D. Child, in 1839. She was born in
Newton, January 18, 1812, and is still living. They
have three children — Fannie A., Charlotte VV. and
Samuel. Mr. Samuel Hyde, the father of George,
was a farmer and nurseryman, being among the first
to engage in the latter business. When advancing
age suggested relaxation from the more active duties
of business, the two sods, Samuel and George, took
the farm and nursery, and carried on a successful
business for many years. The survivor, George Hyde,
continued it several years after the death of his elder
brother Samuel.
Land in that part of the town had been increasing
in value year by year, so that at his decease Samuel,
father of George, lefta valuable property to be divided
among his children, and George moved into the house
formerly occupied by his father, beside which stands
one of the largest elms to be found in Middlesex
County. He enjoyed the successful business iu which
he waa engaged, and, during the many years that he
followed it, contributed much to make his native
town, as well as many other places, more beautiful
l)y the trees, shrubs and plants that were sent out
from his reliable establishment.
He never sought otfice, but his townsmen, knowing
his character for uprightness and honesty, sought
him, and he served for several years as selectman and
assessor, and that too at a time when it was more of
an honor to occupy such official positions than it
seems to be at the present day. He was one of the
166
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
original projectors of what is now the Newton National
Bank, first organized as a State Bank, and has been a
director in the same almost from the start to the pres-
ent time, and his services have contributed very much
to its success. In 1858 he was elected president of
Newton Savings Bank, of which he had been a trus-
tee for several years previously.
Under his administration, assisted by faithful asso-
ciates, this bank has prospered far beyond the expec-
tations of its original corporators, and has on deposit
at the present time nearly $2,000,000.
Though advanced in years, he gives daily attention
to this institution, which has become his pet and pride.
Always careful and conservative, and yet not narrow-
minded, the public have come to have great confidence
in him, and he is universally respected by all who
know him. He has not l)een a great traveler, but has
preferred the quiet of a happy home and the constant
and faithful care of his own business, as well as all
matters entrusted to him. He is one of the old school
of gentlemen, of which so few remain. Nearing the
end, he may with pardonable pride look back upon a
well-rounded life, feeling that he has served his gen-
eration faithfully and well. He will be greatly
missed and sincerely mourned when the time of his
departure shall come.
HON. JAMES F. (,'. HYDE.'
James F. C. Hyde was born in Newton July 26,
1825. His ancestor was Jonathan Hyde, who came
from England and settled in what is now Newton in
1647, being the fourth settler, while his brother
Samuel was the second. They purchased 2-10 acres of
land, which they owned iu common till 1661. Jona-
than, by subsequent additional purchases, became the
owner of several hundred acres. He lived on what
is now Homer Street, about sixty rods north of the
old First Church. He had two wives and "twenty-
three children, all of whom, with one exception, bore
Scripture names."
He gave a large part of the present Common at
Newton Centre for a training-field. He died at the i
age of eighty-five years. His son John married and
had six children, and died aged eighty-two.
Timothy, the son of John, married and had several
children, among whom was Elisha. Elisha's oldest
child was Thaddeus, who married Elizabeth Grimes.
Thaddeus died aged seventy, and Elizabeth lived to
be ninety-eight. They had four children, the oldest
being James, the father of Jamea F. C. Hyde, who,
therefore, is of the seventh generation from the fourth
settler of Newton.
James Hyde, the father, married Clarice Clarke,
daughter of Norman Clarke (1818), and they had nine
children. She died at the age of sixty-seven, and he
lived to be eighty-nine years old.
> CkiDtributed.
John Clarke, the ancestor of Clarice Clarke, was in
Newton as early as 1681, removing from Watertown.
Norman Clarke, the father of Clarice, and grand-
father of James F. C, was selectman for three years,
and held other offices, and was a large land-owner,
leaving to his heirs about 400 .icres that had been in
the family from before 1700. The subject of thi.i
sketch lives on a part of this l.ind, and only across
the street from where he was born. He may well he
classed as a native of Newton. He de.scended from
good stock on both sides, his ancestors being promi-
nent men in their day.
In 1854 Mr. Hyde married Sophia Stone, daughter
of Jonathan Stone, who descended from one of the
early settlers of Newton. She died in 1860, leaving
two children, — Clarice S. Hyde, who married James
M. Estes, and died leaving one child (Frederick .1.
Estes), and Elliott J. Hyde, who lives near his father
and is in business with him.
In 1861 Mr. Hyde married Emily Ward, wlio was
a descendant, in the seventh generatioii. of .Toiiii
Ward, who settled in Newton (then New Cambridge)
iu the year 1650. She was a icraduate of the Normal
School in West Newton, and wa.-- a teachei tor several
years in Manchester, N. H., and Boston. Four chil-
dren have been born to them, t«o nf whom survive,
Mary E. and Frank C, who are now living at home.
Mr. Hyde's father was a farmer and a nurseryman,
being among the first in the State to engage in the lat-
ter business. He brought up his children on the farm,
and when his son, James F. C, was seventeen years
of age, took him in as a partner in the business. This
son did not intend to be a farmer or nurseryman, but
to study law, if he could see his way clear to get an
education, for up to this time he h.id attended only
the district school, with the exception of one year
at the academy of the late Marshall S. Rice; but one
day, as he was about to leave home, his father said to
him : " Francis, your mother and I think it is your
duty to stay at home and take care of us.' Without
a minute's hesitation he decided to do so, saying :
■'All I am I owe to you, and I cannot do too much
for you." It was a great satisfaction to him to be able
to care for them as long as they lived, though it
changed all the plans of his life. Starting in business
for himself at an early age, with limited means, and
perhaps still more limited education, he worked days
and studied nights, often working fourteen hours out
of the twenty-four, and studying three or four, jriving
himself but few hours for sleep. This he followed for
many years, and was able to acquire a large amount
of general information.
When asked by a friend how he had been able to
obtain such an amount of general knowledge, he re-
plied, " By keeping my eyes and ears open to see and
hear, and often opening my mouth to ask questions."
He has in later years been often introduced to aud-
iences as the " walking encyclopaedia."
At the early age of fifteen, in 1840, he took a very
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NEWTON.
167
active interest in politics, and from that time on at-
tended caucuses and political meetings, and was gen-
erally at the polls distributing ballots, even before be
was a voter.
His father was a Whig and he quite naturally fol-
lowed his example. Subsequently, when the old party
was dissolved, he became a member of the great Re-
publican party.
Smith,inhi3"History of Newton, "says, in speaking
of Mr. Hyde : " His energy of character and adminis-
trative taleat brought him early to the notice of the
public." At the age of twenty-nine he was elected
moderator of the town-meeting, and for nineteen suc-
cessive years he was elected to the same position with
only four exceptions, and those when he could not
serve.
He was elected selectman also at the age of twenty-
nine — one of the youngest ever called to that ofBce —
and remained on the board for sixteen consecutive
years. During the War of the Rebellion he was very
active in recruiting to till the large quota of Newton,
and all the State aid for many years was disbursed by
him. He knew the larger part of the men who went
from Newton, and their families. He visited them at
the front to look after their comfort. At thirty-one
years of age he was elected representative to the Mas-
sachusetts General Court and subsequently re-elected.
He was for some years a member of the School Com-
mittee, had charge of a large portion of the highways
and constructed new roads for the town while select-
man.
He has been balloted for by the town and city of
Newton for various positions more than fifty times,
and never was defeated when a candidate.
He served two terms, of three years each, on the
State Board of Agriculture, being appointed by the
Governor as one of the " delegates-at-large," the
other general delegates being Prof. Agassiz and Col.
M. P. Wilder.
For four years he was president of the Massachu-
setts Horticultural Society, and for several years, at
two different times, president ot the Newton Horti-
cultural Society, which held its first meeting at his
house, and which he was active in organizing.
He has been a director in two national banks and
is now a director in the John Hancock Life Insur-
ance Company and one of the Building Committee
appointed to erect their large building on Devonshire
Street, Boston.
For many years he has been a director in the
Quincy Mutual Fire Insurance Company, trustee
and one of the Investment Committee of Newton
Savings Bank, whose deposits have increased since
he became associated with it, from twenty-seven
thousand to nearly two million dollars.
He was chiefly instrumental in organizing a Con-
gregational Church at Newton Highlands in 1872,
which began with twenty-nine members and has now
nearly two hundred.
In six weeks he procured pledges — including his
own subscription — of over thirteen thousand dollars
with which to erect a church, and was chairman of
the committee to build the same. Since the start he
has been deacon in the church and for many years
was on the Parish Committee looking after the
finances.
He has a large class of men in the Sabbath-school,
and has scarcely ever been absent from his place.
For many years he has been agricultural editor
of The Congregationalist, and has written a great deal
for other papers.
He is the oldest member of the Board of Trustees
of the Newton Cemetery Corporation, a position he
has ably filled for n;any years. He has also been on
the Finance Committee for several years.
He was the foremost in making Newton a city, and
received all but thirteen of the votes cast for the first
mayor and was re-elected by almost as unanimous a
vote. He declined to serve longer, though strongly
pressed to do so.
Smith, in his " History of Newton " says : " As the
first mayor of the city of Newton, he (Mr. Hyde) ad-
ministered the important trust with wisdom and pru-
dence, counseling economy, integrity and faithful-
ness, and illustrating these qualities in his official
conduct."
When twenty-six years of age he was appointed
auctioneer by the selectmen unsolicited, and accepted
the appointment, and has continued that business
until the present time. About the same time he was
appointed justice of the peace, and later served as
trial justice for six years. He also received, unso-
licited, several appointments as insurance agent,
and is now actively engaged as such for sixteen Jifi'er-
ent companies.
Frequently he was called upon to settle estates,
appraise property, act as commissioner to divide real
estate, to testify as expert and in many similar matters,
until it became necessary to decide whether he would
continue his farming and nursery business, or practi-
cally give it up, and devote himself to other affairs.
He choie the latter, and since, for many years, has
carried on a large business in real estate at private
sale and at auction, as well as placing insurance and
mortgages, conveyancing and attending to all matters
connected with the sale and management of real
estate.
In all these years he has kept up an active interest
in agriculture, horticulture and floriculture. It is
said that on the old homestead where he was born
he cultivates about a thousand named plants and
trees.
He has devoted special attention to native plants,
and spends much of his vacation time in tramping
over the country with trowel and basket in hand.
He probably has a larger collection of wild flowers
than can be found outside of a botanical garden. It
is said that everything grows for him. His excellent
168
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
taste for arranging flowers has been shown in the
beautiful bouquets which he has generously furnished
for many years for the church which he attends.
He was president of the Congregational Club of
Boston one year, — as long as the constitution allows
any person to fill that oflice.
He suggested, through the press, the formation of
a similar club for the seven Congregational Churches
of Newton, and took steps to organize the same, and
was its first president.
When the town commemorated the centennial of
an important event in its history, Mr. Hyde was
selected to prepare and deliver the address, and
again, at the two hundredth anniversary of the incor-
poration of the town, he was appointed to render a
similar service. Probably no one is more conversant
with the history of Newton, or has a more ardent
love for his native town than Mr. Hyde.
In his inaugural address the second year that he
was mayor, he advised making the Newton Library,
which had been established and .supported by private
subscription up to that time, a free city library, which
recommendation waa adopted, and the following year
carried into effect.
He saw the nece.ssity of increased railroad accom-
modations— though there were already two railroads
running through the city, one on the north side and
one on the south — and realized the importance of
connecting the two, thus securing a circuit road unit-
ing the many villages of Newtou by iron bands. Al-
most alone, he labored for five years with no expec-
tation of conpensation, to accomplish this desirable
object, and though no one but himself believed he
would succeed, and he was often ridiculed for his
folly in attempting such a thing, he accomplished his
object, and the Circuit Railroad was opened for travel
in 1880, thus giving Newton three uewstations, mak-
ing twelve in all.
It was remarked by one of Newton's distinguished
men, that " no three things that could be done for
Newton would be of so great benefit as the Circuit Rail-
road."
Though a very busy man, as this sketch implies, he
has found time to give many public addre.sses in dif-
ferent parts of the State on a variety of subjects, but
especially on those relating to the cultivation of the
soil and kindred matters.
He has been diligent in business since hia earliest
manhood ; but it has never been his chief aim in life
to " get rich," in the modern acceptation of that term,
but be has been content with acquiring a moderate
competence. He takes delight in hard work and
plenty of business, his chief recreation being found
in his garden, where he seeks to spend a little time
daily during the open season.
No man seems to enjoy nature more than he, and he
does what he can to lead others to follow his excel-
lent example.
He has had remarkable health, not having been
confined to his bed one day by sickness since be can
remember, and he has a remarkable memory.
It often surprises his friend.s, as well as strangers,
to hear him give the scientific name of almost every
plant that grows in this part of the country. Though
sixty-five years old, he is as diligent us ever before in
his life, carrying on his mind a great amnunlofthe
details of business.
Mr. Hyde is a very decided man, always having an
opinion of his own, and generally earnest to have
others see things as he sees them.
He frequently says, with some degree of pride, that
he never uses tobacco in any form or spirituous or in-
toxicating liquors, never goes to the theatre or drives
fast horses or indulges in any other of the modern
vices or follies. He has no time for such things.
It might be well for young men to keep such an
example in view. He is prompt and exait in keep-
ing his word, and is always very much di.-turbed if
others do not.
Mr. Hyde enjoys the respect of bis fellnw-lfiwns-
men to a remarkable degree. He is a self-made man,
if there ever was line. Starting without money, edu-
cation or influential friends, liy brtrd work and force
of character he hn.s placed himself among the most
influential citizens of his native li'.y. Such an ex-
ample is surely worthy of Imitation. The world i^
certainly better for such a life, and may it be con-
tinued :ls long as it can be useful.
NATHAMKL lUfLUF .\I.I.KX.
Nathaniel Toplitf Allen, son of Ellis and Lucy
(Lane) Allen, was born in Medfield, Norfolk County,
-Massachusetts, .September ill, 1823. His native
homestead farm, purchased from the Indians, ba.s
been owned and tilled by seven generations of Aliens,
noted for longevity, sterling common sense and nig-
ged worth ; and there, during bis minority, the sub-
ject of this sketch, followed the pursuits of his ances-
tors, and laid the foundation of a remarkably vigorous
constitution. Portions of three years of his minority
were spent in a Waltham cotton-mill, where was
acquired a knowledge of textile manufacture ; he
received agood common-school education in the public
schools, in a family school of Rev. Joseph Allen, at
Northboro', and at Northfield Academy. After three
successful seasons in charge of schools, and having
chosen to become a teacher, he continued his pro-
fessional studies in the Bridgewater Normal School,
under Nicholas Tillinghast, and in the Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute, at Troy, N. Y. After teach-
ing in the common district and singing-schools at
Mansfield, Northboro', Northfield and Shrewsbury,
Mass., until the spring of 1848, he was appointed by
Horace Mann, of the State Board of Education, to
the charge of the model department of the Normal
School at West Newton. This position he tilled with
marked ability for nearly six years, when, in connec-
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NEWTON.
169
tion with Cyrus Pierce, father of American normal
schools, he established the institution of which asso-
ciated with his brother James T. Allen, he is the
principal, — " The West Newton English and Classi-
cal School." Mr. Allen has been one of the most
progressive and successful educators of the last half-
century, always advocating the liberal and thorough
co-education of the sexes, and ready to introduce into
his own school whatever proved to be sound in theory
and useful in practice. This school, with its indus-
trial department, at the homestead in Medfield, which
is under the care of his brother, Joseph A. Allen,
draws students from a wide region, — ^the last enroll-
ment, 1890, showing boys and girls from seventeen
of the United States, from Canada, Cuba, Montevi-
deo (South America), Sweden, Spain and Italy. The
remarkable success attending Mr. Allen's career has
not been achieved through any hap-hazard influences."
The make-up of his character was well provided for
by a sturdy ancestry.
On the paternal side he traces his lineage through
seven generations to the Puritans of 1640, and on the
maternal side to the Pilgrims of Plymouth.
James Allen, an emigrant from England (16-10),
settled in Dedham, where his cousin, John Allen,
was the first minister and a co-laborer with John
Eliot among the Indians.
In 1(549 James made one of seven families who
settled Medfield. He purchased land of the Indians
and built his house on the spot where the present
homestead stands, now owned by the .\lien Brothers,
Nathaniel and Joseph, the latter and his children, of
the eighth generation, are its present occupants.
The longevity of this family is remarkable. De-
veloped through generations of sturdy adherence to
the laws of health, being neither by wealth tempted
to idlene.ss and dissipation, or by poverty debarred
from healthful social enjoyments, they were accustom-
ed to plain living and high thinking.
In the sixth generation, to which Mr. Allen's father
belonged, and in the family of six sons and two
daughters, death did not invade the circle for seven-
ty-eight years, when the Rev. Joseph Allen, D.D., of
Northboro', died ; four of the sons died at eighty-
three ; one, Rev. Wm. W. Allen, became the oldest
living graduate of Harvard, dying at ninety-three
years, while the youngest is living at eighty-three ;
the daughters died — one in infancy, and one at ninety
years.
Mr. Allen's mother died from an accident at nine-
ty-six years, wanting twenty-five days, in full posses-
sion of her faculties, and leaving seventy-eight de-
scendants.
The seventh generation, of which Mr. .\llen is a
member, consisting of five sons and three daughters,
was exempt trom death's visitation for fifty -seven years.
The late Dio Lewis, M.D., pronounced Nathaniel
one of the strongest and most enduring men he had
ever known.
A tine physique, cheery, mirth-enjoying and mirth-
producing spirit, financial independence, high moral,
progressive and reformatory ideas have distinguished
Mr. Allen.
He is distinguished by the above characteristics and
has ever been prominent in moral reforms — theologi-
cal— peace, anti-slavery, temperance, woman suffrage,
civil service and tariff.
The same spirit actuates him which caused his an-
cestors, Puritan and Pilgrim, to contend for an im-
proved condition. It would be diflScult, if not im-
possible, to find another person of Mr. Allen's age
with so many warm personal friends. In every city
throughout the country, from Maine to California and
from Canada to Texas, these are found,
During a busy life in the class-room, he has held
many other positions of responsibility; he has been
president of the board of directors of the Pomroy
Newton Home for Orphan and Destitute Girls
since it was founded, sixteen years ago ; is also the
president of the Newton Woman's Suffrage Associ-
ation and a director in the American Peace Society.
He was trustee of the Boston College of Physicians
and Surgeons, and a member of the committee of ex-
amination in natural science at Harvard.
Mr. Allen was a Garrisonian abolitionist and
an oflScer of the society when in those days it
cost something to be identified with men of their
belief. He was many times mobbed when in their
company, and naturally became an early member of
the Free-Soil party.
In 18*)9, having been appointed an agent of the
Commissioner of Public Education by Hon. Henry
Barnard, Mr. Allen went abroad and spent two years
in studying the school systems of England, Scotland,
Ireland, France, Italy, Austria, and in particular of
what is now included in the German Empire.
The results of his observations of the secondary
schools, Gymnasia, Real- and Volks-Schulen of Prus-
sia, Saxony and Nassau are preserved in a valu-
able report published and distributed by order of the
Secretary of the Interior.
Mr. Allen was married, March 30, 1853, to Caroline
Swift, daughter of James Nye and Rebecca (Free-
man) Bassett, of Nantucket, and of their children,
Fanny Bassett, Sarah Caroline and Lucy Ellis are
living; Nathaniel Topliff, their son, died in 1865.
EDWIN BEADBUBY HASKELL.
Edwin Bradbury Haskell was born in Livermore
(then Oxford, afterwards Kennebec and now Andros-
coggin County), Me., August 24, 1837. His father was
Moses Greenleaf Haskell, who was for the most of his
life a country merchant in that town. His paternal
grandfather, William Haskell, was born in Glouces-
ter, Mass., and emigrated when a young man to the
District of Maine, about the time that the General
Court of Massachusetts gave to the people of Glou-
170
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
cester a township in the then almost wild "district,"
which afterwards became New Gloucester, Me., as a
reward for their great services in the Revolutionary
War. Mr. Haskell's mother was Bosilla Haines,
daughter of Captain Peter Haines, who emigrated
from Gilmanton, N. H., to Maine about 1790, bought
a square mile of land on the Androscoggin River, in
what is now East Livermore, where he brought up a
large family of children, most of whom settled about
him, and left a handsome estate and a highly respected
name. On both sides this was sturdy New England
stock of the earlier English immigrations — 1630 to
1640— and from the enterprising young people of that
stock who conquered the virgin Maine wilderness
came a yeomanry of sound minds in sound bodies
which has since made its mark throughout the coun-
try. Mr. Haskell was educated in the district school
and at Kent's Hill Seminary, where he was fitted for
college at the age of sixteen, having shown a special
aptitude for mathematics. Not having the promise
of pecuniary assistance for a college course, he was
easily induced by his cousin, Zenas T. Haines, after-
wards well known in the journalism of Boston, to
enter the oflBce of the Portland Advertiser and learn
to be a printer. At the end of a year, having learned
what he could of the printer's art in a daily newpaper
office, he went, with a single companion, to New Or-
leans, where printers were much better paid in those
days, and worked as a journeyman in that city and in
Baton Rouge from the autumn of 1855 until the fol-
lowing summer. In August, 1856, he came to Boston
and took a situation as a compositor on the Saturday
Evening Gazette, which was at that time a most re-
spectable paper published by William W. Clapp. In
the spring of 1857 he was employed by the Boston
Journal as printer and reporter, and after the first
year wholly as a reporter. In the spring of 1860 he
received an advantageous offer to become a reporter
on the Boston Herald, then owned by Edwin C. Bai-
ley, and in the following year was made one of the
editorial writers, and practically the head of that de-
partment. In 1861 Mr. Haskell, with his associate,
George M. Tileston, helped to raise the Eleventh
Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, and intended to
go to the field with it, but resigned his commission to
another who had had military training. In 1865 Mr.
Bailey proposed to sell the Herald, on account of fail-
ing health, and Mr. Haskell made up what would
have been called at a later period a "syndicate" to
purchase it. Some changes were made in the persons,
Mr. Bailey wishing to put in his brother, who was
foreman in the composing-room, and his cashier, the
late Royal M. Pulsifer, and with these modifications
the trade was promptly carried through, for one-third
interest in the paper; the other two-thirds were pur-
chased four years later. Mr. Haskell's associates were
Royal M. Pulsifer, Justin Andrews, Charles H. An-
drews and George G. Bailey. Mr. Bailey and Justin
Ajidrewa sold out their interests a few years after, re-
tiring wiih competeucies, and the other three partners
continued together until 1887.
Mr. Haskell's chief work in life was editor of the
Boston Herald from 1865 to 1887. With a mind nat-
urally inclined to see the arguments on both sides of
a question, and with strong convictions of the right,
he made the Herald entirely independent of parties,
but always a consistent advocate of certain well-
defined principles in relation to public affairs. Among
these were universal suffrage, local self-government,
honest currency, civil service reform and low tariff,
with free trade as the ultimate goal to be reached.
The Herald was, at the same time, one of the most
enterprising newspapers in the country, and soon
became the leading journal in New England, with a
circulation and influence scarcely second to that of
any other paper in the country.
As an editorial writer Mr. Haskell was, in the words
of one who knew him well, " terse and direct, going
to the core of the theme under discussion, and his
keen sense of humor was a no less noticeable trait of
his professional outfit." He was especially well in-
formed, clear and incisive on economic questions.
Mr. Haskell sold out his interest in the Herald in the
autumn of 1887,owiug to the unfortunate financial
complications of his partner. .Mr. Pulsifer, but re-
sumed his proprietorship the following spring, when
the Boston Herald Company w.is incorporated, and
became a director in the company. His retirement
from the editorship was permanent, and he was suc-
ceeded by his friend and .associate for years, Mr. John
H. Holmes.
Mr. Haskell has made investments in other suc-
cessful newspapers, and is a large owner in the Min-
neapolis Jovrnal and St. Joseph S'ews. He was at one
time the largest stockholder in the Minneapolis Tri-
bune, of which his son, William E. Haskell, was
editor.
Mr. Haskell's fortunate business and professional
career has been happily matched by his social and
domestic life at his elegant and beautiful home,
"Vista Hill," overlooking the Charles River valley,
in Auburndale, Newton.
In 1877 and 1878, accompanied by his family and a
small retinue of friends, he made a tour of Europe,
lasting some thirteen months. Hence the unique de-
scriptive serial sketches published in the Haald of
the " Adventures of the Scribbler Family Abroad."
In 1882 he declined a nomination to Congress,
which would have been equivalent to an election,
preferring his editorial position to what he held to be
a more limited field of usefulness and honor.
Mr. Haskell was married, in August, 1861, to Celia,
daughter of Jonas and Joanna (Hubbard) Hill, of
Fayette, Maine. Of this union there were seven
children, of whom four are living (in 1890). The eld-
est, William Edwin, graduated at Harvard in 1884,
and settled in Minneapolis. He was for a time editor
of the Minneapolis Tribune, and is one of the owners
c^^^
NEWTON".
171
of the Minneapolis Journal. The second, Harry Hill,
is a graduate of Harvard, '90, and is destined for the
medical profession. The youngest children are Mar-
garet, born 1874, and Clarence Greenleaf, born in
1880.
Mr. Haskell baa made some railroad investments
by virtue of which he is vice-president of the South
Florida Railroad Company and a director of the
Plant Investment Company. In local affairs he is
president of the Newton Cemetery Corporation, pres-
ident of the Newton Jersey Stock Club, and President
of the Board of Trustees of the Newton Free Library.
HON. LEVI C. WAI'E.'
Hon. Levi C. Wade, of Newton, who was Speaker
of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in
1879, and has since become even more widely known
as president of the Mexican Central Railway, was
born January Iti, 1848, in Allegheny City, Pennsyl-
vania, but is a member of an old Middlesex County
family. His father, Levi Wade, whose ancestors were
among the early inhabitants and largest land-owners
of Medford, was born in 1812 in Woburn, to which his ! Falls for five years
Levi C. Wade was educated in the public schools
and was fitted for college by private tutors, entering
Yale in 1862 and graduating with the degree of A.B.
in 1866. While in college he took prizes in English
composition, debate and declamation ; was one of the
editors of the Yale Literary Magazine, and was active
and prominent in athletic sports.
It is interesting to note the different stages of
development in the early career of a man like Mr.
Wade, who is at one and the same time a student and
an unusually successful man of affairs. He first came
to Newton in October, 1866, for the purpose of study-
ing at the Theological Seminary, under a promise that
he would devote at least two years to theological
study. He studied Greek and Hebrew exegesis the
first year under Dr. H. B. Hackett, and studied
theology the second year under Dr. Alvah Hovey.
But as soon as the two years agreed upon were com-
pleted he devoted his attention to the law and was
admitted to practice in the Supreme Judicial Court
of Massachusetts in September, 1873. While study-
ing law, Mr. Wade taught school in Newton, being
principal of the Grammar School at Newton Upper
In 1877 he formed a partnership
immediate ancestors had removed in the latter half of
the eighteenth century. He is still living in Alle-
gheny City, having retired from business thirty years
ago, after a highly successful career as a merchant
and manufacturer in the neighboring city of Pitts-
burgh. His uiicle, Colonel John Wade, who was
born in 1780 and died in 18-38, was one of the wealth-
iest and most prominent residents of Woburn. To
those who were familiar with this well-known gentle-
man, who was for fourteen years one of the Woburn
selectmen, twelve years town treasurer, seventeen
years representative to the General Court, two years
in the State Senate, and seventeen years postmaster,
his relationship with the subject of our sketch will
be a matter of some interest, and they will not fail to
detect points of resemblance between the two men.
Hon. Levi C. Wade, however, is a stanch Republi-
can, while Colonel John Wade was a Democrat. He
was a tall and well-made gentleman, very neat in his
dress and habits, and so crisp in speech at times that
some of his sayings are still matters of tradition in
Woburn. Bv shrewd investments in real estate Col-
with Hon. J. Q. A. Brackett, now Governor of Massa-
chusetts, and the legal firm of Wade & Brackett con-
tinued until 1880, when Mr. Wade retired from
general practice and has since devoted his attention
to railway law and active railway management.
Mr. Wade was representative to the General Court
from Newton for the four successive years, 1876, 1877,
1878 and 1879. He was Speaker of the House in
1879 and declined a re-election to accept the position
of attorney for various railroad companies. During
his service in the Legislature there was no work in
which lie took a greater degree of pride than his suc-
cessful etfort with others to effect a change of the
statute whereby an unfortunate, but honest debtor,
could be arrested upon mere belief that he had prop-
erty which might be used for the payment of the
debt. This law existed upon the Massachusetts statute-
books as late as 1878, and Mr. Wade secured its repeal
in the House of Representatives in the face of power-
ful opposition. The same public-spirited traits are
conspicuous in Mr. Wade to-day, and while pres-
ident of the Mexican Central Railway, a director of
onel John became one of the wealthiest men in his ' the Atchison, Topeka and Santa F6, Atlantic and
part of the county.
The mother of Hon. Levi C. Wade was X. Annie
(Rogers) Wade, well known in Pittsburgh for her
musical and literary attainments and her activity in
benevolent enterprises. She was born in 1819, mar-
ried to Levi Wade in 1838 and is still living with the
husband of her vouth. One of her ancestors was
Pacific Railways and other great enterprises, he is also
one of the water commissioners of the city of New-
ton, a director in that excellent institution, the Gen-
eral Theological Library in Boston, and he is, and
has been from its beginning, one of the vice-presi-
dents of the Newton Club, the leading social organi-
zation in the city where he resides. He was also one
Rev. John Rogers, of Ipswich, who became president of the building committee who erected the Young
of Harvard College, and whose ancestry is traced by j Women's Christian Association building in Boston
some to John Rogers, the martyr of Smithfield. i on Berkeley and Appleton Streets.
Mr. Wade was married, November 16, 1869, to
'Contributed. Margaret R., daughter of Hon. Wm. and Lydia H.
172
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
(Elliot) Rogers, of Bath, Me. Mrs. Wade's mother j
was a descendant of John Elliot, the famous mission-
ary to the Indians in New England and translator of |
the Indian Bible. The children of Hon. Levi C. j
Wade are Arthur C. Wade, born May 4, 1875 ; Wil- |
Ham R. Wade, born September 6, 1881 ; Levi C. Wade, i
Jr., born July 22, 1885 ; and Robert N. Wade, born j
October 22, 1887. Two daughters, the oldest of whom
was born in 1870, died in infancy.
Mr. Wade's name is nearly as well known in Mex-
ico as in the United States, he being president of what
is our sister republic's largest institution except the
government itself. He was one of the four original
projectors and owners of what is now the Mexican
Central Railway Company, and has been the presi-
dent and general counsel of that company since Au-
gust, 1884. When he was placed at the head of its
affairs the first mortgage bonds of the corporation
were in default and there was a floating debt of more
than two millions of dollars. Since that time the
company's financial aflfairs have been thoronghly re- [
organized, branch lines have been built, the value of
the property has increased over thirty million of
dollars and its bonds have become a popular interest-
paying investment. In December, 188G, Mr. Wade !
went to London and interested prominent foreign :
bankers and financiers in the property, so that the ,
Mexican Central securities are now as well known !
in London as in Boston and New York, and are listed !
at the stock exchanges of all three cities. More re- i
cently Mr. Wade has obtained from the Mexican '
government for the Mexican Central Company a con- i
cession to deepen the entrance of Tampico harbor,
on the Gulf of Mexico. The Tampico Harbor Com-
pany has been organized for the purpose, and jetties
are now being constructed there, similar to those
which were so successfully employed by Capt. Edes
at the South Pass of the Mississippi. j
All of this great pecuniary success and honorable
distinction in the financial world which Mr. Wade
has achieved since he retired from the general prac-
tice of law and from politics in 1880 covers a period
of but ten years, and even during that time he has
never lost sight of his duties as a citizen or of his \
interest in public affairs. After his marriage in 1869
he built a small house at Newton Upper Falls and
resided there until 1881, when he began acquiring
the nucleus of his present beautiful estate (Home- I
wood) at Oak Hill. This property comprises 225
acres, about a mile and a half from the Newton I
Centre station. There are over lUU acres of forest,
and the mansion, which is a rambling country house,
commands beautiful views of the neighboring cities
and towns. Wi'h the exception of a brief residence
in Dedbam and Brookline while building at Home-
wood, Mr. Wade has resided in Newton since Septem-
ber, 1866.
REV. «. F. SMITH, D.D.
Rev. S. F. Smith was born in Boston October 21,
1808, lilted for college at the Public Latin School and
graduated at Harvard University in 1S2;I, and Aii-
dnver Theolngieal .Seminary in 1832. After a year
ripeiit in Boston in editori.il labors he \v;is ordained
pastor of the First Baptist Church, Waterville, ilaine,
at the beginning of the year ISiU, at the same time
entering upon the dutie-. of Professor of Modern Lan-
guages in Waterville College (now Colby University),
and during the year 1841 t.aught all the t ireek in the
college. In 1S42 he became pastor of the First Bap-
tist Church in Newton Centre, and at the same time
editor of the C/irisiian L'tvietv. The pastoral relation
continued for over twelve years, aud was followed by
a service of fifteen years of editorial labor in connec-
tion with the periodicals of tbe Baptist Missionary
Uuion. Dr. Smith has been a profuse contributor to
the periodicals aud other literature of liis time, and
has continued without intermission, except duringone
year (IST'i-Tfi) spent in Europe in the service of the
pulpit. In 1831 he was in connection with the late
Lowell Mason, engaged in the preparation of the
" Juvenile Lyre," the first publication in this country
devoted to music for children, most of the songs iu
which were his translation Irora German songs or im-
itations adapted to the German music of N/igeli and
others. Many hymns from his pen are found in the
various church collections. The well-known compo-
sition, 'My country, 'tis of thee," was written by him
in 1S32, and first used at a children's celebration of
American independence in Park Street Church, Bos-
ton, in the same year. The publications of Dr. Smith
are " Life of Rev. Joseph Grafton," " Lyric Gems,"
" Rock of Ages," " Jlissionary Sketches " and numer-
ous periodicals and sermons ; also in 1880, the " His-
tory of Newton." Dr. Smith has also contributed
valuable chapters to the present " History of Middle-
sex County." '
1 From " HiMtoi"y of Newton,'' by permissioD.
ARLINGTON.
173
CHAPTER XIII.
ARLINGTON.
BY JAMES P. PARMENTER, A.M.
Arlington is, in extent of territory, one of the
smaller towns of Middlesex County. It lies in the
southeastern part of the county ; is bounded by Win-
chester and Medford on the north, by Medford, Som-
erville and Cambridge on the east, by Belmont on the
south and by Lexington on the west. It is about three
miles in length and two miles in width. The western
part of the town is hilly, Arlington Heights and Tur-
key Hill being the most prominent elevations, while
the eastern end is level. There are two ponds of
considerable size — Mystic Pond, along the northern
boundary, and Spy Pond, in the southern part of the
town. Mystic River forms a part of the northeastern
boundary, and its tributary, \lewife Brook, separates
Arlington from Cambridge and Somerville. Vine
Brook runs through the town from west to east for
about two miles, and then turning to the north flows
into Mystic Pond.
The history of Arlington from the time when white
men first set foot upon its soil naturally divides it-
self into four periods. First comes what may be
called the period of settlement, lasting about a cen-
tury, when Arlington was merely an outlying part o(
Ciimbridge, having a distinctive name — Menototny —
but no independent organization. The second period
begins in 1732, when Meiiotouiy became a Heparate
parish of the old town. Then iu ISO" the parish wa#
incorporated as the town of West Cambridge and
bore that name for sixty years. Finally in ISO" the
present name was adopted, no I'hange, however, being
made in the organization of the town. It will be con-
venient to follow these natural divisions ;ind speak of
each period separately.
The boundaries of the town were early defined and
remained without ^substantial change until nearly the
middle of the present century. Soon after the settle-
ment of Cambridge the inhal)itants wislieil to extend
the limits of their new town. They had land enough
already, if its extent alone is considered, but much of
it was forest and swamp. Land good for pasturage
and farming was not so plenty, and there was some
competition among the dift'erent settlements to obtain
grants of such land from the General Court. Cam-
bridge thus obtained — not to speak of the country
south of the Charles — the territory now comprised in
.Arlington, Lexington and Barlington. The Legisla-
ture established the line of division between Cam-
bridge and its neighbors on either hand, by extending
the existing boundary lines eight miles back into the
country. Accordingly the line l)etween Cambridge
and Charlestown, which formed the northern bound-
ary of Menotomy, fell near the present course of War-
ren and Mystic Streets. The southern limit, the
boundary between Cambridge and Watertown, ran
from Fresh Pond through what is now Belmont at
about the line of the Concord turnpike. The eastern
1 boundary was a natural one — the Menotomy River,
; which we know as Alewife Brook. The western limit
' was not fixed until Lexington was set off from the
mother town in?.1712.
j The territory thus marked out formed the district
I and parish of Menotomy and afterwards the town of
West Cambridge. In 1842 it was increased by the
annexation of the strip of Charlestown which lay be-
tween Mystic Pond and the ancient northern bound-
ary. In 1850 West Cambridge contributed acompar-
I atively small portion of land along its northern
boundary to help form the new town of Winchester.
In 1859 it suffered a serious loss of territory on its
southern side, when Belmont was incorporated. The
town was then reduced to its present limits.
Menotomy, the early name of the place, is an Indi-
an name, the meaning of which is not certainly
known. Probably it describes one of the natural fea-
tures of the locality. The first settlers, doubtleea
adopting the Indian designation, called the stream
that now bounds the town on the east, and was even
then regarded as the dividing line between Menotomy
and the village of Cambridge, the Menotomy River.
During the eighteenth cet^tury Spy Pond was some-
times called Menotomy Pond. " Menotomy '' went
out of use when the town was incorporated as West
Cambridge — a name that needs no explanation. Ar-
lington is a name that has no historical meaning as
applied to the place.
1. The Period of Settlement, 1635-1732.
When the settlers in Cambridge began to push out to
the westward they found the country thinly inhabited
by the Massachusetts tribe of Indians. ()ver these
reigned the widow of a former chief. She was known
to our ancestors as the Squaw-Sachem, or as the
" Queen of the Massachusetts " when they chose to
dignify her with a finer title. This potentate had
taken as a second husband, one Webcowits, the prime
minister or principal medicine man of the late king,
but he, apparently, was never regarded as anything
more than a kind of prince consort. The Squaw-
Sachem held no very permanent court, but her chief
dwelling-place seems to have been within the limits
of Arlington, on those pleasant slopes that stretch
down to the western edge of Mystic Pond. She early
came into friendly relations with the Colonial govern-
ment, and sold to the settlers — probably in the year
1638— all the lands that she held within the bounds
of their towns, reserving only her homestead by the
pond. This purchase cost the town of Cambridge ten
pounds in cash " and also Cambridge is to give Squa
Sachem a coate every winter while shee liveth." Ap-
parently the town was slow to fulfill the second part
of the agreement, for, in I64I, we find the General
Court enjoining Cambridge to give the Squaw-Sachem
174
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY. MASSACHUSETTS.
" 80 much core as to make up thirty-five bushels and
four coats for last year and this." In March, 1644, in
company with four other chiefs, she formally sub-
mitted to the jurisdiction of the Colony. As a part of
this transaction the five chiefs, in answer to questions,
made a statement of their religious views, and one
cannot help thinking that the conditipn of mind re-
vealed by some of their responses must have proved
rather puzzling to the Puritan theologians. For ex-
ample, one answer runs : " We do de.sire to reverence
ye God of ye English, and to speak well of him, be-
cause we see he doth better to the English than other
gods do to others ; " and when questioned as to their
willingness to refrain from labor on the Sabbath, they
reply with a charming simplicity : " It is easy to
them ; they have not much to do on any day and they
can well take their ease on that day." The treaty was
ratified with an exchange of presents, the Indians
giving twenty-six fathoms of wampum and receiving
five coats — two yards in a coat^— of red cloth, together
with a potful of wine. The Squaw-Sachem lived for
many years after, the Cambridge people making vari-
ous .igreements to fence her land and to provide her
with corn. She died not long before 1662, and with
her royalty disappears from our local annals.
The proprietors of Cambridge began to grant farms
in what is now Arlington as early as 1635. A high-
way was made from the little settlement in old Cam-
bridge to the other little settlement in Concord — the
street that we now know as Arlington Avenue. And
in 1636 or 1637 the history of the town fairly begins,
with the establishing of Captain George Cooke's Mill
on Vine Brook. This Capiain Cooke made a consid-
erable figure in the colony. He came from England
in 16.35, at the age of twenty-five, soon became captain
of the Cambridge Company in the militia, was select-
man several years, served in the General Court more
than once, and held other positions, civil .ind mili-
tary, during the ten years he remained in this country.
Returning to England, he became a colonel in Crom-
well's army and lost hia life in Ireland in 1652. It was
he who varied the activities of an adventurous life by
setting up the first mill in Cambridge, and in fact in
the neighborhood, if we except a wind-mill in Old
Cambridge, which would not grind unless the wind
was from the west. Captain Cooke's mill was situated
a short distance above the present mills of Samuel A.
Fowle. The remains of its dam may still be seen,
and Water Street bore the name of " Captain Cooke's
Mill-lane" down to a time within living memory.
The establishment of this mill was a great boon to
the settlers in the neighboring towns, and the early
roads were laid out with reference to it. Thus in 1638
a road was laid out from Watertown, and a little later
roads from Woburn and Medford, all ending at the
mill. They are substantially the same for the greater
part of their course as our Pleasant, Mystic and Med-
ford Streets. After Captain Cooke had abandoned
the miller's trade in New England for the more stir-
ring profession of arms in Europe, his mill seems to
have fallen into decay. At any rate nothing but
a few ruins remained when John Rolfe bought the es-
tate of the captain's heirs in 1670, built a new mill,
house and barn, and revived the business. After his
death, in 1681, the property and business passed to his
son-in-law, William Cutter, in whose family it has
ever since remained.
With the exception of the roads and the mill, Ar-
lington presented few traces of civilization for many
years. Along the banks of the Menotomy River
stretched the Great Swamp. The labor and intelli-
gence of more than one generation have since turned
much of it into fruitful soil, but enough yet remains
in its primitive condition to give us an idea of what
the whole eastern end of the town was in the seven-
teenth century. Much of the land about Spy Pond
also was swampy. The land was well wooded, but
the town found it necessary, in 1647, to check reck-
less waste by forbidding persons owning land in
Menotomy from cutting or taking away directly or
indirectly any wood or timber on the easterly side of
the road from the mill to Watertown.
Slowly, one after another, spots of cultivated land
began to appear in the midst of the wilderness of
woods and swamps. In 1646 Henry Dunster, the first
president of Harvard College, obtained some land by
Menotomy River, lying within the limits of Charles-
town, .lohn Adams lived near the present tentre of
Arlington and owned extensive tracts of land in the
eastern end of the town. < >ther familiar names are
found on the records — Dickson, Russell, Winship,
Cutter — of men who settled here long before 1700.
In 168S twenty persons were taxed for person ami
estate as residents of Menotomy.
For a livelihood the people were mainly dependent
on farming. Indian-corn was the principal crop,
and the corn-fields were fertilized with the countless
fish that swarmed in the Menotomy River and have
given it its modern name. The alewives were caught
by means of a weir which the General f'ourt, in 1634,
authorized the town of (Jambridge to build, and were
regarded as a most valuable kind of property. When,
in 1676, two enterprising persons obstructed the pas-
sage of the fish to the weirs, the town brought suit
and had the validity of its privilege judicially deter-
mined. There was also good fishing in Spy Pond,
and people journeyed from Boston and Charlestown
to fish there. One summer day no less a person than
the Reverend Cotton Mather came out to trj' his luck,
and, like many amateur fishermen of later times, fell
into the pond, "the boat being ticklish." History
records that he received no hurt from his misadven-
ture.
The Menotomy settlers took their part in the war
that broke upon New England in 1675 and furnished
nearly a dozen men — a large proportion of their
whole number — to the little army that went out to
fight King Philip. Five years later Indian warfare
ARLINGTON.
175
seems to have come nearer home, for we read in
Judge Sewall's diary, under date of July 8, 1680 :
"Two ludians killed and aeversl carried away by the
Mohawks from Spy Pond at Cambridge : it was done
about one in the morn." With these exceptions they
lived undisturbed by the savages.
Little more can be said as to our early settlers. In
whatever public events they engaged they took pari
as citizens of Cambridge, and their acts are a part o(
the history of Cambridge rather than of Arlington.
They were doing the same monotonous hard work
that was going on in so many New Engiand commu-
nities of that time — gradually turning a savage wil-
derness into a place fit for the habitation of civilized
men.
n. The Second Precixct of Cambridge,
1732-1807.
It was in 1732 that the second period of our history
began with the setting apart of Jlenotomy as a sepa-
rate precinct or parish. The feeling had for some
time been growing among the people that they should
have a meeting-house of their own and a minister
dwelling among them. In 1728 some of them had pe-
titioned the town of Ciimbridge to consent to a divi-
sion, but they failed to obtain their request, — the
town taking the reasonable ground that it did not ap-
pear that half of the inhabitants of Jlenotomy de-
sired the cliauge. With the persistence characteristic
of those who have set their hearts on dividing a town,
they tried again in 172S; petitioned the (.Tcneral
Court in .lune, 17-".2; had their petition rejected in
November ; renewed it the next month and succeeded
at last in obtaining favorable action. On December
27, 1732, the northwest part of Cambridge was set oti
as a distinct precinct, and its inhabitants vested with
• all the powers, privileges and immunities that other
precincts within the Province do, or by law ought to
enjoy."
la order to understand the importance of this ac-
tion, we must call to mind exactly what a precinct
was. It was the same thing as a parish, — the words
are used interchangeably, — but a parish then was not a
collection of persons voluntarily uniting to support
public woi'ship. It was a territorial division — a cer-
tain extent of land--like a county, a town, a school dis-
trict or a ward. It might be co-extensive with a town,
it might comprise part of a town or it might be made
up of parts of two or more towns. It had the duty of
maintaining a meeting-house and supporting a minis-
ter, and every man living within it was just as much
subject to be taxed for these purposes as he was for
the support of highways and bridges. However cor-
dially he might dislike the institutions of religion, he
could no more escape paying his share towards their
maintenance than he could avoid doing his part to-
wards keeping the roads in order. On the other hand,
he had an equal voice with his fellow-parishioners in
the management of the parish affairs. Hence an an-
cient parish, in its structure, closely resembled a town,
and when, as happened in Arlington, a parish was
incorporated as a town, the transition was an easy one.
The inhabitants of the new town were merely obliged
to apply to a somewhat wider range of subjects the
system to which they were already accustomed.
The inhabitants of the new precinct met together in
their school-house, January 29, 1733, and John Cut-
ter then began his long service of thirty-two years aa
parish clerk. They soon completed their organiza-
tion by electing three assessors, a collector, a treas-
urer and a prudential committee of five. They in-
vited their neighbors in that narrow strip of Charles-
town which lay between the new parish and Mystic
Pond to join them in settling a minister. As it was
obviously much more convenient for these Charles-
town people to attend public worship in Menotomy
than in the distant meeting-house of their own town,
an arrangement was made, and confirmed by the Gen-
eral Court, whereby they became united with the new
parish, although continuing, in other respects, citi-
zens of Charlestown.
And now our ancestors set about building their
meeting-house. The site was not far to seek. Out
of the common land that lay near the junction of the
Watertown and Concord roads a portion had been
reserved.as a burial-place, although probablyit had not
yet been used for that purpose, and here it was de-
cided to build the meeting-house. The building was
to be forty-six feet long, thirty-six feet wide and
twenty-four feet between the joists, and was to have
a belfry ; and the sum of three hundred pounds was
appropriated to pay for it. Jteanwhile the people
met for public worship in their school-house, various
ministers of the neighborhood conducting the services.
Rev. John Hancock, of Lexington, baptized Thomas
Osborn here April 1, 1734, " the first child baptized
in the congregation at the school-house in iMenot-
omy."
The meeting-hou.se was raised in the spring of
1734, and we may suppose there was a cer-
tain amount of festivity on the occasion, since the
precinct appropriated the sum of twenty-three pounds
" to defray the charges of provisions ; " but it was
not until February 1, 1735, that it was opened and
consecrated. The building stood nearly on the spot
now occupied by its successor, but faced southeast.
The pulpit stood against the northwest wall and the
main entrance was directly opposite, at the other end
of the broad aisle. In each of the other sides was a
door. A portion of the floor was divided into eigh-
teen pew lota, all of which were sold, except that to
the right of the pulpit, which was reserved for the
minister's pew. The prices of these pew lota varied
from £14i down to £5A ; the two nearest the main
door and the one to the left of the pulpit being ap-
parently deemed most desirable. On these lots were
built the high square pews, wherein sat the owners
I with their families — the leading and prosperous
176
HISTOKY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
people of the place. The more humble worshippers
sat on benches placed upon that part of the floor not
taken up with pews, or in the gallery which extended
around three aides of the meeting-house. The men sat
on one aide of the broad aisle and the women
on the other, and a like division was made in
the galleries. A committee appointed by the parish
assigned the seats, and they were instructed to take
into account " persons' pay and age."
Such were the main arrangements in regard to
meeting-house and congregation. But as yet there
was no church organization and no minister. The
latter deficiency our ance-stors earnestly set about
supplying, but it was more than four years before
they succeeded in their effort. They called in the
neighboring ministers more than once for counsel and
assistance. On two occasions they set apart day.s of
fasting aud prayer when solemn public exercises were
held. But whenever they had chosen a minister
whom they judged of suitable character and qualities,
their hopes were destined to disappointment. At
last, after four persons had successively declined their
invitation, they chose Samuel Cooke to be their
minister. Mr. Cooke was chosen May 21, 1739. He
considered the invitation with care and accepted it in
a letter dated June 30th — a letter exhibiting that com-
bination of practical forethought and of religious
feeling characteristic of the man. He tells his people
that he shall expect them to make allowance for the
continued depreciation of paper currency ; that he
depends upon the kindness commonly shown to
minister.", particularly as to building and fire-wood ;
and accepts their summons, " relying upon the Divine
Grace for support and assistance, and recommending
you and all your atl'airs to the Divine conduct."
The church was established on the '.Hh of the fol-
lowing September, the men signing the covenant and
the women giving their consent by standing up as
their names were called. In all there were eighty-
three church-members. Many of the names affixed
to that roll have a sound not nt all unfamiliar to our
ears, — Russell, Swan, Cutter, Adams, Winship, Fille-
brown, Locke, Hall, Frost, Prentice and the rest —
the founders of the families that have played so large
apart in the life of the community. John Cutter
and John Winship were made deacons. The First
Church in Cambridge gave £25 towards furnishing
the communion table — a gift especially gratifying to
the new church.
Samuel Cooke was thirty years old when he came
to his work in Menotomy — a work he was to lay
down only with his life forty-five years later. The
son of a Hadley farmer, he spent his boyhood on the
farm and went to college at a much later period in
life than was common in those days. He was grad-
uated at Harvard College in 1735, kept .school for a
while, went back to Cambridge, where he was em-
ployed in the college buttery for more than a year,
then instructed Colonel Royall'.s son at Medford, and
finally, after another stay at college, began his min-
isterial career — preaching for six months each in
Marlborough, Roxbury and Menotomy. The new
minister's " settlement" was fixed at £260 in bills of
the old tenor or an equivalent amount in bills of the
new tenor — neither of which kinds of currency was
worth nearly its face value. His salary was to be
£190 a year with such additions as might come from
contributions not destined for other purposes. Dur-
ing his long pastorate his salary varied from time to
time — noticeably during the War of the Revolution —
but as the reckoning was sometimes made in paper
and sometimes in coin, the variation was more appar-
ent than real. In 1751 the amount was fixed at £60
in lawful money; a few yeare later it became £70;
then in 1775 it was rai.^ed to £75 and it seems never
to have been much more. Even this scanty sum was
raised with difficulty. The collectors apparently
found it hard to get in all the dues Special contri-
butions had to be taken up from time to time for the
minister's support, and when he died the parish was
indebted to him in a considerable sum. We ought
not to attribute these facts to any lack of generosity
on the part of our ancestors ; they were evidently a
result of their poverty.
In 1740 Mr. Cooke bought of .faaon Russell an .Tcre
of land situated on the Watertowu Road, next to the
burial-grouud. and here lie built his house, his peo-
[>le furnishing much of the material mid doing a good
ileal of the work. It wa.s a substantial, comfortable
dwelling, placed well back from the road, and was
still standing twenty years ago.
The parish was now fairly started and for many
years little of iiiiiiortance appears upon its recorrls.
The population was evidently increasing, for we find
that it was necessary to put more .seats into the meet-
ing-house. Ill 1747 an effort was made to replace
some of the seats on the lloor with pews, but this at-
tempt was stoutly resisted and it w,t.s not until 17">.'>
that new pews were added. ,\t the same time it was
voted that there should be new seats over the gallery-
stairs for the negroes to sit in. .V committee was ap-
pointed in 1747 " to inspect the behavior of young
persons in our meeting-house on Sabbath days," and
any persistent mischief-maker was to be marched
into the main aisle and made to stand there through-
out the service. .\s we hear nothing more of the
committee after a year, we may, perhaps, assume that
the terrors of so public a penance produced a speedy
reformation.
While the wanners of youth on the Sabbath were
thus looked after, their week-day education was not
neglected. There was a school-house in Menotomy
when the precinct was first set off, but it seems not to
have been suitable for its purpose, for the parish
voted, in 1743, to keep the public school near the
meeting-house after a convenient house was erected,
anil three years later the town made an appropriation
lo hcl[> defray the charge of building a new school-
ARLINGTON.
177
house. This school was of a grade considerably be-
low that of a grammar school of the present day, and
was kept for a few weeks in winter. It was supported
by the town, but the appropriation was usually placed
in the hands of the parish. In 1768 it was voted that
a grammar school or " man's school " should be kept
for fourteen weeks in the winter, and that there
should also be four " women's schools." The system
thus established lasted some years.
The care of the church and the school formed sub-
stantially all of the public business of the parish. But
the people were not satisfied with this, and desired an
entire separation from Cambridge. Accordingly they
petitioned the General Court, in 1762, that they and
certain of their neighbors in the adjacent towns might
be incorporated as a town or district. The Legislature
voted to incorporate the petitioners from Menotomy
and Charlestown as a separate district, but annexed
certain conditions to the grant. The Menotomy peo-
ple made some unsuccessful efforts to induce the Leg-
islature to alter the terms, but, nevertheless, voted to
accept the act of incorporation as it stood.
A ilistrirt had all the powers of a town except in
line respect. Every towu had a right to send a repre-
sentative to the General Court, but a district did not
have that right. The Governors much disliked to give
their assent to the formation of new towns, for a new
town implied a new legislator who was only too likely
to set himself in opposition to the representatives of
the King. The same objection did not apply to a dis-
trict, and hence the device of forming a district in-
stead of a town was not uncommon at that period.
Menotomy, therefore, became a separate municipality
in 1762. Upon their failure, however, to obtain any
alteration in the terms of incorporation, the people
apparently concluded that, on the whole, it was not
worth while to take any advantage of the act, and so
continued to act .us before as a parish of (^ambridge.
The foregoing are the principal public acts of the
l'!iri.'<li. Of the every-day life of the [icople few nie-
mnrials remain. We know that they were lor the
most part larmcrs, and their farms were usually ot
considerable si^e. There were several taverns in the
place — a circumstance which we ought not to regard
a.s reflecting at all on the industry or sobriety of our
ancestors, since these houses of entertainment were
required by the farmers from the inland towns, who
used to drive their teams laden with produce down
through Mtnotomy and Old Cambridge on their
roundabout way to Boston. Along the brook where
their successors stand to-day, were situated several
mills — grist-mills and saw-mills — belonging to mem-
bers of the Cutter family, whose lands comprised much
on the northwestern part of the parish. Many of the
families of the place were connected by marriage ;
they were of the same race and the same religion ;
there was no great wealth among them and no great
poverty. They lived a hard-working life, somewhat
isolated, a ;ood deal dependent upon one another for
12-iii
society, with few amusements. Outside matters af-
fected them little. A few of them served in the
French and Indian War under Capt. Thomas Adams,
a Menotomy man. These took part in the Louia-
bourg expedition of 1758, and all came back safely
except one, who died of sickness. Parson Cooke did
not fail to preach a sermon on the occasion of their
return. He often took notice in that way of import-
ant current events — a common custom among the
clergy of that age. For the most part the years seem
to have gone by monotonously enough until at last
the day came when History passed through our streets,
I and the quiet country people took their place among
those who were first to face death in defence of the
! liberties of a nation.
j They were not without warning of the coming
I storm. Again and again during the dark years that
preceded the outbreak of war did their minister speak
to them words glowing with the spirit of resistance to
oppression. He found in Scripture many analogies to
the events that were passing before his eyes. To him
the Roman tyranny in .lerusalem was as the British
rule in Boston, and the publicans that served Caesar
were the prototypes of the instruments of George the
Third. His people were not deaf to his appeal. The
younger men were organized into an " alarm-Hat
company " enlisted as " soldiers in the Massachusetts
service, for the preservation of the liberties of Amer-
ica," ready to act when the order came. Benjamin
Locke was their captain, and his list of the members
of the company, about fifty in number, is still extant.
On the 17th day of April, 1775, the Committees of
Safety and of Supplies adjourned from Concord to meet
at Wetherby's Tavern in Menotomy. This inn, also
known as the Black Horse Tavern, stood on the north-
ern side of the main road about half a mile below the
meeting-house. The two committees, to whose hands
w.as intrusted the direction of the patriot cause in the
Province, met hereon the ISth. Threeofthem,Elbridge
( "rerry and Colonels Orne and Lee, remained, intending
to stay overnight. They were warned that there was an
unusual number of British otiicers about in Cam-
bridge, and Gerry was so impressed with the idea that
trouble was brewing that he sent a messenger to John
Hancock, then at Lexington, to put him on his guard.
At about two o'clock the next morning the three
members were aroused from their sleep to find the
road filled with British regulars marching by towards
Lexington. As the centre of the column was pass-
ing, they saw by the bright moonlight an officer and
a file of men coming towards the house. They es-
caped, half-dressed, from the back of the building
into an adjoining corn-field. Flinging themselves on
the ground and protected from view only by the corn-
stalks left standing from the previous season, they
fortunately escaped the observation of the soldiers.
These searched the house, but had to go on without
making the coveted capture of three of the rebel
leaders.
178
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHnSETTS.
The troops whose sudden appearance gave Gerry and I The morning wore an-ay quietly enough. Towards
his friends so rude an awakening were about eight j noon the road was again glittering with British
hundred in number, made up of light infantry, ; bayonets. Smith's appeal for aid had been answered :
marines and grenadiers. Lieutenant-Colonel Smith
commanded them. Embarking at the foot of Boston
Common in boats which carried them to what is now
East Cambridge, they had there landed, and after floun-
dering across the marshes struck into the old Charles-
town road. They entered tbe Concord road in North
Cambridge, and from that point their way lay
straight before them through Menotomy and Lexing-
. ton to their destination — the stores of supplies col-
lected by the patriots at Concord. The destruction
of these was the object of the expedition. To etfect
that object, secrecy and despatch were absolutely es-
sential, and the column moved rapidly and noise-
lessly on.
Notwithstanding their caution, the movement of so
considerable a body of men could not escape notice.
,\n hour or two earlier Paul Revere had galloped
across from Medford and given the alarm in the upper
part of the precinct as lie rode towards Lexington.
Some of the ilenotomy people were aroused by the
stir iu tbe street as the soldiers marched by. Solomon
Bowman, the lieutenant of Captain Locke's company,
upon going to his door, was asked by one of the Brit-
ish soldiers for a drink of water. He refused, asking
in turn, " What are you out at this time of night for? "
He spent the rest of the night in warning his cm-
pany.
When the troops reached the centre of Menotomy,
their commander was convinced that a suddeu and
secret attack could no longer be hoped for. The
night was already a.stir with the sound of distant guns
and bells that told him the country was rising. He
sent back a messenger to General Ga;^e, at Boston,
.isking for reinforcements, and sent forward Major
Pitcairn with six companies of light iulantry to secure
the bridges at Concord, while he followed more leis-
urely with the rest of the detachment.
The column marched on through the parish unmo-
lesting and unmolested. At one place their approach
broke up a very untimely game of cards. At another
they opened a stable, but, fortunately for the owner,
the horae had been lent. At another house, where a
light was burning, a soldier who inquired the reason
was given the satisfactory explanation that the wife
was making some herb tea for her sick husband. In
fact, the dose was of a far different kind; for pewter-
plates were there being melted into bullets.
The soldiers disappeared up the Lexington road,
but they left behind them in Menotomy a com-
munity that was fully aroused and ready for its work.
At daybreak Captain Locke's company met on the
green beside the meeting-house and straightway
Lord Percy was sent at the head of three regiments
of infantry and two divisions of marines — in all
about twelve hundred men — to reinforce the first de-
tachment. Marching out through Roxbury, he was
delayed for a little while at Brighton Bridge until the
planks, which had been taken up, could be rei>laced.
Then he kept on without further hindrance through
Cambridge and Menotomy. But the injury to the
bridge gave more serious trouble to a convoy of
supplies and provisions that followed his column.
Before the wagons could be brought over, the soldiers
were far ahead. The convoy was further delayed by
a mistake as to the road, so that by the time it readied
Menotomy, Lord Percy was a considerable distance in
advance. News of its approach preceded it. .\ few
of the Menotomy men met in Cooper's Tavern and
I resolved that these s'ljij-.lies should be captured.
I There were about a dozen ui ,i iu all — exempts, as thev
I were called, too nld to be include 1 among the niinute-
j men, although, so lar as appears, Sy no means >>( very
; advanced years. The two Belkiiaus were there — Jusori
j and Joseph — .lames Budge, Israel Mead, Ainmi Cutter
and David Lamson. The latter, our traditions say,
! commanded the partv. Others have it that Rev.
Phillips Payson, of Chelsea, was the leader. It seems
I not improbable that in such a band, collected at a
moment's notice, no man was captain more than
another. They hastened to take their position behind
a bank wall of earth and stones just opposite the
meeting-house. When the convoy arrived opposite,
escorted by a guard of soldiers, our men ordeied
them to surrender. The drivers whipped up their
horses. The exempts tired, killing several horses and
one or two of the men and wounding others. The
drivers and surviving soldiers scattered aud ran across
the fields to Spy Pond, aud local tradition delights to
tell how six of them surrendered to one Mother
Batherick, whom they encountered near .'spring
Valley. The party at the road took possession of the
abandoned wagons. They had done a greater thing
than they thought; for they had made the first cap-
ture of the War of the Revolution. But as ihev
looked at the matter, they had been engaged in
shooting down the King's soldiers upon his highway,
and they felt a not unreasonable dread of what might
happen if any signs of the conflict should be left
when the British came back. Accordingly thev
dragged the wagons into the hollow behiud Capt.
William Adams' house. The living horses were
driven to Medford and the dead ones carried to a tieid
near Spring Valley.
The adventures of the exempts were by no means
marched to Lexington. The women and children I over. As some of them were going home they met
were sent to places at a distance from the Concord
road. Many persons concealed their silver and
pewter.
and captured, near Mill Street, Lieut. Edward Thorn-
ton Gould, of the " King's Own " regiment, who had
received a wound in the ankle at Concord Bridge,
ARLINGTO?^.
1T9
and was riding back alone. And not long alter, the
approaching sounds of battle announced that tl\e
British were again entering Menotomy.
It is the duty of others to tell what happened that
day in Lexington and Concord. Captain 1/Ocke's
men were there, with their comrades from the other
towns, taking their part in the hard fighting that
made the retreat of the regulars through Lexington so
full of peril. Lord Percy's reinforcement met t!mith"s
exhausted men at about two o'clock, and, after half
an hour's respite, the march was resumed, and the
borders of Menotomy were soon reached.
Any one who looks down upon the town from Ar-
lington Heights or Turkey Hill can understand how
the tight was fought. From the Lexington line to
the Foot of the Rocks the land riaes to a consider-
able height on each side of the road. Farther down,
until nearly to the centre of the town, the hills ou
the right rise more gently, while to the left the land
falls away to Vine Brook. Below the centre is level
land — >[enotomy Plains ihey then called it — stretch-
ing to the eastern bcuiulary.
All through the first part of the afternoon's fight-
ing our people were generally on ground higher than
the road, and lame into hand-to-hand conflict only
with the British Hatiking-pnrties. Later they did not
have this advantage of position, and the fighting that
took i)lace below the centre of the town seenis gene-
rally to have be^n >harper and at closer iiuaiters than
that above.
It could not have been long after three o'clock
when the British re-entereil Menotomy. The fire to
which they had iieen expu:.(.-d >lackened a good deal
as they marched through the wooded country above
the Foot of ihe Rocks. But as they readied the com-
paratively upen ground at that (loint the battle was
re.-umed. Other enemies than those who had fol-
lowed them so [)ersiateutly were at hand. .Vll that
morning had men been hurrying iu I'roni every side
toward the -^cene of the ccnttict. Not merely from
Woburn and .Medford, from Old Cambridge and
Charlestuwn. but from Ko.Kbury and Dorchester,
Uanvers, Salem, Beverly and Lynn and other distant
places had they come; and from behind houses and
barn«, stone-wall- and fences they poured in their
fire upon the column that was hiistening down the
highway.
Percy showed himself a worthy descendant of the
race of soldiers from whom he came. He was now in
command of the whole British force. He had placed
at the head of the column the grenadiers and light
infantry, — the remnant of Smith's detachment. Next
came his wounded, carried in wagons, and finally, in
the rear, his own fresh troops. From the latter, also,
were made up strong flanking-parties, that marched to
right and left of the road, parallel with the main body,
and protected it by threatening the flank of the par-
ties of Provincials that skirted the highway.
The plundering and setting on fire of houses had
begun in Lexington and was continued through Men-
otomy. Worn out with many miles of marching and
fighting, exposed to a murderous fire which they
could not return with effect, with the number of their
enemies increasing and safety still far distant, it is
not .surprising that the soldiers forgot discipline and
indiscriminately plundered and destroyed. They en-
tered the Great Tavern, as it was then called, belong-
ing to William Cutler, — a part of the present Rus-
sell's Tavern, — took what they could carry, broke
furniture, let the contents of the casks of spirits and
molasses run to waste, and ended by setting the house
on fire. They burst into the house of Deacon .Joseph
Adams, where they found his wife lying in bed with
her youngest child beside her, — an infant not much
more than two weeks old. One of the soldiers threat-
ened to kill her, but was restrained by a more merci-
ful comrade. They allowed her to crawl to a neighbor-
iug corn barn, while they proceeded to plunder the
house. It was here that they found the communion
service of the church, one of the pieces of which, a
silver tankard, was recovered after the evacuation of
Boston, and still forms a precious possession of the
Fir.-it Parish. This house also they set on fire, but, as
ha[ipened in the case of all the other buildings in
Menotomy which they attempt^d to burn, their haste
prevented them from making thorough work of it, and
the riames were soon extinguished.
About opposite Mill Street stood, and still stands,
the house then occupied by Jason Russell. He was
one of the principal citizens of the precinct. His
land extended from the property of Deacon Joseph
Adams to the Common by the meeting-house, and
stretched along the Watertown road beyond Parson
Cooke's house, as far as to what we know as the Gray
estate. Being a man of fifty-eight years of age and
lame, he at first intended to accompany his family to
the house of George Prentiss, which was at a distance
from the road, and served as a place of refuge for
many non-combatants. But, after starting with them,
he made up his mind to stand his ground at his own
home. He fortified his gate with bundles of shingles,
thinking that these would make a good breastwork.
Ammi Cutter, who had been taking part in the atiJair
of the supply-wagons, and to whose house Lieutenant
Gould was first taken, found time to cross the brook
and urge his neighbor to go to a safer place. Rus-
sell's blood was up. He replied : "An Englishman's
house is his castle," and refused to abandon his post.
Meanwhile, a body of Americans — mostly Danvers
men — had taken up their position in the rear of Rus-
sell's house, some in a walled enclosure, which they
strengthened with bundles of shingles, others behind
trees on the hillside. Apparently Russell joined
them there. They did not have long to wait. As
Cutter was returning home he was fired upon by the
British flankers on the north side of the road. As he
ran he tripped and rolled among the logs of the mill
and wisely lay quiet while the bullets whizzed over
isn
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
him and scattered the bark upon him. Across the
highway, bloody work was going on. As the British
columns came sweeping down the road, the strong
guard on their right flank came suddenly upon the
rear of our ambuscade, and, after a moment of savage
fighting, drove the men in the enclosure down
towards the road — now filled with the main body of
the enemy. Closely pursued, they hurried into IJus-
sell's house. Russell himself was shot down at his
own door, and was stabbed again and .igain with the
bayonets of the pursuers as they rushed in, killing
every man they could find. Eight Americans escaped
to the cellar. One soldier was shot on the cellar-
stairs, and his comrades dared venture no further ;
they plundered the house and went on. In the south
room of the blood-stained dwelling were soon laid the
bodies of twelve of the dead, among them the corpse
of the owner, bearing the marks of two bullet-wounds
and eleven bayonet-stabs.
The fighting at Russell's house seems to have been
the fiercest of the day in Menotomy ; nowhere "Ise
did so many men get to close quarters. But it was by
no means the end. As the Britisii came down through
the centre, they plundered houses, en'.ered the store
of Thomas Russell, now occupied by his descendant,
where thev followed their customary plan uf theft anil
destruction, and treated the meeting-house, the old
.Vdams house and the dwelling of the minister to :i
fusilade. They next burst into l^oper's tavern at the
corner of the Medford road, where, unluckily, they
found other than lifeless objects for their wratb.
Cooper and his wife, warned by the storm of bullets
that came beating .against the house, as the enemy
drew near, succeeded in reaching the cellar and
escaped, but Jabez Wyman and Jason Winship, the
only other occupants, were not ;ts fortunate. They
were unarmed, and the soldiers at once despatched
them with blows and bayonet-thrusts.
At about the same time Samuel Whittemore met
with an experience unique among the event>
of the day. He was then not far from eighty
years of age. He had known of the British expedition
very early, for he lived near the e.astern edge ol
the town and had seen the soldiers as they marched
by in the moonlight. Eager to have a hand in the
fray, he had put his weapons in order, and, armed with
musket and horse-pistol, lay in wait behind a stone-
wall as the British retreated through the centre.
After firing a few times he w.as surprised by the flank-
guard. He shot two of them and, as he was firing a
third time, received a ball in the face which stretched
him senseless. The soldiers beat him with their
muskets, stabbed him six or eight times with their
bayonets and passed on, leaving him for dead. To
the astonishment of his neighbors he not only re-
covered, but lived for eighteen years afterwards.
From the centre to the eastern limit of the town
the fighting was continuous. The advantage of higher
ground was no longer with the Americans, but their
numbers were continually growing. It was in this
part of the field that Dr. Joseph Warren came so near
his death — a bullet striking the pin from the hair of
his ear-lock. Some of the Danver? men, who had
managed to escape when their comrades were swept
into Russell's house, had here taken up a new posi-
tion and did fatal work. Leaving behind them many
dead and wounded men, the enemy crossed the brook
and continued their retreat through Cambridge and
Charlestown until at last the darkness came on and
the fight was ended.
Such are some of the incidents that happened in
Menotomy on Wednesday, the lOth day of .^pril,
1775, From them we can form an idea of the many
like occurrences of the day that have faded out of
memory. Enough remains to assure us that our fath-
ers bore themselves like mc-n, and were not unworthy to
have been among the firet 1/3 tight and to die for the
freedom and independence of their country.
Our scattered people came back to their dismantled
houses. Notlessthan twenty-two Americans, and prob-
ablv fully twice as many of the enemy, had been killed
iu Menotomy that April afternoon. Many of the ilead
were carried back to their own towns, but twelve »(
them, including thethree .MtiintDmy men, were buritd
here. With war actually begun, the ordinary decent
observances were omitted, < )ne grave was dug in the
burying-ground and the dead hastily committed U> it,
without coffins and in the ilnthes ihey had worn when
thev fell, .\bove tlieui wxs afterwards placed a slate
grave-stone, still standing beside the monument,
which the piety of a later generatian has raised, and
on it we read :
" >l'. .I.ijON KfS^KI t \Vll =
lmrl>aruiii<ly uinril*Ti-l iu bis •■"■ii
HiMise by Oa.,e's til..u<l_v "I'roiip-
.11) .1' Ui" of April, 1T75. Klal f<:>.
His boJy ig i|uitlty rfStiuc
io tbis grave with Eleven
of our frioiid?, wbo iii Like
Dinnuer, with Dinny uther^, wer"
cruelly Slain un tbat fatul ilay.
Blessed nre y* dead ivbo 'lie in y» Lonl ' "
Jason Rasseli, .fabe/. Wyiuaii .nnd Jason Winship
were three of the occupants nt' that bloody grave.
Who the nine others were cannot now be told. Sev-
enty-three years later some of the public-spirited cit-
izens of West Cambridge, together with Hon. Peter
C. Bniiiks, of iledford, joined to erect the granite
shaft that now marks the place. When the workmen
opened the grave to lay the foundations of the mori-
ument they found the bones still in a good state of
preservation, and mingled with them remnants of
clothing, rusty buttons, an nUl shot-pouch, two flints
and other remains of like nature. The British dead
were buried, some in the buriai-ground, near the
brook, other in various parts of the town where
they had fallen. On the day after the fight a company
of militia was detailed from the American force al-
ready under arms in Cambridge, to go over the
ARLINGTON.
181
ground of the previous day's fighting and inter such
of the dead as might be still unburied.
There were no actual hostilities in Menotomy after
April 19th, but the parish by no means escaped the
burdens of the war. Its young men, under Captain
Loclce, formed part of the army that besieged Boston.
Probably the company was in the battle of Bunker
Hill ; certainly its captain was, and his descendants
preserve the musket that he carried on that day, and
tell the story how he fired it till it grew too hot to hold,
and then wound his handkerchief around ic, and kept
on firing. Two days after that battle an order was
made that as many houses in Menotomy as should be
needed, should be turned into hospitals for the sick
and wounded of the .American army. The taking of
the house of Rev. Mr. Cooke for this purpose was es-
pecially authorized.
With the evacuation ut' Boston the scene of hostil-
ities was shifted from Massachusetts, and thencefor-
ward Menotomy had to bear only its sh.ire of the
sacrifices that the conflict entailed. All through the
war their minister never failed to hold his people to
their duty. It was only with difficulty that his son
liad forced him out of danger on the l!)th of April ; for
the old man longed to have a hand in the tight, and
to prove that his hatred of oppression was as great
when oppression was to be met in arms in the streets
as when it was to be denounced from the |)ulpit. His
sermons certainly show no softening of feeling or re-
laxation of purpose as the gloomy years of the Revo-
lution pa.ss by. His faith never wavers, that the cause
of America is the cause of God, and that in His Prov-
iilence it must succeed at last. The British figure as
"tyrants," " unfeelinir monsters," "'our worse than
savage enemies,' "our implacable foe^." The Script-
ures are ransacked for comparisons, and any particu-
larly odious oppressor of the olden time is pretty
certain to be found to bear a striking re-semblance to
l^ord North. Unfair and unjust much of it no doubt
seems to us who lock back over the space of a century,
but there is no question as to the earnestness and
passion of the preacher. In him the old Puritan
spirit is alive again, and it is perhaps fortunate for our
country that so many of the clergy of that day, like
him, believed that the war between England and Amer-
ica was a war between the powers of darkness and of
light.
Few entries relating to the war appear on the
records of the parish. In 1778 it was voted that the
inhabitants be divided into fifteen messes, in propor-
tion to their valuation — the design evidently being
that the " messes " should be equal in property. Each
mess had to furnish or support a soldier, and the ex-
pense was shared among the members according to
their means. Various committees were chosen to
carry out the scheme. Some light is thrown on the
enormous depreciation of the currency by theamounts
appropriated for the minister's salary. During the
early years of the wax it remains at £75. In 1778-79
£300 is voted. The next year it is £1200 ; and finally
at the close of 1780 it is placed at £3000. After the
surrender of Lord Cornwallis it falls back to £120, and
then to £100.
Mr. Cooke did not live long after the war. He
died June 4, 1783, and was laid to rest in the old
burial-place between his meeting-house and his home.
He had played a great part in the community for
more than forty years ; nor was his fame confined to
his own parish. He was in close relations with the
other divines in and about Boston, and was often
called upon to take a prominent part when a minister
was to be ordained or any special solemnity observed.
Rigid and unyielding where what he deemed the
interests of truth were concerned, he labored to sus-
tain the faith delivered to the churches in New Eng-
land. False doctrine, heresy or schism found no
countenance from him. As far back as 1745, as one
of an association of ministers, he declared that he
would not aak into his pulpit the Rev. George White-
field, who was then making such a stir among
clergy and laity alike. In the latter part of his life
he was much troubled by the spread of new opinions
that were undermining the old unity of faith among
his peopleiand by the increasing laxity in morals and
iliscipline. Naturally Universalism received uo favor
from him, or, as the obituary notice in the newspaper
puts it, " As he ever opposed the introduction of
errors, he was particularly concerned to bear a faith-
ful and even dying testimony against the doctrines of
'Salvation for all Men' as 'totally subversive of the
Christian religion.' " But worse than all was the
actual establishment of a Baptist church in his own
parish two years before his death. It was a sign that
the old order of things was coming to an end in Men-
otomy ; that his church could no longer exist as the
sole centre of religious instruction ; that his teach-
ings must cease to command universal assent and
reverence ; and it is perhaps well that he did not live
to a time when the disintegrating process had gone
on still farther.
I make no apology for having devoted what may
seem undue space to the first minister of the parish ;
for the history of the parish centres about him, and
the better we know him the better we can under-
stand the character of the people among whom he
labored.
For several years after Mr. Cooke's death the parish
was in difficulty. The people shared in the general
poverty that accompanied and followed the war.
They owed a considerable amount of arrears of salary
to the heirs of their late minister, which they did not
succeed in paying off until 1786. They had trouble
with the new Baptist society. Twice they unsuccess-
fully attempted to settle a minister. At last, at a
meeting held July 16, 1787, they chose for their min-
ister Rev. Thaddeus Fiske, who had already been
preaching for them several months. This time their
effort did not fail, and Mr. Fiske began his long pas-
182
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
torate of forty years. He was twenty-five years old
when he came to Menotomy, and Bad graduated at
Harvard College two years before.
There had probably been some persons in the parish
inclined to Baptist views for a long period before the
Revolution, but the first notice we find of them in the
records as a distinct chiss is in March, 1775. Appar-
ently some of them felt a not unreasonable dislii^e to
being taxed for the support of a church with which
they difiered, and desired that the injustice might be
remedied, but they found the majority of their neigh-
bors uncompromising, for the record of a meeting
held March 22, 1775, reads that it was voted "not to
excuse the people called antipedobaptists from pay-
ing ministerial taxes for the year 1773-74." Then
came the war and for a time theological disputes were
in abeyance. In 1780 the Baptist people got together
and began to take steps to organize a society.
In the following year the society and church were
regularly formed and received the fellowship of the
denomination. Thomas Green was the first pastor.
Originally appointed to preach in Menotomy by
the Association of which the newly-formed church
was a member, his ministrations proved so acceptable
to his people th,".t he was ordained as minister
in November, 1783. His pastorate continued for ten
years. In 1790 a church was built — still standing —
at the corner of Brattle Street, and showing, notwith-
standing the alterations made to convert it into a
dwelling-house, evident traces of its original pur-
pose. At about tliis time an agreement was made
whereby persons of the Baptist faith living in Woburn
were enabled to unite with the church in Menotomy,
the minister preaching half the time in each place.
This turned out to be an unfortunate arrangement for
the original society, for the Woburn branch increased
much more rapidly than did the society in Jlenotomy,
and became the principal organization. The people
here weie no longer able to support regular preach-
ing, but they held services from time to time, as they
found opportunity, and prevented the enterprise in
which they believed from coming to an end.
During the remaining years of the eighteenth
century little out of the ordinary course happened in
the precinct. There was a growing feeling that
Menotomy was now able to cut loose from Cambridge
and become a separate town. In 178-1 a committee
was appointed to petition the General Court to set
off the Northwest Precinct of Cambridge and Charles-
town as a township. Two years later an effort was
made to induce Cambridge to take some action in the
matter. These propositions came to no immediate
result, but they show that the separation from Cam-
bridge wa.s not brought about by any sudden im-
pulse.
Political differences no doubt had also a share in
increasing the desire for separation. When parties
began to be formed after the adoption of the Consti-
tution, Old Cambridge took the Federalist side,
while Menotomy strongly favored the opposition.
People who had seen their houses pillaged and
their neighbors murdered by the King's soldiers could
hardly be e.xpected to look with much favor
on the cause of England, with which the Federalists
were popularly identified. With France they had a
warm sympathy. When the French Republic was
established there were various celebrations of the
event among the Republicans in and about Boston.
In Menotomy, instead of the usual civic feast, the
women held a celebration of their own. About fifty
of them met one Thursday afternoon in February,
1793, at the house of Mrs. " Wellington '' — probably
Mrs. Jeduthun Willington — who had ornamented
her rooms with various kinds of evergreens, to con-
gratulate one another upon the great events in France.
With their caps adorned with the French national
cockade of liberty, they sat down to a banquet con-
sisting of coffee, wine and civic cake, and further cele-
brated with music, vocal and instrumental ; until, as
the reporter gallantly expresses it, " the joyful scene
concluded with that harmony, civility and politeness
which exalt their sex so lar above the other." Civic
cake, which was used at the festivals of the French
sympathizers, differed from other cake in having
the words " Liberty and Equality " .stamped upon
it. That such a ceiebr.ation should have taken place
at all in a parish like Menotomy, among such a sober
and practical people as lived here, shows with pecu-
lilar vividness the intensity of popular feeling. N'ery
soon after this astonishing performance the news ar-
rived of the execution of Louis XVI. and the begin-
ning of that series of events that culminated in the
Reign of Terror, and we hear nothing more of civic
cake and cockades of liberty.
In 1799 a new industry was begun in the parish,
which had a good deal of fame in its day. Thi.s was
the card manufactory of Amos Whittemore and his
brothers. Amos was a grandson of S-amuel Whitte-
more, whose experience in the battle of April IS',
1775, has been above narrated. He early e.xhibited
an unusual taste for mechanics, and during his ap-
prenticeship to a gunsmith, showed much ingenuity
and a strong inventive talent. After a time he be-
came engaged in Boston in the manufacture of cotton
and wool cards.
The manufacture of cotton and woolen goods was
beginning to be important, and the demand for cards —
used in separating the fibre — was increasing. But
this manufacture was a slow and expensive process.
One machine punched a piece of leather lull of
holes; another machine cut wire and bent it into
staples, and then the staples had to be placed in the
holes, one by one, by hand, to make the card. Whitte-
more set himself the task of contriving a machine that
should perform the whole operation. The story is that of
so many inventions. At the sacrifice of health, with
neglect of food and sleep, he devoted himself to his
work. Gradually overcoming one difficulty after
ARLINGTON.
183
aaother, he brought his machine nearer and nearer
perfection. One final obstacle 'remained which seemed
insurmountable. Despairing oftentimes, but coming
back with tenacious perseverance to the effort, at last
the solution of the problem flashed upon him and the
task was done. He obtained a patent in the United
States in 1797 and afterwards one in England ; and,
with his brother William and Robert Williams, began
business In Menotomy under the firm of William
Whittemore & Co. Their factory stood near the meet-
ing-house. Two years after the business was started
it employed forty people and turned out two hundred
dozen cards a week. In so small a community as
Menotomy then was — comprising but 85 dwelling-
houses — this was a very important industry, and its
removal to New York in 1S12 was felt as a serious
loss. Its fortunes in Xeiv York were various. Shar-
ing in the sudden and perhaps unhealthy .activity of
manufacturing pursuits during the war of 1S12. itfelt
severely the equally sudden reverses that followed.
After the expiration of the patent in 1825, two of the
inventor's sons again began business in West Cam-
bridge in 1827 in a different place and in a smaller
way, and carried it on until their factory w:i3 burned
in 1862.
The principal work undertaken by the parish dur-
ing the Last years of its existence as the Second
Parish of Cambridge w.is the building of a new meet-
ing-house. Notwithstanding additions of seats and
pews, the old one was too small to accommodate the
increased number of worshippers. The building had
undergone repairs fiom time to time. As far back as
1778 Rev. Mr. Cooke :ip|'euis v> have felt doubtful
about the stability ot the be !lry, for we find his thrifty
parishioners appointing .i coiriinitlee to see if they
'■ could make him easy '" n^it to ta);e it down. The
c immittee brought liaik the resigned answer that he
Would leave it to the peiti^le, and trust in the provi-
ilence of God. The new belfry appeared in 1783, when
many alterations and repairs were made. Finally it
was decided that a larger building must be had. At
a meeting held January 9, 1804, it was voted to build
a wooden house seveuty feet long, fifty-six feet wide,
and thirty feet posts. The old meeting-house was
sold at auction, and after several changes reached the
place where it now stands. It was turned into a
dwelling-house, and is now occupied by Mr. Charles
O. Gage.
The uew house was raised without accident in July,
1804, and dedicated March 20, 1805. It had the same
general appearance as many meeting-houses of that
day — an oblong building painted white, having in
front a porch with four pillars, and on top a, short,
square tower surmounted by a belfry, the dome-shaped
roof of which supported a little spire with a vane —
still a familiar type of church architecture in New
England villages. It contained ninety-two pews on
the floor and fourteen in the galleries.
The prospect of a new building seems to have ex-
cited the zeal of the musical members of the parish
to improve the singing on Sundays. There had been
a choir for a considerable time — at any rate, since
1775, when William Cutter was chosen by the parish
to lead in singing, and two seats in the front gallery
were set apart for the singers. In 1796 instrumental
music was added in the shape of a bass-viol, to the
accompaniment of which the choir sang the hymns
in Tate and Brady's Collection. In 1804 it became
desirable to establish the Northwest Parish of Cam-
bridge Singing Society, for, as was said in the pre-
amble to the constitution, the spirit of music in
public devotion " is become something languid, and
its genius seems about to withdraw." Accordingly
the society was formed for the laudable purpose
of reviving the spirit and improving the members
in the art of music. " .Justice our principle. Reason
our guide, anil Honor our law." It was provided
that every member should sit in the singing seats on
Sundays when he was at meeting. This society
lasted three years, aud was immediately succeeded by
the West Cambridge Musical Society, which con-
tinued until 1817. The "Village Harmony," the
"Middlesex Collection," aud Belknap's hymn-book
furnished them with material ; they met in the win-
ter months for practice, aud we may hope were en-
abled to bring back the retiring genius of music.
The building of the new meeting-house was soon
followed by the incorporation of a new town. A pe
tition was presented to the General Court, and on
! February 27, 1807, an act was passed to incorporate
I the Second Parish of Cambridge as the town of We.st
j Cambridge. The act went into effect June 1, 1807.
I From that time the history of the parish continues
I simply as that of a religious society — no longer as
I that of a community. In it,^ place come the more
I varied activities of a self-governing New England
I town.
1
j III. The Tow^ of West Ca.mukiuge, 1807-67.
j When the town of West Cambridge was incorporat-
ed it contained not far from nine hundred inhabit-
ants. The increase in population had been gradual
and had not affected the character of the place. It
was still essentially the farming community that it
had been for more than a century and a half. The
; roads that traversed the town were the old roads to
j Cambridge, Medford, Woburn, Charlestown and Wa-
( tertown, and the paths that led from the highway to
j the mills on the brook. Of these mills there were
several. Lowest on the brook was Ephraim Cutter's
grist-mill, which he had recently built at his new
dam just below the ancient site of Col. Cooke's
mill, and of its successors, where for several genera-
tions his own ancestors had labored. Next above came
the mill of Stephen Cutter, on the present Mill Street.
At the place where the saw factory was so long car-
ried on, Abner Stearns had just erected a wool-factory,
which he sold in 1808 to John Tufls, who kept the
184
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
neighboring tavern. Stearns established himself a house. The banquet toolc place out of doors near
little farther up the stream and soon built a fulling- , Tufts' Tavern, .ind was followed by a formidable list
mill and set about spinning yarn. Near the Foot of [ of toasts, proposed by the toast-master and responded
the Rocks stood the mill where Gershom Cutter had,
for some years, carried on the business of turning and
grinding edge-tools ; and a short distance above came
the grist-mill of Ichabod Fessenden, which he sold in
1809 to John Perry and Stephen Locke.
Besides the business that was carried on along the
brook, the only manufactory seems to have been the
Whittemore card-factory ; but that was the most im- I
portant of all, for the business was growing each year. I
In 1S09 the twenty-three machines with which the i
business began had incre.ased to fifty-live, capable of |
sticking eighty dozen pairs of cards in a day. From j
nine to ten thousand dollars wtis paid in wages yearly '
to the forty or fifty employees — a very large amount i
in the eyes of the people of the town. There were a |
number of stores — that of Col. Thomas Eussell being I
the most important, and several taverns. These oc- l
cupations, however, employed a comparatively small
portion of the citizens. The greater number carried
on farming, as their predecessors had done. That \v;ui !
the distinctive business of tiie place. |
On the llth day of June, 1807, the people of West i
Cambridge met in their first town-neetiug and chose |
their first board of town (ifiicers. Together with the |
officers who are still annually elected — the selectmen, |
overseers of the poor, town treasurer, constables —
others were chosen whose names are not so familiar
nowadays — fire-wards, hog-reeves, pound-keeper and
tythingman. In the Massachusetts fashion, the citi-
zens next set about providing for the education of
their children. The old system of the four women's
schools and the one man's school with the term of
fourteen weeks was improved upon. The town was
divided into four school districts — the South, Western,
Middle and Eastern — and it was provided that there
should be four and a half months' schooling in each.
In the following spring West Cambridge first took
part as a separate community in a .State election, and
the political bias of the people appears very clearly
in the result of the vote for Governor, for while the
Republican Governor, Sullivan, received 147 votes,
the Federalist candidate, Christopher Gore, had to
content himself with thirty-three. Party spirit ran
high in those days, for the embargo had been pro-
claimed in the previous December and the effects of
that measure were beginning to be felt in New Eng-
land. The West Cambridge people had little to do
directly with foreign commerce, and did not experi-
ence that personal suffering that brought about such
bitter opposition in many places to Mr. Jefferson's
policy, while their patriotic feelings impelled them to
take the side of the Admiuiatiation. When the Fourth
of July arrived they celebrated it with a procession,
an oration and a banquet. The orator was William
Nichols, Jr., then the master of the school at the cen-
tre of the town, and he spoke in the new meeting-
to by persons selected beforehand. The general en-
thusiasm was heightened by the playing of the band
and the firing of the cannon, as the toasts v.-ere given.
Beside the regular eighteen toasts there were five
"volunteers." Some of these sentiments are worth
quoting :
"The PresitJent : — a firm, uDiievintiug .Tnd intlexiMe patriot iiiul etitted-
tnan ; he livefl in tlie resiiect anil vtueratiun of the fiiende i>f libeity."
"The memory of Warren, and all those wlio M\ in defence of our
rights; — may their apiiita haunt the wrelciies who servilely coiirt rhe
fivor of their destroyers."
'* The Knibargu : — wisely calciilateii tu pit-s-rve uur peace ami privi-
leges ; may those who eeek to destroy its elhcacy feel its first effects."
'*The people of the L'jiited States : — may lliey he fully sen?ihle of then-
power and eorereiguty, iind never MltTer a nobility to trample on theii
rights or be duped by Federal imposture :itid hypocrisy."
"May the kidnappers of man, uf eveiv mitiuo, b.- equally detested b>
I the Sons and •laughters ul Columbi.i.
I We may safely assume thai the few tVderalistJ in
West Cambridge took no great ])art in this interesting'^
celebration. At a town-meeting hold in March, LSOy,
! the majority expressed tlit-ir (eeliiigs "on tlie alarm-
ing crisis of our publick atfiiis" in a serie.s of resolu-
tions that revel in figurative laiisuage. They beL'iu
with a long preamble recitiug llie >cri<iusne:>s of a
moment " when Great Britain, like the leviathun nl
the deep, has sharpened her teeth against the cdm-
luerce of all nations; when, by her piracies and her
illegal orders, she has swept from the ocean the tom-
merceof all nations; when, like the Ishmaelite of old,
her hand is against every man ami every man's hand
against her." .\tter particulaii'.ing some of the acts
of the Ishmaelite and the leviathan tlie preamble goes
on to denounce the oppositiim party at home, espe-
cially for their proceedings in the State Legislature
and various towns, "when the very men who charge
the National Government with partiality to France,
have justified or palliated the conduct of Great Brit-
ain, and openly advised to unfurl the Republican
banner against the Imperial standard ; " and concludes
by saying that it is time for citizens to come forward
and express their sentiments. Then follow the senti-
ments which citizens ought to express, in the form of
resolutions of which a small part relates to the bad
conduct of England and France and a great deal to
the worse conduct of the Federalists. They approve
the Embargo, express respect for the liberty of the
press, with a dark allusion to that portion of it that
is endeavoring to weaken the Administration, charge
upon the leaders of the opposition that they are
moved by "a thirst for power and place which they
have uniformly been seeking the last eight years,"
and that they, "notwithstanding the risk of all the
evils necessarily resulting from a dissolution of the
Union, are determined to hunt down and lay prostrate
the present Administration and to elevate themselves
and families on its ruins." The whole closes with
a commendation of Thomas Jefferson, whose Presi-
ARLINGTON.
185
dential term had just come to an end. One may
fancy the disgust of the Federalist minority that this
very unambiguous set of resolutions should go out as
the voice of the town. However, they c:ould muster
but eight dissenting votes, and it was further voted
that the resolutions should be published in the party
newspapers, where no doubt they brought joy to the
hearts of all good Republicans.
For the next two or three years the country was
dritting towards war, and a strong military spirit was
amused. The West Cambridge Light Infantry svaa
Drganized in 1811 and took part in a volunteer mus-
tor that occurred in the town that year. A fort was
liuilt, garrisoiie<l by a company which represented
British tnmps, was attacked by the .\merican forces,
and captured after a desperate struggle. In another
year came the second war with Great Britain. The
town voted to pay ten dollars per month and five dol-
lars bounty to each uon-couimi.ssioned officer and sol-
dier from West Cambridge in the service. Later in
the war the allowance was increased, and then the in-
crease was cut off. The war had little direct effect
upon the town, except in 1S14, when there waa a scare
as lo a threatened British attack ou Boston, aud a large
number of volunteers went into training to resist the
invaders, who never came.
In ISll) measures were taken to protect the town
against loss by fire. The selectmen were author-
ized to get fire-ladders and hooks, fire-ward staffs and
such other fire implements as they deemed necessary.
These were kept in different parts of the town, some
of them in the cellar of the lueeting-house. There
was already a little baud fire-engine — the " Friend-
ship " belonging to individuals and kept in a house
near the centre — but apparently of no very great ser-
vice, since we find the town voting in 1820 to buy an
engine on condition th.il the engine company would
transfer their house and fire implements to the town.
This burst of energy in relation to protection from
fire seems not to have been without cause, for in 1817
the town found it necessary to offer a reward of !?500
— a large sum for a town the yearly expenses of
which were only about $30i>0 — for information as to per-
.sons setting fire to buildings or to combustible matter
which might endanger buildings. The special com-
mittee that advised this action made at the same time
certain other recommendations aimed at the vices of
gambling and drunkenness. The committee advised
and the town voted that the selectmen should see that
the laws against gambling were rigidly executed and
that they should make a list of all persons who were
in the habit of excessive drinking or wasting time
and property thereby, should place the list in the
hands of all licensed persons and forbid them to
sell intoxicating liquor to anybody on the list. The
plan was certainly ingenious, although one is hardly
disposed to envy the task of the selectmen in deciding
who of their fellow-townsmen should go on the list of
topers.
While making such laudable efforts to suppress
crime and excess, the towns-people were not forgetful
of those institutions that make for intelligence and
morality. In each of the four districts into which the
town was divided a school was kept, taught by a man
in winter and by a woman in summer. The little
children especially attended the summer school, while
the older ones came to the master's school at a season
when out-door work on the farms had largely to cease.
The requirement foradmission into the "man'sschool"
was not very severe — an applicant need only be able
" to read in words of two syllables by spelling the
same." The oversight of the schools was first placed
on a settled basis in 1827, when a general School Com-
mittee of three members was chosen, with a Pruden-
tial Committee of four — one from each district — to
act with them. Before this time the custom had var-
ied. Sometimes the selectmen had formed part of
the School Committee — at other times a separate
board was appointed. Teachers' salaries were not
exorbitant. Usually about $600 were appropriated
for salaries, which gave to each district $150, more or
less, of which the master was apt to get the lion's
share.
The older people found a means of improvement in
the books of the West Cambridge Social Library.
This institution was founded in 1807, a very few
months after the incorporation of the town. It was a
proprietors' library— one of a class not uncommon at
that time, when circulating libraries were rare, and
free public libraries practically unknown, but not
I often to be met with now in Massachusetts — the most
I conspicuous surviving example being the Boston
Athenteum.
The library was a corporation wherein each mem-
i ber held a share, for which he paid five dollars, and
upon which he paid an annual assessment of one dol-
lar. With the money thus obtained, the library was
founded and kept up. It was not in any sense a pub-
lic institution ; the books were for the members and
their families alone, and a heavy fine was imposed if
a proprietor should lend a book to any one outside his
own household. Many of the most respectable and
intelligent citizens took shares. Each proprietor was
at first allowed to take one book at a time, but this
number was afterwarde increased, as the library be-
came larger. The length of time for which a book
could be retained varied, but a consideration was
shown to slow readers, which they do not often get
at the hands of the managers of modern libraries. For
example, a member might have twenty-five days to
read " Gay's Fables " and thirty-five days for " Paradise
Lost.'' He might reflect upon "Pilgrim's Progress "for
forty days if he saw fit, and was allowed seventy days
to struggle with " Ferguson's Astronomy." Notwith-
standing this liberality in the matter of time, the rec-
ords of fines show that the Social Library had its fiill
proportion of laggard book-borrowers. And it is not
surprising that hard-working men took some time to
186
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
go through the solid pages of fine print that made up
most of the volumes. The books were well selected,
— probably by Rev. Mr. Fiske, who was the clerk of
the corporation — but there was not much light read-
ing in them. A few histories, Rollin, Gibbon, Hume,
Robertson — biographies of Washington, Frankliu,
Putnam — books of travel, as "Capt. Cook's Voyages''
or Bruce's " Travels in Abyssinia." — these will give an
idea of the quality of the greater part of the collec-
tion. A few essayists were represented in the librar}',
several poets, hardly a novelist. The scarcity of
American writers is noticeable; at that time there
were few of them. But with all its unlikeness to a
modern catalogue, one cannot examine the lists ol
the books of the West Cambridge Social Library with-
out an added respect for the people who turned to
such serious and wholesome reading as the employ-
ment of iheir leisure hours. The library continued
to exist until after the establishment of the Juvenile
Library described below.
Some other events of this period ra;iy be more
briefly dismissed. An almshouse was built in 1S17.
Before that time the poor were boarded out, or were
aided by the town at their own homes. About S700
was spent for the support of paupers in the year ISlO
-11, and nearly S800 in 1815-16. The almshouse
stood on land bought of Josiah Whittemore, near the
site of the Black Horse Tavern. It was used until
the present almshouse was built, in 1853, was then
sold at auction and continues to be occupied as a dwell-
ing-house. In 1812 the town obtained the e.xclusive
right of disposing of the privilege of taking the shad
and alewives in the ponds and streams within its lim-
its,— a grant which was revoked by the Legislature in
J823. In 1821 West Cambridge was plscf-d under
the operation of an act, passed Id 1789, which pro-
vided for the regulation of the shad and alewife fish-
ery in Mystic River and its tributary ponds and
streams ; and thereafter preservers of fish were regu-
larly chosen.
In 1823 we find the town taking measures against
the danger of an epidemic of small-pox, by author-
izing the selectmen and overseers of the poor to con-
tract with some person to inoculate all inhabitants
who wished with the cow-pox — the expense to be not
over twenty-five cents for each patient.
West Cambridge was honored in the following year
with the presence of Lafayette, who passed through
on his way to Lexington, .September 2d. No formal
exercises were held here. Two arches, with appro-
priate inscriptions, were thrown across the road, and
the whole population — men, women and children —
assembled by the meeting-house to cheer the veteran
as he went by.
In 1835 the town received a legacy of §100 from Dr.
Ebenezer Learned, of Hopkiuton, New Hampshire,
to establish a juvenile library. Dr. Learned was by
birth a Medford man, a graduate of Harvard College
in the class of 1787, and afterwards a practicing phy-
sician at Leominster, Massachusetts, and Hopkinton,
New Hampshire. Himself a man of learning, he was
devoted throughout his life to the advancement of
education, and took an active part, without any sell-
seeking, in the promotion of many good causes.
Holding a high rank in his profession, he found time
for outside pursuits, which he believed would bring
benefit to the community. Thus he was active in the
formation of the New Hamp^hire Agricultural So-
ciety, and was one of the founders of Hopkinton
Academy. He had taught school in Menotomy when
he was a student in college, and had doubtless often
thought how few were the books to which children
had access; and when he came to consider to what
use the savings of many industrious years were to be
applied, he resolved that among his other benefac-
tions he would do something for the benefit cif the
school-children of West Cambridge. He states his
purpose in his will : " In consequciu e of ;i grnleful
remembrance of hospitality and frieiiil.-hi|/, ;is well as
an uncommon share of patronage aii'orded ine by the
inhabitants of West Cambridge, in the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, in the early part of my life, when
patronage was most useful to me, I give to the said
town of West Cambriilge Sino fur the purpose of es-
tablishing a juvenile library in said town. The
Selectmen, Ministers ot the i.iospel and rhy.-icinns of
West Cambridge, for the time being, shall receive this
sum. select and purchase the books for the library,
which shall be such books as in their opinion will
best promote useful knowledge and the Christian vir-
tues among the inhabitants of said town who are
' scholars, or by usasre have a right to attend as schol-
' ars in their primary schools. Other persons may be
admitted to the privileges of said liiirary under the
liirection of said town, paying a sum for membership,
and an annual tax lor the increa~e of tlie>ame.
Dr. Le.arned's intention is entirely clear. He had
no thought of founding a library which should not
belong to the town, or the management of which in
years to come should be in any way restricted or
taken out of the hands of the town. He wanted to
; be sure that the books bought with his bequest should
' be well selected, and hence he appointed those who,
I from their position in the community, might be as-
sumed to be trustworthy men. After his legacy had
been expended, the duties of bis nominees would end,
the library would belong to the town, and he evi-
dently believed that the town would cheerfully bear
the small expense of managing it, as he left nothing
for that purpose, for its increase he relied upon the
fees that adults might pay under the town's direction,
as his will provides.
I The selectmen, ministers and physicians met No-
vember 30, 1835. and voted that the books selected
; for the library should be such as were directed by
the will of the donor, — "the same not being of a sec-
: tarian character " — and then proceeded to spend
more than four-fifths of the legacy for books. When
ARLINGTON.
187
this was done, however, instead of handing over the
collection of volumes to the town, that it might take
whatever action it saw fit in regard to the future
management of the library, the selectmen, ministers
and physicians continued to control it, and, in fact,
remained in charge of it till 187S. This came about
naturally enough, as the library was small for many
years and could be as well managed in this way as in
any other. So, without any formal act on the part of
the town, thi.s arrangement was acquiesced in by com-
mon consent. Although the managers styled them-
selves " Trustees of the West Cambridge Juvenile
Library," yet they recognized in their accounts and
in their frequent reports to the town that they were
simply agents of the town and not an independent
body — a fact also recognized by the town, which, at
one time, added the Scliool Committee to their num-
ber.
In 188ri the West Cambridge Sewing Circle gave
the sum of sixty dollars to the library, and in return
were granted the privilege of taking books for a nom-
inal yearly fee. A mure important thing happened
in 1S37, when the town voted at the JIarch meeting
that thirty dollars be appropriated annually for the
increase of the Juvenile Library. The trustees passed
a vote at their ne.xt meeting " that, in consideration
of tiiirty dollars annually appropriated by the town
for the increase of the Library, that each family in
the town shall have the right to take books from the
library while the appropriation is continued." In
1837, then, the library became a free town library —
owned and managed l>y the town, and open without
i-harge to all its people. I have stated these facts in
-ome detail, as it is no small liouur to ;i town to have
founded the tirst free public library in -Massachu-
setts.
The library for some time incre.ased but ^iowly.
Its only regular resource was the town appropriation
of thirty dollar--, i^ince or twice tliis wa-i omitted at
the proper time, but the arrears were made up by the
payment of two or three yeare' appropriations at once.
From time to time there were giftsof money or books.
-Most of the books of the old Social Library came
finally into the collection. In 18.">4 a bequest of SlOO
was received I'rom the estate of Dr. Timothy Welling-
ton, for half a century an honored and beloved phy-
sician of the town. He had been clerk of the trus-
tees from the beginning aud was a warm and clevoted
supporter of the library. His gift was invested and
its income is used each year in buying books. In
1860 the town appropriation Wiis increased to .'jIOO
and a few years later to .SiiOO. The library was at
tirst kept in the liouse of ilr. Jonathan Dexter.
After a time it was placed in the basement of the
First Parish Church and latei' in the Town House.
In 1824 William Cutter died, leaving his property
after the death of his wife to the town for the beuetit
of the public schools. His widow, Mary, died iu 1836
aud the gift then became available. Mary Cutter,
: with the same public spirit that her husband had
shown, bequeathed to the town S200 for the benefit of
; the poor widows of the place. The " William Cutter
School Fund '' amounted when received to $5019. It
was somewhat increased in the settlement of accounts
between Charlestown and West Cambridge in 1842,
and is now S5354. The donor wisely placed no narrow
restrictions upon his giit — its income was to be appro-
priated " for the maintenance and supportof schools."
The " Poor Widows' Fund " has also been added to
from time to time, and now amounts to $613.11, held
for the benefit of the poor widows of the town. The
' town, appreciating these gifts of a childless couple,
whose only motive could have been the hope of doing
good, instructed the selectmen to contribute to the
I erection of the monument that marks their grave.s in
I the old cemetery.
I In 1838 a new division of school districts was made.
j The larger part of the Centre and East Districts be-
came the Union District ; the Northwest District was
somewhat enlarged and the Southwest District re-
I mained unchanged. In the Union and Northwest
Districts the old school-houses were .sold and new
ones built — each two stories in height and containing
two school-rooms. The expense was in part defrayed
'. from a windfall that had come to the town during the
preceding year. It was then that the surplus revenue
of the United States was distributed among the States.
Massachusetts divided its share among its towns. At
first West Cambridge thriftily voted to lend the fund
thus acquired on the security of real estate mortgages,
giving a preference to its own citizens as borrowers ;
but when the school-houses had to be built the temp-
tation was strong to use this money rather than to
rai.se the necessary sum by taxation, and the treasurer
wivj accordingly authorized to call it in again. In
1842 a new school-house was built in the South Dis-
; trie?. With new buildings a rough grading of the
schools became practicable, and the system then es-
tablished lasted for some years with little variation.
, In each district was a grammar school taught by a
man and a primary school taught by a woman. Be-
sides these, there was a little primary school in what
' was called the Wyman District. This district was in
' the old limits of Charlestown and most of it was in-
cluded in Winchester iu 1850, the part left within the
' borders of West Cambridge being then joined to the
Union District. Then for a few yeai-s the Gardner
School existed, which came to an end when Somer-
ville was separated from Charlestown. Both of these
schools were within the boundaries of Charlestown
and were never large. In 1850 a school-house was
erected in the East District — a part of the Union Dis-
trict— aud a primary school established.
There were two terms in the school year, known as
the summer and winter terms. The summer term be-
gan about the middle of April and lasted till Thanks-
! giving, with a break of three weeks in August. After
'■ the Thanksgiving vacation of a week, the winter term
188
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
began and continued till about tlie end of March,
when two weeks of vacation brought round the sum-
mer term again. At the end of each terra came an
examination by the School Committee, and frequent-
ly public exercises were held. Of the teachers of
these schools, the late Daniel C. Brown, for many
years master of the Centre School is perhaps now the
best remembered.
In 1861 the Russell School — a four-room wooden
building — was erected on the piece of land where its
successor now stands, and was named after one of the
oldest and most prominent families in town. Two
years later a similar school-house was built in the
Northwest District and received the name of the Cut-
ter School, after another well-known family, with
perhaps a special reference to the donor of the Wil-
liam Cutter School Fund. This building stood but
three years before it was burned. Another l)uilding,
still standing, was erected in its place in l>!ti7. With
this increase in schools, consequent upon the growth
of the town, an improved system of grading became
practicable.
[n 18C4 a High School was established. Six years
earlier, William Cotting, an old resident of the town,
who owned a large piece of land, through which
Academy Street now runs, gave to four trustees a lot of
land to be held by them for the use and maintenance
of a high school or academy. The plan of estab-
lishing such an academy had been for some time in
contemplation among several leading citizens, who
desired that their children might be educated at
home, and Mr. Cotting's gift enabled them to proceed
at once to carry out their intention. A school-house
was built and the Cotting Academy opened. In order
to secure the maintenance of a school of high charac-
ter, Mr. Cotting made it a condition of his gift that
no school kept on the premises should be of lower
grade than a high school, " to the end that any pupil
thereof, so desiring, shall at all times have opportuni-
ty of being thoroughly educated in such school in any
and all the branches of learning required for admis-
sion into Harvard University at Cambridge and other
American colleges." As the academy went success-
fully on, a desire naturally arose among many of the
people of the town that it should become a public
high school, so that its advantages might be more
widely enjoyed. Thia was no new notion. As far
back as 1838 the proposition had been made in town-
meeting to establish such a school, and although the
movement would have been premature then and for
some time thereafter, many were looking forward to
the time when such a step could wisely be taken.
The population of the town was far below the number
required by law to make the establishment of a high
school compulsory, but nevertheless it was decided in
1864 that the Cotting Academy should be transferred
to the town and become the Cotting High School.
Mr. Cotting had foreseen that this change was likely
to come to pass, and provided for it in his original
deed of gift. The High School was opened in De-
cember, 1864.
Its first principal was the late Charles (J. Thomp-
son, who remained three years at its head. His re-
markable gifts as a teacher and organizer, exhibited
afterwards on larger fields of duty, gave to the school
a character that has lasted. His later career as prin-
cipal of the Worcester Free Institute and of the Rose
Polytechnic School, at Terre Haute, Ind., is well
known. That it should have been cut short by death,
while he was yet in his prime, is a matter of enduring
regret, not only to the many w.'io saw in it merely a
serious loss to the cause of scientific education in the
United States, but especially to those who knew him
as teacher or as friend.
In order to put the account of the library and the
schools in a more intelligible way, I have departed,
somewhat, from the chronological oiiler of events.
Returning to the decade between l6'!0 and 184ii. we
find a considerable increase in the nn-ans of piotec-
tion against fire. Beside the " Friendship," which
was then kept in an engine-house situated by the
brook in the burying-ground, near the mad, the town
possessed the "Good Intent," bought before lSo2,
and kept in the northwest part of the town. I'o these
'.vere soon added two more engines — the " Olive
Branch," in 1835, and the '' Enterprise," in ISSi'i.
The " Olive Branch ' belonged in the upper end uf
the town, and the " Enterprise " in the southern part.
Each machine was manned by a company .•»ppoiute<l
Ijy the selectmen. The companies of the two older
engines usually comprised about twenty men, while
the newer ones had over thirty. The cost of the en-
gines was paid in part by the town and in part liy in-
dividuals. To these four succeeded the "Eureka"
;ind the "Howard," in IS.'il. The "Howard" was
kept in what is now Belmont, and became the prop-
erty of the new town.
Sidewalks were coming into fashion in 1834, in
which year the town authorized abutters to build
sidewalks at their own expense, and to protect them
by posts and ornamental trees. In 1835 an uppropri-
ation was made to pay for ringing of the church bell,
half an hour before sunrise, at noon and at nine in
the evening. A facetious person, acting apimrently
on the principle that there could not be too much of
a good thing, managed to get a vote through the
meeting that the bell should be rung also at midnight,
an improvement that proved fatal to the original
plan, as all the votes were reconsidered. Two years
later the proposition reappeared in a form less alarm-
ing to late risers, and the custom that still exists was
established of having the bell rung at noon and at
nine o'clock at night. In 1839 a vote was passed,
authorizing the people to dig wells in the highways
where they would not impede travel.
On February 25, 1842, the town received a con-
siderable accession of territory from the addition of
all that part of Charlestown that lay northwest of
ARLINGTON.
189
Alewife Brook. The people of this tract were joined
bv many ties to their West Cambridge neighbors, and
it is only surprising that so obviously desirable a union
did not take place long before. This annexation
gave the town the largest area it ever had. A few
years later, in 1850, it lost, much against its will, a
portion of its e.'itreme northern corner when the town
of Winchester was formed.
In 1843 land was bought on the lledford Road for
a new cemetery, which soon after received the name
of Mt. Pleasant. Since its establishment compara-
tively few interments have been made in the old
burial-ground.
In 1846 an event took place which was to have a
profound etiect upon the fortunes of the town — the
i)[)ening of the railroad. Hitherto the public means
i)f I'onveyance to Boston had been by stagecoach.
For many years, on three days of the week, the
stage which carried the New Hampshire mail afforded
a means of reaching Boston. It passed through West
I ambriilge late in the afternoon and did not come
liack until the next morning, when it again rolled
heavily through the streets of the town on its long
return journey. More frequent trips were made by
I he t uncord loach, which wa-* established at a later
dati'. This conveyance ran daily to the city. Whoever
de.sired to go iu it left his nam" beforehand at the
tavern al the ci'riier of the .Medl'ord road, and (he
coaih lulled at his donr. The journey waa too es-
I'prisive rri be nftfn iiidulgfd in, for the fare was tifty
ii'iils: and the I'lMV peisons whose business called
tlieiM tre'iuently to Boston traveled iu their own
rliais.'s. A later and formidable rival to the ("nncord
•<tage-io:icli was the omniau.s, which ran no farther
riian \Vest (I'aniliridge. This conveyance gave the
public great arcomniodatinn, for it went to Boston
au'l vpiiirued luiie every wt-ek-day, and pa.ssengers
bad to pay but twenty-tive i'i'nt=a trip. Hutomnibus
and stage-coach alike wore de«tineil I" disappear
l>ef >re the loi'oiiiotivi' engine.
It was in 1844 that tlie tirst serious movement to
intniiluce a railroad into West ("ambridge had its be-
;:;iiuing. The [plan then was to construct a branch
track from the Fitchburg or Fresh Pond Road in Caiu-
liridge to a point near the centre of West Cambridge.
V public meeting was held, committees were ap-
pointed and surveys were made. Before any detinite
artlon was taken, however, people in Lexington began
to move to bring aiiiut the building of a road to their
town. The citizens of both places united finally in a
I'omproiuise, according to which one road was to be
built, to run through West Cambridge to Lexington.
This arrangement was sanctionetl by the Legislature,
and the Lexington and West Cambridge Branch Rail-
road became incorporated March 24, 1845. It was
opened for public travel in August, 1S46.
The accommodation afforded by the new railroad
would hardly in these days excite more than a moder-
ate amount of gratitude. However, it was a great ad-
vance on anything that had existed before, towards
making the town accessible from the neighboring
city. From that time West Cambridge began notice-
ably to take on the character of a place of residence
for those whose daily work lay outside its borders.
In 1846 a committee was appointed to name the
various streets, which had, up to that time, gone by
the old names that had been given them by popular
usage. The committee showed excellent taste and
judgment in the performance of that work and the
names thus given them — as Medford and Mystic,
Warren and Pleasant — still designate most of our
older streets.
At about this time some indications appear that
there was the same difficulty in the enforcement of
laws against the illegal sale of liquor that has been
found elsewhere and at other times. We find a special
committee appointed in 1843 to enforce the laws as
to the sale of liquors, and three years later the select-
men are authorized to prosecute those who might ille-
gally sell ardent spirit-s and other intoxicating liquors.
Dogs come into the foreground in 1849 as objects
of public disapproval. At a meeting held January
1st it was voted to petition the Legislature to protect
the inhabitants of the Commonwealth " from the an-
noyance and danger now experienced by the great
and alarming increase of dogs," and by way of aiding
in the cause an ordinance was passed providing for
the licensing and muzzling of these animals.
18.51 was the year of the tornado, — an event which
deserves to be described in some detail. It occurred
on Friday, the 22d day of August. Its track was
from southwest to northeast, curving gradually to
eastward. It began iti course in Wayland, and then
passed over Weston, Waltham, West Cambridge.
.\Iedford, Maiden, Saugus, Swampscott and Lynn,
and thence to the sea. In all these places some dam-
iige was done, but Medford and West Cambridge bore
the brunt of the storm. Those who saw it described
it as a dark cloud sweeping over the surface of the
country with frightful speed ; its base now touching
the earth and now bounding up for a little, to return
again farther on. Its shape was variously compared
to a spreading elm, to an upright column, to an hour-
glass, and to an inverted cone — discrepancies proba-
bly to be attributed to the different positions of the
observers, to the excitement of the moment and per-
haps to actual changes of shape. One eye-witness
vividly compared it to an elephant's trunk, waving a
little from side to side and sucking up everything
that came in its way. Its path was .straight for the
most part, with curious eddies and turns here and
there. It left behind it in West Cambridge a devas-
tated swath which was, in most places, from thirty to
fitly rods wide, although the track was at some points
wider and at some narrower than this.
The storm occurred at about half-past live o'clock
on a hot, sultry summer afternoon. There had been
during the day a light southwest wind, but for an
190
HISTOKY OF MIDDLESEX TOTTNTY. AfASS ACRTtsETTS.
hour before the toraado there was an almost perfect
calm. Without any warning the storm struck West
Cambridge at the premises of Mr. James Brown, on
the Waltham line, and swept across the town, tearing
its way through woods, orchards and corn-fields. It
crossed Pleasant Street near what is now the Belmont
boundary, and went straight on across the land of
Captain Hopkins, of Dr. Wellington, and of the other
residents on the eastern side of the street, then over
the northwest corner of Spy Pond, demolishing the
ice-houses at the water's edge, then across the high-
way at a point near the preseat line of Franklin
Street, wreaking destruction on store, school-house
and dwellings, and so on till it crossed Mystic River,
about fifty rods below the Medford Street bridge.
The tornado lasted a very few moments, but in that
time it did damage in West Cambridge to ihe extent
of nearly twenty-five thousand dollars. Happily no
Uvea were lost and no serious personal injuries in-
dicted.
This storm had several noticeable features much
(.oiiimented on at the time. As it crossed the pond it
took up a good deal of water ; and this, mingled with
the sand and gravel of the railway embankment and
the dust of the highway, splashed everything with a
liberal coating of gravelly mud. When there was
any vertical motion it was a lifting motion — things
were taken up into the air, not beaten down to the
earth. Trees generally resisted the disintegrating
force of the wind, but buildings were racked or shat-
tered. In Medford, where very careful observations
were made, few traces of rotary motion were found,
but in one place in West Cambridge, where a cornfield
was flattened before the blast, the corn lay with the
tops pointed in and to windward, on both sides of the
central line of the track, as if two enormous wheels
with vertical axes, turning in opposite directions and
playing into each other like cog-wheels, had passed
through the field. The people gathered in a public
meeting three days afterward and raised a substantial
sum to help the sutferers from the storm.
In 1852 a Town House was built, the first and only
one that the town has possessed. Before 1S40 town-
meetings were usually iield in the meeting-house of
the First Parish. In that year a new meeting-house
was built, the vestry of which was known as Parish
Hall and here the town held its meetings for a dozen
years. In 1849 there was a movement for the erection
of a Town House, but no results immediately followed.
The proposition met with a more favorable reception
in 1852, when a committee of leading citizens was
chosen to select a site and erect a building. The
Town House was completed in time for the March
meeting in 1853. Outside it presented substantially
the same appearance that it does now, except that its
brick walls were covered with a stucco which, until it
began to wear away with time, moderately resembled '■
stone. A broad flight of stairs ran directly up from
the front door to the entrance of the hall, the ante-
rooms of which served to accommodate the town
officers and the Juvenile Library. The lower floor
was leased for busine«s purposes.
The Belmont controversy began in 1854. and was
by far the most important business that the town had
to deal with for the next five years. The details of the
movement that resulted in the formation of a new-
town from portions of three old ones belongs properly
to the history of Belmont. To West Cambridge the
plan meant the loss of about one-third of its territory,
one-fifth of its population and a quarter of its taxable
ppiperty, and it n.iturally met with a vigorous resist-
ance. Committees were chosen each year to oppose
the scheme before the General Court. The case is
famous among Massachusetts town divisions. Legis-
lature after Legislature rejected the bill, and year
alter year the Belmont petitioners appeared at the
State House, to be met by the remonstrants from West
Cambridge, Watertown und Waltham. At last, on
Jlarch 16, ISol), the bill incorporating the town of
Belmont became a law, and We=t Ciimbridge had to
submit to dismeuiberinent with as good a grace as it
might. The lapse ot thirty yeurs has made the bitter-
ness of the controversy only a memory, but it is diffi-
'jult not to feel a certain regret that those fertile farms
are not still a part of our town.
Gas w.as introduced into the town at this time — the
West Cambridge Gas-Light Company being incor-
porated and allowed to lay its pipes in the streets in
1854, although the town did not assume the e."tpense
"f street-lighting until 185ti. In 1857 the town voted
to petition the Legislature for the establi^hulent of a
horse railroad. In consequence of this desire the
West Cambridge Horse Railroad Company was incor-
porated May 2Sth of the same year, and its cars soon
began their hourly trips to Boston. Electricity was
introduced as a motive-power on this railway in the
summer of 1889.
In 185ti a clock was placed in the tower of the new
meeting-house of the First Parish. April 5, 1800, the
West Cambridge Savings Bank was incorporated.
When the war broke out West Cambridge was not
untrue to its past. .\ great popular meeting was held
on Sunday, April 21, 18(31, at which the citizens
pledged themselves to support the Government — a
pledge that their behavior in the succeeding years
did not belie. A company was organized under
command of Capt. Albert S. Ingalls. Unfortunately
no place could be found for it in a Massachusetts-
regiment, and. unwilling to wait, many of the men
enlisted in the Fortieth Xew York — the Mozart regi-
ment. This was the only considerable body of West
Cambridge men who served together. The other
soldiers who went from the town during the war were
scattered through many organizations. It is difiicult
to give the exact number of men who went into the
war from West Cambridge. Under the loose system
that prevailed, some recruits, who were in reality
residents here, were credited to other towns, and, in
ARLTXGTOX.
191
like maaner, citizens of other places were set down as
coming from West Cambridge. Again, it is liard to
distinguish between residents and non-residents in
the lisl3 of men furnished by the town to the service,
and ditf'erent enumerators might easily disagree.
Every quota called for was tilled, and more than
tilled, t^iiunting the soldiers supplied by the town
ill all ways, to the service, the number certainly con-
siderably exceeds three hundred. To mention names
among the living would be invidious — the list of the
thirty-three dead inscribed on the column that keeps
alive their memory is enough to siiow that U'esl Cam-
bridge paid her part of the price of the redenipliou
of the United .states of .America.
Whatever the people at home could do was done.
Tlie town wan liberal in bounties to enlisted men and
in aid to their families. The generosity of individ-
ual citizens seconded the eti'orts of the community.
The Ladie> .■soldiers' Aid .'Society did much throiigh-
iiut the war to -.en<i help and comfort to the men in
the hospitals and at the front. It was found, in Isii.'i.
that more than •■?7-5,Uli" had been contributed directly
to the Ur.ion cause from these vaiious sources. Be-
side thi- amount that Is certainly known, much that
cannot now be traced was given through priv.ite
channels.
The town '.n ISiiii received, under the will of Hon.
Jame.s R;is>ell, a large tract cf land to be held for the
pur|>o-es of a public park. It i? now known as Rus-
-eil Park.
The town ceased to bear the name of We.sl Cam
bridge in lSi>7. The principal public measures and
events during the si.\ty years that had elapsed .lince
its ini'orporaiion have been mentioned. Uefure pro-
ceeding to an account of the town under its new n.ime
some other matters remain to be spoken of
We turn tir.-t to the history of the several churches
— always an important part of the anuals of a New
England town. .Vs has been above -tated, Kev. Tliad-
ileus Ffske was jiastor of the .""econd Parish in Cam-
bridge when it became the Firsr Parish in West Cam-
bridge, and he remained in that office for twenty
years more. If he makes leas of .i figure in the com-
munity than his predecessor the reason is to be found
not so much in the character of the man aa in the
changed circumstances of the time. His long pastor-
ate of tbrry years covered a jieriod when the old New
England ciinrch system was powerfully atfected by
intluences from within ;is well ;us from without.
While the rise of other forms of faith and worship
was interfering with the legal and social pre-eminence
of the Congregational body, changes of thought and
belief were taking place in its own ranks. Such in-
tluences were felt in West Cambridge as everywhere
else, and in vain Dr. Fiske set himself against the
current of events. He was a true successor of the
older race of N'ew England divines and looked with
little favor upon any departure from the ancient wnvs.
The ideas that afterwards became known a.s Unitarian
spread among the people, although they received no
countenance from the pastor. Steadily the breach
widened until at last Dr. Fiske was so far out of touch
with many of his prominent parishioners that it be-
came clear that the only course was to sever his rela-
tion with his people. He accordingly resigned his
office May S, 1828. The language of the church
records shows with what strong feelings of respect and
atTection the parish regarded the minister whom duty
impelled to lay down a trust that he could no longer
properly hold. Dr. Fiske continued to live for many
years thereafter in the house that he had built in the
earlv davs of his ministry very near the present Fiske
Place.
To Dr. Fiske succeeded Rev. Dr. Frederick Henry
Hedge, then a young man recently out of college.
His pastorate extended from 1829 to 1835. He was
the first distinctively Unitarian minister of the First
Parish. Then came Rev. David Damon, D.D., who took
an active part in the management of the Juvenile Li-
brary and of the public schools as well as in matters
more strictly appertaining to his own parish. He
ilied suddenly J\uw 25, 1843, and, as the inscription
on his monument states, was the first to be buried in
the new cemetery, consecrated by him but a few days
before his death. Rev. William Ware was the next
minister; holding the position for a short time — from
December, LSiS, to .Vugust, 1S45. Rev. James F.
Brown was minister from 184S until his early death
in 18-')o. Rev. ^>amuel .A.bbot .'^mith was ordained in
1854 and wa> minister throughout the important years
just before and during the war. At the call of duty
he went to Virsrinia at the close of the conflict to
preach the gospel. Stricken with fever, he came
home to die. His death occurred May 20, 1865, and
w.i< much deplored by the whole community, to whom
he ua» endeared by many acts of kindness and good-
will. In isti'i Rev. Charles C. Salter was ordained,
and continued in charge of the parish until his resig-
nation, January 31, 1S69.
The meeting-house in which Dr. Fiske preached
has been described. In 1.840 it was taken down and
a larger building erected on the same site. This stood
until January 1, 1856, when it was destroyed by an
accidental tire. In the same year the present meet-
ing-house was built and was dedicated January 1,
1857.
The early history of the Baptist society has been
above given. It was passing through a period of de-
pression when West Cambridge became a separate
town. Still, those whose hearts were in the cause held
together, maintained their organization, held public
services when practicable, and trusted that better
days would come. Ii 1816 the society was incorpo-
rated and in the following year a church was estab-
lished according to the usages of the Baptist denomi-
nation. Generous gifts were received from Stephen
Cutter, a leading citizen of the town, and, afler his
death, from his wife, Mary Cutter. It was on land
192
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
given by her that the growing society built its church
in 1828. This building became, as time went on, un-
suitable, and the present church was built on the same
site in 1853.
From 1794 to 1818 there appears to have been no
settled pastor. Rev. Benjamin C. Grafton was
minister of the society from 1818 until 1823 ; Rev.
John Ormsbee from 1824 to 1827 ; Rev. Ebenezer
Nelson from 1828 to 1834. From 1834 to 1838 Rev.
Appleton Morse, and after him Rev. Charles Miller,
had charge of the parish. Rev. Timothy G. Tingley
was minister for the next seven years and was suc-
ceeded by Rev. George J. Carlton, who continued in
the position until 1851. Rev. Joseph Barnard, known
as an historical writer as well as in more strictly
professional fields of labor, came next, remaining for
two years. Rev. Samuel B. Swaim, D.D., a man of
especial influence in the community, was pastor from
1854 to 1862. Rev. John Duncan followed him in
1863-64, and Rev. Amos Harris became the minister
in 1865.
The two parishes already ipoken of were for some
years the only religious organizations in the ti)wn of
West Cambridge. The Uiii verbalist Society was the
next to be established there. If we may judge by the
above-quoted obituary notice of Rev. Mr. Cooke, there
would seem to have been in his day persons liolding
tenets similar to those of that denomination. Certain
it is, that in the decade preceding 1840, such views
were becoming so prevalent as to give serious anxiety
to those of the First Parish who held to a different
opinion, as to the probability of that ancient society
becoming a Universalist church. However, after an
informal organization for several years, the First Uni-
versalist Society was regularly established in 1840,
and proceeded at once to build its meeting-bouse,
which was dedicated January 20, 1841.
Rev. J. C. Waldo was its first pastor, and remained
till 1847. After a short term of service by Rev. Wil-
lard Spaulding, Rev. George Hill became the mini-s-
ter, and continued to fill that position from 1850 to
1860. Mr. Hill was prominent in town affairs and
served iu 1854 as representative in the Legislature.
For the six succeeding years Rev. William E. Gibbs
was minister, and was followed by the Rev. J. W.
Keyes.
The establishment of Ibe Universalist Church was
soon followed by that of what is now known as the
Pleasant Street Congregational Society. The prime |
mover in the organization was very appropriately a |
granddaughter of Rev. Mr. Cooke, Miss Anna Brad- '
shaw, who lived in his former dwelling-house. It
was in 1842 that the informal meetings were begun,
from which grew the society. On the 14th day of De- '
cember of that year a church was duly established,
the list of members including the name of Rev. Thad- i
deus Fiske, the retired minister of the old parish. |
The site on which the meeting-house was built in 1844 ,
is part of the estate that belonged in the last century
to Parson Cooke. The building has since been con-
siderably altered and enlarged.
The society had but two ministers during the time
of which I am now speaking — Rev. Francis Horton,
who occupied the position from 1843 to 1854, and
Rev. Daniel R. Cady, D.D., who became pastor in 1856.
It is impossible to do more here than mention the
names of the West Cambridge pastors. It is clear,
from what is remembered or has been recorded, that
they were an earnest body of men, true to the duties of
their calling, and active in good causes in the com-
munity. We find them, for instance, frequently serv-
ing as members of the School Committees. Rev.
Ebenezer Nelson, of the Baptist church, received in
1834 the unusual honor of a public vote of thanks
from the town for his faithful services in that office.
Throughout the sixty years that followed the incor-
poration of West Cambridge, farming continued to
be the principal industry i)f the town. Its character
changed somewhat as time went on. At first it
was general farming, like that now carried on in the
towns farther back in the country. But with the
growth of Boston, agriculture here became more spe-
cialized to supply the demands of the city. It would
be hard to say wheu market-gnrdening became the
distinctive industry of the town. The products of the
West Cambritlge farms early gained the liii:li reputa-
tion iu the markets of Boston which they still hold,
and are not likely to lose, if we may judge the future
by the past. The subject is elsewhere treated by a
writer who may surely speak with authority, and I
therefore pa--s it over without that detailed account
which its importance would otherwise call for.
In manufactures the town was not conspicuous.
Those that existed in the early part of the century
have been above mentioned. Such other factories as
were built were generally, like their [iredecessors,
situated on the brook that has furnished water-power
for the mills of many generations. The saw-factury
of Welch .'^ Griffiths, situated just below what is now
(Jrove Street, was for a long time an important indus-
try. In 1855 the value of the saws manufactured was
estimated at ?40.O0O,and thirty-live persons found em-
ployment in the establishment. In 1832, at about the
same time when the saw-factory was started, James
Schouler established calico-printing works on the site
<if Abner Stearns' mill. Here a flourishing industry
was carried on for many years. Other manufacturinu
pureuits were followed — in some cases for a short time
only, in other cases for a considerable period. Boot?
and shoes were made here; so were hats and caps.
It was during this time that several existing manufac-
tures were begun, which will be spoken of later. The
ice business, which makes Spy Pond a scene of ac-
tivity in the winter, and gives employment to many
scores of men, was begun before 1840.
In its political leanings, as has been said, the town
began its career with few Federalists and many Dem-
ocrats. The disproportion increased as the Federal
ARLINGTON.
193
party in the State moved towards its end, until ordi-
narily hardly a score of votes were cast for its candi-
dates. During the administrations of John Quincy
Adams and the first term of General Jackson the re-
sults of elections in the town reflect the chaotic state
of parties, and the votes for Congressional and State
candidates are hard to reduce to any rule except per-
sonal preference. As the Whig party becomes estab-
lished, political divisions may again be traced. The
town was still Democratic, but the minority was a
much larger one than it had been in the Federalist
times. For instance, in 1836 the Democratic electors
received ninety-three votes, the Whigelectors eighty-
six. In 1840 the numbers were 152 aud 128 ; in 1844,
182 and 154. Occasionally a popular Whig candi-
date carried the town. In 1848 the balance of parties
changed, and the Whigs obtained a plurality ; in
1852 the Democrats again carried the election in
West Cambridge. In both these years the Free-Soil
candidates obtained a considerable vote. The election
of 1850 showed a decided change; the new Republi-
can party cast ISO votes, the Whigs 147, and the
Democrats 130. The loss of West Cambridge to the
Democratic parly was a permanent one, although, as
had prevlouily been the case with their opponents,
they now and then gained a temporary success. In
the election of ISGO 183 votes were cast for Lincoln,
119 for Douirlas, eiLrhty-four for Bell and two for
Breckenridge. lu 18(J4 the Lincoln electors received
24(3 v<Hes ; their opponents lo3. In .State and Congres-
sional elections the ri^hitive strength of parties was
usually a'oout the same as in the Presidential elections.
The people were called upon oftener then than now
to choose their otticials. Until 1831 the election of
State officers took place in the spring, instead of in
the fall. L'ontrre?sioiial elections took place, as now,
in November. fJulil ISO'i the law required for a
choice, not a mere plurality, but au absolute majority
of the votes ca.-.t. Conseijuently when there were
more than two candidates, a series of elections .some-
times had to be held before any result was reached.
Before 1857, when West Cambridge was united with
Winchester to form a representative district, the town
was entitled to send one representative to the Legis-
lature. Occasionally the town voted to send no rep-
resentative, probably from motives of economy, as in
those days legislators were paid by the towns they
represented, and not from the State treasury. Samuel
Butterfield was the first representative from the town,
serving from l.'SOS to 1811. His immediate successor,
(■"ol. Thomas Russell, had by far the longest term of
service of any that have filled the place ; he was con-
tinuously a member of the Legislitture from 1812 to
1827, with the exception of two years when no one
w;is sent from West Cambridge.
IV. The Town of .^RLixiiToy, 1867-90.
In 1867 the name of the town was changed to Arl-
ington. The cause of this alteration was in part the
13-iii
practical inconveniences that occasionally arose from
the fact that the old name was easily confounded by
strangers with North Cambridge or East Cambridge or
was at any rate su p posed to stan d for a part of Cambridge
and not for a separate town. Perhaps an even stronger
reason for the change came from a feeling of local
pride that desired a name that should signify to all
the world that the town was a distinct municipality
and not a portion of any other place, however ancient
and distinguished. After a good deal of discussion
Arlington was chosen as the new name. As has been
made evident in the course of time, it is liable to the
very objection that its adoption was designed to put
an end to, for " .Arlington " bears a close resemblance to
" Abington,"and considerable trouble has been caused
the people of both places from the similarity of
name.
At a meeting heid in April, 1867, it was voted, with
but one dissenting voice, to petition the Legislature
to change the name of West Cambridge to Arlington.
The Legislature took favorable action upon the peti-
tion, and the change went into effect April 30th. The
event was celebrated May 1st, in a somewhat informal
way — with some firing of cannon and making of
speeches. The real celebration, however, did not
take place until June 17th, and was carried out with
a good deal of enthusiasm. There was a long pro-
cession made up of official representatives of the
Commonwealth, soldiers of the war of 1812, and of
the civil war, school-children, representatives of the
principal callings in which the townspeople were
engaged, as weil as of other citizens. Alter the pro-
cession had passed through the principal streets, the
children were treated to a banquet in a tent on the
Common by the meeting-house of the First Parish,
while the citizens and their guests were entertained
in another large tent on the grounds of Mr. J. R.
Bailey — now of Mr. Samuel D. Hicks. Here there
were after-dinner speeches by Governor Bullock,
Senator Sumner and other men of distinction. A
poem of our townsman, Mr. John T. Trowbridge,
was read. Later the festivities concluded with races
on Spy Pond.
The town seal was adopted at this time. It bears
upon a shield the representation of the two ancient
elms that for many years arched the main street at the
eastern end of the town, and of which one is stand-
ing yet. Between the trees on the face of the shield is
the Revolutionary monument with the date 1775 above
it and the village beyond. The shield is surmounted
by a plough and a sheaf of wheat, typical of the main
occupation of the people, and by a scroll giving the
names and dates of incorporation of West Cam-
bridge and Arlington. Underneath is the inscription
" Libertatia propugnatio hereditas avita.''
For two or three years after the change of name
little of importance occurred in town affairs. Then
came the introduction of a public water supply. Up
to that time no arrangements had existed on any con-
194
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
aiderable scale for the purpose of supplying the town
with water. Some families obtained water for do-
mestic use from a system of pipes by which water
was conducted from springs in the upper part of the
town, but this served a comparatively small part of
the population. Most people had to rely upon cisterns
and wells for the water needed for household and
drinking purposes and farmers especially were ex-
posed to heavy losses in time of drought. In 1870 the
Arlington Lake Water Company was established, and
in 1871 the Legislature conferred upon it extensive
powers to take land in the Great Meadows of Lexing-
ton for a reservoir, to use the waters of certain brooks,
to lay pipe, and to sell its property or franchise to the
town. The proposition that the town should buy the
rights of the corporation and go into the enterprise o^
.supplying its citizens with water was soon brought
before the voters. Long and excited debates took
place in meeting after meeting held in the summer
evenings ofl.'>71, for the scheme was far from meeting
with universal approval. The balance of opinion in
the end, however, leaned decidedly in favor of the
plan, and the town voted to buy out the corporation
and itself to build and own its water-works. The plan
was to build a reservoir on the border between Arling-
ton and Lexington, to be filled by the water coming
from the large tract of land known as the Great
Meadows. This reservoir would be at such a height
above the level of most of the then inhabited part of
Arlington, that there would be a sufficieiTt pressure
if the water were conducted directly from the reser-
voir througli the mains and pipes by gravity, without
pumping apparatus. Apart from the actual expense of
construction, there were two main elements of cost to
be considered — the damage to the people whose lands
were taken and the damage to the mill-owners on
Vine Brook, whosesupply might be diminished by the
diverting into the reservoir of a large amount of water
which alight otherwise find its way into the brook.
To those who investigated the matter in 1870,
neither element of damage appeared very alarming.
It was thought that the land damages would not ex-
ceed a few thousand dollars, and that the damage to
the mills would amount to little or nothing. The
whole cost of putting in the water-works was estimat-
ed not to be more than §120,000. With this prospect
before it the town began the work. The Legislature,
in 1873, confirmed the acts of the town and provided
for the management of the water-works. Accord-
ingly Water Commissioners were chosen in 1873, and
have since been annually elected. The reservoir waa
built and the pipes laid, and a considerable portion
of the town has been from this time supplied with
water. But the introduction of water proved to be
by no means such a comparatively inexpensive piece
of work as had been anticipated at the ouLset. Some
alterations in plans were made ; filters had to be con-
structed, as the water was, at times, so filled with
vegetable matter as to be unfit for domestic use ;
while the damage to land and mills turned out to be
very much greater than was expected beforehand.
There were long controversies in court and out which
dragged along many years, and the settlemeni of
which cost the town a good deal of money. In 1878,
§300,000 in water-.scrip had been issued. The total
expense of the water-works — not counting ordinary
repairs — has been more than that amount. This
large sum was not raised or borrowed at one time, but
has been appropriated from time to time as exigen-
cies arose. The town, having once entered upon a
course that involved an expenditure that nobody ex-
actly foresaw, has had no escape from paying. If this
experience has been unfortunate, it is certainly not
unparalleled in the hi.story of public water supply in
Massachusects.
With the introduction of water, it became possible
to take measures for more adequate protection from
fire, and in 1872 two hose-carriages were bought —
the " William Penn " and the " Highland." These,
with the old " Eureka ' and a hook-and-ladder truck,
formed the main part of the api)iiratus of the Fire
Department until 1889, when a new hose company,
the " Eagle " — at the lower eiidof the town, was made
a regular paid company, and a chemical engine was
bought, designed more especially for service at
Arlington Heights, which, owing to its elevation above
the level of the reservoir, in unprotected by ordinary
methods. In the srfme year a system of electric fire
alarm was introduced.
In 1871 the town again sufiered from the wind,
although to a less extent than from the tornado in
1851. On Sunday, .\ugu-st 27th, there occurred a
strong gale, which culminated at about eleven o'clock
in the evening in a violent blast that prostrated two
steeples — of the First Parish and Pleasant Street Con-
gregational churches — and did also much damage in
uprooting trees, blowing down chimneys, etc., not to
speak of minor injuries to pri)i)erty.
In 1872 a weekly newspaper — The Arlington Adio-
caie — was established, and continues to be published
by Mr. Charles S. Parker.
In 1872 the Arlington Land Company began its
operations at Arlington Heights, which had pre-
viously had few inhabitants. Buying several hundred
acres of land, the corporation started a village of con-
siderable size. The hard times that soon came
proved a serious hindrance to the growth of the
place, but after a time of depression, the village be-
gan again to increase, and has since grown steadily
and rapidly. There is little local business carried on,
most of the residents doing business in Boston. It is
distinctively a place of residence, and the people liv-
ing there display much interest in seeing to it that
their neighborhood is kept attractive.
In 1875 occurred the anniversary of the famous day
that saw the beginning of the Revolutionary War.
The town rationally made no effort to hold a celebra-
tion of its own in imitation or rivalry of those which
ARLINGTON.
195
took place in Lexingtoo and Concord. The Legisla-
ture authorized Arlington to raise $2000 for the occa-
sion, and this amount was sufficient to pay for a
proper local observance of the day. The bells were
rung, cannons were fired, and plenty of bunting was
provided for the decoration of public and private
buildings. Few householders were so little moved by
the spirit of the time as not at least to show the
national colors, while the fortunate occupants of
houses that had witnessed the British retreat proudly
displayed inscriptions that told the story of plunder
or of blood that had made the buildings memorable.
Those who were in Arlington on that day are not
likely to forget it. The weather was unusually cold —
it was dull iind cloudy much of the time, with a chill-
ing wind and occasional gusts of snow. The immense
number of visitors brought to utter confusion the
plans of town committees and of railway managers.
The trains slowly made their way through Arlington,
crowded to the steps of the platforms and with even
their tops covered with human beings. The horse-
cars were filled to overflowing. The main street was
thronged with a procession of vehicles, all making
their way in one direction, while the sidewalks were
occupied by those who early came to the sensible con-
clusion that the only way to reach their destination
was to go on foot. In the afternoon the scenes of the
morning were repeated, except that the tide ran the
other way : and streets and railways were again clogg-
ed with hungry, shivering and exhausted sight-seers.
But in spite of the inevitable discomforts, there was a
certain intensity of patriotic passion, that no man
could help sharing, about this first of the centennial
celebrations of Revolutimiary events, which gave to
the occasion a dignity and a meaning.
The interest aroused by 'his anniversary resulted
in a determination to mark by permanent monuments
the spots where especially noteworthy events had
happened on April 19, 1775. .\ccordingly, in pursu-
ance o; a vote of the town, stones were placed in June,
1878, to mark the sites of Cooper's Tavern, the Black
Horse Tavern, Jason Russell's house, the place of
the capture of the convoy, and the spot where Samuel
U'hittemore made his fight.
Li 1S75 the town received the sum of $25,000 under
the will of N'athan Pratt, who for many years had
been a prominent citizen. He gave $10,000 for the
support of the Public Library, $5000 to the Poor
Widows' Fund, and §10,000 for the benefit of the
High School. The terms of the last bequest should
be given in full. " I give and bequeath to said town
of Arlington the further sum of ten thousand dollars,
the same to be invested and allowed to accumulate
until such time as the said town shall have erected a
new building for its High School. At such time the
increase of said sum by accumulation and a portion
of the principal not exceeding two thousand dollars
shall be expended in the purchase of engravings,
books of engravings illustrative of science, art, hia- '
tory and biography, books of reference, philosophical
apparatus, all for the use and benefit of the pupils of
said school, and to be placed or kept in a suitable
apartment in the High School building. The unex-
pended portion of said principal sum shall remain in-
vested and the income thereof be expended for the
purposes above named and expressed, and also in
procuring special instruction to the pupils of said
school by lectures. Said sum and income shall be
expended in the manner foregoing under the direc-
tion of the School Committee of said town." A board
of five trustees was appointed by the town to manage
and invest Mr. Prat:'s bequests.
The income of the bequest of ten thousand dollars
for the Public Library was available at once. In
1870 it was first voted that the proceeds of the dog-
tax be devoted to the support of the Library, accord-
ing to the statute provision directing that this tax
must be used for public libraries or schools. In 1872
a vote was passed that the Juvenile Library, as it was
»till called, should be known as the Arlington Public
Library. Its board of managers remained as before —
the selectmen, ministers and physicians continuing
to act. As a smaller committee seemed desirable, the
town in 1878 provided that a board of three trustees,
elected by the town, should have charge of the
library. Its subsequent history may be briefly told.
It has increased in size and in use. After being
moved from one room to another in the Town House,
it was in 1884 transferred to its present location in
Swans' Hall. The increase of room thus acquired al-
lowed the establishment of a reading-room, a valuable
adjunct for which the former cramped quarters af-
forded no space. The library now contains four
times as many volumes as it did twenty years ago, and
the use made of it by book-borrowers is more than
five times as great; while the whole number of per-
sons who then used the library was less than the
number added now in a single year. In 1889 a be-
quest of $5000 was made to the library by the will of
the late Deacon Henry Mott. A fine building is now
(1890) being erected for the use of the library by
Mrs. Maria C. Robbins of Brooklyn, N. Y.
The public schools have also increased with the
growing population. In 1866 a new building — the
Adams school-house — was erected, to accommodate
the primary scholars in the Russell District. But
even with the additional room afforded by this build-
ing, it soon became evident that more would have to
be done to prevent overcrowding in the schools at the
Centre. The question was decisively, if unpleasant-
ly, settled by the accidental burning of the Russell
school-house in the summer of 1872. The town voted
to build a large brick school-house on the site of the
old building, and the present Russell school-house —
a steam-heated brick structure — was ready for occu-
pany in the fill of 1873. It originally contained ten
rooms and a hall which has since been converted into
two additional rooms. In 1878 the Locke School at
196
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Arlington Heights was built. Originally a primary j
school for the neighborhood, then taking some of the ;
classes of the Cutter School, it now contains four |
schools, which form an independent grammar school :
system. There has been for many years no serious :
change in the general plan of the schools, except that :
their number has become greater and the grading j
more complete an the school population has increased. ;
The Soldiers' Monument was dedicated June 17, i
1887. The movement to erect a permanent memorial |
to the men of the town who fell in the war for the j
Union began in 1865, with the gift of $-500 for that j
purpose from the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society. A ,
committee of citizens then set to work and began to
collect money. It was, however, found impossible to
proceed far at that time. In 1369 the town appropri-
ated S4000 and there appeared to be a good prospect
of building the monument, but there was difficulty in
obtaining a suitable site, the appropriation reverted
to the town treasury and the project lapsed for many
years. In 1885 a vigorous and successful etfirt wiL«
made to complete the work. The money already col-
lected, with accumulated interest, amounted to about
S1800, the town added S2500 and the citizens sub-
scribed •ii7689. The monument and its site cost al-
together more than ?11,000. It stands at the junction
of Arlington Avenue and Broadway — the old Concord
and Charlestown roads. It is a granite shaft forty-two
feet high, surmounted by the figure of an eagle, and
hearing upon panels inscriptions denoting its purpose
and the names of the soldiers to whose memory it was
raised. At its dedication appropriate exercises were
held. A procession, in great part made up of sol-
diers of the civil war, including the survivors of the
Mozart Regiment, passed through the principal
streets. Buildings were suitably decorated. The
monument was dedicated according to the ritual of
the Grand Army of the Republic, the services being
conducted by the Arlington post of that order — Fran-
cis Gould Post 36. A poem was read by Mr. John
T. Trowbridge, and an oration delivered by Lieuten-
ant-Governor John Q. A. Brackett, the present Gov-
ernor of the Commonwealth. Both orator and poet
are residents of the town.
The last decade has been uneventful in town affairs.
Apart from the matters already mentioned, the town
has been called upon to consider few subjects outside
of the ordinary course. Questions of the establish-
ment of new streets, of the sale of cemetery lots —
matters of this sort, together with the usual reports
and appropriations for the different departments,
have made the substance of the business of town-
meetings. Few events of general interest or import-
ance have occurred. The town has been growing
steadily and of late rapidly. What might almost be
termed a separate village has grown up at the eastern
end of the town, and the opening of several large
estates near the centre of the town has given an im-
petus to building there.
The history of the churches in Arlington may be
briefly given. Rev. Charles C. Salter was succeeded
in the pastorate of the First Parish by Rev. George
W. Cutter, who remained I'.ntil 1877. Rev. William
J. Parrot became minister in 1878 and resigned in
1881. Rev. John P. Forbes held the position from
1882 to 1887. Rev. Augustus M. Lord, was installed
in 1887, and remained until September, 1890. This
parish held services Oct. 9, 1889, commemorative of
the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the estab-
lishment of the church.
Rev. Dr. Cady closed a pastorate of more than
twenty-one years over the Pleasant Street Congrega-
tional Society in 1877. He removed to Westboro,
where he had been settled as minister many years be-
tbre, and died there in 1879. Dr. Cady took a deep
interest in all good causes in the town, and his retire-
ment from his work here was much regretted. Rev.
J. Lewis Merrill succeeded him in 1S7S. His lament-
ed death otcurred in 1880. Rev. Edward B. Mason,
D.D., became minister >[:irch 9, 1SS2, and resigned
his charge April 2, 1S89. Rev. S. C. Bushnell was
installed Feb. 0, 1S90. Alterations and improvements
were made in the church building in 18S2, and it was
rededicated Feb. 25, isx.?. Dr. Ma»on preached a
sermon on the occasion commemorative of the fortieth
anniversary of the foundation of the church.
The Baptist church continued under the charge of
Rev. .\mos Harris until 1875. Rev. Charles N.
Spauldiug succeeded him in 1870 and remained until
1880. The present pastor, Rev. Charles H. Watson,
was settled in 1881. The meeting-house was exten-
sively repaired in 1871. While the work was in pro-
gress, considerable injury was done to the building
by the gale in August of that year, causing added
delay and expense.
Rev. J. W. Keyes resigned the pastorate of the
Universalist Society October 1, 1869. Rev. William
H. Rider was minister from July, 1871, to June 30,
1873. Rev. William F. Potter had charge of the
parish from June, 1875, to January 1, 1882. Rev. E.
L. Houghton became pastor April 1, 1885, and re-
mained until March 31, 1886. Rev. Francis A. Gray
was minister from September 1, 1886, to May 12, 1889.
Rev. Irving C. Tomlinson became pastor September
1, 1889.
To the four existing Protestant societies there was
added in 1869 a Catholic parish. Before that time
the Catholics living in Arlington had had no church
nearer than Cambridge. A church building was
erected in Arlington, on Medford Street, and first used
in 1870. Rev. M. P. Dougherty, the pastor of St.
Peter's Church, in Cambridge, who had been much
interested in the new parish, remained in charge of it
until 1873, when Rev. Joseph M. Finotti took his
place. Fr. Finotti was a man of learning and a
writer on ecclesiastical subjects. He remained in
Arlington until 1876. His successor was Rev. Mat-
thew Harkins, now Bishop of Providence. He was
ARLINGTON.
197
pastor of the parish until 1.SS4, and had the respect
and eontidecce of the community. The present
pastor, Rev. Thomas Shahau, has heen in charge
since 1SS4. The church has received the name of
St. Malachv. A parochial school was opened in
1S8S in a building erected lor its use uear the church.
A Jlethodist Episcopal church was organized
nearly twenty years ago. Services were held from
time to time as occasion permitted, but the society
was not strong enough to make it prudent to erect a
church building, and public exercises have been for
a long time discontinued.
.A. I'rotestaiit Episcopal parish, known as St. John's,
was organized January I'J, 187(). A chapel was built
at tile corner of .Vcademy and ilaple Streets, in
which services were first held January 21, 1S77. Rev.
D. G. Ila.-kins, of Cambridge, hail charge ot the par-
ish until ISSO. Rev. Charles JI. Addison was the
first rectiir re>ident in Arlington, remaining from
Sepieml)er, 1.S.S2, ti> .Vpril 0, l^S-J. He was succeeded
by Rev. <,'harlf^ J. Ketrlium,who held the position
from .luly s, 1S,S.'), ti) .Vpril 22, ISS'.l. Rev. Thomas
Bell was reetor from .luly -'i, issd, to March 10, IS'.tO.
He was followed by the present rector, Rev. Fred-
erick I'ember.
-Vt .\rlingtou Heights religious services of an un-
denominational character were held at first in a hall
and afterwards in a chapel built by subscription
mainly (if residents. 'I'he ciiapel was dedicated De-
cember :!0, 1SS.'>. Prof Daniel Dorchester, Jr., of
iSoston University, resident of the Heights, who
had previou.-ly roiiducted the services, continued to
preach in the cliapel until .V|)ril, I8S7. From April,
ISS7, to .A.pril, 18SS, Rev. Bradford K. I'ierce, D.D.,
was in eharge, ami from .Vpril, 188S, to .\pril, 1889,
Kev. .\lfred Free. Since April, 18S;), Prof. G. il.
Harmon, of the I'ufts I'heological School, has been
minister of the society.
There are several fraternal and benevolent societies
in Arlington, belonging to various orders and associa-
tions. The branch of the Masonic order — Hiram
Loilge^was first instituted in Lexington in 1797.
Afterwards it was transferred to Wtst Cambridge and
h;is since remained established in the town. Bethel
Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was
established in 1S42.
In its politics Arlington has remained on the side
of the Republican party. In the election of 1SG8
the Republican electors received 2o9 votes ; the Dem-
ocratic electors 152. Four years later 306 votes were
cast for the Republican ticket and 186 for the opposi-
tion. In the election of 1876, Hayes obtained 386
votes and Tildeu 343. In 1880 the inefjuality was
greater, the Republican ticket receiving 41o votes, the
Democratic, 293. In 1884, 410 votes were cast for
Blaine, 371 for Clevel.'ind, 41 for Butler. In the last
Presidential election the Republican vote was 499,
the Democratic 477. In State and Congressionl
elections, the Republican candidates have in some
instances failed to gain a majority of the votes of the
town, but usually the result in the elections for these
offices has been the same as in the Presidential elec-
tions ; and the above figures are enough to give a
sufficiently correct comparison of the relative strength
of parties in Arlington for the last twenty-two years.
In conclusion a few statistics may be given. The
population of Arlington in 1885 was 4673 ; by the
census of 1890 it is 5528. The real estate was valued
May 1, 1889, at §4,386,275 and the personal esUte
at §822,821. The town spends annually in its various
departments about $100,000.
Arlington is becoming more and more each year
distiuctively a place of residence. With the growth
of Boston and the consequent pressure of population
in the nearer cities and towns, there is a rapidly-
growing demand for house-lots, and consequently
new streets are opened through old estates, and the
process of converting a country town into a thickly-
seitied suburb goes on. It is not to be supposed,
however, that there has been a disappearance of the
other pursuits that have long been carried on here.
Farming — the ancient business of the places-con-
tinues to flourish and manufactures are by no means
discontinued.
Manufacturing is carried on now, as in times past,
mainly along Vine Brook. Highest on the brook is
the factory of Charles Schwamb, where, since 1862,
he has carried on the business of making oval pic-
ture frames and straight mouldings. Next below is
the factory of Theodore Schwamb. Here he, with
his four brothers, began in 1853 the business of turn-
ing, sawing and piano-case work. Since 1860 he has
carried on piano-case manufacturing. His factory is
at the privilege owned a century ago by Gershom
Cutter. A short distance farther down the brook is
the establishment now used by the Lamson Store
Supply Company for printing. Deacon John S.
Hobbs long conducted there the manufacture of
leather-splitting knives as well as a general machin-
ist's business. Below Brattle Street and near the
brook is the piano-caae factory of the late Jacob
.Schwamb, whose sons now carry on the business.
Next come the sites of what were, a generation ago,
the most important manufactories of the town — the
Schouler Print Works and Welch & GrifiSth's saw
factory. The former of these was burned and the
latter has been for several years unused. The Cutter
mill on Mill Street is now used by Samuel A. Fowle.
His own mills stand on the site of Ephraim Cutter's,
and, as has been said, not far below the place where
Col. Cooke built his dam more than two hundred and
fifty years ago. They are used, in part, as grist-mills
and in part for grinding drugs, dye-woods and other
materials.
The ice business is and for a long time has been an
important industry of the town. William Fletcher,
who died in 1853, was, according to the statementon
his grave-stone, " the first man that ever carried ice
198
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
into Boston market for merchandise." Several smalt
ice-houaes were built on the shores of Spy Pond
about half a century ago to supply the neighborhood.
The business was first begun on a large scale, how-
ever, in West Cambridge soon after 1840, when Gage,
Hittinger & Co. undertook the work. Their first ice-
houses stood on the Belmont shore of the pond. Af-
terwards they acquired and built at various times
other ice-bouses on the opposite side. The firm of
Gage, Hittinger & Co. was succeeded by that of Gage,
Sawyer & Co., and in 1859 by that of Addison Gage
& Co., which is still carrying on the business at Spy
Pond. Addison Gage, the head of these successive
firms, lived in the town from 1852 until his death, in
1868, a public-spirited and respected citizen. The
business was from the first, in large part, and finally
altogether, a foreign business. The Spy Pond ice
weut all over the world— to the Southern States of
our own country, to the East and West Indies, to
China, to India, to South America, even to Australia.
Ordinarily from two hundred to two hundred and
fifty men were employed in the work in the busy sea-
son— about the same number now engaged in a win-
ter when a full quantity is cut, as the improved facil-
ities for doing the work counterbalance, so far as the
employment of labor is concerned, the increased ex-
tent of the business. During the war the Southern
trade was, of course, stopped, while the foreign trade
continued. With peace the business resumed its old
channels. About 60,000 tons of ice are ordinarily
cut in a favorable year, and employment is given to
many men at a time when farming operations have
ceased and work is scarce.
In connection with the ice business should be men-
tioned the factory where for many years the firm of
William T. Wood & Co. has carried on the manufac-
ture of ice-toois. The factory stands not far from
Spy Pond and its products have a deservedly high
reputation.
The history of Arlington for more than two hun-
dred and fifty years has now been traced. If the story
lacks picturesqueness, it has at least the interest that
must always attach to an account of the doings of
former generations of men who have lived their lives,
and wrought their work on the soil now trodden by
us. The past of the town may have been — except
for one memorable day — uneventflil, but it should
not be without honor in the eyes of those who appre-
ciate the sober virtues whereby our Puritan forefath-
ers built up their little community, and whereby
their descendants transmitted it to the keeping of the
men of to-day.
CHAPTER XIV.
AJiLIA'GTOy— (Continued).
MARKET (lARIilCMMTi; IN ARLINGTON AND
BELMONT.
BY WARREN W. R WVSON.
In preparing this article it will be necessary to date
back about forty years, when n.arket gardening be-
gan to be a prominent business in these towns, which
were at that time called West Cambridge. It, was
about this time, li>oO, that g\n.<s was first used for
I'orciug vegetables in the winter ami spring, and those
who took the lead went ahead and prospered. They
studied the business, made u>e of iheir instruction,
and succeeded, and are to-day noted lor their success,
and their names stand as landmarks in this industry,
which has improved and advanced until the town of
Arlington stand- first of :iny town in this country for
the amount ol' |iriiiliiciion per :ure, the'|iialitv of the
products, and lor the /ifr^oiim/ ut' lUe men eiiiaged
in the business. The county of .MiddleM'X is finious
lor its vegetable productions, .md ui:iny men are en-
gaged in this industry.
JIarket gardening is very dill'ereut from farming,
and since glass has been extensively used, especially
for the Inst twenty years, It has become a science, and
those who studied it were intelligent, and studied the
nature of their soils, and the crops best adapted to
them. All have been successful, and many have be-
come wealthy.
Among the leading market gardeners of forty years
ago were : Cajitain George Pierce, Aaron Dixon, Mr.
Sprague, John Fillebrown, \\'arren llawson, Albert
Winn, Samuel Biitterfield, .losepli Cutterfield, Josiah
Crosby, David Putler, A. P. and J. P. Wynian, Abbot
Allen, Cyrus Cutter, T. P. Pierce, Elbridge Farmer,
Benjamin and H. J. Locke, Dowen Ilusseil, William
Whittemore, Stephen Scynies, Luke Wyniau, Charles
Hill, George Hill, Varnum Frost, Warren Frost, Silas
Frost, Henry Frost, N'. C. Frost, Oliver Wellington,
Joseph Hill, Charles Winn, Henry Locke, Henry F.
Hill, Amos Hill, \\'arren Heustis, William Richard-
son, David Locke, Lewis Bartlett, Stephen Swan and
Abel Pierce. Moat of these men have sons who suc-
ceeded them.
The leading ones of to-day are : W. W. Rawson,
W. H. Allen, Wyman Bros., J. P. Squire, Varnum
Frost, J. O. Wellington, John Lyons, H. J. Locke,
George P. Winn and D. L. Tappen. Most of these
are quite young men and are very succes.sCul. We will
not try to mention the number of kinds of vegetables
grown by these ditferent men, but .ill have some spec-
ialty best adapted to their soil and locality.
These men so managed their business that they
have educated the people to a large use of vegetables
which has made the Boston market the best in this
country for a fine quality of products.
ARLINGTON.
199
A few years ago the Boston Market Gardeuera' As-
sociation was organized, wliich has proved a great
benefit to the market gardeners ot' this section. W.
W. Rawson was chosen president, and is the present
incumbent.
Notwithstanding the magnitude of this business, it
is moving back from the city, and we predict that
within twenty years very few market gardeners will
be found in the towns of Arlington and Belmont.
We will now mention the men and location of
their places : Captain George Pierce, place located on
Arlington Avenue, and extended to Spy Pond. He
waa the le-iding market g.irdener of fifty years ago,
and raised large quantities of early apples, using glass
to sonie extent. Mr. Josiali Crosby was in his employ,
and afterwards bought a place on Lake Street. The
Pierce place, after the death of Mr. Pierce, was leased
for a number of years, and recently a part has been
sold to Jlr. John Lyons.
The Albert Winn pl.ace, located between Summer
and Mystic Streets, w.as carried on for a number of
years by Mr. Winn, and later by Winn Brothers.
Then young .Albert died, and (ieortre P. Winu leased
the place and has conducted it .-"ucressfully for a num-
ber of years, and is the present occupant.
Abbot Allen pl.ace, located i>n Arlington Avenue,
was carried on by him a long time, then was conducted
by his sons, W. H. and A. .Vllen. Later W. H. pur-
chix-sed his brother's interest and dissociated his son
Abbot with him in the business, and they are aiming
the most successful. Tbc place nf .Tohn Fillebrown
was purchased by >rr. W. II. Allen in ISW.
William Adams' place was located on Arlington
Avenue, next to .Vblml. Allen. It Wiis sold to .Mr.
Allen, and .\diims nmvi'd to Wiiicliesfi-r.
A. P. and .T. P. Wynian's place, locnte-d on .\rliD;.'-
ton .\venue and Lake Street, was carried on for a
number of years ; then diviiled, the one on Lake
Street tiken by .\. P., ami he at one time carried on
the largest business in this town. He had, xs his as-
sistant, E. N. Pierce, who afterwanls married one
of Mr. Wyman's daiieblers and moved to Waltham.
The place has since been conducted by Wyman Bros.
— Frank anil Daniel — they building two green-houses
and putting in a large water plant for irrigation.
Since the death of ^[r. A. P. Wyman the place has
fallen to the brothers.
Mr. J. P. Wyman's place, located on Arlington
Avenue. He carried it on for a number of years
after separating from A. P., after which he leased it
to John Lyons, and it has been run cjuite successfully
by him. He has recently bought part of the place
owned by Captain Pierce, formerly carried on by
Arthur Pitts, and in earlier times, by Crosby & Dickey.
John Lyons has two large green-houses.
Mr. Samuel Butterfleld — place on Arlington
Avenue and Lake Street — was one of the oldest mar-
ket gardeners and very successful. He was formerly
in business in the Quincy Market. Since his death
his place has been leased to Mr. Irvin Johnson (who
was Mr. Butterfield's foreman), and he and his sons
are very successful.
Warren Eawson's place is located on Warren Street,
extending to Mystic River. He was originally in
the employ of Albert Winn and purchased this place
while there. His funds were limited and he was
obliged to work very hard for a number of years. He
was one of the first to grow vegetables under glass.
Soon after the close of the Kebellion, the business
being very successful, his son, Warren W., then
seventeen years of age, assumed charge of the help
on the place, and, after becoming proficient in the
business, purchased his father's entire interest.
Mr. John Fillebrown. Place on Warren Street. He
was very successful, hut his health failed him, and the
last few years he was not able to attend to the busi-
ness. He died in 1889 and the place was sold to Mr.
W. H. Allen.
Josiah Crosby. Place on Lake Street. At one
time Jlr. Dickey was associated with Mr. Crosby.
Mr. Crosby was a fine market gardener, his place
always looked tidy, and every crop was set out by line.
He was the improver of the Crosby Corn and Egypt-
ian beet. Since his death, in 1887, the place has
been very successfully managed by his sons, Walter
and Charles Crosby.
Davis Locke. Place is located in eastern portion of
the town, near Alewife Brook, and is carried on by
James Purcell & .Sons. Levi Russell bought a portion
of the farm of Mr. Locke. Mr. Russell's place is uow
conilucted by his sou, Irwin L. Russell. The larger
part is located in Somerville.
Chas. Hill. Place situated on Ple.asant Street. He
is what is called old-fashioned, believing the old way
is the best. He never owned a horse and always
cultivated his land with a spade and fork.
(ieo. Hill. Place located on Pleasant Street. He
was a very intelligent market gardener and one of
the leading ones of twenty years ago. A reservoir
supplies water for irrigation. He raised large
quautities of strawberries and took many premiums at
the Massachusetts Horticultural Society exhibitions,
both for strawberries and vegetables ; his place has two
large hot-houses for raising lettuce and cucumbers.
He died in 1889. His two sons, George and Arthur,
succeeded him, both very capable and intelligent
young men.
Addison Brooks. Place on Lake Street. He was
very active for a long time and did a large business.
He sold one of his places to Mr. James Marden, who
carried it on about fifteen years, then sold to Mr. W .
H. Allen, who is the present owner. Mr. Brooks sold
his other place to J. P. Squire and moved to Brock-
ton, Mass., carrying on the same business there.
Mr. Joseph Butterfield, located on Lake Street,
bought his place of Samuel Butterfield and was very
successful. He died in 1875 and waa succeeded by bis
son Joseph, who continued the business with success.
200
HISTORY OP MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Mr. Charles Crane had a place on Arlington Avenue
and Broadway, and was successful. He removed to
the West.
David Puffer, about forty years ago, purchased the
place on Broadway where he is now located. He
has four sons — one, Warren, associated with him in
market gardening ; the other three compose the firm
of Puffer Bros., marketmen.
J. P. Squire's place is located at Lake Street and
Arlington Avenue. About twenty years ago Mr.
Squire began cultivating his land near his homestead,
and since that time has purchased several other places
and cultivated them as market-gardens. His business
is quite extensive, and at present is under the direc-
tion of Eugene O'Niel.
Walter Russell purchased his place of Mr. Flau-
ders and for a time oarried on quite an extensive busi-
ness. He subsequently sold part of his land to W.
W. Rawson.
Mr. Sprague's place, coiner of Medford Street and
Warren, was sold to Cyrus Wood, who carried it on
about fifteen years. It was then sold to a land company.
J. F. Whittemore carried on tlie place owned by
W. H. Whittemore, his brother. It was recently jmr-
chased by Mr. G. D. Moore, who later leased it to Mr.
C. A. Learned, who was formerly in the employ ol
Mr. W. W. Rawson. Mr. J. F. Whittemore, about
1883, moved to Florida, where he is engaged in tlie
same business to some extent.
Mr. Elbridge Locke's place, located opposite the
Russell House, in the upper part of the towu, is now
carried on by different parties.
Sandy Boles, formerly in the employ of J. i"^. Crosby,
purchitsed a place near the Arlington Reservoir. It
is now laid down to grass.
Timothy Eaton, located just above the heights on
the road to Lexington, was succeeded by his son,
Joseph Eaton.
Mr. John Pierce's place, at the Foot of the Rocks,
carried on a small business in vegetables and fruit-
growing. Since the death of Mr. Pierce the place has
been leased.
Thomas Pierce's place, located on what is now
called Arlington Heights, was sold to a land com-
pany.
The Elbridge Farmer place, near the Foot of the
Rocks, is now carried on by his son, E. S. Farmer,
who learned the business while in the employ of Mr.
Vamum Frost, of Belmont.
The Bowen Russell place, situated on Arlington
Avenue, is now conducted by his sou, Ira Russell.
The B. & H. J. Locke place is situated on Arling-
ton Avenue. ,Upon the death of Benjamin, a few years
since, H. J. succeeded to the business, and still con-
ducts it.
Cyrus Cutter place, located on Summer Street, was
one of the oldest in the business. He was succeeded
by his sons, Cyrus and A. P. Cyrus' sons succeed
him as Cutter Brothers.
The .\bel Pierce place is situated on the liill near
Winchester. It is now occupied by Augustus Pierce,
a grandson, who succeeds his father.
The William Whittemore [ilace, located on Mystic
Street, is now Occupied by .1. S. Crosby, formerly of
Belmont.
The Luke Wyuiau place, situated on Mystic
Street, was purchased about twenty years ago by Mr.
Huffmaster, the present proprietor.
The Stephen Scynies place, on Mystic Street, i!<
one of the oldest in the town. Mr. Frank Frost, of
Belmont, son of Henry Frost, is the present occupant.
Warren W. Rawson. (See biogrnpliy.)
The Aaron Dixon place, in the eastern part of the
town, was a very sandy farm. Mr. Dixon was suc-
ceeded by his son Porter, who sold the farm to Asa
Durgin, who carried it on for four years, when it was
purchased by the Catholic Church for a cemetery.
Mr. N. C. Frost was associated with Mr. David
Fisher, who owned a place in Winchester, which he
carried on in connection with those owned by Mr.
Frost in Belmont. Mr. P'isher sold his interests in
Winchester, and purchascil the Kphrairn Tufts place,
which he also carried on with Mr. Frost, Mr. Fi-her
living in .\rlington and Mr. Frost in Deluiont. Mr.
Fisher married .Mr. Frost's sister.
A daughter of Mr. Fisher married !>. L. Toppeii,
who is the present occupant of tlie place.
Bel.mont. — Mr. Joe Wellington is a prouiincnt
market gardener of Belmont. He has occupied his
present place about twenty years, having succeeded
his fatlier.
51. W. Marsh is the oldest inhabiuint in Belmont
who has pursued farming as an avociition. He was
ninety years of age .\ugiist 7, ISyi). Small fruits
have been one of his specialties ;is well as apiiles.
George Prentice, whose farm is on the Highlands, is
one of the oldest farmers in this town. His products
have been chiefly milk and vegetables. His farm is
now under the control of his son, whose products are
fruit, vegetables and milk. He has about three hun-
dred hot-bed sash, insuring early vegetables.
Jonathan Frost was one of the earliest farmers in
this town. Upon his death, about thirty years ago,
he left four sons, viz. : Warren S., Varnum, .Vrteinas
F. and Herbert F., all of whom are now successful
gardeners and have pursued this business from boy-
hood. Seth Frost and son Newell C, were also farm-
ers here. Sylvester Frost has been in the business
about twenty years. He is a son of Lsaac Frost.
Willard Hill was a son of Joseph Hill. He occu-
pied his father's farm about five years and then became
a member of the tirm of Winn Ricker & Co.
Leonard Stearns, Sr., died fifteen years .ago. His
son Leonard, Jr., now occupies the place.
Nathan Robbins, now dead, once sold produce for
Abbott Allen, father of Henry. His vehicle was a
two-wheel tip-cart, and his market was Charlestown
Square.
CUc^-eM.
ARLINGTON.
201
Isaac Lock, who died fifty years ago, was father of
George Lock. George died in 1870. He was the
father of Edwin, Isaac and W. H. Lock. The three
latter died in 1889. The sons of W. H. are in busi-
ness in Quiucy Market. This was a maiket-garden-
ing family, and the old estate on Pleasant Street is
very valuable.
Charles Winn, Sr., came from Woburn about 1850,
and was a good gardener. He died a few years ago.
His son, Charles Winn, now occupies the place.
Mr. Morton, whose residence is upon Spring Lane,
is among Belmont's reputable gardeners. Mr. Mor-
ton's advent into the business of market-gardening
was made about the year 1855. He was employed
successively by one Adams, of Winter Hill, Somer-
ville; Warren Rawsou, then West Cambridge ; George
Hill, Arlington ; Charles Winn and Joseph Hill, of
Belmont. He then bought the farm tilled by Edward
Phillibrown. He had for many years the enviable
reputation of succeeding in keeping celery later in
the winter season than any other farmer. His .son
Edward succeeds him.
yilas Frost, who died in 1889, was also a market
gardener. His residence was on Pleasant Street, and
three sons now succeed him.
Henry Y. and Amos Hill, brothers, were "market-
gardeners from boyhood, both born in Belmont. The
farm of Amos is now carried on by his son, Amos
Edwin. The farm of Henry is leased, in part, to
VVarren Eustice.
William Richardson, now eighty years old, has
spent the last forty years in market-gardening, and
many of the devices in machinery that he originated
are now u.sed by the trade.
William Hill was the first to raise cucumber-plants
under glass to set out in the open field. He was also
the first to introduce Boston market celery. He was
a deep thinker, and many of the modes of operation
that are in vogue to-day in the business were first
practiced by him. He was born in Belmont.
Warren Eustice, born in Vermont, came to West
Cambridge (now Beimuut) when quite young; is now
seventy years old and vigorous. Market-gardening
all his life, his operations in pig-raising have engaged
much of hi? time. In 1861 he brought the first Chester
White pig that came into Massachusetts. In 1870 he
bought a Yorkshire boar that was imported by Col-
onel Hoe, of printing-press fame, and crossed upon
his Chester White stock, and this is the stock that is
now known as the Eustice strain of Yorkshire pig.
Hittinger Brothers are successors of their father,
who raised fruit principally. The sons, in addition
to fruit, are also engaged in market-gardening. They
built several large green-houses, and are growing let-
tuce and encumbers extensively.
P. Schahan, located near Fresh Pond, is very suc-
cessful in growing lettuce in green-houses. Mr.
Schahan first introduced the use of roffea for tying
vegetables. Large quantities are now used.
Henry Richardson, situated near Fresh Pond, has
several large green-houses, used for growing lettuce,
and was among the first to use them for that purpose.
Davis Ohenery's place, situated by the side of C. H.
Slade, has one green-house, and devotes hia attention
mostly to fruit-growing.
D. A. Hart's place is located opposite Mr. Slade,
known as the Tainter estate. He learned the business
with Mr. Henry Locke.
Howard Richardson carries on the old Thomas
Richardson place. Has one green-house.
Thomas Richardson carried on the William Rich-
ardson place.
Frank and Edward Stone have done quite an exten-
sive business. Frank died a short time ago, and the
place is now run by his brother.
Mr. T. L. Creeley occupies the place formerly car-
ried on by his father in the milk business.
C. H. Slade, located in the southern part of Bel-
mont, was formerly associated with William Cook,
and hired the Brown and Stone places ; afterwards
Mr. Slade carried on the business and bought the
Stone estate, which he now occupies, and has been
quite successful. He has built two green-houses,
raises quantities of currants and is a breeder of swine.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
JAMES RUSSELL.
James Russell was born January 14, 1788, in that
part of Charlestown that now forms the city of Som-
erville. His father, James Russell, was a respected
and substantial citizen, and the family had been long
established in Middlesex County. He was graduated
from Harvard College, in the class of 1811. Among
his classmates were several who afterwards attained
marked distinction, of whom, perhaps, the most noted
was Edward Everett. After completing his college
course he began the study of the law in the office of
Hon. William Austin, of Charlestown, at that time a
leading member of the bar. He was admitted to the
bar in 1814, and entered upon the practice of his pro-
fession in West Cambridge — a place with which his
family connections were numerous and close, and
here be made his home for the rest of his life.
For many years Mr. Russell attended to nearly all
the legal business, not merely of his fellow-townsmen,
but of many people in neighboring towns; for his
reputation as a sound and sagacious counsellor was
wide-spread. He lived in days before his profession had
become specialized, and his practice was a varied one.
With a knowledge of the law he combined a native
good judgment which made him a wise adviser, and
his known uprightness held public confidence. By
202
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
prudence and economy he acquired a competency,
and was enabled to retire from active practice some
years before his death.
As a citizen he was held in much esteem, and was
recognized as one of the principal men of the com-
munity. He was a member of the School Committee
in 1828, '29, '32, 1839-41 ; a selectman from 1837 to
1844; a representative in the General Court in 1838,
'39, '41 and '42, and a State Senator in 1840. It is
not unlikely that he would have attained other than
local honors, had not his political views been those of
the minority in the State. He was frequently called
upon to take an active part in public movements, and
was ready and eager to do what he could for the gen-
eral welfare. His interest in the town in which he
lived appears from his gift to it in his will of a large
tract of land for a public park — now known .is Kus-
sell Park. He died December 9, 1863.
Mr. Russell had the courtly manners not uncom-
mon among the gentlemen of his time. His opinions
were strongly held, and he w.oa frank and out.spnken
in the maintenance of hia views. His habits were
simple and unostentatious. While still a young man
he built the comfortable house which he occupied
until his death. It stands upon .Arlington Avenue,
just below the railroad crossing, at the centre of the
town. Many now living well remember the hospi-
tality of that home and the cordiality of the welcome
of its owners. Mr. Rusaeil's wife was Harriet Tufts.
They were married May 24, 1821, and she survived
him but a, short time, dying August 2, 18t)ii. They
had no children.
On the stone that marks Mr. Rii.ssell's grave is
written; " An honored citizen, a faithful lawyer, an
upright man," and these words may well be repeated
here as a truthful summing up of his character.
NATHAN R0BBIN3.
Nathan Robbins was born September 7, 1803, in the
western part of Cambridge, then known .as Menotomy,
which soon afterwards became the town of West Cam-
bridge, and is now Arlington. He was the son of
Nathan and Rebecca (Prentice) Robbins, and was
the eldest of nine children. His ancestors had long
dwelt in and about Cambridge, his father being a
descendant of Richard Robbins, who came from Bng-
land in 1639 and settled in Charlestowu, afterwards
removing to Cambridge, while his mother's earliest
American ancestor was Henry Prentice, a settler in
Cambridge ' before 1640. His father was engaged
in a limited way in the marketing business, and the
same occupation was naturally adopted by several
of the children. After obtaining such education
as the public schools of the time furnished, Mr. Rob-
bins, while still a boy, engaged in business, attirst .as
an employee of others, and later on his own .account.
In 1826, when Faneuil Hall Market was enlarged
by the erection of 'the so-called Quincy Market, he
was one of the first to take a stall in the new build-
ing, and here he remained until his death. He dealt
in poultry, game and pork, and was soon recognized
as the leading dealer in these articles in Boston.
After some years, as his business grew, he coniined
it more excuaively to poultry and game. His high
reputation for honesty and sagacity, .as well as for
thorough knowledge of his calling, brought him much
patronage from the leading hotels and restaurants, as
well as from persons of all classes. In days when peo-
ple did their own marketing more than is now cus-
tomary, Mr. Robbins made the acquaintance and
gained the friendship of many of the men best worth
knowing in the Boston of thirty and fifty years ago.
He continued steadily in business until the winter of
1887, when he was obliged by illness to ce.ase to at-
tend personally to it. He died September 5, 1888, at
his home in Arlington.
Jfr. Robbins was averse to public life, and held no
offices of imi)ortance. Outside his own calling his
chief business interest lay in the Faneuil Hall
National Bank, of which he was president for nearly
thirty-four years, from November (J, 18.')4, until his
death. His management of the finances of this
institution w.as able and conservative. In politics he
was a Den\ocrat, and in religious belief a Unitarian.
He lived in his native town all his life, occupviiij;
since 1842 the large square house near the centre of
Arlington, upon the site of which the new Public
Library is now (18'.)li) being built by the widow of
his brother Eli. On .Ypril 12, 182'.>, he married Eliza
Eleanor Parker, of Lexington, a near relative of
Theodore Parker, and a irranddaughter of Captain
.Tonathau Parker, of Revolutionary dime. -Airs. Ilob-
bins died .July 1, 1877. Their children were three
sons and four daughters.
f>f Mr. Robbins' brothers, two — Amos and Eli —
followed the same vocation as he, and gained in New
York a like distinction to tliat which he ac(|uirod in
Boston, as successful men of affairs, and as upright
and honorable citizens.
Mr. Robbins had certain marked traits of i-haracter
which justly entitle his name to a plate in these page.s.
He built up and sustained his business by unreniit-
tiiig personal attention. He gave the same conscien-
tious care to every detail in extreme old age as he did
in youth. It was his desire that the work he had to
do should be done properly, however great might be
the fatigue and discomfort to himself. His integrity
equaled his diligence. Men who dealt with him knew
not only that he might alw.ays be found at his place
of business, but that his statements might be trusted.
Throughout his life he clung to sound principles
of business and refused to be drawn .aside into any
speculations, however dazzling, choosing rather to
rely for 3ucces.s upon the old-fashioned virtues of
pruilence, economy and diligence. Several men who
achieved distinction in business owed much of their
success to the sound training received under him. To
• /'^/^/^-^^-^i y/^ '^^^■
^e^t^
ARLINGTON.
203
a discrimiuating judgment he joined a sympathetic
and generous disposition. To many of those with
whom he was brought into business relations he gave
needed assistance at critical times, and his outside
charities were numerous and unpretentious. The fre-
quent tolcens of appreciation and gratitude that came
to him in his later years were but the legitimate re-
sults of his own acts.
AMOS ROUBINS.
Amos Robbins was born in West Cambridge (now
.\rlington), ilassachu.--ett.s, December 28,1817, and re-
ceived a limited education in the public schools of
the time and locality. At the age of fourteen he
became a poultry buyer and dresser for his brother
Nathan, «ho had been for some time established in j
Faneuil Hall JIarket in Boston. .A.t the age of six-
teen Amos Robbin* removed to Coston, and was em-
ployed in his brother's business there until 1836. It
was at this time that ."^imeuu Hoyden, who kept the
Tremont Hou.se in I'libtDii, and hail a high apprecia-
tion iif these intluslriiius yiiuiig men, became proprie-
tor of the Aslor House, New Yurk City, and remarked
to Nathan, the eldest, the dearth of llrst-chuss poultry
in i'ulton Market in that city, ami. suggested that there
Wild a tine opening for some New l^ngland man,
who would attend to business ami keep out of bad
comiiany. This was exactly what the llobbins boys
knew how to do, — accordingly, in 18o6 Amos Robbins
wont to New York and secured a stand iu Fulton
JIarkct in that city, consisting of some planks laid
over two .saw benches; the business w;ia conducted on
a very moderate scale to what it is at present ; and
the receipts of all the dealers in Fulton .Market at that
time would hardly eipial what some single tirms in that
busy centre now take in and send out ilaily. In 18.'j'.>
he was joined by his brother Eli, who was jissociated
with him in his <lealings in poultry and game, and in
1841 they tbrmed the firm of A. & E. Robbins, which
became and continued to be the largest receivers and
shippers of poultry, game, etc., in the country. \t
the death of his brother Eli, the latter's nephew, Milton
Robbins, son of Mr. .Vmos Robbins, became a member
of the firm, which was changed to .V. & M. Robbins.
The gains of the firm of .\. & E. Robbins were the re-
ward of years of |)lodding and successful traffic, and
resulted in a com|)etency for the brothers.
Mr. .\mos Robbins was married at the age of twenty
to !Miss Adelia Martling, of Tarrytown, New York,
who has borne two sons and two daughters who were
reared and married, but who died in early woman-
hood. Mr. Robbins, in his declining years, was,in the
enjoyment of well-earned wealth, and such had been
his character from boyhood that he was held in
equally high regard in business circles and among his
intimate friends, and was esteemed alike as an intelli-
gent and influential citizen, and as a friendly, whole-
souled Christian gentleman.
ELI ROBBINS.
Mr. Eli Robbins was born in We.st Cambridge (now
Arlington), Mass., September 22, 1821. He was not a
strong child, but being healthy and self-reliant, he
soon mastered the rudiments of such knowledge as was
convenient to his circumstances, and began his bus-
iness career at an early age, by providing a horse and
wagon for himself, and purchasing poultry of the
neighboring farmers, which he dressed with his own
hands, and carried to Boston for customers. Three
years later, in 1839, Eli followed his brother Amos to
Fulton JIarket, New York City, at first as an em-
ployee ; but in 1841 they entered into partnership
under the firm-name of A. & E. Robbins, which has
since become familiar to all frequenters of the streets
of New York. It was a small beginning — two country
boys, aged eighteen and twenty-one, with a capital of
two hundred and thirty-six dollars each. But they
had an advantage in the superior style in which they
dressed their poultry, and they were not ashamed*to
work. -Vdd to this their determination not to specu-
late nor run in debt, and the result might easily have
been |)redicted. They soon distanced all competitors,
and for more than forty years have stood at the ac-
knowledged head of that line of business in the
United Statef, thus affording a notable instance of
conspicuous success obtained solely by honorable en-
terprise and strict integrity.
()n the 13th of May, 1845, Mr. Robbins married
Miss Maria C. Farmer, of his native town, a young
lady with whom he had been acquainted from child-
hood and whose subsequent devotedneas, as wife and
mother, amply justified the prophetic foregleam of his
youthful affections. The abundant means which her
husband furnished enabled her also to gratify every
hospitable impulse and refined taste. Their first home
in Brooklyn was on Washington Street, where two
dear children came to work their mission of love —
Warren, born Sept. 21 , 184f), and Clinton, Dec. 27,
1848. The birth of these children was a joy which
could only be adequately measured by the terrible
grief that followed their early departure — Clinton
died .\.pril 26, 1864, and Warren, Nov. 12, 1869.
Eli Robbins, was, by nature and early training, in-
clined to economy and careful in his investments ; yet
he was not indifferent to any worthy cause. His bene-
factions to private families and individuals were so
secret and unostentatious, that none but those who
were the recipients of it can compute the sums which
he annually bestowed among them. In religion he
was a Universalist. On removing to Brooklyn, while
yet a young man, he became a member of the first
Universalist Society, and remained ever after loyal to
that form of Christian faith. This furnishes the key
to his whole moral character. He never sought for
novelty, nor shrank from the dictates of duty. . He
had the two things which made men strong — an in-
telligent conscience, and the quiet courage to obey it.
True courage is not noisy; it does not find its expres-
204
HISTORY OF iMEDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
sions in defiant manners, or vapory speech ; but it
does consist in a quiet determination to do riglit,
because it is right, and in traveling in a straight,
though unpopular pathway. With such a conscience'
and with such a courage, Eli Robbins entered upon
the career which lay before him and followed it suc-
cessfully to the end. The end came while he was yet
far from being an old man — he died on the morning
of June 21, 1883, in the 62d year of his age, leaving as
the result of his life, a character for business integrity
against which no word of suspicion was ever breathed,
and a competency — the reward of honorable etl'ort*.
His will, which was written ten years before his death,
disposes of some three hundred thousand dollars in
various bequests ; among which are the legacies to
the Church of Our Father, located in the city ot
Brooklyn, N. Y ; the Brooklyn Orphan Asylum ol
the same city ; the Blind Asylum, of New York ; the
Unitarian and Universalist churches at Arlington.
Mass., and his native town, to which his body w;u-
taken for interment.
It is fitting and proper to add, in connection with
the above, that Mrs. i"\Iaria C. liobbins, his widow, haa
about completed arrangements for the erection of a
substantial stone structure to be located in Arlington,
Mass., the native place of herself and her late hus-
band, and intended for a Public Library, and reading-
room, which is to be known as the " Eli Robbins
Memorial Library Building."
been as follows : the retirement of Edward D. Kim-
ball in the year 1866; the admission of W. W. Kim-
ball in the same year, and his retirement in 1873; the
admission of his sons, George W. and Frank O. Squire,
I ic the year 1873 ; the death of Hiland Lockwood in
I the year 1S74 ; the retirement of George W. Squire in
the year 1876; and the admission of Fred F. Squire,
the youngest son, January 1, 1884 — leaving the firm
to-day composed of John P., Frank O. and Fred F.
Squire. In 1850 Mr. Squire bought a small tract of
land in East Cambridge and built a slaughter-house.
I Since that time the business lias grown to such an
extent that the firm of .John P. Sjuire iV Co. has to-
day one of the largest and best-equifiped packing-
houses in the country, and stands third in the list of
liog-packers in the United Stales.
In 1843 he married Kate Green Urvis, daughter of
his old employer. Eleven children were born of this
mar.'i;ige. ten of whom are now living, as follows;
I'ieorge \V., Jennie C, Frank •'., Minnie E., John A.,
Kale I., Nannie K., Fred F., Nellie G. and Bessie E.
Sr]uire. One son, Charles, died in infancy.
In 1S4S he moved to West C'ambridge, now called
Arlington, where lie has ever since lived.
Mr. Squire joined the Mercantile t^ihraiy Associa-
lion when he l\c.<t cinue to Boston, and spent a good
deal of his leisure time in reading, of which he was
very fond.
The position which he holds to-day in commercial
circles is due to his untiring industry, undaunted
courage and marked abilitv.
JOHN p. SQUIRE.
John P. Squire, the son of Peter and Esther Squire>
was born in the town of Weathersfield, Windsor
County, Vermont, on the Sth day of May, 1819. His
father was a farmer. The years of his boyhood were
spent at his home, attending the public schools, and
working on the farm.
On the Ist day of May, 1835, he entered the employ-
ment of a Mr. Orvis, the village store-keener, at West
Windsor, Vermont, and remained with him until the
winter of 1837, when he attended the academy at
Unity, New Hampshire, of which the Rev. A. A.
Miner was then principal. He taught school at Cav-
endish during a part of the winter of 1837-38. On
the 19th of March, 1838, he came to Boston, entered
the employ of Nathan Robbins, in Faneuil Hall Mar-
ket, and continued with him until May 1, 1842, when
he formed a co-partnership with Francis Russell, and
carried on the provision business at No. 25 Faneuil
Hall Market, under the style of Russell & Squire,
until the year 1847, when the co-partnership was dis-
solved.
Mr. Squire continued the business alone, at the
same place, until the year 1855, when he formed a new
co-partnership with Hiland Lockwood and Edward
Kimball, under the name of John P. Squire & Co.
The firm-name and business have continued until the
present time, and the changes in the partners have
\V-\EKFX W. RAW.'^OX.
Warren W. llawson, son of Warren Rawson, wa.s
born in West Cambridge (now Arlington), January
23, 1847. He was educated in the public schools of
his native town, also at the Cottiiig Academy and at
a commercial college in Boston. He pursued his
studies with diligence and attention, and succeeded in
procuring an education which well qualified him for
his subsequent successful business career. At the age
of seventeen he began work with his father, who
was a leading market gardener. He studied the
science of the business, nature and plants, soil best
adapted to theui. etc., and was successful. When
1 twenty-two years old he purchased half of his
i father's farm and three years later purchased the re-
I mainder. He also owns a place corner Medford and
! Warren Streets, purchased about ten years ago of
I Mr. W. H. Whittemore. His residence, a fine one,
' and hot-houses are located on this place. Mr. Raw-
! son has advanced rapidly in the business. He was
the first to build hot-houses to any extent in this
town, and the first to put in an irrigating plant for
outside purposes. He was also the first to use steam
in heating green-houses, and the first to use electric
light in bringing forward plants. He found that this
light hastened the growth of plants about fifteen
per cent., particularly in the winter season.
^ ^ '^^^'fe^^^.^^^
lllUAi^^H^'
MELKOSE.
205
His place embraces one hundred acres. He em-
ploys sixty-five men and twenty-five horses; uses
three thousand cords of manure each year, beside
fertilizers, and is the most extensive market gardener
in this part of the country. He is the leading pro-
ducer of celery, and also has a large seed store at 34
South Market Street, Bo.ston. He grows large quanti-
ties of seeds to suppl\ the market gardeners, and has-
been instrumental in introducing many new kinds o'
vegetables.
Mr. Rawson is an energetic, public-spirited man.
and occupies many prominent positions. He is pres-
ident of the Middlesex Agricultural Society of Con-
cord ; president of the Market Gardeners' Association
of Boston ; member of the State Board of Agriculture
and one of the Executive Committee of that board:
member of the Board of Control of the Massachusetts
Experiment Station at Amherst; president of the
Brackett Club, which was instrumental in electin|r
.1. Q. A. Brackett Governor in 1889; chairman of the
Republican Town Committee and a member of tht
School Committee — uow serving his third term ol
three years each. He is a parliamentarian of ability
and often otKciates as moderator of the town-meet
ings. He is a well-known lecturer on agriculture ;
is the author of a work enti. led "Success in Markel
Gardening," and r.lso of a work on celery culture.
In the spring of 18'J0 he was ap])ointed, by the Gov-
ernor, chairmau of the Gypsy Moth Commission.
Mr. Rawson is a man of large executive ability, and
has filled the various positions to which he has been
called with credit to himself and the satisfaction of
the public.
February 20, 1S68, Mr. Rawson united in marriage
with Helen M. Mair and their family consisted ol
two children, only one of whom (Mabel) survives.
His wife died May 4, 1872. He married his present
wile, Sarah E. Mair. September 21, 1874, and their
family consisted of three children, two of whom
(Alice and Herbert) survive.
(^HAPTER XV.
MELROSE.
BY ELBRIDIjF. h. gos;
Early Hi.«tory. — The choosingof selectmen and
other officers at annual town-meetings was first
adopted by Massachusetts; and to Chatlestown — of
which Melrose was originally a part — belongs the
honor of establishing the first " Board of Selectmen,"
in 1G3'), six years alter its settlement. Dorchester,
two years before, had tried a plan which approached
this idea, but the inhabitants of Charlestown matured
and consummated it, and adopted an order, the origi-
nal of which is still preserved, with its signatures,
and of w^hich the following is a copy ; and a fac-simile
of which may be found in Frothingham's " History
of Charlestown : " —
" .\n order made by the iahabiuiDts of Charlestowne at a full meet-
ing for the goverDraentof the Towd by Selectmen.
" Id coueideration of the great trouble and chearg of the Inhabitants
of Charlestowne by reason of the frequent meeting of the townsmen in
generatl and yt reason of many men meeting things were not so easily
brought unto a joynt issue. It is therefore agreed by the sayde townes-
men ioyntly. that these eleven men whose names are written on the
other syde (w'th the advice of Pastor and Teacher desired in any case of
conscience!, shall entreat ot all such business as shall consceme the
Townsmen, the cboise of officers escepted, and what they or the greater
part of them shall conclude, of the rest of the towne willingly to submit
unto as their owne proper act, and these 11 to continue in this employ-
ment for one yeare next ensuing the date hereot, being dated this : luth
of Februarj-, lei-KlMS).
" In witness uf this agreement we whose names are under written
have set o'r hands."
Soon afterward the General Court embodied this
idea in its legislation, and made all the necessary
arrangements for town government. From that day
to this the town-meeting has been the true glory of
New England ; and before the Revolution it wa-i,
indeed, " the nursery of American Independence."
Concerning our early town system, George William
Curtis has said :
" Each town was a small but perfect republic, as solitary and secluded
in the New England wilderness as the Swiss canton among the Alps. No
other practicable human institution has been devised or conceived to se-
cure the just ends of local government so felicitous as the town-meet-
ing."
The town of Melrose was incorporated May 3, 1850.
Most of its territory previous to incorporation was
known as North Maiden. A small portion of it, now
forming the northwestern corner of the town, was set
olf from the eastern part of the town of Stoneham,
by legislative act, March 15, 1853. The name of
Melrose was suggested by William Bogle, a native of
Scotland, who had been a resident for several years,
coming before the Boston and Maine Railroad was
built, — which was opened July 4, 1845 — and when he
had to go back and forth by the stage-coach line,
which commenced running between Boston and Read-
ing in 1798. It is situated in the most eastern part of
the county of Middlesex, seven miles directly north
of Boston. It has a superficial area of 2921 acres,
about 2700 of which are taxable.
It is bounded on the north by Wakefield, on the
east by Saugus (which is in the county of Essex), on
the south by Maiden and on the west by Stoneham
and a small corner of Maiden. Its shape is somewhat
irregular, having a width on the Wakefield line of
about a mile, on the Saugus line two and one-half
miles, about three miles on the Maiden, and two and
a half on the Stoneham and Maiden line. Ha surface
is pleasantly diversified ; it has hills, valleys, ponds
and streams. The larger part of the settlement is in
the valley, which has L Pond in its centre. As the
town is growing rapidly, the hills on either side are
being fast encroached upon, that on the east being
already largely occupied with fine residences. The
206
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY. MASSACHUSETTS.
line of hills on the west aide of the valley is more
wooded, and in the southerly part there is a pretty
waterfall, from the edge of what may be termed a
manypath-liaed wildwood, which' lies partly in Mel-
rose, partly in Maiden and partly in Medford.
This is a portion of the 4000 acres surrounding
Spot Pond, now known as the Middlesex Fells.
M'. Mauacks, & soe vpp into the country, shall be-
longe to the inhabitants of Charlton." As " vpp into
the country " did not determine how far the line
should go, another order, passed March ii, 103(3, was
more definite: "Ordered, that Charles Towne bounds
shall run eigdt myles into the country from their
meeteing-howse, if noe other bounds intercept, re-
Within the town's borders there are several sum- i serueing the pprietie of ffermes graunted to John
mits, from which very extended views of the sur-
rounding country may be had — from the ocean on the
east, the Blue Hills on thn south, Mount Wachusett
on the west and Mount Monadnock and other distant
summits on the north. These local summits are
Mount Zion, Mount Hood, Boston Rock, Atlantic
Rock, Barrett Mount and Vinton Hill or West Rock.
The largest body of water within its limits is L
Pond, containing about thirty acres, so named from
its shape, and so referred to in the Charlestown Rec-
ords as early as 1638. In early documents it has been
variously spelled Ell, Eel, Ele and L ; the different
spelling probably arising by a misapprehension of the
sound.
The other ponds are Swain's, Bennett, Dis, High-
land and Long pond ; this latter extends into the town
of Saugus. Both Long and Swain's Ponds were
named as early as 1660, being thus referred to in the
Charlestown records. L Pond Brook, the outlet of
that pond, runs through the centre of the town, and
is joined at Wyoming by the Spot Pond Brook, the
outlet of Spot Pond, which lies within the territory
of the town of Stoneham. Both these brooks, thus
united, flow into the Maiden River, at Maiden.
Melrose has five divisions or settlements: the Mid-
dlesex Fells — generally called Fells — and Wyoming
in the southern part, the Centre, Melrose Highlands
in the north, and Norrisville in the northeastern
part, each having a railroad depot, with the excep- '
tion of Norrisville. The Highlands depot is also '
called the Stoneham depot, as for many years ahorse
railroad has connected with that town, two miles dis-
tant. About two years ago the Maiden and Melrose
Horse-Railroad was extended from Maiden, running <
through Main and Green Streets to Norrisville,
thence through Franklin Street and connecting with '
that at the Highlands Station, the whole consolidated
with the East Middlesex Horse-Railroad Company.
Originally the territory of Melrose belonged to the
town of Charlestown, which was settled in 1629, and '.
was a far more extensive region than now, as it in-
cluded what is now Maiden, Everett, Melrose, Wo-
burn, Stoneham, a small part of Cambridge, Somer-
ville, Burlington, a large part of Medford, and Read-
ing. Differences of opinion connected with the
boundaries of the different towns arose, and were set-
tled by the General Court. July 2, 1633, Mystic-side
(now Maiden) was granted to Charlestown, audit was
ordered " that the ground lyeing betwixte the North
Ryv' [sometimes called " Three Myle Brooke," now ;
Maiden River] & the creeke on the north side of '
I Winthrop, Esq., M'. Nowell, M'. Cradocke & M'.
1 Wilson, to the owners thereof, as also ftree ingresse
, & egresse for the serv's & cattell of the said gentt, &
I common for their cattell, on the backeside of M'.
Cradocks fferme." And the Charlestown records of
1638 say that " the Gen" Court had setled theire
Bounds by granting eight miles from the old Meeting-
I house into the Contry Northwest Northrly."
I As Charlestown increased, its inhabitants passed
I over the Mystic River as early as 1640, and in that
I year a mill was built near Mount Prospect, by Thomas
, Coitmore. In 1641), this "Mystic-side" was set off
by the General Court, and named Maiden, from a
town in England bearing that name, whence some of
, the early settlers came. Captain Edward Johnson,
I in his " Wonder-Working Providence of Zicn's Sa-
viour in New England," says that Maiden was settled
I "by certain persons, who i.-sued out of Charles Town,
' and indeed had her whole structure within the bounds
t of this more elder Town, being severed by the broad-
spreading river of Mi.stick, the one from the i^her,
whose troublesome passage caused the people on the
North side of the river to plead for Town-privildeges
within themselves, which accordingly was granted
them."
The act of incorporation was brief, as compared
with one passed nowadays : " L^pon the petition of
Mistick-side men, they are granted to be a distinct
towne, & the name thereof to be called Mauldon."
All the northern part of this new town, a tract of
over two thousand acres, was for many years called
"The Commons." It was "full of stately timber,"
and, says the Charlestown records, " indeed generally
all the country round about was an uncouth wilder-
ness." It was the home of the Indian and the wild
beast. It has been said that when the first settlers at
Boston .sent out an exploring expedition, they came
as far as the line of small hills in Maiden, and turn-
ing back, reported that beyond the hills was a dense
wilderness, and that probably nobody would ever pen-
etrate the jungles.
In the process of time this land came to be very de-
sirable both as woodland and pasturage ; and action
was taken by the town looking to its preservation and
utility. The Maiden records, March 26, 1694, con-
tain the report of a committee " to run lines between
the Common and proprietors' lands, as follows: Run
y' bounds Round Reedy pond, y"' bounds are first a
great buttenwood tree before Joseph Lines dore — and
so bounded Round with seuerall trees marked with
letter C next common." November 20th of the same
MELROSE.
207
. year it was " Voted, That y' common shall be di-
vided: bottom and top, yt is, land and wood;" and
November 26th a committee of three — Major William
Johnson, Captain John Brown and Captain John
Smith — reported to the town the manner in which it
should be done, giving to every freeholder in the town
a proportion according to his ratable estate. A com-
mittee of seven were chosen to proceed with the divi-
sion. It was voted that this committee " employ an
urtis to lay out the lots." Every lot was to " run 82
poles in length," and there was to be allowed " two
poles in breadth between every range of lota for high-
ways . . . Every proprietor's name to be written dis-
tinctly, and y' lots be well shuffled together, and one
man chose by the town to draw them out of a bag.
The first name drawn to have the first lot." This
division was thus made in 1G95, when seventy-four
freeholders, then in Maiden, received their respective
allotments.
But a number of families had taken up their abode
in this region ere this division of " the commons "
took place. They were theSpragues, the Lyndes and
the Greens ; soon after came the Barretts, Uphams,
Howards and Vintons. There are many representa-
tives of all these families in Melrose to-day. ,-V.t a
little later date, a while before, or at about the time
of the Revolution, came the Pratts, Grovers, Emer-
sons, Ednuindses, Herrings, Larrabee?, Boardmans,
Hemenways, Tainters, Goulds, Coxes, Eatons and
Fullers, ilnst of the^e families also have many de-
scendants still living in Melrose.
Some of these older families have an interesting
history. As to the Lyndes : In former times they
have owned nearly all of the southern territory of
Melrose. Thomas Lynde came from England, settled
in Charlestown, and became a freeman in 1634. His
son. Ensign Thomas Lynde, came to Maldeu very
soon after its incorporation, and from him all the Mel-
rose Lyndes descended. There are several of the old
honiesteads of this family still remaining, one of them,
that on Washington Street, being at least two hundred
years old.
At a town-meeting held May IS, 1694, it was voted
"that Samuel Green shall Injoy his hous and y° land
y' stands on, and so much land about It as y" Com-
mite shall se cause to lay to It," and the records,
referring to lot No. 64, say, " part east against
Redding Rhode and part on y' west of y' Green's
farm." This refers to a farm of sixty-three acres
situated at the Highlands, and belonging to Samuel
Green, who was a son of Thomas, who settled in Mai-
den about the year 1651.
In 1629 three brothers, Ralph, Richard and Wil-
liam Sprague, settled in Charlestown, and their
names are first on a list of inhabitants for that year.
Richard and William signed the document establish-
ing the first Board of Selectmen in Charlestown, and
Ralph was one of the eleven selectmen then elected.
John, the oldest son of Ralph, settled in Maiden,
near the Coitmore Mill, which was for many years in
possession of the Sprague family. The youngest son
I of John, Phineas, came to Melrose not far from the
I year 1700. The old homestead was on what is now
Foster Street, and the residence of the late Liberty
Bigelow stands on its site. The grandson of Phineas,
\ also named Phineas, was the Revolutionary patriot of
whom many interesting anecdotes are told ; and he
succeeded to the old farm and homestead on Foster
, Street. He kept a diary, which gives a few details
' concerning the old couplet :
"In 1780, tbe nineteenth day of May,
1 Will ever be remembered aa being the dark day."
I " Fridait, 3Iat the 19TU 17S0."
' "This day waa the moflt Remarkable day that ever my eyea beheld
the air had bin fnll of smoak to an uncoDimoD deforce So that wee could
scairce see a mountain at two miles distance for 3 or 4 days Past till this
day after Noon the smoak all went off to tbe South at sunset a very
black bank of a cloud appeared in the south and west the Nex morn-
ing cloudey and thundered in tbe west about ten oclock it began to
Rain and grew vere dark and at 12 it was allmost as dark as Nite so that
wee was obliged to lite our candets and Eate our dinner by caodel lite
at Xoon day but between 1 and 2 oclock it grew lite again but in the
Evening the cloud calm over us again the moon was about tbe full it
was the darkest Nite that ever was seen by us in the world."
During one of the intercolonial wars between the
French and English Colonies, this same Sprague
I furnished a substitute :
"Jan. 13, 1761.
I " Received of Phinebaa Sprague june'r eight Pounds lawful money
|t being for my going a Solger to forte Cumberland and I had a promes,
not of Six Pounds be fore.
" Pr me John Batt8."
When slavery existed in Massachusetts some of
these old families in Melrose were slave-holders, as
is witnessed by the following document given to this
same Sprague :
" Know all men by these present that I, Thomas Nickels, of Reding,
In the County of middlesex, gentilnian for and in Consideration of the
sum of thirty three pounds ^ix shillings aud Eight peuce lawful!
money of New England to me in hand paid by pinlasb Sprague, Jun
i.<f Maiden in the same County above s-^ Cordwinder whereof I do here-
by acknowledge the Receipt and my selfe therewith fuly and entirely
satisfied have bargened sold set over and Deliverd, and by these present
in plain and open markit acording to thedue lourm of law in that case
mad and provided ilo bargain set over and Deliver unto tbe said pbinas
Spraigue Jun a negro woman naoid pidge with one negro boy to have
and to hold to his proper use and beboofe of him the said phinaa
Spraigue bis heirs, executors administrators and assigns for ever and I
Thomas uickles for my self my heirs L-xecutors administrators and
deigns ganst all in all manner of person I shall warrant and forever De-
fend by these presents In witness whereof with the Deliver of the bar-
gained persons I have set to my hand and seal the twenty-five Day of
april iu the 17 fifty-three year of y Raign of oure Souerign lord ,gorg
the Second ouer grate Britton.
" Thokas Nichou [seal].
"Signed and our Seal 1753 and Delever in the present of us.
" JOK* KiDOEB.
" Edwabd Lambebt."
James Barrett first .settled in Charlestown in 1635,
from whence he went to Maiden, where his son James
was born, in 1644. His son. Deacon Jonathan Bar-
rett, born in 1675, went to Melrose about the year
1705, locating on Barrett Lane (now Pofter Street).
He died in 1749, bequeathing to his son Joseph a
slave named Israel, to serve him for six years, U-
208
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
he signed, together with other commissioned ofBcers,
^ai^^^ /blO^COPH.
a few days before the fight, and which they sent " To
the Hon. Governor and Council now Sitting at Bos-
ton," in which they made a request for company
rael, wishing to learn a trade, was indentured to
Joseph's brother Jacob, aa follows :
"This iDdeoture witDesseth that whereas Deacoa JoDtu Bairit, late
of Maiden, deceased ordered id bia last will aod TesCameot yt his
^egromaa Sarveot Isrial should serve his son, Joseph Barrit faitbfally
for ye space of six years after ye decease of ye above sd Testator, of
which time there being Two years Past the sd Negro being desirous of
Laming ye Trade and art of a Cooper which his sd master, Joseph Bar-
ritt complied with and by these Presents Pots and Biods the abuve sd
NegromaD a Prentice unto Jacob Barritt of the town of Lancaster in the
County of Worcester and Province of Mossacbasetts Bay in New Eng-
land Miller and the sd apprentice to serve him and wife from ye Day of j quartermasters, horses, trumpeters, etc.
ye Date hereof for and during the full temi of fore years next during
all which time ye sd apprentice his sd master and ntistress faithfully
shall serve, there secrets keep, there lawful commands gladly every-
where obey. He shall do uo damage to his sd master oor his mistress
uor see it to be done by others without Letting or giving ouiice thereof
to his ad master ur nUetresa Goods or Lend them unlawfully to any one,
be shall not Commit Fornication nor contract matrimony wirhin ?d
term. At Cards or Dice or any other unlawful Game he shall nut play,
whereby his said muster or luistiess may be damaged, with his uwn
Goods nor the goods of others be shall not absent himself Day or Nigbt
from his masters or mistress services without their Leave nor haunt
ale-houses taverns or play houses. But in all things behave himself u^
a faithful Apprentice ought tu do durini; said term. And the sd master
and mistress shall use ye utmost of their Endeavors to teach and in
Rtruct the said apprentice in the trade and mystery of a i^'uoper and
procure and provide for him siitticient meat drink apparel uashini:
and luging fitting for an apprentice during ye sd term and at the expira-
tion of ye sd Term return ye od Apprentice as well cluthed ns at present
to ye above bd master Joseph or his heirs who shall by these presents be
[ From this Lieut. Uphani descended all the Mai-
den and Melrose Uphams ; his grandson, Phineas,
I settled on Upham Hill, not far from the year 1700,
! where some of the old homesteads still remain, on
: one of which, that of George Upham, is still seen the
old-fashioned well-sweep with its** iron-bound bucket.'*
I Other interesting details concerning these and a
' number of the other early families may b»: found in the
"Historical Address, delivered in Melrose, Ma>sacbu-
setts, July 4. 1S7G," in accordance with Congressional
' act and Presidential proclamation, known as '* The
, Centennial Fourth."
Roads. — The first road, and only one for many
! years which passed through Melrose, was laid out by
obliged to receive the sd apprenti.'e and clear the sd Jacob Barrit and Order of tllP General Court, at a Sessiou held Septem-
liis Heirs from all changes yt may arise after bis time is out with him ! ber 10 1653 when
" Thomas Jlarsball. John Smyth Jl; John Sprague being tii.own to
lay out the country high way between© Reddiuge k Winnejetnt-tt do lay
it out as follows ■ from Redding towne. through Maldon bound:*, betwixt
: the pond Jt John Smyths laud, A: so by the east side of M'. fuseph HlIU
1 land, to New Hockley llule. i tro in the old way by the ('ow Pen, d:
I thence aloni; on the east side of Thomas Coitmore s lott. by Ible Pund. in
I the old way to Thoiuaa Lynds land, theu through the fir^t lield, and so
i by the field by bid howse, from thence, on the old way, by Maldon nieet-
; ing bowse, through the f^tony swaiiipe, ic. . . , tbe sd wuv to be
I fower poles broade, in good ground, A six or eight where need rt'juiiea."
! "The old way," so often referred to in this order,
means the old crooked Indian or bridle-path or trail,
in use before this date, winding hither and thither,
going around this hill, shunning that swamp or bog,
and over which the early traveler wended his way be-
tween Reading and Chelsea. Portions of this old
original road are still traceable within the bounds of
Captain Jonathan, son of the above Joseph, was j Melrose, and the rocks in the wheel-ruts show the
the first to begin the manufacture of shoes in Mel- I abrasion of the old-time usage very distinctly,
rose, an industry still carried on by a grandson On a plan of Maiden, surveyed by Peter Tafts, Jr.,
Jonathan Barrett. There are numerous Barretts ; of Medford, in 1795, the only roads laid down in what
now living in Melrose, among them Artemaa, son was then North Maiden are, this main road, called
of Captain Jonathan, from whom the foregoing doc- i the " Reading Road," and a " Stoneham Road," now
uments were obtained, and who owns many others \ Wyoming Avenue, which leaves this near where Ma-
of like interest. sonic Hall now stands. About this time '* Unham
Lieutenant Phineas Upham, of Maiden, was the Lane," now " Upham Street," was built through to
son of John Upham, who came to this country and Chelsea line, a portion of which town, at that time,
was admitted freeman in 1635, and settled in Mai- , extended up to Reading, between Maiden and Saugus ;
den about the year 1650. Lieut. Upham was an | and what is now Howard Street had been built
active oflScer in '* King Philip^s War," conducting I through to Saugos, making a continuous county road
many scouting-parties, and was mortally wounded ' from Stoneham to Lynn. Main Street, as now exist-
at the battle of " Narragansett Fort," December 19, I ing, was laid out in 1806. For many years these were
1675. I the only roads or streets in Melrose, which now has
At the State House is the original document which ' foriy miles of streets within its borders.
and for the true performance uf every part of the sd covenants and
agreements, either of ye Parties Bind themselves to tbe other by these
presents in witness whereof .they have Interchangeably put their handa
and seals this seventh Day of September Anno Domini one Thousand
seven Hundxed and hfty-ooe and in tbe Twenty tifth year of his Majes-
ties Reign. i
"Joseph Bahbett. ,
** Jacob Bahrett. |
" Eben Haanden.
" Saui'el Spbague." I
During the Revolution Joseph, son of the above t
Joseph, paid bounty money as follows : >
" Cambridge, Aug'. 17, 17S1.
''Rec^of M'. Joseph Barrett the sum of Twelve Pounds Solid Coine ^
in full for all Accoropts, Debts Duea and Demands Against M'. Joseph
LyoDds or M'. Joseph Barretts Class for Procuring a man for three '
yean* service in the Army.
*• Rec** by me, Bknj, PEaK.tNS.'
MELROSE.
209
CHAPTER XVI.
MELROSE— { Continued).
ECCLESIASTICAL AXD EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
The first organized religious society in Melrose
(then North Maiden) was the Methodist Episcopal
Church. In the spring of 1813 a committee, consist-
ing of Phineas Sprague, James Green and Jesse Up-
ham, requested the Rev. Timothy Merritt — then a
member of the Legislature from Maine — to preach in
the little old school-house, which was situated on the
corner of the old road, now Lebanon Street, and Up-
ham Lane, now Upham Street. A political sermon
had been delivered in the Orrhodox Church at Mai-
den Centre, which caused great dissatisfaction among
the residents of North Maiden ; and the call to Mr.
iferritt was the result of an indignation meeting held
in one of their barns. After a (e-w Sabbaths Mr.
Merritt was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Pierce, who
was to receive S2.00 a Sunday.
In September following, Rev. Ephraim Wiley was
engaged to preach, and some time during the next
year a house was hired of Cotton Sprague. which
stood on the site now occupied by the residence of
the late Liberty Bigelow. In consequence of their
continued success, a society was formed in lSl-5 ; and
in 1818 a meeting-liuuse, thirty ieet long by thirty-
two wide, was built at the junction of Main and Greeu
Streets. Rev. Orlando Hinds was pastor at this time.
He was followed by Rev. Isaac Jennison, and in 1820
the Rev. Ephraim Wiley iigain became pastor, being
sent this time by the Methodist Conference. Next in
succession came Revs. Leonard Frost, John Adams
and Samuel Norris. Then came a period when the
pulpit was supplied by local preachers, about which
time some dissatisfied members withdrew ;ind formed
the Protestant Methodist Church, hereafter referred to.
The Methodists continued to occupy their meeting-
house until 184:2, when it was enlarged, improved and
re-dedicated November 30th of that year. This
house was occupied until 185S, when it was sold,
moved to JIain Street in the centre of the town,
changed into Concert Hall, and was burned Novem-
ber 30, 1875, with Boardman'* Block, just thirty-three
years Irom the day it was dedicated.
Their present church edifice on Main Street, was
dedicated April 1, 1858, and up to this time the fol-
lowing ministers had been settled over the society :
Revs. G. W. Fairbanks, Le Roy Sunderland, Ezra
Sprague, R. D. Estabrook, Mudge, Otheman, New-
hall, R. Wallace, D. Richards, H. M. Bridge, Na-
thaniel Bemis, John C. Ingalls, F. Griswold, John
Merrill, Mark Staples, W. H. Hatch, Shepard, W. C.
High, J. W. Perkins, N. D. George and J. A. Adams.
The first pastor settled in the new meeting-house
was Rev. H. V. Degen. He was followed by Revs.
.\. D. .Merrill, John L. Hanaford, George Prentice —
14-in
now professor in Wesleyan University, Middletown,
Conn., — Henry Baker, Frank K. Stratton, M. E.
Wright, A. W. Mills, S. B. Sweetzer, Isaac H. Pack-
ard, Dr. William Butler, John D. Pickles and Samuel
Jackson, who is the present pastor, with a church
membership of 324.
The Sabbath-school connected with the church was
first formed in 1824; its present membership is 394.
A parsonage on land adjoining the church has just
been built, at a cost of §5700.
About the year 1828 some members of the Method-
ist Episcopal Church became dissatisfied with some
portions of its church government, and withdrew
therefrom. They organized as the Protestant Meth-
odist Church, purchased the old district school-house
and moved it to the corner of Main and Upham
Streets, near where now stands the First Baptist
Church.
This was replaced a few years later by a larger
building, and the original school-house church moved
to Foster Street, on the corner of Myrtle, where it
was altered into a tenement-house, and burned at the
time the Orthodox Congregational Church was de-
stroyed, February 19, 1869.
For several years the Protestant Methodist Church
prospered. Meanwhile, many Baptists had become
residents of the town, and, on January 1, IS-Sti, by
mutual agreement, the Protestant Methodist Society
was merged into the First Baptist Church, then
formed, and which took possession of all the church
property. Many of the Protestant Methodists re-
{ mained and joined the Baptist Church. This new
' organization immediately called and settled the Rev.
Thorndike C. Jameson as pastor. He remained until
November 2, 1858, when he went to Providence, R. I.,
' and was afterwards chaplain iu the Second Rhode
I Island Volunteers during the Great Rebellion.
I Rev. James Cooper succeeded Jlr. Jameson, and
remained until January 30, 18G2, when he resigned
I to accept a pastorate in Philadelphia, Pa. In Decem-
j ber, 1862, Rev. Lewis Colby became pastor, who
1 officiated until July 23, 1864. In September follow-
I ing Rev. William S. Barnes was ordained. He re-
mained until June 15, 1868, when, having changed
his theological views, he resigned and entered the
Unitarian denomination, receiving at once a call
from the newly-organized Unitarian Society of this
town. He afterwards went to Woburn, and is now
in Montreal, Canada. Rev. James J. Peck was pas-
tor from August, 1869, until April 1, 1871. Septem-
ber 15th of that year the Rev. Almond Barrelle be-
came pastor, and he remained until April 1, 1875.
During his pastorate the old church edifice was sold
to the Catholics, and a handsome brick chapel built
on its site, which was dedicated November 17, 1874.
.A. year later the Rev. Napoleon B. Thompson was
installed, who remained until November 1, 1876.
Rev. Robert F. Tolraan was ordained pastor June 27,
1878, and remained until April 1, 1886. The present
210
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
pastor, Kev. George A. Cleaveland, was installed Oc-
tober 21, 1886. The number of church members is
349, and the Sabbath-school has a membership of
357.
The Orthodox Congregational Church was
organized July 11, 1848. Services had been held pre-
vious to this in the parlors of Dr. Levi Gould and
Deacon Jonathan Cochran ; and the first minister.
Rev. Stillman Pratt, began to preach as early as
April 25th of that year, in Deacon Cochran's house,
on Grove Street. The first house of worship, costing
13500, was erected on Foster Street, and dedicated
May 17, 1849. This was built largely through the
efforts and solicitations of Deacon Cochran and Dr.
Gould, both of whom worked upon its foundation
with pick and shovel. Deacon Cochran died]January
G, 1885, nearly ninety-four years of age. Their church
edifice was remodeled, enlarged and re-dedicated
January 5, 1859, at a cost of $10,000, and was burned
February 17, 1869. The present building, costing
.'?42,000 was dedicated October 26, 1870. Mr. Pratt
resigned his pastorate in April, 1851, and was suc-
ceeded, January 15, 1852, by Rev. I. H. Northrup.
He resigned the following March, and January 12.
1854, the Rev. Alexander J. Sessions was installed.
He held the pastorate until July, 1858, and was fol-
lowed by Rev. Edward H. Buck, who was installed in
September, 1859. He died January 31, 1861. Rev.
Henry A. Stevens was ordained September 12, 1861,
and remained until May, 1868. The present pastor,
Rev. Albert G. Bale, was ordained December 3, 1868.
On the 2d of December, 1888, Mr. Bale preached
an historical sermon, itbeingthe twentieth anniversary
of his settlement, and the fortieth of the church. In
1883 a parsonage costing $6000 was built on the old
church lot, which joined the land purchased for the
present edifice.
The Sabbath-school was established before the first
church was built, and, by the kindness of the Boston
and Maine Railroad Company, met in the old passen-
ger depot at the centre station, where the church
services were also held for a considerable time. The
present membership of the church is 385 ; and of the
Sabbath-school, 472.
The First Unitersalist Society of Melrose was
organized February 10, 1849. Previous to this there
had been occasional preaching by Universalist minis-
ters, first in the little school-house at the corner of
Lebanon and Upham Streets, then in the school-house
on Upham Street, where now stands the grammar
school-house, and which was built in 1829. The first
settled pastor Rev. Josiah W. Talbot was installed
March 18, 1849. Under his untiring energy and per-
severance a church building was erected and dedi-
cated January 1, 1852, with a sermon by Rev. A. A.
Miner, D.D. Mr. Talbot resigned the pastorate
November 13, 1853, and was succeeded by Rev.
Mr. Cooledge, who remained until 1856, when Rev.
J. S. Dennis was installed as his successor, April
1, 1856; Mr. Dennis resigned in 1858, and in Novem-
ber of that year Rev. B. F. Bowles was installed.
He remained only until the end of 1859. Rev.
George H. Deere commenced his labors Septem-
ber, 1860, continuing until 1862, when he was suc-
ceeded by Rev. George W. Qiiimby, who remained
until 1864. Rev. Selden Gilbert was settled in 1865,
remaining one year. From 1866 until 1869, Rev. B.
H. Davis was the pastor, being succeeded by Rev.
John N. Emery September 1, 1869. In 1872 Mr.
Emery resigned and was succeeded by Rev. J. E.
Bruce, who remained until 1875. March 6, 1876,
Rev. William A. Stan was installed, and he resigned
in December, 1877. Rev. Charles A. Skinner was
settled as pastor September, 1878, who resigned May
1, 1881. He was succeeded by Rev. Richard Eddy,
D.D., who was installed in September, 1881. He re-
mained until September 1, 1889, when he resigned.
On November 14, 1889, Rev. Julian S. Cutler, the
present pastor, was installed. During the latter part
of Dr. Eddy's pastorate it was decided to build a new
church. The old one was sold, moved to another part
of Esse.^ Street and converted into our present Frank-
lin Hall. The new church edifice was dedicated
March 24, 1889; sermon by Dr, Eddy and the address
to the people by Rev. A. A. Miner, who preached the
dedicatory sermon for the old church January 1, 1852.
Present membership of the church 62, of the Sab-
bath-school 167.
The Tri>-ity Eplscopal Church was formed in
1856. Beginning April 13th, five services were held in
the parlor of iirs, Theresa Rice, on Lake Avenue, after
which they were held in Lyceum Hall, Main Street.
The first rector was Rev. William H. Munroe, who
organized the Sunday-school and remained until 1862,
when he resigned. He is now the rector of Christ
Church, Boston. During his pastorate a church ed-
ifice was erected on Emerson Street, which was con-
secrated March 25, 1860, by the Rt. Rev. Manton
Eastburn, Bishop of Massachusetts. Mr. Munroe's suc-
cessor was Rev. John B, Richmond, who remained
until July 1868. Rev. Robert Ritchie succeeded and
remained one year. Rev. Charles Wingate was chos-
en rector June 13, 1870, resigning in 1876. During
a year's absence of Mr. Wingate in Europe, Rev.
Samuel P. Parker had charge of the parish. April
27, 1876, Rev. Henry A. Metcalf was chosen rector,
remaining until 1880, when he was succeeded by
Rev. Charles L. Short, holding his first services De-
cember 21, 1880. He was pastor until May, 1888.
June 21, 1887, a new stone church was consecrated
It was built by the Tyer family as a memorial to
Henry George, Elizabeth, and Catharine Louise Tyer.
Its cost was §28,467.40. Under one of the trusses on
the south side is placed a carved stone from the ruins
ot Melrose Abbey, Scotland, obtained through the ef-
forts of the late William L. Williams.
The present rector, Rev. Charles H. Seymour,
was settled over this church September 12, 1888.
MELROSE.
211
Preaent number of communicants, 120 ; membership
of Sabbath school, 101.
Unitarian Church. — The first permanent move-
ment for the establishment of a Unitarian Church
was made in 1866, when services were begun in Con-
cert Hall, on Main Street, by Rev. W. P. Tilden, un-
der the .luspices of the American Unitarian Associa-
tion. Soon after the Unitarian Congregational So-
ciety of Melrose was organized, in July, 1867. It
continued to hold services in Concert Hall for several
years ; having for pastors, beside Mr. Tilden, Revs.
John D. Wells, John A. Buckingham, William Sils-
bee and William S. Barnes, who left the Baptist de-
nomination and was settled over this church for a few
months, resigning in January, 1S69. July 7, 1869,
Rev. A. S. Nickerson was installed as pastor and
resigned in April, 1870. At this time, while
without a settled minister, a new church was
built on the corner of Emerson and Myrtle Streets,
and dedicated May 1, 1872. Services had been
continued meanwhile by the friendly offices of a
number of pastors. The first minister to be set-
tled in the new church was Rev. Daniel M. Wilson,
who was installed November 15, 1872. He resigned
March 1, 1876, and is now settled at Quincy, Mass.
From September 1, 1878, to September 1, 1881, Rev.
Nathaniel Seaver, Jr., was the pastor. Rev. Henry
Wescott was settled over this parish in conjunction
with the newly-formed one in Maiden, November 1,
1881. He died July IT, 1883, much lamented. A
handsome memorial volume was published .soon after
his death, containing a number of his sermons and a
memoir by John O. Norris. The Rev. John H. Hey-
wood, forty years pastor at Louisville, Ky., was in-
stalled September 7, 1884, remaining until September
1, 1S89, when he resigned and returned to his old
home in Louisville. The present pastor Rev. Joseph
H. Weeks, was installed February 7, 1800. The mem-
bership of the church is 100, of the Sabbath-school
102.
Roman Catholics. — Until 1873 the Catholics of
Melrose were included in the parish of Maiden and
Med ford, when it was set apart as a separate parish
under the care of Rev. W. H. Fitzpatriek. The
church edifice of the First Baptist Society was pur-
chased and removed to Dell Avenue and used in Octo-
ber of the same year. Previous to this. May 1, 1870, a
Sunday-school had been organized and had held its
services in Freemason's Hall ; and a Catholic service,
or Mass. had been neld on Grove Street, December
25, 1854. Mr. Fitzpatriek was succeeded a few years
after the organization by the present incumbent, Rev.
Dennis J. O'Farrell.
There are two temperance societies connected with
this church — the Loyal Temperance Cadets and the
Catholic Total Abstinence Society.
The Highlands Congregational Church was
organized September 29, 1875, with Rev. D. A. More-
bouse as its pastor. Preaching services had been held
quite regularly for several years previous to this, in
the chapel corner of Franklin and Tremont Streets,
the gift of Deacon George W. Chipman. Here the
Highland Union Sunday School also held regular
sessions for many years. November 19, 1876, the
present pastor. Rev. John G. Taylor, began his pastor-
ate. The same year a movement was begun to build
a church. The edifice, situated on Franklin Street,
was finished and occupied September 29, 1880. An
additional chapel was built in 1885, and the total cost
of the building has been $12,500. In 1883 Mr.
Taylor went abroad for fourteen months, and during
his absence the Rev. Henry Bates officiated as pas-
tor. Present number of members of the church, 130 ;
of the Sunday-school, 259.
Soon after the establishment of the Boston Rubber
Shoe Company's works, at the Fells village, in 1882,
the First Baptist Church organized a Sunday-school,
and began to hold religious services. On the 25th of
January, 1889, the Fells Baptist Church was organ-
ized with 26 members. The pastor is Rev. William
H. Hacket, who had officiated for some time previous
to the organization of the church. The present mem-
bership is 71 ; and that of the Sunday-school, 133.
Both church and Sunday-school meet in a hall at the
corner of Main Street and Goodyear Avenue, the
property of the Boston Rubber Shoe Company, free of
all charge. The hall was built soon after the works
were established, and has always been placed at the
di'-posal of this religious movement ; and in it was kept
the Converse School previous to the building of the
new school-house on Washington Street for the Fells
District.
All of these churches have their auxiliary societies,
some thirty in number; among them, Social Circles,
Missionary Societies both foreign and home. Young
People's Society of Christian Endeavor and the Ep-
worth League.
Initiatory measures have been taken with a view
of establishing a Young Men's Christian As-
sociation ; there was one formed in 1858, but it was
not of long duration.
Schools. — The only school in Melrose for many
years was held in the plain, unpainted district school-
house, which was sold to the Protestant Methodist
Society in 1828. It was built in 1800, was twenty by
twenty-five feet in size and was situated on a knoll
on the old road, now Lebanon Street, about a dozen
rods south of " Upham Lane," now Upham Street.
In this old school-house Robert Gerry, who died in
Stoneham, April 1, 1873, in his ninetieth year, taught
school during the winter season for twenty-four years
in succession, beginning in 1803. After this house
was sold, a new one was built on Upham Street, in
1828, by the schoolmaster, Mr. Gerry, for the town of
Maiden. This was burned about the year 1845; and
the one built on its site was the only school-house
Melrose had when it was incorporated ; in it was kept
a primary, intermediate and grammar school. This
212
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
house was burned in April, 1874, and succeeded by
the present structure, the " Centie Grammar School."
The High School building on Emerson Street was
erected in 1869. Melrose now has eleven school-
houses, with thirty-two teachers. The amount ot
money appropriated for schools for the year 1890 was
$28,700. The amount of the "Town Grant" for
schools in 1851 was $1200 ; and there was received
from the State School Fund $55.90, making a total of
$1255.90 expended for school purposes.
CHAPTER XVII.
iIELROSE—{ Continued).
MUUary Biatory — Socieliet, Auociatioiu, Clubs, fie.
Military History. — Many Melrose men were
engaged in the Revolution. Maiden, of which Mel-
rose was then a part, was a very patriotic town, and
sent forth not only her sons, but several spirited
manifestoes, before and during the war. So eloquent,
forcible and patriotic were her " Instructions of the
town to its Representative, Passed May 27, 1776,"
that Chief Justice Marshall quoted them in his " Life
of Washington." Among the sentiments expressed
were these : " It is now llie ardent wish of ourselves
that America may become Free and Independent
State^i. . . . Unjustifiable claims have been made
by the king and his minions, to tax us without our
consent. These Colonies have been prosecuted in a
manner cruel and unjust to the highest degree. The
frantic policy of Administration hath induced them
to send Fleets and armies to America, that by de-
priving us of our trade, and cutting the throats of
our brethren, they might awe us into "submission and
erect a system of despotism which should so far en-
large the influence of the Crown as to enable it to
rivet their shackles upon the people of Great Britain.
. . . We, therefore, renounce with disdain our
connection with the Kingdom of Slaves ; we bid a
final adieu to Britain, . . . and we now instruct
you. Sir, to give them the strongest assurance, that if
they should declare America to be a Free and Inde-
pendent Republic, your constituents will support and
defend the measure to the Last Drop of their Blood
and the Last Farthing of their Treasure.''
In Captain Benjamin Blaney's company of Maiden
men, which went, on the 19th of April, " to resist the
ministerial troops," were the following Melrose men :
Sergt. Jabez Lynde, Nathan Eaton, Joseph Lynde, Jr.,
Ezra Howard, John Vinton, Benjamin Lynde, William
Upham, Ezra Upham, John Grover (3d), Unite Cox,
Joseph Barrett, Jr., Phineas Sprague, John Grover,
Jr., John Gould, Phineas Sprague, Joseph Lynde and
John Pratt. There was hardly a man living in North
Maiden at that time, who was able to bear arms, who
did not start as a " minute-man " when the alarm was
sounded.
Thomas, Timothy and Ezra Vinton lived at the
Highlands and went in Captain Samuel Sprague's
company from Stoneham. " After the men had left
for Concord, the women, fearing chat they might suf-
fer for want of food, filled some saddle-bags full of
provision, put them upon an old horse owned by
Phineas Sprague, and Israel Cook mounted the horse
and started for Concord. When near the place, fear-
ing that he might meet the British on their return, he
turned into a by-road to avoid them. They soon
came in sight, and discovered him. One of the sol-
diers left the ranks, crossed the field, shot at Cdlok and
killed the horse, and then hastened back to the ranks.
Cook, nothing daunted, shouldered the saddle-bags,
and trudged on till he met the men, who were sadly
in want of something to eat."'
Melrose took an honorable part in the Great Rebel-
lion of 1861-65. Some of her men were in the ser-
vice as soon as any after the time Fort Sumter was
bombarded, and continued uutil the end of the war.
When .Senator Wilson telegraphed to Governor An-
drew, April l-jth, for twenty companies of militia to
besent immediately to Washington, for three months'
service, five Slelrose men immediately enlisted —
George W. Balchelder, Gordon McKay, Thomas
Smith and William ^\'yman, in Company B, Fifth
Massachusetts Regiment, and Setli Morrison in the
Fourth Regiment, Of these, all that were in the
Fifth Regiment entered the service again in the three
years' regiments.
May 3, 1861, President Lincoln issued his second
call for troops, for three years' service, and on the
same day tlie selectman issued a warrant for a town-
meeting, which was held in Concert Hall, May 6th.
It was then
"Voted, tbat tbo town of Melrofle approprlKte the sum of $30(y» for
the relief of the familleB of the cilizeDs of Uelroee oow abeeDt In the
service ot the I'nited States, 'ir who may liereafter volunteer into the
service of the United States or the State of MaBJ^achu6ett8 ; also to aid
Tolantaersof the town in their equipment, and to give snch relief in
the premises as the exigencies and necessities of each case may require.
Also voted that above all other appropriations the sum of Fifteen dollars
per month bf paid to those persons having families and the sum of Ten
doUais per month to those who are single during their time of service
■ n the war now pending. Also voted tbat the Treasurer be authorized
to borrow such sums of money upon the credit nf the town as may be
wanted from time to time to cover the appropriations in the vote Just
paflsed."
On that evening, or immediately after, there were
sixteen enlistments in three different regiments, four-
teen of which were in the Thirteenth Massachusetts
Regiment. On a Sunday evening previous to the
departure of this regiment these brave boys, from our
best families, assembled in the Baptist Church, and
received from its pastor, the Rev. James Cooper, a
Testament, on the fly-leaf of which was written, " God
and our Country." From that time on throughout
> Artemas Barrett, in the Melroae JoumaL
MELROSE.
213
the war, in answer to the various calls for troops,
Melrose continued to furnish its quota of men ; and
at the end of the Rebellion it was found that she had
not only filled its quotas, for three years', nine
months', one hundred days' and ninety days' men,
but had exceeded the same to the number of seventy-
four men :
'* Peovost-Mab^bal's Officz, 6th District, 31as8.,
'* Lawrence, December 31, 18G4.
•' This 18 to certify that, as appears by the records of this office, the
siirplos of the Town of Melrose, over all calls, is seventy four (74) men.
" H. G. Heerick,
" Captain and Provoit-Marehal, blA DUL^ Mast."
The whole number of men furnished by Melrose
for the war, for the several terms of service, of all
arms, including both army and navy, and including
the eight citizens who enlisted on other quotas, was
454. Of these, 21 enlisted men lost their lives; 5
were killed on the battle-field, 1 was accidentally
shot, 13 died of disease contracted in the service,
and 2 died in rebel prisons. The number of com-
misioned officers furnished by Melrose was eigh-
teen, two of whom lost their lives, one on the field of
battle, and one died of disease contracted in the ser-
vice.
The names of these twenty-three "unreturning
braves " from Melrose are as follows : Lieut. George
James Morse, Lieut. George Thomas Martin, Henry
Franklin Fuller, Martin Greene, William Henry
Macey, Sydney Bradford Morse (2d), William Fran-
cis Barry, John Parker Shelton, Thomas H. Stevens,
Jonas Green Brown, Benjamin Lynde, Nathan H.
Brand, Richard Lever. Augustus Green, Edmund
Wallace Davis, Albert Waterston Crockett, James
Roland Howard, Francis Peabody, George Elwin
Richardson, Benjamin F. Wilde, John Eastman ."^ftil-
phen, George Warren Lynde and William F. Krantz.
At the battle of Galve.ston, Texas, January 1,'1863,
twenty-five Melrose men in Company G, Forty-second
Massachusetts Regiment, were taken prisoners ; but
their imprisonment was of short duration. Besides
these the following were taken prisoners at different
times, and sutl'ered the terrible hardships of rebel
prisons ; Henry H. Jones, Col. Archibald Bogle,
George E. Richardson, Albert W. Crockett, William
H. Eastman, Edmund W. Davis, George W. Batch-
elder, Benjamin F. York, Frederick W. Krantz,
George W. Elliot, John E. Quinn and Henry Stone.
Ten of these lived to return to their homes, and two,
Richardson and Crockett, were starved to death at
Salisbury and Andersonville.
Under the " Enrollment" or "Conscription Act,"
a draft was ordered to be made in July, 186.j, and for-
ty-nine men were drawn from Melrose. Of these,
three furnished substitutes, four paid commutation,
and the rest were exempted for various causes. This
was the only draft of effect that took place in Melrose.
Twenty-four persons were drawn May 17, 1S64, but
as there was no deficiency at this rime, all the quotas
of our town having been filled, the drafted persons
were not required to appear for examination.
In June, 1864, a citizens' committee, consisting of
Wingate P. Sargent, Daniel Norton, Jr., Levi S.
Gould, Isaac Emerson, Jr., Thomas A. Long and Jo-
seph D. Wilde, was appointed to raise money for re-
cruiting purposes ; and by the spirited and liberal
action of the citizens, the sum of $5650 was raised and
passed over to the recruiting committee, consisting of
the selectmen, John H. Clark, William B. Burgess,
and George M. Fletcher, and Stephen W. Shelton,
Isaac Emerson, Jr., Rufus Smith and Charles H. Is-
burgh.
Throughout the war constant and continued action
for the relief of soldiers and their families was taken
by the town and by private citizens.
Societies, Associations, Clubs, etc. — Of tem-
perance organizations there are many, the oldest one
being Guiding Star Lodge No. 28, Independent Order of
Good Templars, which was organized in 1861, and has
a membership of fifty-eight; Siloam Te^nple of Honor,
So. 24, in 1866, with seventy-five members ; Siloam
Sociql, Ko. 6, in 1867, 150 members ; Melrose Women's
Christian Temperance Union, in 1882, 410 members,
active and honorary ; Young Woman's Christian
Temperance Union, in 1887, seventy members ; Temp-
erance Wide- Awakes, in 1882, 480 members; and
Juvenile Temple, No. 16, Faithful Workers Indepen-
dent Order of Good Templars, in 1888, eighty-nine
members. Previous to the organization of the I. 0.
of G. T. there had been the " Sons of Temperance,"
members of which, after diabandment, joined other
societies. In addition to these religious and temper-
ance organizations, Melrose has a large number of
clubs, societies and associations of other kinds. It
is safe to say that no town of its size in New England
has .IS many.
In the Masonic Fraternity there is the Wijomimi
Lodge, which was organized in 1856, which has 183
members; the Waverly Royal Arch Chapter, in 1863,
208 members ; Hugh de Payent Commandery of
Knights Templar, in 1865, 162 members; and the
E'.Jstem Star, No. 14, in 1861, sLxty-sLs members.
They all meet in the Masonic Temple, on Wyoming
Avenue, which was built and dedicated to Masonic
uses in 1866, by the Waverly Masonic Association.
Of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows there
are two bodies : the Melrose Lodge, No. 157, organized
in 1871, and has 140 members, and the Daughters of
Rebekah, Golden Rule Degree Lodge, No. 23, in 1874,
has forty members.
Of the social, musical and literary clubS; the oldest
is the Roundabout Club, which was organized in 1873.
It has a membership of nearly 100, and meets dur-
ing the winter, fortnightly. The Centennial Club
meets in the same manner, was organized in 1875,
and has a membership of seventy. The Avon Club has a
membership of sixty, and was organized in 1878. TTie
Melrose Women's Club, organized in 1882, has 110
214
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
members and meeta semi-monthly. The Franklin
Fraternity, in 1863, has twenty-eight members, and
now meets but yearly. TTie Alpha Local Circle, Chau-
tauqua Scientific Society, in 1884, eighteen members,
meets twice a month. The Social Circle, in 1875, fifty-
five members, meets twice a month. The Unity Club,
in 1887, sixty-two members. Melrose Orchestral Club,
in 1856, fifteen members. Melrose Choral Society, in
1888, sixty-four members.
Among the large number of insurance and benevo-
lent societies that have lodges, are these: Bethlehem
Council, No. 131, Royal Arcanum, established in 1876,
and has 148 members; Guardian Lodge, No. 406,
Knights of Honor, in 1876, thirty-three members;
Washington Council, American Legion of Honor, No.
89, in 1880, forty-eight members; Wonongo Tribe, No.
60, Independent Order of Bed Men, in 1888, seventy
members ; International Benevolent and Fraternal So-
ciety, in 1888, forty members; Middlesex Council, No.
75, United Order of Friends, in 1883, seventy-five
members ; Melrose Commandery, No. 99, United Order
of the Golden Cross, in 1880, seventy-five members;
Cotton Mather Colony, United Order of Pilgrim Fathers
in 1887, seventy members; Melrose Council, No. 125,
Home Circle, in 1888, thirty-seven members ; Iron
Hall, Branch No. 491, in 1887, eighteen members ;
Sisterhood's Branch, Iron Hall, in 1887, twenty-five
members ; Garfield Lodge, No. 32, Associated Order of
United Workmen, in 1881, ninety-five members;
Knights and Ladies of Honor, No. 1239, in 1887, four-
teen members; Melrose Assembly, No. 164, Royal So-
cieti/ Good Fellows, in 1888, twenty-one members.
The two great political parties are each represent-
ed: The Republican Club has a membership of 150,
and the Jefferson Club has 50 members. The Melrose
Woman's Suffrage League was organized in 1885, and
has 180 members.
U. S. Grant Post 4, G. A. R., was organized in
1867, and has 68 members ; William F. Barry Camp,
No. 79, Sons of Veterans, in 1887, 45 members; U. S.
Grant, No. 16, Women's Relief Corps, in 1882, 71
members.
The Melrose Improvement Society, organized in 1881,
with a membership of 342, has done much in the
way of setting out shade-trees and improvement of
streets ; the Melrose Highlands Business Men's Associa-
tion, organized in 1888, has 75 members.
The Melrose Athletic Club occupits a handsome
suite of rooms in Eastman's Block, on Main Street,
was organized in 1883. and has a membership of 150;
The Pastime Athletic Club, in 1888, 27 members; Mel-
rose Club, in 1885, 145 mr-mbers; Rifle Club, in
1884, 25 members; Lawn Tennis Club, in 1885, 40
members; Ashland Tennis and Social Club, in 1885,
30 members. There is a Melrose Base Ball Association,
with a capital stock of S2500, and a half dozen base-
ball clubs. There are still other minor associations.
CHAPTER XVIII.
MELROSE~( Continued).
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND MISCELLANEOUS.
Melrose is the home of many writers. Their
works are of many kinds — historical, biographical,
theological, political, scientific, electrical, educational,
medicinal, musical, fiction, etc. It will be impossible
to enumerate all, but some of the most important will
be referred to, giving the authors' names alphabetic-
ally.
Rev. John Geeenleaf Adams, D.D.. was a Uni-
versalist minister. Born in Portsmouth, New Hamp-
shire, July 30, 1810 ; died at Melrose Highlands, May
4, 1887. He was a prolific writer. Among his most
important works are "Memoir of Thomas Whitte-
more," " Univeraalism of the Lord's Prayer," " Talks
About the Bible," " Fifty Notable Years," and " The
Inner Life." For many years he was editor of various
Sabbath-school papers of the Universalist denomina-
tion.
Captain George Pickering Burnham was born
in Boston, April 24, 1814. He came to Melrose in
1850, the year in which it was incorporated. His lit-
erary career covers a period of over fifty years. In
journalism he has been reporter, sub-editor, editor,
and the writer of many sketches and stories. He has
given much attention to a specialty in fowls and birds,
and has written a dozen books connected with that
subject, including his humorous treatment of " The
History of the Hen Fever," published in 1855 and
which had a very extensive sale. In this same year
he also wrote an anti-slavery story, entitled "The
Rag-Picker ; or. Bound and Free." His other writings
Include " Memoirs of the United States .Secret Ser-
vice," " American Counterfeits," and ." A Hundred
Thousand Dollars iu Gold."
Colonel Sajioel Adams Drake has written
many works of an historical character. He was born
in Boston, December 20,1833. At the breaking out
of the Great Rebellion he was a resident of Kan.sas,
and was appointed colonel of the Seventeenth Regi-
ment of Kansas Volunteer Infantry, serving through-
out the war. His first book was " Old Land-marks
and Historic Personages of Boston," issued in 1873.
This was followed by " Historic Fiirlds and Mansions
of Middlesex," " Nooks and Corners of the New Eng-
land C.>ast," "Bunker Hill," "General Israel Put-
nam, the Commander at Bunker Hill," " History of
Middlesex County," "The Heart of the Whlie Moun-
tains," " Around the Hub," " New England Legends
and Folk Lore," " Our Great Benefactors," " The Old
Boston Taverns and Tavern Clubs," " The Making of
New England," "The Making of the Great West,"
" Burgoyne's Invasion of 1777," and " The Taking of
Louisburg." He has written one historical novel, en-
titled " Captain Nelson : a Romance of Colonial Days."
MELROSE.
215
Besides contributing articles to a number of the
magazines, he has written the articles, " Florida,"
" Georgia" and " Sebastian Cabot," for the " Cyclo-
paedia Britannica."
Rev. Richard Eddy, D.D., was bora in Provi-
dence, R. I., June 21, 1828. For several years he
was a pastor of the Universalist Church. Many of his
sermons have been printed. His larger works are :
" History of the Sixtieth Regiment, New York
State Volunteers," of which he was chaplain ; " Uni-
versalism in America," " Alcohol in History " and
" Alcohol in Society." He has been editor of differ-
ent newspapers and is now editor of the Universalist
Quarterly and General Review.
Hon. Daniel Wheelwright Gooch was born
in Wells, Maine, January 8, 1820. Graduated at
Dartmouth College in 1843, and admitted to the Suf-
folk Bar in 1846. Came to Melrose (then North
Maiden) in 1848. Elected representative to the
General Court in 1852, and a member of the Consti-
tutional Convention in 1853. He was an adherent
of the Free-Soil party until the formation of the Re-
publican party, with which be has ever since acted.
He has several times been elected a Representative
to Congress ; was a member of the Thirty-fifth,
Thirty-sixth, Thirty- seventh and Thirty-eighth Con-
gresses, in the latter serving as a member of the
Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the
War, and was chairman on the part of the House ;
its four years of investigations were printed in sev-
eral volumes. Having been elected to the Thirty-
ninth Congress, he resigned, September 1, 1865, to
accept from President Johnson the appointment of
naval officer for the port of Boston, which position
he held for a year. In 1868 he was elected a del-
egate to the Chicago Convention. In the Forty-
third Congress he again served as Representative
for the Fifth Massachusetts District. From 1875 to
1886 he was pension agent at Boston, after which
he resumed the practice of the law. A number of
his legal arguments have been printed, notably those
in the " Hoosac Tunnel," " Troy & Greenfield Rail-
road " and " Joseph 31. Day, Judge of Probate," cases.
Many of his Congressional speeches were printed in
pamphlet form; among them were "The Lecomp-
ton Constitution and the Admission of Kansas into
the Union," "Polygamy in Utah," "The Supreme
Court and Dred Scott," " Organization of the Ter-
ritories," " Any Compromise a Surrender," " Recog-
nition of Hayti and Liberia" and "Secession and
Reconstruction."
Frederick Kidder was born in New Ipswich,
N. H., April 16 , 1804, and died at Melrose Decem-
ber 19, 1885, in his eighty-second year. Went to
Boston in 1822, and with his brother was several years
in business in Wilmington, N. C.
In 1845 Messrs. Benjamin F. and Charles Copeland,
together with Mr. Kidder, bought of the Barings, of
London, a tract of land on the Suhoodic Lakes, in
Eastern Maine, containing over a hundred thousand
acres, being more than thirty miles in extent. This
proved to be a very profitable investment, and would
have been much more so had they continued to hold
the land for a while longer than they did. He was
one of the trustees of the Public Library from 1870
to 1882, most of the time chairman.
His first literary work was a history of his native
town. New Ipswich, N. H., which was issued in 1852.
In that early day of town histories, this was one
of the most complete and thorough works that had
appeared. His other volumes are : " The Expedition
of Captain Loyewell, and his Encounters with the
Indiana," " Military Operations in Eastern Maine
and Nova Scotia during the Revolution," " History
of the First New Hampshire Regiment in the War of
the Revolution," and " History of the Boston Massa-
cre, March 5, 1770." His magazine articles reprinted
in pamphlet were : " The Adventures of Captain
Lovewell," " The Abenaki Indians," " The Swedes
on the Delaware," and " The Discovery of North
.America by John Cabot. A First Chapter in the
History of North America."
Robert Fowlee Leighton, born in Durham,
Maine, January 23, 1838, was for several years prin-
cipal of the High School of Melrose, during which
time he wrote several educational works : " Greek
Lessons," " Latin Lessons," and " Harvard Examina-
tion Papers." Since then he has given his attention
to historical works, and has written a " History of
Rome," " History of Greece," " Cicero's Select Let-
ters." and " Historia Critica M. T. Ciceronis Epistu-
larum ad Familiares ; " this was published in Latin,
in Leipsic, Germany.
Mary Ashton Livermore was born in Boston,
December 19, 1821 ; was a teacher in Charlestown
and Duxbury, Mass. In 1857 her husband, Daniel
P., established the New Covenant, a Universalist jour-
nal of which she became associate editor for twelve
years, during which time she frequently contributed
to periodicals of her denomination and edited the
Lily. When the Rebellion broke out she became
connected with the United States Sanitary Commis-
sion, headquarters at Chicago, performing a vast
amount of labor of all kinds — organizing auxiliary
societies, visiting hospitals and military posts, con-
tributing to the press, answering correspondence, and
the thousand and one things incident to the wonder-
ful work done by that institution. She was one that
helped organize the great fair in 1863, at Chicago,
when nearly $100,000 was raised, and for which she
obtained the original draft of the Emancipation Proc-
lamation from President Lincoln, which waa sold for
$3000. As she says in her extremely interesting vol-
ume " My Story of the War " : " Here were packed
and shipped to the hospitals or battle-field 77,660
packages of sanitary supplies, whose cash value was
$1,056,192.16. Here were written and mailed letters
by the ten thousand, circulars by the hundred thou-
216
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
sand, monthly bulletins and reports. Here were
planned visits to the aid societies, trips to the army,
methods of raising money and supplies, systems of
relief for soldiers' families and white refugees, Homes
and Rests for destitute and enfeebled soldiers, and the
details of mammoth sanitary fairs."
When the war was over she instituted a paper
called the Agitator, which was afterwards merged in
the Woman's Journal. Of this she was editor for two
years and has been a frequent contributor to it since.
On the lecture platform she has had a remarkable
career, speaking mostly in behalf of the woman suf-
frage and the temperance movements. A few years
ago she was " one of the four lecturers that were most
in demand and that commanded the largest fees, the
other three being men." Many years she has trav-
eled 25,000 miles annually, speaking five nights each
week for five months of the year.
Her printed volumes are : '" Thirty Years Too
Late,'' first published in 1847 as a prize temperance
tale, and republished in 1878;" "Pen Pictures; or.
Sketches from Domestic Life ; " " What Shall We Do
with Our Daughters? Superfluous Women, and
Other Lectures;" and " My Story of the War. A
Woman's Narrative of Four Years' Personal E.xperi-
ence as Nurse in the Union Army, and in Relief
Work at Home, in Hospitals, Camps and at the Front
during the War of the Rebellion." Of this work one
has well said : " Should every other book on the war j
be blotted out of existence, this one would completely
reflect the spirit and work of the Women of the
North."
For " Women of the Day " she wrote the sketch of
the sculptress, Miss Anne Whitney ; and for the
" Centennial Celebration of the First Settlement of
the Northwestern States, at Jlarietta, Ohio, July 15,
17S8," she delivered the historical addresss.
Rev. Daniel Parker Livermore, born in Lei-
cester, Mass., June 17, 1818, Universalist minister,
besides editing the Xew Covenant for a dozen years
and contributing to newspapers and magazines, has
published several pamphlets of a denominational
character, and a half-dozen on the subject of " Woman
Sutfrage," in favor of which he strongly argues.
Thomas D. Lockwood, born in England, Decem-
ber 20, 1848, is an eminent electrician, an acknowl-
edged authority in all matters pertaining to electrical
telephony. He is electrician in charge of all matters
connected with patents, and the. collection and colla-
tion of electrical information for the American Bell
Telephone Company. Besides very many articles
contributed to the electrical press, he has had pub-
lished three volumes : " Electricity, Magnetism and
Electric Telegraphy," " Electrical Measurement and
the Galvanometer," and " Practical Information for
Telephonists."
Gii-BERT Na8H was bom in Weymouth, Mass.,
April 22, 1825, and died there April 13, 1888. He I
lived many years in Melrose. He wrote a history of
his native town, a "Memoir of General Solomon
Lovell," and a volume of poems, entitled " Bay
Leaves."
William Frederick Poole, A.!M., LL.D., the
eminent librarian and bibliophile, was born in Salem,
Massachusetts, December 21, 1821. While in Yale
College he became assistant librarian, which was the
beginning of a life-long profession. He has been the
librarian of ihe Mercantile Library Association of
Boston, the Boston Athieneum, the Public Library
of Cincinnati, the Public Library of Chicago, and is
now in the Newberry Library of Chicago, founded by
the munificence of the millionaire, Walter L. New-
berry. For many years he lived in Melrose during
which time his pen was ever busy. During the con-
troversy between the Webster and Worcester Dic-
tionaries, in 1855-56, he published three pamphlets
championing Webster as being the best authority.
He has issued several pamphlets connected with
" Cotton Mather and Salem Witchcraft," and \\rote
the chapter on " Witchcraft in Boston," for the" Me-
morial History of Boston," issued in 1880; and for
Justin Winsor's " Narrative and Critical History of
America," vol. <>, he wrote the chai)ter entitled "The
West, From the Treaty of Peace with France. 17ti3,
to the Treaty of Peace with England, 17S3.'' In the
discussion concerning the historical claims of " The
Pophain Colony," he wrote many articles and issued
one pamphlet. In 1867, a new edition of Edward
Johnson's " Wonder-working Providence of Zion's
.Saviour in New England,' w.is published for which
he wrote an introduction and numerous notes. In
1874-75, in Chicago he edited a monthly literary
paper called T/ie Owl, which was succeeded by The
Dial, to which he has been a constant contributor,
chiefly in historical criticism, in which he bus lew
equals. " In this department his work has always
been in the nature of a plea for judicial fairness and
candor in historical writing, and his pen has con-
stantly been on the alert to discover and expose the
pet fallacies of the villifiers of the fathers of New
England, and of all those with whom the demands of
rhetoric seem louder than those of truth." His best
known work is '" Poole's Index to Periodical Litera-
ture," which was first issued in 1848, as " Index to
Subjects in the Reviews, and other Periodicals to
which no Indexes have been published," enlarged aa
"An Index to Periodical Literature," in 1S53, and
again enlarged and issued in 1882. To this a supple-
ment is to be published every five years. This " is a
work of the times, for the times ; the vast and hitherto
pathless continents of periodical literature are sur-
veyed, systematized, and made accessible." Dr.
Poole has been president of the " American Historical
Association," and of the " American Library Associa-
tion."
One of the most prominent and best-known citizens
was Hon. Samuel Edmund Sewall, who was born in
Boston November 9, 1799, and died, in Boston De-
MELROSE.
217
cember 20, 1888. He graduated from Harvard Col-
lege in 1S17. He came to North Maiden in 1846,
when it had but two or three hundred inhabitants.
He was elected State Senator from Stoneham in 1852,
aa his house was just over the line from Melrose ; but
this territory wa.-< detached from Stoneham and joined
to Melrose In 1853. He was identified with the anti-
slavery movement from its beginnings, being one of
the few who joined William Lloyd Garrison when he
came to Boston in 1830. He was an active member
of the Massachusetts Anti-slavery Society and the
National Anti-slavery Society. Upon the organiza-
tion of the Liberty party he was for two years its can-
didate for Governor. He acted with that and the
Free-Soil party until they were merged in the Repub-
lican party. He was ever foremost in advocating the
passage of laws for the benefit of women, and while
in the Senate he drafted a bill which became a law,
giving married women the right to hold property.
His only printed work is a pamphlet entitled "Legal
Condition of Women in Massachusetts," which was
first issued in 18C8 ; then revised in 1870, again in
1875 and again in 1886. Many years ago he was
editor for two years of the American Jurut and Law
Magazine (a quarterly). He also edited, in connec-
tion with Willard Phillips, two editions of Sir John
Bayley's Summary of the Law of Bills of Exchange,
Cash Bills and Promissory Notes.
Many other books and pamphlets have been issued
by Melrose writers, which cannot here be enumer-
ated.
Melrose has two weekly newspapers: The Melrose
Journal and The Melrose Reporter. The former es-
tablished in 1870, the latter in 1887. In 1856, a small
monthly paper, called the Melrose Advertiser, was
published by Me-srs. Severy & Co., for about a year
when it was merged in a Maiden paper.
The bibliography of writings pertaining particularly
to Melrose is brief:
"The Melrose Memorial, The Annals of Melrose,
County of Middlese.'c, Massachusetts, in the Great
Rebellion of 1861-65, By Elbridge H. Goss, Privately
Printed by Subscription 1868."
"The Centennial Fourth. Historical Address De-
livered in Town Hall, Melrose, Mass., July 4, 1876,
by Elbridge H. Goss. Also, The Proceedings of the
Day. Privately Printed, Melrose, 1876."
" History of Melrose, by Elbridge H. Goss," for the
"History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts," Ed-
ited by Samuel Adams Drake, who wrote for it the
" General History of the County," 1880.
Various communications to the " Maiden Messenger"
during 1868, and since then to our local papers, con-
taining copies of original documents and "Historical
Notes " by Artemas Barrett.
"The Origin and Present Condition of Free-Ma-
sonry in Melrose. Prepared by direction of the
Waverly Masonic Association, for the purpose of be-
ing deposited in the Corner-Stone of their new edifice.
at Melrose, June 25, a.d. 1866. By Levi S. Gould,
Past Master of Wyoming Lodge, 1866.
In 1832, the Rev. S. Osgood Wright preached " An
Historical Discourse," at Maiden on Thanksgiving
Day, which contained " A Sketch of the History of
that Town from the Settlement to the Present Time,"
in which two or three pages are devoted to " that
part of the town, called the North End."
Spot Pond Water. — Nestled amid the higher
lapds of Stoneham and Medford lies Spot Pond ; so
named by good old Governor Winthrop, in February,
1632, when he, with others, traversed its surface on
an exploring expedition, because " the pond had
divers small rocks standing up here and there in it."
Originally, it was much smaller than now, but was
largely increased by the building of a dam by the
Sprague family, which had possession of it for over a
hundred years, many of which were spent in litigation
in maintaining these rights. "Still this old hero,
Timothy Sprague, at great cost and sacrifice of time,
always came off victorious. He was greatly annoyed
and harassed through his life, which was frequently
in danger. But for this unflinching old veteran the
dam would long ago have been removed, and the pond
have been worthless for the purposes for which it is
now used. To the several towns now enjoying this
luxury he proved to be a great benefactor; for, in
fighting these battles for himself he was laboring to
bless future generations, and is deserving of their
gratitude."'
The high-water mark of the pond is one hundred
and forty-three feet above marsh level, and its area,
when full, is two hundred and ninety-six acres. The
purity of its water having been proven by analyzation
caused Boston to cast wistful eyes toward it, previous
to the introduction of Cochituate water in 1848.
Not until 1867 was any action taken to secure this
natural reservoir of water to the inhabitants of the
surrounding t<'>wns. In that year an act was passed
by the Legislature incorporating the " Spot Pond
Water Company for the purpose of supplying the
inhabitants of said Melrose, Maiden and Medford
with pure water." More than two years passed away
before any action was taken by either of these three
towns toward purchasing the franchise of this com-
pany— according to one of the provisions in this act —
and then almost simultaneous action was taken. At
a town-meeting held September 24, 1869, Melrose
voted to join with Maiden and Medford, and pur-
chased the franchise, and elected the following gen-
tlemen to act as Water Commissioners : Wingate P.
Sargent, Jeremiah Martin, Dexter Bryant, Elbridge
Green and Joel Snow. A contract to build the water-
works was made with Mr. George H. Norman, and
on the 25th of August, 1870, the town was supplied
with water ; and from that day to this our citizens
1 "Timothj Sprague and Spot Pond," by Artemsa B&mtt, io ifelrow
Juumal, Jan. 31, lij85.
218
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
have been blessed with an abundance of water for
domestic and manufacturing purposes. The first coat
of the water-works was $100,000. Since then the
pipes and hydrants have been extended through
many additional streets, a new reservoir and pumping
station for the high-service system introduced in
1886, at a cost of about $39,000, which makes a total
net coat of the water-works, January 1, 1890, of $268,-
785.77. $100,000 worth of the water bonds first is-
sued, mature July 1, 1890. The Water Loan Sinking
Fund Commissioners will then have in hand S50,000.
The total length of main and distributing pipes is now
nearly forty miles, and there are over seventeen hun-
dred water-takers.
Melbose Public Library. — At a town-meeting,
held in Concert Hall, March 27, 1871, the following
vote was passed : That the money now in the treas-
ury, refunded to the town by the county treasurer,
pursuant to Chapter 250 of the acts of the Legislature
in 1869, and all that shall hereafter accrue to the town
under said act, be appropriated for a " Public Library
and Reading Room." Thia is what is known as the
" dog-tax." Three trustees were also chosen, viz. :
Messrs. Frederic Kidder, E. H. Goss and Charles C.
Barry. The library was opened November 1st, with
1400 volumes. It was first located in the Waverly
Block, near the centre depot, but was removed to its
present location in town-hall building, upon its com-
pletion, in 1874. A reading room was opened in
connection with the library, December 16, 1885. A
amall annual appropriation, together with the dog-
tax, baa maintained the iuatitution, and January 1,
1890, there were 8195 volumea and 1143 pamphlets in
the liorary, besides a large number of Congressional
Records and United States Government volumes, do-
nated by Hon. D. W. Gooch, not yet catalogued.
Number of persons using the library January 1, 1890,
3454. Whole number of volumes issued during the
past year, 33,052. Number of persona using the read-
ing-! oom during the same time, 11,701. Present
irusieea, Elbridge H. Gosa, Charlea C. Barry, Ruby
F. Farwell, Mary L. Charles and Charles A. Patch.
Town Hall. — A handsome brick Town-bouse was
erected at a coat of $65,000, and dedicated June 17,
1874, with an address by George F. Stone, Esq., now
secretary of the Chicago Board of Trade. The tower
clock was the gift of Hon. Daniel Russell. Besides
the hall and the town officers' rooms, the building ac-
commodates the Public Library and Reading Room,
and the Savings Bank.
Melrose Saving8 Bank. — The Melrose Savings
Bank was incorporated in 1872, but did not organize
until the fall of 1874. The total amount of deposits
Oct. 1, 1890, was $383,304.08, with 2218 depositors.
Whole number of accounta opened since the bank was
established, 4285. Its banking-room is in the town-
hall. Its present officers are : Daniel Russell, presi-
dent; W. Irving Ellia, vice-president; John Larra-
bee, clerk; Elbridge H. Goss, treasurer; Daniel
Russell, George Hart, W. Irving Ellis, George New-
hall, John Larrabee, Daniel Norton, Elbridge H.
Goss, Joseph D. Wilde, Charles H. Isburgh, Moses S.
Page, Lewis G. Coburn, Samuel S. Bugbee and Seth
E. Benson, truatees.
Cemeteries. — There are three cemeteries in Mel-
rose. The old village cemetery in the centre of the
town, on Main street, the Jewish Cemetery on Lin-
wood Avenue, and the Wyoming Cemetery at the
south part of the town, which was purchased and
dedicated to burial purposes in 1856. This is a beau-
tiful resting-place for the dead, charmingly diversified
in scenery, environed with hills, and secluded from
residences. It had originally twenty-one acres, but
in 1887 it was enlarged by the purchase of the adjoin-
ing Pratt farm, consisting of twenty-five acres, at a
coat of $10,000.
Rubber Works.— In 1882 the Hon. Elisha S.
Converse purchased what was known as the Joseph
Lynde farm, at the southern part of the town, and
built thereon the Rubber Works for the Boston Rub-
ber Shoe Company, known as factory No. 2 — the
works at Edgeworth being No. 1. The Melrose Fac-
tory averagea to employ 1200 hands, and has a capac-
ity for employing 1400. It is situated on the west
aide of Main Street, near the Middleaex Fells Railroad
Station. On the east side of Main Street, there is a
large tract of wild land, a part of which belonged to
the Lynde farm, and a part was acquired by subse-
quent purchase, which Mr. Converse has laid out and
beautified, building miles of roads, and named "Pine
Banks Park." It ia a charming spot through which
to roam or drive.
The following citizens have been elected members
of the General Court :
BErBE8CNTATIT£3.
Nelson Cochran, 1872.
Elbridge H. Goes, 1874-75.
W. Irving Ellia, 1877-78.
Joseph D, Wilde, 1879-80.
B. Marvin Fernald, 1881-82.
■Wlngate P. Sargent, 1883-«4.
John W. Farwell, 1886.
John Larrabee, 1886-87.
William E. Barrett. 1888-80-90 ;
and Speaker ofthe House of Rep-
resentativea 1889-90.
John T. Paine, 1861.
Daniel W. Gooch, 1852.
j Samuel 0. Dearborn, 1853.
John Vial, 1855.
Gu; Lamkin, 1857.
Walter LIttlelield, Jr., 1858.
Loren L. Fuller, 1859.
Artemal Barrett, 1861.
Isaac Emerson, Jr., 1863-64.
Rufua Smith, 1866.
Levi S. Gould, 1868-69.
James C. Currie, 1871.
Sematob.— Daniel Russell, 1879-30.
COMMISSIOMEB OF I»TEBNAI. REVENUE FOB BOSTON DUTSICT.— Frank
E. Orcutt.
TOW.N OFFICERS FOE 1890-91.
Selectmen.— Levi 3. Gould, John P. Deering, Charles W. Higgins.
Town Clerk. — John Larrabee.
Town Treasurf.r. — George Newhall.
Assessors. — Henr7 A. Leonard, John B. Norton, Dexter Pratt.
Collector. — Addison Lane.
Water Commissioners. — Wilbur D. Flake, George L. Morse, William
H. Miller.
CoMUiBsioNEBS OF Watertowk Sinkino Fund. — Daulel Eusiell,
Bojal P. BarT7, John W. FarweU.
School SuPEElNXENnENT. — Quy C. Channell.
School Committkx. — John O. Norris. John C, Maker, Charlea F. Lor-
log, Mn. Arethuaa E. Miller, Mra. A. B. P. Waterhonse, Mra. Sarah W.
Bradbury.
/
/'\?/
'^^^^:^/, (. ^U^^-^J-^^C
MELROSE.
219
AUDHPORS. — Frank E. Orcutt, Walter I. N'icketwD, Gilbert N. Uarril.
OvEBSEEBS OP THE PooB, — Henry Q. Field^ John Singer, Jr., Mje.
Martha D. Bale.
SOPEBINTENDENT OF Stbeets. — "Walter B, EUis.
Beoistbaes op Votebs. — Alfred Hocking, Walter Babb, Victor C.
Kirmes, John Larrabee.
WiTEB Beoistbab. — Elbridgs H. Goae.
BoAsn or Health.— Dr. Ereet S. Jack, Frank L. Waahbnm, George
W. Burke.
Then a_nd Now. — The first town-meeting of Mel-
rose was held May 10, 1850, seven days after the
date of incorporation, in "Academy Hall," then
standing on Berwick Street, and wljich was after-
wards moved to Main Street, where it became " Ly-
ceum Hall," and where it was destroyed, with other
buildings, by the fire of August 21, 1870. The war-
rant had two articles, viz. : " To choose a moderator ;
to choose all necessary Town Officers for the year
ensuing." The warrant for the town-meeting held
March 3, 1890, had fifty-three articles to be acted
upon. The first town report, issued April 1, 1851,
was a small broadside, ten by twelve inches, entitled
" Report of the Financial Concerns of the Town of
Melrose, from May 20, 1850, to April 1, 1861," and
is signed by Jonathan Cochran, Josiah W. Talbot
and John Blake, Financial Committee. This is not
only a very scarce document, but is something of a
curiosity ; presenting, as it does, a striking contrast
in the town expenses in that day of small things,
when compared with those given in the "' Reports of
the Town Officers of Melrose for the Financial Year
ending December 31, 1889."
When incorporated, forty years ago, Melrose had a
population of 1260 ; to-day it has over 8500. It then
had 125 dwelling-houses ; to-day over 1800. Then
our valuation was S483,446 ; in 1890 it was $6,724,705.
Then it had one school-house with three schools ;
now eleven houses with thirty schools. Then three
churches; now eleven. Then the old-fashioned well-
sweep and pump; to-day Spot Pond water running
through its forty miles of streets. It has the illu-
minating gas, furnished by the Maiden & Melrose
Gas Co., for house purposes, and the electric lights for
thestreets. With a Town Hall, Public Library, Savings
Bank, Fire Department, with a steam fire-engine, a
Choral Union, the Melrose Orchestra, a Lyceum with
yearly course of entertainments, many Temperance
organizations, Odd-Fellows and Masonic associations,
a Grand Army Post, two local papers, a number of
literary clubs ; with all these institutions and others
not here enumerated, situated so near Boston, with
railroad facilities unsurpassed, it may well be sur-
mised that Melrose will continue to grow ; and at no
very distant day wiU be knocking at the Common-
wealth's door for admission to the rank of one of her
cities.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
dajhel eussell.'
Daniel Russell, son of Daniel and Mary W. Rus-
sell was born in Providence, R. I., on the 16th day of
July, 1824, and educated at the public schools of
Providence. The necessity of self-support was early
impressed upon him, and at the age of seventeen he
began real life in his own behalf as a mechanic.
For three years he served an apprenticeship at one
branch of carriage manufacturing in his native city,
and upon graduating ft'om this school he labored in
the same place and at Middleborough, Mass., as
journeyman for four years, at the end of which time
(1847) accompanied by a fellow-workman he moved
to Boston and began the business of selling small
wares by samples. Two years later he determined to
go to California, but the Hon. Nathan Porter offered
him employment in Providence, where he remained
for two years, returning to Boston in 1852 and en-
tering the employ of Edward Locke & Co., clothiers.
Three years later Mr. Russell became connected
with the wholesale clothing house of Isaac Fenno &
Co., and became a member of the firm in 1861, re-
tiring in 1869 with a competency.
In 1853 Mr. Russell went to Melrose to reside and
has ever since been intimately identified with the
welfare of the town.
He has served three years on the Board of Select-
men, and is at present commissioner of the water
loan sinking fund. He is also president of the Mel-
rose Savings Bank. In 1878 he was elected to repre-
sent the Sixth Middlesex Senatorial District, serving
as chairman of the committee on insurance, and as
a member of the committee on agriculture. He was
re-elected in 1879, and in 1880 was a delegate to the
National Republican Convention.
He is a director of the Maiden and Melrose Gas-
light Company and the Putnam Woolen Company,
■ind is connected with the Masonic organizations of
Melrose.
October 21, 1850, Mr. Russell married Mary,
daughter of Nathan and Mary Lynde, of Melrose.
Their children are : Williait. Clifton and Daniel
Blake Russell.
' From " One of a Thon«and."
220
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
CHAPIEK XIX.
PEPFERELL.
PAEOCHIAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL.
BY LORENZO P. BLOOD.
Settlements in that part of Groton lying west of
tlie Lancaster or Nashua River were commenced as
early as 1720. After the Peace of Utrecht, a.d. 1713,
Indian hostilities and depredations had in great
measure ceased, and were no longer seriously dreaded.
Thus relieved from anxiety and fear on that score,
»the frontier settlements extended the line of civiliza-
tion farther into the wilderness. Territory that here-
toi'ore had been the haunts of the bear and the savage
was transformed into thrifty farms and civilized
abodes. The modern advice, " Go West, young man,"
was evidently in the air, if not yet materialized at
that early date. Following this impulse, the young
man of Groton pushed his way across the " Great
River," and took up for his farm and home a portion
of the fertile lands lying westerly therefrom.
At first the settlements were confined to the vicinity
of the river, for several reasons. The river afforded
an easy means of transportation, as well as a ready
supply of food. The intervale land was more easily
cultivated than that more remote.
The river was fordable at two places— "Stony
Wading Place," at HoUingworth's Mills, and the " Jo.
Blood Fordway," near the covered bridge — and thus
there was easy communication between the new set-
tlers and their paternal homesteads, only a few miles
away. Although emigrants, they were still within
the municipality of their old homes : still under the
fostering care of the Groton Church. Meanwhile the
new settlement grew and prospered until in 1740 ij
numbered over forty families, and the people began
to feel that they were numerous enough to be a sep-
arate parish. The affection for the old homesteads
and the mother church had become absorbed in a love
for the new homes and a desire for a church of their
own. Of several petitions from the inhabitants of the
northerly and westerly parts of Groton, and the east-
erly part of Dunstable, presented to the General
Court about this time, praying for a township, or dis-
trict, the following was grant«d :
" To his Kicellency William Shirley, Esq., Captain Geoeral and Gov-
«rnor in Cheiffln and over bia Majestiea Province of y MassachoBethi
Bay in New England; To y Hononralile hig M»je§tie« Council and
House of Reprebentacivea in General Court .Vssembled ony'Twenty-
bilth Day of May, a.d., 174:i.
"The Petition uf ua, the Subgcribers, to your Excellency and Hononra
Humbley Sheiretb that we are Proprietors and Inhabitants of y« l.aDd
Lying on y» Westerly Side Lancaster Elver (bo called) in y» North west
comer of y« Township of Groton ; i Such of us as are Inhabilanta
thereon Live very Remote from y» Publick worship of God in sJ Town,
and at many Times and Seaaons of y» year are Put to Great Difficulty to
attend j« same ; and the Lauds Bounded as Followetb (viz) : Southerly,
on Townsbend Bode; Westerly, on Townshend Line; Northerly, on
Dunstable West Precinct i old Town, and Easterly on said River as it
now Buna to y« First mentioned Bounds, being of the Contents of about
Four Mites Square uf Good Laud well Sciluuted fur a Precinct ; Aud the
Town of Groton bath been Petitioned to Set of y* Landa bounded as
afore8<l to be a Distinct and Separate Precinct, and at a Town Meeting of
y* inhabitants of s** Town of Grotou Assembled on y* Twenty Fifth Day
of May Last Past The Town voted y* Prayer of y* b<i Petition and that
y* Landa before Described should Ije a Separate Precinct and that y In-
habitants thereon and Such others as hereafter Shall Settle on 3<i Landa
should have y* Powers and Priviledgea thut other Precincts in s** Prov-
ince have or Do Enjoy ; as per a Cuppy from Groton Town Book here-
with Exhibited may Appear, ^z. For the reasons mentioned, we, the
aabscribers as afores'', Unmbley Prayea your E.vcetlency and Honours to
Set off y s'' Lands bouuded as afores^ to l>e a Distinct aud Sepperat Pre-
cinct and Invest y* Inhabitant thereon (Containing about y« N^* of
Forty Families), and Such others as Shall hereafter Settle on s*' Land,
with Such Powers and Priviledges aa other Precincts in sfi Province
have, &c., or Grant to your Petitioueis Such other Relief in y* Premises
aa yonr Excellency and Honours in your Great Wisdom Shall think Fits
and your Petitioners as in Dnty bound Shall Ever pray, He. Benjamin
Swallow, Samuel Shattuck (iu), John Blood (inner), William Spalden,
James Shattuck, Joaiah Parker, Isojic Williams, David Shattuck, Jacob
.\incs, Ebenezer Gllson, David Blood, Jonas Varnuni, Ellas Etlit, Jona-
than Woods, Moaes Woods, Zachery Lawrence, jun'., John Shodd, Jona-
than Shattuck, Jeremiah Lawrence, Jani> Green, Jonathan Shattuck,
Jun% John Mozler, John Kemp, Joaiah Tucker, Neheniiah Jewett,
William Allen, Eleazar Green.
" In the House of Rep"'" Nov 2G. 1742.
" In answer to the within Petition ordered that that Part of the
Town of Groton Lyiug on the Westerly aide of Lancaster River within
the following bounds, viz. : bounding Easterly on said River Southerly
un Townsend Road so called, Weaterly on Townsend line and Northerly
on Dunstable West Precinct, with the inhabitants thereon, be and
hereby ore set otT a distinct and separate precinct and vested with the
powers and privileges which other Precincts do oi- by law ought to en-
.juy, always provided that the Inhabitants Dwelling on the Lauds above
mentioned be subject to pay their first part and proportions of all mln-
iaterlall Rates and Taxes in the Town of Groton already Granted or
Assessed.
"Sent up for Concurrence, T. ClsillKu, Spk.
"In Council Nov 2li, 1742. Read and CoDCurr*,
" J. WlLLiBD, Sec'rjf.
"Consented to W. Shiblet."
The Townsend road above mentioned was the old
county highway as then traveled from Groton to
Townsend. This road, which lies wholly within the
present town of Groton, is still passable for carriages
its entire length from Fitch's Bridge to the Townsend
line, although it has been discontinued for many
years the greater part of the distance.
By an adjustment of boundary lines made about the
time of this petition, the "old Dunstable line" was
moved farther north, leaving a triangular strip of land
between Groton West Parish and New Hampshire.
This tract was three hundred rods wide at its westerly
end on Townsend line, and extended over five miles
eastward, running to a point a short distance west of
the Nashua River, containing about two and a half
square miles. It has often been incorrectly called the
"Groton Gore." It remained a part of Groton until
1751, when it was ceded to the West Parish upon pe-
tition of its inhabitants. In 1803 about four acres
lying between the road and the river, at Fitch's
Bridge, were re-annexed to Groton.
According to the records the first " leagal " meeting
of the new parish was held at the house of William
Spalding January 17, 1742, "by virtue of a warrant
granted by William Lawrance, Esq., a justice. Ben-
jamin Swallow was chosen moderator and the follow-
ing officers were elected': Eleazar Gilson, clerk; Ben-
PEPPERELL.
221
jamin Swallow, Isaac Williams, James ' Lawrance,
Jonathan Woods and Joseph Whitney, committee;
Samuel Wright, treasurer; Jonas Varnum, Moses
Woods and Jeremiah Lawrance, collectors. The sum
of £10, lawful money, was voted to be assessed, "to
defray the necessary charges Risen and arising in the
Parish."
At a second " Legual " meeting held at the house
of James Lawrance, February 16, 1742, it was voted,
"that Samuel Wright be a committee to provide
preaching till the last day of April next." Also
" Voted to build a Meeting-House in S* Parish, voted
that the Meeting-House should stand at the most con-
venient place near Jo Blood's fording." The reason
for this location may be inferred from a vote passed
at a subsequent meeting: "Voted to Receive the Peo-
ple on the East side of ye River that have Petitioned
to be annexed to us, Provided they will consent to
have the Meetiog-House set at ye most Convenient
Place on ye West side of ye River near ye Bridge,
next below Jo Blood's fordway, so called." But the
people living in the westerly part of the parish natur-
ally objected to thus locating the meeting-house at the
extreme limit of the precinct; and their remonstrance
was so decided and persistent that, at a meeting Sep-
tember 6, 1743, it was " Voted to reconsider the vote
that was passed Concerning the Place that was first
pitcht upon for ye setting of a Meeting-House in Sd
Pariah ; Voted to set the Meeting-House at the end
of three-Quarters of a mile Northeast of the Center
of Sd Parish or at the next Convenient Place."
This compromise seems to have settled the matter
for the time, as the meeting proceeded to vote " to
Build a Meeting-House forty-two feet Long and thirty
feet Wide and Twenty feet High." Committees were
chosen and a surveyor employed to make the neces-
sary survey and determine the location agreed upon.
This spot was decided to be on the farm now owned
by J. A. Tucker, Esq., near the junction of HoUis
and Tucker Streets. Now the geographical centre
of the parish, as then bounded, was near the present
residence of B. W. Shattuck, on Heald Street, about
half a mile west of the Common; and a line running
thence northeast three-quarters of a mile terminates
near' Hovey's corner — so called — more than a mile
north of west from the spot decided upon by the com-
mittee. Whether there was a suspicion that the com-
mittee had acted unfairly in the matter, or only a
feeling that they had made a most unwarrantable use
of the qualifying clause, "at the next Convenient
Place," does not appear, but the result was a renewal
of the controversy, followed by a long and bitter
quarrel, which threatened the disruption of the parish.
Materials bad to some extent been gathered at the
.spot fixed upon, but it began to look doubtful whether
there would be enough of a parish left to build a
meeting-house or form a church.
As a last resort, it was agreed to refer the whole
matter to the " Great and General Court," and abide
by its decision. Accordingly, at a meeting November
23, 17-44, it was " Voted, that Peleg Lawrence and
Josiah Sartell be a Com'ee to go to the Great and
General Court Concerning ye having a Meeting-
House Place in Sd Parish." Their petition was
favorably received by the Court, and a committee was
appointed to survey the place and locate the meeting-
house. A committee was also chosen by the parish
to " show the Court's committee the inhabitants of
the place." So promptly was the business attended
to and settled that the parish voted, the following
February, "to set the Meeting-House on ye Place
that the General Court prefixed," which is the spot
now occupied by the meeting-house of the First
Parish. This decision was, of course, final, although
some of the inhabitants of the east part were unrecon-
ciled. When the men that were employed to move
the timber to the site settled upon, were in readiness
with their teams to perform the work, several of
these disafi'ected persons attempted to prevent their
progress by pricking the noses of the oxen, and other-
wise annoying them. Whereupon James Lakin, who
had been prominent as a champion for the minority
during the previous troubles, took the lead. He was
a stout, athletic man, and evidently a firm believer in
the church militant ; for he made so effective an exhi-
bition of " muscular Christianity," that there was no
further attempt to hinder the work. The building
was erected, and finished for occupation early in 17-15,
but no record of a dedication can be found. Previous
to this time, as appears by the records, the houses of
Enoch Lawrence and Nehemiah Hobart were used as
places of public worship. Mr. Lawrence lived near
Nissittissit Square, and Mr. Hobart on River Street,
nearly opposite the house of Elijah A. Butterfield.
Rev. Mr. Emerson, in his sermon delivered at the
dedication of the second meeting-house, in speaking of
this whole matter, says : " There is one thing I can't
but mention, as a kind interposition of Divine Provi-
dence ; tho' considered as such by very few at the
time, and that is ; — The fixing the place for the Meet-
ing-House, by the Court's committee ; tho' at first
contrary to the mind and vote of the majority of the
inhabitants, yet proves now to be with much more
equity, and where all seem to be universally con-
tented with. Had it been erected in the place de-
signed and where the timber was drawn to, what
trouble, change, and 'tis very likely contention, we
must have been exercised with before this day."
The house was not finished for several years, if in-
deed it ever was, as is shown by the following votes
passed at various times from 17-14 to 1755 :
" Toted, That Sd committee frame, RaiBe and board the outside and
shingle ye Roof, Lay the nnder tloor and make suitable Doora and ban
the same.
"To build th9 Pulpit and ye Body seats below.
"To seat the Public Meeting-House and set uif the Pews, or Pew-
ground to the Highest Payer in the three last Kates, upon their being
obliged to build their own Pews and the Ministerial Pew, To seal the
Meeting-HonsAHS high at ye girts all round, that Windows becnt where
needed. Provided they that cut them maintain them .upon their own
HISTOKY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
CoBt, that tbey be no Parub Charge To finieh the BuildiDg, the Seats in
the Gallery, and to Seal the Meetiog-House from je Gallerj floor up to
the beaou.'*
*' Voted, To Glaze ye Public Meetiog-Huuse and to proride boards to
Lay Loose on ye floor overhead.'*
Thi8 was in March, 1749.
The following year it was " Voted to pve ye Men
that are seated on ye fore seats below Liberty to set a
Row of Banisters with a Rail stop before ye fore Seats
at their own Cost and Charge." The building at best
could have been but little better than a barn ; and it
must have required no little exercise of fortitude and
resignation to sit through the lengthy services of the
forenoon and afternoon in an unfinished, unglazed
and unwarmed house, especially in midwinter. But
our hardy ancestors had not attained to the modern
ideas of church luxury and parish debt.
In the settlement of a minister they appear to have
proceeded in a more united and prayerful way. March
13, 1744, the parish voted "To keep the last day ol
March instant a day of fasting and prayer to Al-
mighty God for direction in the important affair of
settling a minister." It seems rather unfortunate
that in this vote the location of the meeting-house
was not also included.
About this time Rev. William Vinal, who was then
preaching for them, received a call to settle among
them in the work of the ministry, but declined to
accept the call. The distracted condition of the
parish at that time certainly did not present a very
inviting field of labor for a young minister. "Sep-
tember 25th, 1746. Voted, To give the Rev. Joseph
Emerson, of Maiden, a call to settle in the gospel
ministry in the said parish, and to give him one hun-
dred and twenty pounds settlement, and sixty-two
pounds, twenty-two shillings, yearly, and thirty cords
of fire-wood, cut and delivered at his door."
In January following the parish voted to give Mr.
Emerson forty acres of land within a mile of the
meeting-house, and to add to his salary twelve
pounds, ten shillings, whenever the parish should
contain one hundred ratable families ; at that time
there were seventy-two families. Mr. Emerson ac-
cepted the call, and was ordaiued February 25, 1746,
O.S. The ordination sermon was preached by his
father, minister of Maiden, from the text, " Now,
therefore, my son, be strong in the grace which is in
Christ Jesus." A church had been "gathered" on
the 29th of January preceding, to which Mr. Emer-
son was formally admitted a member on the morning
of his ordination. The church consisted of about fif-
teen male members and several females who had
withdrawn from the Groton Church, for the purpose
of forming a church in Pepperell — the exact number
of female members cannot be ascertained.
Mr. Emerson's salary was regulated according to
the price of provisions. The following list made out
by a committee for that purpose was accepted by the
parish and by Mr. Emerson :
" Nifietii Poundton W. I. GooiU.—'W. I. rum at 21i. per gall. ; molaMee,
15a. per gall. ; loaf sugar, 7a. per lb. ; cotton wool, 13*. per lb. ; salt, 3,
32<. per bnah,
" Forhj Pound* upon Jlfea(.— Beef at 9d. per lb. ; pork, Ibd.
'* Sixiij Ponndi upon Grain, — Corn at 12». per bush.; rye, 16a. per
bush. ; barley, 14a. per bush. ; oats, 7a. per bushel. ; wheat, 22j. per
bush.
'^ Sitly Poumiaupon Bundriet. — Sheep's wool at 10a. per lb.; flax, 3a.
6d. ; shoes, 30a. per pair ; labor at £60 per year ; butter, 2a. fiti. per lb.
To estimate the salary annually upon such a basis
must have been rather perplexing, and in 1767 the
district abandoned the plan, and voted to give Mr.
Emerson £73 6«. Sd. annually, computing silver at 6f.
per dollar, and 6s. 8rf. per ounce. Upon this change
Mr. Emerson remarks :
" I heartily rejoice that you have seen fit to set aside the old contract,
which bath been tbe occasion of so much trouble. .As to the sum
you offer me instead of it, I tbanl^fully accept of it. .\ll things con-
sidered, it is honorable and i^iud, and is a token that, after so many
yearB, my labors are yet acceptable among you. I hope. Through
divine grace, to go on with more cheerfulness in the work of the
ministry, and while I am partaking of your carnal things, that the
Lord may abundantly shower down spiritual blessings, is the sincere
prayer of your affectionate pastor. 1 desire this may l,e recorded in
tbe parish Look."
Mr. Emerson's farm of " forty acres of land within
a mile of the meeting-house" was located on Elm and
Townsend Street, including the lands now owned by
William Kendall, Miss Freeman, and others. It also
extended easterly on Elm Streets, comprising the
whole area from the " common '' to Green's Brook,
and as far east as the land of 'Mrs. D. B. Sibley. His
house was where the "Shipley" bouse now stands.
The large flat stone which served as the door-step of
his study, still remains in its old position.
In 1767, the parish having outgrown, in more senses
than one, the old meeting-house, preparations were
commenced for the building of a new one. The sum
of eighty pounds was voted uo be raised for the pur-
pose. It was also voted " that the house be built
workman-like." .\ vote was also passed that, " con-
sidering we are engaged in the importaut affair of
building a new house for the worship of God, voted
to set apart Thursday as a day of fasting and prayer,
to confess our manifold sins, whereby we have pro-
voked our God to frown upon us in our public affairs,
and earnestly implore the return of his favor, and par-
ticularly to humble ourselves before God for out un-
profitableness under the means of grace we have en-
joyed in the old meeting-house, and entreat his guid-
ance in erecting a new one." This new house was
built in 1769, on the site of the old one, which the
building contractor. Cornet Simon Gilson, took in
part payment for his contract, and removed to his
farm (now J. M. Belcher's) where he converted it into
a barn, probably without much change. In 1830 it
was destroyed by the act of an incendiary. In March,
1870, the new meeting-house was dedicated wilh ap-
propriate religious services, on which occasion Mr.
Emerson preached a sermon from this text : " Then
Samuel took a stone, and set it up between Mizpeh
and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying,
PEPPERELL.
223
Hitherto has the Lord helped us." In this discourse
Mr. Emerson enumerated many reasons why the peo-
ple of Pepperell should follow the example of the
prophet — the preservation of the church when threat-
ened with destruction ; the increase of population
since his settlement from seventy-two to one hundred
and fifty-two families, and a proportional increase in
their substance, so that they had been able to pay
the charges of their becoming a parish and then a dis-
trict, and of building a house for worship ; their
preservation from savage enemies when they were
under the necessity of taking their firearms with
them to meeting, as they had done since his seUle-
ment." He exhorted them "' to acknowledge with
gratitude that they had been preserved while erect-
ing the second meeting-house, not a life having been
lost or a bone broken while providing the timber,
raising the frame and finishing the house," and in con-
clusion he said that he himself would on that occasion
set up his Ebenezer, it being the twenty-third anni-
versary of his ordination, and acknowledged that
hitherto the Lord had helped him, both in temporal
and spiritual matters. In building this second meet-
ing-house the people appear to have acted in har-
mony, the only question of difference being in regard
to a steeple, which, as they had no bell, was finally de-
cided in the negative. Subsequently, however, a steeple
was built of the height of one hundred feet and a bell
placed therein. The house was sixty feet long and
forty-five feet wide, and was built in the style of
architecture common to the New England churches
of the time — a plain, yellow building with a belfry
and two porches, a deep gallery along three sides oi
the interior, and a high pulpit on the fourth side,
with the deacons' seat below and the queer sounding
board above. The ground floor was filled with high,
square pews, intersected by rectangular aisles. The
noon-house, or Sabbath-day house, as it was often
called, was a building especially adapted to the times.
It usually consisted of a single room with a fire-place,
and was furnished with a table and seats. It was
owned by one or more of the prominent men of a
neighborhood remote from the meeting-house. Thither
the owners, with their families and friends, would re-
pair during the intermission between the forenoon
and afternoon services, to refresh themselves with a
picnic dinner, and spend an hour of social intercourse.
The idea of heating the meeting-house was not even
tolerated in those days, and in winter the blazing fire
in the noon-house was a real comfort to the worship-
pers ; and from the glowing embers the women re-
plenished their foot-stoves for the afternoon meeting.
There were eight of these houses situated in different
directions and within a radius of twenty rods from the
meeting-house. They continued in use until stoves
were introduced, although with much opposition, into
the meeting-house about the year 1826, after which
time they one by one disappeared.
Mr. Emerson was not permitted to enjoy the priv-
ileges of the new sanctuary many years. In the sum-
mer of 1775 he went to Cambridge to visit his numer-
ous parishioners, serving under Colonel Prescott in
the Continental Army, there assembled. Tradition
says he there offered the first public prayer in the
American camp. While ministering to the temporal,
as well as spiritual, needs of the soldiers, he took a
cold from exposure, which reoulted in a fever, termin-
ating his life on the 29th of October, 1775, at the age
of fifty-one years. He died an early martyr to the .
cause of that liberty whose principles he had so zeal-
ously and practically instilled into the minds of his
people. The following incident, as related by Colonel
William Prescott, forcibly illustrates the peculiar
blending of conservatism and radicalism in his char-
acter. Previous to the battle of Bunker Hill, secret
meetings of the Committee of Safety were frequently
held in the town. On a Saturday evening one of these
meetings was held in the tavern which stood on the
present site of the church of the Second Parish. Mr.
Emerson had been present during the early part of
this meeting, but had returned home. After mid-
night, as from the window of his study he looked
across the Common and saw the lights still burning in
the committee-room, indicating that the session was
not yet closed, he hastened to the tavern, and, ad-
monishing the committee that the Sabbath had come,
insisted on an immediate adjournment. During the
twenty-nine years of Mr. Emerson's ministry he bap-
tized 807 persons, and admitted 196 into the church.
Eight deacons, elected by the church, were ordained
by him, viz. : Jeremiah Lawrence, John Spafford,
January 11, 1747-48 ; Josiah Fisk, January 18, 1754;
Peleg Lawrence, August 21, 17.54 ; Thomas Laughton,
August 3, 1759 ; David Blood, April 9, 1762 ; Daniel
Fiske, April 23,1773; Edmund Parker, Octobers,
1773. It was customary for one chosen deacon to sig-
nify his consent by a formal letter of acceptance,
when he was inducted into office by a solemn charge
from the minister, and thereafter was privileged to
sit in the " deacon's seat."
The form used by Mr. Emerson on these occasions
was as follows :
" D«ar brother : — We congratulate joa upon the honor which the Lord
JeeuB Christ, the Head of the Church, bath been pleaeed to confer upon
you; for we doubt not that you bad a call to this office, which under
the iutluence of his spirit, as we trust, yon have accepted; that Spirit,
which Christ bath purchased and promised to send down, not oniy to
convince and convert the sinner, but also as a guide and teacher to his
people, and hatb assured us that he should lead us into alt truth. You
are sensible there is a work as welt as an honor attending the office,
which you must see to it that you fulfil, I would therefore charge you
in the nacne of the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge both the qoick
and the dead, another day, before the elect angels and this assembly,
that ytu faithfully discharge the duties of your station, that you fulfil
the ministry you have received. See to it, that you answer the charac-
ter of the deacons in the wont of God. ' Be grave, not double-toogned,
not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre, hold the mystery of
the faith iu a pure conscience.' See to it, that you govern your children
and household well, 'be blameless, be an example to believers them-
selves ; let your coovetBation be as becometh godliness, watch and pray
continually, that those who seek occasion to speak evil of you, nuiy find
none; live.always as under the eye of the Lord Jesus Christ, who will
224
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. .
shortly caJl you to give an uccouDt of your stewardabip.' If you thna
behave and do, • yon will purchase to yourself a good degree ' of favor
with God and good men, and great boldnesa iD the faith which ia in
Jeeua Christ. And let lue put you in mind, that as the Lord Jeaua and
this hia people, expect more from you in thie relation than ever, so
there ia strength enough in Chriat for you, and he will not leave you if
you do not fli^t fon*ake him. 0. then, repair to him by a lively faith.
Go out of yourself, tniat wholly in him ; so shall you fulfil your course
at length with joy, and your Loni will say to you, * Well done, good and
faithful servant ; as you have been faithful over a few thinga, I will
make you ruler over many thinga ; enter into the joy of your Lord.'
May this at last be your and our portion, through Jesus Christ, to whom •.
be glory in the church, world without end. Amen."
Mr. Emerson's virtues are thus enumerated upon
the tablet, which the town erected over his tomb :
'* steadfast in the Faith once delivered to the Saints. Fixed and
laborious in the cause of Chriat and precious souls. Exemplary in vis-
iting and sympathizing with his Flock. Diligent in improving bis Tal- ;
ents. \ Kind Husband ; a tender Parent ; A Faithful reprover ; a con-
stant Friend ; and a true Patriot. Having ceaaed from his Labors, his
works follow him." i
Amid the anxieties and distresses of the Revolu-
tionary War four years elap?ed before a successor to
Mr. Emerson was decided upon. Regular preaching
was, however, maintained the greater part of the time.
Mr. Joseph Emerson, a son of the late pastor, sup- i
plied the pulpit during the year 1776. His promise
of a useful life was soon blighted by an early death.
In 1778 Mr. Jonathan Allen received a call to become
the minister of the parish, which he declined.
Mr. John Bullard, of Medway, a graduate of Har-
vard University, of the class of 1776, was ordained
October 18, 1779. His ministry comprised a period
of almost forty-two years, which were prosperous and
happy. Warm in his sympathies and genial in his j
conversation and habits, he is spoken of by a contem-
porary as "of that almost peculiar urbanity which led
him to treat all men of learning and fair moral char-
acter as friends and companions.'' Although, appar-
ently, more of " a man of the world" than his prede-
cessor, he possessed none the less the virtues and
excellencies of a true Christian minister. He was
much interested in the cause of education ; was one -
of the founders of the Groton Academy, and a trustee
of that institution during his life. Three of his four |
sons were educated there preparatory to their enter- i
ing college. The Sunday-school was instituted in ,
1819, by the efforts of Mrs. Nehemiah Cutter and
some other ladies, who were greatly assisted and en- 1
couraged in this work by their pastor. 3Ir. Bullard
died September 18, 1821, aged sixty-five years, univer- |
sally beloved and lamented. During his ministry he ,
baptized 556 persons, and admitted 156 members to
his church. Four deacons were elected — Nathaniel
Hutchinson and Nathaniel Lakin, April 23, 1789 ;
Joseph Parker and Edmund Jewett, August 15, 1805.
Rev. James Howe, of Jaffrey, New Hampshire, a
graduate of Dartmouth and of Andover, was ordained
October 16, 1822. For several years the relations be-
tween pastor and people were harmonious ; but at
length dissatisfaction began to be expressed by cer- i
tain of the more liberally-inclined in regard to ex-
changes ; the complaint being that Mr. Howe was too
exclusive in that matter. After several ineffectual
attempts, the town finally passed a vote in May, 1831 :
" To excuse Rev. James Howe from preaching six
Sabbaths in the course of the ensuing year, aud per-
mit the pulpit to be supplied on those Sabbaths by
ministers of other denominations." The enforcement
of this vote by its advocates Mr. Howe regarded as an
expulsion from hia pulpit. Accordingly, he, with
nearly the entire church and a large majority of the
congregation, peaceably withdrew and formed a sep-
arate religious society under the title of " The Evan-
gelical Congregational Society of Pepperell," to which
the church allied itself, and of which Mr. Howe was
recognized as pastor, by a council called for that pur-
pose, February 1, 1832. Thus the town was divided
into two parishes and two churches ; each church,
however, claiming to be the original " First Church of
Pepperell."
The First Parish, which now included all the legal
voters that had not "signed off','' and the remnant of
a church which still adhered to it, was left without a
minister or even a deacon. But it retained several of
the wealthiest and most infiuential families of the
town and a legal possession of the real estate and per-
sonal property of the original parish. With a zeal
stimulated by the sharp controversy, the remaining
members of the parish immediately proceeded to reor-
ganize by the election of necessary otticer?, and chose
a " Committee to hire preaching." Dr. .lohn Walton
and Mr. Benjamin Hale were chosen deacons.
After having heard several candidates preach
during the year, a decision was made in favor of Rev.
Charles Babbidge, of Salem, a Harvard graduate —
class of 1828 — and he was ordained and settled
February 13, 1833. "A gentleman and a scholar"
in the fullest import of the phrase, courteous and
affabla to all, without distinction of sect or party, he
soon gained the esteem and affection of his people.
He married, January 21, 1839, Miss Eliza Ann Ban-
croft, daughter of one of his parishioners, Luther
Bancroft, Esq.; he bought a farm, built a house, aud
so fully identified himself with the people of Pepper-
ell and thsir interests, that he repeatedly refused
calls to much larger congregations and more eligible
pulpits. He was a member of the School Board for
forty years ; and in 1859 he represented his district in
the I^egislature. At the commencement of the late
war he was chaplain of the Sixth Regiment, and the
first minister in the country to enlist ; thus giving to
Pepperell the honor of furniahing the first chaplain
for the War of the Rebellion as well as of the Revo-
lution. Having served through the three months'
campaign of the Sixth, he received, in November,
1861, a commission as chaplain of the Twenty-sixth
Massachusetts Regiment, in which he served three
years. Upon his discharge from the service, Novem-
ber 7, 1864, he returned to the peaceful pursuits of
his professional life, and to his people, who gladly
PEPPERELL.
225
welcomed him home. During the greater part of
Mr. Babbidge's absence Rev. John Buclcingham
officiated as pastor in chargp.
February 13, 1S83, the semi-centennial anniversary
of Mr. Babbidge's ordination was celebrated with ap-
propriate religious exercises and social festivities, in
which several of his classmates in college and the
Divinity School participated. The Rev. A. P. Pea-
body, D.D., in his congratulatory speech on the oc-
casion thus addressed Mr. Babbidge :
" I do DOC forget that jou have been waoted elsewhere, that wiBtfal
eyea were ofteo tamed hitherward from ourmetropolla on the statement
of the eminent liistorian who used to pass his summers here, that the
best preaching he heard wai in Pepperell. Nor can I forget that when
the trustees ui the JleadviUe Divinity School sought a wise man of the
Ertst to hold othce in it, they found you at the bottom of your well, and
having read in their childhood that truth had such a home, they were
all the more earnest 10 capture for their service the transpareut truth
and genuine Christian lunuliood, which Ihcy heard as they taikeii with
you over the well-curb, and saw in you when you emerged into the light
of day."
Rev. Joshua Young, pastor of the First Church in
Groton, who followed, in an address of fellowship,
said :
" You loved, rather, the simple life, the simple manners, the simple
folk of the country. You loved the scented fields, the deep and shady
woods, the hills and the rocks ;
' Their colors and their forms were to you an appetite,
A feeling and a love."
\nd so it waa pleasant to you to unite with an intellectual and sacred
cslling the cultivation of the seed-receivin? soil, and, metbinks, that
every time you went forth from the study to the farm, it was to touch
the ground Ant.i.'ualike and receive new strength from .Mother Earth ;
and. therefore, we see you to^lay, after an active and interrupted min-
istry of fifty years, at the ;igo of seventy and six — almost four-score —
still at your post, your eye not dim, nor your natural force abated, wear-
ing gracefully the marks of a uell-^peDt lite 'of virtue, truth, well-
tried and wise experience;' in green old age, like an oak worn, but
still .-leady amidst the elements, while younger trees— so many of them—
ale f-illen."
The following summer Mr. Babbidge was honored
by Harvard University with the degree of D.D. In
February, 1S86, in the eightieth year of his life, he
resigned his charge of the church and society of
which he had been pastor fifty-three years, although
be is still a constant attendant at the Sabbath ser-
vices.
Mr. Walter C. Moore, from the Meadville Divinity
School, w.-is ordained and .settled over the parish Sep-
tember 7, 1887.
The old meeting-house, having become antiquated
and much out of repair, was, in the year 1836, com-
pletely remodeled and rebuilt in modern style; and
re-dedicated October 27th of that year.
The Second Parish, immediately upon its organiza-
tion under the name of " The Evangelical Congrega-
tional Society of Pepperell," commenced to build a
commodious house of worship, which was dedicated
October 31, 1832. Previous to this time their public
services had been held in an unfinished hall over the
store where the town-house now stands.
Mr. Howe, with an hereditary predisposition to
pulmonary disease, found his health and strength
15-iii
gradually failing under the work and excitement of
the new parish, until he was obliged to ask for a col-
league to assist him in his labors. From among sev-
eral candidates, the choice fell upon Mr. David An-
drews, a graduate of Amherst and of Andover, and he
was ordained January 29, 1840. Mr. Howe died the
following summer, July 19, 1840, at the age of forty-
four years. He was a man of unusual sagacity and
foresight, with remarkable tact as well as judgment.
His administrative abilities were of a high order.
Very few ministers could have led off so successfully,
and withal so peaceably, aa he, a large majority of
the church and congregation. There was no legal
controversy, no actual quarrel. A spirit of bitterness,
however, was developed among the people, and the
town was divided into two politico-theological parties,
which existed for many years. But the ministers of
the oppo.sing sects, although they could not meet in
theological fellowship, always met each other as gen-
tlemen on the common ground of Christian courtesy.
Mr. Babbidge, in bis discourse at his semi-centennial
anniversary, said of Mr. Howe :
"The incidents of his ministry, his pure life and early death, are mat-
ters that have fallen within the personal knowledge of many of yon who
hear me, and need no words from me. T feel, however, that I may on
this occasion bear my humble tr^ute to the memory of one who,
whether he erred in judgment or action, gave ample evidence of his
wish to serve God conscientiously and faithfully. Becoming, as I did,
bis successor in the pastoral olilce, and also bis fellow-townsman, it was
niy lot to come frequently iuto cotniiiunication with him, and I cherish
with great satisfaction the pleasant intimacy that sprang up between us,
and continued unbroken to the end of bis life."
Mr. Andrews, who became sole pastor on Mr.
Howe's decease, was, in many respects, quite different
from his predecessor. Though a thorough scholar
and a forcible writer, he was no orator. A perfect
gentleman at heart, kind and .sympathizing, yet he
was externally cold and uncongenial, and in manner
awkward and constrained. He had no policy, no
finesse, but in everything pursued a straightforward,
outspoken course. He preached the Gospel as he be-
lieved it, plainly and with a directness that was often
more pungent than agreeable to his hearers, many of
whom began to grow dissatisfied, and demand a more
entertaining, if not a more liberal style of preaching.
He labored faithfully and conscientiously more than
ten years of the beat part of his life for this church
and parish, only to feel at last that he was unappreci-
ated. He tendered his resignation April 2, 1850. He
afterwards preached several years at Tiverton, R. I.,
and then settled ia Winona, Minn., where he died
in 1870.
The 29th day of January, 1847, being an anniver-
sary of Mr. Andrews' ordination, and without due cor-
rection for change of style, the centennial of the
founding of the First Church in Pepperell, was cele-
brated by the Evangelical Congregational Society,
on which occasion the pastor delivered a discourse
containing an interesting account of the settlement of
the parish and its ecclesiastical history during the one
hundred years of its existence.
226
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
,But the church and society of the First Parish,
claiming, at least, an equal right to the title of " First
Church in Pepperell," and feeling somewhat indig-
nant at having been totally ignored in the whole
matter of the celebration, made arrangements for a
true centennial celebration, which took place on the
6th day of February, 1847, exactly one hundred
years after the organization of the church.
Mr. Babbidge delivered a polemical address per-
tinent to the occasion, in which he strongly pro-
tested against the action of the other church and
society, because he " thought it due to the church
connected with the ancient religious society, to the
officers and members of this church and to society
at large." He concluded thus : " We of this town
are an excitable people. The inhabitants of Pep-
perell have always been so. There is something in
the atmosphere upon our hills that infuses a mer-
curial, a sensitive principle iuto our blood. We are
great sticklers for equal rights and popular liberty.
The very name of ' Bunker Hill ' stirs our hearts
as the sound of the trumpet does the war-horse.
Being aware of this common characteristic of ours,
let us beware how we give each other occasion for
offence. Let us live together peaceably, in that
spirit which becometh the followers of the Son of
God."
Rev. Lyman Cutler, of Dorchester, a graduate of
Dartmouth and of Andover, was ordained January
22, 1851. He was a fine classical scholar, and wju
ambitious for literary distinction. He was gifted with
a ready command of language and a nervous style of
thought and delivery that thrilled his hearers to their
fingers' ends. Open-hearted and free from guile, he
counted upon the same traits in all men, and although
greatly admired by his people, he was not looked up
to as a safe adviser and guide in temporal matters.
He was unsuited to the parochial duties of a country
parish, and his request for a dismissal was granted in
November, 1853. The following year he was settled
in Newton, where, after a brilliant but brief career,
he died May 2, 1855.
Rev. Thomas Morong, a graduate of Amherst and
of Andover, was ordained April 12, 1854, and dis-
missed November 4, 1855.
June 11, 1856, Rev. Edward P. Smith was ordained
pastor of the church. He was graduated from Yale
and Andover. On his first visit to Pepperell, to
preach as a candidate, he lost his valise, which
contained his sermons and a change of raiment.
Nothing daunted, however, he went into the pulpit In
his traveling suit, and preached an extempore ser-
mon, so fraught with freedom, fervency and zeal that
he aroused the enthusiasm of the congregation, and
received a call from them directly. He was a man of
remarkable executive ability ; with him to think was
to act; 80 much so that he was liable to hastily fol-
low his first impulse, rather than wait for the sober
second thought. In bis preaching and his whole life
— pastoral, civil and political — this characteristic was
prominent. At the beginning of the War of the Rebel-
lion he took an active part in arousing the people and
procuring enlistments. Having obtained a month's
leave of absence in January, ISiiS, he attached him-
self to the United States Christian Commission, and
went to the front. The month's absence was ex-
tended indefinitely. .Vt length his repeated request
for a dismissal was granted December 7, 1864, his
people being satisfied that he could never be con-
tented to settle down again to the quiet life and cir-
cumscribed sphere of Pepperell. He became general
agent of the Commission, with full charge of the field
work.
.\t the close of the war he engaged with bis
characteristic ardor in the cause of the freedmeu, and
held a prominent position in the American Mission-
ary Association. He was afterwards appointed (by
Prpsident Grant) lomraissiuiier of Indian affairs
While holding thi.s latter nHice he e.tposed some of
the malfeasance connected with this department, and
ihereby aroused a political excitement and op|>o.sition
that led to his resignation. In 1^7.') he was elected
President of the Howard University, W;i.->hington,
D. C, and went t(p .Urica to become more intimately
acquainted with the needs of the negro race, and the
most fea.-iible methods of missionary work among the
native tribes. While on this mission he died of
African fever, on board the United States vessel
" Ambrig",in the Gulf of Guinea, June 15,1876, aged
forty-nine years. iJne of his co-laborers thus writes
of him : " He was noted for his love of children, his
mirthfulness, his generosity, his strong attachments,
and bis advocacy of the cause of the oppressed.
Doing good in forgetfulness of self was his business
and he pursued it tn the end."
In July, 1859, the meeting-house was destroyed by
fire, together with Mr. Luther Tarbell's tavern and
.store building, in which the fire originated. The
house had just been repaired, and the basement
finished into a convenient vestry, which the congre-
gation were expecting to use for the first time on the
ensuing Sabbath. Instead of which, they met, on
that Sabbath, in the Unitarian house, whose use for
the afternoons had been cordially tendered, and
listened to an impressive discourse by Mr. Smith
from the text, " Our holy and our beautiful house
where our fathers praised Thee, is burned up by
fire." (Psa. Ixiv. 11.) After considerable delay,
occasioned by a want of unanimity on the question
of location, the present commodious and well-
arranged house was erected on the site of the old one,
and dedicated January 29, 1860.
The'same council that concurred in the dismissal
of Mr. Smith installed Rev. S. L. Blake, a graduate
of Middlebury and of Aiidover. Having preached
acceptably to the people four years, he asked for a
dismission December 28, 1868, in order to accept a
call from the Old South Church, in Concord, N. H.
PEPPERELL.
227
His successor was Rev. Horace Parker, an Amberst
graduate, who was installed March 17, 1870, and
dismissed September 16, 1873, on account of ill
health. By means of his earnest and persevering
efforts a debt of nearly $3000, which had been grad-
ually accumulating, was canceled, and two hundred
dollars additional raised for repairs on the meeting-
house. A parsonage was also bought during his
pastorate.
Rev. George F. Swain was ordained March 12
1875. He entered the ministry, not through the
ordinary course of college and seminary, but from
a business education and experience ; therefore he
was more inclined to disregard the conventionalities
and technicalities of clerical speech and deportment
than was agreeable to many of his parishioners.
His connection with the church and society was
dissolved in Dec, 1879, and be returned to a business
life.
Mr. Swain was succeeded by Rev. William G.
Shoppe, from Bangor Theological Seminary, who was
ordained November 11, 1880. A man of native sim-
plicity and purity of character combined with great
personal dignity, he commanded the love and respect
of his people. His resignation, that he might accept
a call to a church in Xeponset, was reluctantly grant-
ed, November, 1887.
Rev. Charles L. Tomblen, a graduate of Amherst,
and of Andover, !>• at present the pastor in charge.
The first serious endeavor to introduce the services
of Methodism in Peppereil was made during the fall
and winter of 1S5.5, by < )scar F. French, who formed
a "class '"at the North Village School-house. With
occasional assistance from Revs. A. D. Merrill and
^r. M. Paikhurst, his ett'orts were so successful that,
the following spring, liev. li. Adams was sent from
the New F^ngland Conference as the first pastor of a
church, which was organized May, 18Hii.
For several years the Sabbath services were held in
Parker's Hall, .at Nissittisset Squ.ire ; but, in 1873,
through the zealous and untiring labors of Rey. A.
W. Baird, a fund was raised sufficient to build a plain,
convenient chapel in Babbitasset Village. The so-
ciety increased and prospered. In 1885 a commodi-
ous parsonage was built, and three years later the
interior of the chapel w.as tastefully decorated and
refurnished. The succession of ministers since Rev.
G. .\dams has been: 18ii7, Rev. M. R. Barry; 1869,
Rev. Asa Barucs ; 1871, Rev. A. W. Baird ; 1874, Rev.
J. H. Emerson ; 1875, Rev. J. R. Gushing ; 1877, Rev.
Alfred Noon ; 1880, Rev. W. D. Bridge ; 1881, Rev.
Daniel Atkins; 1883, Rev. Phineaa C. Sloper; 1884,
Rev. L. A. Bosworth, who was obliged, on account of
ill health, to relinquish his charge in the fall of the
same year. Mr. Sloper returned and completed the
year, and continued as piistor for the next two years.
In 1887 he was succeeded by Rev. James Mudge,
the present incumbent.
A Catholic mission was established at the Depot
Village in 1871, and a small chapel was erected, in
which services were held fortnightly by the priest
from Ayer. In 1881 the chapel was enlarged and
rebuilt into a new and attractive church. In 1884 a
fine parochial house was built ; and the following
year Rev. Henry J. Madden was appointed pastor of
the ptirish, which was then instituted, and which now
numbers about nine hundred communicants.
CHAPTER XX.
PEPPERELL— ( Continued).
MUNICIPAL AND MILITANT.
On the 12th day of April, 1753, by act of the Gen-
eral Court, Groton West Pariah, upon petition by its
inhabitants, was made a district, and named Pepper-
ell, in honorof Sir William Peppereil, the hero of the
memorable capture of Louisbourg, in 1745. Rev. Mr.
Emerson, who had been a chaplain in that expedi-
tion, probably suggested the name of his old com-
mander as appropriate for the new district. Sir
William acknowledged the compliment by the cus-
tomary present of a bell, which, however, was never
received by those for whom it was intended. It was
cast in England, and bore the inscription of the
donor'.s name and the legend :
** I to the church the living call,
And to the grave I sumnioD aU."
It was shipped to Boston and there stored. Its
future history is chiefly conjectural. One tradition is
that it was destroyed by the British soldiers during
their occupancy of Boston in 1775, some twenty years
after, which is hardly probable. Another story,
equally apocryphal, is that the people of Peppereil,
being earnestly engaged in the great struggle for in-
dependence, neglected to send for the bell, until it
had been confiscated and sold to pay the expenses
of storage, etc. The tale that it was purchased by
the Old South Church in Boston, and placed in their
belfry, has been disproved by actual investigations
made by the late Samuel Chase, the antiquarian of
Peppereil, who made a personal inspection of every
church bell in the city of Boston. Still another ver-
.sion is that a committee of three, afterwards reduced
to one, was chosen by the town to go to Boston and
get the bell ; that he went, sold the bell, put the pro-
ceeds into his pocket, and returning, reported the
bell " non inventus.'' But no record of any such
committee or mention of the bell can be found in the
town records. Mr. Chase, however, believed the last
story to be mainly true ; he even claimed to know that
the bell was sold to a society in New Hampshire, and
that the church on which it was placed was afterwards
burned to the ground ; but " for the credit of all par-
ties," as he used to say, he always positively refused
228
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, xMASSACHUSETTS.
to testify further in the case. At all events, one thing I
is certain, the people of Pepperell never got that bell.
Sir William always spelled his aame with two " r's,'' i
and for many years the name of the town was so
spelled.
As a district the inhabitants were entitled to all the
rights and privileges of a town, except that of sending
a representative to the General Court. They still
continued to be represented by the member from
Groton. In 1786, by act of the Legislature, all dis-
tricts that had been incorporated previous to 1777
were made towns. Pepperell, however, from and after
1775, appears to have sent to the General Court her
representative, who was received and recognized as
such, but by what authority it is not known .; proba-
bly by " right of revolution." Although the town of
Groton, in its earlier history, had suffered severely
from Indian raids, the peopleof Pepperell, for reaaous
already stated, were generally exempt from any serious
attacks. Yet the knowledge of the characteristic
treachery and vindictiveuess of the Indian kept the
settlers in a state of constant anxiety. Mr. Emerson
makes the statement, in one of his discourses, that for
several years after his settlement the men were ac-
customed to carry their guns to meeting. Jlany are
still living who can recall the thrilling tales told by
the grandames of a century ago about Lovewell's fight
and Chamberlain and Paugua ; of Indian cunning
and white man's circumspection, as received from
their grandmothers, whose husbands, fathers or
brothers were the heroes of the story. There wa.s,
however, very little actual warfare within the limits
of the settlement. As far as can be ascertained, only
one white man was killed within the territory of
Groton West Parish. In July, 1724, .folin Ames, who
lived in a garrison-house, on the intervale west of the
Nashua River, about half a mile below Hollinsworth's
mills, was surprised and shot in his door-yard by one
of five Indians, who had been lurking about the place
for several days. His son Jacob avenged the death
of his father by shooting the Indian from the house
with his fathers gun. Midway between the " Munger
corner" — so called — and the river, the spot where
Mr. Ames' house stood is still indicated by the par-
tially filled-in cellar. In 1744 hostilities were re-
newed between England and France, and the Colo-
nists were again involved in a war with the French
and their Indian allies. But Pepperell was no longer
a frontier town, and the theatre of war was removed
farther to the northward. We have no record of the
participation of any of the inhabitanta of the dislrict
in the Old French War except that of Simon Green,
who died in the army in 1748.
In what is called the French and Indian War,
however, which commenced in 1756, Pepperell was
called upon to furnish its quota of troops for the
prosecution of the war, and promptly responded to the
call. Mr. Emerson's previous experience and martial
proclivities led him to take an active interest in mili-
tary matters; to his influence and encouragement,
undoubtedly, was due much of that military and
patriotic spirit which has always characterized the
inhabitants of Pepperell, and has furnished so many
brave oflicers and soldiers from among her citizens.
In the spring of 1758 a company from Pepperell and its
vicinity was enlisted for the French and Indian War,
under the command of Capt. Thomas Lawrence.
Previous to their departure to join the army, Mr.
Emerson preached a .sermon appropriate to the occa-
sion, in which he addressed them thus:
** My /lietuU and hrethrru: 'Tis ft nmtter of rojoiring to in»* that so
many of ynii have engaged in this affair with 80 much cheerfiilnesa,
and proffered your servires for your country ; and some of you, I hope,
have entered upon it Willi heroiuing perifius-ness. If the prepent expe-
'lition should go forward arcirding to our present expectation — which
*iod grBnt it may I — and not be fltigmatized, as some former ones hare
been, hy the name of ;i mock tixpe<litinn, wherehy we hare become the
shame of our friends and the contempt of our enemies, T say, if the
army should proceed, you will, doubtless. b« called into action, and must
expect to jeopardize yur life lu the high place? "f the field. Fix then
this III your minds, tliat danger you must encounter, imagine not thst
you are going out against ,■» weak and etieminiite enemy, who will beat-
frighted aa soon ns they hear of your .npproacti, or be intimidated hv the
very sound of your drums, and run ftwiiy as soon as you charge tbeni,
,in(l you have nothing lo do but fall upon the prey and load youreelvea
with the spoils. Far frnm this ; you are going against an enemy who
are far from being dastardly ; an enemy Hushed with various and repeat-
ed successes. And as you are designed by the present concerted scheme
of operation to enter the very heart of the enemy's country, you mav
well expect that they will not tamely resign their iKissewions into your
hands. 1 say not these things to iiiPci>tirage you, but rather to animate
you to set out with greater rewliltiou and CMiirage. If you alight upon
dangers, this will not make tlieiu heavier when they come, and il may
serve sometliing to lighten tliein when limy come. You are to fight ,
you are enlisted to this t-iid ; you are paid for this purpose. Boldly then
advance intiwtlie heart <if ihe enemy's country. Fear them not ; lot it
never lie said of a New Knglaod soldior— let it never be said of a Pepper-
ell solilier that he was afraiil lo fare liis eneiniee, or that ha ever turned
hia back on thoni and cowardly deserteii the cause of his country."
Ca[)t. Lawrence was not disobedient unto the min-
isterial injunction. He was a man of extraordinary
size and strength ; resolute and daring, and experi-
enced in Indian warfare. Holding in contempt the
valor of the savages, he was accustomed to boast that
he would never run from the Indians, nor be taken
alive by them, which assertion he was destined to
verify. In July, 1758, while out in command of a
scouting-party, at Half-way Brook, near Lake George,
he was suddenly surprised by the Indians, and, with
the exception of a few who fled at the first fire, the
whole party were killed, the gallant captain being the
liist to fall. Hia body, when found, bore witness to the
desperation with which he had fought. The following
men from Pepperell are reported as having lost their
lives in this war: William Blood, John Parker,
.lames Coburn, Jr., John Kemp, Oliver Kemp, Jabez
Kemp, Samuel Fisk, Jr., Capt. Thomas Lawrence,
David Shattuck, Jr., Stephen Kemp, Ephraim Hall,
Nathaniel Green, John Avery and Charles Barron.
Trained in such aschool, and inspired by so zealous
an apostle of liberty as Mr. Emerson, the people of
Pepperell were all prepared to enter with ardor into
the contention between Parliament and Provinces,
which led to the Revolutionary War. They were
PEPPERELL.
220
among the firat to notice and protest against the arbi-
trary acta of the British Ministry, and among the fi rat
to sustain that protest by active and forcible measures.
The district voted, on October 25, 1765, to give
the following instructions to their representative in
the General Court :
" To Abel Lawretice, Esq.: Taking into co aside rat ioa the measures
that have beea adopted by the British ministry, and acts of Parliament
made, which press hard upon our inraluahle rights and privileges, by
the royal charter granted to the Qnt settlera of this province, tbe power
of making laws and levying taxes invested iu the General Assembly. It
ia certain we were not represented in Parliament, neither were the re
monstrances sent by this province admitted there when the late act, call
ed the stamp act, by which an insupportable and 'Ji'.constitutloual tax is
laid on the Colonies, was made. We, tberxfore, tbink it our ludtspen-
anble duty to desire you, by tio means, to join in any measures for coud-
tenaccing or assisting in the execution of the said stamp act. Further-
more, as tbe trade of ttiis province is greatly obstructed, and tbe people
labor under an almost insupportable debt, we expect you will use your
utmost endeavors, in the General Assembly, that the monies of tbe prov-
ince drawn from the individuals, may nut be applied to any othei usesi
under any pretence whatever, than what is evidently intended in the
act for supplying tbe province treasury."
Mr. Emerson preached a Thanksgiving iSermon
January 24, 1766, on the repeal of the Stamp Act,
which was printed for general circulation. The text
was from Ezra 9, the latter clause of the 13th and first
part of the 14th verses — " hadt given us such deliver-
ance as this : Should we again break thy command-
ments," Mr. Emerson spoke of the repeal of the
Stamp Act as one of the great deliverances in Eng-
lish history; he expressed the hope that the oppres-
sion of Great Britain was over; and exhorted the
people to humble and hearty thanksgiving therefor.
A few extracts from his sermon will show the feeling
of the colonists towards the inother-conutry at this
Lime :
" L.et us cultivitte in utic >jwa tiiiudtt luid in the niiiid:^ .>f uiir cliitdreii
All JifTectii'D for our nu'ilivr •onnlry, and u love !in<l letipect fur those who
buvb signalized themselves in our heliall'. There \a such .l cuiinectioti
between (ireat Britain and her AuieriLun culonies, ;iiut such their mu-
tual dependence, tlial tliey innal stitu>) ;uid fall together. We sliouUI
alwavs took upon her friends u^ uur frieuds, ber enemie:^ as our enrniies.
When this deliverance w.ns granted us therH waa nuiversal jny among
our brethren at huiiie, .iniung all who wished well to the true interesrs
and liought the true honor of Uie nation. Let us seek their welfare to
uitr utmost, promoting their interests, r<.-menil>eriii:^ thfin :it the Ihroue
of Grace. Of Greut Britain will we :uty, ' f'tttcr^ ha loUhut thy walU and
prutperily n Ufmt tluj j'lUacea.' "... '"Let u^ hav« reverence for ;ind be
duly subject to lawful authority. Guvyriineat is drawn from God, though
the practical form of it is left to the prudeuce nud discretion of man.''
. . ".Vnarchy Is, in some respects, won*e than tyranny." . . "We have
a kiug who is well worthy of our aftection and obedience. We have the
greate:it assumuce that be will not infringe upon our liberties ; let him
have our most dutiful submission. We have subordinate rulera uud ex-
cellent laws ; let us see to It, that we lead -lulet and peaceful lives in all
godliness and honesty."
This does not bound like rebellion ! But all these
sanguine hopes were doomed to disappointment. It
soon became apparent that in the repeal of the Stamp
Act the British Ministry were actuated by motives of
policy rather than a sen^^e of justice. The colonists
soon found that although the Act had been repealed
the spirit which instigated it still survived to be
manifested in more odious forms of taxation. Re-
peated acts of oppression at length convinced both
pastor and people that their expressions of loyalty to
the ** mother-country " were of no avail, and that
obedience to the injunction " Honor the King" was
no longer a Christian duty.
In 1772 the following article waa inserted in a war-
rant for a district meeting:
" To see if the district are so generally inspired with true patriotic
I spirit, as to propose any method in order to retrieve and recover the con-
j atitutional liberties that have been extorted from as, contrary to the
I royal charter, and in order to prevent any further unjust taxes, ton*
uage, poundage and the like, and act thereon as shall be thought proper,
I iiud most conducive to the happiness of all true sons of liberty, and to
American subjects in general."
At a district meeting held January 15, 1773, a com-
mittee of nine men waa chosen " to consider what ia
proper for this district to do, at thia alarming time,
respecting the encroachments that have been made
upon our civil privilege," Thia committee reported
the following communication to the Committee of Cor-
respondence, and also a letter of instructions to their
representative, both of which follow;
" T« the CommitUe of Correspondence, Boston :
"Gentlemen, — You will be so good as to iuform the town of Boston
that we have received their kind letter, together with the pamphlet set-
ting forth uur liberties as men, as Cbristiaoa, as subjectB, with the in-
fringements which have l>een mode upon them. Desire them to accept our
hearty acknowledgements for their vigilance over our common interests,
and remitting to us so particular accounts of the Innovations made upuu
our charter privileges. Assure them that we are greatly alarmed at the
large strides which have been made by the enemiefl of our excellent
i-onstitutiou towards enslaving a people. We of this place ore unaiii-
uious ; no less than one hundred have signed a request to the selectmen
to cull a meeting, though we count hut one hundred and sixty familie« ;
;ind when met the fullest meeting that was ever known ou any occasion,
uud not a disseutiug vote or voice. We feel for ourselves, we feel for
"ur posterity, we feel for uur brethren through the contlueiit. We
tremltle at the thought of slavery, eithar civil or ecclesiastical, and aro
fully cteii.<iible of the near connection there is between civil uud religious
liberty. If we lose the former the latter will not remain ; our reseiit-
iiieiit fuot to tay our indignation) rises agaiuet them, let them he in
whatsoever relation they may, who would dare invade uur natural or
odudtitntional rights. Tell our brethren at Boston, that we entirely
Af^ree with them in their sentiments transmitted to us, both with respect
lo what are our rights, and tho«e inlringeuients which have been made
upon them ; and stand ready to co-o|)trute with them in all measures
warranted by them and the constitution, and the law of nature, for the
recovery of those privileges which have been unreasonably and iiacon-
stitutionally wrested from us, aud for the esiahlishment and security of
those we do enjoy. OtTering up our unfeigned desires to the all-wise
I tjod that he would, in this day of darkness, be a lamp to our feet, a light
I to our path and graciously direct to those measures which may be effect*
{ uai for this purpose."
I " To JuntM Preacott, reprKaenlalivt uf the town of Groton, and the dUtricts
j of Pepperelland Shirlep :
\ "Sia, — We, his majesty's most loyal and diitifnl subjects, the free-
j holders and other inhabitants of the district of Pepperell, legally aseem-
I bled, July 18, 1773, being ever ready to give due oaaistaDca and encour-
I agement to govei*iiment in a ctfnstitutioual way, at the same time great-
ly concerned that the rights aud privileges of British subjects (our birth-
right and the richest inheritance left us by our fathers) may be securely
i enjoyed by us and transmitted entire t'* our posterity, cannot but be
j greatly affected at the frequent innovations which haTe been made upon
our happy constitution ; tbe particular? of the encroachments made ou
our liberties we shall not at this time enumerate, but referring you to a
pamphlet sent from Boston to every town io the prorloce, which we
think very justly states our rights, and the encroachments made upon
them ; we, therefore, who are no small part of your constituents, du
desire and expect that yon exert yourself in the Great and General Aa-
aembly to tbe utmost of your ability, for the regaining of such privi-
leges as have been unjustly wrested from us, and establishing those we
do enjoy. We trust that you will ever be watcliful, that you be not
230
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
nduced hy any means to consent to any vota or votea, in the Great and
General Assembly, that may have a tendency to weaken oar constita-
tional rigbta and privileges, or ever in a like case to be made a prece-
dent of, to the disadvantage of us and oor posterity. Presenting the
above instmctlons to your wise conaideration, we wish that yon and all
true friends to the English constitution may be under the divioe direc-
tion, that you may be led into the paths of truth, and never be driven
aside from seeking the welfare of yoorcoantry.'*
The district unanimoasly accepted this report and
chose a committee to transmit the communications to
the parties to whom they were addressed.
** In February, 1773, the district voted to add two
casks of powder, and lead answerable, to their stock
of ammunition."
June 27, 1774, the district passed the following
preamble and resolutions, and voted to send a copy
of the same to Boston :
"Under a deep sense of the distressing and very extraordinary cir-
cuDistances we of this land are unhappily brought into, by — as we think —
abad ministry in our parent country, by the innovations already made In
our civil liberties, and what seems to be further threatened, we are with
concern of opinion, that it behooves us and all this province, and all
North America, to set up a general correspondence and to cultivate har-
mony, that there may be a united voice with resolution throughout this
land, that we may make a proper atand, and lift up our united prayers,
to Almighty God to pity us, and vouchsafe to us bis fp^cious protection,
iLuU direct us into such measures as he will please to prosper and succeed
for our deliverance from the great difficulties and embarnissments we
are under, and secure and save us from impending ruin, with which we
are farther threatened by BOine in power, who carry on their wicked
de&igns aa if by magic art assisted. We seriously recommend to all
amongst us and the whole of North America to lay aside all contentions,
broils, and even small quarrels, and to omit the practice of everything
that tends to disunite us as brethren, as neighbors, as countrymen, that
are interested in one and the same cause, imd must stand or fall togeth-
f r. Therefore, resolved,
** I. As the opinion of this district that we have a just and lawful right
to meet together when and so often as we shall have occasion, to culti-
vate harmony and to transact our town aflajn; and that we will bold,
une^ and Improve that privilege, and will never give it up, or quit the
usual practice of meeting, on any mandate whatever.
" 2. That neither Lord North, nor any other British minister or penon
whatever, bath any right to trample America under his feet, nor to
invade its privileges, either civil or religious.
"3. We are resolved to do all iu our power, by abstinence or any
other lawful and proper way, to secure and preserve our charter rights
and privileges, and that we will not tamely submit to the yoke of bond-
age.
"4. That we will not have any hand in the consumption of teas, West
India or British good?, wares or merchandise, imported after the last
day of August nuxt, nor deal with any person who shall import aach
goods, wares or merchandise, contrary to the general sense and agree-
ment of the inhabitants uf this much abused province.
"5. W« return our hearty thanks to our patriotic friends at Boston,
for their firmness, care and vigilance the time past, for the good and
safety of this country. And we desire you not to give over now, aU
though your circumstauces are very discouraging. We sympathize with
you in this day of darkness, and bad situation of affairs, and will, when
need be, attest our ability, administer our substance, and whatever may
be beneficial to the cause, and are determined to exert onreelvea in the
cause that so much concerns us. And we hope and pny that the Lord
of Hosts will direct us, and you, and all the colonies into a right way,
that His blessing may be upon our unittKl endeavors, and may success,
with peace and harmony, crown the whole to the glory of God and the
tranquility uf the American colonies."
The following extract from the instructions given
to their representatives in 1775 shows that the inhab-
itants of Pepperell had already, more than a year be-
fore the Declaration of Independence was formulated,
arrived at the conclusion that their only hope was in
a complete separation from the British Government :
"We therefore instruct you, sir, that you, in uur name and behalf,
signify to the Great and General Court, of which you are a member,
that our opinion is, that independence is the only alternative for the
safety of this oppressed land, and that if the honorable Congress should
think it best for the safety of the United Colonies to declare them inde-
pendent of Great Britain, we acquiesce heart and hand, and are deter-
mined, at the risk of life and treasure, to support the measure."
These expressions of independence were not mere
words. Active preparations had for some time been
in progress to enforce their principles by actual resist-
ance; and the leader was already in the field,
William Prescott was born in Groton, February 20,
1726 ; but at the age of twenty years he removed to
the West Parish, and " took up'* a farm lying partly
in the parish and partly in the "Groton Gore," so-
called. The whole farm afterwards became a part of
Pepperell. He inherited martial proclivities. His
great-grandfather, who emigrated from England, was
said to have served under Cromwell ; his grandfather
was captain of militia at the time of the Indian dep-
redations ; and his father had been colonel of the
militia of Middlesex and Worcester Counties. He
himself had been a lieutenant of the provincial
troops that were sent, in 1775, to remove the neutral
French from Nova Scotia; and on his return from
that expedition had been promoted to a captaincy-
In 1768 he was chosen a commitiee to represent Pep-
perell in the General Committee of Safety, composed
of members from the several towns in the Province.
He was sent a delegate to the Provincial Congress at
Salem ; and was in 1774 appointed colonel of a regi-
ment of "minute-men " enrolled in Pepperell, Groton
and Hollis. The settlers of '* West Dunstable '* were
almost all from the neighboring town of the Massa-
chusetts Province. In fact, until the establishment
of the boundary' line in ITol, they had considered
themselves citizens of that Province, and in their
business relations and social sympatliies they were
still inclined in that direction. Moreover, Colonel
Prescott was a near neighbor and friend of Captain
Dow, Lieutenant Goss and many others of the Hollis
company ; and his brother-in-law, Colonel John
Hale, was one of the leading patriots of Hollis. These
were, probably, the reasons that induced the Hollis
company to join Colonel Prescott's regiment, rather
than one in their own StAte.
The muster-roll of the Pepperell company was:
Captain John Nutting, Firet Lieutenant Nathaniel Lakin, Second
Lieut. John Mosher, Sefgts. Kdmund Baucroft, Silas Pierce, Josiab
Newell, Abijah Parker, Corps. James Mosher, Ebenezer Nutting, John
Boynton, Peter Perbam, Drummer Robinson Lakin, Privates Jeremiah
Shattuck, John Chamberlain, George Abbott, Abraham Boynton,
George Attridge, Moses Blood, Joseph Chamberlain, Jonathan Blood,
Nathan Fisk, Simon Green, William Green, Daniel Moaher, Joehua
Lawrence, Francis Lee, John Adams, Tho*. Lawrence, Sam* Nutting,
Abel Parker, Jonas Shattuck, Michael Sawtell, Sam' Seward, Jnsiah
Seward, Moses Shattock, Philip Shattuck, Reuben Shattuck, Joseph
Shattuck, Darid Shattuck, Joeiah Shattuck, Eleazer Whipple, Robert
Conant, Joseph Chambly, Olirer Shattuck, Jonas Warren, Joseph Tar-
bell, James Tarbell, Isaac Williams, Joseph Woods, Daniel Shattuck,
Joseph ^Vhitney, Tho^ Wetherbee, Reuben Spaulding, Abijah Shattuck,
Sampson Woods, Nathaniel Parker, William Warren, Edmund Pierce,
Wainwright FIsk, John Shattuck, Jeremiah Shattuck, Jr., Ebenezer
Laughton."
PEPPERELL.
231
la addition to these there were in Captain Asa
Lawrence's company in Grotou the following soldiers
enrolled from Pepperell :
"Firet Lieut, Tho' Spauldiog ; Sergtd., Thoa. dpauMiDg, Samuel Gilson ;
Corpomla, Joseph Sbedd, JoDatbao Steveoflf Samuel Farley : Privates,
JoDatban Boyden, Levi Woods, David Avery, Joaepb Adams, James
Bowers, Josepb Jewett. Samuel Green, Simon Green, BeDjamiD Jewett,
JuQatbau Lewis, Samuel Lovejoy, Simon Lakin, Eleazar Parker,
Eleazar Spanldiug, David Wetberbee, Tho* Lawrence (3d.), Benjamin
Wood, William Spaulding, Pbiaeas Douglass, Aaron Scott, James Mc-
Cone.'*
About nine o'clock on the morning of the memora-
ble April 19, 1775, a messenger from Concord arrived
in Pepperell with the thrilling tidings of the skirmish
at Lexington, and the advance of the British regulars
towards Concord. Colonel Prescott immediately gave
orders to the Mollis and Pepperell companies to
march to Groton and there join the other companies
of the regiment. These minute-men, well organized
and ready for action, promptly responded to the sum-
mons. So well prepared were they for such an emer-
gency and so expeditious in their rally, that they ar-
rived at the Groton rendezvous, five miles distant,
before the companies there were ready to march ; and
after a halt of a few minutes, impatient at the delay,
they marched on in advance of the Groton companies.
The following incidents will show how promptly
the minute-men obeyed the call to arms :
Edmund Bancroft, a sergeant in Capt. Nutting's
company, was living with his father, on Bancroft
.Street, but had just started for Maine when the mes-
senger arrived to notify him. Mr. Bancroft's father
said : " Perhaps he is not out of hearing yet," and,
running out in the tield, and mounting a high rock he
called to his son, who heard, i-eturned to the house,
took his gun and hastened towards Concord.
.Another of Oapt. Nutting's company, Abel Parker,
— afterwards judge of Probate for Cheshire County,
N. H., .lud father of the late Chief Justice .foel
Parker — was plowing on his farm nearly three miles
distant, but as soon ah he heard the alarm, he left the
plow in the furrow, and, without stopping to uuyoke
his oxen, ran to the house and seizing his coat in one
hand and his gun in the other, started on a run and
did not stop until he overtook his comrades, near the
"Ridges," some three miles below Groton.
Col. Prescott hastened on with his regiment to
Concord, but being unable to arrive there in time to
take any part in the coudict of that day, he followed
the retreat of the " regulars " to Cambridge, and made
that place his headquarters.
The women of those days were not a whit inferior
to the men in patriotism and courage, nor in a manly
exhibition of heroism. After the departure of the
minute-men, the women in the vicinity of the bridge
over the Nashua River — now the covered bridge —
collected, dressed in their absent husband's clothes,
and armed with the most erfective weapons they
could tind. Having chosen Mrs. David Wright their
commander, they patrolled the road, firmly deter-
mined that no enemy to freedom should pass that
bridge, — and to good purpose, too, for they soon had
the satisfaction of arresting Capt. Leonard Whiting,
of Hollis, a noted Tory, and the bearer of despatches
from Canada to Boston. He was compelled to dis-
mount and submit to a search. The treasonable cor-
respondence, which was found in his boot, was for-
warded to the Committee of Safety, and he was de-
tained aa prisoner, and sent to Oliver Prescott, Esq.,
a brother of Col. Prescott. Mrs. Wright's maiden
name was Prudence Cumings. She was born in Hollis,
November 26, 1740 ; was married to David Wright,
of Pepperell, December 28, 1761, and by him had
eleven children, two of whom she named Liberty.
One of her brothers was in Capt. Dow's company, but
two other brothers were Tories. Capt. Leonard Whit-
ing was born and had been reared in the same neigh-
borhood with Prudence Cumings. He knew her
well, and, tradition says, that when he recognized her
voice through her disguise at the bridge, he remarked
that it was of no use to resist, and surrendered uncon-
ditionally. In November, 1889, a memorial stone of
polished granite was erected near this bridge by a
great-great-granddaughter of Prudence Wright — Mrs.
H. A. Pevear, of Lynn, Mass. — to commemorate the
heroism of her ancestress. At the same time, through
the efforts, principally, of Mrs. Dr. William F. Heald
and Mr. Frank W. Ames, assisted by several others
of the members of a magazine club, two simil.ar stones
were erected — one at " Munger's Corner," to mark the
ipot where Mr^Amea was killed by the Indian (an
event previously related), and the other at the junc-
tion of Townsend and Bancroft Streets, where the
British officers (paroled prisoners of war) who were
(juartered in Pepperell and Townsend, after the sur-
render of Burgoyne, in 1777, were allowed to meet
and sympathize with each other.
The expense of these monumental stones was de-
frayed by the proceeds of an art loan exhibit and
subscriptions from Pepperell people, several of whom
were non-residents.
Soon after his arrival at Cambridge, Col. Prescott
with most of his men enlisted for eight months, it
being the prevalent opinion that by that time the war
would be over. In the latter part of May, following, he
received from the Provincial Congress a commission
as colonel in the army. His regiment of ten com-
panies numbered about four hundred and twenty-five
men. His staff officers were : Lieut. Col., John Rob-
inson, of Westford ; Major, Henry Woods, and Adjt.,
William Green, of Pepperell.
On the 16th day of June, 1775, the commander
of the army, in accordance with the recommenda-
j tion of the Committee of Safety, took measures to
fortify Bunker Hill. Orders were issued for " Frye's,
Bridge's and William Prescott's regiments to parade
this evening at six o'clock, with all the intrenching
tools in this encampment." They were also ordered
to fiirnish themselves with packs, blankets and rations
232
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
for twenty-four hours. A detachment of about two
hundred Connecticut troops, and Capt. Samuel Grid-
ley's company of artillery, of forty-nine men and
two field-pieces, was also ordered to parade. Col.
Prescott was placed in command of this force, with
written orders from Gen. Ward " to proceed that
night to Bunker Hill, build fortifications to be planned
by Col. Richard Gridley, chief engineer, and defend
them until he should be relieved — the order not to be
communicated until the detachment had passed
Charlestown Neck." The detachment, numbering
about tweWe hundred men, paraded as ordered on
Cambridge Common ; and after listening to a prayer
by President Langdon, of Harvard College, com-
menced under cover of night its silent and mysterious
march. Col. Prescott, wearing a simple uniform dress,
with blue coat and three-cornered hat, led the troops
over the " Neck," and then, having ordered a halt,
made known the object of the expedition. A long
consultation followed in regard to the place to be fort-
ified, and it was finally determined to erect a redoubt
at the southerly end of the Bunker Hill range, on the
eminence locally known at that time as Breed's Hill.
" When the detachment reached Breed's Hill the
packs were thrown off, the guus were stacked. Col.
Gridley marked out the plan of a fortification, tools
were distributed, and about twelve o'clock the men
began to work." Col. Prescott immediately detailed
Capt. Maxwell with several of his men to patrol the
shore and watch the motions of the enemy during the
night. The Boston shore opposite was lined with Brit-
ish sentinels. On either side in the waters around them
were moored several men of war, and floating batteries,
all within gunshot. "This proximity to an enemy re-
quired great caution, and a thousand men, accustomed
to handling the spade, worked with great diligence
and silence on the intrenchments, while the cry of
'All's well,' heard at intervals through the night by
the patrol, gave assurance that they were not discov-
ered. Col. Prescott, apprehensive of an attack before
the works were in such a condition as to cover the
men, went down twice to the margin of the river with
Major Brooks to reconnoitre, and was delighted to
hear the watch on board the ships drowsily repeat the
usual cry." " He was often heard to say, after the
battle, that his great anxiety that night was to have a
screen raised, however slight, for his men before they
were attacked, which he expected would be early in
the morning, as he knew it would be difficult, if not
quite impossible, to make raw troops, however full of
patriotism, to stand in an open field against artillery
and well-armed and well-disci plined soldiers. He
therefore strenuously urged on the work, and even
subaltern and private labored with spade and pickaxei
without intermission, through the night, and until
they resumed their muskets, near the middle of the
day. Never were men in worse condition for action,
exhausted by watching, fatigue, and hunger, — and
never did old soldiers behave better."
The intrenchments had been raised about six feet
in height before they were discovered at early dawn
the next morning. A heavy cannonade from the
ships and Copp's Hill then began, but the Americans,
protected by their works, were not injured, and kept
steadily at work. At length a private was killed by
a cannon-shot, and some of the men began to exhibit
signs of fear.
To reassure them and to inspire confidence, Colonel
Prescott mounted the parapet and walked leisurely
around it, inspecting the works, giving directions to
the officers and encouraging the men by approbation
or amusing them with humor. This had the effect
that was intended. "The tall, commanding form of
Prescott was observed by General Gage as he was re-
connoitering the Americans throlJgh his glass, who
inquired of Councilor Willard (a brotberin-Iaw of
Colonel Prescott), near him, who the person was who
appeared to command? Willard recognized his bro-
ther-in-law. 'Will he fight?' again inquired Gage.
' Yes, sir ; he is an old soldier, and will fight as long
as a drop of blood remains in his veins.' "
The first attack of the British soldiers was made
about three o'clock and was easily repulsed. Of the
second attack. Judge Prescott, the colonel's son, thus
writes: "The discharge was simultaneous the whole
length of the line, and though more destructive, as
Colonel Prescott thought, than on the former assault,,
the enemy stood the first shock, and continued to ad-
vance and fire with great spirit ; but before reaching
the redoubt the continuous, well-directed fire of the
Americana compelled them to give way, and they
retreated a second time, in greater disorder than be-
fore. . . . Colonel Prescott spoke of it as a contin-
ued stream of fire from his whole line from the first
discharge until the retreat."
By much exertion the British officers rallied their
men for a third attack, which was successful. The
ammunition of the Americans was spent. They
fought desperately with their bayonets and the butts
of their guns, but were compelled to retreat. " The
British had entered the redoubt, and were advancing,
when Colonel Prescott ordered a retreat. He was
among the last, and before leaving it was surrounded
by the enemy who had entered, and had several passes
with the bayonet made at his body, which he parried
with his sword— of the use of which he had some
knowledge." He received several thrusts through
his garments, but he was not wounded. He was
always confident that he could have held the fortifi-
cations if he had been supplied with sufficient ammu-
nition. On his return to Cambridge he immediately
reported to General Ward, commander-in-chief, the
result of the battle, assured him that the confidence of
the British would not be increased thereby, and of-
fered to retake the hill that night or perish in the
attempt, if three regiments, of fifteen hundred men,
well-equipped with ammunition and bayonets, were
put under his command. " He had not yet done
PEPPERELL.
233
enough to satisfy himself, though he had done
enough to satisfy his country. He had not, indeed,
secured final victory, but he had secured a glorious
immortality."
Of the Pepperell soldiers who fought in this battle,
eight were killed and eight were wounded :
Killed — Jeremiah Shattuck, aged thirty; Nathaniel
Parker, thirty-three; Wm. Warren, twenty ; Wain-
wright Fisk, twenty-four; Ebenezer Laughton,
twenty-seven; Joseph Spaulding, thirty-seven; Benj.
Wood, twenty ; Edmund Pierce, forty-four.
Wounded — Jonathan Stevens, Moses Blood, Simon
Green, Adjt. Wm. Green, John Adams, Thos. Law-
rence (3d), Abel Parker, Wm. Spaulding.
The following letter to John Adams, at that time a
delegate to the Continental Congress, contains Col.
Prescott's own account of the battle :
" Camp at CAMBaiDGE, Aug. 25, 1775.
" Sir.-— I have received a line from my brother, which loformB me of
your desire of a ptirticular acconot of the actioD at Charlestown. It is
not in my power, at present, to i^re so miDiite an accoiiot as I should
choose, l>eing ordered to decamp and march to another station,
■' On the 16 June, in the evening, I received orders to march to Breed's
Hill, in rharlestuwn, with a party of about one thousand men, consist-
ing of three liuodred of my own regiment, Colonel Bridge and Lleat.
Bricket, with a detachment of theirs, and two hundred Connecticut
forces, couimaudeU by Captain Knowlton. We arrived at the spot, the
lines Mere drawn by llie engineer, and we began the intrenchment about
twelve o'clock; and plying the work with all possible espedition till
just before sun-rising, when the enemy began a very heavy cannonad-
ing and bombardment, la the interim the engineer forw)ok me. Hav-
ing thrown up a small reiloubt, found it necessary to draw a line about
twenty rods in length from the fort, northerly, under a very warm fire
from the enemy's artillery.
'* .\bout this time, the above field orflcers being indisposed, coald
render me but little service, and the most of the men under their com-
mand ileserted the party. The enemy couliniiing an incessant fire with
their artillery, about two o'clock in the afternoon, on the iieventeenth,
the euemy began to land a northeasterly point from the fort, and 1
ordered the train, with two field-pieces, to go and oppuse them, and the
Connecticut forces to support theui ; but the train luurched a different
ciiiirse, and 1 believe those sent to their support followed, 1 suppose, to
Bunker's Hill.
■' .Vuother party of the enemy landed and fired the town. There was
a party of Banip^hire, in conjunction with some other forces, lined a
fence at the distance of three-score rods back of the fort, partly to the
north.
** .Vboul an hour after the enemy landed they began to march to the
attack in three columns. 1 commanded my Lieut.-Col. Robinson and
Major Woods, each with a detachment, to dank the enemy, who, I have
reaaon to think, behaved with prudence and courage. 1 was now left
with perhaps one hundred and fifty men in the Tort. The enemy ad-
vanced and fired very hotly ou the fort, and meeting with a warm
reception, there was a very smart firiug on both sides. After a con-
siderable time, finding our ammunition was almost spent, I commanded a
cessation till the enemy advanced within thirty yards, when we gave
them such a hot fire that they were obliged to retire nearly one hundred
and fifty yards before they could rally and come again to the attack.
Our ammunition being nearly exhausted, could keep up only a scatter-
ing fire. The euemy t>eing numerous, surrounded our little fort, began
to mount our lines, and enter the fort with their bayonets. We were
obliged to retreat through them, while they kept up as hot a fire as it
was possible for them to make. We having very few bayonela, could
make no resistance. We kept the fort about one hour and twenty
minutefl after the attack with small arms. This is nearly the state of
facts, though imperfect and too general, which, if any ways satisfactory
to you, willatford pleasure to your most obedient, huuible servant,
" William Prescott.
** To the Hon. John .Vdams, Esq."
Col. Prescott remained with the army in the vicin-
ity of Cambridge, during the "siege of Boston."
After its termination by the evacuation of the British
in March, 1776, he was stationed at Governor's Island,
New York, until after the battle of Long Island ; and
when the American forces were obliged to retreat
from New York City, he withdrew his regiment so
skillfully and successfully as to call forth the public
commendation of Gren. Washington. In the fall of
1777 he, with several of his old oflScers, went aa a
volunteer to oppose the onward march of Burgoyne,
and was present to witness the surrender of that for-
midable but discomfited army, which, according to the
British program, was destined to insulate New Eng-
land from the other Colonies, and thus effectually
crush the rebellion.
This was Col. Prescott's last military service, if we
except his hastening to Concord, at the time of Shays'
Insurrection, to assist in protecting the courts of jus-
tice and in preserving law and order. He returned
to his farm in Pepperell, honored by his fellow-citi-
zens, whom he served in the various municipal oflSces
of town clerk, selectman, magistrate, and also as rep-
resentative to the General Court for three years. He
died October 13, 1795, at the age of sixty-nine years,
and was buried with appropriate military honors.
In person he was of tall and commanding stature,
large and muscular frame, well marked and intellec-
tual features, with brown hair and blue eyes. He
was somewhat bald on the top of his head, and wore
a tie-wig. He had only a limited education, but he
was self-taught, and was very fond of reading, espe-
cially history. He was never in a hurry, never unduly
excited, but always cool and self-possessed in times
of commotion and danger. In deportment he was
plain and courteous ; in disposition, kind and benevo-
lent— liberal to a fault, and always ready to assist
others even to his own disadvantage.
Mrs. Abigail (Hale) Prescott, of Sutton, was an ex-
ceedingly amiable, prudent and estimable woman.
Her rare combination of the virtues of thrift without
selfishness, and frugality without parsimony, was a
fortunate supplement to the easy liberality of her
husband.
In the old burying ground at Pepperell, within the
shadow of the old church, stands a plain tomb, built
of four upright granite slabs, forming a square in-
closure about three feet high, upon the top of which
rest two horizontal tablets of slate-stone bearing the
following inscriptions :
[»
memory of
Mea. .VBiOAJL Prescott,
widow of the late
Cot.. WlLIOAM Prkscott,
who died
Oct. 19,A.D. 1821,
St. 89.
This stone is erected
in memory of
Coll. William Prescott,
of PeppereiZ,
who died CD the 13^ day
of October, Anno Domini 1795,
in the seventieth year
of his age.
Simple and unpretentious as it is, the Pepperell
farmer who commanded the yeomanry of Middlesex
at the battle of Bunker Hill needs no costlier or more
imposing mausoleum. His epitaph might well be,
234
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
" Kxegi uiuuiiuuutum u;i'e pereuuiu*,"
In addition to the soldiers that were in Col. Pres-
cott's regiment, the following Pepperell men served
in the Continental Army for different terms of service,
varying from three months to seven years ; Daniel
Hobart, killed at the battle of White Plains in 1776 ;
James Locke, Dennis Organ, Joseph Plummer, John
Whipple, Andrew Tufts, Eleazar Gilson, Nathaniel
Sartell, Isaac Williams, Noah Wright, Samuel Moody
Emerson, Shubael Conant, Jonathan Barron, Ed-
mund Wright, Jacob Nutting, Jonathan Bancroft,
David Tarbeil and Dudley B. Kemp.
On the muster-roll for Middlesex County, June,
1777, the following persons from Pepperell were re-
turned as enrolled in Col. Jackson's battalion, Capt.
Benj. Brown's company, viz. :
James McConner, JoDaa Green, Ebenezer Shattuck, Abrabani Shat-
tuck, Daoie) Shattnck, BeojamiD Green. Sampson Wooda, William Scott,
John GilBon, Thomas Lawrence, William Lakin, John Shattuck (3d),
Lemuel Parker.
They served a campaign in Rhode Island.
The following were out on the brigantine "Hague,"
under command of Commodore Manley :
Edmund Blood, John Hosley, Samuel Wright, Peter Stevens, Johc
Stevens, Joel Shattuck, Peter Powers, Luke Day, John Barnard, Oliver
Tarbeil, Joseph Emers(>n, il. Lovejoy, Theodore Lovejoy, Joseph Love-
joy, Blchard Holdeo, Daniel Holden, Oliver Holden, Ezekiel Gowen,
David Pratt, David Lewis, David Shedd.
Few, if any, towns of its size furnished so many
men for the war as Pepperell. It was one of the first
places in which a " liberty-pole was erected," and
there was not a single Tory within its limits. As we
have already seen, it was dangerous for one to at-
tempt even to pass through it.
The patriotic and military spirit in the town did
not cease with the war. The names of Prescott
and Bunker Hill became synonyms of " liberty and
independence." The 17th of June was a " red-letter"
day, whose anniversary quite overshadowed that of the
"Fourth of July." The Revolutionary survivors, es-
pecially those that had been wounded at Bunker
Hill, were looked upon aa " heroes in history," and
regarded with feelings akin to veneration. An active
interest in military matters was kept up, and the
title of " Captain " became an honor to be coveted.
A volunteer militia company was organi;<ed about
the year 1820 under the name of the " Prescott
Guards." From this company the following captains
were promoted to field officers in the " Old Sixth "
Regiment: Col. William Buttrick, Gen. Geo. Green,
Maj. Jos. G. Heald, Maj. Luther S. Bancroft, Col.
Samuel P. Shattuck, Maj. Geo. T. Bancroft, Col. Al-
den Lawrence, Maj. Edmund A. Parker and Col.
E. F. Jones.
On the 15th of April, 1861, Col. Jones received the
following order :
CoiaioRVKALTn or Massachusetts, Adj. Gcnesal's OmcE,
"Boston, April 15,1861.
**CoL. JoNRS, StK : — I am directed by hia excsllency, the Commander-
iD-Chief, to order yon to muster your regiment on Boston Common
forthwith, iu cumpliHuue witli a rcquisiliuu muijc by the Preaideut ul
the United State& The troops are to go to Washington. By order of
hia Excellency, the Commander-in-Chief.
" Wm. Schouleb,
" Adj. General."
Although the regiment wa.s scattered over thirty
towns, yet in a few hours seven hundred men, twen-
ty-two of whom were from Pepperell, were present in
Boston ready for duty. After an exchange of their
old guns for new rifles. Governor Andrew presented
the regimental colors to Col. Jones with these words :
"Soldiers, summoned suddenly with but a moment for prepanition
we have done all that lay in the power of men to do — all that rested
in the power of your State Government to Jo — to prepare the citizen
soldiers of Massachusetts for (his service. We shall fnllow you with
our benedictious, our benefactiona and pravera. Those whom yuu
leave behind you we shall cherish in our heart of hearts. Yuu
carry with you our utmost faith and confidence. We know that
you never will return until you can bring the ossuraucea that the
utmost duty has been performed which brave and patriotic men ciin
accomplish. This Flag, sir, take aud hear with you. It will be an erii-
blem on which all eyes will rest, reminding you always of that which
you are bound to hold moat dear."
In receiving the flag Colonel Jones thus replied :
" Vour Excellency has given me this Flag, which is the emblem of :ill
that stands before you. It represents my whole comniaud ; and eo help
me God, 1 will never disgrace it."
The record of the "Old Sixth," its intrepid march
through Baltimore on the twice memorable 19th of
April, the great service it rendered the government
at a most critical period, have all become a thrilling
part of the history of the country.
Congress pa-ssed the following vote of thanks,
which was engrossed on parchment and sent to Col.
Jones :
I " Thirty.seventh Congress of the United States, at the first aesiion iu
' the House of Representatives, July J2, 18G1. Unuhtd, that the thanks
I of this house are due, iind are hereby tendered, to the Sixth Kegimeut
of the Slassacbusetts Volunteers for the alacrity with which they le-
I sponded to the call uf the President, and the patriotism and bnivery
I which they displayed on the 19th of .Vpril last, in ughting their way
through the city of Baltimore on their march to the defence of the
Federal Capital.
" Galusha a. Grow,
*' Speaker uf the House of HepreaetitalUet.
" AUett:
'* Em. Ethehdioe, Clerk.'*
Pepperell furnished about one hundred and fifty
soldiers for the War of the Rebellion. The regiments
in which they enlisted were the Sixth, Thirteenth,
Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Twentieth, Twenty-sixth, Thir-
ty-second, Thirty-third, Thirth-sixth, Thirty-ninth,
Forty-fourth, Forty-seventh and Fifty-third Massa-
chusetts Infantry ; Sixth New Hampshire Infantry ;
Eighth New Hampshire Cavalry ; Second Massachu-
setts Cavalry ; First New Jersey Band ; Lowell
Brigade Band ; and the band of the Third Brigade,
Third Division, Twenty-fourth Army Corps.
The following soldiers lost their lives by reason ot
the war :
Marvin Adams died of chronic diarrhcea aud fever at New Orleaua,
July 9, 1863, aged forty-three.
Aaron Carter, killed in battle at Cedar Creek, Va., Oct. 19, 13G4, aged
forty-two.
PEPPERELL.
235
Thomaa U. Bailey ditni of meaalet) at HarriaOD'a Laudiog, Va. Uia
body was broaght home and buried with appropriate aervicea.
Col^. Chaa. H. Baicom died of typhoid fever at Suffolk, Va., aged
tweoty one. Ilia remaioa were alao brought to Pepperell for inter-
ment.
Henry G. W. Clark died of wounda received on picket duty in front of
Peteraburg, Va., July 7, 1864, aged eighteen years.
Charles Durant died in Confederate hospital at Peteraburg, Va., Feb.
15, 1864, aged thirty-seven. He was wounded at the second battle of
Hatcher's Run and taken priaoner. His death waa caused by hemor-
rhage resulting from amputation of the leg.
Henry W. Durant died of diseaae contracted in the army, November 4,
1867.
Jamea Fitzgerald died of diaeaae contracted in the army, August 26,
1866, aged thirty seven yearv.
Maurice Flaberty died of disease contracted in the army June 18,
1867.
Lieut. Th09. Hoeley, killed in battle of Port Hudaon, June 14, 1863,
aged twenty-four He was distinguished for bis activity and bravery.
Uia body, when found after the battle, was pierced with eleven bullet-
holes.
Cyrus H. Gray died of diaeaae contracted in the army January 14,
1368, aged fifty.
Eben F. Lawrence died of wounds and diphtheria at Aquia Creek, Va.,
June 11, 18Ci3, aged twenty .years.
John F. Miller died of disease contracted in the army September 12,
1568, aged twenty-four years.
Benj. .Vuguatus Williams was discharged from the service for dfeablUty
at \ew Orleans, Xoveiuber 2.i, 1862. He died on board the United States
ship " Fenton " when f'>ur daya out on hia homeward passage, and was
buried at sea. He was thirty.peven yeara of age.
Robert F. Webb waa born in Stroudwater, Gloucestershire County
Englaud, but cauie to .Vuierica when a youth. He enlisted in the Sixth
Regiment, and, at the expiration of terra of service, re-enlisted in the
Thirty-sixth Regiment ; received a 6nt sergeant's coromisaion March
IT, 1863, and joined ilen. Burnaide's Ninth Corps, .\fter the battles of
Fredericksburg and Peach Orchard, he was promoted to second lieuten-
ant. He was killed in battle at Poplar Grove, uear Peteraburg, Va., Sep-
tember 30, li61, and was huned in the Ninth Corps Cemetery, in front
uf Petersburg. .\u uthcer of his regiment saya of him: "Lieut. Webb
waa a noble and brave ollicei, and fought bravely to the last for bis
adopted cuuntry."
Thomas .\. Parker was biirn in Pepperell, Xov. -.^T, 1834. Soon after
becoming of age he went to Boi^ton, and obtained the situation of gate-
keeper. South Boston Honst? of Correction. By his fidelity and ability be
gained the confidence "f the othcers of the inatitutioD and was repeated-
ly promoted until he h-came deputy warden. He enlisted in Company
H, Second Slassachnsetts Cavalry, June 14, 1864. On the 16th of July
following, at the battle of Rockville, Hanover County, Va., he, and two
hundred others, held the town over night against forty tbuuaand Confed-
erate troops, but iu the morning they were obliged to surrender. He waa
taken to Libby Prison, Richmond, Va., and from there waa removed to
Danville, Va., where lie died of starvation Dec. 10, 1864. .Vfter the
close of the war his remains were brought to hia home in Pepperell
and buried with all the houors due to a brave soldier and noble mar-
tyr to the canae of freedom.
In 1849 there commenced a contest between the
town and certain memberi of the First Parish, which
continued several years, and caused a great deal of
local excitement. About the time of its incorpora-
tion the parish acquired possession of two acres of
land, one-half of which was appropriated for a bury-
ing-ground, ' and the other acre, upon which the
meeting-house was located, was used as a " common."
Upon the incorporation of a second parish in 1831,
the question arose regarding the legal ownership of
this common ; there appears to have been no dispute
about the burial-ground. The First Parish claimed to
be the rightful successors of all property that had been
appropriated to parish uses by the original parish
and town united. This claim the town were willing
to allow, but argued that the " common " bad been
devoted to municipal purposes by the united corpora-
tion, and therefore had ceased to be the private prop-
erty of the parish, and had become vested in the
town.
The controversy, however, remained a merely verbal
one until 1849. In September of that year the First
Parish voted " that inhabitants and members of the
parish who may associate together for that purpose,
be authorized to build sheds on the common for their
use, and at their own expense ; such sheds to be located
and built under the superintendence and direction of
a committee chosen for that purpose."
Pursuant to this vote, a row of horse-sheds waa
built, extending from the meeting-house easterly to
the spot now occupied by the receiving tomb, the back
of these sheds being only five and a half feet distant
from the burying-yard wall. As the ground slopes
considerably, the sheds were built upon two levels,
but even then the stone underpinning at the easterly
end of each level was several feet high. Along the
southerly wall of the burying-yard were four tombs,
the entrance to three of them being outside of the
wall, and within the common. After the erection of
the sheds, the only access to these tombs was through
one of the sheds, and a small door in the back part
thereof into the narrow space between the sheds and
wall. At the time of the laying of the foundation
the chairman of the selectmen and others, in behalf of
the tomb-owners, forbade the workmen to proceed
with the work, but to no effect. At a town-meeting,
January 21, 1850, it was voted " that the selectmen
remove the horse-sheds at the expense of the town."
At a subsequent meeting, March 5th, voted "that
the selectmen notify the shed-owners to remove their
sheds forthwith, and if they did not, then the select-
men should see that the said sheds be removed within
a fortnight from this day peaceably." The owners
were notified accordingly, but did not move the
sheds. Before the expiration of the fortnight the
owner of one of the tombs had occasion to open it for
the burial of a member of the family, and, under
authority of the selectmen, took down and removed
the shed in front of that tomb, but the next day the
shed was rebuilt by the owner. A few days afler-
wards the selectmen and the owners of the several
sheds, or their representatives, demolished the entire
row of sheds, and removed the lumber from the
grounds.
Thereupon the " horse-shed war " began in earnest.
Suits for trespass were immediately commenced
against the parties engaged in the tearing down of
the sheds ; which suits the town assumed and de-
fended. For about three years the great question in
town matters was hnrse-sheds. Town-meetings, were re-
peatedly called for that only. The town officers were
elected on that issue alone. Compared with that
question, all others were of minor importance and in-
terest.
At the June term, 1851, of the " Court of Common
236
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, xMASSACHUSETTS.
Pleas " of Middlesex County, a verdict was rendered
in favor of the plaintiffs, but the defendants appealed
to the Supreme Judicial Court, where the verdict was
set aside, and judgment rendered for the defend-
ants.
The opinion of the Court was that the town was
entitled to a right of convenient access to the burying-
yard, over the common, and therefore that there had
been no trespass in the removal of any obstructions
thereto. This settled the .case of trespass, but the
question of the legal ownership of the common was
not touched ; and it remains an unsettled question to
this day.
The Worcester and Nashua Railroad, which was
opened for travel in 1848, was located along the east-
em bank of the Nashua River, through Groton. A
station for Pepperell was located opposite Babbitasset
village. This was a nucleus toward which business
naturally gravitated, and around which a village grew
up, identified in all its business and social relations
with Pepperell rather than with Groton. A new
bridge was built connecting the two villages, and re-
ducing the distance to Pepperell centre to almost one
mile, while Groton centre was nearly four miles away.
The inhabitants of the new village, therefore, very
reasonably asked to become an integral part of Pep-
perell. This request the town of Groton was willing
to 'grant, but, with a liberality whose disinterestedness
was somewhat questioned, insisted upon giving away
the whole northeastern end of her township. This
generous gift was finally accepted, and in 1857, by act
of the Legislature, a territory of about two square
miles area was annexed to Pepperell.
Politically Pepperell was always a stanch Demo-
cratic town until 1854, when it was captured by the
" Know-Nothing " faction. But the next year it
wheeled into line with the Republicans, and has ever
since carried a large majority for that party.
The population of Pepperell, according to the sev-
eral census returns have been as follows : 1790, 1132 ;
1800, 1198; 1810, 1333; 1820, 1439; 1830, 1444;
1840,1571; 1850,1754; 1860,1895; 1870, 1842 ; 1880,
2347. At the Sute census of 1885 it was 2586, and at
the coming census the number will probably reach
3000.
The valuation of the town was, in 1850, $557,000 ;
in 1860, $762,000; 1870, $1,102,605 ; 1880,11,309,000;
1889, $1,675,000.
Clerks of Gboton West FABiae and PcpPEatLt — Eloazer GilaoD,
from January, 1742-«, to March, 1743 ; Samuel Wright, Jr., March,
1743, to 1752; Josiah Fisk, March, 1752, to 1753, and of the town until
1768 ; also from 1770 to 1773 ; WiUiatn Prpscott, 1768-«9, 1773 and 1788 ;
Nehemiah Hobart, 1774 to 1780. except 1777 ; William Green, 1777 ;
Henry Woods. 1780 and 1790 ; Joseph Heald, 1781 to 180«, except 1788
and 1790 ; Nehemiah Jowett, Jr., 1800 to 1816 ; Dr. John Walton, 1817-
24; Hon. Abel Jewett, 1824-25, 1832-33 ; William Buttrick, lS2(i-27 ;
Hon. James Lewis, 1828 to 1832 ; Samuel t'arrar, 1831, 1849-52 ;
Arnold Hutchinson, 1834-35, 1841-42; George W. Tarbeil, 1836-41 ;
Samuel Tucker, 1843-M ; John Loring, 1845 to 1849 ; Charles Crosby,
1862, and 1854-64 ; 3. R. Herrick, 1853 ; Levi Wallace, 1804 ; D. W.
Jewott, 1865 to 1880 ; Dr. W. F. Heald, 1880 to 1880 ; P. J. Kemp, 1886.
Bsp&cSEMTATiria TO THE Geneeai. Codbt. — Captain Edmund Ban-
croft, 1776 ; Colonel Henry Woods, 1777 and 178U ; Captain John Nutting,
1781 ; Colonel William Prewott, 1782, '83, '86 and '86 ; Joseph Heald,
1787-1808, except 179S, 1796 and 1802 ; William HutchinsoD, 1809 and
10; Nehemiah Jewett, Jr., 1811 to 1819, except 1817 and '18; Hon.
Abel Jewett, 1820, 1821, 1823 and 18.31; Francis Blood, 1824 and '-25 ;
Colonel William Buttrick, 1827, 1829, 1832 and 1834 ; Hon. James Lewis,
1827, 1830 and 1832 ; Arnold Hutchinson, 1830, 1832, 1838, 1839, 1841
and 1843 ; David Blood, Jr., 1836 and '37 ; Joseph G. Heald, 1836; Johu
P. Tarbeil, 1839-41, 1843; Lntber Lawrence, 1844, 1843 and 1850;
Charles Farrar, 1847 ; John D. Fiske, 1831 ; Thomas J. Dow, 1851 and
'52 ; Sumner Carter, 1855 ; Alfred L. Lawrence, 1856 ; Charles Tarbeil,
1857; BoT. Charles Babbidge, 1859 ; Samuel P. Shattuck, 1861 ; Albert
Leighton, 1863 and 1871 ; Colonel E.F.Jones, 1865 ; Levi Wallace, 1868 ;
A. J. Saunders, 1876 ; 3. P. Lawrence, 1879 ; Charles H. Miller, 1882.
Frank Leighton, 1885 ; John 0. Bennett, 1889.
Senatobs.— Abel Jewett, 1825 to 1828 ; James Lewis, 1828 to 1830 ;
John P. Tarbeil, 1842; Aeat F. Lawrence, 1841 to 1844 ; C. W. Bellows,
1848 ; A. Hutchinson, 1850; Levi Wallace, 1872 and '73 ; A. J. Saun-
ders, 1877, '78.
Delegates to the Provincial Congbess. — Colonel William Prescott,
at Salem ; Captain Edmund Buncroft, at Cambridge uud Watertown.
Delegate to the Convention to Fobh State Conbtitution. — Colonel
Henry Woods,
Delegate to thp Convention to .\dopt the Federal Constitution.
—Daniel Fisk.
Delegates to Contentions to Amend State Constitution.— In 1821,
Dr. John Walton, Hon. .\bel Jewett ; in 1852, Luther Lawrence.
CHAPTER XXL
PEPPERELL— { Continued).
EDUCATIONAL.
In 1741 the town of Groton voted to have a school
kept a part of the time at Nissittisset. This wa.i,
probably, the first school on the west side of the
river. In 1749 a petition from the inhabitants of the
West Parish, for the means of supporting a school,
was granted by the town of Groton on condition that
a school-room be provided by the parish without
expense to the town. This condition being fulfilled,
the town granted the sum of £13 6». id. The school
appears to have been kept at the home of Jonas
Varnum. In 1753 the district voted to raise £7 10s.
for schooling, and that the school should be kept at
the nearest convenient place to the meeting-house ;
also that all who lived more than two miles distant
might draw their proportion of the money, and
appropriate the same for schooling as they might see
fit. In 1754 it was voted that the school should be
kept in three places, but this number was afterwards
reduced to two. We find the first mention of a
school-house, at the centre, in 1761. It was situated
on the corner where the Town House now stands, but
was subsequently moved southward several rods, to
make room for the building of a store. Yet notwith-
standing the existence of thij school-house, it was
voted, in 1770, to have the school successively in four
different parts of the district, and in dwelling-houses.
The school-house is again mentioned in 1771, when a
vote was passed to have a grammar master. But the
school-house appears to have belonged to individuals,
PEPPERELL.
237
for in 1772 the district voted to purchase it for the sum
of £10 13». 4d., and also to build four more. About
this time the district was divided into six " squadrons,"
as they were called, which were distinguished as
Middle, North, South, East, West and Southwest ;
and a committee of three persons in each " squadron "
was annually chosen, to see that the money that was
appropriated be properly expended. In 1809 the
name of squadron was changed to school district, and
these districts were designated by number. In 1819
District No. 7 was formed from the easterly part ol
No. 1 ; and the following year. No. 8 was taken from
the westerly part of No. 6, and has always been
known as the " Pine Orchard School." In 1849, No.
9 was formed from parta of No. 3 and No. 5. The
territory east of the Nashua River, on its annexation
to the town in 1857, became District No. 10.
In 1868 the town voted to abolish the district sys
tem, since which time the term " district ' has lost
its municipal meaning, and the designation of the
several schools by number has gradually becom(
obsolete.
The old district system was somewhat peculiar and
anomalous. The district was a miniature republic,
occupying a certain accurately-defined territory. It
had its annual meetings duly called by legal war-
rant, at which meetings the necessary district officers
were chosen for the ensuing year, and the financial
business of the district transacted. Money could be
raised and appropriated lor school purposes, and a
tax for tbe same levied upon the inhabitants ; and in
ail these matters every legal voter of the district was
entitled to a voice and a vote.
The district was obliged to provide, at its own ex-
pense, a school- house, and keep the same in repair;
also the fuel and necessary incidentals for the school.
The money that was raised by the town and appro-
priated for school purposes was apportioned among
the several districts, but could be used only for the
payment of teachers ; and no teacher could draw from
the treasury any money in payment for his services,
without a certificate of competency from the Board of
.School Committee. Without such certificate he even
had no right to enter the school-room to take charge
of the school. The executive officer of the district
was chosen annually, and was styled the " pruden-
tial committeeman." It was his duty to take charge
of the school property, to supply the fuel and other
needs of the school, and to employ the teacher. Bat
here his accountability ceased. He hired the teacher
and set him to work, but had no authority over him ;
he couldn't discharge him even for gross misconduct.
To the School Committee, and to them alone, was the
teacher amenable. So long as he had their support,
he could, if he chose to be persistent, remain in
charge of his school in spite of the whole district ;
but if they discharged him the united district could
no longer retain him, except at their own expense.
This divided responsibility resulted occasionally in
a serious " unpleasantness " between the district and
the School Committee, in case of an unsuccessful
teacher. The prudential committeeman would be
ready to absolve himself from blame with the plea
that the School Committee had " approbated " the
teachA' and taken the responsibility upon themselves ;
while the committee would, with fair show of reason,
argue that they did not hire the teacher, but simply
examined him, as presented to them ; and that the
examination had been satisfactory.
But the system was, undoubtedly, well adapted to
the condition and needs of the community at that
time. Every individual had an active participation
in the affairs of his district, and felt a live interest in
the welfare of his school. There was a laudable, al-
though rather clannish, ambition to have "our"
school the best in town, and this feeling excited and
maintained in the school an emulation that other-
wise would have been difficult of attainment.
The school-houses of that period were also peculiar.
They were nearly all built after the same conventional
pattern. A low, quadrangular structure of wood, or
of brick, twenty-five to thirty feet square, with a door,
often a porch, at one end, and a chimney at the other.
In the interior, along the centre, was a level space
some six feet in width, called " the floor," from each
side of which a floor inclined gradually upwards to
the side of the building. Upon this slope were built
the heavy plank benches and desks, rising one above
the other like the seats in an amphitheatre. The
teacher's desk was usually either by the door or by the
fire-place ; but in some houses the entrance, the fire-
place and the desk were all at the same end, and in such
case the opposite end was built up and filled with
benches similar to the sides. In some school-houses
the benches extended the whole length of the build-
ing ; in others they were divided by aisles into two or
more sections. The seats were narrow, and at such
height as to render it impossible for the younger occu-
pants to rest their feet upon the floor. With a hundred
boys and girls crowded into such a room, — all fresh
from the out-door life and freedom of the farm, — bois-
terous, and sometimes inclined to malicious mischief,
the management of the school was no sinecure. The
first question in regard to the teacher was, " Can he
keep order ?" His literary qualifications need not be
of a high order. If he was a tolerably good reader
and speller, had " ciphered " through Adams' Old
Arithmetic, could set a fair round-hand copy, and had
a general knowledge of grammar and geography, he
was judged competent to "teach." But unless he could
also be " master " of his school, his occupation was
soon gone. The branches of study taught were con-
fined to the " three R's," with perhaps a class or two
in grammar or geography. The text-books commonly
used were " Adams' Arithmetic," "Scott's Lessons"
and " Pierpont's American First Class Book," " Web-
ster's Spelling Book," and a compilation of Scripture
stories and extracts called " Beauties of the Bible."
238
HISTORir OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Murray's Grammar and Morse's or Olney's Geography
were optional studies. There were no ornamental
branches. The young man of sixteen to twenty years
of age, who had the advantage of only two or three
months' schooling during the year, could not afford to
waste any of his time in fancy studies. To him,
whatever education he was enabled to obtain " meant
business."
The money annually raised for the support of
schools was sufficient to maintain them only five or
six months. This time was divided into two terms :
one of three months in summer, and one of three
months, more or less, according to funds, in winter.
The summer school was invariably taught by a
" School Ma'am," and the winter schools, usually, by
a " master." The pay of the lormer, exclusive of
board, varied from two to three dollars per week, and
that of the latter, from twenty to thirty dollars per
month ; and these wages were considered so liberal
as to cause the supply of teachers to equal and often
exceed the demand. The prudential committeeman
was required to " engage " the teacher ; and as nepo-
tism in this matter was not regarded dishonorable, he
often improved his opportunity to favor some relative
or friend. Tradition says that at a certain annual
district meeting, during the balloting for committee-
man, a neighbor contrived to get a position directly
behind the candidate, and before the announcement
of the result of the ballot had been fairly concluded,
leaned forward, and made application for hia daugh-
ter to teach the school ; and, moreover, verified the
old adage respecting the " early bird."
When, on account of the appropriations being un-
usually small, or the wages of the teacher for some
reason uncommonly high, the term of school was likely
to be abridged, it would often be extended several
weeks by voluntary contributions from the district.
Sometimes a more economical arrangement could be
made for the teacher to " board round," whereby the
contribution was paid in board as an equivalent for
cash ; and the teacher, moving around, from week to
week, among the principal householders of the district,
was enabled to add a chapter to his experiences in the
" spice of life," and also receive the benefit of a free
course of practice in peripatetics.
Such were the common schools of three-score and
ten years ago. But rude and imperfect as they may
now appear to have been, they fulfilled a noble mis-
sion in their day and geceration. To them are we
indebted for our grand system of free public educa-
tion. They were the seminaries in which were fos-
tered those germs of character that in these develop-
ments have made the name of New England a syn-
onym for mental activity, enterprise and independ-
ence throughout the world.
In 1831 the school-house at the centre having be-
come dilapidated, and ita location being desired for
other purposes, a brick building was erected east of
the meeting-house. It was divided into two apart-
ments, one being used for a primary school during
the winter, and the other for the scholars of larger
growth. This first attempt toward graded schools
continued four years and was then abandoned £s im-
practicable. At that time the summer school was for
the younger children exclusively. When the lad
had attained the age of a dozen years he was consid-
ered old enough to stay at home and help on the
farm. Henceforth he must make the most of the
winter school, which waa kept for the benefit of the
older scholars. Under such an arrangement, with
different teachers, and an interchange of scholars
twice a year, and with no sequence, except that of
time, from one term to the next, a proper grading of
the schools could hardly have been expected. The
building was subsequently remodeled into one
room, and continued to be used for a school-house
until 1877, when it was converted into an engine-
house, and as such has been occupied by Company
No. 1. In 1849 the Babbitasset District abandoned
their old house on the corner of JIain and River
Streets and built a new one some thirty rods nearer
their village. It was built in modern style and fur-
nished with " Boston desks." For many years it was
the pride of the district, and the model school-house
of the town. It was destroyed by fire in the early
part of 1881 ; and the same year the present house
was erected upon the site. Incited by the good exam-
ple of No. 7, the other districts gradually fell into the
line of progress, and the old school- houses one by one
were remodeled and refurnished, until the last in-
clined floor had been reduced to a level, and the last
ponderous bench become a mere relic of the past.
In September, 18-33, Mr. Erasmus D. Eldridge, a
graduate of Amherst College, who had previously
taught in Pembroke, N. H., opened a private school
for the fall in the school-house at the Centre. The
decided success of this school stimulated an interest
in education already awakened in the community,
and the desire for a school of higher grade than the
common district school, and was the cause of imme-
diate active efforts. Early in February, 1834, the fol-
lowing agreement and subscription paper combined
was circulated among the prominent citizens of the
town :
" Peppebell, January 27, 1834.
" We, the Siibscribera, helieTing that the iotereata of souad learniDg
aud true religion would be promoted by an Academy eatabliabed iu this
town, agree and engage to pay the sums annexed to our respective
oamea, to purchase an eligible Bite, and to erect thereon a building suit-
able for the purposee of euch an institution, the following 'onditions
being uDderatood, viz. :
" I. The funds thus subscribed shall b« placed in the hands of a Treas-
urer chosen by the Subacribera, to be faithfully applied, under their di-
rection, to the object for which they were sutiecnbed.
" II. This subecription shall be taken up in shares of twenty-five dol-
lars each, and each share shall entitle a Mibtscriber to a vote in the dip-
poeal of the property.
" 111. When completed the building shall be under the control of the
subscribers till such time as they may see fit to appoint a Board of Trus-
tees and procure for them from the Legislature of the Commoowealth
an act of incorporation.
"IV. No subscriber shall diBpi>se of his shares without having firat
PEPPERELL.
239
offered them for sale to the other subecribera, at a regular meetiDg, at a
price oot exceeding that which be origioally paid for them. Aod in
••ase of the death of a eubacriber, it shall be the duty of the surriTlng
subscribers by a regular aesessmeat to pay over to the heirs of eaid sub-
acriber the amount of bis subscription, and puch payment shall be full
satisfaction to the claims of said heirs."
To this the following subscriptions were made:
Seth Nflfion. 4 sharef .... 5100
Xehemiah Oatter. 7 shares . IT-')
Samuel Parker, 3 shares . . 75
Henry .Jewitt, J shares ... .50
Jonas Parker, 1 share ... 25
Jacob Chase, I share .... 25
John Blood, 1 share .... 25
.\nd Emerson, 1 share ... 25
Edmund Blood. 1 6hare . . . 25
.\. B. Cobleigb, I share ... 25
Samuel T. .Vtnes, I share . . 25
Samuel Farrar, 2 shares . . 50
Ralph Jewett, 1 share . .
John Lawrence, 1 share . . ,
Rev. James Howe. 1 share .
John Bollard, 4 shares . . ,
Arnold Hutchinson, 1 share
David Blood, Jr., 2 shares .
Nathan Shipley. 1 share . .
John Ames, 2 shares . . . .
E. D. Etdridge, 1 share . . .
Noah Blood, 1 sbarB ...
»25
40 shares tlOOO
It appears by the records that the above subscrib-
ers met, "agreeably to notice," February 6, 1834, and
organized as an association, and chose their necessary
officers.
At this meeting John Bullard, having offered an
eligible site for the academy building, as payment in
full for his subscription of SlOO, it was voted to ac-
cept his offer, and to authorize the treasurer to see
that a deed of said land be legally executed. Ac-
cordingly, March 19, 1834, a deed was executed by
John Bullard, conveying the laud to James Howe,
N'ehemiah Cutter and Henry Jewett, to hold the
premises as joint tenauts,and not as tenants in common,
as trustees for the aforesaid subscribers and proprie-
tors. No vote, however, is recorded whereby Howe,
Cutter and Jewett were appointed or authorized to
act as tru.stees. The policy of thus restricting the
tenure of the property, however wise it may have
appeareil at the time, was eventually the cause of much
dispute and difficulty.
A site having been secured, Dr. N. Cutter contract-
ed to erect a suitable building for the remaining $900
and attended to the work so promptly and energetic-
ally that in less than three months he had completed
it to the acceptance of the proprietors. On the 10th
of June, 1834, the building was dedicated with ap-
propriate religious exercises ; and Mr. Eldridge, who
had returned in the spring and re-opened his school,
took possession with fifty-two .scholars, under the name
of the Pepperell Academy.
Mr. Eldridge, although a stern and often severe dis-
oiplioanan in school, was, when off duty, e.\ceedingly
genial and companionable. A shrewd observer of
human nature, and endowed with a full share of ex-
ecutive ability, he possessed in an eminent degree the
faculty of making a school popular. His methods of
teaching were practical and quite in advance of his
time. Excelling in the study of the natural sciences,
he encouraged a love of them in his pupils. He ex-
temporized a chemical apparatus, and gave frequent
experimental lectures in chemistry and natural phil-
osophy, not to the school alone, but to crowded and
admiring audiences of the people of the town. With
only a school building, without a dollar of funds, or
a single volume of a library, and with no apparatus
except that of his own furnishing, he succeeded in
making Pepperell Academy the most flourishing insti-
tution in the vicinity. Students flocked to it from a
distance of thirty miles or more. In the catalogue for
1836 we find the total number of scholars during the
year to have been, " males, 90; females, 82," with an
average attendance of seventy. Of these, forty were
classical students, and ninety were from other towns.
The academy building was found to be inadequate
to suitably accommodate so large a number, and ac-
cordingly, this year — 1836 — an addition of twelve
feet was built upon the west end of the building,
and was paid for by private contributions. At the
close of the fall term, 1837, Mr. Eldridge resigned,
in order to enter the ministry. He closed his labors
in the school with a studied examination, and a grand
exhibition in the evening, where, with ushers and
programs and music and original orations, he made
his exit triumphantly.
He was succeeded by Rev. George Cook, of Dart-
mouth College, who continued in charge of the school
three terms, and was followed by Harvey B. Wilbur,
of Amherst College, who left at the end of his second
term. He afterwards became prominent in connection
with the establishment of schools for the feeble-
minded. In March, 1839, Willard Brigham, of Wil-
liams College, took charge of the school. At his
resignation, in May, 1840, the trustees invited Rev.
Horace Herrick, the preceptor of Groton Academy,
to become principal of Pepperell Academy ; and as
an inducement they raised, by subscription, the sum
of two hundred dollars, which they expended in the
purchase of chemical and philosophical apparatus.
This inducement proved sufficient, and Mr. Herrick
accepted the invitation. He was in many respects like
the first principal of the school. He had a natural
aptitude for teaching, and a rare talent at explanation
and illustration. He revived the practice of public
philosophical lectures, which, by aid of the new appar-
atus and a thorough experimental knowledge of
physics, he was able to make very entertaining, as
well as instructive. But a popular teacher is usu-
ally aspiring, and Mr. Herrick could not resist a call
to the flourishing academy at Francestown, N. H.
He was succeeded, June, 1841, by Josiah Pillsbury,
a recent graduate of Dartmouth, who, in his manage-
ment of the school gave general satisfaction. But at
the close of the summer term, 1842, the report was
circulated that Mr. Pillsbury was in sympathy, both
politically and theologically, with the Garrison Abo-
litionists, and the fact that he was a brother of the
noted Parker Pillsbury tended to confirm the credi-
bility of the lumor. ' Midst the conflicting opinions,
at that time, in regard to the slavery question, and
the acrimonious character of the controversy, this
matter foreboded to the trustees serious embarassment.
But all anxiety was speedily allayed by the prompt
240
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
resignation of Mr. Pillsbury and his prudent with-
drawal from the scene of excitement.
The succeeding term the school was taught by
Charles Cummings, of Hollis, N. H. During the
winter following, for the first time in its history, the
academy building was unoccupied.
The next March, 1843, Rev. Moses P. Case became
principal of the school, and remained in charge until
May, 1844, when he left to trtke charge of an educa-
tional ins'.itution in Freehold, N. J. But failing to
realize his expectations in that place, he returned to
Pepperell in March, 1845, and again took charge of
the academy until November, 1847. He then left, to
become principal of the Putnam Free School, in
Newburyport. He was afterwards principal of the
Salem High School, and also of the Lynn High School.
He remained at the latter but a short time, being
obliged to give up teaching on account of pulmonary
disease. He again returned to Pepperell, where he
spent the remainder of bis days. He died November
18, 1859, at the age of forty-five. As a Chrisiian gen-
tleman, and one of the foremost educators of his day,
he was universally esteemed.
During the " interregnum " between the two ad-
ministrations of Mr. Case the school was under the
care of Mr. J. E. B. Jewett. The teachers that suc-
ceeded were as follows : J. Stone, till May, 1849 ;
Everett Boynton, till 1850 ; Rev. Z. M. Smith, till
November, 1851 ; L. P. Blood, from April, 1852, to
November, 1853 ; Charles S. Farrar, during the fall
term of 1854.
In 1841 an act to incorporate the Pepperell Acad-
emy was passed by the Legislature as follows:
"CommoDwealth of Maaaachua«tts. lo tbe year ooe thousand eight
hundred and forty-one. An act to incorporate the Pepperell Academy.
" Be it enacted by tbe Senate and House of Bepresentativesin General
Court aesembled, and by tbe authority of tbe same as follows : Sect. 1.
David Blood, Sr., Seth Naaon and Nathan Shipley, their associates and
BQccesBOfB, are hereby made a CoiTwration by the name of the Pepperell
.Academy, to be eetabllsbed in Pepperell, in tbe County of Middleseli,
with all the power and priTilegee, and subject to all the duties, restric-
tions and liabilities set forth in tbe Forty-fourth chapter of the Revised
Statutes.
"Sect 2. The said incorporation may hold real eetate to tbe value of
Ave thousand dollars, and perw)aal estate to the value of fifteen thous-
and dollars, to be devoted exclusively to purpoaet^ of education. "
The three corporators here named were subscribers
and proprietors under the original agreement and
deed, but who their " associates " were does not ap-
pear. The proprietors held a meeting August 2,
1841, and chose a board of fifteen trustees, " to man-
age the concerns of the Academy in future," reference
being made in the records to Article 3d, of the
original agreement. Of these fifteen trustees, only
five were original subscribers ; and a majority of them
were not citizens of Pepperell and were elected, ap-
parently honorary, rather than executive members.
No conveyance of the real estate, either by deed of
vote of the original association, was ever made to tbe
corporation or the board of fifteen trustees, and no
legal connection can be traced between the two
organizations. Nevertheless the said board of trustees
organized August 11, 1841, adopted a constitution and
thereafter claimed the control of the afiFainj of the
Academy. But as there never was a dollar of funds
in the treasury, their trust must have been in one sense
at least, a " dry " one. They drew up a comprehensive
code of laws and regulations for the control of the
school, and then virtually buried it among the records.
They were expected to be present and preside at the
annual examination of the school at the close of the
fall term, and to hold their annual meeting at that
time ; and for several years these expectations were
partially realized. But their interest in the school
gradually declined. There is no record of any meet-
ing after March, 1855. The board of fifteen had
practically become extinct. One-half of the signers
of the original agreement were dead, and a majority
of the remainder had outlived their interest in the
institution. The last clause of the original compact
had been totally disregarded, and doubts began to
arise as to the legal title to the property. No one
<eeined to have any authorized control of the property,
and the building stood ready for the occupancy of
any respectable person who might choose to risk his
chance of a school. It was thus successively occupied
for a longer or shorter time by H. T. Wheeler, S. C.
Cotton, D. W. Richardson, Miss Caroline A. Shat-
tuck and A. J. Huatoou. The building was kept in
repair by funds raised by tea-partiet, fairs and similar
spasmodic eflbrts at sundry times. Occasionally the
teachers paid for actual nece.ssary repairs, rather than
attempt to collect from the public.
In 1860, an interest in the school having been re-
vived through the efforts of Rev. E. P. Smith, Mr.
A. J. Saunders, a graduate of Brown L^niversity, who
had been teaching with marked success in Groveland,
was induced to take charge of the Academy. Under
his management the school seemed to recover new
life, and for several years was prosperous. In 1864,
the town having voted for a school of higher grade,
and appropriated §700 for that purpose, also appro-
priated the academy building, and dispossessed Mr.
Saunders by appointing him principal of the school.
The school was maintained four years, and then sus-
pended till 1873, when it was re-established, con-
tinued six years and again discontinued. Meanwhile
about $800 had been raised by subscription for ad-
ditional stock in the academy, and a conveyance of the
property made to the new shareholders by the surviv-
ing member of the' trustees mentioned in the first
deed. The building, having been remodeled and
thoroughly repaired, was then rented to the town for
school purposes.
By the census of 1880 it appeared that Pepperell
contained over five hundred families, and conse-
quently was obliged to maintain a High School ac-
cording to law. The following year, therefore, the
town made due appropriations for such school, and
established it in the Academy building under the
PEPPERELL.
241
charge of Harold C. Child, iu September of that
year. Mr. Child has been succeeded by A. F.
AmidoD, 1885 ; Edwin H. Webster, 1886 ; and George
VV. Ransom, September, 1888.
In 1888 a new school-house was erected at " Chaae
Hill." It is built in modern style with latest im-
provements, and will accommodate four schools.
Upon its completion, early in 1889, the High School
and Grammar School were removed from the old
Academy building, which was then sold by the pro-
prietors, but still stands unoccupied, patiently await-
ing the " law's delay," for a decision in regard to the
validity of the title and conveyance.
In 1860 a boys' boarding-school was opened by
Rev. David Perry in the house that stood upon the
site now owned by Rev. J. E. B. Jewett. This school
was quite successful. But in May, 1853, the whole
establishment was destroyed by fire, together with
the boarding-house and Insane Retreat of Drs. N.
Cutter and J. S. N. Howe. Mr. Perry removed his
school to Brookfield, Mass., but returned with it to
Pepperell in 1857, and established it on the farm now
occupied by Col. S. P. Shattuck. Upon the decease
of his wife, some three years after, he discontinued
the school and left town.
.\ female boarding-school was commenced in 1852,
in the house now owned by Charles D. Hutchinson,
and for several years was well sustained by Mrs. A.
E. Conant and her two daughters.
In January, 1827, the young men of Pepperell
formed a literary association under the name of the
" Washington Fraternity." None but members were
allowed to participate in the exercises of their regular
weekly meetings, but every year one or more public
" e.xhibitioiis '' were given, at which the members dis-
played their rhetorical and historic abilities to the
mutual admiration of themselves and their audience.
By subscriptions and donations from honorary mem-
bers, a library was gathered of about four hundred
choice books and standard works, which, upon the
payment of a small fee, was open to " all persons of
good character iu town." The society flourished for
several years and attained to a membership of over
fifty. The interest in the " Fraternity," however,
gradually declined. Several of its prominent mem-
bers, hud left town, and after 1833 the meetings of
the society cea.sed entirely. The library was neglected
and many of the books were taken away and not re-
turned.
Upon the establishment of the academy, about this
time, a " Lyceum " was formed for the benefit, not
only of the school, but of the public generally, which
afforded ample opportunity to all aspirants for elocu-
tionary honors to distinguish themselves.
In 1838 a few of the old members of the Washing-
ton Fraternity " called a meeting to reorganize the
library.'' Luther S. Bancroft, Charles Stevens and A.
Emerson were chosen a committee to " collect what
books are to be found and put them in order." It
16-iii
was also voted " that the library be kept at the acad-
emy," and that "the above committee appoint a
librarian to take charge of the books, and adopt such
rules and regulations as they may think proper."
This committee attended to the matter very promptly
and efficiently. Many of the missing books were
recovered. About three hundred volumes were
gathered up and placed in the academy building.
Henry F. Spaulding, a student, was appointed libra-
rian. The library was much used by the scholars,
and for a time was appreciated ; but after one year
Mr. Spaulding left town, and, no successor being ap-
pointed, the books again became scattered. They
were again collected by L. S. Bancroft, and for two
years were kept in good order in the tailor-shop of T.
W. Atherton, in the store building situated where
the Town House now stands. In 1842 Mr. Atherton
gave up the care of the books, and Mr. Bancroft re-
moved them to his lesidence, where they remained
until his death, when they were delivered over to
Col. S. P. Shattuck, one of the few surviving members
of the old " Washington Fraternity." They were
kept by him until 1877. A public library having
been established by the town that year, this old cir-
culating library, together with another library of sev-
eral years' standing, owned by a private association,
and comprising about five hundred volumes, was
donated to the town as a nucleus for the public
library.
This library has received annually from the town
an appropriation of the proceeds of the " dog tax,''
averaging about $300. It now numbers over six
thousand volumes, and is very generously patronized
by the public.
CHAPTER XXII.
PEPPERELL— ( CoTUinued).
nnjusTRiAi PUEStnra.
Ix the petition of the settlers of West Groton to be
set off as a parish, the territory was, not inaptly, de-
scribed as " good land, well situated." The surface
corresponds well with that of the State ; the eastern
part being level and rather sandy, the central undu-
lating and fertile, and the western decidedly hilly and
rocky. The -soil is generally good and well adapted
to fruit culture, to which considerable attention has
been paid. Along the Nashua River are several fine
intervales of productive land of easy tillage.
The town is noted for its beautiful scenery and fine
drives, and is more and more resorted to by the in-
habitants of the cities as a residence during the sum-
mer season. The principal industry in the earlier
history of the place was farming. The prevailing
style of architecture was a square, two-storied house,
242
HISTOKY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTr, MASSACHUSETTS.
with a large chimney in the centre, around which
were' clustered four or five rooma on each floor.
Sometimes, however, the house was two stories in
front and one in the rear, the roof descending steeply
to within eight or ten feet of the ground. If painted,
the color was either red or yellow with white trim-
mings. The barn usually stood at some distance from
the house, often on the opposite side of the road. It
was set on the ground without any cellar or scarcely
an underpinning, and was ftirnished with but few im-
plements of husbandry, and those of primitive and
ponderous make. Many of the farm-houses were
supplemented by a cooper-shop, wherein the enforced
leisure of winter months and stormy days was utilized
by the making of barrels. The delivery of these bar-
rels at Boston necessitated a journey of two or three
days and nights with an ox-team. The merchandise
was loaded upon the "barrel-rigging," a wagon pecu-
liar to those times, and the driver, well supplied with
provisions for himself and provender for his cattle,
took an early start, often several hours before sunrise.
His route was over the old stage road from Boston to
Keene, N. H. This "great road," which passes
through the southerly part of Pepperell, was then the
principal thoroughfare for travel and transportation,
and was " fortified" by a tavern .about every two miles
throughout its entire length. The teamster, there-
fore, had ample opportunities to vary the monotony
of his slow journey by an occasional halt at one of
these " wayside inns," where, while warming up his
outer as well as inner man, he could also refresh him-
self with the late.Ht batch of news from the loquacious
and cosmopolitan landlord. Having disposed of his
merchandise In Boston, the farmer could easily secure
a return load of goods for the home market] and sun-
dry commissions from neighbors, thus making his
homeward trip a profitable one.
Till within lialf a centurj* the transportation of
|)roduce and merchandise between Pepperell and "the
city" was almost wholly carried on by these farmer
teamsters.
The farmer of these days was dependent mainly
upon his own resources. His table was supplied from
the products of the farm. He raised his own flax
and wool, which was made into clothing by the female
members of the household. The hum of the spin-
ning-wheel was heard in almost every house, "filling
its chambers with music," as in the days of John
Alden and Priscilla; and no maiden considered her-
self as ready to be married until she had with her own
hands spun and wove linen and woolen fabrics suffi-
cient to furnish the chambers and table of her new
home.
For many years the Centre with its raeeting-houae
was the principal village of the town. The five roads
that centred here were all laid out " to the meeting-
house," which was the ecclesiastical and secular Capi-
tolium of the municipality, while the Common was
its Campus Martiua.
A tavern was soon built where the Second Parish
Church now stands. It was kept by John Mosher as
early as 1769, and afterwards by Solomon Rodgers.
Not long after the exploit of the women at Jewett's
Bridge in 1775, an article was inserted in the warrant
for a town-meeting : " To see what the town will vote
or order to be paid to Mr. .Solomon Rodgers for enter-
taining Leonard Whiting and his guard." Mrs.
Tileston's house was then a store, where was kept
the post-office, with its weekly mail brought up from
Groton. The hill on which it stood has since been
cut down in front to the level of the street. Both
the tavern and store property pas:?ed successively into
the possession of William Braser, Esq., Samuel Chase,
Lemuel Parker, Esq., and Captaiu Lemuel Parker.
The latter converted the store building into a dwell-
ing-house, and removed the business into the build-
ing on the town-house corner, which had previously
been occupied as a store by Captain Nathan Shijjley,
and afterwards by Luther Tarbell.
Rev. .Fohn Bulhird's house was situated on Heald
■Street, just opposite the tavern, and facing the Com-
mon. .Vfter .Mr. Bullard's death, in 1821, Mr. Tar-
bell purchased the house for a new tavern. He after-
wards built an addition to the southerly end, and
opened a .store therein. This tavern and store was
kept uj) till lrS.'')ii, when it w.xs totally destroyed by
fire.
Captain I'arker associated with himself in the
mercantile business And Emerson, a grandson of
Rev. Jojseph Emerson. Mr. Emerson's father was an
eccentric man, and named his first three children
.Mary, And, .Another. The last-named afterwards
cbo.se for him.■^elf another name, which was not
Another; but "And" always retained his conjunctive
prenomeu, which, however, was often mistaken by
strangers lor the abbreviation uf Andrew. The^sign
on the store building waa "Parkkr and EMERbON."
Mr. Emerson, having bought out his partner, simply
painted out Mr. Parker's name and left his own name
in full remaining.
The " Evangelical Congregational Society " upon
its organization, in 1832, bought the old tavern lot,
and the building was removed to give place to the
new meeting-house. The old parsonage had been
converted into the new tavern, and now, by the ad-
justments of time, the old tavern was supplanted by
the new church.
Captain Lemuel Parker had already built an ex-
tensive addition to the Shipley store building, and
upon the disappearance of the old tavern he opened
a "Temperance House" — somewhat of a novelty then
— on the corner ; the store and post-office occupying
a part of the new addition. A stage route had just
been opened from Lowell to Springfield, and Pepper-
ell was the first stopping-place for a relay of horses
and breakfast. The stage left Lowell at five o'clock
A.M. and went through to Springfield, a distance of
ninety miles, in one day, which was at that time con-
PEPPERELL.
243
sidered " rapid transit." " Capt. Parker's " was se-
lected as the stage tavern, and was extensively known
as a first-class hostelry. The " tavern " in those days
was an institution. There were no less than five in
the little town of Pepperell, and all were well patron-
ized.
The stage-route, after a few years, was rendered
unprofitable by the construction of railroads, and was
discontinued. Captain Parker sold his whole hotel
property to the firm of Cutter, Ames & Swasey, who
also bought the store. They, however, continued in
the business but a short time, and it passed into ether
hands. William S. Crosby, Esq., was the last propri-
etor of the tavern and store combined. On hia retire-
ment, in 1S38, the tavern business was abandoned,
and the house thereafter was rented for a dwelling.
The store was then occupied by Mr. John Loring,
who, with his son, carried on an extensive and lucra-
tive business for many years. Mr. Loring afterwards
removed to the store now occupied by Mr. C. D.
Hutchinson, where he remained until hia death, in
1878. The old tavern-house was occupied by various
parties for sundry purposes until 1873, when it was
purchased by the town for a site whereon to build the
town-liouse.
Dr. Nehemiah Cutter, a native of Jaffrey, N. H., a
graduate of Middlebury, and afterwards from the
Yale Medical School, commenced his practice in Pep-
perell about the year 1818. He became a distin-
guished physician and founded a private asylum forthe
insane — probably the first one of the kind in the coun-
try. In 184S he became at-sociated in the management
of the asylum with Dr. James S. N. Howe, the oldest
son of Rev. James Howe. In May, 1853, the whole es-
tablishment was burned to the ground, some of the in-
mates barely escaping with their lives. Dr. Howe
gathered his " family '' together at his old homestead
(now Colouel S. P. Shattuck's) and immediately com-
menced the erection uf a large building there, suita-
ble for the accommodation of his patients. In a few
years, his healih failing, he relinquished the business,
and Dr. Cutter re.sumed it at his residence, now Mrs.
Jonas Fitch's. But a life of unusual care and vicis-
situde had made him prematurely old. He had lost
the vigor of his earlier days, and was soon obliged to
retire from active life. As a man he was kind-
hearted and courteous ; as a citizen he was remarka-
bly public-spirited and liberal, generally foremost in
the advancement of all measures for the improvement
and general welfare of the town. In his profession
he was widely known and highly esteemed. He died
March 15, 1859, aged seventy-two years.
Dr. James M. Stickney had charge of the asylum
for two years, and then returned to the practice of his
profession, in which he continued until his death, in
1889. Meanwhile the building that Dr. Howe had
erected had been removed to the original site, on
Main Street, and here, in 1865, Dr. Howe, having re-
gained his health, re-established the asylum. Dr.
William F. Heald became the owner of the property
in 1882, and, having greatly improved it, gave the in-
stitution the name of the '' Cutter Retreat for Nervous
Invalids." It is at present under the management
of Joseph B. Heald, M.D.
About the year 1817, Mr. Joseph Breck, a son-in-
law of Rev. John BuUard, commenced the manufac-
ture of carriages in Pepperell. He built the house
now owned by Mr. C. D. Hutchinson, and also a shop
just north of the house. His work was confined prin-
cipally to the making of chaises, a two-wheeled vehi-
cle then much in vogue. But he had a natural love
for horticulture, and in 1832 he gave up his trade and
removed to Lancaster, wherfe he commenced the bus-
iness that was more congenial to his taste, and which
has since made his name a household word to every
farmer and gardener. At this time and subsequently
for several years Mr. John Durant did a large busi-
ness in the manufacture of light wagons. His shops
were situated on Townsend Street west of Colonel Al-
den Lawrence's stables.
About three-quarters of a mile beyond the centre of
the town to the westward is a small water-power on
what is known as Sucker Brook. An unsuccessful
attempt to start a button factory was made here early
in the fifties. A few years later Aaron Burkinshaw,
an enterprising Englishman, who had served his seven
years' apprenticeship in Sheffield, bought the property
and utilized the power for a cutlery factory which he
established. He was a painstaking and industrious
workman and a shrewd buyer and seller. He trained
his own apprentices and employed only English
workmen, who, locating here,soon formed an English
hamlet in the vicinity of the mill, on the street named,
by Mr. Burkinshaw, Sheffield Street. Finding that
there was a demand for a fine grade of pocket-knives,
Mr. Burkinshaw made that branch of the trade a
specialty, and built up a good business, which since
his death has been carried on by his sons under the
name of Aaron Burkinshaw's Sons.
Some quarter of a mile below Burkinshaw's the
stream affords another water-power, which, a century
ago, was employed by Captain Nathaniel Sartell for
a grist-mill, and also for a shop wherein were manu-
factured wooden ploughs, the only kind then known.
The captain was succeeded by his son Deacon Na-
thaniel, who changed the grist-mill into a lumber-mill.
The deacon's youngest son, Levi Sartell, now owns the
property, and has built a new mill, into which he has
introduced additional power by steam.
About two miles north of the centre, at a small
" privilege " on Nissittisset River, a settlement was
early commenced. A grist and saw-mill was erected,
a store and tavern followed, and the little village was
for a time quite a centre of business for the vicinity.
In course of time a carding and clothier's mill was
established by Mr. Farewell Farrar, who carried on a
prosperous business for many years. But by the dia-
continuance of wool-growing, the local supply and de-
244
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
mand ceased, and the larger manufactories absorbed
the general trade. The mill was afterwards bought
by Samuel S. Davis and used for the manufacture of
cotton batting, and later of shoddy while that article
was in demand but its usefulness in this direction
was suddenly terminated by an untimely fire; and a
second mill devoted to the same purposes shared the
fate of its predecessor.
In 1866 Mr. Davis built a paper-mill on the site of
the old mills. This was burned in 1872, and was im-
mediately rebuilt; but, after having proved an unprof-
itable investment to several owners, was also destroyed
by fire in 1884, and the business was then abandoned.
The place now reminds one of " the deserted vil-
lage." The mills have never been rebuilt, the dam
has broken through and been carried away, and most
of the houses are tenanlless. Its remoteness from the
railroad is a serious disadvantage to the improvement
of the " privilege."
Upon an eminence, near by, commanding an exten-
sive and beautiful prospect, stands the old mansion
built by Colonel William Prescott, and which still re-
mains in possession of the family, having descended
to the son, Judge William Prescott, to the grandson,
William H. Prescott, the historian, and to William
G. Prescott, Esq., the great-grandson, who is the pres-
ent owner and occupant. It was built in the conven-
tional style of the old New England farm-houses.
Here was born the son, who afterwards became an
eminent jurist, and who invariably spent the summer
months of each year at the old homestead. An addi-
tion to the west end of the house wiis made by him
for the purposes of a study and library, in which it is
said the grandson, during his annual sojourns in Pep-
perell, wrote considerable portions of those histories
which have immortalized his name. The building is
a plain, unpretending structure, with no especial
claims for notice, except the many interesting associa-
tions with which it is connected.
>'ot long after the settlement of the parish, a grist-
mill was erected on the Nissittisset, at the East Vil-
lage. A store was afterwards built, and then a tavern ;
and the village was generally known as " the Lower
Store." At, one time considerable business was done
there iu the manufacture of tinware by Colonel Wil-
liam Buttrick. In 1832 ("aptain Fred. F. Parker,
who then owned the store, built the large building
still standing on Nissittisset Square, and opened
therein a tavern, which he named " The Nissittisset
House." A part of the building was occupied for a
store. The old store, that had stood nearly in the
middle of the square, was removed. After the death
of Captain Parker, in 1841, the tavern was discontin-
ued. The property was sold and a portion of the
building, enough to make two dwelling-houses, was
moved to the opposite side of HoUis Street. The
store, however, was kept up by various owners, until
within a few years. The East Pepperell Post-Office
was established here in 1847, J. A. Tucker, Esq.,
who then owned the store, being the first postmaster ;
but in lSo8 the office was removed to the Depot Vil-
lage, and has now become an office of the third class.
The mill privilege was for many years owned by
Dr. Ebenezcr Lawrence, and the business was con-
ducted by two of his sous, .Joseph and E. Appleton
Lawrence. In 1835 it was bought by Deacon L. W.
Blake, who, in company with Mr. Luther Ballard, es-
tablished a machine-shop. Mr. Ballard, in 1840,
relinquished his interest in the business to his part-
ner, and went West. Deacon Blake's large family all
had a remarkable aptitude for mechanics. The oldest
son, Deacon (xilman Blake, took charge of the saw
and grist-mills, while the five remainingsons, as they
successively grew up, were associated with their father
in the machine business. The two daughters, even,
became the wives of prominent machinists. After the
death of the father in 1864, the firm was changed to
" Blake Brothers," and in 1884 again changed to
■' Henry Blake & Son.' In addition to the ordinary
work of a machine-shop, they maiiafacture a " belt-
fastener," and " Blake's Turbine \\'ater-wheel," Ixjth
(latented inventions of members of the family.
The first paper-mill in Pepperell was built at the
lower privilege on the Nijsittisset. iu the year 1818,
by Mr. Ben. Lawrence. Paper at that time was manu-
factured principally by hand labor, requiring some
three weeks', time between the "beater" and the
finishing-room. This mill was uperated by several
))aper-niakers, prominent among whom were F.<\-
ward Curtis, Col. Buttrick, And Emerson and J. A.
Wilder. While owned by the latter, iu 1S41, it was
burnt down, but soon after rebuilt. About 1864 it
was bought by Henry A. Parker, again burnt and
again rebuilt ; it is now used for the manufacture of
sheeting paper and leather board ; and, together with
a lumber-mill and a grain-mill, is known as "The
Nissittisset Mills," the business being conducted
under the firm name of H. A. Parker & Co.
About the year 1834 And. Emerson built a paper-
mill at Babbitasset Falls on the Nashua. The privilege
is one of the best on the river, and had been early
utilized. It appears by the records of the town of
Groton, that ata town-meeting held October 24, 1726,
it was voted " to give liberty to any person or persons
that should appear to do the same, to build a mill on
Lancaster River at a place called Babbitasset Falls.
Provided the person or persons be obliged to build and
constantly keep in good repair a good and sufficient
corn-mill for said town's use . . . and to do the same
within the space of two years after the date hereof, the
person) or persons to have the liberty of said stream
so long as he or they keep said mill in good repair
and no longer." There is also a record of the laying
out of a road in 1730 past Gilson'sgrist-mill at Babitaa-
aet Falls.
In course of time a forge and small foundry was set
up, and the place thereafter went by the name of
" The Forge." About the same time Dr. Ephraim
PEPPERELL.
245
Lawrence commenced the manufacture of powder,
concerning whose quality some amusing though
rather disparaging traditions are still extant. After-
wards a fulling and a carding-mill were built and occu-
pied, the former by Samuel Tenney, the latter by
Isaac Bennett. Mr. Tenney died in 1825 and was
succeeded in the business by Joseph Tucker, and not
long afterwards Mr. Bennett relinquished his business
to Earl Tenney, son of Samuel. Both the mills gave
place to the new paper-mill. At this time there were
but five dwelling-houses in the village, three of which
were cottages. One of these is the cottage on Mill
Street now owned by Mrs. Harper. Three still stand
at the juncture of Main Streetwith Mill and Canal.
The Adam Ames house, which occupied the present
site of A. J. Saunders' store, was removed and is the
dwelling of Mrs. Gleasou on Canal Street.
With the establishment of this paper-mill, a new
era in the industrial history of the village began.
Mr. Emerson introduced the Fourdrinier machinery,
and commenced making paper with a rapidity that
fairly astonished the old paper-makers. The business
prospered for a time. After a few years, however,
the mill was destroyed by fire. A new building was
erected, but when this was also burned, Mr. Emer-
son's financial embarrassments were such that he was
forced to abandon the business. The property passed
into other hands. New mills were built, which dur-
ing the next twenty years were occupied successively
by different firms with varied success, or want of it.
At one time there were three separate mills, with as
many owners, each competing with the others, and
all dependent upon the same water supply, .^t length,
in ISGJ, H. M. Clark, who was connected with the firm
of S. D. Warren & Co., obtained possession of the en-
tire properly and immediately began to develop its
capacities. For the past ten years the business has
been under the control of the Fairchild Paper Co.
The plant consists of two first-class mills, which give
employment to about two hundred and thirty opera-
tive.s, and manufacture daily twenty tons of the best
quality of book paper and of government paper.
The Champion Card and Paper Co. commenced
operations in 1S80 as an adjunct of the Fairchild
Paper Co. But three years later it was established
as an independent company, being incorporated
under the laws of New Hampshire, with a capital of
§oO,OOU. A mill, one hundred and twenty-five feet
wide and five hundred feet long, was built near the
covered bridge and fitted up with the most approved
machinery and furnishments. Under the able and
energetic management of its president, C. M. Gage,
and treasurer, P. A. Hammond, it was so successfully
conducted that in 1887 the capital stock was increased
to §150,000, and the company was re-incorporated
under the laws of Massachusetts. Its manufactures
consist principally of glazed and colored papers and
card-boards of the finest quality, lithographic-plate
paper being a specialty.
The success of the Champion Co. was so apparent
that it stimulated competition. In 1889 another
company was organized and incorporated under the
name of the Pepperell Card and Paper Co., with a
capital of $50,000, H.C. Winslow,Superintendentofthe
Fairchild Mills being elected president, H. A. Parker,
treasurer, and J. M. McCauseland, superintendent.
A mill, 60 by 160 feet, comprising two stories and
basement, with an engine-house and boiler-room
adjoining, was erected " at the most convenient place
near Jo Blood's fordway," and was soon in active
operation. The thorough knowledge of the trade
and the business tact and ability possessed by the
managers are a guaranty for the success of the new
enterprise.
The beginning of the shoe business in Pepperell
was made about the year 1824, by John Walcott, a
native of Danvers, who married a Pepperell woman
and afterwards settled in Pepperell, on the farm now
owned by Roland H. Blood. His sons, as they grew
up, went to Natick, and became pioneers in the shoe
businees in that place.
At the time Mr. Walcott came to Pepperell divi-
sion of labor was just being introduced into the shoe
manufacture. Previously the entire shoe had been
made by one man, who first carefully measured the
foot of his customer, and then proceeded to cut out,
put together and finish up the pair of boots or shoes
ordered. The shoemaker was often an itinerant work-
man, carrying his kit of tools under his arm. Mr. Wal-
cott, taking advantageof the newdeparture, employed
his winter leisure in making shoes. He obtaineil from
Danvers his stock already cut and fitted, completed the
work and returned the finished shoes. This kind of
work re<iuired but a short apprenticeship. So<iii
more than one kitchen resounded to the tap of the
hammer upon the lapstone, and the number of fire-
side shoemakers increased, until some began to think
that a shop for cutting and giving out the work would
be a good business venture. The prospect was allur-
ing ; the capital required wa-s small ; the plant con-
sisted of only one or two rooms furnished with cut-
ting-boards, patterns and knives. Here the work was
cut out and then distributed to be made up by the
employees at their homes or in small shops where sev-
eral neighbors could work together. These " brogan
shops," in time, became quite numerous throughout
the town. The first to set up a cutting-shop was Put-
nam Shattuck, who established one in the North Vil-
lage, about the year 1834. Eight years afterwards he
removed his business to the Centre. By this time he
had a number of competitors. But, feasible as the
business at first appeared, it was often found to re-
quire an amount of knowledge and foresight that had
not been anticipated ; hence failure was a common
result. One impediment in the way of success was
the sharp competition with the tower towns. At one
time so much work was done for outside firms that it
required the time of one man as carrier between the
246
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
" brogan shops" in town and the business centres
" down below,'' as the local phrase was.
Albert Leighton, a native of Westford, came to Pep-
perell in 1848. He was a shoemaker from boyhood,
and had been asaociated with Edward Walcott in the
introduction of the shoe business into Natick. He
erected one of the first buildings in the Depot Village,
(now the Prescott House), and there established a
business that eventually became one of the leading
interests in town. Five years later, having disposed
of his business to Charles Hutson, he followed in
the wake of the gold-minero, and spent three years
in California. Returning to Pepperell, he built a new
shop on Leighton Street, in which he carried on a
successful business for ten years. He then went
West, but, after a year spent in Racine, Wis., he
again returned to Pepperell, and erected, on Main
Street, a third building, which was occupied by him-
self and his sons as a shoe-factory until it was burned,
in 1879. As a result of the fire, the firm of Leighton
& Sons was dissolved, Mr. Leighton retiring from
active participation in the shoe business, although he
still continued an efficient citizen of the town whose
interests he had already done much to promote, and
to whom much of the present prosperity and many
of the recent improvements of the lower villages es-
pecially are due. He has not only held the highest
offices in town, but has twice represented his district
in the State Legislature.
Immediately after the burning of the old building
the business was reorganized by Mr. Leighton's son,
Frank. Plans were made for a new factory, the
corner-stone of which was laid June 17, 1879, and the
work was carried on so energetically that the build-
ing was ready for occupancy in the fall. The existing
firm, Leighton Bros., was formed in 1884, and consists
of Messrs. Frank, Elbert and Charles Leighton, the
latter having charge of their Boston office. Their
commodious and well-arranged factory, furnished with
all the moat approved styles of machinery, afibrds em-
ployment to 350 operatives, and has a capacity for
5000 pairs of brogans per day.
The mineral resources of Pepperell are not abund-
ant. Two clay beds, one near Boynton Street, the
other in the southerly part of the town, have furnish-
ed the material for the manufacture, at various times,
of a few kilns of brick, the one in South Pepperell be-
ing still operated by Jerome T. Lawrence.
In the earlier records of the laying out of the
roads, frequent reference is made to " the silver mine."
This is a strata of shale rock supposed to contain de-
posits of gold and silver extending from near the New
Hampshire line to " the great shading place," as it
was called, on the Nissittissit River, about half a mile
below the North Village. Various parties prospected
here in search of the precious metals. Prominent
among these was Joseph Heald, Eisq., one of the
principal men of the town in earlier days, whose
acquaintance with the medicinal properties of plants
had gained for him the additional title of " doctor."
Having acquired some knowledge of mineralogy, he
became possessed with the idea that gold lay hidden
away somewhere in this region. He lived in the
westerly part of the town, near the pond which still
bears his name. The only outlet to this pond is at
its northerly end by a small brook, which, for the first
half-mile of its course, runs through a wild gorge,
whose precipitous sides rise in many places to the
perpendicular height of a hundred feet or more.
Along this " gulf," as it is still called. Squire Heald
thought he discovered indications of a "gold pocket,"
and thereupon began to excavate a tunnel into the
side of the ravine. He extended this mine into the
solid rock a distance of about sixty feet in length,
with an average height of six feet. Whether any gold
was ever found there has never transpired, but the
town thereby acquired a great natural and artificial
curiosity, which has not even yet lost all its attrac-
tions.
The prospectors at the '" Silver Mine " being unsuc-
cessful, became discouraged and abandoned the
" claim." The lode remained neglected until its veiy
existence became almost a mere tradition. About the
year 1880, however, attention was again attracted to
it. Daniel Bates, of Fitchburg, having made a care-
ful analysis of the rock, and having .oatisfied himself
there was money in it, obtained a lease of the land,
erected a crushing-mill at the "great shading place"
and began active operations. He persevered in the
work with a pertinacity that deserved success; but at
the end of three years of unremunerative labor and
outlay, his funds failing, he was obliged to ask for co-
operation.
A stock company was formed under the compre-
hensive name of "The Fitchburg Gold and Silver
Mining Co." New and improved machinery and
methods were introduced, and the enterprise was
pushed with renewed zeal for two or three years
longer, when, on account of continued failure, it was
suspended. But within the present year the work
has again been commenced by the company with
sanguine hopes of ultimate success.
Whether these expectations will ever be realized or
not, the continued prosperity of the town is fully as-
sured by the general activity and thrift of its people.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
JONAS FITCH.
Jonas Fitch was born in Pepperell, Mass., March '21,
1811. The majority of people in the State of Massa-
chusetts bearing the name of Fitch are probably the de-
scendants of two brothers, who emigrated from Eng-
land to this country. One settled in Reading, the other
in Bedford. From the latter Mr. Fitch was a Lineal
PEPPERELL.
247
descendant of the fifth generation. Jonas Fitch, his
grandfather, and Zachariah Fitch, his great-uncle,
came to Groton and settled there near to each other.
Pepperell at that time was a part of Groton. One of
their brothers, named William, was killed in the
French War. Jonas Fitch was a man of great
mechanical genius, especially in the art of clock-
making. All the movements of his clocks was his own
handiwork. Several of these time-pieces are still in
existence at Pepperell and Groton. His special
mechanical aptitudes were inherited by his grandson,
Jonas Fitch.
Mr. Fitch removed to Boston in 1832, and, after
working for one or two business firms, accepted em-
ployment from Millard Sears. The relations between
himself and employer proved to be so satisfactory
that, in 1839, a co-partnership was formed between
them, which continued many years; after its disso-
lution Mr. Fitch conducted his aflfairs alone. While
associated with Mr. Sears, the two erected numerous
buildings on Long and Central Wharves, and also in
the neighborhood of both localities.
One of the principal embodiments of Mr. Fitch's
constructive skill is the M.isonic Temple in Boston.
All the interior is of his creation. He also wrought
the wood- work on the large Fitchburg Depot and on
the commanding City Hall of Boston.
Many of the Commercial and State Street blocks
were erected under his supervision. The Mount
Vernon Cliurch.ime of Boston's stateliest structures,
is also of his workmanship. He was a member of the
commission charged with the duty of supervising the
erection of the new State Prison at Concord, To
this trust he devoteil much time :ind labor. In the
building of the Boston Post-Office he hail the respon-
sibilities of the ma.ster carpenter.
Xot only on the public edifices, but on numerous
beautiful private residences and on substantial busi-
ness blocks in all parts of the city, are the tokens of
his practical architectural genius visible.
Their frequent recurrence is also a proof of the
high estimation in which his creative abilities were
held. Mr. Fitch was one of the very tirst among the
enterprising artificers who introduced steam machin-
ery into the processes of wood-working at Boston.
Hisshop contained a full complement of the most im-
proved and efficient labor-saving devices. His pride
was in the fact of his being a complete carpenter — not
a builder, as some carpenters style themselves. When
the memorable conflagration of 1872 had laid so large
a portion of Boston in ashes, he probably did more
than any of his contemporaries in the labor of recon-
struction. Long before the fire had been e.xtinguished
he had ordered the whole of a large saw-mill's annual
product, and was thus abundantly supplied with the
raw material for large augmentation of his own for-
tune. Exhaustive in his observation, quick to per-
ceive probable necessity, and prompt in providing the
means for its supply, he also enjoyed the utmost con-
fidence of the firms for whom he had raised places of
business. Orders for new buildings pressed them-
selves upon his acceptance. Wherever Jonas Fitch
superintended the erection of a building, that very
fact was held to be a guarantee of its solid excellence.
Li civic affairs Mr. Fitch took a conspicuous and an
influential part. In the years 1859, 1860, 1864, and
1865 he was a member of the Boston Common Council.
He was also a member of the Board of Alderman in
1866 ; served as chairman of the Committee on the
Fire Department, and as a member of the Committees
on Streets, on Bridges, on Military Affairs and aLso on
several joint committees. Re-elected to the same po-
sitions in 1867, he served as chairman of the Com-
mittee on Faneuil Hall, besides yielding continuance
of service on most of the committees to which he
had belonged in the previous year. During these
two years of aldermanic responsibility he was a per-
suasive advocate for the widening of Tremont, Han-
over and other streets, which were subsequently im-
proved in the manner recommended.
In 1864, 1865 and 1866 he was a member of the
Water Board ; and from 1862 to 1867, inclusive, was
one of the Board of Directors of Public Institutions.
Mr. Fit^h has rendered excellent legislative ser-
vice to hfs native State, as a member of the Lower
House of its Legislature. He represented his district
in Boston in the year 1855 and 1857. In the first of
these terms he served in the joint Committee on Pris-
ons and in the la.st as chairman of the Committee on
Public Buildings. Here his practical knowledge of
.architectural construction clothed his advice and
action with unrivaled value. In 1871 he was a mem-
ber of Governor Claflin's Executive Council and
served on the Committees on Finance, Harbors, Rail-
road and Bridges, on the Boston, Hartford & Erie Rail-
road, and on State Prisons. In 1872 he was elected
to membership in Governor Washburn's Council ;
.igain served on the same committees as those of the
previous years ; in addition, in the Committee on Par-
dons. The ancient and honorable institution known
as Free Masonry has also received cordial support
fi'om Mr. Fitch. He has been connected with
many of the organizations peculiar to it. His first
degree was taken in St. Paul's Lodge, South Bos-
ton. In December, 1855, he became a member of the
Columbian Lodge in the city proper. On the 16th of
October, of the same year, he was initiated into St.
Paul's Chapter, and was subsequently a member of
the Board of Directors for many years. On the 18th
of November, 1855, he was made a Knight Templar,
and on the 19th of the following month joined the
commandery. On the Slst of December, 1874, he
was constituted a life member. He was also a mem-
ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in
which organization he filled various prominent
offices. He was one of the directors of the old
Mechanics' Mutual Insurance Company for many
years. He also held the same otfice in the Continental
248
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Bank, whose edifice ia of his erection. What is more
to the credit of a citizen than all his achievements in
architectural construction or in the administration of
purely business corporations, is the part he has taken
in building up the nation in righteousness. It is con-
stitutionally founded on the basis of equal rights — the
equal rights of humanity. Slavery was in most fla-
grant discord with its fundamental principles, and
gave the lie to its solemn professors. These facts
were as clear as the sun to Mr. Fitch. He became
one of the earliest members of the Abolitionist party ;
and was also, and logically, an active member of the
Free-Boil organization, distributing ballots at the
presidential election in which James G. Birney was a
candidate for the Chief Magistracy. Practice was
always in harmony with principle. His life was the
embodiment of his beliefs. He gave employment to
negroes in his own work-shops at a period in our
national history when such a policy involved consid-
erable self-sacrifice and exposure to hostile criticism
if not to something worse. Whatever would benefit
humanity commended itself to his sympathies and
assistance, even if it were only the old hand fire-
engine department, of which he was a member. He
was always proud of his connection with it, and in
later years loved to recount the stirring incidents of
his fireman experience. Mr. Fitch was a man of cir-
cumscribed literary education. The school in which
his real education was received was that of the great
world. Here his native ability, caution and sound
judgment were developed and disciplined. Had he
enjoyed the advantages of High School culture and
retained his individuality, there is no social or politi-
cal position to which he might not have been a suc-
cessful aspirant. Thorough in all that he undertook
and exceedingly exact in all his dealings, he was yet
a man of no personal pride. His pride was in his
work. That expressed himself, and he was invariably
careful that no laxity on his part should mar its ex-
cellence or cloud the brightness of his splendid repu-
tation. In early manhood he was a member of the
old Marlborough Chapel, and was afterward an at-
tendant at the famous Park Street Church, and a
liberal supporter of all its interests. Jonas Fitch
was married, on the 19th of June, 1836, to Catharine
D., daughter of Abiel and Margaret D. Blodgett.
Of four children bom to them one died in infancy ;
three are still living; Annie E., wife of John Wal-
lace, Esq., and Charles Henry and Carrie T. Fitch.
Mr. Fitch died on the 19th of February, 1882.
CAPT. ARNOLD HUTCHINSON.
Capt. .A.rnold Hutchinson, the subject of this sketch,
was bom in Pepperell, July 19, 1789. He was the
son of William Hutchinsou, who was a native of the
town of Marblehead, Mass., and who bought a large
tract of intervale land on the Nashua River, in the
northeasterly part of the town of Pepperell, settled
thereon in his early manhood, and married Mrs. Sarah
Blood Pierce, of the neighboring town of Hollis.
Their son Arnold seems to have possessed in a good
degree the indomitable will and untiring energy
which have been prominent characteristics of the in-
habitants of the old town by the sea, which was the
birth-place of his paternal ancestor. His childhood
and youth were passed upon the farm where he was
born, and which in course of time became his own.
His early educational advantages were limited to such
as were afforded by the district schools of that time,
iu a small country town. But he availed himself of
these advantages with all the earnestness of his
nature; thus laying the foundation for a life of active
service in the various duties of his home life and
those of the public oSices which, by the choice of his
tellow-citizens, he was called in after-years to fill.
He married, May 20, 1819, Amelia Parker, the sixth
of the eleven children of Deacon Jonas and Ruth
(Farmer) Parker, both of whom were natives of Pep-
perell, and they immediately commenced their house-
keeping in his boyhood's home. His wife was a help-
meet indeed. Endowed with good health, and a
strong constitution, she was also a woman of great
strength of character. Possessing sound judgment
and a well-stored and di.ocriminating mind, she was of
great value to her husband. Twelve children were
born to them, ten sons andtwo'daughters, but three of
whom are now living ; two died in childhood, one in
early womanhood and six in the prime of manhood.
He managed successfully his large farm, and for a
number of years taught school during the winter,
either in Pepperell or one of the adjoining towns.
He was one of the stalwart men of his time. In
height he was six feet and two inche.^, of good pro-
portions, fine physiognomy, a commanding presence
and dignified bearing and gifted with remarkable ex-
ecutive ability — one whom nature made a leader
among men.
Previous to 1829 he held the offices of town clerk,
selectman and other important town offices. Year
after year he was chosen moderator of the annual
town-meeting and in 1829, '30, '39, '40, '42 and '44 he
represented the town in the State Legislature to the
entire satisfaction of his constituents.
In politics he affiliated with the Democrats and in
1849 was elected State Senator.
When the military spirit of the olden time was a
strong element of power in Pepperell he was chosen
commander of the militia, whence he obtained the
title of captain, by which, as was customary in those
times, he was ever after known.
In religious belief he was associated with the Evan-
gelical Congregational Church, of which he and his
wife were prominent members, having a voice in all
its councils and laboring to promote the interests of
the church and parish.
He was also a stockholder in the old Pepperell
Academy, and endeavored, to the extent of his ability
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PEPPERELL.
249
to advance the cause of education in his native town.
In 1854 he sold the homestead farm, where he had
spent sixty-five years, and bought the farm of Dea.
Parker, his father-in-law, where he lived until he was
obliged by failing health to give up manual labor.
Be then purchased the house on Park Street, which* is
now occupied by his youngest son, Charles D. Hutch-
inson. His golden wedding was celebrated after his
removal to this house, and was made a very pleasant
occasion.
Faithful and true in all the relations of life, Capt.
Hutchinson was a courteous gentleman, a helpful
son, a kind husband and father, and a good neighbor,
honest and upright in all his dealings.
He died of pneumonia on the 9th day of December,
1873, at the age of eighty-four years, four months and
twenty days. Mrs. Hutchinson survived him nearly
sixteen years. She died on the 4th of August, 1889.
She was born November 21, 1799; consequently lived
to the advanced age of eighty-nine years, eight
months and thirteen days.
HEWITT CHANDLEE WINSLOW.
Hewitt Chandler Winslow was born March 23,
1828, at New Gloucester, Cumberland County, Me.
He was a son of Philip and Berthia (Rideout) Wins-
low, both of whom were natives of New Gloucester,
and is a lineal descendant of both the Winslowa and
Bradfords of Plymouth, Mass., his grandmother
being a member of the latter family. Barnabas, the
grandfather of Hewitt, was one of the early inhabit-
ants of New Gloucester. Philip, the father, was a
soldier in the War of 1812. He served on the coast
defences of his native State, and was at Portland
when the encounter occurred between the "Boxer"
and " Enterprise." Hewitt lived with his father till
he was ten years old, when he went to North Yar-
mouth, Me., and " worked out." All the school in-
struction he received was what he obtained by an
attendance on the public schools three or four months
in a year before be was seventeen years old ; but, like
many another New England boy, he found means of
pursuing his studies out of school, and without an
instructor.
He worked during the day, and read and studied
in the evening by the light of the fire-place, the tal-
low-candle and the pitch-pine knot. At seventeen
he went to work in a factory at Gardner, Me., where
he learned the trade of wool-carding and finishing.
He soon arose to the position of overseer, in which
capacity he served for about six years, after which
he engaged in paper-making at the mills of the
" Great Falls Paper Company," and was for some
tim^foreman. Since 1865 he has had charge of the
paper-mills at East Pepperell. As agent of these
mills Mr. Wiia'ow has performed faithful and effi-
cient work. The company has been known by three
different names since he took charge of its affairs. It
is now called the " Fairchild Paper Company," and
employs over two hundred hands. As a business
man Mr. Winslow is devoted to his work and attends
strictly to it. It has been his habit to get to his office
throughout the year at about seven in the morning
and to leave it about eight at night. He is a direc-
tor in the First National Bank of Ayer, and a trustee
and director in the Ayer Savings Bank.
Notwithstanding his devotion to business, he has
found time in the midst of bis busy life to attend to
religious matters. For many years he has been an
active member of the Methodist Church and a sub-
stantial and reliable supporter of his denomination in
East Pepperell, and has repeatedly held the office of
trustee and steward of the Methodist Church in that
place.
In politics he is a Republican. When a young
man he was active and enthusiastic in the anti-slav-
ery movement. Since then he has identified himself
with other reforms and placed himself on the right
Bide of questions and subjects the agitation and ad-
vancement of which have been for the good of the
race. He has never used rum or tobacco and his
habits have been exemplary. November 15, 1855, he
was married, in Pownal. Me., to Miss Henrietta True.
Miss True was a daughter of William and Zilphia
Ann True, and was born March 18, 1833. Her fa-
ther was a native of Freeport, Me., and her mother
of Cumberland, Me.
Mr. Winslow has one daughter, Helen True, who
was born in Gardiner, Me., October 25, 1861.
AMOS JOSEPH SAUNDERS.
Amoa Joseph Saunders was born in Rowley, Aug-
ust 3, 1826. He was the only son of Joseph and
Mary (Mighill) Saunders, who were also natives of
Rowley. At the age of twelve he entered Dummer
Academy at Byfield, which he attended a year. He
then returned home and spent some years on bis
father's farm, occupying his time in the winter
season at shoe-making. But farming and shoe-mak-
ing were not always to be pursued by this enter-
prising New England lad. He had a fondness for
study, an interest in books, and took pleasure in
the discussions of the Lyceum and such other lit-
erary privileges aa were afforded by the country
towns of half a century ago. In 1850 he entered
Pierce's Academy at Middleboro', where, with the
exception of a short time spent at Hampton Falls,
N. H., and at Dummer Academy, he remained until
he entered Brown University, R. I., at which he
graduated in 1855, at the age of twenty-nine. This
was the last year in which Dr. Wayland was pres-
ident of the university. He taught a grammar-
school at Danvera, and in August 1856, became
principal of the Merrimac Academy at Groveland.
In 1860 he took charge of the academy at Pepper-
ell, where he taught till 1866, when he resigned on
250
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
account of his health. Shortly after, he became
proprietor of a store in Pepperell Centre, with a
branch store at East Pepperell, but he soon removed
to the latter place, where he still r^ides and car-
ries on the business. Since leaving his profession
as a teacher, Mr. Saunders has continued to show
his interest in schools by a long service on the
School Board. He has also served as selectman,
assessor and member of the Library Committee.
He has for many years been an active member of
the Republican party. In 1873 he was the Repre-
sentative of the Thirty-first Middlesex District,
comprising the towns of Groton, Pepperell and
Ayer, and was re-elected in 1875. In November,
1876, he was elected to the Massachusetts Senate
by the Fifth Middlesex District. During his con-
nection with the Legislature, he served on the fol-
lowing joint standing committees : the Liquor Law,
Woman Suffrage, Claims, Taxation and Education.
In 1874 he was appointed justice of the peace, and
has held the office to the present time. In 1856
he married Lucy Parljhurst Savage, a daughter of
John and Mary Savage, of Rowley. He has three
daughters and one son, viz. : Lucy Blanchard, Jo-
seph Amos, Mrtry Harris and Stella Fourth. Mr.
Saunders, at the age of sixty-four, is in good health,
and attends to his daily business with the enthu-
siasm and efficiency of a younger man. He exhib-
its the traits of a typical New Englander, who
starts out from the ancestral farm and works his
way by perseverance and industry to positions of
usefulness and trust. Born and reared in one of
the oldest towns in Essex County, where the Col-
onial stock was cf sterling quality, he found in
Pepperell elements that correspond with the best
characteristics of those with whom he was associ-
ated in his early days. The place was congenial to
his tastes, and he has actively participated in such
public measures as have conduced to the public
good, and the town has shown her appreciation of
the child of her adoption by honoring him with
the highest offices in her power to bestow.
CHAPTER XXIU.
^DSON.
BY RALPH E. JOSLIN AND WALTER H. b.MALL.
Lovers of the antique will find little in the history
of Hudson to quicken their pulses and satisfy their
longings. The aroma of " other days " is very faint,
and is obscured by such a delightful state of mysti-
cism that the prosaic prober after facta is prone to
ask at every trace, " How do you know?" Well,
sometimes by tradition, sometimes by faith, rarely by
sight.
A town which has yet to see her first quarter cen-
tury completed cannot boast of very ancient history
distinctively her own. What there is, is family history,
bound inseparably with Marlborough and the other
sister towns, which were included in one general
grant in 1656.
From the history of Marlborough, then, must be
gleaned those records which apply to this northern
portion, now called Hudson. But the early records
are so badly jumbled, and they have been so care-
lessly kept by their modern custodians (one complete
book is lost) that it is difficult to rest many statements
on absolute certainty. Yet some are definitely set-
tled. Among them is the fact that a large portion of
Hudson, probably all east of High Street, belonged
to the Indian plantation, and all west of that point
was a common cow pasture.
The summary of that history is this: In 1656 thir-
teen leading citizens of Sudbury, feeling they were
becoming too crowded for comfort, petitioned, for
themselves and their rapidly growing families, that
the honored Court " would bee pleased to grant unto
us eight miles square, for lo make a Plantation."
They express their preference by saying, " Wee have
found a place which lyeth westward about eight miles
from Sudbury, which we conceive might be comfort-
able for our subsistence."
Agreeably to this petition the General Court granted
them six miles, "provided it hinder no former grant."
But two years previous the General Court had granteil
to the Indians, on petition of Mr. Eliot, the Indian
Apostle, the right to make a town eight miles west of
Sudbury, so that the grant to the Sudbury men con-
flicted with it. A committee was :ipi)ointed to lay
out the Indian grant, and " In c.a.se there is enough
left for a convenient township for the Sudbury men,
to lay it out for them." The result was that the new
township lay around the Indian Plantation on three
sides, and the Indian plantiug-field was directly in
the centre of the proposed new settlement. The Eng-
lish wanted this field badly and they soon began to
encroach upon it. They built a meeting-house on one
corner; they allowed their cattle to roam over it, and
feed from it, and finally the Indians became disgusted
with their neighbors and moved about a mile away.
The early inhabitants of Marlborough seem to have
been imbued with the spirit of bitterness and con-
troversy,— a quality which has been duly transmitted,
pure and unimpaired, to the present generations.
They quarreled over their records, their grants and
their ministers, and they selfishly intrigued for the
Indian plantation. In 1677 they petitioned the Gen-
eral Court that it should be taken from the Indians,
because they " during the recent war had been per-
fidious and had taken part with the enemy,"" and
should be given to them. The General Court prompt-
ly said " No."
In 1684 thirty-five of the inhabitants petitioned
for authority from the Greneral Court to buy it from
HUDSON.
251
the Indians, aud again they said " No.'' Nothing
daunted, they got a deed from the Indians that same
year, which the General Court promptly declared
" illegal and is consequently null and void,'' for in the
original grant it was stipulated that it could not be
sold "otherwise than by consent of this Honored
Court."
But Marlborough was "bigger" than the General
Court, and in 1686 proceeded to divide up the plan-
tation, and from that time, in fact, if not in law, it
became a part of the township. Persistency finally
won, and in 1719 the title was made valid. As be-
fore stated, the part of Hudson east of High Street
belonged to this tract of land ; the part west of said
street was in the original grant.
After a settlement had been formed, and about
1000 acres had been divided among the settlers, on
February 10, 1662, the proprietors adopted the fol-
lowing : " It is ordered that all the lands situate and
lying within this town, that are not already granted "
(the meadow lands lying along the brooks, and the
Assabet valley) " are and shall remain a perpetual
cow common, tor the use of the town, never to be al-
lotted without 'the consent of all the inhabitants and
proprietors thereof, at full meeting." February 18,
1706, it was voted, "That the proprietors will divide
the Cow Common," but previous to this a settlement
had been begun on the river. How a legal title was
obtained is unknown, but in 1698 John Barnes came
to the Assabet, and took up one acre of land on both
sides of the river ; on the north side sixteen rods long
and six rods wide, and on the south side sixteen rods
long and thirteen and one-half rods wide.
On the north side he built a grist-mill, and this is
probably the secret of his obtaining the land, for
there was no mill nearer than Sudbury, and this was
the nearest water-power in the Marlborough town-
ship. The town viewed the project favorably, as is
seen from the fact that October 16, 1699, they laid
out a road over Fort Meadow, by Joseph Howe's
mill, four rods wide to Lancaster town line, and Oc-
tober 2oth, Lancaster completed the road. John
Barnes was a member of the committee on the part
of Marlborough. The road was formerly accepted by
the town, April 1, 1700.
It would seem from this, taken from the old town
records, that Barnes did not run the mill long after
building, but in some way put it into the hands of
Joseph Howe, as it seems to have been called by his
name on the laying out of the road, but a formal deed
was not given until January 13, 1701. This was prob-
ably the first piece of real estate conveyed in the
present town, as it was everywhere bounded by the un-
divided cow common. Barnes and Howe both lived
in Marlborough ; Howe dying in 1701, as his estate
wa.s settled that year.
On Howe's death the mill probably came into the
hands nf Jeremiah Barstow, as we find the mill in his
possession in 1712, when he marries Howe's oldest
daughter, Sarah. Until his marriage he did not live
at the mill, for during Queen Anne's War, among
the garrisons formed, was one called the "mill gar-
rison," at which the families of Thomas Barrett and
John Banister were to assemble. These were farmers,
and seem to have been the only families in this
vicinity, for the garrison was at or near the grist-mill.
After his marriage Barstow built his boose on the site
where Solon Wood's store now stands, and proceeded
to increase his possessions by purchase. Ten years
later he sold out to Robert Bernard, of Andover. As
this deed seems to have conveyed a large part of the
present township, portions of it are worthy of preser-
vation :
"To all people to whom these preseots ahall come,
"Greeting; Kdow y« that I, Jeremiah Barstow, of the towne of Jlarl-
borough, io ;e County of Middlesex, in the Province of Maseacbaaetts
Bay, In New England, Miller, for >i in consideration of six hundred and
sixty pounds, good and cuiTant Money of New England, or equiralenc,
to me In hand, well and truly delivered Jt paid by Robert Bernard, of
.Vndover, in the county of Essex, in the Province afforesaid, yeoman,
the receipt wherenf I, the said Jeremiah Barstow, do by these presence
acknowledge <& therewith to be fully satislied •& paid ,t therefore, thereof,
^ of every part thereof, do hereby acquitt, exonerate, and forever di».
charge him, ye said Robert Beruard, bis lieirs, executors, adtninistra-
tors & assigns, & for which consideration as aforesaid, I, the said Jere-
miah Barstow, with the free consent of Sarah, my now married wife,
have granted, bargained, Bold,b by these presents for myself, my heirs,
executors and adminbtrators, do freely, fully & absolutely grunt, bar-
gain, sell, alien, enfeulTe, convey and confirm unto the above named
Robert Bernard all that my homestead messuage or tract of land lying
and being in Marlborough aSbresaid, containing by estimation forty-five
acres, six score & fifteen rods, be it more or less as the same is butted X
bounded and described in ye towne records of Marlborough, together
with my dwelling-bouse and bam or other housing, with all the fencing
orcharding & gardens upon and belonging to said messuage," etc.
The deed then goes on and conveys eighteen other
lots or parcels of land, amounting to some 310 acres.
.\mong them is one, " lying near to ye corn-mill place
which formerly belonged to Joseph Howe,'' and " also
one acre more of land lying on both sides of said river
upon part of which ye Corn-Mill and Mill-Dam
standeth adjoined ; also the said Corn-Mill with all
the accommodations & materials thereto belonging."
This deed is signed by Barstow and his wife Sarah,
" this first Day of May in ye eight year of ye reign of
our Sovereign Lord George of Great Britain & King,
Anno Domini, 1722."
From this deed it seems there were few settlers in
this portion of Marlborough, for most of the lots con-
veyed are bounded by other lots of Barstow's or by
common land. Bernard took possession of his prop-
erty about 1724, and opened a public-house on the
road from Marlborough to Lancaster, just above the
mill. The site is now occupied by Solon Wood's
store. From this time settlers gradually came within
the present limits, but they were mostly farmers ;
there was no central settlement. Among them were
the Goodales, Wilkinses, Wheelers, Witts, Bruces,
Howes, Hapgoods and Brighams, whose descendants
still reside here, and in a few cases occupy the old
homesteads.
Rev. Charles Hudson says of these families :
252
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
** Amuug tlie earlieat, puibupd, wu may lutrtitiuu tUu U'joUute taiiiily.
Sunnel Wheeler deeded land to John Witt aDd John Goodale, from Sa-
lem ; aod Witt coDveyed bis right to Goodale ; that promiDeat family
have occupied the place where David B. Goodale resides, sloce 1702.
"Thomas Bapgood settled in the iDdiaa Plaotation before 1700, od
what was afterwards called the Colonel Wessen or 3parr place. His de-
Bcendants have been numerous, and the early generations all resided
within the present limits of Hudson. Shadrach Hapgood, their original
ancestor, came to this country in 1666, and settled in Sudbury. He was
treacherously slain by the Indians in Philip's War. The Wllkiuses
came from Danvers, and settled un the Indian Plantation about 1740,
where a number of families of the name resided for several generations.
Artemas Howe, a descendant of Abraham Howe, married Mary Bigelow,
1767, and settled on the road leading from the Hapgoods to the centre of
the town, north of Fort Meadow Brook. He was, probably, the first who
settled and reared a family of Howes on the present territory of Hudson.
Abiah Bush settled in the northern part of Marlborough, as early, prob-
ably, as 1690. John Bruce came to 3[arlborougb about 1740, and set-
tled on what has sinre been known as the Ezeklel Bruce place.
"Solomon Brigbam, a lineal descendant of Thomas Brigham, married
Martha Boyd in 1754, and about 1756 located himself on the road lead.
Ing from the 'mills' to the centre of the town, on the place where
Charles Brigbam now resides."
In 1794 Joel Cranston moved to the " mills," as it
was then known, opened a store and public-house,
and introduced a number of small industries. Five
years later Silas Felton came and joined him. Both
were energetic, public-spirited men, and they soon
drew others to the village ; its name was changed to
Feltonville. Among the new arrivals were the famil-
iar names of Peters, Pope, Witt and Wood.
Of these, Hudson says : " George Peters probably
came from Medfield. He married Lydia Maynard,
and had George, Ephraim, Luther, Adolphus and
John H. Jedediah Wood was the son of Peter Wood,
who came from Concord to Marlborough, and was a
descendant of the third generation from William, the
original emigrant. Jedediah married Betsey Wil-
kins, and was the father of Col. William H., Elbridge
and Alonzo. The Popes were from Salem, and for a
time owned the principal land in the village; the
family have been prominent in the place. Ebenezer
Witt waa a descendant of John Witt, who came to
Marlborough in 1707. Ebenezer waa son of Josiah
and grandson of Samuel, who represented Marlbor-
ough twenty-three years in the General Court. Ebe-
nezer Witt had one son and three daughters, all of
whom married in the town."
Still there was no extensive growth, for the land-
owners were loath to sell ; they believed in farms
rather than in towns. The introduction of small but
good manufacturing industries, however, gave it a
healthy beginning, and from that time its growth was
slow but steady, until in 1866 it numbered some 1800
inhabitants, who were desirous of a separate corporate
existence. Individual thrift and enterprise and pub-
lic spirit are the requisites for corporate growth. This
is the secret of the marvelous growth of the West; it
is also the secret of the growth of many of our New
England manufacturing centres. It is the secret of
Hudson's origin as a town.
The practical difficulties in the way of transacting
town business and the great obstacle to the natural
growth of the village of Feltonville, owing to its dis-
tance from the centre of Marlborough and the near-
ness of the town line of Bolton, were the .subject of
frequent comment on the part of many and the care-
ful thought of those who were most interested in the
future growth and prosperity of the village.
It cannot be said that the citizens of Feltonville did
not get their share of the town offices or failed in anv
other way to receive their proper share of considera-
tion at the hands of the mother town, for, as circum-
stances shaped affairs at that time, it happened that
by a little management on the part of her citizens
she was always able to balance one part against the
other and through their dissension to carry away the
coveted prize. A glance at the lists of town officers
for the years preceding the act of incorporation
will show the names of many persons who have since
been prominently connected with Hudson's growth
and corporate existence. There was too, a feeling of
attachment for the name and the town which was ihe
native place of a large majority of those living in
Feltonville. Sentimental reasons could not long stand
in the way of every-day difficulties, and it is barely
possible that a feeling was growing up in the mother
town that it was perhaps as well to let the ott-spring
go as attempt longer to keep the lusty child in leading
strings.
We can do no better at the present time than to
quote extensively from ac article in the Fcltonvilk
Pioneer which sets out many of the practical difficul-
ties referred to above that could be in a large measure
avoided by the incorporation of a new township.
Says the writer of the article referred to, which is
dated May 13, 1865:
" All are but too well uwnre lliat su loug as wo reaiuiu u cutmtitueiii
part of Marlborough, or ot auy of tlio otber .idjacent tuwna, in onb-r
to attend towii*meetJDgs, nieetinga above all others ubich ebuuM bu
generally uttenJed, because it i:i ut tbe^e uifetiDg:^ that tbe ngbtn,
liabilitJeH and privileged uf citizens are debated tind acted upon, wtj
are obliged to travel a diataoce of four miles.
"The dietauce, moreover, to all who reside In thai part of Feltonville
within the limits of Marlborough, is over une of the liillie=t roads in the
vicinity. It would, ao far aa ewse and comfort of traveling by private
conveyance ia concerned, be easier for the inhabitants of tbiu section ot
Marlborough to go to either Bolton or Berlin than to climb Ihe hillk tu
Marlborough. And this incouveoience cauuut be removed except by
bringing our municipal affairs to our own midst.
"The convenience by rail is next to nothing. The llrat train to Marl-
borough does not reach there until alter the annual town-meeting hua
commenced, at leaat, and then there is no conveyance back after oud
o'clock. At the very time when electors should remain, those who pat-
ronize the railroad are obliged to leave and return hkome.
'* Second : Town Becords. — The records of every town must, uf neces-
sity, he depoflited in the centre of (he town. It is impoadible that they
:ihould be kept anywhere else. These records are of constant reterenci*
and it is necessary thai the town clerk should reside where the records
are, in order to render them serviceable to i>ereona desiring to examine
them. As inhabitants of this remote patt of tbe town, whenever we
wish to examine any of the town recoras we are obliged to travel four
miles — DO email inconvenience. Were wt incorporated we should have
our town records ai hand.
"Third : Schools.-— Under tbe present arrangement it is impossible,
or next to impoaaible, for us to avail ourselves ot our just proportion of
the higher schools in our several towns of which we are constituents.
High schools cannot, necessarily, be itinerant institutions. They mnat
be located in the centre of the towns. Those living in the remote parts
HUDSON.
253
of the town are consequently deprived of much or all of their useful-
neM.
*• To illustrate ; In Marlborough the high school has been established
at ft great expense. The building alone cost nine thousand dollars, which
ivae defrayed by the whole town. The current expense of the school is
not far from twelve hundred dollars per annum, which, of course, is
levietl upon the whole town Now how does it stand with Feltonville '
The afseesors' bookd uf Marlborough will show that there is in that part
"f Marlboroui;h known as Feltonville over one-third of the whole tax.
able property of the town Within the same liraita there are not far from
SCMHi population. Feltonville capital, therefore, has paid, and still is pay-
ing, one-third and more for the high school establishment. How about
the benefit derivable therefrom ? We are credibly informed that for the
past four years, at least, not .1 single pupil from Feltonville haa patron-
ised this school. The sequence is clear. Feltonville capital is paying for
a school some four hundred dollars annually and enjoys nn conceivable
equivalent therefor. The schools in Feltonville are no better and enjoy
no more privileges or advantagcR thMU the schools of the same gnule in
the villages in the centre of the t'-'Wn. The high school for the benefit
nf Feltonville is mere uoniinal, ;iod while we are a part and parcel of
Marlboro' this thing must continue. The distance is so great that it is
entirely impracticable for scholars to i;o to the high school from our vil-
lage. Were we inrorporateil this evil could and would be remedied.
"In the management of our own muuicipal affairs we could provide a
high school for the accommodation of our scholars. There would, in ad-
dition to the cousider.itions ulr*-iidy presented, be a consequential rise in
value of pr-'perty by .vn incorporation. Everything which tends to in-
crease the B4.H:ial, moral or educational advantages of a place necessarily
carries with it an advance in the price of property. The expense of
the government ••i a new town would not be greater (han the outluy we
are suhjecteil to already, whereas our advantages would be increased two-
fold."
This, ;is has been said, was but oae of a series of
letters which appeared la the local papers, and it is
not left to the im:igination to suppose that the facts
thus brought oat gave the citizens food for reflection
which led them to believe that a change was de-
Mirable and must be bad. A.-< a natural result of the
agitation, a notice was inserted in the columns of the
paper frum which we have Just quoted, calling upon
all of the citizens of Feltonville to meet in Union
Hall, Tuesday evening, May 16, 1865, to take some
organized action upon this all-important .subject.
Pur.suant to '.he call upon the evening in question,
the citizens in the village iissembled, and having
elected .lames T. Joslin chairman, and .Silas H. Stu-
art secretary, a general discussion arose, participated
in by many present, and a strong feeling was de-
veloped in favor of separation — peaceable, if possible,
but separation anyway.
It was made ap[)arent also at this meeting that
many citizens of Bolton and Berlin desired to be in-
cluded within the proposed limits of the new town;
this desire upon their part was favored upon the part
of those most prominent in the movement living
within the Marlborough limits.
iMr. Wilbur F. Brigham announced to the meeting
that he had circulated a subscription paper, and that
there was pledged thereon the sum of nine hundred
and seven dollara with which to defray the ex-
penses necessarily to be incurred in carrying out the
work of separation.
Owing to some informality iu calling the meeting,
the nature of which dues not clearly appear at this time,
it was deemed advisable to dissolve and call another
meeting for one week from that evening. This first
meeting had, however, served the purpose for which
it was intended— to give direction and momentum to
local feeling — and upon the evening of Tuesday, the
2.3d day of May, 1865, the citizens of Feltonville
again assembled in Union Hall to take definite action
in regard to a separation fiom Marlborough, whose
original borders had already been reduced by similar
successful movements.
At this meeting Mr. Francis Brigham was chosen
chairman, and Silas H. Stuart secretary. The original
memorandum book of records, kept by Mr. Stuart,
is still fortunately in existence, and from its pages we
are able to gather an abstract of its proceedings.
The following preamble and set of resolutions were
presented to the meeting for its consideration, and,
after some debate, were adopted ; how unanimously
the records do not disclose :
" WHEfiEA^, We, the inhabitants of Feltonville and vicinity, believ-
ing that the time has arrived when it will be for our best interests and
welfare to withdraw from our respective municipal corporations and he
incorporated into a new town ; therefore,
''lietolvpd, That a committee of nine be appointed to take into con-
sideration the subject of establishing the boundary lines of said new
town and the moat feaaible way of drawing up the petition for that
purpose, and that they he instructed to procure such legal advice as they
may deem necessary on the subject, and report at some future meeting,
to be called by them."
It was then voted that the chair appoint a commit-
tee of five to retire and nominate the committee of
nine, and report as soon as may be.
The committee of five thus appointed retired, and,
after due consultation, brought in the following list
of names of nine gentlemen upon whom mainly
should devolve the labor of fixing the limits of the
new town and of arranging the necessary details
leading to the consummation of their purpose and
hopes : Francis Brigham. George Houghton, E. M.
Stowe, S. H. Stuart, J. T. .Joslin, of Feltonville ;
-Vlbert Goodrich, Caleb E. Nourse, J. P. Nourse, of
Bolton ; and Ira H. Brown, of Berlin.
The citizens at large having thus provided the
" sinews of war," and made a selection of their active
agents, no longer appear to have taken an organized
part in the movement, and in following out the fu-
ture movements in this interesting effort for a new
town, we shall have to do only with the doings of the
committee of nine named above.
Again, referring to the records of Clerk Stuart, we
find that this committee convened on the evening of
the 26th, and, with Francis Brigham in the chair,
proceeded to discuss the question of the boundary
line for the new town, ".\fter a thorough investiga-
tion of the subject," says the record, "it was voted to
make the boundary line as follows : Commencing at
a point above the house of Daniel Stratton, in Bolton,
and striking across to a point near the house of Octa
Danforth ; thence to a point near the house of Rufus
Coolidge ; thence across Berlin to the Marlborough
line, near the house of Stephen Fay ; thence following
the town line to the bound on the Northborough
254
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Road ; thence to a point about sixty rods south of
Simeon Cunningham's house ; thence to a point be-
tween the houses of Lewis Hapgood and Aaron May-
nard; thence to Stow line, near what is called ' Mos-
quito Hole ; ' thence by the town line to the point first
mentioned."
This line was changed slightly at the next meet-
ing, so as to take in the E. Maynard and Lewis Hap-
good places.
The committee, through two of its members, having
taken legal counsel of Tappan Went worth, Esq., of Low-
ell, and Charles Hudson, of Lexington, recommended
that three petitions be drawn up and presented to the
next Legislature, one from citizens of Marlborough
for a division of the town, with the citizens of Bolton
and Berlin on the same in aid, and from each of the
last two asking to have portions of Bolton and Berlin
annexed to the new town ; and at the meeting of June
2d the committee voted to recommend the name,
Hudsonas the name of the new town.
Upon the evening of June 13, 1865, the citizens
again convened in Union Hall to hear the report of
their committee of nine upon the question of the
boundary line. At this meeting the line was again
changed slightly in the vicinity of the house of Dan-
iel Stratton, so as to take in a piece of Stow territory.
It was then moved that a new committee of five mem-
bers be formed to make ail the necessary arrangements
for the purpose of incorporating the new town, and
this committee, as made up by the meeting, was as fol-
lows: Francis Brigham, George Houghton and James
T. Joslin, of Feltonville, Mr. Daniel Stratton, of Bol-
ton, and Mr. Ira H. Brown, of Berlin, in whose
hands finally the management and labor of obtaining
an act of incorporation now vested.
At this same meeting an attempt was made to select
the name of the new town, due undoubtedly to the
energy of those who are always desirous of counting
their chickens before they are hatched. It was wisely
voted down, as will appear later, for when this ques-
tion finally came up for settlement it engendered an
amount of feeling that would have probably
wrecked the whole movement at this period.
At a meeting held two months later it was voted to
allow Lyman Perry and others who resided in what is
now commonly called the " Goodale District," to pe-
tition the Legislature at their own expense to be in-
cluded within the limits of the new town, and so fa-
vorably had everything progressed in the work of the
committee of five that the question of a name could
not longer be postponed. It was therefore voted to
mark for a name. Prior to a settlement of the ques-
tion it was stated by citizens of excellent financial
standing that if the new town should be called " Fel-
ton,'' after Silas Felton, who owned a large store and
operated a grist-mill, he would make the town a
present of one thousand dollars, and it was understood
also that Mr. Charles Hudson would donate $500 to
the use of a public library, should the citizens decide
in favor of calling the new town Hudson, in his
honor.
Under these highly interesting circumstances the
vote taken at once arouses our curiosity and we can
easily imagine the excitement and various arguments
for and against the one man and the other, made use
of that evening to influence the minds of the voters.
As the village had always been called Feltonville and
Mr. Felton offered the larger sum of money it would
be natural to suppose that the citizens would favor
the name "Felton," but the secretary's record show.s
that the argument in favor of Hudson was too strong
to be resisted by a majority, and so Hudson it was and
ever will be. The exact vote is worth preservation
and is as follows:
For Butler 1
" Eafltborougb 1
" Felton le
* ' Hudsoo ... 35
making a total of fifty-five votes thrown, not one-
twentieth of the present voting population of the
town.
On motion of Mr. Charles Brigham, who was and
always continued to be a strong adherent of the " Fel-
ton " party, it was unanimously voted to call the new
town Hudson.
The secretary, Stuart, was authorized to collect the
funds subscribed and the field of action was enlarged
and included, as we shall see, the neighboring towns
and finally the Legislature.
We must now return to the committee of five and
record their proceedings, which have been carried on
during this time and simultaneously with the events
which have just been mentioned. Their first act was
to issue proposals for the necessary maps and plans
which should show the boundary lines of the existing
towns, the proposed boundaries of the new town, and
the rivers, railroads, factories and dwelling-houses, in
so far as possible, situated upon the territory in
question.
Mr. George S. Rawson, a civil engineer of the town
of Marlborough located in Feltonville, obtained the
contract, and the committee in its final report to the
citizens stated that his work was performed in a most
satisfactory manner. Provided with the necessary
equipment to render their propositions intelligible,
the Feltonville committee, as they say in their report,
established "a system of diplomacy" between the
committees from the adjoining towns appointed at the
November meetings, at their request and themselves.
The first act was to invite all the committees to " per-
ambulate" the proposed bounds with the Feltonville
committee, and this invitation was accepted by the
Marlborough committee alone. As a result of this
"perambulation" the Marlborough committee voted
unanimously " not to accept or report to the town the
line which had been devised by the citizens of Fel-
tonville," but on their part a line was proposed to run
HUDSON.
255
from Stephen Fay's place on the west to the extreme
easterly bound of Jlarlborough at or near Albion
Parmenter's on the Sudbury road, and this line was
subsequently adopted by both committees although
not all of the Feltonville members were present at the
meeting.
A sub-committse, consisting of Mr. Joslin and Mr.
Brown, was appointed to confer with the Berlin com-
mittee at the office of Dr. Hartshorn, of that town, in
order to arrange, if possible, an amicable settlement by
which the territory asked for from Berlin might be
obtained. Although the committee was courteously
received and the whole question fairly debated, the
proposition of the Feltonville gentlemen to pay the
proportionate part of the town debt, and even more,
was not acceded to, and all negotiations with Berlin
ceased.
The next venture was on the part of another sub-
committee, consisting of Jlr. Brigham, Mr. Houghton
and Jlr. Strattoii, to negotiate an arrangement with
the Bolton committee, but here again the representa-
tives from Feltonville found strong objection and op-
position to their plans. The learned committee on
the part of Bolton were well aware of the important
interests confided to their care, and were on the alert
to guard against the encroachments of the enemy.
The Feltonville committee reported to their col-
leagues that they met the Bolton committee at the
house of S. H. Howe, and tinding "the temper and
spirit of their Bolton friends anything but facile in
the premises, no decisive headway was made toward
an amicable adjustment of differences. This (Bolton)
committee, like the Emperor of France, standing upon
their dignity, and jealous of any infringementof their
territory, neither suggested a change of line nor .sub-
mitted any proi)osition u|)on which it would be po.ssi-
ble to effect a division." The Feltonville committee,
as a last resort, submitted a proposition, which " was
met with ridicule, and thus terminated attempted
negotiations with Bolton." As nothing but a small
portion of land was taken from Stow, no objection on
the part of that town wa.s made to the proposed sep-
aration of the new town.
At the outset, then, the situation with regard to the
surrounding towns was as follows ; Stow acquiescent,
as it had but little interest involved ; Marlborough
practically willing, if obliged to be, but driving the
best bargain possible; Bolton and Berlin in direct
opposition. The Feltonville committee practically
met with a rebuff on all sides, and the work before it
wxs by uo means small or uuimportant.
We have seen that the spirit of the citizens within
the limits of the new town was active and confident,
and their committee, despite the adverse circum-
stances, went to work with a will to secure the desired
end. On the evening of December 18, IStio, the Fel-
tonville committee decided upon and submitted to the
committee on the part of the town of Marlborough
the following proposition : " That the citizen.s of Fel-
tonville, residing within the limits of said contem-
plated new town, will pay to the town of Marlborough
twenty-five per cent, of the debt against the town of
Marlborough, existing at the time an act of incorpor-
ation may be secured, each section to retain the prop-
erty within its own limits without further division,
and each section to support its own paupers, provided,
however, that the town of Marlborough shall not di-
rectly nor indirectly oppose before the Legislature
the prayer of the petition of the citizens of Felton-
ville for an act of incorporation."
This proposition did not meet with any favor among
the Marlborough people, and after much writing be-
tween the committees, and after having a town-meet-
ing at which the citizens of Marlborough adhered to
their committee's propositions, and after further
negotiations, it was agreed that the citizens of Felton-
ville should not be opposed in their effort for a new
town on the following conditions, which were finally
accepted by the Feltonville committee. By this ar-
rangement, the dividing line was made to run from
Stephen Fay's, on the Northborough line, to Albion
Parmenter's, on the Sudbury line, the property in each
section to remain the property of that section, with
the exception of the almshouse real and personal
estate, which, should be sold at auction, the proceeds
to go two-thirds to Marlborough, one-third to Felton-
ville, the new town to pay one-third of the Marl-
borough town debt, and to receive one-third of
whatever might be refunded to the town of Marl-
borough by Massachusetts, or the United States for
bounties paid, or State aid given to families, over
and above reasonable expenses, each town to support
its own paupers.
In this way the primary and most important part
of the work wiis accomplished, and the committees
from the two sections of the old town parted with
mutual expressions of esteem and good will.
Petitions in the mean time had been circulating for
signatures, and were presented to the General Court
at the opening of its session in 1866— one on the part
of the citizens of Feltonville, signed by George Hough-
ton and 264 others ; one representing certain parties in
the northeast part of Marlborough, which had not been
included, as we have seen, in the limits of the new
town, signed by Lyman Perry and seven others, one
on the part of certain residents of the town of Bolton,
signed by Daniel Stratton and twenty-four others ;
and one on the part of certain inhabitants of the
town of Berlin, signed by Ira H. Brown and seven
others. Unfortunately, there was not at this time
entire unanimity on the part of the people living on
the Bolton territory sought to be included in the new
town, and this made an apparent weakness in the peti-
tion on the part of the Bolton people, which was made
use of later on in the legislative hearings to defeat the
efforts of the petitioners to secure the desired territory
from the town of Bolton.
These petitioas were referred in due course to the
256
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Joint Standing Committee on Towns, and on Janu-
ary 30, 1866, the matter was set down for a hearing
before that committee. It needs no stretch of the
imagination to believe that January 30th was a day
of great, though suppressed, excitement on the part of
the advocates of the new town, and that large num-
bers took the first train over the Fitchburg, either as
witnesses or spectators, for the scene of the argumen-
tative battle which meant so much tothedivisionists.
■ That the adjoining towns of Bolton and Berlin felt it
to be an important matter is seen from the fact that
such well-known advocates as the present United
States Senator Hoar, Charles G. Stevens, of Clinton,
and Dr. Hartshorn, of Berlin, were in attendance, to
guard the interests of Worcester County, Bolton and
Berlin respectively. To Mr. James T. Joslin, of the
committee, was assigned the task of presenting the
cause of the petitioners, who asked the committee to
assign a day when they would view the premises.
February 1st was appointed, and on that day the
committee accompanied by Senator J. W. P. Abbott,
of Westford, of this district, Representative Nahum
Witherbee, of the House, and representatives of the
different parties in interest, came to Feltonville, drove
to Bolton and Berlin, and returned to Boston by way
of Marlborough and the Old Colony road.
The committee was thus enabled to see the exact
situation of the respective towns with regard to each
other and to form an idea of the capabilities of the
section for sustaining a town government. Stopping
for dinner, we are sure that the ladies of Feltonville
put in an argument which had telling effect, in the
way of all the dainties and delicacies of the season.
On the 13th day of February the committee resumed
its hearings, which continued for four days, taking
testimony, and on the fifth day the flood-gates of elo-
quence were let loose. The speeches of the counsel
for the several parties were reported stenographically
at the time, and printed in full in the local paper, and
wp are thus enabled to read at this time the respective
arguments for and against this movement.
Dr. Hartshorn, of Berlin, was the first to take the
floor, and made a brief but concise and forcible argu-
ment in behalf of Berlin alone, leaving it to Mr.
Hoar to deal with the larger interests of Worcester
County and Bolton. The speaker insisted that the
desired territory from his town should not be given
the new town of Hudson because this matter of get-
ting an act of incorporation was merely the ambitious
scheme of the two leading manufacturers of Hudson,
Messrs. Brigham and Houghton, for their own ag-
grandizement, and was opposed to the wishes of the
town of Berlin, one hundred and eighty-oue of whose
voters had signed a remonstrance to the General Court.
He declared that the evidence presented to the com-
mittee showed that the main, if not the only, purpose
of the petitioners in wishing to get this territory was
to give the new town a better shape topographically,
and to make a little better school district by adding a
dozen houses to the undesirable territory obtained on
that side from the town of Marlborough. In discuss-
ing the petitioners for this measure, in which he was
directly interested for the town of Berlin, he said
they were of two kinds, those from Marlborough and
those from Berlin. Of the Marlborough petitioners
he said that they had no moral weight or standing in
the matter, as they were not residents, and could as
well petition for a part of Boston or Nantucket. Con-
cerning the Berlin petitioners, seven or eight in num-
ber, he declared that only two owned real estate, and
that but a small per cent, of the whole territory asked
for, either in value or extent. An eminent man in
his chosen profession, one cannot fail to see from
reading this speech that he was by no means un-
acquainted with argumentative weapons or unskilled
in their use. He certainly made a good use of every
opportunity presented to him on thi.s occasion.
The argument of Mr. Hoar was based largely upon the
theory that it would be unconstitutional if an .ict were
passed granting the wishes of the petitioners in regard
to Bolton and Berlin, because it would interfere with
the lines already established for senatorial, congress-
ional and councilor districts, at that time made to
conform to county lines, that the decennial census had
just been taken and these lines could not be
changed until the next one was taken, and until that
time Hudson's citizens would be voters in one place
for one purpose and in another place for others — an
impracticable and improper arrangement — and even if
it were possible to be done, it would violate that pro-
vision of the State Constitution which provides that
no town or ward shall be divided in making up repre-
sentative districts. He also claimed that it was against
public policy to destroy the unity of the older towns
for the sake of pleasing the younger manufacturing
centres, and that existing towns'should be kept intact
for the very purposeof having different purposes united
in one community, that each may profit from the other.
He depicted in eloquent language the tender associa-
tions, memories, and affections of citizens for their
native towns and expressed the hope that these would
not be destroyed in this instance. He touched upon
the fact that some of the present residents of the por-
tion desired from Bolton did not favor the petition,
and pictured in vivid colors the practical desolation
and annihilation of the old town of Bolton, should
Hudson's wishes be granted. Calling to mind the
great ability of Senator Hoar both as a speaker and
acute reasoner, it is hardly necessary to remark that
his argument, which is only poorly analyzed here,
must have had great weight with the committee.
Mr. Joslin, in closing the case for the petitioners,
answered the objections of counsel for the remon-
strants, especially Mr. Hoar, claiming that not only
was the request of the petitioners constitutional, but
also one that in like cases had been frequently granted
by the Legislature; that the question of changing
boundary lines was entirely within the scope of legis-
HUDSON.
257
lative authority, and had been extended alike to town,
county, and even State lines, with the permission of
Congress, and cited numerous instances, which he
claimed sustained his position. Referring to the rel-
ative situation of the towns in interest, he claimed
that Hudson's situation was such that naturally she
did not obtain her full share of municipal privileges,
by that fact alone and not on account of any unfriend-
liness on the part of the mother towns ; that the growth
of the place was retarded on account of this fact of its
undesirable position and inability to expand in a nat-
ural manner. He maintained that this movement on
the part of the citizens of Feltonville was in the di-
rect line of progress, and that it was not merely not
good policy, but also extremely Unjust to an enterpris-
ing community to force it to remain shackled to old
and decaying towns. In closing he marshaled before
the committee the many advantages that would result
to the new town, presented statistics to show that the
village of Feltonville contained all the elements of a
successful town, and appealed to their knowledge of
the results in similar instances in the past to support
him in the statement that no such ruin as had been |
claimed would result to the older towns of Bolton and
Berlin from having a distantand differing community
taken from them.
The subject of an act of incorporation for the place '
of his adoption was one dear to Mr. Joslin's heart, to !
which he had applied himself arduously and enthasi-
astically, and had studied thoroughly, and these facts,
together with the fact that he was a young man with |
his spurs to win, must have inspired him to make the {
effort of his life, and say, as he did in the opening of
his argument, that he felt that he had been guilty i
almost of a criniinai act to undertake so important a
matter as the one before them without other and legal
assistance. |
A week later the committee reported in favor of an ^
act of incorporation from the Marlborough and Stow |
territory asked for, but refused the petitioners' request t
in regard to the Bolton and Berlin territory. The
reasons for this refusal were the want of unanimity on !
the part of those living on the desired territory and '
the difficulties with respect to political boundaries re-
ferred to above. An act embodying this decision of I
the committee was soon passed through the successive ,
legislative stages and was signed by Governor Bui- i
lock, March 19, 1866, from which time the corporate
existence of Hudson takes its date. j
In accordance with the provisions of section six of i
the act of incorporation, two days later, on March 21st,
Charles H. Robinson, a justice of the peace, issued a
warrant to James T. Josiin, one of the inhabitants of ;
the new town, requiring him to notify the inhabitants
to meet in " Union Hall " on the following March |
3l3t to elect the necessary town otficers, and with the i
election of these officers on that day the new town
was successfully launched upon its municipal career.
Without giving the names of all of those who have
17-iii
held town office daring the last twenty-four years, it
may not be without interest to many to note the
names of the first officers chosen to preside over the
interests of the people of this place. They are as
follows : Selectmen, Charles H. Robinson, William
F. Trowbridge, George Houghton ; Town Clerk, Silas
H. Stuart ; Assessors, Alonzo Wood, George Stratton,
Lyman Perry ; Overseers of the Poor, Augustus K.
Graves, Luman T. Jefts, John A. Howe ; Inspecting
School Committee, Rev. H. C. Dugan, George S.
Rawson, David B. Goodale ; Treasurer and Collector,
George L. Manson ; Constable, William L. Witham.
One week previous to this first town-meeting, on
the evening of March 24th, the citizens of Feltonville
met to hear the report of their committee upon incor-
poration, of which so much has been said heretofore.
The committee reported in writing, and, with con-
siderable attention to all the details reported its pro-
ceedings from the time of its formation to the final
passage of the act of incorporation, and in closing
made use of the following language, which might
very appropriately be inscribed upon the walls of the
Town Hall for the guidance of its citizens in town
affairs : "The State in its wisdom has conferred upon
us municipal privileges and rights, and now the State
demands that we as citizens shall so exercise these
rights and privileges that no blot shall be placed up-
on the early history of our town to stand as a lasting
disgrace through M coming time, nor that the para-
mount interests of the State shall suffer any injury
through our rashness and indiscretion." The money
subscribed was more than sufficient to pay all the
bills incurred in obtaining this act from the Legisla-
ture, and it may be of interest to note at this time in
connection with the large sums of money which are
being paid for services in attempting to obtain acts
of incorporation, the exact amount which was paid
out by the committee of the citizens of Feltonville.
According to the statement of the expenses of the
committee, the entire outlay was $889.15, $400 of
which was for surveying, $433.65 was for expenses at
legislative hearings and the balance for sundry items.
According to the statements of those now living who
were actively interested in this matter, no lobbying
was indulged in, no lobbyists hired or unworthy
methods employed to gain the desired end, although
previously large amounts had been spent by other
towns in this way and the feeling at just that time
was decidedly against the incorporation of new towns.
Hudson, therefore, started upon its history with a clean
and honorable record, and without any unplesisant
feeling toward it on the part of the older towns from
which it had been taken. The question of the name
was the only thing which had arisen to disturb the
entire unanimity of her citizens, and it is undoubtedly
true that there will be many who will always claim
that the wrong name was finally adopted. All that
was desired or that was really needed to make the new
town what it should be, as we have seen, was not ob-
258
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
tained in the first act of incorporation, and Messrs.
Brigham and Houghton were not in the habit of
yielding a point which they had started to make, es-
pecially in a matter of this kind where they felt
themselves to be in the right.
Consequently before the next Legislature assem-
bled, new petitions were circulated, signed and pre-
sented at the proper time to the General Court ask-
ing, this time, only for the territory from Bolton, the
committee on the part of Hudson deciding by a ma-
jority vote that the Berlin territory was not of enough
consequence to repay any further labor in obtaining
it. With the growth of the town in a westerly direc-
tion and the need that is being felt more and more
every year, it is unfortunate perhaps that this deci-
sion was made, as it is becoming evideut yearly that
this Berlin territory would be a valuable addition to
Hudson, but, left as it is, can never be of much value
to the town of Berlin, and will never grow in popula-
tion or value as it now is.
It is unnecessary to go into detail as to the second
contest over the Bolton territory, except to say that
it was conducted practically in the same manner
and upon the same lines as in the previous year on
the part of the petitioners. Mr. Hoar, however, did
not appear again in the matter, and the counsel for
the town of Bolton resisted the petition upon the
same grounds presented before, dropping as unten-
able Mr. Hoar's theory of the unconstituliouality of
a change of county or political lines. The petition-
ers obtained a favorable report from the Committee on
Towns, but were beaten by a majority of one in the
House. This was u disappointing result to the Hud-
son party, and immediately new petitions were sent
out and preparations made for a renewal of the con-
test before the Legislature to convene in ISrtS.
When it was found that nothing less than separation
would satisfy the people living on the territory in dis-
pute, the committee representing the town of Bolton
came to the conclusion that it waa only a question of
time when they would be obliged to assent, and that,
as discretion is the better part of valor, the proper
thing to do was to let them go and make the best
bargain possible for Bolton. The Hudson committee
of five, consisting of Francis Brigham, Joseph S.
Bradley, George Houghton, James T. Joslin and
Augustus K. Graves, therefore found an entirely dif-
ferent disposition manifested on the part of their old
adversaries in the fall of '67, when they met to make
preparations for a renewal of the contest before the
Legislature of '68. Those who were interested in
being set otf to Hudson selected a committee of five,
consisting of R. W. Derby, A. A. Powers, Jonathan
P. Nourse, George A. Tripp and Daniel Stratton, and
the town of Bolton's committee of five consisted of
Amory Holman, E. A. Whitcomb, N. A. Newton,
Joshua E. Sawyer and Roswell Barrett. These com-
mittees met several times to discuss the different
phases of the situation, and after several conferences,
at which many speeches were made, and much wit
and eloquence expended, an agreement was made and
entered into, signed by the respective committees,
which provided for a commission of three competent
and disinterested persons who were resident without
the limits of the counties of Worcester and Middlesex,
and had not been at any time a member of any legis-
lative Committee on Towns before which the matter
had been previously heard, the chairman of the com-
mission to be chosen by Bolton and Hudson jointly,
;ind either town to select one of the other members of
the board ; this commission to decide as to the pro-
posed lines of division, and to name the terms upon
which the division should take place, the decision of
the commission to be tinal and binding upon all par-
ties and to be reported to the Joint Standing Com-
mittee on Towns of the next Legislature within thirty
days, to be passed through the Legislature as the wish
of all parties.
In accordance with the terms of this agreement the
representatives of Hudson and Bolton jointly selected
Hon. James D. Colt, of Pittsfield, Mass., as chairman
of the commission, the Hudson committee and the
petitioners selected as their member Hon. Josiah G.
Abbott, and the Bolton committee selected as their
representative Hon. <ieorge P. r>anger, the two last
named being residents of Boston, all lawyers, and all
having been judges of the higher courts of Massachu-
setts. These gentlemen accepted their appointment
aud met as a body in Union Hall, Hudson, Tuesday,
February IS, 1S6S, to view the premises and hear
the respective parties in interest. The commission
sat two days in Union Hall and one day at the Town
Hall in Bolton. After due deliberation, the commis-
sion made a unanimous finding, fixing the town
boundaries as they now exist, and providing for an
equitable settlement of the financial relations of the
respective towns, including the payment by Hudson
to Bolton of the sum of ?~10,OU0 as an equivalent for
(he territory set oti' to Hudson, the inhabitants of
this territory to pay their back taxes and other obli-
gations, if any, to the town of Bolton. A Legislative
act embodying this finding was submitted to the leg-
islature, met no opposition there, and by the signature
of Gov. Bullock, on JLirch 20, 1868, became an
established law, and ended the struggle between
Bolton and Hudson, which had been going on for
three years. By this addition Hudson gained a large
number of new inhabitants of sterling character, a
large amount of most valuable territory, and rounded
out the limits of the town upon that side as chey
should be properly, and making the encroachment of
Berlin upon that side even more noticeable and
embarrassing — so undesirable, in fact, that it ig entirely
within reason to suppose that not many more years
will pass by, without some effort being made to obtain
the territory which the old committee of '67 decided
not to ask for.
With this very brief risume of the history of Hud-
HUDSON.
250
son's incorporation, a history which contains many
novel features and reflects great credit upon all of its
citizens in general and the committees having it in
charge in particular, it will be necessary to take leave
of this branch of the story. For the present it is
sufficient to say that the new town, after the act of
1868 including the Bolton territory within its limits,
had all the elements of a successful township, a suffi-
ciently wide extent of territory, a larger population
than is usually found in new towns, its citizens very
intelligent and actively engaged in mercantile and
manufacturing pursuits, its voters wide awake and
imbued with a spirit of progress in all things which
prophesied the future growth and success of the
town. To give the names of all those who have
successively held public office and been honored by
its citizens for their ability and devotion is not neces-
sary here, as they can all be found in any collection
of the town's annual reports, and space here forbids
any mention of pi'blic acts except those connected
with the greatest advance or change in the town's
welfare.
Educational. — In the matter of education the
town has always been active, and occupies a fair
position in this respect among the other towns of the
State. The tirst school-house was built in 1812. Its
history is a fair sample of the energy of her sons.
At the beginning of the present century there was
only one school-house on their territory. This was
two miles from the " mills," and there was no direct
road between the two places. The people believed
they should have better accommodations for their
children, and began the struggle in a town-meeting.
In 1812 they succeeded in getting a new district
formed and a new school-house voted. There was
much opposition manifested after the meeting, and it
seemed very probable that the vote would be rescinded
at the adjourned meeting, but before the day of ad-
journment came the people had cut down trees, sawed
them into timber, and had the house completed and
ready for occupancy. This was situated on what is
now Washington Street, where Mrs. Ada T. Woods'
house stands. This sufficed until 1855, when there
were demands for a larger and better building. This
time the citizens of Feltonville couldn't agree among
themselves on which side of the river it should be
placed. Finally a site was selected by measuring
from each man's door-yard to get a geographical
centre. This centre was located on the south side of
the river, and a building was erected which is now
known as the School Street Building. This was the
only school building in the village at the time of the
incorporation, though there were two in the outlying
districts.
The new town immediately set at work upon a new
building in the centre and one in the westerly part,
which were completed in 1867 at an expense of over
$13,000. In 1878 another building was erected on
Green Street, and in 1882 a handsome and commodious
brick building was erected on Felton Street for the
use of the High and Grammar schools at an expense
of some $15,000. Twenty teachers are now employed,
some of whom have been in the service of the town
for many years. Appropriations have increased from
$3,000 in 1866, to over $10,000 in 1890.
It has kept pace with its buildings in the course of
study and grading of schools. At the date of in-
corporation the schools were racher of the "district"
order. The first committee set at work to better the
condition, and easy but gradual advancement was
made until the system was completely graded and up
to the standard of the State. This first School Com-
mittee consisted of George S. Rawson, David B. Good-
ale and H. G. Dugan. Two years later Dr. James L.
Harriman was elected a member, and has served con-
tinuously to the present time. Of the male teachers,
Mr. Lucius Brown, the grammar school master, has
been in service ever since 1878.
When the town was incorporated there was a High
Grammar school out of which grew the present High
School. There have been seven principals, as fol-
lows : W. C. Ficket, 1866-69 ; E. P. Gerry, 1869-71 ;
E. R. Coburn, 1871-73; Albert Stetson, George B.
Towle, 1873-74 ; Frank T. Beede, 1874-79 ; Walter
H. Small, 1879-
Foi the first seven years it was not graded, had no
well-defined oourse of study and no assistant. A
course was arranged in 1873, and an assistant engaged.
There have been nine assistants : Miss S. F. Litch-
field, 1873-75 ; Miss E. P. Parsons, 1875-76 ; Miss
Mary L. Locke, 1876-77; Miss M. E. Manning,
1877-78 ; Miss Belle Copp, 1878, one term ; Miss F.
C. Foote, 1878-80 ; Miss R. H. Davies, 1880-82 ;
Miss E. C. Atkinson, 1882-83 ; Miss C. Belle Gleason.
1883.
Miss W. May Crook was added as a second assistant
in 1890.
Three buildings have been used: School Street
building, 1866-67; High Street building, 1867-83;
Felton Street building, 1883—.
The number of pupils has varied from thirteen in
1869 to eighty-five in 1889.
Sixteen classes have been graduated, comprising
ninety-six young ladies and forty-five young gentle-
men.
The school equipment has grown from a dictionary
and atlas to a well-selected library in a reference
room, opening from the school rooms; from a single
pneumatic trough for chemical experiments to a
well-stocked laboratory. The most improved ana-
tomical and astronomical charts are used ; and the
foundation of a geological cabinet has been laid.
Philosophical apparatus is also being gradually col-
lected.
The school keeps pace with the needs of the town,
and offers educational advantages equal to any out-
side of the cities.
There have been naturally more frequent changes
260
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
in the liat of teachers in the remaining schools, but
it is worth while to mention the fact that Miss Mary
E. Hall is the senior teacher in point of consecutive
service, she having been engaged in different schools
in town since 1875, more than fifteen years.
Public Library. — To supplement the schools a
good public library is a necessity. The Hon. Charles
Hudson, after whom, as we have seen, the town was
named, recognized this fact, and, in his letter thank-
ing the people for the great compliment extended to
him, made this proposition : " If the town of Hudson
at a legal meeting called for that purpose, vote to
establish a free town library for the use of all the in-
habitants of the town, and shall appropriate or other-
wise secure the sum of five hundred dollars, to be de-
voted to that object, they may call upon me, my
executors or administrators, for the like sum of five
hundred dollars, to be expended in furtherance of
that object."
The town voted to accept and voted the necessary
five hundred dollars. A committee, consisting of
James T. Joslin, David B. Goodale and Luman T.
Jefls, was selected to carry the vote into effect. The
town received additional donations of SlOO from Mrs.
Caroline Wood and $25 from Silas F. Manson. In
November, 1868, the town voted S200 more. With
this the trustees purchased 721 books for general cir-
culation and about 200 volumes for reference. The
library was opened in the room now known as Coch-
ran's drug-store, with Ira B. Goodrich as its first
librarian. Its circulation the first year was 5214 vol-
umes to 461 different people. In 1871 it was moved
into the Savings Bank room, and in 1873 to its per-
manent home in the town hall building. During
this year it received a bequest from Mrs. Emily Bai-
ley of fifty dollars and a gift of twenty-seven volumes
from Hon. Charles Hudson, since which timethetowu
has made liberal appropriations yearly, and the library
lias grown to some 5000 volumes, with a circulation of
neariy 17,000. The trustees in their last report say :
" The Library is steadily growing in numbers, 350
new books having been added this year, and is as
.steadily growing in public favor. Considering the
few hours per week the Library is open, the demand
is an honor to the intelligence of the town. In two
years 383 new names have been added to the list of
patrons, and over 4000 more books have been drawn."
The present librarian is Mrs. (irace M. Whittemore
and the Board of Trustees consists of W. E. C. Wor-
cester, F. 0. Welsh and W. H. Small, each of whom
has been successively elected to the position, three
terms of three years each.
TowN-HoosE. — Hudson has always been progres-
sive in her public buildings. Five years after incor-
poration, after it had laid out and constructed roads,
provided for the schools and whatever was deemed
necessary for the public prosperity, it was decided to
build a town-hall, one which would suflSce, not for the
present only, but for a prosperous future. A location
directly in the centre of the town was selected, rising
gradually from the main street, and on it was erected
the large brick structure which stands as a monument
to the large-headedness of its projectors, and the lib-
erality of the town in her early years. The building
is fifty-five by ninety-seven feet with a vestibule
seventeen by thirty-four feet. It is built of brick,
with granite keystones and trimmings. The lower
story is twelve feet high and contains the rooms for
the town officers, the public library, the national
bank and a small hall for caucuses and small gather-
ings. The second story is twenty-two feet high, with
stage and gallery, finely frescoed, heated by steam and
lighted by electricity. The third story is a series of
rooms, used by Doric Lodge, X. F. and A. M., and
Trinity Commandery. The cost of the building was
$48,531, the site and grading coft $10,000 and about
$2500 have been spent in ornamenting the grounds.
The grounds are made into beautiful lawns, surround-
ed by granite curbing. Abundant shade-trees have
been planted and all the walks are concreted. Few
towns can boast of so thorough and beautiful a hall
as this. It was completed and publicly dedicated
September 26, 1872. Though the town has more
than doubled since then, it still remains large enough
for all requirements.
Fire Departjiext. — The first movement towards
forming a Fire Department was made January 17,
1842, when there was called " a meeting of the young
men of Feltonville to take into consideration the best
methods of forming an engine company." Felton-
ville Engine Company was formed with a member-
ship of twenty-one men, embracing many who were
afterwards prominently connected with the growth
and mercantile interests of the town. Francis Brig-
ham was the first foreman, .lames Wilson, second
foreman, and Francis D. Brigham, clerk and treas-
urer. The latter received the munificent salary of
two dollars per year for his services. No one -could
become a member after election by the company until
he had been approved by the selectmen. The engine
was procured about the middle of the year, and was a
veritable " tub," as she had no suction hose and had
to be filled by pails. She was procured mainly
through the efforts of Mr. Charles Brigham, and cost
about $200. A syndicate was formed, and sha/es
were subscribed for by different people in the village,
until a sufficient sum was raised to make the pur-
chase. Mr. Brigham is believed to be the only sur-
viving member of that first and very original syndi-
cate. In a year's time some of the " volunteers" be-
came weary of their duties and withdrew ; a new
company was formed, but it was not very prosperous,
as the close of the year showed only seventy-five
cents in the treasury. This company existed until
1847, when a second reformation was made. In 1849
Marlborough voted to fiirnish Feltonville an engine if
the citizens of the village would furnish the engine-
house and company. A company of thirty-eight was
HUDSON.
261
formed and the engine was received July 9th. The
name of the engine was " Hydrauiicon No. 3." Her
first actual service was at a tire in the south part of
Bolton, on November 14th. The first muster ever
held in the village was on December Ist, when the
two engines from the centre came over for a friendly
bout.
The records say : " They were received near the
house of Charles Brigham, where a column was formed
and marched through the principal streets, as far as
the house of Mr. Jones, and thence to Stephen Pope's,
thence to the left over the bridge, thence to the right
on to the spot selected for the trial, near the house of
Captain Wood. After several trials No. 2 gave up,
their machine being out of order. The line was re-
formed, and the companies marched to the square in
front of the Mansion House. Members and invited
guests moved to the hall, where refreshments were
prepared by Landlord Cox in excellent style." Sep-
tember 7, 1857, the name was changed to Eureka,
a name held and made prominent ever since. The
present house was built January, 1860, and duly cele-
brated. The present engine was purchased in May,
1872, and has won many prizes — five first, five second
and, one each, third, fourth and fifth ; in all aggre-
gating $2360. The most famous match was with
the E. P. Walker Engine Company, of Vinalhaven,
Me., for a purse of S2000. The trial took place at
Portland, Me., October 12, 187.J. The Eureka
made the grand record of 229 feet lA inches. Besides
this, the oldest company in the history of the town,
there is the Bucket Hook-and-Ladder Company, In-
dependent Hose, Eureka Hose, H. E. Stowe Hose and
the Relief Hook-and-Ladder Companies. These
companies, with 100 hydrants to furnish water, afford
ample protection against fire, as ha.s been proved in
many cases.
The town ha."* uot been visited by many disa-strous
fires, though the records show many smaller confia-
grations. The first extensive fire was the piano-shop
of Kaler & Shaw, on Broad Street, July 4, 1874. Oc-
tober 3, 1880, occurred the fire which consumed the
wooden block on Main Street, opposite the town-
house, and the Hudson House. September 18, 1882,
the brick factory of F. Brigham i*c Company was
burned, at a loss of $60,00i). May 9, 1885, Dunn,
Green & Co.'s tannery was damaged to the extent of
over S30,000. This was the most stubborn fire ever
encountered by the firemen, and it seems very evident
that the whole business section of the town would
have been swept away, had it uot been for the new
water-works, which at that time had been in opera-
tion only a few months, and had not been subjected
to a fire test before. Their thorough efficiency was
proved, and few carpers against them could be found
the next day. They had saved over five times their
cost in that one night.
Water-Works. — The sources of Hudson's water
supply is from a lake two miles distant, fed wholly
by springs, and furnishing the purest and softest of
water. The lake has an area of ninety acres, and is
located above the town, at an elevation sufficient to
furnish the water by gravity, with a good head.
More than twelve miles of main have been put in,
and the water is almost universally used in town,
paying a handsome per cent on the investment.
The matter first came before the town in Article 4
of the warrant for town-meeting, held November 7,
1882, which is as follows :
*' To Bee if the tovm willcbooee a committee to take into conflidenttion
and InveBtlgate the matter of aopplying tlie town with water, and, if
conRidered by them practicable and judicious, to petition the Legislature,
in behalf of the town, to grant them leave to take water from Gates
Pond in Berlin or any other suitable place or pond in the vicinity of
Hudson, or construct a reservoir on Pope's Hill, so-called, so as to force
water into the earoe for the use and supply of the inhabitants of the
town, or do or act anything respecting the same."
The town voted : " That a committee of fifteen be
nominated by the Board of Selectmen and reported
to the town at this meeting for their acceptance,
whose duty it shall be to take into consideration the
whole subject-matter of this article, and if consid-
ered by them advisable, said committee is hereby
clothed with full power to carry into efifect the full
intent and meaning of the same." The town chose
as this committee : Benjamin Dearborn, Edmund M.
Stowe, William F. Trowbridge, Charles H. Robinson,
Luman T. Jefts, George Houghton, Joseph S. Bradley,
David B. Goodale, Cyrus D. Munson, Rufus H. Brig-
ham, Henry Tower, James T. Joslin, Rufus Howe,
.V. K. Graves and Daniel W. Stratton.
The committee organized with Charles H. Robin-
son, chairman, and D. W. Stratton, secretary, and at
once proceeded to investigate the matter very fully.
They looked into the cost in other towns, the system
used, whence water could be obtained in .sufficient
supply and purity, and finally recommended that the
town appropriate a sufficient sum to pay for a survey
and plan for taking water from Gates Pond, and esti-
mated cost of construction of the works. In April,
18S3, $300 was voted for this purpose. An act had
been brought up in the Legislature, and it was passed
April 25, 1883. M. M. Tidd was employed as engi-
neer. • He made a thorough survey and reported : " We
find Gates Pond in Berlin to have an area of ninety
acres at its present level. It is a natural pond located
in a country that appears to possess all of the quali-
fications desired.
" It is well removed from settlements, whose drain-
age might be injurious. The water-shed is clean with
a rocky foundation and is precipitous. The pond is
unusually clean ; the water is soft, limpid, agreeable
to the taste, and is without doubt large enough to
contain nearly all the water which the shed is capa-
ble of discharging into it. On account of the steep
character of its shed it is probable that something
more than fifty per cent of the water will be collected
there. The water-shed contains 141 acres, from which
twenty-one inches in depth can be collected annually.
262
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
This would give 80,613,225 gallons per year, or 220.-
858 gAlloos per day, equals 55.2 gallons per day per
head for 4000 inhabitants for 365 days per year. The
situation of Gates Pond is such that a dam can, at
comparatively small expense, be constructed at the
outlet which will hold the water nine feet higher
than the present water level, without materially dam-
aging any one, thus creating an additional storage
capacity of 212,355,000 gallons, which can be drawn
upon in case of a long-continued drought.
" In case that no rain at all occurred for an entire
year, this amount of water alone, after deducting 42
inches for evaporation, would fiirnish the town with
581,000 gallons per day for a year. The water in
Gates Pond at the present time is at an elevation of
103 feet above the curb-stone in the sidewalk at the
poBt-office, and 112 feet above the sidewalk at the fac-
tory of Stowe, Bills & Hawley. This will give at the
post-oflBce an IJ-inch fire-stream through 100 feet
of 2J-inch hose that will reach 125 feet horizontal,
or 87 feet high, and will discharge 197 gallons per
minute. This will reach the top of any building in
Hudson audi think would be considered a good fire-
stream."
The report gives a plan of the proposed works at a
coat of a little more than $70,000. The report of the
committee of fifteen, embodying the report of the en-
gineer, was submitted to the town at a meeting held
December 1, 1883, and the Act of the Legislature was
accepted by a vote of 191 to 90, eleven more than the
necessary two-thirds. The record of this meeting
shows the following : Voted, " That the town of Hud-
son will introduce water from Gates Pond in Berlin,
for the purpose of extinguishing fires, and for domes-
tic uses or otherwise, and will proceed to construct
the necessary structures and appliances there." Voted,
" To elect three persons to act as Board of Water
Commissioners." Charles H. Robinson, Edmund M.
Stowe and Benjamin Dearborn were elected and
duly qualified in accordance with the provisions of
chapter 149, of the Acts of the Legislature, for the
year 1883.
In December of the same year it was voted to leave
the whole matter of raising the money in the hands
of the water commissioners and the town treasurer.
The contract for construction was let to Goodhue &
Birney for $64,000. Water was let on for town use
December 16, 1884. There were 114 water-takers at
the time, 8.2 miles of pipe had been laid. A dam was
built at the lower end of the pond, enlarging the area,
raising the surface of the pond and increasing the
head, so that the following results were obtained: At
Benjamin Hastings a head of 75 feet ; at corner of
Central and River Streets, 95 feet; at Wood Square,
110 feet, and at Stowe, Bills and Hawley's, 119 feet.
Extensions have been made every year until there
are 12.81 miles of pipes; January 1, 1890, the water
was used by 547 families for domestic purposes, and
the town had 99 fire-hydrants. The water loan has
been increased to $125,000. The income from all
sources for 1889 was $7602.07, or deducting the hy-
drant service, $1500, leaves $6102.07. As the net
water debt at that date was less than $90,000, it makes
a remarkably good investment for the town, the value
of which will increase every year.
CoJiMUNiCATiON. — In 1828 a post-office was estab-
lished at the " Mills" and the name given it was
" Feltonville," from Postmaster Felton, and a mail
and passenger stage was put on the road to Boston.
The route was over the old Sudbury road. The
horses were changed at Wayland. Wagons were driven
over the same road for all mill supplies and general
merchandise. Mr. Gilman Hapgood, who did much
of this business, still survives. After the Fitchburg
Railroad was built through South Acton some of the
freight and passenger business turned in that direction,
but not enough to destroy the old route. In 1847
the present branch of the Fitchburg was laid out, the
people generally contributing the land, but the rail-
road building the road at their own expense. Owing
to a little diflSculty with the citizens of Stowe because
the line did not pass through the centre of their town,
but through that part known as Rockbottom, the line
was not pushed to completion until after 1850. When
the line came to Feltonville, the engine was housed
in George Houghton's factory. In 1853 the line was
pushed to Marlborough. A ledge was struck of so
formidable proportions that the company were on the
point of abandoning the extension, believing that the
business would not warrant the expense. Finally, on
solicitation of "Uncle" Charles Brigham, the com-
pany, then called the Marlborough Branch Railroad
Company, agreed to complete it if he would give them
a warranty deed of all the land they crossed, belonging
to him. This was done, the road was completed, and,
as Mr. Brigham says, " I didn't get much out of it."
It was of course of great general benefit to the settle-
ment, though rather erratic in its movements in its
first years. In one of the first winters no train was
seen for five days. Its first fare to Boston was one
dollar and ten cents, more than the fare for the round
trip to-day.
The facilities afforded by the Fitchburg Railroad
Company have been increased and improved from
year to year with the increase in size and wealth of
the company, and a new and excellent passenger sta-
tion has but recently been completed in the place for
its patrons. Its yard accommodations for handling
freight and coal are very extensive and convenient,
but there has always been a vital objection to it as a
passenger route to Boston on account of its roundabout
course, its unnecessary length. Any town's growth is
seriously impeded which is at the mercy of a single
railroad for passenger and freight rates, and it was al-
ways the desire of those farthest sighted to have Hud-
son so situated as to be able to command a direct
route to Boston by competitive lines.
From the town records it appears that as early as
HUDSON.
263
November 3, 18G8, at a town-meeting held upon that
date, the question of a railroad from Northampton to
Sudbury was broached. This road was to be called
the Massachusetts Central Railroad and was to con-
nect with Sudbury and Wayland Railroad, running
from Sudbury to Stony Brook Station upon the Fitch-
burg line. A vote was passed authorizing the select-
men to petition the Legislature for an act of incorpor-
ation for such a road, with a capital stock of three
millions of dollars. A copy of the petition which was
presented to the Legislature is upon record, and a
most devious route would have been followed, had the
road been put through al! the towns named in it.
Those most actively interested in the new route
secured from the Legislature of 1869 an act of incor-
poration for a road from Williamsburg, Mass., to Sud-
bury. This act also allowed the consolidation of the
Wayland and Sudbury road with it, so thatthe'eastern
terminus would be at Stony Brook as stated. Francis
Brigham, of Hudson, is named in this act (chapter 260,
Acts of 1869) as one of the corporators, and under its
provisions the towns mentioned in it, through which
the road might pass, had the power to subscribe and
incur a debt to an amount not exceeding five percent,
of its assessed valuation for the purchase of the capi-
tal stock to assist in building the road.
In accordance with this act, the town of Hudson
at a meeting held November 2, 1869, voted to sub-
scribe for five hundred and fifty shares of the common
stock of the company and to issue bonds to the
amount of fifty-five thousand dollars to pay for the
same. Later on, in 1872, it was voted to make notes
instead of bonds, to be paid in not less than five nor
more than twenty years. It should be noted that at
the time Ihis vote to subscribe was passed, the town
had had a corporate e.tistence but little more than
three years, and the sum voted under the circum-
stances was a very large one, showing the enterprise i
of the place, and the confidence of the people in the
benefit that would follow to the town from the build-
ing of the road.
The history of the building of the road is about like
that of most of our railroads ; first, a delay on ac-
count of the crisis of 1873, then a failure on the part
of those in control to adopt the best methods, fre-
quent changes in the management, all conspiring
with the opposition of older and competing lines to
obstruct the building of the road. Meanwhile the
funds of the corporation were being spent in the con-
struction of the line atdiflerentpoints wide apart, but
nothing effective was done or any apparent result ar-
rived at until the road became almost a laughing-stock,
and was despaired of by all except ita most ardent
friends, some of whom were in Hudson. Throughout
this period of depression the town of Hudson, by its
votes, acceded to all the requests of the managers of
the line to help it out of difficulty. In June, 1878,
the town voted to assign its stock to a trustee, Thom-
as Talbot, three-fourths of which should go to the
company in case the road was built and equipped on
or before November 1, 1880 ; but this was not done,
and the town voted to do even more than this and
modified its agreement so that it should be binding in
case the road was built and in operation in part from
the town of Oakham to a point on the Boston and
Lowell Railroad, the Fitchburg terminus having been
given up before this. This second agreement was in
the early part of the year 1880, but November came
and found the road still wanting. It was then voted
to extend the agreement one year, or until November
1, 1881. At this last date Mr. Norman C. Munson,
the contractor, had the road in operation to Hudson,
but as this did not comply with the terms of the con-
tract the whole arrangement fell through. Mr. Mnn-
son succeeded in keeping the road in operation for
about two years, when he was obliged to suspend. In
1883 the road was reorganized, and on December 7th,
of that year, the town voted to exchange its stock for
the same amount of Central Massachusetts stock.
After the reorganization, in 1884, the road was leased
to the Boston and Lowell Railroad Company, once
more opened and completed to Northampton.
Aa a result of all these complications and changes,
the town's stock naturally had been fluctuating from
nothing to a point as high as thirty-three cents on the
dollar, and a majority of the citizens of the town con-
cluded to sell the stock when, in the judgment of the
selectmen and treasurer they could make a good sale
of it. The town finally realized about fourteen cents
upon the dollar, and closed its financial connection
with the road.
It would not be a just statement to declare that the
town has thus lost that which was invested in the
road. The results aimed at, competition, lower rates,
more direct communication with Boston, Worcester
and the West, have all been obtained, and will increase
in the years to follow. Already it is possible to load
a car at this point to ship through to San Francisco
direct. Like the town-house, water-works and school
buildings, the investment is sure and is proving daily
the wisdom of this town and of others along the line
in encouraging the construction of the road.
It is to be regretted that Francis Brigham, the one
of all others in Hudson, who, by speech and his
money, steadfastly upheld and advocated this ro.id, did
not live to feast his eyes upon the line in operation.
Those who knew how strongly he was attached to the
success of this company, alone can realize how much
it would have repaid him for a great deal of his hard
and generally discouraging labor.
This line of railroad is now under lease to the Bos-
ton & Maine Corporation, and forms an important
factor in its Southern Division. The service is most
efficient, and the indications now are that in the near
future it will be double-tracked and become a trunk
line to the South and West.
Through trains are now run daily over this line via
the Poughkeepsie bridge between Boston and Phila-
264
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, xMASSACHUSETTS.
delphia and Washington and between Boston and i of Hudson, who held a major's commission for a time
Harrisbnrg, Pennsylvania.
Hudson is thus most fortunately circumstanced, as
all trains stop at this point.
MiLiTAfiY Affairs. — It would be most interesting,
were it possible to devote the space to it in this place,
to narrate in detail the military history of the people
who have been residents of this place during its differ-
ent stages of evolution from the " Mills " to Felton-
ville and thence to the present time. There is a
peculiar fascination attending things military, espe-
cially to the younger generation of men, and the old
system of May training, when all were expected to
turn out as a part of the military forces of the State at
least one day in the year, was productive of a varied
during the years 1861-62. By the time the services
of this command were wanted a new order of things
was arranged, the old battalion formations were broken
up and the Marlborough Rifles became a portion of
the Thirteenth Massachusetts Volunteers, one com-
pany, " F," under the command of Captain Whit-
comb, and the oiher company, "I," under the com-
mand of Captain Robert C. H. Schreiber, of Boston.
A third company, " G," of the Ninth Massachusetts
Volunteers, made up of Irishmen, also went to the front
and saw a great deal of hard fighting and suffered the
great hardships of the Army of the Potomac, to which
they were attached. The history of these companies
is the history of the Army of the Potomac from July
assortment of colonels, majors and captains, traces of i 16, 1861, when they were mustered into the United
which still linger in our midst. The citizens of Marl-
borough and Feltonville, we are inclined to believe,
were more than ordinarily interested in military
affairs, and among the older men of the place can be
found many who recount with evident pleasure their
memories of " war," mimic
dulged as far back as 1840.
The Marlborough Rifles was the organization which,
under various changes from time to time, enlisted the
sympathy and membership of most of the young men
of Feltonville, and although it was a Marlborough
States service for three years, and it need not be de-
tailed here. They suffered their share of the hard-
ships and privations, lost their full share of men by
death or disability and are entitled to the great honor
which always attaches to patriotic aud unselfish acts,
war, in which they in- i A reference to the official records discloses the fact
that a great many of the members of these companies
of the Thirteenth have since become prominent in
the various walks in life both in Marlborough and in
Hudson. As they did not continue a company exis-
tence after the expiration of their term ol service, we
organization, a fair share of its commanders were I are obliged to leave them here.
Feltonville men, among whom were Captain Francis
Brigham, Oilman Hapgood and Daniel Pope, the last-
named of whom was especially fond of the militia.
This company was a part of the Fifth Regiment of
Militia, commanded at one time by Colonel Benjamin
F. Butler, and attended musters in most of the towns
in Middlesex County. At home the territory now ly-
ing between Felton and Church Streets was an open
field, and drilling took place here, a day at a time,
the citizens patriotically setting out the necessary
rations.
Feltonville was not forgotten in the larger musters,
and the territory lying east of Lincoln Street, then i
owned by Caleb E. Nourse, was the scene of martial {
arrays, in which the local company made a prominent '
showing in their elaborate uniforms. There seems to i
be a unanimity of belief that the principal " enemy "
was located about in the rear of what is called Peters' !
Grove. I
For a short time from 1859 until after the breaking i
out of the Rebellion, this company of rifles seems to I
have been a part of the Second Battalion, made up of |
companies from Sudbury, Natick and Marlborough,
and commanded by a Major Moore, of Sudbury, who, !
fortunately, or unfortunately, died at about the time ■
a call was made for volunteers for the suppression of \
the war. His death necessitated adelay, and another ;
organization, the Third Battalion of Rifles, from Wor- i
cester, was sent to the front among the three months' |
men. This Major Moore was succeeded in the com- i
mand of the battalion by Captain Henry Whitcomb, |
Less than a year after the companies of the Thir-
teenth and Ninth had gone to the front, or, to be
exact, in the month of May, 1862, the situation was
such that a demand for more volunteers was deemed
imminent, and the citizens of Feltonville having pe-
titioned for the formation of another company there,
an order was issued from the office of the Adjutant-
General of Massachusetts, addressed to Daniel Pope
and eighty-four other petitioners, directing them to
meet in " Union Hall," for the purpose of electing the
necessary officers, the company to be lettered " I," and
attached to the Fifth Regiment.
The company was accordingly organized by the
election of William E. C. Worcester as captain,
Charles B. Newton, first lieutenant, and Luther H.
Farnsworth, second lieutenant. It was the common
expectation then that the company would immedi-
ately be ordered with the regiment to the front ; but it
was not until the 10th day of September following,
that they went into camp at Wenham, Massachusetts,
and upon the 16th day of that month were mustered
into the United States service. Previous to this
there had been several changes among the officers of
the company and regiment. Captain Worcester was
made major and the vacancy in the company was
filled by the promotion of Lieutenant Newton and the
election of William S. Frost, the present county com-
missioner, to the position of second lieutenant, sev-
eral others declining an election for various reasons.
The membership of this company was made up more
distinctively of Feltonville men, although they are
HUDSON.
265
found credited to Marlborough, Boltoa and Berlin.
On October 226. the regiment left camp for New-
bern, North Carolina, by way of the United States
steamer " Mississippi." This place was reached
on the 28th, and within forty-eight hours the
regiment received orders to march, and for the next
six months they were given a large amount of hard
and dangerous duty to perform. The Fifth was a good
regiment, and its colonel, George H. Peirson, an ex-
cellent oflScer, so that more than their share of the
time they were doing the most difficult and danger-
ous part of the duty. Their first encounter with the
Confederate troops was at Planter's Creek, in which
skirmish three men were killed ; the next was at
Woodington Church, and the first heavy engagement
was that known as the battle of Whitehall, on the 16th
day of December, 1862, the Fifth being on the right
of the line and in the thickest of the fight. Upon
this tour of duty, which was for the purpose of de-
stroying the Wilmington and Weldon Eailroad, the
regiment marched one hundred and eighty miles, and,
on account of their valiant services, were directed by
Major-General Foster to inscribe on their colors the
names of Kinston, Whitehall and Goldsboro'.
Ill March, 1863, the regiment was ordered out for
the purpose of making an advance on account of
hostile demonstrations by the rebels, and was ready to
march in fifteen minutes from the receipt of the order.
They went to a place known as Deep Gully and suf-
fered much from the extreme cold weather. The next
month, April, saw two more hard marches and a fight
at Blount's Creek. At Cove Creek occurred another
meeting with the " .lohnnies," in which the Fifth won
applause. On the 21st of May occurred an attack
upon a large force at Mosely Creek, and the Northern
forces captured more than two hundred prisoners,
forty-three horses and mules, eight ambulances, seven-
teen wagons, one gun, five hundred stand of arms,
seventeen rounds of ammunition, together with the
entire hospital furniture and supplies of the enemy.
This was the last expedition in which the Fifth was
engaged, and in some respects the hardest, owing to
the intense heat, miry swamps and almost impene-
trable jungles through which the troops were forced
to march.
On the 26th of May four hundred men, under com-
mand of Major Worcester, were commanded to pro-
ceed to Wilkinson's Point, on the Neuse River, twenty
miles below Newbern, to erect and occupy fortifica-
tions at that place ; but as the order was counter- j
manded, the force returned to camp on the 28th. The j
regiment reached home on June 22d, and was enthu-
siastically received by the people of Boston and by the i
citizens and authorities of Charlestown. When "I" '
company reached Feltonville they received a wel- :
come which was more enjoyable to them, and if not I
so much of a demonstration as they had witnessed in j
Boston, it was nevertheless as hearty as the people of
the place could make it.
The regiment was mustered out of the service
July 2, 1863.
By this hasty review it will be seen that the regi-
ment did an unusual amount of arduous service dur-
ing its term of enlistment, beginning but a few hoars
after it set foot upon hostile soil, and continuing
until the eve of its departure for Massachusetts,
marching about six hundred miles over the wretched
roads of North Carolina and sailing over two thou-
sand miles in crowded transports, and having enough
shot and shell hurled at them to have killed every
one of them a dozen times over had they but hit the
intended mark.
Until July 16, 1864, the Fifth remained a part of
the Massachusetts Militia, but did not see any active
service. Upon this day the regiment 'was again
mustered into the service for one hundred days and
ordered to the defences at Baltimore. Company " I "
at this time was commanded by Captain A. A. Powers,
Lieutenants Frost and Luther H. Famsworth. Major
Worcester in the mean time had advanced a peg to
the position of lieutenant-colonel. Arriving at their
destination, the regiment was distributed among the
different forts in that vicinity, and occupied the time
in doing guard duty, an arduous but by no means
exciting or, under the circumstances, dangerous occu-
pation.
At the expiration of this term of service, the regi-
ment was again mustered out of the service of the
United States, and remained a part of the State's mili-
tary force.
Company " I," at first named the " Banks Guards,"
after the town was incorporated, in 1869, changed its
name to that of the Hudson Light Guard, and as soch
was known during its connection with the State force.
The company performed good service in November,
1872, at the time of the Boston fire, doing guard duty
two days and a night, and under its difierent com-
manders enjoyed varying degrees of prosperity until it
was disbanded by a general order from the Adjutant-
General's office, in September, 1876, when, in common
with others, it was done away with in order to reduce
the size of the State's militia.
For the sake of future reference, a list is appended
of the names of those who held commission in the
company or rose from its ranks to higher offices in
the regiment : ^
Lieatecaat-ColeDel, William E. C. Worcester; Majors, William E. C.
Worcester, .Vndrew A. Powers ; Captains, William E. C. Worcester,
Charles B. Newton, Andrew A. Powers, Ao^stns 8. Trowbridge, Joseph
W. Pedrick, S. Henry Moore, John F. Dotan, Edward L. Powers; First
Lieutenants, Charles B. Newton, Andrew A. Powers, William 3. Froct,
Anfcustns S. Trowbridge, Joseph W. Pedrick, DaTid B. ^Vhitcomb, Cal-
vin H. I.arter, William H. Trow, Edward L. Powers, Thomas O'Don-
nell ; Second Lieutenants, Luther H. Famsworth, S. Henry Moore,
William S. Frost, Darid B. Whitcomb, Calvin H. Carter, Wm. H. Trow,
John F. Solan, Fred O. Welsh, Thomas O'Doooell, FrHOlc E. Emer7.
In 1887 the State force of militia was again increas-
ed, and after an interim of eleven years Hudson
again became represented in the Fifth Regiment.
Cn November 16th of that year a new company was
266
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
mustered in and lettered '' M," and has beea com-
manded during the time since by Captain Adelbert
M. Mossman, First Lieutenant William H. Brigham,
and Second Lieutenant Frank K. Freeborn. The
new company has assumed the old name of Hudson
Light Guard, and has had an honorable and success-
ful record since its formation.
Geand Army Post. — Having recounted, all too
briefly, the record of Hudson's soldiers during the
Rebellion, it is but natural that we would turn next
to an account of their doings since that time.
In April, 1866, a movement was set on foot to or-
ganize an association of the citizens of Hudson who
had served their country in the army or navy for the
purpose set forth in their declaration of principles:
" Of perpetuating the pleasant relations heretofore ex-
isting between us as comrades in arms ; to assist each
other and those of our fellow-citizens who may here-
after return from the hardships of the service to pro-
cure employment ; also to be instrumental in assisting
the disabled and the families of those who have fallen ;
to place on record for the use of posterity any facts
that may come to our knowledge concerning the
patriotic service of any of our i-omrades during the
late Rebellion."
This movement met with a general response from
the soldiers of Hudson, and, on the 1st day of June
the by-laws of the " Hudson Army and Navy Union "
were adopted, and the new society started on its mis-
sion under the most favorable auspices. The " Union '•
was not intended to be in any sense a machine, nor
was it secret, the meetings being open and any ques-
tion was considered in order and debatable, and many
who could not become members attended the meet-
ings. For a short time the Union was successful, but
before long two disturbing elements arose to cloud the
brightness of its members' dreams. There were too
few ofSces to go around, and too much politics for
peace, so that the longer the Usion lived the less union
existed among the members. In the following spring,
having learned that an effort was being made to unite
the soldiers and sailors of the Union army and navy
in a grand National brotherhood, James S. Bailey
succeeded in obtaining a copy of the constitution, and
consulted with many of the more prominent veterans
with a view tosecuriug a charter.
It was decided that this .would be a great improve-
ment over the existing order of things, and on March
,16, 1867, a committee of ten was appointed to apply
for a charter, and upon the 10th day of April follow-
ing Post No. 9 of the Grand Army of the Republic
was organized with a charter membership of fifly-
nine-
When it came to choosing a name, the admirers and
advocates of the name Reno were in the majority, and
succeeded in adopting this as the name of the new post-
During its existence the post has gathered together
about eight thousand dollars by means of their in-
dividual and collective efforts, and has disbursed
almost all of it in relieving the uecessitits of veterans
and their families. As time has gone on, the member-
ship has increased, and the interest incre.ises rather
than abates as death gradually thins the ranks of
those remaining.
On February 12, 1872, a Ladies' Relief Society was
organized by the wives of the members of the post, and
has been a valuable adjunct to it, its members keeping
alive the social relations always so pleasant among
comrades, and in times of sickness and distress ren-
dering those tender oflSces which women alone can do.
Thus far we have been treating of Hudson and its
citizens in its corporate capacity and tracing its
growth and prosperity in a collective capacity. Let
us now turn to a consideration of the industries which
have been the mainstay of its people and made pos-
sible the achievements which have been described.
Manufactories. — While Hudson remained a mere
farming community there was little growth, little cen-
tralizing; a grist and saw-mill, a general store and a
tavern near the mills sufficed ; but when industries
I demanding skilled labor were introduced, the land
near the store and the mills and the tavern began to
be dotted with buildings. The first little attempts at
manufacturing were made nearly a century ago by
Joel Cranston, who tried wool-carding and cloth-dress-
ing. In 1810 Pliineas Sawyer started a small cotton-
factory, but only yarn was produced. The weaving
was done in families. Some satinet was also made.
A distillery for cider brandy w.xs put in operation by
Cranston & Felton on the spot where Tripp's box fac-
tory now stands. A little binning was done, and also
a little saddle and harness-making. None of these
grew to any proportions, but they were the pioneers
of the great manufacturing industries of to-day, draw-
ing settlers to the village and beginning that perma-
nency which creates large business centres.
Of the great staple industry of Hudson to-day, shoe
manufacturing, the beginning seems to have been
made by a Peter Wood. He cannot properly be
styled a manufacturer ; he was, perhaps, a cobbler,
who would make a pair of shoes when ordered. In
1816 Daniel Stratton, grandfather of Town Clerk
Daniel W. Stratton, began manufacturing shoes in a
small way. In 1821-22 he built a small factory on
the spot now occupied ,by the house of Mrs. Alfa L.
Small. Here he employed four hands, and carted
his goods to Providence rather than to Boston. In a
few vears he moved to the farm now known as the
Stratton Farm. His son, Lorenzo, bought the old
place ; but, instead of doing business for himself, took
shoes from a Stoneham manufacturer. By him the
old house recently known as the Waldo Brigham
place was built, and work was carried on in the barn.
The factory built by Daniel Stratton was moved
across the road, and now forms the northern portion
of Martin Reynolds' house. The property of Lorenzo
Stratton passed successively into the hands of William
Brigham, Solomon Brigham and Francis Brigham.
HUDSON.
267
It waa at this place that Mr. Brigham learned his
trade, and that he first began that business that has
since endured, and put the making of shoes upon a
permanent foundation in the town. He soon moved
to a small factory which stood just back of William
Chase's Block ; then to the spot now occupied by
Holden's Block ; then to the building now occupied by
C. L. Woodbury. The business thus created has been
carried on continuously ever since under the firm-
name of F. Brigham & Co. This firm has had a pros-
perous career. It weathered the financial crises of 1837,
1847 and 1857 and the seventies. It has made over
twenty millions pairs of shoes, is one of the oldest
firms in the United States, has introduced many im-
provements in shoe-making, has graduated some of
the successful manufacturers of the town to-day, and
has grown from the lap-stone and bristle to the best
modern machinery. As it is our pioneer firm, a brief
history will not be out of place.
Mr. Brigham's beginning and experience is the oft-
repeated story of the beginning and experience of
most of the successful men of business in this country.
He was cradled in adversity, and, without the patron-
age of wealth or helpful friends, had to hew his own
way over the rugged paths of life. He was a prac-
tical shoemaker, working for two years at the bench,
and acquiring in everj' detail and process the manu-
facture of shoes. At twenty-one years of age he was
running his own business, employing only a few
hands. In those early days of the shoe industry the
men worked in " teams " of four. (.")ne would fit the
stock and last, one would peg, another put on the
heels, and the fourth would trim them and take off.
The sole and inner sole were rounded on by hand to
the last. The la.iter waxed his own thread and se-
cured the ends to the bristle. .\n old ledgerof 1847-
8-9, contains many entries like the following : " Henry
Priest, Cr., by work in Hapgood's team, $14.95."'
" Jonathan F. Wheeler, Cr., By 140 pairs, $11.90."
The lap-stone was an adjunct of every bench, and
the construction of the shoe was as primitive as the
shoe itself The style seldom changed, and three
pairs of " strap cacks " were sold for one dollar. In
those days the work was given out in large quantities,
and the stock was joined into shoes in small shops
scattered through all the surrounding villages. In
the private houses ovc. a radius of many miles, " Han-
nah sat at the window binding shoes," as EliasHowe
had not then mastered the problem that has since
produced a revolution in the stitching of the world.
This firm used the first sewicg-machine in town in
1855; it was made* by Grover & Baker, being re-
garded as one of the wonders of the world at the
time, and was run by JTrs. Persis E. Brigham. A
sole-cutting machine was used in the early part of the
forties. F. Brigham & Co. introduced the pegging
machine in 1857, and were the first to run it success-
fully in this country. They added the binding ma-
chine to their labor-saving machinery as early as
1856. Lasting-machines were put in in 1861, but
proved to have no practical value. Leveling, crimp-
ing, skiving, nailing, burnishing, trimming, sanding,
heeling, and an infinite number of other machines,
adding wonderfully to the beauty, durability and
rapidity of production of shoes, have been introduced
and adopted by this firm since 1860. They have al-
ways been among the first to adopt and use the best
machines and appliances for the production of the
best work, regardless of cost.
Prior to 1847 this firm moved twice to larger fac-
tories, owing to the increase in their business. In
1847 they erected what was regarded at the time as
one of the largest and best equipped shoe- factories in
this section of the State. They occupied it ten years,
when steady growth and the popularity of their goods
called for more room. In 1856 mills and a water-pow-
er, which had been in use since 1690, were purchased
for ten thousand dollars, and the buildings removed
from their old sites, and work was commenced on the
extensive plant they now own.
Since this beginning in 1834 the industry has
grown from a few hands employed in a small shop
to eight large plants with a capacity of 20,000 pairs
per day.
The firm of Stowe, Bills & Hawley was estab-
lished by Mr. Edmund M. Stowe, senior member of
the firm in 1854, L. T. Jefts in 1859, George Houghton
in 1857, A. P. Martin in present shop in 1887, W. F.
Trowbridge in shop now occupied by Frank H.
Chamberlain in 1866, Bradley & Sayward in 1880,
Frank H. Chamberlain, then Moultou & Chamberlain
in 1884, and H. H. Mawhinney & Company in
1890. These firms occupy large and convenient fac-
tories, supplied with the best machinery modern
ingenuity has been able to devise, and with all the
perfected methods of protection against fire and
panic. A glance at one factory will serve for all.
At the Main Street factory of Stowe, Bills & Hawley
one finds in the engine-room a powerful duplex fire-
pump, its pipe hot with steam, with large coils of
hose ready for instant use. In addition to this is a
large standpipe under full pressure of the town
water, a complete equipment of automatic sprinklers,
chemical fire extinguishers, fire pails, an electric
watch clock to ensure the watchman's punctoai
rounds at night, and on the outside a loud automatic
gong to give the necessary alarm. All the factories
are equally well equipped.
Around this central industry has been gathered its
feeders, die factories, last factories, tannery, machine-
shops, building material, elastic webbing.
New industries have been drawn in, such as the
Goodyear Gossamer Company, and the Woodward
Manufacturing Co., with its wood pulleys, foundry
castings and finished planers and band-saws, and the
New England Knitting-Mills. The making of boxes
was begnn about 1844 by Silas Stuart at the location
on River street where Cranston & Felton's apple
268
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
braudy refinery was, half a oentury beiore. Mr.
Stuart then made all the boxes needed by the shoe
manufacturers in Marlboro' and Feltonville (now
Hudson). Later on the property was leased by Tripp
Brothers, bought by them in 1869, and the business
increased until they now occupy a plant of one and
one-half acres, with a building three stories high,
supplied with every needed machine, operated both
by water and steam-power; 100,000 feet of lumber
are made into boxes every month, and yet the shoe
industry has so increased that this is only one of
three plants for the manufacturing of shoe cases for
Hudson.
The last business had the following beginning. In
the month of March, 1859, Philip E. Millay, a native
of Whitefield, Maine, who had served an apprentice-
ship with an old last-maker, by the name of Silas
Mason, in the town of Gardiner, Me., and who had
also worked ten years as journeyman in the city of
Lynn, came to Hudson with his brother, David N.
Millay, and started a last factory in the old tannery
building, shortly after moving to the basement of
what was then known as the " Old Red Shop." They
had no last machine at first, but had all their lasts
turned in St. Stephens, New Brunswick, brought to
Hudson and finished in their factory. In 1863 P. E
Millay bought his brother's interest in the business
which had greatly increased, and also put in his first
last machine to do his own turning, shortly after
moving to his present quarters. This business has
always been prosperous and has never been out of the
family.
The tannery business was one of the first industries
ever begun in Hudson, and, like the shoe business, has
grown to large proportions, and done much towards
building up the town. Its inception was by Joel
Cranston about the year 1799, and was bought by
Stephen Pope in 1816. His tan-yard was located
where the Methodist Church now stands. He con-
ducted the business successfully for many years, tan-
ning in the best periods 5000 calf-skins, and consid-
erable Russia leather. In 1866 the property was of-
fered for sale, and Mr. George Houghton, believing
that there was an opportunity to make leather suffi-
cient to supply the shoe-factories in town, called to-
gether the five principal manufacturers and submit-
ted to them the proposition. They did not look up-
on the matter very favorably, even though Mr. Pope
claimed that he had five per cent, advantage over
other tanners in his water supply. This was on Sat-
urday evening. Monday morning Mr. Houghton,
with his characteristic push, bought the property and
in six weeks he had built Houghton Street, moved
four buildings upon it, aud had built and stoned the
present canal. He afterwards filled in. the lower part
thirteen feet. As the old buildings and vats did not
seem suitable for the business proposed, new ones
were constructed and leased to Fay & Stone. The i
busineaa was continued for twelve years and then sold
to Butler & Dunn, now Dunn, Green & Company.
Their tannery has received many additions until it is
now one of the most complete in all its arrangements
of any tannery in New England. It is situated in
the centre of the town and borders on the Assabet
River, with a spur of the Fitchburg track running
directly through the yard, enabling them to unload
their bark from the cars into their mills.
The buildings consist of a tannery 225 feet long,
60 feet wide, containing 209 pits ; a leach-house 165
feet long, 25 feet wide containing 24 leaches, with all
the latest improvements ; a beam-house 110 feet long,
46 feet wide, containing 64 limes and soaks ; a cur-
rying shop 320 feet long, 32 feet wide, four stories
high, heated by steam aud containing all the modern
improvements in the way of tools and machinery
that are to be found in any first-class factory for the
manufacture of buff' and split leather. They have
also a large bark shed, 125 feet long, 42 feet wide
capable of holding three hundred loads of bark
They have also a large storehouse for hides, a brick
engine-house containing two first-class engines of one
hundred fifty horse-power, also a stable and other out-
buildings.
Dunn, Green & Co. tan and finish here 1050 hides
per week, or 54,000 hides per year. They make buft'
and split leather, making 108,000 sides and 216,000
splits, or 324,000 pieces a year. To do this they em-
ploy 150 men. Their leather is used in all the prin-
cipal shoe towns in New England, .in J has long en-
joyed the reputation of being the best hurt' and split
made in the countrj'. They use the best of domestic
cowhides, as well as the best material and labor that
money will buy. They received a medal and diploma
from the Paris E.xposition, a medal and diploma from
our Centennial Exhibition, and a medal aud diploma
from the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics' Associ-
ation for their exhibit of bufl' and split leather, made
at this tannery.
Of the new industries, the Goodyear Gossamer
Company stands at the head. The business was begun
in the fall of 1885 by the present proprietors, ilessrs.
L. D. Apsley and J. H. Coffin. These gentlemen had
had a large experience in the gossamer business, and
brought with them a thorough knowledge of the
manufacturing department and an extensive acquaint-
ance with the best wholesale and retail trade
throughout the country, and they have devoted them-
selves to the development of the business with such
success that in their third year they did the largest
gossamer business in this country, leading all their
competitors in volume of sales.
They began business in the frame buildings on
Washington Street, formerly occupied by the Hudson
Fabric Company. To meet the demands of their in-
creasing trade, additions were made to the original
building, from time to time, until their capacity was
doubled ; but it was apparent that a more radical
step waa required to keep pace with the growing de-
HUDSON.
269
mand for their goods, and when, in December, 1888,
their coating aad cementing departments were de-
stroyed by fire, the firm resolved to erect a plant which
would meet the requirements of the future. They
accordingly purchased a tract of land along the
north side of the Central Massachusetts Railroad,
upon which the new buildings now stand. These
buildings are built of brick and iron, and, with the
exception of the stitching-building, are provided with
3i inch Portland cement floors, so that they are af
nearly fire-proof as they can be made. The plant
consists of seven buildings, having the following di-
mensions : 105x44, 80x40, 20x25, 25x25, 32x20, 35x32
and 130x50. There are now being daily coated with
rubber 6000 yards of the various kinds of cloths, which
include Foulards, woolens and silks in upwards of
three hundred patterns. They have recently added
an English coating-machine and built a drying-room
20x25, where the cloth is subjected to a heat of 240
degrees. The various manufacturing buildings are
lighted liy electricity, and are well ventilated and
provided with various appliances for the comfort of
the employees and for economy of labor in doing the
work. When the manufacture of gossamer garments
was begun, the circular and Newport were almost the
only .styles of ladies' garments made, butthe business
has been developed so greatly that these are now but
a small part of the great variety of styles made. The
firm has always been in the advance in the introduc-
tion of new and attractive styles of garments, and is
constantly introducing new patterns, which are made
in such a variety of cloths, and withso much attention
to perfection of fit and beauty of design, that this de-
partment of their business re.sembles that of a large
cloak-making establishment. All qualities of goods
are thus made up — from the ordinary cotton Foulard
to the finest grades of woolens and silks — all of which
are made thoroughly water-proof by their coating of
pure Para rubber.
The most wonderful improvement ever made in
water-proof cloths has become widely known to the
trade under the name of " India Stripes." These
goods were first made and introduced by this firm, and
have become general favorites on account of their
beauty, water-proof quality and durability, being un-
doubtedly superior to all other rubber-surface gar-
ments made. Prior to their introduction, various at-
tempts had been made to introduce variety of pattern
upon the rubber coating, but none of them were suc-
cessful as the coloring material either destroyed the rub-
ber coating or disappeared on exposure to the weather.
By the method employed by this firm these objections
have been overcome, and they are enabled to produce
a great variety of stripes in many colors, giving the
garment the appearance of having a cloth surface,
while being more thoroughly water-proof than a
printed cloth can be made, and retaining their beauty
much longer.
Situated beside the Gossamer Company, and receiv-
ing their power from the same eighty horse-power
Corliss engine, is the Woodward Manufacturing
Company. This company is the outgrowth of a small
business carried on in Lowell by W. A. Woodward,
under the name of the Woodward Machine Company.
Mr. Woodward had been doing a good business in a
small way, but having made several valuable im-
provements in machinery — principally in wood-rim
pulleys — and not having capital, decided to form a
stock company for that purpose. The subject was
brought to the attention of the Hudson Board of
Trade, who appointed a committee to take the matter
in charge, and after thorough investigation another
committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions for
the stock. On January 5th the necessary capital had
been secured, and the company was incorporated with
a capital of S100,000. A tract of land was purchased
on the line of the Central Massachusetts Railroad,
and suitable buildings have been erected to carry on
the business, consisting of a factory 100x40 feet, two
stories, with a foundry 70x40, and dry-house for dry-
ing lumber. The whole is equipped with first-class
machinery.
An account of Hudson's manufacturing interests
without a statement of the great work of one of the
strongest and most influential men would be incom-
plete. Mr. George Houghton, now retired, is the
man referred to. He was one of the " war-horses "
in forming the town, has conducted some of its great-
est business interests, and aided many a citizen to an
honest living and competency. Of lowly birth and
meagre education, the world seemed to hold out little
to him except hard work. He labored faithfully at
his bench, earning some two dollars a day, until 1857.
Mr. Tarbell, then depot- master at Rockbottom, pro-
posed that they should unite forces and make shoes.
Mr. Tarbell was to look after the books and furnish
the money and Mr. Houghton was to have charge of
the work. After cautious inquiries work was begun
in the cottage where Mr. Houghton lived, the west-
ern portion of his present residence. As the business
grew it was removed to a .-shed which now stands back
of his home near the hot-house. About this time
Mr. Tarbell withdrew and Mr. Houghton attempted
to close the business to return to his bench, but Boa-
ton parties insisted on sending their orders for him to
fill and furnished him the leather. So he continued
until he outgrew his shed and built his first factory,
sixty feet long and four stories high. He continued
building until, in 1872, his was considered the model
factory in the State. His success was due to native
push and inability to recognize the word " can't."
Before he retired he had done over ?1 7,000,000 of
business. During the war his manufacturer's tax waa
the largest paid by any one person in Middlesex
County. A pleasing experience in his business life
was the visit paid by the Japanese Embassy, August
2, 1872. The arrangements for the excursion were
made by a committee of the Boston Shoe and Leather
270
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUXTy, MASSACHUSETTS.
Exchange. They made the trip by a special train on
the Fitchburg Bailroad, having the same engineer
and conductor who ran the first train over the road in
1851. The Boston Journal of August 3d says of this
trip:
'* The tTUiu led BoetoD at nine o'clock aDd arrived at HudMO at qnor-
ter paU tan. The part; were met at the statioo by a crowd of people,
who wera apparently satisfled with a paestog glaoce at the straoeem,
who were inlrodaced to Mr. George Houghton and coodncted at oDce to
the tannery. This branch of industry is under a social lian in Japan,
the men engaged in which are placed among the lowest order of work-
men. The modem process of curing hides by immereiou in vats of
concentrated liquor, the dreeeing and finishing of the aame by machin-
ery, instead of hand, as was done in the infancy of the business, was
examined and then the party entered the extensive factory, following
through the various departments the necessary stock of leather taken
from the tannery, from which a dozen pairs or so of shoes were made
during the stay of two hours at the factory of Mr. Houghton, which the
Japanese will carry home as specimens of a special branch of Massachu-
eetta industry."
The Embassy was reported as " highly delighted
and instructed in the course of their tour through the
establishments of the peggers, and heelers, and stitch-
ers, and binders."
Each kind of business is dependent upon many
others for the highest degreeof efficiency and success,
and Hudson has acquired these various accessories
with the passage of time, so that it may be said to pos-
sess all the modern requirements of trade in the way
of banks, newspapers, electric-lights, telephone and
telegraph companies.
An account of the origin and growth of some of
the principal institutions of this character must be
included in a work of this kind and most properly
follows the history of the larger industries already
described.
Business Accessories. — The first bank located in j
Hudson was the Savings Bank. Its act of incorpora- I
tion is dated February 26, 1869, and says that Francis i
Brigham, Edmund M. Stowe, George Houghton,
their associates and successors, are hereby made a cor- I
poration by the name of the Hudson Savings Bank. i
The first meeting of the corporators was held in |
Greorge Houghton's office, April 12th, where the bank
was organized by the election of the following officers :
Francis Brigham, president; George Houghton and
Edmund M. Stowe, vice-presidents ; Francis D. Brig-
ham, treasurer ; Luman T. Jefts, clerk, and a board
of sixteen trustees. The treasurer was put under
$40,000 bonds, "with not less than five bondsmen." j
April 23d it was voted, '' that each of the trustees of
Hudson Savings Bank deposit a sum not less tfaau ten ;
dollars, to remain in the bank five years without inter-
est;" $210 were thus deposited, which paid the ini-
tial expenses of the bank. The bank was opened for
business in Brigham's Block (now Cochran's), May 1, '
1869. The first depositor was Robert S. Harlow; ,
amount, $100. On the first day .?2110 were deposited, j
There have been few changes in the bank officers, i
Francis Brigham remained its president until his I
death, in December, 1880. In January, 1881, Ed- j
mund M. Stowe was appointed president until the an-
I nual meeting, when Francis D. Brigham, who had
[ been the treasurer, was elected president, and Daniel
W. Strattou was elected treasurer. Owing to ill
j health Mr. Brigham did not qualify for the position,
i and Edmund M. Stowe was elected president. He
: still hulds the office. On the completion of Jefts'
j Block, in 1881, the bank was moved into it, giving it a
1 more central location. In January, 1870, the deposits
were$31,076; January, 1880,.'?206,244 ; January, 1890,
; $528,521. The last statement, July, 1890, shows $647,
I -157. In a strictly manufacturing town this shows
I three things — the thriftiness of the workmen, the sa-
, gacity of the bank officials and the confidence work-
' men have in the bank. A large part of its deposits
are loaned to other workmen, who build and eventu-
ally own their own houses. January, 1870, the loans
on real estate were $16,370 ; January, 1880, $134,170 ;
January, 1890, $349,775 ; July, 1890, $377,175. This
bank is one of the solid institutions of the town, and
a potent factor in its growth.
Though for many years workingmen could deposit
their money, there was no place where employers
could make their exchanges. All banking business
had to be done through Marlboiough, Clinton or
Bo!>ton. This inconvenience was severely felt, and in
1881 Mr. Charles H. Robinson began actively to can-
vass for the location of a National Bank in the town.
The first meeting of the subscribers was held ijctober
26, 1881. Charles H. Robinson was chosen chairman,
and H. E. Stowe clerk. On the following evening
another meeting was held, and the corporation was
organized with a capital of .§100,000. The following
directors were chosen, November 22, 1881 : C. H.
Robinson ,J. S. Welsh, H. C. Tower, E. M. Stowe, L.
T. Jefts, J. S. Bradley. Henry Tower, G. A. Tripp,
Benj. Dearborn — all of Hudson; N. L. Pratt, of Sud-
bury ; A. D. (vleason, of Stow ; J. D. Tyler, of Berlin ;
Joel Proctor, of Bolton ; E. H. Dunn, of Boston, and
H. B. Braman, of Wayland. The officers elected
were — President, Luman T. Jefts; Vice-President,
E. M. Stowe ; Clerk, H. C. Tower.
Mr. George A. Lloyd, a teller in the Cambridge
National Bank, East Cambridge, was .selected as
cashier, January 19, 1882, and Mr. Caleb L. Brig-
ham, the present cashier, as clerk of the bank, March
20, 1882. The charter was dated January 23, 1882,
and business was commenced March 7, 1882.
Mr. Lloyd, having been called to a position in the
Lechmere National Bank, resigned his place in the
Hudson Bank, April 23, 1883, and Mr. Caleb L. Brig-
ham was elected ca-hier, which position he has filled
ever since.
<3n the first day there were three depositors ; amount,
•*!3344.48. In one year the deposits amounted to .^74,-
058.09. March 7, 1890, after doing business eight
years, the deposits amounted to .•<105,733.09. Every
week it disburses on factory pay-rolls from ten thou-
sand to twenty-five thousand dollars. One month
after it opened, its loans and discounts were $106,-
HUDSON.
271
902.49, and in July, 1890, $200,275.22. During the
last year the cashier's checks on the Blackstone Na-
tional Bank amounted to over $1,700,000. These
statements indicate somewhat the commerciai basis
and activity of the town.
The Hudson Co-operative Bank was incorporated
October 22, 1885, with the following officers : Luman
T. Jefts, president; Charles H. Welch, secretary;
Josiah S. Welsh, treasurer. It issued its first series in
November and has done a constantly increasing busi-
ness. On May 1, 1890, they began their tenth series.
The deposits amount to $48,035, of which $45,300 are
loaned on real estate. The present officers are:
Arthur T. Kuight, president; Charles H. Hill, secre-
tary; Charles E. Hail, treasurer.
It is doubtful if any manufacturing town in the
county or State can show as good a record of the so-
briety and thriftiness of its citizens as can be gleaned
from the preceding statements of these banks. It
certainly augurs well fur Hudson, when the finances of
her working class Increase at the rate of fifty thousand
dollars per year as they have since 1888. The town
is supplied with all the modern business accessories,
telegraph and telephone connections; eleven mails
daily, two express companies — one a local express,
Houghton's, founded in 186G by H. B. George and
purchased by Willard Houghton the year following,
the other being the "American." Train service is
better than any other town enjoys twenty-eight miles
from Boston. The Fitchburg Railroad runs five
trains daily and two Sundays; the Boston and Maine,
Central Jlassachusetts Division, runs eight daily trains
and two Sundays either way between Hudson and
Boston. The running time varies from forty-five to
•iixty-five minutes. Fares are very low, a single
ticket on either road costing but fifty-three cents.
An electric light plant w;is established September
!•), lS8ii, under the name of the Hudson Electric
Light Company with a capital of $15,000. The
plant consists of a sixty horse-power engine and two
dynamos, with a capaiity of forty-five arc and six
hundred and fifty incandescent lights.
Newspapers. — Hudson had its first newspaper
just previous to its incorporation. It was begun in
February, 1865, _by Charles A. Wood, in Manson's
Hall, which stood ou the spot uow occupied by Chase's
Block. The owner, twenty-five years later, says: " It
was in the closing days of the Rebellion, and just
after a few weeks' sojourn in the vicinity of ' the seat
of war,' that the publisher of the Hwlion Pioneer, like
hundreds of other ambitious youths, gave up the avo-
cation of guard-mounting and seized the stick and
types to make for himself fame and fortune. The
town, or more properly the village, was hardly of
sufficient size to warrant a venture of this kind. The
newspaper was not a ' long-felt want,' in the true sense
of the word, and, like the history of many another
poor country editor and publisher, it was hard work
and poor pay."
The paper experienced a good many changes in lo-
cation and ownership, but it still exists in a feeble
way under its old name.
In 1883, Wood Brothers, one of whom was the
originator of the Pioneer, believed the time had come
for a genuine live town paper. On September 29,
1889, they issued their first number of the Hudson
Enterprise. It was a twenty-eight column paper, with
ten columns of local advertisements. Its circulation
was about three hundred. Ita first issue contained a
good description of the birth of its older rival. " The
office of the Enterprige (in Chase's Block) stands
almosc directly over the spot where we commenced
the publication of the first paper ever printed in
Hudson, over eighteen years ago. But how different
the surroundings ! Then we were located in Manson's
Hall, over a sbed of wide dimensions, and in cold
weather, well, wasn't it cold ! We commenced busi-
ness in the primitive style. Our paper was printed
on an old Washington hand-press, and about all our
jobbing was done on the same. All our editorial
work was done in the ante-room adjoining the
work-room, and it usually occupied our time from
five o'clock Friday afternoon until some time Satur-
day morning, when the Pioneer was born, there be-
ing no specified time, as we were at the mercy of Sam
and the ' devil,' until the last sheet was pulled through
and olf the old press, when we once more assumed
full control."
The Enterprise began with the best modern equip-
ment in steam-power presses. It has grown from the
first size to an eight-page, forty-eight column paper,
with a circulation of 1200. It has also added other
towns to its list, so that its combined weekly issue is
over 4000. Its Christmas issue has always been a
novelty, has attracted much attention and received
many flattering notices. September 3, 1889, they
began a four-page daily, with a circulation of four
hundred. In six months it has increased so that the
edition varies from 800 to 1200, according to the
quality of the news. These papers are all alive, and
devoted to the best interests of the town.
With this narration of Hudson's material interests,
it is a pleasure and a relief to turn to another and
different aspect of its people's growth. While devot-
ed to all possible advancement in worldly affairs, the
citizens have not forgotten religious matters, nor
failed to cultivate the social side of their natures.
Churches. — There are four churches in a vigorous
and healthy condition, occupying handsome and com-
modious structures, which are paid for. The Baptist,
Methodist and Unitarian are situated together on
Church and Main Streets, while the Catholic is situ-
ated on the next street to the east, Maple, indicating
a bond of unity and good fellowship not always
existing among rival denominations.
The first Methodist in Hudson was Phineas Sawyer
in 1800 ; he introduced Methodist preaching, but,
owing to hia early death by accident, it did not seem
272
HISTOET OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
to flourish until some years later. There were many
warm adherents of the Methodist faith in Hudson
from 1860-65, but no continuous preaching was had in
town until Mr. George Houghton generously fitted
up a hall near the Fitchburg depot for the use of this
people, and on Sunday morning, April 9, 1865, Rev.
W. W. Colburn preached the first sermon to a good-
sized audience. Mr. Colburn was a young, energetic
man, full of the faith and zeal of Methodism, and he
worked untiringly, " in season and out of season, " for
the good of the church. So successful were his efforts
in this direction, that in August, 1866, the foundation
of the church edifice was put in, and the work so
rapidly pushed to completion, that in the following
winter services were held in the new building. From
this time forth the new society grew rapidly, and is
to-day in a most flourishing condition, with a large
membership, and a wide-awake Sunday-school, ably
conducted, and intent on keeping alive the same
spirit which has ever characterized it. The church
is situated on Main Street, in the centre of the town.
Directly opposite it, onaslightly elevated site, stands
the edifice used by the First Unitarian Society, for-
merly called Union Society.
The movement which culminated in the organiza-
tion of this society may be traced to the anti-slavery
agitation in Feltonville, and to the religious services
held in the engine-house. Cox's Hall and Manson's
Hail in 1848 and 1850. In 1854 the School Street
School-house was built with a small hall in the base-
ment, and Rev. Mr. Stacey was engaged to preach at
five dollars a Sunday. This hall was named Freedom
Hall. In June, 1860, when Feltonville had one thou-
sand inhabitants, steps were taken for the erection of a
church, which, when completed, including furnishing,
organ and bell, cost $8400. The house is called Law-
rence Church, in honor of Amos Lawrence.
In 1862 Mr. Stacey closed his services for the soci-
ety, and Rev. W. S. McDaniel was called to the pas-
torate. He resigned in 1864, and Rev. H. C. Dugan
took his place, serving until 1867. He was succeeded
by Rev. W. S. Heywood, and he by Rev. Hilary By-
grave, who resigned in 1879. Rev. E. P. Gibbs was
installed in 1880 and resigned in 1883. He was fol-
lowed by Rev. Clarence Fowler in 1884. In an anni-
versary address delivered by Rev. Mr. Fowler, in
speaking of the religious freedom and tolerant spirit
manifested by the early founders of this society, he
related an instance in 1862, when there were some
misgivings about allowing Wm. Lloyd Garrison to
speak in the church, and Francis Brigham voiced the
convictions of the society wheu he said he would
rather Lawrence Church were leveled to the ground
than that Garrison should not be allowed to speak
from that pulpit. Many founders of the society are
still living.
The Sunday-school, which is the pride and inspira-
tion of the society, has a very large membership, and
great interest is manifested in it by teachers and pu-
pils. The Ladies' Social and Benevolent Society and
the Unity Club are powerful auxiliaries in the work
of this society, and could not well be dispensed with.
A new and commodious chapel is soon to be added to
the accommodations of the church.
The Baptists are the oldest organized society in
town. It was through the earnest efforts of some of
the ladies of Feltonville, assisted b/ Re''. Henry Filtz,
that it was organized. In 1844 sevices were held in
Cox's Hall and at the houses of those interested.
Later on, various students and ministers followed up
the good work, until, in 1851, a church was built on
the site of the present edifice, and Rev. E. L. Wake-
field was ordained as its minister. His services with
the church lasted until 1864, when, on account of
failing health, he was obligee to resign. He was an
earnest and eloquent preacher, and greatly loved by
! all. In 1865 Rev. E. H. Page was called to the pas-
! torate and resigned in the following year, his place
1 being filled by Rev. H. G. Gay. After four years"
I faithful service Mr. Gay gave way to Rev. W. H.
: Ventres, who was ordained in 1871.
DuringMr. Ventres' engagement the present attrac-
tive edifice was erected at an expense of over §23,000,
and all paid for, giving this people one of the finest
churches in town. Mr. Ventres concluded his minis-
trations in 1876, and soon after Rev. Francis S. Bacon
was called to the place, filling it. with marked success
and almost unanimous satisfaction for nine years,
whan he resigned to accept a call from Marblehead.
Rev. H. F. Perry, a student of the Newton Theological
School, was asked to supply the pulpit, and the peo-
ple were so favorably impressed with his ability that
he was given a unanimous call. He was ordained in
1890. Thus this society has grown from eight mem-
bers, at the time it was constituted, to a vigorous and
flourishing church, sowing much good seed and ad-
ding continually to its membership.
St. Michael's Society (Catholic) was organized by
Father M. T. Maguire, in 1869, and a church was
built on Maple Street. It supplied all their needs,
until the rapid growth of the society made a new and
larger structure imperative. This was begun in 1SS9,
and will cost $30,000. The corner-stone was laid
Sunday afternoon, August 25, 1889, at three o'clock,
with the full ceremonies of the Catholic ritual. The
services were in the open air on the site of the new
church. In a receptacle of the stone were placed a
parchment containing a Latin inscription, copies of
the Hudson Enterprise, and the Boston daily papers,
coins of the period, etc. The ceremony was one of
the most impressive possible. The preacher on the
occasion was Rev. Charles W. Currier, C.S.S R.
Besides these older societies, in the year 1887 the
formation of a Congregational Church began to be
agitated, but with no immediate result other than to
keep the subject in the minds of the members of that
denomination who had not united with either of the
other churches in Hudson. lu 1889 the subject again
HUDSON.
273
received attention and a canvass was made for mem-
bers of churches of this denomination whose homes
were here, and they were invited to attend a meeting
for prayer and conference in a private dwelling. The
evening being a very cold one, but few came, but those
who were present deemed it best to repeat the invita-
tion for another evening and the interest and attend-
ance at this second meeting justified their action.
Not long after this small beginning a Sabbath-school
was organized and the Enterprise parlors were se-
cured for the use of the growing society. Following
close upon the organization of the Sabbath -school
came the establishment of Sabbath preaching ser-
of exclusiveness — the outgrowth of older growth and
sectional jealousy — so common in larger towns, to be
found within the social environment of Hudson. A
hearty cordiality and good fellowship pervades the
place. The " stranger within her gates" is made wel-
come— how welcome can be judged from the fact that
some of her leading men are those who came to visit
friends for a day, were enchanted by the attractive-
ness and cordiality everywhere found, and have stayed
on, until they are now represented by second and
third generations. It is this spirit which is the secret
of the flourishing societies to be found in her midst.
They are manifold. The Mason will find entertaiu-
ST. Michael's roman catholic church.
vices, the pulpit being supplied by pastors of neigh-
boring Congregational Churches, who kindly offered
their services to the young society. At the present
time the outlook is very encouraging, and there is
every reason to believe that a strong church will, in a
few years, result from this small beginniug. In 1890
their tirst pastor was settled. Rev. J. C. Hall. The
first enrollment of membership was thirty. TheSab-
bath-achool has an average membership of fifty, a
good library and pleasant rooms, and the attendance
upon the preaching services averages about seventy.
A Ladies' Sewing Society has also been formed, and
is in a flourishing condition. The society has pur-
chased a site on Central Street and hopes to erect a
church at no very distant day.
Social Advantages. — There is cone of that air
18-iii
' ment in Doric Lodge or Trinity Commandery in the
■ halls in the Town-Hall building ; the Odd Fellow, in
I Odd Fellows' Hall ; the G. A. R., in Cochran's Block ;
1 the Granger, in Jefts' Block ; the Knight of Pythias,
' in Lewis' Block ; the Red Men, in Odd Fellows'
' Hall, and all others in some one of these halls which
I are sub-let to them.
No brother or sister can apparently appear upon
' the scene without meeting the sign and password of
his or her particular order. Of all these, Doric Lodge,
A. F. and A. M., is the oldest. In the autumn of
1863 a few members of the lodge in Marlboro', wish-
ing to enjoy the rites of their order with less incon-
venience than the necessary traved to Marlborough
compelled, applied to the Grand Lodge for a dispen-
sation to work in Feltonville. A charter was granted
274
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Dec. 28, 1863. On January 19, 1865 the lodge was
constituted and consecrated by the Grand Lodge,
and a public installation of the officers was held. The
lodge-rooms were over Lawrence Church, and they
were occupied until 1872, when the rooms in the
Town-Hall building were leased for twenty years and
furnished at an expense of $2400. These rooms were
dedicated Oct. 18, 1872. On Dec. 28, 1888, the lodge
celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary, and one of its
pleasantest features was that it had as its guest William
Parkman, the Grand Master who signed the charter.
The Masters of the lodge have been as follows: P. E.
ilillay, J. L. Harriman, Willard Houghton, A. S.
Trowbridge, Lyman Morse, Parkman Nourse, Edward
P. Miles, John F. Wood, Walter H. Small, Francis
Howe and Joel M. Pettengill. The membership roll
haa grown from the original fifteen to one hundred
and eighty. Occupying the same rooms with Doric
Lodge is Trinity Commandery, Knights Templar.
The first meeting of those interested in forming a
commandery was held March 23, 1871, and twenty-
five signed the list. This was increased so that when
the charter was granted, April 6th, there were forty-
six charter members. Work was begun that month
under command of Sir Knight F. J. Foss, of Maiden,
Past Commander of Hugh de Payens Commandery. It
was constituted and organized in the vestry of the
Jlethodist Episcopal Church, on December 7, 1871.
Dr. N. S. Chamberlain was its first Eminent Com-
mander. Those since have been, J. L. Harriman,
\V. E. C. Worcester, Luman T. Jefts, James T. Joslin,
George B. Cochran, John Hillis, F. 8. Dawes, J.
Frank Childs. It began with a debt of §1600, which
was cleared in 1878, and now there is a handsome
surplus In the treasury. In December, 1888, elegant
jewels were presented to all the Past Commanders. It
has made nine pilgrimages. Its memhen>hip has in-
crea.sed to one hundred and forty.
Hudson Lodge, No. 154, I. O. O. F., was instituted
March 21, 1871. This lodge, although occupying small
and inconvenient quarters in Lawrence Church, had
a steady growth in numbers, and accumulated a verj-
large reserve fund, amounting at one time to about
eighteen hundred dollars. The charitable provisions
of this order have always been fully carried out in
this lodge, and the social feature which has always
been characteristic of Odd Fellowship is particularly
true of Hudson Lodge. Not many years after the
lodge was instituted, the wives of the members who
had taken the third degree formed a ladies' branch of
the order, and by their efforts in a social way gave an
added and extremely pleasant side to the organiza-
tion. In 1887 the members of Hudson Lodge de-
cided that their rooms were too small to accommodate
them properly, and an arrangement was made with
Hiram W. Chase to add another story to his block on
Wood Square, to be fitted up for the especial use and
convenience of this lodge. The means of the organ-
ization made it possible for them to fit up the new
rooms in a handsome manner without crippling their
resources. The change to the new hall was made
September 20, 1887.
With the removal to this hall came an increased
interest in the afl'airs and welfare of the lodge, and an
added desire on the part of many to become members.
Probably no social organization has made greater
strides forward during the last two years than has Hud-
■ion Lodge. Its membership list is growing rapidly
;ind its fund for charitable purposes will soon be larger
than at any time in its past history. Since its foun-
dation the following members have presided over its
■leliberations and attained the rank of " Past Grand ";
Charles W. Barnes, Hiram P. Bean, Jesse E. Bliss,
Charles G. Brett, .Simeon M. Bruce, Willard G.
Bruce, Reuben A. Derby, N. S. Fairbanks, James G.
Dow, George T. Fletcher, Frederick P. Glazier, Ed-
win B. Goodnow, Charles F. Hall, James T. Joslin,
Ellsworth S. Locke, William G. Locke, Otis H.
Moore, William H. McCarthy, Charles H. Moore,
fohn Robertson, Oliver B. Sawyer, William F.
Smith, Fred. W. Trowbridge (2d), Martin V. Tripp.
.\rthur G. Wood, John A. Woodman, Henry A.
Wheeler.
The names are arranged alphabetically and not ac-
cording to term of service.
Mr. James T. Joslin was the first Noble Grand of
t.he lodge and has always taken agreat interest in <)dd
Fellowship. He was Grand, Master of the (iraud
Lodge of the State of Massachusetts iu 1880, and a
representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge durinir
the next two years. Since the agitation of the ques-
tion of an Odd Fellows' Home he has been one of the
trustees having that matter in charge.
Dr. Cornelius S. Jackson is the present Noble
• xrand, serving a second term in that position.
The wives and daughters, as has been stated, had a
'.emporary organization for many years, but, except in
individual cases, were not regular members of Rebekah
Degree Lodges. In 1887, it was proposed that a regu-
larly constituted Rebekah Degree Lodge be instituted,
and this plan met with hearty favor. After going
through with the necessary formalities. Magnolia De-
gree Lodge, No. ")0, Daughters of Rebekah, was
instituted September 22, 1887, and has had a remark-
ably successful career ever since. The following
ladies have occupied the Noble Grand's chair since
that date : F. Emma Wood, Rachel S. Bruce, Flora
A. Moore.
The other secret orders of the town are strong
financially and in numbers. They have a most un-
doubted effect upon the affairs of the place, but a
want of space precludes any more extended reference
to them in this sketch.
Board of Trade. — A town to grow must have the
elements of growth within herself, public spirit, man-
ifested not only in words, but in deeds. That " union
is strength " is nowhere better illustrated than where
public-spirited men unite unselfishly to advance the
HUDSON.
275
interests of the town in which they live. Such a
union was effected in Hudson in its Board of Trade.
Agreeable to a call issued to tiiose who had expressed
a desire to organize a Board of Trade, about one hun-
dred of Hudson's wide-awake business men assembled
in the lower town hall on Wednesday evening, March
22. 1887, to devise measures for the formation of an
organization whereby unity of action might be se-
cured for the better promotion of the public interests.
Hon. L. T. Jefts presided and spoke in favor of the
organization of a Board of Trade and the great good
that would probably result to the town from such an
organization, not only to business men, but to all
classes. On motion of R. B. Lewis it was voted to
proceed lo the organization of the meeting, and Mr.
Jefts was chosen chairman, F. H. Chamberlain, secre-
tary, and R. B. Lewis, treasurer. A committee was
chosen to draft constitution and by-laws and report at
an adjourned meeting. Some stirring speeches were
made, and the meeting was marked by unity of action
and purpose which foreboded a change for the better
in the business affairs of the town. The meeting ad-
journed for one week to hear the report of committee
on organization. The adjourned meeting was well
attended. The committee on by-laws presented the
same to the meeting and they were unanimously
adopted. A paper was drawn up for signatures and
forty names secured. At the third meeting on the
Wednesday following, April 9, 1887, the membership
was increased to one hundred and one, and the fol-
lowing orticers elected :
President, F. A. Robinson ; Vice-Presidents, L. T.
Jefts, E. M. iitowe, J. S. Bradley ; Secretary, F. H.
Chamberlain ; Treasurer, D. W. Stratton; Correspond-
ing Secretary, W. H. Small ; Collector, J. H. Robin-
son ; Reception Committee, G. T. C. Holden, L. D.
Apsley, G. B. Cochran, J. F. Wood, J. B. Clare, Caleb
L. Bri^ham, W. H. Brigham ; Board of Directors, W.
H. Moulton, C. H. Robiusou, Beuj. Dearborn, Henry
Tower, M. Wood, R. B. Lewis, F. S. Dawes, H. C.
Tower, A. K. Graves and G. A. Tripp.
Its object is tersely expressed in its preamble :
"This organization is effected for the purpose of ad-
vancing and encouraging the growth and prosperity
of this town, and for promoting and fostering social
and business intercourse among its members." Its
motto, "Stand Together."
It has stood toge'.her valiantly, giving material aid
to established industries, and inducing others to locate
here. It first secured the Elistic WeDbing Company,
then formed the Woodward Manufacturing Company
and finally the Hudson Real Estate Company. The
latter is a good illustration of its vim and ability. For
several months efforts were made to bring to town the
large shoe manufacturers, Messrs. Mawhinney &
Company, having factories at Stoneham and Fayville,
and doing an immense shoe business, reckoned among
the soundest firms in the State, with a heavy finan-
cial standing. No satisfactory arrangements seemed
possible at first, as no available factories were suffi-
ciently convenient for their work, but finally two
active members of the board asked them what could
be done to get them to locate in Hudson. Mr. Maw-
hinney made a proposition which was that if a factory
could be built for them in Hudson, 250x40 feet, four
stories high and supplied with engine and boiler and
fixed machinery, they would take the plant at a cer-
tain per cent, for a long term of years. To do this
would require about twenty-five thousand dollars. The
Hudson men unhesitatingly gave their opinion that
such a factory could be built for them, and returned
home fiilly determined to make the effort. A meeting
of the Board of Trade was immediately called. A
large number of the wide-awake business men of the
town were present and entered into the scheme with
enthusiasm. It was thoroughly discussed and a com-
mittee appointed to retire and formulate some definite
plan of action for the acceptance of the meeting.
After a brief consultation the committee returned to
the meeting a proposition to raise $25,000 for the
establishment of the plant by the sale of stock, the
shares to be placed at fifty dollars each, and the
first four members of the committee appended their
names to a document pledging nearly one-tenth of
the required sum. The paper was at once circulated
among the members, and in less than fifteen minutes
the subscriptions had reached over five thousand dol-
lars. A soliciting committee was appointed to raise
the remainder, and in one week the task was done.
The factory, one of the largest in the State, was built
and occupied by the firm, April 1, 1890.
In October. 1889, the Board of Trade published and
distributed a 15,000 edition of the Hudson Enterprise
of sixteen pages, containing over fifty large illustra-
tions of the town, its residences and business plants.
It was scattered all over the country. The work of the
board is having an appreciable effect upon the town ;
building is very active and yet the demands for tene-
ments cannot be met ; business is " booming " aa
thoroughly as in any Western town, without any
mushroom tendency ; the stores are being remodeled
and fitted with all modern conveniences ; taxable
property is growing rapidly, and the census will show
large gains in population. For many of the data used
in this history we are indebted to the columns of this
Board of Trade paper and desire to acknowledge our
obligation to it, having in several instances fouud no
better statements anywhere than in this paper of
historical facts.
Natural Advajttages. — Nature is often prolific
in her beautie.'*, and certainly no place east of the
Berkshire Hills has been so lavishly endowed as
Hudson.
Nestled in a valley through which flows the gentle
winding Assabet, furnishing power and water supply
to some of the largest manufactories, on every side
are gentle slopes and hills affording most attractive
building sites. Rising sharply from the right of the
276
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
river bank is Bellevue, a tower of stxength and
beauty, its green slopes smiling down upon the town,
ofTering rest and refreshing shade after daily toil. It
commands an extensive view of the country in all
directions and nearly all parts of it look directly
down upon the town, with its churches, schools, busi-
ness blocks and manufactories, and yet is removed
from its noise and smoke and dust.
The outlook is surpassed by no other eminence in
this section, particularly to the east and west, where
the Assabet linds its winding way and where verdant
fields, forests of green hills and vales stretch away as
far aa the eye can reach, presenting a charming
panorama of loveliness.
Broad streets lined with beautiful shade trees,
attractive dwellings, well-kept lawns and shrubbery,
form a picture of comfort and prosperity which
speaks eloquently for the inhabitants. The area of
the town is not large, but it is compactly built, thus
concentrating the efforts and interests of the inhabit-
ants and inspiring each to add to the beauty of the
whole. This pride in the town's growth and pros-
perity has induced hundreds to own and beautify
their dwellings, a larger share of whom are working-
men, many holding an unencumbered title to some of
the finest estates in town. The surrounding country
is equally beautiful, affording pleasant drives in all
directions, and opening to the view delightful scen-
ery. To the west of the town is " Potash Hill,"
towards the north " Falls Hill," to the south " Pros-
pect Hill," from each of which extensive views can
be had of the surrounding country.
There are no extensive streams. The Assabet, the
largest, is a small river having its rise in West-
borough, aud Hows through Northboro', Marlboro',
Berlin, Hudson, Stow and Concord, where it unites
with the Sudbury River. On its passage it receives
several smaller streams from Berlin and Bolton, but
they are not very important, though furnishing suffi-
cient power during portions of the year to run some
of the mill industries. Of the ponds, the one in the
eastern portion is the most beautiful. From its
clear, sandy bottom, it has always been called
" White Pond," now dignified into the newer appella-
tion of " Mirror Lake." Few sheets of water can com-
pare with it in purity.
Geographically Hudson is situated in the extreme
northwestern part of Middlesex County, the western
boundary being that of the county as well as the
town, as has been referred to already several times in
this history. Four miles west is Berlin, four miles
north Bolton, four miles south Marlborough, and
four miles northeast Stow. All these, except Marl-
borough, are farming communities, of which Hudson
is the natural trading centre. To this they have
gradually been drawn, until to-day the business centre
of the town is a scene of continual bustle and activ-
ity ; brick blockB have risen in place of the old
wooden ones, special stores have taken place of the
old " general stores," and the future outlook is one of
growth and prosperity, — how prosperous may be
gleaned from the record of growth since 1866. At
that time the inhabitants numbered about 1800 ; in
1890, about 5000 ; the valuation in 1866 was .<S05,-
277 ; in 1890, s2,490,115. The increase from May,
1888, to May, 1889, was .*68,428 ; from May, 1889, to
May, 1890, it was .^208,345. These figures indicate a
vigorous, healthy, growing town, which will soon
become prominent in the county.
It has been the effort of the writers of this sketch
to avoid all appearance of exaggeration. They
realize that there is little that is exceptional in what
has been told in these piiges. It is the story of the
foundation aud growth of a New England manufac-
turing town owing its progress to the efforts of typical
.Massachusetts men. They believe, however, that even
in this account there is much that may be learned
by those who would themselves succeed, and have an
honest desire to promote the future advancement of
Hudson. We are too apt to hurry over the achieve-
ments of our predecessors and lo hold their labors in
too slight estimation. It is well occasionally to step
aside from the rush of business life to gather recol-
lection.s of the past, to learn something from " the
days of small things," aud pay a meed of honor and
respect to those whose work is done and often for the
most part forgotten. Many things of historical in-
terest have necessarily been omitted, many persons,
living aud de.id, are entitled to much greater recog-
nition than it has been possible to give them, and
many inaccuracies of statement may be found in
spite of our efforts to be correct. Hudson is in its
infancy, and its history, its real history, is before it.
A full and complete account of it must be deferred
to a later time and under other circumstances.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
JEDEDIAH WOOD.
Jedediah Wood was born in Marlborough, May 16,
1777, and moved to the " Mills " when he was twenty
years old. One of the earliest citizens of the place,
he has descendants .still occupying the property, and
conducting a business iu which he was engaged,
though now, of course, adapted to modern require-
ments. He m.arried Betsey Wilkins, September 6,
1801 ; they had seven children, of whom Col. William
H. Wood was prominently ccmnected with the
growth of the town. The story of Mr. Wood's pros-
perity is this. While still in his teens he was sent
by his father to get a bushel of corn from a neighbor-
ing trader. As he wanted it on credit, it was refused.
Cut to the quick, he then and there decided that the
time should come when his credit would be good.
In time he bought the "Mills" on credit, and car-
' ried on cloth-dressing. The farmere wove this cloth
/
rT jt',- ,<' .' / -'
( /ZA^ //r ^ ^-i^U^
HUDSON.
277
and it was brought to him from all the surrounding
country, even from Boylston. His work was of such
good quality that some broad-cloth of his dress-
ing received the first premium at the Concord Fair.
His machinery was in the basement of the " Old Red
Shop," which stood on the spot afterwards occupied
by the " Brick Shop." On the north side of the road
below the Caleb Haskell house, he had his field of
teasels, the ripened flower-heads of which were used
in raising the nap of woolen cloths.
In this same building he opened a general store. At
that time there was no wagon at the " Mills," but he
would ride his horse to Marlborough, borrow a wagon,
drive to Boston and buy his goods, and then return
the vehicle. For the first seven years this business
did not pay its expenses, but the cloth-dressing and a
little farming kept the balance on the right side of
the ledger. Cool and moderate in his manner and
habits, he shrewdly conducted atTairs, until he estab-
lished the business which passed to his son, Col.
William H. Wood, and is now in the hands of his
grandson, Solon Wood. He became a large buyer of
real estate, owning all from the river to the present
Brigham place on the south side, all east of Maple
Street, and several buildings. He and Squire Pope
were the large land-owners half a century ago. He
lived in the house now known as the " Wood Place,"
at the junction of Park and Washington Streets. He
was a selectman of Marlborough, and was captain of
a military company. During the War of 1S12 he was
on duty for a while at Fort Warren. He died in 1867,
nearly ninety years of age.
STEPHEN POPE.
Mr. Stephen Pope was one of the pioneers of the
town. He was born .January 11, 1786, and moved to
this place from Bolton in 1816. He was then a
i.^uaker, and every Monday morning lie took his two
oldest children to the Quaker school, .and every
Thursday and Sunday attended the Quaker services,
then held in the school-house. He engaged in tan-
ning, his yard being on the spot where the Methodist
Church now stands. His tanning was all done in the
primitive way, and the old white horse which turned
the bark-mill was a very familiar object. Whenever
sufficient skins were tanned the horse made the jour-
ney to Boston to find a market.
Mr. Pope's first residence was where R. B. Lewis'
house now stands. He soon desired to own a farm
and bargained for the land from the Bolton line over
w^hat are now Felton and Pope Streets. At the time
he mortgaged it heavily, and has since stated that he
could not set credit for seven pounds of flour. Work,
early and late, prudent habits and care in time
cleared the farm, added other lamls until he became
the largest land-owner in this section. What is now
Felton Street was his apple orchard ; Summer, Win-
ter and Spring Streets now cross what was his "mis-
sionary " land. He drove each year regularly to
Salem to pay the interest on his debt, and he always
took one of the children with him. In 1825 he be-
came interested in the Methodist services held in the
village, and as they found difficulty in obtaining a
place in which to hold their meetings, he fitted up a
room in one of his tan-yard buildings for their use.
When the Baptist Church was built he gave them
the land and bought the first pew, though he never
affiliated with them. When the Fitchburg Branch
was built he gave the land for the depot site. He
occupied various town offices, was selectman of Marl-
borough and one of the overseers of the poor for
many years. He was a member of the Massachusetts
Senate when the Senators were elected from counties.
He died in 1870, at the advanced age of eighty-four
years, in the brick house which was removed when
the town-house was built.
JOSEPH S. BRADLEY.
Joseph Stevens Bradley traces his genealogy on his
mother's side to one of the earliest settlers in Felton-
ville — Robert Bernard. It will be remembered that
Bernard was the purchaser of about three hundred
; and fifty acres of land from one Barstow, in 1723, a
j copy of the deed being given in the early pages of this
I history.
I The family line runs as follows : Robert Bernard
I married for his second wife Elizabeth Bailey, of Lan-
caster, and the result of this union was six children,
among them a son by the name of .Joel, who married
j Lucy Stevens, July 16, 1756. One of their children
I was Laviuia Bernard, who married Daniel Stevens as
his third wife. Their daughter married VVilliani
Trowbridge, December 11, 1814, and was the mother
of the subject of this sketch. William Trowbridge
was a son of Joseph Trowbridge and a machinist bv
trade, moving from one town to another, more or less
frequently, as his business necessitated. It thus hap-
pened that Mr. Bradley was born in Worcester, Mass.,
May 20, 1823.
I When three years of age he was taken to Marl-
borough to live, and at the age of seven came to live
with an aunt, in the house now located near the en-
trance to the grounds of the late Captain Francis
■ Brigham, that property having been a portion of hia
, mother's estate. While living here he obtained what
little schooling he ever enjoyed in the small school-
house then located on what is now Washington
I Street, which has been spoken of before in these
pages. With the exception of the very short time
devoted to acquiring a knowledge of the three " R's,"
i Mr. Bradley's boyhood was passed in earning what
' he could to pay for his living. Farther down the
■ street was the factory of Lorenzo Stratton, and here,
I before he was twelve years of age, he learned to make
j a whole shoe. Later on he worked in Stephen Pope's
' tannery, splitting leather, and, for a diversion, driving
278
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
the old white horse. Thus, without being aware of
the immense value which this knowledge was to be to
him in the future, he learned to know leather thor-
oughly, and became a practical shoemaker.
At sixteen he worked a while for Captain Francis
Brigham, who at that time was manufacturing shoes
in a brick shop on the site of Holden's grocery store,
on the north side of Wood Square. At seventeen he
was seized with a desire to see something of the
world, and resolved to go to New Orleans. On reach-
ing New York State, however, he learned that yellow
fever was rampant in the South, and turned his steps
northward, landing, as much by chance as anything,
in Saratoga Springs, in the summer of 1841. Here
a new world was opened before him ; for even at that
time what was known as Congress Spring was discov-
ered, and its water valued for its medicinal proper-
ties. During that summer about five thousand guests
visited the place, bringing with them the stir and
bustle of a pleasure resort. Mr. Bradley worked at
his trade as a shoemaker upon the opposite side of the
street from where the present Grand Union Hotel
stands. At that time there was a hotel there of the
same name, but much smaller, which has since been
destroyed by fire. During this summer he had the
good fortune to hear Ole Bull, who was on his first
visit to America, and was revealing to astonished and
delighted Americans new realms in the musical world
with his violin. While there, also, the first omnibus
ever seen at the Springs was driven into town by a
young man who is much better known to the present
generation of readers by the name of the Rev. George
S. Ball, at that time a driver in the employ of Massa-
chusetts parties. The 'bus was all the "go," and Mr.
Bradley recalls, with a good deal of pleasure, of riding
from the lake back to the Springs in it, on one occa-
sion, when cx-President Martin Van Buren was a fel-
low-passenger.
Mr, Bradley remained here from June to Decem-
ber, and these months must have been among the
most memorable of his life. He went as far north as
the present city of Ottawa, and the Kiver St. Lawrence
freezing up the next day, he was obliged, much
against his will, to remain there during that winter.
After a decidedly dreary winter here he took the first
boat back to the States in the spring. He tired, how-
ever, of a nomadic life, and returned to Feltonville,
working at the shoemaking trade here, in Worcester,
Woburn and other places until 1850.
On October 1st of that year he began business on
his own account in company with Captain Francis
Brigham and Mr. William F. Trowbridge, his brother,
under the firm-name of " F. Brigham & Co." It will
be remembered that the general outline of this firm's
history has been given elsewhere. At the outset,
however, all was not smooth sailing, and, as Mr.
Bradley has stated, at the end of the first three years
it could not be said that the firm had made a dollar.
Better days followed, and in 18>38 the firm moved into
the brick shop which has since been burned. Mr
Trowbridge withdrew from the firm in 1866, and
Messrs. W. F. and W. B. Brigham came in. This firm
continued until April 1, 1880, when Mr. Bradley
withdrew to enter into a co-partnership with Henry
R. Sayward, of Cambridge, Mass. The firm-name is
Bradley & Sayward, and occupies the F. S. Dawes
factory in Hudson and a somewhat smaller one in
Dover, New Hampshire. This firm is one of the
strongest and most active concerns in Massachusetts.
Their business averages half a million dollars
annually, while the average output at the Hudson fac-
tory monthly is nine hundred and sixty-pair cases. The
Dover factory has about one-half this capacity. No
manufactory in Hudson runs more steadily or with
less friction. The firm's goods are sold mostly in the
South and Southwest, and their customers are found
in twenty-eight States of the Union. From Portland
to Galveston, and from Minnesota to Florida their
shoes may be found.
Mr. Bradley's time has not been given entirely to
his own business. Prior to the incorporation of the
town he served upon several committees seeking to
accomplish the desired change; was a member of the
committee of five on the part of Hudson to make a
final separation from Bolton. He was the first Repre-
sentative sent to the House from Hudson in 1867, and
during that year had the most important matter to
handle that has ever been before the Legislature in
which Hudson interests were solely concerned. In
1870 he was elected town treasurer, and served con-
tinuously in that position until the election in 1890,
when he declined longer to hold the office. When
he entered upon the duties of this office he found that
the business had not been done in a systematic man-
ner and used his best endeavors to have the town's
finances put in proper shape. It had been the custom
up to that time to borrow money in a hap-hazard
manner of any one who had a hundred or a thousand
dollars to lend and wished a safe investment at a high
rate of interest. Mr. Bradley funded the debt then
existing by means of longer time notes at a much less
rate of interest. The town incurred large obligations
in the purchase of Massachusetts Central Railroad
stock, in building a town-house, new roads and school-
houses, and it is a most fortunate thing that she had so
skilled a financier in charge of this office for so many
years. In 1877 he was elected a member of the Board
of Selectmen, but declined a re-election the follow-
ing year. He has always been connected with the
banking institutions of the place, having declined an
election as president of the National Bank, although
a member of its directorate. He has been for many
years a vice-president and one of the board of invest-
ment of Hudson Savings Bank, and in other organ-
izations at home and abroad he has occupied promi-
nent places. He has always been a believer in the
Unitarian faith and a steady supporter of its church.
He has long enjoyed a reputation for business ability
^
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HUDSON.
279
and 8trict integrity. He is a lover of ataadard books
and has not lost his liking for travel. The surviving
members of his family are his wife and one daughter,
the wife of Fred S. Dawes, of Hudson.
DANIEL WILBUR STRATTON.
Daniel Wilbur Stratton, born April 24, 1848, is the
eldest son of Daniel and Tryphena Rice (Holman)
Stratton. He is of the fourth generation bearing the
name Daniel. His great-grandfather was born at
Weston, May 20, 1749. His grandfather was born
April 22, 1777, and married Cally Smith, of Needham
(born December 20, 1778), April 22, 1800. Cally
Smith was the daughter of Captain Aaron Smith, who
commanded a military company in the War of the
Revolution. With his company he participated in
the repulse of the British forces which advanced to
Concord, April 19, 1775, and as a result of that day's
engagement his command suffered a loss of five men
killed and two others wounded. Daniel Stratton, the
father of the subject of this sketch, was born Septem-
ber 7, 1817, in the north part of the town of Marlbor-
ough (now Hudson). When about four years of age
the family moved to the farm just across the line in
Bolton, upon territory which became a part of Hudson
by the annexation of 1868. Daniel Stratton grew to
manhood .ind afterwards became the owner of his
father's estate together with much additional property
which he acquired by purchase. In 1865, when the
movement was made to incorporate a new town from
territory of the towns of Marlborough, Stow, Bolton
and Berlin, Daniel Stratton was the leading petitioner
from the Bolton territory, and was selected .is the rep-
resentative from that part of Bolton to serve on the
standiug committee of five to prosecute the move-
ment for an incorporation. He entered on this en-
terprise with the zeal .ind determination which he ex-
hibited in all the all'airs which engaged his support.
The undertaking was consummated, anJ the " Stratton
Homestead" was included within the new town of
Hudson. When twenty-two yeara of age Daniel mar-
ried, December ■H, 1839, Trypliena Rice Holman, of
Sterling, and this union continued fifty years and one
day. A " Golden Wedding" was celebrated by this
couple and their numerous friends December 31,
1889, and on the day following, soon after his retire-
ment for the night, without hardly a premonition, the
messenger of death summoned the head of this happy
and prosperous household to that better land which
is " fairer than day." .although a farmer his life
long, he was every whit a man. Intelligent, pro-
gresjive, fearless for the right, independent in his
opinions, the cause of religion, temperance, educa-
tion, good citizenship had no stancher champion or
firmer ally than Daniel Stratton. He held various
town oflices.
From such ancestry descends a worthy son. Daniel
W. was reared on the farm under wholesome influ-
ences and amid surroundings the best fitted to develop
the latent aspirations of boyhood and youth. From
the common school he was sent to the high school of
the town, afterward to Wilbraham Academy. Su{)-
plementing this for special training, a course in the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology was taken.
In early manhood he was thus prepared to enter
upon his calling of a civil engineer, in which he soon
became skilled and efiBcient. As opportunity offered
in the growing town of his birth, and his abilities be-
came recognized, he was early summoned by his towns-
men to official trusts. Widening and enlarging the
scope of his private enterprises, by engaging in the
insurance business, conveyancing and the settlement
of estates, he was elected town clerk in 1878, which
office he has since held ; in 1887 he was elected to the
Board of Water Commissioners and afterward registrar
and superintendent of the Hudson Water Works ; in
1881 he was made treasurer of Hudson Savings Bank,
and one of its trustees, which trusts he still holds. He
is in the prime of life, with golden opportunities
ahead.
June 9, 1880, he married Annie Scott Webster,
daughter of Richard Webster, of Haverhill. The
children of this marriage are Mary Edith Stratton,
Walter Daniel Stratton and Helen Inez Stratton.
GEORGE HOUOHTOX.
The subject of this sketch assumed and had legal-
ized in 1844 this name in lieu of Earl H. Southwick.
He was the oldest child of Elisha and Lydia ( Hough-
ton) Southwick, there being a brother and a sister
younger.
Elisha Southwick was a descendant, in the sixth
generation, from Lawrence Southwick, whose name
appears on the records of Salem as early as 1(539.
Lawrence and his wife, Cassandra, were Quakers, and
suffered much from the persecution of people claim-
ing the name Christian. James Savage's " Genealogi-
cal Dictionary of First Settlers of New England "' con-
tains the following: " 1658 and 1659. In the dark
days of delusion against the Quakers, the whole family
of Lawrence and Cassandra Southwick suffer much
from fines and imprisonment. When the fines of
Daniel and Provided were unpaid, the tender-hearted
General Court, with intent to magnify the glory of
God, ordered them to be sold for slaves to any
Christian in Virginia or Barbadoes." This infamous
act was attempted, but to the glory of God, and the
credit of Massachusetts, no one was found vile enough
to bid at the sale and the maiden. Provided Southwick,
was released by the sheriff.
Elisha Southwick was a Quaker, and was trained
and educated as a teacher and preacher to the faith-
ful. Although nearly a century and a half had
elapsed since the perpetration of the outrage on his
ancestor above referred to, yet the first quarter of the
nineteenth centnry even, found this sect of believers
280
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
in Massachusetts subject to many restrictions and
social ostracism. So much was this the case that a
movement was undertaken to settle a Quaker colony
in the valley of the St. Lawrence. A tract of land
comprising about 15,000 acres was secured, and the
settlement was commenced. The church and the
school must be planted with the felling of the forest.
The missionary, pioneer and prophet selected for
this important and arduous duty was Elisha South-
wick. In the strength of opening manhood he
accepted the mission and went to the field of duty.
The undertaking prospered, and in the course of a
few years the young teacher yearned for a help-meet.
He returned to Bolton and found Lydia Houghton, a
young woman of character and resolution, willing to
join her fortune with his, and in due time they were
married. The wedded couple departed for the new
home beyond the limit of State, .ind under the pro-
tection of the British flag. Earl H. was born on
Canadian soil, July 23, 1822. The trials and hard-
ships of parents were great, and after a few years the
fact appeared that the mind of the father was becom-
ing unsettled, and verging ou insanity. Friends
interested themselves, and the family, consisting then
of father, mother and three children, returned to the
town of Bolton. The father was placed in an asylum
where he died August 13, 1830, at the age of thirty-
five. Earl H. was then eight years old ; his mother
a widow with two younger children, in a state of
penury. Poverty, however, is not the greatest mis-
fortune. Lydia, the mother, was a woman of spirit
and courage. She was a woman of action likewise.
Earl H. was provided with a home where, for the time
being, he could earn a living. In due time he was
apprenticed to learn the trade of making shoes. The
mother cared for the others as best she could. Soon
Earl H. lent a helping hand to mother and brother
and sister. Thus the children grew to manhood and
womanhood, and the mother remained true to her
charge. All have now passed to the " sileuD major-
ity," save the subject of this sketch, who survives.
Earl H. inherited a good constitution and mental
faculties of no ordinary kind. In stature he is
moulded a Southwick; in mental and humane traits
he takes largely the mother's endowments. When a
youth he was advised to take his mother's surname.
He was told that it would be advantageous. That
Quakerism was odious. That his father had lived
and died in error. This by Christians. Had he then
known the history of his race, and the mark they
have left impressed on the ages, this advice would
probably have never been heeded. In 1881 the South-
wick geneaology was published, and therein is dis-
closed the sufferings, persecutions and indignities en-
dured by his Quaker ancestry; how they remained
steadfast for truth and conscience sake and finally
triumphed. Ere this revelation came, however. Earl
H., now only known as George Houghton, had vindi-
cated the record and had added another illustrious
example to the list already extended. Erom humble
beginnings, by industry and perseverance, from mak-
ing shoes in a part of his dwelling-house with a team
of four men, he occupied a new shop, sixty by twenty-
five feet, four stories in height, equipped with mod-
ern machinery ; in a few years this shop is increa.sed
to 112 feet in length ; a few years later, by still vaster
strides, he becomes the owner and possessor of the
largest manufactory in the town of Hudson, with a
capacity of any wiiere from 2000 to 6000 pairs of shoes
per day, as the demands of the trade required. Not
content with this, he finally owned and equipped the
finest tannery and currying establishment in the
State. Willing and determined to help on the grow-
ing industries of the town, he virtually engineered
the erection of a piaco-forte manufactory, into which
he put $16,000 of his capital.
A man of indomitable will-power, obstacles to men
of less zeal and determination were brushed aside or
made to serve his purpose, and hence he came to be
regarded a leader, as most emphatically he was, in the
manufactures in which he engaged. From this fact,
when the Japanese Embassy visited America to in-
spect our industries, it was to his establishments that
Boston merchants took their guests to see the wonder-
ful improvements in the manufacture of leather and
shoes. To show the characteristics of the man a sin-
gle example must suffice. At the centennial indus-
trial display, in Boston, in 1875, his exhibit astonished
the world. It was deemed impossible by the best ar-
tisans to establish a manufactory with steam power
and fixed machinery, on wheels. The difficulties
were virtually decided to be insuperable. To most
men it would have been impossible. Mr. Houghton
grappled with the problem and made it a perfect suc-
cess. In fact, he put into that procession a shoe fac-
tory on wheels with all the necessary paraphernalia,
drawn by eight powerful horses, and made shoes en-
tire from the beginning to the close of the procession,
and never a belt left its pulley nor a mishap occurred.
To do this required great mechanical skill. What
deterred others but stimulated him. What others
said could not be done he asserted could be done, and
he made good the assertion. His has been a master-
spirit, and to his matchless energy the town is largely
indebted for her present beauty, thrift and enterprise.
Mr. Houghton has been twice married. Both wives
were, in the fullest sense, help-meets to him, and
shared his struggles and successes. He has been a
widower since 1876. Of the eight children born of
these unions, two sons survive. Mr. Houghton has
met with reverses, and has retired from the field as a
manufacturer. His friends, and his town's-people
are altogether such, rejoice that the closing years of
his life may be free from the great burdens which for
many years he bore, and that there is yet in hand and
in store enough of this world's goods, so that the re-
maining years shall be free from the anxieties and
hardships which beset his youth.
TEWKSBURY.
281
HON. LUMAJS T. JEFTS.
Hon. Luman T.Jefts, of Hudson, was born of hum-
ble parentage in Washington, N. H., in 1830. His
opportunities for cultivating the mind were very lim-
ited. When seventeen years of age he attended
school away from home one term ; then, feeling the
need of a more thorough course of education, he ob-
tained permission from his father to gratify his cher-
ished wish, providing he did it at his own expense.
He spent most of the next six years in working every
spare day out of school, attending school as much as
his limited means would allow and then teaching and
attending an academy. Afterwards he became a
clerk in a store at the munificent salary of S300 per
year. After finishing his contract there he went into
the grocery business. We find him, in 1859, at the
age of twenty-nine, with the little money he had
saved by practicing economy, entering into partner-
ship with A. K. Graves for the manufacture of shoes
in the village of Feltonviile (now Hudson). After
two successful years in a small way, the partnership
was dissolved, and he alone continued the business,
which has steadily increased, until he is now one of
the most successful business men in this town.
While pursuing his honorable business career, Mr.
Jefts has found time for culture of mind and heart,
having traveled extensively in his own country and
twice visited Europe, and lately Mexico. He has
shown his public spirit by building and presenting to
his native town of Washington, N. H., an elegant
public library building. He has also given to the
Methodist Episcopal Church in Hudson an elegant
parsonage. He has taken a deep interest in the Chau-
tauqua Assembly, tie is treasurer and trustee of the
New England Conservatory of Music, and was last
winter unanimously elected trustee of Boston Univer-
sity. He was the first president of the Hudson Co-
operative Bank, and has been president of the Hudson
National Bank since its establishment. He has for
many years been one of the trustees of the Hudson
Savings Bank, and is now vice-president and one of
the committee of investment of the same.
He is a Knight Templar in Trinity Commandery,
Hudson, belongs to Hudson Grange and is a member
of the Rawson Council, No. 936 Royal Arcanum.
In 1882 he was nominated by the Republicans and
handsomely elected Representative from the Thirty-
third Middlesex District, and served on the Committee
on Banking. In 1885, and again in 1886, was he unani-
mously nominated by acclamation as a candidate for
Sen itor for the Fifth Middlesex District, a thing unpre-
cedented in the political history of the district. Each
year he was elected by a large majority, and served in
the Senate both years on the Committees on Manufac-
tures, the Liquor Law and Public Charitable institu-
tions. In the Senate of 1887, he served as chairman of
these several committees. At a dinner given by
Senator Jefts, near the close of the session. President
Boardman said : " Recognizing his ability in last
year'i Senate, I appointed him chairman of three im-
portant committees, and the work accomplished by
him in these committees convinces me that I made no
mistake." He is now serving his second year as a
member of the Republican State Committee. Start-
ing out as a poor boy, we find him filling every posi-
tion, whether in private station or public life, with
honor and credit to himself, while gaining the respect
and confidence of all who have been associated with
him.
He is interested in every measure that tends to ad-
vance the best interests of Hudson, while he also
finds time to aid outside enterprises.
CHAPTER XXIV.
TEWKSBURY.
BV REV. E. W. PRIDE.
The town of Tewksbury is bounded on the north by
the Merrimac River and Andover, on the east by
Andover and Wilmington, on the south by Wilming-
ton and Billerica, on the west by Billerica and Low-
ell. Its extent is, by the census of 1890,-13,301
acres with a population of 1713, and 1000 inmates of
the State Almshouse, that being the average number
of inmates of that institution. The valuation of the
town is $1,365,495.
For a small town Tewksbury possesses considerable
river frontage. The Merrimac flows for some three
miles along its northern boundary and separates it
from Dracut, which town alone divides it from New
Hampshire. The Concord winds along its south-
western part for miles, and formerly was its boundary
on the west till the union of that river with the Mer-
rimac. The " Shawshine," a deep, swift, but narrow
stream, runs through the southeast part of the town
for its entire length. Numerous brooks pour into
these streams; prominent among them is Mills' Brook,
which runs into the Merrimac, Strong Water Brook,
and Heath Brook, which empty into the Shawshine.
There are three ponds of considerable extent — Long,
Round and Mud Ponds.
Two hills — Prospect and Strong Water — rise to a
considerable height, and afford fine views of the sur-
rounding country from their summits. These hills
with their wooded slopes form beautiful features in
the landscape.
The north part of the town called North Tewks-
bury, has land of a superior quality, and from various
points the prospects are remarkably beautiful of
Lowell, the neighboring towns and also of the distant
hills of New Hampshire. It possesses a small vil-
lage, a church, and farmerly had a post-office which
the proximity of Lowell rendered superfluous.
The other parts of the town are more or less at a
282
HISTOKY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
disadvantage because of the large extent of light and
sandy soils, which, however, often allow the cultivator
to produce earlier crops than can be done where the
land is heavier. Towards the Billerica line on the
south the sand is so extensive as to form a miniature
desert, whose drifts in spots encroach on the neighbor-
ing grass and shrubs.
The chief village of Tewksbury is at the Centre.
There are the Congregational Church — till 1843 the
only one in town, — the post-oiBce, the store and the
station of the Boston & Lowell Railroad. With its
common and tree3,its well-kept walks and trim-looking
houses, it is a pleasant village of the old New England
type, from which the goodly ancient stock has not yet
all departed. Much of this beauty in the village is
due to the laudable efforts of the Village Improve-
ment Association for the last three years.
Toward the west part of Tewksbury appear two
manufacturing establishments, which intimate the
proximity of the neighboring city. These are the
chemical works of Taylor Barker, and the Ather-
ton Machine-Shop, which turns out a large quantity
of cotton machinery.
On the edge of Lowell are many suburban resi-
dences, whose owners do business in the city. Near
the Lowell Cemetery and Concord River many of the
factory population live, whose work is in the adjoin-
ing great manufacturing centre.
In past years Tewksbury was quite a seat for the
manufacture of furniture. Mr. Alvin Marshall was
engaged in this business at the Centre for years, em-
ploying quite a number of men. Gregory & Barrell
also for some time manufactured pine tables and simi-
lar articles. Lowell gradually absorbed these firms.
By far the largest business of this kind was that be-
gan in Tewksbury Centre, in the spring of 1851, by
Joel Foster, Enoch Foster and N. P. Cole, under the
style of J. & E. Foster & Company, only one, Joel,
being of the age of twenty-one years. The beginning
was small, the power used was horse-power, and in
hired buildings. Soon were built shops and a steam
mill, and from five to fifty men were employed.
Early in the business a great demand sprang up for
furniture in California, and freights were high, and as
the trade was Jarge, the plan was devised of making
the furniture to be knocked down, thereby putting
four bureaus into the space of one, and boxing up tight,
which gave this firm the advantage of all other
manufacturers, and orders were received which would
take from two to three months to fill, giving all that
could be done. In the mean time a tine trade was
being worked up in all the Southern States, Cape
Town, South Africa, Cuba, etc.
The breaking out of the Civil War caused a heavy
loss, as the blockade soon prevented shipping eoods
South.
In 1862 Mr. Cole went to San Francisco and opened
a wholesale store for all kinds of furniture. He was
followed in 1865 by Mr. Joel Foster, and a new store,
wholesale and retail, was opened, adding all kinds u(
upholstered goods and draperies, etc.
In 1868 the business in Tewksbury was sold, and
in 1870, Mr. Enoch Foster, the last member of the
firm to leave town, followed the others to California,
where they manufactured all kinds of furniture in the
State Prison at San Quentin. Here, in the best years,
the sale of goods exceeded S100,000 per month.
For the facts in this brief sketch of the firm, the
writer is indebted to Hon. Enoch Foster, a name
frequently appearing in almost every office in the gift
of the town.
A large tanning business also was formerly carried
on by the late Mr. George Lee, which has been con-
tinued by his son, Mr. William H. Lee, whose name
frequently appears on the official lists of the town.
Besides these larger manufacturing establishments,
a number of smaller ones have sprung up near the
edge of Lowell. There are also two saw and grist-
mills, known as Trull's and Kendall's, which, before
the extensive use of steam as a motor, ground large
quantities of grain and cut multitudes of logs into
lumber.
The occupation of the mass of the population
of Tewksbury, especially of its older families,
is agricultural. As the town is within easy dis-
tance of Lawrence and Lowell, and quite accessible
to Boston by rail, its business is market garden-
ing. Cabbages are the main crop, but every variety
of vegetable and fruit adapted to a northern clirae
is raised and yields an abundant return. Large por-
tions of land are also used for grass farms, and the
production of milk is carried on extensively.
For its moderate area the town has an extensive
road surface. The highways are estimated as extend-
ing sixty-five miles, and are kept in good repair by
teams owned by the town under charge of a superin-
tendent.
The following is a brief description of its botanical
and geological distinctions, furnished by Mr. G.
Homer Galger, late principal of the High cJchool :
•* The town offers many attractiouB to the lovera of natural science,
being locallj famous for tbe abundance and variety of its wild tlowei'd.
Scotch heather, Coi/una ru/^aru, is found in small quantities growing
wild.
" Two Tarietieaof Stindew, Orotera rotiimlijulia and DroKra [ungifotia,
are found growing in abundance. Among tbe Orchidaceae, besides the
SpiranlheM, the Cypripedium, the Pogonia, the Srethuaa, the Sabenaria
and others, many of tbe less common genera are found.
"In the western part of the town many notable elms and pines, said
to be among the largest in the State, may be seen.
"Prospect Hill is one of many similar eminences scattered throughout
northeastern Massachusetts, all of glacial origin. Such lulls, in geo-
logical language, are known as ' drumlina,* and are supposed to have
been formed by sub-glacial streams in awaysimiliar to that by which (on
a smaller scale) a stream of water often makes longitudinal ridges of sand
in its t)ed. A somewhat remarkable * sand desert,' of a dozen acres or
more in extent, is found on the Billerica Road. A part of this 'desert '
is sparsely covered by a growth of pines, but along its western edge
runs a kame-Uke ridge of sand almost entirely destitute of vege-
tation. This sand kame is about 1500 feet long by ooetblrd as wide,
and is about fifty feet in height at its highest point. It has gently-
sloping, rounded sides, tbe trend being southeast, thus resembiiog the
gravel-kamefl of glacial origin. It is said that many flint arrow-heads
TEWKSBURY.
283
have been found here. A Dumber of large bouldere of porpbyritic
goeias ruDuiog through the town are fragmentB torn from tUa cliffa
near Lake Wianepesaukee, by the ice, carried south and left in their
preeent positions. Very fine examples of contiirted gneiss are found in
abundance ; in fact, the town and its vicinity offer quite aa many
attractions to the geologist as to the botanist,"
The wood lots of Tewksbury are quite extensive.
In former days much of the timber was heavy, and a
few specimens — alas ! too few — of the fathers of the
forest still remain.
The town is noted for its various and beautiful
flora, and on account of this is often visited by emi-
nent botanists. It is one of the few places on the
American continent where the Scotch heath is found.
This plant is becoming rare, chiefly, as authorities
declare, by its extinction through the encroachments
of other vegetation. It would be well to make an
attempt to save it from total disappearance.
Tewksbury has two churches, eight school-houses,
in which are kept ten schools, one of which is a
High School, a public library, the State Almshouse
and the usual public buildings requisite to such a
community. Of most of these institutions brief de-
scriptions follow.
The Salem and Lowell Railroad, a branch of the
old Boston and Lowell Road, runs through the
southern and central part of the town, and the Bos-
ton and Maine has a branch about a mile farther
north, thus bringing the stations within six miles ot
Lowell, and about twenty-two of Boston. The city
of Lawrence is also quite accessible by these rail-
roads and by carriage roads.
Tewksbury is known to the world chiefly by its
State Almshouse, one of three such institutions estab-
lished by an Act of the Legislature, May 20, 1852.
The other two are at Bridgewater and Monson. All
were opened for the reception of inmates by a proc-
lamation issued by Governor Emory Washburn May
1, 1854. Within three weeks nearly 800 inmates had
been admitted to the Tewksbury Almshouse alone.
The first superintendent was Capt. Isaac H.
Meserve, the first physician Dr. Jonathan Brown, the
first chaplain Rev. Jacob Coggin. For many years
a school for the children was part of the institution,
whose influence was helpful and whose singing was a
marked and attractive feature. Its numbers ranged
from 86 to 153.
The plan of supporting State Almshouses originated
in this Commonwealth ; hence the three in Massachu-
setts were largely experiments constructed to accom-
modate far less numbers than soon crowded them.
In the year 1857, a season of great sufiering for the
poor, more than 1200 were daily lodged and fed at
this institution.
The farm, consisting of* 250 acres, was originally so
poor as to be a by-word in the Commonwealth, but
now, through judicious and faithful cultivation, has
been brought to a condition highly productive. This
is evident from a few of the products as given in the
last annual report of the superintendent, Oct., 1889 :
English hay, 137 tons ; rye straw, 35 tons; ensilage,
425 tons ; rye, 200 bushels ; potatoes, 900 bushels ;
cabbage, 2000 heads ; milk, 39,544 gallons ; eggs,
1860 dozens. There were slaughtered from the stock
of the farm 14,111 pounds of pork, 341 pounds of
poultry and 8797 pounds of beef.
The whole institution shows a correspondent and
constant improvement. Where a sandy prospect
without a shade tree was found, now are shady walks,
green plots of lawn sprinkled with bright and varied
flowers, the whole surrounded with buildings no
longer a disgrace, but a credit to the State.
With the exterior the interior improvements have
kept gradual pace.
Captain Meserve was removed in June, 1858, and
was succeeded by Captain Thomas J. Marsh.
In 1866 the school was removed to Monson.
The number of inmates from the opening of the
Almshouse, May 1, 1854, till May 1,1889, was 84,599.
During the war nearly a company of men enlisted
from this institution, and many others went as substi-
tutes. Dr. Brown went as a volunteer surgeon and
rendered important service in the hospital at York-
town. Other surgeons for the army went or originally
came from Tewksbury service. Even the children of
the school scraped lint for the use of the wounded.
In 1871 the Almshouse at Monson has changed into
a " State Primary School," and that at Bridgewater to
the " State Work-house," and the Tewksbury one
into an almshouse proper, for the accommodation of
the more helpless poor.
In 1866 the office of resident chaplain was abol-
ished, and since that time the religious services have
been conducted by clergymen in the vicinity of
diSierent denominations.
Captain Marsh closed his connection with the insti-
tution July, 1883, and was succeeded in the following
August by C. Irving Fisher, M.D., the present superin-
tendent. The institution had gradually passed from a
shelter for the poor into a vast hospital. Hence the
election of a physician for superintendent.
Chester Irving Fisher, M.D., the present superin-
tendent of the State Almshouse, was born in Canton,
Massachusetts, April 25, 1847, and was the third son of
Cyrus and Caroline (Guild) Fisher. He was educated
in the common schools of his native town, and then
prepared for teaching in the State Normal School at
Bridgewater. After leaving Bridgewater he taught
in Provincetown, where, in 1867, he began the study of
medicine with Dr. J. Baxter, and in June, 1870, was
graduated from the Harvard Medical School. In
April, 1871, he entered the Quarantine Department
of Boston as assistant port physician, and became
port physician, February, 1873. In September, 1875,
having resigned his position. Dr. Fisher entered pri-
vate practice in Holbrook, Massachusetts, where he
continued until he assumed the duties of superinten-
dent and resident physician at the Almshouse, August
1, 1883.
284
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Since hia connection with the institution the most
important improvements are doubtleas the two new
hospitals erected from his plans and under his imme-
diate oversight — one for women, at a cost of $69,000,
having 110 beds ; and one for men costing $35,000,
with 50 beds. The old hospital for men has been
thoroughly renovated and re-arranged under his direc-
tion, so that the entire hospital accommodations are
now ready for 275 patients, thus divided — for men,
140 beds ; for women, 110 beds; maternity, 25 beds.
Of these hospitals, their lighting, ventilation, conven-
iences, &c., competent medical authority has officially
pronounced that they are the " best appointed, best
equipped and best administered of any hospital for
the indigent sick in the world."
This Almshouse was the first State institution to
adopt electric lighting, which was introduced under
the present superintendent in 1887.
The aim and marked characteristic of Dr. Fisher's
administration have been to incorporate into the
working of the institution the practical and tried ap-
pliances and methods of modern science in all its
available and multiplied branches.
Dr. Fisher is an enthusiast in the great charitable
work to which his life is consecrated. He is one of the
devoted members of the National Association of Char-
ities, and has published the following pamphlets :
" The Other Infectious Disease ; or, A Plea for a New
Hospital ;" " The Prevention of Insanity by the
Timely Control of the Disiolute;" and "The Neces-
sity for Social and Statute Recognition of Syphilis."
He has also, as opportunity carae, in carefully pre-
pared addresses, presented these and kindred topics to
churches, to clubs, medical and ecclesiastical, and
to any body which might aid in arousing the intelli-
gent part of the community to these subjects, so ger-
mane to the prosperity and health — physical, mental
and moral — of the Commonwealth.
The Tewksbury Almshouse is and has ever been a
model of cleanliness, where the poor have received
wholesome food in abundance, gentle treatment and
the best medical skill the State could furnish. It is
and has been open for the inspection of the public,
subject to the conditions requisite to the conduct of
all public institutions.
History. — Previous to its incorporation Tewks-
bury belonged to what in early times was the large
town of Billerica or "Shawshin." Its history, there-
fore, before 1734 is included in that town once so ex-
tensive. Little can be gathered from those days con-
cerning our northern part of the great township, but
a few items are worthy of preservation.
At thejunction of the Concord and Merrimac Rivers
was the former Indian town of Wamesit, once the
northwestern part of Tewksbury, but now in Lowell, a
great resort of the Wamesits — part of the large tribe
of the Pawtuckets — one of the five great nations
which in the days of the first settlers dwelt between
the Penobscot and Hudson Rivers. Some five hun-
dred acres of the Wamesit purchase was included in
what became Tewksbury, and appears to have been
the site of the Indian praying town of which an eye-
witness, Mr. Daniel Gookin in his Historical Collec-
tions of the Indians in New England, in 1674, two
hundred and sixteen years ago, has preserved a
description worth quoting:
" Wamesit is the tifth praying town; and this place is situate upon
tlie Merrimack River, being a neck of land, where Concord River falteth
into Merrimack River. It is about twenty miles from Boston, north
northwest, and within five miles of Billerica and iis much from Chelms-
ford ; so that it hath Concord River upon the west northwest, and Mer-
rimack River npon the north northeast. It hath about fifteen families ;
and consequently, as wc compute, about seventy-five souls. The quantity
of laud belonging to it is about twenty-five hundred acres. The land is
fertile, and yieldeth iplenty of corn. It is excellently accommodHted
with a fishing place, and there is taken variety of fish in their seasons,
aa salmon, shads, lamprey eels, sturgeon, bass and divers others. There
is a great coolluence of Indians, that usually resort to this place in the
fishing seasons. Of these strange Indians, divers are vitious and wicked
men and women ; which Satau makes use of to obstruct the prosperity
of religion here. The ruler of this people is called Numphow. He la
one of the blood of their chief sachems. Their teacher is called Samuel,
sou to the ruler, a young man of good parts, and can speak, read and
write EngliaU and Indian ctjmpetently. He is one tif those that \vi\a
bred up at school, at the charge of the Corporation for the Indians.
These Indians, if they were diligeut aud industrious, — to which they
have been frequently e.\cited, — might get iituch by their fish, especially
flesh salmon, which are of esteem and good price at Boston in the sea-
•ton ; and the Indians being stored with horses of a low price, iiiighl
furnish the market fully, being at so small a distance. And divers other
sorts of fish they might salt or pickle, as sturgeon and bass ; which
would be much to their profit. But notwithstanding divers arguments
Used to persuade them, aud some orders made to encourage them ; yet
their idleness and improvidence doth hitherto prevail.
*- At this place, once a year, at the beginning of May, the English
magistrate keeps his court, accompanied with ."Mr. Kliot. the minister,
who, at this time, takes his opportunity to preach, not only to the in-
habitants, but to as many of the strange Indians that can be peisuaded
to bear him ; of which sort, usually in times of peace, there are consid-
enible numbers at that season. .\ud this place being an ancient and
capital seat of the Indians, they come to fish ; and this good man takes
this opportunity to spread the net of the gospel to fish for their souls.
Here it may not be impertinent to give you the relation following.
" .May otb, 1GT4, according to our usual custom, ilr. Eliot and mysell
took our journey to Wamesit or Pawtuckett ; and ariivtug tliere thiit
evening, Mr. Eliot preached to as many of them as could be got together
out of Matt. xxii. 1-14, the parable o( the marriage of the king's son.
We met at the wigwam of one called Waunaiancet, about two mites
frem the town, near Pawtuckett Falls, and bordering upon Merrimack
Kiver. This peraon, Wannalancett, is the oldest son of old Passacono-
way, the chiefest sachem of Pawtuckett. He is a sober and grave per-
son, and of years between fifty and sixty. He hath been always loving
and friendly to the English. 3Iany endeavors Ijave been used several
years to gain this sachem to embrace the Christian religion ; but he hath
stood off from time to time and not yielded up himself personall.\,
though for four yeara past be hath l>een willing to hear the worxi of Go,l
preached, aud to keep the Sabbath. — A great reason that hath kept him
off, I conceive, hath been the indisposition and averseness of sundry
of his chief men and relations to pray to God ; which he foresaw would
desert him, in case he turned Christian. — But at this time, 3Ia.v fi, 1674,
I it pleased God so to inlluence and overcome his heart, that it being pro-
posed to him to give his answer concerning praying to God, after some
deliberation and serious pause, he stood up and made a ^peech to this
effect :
*' ' Sirs, you have been pleased for four years past, in your abundant
love, to apply yooraelvea particularly unto me and my people, to e.thort,
press and persuade us to pray to (5od. I am very thankful to you for
your pains. I must acknowledge,' said he, ' I have, in all my days, used
to pass in an old canoe [alluding to his frequent custom to pajis in a
canoe upon the river] ; and now you exhort me to change and leave my
old canoe and embark in a new canoe, to which I have hitherto been un-
willing; bntnow I yield myself up to your advice, and enter into a new
canoe, aud do engage to pray to God hereafter.'
TEWKSBURY.
285
*'Thi9 hia profesBed subjection was well pleaaing to ail that were pres-
ent, of which there were some Eo^lish persons of quality ; as Mr. Rich-
ard Daniel, a gentleaian that lived io Billerica, about eii miles off; and
Lieutenant kenchman, a neighbor at Chelmsford ; besides brother Eliot
and myself, with sundry others, English and Indians. Mr. Daniel, be-
fore named, desired brother Eliot to tell itti sachem from him, that it may
be. while he went in his old canoe, he passed in a quiet stream ; but the
end thereof was death and destruction to soul and body: But now he
went into a new canoe, perhape he would meet with storms and trials ,
but yet he should be encouraged to persevere, for the end of hia voyage
would be everlasting rest. Moreover, he and his people were exhorted
by Brother Eliot and myself, to go on and eanctify the Sablwtb, to hear
the word, and use the means that God hath appointed, and encourage
rheir hearts in the Lord their God. Since that time, I hear this sachem
doth persevere, and is a constant and diligent hearer of God's word, and
^nctitietb the Sabbath, though he doth travel to Wamesit meeting every
.Sabbath, which is about two miles ; and though sundry of hia people
hare deserted him since he subjected to the gospel, yet he continues and
persists.
'* In this town they observe the same civil and religious orders as io
other towns, and have a constable and other officers.
'* This people of Wamesit sutfered more in the late war with the Maw-
hawks than any other pi-aying town of Indians ; for divers of their peo-
ple were blain ; others, wouuded , and some carried into captivity ;
which Proxidenoe hath much hindered the prosperous estate of this
place."
With Billerica, the vicinity of Wamesit passed
through ail the horrors of the early Intiian warfare.
The conversion of the Waraesits, however, was a
blessing to the whole region. They remained faith-
ful friends of the whites, although often suspected
and also unjustly treated by the latter. The cruelties
|)erpetrated in Billerica and this part of that town
were nor. by them. In his " Memoirs of the Indians
and Pioneers of the Region of Lowell," Cowley states
that some Indians of another tribe visited that part
of Billerica now Tewksbury, and killed John Rogers
aud fourteen others. Colonel Joseph Lynde, ol
Charlestown, with three hundred armed men, ranged
the swamps around here in pursuit of the marauders,
but in vain. Lynde'a Hill, which he fortified and
garrisoned, preserves his name. Fort Hill was first
used for defence by the Wamesits, aud their friendli-
ness at this time permitted, without any effort, its
use by Lynde and others.
Several garri.son-houses were located in this vicin-
ity and also in the north and south parts of the town.
In various portions Indian relics have been found,
.'4ome, as those collected by Mr. Follausbee, ot
Andover, of the Stone Age. On the farms of Mr.
•lesse L. Trull, of the State Almshouse, and recently
of Mr. Harnden, South Tewksbury, and especially
near the sandy desert in the south of the town,
numerous finds of hatchets, mortars for bruising corn,
chisels, gouges, arrow and spear-heads have been
made.
Indeed, the traces of the Wamesits, or Pennacooks,
.\gawam8, Piscataquas, Naamkeeks — for their names
were numerous — are rich in the town which sprung
up .so near, and included their former fishing station
and praying village, at the junction of the Merrimac
and Concord Rivers. The Merrimac means the Stnr-
geon River.
It is reported that after these troublous times were
over, the Wamesit chief visited the Rev. Mr. Fiske, of
Chelmsford. To his inquiry whether Chelmsford had
suffered much, the pastor replied " No," and devoutly
thanked Gk)d. " Me next,'' said Wannalancet. It
was a fitting correction of the omission to recognize
the faithful agents God had employed to save the
whole adjoining country from even more fearful suf-
ferings than it had endured.
The following anecdote, contributed by Miss Mary
F. Eastman, for the past twenty years, with her fam-
ily, a resident of Tewksbury, belongs to this period,
when Tewksbury was the north part of Billerica : " A
corporal, John French, who belonged to the north
part, was wounded at a distance in Brookfield, 'and
in consideration of his wounds, they abated his taxes,
gave him a more prominent place in church and al-
lowed his wife to occupy a seat in the front gallery
with Mrs. Foster, and those women placed there.' "
As early as 1725 an eflbrt was made by Jonathan
Bowers, Samuel Hunt and others to incorporate the
more northern part of Billerica into a town, to be
known as Wamesit. It was intended to include in
this new town the whole Wamesit Purchase, which
contained 2500 acres, 500 of which lay on this side of
the Concord River, but 2000 acres on the other side,
in Chelmsford. This effort, which would fittingly
have retained the old Indian name of Wamesit among
the towns of the State, was unsuccessful.
Later the movement was renewed, because of the
inconvenience to the inhabitants of this northern
portion of Billerica in going so far to public worship
as the old meeting-house. Few estimate the import-
ant part religion played in all public and social life
in those early days. Hence when the people in this
part of the ancient town found it a heavy burden
to go so far by horseback, or oxen, or on foot — for
vehicles were scarce indeed, — they desired to have a
meeting-house of their own. Many went to church on
horseback — the husband and wife sometimes with chil-
dren also upon the same animal, frequently taking what
the records call a " bridal" path. At times we hear
of a woman carrying her babe five or six miles to
attend divine service. Hence, on May 13, 1733, the
northern section of Billerica asked the ancient town
to " erect a meeting-house in the centre of the town, or
so as to accommodate the northerly part of the town,
upon the Town's cost, or set them off", so that they main-
tain preaching among themselves." Reluctantly and
after some time Billerica granted the last part of this
petition. They were set off" with two-thirds of the
land between the Billerica meeting-house and the
Andover line, by a parallel line extending from the
Concord River to the Wilmington line, " if the in-
habitants on the south-easterly side of the Shawshine
River be willing to join with them." " This final
condition," says Mr. Hazen, in his interesting " His-
tory of Billerica," "called out a petition from Samuel
Hunt and others to the General Court, praying for
the grant of a town with these bounds, or a commit-
286
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
tee to examine and report." The latter was done,
and as a result Tewhburt/ was incorporated December
23, 1734. From this and hia earlier but unsuccessful
effort it appears that if any one person has the honor
of being the father of this town it is Samuel Hunt, a
name prominent in all the early history.
It was formerly supposed that the new town was
named from Tewksbury, England, because some of
the early settlers of Billerica came from that place,
historic because of its Abbey and famous battle-field.
Of this there is no evidence. No family, either in
Billerica or in Tewksbury, traces its origin to that
transatlantic home. The following extract from a
paper on the origin of the names of New England
towns, read by Mr. W. H. Whitmore before the
Massachusetts Historical Society, gives the only rea-
son so far found for its name :
"Tewksbury, Dec. 23, 1734, Act. This is the
name of a town in Gloucestershire, England, famous
for its Abbey. It had been, however, one of the titles
of George II., who was, in 1706, made Baron Tewks-
bury, Viscount Northallerton, Earl of Milford-Haven,
Marquis and Duke of Cambridge. In 1714 he became
Prince of Wales; and on his accession, in 1727, all
his dignities merged in the crown. Still this use of
the name is the most probable reason for its adoption
here." About the period of the formation of the new
town it was a fashion thus to honor members of the
royal house — a loyalty entirely quenched by the
experience of the Revolution less than fifty years
after.
The new town received 9000 of the 25,000 acres
which then belonged to Billerica, but the surveys
must have been very loose, for after losing some
2000 acres to Lowell, Tewksbury has still over
13,000 acres. Among these acres were some 3000
which composed the well-known Mrs. Winthrop's
farm, or " Winthrop's Farm," as it was popularly
called, which was the grant made to her by the
General Court, Dec. 10, 1641, which confirmed and
defined a former one of 1640. To quote Mr. Hazen's
extract from the State records : " Mrs. Marg' Winthrop
hath her3000 acres of land, formerly granted her, to bee
assigned about the lower end of Concord River, near
Merrimack, to bee layde out by Mr. Flint and Mr
Leifl. Willard, w" Mr. Oliver or some other skilful
in measuring, so as it may not hinder a plantation,
& any p"^ thereof they may purchase of any Indians
that have right to it." This grant was between the
Merrimack and the Concord, on the east side of the
latter river, and was subsequently laid out by Jona-
than Danforth, " in a true circle," including a part of
Lowell and the adjacent section of Tewksbury. There
it took in the whole northwest part of Tewksbury,
.save the 500 acres of the Wamesit Purchase, came to
the east of Trull's Brook at the north, and extended
along the Concord River on the west. The other
2000 acres of the Wamesit Purchase had been ac-
quired by Chelmsford. That whole purchase is now
in the city of Lowell, south of the Merrimack
River.
From the old town the following families were taken
into the new. The list, as given by Mr. Hazen, is im-
perfect, but, as he states, will have interest :
BrowD, Joaeph
Brown. William
Farmer, Richard
Farmer, Thomas
French, John
French, Thomaa
Frost, Daniel
Frofit, Edmund
Froet, Joseph
Hall, Bichard
Hail, Samuel
Uaeeltine, Samuel
Uadeltine, Stephen
Hunt, Jeremiah
Hunt, John
Hunt, Joseph
Hunt, Peter
Kidder, Epbraim
Klttredge, Daniel
Kittredge, Daniel, .Tr.
Kiltredge, Francis
Kittredge, James
Kittiedge, James, Jr.
Kittredge, James, Ser.
Kittredge, John. Dr.
Kittredge, John, Jr.
Kittredge, Joseph
Kittredge, Thomas
Kittredge, William
Levestone, John
Levestone, Seth
Manning, Eliphalet
l^Ianninp, Thomas
Marshall, Thomac
Needham, John .
Osgood, Stephen
Patten, John
Patten, Kendall
Patten, Nathaniel
Shed, Nathan
Stickney, .Abraham
Trull, Samuel
\Vhiting, John
Mr. Hazen says that " to these forty-seven names
enough should probably be added to make the number
sixty. They include all on our list of the names of Hall,
Bazeltine, Hunt and Kittredge, a lo.ss too serious not
to be felt. The latter family had become so numer-
ous in that part of the town exclusively, that it is not
strange they have been credited with original settle-
ment there. In fact, as noted elsewhere, their ances-
tor, John Kittredge, lived and died southeast of Bare
Hill, in Billerica."
At this time the centre was not the most thickly-
settled part of Tewksbury, but the southeast, as the
ancient and numerous gravestones of the old cemetery
show.
The first town-meeting was held January 14, 1735,
twenty-two days after incorporation. Lieutenant
Daniel Kittredge, a name frequent and honored
in all the .lucient affairs of the town, was elected
the first moderator. The following other officers
were chosen: Selectmen, Lieut. Daniel Kittredge,
James Hunt, Jr., Joseph Kittredge, John French,
Nathan Patten ; Town Clerk, Nathan Patten ; Town
Treasurer, Nathan Shed ; William Kittredge, Surveyor
of Flax and Hemp. This last officer lets us see one
of the chief products of the region, next to the neces-
saries of life. This, with the choice of constable,
seems to have been the business of the first town-
meeting.
At the next meeting, January 31st, the first vote
was to choose a committee to determine the line be-
tween their own and the mother town. This business
was prolonged for a considerable period on account of
various reasons, chiefly the reluctance of Billerica to
accept the various propositions. Hereafter the prom-
inent subjects of town-meetings in those days occupy
chief attention, — the church, the highways and the
TEWKSBTJRY.
287
schools, — except when the various wars remanded
those affairs to a secondary place. The new town had
not proceeded very far in bringing its corporate exist-
ence into shape before it was found requisite to de-
termine its centre. Accordingly at a meeting held
May 20, 1735, it was " voted that Mr. Enggals should
be ye artis to find « center of their town," also " that
their committee men and chain men should assist in
finding ye center of ye town." These committeemen
were those chosen to determine the line between the
town and Billerica. They were Lt. Daniel Kittredge,
Samuel Hunt and John French, to whom James
Kittredge was subsequently added. The chainmen
were John Whiting and Nathan Shed.
At the same meeting a vote was taken to levy a town
rate of £30 charges to be made by the last assessment in
Billerica. The first rate-list on the town records fol-
lows and is interesting as showing the first tax-payers
of Tewksbury :
John Banders . .
Timothy Pntnam
OliTer ScalM. . .
Minister. Town ;
». J. •. d.
Richard Hall ...
Joeepb Bayley .... I
Joseph Bayley, J r . i
DaTid Bayley .... ]
.Tonathan Bayley . .
Nathan Bayley . . .
Richard Boynton . .
Thomas Clark . . . . U C 3 1
.lonos Clark
John Chapman . . .
.losiah Cogin ....
Williaiu DavidBon . .
.Tohn DaTidsoD . . .
George Davidson . .
Samuel Friasell . . .
Richard Farmer . .
Samuel Farmer . . .
Capt. Peter Hunt . . 17 10. 9 3
Samuel Hunt ....
DiiTid Hunt
MrB. .Vnn Hunt . . .
.Samuel Haseltine, -Ir
Zachaiiah Hardey . .
lohn UiirUey ....
Nehemiah Hardey . .
Daniel GrilTen ....
Seth Jewett
Joseph Pike 19 5. 10 9
Ezra Kindel ....
James King
James King, Jr . . .
Seth Leveetone . . . l-i ^. 7 4
John Levestone . . .
Daniel Leveatone . .
Stephen Merrill . . .
Robert Meats ....
James McCoy ....
John Needhani . . .
Jonathan Parker . .
.loeeph Kittredge Jr .
Timothy Eogere . . .
Nathan Rogers . . .
David Stone
.Tonathan Russell . .
Sgt Samuel Trull . .
Joshua Clark ....
.Abraham Stickney .
.\miia Stickney . . .
John Pemberton. . .
John Whiting ....
Minister.
I. d.
.Samuol Wench . . .
Moaea Worcester . . .
Ross Wyman ....
Gideon Hardey . . .
John Hunt
Nathaniel Hunt . . .
John Dutton ....
Benjamin Osgood . .
John Bell 16 8
Town
•. d.
Peter Pattison ....
Increase Winn . . .
James Dotton ....
Nathaniel French . . \
Having chosen an " artis " and a committee to find
the " centre " of the town, they started the large sys-
tem of roads which is still a marked feature of this
region, by electing, September 29, 1735, a " committee
to see what highways are needed, and upon terms they
may be had and where most feasible." Samuel Hunt,
Jr., John French, Richard Hall, James Kittredge, Jr.,
Cornet John Whiting and William Kittredge were
chosen for that committee.
The roads were laid out largely to get people to
meeting as well as to serve businejs purposes. Having
formed the town because church services in Billerica
were inconveniently remote, almost the first thing to
be done was to carry out plans for better accommoda-
lions in this respect. Then it was the part of a town
to provide for the people all which pertained to the
means of grace, meeting-house, minister and
whatever was requisite to keep them in eflScient work-
ing-order. Promptly then, and at great sacrifice, they
provided for one of the chief features of every New
England town — the church.
9 3
7 7
7 a
Ephraim Kidder ... 13 9.
Joseph Brown .... 13 7.
Lieut. Wm. Brown .
Joeiah Baldwin . . .
Jacob Cory, Jr . . . .
Nathaniel Clark . . .
Thomas Clark, Jr . .
Joseph Frost ....
Joseph Frost, Jr . . .
Edmund Frost .... 14 7.
.Vmos Foster ....
Sergt. John French .
John French, Jr . . .
; Thomas French . . .
I Joseph French . . .
I Joseph Grimes . . .
I Daniel Kittredge . .
Sgt. J. Kittredge, Jr.
I Sgt. Thos. Kittredge
Dr. John Kittredge .
I Isaac Kittredge . . .
Jacob Kittredge , . .
.lames Kittredge. . .
i Dea. Jos. Kittredge . 14 7. 8 3
' LU Wm. Kittredge .
1 Francis Kittredge . . 18 10. 9 3
! Joseph Kidder . . .
I Josiah Kidder ....
Elipbalet Manning .
Ellphalet Manning, Jr
. Thomas Manning . •
Thomas MalshaU . .
' En. Stephen Osgood ,
I Kendel Pattin .... 14 11. S3
' William Peacock - .
Andrew Richardson .
Dea. Nathan Shed . .
Lt. Joshua Thompson v^
John Twist
Ebenezer Watson . .
Thomas Davis. . . .
CHAPTER XXV.
TE WKSB US r— ( Continued).
THE CHITRCH.
At the second town-meetiug, June 31, 1735, the
third vote — and the third vote in town except for the
election of officers — was to choose a committee, which
consisted of Peter Hunt, James Kittredge, Jr., and
William Brown, " to view Andover old meeting-house
frame and report to ye town at ye adjournment of said
meeting." Having performed this duty, they reported
the frame " sound except 2 or 3 sticks." Nothing
more is heard of the Andover frame ; but in the fourth
town-meeting, February 13, 1735, came the vote, Dan-
iel Kittredge, (moderator) " that they build a new
meeting-house." March 10th, John French, Samuel
Hunt, Jr., James Kittredge, Jr., Abraham Stickney
and Peter Hunt were chosen a committee for that pur-
pose. At the same meeting they refused " to act upon
ye first article in the warrant at this time," which was
" to agree of what bigness their meeting-house should
be," but " July 9th, voted that che bigness should
be 48 feet long, 36 feet wide and 1-1 feet high be-
tween ' joynts.' " Such was the size of the first of
the two buildings used by the Church of Christ of
the old order in Tewksbury.
September 20, 1735, " voted that they would have
preaching in ye town, and that they would meet at ye
house of John French, Jr., upon ye Sabbath Days
and worship God." This house was often devoted to
288
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
town-meetings also, before the church building was
available for that purpose. November 7th, Lieuten-
ant Daniel Kittredge, Samuel Hunt, Jr., and John
French were chosen a committee to provide a
preacher, and it was voted the " stated time to begin
ye Public Worship in ye Sabbath Days shall be ten a
Clock in ye morning, that ye time of intermission be-
tween exercises should be one hour and a half, and
that they would sing that way that is now called ye
new." Then " Joseph Baily and Nathan Stickney
were chosen to tune and read ye psalms."
Gradually they approached the time when a church
with all necessary appointments for its existence and
work should be found within their borders. Nov. 7,
1735, voted to choose Lieutenant Daniel Kittredge,
Samuel Hunt, Jr., and John French a committee to
provide a preacher.
After much deliberation on the site, after delay
caused by the difficulties ever attending such an un-
dertaking, especially in communities not too rich in
worldly goods, they proceeded with the building of the
meeting-house. The town-meeting of March 30,
1736, was an interesting one. It began at the house
of William Kittredge at 12 o'clock noon. Itadjourued
to the centre of the town to see the land proposed as
the site of the new meeting-house, and came back to
Mr. Kittredge's and then adjourned to the evening,
when it was " voted that their meeting-house shall
stand upon the land of Nathaniel Richardson, near a
small pine tree marked with R." They also chose
as a committee, " to let out their meeting-house to be
framed and finished," Samuel Hunt, Jr., James Kit-
tredge, Jr., Nathan Shed, William Kittredge, Abraham
Stickney and Stephen Osgood. Several of the votes
which mark the progress of the work reveal the life
and customs of those days which are no more. June
10, 1736, they voted " that they would raise their
meeting-house by a teacle ;" " that they would not
provide for the raising of their meeting-house by a
rate," and " that they would raise a town rate of £200
for the building of their meeting-house." The exact
date of its completion cannot be given. Probably it
was not entirely finished for some years after its oc-
cupation for public worship and town-meetings, for the
records contain many intimations of the building of
pewa and the finishing of parts of it.
After it was completed sufficiently for use the ques-
tion which next engaged the town was the seating of
it. This was no trivial matter. There were many
deliberations and many methods proposed. The ques-
tions of precedence and of payment enlisted the in- i
terest of the entire town. Sufficient and careful com- j
parison of the town records might enable one to !
construct a plan of that ancient seating and mark the
location of the family pews and thus the social posi-
tion of the various households. Finally, in Decem-
ber, 1737, they decided "to seat their meeting-house
and to have respect both to money and age in seating
the meeting-house, to age all above sixty years;" "to
seat the meeting-house by one head, real and personal,
going back to the first assessment that was made in
Tewksbury;" "to leave the pews room joyning the
pulpit, one on the right hand and one oa the left —
one for the minister and one for the town; to dispose
of the room that remains left for pews to the highest
payers, giving the highest payers the first choice, and
if he refuse to make his choice, the next highest
payer, and so on till the above-said pew-room be
taken up ; that such persons as shall make choice of
the above-said pews are obliged to ceil the meeting-
house sides against their pews up aa high as the bot-
tom of the lower windows," Later the town obliged
the pew-owners to glaze the windows opposite their
respective pews and keep such portion of the meeting-
house in proper repair.
The pews were not built all at once, but for several
years permissions were granted to persons as they
sought for them to build one or more pews. It was
later still before the galleries were even finished.
Hesitation appears to carry out the plans of rating,
etc., for we find that the committee having failed to
do its duty, another was chosen with definite instruc-
tions "to see who the highest payer was from their
first being a town;" and still in 1742 the following
vote spurs up the dilatory: "That the selectmen
build a pew for their mini.-iter forthwith."
It is time to hear of their first minister. Although
the town called the meeting-house and minister theirs,
yet within the church was an inner body — the church
proper, united by no local, but by a spiritual relation.
Exactly when the church in Tewksbury was formed is
uncertain, but probably about the close of 1736, for
November 23, 1737, we have the account of the first
minister's ordination over it. Eleven months before
the meeting-house was ready for occupancy the peo-
ple of Tewksbury voted, January 17, 1736, "that Mr.
Samson Spaulding, of Chelmsford, should be our
Minister upon his accepting our Choice;" also, "to
chose a Committee to treat with Mr. Samson Spauld-
ing, whom we have chosen to be our Minister, and to
make return." That committee was representative of
the town, consisting of Lieutenant Daniel Kittredge,
Sergeant John French and Mr. Samuel Hunt, Jr.,
February 7, 1736, they voted to give Mr. Samson
Spaulding, whom they "made choice on for their
Minister," "yearly for his salary £120 sterling, ac-
cording to the valuation of grain now received among
us — Indian Corn at 6». per bush., and wheat at 10s.
per bush., and Rie at Ss. per bush.; " also " to give Mr.
Samson Spaulding, whom the Town has made choice
on for their Minister even for his settlement among
them, £300, and to pay the same at three payments,
namely — £100 a year till the whole sum be paid."
The choice of a minister then was a matter of in-
terest to the whole town, which was connected with
the church in the closest manner. This intimate
connection may be seen by the custom of voting his
salary first of all the business in town-meeting after
TEWKSBURY.
289
the election of officers, often before the election of the
minor officers, and by a vote spread on the town
records like the following "that a Committee of three
be chosen to recommend Phenias R. Red and others
into the religious society in said Town."
Hence, September 13, 1730, a fast was appointed
by the town for the 20th day of November, " in order
for calling a minister ; " then it was voted that the
selectmen appoint the fast and provide the ministers
requisite to conduct it. Entertainment and expenses
for tlieae ministers were also provided. The ordina-
tion of a minister then was a great occasion. The
.itl'air was too rare and too important to be passed over
lightly. October >i, 1737, voted " that Mr. Sampson
Spaulding, of Chelmsford, whom ye town bad made
choice on for their minister, should be ordained on
the 16lh day of November next, salving if the thanks-
giving put it not by, and if it did, then one week
following, on Wednesday ye twenty-third of the same
mouth," aud also voted " to have three men for a
committee to provide ministers aud messengers for
said ordination." The three were Lieutenant Daniel
Kittredge, Mr. John French and Mr. Samuel Hunt,
.fr. It was decided that the house of Mr. John
French " be place of entertainment for rainisters and
messengers at said ordination," also that " the pro-
vision m.ide for the ministers and the messengers at
the ordination :,ha\\ be provided by the discretion of
the committee chosen for that purpose." How these
few votes bring before us the life of the times, social
and religious! How one would like to have seen
and heard the wurtiiies as they gathered and solemnly
iirdained and installed the first minister of the town!
Of the ordination itself, and of the solemn covenant
of the church, a record happily has been preserved
by the band of that tir.st minister. From that time,
November 23, 1737, till bis long and only pastorate
was closed by death, we have the guidance of Mr.
•Spaulding in the bi-tory of the church, written by
himself. It begins with the solemn church covenant,
a liocument interesting for many and general reasons.
This covenant, as ;;iven below, is instructive in many
re;i)ects, and shows the educational, as well as re-
ligious (levclnpnient of the New England towns one
liuadred and fifty years ago :
*• We (wlinse naiiifs aru uinler writleu) sensibly iicknowleJijini^ uur
iin\vurtliiiii^.-s uf >iit:Ii a favuiir .v; uofitncsd for such a Buuiaescj, yac ap-
preheuJiiig "urBclVes to be Calleii uf tiod to put oiirbelves iDlu .i w:iy ul
("til Colliuiiiui.ili ;ili>l seek Ihe ."Seltleriient of all the Ouspel luatittltions
;iijtMU^st us; Jo tliercfurb in ur'ler Ibereunlo, Jc for the better promotin-::
Tliereuf, na niutrli as iu ua lien, kituutug bow proue we are to Backslide,
abjuring all I'lturideiice in oui-selves, auU relyiog oq tbe Lurd Jesus
'"liri-t, aloue for Iielp, so Coveriaut aa follows — linpniuia. As to the
• Viufession of faitli put forth liy the Last ^ynod of Churches, held io
lt,i-.tou, io NVw Kui;laud, wee do heartily close with it, so far as we are
or luuy be .iLiiuaiQled with it aud find it at;reiible to the holy Scriptures,
and promise to ^tand by, m-iintaio ,i if need be t'outeoU for the faith
therein delivered to the people of God, and if any atuoDg us go about to
uudurmiue it, we will hear Due Testimony agtiinst them.
" Wee — Also combine together to walk as a particular C^i* of Christ
according to all these holy rules of the Gospel, prescribed to such a
Society, so f.tr as uod bus revealed, or shall reveal his mind to ua. in
that refipect.
10-iii
*' Wee — do accordinijlj recognize the Covenant of GnicB, in which we
professedly acknowledge onroelvea deToted to thu fear and nervice of the
one true God, our ?npreiiie Lord, iind (o the Lord Jesus Christ, the
High Priest, prophet <k King of hta C^*> unto whose Conduct we Submit
ourselves, A upon whnru alone we wait A; hope for Grace A Glory, to
whom we bind ountelves in an Everlasting Coven' never to be Broken.
'' Wee — Likewise give np ourselves, one unto iinother in the Lord,
resolving by his Help to cleave Each to other, as fellow-nieniben of one
Body, in Brotherly love, and holy watchfulness over each other for
mutual KdiflcatioD & to subject uurselveii to all the holy adniiniaCrationa
appointed by him who is hetid of the Church, dispensed according to
the rules of the Gospel, A: to give our Constant attendance on all the
publick ordinances of Chridtiau Institutions, walking orderly as be-
couietb ::}aints.
" Wee — do likewise acknowledge our posterity to be included with us
in the Gospel Covenant, & Blessing God for so rich a favour, do prooiiae
to bring them up in the nurture and Admonition uf the Lord, with
gratest Care, and to acknowledge them in their ('ovenant relation ac-
cording to the Gospel Rules.
" Furthermore. Wee — promise to be Careful to the utmost to provide
the Settlement A Continuance among us, of the Offices and Officers ap-
pointed by Chriat, the chief Shepherd, for the Edification of the Church
X accordingly to do uur duty faithfully for their maintenance &. en<
coumgement, X' to Curry towards them tus becomes ua.
" Finally. Wee — do promiise and acknowledge to preserve Comoiiiti-
ion with the faithful Churches of Chrir^t, lor the giving and receiving
uf mutual CouDsel and asiiiatance iu all Caaea wbereiu it shall be need-
ful.
Now the Good Lord be mercifull to us, and aa he hoa put it into <>ur
hearts, tbua to Devote ouraelvea to him, Let hini pity and pardon our
frailties and humble ua fur our Carnal Confidence and Keep it forever
upon our heartb to be faithful! to him»elf & one to another for his praise
i:, our eternal Comfurt, for Christ Jesu»' Sake, to Mhom be glory for
Ever. Amen,
Daniel Kittndg
Nathan Shed
hia
.Joseph I Kittrige
mark
hid
John Kittrige
mark
Jamea Kittredg
Jjicob — c'urey
mark
Edmund Frost
William Kittredg
hill
Kendal + Puttin
murk
:5rephen Oiigood
hii
Thomas + Kittridge
maik
Ephraini Kidder Juner
hi:>
/.tcliariah z Hardy
mark
Abraham tjticknA
hia
Ephiuim k Kiddt-r
mark
Francis Kittredg
Joseph Caily
John Pat tin
Amos Foster
Jacob Winu
TbomsA Clark
hia
Isaac -H Kittrige
mark
hia
Thomna V* Marshal
mark
hia
Joseph -1- Frost
mark
hia
Joseph I Kidder
mark
hia
Jacob -r Kittridge
mark
his
John + Shed
mark
hia
Joseph + Grimes
mark
John Chapman
hia
Andrew | Bichanlson
mark
Daniel Shed
Nathan Hall
John Twisa
Among the signers of this covenant were most of
the fathers of the town. Mr. Spaulding then gives a
record of Lis call and ordination. It is brief enough
to copy entire : '* Sampson Spaulding, of Chelmsford,
was unanimously chosen by the people of Tewksbury
the 17th day of January, anno: Dom : 1736-7, . . .
and Ordained the 23 day of November, 1737, — the
Rev** Elders that assisted in his ordination were Mr.
John Hancock, of Lexington, & his son, Ebenezer;
Mr. Sampson Stoddard, of Chelmsford; Mr. Samuel
Ruggles, of Billerica; Mr. Thomas Parker, of Dra-
290
HISTOKY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
cut; and Mr. Nicholas Bowes, of Bedford. Mr. Piir-
ker opened the solemnity by prayer. Mr. Ruggles'
preached the sermon from 2Cor. sii. 14: Fof I seek
not yours, but you. Mr. Hancock gave the charge,
and Mr. Stoddard the hand of fellowship." .\.fter
this record of hia ordination follows this entry on the
church book : "The Chh. met again the 29lh Day of
Jan'y, anno Dom. 1741-2, & made choice of Joseph
Kittredge as a Deacon, to officiate in said Chh., and
voted that one shilliug should be added per member
for a year, to what wiis first voted, viz: y' every
member pay 3«. per year in order to provide for the
L'da Table, i.e.. Is. iiil. at a Contribution every hall
year, & y' each one write his name upon the money
given."
Shortly after his establi.«hmeut among them, Mr.
Spaulding married Miss Mehitabel Hunt, of the fam-
ily so well known in the northwest part of the town.
Thus was started on his long and successful career
the first pastor in Tewksbury. For si.\ty years, in
peace and war, in prosperity and adversity, he was
with the town in all its varied fortunes, when there
was one Hock and one shepherd. The ancient
church-book is the chief memorial preserved of him
— an invaluably precious record of the doings of the
church, the baptisms he administered, the marriages
he performed and the fui;erals at which he officiated
during those three-score years.
The baptisms during Mr. Spaulding's miuislry win.'
700; admissions to the church, 24S : deaths, OVO — a^
recorded by himself from the time of his settlement
till shortly l)efore his death. The last record is, ''Old
madam Bordman Dy' Nov. 24, I79:J, etat SO. Short
sickness." It is interesting and pathetic to trace be-
tween the lines liis own life in the baptisms and
deaths of his children — as, MJur chiM, .Mehitabel,
aged 21 years and li days ; " arid " My daiightrr Me-
hitabel's Benj', Dyed April 2S, 1771). Mortification."
And we follow his work in the long record from the
time when, in the vigor of youth, the handwriting
was somewhat stiff, till afterward, growing more duc-
tile with years, it becomes stiff again and unsteady
with age. At last, in the letters, the dim eye and trem-
bling nerves become evident, and finally the pen drops
from the hand of the aged servant of God. Then_
following his last record of a death, comes, in a differ-
ent handwriting, most probably his widow's, this in-
sertion : "The Rev. Sampson Spaulding Died Dec.
ve loth, 1796," just a month and two days short of
sixty years from the time he wiis "the choice of the
Town to be their minister."
"Tradition says of Mr. Spaulding that when in
advanced years he was possessed of a venerable form
and commanding stature, wearing a white wig and
carrying a long staff, and that with a weak and trem-
ulous voice he spoke unto his people the words of
eternal truth." — Quoted from " Tewksbury," by Jlr.
L. Huntress and Mr. J. C. Kittredge in Drake's
" Middlesex County."
By 1792 Mr. Spaulding had evidently become >o in-
capacitated that the pulpii must be supplied, for in a
town-meeting January of that year, it was voted to
" hire preaching," a phrase often appearing on the
records, and to raise £30 to pay for preaching that
year. .^ committee of seven was chosen to treat with
Mr. Spaulding, whose conference with him had a
highly satisfactory result.
This was embodied .\|pril 2, 1792, in the following
vote: " to give the Rev'. Sampson Spaulding during
liis natural life yearly as shall be in proportion to
thirty pounds in case lie will resign up so much of
his charge as will not lie a hindrance to the town set-
tling another gentleman in the ministry if the town
jhall think proper." A committee was chosen to wait
upon Mr. Spaulding and reporte<l " that the Rev. Mr.
Spaulding acknowledged liimseif fully satisfied and
contented with the vote of the town."
.V month or so later the clmrch appointed a fast to
look to God for direction in choosing his colleague,
and at the March meeting the town voted to concur
with the church. Jlore formal action was taken the
.May following in the decision to have a day of fa.-ting
ai;d prayer in concurrence 'viih the vote of tliecliuiuh
and also in respect to ilie leverend gentlemen to be
sent for to attend the fast. It was al--i> voted that the
day be the 17th cif this instant and that " the nelecl-
n)en should see that there be entertainment for the
Reverend gentlemen that -hall come to attend the
fast."
A committee was aNo appointed to estimate what
the minister's settlement anil salary should be •- liat
shall be settled in this town. June "ith the town con-
curred with the church in giving Mr. Titus Tluodon'
Barton a call for their niininier, and urtt-red him £l'iO
for his settlement, to be paM one-half nine momlis
after his ordination, the remainder in fifteen months,
and a salary of C'.>« and twenty cords of wood at his
door, yearly "so long as he shall be our minister."
Mr. Barton having .accepted the call, preparati^ us
extensive and imposing compared with these days
were made to ordain him. Large committees were
appointed to provide " place and entertainment for the
council that .shall come," " to prop up the galleries in
the meeting-house and make it secure iigainstthe day
of ordination," and " find material.-, and make a
' scarfill ' out before the meeting-hou.se for the iniii-
isters to be on to ordain Mr. Barton, if it should be
done out of doors " " to provide for the Council and
see that there be good order kept on the l>ay of ordi-
nation or appoint some persons to .see it Done," and
also " to provide for other ministers, candidates and
scollars that shall come to the ordination."
Less than a year later .Mr. Barton received the
j thanks of the town for giving up £10 yearly of his
salary and ten cords of wood. Probably in voting
£90 instead of £S0, as tiret granted, there was a little
strain upon the town's ability.
The next matter on the records which pertains to
TEWKSBURY.
291
the church is in 1798, when at the May meeting the
town decided " to introduce the Bass Viol into the
meeting-house on the Sabbath Day aud other days of
Public Worship." The same year witnessed the build-
ing and sale by auction of four new pews. These
were sold to David Rogers, William Brown, Jr., Na-
thaniel Hardy aud John Spaulding, for i^Sl, §79.50,
5^59 and S52 75, respectively.
Mr. Barton ended his labors with the church May
19, 180.3, and on the 30lh instant the town voted again
to hire preaching. September 5, 1804, they are found
voting "to appoint a day of fasting and prayer to look
up to God for his direction in the choice of a minister
to settle with them." They had a " Town's Commit-
tee " and a church's committee to make the nece.ssary
arrangements. It was not, however, till ISOtj that
their choice was directed, when, in the March meeting,
it fell upon Mr. Jacob (\".ggin, a name made honora-
ble in the town by himself and son. At that meeting
it was voted to hear !Mr. (hoggin longer in order to
give him a call. A month later the town confirmed
this vote in a full meeting, and in three weeks after
concurred with the church in giving him a call to
settle with them in the work of the Gospel ministry.
The town " more fully concurred" with this call .[uly
lit, 1806. IMr. ('i)ggin was granted >^i!00 for hissettle-
ment and for years received a salary of ^^iO and six-
teen cords of wood. The story of the preparations
for the solemnity of his ordination is almost a verbal
repetition of what took place when Mr. Barton was
ordained.
Previous to the calling nf the next |>astor the
uliurch revised its Confession. The following is an
accdunt of this interesting action :
At a meeting of the church September 25, 1804,
which is recorded by Lt. William Sinionds : "The
Covenant entered into when they were first form'd
into a Church state, and the heads of the confession
of faith agreed upon by the Sinod of Boston, May
r.', ItJSO, and solemnly adopt'd by this church when
it was first gathered, :is far as they were or might be
acipiainted with it, and should find it agreeable to
the holy scriptures, were distinctly read: the Cove-
nant and confession of Faith lately us'd were also
distinctly read. After considerable conversation
upon this business this question was put: Will the
church abide by that Covenant on which this Church
was first gather'd? It passed in the affirmative." |
It was then voted to request " Mr. French, of An- ]
ilover. Dr. Cummings, of Billerica, aud Mr. Stearns, |
of Bedford," to " form a more concise Confession of I
Faith and covenant and lay rhem before the Church j
tor their acceptance or rejection."
After several meetings, which were adjourned be
cause the committee was not ready to report, we find ;
that " Oct. 15, 1804, The Church again met agreeable \
to notification at 2 "'■•' p.m.," at which the Confession ',
of Faith and Covenant recommended by the commit- |
tee were adopted. The foUowijig is the Confession : '
'* You (aud each of you) profeesedly believe there is ooe God, the Fa-
ther, Sou and Holy Ghost— that the scriptures of the Old aud New Tes-
taments are the word of God, written by the Prophets and .\postles by
the inspirutioD of the Holy Spirit. Vou t>elteve in the fall of man, and
the depravity of human utiture ; the necessity of being born again in
order to be fitted for the kinf^^uni of heaven ; and that this change is
ordinarily affectM by the Spirit of God through the instrumentality of
the word aud means of grace. You believe in the remission of siu
through the sacritice and atonement of Christ, and that he bath ap-
I pointed two special ordinances to be observed by every true believer,
viz., baptism and the supper of the Lord e and that the qualifications
fur these ordinances are repentance toM'ard God and faith toward our
Lord .Tesus Christ. You also twlieve the future existence of the soul,
the resurrection of the body and a day of future Judgment, in which
every one will receive a reward according to his works, do you (and
each of you) profess to believe this?"
About 1814 the tithingmen seem to have become
lax. for the town declared it to be its desire that they
do their duty and appointed a committee of ten to
aid them.
It was finally voted, April 16, 1818, to build a new
meeting-house. A committee of seven was chosen,
one from each school district, to view a spot for the
meeting-house and report. A year later a new com-
mittee was chosen for the same purpose, and in Sep-
tember, 1821, another " to get the town measured for
the purpose of fixing on aspot to sett a meeting-house
on. ' Various committees for similar purposes ap-
pear. In the meeting May 16th it was voted " to sett
the meeting-house to the south end of the old one,
provided the town can purchase the land. This ap-
pears to have been done, the bind being purchased of
Deacon John Spaulding for $175. September 16th
the plans, with some exceptions, were accepted and
a vote passed to build the meeting-house in one year.
A committee of five were chosen, consisting of Josiah
Brown, Joseph Brown, Jr., Jesse Trull, Wm. Rogers,
Capt. Dudley Marsten, to do the work, which, after
the usual delays and experiences, was successfully
completed, and the building was dedicated at two p.m.
.Fuly 6, 1824, almost ninety years after the dedication
of the first one. It was a red-letter day. A committee
of fifteen, made up from the men most prominent in
town, was appointed on arrangements. Samuel
Worcester, Esq., was "Martial of said day."
The pews were auctioned off July 7th, except one
on each side, and one to be selected by the selling
committee and Mr. Coggin " for the minister's pew,"
and it was voted to sell in the same order as in the
former house, if they will pay, and also with pews to
give rights to build horse-sheds." It was a very suc-
cessful sale, realizing $5399 deducting from which
the cost of the new church, $4590.31, the handsome
balance of $808.69 was left. This was devoted to the
purchase of a new bell, which, not proving satisfac-
tory, was exchanged for the one now in use, which
weighs 1850 pounds.
The town passed at the March meeting, 1825, a unani-
mous vote of thanks to their committee and another to
Mr. Jesse Trull for the present of a clock. The report
of the committee — a model in its way — was accepted
and ordered to be recorded with the vote of thanks.
292
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Little relating to the church appears after this
upon the records, except the annual vote of the min-
ister's salary. Even this disappears after April,
1834, for the town accepted, November 11, 1833, the
amendment to the Bill of Rights, which severed the
tie hitherto existing between the church and the
town. Tithingmen, however, continued to be elect-
ed annually till it was voted to dispense with choos-
ing them.
This account may fittingly close with a few notes
on matters connected with the church.
It was not till 1737 that liberty was granted " for
individuals to warm the meeting-house." It appears
to have been an appreciated effort, for next year pay
was voted for pews to make room for stoves for that
purpose. We can hardly conceive of any use for the
pews without the stoves.
The time between the services was so brief that the
people had no opportunity of going home. Groups
would club together and build and warm small houses
called Sabba-day houses. There a pleasant season
was spent in eating lunch, exchan<jing the news, and
also discussing the sermon. A des-cendant of one of
the oldest families in Tewksbury, Miss Elizabeth
Rogers, writing to a friend, thus speaks of them from
memory: " In those times there was no fire in the
church and intermission was short, not sufficient time
to go home so far, as the old house wa.s opposite that
of Mr. David Rogers< Therefore his great-grand-
father built him what was callejl a Sabba-day house
on his own land, where they could go and warm by a
fire, and in the oven was their dinner. Others were
often invited with the family. Some think liirhtly of
those houses, but I have a great recercDce and rcapt-ct
for them. The cellar-hole is on my land in Tewks-
bury, although fires have several times burnt around
and in it. There has an oak-tree come up years ago,
and lives through it all. Probably there the sermon
and services were discussed, and I have no doubt
that good arose from that place."
The first deacons were Lieutenant Daniel Kittredge
and Mr. Nathan Shed, chosen January 10, 1737 — men
prominent in town affairs during their entire lives.
Mr. Kittredge was the first moderator and the first
selectman of the town, and served the community In
these and other positions till incapacitated by ill
health and age. Interesting in this connection is one
briefentry onthe town records, March 9, 1739: " Dea-
con Kittredge, not being able to attend the meeting to
act as moderator, the town then proceeded to choose a
new moderator, namely. Captain Peter Hunt." Af-
fecting is this brief entry in the record of deaths by
the pastor, too soon for town and church : " No. 37,
Decan Daniel Kittredge Died Mar. 8, 1742," less than
eight years from the incorporation of the town. A
worthy colleague in the <leaconship and other trusts,
although less prominent, was Nathan Shed, the town
treasurer for the first six years of the town's existence.
He died December 31. 1773.
Their resting-places are in the cemetery at the
Centre.
The following is a list of the pastors of the Congre-
gational Church of Tewksbury :
PASTons.
Rev, SampsoD SpauMin^, ,i ualive of Clielnislurl, .md a j^radinite of
Harvanl College, lT;i'J, was ordainfl Noveujber Zi^ 17JT, auj ilieJ I'f.
i-eniber 15, ITUii,
Rev. Titus Theodore Bartou, a graduate of Danniotitli CuIIeiie, IT'jo.
waa ordained as colleague wilh Rev. Mr. Spauldiiij:, October ll.lTvj
Dismissed Jla.v 19, Iblill.
Rev. Jacob Coggin. a native uf \\iiburn, .ind a graduate of tiarv.ii'l
College, U03, waB onlaiued "cti.btT 'JJ, ISt'J, aud died Deri-iiil<er l_',
l^.-.4.
Rev. Samuel LaoK-on's ministry bepau 1544, and contiuiied dnnni:
Iwo periods of nearly two years eacli, liis niiniolry ending in 1851.
Rev. Moses Kimball, a native I'f Hopkint"n, N. H., and a grudnate of
Dartmontll College, ISJii. wao instalUd colleague pasli-r Avith Ki-v. y\\\
Coggin, February -24, 1^47. Dismissed !May l.i, 1!?4J.
Rev. Ricbard Tolnnin, a nali\e of I'-'rcliester, and ij:niduale Mf \iu-
herat College, lS:i'J, wab in^talle•l cuH'Mil'M.' uirh Khv y\v. Coggin. Au};.
25, 1852. Dismissed July 11. l^Tn.
Rev. Samuel F. French. '^lini-trv began November 1. ISTl. insuiisee-l
October 25, lbb2.
Rev. Frank H. Kafc-'U. Mioisll v beuan iepreinber J, ltj3. Pi=uii--
ej .lune 23, 16?G.
Rev James .\lexaudei ^linistry hegau December 12, lfc>T
PtAt-ON.'.
Daniel Kittredge, cbi-sen Jan. Ir, IT.'.rf . Xaliiau ?lied, cli".-en Jau
10,17:18: Joseph Kittredge, ihoaeu Jan. 2'.', 1742; .\l>ial:aln Mkkney,
chosen Oct. 11, 1750 ; Isaac Kittredge, chitsen 'jet. U, 17.'''.i: .Iac«ib .-^lietl,
chosen 3Iay m1, 1774; Kld.id \\'orce.'i[er, chosen March !:', 177'-; Lzl.t
Kendal, chosen April 7, 177'.' ; Tllonais (.'lark, chosen .\pril ;;1, l>n7 ,
.'ohu Spaulding, chosen June 27, 1:*11; Joseph Drown, i ho.se n ,Inly 1",
l;'2l ; i.ilivor Clark, chosen ,\ng., 1S2G ; John 'acpifs, chosen May I,
l?o2 ; Job iviltredge, clio.sen .M.iy 4, \<iZ; James liailey, chosen M;ty 4,
ls:l2; -Vbel M;trsh,ill, chosen i'cl.2t. Is' I ; Zi phaniah T. I'ostei, chosen
Dec. 23, Isbij ; John y. >p»nbling, chosi-n I'cc. 2 :. I^Oi; ; (iei-i-.,'e I'dls-
bury, cbuaeu ::ept. 22, 1>(J7 ; Kuoch Fostei. chosen Jan. II, l.s>."..
This was thj only church in town till lS-13. In
that year the First Baptist Church was fornieil. In
the late winter and early sjiring of the previou.s year,
1842, Lowell enjoyed a large revival of reliirion imdrr
the celebrated evangelist. Elder J.acob Knapp. >[;iny
came into the city from the neighboring towns.
Among these were a large number from Tewksbury.
Of this number Mr. Jesse Trull, the lather of five
sons and two daughters, was converted, with his en-
tire family, including two of his sons' wives. Jlost of
these converts became adherents of the Baptist de-
nomination. They joined the First Baptist Church
ill Lowell. Soon it was deemed best to form a BaplUt
Society in Tewksbury. This society was legally
formed March 18, 1843, in the Town Hall, where the
congregation worshipped, and ;ilter a very brief ex-
istence at the Centre — where there was no room for
another — this church was judiciously removed to
North Tewksbury, where it now stands on a com-
manding eminence in the most beautiful part of
the town. Soon after the organization of I he society,
means were taken to erect a meeting-house. This
was accomplished after much efibrt and self-sacrifice,
and dedicated in August, 1843.
Since about the year 1830 there had lived in North
Tewksbury three families — !Mr. Jefferson Farmer's,
Mr. Stephen Putl'er's and Mr. Ebenezer Wood's — that
TEWKSBURY.
293
attended the Firat Baptist Church, Lowell. For years
their prayers had been that a church of their order
might stand upon the spot where, in the Providenceof
God, the First Baptist Church of Tewksbury now
stands. They saw the answer to their petitions when,
on September 6, 1S43, this church was organized by
sixty-eight constituent members, sixty of whom came
from the First Baptist Church, Lowell.
In 1846 a lot was purchased and a parsonage
erected, which in 1886 wiis enlarged by an additional
story, and put in handsome order.
In 1887 extensive repairs were made upon the
meeting-house. Assisted by the gift of $1500 from
Miss Sarah C. Wood, of Philadelphia, a former par-
ishioner, the building was entirely remodeled at an
expense of about S4000, and now is not often sur-
passed as a country church in beauty and conven-
ience.
The present membership is 123. The congregation
includes a number of families from West Andover.
PASTORS.
Rev. JcKeph M. Grarcs, lS4^.-t J ; Rev David Bmronghs, 1845-49 ;
Rov. Lurenzo T^iMily, 1S50-'1: Rev. John E. VVoihI, 1 8.Vt-o.5 ; Rev. Clif-
too Fletcher,, l-^jiv-tj-.l ; Kev. .vlhert Je F. I*uliiier, 18IJU-T2 ; Rev. Eugene
E. Thoinius, lS7:l-TG ; Rev. George F. Rnymonil, lS7b-T8 ; Rev. Edward
W. Pride, IbTO-.
DFACO.VS,
Nathaniel Trull, l.SJa-o4; .\bijah Uphani, lS4J-.-)7; Lewis Fiske,
ll>»4-T3; rhiinuu liiiiice, I'-T.j--.'; Peter C. SheUd, 1684-8G; Jeese N.
Trull. ISfl-, \. Munr.ie ICemlall, \Siii-.
CHAPTER XXVI.
TE^TKHB UR r— 1 Continued).
IIIK IREXCH .\..VI) IN'Dr.VN \V.\.R — THE REVOLU-
riox.
The town certainly shows, for a small communitv
an extremely good record during those struggles for
the supremacy of race on this continent. This can j
be gathered from the meagre records of an oflBcial I
character. The following extract from the papers
[)reseived in the .State-House, Boston, gives the men
who took part in several of the expeditions against !
the French in Canada. Probably other items would i
reward the search of the more leisurely historian :
" September 22d, 1755.
■■ .\ Hot of the men'd uame^ that Ooine In the expedition against
Crowno po\Mit which heloni;-) to the northeasterly Part of ye Ridgemenc
^vhereof Eleazer Tyiise. E-"ir., is Col. which were Presented by me, ye
sut'scrihers' tuuster-uiasler, by ye subscribers, Capt. of ye severul Com- |
panys to which ye men belong : Tewksbury men, — Jonathan French
Peter Farmer, ^amuel Frost, .Jr., Nathan Kittredge, Jr., David Kitt-
red:^e, Uenjauiin Hoegg, Satuuel Danforth, Ebenezer Jaquith.
" (Signefl), Thos. Kidder, William Drown, Jjaniel Stickoey, Ralph
11 ill, Joseph Fitch, Captna."
This expedition against Crown Point was part of
the disastrous movement, under General Braddock,
against Canada, although his particular part of it was
successfuL The following extract appears to pertain
to the same general movement :
" .V Return of men enlisted for bis Majesty's Service for the total Re-
iIuL'tion of Canada: Aaron Beard, Jun., .age 18 yearB ; Stephen Osgood,
Jun., age 19 years; Daniel Mace, a^ 24 years."
About this period, under the list of oflBcers com-
missioned for "ye Second Regiment of Militia in ye
County of Middlesex," are found the following names
from Tewksbury :
"Joseph Kidder, Capt of Company in Tewkabnry, Wm. Hunt, LL
Jona. Shed, 2 Lt., Wnu Brown, Jr., ensign."
But by far the most interesting documents of this
period are two lists of men " drawn out of Captain
William Brown's company," as is declared in one of
them. The second list, a largely duplicate of the
other, is given entire, as far as concerns Tewksburv
men:
" A muster-roll for the pay of a Company of Militia that were raised
by Col. Eleazer Tyng and marched fortherelief of Fort William Henry,
under command of Thomas Flint, Capt., in Aug. 1757 : Abraham Stick-
ney (ensign), Samuel Mears, Jacob Sbedd (corporal), Samuel Hazeltine,
Samuel Frizel, Edmond Frost, Jr., Benjamin French, Peter Clark,
Peter Farmer, James Champull, Amos Foster, Oliver Hall, Oliver Steams,
Thomas Cogin, Oliver Whiten, Samuel Putnam, Isaac Mice, Joseph
Frost, Timothy Dutton, Eph°>. Fisk.
" The above under the care of ensign Abraham Sticknej, of Tewks-
bury Alarm, 1757."
Most of these men rode, and were paid for riding,
sixty miles, at the rate of 2s. id. per day, and were
out live days. The men named in the following list
belonged to the same expedition :
".V muster-roll for Pay and Subsistence of a troop of Horse that wei«
ordered by Col. Eleazer Tyng and marched for tbe relief of Fort Wm.
Henry, under the command of Daniel Stickney, .\ng. 1757 : Jooathao
Kittredge, Tewksbury, Thomas Kittredge, David Trull, Zebulnm Boot-
man, William Kittredge, Jr."
This Fort William Henry was formerly Fort Lake
George, and at this time the troops were under the
command of " his Excellency, Sir Jetfrey Amherst,
Esq., General and Commander-in-Chief of his Majes-
ty's Forces in North America for the Invasion of
Canada."
The record of those who never returned, as kept by
the pastor. Reverend Sampson Spaulding, is this :
"In ye service at Fort Wm. Henry, 1756: Seth Jewett, DyJ Oct'. 2G,
1756, Stephen Merrill Dyi., Joshua Kittredge Dyi , Daniel Griffin, Jun'.
DyJ. Corporal Joseph Brown, DyJ. July 14, 1757, Fort Edward ; Timothy
Kittredge, Dyi. Sept, 15, 1758, at Hospital, Albany ; Tho-. Peacock, DyJ.
Sept. 4, 173S, below Oswego Falls ; Samuel Putnam, Dyi. Sept. 19, I7.i8,
at Lake George, fever; Benj". French, Dy". An. Dora. 1760, In ye Ser-
vice at Lake George."
From these deaths it is evident that still others
than those yet found in the State archives await the
unearthing of the patient investigator of that im-
mense treasure-house.
The account of this period may fittingly close with
a receipt copied from the town records:
" April the 23'', 17J6, Mr. Harrison Gray, Province Trearf-, Esq'. Be
Pleased Sir to Pay to Stephen Osgood the half wages Due to me for my
last year's service in tbe Crown Point Expedition, in a redgement under
Colneal Bicbard Gudley in a company of Foot under the commaDd of
Capt. Jonathan Buturfield, aa Witnew my Hand,
"Behjs. Hoaoo."
294
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
*' Tewksbury, June the 2'*. 1757. Rec' of Mr. Isaac G my, Tliirteeu
PouDda ten sbiUingB and six pence Lawfull nioni*y, in full uf the \v;iged
due to Benjn. Hoagg for the Town, while he was in the Country'.^ .^er.
vice in the expedition Formed against Crown Point in the year IT.'iC. It
was in Gipt. Butterfleld's company,
"yn we,
"Thos. Mar«h.ill, 1 ~ , . ,
„ , ^ [ selectmen of
r Tewksbiiry."
' ,\DB.\HAU STICKNF.V,
"John Neediiam,
The Revolution. — Tewksbury manifested a spirit
of patriotism and sacrifice not less than her sister
towns in the great struggle for independence.
February 8, 1773, the first note of the coming strife
sounds in the town records. Then Tewksbury voted
to choose a Committee of Correspondence with the
town of Boston, and Mr. Ezra Kindall, Aaron Beard,
John Needham, Nathaniel Heyward and David
Trull were chosen ; and then it was voted to adjourn
to March to hear their draft, which was accepted.
The warrant of September, 1774, contains an article
" to see if the town will appoint one or more delegates
to attend a Provincial meeting at Concord ; " anil
another article " to see if the town will provide .>ioiue
fire arraes and more ammunition and choose a com-
mittee to provide for the same." September 2], 1774,
seven months before the battle of Le.xington, they
voted to buy more powder for a town stock, and to
buy two more barrels of powder in addition to the
town stock, and to " leave it with ye committee to
provide bullets and flints as they shall tliink proper."
Six days after they met according to adjournment,
and chose Mr. .Jonathan Brown as " Delegate for the
Provincial meeting to be holden at Concord on ye
second Tuesday of October ne.xt." In November was
considered the article in the warrant "whether the
constables be directed by a vote of the town to pay
the money that they shall have or shall collect of the
Province tax to Henry Gardiner, Esq., of Stow, ac-
cording to the directions of the Provincial Congress."
March, 1775, they voted to indemnify the .assessors
for not making returns to Harrison Gray, Esq. They
thea "voted io raise minuie-iiien," — it was high time
after passing such votes, — and to give their minute-
men five shillings apiece " for every half-day in the
week that they train till further notice."
March 9, 1775, voted to choose a committee to sup-
press disorders in town. A large committee of their
best men was chosen. It was none too soon, for in a
little over six weeks their minute-men must march to
face the veterans of Great Britain at Concord, and it
would never do to leave Tory sympathizers in the
town to aid the enemy. That there were Tories then
in Tewksbury is clear, for afterward, March. 1779,
they chose Mr. Ezra Kindall as agent to care for
the Tory farms in town. This meeting, at which
men and money were voted, was held March 9th.
April 19th the embattled farmers at Concord and
Lexington, as Emerson says, " fired the shot heard
round the world."
Tewksbury was roused that famous night, or rather
morning, by one of the men started by Paul Revere
on his famous ride through the Middlesex farms. The
messenger passed through this village and roused its
sleeping inhabitants. Then riding on, he stopped on
that spring morning on Stickney Hill, at the house of
Captain John Trull, near the training-ground often
used by the captain for drilling the men, and enlist-
ing them in their country's service. Hearing the cry,
"The British are marching on Concord I " Captain
Trull sprang from bed, and after firing his gun as the
signal previously agreed upon to arouse General Var-
num across the Merrimac in Dracut, threw himself
upon his horse .ind rode rapidly to the village. Here
he found the minute-men diawn up, ready at the
word to march. Placing him.self at their he.ad, they
were soon on their way by the Billerica road to Con-
cord, and joined at Merriam's Corner with those from
Billerica and other towns in hot pursuit of the retreat-
ing British. There, all accounts ajrree that the sharp
contlict changed tiie retreat into a rout.
One of the Tewksbury men was Kliphalet .MaiiniuL'.
One of Captain Trull's grandson.^, Mr. Herbert Trull,
often related that when a boy, on his way to Salem,
he used to pass Manning's door. Kliphalet would i-all
out: " I fought with your grandfather from ('oiuord
to Charlestown. He would cry cut to us as wn
sheltered ourselves behind the trees: 'Stand trim,
men ; or the rascals will shoot your elbows od."
There were three compallie^> of men which marched
from Tewksbury to answer the Lexington alarm April
19, 1775 — one, the minute-uien, under Capt. John
Trull, two the companies of militia. The following
are their muster and p.iy-rollsas copied from the orig-
inals preserved in the State-House:
" Fir't.—X Muster Kiiil of the llinute Cunipiiny under thr Coniiuiind
uf capt. John Tnill, in Lolo. EbL-neztT Bridgia' Regiment, .\pnl lOlli
and after, ITT.'i:
"John Trull, Luke Swett, .\bnihnui Bayley, Snliipsoli Stuiuhlinc. .!■•-
,oph Phelps, Jnn» Frual, rhineas .Vnnas, Isaac Manning. Jonathan
Beard, Eliakim Walker, Joseph Frost, Peter Hunt, Wni. Manly. Ilelij'
Dillauay {.\ndo»er), John Iiandley, Jacob Frost, .\iuus Foster, Jonathan
Guuld, Jonathan Gray, Paul Hunt, John Haywood, David Meirill, Eli-
pimlet Manning, Preacot Batchelor, Mosea Gray, fiainuel Manning, Isiiac
French, Timothy Rogers. Benjamin Burt, Jacob Burt, Ephrajra Frost,
Jeremiab Kidder, Jobu Flint.
•' £24 0 TA. J""" Tl•.tli.^ <-'ap'. ■•
These men served from nine to ten days and trav-
eled fifty-nine miles.
" Secomt. The 'South East tJompany,' under (_'apt. Jonathan Browu.
"Lexington ALiRii.— Tewksbury Southeast Company in Col. David
(ireen'.-i Regiment, Co. of Mid., sworn Mar. II, ITTi;, Indexed as Lex-
ington alarm, vol. 11. p. 198 : Jonathan Brown, Lt. Abraham Slickney,
.loshua Baldwin, Amos Foster, Beuj. Burt, Elea' Stickney, Thonws
Manning, Saml. French, Jacob Coney, Benj« Clark, .suni. I.onggnn,
Aaron French, Eph» Kindall, Joel French, David .Merrill, Wui. kit-
I ridge, Reuben French, Jon- Foster, Neb. French, Thomas Kiltridge,
Jr. Jon» Shoad, Eben. Whittemore, Joel Marshall, Thoin.-is Sterns,
.\aron Beard, .Saml. Ober, Even. Twisa, Jr., Wm. Ivittri.lso ia.1). laaao
Kittridge, Jr., Jerem. Kidder, Steph. Osgood, Jude Richardaou, Joseph
Froat, Jr.," .losh« Clark, Ezra Kindall, Wm. Marshall, Benj. Froat, Jou,
Spaulding.
• ■ i.i!MMi-3 waa the total aum paid lo the company."
" TAird.— The Militia Company under th» Command of Lt. Thomas
Clark. \
TEWKSBURY.
295
"MilsIiT KoU of llie Milili.i CoriilKinv "f lln; T. ul' TeMknUiir}- iiiid.-r
[he (/uinniaDii t>f Lt. Tbooia.s Clark ill Col" cirecD's Regt., specifying
Hie No. of mile3 ami days of their nmrcli, April loth, 177j :
" lit., TliMiiiaa 1 'lurk ; Seri^t., XowiiKiu Scarlett; Corpl. Jacob Sbpil ;
CuqjI., Davii Cbapuiun ; I'riv , Roger ML-ara, Win. Leveston, Xatli*
Hiiut. Paul Tliorndike, Uelij^ Mace, Nelii' Hardy, Saiul. 3Iur?liall, Beiij^
Daiifortli, Edw-'' Uiitsiitan, Kolpt. Nicol.-w. .lacob Sauderg, Kbeii' Kitt-
reilge, Danl. Leveston, Saiiil. Frost, Xallil Kittredge, .Tohii Xeedham,
Tiiii'» Ivoijen, Tliuuiad Jfeai-s, ThuiniLH Taylor, Stearns Needhani, Joel
^\■ right, David Bayley, Tim" Diitton, .Asa Levetlton, Elijah Hazeltoti,
Sami. Bayley, Janie^i llazeltou, Tiin" Hunt, John Hall, Hezi" Thorn-
dike.
** t;i4-lj-i'i wag the money paid to the entire company.'*
P'rom tliese three lista it appears how general was
the response to the Lexington Alarm and the pres-
ence among them of almost every family name in
town.
Interesting as showing that they had no large fac-
tory from which arms could be ordered is this "order
to Joseph Phelps for making Eleven | Bayonets Scab-
bards." iTarch li, 1775, it was voted "to Indemnify
the .\sse33or3 from all or any Charges in not making
a return of the Constables' names and sums in their
Lists the year past to the Hon'' Harrison Gray,
Esq'.;" :ilso voted "to Indemnify the Constables
from Cliaitres in not payinj: their province monies to
the Hon'' Harrison < Gardner, of !Stow." They ad-
journed to Thursday, three days after, and then voted
" To C'huse a Committee to Insjiect disorder.H in the
Town," and chose Ibr this purpose :
'* Di-acon I-aac Kittredze, l><'a. .lacoh shed. .Vathl. neywotid. .\an>n
Reard, FMiol Wotvester, Kzni Kemlalt, John Xeedliam. David Bailey,
^loscij Wt.rrester, .lon.-ith.in Urown. I'liomiis ^lanihall, Kheii* Whitle.
niiire.'
May 2?>, 177"i, they voted "to Chuse a member to
Represent the Town in the Provincial Ci)iij;ress at
Wateilown on the .'Ust day of May Instant." Mr.
Ezra Kendall was chosen. The following May they
made Deacon Isiiac Kittredge, Nathaniel Ueywood.
John Xeedliam. David ISailey and Thomaa Clark the
('nmmittee of Correspondence.
How vividly is the clothing of the army brought
out in a vote like this "that the selectmen shall make
a return of what coats the Town doth make for the
men in province servis." .\tthe 4th of March meet-
ing, 177i!, the Committees of Correspondence, Inspec-
tion and .Salety were combined in the persons of
Xathl. Clark, .Ir., .N'atlil. Heywood, Dea. .lacob Shed
and Win. Brown ; but at the May meeting following
some evidently thought the number too small, and
they added to it Lieut. John Flint, John French, .Ir.,
and BenjaminBurtt.
For the remaining years of the war the various
fortunes of the cause may be tracefl on the records in
the efforts of committees to raise men and supplies.
Payments were made to men for going to Cambridge,
Roxbury, " Boston and the Lines," Dorchester,
Rhode Island, Ticonderoga, New York, Fishkill, the
Jelfreys, " at the westward taking Burgoyne." As
the.se places pass before us the course of the strug-
gle passes too. Many are the kinds of supplies for-
warded from this little town to the army fighting for
liberty and home. Coats, shirts, shoes, stockings
I salt pork, Indian corn, horses and beef, for Continen-
I tal soldiers, are taken from the town directly to the
' various camps or depots. Nothing brings home to
I one so vividly how the war was carried on, what it
j cost in treasure, sacrifice and blood. As those event-
I ful years go by the difficulties in obtaining men
j to fill the town's quota increase. More effort and
more bounty money .are required. Special collec-
tors and methods had to be employed to collect the
war rates of money or coin. Familiarity with such
details increases admiration for those who carried,
the struggle through to its glorious issue. While the
husbands and fathers were in the field their depend-
ent families were well cared for by the town. Fre-
quent are the votes directing the selectmen " to
provide for those families that the men are in the
Continental army." Touching also are entries like
these " April 12, 1778, to the widow Rebecca French
£3 OS. lOrf. 2 ; " " to the widow Rebecca Gray 7s. 9d."
The severity of the struggle appears as the history of
the town goes on in the town records. Many are the
votes like this : " Sept. 8, 1777, to raise £200 for the in-
couragement to raise men for the Continental army,"
to which they added £200 more three weeks later, and
voted " to choosecollectors to raise these rates." The
difiiculty to. find men to serve as collectors reveals the
hardness of the duty. The scarcity of salt felt by the
Colonics at this period is thus made historical : " Oct.
21, 1777, voted that the salt be delt, to the poor sort of
thepeople, notto the wholeofthetownatl5«. p'bushell
they paying the money down for it." A committee
was raised " to deal the salt out," and instructed thus:
" that the committee deal out the salt discressionally
;us they shall thiuk proper." Guns, powder, gun-
locks, lead, Hints and other necessaries for war appear
often as paid for or ordered.
.\long with the war went hand in hand the forma-
tion of a government and the framing of a constitu-
tion. May 25, 1778, voted to choose a committee to
examine the constitution or form of government.
This committee was Ezra Kindall, Dr. Eldad Wor-
cester, Ens. William Brown, John Needham and
Nathl. Clark. This year 1778 was full of business,
j a meeting often occurring each week. In June, the
\ Sth inst., they decided " not to accept the constitu-
1 tion as it now stands." Almost a year later. May 21,
; 1779, they " voted to have a new constitution or form
I of government made" by a vote of 20 against 2.
j This year two new drafts of men were called for and
j means taken to supply them. The emergency is
shown by the military character of the committee
elected to hire these men — Capt. Joshua Baldwin,
I Capt. .John Trull, Maj. Jonathan Brown — and also by
the decision that the committee should " give those
men that should engage in the Continental service fifty
pounds per man per month, or ten bushels of Indian
corn per month." By a vote of 37 to 13, at a town-
meeting they decided " to accept of ye proceedings
296
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
of the convention that met at Concord to regulate
prices," and a committee was chosen " to regulate
prices in town." At the same meeting Mr. William
Brown was elected " a delegate to go to Cambridge
the first day of September next to meet in conven-
tion in order to frame a new constitution.''
From this record, January 19, 1780, it comes out
that with all their eoTorts, they failed, either through
inability or miscalculation, to fill their quota by one
man. " Warrant of January 19, 1780 — To see whether
the Town will have the fine made into a rate that is
Come in the Tax Bill upon the town for one man,
which the town wanted for the nine months in the
Continental army." In 1780 the stress of war appears
iu the increasing bounties otfered for men and the dif-
ficulties in obtaining them. How characteristic of
the time is the otfer of June 21st " To give those men
22 bushels of Indian Cor. p'^ man p' month, or sole
leather, or stock or Continental money equivalent
thereto, and allowing them pay for twenty mile^ p'
day for out and in, and the men to give the town nn
order for the whole of their wages." That year the
town rate voted was £12,000, in part to pay the sol-
diers. In June they are still working to get the i
necessary troops, and an article in the warrant is " for I
the Town to Proceed in any way or meatherd the
Town shall Think Proper to raise the men that are
called for to Joine the Continental array," and also
" to hear the Request of the Great and General Court
for money to carry on the war." The bounty was
raised almost threefold at the following meeting.
The following August they are hearing the request of
the General Court for " Clothing and Blankets," and
in October for beef, to furnish which great activ-
ities follow. Their committee was finally instructed
to hire money to provide the beef, or pay in lieu of it,
or " to act in any other way they shall think is for the
Benefit and Advantage of the Town Respecting Pro-
curing the Beef" The proceedings are of a similar
character in response to the call in December for fur-
ther men and beef Affairs had reached the state
that any practical way to comply with these calls was
approved. The chief records of the town become
taken up with raising of men and all kinds of supplies
to keep them in the field, and pay for them both.
Nor were disputes between towns wanting concerning
the crediting of men. June 11,1781, "An order to
Col. Jonathan Brown the sum of £9, it being for two
days going to Boston to git John Danfonh held a
Continental soldier for Tewksbury, and £13 lis. for
three days going to Boston about a dispute between |
Tewksbury, Dracutt, Chelmsford and Wilmington,
concerning Continental soldiers, and £21 p'd Thomas
Taylor, Jacob Sanders and Benjamin Danforth, for
going to Dracutt to be sworn, and £10 Ws. for two
days going to Boston to Git two Continental men
returned, and £17 8j. for expenses the above
two days, and £12 paid Esq' Varnum for draw-
ing affidavits and swearing the witnesses, and £15
for one day going to Dracutt, and other time spent
in the above affairs, £136 10s." At this time it
took seventy-five Continental dollars to pay for one
in silver. In March, 1781, the selectmen and com-
manding officers are directed " to class the town to git
men to re-inforce the army." In 1781, then, the
townsmen are found, as in other places, combined
into classes, which hired a soldier for the army at an
e.xpense of some £27. The receipts and mustering-in
papers of several of these men from Tewksbury can
be seen on file at the State- House. In 1782 an execu-
tion was sent upon the town for the three-years' men,
and Wm. Brown received ISs. for its cost ; and a suit
is noticed a little later which co't the town 12s.
JIarcli, 1781, they voted instructions to their com-
mittee, to engage men for three years or during the
war : " to men that sliall engage, 100 silver dollars per
man per year, or the current exchange," and also " to
fall into line with other town< in their offers." In
June Nathaniel Clark was added to " the militia offi-
cers, to git the remainder of the men to engage in the
army for three years or during the war,' and 400 sil-
ver dollars are otfered each of the four men that will
50 do. Next month, July, they voted to raise t'lOO
hard money, to provide beef for the army, and in Sep-
tember to collect only in hard money. Corn had In-
come to a large extent a medium of exchange, as is
seen from the vote in October, to see how much the
corn shall be a bushel to pay the corn notes. They
set it at 4.«. per bushel, and chose a committee to " set-
tle with the soldiers that have corn notes against the
town." In December a vote shows the condition of
alTairs : " Voted, that the assessors give the constables
orders to strain upon the inhabitants and others fur
the money that Don't pay in the corn in 20 days from
the time the constables receive the lists ;' and " that
there be places appointed to carry the corn to." Peter
Hunt, Aaron Beard and Joel Marshall were appointed
to receive the corn.
The records are filled with the ways and means to
raise men and supplies. The military condition ap-
pears from the choice of constables this year who
were Captain Joshua Baldwin 2d and Captain John
Trull. In 1782 as high as £66 or £67 wa-s paid by
a class for a soldier. The town appears to have ulti-
mately paid back what the different classes expendeil
for hiring men for the Continental Army. Thus, Feb-
ruary 27, 1784, " an order to .Jacob Frost (and sixteen
others), it being what they paid as a class to hire a
soldier for the Continental Army for three years,
£65 9s. M 2j.''
This list, arranged alphabetically, probably con-
tains the names of all the men from Tewksbury who
took part in the Revolutionary struggle at any time :
Annifl, Phineufi
Ames, Isaac
ADDifi, James
Bayley, Noab
Bayley, Jobu
BrowD, William
Bayley, Daniel
Bayley, Jamea
Burt, Jobo
Bayley, David
'Beard, JonatbaD
Bayley, Samuel
TEWKSBURY.
297
Bart, Jooathan
Batchelor, John P.
Brown, Timothy
BaldvriD, Joehua
Bfti^Iey, Timothy
Bell, JoDathaa
Bubb, Joseph
Brown, Joseph
Bailey, Natbao
Bailey, David, Jr.
Bootman, Edward
Ball. John
ChauiberB, James
Corey, Jacob
Cbanihers, Thomas
Corey, Jacob Jr.
Chambers, John
Corey, Saninel
Chandler, Thomas
Clark. Zephaniah
ChapmaD, Daniel
Clark. Benjamin
Clark, Thomas
Davidson, Ebenezer
Davidflon, Alexander
Davis, Daniel
Dutton, Timothy
Dutton. Jonathan
Duudeby, J.^lin
Dyke, Aschebw
Danforth, John
Danfortb, Samuel
Dresser, Jonathan
Dresser, Jonathan, Jr.
Davice, Moses
Foster, Isaac
Farmer, Samaet
Foster, Jonathan
Frost, Jonathan
Frost. Joseph
Fiak, Jonathan
Flint, John
Fowler, Philip
Fro«t, Jacob
Foster, .\nios
Farmer, William
Farmer, David
Foster, Joseph
Fisk, Denjamio
Foster, Ebenezer
Frodt, E'lnmnd, Jr.
Frost, Joseph, Jr.
Frost, Jot^iah
Foster, Ezra
Foster, Isaiah
Fiiriuer, Peter
French, Nehemlab
French, Aaron
liray, Moaes
Gould, Jonathan
Gray, Jonathan
Gould, John
Green, WiUiuin. of Kitlery
Clode, Daniel
Oriffen, Uriah
GrifieD, Daniel
Knot, David
Hoagg, Andrew
Uunt, John
Hunt, Peter, Jr
Hardey, David
Hardey, Nathaniel
Hardy, John
Hardy, Peter
Uunt, Ellpbalet
Uardy, William
H&i'dy, Nehemiuh
Hunt, Isaac
Hogg, Andrew
Hunt, Peter
Hunt, Nehemiah
Hasseitine, James
Haseltine, Elijah
Harrii, William
Hall, John
Howard, John
Hunt, Paul
Haywood. John
Hunt, Nathaniel
Harnden, John
Hill, Wniiam
Harris, William
Hunt, Israel
Hunt, Ebenezer
Hunt, Jonathan
Hunt, Nathaniel, Jr.
Hill, John, of Boston
Haggott, Jonathan
Holt, Jesse
Hoadley, Thomas
Hunt, Samuel
Hunt. Nathan
Jewett, John
Killum, Daniel
Kittredge, Asa
Kittretlge, Nathaniel
Kidder, Joalah
Kittredgc, Dr. Benjamin
Kittredtfe, Simeon
Kittredge, Jeremiah
Kittredge, Dr. Francis
Levestone, Joseph
Leavestone, Asa
Leviston, Daniel
Leveston, John
Marshall, John
Manning, Samuel
Manning, Isaac
>Ianniiig, Eliphalet
Mears, Riissel (rejected)
Morril, David
Morrill, Jeremiah
Mears, Roger
Marshall, Joel
Mace, Benjamin
Mears, Thomas
Marsten, Amos
Marshall, Samuel
Needhani, John
Nicholas, Robert
Needham. Stearns
Patch, Timothy
Phelps, Joseph
PeaboUy, William
r,.icliardson, Thomas
Itogers, Phillips
Rickeraon, Andrew
Rogers, Timothy
Shed, Jonathan
Swett, Luke
Stickney, Eleazer
Shed, Nathan
Shed, John
Shed, Jacob
Shed. Joel
Stickney, Amos
Shed, Jacob, Jr.
Scarlett, Newman
Thompson, Joshua ^
Thomdickf Hezekiah
Trtill, John
Toibert, Henry, of Boatuu
Trull, Solomon
Truil, David
Thomdike, Panl
Thorndike, James
Whiting, Oliver
Worcester, Eldad
Wood, Asa
Walker, Eliakim
Whitney, Mooes
Whiting. Moses
Walker, Supply, of Peqwankitt
Wood, Thomas
Wonrter, William
Wood, Amos.
Unfortuiiately there is no town record of those who
fell on the field, but a few notes may be added, chiefly
culled from the pastor's book of Church Records. In
the muster roll of Captain Benjamin Walker's com-
pany of Col. Bridges' regiment of Twenty-seventh Foot
is found the name Philip Fowler, of Tewksbury, de-
ceased 17th June, enlisted April 19, 1775. In the pay
roll which follows, Fowler is reported missing. The
captain was reported dead, and the company was in
charge of Lieutenant John Flint, of Tewksbury. The
Rev. Mr. Spaulding records among the deaths "Philip
Fowler's son, died June 17th, 1775,7?tfj*Aap«, Silver Cord
Broke. Sud°." The boy fell for his country in the fight,
and his body never having been recovered, as was not
unlikely, something of a shadow remained upon his end.
In addition to the ancient pastor's record,the follow-
ing certificates are copied from the file preserved at
the State House :
"Tewksbdbt, April 23, 177G.
"This may Certify that philllp Fowler served In the Late Cap*. Ben-
jamin Walkers Company, in 27 Regiment, Commanded by Co". Ebenezer
Bridge, aud the said phillip was taken or killed io the flte at Bunker-
hilt, and has not Rc<i. the Coat that was Dew to him as stipulated by the
Congress. "John Flint, Leu*."
"Ahdoveb, April 2, 1776.
"To the honeri. Committee at Watertown, pleas to Deliver the
Coat or the price of one, to the Bearer, that was Dew to (phillp Fower),
my husband, and the bearer's Receipt shall be your Discbarge.
hir
"Ester X fowleb."
mark
'•This may Certifi that the above phllllp Fowlier» Dc*., Did not leave
any Estate worth Administering upon.
" Tewksbury, 18th, 1776.
"EZBA EfiNDEL,
"one of the Select men of Tewksbury."
It would seem that these various testimonies to
Fowler's death ought to place his name upon the
tablets erected on Bunker Hill as among the killed
in that memorable fight.^
Another note by the pastor is "Lenises (?) Green
(Winchendon), Dy** in Tewksbury, November 13,
1775, Wiounded at Bunker Hill."
From Mr. Whitmore's " Report to the Boston City
Council, on the Bunker Hill Tablets, Appendix B,
Taken Prisoners " — is taken : " Jacob Frost, Tewks-
bury, 'was taken in Bunker Hill fight,' Captain Benja-
min Walker, Chelmsford, Col. Ebenezer Bridge, alive
September 14, 1775, and in prison,"
Later among the deaths are the following entries by
Mr. Spaulding in the Church Book:
John Hunt, Jr., in public service at No. 4, 1776.
John Haseltine, in public service, 177t>, small-pox.
Samuel Baily, in public service, 1776.
Enoch Merrill, in public service, 1776.
John Haywood, killed in battle, Rhode Island,
August 29, 1778, shot.
1 His name has since been placed on the Tablets.
298
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Many of the company at Bunker Hill cominaiided
by Captain John Harnden, of Wilmington, in Col.
Bridges' regiment, were from Tewkshury.
The following from the records seem to mingle
the Indian and Revolutionary Wars : "October 26,
1779, to Jesse Baldwin it being for six pound which
he paid Nathaniel Hunt for engaging in the Conti-
nental Army During the war and for three pound
six shillings for one blankit, and six pound six
shillings for one pair of shoes, and one pound ten
shillings for a tomehawk, all for said Hunt £20.2. "
The following receipt is one of many from Tewks-
hury men, preserved at the State House :
" ItoSTON, .Tune 14, 17S2.
" Received of Cap'. John Trull, ( 'lininnnii ^4 Class No. 3, for the Town
of Tewksbury, the aume of seventy-five poiintla L money, a.-* li bounty
to serve in the Continental .^rniy fur the term of three yeara.
" Witness my hand,
" .l.vcon -yi i-'-'nEV's
mark
" .iVttest, Tiio'. Robinson."
Interesting is the treasurer's account all through
the Revolutionary period, as ^showing how heirs of
estates, trustees for the same, men and woiniMiofall
classes, furnished supplies such as shirts, stockings or
shoes or blankets for the soldiers, and how the same
general response was given by loaning the town money
in this hour of its need.
June 24, 1776, voted " that the Selectmen shall
provide ammunition and shovels, s|)a(les and peck-
axes, &c., according to their discretion ; " also, "that
the Town shall provide baynotts for the training
band in the Town," — " that the selectmen shall pro-
vide tire-armes for those persons that they shall think
pioper, and other Acoutrements."
Oct. 14, 1776, they chose William |Brown, Aaron
Beard, David Bailey, Nathaniel Heywood and John
Flint, "a committee to make a draught for govern-
ment," which plan for government was accepted eight
days latter.
The following entry shows that this town was rep-
resented at the suppression of Shays' Rebellion :
•' Oct. 8, 1789, an order to David Rogers for his ser-
vice, being drafted to go in the Shai's affair, 18«."
CIVIL HISTORY.
For many years in its early history Tewk.sbury re-
fused to avail itself of representation in the General
Court. May 16, 1738, it was voted not to send a rep-
resentative. For a long period this was the custom-
ary disposal of the matter in the May meeting, coupled
with this language, that they would not send a rep-
resentative, but trust to the mercies of the General
Court. These mercies failed to satisfy them always,
for on the records are several protests, through com-
mittees, against legislative actions.
In any business necessary to come before the Gen-
eral Court they usually chose a committee to repre-
sent them, but preserved a frugal mind in reckoning
with said committees, as a vote like this shows:
"Voted not to allow James Kittredge, Jr., and Sam-
uel Hunt £17 for services at the General Court in
getting the non-residents' land taxed," but " to pay
them later, conditionally."
For years the business and history of the town
pursue the usual channels of such bodies. High-
I ways are laid out or closed; bridle, often spelled
I " bridal "-[>atlis are laid out most frequently, that
I persons may go to public worship. The course of the
I present roads, .as the one which goes by the old Hunt
I place to the Centre, w.as often determined by these
I " bridal-paths.''
I The customary course of civil liistory is broken
I only as the more general events in the country break
I in upon the peace and quiet of the community. Some
of the votes of these early years are worth preserva-
I tion for the landmarks and customs they reveal.
j March 10, 1740. " Voted to have three assessors for
I the year Insuing, and to chuse them by holding up
I of hands." These first assessors were, Deacon Daniel
I Kittredge, Cornet John Whiting and Stephen Os-
I good. Forty shillings was then the sum paid to each
of the constables, one of whose duties was to collect
the taxes. The town clerk received only five shillings
i for his services. The town treasurer, in 1744, re-
ceived a for his .salary. The same year it was voted
to have " a pound keeper for the year ensuing," to
: which office Samuel Peacock was elected,
j December 10, 174(t, the Rev. Sampson Spaulding
I signified that he should not be inclined to take less
than £200 for his salary. Voted not to pay it.
, March, 1741, "Voted to give l!ev. Sampson Spauld-
i ing, their minister, £l.jO >f said minister, being at ye
nieetiiiL', signified to ye people that what they would
] freelv give him he would be satisfied with." In 1742
they voted £160, and he appe.ired and declared him-
I self satisfied with what the town had granted him.
I This manifests the same judiciousness and Christian
resignation which may be traced from the beginning to
the end of his ministry.
The finishing of the meeting-house was let out to
Stephen Osgood for £140, on condition that he diil so
by the last of September. This he failed to do, for
they voted, Jan. 19, 1742, to give Wm. Kittredge £160
to finish their meeting-house forthwith. More im-
portant is the vote which followed: "That Stephen
Osgood, of Tewksbury, should serve the Town of
Tewksbury for a school-m.oster ye remainder of this
year."
Interesting is the difficulty found in getting a
committee to decide upon the highest t.ax-payer iu
town, the disputes and protests on this matter, and
such a vote as the following of December 9, 1742, that
no person should " bring stufi' or timber for building
pews nor to presume to erect a pew till further order
of the town." In this line is the vote of April 12,
1743, to choose a committee "to remove all incum-
brances out of the meeting-house which are brought
there without order of the town." This committee
TEWKSBURY.
299
was intrusted with full power to deal with the matter ;
incumbrance they afterward defined, " they meant,
pewa."
September 19, 1751, they chose Thomas Marshall,
Nathan Bailey and John French a committee to seat
the meeting-house, and left it " to the Discretion of
the said committee how to proceed in Seating the
said meeting-house." About this time pews began to
be erected in the galleries, for March 6, 1752, " James
Ivit.tredge, ye 4th, Nathaniel Clark, Jr., Zephaniah
Kittredge.Timothy Brown.Samuel Kittredge, Jonathan
Shed, Thomas Kittredge, Jr., Amos Foster, Jr., David
Trull, Oliver Hall, Ebenezer Hardy, Abraham Stick-
ney, Eldad Worcester," were granted " Liberty to
build two pews in said meeting-house — one in the
West gallery against three of the windows for men to
set in : and ye other in the East gallery against three
of the windows for women to sit in: and said
Petitioners are obliged to maintain the glass windows
against ye said pews and to till said pews as full as is
comfortable to sit in." They also voted that ye said
petitioner shall have the privilege to leave ye s'd
seats and to hold their right in s'd meeting-house :
Provided the s'd Petitioner keeps ye said Pews full
with ye inhabitants of s'd Town." Almost constantly
through that year the meeting-house needed repairs,
which they finally voted to make March 7, 1757, after
much discussion, as is evident from the variety of
motions rejected. How much some of the much-dis-
cussed repairs were needed is learned from the order
February 10, 1755, paid " to Mr. Thomas Marshall
for carrying out the snow in the meeting-house 2s."
As early as 1772, some thirty-four years after his
settlement, Mr. Spaulding appears to have sulTered
from impaired health, for July 22, 1771, an order was
paid "to Mr. JacobCoggin," the first mention of a name
honorable in the history of the town, " it being for
supplying the pulpit six .Sabbaths £8." Beside serv-
ing the town and then the church alone as pastor, his
son. Rev. Jacob Coggin, filleil with acceptance the
positions of delegate to the Constitutional Convention
in 18.j2, and District Elector in 18.53, beside others of
minor importance. His name stands on the School
Committee list for many years as chairman. Possessed
of more than the ordinary portion of the spirit of the
Apostle John, he suggested the beatitude, " Blessed
are the peacemakers," by his efforts to ensure peace
in church and town. His gentleness made him
great.
The tithingmen for 1748 were John Chapman
.ind Nathan Shed, a schoolmaster and a deacon. A
feature of the government of the old town is revealed
in the treasurer's order of March 21, 1763 : "To Lt.
Osgood, it being for repairing the stocks, and bring-
ing them to the meeting-house 3s." A similar one
occurs on January 12, 1771. "An order to Abrm.
Bailey, it being for repairing the stocks (is.''
The meeting-house, with its town ammunition,
stocks and all the things needful for the govern-
ment and business of an ancient town, must
have been a strange sight compared with its as-
pect to-day. It was not till 1826 that the town
business was done elsewhere unless in a tavern
or some private dwelling. June 13, 1825, it was
determined to build a house to do town business in.
It was erected by October of that year under the super-
vision of Josiah Brown, William Rogers and Capt.
Stephen Brown.
As early as about forty years after the first meeting-
house was built, the questions were agitated of adding
to the meeting-house, or of building a new one. To
do the former was refused in 1772 ; the latter was
negatived March, 1774. Probably the prospect of
war had much to do with their refusal for years to
make any but the most necessary repairs upon the
church building.
As early as March, 1782, attention to the artistic
worship of God appears in the vote in March of that
year, to devote " a third part of the front gallery for
the use of the singers." Occasional votes of asimilar
character are found, and frequent ones to recompense
the singing-master, Lt. Thomas Wood : thus, Nov.
29, 1789, " an order to Lt. Thomas Wood, it being for
what the town voted him for instructing the singers
in full, for the time past, and for the time to come,
£2 Sd." Yet, in spite of this comprehensive payment,
is found the vote, March, 1790, " to allow Lt. Thomas
Wood something as a gratis — at times spelled " grat-
ice " — lor meeting with the singers to instruct them
to sing.
In 1787 they voted to have public worship in the
afternoon of Sabbath and other days without sing-
ing.
Property qualifications for the exercise of the fran-
chise were early known. In 1804, at the March meet-
ing, it was decided that a person, as formerly, must
not only be twenty-one years of age, but must have
an income of at least £3 or an estate of not less than
£60 to vote.
Neither at an early date were appropriations for
music by the town so novel. March, 1808, they
voted "To raise the sum of $60 to pay the master
who taught the singing-school the present winter
past.''
In 1812 they grant $50 for the expense of the sing-
ing-school, and in 1815 Lt. Thomas Wood was given
$12 for meeting with the singers on the Lord's Day,
for one year. In 1817, $60 was raised for the sing-
ing-school.
Not only the church, the roads, the schools, the
poor, diflicultie? between townsmen and neighbors,
at times the estates of widows and orphans, but also
morals were under the care of the town. Thus the
March warrant for 1824 has this article, "'To see what
method the town will take to prevent Idlers and
tipters frem spending their time and property, or for
the town to act on the same in any way they may
think proper at said meeting." At said meeting they
300
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
voted that " there be a tipler's list posted up." They
recognized how straight is the road from idleness and
tippling to the poor farm. Each man appears lo
have had his own way of spelling, as is evident
from many of the votes quoted in this sketch. For
instance, for generations pews is almost always
" pues."
Among the curiosities of their independent spirit
is the vote of the March meeting of 1798 : " That the
inhabitants of the town wear their hats only when
they address the moderator."
Although the temperance sentiment was far behind
that of to-day, yet the evils wrought by the indiscrimin-
ate sale of strong drink called forth some efforts to
regulate its sale. lu the treasurer's accounts for 1744
is this: " Received Mr. Thomas Kittredge's fine for
selling strong drink, £5 143. old tenor ..."
And also several other fines for breaking the Sab-
bath £11. May 22, 1746 " Voted not to give said
Thomas Kittredge the six pounds which said Thomas
Kittredge forfeited for selling strong drink without a
license."
August 23, 1775, " Voted that the Selectmen do
approbate Timothy Rogers, Jua'., to be a Retailer."
March 2, 1778, "Voted that the Selectmen do not ap-
probate Will". Fiske to be a retailer."
Quaint is the first notice in regard to preserving
orderly the resting-place of their dead : " April, 1797,
Voted and chose John Spaulding, Nathan Shed and
Timothy Hunt to take care of the buring Ground
and Dige the graves." A year later a committee Is
found " to inquire into the buring Ground."
After serving the town for twenty-two years as clerk,
which office death found him in, and for twenty years
as first selectman, it is pathetic to read, June 17,
1799, " Voted to chuse a committee to go to the Widow
Scarlett's to git the town books and papers belonging
to the town."
As the necessity was felt, beginnings of a Board of
Health appear thus: May, ISll," Voted and chose a
committee to superintend the small-pox." They at the
same time appointed " the selectmen to superintend
the hospital wnere the small-pox is." A large Board
of Health, consisting of ten citizens prominent in
their respective districts, was chosen August 20, 1832,
" to preserve our citizens against spasmodic cholera."
The next year the selectmen were elected the Board
of Health.
The War of 1812 is brought to attention by the
grant to the soldiers of S13 per man if called to
march and the raising of $500 for the purpose of car-
rying on the war declared by the government. In
September, 1814, S500 was raised for the payment of
soldiers and purchasing of equipments for town .stock,
and it was also voted "To make up to the soldiers
that have or may be called out $15 the present season."
As early as 1831 many voted for the annexing of
part of the northwest portion of the town to Lowell.
At this period Belvidere seems to have been some-
what a thorn to the town, for through its influence the
town-meetings were carried several times to the
sohool-hnuse in that section or to one of the taverns
there. Perhaps a trace of Belvidere may be detected
in this vote of May : 1833, "That every man may kill
his own crows," it having been the custom of the
town previously to pay a premium for killing them.
It was November 11, 1833, that, by a decisive vote
of 101 to 17, the town accepted the amendment to
the 3d Article to the Bill of Right,", by which towns
were no longer required to support religious teachers
or churches. Consequently fhe next March meeting,
1834, was the last time Tewksbury provided the min-
ister's salary, namely $.375 for the Rev. Jacnb Coggin.
It was just one hundred years from the lime the first
appropriation was made by their pious ancestors and
the founders of the town for a similar purpose.
THE -SCHOOLS.
The history of the public schools in Tewksbury
begins December 10, 1740, when it was voted in
town-meeting " that .Stephen Osgood of Tewksburv
should serve the town of Tewksbury for a school-
master for ye remainder of this year." December
(), 1743, " Voted to have a writing and reading school
in the town, and that said town be provided with a
school as above mentioned for the space of three
months from the time he is made choice on." Mr.
Francis Kittredge and Captain Peter Hunt were
chosen to provide a schoolmaster for the town as
above mentioned. They were the first Seliool Com-
mittee. They were allowed fifteen shillings per week
for keeping the schoolmaster. The next vote was
in 1744, "voted and chose a committee to pro-
vide a schoolmaster to keep a writing and a reading
school in said town " and they rebelled against im-
ported talent, for " a vote was tryed by theiloderator
to see if ye town would have Mr. Bridges of Andover
for their schoolmaster, and said vote nasssd in the
negative." They strove to equalize privileges ; for
March, 1744, they voted a consideration of " ten
pounds (old tenor) to ye westwardly part of ye town
for their not having any benefit of ye town school-
master." Then old-tenor money was about one-
quarter the value of the new. For about twenty
years from 1744 money for the schoolmaster was voted
only occasionally, but the usual three months school
.appears to have been kept regularly notwithstanding.
In September, 1755, they passed the usual vole with
this addition, " and also to prefix the place where the
said school shall be kept." In 1766 the vote was "' to
provide two schoolmasters for ye winter season,"
which became custom.ary after the introduction of
" wimins " or " dames' schools." In June, the 17th,
1766, an article in the warrant was " for the town to
act their pleasure in seting up wimings school this
season in s'd town," which they refused to do ; but on
March 4, 1771, it was voted " to have woman's schools
keep this present year in the town."
TEWKSBURY.
301
The first mention of a school-house in town is
March 8, 1770. — " an order given to Thomas Kit-
tredge for bords to fit up the school-house."
In 1768 the names of five diflerent schoolmasters
appear in the accounts, which suggests difficulties not
yet obsolete in discipline or capacity. The next year
they decided to divide the town into "squadrons for
the benefit of schooling," but this was not done until
1771, when the committee's report was accepted to
squadron out " ye town for the benefits of schooling,
and it was voted to have a woman's school kept this
present year." A brighter day begins. In 1771,
December 16th, appears the name of the first female
teacher in town in an order to Lucy Needham for sis-
teen shillings for keeping school oue month. The
other teachers that year in town were —
" Mary Brown, paid £2.8, December 26.
" Molly Merrill, paid £2.12, December 26.
•' Elizabeth Bailey, paid £2.8," January 7, "72.
All honor to these pioneers of a noble band I
In 1772 it was " voted that each squadron draw
their equal rata of the money voted for schooling."
February. 1776, an order for sixteen shillings to
Molly Brown "for keeping school four weeks in ye
year." Thus four shillings a week was the rate for
teaching, one hundred years ago.
In March, 179-3, they voted to build school-house.-
in the several -squadrons, and cliose two persons in
each squadron to visit the schools, but it w.as not till
next year that the money was voted for this purpose.
In 1795 five men were cho.sen to inspect tht
schools. Sometimes tliey rai>ed the number to ten,
two for each squadron.
Private schonls were once known in town. It was
voted, March, l83i', that Doctor Henry Kittredge and
others have liberty to keep a private school in the
town hall, they making good the damages and paying
rent if requested.
About the year ISoO the districts had about ?80
each, except the Centre, which had about ilM.
Afterwards the appropriations rose gradually.
In 183-^ it was voted to print the .school reports for
the first time, one hundred copies being ordered.
Dames' schools seem to have been successful, for
they were asked "to see if the town will sell Elinor
Putman the town's part of the school-house." March
1, 1779, is notable for the raising of " £200 for the
use of the schools, to be equally divided to each
squadron according to their rale bills." In 1779 at
the 0.:tober meeting they negatived a vote " To see
if the town will give those persons Liberty that have
a mind to join and build a school-house at the meet-
ing-house, and also that they draw their equal part
of the town money."
The vote of £200 shows the value of money during
the war years. The usual sum was £30, which was in
1787 increased to £10.
Here is iuserteda list of the .School Committees and
school-masters and dames so far as they can be gathered
from the books of the town, beginning with the first
teacher, Stephen Osgood, in 17-13, till the close of the
critical period in American history, 1789.
S'.-HOOL '"OMMITTEK.
1743.
1744.
1746.
1759.
Mr. FniDcii Kittredgp.
dipt. Peter Hunt.
Francis Kittredge.
Thomas Clark.
Dea. NallmQ Shed.
Samuel Hunt.
Lt. ^Vm. Brown.
Johu French.
Thomas Clark.
Thomas Kittredge.
Dea. Nathan Shed.
John French.
Mooes Worcester,
William Kittred^^e.
Mosea Worcester.
James Thomdik**.
Aaron Beard.
William Brown.
Jonathan Kittredge.
Moses Worcester.
Jonathan Kittredge.
Daniel Dane.
Lt. Wm. Kittredge.
Joseph Kidder.
Eldad Worster.
Eldad Worcester.
Francis Kittredge.
Edmund Frost.
<:rHi»>L-lfA8TEBS.
1773.
1774.
1776.
17
17
174.3. Stephen Osgood.
1745. Mr. Bridges, of .indover.
1743— 4C-47. John Chapman.
1748—49. Joseph Braddtreet, evi*
denti.v boards around two
or three weeks in a place.
175IJ-51, '53-56. John Chapman,
1757. Benjamin Farmer.
1759. JohnChapman three months
and Sampson Tuttle for
two mouths.
1701. Doctor Wm. Chase.
Rason Dix.
IT'il-tiJ. Caleb Clerk, who kept in
house of Mr. Ehenezer
Temple.
1705. Isaac .VlibotR's son.
1766. Samuel Glililn.
Mr. Wile.
1767. Samuel Griffln.
Phineas Spaulding.
William \N'orceHter.
1708. Xallianiel Heywood.
Samuel liiithu.
Plituias Spauldinif.
I70'.l. Nathaniel Ile.vwood. John
ll.vus aud Isaac Abbot.
1770. 'ieorge .\bbot aud X. Iley-
wuud.
1771. Newman Scarlett.
Nallil. Ueywood.
V\ itliam Jai|Uith.
Lucy Needham, 3IoUy Mer-
rill. Mary Btvwn.
177-J, Oliver Whitiug's sister.
Newman Scarlett.
It was voted January, 1793, to build school-hoiisea
in the several squadrons, but as no money was ap-
propriated for this purpose, they were not erected for
several years. At this time, and for a number of
years afterward, in addition to the regular School
Committee, one or two persons from each squadron
were chosen to visit — " prospect," or "' inspect " — the
schools. In 1794, when money waa voted for the
building of school-houses, squadrons " that don't want
to draw it for that use" were " discharged from the
school-house tax."
The town was divided in six districts in 1801 ; in
1825 the Belvidere District was formed, being set oflf
from the North. The following year reveals a con
Nathl. Heywood.
Jacob Shed's son.
3Iary Brown.
James Bridges.
Dorcas Osgood.
Molly Merril.
Hannah Bailey.
Newman Scarlett.
Nathl. Hoywood.
Jacob Shed's son.
James Bridges.
Hannah Bailey.
Nathl. Ueywood.
Newuiuu Scarlett.
Eld.-»d Worcester, 3Iolley
Merrill, Molly Brown.
Molley Merrill, keeping
school for teaching in the
senter squodruu.
Hannah Spaulding.
Molley Brown.
Newman Scarlett.
Molley Scarlett.
Anna Beard.
Doct' .Abr" Moors.
Newman Scarlett.
Jonathan Frost.
John Barron.
Jlr. White.
.Abigail Kendall.
1770. John Barron
17S5. Dr. Daniel Ryan's daughter.
Patrick Fleming.
1788. Samuel Whiting.
178!). Judith Klndall.
1778.
302
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
dition of dissatisfaction often found, for they voted
and chose a large committee of seven to eiamine into
the situation of the schools and report. In 1828, and
for a few years after, each district received for school
money that which it paid. In 1831 it was divided
according to the property of each district. This ap-
pears to have been the practice till the vote of 1835,
which chose a committee to divide the school money
to the best of their judgment. The history of this
question, even in this town, as well as the varying
practice of " hiring" teachers, justifies the action of
the Legislature in abolishing school districts through-
out the State, an act with which Tewksbury complied
in the March meeting, 1869, and the selectmen were
instructed to carry out the law in all such cases.
From 1844 the town voted to accept the report of
the School Committee, and in 1856 the committee was
instructed to print it. The number ordered was 200
copies. In 1857 a committee was chosen to revise the
school system, but its report has not been recorded.
In the autumn of 1887 it became necessary to di-
vide the school at the Centre on account of its size. It
CHAPTER XXVIL
TE WKSB UR r— ( Continued).
THE POOR — SLAVKRY — NATUR.VL HISTORY.
The Poor.— Tewksbury from the first has found
true the words. "The poor ye have with you always,
and whensoever ye will ye may do them good." The
town supervised the interests of widows and orphans
when required, and often adjudicated cases of diffi-
culty which now are carried into the courts, — [terhaps
not a more excellent way. Sometimes the children
of the poor were bound out by the selectmen.
It was the custom to warn out of town jjeraoiis
likely to become paupers before they could estab-
lish a claim for support. A fee was paid for this,
which sometimes such persons would obtain for warn-
ing out themselves and families. Thus, to "Daniel
Pryor 18«., it being for warning himself and fjimily
and Mrs. Mahoney and her child out of town." Then
noone could become a regular and recognized inhabit-
was thought best to make the second school, which ' ^"f without permission. Towns gave worthless ntnl
resulted from this division, of a higher grade of i J's^^dtrly persons orders to march, and often u-sisted
studies, and throw it open to the entire town. Soon i them to do so. When, however, a jierson or family
a school of considerable size was found pursuing the i '»'id a right to town aid, they were fortunate poor
last studies of the grammar year and the usual high | people, because they would be well cared for. I'roba-
school studies of our educational institutions. In I 1>1>' tlie last warning out of town recorded is July
August, 1888, a course of studies was arranged and i 1". 1"''*>-
adopted by the School Committee. At the November i There were in the earliest times a Nichola* Striker
and family, whose names appear frequently in the
town accounts. Orders were paid for beef, milk,
wood, sugar, pork, provisions of all kinds; for rum
and molasses; for doctoring Striker's wife; for re-
pairing his house; for a cow to lend Striker; and at
last for his coffin and funeral expenses. There was a
French family, probably one of the Aca<lian exiles,
equally prominent in the same way, of which it
seemed the town would never hear the List. With a
sigh of relief, even at this distant day, is read an
order for payment for carrying them to Canada.
Alas! they are soon back from an uncongenial and
inhospitable clime to tarry until the inevitable end.
In connection with the sup])ort of the poor comes
first this direction to selectmen, given March 7, 174:.',
that they " bind Elizabeth to some suitable place and
18.16, t4ou; i807,s4o0; i8(.8,$iiK); i809,n<)0; isin,i4oo; isii,j40fi; draw not over £20 lawful monev for her sui. port "
ISlAfVK); INl:;, $5(10; 1SU,$5(J0; ISlS, $51111 ; lSie,«.^(PO; 1,<17,«.VJ0; \ .roi,, Ararnh T 1 -J.1 ,.^K>,1 t .ll.",.'T U ,^ r'
1818; saw; 1819.5,500; 18i0, $5i)u ; ISiO, JO.-I ; 18:;l, S^OO ; 18.«. K,„ j ^'^'"' ^^^^""^ "' ^ ' HvOtcl to allow Jacob Cory. .fr.,
1823, jioii: 1824, Jsoo; 1825, $500, (luij) «s.t.:i3 ; isjo, f583.:;,T ;' "Is^iT, ""^ pound five shillings old tcHor for his trouble in
town-meeting it was voted that the advanced school
at the Centre be a High School, which it was before,
essentially. The first year it was taught by Mi.ss
Emma V. Kirkland, of Randolph, N. Y., the second
by Mr. G. Homer Galger, of Chelsea, Massachusetts.
It is now under the charge of Mr. M. H. Jackson, of
East Boston, with an assistant.
Through the death of Mrs. Betsy Lang, the High
school received a legacy of $3000, whose income is to
be used in assisting to pay the teacher, or in books and
apparatus for the school, at the discretion of the School
Committee.
.Vprnni'RlATIONS FOR Schools.— 1TT3, £:1U ; 177;l, £200; 1780, £800:
1781, £800; 1782, £3n ; 1783, C30 ; 1781, OO ; 1785, 130; I78G, £40; 1787,
«0; I7SS, t40; 17S0, tiO; 1790. £40; 17:il, £40; 1792, £50; 179:1, '.
I"'J», : 1'93, £80 (?) ; 17911, £80 ; 1797, £1IKI ; 1798, £150 ; 17;.'.!, Uoil ;
180O, £1110:1801, jEin0;I8il-i, £1(10; 180:1. jaW ; 18(H. flOO ; I8ii5, $4U(l!
»5»:i.:a; 1S28, S583.3.T; 1829, fr.R:! ; l«3n, 8583; 1831, $683; 1832,5583;
1833, $1(X)0 ; 11H4. JSOO ; 18:«, $0(»l; 18:f0. $500; 1837. SliKjd ; 1838,' Jcoo!
1839. $600; 1840, JfloO ; 1841. $0(X); 1842. $(X10; 1843. $ClP0 ; 1S44. $7(mi:
1845, $700; IS 46. $700; 1847. $700; 1848. ~700 ; 1849, $7lKl ; 1 8.'.oi $8(7. i j
1851, $1000; IS-,2. $1000; 1853, »10jO ; 1854, $l.;illl; 1855, $12iKJ J "l8.-,6]
$1200; 1857, $1200; 1858. $1(X)0; 1859. $1000; l8ia). $1400 ; IsUl, $140oi
1802. $10«>; 18(13. JKKJO ; 18(>4. J1200 ; 18(i5. $1200; 1860, «l:iOO ; IS67,'
$1800 ; 1868, $1SU0 ; ISO'J, $1600 ; 1870, $1800 ; 1871. $190(1 ; 1872, $2000 ;
1873, $2200 ; 1874, $2000 ; 1875, $2200 ; 1876, $2200; 1877, $200() ; 187?,'
$■^200; 1879, $2100; 1880, i22(K); 18S1, $2200; 1882, $2200; 1883, $2800 ';
18*4, $28(»; 188.1, $2000; 1880, $25(JO, $400 for text books; 1887,53100,
ulnl$500 for text books; 1888,53000, nod 1500 for text booka ; IS89,?3000
and $600 for text books; 1890, $2200, and $500 for text b.)okB.
getting the £20 the town i)romised for bringing up
a poor child to the age of eighteen years."
February, 1759, a petition to Portsmouth, N. H., for
cost of the care of Charles Row, a soldier who died in
town of small-pox, 1757.
In 1761 the town was visited by a severe epidemic
of small-pox, as appears from the money paid for
nursing, rum, sugar and articles needed in such
sickness — a list continued to an astonishing degree,
considering the limited ability of the town.
TEWKSBURY.
303
But as early as Hay, 1768, tUey had the custom of
letting out the poor to the highest bidder, as is seen
from the extracts whicli follow: May, 17G8, "Voted
that . . .'s child be put out to the lowest price
where it shall be proper to have it go." November
20, 1776, " Voted to appoint and luipower the Select-
men in behalf of the Town or any part of them, to
Endent and agree with Some person or persons, to
Support and maintain the Wid" . . . during her
life or any part thereof." Still more ancient is the
Havor of this advertisement, December, 17S-1:
Whereas, ... is .supported by the town and
the selectmen can't, git it done without great
cost, this is to see who will take and sup
port her." August, 17S6, the warrant has an
article "To see how the town will support the poor,"
which resulted in the <lecision, " that the poor be set
up to the highest bidder and that the selectmen give
publick notice of tlie time and place where they are
to be set up." This was usually done by appending
to the warrant a notice that they would be set up in
the evening after town-meeting, thus : " N. B. Tlie
Poor that are .-.iipported by the Town are to be putoul
to them that will do it cheapest, in the evening of the
above i^aid day, and a\>o the Widow Stickney's thirds
for the season."
In this connection stand the.se entries quoted tor
their (piaintness : .Vugi'.st 17, 1772, " An order to
David .Sanders fur boarding Nicholas Strieker M5
weeks and linding him a pair of tow briches." Feb-
ruary i:!, 177:1, '" Xn order to Benj. Burtt it lieing for
ti>ur pair of gloves for the lutieral of . . .'s wiie,"
dependent upon the town. February 22, 1771', '" .Vn
order to Saml. Danforth for linding . . . her
house rodui and tiro-wood anil .Sass and Drink.'
Some of the items preserved on the records show
vividly the customs and the social life of the former
days, ."^uch is the order given February 2o, 178tl,
to David Bailey, " it being for one Loos striped
toe lining < rround 21 yards and fore one toe and wol-
ling wailed Coat 2'. yard and lor one Jacot and for
one [lair of shoes, for one pair of stockings, all which
lie found for . . . and for Boarding thirty-three
weeks and half to the si.xtli day of March t!66: S.-..'
The records are full of similar orders.
As early as I )ctober 17, 1780, an article is found in
the warrant " to see if the town will erect a work-
house for the |)urpo8e of such as shall become a towu
charge." A good many years passed before anything
was done to carry out the suggeation.
In 17S7 overseers of the poor were chosen. It was
not till 182(1 that the present poor-farm, consisting of
some SO acres, was purclniaed. In May of that year
it was voted to use it also as a house of correction. A
ni-w poor-farm house, with conveniences suitable for
the inmates, is uow in process of building.
Si<.\.VEi:y. — Many fail to remember, perhaps never i
dreamed, that slavery once e.Kisted in Massachusetts,
the leading ."^late in the great auti-slavery movement.
Traces of the "peculiar institution" may be found in
all the early New England towns. Tewksbury is no
exception. The town records contain frequent refer-
ences to negroes belonging to one and another of the
nanies familiar in our history. It seems strange to
hear of the Kittredge, the Trull, the Hunt, and the
Rogers families as among the slaveholders. Stranger
still is what Mr. Aaron Frost relates, that when slav-
ery was abolished in Massachusetts there were three
slaves in this town : a man owned by Dr. Kittredge,
from whom the poor-farm was bought ; a girl named
Rose, owned by Mrs. Rogers, and one named Phyllis, •
the property of the Rev. Sampson Spaulding. Her
death is thus recorded : " 1820, June, Phyllis, a negro
woman in Dea. ,Iohn Spaulding's family, ninety years,
old age." It speaks well for their treatment that when
freedom came the two maid-servants preferred to re-
main with their former owners.
In those days they not only voted what seats the
singers should have, and adjusted all difficulties with
them, but passed the following, September, 17S6:
" that the negroes have the seat next to the long pew
tV)r their seat to set in."
In this connection the following document is inter-
esting:—
" Kdow all men by the,« presents that I, Johu Kittredge, uf Te«kj-
Imry, in tbe' fuuuty of JliJilIeeox, in his Mitjestie's Pruviuco uf the
'.^l.iasiit-hiinetts Buy in New Knglunii, Cliirurgeon, Knuw ye llmt I, Siiiil
■ lulia KitlreWtre, for ye love, gooil will itotj iitfertiuu tliitt I Iiuve und ilo
(■ear toWHfil my 3erv;iot N'e;;roe mitn Reutien, ami hI*i fur ye tiood Ser-
\iru that tlie siiaiil Ueilbeti butli dune and perfurnied lor me, iJu by tbene
Ijreaeut'i Oertear, (.nder and lv>tablisli tbut my Huid Si>rvunl Ilcubeu, if
III- livt-^ iiii'l -uivivf,- nje, hissiiid ylastiT John Kittredge, Ibat after my
r>fOea?e Ilie -aid Kenben hIhiII be Intirely free and at hid t.wn free Lib-
erty fur bir* life time after luy Decease, so that my Ueir», LxecutorH, or
Adniiuiatratorv, or Litlier of tbeni, dball not have any ('onimuiid or
lin>ine.>s to order or Dit'l.«rte t»f >ai.l Reuben. Dated at Tewksbury, llie
.si\tfentli day f f Jannry, in the Twenty Eight year of hiii Majestte's
Kt'i);ti. Aloiiio Domini 175 I o.
" signed. Sealed and delivered
in |ire6en""e Mf ns. ".ToHN KlTTOtDo'L.
"Jon \ THAN ivITTREKoE,
".l>--ti'ii KirTurDi.r,
*■ loHN i;n \l-.MAN.
"The ab'tve wriltun instrument of ye I'leronance uf Doctr John Kilt-
ledye's Ni*;;ioe loan Kenben, was entered November yo lt>, ITvMi.
■* Per me, SxEniEN t^SGooit,
" '/■■,. .ru Cltrk."
N.vTL'R.VL Hl.sTORV.— The early descriptions of
New England reveal an unusual beauty. The num-
ber and varieties of the trees of the forests primeval
impressed the writers. The same impression of ad-
miration aro.se from the multitude and variety of the
animals, birds and tish which Tewksbury had iu
common with other towns. Some of the quadrupeds
arc now extinct.
The abundance of fish made Wamesit the capital
at one time of the tribe after which it was named.
The .Merrimac is " the Sturgeon River." In this
river, the Concord and the Shawsheen, and in their
numerous tributaries, abounded all the kinds of fish
known to New Eni^land waters. In former days the
northwestern part crt the town was known as " Shad-
town," and apprentices stipulated that ihey should be
304
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
fed only so often upon the royal salmon or upon shad.
The southern portion was for years called " Pigeon-
town," from the numerous pigeons which frequented
those parts. At every town-meeting, from 1743 till
1830, fish reeves, wardens or " fish cares " were ap-
pointed. The following is the first vote: Stephen
Osgood and Samuel Hunt were chosen a committee
" to see that the fish have free passage up and down
those streams where they usually pass to spawn.''
Soon after the founding of Lowell, the manufactur-
ing interests, by pollutiug the waters, left the com-
mittee without occupation, and it ceased to he elected.
As lute as August, 1760, about which time the
savage beasts disappeared, was killed in Wilmington
the last wild bear in that vicinity. " It was shot by
Ephraim Buck, from beneath the branches of an an-
cient oak, now standing, near the road leading from
Wilmington Centre to the east part of the town."
(Driike's Middlesex, Wil. by L. C. Earaes.)
Interesting is this vote passed December, 17G9:
" Voted to ciiose two men to take care that the deer
in this town be not destroyed contrary to the last hiw
made in their behalf." Josiah Baldwin and Samuel
Trull have the honor of being elected the first of a
long list of deer reeves which ends about 1777.
The following vote stiows the abundance of small
game compared with its scarceness to-day : 1742.
" voted a town rate of £25 old tenor to pay the
bounty laid on gray and ground squirrels and black-
birds which are caught in the town." Bounties for
fiercer animals were not unknown, for in 1757 an
order for sis shillings was paid John Ball for kill-
ing one wildcat ; and in 1758 Jonathan Kittredge was
paid ten shillings for one killed — the last of which
there is historical record. There was a bounty on
crows also, whose rate rose and (ell with the time«.
In 1791, " Voted a bounty for killing crows, 9rf. pet
head for old ones, and four pence ha'penny for young
ones killed by the inhabitants of this town in the
town : Voted also that the heads be brought to tht
selectmen or town treasurer to be examined, and il
they suspect their being killed in the town, then thi
person bringing them shall go to a justice of the
pease and sware that the crows were killed in the
town and bring a certificate that he thus swore."
In 1814 it was voted to let fishing privileges to the
highest bidder : $50 was paid for the privilege
formerly owned by Dr. Worcester at the northwest
part.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
TE WKSB UR T- ( Conlin ued).
THE CIVIL WAR — CT^^L AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
The part played by the town in this tremendous
conflict is best seen from the reports and votes spread
upon the town records, supplemented by such remark.^
as will explain them.
The sound of the coming strife is heard in the vote
March 4, 1861, " to instruct the School Committee to
cause the Constitution of the U. S. to be read in each
of the public schools of Tewksbury once at least each
term." They also voted, March 6th, the same notable
year, to raise more money and adopted the following
report of a committee raised at the previous meeting
and consisting of George Lee, Elijah M. Read, Jona-
than Brown, D. G. Long, Elbridge Livingstone :
■' That the town appropriate the sum of .?20i)0 and
that a committee consisting of the Selectmen and four
other citizens be appi^iiited to disburse this appropri-
ation among the volunteer citizens of Tewksbury in
such manner as in their judgment the circumstances
may require. It being understood that out of said
appropriation an outfit and a reasonable amount of
pocket money be provided for all volunteers from
Tewksbury, and that the families of the absent volun-
teer shall be cared for, and also that this committee
shall also look after their future wants and necessities
during their enlistment and also that the compensa-
tion of the said volunteer be increased to twenty dol-
lars per month for the time of their actual service."
They al.so voted ami chose the following named gen-
tlemen to act in connection with the selectmen in
distributing the above appropriation: X. P. Cole,
B. F. Spaulding, William Grey, John P. Taylor.
This committee reported at the next annual town-
meeting, March 3, 1S62, as follows :
*' Y<mr coiiimitTee entereil iipoQ tlif-ir new ami luiiisii.il 'Juries with ^
■ iesirp to do jutitice, iw "'ell ;ih ext-rcise bcnevoleufe touards </iir yoilii,:
iiieu, wbo, at tills trisis in our country » luiircb, su iiui'ly stepped turwurd
to prutect lite iioiucs ulid rlie ill.-tituIioDS of llii^ ^re-Lt Hlid l.ivored p-"-
ple. Neitlier were Tliey tininiinifill of tlieir tlmies to tlti-e wtio, tb.iti^li
■ piieth' .It liuliie, so willingly supplied tlie menus.
" By ;i vole of tlie tow n eacb omD eulistiu^ into tlie C a. service \\h^
to receivo from the town a sum outticient to inalfe his wiicei twt-nty
dullul's per inontlt.
"On tlie L'tld Mkv last the legisiliiture of Mas<;. pjissed un act ivnderiu^
nugatory all acts of towns for increased p.iy of wa^es to volunteers be-
yond tbe term of tbree mouths for any indi\ tdual.
"This deprived a majority -if our volunteers of any increased pay,
" .\t the early stage of nur national trouble, our ^tate, as well .-u our
National 'jovernmeut, was uot fully prepared to uniform and fit o\\\
troops aa fast as the exigencies of the case seemed to re'inire.
"Hence the importance of towns anil individuals to inrere^t them-
selves to provide the comforts and furnish necessities to our volnnteeis
and their families. To this eml the attention of your committee was ,
directeil more especially to see that each man had the necessary clothing
and a small amount of money when he should march to tbe seat of war.
In the act above referred lo the State made ample provisions for the
families of volnnlper^. which relieve your committee of that service.
"Tbe act of the town made it tbe duty of the committee to distribute
aid to tbe volunteers according to their judgment of their several neces-
sities.
"They furnished six persons with clothing and necessary articles for
the camp, to the amouut of one hundred and eighteen dollars and
eighty cents ($118.80) thirty-three perKins with pocket-money at ten
dollars each (SI"), three hundred and thirty dollars (S:;30i,and two per-
euna with two dollars each, four dollars (S4), to defray their expenses to
Boston to enlist, making the total amotlBt paid and authorized to be
paid, of S45i80.
" It may be proper to state here that quite an erroneous opinion, for
a time, seemed to prevail among some of the volunteers and their friends,
to wit. ; that the town had voted to pay each volunteer ten dollars, irre-
TEWKSBURY.
305
apective of the judgment of the cotiitnittee ; thie, ad welt aa other erron-
eotia viewa that obtaioetJ currenoy, iiitTeaaed their labor by reiuirio^
frequent explauatiuus.
" Ten dullars have been paid, or aiitliorized to be paid, to each volun-
teer '>rhis authorized ai;ent or :;uardie.n, who has applied for it and fur-
ui^^bed siitisfiictory e\ I'leDce that they have tn-en lawfully enlisted in
the volunteer ser\i<:e<>f the U. S., except one who uaa aided to the
amount "f ei,;iit dullara and ninety-three t-eutij t9S.-)3), for needed arti-
cles, but no tuuney. One made uo application. «
" The base of the action for granting aid «!i^ evidence that the vol-
unteer lia<l bis residence in Tewksbiiry at the tune of hid eolistineut.
"I'he ?ubjuined tabular atatenient exhibits the name of each vuluoteer
or person aided from Tewksbnry. to;^ether with the number of the regi-
ment and the deM.'riptiun of the battery, squadron or company to which
they are attached, so far ;ld could l>e luicertained, also such other infor-
mation relating to their condition ;i.s is in possessiou of your cooiniittee.
'* Your cuuiniittee respectfully leituests to be discharged from further
service, and iccomineuds the eelectmen be authorized to perform the re-
luaiDiug duties fur the committee,
" B. F. ^PAULDING, C74<(irnlu»i."
Meanwhile the town waa alive with eflbrts to re-
cruil the ranks of the army aad sustain that army in
the tielil. As will be seen frtiin the lists of her sol-
diers in this contest, Tewksbury had men among the
tirst in the lauks, notably in the renowned Sixth
Massachusett-', some of whom still livetotell thetaleof
the cclebrateil march through Btiltimore.
July, 180:2, came another call for troops, on which
the town at once acted, :is thus recorded :
"July 23, 1862.
" H'hi'reaa, by Prnclamation of the rre>. of the V. ?., an addition to the
furees now ill the service of the country, of .:uil,l)<)0 men, is required and
ordereil, and Wlurttn, of the whole number to be raiseil. IJ.iMHl is set
down as the portiiui of Mikiss., and Wlitn-'i/i, by Hroclatnutioo of the Gov.
of the state, eleven men is the lliinibc>r a:^si:;ned to the to« n of Tewks-
liurv ita ita quota of the above lurce, therefore, —
'* I'i'ted, That a bounty of ;l-.:.', be .ippi-o[)riated to each of said eleven
men, who -hall enter s.tid oervii-e fioiii this town, to be paid tu ibeiii
when luiistered in.
■' ('"ted, That the Treasurer of this town is hereby aiitbori/ed to bor-
row a nun: of money Hot exceediii'.;, in -imount, Sloo^l, on such tune as
he may deem best, etc.
■* Voteit, That Clerk and Treae ^p^e.ul these votes on their respective
records, the names of recruits uiidei this call uud the amounts paitl thein
e;u:h."
This was .luly iSth. In le^s than a month another
meeting was held to act upon still another call
for " three hundred thousand more." Similar reso-
lutions and votes weie passed, as on the previous
occasions; slOO was v^ted to each man enlisting for
nine months, and the treasurer was authorized to
borrow SIJOO atlilitioiiai.
Ne.xt munth, Xovembcr 4th, at another meeting, it
was decided to pay all e.^peuses attending enlist-
ments.
Coming to the nc-ct annual meeting, April, 1863,
the celebrated |)roclauiations of Governor Andrew and
President Linculii ftjr a day nf humiliation, fasting
and prayerare spreatl upon the records of that solemn
time after the usual report.
November i, lSiJ.'5, tinds the town again convened to
respond to the third call of the President for 300,000 i
troops. It is a pathetic remii;der of the spirit which
tilled the Republic in her ailversity to notice that, i
before even electing the moderator, by solemn vote '
20-iii
they called upon the Rev. Richard Tolman to open
the meeting by prayer.
Here are the votes which pertain to the great con-
Hict, then raging throughout the land : " That a
bounty of §200 be paid to each volunteer soldier on
being mustered in the United States service, also
that the town choose a committee to make an assess-
ment on each individual of his proportion necessary
to be raised for this purpose ; " " that a meeting or
series of meetings be called by the selectmen as they
may think best to encourage enlistment;" "that
the same committee that is appointed by the Gov-
ernor to enlist volunteers for this town, do assess and
apportion to each individual their proportional part
necessary to raise the above amount.''
The next important action was in the meeting of
-May 30, 186-1, when they voted to pay $125 to each
enlisted man that shall be mustered into the military
lervice of the United States from this town the
ensuing year. Ten men were required to till the
luota. The treasurer was authorized to borrow $1250
to meet demands. The town then seems to have
made an effort for this final demand upon its re-
sources with success.
Immediately after the town-meeting a citizens' meet-
ing was organized by choosing Leonard Huntress
chairman. These rallies were kept up with great en-
thusiasm by men prominent in town affairs and from
all parts of it till the quotas were tilled. The first meet-
ing voted " that the assessors be required to assess the
amount of ^1250 on the tax-payers of Tewksbury as a
voluntary tax for the purpose of securing the requisite
number of men that may be called for by the Presi-
dent, from this town ; " and that Elijah JI. Read be
treasurer to receive all the money of the several
collectors chosen at a previous meeting.
The ladies during these severe and trying experi-
ences did their part by gathering nece.ssaries and
luxuries to send to the men defending the flag on
distant battle-fields or bearing pain for it in remote
hospitals. Here, as elsewhere, all classes were fused
into one by ardor for the common cause — union and
freedom.
The end came at last, even sooner than expected,
in the annual meeting of April, 1865, when, after
reporting that the town debt at that date was §8932.-
32, the chairman, Leonard Huntress, appended to the
report of the selectmen these remarks :
" The selectmen, in addition to the foregoing report of receipta and
expenditures, desire to caU the attention of their fellow-citizena, in a
few brief worda, to matters showing more especially the towD'a relation
to the country.
" The vrar h,-ia existed four years. Every call tnade upon us for meo
to put down the rebellion hea lieen honored. Our quotas are all full.
We have also a surplus to our credit of two men.
'• The end now appears to be so plainly drawing nigh that we An in
liopea no additional calls will be made. In fact, the spirit of liberty and
of patriotism seems to he doing for the army in these last days so good a
work, that we believe our ranks will be kept full.
"Since April 1, 1864, this town baa furnished twenty-four men. The
last ooe who went wa« our fellow-townaman, Anson B. Clark.
306
HISTORY OP MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
** We mentioD his case particularly because he was the first man who
enlisted fu a private, and by his soldierly qualitiesaod gnod couduci wta
promoted to a sergeantcy. Souo after hi** promotion he whs taken pris"
oner, and suffered iu the ' Libby ' nnd on Belle Isle until neiirly used up,
when he waa exchanged. He now cuuBiders hiniHelf agnin tit fur duty,
haa t>eeD examined and mustered in aaa veteran fur Hancuck'f; Corps.
"Of those that went in the winter itf I8(>;i-fi4, four are known to have
died. Their names are J. Wella Merriam, Al«*xandpr SliPonald, Hugh
McDonald and Hugh Mrtjuarrie. Young Slerriani was lierk of the
Fifteenth fit uesachu setts Battery, stationed theu at Memphis, a good
soldier, a correct officer, and an exemplary and upright man. He iiie<l
after a brief sickneas, beloved, we believe, by the whole conimuod.
"The two McDonalds and McQuarrie wer» uot citizens 'A this town.
Tbeir home was Prince Edward's Island. Temporarily at work here,
they enlisted in the Seventh Battery, and during the lost warm season
they alt died near the mouth of the Mississippi River. Fur all of these
brave ones, and for those who have fiillen before them, the town does
most tenderly cherish the memory of their gallant and herruc deeds.
" While this war lasts, the selectmen would I'et'ummeud that uur ex-
pensea be kept as li^ht as practicable. If men are wanted, they must
be furnished. If we have them not, we must 6nd them cleewhero ; an<l
if they coat money, we must pay for them. But as to our afTain at
Lome, we recumiuend a rigid economy. "
At the close of this report Mr. Huntress says:
** We would therefore suggest fur the current yeiir :
*' For repairs of roada it bridges tu be pd in labor i" Sl.5ii per iKiy SI-i^"
For Schools U'to
For Current e\peusea 1-""
As the Stale tax is rjfimi
Aud the county tax is 6<'0
And the bounty money pd to vol wh is to be assessed is •'***'*"
Amounting to $lo,T''»'
" We think the tflx-i«iyera wilt prefer to pay tliiit amount promptly
rather than attempt to stagger under them.
''The Town will understand that these are ouly sugj^estiona and will
treat tbem accordingly.
" LE0NAK9 IlUNTRERS,
**Chaii~ntan of the Sfleclmett."
A vote was passed '* to reader thanks to hiiu ;iad
his iissociates for the eificient services of tlie pitst year
in procuring troops to fill our quotas." They voted
also " to assess the present year $8000, that being the
amount paid aa bounties to volunteers."
With such a spirit, no wonder that the town in a
very few years paid its war debt and resumed its
wonted prosperity.
The list which follows gives the names of probably
all the men who served the town in the War of the
Rebellion. It is taken from the official record of
Tewksbury.
Regt. Co. Regt. Co.
Henry L. Huckius, 6th D , Dennis Gleason, .'•IH.A. F
William B. Tiugtey, 6th G ■ Juaon R. George, M li. A. F
Daniel A. Whittemore, i;th A Ansel Williams, 3d Cav. Read's
George II. Gray, 6tU C Martin Matthew, 5th Cuv. K
William G. Brady, 6th D Elijah JuUuson, 5tli Cav. II
F. Slartin Simulding, Cth G George Davis, Jr., 5tli < uv. M
Samuel W. Benson, 7th Bat Freduriclc Babcock, 2d .V
John Gillion, 7th Bat John Casey, 2d A
Alexander B.McDonald, VthBat William W. Maynard, 2d C
Anthony McDonald, 7th Bat William Winters, 2d E
Hugh McDonald, 7th Bat George Bailey, 2d K
Alexander Mcguarren, 7th Bat James Tye, 2d K
George T. Preston, 7th Bat Francis H. Brait, 2d ^
John J. Young, 7th Bat Joseph Guiding, 2d •
John W. Merriam, 15th Bat William Jenkins, Jd >
Deonla Noonao, 15tb Bat . Patrick Riley, 2di
JobD UUI, 1st H. A. G I Anson B. Clark, 12th D
1 UnaaslgDed Recruit. '
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.Irtinei II. Fletcher,
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AILeit Staikpule.
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Stephen f. Fielielil, Ve
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IVS I'l
rps
William F. Whittemore. l^lli
Ceurce B. Spailhliue;
heniiis t;le:iBnn, 2d H
llenr.v Sottung.
Alihion.l I'. Ahh.jit,
.Xnsnrtturi ('. i'n:^hin^,
.leu..*** (.'. usgtHjd,
Eduiond.l. I*. Hiii'kins.
William H. Trnll,
fharlee O. Slie<ld,
WilliRoi Kirwin,
Ij.iwell Davis,
Tliumae Da^is,
t'barlea .\. Ornitt,
.leweSynimes,
.lohn Corniick,
Kdwnrd Ballaid.
itaniel .\. Kelid.ill,
Kuooh B. Phelps,
William I., .liw'piep,
AhnerA.Shedd,
TIkhiihh McGuvern,
.li.hn I'yer,
J.unes B. Daley, Vet K
Several men ,i.i Aloiizo >[.ii'sb;ill entfretl tlie ."seventh
Battalion, whicli WiUi tbniifil iVum [leg. litli, Co. < i.
Little of geoerai interest remains to conipiote litis
sketch, but a few matters dI' more than tiaiisient im-
[ntrtance are noted in the ortliT ol their occnrrenie.
Iu l.SiiS a second movement bugiiii for a divisimi of
the town by annexingnearly IfiiiO acres of the nnrth-
we.sterly part to Lowell. This was ciim|pleted after
strenuous opposition from the town iu 1.S74. The
List division of the town was iu b'i'sS. when about liOO
acres were lost to Lowell to the regret of theold town.
November, 1S70, it was deciilcd to repair the Town
Hall, but in ."March, LST."), it was voted to build a new
onCj-S.^xitO feet.at a cost of .*:'.()0(i, in which a vault was
to be constructetl at ail e.Kpense not exceeding .*700.
This was done on the site of the old oue, which was
sold. Thebuildiiig committee was Klijah M. Head,
Zephauiah I'. Foster and Nathaniel Trull. The final
cost was s38!i(j.l2.
Tewksbury in JS7.") came into the Nineteenth Repre-
sentative District, which consisted of the towns of
Chelmsford, Tyngsborough, Dracut and Tewksbury,
and contained 12.08 legal voters, who elected one Re-
presentative to the (teneral Court.
At the November meeting in 1S7G, $.500 was ap-
propriated for the purpose of improving and beautify-
ing the centre of the town, the first of a uuinber of
similar appropriations. The committee to expend
this money was George A. Kittredge, Enoch Foster
and Joel Foster.
The gentleman at the head of this committee was
the founder of the
Public Library, which the town voted to establish
at the November meeting a year afterwards, 1877.
Mr. George A. Kittredge was the first chairman of
the Board of Six Trustees, by whom the library is man-
aged. Since the death of Mr. Kittredge, his brother,
Mr. J. C. Kittredge, has held this position. To both
* ITaattached Heavy .\rttllery.
TEWKSBURY.
307
of these gentlemen the library is indebted for numer-
ous gifts of boolfs. In Miirch, 1878, and yearly Irom
that date, the town voted the dog tax to the support
and inoreaseof the library. In March, 1879, an ap-
propriation of #100 was granted for the same pur-
pose. Every year since, butoiie, tlie town has given
a sum in addition to the dog tax varying from §100
to $2o0. The slielves now, 1890, contain 3326 vol-
umes, and readers are furnished with the popular
magazines. Patrons in remote parts of the town
have books delivered at a point near their home.
The circulation of books for the year ending Febru-
ary 1, 1890, was 7171. including a few magazines,
the largest number ever used in one year. Many
competent judges have deservedly praised theselection
of books, wliich includes the best of every class ot
literature, and which furnish a valuable and increas-
ing help to the work of the schools. Perhaps some
affluent native of Tewksbury who reads these pages,
may be led to furnish a fitting home for these literary
treasures. There are few better ways to perpetuate
a good and ancient name, or to render money a per-
manent source of good, than the establishment and
endowment of Public Libraries, which make accessible
to all the people the best that has been thought and
written in all timei*.
To trace the history of even a small New England
fown like Tewkslniry shows that it is representative
of the great type to which it belongs, a form of society
and government un.iurpassed by any the world has
ever seen. Even this comparatively small town illus-
trates the principle on which the master historians of
to-day proceed in the study of the great drama still
uiilolding — that the local history should furnish the
Ijeginning wliii.h ends in the universal. Tewksbury
stands connected with the great world wide current.
The town had a share in every change and movement
of the land. Her social life was part of the life ot the
day. Otten a vote, a phrase, a single woril or name
I'rom her records brings up a past which belonged to
that entire ancient world which seems to most men
like the stuff dreams are made of. Even here the old
adage is true that " Every road leads to Rome. "
LIST OF MODEaATKlf.'S UF THE TOWS ilF TF-\VK>Bl'RV — FIRyT UEBTINO JAN-
lAUV 14, 17.'.4-^15.
IT?."' — l.t. Diiairl KUtrH^p; March, Srtiiuiel Hunt, Jr., William Brown ;
May. Juiit;. Inly. NoVHinUer. Lt. Daujf) KiUreUge.
IT^ti — Man.b J'ttli. Ji.>pi.li KittrRl^e; June inth, Nuveuiber -^2(1, Sep-
teinb^r r'.rli, Pani*^! Ki[tn*'i:;e.
IT:iT— 3Iai.li Till. May, Sefrember, Lt. Daniel Killredeo; i.Mtober 6
-loMfpli Kittre'li^e ; Dc-i'eiiib»fr ".^'Jil, Lt. Daniel Kittreilae.
IT.iS— IVbriiary I'.tli. Man-li i.tli, 3Iay Ir.rb. Dp.icun Daniel ICittreilge;
An;;iut -Jlst. ./otiepli Kt(rre*l;;t' ; Noveriiher ■JTth. t'apt. Wiltiaiii Bruwn.
IT^.'.i— March "'lb, D.-acoti Daniel Kiltreil^e ; Marcli otb, C'apt. Peter
Hunt ; May 2;fl, i'aiil. William Itrown ; Sfpteuiber -ith, Xoveiuber 'i7tb,
Deacon Daniel Kitlrcil-^c.
1740— March -'l-l'itli, adjuurneJ May 201 b. Deacon Daniel Kittre<lge; j
October Stb. i "apt. Williaiu Crown; Dei-eniber lOtb, adjonmed to 17tb, ]
Deacon Daniel Ivittredije.
1711 — March Jd, .May l.ith, June IStli, Deacon Daniel Kittreilgc; No-
TPinber 4th. Lt. William Brown.
1742 — lanuai-y I'Jtb, Joseph Kittridge ; .March lat, adjourned to March I
Ml:, March jutb, Li, Willi.ini Brown; May ISIh, Deacon Joseph KitV
redge; October 4th, adjourned to the 0th of December, Lt. William
Brown.
1743— March li, April I2th, May 20th, September 12th, Lt. William
Brown; Xoveniber 14th. Dea. Joseph Kittredge; December 6th, Lt.
William Brown.
1744 — Mareh r,lh, 30th, Jlay 22d. June 5th, September 7th, November
I3th, Lt. William Brown.
1745 — March 4th, adjourned to .March 18th, April Uth, Capt. Peter
Hunt ; May 23d, September Md, November 23d, Lt. William Brown.
174fr— March 4th, 25th, Jlay 22d, Capt. Peter Hunt ; September 23d,
Lt. William Brown.
1747— March 2d, Capt. Peter Hunt ; May 20th, LL William Brown;
September 17th, Lt. William Kittredge.
1748— March 7tb, Capt. Peter Hunt; March 29th, Thomas Clark;
May 20th, no name ; September 13th, William Kittredge.
1749— March 6tb, William Kittredge; May 12th, Stephen Osgood;
September 12th, William Kittredge.
1750— March 5th, Lt. William Kittredge ; May 17th, Dea" Joseph
ICittredge ; October 2d, William Brown.
1751— March 4th. adjourned to March 11th, Thomas Clark ; May 14th,
Thonuis Marshall ; September 19lh, William Brown.
1752- March 2d, Thouins Clark ; .May Uth, Joseph Kittredge ; Seplem-
l»er 2l8t, Thomas Clark ; December sth, .lohn Chapman.
1753 — March 5th, Thomiia Clark ; 3tay, no name ; .June I5th, Thomas
Manhall ; September l.'ltb, Wm. Bruwn.
173t— March 4th, Wm. Bro.vu; March loth, Dea" Joseph Kittredge ;
Jlay 15th, October 15th, Wm. Brown.
1755— March 3d, Wm. Brown ; September IGth, Dea° Joseph Kittredge.
1756 — March, September 9tli, Capt. Wm. Brown.
1757 — January 12th, John Chapman ; March 7th, Capt. \\'iu. Brown ;
.^lay loth, Joseph Bruwn ; September 29th, Capt. Wm. Brown.
1758 — March 6th, (October 2d, .\brabani Stickney.
1759 — March 5th, May 11th, Willium Kittredge ; September 27th, Capt.
Wm. Brown.
1760 — January nth, a<ljonrned to January 2Sth, Wm. Kittredge;
March 3d, Capt. Wm. Brown ; JIarch 24th, Deacon Abraham Stickney ;
■Inly 21sf, October 6th, Capt. Wm. Brown.
1701— March 2d, October I'Jth, Capt. Wni. Brown.
1762— March 1st, C.ipt. Wm. Brown ; May 20th, Stephen Osgood ; Sep-
tember 29th, December 2(1, Capt. Wm. Brown.
1763 — JIarcli 7th, Dean. .Vhraham Stickney.
17r4 — October 2d, James Thorndike.
1765 — March 4lh, Capt. Wm. Urown ; Marcli i'jth, Lt. Wm. Kitt-
redge: Jlay 'Jth, Capt. Josepli Kidder: Scpteinlier :joth, Wm. Kitt-
redire ; Octulwr Uth, Capt. Wm. Brown.
1766— JInrch 3d, Cupt. Wm. Brown ; May 13th, June 17lli, September
15th, Tliomaa Marshall.
17i;7— JIarch 2il, Lt. Wm. Kittredie ; Jlarch 1.1th, Capt. Wm. Brown;
May Uth, Lt. Wm. Kittredge; September Uth, Ezra Kendal.
1768— March 7th, Lt. Wru. Kittredge ; Jlay 16th, Ezra Kendal ; Sep-
teuiber29th, .\aron Beard.
1769— JIarch 7th, Thomas Manhall ; Septejnber 4th, Ezra Kindell ;
October 27th, .\aron Beard.
1770— .March 3th, Timothy Brown ; May 24th, Lt. Wm. Kittredge;
September 20th, Ezm Kindell.
1771— .March 4th, Timothy Brown ; Jlay 2Jth, Aaron Beard ; Septem-
ber 9th, Lt. Wm. Kittredge.
1772— March 2d, Timothy Brown ; March 30th, Jacob Shed ; Jlay
2lBt, Wm. Brown ; September 29th, Eldad Worcester ; December 7th,
Lt. Wm. Kittredge.
1773 — February 8th, Jonathan Brown ; March lat, David Bailey ; 3Iay
nth, .\aron Beard ; July 2d, September 20th, Wm. Brown ; October
iSth, David Bailey.
1774 — March 7th, Timothy Brown ; May 23d, Lt. Wm. Kittredge ;
September 21st, David Bailey ; November 23d, Wm. Brown.
1775— January 2.3d, Wm. Brown ; JIarch tith, David Bailey ; Slay 23d,
Ezra Kindal ; August 2d, .\aron Beard ; October ZO, Ezra Eindal.
1776 — JIarch 4th, Ezra Kindal ; May 20th, Aaron Beard; June 24th,
Wni. Brown ; October Uth, November 2Utb, Ezra Kindal.
1777— JIarch :td, Ezra Kindal , JIarch 17th, Aaron Beard ; May 22d,
September 8th, Ezra Kiudall ; September 29th, Aaron Beard ; October
2isl, Ezra Kindall ; December 4th, Wra. Brown.
1778 — March 2d, Aaron Beard ; JIarch 16th, April 9th, Ebenezer
Whittemore ; Jlay 12th, Ezra Kindall; May 25th, Aaron Beard; June
26th, Samuel Jlarshall ; September 14th, Capt. John Tmil ; September
23d, Jacob Low.
1779— Januai; 2l8t, Ezra Kindall ; March Ist, Jacob U>n ; Hnj jm,
308
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Ezra Klndell ; Jnne 24th, AaroD Beard; August 12th, Wm. Hmwo ;
September 23d, Do" Ilenj" Kiltnilge ; iHiober lOlh, Miij. Joniitliaii
BrowD ; NoremUer lllh, Aaron Beanl.
1780— January 27th, Benj» Uurtt ; March l.Ih, 14th, 27th, \Vm. Brnwu ;
April 27lh, Dea» Ezra Kiudell ; May 2d, 2'.lth, Wui. Urown ; .lune I'.th,
29th, Dec" Ezra Kiudell ; ilctolier 12th, Wiu. Brown; Noveuiher Htli,
December 11th, 27th, Woi. Brown.
1781— January 22d, Colo Jcm^itliau Brown; JIarcli .'.th, 19th, April
9tb, May 14th, June 18th, Wm. Brown; July 2d, Ezr.i Kiudell ; July
2:td, Dea. Jacob Shed ; Septenilwr :Jd, Wm. Brown ; October 22d, t'i'l.
Jon* Brown ; Decouilwr 4th, Dea. Ezra Kindell ; December 21tli, \\'ui.
Brown.
1782— March 4th, April Ist, Wm. Brown; April l.Mli, fol" .J. hi"
Brown; May 16th, Wm. Brown ; November 7th, Col" Jon." Urown ; De-
cember 3tith, Wm. Bmwn.
1783— MAeh :jd, Timothy Brown; April 7th, Juno 2d, November
24th, Wm. Brown.
1784— .lanuary .'.th, D" Kzrn Kiuilell ; ^Miircli Ul, Timothy Brown ;
April I9th, Andrew Bordmun ; ,M:iy I4lli, I'ol- .l..n" Brown; September
7th, D" Ezra Kindell; December 2Ibt, Wm. Brown.
1785— JIurch 7th, Wm. Brown; .Muich 2l»t, D° Jacob .Shed ; April
4tb, Wm. Brown ; .May i:!tli, Aaron Beard ; September rjtii. Win
Brown ; December 5th, I>" Ezra Kindell.
1780- Febnuiry 2d, D" Ezra Kindell; M.irrh 6tli, Tiiii"ihy llrown ;
March 22d, Jonathan Brown, Ef\. ; March 2;ith. .Vpril lllh, Wm.
Brown; April 2Sth, Timothy Ko-ers ; May |i;ili. Dm. lacob Shed; An-
giiHt 2lrtt, iK-tober :".ltst, Dii. Ezra Kindell.
1787— March 5th, April Jd, M:iy li.tli, Tiunilhy Brown ; .hine l:itli,
July 5tli, Nalh' Clark ; September 17lli, Du. E/ia Kindell; Ileiember
17tb, Wm. Brown.
17s;< — Slaroh :id, Timoihy Blown ; April 7lli, May l:;th, September
lid, December l.^'tli, Andrew Bordmaii,
17tin— March 2d, I'm. Ezm Kindell: April I'.lli, May lltli, repl.inb.T
28lh, Andrew Boniliiali ; November 2d, Jouatlian Itrowu.
170(1— March, -Vpnl .')tli. May Kith, Andrew Bordmau ; .Inne 22il,
July 14th, D" Ezra Kindell ; October 4tli, Andrew Boardman.
1701 — .\pril, .May, .\ndrow Bi>rdman ; September, October ::d, Win.
Simond.s ; November 21st, .\tidrow Bordmaii.
1702 — lanuory 3d, Wm Brown; March .llh, .\pril 2d, .May 7tli, Wm.
SimoMds ; June .'th, July jr.lh, D. Ezra Kindell; AuuiiKt 23d. Andrew
Bordiiiali; Seplember 7tli, November 2d, Win. Siuionds ; Noveiiilier
I'th, I.I. Sainnel Worster.
1703— January 14IIi, Win. ^iminids ; March 4lli, Lt Wm. Simondb ;
May l;'.th, Wm, Brown ; .Inne idli. Win. Simonda ; September Ui'tli, Oc-
tober 2.Sth, .\udrew BordimiM.
1794— January I'.lh, March :'.d, April Till, May l.'jth, Aiixust iKih, Se|i-
tenibor 2-">tb, November :;d, Wm. £imuud.H ; December 2'dh, Ji>ualhaii
Brown.
170,-,— March 2d, April Cth, May r.lli, Septenilier 2lBt, December 28th,
Win. SimontlB.
I79t>- March 7th, April 4th, 0th, August 9lli, Septcuilar 12th, U'tli,
November 7th, Win. SinmndH.
1797 — .March r.th, April ;id. May sth, September I8tli, Win. Simoiids.
1798 — March jth, .\pril 2d, .May 17th, June 1th, July 2:;d, November
5th, December 24th, Wiu.Siinonils.
1799 — May, June 17tli, Wm. Siinonds.
1800— March 3d, Aiiril Ttb. .May 15th, August ilth, 2oth, October 2Uth,
Wm. Simonda.
ISijl- March 2d, April 6th, May 7th, Wm. Siinonds.
1.H02 — March Ist, May l.'Uli, Novemlier Ist, Wm. SimoinK
ISUS— March 7th, April 4th, Jlay.'.th, :.Oth, Octolier I7tli, Wm. SinioiuK.
1804 — March oth, April 2ud, September .">tb, December lith, Wm. Si-
luouda.
1805 — March, Wm. SimoDdB ; April Ist. Lt. Saiuuel Worcester; May
9th, November 4th, Win. Simonda.
181)6— March 3d, 24th, April 7th, 28th, July 10th, September 4tli, Wm.
Siinonds; Novemlwr 3d, December 15th, I.t. Samuel Worcester.
1307 — March 2d, .\pril nth. May 7th, Novemlwr 2d, Wm. Simoudj,
1808 — Mjircli:7th, April Ith, June 27th, Wm. aiiiiiouds ; September -">th,
Samuel Worcester ; November 7th, Wm. Siinonds.
1809 — March 6th, April 3d, May 4th, Wm. Simonds ; December Ist,
Captain Josiah Brown.
1810 — March 5th, Lt. Wm. Simonds ; .\pril 2d, May luth, Josiah
Brown.
1311— March 4tb, April lllh. May 9tb, August 2atb, Wm. Siuionds ;
September 23d, Joiiab Brown.
lSIo_:\tiircli:d. Wm. .«inioud«; April f'th, Josiah Brown ; May 14tli,
[lavid Kogers ; July i-tli, .losiali lirown.
|sl;j_>|;,rch 1st, April 5th, August 3lllh, Josiah Brown.
1~I4 — hinuary I4tli, Slaivh Ttli, AiTil 4th, .May 1 ;th, September Uth,
Novemlier 2d, Josiah Brown,
]K\r, — ,>Iarrh I6|li, Apiil :id, .May Uitli. .lorfiah Brown.
I.sli,— March 4th, April Itt, May ITIh, Joaiab Brown ; October 4tb.
Wm. .^inionda.
ISIT— .March :id, April 17th, .^lay IStli, .loMah Brown.
ISIS— March 2d, April li.th, -May Ilth, November 2d. Josiab Brown.
1519— Jlarch Ist, April 'dh. May I ;th, Wm. .>iinond8; June loth.
Jotiiah Brown.
1S2II— March 611i, April :;d, Slay l"tli, O.tober 2olli, .lo.slali Brown
1K21 — March -'dh, 3Iay 171li, April 2d, September :ld, .losiah Brown.
1822— March Ith, J.'dli, April Ist, ,ilay Stii, Ibtb, .September |ilh.
.loniah Brown.
182;j— March :".d, Josi.ih Urowii; April Tib, .M.iy l,'.lli. Align..! J.MIi,
llerinou Marhliall.
1)124— March Isl, .lo.iali Brown ; April 5lh, .llay l:;tli, lleriiion Mar-
shall; June Isl, .loMiali Brown.
1.^2.^ — laiinary .;d, llermou .MaiTliall ; Man li Tlh, April lib. May
I2tli, .lime l:!tll, Josiah Brow n
l.;ji .March i th, April :;d, .May Huh. November ith, Josiab Blown
1827- March 5lli, 14tb, April 2, April :;otb, ,Miiy ITIli, .Miiy:jl»l, .losiah
liniwii.
I^2'^- .March .;d, April Till, -May l.'.lli, .l..-iali Blown.
ISJO— .bill, 2-rh, Miilvb 2d.. I. .Mall Klowii ; Aprililb. Willi.im l;oi:er= ;
May I nil. loaiah lliown ; Aiii;. 21tli. iH-c. jolh. William liocei*.
Ik:;ii— .Man.il Isl, Apnl '.111. .^lay M'tb, Nov. l-l. .lau. :.d. .I"lin Ja.piet
lv;| — >larih Tlh. April lib, John Ja. pier; May lllh. Jonah Blown ,
Aug. l.Mli, William lloaeiH.
1!S12 — Ian. lOlli, JoliM.laipie.<; .Mai' h ."all, Jo-iali Uitiwii ; .Man h 12th.
b.lili .laones : .VprilVlli, Joniali Brown ; .May I lib, John Ja>pies ; June
".111, William Ko-ers; Aug. .uth, John .la.|Uei.; Noi l:;ili, .Natliiiu Imrant,
1^:V.— March 4tli, .Io«iah Bn.wn ; April Ul. May itli, .lohu C. .^looie ;
Aug. 19th, Willinm Rogers; Nov. lllh, .lolin C. Moore,
l,.i;l— Mnich liith, ,Marcll :llst, J.diM li. Moor; April 2I.«I. Sepi, 20lli,
Uilliam Kogers ; Oct. 2!ltli, John ',. .Moor ; Nov. liilli, Willialii llogi-ro.
1.<V.— March 2d. April i;th, John U. .Moor; Nov. 'Jth. Jo^iall Ihowii.
|S:;r— March 7tli, .N'ov. 14lli, Willinm l;..gcr>.
IS:t;— March i.Ili, A|iril 3d, .loliii U. M.»>r; Nov. l.ilb, Eiio.ii Foster.
|.S;;s— Maixh 6tli, April 2d, John li. Moor: April Jillb, June lltU
Nov. I2II1, William Kogeis.
is:i9— March 4lli, April 1-1, J..hn C,. Moor.
ISlil— March J.I, April i.lb. loliii ij, .Moor.
l.-ijl — March Ifit. May 3.1, -lohn ii. M.wjr; net. 11th, Henry Kittredge,
IM2— .March Till, April Ith, J. din i:. .Mo..r.
IS13— .March I. til, April .",d, John O.Moor; .May I'lli, Eno. h F..sler .
Nov, i:'.tli, John li, Mi".r.
1K44— .Man h 4th, John (i. .Mo.jr ; May oth, Dec. oth, Zeplianiah
Clark, Jr.
1S40— March :'.d. A|.ril Ttli, Beuj. K, Spaulding, April JMli, J..I111 li.
Moor*; Aug. 8th, N..v. loth, Zeplianiah I'lark. Jr.
1«4(;— March 2d, Beuj. F, Spaul.ling; May .lolli, June 2TII1, Nov 9th,
Zeplianiah Clark, .Ir.
liy7_Marcli Isl, Aug, Oth, Oct, Ilth, Nov, Stii, Beiij. F, Spaiilding
1818 — March I'.th, April :iil, July 4tli. Benj. F, Spauhling ; Nov. 13th,
C. K. Blaiichani ; Dec. 4th, Leonard Hiiutresa.
IS49 — .March 5th, .\pril 2d, C. F. Blanclmrd ; Oct. Ist, Le..uard Hun.
Irehrf.
)j(,,ii — .March 4th, April Ist, .May 6th, Nov. lllh, l.e.nianl Huiitie«.
1S.-.1 — Jan. 2iltli, March M, .\pril 7lli, la.'.mard Ilniilress.
1852— March 1st, Apnl ith, Nov. 2.1, .Nov. 8th, Nov. 22.1, Leonard
llnntress.
185.3 — :March 7th, April 4th, Leonard Unntreea; May 2d, William
Rogers; Nov, 14th, Aaron Frost, Jr.
1854 — March Olli, .\pril lOtli, Nov, I31I1, Leonanl Hnnlleaii.
la.ii — March 5th, Leonard Huntress; .\pril 2J, Nov. hih, Benj. F.
SiMiilding.
1835— March .3d, April 7th, IsOiic II. Meserve ; Oct. Clli, Nov. 4th,
Thoma-l P. Marshall ; Nov. 24th, Isaac II Meserve.
1857 — March 2d, April Ilth, Leonard lluntrese.
1858— March Ist, .\pril 5th, Leonard Huntress.
1859 — March 7th, .\pril 4th, Leonard Huntress.
186i> — March, Leonard Huntress ; Nov., B. F. Spaulding.
18G1 — March, May, Nov., Leonard Huntress.
TEWKSBURY.
30!)
l^ilJ— March, July. Aui;., Nov., LKuiumi lliuitjuut..
18C3— March, Xov., LeouurU Huiitiesd.
I«fi4 — JIarcb, May, No?., Leonard Huutress.
1«G5 — April, aotnml, N'ov,, Leonard Huntn-nu.
1866 — AXiircb, Leouurd Uiiiitrtrsa.
18G7 — March, Nov., Leouard Huntrefa.
1^68 — March, Nov., Leonard lluntrcxi.
1809— March, Leonani lluntreaa; Nov., Joahiia Clark.
1S70 — March, Nov., Lcuimrd Huntress.
ISTI— March, Leoimnl Iliiotreoa; March 27th, Z. P. Foster.
lUT:;— March, Joshua Clark ; May, Oreu Froat ; Nov., Suiniiel L. Al-
len.
la7:!— March, £Iou. Thonuia J. Marsh; Nov., Oliver R. Clark.
1S74 — Juii., Leituard Huntress ; March, Huu. Oliver U. CloiL ; April.
U. F. S[uiiiidin^.
Ib7."i— Mamh '.iDth, Nov., uliver R. Clark.
lP7r_,Iuu., Elijah M. Read ; .March, N..v., olivm- U. Clark.
1^77_jau., Thuuiad J. M:irsh ; Man^h. Ai>ril, Oliver K. Clark ; May,
Leuiiard Huutreits ; Nov., Oliver K. <'lark.
IS7S— March, LanmrJ ltuntre:w ; March .:.',th, April, Oliver R.
Clark.
187'J— March, Oliver R. Clark.
1880 — March, Oliver R. Clark ; Nov., Knoch Foster.
ISul— March, Oliver R. Clark.
18.SJ— March, Oliver It. Clark; April, Lti.jiiard liualrcas; .'uly, Kiiocli
KuBler ; Nov., Oliver U. Cl:uk.
l«8:i— ALirch, Nov., Larkiti T. Trull fJ.l).
l.vis-i — Jlarch, Juue, at-pt., .Vlln-rt C. Itluisdell.
Is^o — March. Albert C. lilatttdell.
la^ij — March, John L. Kleitiing.
iHs"! — M;irclt, John L. Fleniiiii^; March -'lut, Calvin ."<hudd.
Iji^s — Mtirch, Samuel Sewoll.
Ib8;>— March, Joshua Clark.
IS^to — March, June, Juhu L. Fleuting.
TOU.V CLEKha OF rErtKSBUIlT.
173."., Nathaniel Puttuti ; I7:u;-W, Stephen OstjooJ; 17t5-lti, Richard
Itoytiton; I717-.V», Ji.hii Chapniaii;' 175(1, tite|ihen Osgood; - l7.'»7-."s,
John Chapman; I75;i, Stephen tici;.tu<l; I7<ii'-t'.t, Wni. Hunt; I7f4, e\i-
• leiitly W ni. Hrown, Jr., biit tu? recmil u( eii*ction ; l7<i.'', Wni.
Rnrwn, Jr.; I7iii;, Havid r*ailey; 17i'7-7it. 1771-77, Juhu Ni-edhaui ;
I77X-W-', Nfwnnui.^carlett; I7'.i'.t, Tli-'nnu "'lark, to Jill \iiian<y ; lSoi)-l,
Tlioniaa I'laik; Isilj— t, S:iniU''l U'.'n-t ?)rfi-; Imi.".-.-, W illi;itn SriuniHln;
lsii'.l-jj, .lo^iali Umivn ; isi'.-Jl, H'-rnntit .Marshall ; lr*i',-j.N, .Ii.sijih
Hn.un: is-j-,i-:i::, W illi.nu U..;,'lis; ls;;l-:;:i. J.dm C M....r ; |y;i»-li.,
Var"U Ki.iHl, Jr.; IMl-11, Ki h r..>Iir: IM'-^.s. Aar..n Fr..(*l, Jr.;
Ia4'j-.".i, .luiiailiaii llrowii; IS.V'.-3»*, Alviu Marsliall ; lN.-,;i-iiii, Wni. H.
Clay, rcniiivi-d frniu titnn i iiUdirr ; net., Ix^i, KikhIi F<M(er, apptiinl<-d
by :<elei:tnicn Ixio-i^N; Knucb F»Hier, r»'*«it^ned April il. lM;.>t; May I, l."*t.<.
-■^antui-t L. Alk-li, ap)H>inttd by tin- wdeitln'-u ; lMi:t-7_', S:inni«d I..
-Mien ; l>'7:[-7s. Henry K. Warut-r ; l^7;^->l, William H. L«.-e ; ls^.V;m,
JuiiU H. t.'baadluf.
LIST >'K 3t:i.r.l.-l MF.N <iF TUr. TOWN of TEWKSniiftV — KIKST MF.ETrNn J.^Nl-
AK\ 14, I7;i4-:;:i.
17".*.— Jan., I.I. I':uiii-1 Kiltredye, Samuel II nnt, Jr., .Ft»s<'|ib K itlr<'d;;i-,
Jiibu l-'ren> b. N.iiliai>i(l Tattiu ; Miircli, ."ai 1 H nnt, .h, , 1.1. Daui«l
Killred;^)-. .b.>f-|»li Kittred^ti, Nathaniel F'alliu, I'eler Hiinl.
17::G— Miii-ch -".'lb, Lt. I»:iimi 1 Uiltrfc.l-.r, Mr. John Krcmb (then ap-
peared >*• pr"t.-...t), .b.-.-pb Kidroil;;.*, Sluplieii ii^i^inul, J.diu Wb tiuj;.
i7-:7 — Lt. hani.d Kiltredi^e, Juaeph Kittieilgi*, Slephou t'Si^o.-d, t'ort.
John Wbitiu;;. Kidiard Hall.
I7:;s — iteai^on l>aniel Kittretlye, Joseph Kittredge, Stephen (.tdi^oo.!,
Pettr Hunt, Jueepb llrown.
17w'» — Dearuii L>nniel Kiltredire, t'upt. Peter fhiut, St.-pheii OngOiMl,
Curt. Juhu Whiting, Joseph Kittredge.
1740 — Deacou Daniel Ivittredge, Joseph Kittredge, Sleplipn <.Hgooil,
JuDcpU Browu, Julio Whiting.
1741 — Dea.con Rittredge, Stephen iisgoud, (.'apt. I'titer Hunt, Jowph
Brown, Joseph Rittredge.
I Dutogu or the meeting in 1747, recorded by Richard Buynton, town
clerk.
- Tet record of this annual meeting was entered by Jobu Chapman,
town clerk, iu bia haudwriting aud he appears to have been paid forit.
1712— Stephen Osgood, Dea. Joseph Eittredge, Capt. Peter Hunt, Dea
Nathan Shed, LL William Kittredge.
1743— Stephen Osgood, Dea. Joseph Kittredge, John Wliiting, Joseph
Brown, Zachariah Hardy.
1744 — Stephen Osgood, Joseph Kittredge, Joseph Brown, John Whit-
ing, Zachariah Hardy.
1745— Lieut. William Kittredge, Thomaa Clark, Thomas UarBhall^
Richard Boynton, John Ch&pman.
1746 — Lieut. William Kittre<lge, Thomas Clark, Thomas Marshall,
Richard Boynton, John Chapman.
1747— Lt. William Kittredge, Thomu Clark, Thomas MaiBhall, Rich-
ar<l iiuynton, John Cliapman.
1748— Lt. Wm. Kittredge, Thomas CMark, Thomas Marshall, John
I 'hupuiaa, Samuel Trull.
1741) — William Kittredgo, Thomas Marshall, Richard Boynton, John
Needham, John French.
17^) — William Kittredge, Thomas Clark, Tlios. Marshall, John Chap.
man, .lohn Needhum.
1751 — Tbomait Clark, Thomus Marshall, John Chapman, John French,
David Bailey.
17-'>2— TbouuLi Clark, Thomas Manhall, John Chapman, Isaac Kit-
tredge, David Bailey.
1753— Thus. Clark, Thos. ^fai-shall, John Chapman, Isaac Kittredge,
Joseph Frourh,
1754 — Lt. Wm. Brown, Dea. Juseph Kittredge, John Chapman, Isaac
kittredge, John Needhain.
1755 — Capt. Wm. Brown, Dea. Joa. Kittredge, Thod. Slarshalt, John
(.'bapman, laaau Kittredge.
1750— Wni, Kittredge, Jamea Hurdey, Stephen Osgoo«l, Jauies Tliorn-
ilike, K/.ra Kendall.
1757 — Tlios. Marshall, John t.'hnpman, Isaac Kittredge, John Need-
bam, .\bnibani Stlckney.
1758 — Th(>8. Mai-ahall, .\braham Stirkney, John Chapman.
17.VJ— Wm. Kittredge, Jamea Thurndike, Stephen OegiKKJ, Moses Wor-
ci?*fter, >izra Kendall.
1700 — Capt. Wm. Brown. Lt. Wm. Kittreilge, James Thorndike, Lt.
Stephen Oagood, Wm. Hunt.
17t'l— ''apt. Wm. Brown, Lt. Wm. Kittredgo, Lt. Stephen Osgood,
.lami's Tbonulike, Wm. Hunt.
170j -rapt. Wm. BriiM-n, Lt. Win. KittrrJgp, Lt. Stuphen Osgood,
Jahir-H Thorndike, Wm. Hunt.
' 17611— David Uailoy, Janiea Thorndike, William Hunt, Ezra Keudall,
' Mu.icrt W.tater.
I 17t;"i— William Kittredge, James Thorndike, Ezra Kendall, Wm.
I l!ro»n, Jr., Jnsepb Kidder.
' ITf'.t; — Aaron Ueaid, David Rai ley, Thunias MarHhall. Timothy Rogers,
Kdmiiad Fru.tt. .Ir.
17ti7— F,/ni Kendal, James Thormllke, En. William Brown, Capt.
[ .birt.-ph Kidder, .Sarg. Moses Wonter.
17ii8— Jiimes Tliorudike, Wm. Brown, Jr., KzraKindel, Moaes Woster,
' ( jit. Juei'ph Kiilder.
I l7i'>'J— Thomas Kittredge, Benj. Bnrt, RIdail Woster.
1770- Lt. Jonathau Shed, Ezra Kiudcll, Wjlliimi Urown, Jr., Beuja-
I luiu Hurt, John French.
j 1771 — John Needham, Lt. Jonathan Shed, Do". Francis Kittreilge,
! .lubu Fi'eiich, Jr., Jon.atbau Brown.
I 177:i— J.'hu Nt-eilham, Lt. Jonathan Shed (two weeks later Jacob
Shed cliusen lifth selectumu aud Jonathan Shed dlsmiafed, or rather the
I vuie ibottin;; him n^considered), Frauci^i Kittredge, Jonathan Brown,
I David Tnill.
177:;— Julin Needbam, William Bivwu, Jacob Shed, Xatb'. Clark,
Jnu'., KbiMi'. Whitleuiure.
I 1774 — John Needham, William Brown, Jonathan Brown, Ezra Kin-
' ilal, Eblad Wurcestor.
! 1775— Juhu Needham, Ezra Kindalt, Thomas Clork, John French,
! Jnu'., Suniuel Marshall.
I 1770— John Nee<lham, Ezra Kindal, Sam'. Marshall, Thomas Clerk,
I Ebene'. Whittemore.
1777— .lohn Needham, Ezra Kindall, Lt. Sam'. Marahall, Thomas
Clark, Nathi. Clurk.
1778 — Maj. Junathan Brown, Lt. Samuel Marshall, Aarou Beard,
Ezra Kindai, Newman Scarlett, (Mar. 10, chose Paul Thorndike fifth
Selectman).
1779— Newman Scarlett, Nathaniel Clark, Jacob Low, Ebenez'. Whitte
more, Uriah Grittin.
1730— Newman Scarlett, Ebeoezer Whittemore, En. Wm. Brown, Na-
thaniel Clark, Lt. Thomas Clark.
310
HISTORr OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
l"8l — Ndwrnan Scarlett, Wm. Browu, Ebeoezf. Whitteoiore, Xath'.
Clark, Tho*. Clark.
1782 — Newman Scarlett, William Brown. Col. Jon* Brown.
1783 — Newman Scarlett, Wm Brown, Col. Jona. Brown.
1784 — Newman Scarlett, Wm. Brown, Col". Jon*. Brown.
1785 — Newman Scarlett, Wra. Brown, Col". Jon*. Brown.
1786 — Newman Scarlett, Jonathan Brown, Esq., Wm. Brown.
1787 — Newman Scarlett, Joel Marshall, Joseph Kittridge, Thomas
Clark, Nathi. Clark.
1788 — Newman Scarlett, Wm. Brown, Jon*. Brown, Esq.
1789 — Jacob Shed, Jr., Jonathan Brown, Esq., Andrew Bordmun.
1790 — Newman Scarlett, Jacob Shed. Jr., Natb>. Clark.
1791 — Newman Scarlett, Wm. Brown, Israel Hunt.
1792 — Newman Scarlett, Israel Hunt, Joel Marshall.
1793 — Newman Scarlett, Jonathan Brown, Joel Marshall.
1794 — Newman Scarlett, Jonathan Brown, Samuel Worater.
1795 — Newman Scarlett, Jonathan Brown, Esq., L(. Samuel Woreter.
1796 — Newman Scarlett, Jonathan Brown, Samuel Worater, Capt.
Peter Hunt, Wm. Simonds.
1797 — Newman Scarlett, WilliLini Simonda, Samuel Wi. rater.
1798 — Newman Scarlett, William Simonde, Samuel Wurster.
1799 — Newman Scarlett, William Simuuds, Eldad Worater and Thomas
Clark, to fill vacancy by death of Newman Scarlett.
ISix) — Thomas Clark, Wiltium Slinonds, Eldad Worcester.
ISOl— Thomas Clark, Wm. Simonds. Eldad Worcester.
1802 — Samuel Worcester, Win. Siinoods, .lonathau Brown, Esq.
lyo3 — Jonathan Brown, Samuel ^V(»r^eBte^, Wm. Sinjonds.
lsn4 — Jonathan Brown, >aiuuel Wort'estfi-. Wm. ?hiionJs.
1805 — Wni. Siiiiondi, Lt. Tliomiw Clark, Ebeueztjr Heard.
laiKi— William Simoiitla, TIiuuihs Claik, Ebeiiezer Ufard.
lS07 — William Simonds, Thomaa Clnrk, Ebenezer Beard.
18U8 — William Simonda, Thoiiiaa Clink. Ebenezer Beard.
1S09 — Juaiah Brown, Wm. Simonds, Ebenezer Iteard.
18UJ — Josiah Brown, Wm. Simomls, Kbene/er Beard-
ISll — Josiah Brown, Wm. Simonds, Ebeuo/er Beard.
1812 — Josiub Brown, Herman Murshitll, Capt. Suntuel Hardy.
18i;t — Jusiab Brown Herman Marsbull. Sauiiiel Uurdy.
1SI4 — Joaiali Brown, Herman ."^larshull, Jonathan Clark.
1^15 — Joniab Brown, lleruian Alnrshall, Jonathan Clark.
iHhi — Josiah Brown, Herman Marshall, Jonothan (lark.
l3l7 — Josiali Brown, Herman Marehall, Jonathan (.'lark.
1S18— Josiub Brown, Herman Marshall, Jonathan ('lark.
IBIU — William Siinouda, William KogLTd, Joim Jaques.
182() — Josiab Brown, Wm. Kogerd, John Jaques.
1«21 — .lodiah Browu, Jonathan Clark, John Jacjiiea, Herman Mar-
shall, Peter Clark.
1822 — JoMiab Brown, Herman Marshall, (^apt. Dudley Marsten.
1823 — Herman Marshall, Capt. Dudley Maisten, Jnimlhan Clark.
18^4— Herman Marshall, Jonathan Clark. Jouatlmn Clark |2dK
1825— Josiah Brown, Wm. Rogers, Esq., Jonathan Clark.
I82i> — Josiah Brown, Jonathan Brown, Samuel Hardy.
1827 — Joaiab Brown, Jonathan Brown, Stephen Brown.
1828 — Josiab Brown, Aaron Mansur, Dudley Marsten.
1829— William Rogers, Jonathan Clark (2d!, Aaron Mansur.
1830 — William Rogers, Jonathan Clark (2d), Aaron Mansur.
1831 — William Rogers, Jonathan (.lark (2d), (George Brown.
1832— William Rogers, Jonathan Clark r_Ml, George Brown.
I8:i3 — Windsor Howe, Jonathan Clark (2d), George Brown, Job Kitt-
redge, Zephaniab Clark, Jr.
18(4 — John G. Moore, Enoch Foster, Benj. F. Spaulding.
183.^ — John G. Moore, Enoch Foster, Benj F. Spaulding.
1830- Enorh Foater, Jonathan Clark (2d), Caleb Livingstone.
1837— Enoch Foster, Jonathan Clark (2d), Caleb Livingstone.
1838 — Enoch Foster, Jonathan (."lark (2dt, Caleb Livingstone.
1839— Enoch Foater, Jonathan Clark (2di, Caleb Livingstone.
1840 — Enoch Foster, Jonathan (_'lark, Jr., Caleb Livingstone.
1841 — Enoch Foster, Jonathan Clark, Caleb Livingstone.
1842— Enoch Foster, Caleb Livingstone, Edward Kendall.
1813 — Enoch Foster, Caleb Livingstone, Edward Kendall.
1844 — Zephaniah (Mark, Jr., ,\aron Frt»st, Jr., Edward Kendall.
1846 — Zephaniah Clark, Jr., Edward Kendall, Henn,' A. Kittredge.
184(J — Zephaniah Clark, Jr., Edwai-d KendjiU, Caleb Livingstone.
1847— Benj. F. Spaulding, Edward Kendall, Caleb Livingstone.
1848 — Benj. F. Spaulding, Aaron Frost, Jr., George S. Tnttle.
1849— Leonard Huntress, Caleb Livingstone, Samnel Thompson.
1850— Leonard Huntress, Caleb Livingstone, Samuel Thompson.
1851— Leonard Huntress, Caleb Livingstone, Sumuel Thompson.
1852 — Leonard Huntress, Caleb Livingstone,' Aaron Frost, Jr.
1353— Aaron Frost, Jr., Henn.' E. Worcester, ("'harles Ballard.
1854 — Leonard Huntress, Henry E. \\oi-ce3ter, Benj. F. Spaulding.
1855— Benj. F. Spaulding. Thomas P. Mui-bhall. Charles M. Clark.
ISofi— Benj. F. Spaulding, Thouiiis P. .Marshall, Charles M. Clark.
1857 — Leonard Hnnlress. Charles M.Clark, Caleb Livingstone.
1858 — Leonard Huntress, Caleb Livingstone, Charles M Clark.
1859 — Leonard Huntress, Caleb Livingstone, Charles 5L Clark.
1800— B. F. Spaulding, Jesse L. Trull, Edward Kendall.
1861 — Leonard Huntress. Aaron Frost, Jr., Alvin Marshall.
1862 — Leonard Huntress, Aaron Frost. Jr., Alvin Marshall.
18(i3 — Leonard Huntress, Aaron Kru>i, deorgn Pillsliury.
1861 — Leonard Huntress, Aaron Frost. George Pillsbury.
1865 — Leonard Huntress, .\aron Froat, Je«e L. Trnll.
18G6 — Leonard Huntress, .\arori Fro5't, Euorli Fi.t>ter.
18r,7— B. F. Spaulding. Z. P. Foster, James M. Chandler.
lo08 — Leonard Huntress, ZeiibMuiab I*. Foster, Jitnie-' ."^1 Chaudler.
I86:i — Leonard Huntreos, Zephaniah P. Fo'itt-r. .I;i[ue-i M. Chaudler.
I87'i — Leonard Huntress, Zi-pliannth P. Fostt-i, James M. Chandler.
IsTl — Zephaniah P. Foster, JanirS M. I'handier, Samuel L. Allen.
1^7J — Samuel L. .\llen, LHvtx Kiu^r, .(-■bu < larii, i2il(.
1873 — Samnel L. .^llen, itren Fro?.t, Aaron I'r-'f^i.
IST4— Samuel L. .\llt>n, .Tolin Clark i-ilt, ('has. Linniistnne.
1»T''— Samuel L. Allen, CIuli. LiviTiir-ifMUe, John Clark i2d).
1»7<'<— Samuel L. .\lleu, L'bas. Li\ingBti>nc. J.<bti ( lark i-'di.
1.^77— Sumuel L. .\llen, Chu6. Li\ mii?iL'ne. J.^hn ( lark i jd).
1878— Samuel L. Allen. Chan, Livint,'si»'rif, .loliii Clark (-UK
1^7n — Knoch Foster, ('has. Livin;istone. liforiiL' W . Trull.
IftSii— tuoch Foster. Chas. Livinjrstoiie, <;f..r.:e W. Trnll.
l&f*l — liuoch Foater, I Miiife. Livuigpioue, ileoriit- W. Trull.
isSj — Enoch Foster, f'lius. Li\ingstone, Getirse M. Plumnter.
ls8o — Knoch Fostr-r, rims. Liviuf^gtone, Geo. 51 Phimmer-
1884 — Gforge M. Plummer. Geor;re K. Marshall, Jac-b L. Hnrtt.
lS>.sj_Wm. H. Lt-e, (George U. Mai^liiiil, Jacob I*. Iturtt
lSb6— William H. Lee, Geo. U, .Mai^ball. Jacob L. Burtt.
Is87 — Jacob L. Bunt, George .M. I'lumnier. Frank II. Farmer.
18P? — Jacob L. Burtt, Frank H. Faimei, Edward P. (.lurk.
18bt^— Jacob L. Burtt, Frank H. Farmer, Ed«nrd P. i.lark.
Is9(^— Jacob L. Burtt, Frank H. Farmer, .\lbert J. Trull.
TOWN THE.lSt &CKS of Ti:u K.= mr.T.
173,>-40, Nathan Shed; 1741-41. Wiiliiiiu Brown; l74'.-i:'., Thomas
Clark (Mr. Thomaa ^lur.tluill to fill up the vacancy of Mr. Thomas
Clark, late deceased); 17.''4-."'>, Tb'-mas Maislmll: 17V.l-(,;l, Aaron
Beard; 17t.4 ( No riCord\ Juliathan :^lit-ad ; 17.'i.. " Lt. Shead * — Jona-
than Shead ; I7ijt;, Ezra Kendal; 17r.7 (didn't svrvf, John Xeeilhani ;
l768-7ii, John Needliatn ; 1771, Ebent-zer Wliinmittre ; 177_", Aar( ii
Beard; 177:1-74, 'rtunnaa "Clerk ; 1776-Ti', Eben' \\ liittemore ; 1777-".<,
Lt. Sumuel .Mar.thall; IT79-ft4. Joel Mar^hall . \:>f}-:*t\ Jacob shed. .Tr.
(July 14, William Simouds. rice Treasurer, deceasedi; 179l-lsii(i, Wil-
liam Simonds; 18m1-<.i4, Ei'enezer Hunt; I8ii^-(ii;, Nathan BaJle> ;
1807-10, Samuel Thompson ; 1811-12, Jonathan Clark; 1813-14. .lohn
Chandler; 1815-18, Jonathan Clark ; ISl'i, William Kt.u'ers ; 1S20, Jon-
athan Clark; 1821, William Rogers; 1622, Hermon Marshall: 1&23,
John Jaques ; 1824, William Rogera ; l82"'-2>, Hermon Marshall ;
1829-31, John Jaques; 18.32-35; Job Kittred-e . lv;i.._:;s, William Hog-
ers; 1839-18, Zephaniah Clark, Jr.; l849-.'i7, William Rotrera ; l>5s,
Henry E.Preston ; 1859, Zephaniah P. Foster; ls<'j>-01. H. E. Preston ;
lS62-(i5, Oren Frost; 1866-67, Joniitliau Brown irtsigned) Au^st 12.
1S67 ; Enoch Foster appointed by selectiupn Auliusi 31, lSii7 ; 18iiS,
Euoch Foster resigns April Gth ; 186S, >amu»-l L. Allen appointed
by selectmen May Ist; 1869-72, Samuel L. .\llen , l87:J-70. Henry E.
Warner ; I85O, William H. Lee ; I8.sl-b3, Timothy W. (iniy ; lf'84, Wil-
liam H. Lee; 1885-00, Frank H. Farmer.
January 23, 1775, they '* voted and chose Jouathan
Brown a delegate for the Provincial Congress*, meeting
at Cambridge on the fir.^t day of February next En-
suing."
May 23, 1739-10, do representative; June, 1741-12 and 49, no repre-
sentative.
May 15, 1751, votes to send Representative. None the year en(>uing.
1752, '.M, '55, '58, '39, 'iW, 61, "06, no representative.
January 28, 1775, they voted and chose Jonathan Brown a delegate
for the Provincial Congress meeting at Cambridge on the tiret day o
February next ensuing.
TEWKSBURY.
ni
July U, ITT't, Ezni Kimlull chusuii.
May iJ, 1777, John Kliut cliuaeti, but refused to serve ; Ezrft Kimlel
•4penisU) have heen thiu chosen for 1778. For wiint of a precept the town
Jill uot acl upon the First Article iu the warrant to choose ii represenLi-
live.
Sept. U, l7Ts. no represeiititlve; >Iiiy Jl, 177'.i, '84, '80, uo represenUi-
live.
Dec, 1788, to chuse a Kep. to rep. ye |.eople in the (.'ougress of the
L'. S. 3t vote t'ur U. S. ottirers tbia year 17S8.
June 13, 1787, v. to f;ive their representative iustructionB.
KEPRESKNTATn ES OF TEWKSUUKV TO TMElKKaT AND liENEaAL COURT.
178u, Jouathao Brown; l78(>-9:i, Williaui Brown; 1784, none.
ITsJ, Wui. Browu , I78i;. none; 17.S7, Deacon Ezra Kindell ; 1788-Mii.
Wni. Biuwn ; K'Jl.none ; l''.rl, Mitchel Davice ; 17'.J;i-95, none ; 17'J0-;t7,
Joseph Wo.KlwHrJ ; 17'»M, n.-uc ; 17'j9, Willimu Simonds ; 18)H>, noue ,
18111, Williaui Siuiunds ; 180J-3, Uuue ; 1804, WilliHUi Simouds ; l8Ufi,
uone; lBiiO-7, William .Siuiunds ; !>*"?*, none ; l;<o'j, V\ illiiim Siinohils ;
iBliMri, Jease Trull ; lal7-l», uone ; l«l'J, Jesse 'Irull ; 18.;ii--l, none .
laj'i, Jeaoe Trull ; l82J--.i.'». none ; IS'^O. Jonathan Brown ; 18:^7, Uernioti
Maiihall ; \^-lii, ui>ne ; l.-iJ'.i, J.»siuh Bn.wn ; ls,;u, Juhu Janues ; Is^I,
Alpbens Smith ; I>:'.l- 12, Junuthan Clark i-'O ; IS^li. Isaai: Hohlen ; 183:1.
JouatbttU Clark rJd), Isnuc lIuMeu ; IS:i4~;r., nouo ; 18:16, Jonathan
i'lark (::d| ; IS:17, lapt. Aliel Fremh ; ls:i,x. Jonathan Bruwn ; iy;VJ-40.
Zephaniah Clark, Jr.. 1^41, EoocU Foster; 1»4^ Caleb LiviuRstone ;
K>4:J, Edward Kt-udatl; l>44'4u, uoue; U47-48, Rev. Jacub Cog^in ; ls4'.t,
Ooue . i860, Benj. F. SpuuldlnR ; IH'-I, Elijah M. IteeJ ; lr*oJ, Nathaniel
Trull ; ls.=i;i, Aaron Frosr, Jr.; 1^64, Uev. John E. Woud ; l»55-5ii, ooue.
Diatrict No. 22, Representative Billerica, Wilming-
tou and Tewk.sbury:
I337, 1'ana Holden. uf Billerira.
liiO?, Rev, Jacob < 'oK«iu, of Tewkobury.
Is09, Lemuel E. Eanicrs, of Wilmington.
Kepreaentiitivea to General l.'ourt from Tewkdbury,
22<l lJi^*trict, including also Billerica and Wilmington ;
IS'li-'i:;, lo-orjCH P. Eltlot, uf BIllHrica. District '22.
18fi:i, Joabnu Claik, of Tewkilmiy, iur Itisiiict ':-^.
ImM. Jotiufliaii Carter r^li, "i \\ ilmiiiuiun, liistrict 2-.
Uf,."., I.-s*.-*;. I>. Stt-aiii-. ol Bill.Tir.i. Di-tricl rJ.
l>i;(i. Uev. Hifbard T..liimn. ..f T..wk>hiiiy. LUslrift J'i.
Ifs'n, tieorKe C. Ciillniun. of BilliTn a, Ui^iru I JJ. I'imiii tins time rht-
• lintni-l imlndeil Billerica, Chtflinafonl and IVwksbiiiy.
\nr.s. hudl»*y Foster, of Billtiiica.
Iftiin. iluirl.!. iTorlor, of rhrlinsfoi.l,
l.'<7", Sylvt-ster S. Mill, ol Billeri<-;i
1.^71, LiUviri K. I'afkliiirst, of t liL-hiiatuiil.
1^7J. Alviu Mar:.hall, -.f T.-Mkshury.
l«7:i, Cuk'b .S. Urown. of Billerir.i,
1874, /ikaUr.iy. ol i ■belm.-f..rd.
187:', Albeit J. riuU, of Tfwkabury.
l.'^7(;, Jxhii Kiiov\Us. of Billeraa.
UistiicL No. I'.i, cuinistinu; <>I" Tewk-sbiiry, TynK^-
linroujrli, hr.icut and Clielinstoid :
lsT7, LiithtT II. Saiu'ent, of i helmsf.T'l.
Ih7>, Williitiii .Munriin:;, of rheluisforl,
I?«7'.f-''''. John W Peal*oJy,uf DniLMit.
IvHl. i:to>. h F..5ter. of TL-wksbnry.
L)istri<?t No. I'J, con.sisting <tf C'lielmsfoid, Draoiit,
Tewksuiiry and Tyng.-borough :
18ri'J, Eucxb Fo-ier, of Tewksbiiry.
l''!^!, Jffls** B. Biitteirield, ^>( Tyu^buro".
18"*, Elidha H. >haw, of i lielmafonl.
li?>;'., i'eiley F. Ferliam, of 'belmaiojd.
District No. 20, including Tewksbuiy, Chelmsford,
Billerica, Wiludngton and Noitb Reading:
l'^6ti--7. lieorge W. Trull, of Tewksbnry.
ls^a, EdwanJ M. Nichols, of WilniiuKton.
le&'j, Charles W.Flint, of Chelmsford.
SCHOOL C0MHITTBE8 OF TBWKSBtTRY.
1828— Rev. Jacob Coggin, Dea. Oliver Clark, Dr. Joseph BrD%ni.
1829— Rev. Jacob Coggin, Dr. Henry Kittredge, Samuel Fairbanks.
183(1— Rev. Jacob Coggin, Dr. Henry Kittredge, Samuel Fairbanks.
1831— Rev. Jacob Coggin, Dea. Oliver Clark, Job Kittredge.
1832- Btev. Jacob Coggin, Dea. Oliver Clark, Job Kittredge, Dexter
Bruce, Luke Eastman, Esq.
18;J3— Rev. Jacob Coggin, Luke Eaatmao, Edward St. La. Livenuore,
Joseph Bennett, Joseph Stuart.
1834 — Rev. Jacob C^^ggin, Oliver Clark, Henry Kittredge.
18:i5— Rev. Jacob Coggin, Oliver Clark, Henry Kittredge.
18;J6— Rev. Jacob Coggin, Dr. Henry Kittredge, Samuel Tbomp-
Hon, Esq.
18^7— Rev. Jacob Coggin, Jonathan Clark (2d), Benjamin F. Spauld-
ing.
1838— Rev. .Jacob Coggin, Dr. Henry Kittredge, Henry E. Preston.
1839— Rev. Jacob Coggin, Dr. Henry Kittredge, Henry K- Preston.
18441— Rev. Jiu-oh Coggin, Dr. Heury Kittredge, Dea. Oliver Clark.
1841— Honitio C. Merriam, Benj. F. Spanlding, Jabe/. .Stevens.
1842— Rev Jmob f.'oggiti, Charles Ballad, Jeremiah Kidder.
l^ll— Rev. Samuel Lani^on, John (J .Moor, Zoplinniah Clark, Jr.
Is44 — Peter Clark, Henry E. Preston, Henry A. Kittredge, Heuiy E.
W()rcester, .\bram Mace, »>reu Fri«t.
In45— Rev. Jacob Cugfrin, Rev. David Burroughs, Benj. F. Spaulding,
Ijeorge I. He.
I8lii — Uev. Jacob Coggin, Rev. Daviil Burroughs, Deuj. F. Spauldiiii- .
lS47— Rev. Mosea Kimball, Rev. Diivid Burroughs, Rt-v. Jacob Coi^-
gin.
1848— Rev. Mosea Kimball, Rev. David Burroughs, Rev. Jacob Cog-
gin.
1849— Rev. Jacob Coggin, Rev. David Burruugba, Rev. Moses Kim-
ball.
1g5i) — Rev. .lacob Coffgjii, Jonathan Brown, Leonanl Hnutrero.
1851 — Leonard Huntress, Rev. Jacob Coggin, Samuel Thouipsoo.
ls.'>2— Leonard Huntress, Rev. Jacob Coggin, Jouathan Brown.
18.53 — Jonathan Brown, Rev. Richard Tolniau, Joshua Clark.
18.VI — Rev. .Tohii K. Wu^hI, Rev. Richard Tolman, Jacob Coggin, Jr.
18.V.— Rev. RichanI Tolman, Rev. .Tohn E. Wood, Jacob i oggin, Jr.
]^-,(i — .lushiia Ctuik, Ikiij. F. Spaulding. Rev. Richard Tolman.
l»<,",7_Rev. Ki<!liard Toluian. JoMbini rimk, Lsmtc II, Meaurve, Peter
(*. Slu-d, Rev. Cliftou Fletcher, E. B. Fn-uch, Itenben A. Uptou.
Is.'.s — Rh\ . Richaid Tolman, I year ; Joshua ('luik, 2 years ; tJ^orge
i'illnbury, 3 years.
[r'A'j — Rev. Richard Tolman, 3 years.
lSi;4i— Joshua Clark, Leonard Huntress.
18I.I— AlviiiMarslmll.
lMJ2— William Grey.
Mari'b, l8i>3, voted that the School Committee do appoint a sniiorin-
elideut; voted his salary be SoU.
l^^■■;>— I'llney W. ('aldwell, '1 yeai-a ; James M. Cbau"ller, 1 year;
lieiirge Flllsbnry, 1 year; Henry E. Worcester, 3 ywim ; Joseph i'.
Lowe, -i yeai-H. .\pril 3, 1803, Thomas Bridge, School (.'ommittee for 2
years.
Man-h 7, 1804, voted that St-bool Committee consist of but three.
April :;, 18ivi, Wm. Grey, for 3 yean ; Geo. Pillsbnry, for 2 years;
Joshua F. French, for 1 year.
I.y06— Kichard Tolinan, JoHliua F French, fleiirge Pillsbnry.
^07 — Richard Tolmau, Joshua F. French, i.'eurge Pillsbury.
IHr.&— Rev. Richard Tolman, Rev. Clifton C. Fletcher, George Pilla-
bnrj'.
180H — R<-v. Richard Tolman, Joshua Clark, George Pillsbur>'.
I87ii — George Pillsbury, 3 years.
1:^71 — Jo&hua Clark, 3 years ; Rev. A. De F. Palmer, I year.
lf<72— Rev. S. F. French, 3 years.
1873 — F. >L Spaulding, Billerica.
I.'<74^ Joshua Clark, 3 years ; Rev. E. E. Thomas, 2 years.
la7j — ReT. 8. F. French, :: years.
Ia70— Joshim F. French, 3 yeare.
1^77— H. G. Pillsbury, :i years.
Is78— Rev. Ceo. T. Raymond, 3 yeare. Oct. 3, 1878. Wm. H. Lee
chosen in phice of tjeo. T. Raymond, rt^igned.
Is7;i— March, Rev. Edward W. Pridn, 3 yeara ; J. F. French, 2
yeara ; Wm. H. Lee, 1 year.
18WJ— Wm. H. Loe, :'. years.
1881— Joshua F. French, J years. July, 1881, Geo. W. Trull to till
vacancy by leoigna ion of J. F. French.
312
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
I8S'2— E. \''. Pride, 3 years; Larkin T. Trull (2cl), 2 >ears.
1S83— John F. Spaulding, 3 years.
18S4—LarkiD T. Trull (2d), 3 years. Sept. 1, ISS4, Woi. H. Lee Id
pliice of J. F. Sp'auldiog, resigned.
1S85— Mary F. Eastmao, 2 years ; .Albert C. Blaisdell, 1 year ; Chas.
A. Pillsbury.
1886— B«T. Edward W. Pride, 3 years ; Job d L. Fleming, 2 years ;
Benjamin Spaulding, I year.
1887 — Qeorge E. Livermore, 3 years.
1838 — William H. Lee, 3 years ; Albert S. Moore, 2 years.
1889— Rev. Edward W. Pride, 3 years.
1S90— Albert S. Moore, 3 yean.
Note. — For many of the facta connected with the alniahoufle in the
early part of this history the writer is under obligation to the superin-
tendent, C. Irving Fisher, M.D., for later years, and to Mr. Charles B.
filarsb, the clerk, for tbe earlier history.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
CAPTAIN JOHN TRULL.
Many names appear on the town record of men prom-
inent iu their tlay of whom I he [ire.'sent generation would
gladly know more. Such among other.s, are Nathan
Shed, Captain John French, .fohn Whiting, Tliomas
Clark, of the earliest time:-, Captain .loMhua Haldwin,
Dea. Ezra Kindell, who survived most all his genera-
tion, dyingat 97, Colonel .Timathan Brown, of the Revo-
lutionary periotl, and " Stjuire " Brown and William
.Symonds of late days, and others too nuuieroua to
mention. Ala-s, little but their names and graves re-
main e.tcept the record of the part they played in. the
liody politic.
Re.aders of this sketch will recall, however, the
nameof Captain John Trull, as often appearing, espe-
cially during the Revolutionary days. He was born
in Billerica in 1729, and dieil in Tewksbury, Oct. '>,
1791, aged (i2 years. His wife was Esther Wyman,
born in Woburn, 1740, a member of the family so cele-
brated in the history of that town. It was the house
of a Wyman which became the shelter for Adams and
Hancock on the great day of Le.'cington and Concord,
April 19, 1775. Captain Trull had a family of thir-
teen children, all of whom survived him except his
eldest .son John, who died in the public service in
Xew York in 1782 at the early age of 21 years. This
son is said to have enlisted in i-esponse to the earnest
and enthusiastic appeals of the Captain, his father,
for recruita as he drilled the company on the old
muster lield on Stickney Hill, now on the farm of
Jesse N. and Frank B. Trull. The young John
is described in the State muster roll dated 1780,
as 20 years ohl, five feet eleven and a half inches high,
having dark hair and gray eyes. The Captain had a
second John born a year after the death of the first,
who died in 1867, at the ripe age of eighty-four. How
near this brings Revolutionary days to the present
generation.
The widow of Captain John survived him till Dec.
21, 1831 when she passed away at the great age of
ninety-one years. She is well remembered by her
grandchildren, to one of whom, Mr. .Te.s>e Loring
Trull, the writer is indeb ted formally oJ these rem-
iniscences.
JESSE TP.ULL.
The fifth child of Captain John Trull, was Jesse
Trull a man of great public sjiirit. He was born
in Tewksbury, October 11, 1767, and died in his
native town December 20, 18.^3. Decide serving
the town in various minor offices he represented the
town nine years in the (! real and General Court be-
tween 1810 and 18.26, no representative being ?ent the
other years of that period. In connection with his
legislative experience the following incident, contri-
buted by his daughter, Mrs. .fidm Clark, illustrates
the man and the social life of his day. It was the
custom after his election for the successful candidate
to call together his townsmen and treat tht-m to toddy
and liquor. After his election one ye.".!'. ^Ir. Trull,
convinced of the injurious efiects ol the cii.-toni, de-
termined to honor it in the lirciiih. When his con-
stituency had assembled :is usual, he arose — tall and
dignified — and told them that he thought the custom
wrong and that his conscience wtjuUl not permit hirn
to give them another drop of liquor, but instead he
would give them a clock to be placed in the inside of
the new church. There was some complaining, hut
he was firm iu his stand for temperance. The clock
was presented, and is still ticking, a constant memorial
of his adherence to a cause then held in contempt.
It is significanlof the .social life of those days that Mr.
Trull was not agaiu electeil. Aiiother illustratiim of
the man and the times occurred when Mr. Trull un-
dertook the raising of his house. The friends and
neighbors were assembled, but no liquor w:!s forth-
coming. They refused to do a stroke of work till a
supply was sent for from " Squire Brown's " and fur-
nished to them. In those days this was the only way
of raising new buildings.
Mr. Trull, as already stated, served on the commit-
tee for building the new meeting-house in 1824, and
at the auction of the pews bid otf the one which sold
highest at $l?.''>, a round sum in those times. He was
also one of the committee which purchased the pres-
ent poor-farm.
Till quite late in life he attended and warmly su|>-
ported the church at the centre, but in the well-
known Knapp revival of 1842 in Lowell he, with a
large number of his family, was converted and united
with the First Baptist Church of that city. When
the Baptiot Church at North Tewksbury was founded
the ne.xt year he with his four sons and their wives
became the chief founders and supporters of that in-
terest. It was a time for sacrifice and self-denial.
He may be considered the ancestor to whom this
family traces its position in the community.
Mr. Trull was twice married, first to Mercy Griffen,
who died in 1797, and then to Olive Thorndike, with
'"^^^^# ' -
TEWKSBURY.
313
whom he speut a happy and respected old age. By
his first wife he left a daughter, Mrs. Mercy Trull
Foster, who died in 1880. The following were the
surviving children of his aecond marriage: Mr. John
Trull, of Boston, in his eighty-ninth year; Mr. Her-
bert L., a public-spirited man, died 1882; Deacon
Nathaniel Trull, the first deacon of the Baptist
Church and representative of the town to the Legis-
lature of 1852 ; Mr. Jesae L. Trull and Mr. Larkin T.,
and one daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth R. Clark, all of
Tewksbury.
Mr. Jesse Trull was of the old New England type,
an indefatig.able worker, abounding in enterprise and
energy, whose character and judgment were held in
respect by the town.
The writer is indebted to Mr. J. C. Kittredge, of
Gardner Road, Brnokline, for the following sketch of
his father. Mr. Kittredge was descended from one of
the oldest families in town. The ancestor, John Kitt-
redge, was educated in England (from whence he
came) in a liberal manner. His son. Doctor John
Kittredge, was probably the first male child born in
the present Tewksbury in 1665-6, January 24, in
a house which contends with the old Hunt home-
stead xs being the oldest in town. He was buried in
the .South L'eiuetery, and his tombstone ha.s this in-
scription: "Here Lye? the body of Doctor John
Kiterig, who Departed This Life April the 28, 1714,
in ye 49th year of his age."
JEREMI.VH KITTREDIiE.
Jeremiah Kittredge was born at the old home-
stead, opposite Round Pond, September 5, 1796,
anrl died in Boston, November .i, IS'iri.
He w.is the eldest son, and second of five children
of Jeremiah and Ann.'ih Kittredge.
The family is one of the oldest in Billerica and
Tewksbury, John Kittredge, an ancestor, having been
one of the first settlers of Billerica in 16.52.
When Mr. Kittredge was a boy the youth had no
such opportunities for education as are to be had
uow, for teachers were but imperfectly trained, .and
terms were very short.
He remained with his father until he was twenty-
one years of age, and then started forth, with twenty-
five cents in his pocket, and walked to Charlestown,
for employment. He entered there the grocery store
of Skinner & Herd, where he remained several years.
He was faithful to his employers then as always,
and did his best; by serving them he served himself;
and good habits, with diligence and frugality, were
not wanting. After a proper apprenticeship he,
with a young man by the name of Wyman, in the
same store, established themselves in the grocery
business, opposite the Boston and Maine depot, near
the junction of Haverhill and Charlestown Streets.
The venture was successful, and, after a few years,
the firm was dissolved.
Mr. Kittredge then moved to the corner of Han-
over and Union Streets, the subsequent site of Rev.
Dr. Neal's Baptist Church, now occupied by the
Blackstone National Bank. A wholesale importing
business was carried on here; and that he might
extend it, vessels were built for the purpose of
importing.
These were sent to the West Indian ports, Jeremie,
Jacmel, Saint Thomas and other places in the West
Indies, as well as to the Baltic ports.
The principal vessel was the barque Lexington,
built on land in South Boston, purchased for the pur-
pose. Manufactured goods and groceries were ex-
changed for cotton, logwood, mahogany, cotfee and
other commodities.
After staying in this store till about 1835, he
moved to an office situated on the north side of Com-
mercial Street, where he remained until his death.
Here he extended the business, adding naval stores
to the otherwise many interests. Camphene (a burn-
ing riuid popular at the time) was invented by him,
and from which the returns were lucrative. In this
part of the business he associated with himself several
partners, mostly relatives, whom he in this way bene-
fited, as well as being helped by their etficient ser-
vices. He possessed that characteristic of genius,
namely, the power of selecting subordinates well.
The naval-store department brought him into inti-
mate relations with Southern people, whose acquaint-
ance he found agreeable and friendly. Spirits of
turpentine, tar, pitch, rosin and all that is found in
that connection were manufactured and sold by him.
Ft can be readily seen, from what has been written, that
the business was extensive, and one that could have
been invented and conducted only by a superior man ;
one gifted extraordinarily in a commercial way.
He was essentially, and to the heart's core, a man
of business. His aim was single, and he pursued it
with unswerving energy. Fond of literature and sci-
ence, he could only gratify his taste for them by at-
tending lectures, on account of the limited leisure at
bis disposal.
He never entered political life, not accepting even
of a public business trust, although solicited to do so;
his known integrity and mercantile ability making
him a ver}' desirable candidate for such a position.
He was one of those many self-made men found in
New England and elsewhere, the fruits of whose toil
seem to put to shame many who have been favored
with far greater advantages.
In those days mercantile enterprises were attended
with more risks and trials than at present, although,
competition was not nearly as great. Fire insur-
ance, for one thing, was not as general or effective as
now. Mr. Kittredge met with several losses from the
consuming fiend. When he began his career, and in-
deed until the time of his death, Boston was a much
smaller, and a very different place from what it is at
the present day.
314
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
He lived in the days of Webster, Clay and Calhoun,
and died previous to the great Civil War earthquake,
but not before the signs of the times were pointing
toward such an awful event.
In 1843 he purchased from the other heirs their
rights in the homestead property in Tewksbury ; and
in 1854 he removed the old house, which had stood
since early in the eighteenth century and built the
capacious structure, with barn, at present standing.
It was his intention to make Tewksbury his sum-
mer residence, but unfortunately death came before
he had an opportunity to do so.
Mr. Kittredge was twice married ; first to Miss
Lydia Wood, of North Tewksbury, October 19, 1824,
and to Jliss Clarissa J. Chapman, of his native town,
also, October 19, 1842. From the first marriage there
were three children, two daughters and one son ; and
from the next, two sous, George Albert and Jeremiah
Chapman ; of the entire family, the last name alone
survives.
LEOX.\R[) HKNTRES.'i.
Although not a native of this town, no man wa-^i
better known to the pre.'<ent generation than Leonard
Huntress. Born at Rochester, N. H., November 22,
1811, his boyhood was spent in Portsmouth, of thai
state, where he learned the trade of printer. On
attaining his majority, 1832, Mr. HuntreM< came to
Lowell, and was employed in the office of the Lowell
Mercury. The year following he married Miss Lydia
Anne McKiniion, of PorLsraouth, N. H., with whom
he spent nearly fifty happy years.
In 1834 he purchased a half interest in the Mercury
and afterwards, in partnership with Daniel H. Knowl-
ton, l)0ught the Lowell Weekly Jourtml, and united ii
with the former paper. This firm. Huntress &
Knowlton. on January ti, 1830, started the Lowell
Courier, which appeared as a tri-weekly until 184.'j,
since which date it has been published as a daily. A
year after the start of the Courier, Mr. Knowlton re-
tired, and Mr. Huntress published the paper aloue,
with the assistance of several able citizens as succes-
sive editors until 1842, when ill-liealth caused him tc
dispose of it. For some eight years Mr. Huntress
engaged in business, but in 1850 was elected to the
Board of County Commissioners, on which he served
most of the time as chairman, till 1876.
In 1842 Mr. H. removed to his farm at North
Tewksbury, which continued to be his home till his
death, July 19, 1885, at the age of seventy-four years.
For over thirty years Mr. H. held in Tewksbury
prominent positions in its public and social life. He
was fifty-three times moderator of town meetings,
nineteen of which were annual. From March, 1861,
to November, 1869, be was elected to his position
twenty times in succession which period included the
war years. Seventeen times he was chairman of the
Board ofSelectmen, serving in that capacity during
all the war, and also as recruiting officer. Mr. H.
also served on the School Committee for sevtr.il
years .and was frequently elected to minor otfici.Tl
positions. The town records and the preceding sketch
of Tewksbury, show the service he rendered the town
and the estimation in which he was held. Mr. H.
also was for the period of its existence, eleven years,
trial justice of the court at the almshouse. After his
retirement through failinghealth, Mr. H. found enjoy-
ment in the work of his fine farm and in those literarv
pursuits in which he had taken a warm interest all
his life. He was a fine reader, and the aid of his voice
was often sought in social entertain men Ls.
Genial, hospitable, courteous, commaudiug in
presence, equable and tender, Mr. H. was a fine
specimen of the Christian gentleman of the nld
school, a type too rare in any comniunity.
As an illustration of a kind of work be was doiriLr
through life in settling disputes and estates, the
two last years of his life all'ord an example. He
spent the leisure of that period in the employ of the
Locks and (,'anals (J'ompany in adiu>ting the (bimagf^
to owners of land on the banks of the .Merrimac,
caused by the raising of the Ha^h boards at the chim.
This work involved a vast amount of labor, and re-
iiuired no ordinary tact and address, but was
accomplished to the perfect satisfaction of the claim-
ants for damages and of the company.
In early life Mr. H. was a very prominent member
of .'^t. Paul's Church, Lowell, in building whose
edifice he took an active part. In later years he was
a constant worshipper in the Liaptist Church, North
Tewksbury.
His surviving children are, Mr. Frank Huntress,
of Boston, Mass., Dr. Leonard Huntress, of Lowell,
and Mrs. George Dyer, of Wiusbinctoii, L>. C.
OLIVKK Rl(H.\l<l>.SON ri AKK.
Dliver Richard.son Clark was born on the old
homestead in North Tewksbury, .March 16, ISl'.i.
His birth[)lace, the home of his brother, l)eacon
Joshua Clark, is part of the celebrated U'inthrop's
Farm which now includes tlie homestead of the
Hunts, (Marks, Fosters and others. The Clark family
is decended from the noted second minister of
Chelmsford, the Rev. Thomiis Clark, whose great-
grandson, Deacon Thomas Clark, came to Tewksbury
about the year 17-14, and appears frequently in the
lists of town oflicers. He was town treasurer for nine
successive years. Indeed the years are lew when a
Thomas, or Joshua, or Oliver Clark is absent from
the town records.
O. R. Clark was educated in the common schools
of Tewksbury, except one terra, which was spent in
Phillips Academy, .\ndover, and two terms at
j Warren Academy, Woburn. Through life Jlr. Clark
enjoyed reading of the solid and also lighter kinds.
He began life as a shoemaker and cutter of shoe
stock, but soon entered the business firm of Cutter Ji.
Co., Boston, dealers in mahogany and other fancy
TEWKSBURY.
315
wooda. His energy and tact soon secured advance in
this relation till after a few years he became a
partner in the concern. Having married a daughter
of the senior member of the firm, Miss Julia Ann
Cutter, on Mr. Cutter's retirement Mr. Clark became
chief partner, a position he retained till his death
March 6. 1S87.
Mr. Clark was prominent in political life. An ab-
olitionist in early life, he became an ardent Repub-
lican on the formation of that party, to which he ever
remained warmly attached. For many years he
lived in Winchester, where he was one of the select-
men for ten years, one of the School Committee
for seven years, many times moderator, and treasurer
of the cemetery twenty year.". In 1859 he represented
the Sixth Middlesex district in the House of Repre-
sentatives. Pie was a member of the Massachusetts
Senate in 1861, and again in 1864. In the latter year
it devolved upon him, as senior member, to call that
body to order, and preside until a presiding oflBcer
was chosen. Gov. Clifford appointed Mr. Clark a
justice of the peace in 1853, which office he held un-
der successive governors till his death.
Mr. Clark returned to Tewksbury in 1872, and there
was prominent, xs the otlicial list shows, in town af-
fairs.
He was a devoted member of the Cougregationalist
denomination, joining the church in early life. For
fifteen years he was superintendent of the Sunday
School of the First Congregationalist Church, Win-
chester, and for many years be served the Tewksbury
school in the same capacity. The title of " Deacon
Clark," by which he was generally known in town
came to him from having held that office in the Win-
chester Church eiglileen years.
Besi^les filling many minor offices, Deacon Clark at
his death was one of the vice-[)resident3 of the Mer-
rimac Valley <.'ongregational Club, and from 1S86 one
of the trustees of the State Alm.^house, Tewksbury.
Unbounded energy, sterling Saxon sense, an in-
domitable will, a very -sociable nature, strict integrity
in business relations, ardent devotion to temperance
and relorm, these are among the prominent traits ol
one whom his associates found a kind and genial
neighbor and obliging friend.
THOMAS JEFFERSON MARSH.
Captain Marsh, as hosts usually called him, wa.«
born March 7, 1805, in Exeter, N. H., where he ob-
tained the title as captain of a militia company.
There he learned, and in various places practised the
trade of shoemaking. He resided successively in
Amesbury, Lynn and Boston, but in lSo3 he removed
to W^altham, his home for several vears.
The greater part of his life was spent in public of-
fice and he w.is identified with some of the most im-
portant movements of the time.
For nearly twenty years he was in the Boston Cus-
tom-house in various positions. In 1855-56 he was
State Treasurer of Massachusetts. In early life Mr.
Marsh was a Democrat of the Jefferson stamp. Natu-
alrly when the Republican party was born, he became
one of its ardent and permanent adherents, and was a
delegate from the old Banks district to the convention
which in 1856 nominated John C. Fremont, the first
Republican candidate for the presidency.
In 1857 Mr. Marsh took an active part in the polit-
ical life of Kansas. He played it in a manner of
which so good ajudge as Mr. F. B. Sanborn wrote in
the Springfield Republican, " his Kansas experiences
. . . were creditable to him and should not be for-
gotten."
Capl. Marsh went to Kansas at the suggestion of
Senator Wilson and George L. Stearns, then chairman
of the State Kansas Committee of Massachusetts.
His mission is thus well described by Mr. Sanborn •
" The following letter discloses his errand:
" (JHARLES RoBlN^oy, ESQ., LawrencH, K. T.;
'* Dear Sv — By the adrice of Hon. Henry Wil80n,'who returned from
KuDSafl but a short time eince, we have raised a small sum to assist the
Free State Party in the coming election, and bare engaf^ed Thomas J.
.^larsh, who will hand you this, to go to Kansas as our agent. This let-
ter of Instructions to him will inform you of our plans, and we trust he
will be able to render you etncient aid in procuring such an organiza-
I tion of the Free State as will enable them to vote down the bogus con-
I Htitutioo, if submitted to the decision of the people of the teiritory ; but
in any event to take possession of the territorial legislature in October
I next. Mr. .Marsh will remain ia Kansas uutil the October election, if
i hi can be of any use to you.
j Truly yours,
Oeobue L. Ste&bns.
Bottuu, June :iO, 1857.
I "This letter was written in the same week when
' Abraham Lincoln made a Kansas .speech at Spring-
Held, 111., in which he said: 'Xothing but bold,
wicked despotism has ruled in Kansas since it was
organized into a territory'. Let slavery sweep over
the territories and God will sweep u* with a brush of
fire from this solid globe ! The ' small fund ' of
; which Mr. Stearns spoke became about $4000, and
; was raised, chiefly in Boston, by Henry Wilson, Mr.
Stearns and other anti-slavery men. It was judi-
ciously used by Mr. JIarsh, and the result was, in
October, 1857, a territorial legislature chosen by good
majorities, which was controlled by the Free State
I men."
! While in Kansas he acted for part of the time as
adjutant general.
Shortly after his return he was appointed superin-
tendent of the State Almshouse in Tewksbury. This
was in early summer of 185S. He soon brought its
I affairs out of the "chaotic condition" in which he
found them and began the constant improvement
which has continued in and around that institution
to the present day. .A farm of which the Boston
I Advertiser said that an equal number of acres at the
bottom of Boston harbor would be more arable was
gradually changed into a state of productiveness and
' comparative beauty. His government of the indigent
316
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACIIUSKTTS.
and sick committed to his oliarge revealed liia posnea"
sion of the rare gift of discipline without the appear-
ance of disciplining.
From early manhood Mr. Marsh was a member of
the Baptist Church. Among his brethren he held
many official trusts and filled many positions retjuir-
ing tact and delicacy. He bore the office of deacon
in the old Rowe Street Church during a part of Dr.
Baron Stow's ministry, and afterward the same office
in the church at Waltham. He was an enthusiastic
friend of Christian missions and of all benevolent
work, and in his church and among tlie brethren had
the reputation so rare of being " too generous." Capt.
Marsh left the Institution at Tewksbury after over
twenty-five years as superintendent, during which
time it is estimated that over -^"2,000,000 of the State's
money passed through las hands in a manner which
allowed so good a judge as General and then Gov-
ernor Butler to declare of Mr. Marsh " I believe you
are an honest man."
After leaving Tewksbury Capt. Marsh returned to
hi.s native town, Exeter, N. H., where, after a brief
period of repose, he died February 27, IS'^S, aged
almost 83 years.
Genial, equable, impressively unselfish, jicraua'-ive
in manner and speech, idolized by his family, loving
and lovable, Mr. Marsh personally illustrated these
words :
" I live for those who love nie,
For tho8e who know me iriie.
For the llearen ihut Bmilos ubova me,
And awaild my spirit loo;
For the muse tbiit lacks amistauce,
For the wroliR I hat claiuis residlunt-e,
For the ^^Ffiit hope in the (Ji.-^tiiDL-e,
And the good thiit I L-an do."
.MAKY F. EA.ST.MAy.
For the pa.st twenty years Tewksbury has been
honore<l as the home of one of the well-known laborers
in the great cause of the elevation of woman — of one
who has been the subject of many euloginms from
pnlpit and press — of whom Colonel T. W. Higgiiison
has said : " If you want to know what I mean by a
clear and satisfactory utterance, hear Miss Mary F.
Eastman lecture."
Mlss Eastman has not only found a field on the
platform but in the pulpit also has uttered her mess-
age with wide acceptance in " sweet and helpful
words," aa the Rev. Robert Collyer said of one of her
sermons.
The writer ia indebted to ili.is Helen Eastman tor
this brief sketch of her sister's life :
JIary F. E.istman, daughter of Gardner R. and
Mary Eastman, is a native of Lowell, Ma.ss., but has
resided in Tewksbury for many years. Her earlv
school training was in the Lowell high school, fol-
loweil by seminary and Normal school coui-ses. Jt
was with keen regret that she then found all New
England college doors closed to her sex, and she
turned to the only other school of education open to
her — the teacher's profession. To this work she de-
voted herself as to a beloved art. She taught in the
high and normal school for girls, Boaton, then at so-
licitation of Hon. Horace Mann, she went to Dhio ro
aid in the work of education which he had uiiiler-
taken at Antioch College, and remained until Uis
death.
About this time, in pursuance of Mr. JIann's rec-
ommendation she was solicited by MiuisterSarniiento,
then representing the Argentine Keiuililic in this
country, to lake charge of the great work, since so
successfully carried on there, then in its iiueption, of
introducing into the South .\nioric,in l{ppublic a sys-
tem of schools substantially as it had been developed
in New Englanil. Though niiich impelleii after .Mr.
.Mann's .leath, to carry oui his desires, Miss Eastman,
after due consideration of her youth and ine.xpcrience,
declined the important work. Returning to New
England she took charge of the Female I)e|)aninent
of the Lowell High School, her. VlniaJfater, uliicli had
nearly two iinndrcd pupils. Ailer lour years service,
she resigned to take charge of a M^niinary lor voung
ladies at Meadville, Pa., where she rcmaiiicil seven
years. ^V'hiie there .Mi.ss Kastnian was invited to ail-
dress thestudentsof the MradviilcTheolojrical Sclionl
stating her views on the mooieil (|iicstion ol' woman's
claim to the ballot. The outcome of this lecture was
a change of work, and she entered the leetiire-fielil
in support of educational, politic:il, and other reforms
— with lectures on travel and on literary topics, meet-
ing with most cordial reception from the public.
She has in the p.xst few years prepared the biogra-
phy of Dr. Dio Lewis and eontriluites the sertion on
History of the Education of Women in the Eastern
Slates, to a forthcoming viduine on " Woman's Work
in America."
Miss Eiistman since her resi.lence in Tewksbury has
cherished a warm interest in the welfare of the town.
.Although leading a busy public life she li.as served
on the school committee and has generously afforded
her aid in establishing the Public Library and the
Village Improvement Association.
WATERTOWN.
zr,
CHAPTER XXIX.
^-ATERTOn'y.^
BY SOLON F. WHITNEV.
MiiUiiCtil Pi:rioil—(lro-iriiili}—Phfjti::al fe.idirM <•/ Hit Landi Within lit
Aiiri-'ilt Bntnid'trnF— lgri>itllriyiit rhtirncter of the Pt-ple.
Til" r.'lli.irms ■ tribiitiiiris fi :i liWofr uf llils .mcienl Iowd are the
re:*MU of ti iiiovenipnt rtrpiitjy ni:i(Je to oHt.'tblirth ti [IlbtoricHl SofiPty cf
WiitPrtiiivn. TIiH secr'-tiiry -jt tUU yuiidg s.H;K'*y is the editor of Ihw
. .■[le.tiun '"f .utiLl-.'H. tlip (aulCi of \\hi<-li ho rheeitdlly riadertakes to
bhoiililor, while the iiionts ho ;.-nitefiilly cretlits to tlio sevenil writore.
The eilitor is more iin-I more iiii[tieiweii with the fiiot tlmt very iiiiifh
of ;:real iiiterent to the liisloru-al student hits heen coiinectrd with the
peopio of this toivD, many of whom, although ncattered in diHerent
parta of the i-<»iinti-y still >lvli-^lit, like dutil'iil children, to i-efec to old
\\'atert"wn as the sioiri-e fioni vvbirh they deriveil itierts of penwnul anil
niiiniriiial inilopen'letice, ..f correct moral and relii;ioiis teiiehing, of
thrift .ind industry, which have hceii of service to theiD wherever they
have heen l..cali'd.
N.d all kii..wl.il-e i- of e.|iial worth. Not all seed plodilccB fnlil
W'Oth the nii'iMj;. If valnalde eienieiils of character have been matured
in llii.-idd town, lirr-t plante-l hy MrKichard Sultonstall, hlessed hy the
true, iiidependent, I'od-fearitit: pais lieor^e I'hillips, ami continued
hy a loy.il poslerily, it must he id' M-rvice to uthen*, and pO an lionor to
any to li.iiiil Iv'Wii the nicniory of it to future generations.
T',1 [•liiily and preserve the memory of all that him heen or may he ol
n>e 1,1 olliers from the wide domain of ancient Walertown, is the pur-
pofc o( ihi.! Historical Sic-iety. rioLo.N F. Whitney, Srr.
Tlir. liisiory of Watertowa is important, aa it i.>
the oiliest town now in tlie county, tiiu town which
iia.s lolunizeil .so niiiny other towii.s, and wliieh, from
iiri [ifi'tiliar iiicU'iienilenl character and [losition, has
served as a tvpieal town in the organization of the
state.
MYTiiif.vr, I'KRion. — Tliat tiie Norsemen colonized
leeiainl and the sonlh-wcsiLMn shores of fireenhind
live or six leiitiiries lielore the voyiifres of Columbus
i» a iiiatliT of hi-.iory. Tha' the chiiin.s of the fsagas
that their hold stiilors reacheil the shores <>( Labrador,
of XewCoundland, of Nova Scotia and New England
seems hardly iiuredible. Iceland is distant from
Norway some ilo" miles, fiom Scotland and the .Shet-
l.ind Isles alioiii .'h"! miles, while from Greenltind
only about loii iiiiies. The vessels and the seaman-
shi|i that eiuililed the hardy Norsemen to cro.s.s from
Norway to Iceland in frniueiil voyages, would have
eiiiibled them, with the aid of the southern currents
which iiour out of liallin'.s liay along the coast of
Labrador and over the banks of Newfoundland and are
well marked along the coast of Nova Scotia tind Maine
inside of the (.iiilf Stream as far south as Cai)e Cod,
to visit these New Kiiglaiitl shores. There can be
little doubt but ihat the many vaL'iie stories of the
Sagas have under them facts ticcomplished which the
more definite language of a later period would have
lixed with siicb miuiiteness of dates and measure-
ments and cnrcful details as to have changed the
mvths to veritable history. It may be mere myth,
iCopyiijht Is^", iiy.soh'ii F. Whitney.
or theory, or the faith of a dreamer that makes
Watertown the chief settlement of these ventnre'
some navigators, and the seat of a commerce in wba*
seemed to the Icelanders and the people of th«
north of Europe wonderful growths of gnarled wood
and vines. We have not space in this brief sketch
of the history of this town, so favored by nature, so
neglected as yet by man, for more than this mere
allusion to the claims of new discoveries in tlijs^
direction by Professor Horsford iu his remarkabf*
communication to the American Geographical &«-
ciety made the last year. What is po.ssibly true it,
may be difficult to prove by incontestable evidence.
If true, some remains of grave, or utensil, or arms,
or armor, will yet be found, though one may doubt
if iron or wood would endure the changes of this
climate nearly a thousand years to bear witness to
foimer owners.
Stone walls and dams and e;scavations may yet
establish the faith of the builder of the lower to the
Norumbega of the early French and English navi-
gators, said to have been in the Vinland ot the Norse-
man, and possibly that the mythical city that figures
on so many early maps may have been located where
now are the wharves and streets of this Watertown,
by the head of tide-water on the river Charles.
Even if the location of the ancient and almost
mythical Norumbega in this town is a mistake, it has
already invested these slopes with a wonderful
poetic interest, and will lead many an investigator
to turn the soil with more care and to examine the
surface of the earth with the hope of possibly
tracing the footsteps of former Scandinavian inhiibii-
ants. Even if the truth of these earlier navigators
to priority of discovery to these northern New Eng-
land shores should be well established, it would not
detract from the honor due to the bold Columbus,
whose faith led him to find the West India Isbinds,
even again.st the derision of his most faithful follow-
ers. What Prof. Horsford claims to be so far estab-
lished, he is abundantly able, with a wealth of
illustration and typography and nuotation from early
writers and a good appearance of logical reasoning,
to show.
Indians.— When our early settlers came to occupy
these banks, there seemed to be a well established
village of Indians near the falls at the head of tide-
water. That the highlands along the banks from
Cambridge cemetery nearly to Watertown bridge had
been for a long time the dwelling-place of Indians
engaged in fishing seems to be attested by the abund-
ance of Indian remains found in the soil in the shape
of stone implements of various kiuds, aa well as in
some places eviileuces of Indian graves. One can
repeat the answer of Thoreau with hope of finding
equally good illustrations anywhere along these
banks. When, on the shores of Walden Pond, he was
asked where one could find Indian remains, he
said "Anywhere, if one has eyes to see," as he
318
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY. MASSACHUSETTS.
poked out of the soil, with his foot, some Indian
arrow-heads.
GEorjR.vpmcAL Location and Limit.s. — Water-
town is pleasantly located, for the most part on the
north bank of the Charles River, between Cambridge
on the east and Waltham on the west. A portion of
the town opposite the principal village lies on the
south side of the river, next the garden city of New-
ton; while on the north it has Belmont, which sepa-
rates it from Arlington. At present of very limited
area, almost the smallest town of Middlesex County,
it has Mount Auburn Cemetery, of one hundred and
thirty-six acres, on its southeastern corner, and the
United States Arsenal, occupying one hundred acres
of its southernmost border, stretching along for a
half-mile on the bank of the river. It is most com-
pactly built about the falls, at the head of navigation
of the Charles River, about eight miles from Boston,
with which it is connected by a branch of the
Fitchburg Railroad, by a branch of the West End
Horse Railroad by the way of Cambridge, and by the
main line of the Albany Railroad, a station of which
is within a half-mile of the town hall. This latter
station, although not within the town limits, greatly
accommodates her peo|)le wishing to go to the westerly
or southern portion of the city of Boston, or westward
along the Albany Railroad, or southerly along the
Old Colony Railroad or its branches. The town is
at present only about three miles in length from
east to west, and scarcely a mile in width.
It was not always so insignificant in area. The
history of its location, of its boundaries at different
times, of its successive losses in territory and of the
causes which led to these changes is interesting and
instructive, and may form a fitting introduction to a
larger history.
Sir Richard Saltonstall, Rev. Geo. Phillips, and
their companions, of whom we shall speak later, soon
after their arrival from England, and the removal of
the colony from Salem to Charlestown, probably be-
fore the middle of July of 1630, went up the Charles
River,,and, having found a suitable landing and con-
venient fields for agriculture, brought thither their
servants, their cattle, of which they had liberal store,
and their goods, and began a settlement, which after-
wards (September 7th) was, by vote of the Court of
Absistants, called Watertown.
The vote — " It is ordered, that Trimountaine shall
be called Boston ; Mattapan, Dorchester ; and the
towne upon Charles Ryver, Watertown.''
The location of this landing is with little doubt the
same as that which continued for many years to be
the town landing, shown on the map in the archives
of the State, in the secretary's office, — the map of 1712.
This landing, known more recently as Gerry's Land-
ing (also called in old records and deeds as " the
landing," "Oliver's landing," and "landing near
Samuel's hill"), is below Mt. Auburn and the Cam-
bridge Cemetery, near the present location of the
, Cambridge Hospital. It has been made quite noted
by being selected as the most probable site of Liefs
houses, by Professor Horsford in his cl.iiiii that here
the Northmen landed, more than si.x hundred years
before the foundation of this Colony. However that
may be, the reasons given by the professor fur this
particular landing-place for the Northmen are good
a ^r/or; reasons why Sir Richard Saltonstall should
select this spot for his landing. Traditions and all
the indirect evidences of history also point to this
spot as the landing, and the immediate vicinity as the
location of the settlement which, we have seen, early
received the name of Watertown.
It is well to dwell a little on this point, as it is the
key to much given in connection with the early his-
tory. The city of Cambridge in 1S83 appointed a
committee of the Board of Aldermen, who made, the
ne.tt winter, an exhaustive report on Gerry's Landing,
accompanied with plans and authorities which places
the subject beyond (juention.
"The landing was the original town-landing for
Watertown, and, with the way leading from it, is
mentioned in the early records of the town soon .Titer
its settlement in liJSO, and continued a part of Water-
town till annexed to Cambridge, April 19, 17ri4, in a
grant of the (.reneral Court of the Province of Massa-
chusetts Bay.'' It was here on the banks of ilie liver
that Sir Richard Saltonstall selected the site of his
future home, to the north and east of the landing, on
land now owned in part by the Cambridge Hospital.
In the Watertown Records, Division of Lands, [>.
98, quoted as above, is the following : " Sir Richard
Saltonstall, 1, one housestall of sixteen acres by esti-
mation, bounded the north-east with Thomas Brigaii
(Brigham) and Robert Keie, the South-east with the
river, the south-west with the highway, and tht- north-
west, George Phillips, granted him."
When we come to consider the persons who com-
posed the earliest band of settlers of the town, their
minister, their buildings, church and houses, we .shall
find that here, on territory now no longer u part of the
territory of Watertown, w.a? located the t'urn which,
with the exception of the sea-ports, Charlestown ;(nj
Boston, and the probable exception of Dorchester,
antedates all other towns in the Massachusetts Bay
Colony, and which, from its inland situation and its
being the open door to all the country beyond, was
"a hive from which swarmed the people who settled a
large part of the rest of New England," from which
have gone out continually men and women to become
famous in all parts of this bro.ad nation.
To repeat, for the sake of emph;i.sis, the " Town "
ot Watertown of li)30, '31, and perha|>s ':1J was no
part of the Watertown of to-day. The location is
swallowed np in Cambridge.
The Bouxi's of Watertown. — Ihe boundj of
Watertown have undergone great changes, both in
the minds of men and on the maps of the country.
At first there was uo idea of limit except the limit
WATERTOWN^.
319
placed by the charter and the convenience of the
early settlers. By the charter the Massachusetts Bay
Colony was entitled to enter upon all lauds from
three miles south of the (Jharles River to three miles
ni-rth of the Merrimack. C'harlestown on one side
and Boston on the other side of (Jharles River near
the sea were early chosen as the sea-ports, and began
10 be settled at once in Wi». \\'atertown was the
first inland town. It was not limited on any side by
any possible barrier to immense growth. London
would not need more land than wa.s possible to it in
1630. Cli.irle.stown and Boston were mere peninsulas.
In accordance with the words of the charter the lands
of ihe colony stretched away one knew not how far,
" from the Atlantic to the South Sea."
But her jjeople were mostly humble farmers. Even
Sir Richard Saltonstall, one of the wealthiest men of
the new colony, the first iiMslstant of the Governor in
the government, who had brought good store of cattle
and numerous servant.s, wished to herd these his cat-
tle within narrow limits, where he could find them,
and although each agriculturist wished a goodly
number of acres for his farm, he wished also for safety
agiinst unknown savages, to be no farther away from
his t'ellows than the need.i of his farm and his cattle
would re'iuirc. With the traders the case was some-
what different. They wishol to be settled together
as compactly a.s possible. Their interest in their
commodities called for protecticm fnmi the sav.ngos.
Hence within six months they began U> look about for
a ciiiivenictit place to build a fortified town,— a fort, —
"a pallysadoe." In that part of the territory of
Watertown which extended towards Charlestown a
spot was selected as "' a Hi place for a fortified town,"
and in li).'il nepiity-Kovernor Thomas Dudlev and
others here eredi'd housey. <;overiior W'inthrop put ]
u[i the liame i)f a house, which it is true he took flown j
again ami carried the next year to Boston, which he
probably saw would be the most fitting place for com- |
nierce and for the government.
In February, lt):!l-:{2, it was voted that "there
should be three-score pounds levyed out of the several
plantations within the lymitts of this pattent towards
the makeing of a pallysiidoc aboute the new town.''
Thus a new towu, chosen as a convenient one for a
fortified cat>ital or home of the government, began to
he built up on the exst of " the towne," the bounds of
which is the subject of our inf|uiry.
Xo definite bounds were established between them
for several year.s, until the people l)egan to build near
each other and the convenience ol' the tax-gatherers
required some ilelinite limits.
"William Culbl-Rll, .lolin .luhDBoii -itiil Altr.lliaiii Piiliiier, hnitif; ap-
p"; nicil, Mnrcli 4. lt".:i4-3.'. by (lie clenrml Conn to lav out llio Ixjiinili:
ItpKrixtp WatiTtoii and N'owc Touue, ilid tiiako fhid relnrn iiDto the
t'ourte, 7th .\(»ril, l(J.Vi : * It i^ agreed by u-, u-hose Dames are here |
iillderwritteD, tlial the buiilids betwen Wateitiio .t N'ewe Towne shall I
lilatid iu» they are already, from I'liarles Ryver ro tlie great Fresh Pond,
.V; from the tree tiiarkiil by Water Towne and Newe Towne on the south '
el^eI^}■de I'f th" i~juii.l, .jver the |iuii.l, t.' ,i while imidiir tree on the '
north west syde of the pond, and from that tree upp into the coantry
nore west ^t hy west, upon a straight lyne by a meridian compasse ; and
further, that Waterton shall have one hundredth rodda in length above
the wejre, and one-huudreth rodd beneath the weire in length, it three
score rodd in breadth from the ryver ou the &onthe syde thereof, and all
the rest of the ground on that eyde of the river to lye to Xewe Towue.'
*' William CoLsaAN.
"John Johnson.
'*Abbaham Palmer."
These boundary lines between Watertown and
Cambridge were again confirmed by vote of General
Court, 13th of March, 1639.
Here, after five years' growth and gradual encroach-
ment upon the bounds that might easily have been
claimed by early Watertown men, the General Court
limits their spreading both on the east side and on
the north side and by the river, with the small ex-
ception about the "' weare" on the south side. Onlv
possible room left to grow in was to the west and
southwest. To the fortifyingof this" Newe Towne "on
I he east, Watertown was required to contribute the
>amc amount as Boston, namely, £8, which was more
than any other town in the Colony, thus showing
probably, as the Governor and the wealthy traders
lived in Boston, that Watertown was then, as it con-
tinued to be for several years, the most populous town
in the Colony. To the west it might, under the char-
ier, extend its limits indefinitely towards the South
Sea. There was, however, evitlently, from the action
in regard to the fortifications at Cambridge, a feeling
that it was necessary to organize compact communities
for defence against the savages, and perhaps the early
settlers of Watertown had never contemplated the
extension of their territory far from their first settle-
ment, which soon began to be called "the town," in
distinction from the more sparsely-settled countrv
over which her people scattered in search of belter
lands. It is certain that in 163o, when there were
large arrivals of people from England and consider-
able confidence had been acquired in the peaceful or
harmless character of the Indians, that .settlers had
pushed up the Charles River and westward to another
river, which ran northward towards the Merrimack.
By vote of the General Court on the 3d of September,
1()35, " It is ordered that there shall be a plantation
settled, aboute two myles above the falls of Charles
Ryver, on the northeast syde thereof, to have ground
lyeing to it on both sides of the ryver," etc.
Atterwards on the 8th September of the following
year, 1636, it w;ia " ordered that the plantation to bee
setled above the falls of Charles Ryver, shall have
ihree years' immunity from public charges as Concord
had, . . . and the name of the said plantation is to
1)6 Dedham. . . ."
The same court that ordered the plantation "above
the falls of Charles Ryver," Dedham, ordered, "that
there shall be a plantation at Musketequid, and that
there shall be six miles of land square belong to it,
. . . and that the name of the place shall be Con-
cord."
320
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Thus on the southwest the town of Watertown
was limited by the incorporation of Dedham, and on
the northwest by the incorporation of Concord.
Aa the lands of Watertown were gradually filled
up and some felt straitened for want of room, they
naturally looked westward towards the pleasant
meadows along the river " that runs towards Con-
cord," and, p;reatly pleiiaed by the prospect of posses-
sions along that pleasant river, with its sedgy bank-
and its grassy upland slopes, they finally petitioned
the General Court for permission to go thither lo
found a new town. On the 20th November, 1C37, it
is recorded in the records of the General Court held
at Newtowne (Cambridge) : " Whereas, a great part
of the chiefe inhabitants of Watertown have i)eti
tioncd this court, that in regard of their straitnes ol
accoiuniodation and want of medowe, they might
have leave to remove, and settle a plantation upon
the ryver which runs to Concord, this court, havina
respect to their necessity, doth grant their petition.''
It provided what should be done if said inhabitant.--
of Watertown did not, to the number of thirty
families or more, actually settle on the land, —
ordered that they " shall have power to order the
scituation of the towne, and the proportioning ol
lots, and all other liberties as other towns have under
the [iroviso aforesaid.'' "September 4, lt>3i(, it i.s
ordered that the new plantation by Concord shall be
called Sudbury."
Thus was Watertown entirely circumscribed, and
thus, although there are no very early maps, it is possi-
ble to fix quite definitely the entire bounds of the
town when its bounds came to be defined. Whatever
indefinite ideas its early settles may huve had pre-
viously to this, they henceforth, to obtain more room,
must go beyond the bounds of other towns and .>ettle
in the boundless wilderness beyond. That they a.sked
for and received grants of such extraneous portions
of land for special services, as after the Pequot and
again after the Narraganset war, we may have occa-
sion to show. From the largest of such grants the
town of Westminster on the slopes of Wachusett
was largely made. In granting to the new town Con-
cord six miles square, the General Court, from the
want of exact surveys, unwittingly gave to Concord
a portion of territory already included within the
limits of Watertown. For this they granted two
thousand acres of land, afterwards located on the side
of Wachusett. Whether Watertown ever profited
by her part of this territory does not appear; Weston
and Waltham sold their portion. But henceforward
the changes in her territorial possessions, like those
which have proceeded, will be of division, of curtail-
ment. Watertown henceforth, by division within, or
by want of a common interest, suffers loss of territory,
loss of inhabitants, which too often the people were,
after long contest, too willing to part company with,
till now, when it is whispered that Belmont wants a
portion on the nortti,and Newton has long clamored
for a large piece on the south, and Cambridge has
hardly recovered from her surfeit of grave-yards on
the east, one can hardly know what our children's
children will find to which the honored name of
^Vatertowu can legally be affixed.
Let us look a little more closely into this proce.S3 of
division, and follow the geographical changes in
boundaries as they were made.
As to the manner of dividing the lands among the
freemen of the town, we will speak later. The bounds
of the town were hardly fixed before they began to
settle the outermost portions in systematic manner.
On October 14, U"i.38, it was " Ordered that the
farmes granted .-ihall begin at the nearest uieddow to
Peuham line, beyond the line ruuuetb at the end of
ye great divident-", parallel to the line at the end of the
Towne bounds, and so to go on successively from Ded-
ham Brmnds, " etc. The earliest map preserved in
the archives of the ."'tate is a map of a portion of the
extreme southwest corner of the town, next to the
Dedham llne,giviiig the location of lines running cast
and north near ''Nonesuch Pond,'' which lies partly
in Sudbury.
This ancient map, bearing the date of lOS", gives
the lines in position with reference to ibis Nonesuch
Pond, and their direction by the compass, thus de-
termining the boundary line between Watertown and
Dedham, afterwards Needham, and later .-till, the
line between Weston and Wellesley on the south,
while on the west the line in position and direction
between Watertown and Sudbury, now between
Weston and Waylaud. By continuing this line in a
northerly direction until we meet ttiesix miles square
of Concord, we have the early western boundary. Of
course this was fixed after many measurements and
surveys by committees appointed by the towns, but
this remains substantially the boundary between
Weston and Wayland to this day.
The boundary on the east, between Cambridge and
Watertown, has been changed several times, always at
the expense of territory for Watertown. At first, as
reported to the General Court in lG3o, it was near
what is now Sparks Street and Vassal Lane thence
across Fresh Pond to a certain poplar tree on the
northwest side; thence by a straight line northwest by
west, eight miles into the country, till it meet the west
line between Sudbury and Watertown,or rather would
have met it at an angle beyond and above Waldeu
Pond, had not that portion been cut otl'by the grant to
(vVjncord of six miles square.
Frequently during a j)eriod of many ye&rs after the
apportionment of lands to the 114 townsmen, in ll).'^7,
the division of the lands at the West Farms was a
source of disagreement and contention at the regular
and at irregularly called meetings of the town. The
historian of Weston will doubtless show how delight-
ful those fields were, and what objects of contention
among all the townsmen, who had naturally equal
right to some possession among them ; how many pro-
WATERTOWN.
321
minent men were drawn away from the older settle-
ment to gain by occupancy these farms; of the remote-
ness from church privileges, :ind from schools ; of the
injustice of church rates and other taxes, which were
spent wliere they could not easily profit by them, till
finally, JIarch lo, liJ^lJ-SS. it was voted in town-meet-
ing that "those who dwell on west of Stony Brook be
freed from school tax;" and November 10, lOS.J, it was
"voted that the farmers' petition should be suspended
as to an answer to it until it pleaseih God to settle a
minister among us." In 1(!1»2 a town-meeting was
held to decide upon a site for a new meeting-house,
but there was so great excitement and such differences
of opinion among the people, that the Governoraud
Council were called in to decide the matter. The
Governor audCouncil woreunable to please either the
people on the " Farms" or the people in the east pan
of the town. In IGU4. .it a town-meeting, the east
bounds of the We.st Farms Precinct were fixed at
Beaver Brook, but the General Court, in 1609, fixed
them at Stony Brook. At the May session of the
General Court the petition praying for leave "To set
up the public worship of God amongst the inhabitants
of the west end of W'atertown" was granted, the
farmers having been exempted from ministerial rates
the preceding year. After long and vexatious con-
tention the act tor the incorporation of Weston was
passed, on the 1st of .January, 171.'^. Thus there was
cut oil" from the territory of the old town nearly half
of its area.
The next reduction of area came with the incor-
poration of Walthain iu IT^i'^, which took about six-
teiiths . if the lands left to her. Before Weston was
itK-orpoi-ated that part was called the West Precinct
(Weston), this the .Mi<ldlo I'lecirict (Waltham) and
the eastern portion the l]a?t Precinct. \\'ith the in-
corporation of West./u, the part now Waltham be-
came the We>t Precinct. The incorporation of Wes-
ton took away about lo,:;7:^ acres, of Waltham about
SS'.ll acres and lel't the old town only o.SoS acres ;
this was less than a .-ixth of the area of the three
[irecincts together.
In April, 17-j4, a portion of the eaatern part of the
town was j(nned to Cambridge — all that part between
the most northern beiid of the river, near where
Sparks Street now runs and along Vassal Lane to
Mt. .Vuljurn Cemetery. This too'i away, probably,
most of the lands owned by Sir Richard .Saltonstall
and his early associates, the cluster of dwellings
called " the town." The town of Watertown still re-
tained its right to the wharf and landing on the river
for a century longer.
In l.SoO all that part of the town north of Belmont
Street was »et olfto Belmont, so-called. This was the
re.-ult of a long struggle and :i fierce contest like each
other excision of territory and loss of inhabitants.
By this act, 14-KJ acres were takeu from the town.
In 17ti4— > a committee was appointed to find out
the line between Watertown and Newton on the
2l-iiL
south side of Charles River. The committee reported
in ] 705 the line nearljf as at present represented on
the map on the south side,givingby estimation about
88 acres. They have at different times been increas-
ed, till at present, including Water, Boyd and Cook's
Ponds, they include one hundred and fifty acres.'
The last excision of territory was arranged amica-
bly with Cambridge, she buying the lands of the
owners and paying the town of W.atertown $15,000
for loss of taxable property for lands taken between
ilt. Auburn Cemetery and the river for the Cambridge
Cemetery, and authorized by act of the General Court,
which transferred the Winchester estate to Cam-
bridge ; also the road passing between Mt. Auburn
and Cambridge Cemeteries.
There now remain within the bounds of the town
including Charles River, the marshes, the ponds, Mt.
Auburn and Catholic Cemeteries, according to the
surveys of Henry Crafts, 2668.25 acres, of about 4f
square miles. The number of acres taxed in 1890, is
2027.
Physical Features of the Lands Within
THE Ancient Boundaries. — The whole town, even
in its greatest extension, lies mostly along the north
banks of the Charles River, which finds its way
irregularly over the drift, the broad deposits of sands
and clays which fill the broad valley between Arling-
ton Heights and Prospect Hill on the north' and west
and the somewhat elevated lands of Newton on the
south. Beyond the southernmost limits of the old
town, say in what was old Dedham (now Needhara
and Wellesley) the river gradually descends from its
course through a higher plain, elevated say about one
hundred and fifty feet above the sea, to the level
above Waltham, which is thirty or forty feet only
above the sra, and then by gentle falls here and
at the Bleachery, at Berais, and finally at the paper-
mill in Watertown village, to mingle with the brack-
ish waters of our higher tides from Boston harbor.
The rocks which underlie this region seem to be
slates and conglomerates — ancient rocks belonging to
the lower strata of the earth's crust, from above
which, in the progress of the geologic ages, all later
tbssil-bearing rocks have been removed by the process
of plowing by the glaciers, whose traces, well marked
in direction are now and then brought to view, as on
the slate ledges on Morse's field. The hills and plains
as well, as the geologists inform us, are but slight in-
equalities in the general plain once smoothed off by
a sheet of ice a mile in thickness. The depressions
in the general level, like our ponds, perhaps mark
the position of some stranded portion of ice when the
advancing heat gradually drove the ice-field back
towards the North, around which the currents drifted
the sands and gravels which form their banks. By
boring we know that the level of the bed-rocks dip
below the sea here in our town, although their harder
1 For a full treatment of the south aide boaoda see Mr. Ensjgn'd paper.
322
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHrSETTS.
portions in some places come near the surface. Back
on the western bounds of the old town, among the
hills of Weston and the western partofWaltham, the
generil level is one hundred and fifty to two hundred
feet higher. There are fine specicieus of deposits in
ridges of ancieutglaciers, moraines, in various portions
of the town, as at the Waverly Oaks, while the
rounded hills of hard clay and gravel deposits are
seen in White's Hill, in Strawberry Hill between Mt.
Auburn and Belmont Streets, and in other places.
Thus we find with considerable variation in level and
in that irregularity of form due to the unequal wear-
ing away of materials of unequal hardness, as well as
the irregular deposits of raorains, a sufficient variety
i)f surface to produce that picturesque effect :ilways
noted from the time of the earliest visitors to the pres-
ent, when city denizens swarm out prospecting for
convenient country homes. The soil of Watertown,
saya Dr. Francis, " is remarkably good." The sub-
stratum of clay, even when mingled with sand and
gravel to some extent, make the hillsides rich, moi.il,
proiluctive. This under>tructure of tlie soil accounts
for the abundance of fine .springs, which chiimed the
attention of the early colonists, and which, according
to a tradition, helped givej name to the town, M'ater-
towii- it was written. It will be remembered that they
sull'ered for water at Uharlestown. The hills, the
river-banks, the lowlands must have been covered
with heavy forests when first visited, although one
would think from the early accounts that the plains
east of Mount Auburn, if not also west of it along the
river near the Arsenal, over the plains west of Lexing-
ton Street and over the Waltham plains, were lands
destitute of forests and so easily plowed and desirable
for tillage.
We can form little idea of the size of the brooks, or
of the abundance of springs found by the early set-
tlers, from the fact that the forests have been strip-
ped from their fastnesses, and the surface has been
cultivated like a garden ; and, if the water-courses
have not been entirely dried up, as in old Palestine,
we owe it to the nearness to the sea, and the tenacity
of the clay soils for the water, which they give up
slowly.
The hill on which the tower was built, in Mt.
Auburn Cemetery, is 125 feet above the river; while
Strawberry Hill is somewhat more than 250 feet high.
This was afterwards called School-House Hill, and
after the church was erected there, Meeting-House
Hill, and is the hill now marked by the beautiful half-
brick residence of Gilbert R. Pay.son, which is visible
from all the hill-tops, and many of the housetops
within ten miles of Boston.
The hill nearer the village formerly called Whit-
ney's Hill,' from the fact that John Whitney's, Sr.,
and his sons were supposed to have owned the north
1 " Whitney's Hill " ia thought by some to be the bighlaod over
\»hich LeiiDgton Street now panes.
and west sides of the hill, more recently called
White's Hill, over which Palfrey Street is now ex-
tended, is quite prominent from the fact that it is
nearer the main street, nearer the railroad, and so is
inorc frequently visited. This is a little over 200 feet
above the sea, or fifty feet lower than Meeting-House
Hill. The stand pipe of the water-works is placed
here. This is high enough to secure a How of water
to all parts of the town, excei>t to the higher portions
of Meeting-House or Payson's Hill.
Prospect Hill, beyond the plain of Walthaiu, the
Middle Precinct of the old town, irregular in >liape,
rising in its highest portio:; -1^2 feet above the nen, is
the most elevated point of the old (own, probably the
most elevated portion of the county. This [loint is
seen first by sailors a|)prnachiug the harboi of Bd.--
ton, after the Bine Hills, of comae, and gives from it.s
broad slopes extendi/cl and most beautiful views
of the surrounding country, including the city anil
harbor of Bostim, ten utiles distant. Mount Feake is
ihe first eminence ol ilie tnw II named in lii.-?;ory. If
the name is now allai bed to the liiil to which Win-
tlirop assigiie<l it. it iiinsl have l'>st much of its tinnier
|)roininence, or Wiiitlirop and his party must have
lieen in merry mood, as theie is little to suggest the
name mount in the present site of Mount FeakeCi-me-
tery. As this account from the letters of < iovcriior
Winthrop is the olilest we have nf the jihysical feat-
ures of the town, its Insertion iiere may help to a
closer coin[)arison. It Ijears dale .January 27, l(iol-2.
"The governor, and some company with him, went up
by L'harles Jliver, about eight miles aliove Watertown,
and name<l the lirsl brook on the north side nf the
river (being a fair .-.treain, and coming from a pond
a mile from the river) Beaver Brook, because the
beavers had shorn ihiwn divers great trees there, and
made divers dams across the brook. Thence they
went to a great rock. ui)on which stood a high stone,
cleft in sunder, that four men might go through,
which ihey called .Vdam's Chair, because the young-
est of their com[iany was Adam Winthrop. Thence
they came to another brook, greater than the I'ormer,
which they called Masters' Brook, because the eldest
of their party was oue .lohn Masters. Thence they
came to another high pointed rock, having a fair as-
cend on the west side, which they calletl Mount
Feake, from one Robert Feake, who had married the
governor's daugliter-ln-law. On the west side of
Mount Feake they went n]> a very high rock, from
whence they might see .ill over Neipnett, and a very
high hill due west, about Ibrty miles off (Wachnsett
Mountain), and to the northwest the high hills (per-
haps Monadnock Mountain) by .^lerrimack, about
sixty miles off."
The Beaver Brook is now well-known by this name.
Adam's Chair is not now to be found, having prob-
ably been destroyed by the building of the Fitchbnrg
Railroad. Masters' Brook, now greatly diminished
in size by change of surface and by filling, enters the
WATERTOWN.
323
river near the watch-factory bridge. Mount Feake,
within the cemetery of that name, affords the fine
view to the west, it is said, which is mentioned in
Winthrop's account.
Tlie diaries River, of course, is the principal body
of water in the old town. Whether the fall spoken
of by the earliest settlers was due to a dam erected by
the Xorsemen, as Professor Horsford claims, or was
merely a series of rapids, as it would seem necessary to
suppose it would be if the dam were removed, we have
notsufficieut historical data to determine. It may not
be proper in this place, for lack of direct testimony,
to enter into nu argument to prove, from the testimo-
ny of Clap's party to finding near three hundred
Indians fishing about the fall, that there must have
been greater hlnilrance to the free, upward movement
of the fish to their spaniiing-grounds than a series of
gentle rapid'*, in order to make this such good fishing-
grounds. No direct statements, accounts or allu-
sion.s have a-i yet been fouml to the building of the
dam by our early settlers, while the construction of
the fish-weirs are named again and again.
The dam .as it exists at the present time raises the
water above it, so as to present very pleasant water
spaces to vary and enliven the appearance of this
part of the town ; and above, at Bc-mis, at the Bleach-
ery and at Wakham, many beautiful lake-like ex-
p.mses of water, with their irregular succession of
tree-iovered or grassy slopes, olten with intervening
islands, <lelight the eye of the observer and combine
to make this river the |)ride of the poet and the
painter, the constant and ever-preseut benefactor and
delight of the people who <lwell along its banks or
are led by the needs of bllsine^s, ijr arc attracted by
the charms of travel, to visit its winding course.
It is a matter of history that poets have been
nursed on its banks. Although Longfellow lived just
across the line, in Cambridge, and ever loved to look
on the
" llivertliar in -ilence wiodest
Tliruiigli tlie niniilij^s, bnclit and free."
Lowell was born and lived near the ancient land-
ing of Saltonstall and Phillips, in what, for more than
a hundred years, wa.s a part of this town.
Fresh Pond, in thi eastern part, n(/w entirely
gained by Cambridge; Lake Walden, in the north-
western part, now within the bounds of Concord ; San-
dy Pond, now in Lincoln ; Xoncsuch Pond, now in
Weston ; Beaver Pond, and Sherman's Pond, recently
Mead's Pond, now in Waltham, all bel. ng to the old
town of Watertown, and hel[) to diversify the sur-
face and enliven the landscape.
The trees about \\'averly, notably some large but-
tonwoods, an immense elm, and " The Oaks," many
centuries old, are freciueully visited. It has been
estimated that the oaks are from four to nine hundred
years old. It is said that over seven hundred con-
centric rings have been counted in the stem of a fal-
len oak of the group standing on the beautiful
moraine beyond the Waverly Station, on the banks of
Beaver Brook. The writer counted over four hun-
dred in a large branch. These oaks might have been
standing when Lief and Thorfinn visited Vineland
the Good, and if the Charles River is "the river
which flowed through a lake into the sea," Gudrid,
the wife of Thorfinn, may have rested under the
branches of these very trees. At all events, poetry,
the vague, indefinable influences of popular tradition,
■icience, a praiseworthy regard for the instruction and
the health of future generations, unite in asking that
these ancient specimens of trees and terminal moraines
may be preserved by making a park of the fields con-
taining them. If Waltham does not feel moved to
purchase and preserve this border portion of her ter-
ritory, the State of Massachusetts certainly should,
before the " monarchs of the forest " fall before the
venal axe.
Agricultural Character of the People. —
From what we know of the formation of the surface
of the country in this vicinity, of the character of the
soil, of the situation of the town in the immediate
vicinity of the best harbor on the coast, and yet just
enough removed to prevent active participation in
commerce, and yet without sufficient water-power for
extensive manufactures, we can see that if its people
became active among the productive agencies of the
Colony, or afterward in developing the resources of
the young State that arose out of the fires of the Rev-
olution in which it took a prominent part, if, in other
words, it had seen intelligently its advantages and set
actively and courageously at work to do what it was
best fitted to do, it would have done exactly what it
did do — namely, apply itself chiefly to agriculture.
Watertoivn wiis soon the garden of Massachusetts
Bay.
If we include what originally belonged to her,
she is largely the garden for the production of a large
part of the vegetable food of Boston to-day. She
need not deny to Arlington, the daughter of her
daughter Cambridge, all praise for her accomplish-
ments in this direction. Blessed in like manner, she
too has improved her advantages. And having poorer
facilities for manufacturing industries, being more re-
stricted in her range of employments, it would not
be strange if her gardens outstripped her older neigh-
bor's in productiveness.
Sir Richard Saltonatall made no mistake when he
selected this valley for his home. Winthrop's party,
of whom he was one of the chiefs, left Salem to ex-
plore every nook and cranny of the shores of Massa-
chusetts Bay. The traders and commercial adventur-
ers who formed a large part of the party had in a
measure taken possession of Charlestown slopes and
Boston heights, so near an excellent land-locked har-
bor and the mouths of two considerable rivers. Salt-
onatall explored particularly the Massachusetts River,
called by John Smith, whom all since have followed,
the Charles, and had the wit to see the advantages of
324
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNXr, MASSACHfTSETTS.
position and soils, and water and forests for a new set-
tlement, such as he would most enjoy to see.'
Sir Eichard had been a man of considerable landed
possessions in Yorkshire, on which he must have
made great sacrihces to come with three of his sons
and two daughters, with mauy servants and " some
store of cattle," to seek a new home and greater inde-
pendence in a new country. It was with an eye to
the natural advantages of position that he landed his
stores and set down for the winter in that part of
Watertown now within the municipal bounds of
Cambridge.
There was no thought of other towns or cities then
between Cliarlestown — or Charlton, as it was first
called— and the place of his choice. We may not be
able to fix ufxni the exact location of his house, but
it was not far from midway between the homes of
Longfellow and ot Lowell, if we mention names ot
men whom the world knows and honors, and who,
lung before iliey were »o widely known, knew and
loved every natural feature of their surroundings; or, —
if we name localities marked by walls of stone and
brick, albeit erected by the spirit of charity itself, — a
little to the north and cast of the |>resent Cambridge
Hospital. In the little cove in the bend of the river,
below the cemetery and near the hospital, was the
landing-place alike of .'-^aitonstall. with his belongings,
and of Pliilliiis, the sturdy defender of indeiiendeiice
in church and in stale, with the several score of others
who have become the progenitors of many a family
now scattered over our broad country.
The lands immediately about the landing were well
adapted for tillage, :ind being undulating and well
drained on one slope by the river and on the north
slope into the basin of Fresh Pon<l, were fortunately
chosen for the homestalls of the colonists.
There was little waste or forest land in the vicinity —
the lirst of which is seen by the fact of its beigg
divided u[> into homesteads, or, as they are called in
early records, homestalls, within a very few years
among the first settlers and their immediate followers,
and the lands out several miles from their first lots
were soon divided up for tillage and pasturage ; the
second is seen by the frequent mention of orders
passed to preserve the trees, and ;i3 if they were com-
paratively few, and by the price placed on their use or
destruction.
What we have mentioned and what we know con-
cerning the character of the region justifies the first
choice of Watertown by au agriculturist of the
wealth and eminence of Sir Richard. That he did
not long continue to make it his home or for the rest of
his life, I fear we must read between the lines of the
recorded history what is supplied without great diffi-
culty. His servants and some of the people who
1 John Smith, who rlsited this river in 1614, aays "The country of the
Maaiacfauaetta is the paradise of all tbo.se parts ; I'ur here are many isles
all planted with com, groves, 'mulberries, [salvage gurtleos and good
tiarboiB."
were attracted by him, and chosen with reference to
their helpfulness, were agricultural in their training,
rural in their spirit and their knowledge. He must
have l>eeu a man of force of character, and might
have been impatient in the short-comings of some
whose attention was iliverted by the strai^geness of
their surroundings from their master'.-* interests. It is
recorded November 'lO, lij:;o, that " ."^ir Richard Salt-
onstall is fyncd V for whipping 2 several persons
without the presence of another assistant, contrai'y to an
act of Court formerly made," while before that he " is
tfyned 4 bushells of inalte, lor his absence from this
Court."
It seems that long afterwards, some years after he
had returned to his native England, where he contin-
ued to show his kindly tcelings for the Colony by many
and delicate services which he then was enabled to
perform, and after he had shown his wise moderation
by his counsel again.-t ]iersecuiiou for mere opinion's
sake, thut, by vote of the (General Court of cfeptember
1), lOoS, the Court did discharge the £5 fine, and the
fine pf "4 bnshelU of uuailt."" 3Iere feathers these:
unmentionable littlenesses which may >how smne
movements iu the so( iai or religious atiuosphere which
disa|)pointod ^<ir Richard in his hupc of freedom and
indepenileiiee. There is ni> disputing the fact that
\\''alertown had the benefit uf his good jiidiiment at
the start, of hi> choice uf a religious leader and
teacher, and of his contiinieil friiiMlnhip after he had
retiiriutl to liis native land; but ^\'alcrtown lost that
inriueucc at the seat of government that allowed con-
tinued protection to her territories, which soon began
to be and nliicli continue to this clay to be the envy
of others and 'lie constant prey of luon; jiowertul
communities, as well as of divisions within her>elf,
the Cireat and (ieneral Court always stamling as
judges. \V lictlur the small territory lel'l to bear the
name of Watertrjwn be allowed to remain much
longer undivided, or not wholly swallowed up by some
more powerl'ul municipality, or not, there can lu-ver
be denied her the privilege of looking over all the
lands c.xteniliiig as far into the country as eight miles
from the meeting-house, ;is the home of her fi)unders.
In view of the tact that the children of ancient
Watertown now dwell iu almost every part of the
country, and that some of them have served in every
war to protect her most extended interests, and the
life of the Union itself, a little local family pride may
be allowed them :is they look back to their ancestral
acres and in imagination recall the undivided interests
of larger territories, when broad fields and extendcil
slopes were their ancestors' possessions.
The old mode of farming required more room —
room for cattle and sheep to graze, room to plow antl
sow grain and plant corn. The concentrated work of
the modern market gardener, with his abundance of
fertilizers, his glass to prolong the seasons, his rota-
tion of crops, was not known and was not possi-
ble. A score or two of acres would hai-dly have
WATERTOVVN.
325
satisfied the liumblest colonist ; several hundred were
the possession of a few. Now several mea will
find all they can do on a single acre. Now we are
doing all we can to invite new-comers to .share
our rich possessions and make them, by increased
social advantages, still richer. But as early as July,
10.35, it w.os " Agreed, by consent of the freemen (in
consideration there be too many inhabitants in the
Towiie, and the Towne is tliereby in danger to be ruin-
ated), that no forainer coming into the Towne, or any
family arising among ourselves, siiall have any bene-
fit either of Commonage or Land undivided, but what
they shall purcha.-<e, except that they buy a niairs
right wholly in the Towne.''
Even as late as the present century, when there was
some prospwt of the Uoston & Worcester Railroad de-
siring to pass through the town, there was a successful
effort put forth to keep it from spoiling our val. labia
lands. It is within the memory of the present geu-
eratiou that lands were held with so great tenacity
that it wa-s ne.^t to impossible for auy new man or new
interest to get a foothold within the town. All thisahows
the earlier and the later interests of the peo[ile in the
cultivation of the lands for agricultural purposes.
The agriculture of the pa.st was at best the agricul-
ture now common in the towns remote from the large
cities. Even when peo[ile began to raise veget.ablea
for sale in Boston, the nioile of making these sales
was most primitive in its simplicity. It is one of the
traditions in the family of one "f the largest and
most .successful market gardeners in this town that the
veget.ablea raised by their grandfather were put into
panniers over the back of a hinse and sold out to the
families of Boston by the irrandmotlier, whose per-
sonal attractions helped not a little in creating a
market. C<^nnpare now the lofty |>iles ol' wpll-filled
bo.'ces which pass from the same lands each day of al-
most the entire year.
It is dirticult to obtain and to give exact descrip-
tions of individual cases in this direction. Where
almost every family raise a part o.' the wlnde of their
vegetables, and a few raise a little to sell to othei's,
to one who kecj/s forty or fifty men and boys and
women at work all or most of the ye.ar, and has acres
of grass to enable him to begin the season almost
before the last seison has been allowed to close, one
fin<Is no f:\^y .lividing line.
With our present e:isy and rapid means of trans-
portation, auy surplus of production, if excellent in
its kind, like Boston asparagus or tomatoes. Brighton
strawberries, or Watertown I'elpry, finds a ready
market, if not in Boston, why then in Portland or
Providence, in New York or Washington. While
Oldham, afterwards Cradock, obtained a grant of
.'>00 acres, and .Saltonstall one of 4""it acres, and some
settlers of farms grants of from one hundred to three
hundred acres, not many farmers requiring so much
room for their grazing and their mode of farming
could be accommodated in a town of a little over 2000
acres or in the old town of 23,500 acres even. At the
present time a much larger population is possible in
the present narrow limits, where men can find pro-
fitable employment with the improved concentrated
methods and appliances.
The population in 1890 on these 2000 acres is over
7000. It will be shown later that the principal in-
dustries of the town are not now agricultural, yet
your historian may be allowed the remark that, if all
the land were cultivated as highly as the heirs of John
Coolidge cultivate the " vineyard " and other portions
of their lands, or as Joshua Coolidge and his sons
cultivate their lands, or as Joshua C. Stone cultivates
his land, or as Calvin D. Crawford cultivates his own
and other people's land, some of these finding time
also to manage the afl'airs of the town, a still larger
po|)ulation than at present might be supported from
the soil, and there would be no thought of "there be-
ing too many inhabitants in the Towne, and the Towne
thereby in danger to be ruinated," as was agreed by
consent of the freemen in 1635.
CHAPTER XXX.
WATERTOWN-{Co7U!nufd).
i:ccr,F,<r.\STtr',\i, tiisToiiY.
Eai:(,y LotATio.v OK FiK.sT Church ok W.\ter-
towN.'— On July 30, 1030, Sir Rich.ard Saltonstall
joined with some forty other men in forming the first
church at Watertown, which, next to that of Salem
:'.nd Dorchester,was the earliest church of llassacliu-
setLs Biy. Rev. (leorge Phillips was chosen pastor
and Richard Browne ruling elder. During the first
four years Watertown was the most populous town in
the (Jciony and probably continued so for fifteen to
twenty years. It came next after Boston, "the cen-
tre town and metropolis," " the mart of the land," as
.lohnson called it in 1657 in his " Wonder Working
Providence," in wealth.
As the members of the church, even from the begin-
ning, were too many to be accommodated in any one
of the small, hastily built tenements at first erected, a
special meeting-house was very probably 30i)u built ;
•u least the rate of £80 ordered by the town records of
1035 to be levied for " the charges of the new meeting
house" of necessity imply that there had been another
and earlier one. Unfortunately the records do not
show when or where this older one was situated. But
iloubtless as Richard Saltonstall, Mr. Phillips, Elder
Browne and most of those first admitted freemen had
all settled in " the town," as that part of the plantation
just east of Mt. Auburn was designated, it was also sit-
uated there.
1 By Beonett F. Davenport.
326
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTS, MASSACHUSETTS.
The new meeting-house of 1635, according to Rev.
Converse Francis, stood upon the knoll on the north
aide of Mt. Auburn Street, between where long after-
ward were the houses of Deacon Moses Coolidge and
that of Mr. Daniel Sawin, on the corner of Arlington
Street, and later the houses of Mr. George Frazer and
Mr. Eimball, the level land where the later house
now stands being the Common, used as a training-field.
In the town records of 1637 the meeting-house lot
is mentioned as containing forty acres. This doubt-
less was the whole lot nov." bounded by Mt. Auburn
and Belmont Streets upon the south and north and by
School and Arlington Streets upon the west and eiist.
It was the land along this last street which the select-
men, in 1667, ordered sold on the meeting-house com-
mon, upon the west .side of the way from the meeting-
house to Pa.*tor Sherman's house, the pay to go to-
wards building the bridge at the mill. But the town-
meeting held three days later voted not to allow ofthi.'*
sale and bargain with J. Coolidge, Jr. By the reconls
of 1630, 12-25 the meeting-house was appointed for a
watch-house. By those of 1638, April 23d, those tVee-
men living remote from the meeting had been ordered
to build and settle upon the town " Plott" as the two
squares were designated bounded by Main and Bel-
mont Streets upon the south and north and by Le.\-
ington :ind Warren Streets, upon the east and west,
and between which from east to west Hager Lane, after-
ward known as Warren Street, run, the latter, NVarrcn
Street, being the one within the Watertown pre-
sent limits, while the former is that in Waltham.
The record.sof 1669 February 6th, mention a bell-rope.
It therefore doubtless had a bell.
As the .settlements in the town had gradually ex-
tended westward there had, ever since the death of
Rev. Mr. Phillips in 1644, been contention in the
town on account of the meeting-house being located
in the eastern part of the town. (3n October 14, 1654,
it had been ordered that a new meeting-house be
built between Sergt. Bright's and John Biscoe's,— that
is, between John P. Cubbing's mansion-house and the
northwest corner of Belmont and Common Streets.
John Sherman was bargained with to build it by
September 1656, for £400, with the use of the
olil seats, the Cambridge meeting-house to be the
pattern in all points. This location caused so much
dissension that the new house was built on or near
the old site upon Meeting-house common. The
seating of the meeting-house was ordered November
7, 1656, to be made according to office, age and estate,
three rates, amounting to £453 lis. 3d., having been
raised. This building continued to be the meeting-
house for the entire town, including both Waltham
and Weston, until after the resignation of Mr.
Bailey in 1692. After that the old controversy about
the inconvenience of the location waxed more
earnest and resulted in a division of the church in i
1695. and the building of a new West Precinct meeting-
house upon the southeast corner of Belmont and
Lexington Streets, upon the honiestall lot originally
granted to the Rev. John Knowles, who had been the
assistant or colleague of Mr. Phillii>3. This building
was upon the north side of the present Orchard
Street. At the new house Samuel Angler was
settled by the majority vote of the town and church,
the Rev. Mr. Gibbs having declined to remove from
the old building with those who preferred to still
assemble there. The division did not result, however,
in a legal separation till 1720.
In 1695 the farmers of Weston had amiably been
assisted by the whole town in building a meeting-
house more conveniently located lor them, u|)on the
land of Xatbaniel Coolidge, Sr., on the road at the
head of Parkhurst meadows, a little in front of the
site of the church of l^•jO. They did not have a
regularly organized church and settled ]iastor till
1709, although they iiegan to iii.cii|>y it in 170ii. In
1722 they raised a new building.
1 In 1720 the Legislature ran a division line bt-tween
I the East and West Precincts and ordered the ^\'est
within two years to locate their nit-t-ting-house upon
I the rising ground near Nathaniel Liveiniore's <lwell-
i;ig-house — that is, a little northwest cfthe iTL'orge W .
Lyman mansion-house, in Waltham. The East Pre-
i cinct was within ten year.< to locate their meeting-
' house ujmn the southeast corner of Ilelmont and
Common Streets, upon Sthonl-house Hill, alterward
known as Meeting-house Hill. Both precincts
attempted to secure the old West meeting-house, but
to such a height had the dissension gone that both
I tailed. The West, therefore, bouiiht the "Id m^'etitjg-
' house of Newton for not over t.'-'o ami irecieil it upon
tile ai)pointed location, that of the prrsrnt Waltham
church, -and in 1723 Rev. Warham Williams wa>
settled as pastor. The E;ist Precinct erected a iipw
building upon their location in 1723, and Mr. Gibb.-
liaving died. Rev. !?ctli Storer was settled in 1724:
the old church records remained with the Ea."t
Precinct. In 1754 they built a new hou'-e at the foot
of Common Street, corner of Mt. Auburn .Street, and
in 1836 upon the present site.
The old West meeting-house was continued a while
as a separate Third Church, Robert Sturgeon actin2'
a<i pastor, for which he was indicted by the grand
jury and fined £20. Not long afterwards the build-
ing was demolished.
The First Parish ix Watertown.'— 7b the poK-
/orate of Dr. Francis.— On the Snth day of July, 163o,
O. S., about forty men had assembled ( prob.ibly in
the house of Sir Richard Saltonstall) in Watertown,
in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay. The object of
their gathering was the organization of the church
known to history as the First Parish Church in
Watertown. The first name on the list of those
who subscribed to the covenant then adopted was
> By Rev. Wm. H. Savage.
WATERTOWN.
327
that of Sir Richard Sallonst.ill. This is the cove-
nant to which they set tlieir names :
July 30, 16.10.
tions, for the purposes of fortifying the Newtown
border.
When this action became known in Watertown,
"We, wbo9i> names are bereto subscribed, h.aving, througb Goiia Rev. George Phillips and Mr. Richard Browne, his
mercy, escaped out of , be P.,l,u,ions of .he world, .t been take,,. Dto.h. , . ^^^ .^ ^^^y ^^^ ,g together,
Society of bis People, wilb M tbaukfuluesa do hereby both with lieart i & .i,i_ Sj*
i hand acknowledge, that bis smcious goodness & fatbciiy care towards j and when they had assembled they were asked to
us; i for further i more full declaration thereof, to the present and consider the fact that they had not been consulted
future ages, hare undertaken (for the promoting of bis glory ,t the ! ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^_ Acting Under the advice of their
Church's good, and the honor of our blessed Jesus, in our more full and i ^ ^ j nii- u f
free subjecting of out^elves 4 ours, under his gracious government, in j leaders, the CltlZeUS refused tO pay. The reSUlt Ot
the practice of i obedience unto all bis holy ordinances i orders, which i (his action On the part of WatertOWn was thnt the
be hath pleased to prescribe and impose upon us) a long * hazardous j proceedings of the Boston oligarchy Came to a sudden
atop. Before any further taxation was attempted, it
was ordered that " two of every plantation be appoint-
ed to confer with the Court about raising a public
stock." This was the origin of representative gov-
ernment on this continent. The lineal and legiti-
mate results of the action taken by the men of
Watertown in 1631 came in the Boston Tea Party,
voyage from E.ist to West, from old Engbind in Kurope, to New England
in .\merica; that we nuiy wnlk before biui, and serve him without fear
in holiness J^ righteousness, ail the days of our lives, A being safely ar-
rived here, .tud thus far onwards peaceably preserved by his special
providence, that we may briiiij lorth our iiiteutions into actions, i per-
fect our resolutions, \m the bt-yiniiings of some just and meet execu-
tions ; we have separated the -lay abfiv.. written from all other services,
iiild dedicated it u holly lo the Lord in divine employments, for a "lay of
alHicting our souls, X hiimhliiu; ourselves before the Lord, to seek biui.
a; at his bands, a wnv to walk in, by fasting i prayer, that we iitight , j i i /^ -t
know what was goo.1 in his sight; and the Lord was inireated of us. [ the Declaration of Independence and the Oonstitu-
For in the end ;f that .lay. iifiei ihe hnishing ..f our public duties, we (ion of the United States. The men who made their
.lo all, before we depart, solemnly .v wilb all our hearts, pera.nally, 1 j,„y,gg q„ [[jg ChSiT\es were the first On this COnti-
mail bv uiati for uui-sehv^i uiiraicliar;;!!!!; tlit-m before (.'hridt i hid elect 1 • j .1 -i. »■
au^-els, even them that are u..tb.re with us this day. or are yet unborn. I "Pnt tO shoW that they appreciated the gravity Ol
that they u.'.p the promise uiibi.iiiiabiy and faithfully unto lo the 1 what was taking placc OH these new shores and to
e.xercise that "eternal vigilance" without which no
people can keep it.s lilierties.
In the organization and administration of the
church Mr. Phillips and Mr. Browne were no lews
careful of the rights of the individual than they had
shown themselves in the ordering of civil ati'airs.
The covenant that was made the basis of their
i;hurch was remarkably free trom the htiir-splitting
dogmatism that has been the bane of the world's re-
ligious life. It^ aim was to secure for the churih
and for the individual the rights claimed by its sign-
ers as against the various forms of ecclesiastical hier-
ai-liy, and not at all to bind them to any set of
doctiinal propositions. Mr. Phillips was a man of
broad and charitable spirit, very liberal in hi.>i theo-
logical opinions, and in his ideas of church govern-
ment a thorough independent. In this last matter
he was entirely at one with his parishioners. This
appears in the fact that when, in 1639, Mr. John
Knowles was settled as his colleague in the parish
Coming of iiiir Lord Je-.ilsi proiuis*?. .v enter into a sure ctivenant with
the Lord I'lir ib).!, ,v before bim vviili >>ni- anollier, by oatli .^: serious pro-
testation iioi'le t.j .teiioiiiict.- all idol.itrv ami supt-ntilioii, uill-wor^bip.
all buiiiane (niditious A; imonlions wliatsoe\er in the woi-ship of God,
.V forsaking all evil ways, ■]■• give ,.ur3,.|ve9 wholly unto the Lord
.lesus. to do biiii faithful Service, observing J^ Uoeping all his statute.s<
vonimands X i.t'diiiaiues, in all matters coiicernint; our reformation ; bip j
worsbip, adiiiiTiistnitions, luinisiry ,v government; >^ in the carriage •>!
ourselves, ainiiiig niirseUes .t one tnwarils liiiniiier, as he bath prescribetl
in bis holy wonl. Fililher ^weariilL; to cleave unto ihat .il.me, X Ilie |
true s'-ii^e ,t ailing tli,.n-..f lo lb,, iiimost of our power, as unto the ]
tiiMSt 'leal' light .\. iiil.illible rub-. .V all-sillh- ii-iit can-ui in all lliiiii;-. i
that i-iuii-eni 11." Ill tlii..' uur «.iv In witli<-.>s .-l all, w<- ilo e.r oiiiiioi. .V in '
the [ireseliie of iJiMi, lieittti ^el oiir naliu-s «ir murks, in Ihe day .M year .
above vvrilleii."'
Tliiit was till' lieo-iiiiiiiig o( tlin First (.'liiirfli in '
W:itertiiwii. liver the cluircli thus tniimled ( Ji'or^e
Phillips was settled ;is minister, having for his nil- '
iiig elder " one Uichard Browne.' ,
The task of the [irosent writer is to give in brief the i
biographies of Mr. l'Iiilli|is .ind hi.s -luceessors, with ;
such marsiniil roniment a.s the sco|ie of the present
work will Milinit.
Before I'loieediiig to such liiographic:il notices it i he was set apart for the work of the ministry by the
is, howe\ IT, lit that we should glance at some of the [ Watertown Church. No council was called to assist
personal elements tli.'it went to the making of the j or to sanction their act. No other church was noti-
First Church. j tied, and no minister save their own had any part in
From the first day of its exi.steiice we may see ' the service. This was the first clear assertion of
the working of tendencies that wore prophetic ol .ttrid Congregationalism on this side of the ocean,
all that has been mitahle in the history of the , and established the claim of the Watertown Church
organization. From the tirst the people of Water-
town were out of harmony with the idea of Church
In the position he took and held, Mr. Phillips had
the countenance and sympathy of two men who
are entitled to loving and grateful remembrance.
' to have been the first Congregational Church in this
country.
and of State that gave shape to the Puritan Theocracy,
the ideas of government that found expression in
Winthiop and the Board of Assistants, and the
ideas ot ecclesiastical excliisiveness and dogmatism
that found expression in the ministers of Boston.
Early in the year 1631 the Governor and his
assistants levied a tax of sixty pounds on the planta-
One of these men was Richard Brown, who stood
I with Mr. Phillips in his controversy with the Gen-
j eral Court against taxation without representa-
- tion, and the other was Sir Richard Saltonstall. Mr,
328
HISTORY OP MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Brown was a relation of Robert Brown, the founder
of the " Brownist '' movement in Eagland. Before
coming to this couctry he had been a ruler in a Separa-
ist church in London, had there rendered important
services to persecuted Non-conformists. He seems
to have been a man of decided character, and of
no mean abilities as a thinker and administrator of
public business. To the end of his life he retained
the confidence and the esteem of the people of
Watertown, and was honored by them with many
offices of trust and responsibility. We have seen
that he was quick to claim his right as a citizen,
when a tax was demanded of him. He had a merit
which is of a rarer sort— he was willing that other
men should have their rights in matters of opinion
and of worship. He opposed all persecution for
opinion's sake, and took the (then) extreme ground
that " churches of Rome were true churches.''- But
such radicalism could not then be tolerated, and
though Mr. Phillips seems to have agreed with him,
Winthrop rmd Dudley, and others in power did not.
The usual result followed. Brown was deposed
from being elder, but his spirit remained in the
church, and in due time found itself in the majority.
Sir Richard Saltonslall, after he had helpeil to
found the church on the broad and generous plan
exeinplitied in the faith and conduct of its chosen
miuLster and elder, returned to England, where he
resided tor the rest of his life. The sentiments he
entertained regarding the matter of religious liberty
were not such as to commend him to the favor of
those who were shaping the policy of the Colony at
large, and he probably felt that a peaceful co-opera-
tion with them would not be possible for him. How
completely he was in sympathy with the leaders of
the Watertown church is revealed in a letter that
deserves a place in the remembrance of those who
trace their religious lineage to a source so high and
pure.
This letter was .addressed to the persecuting reli-
gionists of Boston :
*' Ueverenil &. ileare fiiemiH, whom [ iiitraynetlly love S: leaped, —
*' It flutli not n little erieve uiy ppiiit to heiire what ^add thinijs are re-
purteil liayly of yotir tyranny and perflecntion in New Enf^land, :i9 That
ynn tine, whip, Ji iinprisnii men for tlieir couBciences; — Fii-3t, you com-
pel ^nch to oome into yonr as^ieinhlys as you know will not Joyne with
yon in your worship, i when they show their dislike thereof, orwitnein
against it. Then you Btyrre up your lua^istiutes to punish them for ^ncli
(ai y.tn riHireyvp) their pnblicke affronts. Tntly, friends, thid your
piactice of cotnpellini; any in matter? of worship to doe that whereof
they are not fully p*-rHuaded, is to make thcni sin, for soe the Apostle
(Rom. U ,<: -il, telN us, .t many arc maile hypocrites Thereby, ronform-
ing in their outward man for feareof punishment. We who pray for you,
Jc wish y(,n pro^peritie every way, ho[ie<i the Lord would have given you
so much lii^ht .v love there, that you nilKht have been eyes to God's peo-
ple here; and not to pmctire those courses in a wihlerness which you
came s » farre to prevent. These rigid ways have layed you very lowe
in the hearts of the t^aynt^. I doe assure you I have heard them
pray in the publique assemblies That the Lord would cive you nieke
and liumhie spirits, not to strive so much fur nnifonnity as to keeps
the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.
'* When I was in Holland, about the beginning of the warree, I re-
member some Christians there, that then had serious thoughts of plant-
ing in New England, desired uie to write to the governor thereof, to
know if tbou that differ from you in opinion, yet honlding the ^ame
foundation in religion, as .Anabaptists. Seekers. Aniinomnins, .v the
like, might be permitted to live among you, to "hicli I received this
short answer from your then til'vernLT—.^l^. Dudley — God foibid, (sjiid
he) our love fortbe truth should be grown soe could That we should tol-
erate erronrs ; J£ when (for satisfaction of myself i\; others) I ile>ired to
know your grounds, he referred me to the books written here, between
the Presbyterians & Independents, w Inch, if that had been suificient, I
needed not to have sent so farre to understand the reasons of your pnic-
tice. I hope you do not assume to yourtclves infallil.ilitie of judgment,
when the most learned of the .\posiles i:onleK«eth he knew but in parts,
X saw but darkeley as through a glass, for <i"d is light, ..t no further
than be doth illumine US can we see, ho our partes &: le.triiing never so
great. Ob that all those who are brethren, tliongh yet Ibey cannot
ibinke ± speakc the same things, might be of r.ne accord in the Loid.
Now the God of patience and consolation i:rant yon to be thus mynded
towards one another, after the example of .Jesus f'hrist our blesseil
Savyor, in whose everlasting arnies of protection bee leaves you who will
never leave to be
" Your truly 1 much affectionate friend, in-tlie io-are->t linion,
" Rto: Saltonstall.''
" For my reverend Jt tvorthyly much esteefne<l f^iend^, 5Ir.
Cotton i Mr. Wilson, preachers to the Church which i< at
Boston, in New England, give this— ''
Over the church fountieJ liy such men in the
spirit of devotion and self-:<acrifiip that characterized
the Puritan movement, and in a spirit of enlight-
ened liberality so far in advance of the Puritan age,
was set, as we have seen, a man eminently lifted for
the post of leadership.
Mr. G'eorge Phillips was born at Raymond, in
the county of Norfolk (Savage stiys " at Rainliam,
•St. Martin's, Norfolk"), England. He gave early
evidence of uncommon talents and love of learning,
and at the University (|>robalily Cambridgei dis-
tinguished himself by remarkable progress in his
studies and developed a special fondness for theology.
He settled at Bo.xstead, iiiSuffilk. and soon became
suspected of a tendency to Noii-coii(oriiiity. As the
troubles of the time incieitsed. Mr. Phillips resolved
to join his fortunes with the Puritans who were
about to depart for New England. He arrived
early in the year 1630, and soon after lost his wife,
who died at Salem. Presently, in company with
•'that excellent Knight, Sir Richard S;iltonstall,"
and " other Christians, having chosen a place upon
C/iurles river for a town, which they called Water-
town, they re.solved that they would combine into a
c/iiirch-ftllows/iipastbeiTjirs/u-or/.; and build the //o»se
of God before they could build many home-i for
themselves.'' In his office as minister of the Water-
town Parish, Mr. Phillips was eminently faithful
and successful. A man of firmness and independence
in thought and in conduct, he was capable of main-
taining his views with ample learning, and a vigorous
and convincing logic. Though, in several respects
in advance of his time, the nobility of his character,
the candor and courtesy of his manner and the force
of his mind secured and kept the confidence and
respect of his fellow-citizens. He died on the 1st
of July, 1644, lamented not only by his parish-
ioners, but by the Colony at large. As the founder
of representative government in America, he should
WATERTOWN.
329
have a statue erected to his memory in the town to
which he gave his Hie.
It was the custom of early Xew England for each
church to have two ministers — one as pastor and the
other as teacher.
Until lt);59 -Mr. Phillips was sole minister. In that
year Mr. John Knowles, "a godiy man and a prime
scholar,'' arrived in Xew England, and on the 19th of
December he was ordained second pastor, in con-
nection with ilr. Phillips. By departing from the
common usage of pastor and teacher, the church put
its theory of independency into practice, and, by or-
daining a man who had never been a minister, or-
daining him by their own act, without notice given
to the magistrate'*, without co-operation or consent of i
any minister .save their own, the people declared that !
they took their Christian liberty in sober, practical 1
earnest. Jlr. Knowles seems to have been a man of \
very liberal views; in church government an inde-
pendent, and in his broad charity of doctrine a man to '
delight " that giioil Knight, Sir Richard Saltonstall.''
In 1042 he went with Mr. Thomp.son, of Braintree,
on a rais4ionary voyage to Virginia, but, finding i
things there in no condition to warrant much hope of -
good, he presently returned to Watertown and re-
sumed his pastoral relation with the church. 1
This relation he retained for six years after Mr. I
Phillips' death, when in IfioO he returned to England, i
Making his home in London, lie continued to preach i
in spite iif persecutions until he died at a very ad-
vanced asre in liis.'i.
.Vccordin<r tn Dr. Francis. '' Mr. Phillips' successor
in the ministry at Watertown was the Rev. John
Sherman. " l<y some Mr. .Sherman is said to have '
begun his pastoral work in lii47, but there is no cer-
tain proot t'rnin the records of his having been in
oiKce belore lil4S. His relation to Mr. Knowles, who
was here until bi-'iO, is not definitely settled.
Mr. -Iieriuan was born December 2C, IGl.'', in Ded- -
ham, ill the county of E-sex, England. In his home,
anu under the preaching of the celebrated .lolin Rog-
ers, the friend and counselor of George Phillips, he
received ileep and permanent religious impressions.
In school he was studious and dutiful — once only he
was chastised, on which occasion his offence was that
ho gave " the head-i qf.icrmons to his idle schoolmates,
when an account thereof was demnnded from them" —
an offence which no modern boy could well be Ruilty i
of
In due time he became a student at Emanuel Col-
lecre, (Jambridcre, but failed to receive his degree be-
cause be refused to make the required subscription.
As ho was then not more than twenty years of age,
his behavior revealed not only an early maturity of
thought, but an equal development of honesty and
self-respect. He acted with like decision when it
came to the choice of his theatre of action in life, for
when he was but twenty-one years old we find him in
New England. That was in 1634. In that year he i
preached at Watertown as assistant to Mr. Phillips
for a few weeks. Mather informs us that his first dis-
course was on a Thanksgiving Day, when a meeting
was held under a tree in the open air. Several clergy-
men who were present " wondered exceedingly "
when they heard so young a man speak with such
learning and good judgment.
Soon after this he removed to Mew Haven, and was
invited to settle in that region. Declining to do so,
he was chosen as one of the magistrates of the Colony ;
but being invited to return to Watertown to take the'
place left vacant by the death of Mr. Phillips, he laid
down his office and came back to the banks of the
Charles.
Here he fullyjustified the h'gh reputation he had
made before his departure. He was chosen fellow of
Harvard College, and besides the services rendered to
that institution in his official capacity, he continued
for thirty years to give fortnightly lectures, which
were attended by the students, who walked from Cam-
bridge to Watertown to hear him. His reputation for
scholarship extended far and wide. A "skill in
tongues and arts," says Mather, " beyond the common
rale adorned him."
His favorite studies were, however, mathematical
and astronomical, and in these departments he had
no peer in the western world.
In his leisure he made almanacs, in which he set
down moral and religious maxims good for all meri-
dians and all years.
His style of discourse is said to have been full and
rich. His mind was his library, and he could speak
freely and accurately without the help of manuscript
or even the briefest notes.
In private he was sparing of speech. In council
be was clear and weighty. In all relations of life
dignified and courteous. His last discourse wa.s
marked by a richness of thought and energy of lan-
cuage that filled his hearers with admiration. He
was seized with his last illness at Sudbury, where he
had gone to preach, but rallied sulilciently to be able
to reach his own house in Watertown, where he died
on the 8th of August, 1685, at the age of seventy-two.
Mr. Sherman was twice married — six children were
born to him in his first marriage, and twenty in his
second.
On the 24th of August, 1685, a little more than two
weeks after the death of Mr. Sherman, a committee
was chosen at a town-meeting to treat with " Mr.
Bailey, the elder," on the subject of settling in the
ministry at Watertown. Mr. Bailey was at that time
residing in Boston, and a committee was sent to him
requesting him to meet the assembled people and
give them an opportunity "to discourse a little with
him." At a conference held in accordance with this
proposal, he expressed himself willing to become
their minister " if peace and love should continue
amongst them, and they would make his life com-
fortable."
330
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
In August, 1686, " at. a geueral town-meeting," a
call was issued in due form. This call Mr. Bailey ac-
cepted, and on the tith of October he was " solemnly
set apart for pastoral work at Watertown, without
the imposition of hands."
John Bailey was born near Blackburn, in Lanca-
shire, England, on the 24th of February, 1644. His
mother was a woman of deep and earnest religious
spirit, and under her influence the boy became early
imbued with " a serious sense of God and religion."
His father was a man of licentious habits, and in his
absence the young John conducted the devotions of
the family, until his example so admonished and af-
fected his parent that he broke otf his evil ways and
became an exemplary Christian.
Having received a good education, young Bailey
began to preach at the age of twenty-two. His first
charge was at Chester. The principal field of his
labor in the old country was, however, in Limerick,
Ireland, where he was preacher iu the Abbey Church.
He devoted himself to his work with such zeal and
constancy that at the end of his fourteen years of ser-
vice hi.s health was seriously broken. This result
was, probably, hastened by the vexation and impris-
onment that he sutftred for his non-conlormity in
church matters. He had shown himself to have the
qualities of influence and leadership to such r.
degree that he was worth winning over to the Estab-
lishment, and before attempting to silence him, the
Lord Lieutenant attempted to buy him with promise.'!
of preferment. But Bailey was not for sale, and .10
went to prison. He was liberated, after somethini;
like a year, on his promise to go beyond seas. In
fulfilment of this agreement, he came to Boston, and
was for a time a^si^itant minister at the Old South
Church.
In the old book in which he kept a record of hi>
ministry in Limerick, he gives an account of the
last Sacrament which he observed there with his
friends, under date of January 13, 1683-84. Imme-
diately beneath this entry, and under date of October
6, 1686, is a brief account of his settlement in Water-
town. Here he remained until 1692, doing bis work
with a zeal and fidelity that sorely overtaxed his fail-
ing strength. For a short time he had as colleague
his brother, Mr. Thomas Bailey, an amiable and ex-
cellent man, who died in January, 1688, aged thirty-
five years and was interred in the old burving-ground.
In 1691 Mr. Bailey was deeply .Tlllicted bv the death
of his wife, and with this event his work .is minister
in Watertown was virtually ended. A iingle entry
iu his book records a baptism on May 31, 1691, about
a month after the death of his wife, and with this his
quaint farewell to his people and the town that had
been his home. The diary of a brother minister hints
at the reason for his removal in these words — " Then,
being very melancholy and huving the gout, he moved
to Boston."
" The distinguished traits of Mr. Bailey's character,"
says Dr. Francis, '" were ardent piety, great tender-
ness of conscience, and an absorbing interest in the
spiritual welfare of his fellow-men." The records he
has left show that he was much given to melancholy,
and to the sort of severe self-judgment to which the
religion of the time inclined men. " If he had been
at any time," says Mather, " innocently cheerful in
the company of his friends, it cost him afterward
abundance of sad reflection." Judging from the
specimens left in his book, his sermons must have
been addressed to the feelings, rather than to the in-
tellects of his audiences. He was evidently a pleasing
and popular preacher, for he records that on theioth
of November, 1687, there were in the church many
" from Dedham, Wooburn, B.irnstable, Cambridge,
Old Church in Boston, & Y° New Church in B'jston,
Cambridge Village, Concord, Dorchester, Roxbury,
Newbury, Charlestown, Weymouth, etc. Y" text was
in Col ii : 11."
Mr. Bailey was much nought for as a pre.ncher in
the adjoining towns, and one of his hearers wlio once
heard him in Boston, has left on record his iui|>re-i-
sion in the words, " I thought he >|iake like an
angel."
.^fter his return to Boston, Mr. Bailey acted as an-
sistaiit minister in the First Church, when he was not
too ill for work, holding his olhce until December 12,
1697, when he died in the fifty-fourth year of his age.
In his record-book, under date of April 27, 1690,
Mr. Bailey writes: "I admitted" (to the church)
" Mr. Henry <iibbs, who has sonietiines preached f(ir
ine, anil now this (|uarter of a year liaslived with nit."
On the 14ili of 1 )ctober, in the same year, the town
voteil " to make choice of a hc/ji tf> carry on the work
of the ministry amongst us, in this (nir great need."
At the same meeting it was voted " to treat with Mr.
Henry Gibbs," and to give him forty [louiids. Tlie.-e
measures indicate that Mr. Gibbs was at this lime
engaged to act as .Mr. Bailey's assistant, the latter be-
ing unable, on account of ill-health, to attend regu-
larly to his duties. To this position the young man
was most heartily welcomed by bis elder, who enter-
tained for him a very tender regard. When Mr.
Bailey removed to Boston, Mr. Gibbs was left the ouly
minister in the town. He had not been ordained, but
continued to act as minister to the society, his engage-
ment being renewed from time to time. During the
larger part of his life, the town was greatly disturbed
and divided by the controversy that arose over the
(|uestiou of locating the meeting-house in such a way
as to accommodate the people. For a time a second
society existed, having a minister of its own, and a
meeting-house in which services were held. It being
found impossible to harmonize the discordant ele-
ments, Mr. Gibbs was finally ordained, October 6,
1697. "This was done in the afternoon in tiie open
air, though a cold day. The Western party, having
the selectmen on their side, got possession of the
meeting-house, and would not suBer the assembly to
WATERTOWN.
331
enter there."' In 1719, the Rev. Samuel Angier, min-
ister of " the Western Party,'" died, and after several
years more of controversy, a part of his constituen''y
were set off to form the town of Waltham, and the
rest gradually became identitied either with the old
or the new town.
The Rev. Henrj' Gibbs was born in Boston, and
was graduated at Harvard College in 1G85. His
father, Mr. Robert Gibbs, was a Boston merchant, of
large property, and of considerable distinction. The
position of minister in Watertown duriag the years of
controversy must have been one to tax both the
wisdom and the patience of the incumbent, but Mr.
Gibbs seems to have met the demands of the time
with singular firmness, prudence and good sense, and
to have been held in high re^^pect by all the inhabit-
ants of the town. This fact alone is eloquent in his
praise. JIany a man who has gone to the stake with I
unshaken courage, would have broken down under i
the strain of twenty-seven years of angry debate j
and petty neighborhood jealousies. That Mr. Gibbs j
was able to bear such a trial, and all the while to" do I
justly anil love mercy," entitles him to rank with Job |
on the roll of the world's worthies. !
His power to keep his head in a time of general j
madness finds another illustration in the fact that [
he seems to have stood aloof from the mob that I
hounded the Salem witches to their miserable fate, i
Under date of May 31, 169"J, he records the (act thai ,
he was in ."^aiem, observing the trials, and he says :
" Wondered at what I .saw, but how to judge and con-
clude T was at a loss ; to affect my heart, and to induce :
me to more care and concernedness about myself
and others is the use I should make of it." 1
" Mr. tiihbs,' says Francis, " was a benefactor both to
hischiirch and to the college. In his will, which was
proved Xdvember 11, 172.3, he made the (ollnwing i
bequest, part of which still constitutes a portion of j
what is called Tlif Mlninterial Fund : ' I do give and '
beijueath to the Eastern Church of Chri-st in Water- i
town, to which I have borne a pastoral relation, for j
the encouragement nf the gospel ministry there, my |
four acres of pasture land and three acres of marsh,
situate in the East end of said town, for the use of the
said church forever. And I do give to said church my ,
silver bowl with a foot.' i
"His bequest to the college he devised in the fol- i
lowing terms: 'And further it is my will, that]
within ten years after my youngest child comes of '
age, an hundred pounds be paid by my heirs for j
the use of the Harvard College, forty pounds thereof '
by my son, and twen'y pounds apiece by my ;
daughters ; the yearly interests to be exhibited to !
such members if the college as need it, firstly to my I
children's posterity if they desire it.' '
As a writer, ilr. Gibbs was natural and direct-
His words were those of an honest man, who desired
to do good. He died on the 21st day of (Jctober,
1723, in the flfty-si.tth year of his age and the
twenty-seventh year of his ministry. He was buried
in the old grave-yard at Watertown.
Mr. Gibbs was succeeded in the ministry of *he
Eastern Parish by the Rev. Seth Storer, who was or-
dained July 22, 172-1. There is no record of the pro-
ceedings that attended his settlement on the books of
the to wn, since the transactionconcerned only the East-
ern Precinct. In fact, there is not, so far as is known,
any record in existence of the particulars of his life or
ministry. He inherited the controversy that began
in the time of Mr. Gibbs, between " The Western
party " and the old parish, and experienced, doubt-
less, his share of the discomfort arising during its pro-
gress and settlement.
There were m;my other distracting incidents aris-
ing during the growth of the town, and out of its re-
lations to the authorities in Boston, but it is believed
that the minister of the First Parish bore his part in
these matters with patience and wisdom. His term
of service was the longest in the historyof the town —
over fifty years. He died on the 27th day of Novem-
ber, 1774, in the seventy -third year of his age. He was
a native of Saco, Maine, where he was born May 27,
1702. He graduated at Harvard College in 1720, at
the age of eighteen. His father was Colonel Joseph
Storer, of Wells, Maine, a man who won considerable
distinction in the Indian wars. As indicating the
conditions amid which his childhood was passed, we
may note the fact that he had a sister Mary, who was
carried away by the Indians as a captive, and was
brought up near Montreal. Dr. Francis relates that
in his time there were still living a few who could
remember Mr. .'Storer in his old age, and they reported
that he was much loved by young people and
children. This fact he justly regards as an evidence
of the simplicity and goodness of his character. He
never, as far ivs is known, published any production
of his pen. He took no part in the theological strife
of his time, but lived the friend and helper of his
neighbors and died lamented by those who had known
him to love and respect him.
For three years after the death of Mr. Storer the
pulpit of the First Parish Church remained unoccu-
pied by a settled minister. This was probably owing
to the excitement and confusion of the time which
saw the opening of the Revolutionarj' War. The
pulpit was filled by temporarv supply, as circum-
stances and the inclinations of the people directed.
There was use for the church, however, at this time,
not contemplated by those who built it, though it was
precisely such use :is was forecast by the action of
George Phillips and Richard Browne, in 1631. The
Second Provincial Congress was suddenly summoned
to meet at Concord, April 22, 1775, but immediately
.idjourned to meet at Watertown. Here the Congress
assembled, during the remainder of the session, in the
meeting-house. John Hancock having been chosen
delegate to the Continental Congress at Philadelphia,
Joseph Warren presided over the deliberations. The
332
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
tliird and last Provincial Congress also met at Water-
town on May 31st. The ses8ion.s were held in the
meeting-house as before. Joseph Warren was again
chosen president, and Samuel Freeman, Jr., secretary.
The Rev. Dr. Langdon, president of Harvard College.
preached a sermon before the body. The session
lasted until the 19th of July. On the :26th of .Tuly
the meeting-house was again in use for the assem-
bling of the General Conrt of the Colony. Subse-
quently the Boston town-meetings were held here,
and in 177G the anniversary of the 5th of March was
observed by the people of Bo.^tnn in the meeting-
house in Watertown.
It was not till November, 1777, that any movement
was made toward the settlement of a minister. At
that time it was voted unanimously to concur with
the town in the choice of Mr. Daniel Adams. He ac-
cepted the invitation to the i)astorate, and was or-
dained on the 20th of .Vpril, 177'^. The Rev. 'S\t.
Prentiss, of Me<ltiel(l. preached the ordination ser-
mon, and the Rev. Dr. Appleton, of Ciimbridge,
delivered the cliar<;e.
The settlement of Mr. Adams was regarded by the
peojile as adequate cause for rejoicing, and the bright-
est anticipations were apparently about to be realized,
when the town was plunged in grief l>y the sudden
death of it3 chosen leader. In the August following
his ordination Mr. Adams was seized with a violent
illness, and, after lingering for sis weeks, expired on
the lOth of September, in the thirty-third year of his
:'ge.
He was the son of Elisha Adams, of Medway, where
he was born in 174t>. His ancestor, Henry Adams,
came from Devonshire, England, and seitled in Brain-
tree (now (^uincy) in IG.'-tH. He was graduated from
Harvard College iu 1774, and immediately began the
stud}' of theology under the tuition of approved schol-
ars and preachers, as the custom then was.
As a preacher he was received with marked favor,
and his services were desired by several churches. In
the brief term of his pastorate in Watertown he won
the respect of his people by the virtues of his charac-
ter, and commanded their admiration as a pre.acher.
After the death of Mr. Adams the pulpit was filled
by various preachers, employed for various terms of
service, by a committee of the church, until the 13th
of March, 17S0, when a meeting was called to con-
sider the calling of a |)astor. Mr. Richard Rosewell
Eliot, who had preached lor the society during the
preceding winter, w.is chosen by a unanimous vote.
He accepted the invitation, and was ordained June
"21, 1780. Dr. Francis records the fact that the town
appropriated £li)00 to defray the expenses of the
ordination. What sort of festivities were indulged
in is not matter of record. We may infer the condi-
tion of the currency, however, from the sum named.
The period covered by the pastorate of Mr. Eliot
saw the successful termination of the National strug-
gle for independence, and the exciting and critical
I debates that resulted in the adoption of the Constitu-
1 tion. It was a time of hardship and of trial. The
'; financial and industrial confusion of one great war
I were soon succeeded by the business stagnation inci-
j dent to another, and there are indications that the
I Watertown parish and its minister had their share in
j the troubles and depressions of the time.
I Mr. Eliot died i>n the 21st of October, 1S18. He
I was sixty-six years old and had been for more than
j thirty-eight years the minister of the First Parish.
I He was descended in direct line from .lohn Eliot, the
' apostle to the Indians, and was born at New Haven.
Connecticut, October 8, 17">2. He w.as graduated at
; Harvard in 1774. and was a class-mate of .Mr. Ailam>,
! his predecessor iu Watertown. In his early manhniid
I he gained much reputatiou as an orator, but for the
I larger part of his life his health was poor and his
' strength was inadequate to the full exercise of hi.s iia-
. five gifts. As a preacher, he was graceful and pleas-
ing in manner, and his doctrinal views were of ihe
I milder and more benevident type. His virtues were
su(di as fitted him to shine in the quiet wnlks of a
j life of piety and beneficence.
; Sl'PPLE.MEXT.\RY HlSTOl! V OF THE FiR.ST P.^RIsH.'
j — Rev. ilr. Eliot's successor was Dr. Convcrs Francis.
' the last minister hired by the town. He had preached
: r)ccasionally during the winter after the death of 3Ir.
. Eliot, and on the 12lh of .Vpril following (1S11>^, the
I town concurred with the church in the invitation,
I and offered him a salary of one thousand dollars and
a settlement of the same sum. The ordination 'inik
place on the 2:'.d of June, in the idd meeting-liouse.
t a plan of which we give later, that stood near the
i corner nf Mt. .Vuburn and Common Streets, in what
! is now the cemetery, and where his remains and those
of his wife now rest.
I Dr. Osgood presided at the councii, and one iniglu
[ expect some disputation at this time, when the doc-
trines which were soon developed by the Unitarian
controversy began to he ditferentiatcd ; " but every-
thing went off without an infraction of the pence."
Hev. Mr. Lowell made the first prayer. Dr. (Jsgood
preached the sermon. President Kirkland made the
consecrating prayer. Dr. Ripley, of Concord, gave the
charge. Rev. Mr. Palfrey gave the right hand of I'el-
lowship, and the Rev. Mr. Ripley, of Waltham, made
the concluding prayer: " God grant that my ministry
in this town may be a long, a happy and a useful
one, and that many may have reason to bless the day
when my union with this people was formed." The
ministry was a long, and, in many respects, a happy
and a useful one. There are those still living whose
childhood reaches back to that time.
Converse Francis was devoted to the ministry to
which he was called. " But his record upon earth is
blotted with the clouds of his humility and self-
depreciation. There never was a man of such various
1 By Solon F. Whitney.
o
-3
>
O
o
o
<
WATERTOWN.
333
learning, delightful converse and refined philosophy,
so absolutely unconcious of a personality. It seems
at first as if more self-esteem would have enhanced
his powers.' In 1.S21 he says in a little diary, " God
forgive me that, when speaking on the most import-
ant subjects, I am so cold and indifferent." "My
mind is tilled and pressed with anxious thoughts."
He felt depressed that he cuuld not lift the people to
the level of his glowing thought. His quiet life in
Watertown was made eventful by thoughts and books.
He wrote the life of Eliot, the apostle to the Indians,
for Sparks' " American Biography." A thousand or
more of his manuscript sermons, now in the Public
Library of this town, testify to his industry and his
interest in his people. The classic writers of Greece
and Rome were otten in his hands. The literature ot
France and (Germany presented no barriers by their
strange tongues. His library, a part of which is now
the property of the town, gathered from all nations,
shows his omnivorous reading. He was especially
interested in the history of the past, the history of
his own town and parish, as his history of Watertown
and his historical addresses testify. He was an active
meraher of the Massachusetts Historical Society and
the New England Historic ( ienealogical Society, and,
by his collections of materials and his substantial
cuntribiitioiis, showed that not only in the Bible, and
in Bible history, but in all history he believed the
thought of God could he traced dealings with hi>
people.
Hi' was something of a seer. When Emerson was
covered with a cloud of obloquy, and even he could
not agree with his remarks or; some points, be says,
" The more I see of this beautiful spirit, the more J
revere ami love him; «ucli a calm, steady, simple
■*oul, a!way~ looking for truth and living in wisdom
and in love for man and ijoodiiess. " I'lato was also
a bond between them.
He made (March i^, I'^'iT) some remarks on art, in
speaking nl' the destruction of bis old church ; "In
passing the mU- of our old meeting-house, I observed
that to-day the last remains had been leveled with
the ground. The old spire came down, the cock
bowed his bead to the dust" (it is now perched on
the Methodi.-.t spire in the village) "alter having
stood manfully up amidst the winds of heaven.
There is an interest attached to the humblest forms
in which the genius of man makes itself apparent in
outward shapes, however rude. Every church, every
dwelling-house, every utensil we use in domestic life,
every garment we wear, is a fragment in the great
World of art, which hits been building u|i ever since
Adam. The individual Ibrnis and manifestations
vanish, but art is ever reappearing. I believe, after
all, I can never love my new church as I did the old
one ; it had been consecrated by years of prayer and
instruction ; generations had come and gone, and had
sought God and truth within its walls; old men were
there, with their gray hairs, wlioic infant fronts had
been touched with the water of baptism at that
altar."
This is not the place to present his peculiar doc-
trines, or to present arguments in favor of his sound-
ness in wisdom, or his success in reaching the truth.
The times were fertile in ideas and new organiza-
tions. New England was in labor. Whether the off-
spring of that day will help to bring on the millen-
nium or not it is not the province of the historian to
discuss. That the asperity of the controversies which
began in those limes is somewhat changed for the
better, and that it found no occasion for being in
Doctor Francis' mild, quiet, studious, loving life, there
are many yet to testify.
There is in the Public Library a delightful portrait
of Doctor Francis in middle life, painted by Alexan-
der, a noted Boston artist, and given by his daughter
Abby a few months before her la.st sickness, the same
time as when she entrusted to the same keeping the
collection of his written sermons, that they might be
near where they were produced, and perhaps where
they would find the children of those to whom they
were preached, who might, for their fathers' and
mothers' sakes, like sometimes to test the earnestness
and purity of heart with wnich they were written.
Whether the people of the town would be better
served, would be more highly blessed, by the minis-
trations of the church, if all the diti'erences of opinion
and of sentiment that now divides it into so many
societies', with such sharp lines of doctrine, could be
I obliterated and all return into one fold, with one
shepherd, as under the former ministers in the town
church, or not, we will not attempt to answer.
I As this period of Dr. Francis' long ministry (twen-
I ty-three years), which ended cmly with his accept-
I ance of the important Profe.ssorship of Puloit Elo-
I iiuence in the Divinity ::^chool of Harvard University^
; in the summer of I84i, w;is the last one in which the
. town was united, we may find it pleasant to stop a
; moment to look it over.
I We hoped to present an e/ecu^/o/i of the old meet-
\ ing-house, which was built, in 1755, enlarged in 1819,
■ and demolished in 1S36. We must be content with
I A plan of the seating of the church as it is remem-
! bered by some of the old people who are still living.
I This plan was drawn by Charles Brigham, archi-
tect, at the suggestion of Dr. Alfred Hosmer, presi-
' dent of the Historical Society of Watertown, and is
the result of a large amount of labor and caretul
comparison of testimony. Here in the building thus
I rei)re3ented were held all town-meetings.
i The second Provincial Congress having assembled
: in Concord, on the 22d of April, 1775, adjourned to
this house the same day ; the third Provincial Con-
gress assembled here May 31st, and remained in ses-
sion until July 19, 1775.
I This house was immediately occupied by the Gen-
; ral Court, or Assembly of the Colony, until they ad-
' journed to the State-House, in Boston. It was again
334
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
occupied by the General Court, in 1788, during the
prevalence of small-pox in Boston.
This drawing shows a plan of the old meeting-
house as it was when last used as a place of worship,
in 18'jii. It stood in what is now a burial-ground, on
the corner of Mt. Auburn and Common Streets. The
names are of persons who are now known to have
been pew-holders, or to have had sittings.
\\"e wish the time and space allowed us would now
allow us to give a short historical sketch of each per-
son whose name is included in this significant plan.
We cannot do better than present some reminiscences,
from a member of the Historical Society, of
The Old MEETixci-Hont^E.' — The old meeting-
house, so truthlully sketched by Mr. Brigham,
has a greater interest for the towus-man of to-
day than could possibly belong to any church
edifice of the present time, similarly reproduced a
century or two hence. The modern structure would
iinly represent the particular occupants thereof, and
their peculiar traits, whereas the one now under
consideration has a secular, as well as a religious
history. Throughout its entire existence it was the
only place wliere the town-meetings were held, and
that cHiplically enclosed space below the pulpit, de
signed for the dispensation of church ordinances, was
also the forum where the edicts of the town were
uttffcd and recorded.
In this place the moderator rehearsed the usual
" Articles " of the " Warrant " in iheir order with the
conventionally reiterated phrases of "To see," "To
know'' and " Act thereon," so familiar to everybody
nowadays. The people have not always received a
lirinled copy of this document at their doors — a
written copy was posted in a glass-covered case at
the front door of the raeeiing-house, for the prescribed
number of days. And where also every man, young
or old, before he could take to his home, in lawful
wedlock, the partner of his bosom, must have his
intentions to do so, " published " over the signature
of the town clerk during three successive Sundays.
The town-reports also were not published, and could
be consulted only by a resort to the records of the
town clerk.
In the earlier days of the old meeting-house the
town and the parish were an involuntai^ co-partner-
ship— the minister was called the " minister of the
town." An inhabitant belonged to the pariah, nolens
volens — and in a more chattel sense than was
agreeable to an inconsiderable minority of persons.
A tax-payer might abstain from its teachings, but
there were only two ways of escape from contributing
to its support — either to move away, or die, before the
1st day of May. Afterward the law was so modified
that scruples could be relieved by " signing off" (as it
was called) to some other specified parish. And still
later on, all persons were exempted from involuntary
1 By Jodbua CuuliJge, Etiq.
taxation for religious purposes. This was the final
sundering of church and state in ^lassachusetts.
Selfish ends have been attained often by shrewd
foresight and sharp practice. The clustering mem-
ories of the old meeting-house call up a transaction
which, in the attending squabble, and the eminent
counsel engaged, had at the time all the importance
of a " cause celebre."
Property belonging to the town had been set apart,
by an act of incorporation, for the support of the
" Minister of the Town."
About fifty years ago, when the population had in-
creased, and new parishes had been formed, a major-
ity of the inhabitants peiitioned the Legislature that
the act of incorporation might be so changed that the
incumeof the " ministerial fund," so-called, would re-
vert to the treasury of the town.
The contention then was that, as the ministry of
the town had become a subdivided function, th? town
provender should be correspondingly distributed, or
else reimnii in lite giuiiary. ^Moreover, the " Minister
of the Town,'' niui)itip:.lly, no longer e.\isied — and
casuists queried whether the '' ministerial fund, ' also,
had not lapsed with the beneficiary. The petition
was argued, pro and 'y/t, by eminent coun.-el, before
a committee of the Legislature, who re|)orted leave to
withdraw, on account, as was said, of the troublesome
precedent of disturbing old vested rights and inter-
ests— s(mie captious persons have pretended to dt>cry
a similar paradox in this case to that ol'the oid jack-
knife that claimed identity with one that had a new
blade, and a new handle.
The particular tojjic to which my random recollec-
tions were invited was a ."Sunday in the old '' Meet-
ing-house.' I have made a prelude of its week day
history, which in it.s entirety would comprise a his-
tory of town artairs for a century, the later year- of
which will not nuich lunger be rehearsed by eye-wit-
nesses. 3Iy own exjierience in the Sunday services
of the old meeting-house occurred in its latter day-,
now more than three-score years ago, when, and
where, for a short time, in my early 'teens, I took part
in the instrumental accompaniment to the church
choir. The associations and personal friendships of
those days have been unavoidably interrupted, but
they will be remembered as long as the faculty for so
doing remains.
The especial object of interest in the Sunday ser-
vice is the occupant of the pulpit, and to which ob-
ject all other arrangements are incidental and tribu-
tary. The incumbent under our notice, the late Rev.
Convers Francis, D.D., was a man of medium height
and stocky build, made apparently more so when in
the pulpit, by the ample folds of his silken robe.
Under the canopy of the great broad sounding-board,
which, by its seemingly slender hanging, meuanced
whoever stood beneath it with probable destruction,
he unatTectedly delivered his always carefully written
sermons, a large collection, of which, iu their origi-
WATERTOWN.
335
nal manuscript, are in the custody of the Free Public
Library.
It seemed strange that one so amply endowed with
exuberance of thought and Hueucy of speech never
indulged in extemporaneous discourse in the pulpit.
He could " reason of fate, foreknowledge and free-
will," "from rosy morn till dewy eve,"' without note
or break, and for conversation needed only a listener
to make the onHow continuous. He did not affect
those graces of oratory that are exemplied by gestic-
ulation, his emotion never found vent through his
arms, nor did he ever attempt to make a point clearer
by laying one fore-finger upon the other. His con- ;
victious might have been shaken by argument, but |
Ihey could not have been burned out of him with i
fire. His contempt for all 'isms and 'ologies other
than his own was never disguised by any blandish- i
meiits of demeanor. |
He was equally vigorous in body and mind — books 1
were as essential to bis existence as bread, and were ;
be required to dispense with either, he would have
ex[ierimented up to the starvation point, at least,
upon a diet of books alone. Many of those be read
became much enlarged by his annotations upon the
riy-leaves and margins — sentences would be under-
lined— exclamation ami interrogation points sprin-
kled in — and in the margins would lie found the i
" pshaws,'' or " bah>," or " Ijosbes,'" or other forcible I
expressions, according to the intensity of his agree- [
nient or dissent. A great university of learning, to |
him, was more worthy of reverence than almost any '.
other human achievement. He made frequent visits |
on foot to < 'aml>ridire. where he was ultimately called !
to a professorship. This was bis Mecca, and before .
whose shrine he passed the remainder of his days. '
I occasionally met him in the vicinity of the college, !
when he always stopped fur a trieudly chat about
atlairs in W'atertown, and the current topics of the
day — especially of the anti-slavery movement, which
was then at full ti<le — in which he took a deep inter- [
est, and for the noted advocates of which he had great
.admiration. The conservatism of his former years :
had melted away, and a wider Held had been opened i
to his views and liis desires. .Mr. Brigham has given
us a sketch of the pews and the names of their occu- 1
pants also, with all the correctness of a sun-picture;
but the history of a "Sunday .service " would be lack-
ing without the mention of an occurrence which was
Ire^iuently repeated, and which in any worshipping
as-senil)lr of to-day would be a startling shock to the
prevailing sense of propriety.
It was the custom to turn up the hinged seats in I
the pews in order to make room. At the close of the '
standing services they would come down with a whang
and a clatter closely resembling the re|)ort of a vol-
ley of musketry by an undrilled company of militia;
yet the devotional demeanor of the occasion was not
disturbed, either in the pulpit or in the pews. In J
our sketch personal allusions are precluded through
fears both of forgetfulness and seeming invidiousness.
But there was one more, at least, who was part and
parcel of our theme. He had a place in the front
centre of the singing-gallery, where he accompanied
the choir upon the 'cello. The sexton and the bell
were no more punctually present in their vocation
than was Col. Thomas Learned. He lived in a house,
the site of which is now occupied by the house of
Mr. Charles Q. Pierce — from which, twice every Sun-
day, he could be seen with his instrument of music
under his arm, wending his way to the church. And
during the tolling of the " last bell " he was occupied
with " tuning up," and the mingling of the soft con-
cordant sounds were a more fitting and pleasurable
prelude to the succeeding exercises than the preten-
tious hullabaloo now sometimes inflicted as a " vol-
untary." He was also self-appointing tilhingman
whenever the need existed — sometimes he would pro-
ceed to the vicinity of a group of disorderly boys in
the " free-seats," and either push them apart and seat
himself among them or else take the biggest rogue by
the collar and lead him back to his own seat in the
choir.
The attraction as well as the edifying influences of
thesinging service were as well understood and appre-
ciated in thos.3 days as at present. If there were per-
sons who were indifl'erent, to say the least, to their
own spiritual welfare, miijkt they not be " moved by
the concord of sweet sounds," and thereby be
brought within reach of the more salutary influences
of the pulpit'? Therefore, preparatory measures must
be kept in operation for the replenishment of this
branch of the service. Music was not a part of the
town-school curriculum — the average scholar came
out of it, finally, with as little ability (gained therein)
to read a stalf of printed music, as he had to compre-
hend the geometrical intricacies of the diff"ereutial
calculus. Now, " we have changed all that."
This want was supplied by the village singing-
school. It never attempted to exemplify " High
.\rt," nor to produce extraordinary individual pro-
ficiency ; it did not aim at the training of profes-
sional "stars," but of a company of supernumeraries
that would be available for the Sunday service of
song. Other objects and influences incidentally grew
out of and into it — the social element became prom-
inent; it aft'orded remarkably congenial conditions for
the development of the " tender passion ;" conjugal
aflinities were brcmght within that sphere of mutual
attraction where, " like kindred drops, they mingled
into one ;" and many a fragrant flower there found
recognition, which otherwi.se might have " wasted
its sweetness on the desert air."
The village singing-school passed away with the
demise of our sturdy townsmen and intimate friends,
Messrs. .Joseph and Horace Bird. They rendered ef-
fectual voluntary aid to the singing services of the
"old meeting-housfe " for a considerable time, mean-
while qualifying themselves, by study and practice
336
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
under higher professional sources, to become teachers
of this particular science, in which capacity they
determining, it must be confessed, sometimes in a most
tumultuous fashion, what shall bt done for the re-
werfe widely known and esteemed, during forty years straining of criminals, the preservation of property,
in our own and many neighboring towns, where they j the education of the young, the care of the poor, and
successfully practiced their special vocation. They ; all those various concerns siiu'gested by the common
never needed importunity to take part in any move- j convenience.
ment that had in view the public welfare or the re-
lief of private want.
Of the male members of the singing choir during
my own sojourn, whose names and faces are still
vividly in mind, there is not one now to be found.
Of those in the same department, who, in the familiar-
ity of youthful intimacy, were called " the girls," but
two can be recalled, who would hear the sound of
the old church-bell could it again peal forth from the
newly reproduced steeple. And the occupants of the j
pews, excepting those who were then in early child-
hood, can now be counted upon the fingers — and |
some of these, although living in their original homes, i
;ire residents of another town. And many of the
family names borne by those who congregated in the useful ministry.
This is rather suggested by considering the history
of the town than of the church. But so far they were
inseparable.
Rev. John Weiss was ordained October 2-3, 1S43.
He resigned October -3. 1S4C), because of his strong
anti-slavery convictions, but resumed his pastorate on
invitation of the parish in lS4ij, and continued till
bis resignation in November, 1.S47, when he was in-
stalled as pastor of the Fir.st (?ongregational Society
in New Bedford.
Rev. Hasbrouck Davis was ordiined March I'S ,
IS49. He resigned May 11, 1833.
Rev. George Bradford was ordained November u,
18.5i5. He died Feliruary 17, l^o'.i, after a brief Imt
Rev. Arthur B. Fuller became pastor March 1,
18(50, and resigned in \>*V1, and enlisted with Com-
pany K, ('') receiving the appointmeiiL of chaplain of
the regiment. He was Aial in the streets of Freder-
icksburg, having volunteered to go over the river to
the attack.
In June of this year Rev. John Weiss returned by
invitation and preached for the society until lSi?,>.
()i Mr. Weiss, the first minister ordained after the
old meeting-house, have become extinct, or are tend-
ing in that direction.
The losses we have enumerated were in the order
i)f Providence, and therefore could not have been
iiverted — others may have occurred through negli-
gence. The associations connected with the history
of the old meeting-house were of sufficient interest to
have induced, if possible, its furtherpreservation — and
it would have seemed proper action on the part of the
town to have determined by examination and discus- ! society was wholly separated from the town govcrn-
si<m, whether the "sentence" of demolition should | ment, and serving long after all of the present
not have been commuted. But fate decreed otherwise. . churches — but one, the Episcopal — «ere established.
And ibe structure that sheltered the Provincial Con- much might be said. The time is too rece:it, although
gress while in direful circumstances, passed away, ; his service began nearly fifty years ago, and feelings
"unwept, unhonored and unsung," and the green are still too unsettled, the perspective too short, lor a
lawn upon which it stood was transformed into a clear and impartial stateuu-nt of the value of his
final resting-place for the descendants of those who labors. His services in the wi-rk of the public schools
reared and occupied it. and in the establishment of the Free Public Library
Our readers will certainly pardon the wide range were of inestimable worth to the town. As time
which memory of a place occupied for so diverse pur- i passes they will rise higher in the regard of his fei-
poaes as the town meeting-house calls up in the i lows. Mr. Weiss was born in Boston in June, IslS,
charming sketch which we have inserted without i and died there March 9, 1S7!I. He went to the
change or suggestion. I Chauncy Hall School for a while and afterwards to
That the town, the modern New England town, the the Framingham Academy, from whence he went to
unit which is everywhere repeated, although iu various Harvard College in 1833, graduating in the class of
combinations, in the organization of the State and the \ 1837, taught for a time at Jamaica Plain, entered
nation, had its origin in the parish, we perhaps Harvard Divinity School iu 1S4II. spent the winter of
have here one of the last chances to see. Originally an 184"J-4o at Heidelberg University in Germany, and (m
ecclesiastical organization, growing out of the demo- his return to this country was ordained, as we have
cratic origin of the Christian church, the idea of the stated, in 1S43, over tins old parish church,
public good has in time come to be larger than the 1 Looking back over his whole service, his brilliant
idea of kings or of any privileged class. In the history ' preaching, his interest in all forms of education, his
of this church, this town, we see the municipal order cheerful and playful manners, his wit, and yot bis
separating from any and all churches, and launching ! earnestness, we are gl.id to take refuge in the appre-
out upon the independent, the broad and generalized ciative words of O. B. Frothingliam, a classmate acd
idea of existence tor the public good, and henceforth life-long friend, who says of him, in the course ot
meeting (from 1847) in a town-house constructed for j quite a long article:
the purpose, wholly freed from ecclesiastical questions, "This man was a flame of fire. He was genius.
WATERTOWN.
337
unalloyed by terrestrial considerations ; a sjiirit-
latnp, always burning. He had an overflow of
nervous vitality, an excess of spiritual life that could
not find vents enough for its discharge. As his figure
comes before me, it seems that of one who is more
than half transfigured. His large head; bis ample
brow; his great, dark eyes; his 'sable-silvered' beard
and full moustache ; his gray hair, thick and close on
top, with the strange line of black beneath it like a
fillet of jet; his thin, piping, penetrating, tenuous
voice, that trembled as it conveyed the torrent of
thought ; the rapid, sudden manner, suggesting some-
times the lark and sometimes the eagle ; the small but
sinewy body ; the delicate hands and feet ; the sensi-
tive touch, all indicated a half-disembodied soul."
Soon after he graduated " he read a sermon on the
supremacy of the spiritual element in character,
which impressed me as few pulpit utterances ever did,
so fine was it ; so subtle, yet so massive in conviction."
Afterwards in New Bedford, he gave a discourse oil
materialism, which "derived force from the intense
earnestness of its delivery, as by one who could look
into the invisible world, and could speak uo light
word or consult transient etl'ects. Many years later,
I listened in New York, to his lectures on Greek
ideas, the keenest interpretation of the ancient
myths, the most profound, luminous, sympathetic.
He had the faculty of reading between the lines,
of apprehending the hidden meaning, of setting the
old stories in the light of universal ideas, of lighting
up allusions.
" His genius was eminently religious. Not, indeed,
in any customary fashion, nor after any usual way.
He belonged to the Rationalists, was a Pri^^estant of
an extreme type, an avowed adherent of the most
' advanced ' views. His was a purely natural, scien-
tific, spiritual faith, iincMthodox to the last degree,
logically, historically, critically, sentimentally so.
" He had an agonized impatience to know what- ^
ever was to lie known, to get at the ultimate. Evi-
deni'e that tn most minds seemed fatal to belief waa,
in his sight, conformity of it, as rendering its need
more clear and more imperious. ' We need be afraid
of nothing in heaven or earth, whether dreamt of or
not in our philosophy.' "
He was a more subtle -ind more brilliant thinker
for being also a poet. Dr. <)reste3 Brownson, no
mean judge on such matters, spoke of him as the most
promising |)liilosophical mind in the country. To a
native talent for metaphysics his early studies at
Heidelberg probably contributed congenial training.
His knowledge of ( rerman philosophy may well have
been stimulated ;ind matured by his residence in that
centre of active thought i while his intimacy, on his
return, with the keenest intellects in this country
may well have sharpened his original predilection for
abstract sjieculation. However this may have been, :
the tendency of bis genius was decidedly towards j
metaphysical problems and the interpretation of the '
human consciousness. This he erected as a barrier
against materialism. His volume on " American
Religion " was full of nice discriminations ; so waa
his volume on the " Immortal Life ; " so were his
articles and lectures. His " Lifeof Theodore Parker "
abounded in curious learning aa well as in vigorous
thinking. He could not rest in sentiment, must have
demonstration, and never stopped till he reached the
ultimate ground of truth as he regarded it.
He was a man of undaunted courage. He believ-
ed, with all his heart, in the doctrines he had arrived
at. He was an anti-slavery man from the beginning.
.Vt a large meeting in Waltham in 1845, to protest
against the admission of Texas, Mr. Weiss, then
minister at Watertown, delivered a .speech, in which
he said, " our Northern apathy heated th« iron,
forged the manacles, and built the pillory."
To his unflinching devotion to free thought in
religion he owed something of his unpopularity
with the masses of the people. " There is dignity
in dust that reaches any form, because it eventually
betrays a forming power, and ceases to be dust
in sharing it." " It is a wonder to me that scholars
and clergymen are so skilled about scientific facts."
" We owe a debt to the scientific man who can show
how many moral customs result from local and
ethnic experiences, and how the conscience is every-
where Capable of inheritance and education. He
cannot bring too many facts of this description,
because we have one fact too much for him ; namely,
a latent tendency of conscience to repudiate inherit-
ance and every experience of utility." John Weiss was
essentially a poet. His pages are saturated with poetry.
His arguments are expressed in poetic imagery.
" What a religious ecstasy is health ! Its free step
claims every meadow that is glad with flowers ; its
bubbling spirits fill the cup of wide horizons, and drip
down their brims ; its thankfulness is the prayer that
takes possession of the sun by day, and the stars by
night. Every dancing member of the body whirls off
the soul to tread the measures of great feelings, and
God hears people saying : ' How precious also are thy
thoughts, how great is the sum of them ! When I
awake I am still with thee.' Yes, ■' when I awake,'
but not before."'
John W. Chadwick said of him, " It is hard to
think of Weiss aa dead, and the more I think of it,
the more I am persuaded that he is not."
After Mr. Weiss resigned, the society spent some
time in hearing candidates, but in 1870 Mr. James T.
Bixby was installed, and he preached until 1873,
showing those scholarly traits that have made him ao
famous as a writer since.
Joseph H. Lovering preached from 1875 to 1878 ;
Arthur May Knapp, preached from 1880 to 1887; and
William H. Savage has preached from 1887.
The society seemed to take a new start under Mr.
Knapp, and has fairly roosed into something of its
old activity nnder Mr. Savage. .
338
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Within the last few years a new building has been
erected for Sunday-school work and for social pur-
poses, which has proved an aid in religious and social
ways. The Unitarian Club, of this church, the first
to be established in any society, has proved of help to
its members in leading to new interest and participa-
tion, in church activities, and has been followed in its
form of organization by many new clubs in various
parts of the country.
The Baptist Chukch and Sabbath-Schooi,.' —
During the summer and fall of 1827, Miss Eliza
Tucker, Miss Jlartlia Tucker and Miss E. Brigham
united in gathering some of the children of the vil-
lage together. Sabbath mornings, to teach them
verses of Scripture and poetry, and also to properly
observe the Sabbath.
They were successful, and the movement found
favor with the people, especially the mothers, who
were glad to have their children properly cared for
on the Lord's day.
Miss Brigham wius a teacher in the T(jwu School,
which gave her special opportunity with the children
for good.
They held their gatherings in the house of Deacon
John Tucker (the building lately occupied by (Itis
Bros.), but their numbers increased so they had to
seek-a larger place, and in the fall of 1S27 they hired
the hall in the brick building now occupied by S. S.
Gleason and others.
In this hall the Sabbath-school was held at UMO
A.M., and preaching service at 10.30 a.m., every Sab-
bath. In April, 1828, the school was organized, with
a membership of ihirty-five, including officers and
teachers. William Hague, superintendent; Josiah
Law, vice-superintendent ; Deacon Josiah Stone,
Elijah Pratt, Mrs. Pratt, Misses Eliza Tucker, .Mar-
tha Tucker, E. Brigham and E. A. Wheeler were ap-
pointed teachers.
They occupied this hall until the fall of 1828, when
they were obliged to move to a larger hall; they
found such a hall in the building opposite Market
and Arsenal Streets, where they remained until they
moved into the vestry of the new church, in August,
1830, the same year the church was organized, com-
posed of members of the Sabbath-school and others,
which was July 18, 1830, with forty-six members.
The first house of worship was completed the same
year and occupied the lot on which the present house
stands.
In 1857 the old house was removed and the new
house was built upon the same foundation, with a
few alterations. This was dedicated in 1859. During
the sixty years, the church has had ten pastors, whose
names and terms of service are as follows : (1) Rev.
Peter Chase, served 1 year and 1 month; (2) Nicho-
las Medbery, served 10 years and 10 months; (3)
E. D. Very, served 1 year and 1 month ; (4) C. K.
> By Rojtl GUkej.
Colver, served 4 years and 1 month; (-5) B. A. Ed-
wards, served 3 years and 5 months; (fi) William L.
Brown, served 5 years and 3 months; (7) A. S- Pat-
ton, served 3 years and 2 months; (8) William F.
Stubberts, served 2 years and 10 months ; (0) G. S.
Abbott, served 7 years; (10) E. A. Capen (present
pastor), nearly 13 years.
The present number of members is 335. The whole
number that have united during the sixty years is
1003, of whom about 2.30 have died.
The membershi[i of the Sabbath-school is 3.iO.
Thus, from the small beginning, both church and
school have become a power for good.
Phillips CHt:R<H a.xd Society.' — During the
spring and summer of 1854 a pious and devoted lady,
who was engaged in missionary labors in the town,
became aware of the fact that many residents of the
town were members of Congregational Orthodox
churches in the neighboring towns ;'nd cities. A
careful estimate gave t'rom thirty to forty families.
With tlie.-se were connected many single individuals
and a large number of children, who preferred to at-
tend Orthodox Congregational preaching. Sc^me of
these had found a temporary religious home in the
other churches of the town. But 1 hey had long felt
that their own usefulness and growth in grace were
in a great measure dependent upon churih privileges,
in accordance with their belief and convictions. For
this they hud anxiously wailed and devoutly
|)rayed. It seemed to them ihat now " the set time
to favour Sion had come," and, acting iu accor-
dance willi this, and believing that liod was ready
whenever the instrument by which His work is carried
on is ready, a meeting of all thoseknown to beiu favor
of such an object was called. The first meeting was held
at the house of David F. Bradlee, on Main Street, in
the latter part of .lanuary, 18'>5. The meeting was ad-
journed one week in order to invite some brethren
from the Eliot Church, Newton, to advise in the
matter. At a subsequeut meeting the subject was
duly considered. The church was named after
George Phillips, the first pastor of Watertown, and
a committee chosen to procure ;i preacher. This
committee were providentially directed to Dr. Lyman
Beecher, the father of Jlrs. Stowe and Henry Ward
Beecher, who, after hearing some facts in relaiii n
to religious aifairs in Watertown, said : " I will come
and preach for you." He came, and his services were
secured until a pastor was obtained.
Sabbath services were held in the Town Hall
morning and evening. These services were well at-
tended. Mr. Beecher was well advanced in life, but
his eye was not dim nor his natural force abated.
He held his audiences with a tight grasp, and even
Theodore Parker, then at the height of his pojiular-
ity, who preached iu the same hall, on Sabbath afi^r-
noons, with matchless eloquence, hardly held his
• By Dea, Ii. Macdooald.
WATERTOWN.
339
own against the stern logic and fire of Beecher,
many of Parker's tiearers being found at the evening
service, careful and attentive listeners.
The society, or parish, was legally organized in the
month of March; and the church was organized on
the 17th of April, 1855, with a membership of twenty-
six, received by letter from other Orthodox Congre-
gational churches. A iarge council of churches from
the neighborhood met in the Methodist Episcopal
Church, the use of which wai kindly offered by that
society for the purpose.
At the expiration of Dr. Beecher's engagement a
call was given to the Rev. Stephen R. Deiinen (then
tinishiug his studies at .\iulover Seminaryl, who ac-
cepted, and was ordained and installed as pastor on
the 11th of July, 1855. A lot of land was bought and
a church building erected on the site of the present
one. The locality was then an open country, and the
large building had a seating capacity of double the
present one, and was a conspicuous object for miles
around. It was dedicated and occupied in April,
1857, The congregation increased slowly during the
following years, with a good deal of up-hill work.
On the night of January 13, 1861 — one of the cold-
est nights of the season — the building was destroyed
bv tire. It had got such headway before the alarm
was given that nothing was saved. The front of the
building was much nearer the street than the present
one, and many feared that the tall steeple might fall
across Mt. Auburn Street, and do much damage. For-
tunately it fell itito the burning building.
For a time the enterprise seemed to stagger from
the blow ; pastor and people had to begin the up-hill
struggle over again. They went back to the town
hall iigain till a new Imildir.g could be erected; and
about a year alter the destruction of the tirst build-
ing they occupied their second house, oi\ the 12th of
January. lSii2. This i.i the building now occupied
by the society. It is much smaller than the first
house, but up to this ilate it is large enough to ac-
commodate the v.orshipers. It is much more commo-
<lious. having a chapel in the rear which is used for
prayer-meetings, Sabbatli-~chool gatherings and social
purposes. There are library rooms, vestries and kitch-
en. There is a bell in the tower. The inside of the
building is frescoed. The windows areof stained glass.
The choir gallery is over the front vestibule. Itiaone
of the [)leasantcsi and prettiest church edifices in the
suburbs of Boston. There is a row of graceful shade-
trees in front, and a well-trimmed lawn and concrete
walks, the whole forming a picture in harmony
with the neat private residences which cluster
around it.
In August, 18i)2, Dr. Dennen, at his own request,
was dismissed from the pastorate, and for a length-
ened time the church depended on stated supplies.
In the fall of 186."? the church secured the services of
Rev. William L. Gage (afterwards of Hartford), who
remained one year. This brief pastorale was one of
great satisfaction to pastor and people, and the rela-
tions between them ever after were cordial and affec-
tionate. Rev. James M. Bell succeeded as pastor in
the following spring. He <filled the oflBce for six
years. He was followed in the pastorate by Rev. E.
P. Wilson, who was installed on the 5th July, 1872.
He remained pastor for near sixteen years, resigning
February, 1888. During the vacancy the church
was supplied by Dr. Webb, Dr. Dennen and others.
In the autumn of 1889 a unanimous call was given
to the Rev. E. C. Porter, who accepted and commenced
his pastorate on the Ist of October of that year, and
continues his labors at this date. Under his faithful,
md devoted pulpit and pastoral work the church and
society have entered upon a fresh career of prosperity,
spiritually and materially evinced by the large at-
tendance, and interest taken in all the services of the
jhurch, the gala in membership, and the sound finan-
cial condition of the society.
The church has on its roll of membership up to
July, 1890, 247.
The Sabbath school connected with the church has
a membership of 252, including twenty-four teachers
md six officers. The studies are graded from adult
Bible classes down to a primary department, which is
the largest and perhaps the most important of the
school's work. It is in charge of a very efficient l.idy
leacher, who is devoted to the work.
A deceased lady, formerly a teacher in the school.
Miss Sarah Cook Dana, left a sum of money, the in-
terest of which is to be .spent yearly in the purchase
of books for the use of members of the church and
Sunday school, and to be called the " Dana Library."'
It is expected that the Sunday school library will be
merged in it, and the Sunday School have thebenefit
of it. There is already an excellent collection of books
and more are to be added from time to time, of standard
religious works, suitable for promoting sound knowl-
edge and instruction among the members of the
church and Sunday school, all of whom are invited
to take out and read such books.
She also left a fund, the interest of which is to be
spent in purchasing shoes and clothing for destitute
children, to enable them to attend the Sabbath-school.
Several missionary societies exist in connection with
the church, viz : A Sunday-school, the Ladies' Miss-
ionary Society, the Phillips Mission Board, and the
Sunshine-makers. They do a vast amount of work,
and contribute freely for home and foreign mission
work. There is also a Young People's Society of
Christian Endeavor, which is a strong and active as-
sociation. The members are pledged to be active and
earnest in Christian work, outside the regular meet-
ings. There are at this date seventj' active and twenty-
five associate members on the roll of the society.
The officers of the society are E. A. Benton, presi-
dent; Fred Lyman, secretary and treasurer. Most
of the young candidates for church membership come
from this society aad the Sabbath-school.
340
HISTORY OP MIDDLESEX COUNTY. MASSACHUSETTS.
The parish, which forms such an important part in
New England Congregationalism, has been so raoflified
by this society of late years that only members of
the chnrch are eligible :is members. Formerly, any
member of the congregation could be voted into the
parish. In 1SS6, however, a committee of the pari.sh
which had the matter under advisement for many
years, reported to change the by-laws. The report
was accepted and adopted. Ii reported that all names
then on the parish register should be continued as
members, but that after January 1, 1887, only mem-
bers of the church were eligible. Members of the
church desirious of becoming members of the parish
shall present a written request to the clerk. A Pru-
dential Comsnittee who shall have an article inserted
in the warrant for the next parish meeting, to be then
acted on by ballot. The parish is called the First
Orthodox Parish of Watertown.
The treasurer's report for the year ending Decem-
ber 31, 1S89, gives the following items of interest in
regard to its financial alfairs. The receipts from i>ew
rents, and the weekly offerings for the year amount to
S2y-i4.()l), and the expenditures to >=2778."i5, leaving
a balance over to the new account of ?14C. The Pru-
dential Committee who manage the aH'airs of the
parish, are: F.. S. Plai.sted, James H. Snow, Willard
N. Chamberlain, Clerk ; H. F. Morse, Treasurer ; J. M.
Johnson. The annual meeting for the election of
ollicers and other business is held iu April of each
year.
Church fin;inces do not pass through the pari.-li
Treasurer. There is also a church treasurer. The
contributions passing through him are the great
Missionary .\.s.sociation collections, which are taken up
through the year, communion collections and other
sums raised by the various benevolent societies of the
churcli for the poor and other objects. The amount
of these from all sources for the year 1881) was ■*7 10,
77, making the income from church and parish for
the year $o'J70,4;i. These pass through the treasur-
er's hands, but a considerable amount is given
directly from private hands to benevolent objects, of
which no account is rendered. The growth of the
church has been steady, with periods of marked dis-
couragements and trial. The officers of the church,
besides its pastors already mentioned were: Deacons
— Wm. G. Ladd, Ichabod H. Wood, Henry Waile,
James O. Fuller, Abiel Abbott, Charles E. Whilte-
more, David B. Makepeace, Frank F. Fay, Orlando
W. Dimick.
The present officers are; Rev. E. C.Porter, Pastor;
Deacons, L. B. Morse, H. W. Otis, L. iMacDonaUl,
Noah Swett; Treasurer, J. Q. A. Pierce ; Clerk, J. H.
Green.
The Phillips Church believes in carrying out the
commission received from its great head of preaching
the gospel to every creature, and in obedience to that
command, finds w.irrant for its existence and work.
It believes in the Congregational order, and polity of
Church government, and in the sound Orthodox
faith, once delivered to the saints, and by its preach-
ing, teaching, and other ministries, .seeks to bring in-
to obedience to the law of ( 'hrist, men's lives. How
far it lias succeeded iu this cannot be gauged by
numbers or financial success. Living epistles known
and read of all men, are self-evident testimonies to
the truth of the (losjiel, which the church proclaims
to a lost world, and this is the warrant and necessity
for the existence of- the Phillips Church. The
following is a list of names of the original members
who were received by letter, twenty-six in number,
from other churches, at the formation o f the Church,
by Council.
»lr. Win. C. I.a.lil,
Mr. Will. 0. Li.l.l, Jr.,
Mrs. Adiline 1). La.lil,
.Mr. Imviil K. nnullcB,
.Mrs. .>Urii Iv. Itnidtce,
.^lrs. ratiii-rinf 0. riohiiii:,
Mrs. Kly.Uih Krrncli,
Mrs Siln^iliiili Stii'lvrify,
.Mifcw Kliziibntli .-^rirkhey,
.M['-. Iliiiiuiili J'iiiia,
Mr.';. Sanih <:. Iliiiia,
.'VIis. I'uriiiy 11. Biirriliitiii,
MiH4 Kiiieljnt* Oiina,
Mr. .Mi^ea ruller. .Ir.,
.Mr.H. Hniiuiili Mjepiif rl,
.Mr. .\lc.ii7o W. Hii.lrtth,
Mi's. Chiritvm I)a\i»,
Sin.. Lucy < 'ulliufi,
Miy. Sitnili Kuyer,
>rr.s. HHirii-t \. Fiixon,
Mr. l<liiilMi.l \V.«mI.
.^f^s. \ima II. W„.„l,
Mrt-. I-J.li.rr. liiiUuiiU.n,
Mrs. .Mury HiMrelli.
.MK- .Inlie T..l.ev.
.Methodist Eri.-.cop.M. Chuuch.' .\bout the
year 182:i, .Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Whitney were
received into membership in the Methodist Eiiiscopal
Church, .Sudbury, Ma.s.j. Removing to Watertown
soon after, and finding no .Alethodist society in ihe
town, they opened their own house for service.-^.
These at first were attended by but four persons, Mr.
and Mm. Whitney, John DevoU and .loshua Rhodes.
Although so few in number, they did not become
disciiurnged, but continued these private services,
with occasional preaching, for about two years. Rev.
C. S. Macreading, who was then pastor of the
.Methodist church, at Newton Upper Falls, took great
interest in the work of establishing Methodism in
Watertown, and freely gave his services to the
undertaking. October -1, IS.'iU, the first class was
constituted in Mr. Whitney's house. Beside the
four persons already mentioned, Ihe following were
either at that time, or soon after, members; Sylvester
and (Cynthia I'riest, (ietirge and (trace Bigelow,
Thomas and Eden Campbell, Dorcas \. Sifford, Eliza
Whitaker and .Mrs. (or Miss) Richardson.
At nearly the same time a Sabbath-school was or-
ganized; the first superintendent formally placed in
charge wa.s George Bigelow,
Preaching was for some months obtained from va-
rious sources, but as the interest in and attendance
upon the services increiised, it was thought that with
a little aid from the Missionary Society, regular
preaching could be sustained. Accordingly applica-
tion for this ]>urpose was made to the New England
Conference. The request was granted, Watertown
1 l)y lletcD Louiao BicLnrdauu.
WATERTOWN.
341
was made a mission, ami Rev. George Pickering was
sent as first Conference preacher, receiving his ap-
pointment June 17, 1837. Regular services were still
held in Mr. Whitney's house, and here, August 4,
1837, was held the first Quarterly Conference.
The first stewards of the church, appointed at this
time, were Leonard Whitney, George Bigelow and
Joslyia Rhodes; the last-named soon after removed
to the West, and Sylvester Priest was appointed stew-
ard in his place. It now began to be generally felt
that a larger and a permanent place of worship must
he secured.
An old one-storied academy building ou a slight
elevation in the centre of the town was available;
Ibis was bought for four hundred dollars, and in the
summer of 1837 was dedicated with appropriate
services.
The first trustees of the church were Leonard Whit-
ney, Sylvester Priest, George Bigelow, John Devoll
and Daniel Pillsbury.
It is said that John Devoll, the first year of the ex-
istence of the society, gave iu its behalf every dollar
that he earned.
At the cliise of this year it was reported that the
Sunday-school numbered twenty, that there was a
Bible class of twenty-five, and though a mission sta-
tion itself, s21.8-t were raised lor missions. In 1838
Waltham and Watertown were united and made a cir-
cuit, which arrangement continueil till 184(i. During
these years lievs. <ieo. Pickering, Franklin Fiak,
David Webb, Horace (!. Barrows, l?r!idford Iv. Peirce
an<l T. W. Tucker were in (urn in charge of the
circuit.
The junior preachers during the same time, who
made Watertown their home, were Revs. (). K. How-
ard, K. A. Lyon, H.G. l'.:irrows an<l tieo. W . Fro.st.
Rev. (i. \V. Frost w:lm a local preacher, residing in
Watertown, and leaching a irrammar school ; he was
recommended to the .Viiiuial ('onfereucc by the (.Quar-
terly Conference of Watertuwn, and afterward became
• |uite prominent. Removing to the West, he was ap-
pointed tJovernmont Director and Pnrcha.sing Agent
of the Union Pacific Railroad ; be also served several
terms in tin' yebra.«ka Legi-'latnre. He died in
(Jmaha, February 2, 1888.
In l84<j-47 Watertown and Dedham were united as
a circuit, ami Rev. W. R. Stone w.as placed in charge,
with Rev. L. I'. Frost, a local preacher residing in
Watertown, :us assistant.
In 1847 Watertown w.as ni.ade an independent sta-
tion, with Rev. Daniel Richards as pastor. This
proved to be a very important year in the history of
the church. The necessity for larger and more acces-
sible .accommodations was felt, and the society thought
that the time bad come to change its location, so the
hill property was sold at auction.
A man from Boston, unknown to any present, pur-
chased it for a bonnet factory, but as it proved, he
bought it for the Roman Catholics, and the site has
ever since been occupied by their house of worship.
June 6, 1847, was the last Sabbath in the old building.
Having made the mistake of giving possession too
soon, the society reluctantly left for the Town Hall,
where services were held till August 1, when the
vestry of the new church on JIain street was ready
for occupancy.
October 20, 1847, the church itself, which is that
now occupied by the society, was dedicated. The
land upon which the church is situated, was purchased
for si.xteen hundred dollars, and the building was
completed at a cost of fifty-nine hundred dollars.
In 1848 Rev. J. Augustus Adams was appointed to
Watertown ; toward the close of his second year there
was a revival, which was the beginning of a new era
in the history of the church.
Mr. Adams was a graduate of Wesleyan University^
was two years principal of a school in Norwich, Con-
necticut, and he and his wife were the first teachers
of the New Hampshire Conference Seminary. He
filled important pastorates honorably to himself and
profitably to the church, and was assistant secretary
of the conference for several years. He died in Cali-
fornia, August 27, 1860, whither he had gone seeking
restoration to health.
The pastorate of Rev. Mosely Dwight, who suc-
ceeded Mr. Adams, (1850-52) wxs very laborious and
successful ; during this time the trustees succeeded
in raising ?20Go.00 of tlie indebtedness upon the
church property. From 1852-58, Revs. George
Bowler, Franklin Furber and H. M. Loud served the
church in turn, each remaining two yeara.
During the pastorate of Mr. Loud, and at his sug-
gestion, the members living .at Newtonville, estab-
I lishe<l preaching services in a hall there, and after-
I ward secured the construction of a church building.
I Their withdrawal to their new place of worship
I made a sensible impression upon the congregation in
I Watertown. During this pastorate also the interior
' of the church was handsomely refitted.
j From 1858-60 Rev. George M. Steele was pastor. He
i w.os very popular, serving one year upon the town
[ school committee. He is now Doctor of Divinity,
and has for several years been Principal of Wesleyan
.Vcaderay, Wilbraham, Mass.
Rev. Henry E. Hempstead received appointment
here in 1860. In the winter of 1861-62, his mind
lieing greatly exercised over the civil war then p^nd-
' ing, he sought and obtained release from his eugage-
j ment with the church, .and wa-s appointed chaplain
! of the 2ilth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers.
i His chaplaincy was distinguished for ability, usefui-
[ ness and success. He fell opposite Freilericksburg,
I Dec. 21, 1862. In the spring of 1862, by the appoint-
j ment of conference, Rev. (afterward Dr.) Bradford K.
: Peirce came to Watertown. His pastorate was
I characterized by all those fine qualities which made
I him so successful in the various important positions
which he was afterward called to fill ; for many
342
HISTOKY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
years he waa Editor of Zion's Herald. Mr. Pierce
remained one year, and was followed by Rev. J.
L. Hanaford, who also remained one year.
In 1864 Kev. L. T. Townsend was sent to Water-
town, and occupied the pulpit two years ; then declin-
ing the charge of another society, he settled down in
this place and has devoted himself to literature,
teachintf, occasional preaching and lecturing, ever
since. He was chosen a member of the school com-
mittee in 1864, and served until the spring of 1866.
He was again chosen on the school committee in 1869,
was made chairman of the board, and served with
diatinguiahed ability in this position, until he re-
signed in 1872. His reports of 1870 and 1S71,
remarkable for anticipating the struggle for separate
church-schools by the Eoman Catholic church,
aroused much thought, considerable opposition in
certain quarters, as being premature, and have only
proved his' interest and keen insight into the danger
which threatened schools which he thought should be
wholly national and broad enough to be unsectarian.
He is now Doctor of Divinity, Professor in Boston
University, and known and honored throughout
Methodism. In 1864 a Methodist church was or-
ganized in Newton ; this removed from Watertown ot
dillerent times about twenty-five members.
From 1806-70 the church was served by Revs. L.
D. Stebbins, .7. M. Bailey and Daniel Richards, the
first two remaining one year each, and the last two
years, tills being bis second appointment here. Rev.
X. Fellows, who faithfully watched over the interests
(if the church from 1870-73, was a member of the
school-board while in town ; he was afterward Prin-
cipal of Wesleyan Academy, Wilbrahara, Massachu-
setts. Rev. F. G. Jlorris succeeded Mr. Fellows and
remained three years. He represented the town one
year in the State Legislature.
During the pastorate of Rev. T. \V. Bishop (1876-
7'J) a fine new organ was placed in the church ; during
the same time also an indebtedness of thirty-two
years' standing waa paid, leaving the church property
unencumbered; this happy result was secured large-
ly through the liberality of Mr. Leonard Whitney,
Jr., son of one of the original members.
Since 1879 the church has been served by the fol-
lowing pastors: 1879-82, Rev. Henry Lummis, now
Professor in Lawrence University, Appleton, Wis-
consin ; 1882-85, Rev. T. B. Smith ; 1885-87, Rev. J.
H. Twombly, D.D., afterward President of the
University of Wisconsin and twice a delegate to the
General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church ; and in 1887-91, Rev. Wm. G. Richardson,
who is the present pastor.
In the autumn of 1887, the fiftieth anniversary of
the establishment of Methodism in Watertown was
celebrated.
The exercises began with a semi-centennial ban-
quet in the Town Hall, Oct. 28, at which over three
hundred and fifty persons were present. This was
followed by special services continuing about two
weeks, during which there was preaching by some
of the most distinguished clergymen of the denomi-
nation.
The present Church membership is 19"» ; the Sun-
day-school numbers 230.
There are connected with the Church an Epwoith
League, Golden Rule Mission Band, ''Kings" Own,"
Young Men's Assembly, Ladies' Aid Society and
Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, all of which
are in a flourishing condition. The Young Men's
Assembly, organized during the |)i-esent p.astorate,
originated the Young ilen's Assembly of the Town,
the most prosperous, progressive and influential or-
ganization of Watertown.
The present oSicers of the Church are: —
Pastor. Rev. W. G. Richardson.
Trustees. George E. Priest, Edward F. Porter,
William C. Howard, William H. Perkins, Wallace
W. Savage. Oliver Shaw, L. Sidney Cleveland, Ches-
ter Sprague, Richard H. Paine.
Stewards. George E. Piir'st, Henry Cha<e. Cyrn?
H. Campbell, George W. Foskett, Freeman W. Coljb,
Nathan B. Hartford, Wilbur F. Learned. George E.
Teele, P'rank .1. Holmes, George G. Edwards. Bart-
lett M. Shaw, .Tohn Looker, Charles W. Leach.
Sunday School Superintendent. Geo. E. Teele.
-Assistant Superintendents. Richard H. Paine,
Bartlett M. Shaw.
A noteworthy feature of the present church edifice
is a gilded jrooster which surmounts the spire, and
which is over a century old ; it having at one time
graced the spire of the old Parish Church, which
stood in the present cemetery at the corner of Mt.
Auburn and Common .Sts. In this building were
held the sessions of the Second Continental Congress
while Boston was held by the British, during the
Revolution. This old vane is supposed to be ail that
remains of the historic Church. The present church
building is not adapted to the needs of the society,
and a universal desire is felt for a larger and better
place of worship.
Considerable money is already secured for the pur-
pose, and it is hoped, that soon Methodism will be
represented in Watertown, by an edifice commensu-
rate with its needs, growth and means.
St. Patrick's Church.' — Before the year 1800
the few Catholics residing in Watertown and its
vicinity viere attended by the priests of Boslon, whose
missions extended from Massachusetts Bay to the
Hudson River.
But long before that year occurred events of his-
toric import which form an interesting background to
the history of the Catholic Church in Watertown. In
1631, shortly after the town fathers had .selected the
pleasant "plough lands" on the River Charles as the
site for their township, Richard Brown, a ruling
I By B«T. T. W. Conghlan.
WATERTOWN.
343
elder, maintained the opinion that " the churches of
Rome were true churches," and in this opinion the
Rev. Mr. Phillips, the pastor, seemed to have con-
curred. In order to put an end to the controversy
which such an avowal then caused, Governor Win
throp, Deputy-Governor Dudley and Mr. Nowell, the
elder of the Boston congregation, came to Watertown
to confer with the Rev. Mr. Phillips and Mr. Brown.
No satisfactory conclusion resulted from the con-
ference. A day of humiliation and prayer was re-
commended ; but the disturbance ended only when
Mr. Brown ceased to be the ruling elder.
After the destruction of the Catholic settlements of
Minas and Grand Pre, many of the unfortunate
Acadians were scattered over these regions.
'* Fneudlefla, hunieless, h«lplpda. they wiiuderetl from city to city."
It is certain that some of these Acadians were
among the first Catholics within the limits of Water-
town. For two years one of their priests, Rev.
Justinian Durant, resided in Boston.
In 1775 invitations were sent by Washington to
the Catholic Indian tribes in Maine — the Penob-scois,
Passamaquoddies and Ht. John's — to join in the cause
of freedom. Delegates from these tribes came to con-
fer with the .Massachusett.-i General Assembly, which
received them at Watertown. Ambrose Var, the chief
of the Indians of the f^t. .lohn's tribe, was the spokes-
man, and his salutation w.is '' We are thankful to the
Almighty to see the council." The Indians promised
to espouse the cause of the iiatriots, anil their oniy
reque.st was: "We want a black-gown or French
[)riest." The General Court of Massachusetts ex-
pressed its satisfaction at their respect tor religion,
and declared itself ready to procure a French priest;
but truly added that it did not know where to Hnd one.
Tlie Indians earnestly joined the .Vnierican cause,
and how useful their accession, uniler Orano, was to
the cause of freedom we m.iy judge from facts recorded
in William.son's " History of Maine."
So few were the Catholics in this section of M.ass.a-
chusettsone hundred years ago, that the Rev. John
Thayer, the pastor of the Catholic Church in Boston,
in 1790, declared that their number did not e.vceed
100 souls. Ill the early years of the present century
multitudi's of the oppressed people of Europe tiocked
to these shores to enjoy the peace and freedom prof-
fered by the Constitution of the new Republic. By
thisindiix the number of Catholics was increased to
such au extent that it became necessary to establish
independent parishes in the district attended by the
priests from Boston.
In the year 1830, Watertown, Waltham, the Xew-
tons, Weston, Concord and other neighboring towns
were formed into a distinct "mission," and a frame
building, oOxlio feet, was erected on the land now
known .as the " Old Catholic Cemetery," in Waltham.
The pastor of this new congregation continued to re-
side in Boston until 1839, when the Rev. F. Fitzsim-
mons took charge of the parish. At that time the
congregation numbered 300 members. The successors
oftheRev. F. Fitzsimmona were: Revs. M. Lynch,
Jas. Strain and P. Flood.
Shortly after Rev. P. Flood assumed the care of the
parish the little church at Waltham was burned ; and
as the majority of the worshippers were in Watertown,
it was deemed expedient to erect a church in that
town. In 1846 Fr. Flood endeavored to secure a
temporary place for holding services, and, after many
vain etforta, succeeded in obtaining the use of what
was known as the " Whig Reading-room," located on
Watertown Square. Here the little congreg.ition con-
tinued to assemble until it purchased the old Method-
ist meeting-house, which, being remodeled, was the
first Catholic Church in Watertown. The rapid in-
crease in membership soon made it nece.ssary to se-
cure better accommodations, and on the 27th of Sep-
tember, 1847, Bishop Fitzpatrick, of Boston, assisteil
by Rev. Fr. Flood and Rev. P. O'Beirne, laid the
corner-stone of the present St. Patrick's Church,
which is a brick structure, having sittings for more
than 800 people.
In 1851 Rev. Bernard Flood, a young priest from
the Grand Seminary of Montreal, was sent to xssist
the Rev. Patrick Flood. During the years of their
administration the parish increased rapidly. New
churches were built at Waltham, West Newton and
Concord. After the death of Rev. P. Flood, in 18tj3,
the sole charge of the parish devolved upon Rev. Ber-
nard Flood, who, in 18f)4, removed to Waltham and
left the remaining portion of the Watertown parish to
the care of Rev. John W. McCarthy. This clergy-
men resided in Watertown until September, 1871. He
was assisted by Rev. Edward S. Galligan. During
their administration Newton Upper Falls was sepa-
rated from the parish and became a distinct congrega-
tion. In September, 1871, Rev. M. M. Green was ap-
pointed pastor, and in the toUowing June Rev. R. P.
."^tark was commissioned to assist him. Fr. Green's
greatest work was the building of the large Catholic
Church at Newtonville. After the completion of this
church, in 1879, Newton became a separate parish, of
which Rev. Fr. Green assumed the charge.
The present pastor, Rev. R. P. Stack, then began
to direct the Watertown parish. Under his energetic
administration, great improvements have been made.
The church has been enlarged and decorated, the
beautiful parochial residence on Chestnut Street
erected, a cemetery purchased, and an elegant brick
school-house, costing about §35,000, built upon
Church Hill. Fr. Stack has been assisted by Rev. T.
.A.. Metcalf, John Gibbons and T. W. Coughlan.
In the towns comprised within thelimitsof the orig-
Iginal St. Patrick's Parish of Watertown there are to-
day about 20,000 Catholics, possessing church prop-
ertv valued at half a million of dollars. The old
church is fast becoming too small for the number of
worshippers, and a splendid new edifice is among the
probabilities of the near future.
344
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Church of the Gooj) Shepherd. — In the sum-
mer of 1883, Rev. Edward A. Rand, who had recently
become a resident of Watertown, conducted services
of the Episcopal Church at several private houses in
the town. So much interest was developed that a
committee, consisting of Messrs. Thomas G. Banks,
George H. Gregg and William J. Bryant, was ap-
pointed in the fall of 1883 to consider and report as to
the advisability of holding services each Sunday. As
the result of this committee's report, Grand Army
Hall was secured and regular services were held in
that hall from October 21, 1883, to Christmas, 1888.
With the hope that, in the course of a few years,
funds could be obtained for building a church, a bond
of a desirable lot of land on the corner of Mt. Auburn
Street and Russell Avenue was secured in the spring
of 1885. March 12, 1886, the Pariah of the Church of
the Good Shepherd was duly organized, and in May
of that year purchase was completed of the lot of
land previously bonded, containing lt),000 square feet.
In 1887 vigorous measures were adopted to secure
funds for building a church. The enterprise was cor-
dially approved by Bishop Paddock. Residents of
Watertown belonging to other religious denomina-
tions, and friends living elsewhere, generously aided
the parish ; and on Christmas Day, 1888, the first
service of the Episcopal Church was held in the
new structure. The building is an ornament to
the town. It is a tasteful specimen of English
rural church architecture. The walls are of field-
atone, with brown-stone trimmings. The pews,
roof and wood-finish are of cypress. The walls are
plastered inside and are tinted a warm brown. The
cost of the building was about .'512,500. It will seat
232, exclusive of the Suuday-school room, which is
separated from the church proper by sliding sashes,
and can be utilized to seat 100 more persons. The
structure is so planned that it can be enlarged, at mod-
er.ite expense, to a seating capacity of over 500. The
seats .are free, the expense of maintaining public wor-
ship being met by voluntary contributions. Women,
as well as men, are eligible to membership in the
parish, and about one-half of the members are ladies.
The treasury of the parish has often been replenished
by their earnest and judicious efforts.
The parish now owns over 30,000 feet of land. It
is gradually gaining in numbers and in strength.
From its first organization Mr. Thomas G. Banks has
been the Parish Clerk, and Miss Ethel dishing the
organist. To them and to Mr. William J. Quincy,
the treasurer, the parish is under much obligation.
The rector is the Rev. E. A. Rand, to whose ejrnest
labors the parish is chiefly indebted for its beautiful
church. There are now (1890) upwards of seventy-
five communicants. Among the donors to the build-
ing fund was the Bishop of Montreal. The officers of
the parish for 1890 are as follows :
Senior Warden, John E. Abbott; Junior Warden,
H. A. Scranton ; Parish Clerk, Thomas G. Banks ;
Treasurer, William J. Quincy. Other Vestrymen —
John Baker, J. A. French, George F. Robinson.
CHAPTER XXXI.
WA TERTO WN—(. Continued).
Early People — Land OranU — TJie Propi-ictort' Book — Town Gocernmeut
—SchooU—The Wears— The South Side.
Early People of Watertowx. — The people
who first settled the town of Watertown came in June,
1630, with Sir Richard Saltonstall and the Rev.
George Phillips. The mere names of these hardy,
hopeful adventurers form no unmeaning list. Most
of them became proprietors of the soil. They came
with this expectation. The names are found among
the honored and active men of the present day in
every part of the United States, and may be traced
on every page of the nation's history. Not necessar-
ily always famous for great deeds, for there are those
who look back to W.atertown for their lineage, who
now people towns scattered through every State
from Maine to Florida, and across the continent to
the far-away shores of the Pacific. No book of gene-
alogies is more studied than Dr. Bond's genealogies
of the families of Watertown.
A martyred President found a progenitor in a Gar-
field whose early home was iu Watertown. The
present head of our armies, likewise a celebrated
Senator who engineered successfully the finances of
the nation through a great crisis, find in a Sherman
the first of their line in the list of our early settlers.
The Lawrences had their first home on the banks of
Fresh Pond, although they early pushed farther into
the country, and found the beautiful slopes at Groton.
in the valley of the Nashua. Here the Bigelows
started. The cause of freedom could not have spared
a Phillips; or the South, or the North, for that matter,
I in manufactures, the cotton gin of a Whitney.
I America's latest great attempt in philology and
! dictionaries is under the charge of a Whitney, as
! was the great geological survey of California under
' another. The race of Saltonstall is not extinct,
' nor is the high, noble and independent character of
the great leader abated.
I Upham and Warren and Stowe and Stearns and
Coolidge and Mason and Hoar and Curtis are famil-
iar names. But it is better to give the simple lists of
] names as they are found in the early records. There
is no complete list of those who came the first year,
in 1630, with Winthrop, or those who had arrived
before 1636, although, as Bond says, " It is most prob-
able that their number was greater than that of the
settlers of any other town planted in 1630 ; and there
ia reason to suppose that, with the exception of Bos-
ton, Watertown continued to be more populous than
either of them for twenty years. The population
WATERTOWN.
345
became so crowJed, that the people began very early
to disperse and form new plantations." We have
ahown why they felt crowded. This term is correct
when we think of farms joining each other, and com-
pare them with the boundless expanse of delightful
country beyond. Some towns were settled from Water-
town before the earliest list of proprietors was pre-
pared, which is still preserved to us. Some of those
who pushed on to found other towns still retained their
ownership of lands here ; the names of these are pre-
served. Many left no trace behind them in the
town's records. Some settled Wethersfield, Connecti-
cut. Some settled Stamford, Milford and Branford.
Dedham, of this State, was founded by Watertown
people, as was Concord, and Sudbury, and Lancaster,
and Groton largely, so Worcester, Fraraingham,
Rutland and Spencer, largely Westminster on the
slopes of Wachusett, Harvard, the most northeasterly
town of Worcester County, and most of the towns of
Middlesex County, contained among their settlers
many from the old hive at Watertown.
In Dr. Bond may be found " an alphabetical list of
persons known to have been proprietors or residents
of Watertown prior to the end of the year 1643;
compiled chietly from the lists of grantees and pro-
prietors, embracing also ?ome names derived from
wills, deeds, settlement of estates, and descriptions of
possessions." This list occupies a dozen pages closely
printed in 6ne type, and gives, with each name, some
description, evidence of residence or change of resi-
dence or other valuable notes.
This may be a good place to say that the New
England Historic Genealogical Society received as a
l)equest tlie several hundred remaining copies of
Bond's Genealngies and still holds ihem, most of
which :ire in an imperfect condition. The whole
number might be made perfect by reprinting twelve
or sixteen signatures at an expense of from five hun-
dred to a thousand dollars, which, in time, purchasers
of the volumes would gladly repay to the society. If
the society docs not feel called to make this expendi-
ture from funds already in its possession, it is to be
hoped some one may be moved to make a gift to the
society for this purpose, which in time should return
to the society to assist it in doing other similar
work.
.^ careful comparison of this work of Doctor Bond
with the original authorities increases the wonder
that one man could have collected such a vast
amount of varied information so accurately as this
has been done. I have found a few glaring mistakes,
as the members of almost any family may have found
in the minute arrangement of family names. Many
of these could be corrected, after invited correspond-
ence with the society, in an appendix. But let not
a book dealer do the work for money ; let the society,
or some society, finish the work in the interests of
truth and history. The commercial value even of a
copy in a good condition is now nearly five times
the price at which it in former years was offered
without purchasers.
A few names will be given for the benefit of the
many who do not possess a copy of Bond.
Daniel Abbott, applied ;o be admitted freeman in
Oct., 1630, before New Town (Cambridge) was settled,
and he was admitted the next May. In April, 1631,
the Court ordered a military watch of four to be
kept every night at Dorchester and- Watertown.
About five weeks afterwards, (May 18th), Daniel
Abbott was " fined os. for refusing to watch, and for
other ill behavior showed towards Captain Patrick."
As Captain Patrick belonged to Watertown, and as
no watch was ordered to be kept at New Town, there
can be little doubt but that Daniel Abbott was one
of the first settlers of Watertown. He may have
settled within the limits afterwards assigned to New
Town [see Lockwood, page 854]. His fine was re-
mitted Sept. 8, 1638 ; and the Colonial Records
(June 4, 1639) say, " Daniel Abbott is departed to
New Providence."
Edmund Angier, a freeman 1640, proprietor of
three acres, east of Mount Auburn, in 1644, but
probably never a resident of Watertown.
Thomaa Arnold, embarked from England in 1635 ;
a freeman in 1640 ; grantee of eight lots and purchaser
of one lot ; moved to Providence about 1665 ; two
homestalls Orchard Street, near Lexington Street.
Jokh Bachelor grantee of six lots, some, if not all,
of which were purchased of Norcross. He probably
moved to Dedham in 1637 ; a freeman in 1640.
JohnBall (?)— On thelistof Winlhrop [IIpage340],
supposed to be the names of those intending to come
over in 1630, is the name of " Mr. Ball." If this
was the John Ball, of Concord, he may have arrived
before Concord was granted : settled first in Water-
town, and moved to Concord, in 1635, prior to the
date of the earliest list of proprietors of Watertown.
William Barskam, embarked from England, 1630 ;
freeman, 1637; grantee of five lots, and purchaser of
one lot ; died 1684. His homestall was west of
Mount Auburn, between Cambridge Road and Bank
Lane.
Michiiel Bairstow, of Charlestown, 1635; a select-
man ; probably moved to Watertown 1637 or 1638 ;
freeman, 1636 ; not a grantee, but a proprietor of
eight lots ; died 1674. His homestall of fourteen
acres, probably on the southwest corner of Belmont
and School Streets.
Joseph Bemis, selectman of Watertown, 1640 ; died
1684; grantee of a farm and of a meadow at None-
such ; .^purchaser of seven other lots. His homestall
of twelve acres, on the south side of Warren Street,
was made up of two lots in the town plot, granted to
Simon Stone and J. Firmin.
John Benjamin, embarked from England, 1632 ; a
freeman^ 1632; first of Cambridge, afterwards Water-
town, where he died 1645. The circumstance that
his name is not in any list of grantees renders it
346
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
probable that he did not move to Watertown before
1637 or 1638. His homestail of sixty acres was
situated east of Dorchester Field, and bounded south
by Charles River. He had three other large lots,
grants to Robert Feake.
Robert Belts ("Best," " Beast "), a grautee in the
Great Dividends and in the Beaver Brook plow-
lands; an original grantee of f5udbury, where he died
1655, 3. p., bequeathing his estate to his brother-in-
law, William Hunt, and other relatives of this name.
John Biscoe, selectman ; freeman, 1650 ; died 1690 ;
grantee of twenty-seven acres in lieu of township ;
proprietor of at least fourteen other lota, amounting
to 509 acres. From the number and value of his
possessions, in 1642—14, he then being only twenty-
one or twenty-two years of age, it seems probable
that the lands were held in his name for his father,
Nathaniel, the " rich tanner.' His homestail was at
the northwest corner of Belmont and Common .Streets,
bounded north by the homestail and meadow granted
to John Lawrence.
Elder Richard Browne, left England, 1630 ; free-
man, 1631 ; a selectman in 1635, '3.H, '39, '41 and 42;
a grantee of thirteen lots in the town, besides 200
acres granted by the Court out of town. In 1642 he
had disposed of not less than seven of these grants.
His homestail was on the south side of Mt. Auburn
Street, probably a short distance west of the Old
Graveyard, with the three-acre lot of J. Prescott
between his and the street. It is probable that this
wa.s his second re.'idence. He had a seven-acre lot
on the east of Mount Auburn, bounded south by
Bank Lane. Between this and the river he had two
and one-half acres of marsh. He sold these to R.
Wellington. It is probable that he first settled there,
and that it was while he lived there that he was
licensed to keep a ferry.
So far as these names go, taken in order, but with the
omission of many others, we have a specimen of
Bond's manner of treating the whole list of settlers.
Many significant facts are mentioned which suggest
ranch to the student of early Watertown history. To
the casual reader it must seem little more than a cat-
alogue, as it professes only to be.
Following are a few interesting names and events
culled from the remainder of the list:
Ensign Thomas Cakebread : freeman 1635, grantee of
seven lots, which he sold to John Grant; an early
grantee of Dedham ; went thence to Sudbury, where
he died in 1643.
Elder Thomas Carter, left England 1635 ; a freeman
in 1657 ; died in Woburn in 1684 ; grantee of a home-
stall often acres, also had a farm of ninety-two acres
and a lot in the town plot.
Leonard Chester, left England 1633 ; grantee of sixty
acres in the Great Dividends ; also thirteen acres
homestail sold to W. Paine. The above grant im-
plies that he did not move to Connecticut until after
July, 1636.
Wm. Clarke, left England 1630; a freeman 1631 ;
constable of Watertown, 1632 ; went to Ipswich in
1633.
John Coolidffe, (reem^n 1636; a selectman thirteen
different times between 1638 and 1682; died l(i91,
aged eighty-six ; grantee of nine lots ; purchased two
other lots before 1644.
Henry Cuttria (Curtis), grantee of five lots and pur-
chaser of two lots. His h.imestall of sixteen acres
was east of Dorchester Field. He moved to Sudburv.
Gov, Thomwi Dudley purchased the mill in Water-
town in April, 1640, and his lands are mentioned mm
boundaries ; but his name is not on the list of pio-
prietors.
.Simon Eire, chirurgeon (surgeon), embarked al
London, 1635; a freeman, 1637 ; aselectman, 1636-43 ;
town clerk and clerk of writs for several years ; moved
to Boston in 1645; died 1658; w.t* a grantee of twelve
lots amounting to 350 acres ; had purchased four
other lots, one of which was his homestail of sixteen
acres west of the pond and next the Cambridge line.
Robert Feake, came in 1630 ; freeman 1631 ; a son-in-
law of Gov. Winthrop; a selectman in 1636, '38-39 :
homestail on Bank Laue.
Samuel Freeman, applied to be admitted freeman in
1630; admitted in 1639.
Edward Garfield, freeman 1635 ; died 1672 ; a
grantee of eight lots before 1644; selectman in li'i37,
'55, '62.
Elder Edward Hoir, freeman 16.'14 ; died 1644 ; was a
selectman 1636, '38, '40-42 ; grantor of fifteen lots,
and purchaser of seven lots before '44. [Probably
with Governor Cradock through lii> agents and under
the direction of the engineer, Thomas (iraves, who
came over at the exjiense ime-half of the Ma.ssachu-
aetts Bav Company, and one-half at the expense ol'
Governor Cradock, built the mill, the '' water-mill,"
and probably the dam. |
Tliomas fLing, came 1634 ; pioneer of the first plant-
ing of Nashaway (Lancaster).
John Kniijht, freeman 163i) ; grantee and purchaser
of 392 acres.
John Lawrence, freeman 1637 ; of Groton 1662; died
1666; grantee of ten lots ; who sold, when he moved
to Groton, his homestail to Bisco.
Capt. Hugh Mason, embarked at Ipswich 1634 ; free-
man 1635 ; died 1678 ; grantee of six lots, purchaser of
two lots; a selectman twenty-eight times in forty, and
town clerk many years.
Tliomas Mayhew, freeman 1634 ; went to Martha's
Vineyard about 1644 ; six large grants by the town ; a
selectman 1636-42; [purchaser of the "mill" from
How & Cradock, whose sons .served as missionary
teachers to the Indians of Martha's Vineyard.]
John Oldham, arrived in Plymouth in 1623 ; free-
man 1631 ; went to Wethersfield ; killed by the In-
dians at Block Island July, 1636, which murder led to
the Pequot War.
WATERTOWN.
347
Capt. Daniel Pidricl:, freeman 1G31 ; killed at Stam-
ford 1643 ; selectman and captain of train band.
Rev. George Phillips, 1630 ; freeman 1631 ; died July,
1644 ; grantee of eight lots, purchaser of one. Proba-
bly resided always on his lot next homestall of Sir
Richard Saltonstall, at the east of Mount Auburn.
John. Prcscotf, 1641 ; freeman 1660 ; a first settler of
Lancaster ; a grantee of a farm of ninety acrps ; pur-
chased five other lots.
Sir Richard Saltonstall, founder of the town 1630 ;
returned to England 1631 ; grantee of about 558 acres,
which passed to bis .sons Samuel and Henry. Robert
probably settled in Boston 1642, where he died 1650.
miliam Shat/uci:, of Watertown, 1642 ; died 1672,
aged fifty. In 1644 he was the proprietor of two
small lots on the east border of Piquuaset Common,
(Waverly).
Capt. John Sherman, \6^\, came from England ; a
freeman in 1637 ; died 1691 ; selectman and town clerk
many years, 1636 to 16S2 ; bed three grants of over
190 acres, purchased ten lots, had homestall on both
sides of Bowman's Lane (Common Street), immedi-
ately south of Strawberry (School-house or Meeting-
house) Hill.
Reo. John Sherman, 1634; dismissed to Wethersfield,
1635; went to Milford 1641 ; dismissed then to Water-
town 1647 ; freeman 1669 ; died 1685. Supposed to have
lived on the east side of Grove Street, on the forty
acre meeting-house lot between Mount Auburn and
Belmont Streets.
Isaac Sterne {SlearuB), came 1630 ; freeman 1630 ;
died 1671 ; was a selectman 1659, '70, '71.
Having given so many names from this catiilogue,
which abundantly illu.strate the character of the cata-
logue, the variety of lots owned by most in different
parts of the town, — illustrations of the fact that Water-
town furnisbeil settlers for many other towns, — we have
done as much as we have space for in this place and
have shown how indispensable the list, and especially
the full genealogies of Dr. Boud, are to any student of
the history of Watertown, I might say of almost any
local history.
Freemen". — I cannot do better, perhaps, than give
Dr. Bond's list of the freemen of Watertown, ad-
mitted previous to the union of the Colonies of Plym-
outh and Massachusetts Bay, with the date of their
admission. To become a freeman it was necessary
to be a church-member, and so it happened that men in
respectable social positions were not admitted till ad-
vanced age, or never admitted. It was not necessary^
however, to be a freeman, or even a church-member,
in order to hold office in the town, or appoint-
ments from the Court, although the rule allowed none
but freemen to hold office or vote for rulers. This
rule was so far modified, in 1664, that individuals
might be made freemen who could produce certifi-
cates from some clergyman that they were correct
in doctrine and conduct.
Bond gives some exceptions to the rule. Thomas
Mayhew held a responsible appointment from the
Governor and Assistants two years before he was ad-
mitted freeman. Joseph Bemis and Thomas Flagg
were never admitted, although they were both select-
men and held other offices. John Bigelow, Sr., took
the oath of fidelity in 1652, but he was not admitted
freeman until April, 1690, at the age of seventy-three.
William Bond was admitted freeman in 1682, more
than twenty years after he had been selectman, juror,
constable, and likewise town clerk, and only a short
time before he was elected magistrate.
Some of the settlers and proprietors, or natives
of Watertown, were admitted freemen after they
had removed to other towns. This mark (?) is pre-
fixed to the names of freemen who were early pro-
prietors, where there is an uncertainty or improb-
ability as to their having ever been residents.
Every freeman was obliged to take the freeman's
oath: " I, -4. £., being by God's providence an in-
habitant and freemen within the jurisdiction of this
Commonwealth, do freely acknowledge myself to be
subject to the government thereof, and, therefore, do
hereby swear, by the great and dreadful name of
the everlasting God, that I will be true and faithful,''
etc. etc.
LIBT OF FREEMEN OF WATERTOWN, 16B0-90.
1C3',
May,
George Phillips
Richard Brown
Nathaniel Foots
Robert Reynolds
Capt. Daniel Patrick
1635,
Mar.,
Hugh Mason
Sgt. Jobn Strickland
George Mnnning
John Oldham
Edward Dix
Edmund Lockwood
Thomas Bartlett
John Page
163.5,
.Mar.,
John Prince
■John Doggett
John Wolcott
Ephraim Child
May
Barnabas Wines
Robert See ley
John Reynolds
Wni. (^larke
Henry Bnght
Robert Feake
Thomas Hastings
Samuel Hosier
John Livermure
Charles Chadwick
John Batchelor
Jonas Weede
John Tompaoo
R. Saltonstell, Jr. .
Jobn Gay
William Jennison
Richard Kemball
Daniel Abbott
Daniel Morse
John Warren
Edward Garfield
Daniel Finch
1635
Sept.
Richard Woodward
1636,
Mar.,
Nicholas Jacob
Isaac Sterne
John Whitney
John ]firman
William Swain
Jobn GoBse
Jobn Klngsbary
Francis Smith
Michael Barstow
1U32
Mar.
.Abraham Browne
1636
May,
Jobn Knight
I6.T>
Xov.
John Benjamin
William Hammond
Iftl!
Mar.
John White
Mathiaa [7 Miles,] Ives
ic-u
May,
Thomas Cakebread
Edward How
John Hayward
Andrew Ward
Thomas Mayhew
Edward Oofle
Edmund Lewis
John Stowera
John Smith (? Jr.)
John Eaton
1034,
Sept.
Bryan Pendleton
Anthony Peirce
John Bernard
Martin Underwoo 1
(?) Samuel Smith
John Browne
John Eddy
Robert Abbot
Edmnnd Sherman
John Coolidga
Gregory Stone
Simon Stone
John Loveran
(?) William Wilcoeks
(?) Edward White
Thomas Brooks
Robert Coe
1637,
Mar.,
Abraham Shaw
348
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Robert Lockwood
William Barebam
m.vj.
May,
.lohn ."^iiwin ,
Richard Norcross
Richard Beers
1653,
Feb.,
[Jeremiah] Norcross
ThoDiaa Carter
1653,
May,
Simon Stone, Jr.
Ricliard Waite
Samuel Strattou
1637,
Apr.,
(?) Tbomaa Brigham
1654,
May,
Joseph Child
Simon Eire
1656,
May,
John Chadwick
John Lawrence
1657,
May,
Justinian Holden
1637,
May,
Thomas Smith
Anthony Beers
Thomas Rogers
166U,
May,
Hugh Clarke
John Shermao
Henry Spring
John Rogers
1603,
May,
Robert Harrington
Miles Nutt
Nathaniel Holland
IKiS,
Mar.,
John Pearce {I'eirce)
Nicholas Busby
(?) Daniel Pearse
Lawrence Walters
David Fislie
1665,
May,
Isaac Sternps, Jr.
lC:i8,
May,
Isaac .Miier
Henry Kemball
John Stone
John Grout
Henry Dow
1066,
May,
John Benjamin, Jr.
Daniel Peirce
Thomas Fitch
iiao,
Mar.,
John Dwiglit
Henry Dow, Jr.
Henry Phillips
1668,
.\pr,,
John Benjamin (prob-
Robert Daniel
ably a repetition).
in:)?,
May,
Samuel Freeman
Nicholas Guy
Kdmiind Blois
Roger Porter
Nathaniel Cooliilge
Jobuathan Whitney
Johnathan Browne
Renianiin Bullard
1C39,
Sept
John L'roSB
Ri.bert Tucke
Robert :;anderson
(then of ^leadtield).
Thomas Phllbrick i
([hen of Hampton). ;
lO-Hi,
Muy,
U'illiau) Paine
(•■) Thomas Buck
(?) Timothy Wlieeli-r
Henry Green
1609,
May,
John .Morae (?) (of [
Groton). j
John Sherniau 1
John Prescott 1
William Godfrey
(then of Lancaster). j
Thomas .\rnoltl
1670,
Oct.,
John Warren |
(?) Peter Nuyes
1671,
May,
John Barnard
William Potter
Samuel LiTermoro
(?) Samuel Morse
John Bright
10)1,
June
Ellis Barron
William Parker
li.T'J,
May,
Nathan Fiske, Jr.
John Moi^e [
George Bullard
1673,
Oct.,
Stephen Cooke (then
u;i2.
May,
.lohu Clough
of Mendonj
John Wetherill
I6T4
May,
Gershom KlH^'g (then |
^iamuel Thatcher
,.f Wobnrn)
I(»aac CuniniiDgs
li.T.H
May.
tihadiah I'erry ^then
Robert Peirce
of BiUerica)
11. o
May,
Nathan Flske
George Parkhunit
1679
Oct.,
John Marrion {then
of Camb. ]
Nathaniel Norcruje
I6.VJ
Oct.,
John Flagg
ir,44,
May,
John Gay
Herbert Pelham
John Stimson
Lambert Cbinery
.\braham Gale
Nathaniel Barsham
William Bond
Samuel Jeouison
Robert .leniiison
1603
Feb.,
Samuel Parris,
John Warren, Jr.
(then of Boston)
IM.-i
May,
Joseph Underwood
Theophilns Rhodes
16411
May,
Benjamin Criape
(then of Boston)
Henry Thorpe
1684
May,
John Whitney (then
George Woodward
of Roxbury )
lG4r,
May.
rbarles Sterne^^
John Wincoll
16B5
May,
Uriah Clark (then of
Roxbury. f
1647
May,
William Bridges
John Whitney, Jr.
John rstebbin
David Fiske, Jr.
Thomas Boyden
1686
Mar.
Lt. Wm. Bond, Jr.
Ebenezer Front
Abiah Sherman
Caleb Church
Samuel Eddy
Richard Hassell
109U
Mar.
Nicholas Wyeth
IIVIK
May,
Bartholomew Pieraoo
Thomas Rider
1049
May,
Garrett Church
Joshua Stubbs
Eliezer Flagg (then
of Concord)
1649
John ivnowles
John Ball
Robt. Pearse (Peirce)
John Tarbell (then
of Salem Village)
John MaaoD (then of
1651
May,
Richard Whitney
(?) William Uamlet
New Camb.)
Ebenezer Stone ^then
i>( New ranib.'i
titepheD Ouoke ^iIiud
New Camb.)
April Josiah Jones
John Livermore, Jr.
TLomaa Woolaon
Jusepb Gartield
Jo^iab Treadway
Jobn Wooilward
BeDJamin Wellingtou
Jobn Bond
John Fibkt)
Jodepb UarringtoD
Thutuas Hamuiood
Slichuel Baretow
Joseph I'ierce, Sen.
Jobn Bigelow, Sen.
(?) John Wiipbt
Daniel Uarrington
Roner Wellington
William Sbattuck
Jobn Cbinery
John Parkharst
Nathaniel Brii;ht
£^(imiiel HaiL^ar
Paisgrave Wellington
Tliumiirt Haniiicttui
Niitbaniel Bond
John Kemball
JuuHthun Smith.
John Bisco
William Goddard
Samuel Thatcher, Jr.
John Bacon
Tbomaa Whitney
Richard Child, Jr.
Benjauiiu Piercu
Joseph UnderwotHl
(?) Tbomaj Kidder
Kichrtfd Cutting, .Sr.
Henry Spring, Jr.
J(>nalhan StiiuauU
^amuel Bigelow
Benjamin Flagg
Benjamin Gartield
Uichard Child
Daniel Warren
Juhn Stearns (then or
BiUerica)
May Josepli Ma^uD
John Wiirron, Jr.
Tbomaa Straits
The Land Grants anl> thk Pi:ue*uietok>'
Book. — Aiiiocg the records of" the town-house, in tbe
town safe, is a book lai)eled ■th<' proprietors' book,
which should be published ibr the use of students of
our early history. It contains matters of Interest to
all who trace their origin tn our early settlers; it is
essential to these who would understand the relations
i>f the different citizens and inhabitants of this town,
:ind,sofarat least, o( the county andthe State as well.
Ft contains presumably records of all the land
grants i>f the town and of the Ueneral C'*»urt within
the town to individuals.
The first grants were small lots for homesteads, or
as they are designated, homerstalls and home-lots,
and were scattered over nearly the wimle of, and
sometimes beyond the present limits of Watertovvn.
Besides these homestalh, tliere were within the same
limits certain tracts of land known ;i3 ctunumns, for
instance, Mettitig- house rommon, which was in the
triangle between Belmont, Mt. Auburn and School
Streets, and contained abont forty acres. "Fifteen
acres of upland upon the Meeting-house Common
were granted to" Rev. George Phillips. Rev. John
Sherman was allowed to take wood from it. The
expense of rebuilding the Mill Bridge was defrayed by
the sale of a part of it. Pequusset Common, after-
wards King's Common, over in the Waverly District,
was reserved for common use. *' May 23, 1(338.
(Ordered, that all the laud not granted, called
Pequusset Common, bounded with the great dividents
on the West, with Cambridge line on the Xorth,
with ye small LotD? on the East and South, shall re-
main for Common, for the feed of Cattle, to the use
of ye Townsmen forever, and not to be alienated
without ye consent of ever)' Townsmen." However,
a note [in darker inkj says: 'This order repealed at a
public Towne meeting."
"On July 30, 1635, Agreed, by the cocaent of the
WATERTOWN.
349
freemen, that two Hundred Acres of upland next to
the Mill shall be reserved as most convenient to make
a Township.'' There were also other reservations.
The Court of Assistants also made a few grants
within these bounds — these certainly : First, " In
November, l(i32, the Court granted to George Phillips,
thirty acres of land up Charles river, on the South
side,"' etc., probably meadow opposite the United States
Arsenal. Second, " On the tirst of April, 1634, the
Court granted Mr. John Oldham five hundred acres
lying near Mt. Feake, on the North-west of Charles
river. " This was before the western boundary was
settled, and before the freemen had made any grants
besides " the small lots." Third. March 3, 1635-36,
the Court "agreed that Sir Richard Saltonstall shall
have one huudred acres of meadow." This lot is
de.'cribed as remote meadow, bounded with the farm
land. This lay near the farm of two huudred acres
and the one hundred acre lot. in the (.treat Dividends,
both granted soon after by the town. Bond says that
the^e three grants a|)pear as the only ones made by
the Court within the limits of the town, and none was
thus made after the western boundary was determined.
The homestalls and home-lots assigned to the first
planters comprised from one to sL^teen acres, seldom
more; proljably, as is seen by the list in the town lot,
averaging about six acres. Where much larger home-
wtalls are found, especially later, it is where certain
persons were able to purchase the lots of several
others. In some ca.ses the persons to whom lots were
assigned in the quite equal division, — although it
was understood and agreed before tiie colonists came
that the amount of laud received by each should be
• li'ti-rmined by the amount of money each adventured,
— were servants to others, and doubtless many pre-
ferred to retain this relation to their neighbors and so
l»artc'l with their lota for a consideration. In the
map of I72i>, now (ireserved in ihe State archives, a
copy of which we should be glad to exhibit, the
ligation 111' l.'iii houses is tciven, very few being given
where the gr()U[i of houses must have been made at
first, in what wiis known as " the town," near the
lauding ; and compact groups of houses in the lot set
aside tor the town just west of Lexington Street,
where very few houses are found to-day ; while over
beyond Beaver Brook, next to the northern limit of
the town, were clustered about twenty houses, forming
quite a compact village. Not more than tweuty-five
bouses were then to be found in whr.t is now the
entire village of Watertown. As the change has
gone on in the industries of the town, from
agriculture to manufactures, there has been a gradual
withdrawal of thesmaller houses and absorption of the
smaller lots by the larger holders and a concentration
of interests about the manufactories, which now so
largely predomiuate in importance.
Thk Gke.vt Dividends.— The first division of
lands afrer the small lots, few of which exceeded
sixteen acres, generally one to five or six acres, was
recorded in the old town book, and- is dated July 26,
1636.
This list contains 120 names, all the townsmen
then inhabiting. It is headed with these words :
" The grant of the Great Dividends [allotted] to
the freemen, to all the townsmen then inhabiting,
being 120 in number. The land being divided into
four divisions, every division being 160 rods in
breadth, beginning next to the small lots, and
bounded with Cambridge line on the North side, and
with the plowlands on the South, to be laid out
successively one after another (all the meadows and
cartways excepted) for them to enclose or feed in
common."
This record is in the first original book of records
of the town, preserved as well as may be, but fast
going to decay. Much of the paper is worn away,
is much discolored, but the hand-writing is still
clear and distinct, written in a very regular, almost
print-like band.
Bond, in speaking of this list, says that " These
four divisions were sometimes called the Squadrons,
and the lines dividing them, the squadron lines."
These divisions are said " to begin next to the small
lots," but it is difiicult to determine this line exactly.
Pequusset Meadow is described as bounded on the
north by the Cambridge line, and on the west by the
Great Dividends. It is conjectured that the Dividends
began not far from the present boundary between
Watertown and Waltham, and that for some distance
these were bounded by the road (now Warren Street),
which was the western boundary of the town plot.
The first Great Dividend, beginning next the small
lots at the east, was bounded on the south by the Bea-
ver Brook Plowlands, as follows :
[These are tik^i /mm the origitial littM, or earlieU copiet^ in the totrn
•trchires. ]
Lott Acres
1 .lohn CooUdge 30
2 GJmuod Shermnn . . . . ^0
3 .luhn Tucker 'JS
4 ISKuc Mixer 30
R Itilwrt Voazey JO
R Hugb aiason 30
7 Jobo Stowere 30
8 Hubert JenoisoD 20
J .fiibn Vohan 20
10 Ricbard Beers 2.')
U WiUiam Paioe 70
12 Tbuoiaa Hastings .... 25
13 Jobn SinidOD (aic) . . . . :10
14 llobert Bett« 20
!."> Heory Uergaioe (sir) . . 20
16 Juba Rose 20 i
THE SECOND DITISIOH.
Lull Acrea LoU Acrea
1 Jobo Eaton 40 10 Robert Feke 80
2 Edward Garfield 40 11 Abrabam Shaw 70
3 Jobu Smith 35 12 Samuel Hosier 35
4 Hubert Daniel 35 13 Robert Lockwood .... 35
5 Edward Goess 60 14 Henry Cuttria 20
6 Tbomaa Mason 20 IS Samuel Swaina .... 60
7 Simon Stone 70 16 John FIrmin 60
.■( EpUniim Child 60 17 Xicholna Knap .tci
9 Charles Cliadwick .... 35 18 William Basum .'ju
Lotl
.IcrM
17
John Kingsbury . .
. . 40
18
Orcgory Stone . . .
. . 40
13
Bryan Pembleton . .
. . 70
'"O
3D
21
John Dwight . .« .
. . 30
22
John Bernard . . . .
. . 60
23
WilUam Knap . . .
. . 30
24
Daniel Perse . . . .
. . 25
25
John Haynard . . .
. . 50
26
Edmund Lewis . . .
. . 30
27
(George Richardson .
. . 25
28
James Cutler . . . .
. . 25
29
Jobn Grigs
. . 25
30
Henry lioldstone . .
. . 60
31
Jobn Cutting . . . .
. . 60
350
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY. MASSACHUSETTS.
Robert Tuck .
JobD Batchelor
John Smith .
Abram Browne
William Briilffes
Richard Browne
Thomaa Arnold . .
Thomas Smith . . .
Henry Kemball . .
Kdward Dikea (Dix)
NatbauJel Bowman
Edward Lambe ,
Tbumas Rogers .
Beojamin Crispe
Martin Underwoed
Lawrence Waters
Emanuel White .
Thumaa Slayhew
John Springe . .
William Swift , .
Edwai-d How . .
30 : 25 Gregory Taylor . .
35 ' 26 Thomaa Brookes
30 i L'7 John Gay
50 t 28 George Phillips . .
30 ] 29 llallhew Hitchcock
50 30 George Munniugs .
35
20
35
Sv
2v
30
THE TBIBD
Acres
30
20
35
50
35
25
30
20
25
25
20
80
35
40
Til
DlVlBluN.
Lott Acret
16 John Whitney 50
17 John EUett 25
18 Thomas Bartlet 3o
19 Daniel Mosee (Morse) . . 20
20 Richard Woodward ... 35
21 John Litveran Su
■22 Thomas Parish 20
23 Miles Xutt 25
24 John Winter 25
25 William Jennison .... dO
26 Joseph Mosse (.Morse) . . 2i>
27 John Finch 30
28 William Palmer 2u
29 Esther Pickram 35
30 Sir B. SalteBtout,:fuUonstan) lOU
THE rOlHTH DIV
LvH Jcrei Lo tt
1 Simon Eire ''fO 10
2 Roger Williiigton .... 20 17
.; Williitm Baker . . 25 Is
4 Leonard Chester 60 19
5 William Hammond ... 40 20
6 Isaac i;ummiuB ... . 35 21
7 Phillip Labor 30 22
s Richard Sawtle ..... 25 23
!» John Page 50 , 24
10 John Eddy .50 , 25
H John Livermoro 25 26
12 JohnDoggett 30 27
13 Edmund James 40 ! 28
14 Robert Abbot 35 ; 29
15 Isaac Sterne .50
1636. February 28th. "A grant of the Plowiands at Bt-verbroke
Planee, divided aud Lotted out by the freemen to all the Townsmen then
inhabiting, being lOti in number, alluwing uoe acre for a person and
likewise for Cattle vulued at £20 the head, beginning nei:t to the hnmll
lotts beyond the ware, and bounded with the great Lottu on the north
side and Charles rirer on the ^ouih divided liy aciirtway in the middest,
the first Lutt to begin next the River, the second on the north side of the
Cartway, and so to be laid out succeanively until all the Luta be euded."
ISION.
Ac^■t^
Thus. Filbnck <PbiIbnck) 3:-
John Gutterige 25
John Lawrence 3ii
Francis ' luge 3(i
Heury Bright 30
Garrett Church 2u
John Tomson 25
Chriotofer Grant .... 25
Barnaby Wiudes 35
John WinkoU 25
John WarriD fio
John Gosse 35
Richard Kemball . . . . 5U
Tbonias Cakebred . . . . bi'
Lolt
Granted first to George
lips. Pastor .
\ John Whitney .
2 Thomaa Hastings
3 Richard Woodward
4 Robert Betts . .
5 John Grigo . . .
6 John Simaun . .
7 Charles Chadwick
8 Robert Yeazy . .
9 Henry Goldstone
10 John Smith, Sr .
11 John Tomaun . .
12 John Eddy . . .
13 WilUtun Baaaam .
14 Benjamin Crispe .
15 Edmund Sherman
16 William Bridget
17 Gregory Taylor
18 John Coolige .
19 Daniel Pattrick
20 Joseph Moaae .
21 Ephraim Child
22 Robert Lockwood
^ Francis Ooge . .
Acrei
Phil-
40
10
6
1
1
4
3
1
7
4
3
3
9
6
ft
5
5
14
2
16
fi
6
Lott Acres
24 John Gay 5
25 Simon Eire 18
26 Sir Richard Salteston . 3u
27 Nathaueel Baker .... 5
28 John Richardson ... 3
29 George Munnioge ... 4
30 Henry Bright 3
31 Nichohu Knap 6
32 Richard Sawtle ]
23 John Ellett 4
34 Francis Smith S
35 John Eaton f<
36 Juhu Loveran 20
37 William Jennison .... 10
38 John Page 13
39 Samuel Hosier .... 5
4« John Winkoli . ... 3
41 John Gosse 4
42 Nathanel Bowman ... 7
43 Brian Pembleton .... 12
44 Richard Browne .... 9
45 John Lawrence 3
46 John Tucker 3
47 Thomaa Cakebred ... 8
48 Robert Tuck 5
10
10
1
49 Henr>' Cutrisa 1
50 Richard Kemball .... 12
51 John Bernard 10
52 Edward Dikes :t
52 Thomas Bruokea .... 4
53 Timothy Huwkens ... 2
54 Gregury jtoue
65 James Cutler . . .
56 Johu Cutting . .
57 Daniel Perse . .
58 Barnaby W ludes . . 6
59 Juhn Kiugbberry .... 6
60 Robert Feke 24
61 Isaac Sterne II
62 Thunias Smith 2
63 John Rose 3
64 Miles Nutl 3
65 Juhn Uayward ... 7
6»3 Thomas Fiibrick .... '■*
67 ?<imon Stone 14
01? Robert Daniel S
6'J Isaac Mixer . 4
TO Edward How 24
71 Henry l>engaynfl . . I
72 Thomas Miiihuw .... :;u
73 John Stoivery 2
74 Richard Bfer;* . ... 2
75 Edmund .Iiimes 5
76 John Firmin T'
77 Juhn Warrin M
In. I
1"1
lM-2
10:;
1ij4
1 1 '.")
1(1..
John Batchelor . .
\\'illiam Knop . .
Henry Kemball . .
Williiim Piilmer
Edmund Lewis . .
Juhn Fiuih . . ,
WiUium 6wift . . .
Juhn Winter . . .
Edvvard Lam . . .
Juhn Smith, Jun
Kuger Williiigtou .
Christol'or <iraut . .
John Nichols . . .
Julin Dwight , . .
Esther Pickram . .
John Springe . . .
Juhn Waiiirr . . .
Emanuel White . .
Eduiird Gartield
Williuin i.utttng .
Hu'.:li Miioon . . .
Thuiims Ku^t-r? . .
Thuuiii> U.iill«?lt . .
.I..hii l'..--^tt . .
I.auiein B \\';itfr3 .
.^larttu luderwucd
Williiim Pjiiiif . .
G.itieit I liiiii h . .
.\biHhuiu ."li.iw
In 1037. June J'Mli. " .-V ^rant ol the remut^- -'i West pine nifl-ioM-s.
lievided and lutted uiit by the Kreeint-u lu all the tuwiohii'ii tht-n in-
habiting, being 114 in number ; alluuiiit; one acre fur a {lei^'-n, .ind hk>-
witje fur cattle \alued at ::u lb. the head, beginuini; ni-\i (•> flic I'laiu*-
ileddow, and to goe on untill the lutri be eiidci.
" Granted first to Ruberr Feake, 40 acieiii.
" Edward Huw, J4 ncrvf.
Loll ArxB
"1 John Lawrence ... .3
2 Martin L'nderwood . . 2
3 Simon Stone ... 14
4 Joseph .^Inrse 2
.". Isaac Sterne II
r- Will. Jeunisuu . . . 1"
7 Simon Eire .... IS
5 Hugh 3I;ufuu 3
'.I Will. Bridges 5
10 .lobn Uarupr . . . . 7
Lmi
11
12
l.>
U
15
In
IT
IH
VJ
At
John Eutuii . .
Juliu Elleit . . .
.lubn >iaiii.^L- .
Wm. H,imiiion<t .
Juhn iiuiteii^ .
Abr.iiu HrowiK-
Juhn FirniMi
Henry (.Htleris ,
Juhn Cuolidie
Natlil. l^usvniuu .
Aud so ou to No. 3(j, wLeu llif records are il-
legible to No. 77, the number llU being the last iu
the list with name, George Phillips being includeJ
with 30 acres.
In April 0, 1638, "A division of land at ye Tuwii-
platt :
" >rMBEB40 — lieorge Phillips, 12 acre? ; Robert Fike. '.lacre* . Kitli-
ard Browne, '.• acres ; Daniel PatriLk, J hi. res."
On the same dale another Il.sr. is given, in whicii
thirty-six names (persons) are assigned *J acrts eatli
in the town-plot, except that one, Edward Huwe, is
granted 9 acres, and tive others 3 or 4 acres each.
They are —
Winifred Walcott, 6 acres ; John Firmin. ba. ;
Samuel Hosier, 6a,; Simon Stone, tJa. ; JohnSmiih,
Sr., tJa. ; Simon Eire. tia. ; Edmund Janie.s. (ia. ; John
Doggett, fria. ; Nicholas Busby, lia. ; Kicliard Beer:*,
Ga. ; John Coolidge, (3a. ; Edmund Lewis, tJa. ; John
Stowers, tia. ; Barnaby Windea, (ia.; Hugh Ma&on, fia. ;
Francis Onge, tia. ; Samuel Freeman, (3a.; Henry
Bright, Jr., 6a. j John Nicarson, 6a.; David Fi^ke,
WATERTOWN.
351
6a.; Henry Dow, 6a.; Gregory Taylor, 6a.; John
Tonison,6a. ; Thomas Hastings, 6a. ; Daniel Pers, 6a. ;
Charles Chaddwick, 6a. ; Edward How, 9a. ; John Ea-
ton, 3a.; John Smith, Jr., 3a. ; Isaac Mixer, 6a. ; Ed-
mund Blois, 6a. ; John Baker, 3a. ; Abram Browne,
6a. ; William Potter, 4a. ; Thomas Filbrick, 3a.
Thomas Carter, -a.
If one acre is allowed Carter, there would be
allotted 200 acres reserved for a township, the 39 |
acres above being in addition, probably extra, or out-
side of this allotment.
In 1642, 3d month, 10th day, it was ordered that
" all the Townsmen that had not Farms laid out
formerly, shall take them by ten in a division, and to
cast lots for the several divisions ; allowing 13 acres
of upland to every head of peroons and cattle."
These names are not entirely legible in the town
records, but Dr. Bond copied them from the files of
the County Court. The lots range from thirty-four
acres (the smallest farm) to 287 (the largest farm — to
John Bernard), and comprise in all ninety-two farms
of an aggregate of 7674 acres. This copy was taken
from the town-book before it was worn out, and
signed by John Sherman.
The Proprietors' book, giving the grants, appar-
ently, to 1644, and signed by Pinion Eire, Michael
Ba-irstow, Thomas Bartlett, William Jenni.son, John
Barnard, Richard Beers, John Sherman.
■■From tuf; Proprietors' B-mK. Tliis Riok btflont^ to Tb*» Pro-
priPinrs -il' the < '■>mnion imd unilivid(Ml Lanil in Watertown."
The following are from the " T<ist of Proprietors,*'
with a numbered liat of lots iissigned to each, with a
description and the bounds of each. We give a few
specimen pages only. Fur example, the first is ;
Sir Rli'HARI' ."iALTONiSTALI..
1. Au honi6CuU otsiMeen arr^rt. by •>s^nriiatii>u, bouoiiod the nurtbeael
w iili Tlioniii* Bngiin rikI Robert K-'ii*. the Mmrhcuj^l with thp Kiver, the
pniirhwest wich the hi'.:h«Hy .V the northwpftt with George Phillips.
(^rauted to him.
J. fowpr ACT*^ »r u[iluDd, by estiiiiHtion, hMiindeil the northwest with
tJeur^e Phillip.-, tlip fi-'Hth with lta;ii' Hurt, nnd tfap fast \nth .Joseph
t'nokn, uraiUfd to him.
:i. TweDty at-ffS iipluii<1, by fatniiutjdn, buuuded the southeast with
tlie hl^hway, Suiiihwtr-t with Peqiiuattet uieaddow, the Dorthwest with
Wjlliiiiu Haiiiuiond ;iiitl Thoiuaei B^iyden, granted to liiui.
4. "ne hundre'i iicret ot' remote mfidMU-, hy •atiiOAlion, hu)iDde«l with
the Farm liiod graoterl ti> him.
IS. One huiiUn-d in:reti uf U)iland, hy futiniatiun. boing a i;t-eat Divident
adjoiiiiuK to hitt nteadduw, and bounded with the farm and land i^ranted
to liini.
t;. Two hundrpd arieN of npltind, by esiimatioo, adjoinini; to his (^reai
Dirident \ b«ouidHU with Che farm liiiid granted to him.
7. Twenty ULTeb "f IMowland, by esttmatiun, lioiinded the s<mth with
Edward How, the nunh with thi* bichwnv, the west with .lohn Whit-
ney, and the eai<t uitb .foha Knight:?, granted to him.
J*. Ten acres of meadow in Platne meadow, by estiniatioo, bounded the
♦■rti-t with the Bi-oi)k, the west with William I'aiiiH, the north with the
highway \, the uoulh with cumnioii land, granted to him.
I. Thirty ;u:res o( Remote nieddow, hy estimation, l>oiiiide<i with ye
great Dividenis. and the sexeuty anil lntt granted to him.
lo. Thirty acres of pfowland, by estimation, in the Uithor Plaioe,
bounded the south with the River, the north with the highway, the
iMHt with .<imoD Eire and the we«t with John Traine, granted to him.
II. Twfhty-Righi acrt-a and a half of upland, by estimation, beyond
Ihc funher PUine. jqU tbu ihirty-uiuc It-tt s-'-^otfl W Uim.
George Phillips.
1. An hoQistatl of twelve acres, by estimation, bounded the east with
Thomas Arnold, the west and north with the highway, and the sooth
with Edward How, granted to him.
2. Se?en acres of upland, by estimat ion, bounded the north with Cam-
bridge line, the south with Samuel Sattonstall, and the west with Isaac
[lart, granted to him.
3. An homstall of five acres, by estimation, bounded the Bouthweat and
northwest with the highway, and the east with a drift way, granted to
him.
4. Forty acres of Plowland, by estimation, in the hither Plaine,
bounded the east with Edward How, the west with the drift way, the
north with the highway & ye south with the way betwixt ye lotts
granted to him.
rt. Thirty acres of Remote meddow, by estimattou, bounde<l with ye
farm land and ye ninety-third lott granted to him.
6. Eight acres of upland, by estimation, being a great divident in the
second Division & the twenty-eight lott granted to him.
7 Fifteen acres of upland, by estimation, upon ye meeting-house com-
mon, granted to him.
8. Thirty acres of meddow, by estimation, bounded .ye west with ye
River, the eoutbenst with Cambridge line, grunied to hiui.
Edwabd How.
[The first resident owner of the " Mill," probably with .^£athew Cnid-
dock, the builder.]
1. An homstall of twenty acres.
2. Nine acres of upland.
:V Twelve acres of upland, in the hither plaine.
4. Seventy acres of upland, a great divident, in 3d division.
5. Thirty acres of upland, in further Plaine.
H. Fifteen acres of plowland, in the further Plaine.
7, Six acres of Remote meadow.
^. Eighteen acres of Remote meadow.
'}. Ten acres of upland.
10. Five acres of upland.
11. Two acres of meadow.
12. Twelve acres of upland io the hither Plaine.
13. ."^Ix acres of meadow, next his own.
14. £i;;ht arres of meadow in Plaine meadow.
RoREBT Kbkb.
I. A homeslall of U acres.
J. 15 acres of upland.
3. H acres of marish.
4. RO acres of upland.
.*». Twenty fower acres of Plowlaods.
6. *():icresof remote meadow lying beyond St*mcy Brook.
7. 3 acres of upland.
A. f^ acres of upland.
0. ^ acres of meadow in Plaint meadow.
WiLLUM Jennlion.
1. An homstall of 50 acres.
2. Three acres of meadow.
3. Six acres of upland with a pond.
4. Sixteen acres A half of upland beyond the further plaint.
.1. Fower acres of meadow at Bever brook.
ti. Six acres of upland in Dorchestier lield.
7. Eight acres of upland.
A. Ten acres of Remote meadow.
'I. Sixty acres of upland.
10. Ten acres of Plowland in the hither plaine.
RicUABD Drowse.
1. .\n homstall of twelve acres.
2. 3 acres of meadow.
3. '.• acres of plowland in the further plaint.
4. ^ acres uf Remote meadow.
5. 12 acres of Remote meddow lying next the turn of the river.
K. 15 acres uf upland upon the lueetiug-houee Common.
7. 12 acres uf upland.
8. 9 acres of upland in the town plott.
0. 7 acres of upland.
10. 2^^ acres of marsh.
11. 50 acres uf upland.
1^. J acres of marsh.
352
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
These are enough to show the kiud of records that
were kept, and to show how valuable it would be to
historical students to have the entire book published
with the other records of the town. The bounds are
given here only with the first two lists. From the
full lists it might be possible to reconstruct the full
map of the town, and to show to the eye the pos-
sessions of each proprietor.
Meanwhile it suggests the necessity of consulting,
for certain purposes, the records themselves.
Town Government xyv Relation to the Leg-
islature.— Dr. Bond has shown how weak the town
stood atler the departure of Sir Richard Saltonstall
to England, in 16.31, in all civil aflairs, and, by infer-
ence, accounts for the insignificant part assigned to
Watertown when we consider her wealth and num-
bers, except that of bearing her full share of taxes.
Nothing has been said concerning the relations e.xist-
ing between Sir Richard himself and Dudley or Win-
thrbp and the rest, but doubtless the town was its well
served by Sir Richard in En^jrland as it could have
been by him here without an open rupture.
As it wan, all was smooth on the surface, although
he was fined by his associates, at least, ou two occa-
sions, insignificant amounts, which many years after-
wards were remitted, not having been paid. Little is
said of the large sums due him for money advanced,
nothing of the great sacrifices he must have made in
disposing of his large estates in order to come here
with nearly all his family. AVe do not care to try to
read between the lines any causes of disagreement be-
tween the somewhat narrow Dudley, ready for a con-
test, who sat down so near Sir Richard's choice of
lands, with his attempt to force even the Governor to
build the capital city where there were not the best
conditions for a capital, or to draw the theological
line more taut than it had been drawn on them,
even before they left their homes ; for Sir Richard Sal-
tonstall, every inch a noble a.s he was, preferred to re-
tire, with most of his family, from the undertaking,
rather than disturb the general peace, and though he
afterwards wrote a protest to Mr. Cotton and Mr.
Wilson against the spirit of religious persecution
which he had seen some signs of before he left the
Colony.
At ail events, the spirit shown by Parson Phillips
and Elder Brown, and others, his chosen associates,
resulted, as has been shown by Mr. Savage in a great
gain in the struggle for entire freedom of opinion and
larger local powers in government.
Names of magistrates, selectmen and representatives
are given in full in Dr. Bond's indispensable work, to
a certain time in the present century.
Below we continue the lists to the present time.
RErRE-SEiJTATIVES TO THE GENERAL CoURT OF
Massachusetts. — Supplementing the list of Dr. Doml.
— These were elected on the November of the year
set opposite their names to serve for the year ensuing.
When no year is given
elected:
no representative was then
ISlfl.
Grenville T. Winthrop.
\i<A.
F. M. ilone.
1S44.
Thumas Liveniiore.
Edward Gangs.
1848-40
Juhn H. Richttrdbun.
1865.
Emury W. Lane.
1850-51
Seth Beiuis.
Jesse .\. Locke.
1S54.
George Frazer,
1S6(>-GT.
Henry M. Clarke.
1S55.
LeM Thaxter.
l8c.9-;o
A. L. Richards.
ISoO.
Joseph B. Keyes.
1371.
l5eo. W. Ware.
IS-iT.
Thomaa L. French.
1872.
Henderson J. Edwards
.Tames G. Moore.
187;'..
Sanouel S. Gleuson.
ISJS.
Josiab Rurter.
1874.
Rev. F. G. Morris.
Ji«epL CrafU.
lS75-7fi.
Edward Whitney.
1853.
Joseph Crafts.
1S77.
Robert L. Davis.
F. 31. Stone.
1878-79.
W. H. In^raham.
1S60.
Daniel French.
l.-Su.
J. v. Fletclier.
F. M. Stone.
1881.
Stiiuiiel Walker.
1-r.l.
F. M. Stone.
18si
I'auiel Buller.
Josiah Reiini.
18n:1.
Francis E. Wbilcoml*.
ISl.J.
F. M. Stone.
l.'<84-55
.1. Viirmini Flelcber.
W. H. IncraUani.
I-SSi-..
.lonatliun Bii^elow.
IbM.
F. M. Stone.
lS87-8>
triiarlcs (y Pien-e.
John K. Stirkney.
1S»»
.1. Ueiiiy Kietcliei.
-SELEi T.MEN ANI> T<>W\ i I.F.nhS "f W
{Sul'i'lenieuttthj lli
Amos Bond, l.sl»'."-ly.
Thomas Cl.uk, IMRi-lO, •jn-.'.'.
Joseph Brifhl, 16ll9-l.'i.
Edward Luwd, lsU',i-lo.
J. mas While, l.sUI-l...
Nathl. K. Whitney, T. C. l-iii-Ci.
Nathl. R. Whitney, 1>11-1J, 17.
Nathl. Beniis, ISII-I'.!.
Gilbert MchoU, T. ''. I.^n-M', 'JO,
'27-J"J.
riaulel Bond, l.-l:t-lii, 'IS-jn, ■--,
Enoch Wiswall, lkia-14.
Gilbert Nichols, 1»I5-P', '-: 'Ji-
■Jfi.
-Moses C'heiiery, l^lt-. '18, 'J.I-J0.
William White, ISlll.
Nathl. R. Whitney, Jr., T. I'.
IM7-i;i. -li.
Luke llenus, 1H|7, 'V.i. '-\-2-.
\iiios LiveriiioM-, .Ir, IM7, 19.
.Ilarshall B. .Spriui:, IM7.
Jonathan Stone, 1M7.
Peter Clark, 1818. ":4.
Levi Thaster, I?I8-2I. •J7-J8..31-
:;4, '43.
Charles Whitney. 1818-211.
John Fowle, 182i>,
WillLim Whitney, T. C, IS21-2:;.
Josbna Coolidge, Jr., 1821-26.
Jo^llllaC.a<lid|;e, .Ir. ia.-i9-ill, 'lii.
Klisba Livemiore, 1.121.
.Xbijah White. 182S-24.
.\nios Li\priuore, 18*23-26.
John llaik, T. i^ 1824-26 ; .Sel.
l82'.'-.'.'l.
Janie» RobMns, IS24.
Walter Unnnewcdl, 1827.
John Hunting, 1*^27-28.
Leonard Stone, Ixly.
t 'liarle.s Beinis, l82*.'-;;4.
William .May, IS^-J-.W.
Isaac Rohbins, T. C. I8:!n-19.
JoBiah Bright, 18.il-:14, lo. '47.
Isaac Rol.biUB, Sel. 18:15, 'liS-fi'.'.
David Stone, |H35-:16.
Benjamin F. Karnir, Ik35-;j7.
George Robbine, ls;iti-:;9, 12.
John Coolidge, 1837-41.
Luke Robinson. 1838-41.
-\ndreK Cole, 1840-41, '4;;.
lEnr<i\i.\ I'looi THE vr\K I'.ii'i-l.-'Mt
hsl of lir. iloait.)
N.-"ell Brown, 1.^424:;. 'I'l- '>*>.■
Drnnie P. ll,jok.-l, 1>42, ' IT, .il -
Kl'raliam LiiiLidn, 1-4;;, 'IT.
Tboiniis L. Fieuch, 184-1, '4.^>-4'-,
'■"■ii, '.:.:;, '.■■'-.'.7. '.=.:•, ■.■.
•72.
,'=\lve-ler Priest. I>r.
Tli'-iiia.'' I.ivermorc, 1-1-
William X. W liiie. 1-1... 'tx,
William White. l?f"
K..yal i.ilkey, l-l,-. •■.'.-.•.J.
Leonard Whitney, lx4''.
.■^eth Beini-, Ir, l>l'.i-".^. '.".1
l.'lin H. Hicharrlson, I.-49.
Wdliam II. liii,Taliani. T. C.
o:i, 81 ->o.
Leouanl Stone, l>jl -52.
Marshall llingnian, 1-"'.J -">.■■.
.lames Brown, 1> .1.
.1. Hitrengei, Is"-."..
Edward Banc's, 18."'5-jb, wi.
Jiwbna 'i. '.Moch, I.X.J'— "'X, '1-.
■'■■4-
Henry Derby, 18.">s.
Jeremiah Russell, Istitui,!.
Francis Kendall, l>bi>-'d, '80.
Nathaniel Wliiting, l>t:2.
tjeo. H. >lee|>er, lxr.j-ii:i, 'tfi.
lieorse W. HHrn. I8t)2-i'.:i.
tleu. B. Wilbur, I8ii4-<i5.
Thomas N. Hooper, !xt^-»;>.
Geo. L. Noyee, T. C. Ixr4-r.;;.
.luhli K. Stirkn.-y, l.x'i»-T2.
•loel liarnaid, T < '. lxi;i,.
Joseph Ciafls, T. I'. ISBT-TL, .lied
in 1.X7I..
Luke Perkins, IxoT-r.s
Satunel .'•^. tVlearon, \^^'*, 7"-TI.
'.iliverShaw, >ele<-tinaii from 1>7h-
.x|, inclusive.
Lyman P. Ger..iild, I^Tl, '7:i.
Ha,^es W. .Macurdy, I.X72-T*'.
tieorge N. 31arch, 1ST2-T4.
Nathaniel C. Siinger, 187 l-T'"-.
William II. lugraham, I8T.5-Tf.,Viii.
Ward M. Utis, 1875-70.
Tilden G. AblHitt, T.i:. ia7l-acl.
James W. Magee, I8T7-7'1, '.■•l-x4.
WATERTOWN.
353
Edward F. Porter, 1887-89.
Hiram D. Skinner, 1887-89.
Horace W. Otis, 18S9.
Frederick E. Crilchett, T. C. 1890.
Abrabam L. Richards, 1831, '90.
Samuel Walker, 1877-79.
Jeremiah J. Sullivan, 1880-84.
CharlM Brigham, ISS5-88.
Jam3d F. Lynch, 18S5-86.
Julius B. Uartwell, 188o.
Charles W. Stone, 1886. '
T. C. Town Clerk.
Oat&s alone are dates of selectmen.
Schools.' — It is not certain how soon after the
settlement of Watertown in 1630, provisions were
inaile for the education of her youth, but the earliest
recorded date of a school-house is September 17, 1649.
This was a small, one-storied building situated on
Strawberry Hill, which afterwards bore the name of
Schoul-House Hill, now thought to be identical with
Jleeting- House Hill. The first record of a school-
master it November 7, 1649, when the selectmen or-
dered that " David Mechell of Stamford, Conn., be
certified of the town's desire for him to keep school."
The next teacher was Richard Norcross, who
served the town from 1651 to 1675, and, between that
date and 1700, was recalled several times.
.•\.s the exact words of the records will give a bet-
ter idea of the nature of the school and the instruc-
tion given, that! a summary, a few of the votes are
■ [uoted.
In 16-50, " It was voted and agreed upou that .Mr.
Richard Xorcross was chosen schoole-master for the
teaching of children to reed and write, and soe much
!•( Latin according to an order of Courtt as also if
.my nf die .sd. Towne, have any maidens that have a
drisire to learn to write, that the sd. Richard should
attend iLt-m for [he learning of them, as also that he
teach such as desire to cast acompt and that the
Tdwue did promise to allow the said Richard for his
iiLipliiyineut thirty pounds for this yeare."
lu lliOl, "It was voted that Mr. Richard N'orcross
-Uall attend the keeping of a scoole within the bounds
of Watertown, where the Towne shall appoynt. That
lie shall use his best Indeavors to instruct all such
p.-ons as shall be sent unto him, in English write-
iug or Lutteii, according to the Captissity of the
psons; and that it is in the Liberty of any inhabitant
lo send his Sonnes or .Servant for a weeke or two and
til take them away agayne at his pleasure. And
ilu'rclbre the sayd Mr. Norcross is to keep a strict ac-
couQl ijf the number of weekes that every one doth
coiitinew, and that every pson that learueth Eng-
li.-ih only, shall pay 3d. a weeke, and such as write
or L.'itin shall pay 4d. ; and that Mr. Norcross is to
give notice to the pertickler parents of their just due,
according to this order — and if any pson shall ne-
glect to bring unto his house his full due by the 29th
of the 8th month in (52) that then he shall bring the
names and the sum of their debt unto the 7 men who
are hereby required to take some speedy course to
bring him to his due ; and for the other halfe yeares
pay he is to take the same course and what the
1 By Miss Ellen Crafts and the eilitor, SoIOD^F. Whitney.
23-iii
prtickelers doe want of the full some of 30 pounds
the Towne dooth hearby ingage to make a supply."
In 1670 " It was agreed that the selectmen should
goe through the towne in their severall quarters to
make tryall whether children and servants be educat-
ed in learninge to reade the English tongue, and in
the knowledge of their capitall laws according to the
law of the country, also that they be educated in some
othadox catacise."
The result of this investigation seems to be con-
tained in the following statement, 1674. "Thomas
Fleg, John Whitney and Joseph Bemus gave in an
account of what they had found consarning children's
edducation ; and John Fisk being found wholly negli-
gent of edducating his children as to reading or catti-
cisiog, the seleckt men agreede that Joseph Bemus
-hould warn him in answer for his neglect at the next
meeting of the selekt men.
With reference to the daily sessions, the following
vote is recorded.
In 1677 " Agreed with Leflenant Shearman to
ceep an inglish scoole this yeare, and to begin the
9th of Eaprill at the scoole house, and the Town to
alow him twenty pounds in the Town reat that shall
be raised in the year 77, And if the Leftenant de-
sireth to lay down this employment at the years end
then he shall give the Town aquarterof a years warn-
ing. And if the Town desireth to change their scoole
masters they shall give the like warning. The Select-
men agree also that the said scoole shall be cept from
the furst of May till the last of August, 8 owers in
the day — to wit — to begin at seven in the morning
and not to break up until 5 at night, noontime ex-
cepted and from the last of August untill the last of
October 6 owers in the day; so also in the Munths
of March and Aprill and the 4 winttur munths, to
begin at tenn of the clock in the morning and con-
tinue untill 2 o'clock in the afternoon."
Of the other early masters, Mr. Nathaniel Harring-
ton and Mr. Samuel Coolidge receive the most atten-
tion in the records. The former was engaged in 1750
" to keep the Grammar and English School, to begin
the second Monday in August, and to keep said school
from thence till the last day of March following, ex-
cept so much time as to take care of getting in his
Indian Harvest, and the time he take thereat he to
give account of." He was to receive £30 a year and
board himself. The latter was engaged at £40 a year,
but " was so disorderly as not fit to keep j° school."
Another master was obtained for a short time, then
" the major part of the selectmen agreed to try Mr.
Samuel Coolidge again in the school, and to pay him
according as he should perform." The salary seems
not to have been ample, for several statements are
made with reference to providing Mr. Coolidge with
clothes.
In 1767 is the first mention of lady teachers when
it was voted " to have four women's schools for the
instruction of children in the remote parts of the
354
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY. JIASSACHUSETTS.
Town, the schools to be kept twelve weeks, the dame?
to provide their rooms or pay the rent, the salary to
be forty shillings each."
In striking contrast to the modern methods of heat-
ing the school-houses are the following votes for fur-
nishing fuel :
1670 — " Thear have ben a complaint by Mr. Nor-
cross that the schooling of children is like to be hin-
dered for want of wood to keep a fire, and for the
preventing of such an enconvenance, the school being
the Town's, It is ordered by the Belectmen, therefore,
that the inhabitants that send their children to the
school shall send in for every scholar a quarter of a
cord of wood, by the fifteen day of this instant De-
cember, or is. in money to buy wood withal."
In 1701. " Voted that those who send children to
school should send one-fourth cord of wood."
In 1747, " Voted that those persons who send their
children or servants to school shall supply the school
with fire-wood when there is occasion for the same."
In 1748, "Voted that 8 shillings per head be
charged for wood."
In 1750, " The selectmen proposed thatJIr. Nathan-
iel Harrington, present school-master, for the support
of a fire in the school, he should send to parents and
masters that .send your children or servants to sclimil,
to send six shillings per head to procure wood loi
said fire."
The first mention of a school committee is in 17!!i).
Henceforward, the school records, previously kept by
the selectmen with the other business of the town,
belong to that newly-organized body.
The exact location of the early school-houses, from
1649 to 1796, cannot easily be determined. When
Watertown included U'altham, Weston, Lincoln and
Belmont, the districts must have been large and the
ichool-houses far apart.
As early as 1683 " it was agreed that all those who
dwell on the west side of Stony Brook be freed from
the school-tax, that they may be the better able to
leach among themselves."
In 1796, " Voted an alteration in the school dis-
tricts. One district to begin at Waltham line, on
the great county road, including the inhabitants on
both sides of the road until you come to the meeting-
house, and all south of that road."
This seems to bring the districts within the present
limits of the town.
Voted, also, in this year, " that the money granted
for the support of schools be equally divided between
the three schools."
These school-houses were in the West, East and Mid-
dle Districts. The location of the first is not certain ;
the second was situated at the junction of School
and Belmont Streets ; the third was " built on the par-
sonage land, between the Ministerial House and
Thomas Patten's house." This is still standing and
is the brick building on Mt. Auburn Street near the
Baptist Church. This was, at first, only one story
high, but, in 1816, a vote is recorded that " instead of
a new school-house in a separate place, the Town
should build an addition to the old scho(il-huu>e by
raising the same another story.'' Among the teachers
who taught in the Brick :riboiil-i:cMi>e were .Vlmer
Foibes, Moses Gill, Nalhau Bull, NVm. IIen>liaw,
Gardner Ahirich, Mr. Dustin, JdIim Kelly, Wm.
White, George Fro«', Leonard Fmst and a .Mr. .\llen.
David Packard t:uight i;i a little buililiiii near it.
The amount appropriated lor schools liad slowly
increased from .£30 to ?l:;oil anil, in ISHi. >:iou was
voted to the East, S3U0 to the West, am! ^'(JOO to the
Middle District, '"each district to keep their windows
and seats in repair out of their own money." The
accouMnndiitions of ilii- Middit/ Di^trjil were .siion
outgrown, and, in wlia: provrd to be a very unwise
way, a small one-story buildinj; wa< erected near the
brick school-hou.se, on the soiuliwcstern hide, liir ll:e
use of the highest clas-. In a fe" years a much
larger house was needed, ^o the [iresejit Irancis Seliool
was built.
In IS47, "Voted that 'he town do hereby aboli:-h
the S'jhool-di.-^trict system and adopt the tiencral sys-
tem and that a conimiltee be eliose'i, lo rop..-isl of
three persons troni other Town?, to a|i[aai>e the sev-
eral school-bouses and district property in I'ov. ;i
whenever either of the Districts wish to have the
Town take the same, and that the Town do liereby
agree to take said district iiroperty and pay the Dis-
trict the amount of .<aid apprisal. '
What private schools there may li.ive been before
ISOO can, perhaps, never be kif.-wn : but, within the
memory of the idde.st inhabitants, many stieh schools
existed and seemed to suit the needs of all aiies of
children, and of both sexes.
The schools for little girls made sewing an I em-
broidery a specialty, and >ometinies great strictness
attended the instruction. But from schools sueh as
these came the fine sewers and menders ol half a
century ago, when thrifty and uselul hou^ewivc- were
the rule.
Miss Ruth Wellington, Miss Catherine Hunt, Miss
Eliza Strat'.on taught schools for little girls.
Miss Martha Robbins, Miss Lydia .Maria Francis'
and Miss Hill taught schools for older girls; and
French and drawing were leading features oi the in-
structions.
In April, 1832, Theodore Parker came to Water-
town in search of pupils for a private school. He
boarded in a house still standing ne.\t beyond the
1 AeiBterot Dr. Convt-rse FraiiciH. l)e!ter l^iiown liiter ua ?trs. L.vijia
31aria Cbild, nn authnr of cunsiiierHble renown ; MTcre, 1st. '* llot'vDiok,
na Indian Slory ; " id. " Tbo KebtU a Tale of ilie l;uv..lmiun ;" ibiu
"Juvenile Miacellany," "(iirls' Own Ui'ok,' ".Mnlhers' Uuuk,"' :iiid
later " \n Appeal in Bebalfof tliut c'la^s of Anieriiuus calltHj Afircans."
In 183G " Fhilothea," a (Jreciau rotimuft- of tbe time of Pencles. In
1841 she became editor of tbe y^ttil^nlll Anli-r^lurtnj SOnidiird. In
1843—44 two volumes of" Lettert from Sew York "
In 1885Bhe wrote the " Life of leaac T. Hopper." Her principal
work, to which abe pave many years, was the " Progress of Relisioua
Ideas." She lived until 188(1.
WATERTOWN.
355
South District or Parker School. Ou the premises
was a building whose upper story had, only a short
time before, been used for a boys' school, taught by a
Mr. Wilder, of Brighton. This room Mr. Parker
leased, and opened a school with two pupils.' The
number, however, increased, and kept increasing, un-
til at the end of the year he had thirty-five, and after-
wards fifty-four pupils. He kept this school for two
years, teaching all the common branches, besides
those studies necessary for admission to college. A
fuller account of his labors at this time can be found
in Weiss's " Life and Correspondence of Theodore
Parker."
" In the early part of the year 18-22. a number of
the families in Watertown who wanted a higher edu-
cation for their children than the public schools
atibrded, established a private school for pupils of
both se.Kes, which they called an 'Academy.' They
built a school-house and engaged a master. The
property was held in shares; the right to send pupils
to the school being limited to the share-holders. It was
intended that this school should be able to fit boys for
college; and so far as the Association could do what
was needful, it was an excellent plan. But the
■ •ourse of studies was left altogether with the master ;
and none of the masters remained long.
" The first one who opened the '.Vcademy' wa.s a
divinity student from the Cambridge Theological
School, Warren Burton, of Tilton, N. H., afterwards a
I'uitariau clergyman, and an author of some little
repute. He waa unsuccessful. Went away at the end
of a ye;ir. Meant to do his duty. Did not know how
to manage children." (Geo. T. Curtis, one of the chil-
ilren.) Mr. Burton wrote "The Village Choir," and I
■■ The District School as it was," the latter of some
note. Mr. Kendall, a graduate of Bowdoin College,
followed him tor a short time; then Joseph H. .\bbot
for a .short time. Mr. Abbot kept afterwards for
many years a well-known school for young ladies in
r.ostou. Mr. .fohn Appleton, the fourth master, a
Sood teacher, and a person of superior mind, left be-
fore 1824. He was afterward an eminent lawyer, and
iliief justice in Maine. This academy was built on
ground belonging to Mr. James Robbins, situated on the
hill near where the Catholic Church now stands, and
was in charge of a great variety of teachers; some of
them, for instance Mr. Adams, Mr. Towuseiul, Mr.
Samuel Howard, Mr. Winslow Marston Watson (who
died in 1889 in the Garfield Hospital at Washington),
are remembered by some yet living. The last teach-
er iu this school, Mr. Oliver Wellington, built an-
other "Academy," still standing on Church St., oppo-
site the new Uuitarian Building, and occupied as a
private house by the family of the late Wm. Sher-
man. This academy was a flourishing young ladies'
school for many years under Mr. Wellington. The
first academy building was sold, first to the new
1 It i^ said that one of these waa a charity pupil.
Methodist Society ; afterwards it was bought for the
Catholic Society.
From the time that the district-school system was
abolished, when Watertown possessed three school-
houses and raised S2800 for the schools, the town
has so increased in population that, in 1890, there
are seven school-houses and a corps of thirty-two
teachers, and the town raises over .?25,000 a year
for their support.
The abolition of the district-school system in Water-
town was strongly advocated by the School Committee
of 1849 in an admirable report, which gives the names
of all the teachers, with a variety of statistics of use
iu determining the condition of the schools. The re-
port for 1851 by "The Superintending Committee of
the public schools of Watertown" names only one
teacher in town, Mr. Littlefield, of the Centre District,
who has been well-known in the schools of Charles-
town and Somerville.
The report of 1852-53 is a very interesting and sug-
gestive document. The name of the writer is not
given, although it must have been one of the three
signers, B. A. Edwards, D. T. Huckins and Marshall
Kingman. It is true that it was written four years
after the last of Horace Mann's twelve annual re-
ports, as secretary of the State Board of Education. It
was written when the town was still struggling in the
folds of the district system, and without a central
high school. It was a patient, noble plea to people
who had not yet come to value schools for their chil-
dren, and after giving four good reasons for establish-
ing a high school, and advising the adoption of the
general system in place of the district system, closes
with a plea for more money for educational purposes,
" believing that, if judiciously applied, it will yield to
the town a better percentage by far than banks or
railroad stocks." It says of the objection to the High
School that "it would cost money;" " It ought to
cost money. It is worth money."
In 1853, in April, at an adjourned meeting, the
school district system was abolished. The committee
previously elected resigned and a new committee was
elected. This consisted of Marshall Kingman, Xa-
thaniel Whiting, Joseph Coolidge, Jr., D. T. Huckins,
Moses Stone, William Lathrop and Oliver Edwards.
" In order to place, if possible, all the schools upon
an equality, the tutorship in each was declared vacant,
and the vacancies thus made thrown open to com-
petition to all. Three gentlemen and eight ladies
were appointed. In October, Mr. William Webster
was elected principal of the High School, which
opened with fifty-two pupils, the full course of study
prepared being for three years.
In 1855 the course of study in the High School was
extended through fouryears, and the future committee
was recommended to retain scholars another year in the
grammar schools, that the standard of all the schools
might be raised one year. Ill 18-56-7, Miss A. L. Pierce
was appointed assistant teacher. She was followed
356
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
in 1857-58 by Miss Abby T. Giddings. The town was
advised to build another school-house in place of the
one in the west part of the town, " located so close t(j
the railroad as not only to endanger the lives of the
children while at play, but six or seven times a clay
the recitations are brought abruptly to a stop by the
warnings of the engineer," etc. The appropriations
for schools in 1855 had risen to $6000, or 168 2-5
cents on each $1000 of valuation of property from
S1700, in 1840, (which was only 116 1-5 cent:,
per $1000). It is now over i?3 per SIOOO. In the
various reports of successive committees are found
the painful and necessary confessions of the natural
results of the condition of schools overcrowded with
crude materials, — " resistance to ordinary sciiool in-
fluence. . .usual evil habits of the school. ..taught with a
degree of success equaling that attained by any other
school . . . failure of his health, and his speedy ami
sudden death," etc. The picture of faithful work-
under overwhelming obstacles, often resulting in the
physical wreck, sometimes death, of the teaclier, lea<ls
one having any knowledge (if the science nf teach-
ing, to wonder if ever the rime will come when ;.uch
sacrifices will not be required or expected. In 1S57.
the High and Centre Grammar.Schoolhouse w.aa par-
tially destroyed by fire. In IS58, Mr. Henry Ch.a^-^p
was appointed master of the West Grammar Stinidi.
In 1860, Mr. Joseph Crafts took charge of iheCeniri-
Grammar School, having served for the prece<ling
four years on the School Committee. Mr. Webster,
after teaching the High.School seven years, resigned tu
take a position in the Boston Latin School, and Henry
Chase was transferred from the West Grammar, which
position he resigned within a year, and, by unanimous
vote of the committee, accepted tlie mastoiship of tlie
West Grammar School again. Mr. (le). R. Dwelley
was elected principal of the High Sciio'il in the ."pring
of 1862. In 1864, Levi W. Russell was made master
of the Centre Grammar School, which position beheld
until 1868, when he was appointed master of the
Brigham School, in Providence, R. I., where he with
success continues in charge at the present time. In
1866, James M. Sawin was appointed master of the
East Grammar School, where he taught two years,
since which time he is the master of the Point Street
School, of Providence, R. I.
In March, 1866, the committee appointed Solon F.
Whitney, then first assistant in the Bridgewater
Normal School, principal of the High School, and in
September, Mias Mary F. Porter, of one of the Cam-
bridge schools, assistant. Mr. Whitney served until
the fall of 1871, when the new committee reinstated
Mr. Dwelley in the school. Mr. Whitney was soon
appointed a teacher in the Cambridge High School,
where he taught nearly fourteen years, although con-
tinuing to reside in town. Jliss Porter, after three
years' very acceptable service, went to the Dorchester
High School, and Miss Cfiarlotte E. Wheeler, from
the New Bedford High School, took her place. In
1870, Miss Susan Porter was appointed a second as-
sistant, but after winning the confidence of all by her
devotion and ability, she, in April, 1871, wa-s obliged
from ill health to resign, and Miss Ellen M. Crafts
was transferred from a grammar school to '.ill lier
place. In October, 1371, Caroline S. dishing be-
came first assistant, followed in September, ls7o, by
Alice Worcester.
The High School buildinir was, dniiiitj '.he >uui-
mer and autumn of 1S73, remodeled, so thai for three
months or more the >choid was kejit in the ti^u n hall.
In 1874, Mr. Dwelley resigned the second lime, and
Mr. Groce, of Pcabody, was elected master, and in
.September, lS7.'i, Prof. G^-or<:e I. liipiioid, limt as«i-t-
ant. Mis .\nna M. (.Tregory had been i-leiiv"! teacher
of drawing in all the sclumls in l.'>71, .lUu Mr. Henry
G. Carey, teacher of niu>ii-.
In 1877, the committee dtilared all positions nf
teachers vacant at the clo>eof the \i-.\>\ and inviied
all who wished to retain the >aiiie ' in ii:.ike aj'piica-
tion," with ihe uniU'r^uiiullnir tliiif ili:i-i' >v(iii ■ -.ln.iild
pass an cxaminaliMU, >ni-h as the i.iw >•! th^ ( ■niiiiiinii-
wealth contemplated," niiirlir In appcunUMl. Ail ap-
plied but one. Three did not pu-^, and the coriiinit-
tee were in doubt ai)iiui figl'.t other?.
Mr. (.irme, ma.-lcr of the High Schi"il. did imI .'ip-
ply, and Prof. Sfdah Hnucil. of Uiiinr. Cille'^i-. N. ">'.,
was appointed to the pn-ition. Mr. dnice ha- i;ui'.;lit
inoneofthe Boston high ^clmnls mn-t of ilu- time
.-ince. B. F. Nutting, an artist. Ioml' ri-siibrii in
Walertown, was employed in I >7.-' lo tcarii .!i;aviiiL'
in the High School. In 1>7',' .^lis.? .\i}n;i M. i>i-,irory
was employeil at a smaller >al.ir. , and -In.- coniiiMii d
to teach with SUCICS-. lor seviial year-, until in ]■ re—
ignation in 18S-. Iti Sept..ijib:.-i. !-77. Mi--. l^lKn
.M. Crafts was made first assi-t:int. In .^pnl. !s7S,
Miss Lilla Frost was appointed ^tcond a»!siaiit. She
was followed in 187'J by Miss .\lniira P. Goss, in
1822 by Mr. Elmer E. Weuiworth, in 1^8:•:, Mr. Sum-
ner Coolidge, in 1884, by Miss Alice t'. ration, and
in 1887 by Anton Marquardt, Ph.D. in .Septtiiibtrr,
1888, Wm. K. Norton was appointed teacher of
science. He was followed in September, 1.S8'', by
Wm. M. Newton.
The present (l?'.")) teachers of the High School :ire :
Geo. R. Dwelley, of .\rlington, principal; 1-^ileu ]M.
Crafts, first assistant; Dr. Anton Maniuardt, modern
languages; Joseph Coolidge, sciences, etc.; Miss
Blanch I. George, drawing tor part of the lime; .•».
Henry Hadley, music, for part of the time.
In 1881 a superintendent, Mr. John F. Prince, of
Waltham, was appointed, who made the position a
necessity by the new views of its usclulmss, which he
exemplified in his treatment of the schools and by his
able reports. This position he occupied for three
years, until appointed an agent of the State Board
of Education, since which time, the master of the
High School has been called on to perform the duties
of the office.
WATERTOWN.
357
Wi-.tertown was coiiiphiiiipil of about 1G90, to the
County Court, for deficieacy in schools; in 1696 was
tiued tor not having a school, not being willing to
repair the school-house and pay the person asked to
teach, the £20 a year which he demanded. Bond
gives a long list of Harvard graduates who taught in
town for very sliort periods, the salaries offered be-
ing small, and the amount of training received in col-
lege probably not much in excess of that given in our
high schools of the present time, and probably with
no idea of teaching as a science or an art. Young
men were willing to teach a short time while prepar-
ing for a profession.
Since the days of Horace JIann, more attention has
been given to the art of teaching, schools have been
v.uitly improved, and it is hoped that the time may
sometime come when all citizens of the town may
have sucli complete cunudence in the excellence of
her schools cli;u none will feel willing to tax them-
selves ddiibiy to tiud better ones c)utside her limits for
tlieir childiei), or think of helping to support private
schools within her bonlers. To sliow the character
of the Mchiiuls ,ind the intent i.ltlie town to have the
host, we can do no better than give a list of the per-
sons who liave served on tlie r?chool Committee of the
town sinci' 1S4"J, wiien the district sch(jo'i system began
to bo auoii.-hed (abolished in 1S53) :
R»*T. t!"liiir!ri Iv. C"lvcr, l'i4'J.
Hunic" Bir.l. I^IM.
Ker. .1. .\ iii:ii-rii» A'iiiiii-.. I * hi
Her. II;t.>t<i'i-iii-U I'.ivi-. ;."'■'».
l». T. Uii'kiL,. l?.V>-Oo, '.'lo-
'•■|,'i-i.r<,
.l.-iP IM I.T, U-'-l.
l:.•^. li. ■ V. --. l-.-.^i.
.I.,aliu.i i ■..lli'i^i-, Ir., ;-.". .'...-
n \. i:;".,ri-. i 'i-'-i.
M;if*l..ill lvi(i;;cii.lM, i6'«*i-."'t.
N.illiiiiii.l 'Ahltiu:;. l.-i;-.J*,
r.tr. L. T. Town'pnd, 1564-05,
IT Mfre.l Itoainer, ISCi-To.
L U. ^iiwyer, IM-Ii.
lilii W. .Mi.':»'luini. ItOir.
'ii-or;;!* K. .-liuw. 1m;8-71.
i.'lmii-l'c K I'rii^i't. ISi'.'J.
1 luil-l--, nriiihiilji, isr.u, '71-7.-., ■771
N..I. r.l-.i.ir.l.-, l,-7.-::,.
\ I. UicliiuJs, 1S7II-72, '7."., '79-
AIikI AliljotI, l?7i).
Lliailcrd W. Stuue, 1371-74, '70,
'7^, ''(■2-9it.
.lolin Couliilqp, Jr., 1S71-75, '79-
Dr. M. J. Kelley, 1886-58.
C. S. Ensign, 1886-90.
Jos. D. MoQahEui, 1887-90.
Mra. Rath Bradford, 1889-90.
Mlw H. A. CooUdgs, 1890.
PBlNCIFALa or THB HIGH SCHOOL.
William Webster, 1864-61. | Solon F. \Vhltney, 1866-71.
Henry Chase, 1861-62.
Geo. R. Dwelley, 1862-66,
81-
71-74,
Byron Groce, 1874-77.
Selah Howell, 1877-81.
M./r.-sM , i,--J3-".l.
Williuiu L-ulinip. ISJi. 'S'J.
Oliver i;.lH.adi. l:!'>3-04. V.tr. .N'athl. Fellows, 1872.
tJo'»r::e Fni/.ir. 1"*J4. Itt'V. 31. .M. Green, 1^72-77.
i.'liarlrt .( E.irrv, IsSI-.JS. ".n-i}4. 'Vriielius Walker, 1373, '74.
Juv-pli i.'r.ifrM, li.l.i-iiG, Si.'ipO. 06- T. (i. Ahb<itt, 1874.
69. K. II. Ki,;e, 1573.
.I.lllles .-llurr, Ij.'.O. D. B. Fliut, 1S73.
Rev. Will. L. Briiwn. Is."i6-'j7. John Mmrav, 1876-78.
Itev. S. 11. Deniii'ii. Isjo-aS. Ann M. Uap^ooJ, 1876.
Jiilin Sy|\.*.^HT, 1S.'.7. Win. H. Dailniun, 187r..
.LlliK-aii. l"illl.-r. UiS. ner, T. W. Biihup, 1S77-7S.
Ii.l.ic W.ilta, IS.'iS. Jesse F. Wheeler, 1S77-79.
Kev. i;e.ir£:i* yi. Ste-le. 1S.'}9. Rev. I. K. Lovering, 1S77-73.
Will. ij. Liiiciiln, l-iVJ—iJ. C. F. Fitz, 1877, June to March
E. .•<. I'.owse, l-<5'j-f.l. J. J. Sullivan, 187.<— 0.
Iv.r* J. Au..iliu. IsO'l, '>).;. A. II. ttiiley, 1870^2.
Will. M. 'Cjlicy, lb0i)-6i. Geo. L. Xoyes, I»7:>-82.
F..lnMrcl B.-n!r<. ISOii. Rev. f. .\. Capen, 1830.
Rev. Artliiir B. Fuller, H61. Kev. Henry Lnmmia, 1B81.
Rev. II F.. IKiiipsteiul, IS'il. Rev. Robert P. l-lack, 1881-83.
Juiin U. G.'o.lncli. Ki'.-l-ol. Rev. T. 0. ^inilh, IS83.
Rev. A. S. Patton. lSi;2-«.l. A. G. Fitch, 1884-83.
Rev, John Wei&s, lS0:;-<>3, '07-08 Joshua C. Stone, 1884-39.
Dr. L. D. Jlorse, lS.',4-'i7, '73. Dr. .lulian A. Jlead, 1883-90.
A. r. Flemioi;, 1804, "03. Dr. L. S. Smith, 1860.
aDPEBINTIHDENTS OF THB FtraUO 8CH00U.
John T. Prince, 1881-83. | George R. Dwelley, 1883-
LIBRAEIES.
Social. — That the early settlera brought books
with them when they came, is evident. George Phil-
lips was "a prime scholar," " mighty in interpreta-
tion."
His widow gave " to son Samuel all the Latin,
Greek and Hebrew books now in the house." Yet
we have no record of libraries of any magnitude, or
of any collections of books for common use for the
first century or more.
In 1779 there was formed, in the east part of the
town, near where the first settlement was made in
1630, a social library. It was called, at first, " The
Union Library,'' afterwards the "Union Social Li-
brary," of Watertown. The old record-book, still ex-
isting— a precious legacy to the present library — be-
gins with the following:
"SOBSCaiPTIOH.
"We, the subscribers, beiDgdesirousof promoting learning, do hereby
.iijroe (o form ourselves into a society for that pnrpose, and, a< it will
lie neeilful fur to have a sum of money for to purchase the books for a
lihrary, we hereby do aj^ree to pay per share a sum not exceeding three
loliars. said money to be paid ut the time the society hold their first
titeelini,'. anil .ippuiiit smiie pinion or pereoiis to receive It, or a collector
that shall be iip]>niiite<l Cur the purpt'seof cullectinff it; said money to
lie laiil out to piirchase audi hooks fur our use as the Majority of the
Miicieiy pball apree upon ; \vc uImi :ij:ree that when twenty shares shall
be subscribed for, tlml floiiie five uf tlu-ni (the sub^crihers) shall apply to
.t justice of the peace for a Marraiil to warn the firet meeting for to
i-hoose all otHcers ami making t^uch by-laws fur the governing said
Libr^iry as shall then be ilioughl needful. *
The following names were appended in the same
handwriting as the above :
Chridtophor Gnint.
Peter Clark,
.losliua Grant,
.fiieeph Bright,
-Vmos Livermore, Jr., 3 shares,
Clisha Livermore,
William Stone,
.lonathiin .Stone,
Leonard Bond,
David Livermore,
Elijah Learned,
SimoD Whitney,
Samuel Harrington,
closes Coolidge, 2 shares,
Thomas Bisco,
Benj. JlastingB.
Samuel Sodin,
Thomas Clark,
Jonas Bond, 3 sh,.
Daniel Whitney, Jr.,
Francis Bright,
Nathaniel Bright,
James Barnard,
William Chenery,
Moses Chenery,
Elizabeth Bernard,
Samuel Coolldge,
Peter Harrington,
James Simmonds,
Kathaniel B. Whitney,
Jonathan Bird,
Nathaniel Stone,
Joshua Coolidge, with Ju' added in
diferent ink,
David Stone,
Abljah Stone,
Joslah SandeiBon.
So far the names seem to have been copied in one
hand, with the same ink, from same paper. The fol-
lowing may be actual signatures of a later date :
358
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Joieph Bird, Liirkin Smith,
Leonard Winchester, Thomas Livermore,
Charles Whitney, Michael Gay,
Hublfard Russel, Thomas LearoeJ. '
Nathaniel Herrington, , George Steines,
Jonathan Stone, Jr., f 'haries Stone,
Leonard Stone, . Leonard Kicbnrdson,
John H. Clark, 1 ah. and half, .\moa U. Livermore,
Daniel A. Tainter, Ebenezer Protlor.
Adam Brown, Hezekiab Duvi»,
Hepzibah Qrant, leaa Stone,
William M. Pomeroy, ' Joaiab S. CUirke.
Tbouaj Richardson, I G3 in number.
Daniel Learned, '
To omit the next page of the record would be base
ingratitude to that painfully-esact and law-abiding
spirit which characterized these men, some of them
active in that contest which rejected with scorn the
rule of their mother country when it conflicted with
individual rights, and strove to force by arms tea and
taxes upon unrepresented people. Only a score of
years had passed when this was penned, yet we see
the intent of law-abiding citizens to omit no legal
form in starting this little society for " promoting
learning." Doubtless the names of the three Water-
town members of the Boston Tea Party would have
been found here had they not unfoitunately all died
before this. Here is the record :
" To Amos Bond, Esq',, one uf the Justices uf the [leace within and fur
the county of ^liddlesex :
" We, the subscribers, five of the Subscritwrs tu form a Society to pur-
cliaae Books for a Library in the Town of \\'iitcrtown, judping a meet-
ing of the Subscribers for said Library to be necessary, do hereby req\iest
you to issue a Warrant for the calling of a meeting of aaid Subscribers
to be holden at the dwelling-house of Jonathan Bird, inholder, iu ^aid
Watertown, on Slonday, the ninth day of December Inst., .it six o'clock
P.M., to act on the following .Articles (viz) :
"To chose all otHcera and make sucU bye-laws as sliull tbeu be Judged
necessary for governing said Library MoSEs CooLlDt^E,
"Dated at Watertown the Tii.m.is CtARK,
second day of December, -ViTH' R. \iHlTNEV,
anno Domini, 1799. Fetee Clark,
SaUUEI. CoOLlDGE.
" Middlesex Sa. To Col. Moses Coolidge, one of the Subscribers to
purchase Books for a Library in the town of Watertown :
*' You are hereby required in the name of the Commonwealth of Mas-
sachusetts to notify the subscribers to purchaj*e books for a Library in
the Town of Watertown in manner as the law directs, to meet at the
time and place and for the purposes mentioned in tbe foregoing applica-
tion. Given under uiy hand and seal this -Jnd of December, .V.D. 177U.
" .\Mos Bosn,
*' Justice of tbe peace for the said Coun. of Middlesex,
"In pursuance of the foregoing Warrant to me directed, I do hereby
notify the proprietors within named to meet at the time Jl place men-
tioned in tbe foregoing application, J: for the purposes therein expressed.
" Dated at Watertown, the second day of December, X.D. 1779.
"3l0SES CoOLlDOC."
" At a meeting of the subscribers to purcliase books for a Library iu
tbe Town of Watertowu, duly warned .igreeable to law, by a warrant
from a Justice uf the peace, held at the bouse of Mr. Jonathan Bird, inn-
holder in said Watertown, on Monday, the ninth day of December, anno
Domini one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine.
"Opened said meeting X proceeded as follows (-'iz.};
"1st — Chose Nath. K. Whitney, Esq'., Moderator.
••2nd — Samuel Coolidge, Clerk.
'•3nl — Voted that the Society be called .t known by tbe name of the
Union Library Society in Watertown.
''4th — Chose Nath' B. Whitney, Christopher Grant, Moaefl Coolidge,
Thomas Clark, Elisha Livermore, directors for the ensuing year X di-
rected them to purchase the books for the Library. .^Iso agreed that
each subscriber pay three Dollars per share for the use aforesaid.
••5th — Chose Amos Livermore, jr.. Librarian & Elisha Livermore the
Librarian's assistant fur the year ensuing.
'•Then adjourned to the School-house in Ihe East-district of said Wa-
tertown, there to meet ou the second ilonday of Jauu.iry uext, at six
o'clock P.M.
Immediately following this record is a list of sixty
books, with their cost prices, ranging from nine dol-
lars for Goldsmith's "Animated Nature" to "Sterne's
Journey," at seventy-five cents, and the "Life of Col.
Gardiner" at sixty-seven cents, on which there was it
discount, however, of twelve and one-half per cent.
-\mong these books were " Knox's E.ssays," " Vicar of
Wakefield," "Seneca's Morals," "Cook's A'oyages,"
Robertson's" America" (in three volumes), "Tbe
Dignity of Human Nature," "Paley's Evidences.''
Whiston's " Josephus" (si.'^ volumes), " W:itts, On the
Miud," "Evelina," Minot's "History of :\[.issachu-
.■^etts," " Peter Pindar," " Children of the Abbey " (in
four volumes), a book ou " Cattle " and one on '' Far-
riery," " Bruce'-i Travels," Adams' "' New England."
.\mong books bought later, were " W.ishington'^
Letters," " RoUin's Ancient History," "Boston Ora-
tions," " Milton's Works'' and the '" Life of Washing-
ton ; " and still later, "Life of Bonajiarte," "Silii-
man's .Journal," " Pastor's Fireside," " Opie's Tales. "
"Freeman's Sermons," "Sketch Book,'' " Life iif
.Alexander the Great," Scott's "Letters on Demmi-
ology and Witchcraft," " Mary (^ueen of Scots,"
"Life of Sir Isaac Newton,'' "Memoirs of Celebrate<l
Female Sovereigns," "Abercrombie on Intellectual
Powers." " Redgauntlet,'' " Last of the Mohicans,"
"The Spy," and "Roxabel," and others, in all, two
hundred and thirty-five volumes.
On January 13, 1800, a constitution and code of
by-laws were adopted.
"1st. That the annual meeting should be held at
Jonathan Bird's tavern.'' This still stands at the
corner of Mount Auburn and Belmont Streets, facing
Mount Auburn bridge. They defined the duties of
each officer. One of the duties of the librarian wa>
'' to open the Library to each proprietor the 2d Mon-
day of each month for 2 hours, between 0 & 8 o'clock
p. M. ; the Directors should receive all monies from
the Librarian, purchase all books, abate fines, except
fines for lending books; examine library, call meet-
ings on request," etc. There were such other rules
as would naturally occur to any one:
"To meet annually the 2Dd Monday at Bird's tav-
ern, and to have the library open two hours on each
2nd Monday through the year.'' These were essential
I to success. I have heard that those annual meetings,
' held at six o'clock P. M., at Bird's tavern, were not
wholly unpleasant; and that proprietors, or pro-
I prietors' children, visited the library on its monthly
opening of two hours, is well attested by the thumb-
marks which some of the books bear to this day.
At the annual meeting in December, 1800, nearly
the same officers were chosen, and it was voted that
WATERTOWN.
359
each member pay three shillings to purchase addi-
tional books, and that the librarian be paid for bis
services one shilling a night (or month). Evidently,
great confidence was felt in the librarian or other
officers, for the directors or society seldom met, except
at the annual meeting at Bird's tavern.
At the next annual meeting, called with all the
formalities of a regular town-meeting, held January 25,
1802, Moses Coolidge was chosen moderator, Samue'
Coolidge, clerk ; Thos. Clark, Nathaniel R. Whitney,
Nathaniel Stone, David Stone and Thomas Bisco, di-
rectors. '■ Voted, that the money which is not col-
lected may be collected & laid out for such books as
shall be thought necessary by the Directors. Voted,
that the fines arising for not returning the books at
the time, the pxst year, be appropriated for thecover-
ing, with leather, such books as the Directors shall
think necessary.''
So the records run on with some changes of names,
with the annual purchase of books, collection of fines
and assessments, and it is lair to believe, for after a
few years the name of the library was changed to the
Union Social Library, with a good social meeting at
Mr. Bird's tavern, with .^uch literary discourse as the
batch of new books would naturally suggest.
After awhile, about the time of the last war with
England, it was decided to pay the librarian for his
services (two dollars) and nl.so the cierk for his, and
the only record.s are of the annual meetings which were
then belli at the house of .Siiniucl Bellows (the same
tavern). In the year 181S, .fusliua Coolidge gave his
share to Jii>hua Coolidge. .Ir. ; Cnl. >[ose3 Coolidge,
still clii)-«'n nioiler.itor iitiirly every year, is now made
librarian ; .fosepli Bird is made collector and assistant
librarian. The reinrds are very legibly written by
Elisiia Liverninre, rlerk.
In L^42, at a legal meeting, the warrant for which
was issued by Tyler l'>i:relcMv, one of the justices of the
pea -e, a report was rpi eived I'rora a committee ap-
pointeil to report on the state of the library, and pro-
posing a union with the North District, was accepted
and enterofl at length on the records.
As this report was prepared with evident care,
|>artly by nten who. twenty-six years afterwards, in-
terested themselves in the Free Public Library, and
as it reeomnien(le<l an immediate union with the
Xor/h D'tUi-iit, thus endorsing the plan of Horace
Mann for furnishing the whole State with good read-
ing in the District .Sehnol Libraries, we think it of
• importance not only to the history of the library in
this place, but as showing the results of both of these
steps — the society library and the district school
library — in thegradual development of asystem of free
public libraries, probably nowhere excelled in the
world, and now quite generally patterned after by
England.
We iheretbre make free extracts from the report,
which was signed by Charles Stone, Daniel Learned,
Joseph Bird, Jr., Thomas Livermore and Joshua
Coolidge, Jr. They report ; "That the subject upon
mature consideration seems more feasible and likely
to produce good results to most of the proprietors and
particularly to the district. A large number of the
books are valuable, and only want more attention di-
rected to them and also an introduction to a new class
of readers to still be permanently useful." They
complain that the books are not read ; that the neglect
of them even seems to increase ; give as a reason that
not books enough can be bought to keep up the inter-
est ; that personal assessments are too apt to be ne-
glected, and the committee deplore the evident result
to which all is tending, for several reasons : " First,
that this Library, founded by our fathers many years
since, should not be destroyed by their children, but
continued to our children with increased energy and
usefulness. Second, that many of the books could not
now be purchased, and which, united with new books,
would make a valuable library. Third and more im-
portant, that if the library should now be broken up,
the taste for reading which is now with us, would lie
dormant and perhaps be extinguished, instead of which
it needs, by every proper means, encouragement."
The plan of union with the District School Library
seems advisable. First, because of the new books
added to the library ; second, that the " children, as
they are plodding through the dull routine of educa-
tion,"— it must have been a dull routine before the
Jays of Horace Mann, — " will be forming a taste for
correct reading, which cannot fail to increase their
usefulness iu society; and still another reason is that
parents also will be able to increase in useful knowl-
edge and thus be belter prepared to educate their
children. This is no new idea. Many districts in our
State already have libraries, one even in our own
town. Of so much importance was it deemed by our
Legislature, that it was proposed to form one in every
District in the State, and it is probable, but for the
pecuniary difficulties of the times, it would have been
done." The report goes on to say that the Board of
Education have begun to prepare a number of books
to be sold as cheap as possible to encourage their
adoption. Indeed it would seem that there should be
no objection to a plan of this kind if properly man-
aged, and they would hope that everyone will see the
importance of either aiding the present plan or pro-
posing a better one. They recommend a union with
the North District, the library to be called "The
North District Union Social Library." Minute and
wise conditions are appended which were substan-
tially adopted.
The remnant of this North District Union Social
Library, after thirty-six years more of partial useful-
ness and natural neglect, came, in 1875, by the hand
of Joseph Bird, together with the old and precious
record-book, as a gift to the town, to the care of the
Free Public Library, the natural successor to such
and all other institutions for the education of the
people through books.
360
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Circulating Libraries. — Before speaking more
explicitly of the experiment mentioned as District
School' Libraries, attention should be given to the
work of circu/ating libraries in the town. Several
have existed at different periods, well cared for by their
owners, always open to those who were willing to pay
the small fee for the daily or weekly use of the books,
and furnishing such books as the taste or the selfish
interests of their owners dictated. In some ca.sea
these books have given au impulse to study, and
have laid the foundations of learning.
Such a library was kept by Mrs. Curtis, in the
Bobbins house, near the Great Bridge. Mrs. Curtis
was the daughter of "an intelligent, prominent and
much respected citizen of Watertown, Mr. James
Bobbins, who carried on various branches of manu-
facturing,'' and had also a country store. When he
died, in 1810, having been less successful in the latter
part of his life, and having left a numerous family,
with rather scanty means, this daughter, a person of
energy and education, not wishing to be dependent
upon friends, opened this library as one means of
support. Here her two boys, Benjamin Robbius Cur-
tis and George Ticknor Curtis, laid the foundation of
their love of books for which the world has since
been richer. We may never know how much good
was done by that collection for the mass of its read-
ers ; but one grateful son has thrown a little light on
the subject which is encouraging to those who, from
any motives, are trying to bring good books to the at-
tention of those who may be benefited thereby. Of
course, "It was chiefly a collection of novels and
poetry; and when I name the period during which
my mother kept this library, as from about 1818 to
1825, the reader will see that Scott's novels from
' Waverly ' to ' Redgauntlet,' and all his principal
poems ; Byron's works ; Southey's ' Thaiaba ' and
' Roderick ;' Irving's ' Sketch- Book,' Bracebridge Hall '
and 'Tales of a Traveler;' Cooper's 'Spy,' 'Pioneers'
and 'Pilot' and many other books, new at that pe-
riod, might have been, as in fact they were, included
in this collection. The books were much sought for
by the surrounding families.
" My aunt's books were not embraced in the circu-
lating library ; but she possessed, among others, an
excellent edition of Shakespeare— of whose works she
was a constant reader — Milton's ' Paradise Lost,'
Young's 'Night Thoughts," Thomson's 'Seasons,'
Cowper's ' Poems,' Johnson's ' Rasselas, 'Jeremy Tay-
lor's 'Holy Living and Dying,' and the 'Specta-
tor.' I am quite sure that my brother's first know-
ledge of these authors was derived from her books.
In a home so furnished with the lighter and some
of the more solid materials of intellectual develop-
ment, my brother became a great reader at an
age when most boys care for nothing but their
sports. At first he read novels incessantly,'' — this
young judge I and why should he not? — "and I
can well remember the sorrowful resignation with
which he would surrender a volume of Scott, or
Cooper, or Irving, when a call for it came into my
mother's little parlor, from the 'shop.' From novel-
reading he passed to some of the historical plays of
Shakespeare, and afterwards to ' Paradise Lost.' "
George Ticknor Curtis, in thus speaking of his bro-
ther's experience, says nothing of his own ; but as we
know of his great ability in letters, and the fact that
he was three years younger in the s.ame circulating
library, we are at liberty to draw our own inference.
Many years ago there was a circulating library in
the north part of the town, and, until quite recently,
there has been quite a prosperous one for many years
on Main Street.
The District School Libraiues planted by Hor-
ace Mann in almost every town in the State, have left
the evidence of their existence in several districts of
this town. A few of the books scattered among the
families have come into the Public Library. There
are less than a dozen of them from all sources. It
were an ungracious task to show why such collectinns
of the wisdom of the ages should have so short a lite
and be dissipated so soon. The very couJitious under
which they were located, without permanent respon-
sible care, being in charge of the teacher, who was
changed each term, made their usefulness, as collec-
tions, of very short duration. Then, we believe, there
were some grave difficulties of choice of books among
the State authorities ; and the couflicting interests of
publishers were, in this State, however they may
have been managed in other St.ate3, very near in-
superable.
They gave many a youth, however, a t.aste which
helped in mature life to develop that larger knowledge
of books which demands for all, the more permanent
public library.
Book Clubs. — Since 1843, soon alter Mr. 'Wei^s
caAe to town, there has been a very flourishing ioo/-
club, composed of some of our most appreciative people.
who pass their books and periodicals from onetoanother
in some prearranged order. More recently other book
and magazine clubs have been formed.
Dr. Francis says, in his historical sketch of Water-
town: "In 1829 a Lyceum was established. Connected
with the Lyceum is a scientific and miscellaneous
library ; there are two libraries besides this — one a
Religious Library, the other a Juvenile Library."
What has become of the Lyceum Library? The sec-
ond one mentioned is probably what afterwards be-
came the Parish Library, given to the Public Library
in 1870 by the First Parish. This gift was an acces-
sion of over three hundred volumes, "rich in works
of scholarly and devout thinkers."
Free Public Library. — The Free Public Library
of Watertown was first opened to the public on the
31st of March, 1869, with 2250 volumes on the
shelves, and S3000 in cash and subscriptions to be
expended for books.
By the conditions of the original gift oC $6000 in
WATERTOWN.
361
money to the town, given by quite a large number of
residents and former residents of the town, in the year
1868, the town agreed " to accept the gift to establish
a Free Public Library, provide a convenient place to
receive it, and make it useful to the citizens. The
said Library shall belong to the town, be cared for,
and enlarged as circumstances will permit by annual
votes of the town, in meeting assembled."
When the first catalogue was published, in March,
1870, the original subscription of $6000 having been
expended and several considerably large contributions
of books having been included, there were five thou-
sand (5401) volumes, aud nearly two thousand (1956)
pamphlets and papers. When the second catalogue
was published, in 1881, there were over twelve thou-
sand (12,447) volumes, and nearly twelve thousand
(11,830) pamphlets and paper. At present, in 1890,
thel'e are about 20,000 volumes and over 25,000
pamphlets and papers. The library is located in a
handsome building which, with improvements intro-
duced since its erection, has cost, with the lot on
which it stands, about $45,000.
The town has not in these twenty-two years failed
to do its part in preserving, in maintaining, in en-
larging, and in making iiselul this noble trust.
The history of the tormation and growth of this
library is creditable to the public spirit of the town.
It was not, as we have seen, the first attempt in town
to make a collection of books for public use ; it was the
first attempt, as far as we know, to make a collection
for the me of the entire town toithout expense to any
reader.
The history of this library, perhaps not unlike the
history of the pulilic library in many another town,
is lull of iutcresc. It is creditable to the public spirit,
the energy and zealous self-denial of many of its cit-
izens. What they did others can do, so that no town
or community, following their example, need be with-
out some kind nf a public library. In the first steps,
regard was had for what had been accomplished else-
where, particularly in the neighboring town of Brook-
line, aud in New Bedford.
In the movement for a public library in this town,
it was :iccepted as a fundamental principle that peo-
ple would pay for what they considered of real worth.
That those who had enjoyed peculiar advantages of
education, or by wealth bad the necessary leisure for
reading and .acquaintance with books, would natur-
ally know their value. Then, that those who from
being associated with these would be influenced by
them, would like to appear to prize what the others
prized, and help what the others helped. In a word,
that if a certain number could be found who knew
the value of a library to themselves, and so by infer-
ence to a community, who also to their knowledge
could add a certain amount of Christian benevolence
sufficient to enable them to make a sacrifice of the
ownership or immediate possession of books that they
called their own, aud had themselves enjoyed, or were
willing to transfer the investment of a portion of the
fiinds which stood or might stand in their own name,
to the charge of public trustees to be chosen for the
purpose, in order that they might be inves^ted in
books for the public use; in short, if there could be
found a sufficient number of people who could see
that the wealth in their possession was something
held in trust, and could see that by transferring a por-
tion of their money for this specific purpose of a pub-
lic store of books, they would more certainly advance
the common good by this treasury of learning, to
which all alike might go for information, and trans-
fer their care to those to be benefited, and so relieve
themselves so far from further care ; if, in a word, an
appropriate appeal were made to the better educated
and more benevolent members of the community,
the foundation of a library would be secured. The
appeal was made. The result more than established
the correctness of the assumption. At each decided
step in the direction of greatly increased expense,
during the more than twenty years of experimental
life of the library, such people have been asked to
contribute of their means aa au evidence of faith in
the value of things asked for, and then the town has
been asked to complete the appropriation.
Any community can have a public library if the
more intelligent and benevolent will personally from
their own means contribute one-half of the cost, and
then will assist the rest of the community according
to their rates by taxation to bear their share by public
appropriation of the other half. The mass of any
community can be brought to see that thus they, the
principal gainers of the advantages of such an appro-
priation of funds, and only contributors to a part
according to their amount of property, do a good
thing for themselves and their town by voting the
other half. The mass, I say. Alas! there are some
stubborn exceptions to the truth of so natural and
obvious an assertion.
The time will come when towns will vote libraries
as they do schools, directly. When the experimental,
missionary stage of the work has passed, then sup-
plies for libraries will be voted as for roads, for public
lighting, for schools, as a matter of necessity. For
they will see that by creating a taste for reading
among the children, for instance, who, growing up in
idleness and vice, would form the criminal classes, they
will be merely transferring a part of the expense of
police and police courts and jails to other and better
forms of restraint. In getting the idle and ignorant
into reading-rooms, they are forming habits that will
lead to knowledge and thoughtfulness and desire of
personal independence and useful employment, and
thus so far do away with the necessity of police
machinery. The cost of insurance of the safety of
property in a community decreases as the common
estimate of the desirability and use of a public library
becomes more universal. The productive energies of
a people are increased by increase of knowledge. The
362
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
qjuality of the skill of a community improves with
the improvement of the minds of the workers and
with the elevation of their taste and artistic sense. It
is not necessary to predict converts to some particu-
lar idea or sect as the result of opening to a people
the fountains of all knowledge. To one who believes
that all knowledge, all truth in its vast ramitications,
proceeds from and tends to one vast origin and end,
and is a part of the great cosmos, there can be no fear
as to the final result of opening all the flood-gates of
light for the benefit of the seeker after truth. There
will be limitations enough left in the capacity of men,
in the willingness of human beings to consider the
more desirable forms of truth.
We have indicated in a general way some of the
peculiar conditions in this town favorable for the
growth of the public library when once planted. The
spirit of independence of thought and action, exem-
plified in its entire history, from the foundation by
.Sir Richard Saltonstall and George Phillips, and the
somewhat broad-minded Deacon Brown, like the light
of a vestal lamp has never been allowed to be quite
extinguished. In looking ov^r the history written by
the successive School Committees, one is alinoit op-
pressed, it must be confessed, with the fear of the near
approach of some fatal extinguisher of policy or par-
simony. But it is only that the selfishness perhaps of
those who bore the lamp, or their short-sightedness for
the time, allowed the flames to burn losv. Again and
again the flame rekindles. In the report of 1850 we
read " thrift, thrift, Horatio," " it would be easy to
show that good schools would pay us in good dollars,"
although the committee sadly, one would think, and
with fear, recommended the raising of $850 for each
of the three school-districts with their total of 500
scholars. Now they cheerfully and confidently ask
for S26,000 for 917 scholars. The committee of 1852,
when an additional school-house was imperative,
"respectfully suggests the establishment of a High
School." In 1856, " If Watertown wishes to grow in
numbers and in wealth, let her continue as she is
now doing, appropriating liberally for the education
of her children."
In 1865, " Mr. Jesse A. Locke proposed a set of
prizes for actual improvement in demeanor and schol-
arship ; so that industry, patience and a sense of
duty received the stimulus." In 1866, " The com-
mitte have determined, by aid of private subscrip-
tion, to create the nucleus of a High School Library."
In 1867, " There has been established a good [High
School and Teachers'] library, which contains 276
volumes." " This Teachers' Library is a novelty,
and the habit of using it has not yet become general
among those whom it ia intended to benefit." " The
pupils have come to depend upon the library."
The very man who as a boy attended those meet-
ings of the Social Union Library Association in his
father's tavern, Mr. Joseph Bird, who afterwards was a
teacher of music with Horace Mann at West Newton,
and at home was a hearty supporter of the scheme for
District School Libraries, the custodian of the Union
District Social Library of which we have already spok-
en, himself an omnivorous reader, obtained the first
contributions for a " Teachers' Library," which were
so generous as to inspire the hope that with similar
effort extended through the town, a fund of sutBcient
amount could be obtained to make the establishment
of a town library — a free public library for the whole
town — possible. The lesson was a good one, the hope
has been, fully realized.
It was " At a meeting of the School Committee
called by Dr. Alfred Hosnier, chairman, .May 7, 1807,
voted to choose Messrs. Alfred Hosnier. Joh.n Weiss
and Joseph Crafts a committee to consider tbe subject
(if a town library, and report at the nest meeting."
On July 2d it was " Voted, that the secretary trans-
mit to the donors of the books that now compose the
High School Library, the thanks of the committee,
in behalf of the town, for such a generous contribu-
tion to the cause of education in Watertown."
" Voted that the thonks of the Schoul Cumniittee be
cordially expressed to Joseph Bird, for iiis personal
i?iterest and effort in securing the valuable books that
MOW compose the High .School and Teachers' Library
in Watertown."
Within a few weeks after the appointment of the
committee named above, namely, on the 3d of June,
1867, the School Committee issued the following in-
vitation :
■'The School Committee of this town, convinced of
the importance of establishing here a Free Public
Library (these last three words were printed in large
letters, which extended across the whole page), and
wishing to have some plan devised by the citizens, in-
vite you to attend a preliminary meeting, at the ves-
try of the Unitarian Church, on Thursday evening,
.June 6, at 8 o'clock, to assist in the dissussitm of the
subject. Per order of the committee. D. T. Huck-
ins. Secretary."
The meeting was held, tbe subject discussed by
Rev. John Weiss, Mr. Miles Pratt, Capt. Joseph
Crafts, Mr. Joseph Bird, Mr. Jesse A. Locke, Rev. J.
M. Bell, ail in favor ; a plan was adopted, and a com-
mittee was chosen to raise funds. Mr. Locke offered
to give the S600 which he had received for his salary
as representative of the town to the Legislature of the
former year.
The committee chosen were, Dr. Alfred Hosmer,
the chairman of the meeting. Rev. John Weiss,
Joseph Bird, Miles Pratt, Jesse A. Locke, Leonard
Whitney, Jr., Joseph Crafts, Rev. J. M. Bell, Rev.
W. F. Stubbert, Dr. D. T. Huckins, Mr. James
Sharp and Solon F. Whitney.
This committee met with a generous response, both
from citizens and from former residents of the town.
It was able to offer, at a meeting called to consider
and act upon the subject, on the 28th of January,
1868, within about seven months, the sum of six
WATERTOWN.
363
thousand dollars ; which it did on the following con-
ditions : " That the town accept the gift of six
thousand dollars.' to establish a Free Public Library,
provide a convenient place to receive it, and make it
useful to the citizens. The said Library shall belong
to the town, and be cared for, and enlarged, as cir-
cumstances will permit, by annual votes of the town
in meeting assembled."
The town, at this meeting, appointed as committee
to report a plan of organization, Messrs. Jesse A.
Locke, Edward Bangs, Henry Chase, Alvin Adam^),
David B. Flint, and the chairman. Rev. John Weiss,
and the secretary, Solon F. Whitney, of the former
committee.
At a town-meeting held July 22, 1868, this com-
mittee reported and the town adopted as a plan of
organization the rules and regulations, which, with
some amendment, remain in force to this day.
The town at this meeting appointed ten trustees to
serve till March, 1869, viz. ; —
.Fohu VVeisa,
Joaiali StickDe.v,
Jani.-3 M. Boll,
Jusepli Bird,
Jesse A. Locke,
Alfred Hoemer.
David T. HuckiDS,
Abiel Abbott,
Josliiia Coolidge.
Charles J. Barry,
At the same meeting the town voted that the trus-
tees be authorized to take the room under the town-
hall, then occupied as a store, " or any other portion
of the Public Buildings which they may select for
the use of the Library."
Also " Voted that the Library shall not be open on
Sundays."
This Board of Trustees organized by making'John
1 The contributions I'roin noD-rebidenta to the original fund of six
thousand dollars upre ; —
In ls6S-iai;9. f
Seth and t^eurge Beiuis, of II. H. Huuiieweli, of Boston . SotJO
N'owlon 55'^' Edward Whitney, Beliuont . 100
Ueirsuf Abijali W'hiti.-. ('am- Mm. Theodore Clia», Boston UXI
bri'ltjc 50o EilwarU tf. Rowse, at. Louis . 100
Oeurge T. Bigelow. Boston . ll^.i B. R. Curtis, Boston .... oO
tieorgo C. and Abby Francis, .^Ir*. Mary Jennisen, Xewton l(i
Cam'. ridge UK) L. L. Thaiter, Mewton ... 10
Mrs. (3. W. Lyaian, Waltbam 50
In 1S72. In 1873.
William Cole, BtiUimure . . ^\[fi> Heirs of Jonaa White, Cam-
bridge SlOO
Besides uuuierous contributions of SI, So, or $10 each, from residents,
there were also the following ; —
AlTin A.lams 51000 George F. Meacham ... $50
Jesse .\. Locke . . t»<IO Rev. John Weiss ciO
Joiiah Stickney 2C0 Andrew J. Rods 50
Adolphe Lewando .... 150 Slies 31ary Pratt 50
David B. Flint 100 Charles J. Barry ... 5(1
Miles Pratt 100 John Trickey 50
B. B. Titcomb 100 Charl« Bemis 50
John TempletoD 100 Edward Bangs 50
Harrison P. Paee 100 George B. Wilbur 50
George N. March 100 Culeb Ladd 50
George K. Snow 100 Royal Gilkey 50
Dr. :5amuel UichanisOQ . . 25 Joebua G. Gooch -25
Joseph Crafts :!5 Thomas L. French 25
Solon F. Whitney 25 Jesse Wheeler io
Sauiiiel L. Biitchelder . . '15 John K. Stickuey 20
Dr. Alfred Uosmer .... 50 OUrer Shaw 15
WeisB, chairman, and Alfred Hosmer, secretary, and
chose Solop F. Whitney, librarian.
They proceeded at o'nce to prepare lists of books,
appropriated a vacant room under the High School
room for their reception and preparation for use.
After occupying this room about seven months, they
moved the books to the town-hall, and, as was stated
in the first lines of this sketch, were able to open the
library to the public on the 31st of March, 1869.
The eagerness with which the people accepted the
proffered privileges is witnessed by the fact that the
circulation rose at once to ten thousand volumes the
first year, and has gone on increasing till the number
of nearly forty thousand volumes has been attained
during the past year.
Opening of the Public Library. — The first even-
ing the trustees were all present ; the people came in
great numbers and business at once began.
There was then no time wasted in speech-making, no
band of music, no display of flags, neitherorator or poet
who, in grand and stirring periods or glowing rhymes,
sounded the praises of the authors whose works were
displayed on the shelves, or of the persons who had
been instrumental in collecting the library ; no
speech-making except the cheery conversation of
the trustees as they took the signatures of those de-
siring to become takers of books, the few words of
librarian and assistants as they helped each to a
new book ; no sounds of music except the busy tones of
all as they passed through the alcoves and praised
the collection or criticised the absence of some loved
author; no flags except the long written lists that
served at first as catalogues of books. The blooming
periods of orators and the musical and flowing rhymes
were indeed there, but bound tetween pasteboard
covers, asleep till some touch of the hand of the prince
should come to wake them from sleep; the solid prin-
ciples of philosophy and of conduct were, indeed,
offered, and no tasie too delicate and no moral condi-
tion too enfeebled to drink else but health and in-
spiration from some of the pages written by the mas-
ter spirits of this and all past ages there offered free
to all.
The opening of this library to the people of Water-
town we may acknowledge, at this distance of time,
when most of the principal actors have passed on to
other fields and are beyond reach of praise or blame
of our poor words, was an occasion the wisdom, the
magnitude of which far transcends in character and
importance most of those occasions that are mar-
shaled iu with so much display and circumstance,
when all are moved to contribute *beir presence and
their aid in magnifying the event.
Our children in some fulure time shall gather to
lay the corner-stone of some grand temple of learning
and rational enjoyment, when they will recall the
simple and business-like proceedings at this opening,
and calling to their aid the muses of music and of
painting,-of architecture and of sculpture, will rouse
364
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
the kindled souls of a more sensitive and apprecia-
tive people to the full significance of the opening
event, when the few, by the sacrifice of books from
their own stores, by the gift of funds from their own
small incomes, aided by larger gifts from those who
had opportunity to test the benefits of stores of books,
from some who, perhaps, saw this a cheaper way to
police the town and protect their own abundant
wealth, had been brought to unite in such an under-
taking in those early days when not more than one-
eighth of the towns and cities of the Commonwealth
had taken the first step to establish that long list of
libraries now almost equal in number to the number
of the separate municipalities in the State.
These lame words can only make this attempt to
record the beginning of the march of this company
in the grand army now covering the whole land, whose
onward and majestic tread shall, in its own time, ex-
alt the lowly and break down the proud, shall offer
to every appreciative soul the help of the choicest
spirits of earth, and breaking down every barrier of
power or wealth or social distinction, bring together
in the kingdom of intelligence and moral worth
those who begin to catch some glimpse of those shores
of the blessed lands where all shall find full scope
for the best of which he is capable, and all circum-
scribing hindrances to full development be removed.
Emerson says when you find some fine piece of statu-
ary that you greatly enjoy or some picture that stijs
your soul, place them where the public may enjoy
them and your pleasure shall be all the greater.
In this spirit many were led to begin this library.
Continued in this spirit, it will ever grow in magni-
tude, in richness of adornment, as well as in the re-
sources it will accumulate to give pleasure to the
latest generation of a happy posterity.
The wealth of our language is too poor to give full
credit to the clear intuitions, the noble motives of
some of those engaged in laying the foundations of
this Watertown Free Public Library. John Weiss
made the larger part of the first selection of books.
That selection challenges the scrutiny of all oppo-
nents of public libraries. Some of the books in the
collection, it is true, were such as our people felt
moved to give from their own stores. Some of these
were not what more intelligent people, with ample
means, would have selected from the shelves of pub-
lishers when choice was free. The trustees wished to
encourage all to give according to their means and
according to their knowledge. All good books are use-
ful,— some to some people, others to others. They
desired to avoid giving offence to any by rejection of
gifts of any books which any person felt moved to
offer to the common good, while exercising the great-
est care and discrimination in spending the money
which was the free offering of the best of the entire
people.
John Weiss, looking up to the spire of one of the
churches, and thinking of the exclusiveness which in
the name of religion bars out all who can not pro-
nounce a certain shibboleth, was moved to say that the
time will sometime come when the work of the
public library will be sustained with hope and with
honor when all such narrowness shall be despised
and forgotten. With the keen eye th.at looks through
shams and the clouds that beset Ignorance and selfish-
! uess, he saw with that piercing vision the weakness
I in the harness of other men, while feeling with
I humility the mortal weakness of his own.
John Weiss was aided on the board of trustees, by
men, who, being yet above the sod and liable to still
greater efforts, to show still greater works, had better
not be praised too openly. But one larsre, noble fel-
low, whose faults as well as virtues are still vividly
before his companions, "Jo Bird," as lie was I'aniiliaily
known and called, " who read every book that came
under his hand and remembered every book he read :''
who made the man who had no music in his soul feel
like a child to begin the humble sti-ps to musical ap-
preciation if not musical performance, who roused
the wealthy to the first gifts for the teachers' library
and gained the aid of the ablest lulloivers of Horace
.ALiiin ill a wise selection of books for the same; who
had in his younger days co-ojieratcd with Horace
Mann himself in his noble work at Lexington and
West Newton, came to some of the others one d;iy
with his big soul, too big for his big body, all aglow
with the enthusiasm which success had begun to kindle
in him, to express his joy and tliaukfuhiess that his
appeals had been heard and thfit this larger prospect
of a town library seemed possible. Joseph Bird, the
music teacher, the man whose voice never failed to be
heard when he thought the trutli or the justice or
even the fitness of things required his help, was at
the first one of the most outspoktjn friends of the
library. Too quick to see the advantages to be gained
by a forward movement, too rash to jirotect his
Hanks by outlying or his rear by reserve forces, he
failed to accomplish alone what a more careful and
better disciplined man would have accomplished.
But take the ten first trustees as a body of men who
were selected to lead the weak hope, to pioneer a new
undertaking in a new field, for what they were, with
their peculiar surroundings, and success was well
assured from the beginning.
There were John Weiss, the keen eye, the facile
tongue, the wise leader ; Josiah Slickney, full of years
and good taste ; Jesse A. Locke, whose generous and
grateful heart made the first pledge of his winter's ser-
vices in the legislature to the project ; Joseph Bird, big
with hope and fertile in expedients ; Abiel Abbott, the
conscientious lawyer, and Charles J. Barry, prompt in
every duty, all gone to their reward. Then among
those still living there were Alfred Hosmer, the general
who had the courage of his convictions ; Joshua
Coolidge, who knew when to hold back and when the
crucial hour required his utmost effort ; David T.
Huckins, who held not too long on the funds needed
WATERTOWN.
365
for supplies, and James M. Bell, the large and liberal-
minded clergyman — these were the men to pioneer this
noble undertaking.
It may not be unwise to reflect that they were well
sustained by the people. Miles Pratt, who would not
hold office himself, gave freely of his counsel, and
helped to gather the sinews of war ; Joseph Crafts,
the daring captain whose raids brought in the last
subscriptions to complete the required SGOOO, Henry
Chace, who said the few must always take the lead ;
and others whom time fails to allow us to enumerate —
these served on committees during those preliminary
months when the enterprise wavered and further pro-
gre-is wiw in doubt, and when one of the committee,
Rev. llr. rftubbert, thought ' there was a radical un-
preparedness in the public mind for the library ;" and
another and a wealthy member of the committee with-
held for a time the aid he never could quite give to
the project. These were the times of doubt and delay.
The time is yet tcjo soon for most to see what the efft-ct
in the end shall be. But your historian must, as in
duty bound, record the advance already made.
Thi; Xew PiBLic LiBR.iRY Building. — The room
on the tirst Hoor of the Town- House answered very
well the purposes of the library for several years.
Beginning by taking the room long occupied first by
William 5>hermai), then William H. Ingraham, and
last by Joel Barnard us a dry-goods store, it was
soon found necessary to take the other side, occupied
for many years by Samuel Noyes for medicines and
groceries. Then, by changiujjf the position of parti-
tions, taking in an engine-room, certain rooms were
obtained for town otfices. The location was admirable
for the uses of the library, but the growing collection
could with ditticulty be managed, and the room
seemed to ^row closer and closer. The question ot a
new building was discus=ed in the annual reports and
in the local pre<s, until in 1882 the way seemed clear
to <jbtain a new building. In the librarian's report
tor that year be said, "We have looked forward with
longing eyes tor several years to the possession of a
proper building for this library." In the report for
1881 he said, " Fortunate is the town, too, it seems
to us, that others feel this need so pressing that they
are willing to oiler to the town, dollar for dollar, the
means needed to put the library in a sufficiently
large, well-ventillated, well-lighted, fire-proof build-
ing."
The attempt was made to raise 820,000 by subscrip-
tion, and then uak the town to raise as much more for
a suitable building. The trustees themselves sub-
scribed, showing their good faith, and Hon. Hollis H.
Hunnewell, son of Dr. Walter Hunnewell who once
lived on ilaiu Street and practiced the healing art in
our village, generously oiftred to give $10,000, one-
half of tliis. Mr. Samuel Walker oflered over $4000
if the library were located on Main Street,' and other
large amounts were quickly pledged ' so that even
more than the amount stipulated was secured. The
town then came together and appropriated $20,000,
and appointed a building committee to proceed at
once to obtain plans and estimates, and then to pro-
secute the work until the building was completed
and turned over to the Board of Trustees. The
architects chosen by this committee were Shaw &
Hunnewell, of Boston ; the contractor, David Per-
kins, also of Boston.
The plans were shown at the March meeting of
1882, and during the summer the work was pushed
on vigorously. It was wholly enclosed before cold
weather, finished during the early winter, and on the
12th of February the books were moved in, the venera-
ble Joshua Coolidge helping in person to make the
transfer from the old rooms to the new.
Following is a general description of the public
library building. Its plan, viewed from Main Street,
is like an inverted T, being of two principal divis-
ions. Standing about eighty feet from the line of
itreet, the building presents a frontage of sixty-two
feet, broken by a central projection, gabled, twenty-
six feet wide and ten feet deep, containing the main
vestibule and basement stairway. The front main
division is 24 x 62 feet, divided into a distributing
room, oO s 18 feet, on the right of which is a reading
room, 18 x 21 feet, with the addition of a large half-
ciri le window, and on the left a reference and study
room of the same size. Works of art can be displayed
in either of these rooms. Back of these, forming the
stem of the T, is a structure 36 x 49 feet, containing a
book room 34 x 48 feet, while a projecting portion
provides a librarian's room, 9 x 14 feet, opening out
trom the book-room.
Large arches form the dividing lines between these
several apartments, so that really the whole interior,
except the librarian's room, is exposed to sight, the
effect being to present an interior of generous propor-
tions to the eye of the observer. If it is found desirable
to divide otf more closely the study-room, or reading-
room, curtains may be hung between the arches. A
unique etfect is produced by finishing the internal walls
cliurcb, .1 truublesome one. The churcb-lot oo Church Street had maoy
;ulvucale^ as had alao the old parsonage lot on 3It. Auburn Street, but
' this gift of Mr. Walker, and the promised opportunity for a public park
adjoiuing carried the day.
- The amounts subscribed and the names of the subscribera who did so
great a aerrice to the Public Library and to the town are here glTen :
H. H. HunneweU . . . .810,000 Charles B. Gardner »00
■ Samuel Walker 4,200 Be». R. P. Stack 100
; Kdward Whitney .... 1,000 Geo. K. Snow 100
Seth Bemis 1,000 Samuel Noyes 100
J. H. Conant lOO
Wm. H. Ingraham 50
E. B. Eaton 50
Wm. H. Dadmnn 25
Mrs. B. A. Bradford .... 26
Mra. A. L. Richards. ... 25
T. G. Abbbott 25
1 The question >.>r location was, as early in the history of the fint
Mni. Lucy W. Titcombe .
1,000
U. B. ylint
300
Charles J. Barry
500
S. B. Payson
500
Mr*. P. C. Brooks ....
600
Solon l". Whitney ....
200
J. K. Stickney
100
Mrs. Theo. Chase ....
100
366
HISTORY OP MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
I
with faced and moulded brick, upon which the fresco rangement of books. The reading-rooms were felt to
decorations are made, while panels, formed by bands of be limited.
cement on the corners and angles, are also decorated. '
Large brick fire-places finished above with terra cotta '
farther embellish the study and reading-rooms. All
ceilings are open timbered, divided into panels, and
lathed, plastered, and frescoed between the beams.
The book-room will hold 30,000 volumes, is sixteen
feet high on the walls, and slanted up to twenty feet ,
in height to ceiling. Galleries can be put in when i
required, doubling the book storage capacity. The
height of the distributing room is fifteen feet on walls,
arched up to eighteen feet six iuches, for central ceil-
ing. The side-rooms are fifteen feet^high, level ceil-
ing. In the basement, finished in 1888, ten feet in j
clear, are a large, well-lighted reading-room, a patent i
office report room, a trustees' room, besides rooms for I
the steam heating apparatus, toilet and other conven-
iences. The floor is concreted with cement and over-
laid with hard wood, with air-spaces betweeu; the
ceiling and walls are decorated with taste, the work
having been done by Haberstroh of Boston. A good
supply of water and proper drainage are also pro-
vided.
French Renaissance is the style of architecture
chosen, the basement being constructed of Roxbury
rubble stones, the walls above of brick with Xew ,
Brunswick red freestone trimmings, and the hipped '
roofs are covered with red slates. The front is dressed
quite freely with stone columns, pilasters and window
decorations, and present a bold appearance. A large
half-circle bay on thesoutheasterly side forms a beau-
tiful feature of the design and increases the size of the
reading-room. A flight of stone steps leads to the
vestibule, the door of which is at one side of the front
The PR.4.TT Gift.— r/ie "Asa Pratt" Fund.— In
1888, after some correspondence with Mr. Charles
Pratt, of Brooklyn, New York, son of Mr. Asa Pratt,
late of Watertown, as to the details of a scheme in
which he wished to benefit the working people par-
ticularly, of his native town, he oifered to give for
the Asa Pratt heirs the sum of $oOOO for the es-
tiiblishment of a fund to furnish periodicals of use
particularly to the industrial portion of the commu-
nity, on condition that the town would fit up the
lower rooms for reading-rooms in an appropriate and
substantial manner. The following is nil exact copy
of the offer of the gift and the attending conditions ;
Mr. Asa Pratt lived in ^Vatertowll for over sisty
years. He died November 9, 1S7S, leaving his widow
a life interest in his estate. Sflie having recently died,
the children, in closing up the estate, are desirous of
commemorating as a worthy example one of whom
it was said, " He conducted business as a mariulac-
turer of furniture in Watertown in his own name for
nearly fifty years. Many i>iece3 of furniture have
been in constant use for more than half a century and
are still in good condition, thus giving eviiJeiice of
the integrity of his work. He raised a large family
and although in humble circumstances he always paid
one hundred cents on the dollar and taught his
children to follow his example." All who knew him
said : "Asa Pratt was an honest man."
Learning from your published report, and other-
wise, that the establishment of an additional roadiuu-
room has been proposed which shall be particularly
for the benefit of the industrial portion of the people,
and knowing it would be consistent with the memoiy
projection, and not directly exposed to view from the of his life (he was for many years a member of the
street. The outside walls have an average height ol
twenty feet from grade, and the brick walls are four-
teen inches thick, having a two-inch air space. The
trusses and floor timbers are hard pine, the objects in
view being strength, durability and safety. For arch
columns and other wood finish of the interior, ash.
stained, is used. Large windows of plain glass furnish
abundant light. Finials, ridges and conductors are
made of copper.
The basement was not finished before the building
was delivered to the Library Trustees in 1884. It
was not supposed that there would be need of more
space than given on the upper floor. Few of the
Building Committee had had experience with libraries.
One of the beat librarians of the country, Mr. Cutter,
of the Boston Athena;um, said, " It was a good rule
to build five times as large as would be needed at
once." The area of the single floor was but a little
larger than the space in the town- house. In less than
ten years from the occupancy of the building, addi-
tional room will need to be asked for. The shelves
in 1890 are so full that inconvenience-is experienced,
in some departments, in preserving an orderly ar-
Board of Public Education), and to aid the efforts of
her people for such education .o-s tends specially to
make all men more useful citizens, the executors ol
bis estate, on the behalf of his children, hereby oiler
to give to the town of Watertown the sum of five
thousand dollars (or its equivalent, five thousand-
dollar fifty-year five per cent, gold bonds), for the es-
tablishment of a fund to be known as the "' Asa Pratt
Fund, ' upon the following terms and conditions, viz. :
that
" 1. The lowD nliall tinisli the >iiL-*-iiient rixiiii >>f (lie libnry bnildiDf;,
or pro VI. io oilier r.iniil,ir silittiUle ruoiii, with nn iDiJfpetiileDt eDrnincr*
I'roni tlie oill^iilf, properly supplied with liiillicieDt liirlit and lu-iit ami
lUe Tieceesary .ipproprJHte furniture, an'l keep the ^ame open iiiiil uccei--;-
ible to the public not les? Ih;in the libcaiy ;iboT>', of which it shall fniin
a part.
" i. Said fund shall be kept safely invested, and a pan of the yearly
iocoiDe thereof as stateil below shall every year be paid uvef to thr- trus-
teed of the public library and by them be applied to the purchase of
such periodical literature, including papers, as in their opinion shall lie
of particular interest and use to the industrial portion of the comiiiun-
ity, and which consequently may be of use to uH. Ttie part of said
yearly interne to be thus paid over and applied every year, shall be tor
each of the finit five years the sum of one hundred ami fifty dollars ; for
each of the second five years, one hundred and seventy-tive dollars, and
for each of the third five yearfl, two hundred dollars, and so on ; that ia
WATERTOWN.
367
to say, at the beginning of evprr period of fire years after the flriit Are
yenm, the yearly allowance for said piirchiu>e nhall be iucreased twenty-
five J.tllare over such ;iliowance during the precedini; period uf fi^e
years The baUnce of said yearly income in excess of what is paid over
to said trustees and expended under the furegoing prurision shall be
added to iiod become a part of siiid principal.
■'3. Xo sectarian influence shall govern in the selection of reading
matter purchased with nny portion of the income of said fund.
" 4. The care, contnd and investment of said fund, and all addi-
tionn thereto, and the geiit-ral supervision of the trust hereby created,
and the power to carry into effect ita purpo^s iind spirit, shall be vested
in a permanent board composed of three reputable freeholders of the
town, oue of whom rshali be Mr. H. W. Utis, the other two to be ap-
[Hiinted by the trustees of the Free Public Library and the Selectmen o(
tlie town acting jointly. All vacancies on account of death, removal
froui town, resignation, or otherwise occurring in the Board, may be
rilled in lik'^ niatner Ijy the joint actiou of the Trustees and Selectmen.
Members of the Uoanl may iudd their membership during their pleasure,
[uovided tliey comply with the terms and sprit of this iruKt.
"o. The town Huuitor shuil have the right wheuever the town, tht-
selectmen, or the trusteed wish it, to itispect the securities in which said
fund may be iovesteil, and report as requested.
'* H. W. Otis. EUeaiO^r.
" I engasy to be resp-'usible for the payment of the above sum as soon
' :is the town shall take satisl.-ctory action.
"Ch.vs. Pratt,
"lil Clniton AcPiiue, Brooklyn, If. Y., Mtuch Z. 1883."
The towu, :it the regular annual March town-meet-
ing, after very lull discussion, took the following ao
tion :
" Voted, That the town accept the gift of the heirs of .\8a Pratt with
tiinnk.-. and will gladly comply with tlie couditiona of thi; gift.
*' Voted. That the trustees of the Putdic Library and the Selectmen
lie a committee to lake into cousideration tlie whole matter of proviJiup
Iwr :i reading ruoiu, and, if thought e.\pedieiit, a Iruslees" room, and thm
a sum u-'C e:ci:eediug ^:iA)0 be put at tbeir disposal to accomplish thi'
ends in view."
The foUowin;^ obituary notice copied from the
B'Mijii Journ.j I i)i' November 12. 1S78, acquires addi-
tional interest to our readers, in view of the action ol
the town at its annual meeting in accepting the pro-
ceeds of Mr. Asa Pratt's estate increased by the geu-
erortity of his >ons, to establish a fund for furnishing
reading matter for a new reading-room in the Free
Public Library building for the benelit of working-
men :
" Asa Pratt. — .\fla Pratt, uoe of liie moot veniTable and esteemed cii-
i/.-iis of tills section, died in \Vaterto«n on Friday I.isl, in tlio eighty-
hlth year of his age. He was the mn of Jacob Pratt, who was born in
.>Iii.lden in ITo-l, where he lived until liia death in his ninety-first year.
His son .\»u, at the age i-f fourteen, wjis put out to learn a trade. After
serving an anpc-nticesliip of seven yeai> in Buoton in learning the trade
■ f cabinet-iiialiing, he rt^iiioved to Watertowa and started busincssoQ hi?^
nwn account, September IS, l3ld. For about fifty years be continued bis
butiuess ou subsUiitially the .-ame spot where he started it, until old age
• impelled him to rent. He was an holiest man and did honest work.
Ilis dealiJig-i with men were true : he feared debt, and umid the many
struggles ol tiiaintainitig a large taioily, he would never contract debts
rhui he ..ould not meet to (he last dollar. lie never made changes, but
-tuck to bis trade in (he same place. He bought his little home where
lie took bis bride as a young man, and it was the home of his children
until he liad i<j build larger, Wut within twn hundred feet of the same
.<>(>oC he lived for si.xty years until his death. He had retnarka^de
health. Uttwasakiiiil father and singularly unselfish in all his rela-
Ttoiis of life. He could nut bnnjk a mean or selfish thing of any kind.
llf had a Urge family. . Seven of his children survive him, displaying
the wiiie triits of industry, honesty and »;euerosily. He was a charter
inemi»er ■■! ibe IVquoseite Lrodge of Freemasons, and before his death
was the oldest member of that order. The social, genial, faithful ways
which first won him esteem among hia fellow-llasona continued to the
end. For the past tea or fifteen years, since be gave up bis business.
A a Pratt baa lived a qaiet, meditative life. He had neither poverty nor
riches. His wants, which were simple, were all supplied, and he had
a little for every call of charity. He leaves his widow, now in her
seveoty-eighth year, in comfortable circumstances, and with a good
name, which is better than riches."
Several of the workingnien of the town who felt a
deep interest in the project of a free reading-room,
j addressed the followi&g letter to Mr. Chas. Pratt, who
j represents the Pratt heir?. It secured a large number
I of signatures :
I " W.\TEErowN, March 12, 1888.
'■To CiiAS. Pratt, Esq., Brooklyn, X. V.
" Dear Sir, — Tho undri^igoed citizens of Wateitown, and householders
' whose homes represent the earnings of their nwn hands in some form of
I productive industry, desire to tiinnk you for the gift that has come
j through your kindness to the clntis we represenL
" We are workmguien, and wo think that we appreciate the united
I and social condition uf a large claM of our people somewhat mure di-
I I ecity and fully than those conditions can bo understood by peraoos whi»
\ sec- them only from the outside, and we have long fi It the pressure of a
j public need that, up to this time, has not been met. But now yourgeo-
I orous remembrance of your former home opens the way to a got>d we
, luive hoped for, but which has been beyond our reach. We confidently
•.•\I>ect to see the most beneficial re^ult^ from your bequest, and we wish
to assure you that our best eudeavors shall be given to turn our experi-
ments into facts.
"The list of names at the end uf this note will not be a long one, but
e ich name will stand for a man who sends yon greeting and the thanks
of a grateful heart.
** Hoping that yon will long live to see the good that wiU come from
yijur gift, we remain sincerely and faithfully yours."
The selectmen of the town meeting with the trustees
of the Public Library, according to one of the condi-
tions of the trust, appointed with Horace W. Otis,
Charles Brigham and Albert O. Davidson, trustees of
the Asa Pratt Fund.
It should be stated that Mr. Pratt has done more
than he promised. He placed the funds ($5000)
in the hands of the special Board of Trustees, he sent
the librarian money to furnish the reading-rooms
entire with fitting and durable furniture, and as an
earnest of his pleasure in the first year's administra-
tion of the fund, sent the library a check for a hun-
dred dollars for reference books, which has been ex-
pended for valuable works that have been much
called for by students of art aud manufactures and
history. It is the express direction that these be all
credited to the "Asa Pratt Fund" in honor of his
father, whose useful life was spent in this place.
It may be too soon to record the influence of this
gift in enlarging the effectiveness of the public
i librarv'. That it is gladly and thankfully used by
: many young men and women is apparent to those
I constantly in the rooms.
I Catalogues, and Use of the Library. —
As a new card catalogue is being prepared for the
use of the public, it may be well to state the fact that
a, card catalogue of the whole library was began in
1868, long before there was any Library Bureau, and
consequently when few card catalogues were known
outside of Harvard College. The Boston Public
Library had begun one for the use of the librarian
and assistants, not yet for the public : the Boston Ath-
368
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTr, MASSACHUSETTS
enaeum pasted its titles into great blank-books like
scrap-books.
This catalogue was begun as the aid of the librarian
in doing his work, and was written mostly nights and
holidays. It was patterned after the catalogue of Mr.
(afterwards Prof.) Ezra Abbott, as.aistant librarian of
Harvard College Library, with of course simplification
of the subject portion of the catalogue, with more
specific subjects as adapted to a smaller library. The
work done twenty years ago is the basis of work done
now.
All other lists and catalogues, as shelf-lists, acces-
sion catalogue and bulletins have been kept up from
the beginning, every title thus being written five or
six times iu different relations for different purposes
in the manuscript lists. No labor of this kind has
been spared to make the library a well-organized and
effective instrument.
The library has had good direction from trustees
and experts in the choice of books, so that for the
purposes to which this has been put, in the education
of this town, it may be said to be fairly equipped
with good books of good authors.
Considerable iittentiot> has been given to assisting
pupils of the schools and other learners to the use
of the materials which the library contains.
Its life seems to be comparatively active. It has
nearly three volumes for every man, woman and child
in town, and these are read on the average twice each
year. This rate would give Boston a library of a
million and a half of volumes, and a circulation of
about three millions annually.
Its friends expect it to do much better than this.
A love of reading, and the habit of thinking by the
aid of the printed page, seems not to be the natural
inheritance of all people. Doubtless the new era of
progress which started in Europe with the invention of
printing and the use ofthep.'inted page, the emergence
of universal intelligence from the gloom of the Dark
Ages, has to be wrought over again in the personal
history of each individual of the race. Ag.ossiz traced
in the successive beds of fossil rocks the zoological
history of the world ; this he found again repeated in
like order of development in each individual of the
higher species of the present time, by tracing the
progress from the first signs of life in the embryo to
the condition of maturity. It is clearly within the '.
province of the historian to note the successive stage.-; '
of growth of use and usefulness of public libraries, to
note both the early and successive stages in the growth
of the public library as a complete organism, and to
note the early and successive stages of growth in the
minds of individuals brought or coming within the j
sphere of its activities. This large view helps to clear
the air of much confusion of ideas in understanding'
the nature of the life of a public library, and prepares
wonderfully to settle intelligently the many questions
constantly arising in regard to the proper administra-
tion of these great public trusts. For instance, the
ever-recurring question as to what books should be
allowed in a public library. Should they be .^elected
' with reference to a certain standard of literary
excellence? Should they accord with certain political
or religious creeds? Should they treat only of facts
of science or history? Should they ignore all that
has misled or deceived the expectations of the pa^t ?
Is it best or to be allowed to try to catch the eye and
excite the imagination of the thoughtlej^s by some-
thing within the scope of their minds? In the
administration of this library, the experiment of try-
ing Mrs. Southworth aud Oliver Optic for those who
else would not, perhaps could not, read Scott and
Dickens, Irving or Bancroft, has been made. Science
and philosophy have on the other hand been given
out to babes. The eflects have been noted. This is
a field for intelligent experiment. It should not be
expected that the results of modern culture can be
gained by relapsing into the freedom of that
accidental untrained life which our father? found
among the aboriginal savages. Christian science and
Christian philo.-<ophy, aided by the best literary pro-
duct of the world to the latest day are no mure thau
equal to the best results desired aud possible.
The history of this library, to gather up the ex-
perience of twenty years in a single statement, has
shown that the best books, the most carefully selected
and sometimes the must costly, brought at the op-
portune moment when the want had been created,
the assimilative powers being in condition, have sup-
plied the material for the want of which perhai'.sa Hie
failure would have resulted n-.ther than the Inying ui
a foundation for future growth.
The great need of a young man oi' a young wo-
man who finds that it takes most of his time :iiid
strength to live, whose whole life and energy is ab-
sorbed in the material and mechanical conditions -i'-'
existence, is to catch some glimpse cf the world of
mind, of imagination above him. Doubtless ntlier
libraries thau this have been able to catch such an
one's attention by a printed page nut too oliscnie fio-
his enlightenment and his enjoyment.
Not to spend too much time in describing individ-
ual cases in the history of the library, it may be
claimed, doubtless without fear of contradiction, that
some iu every condition of mental development, the
more the higher we go, have found it a garden of de-
light and of refreshing, the open door to new views
and more effective labors. Such will prove their
grateful appreciation by leading others to still greater
help, still higher and wider, and more constant men-
tal activity.
In this town, a model New England town, with its
full share of dull material existence, the library has
been evolved in the cour.se of progress as the repre-
sentative of the best intellectual forces, as that con-
necting link, if one can excuse the figure, which
binds this toiling, busy life to the onward car of pro-
gress. It is for the masses what the schools are to
WATERTOWN.
369
the young, what the university is to the scholar. It
is, in fact, the university of the masses.
It requires men yet on its board of control. It re-
quires administration with firmness, freedom to try
new means and measures, and intelligence to observe
results and draw conclusions.
OFFICEKS OF THE WATEETOWN FREE PDBLIC LIBRAET,
lSljS-1890.
TRUSTEES.
Rev. John Wfisa, 13GS-72 (chairman, lSCS-09 ;) .Mfred Ilosnier, 5I.D.,
I8lil)-7'J (aecretary, l»li8, '09, 'TO, chairman, 1871, '7i-'7(! ; ) Josiiih
Slickuey, 1868-72^ Joseph Bird, 180»-<;i) ; Jeuso \. Locke, l8ti3-73
ichainiiau, 1370): .Vbiol .\bbott, 18C8-<;n ; Rev. Jaa. M. Bell, lSii8-«U ;
David T. Huvliins, M.D., 18ii8-(iO (treasurer. Isil8); Cliarles J. Barry,
18u8, '09, ls7S-*3 (secrelury, 1373, '7i;, chairman, 1877-ia) ; Jouhiia Coo-
liJfe. I8i;s-S8 (treasurer, 1S71, chairmiiD. 1S72, 'S.1-87 ; ) Ueurge N.
March, 1809-67 (secretary, 1871, treasurer, 1809, '70, '72-84, ^.i-'ST) ;
Geo. K. Sno»-, 1872-84 laecretary, 1877-.1l); A. C. Stockin, 1872-34; vsec-
relary, 1872-741 ; Charles F. Fitz, 1879-81 ; Kev. Robert P. Stack, 1682-
(treaiurer, 13'i4) ; William Cushiug, 18s4 (secretary, 1834); Kev. Ed-
ward A. R.ind. 1384-87 ; Edward E. Allen, 19sr,- (secretary, ISM."., '80.
tn-a=urer, 189u-) ; A 0. Davidson, liS5-:io (secretary, l.sS^) ; Uluu. 3.
Eusign, 18.17-90 (secretary, 1337, chairmau, 1838, 89): Horace W. (Jtis,
1833 (treasurer, 1888) ; l.'liarles UriijhanL, 1389- (treaHUier, 1889, cllair
man, U9") ; ""Jeo. E. Priest, 1889- (secretary, 18891 ; Herbert CouliUgc,
189U-; Win. U. Buatin, 169l>-.
LIBBABI.V.NS.
Solon F. Whituey, librarian, 18ii8- ; M. Agnes Gribhie, iwsaistant li-
brarian, 1872-7:1 (now Mrs. Geo. H. Chapiu): Nelly Brailfonl, assi.itant
libiaruu, Ui7:i-77 (now Mrs. Solomon U. Stebbina) ; Jaue Sbickwell, aa-
sijwnt librariau. 1877- ; Ella Sherman, ^issistacit librarian, I86.i-S8 (now
Mrs. James Norcross, ; Helen Cusliiug. assistant libninau. 1888 (now
tea.lior in Philadelphia ; T. E. Macunlay, assistant librarian. 1889 (now
lu U.«ton Public Library) ; M. Louise Whitney, cataloguer, 1389- ; Mabel
Learucd, assistant, 1890-.
The Wears— The South Side— Morse Field.'
—History narrates that Captain John Sraitli, when
e.xplorins the Massachusetts coast, in ItiU, proceeded
up a river which he named the Charles, landed on
the south ban'.c, probably within a few rods of the
present Watertown Bridge, and his party refreshed
themselves from the pure springs located in this
vicinity.
When the settlers of the town located within its
territory they considered themselves the fole proprie-
tors nf the territory on both sides of this river, but
preferred to settle on the north bank, as it was better
adapted for immedi;ite cultivation, and safer from the
Indians, who frequented the opposite shore for hunt-
ing and fishing, and who had a settlement at a place
called Xonantum. The land on the south side was
marshy, back of which extended bluffs heavily tim-
bered, or high bluffs rising abruptly from the shore.
For home-lots the south side was too inconvenient
and too remote from the main settlements in case of
danger from the neighboring Indians.
When the settlers in Newtown (Cambridge, from
1C38) crossed the river and settled in " Little Cam-
bridge" (Brighton), and extended to New Cambridge
(Newton), they were gladly welcomed by the planters
' By Charles S. Ensign, IL.B., a life member of tlie New Eneland Histor-
ic G«nealogical .Society ; member also of the Historical Society of Water-
town.
24-iii
in Watertown. So, when in May, 1634, the colony,
under Rev. Thomas Hooker, who had, under the
order of the General Court, in 1632, removed from
Mount WoUaston to Newtown, complained to the
General Court for lack of room, particularly meadow
land, Watertown and Boston offered them land, which
was accepted. This oflfer included a part, if not all,
of the thirty acres of land granted by the Court, No-
vember, 1632, to Mr. George Phillips (the minister in
Watertown), " on the south side, beginning at a creek
a little higher than the pines, and so upwards towards
the wears." Bond saya that the plot was nearly op-
posite the United States Arsenal ; but it may have
extended beyond and reached nearly to the present
Watertown Bridge. The Court, in September, 1634,
■'ordered that the ground about Muddy river (Brook-
line), belonging to Boston, and used by the inhabit-
ants thereof, shall hereafter belong to Newtown, the
wood and timber thereof, growing and to be grown,
to be reserved to the inhabitants of Boston : provided,
and it is the meaning of this court, that if Mr. Hooker
and the congregation now settled here, shall remove
hence, that then the afore.-aid meadow grounds shall
return to Watertown, and the grounds at Muddy river
to Boston."
By the permission of Governor Winthrop, granted
in April, 1632, without the order of the General Court
(for which he was severely condemned by his un-
friendly deputy, Dudley), the inhabitants of Water-
town were allowed to construct a fish-wear. May
9, 1632. "it was ordered" by the General Court,
"that the town of Watertown shall have that privi-
lege and interest in the wear they have built up
Charles river, according as the court hereafter shall
think meet to confirm unto them."
Johnson, in his " Wonder Working Providence,"
says, " This town (Watertown) abounds with several
sorts of fish at their seasons, bass, shad, salmon, frost
fi.sU and smelts."
Wood, in his " New England Prospect," 1633, nar-
rates, " A little below the fall of waters " (the present
dam across the river) " the inhabitants of Watertown
have built a wear to catch fish, wherein they take
great store of shads and ale-wives. In two tides they
have gotten one hundred thousand fishes."
Historians say that the leading spirit in the build-
ing of the wear was Mr. John Oldham, a freeman in
1631, " whose house near the wear at Watertown was
burnt in August, 1632." Sept. 4, 1634, the General
Court "ordered that no man shall fish with a. net
nearer the wear at Watertown, than the fiirther part
of the island in the river, and there also never to
cross the river wholly with any net except it be at
high water or after."
In April, 1635, a committee was appointed by the
General Court to determine the bounds between New-
town and Watertown, and reported, " It is agreed by
us whose names are under written, that the bounds
between Watertown and Newtown shall stand as they
370
HISTOKY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
are already, from Charles river to the Great Fresh
pond, and from the tree marked by Watertown and
Newtown, on the northeast aide of the pond, and over
the pond to a white poplar tree on the northwest
side of the pond, and from the tree up into the coun-
try, northwest by west, upon a straight line by a
meridian compass ; and further, that Watertown shall
have one hundred rods in length above the wear, and
one hundred rods beneath the wear in length and
three-score rods in breadth from the river on the south
side thereof, and all the rest of the ground on that
side of the river to lye in Newtown. William Col-
bron, John Johnson, Abraham Palmer."
This tract contained by estimation, on the south
.side, about seventy-flve acres, afterwards called the
Wear lands. In town-meeting, Jan. 3, 163-5-36, it was
" agreed that there shall be four rods in breadth on
each side of the river, and in length as far as need
shall require, laid (out) to the use of the wear so it
may not be prejudicial to the Water Mill. Also, one
hundred and forty acres of ground to the wear upon
the other side of the river, to be laid out in a conven-
ient place."
" Agreed, that there shall be laied out to the use of
the Water Mill twenty acres of ground neare to the
Mill & foure rods in breadth on either side the Water,
and in length as farre as need shall require, so it be
not preduiciall to the Ware."
Mr. Hooker and bis company never settled upon
the grants of land made by Watertown and Boston,
and continuing dissatisfied and complaining, finally
were permitted to remove to Connecticut and settle
upon land which later w.ia called Hartford. My
direct ancestor, James, was one of that colony.
The General Court thereupon appointed a committee
to settle the boundaries between Newtown and Muddy
River (Brookline), which made the adjustment in
April, 163G. Newtown retained tlie large territory
gained in 163.T, comprising Brighton, Arlington, Lex-
ington, Billerica, part of Bedford, part of Tewksbury,
extending to the Merrimack River, while Watertown
never recovered the territory which it had originally
granted. The reason for this may be accounted for
in the fact, " it was not a shire town, nor place for
much trade, no shipping-port, only reached by small
vessels, and no resort for official men and capitalists."
" After Sir Richard Saltonstall's departure, until 16S6,
there were no resident assistants ur magistrates-
The people were devoted to .agriculture and some
mechanical trade in the intervals of farming," plain
in their habits and simple in tastes, and had no inter-
est or pride in municipal aggrandizement.
In 1679 when the boundaries between Cambridge
and New Cambridge or Cambridge village, (that is,
Newton,) were fixed, it was stipulated " that this
Watertown reservation on the south aide of Charles
River, two hundred by sixty rods, should be main-
tained and held by Watertown tor the protection of
her fish wears."
The boundaries not being satisfactory, were in 1705
again readjusted so that this territory w.as increased
by estimation to eighty-eight acres. It is stated that the
lines have been since rearranged so that the total num-
ber of .'icres, including that covered by water, is one
hundred and fifty, and is surrounded by Newton,
except on its northern boundary, which is the Charles
River.
From the orders of the General Court it would seem
that the wear built by the town in 1632 was public
property. But soon after it became private property
and was held in shares.
The General Court had granted the " <Jldham
farm," on the north side, to Mr. John Oldham, April
1, 1634. He mortgaged this grant to Mr. Matthew
Cradock. The land was not ordered laid out until
June 2, 1641, after Oldham had been murdered by the
Pequot Indians at Block Island, July, 1036. But
Oldham bad soon after sold this grant subject to the
mortgage of Thomas Mayhew, and this plot included
the wear. For the General Court confirmed the
town's grant of one hundred and fifty acres with the
wear (Jan. 3, l().1."i-36) on June -, li)41, when it was
" agreed that Mr. ^layhew shall enjoy tiieone liuiidred
and fifty acres of land on the south side of Charles
River by Watertown wear."
Thomas Mayhew, a freeman in Medford, May,
1634, came to Watertown in 1635. He received six
large grants from the town. He \v:ls a town,snian or
selectman from 1636 to 1640 inclusive; also in 1642 ;
aUo representative to the General Court from 1636 to
1644. He is described as a nierehaiit in his deeds.
From 1638 to 1642 he was a commissioner for Water-
town " to end small causes." On October 10, 1641,
Nantucket and two other adjacent islands, and on the
23d of October, Martha's Vineyard and Elizabeth
Islands were granted to him and his son Thomas by
James Forett, agent of the Earl of Stirling, who con-
stituted him Governor. He removed to Martha's
Vineyard in the spring or summer of 1645.
He built the first bridge, a foot-bridge, in 1641 over
Charles River, and one record states that this was the
reason for the grant of 150 acres on the south side of
the river.
lu 1643-the General Court granted to him "three
hundred acres of land in regard to his charge about
the bridge by Watertown Mill and the bridge to be-
long to the County.''
Thomas Mayhew Sept. 29, 1G3S, granted to Simon
Bradstreet, of Ipswich (Governor of Massachusetts,
under the first charter from 1679 to 1686), f(jr six
cows worth about $200 each. " All that Ills farm con-
tainynge by estimation 500 acres lying in Cambridge
w"" all the buildings thereto belonginge."
Sept. 23, 1646, Simon Bradstreet, Andover, gent,
for £140, conveyed this tract to Edward Jackson,
Cambridge, naylor, described as " his farm of 500
acres, which was lately in the tenure of Thomas
Mayhew, adjoining the wear lands."
WATERTOWN.
371
This tract commenced near the division line of
Newton and Brighton, and included the present New-
tonville.
His mansion-house, the first dwelling-houae in New-
ton, was located only a few rods from Washington
Street, near the Catholic Church.
Feb. 27, 1639— to, llayhew conveyed to Governor
Dudley for £90 the rent of his wear for the last four
years, leased to Robert Lock wood, Isaac Sternes and
Henry Jackson for six years. Also the river side and
inheritance of the wear forever, subject to a certain
mortgage (referring to that m.ide to Cradock).
March 2, 1(543-41, Dudley sold to Edward How for
£59 10«. 2d. all right and income to the wears in
Watertown, except £22 15s. 2d. due from Stearnes
and Lock wood.
Elder How, by his will June 3, 1644. conveys to his
heirs " the wears with all their privileges thereto
belonging," which continued in the possession of his
sons in law, Nathaniel Treadway and John Stone for
many years.
Treadway, with Suflferanna (How), conveyed one-
half interest. May 30, 1662, to Nathaniel Cuolidge, Sr.,
and Stone the other half. May 25, 1663.
.\t a town-meeting held April 12, 1671, " Upon
consideration that the Indians being like to buy the
privilege of the wears and fishing at the river, which
the town apprehended will be much to the damage
of the town, they (the Indians) being like to be bad
neighbors, the town voted, all, as one m.Tn, that they
were altogether against their having the wears, or that
they should set down so near the town." It wa.<>
voted to purchase the same for the town's use, and a
committee chosen to negotiate with the owner, Na-
thaniel Cooledge, Sr.
Since this period the wears have been the town
property, and rented every season for the highest
price to be obtained as regulated by law.
In 1738 complaints were made to the General
Court by the people of Newton, Needham, Weston,
Medfield, Sherburne and the Indians at Natick
against the inhabitants of Watertown for stopping the
course of the fish in Charles River.
In 1745 an act was passed making it an offence to
raise the dam of the mill between the breaking up of
the ice in winter and the 1st of May so as to prevent
the fish from passing over, with a penalty of £5 for
each oflence.
In 1798 an act was passed authorizing the in-
habitants of Watertown, Weston and Waltham to reg-
ulate the fishing within the said towns, the proceeds
to be divided among said towns as each paid towards
the expenses of maintaining the Watertown bridge.
Weston and Waltham becoming in later years freed
from this charge, lost all rights under the law.
In 1805 an act was passed authorizing Newton to
regulate the fishing within its town limits.
In 1815 and 1856 acts were passed constituting
Brighton and Watertown one fishery, and regulating
the same. This interest, once valuable to the town,
has ceased on account of the pollution of the stream
by the numerous factories established along the banks
of the river. Possibly it may be re-established as soon
as the projected sewer system shall become in use and
the stream of water again fresh and pure.
Mayhew sold the Oldham farm, March 18, 1647^8,
to Nicholas Davidson, Charlesiown, attorney of Re-
becca Cradock, alias Glover, with the mortgage can-
celed for 1000 acres in Martha's Vineyard. Soon ifler
it was seized on execution granted to Richard Dum-
mer against Mayhew, and on March 21, 1648-49, it
was appraised at £70. It is sometimes called the
" Dummer farm " in the early records, but is not
that tract on the south side generally known as
such. .
Possibly this Dummer claim arose from this trans-
action : " Tho. Mayhewe of Watertown March' granted
to Rich. Dummer Newberry Gent'l. and his heirea
(in consideration of fower hundred pou (nds) in hand
payeit) his farme in Watertown, w^' he bought of Sim
(on) Broadstreet Gent'l. containing five hundred ac.
.A.nd all the Weire and one hundred and forty ac. of
land thereto belonginge w"" certaine provisones by
way of mortgage in the same expressed, and this
was by indenture dated the 29th of the 7th (Sep-
tember) 1640."
Mayhew mortgaged to Dummer in 1640 the parcel
he had sold to Bradstreet in 1638, unless he only
intended to mortgage the farm to secure the payment
for the six cows, while Bradstreet treated it as a valid
sale. When Bradstreet sold it to Jackson in 1646,
he gave a " warranty and bond of £2 to secure it
from any claim, either against himself or Thomas
Mayhew."
The Court of Assistants made Bradstreet a special
grant of 500 acres of land on the south side of Charles
River, condition that " he was to take no part of it
within a mile of Watertown wear, in case the bounds
of Watertown shall extend so far on that side of the
river," which gave him a confirmance of title.
Through this territory were laid out two roads, —
one designated the "Country or County road" — con-
structed in 1635-37, the present Galen Street, and
the great thoroughfare from Boston over Boston Neck,
Roxbury, Brookline, New Cambridge (Newton) and
over the Mill Bridge through Watertown to Waltham
and Weston, and by this road Roxbury people went
to the Watertown gris'^-mill. This was the only road
leading to the west until the Worcester turnpike was
built. It was probably laid out by or through the wear
lands, under the town votes of September 14, 1635:
" Agreed that John Warren and Abraham Browne
shall lay out all the highways and to see that they be
sufficiently repaired," and that of 1637 : "Ordered,
that there shall be eight days appointed for every
year for the repairing the highways; and every man
that is a soldier or watchman to come at his appointed
time with wheelbarrow, mattock, spade or shovel, and
372
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
for default hereof to pay for every day 5s. to the
town, and a cart for every day to pay 19s."
The other highway was laid out in 1725-26 and
forma the present Watertown Street, it having orig-
inally commenced at the corner of the present Cali-
fornia Street and Fifth Avenue. Through this terri-
tory, from its sources near Newtown Centre, runs
"Cold Spring" Brook, in early histoiy called "Smelt
Brook," by reason of the fish of that name that used
to paaa ap the water, which flows through Boyd's and
Cook's Ponds into the Charles River.
Preeentment was made against the town in 1695
and 1705 for want of a bridge over Smelt Brook. In
behalf of the town in 1705 Jonas Bond, Esq., (known
as the "marrying squire") answered it was a shallow
place, and a good bottom, and needed not a bridge.
The Court ordered that the said way be forthwith
mended on pain of paying £5.
In 1632 Newtown (Cambridge) had granted to
Thomas Shepard, late pastor, 300 acres of land be-
yond Watertown mill, adjoining that which was
Thomas Mayhew's, also 200 acres more near Samuel
Shepard's farm.
The Rev. Mr. Sliepard died in 1649 and this land
passed to Richard Park, although there is no record
of such transfer. Some authorities stale that a small
part of the northeasterly portion of this tract along
the Charles river or weir lands was in Watertown.
Excepting this small portion the residue of the terri-
tory of the south side came into the possession of
Richard Dummer as has been shown, which was con-
firmed by a grant from the General Court.
Richard Dummer sold to William C'lement.s of
Cambridge for £60, twenty-ti ve acres bounded souther-
ly by the highway from Watertown to Roxbury, (pres-
ent Washington street, Newton), — northeasterly on
Charles river, and jjartly in Watertown and partly
in Newton. Clements sold the same to Daniel Bacon
of Bridgewater, tailor, tor £60 in 1669. Daniel's
sons, Isaac and Jacob, settled on this tract, Isaac
having in 1681, bought five and one-haif acres from
his brother Daniel of Salem. Jacob's house was sit-
uated on the present Galen Street, probably on the
site of the hill ; while Isaac's house was located far-
ther towards Newton, probably near Williams Street.
Isaac's part subsequently was conveyed to Oaks An-
gler, who kept a tavern on the site where the Nonan-
tum house now stands. March 13, 1692-93 Jacob
.sold seven acres for £39 to John Barton, and John
Barton, Jr. and James, sold their interest in 1742, to
Jonaa Coolidge, of Newtown, a house-carpenter.
In 1672, Jeremiah Dummer, son of Richard (?) of
Boston, sold to Gregory Cooke, shoemaker, Cam-
bridge, 112 acres lying partly in Cambridge (Angler's
corner, Newton) and partly in Watertown, with
house and barn thereon, for £145 ; bounded on the
east by the highway, north by the Charles river,
south by Edward Jackson and Daniel Bacon, and
west by Thomas Park's land, and this included the
weir lands. The old Gregory Cooke mansion stood
on the southerly side of the site of Mr. Henry Full-
er's house in Newton.
Abraham Williams of Watertown, freeman in 1652,
purchased in 1654 a house and six acres of .John
Gallon or Callow, and married .Toanna Ward about
1660, and in 1662 purchased a house from Wm.
Clements situated on the Country Road, (Galen
Street) southerly from Gregory Cooke's farm. The
present Williams Street leading from Galen, was
named from him, as he dwelt near it on the west
aide of the main-road. James Barton, a rope-maker,
in Boston, of large means, in 16S.S bought 103 acres
in Newton, a portion of which bounded on the May-
hew farm. He bought other lands extending over
the AVatertown line, and erected his dwelling-house
on the south side of Charles river, probably situated
not far from the present Watertown Street.
He and his wife Margaret were buried in Newton.
His daughter Ruth married JohuCooke, thegrandson
of Gregory. Hi.s sun .lohu aold the homestead to
Daniel Cooke.
Gregory Cooke died in 169U-91 and his only son
Stephen administered upon his estate, appraised
April 7, 1691, at £191. 11». His second wife, the widow
Susanna Goodwin, married September 15, 1691, Henry
Spring, who died 1695. He was from IfiSO to 1695
the town " prizer " of Watertown.
Stephen Cooke was born 1647, married November
19, 1679, Rebecca, the daughter of Thomas auil Mary
Flagg of Watertown ; admitted into full communion
in Mr. Bailey's church March 4, 1(187-88, and possiljly
chosen deacon June 30, 1697; died in Newton, 1738,
aged ninety-one. He built a grist-mill on his land
near Smelt Brook, which he conveyed to his son
Stephen in 1733.
Stephen Cooke's large estate came into the posses-
sion of his grandsons, Stephen and Daniel.
Daniel, who married in 1722, for his second wife
Mary, the daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Bi.s-
coe) Jackson, died in 1754, his three children having
died before him. In 1735 his father deeded to him
the homestead, probably the house being the uue
occupied by Gregory, his grandfather. Daniel left
his large estate to his nephew. Captain Phineas, the
son of his brother Samuel, of Windham, Connecticut.
Captain Phineas built in 1760 the house at present
standing on the corner of Centre and Pearl Streets,
overthe Newton line. He married in 1759, Abigail
Durant, by whom he had seven children, and died in
1784. One daughter, Mary, married Captain John
Fowle, and another, Sukey, the youngest, married Dr.
Walter Hunnewell.
Stephen, the brother of Daniel, had an interest in
the mill on the north side of the river, which he sub-
sequently sold. He received the mill built by his
grandfather on the Cooke lauds, and on September 1,
1749, he deeded it to his son John, with forty acres,
with dwelling-house, bam, mill-houae and corn-mill.
WATERTOWN.
373
This tract was bounded easterly by County Road, or
road to Boston, Galen Street, seventy-seven rods, and
Southerly by Daniel Cooke's land.
January 10, 1782 John conveyed to his son John
ninety feet of land on the Boston Road, bounded
southerly by Daniel Cooke's.
Stephen's house remains standing on California
Street. Close by it is that of John, the latter being a
frame building with brick sides. John's son's house
was a small red house on Galen Street, removed to the
rear of the present frame block. A greater portion of
the Cooke estate still remains in the possession of the
family.
In a chamber in the John Cooke house, Paul Re-
vere engraved the plates, and assisted by John Cooke,
struck oft" Colony notes, ordered by the Provincial
Congress.
It is stated that Benjamin Edes first stopped at this
house when he escaped from Boston with his printing
press, and that the first number of " The Boston Ga-
zette and Country Journal" was'issued from here, be-
fore he established himself near the Great Bridge.
While others dispute this fact, yet like the would-be
president in 1884, the south side " claim everything."
On the easterly side of Galen Street, near the Bridge,
stands what has long been known as the " Coolidge
tavern," built in 1740-42 by William Williams, a
ship builder.
1 Stephen Cooke claimed all the laud upon the river
in the town as being within limits of the weir lands
and as he had an undisputed title to all land westerly
of the Bridge, he purchased in March, 1722-23, from
John Phillips, a grandson of the first minister, for
£60, three acres by estimation (of the old grant) to
strengthen his title. Tlie land is described as within
the bounds and limits of the " Township of Cam
bridge."
James Barton in .March, 1727, had sold to William
Williams in Newton a " bouse-right," for £440,
twelve acres of land near the Great Bridge. Its
boundary line on the west and north-west was the
county road.
In 172S Stephen Cooke sold to William Williams,
described as of Newton, for £16 15 i. twenty -six rods
of land on the southerly side of the Charles River,
bounded northerly and easterly by the county road,
and westerly by the town land now laid out for a
road.
The old road referred to began at the south side of
the bridge at a point about opposite to the square on
the north side of the river, the present Beacon square,
from which the present Riverside place commences,
and ran in a southwesterly direction through the
present Water Street into the present Galen Street,
and possibly a little southwesterly before entering
the country road.
In 1742 William Williams sold hia mansion house
and barn with seven acres to Ebenezer Thornton
of Watertown, a ship builder, who was living on
the premises. Mention is made of the " Ancient
Country road running from said river between the
aforesaid mansion house and said barn, across and
aslant near the north-west corner of the prem-
ises into the new country road to be excepted and
reserved out of this deed for said Town's use." Men-
tion is made of a wharf twenty-feet square and a gang-
way leading thereto. The gangway is the present
Water Street, and the wharf adjoining the line of H.
Barker & Co.'s atarch factory at the foot of old Fac-
tory Lane (Water Street) by an old elm tree, was
owned by Samuel Hunt, a trader of Watertown. He
had purchased the same in 1739 of Thornton and
Williams with four acres of land for £400. In the
deed he is described as a ship-builder of Boston.
Ebenezer Thornton, a trader in Boston, in 1738 re-
moved to Watertown and engaged in the business ot
procuring timber for house and ship-building. The
south side and adjacent territory being heavily tim-
bered offered him ample opportunity for carrying on
the business. Moreover, it was considered safer than
Boston which was poorly protected from a sudden at-
tack by an enemy.
In April, 1716, he purchased " a mill-stream, dams,
etc." in Dunstable, near the New Hampshire line,
and he had valuable timber interests in Dracut on
the Merrimac River. The town of Boston, March 8,
1734, voted to erect fortifications within its limits and
Ebenezer Thornton with Elisha Cooke, Esq., Edward
Hutchinson, Edward Winslow and others were chos-
en a committee under this vote. They erected the
fortification at " North Battery Wharf," and " Fort
Hill."
He married in 1721 Elizabeth Gilbert, the daughter
of Capt. Thomas, a famed shipmaster and navigator
of Boston, and son of Jonathan Gilbert, of Connecti-
cut, (an ancestor of mine) who was Colony Marshal
from 1636 until 1676-77. She died in Watertown,
June 10, 1740, aged 38 years, 4 months, 3 days. After
her death he married the widow of Matthias Cussens.
Possibly Thornton and Williams were engaged for
a short time in the business of procuring lumber for
household and shipping purposes, though he hdd
removed to Mansfield, Conn., when he sold to
Thornton.
In 1740 Richard King had settled in Watertown,
and in 1742 Thornton sold him a piece of land on
which he erected a shop and engaged in the same
business with Thornton. In 1745 Gov. Shirley ap-
pointed him a commissary of the troops destined for
Annapolis Royal. October, 1746, he mortgaged his
shop and lot to Jonas Coolidge " for surety in con-
sideration the within named Jonas was my surety for
money due to the Grovt. when I went on the serv-
ice to Annapolis Royal." February 16, 1740, he
petitioned the selectmen for leave to erect a sawpit or
scaffold at the south end of the Bridge, which was
denied. In 1746 he removed to Scarboro', Maine,
engaged in trade, became a large exporter of lumber.
374
HISTORY OP MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
and the wealthiest man in town. His son, Rufus,
who died in 1829, aged 74, was the celebrated jurist,
and William, who died in 1852, aged 84, known as
General King, was the first governor of Maine, and at
one time one of the largest ship owners in the United
States.
There is no doubt that ship building to a limited
extent was carried on at this point, and that the old
bridge slip was used for that purpose, and probably
Hunt's wharf, known latterly as Coolidge's wharf.
Ebenezer Thornton's eldest daughter, Elizabeth,
born March 4, 1722, married Jonas Coolidge, the
house carpenter, in 1742—13. Ebenezer sold him this
house with three acres of land for £300 in August of
that year. Jonas sold a moiety in the dwelling-house,
and about five acres of land to his nephew Nathaniel
Coolidge, Jun., in 1762.
Becoming " non compos " and placed under guard-
ianship, in 1764 a partition of their interests was
legally made, by which Nathaniel obtained the
northerly part of the home lot and dwelling-house
and subsequently control of the remiiiniiig half
Jonas Coolidge died in the spring of 1767.
Jonas Coolidge's elder brother Samuel, known ;is
"Sam, the schoolmaster," a graduate of Harvard ii.
1724, was appointed town school-master in 1725. He
was librarian of Harvard College 1734-35. Also chap-
lain for a short time on Cislle Island. He became
intemperate and mentally deranged. He was accus-
tomed to wander from home as a vagrant, sleeping in
barns and out of doors, and the selectmen were con-
tinually in trouble about him by complaints coming
from theselectmen of Roibury, then from Charlestown,
then Dorchester, to be repeated continually. Nov. 4,
1743, Thanksgiving day, a collection was taken during
church s^ervice to be laid out in clothing for him.
In 1751 he was again appointed school-master, but
soon wandered off according to hi.s custom. " At a
meeting of the selectmen at Mr. Jonathan Bemis', on
the 4th of December, 1752, Mr. Samuel Coolidge was
pre!>ent, and the selectmen gave him a thorough talk
relating to his past conduct, and what he might ex-
pect if he did not behave well in the future they
declared unto him that they put him into the school
again for trial, and if he behaved well he should not
be wronged, and that he was to begin the school the
11th day of this December. Mr. Coolidge complained
that he wanted a winter coat; desired ilr. Bemis
to get him a bear skin coat, and get Mr. Meed to
make it, and to give the selectmen an account thereof."
The demented man when walking along the
way wag continually muttering and talking to
himself in Latin, and once passing an apothecary
shop, drenched by a pouring rain, was addressed
by some one from within in these words; "Doniine
Coolidge! pluit tantum nescio quantum, seisne
tu"? (Master Coolidge, it has rained very hard,
I don't know how hard, do you know ?) Quick as a
flash the angry man seized a stone, sent it crash-
ing through the window, breakingglass and show bot-
tles, and said : " Fregi tot nescio quot, seisne tu " ?
n have broken a great many things, I don't know how
many, do you?)
He died January, 1767, aged sixty-three years, and
was buried at the town charge.
Nathaniel Coolidge, Jr., kept a tavern, here as a
licensed inn-holder from 1764 to 1770 when he died,
and was succeeded by his widow, Dorothy (Whitney).
j By the town records, it appears that the widow
i Ruth Child, daughter of Caleb Church the miller,
I was licensed as an inn-holder in 1717-18 near the
i bridge on the south side of the river, but where, can-
not be located ; possibly on or near this spot.
j While there had been for some years a great deal
; of commercial life in Watertown, still in the early
part of the Revolutionary' war it was a very important
and busy town, for within its limits the Provincial
Congress and the "Committee of Safety " were hold-
ing continual sessions. The town was crowded with
temporary residents at»d tradesmen from Boston, who
were often entertained by private hospitalitv. The
public schools were closed as the buildiiig-t wereu.ied
for armories and '.he streets daily resounded with the
noise of fife and drum and marching men.
This tavern known as "The Sign of Mr. Wilkes
near Nonantum Bridge," was a popular resort for
gatherings, for town and social meetings were often
held within its doors. In the winter of 1775, the
Massachusetts Houce of Rejiresentatives held a ses-
sion in it while workmen were engaged in putting up
stoves in the meeting house. Here, in 1775, it was
agreed, was to be the rendezvous for the " Committee
of Safety" in the case of danger. On its northerly
side along the river, was th» road leading from the
ferry that for many years was used between the
north and south shores.
In front of the tavern door once stood a post upon
which was a swinging decorated sign board upou
I which was the portrait of King George III., where it
hung until the news of the Declaration of Independ-
ence was received, when it was taken down and after-
I wards raised to its former position with the portrait
i of George W.ishington upon it.
Here during the war, many distinguished persons
in the colonies, as well as officers in the American
i and British armies, were entertained. The bar-room
j was the middle room, facing Galen street, and British
officers stifled their shame at the continued American
] success in steaming hot flip, for which they paid in
; gold, which the government compelled Madam Cool-
I idge, much to her disgust, to exchange for colonial
I currency.
I The selectmen paid " widow Dorothy Coolidge for
; Rum, the 19th day of April, for the men in the Lex-
ington battle, 123. 8d.," the town records mention.
The Rev. J. F. Levering in his centennial oration,
delivered July 4, 1876, stated that " General Wash-
ington stopped here on his way to take command of
WATERTOWN.
375
the army at Cambridge, July 2d, 1775 and ate break-
fast, Mrs. Coolidge making for him journey-cake, i. e.,
Johnny-cake." While Leathe's version is, that on
Sunday, July 2d, at 12 o'clock the Commander-in-
Chief with General Lee arrived and reached the meet-
ing-house where after divine service, Congress assem-
bled to receive him. He dismounted and was pre-
sented at the door of the broad aisle with an address
by the Speaker, James Warren. After an hour and a
half spent he proceeded to Cambridge where he arrived
at 2 o'clock. On the next day under the elm tree
near the Common he formally took command of the
American army.
On December lUh, at noon Mrs. Washington attend-
ed by her sou John Cuatis and wife reached Water-
town in her own carriage drawn by four horses, colored
postillions in scarlet and white liveries, military escort
and a guard of honor. Two hours were spent at the
Fowle house as the guest of Mrs. Warren, and the
party arrived in Cambridge at 3 o'clock.
During the winter season, dinner and evening part-
ies were given in town, which were attended by the
General and ilrs. Washington, and probably the town
has never witnessed such social gaiety since that
time.
October 17, 1789, President Washington again vis-
ited Watcrtown on his way to Boston, and was re-
ceived with great enthusiasm, the ringing of the
meeting-house bell and royal salutes, quite in contrast
to his first reception, when powder and shot were too
scarce and valuable to be thus used. On his return,
November .5, he came from Lexington to Water-
town over the same road that the minute men had
taken April 19, 1775 : mde quietly without escort to
the Coolidge tavern for supper and rest. He took
supper in the public Jining-rooui which extended the
entire length of the south end of the house. At the
table he was served by attendants who wore white
dresses and neat checked aprons. He lodged in the
northwest chamber next to the river.
This property latterly came into the possession of
the late Mr. John Brigham, who lived here while he
had a lumber yard near by along the river.
Across the lane, the present Water street, was situ-
ated the house of Samuel Sanger, then Daniel, later
Abraham Sanger, the boatman, who early in the pres-
ent century, twice or more each week, was accustomed
to row upon the river to and from Boston as a pas-
senger and express carrier.
A few rods south upon the same side of the road
once stood an old house, the mansion house of John
Hunt, representative from the town to the General
Court iu 1741, 1751 to 1758 ; a farmer of the excise in
1752, and retail trader from 1740 to 1770. Jonas
Coolidge in 174-J sold him eleven acres with the old
mansion built and occupied by James Barton. It was
built about 1715. It was from the windows of this
house Hashed the light long past midnight that told
that Adams, Warren and Gerry were in counsel, an-
swered back from a score of farm-houses where the
women were busily engaged in baking and cooking
for the soldiers in camp. Here Major General Jo-
seph Warren lodged, and in the southwestern comer
room on the first floor ate his breakfast, June 17,
1775, going directly to Bunker's Hill, where he gave
his life for his country, Before he started he urged
upon the ladies of the household to prepare lint and
bandages, saying " That the poor fellows would want
them all before night.'' Slowly on horse-back he
went down the hill to the bridge but galloped back
and again bade them all farewell.
Had he a premonition that he should never see
them again ?
William Hunt, son of John, a graduate from Har-
vard in 1768, a lawyer and justice of the peace, rep-
resentative in 1784-1794; 1800-1801, had mar.'ied
Mary Coolidge, the daughter of Nathaniel and Doro-
thy. When Washington first came to Watertown,
she was about twenty-one years old, and probably
charmed him with her handsome face and maidenly
ways, for in 1789, after supper, he mounted his horse,
galloped across the bridge into the square, where
Mistress Hunt then lived, on the west side opposite
the Spring Hotel, and as the sick matron appeared at
the window of her mansion he politely raised his hat
as she courteously saluted him.
John Hunt was a distiller having his still next to
the wharf of Samuel Hunt, with a store, and did a
successful business. He had a stone wharf further to
the east upon the river, not far from the bounds of
Newton. In 1768 he sold his homestead and distil-
lery to his eldest son Samuel.
The Hunt property finally came into the possession
of Nathaniel R. Whitney, Jr., and was the birth-place
of Miss Annie Whitney, the sculptress ; of Mr. Ed-
ward Whitney, who has done so much for the Public
Library of Watertown. and the Society of the First
Parish, although he found himself iu Belmont after
the incorporation of that town. In fact, this was the
birth place of all Mr. Nathaniel R. Whitney's child-
ren, and was occupied by him until his removal to
East Cambridge on being apppointed clerk of the
Court. A few years ago the property was purchased
by the late Mr. F. E. Howard and the building re-
moved to Water Street, where it is now devoted to
tenants of a humbler class.
The death of Washington was greatly mourned in
this town and a funeral service to his memory per-
formed with great pomp and solemnity. A negro
slave, who, when Washington had been a guest at his
master's house, had served him, wore as his emblem of
mourning an old scarlet coat worn at the Battle of
Bunker Hill, trimmed with crape, and stood thus ar-
rayed In the meeting house during the service on suc-
cessive Sabbaths to the great amusement of the
worshippers.
Watertown square and the main street for many
years was a lively spot and the merchants did a thriv-
376
HISTORY OP MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
ing trade. Money was scarce, but barter aad ex-
chaDge was carried on with the farmers for miles
around.
"Angler's Comer," (Newton) was named from
Cakes Angier, the son of the Kev. Samuel Angier, a
saddler by trade.
In 1742 he met with Samuel Jackson and Daniel
Cooke, purchased from Jonas Coolidge 11 acres with
an old house. He erected a tavern on the site of the
present Nonantum House which he kept for many
years.
It was a small hamlet with about a dozen houses,
two taverns and a small store. It was nicknamed
" Hell's Corner'' from the disreputable orgies that
frequently took place in one of the taverns. Some
of the more progressive citizens deemed it would be
more advantageous if the territory was annexed to
Watertown, and in March, 1779, a committee was
chosen on the part of the town to join with some of
the inhabitants of Newton in a petition for the an-
nexation to Watertown, but the movement was
unsuccessful. In March, 1782, the attempt was
again undertaken with like result.
The records show that in April 1781, the town
voted to establish a poor-bouse upon the south
bank of the river, but this vote was never carried
out.
A few years later Esquire Wm. Hull, afterwards
General Hull, undertook the scheme of having a large
town or village at Newton Corner to include the
greater part if not all the territory on the south
side.
In September, 1794, he purchased from Stephen
Cooke some fifty acres with dwelling-house and barn —
including the Phineas Cooke house, with the right to
improve the upper mill-pond (Boyd's), for fish-ponds,
baths, etc., and mortgaged the same to Cooke for
£1211. He was living in the Phineas Cooke house,
while building the Nonantum House which he
afterwards occupieil, and had a wharf on the Charles
river near the Watertown line. The present William
Street leads direct to the spot, near which was his
malt-house. He became somewhat financially em-
barrassed and in 1805 conveyed all bis interest in
this Cooke tract to Eliakim Jlorse, a wealthy merchant
in Boston, who paid the mortgage and released the
Phineas Cooke homestead.
Dr. Eliakim Morse studied medicine with his uncle
in Woodstock, Conn., came to Boston, engaged in
foreign trade and accumulated a large estate. He
built the colonial mansion that stands upon the most
elevated spot of the Cooke estate. It was built by
d.ays' work and when finished was the finest mansion
in style and situation for miles around. It was
through his efforts the country road was named Galen
Street in honor of the father of medicine among the
ancients, the road having been widened and made
more uniform and beautified with trees. After his
death the homestead passed into the hands of Mr.
Harrison Page, while the meadow-land near Newton
was mapped out into building plots. Morse and
Chestnut (now Boyd) Streets, were laid out, and the
land thrown into market, and settled upon mostly by
persons allied in all respects to Newton. On this
tract formerly stood a fine grove of handsome chest-
nut trees. Back of the Morse estate near Watertown
Street, stands the homestead built by Capt. Samuel
Somes who married one of the daughters of Stephen
Cooke. Somes was a handsome, vivacious man of free
and convivial habits and the captain of a "crack"
military company in Boston known as the Fusileers.
Once the company had a field day on this territory
which attracted a great crowd from the surrounding
villages.
Next northerly to the Dr. Morse estate stands the
Abraham Lincoln house built 1824-2G by Stephen
Cooke. On the easterly side of Galen Street, adjoin-
ing Water Street, the early portion of this century
was built what is at present known as the "'Stone
house." It was built before 11C>S by John Hunt,
either for himself or his son John, who was his busi-
ness partner. He sold it to Josiah Capen in 1772.
In 18.32 it was kept by Nathaniel Broad, as a
tavern, who died tliere. i!ev. Tlieodore Parker in
the month of April of that year opened a school in .nn
old bakery that stood in the rear of this nian.aion,
formerly Hunt's shop, but since removed to the
corner of Maple Street, (o|>eiied within a few years)
and Galen. Having leased it he personally assisted
in flooring it, made a rude wainscot, a dozen desks,
and opened school with two pupils one of whom was
a charity scholar. Here he met Lydia D. Cabot, his
future wife, who was boarding in the same family. He
taught schiiol for two years with great success until
he had earned money enough to permit him to pursue
his theological studies. He preached occasionally
on Sabbaths in the town-hall and elsewhere during
this time, and enjoyed the friendship of the Rev.
Convers Franci-i.
Close by the division line, on the corner of Galen
and Williams Streets, stands the old Segar house,
built by Ebenezer Segar in 1794. Connected with it
in the rear was an extensive building and a brick
shop where, in 1820, the New England Lace Company
had their factory. The street was called Lace Fac-
tory Lane. In 1823 the factory was removed to Ips-
wich. The originators of the factory with some of
the workmen came from Nottingham, England, as
their factory there had been broken up by those who
were opposed to lace being made by machinery in-
stead ot by hand, under the Heath coat patent. Many
of the leading young ladies found pleasant and con-
genial work in the factory and the departure of the
works from the town was regretted.
Subsequently the property belonged to Stephen
Perry, and was the boyhood home of William Stevens
Perry, the present Episcopal Bishop of Iowa. In this
house were held the first services of that denomina-
WATERTOWN.
377
tion gathered in Newton, and the parish of Grace
Church organized.
On the opposite corner stands the house of Rev. A.
B. Earle, the well-known evaogelist, occupied during
his life-time by lawyer Alfred B. Ely, of Newton,
known in civil and military life, who died July 30,
1872.
In March, 1827, the Newton and Watertown Uni-
veraalist Society was organized, and on August loth
it dedicated a house of worship, situated on the corner
of Galen and Water Streets.
It was dissolved in 1866 and the town purchased
the building for a school-house, the present Parker
School, named in honor of the late Rev. Theodore
Parker. The people of the town of that time remem-
ber the frequent town-meetings necessary to secure
this building to the use of the schools. The tactics
of 1695 and of many another time, when public im-
provements have been finally voted against the wishes
of conservative opponents were used, yet without an
appeal to the Governor.
From Galen Street by the bank of the Charles
River next to the Coolidge tavern is an ancient way,
a little lane, a gangway as called in early deeds, run-
ning a short distance to Hunt's wharf, then turning
abruptly into Factory Lane, running weatwardly up
the steep hill to Galen Street by the Parker School —
now known as Water Street. By and upon the river
bank there have been and are located many indus-
tries. Besides the ship building before mentioned,
was the potter's shop of Samuel Sanger in 1771.
Beyond Brigham's lumber yard and wharf was for-
merly a hat-factory, — afterwards a wire-factory, — now
occupied by the Warren Soap Works, commenced in
1868. Ne.^t are the works of the Newton and Water- j
town Gas Light Company, with the electric plant
lately located. Beyond was the wharf and warehouse
of Samuel Hunt, which came into the possession of
John Hunt. At the end of this lane stood the dis-
tillery and store of John Hunt, which he sold to his
son Samuel, with his wharves and dwelling-house, in
1768. Some fifty years later it was changed into a
starch-factory, which business still thrives under the
management of H. Barker & Co., though the build-
ings are of later date. Factory Lane was a private
lane that led by the distillery through Jlr. Hunt's
estate to the Samuel Hunt wharf.
Among the other factories may be mentioned the
wool factory of Capt. Joseph Crafts, later John W.
Hollis's on Galen Street; the knitting-factory of
John W. Tuttle, succeeded by the Porter Needle
Company, later by the Empire Laundry Machinery
Company, on California Street; the bicycle factory of
Sterling Elliott and the Stanley Dry-plate Company
on the river bank south of Maple Street.
Ths ice business of Howard Bros, is located on Cali-
fornia Street. The White and the Derby type
factories, no longer in existence, were in the vicinity
of Watertown Street. On Morse Street, near the
ponds, still remains an old silk-mill, now a paint-mill,
and the factory of knit and woolen goods of Mr.
Thomas Dalby, while on the same street near Galen is
Sanger's sash and blind factory.
In 1871, by Chapter 184, the Legislature granted
the right to the Massachusetts Central Railroad Com-
pany, to extend its tracks from Weston through Wal-
tham, Newton, Watertown, Cambridge and Brighton,
or any of them to some point adjacent to the location
with the Boston and Albany Railroad Company, and
it was expected that the site would be laid out along
Water Street to Faneuil to connect with the Boston
& Albany Railroad.
In 1868, Chapter 151, the " Nonantum Horse Rail-
road Company " was chartered by the Legislature.
Miles Pratt, Nathaniel Whiting and James F. Simons,
Jr., were the incorporators, and they were empowered
to build and maintain a track from the flag-staff op-
posite the Spring Hotel, Watertown, to Lowe's apothe-
cary store in Newton ; the capital stock being fixed
at $50,000.
In 1874 commenced the agitation and petitioning
for various causes, for the annexation of the whole or
part of this territory to Newton, and ten times has
this effort been made without success, though in 1889,
fifty-nine out of one hundred and twenty voters were
petitioners, with only eleven neutrals.
This territory financially is valuable to the town as
it consists of ninety-four acres, valued with the
factories and buildings for taxable purposes at eight
hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
In 1888 there was completed in conjunction with
the City of Newton, a system of surface drainage for
Morse Field. The sewer system known as " Charles
River Valley," adopted in 1889 by the State Legisla-
ture, will pass through this territory along the banks
of the Charles River through Faneuil and Brighton
into the main sewer in Boston and out into the har-
bor.
This territory well drained, supplied with pure
water, electric lights, good municipal privileges at low
taxation, in a few years will be covered with the
homes of law abiding citizens attracted by its superior
advantages.
Whatever in the future may be its municipal
government — town or city — one thing is certain, the
south side of Watertown has been no unimportant
factor in the history of the old town of Watertown.
CHAPTER XXXII.
WA TES TO WN—( Continued).
MILITARY HISTORY.
luduin wart — Ths BevotulioTiary Period — The Civil War.
The military history of this town has never been
written. Perhaps it is yet not time to separate this
378
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
important part of our common history and trace from
Captain Patrick of the early train bands to Com-
mander Edward E. Allen of the Ancient and Honor-
able Artillery, all that brilliant list of names of men
who were so essential to the mere existence of society
and who so abundantly filled the important civil posts
of duty. The pages of our history are thickly strewn
with military titles.
The original danger from the Indians, and during
the first 150 years, is shown in the following article
on the Indians by Rev. Mr. Band. Something of the
condition of military affairs can be seen in the article oc
the Eevolutionary Period by Mrs. Bradford. The
contribution of our town to the great Civil War Is
seen in Mr. Ingraham's record.
But the war of 1812, the Mexican war of 1845—18,
and the dread of war at other times have kept alive
the military spirit and brought out and trained those
fitted to command or willing to serve their enmity in
this way. These always have the respect and the
gratitude of their more quiet neighbors.
The Indians of W.\tertown.' — Cotton .Mather
who is never dull says of the Mas.'achusetts Indiana :
" Know then that these dolelul creatures are the ve-
riest ruius of mankind which are to be found any-
where upon the face of the earth. . . . One might tee
among them what an hard master the devil is, to the
most devoted of his vassals. These abject creatures
live in a country full of mines; we have already maile
entrance upon our iron ; and in the very surface of
the ground among us, there lies copper enough to
supply all this world ; besides other mines hereafter
to be exposed. But our shiftless Indians were never
owners of so much as a knife till we came among
them. Their name for an Englishman was a knife-
man. . . . They live in a country where we now
have all the conveniences of human life. But .is for
them, their housing is nothing but a few mats tied
about poles fastened in the earth, where a good fire is
their bed clothes in the coldest seasons. ... In
most of their dangerous diseases, 'tis a powow that
must be sent for; that is, a priest who has more famil-
iarity with Satan than his neighbors. This conjurer
comes and roars and howls and uses magical cere-
monies over the sick man, and will be well paid for it
when he has done. If this don't effect the cure, the
man's time is come, and there's an end. . . . Their
way of living is infinitely barbarous. The men are
most abominably slothful, making their poor squaws,
or wives, to plant and dress and barn and beat their
corn, and build their wigwams for them."
One other thing this versatile pen has placed on
record, that the Indians in their wars with the Eng-
lish, finding inconvenient the yelling of the English
dogs, "sacrificed a dog to the devil; after which no
English dog would bark at an Indian for divers
months ensuing. This was the miserable people
^ CondenBed from Rev. Edward A Rand.
which our Eliot propounded unto himself the saving
of." [Life of Eliot].
The inquiry arises when in Watertown's history do
we first meet with Indians '
If Professor E. N. Horsford be correct, it was in
that memorable battle which Thorfinn and his brother
Norsemen fought with the Skraelings, this side of
Cambridge Hospital, a battle-field which justly can
never belong to any other than the children of Nor-
umbega. It was then about the year 1000 that the
Watertown Indians loomed up above the misty hori-
zon-line of history.
We have, however, in the seventeenth century a
sight of the Indians that cannot be questioned.
Capt. Roger Clap (so printed in Shurtleff's " Bos-
ton ") came to this country in the year 1*530. He
arrived at Hull May .00th, in the ship " Mary and
John," which " Great Ship of Four Hundred Tons," as
he calls it, did not bring the colonists any farther than
" Xantasket Point." There the hard-hearted Captain
.Squeb left them to shift for themselves, "in a forlorn
phice in this Wilderness." The colonists, though,
" got a Boat of some old Planters " and toward the
west they went sailing. They caoie to Charlestown,
which had "some Wigwams and one House," and
may have been a mighty city, but all in embryo.
This did not satisfy their ambition. Capt. Clap
says that they " then went up Charles river, until the
river grew narrow and shallow, and there we landed
our goods with much labor and toil, the bai:k being
steep, and night coming on, we were informed that
there were hard by us Three Hundred Indians. One
English JIan that could speak the Indian language
(an old Planter) went to them and advised them not
to come near us in the Night ; and they barkened to
his Counsels and came not. I myself was one of the
.Sentinels that first Night. Our Captain was a Low
Country Souldier, one Mr. Southcot, a brave Souldier.
" In the Morning some of the Indians came and
stood at a distance off. looking at us, but came not
near us, but when they had been a while in view,
some of them came and held out a great Bass toward
us ; so we sent a Man with a Bisket and changed the
Cake for the Bass. Afterwards they supplied us with
Bass ; exchanging a Baas for a Bisket Cake, and were
very friendly unto ua.
" O Dear Children ! Forget not what Care God had
over his dear servants, to watch over us, and protect
us in our weak beginnings. Capt. Squeb turned
ashore Us and our Goods like a mercyless Man, but
God, even our merciful God, took pity on us ; so that
we were supplied, first with a Boat, and then caused
many Indians (some Hundreds) to be ruled by the
Advice of one Man, not to come near us ; Alas, had
they come upon us, how soon might they have de-
stroyed us ! I think we were not above Ten in Num-
ber. But God caused the Indians to help us with fish
at very cheap rates."
In this account which Capt. Clap addressed to his
WATERTOWN.
379
children a short time before his death, he proceeds
to aay that the party did not stay there on the banks
of the Charles many days. They had " orders to
come away from that Place (which was about Water-
town) unto a place called Mattapan (now Dorches-
ter)."
When Capt. Clap told his simple, touching, rever-
ent story, little did he think that his item about the
bass would suggest to some ingenious mind a scene
for our picturesque town seal.
The inquiry arises who were these Indians found
on the banks of the Charles?
A part of the aboriginal population called the
Massachusetts Indians. Drake, in his work on the
Indians, tells us that it has been affirmed that
Massachusetts means, " An hill in the form of an
arrow's head.'' Roger Williams said that the Massa-
chusetts were called so from the blue hills.
Gookin, in his Historical Collections, says :
** The Mossacbusetta, being the next great people northnard, inhab-
ited principally about that place in Maeeacbusetta Bay, where the body
of the EngiiBh now dwell. These were a numerouB and great people.
Their chief aachem held dominion over raiiny other petty governoiinj.
ae thoee uf Weechaga Bkaa, Neponaitt, Punkapaog, Nonantum, Naaha.
way, some of tbe Nipmaek people, as far afl Pokomtakuke, as the old
men of MasBachusetta aSlmied. This people could, in former times,
arm for war about three thousand men, as tbe old Indiana declare.
Tbey were in hostility very often with the Narragansitts ; but held am-
Dity, for tbe most part, with the Pawknnnawkutts, who lived on tbe
Boutb twrder, and with tbe Pawtucketta, who inhabited on their north
and aoutheaat liniits. In An. 1612 and 1613, these people were also
sorely smitten by tbe baud of God with tbe name disease before mention-
ed In the last section ; which destrvyed tbe most of them, and made
room for the Engliah people of Massachasetts colony, which people this
country and the next called Pawtiickett. There are not of this people
left at this day above three hundred men, besides women and children."
The Indian names occurring in these " collections "
hare all the peculiarity of Indian pronunciation.
Some of the words have a sound as easy, sonorous
and musical as a brooklet's flow, and to pronounce
others, one fears he must lose his teeth before he gets
through.
We recognize Xonantum in the quotation as a name
preserved to-day in this neighborhood.
The Indians, naturally, would be attracted to the
Charles River Valley. Here they found a water-way
for their canoes. Here in this neighborhood were
unfailing and abundant fisheries. It was a loamy
land for their corn. It sparkled with springs. We
then can readily imagine how its smoke from their
fires were mingled with the haze hanging above our
beautiful fields. I recently visited the land in the
rear of Mr. Cassidy's residence and on the banks of
the Charles River. That industious historical stu-
dent, Mr. Jesse Fewkea, has told me of a bluflF once
in that neighborhood, but now removed. His testi-
mony is that " the verge of the bluflf about 300 or 400
feet to eastward from the southeast corner of Mason's
land " contained many Indian relics. " After the
black loam had been removed," there were found by
him " nearly one hundred implements of stone."
Indians once peopled all this land, as has been
shown. What was our beautiful winding Mount
Auburn Street but an ancient Indian trail ? That
trail, with its picturesque turns through forest and
across meadow, only needed to be widened and leveled
that our ancestors might use it.
We have an Indian name associated with the town
in the title Pequossette, or as in the town records,
Pequussett.
One summer day in 1630, into this Indian land
came the head of that long column of civilized life
that has been streaming through Watertown for over
two hundred and fiity years. Those first settlers
came up the river in boats, landing somewhere on tbe
present Arsenal grounds, it has been asserted, but
more recent opinion favors the old landing-place in
the rear of Cambridge Hospital. They must speedily
have come in contact with Indian life, and it is a
very interesting question whether there may have
been any meeting for a land-trade with the old occu-
pants of the soil, and whether the men paid anything
for the land they took. As far as we have any written
evidence, it was squatter sovereignty of a very bad,
bold kind that was practiced, and to-day we are living
on ground that, in one sense, has never been paid for.
It will interest us to know that in the early history of
the Colony an interesting controversy raged on the
subject of the purchase of land from the Indians.
Roger Williams was astorm centre of that controversy.
He dieFered with the General Court of the Colony in
several particulars. In one he questioned and denied
the right of the civil power to say what a man should
believe, or how he should worship, or whether a man
should worship at all. That very convenient as-
sumption of power on the part of the King to grant
and distribute Indian territory as he might please,
Roger Williams also disputed. He prepared a docu-
ment in which he defined his views on ownership and
soil.
No Indian, though, ever closed his wigwam door
on Roger Williams. Providence Plantation was paid
for when the exile started his new home.
If the first Watertown settlers, unlike Roger Wil-
liams, took the land they found, but made no payment
for it, the conscience of the public; was not entirely at
ease upon the subject. We find a spasm of repentance
in an act of the General Court, Sept. 6, 1638 : " It was
agreed that the Court of Assistants should take order
for the Indians, that they may have satisfaction for
their right at Lynn and Watertown." This seems to
have been only a preface to other action. March 12,
1638-39, " the Court desired Mr. Gibbons to agree
with tbe Indians for the land within the bounds of
Watertown, Cambridge and Boston." Still again on
May 13, 1640, the Court took action : " it waa ordered
that the £23-8-6 laid out by Captain Gibbons shall
be paid him, vidt. £13-8-6 by Watertown and £10 by
Cambridge ; and also Squa Sachem a coat every win-
ter while she Jiveth."'
Whether Squa Sachem went round every winter
380
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
gay and comfortable in Cambridge's new or second-
hand finery, I cannot say. The matter of greater in-
terest to us just now is how much land that piece of
Cambridge dry goods may have helped to pay for.
This is Bond's interpretation of the whole transaction :
" it was probably the Indians' claim to the ' ware
lands ' and Nonantum on the south side of the river.
This conjecture is favored by the circumstance that
Cambridge (Newton) and Boston (Muddy Kiver)
were embraced in the commission, and that Water-
town and Cambridge paid the expense.''
In 1671 the Indians tried to buy back the previous
fishing property and privileges in Watertown with
which they had parted.
All the above attracts our curious attention. Here
in this beautiful Charles River valley abounded the
Indians, owning all these lands, and in arrow-tip,
spear-point and hammer-head they have left along
the green river banks, by pond, and spring, and brook,
the chirography of their ownership. And of any
payment for that territory as a whole, what evidence
have our ancestors left behind ?
The Charles River valley was traversed by Indian
raids, as when King Philip's warriors swept their
swath of fire through that little Medfield hamlet by
the winding river. Indians though did not fire
Watertown, which was so far down the picturesque
valley. Our town was rather a garrison-house to
which the settlers of other towns might Hee. It be-
came, too, a reservoir from which went out streams of
aid to those in distress.
It is true there was friction accompanying the
intercourse of Watertown people with the Indians.
There was too much human nature on both sides to
assure smooth running of all the machinery. The
very first year of the young colony's life, trouble
broke out amons the servants of that Sir Richard who
headed the Watertown colonists.
There is in the colonial records an item proving
this; " Upon a complaint made by Sagamore John
and Peter, for having two wigwams burnt, which
upon examination appeared to be occasioned by James
Woodward, servant to Sir Richard Saltonstall, was
therefore ordered that Sir Richard should satisfy the
Indiana for the wrong done to them (which he did by
giving them seven yards of cloth), and that, his said
servant should pay unto him for it at the end of his
time, the sum of £5 (505)."
Gov. Winthrop in his history makes reference to a
Watertown man who was guilty of putting tempta-
tion in the way of the Indians. This is Wiuthrop's
reference to it made under the date of Sept. 4, 1632,
in the Governor's famous diary-history :
" One Hopkins of Watertown was convict for sell-
ing a piece and pistol with powder and shot to James
Sagamore for which he had sentence to be whipped
and branded in the cheek. It was discovered by an
Indian, one of James' men, upon promise of conceal-
ing him (for otherwise he was sure to be killed)."
Savage, in his notes on the text of Winthrop's his-
tory, adds this quotation from the colony records :
" Hereupon it was propounded if his otTence should
now be punished hereafter by death." The raising of
this question shows how serious an evil in the mind of
somebody was this traffic in ammunition with the
Indians. The proposition though, w.isuot allowed to
embarrass the men in council, for they put in practice
what has proved to be a convenient device nowadays:
" Referred to the next court to be determined." One
escape from any perplexity to-day is to bequeath its
settlement as a thorny inheritance to the people com-
ing after us.
Watertown Indians were not involved in a bloody
war to which I am about to make reference, the
Pequod War, but it is a singular fact that a Water-
town man was the innocent occasion of it. That was
John Oldham. This is Francis' version of Oldham's
fate : " He became a distinguished trader among the
Indians, and in 1636 was sent to traffic with them at
Block Island. The Indians got possession of (;)ld-
ham's vessel, and murdered him in a most barbarous
manner. The boat was discovered by one John
Gallop, who on his j>assage from Connecticut was
obliged by change of wind to bear up for Block Island.
He recognized Oldham's vessel, and seeing the deck
full of Indians, suspected there had been foul play.
After much exertion and management, he boarded
this and found the body of Oldham cut and mangled
and the bead cleft asunder." AVinthrop's account of
the discovery is very realistic. You can seem to see
the little pinnace off on the blue water, while John
Gallop courageously dashes in upon them, scattering
them like a lot of ship rats that were swarming on the
deck. It was a foul, bloody murder they had committed.
When the news was carried home. Hying from ham-
let to hamlet, it aroused an intense excitement. The
fighting men of the towns were quickly on the march.
In August ninety men were sent off to find aud pun-
ish the savages. One of the commanders was Ensign
William Jennison. He acquired glorj' enough from
that campaign to be made a captain, the next month
of March. George Munnings, another Watertown
man, was not so fortunate. He came home again,
but left an eye behind him, so that the Court gave him
five pounds and " the fines for one week,'' whatever
those may have been. This campaign only made an-
other necessary. The succeeding spring, Massachu-
setts resolved to equip and send to the war one hun-
dred and sixty men, and Watertown was directed to
raise fourteen.
The now Capt. William Jennisou was on the com-
mittee to marshal and furnish that force, and also on
a committee to divide a quota of fifty additional men
among the towns. Watertown's share of glory this
time was four men. These figures would prove that
our town contained about one-twelfth of the fighting
force of Massachusetts. Prominent in this Pequod
campaign was Capt. Patrick, of Watertown.
WATERTOWN.
381
Connecticut had a hand — a bloody one — in this
war. Her forces were commanded by Capt. John
Mason. It is thought the Robert Seeley next in
command to Mason may have been a Watertown man
who bad moved to Connecticut. Bond says, " prob-
ably." I would that it might be shown that no Water-
town man had a hand in that part of the fight.
Winthrop says, " Our English from Connecticut, with
their Indians and many of the Narragansetts, marched
in the night to a fort of the Pequods at Mislick, and
besetting the same about break of the day, after two
hours' light they took it (by firing it) and slew there-
in two chief sachems and one hundred and fifty
fighting men, and about one hundred and fifty old
men, women and children, with the loss of two Eng-
lish, whereof but one was killed by the enemy."
This fort was surprised at an early morning hour.
After the astonished sentinel's cry, " Owanux I Owan-
ux ! " (English ! English !) came a volley from Ma-
son's men. These now forced their way into the en
closure, finding sixty or seventy wigwams and a loe
bewildered and in their power. The cry of fright-
ened savages confused by this fierce, abrupt assault
rent the air. How suppress thera ? " Fire the wig
warns ! " some one must have cried. The fire-brand
was adopted as a weapon.
"This decided the battle," says Barry. "The
flames rolled on with terrific speed, crackling and
flashing upon the stillness of the morning air, and
mingling with shouts and groans of agonizing de-
spair, as body after body disappeared and was con-
sumed."
With such an awful holocaust was John Oldham,
of Watertown, avenged. A defence of the cruelty of
this reparation has been attempted. What defence
can be maintained? Oldham was savagely murdered,
and the Indians were savagely punished. The only
thing that can be said is that Capt. Mason's men in
an hour of awful excitement, fearful lest the enemy
might l)e too strong for them, confused and bewil-
dered, appealed to a power which, once in motion,
feels neither fear nor pity. It is a relief to know
that Massachusetts, which afterwards brought up its
forces and helped finish the war, did not apply the
torch to any "old men, women and children."
It has been said that Watertown territory was not
invaded by hostile Indians. Neither was there any
insurrection raised by resident Indiana. Alarms
doubtless were frequent. A tremor of fear very soon
agitated Walertown's c-irly history. Francis speaks
of a trouble which was misinterpreted, but shows that
the early settlers of Massachusetts were apprehensive ;
" Among the wild animals, the wolf was a very com-
mon annoyance, and against him they were obliged
to keep special watch. On one occasion in the night,
we are told, the report of the musket discharged at
the wolves by some people of Watertown, was carried
by the wind as far as Roxbury, and excited so much
commotion there, that the inhabitants were, by beat
of drum, called to arms, probably apprehending an
attack from the Indians." A less formidable crea-
ture than the wolf was the occasion of an alarm re-
corded by Winthrop, the responsibility for which, I
judge from the context, was shouldered by outsiders
apon the Indians. This was one early spring-day
after the settlement of our beautiful valley-town, and
the alarm was succeeded by a visit from the Indians.
" John Sagamore, and James, his brother, with divers
jannops, came to the Governor,'' says Winthrop.
' James Savage has some reason, though slight, for
assigning the residence of these Indians to the
neighborhood of Watertown, or between the Charles
and the Mistick Rivers."
Concerning the alarm connected with this visit,
Winthrop says, "The night before alarm wasgiven in
divers of the plantations. It arose through the shoot-
ing off some pieces at Watertown by occasion of a
calf which Sir Richard Saltonstall had lost : and the
soldiers were sent out with their pieces to try the ,
wilderness from thence till they might find it."
Would that behind all the shiverings of fright there
bad been only a poor little calf astray in the Charles
River wilderness. I have referred to the Peqaod War,
one season of alarm that had serious foundation. I
have noticed the fact that its occasion was a Watertown
man. It was in 1675 that all New England was
shaken by King Philip's War as by an earthquake.
It is singular how deep a dent in New England's his-
tory this war made, and yet not so strange when we
remember that the combatants on either side were
actuated by a grim purpose, that of extermination.
To-day, any historical trace of that war is viewed
ivith strangely fascinating interest.
Our Watertown Indians were not involved in that
war. Geographically its source was too far to the
south of us. The spirit of the Indians in this neigh-
borhood made a still greater separation. This was
the neighborhood of the " praying Indians," to whom
[ shall make reference hereafter. It was an Indian
whose home had been in Watertown, Waban, who
was prominent in friendly warnings to the English
that the dreadful war was contemplated and was
surely coming. The war cloud had risen and was
growing and blackening steadily, day by day. " In
the mean time several of the Christian Indiana had
expressed their belief that a plan was on foot for the
general destruction of the English in the colonies;
and among these was Waban, a Nipmuck, at whose
teut, amongst that people, Mr. Eliot had first preached
to them in their own tongue. Waban, himself, hav-
ing been the first of his tribe to be converted, became
afterwards the principal ruler of the Christian Indians
at Natick. In April, 1675, Waban came to General
Gookin and warned him of Philip's intention shortly
to attack the English ; and again in May he came
and urged the same, and said that 'just as soon as the
382
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
trees were leaved out, the Indians would fall upon the
towns.""
I shall give reasons later why this Waban may be
classified as at one time a Watertown Indian. His
spirit was doubtless an exponent of the motives and
purposes of others in this neighborhood, bis loyal
breast registering the temper of many of his race in
the Charles River Valley.
Watertown then had no conflict with its dusky-faced
neighbors, as the war dragged along its bloody course.
It felt the war, though, in the persons of those whom
this mother of towns had sent out to people other val-
leys, or through those it hurried away as combatants
into this awful, savage shock of arms.
Watertown people participated in the Sudbury
town-celebration last year, and while there a visit
was made to the famous battle-ground where Cap-
tain Samuel Wadsworlh, of Milton, and his brave
forces so stoutly contended with the Indians — a
contest that ended in a massacre of the whites.
We remember what a lonely spot the battle-ground
was, with its outlook on the swelling hills and
across the green Sudbury valleys. Sudbury would
have been a sorer sufferer in that Indian invasion had
it not been for Watertown men. The Indians first
attacked the settlement on the east side of Sudbury
River, making pitiful bonfires of moit of the houses.
The people, though, made a stout opposition, and who
should appear for their defense but the stalwart Cap-
tain Hugh Mason. He and other sturdy fighters from
Watertown so punished the Indians that they were
forced to retreat to the west side of the river. Across
the wide meadows we can see them fleeing, scowling
iu wrath at the Watertown men, who gave them such
a drubbing.
King Philip's War closed in 1G76. The decisive
blow was given by the English at the destruction of
the Narragansett fastness in the great cedar swamp
southwest of Kingston, Rhode Island. It was a blow
that meant demolition, destruction, the utter collapse
of the Indians, and forever, as an organized race-
power here in New England. The English forced an
entrance into the Indian fort, and, like their prede-
cessors who closed the Pequod War, they summoned
to theii aid the same merciless weapon of fire.
We, of this day, cannot appreciate the bitter feel-
ing aroused on both sides of the strife in King
Philip's War. It developed into a process of exter-
mination. What the Indians planned for the English,
the awful barbarity of the former attested. On the
side of the English there was a lamentable process of
hardening. It would sometimes seem as if an
Englishman put his sensibilities into an iron-clad
suit of armor when the case of an Indian came before
him. When we place those days in the scales and
weigh them, we must not forget that there was in
every direction a rough way of dealing with offenders.
> New England Historical and Genenlogical Re^ster, SoldierB in King
Philip's War, by Rev. G. M. Boge, vol. \li>. July, ISOo, p. J70.
I Edward Eggleston incidentally brings this out in an
' article on pre-Revolutionary times in New England ;
: " The New England reverence for the Sabbath tended
to repress social enjoyment in the accidental en-
counters of Sunday, but the week-day lecture suffered
from no such restriction, and was for a long time
much more in favor than even the Sunday service.
From all the country round, in .spite of the poverty
' and difiicult conditioni of pioneer life, people flocked
j to those week-day assemblages. Cotton's lecture in
' Boston was so attractive that it was found convenient
i to establish a market on the same day ; punishments
in the stocks, in the pillory, at the whipping-post, or
' on the gallows, were generally set down for lecture
time, perhaps in order that as large a uuraber of
people as possible might be edified by the .sight of a
I sinner brought to a just retribution. Nor did these
exhibitions of flogging, of cutting ofl^ ears, and of
men sitting in the stocks, or dangling from a gallows,
tend to diminish the attendance." We are not sur-
prised when this is added: "At one time during
Philip's War scarcely a Boston lecture-day passed for
a number of weeks without the congregiilion being
regaled with sight of the execution of une or more In-
diana.''
The questidu here arises with fitness, Why were
not any Indians in this vicinity more interested in the
schemes of King Philip? The Indian nature was
enough of a hot-bed to develop seeds of discontent.
It has been thought that Phillip's war "spread a con-
tagion of hostility far to the southward by means of
that quick intelligence which existed between the
tribes."' Were our Charles River Indiaus lessintelli-
gent than those to the south of us ? King Philip's
War makes in my story a dark back-ground on which
I can paint with all the more vividnessand efl^ectiveness
a beautiful scene of an embassy of peace and good
will by some of our English ancestors — an embassy
that sounded its first message near us in this very val-
ley, and whose growing influence developed all
through this region a different kind of an Indian from
the one that swung the tomahawk and shrieked ihe
war-whoop in King Philip's War. I mean the work
started by John Eliot, the famous Indian missionary.
Although pastor of a church in Rosbury, his sym-
pathies could not be bounded by the walls of that
fold. His affections went out to the greit, unshep-
herded flock in the forests and by the rivers, and he
resolved to reach these children of another color and
another race. The first step was a knowledge of the In-
dian tongue. It has been told of him that " he hired
an old Indian named Job Nesutau to live in his
family and to teach him his language. When he had
accomplished this arduous task, which he did in 'a
few months,' he set out upon his first attempt." '
- Tht 0:ntary, "Nathaniel Bacon," by Edward Eggleton. Vol.40,
p. 424.
3 " Biograpby and History of the Indians of North Atnerica," by
S. G. Dral:e. Book 2, p. 111.
WATERTOWN.
38:^
Eliot himself, in " A true Relation of Our Beginning
with the Indians," which at the time he modestly
kept anonymous, has told this story : " Upon Oct. 28,
164G, four of us (having sought God) went unto the
Indians inhabiting within our bounds, with desire to
make known the things of their peace to them. A
little before we came to their Wigwams, five or six of
the chief of them met us with English salutations,
bidding us much welcome; who leading us into the
principal Wigwam of Waaubon, we found many more
Indians, men, women, children, gathered together
from all quarters round about, according to appoint-
ment, to meet with us and learn of us." '
Eiiotspent three hours with his Indian hearers, very
plainly talking to them about tbeir duty. They de-
clared they were not weary, " but wee resolved," he
adds, " to leave them with an appetite ; the chief of
them seeing us conclude with prayer, desired to know
when we would come again, so we appointed the
time, and having given the children some apples and
the men some tobacco and what else we then had at
hand, they desired some more ground to build a town
together."
The interesting point comes up where occurred
this first meeting destined to have such an etfect, to
be a little spring from which would gush out the be-
ginnings of a wonderful river.
Gookin in his reference to Eliot declares, " The
first place he began to preach at w.is Nonantum, near
Wiilerlown mill, upon the south side of Charles River,
about four or five miles from his own house, where
lived at that time Waban, one of their principal men,
and some Indians with him." - How near Water-
town mill did Eliot begin his labors'.' Inside the
boundaries of the old town? Nonantum was an in-
definite patch of Indian territory, and stretched on
toward tlie busy rumbling mill, and "near the mill"
naturally leads one to locate the wigwam of Waban
inside of that hazy, old-time Watertown line. As a
W'atertown-man, I may not have the lea.st doubt in
the world that the little spring with its wonderful out-
How was on Watertown ground. I have called Waban
a Watertowu-raun. As a student seeking historical
evidence, I can only say that " near the Watertown
mill" leads me to infer that Waban probably built
his wigwam in old Watertown, which, as a man o(
wisdom, he would surely do.
It would take a long paper to hold inside its limits
the story of .lohn Eliot's wonderful work. The
" praying Indians " became a distinct and large class
in New England life. They had their villages at
Xatick, at Pakemitt or Punkapaog (Stoughton), Haa-
sanamesitt (Grafton), Okommaamesit (Marlboro'),
Wamesit (Tewksbury), Nashobah (Littleton), ilagun-
kaquog (Hopkinton).
> Collectiona of the Masa. Hist. Society. Vol. 4 (3d series), p. 3
- Collections of the Mass. Hist. Society for the year 1792. Vol. 1,
p. 168.
Gookin calls these " the seven old towns of praying
Indians." There were others in Massachusetts, but I
mention only these. Waban's history is that of an
interesting character and of an old neighbor. He
moved finally to Natick. '' When a kind of civil
community was established at Natick, Waban was
made a ruler of fifty, and subquently a justice of the
peace. The following is said to be a copy of a war-
rant which he issued against some of the transgres-
sors : ' You, you big constable, quick you catch um
Jeremiah Offscow, strong you hold umsafe, you bring
i um, afore me, Waban, justice peace.' A young jus-
I tice asked Waban what he would do when Indians
got drunk and quarreled ; he replied, ' Tie um all up,
and whip um plaintiff, and whip um fendant, and
whipum witness.'"'
Waban was a good friend of the English. From
his class the praying Indians came sympathetic neigh-
bors in peace, and active allies in war. They were a
bulwark to our interest in the colonial life. If there
had been ten John Eliots or a less number even in
New England, peace everywhere would have been
regnant. As it was, the Indian character in the
Charles river valley which includes so much of old
Watertown, was powerfully influenced.
That Watertown was not insensible to the gauntlet
of trials that other towns were called upon to run.haB
been already noticed. Hubbard commenting on a case
of difference of opinion between Watertown and the
government in the earliest days of our town-life, uses
this language of Watertown, " they stood so much
upon their liberty." Watertown always had an
independent way, and would not permit unchallenged
.any encroachment upon its rights. It can also be said
that it did not see unmoved an invasion of the inter-
ests of others. When other towns might echo with
the whoop of plundering, firing savages, it marched
out its fighting men to the rescue. I have spoken of
the fight at Sudbury ; I give only one more instance
here.
When Groton was attacked in March, 1676, what
action did Watertown take ? Over the spring roads
tramped forty of our ancestors to the relief of the as-
saulted town. Lancaster, like Groton, was a place in-
debted to Watertown for help in its early settlement.
Lancaster was not forgotten when the Indians raided
it. William Flagg, John Ball and George Harrington
by their graves proved that Lancaster was remember-
ed by Watertown men. Among the forms of other
combatants rising out of the turmoil or the dark days
of Indian strife, various Watertown men could be
named who were " faithful unto death.''
But Watertown in its connection with the history
of the red men appears in another and still more
honored character. This neighborhood not only wit-
nessed the coming of the Gospel of Life to the In-
dians, but this neighborhood sent out a like embassy
3 General History of New England, by Wm. Hubbartl, p. 144.
384
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
elsewhere. It is an interesting coincidence too that
the south side of the river witnessing the preaching
of the Gospel to the Indians, gave preachers who
should take the same Good News elsewhere. I refer
to Thomas Mayhew who lived on the historic " south
side," and also to his son, Thomas Mayhew, junior.
Bond in his pains-taking genealogical list lefers to
the very honorable relation the name of Mayhew sus-
tained to our infant town, and speaking of Thomas
Mayhew's probable arrival in 1631, says: "For the
ensuing 13 years, it appears by the colonial records that
few, if any other persons so often received important
appointments from the General Court." '
Watertown early lost this shining light on the other
side of the river. Where it shone next and how ben-
eficiently, I will let Gookin tell out of his ancient
Historical collections of the Indians in New Eng-
land: "Martha's Vineyard, or Martin's Vineyard,
called by the Indians Nope, which we have in the
former book described hath been through the grace
of Christ, a very fruitful vineyard unto the Lord nt
hosts, and hath yielded a plentiful harvest of con-
verted Indian.-;.
"The first instruments that God was pleased to use
in this work at this place, was Mr. Thomas JIayhew
and his eldest son, Mr. Thomas Mayhew, junior. The
father was a merchant, bred in England, as I take it,
at Southampton, and he followed the same calling in
New England, at his first coming over which was in
the beginning of the settlement of Massachusetts col-
ony. His abode was at Watertown, where he had
good accommodations of land, and built an excellent,
profitable mill there, which in those first times brought
him in great profit. But it pleased God to (rown upon
him in hi.>i outward estate; so that he sold what he
had in Massachusetts to clear himself from debts
and engagements, and about the year 1642 transidanted
himself to Martha's Vineyard with his family. . . .
His eldest son Thomas, being a scholar and pious
man, after some time was called to be minister unto
the English upon that Island. It pleased God strong-
ly to iucline the two good men, both the father and
the son, to learn the Indian tongue of that island ; and
the minister especially was very ready in it; and the
old man had a very competent ability in it. These two,
especially the son, beg.an to preach the gospel to the
Indians about the year 1648 or 1649, as I best remem-
ber and had set appointed times to meet with them."
It was a scene of most attractive interest, these two
men thus closely united as father and son, coming to-
gether in this effort to reach those so spiritually distant.
The work was not only pushed upon the Vineyard, but
it was carried to Nantucket and prosecuted there.
These etforts met with encouraging success. In 1657,
the younger Mayhew sailed for England, but reached
another country, "even a heavenly." The vessel was ■
1 " Genealogies of the Families and Descendants of ibe Early Sett-
lers of Watertown, and Early History," by Henry Bend, M.ri., p. ^-=i7.
wrecked, and thus the work of evangelizing the In-
dians at theVineyard and Nantucket received a serious
blow. It is touching to notice how this death of the
son atTected the noble father. It came to him as a
call to a new consecration of his energies to the be-
loved work of reaching the Indians. Gookin testi-
fies, ■' But old Mr. Mayhew his worthy father, struck
in with his best strength and skill, and hath doubtless
been a very great instrument to promote the work of
converting many Indian souls upon these islands."
It would be a work of fascinating interest to spread
out here a letter from this old Watertown miller giv-
ing the details of his work in reply to " fifteen
(|ueries'' from his friend Gookin. I will only say that
the Vineyard h.'id ics "praying towns" of Indians,
and of Nantucket, Thomas Jlay hew said, " Upon that
island are m:iny praying Indians." He testified that
he had "very often, these thirty-two years, been at
Nantucket." It is an interesting Mavhew-lact that
not only father and son but two grandsons became
identified with work for the Indians. Long and gooilly
and golden was this Mayhew-line reaching out from
Watertown to the Indians at the Vineyard and Nan-
tucket. When Gookin wrote his account, ^layliew
was "about eigaty years of age,' his head white with
age as ever were his miller's clothes with dust at the
famous " Watertown mill.' He died in the ninety-
third vear of his age. He is reputedly the first builder
of any bridge over the Charles, and that has been
classed as a foot-bridge. Dr. B. F. Davenport, in a
summary of notes of official record about mills,
bridges, etc., includes this from the old colonial
books: "June '1, 1641. Mr. Mayhew to have 1-30 acres of
land on the south side of (Jharles river of ^Vatertowu
vveire. The 'ole of Mr. MayLews bridge is referred
to the governor aud two magistrates to settle for seven
years." ■
That old foot-bridge built by Thomas Mayhew
across the Charles? Standing in the dusty doorway
of his mill and watching some red men tripping
acro.-s the humble bridge, little did he then think
how crowned with loving work for the Indians would
be his after years. Over waters many and troublous,
his own hands stretched the bridge by which his
ilusky brethren safely passed to the green fields of
perpetual peace and joy.
Watertown thus appears in two characters ; in the
Mayhew family as a missionary to the Indians, and in
the days of the inv.asion as a protector of its white
brethren in peril.
The red man long ago passed away from our border.
His canoe no more glides on our gla.ssy waters, and
the smoke of his fires no more clouds the painted for-
ests of autumn. A romantic interest in him though
lingers among us. This may be owing in part to a
twinge of conscience that justly may visit us as we
- Paper hefore the Watertown Iliaturical Society, by Dr. B. F. Dav-
enport, Sept. IT, ISt'J.
WATERTOWN.
385
recall certain old-time dealings with him. As our '
ancestors and their ancestors cannot meet in this I
world, certainly, to settle old claims, we, the children [
of the white settlers, can do something, to secure for
all the dusky race alive to-day, fair, impartial, even- i
haaded treatment. j
III the beautiful valley of the Charles, in the old j
Indian camping-ground, may this spirit of just'ce ever
have its home.
The Revolutionaky Period." — Watertowu stood
second to none in her independent spirit during the
early days of the Colonists.
In 1774, when a Provincial Congress was formed,
Watertown sent Jonathan Brown, its town clerk and [
treasurer, as its representative. At that meeting, Oc- !
tober 3d, it was voted that " the collector of taxes j
should not pay any more m(mey into the province ;
treasury at present.'' On the 17th of the same month, !
the town voted to mount and equip two pieces of can- |
uon. At this time the iiihabitanrs were thoroughly i
awake to the dangers that menaced the country. |
The port of Boston was closed, and many of the j
citizens had removed into the country, Watertown t
receiving a large share of them. They had resisted ',
the tea-tax and submitted to many personal discora- i
forts to maintain their principles. The women had
been counseled to foiego the joy of their Bohea, and
we read that a number of patriotic gentlerneii in this |
town " who used to regale themselves with the best j
'if liqiiori have determined to drink only cyder and
small beer for the t'uture.' j
At the junction of what is now Belmont ;ind Mount
\iihiirn Streets, stands an old house whose aspect
speaks of ancient days; it is known as the Bird Tav- ;
ern. This same house, in Revolutionary days, was :
occupied and used as an inn by Eilward Riclr.irdson. i
Here, under guard, were deposited arms and iniliiary
stores ; but tor many years there had lieen little use
lor tlieiu, and the sixteen pieces of cannon belonging '
tu the Colony proved to be quite useless when the call
was made for action. '.
Feeble attempts towards a military organization
had been in operation since the time when the quota
iif men from W'atertown was four — in the war a;;ainst
the Pequods — till the years 1691-92. when the town
was divided iuto three military precincts, under the
command of Captain William Bond, of Watertown.
for tlie Fir^t Precinct ; of Lieut, (jartield, for the Cfec-
ond Precinct (now Waltham) ; of Lieur. .losiah Jones,
for the Third Precinct (or the Farmers, now Weston),
till the present call to arms.
The {ires of patriotism were not quenched, they
only slumbered on the hearthstones of the people to
be kindled at need. The rusty matchlock and pow-
der-horn, had long hung unused upon the rafters, and
the fertile fields and plea.sant homes bore witness that
' By Ruch A. Bradford.
they had beaten their swords into ploughshares and
their spears into pruning-hooks.
Early in September, 1774, the town ordered that
its militia should be exercised two hours every week
for the three autumn months, and that its stock of
arms and ammunition should be inspected.
November 21, 1774, a committee of nine was ap-
pointed to carry into effect the association and re-
solves of the General Congress held at Philadelphia,
and likewise those of the Provincial Congress ; the
latter had been presided over by the Hon. John
Hancock, but he had been chosen delegate to Phil-
adelphia, and Dr. Joseph Warren, of Boston, was
elected to succed him.
Town and country were now thoroughly awake,
and the call to arms was felt to be imperative, at least
the call to be in readiness, and January 2, 1775, it
was voted in town-meeting " that a minute company
should be formed for military exercises, each man be-
ing allowed for his attendance once a week four cop-
pers (for refreshment).
Its officers were : Captain, Samuel Barnard ; Fir.st
Lieutenant, John Stratton ; Second Lieutenant,
Phineas Stearns ; Ensign, Edward Harrington, Jr.;
Sergeants, Samuel Sanger, Abner Craft, Christopher
Grant, Jr., Josiah Capen, Jr., Stephen Whitney ;
Corporals, Moses Stone, Jr., Isaac Sanderson, Jr., and
Xathaniel Bright.
Two of these officers had already shown their
patriotism by assisting at the Boston Tea Party, De-
cember 16, 1773,—
•I'aptaiu Samuel Barnard, son of .Samuel Barnard
,ind Susanna Harrington, who was baptized June 19,
1737, and married Elizabeth Bond, daughter of
Daniel Bond and Hannah Goolidge. He afterwards
received the rank of major and died August 8, 1782.
Second Lieutenant Phineas Stearns, a farmer and
blacksmith, son of Josiah Stearns and Susanna Ball,
liorn February 5, 173-5-36. He became a Captain in
the Continental Army, and led his company at Dor-
chester Heights, and served at Lake George in 17.jt!.
He was offered a colonel's commission, but declined
it on account of family cares, and after the evacuation
of Boston he discontinued in the public service. He
married Hannah Bemis, eldest child of Captain Jon-
athan and Huldah (Livermore) Bemis. Second he
married Esther Sanderson, a cousin of his first wife.
He died March 27, 1798.
Another Watertown citizen assisted at the de-
struction of the tea, — John Randall, sou of John and
Love (Blanchard) Randall. He was born October
2, 1750. He married Sarah Barnard, daughter of
Jonas and Abigail (Viles) Barnard. He also served
in New York one year.
Ou the morning of the memorable 19th of April,
177-'), the Middlesex regiment under Col. Thomas
Gardner assembled at the Watertown meeting-house.
Rumors had reached the town, through the mes-
senger Paul Revere, of the advance of the British, and
::o-ui
386
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY. MASSACHUSETTS.
Natbaa Coolidge,
William Leatbe.
Nathaniel BeDjamio,
they were in debate when Michael Jackson, who
commanded the Newton Company that day, arrived
in hot haste, having just heard, through the messenger
William Dawes, who rode through Roxbury, Broolc- ! TLomaa Learned
line and Brighton, of the need of immediate actiou.
Obtaining the floor, he told them " that the time for
talking had passed, and the time for fighting had
come; that if they meant to oppose the march of the
British, they must immediately take up their march
for Lexington, and that he intended that his com-
pany should take the shortest route to get a shot at
the British."
His blunt, vigorous speech broke up the council,
each company being left to take its own course, and the
Watertown company, under tlie command of Captain
(afterwards Major) Samuel Barnard, left for Lexington;
near that town they joined the Newton company, where
they encountered Lord Percy's retreating column.
The most they could do now was to harass the
English. This they did from every point possible.
Stephen Cook,
Daniel Coolid?e,
Jooiah Srtundersoo,
Moses C^jolidge,
Set b Sauoderson ,
Francis Brown,
John Sanger,
Isaac Prentice,
Tilly Mead,
Thuniaa Hastings,
Abraham Whitne.v,
Aires Tainter,
Jubn Wbitne.v,
■losiab Norcrosa,
David Whitney.
Daniel Whitney,
John Villa,
Zachariah Shedd,
Daniel Masun,
.Tonathan Whitn*-y.
Spencer < Jooding.
The retreating army at the close of the day found j Da%id stone,
Juijutbau luoli Ice "
\\'illiam Chenery,
Tboiiius StatTold.
PRIVATES.
■ Edw«rd Harrington.
Thomas Coolid^".
Samuel Soden,
John Fowie,
David Capen,
Peter Hurritigtoii.
Samuel Wiiite, -Ir.,
Samuel Barnard, 'r.,
Jonathan Bright.
Daniel Sawin, Jr.,
Phineas Child?,
Joshua Stratton.
Jocas Bond, Jr.,
Thomas Tlark,
Richard Clark,
Samuel White,
John Reujmington,
John Lheuery,
Siniun Cuulidj:e. Jr ,
Daniel Cook,
Jooiilhan itolie.
Phincaa Esel.
Benjumin ''.ii'tn.
Jobu Uuut, Jr..
Bezaleel Learu-'l.
.\iuua Bond,
.lobu Bullniaii.
E:i.i= Tufts,
lu all '" ui-n.
themselves at Chariestown, where they crossed the
river under cover of the guns cif the sliips-of-war, hav-
ing lost that day, in killed, wounded and missing,
273; the Americans, 93. The Watertown company I
only lost one man, Joseph Coolidge. .V monument ,
has been erected to his memory at the old grave-yard !
by his descendants.
The records inform us, through bills paid by the
town to Widow Dorothy Coolidge, who kept a tavern,
.ind to Mr. John Draper, a baker, that rum and
bread were served to the troops on that day. j
Leonard Bond, at the age of twenty years, was the ;
tirst in this ttjwn to take up arms in 177.5, in defence
of liberty. i
There are in the possession of descendants of Na-
thaniel Bemis a sword and a gun marked with
the name of his father, David Bemis, and the date, j
January, 1775. With this gun, Nathaniel, then nine-
teen, started for Lexington on the 19th of April, 1775. 1
He did not arrive there in season to take part in the
fight, but came upon the British soldiers on their
retreat.
The tradition is that he fired upon them and
secured the sword, — that of an olficer whom he shot.
As these two names are not found on the militia
roll for that day, we may conclude that in the excite-
ment of the occasion many unpaid volunteers took
part in the skirmish.
The following is a copied list, from the time-worn
document in the State archives at Boston, of the
Watertown militia company that marched to Lex- j Hill, Col. Thomas Gardner's Middlesex regiment, in
ington on the 19th of April, 1775, in Col. Thomas | which was Abner Craft's Watertown company, w.is
Richard Everett,
Three days after the battle of Lexington the Sec-
ond Provincial Congress adjourned from Concord to
Watertown, where its sessions, as well as those of the
General Court, were held in the old meeting-house at
the corner of Common and Mt. .Viiliurii StreetM, until
the adjournment of the latter body to the State i^louse
in Boston, Nov. 9, 1776.
In 1775-71) the Council met in an adjacent Imuse
on Mt. Auburn Street, then occupied by Marshall
Fowle.
In recent years Marshall Street was opened, .ind
this building had to be removed back upon the-treet,
and it now stands op])08ite the High School building.
Dr. Joseph Warren was |)resident of the General
Assembly, and after his death, at the battle of Bunker
Hill, the Hon. James Warren, of Plymouth, was
chosen to succeed him.
In 1770 the anniversary of the Boston Massacre,
on the 5th of March, was observed in the usual form
in the meeting-house in Watertown. The Hon. Ben-
jamin Austin was moderator ; tlie Rev. Dr. Cooper
offered the prayers ; and the Rev. Peter Thacber, of
Maiden, delivered an oration on the dangerous ten-
dency of standing armies in time of peace ; this met
with warm approbation, and was afterward printed
by Edes, at Watertown, in the form of a pamphlet.
Before the final assault of the British at Bunker
Gardner's regiment:
Capt. Samuel Barnard,
Lieut. John Str&tton,
2d Lieut. Phineaa Stearns,
Ensign Edward Harrington,
Sorj. Samuel Sanger,
Serj. Christopher Grant,
Serj. Josiah Capen,
Serj. Stephen Whitney,
Corporal Isaac Saunderson,
Corporal .Mi'Ses Stuue,
(.kjrporal Nathaniel Bright,
Corporal William Harrington.
ordered to the field. Its brave commander received
his death-wound while leading on his men. Under
its major, Michael Jackson, it pressed forward, and
pouring a well-directed fire upon the advancing
Britons, gallantly covered the retreat. Lieut.-Colo-
nel William Bond, of Watertown, succeeded Col.
WATERTOWN.
387
Gardner in the command, and his regiment was here-
after styled the Twenty-fifth Regiment of the Conti-
nental Army, and belonged to Gen. Green's brigade,
which was stationed at Prospect Hill. Early in March
of the following year Col. Bond received marching or-
ders for New York, where they arrived on the 30th
of that month. On the 20th of April next they
were ordered to Canada by the way of the Lakes.
Thin expedition proved disastrous to the Americans,
partly on account of the extreme sickliness of the
season. Col. Bond returned from Canada with his
force greatly weakened by disease and death, and en-
camped on Mount Independence, opposite to Ticon-
deroga.
In a letter published by the Boston Gazette of
Sept. 23, 1776, we learn that Col. Bond died from
disease in camp, Aug. 31st, and was buried at Camp
Mount Independence, Sept. 4, 1776. "His charac-
ter was honored by a discharge of three 2i-pounders
and the usual volleys of musketry.'"
Capt. Edward Harrington, of Watertown, in this
.same regiment, died in the same place, Sept. 23,
1776, probably from the same cause.
The following is a list of men who served in Xew
York in the fall of 1776 : David Whitney, Daniel
Cornwall, James Austin, Henry Sanderson, Daniel
Sawin, .Jr., .\b)jah Stone, Moses Stone, Jr., Daniel
Conk.
The following who served at Ticonderoga for one
year, 1778: Samuel Benjamin, John Benjamin, John
Whitney, William Jenison. Jonathan Wellington,
Elijah Toiman.
These for five months in the same place : Newton
I3axter, Francis Brown, Eben Eustis, David Smith,
Stephen Hasrar.
In Dec, 1776, fifty Watertown men marched to
New York.
In March, 1776, the militia were ordered by Gener-
al Wasliington to reinforce the army at Dorche->ter
Heights, atid the records give a list of ninety-five
men, under the command of Capt. Phineas Stearns,
with Ednard Harrington, Lieut. : Josiah Capen, Jr.,
and Stephen Whitney, Sergeants; Moses Stone, Jr.,
and Nathaniel Bright, Corporals ; and Nathaniel
Coolidgc, Clerk.
In 1777 ihe following men were sent to reinforce
the noriliern troops : Daniel Parker, Samuel Sprague,
Henry Brad -haw, Mo^es Hager, Jonathan Stone,
.lohn Sawin, Jacob Sanderson, Zack Shed, Benj.
Capen, .led'li Leathe, Jonathan Livermore, Peter
Rich:ird.-ion.
In Nov., 1777, the men who went to Cambridge
were: Rueirl^s Whitney, .lonathan Crafts, David
Bemis, Jr., Thaddeus Fuller, Stephen Harris, Thom-
as Learned, Samuel Wellington, James Mallard,
Daniel Mason.
Up to the year 1782 we continue to tind paid lists
of men who served in the war at Boston, Cambridge
New York and in Canada.
The most of these names are familiar as being
names of families now living here, while a few others,
such as Ctesar Wumphy, William Notonksion, Sam-
uel Littleman, given as hunters by occupation, indi-
cate descent from the aborigines of the country.
The hard, dry facts, and lists of names left to us by
history upon time-worn and yellowed manuscripts, but
feebly express the vigorous and sturdy manhood those
names represent. With keen imagination we would try
to vivify them, and make those times a living present ;
one of the most effectual means is through the news-
paper. We are fortunate on having in the Public
Library the original sheets of the Boston Gazette and
County Journal, the leading organ of the patriots.
This paper, which was published by Edes k Gill at
Boston, gave ofience to the government by its spirited
and fearless advocacy of the American cause.
On the 1st of June, 1775, Edes, who had more zeal
and courage than his partner, escaped from Boston by
night, and in a boat rowed up the Charles River, tak-
ing with him a press, and a few types by which he
I could continue his paper. He landed near the Great
Bridge, and deposited his materials in a building near
by on the north side.
Until recently this old dilapidated building might
; have been seen. Now the foundry of Walker &
Pratt covers the site. Here, from June 5, 1775, till
Oct. 28, 1776, he issued its weekly sheets, and he was
made printer to the Provincial Congress and to the
I .\ssembly and the paper attained a wide popularity.
We clip from its pages the following :
i " TO THE PUBLl''.
i " General Hospital at Cambridge, Jan. 3, ITTfi.
' " An \ppeal from John Morgan, Director General of Continental Hos-
pital nod chief Physician to Ihe army. Returns thanks to Concord.
I Bedford, Sudbury, .Vcton, Marlborough. Stow and Lincoln, for gifts .ir
I old linen, fine tow, saddlers, or sole leather (for tourniquets), web i.r
quartering, tape, thread, needles and pins, and would further like uld
sheets and worn linen, and requests that other printsra would give this
notice a place in their papers.
•' P. S. Blankets are greatly needed for the Hospitals, for which a
suitable price will be given (and to he forwanted with all possible dis-
patch).'*
i It is of interest for us of a later generation to know
I through ancients documents that the hospital referred
I to was jot one large building, but several private
I mansions mostly now standing in a gnod state of
I preservation,— houses deserted by their Tory owners
who, on the evacuation of Boston, fled either to
Halifax or England,— one owned bv Capt. George
Ruegles, a large square hou»e, now called the Wells
House, on the north side of Brattle street ; from here
the men wounded in the battle of Bunker Hill were
carried out after their death and buried in the field
, opposite ; another on what is now Arrow street
: belonging to Col. David Phipps, the grounds extend-
ing down to the river ; the Maj. Henry Vassal house,
which is now known as the Batchelder estate; this
being the largest house, Gen. Morgan used it as his
headquarters, and his medical staflF were quartered
388
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
there ; the grounds adjoined the estate of Major
Thomas Mifflin, afterwards General Mifflin. His
garden was the finest in Cambridge, and the wuunded
soldiers were allowed to walk in it ; this place after-
wards became the Brattle estate, and is now in |:art
the site of the Riverside Press. The Thomas Oliver
house was also used for hospital purposes ; this is now
the James Russell Lowell place.
Previous to Morgan's position as director-general
of the hospital at Cambridge. Dr. Benjamin Church,
a grandson of the old Indian fighter, Capt. Benjamin
Church, held the office. He had been a prominent
Whig and was trusted implicitly by the party, and
was one of the deputatiori sent to meet <jen. Wash-
ington and escort liim from Springfield to Watertown,
thence to Cambridge. It was discovered that he had
been carrying on a secret correspondence with the
enemy, and a long letter of his was intercepted. In a
closing sentence he asks tliat " the answer be sent to
some confidential friend at Xewpor', to be delivered
to me at Watertown.''
This letter of his was printed in the B'iston Gazette
at the Watertown office. Churcii was arrested and
imprisoned in the very liouse where he probably
penned the otiensive letter. On a door of a room in
the Vassal house is the name B. Church, Jr., deeply
cut in the wood, which a century's re-painting liai
vainly tried to obliterate. From this house he was
taken in a chaise and to the niusic of a fife and drum,
escorted by (-ieneral Gates aiul a guard of twenty men
to the place of his trial in the meeting-honse at Wa-
tertown.
This trial took [dace November 7, 177.'). He was
expelled from bis seat in Congress and publicly
branded us a traitor. The (General Court resolved
that he be .^ent to Norwich, Connecticut, and confined
in jail " without the use oi pen, ink or paper, and
that no person be allowed to converse with him e.x-
cept in the presence and hearing of a magistrate ol
the town, or the sheriti' of the county where he is con-
fined, and in the English language.''
The following spring, about May, Dr. Churcli and
his friends sent a petition to Congress for his release
from prison, as his health sufTered from confinement.
The plea was granted on condition that he gave his
word of honor, with sureties of one thousand pounds,
that; he would not hold correspondence with the
enemy, and that he be brought to^Iassachusetts to be
in charge of this Colony, and not privileged to go out
of its limits without a license. This sentence was
afterwards commuted to transportation for life. He
sailed in a ship for the West Indies, and as it was
never heard from afterwards, it was supposed to have
sunk with all on board.
Four days before the battle of Bunker Hill the
Continental Congress voted to ai)point a general for
the Continental Army.
At the suggestion of John Adams and on the nomi-
nation of Mr. Johnson, of Maryland, George Wash-
ington, of 'Virginia, was chosen commander-in-chief,
and on the 17th of June, 1775, his commission, signed
by John Hancock, was reported to Congress and ac-
cepted. Four major-generals were also appointed —
.A.rtemas Ward, Charles Lee, Phillip s«chuyler and
Israel Putnam. To these were added eiirlit brigadier-
geuerals.
<^n the 21st of June, Washington left Philadelphia
on horseback to lake command of the army at Cam-
bridge. He w!is accomi)anied by Major-fTenerals Lee
and Schuylnr.
At Springfield he was met by a deputation from
the Provincial Congress then holding: at AVatertown.
Tradition says that on the evening of July 2d they
arrived at the Coolidge tavern, on the south side of
the Great Bridge, where they S]ient the night ; that in
the forenoon, it being Sunday, they left the house for
the meeting-house, where, after iliviiie service eon-
ducted by the minister. Rev. Seth Storer, Washington
was presented with an address from the as.'embled
Congress by their .'Speaker, the Hon. .Tames Warren.
After an hour and a half the party proceeded to
Cambridge, where, the ne.\t day. under a great elm-
tree on the Common, he furmally took his title as
commander-in-chief 'if the American .\rniy.
On the lull of December next, at noon, Mis.
Washington, attended by her eou,,lohn Cu^tis. and
his wife, reached Watertown Iroin the Smith in ln'r
own carriage, drawn by lour horses, colored postilinns,
in scarlet and white liveries, niilitaiy escort ;iiid a
guard of honor. Two boms were ■^peiit at the Fowie
house as the guest nf Mis. Warren, .iiid the party
arrived at Cambridire at three o'clock, where she was
joined by General Wa?liiiigtoij.
An extract t'roin "The Diary of Jiorothy Dudley,'
[lublished in lS7ii, gives this ple;i.sant record :
"December 11th, Mi's. Washington, our general's
lady, has arrived, and witii her many ladies of the
families of our officers. She ha.s had a long, tedious
journey from Mt. Vernon, with bad roads and tryinir
weather, and has come by short it ages, stopping often
to rest and change horses. .She has gone directly to
her husband's headquarters. Mr. Cu^lIs, her sou,
accompanied her with his wife."'
The Mrs. Warren, wife of Hon. .Tames Warren, of
Plymouth, who entertained Mrs. Washington at the
Marshall Fowle house, Watertown, was Mercy War-
ren. She was the author of "The Liberty .'^ong,"
written in 17C9, beginning,
" f mr worthj forefathers, — IctV sive them a rbi-er —
To climates uukiiowo Jid cuuruijeuusly steer ;
Through ix'eaoB lu ilesflt'ta fur frueiloni they came.
Anii dying, bequeathed us their freeduin aud fiiiiie." '
October 17, 17S9, President Washington again
visited Watertowu on his way to Boston, and was
received with great enthusiasm. The meeting-house
bell was rung and royal salutes given quite in coii-
t ^larr L. P. Ferris in New England Magazine for July, 1890.
NntloDiil SonRB.'*
"WATERTOWN.
389
traat to his first journey, when powder and shot were
too scarce and valuable to he thus used.
On his return, November 5, he rode from Lexing-
ton to Watertown over the same road the minute-uien
had taken, April 19, 1775, and without escort went
quietly to the Coolidge tavern for refreshment and
rest. He took supper in the public dining-room in
the south end of the house, and lodged in the north-
west chamber next to the river. This house is now
standing and i.i owned by the heirs of the late John
Brigham.
A few rods south stood the mansion-house of John
Hunt, a town rejiresentative. farmer and trader. Here
ilaj.-<.ien. .To.seph Warren lodged and ate his break-
fast before he started for Bunker Hill, where he gave
his life for his country. Before starting he urged the
ladies of the household to prepare lint and bandages,
s.iying, "The poor fellows will want them all before
nignt." Slowly mi horseback he went down the hill
to the bridge, l)ut gallo|)ed back and bade theua again
farewell.
.\bner Crafts, who commanded the Watertown
company at the battle of Bunker Hill, waa an inn-
holder before he took up arms. He continued to
serve during the war, and had command of the
military escort which was granted by Congress to
L.ady Frauklatid (Agnes Surrage) on her removal
from Hopkinton to Boston during the siege of
Boston.
Under all the discouragements of the times, the
people of Watertown maintained their independent
and patriotic principles, and when, on the 20th of
May, 1776, " A resolve of the late House of
Representatives, lelaling to the Congress of the
Thirteen United Colonies, declaringthera independent
of Great Britain being reail, the question was put to
know the miml of the town, whether they will stand
by and defend the saniewitli their lives and estates;
and it p.issed in the alBrniative unanimously."
After the capture of Durgoyne's Army, Watertown
was selected as one of the places where the officers
should be quartered.
To the minds of a majority of the plain and sober
citizens this arrangement was quite repugnant; so
they called a town-meeting in December, 1777, at
which they plainly expressed their views, and through
the selectmen their vote was communicated to the
deputy quartermaster. However, several officers
c.ime and were quartered here, some at Angler's
Corner in Newton, and at other places about town.
.Tanuary 17, 1778, the representative of the town,
Jonathan Brown, w.as instructed to use his inSuence
and give his aid towards ratifying and confirming the
Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union among
the United States of America, as agreed upoa by
Congress.
On account of the prevalence of small-pox in
Boston, in June, 1778, the meeting-house in Water-
town was agaiu opened for the use of the legislative
sessions, and the minister, the Rev. Daniel Adams,
was their chaplain, and his fervor and power in
discharging the duties of that office were long
remembered.
In September of the same year the Legislature re-
sumed its sessions in Boston.
Civil War.' — Roll of Honor.— A.a the record I am
about to make, agreeable to the statute or the Com-
monwealth, may be examined by coming generations
anxious to know who might be entitled to have their
names entered upon this Roll of Honor, I will make
such explanation as to me seems desirable for a per-
fect understanding of all matters relating thereunto.
At the opening of the Rebellion the loyal citizens of
Watertown felt it incumbent upon them to take such
measures as they deemed meet and proper to aid the
general government to sustain the institutions of our
Fathers and to crush this iniquitous rebellion, not
only by word and vote, but by the more powerful
weapons of war.
They accordingly met, as the reader may see, by
referring to the town records of that date, and took
such steps as led to the organization of a military
company, which was duly organized May 5, 1861, and
which went into camp at " Camp White," Watertown,
on the Ist of June. It was accepted by the Governor
and ordered to report at Camp Cameron on the 2nd
of July following, at which date it waa mustered into
the service of the United States for three years or dur-
ing the war. Uniforms for both officers and men
were furnished by liberal citizens and the town, and
the expenses of drill and organization were paid, and
also a bounty of thirty dollars to each of the volun-
teers in addition to the other expenses incurred.
I shall, therefore, enter upon this roll all the names
of that company, with their respective places of resi-
dence, whether they composed the quota of this town
or not, and also all of those who responded at the sub-
I sequent calls of our country, but I shall index those
! only who, as far as I shall be able to ascertain, went
' to compose the quota of our town.
[ (Signed) W. H. Ingraha.m, Touni Clerk.
[ This company was attached to the Sixteenth Regi-
ment, commanded by Colonel Powell T. Wyman, of
Boston, and was entitled Company K.
C'omiiiiMJoiteti Offie^ra.
Naina. Birlh-piaet.
C;iptaiD Henry C. Lindly Watertown.
Ist Lieut. Stephen E. Messerre Watertown,
Jd Lient. Frank \V. Hilton,= Watertown.
StT-jeaiiU.
Namet. Birth-place.
Clarke, Charles E .... Waltham.
Steams, Samuel P Lynn, resided at Watertown.
Capell, Jonaa P Lexington, color liearer.
Cobnm, Charles F Watertown.
NorcrosB, Thomaa C Watertown.
1 By Wm. H. Ingraham, ad recorded in a special Tolnnie depoated in
the town arthivefl.
- Promoted to Ut Lieut, of Co. D, September 28, 1S6I, and John Eaton,
South Beading, waji commissioned September 28, 1861.
390
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, .MASSACHUSETTS.
Corporals.
Names. Birth-place.
Waters, Theodore £ Cambridge.
King, Philip H Watertown.
Brigbam, ilathiaa ?Jatick,
South. Asa D Xatick.
Rupp, Joseph D Watertown.
King, £. A Watertown.
FarTvell, John N Bolton.
Adama, George E Newton.
Privatei, Co, ff, 16(A Itegt.
AtwooU, Samael S Taunton.
Bright, Gilbert Watertown.
Bright, Joseph Watertown.
Bridges, Charles Z Watertown.
Benton, Perrin Holbrook, N. H.
Bean, Edwin Natick.
Bowman, Geo. H W, Roxbury.
Brown, Charles E Watertown.
Bradley, James E E. Braintree.
Cushman, Horace W Turner, Me.
Cole, Balph Leiington.
ColligoD, John H Watertown.
CuDimiDgs, Audrew, Jr Watertown.
Corrigan, Joseph Cambridge.
Craigen, George F Boston.
Dolloff, Johu E Watertown.
Dolloff, Benj. W Watertown.
Doherty, John Watertown.
Engley, George Wreutham.
Eldridge, William E Watertowu.
Flynn, CorneliusJ Watertown.
Freeman, Joseph Watertown.
Flohr, Andrew L Watertown.
Franklin, Samuel Newton,
Uarned, David Waltham.
Harrington, Hennan P Waltbam.
Harrison, James R Watertown.
Holbrook, John George . , Watertown.
Hauford, George C Cambridge,
Hancock, Charles Watertown.
Kenny, Patrick Waltham.
Kearney, James Watertown.
Keyea, Sylvester W Natick.
Knott, George Watertown.
Kelahar, I Newton.
Keating, Daniel Brighton.
Ljnian, William H Watertown,
Lymao, Edward Watertown.
Lord, Eben N Watertown.
LeavertOD, James W Watertown.
Luker, J AVatertown.
Mansir, John H Watertown.
Mackin, James E Watertown.
Miller, Henry I Watertown.
Miller, Charles A Watertown.
Morse, Charles A Watertown.
More, George F Natick.
McGonnigal, Barney Waltham.
McCooliff, Patrick Ashby.
Mnlluney, Matthew Waltham.
Murphy, Daniel Cambridge.
Mullen, David . Cambridge.
Manchester, G. D Cambridge.
Nichols, Abram G Burlington.
Quttlter, Johu ... Waltham.
Richardson, Charles Littleton.
Robbins, George, Jr Watertown.
Rialey, George W Watertown.
Rialey, Cheater Watertown.
Rodman, John Waltham.
Rood, J. L Liidlow.
Sanderson, Horace Waltham.
Sanderson, Henry Waltham.
Sanger, Wm. H Watertown.
Smith, Gregg Watertown.
Smith, James U Watertown.
Sumner, Alison R Watertown.
Swinburn, Samuel Natick.
Sharpe, James E Watertown.
Shattuck, Amory N Natick.
Sherman, Robert Waltham.
Smith, John J. . Waltham.
Smith, Johua Cambridge.
Sullivan, Dennis Watertown.
Stacey, Albert H Northboro'.
Tainter, George W Charleelown,
Thorapson, C. H Waltham.
Tibbetts, N. D, Newtitn.
Whitmarsh, Thumos F E. Bridjtewuler
Ward, John M Watertown.
Webb, I. .\ Matertown.
Worth, .Alonzo K Watertown.
Wright, Frank Natick.
Whittemore, George H Watertown.
Watson, Joseph . . i ambridi^'e.
Added to the compauy after the regiment left the
State and returned by the commanding officer:
Cullen, Michael Boston.
GoBson, Elijah D. Lexington.
Laniaire, John Watertown,
Moore, Peter Watertown.
O'Brien, Thomas AA'atertown.
Pratt, James K Boston.
Rev. Arthur B. Fuller, of Watertown, received the
appointment of chaplain and was with the regiment
up to the battle of Fredericksburg, when, having re-
signed his position as chaplain on tlie morning of
that battle, he took a gun and entered the ranks as a
private ; was among the first that volunteered to cross
over the river to the attack and fell, shot dead, in the
street of Fredericksburg. His body was recovered
and was brought home to his friends and was buried
in Mt. Auburn by the side of his relatives.
1862. — On the 7th of July the President issued a
proclamation calling for 300,000 volunteers. The
number assigned to Watertown as her fjuota was thir-
ty-six. A town-meeting was called and it was voted
to pay one hundred dollars bounty to each volunteer
to till the quota, and a committee was chosen to en-
list that number. They succeeded, and the following
names were enrolled :
Alonzo Pomeroy, Watertown 39th Regt., Co. G.
Samuel W. Hutchins, Watertowu ;3yth Regt., Co. G.
Henry W. Hnni, Wttiertown Sergeant, :utth Regt., Co. G.
John Whitney, Watertown Private, 39th Regt., Co. G.
Orson C. Thomas, Watertown Private, :i9th Kegt., Co. G.
Jack M. Delauey, Watertown Private, iyth Regt., Co. G.
Win. H. Corser, Watertown
Milo B. Skeele, Watertown
William H. Woodbury, Watertown . Sergeant.
Washington Madden, South Randolph . .
Geo. H. Goodwin, South Randolph ....
Z. M. Hayden, South Rjiodolph ....
Wm. Hyland, Watertown
Charles A. Spaulding, Watertown
William Bright, Watertown
James Brodnrick, Watertown
Patrick O'Hara, Boston, Watertown ....
Joseph Adams, Watertown
George Cochran, Boatou
Palemon C. Mills, Watertown 33d Regt.
Thomas Sheahen, Watertown 35th Regt
William Mellen, South Boston 35th Regt.
Charles H. Chapman, Watertowu 35th Regt.
"WATERTOWN.
391
IJjijiel lliiggerty, Wiitertown :iMU Uej;t.
Wni. W. West, Watartown 33d Regt., Co. B.
Parker McCuen. W.itertnwn VA Regt., Co. B.
.lohn Doually, WiitertowD 33J Regt., Co. B.
.Ii.liD Crompton, Watcrtowii 3.1d Regt., Co. R.
.lubii jrcKlnley, Watcrtowii .'..Id Regt., Co. B.
Kuiilo Evers. Wnterrowu :;;id Regt., Co. B.
.lu.seph Golleili, Watortuwn :!.")th Regt., .Sergeant Co. B.
rhotuas McN'eil, Wuiertown . nsth Regt , Private.
Eilwarcl N, Pickering, Watert.iwu 35tlj Regt., SergeaDt, Co. B.
Wni. li. Hogon. Wal.TtiiwD 35tU Regt., Sergeant.
Robert .\lliinj, Watertovvii 3Jtb Kegt., Sergeant.
.John Daviiion, Watertowu 35th Regt., Sergeant.
P.atrick O'Hara 39tb Begt., Co. G.
Tlie above were duly mustered into the service of
tiie United States, Camp Stanton, at Lvnnfield, and
received their bounty as per vote of town.
The following names are residents of Watertown
who volunteered for the three years' service and went
into other companies, but who served to fill the quota
of this town, and wero allowed as an offset to the
town when the rei|uisitiou was made for an additional
number of .'iflii.UOO volunteers :
Rilf'ii^ Babcock, Wnterrowu i.'o- H., li>tb Rfgt.
Terence Rogers, Watertown ... ... Co. I, It'-tb Regt.
Hngli Rogers, Wali-rtown Co. T, leili Kegt.
Patrick Roijera, Walertow n to. I, liith Regt.
Jubnsv'n .\tclier9on, U atertown Co. I, lOtb Regt.
\ugu3Hu Severnse 2d Cavalry.
.lobu F. Bernard. Watertown -Jd Cavalry.
lieort-e K. iloward. Watertown . . . . S'.Hb New \olk.
I 'liarle^ K. Sbeniiai), Watertown , . . Ninini^ Battery.
Pliinea.1 K. Kins. Wat.Tl.iwii N'inima Battery.
Wni. O. Wliite, Walert<nvu .Co. .V, IGth Regt.
Cliall.-S .lacksoll, Watertown i o. i., 13tb Regt.
Will. It. .Iack=un. Wal.Tton II
i. .r. Trnll, Watertown '■.,. .\. l.'.tb Kegt.
■loliti Coiiley, Watertown . , , N"ew t)rleans, witb Diitl.-r.
Patl'irk l.'rottv, Watertown '"'•. I. -3d Regt.
Edwin II. Brii;liaiu, Watertown . lo. .\, l:!th Kegl.
Elijah >i<ncro>.s. Watertown Co L, Utb Regt.
fiarriauii I. Craig, Watt^rtown .... (^o. G, Tth Battery.
Win. P.iwliiig, WatLTti-wii Co. It, :yld newt.
U.i-cl.in Ireland, Wal.rtovui ... . Util Regt.
Kev. lleniy .V. Hempdtead, Cll.i|.laiD . . -'.Jtll Regt.
Kdward S. Row.se, Watertown St. Loutd.
Iltnry .V. Wilkiiw, Watertown ... . i;ilth Regt.
Saninel ii. Soyea >barp3liooter3 4oth Regt.
Will. H .lohnson. WatertoHii Kbode Island Ue^t.
.Vdot|ihiis KIoo*. W.uerlown '>tb Battery.
Owen Dinnn, Watertown 30th Regt.
Cbarlei Howard, \\ atertown 141b Ucgt.
James lIotL-hins^'n, Waterlown id Regt.
.Mirliael M. Warren, Watertown Jtb Begt.
Hugh l-irey. Watertown ... 38th Regt.
lames B. Childs, July -'J, 1^'iJ. \V aleriowu . Co. .\, lith Regt.
On the 4th day of August, 1862, a further call for
an additional number of 300,000 more soldiers was
made u|ion the loyal States, and a town-meeting was
called, to be held the ISth day of September, and by
adjournment to the 17th day of the same month, at
which meeting the town voted to pay the sum of one
hundred and fifty dollars to each citizen of Water-
town who should volunteer for the term of nine
months, and be accepted and mustered into the ser-
vice of the United States as a part of the quota of
Watertown, and they also directed the selectmen to
open an enrollment list immediately. In response to
that call the following persons volunteered, and were
accepted and mustered into service September I'J,
i862:
yame$. Residence. TheMe were auigned la
.losepb Crafta, Watertown Co. K, 5th Regt.
I Ira J. Osborne, Watertown Co. K, 5th Regt.
.lohn H. Carter, Watertown Co. K, 6th Regt.
I William F. Baldwin, Watertown Co. K, 6th Begt
; Charles Brigbaoi, Watertown Co. K, 5th Regt.
■ Jacob I.;. Boyce, Watertown Co. K, 5th Regt.
Cliarlea .\dam8, Watertown Co. K, 5th Regt.
! Joseph Lyman, Watertown Co. K, 6th Regt.
George A. Dexter, Watertown Co. K, 5th Regt.
I .lames H. Blanchard, Watertown Co . K, 5th Begt.
j Patrick Burns, Watertown Co. K, 5th Regt.
Judson Bent, Watertown Co. K, 5th Regt.
.\ndrew De Wyre, Watertown Co. K, 5th Regt.
Thomaa Dardis, Watertown Co. K, 5th Regt.
Jauies Dunn, Watertown Co. K, 5th Regt.
James A. Ellis, Watertown Co. K, 5th Regt.
Charles Foster, Watertown Co. K, 5th Regt.
Micajah C. Howes, Watertown Co. K, 5th Regt.
ijliarles F. Hill, Watertown Co. K, 5th Regt.
George E. Harrington, Watertown Co. K, 5th Regt.
James Wilson, Watertown Co. K, 5th Regt.
Oliver 31. Over, Watertown Co. K, 5th Regt.
Charles i.'. Hilton, Watertown Co. K, 5th Begt.
George W. Horn, Jr., Watertown Co. K, 5th Begt.
Edward C. Ireland, Watertown Co. K, 5th Begt.
William Jones, Watertown . Go. K, 5th Begt
James Kennedy, Watertown Co. K, 5th Begt.
.Austin W. Lindley, Watertown Co. K, 5th Begt.
George C. XicholiS Watertown Co. K, 6th Regt.
Ward M. Otis, Watertown . Co. K, 5th Begt.
Peter A. Ober, Watertown Co. K, 6th Begt.
.lohn .^. Pond, Watertown Co. K, 5th Regt.
Charles H. Priest, Watertown Co. K, 5th Begt.
Seldou H. Rosebrook, Watertown Co. K, 5th Regt.
Jeremiah Russell, Jr., Watertown Co. K, 6th Regt.
Mark N. Sibley, Watertown Co. K, 5th Regt.
Charles E. Sanger, Waterlown Co. K, 5th Regt.
John S. Stanley, Waterlown Co. K, .Sth Regt.
Joseph H. Tyghe. Watertown Co. K, otii Itegt.
Patrick Toole, Watertown Co. K, 5th Begt.
Daniel S.. Wilson, Watertown Co. K, 5th Begt.
.\rao9 L. Derby, U'atertown Co. K, Jtb Regt.
Horace W. Otis, Watertown Co. K, 5th Regt.
Edwin A Stackpole, Watertowu Co. K, oth Begt.
George L, Rhoades, Watertown Co. K, jth Begt.
Thomas Pendergaat, Watertown Co. K, 5th Begt.
F. .\. Howard, Watertown Co. K, 3th Begt.
i Edward F. Richardson, Watertown .... Co. K, jth Begt.
Daniel P. Tilton, Watertown Co. B, i4th Regt.
j I. W. Sylvester, Watertowu Co. B, 44th Regt.
i C. 8. Fields, Watertowu Co. B, 44th Begt.
Henry S. Treadwell, Watertowu Co. B, 44th Regt.
! Aaron W. Harris, Watertown Co. B, 44th Regt.
j Frank I. Hutchins, Wateitown Co. .\, 47th Regt.
I F. D. Chant Light Artillery, 11th Regt.
I George W. Booth, Watertowu . . Light Artillery, 11th Regt.
I Samuel Grienwood, Watertown lones* Battery.
' Charles F. Degan, Watertown Co. E, 50th Regt.
Charles Sillier, Watertown Co. E, 50th Regt
Samuel D. Bodge. Watertowu .\ssi0tant in Hospital.
' Franklin Colfio, Watertown Connecticut Regt.
I Thomas H. Patten, Watertown Co. E. 44th Regt.
; James A. Robblna, Watertown . . . Co. E, 44th Regt.
I Frank S. Learned, Watertowu Co. E, 44th Regt
■ Henry T. Pierce, Watertown Co. E, 44th Regt.
! Joseph G. Wilkins. Watertown Co. A, 44th Regt.
! .1. L. Day, Watertown Co. A, 47th Regt.
John W. Hartford, Watertowu Co. .^, 47th Begt
Daniel C. Hawes, Watertown Co. A, 47tli Begt.
James Kearney, Watertown Co. A, 47th Regt.
Henry W. Christian, Watertown Co. B, 43d Regt
George E. Priest, Watertown Co. H, 52d Begt.
392
HISTOKY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
WA TERTO WN—{ Continued).
BU3INES3 nTTEKESTS — BAXK3.
The Business Ixtebests of Watertowm. — The >
local business of Watertown has never been \er^
]arg;e, but the opportunities for its citizens to supply
their wants for food and clothing and other necessi-
ties have generally been good. When transportation i
from Boston to the outlying towns was by wagon — '
this was long after that first period when transport:!- ■
tion was by boat, along the estuaries and up the riv- i
era, — when, in fact, all transportation between Boston i
and the central and northern parts of Massachusetts,
and with New Hampshire and Vermont, was made '
by teams, — Watertown was on the great road, where
six-horse coaches and six-horse wagons were common,
passing through her streets as commonly as single ■
teams pass now. Then there were convenient stopping-
places — taverns for the entertainment of man and
beast. There were at least six taverns, where we have
scarcely one now. Then there were stores also where
the countrymen could sell their produce and buy
their dry-goods and groceries, their hardware, their
medicines. In the early days money was scarce,
salaries of the minister and schoolmaster were paid '
in corn and other grain. Of course nearly all trade |
was barter trade ; exchange of produce at the stores.
A farmer would come in with his family, making a j
day of it, to make his purchases for several weeks or |
months at once.
Trade has changed greatly from what it was sixty ■
or eighty years ago. !
Now the farmer, if not supplied at his own door, or
in his own villiige, goes directly to Boston by rail,
makes his purchases with the money which has been
returned perhaps by the commission dealer for his
produce, sees the sights and returns the same day, or
atter a very short stop.
The stores in Watertown now supply what the ladies
or the families do not care to take the time to go to Bos-
ton for. It is true that the people, in many cases,
would be far better served nearer home, and at cheap-
er rates ; but one cannot expect the average person
who wishes to buy a few dollars' worth of dry-goods,
say, to refrain from the temptation to overhaul the
entire stocks of the large dry-goods stores in Boston.
Then " that is as good as a play," and so they have
their satisfaction for their time and money, even al-
though they choose poorer and less tasty goods, and
at higher prices than they would have given nearer
home, but they have seen great quantities of goods
and a large number of people buying.
In this way we try to account for this present
tendency to rush to the largest places for everything,
which is common to the multitude, not reflecting that
they often buy of cheap salesmen who have no name
and no care to establish a reputation, when they might
have purchased nearer home of the proprietors them-
selves, it is true of smaller establishments, but yet
men who have judgment and taste and everything
to gain by serving their customers and neighbors
well.
Back in the earlier days, which the oldest now
scarcely remember, before 1830, William Sherman,
who h.ad as a young man taught a school ou the
corner of School and Belmont Streets, and for a year
in Medlbrd, was engaged in the dry -goods businc;<s.
He began with Mr. Bigelow and later entered into part-
nership with Jesse Wheeler in 1S34, under the name
of Jesse Wheeler & Co. lu-lSoG Jesse Wheeler went
to W'est Newton and Mr. Sherman formed a partner-
ship with Mr. Bigelow. Later than this he kept a
store on the south side of Main Street. When the
towu-hall was built in 1S47, William Sherman was
the tirst occupant on the east side, with his stock of
dry goods. In 1S40 he sold out to W'm. H. lugraham,
who was for :<o many years the town clerk and who
has occupied so many oiBtes ' ot trust in the service of
the town and is in 1.S90 the ihairniau of the Board of
•Seltctmen. William If. Ingraham I'airied on a dry-
goods business here for two years, until, in IStil, hi-
was followed by Mr. Joel Barnard, who remained
until 1SG9, when that side wa.s fitted up lor the use ot
the Free Public Libr;iry, and Mr. Barnard built the
Orick block next east of the town-hall, now occupied
by the apothecary, James B. Woodward.
In lSo8 Mr. Jesse Wheeler returned from West
Newton and established a store near the corner of
Mount Auburn and Main Streets, where he kept a
great variety ofgoods such as were usually kept in a
countrv store, includinEr dry-goods, crockery, cutlery,
boots and shoes, etc. — in fact almost everything ex-
cept provisions and building materials.
In 1S45 Jesse Wheeler bought the building which he
occupied for many (twenty) years. In lS4tj Jlr. Delano
March, who had served as clerk with Mr. Wheeler,
was taken into the firm. Many prominent business
men have begun their business education in this
house. In 1853, Mr. March retired to enter the firm
of Locke, Chandler & JIarch, Boston, afterwards
March Brothers, Pierce & Co., wholesale dealers in
gentlemen's furnishings.
Otis A. Train, who had been in the employ of the firm
for several years and had formed a matrimonial copart-
nership with ilr. Wheeler's oldest daughter, entered
this house which for a while from this time was
Wheeler & Train, until Mr. Wheeler bought him
out.
In 1S57, Horace W. Otis began as a boy with Mr.
1 Wdi. H, iDG^rabaoi, cbairmaD of the Board of SelectmeD for 1890,
served also in 1875 and 187R, and na town clerk from IS.W to 1803, 1881-
1^*«',', [wenty-tbree yeara, and repreaeniative to General Court 1862, 1878,
1870 ; assessor fur 1H79-1890, (except 18S0) many times moderator, fre-
quently serving on important committees.
WATEKTOWN.
393
Wheeler. Ward M. Otis began in 1860. Both served on |
the quota of Watertown in the War of the Rebellion, j
and on their return from the war bought out the stock I
and stand of Jesse Wheeler, and since that have j
continued to carry on the business. During the past 1
year, encouraged by their growing success, they have
erected on the west corner of Main and Spring
Streets the large brick block which they now occupy.
Their business in the changed tendency of the times
to greater specialization, is more limited in variety of
kinds of gootls than were kept by Jesse Wheeler in
1853, although they have a very much larger store
and a much larger stock of goods. Dry goods and
boots and shoes in sufficient variety for a place of
this size can probably be found always on their shelves
and counters. The second story of their new build-
ing is occupied by the Young Men's Christian As-
sociation, and the third floor by the Pequos,sett Lodge
of Free Masous, who sub-let to the Odd Fellows, the
Young ^[en's Assembly, and various other organiza-
tions. This in one of the finest business blocks yet
erected in the town. Its architect was Alberto F.
Haynes. Our limited space will not allow us to de-
scribe the dry -goods store of Geo. C. Lunt & Co.,
formerly Lunt & Tarlton, or the apothecary stores of
James B. Woodward, or of F. M. Martin for many
years known as Sullivan's, or of George F. Taylor, or
the new one of E. E. Jennison, all on Main Street.
So we must not stop to describe the stores of the
grocer, Benjamin Dana, who built the Dana Block on
Main Street, and the large residence on SuramerStreet,
now occupied by the Rev. William H. Savage. He
was wise in securing the location of the works of the
gas company on the banks of the river, although the
government ha.s not yet' made the slight e.xpenditure
necessary to enable vessels to bring their supplies of
coal directly to their wharf. We need not mention
the line of grocers who have followed him, improving
the methods of doing business until now one beholds
an artistic display of all that one can ever need placed
out openly so that any one can see the prices plainly
marked, to tempt his purse and help him to purchase
wisely, as at Benton's Boston grocery, or Hartford's
round the corner, or at Hall's in the Noyes Block, or
in some others.
The furniture stoie of Luther Bent, established
in 1835, in a small building now within the foundry-
yard, then moved to a building now occupied by
Page's paint-shop, then to the building he and his
son now occupy, when it was on Galen Street, over
Mill Creek, where F. H. Martin carries on a similar
business. 3Ir. Leathe, before the great fire of 1841,
had a bakery on the corner of Church and Main
Streets. After that lamentable fire which destroyed
the First Parish Church and much valuable private
property besides his own, he put up the building now
' As we Ru Co press, we bear that CoD^reea Ua^ appropriated $20,0UO
for thla purpooe, oa cercaio cuaditiotia.
Standing, and a part of which has since his death
soon after its erection, been occupied by his successor,
Charles H. Bright, for the same purpose. At the
present time there are several other places where
bread and other bakers' supplies are furnished to a
growing population. !Mr. Bright's memory of dates
of past events is rather remarkable. In one part of
this building, a room is occupied by Charles Lenox,
the barber, whose father lived in a small house
which stood where the Town Hall now stands, and
who was, like the son, a mine of story of the early
part of the century. This notice should not close
without mention of the office and jewelry store of
Hiram Whitney, with its coins and other antiquities
in the same building of which he is now the owner.
Builders. — Among the builders whose honora-
ble record has been made during the past fifty years
should be mentioned H. W. Macurday, who has
erected in this and the adjoining towns more than a
hundred buildings of the best class, the first of which
is now occupied by some of the heirs of John
Coolidge, near the old cemetery at Mount Auburn.
The house of Albert O. Davidson, on the beautiful
site of the old David Bemis house, at Bemis, was also
one of his construction, as were nearly all of the
houses along that parkway called Garfield Street.
So also the houses, beautiful for design and beauti-
ful for situation, occupied by the Pierces, father and
son, on the descent of Mt. Auburn Street, and the
house of the miller, James W. Magee, opposite the
cemetery, on the corner of Chester Street.
Chester Sprague, an active builder, has recently
built up nearly the whole of " Otisville," and of Ir-
ving Park and vicinity, and has begun on a large
scale to build on Whiting Park, of which he is part
owner, a large number of modern houses, at moderate
cost. The beautiful location, the nearness to steam
and horse-cars, the desirable neighborhood, have al-
ready secured the success of the Watertown Land
Company in this enlargement of the residential por-
tion of our town. This company, composed of four
persons only — Horace W. Otis, Ward M. Otis,
Chester Sprague and Samuel S. Gleason, the real
estate agent — has laid out about one hundred lots,
of which about one-half are sold; and has reserved
several acres of beautiful woodland, on the slope and
summit of White's Hill, up which the estate extends.
This wooded hill is a pleasant feature of every Water-
town landscape. It is to be hoped that this may be
joined with some of the land already belonging to the
town, and which gay groups of tennis-players occupy
every pleasant afternoon, and be converted into a
public park for the continued healthy out-door exer-
cises of future generations.
In naming the prominent builders who have done
and are doing so much to develop the town, one
should not omit the plumber, Charles H. Rollins.
There are several architects in town. Most promi-
nent among these is Mr. Charles Brigham, who,
394
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
although yet a young man, has done the town good
service by designing many of the public and private
buildings, while chiefly engaged in much larger un-
dertakings in Boston and other cities. While erect-
ing such structures, for instance, as the ilaine State-
House, the great extension of the M.issachusetts
State- House, and other similar buildings, he has found
time to serve as chairman of the Board of Selectmen
for a number of years, has been a member of the
School Committee, is chairman of the Board of Trus-
tees of the Free Public Library, a director of the
Union Market National Bank, and is the jiresident
of the Watertown Co-operative Bank. His own resi-
dence is a model of good taste.
Alberto F. Haynes has also designed many of (lie
better houses of the town, nearly all in "Otisville"
and Irving Park, the new Otis Building, and the
Church of the Good Shepherd, which, with its walls
of field-stone and its beautiful stained-gl.ass windows
of delightful tones, is an ornament to one of the best
parts of the town. Sanford Phipps has designed
houses on Green Street, the new Almshouse, and the
Grant Grammar School-house which stands in the
Park.
Henry Rus.sell, Sr., now the Jr. of the same name,
Geo. A. Page, and B. T. Rundlett, are each ready to
paint the new houses that are to be built, in as good
style as they have for many years done their work in
this and adjoining towns.
Provinions. — One need not go to the city for pro-
visions, for Wra. H. Lyman, and Hackett Bros., and
N. B. Hartford, and Field and Melvin are to be found
with well-stocked stores near the square, and others
will visit your houses with well-tilled wagons. James
H. Snow will serve you with fish, Howard Bros, with
ice, Thomas Gavin or W. H. Pevear & Co., or Geori^e
H. Sleeper will bring you coal or other fuel, so thai
life in this beautiful town can hardly be called a bur-
den.
Building Materials. — If one needs to enlarge his
buildings or erect new, Gilkey & Stone, as for very
many years, have a large stock of lumber and other
building materials always on hand. Geo. E. Teel
and Rich. H. Paine have each a generous supply of
all kinds of building and other hardware in stock.
When one's house is done, or before, Wm. H. In-
graham, or Wm. E. Farwell the collector, or S. T.
Sharpe, or even Geo. H. Tarleton will give you choice
of companies in which to place the risk of loss from
fire, thus dividing, at a moderate expense, the anxiety
which valuable possessions bring.
Dentists. — In another place will be found a sketch
of the physicians of the past and present. This
might include the dentists also, whose services are so
important in our modern civilization. The name of
Dr. D. T. Huckins is found there, and in several
other connections among the town officers of the past
forty years, and should be given here. His office
is in the new Otis Building. Dr. R. H. Home occu-
pies the second story over the National Bauk, while
for a short time since J. P. Niles has had a room iu
Noyes' Block.
Streets and Sidewalks. — The streets of the town have
been greatly improved during the past twenty years,
partly under suggestions of N. Henry Crafts, the civil
engineer, a native of the town, who made a most
thorough and exhaustive report on a system of streets,
" drainage and sewerage" in 1878, as he had on water
supply and drainage in 1874 and in 1875 ; and part-
ly by his assistants of that time, who have followed
up the work as they have had opportunity. Credit
is due to the Learned brothers, Wrddo and ^Vilbur,
in this direction ; as also to Charles F. Jackson, a na-
tive resident civil engineer, who served the town and
his country in the late war.
The town published a large edition of the valuable
reports of Mr. Crafts, and these will furnish the basis
of future comprehensive drainage workn, which must,
iu the course of time, be undertaken for the proper
d;s|iosal of sewage and in the preservation of the
good name which the town has ever had, — especially
v.'hen its population was more scattered, — for healthi-
ness as a place of residence.
The Town Improvement Society has set nut trees
and called attention to the general appearance of the
streets. The town, with the hearty co-operation of
individual owners, has, with their .Tssistance, mainly
through David F. Tripp and his helpers, put down
on almost every street not furnished with brick side-
walks, .13 on Main Street, good walks of concrete, so
that one can walk, even in a rain-storm, from Cam-
bridge to Xewton or Bemis, with less danger than
even a few rods the other way, to that neat appear-
ance of one's foot-wear, which it is said that George
Washington prized so much.
Ship-building and the Navigation of the Eiver. —
William Wood, who was here in IB.'.-S, says, in his
" New-Englands Prospect" (chap, x.), "On the east
<ide (of the Mistick River) is Mr. Cradock's plantation,
where he hath impaled a park. . . . Here, like-
wise, he is at charges of building ships. The last
year one was on the stocks of 100 tons. That being
finished, they are to build one twice her burden."
That was said of Medford, not of Watertown where
Matthew Cradock had, with William How, built a
mill. We do not know that any vessels of any con-
siderable size had ever been built in Watertown until
1890. Indeed, most of those living in town have
almost forgotten that the river is navigable, or should
be, as far is the bridge. Some remember the wharves
on the south side, spoken of by Mr. Ensign ; some re-
member when, as boys or girls, they rode in the boats
or on the freight flat-boats of Mr. Sanger, who, by
propelling by poles with the help of the inflowing and
outflowing tides, continued to move the heavier
freight up and down the river to and from Boston and
Charlestown. At least one remembers when, about
the year 1821 or 1822, a vessel laden with lumber
WATERTOWN.
395
came up to the wharf below the buildings ot the
Walker Pratt Company, and discharged her cargo on
the wharf. This lumber was from trees cut on the
farm of llr. Simon Barrett, of Hope, Maine. This
was taken over to Camden, Maine, put into this ves-
sel, under the command of Captain Pendleton, and
brought to Boston, and up the Charles River to the
bridge, and discharged upon the wharf and land of
Mr. Luther Barrett. With this lumber, Mr. Barrett
built the large shop on what is now Beacon Square,
which he occupied as a paint-shop, the lower story
being for the storage of carriages, the painting being
done in the second-story to which the u.sual inclined
plane led. (This shop, having been accidentally
burned after the death of Jlr. Barrett, was replaced
by the present structure, which we have said was oc-
cupied by Luther Bent in the early days of his furni-
ture business).
A little dredging would make the whole river navi-
gable to the bridge, and be of very great value to the
town.
It is hoped that a new era in the navigation of the
river has begun. The old condition of the river may
be restored and improved.
On the oOth of July, 1890, the first steam vessel was
launched by Mr. John Cassidy, from his land, which
was once, as shown by specimens found, an old Indian
cam ping-ground, just above the United States Arseual.
This may be followed immediately by the building of
others. To make these of such use as they should be,
the river, nf course, should be cleared of impediments,
the draws should be improved, and in the course of
time we may hope to see the oeautiful scenery along
the banks, as in the days of our fathers, enjoyed by
those passing up and down, more rapidly now and
more easily, by the aid of steam, to where the terraced
slopes of Newton and ^\'■atertown greet the eye.
This vessel of Mr. Cassidy 's, of about 400 tons bur-
den, a double-propellor, named the " Watertown," was
launched in the presence of over five thousand people,
including the otBcials of Newton, Waltham, Belmont
and Watertown, with a band of music, with speeches
and congratulations, and a banquet, to the delight of
all. So far, your historian can go. May some future
writer record the success of an experiment begun two
hundred and sixty years after that of Cradock near
his "impaled park " on the Mistick.
Wood, in 1633, said " Ships of small burthen may
come up to these two towns (Cambridge and Water-
town), but the oyster banks do bar out the bigger
ships." It will be possible to avoid the oyster banks,
if only the general government do what it should to
clear the channel and encourage the formation and
maintenance of that commerce that would bless not
only the old town of Watertown and the immediate
neighborhood of Boston and Massachusetts Bay, but
the entire country as well.
Doubtless the policy of England in dredging out
and improving the mouths of her rivers and estuaries,
— fitting training courses for supplying her navy with
skilled men, — helps to keep alive the spirit of emula-
tion in naval improvements as well as to furnish
the practical education required to enable her in any
time of need to man her navies with an irresistible
force. It is dictated by wisdom and practical economy.
It would be pleasant to behold, with the improved con-
dition of usefulness of the Charles River for naviga-
tion, also that condition of wholesomeness of its
waters, indicated by the presence of the multitudes of
fishes found by our fathers. The testimony of science
is that this desirable condition is only a question of
the application of the proper means, with energy.
Banks and Banking. — The banks, although among
the most important agencies through which the busi-
ness is conducted, have, as a matter of evolution, come
late in the growth of the old town. The town of Water-
town is now very well accommodated with institutions
for the deposit and safe keeping as well as for the loans
and collections of money, and the ordinary trans-
action of monetary atfairs.
The Union Market National Bank was organized
in 1873. The first meeting of the association for
organization was on the 9th of April, 1873. It was
voted at first to call the bank the Watertown National
Bank, but it afterwards was decided to call it the
Union Market National Bank, and that the capital
should be $100,000, with the privilege of increasing
to 8300,000.
Those who signed the certificate of organization
were John H.Conant, Charles J. Barry, Royal Gilkey,
George K. Snow, George N. March, Thomas L. French
and James S. Allison.
It was voted that there should be seven directors,
and the following were chosen : George N. March,
George K. Snow, Royal Gilkey, Thomas L. French,
Charles J. Barry, John H. Conant and James S. Alli-
son.
In the choice of president there was at first a tie
between Charles J. Barry and George N. March, but
at the next meeting one of the directors having re-
turned from Washington, Geo. N. March was elected.
Capt. J. K. Stickney was made cashier. On May
23d, Messrs. Barry and French resigned from the
board, and S. F. Woodbridge, of Cambridge, and N.
E. Hollis, of Boston, were elected.
A code of by-laws was adopted in June, and on the
7th of July, 1873, the bank opened for business, the
board of directors met in their room, and notes were
discounted.
George N. March continued to occupy the presi-
dent's chair till the fall of 1883, when Oliver Shaw
took his place.
Tilden G. Abbott was elected assistant cashier in
July, 1873. Before 1880 Capt. Stickney resigned his
po3t as cashier, and was elected vice-president, which
position he continues to hold. T. G. Abbott was
made cashier, which position he held until January,
1884, when he left suddenly with loss to the bank.
396
HISTORY OF 3IIDDLESEX COUxXTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Capt. Stickney, as vice-president, performed the
duties of cashier until Mr. Noah Swettwas appointed
cashier on the 20th of February, 1884.
George S. Parlcer was made assistant cashier in
January, 1887, and Harry Brigham clerk in October
of the same year.
The capital stock was fixed in 1873 at §100,000 ;
in May, 1874, increased to S200,000 ; December 30,
1876, reduced to $150,000; May 17, 1881, increased
again to $200,000, and March 5, 1884, decreased again
to$100,000. At this last amount it still stands, although
there appears from the books to be a large surplus.
The stockholders were originally wholly in the
town, although now probably more than one-half of
the stock is held out of town.
The history of the bank was in its earlier days one
of varying fortune, but for the past few years, under
the conservative management of its present officers,
of promise for the future. The bank has proved a
great convenience to the business men of the town,
never refusing small loans to citizensof the town who
can furnish good security, allows more ready transfers,
and facilitates the accumulation of ready funds for
building purposes, and forthesreneral uses of business.
Its stock is seldom offered in the ma.'ket ; the last
sale noticed, which was in 1889, was at about 5=140, the
par Talue being SIOO. It has paid dividends of five
per cent, semi-annually for several years.
77je ]Vatertov'ii Savinifs Bank was incorporated by
act of the Legislature, April 18, 1870. The persons
uamed in the act of incorporation were Nathaniel
Whiting, Charles J. Barry and Joshua Coolidge. Tlie
first meeting of the incorporators was held September
1, 1870, when the charter was accepted and twelve
associate members were elected. The bank was
opened for business in a room on the second floor of
Noyes' Block, November 10, 1870, when the deposits
of the first day amounted to $924. At the expiration
of five years, the bank was removed to the first floor
of McMasters' Block, and opened for busine«s every
day in the week from one to four P.^f., and on Thurs-
day evenings from seven to nine o'clock. This caused
a great increase in its deposits. During the first sis
years of its existence, before the uew law went into
effect, dividends of six percent., computed from the
first day of each month, were earned and paid.
With regard to the management of its affairs, it may
be said that depositors have never been required to
give the legal notice of intention to withdraw funds,
not even in the panics of 1873 and 1878. Of all the
loans made, the only direct loss sustained from its
commencement has been the sum of $204, and only
one foreclosure of a mortgage has been made, and in
this the auction sale brought nearly three times the
loan claimed by the bank. The interest on every
outstanding loan has been paid in full to October, 1889.
This is a record of which the investment committee
of the bank should have full credit, their only reward.
The unpaid service of successful business men is reu-
I dered to the bank as an encouragement to small in-
I vestments, which may be spared by those earning
small amounts, for the building of homes and for pro -
{ vision against the days when sickness or old age re-
I quire aid.
] The number of persons holding books is 3054.
I The amount on deposit is §367,781.79.
I In 18S0 the bank was removed to the Union Market
I National Bank Building, and in 1887 the bank was
j removed to the first floor of Barnard's Block, where
; in the summer of 1890 the room wa.s refitted and im-
proved in appearance. After the death of the presi-
I dent, Charles J. Barry, Dr. Alfred Hosuier accejited
the post of president, which he held until March 25,
1890, when Albert O. Davidson was elected to tlie
position.
In Dr. Hosmer'.j presidency the by-laws were thor-
oughly revised, a work in which Dr. Hosmer took
great interest, and was untiring in establishing the
best possible forms of doing business, including a new
and model deposit-book lor the use ot depositors.
A statement of the condition of the bank June 3U,
1890, is as follows :
Deposits ^.IB?, 447.03
L'Ddivided Earniugs Il.a42.4j
'•uaniutee Fuud '',0'j2.U0
Ueiil Estate Loam .... t-i'7 540.71
I PerS'iDal Loans .....: lO.Oi'O.ni.t
1 Railroad Bonds 72,JC2.;.0
I Municipal Securities 31,31.'). Ou
UnDk £tock U?.718.S7
Expense Account 701.4*2
I Cash S,482.9o
j lSOO-91— orricEBa.
I President, .\lt'ert i.i. Davidson; Vire-rresidenl, John K. Sticknej;
'■ clerk, Ward 51. Otia ; Trustees. John K. Sfickuej', clirer Shaw, S. S.
I fileiiflon, A. ti Iiaviilson, M"m. H. InKiahani. (.ieo. E. Priept, Ward M
j otin. rbesterSprat^ue. J. U. Woodward, E. B. Eaton, <!'. D. Crawford, R.
I P. Stack, C. >i. Pierce, C. W. stone ; Bt»ard of Investment, -VIbert u.
Daridsun, Wm. H. Ingrahaiii, Calvin D. Crawford ; Trea-snrer, i.ieoru'a
I E. Priest ; Book-keeper and Cashier, Wni. E. Farwelt ; (.'orponitore*,
.lodhiia Coolidge, John K. SliL-kiiey, Oliver Sliau.D. B. Flint. Frnni-is
Kendall, S. S. Gleason, A. 0. Davidson, .\lfied Hosmer, Wm. H. In^ra-
liam, George E. Priest, M'ard 51. Otis, J. B. Woo^lward, T. P. Emerson,
Cbas. B. Gardner, E. B. Eaton, C. D. Crawford, R. P. Stack, C. Q. Pierce,
J. J. Sullivan, Moses Fuller, W. A. Learned, t;. W. Stone, Fred. ij.
Barker, H. W. Otis, F. H. Edgcomb, A. H. Hartweil, A. A. L. Gordon,
Julian A. Mead, Chester Sprugne, Fred. E. Crawford.
The Watertown Co-Operative Ba)tk was organized
June 5, 1888; chartered June 23, 1888; began busi-
ness June 28th, with an authorized capital of SI, 000,-
000, with regular monthly meetings on each fourth
Thursday.
It has already entered on its fifth series of shares,
has invested its money among its own shareholders,
enabling some to build houses for themselves and pro-
viding them a systematic and easy mode of payment,
while earning for the shareholders a good rate of
interest. The dividends earned so far are at the rate
of six per cent., while all the necessary expenses of
starting such an institution have been paid, and there
is a small surplus in the treasury.
The present officers are Charles Brigham, president ;
A. H. Hartweil, vice-president ; S. S. Gleason, secre-
WATERTOWN.
397
tary and treasurer ; with a board of fourteen direc-
tors, including besides the above, G. C. Holt, L. B.
Porter, L. S. Frost, H. H. Powell, J. E. Hackett, J. H.
Xorcross, H. \V. Otis, L. S. Cleveland, H. D. Skinner,
T. P. Emerson and A. B. Cole. The auditors are
•>. F. Robinson, J. H. Perkins and E. J. Smith. At-
torney, F. E. Crawford.
The purpose of this bank is to help wage-earners
to become investors and real property-owners, at least
owners of their own houses. The system has a strong
.idvocate in the present Governor of the State, Gov.
Brackett, and has proved its capacity for good in
many places, notably in Philadelphia, where thou-
sands of houses have been built by its aid.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
WA TERTO IF xV— ( Conlinutd).
Maxufacturixg axd Mechanical Isdustries.
— For a place of the size of Watertown, its industries
are numerous and varied. Situated at the head ol
tide-water on the Charles River, — a river that might
better bear it.s ancient and appropriate and more sug-
■le^itivp name, Massachusetts River, — it was, when tirsi
discovered by our English ancestors, the scene of !ic-
tivitv, the home and tishing-ground of a considerable
nibe of Indians. Gathered about its fall, where '' iIk
sweet waters mingled with the tide'' from the ocean
were the more intelligent and active of the red men,
busv, at certain times in the year, in harvesting the
abundance of fishes that, following the law of nature,
were on their way through the rapids or over the
dam to their spawniug-grounds, or rather waters, in
the upper courses of the river and its tributaries.
I'ivilization and the progress of the arts have
brought great chanties in the kind of industries here
pursued. The abundant supply of water, soft and
clear, except when polluted by the increase of popu-
lation and of manufactures, is still available for other
uses. It furnishes by gravity, in its How to the sea,
abundance of power, and when roused to greater ac-
tivitv bv Pennsylvania coal, is eapable to an ahuosi
iinlimiteil extent of turning the wheels of machinery,
or of perlbrming those other uses which the inven-
tive genius (if man is making so helpful in the life ol
the world.
The situation of Watertown, so near the sea and so
jiear Boston, now the great centre of trade and man
ufactures and wealth, the metropolis of New Eng-
land, and with such abundant facilities forcommuni-
catloit with all parts of the country, is particularly
favorable for all kinds of manufactures which require
to be distributed by railroad or by steam-boat to other
parts of the country.
With a little effort on the part of its citizens, and a
fair amount of help from government in dredging the
stream, steamers or sailing vessels bearing freight
could come to or go from the bridge or the river
banks. Considerations of health, as well as the re-
quirements of the aesthetic sense of a half million
of people, will demand also that such improvements
of very valuable natural advantages of river bed, with
its double flow of tides, and its constant outflow of
the rain-fall of a large district, shall at no distant day
be accomplished.
Thus, all the natural facilities for large manufact-
uring industries have been furnished, and the natural
and beneficial growth in the demands of a large
and rapidly increasing people, in the direction of
utility and health and beauty, promise constant in-
crease in these facilities. Why should capital be so
timid in developing what capital will eventually find
so necessary for its own interests in this particular lo-
cation.
Enterprise here would hasten those changes for the
better which the experience of older places has
shown to be wise, and which the natural growth of
population makes so desirable as to become inevitable,
and which could be early made at far less expense
than later.
The improvement of the river bed, of the river
banks, the arrangement of border streets, so as to
facilitate access to the river, the use of the river for
transportation and for pleasure, and especially as an
ever living, ever changing river park, the voice of
great cities and small cities, of London, Paris, Flor-
ence and Pisa, tor instance, not to mention those
nearer home, shows what lulght be accomplished at an
early period with far less expense than later. With
this whole region under large municipal control,
this improvement would doubtless be undertaken
more quickly. In view, however, of the dreaded
dangers of such concentration of power as this would
imply, our people will probably continue to enjoy in
prospect only the water-park of the future and post-
pone its realization for their children, or their chil-
dren's children.
The Walher & Prntt Mnnn/acficring Company. — One
of the largest industries of this town is conducted by
this corporation, which manufacture and sell, both at
wholesale and at retail, stoves, ranges and furnaces,
hot water and steam heaters, and steam and hotel
cooking apparatus. They also make a specialty of
apparatus for the ventilation of buildings, and do tin,
copper and sheet-iron work as well as tin-roofing.
The company, .is at present organized, was incorpor-
ated under the general laws of the State, in 1877,
with a capital of $300,000. The buildings occupied
here in town extend from the river along the bridge
nearly to Main Street, and along Main Street nearly
to Beacon Square, with the exception of a narrow
line of stores and the grist-mill immediately upon
the street, covering an area of about two acres. The
principal store-house is on Galen Street, a long, fine-
398
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
looking brick structure, two stories high, while the
principal foundry is on the eastern side of their
grounds, nearly opposite the end of Mount Auburn
Street. This is also built of brick and, with its high
windows, must be well adapted to the needs of the
mouldere, while it presents a neat and tidy appear-
ance on the street. As one approaches the village of
Watertown from either of the Newtons, over the an-
cient bridge, known in colonial times as the Great
Bridge, the first which was thrown across the Charles
Eiver, he is struck by the appearance of the massive
buildings on the right, with brick walls and their
solid stone substructure rising apparently out of the
midst of the river, and the extensive wharf extending
many hundred feet down the stream, ready, one can
see, to utilize the improvements in the river which
some future river and harbor bill will make possible.
It is true this wharf is at present partly covered
with buildings, some of which are of brick, and by
piles of flasks and other useful lumber, such as is
necessary in all large iron fouudriea. If, however,
the improvements in the river bed should be extended
by dredging as far as the bridge, as Mr. Pratt hoped
and labored to have done, and as doubtless will some-
time be done, we should see the masts of vessels or
the smoke-stacks of steamers at these same wharves,
with their cargoes of coal and iron, and the piles of
stoves, ranges, and steam and hot-water heaters ready
for shipment to all parts of the world.
The officers of the corporation at present, 1890, are
George W. Walker, president; George E. Priest,
treasurer; Oliver Shaw, general superintendent.
There are four directors, George \V. Walker, George
E. Priest, Arthur W. Walker and Oliver Shaw.
The foremen in charge of some of the principal
departments of their manufactory are: F. H. Edge-
comb, in the patent-shop ; Wm. F. Atwood, in the
moulding-room; George B. Moore, in the mounting-
shop ; John Applin, in the machine-shop.
About one hundred and thirty men are employed
at the Watertown factory, and about S2000 per week
is required to pay their wages. In Boston a large
building on Union Street, Nos. 31, 33 and 35, is occu-
pied as a wholesale and retail store and for the various
purposes of their business, for pipe-work, tin-work,
stove-rooms, etc., where forty or fifty men are em-
ployed as tin-plate workers, steam-fitters, and sales-
men. Of course other salesmen are kept "on the
road." There is an agency in San Francisco which
sells quite extensively on the Pacific coast. Con-
siderable quantities are sent to Southern Africa, through
Boston and New York exporters, although the larger
part of their trade is for the New England market.
The company use about 2000 tons of iron and 800
tons of coal and coke each year in the Watertown
works. Some idea of the extent of foundry work
may be gained by the quantity of moulding sand
required for the moulds, which of course is used many
times, when we reflect that 400 tons of it are bought
each year. Of course thousands of feet of lumber
are required for flasks and patterns, for packing and
freighting.
The teaming is in the hands of Mr. George H.
Sleeper, who keeps ten horses and three men at work
all the time, in trucking between the Watertown works
and the Boston store. Large use is made also of the
Fitchburg and the Boston and Albany Railroads for
iron and coal and for sending away the products of
their manufacture.
The $300,000 stock is held by a few persons, princi-
pally by four or five stockholders who have been in
the business for years, or who have gained it by in-
heritance. It is seldom or never quoted on the market.
When this industry started in 1S.55 it was as a Ibuu-
dry and w.^s established by Miles Pratt, Allen S.
Weeks, William G. Lincoln, John ,T. Rarrows and
Thomas Barrows, under the firm- name of Pratt,
Weeks & Company.
In the spring of 1857 the firm dissolved, and Mr.
Pratt carried on the business during the rest of the
year alone. Then a company w.as formed by Mr.
Miles Pratt, Mr. Luke Perkins and Mr. Wm. G.
Lincoln, under the firm-name of Pratt & Perkins,
The business continued under this name until the
autumn of 1862, when Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Pratt
bought out Mr. Perkins, and then the business was
conducted under the firm-name of Miles Pratt I'i
Company. This firm continued the business, which
was somewhat varied and greatly enlarged during the
war, until 1874, when it was consolidated with George
W. Walker & Co., of Boston, under the firm name of
Walker, Pratt & Company, which combination con-
tinued without further change until it was incor-
porated, in 1877, under the present style as the Walker
iS: Pratt Manufacturing Company. At first the busi-
ness was small, employing about twenty men, and was
confined to the manufacture of parlor and cooking
stoves.
When the war broke out, in 1861, the firm went
into the manufacture ofammunition and gun-carriage
castings. The demands of the nation were urgent,
the capacity of the works was increased gradually
until about one hundred men were kept constantly
employed. The story of the war. especially at the
front, is ever filled with interest. It is of a tim? that
tried what there is in man, and frequently called out
the noblest traits of character. Not less at home,
frequently, was it necessary to strain every nerve and
exhaust every device which inventive genius could
originate to quickly turn "the plough-share and the
pruning-hook." the matsrials which had been devoted
to the quiet purposes of peace, into those efl'ective
engines and missiles of war now required to save the
lifeofthe nation, suddenly attacked by a desperate
enemy who had prepared to wage, in spite of all
warnings, a sudden and destructive warfare for the
possession of the seat of government and against the
very life of the Nation. How the bold spirits, with-
WATERTOWN.
399
out thought of their owa lives, rushed to Washington,
and what dangers and difficulties they encountered,
we have often heard. While no diminution of honor
can be permitted in speaking of their labors, it might
be asked what could they have done without being
supported and supplied by those at home. Miles
Pratt was especially active in every way ; a zealous
and fervent man, fertile in devices, and of great ex-
ecutive ability, he could be active in serving his
country at home. Colonel Rodman, then in com-
mand of the Arsenal herein Watertown, and Miles
Pratt together talked over the needs of the Nation in
arms and missiles of war. Colonel Rodman asked of
Mr. Pratt if iron balls could be made by his men en-
gaged in moulding stoves and furnaces. Mr. Perkins,
the superintendent in the foundry, entered into the
needs of the hour. Ail the men were ready to try
what they could do. Long before any orders could
come, or any expenditures could be authorized by
Government, without waiting to see if or how they
were to be paid, the men were at work moulding shot
for canister, for 12-pound guns, for 24-pound guns,
even for 13-inch and 15-inch guns — yes, both solid
shot and shells. Colonel Rodman, as an etiective ord-
nance officer who knew just what was needed, seconded
by the spirit and ingenuity of a large body of men,
organized and spurred on by Miles Pratt and his assist-
ants did much to supply the men at the front with the
etfective implements of war. Those from Watertown
had the confidence of men in action. Of course all that
oould be done here was but a mite compared to the de-
mauds of an army which increased to over a million
men. But these works were rafiidly increased through
I.%1 and l.Si)2.Twohundredaudneventy-five(275)tons
of iron per month were used under contract for the
manufiii-tiire of war material-s ; 2500 to 3O00 tons of
iron per year were moulded into shot and shell for
the preservation of the Union.
The larire store on Galen Street was begun in 1874,
and was gradually extended across the race-way to
the island where t!ie pattern store-hou.se stood, and
this was replaced with a secure and almost fire-proof
brick building in 1S80.
This building extends 204 feet along (ralen Street,
is sixty feet wide and practically three stories high,
for it has a liiirh basement story. It occupies the
site of what have been known for many years as
the Blackmail house, the Barrett house, and the JIajor
Peirce house. The Blackman house was where
I'.enjamin Kiles printed che Boston (iiizetle, when Bos-
ton was occupied by the British. The pattern store-
room on the i^land, with a solid wall towards Galen
Street, — that is, « wall builtwithout windows, although
ornamented with piers and arches, — ^hows on the
south side bv its tiers of windows, four stories above
a solid stone foundation wall. Here are kept the
many thousands of dollars worth of patterns required
by the great variety and constant progress of their
work. Next to this are the store-rooms for furnaces.
stoves and ranges. Here may be seen at certain
seasons of the year, hundreds of ranges packed ready
for shipment — in fact, very large quantities of all the
variety of goods manufactured by the company,
which here accumulate when the demand falls off
.and which are drawn upon when the season for in-
creased demand approaches.
Next to these store-rooms, and before we reach the
large sample and sales-room of the company, comes
the large arch- way through which the teams pass to
the inner works, the machine-shops, the foundries,
the blacksmith-shop and the other parts of this large
interior area. Here in the drive-way are ample
facilities for loading and unloading from the store-
rooms, above and on either side ; from which can be
lowered into the wagons the heavy freight either
for the railroad or for Boston. This is furnished not
only with hoisting apparatus, but also with platform
scales, for weighing each load or any part of a load.
The entire process of manufacture is and has been
for thirty years conducted under the constant super-
vision of Mr. Oliver Shaw, who watches particularly
that all the various departments work harmoniously,
and so that the minimum amount of material may do
the maximum amount of work — that is, that strength
and endurance are secured where required, with
the smallest consumption of iron, but with enough to
answer the purpose, who, with knowledge of men and
with kindly and considerate attention to their peculiar
abilities and fitness for their several duties, has, in all
these years of growing prosperity of the company,
won their confidence and respect. His position,
which he seems to hold so easily, has been reached by
no favor or chance. The young man may take note
that the ability to do every kind of work, to fill any
man's place and do any man's work in a superior
manner, may naturally constitute one, with modesty
in his bearing, a recognized leader among leaders, a
master among masters.
The cupola, or furnace, capable of melting fifteen
tons of iron at a blast, where skill and knowledge
are required to liquefy the iron with no unnecessary
loss of fuel, or iron, or time, is under the charge of
W. .\.. Pratt, with his two men to help him.
The moulding department, connected with the
furnace-room and situated on either side of it, has an
area of about 14,000 square feet. Here one may see
fifty or sixty men, at work preparing in the soft and
! yielding moulding-clay and sand the forms which
ornament in iron the homes of the poor and wealthy
over the land — men whom no amount of dust and
dirt will prevent you from recognizing as the same
who in clean linen and neat dress, preside in the
chairs of the town fathers, or as orators in town, or
parish, or society meetings, who prove that brains
are equally etfective in the utilities, as in the elegan-
cies of life. It is not necessary in this place to de-
scribe the mode of work, the improved appliances for
securing the ends desired. This foundry does not
400
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
differ from the many foundries in the country, ex-
cept as one man differs from another. Some of the
men earn quite large wages by their skill and celer-
ity. This room is under the charge of Wm. F. At-
wood.
The cleaning and mounting-shop, where the rough
castings are taken to be dressed, cleaned, and put to-
gether, is in charge of Geo. B. Moore, who has
seen thirty years' service in this place. Twenty-five
or forty stoves or ranges are finished daily, requiring
the services of sixteen experienced mounters and six
helpers.
Perhaps the most important department, if one de-
partment may be said to be more important thau an-
other, where each one is essential to the whole, as
well as to each other, is the pattern-making room.
Here twelve men are employed, with a great variety
of tools and machinery, in making patterns, both in
wood and in iron. This calls for skill and ingenuity,
and in making new designs, some degree of artistic
sense. Not only this, but some degree of judgment
is required to adapt the pattern, in view of the
varied rates of cooling and shrinking of iron, in the
lighter and heavier parts of the easting, to produce
the desired effects without danger of breaking or
change of form. Allowance must be made in the
size of the patterns tor this shrinkage. Here seven
men are employed on wood, and five men on iron, all
under the charge of F. H. Edgecomb.
Mr. John Applin has eight men under his direc-
tion in the machine-shop, where drills, lathes, plan-
ers, and all the usual kinds of tools required in such
places, are kept busy in the varied calls for work of
such kind.
One of the contrivances patented, by Geo. H.
Tainter, a man in their employ, is known as the
Tainter Damper. The name Tainter is somewhat
famous also, in connection with the mechanical
devices, made by a son of Mr. Tainter for Prof Bell,
of Bell's Telephone.
Nickel-plating, required in the present demand for
neatness and elegance, even in cook and parlor
stoves, is done on the premises under th-; charge of
David Flanders.
All this machinery would be dead and useless
without sufficient motive-power. This is supplied
by a Campbell & Whittier forty horse-power engine.
There is a powerful steam-pump, ready for fire pur-
poses, which is used in testing the strength and con-
dition of boilers and radiators, before th«y are put
into buildings. The steam is produced in two forty-
five horse-power sectional boilers, with thirty sec-
tions each, manufactured by the company.
The blacksmith-shop is in charge of Mr. Grace.
The tin-shop, where all the varieties of tin, zinc
and galvanized iron, piping for furnaces and venti-
lation, where ware for cooking purposes is made, is in
the main building on Galen Street, next to the sales-
room, and is in charge of H. A. Philbrook.
The directors and officers of this company manage
for their own interests — this goes without saying, — but
I also with a liberal policy to their men and to the town.
I George W. Walker, the president, and his son,
Arthur W. Walker, one of the directors, live in
the city of Maiden. George W. Walker has held
many offices of trust and honor in his town and has
represented Maiden in the Legislature.
George E. Priest, the treasurer, and Oliver
Shaw, the general superintendent, and nearly all the
employees live here in town. Mr. Shaw is also presi-
dent of the only national bank in town, the Union
Market National Bank, and has acted during many
years as one of the selectmen, for a good part of the
time iheir chairman. Mr. Priest is one of the board
of trustees of the Free Public Library, is treasurer of
the Watertown Savings Bank, served the town acd
his country in the army during the late war, and both
are identified with most public movements. The re-
spect with which they are treated by their townsmen
I murk the high character of work of this company iu
I all it undertakes.
j The business of this establishment was at first
I almost exclusively in supplying New England house-
I holds with the essential stove for kitchen and sitting-
i room use. Now contracts are taken for the most ex-
I tensive and complicated heating apparatus, which
I they are ready to manufacture and put up, although
' they do not despise (he smaller and humbler class of
1 manufactures. Among the larger contracts which
they have executed one might mention the heating
I apparatus for the Hotel Vendome, Boston, that for
I the Danvers Hospital for the Insane built by the
, State, and that in the Madison Stjuare Theatre in New
I York City. Some of their contracts have amounted
I to upwards of i!80,000 each.
This company are now manufacturing the cele-
j brated Crawlbrd Range, now known in its improved
j form as the Crawford Grand, which is selling all over
New England. While no great contracts, of course.
can be made for so simple and universally employed
device for meeting our common needs, probably the
success of their business depends as much upon the
call for this as for the larger and more extensive, and,
therefore, the apparently more important heaters used
in the larger institutions. They have recently been
getting out a stove or range in which wood will be
exclusively used for fuel, known as the Palace
Eureka, designed to meet the wants of the Pacific
Coast, yet, as they think, adapted to a considerable
portion of New England, where wood is still in abun-
dance.
This company manufacture hot-water heaters also,
one which they have recently patented, and are pre-
pared to introduce into buildings where they are pre-
ferred. Much is said about the economy of hot-water
heaters at the present time. The company allege
that the most economical heaters used, as all will
allow, are stoves in each separate room, if fuel alone
WATERTOWN.
401
and not the labor of taking care of them or the inci-
dental dirt and discomfort are to be thought of. If
good ventilation is also required, with the smallest
amount of care, then the question is between hot air
furnaces so called, and steam or hot-water heaters.
Either steam or hot-water heaters placed in each
room may, by direct radiation, supply the required
amount of heat without ventilation. If hot-water or
steam-pipes are placed in boxes to which a constantly
fresh supply of air is admitted and this allowed to
pass into and heat the rooms of a house, giving the
same results as the hot-air furuace, then a little ex-
perimenting will determine which is the more eco-
nomical and which will give the best distribution of
heat, considering all things — the means of egress for
vitiated air and the local direction and force of vary-
ing winds, for instance.
The requirements of a perfect heater for dwelling-
houses and for larger buildings have been the study
of this company for years, and as fast as any new
ideas are gained, they are, as the company claims, put
into substantial and durable form for their own ad-
vantage and for the advantage of our large intelligent
New England community, to whose wants they chiefly
cater in all their manufactures.
^tna .)/?//«. — The .^tua Mill.s are situated nearly
a mile above the first dam, above tide-water, on the
Charles River, and have for the last few years ob-
tained a reputation for producing various woolen and
worsted goods for ladies' dresses of the very finest
ijuality. Goods are made with fine broad-cloth and
i>ther styles of finish of every variety of shade and in
all colors used for dress-goods by the ladies, as well
as in stripes, plaids and figured designs.
The J^tna Mills (^.'orapany was organized in 1802,
and in 18G7 the present agent, Albert O. Davidson,
came from the Tremoiit Hills, Lowell, to take charge,
and "the present extraordinary success of the institu-
tion is largely due to his eminent business tact and to
tlie adoption of those systematic methods which are
so essential to the welfare of a hirge corporation."
The capital stock of the company, organized under
the general laws of Massachusetts, is !?"2.50,000, the
annual product about $500,000. The directors of the
company are: Joseph C. Stephens, of Boston ; Arthur
Hobart, of Hoston ; Edmund \V. Converse, of Newton ;
Morrill A. Smith, of Boston ; Edwin F. Atkins, of
Boston ; Edwin A. Hildreth, of Harvard, Mass., and
Albert O. Davidson, of Watertown.
Joseph C. Stevens has been president of the corpora-
tion for several years, since the death of Nathan Faye.
Samuel Smith was treiiaurer until 1887, and Arthur
Hobart, accountant for twenty years, has been treasu-
rer since that time.
The number of persona employed by the corpora-
tion is from 275 to :iOO, two-fifths of whom are women,
and the weekly pay-rolls amount to over SIOOO.
A new mill was built a few years ago, 117 feet long,
54 feet wide, and three stories high, the walls of
26-iii
which were made partly of stone, 30 inches thick,
partly of brick, 16 inches thick, with heavy hard-
pine beams ; built thus firm and strong to support
the new and improved machinery then introduced,
chiefly looms for the weaving of fine cloths, of which
over 20,000 yards are produced each week.
These mills occupy buildings on both sides of the
river, where water-wheels supply a part of the power
required by the mills. The power generated by the
wheels on the south side of the river is transmitted
125 feet, across the river to the north mill, by an
endless wire rope, passing 'over wheels in the two
buildings. Between these mills is a rolling dam-
claimed by some to be the only one in America, the
only other dam of the kind being in England, at
Warwick Castle.
While the water-power was at first sufiicient to do
all the work required — and at times there is a large
amount of water passing over the dam, apparently to
great waste — it is found that steam is desirable for
various purposes in the manufacture of woolens, and,
in order to have at all times sufficient power for all
purposes, a steam-engine is required.
The engine-room is on the ground-floor, is 30 feet
wide, by 60 feet long, and contains a fine Corliss en-
gine of 125 horse-power. The steam for this and for
heating, drying and other purposes, is furnished by
four large boilers, of which three are constantly in
use, the fourth being held in reserve in case of acci-
dent to either of the others. Two of these are made
of steel. About three tons of coal are required each
day.
The diflerent departments of the mill are each un-
der competent overseers, who are held- responsible
each for his part of the work.
The sorting department, under the charge of J.
E. Butler, occupies a brick building on the south side
of the river, and, with the store-house adjoining, con-
tains at times over 100,000 pounds of wool of the va-
rious kinds. Here may be seen the finest Australian
wools, with their long, silky fibres; the brilliant Cash,
mere; the Alpacca; the finest and softest camels' hair,
so delicate, for the finest fabrics. Here are bales of
" Ohio clip," some in the natural state, some cleaned
to pure white, in contrast with the black Egyptian near
by. The more common kinds of wool are used for some
purposes.
The soouring-room and the dyeing-room are in
charge of Mr. Alfred Pepler, who has in his store-
room all the diflerent kinds of dyes required in pro-
ducing the greatest variety of shades of all the lead-
ing colors. Only by long practice and great skill can
all the delicate efliects be produced which, either in
the sunlight or under artificial light, are so much
admired by ladies of taste. One unskilled can only
look with wonder on the unmeaning compounds which
he sees in the dye-rooms; his admiration must be
reserved for the finished fabrics.
The dyed wool is passed through the dryers, the
402
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
picker-room, the K^uze-room, to the carding-room,
which is under the supervision of Mr. Loveland.
Here the wool is carded, a work our grandmothers
used frequently to send their wool for miles to have
done at carding-mills. There are few old people who
do not remember the soft rolls of wool brought home
from the carding-mill, which their grandmothers used
to spin into thread and yarns for knitting and weav-
ing. This work is done now in a superior manner by
marvelous mechanism, by which the fibres of the
wool are gathered together in fine rolls and wound
loosely on large spools, rtady for the spinning depart-
ment. The automatic, self-feeding cards, with their
thousands of ateel fingers to arrange the fibres in line
ready for spooling, and the nice mechanical adjust-
ments, wonderful to us, would have greatly surprised
our ancestors, yet it is by the gradual improvements
in such mechanism that enabled firat Seth Beuiis to
do the work at all, and now these mills to do work of
the quality for which they are noted. The capacity ol
this room is fifteen sets of cards.
Tlie nest department in regular order is the spool-
ing department, under Mr. J. H. Clitford, where the
wool is spun and wound on bobbins ready for weav-
ing. The immense spinning jennies, capable of do-
ing the work of several hundred women, do it with
almost the same motion, — now advancing, now reced-
ing, now twisting, now rolling up on the spool, — but
with far greater accuracy and evenness of thread.
In the new building is the weaving department, in
charge of Henry G. Chapman. Here looms of dif-
ferent degrees of complexity, some capable of utiliz-
ing twenty-four frames, — from different manufac-
tories,— each in care of an attendant, push the shuttles
with deafening sound through the warp iu varying
figures according to the fancy of the designer. While
here we are inclined to think this the principal pro-
cess, the most important step of all iu the manufac-
ture of cloths, but in the finishing ilepartment, in
charge of Mr. Watslong, where the inspection of the
fulling, which has reduced the width one quarter, anil
incre.osed the thickness and the closeness of thread
since it came from the looms, one may see the " teaz-
eling," the " trimming," pressing, measuring, folding
done, and the cloths packed, after being sampled,
ready for market.
All rooms in the factory are furnished with gas
fixtures for lighting, and automatic fire sprinklers for
extinguishment of accidental fires, while there are
hydrants with coils of hose in various parts of the
mill and the yard, connected with large pumps read-
ily operated by the steam engine or the water-wheels.
The early history of this mill is quite interesting.
This dam it is claimed was first built by David
Bemis and Enos Sumner in 1778. David Bemis
had bought 39 acres of land on the Watertown side
in 1753, and a few years after, 25 acres more, nearly
all the land on which the village now stands. This
homestead, where his sons were born, afterwards
known as the Ritchie estate, was the old house so
beautifully located on the knoll near the mills, which
was removed to make room for Mr. Davidson's house
in 1880. Dr. Enos Sumner owned the land on the
Newton side, but sold out in 1779 to three men who
built a paper mill. David Bemis became two-thirds
owner of this the nexc year, and with his sou Capt.
Luke Bemis carried on the paper mill until 1700,
when he died. After his death his sons, Capt. Luke
and Isaac Bemis, became sole owners and continued
to carry on the business of paper making until the
death of Isaac in 1794. The process of manfacturing
paper at that time was necessarily very slow and
tedious. The sheets were made in moulds imported
from England. Each sheet re(iuired separate dipping
of the moulds iu the pulp, which when sufficiently
consolidated, was turTie<l on to a sheet of felt where it
was allowed to dry. David Beuiis had built iu 1778
on the Watertown side a grist-mill and snufl-mill, the
first mill on this side at this place. At his death, his
two sons, Seth and Luke, became full owners. About
1796, Seth bought out the interest of his brother Luke,
and began to manufacture cboculate, and to |ire|iare
dye-woods and medicinal wooiK and roots for use. In
1803 he made additions to the old njill; he com-
menced the spinning of c(ittou by machinery, making
cotton warp, which though prepared by quite imper-
fect machinery, proved to be so much better than that
spun by hand, and therefore, in such great repute,
that Mr. Bemis could not supply the demand. The
business proved thus very profitable.
To understand the cause of this great demand for
cotton warp, we need only to reflect that by many a
family through Ma.-sachusetts, it was the cu.stom to
weave at home cotton cloth, cotton and wool for
blankets, and with dyed wool acoarse kind ofsatinett
for home wear, as well as rugs and cari>ets for the lloor.
The writer remenibera full well the old hand-loom
which stood in the capacious attic of his grandmother's
house, which was built at this time only a litlK- over
twenty miles away on one of the turnpike roads leading
off into the country. This house, built of brick, stood
near the centre of a large farm which had always
been owned, and still is owned in the family, a Water-
town family, since it was first purchased of the Indians.
Here were the fiaxand the wool spinning-wheels also.
But it must have been a great relief to the over-worked
women of the family to find, by Mr. Bemis' intro-
duction of power-machine-spun threads for warps,
"Bemis' warp," as it was known, so great a help in
their labors.
One is tempted, in speaking of the great improve-
ments introduced by Mr. Bemis in the manufacture
of cotton goods, to reflect upon the great change that
has finally resulted in the present domestic economy
of our New England households. Then the women,
both young and old, were taught a multiplicity of
occupations that trained both the hands, the eye, and
the mind as well.
"WATERTOWN.
403
" The preparation of the cottoa for cardiug was at
that time a slow and expensive operation. It was
carried out in small parcels, to be picked by hand in
families living in the vicinity, at about four cents
per pound, exclusive of carrying out and bringing
back, which required most of the time of one'raan
and horse. To facilitate the process of picking, such
families as were engaged in the occupation were
mostly provided with a ' whipping frame,' the bottom
of which was woven, or made of strong cords so
loosely tha<; the seeds and dirt could pass through;
the cotton, being placed thereon, the two sticks, one
in each hand, being laid on smartly for two or three
minutes, became very much loosened. For several
years the business of cotton picking afforded employ-
ment to a multitude of pereons, enabling them to
obtain a comfortable livelihood."
" Mr. Bemis constantly improved and increased his
machinery for spinning, etc., discarding the old and
adopting that which was new and better. After a few
years he caused a machine to be made for preparing
cotton for carding, which did not differ materially
from the 'cotton pickers' of the present day. This
machine bore the grim title of "the devil'; and
though not very attractive in appearance, particularly
when in notion, performed in a very expeditious and
satisfactory manner the service intended, much to the
regret of the numerous laborers, who were obliged,
in consequence <if the invention, to seek their daily
bread by other methods." '
This Mr. Seth Bemis, the senior of that name, en-
gaged in manufactures at this place, w;is a graduate
of Harvard College, graduating in 1795, and, although
his knowledge of Greek roots and Latin poetry was
not essential to success in the profitable management
of a cotton factory, doubtless the knowledge was no
great burden tu carry, and as it did not from the pride
of possession incapacitate him from entering heartily
into the solution of the various practical problems
that presented themselves, it might have sharpened
his wits so that he was able to improve upon all who
had gone before and even to almost unconsciously
anticipate one of the greatest inventions of the age,
namely Whitney's cotton gin.-
The town of Watertown enjoys the distinction,
through Mr. Bemis' inventive arid active disposition,
of having made the first cotton duck ever manu-
factured. It was at a time after the embargo of 1807
had been laid by our general government upon all
foreign commerce, and great difficulty had been ex-
perienced in getting duck for sails, that Mr. Winslow
Lewis, of Boston, extensively engaged in commerce,
1 From S. F. Smith's " Histon* of Newton," piiblislieil hy the Americnu
Lojtotype '""onipiiny, Bo6tuD. I8ft>.
* Eli WliitTiey, H ilericenilitut uf Ihe Watertnwn raniily uf that Dam<>,
hiul in 1701 iilitiiined liis tin-t patcnta OQ the Ci-lf-linited wiw gin, thiit
mtsfit !i man's efTt-ctiveneea in cleanint; ttie cittnn from tlifl seal, from
abuut aix pounds each day ro one thousand pound* a day. TLia waa ap-
parently not introduced in the North for several years.
in conversation with Mr. Seth Bemis, spoke of the
difficulty of getting duck, the coarse linen cloth used
for sails, asked if he could not make something of
cotton that would answer the purpose, Mr. Bemis
had been engaged in the manufacture of sheeting,
shirting, bagging for the southern market, bed ticking,
etc., and had had the aid of some English weavers on
hand-looms. He said he would see about it. Mr.
Lewis was unwilling to be at the risk alone of pro-
viding machinery on the uncertainty of success, but
promised to help to find a market for the cotton duck
if it could be made, a large quantity of which he him-
self would require for his own vessels. Mr. Bemis
succeeded in having the work done and for some years
received a large return for his venture, as much as $1
per yard being received during the war for duck.
" It was in 1803 that Seth Bemis commenced spin-
ning cotton by machinery.
" In March 1809, he employed a Mr. Douglas to
construct a twisting machine of 48 spindles.'
" In October of 1809, he employed six English
weavers, paying them fourteen cents per yard for
weaving, and in November following made sales of
duck in Boston, No. 1 at 65 cents, and No. 2 at 58
cents per yard." "The sheetings and shirtings sold
for 42 cents per yard." " This was probably the first
cotton sail duck ever made and sold in this country."
In consequence of the impossibility of finding a market
nearer for ail his products, during the war of 1812-15,
Mr. Bemis sent his duck and other manufactures, by
his own teams to Baltimore, and even further south,
bringing back cotton, tobacco, and other southern pro-
ducts, taking several months to make the journey and
return.
In 1812-13 with the aid of an Englishman, Mr. Be-
mis made from coal and used to light his factory, the
first illuminating gas used in America. This had, how-
ever, to be discontinued after a few years, because of
its leaking from the tin tubes through which it was
conducted.
During some of the years following, while this was
the leading factory for the grinding and preparation
of dye woods and dye stutTs by machinery, for the
manufacture of cotton goods and woolen yarn, the
grinding of glass, — and with which continued to be
carried on a grist mill, aa also a shop for making and
repairing machinery, — the operatives were called to
their meals at the house of Captain Luke Bemis, where
they found board, by the blowing of a tin horn, from
which circumstance the village received and continued
to have, even till our day, the rather suggestive title
of " Tin Horn."
Mr. Bemis purchased of his brother Luke and his
partner, Caleb Eddy, a brother-in-law, in 1811, the
mills and water-power on the south side of the river
and thus became sole owner of the entire water-power.
'From Report uf Boaton Board of Trade, 1857, quoted In KelBoo'a
* Waltham."
404
HISTORY OP MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
He soon after sold to the Boston Manufacturing Com-
pany his right to raise the height of the water by flash-
boards for $1000 per inch for twelve inches. Although
gaining $12,000 by the sale, he afterwards regretted
this loss of power, or others have who have followed
him. In 1822 he built the present stone rolling-dam.
In 1827, the Bemis Manufacturing Company was in-
corporated, in which his brother Luke was interested,
for the manufacture chiefly of satinets and duck.
However in 1830 this corporation was dissolved. Mr.
Seth Bemis and Thomas Cordis, members of the com-
pany, bought the entire property and continued the
same business until 1839, when Thomas Cordis sold
out to Seth Bemis and Seth Bemis, jr., who continued
the business on both sides of the river of manufactur-
ing cotton and woolen goods in part, and at last on
the Newton side of the manufacture of drugs and dye
woods. In 1847 they sold the dye wood business to
William F. Freeman, and Seth Bemis continueil to
manage the Watertown mills until his death in 1S4!I,
when on the settlement of the estate in 1851, Seth
Bemis, jr., became the sole owner. From 1348 to
1860 the Watertown property was leased to Hiram
Cooper, who mnnufactured hosiery and domet flau-
nels. The product for a part of this time was about
.*100,000 a year, and a hundred men were employp<l.
In 1860, he sold the entire property to William F.
Freeman & Company, who having developed the bus-
iness largely, in turn transferred the property to the
jEtiia Mill Company, who greatly enlarged the works
on this side, and although for many years, certainly
until after 1867, continued to grind and prepare dye
woods, gradually enlarged and improved their manu-
facture of woolen goods until at present their products
are well known among the finest and best woolen goods
for ladies' use to be found in the market.
It was in 1810 that the " Waltham Cotton and
Wool Factory Company " was established, although
not until 1813 that the " Boston Manufacturing Ci)m-
pany," under the lead of Francis C. Lowell, Patrick
T. Jackson, and Nathan Appleton began to apply the
knowledge of the improved cotton machinery which
they had seen in operation in England, and which
they greatly improved and put into the new factory
two miles above, which turned Waltham from a
smaller and an agricultural town to a rapidly growing
centre of manufactures. Thesuccessof this led in 1822
to the incorporation of the Merrimack Manufacturing
Company and the founding of the city of Lowell.
With the advance of improvements it -became
necessary to specialize, and thus gradually the great
variety of kinds of busine-s carried on successfully
by Seth Bemis, sr., has come to one of narrower
range, but of a magnitude and the product of a quality
of which he had never dreamed. We have followed
with great brevity, hardly touching here and there
the fortunes of these mills, through their possession
by the Bemis family from 17J3, the date of the first
purchase, for over a hundred years.
The character of Mr. Seth Bemis, sr., is treated by
another hand elsewhere. His son, Seth Bemis, jr., was
always a friend to educational and religious institu-
tions, as he was one of the original contributors, with
his brother George, to the fund for the establishment of
the Watertown Free Public Library, giving S500. In
1882 he gave $1000 towards the building. The family
numbers ten students and graduates of Harvard Col-
lege; one of them, George, gave largely to this college
and to the Bofeton Athenncuni, thus showing their
own appreciation of the best educational institutions
and their willingness to contribute to them for the
welfare of others; and proving, iu this family at
least, the enobling and liberalizing tendency of suc-
cessful activity in manufacture-?. In closing, one
might add his testimony of fitness iu the change of
the old name of "Tin Horn," and even of the later
more euphonious and descii[itive ' ^tna IMills " to
the brief, well deserved and suggestive name, Bemis,
which the Fitchburg Railroad Company, and the
United States Post-nflice Department, and all by com-
mon con.«ent, apply to this village. Lung may it
honor its name, but may it never lorget by its con-
tributions and its commingling in all social and
municipal relations, that it is a part of the old town
of Watertown.
T/ie Waterfown Iiidiirnled Fibre Company. — This
company, one of the latest formed, incor|)i)rated in the
year 1888 under the laws of Maine, with a capital of
$100,000, of which Mr. J. H. Conant is at present the
principal, if not the sole owner, is eng;iged in the
manufacture of various utensils from wood l>ulp,
ornamental or useful, which are impervious to water.
The buildings are locateil on a large lot of land
near the West Grammar School-hi>use, on Howard
Street, and very near the Fitchburg Railroad, which
gives with its side tracks, facilities for receiving
materials, and for sending away their manufactured
products to all parts of the country.
The material used is the ground pulp of spruce
wood, which is reduced to a semi-litiiiid state, and
pumped into moulds where, under hydraulic pressure,
of some 120 pounds to the square inch, the water is
forced out, and the masses of fine wood fibres are con-
solidated into any desired form.
These forms, when dried, may be sawn, turned,
sanded into any more desirable forms like any masses
of wood. They are then given a bath of hot linseed
oil or of chemicals largely composed of pure linseed
oil, then baked in an oven for about eight hours at a
temperature of 270° Fahrenheit. Then the process is
repeated several times until the compound is entirely
impervious to any liquids. The ware is then fin-
ished, polished, ornamented, and made attractive for
the various purposes for which it may be used.
The number of men at present employed is seventy-
five, their wages about •^750 per week, the value of
the products of the factory about $100,000 per year.
These works were started by Mr. Conant in 1885,
WATERTOWN.
40f)
have been increased in extent several times, in the
same location, until they are now double their former
size. They occupy three principal buildings and five
smaller buildings. The largest building is 120 feet
long and fifty feet wide, and is three stories high.
The engine and boiler-house is fifty feet by forty feet,
and is two stories high, the upper stories being occu-
pied as a drying-room. The treating building is
eighty feet by fifty feet, two stories high. The upper
story is used for indurating and water-proofing the
product, and consists of a work-room and four ovens.
These ovens are thirty feet deep, one seventeen feet
wide and nine feet high ; the three others have the
same depth and height, but are only nine feet wide.
They are heated by steam, which is furnished by
two boilers of lOO-horse power each, which also
furnish steam for driving the engine. The engine is
one of the Fitchburg Engine Company's manufac-
ture, and has a capacity of seventy-five-horse power.
The buddings are lighted by electricity from a
dynamo in the building, are thoroughly protected as
far as such buildings can be protected, by a system of
pipes and sprinklers throughout the large buildings,
the water for this purpose being supplied by the
Watertown Water Supply Company. The water for
use in the process of manufacture, of which large
nuantilies must be used, is obtained from three or four
wells, which give an abundant supply.
Some of the articles now manufactured are water-
coolera for ice-water, umbrella-holders, fire-casks,
store barrels, pails for ordinary use and for fires, the
latter having a peculiar form to fit them for their use
and to prevent them from being used for any other
purpose, pans, slop-jars, .ind churns.
In cime.utensils required to hold liquids of every
kind may be made. Tlie material is much lighter
and less brittle than porcelain or other earthen ware,
or glass, much less costly, less likely to leak or fall to
pieces tban wood held together by hoops. The use
of this manufacture is increasing each year and its
appearance is being constantly improved.
Educated decorative artists are employed to orna-
ment the ware with fitting designs, .some of which
make one think of the lacquer of the Japanese.
Mr. F. E. Keyes was the first superintendent, and
leaving because of ill health, Mr. L. S. Frost took his
place in July, 1881), and has had charge of the works
ever since. Mr. B. S. Bott has charge of the decorative
department. U. S. Dixon is the engineer. Mr. F. C.
Goss has charge of the machine-shop and repairs.
The Porter Xeedle Company. — ^.The Porter Needle
Company occupied buildings on the south side of the
river on Watertown Street, not far from Galen Street.
Their business wa.s established October 1, 1879, but
manufacturing was not begun until January 1, 1880.
The company was composed of Mr. Edward F. Por-
ter, of this town, president; Mr. Hugh Robinson, of
Jersey City, vice-president; Mr. Lewis B. Porter,
treasurer ; and Mr. W. L). Porter, secretary.
Their business consisted in the manufacture of sew-
ing-machine needles, sewing-machine shuttles, bob-
bins, tools, and machinery. They employed as many
as seventy-five (75) men, and turued out 20,000
needles per day, with a monthly pay-roll of $2000.
They also furnished other manufacturers with blanks.
They invented some fine machinery for the manufac-
ture of shuttles and bobbins.
The business was continued with varying success
for six or eight years, until 1888, when
The Porter Shuttle and Bobbin Company, managed
by Lewis B. Porter, succeeded to a part of the business,
the manufacture of needles having been discontinued.
This company continue the manufacture of shuttles
and bobbins for sewing-machines, also manufacture
various kinds of attachments for several kinds of sew-
ing-machines.
The stock in this company is owned entirely by
Lewis B. Porter, who carries on the entire business.
He employs twenty or twenty-five hands, men and
boys, and distributes about $800 monthly. The sales
are wholly from the factory to sewing-machine manu-
facturers and to large jobbers of sewing-machine sup-
plies. This is at present the only factory devoted
wholly to the manufacture of shuttles and bobbins in
the country, and the outlook indicates a large industry,
as the sewing-machine manufacturers are looking more
and more to special factories for their shuttles and
bobbins.
The Empire Laundry Machinery Company. — This
company now occupy a part of the buildings formerly
occupied by the Porter Needle Company. It was
formed in 1883, with headquarters in Boston, to man-
ufacture a combination of inventions developed by
the Cambridge Laundry, of Cambridge, and by Por-
ter & Co., of Watertown, and gradually grew to larger
proportions as new appliances were manufactured,
partly by Porter & Company and tested by the Cam-
bridge Laundry, until since I8S8 it has succeeded to
the use of all the buildings but one occupied formerly
by the Needle Company.
The company is at present composed of George L.
Shorey, of Lynn ; H. S. Porter, of Roxbury; and L.
B. Porter, of Watertown. It was incorporated under
the general laws of the State, with a capital of $10,-
000, with individual loans of $40,000 more, from the
members, which with the surplus earnings gives a
working capital of about $75,000.
As they are now doing a business of a quarter of a
million dollars a year, and require larger buildings
they have bought a tract of land containing about
60,000 feet, and are making plans for extensive build-
ings and enlargements ; and they propose to include
all the capital used, with an enlargement of the same,
into its incorporated stock, making it $100,000 or
more.
The company's special and patented machinery
may be found in nearly every country upon the globe,
and there are few hotels or large institutions that do
406
HISTORY OP MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
not use some of their machines. About fifty different
machines and appliances are now made, of every
kind, from boilers and engines that supply the power,
to the supplies used either in domestic laundries for
family work or the laundries of hotels and larger in-
stitutions.
Among the machines and appliances manufactured
may be mentioned : washing-machines, both of wood
and of metal ; extractors for removing water from
goods, wringers, centrifugal wringers ; starching ma-
chines ; ironing machines of many kinds, including
the mangle, parallel ironer, bosom, neck and wrist-
band ironer, shirt body ironer, bosom ironer, univer-
sal ironer, collar and cuff darapener, ternary mangles ;
with a great variety of hand machines, from washers
to sad irons; stoves for heating hand-irons, blowers,
presses. As Watertown is quite a centre for all kinds
of laundry work, these and more may be seen in oper-
ation in some of the laundries near the factory.
There are at least three such laundries, a visit to
which would at almost any time repay any one to see
what can be done in this directiou by machinery.
These machines are being sold very widely in this
and other countries. The new building planned for
this factory is to be 250 by 150 feet, one story high,
with solid, well-protected floors for heavy machinery,
with good light partly from above, well heated by
steam and lighted by electricity, and well protected
from danger of fire. Its approaches on three sides
will be convenient for receiving materials and sending
off machines.
Lewando's French Lhjeing and Cleansing Establish-
ment.— This establishment cleanses and dyes all kinds
of fabrics and materials used as clothing, or as draper-
ies, upholstery, carpets or rugs for floors.
The property is at present owned by George S.
Harwood, of Newton, who has about$150,000 invested
in it. Wm. Lincoln Crosby, 17 Temple Place, Boston,
is at present manager.
The superintendent of the works at Watertown for
the last two years is Peler Burbank, who has had
nearly thirty years' experience in the business. There
are employed here during the different seasons of the
year from one hundred to two hundred persons, over
one-third of them men, the other two-thirds women.
There is distributed in weekly wages from $1000 to
§2000.
The principal oflSce for the transaction of business
is 17 Temple Place, Boston ; there are branch offices
in other parts of Boston, In New York, Philadelphia,
and other cities, with a system of advertising and
sending by mail and express that reaches the whole
of the United States and the Provinces.
The laundry has been recently refitted and fur-
nished with the improved machinery manufactured
by the Empire Laundry Machinery Company of this
place, and turns out about 4500 collars and cuffs, 500
shirts, and a large variety of other articles each day,
or about $500 worth each week. Starch made in
Watertown is believed to be the best and is therefore
used.
They have a most systematic method of receiving,
marking, accounting for and treating each article in
each handle taken into the works, so that each owner
is sure to receive his own property when finished.
Mistakes seldom occur. Flannels are washed by
hand so as to prevent shrinking, but most goods in the
huge washers ; they are dryed in the excelsior dryer,
turning 1400 revolutions per minute, and starched and
ironed when required, by special machinery for the
different kinds of fabrics or garments. Those requir-
ing polishing are, if collars or cuffs, for instance,
passed through a parallel ironer; all are dried by
steam. A large part of the water required here, as
well as in the dye-house, is furnished from six artesian
wells, although a liirge quantity of water is taken by
measure from the Watertown Water Supply Com-
pany.
In the dye-house experienced cheuii-*ts and expert
dyers are employed. ■ Experienced pressmen and
presswomen are required in a part of their works.
The requisite knowledge and skill necessary tosustain
the reputation which the eslablisluiienl has acquired,
is the result of long experience.
A boiler of 120 and two of forty-five horse-power
are used to supply the motive- power and to furnish
steam for heating and drying purposes. Three steam-
engines of about eight, six, and ten horse-power operate
the laundry and other machinery, including a large
pump for raising the water from the artesian wells. If
we had space to describe the processes in the different
departments, and give the names of those who have
charge, or have acquired greatest skill, we certainly
should begin with the dye-rooms. It is understood, of
course, that when an old garment is to receive a new
color, it is as far as possible discharged of its former
color in order that the dye-stuffs miiy have their
proper effect. Otherwise it must be determined by
experiment upon a small part, or by former experi-
ence, what peculiar combinations are required to be
made in order to produce the exact shade desired.
Patrons send with their fabrics or garments, bits of
color of the kind ordered, little thinking of the
patience or skill acquired by long experience, needed
to make it possible to make even an approach, in
some cases, to the effects desired. The art is so pecu-
liar, the knowledge so technical, and so beyond the
comprehension of the uninitiated, that for most, ad-
mission to this room would be only bewildering, and
to those prepared to understand the secrets of the
workmen, manifes'ly unperniissible.
There are drying-frames to prevent shrinking,
frames and cushions for laces and for draperj- cur-
tains, naphtha cleaning rooms for certain kinds of
work, a separate department for cleaning and dyeing
gloves, of which 10,000 pairs are sometimes done in
a month. One might be greatly surprised to see a
soiled pair of light-colored gloves come out fresh in
WATERTOWN.
407
their delicate tints, aa if never worn, wliile black can
always be imparted to those that seem to most, hope-
less of further usefulness.
In the cleansing house, men's clothing, ladies'
dresses and robes, blankets, carpets, curtains, draper-
ies can be thoroughly cleansed by what is known as
the dry process. Elaborate ball and stage dresses are
thoroughly cleansed without taking them to pieces.
Velvets, laces, shawls, are handled with great care,
and so skillfully and delicately treated, that they sel-
dom receive injury. One of the new and secret pro-
cesses on which they pride themselves, and of which
they make great use, enables them to remove the dis-
agreeable shiny appearance which smooth woolen
cloths take on after a little wear ; 5000 garments
have been thus treated within a year and a half.
The manager says this business was begun by Mr.
Lewando, in Boston, in 1829. Still we find in the
Watertmon Enterprise of 1880 the following state-
ment :
"77te Walertown Dye-Home was founded by Mr.
James McGarvey, in a small way, on Pleasant Street,
about flirty years ago. After a few years Mr. Adolphus
Lewando succeeded him. Shortly after, the building
was destroyed by fire, and Mr. Lewando decided to re-
move the business to Saccanppa, Me. The move,
however, proved to be an unfortunate one, as the dis-
tance to Boston was a serious obstacle in the way of
securing orders, and Mr. Lewando decided to remove
to Dedhum, M:iss. There the enterprise was attended
with fair success, but for some reason the proprietor
deemed another change necessary, and, in 1865, the
business came back to its birth-place — Watertown —
since which time it h;i3 continued to grow in pros-
|)erity until it lias reached its present magnitude. At
the time of Mr. I^ewando's death, which occurred, we
believe, about ISTl, a Mr. Farmer, of Boston, suc-
ceeded liini ;ind carried on the business for about
three vears. .Vt the expiration of that time a son of
Mr. Lcwandos associated with him in business
a gentleman by the name of Gate, and this firm re-
mained in occupation for one year. The business
then passed into the hands of Messrs. Harwood and
»iuincy, who erected atdiflerent times the large brick
block now almost entirely occupied by them for their
business, the l*lock of houses on the river-bank above
their works, and the buildings on piles in the river
above the island, below and on the opposite side of
the Galen Street or ' Great Bridge,' and who re-
modeled the remaining buildings as the enlarged and
improved condition of (heir business demanded.
" In 1886 Mr. Quincy retired from the firm, so that
since that the business has been carried on by Mr.
Harwood alone.
" This business is now claimed to be larger than that
now carried on by any similar establishment in the
United States, and is rapidly increasing."
Metropolitan Laundnj. — This laundr\' was started
many years ago in connection with the shirt factory
of Mr. Charles J. Hathaway, who began to manufac-
ture shirts in large quantities and to sell them in
Boston at wholesale as early as 1848. At first a
necessity in the manufacture of white shirts, it was
managed as a part of the shirt factory. During its
history it has passed through many different hands
until at present it has grown into an independent
establishment by itself and is now owned and man-
aged by Mr. H. H. Sawyer, who runs it under the
above title. It is true that some of its work comes
from the adjoiaing Metropolitan Shirt Factory, but it
has with it no necessary connection, except to sup-
ply the latter company with steam and power from
their large boiler.
The present capacity of the works is 40,000 or
•50,000 pieces each week, and employs about forty per-
sons. The building is large enough for a larger busi-
ness, and will be fully utilized soon, if the present
rate of increase of business continues. The goods
laundered are partly new from manufacturers, or are
from families residing in different places, from whom
the work is obtained by a regular system of collec-
tions, mostly within New England.
This laundry is newly and very fully furnished with
new machinery of every variety from the Empire
Laundry Machine Company of this place. It is the
aim of the present proprietor to do first-class work ; so
he spares no effort in trying to provide, with first-
class appliances of every kind, the best help this
place affords, where work-people have been trained
by long experience to do excellent work, and also
xeeks in other places their most skillful workmen.
Goods can be laundered now in a very short time.
While following for convenience the old system of
weekly collections and deliveries, work is on occasion
done very quickly. As in the large hotels of Europe,
here one can have his linen thoroughly laundered
while he is taking a nap, or a bath, — a Turkish bath.
As the huge baskets are brought in, filled with
parcels from the families, by the collecting wagons,
each piece is marked, recorded, sorted, and put into
the rotary washers for their first washing. These are,
ioxae of them, of wood ; some since copper has fallen
from its high price, are wholly of metal, a composite
metal, which has strength and endurance and does
not ordinarily discolor delicate clothing. About an
hour spent in turning and reversing in strong solu-
tions of soap and the following baths of clear water,
without wearing by rubbing, is generally sufficient to
remove all dirt and leave the clothing white and
clean. The clothes, carefully packed in the centrifu-
gal wringer, soon have every drop of water whirled
out of them. This machine hums like a top, and by
its rising key indicates a very great velocity, it is
said 1400 or 2000 revolutions each minute. The
clothes are then passed through the starchers, to the
dry room, where the last trace of dampness is re-
moved, then to the ironera and the polishers. We
have not space to describe all the processes upon the
408
HISTORY OP MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
perfection of which the excellence of the work done
depends.
Of course where there are many collars, or cuffs,
or shirts, or articles of any one kind to be done,
machines, as here, just fitted to a bosom, a cuff, or a
collar may be provided for that particular use which
will operate almost automatically. By specialization
of work, a greater degree of skill is reached.
A woman in any kitchen or laundry, however,
might have a self-heating iron, or, in other words, a
smoothing or polishing iron with a supply of gas and
air to burn inside of it, so as to maintain the uniform
temperature required for such purposes.
A forty horse-power boiler supplies the steam
for heating and drying purposes, also to the
small steam engine of twelve horse power which
drives all the machinery with precision and order.
The visitor comes away with the feeling that at the
present time there is a great advance upon the days
of our fathers, and that woman has indeed been re-
lieved of much of the mere drudgery of labor.
The number of persons employed here is between
forty and fifty, — eight or ten men, the rest women.
Shirt Factories. — The shirt industry of America was
founded in 1832 in New York.
" It was in the Presidency of Andrew Jackson, in
1832, when people were talking of nullification, about
disposing of the surplus in the national treasury,
about the Abolitionists of Boston, about the right of
petition which John Quincy Adams was making a
brave fight for, when Boston was a week's journey
away from New York, when there was as yet no West,
and Cincinnati was a frontier village, St. Louis a
trading-post, Chicago a wilderness, no railroads, no
telegraphs, no newspapers that printed news, no great
factories, no sewing-machines, no machinery for mak-
ing shoes, hats, clothing, furniture ; only rude iron-
working tools, rude printing-presses, imperfect steam-
engines. There were great planters then, great mer-
chants, but no great manufacturers. What men made,
they made with their hands." What a change with-
in sixty years in manufactures ! What a change in
the condition of the common people, especially of
women !
It must have been in the thirties that the first shirt
factory was started in Watertown, and that by a wo-
man, not long after the one in New York City, and
probably without knowledge of that. Mrs. Silas M.
Bates (her name was llrs. Potter then) began, in a
house, on Main Street, that was removed to make
place for the present Public Library building, with
the help of girls whom she hired for the purpose, the
manufacture of shirts for sale by the dozen. She af-
terward occupied a house on the opposite side of
Main Street, farther from the square, and finally, be-
tween 18-10 and 18-45, put up the building now occu-
pied by J. G. Barker as a shirt factory, on Spring
Street, nearly opposite Fayette Street. It is said that
she had a place for the sale of these shirts in Bos-
ton. Possibly this was so, although it has been said
that Mr. Hathaway's store on Milk Street was the first
wholesale shirt house in Boston.
Mr. Blackwell followed her and carried on business
here for several years. He had already begun in an-
other building near the railway.
Mr. Barker, who followed him in this building, has
been in the business about thirty years, and at the
present time employs one man and about fifteen wo-
men at his works, and as many more outside who do
their work at home and bring it to him when fin-
ished.
M*. Barker makes all kinds of shirts, mostly of the
better grades, for some of the best firms in Boston.
"Boston w.as early the seat of shirt manufacturing
for the trade, C. F. Hathaway having established
himself in that city, with a factory at Watertown,
Mass., in 1848. He built up a considerable business,
manufacturing mainly for jobbers, and the ' Hath-
away shirt' became widely known throughout New
England, with a well-deserved reputation for careful,
honest workmanship, good material, and full size."
This is from a leading journal which treats of the his-
tory of this manufacture.
The Metropolitan Shirt Factory is the principal
shirt-factory in town. It was bought of Mr. Hatha-
way some twenty-five years ago and is situated on
Spring Street, near the corner of Palfrey Street. With
some change of name and in the style of the firm, it
is essentially the same, except that it is increased
in extent. It is run by Simons, Hatch & Whitten,
raanufacturersand wholesale dealers in men's furnish-
ing goods, whose place of business is on Winthrop
Square and Otis Street, Boston.
This firm have several factories for different kinds
of work in different places ; at this they manufacture all
their " fine grades of white, dress, fancy, and night
shirts."
The capacity of these works is about one hundred
dozens per week, with an immediate prospect of en-
largement. Two men and about fifty women are em-
ployed. G. F. Faxon, the superintendent, has been
engaged in this work and in this place about thirty
years. The power is supplied by an engine in the
adjoining laundry, which drives the fifty sewing-ma-
chines at a high rate of speed, and the two button-
hole machines, one of which is capable of making
1600 button-holes each day.
The cutting-room is 160 feet long. This room has
the longest cutting-board in use. It is 120 feet long,
is capable of accommodating a full 40-yard web of
cloth. Indeed, forty-eight to sixty webs of cloth laid
one over the other exactly are stretched out on this
cutting-table. The patterns for all the different
pieces which go to make up the finished garment are
laid upon the outstretched webs, according to the
judgment and skill of the cutter, so arranged as to
waste no possible portion of the goods, and yet give
each part its exact and proper form. These patterns
WATERTOWN.
•tOlt
are made of light wood, or of thick paate-board bound
with brass, along the edges of which a sharp knife in
the deft hands of the cutter strikes down through all
the thicknesses at once.
The goods when received are piled on counters or
shelves by the side of the table, from the huge cases
which we may see at the end. They are of different
materials, each with its great variety of designs and
each of different combinations of colors. Some are
for negligee shirts, for seaside or country-lawns, and
beautiful enough for the most fastidious in taste.
In the sewing-room the thirty or more nimble and
skillful pairs of hands pass the pieces which have
been put together, as they alone know how to do it,
under the sewing-machines, where the seams are fin-
ished faster than cc'ld have been imagined possible
a few years ago. The button-holes even are made and
tinished by improved machines ready for use. See
this woman place the band under the machine; the
stitching proceeds down one side, turns automatically,
returns down the other side, is barred, the hole cut,
and is ready for use in much less time than it takes
to say it. These shirts have their handkerchief pock-
ets and their watch-pockets, the latter with a barred
opening for the watch-chain.
These soft, zephyr-like fabrics surely require no
starch. In this next room they are smoothed out,
examined, folded ready for the neat boxes in which
they are packed, and marked according to style and
size, ready for the trade, or are put up with exact ref-
erence to orders , from various parties all over the
country, each with its appropriate numbers and
marks. Each dealer has his own name and address
woven in colored letters, with a neat design, placed
upon each garment which he orders. Thus it would
seem from the garments themselves, when finished in
this one factory, that they had been made in a hun-
dred diSerent factories, all the way from Maine to
California, from Minnesota to Florida, while the deal-
ers know for all the glory they get for this superior
manufacture they are indebted to the one firm, Simons,
Hatch & Whitten.
One naturally inquires what is the condition of
these shirt-makers? Are they like the poor women
for whom Hood has enlisted the sympathy of the
tender-hearted ? Are they
'* With fiDgen weary aod worn,
With eyelids heavy and red
Compelled to Bit in unwomanly rags.
Plying the needle and thread? "
For my readers surely wish to know whether indeed
they cry with mute lips and pleading eyes,
" O men, with sisters dear I ,
O men, with mothers and wives I
It is not linen yoa're wearioK out.
But human creatures' lives."
Not a bit of it. The steam-engine drives the nee-
dles. The introduction of steam-driven sewing-ma-
chines into Massachusetts in the manufactureof shirts,
we are informed by the superintendent, was first
made by this factory. Seams are sewed up almost
quicker than you can wink. The animation of the
sewers' faces, and the beauty of the materials with
their graceful figures and harmonious blending of
shades, the cheerful hum of the sewing-machines,
combine to make a sight which it is pleasant to re-
member. And long before dark the scene changes ;
the women are released with full freedom
" To breathe the breath
Of the cowslip and primrose sweet.
With the sky above their heads.
And the grass beneath their feet.**
Formerly three dollars a week was considered good
wages for a smart girl. Now few, even with their
nine hours a day, earn less than six to ten dollars a
week.
To quote again from a prominent publication on this
subject :
"The growth of the factory system, with its
accompanying economies, has vastly improved the
condition of women employed in shirt-making,
shortening their hours, lightening their work and in-
creasing their wages. Before the introduction of the
sewing-machine, but few women were employed in
factories. The industry was almost exclusively a
domestic one, and, like all domestic industries, the
wages paid were not sufficient for subsistence."
" Where by hand a woman would do but one shirt
in a day, the usual product now is about a dozen
shirts to each machine, and the average earnings of
machine operatives, good, bad and indifferent, in
large country factories, are six to ten dollars per
week.'' '■ Steady, industrious girls, working full
time, will earn more than this." " So the cost of
shirts has been reduced somewhat more than one-
half, while the average earnings of the workers have
been increased about three-fold." This applies to the
work done in the factory. Finishing done in the
homes still brings the smaller returns. Women will
work cheaper in their homes, in the leisure they can
get from necessary duties, and with the help of
children.
We wish we had the space to inquire, in this
connection, a iittle more fully into the condition of
the women employed in factories. " It is said that in
large cotton manufacturing towns, where female help
is much employed, the condition of the latter is
noticeably deteriorating, in social status, morals and
wages.'"
This is said not to be the case in shirt factories.
We know it is not the case in our shirt factories. It
certainly is not necessarily so. It was not so in the
days of the Lowell Offering, when factory girls edited
and published that paper. It need not be so now,
with the store of good books which our Public
Library offers free to all who ask for them, with our
free evening schools, with the hours of leisure after
and before regular work, when the fields can be seen
in pleasant weather, when good reading can fill the
410
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
hours of atorms, and good society in our churches is
always open. A hasty run through our shirt factories
shows that a still better condition of intelligence,
morals and society is possible among wage-earning
women, if they themselves will strive more in that
direction.
Warren Soap Manufactory. — We have spoken of
the shirt factories and the laundries and the machine-
shops where the new laundry machinery is made.
But these would make poor work of it without soap
and starch.
"Soap is a chemical compound of vegetable or ani-
mal fatty substances with soda or potash, employed, on
account of its properties of loosening and dissolving
greasy and other matters, as a detergent or cleansing
article for the toilet, for washing clothes, and similar
purposes."
" Soap is mentioned in the Old Testament, in Jer. ii :
22 and Mai. iii : 2; but the Hebrew words thus trans-
lated mean the lye salt potash, commonly made from
the ashes of plants, and the salt soda, better known
as a mineral product." — Appleton's Cyclopedia.
" Soap, both as a medicinal and as a cleansing agent
was known to Pliny, who speaks of two kinds — hard
and soft — as used by the Germans. There is reason
to believe that soap came to the Romans from Ger-
many.' ' — Encyclopcedia Briiannica.
Natural alkaline waters are found and used, clays
are sometimes used as absorbents of grease, by fullers,
in cleansing cloths. Amraoniacal waters are some-
times used for the same purpose. Now these three
alkalies, — potash, soda, and ammonia — softened by
the introduction of various fatty substances, are the
active factors in all soaps.
Watertown early sought to provide itself, and a
part of the rest of the world, with so necssary an
article.
At present the Warren Soap Manufacturing Com-
pany is an incorporated company, incorporated this
present year of 1890. The stock is not quoted on the
market; it is, in fact, owned entirely by three men :
Mr. Albert C. Warren, of Auburndale, a son of the
former owner of the works; Mr. George L. Stevens, of
Boston; and Mr. Alfred H. A. Groeschner, of this
town. Twelve men are employed at the works, four
salesmen are employed, who travel through the
country, and Crichett'a teams visit the works almost
every day, according to their needs.
Soap may be made in the laboratory in great varietvi
from hundreds, yea thousandsof animal and vegetable
oils, combined with either of the three alkalies. Some
of these products are fragrant and delightful to every
sense. In the manufacture of textile fabrics in large
quantities, where oil is used freely to assist in the
process of manufacture, as well as to reduce the
friction of machinery, large quantities of soap must
be used to cleanse the fabrics before they are fit for the
dyer or for the market. The Warren soaps are known
over the country in large cotton and woolen manu-
factories of hosiery and other fabrics, as well as in
public and family laundries.
As we approach the works we are struck by the
j appearance of long linss of barrels and casks and
hogsheads running across a large yard, and piled
under a row of sheds. These are marked Warren
Standard Soaps. They are scouring soaps, fulling
soaps, finishing soapa, etc., put into casks for ease of
handling, and are ready to be shipped to the factories
from Maine to Texas as they are ordered. The last
half year over two million pounds have been manu-
factured and shipped, nearly as much as the entire
previous year.
Entering the large buildinng beyond, we come first
to the office, now refitted for their rapidly increasing
business.
The next room is the laboratory, where samples of
every barrel of alkali, of tallow, and of oils are accur-
ately tested, as every cask of soap is tested before it
leaves the factory. All substances used in making
soap are tried by delicate chemical testa, so that just
what goes into a batch of fifty tons of soap is thor-
oughly known, and is recorded for future reference
Tlie next room is the shipping-room, with its appli-
ances for weighing, marking and recording the de-
scription of all packages sent away.
We can look, in the next room which is the boil-
ing-room, at the huge kettles that hold one hundred
and fifty barrels of seething, foaming, steaming liquid.
Two of these largest kettles have been put in during
the past year. "You can call spirits from the vasty
deep, but will they come when you call them." The
three witches may, with uncanny gesture, walk about
these pots, and may cast in their horrid contributions
from the four quarters of the globe, and produce a
compound that would defy the evil one himself to
know or to bafiie, but the resident member of this
company will prove every inch of this mass when
cold, and tell you just what are its powers and how
far it can go to the service of man. If unsatisfactory,
he will order it back again to stew and stew, and boii
and boil, with the addition of many a compound, till
it is more ready for the service of man. You and I do
not expect to learn the secrets of his art, which it
would be worth a fortune to know ; we must be satis-
fied to see and use the results of the knowledge and
skill acquired by a score or more of years spent in
closest application to secure the results.
The building belongs to the Gas Company. The
alkalies are imported. The carbonates and caustic
potash come from Germany, caustic soda and its car-
bonates from England. The freight from Liverpool
to East Boston is less than from East Boston to the
Watertown works. This building was once used as
a hat factory, afterwards as a soap factory by Mr.
Robbins, then for wool pulling, then for the manu-
facture of Johnson pumps, then for making wire
fencing. It was first used by Mr. H. M. Warren,
who employed Mr. Groeschner, in the manufacture of
WATERTOWN.
411
magnesium for artificial light in stereopticon exhibi-
tions. This agent is available now, is more easily
managed than the calcium light, more convenient
than electricity on account of its portability. There
is, however, a disagreeable product of smoke of mag-
nesia in fine powder, — which can be taken care of.
But the quantity of the article required is not suffi-
cient to make its manufacture remunerative.
In 1868, Mr. Warren began to make family soaps.
After three or five years the bulk of the business
came to be the production, in constantly increasing
quantities, of textile soaps. We said that more than
forty different kinds of soaps are made here. These
vary, as one would suppose, with the materials used.
Just what these are we do not expect to learn.
While these soaps are known to the trade as uni-
form in character, scientific accuracy requires us to
say that each batch of soap requires constant watch-
fulness: for different materials, or materials supposed
to be the same, but really of different qualities, vary
and require nice balancing, one with another, to give
uniform and constant res'ults. No cask is allowed to
leave the factory without being first tried by careful
tests. Resins are not used to increa-se the weight of
their soaps.
The sale of soaps to large manufactories requires
skilled experts, who, on occasion, can go into the
works themselves and prove the quality of the soap
offered by showing what work it is capable of doing.
This may be vitiated by unskillful treatment. Thus
an industr}' is gradually built up as confidence grows
in the constant aud uniform character of its products.
It was iu 1S80, at the death of Herbert M. Warren,
the first proprietor, that the present company was
really formed. Of this firm, incorporated not till
1890, as we have said, .Mr. Groeschner — long a
resident of W.ateriown — has been the superinten-
dent and chemi.^t at the works from the inception of
the business. Mr. Warren acts :us treasurer for the
company, and Mr. Stevens acts as business manager,
taking charge of the sales, each doing his part with
harmony, energy, success.
Starch Factorien. — On the same street. Water Street,
along the south bank of the river, is what haa been
known for many years .as the Starch Factory. Indeed,
this roadway was long since known aa Starch Factory
Lane. There was formerly a distillery here. When the
present proprietors began, only one building waa oc-
cupied. This, some fifteen or twenty years ago, was
burned. Now Messrs. H. Barker & Co. occupy five
buildiugs, which they have successfully erected as the
demands of the business have increased. They now
employ sixteen men here and ten at a building about
a half-mile up the river. This starch is made from
wheat flour, is shipped to New York and other places
by the ton, packed both in barrels and in boxes. It
is used wherever the best starch is required.
Another starch factory, on the north bank of the
river, on Pleasant Street, near Bemis, is manufacturing
large quanties of wheat starch. These works, carried
on by the Crystal Springs Manufacturing Co., em-
ploying ten or twelve men, under the immediate
charge of Charles R. Fletcher, are trying a new pro-
cess, nowhere else employed, by which the gluten,
separated from the starch, is saved and made a valu-
able health food product, called Poluboskos, much
nourishing. This is characterized by ita easy digest-
ibility, and is therefore suitable for weak stomachs.
Dyspepsia, the curse of our driving, nervous civiliza-
tion, it is hoped, will find here a foe.
The principal building is fifty feet wide and one
hundred and fifty feet long. The capacity of the
works is about five hundred barrels of flour each
week. The Boston office is at 86 State Street, under
the management of F. H. Odiorne, president, and
Wm. B. Buckminster, general manager. The new
process employed in the works is patented by Herman
Barker, who is one of the board of directors of the
company.
The starch and the soap made in town would be
adequate for the laundries now existing here, were
they to be multiplied a hundred-fold.
TTie Mill and the Dam. — Governor Cradock, the first
governor of the Massachusetts Bay Company, who
was a wealthy London merchant, who never came to
New England, yet owned two of the vessels of Gov-
ernor Winthrop'a fleet, the "Ambrose" and the
" Jewel," had sent out in 1628, two years before Sir
Richard Saltonstall came to the Charles River, a cer-
tain Thomas Graves, who, judging from the words of
the contract made with him, was a skillful engineer.
"This 10th of March, I, Thomas Graves, of Graves-
end, in the county of Kent, gent., and by my profes-
sion skilful and experienced in the discovery and
finding out of mines, as also of lead, copper, mineral
salt and alum, in fortifications of all sorts, according
to the nature of the place, in surveying of buildings
and of lands aud in measuring of lands, in describing
country by map, in leading of water [courses] to
proper uses for mills and other uses in manufacturing,
etc., have agreed," etc, etc. This Graves was to
serve the company and Governor Cradock and to be
at the expense of both — ^each one-half; he was to be
retained three years if they wished. There is men-
tion of a Thomas Graves admitted freeman twelve
years after. It is to be presumed that he remained
and made himself useful both to the Massachusetts
Company and to Governor Cradock. For this Thomas
Graves, admitted freeman, was probably either the
engineer himself or his son, then of age.
On the 17th of March, 1628, a warrant was made to
pay for iron and steel, also to pay for buhra to make
mill-stones:
£ 9. <i.
110 at 2m. apiece, bongbt of Edward CaooD, of London, mer*
chant tailor 11 0 0
14c. of plaeter-of- Paris @ l^d. per c 110
Porters^, weighing the pluter and casting out of the bohta,
Ud. and 23d. 3 0
£12 4 0
412
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
This shows that tefore starting the colonists for the
new country, that some one of the company, presuma-
bly the Governor, the wealthy merchant in London,
bought in London (it seems of a merchant tailor) some
of the materials necessary for first-class mill-stones.
There is no record of the building of a dam in Wa-
tertown or of the building of the mill. The fact is
stated that Edward How and Alatthew Cradock, the
former Governor, the wealthy London merchant,
sold, the latter by his agent, each one-half of the mill
at Watertown to Thomas Mayhew, in August, 1635.
Perhaps Matthew Gradock'a agent, Thomas Graves,
the skillful civil engineer by his own profession and
by the company's allowance, built the mill and the
dam for the same, in the rapids at the head of tide-
water, at the expense of his employer, Cradock, and
of Mr. Edward How who probably took care of and
run it until they sold it to Mayhew.
It is true there might have been a dam built there
before by the Norsemen. Even if there had been, it
must have been washed away during the chances ol
heavy floods weighted with fallen trees overthrown by
cyclones or with masses of ice piled up by the spring
melting, as has frequently been done since.
This Graves built the large house in which the
Governor and assistants first met in Charlestown.
He built fortifications for the early company.
Hollingsworth & Whitney Company. — The Hollings-
worth & Whitney Company occupy a site in Water-
town which, for fifty years, has been devoted to paper-
making purposes. About 1839 William May had u
mill there, and for him worked Leonard Whitney, Sr.,
who subsequently bought the property, and associated
with him his son, under the firm-name of L. Whitney
& Son. Mr. Whitney, sr., retiring, sold out to Thurs-
ton Priest, and the firm became Whitney & Priest,
who, besides making paper, added to their business
the manufacture of paper bags by machinery. In
April, 1862, the firm changed. Mr. Priest, retiring,
sold out to E. A. Hollingsworth, and the firm became
Hollingsworth & Whitney. At this time the plant
was small, the water-power very meagre, and business
rapidly growing.
This led the firm to consider the making of improve-
ments, and in 1867-68 the present building, 60x200,
with boiler-house and steam-engine room, was built,
to accommodate both branches of the business, and
where the production of paper had before been thirty
tons per month, it was increased to 120 tons, while the
bag department had its facilities doubled. Since the
new mill was built, improvements have been made, so
that now there is lumed out daily eight tons, or 208
tons monthly, and the capacity of the bag department
is 2,000,000 daily. Mr. Whitney died July 5, 1881,
and Mr. Hollingsworth on January 6, 1882. On the
1st of April, 1882, a corporation- was formed under the
laws of the Commonwealth, bearing the designation
of Hollingsworth & Whitney Company, which now
carries on the business.
The works of this company occupy the site of the
"ancient griat-mill," the water-mill" of the earliest
record, and of many another mill of later date, as, for
instance, a chocolate mill which was afterwards mov-
ed to Dorchester, and became the Baker Chocolate &
Cocoa Mill, now known by its product over the world,
an early saw-mill, and others of which there is no dis-
tinct record.
Tlie Watertovm Mil.— The Grist Mill.—Th\% was
originally a grist-mill, the business being at first the
grinding of grists for the farmers who came from
near and from afar. It is at present conducted by
Perkins & Co., has two runs of stone, with a capacity
of grinding 600 bushels of corn a day of ten hours.
The corn ground comes from the western prairies, the
flour sold comes mostly from Minneapolis, the hay
and oats from Maine and the Canadas.
The grist-mill was moved down the "mill creek"
to the site it now occupies was afterward moved
nearer the river to accommodate a cotton-factory
which began in 1805, by occupying the stories above
the grist-mill, then the whole of it, which finally gave
way to the return of the corn-mill, when that prop-
erty was absorbed by the tbuudry and stove works
now belonging to the Walker Pratt Company.
The building of the original mill and dam we have
already ascribed with some degree of certainty to
Cradock and How. The time was as early as, or
earlier than January, 1634, for on this date a grant of
land was made to it by the General Court. This was
purchased and for some years owned by Thomas
Mayhew. The ownership is traced by Dr. Bond to
1710. We can take up the train again in 1789, when
John Remington sold to David Jackson. On some
future occasion we hope to present in a satisfactory
manner this entire history, which is very complicat-
ed because of change of owners of fractional por-
tions, and change of work done at different periods.
The grist-mill holds the first right to the use of water
for power. In case of failure of water supply, its
wheels must be satisfied first. With change of loca-
tion on the ancient Slill Creek, probably the oldest
mill creek in the country, this right has now been
suspended or alienated. The tirst duty of the Charles
River in Watertown is to grind corn, and no man
now knows how or when it was first imposed. The
Mill Creek is thought by some to be a natural water-
course. No one can disprove it. Prof. Horsford
thinks it was built by the Norsemen.
Newspapers. — The Enterprise. — This paper was es-
tablished by Samuel S. Gleason, Nov. 5, 1879, under
whose management it steadily increased its circula-
tion, its size and its influence. The paper is devoted
to local interests, is bright, enterprising, and open to
all who try to advance the interests of the town.
After seven years given to the interests of this paper,
Mr. Gleason withdrew from the paper, giving it
wholly into the charge of Fred. G. Barker, who had
been its printer for nearly its whole existence. Mr.
"WATERTOWN.
413
Gleason has, for the last few years, given up his time
to the real estate business, which he has greatly de-
veloped in this place.
Mr. Barker prints several periodicals, employs nine
persons on his miscellaneous work. Having taken
up printing as a recreation, when a boy in school, he
has constantly increased his facilities and his skill,
until his office has acquired a reputation for excell-
ent work.
Ga3 and Ekctric Light. — The Newton and Water-
town Gas Light Company has one of the best gas and
electric light plants in this State. It is situated on
Water Street, Watertown. The company was organ-
ized March 18, 1854, with a capital of $200,000. The
officers of the company are : President, Joseph N.
Bacon ; treasurer and clerk, Francis Murdock ; direc-
tors, Joseph N. Bacon, George C. Lord, William
Claflin, Francis Murdock, C. C. Walworth, Charles
M. Seaver, John K. Stickney, H. L. Hovey, Abraham
Avery ; general superintendent, Waldo A. Learned.
The office of the company is located at No. 421 Cen-
tre Street, Newton, and both Watertown and Newton
are well supplied with light.
They now consume about 4000 tons of coal, in
place of the 400 of the first year, have about sixty
miles of pipe, produce about 44,000,000 feet of gas,
and are rapidly extending their means of lighting by
arc and incandescent electric lights.
Express Business. — T. P. Emerson bought out the
express business of F. E. White in 1867, employing
at first four men and six horses. He now employs
nine men and twenty-six horses.
J. H. Critchett & Sons, do a large express and
teaming business.
There are also Allen's Railroad Express, Ken-
ney's Express and Xally'a Express. The heavy
business of the town requires large freighting and
teaming facilities, which are at hand.
Licertj Stables. — Horses for driving can be had in
almost any number, of Briggs E. Potter, who bought
out (r. B. Stockwell in 1885, and by purchasing and
enlarging his buildings, has increased his number of
horses, from eleven of his own with eight boarders, to
twenty-three of his own with thirty boarders. Gen-
tlemen are finding that through him a kind of co-
operative horse-keeping is both more economical and
more convenient than having a stable ou their own
premises. Telephones make it as easy to order one's
horse from Potter's stable, as from his own in Jjis
back yard, where its presence is sometimes not desir-
able.
F. K. Hubbard a few years since bought out Mr.
ICelley, and manages his business in a way to win the
confidence of the public. An attractive line of car-
riages tempt people to drive, and his prices are
reasonable for the teams furnished. The interests of
the community are conserved by this centralization
of this industry to a single location.
Machine- Shops. — There are the machine-shops of the
Empire Laundry Machinery Comp&ny, machine shops
for their own use and their own repairs in the Walker
Pratt Manufacturing Company's works, and in the
large paper-mills of the Hollingsworth & Whitney
Paper Company, and also within the grounds of the
.Etna Mills Corporation, where Mr. Mayall's inven-
tive and ingenious mind finds scope in the frequent
changes and adaptations required in that factory. So,
of course there are machine-shops within the arsenal
grounds. The public, however, have recourse to only
one machine-shop for general work in this place.
This was started in 1886 on Patten Street, near the
railroad, by Matthew Pryor. His principal business
is the manufacture of small hardware and small nov-
elties, steam fittings, and general jobbing, door-stops,
saw sharpeners for carpenters, parts of electric clocks
and the like. General repairs of lawn-mowers, sewing-
machines, bicycles, in fact, almost anything which
an ingenious man or boy can make, will not be turn-
ed away. This shop, although small, has quite a va-
riety of machine tools, for it is crowded with ma-
chinery which is propelled by a small steam-engine
on the premises. Mr. Pryor has gradually increased
his business as his ingenuity and good nature have
come to be appreciated ; his shop is always a good in-
dustrial school for boys wishing to learn, and, if your
historian is able to judge, is worthy of much larger
patronage, a larger shop, with more extensive business.
Ross' Carriage and Wagon Factory. — On Spring
Street, near Main Street, is now located the
carriage factory of John Ross, which is known for its
thorough and substantial work. Heavy express
wagons or the lightest pleasure vehicles have been
made. Dr. Hosmer's carriage, fitted for protection in
bad weather, was made here. So was Dr. Mead's.
Mr. Ross does both the iron-work and also the wood-
work and the painting and finishing at his shop. He
employs four men. Mr. Ross bought out Mr. George
Finneley in 1867. Mr. Ross made for the town the
hook-and-ladder truck which has seen some service,
and promises to do much more. In contrast with this
may be mentioned a buggy which he built, that, when
complete and ready for use, weighed only thirty-seven
pounds.
Boots and Shoes. — Shoe Manufacture. — No large
manufactories have ever been carried on in town.
Little but custom work and repairs have been at-
tempted here. Among those engaged in this business
should be mentioned Mr. A. D. Drew, who generally
supplies foot-wear for any customer who has the
means and the courage to once give him his measure.
Although he expects more pay for his boots and shoes
at the start, it has been found in the end by some of
our shrewdest investors to cost less in the end to be
kept whole-footed.
Mr. Drew began in 1849, on the corner of Pleasant
and Galen Streets. He was alone for one year, then
moved into the upper part of a building that stood
where the post-office now is, where he had three men
414
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
for three years. Tfaeo he occupied a building where
Lunt <fe Co. '3 dry-goods store now is. About 1856 he
moved into the building on the corner of Galen and
Mt. Auburn Streets, where he employed five men. He
had also at the same time a small shop in Newton.
In 1861 he moved across Galen Street to the opposite
corner, where Mr. Sheridan was his apprentice. Dur-
ing the war he moved up-stairs, and employed seven
men. Here he did the largest business of his life,
too large to be entirely profitable, although it includ-
ed such jobs as, for instance, thirty-three pairs ol
cavalry boots at $30 per pair ; and boots for nearly
every man in Company K, just before the close of the
war. He, himself, enlisted in May, 186.5, but did nol
have occasion to leave Camp White, which was-
pitched on Main Street, just beyond the West School-
house.
Mr. Drew served in the old Fire Department, ol
which for some years he was chief, and where hit'
name will ever be preserved.
He has done good work enough for the preserva-
tion and safety of our homes, for temperance and
good order, to say nothing of the stores of good boots
and shoes which he has made, to merit an old age of
honor and repose.
Painters. — Among the active business men of the
past fifty years may be mentioned Henry Russell,
])ainter. He began in Brighton, but became estab-
lished in this town in 1847. He employed in hi*
business of painting, glazing and papering houses,
sometimes as many as thirty men. Many in all the
surrounding towns were familiar with his work,
which was done according to agreement, with en-
ergy and faithfulness. He was chairman of the
parish committee of the First Parish for many years,
serving with equal energy and faithfulness till his
death, in 1889.
John Page has for many years followed with credit
the same business which his son George A. Page now
follows, occupying the old Barrett building on Beacon
Square.
CHAPTER XXXV.
WA TEH TO WN—{ CoiUinued).
SOCIETIES, PHYSICIANS, &C.
Amokg the societies organized in town for work of
various kinds, social and benevolent, may be named
the following :
Freemasonry in Watertown.' — The first Ma-
sonic body organized in Watertown was Meridian
Lodge, chartered Dec. 11, 1797, having a jurisdiction
embracing towns between Boston and Concord, and
concerning the early history of which little is posi-
1 B7 Alberto, F. Hayoes.
lively known. The late Leonard Whitney, sr., of this
town, was a member, and related that in the troub-
lous times of Masonry it was customary to vary the
place of meetings from town to town, members driv-
ing to the appointed place, carrying guns with them
to ward otf possible danger. Mr. Whitney at that
time resided near the Acton Powder-mill. He, with
.A.8a Stone, Asa Pratt, Mr. Dana, and others who were
early members of Pequossette Lodge, used to delight
in talking over the experiences of the Anti-Masonic
period. Meridian Lodge lost its original charter and
lodge furnishings by fire, and after several removals
became established permanently in Natick, where it
has fine lodge-rooms and a large membership, being
at the present timeoneof the leading and best-working
lodges of the State.
For many years Watertown had no Masonic lodge
prior to the coming of William Webster, as principal
of the High School, from Lexington. He had recently
taken the degrees in Pettee's Lodge (so-called becau-'e
its meetings were held in Worshipful Brother Pettee's
house), in West Cambridge, and with the assistance
of old-time Masons obtained a charter for Pequossette
Lodge. He left Watertown several years later, taught
school in Rye, New York, aud died in that State four
or five years ago. He was the first Master of Pequos-
sette Lodge, and the first one of its Post-Masters to
die. The original oflicers and members of Peciuos-
sette Lodge were as follows: William Webster, W.
M. ; Daniel H. Marshall, S. W. ; Joseph B. Keyes, J .
W.; Henry Derby, Treas. ; Wurren J. Lindley, Sec. ;
Henry C. Vose, Chaplain ; (ieorge Marsh, Marshal ;
Isaac Walts, S. D. ; George K. Hooper, J. D. ; Alfred
Howes, S. S. ; Adolph Lewando, J. .S. ; Asa Stone,
Tyler. Members — Asa Pr:itt, Daniel Howard, Charles
Wilkin?, Sewall Hiscock, J. H. Clarke, Robert .Mur-
ray, David B. Horn, .Samuel Richardsou, Daniel
Marshall, George Hill, William Nichols, Horace
Clark, William B. Fowle, Jr., Leonard Whitney aud
George A. Hicks.
The preliminary meeting was held in Constitution
Hall, Dana Block, December 17, 1856. At the next
meeting, January 13, J 857, the name was changed to
Masonic Hall, and the Grand Lodge dispensation
was received and accepted.
The first initiates were George W. Harrington,
Luke Perkins and Miles Pratt, February 13, 1857.
At the next meeting William W. Russell and John
K. Stickney were the first admitted members. The
latter is now an honorary member.
May 8, 1857, Robert L. Davis and James W. Magee
were given the third degree. Mr. Davis has retained
active membership and a lively interest in the lodge
ever since, and has contributed more than any other
individual member to the success of the lodge.
After working one year under dispensation, in ac-
cordance with Masonic custom, Pequossette Lodge
was duly constituted, December 23, 1857, with im-
pressive ceremonies, by Grand Master John T. Heard,
WATERTOWN.
415
and at the close about sixty membera and guests were
provided with a "bountiful and luxurious" repast, as
the records state, at the Spring Hotel, Samuel Batch-
eider, mine host, being a member of the lodge.
The first death was that of Daniel Marshall, who
was buried with Masonic honors, September 3, 1858.
The first public installation was held December 29,
1858. October 14, 186-1, the lodge attended the lay-
ing of the coruer-stone of the new Ma.sonic Temple,
Boston. December 23, 1864, a public installation
was held in the town hall.
The first meeting in the new hall, Noyes' Block,
was held September 8, 1870, and the hall was dedi-
cated October 5, 1870, an address being delivered in
the town ball by \V'or. Bro. John B. Goodrich.
January 9, 1S90, the lodge occupied, for the first
time, its new and spacious rooms in the Otis building,
of which it holds a ten years' lease. These quarter?
have been dedicated to Freemasonry, and were ar
ranged especially to meet the needs of Pequossettt
Lodge.
The total membership has exceeded 300. The
present membership is about 140. The largest num-
ber of members admitted in one year was 24, in 1863.
Of the early members, Robert L. Davis is now alone,
out of 33 admitted to Janu.ary. 185S ; and of the 151
admitted (luring the first ten years, less than 30 re-
main. Among those taking membership or degree?
were Rev. Dr. Luther T. Townseud, of Watertovvn ;
the late Rev. Bradford K. Peirce, of Newton, editor ol
Zion's Herabt ; James S. Allison, Jon:is Chenery, ol
Belmont; George K. .'^iiow, Joseph Crafts, George
Sleeper, and a laru'e number of the active business
men and iuHueutial citizens of the town.
Li.stof Past Masters: William Webster, lS.lS-59;
Robert L. Davis, lSOO-<il, 1S70-71 ; William J. Un-
derwiMid, 1S62; Thomiis X. Hooper, 18lJ3-()4; Joseph
Sanger, jr., l.St)5; John B. Goodrich, ISUO ; William
H. Clark, 18(;7 ; Charles W. Stone, 1868-69 ; Charles
T. Perkins, 1872; Charles Brigh.am, 1873-74; Samuel
F. Stearns, 1875-70; Robert F. Home, 1877-78:
Charles H. Bradlee, 1879; Benjamin H. Dow, 1880-
81; Isaac Harrington, 1882-83; George H. Tarlton,
1884-85; (ieorge G. Davidson, 1886; Alberto F.
Hayiies, 1887-88.
The officers at present are as follows : Herbert H.
Sawyer, W. M.; Frederick E. Critchett, S. W. ; Ben-
jamiu W. Brown, J. W. ; Charles W. Stone, Treasurer ;
fJeorge F. Robinson, Secretary; Rev. William H.
Savage, Chaplain ; Robert L. Davis, ilarshal ; Charles
F. Bustin. S. D. ; John M. Johnson, J. D. ; James H.
Fraser, I. S. ; Freeman H. Edgcomb, Tyler. The
Treasurer has held the office tor twenty years, and the
Tyler for twenty-five years.
While Pequossette Lodge has been established
only thirty-three years, it is older than any other
secret society of this town, although at present there
are a dozen or more of these, founded mainly as in-
surance org.anizations. The Masonic Lodge has held
a steady, even tenor, and is to-day better situated and
enjoying a greater degree of prosperity than ever be-
fore. Its record is naturally of an individualized
character, representing the social and fraternal phase
of men who have left, or are making, their imprint on
our growing community. Its regular meeting is held
the second Thursday in each month, and there are
Saturday evening gatherings of a distinctively social
nature in the lodge apartments.
Odd-Fellows.' — Lafayette Lodge, No. 31, Inde-
pendent Order of Odd-Fellows, was instituted ana
charter granted the 26th of January, 1844. The lodge
prospered until 1850, and in 1852 the charter was
surrendered. Nothing was done until April 1, 1863,
when the charter was returned and the lodge rein-
stated, since which time it has continually prospered,
and has met with considerable success, the member-
ship now being 138. There have been and are now
enrolled upon the books the names of men who have
been prominent and closely connected with Water-
town. It has initiated over 400 men into its ranks,
and has the honor of being the mother of three
lodges. Of its work little can be said, as the order of
Odd-Fellows is a secret organization. But suffice it
to say that in all its history there has never been a
brother injured or harmed by it, but, on the contrary,
many have been benefited by it, and that must mean
that it has helped to make better men, better citizens
and a better town. Upon the roll-books are the
names of Thomas L. French, just deceased, and
William H. Ingraham, who have the honor of being
membera for over forty years, a record which all Odd-
Fellows feel proud of. The objects of the order are
clearly defined and embodied in these few words,
viz. : To visit the sick, to relieve the distressed, to
bury the dead and to educate the orphan. This, so
far as he can, every Odd-Fellow tries to perform.
Officers for 1890 : H. H. Powell, N. G. ; J. W. New-
comb, Per. Sec.
The Young Men's Christian Association.-—
The Young Men's Christian Association of Water-
town was organized in March, 1887, having for its
object the promotion of the spiritual, social, intellec-
tual and physical welfare of young men.
Rooms were secured in W. H. Lyman's new block,
then in process of erection, and a lease taken for three
years.
The rooms were opened, in a fitting]manner, on Sep-
tember 3d, of the same year, with a consecration ser-
vice in the morning, after which they were open to
inspection of the public. At 12 ir. an address was
delivered in the Town Hall by Rev. L. W. Munhall,
D.D., and a receptioir to the public in the evening,
when refreshments were served to 800 people.
Mr. George S. Turner was elected the first presi-
dent of the association, and served three years. Fred.
G. Barker was elected in 1890. The president has be«n
1 By Charles H. Rollins.
-By James K. Norcrm.
416
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
ably supported by an earnest corps of young men,
and the Association has prospered, and been the means,
by the blessing of God, of doing much good for the
young men of the town.
Mr. H. L. Peabody, of Haverhill, Mass., was the
first general secretary, and since January 20, 1890,
Mr. J. E. Norcross, of Watertown, has been the gen-
eral secretary. The Executive Committee, alive to
the needs of the young men, rented new quarters in
the Otis Block and moved into them July 1, 1890.
The unceasing demands of the Association were
thus met for a time and great encouragement given to
prosecute the work.
The four rooms thus secured are a reading-room,
where may be found a choice collection of reading
matter, open to young men from 9.30 a.m. to 9.30
P.M. ; a lecture room, with an office for the General
Secretary, in which are held the various services ot
the Association, also lectures and practical talks ; a
small room to be used as a ^tudy and library ; and a
room to be devoted to boys' work.
The Association has a flourishing Ladies' Auxil-
iary connected with it, under the leadership of its
president, Mrs. Alfred Turner; also an orchestra,
which contributes a great deal to the attractiveness ot
the Association's services and socials.
The finances have been ably managed, and the
close of each year has found a balance in the hands
of the treasurer.
The membership of the Association is, October,
1890, 250; and the officers at present are as follows:
President, Fred. G. Barker ; Vice-Presidents, F. G.
Barker, H. S. Wood, T. G. Banks ; Rec. Secretary,
B. M. Shaw ; Cor. Secretary, W. L. Rockwell ; Treas-
urer, S. Henry Coombs ; Gen'l Secretary, Jas. E.
Norcross.
"The Society for the Relief of the Si^k ''
was organized in the year 1816, during the pastorate
of the Rev. Richard Rosewell Eliot, when all the
towns-people worshipped in one meeting-house. A
severe epidemic had visited the town, after which it
was thought wise to have articles on hand for loaning
in cases of sickness and also to have a fund which
could be drawn upon in cases of need. For those
days this was a new departure, and deserves the merit
of originality. The following was its first appeal :
" Donations in money, old garments, bedding, articles
suitable to be made up for children, nourishment for
the sick, and fuel, will be gratefully received by the
directors and appropriated according to tbeir best
judgment." Its officers for the years 1816-1817 were:
Mrs. Eliakim Morse, president ; Miss Caroline How-
ard, vice-president; Miss Martha Robbins, secretary ;
Mrs. N. Berais, jr., treasurer.
Its directors wfere : Mrs. R. R. Eliot, Mrs. Luke
Bemis, Mrs. Isaac Dana, Mrs. Stearns, Mrs. A. Blake,
Mrs. Jonathan Stone, jr., Mrs. Robbins, Mrs. Abijah
White, Mrs. Gay, Mrs. BIgelow, Miss Katherine Hunt,
Miss H. L. Coolidge.
One hundred and six of the principal ladies in
town became members of the society, each paying the
annual fee of one dollar.
During the years that have passed since, many have
made substantial gifts to the society, and some of the
older inhabitants at their deaths have left small lega-
cies to be added to its funds. Among these gifts we
may mention that of Lydia Maria Child, which is a
pleasant reminder of her tender memory for the peo-
ple among whom she passed a portion of her earlier
life with her brother. Dr. Francis.
Thus this society has grown steadily, down to the
present time, doing its work quietly, but efficiently.
It assists all deserving poor, irrespective of creed or
race, and loans its articles of use for the sick to any
who wish them.
Its meetings are monthly, in the afternoon, at I he
houses of its members. Donations of any amount are
always welcomed and will be well applied.
Its present officers are: Ruth A. Bradford, presi-
dent; Emily Robbins, vice-president; Margaret V.
Kendall, secretary; Abby V. Barry, treasurer.
The Women's Christian Tempera.vce Uxion
OF Watertown was the result of prayer and an
earnest awakening on the part of Christian women tn
the sin of the drink habit, and its terrible effects upon
the individual and the home.
This Union was organized in 1875, ver}- soon after
the organization of the National Union.
The first general officers were Mrs. D. A. Tainter,
Mrs. Abbott, wife of Rev. Granville Abbott, who was
then pastor of tlie Baptist Church, Mrs.. Joseph Bark-
er, and Mrs. John Hall.
The first year's membership was uinety-nlne. The
first work was to help the Reform Club, visit the s.i-
loon-keepers, and assist the family of thelinebriate.
Very soon it was found that preventive work must
be done, and efforts were directed towards the forma-
tion of a better public sentiment in regard to the
social and medicinal use of alcoholic liquors, and con-
cerning the traffic which makes the inebriate.
With this end in view the Union h:is given great
prominence to the distribution of literature showing
the effects of alcoholic poisons upon the system, the
extent of the drink traffic, .iiid the iniquitous power
of the saloon. Many petitions have been circulated,
and able speakers have been secured from time to
time to present various phases of the Temperance
question.
The Union is gratified in having been an instru-
ment in removing wine from the Communion Table
of the Methodist, the Congregational and the Baptist
Churches ; in obtaining hundreds of signatures to the
pledge, and the introduction of Scientific Temperance
Instruction in the Public Schools. By persistent ef-
fort of the Union, Watertown was one of the first six
towns of the State to place in the hands of the pupils
of the Public Schools text-books giving such instruc-
tion.
WATERTOWN.
417
Among other departmentaof their work which have
received attention from the Union, are Sabbath Ob-
servance, Evangelistic work. Police Station and the
Almshouse Franchise and Flower Missions.
The present membership is seventy-seven, with four-
teen honorary male members.
List of officers : President, Mrs. S. Elizabeth Chase ;
Vice-PresidenU, Mrs. Arminda S. Hall, Mrs. Persis
H.Tainter, Mrs. Sarah J. Stone, Mrs. LizzieG. Dimick,
Mrs. Helen Greene, Mrs. Mary F. Rand, Mrs. Flor-
ence Dutton, Mrs. Sarah H. Berry, Mr-^. Eliza M.
Teele, Mrs. Alice A. C. Phipps ; Recording Secretary,
Mrs. Frances D. Niles; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs.
Sarah H. Carter; Treasurer, Mrs. Angeliue C. Craw-
ford.
The Young Men's Assembly. — Several gentlemen
called an informal meeting in May, 1888, in the
hall of the Grand Army, to consider the formation
of a society which should have for its object the busi-
ness and social upbuilding of the town. The invita-
tions to this meeting were given by L. S. Cleveland
and Chester Sprague, seconded by the young men
who belonged to a Bible class in the Methodist Epis-
copal Sunday-school, and others to whom they made
known their object. The first suggestions of such an
organization were perhaps made to this class, known
as the Young Men's Assembly of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, of which Mr. Cleveland was president.
Each member of the class heartily endorsed the pro-
posed plan of enlarged action and agreed to support
it earnestly. The plan had also been discussed with
others and approved by Samuel S. Gleason, Benj. H.
Dow, Chester Sprague, George E. Priest, and Rev. W.
G. Richardson, who kindly lent their aid and intiuence.
By the personal efforts of these and others spoken
to, the informal meeting in May proved to be a suc-
cess, and the organization since known as the Young
Men's .\ssembly was formed with a membership, the
first evening, of forty. The first regular meeting was
held in June, with a membership limited to sixty.
This limit has been raised at successive periods till
now it stands at one hundred and seventy- five, with a
list of names waiting to be added when there are va-
cancies. Included in the scope and work of this as-
sembly is the creation of a Board of Trade, now con-
sisting of George E. Priest, Samuel S. Gleason, Ward
JI. Otis, George C. Lunt and Chester Sprague. This
organization has been recognized by the business as-
sociations of the State and delegates chosen to repre-
sent the same in the State Convention of the Boards
of Trade.
This assembly has awakened interest in other
towns, for, after visiting this, gentlemen of other
towns have formed similar organizations. It was
originally proposed to encourage the introduction of
mstters of business in which any were interested,
which seemed important to themselves or to
others, or to make suggestions that might prove of
value to others, especially to the town. It adopted
27-iii
an idea embodied in the Chase Banquet Association,
which had proved eminently successful — " the better-
ment of its members," from a business standpoint as
well as an educational one. Its object is social and
business improvement. Its meetings have been held
one evening of each month ; they begin with a sim-
ple banquet, and an hour spent in social converse,
followed by addresses by members or invited guests.
So far the spirit most actively developed has been
to encourage all kinds of mutual helpfulness both in
personal and municipal affairs. It may be too soon
to say that the spirit of self-seeking and mntual fault-
finding has disappeared from the town, and a habit
of self-denying helpfulness of others has taken its
place; but your historian should simply acknowledge
that this is true of the leader of this assembly, L. S.
Cleveland, now re-elected its president for the third
year, by a unanimous and most persistent vote.
The officers for 1890-91 are the same as from the
first: L. S. Clevelai'd, president; S. 3. Gleason and
Chester Sprague, vice-presidents ; F. W. Cobb, secre-
tary and treasurer.
Miscellaneous Societies. — Among the other so-
cieties organized in town are the following:
Young Men's Catholic ^ssoaoiion, organized in 1889.
— Michael J. Green, president; James J. McCafferty,
secretary.
Isaac B. Patten Post, 81, Grand Army of the Re-
pubiic. — J. R. Harrison, commander ; George F. Rob-
inson, adjutant.
Isaac B. Patten Women's Relief Corps, 59.->i-Mrs. A.
M. Condon, president; Miss Edith M. Smith, secre-
tary.
Arthur B. Fuller Camp, 102, Sotis of Veterans. —
Established in 1889. A. F. Nulting, captain ; G.
Westley Priest, first sergeant.
Abraham Lincoln Commandery, 67, United Order of
the Oolden Cross. — Instituted in 1879. J. H. L. Coon,
N. C; A. J. Coolidge, K. of R.
Charles River Court, Mass., Catholic Order of For-
esters, 1883. — James J. Barnes, C. R. ; John Hurlihey,
secretary.
Local Branch, 393, Order Iron Hall, 1886.— E. F.
Pratt, C. J. ; George S. Parker, accountant.
Franklin Association, 19, Northern Mutual Relief As-
sociation.—Y'rtBm&a H. Edgecomb, president; W. H.
Pevear, secretary.
Watertown Lodge, 70, Ancient Order United Work-
men, 1889. — Thomas Perkins, master workman ; Ap-
pleton Phipps, recorder.
British America Association, 65, 1889. — J. H.
Looker, president ; G. S. Thomson, secretary.
Watertoum Mutual Relief Association, 1 880. — M. M.
Walsh, president ; M. P. Hynes, secretary.
Watertown Non-Partisan Woman's Suffrage League,
1887. — Dr. S. Adelaide Hall, president; Mrs. Alice
.\. C. Phipps, secretary and treasurer.
Unitarian Club — Organized in 1888. Julian A.
Mead, president; J. C. Brimblecon, secretary.
418
HISTORr OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSAPHTTSETTS.
Wedne$day Club.— SUrted in 1885 by Arthur M.
Knapp, its first president. Wm. Gushing, president ;
Ellen M. Crafts, secretary.
Shtorical Society of Waterlovm, established in 1888.
Alfred Hosmer, M.D., president; Rev. E. A. Rand,
vice-president; Solon F. Whitney, secretary and
treasurer. It has at present fifty-two members.
Charles River Council, 36, A. L. of B., 1879.— Com.,
Henry Stephens ; Secretary, Wm. J. Quincy.
Board of Trade, 1889.— S. S. Gleaaon, George C.
Lunt, W. M. Otis, George E. Priest, Chester Sprague.
Ladies' Benevolent Association, connected with the
First Parish. Miss Emily Robbins, president; Mrs.
J. F. Green, secretary.
St. Luke's Home for Children. — Arlington and Mt.
Auburn Streets. Sisters Annie and Mary in charge.
Town Improvement Society, 1883. — Ward M. Otis,
president ; Wm. H. Ingraham, clerk.
SouRCF,.s OF Information Concerning the Old
Town of Watertown, Mass.' — I have endeavored
to collect into the following list the more important
.'•ources of information which could be profitably e.'i-
amined by the Historical Society of Watertown, in
its study into the history of that ancie/it township.
.Vs a matter of convenience they have been grouped
somewhat chronologically, and aftpr the dates of
separation, under the headings of Watertown, Wall-
ham and Weston.
The six 4to vols, of The Records of the Governor
.ind Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New
England^ from 11)28-86, published by the State in
185.V54, contain much material of the greatest im-
portance. The Massachusetts State Archives on file
in the otfice of the Secretary of State at the State
House, contain a mass of original papers, the most of
which have never been printed. Here in vol. V, p.
32 of Maps and Plans, is the oldest ' known map
of the town. This bears the date of 1720, when the
town still included Waltham. It shows the location
of all the houses of that time, and gives the names
of the occupants of some of them. A commission
made an extended report in print to the State in 1885,
upon the nature and present condition of these ar-
chives.
The orginal records of John Hull, treasurer of the
Colony, 1675-80, are in the possession of the New
England Historic Genealogical Society. Watertown
town records, the earliest extant, begin on page 2 of
the record-book, with the date of 1634. From Nov.
28, 1643, to Nov. 9, 1647, the transactions of the town
are lost. A faithful transcript of the earlier records
of the town were made by Mr. Joseph Crafts. A copy
of the records down to 1651, was printed in the Water-
1 By Dr. Bonuett F. Davenport, with additione by the editor.
•There is an older map of a somII portion, the aouthwent comer,
"called Noneeuch," which fixea two of the three niaiii linee of the old
town, inpoaition and direction, and ia in vol. 3, p. 1.
This bears date Sept. 26, 1687, when Weston was still a part of the
town, and Wellealey waa a part of Dedhun.
town Pequossette, beginning with the number for July
18, 1879.
The town's earliest extant record-book of births,
marriages and deaths appears from its title page to
have been opened in 1648, although it has had tran-
scribed into it some records of an earlier date. These
latter are also upon the SutTolk County Records and
have been printed in the sixth and seventh volumes of
the New England Historical and Genealogical Register.
In preparing his History of Watertown, Dr. Bond
had faithful copies of all these earlier town records
taken, which since his death have been deposited
with the New England Historic Genealogical .Society
in Boston. The Society al.so have his own personal
copy of hi.s history, with his collection of errata and
addenda thereto, which would make another volume
nearly half as large as the published history.
The records of the Watertown church, organized
July 28, 1630, and next to that of Salem, the oldest
in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, are not at pres-
ent known to be extant prior to those of 1686-92,
which were kept by the Rev. .lohn Bailey.
The files of the Sufliblk »nd Middlesex Court, as
well as those of Probate and Regi.stry of Deeds, con-
tain a mass of depositions often containing matter of
great historical interest. The original volumes of
Records of U. S. District Tax of 1798, which are in
the library of the N. E. Historiciil Society, give all
taxable polls.
Rev. C. Mather's Magnalia, publi.shed in 1702, con-
tains many biographies and notes of interest to Wa-
tertown, as also Governor John Winthrop's Journal,
or History of New England, 16-'{0— 19.
The Massachusetts Historical Society's Collections
and Proceedings.
The American Antiquarian Society Collection.
The New England Historical and Genealogical
Register anil Jlemorial Biographies.
Magazine of American History — -valuable articles.
Eliot's, Allen's and Drake's Biographical Diction-
aries.
Thatcher's Medical Biography.
New England Prospects, by W. Wood, published
London, 1634.
History of New England, 1628-52, by Ed. Johnson,
London, 1654.
Letters from New England, by John Dunton.
Churches of New England, in the American Quar-
terly Register, Vol. XI.
Prince Society publications.
Hutchinson's, Barry's anfl Palfrey's Histories of
Massachusetts and of New England.
Hubbard, W. : History of New England to 1680.
Drake, S. G. : Five Years' French and Indian War
in New England.
Alex. Young's Chronicles of the First Planters of
the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, 1623-36 ; also for
reference his Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers of the
Colony of Plymouth.
WATERTOWN.
419
Force's Tracts.
Narrative and Critical History of America, edited
by Justin VVinsor.
Watertown.
President Sam. Laodon's Election Sermon before
Congress, in Watertown, with Historical Notes, pub-
liahed in 1775.
Dr. C. Francis, Historical Sketch, delivered on the
second Centennial Anniversary of the town, 1830.
Dr. C. Francis, three Historical Sermons upon
leaving the old and dedication of the new church,
1836.
Barber's Massachusetts Historical Collection, 1840.
Bond's Genealogies and History, 2d ed., 1860.
Rev. A. B. Fullers Records of First Parish, 1861.
Harris's Epitaphs from the Old Burying-Ground in
Watertown, 1869.
Drake's Middlesex County, 1880.
250th .\nniver.*ary of First Parish, with address by
A. M. Kuapp, 1S81.
Tea Leaves. With Introduction by Francis S. Drake,
Boston, 1884.
The Cambridge of 1776, with the Diary of Dorothy
Dudley. Edited for the Ladies' Centennial Commit-
tee, by A[rthur] G[ilmiin].
Walthaji.
Topographical and Historical Description, by Rev.
Sam. Ripley. Massachusetts Historical Society Col-
lection, 1815.
Churches of America, Quarterly Register, 1839.
Barber's Historical Collection, 1840.
Epitaphs, by .1. B. Bri<;ht, in N. E. Historical and
Genealogical Register, 18G5-<)6.
July 4th Historical Address, by Josiah Rutter,
1877.
Waltham, its past and present; and its industries.
With a historical sketch of Watertown. By Charles
A. Nelson, 1879.
In Drake's Middlesex County History, by A. Star-
buck, 1880.
Waltham City, by Eph. L. Barr>', 1887.
Historical Notes in Waltham Free Press, [by Fran-
cis Leathe, of N. Y.] in 187-.
Weston.
1st Centennial Anniversary Sermon, by Rev. Sam.
Kendall, 1813.
Churches of America, Quarterly Register, Vol. XI.,
1839.
Petition of 173.3, to Legislature, to join with neigh-
boring part of Concord and Lexington to form New-
ton, N. E. Historical and Genealogical Register, 1858.
Barber's Historical Collection, 1840.
50th Anniversary of Settlement, of Rev. Jas. Field,
with Historic Address, by Rev. E. H. Sears, 1865.
July 4th Oration, by Charles H. Fiske, 1876.
In Drake's Middlesex Couniy History, by C. A.
Nelson, 1880.
Norumbega, by J. Winsor, in Massachusetts His-
torical Proceedings, No. 22.
Norumbega, by A. B. Berry, in Magazine of Ameri-
can History, 'Vol. X"VI.
Norumbega, by J. H. Colby, pamphlet.
The Problem of the Northmen, by E. N. Horsford.
The discovery of the ancient City of Norumbega.
E. N. Horsford. [Edition privately printed and
beautifully illustrated. Special copy belonging to
the society.]
Physicians. — The information respecting the phy-
sicians of Watertown in early times, during the first
hundred years, is very scanty, and their number very
{^v. We have not discovered that any of the pastors
of Watertown practiced the healing art, which was
not unusual in early times. James Sherman, of Sud-
bury, son of Rev. John Sherman, of Watertown, was
a pastor and a physician, and two of his sons, John
and Thomas, weoe physicians, and were said to be
some time of Watertown ; but in 1708 they resided
in Springfield.
The earliest uuticc of any medical practice was
March, 1630-31, when " Nicholas Knapp was (by the
court) fined £5 for taking upon him to cure the scurvy
by a water of no value, which he sold at a very dear
rate." Probably his only medical education had been,
like that of his numerous followers, to study the cred-
ulity of numan nature, and how he might most suc-
cessfully dupe it. Mr. Simon Eire, " chirurgeon," was
the first physician of Watertown, where he resided
about ten years, 1635 to 1645, when he moved to
Boston. As there is no evidence that there was any
other physician resident of Watertown for many years
afterwards, it is not improbable that he sometimes
visited it professionally, as he retained his estate
there. But if there were no physicians, their place
was supplied by some of the goodwives. Grace, wife
of John Livermore, was an obstetrician, and she was
sometimes summoned to court as a witness in cases
where she had acted professionally.
Daniel Mason, youngest son of Capt. Hugh Mason,
graduated at Harvard College in 1666, was a physi-
cian, living as late as 1679, but it is not known
whether he ever practiced medicine in Watertown.
He was captured by an Algerine, and is supposed to
have died in Algiers. (Bond's MS. notes to his own
history.)
In the County Court files is a petition of the select-
men of Watertown, dated 1690, in which they say that
S. G. came from Cambridge to Watertown, " to the
home of Ellis Barron whose wife had skill in m.itters
of surgery."
The next physician after Dr. Eire was Br. Philip
Shattuck, who probably practiced there from about
1670 to 1722. He resided in the northeast part of
Waltham.
Dr. Pallgrave Wellington was his contemporary, be-
ing only five years younger than Dr. Shattuck. He
420
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
resided on the Cambridge road, on or near tlie lots of
G. Churcli and W. Woolcot. He died 1715.
Dt. Richard Hooper was a contemporary of Drs.
Sliattuck and Wellington, and resided at the east of
Mt. Auburn. He died early in 1690. His son Henry
was a physician of Watertown a few years, and about
1723 he moved to Newport, Rhode Island.
Dr. Josiah Convers, from Woburn, settled in Water-
town probably about the time of the decease of Dr.
Shattuck and the removal of D. H. Hooper. We
have not ascertained where he resided, but perhaps it
was the residence afterwards occupied by his nephew,
pupil, legatee and executor. Dr. Marshall Spring. He
died in 1774, after a residence probably of nearly fifty
years. (Bond, page 1074.)
The following is the epitaph on the stone resting
horizontally upon pillars, over Dr. Convers' grave in
the village burying-ground :
'* To Ibe much bonored and respectod memory of
Josiah Convers, Eso.*,
who, by divine peruiission, rei^igDtMl hia raluahle life August, ITT4, ageri
To.
'* If real medical ^bilitiei. united witb ever)' biimau and soci;il virluR,
the niost active exteUBive generosity, iiuivertial tfenevolenreaud rbarity,
may deserve to outlino the Panegyric ot a mouldering f;t*>ne, tlie envy of
(he grave and the tlevnuring tooth of time, certainly the Viitne^ and
maiiy excellences which distinguish the character of Dr. Convcra are
very eminently entitled to such a [>ecnliar tribute from the grateful
I'ublic.
" This honest stDoe, what few vain inarhles can.
May truly flay, here lies an honest man."
Br. Jfarshall Spring was born in Watertown, Feb.
19, 1741-2, graduated at Harvard College in 1762,
and died Jan. 11, 1818, aged seventy-six years. He re-
ceived great assistance from his maternal uncle. Dr.
JuHiah Convers, with whom he studied medicine, and
whose property he afterwards inherited. Francis says.
"Dr. Spring became one of the most distinguished
physicians in the country ; and perhaps no one can
be mentioned in whosejudgment and skill a more un-
reserved confidence was placed. His practice was
very extensive, and his house was the resort of great
numbers of patients from the neighboring and from
distant towns."
Says Thatcher, " His mind was not filled by fashion-
able theories of the day any further than they ac-
corded with his own views of practice. His natural
sagacity or force of judgment led him to deep and
critical observations into the causes and nature of
diseases, and their remedies. He asked few qaestiuns,
used his eyes rather than his ears, seemed to gain
knowledge of each particular case by intuition. He
often effected cures by directing changes of habit, of
diet, of regimen. He used little medicine, always
giving nature fair play. Though differing from his
neighbors politically, being a decided Tory at the
time of the Revolution, he was early on the ground at
Lexington, skillfiilly attending the wounded. It was
said that he would have been sent out of the country,
had not his services been so valuable, so indispensa-
ble to his patients.
I In 1789 he was a member of the State Convention
; which adopted the Constitution of the United States,
which he opposed, never having believed in the
' capacity of the people for self-government. He was
for several years a member of the Executive Council
j of Massachusetts, and discharged his duties with
j talent and fidelity.
I Dr. Spring was in his person rather short, but com-
pact and well proportioned; always a fine-looking
man ; after the age of fifty, till the time of his death,
■ he was spoken of as one of the handsomest men of his
I time. His habits of living were a model for others.
! He used food and drink for nourishment, not for
' gratification of appetite. His meals were frugal, his
I board, though hospitable, was never spread with
luxuries. He was careful in his investments. It is
I said that he once remarked that real property had
I always something to show for one's money, while other
property might vanish. He built the Spring Hotel
' for bis friend. Col. Richardson, a famous hotel-keeper,
I whom he wished to retain in town. He left $200,iiOi)
or .*oOO,000 to his .ion, but nothing to religious or
j charitable institutions.
He was a wit, keen and i|iiick ut repartee. Chief
Justice Parsons delighted to measure weapons with
him in the keen encounter of wit. The onsets of
the chief justice were rapid, keen and ovfrwlieliii-
I ing. The replies of the doctor were moderate, pun-
gent, successful. Their meetings sometimes happened
I in the presence of a large company, who remained
silent, delighted to see the giants play."
Walter Hiinnewell, M.D., the subject of this sketch,
was probably descended from Roger Hiinnewell, who
' came to New England not long after the settlement of
the Massachusetts Colony. In the early records the
[ name was spelled at various times Hunniwell, Hiin-
nuel, Honywell and Hunnewell. Dr. Hunnewell was
born in Cambridge, August 10. 17fi9, and received his
early education in the public schools of that town.
Though only six yearsof age when the Revolutionary
War began, he was old enough before its close to re-
ceive impressions which enabled him to remember
some of its more important events. He graduated at
Harvard in 1787, in the class with John Quincy
Adams, William Cranch, Tliaddeus Mason Harris
James Lloyd and Samuel Putnam. He studied
medicine with Dr. Marshall Spring, of Waltham, and
settled in Watertown. The medical school of Harvard
College had, at that time, scarcely entered on its
career and the offices of leading physicians were the
schools of instruction for young men preparing for
the practice of medicine. The first graduate from
the Harvard Medical School was iu 1788, and in that
and the three succeeding years the graduating class
had but one member, and not until 1813 did it con-
tain more than four members. The life of Dr. Hun-
newell was for the most part the usual one of medical
men of his day. The town in which he settled was
small and his practice was scattered, covering a terri-
'^—^^ cu^^^^ y^c^^^^
WATERTOWN.
421
tory which included some of ihe ueighboring towns
and involving almost incessant rides by day and night
and unremitting labor. Like other medical men, too,
i)f his time, his practice included both medical and
surgical cases, and involved the treatment of cases
of much wider range than are found uuder the care
of a single man to-day since the divorce of sur-
gery from medicine and the division of general
practice into specialties. The consequence was that
I)hysiciaus of the period referred to had a more com-
plete medical education than is to be found, especially
in the cities and their neighborhood, in our day, and
thus Dr. Hunnewell became a thoroughly educated,
widely informed and skillful man. In another re-
spect, too, the physician's career of his time differed
from that of to-day. Not only were medical fees of
smaller proportions if paid in money, but many ol
them in the country towns were satisfied by country
pay, eggs and butter and chickens from the farmer,
tea and coffee from the grocer, and preaching from
the minister.
The practice of Dr. Hunnewell furnished no ex-
ception to the general rule and his cellar and larder
were largely supplied by means of no other circulat-
ing medium than medicine, the tooth-puller and pills.
Upon such a practice, however, he thrived, and in
such a practice he continued actively at work until
he was eighty years of age. He wjus for many years
the only physician in Watertown, and as hia reputa-
tion widened he became a frequent visitor to the sick-
beds of Newton and Cambridge and Waltham. He
was a devotee to his profession, permitting himself to
take no active part in the public affairs of either town
or State. As a Whig in politics he rejoiced in the
success of his party ; as a Unitarian in theology he
was interested in the welfare of his church; as a
Mason he shared the duties its well as the labors o(
his order. He was a man of unswerving integrity,
■ pf commendable liberality, of cultivated tastes, a
kind neighbor, a good friend, a thoroughly respecteil
citizen.
Dr. Hunnewell married, May 12, 1800, Susannah
Cook, of Newton, and his children were Jane, born
June 23, ISoi, who married John A. Underwood, and
Horatio Hoilis, born July 27, 1810. The last-named
child, Huratio Hoilis Huuuewell, as a merchant has
had an eminently successful career. At the age of
fifteen he entered the banking-house of Welles & Co.,
in Paris, France, and there remained until IS'i'J, when
he was twenty-nine years of age. Samuel Welles,
the head of the firm of Welles & Co., was born in
Natick, JIassachusetts, April 22, 1778, and graduated
at Harvard in 179<>. He married, in London, in
18U;, Adeline, daughter of John Fowle, of Water-
town, Mass., and died in Paris in August, 1841. Ar-
nold Welles, uncle of Samuel, was born in Boston,
December 25, 1727, and had a son, John, born in
September, 1764, who married, iu 1794, Abigail
Welles, sister of Samuel. The ninth child of John
Welles, named Isabella Pratt, born September 7, 1812,
married, in Paris, December 24, 1835, Horatio Hoilis
Hunnewell, mentioned above. Mrs. Hunnewell in-
herited the Welles estate, in that part of Natick which
is now Wellesley, and Mr. Hunnewell haa made large
additions by purchase until it now includes about six
hundred acres. This estate, occupied during thesum-
mer by Mr. Hunnewell and also in separate houses
by his married children, lies on both sides of the road
leading from the Wellesley Station to Natick. That
part of it occupied by Mr. Hunnewell himself lies on
the borders of Wellesley Pond, on the other side of
which are the grounds of Wellesley College. The
mansion built by him stands out of sight from the
road, and is reached by an avenue winding through
spacious lawns and shaded by ornamental and forest
trees, which reminds the visitor of the approaches to
some of the best estates in England. Mr. Hunnewell
inherits from hia father a taste for horticulture, which
his abundant means enable him to gratify, and as he
walks through his almost endless green-houses he
points out hia rare varieties of fruit and fiowers with
undisguised enthusiasm and fondles them with the
tenderness of a parent in his children's nursery. Dr.
Hunnewell, of whom this sketch is written, died in
Watertown, October 19, 1855, at the age of eighty-
six.
£>r. Hiram Hosmer was born in Walpole, N. H.,
.September 4, 1798. He was one of twelve children
of Jonas Hosmer (1758-1840), a farmer ; Jonas was the
son of Jonathan, born in 1712, who had a brother who
was a noted surveyor, and was the son of Stephen, who
was the son of Stephen (1642). who was the son of
James (1607-85), who came from Hawkhurst, in Kent,
■■England, about twelve miles from Dover. James was
in Concord, Mass., in 1635, took the oath of freeman
in Boston, May 17, 1637, and settled on the right bank
of the river north of Darby's bridge, on farm lately
occupied by Elijah Hosmer. James, the son of this
first James, was killed in the Sudbury fight in 1676.
As a boy he worked on his father's farm, occasion-
ally for neighbors, at a compensation which seemed
to him in better days, ridiculously meagre. He
learned the trade of cabinet-maker, which he after-
wards abandoned for medicine. His education was at
first at a district school, one term at an academy, and
afterwards with the celebrated Dr. Amos Twitchell,
of Keene, N. H. He afterwards spent some months
under the tuition of Drs. Hale and Watkins, in Troy,
N. Y. Hp, attended lectures in Boston and received his
degree from Harvard University in 1824. It was in this
very year(1824) that he esublished himself in Water-
town, where he remained until hia death, April 15,
1862, which was from abdominal disease. Many liv-
ing remember the kind face of the old doctor, aud
say that the portrait recently pr^ented to the Public
Library of Watertown, by his nephew. Dr. Hiram
Hosmer, is a faithful and life-like picture. Most have
an incorrect idea of the cause of hia death, for many
422
HISTORY OF .MEDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
years before, "during a convalescence from typhoid
fever, he had an incomplete hemiplegia of the right
aide. In April, 1856, he had a light attack which
slightly benumbed the right arm. In February, 1860,
he had a cerebral hsemorrhnge, which two of the most
eminent of the profession thought must speedily prove
fatal. Contrary to all reasonable expectation, he ral-
lied, instead of sinking, and early in the summer was
able to walk and ride out; and two years and two
months afterward he died of abdominal disease."
He hadasucce.isful career; a large experience, great
professional tact, a ready and correct judgment, an
appreciation of " Nature in Disease," and a perfect
comprehension of, and devotion to the highest inter-
ests of medicine, in the best sense of the term.
One writes of him : " He was esteemed wherever he
was known. He was not a great book-man, but was
a diligent student of nature, and ever studied care-
fully the diagnosis of his patients, as well as the mode
of treatment. He was judicious in the treatment of
the sick, not afraid of powerful medicines when such
were really needed, but more commonly employed
mild remedies."
Dr. Hosmer was married, September 6, 1827, to Sarah
Wataon Grant, of Walpole, N. H., who died in 1836.
Of four children, the youngest only survives all her
family, and is now the distinguished sculptress, Har-
riet Hosmer. She was born October 9, 1830; being
naturally of a delicate constitution, her treatment and
early education well illustrates the good sense and
wisdom of her father, and should be mentioned here.
He encouraged her to pursue a course of physical
training unusual to her sex. If half the stories cur-
rent among the people are true, she must have aston-
ished the older people by her daring riding, sometimes
standing on her dashing horse as he tore through the
street. At an early age she began modeling in clay.
Having completed her school education, she took a
regular course in anatomical instruction at the Medi-
cal College of St. Louis. In the summer of 1851 she
returned home, and commenced her bust of " Hesper,"
which, on its completion in marble in 1852, attracted
much attention in Boston ; and her father placed her
under the instruction of Gibson, the sculptor, in
Rome. From here we have her busts of "Daphne,"
"Medusa," and the statue of " .^none." One of her
best works is " Beatrice Cenci," which was made for
the St. Louis Public Library. Oneof her most popular
works, which has been copied many times, is ■' Puck,"
a charming statue. '
She was established for many years as a profession-
al sculptor in Rome, reaping a substantial reward in
a large income. In 1859 she finished a statue of
" Zenobia in Chains," a work on which she labored
so zealously for two years as to impair her health. A
statue of Thomas H. Benton, now in St. Louis, which
is cast in bronze ; " The Sleeping Faun," for the en-
trance of an art gallery at Ashbridge Hall, England ;
a full-length reclining figure of a young girl for a
funeral monument in the Church of St. Andrea della
Fratti in Rome, and a design for a " Lincoln Monu-
ment" in Washington, D. C, are among her works.
It is hoped that in her return to Rome, to renew her
art work, she has already restored, by her father's
wise art, the health which will enable her to still fur-
ther vindicate the right of woman to strength and
usefulness and a most honorable career.
Dr. Samuel Richardson, descended in the sixth gen-
eration from Samuel Richardson, who was born in
England in 1610, emigrated to America in 1636, and
also was one of the founders of Woburn.
The doctor was the only son of Captain Ebenezer
and Rhoda (Coolidge) Richardson ; born at Newton,
Mass., Jan. 13, 1795; married, 1820, to Mary Kid-
der, daughter of Isaac and Mary Kidder, of Town-
3end, Mass. He studied medicine with Dr. Moses
Kidder, of Dublin, N. H., and Dr. Stephen H.
Spaulding, of the same place ; afterward with Dr.
Amos Mitchell. Dr. Richardson practiced medicine
at Peterborough, N. H., until 1838, when he removed
to Watertown, Mass. His wife, Mary, died iu 1861.
In June, 1873, he married .Sarah Barnard, of Water-
town, who still survives him. Dr. Richardson died
bere, Feb. 12, 1879, leaving a :<on. Dr. Coolidge
Richardson, of Ware, Mass., and a <i;randson in this
town, Mr. Charles B. Gardner, a geutlemiin of gener-
ous culture, who died the last part of July, 1890,
leaving an only son, Roy Richard.^on Gardner, who
having passed his examinations for Harvard College,
is to spend a year in European travel, partly for his
health.
Alfred Hosmer, M.D., born at Newton Upper
Falls September 11, 1832, has the same name as his
father, who was also a graduate of the Harvard Medi-
cal School, and a member nf the Massachusetts
Medical Society. His grandfather, Jonas, born ir.
.A.cton, Mass., in October, 1758, had a brother Abner
killed in Concord, in the memorable fight at the
bridge, April 19, 1775, while resisting, with other
members of Captain Isaac Davis' company, of Acton,
the advance of the British regulars. This gracd-
ather married, inDecember, 1778, Betsy Willard, by
whom he had twelve children, and, like many thrifty
countrymen of that time, drove, as he had oppor-
tunity, a trade, while the rest of his time was spent
its a farmer. This trade was that of a mason. His
great-great-grandfather, James Hosmer, at the age
of twenty-eight, with a wife and two children, left
his native Hawkhurst, in Kent, England, for America
in 16.'?5, and settled in Concord, Mass., on fields still
tilled by descendants of the same name, after these
two hundred and fifty years.
His father, Alfred Hosmer, a tenth child, and born
at Walpole, N. H., in Nov., 1802, learned the trade
of a shoemaker, but with great hope and persever-
ance entered upon the study of medicine, and at the
age of twenty-three was admitted as a student to the
office of Dr. Amos Twitchell, of Keene, N. H. He
/?
/^
<i^^^ ^/ / ^ l^/y <:^A c^i t^:.<^-^-'2>'^-2^^
WATRRTOWN.
423
attended the usual course of lectures in the Medical
School of Harvard University, and received the de-
gree of M.D. in 1828. Enfeebled by acute rheuma-
tism in early youth, resulting in a serious organic
affection of the heart, he died in 1837, at the early
age of thirty-five, leaving his three young children to
the care of a courageous, energetic, and judicious
mother, whom, as Mary Ann Grahme he had married
in December, 1831. Her father, who belonged to an
old Scotch family, had come to New York when
f[uite a young man, and there had established himself
as a merchant.
Alfred Hosmer, the son, having attended the pub-
lic schools of Newton uutil his ninth year, when his
mother fouud it expedient to remove to Walpole, N.
H., where he found meagre opportunities for act|uir-
ing the thorough preliminary training which is neces-
sary for the liberal education which he desired, v/aa,
nevertheless, admitted, without conditions, to Harv-
ard College, and graduated with honor in 1853.
Having early selected, for the work of his life,
medicine, which his father pursued, he tenaciously
held to his early choice, and, soon after graduating,
was admitted to the office of his uncle. Dr. Hiram
Hosmer, of \Vatert.-)wn, well known in all this region
as a most skilful practitioner, and during the follow-
ing two winters attended lectures at the Harvard
Medical School, the third year being spent as house-
otticer in the surgical department of the Massachu-
setts General Hospital. In 1856 he received the de-
gree of M.D. from his Alma Mater, and spent a
large portion of the following year in professional
studies in Paris.
It W.1S the autumn of 1857 when he located in
Watertown, from which time he has devoted himself
ludustrously to general practice with a success that
proves ability and has .secured his reputation of being
among the best practitioners of the State. In June,
18lJ0,he married Helen .\ugusta, the youngest daugh-
ter of the late Josiah Stickney, and has two children,
a daughter and a son.
Dr. Hosmer became a Fellow of the Massachusetts
Society in lS5ti ; bus repeatedly been a member of its
council; was its anniversary chairman in 1877, and
in 1882 its president, one of the youngest who have
been elected to this high office. He was made presi-
dent of the Obstetrical Society of Boston, for two
years; was president of the Middlesex South District
Medical Society ; was medical examiner for the
Seventh District of Middlesex County. He took an
active part in organizing the Massachusetts Medico-
Legal Society, was its first president, holding the
office three years ; was for many years post surgeon
at the United States Ar.senal at Watertown.
In 1879 he was made Fellow of the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences ; and in 1881 he was
made a member of the State Board of Health, Lunacy
and Charity, and became chairman of the Health
Committee.
He has contributed to the pages of the Boston
Medical and Surgical Journal, papers of which the
titles, in part, are " Diagnostic Importance of Examin-
ations of the Urine ; '' " The Abuse of the Alimentary
Canal ; " " Life and Disease ; " " Increase of Danger
incident to the Puerperal State ; " " A Case of Vaginal
Lithotomy ; " Wounds of the Knee-Joint ; '' " Intro-
ductory Address before the Massachusetts Medico-
Legal Society ; " " In what Cases shall the Medical
Examiner decline to view a Dead Body ? " ''A Pecu-
liar Condition of 4he Cervix Uteri which is found in
Certain Cases of Dystocia."
Bat not alone in professional labors has Dr. Hosmer
won distinction. In the best work for the education,
religious culture and moral up-building of the
people by whom he has been surrounded, and for
placing men on their own feet financially, by moder-
ating their spending, and stimulating their saving
and wisely investing the surplus of health and pros-
perity for the days of sickness or adversity, he has
been always active and will he long remembered.
Dr. Hosmer was a member of the School Committee
from 18G5 to 1871, of which he was chairman during
1860, '67, '68 to April, 1869.
He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the
Free Public Library from 1868 to 1878, wxs secretary
from 1868 to 1870, and chairman 1871, 1873 to
1877. He was elected one of the trustees of the
Watertown Savings Bank, April 11, 1876; was presi-
dent from 1874 to 1890 ; was instrumental in framing
the code of by-laws adopted in 1885.
He was one of the originators of the Historical
Society of Watertown, and did much to make the
formation of the society possible, by arousing an
interest in local history, and has been its first and
only president.
In the First Parish, familiarly known as the
Unitarian Society, he has for many years been
moderator of its annual meetings, has always kept
up an interest in its doings, has contributed liberally
to its support, was 'greatly interested in the erection
of the Unitarian Building for Sunday-school, for
society and social uses, for which he solicited and
obtained considerable contributions, and to the erec-
tion and planning of which he gave most thorough
and constant attention.
Dr. Da fid T. Huckins was born the 24th of Feb.,
1819, at Meredith, N. H. He did not pass through
the regular undergraduate course at college, but is a
graduate of the Medical Department of Dartmouth,
at Hanover, N. H. He has practiced to some ex-
tent as a regular physician, but has been better
known for the many years of his residence in this town
as a dentist. He has filled several important public
offices. He was a member of the School Committee of
the town in 1850, 1851 and in 1852 — the year when it
was decided to abolish the old district school system
and establish a High School,— 1853, 1855, 1856, 1857,
1865, 1866, 1867 and 1868. He was a member of the
424
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
first Board of Trustees of Public Library in 1868, and
its treasurer.
He ia known in scientific circles for his large and
fine collection of shells.
Dr. Luther B. Morse was born in Rochester, Vt.,
in 1820, August 4th. He taught public school for six
years in his native State, prepared for college at semi-
naries in Castleton, Brandon and Montpelier, Vt.
On account of poor health in early manhood, did not
pursue a college course, but attended medical lec-
tures at Dartmouth College, at the Vermont Medical
College at Woodstock, and at the New York Univer-
sity. He graduated in his native State at Vermont
Medical College in 1845, and established himself in
his profession at Lowell, Mass. During his residence
here he was city physician for two or three years, a
director of the City Public Library, a member of the
School Committee, and represented the city in the
Legislature in the years 1853 and 1854.
He came to W.itertown in 1862 and has had exten-
sive practice during his residence in town. He was a
member of the School Committee in 1864-67 and in
1878, was town physician for a number of years, and
a member of the Board of Health for one year. In
1863, after the second disaster at Bull Run, he, with
thirty-three other Massachusetts surgeons and physi-
cians, responded within thirty-six hours and reported
themselves ready for duty at Washington for that
special service.
While in Lowell and in Watertown he has been
an active member of the Orthodox Church, holding
the office of deacon for thirty-eight years.
Dr. Julian A. Mead was born in West Acton, Mass.,
in 1856 ; was fitted for college at Phillips Academy,
Eseter, N. H.; graduated at Harvard College in 1878,
and from Harvard Medical School in 1881, and spent
two years in Europe at the Universities of Leipaic,
Vienna and Paris in fitting himself for his profession.
He came to Watertown in November, 1883, to assist
Dr. Alfred Hosmer, whose practice in this and the
neighboring towns had become too 'extensive for one
man ; and since the illness of Dr. Hosmer in Decem-
ber, 1888, he has succeeded to a large part of his prac-
tice.
The present Board of Health was originated by him,
and he was its first presiding officer, and, with Law-
yer Sullivan, framed the rules and regulations which
govern the board. In 1883 he was appointed by Gov-
ernor Robinson a medical examiner for Middlesex
County, which office he still holds. He was for three
years assistant surgeon, and for two years surgeon of
the Fifth Regiment, under Col. Bancroft.
Outside of his profession he has taken quite a promi^
nent position, having served on the School Committee
of the town for six years, for the last five of which
he has been chairman. He is a member of the parish
committee of the First Parish, and for two years has
been the president of the Unitarian Club of this
town. He is the member of the Wednesday Club,
and a member of the standing committee of the His-
torical Society of Watertown.
Other physicians in town at present are Michael J.
Kelley, Geo. A. Tower, E. True Aldrich, Charles S.
Emerson, S. Adelaide Hall and W. S. Beaumont.
Old Residents. — Mr. Samuel Walker was born in
Langdon, New Hampshire, February 9, 1818. His
father, Mr. Gilson Walker, a farmer of five or six
hundred acres, raising large numbers of sheep with
other stock, hay and grain, found time to serve his
town for over thirty years as town treasurer. He was
a son of Abel Walker, of Shirley, Massachusetts,
whose father, Samuel, one of the eighty who responded
to the Lexington alarm on the 19th of April, 1775, an
enterprising citizen, treasurer of Shirley for a dozen
years, was the great-grandson of Samuel Walker, sr.,
of Woburn, who was born in England in 1615, came
with his father. Captain Richard Walker, to find a
home in Lynn, in 1630.
Mr. Samuel Walker, the subject of our sketch, thus
preceded by an honorable and trusted ancestry, some
of whom distinguished themselves as pioneers in the
settlement of New Hampshire, notably of Charles-
town and Langdoii, came to Boston in 1843, when he
was twenty-five years old, and to Watertown for a
home in 1854. He was at first engaged in the sale of
country produce, say till 1859, since which time he
has been engaged in the manufacture and sale of
coal-oils. He was the second to import coal from
Scotland — Downer was the first — for the manufacture
of oil, before the discovery of the oil fields of Western
Pennsylvania, which quirkly supplied the market
with crude petroleum. This had to be distilled and
purified and prepared for use, a work for which the
previous manufacture had led the way, but it soon
came to revolutionize the artificial means of illumin-
ating our homes and our shops, our factories and our
streets, and in time, as it already cooks our food, will
come to be the source of heat for steam-boilers and
locomotives, as in Russia, and will probably drive our
dynamos for all electrical work.
Walker's high-test white oil, like Pratt's astral oil,
is one of the best for illuminating purposes.
Mr. Walker has served the town of his adoption as
selectman in 1877, 1878 and 1879; has represented
the towns of Watertown and Belraont in the Great
and General Court in 1881 and 1882. He was one of
the benefactors of the Free Public Library in 1883,
giving the sum of $4,500 towards the new building
while disclaiming any patriotic or charitable motives,
giving it, as he said, as "an investment in improve-
ments to his own home." This fronts on the beau-
tiful lawn surrounding the library building, but is
separated by a dense line of trees, a street and the
railway. He can see this lawn in summer, as any one
in town can see it, by going around to the street in
front of it.
Bobbins and Curtis Family.^ — " Mr. James Robbins
1 Compiled by Miss Martha Bobbins.
WATERTOWN.
425
waa a prominent and much respected citizen of Wa-
tertown, who carried on various branches of manu-
facturing, and was also interested in a country store.
He died in 1810. He left a widow and a numerous
family of children, with but a small estate, for in the
later years of his life he was not very prosperous."
"He owned and lived in a large, old-fashioned
house which stood on the bank of the river near the
' Square,' and just at the entrance of ' Watertown
Bridge,' — an ancient bridge that led toward Newton."
He was a son of Mr. Solomon Bobbins, who lived
in Brighton.
Mr. James Robbins had three wives. His first
wife's name was Warren, his second, Capen ; his third
Lois White, sister of Jonas White. By his first mar-
riage there were two children — Sarah and Ann Rob-
bins. Sarah married Israel Cook. Ann married
Francis Faulkner, who had a chocolate-mill that stood
on the Island in Watertown. Then he removed to
Billerica and established woolen-mills, which his de-
scendants still own and carry on.
The children by the second marriage were Josiah,
Lydia and Jonathan Robbins. Josiah was a man of
considerable information, through travel and study
acquiring different languages. A good part of his
life waa spent in Trinidad, where he married the
daughter of an English officer. In the declining
years of his lifehe lived in CarroUton, Kentucky, where
he and, his wife died. From Mr. James Robbing'
last marriage there were nine children. Loia Robbins,
Martha, James, George and Lsaac Robbins, were
the only ones who grew to womanhood and manhood.
Of these, Lois Robbins, the eldest of the nine chil-
dren, married Captain Benjamin Curtis, the son of
Dr. Curtis, of Boston. " Of this marriage there were
two children, — Benjamin Robbins Curtis (see portrait
on opposite page), horn Nov. 4, 1809, and George
Ticknor Curtis, born Xov. 28, 1812." Capt. Curtis died
while his children were in their infancy. To their
mother were they indebted for all they attained. Un-
tiring in her devotion, counting upon their success, if
by persistent effort and self-denial it could be attained,
she had the reward in her old age of seeing all her
hopes realized, both sons going through college with
honors and excelling as landers — Benjamin being
made judge of the Supreme Court; George distin-
guished in law and literature. In the celebrated Dred
Scott case, Judge Curtis will ever be associated as
deciding that the negro was not a " chattel ;" but a
citizen.
"The dissenting opinion of Judge Curtis, in the
Dred Scott case, was greatly praised throughout the
Northern States for the clear, learned and able man-
ner in which it maintained the capacity of free per-
sons of color to be ' citizens' within the meaning of
the Judiciary Act, and for the power with which he
risserted the authority of Congress to exclude slavery
from the Territories."
" The first religious impressions of any man of dis-
tinction are an important item in an account of his
life and character. Through life he was a man of
very strong religious feelings and principles. They
were derived partly from his mother and partly from
the Unitarian influences which surrounded his youth."
" From his mother he was taught his sense of re-
sponsibility to God, and ' the fear of God was the only
fear under, which he ever acted.' "
" His mind was enriched by learning, but not over-
laid by it ; and to aim to appear learned was as foreign
to his nature as any other form of pretence."
He began his professional career in Boston in 1834.
" His moral sentiments and convictions were very
strong ; but they lay deep beneath the surface, form-
ing, like conscience, the unseen and silent guide of
life."
" In his boyhood he spent much of his time with
his upcles, James, George apd Isaac. They were ail
engaged in a manufacturing business. But the eldest,
Mr. James Robbins, was very fond of farming, and
was a good amateur farmer. Through him, his agri-
cultural tastes were imbibed in his boyhood, in the
rural scenes of his native place and on his uncle's
lands."
In the impeachment trial of President Johnson,
Judge Curtis was regarded as " the one man in the
country, by the President, Cabinet and his friends,
who might possibly stay what they regarded as an
attempt to crush the constitutional independence of
a co-ordinate department of the government." To
him they appealed. 'Twaa decided according to the
Constitution there should be a "trial," that the
Senate should be a Court, the members of which
should be under the sanction ofan oath or affirmation,
and there should bea "judgment." By constitutional
provision, and by established precedents, the aceu.sed
was entitled to " the assistance of counsel for his
defence. " In the selection of counsel to defend the
President, the first name suggested was that of Judge
Curtis, and accepted in full Cabinet, and emphatically
by the President himself." "Judge Curtis had no
personal acquaintance with Mr. Johnson, no interest
in his political or personal fortunes, nothing but a
sense of duty to lead him to accept the responsible
position of leading counsel for the defence on this
great trial." " It involved serious pecuniary sacrifices,
for the President was unable to offer the smallest
compensation, and Judge Curtis had a very lucrative
practice." " The President had nothing to which to
appeal in the mind of his advocate, but a conscious-
ness that he might be able to do a service to his
country, and this was sufficient." " The impeachment
trial began before the Senate, on the 30th of March,
1868, theChief Justice of the United States presid-
ing." " It was believed that a large majority of the
Senators were bitterly hostile to the President."
Judge Curtis was to open the defence. He shared
ihe anxiety that was felt by others on account of the
hostility of so many of the Senators to the President ;
426
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
but when he rose to speak he manifested no solicitude
whatever. He knew that he could place the defence
ofthe President upon unanswerable grounds of law,
and that, when this had been done, his acquittal would
depend entirely upon there being a sufficient number
of the hostile Senators who were capable of rising
above party and acting for their country. " That
Judge Curtis rendered a great public service, that
when he had concluded his address to the Senators,
the acquittal of the President was substantially
secured, and that nothing needed to be added to an
argument which had exhausted the case, is the con-
current testimony of most of those who were present,
or who have read the trial."
" He died in Newport, September 15, 1874. In Ur.
Robbins' Memoir, read before the Massachusetts
Historical Society, is the following tribute to his
character. " It does not admit of denial that Mr.
Curtis' character bore that genuine stamp of great-
ness which cannot be counterfeited or disputed, the
test of which is the spontaneous recognition and
homage of men. Everywhere, and at all times, on the
bench, at the bftr, in every assembly, whether large
or small, in the most select company, and in general
society, his presence was impre.ssive and commanding.
No man, however great, could look down upon him.
Very few could feel tiiemselves to be his peers. Most
men, even those of a high order of mind and charac-
ter, instinctively acknowledged bis supremacy."
" In one thing surely it will be allowed that he was
great; for throughout life he had been mindful of
the prayer, and had received its answer, ' So teach
us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts
unto wisdom." "
While Family. — One of the prominent men in
Watertown in the early part of the century was Mr.
Jonas White, who owned a large farm on which was
a lovely wooded hill, which is now standing and is
still called White's Hill.
Mr. White, on May 2, 1749, married Lucy Stearns,
and had four sons and one daughter. The daughter
married Hon. Levi Thaxter, a lawyer in the town,
and their son, Levi L. Thaxter, who died in the year
1884, was well-known in the literar>' circles of Boston
and Cambridge, as a man of culture and refinement,
and also a very fine reader of the poetry of Robert
Browning. His wife, Mrs. Celia Thaxter, is now one
ofthe most prominent literary women in the country,
being a beautiful writer of both prose and poetry.
Three of Mr. White's sons died at an early age.
William, a young man of great promise, entered Har-
vard College in the year 1807, but never graduated, as
there was a rebellion in his class, and all left or were
expelled. He is said to have been a brilliant talker
and a delightful companion. Jonas studied medicine
but in consequence of an accident, gave up practicing.
He died unmarried, as did both William A. and
Josiah. Abijah, the eldest son, married Miss Ann
Maria Howard (a daughter of Samuel Howard, who
was one of the members of the celebrated "' Boston
Tea Party," 177G), and remained on the farm with his
father. In those days the ranches of Nebraska and
Colorado were unknown, but Mr. White did a large
business in cattle-raising on the farms of Petersham,
Hubbardston, Princeton and other towns within fifty
miles of Boston. In company with Boston merchants
he exported large quantities of beef to the West In-
dies, and in this way acquired a handsome fortune.
He had six daughters and one son, William .Vbijah,
who graduated at Cambridge in 1S3S, in the class with
James R. Lowell, William W. Story (the sculptoi),
Nathan Hale, and other men of note.
William was of a most benevolent and philan-
thropic disposition, and did a great work in Water-
town in promoting the temperance cause. So much
respecte<l was he that, on his return to Watertown
after a long absence, a public reception was given
him, and a silver cup presented, .as an expression of
respect and atrecti(m from the citizens. He was also
very prominent in the abolition movement. He died
in 1856.
Lucy, the eldest daughter, married (.Teorge Richard-
son, whose father lived in the fine house which was
afterwards couverted into the Nouantum House at
Newton. One of the daughters, Ann Maria, married
James Russell Lowell, the poet, l)ut she did not live
long after her marriage. William Abijah married
Harriet Sturgis. Lois Lilly married Dr. Estes Howe,
of Cambridge. Mary Greene married Charles Wyllis
Elliott, from Connecticut. Agnes Howard married
.\rthur Lithgo Devens. Caroline (illman married
Montgomery Davis Parker.
The old house, from which the most generous hos-
piiality was dispensed by Mrs. White, who was beloved
and respected by every one who knew her, is still
standing ic the village street, just beyond the park.
The Cootidye Funiitij.' — This family is of great
antiquity, traceable as far back as Edward the Fir.'.l
(1300). The name was spelled in various ways, there
being no fixed orthographic rules, and the mode was
governed mo=tly by the sound. The practice derived
from the Normans, in the tenth or eleventh century,
of giving surnames from manors or localities, pre-
vailed. William de Coulinge appeared in the roll of
the hundreds as holder of lands in Cambridgeshire.
The de was generally dropped from surnames about
the time of Henry Sixih (before 1450).
The branch of the family from which those in this
country descended was settled in Cambridgeshire,
was of the landed gentry, and of great respectability.
They adopted the name as now usually spelled.
John, the youngest son of William Coolidge, of
Cottenham, Cambridge County, England (baptized
September 16, 1604), was perhaps one of the first
settlers of Watertown, in llj30, although the date of
his arrival has not been ascertained. He was admitted
> B; AusUD J. Coolidge, H. C, 1847, and uiemljerM. E. U. JIO. Society.
I //u
r/o
^
WATERTOWN.
427
freeman May 25, 1636, but that tact does not disprove
a much earlier arrival, as none were admitted free-
men until they became members of the church, yet
were eligible to office upon talcing the oath of fidelity,
without admission either as church-members or free-
men.
The homestead of John Coolidge was upon the
highlands at the northwesterly side of Fresh Pond,
and he acquired other lands in different localities.
He was representative to the General Court in 1658,
selectman thirteen times between 1638 and 1682, and
was often engaged in the settlement of estates. His
will, dated Nov. 19, 1681, was proved June 16, 1691.
He died May 7, 1691, aged eighty-eight years, and his
wife, Mary (whose origin is unknown), died Aug. 22,
1691, aged eighty- eight years. In theancientgraveyard,
under a stately elm, near the corner of Arlington and
Mount Auburn Streets, two modest head-ttones of
slate, about two feet in height, mark the burial spot
of the united head of the family in America.
Their children were sons, John, probably born in
England about 1630; Simon, born 1632 ; Stephen, born
October 28, 1639; Obadiuh, born April 15, 1642;
Nathaniel, probably born 1644-45; Jonathan, born
March 10, 1646-47 ; daughters, (probably) Elizabeth,
born about 1634-35 ; and Mary, born October 14,
1637. Their father's will omits from mention son
Obadiab, who died 1663, unmarried, and Elizabeth,
who married Gilbert Crackbone, of Cambridge, June
17, 1656, and, after Crackbone's death, in January,
1671-72, married Richard Robbins, March 26, 1673,
and died without issue, probably before date of her
father's will. Mary married Isaac Mi.xer, Jr., and
left daughters Sarah and Mary, remembered by the
ancestor. Stephen married, but died in 1711 without
issue, and his estate descended to his brother? and
sister Mary's children. Thus, of the eight children,
the perpetuation of the Coolidge name depended upon
the four sons, John, Simon, Nathaniel and Jonathan.
These men were among the most respectable citizens
and left a numerous progeny. John had fourteen
children (among them two pairs of twins); Simon
had eight, Nathaniel had thirteen, and Jonathan had
seven children, averaging more than ten each.
John, the oldest son,' was connected with operations
in fortifying Brookfield, in King Philip's War in 1676,
and was selectman si.^ times between 1684 and 1C90.
There came very early among the settlersofWatertown,
a feeling that there was not room for the population ;
hecce, migrations began. Many of the descendants
of this man are found among the settlers of Sherburne,
Natick and adjoining parts of Middelesex County.
His son, Lieut. Richard, was representative of Water-
town in 1722, and selectman eleven times from 1711
to 1728. Samuel, Richard's son was a graduate of
I BoDd couuecis Jobn, the gniDilaoo of the settler, with King Pliiiips
War, but he \Mia theo unly fourteen years old; Stephen, a son uf the I
settler, WHd also a soldier in that war.
Harvard College in 1724, librarian in 1732, and
chaplain at Castle Island. Other descendants— John,
born 1753, was soldier in the Revolution ; Nathaniel
kept a public-house at south side of Watertown
bridge, from 1764 to 1770, and was selectman in
1777-78 ; Grace, daughter of Joseph, of Sherburne,
married Joseph Ware, father of Ashur Ware, Harvard
College, 1804, LL.D., Bowdoin, 1837, and judge of
District Court United States for Maine; Carlos
Coolidge was a graduate of Middlebury College, 1811,
and was Governor of Vermont.
SiMOy, the second son of the settler, appears to
have been the progenitor, so far as is known, of all
of the name now residing in Watertown, and of the
larger proportion of the family here in preceding
years. Some of his descendants in the period from
17S0 to 1795 migrated to the region of Maine now
called Jay and Livermore, and became numerous
from that point eastward to Hallowell and Augusta,
and southward to Portland. His son Joseph became
one of the leading men in Cambridge, and was deacon
of the church. The daughter of Joseph (Rebecca)
married Rev. Edw. Wigglesworth, first Hollis Pro-
fessor of Divinity in Harvard College ; son Stephen,
graduate Harvard College, 1724; daughter Mary,
married Rev. Samuel Porter, graduate Harvard Col-
lege, 1730, and minister of the church in Sherburne.
Simon, grandson of Simon, born 1704, purchased,
in 1728, lands along what is now Grove Street. The
house where he lived, demolished before the present
century, was a short distance beyond the house known
to the present generation as the oid Coolidge house,
which stood, until within three or four years, opposite
to the residence of the late Deacon John Coolidge.
The house second named may have been in existence
prior to the purchase referred to.
Here lived Simon's eldest son, Joseph, born 1730,
who was killed by the British troops April 19, 1775.
The tradition is, that he was ploughing at the "Vine-
yard " in the early morning — heard of the march of
the King's troops, put up his cattle, look his gun,
went to the village, fell in with a small company has-
tening forward from Needham, and, being more fa-
miliar with the way, acted as guide. This small body
of men met and was fired upon by the British Hank
guard at the high rocks in the edge of Lexington.
Joseph Coolidge fell I One hundred years after, the
family erected a monument in memory of the event
in the ancient grave-yard near the place of his burial,
and near the spot also where tie heard his country's
call. Commemorative exercises were held on Dec-
oration Day, May 30, 1875, a more genial day than
the 19th of April had proved to be, whose wintry
blaats contrasted strangely with the heat of that day
a century before. Joshua, the eldest son of this
man of Lexington fame, helped on the earth-works at
Dorchester Heights, where Washington's position
suddenly induced the British to leave Boston. The
grandsons, .loshua, Joaiah, David and John, were
428
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACIIITSKTTS.
large land-holders, and among the best citizens of
the generation just departed. A representative man,
promineDt among those still worthily austuining the
reputation of the family, is Joshua Coolidue, oldest
of the great-grandsons, who has served the town well
in the arts of peace, on its School Board, and for
many years a trustee of the Public Library.
Nathaniel, the third son of the settler, was select-
man in 1677 and 1692. He became owner of the
wear and the fishery at the bridge, and of the tract
between the river and Mill Creek, the mill and the
dam, where now are the Hollingsworth & Whitney
Paper-Mills, the Lewando Dye- House, and the Walk-
er & Pratt foundry ; also purchased extensive tracts
elsewhere, among them a fifty-acre lot, ninety-three
acres and one hundred and seventeen acres, lying
possibly on both sides of Mt. Auburn Street, some-
where between Garfield Street and East Watertown.
Among his descendants were great-grandsons Sam-
uel, graduated Harvard College 1769, a distinguished
classical teacher, and his brother. Col. Moses Cool-
IDGE, selectman in 1777, 1792. Persons still living
remember his homestead, on what is known as the
Frazer place, at East Watertown. Cornelius, a son
of Col. Moses, was graduated Harvard College 1798,
and a merchant in Boston. Gen. Jonathan Coolidge,
of Waltham, selectman from 1791 to 1807, was a
great-grandson. David Hill Coolidge, lawyer in
Boston, is also a descendant.
Jonathan, the youngest son of the settler, was born
March 10, 1646-i7. His son John settled in Boston.
His grandson Joseph, born February 10, 1718-19, mar-
ried Marguarite Olivier, daughter of Antoine Olivier, a
French Huguenot. From him were sons Joseph in
three generations : Joseph, born 1747; Joseph, born
1773, married Elizabeth Bulfinch ; and Joseph, born
about 1799, graduated Harvard College 1817, and
married Ellen Wales Randolph, daughter of Thomas
Mann Randolph, Governor of Virginia, and wife
Martha, who was daughter of Thomas Jefferson, Pres-
ident of the United States. The wealth and enter-
prise of this last Joseph were visible in the last gen-
eration, and are perpetuated in his frimily. Among
his sons was Sidney, who fell at the battle of Chicka-
mauga, September 19, 1863 ; living representatives
are Thomas Jefferson, a distinguished manufacturer
and capitalist ; Joseph Randolph, a member of the
legal, and Algernon of the medical profession. Thomas
Bulfinch (Harvard College 1819) and Rev. James I.
T. (Harvard College 1838) were also descendants of
the first Joseph. The members of this family have
swelled the roll of Harvard graduates by the name
of Coolidge, descendants of the first settler, to thirty-
four, not to mention those of other names, descend-
ants by intermarriage.
Interwoven with the Coolidge family are the names
of Bond, Stone, Bright, Brown, Clarke, Mason, Liver-
more, Hastings, Jennison, Frost, Whitney, Russell,
Stratton, Wigglesworth, Stearns, Richards, Harring-
ton, and many others, through whom it may fairly be
computed the descendants of the first settler were as
numerous ;is those bearing his name, and scattered
through New England and the Western States. Four
towns bear the name of Coolidge, in Kansas, Ken-
tucky, Wisconsin and New Mexico. These children
of two hundred and .sixty years, dispersed so widely,
all regard with patriotic pride and devotion Water-
town as their maternal home.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
SETH UE.Mr.-.
Seth Bemis, who was born the 23d January, 177.'i, wa.s
the youngest son of David and Mary Bemis, the latter
the daughter of Nathaniel and Ann (Bowman) Bright.
He was a lineal descendant in the lounh generation of
Joseph and Sarah Bemis, who were in \\'atertown as
early as 1040, and were supposed to have come from
London, England, in the "Sarah and John." His
ancestors had been -substantial citizens and land-
owners in Watertown, their names appearing on the
early town records among those of the selectmen.
His father owned the water-power where now the
-Etna Mills are establirhed, carrying on a grist-mill
and paper-mill, and at his death, in 1790, the mill
! property came to his sons Luke and Selh. The
j subject of this sketch fitted at New Ipswich .\cademy
! for Harvard College, where he graduated in 171i-">,
I taking good rank as a scholar. Alter graduation he
i spent about a year in the law-otEce of Franklin
i Dexter. At this time the attention of fore-seeing
■ and progressive New England men was turned to the
I establishment in this country of manufacturing in-
iluslries, and Seth Bemis was among the earliest to
join the movement, buying out his brothers' interest
in 1796, devoting much time to e.Kperiments with
machinery, for the different branches of spinning
and weaving yarns and cloth, both of cotton and
wool. About 1809, at the suggestion of Winslow
Lewis, a large Boston ship-owner, he began to ex-
periment with the manufacture of heavy cotton goods
suitable for sail-cloth, and the War of 1812 found him
extensively engaged in the manufacture of cotton
duck, a large part of which was marketed in Balti-
more and the South. After the close of the war he
took up other branches of manufactures, and was
associated in his enterprises with some of the well-
known Boston merchants of the day, among them
John Bellows, Thomas Cardis and William H. Board-
man. At a late period, in partnership with his son,
Selh Bemis, Jr., he carried on a large business in the
grinding of logwood, and the preparatiiin of dye-
stuffs. Besides his industrial enterprises, he was
much interested in agriculture, and believing that
merino sheep could be profitably raised in this coun-
;/, /^- /^
^ud
V
c_- o
■' L^ Cc^'j7^-i^'^ C
■A
7
WATERTOWN.
420
try, he became largely engaged at one time in breed-
ing them on a farm owned by him in Maine, for
this purpose importing some of the finest blooded
stock.
He was always an active member of the Unitarian
parish, taking great interest in its work. He repre
seiited his town in the Legislature, and, although
averse to holding office, was an earnest advocate of
public improvements. He died on the 4th April,
1851, in the seventy-sixth year of his age.
He married, on the 24th April, 1808, Sarah Wheel-
er, of Concord, Masssachusetts, who belonged to a
family, descended from the earliest settlers of thai
town. His wife died on the 22d of June, 1849.
They had four children, who all survived them : —
Tonathan Wheeler Bemis, born Sept. 17, 1810, who
graduated from Harvard in 1830, and from the Har-
vard Medical School in 18o4. He settled in Cbarles-
towu, where he followed his profession over thirty-
five years. In November, 1859, he married Lucy
Wyeth, of Cambridge, and has four children. In
1871 he retired from practice and moved to Cam-
bridge, where he now lives.
Sarah Wheeler Bemis, born 25th of July, 1812,
who uow lives in Newton, just across the Charles
River from the old homestead.
Seth Bemis, Jr., born 18th of September, 1814, who
fitted for Harvard College at E.xeter Academy, but
went into business. He was a well-known manufac-
turer, and was associated with his father tor many
years, the success of their dye-stutf business being
due, to a large extent, to his energy and capacity.
.Vlter retiring from active business, about 1800, he
moved across the river to Newton, where his sister
now lives. !'() to the time of his death he continued
to hold several positions iu manufacturing and other
companies. He died 21.st of October, 1887, in the
seventy-fourth year of his age.
(ieorge Bemis born 13!h October, 1816, who gradu-
ateil from Harvard College with high rank in 1835
and from Harvard Law School iti 1839. He became
a noted lawyer of Boston, where he practiced many
years. During the Wht of the Rebellion he was
greatly interested in the success of the National
<TOverniuent, and rendered valuable assistance in the
conduct of its diplomatic correspondence both during
the war and in the years immediately foilowing its
close. His patriotic interest in international law led
hiin to make a study of this subject, in which he be-
came deeply interested, and by his will he left a legacy
founding a I'rofessorship of International Law in the
Harvard Law School. During the latter years of his
life he lived much in Europe, where he died the lith
.lanuary, 1878, at Nice, France, in the siity-second
year of his age.
Another branch of the Bemis family who have long
been residents of Watertown was Charles Bemis, a
son of Nathaniel and .Vbigail (Bridge), a grandson of
David ;iud Mary (Bright), a great-grandson of Jona-
than and Anna (Livermore), a great-great-grandson
of John and Mary (Harrington), who were next in
descent from Joseph and Sarah, who came to Water-
town about ili40. They were believed to have come
from Loudon in the "Sarah and John." (See Drake.)
Homestall, 10-A.
Said Charles Bemis graduated from Harvard Col-
lege in 1808, and studied law with Judge Artemas
Ward, and practiced his profession during his life in
Watertown. He married Annie Vose, of Boston.
They had three children — Dr. Charles Vose, of Med-
ford, who married Elizabeth F. Henry, of Keene, N. H.
daughter of Hon. Wm. Henry, of Chester, Vt. Dr.
Bemis has been for many years one of the trustees of
the Massachusetts General Hospital. They have two
daughters, Fanny Elizabeth and Alice Goodhue.
Abby Vose married Charles J. Barry, son of Wil-
liam Barry, of Boston, and Esther (Stetson) Barry,
formerly of Randolph. Mr. Charles J. Barry, born
in 1811, graduated at Boston High School. After
spending some time iu the office of A. C. Lombard,
he engaged in the wholesale coal business, first in
Boston and afterwar3s in Cliarlestown, where he was
known for his punctilious attention to his business.
He took up his residence in \Vatertown in 1852, was
elected on the School Committee in 1854, again in
1858, and continuously uutil 1865, was made one of the
Board of Trustees of the Free Public Library in 1868,
and again in 1873, serving until his death in 1883, the
last six years being chairman of the board. He was
one of the three charter members of the Watertown
Savings Bank, was its president from the date of its
organization iu 1870 until his death. Mr. Barry was re-
markable tor hi:> exact and regular habits as a business
man, enjoying the perfect confidence of all, while he
gave much of his time the latter years of his life to en-
courage the young and the poor to save their money
while they could for sickuess and old age, to save
their leisure time by using it in reading good books.
He was constant in his attendance at church and
liberal iu his support of the Firat Parish, of which he
had long been a member.
Isaac Vose, entered Harvard College, but owing
to ill health did not graduate. He studied law
with Judge Putnam. He is unmarried and lives at
the ancestral place on Main Street, near its junction
with Lexington Street.
.MILES PRATT.
Miles Pratt was descended from Joshua Pratt, who
came to Plymouth in the ",\.nu" in 1623. At a very
early date lands were granted to him in that part of
Plymouth which is now Carver, and from that time
to the present one branch of the family has made that
town its place of residence. David Pratt, the father
of Miles, lived in Carver, aad having secured some-
thing more than a common-school education, devoted
the earliest years of his manhood to 'teaching school.
430
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Eventually, however, he carried on a foundry in the
north part of his native town. He married Sarah,
daughter of Thomas Barrows, of Carver, a descendant
of John Barrows, who also received grants of land in
Carver at an early date and died in 1692. David
Pratt had three children — Mary, who married George
Barrows ; Sarah, who married Marcus M. Sherman,
and Miles, the subject of this sketch. Miles was born
in Carver, September 17, 1825, and at the age of
fifteen years entered upon the occupation of selling
hollow-ware, the product of his father's factory, and
from that time until his death his career was one of
active industry.
About the year 1850, after being with his father
some years as a partner in his business, he entered
the store of B. W. Dunklee & Co., dealers in stoves,
as salesman, and remained in their employ one year, !
when, with a son of Mr. Gould, an old president of \
the Blackstone Bank, he formed a partnership under
the firm-name of Pratt & Gould, in the retail stove '
business. In 1S54 he formed a new partnership, under
the name of Pratt, Weeks & Co., with William G. i
Lincoln, Allen S. Weeks and his uncles, Thomas and
.lohn Jay Barrows, as partners. At that time his '
father, David Pratt, having retired from businesfi, the
new firm engaged for a year in the manufacture of ;
castings in Carver, while building a foundry in Water- i
town for the manufacture of cook and parlor stoves
and stove-ware. In 1855 the new foundry was '
finished and a considerable business was soon built |
up, mainly for the Eastern market and that of the I
Provinces. j
In 1857, owing to severe financial depression, the
firm dissolved, and while its creditors suffered no loss,
Mr. Pratt was deprived of the earnings of bis previous '
years, emerging from the wreck of his firm a poor '
man, but with integrity and business vigor unim-
paired. With a determination rarely exhibited in such i
cases he at once took a lease of the Watertown
foundry on his own account, and carried on its busi- '
ness alone with marked success until the following '
year, 1858, when he formed a partnership with Luke
Perkins, also a native of Carver, under the title of '
Pratt & Perkins, with Wm. G. Lincoln, one of his j
old partners, as a special partner. In 1863 Mr. Per- |
kins left ihe firm and the firm of Miles Pratt & Co.
was formed, with Mr. Lincoln as the partner. In |
1874 this firm waa consolidated with that of George |
W. Walker & Co., of Boston, under the name of |
Walker, Pratt & Co., with Mr. Lincoln and Horace '
G. and George W. Walker as partners. In 1875 the |
company was incorporated under the name of the (
Walker & Pratt Manufacturing Company, with |
George W. Walker as president and Miles Pratt as '
treasurer. After the death of Mr. Pratt, George E. '
I'riest became the treasurer, and the company is still I
doing a large and successful business in the manu- I
facture of stoves, ranges, furnaces, apparatus for hotel i
kitchens, radiators and boilers for steam and hot water
heating, with their store at 31 and 35 Union Streets,
Boston. Since 1863 Oliver Shaw, also a native of
Carver, has been the superintendent of the manu-
I facturing business, and largely to his fidelity and skill
the company owes its success.
j Mr. Pratt married, in 1851, Sarah B., the daughter
of Zebulon Chandler, of Carver, a descendant from
Edward Chandler, who appeared in Duxbury in 1633.
Mrs. Pratt died March 25, 18-38, leaving no children,
and on the 6th of October, 1859, Mr. Pratt married
Ellen M. Coolidge, of Watertown, and had an only
child, Grace, who married Frederick Robinson, of
Watertown, and is still living. He died at Water-
j town on the 9th of August, 1882, and was buried at
i Mt. Auburn. His death occurred at a time when his
brain and capacity for work appeared to be in their
! fullest vigor and when, with the threshold of his bus-
I iness enterprises, with its difficulties and embarrass-
ments and obstacles, successfully surmounted, he was
' enjoying the fruits of his labors and indulging in am-
bitious and well-founded hopes of enhanced success.
I The career of Mr. Pratt portrayed in this sketch
demonstrates the most prominent characteristics of
' the man, oingleness of purpose, disturbed by no allur-
ing temptations, a determination to succeed never
weakened by obstacles in his path, and an unswerv-
ing integrity, without which neither singleness of
purpose nor determination to succeed could have
been of any avail. Good business man as he was, he
permitted no outside schemes and enterprises to dis-
tract his mind, and accepted no office except that of
trustee of the Watertown Savings Bank, of which he
was the most active founder. Brought up in politics
as a Whig, he preserved his independence of speech
and thought, and abandoned the party of his youth
when he believed it untrue to the principles of human
freedom. Afterwards a Republican, be was still inde-
pendent and recognized no authority binding him to
its ranks, when he believed that it had outlived its
usefulness and purpose. Nor in religious matters,
more than in politics, was he bound by traditions.
Born in the Orthodox Congregational Church and edu-
cated under its influences, he became in the later
years of his life a Swedenborgian and died in that
faith. In all things he kept his mind free, always
open to convictions, and when convictions came to
him he was obedient to their commands.
SAMUEL NOYES.
Samuel Noyes was the son of Christopher and
Martha (Reed) Noyes, and was born in Plymouth, N.
H., June 27, 1804. He attended the district-school
in winter, and aided his father in the store in summer.
In June, 1827, Mr. Noyes found employment in
Boston, where he remained two years, afterwards went
to Cambridge and worked in the grocery-store of
Deacon Brown four years.
In April, 1833, he came to Watertown and opened
'{I /lldi ( ^ //"]/ 0
>'^- ' U -y'^^'y/r/^
HOLLISTON.
431
(what was then called) a temperance grocery-store,
corner of Arsenal and Mt. Auburn Streets. Many
prophesied at the time that this new project would be
a failure, for it was customary in those days for
grocers to sell liquors, and they did a thriving busi-
ness in that line.
Mr. Noyes was a strong temperance man, and did
not approve of the use or sale of liquors. There were
three stores in town at the time which dispensed
spirituous liquors, but Mr. Noyes having the strong
courage of his convictions, plodded along in his way,
his business slowly but constantly increasing. He
was soon in need of a larger store, and moved in 1847
into the town hall building, where he remained for a
number of years. In 1870 he built the brick block
on the opposite side of the street, known as Noyes'
Block. FTe continued to do business there until 1879,
when he sold out and retired, having been in active
business in Watertown forty-si."c years.
In June, ISoG, Samuel Noyes married .\manda
fleorge, of Plymouth. N. H.. and had six children,
viz., Mary, Hattie, Samuel G., Sarah B. (who died in
infancy), Charles H. and Emma L. Four of these
children are now living,— .Mary (now Mrs. Noyea),
Samuel <t. (unmarried), Charles (unmarried), Kmma
L. (now Mrs. Sidney E. Home), living in Mendota,
Illinois.
Samuel Nnyes married for his second wife, Mrs. Mary
Home, and had two children. Wendell and Sidney E.
Mr. Noyes is a Republican in politics, was town
treasurer and collector of ta.xes for twenty years,
always attended the Baptist Church, and was treas-
urer of that society fiftv-five vears.
captain he received from being fire warden in the
days of the old volunteer Fire Department.
Capt. French married, for his first wife, EstaPond,
of Watertown. There were three children by this
union, two of whom died in infancy.
Georgetta is still living. Mrs. French died Oct. 18,
1852. For his second wife, Mr. French married Mrs.
Isaac French. She died Jan. 6, 1854.
Mr. French died Aug. 12, 1890.
lHOMA.-< I,. FRKNI H.
• 'apt. Thomas L. French was born in Cambridge,
Mass., Sept. Irf, 18ti9. He was the son of Cyrus and
Deborah (Learnedl, and grandson of Isaac French.
Capt. French's father died when he was quite
young, and early in life he was obliged fo depend
upon his own resources. At the age of fifteen years
he wa.s apprenticed to Samuel F. Sawyer, of Cam-
bridge, Mass., to learn the trade of mason and
builder, and at the age of twenty-one he went in
bu.-iiness for himself in Holliston, Mass. He re-
mained in Holliston about four years, then moved to
Watertown and continued the same business until
within a lew years when he retired from active
life. ('apt. French did a large and lucrative business
in Watertown, and during the late war was master
mechanic at the United States Arsenal and built most
of their large brick l)uildings.
He w;i3 very active in town artairs — selectman
fifteen years, in the Legislature one year, and held
other minor town olfices. The captain was never de-
feated for any otfice tendered to him by his towns-
men but ouce. During his active life few men were
better posted in town altairs than he. The title of
CHAPTER XXXVI.
HOLLISTOX.
BY ALBERT H. BLANCHARD, M.D.
The town of Holliston reaches to the southern
point of Middlesex County, and forms a large part of
its boundary in that direction. The boundary line
separates it from Medway and Millis, in the county
of Norfolk, and from a portion of Milford, in the
county of Worcester. It is a daughter of Sherborn,
having been formed entirely from that ancient town.
The history of Sherborn is therefore the history of
Holliston until the date of incorporation of the latter
town, in 17i!4.
<TraQls of the land now included in this township
were made by the General Court, as early as 1659, to
Major Eleazer Lusher, of Dedham, and to Dean Win-
throp, son of Governor John Winthrop; and also,
from 1664 to 1674, to Lieutenant .Joshua Fisher, of
Dedham, to John Parker and one Hopper. Lusher's
grant of two hundred and fifty acres comprised the
present central part of Holliston, and twelve acres of
meadow " lying on the brook Wennakeening" (Bogis-
tow Brook); and ^Vinthrop"s grant of six hundred
acres or more abutted upon Medfield line in one di-
rection and upon a pond (Winthrop's) in the other.
Major Lusher sold his grant to Lieutenant Henry
.\.dams, of Medfield, in 1660; and after the death of
Lieutenant Adams it was bought by Hon. William
Brown, of Salem, and afterwards came into the pos-
session of his son, Colonel Samuel Brown, and Judge
Samuel Sewall. Lieutenant Adams took immediate
possession and is said to have mowed the meadows
the same year. He sent cattle here and some of his
sous resided here, especially Jasper, who seems to
have had the management of the land and gave bis
name to ".rasper's hill," now .Mt. Hollis, from which,
by signal fires, he communicated with his father in
Medfield. He lived here, unmarried, for a period of
about fourteen years until driven off by the Indians
under King Philip in 1676.
The second planter was William Sheffield, who,
with his brother Edmund, bought in 1662 the grant of
Lieutenant Joshua Fisher, of Dedham, at "Chabbo-
quasset," in the southeast quarter of the present town.
He took possession, but did not settle there probably
432
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
until 1674. Edmund Sheffield does not appear to
have settled there at all. Of this land no deed had
been obtained in 1688, Lieutenant Fisher having died
in 1672, before he had completed a deed to the Shef-
fields. William was in much trouble on this account,
and, as he did not know what action to rake, presented
the following petition "on a training day" in Sher-
borne, November 22, 1688, "to y' fathers, with all the
inhabitants of Sherborn : " " Wm. Sheffield, of Sher-
born, the aged, your humble petitioner, doe humbly
intreat you to show your love to me, to give, grant or
confirm my land which I bought of Lt. Fisher, oi
Dedham, to confirm to me and mine, I shall be very
thankful to you forever; for I am like a man having
myself half in the mire, and want to be holpen, help
I pray you and damnifie no man with it." In answer
to this "request the inhabitants then present did gen-
erally by their vote, grant and confirm to him the
said land soe far as they had any interest in it." He
seems by an order of the Court to have obtained his
deed at a later date. He had extinguished the In-
dian title to his tract in 1675. He became a wealthy
man for those days, and in 1686 was rated the third
highest in Sherborn. He was a selectman in the
early years of HolliRfon and served on the first board.
Hia son, William Sheffield, bought Hopper's farm of
280 acres in the west part of HoUiston.
Winthrop's grant was purchased by Captain John
Goulding, and extensively improved by him. He
settled there about 1705, and was a man of wealth
and of " herculean size and strength," and a principal
inhabitant in the early affairs of the town ; was town
clerk ten years and selectman ten years.
Alexander Marsh also settled on a part of Win-
throp's grant, on the north shore of Lake Winthrop.
No other grants appear to have been occupied until
1680, and then only by proprietors of grants made
prior to the incorporation of Sherborn, or that were
made by the town of Sherborn. Under the latter
head, in 1679, " Sherborne granteth to such as shall
make a saw-mill on a Brook [Bogistow Brook, where
the blanket-mill stands] about half a mile on this ^ide
the corner rock that was Natick bounds, the sum ol
50 Acres of upland adjoining to that brook, and 3 or
4 Acres of meadow, if it may be found upon that
Brook, as may be convenient — also 10 Acres of Swamp,
the Cedar timber excepted. This saw-mill to be built
by the end of 12 months, and be continued three years^
or as the selectmen then in being, and the owners
shall agree. So the land to be settled to the owners."
Samuel Lind, of Boston, soon accepted this offer and
built a " corn-mill " and afterwards a saw-mill upon
it. The same privilege was used in later years for a
trip-hammer mill, woolen-mill, cotton-mill and ma-
chine-shop, and in our day for the manufacture of
blankets. The building was burned about 1843, and
a new one afterwards erected.
The second division of the common lands of Sher-
born was made in 1682, including all of Holliston ;
and until then no other settlers were admitted. But
soon after that date arrangements were made for tak-
ing possession of these lands and purchasing the same
of the Indians. All of these settlers were particular
to " extinguish the Indian title." They considered
that the Indians had a right to the lands, and they
bought that right ?.nd took deeds therefor. William
Sheffield purchased directly of one of the chiefs, John
Awosamog ; others united in obtaining a common
quit-claim deed from several Indians who were au-
thorized to convey the same.
Not many families had settled in Holliston when
the year 1700 had arrived. For this there were two
principal reasons : the one above-mentioned, that no
new settlers were admitted until after the year 1682,
and another one, that this territory was several miles
distant from the church in Sherborn, a serious matter
in those days, when the opportunity to attend the
stated services of the sanctuary was considered one
of the highest privileges. Even as late as the year
1723 there were only thirteen subscribers to the peti-
tion to be set off from Sherborn, and it is believed
that all but five heads of families signed the petition.
The inhabitants of Sherborn were about to erect
a new meeting-house, and those residing in the west-
ern part of the town (now Holliston) were strenuous
in their endeavors to have it placed on a spot which
s'aould accommodate them. The town endeavored to
respond to this reasonable request. On March 6, 1723,
the qualified voters met at the meeting-house, and im-
mediately adjourned to meet at " the platt, seventy
or six-score rods Easterly from Dirty Meadow bridge,
or Thereabouts" (about half a mile east of the rail-
road station, in East Holliston), when and where it
was unanimously voted by all present, " that a meet-
ing-house be built for the town to worship God in,
on Lord's Days, upon a certain hill by the road side,
. . . so that the town remain together for the
strengthening thereof" November 18, 1723, the
inhabitants " voted to nullifie and make void this
vote of March sixth, in consideration that the Form
and Situation of the Town is so ill Convenient that
one Meeting-House Caunot be so placed as to Suit
the Whole town, but that in time there will be need
of two to accommodate the Inhabitants." And £160
was granted to defray the cost of a new meeting-
house on the old site. This was. without doubt, a
sensible decision, and subsequent events have so
proved it.
" At said McetiDg after Sundry votea bad paased, relariDg to the build-
iD(;or rebuilding of ye pubtick Meeting house, the foUoxving uiotiuo waa
made by Sundry of y* Principle Inhalutanta of y" said town. W"ho are
DwelleraoD ye Weht side of Dapping Brook. The requeat uf ua, tbe
subacribers, in behall of Our Selves and the (Jther Weateiu Inhabitants
of y" town ; l>o desire that the following artiiltt, may be put to vote,
VIZ. ; Whether they will not be free to Grant us y» liberty of HaTtng
that part of Sbetheld'a Farm Lyiug on y« East Side of Boggeatow Brook
and Edmund 31or&e'a Land and poaseiuioDS on }• Eaat aide of Dopping
brook aforesaid, over and above j« Dividing line projected between the
Enatem and Western partaof tbe town from Colonel Buckniinster's cor-
ner, ,SkC. Tbeu Wo "ill do all pubUck Duty to the t"WU ud livlelulore
HOLLISTON.
433
till the Oenil. rourt Shall Set us utT Except in y« Ccwt of DnildiDg or re-
bnililing the meetiutc hnuKe, H8 it has been thi^ day voted. Audifeo
We'll &^l£ for a Dividint; line ou further Eastward.
"Jonathan Whitney,
'* Timothy Lealand,
*' Aaron Morse,
'* ML«es Adams, Jr.,
"Joseph Johnson,
** Ebeuezer Pratt,
John Gouldiug,
Joshua Underwood,
Tbomaa Jones,
Isaac Adams,
.rohn Twitchell,
Johu Larnit."
On the above the following vote is recorded : "The
town by their vote do save to the said Western In-
habitants over Doppin Brook, whensoever they are
sett off, their proportion iu ye £160 this day granted
towards ye Building ye publick Meeting House where
it now stivnds." And the remainder of the above mo-
tion was also passetl, " for the sake of future peace
and good Neighborhood." This amicable spirit has
been continued even to the present day ; and for
many years Sherborn and Holliston constituted one
of the State districts for choice of Representative to
the Legislature.
June 3, 1724, a petition of the inhabitants of the
westerly part of Sherborn was presented to the Gene-
ral Court, showing the "great inconvenience they are
under by reason of their ^reat distance from the
place of Publick Worship, the said town being near
12 miles long, and tiie meeting-liouse situated at the
Easterly End ; That they have applyed to the Town
to be sett off, but cannot obtain a division by such a
line as they think reasonable ; and therefore praying
that they may he made a distinct and separate township
by such boundary.^ an are in the said petition partic-
ularly set forth." In council, read and ordered that
Adam Winthrop, Jona Dowse, E.-!i]s., to whom the
House joined Ebeaezer Stone, John Quincy, Esqs.,
and Mr. Edward White, be a committee to repair, :is
bijou as may be, to Sherborn, and make inquiry into
the matter of this petition, and report what they
tliink proper for this Court to do thereon. The
charge of the committee to be borne by the peti-
tioners.
June 10, 1724. A petition of Timothy Leiand and
others. A committee of the iuliubitaiits of the West-
erly part of Sherborn, praying that this Court would
direct the said town not to levy any tax on them for
building the meeting-house until September next.
The committee appointed to consider their former
petition, not being able to proceed to Sherborne till
the recess of the Court ;
In council read and ordered that the prayer of
this petition be granted. In the House read and con-
curred in.
November 20, 1724. Reported and recommended the
Western part be erected into a precinct aud separated
from the First Parish by the line that now divides
Sherborn from Holliston and Ashland ; that they be
obliged within eighteen months to erect and finish,
at their own charge, a suitable house for worship;
that they provide, as soon as may be, a learned and
Orthodox minister ; that they be allowed to assess the
lands of non-residents within said precinct It/, per
acre towards the charge of building and settling a
minister ; that they be freed from paying any part of
the £160 lately assessed by said town for building a
meeting-house in the easterly part of the town ; that
they continue to pay their proportion for the support
of the present minister of the town until they obtain
a minister of their own, and no longer; that they pro-
cure and maintain a achuol-master to instruct their
youth in reading and writing.
Their report was accepted in the several articles
thereof, " saving that the Western part of Sherborne
be a town and not a precinct, and that a bill be
brought in to erect the said lands into a township;
and that the inhabitants of the western part pay the
charges of the committee, viz., £10." This bill passed
to be enacted by both Houses, December 3, 1724, and
the New town was called Holliston, in honor of
Thomas Hollig, Esq., of London, a benefactor of Har-
ward College; and Mr. John Goulding, a principal
inhabitant, was empowered and directed to summou
the inhabitants qualified for voters to meet for the
choice of town officers, to stand until the next annual
election according to law.
Thomas Hollis returned the compliment by pre-
senting the town with an elegant folio Bible for the
pulpit, in which is inscribed, "The Gift of Thomas
Hollia, of London, Marchant, To the Meeting-house
iu Holliston, whereof Mr. James Stone ia pastor, and
his successors." This inscription is supposed to be in
the handwriting of Mr. Hollis. Rev. Dr. Tucker
gives the following history of this volume : " It was
a noble folio printed at Oxford [in the year 167'JJ,
I and for the first one hundred years of the church's
history had been used by its pastor in the service of
public worship. Becoming too much worn tor that
place, the selectmen had given it to the poor-house,
! where it would have been soon utterly finished, had not
j the worthy descendant of its donor, Dea. Thomas
HoIHe, of Boston, got news of its whereabouts, after
: much search, and secured its possession by giving a
new copy of the Scriptures to that institution. The
I church, on ascertaining this .several years after, with
I some persuasion induced Mr. Hollis to relinquish the
I valuable relic, which he greatly prized, and which no
\ money could have bought from him, by pledging
itself to guard the treasure for all time to come,
I from harm. The volume was too much dilapidated
j for rebinding, but by order of the church, a .'•hrine
I was made for it, resembling a massive book, and in
I this elegant encasement the venerable heirloom is
, safe from further harm in the keeping of the Church
orticers."
' There is a doubtful tradition that Mr. Hollis sent
also a bell for the meeting-house, but that by fraud
on the part of some one through whose hands it
passed, a cracked bell was substituted and offered to
the church committee here, who refused to accept it.
Another report is, that through mistake orconnivance,
434
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
the bell waa sent to the church in Hollis, New Hamp-
shire, or to the Hollis Street Church in Boston.
This incorporation was made about fifty years after
the incorporation of Sherborn, the mother town, and
seventy-two years after the first settlement west of
Charles River, " so slow was the progress of settle-
ment in New Eueland after the first immigrations in
1620-41." The township then comprised 15,086 acres,
but in 1826 it sustained a small reduction by an ex-
change of land with Medway and a larger one in 1846
by the incorporation of Ashland.
The first town-meeting was held December 21, 1724,
eighteen days after the incorporation, at the house of
Timothy Leland, now occupied by A. J. Travis, about
half a mile from the nail factory towards Aabland.
Town officers were chosen according to the provisions
of the act, and the organization was completed. The
first selectmen were John Goulding, William Shef-
field, Ebenezer Hill, Jonathan Whitney and Thom.ia
Marshall. John Goulding was the town clerk ;iud
was annually re-elected to that office until 1734.
"This gave the first impulse to the operations of this
infant member of the body politick."
January 4, 1724-25, only eleven days after the first
meeting, a second meeting was held, at ■.vhich it wag
resolved to erect a meeting-house thirty-two feet by
forty feet, with twenty feet posts, and £100 old tenor
(about $44.45) was assessed on the inhabitants towards
defraying the cost, each man assessed being allowed the
privilege of paying one-half of his rate in labor. It
finally cost about £100 more and was completed in
1728.
The situation of the meeting-house was a subject
of considerable discussion. Colonel Samuel Brown,
of Salem, a large proprietor, who owned the farm for-
merly possessed by Lieutenant Henry Adams, of Jled-
fleld, promised them a site, to be selected from his
land. They first thought of the spot which was fin-
ally used. But as a large proportion of the inhabit-
ants dwelt in the northern and eastern portions of the
town, it was once decided, for their convenience, to
build near the present nail-factory, on Jar Brook.
But after future consideration they were convinced
that this location would not eventually accommodate
the majority of the people as their numbers increased,
and, looking at further requirements, they decided
" to set their meeting-house south of Jasper's Hill,
on the West side of the road that goes over there, on
the Hon. Col. Brown's farm." A lot of three acres
at that place was then given by Colonel Brown to
be perpetually occupied as a site for a meecing-house
and borying-ground. The wisdom of this last choice
is now seen ; and this remained the only church
edifice in the town for nearly a century. Early in
the same year (1725) the town established public
worship, services being held at the house of Mr.
Timothy Leland, and continued there until the com-
pletion of the meeting-house. For many years there
were only temporary seats for the congregation, and
it was not until 1749 that members were allowed to
build pews, and that a committee was chosen " to
dignify the seats." Each man constructed his own
pew in those days, and the mode of assigning the dif-
ferent degrees of dignity to the dillereut seats is some-
thing astounding to the degenerate people of our
times. To Captain John Goulding and "old Mr. Eben-
ezer Leland," the father of Deacon Timothy Leland,
were allotted two of the most honorable pews.
In the year 1772 this meeting-house was repaired
and enlarged, and it then answered the pur[)Osei of
the inhabitants until 1S22, when a substantially new
church building was erected. Of this edifice of 1822,
Rev. Dr. Dowse,' in his centeuiiiai address, remarks :
"That meeting-house is supposed still to be here, but
it has been so often enlarged and remodeled that it
is very difficult to recognize anything that belonged
to the original structure." It waa again altered,
raised and a vestry built below in 1S59.
June 26, 1727, a meeting was held i'or the election
and call of a minister. The re?'ult of (he meeting was
an invitation to the Rev. James Sloue to undertake
the work of the ministry. But as the meeting-house
was not finished and the church was not then organ-
ized, his ordination was deferred until November 20,
1728. A church of eight members, includini: the
pastor-elect, was founded on the same day, according
to Fitch and others ; but Dr. G. M. Adams says there
was an interval of three weeks between the two eere-
monies.
Mr. Stone was born in Newton, 31asiacliutetts, in
1703, and was graduated at Harvard I'niver.-ity in
1724. His great-grandfather, Simon Stone, was one
of four brothers who came to this country from Eng-
land in 1634, and settled at Watertown. One of his
sermons, said to be the last he ever composed, was
published after his decease, with an introduction by
Rev. Oliver Peabody, of Natick, and Rev. Samuel
Porter, of Sherburne, who thus comment upon his
character : " He was held in great esteem by his own
people, as well as those in neighboring towns, for his
great sweetness of temper, his good humor, his in-
structive conversation, his exemplary piety, his great
diligence and his faithfulness in the work of the min-
istry.'" His salary would now be considered en-
tirely inadequate. It was fixed at £75, old tenor,
equal to §33.33, to be raised to £80 when the town
had received an increase of ten families, and to £S5
when there should be an increase of ten more. He
was to receive a settlement of £100, or about S44.
His salary was finally raised in 1742 to £150, or ^67.
But in addition to this he had his firewood and the
use of a house and land. On application by the town,
iCaDteDoial Addreea delivered Id Uolliston July 4, 1&76, by Rev. Ed-
mund DowBe. Published by the Tuwo. Friuted at Soutb Framiogbum,
1877.
-A. Century Sernioo delivered io lloUiriton, Masa., Dec, 4, 182t), by
Bev. Charlefl Fitcb, paator of the Cungregational Society. Printed ac
Cedham, 1827.
HOLLISTON.
435
the Hon. Samuel Sewall and his children conveyed,
May 9, 172S, to a committee of the town, Jona. Whit-
ney and George Fairbank, in trust, eleven acres of
land " for ye sole proper use, benefit and behoof of ye
first Orthodox, Congregational or Presbyterian minis-
ter of ye Gospel which shall be settled in ye said
town of Holliston, and to his heirs and assigns for-
ever." The committee conveyed it to Mr. Stone Jan-
uary 2, 1730, and in the same year was probably built
the ancient house long known as the Stone tavern.
The Winthrop house afterwards stood upon a part of
the same land. It was destroyed in the great fire of
1875; and the Hollis house took its place, but was
burned March 12, 1887. Mr. Stone died July 19, 1742,
in the thirty-ninth year of his age and the fourteenth
year of his ministry. The town voted £60 to defray
the expense of his funeral.
The only candidate for the pastorate, after the de-
cease of Mr. Stone, was the Rev. Joshua Prentiss,
who was ordained and installed on the 18th day
of May, 1743. He received £200, old tenor, at settle-
ment, and £140 annually. Alter two years his sal-
ary was gradually to be iacreased until it amounted
to £200 per annum.
Mr. Preutias (or Prentice, as he wrote it himself,
his descendants culling it Prentiss), was born at Cam-
bridge, iu 1713, and was graduated at Harvard Uni-
versity in 1738. He had been trained from an early
age with a view to this holy calling, and early devoted
himself to the service of God. Rev. Charles Fitch
says that " his preaching was plain, instructive and
evangelical. For about five years before his death
his health was so greatly impaired as to render him
unable to preach, except occasionally. And, perhaps,
it was owing wholly to this circumstance that the
congregation was induced to procure, in 1784, a di.--
solutiou of the p;istoral connection subsisting between
him and them.
" But the fact which seems most unpleasant upon
this subje';t is, that having fallen behind iu the pay-
ment of his salary, the people should refuse his pecu-
niary claims, and compel him to the ungrateful task
of a civil prosecution. The demand was, however,
ultimately discharged without a legal process, greatly
to the credit of the people and the satisfaction of the
pastor. From the time of this seltleineut until his
death, peace and good feeling prevailed, as is evident
from the fact that after his dismission the town
exempted his estate from taxation, and appropriated
for the use of his family a seat in the meeting-house.
Mr. Prentiss finished his earthly course April 24,
1788, having attained the age of man, his threescore
years and ten, forty -two of which he employed in the
ministry among this peo[)le." He was thrice mar-
ried, and had nine children, the second of whom, Dr.
Thomas Prentiss, was pastor of the church in Med-
ficld from 1770 to the time of his death in 1814. The
eighth child. Margaret, married in 1789, Rev. Timothy
Dickenson, the successor of her father at Holliston.
" It was during the ministry of Mr. Prentiss, and
in the year 1748 that a number of families living re-
mote from the place of worship, and contiguous to
Medway, were, for the sake of better accommodation,
set off from the congregation of Holliston by an act
of the General Court, and comprised as a component
part of the West Parish, in Medway, at its original
incorporation. The number of families belonging to
the religious society of this town was at that time
stated to be about ninety." '
After the dismissal of Mr. Prentiss there was a long
interval before the settlement of another pastor.
Thirteen successive candidates were heard, and the
people were without a minister for one hundred and
five Sabbaths. But finally they decided, with " perfect
unanimity," to call Rev. Timothy Dickenson. Mr.
Dickenson accepted the invitation, and was ordained
at Holliston, February 18, 1789. His salary was £200,
old tenor, at settlement and £80 per annum. He was
born at Amherst, Mass., June 25, 1761. " The traits
of character, which, more than any other, marked the
opening period of his existence, were the mildness
and amiableness of his natural disposition. He was
also noted in early childhood for a great fondness for
literary pursuits. So that, "although his constitution
was naturally slender, and his health feeble and in-
terrupted," a very considerable portion of the hours
which were not employed in manual labor were
devoted to study. He lived with his parents, and
labored on a farm until sixteen years of age, when
beholding his country engaged in a common and
dubious struggle for indeperidence, the deep interest
excited in his bosom for her welfare roused his youth-
ful ardor and would not sufler bim to be dissuaded
from espousing her cause and enlisting as a private
soldier iu the militia. In this capacity he continued
to serve in the army about fifteen months.
" Upon leaving this post of suffering and danger, his
health having been enfeebled by the exposures and
hardships to which he was unaccustomed, he com-
menced fitting for college under the tuition of the
Rev. Dr. Dwight, late president of Yale College, who
was then engaged in the instruction of a private
school at Northampton." ^ He was graduated at
Dartmouth College in 1785. " While at college -Mr.
Dickenson made a public profession of religion. He
was diligent and persevering in the prosecution of his
studies ; appeared to advantage at recitations and all
the literary exhibitions of hia class ; and acquired
the reputation of a correct classical scholar." ' After
graduation he served for one year as preceptor of
Moore's Charity School, which was connected with
the college, and afterwards officiated as minister in
several different parishes in New Hampshire before
he received the call to this society. In the Novem-
ber following hia ordination he was married to a
daughter of Rev. Joshua Prentiss, with whom he lived
' Fitch, bsfure quoted, p. 18.
' Fitch, pp., 18, 19. 20.
436
HISTORY OF xMIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
until his death. Tliey had spven children, two of
whom were physicians.
Mr. Dickenson as a preacher was " plain, faithful
and affectionate. He had a clear, strong and pleasant
voice, which enabled him to speak with peculiar pro-
priety and energy ; and as he aimed to draw the at-
tention of his hearers to his subject rather than to
himself, so he seldom failed of deeply impressing
their hearts and consciences." It appears that he
was sometimes loo plain and searching in his dis-
courses and that dissatisfaction arose in consequence
among some ot his people ; so that in June, 1804, the
church called a council to consider the matter. The
council, while advising moderation and forbearance,
also advised a dissolution of the pastoral relation in
the month of August following, unless an amicable
adjustment of the difficulties should previously take
place. Happily these disagreement were gradually
reconciled, so that by the 2oth of June the parish
passed a resolution in favor of the continuance of the
connection. And Mr. Dickenson remained in the
office of pastor and peacefully exerci-ied the duties
thereof for about nine years afterward, during the re-
mainder of his life. After a lingering and painful
sickness, he calmly expired on the lith day of July,
1S13, having completed his fifty-second year and the
twenty-founh year of his ministry.
For seventeen months after the decease of Mr.
Dickenson, the society was without a regular pjistor.
the pulpit being supplied by candidates. The fourth
minister was the Rev. Josephus Wheaton, a man who
had been recommended to this society as one adapted
to their needs, and well fitted to smooth and quiet the
disturbed relations of its members. He received a
unanimous invitation to take the pastoral charge,
which he accepted; and he Wiis ordained and in-
stalled December 6, 1815. Ilis salary at settlement
was $600, and his annual stipend also $(!00.
Mr. Wheaton was the son of Joseph Wheaton,
Esq., and was born at Rehoboth, Mass., March IG,
1788. "His natural disposition," says Fitch, " wa.*-
amiable ; his behavior peaceable, condescending and
kind." He early evinced a strong thirst for knowl-
edge, and by his own energy and perseverance, ob-
tained a thorough education. He graduated with
distinguished honor in 1812 at Brown University,
where he continued his residence, studied theology
and at the same time was preceptor in an Academy in
Providence and then tutor in the University, where
he gratified his love for classical studies. While still
a tutor, he was licensed to preach, and was invited to
supply the sacred desk in this town. "His concilia-
ting deportment, amiable temper and dignified, yet
unaffected manners, won the affection of those who
were not always pleased with his theological senti-
ments. He was completely successful in uniting and
harmonizing this people at a time when they were
found not a little discordant in opinion and feeling;
and enjoyed in an unusual degree, their respect, con-
fidence and aflTection from the commencemeni to the
close of his ministerial life."
3Ir. Wheaton was a student as well as pastor, and
excelled in a knowledge of the classics. His literary
character and his talents as an iustructor made his
house a favorite resort for young men fitting for col-
lege or perfecting their education. He was an in-
structive and brilliant preacher and had a very at-
tractive style of delivery, although some times too ra-
pid. His whole soul appeared to be in his work and
he was sometimes eloquent in his discourse, .liming to
dress his thoughts in choice language.
The good and the talented often die young, and it
was so with Mr. Wheaton. .Vtter a gradual decline
of three years, he finally left the scene of his parthly
labors on the fourth day of February, 1S2J, at the age
of nearly thirty-seven years. He left a widow and
three children, two of whom adopted the profession of
the law, to which Mr. Wheaton himself had a predi-
lection before devoting his mind to the ministry.
Before his <lecease, Mr. Wlicaton h-id the pleasure
of witnessing the completion of the new meeting-
house, in which he had been highly interested. It
was dedicated on the third day of December, 182."..
precisely one year less than a century after the iiicfo-
poration of the town. "Mr. Wheaton delivered the
sermon on the interesting occasion, and it wa-< pub-
lished ; and it stands as a lasting monument of the
man and the event, at the very close of his earthly
labors." Several other sermons were i)ulilished and
also a work by liira on school education.
The minister.^ up to this time all served during the
remainder of their lives after installation, according
to the olden custom. Those who follow remained
only for shorter periods of time.
Rev. Charles Fitch, a native of Williaiiistown,
Mass., was the successor of Mr. Wheaton, aiid w.ns
installed pastor of this church, January 4, 182f!. He
was a son of Ebenezer Fitch, D.D. the first ))resi-
dent of Williams College, and was born June 2ti,
1799. He entered Williams College at the age of
fifteen, graduated in 1819, and entered the Theologi-
cal Seminary at Princeton the same year, gr.iduating
therefrom in 1821. Among his ancestors were many
professional men, and Mr. Fitch himself possessed
literary attainments of a high order. After serving
:is pastor of a church in Cherry Valley, N. Y., for
three years, he was invited to return to Massachu-
setts in 1825, with the exi)ectation of filling a vacan-
cy in one of the larger towns. Finding the po.sition
had been filled before his arrival, he accepted, after
a short time, the call to this church. The installa-
tion sermon was given by Rev. Dr. Wisner, of Bos-
ton. He labored here for six years, and his efforts
were highly successful. His fidelity was appreciated,
his reputation in the town was high, and his memory
is held in grateful remembrance. During his resi-
dence here he delivered, December 4, 182G, a Century
sermon which was printed and has become a valuable
HOLLISTON.
437
record of the early history of the church and town.
To this sermon the present writer is indebted for
many of the facts presented in this paper.
-Mr. Fitch was dismissed i[ay 1, 1832, principally
on account of some diflerences of feeling among the
parishioners, and many of those who had become
interested in religion under his ministration united
with the newly formed Methodist church at that
time. After filling several other positions, he became
pastor of the Presbyterian church at Mt. Vernon,
Indiana, in 1351, and of the Piesbyterian church at
Frankville, Iowa, in 1856. He resigned that office to
enter the army as chaplain, 3Iay 5, 1861, but lost his
health in the service and died while at home on a
leave of absence, May 3, 1863, at Evansville, In-
diana.
The sixth pastor was Rev. Elijah Demond. He
was born at Rutland, Mass., November 1, 1790, grad-
uated at Dartmouth College, in 1816, and at Andover
Seminar}', in 1820. .\fter serving at the churches at
West Newbury and Lincoln, Mass., he was installed
pastor of this church, October 31, 1832. .^.Ithough
remaining in Holliston but three and one-half years,
Mr. Demond must have performed faithful work, as
twent}--nine persons were added to the church during
his pastorate. He was dismissed by council, April
11, 183(>. He afterwards preached in several other
towns in this State, and passed the last years of his
life at Westborough, where l\e died July 20, 1877, in
his eighty-«eventh year.
During Mr. Deraond's p:tstorate the subject of
warming the meeting-house ;igain came up for con-
sideration. .According to the ancient custom, the
only source of e.Kternal beat up to this time had been
the foot-stoves which were brought from the homes
and were replenished at noon at the houses near-by.
" In 1829 the subjert had been agitated and a commit-
tee appointed to report upon the best method. But at
the ne.xt meeting, the town fii-st " voted to accept the
report of tiie committee relative to the best method of
warming the meeting-house," and then " voted not to
warm the meeting-house at all." But in 1833 a vote
was passed to warm the house, and a committee was
■' authorized to procure a stove or stoves and place
them in the meeting-house at their discretion, and that
the funnel of .said stove he extended through the roof
of the meeting-house." There was decided opposition
to this innovation. <')n the first Sunday after the stove
was put ic, one of the leading opposers of the change
came out of the meetinghouse bitterly complaining
of the headache which the heat of the stove had caused
him. But the laugh was turned upon him when it
appeared, that, as the day was mild, no fire had been
lighted.'
In 1830 occurred the decease of Miss Elizabeth
Prentiss, a daughter of the second pastor of the
church. She lived for the purpose of doing good and
1 HUtorical Discourse Ht Celebnitiijn uf uue IluuJred and Fiftieth .\n.
niver^ary of tbe KorDiatioD of the Church, by George M. ^dama, D.D.
was truly " an excellent woman ;" and among her
benefactions was her methodical plan of assisting
young men to prepare themselves for the ministry.
In the year 1836, the parochial business which had
always been conducted in a town-meeting, was for-
mally separated and a new organization was formed
including only such as wished to join it.
Rev. John Storrs born in Mansfield, Conn., Sept.
6, 1801, was the next minister. He graduated at
Middlebury College in 1824, afterwards studied the-
ology and was ordained at Barre, Mass., in 1829. He
afterwards settled at Norwich, Conn., before coming
to Holliston, and was thirty-five years of age when
installed here, December 20, 1836. The installation
sermon was given by Rev. Joel Hawes (afterwards
D. D.) of Hartford, a native of Medway, Mass., and
one of the young men who had been encouraged and
assisted by Miss Elizabeth Prentiss, before mentioned.
This sermon was printed by a vote of the church.
Mr. Storrs labored diligently during the six years
of his ministry and thirty-six new members were ad-
ded to the church. He was dismissed November 8,
1842. Afterwards he filled some other stations and
then settled in Winchendon, Mass., in 1849, as pastor
and died there in May 1854. The interest felt in him
by his former people in Holliston was evinced by
their request to print his funeral sermon at their own
expense.
The eighth clergyman who had charge of the
church was Rev. Timothy DwightP. Stone, born at
Cornwall, Connecticut, about 1811, the son of Rev.
Timothy Stone, and adopted son of Rev. Ebenezer
Porter, D.D., professor in the theological seminary at
.\ndover. He graduated at Amherst College in 1834,
and afterwards studied divinity at Andover. This was
his first parish, and he was ordained here March 1,
1843, Rev. Dr. Leonard Woods, of .indover, preach-
j ing the sermon. Like his predecessor, Mr. Stone
served six years and had the satisfaction of witnessing
; !^ub3tantial additions to the church during his pastor-
I ate. Impaired health led hira to seek a dismission in
I 1849, and his ministry terminated on the second day
of March. He then becamechaplainof the State Re-
form School at Westborough, was afterwards princi-
! pal of the State Normal School of Connecticut, and
later a teacher at Albany, New York.
Rev. Joshua T. Tucker (afterwards D.D.) follows
next in the line of ministers. He was the son of Joshua
Tucker, of Milton, Massachusetts, where he was born
September 20, 1812. He came from old Puritan
stock, being a descendant of Robert Tucker, who
Jived in Weymouth in 1639. He fitted for college at
Phillips' Academy, graduated at Yale in 1833, and
pursued his professional studies at Lane Seminary,
Cincinnati. After ordination in the State of Illinois
in 1837, he served as missionary and pastor in Illinois
and Missouri until 1848, and also as an editor at St.
Louis from 1846 to 1848. He was installed the ninth
pastor of this church June 6, 1849, Rev. William M.
438
HISTORY OP MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Rogers, of Boston, delivering the sermon, and the
venerable Dr. Ide, of iledway, giving for the third
time the charge to a Holliston pastor. " At the com-
mencement of his ministry about 150 families," says
Dr. Adams, "were connected with the congregation,
and the church numbered 174." A period of great
religious interest occurred during his pastorate, and
at its close the church had increased to 409. Many
young men have gone forth from this church during
its history as missionaries and pastors ; but during
Dr. Tucker's years of service there was an unusually
large number. Edward B. French, George F. Walker
and the three brothers, Lyman, Elijah and Calvin
Cutler (sons of Amos and Sarah Cutler) were all or-
dained to the work of the ministry during his time.
Dr. Tucker visited Europe on account of his health
in 1859, and during the five months of his absence
the pulpit was supplied by Rev. William M. Thayer,
of Franklin. It was at this time that the meet-
ing-house was raised, rooms were arranged in the
basement and an addition built at the west end for
the accommodation of the organ and choir. Then
the house was again dedicated, December 2, 1859,
Rev. Dr. Andrew L. Stone, of Boston, preaching the
sermon.
Dr. Tucker was a mau of much ability, both as a
preacher and a writer, and many of his sermons and
other literary compositions have been published-
While here, he was associate editor of the Boston Re-
corder, a denominational paper well-known at that
time and now merged in the Congregationalist.
Dr. Tucker was much interested in the history and
antiquities of the town, and among his discoveries
was one which be thus describes: "One day when I
was in the village tin-shop, my eye was caught by an
unusually shaped vessel lying in the comer, on a pile
of old refuse, which I picked up and examined. It
was a ilagon of perhaps three pints' capacity, bearing
this inscription : ' The gift of Mrs. Dorothy Ware,
late of Sherborne, to the church in Hoiliston, 1745.'
The workman stated that some one had brought it in
and sold it and that he should melt it up for solder, as
it was a much purer metal than could now be got for
that purpose. I purchased it of him at his own price,
and retained it as private property." This tankard is
said to be now in the 'possession of the Worcester
Society of Antiquity.
Another pewter flagon was found in a distant town,
the owner having purchased it of a tin-peddler nearly
fifty years ago. Its existence having become known
to persons here it was purchased and is now in the
possession of John M. Batchelder. It is inscribed,
"The gift of the town of Sherbourn to the church in
Holliston, a memorial of friendship. Anno Dom.
1728."
The condition of Dr. Tucker's health obliged him
to ask for' a dismission in 1867, and he gave a fare-
well discourse on the Slst day of March. This ser-
mon was printed and contains many facta of historical
value, relating to the church. Allhough he termi-
nated his duties at that time, the formal act of dis-
mission w.as not performed until the following
November, by the same council which ordained his
successor. He afterwards served as pastor of the
Second Congregational Church iu Chicopee, for about
ten years, and h.os, since 1877, devoted his time to
literary work. He has resided in Dorchester and iu
.\ndover, Mass., .ind is at present in the latter town.
Rev. William H. Savage was the tenth pastor of
this church. He was born in Woohvicli, Me., and
graduated at Bowiloin College in 1858. He became
Professor of Mathematics in Delaw.ire College iu
1859. He euli.«ted in the Seventeenth Maine Regi-
ment in 1862, and w.is appointed captain of dmipany
A, serving in the Army nf the Potomac. He after-
wards studied divinity at .A.ndover, and was ordained
minister of the church at Holliston, November 7,
1867. Rev. Profeissor Park, of Andover, delivered the
sermon, and Dr. Tucker gave the address to the peo-
ple. Mr. .Savage's pastorate continued but little
more than two years, and was the shortest of any of
the ministers of this church, whereas Dr. Tucker's
was the longest since the time of Mr. Dickenson. Sub-
stantial additions were made to the church, however,
forty-one new members being admitted, one of whom,
F. A. Warfield, soon commenced preparation lor the
ministry, and has since been pastor of Uuion Church,
in Boston. He is now at Brockton, M.ass.
Late in the year 1869, on account of the health of
himself and family, Mr. Savage asked for a dismis-
sion, which was granted December 30th of that year.
He afterwards served as pastor of the Congregational
Church in Jacksonville, 111., and of the Unitarian
Church in Leominster, Mass. He is now in the Uni-
tarian Church at Watertown, Mass.
He was succeeded by Rev. Henry S. Kelsey,
who was installed October 13, 1870, Rev. Jacob M.
Manning, D.D., of the Old South Church in Boston,
preaching the installation sermon.
" Mr. Kelsey was born at Evans Mills, Jefferson
County, N. Y., graduated at Amherst College in 1855,
and studied theology at the seminaries in New York
City and East Windsor, Conn. Before entering the
ministry he taught several years in Amherst College,
and was professor in Beloit College, Wisconsin. He
was ordained at Granby, Mass., in October, 1863, and
installed at Rockville, Conn., in 1866."
In the year 1872, at the suggestion of Mr. Kelsey,
the new parsonage was built — in part by subscription
and in part by a portion of the Eames Ministerial
Fund — and the deed was made to the trustees of that
Fund. This bequest was made by Captain Aaron
Eames, a member of the church and a resident of the
north part of Holliston (now within the bounds of
Ashland), who died about 1824. His farm and other
property, to the amount of seven or eight thousand
dollars, were given " to the Parochial part of the
town," for the support of evangelical preaching. The
HOLLISTON.
439
first trustees, cliosen in a town-meeting in September,
1824, were Captain Samuel Bullard, Captain Abner
Johnson, Dr. Timothy Fiak, Mr. Charles Harsh and
Mr. James Cutler. They were directed to " draw a
petition requesting ths General Court, at their next
session, to incorporate them into a body politic for
the purpose mentioned above." Vacancies in this
board are filled by vote of the parish.
Mr. Kelsey remained but a few months longer than
his predecessor. Having received an invitation from
another church, he asked to be released from his en-
ojagenient here, and was dismissed March 6, 1873.
He was installed at Woburn, Massachusetts, soon
after, and has since acted as pastor of a church in
New Haven, Connecticut.
The twelfth niini.'<ter was Rev. George M. Adaros
(afterwards D.D.). He was installed September 11,
1873, Rev. Eilmund K. Alden, D.D., of South Boston,
delivering the sermon. Rev. Dr. Tucker, Rev. Mr.
Kelsey and Rev. Dr. Dowse, of Sherborn, took parts
in the ceremony, the latter assisting for the fifth time
in settling a pastor over this church. Dr. Adams was
bornin Castine, Maine, was educated at Gorham Acad-
emy, Gorham, Maiue, and at Bowdoin College, where he
graduated in 1844. He has been for several years a
member of the Board of Examiners of that college. He
studied theology at Bangor, Maine, Halle and Berlin,
Germany, and Andover, Massachusetts. He was or-
dained at Conway, Massachusetts, September 18, 1851,
and was in.stalled pastor of the Congregational Church
in that town. He remained there until 1863, when he
became pastor of the North Church in Portsmouth,
New Hampshire, serving in that office until 1871. He
then made an extensive tour in the Holy Land with
his family. After his return he was installed pastor
of the ehurch in Holli<ton, as above noted.
In 1852 he married Miss Sarah Hills Crosby, of
Bangor. .Maine, who died in 18.'i9. In 1862 Miss
Louisa Lord Dana, of Brookline, Massachusetts, be-
came his wife. Dr. Adams is a very able man and
possessed the respect and esteem not only of his own
people, but of all the inhabitants of Holliston ; and it
was with great regret that they learned of his decision
to withdraw from the parish and the town.
He served for twelve years on the School Committee
of this town, much of the time as chairman ; and his
removal was a great loss to the cause of education.
He was also one of the trustees of the Public Library
from its foundation until the year 1889; and his por-
trait still looks upon the scene of his labors there, in
which he took so much interest. Dr. Adams was dis-
missed from the care of this church April 1, 1889, but
continued to supply the pulpit until May 1st.
Of his writings there have been printed an histor-
ical discourse delivered July, 1871, at the two hun-
dredth anniversary of the North Church, Portsmouth,
New Hampshire ; and an historical discourse delivered
at the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the
Congregational Church at Holliston.
Dr. Adams has, since his removal, resided at Au-
burndale, Massachusetts, and Castine, Maine.
In July, 1890, the church and the parish each voted
to invite Rev. Frank I. Wheat, of Franklin, N. Y.,
to settle here as the pastor. He was ordained and
installed the thirteenth pastor by a council of clergy-
men of this Conference, September 11, 1890. Rev.
A. E. Dunning, D.D., of Boston, delivered the ser-
mon, and Rev. L. R. Eastman, of Framinglmm, Rev.
Dr. G. M. Adams, the predecessor of Mr. Wheat, and
Rev. Dr. Dowse, of Sherborn, were among those who
took parts in the service. The fine music added much
to the interest of the occasion. It was rendered by a
large choir, under the direction of Mrs. S. C. Stoddard,
musical director. Miss M. S. White, organist, and Mrs.
C. F. Thayer, soloist.
Mr. Wheat was born in Franklin, N. Y., in 1862.
He was educated in the schools of the town, in Wil-
liams College and Boston University, where he grad-
uated in 1889. He studied theology also in Boston
University and graduated in June, 1890. While a
student he served as pastor of a church in North Bev-
erly, Mass., for two years. He is the youngest pastor
ever installed in this church.
A Society of "Christian Endeavor" is connected
with this church and numbers about fifty members.
The Sunday-school was first permanently organized
during the pastorate of Rev. Josephns Wheaton.
Deacon Timothy Rockwood was the first superintend-
ent and the number of scholars was between forty
and fifty. The first meeting-house was a very plain
structure, without steeple or spire, and had a strong
resemblance externally to a country school-house of
the olden time, except that its dimensions were great-
er. " In the year 1787 the meeting-house was enlarged
according to the following votes: — 'Voted that there
be an addition made to the meeting-house by putting
fourteen feet into the middle.' ' Voted to build a
Porch in the front of said house with two pairs of
stairs in the same to go into the Galleries.' The gal-
lery stairs up to this time had been in the audience-
room, at each side, about one-fourth the distance
from the rear of the church to the pulpit. It was
voted to have the house painted inside and out, the
outside to be an orange color, the inside to be a stone
color. It was also ' Voted to appropriate the two
seats in the front Gallery, on the Women's side, to
the use of the singers.' ' Voted that Lieut. Josiah
Hemenway, Sylvanus Johnson, Ensign Nathaniel
Johnson, Ebenezer Littlefield and Isaac Foster be
Quiristers.' These votes contain the first reference I
have found to singing in the meeting-house in either
town or church records." '
When the new church was built in 1823, a bell of
1600 pounds weight, cast by Holbrook, of East Med-
way, was placed in it ; and this was the first church
bell in town. The inscription on the bell reads : " I
1 G«orge M. Adama, DJ)., aennoa before quoted.
440
HISTORY OF JIIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
to the church the living call, and to the grave do sum-
mon all."'
When this building was dedicated, Mr. Wheaton
says in his sermon, " There is a propriety therefore^
in erecting suitable houses of worship when circum-
stances require. It is not necessary to wait until the
house is ready to crumble into ruins. ... In
such circumstances, whea it becomes old and incom-
modious, it is proper that a new house should be erected
and in a style corresponding with the dignity of the
purpose for which it is designed." The church clock
on the interior gallery was the gilt of Nathaniel
Johnson, Esq. ; the tower clock was purchased by the
society.
The old meeting-house was taken down and the
materials sold in parcels at auction. The broad pine
panels which formed the front of the singers' gallery
were bought by the late James White, father of Wil-
liam White, and were placed on the side of a room
in a new house which he built about that time.' It is
said that the central panel had painted on it the
date of the completion of the meeting-house, 1728,
the date of its enlargement, and a much earlier date,
probably that of the tirst settlement of the town.
"But in an evil hour for our intere.'^ts,'' says Dr.
Adams, " an over-tidy .>!ervant scrubbed off the time-
worn figures and left the panel clean."
Mr. White also bought the broad door-stone of the
church, some five and a half feet square, and cutting
it in the middle, made two stones for the entrances to
his house.
The meeting-house was refitted and painted in
1845, and in 1850 it was repaired and enlarged by
cutting it in the middle and inserting a piece of .suffi-
cient length to allow the building of four additional
pews in e.ach row, or twenty-four pews in all. The
chandelier was the gift of Elial LittlefieUl.
Since the remodeling of the edifice in 1859, already
noticed, the church is in the highest degree conven-
ient for every religious and social meeting which it is
desired to hold there.
In the year 1831 public worship was commenced in
the Town Hall by persons of the Methodist faith, and
a church was organized. Rev. Jonathan Cady being
the first minister. " From an early date," says Rev.
Dr. Dowse, " there were some citizens of the town
who belonged to this denomination, and these were
increased by the influx of population from abroad, so
that it was deemed expedient to organize a separate
religious enterprise. The society was small and fee-
ble at first, but it has grown in numbers and wealth
until it long since has not only become a fixed fact,
but a great moral and Christian force in the commu-
nity." I
The first sermon preached by a Methodist minister
was delivered by Rev. Mr. Bonsil in 1794, in the barn
of Mr. Ebenezer Cutler, and others followed occasion-
ally; but some persons had previously attended ser-
vices at Hayden Row in Uopkinton, near the borders
of HoUiston. The meeting-house was built here in
1833 and dedicated September 18th of that year. It
was repaired and remodeled in 1874 and rededicated
February 3, 1875. The society was incorporated, ac-
cording to law, December 27, 18.30. There have been
altogether thirty-four pastors to this church, whose
times of service have varied from a few months to
three years. The present incumbent is Rev. John
H. Emerson. The present parsonage, which is con-
venient to the church, was purchased in 1850 ; but
there was a parsonage before that time, on Norfolk
Street, built about 1848, chiefly through the eflbrts of
Jonathan Cutler, Esq. There has been a Sabbath-
school connected with the church from the begin-
ning. It then numbered fifty scholars and the first
superintendent was I. G. Rawson. The superintend-
ent now, in 1890, is D. C. Mowry and nearly 150 per-
sons attend it. An auxiliary society for Chri.-'tian
effort is the Epworth League, consisting of fifty-five
members in its adult branch and thirty-five in the
junior branch.
May 31, 1836, sixteen per.sons were legally organized
;i3 the Universalist Society ot' Holli.ston. This society
at first held its services in the town-hall. Two
years after its organization a meeting-house was
built, which was dedicated January 9, 1839. In
1854 it was raised up and stores were built under it.
The society was served by seven ministers during
the twenty-four years of its regular existence which
terminated in 18(i0. Services have, however, been
held since that date, and are still conducted in 1890.
The Baptist Society occupied tlieir meeting-house
from 18<i4 until the close of the year 1867, when their
own vestry was leady for use. In 1867 the Univer-
salist Society voted to sell their meeting-house, and
it came into the i)os3e»sion of the Catholic Society.
They held it until 1870, when it was moved away,
and the land was used by the latter society as a
site for their new church. The Universalist Society
has lately been re-incorporated, and holds service
every Sunday afternoon in Reform Club Hall, gen-
erally conducted by a clergyman from the Milford
Church.
The Baptist Society was formed in 1860. It held
its first public religious meeting in the town-hall on
February 12th and the church was organized on the
28th day of the following August, a council being
convened at that time. It consisted of nineteen
members. The first preacher was Rev. J. D. E. Jones,
of Worcester, and Rev. B. A. Edwards (18G0) was
the first regular supply. Revs. J. L. A. Fish, Geo.
W. Holman, R. G. .lohnson, A. A. Bennett, F. L.
Sullivan, E. L.Scott and E. D. Bowers have followed
him, and the present pastor, in 1890, is Rev. M. N.
Reed, installed in 1889.
The society continued to hold services in the low-
er town-hall until 1864, when it hired and occupied
the meeting-house of the Universalist Society until
1867. They commenced to build a new meeting-
HOLLISTON.
441
house in 1866, and on December 29, 1867, the first
service was held in the vestry. Work was continued
on the house amid the difficulties incident to the be-
ginning of a new enterprise, and it was finally com-
pleted, and was dedicated January 26, 1870. It is a
commodious and tasteful building. The church
and society are now well established and their future
is promising. The Sunday-school was organized
February 20, 1860, with nineteen members, A. G.
Fitch being the superintendent. The membership
in 1890 is 142, and the present superintendent is
George W. Leiund. A Society of Christian Endeavor
is connected with the parish.
This church celebrated the thirtieth anniversary
of its foundation on the 10th day of September, 1890.
The event had been anticipated with plea-surable ex-
pectation?, and they were fully realized.
" In response to invitations, past pascors, former
resident members and the local members hasem-
bled in the main audience-room, together with
the general public, to unite in celebrating the attain-
ment of thirty years of church prosperity. The
auditorium was finely decorated, a motto ' 1860-1890 '
being conspicuously displayed on the wali. An ad-
dress of welcome was given by the pastor, Rev. M. N.
Reed, a most graceful and fitting prelude to the
exercises of the d.ay. Rev. A. A. Bennett, of Japan,
and Rev. E. D. Bowers, of Sharon, represented the
former pa-stors, and gave pleasing reminiscences of
their connection with the church, and congratula-
tions at the present and [irospective prosperity of the
society.'"' Letters were read from other pastors and
friends. Rev. X. \. Bennett presented the church
with portraits of Rev. F. L. Sullivan, Rev. E. L.
Scott, Rev. E. D. Bowers and Rev. M. N. Reed, the
gift of W. H. Clark. These, in addition to the
portraits already pf>sspssed by the church, make the
collection inmplete. A fitting response was made by
George W. Leland, in behalf of the church. A social
evening was passed in the vestry, where old friend-
ships were renewed, .and memories of former days
were recalled. The music was fine, and appropriate
to the occasion, under thedirection of E. W. Colburn.
Prof. G. F. Rice presided at the new and e.tcellent
organ, which had recently been obtained. .Altogether
it was a red-letter day for this prosperous society.
An Episcopal society was formed in Holliston in
1864, Rev. Benjamin T. Cooley being the first rector.
\S'lien public services first commenced, there was but
one communicantin the town ; but afler five years ora
little more, when the services were discontinued,
there were about forty members. They worshipped
in the lower town-hall. The society purchased of the
town a lot of land on Mt. Hollis, and laid the founda-
tion for a church, but they never reached a condition
when they could erect a buildiug. In the great fire
in May, 1873, the records of the society, together with
> J. F. Fiske, iu tlie ililford New.
a silver communion service, the gift of Bishop
Huntington to the church, were destroyed. The parish
still has a legal exi.stence, and the meeting of the
wardens and vestry is held annually. Occasiooal
services are also held.
Catholic services had been held in the town-hall
for a considerable time, conducted by priests from
neighboring parishes, when in the year 1870 a new
parish was formed, and Rev. R. J. Quinlan was
appointed rector. He has remained in that position
to the present day. and a large church has been
gathered from the population of this and the
neighboring towns. As before stated, this society
purchased the old meeting-house of the Universalist
Society ; and in 1873 they commenced the erection of
a church-building on that lot. Services were first
held on Christmas of that year, in the vestry, before
the completion of the church. It has since been
completed and is a substantial edifice, well adapted
to the wants of the parish. A Sunday-school, of which
the rector is superintendent, is connected with the
church. Rev. Mr. Quinlan has for several years been
a member of the School Committee.
The permanent physicians of Holliston have been
(ew in number. During many early years of its his-
tory the people were probably served by physicians
from neighboring towns, and after 1772, Dr. Jonathan
Tay (familiarly called Dr. Toy), who lived in Sher-
born, not far from the Holliston line, included this
town in his circuit. He lived until 1827.
The first regularly educated physician who settled
here was Timothy Fisk, M.D., a graduate of Harvard
College in 1801. He was burn in Holliston, Novem-
ber 3, 1778, the tenth child of David and Sarah (Bul-
lard) Fisk, and a descendant of John and Lydia
(.Adams) Fisk, who came from Watertown to Sher-
born (now Holliston) soon after the year 1700. Dr
Fisk commenced the practice of medicine iu his na-
tive town, and for about sixty years was the valued
and trusted physician of a large number of inhabit-
ants. He was a man of the highest character and a
valuable member of the community. " For forty
years," says Walker, " he was a member of the Con-
gregational Church and one of its most faithful sup-
porters. He died suddenly in his chair, dressed as
for his usual duties, December 17, 1863, from conges-
tion of the lungs. His funeral was largely attended,
and his name will live in grateful and endeared re-
membrance." He married Rhoda, daughter of Isaiah
and Abigail Daniels, of Medway. They had five
children, of whom twosurvived their father, Frederick
and Ferdinand.
Sewall G. Burnap, M.D., was also a prominent
physician and citizen of the town. He was born
in Temple, N. H., March 12, 1802, studied med-
icine at Dartmouth College and graduated in 1826.
He settled at once in Holliston and practiced here
for forty-eight years. He was an excellent physi-
cian, and possessed the esteem and attachment of
442
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
hia patieuts. He had also a good standing among
his brothers In the profession, and at one time
served as president of the Middlesex South District
Medical Society. He was also several times appoint-
ed in his turn a counsellor of the Massachusetts Med-
ical Society, and occupied that place at the time of
his death. To him the present writer is much in-
debted for counsel and advice in the earlier years of
his practice.
Dr. Bumap was a prominent and useful citizen and
highly respected by his townsmen ; was for many
years a member of the Congregational Church, and
was a director of the HoUiston Bank from its forma-
tion. He died October 16, 1874. Not long after com-
ing to this town he was appointed postmaster, and held
that office for sixteen or seventeen years, using the
small building attached to his residence for that pur-
pose. He married, in 1832, Betsy Brown, of Holliston,
who died in 1851. He afterward married Elizabeth
S. Blanchard, who still resides here. He left no
children.
Hiram Lake, M.D., has been a physician in Holliston
for forty-four years and has enjoyed a large practice.
He was born at Rehoboth, Massachusetts, August 25,
1820, and was educated in the public schools of that
town and in the academy at Providence, R. I., where
he was prepared for admission to the ^Medical College.
He graduated in medicine .it the college in Cincinnati,
Ohio, in 1846, and settled here in the same year. He
is a genial man, a good citizen and has identified his
interests with those of his adopted town. In addition
to his medical practice, in which he has secured the
regard and good will of his patients, Dr. Lake has
filled many offices of a public character. He has for
years been a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal
Church ; treasurer of various temperance societies ;
chairman and secretary of the Board of Health for
twenty years ; and treasurer of the lodge of F. and
A. Masons. He is a member of the Lodge and En-
campment of the I. O. O. F., and is a trustee and au-
ditor of the Holliston Savings Bank.
Charles C. Jewett, M.D., was born in South Ber-
wick, Maine, in November, 1831, settled in Holliston
as a physician about 1854, and practiced here about
seven years. July 2, 1861, he enlisted in Company B,
Sixteenth Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry Volun-
teers, and when the regiment was completed, he was
made its surgeon. He afterwards served as surgeon-
in-Chief of the Third Brigade, Third Division, Second
Array corps. Returning in 1864, he remained for a
while in Boston and then resumed practice in Hollis-
ton. But after a short residence he removed to
Brooklyn, N. Y., and died in that city.
Charles E. Spring, M.D., was born in Grafton, Vt.,
November 19, 1842, and came to this town as a phy-
sician in 1874. He was educated in the common
schools and in Burr & Burton Seminary, at Manches-
ter, Vt., and graduated at the Albany Medical Col-
lege in 1864. He was then immediately appointed an
acting assisting surgeon U. S. A., and was stationed
for about one year at Hampton Hospital, Va. After
the close of this service he settled as a physician at
Jamaica, Vermont, where he remained until he re-
moved to Holliston. While at Jamaica he married,
in January, 1867, Viona M. Adams. They have had
five children, of whom four are living. Dr. Spring
has been highly successful as a physician, and holds a
high rank as a citizen. He represented this district
in the Legislatures of 1888 and 1889, has been a mem- •
ber of the Board of Health during nearly the whole
time of his residence here, a member of the School
Committee for about fourteen years and secretary of
that board for a portion of that time. Failing health
admonished him to seek rest and recuperation in his
native State, and he passed there the whole of the
summer months of 1S90, his absence being greatly
regretted by his numerous friends in this town. In
September of that year he returned home and re-
sumed practice to a limited extent.
Dr. Spring died October 25, 1890, since the above
was written.
Dr. Andrew J. Stevens was born in Haverhill,
Mass., graduated at the Harvard Medical School, and
settled in Provincetown. Mas^. After remaining
there about three years he removed to Holliston,
about the year 1874, and practiced here for some
thirteen years. He then removed to Maiden, Mass.,
where he now resides. He was succeeded by Dr.
Edward Roth, who remained for about one year, and
transferred his practice to Dr. F. Grant Atkins, in
September, 1888. Dr. .Atkins, who is here in 1890,
was born in Devonshire, England, in 1842. He was
educated at Harrow and at King's College, London ;
studied medicine at London and Edinburgh, and grad-
ated at the latter college in 1869. He is a member
of the Royal College of Surgeons of London, and a
licentiate of the London College of Physicians.
After practicing in Derbyshire, England, he came
to this country, in 1888. He is married and has one
son.
Dr. George W. Stearns graduated in Philadel-
phia in 1851, and first came to Holliston in 1881.
He has practiced here for five or six years, hav-
ing lived elsewhere a portion of the intervening
time. He is here and in practice, however, in 1890.
In the summer season he resides and practices in Cot-
tage City, Mass.
Dr. I. C. Pope was born in Westborough, Mass., in
I 1855, and was educated in the public schools and
in Worcester and Wilbraham Academies. His
medical education was obtained at Jefferson Medical
College, Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1888.
After practicing in Waltham, Mass., more than a
year, he came to Holliston in February, 1890. He
was married, in 1880. to Miss Nellie V. Hall, of Mil-
bury, Mass.
There are no other physicians who have lived here
for any great length of time. Dr. George Wilkins
HOLLISTON.
443
was here for three years, and died Hay 2, 182C, aged
thirty-two years, according to an inscription in the
Central Cemetery. Drs. Heard, McClure, Page,
Hitchcock, Barker and perhaps others were in town
at different times during the past fifty years, but for
short periods only.
For many yearn one or more members of the dental
profession have been present in HoUiston. Dr. G. L.
Cooke, of Milford, came here every week for a long
time, having an office in the town ; and Dr. Hayes
was settled here for a number of years. The only
dentist at the present time is Dr. E. C. Stoddard,
who has been in practice in HoUiston for about ten
years.
The le^al profession has been represented by sev-
eral practitioners; but of them, one only was long a
resident of the town. George il. Woodward, Her-
man Bragg, George C. Travis, J. H. Ladd, W. A. i
Kingsbury (now judge of the District Court, at Fram- j
ingham); and, in l'S90, J. P. Dexter, a student of i
Henry Hogan, have been here at different times. !
Rev. George F. Wnlker, in hi't article before quoted, !
says concerning Enquire Bullard, " The first and only I
lawyer who had a permanent residence in Holliston j
was Ellas Bullard : He was born in West Medway,
December .30, 1799. He received a common-school ,
education, and was aided in preparing for college by i
the venerable Dr. Jacob Ide, of West Jledway, and ;
graduated trom Brown University in the class of 1823. i
He studied law with Elij.ah Morse, Esq., of Boston,
three years ; was admitted to the bar, and came to
Holliston, October 7, IH'26, commencing the practice
of his profession. In 1834-35 and in 1870 he was ;
elected to represent the town in the Legislature, the
last time having the honor of calling the House to
order, as the senior member. In the practice of hia
profession he ha.s an unusual record of justice, and his
counsels have ever been tlmse of pacification. He
waa willing to a-'sist those in trouble at a loss of his
own pecuniary advantage. Had his life been spared i
through the remainder of another year, to October 7,
1876, he would have completed half a century of the
practice of his profession in Holliston. He died No-
vember 2, 1875. His funeral was largely attended by
the citizens of the town, and from the surrounding
towns. He was for several years before his death a |
consistent member cf the Congregational Church," j
Esquire BuUani, as he was called by every one, was
one of the most prominent and respected citizens of
Holliston in his day, and during his life he was
chosen to fill all the otBces in the gift of the town.
He originated the plan of a town library.
Schools. — In less than seven years after incorpora-
tion the town granteil money for the support of a
public school, the education of the children being
considered nearly or quite as important as the estab-
lishment of church privileges. In 1738 three districts
were formed, the North. We^t and Central, and it was |
voted to build a school-house In each district, and that '
£100 be assessed upon the inhabitants to defray the
cost, and that each man have liberty to work out his
part of the assessment. May 27, 1754, there was
" Voted, Ten pounds For a Reading and Righting
school This present year." In 17G5, £25 were appro-
priated for public schools, and were divided among
the three districts. " The first school-houses were not
magnificent in their dimensions or appointments.
Those in the north and west were fourteen by
eighteen feet, with ' seven-foot posts,' and the one in
the centre, sixteen by twenty feet. They were doubt-
less large enough to accommodate the scholars of
those days, and being warmed in winter by fires in
large open fire-places, the ventilation must have been
good, with little danger of a too high temperature." '
In 1801 eight school districts were formed and $334
were appropriated for the support of the eight schools.
At the March meeting in 1807, a committee waa
chosen to have the general care of the schools, con-
sisting of Dr. Timothy Fisk, Lt. Elijah Watkina and
Capt. John Haven|; $500 were granted for schools.
The appropriation for school purposes continued to
increase with the increasing number of scholars. In
1830 It wax S700, in 1875 it waa $6000, and of kte
years $6800 annually. In 1846 the town took posses-
sion of the property of the school districts.
The number of schools has gradually increased
until, in 1890, there are, besides a high school, five
grammar, one intermediate and nine lower schools,
five of which are not graded. F. B. Gamwell is the
superintendent of schools, and in his report pre-
sented in March, 1890, he recommends a concentra-
tion of schools by the conveyance of scholars, as
allowed by law, to central points where the benefits of
graded schools can be enjoyed by all the children of
the town. This plan has been adopted by some towns
in this State, to the manifest advantage of the pupils,
while with judicious management the expenditures
required of the town have not been increased.
A private high school wxs commenced In the town
as early as 1831, under William Gammel, teacher.
He was succeeded by Daniel Forbes, in 1833 ; Pardon
D. Tiffany, in 1834, and Edward Stone, in the winter
of 1835-36. The school waa not kept continuously up
to this time, but generally for one or two terms in a
year, the fall term having the largest attendance.
In the spring of 1836 Rev. Gardner Rice waa in-
duced to take charge of the school for one term. So
great waa his success that by the wishes of all he con-
tinued to occupy the place as principal for about eight
and one-half years. When he commenced his labors
the total attendance waa seventy-six, but it soon began
to increase, and continued to increase until the
number of pupils in 1842 waa 361, which waa the
largest number in any year. The aggregate attend-
ance during the whole time of service of Mr. Rice
and his assistants was 2140, comprising not only
' BeT. Geo. F. Walker in Drake's " History of Jllddlesei County.'-
444
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
residents of HollistOD, but of many surrounding and
some distant towns. In 1836 Master Rice changed
the character of the school somewhat by introducing
the manual labor system, and, in 1837, the name of
Holliston High School was changed to " Holliston
Mannal-Labor School." The success of this insti-
tution was such that, in 1839, it took the name of
" Holliston Academy," and the following announce-
ment, made at that time, will show the general
character of the institution and the principles upon
which it was conducted :
"The object of instruction at this institution is not
only to communicate a knowledge of facts, but to fit the
pupil for the duties of life, by developing and dis-
ciplining the powers of the mind, enabling it to think
and act for itself The course of study is designed to
be systematic and extensive, including all those
branches which are requisite to prepare the pupil for
the common business of life, or for a higher course of
collegiate or professional studies.
" Since morality and virtue are esseutial to the
peace and prosperity of this or any other institution,
every reasonable precaution will be used to preserve
and maintain in all departments of the school a
strictly moral state of feeling.
"The discipline of the school is designed to be
.strictly parental, and in the administration of this
discipline direct appeals to the better principles of
the heart will be resorted to, rather than severe and
disgraceful punishment. If, however, the conduct of
a student render it evident that he is not susceptible
of such intiuence, he will immediately, and if possible
without unnecessary disgrace, be returned to his
friends. Every effort will be given to those gentle-
men and ladies who are calculating to teach, both in
obtaining schools and in preparing them for their
schools."
Master Rice secured the affection and respect of his
pupils and aroused their enthusiasm, and they always
looked back to their school-days under his tuition
with the most pleasant feelings, as was shown in the
year 1875, when some two hundred of them surprised
him by a visit to his home in Shrewsbury, Mass.
The town-hall was used as a school-room for the
High School until the year 1851, and the general ap-
preciation by the town of the labors of Mr. Rice was
demonstrated by a vote passed September 23, 1844,
by which he was "exonerated from paying any claims
which the town hold against him, incurred by his use
of the Town-Hall for a High School." Mr. Rice re-
tired from the academy in 1844.
Several other teachers followed, — Messrs. Cutler,
Hoitt, Peterson, Gleason, Graves, Sears, Washburn,
Parker, Pond, Kingsbury, Choate, Stiles, and Baker,
— and the school was continued. In the year
1850 Deacon Timothy Walker, who had removed
from Medway to Holliston, erected a building on the
south side of Jasper's Hill for the use of this school,
the land, a lot of nine acres, being provided by the
subscriptions of individuals. It was called Mt. Hol-
lis Seminary, and that hill has since been generally
known as Mt. HoUis. It was dedicated in June,
1851, the address being delivered by Rev. J. P. Cleve-
land, D.D., then of Providence, R. I. Rev. George
F. Walker, now of Hampden, Mass., a son of Deacon
Walker, was the principal at this time. In 1856,
when Dr. I. H. Nutting had the charge, the town,
through a committee, made arrangements with him to
receive the pupils of the town qualified to enter a
high school ; and this contract was continued until the
town purchased the Seminary building and estab-
lished a public high school there. The building was
destroyed by fire October 2."i, 1871. Another high
school-house was built on the same lot in 1874 and
has been occupied to the present time. The principal
for 1889-90 was Carl E. Holbrook, who, for the pur-
pose of continuing his studies, resigned his position
at the close of the spring term of 1890, to the great
regret of the School Committee and the citizens. (.'.
H. Marshall has been appointed to succeed him.
We now return to the civil history of the town.
Dr. G. M. Adams, in his historical discourse, alluding
to the early days of the colony, remarks : " We can
better understand the changes which a century and a
half have wrought, and can better enter into the ex-
perience and life of the good men who laid the foun-
dations for us, if we glance at the condition of the
country in 1728. The number of inhabitants in Hol-
liston did not, probably, exceed one hundred and
fifty. There was no village. About thirty farm-
houses were scattered all over the town. The towns
of Milford, Xatick and Upton were not yet incorpor-
ated. There was no church in either of those places,
nor in Southboro' nor Grafton. Worcester, in 1718,
had 'tifty-eight humble dwelling-houses,' some of
which were furnished with windows of diamond-glass
and others were lighted through oiled paper. There
was probably no academy nor High School in Massa-
chusetts. There were three colleges in the country, —
Harvard, Yale and William and Mary's College, in
Virginia. Massachusetts had about one hundred and
seventeen thousand inhabitants, a small proportion of
what Boston has now. In what is now the United
States there were, besides Indians, six hundred thou-
sand inhabitants, less than the present population of
Philadelphia. But of course there were then no
United States. There were ten English Provinces
along the Atlantic coast ; Florida was Spanish, Loui-
siana, including the valley of the Mississippi, belonged
to France. Benjamin Franklin w.as struggling to
earn his living as a printer in Philadelphia; Wash-
ington and Lafeyette were not yet born.'' And Dr.
Edmund Dowse, in his centennial address, says :
"This condition of things in the homes and business
continued essentially the same for a long period. The
people were engaged as a whole in reclaiming and
tilling the lands. The shoemaker, blacksmith, car-
penter and storekeeper were regarded only aa adjuncts
HOLLISTON.
445
to society. It was convenient to have just enough
mechanics and tradesmen to meet the wants of the
people, and they desired no more. Even these did
not pretend to live by their trades, but in addition
cultivated their lands. Under these conditions the
population continued to increase slowly from year to
year, and the outward circumstances of the people to
improve. At the end of the first century the popu-
lation had grown from one hundred to thirteen hun-
dred." During this period the town was healthy,
with one exception, of short duration. Between the
18th of December, 1753, and the 30th of January,
1754, a distressing and fatal sickness prevailed (called
The Great Sickness), that resulted in the death o(
fifty-ihree persons, it being more than one-eighth of
the population at that time. This sickness, both in
its nature and cause, appears to have been involved
in mystery. That it had a natural cause I do not
doubt, but, as it was confined to the limited period ol
four or six weeks, having never appeared before or
since, it does not militate against the healthfulness oi
the locality. The average number of deaths annually,
during the first century, was seven. This includes
the period of the great sickness." If we deduct the
deaths from that epidemic, the average would not ex-
ceed six an<l a half. The same disease appeared in
Sherborne about the same time, but its duration was
greater, extending into the month of April, when
there had been twenty-five deaths. In that town it
was called " The Memorable .Mortality."
This sickness occurred in Holliston during the min-
istry of Rev. Joshua Prentiss, and he appears to have
observed it and to have taken notes of the symptoms
in (luite a scientific manner. A full record, taken
from the notes of Mr. Prentiss, is given in Mr. Fitch's
Century sermon.
This was a grievous blow to the young community.
Many families were broken up entirely and the popu-
lation was almost decimated. They were obliged to
apply for a-ssistance; and Tuesday, April 9, 1754, the
following entry appears in the Journal of the House
of Representatives of the Province: "A Petition oi'
the Selectmen of the town of Holliston, representing
the distressed circumstances of said town, by reason
of the grievous aickne.-s and mortality there, praying
for the compassionate conr'ideration of this Court, for
the reasons mentioned. Read and committed to Cap-
tain .Toseph Williams, Captain Ashley and Mr. Green-
wood, to consider and report thereon." The report
of the committee was accepted and the sum of twenty-
six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence was
granted, to be paid out of the public treasury to the
selectmen, " and by them to be applied for the use
and reliefof such poor and indigent persons as may
most need the same."
^Moree, in his *' H istory of Sherborn aud Holliston," says that tbe
populstioa wna I.IIH In 18:10, 17S2 in 18411. .2423 in 1850 and about 3100
in 1856. In 1890 it is 2650. In 1812 there were bat thirteen hoiisea on
the main street.
As before intimated, the business relating to the
church was, during many years, transacted in the
same town-meetings in which the regular business
of the town was conducted ; but after fifty or sixty
years a distinction was made. Then, all the legal vo-
ters were called to the town-meetings, while only
those who paid a ministerial tax were called to the
" town-meetings for parochial business." All the
records were kept by the town clerk in the same
record-book, until 1836, when a separate parish was
organized, with its own meetings and records. It was
also the custom for the ministers to receipt for their
salaries in the town record-book, and these signatures
are scattered through the records until the last one
appears, April 1, 1829. The first town clerk was
Captain John Goulding, who served ten years, from
1724 to 1734; and the last one is George B. Fiske,
who is now filling his thirteenth year in that oflSce.
John M. Batchelder is the present town treasurer, and
is serving his eleventh year in that capacity.
Until 1825 the town meetings were held in the
meeting-house; but during that year a town house
was built, the upper story of which was used for the
town hall, while the lower story was occupied by the
church for a parish hall. This house was situated on
the Common, near the road and adjoining the ceme-
tery lot. It was used for town and parish purposes
until 1855, when it was sold and moved off. It was
replaced the same year by the present town houte,
which was set farther back from the road. The lower
hall in this building has been used for meetings of tbe
various parishes and other societies. Edwin Payson,
of Boston, was the architect, and S. & \V. L. Payson
the contractors for the new town house.
Aaron Phipps, afterwards deacon and treasurer of
the church, and a superior man, was apprenticed to
Dea. James Russell, a blacksmith ; and during that
time, 1747 to 1751, planted the magnificent elms in
front of the Col. Whiting house. The large trees
standing before the Congregational meeting-house,
which were cut down in 1876 when the road was wid-
ened, were set out by the Rev. Mr. Dickenson, not far
from the year 1800.
The French and Indian war occurred about the
middle of the eighteenth century. We find no record
of men who went to that war from Holliston, but
probably there were a few. There were always ad-
venturous spirits in every town who were ready for
such expeditions.
It was not long after the cessation of those hostili-
ties that the feelings of dissatisfaction with the mother
country began to arise, which culminated in the war
of the Revolution. When her oppressions became too
onerous to be borne, this town was prompt in declar-
ing its convictions. As early as 1768 a committee
was chosen "to join with the committee of the Town
of Boston, as well as with the committees from the
several towns of the Province, in a convention, to be
held at Faneuil Hall, in Boston, aforesaid, on ye 22d
446
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
of this Instant, in order that such measures may be
consulted and advised as His Majesty's service and
the peace and safety of this Province may require."
They were evidently not then ready to throw ofl' their
allegiance to the Crown, but were resolved to main-
tain their rights and prepare for future continijencies,
as the next vote, passed on the same day, will show :
" To recruit the Town stock of ammunition by pur-
chasing a barrel of gunpowder, one hundred French
flints and one hundred and fifty weight of balls."
March 5, 1770, it was voted "that we will not by our-
selves, or any, for or under us. Directly or Indirectly,
purchase any European Goods of those persons
Termed Importers. . . . Neither will we have the
Least Dealings whatever with any Country Shop
Keeper who shall purchase any Goods of Said Import-
ers, and that we will use the utmost of our Endeavor
to Encourage and .assist those applauded Merchants
of the Town of Boston in their non-importation agree-
ment, to whom this Town Vote their sincere and
hearty Thanks for these Late Measures pursued by
them for the Good of their Country, and that the
moderator of this Meeting Transmit a Copy hereof to
the Committee of Merchants in Boston."
"Voted that ye Town Clerk post up the names ol
the above S'' Importers at ye most public place in the
Town."
This meeting was held on the day of the Boston
Massacre. Henry Prentiss, a son of Rev. Joshua
Prentiss, was an eye-witness of the scene and he
wrote a long letter to his father, giving a graphic de-
scription of the same. It was found among the
papers of Mr. Prentiss and is quoted in full by Rev.
George F. Walker in his article.
May 23, 1774, the Town chose a committee of cor-
respondence with Boston and the other towns in the
Province. July 4, 1774, "voted to double the town
stock of Ammunition." November 17, 1774, " voted
to post up the names of all who shall sell or consume
any of the East India Teas." At the annual town-
meeting in March 1775, before proceeding to the
election of Town officers, it was " voted that no man
shall serve in any Town office or place wherever, who
shall refuse or neglect to subscribe their consent to
and compliance with the advice and assotiation of
the last Continental Congress and that they shall be
treated with neglect." A similar vote was passed be-
fore the annual elections of officers in 1776, 1777 and
1779. The following instructions were given to Ma-
jor Abner Perry when he was chosen representative
to the General Court, May 20, 1776. After rehears-
ing the resolve of the last General Court, which re-
quested towns to advise their next representative as
to the support which they would give to Congress,
in case that body should declare the Colonies inde-
pendent of the Kingdom of Great Britain, they say :
" To which the Inhabitants of the town of Holliston.
Being Legally assembled, would humbly Reply (viz.)
that the Said Honble. Congress are (under God) the
most Competent Judges of matters of such Vast Im-
portance to these Colonies ; We would therefore Re-
fer it to their AVisdom, and do Solemnly Promise &
Engage with our Lives and Fortunes to sup|,ort them
in the measure, if they, (whom we look upon as the
Guardians of our Liberty) shall judge it to be best."
From year to year each representative was instruct-
ed by vote of the town to stand by the Continental
Congress and the liberties and rights of the Colony.
July 5, 1776, the day following the Declaration of In-
dependence, the town voted to raise £11 to be paid to
" Each man that shall Iniisl to go as aforesaid, and do
a turn for this town as a hired man." The Declara-
tion of Independence is written out in full in the town
records, as it also is in the records of Sherhnrn.
January f>, 1778, the town voted their full approiia-
tion of the articles of confederation of the United
States as "Sent to the said Town by the Gen" Cojjrt
of this State."
" But perhaps the most convincing evidence," siiys
Dr. G. M. Adams, " of the thorough ]iatri(iti?in uf the
town is seen in the large sums of money which were
voted and paid for carrying on the war. In the year
1776, the town granted four hundred pounds I'nr the
defence of the country. This w.ts when all the other
expenses of the town, including the ilinistcr's salary,
were less than two hundred pound.s. It is recorded
that at a town-meeting in September. 1770, " the Rev-
erend Mr. Prentice, personally appeared and gener-
ously gave ten pounds to the town, towards defraying
the charge that has arisen in this town by the proent
war." In 1777 the town granted for war expenses,
one thousand one hundred and forty-nine pounds, all
other town expenses being one hundred and seventy
pounds. In 1778 the war appropriation was j£21'j1.
In 1779, currency had begun to depreciate, and the
town granted for war expenses more than £4000,
which was equal to about £2000 in silver. In 1780,
currency was not worth more thau one-thirtieth or
one-fortieth of its nominal value, and the town ap-
propriated for the war, seventy-two thousand pounds,
which was still equal to about £2000 in silver. In
1781 the war appropriations were £24,750 old cur-
rency and £600 silver money, equal to about £850 in
silver.
The names of the men from Holliston who served
in the Continental army are recorded on various mus-
ter rolls in the archives of the State, and did time
permit a thorough search, we could give very nearly
the exact number. Col. Simeon Culler served under
Washington, and Col. Abner Perry, Maj. Jacob .Mil-
ler and Capt Daniel Eames v/ere conspicuous among
the officers of that army. " They contended for the
right, and they won and rejoiced in their achievements,
but they had no conception of the great and glorious
results as we see them to-day."
In 1780, September 4, the town met and voted for
the first Governor of this State, and John Hancock
received 39 votes and James Bowdoin two votes.
HOLLISTOiV.
447
In 1790 the town first cast its votes for a representa-
tive to Congress. In 1791 nineteen persons and their
families were warned to leave the town because they
had moved into it without having obtained the town's
consent. In 1795 the Minister's salary was first voted
in the Federal currency, and it was $266.67.
We now come to the commencement of an import-
ant era, the beginning of manufacturing industries
which have been such a prominent factor in the pros-
perity of Holliston. Previous to 1793 there had been
no manufacturers or mechanics in the township ex-
cepting those who, in a small way, supplied the im-
mediate wants of the farmers and their families.
And the farmers did not desire to have manufactures
introduced, some of them even being strongly opposed
to the plan.
But in that year Colonel Ariel Bragg began the
manufacture of shoes. " He commenced business
with forty pounds of sole leather and four calf-skins,
from which he made twenty-two pairs of shoes, which
he carried to Providence, R. I., in saddle-bags on
horseback, with a bundle of hay behind him ; and
having disposed of his goods for $21.50, returned and
invested his gains in new stock. In 1800 and 1810
Hezekiah and Jonathan BuUard began business on a
similar t^cale. In 1816 Deacon Timothy Rockwood
began to manufacture goods and transport them to
the Boston market in a horse-cart. In 1821 the
names of Batchelder, Currier, Littlefield (who made
fine shoes for ladies) and others were added to the
list of manufacturers, all doing business upon small
capital and transporting their goods and stock them-
selves in their one-horse wagons. It is said that Mr.
W. S. Batchelder first endeavored to settle in Sherbom
for this purpose, but was unable to purchase any land
there for manufacturing uses, so much were the farm-
ers opposed to new projects. He afterwards built up
a large business in Holliston. A tannery at the West
End and one at Chicken Brook, wiih currier's shops
different places, furnished the leather. Shoe-pegs
were not in general use and steam hardly used at all
in manufactures.
As the business increased, one of the events of the
day was the inauguration, in 1828, of a line of two-
horse baggage-wagons from the neighboring town of
.Milford to Bo.ston, pjissing through Holliston and
making two trips a week. On the first morning this
new conveyance passed through the town, Mr. W. S.
Batchelder and his workmen turned out to see it, and
great was the outcry at the extravagance of Milford
people, particularly of Chapin & Claflin, who owned
the line; and Mr. Batchelder cried out, "Milford is
getting proud, and when I can't take my shoes to
Boston in my own team, I'll give up the business."
He afterwards changed his mind, however, for he
lived to carry on a business so extensive that it re-
quired a oue-horae team all the time merely to take
his goods to the railroad station, which was but a
short distance.
As time went on many other persons set up the
manufacture of shoes and boots, and Holliston be-
came quite well-known in this business. There were
j ten large shops and several smaller ones. In 1874 it
furnished employment for about six hundred persons
and turned out goo<ls to the value of $1,000,000.
Among them was Mr. John Batchelder, a brother of
William S., who continued the manufacture even to
the year 1889. He adopted and maintained a high
standard and was distinguished for the excellence of
his workmanship. No better boots than his were
found in the market.
Hon. Alden Leland was, for many years in the
business, and had during part of the time as a part-
ner, Mr. P. R. Johnson, who still carries on the
manufacture in the town. Mr. Leland began to make
shoes in 1831, and was in active business for more
I than fifty years. He was also a prominent man in
the atifairs of the town. Born in Chester, Vermont,
I Nov. 30, 1807, his father, Capt. Nathan Leland,
i moved to Holliston, W'hen the son was an infant, and
the laiter spent the remainder of his life here, where
most of his ancestors belonged. Growing himself
with the growth of the town, his interests were iden-
tified with it, and he received all the honors and
duties which hia town and his county could induce
him to accept. He held every office of note within
the gift of the town, was Representative in the Legis-
latures of 1838, 1842, 1848 and 1852, and was a mem-
ber of the Constitutional Convention in 1853. He
was State Senator in 1865 and 1866, and a member of
the Governor's Council in 1875 and 1876. He was
the first President of the Holliston Savings Bank,
and at his death had been President of the National
Bank for six or seven years. An active power in the
town during its greatest prosperity, he did much to
maie that prosperity. He was a zealous member of
the Congregational church, but in religion as in poli-
tics, he recognized the honesty of others with difTer-
ent beliefs, and won the confidence of all. He was
twice married, first to Anna Temple, and second to
Rhoda A. Leland. He died in Holliston, Aug. 30,
1883, leaving a wife and three children.
In the year 1879, the " hard times " seriously aflTect-
ed this business, and it began to decline. It has
never recovered its former prosperity, and there are
at present but five shops of much magnitude.
Although this has been the largest and most lucra-
tive business, yet other branches of manufacture
have flourished and have performed important ser-
vice to the interests of the town.
In 1814, when the shoe business was still in its
infancy, and gave no sign of its future success, Hon.
Elihu Culler, filled with the desire to do something
towards the improvement and progress of his native
town, conceived the idea that manufactures might
build it up, by bringing into the town more money
and more people. He resolutely set about the work,
gradually overcame the opposition to new enterprises,
448
HISTORY OF 3IIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
exhibited a plan of a mill, and formed a company of
his townsmen, who erected the first mill in Hulliston,
in 1814, for manufacturing purposes. This was a
thread mill, situated on Bogistow Brook, where W.
L. Payson afterwards manufactured wood-work and
boxes, with power from a steam-engine as well as the
brook. This gave the first impulse in the right direc-
tion. By good tact and persuasion, he succeeded in
drawing more people into the town, bought land and
sold house lots, and also houses which he had built,
and gradually formed the nucleus of a village. He
labored incessantly for the improvement of the town.
One accession brought another, other manufactures
were established, and as the shoe busines continued
to improve, Mr. Cutler had the satisfaction during
his own lifetime, of seeing the fruits of the labors
which he had commenced.
Elihu Cutler was a son of Col. Simeon Cutler,
whom we have mentioned as having served under
Washington in the Revolution. He was born May
25, 1771, in Holliston, attended the district-school
during its short terms, and assisted his father on the
farm and in the tavern which the latter kept. He
learned the trade of a wheelwright. Notwithstanding
his limited advantages, " his mind," says Morse,
" naturally strong and active, somehow acquired a
good common education, and even mastered treatises
on metaphysics. The information he acquired, and
his ability to impart it, rendered his society attractive
and profirable.
Mental culture, often acquired by the study of busi-
ness a» well as books, early marked his countenance,
and gave dignity to his manners. These, coupled
with a good measure ot common sense, rendered him
the first young man in Holliston His first ap-
pearance in a public capacity was that of marshal oi;
the great and mournful occasion of the funeral ol
Washington. From about that time, for nearly forty
years he was connected with the public measures and
transactions of Holliston ; and if not the projector of
all, what one, it might be asked, was ever brought to
an advantageous conclusion without him ? No portion
of the influence he exerted, or of the good he accom-
plished, is to be measured by the offices he filled.''
He was appointed a magistrate early in this century ;
was chosen a member of the convention to amend the
State constitution in 1820, a reprepresentative from
Holliston in 1827-28, and subsequently a State
Senator, being the first man sent to the senate from
this town, as his son Elihu was the second. He was
also an active man in the affairs of the parish, and
helped most efficiently to reconcile discordant views
at a critical time. He died June 9, 1857, at the age
of eighty-six, full of years and of honors.
The mill site of Mr. Cutler was afterwards occupied
by Randall Travis, tanner and currier, by Hamlet
Barber and Luther Bellows, by Samuel and W. L.
Payson, then by W. L. Payson alone, and then by
Payson & Cutler.
The manufacture of straw goods was commenced in
1815 by Charles and George Leland. It was after-
wards conducted by Mr. Thayer, and then by Lewis
Slocum, who, in 18G1 improved and increased the
business. He was followed by Slocum & Thomp-
son ; Thompson & Mow ry ; Mowry, Rogers & Co.,;
and since 1882 by D. C. Mowry & Co., the present
firm, who do a very large business. The factory now in
use was erected in 1802, but several additious have
since been made, so that it covers an area of .seven
thousand square feet, and contains five floors, there be-
ing also a one-story and basement ell. There are
steam boilers and two sleain-enginei, and the works
are equipped throughout with the most improved
facilities for the manufacture of men's, boys' and
children's straw hats of every description. Thetrini-
mings are imported from France and Germany, and
the braid from China and Japan, where it can be
manufactured more cheaply than in this country.
Two hundred hands arc employed during the busy
season, under careful and complete supervision. The
amountof sales is from .^iriO.OtJO to.*20<i,0o0 per annum.
Some idea of the magnitude ami variety of the busi-
ness may be formed from the fact that two thon.-iaiid
sample hats are made every season, which is ten times
the number formerly provided.
The manufacture of coach lace was commented by
Prescott Littlefield, about 1827, and was continued
for some eight years. He employed eight nr ten
hands, mostly girls, and the weaving was done by
hand- power. After the death of Mr. Littlefield the
business was di.scontiuued, and the place passed into
other hands. .V portion of the building was used for
a shoe-shop, and was .soon burned. It was the first
shop burned in Holliston ; and being one of the ear-
liest fires of the town, it allowed the new fire company
to display their engine in action. This may be re-
membered by some as the old crank machine, " Water-
witch," kept at Metcalf 's station for many years. The
origin of this, as of so many later fires in the town,
was shrouded in uncertainty. For the purpose of
saving property the windows and doors were removed
at an early stage of the fire.
Earlier in the century, and perhaps before 1800,
James Stone, a son of landlord John Stone, and
grandson of the first minister, established a plough-
factory, employing seven or eight men, near School
and Washington Streets.
About and after 1828 a trip-hammer forge and au-
ger-factory, saw-mill and other shops occupied the
site of the present blanket-mills. There was also, at
one time, a cotton-factory there, as before noted.
In 1834 a comb-factory was built on Jar Brook.
The hard times of 1837 caused a suspension of work
for a season, after which it was again in operation un-
til it was burned, about January, 1860. When at the
height of business the annual sales amounted to about
$100,000. Houghton & Joslyn and Houghton & Dan-
iels were the proprietors.
HOLLISTON.
449
la 1866, Messrs. Stetson and Talbot commenced in
the same place the manufacture of shoe nails, and
shoe and upholstery tacks. They are made of iron,
zinc and copper. About twenty-two persons are now
employed in this establishment, and in the year 1889
more than one and a quarter million pounds of man-
ufactured goods were turned out, a specialty being made
of nails for heeling-machines. The motive-power is
the water of Jar Brook and a steam-engine, which
run a plant of improved machinery. The building
consists of a main shop, forty by one hundred and
sixty feet, having an ell fifty by sixty feet in size.
Copper pumps were first made in 1837, by Hough-
ton & Joslyn. At first two or three hundred were
made in a year ; but the bu:^iness has steadily in-
creased, owing to the excellence of the goods and the
enterprise of the present managers, until during some
years from three to four thousand were made annu-
ally; and the reputation of the pumps is such as to
create a demand for them in foreign countries as well
as at home. Since 1851, the business baa been con-
ducted by S. Wilder & Co., and the same firm-name ha--
been retained since the death of Mr. Sidney Wilder in
1888, although conducted by Chas. and Geo. Wilder.
They manufacture both common and force pumps,
cistern and air-chamber pumps; and although the in-
troduction of water-works in many towns has modified
the call for puinps to some extent, they are still a staple
article and must continue to be so. The members ol
the firm are skillful practical workmen and give their
personal attention to the business. None but the best
materials are used.
The manufacture of knit goods was begun in 1874,
by George B. Fiske. One machine was employed at
first, but the number hsis gradually increased until
twenty hands or more were furnished with work, and
in some years the sales have amounted to twenty
thousand dollars. The goods find a ready sale and
comprise a variety of useful articles of clothing. The
business became well established among the manu-
facturing enterprises of the town. Of late it has
been conducted by the " Mt. Hoi lis Manufacturing
Co.," who now confine themselves chiefly to the pro-
duction of knitted .-hirts.
The corporation known as The Holliston Mills was
formed November 14, 1881, for the manufacture of
blankets of different grades, some of a high quality
being made. It continued for some years, but, owing
to changes in the trade in those goods, ceased oper-
ation February 1, 1888. In December, 1889, it came
into the possession of Edward Clark.
In 1880, Samuel Whiting commenced the manufac-
ture of chairs and packing-boxes, and prosecuted a
considerable business for several years. He employed
improved machinery, driven by a steam-engine, had
from five to fifteen men and furnished goods of a high
quality. He is now succeeded by Elias Hunter, who
makes boxes only.
A corporation called the Holliston Harness Co.
29-iii
commenced business here March 7, 1890. They man-
ufacture all kinds and grades of harness and sell at
wholesale only. They employed eighteen persons at
first, but have forty now. John Hughes is the man-
ager.
Holliston has had the misfortune to be fire-
quently invaded by fires. The most extensive of
all was " the great fire," which occurred May 26,
1875. Says Walker: "Within three hours from the
time when the alarm was first given twenty-two
buildings were burned, all but one of which were
completely destroyed. Among these were the hotel,
a large livery stable, a block of stores, two other
stores and several dwelling-houses. A large space in
the centre of the village was left bare of baildings ;
but the enterprise of the people has rebuilt where the
ruins were, and the general appearance is greatly im-
proved. Statistics issued by the State Insurance
Commissioners show, however, that this town has no
more fires than the average of towns of the same pop-
ulation. The town has approved steam fire-engines
and a hydrant engine.
"For the ex'inguishment of fires and for domestic
and other purposes," the Holliston Water Company
was incorporated in the year 1884, for the supply of
pure water to the inhabitants of the town. The charter
was renewed in 1887, and the company is now busily
at work, in 1890, with the expectation of introducing
the water before the close of the year. The water is
obtained from springs in an immense well excavated
for the purpose, in East Holliston. The overflow will
be collected in an artificial lake, and a stand-pipe on
Mt. Hollis will give the desired " head" to the water.
Mr. John D. Shippee is the manager, and he is ener-
getically prosecuting the work. The work of laying
the pipes for conveying the water to the stand-pipe
was commenced early in September, 1890. Mr. Z.
Talbot has been the treasurer of the company from
the beginning, in 1884.
Some twenty-five or thirty years ago efforts were
commenced to improve the quality of the fruit of the
cranberry vine and to increase its productiveness. It
was naturally supposed that, as other fruits had been
made better by cultivation, this crop might also be
improved. With this end in view, Mr. Laurin Le-
land, in 1854, began the work of planting the vines
in a meadow suitably prepared to furnish the cran-
berry with its natural food. In some cases this was
done by paring the meadow and then covering it with
a thick layer of sand; in other cases by merely
spreading the sand on the natural meadow. Large
crops of fruit of finer quality were thus obtained. Mr.
Ezra Leland was afterwards associated with him in
this work.
In 1860 Deacon George Batcheider commenced by
planting one hundred square rods of meadow with
the vines. This he gradually increased until eight
acres or more were cultivated. These berries are not
only larger in size, but they are harder and of darker
450
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
color than the native fruit, and are more highly
prized in the market. H. B. Tibbette succeeded
George Batchelder, and has done even a better busi-
ness. A. B. Tibbetts started a meadow of his own in
1890.
Nothing appears in the town records concerning
the War of 1812 ; but it is evident that some men
from this town served as soldiers at that time, because
inscriptions to that effect are found on grave-stones in
the burying-grounds, and one soldier of that war,
Luther Green, was living in the town only a few
years since. The records at the State-House would
doubtless furnish the list of names.
No other events of importance occurred in the civil
history of the town for many years, except those
already mentioned under their appropriate headings.
In the year 1847, greatly increased accommodations
for traveling were furniihed by the Boston and Wor-
cester Railroad Company. On July 4th of that year
the first trip was made over the Milford Branch of
that road, as far as HoUiston Centre. The deep cut
through Phipps' Hill waa made with difficulty and
occupied a long time, so that it was not until Novem-
ber, 1848, that the train went through to Milford.
" This railroad has been of great advantage to the
industrial interests of HoUiston, and has hud a profita-
ble business in the transportation of passengers and
freight." The greater part of that section of the
village lying beyond the railroad has been built up
since the introduction of these facilities. For a long
time the people of the town have desired an early
train to South Framingham, but could not induce the
company to furnish it. But at length, through per-
sistent efforts, they succeeded in July, 1890, in obtain-
ing it. This train leaves Milford at 0.30 a..m., and
f etums at 6.12 p.m., thus accommodating many per-
sons who wish to commence their daily work at 7
o'clock and others who desire to take early trains to
Boston and other points. Great satisfaction is felt at
the accomplishment of this long-sought object.
It is less than forty years since banking facilities
were conveniently furnished to the citizens of the town.
During all the previous time that business was done
by the banks of Dedham, Wrentham and Framingham,
" causing,'' says an old resident, " many a wintry trip
to those distant towns." Some private banking was
done by inhabitants on farms near by, " where one
worth $10,000 was a nabob, and if worth 115,000, a
bloated aristocrat."
But in 1854 the HoUiston Bank was formed and in-
corporated with a capital of $100,000, and it has
furnished accommodations to this and neighbor-
ing towns. Its first president was William S. Batch-
elder and its cashier, Rufus F. Brewer. The latter
served for several years, when he was succeeded by
Thomas E. Andrews, who occupied the position until
July 16, 1883, since which time John H. Andrews
has filled the office of cashier. Mr. Brewer died in
Philadelphia in 1888. Mr. Batchelder served as
president until his death, in 1876, when Hon. Alden
Lelaud was elected to that station, which he occupied
also during the remainder of his life. He was suc-
ceeded by Siduey Wilder in 1883, and by John M.
Batchelder in 1890. The bank was reorganized as a
National bank January 23, 1865, and in April of the
same year the capital was increased to .'?150,000. By
careful management a handsome surplus has been
created, amounting to about $30,000.
The bank has from the first been closely identified
with the developement of this particular community,
home interests having guided its policy to a great
extent, and home enterprises of genuine merit having
received its hearty and valuable co-operation. It
occupies its own brick banking-house on Washington
Street, built in 1872, and furnished with the most
approved modern appliances for convenience and
safety.
The HoUistun Savings Bank was incorporated in
1872, and is an institution of great value to the town.
Its office is in the National bank building, and it has
had but one treasurer, Orriu Thomson, Esq. Hon.
.\lden Leland was the first president, and was
succeeded by Seth Thayer and D. t '. Mowry, who
now occupies that chair. The amount of deposits
from the beginning is about i^l, 500,000.
Pevera) old cemeteries are found in Holli.ston, and
they were established at different periods, according
to the locations of the inhabitants and their require-
ments for burial-places. The oldest is the Central
Cemetery, near the first church and the town-house,
where several of the early ministers are interred.
There is also quite an old cemetery at the north part
of the town, one in the western portion, two at Bragg-
ville, andoneat East HoUiston. Glenmount Cemetery
was laiil out some years .since in the eastern quarter of
the town, but is not at all used at present. Although
some of these cemeteries are not without rural attrac-
tions, yet most of them are limited in space and be-
long to the old order of burying-groundn. In a
cultivated community like this there was therefore
a natural desire for a more extensive location, and
one which should be capable of more ornamentation.
And accordingly a plot was selected on the banks
of Lake Winthrop, containing thirty acres. It con-
tains a grove, which, with the water-view of the lake
and its islands, forms a diversified and beautiful fpot
for the interment of the dead, and one which is
attractive and pleasant to the minds of the living. It
was incorporated in 1859 as Lake Grove Cemetery,
and was consecrated June 1, 1860, Rev. J. C. Bodwell,
of Framingham, delivering an eloquent address, and
Rev. Dr. Tucker the consecrating prayer. It contains
more than three hundred burial lots, many of which
are tastefiilly adorned, and there are several hundred
not yet laid out. Beautiful monuments have been
erected near the graves, and the entire enclosure is an
honor to the town. It has always, since its opening,
continued to be a favorite place for interment, and
HOLLISTON.
451
will compare favorably wilh similar parks in other
towns.
We now approach a period filled with events of the
moat momentous character for this town, as well as
for all the towns in the State — a period when men
were turned from the peaceful occupations of life to
the trying and hazardous career of war. The inhab-
itants of the town were forced to change the whole
current of their lives, and many of them to adopt, in
the emergency which arose, duties to which they had
been wholly unaccustomed, and modes of living dia-
metrically opposite to those in which their previous
life had been passed. A long and bloody civil war,
the hardest and most severe of all wars, was upon us,
and a contest for the very existence of the Union
was waged for four long and terrible years. The
part which the citizens of this town took in that
struggle is so well described by Rev. George F.
Walker, in his historical article, that I cannot do
better than to quote it. He writes, " When, on the
morning of April 12, 18C1, the first gun of the Civil
War was fired against Fort Sumter, and its echoes
stirred the patriotism of the entire North, the people
of Holliston were ready, as worthy sons of Revolu-
tionary sires, to take their full share of the burdons
of the war. Ou the loth of April, President Lincoln,
by proclamation, called for seventy-five thousand
volunteers, and on the J'Jth the town took measures
for the raising of a military company, and it was
soon ready to march, when ordered to join the Fed-
eral forces. To help those who were willing to en-
list, and to relieve them of anxiety respecting the
support of their families, who were to be left at home,
the town voted, September .'iOth, to pay one dollar a
month to the wile of any soldier enlisted from this
town, and fifty cents per month for each child, in
addition to the aid received from the State. It was
also provided by vote, the next year, that the families
of thr nine months' men be paid the same us the
others.
" In the spring of 1862, when the National Capital
was threatened by the approach of the Confederate
troops, and the Governors of the loyal States were
issuing their proclamations for men to go to its aid.
the anxiety of the inhabitants of Holliston was so
great that a mes.senger was dispatched on horse-
back to Boston, to iiacertain whether the Capital was
taken or not. The me-ssenger returned, riding into
town just as the public services in the churches were
concluded, and when he announced that the Capital
was yet safe, cheer upon cheer rang out upon the
still air of that quiet, beautiful Sunday afternoon,
attesting the happines.s with which the good news
had filled the hearts of the people.
"It was voted July 22, 1863, unanimously, 'That
the families of citizens of Holliston, whether alien or
otherwise, who serve in the United States Army,
either as drafted men or substitutes for drafted men,
shall receive the same aid from the town treasury as
has been paid to the families of volunteers ;' also,
' To continue the same aid to the families of those who
have fallen in the service of their country, as they
have heretofore received from the selectmen, until
March 1st next, unless their pensions are sooner re-
ceived.' .June 20, 1864, it was voted 'that the Town
Treasurer be hereby authorized to pay each volunteer
or drafted man a syn not exceeding $125, whenever
such volunteer or drafted man shall be called for to
fill the quota of Holliston;' also, ' voted that the
town appropriate the sum of $3000 to pay soldiers en-
listed under the last call for troops, dated March 14,
1864.' Another vote was passed the same day, viz.:
'To choose a committee of five to make provision for
a suitable reception of the returned soldiers belonging
to Holliston.' June 18, 1866, the selectmen were in-
structed, by vote of the town, ' to pay all volunteers
who re-enlisted in the field for the credit of Holliston,
who have never received a bounty, one hundred and
twenty-five dollars, and to those who have received
only a partial bounty, the balance sufficient to make
that sum.'
'■The whole number of soldiers from Holliston,
counting both enlistments and re-enlistments, who
served in the Federal Army during the Civil War,
was three hundred and fifty-four. Of these, sixty-six
were natives of the town ; and the names of fifty-
three are upon the soldiers' monument as having lost
their lives. Nine were captured and confined in Con-
federate prisons, of which number five died. While
the war was in progress, the people at home did not
forget those who were in the field, and after some of
the great battles committees were sent to the front to
care for the well-being and comfort of the wounded.
" Just before the war commenced, Sewell H. Fisk,
from Holliston, was driven out of Savannah, Georgia,
with indignity, because he was from the North. He
enlisted in Co. B, and went back with the army and
died in the United States Hospital at Newark, N. J.
Another soldier, Simon C. Marston, being left alone
on guard at Brandy Station, saved the books of the
Holliston Company from the rebels, who came up
suddenly, by strapping them in haste upon his back
and leaving with them."
This company was Company B, of the Sixteenth
Regiment of Massachusetts Infantry, whose first colonel
was the lamented Powell T. Wyman, of Boston, once
a schoolmate of the writer of this article. He was
killed in action at the battle of Glendale, Va., June
•30, 1862, before he had been a year in service. This
regiment was also called the Middlesex County Regi-
ment. Co. B was organized in Holliston, and its first
officers were James M. Mason, captain ; William A.
Araory, first lieutenant; and Cassander F. Flagg,
second lieutenant.
In 1866 the town appropriated $3000 for the pur-
chase and erection of a soldiers' monument. It is a
square, granite monument and stands in the south-
east corner of ttie Central Cemetery, where it can
452
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY. MASSACHUSETTS
plainly be seen from the main street. It consists of a
base, ornamented pedestal and shaft. On the front
side of the pedestal a flag is sculptured in relief, and
on the opposite face is a shield with the following in-
scription in small capitals:
" Ebectep bt TnR Town of Holliston,
In Memory or Heb Solpiehs,
Who Diro in the War foi^tbe Union,
18T4."
On each of the remaining sides is a sword encircled
with a wreath, also in relief. On the base of the
monument are the following words ;
*' Honor to the Brave."
On the sides of the shaft are carved the names
of the soldiers of Holliston who lost their lives in the
defence of their country. Those names are: M. Voae,
F. Abbott, P. Harvey, C. C. Waite, S. H. Fisk, E. M. B.
Perry, W. H. Clouph, H. A. Harris, J. Speakman, E.
B. Currier, A. O. Hunting, C. H. Wheeler, M. McCor-
mic, A. Adams, C. H. Cole, E. Leiand, J. E. Dean, A.
Giiodwin, M. Slattcry, F. B. Joslyn, .T. H. Cooper, J.
Hamilton, .1. W. Slocum, VV. G. Gaylord, G. E. .lenk-
ins, H. F. Chamberlain, T. Lacy, C. Drury, L. Dickey,
J. Reeves, F. \V. Clapp, B. F. Hawks, H. S. Bailey.
A. Calvin, Jr., W. E. Lougee, .1. S. Bullard, .J. Galla-
cher, E. !?. Hutchinson, C. S. Watkins, F. Riley, P.
Gary, Emerson Fames, B. L. Durfee, J. M. Mann, C.
H. .\llen, William Crowell, N. Brown, Jr., R. Feeheley,
G. Holbrook, G. J. Walker, W. H. Goodwin, E. G.
Whiting and W. B. Jennesson, fifty-three in all.
There is ai.so the record of the battles in which the
M)ldicr8 from this town were engaged, viz: Gettysburg,
l.ocuscGrove, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna,
Cold Harbor, Cedar Grove, Petersburg, Andersonville,
Richmond, Bull Run, Fair Oak.s, Glendale, Malvern
Hill, Chantilly, Newbern, Manassas, Fredericksburg,
.Vntietam and Chaucellorsvillc, twenty in number.
,\n honorable record for the men of Holliston.
In connection with this subject, we may appropri-
ately consider the Grand Army of the Republic, an
outcome of the Civil War. The credit of origin.atiiig
the idea and plan of this organization is due to Dr.
B. F. Stephenson, surgeon of the Fourteenth Illinois
Regiment. In 1866 he conferred with Chaplain Rut-
ledge, explained to him the design he had conceived,
and together they drew up a list of by-laws, and
April 6, 18'66, they founded Post No. 1 of the State of
Illinois. The order rapidly increased and spread
over the country, and still continues to flourish.
There are between seven and eight thousand posts at
the present time, with a membership in August, 1890,
of 455,510. National encampments are held an-
nually; that for 1890 assembling in Boston, where a
whole week was given to meetings and festivities, and
great enthusiasm prevailed among the thousands who
were present from all parts of the country, and many
even from the Southern States.
Post No. 6, of Massachusetts, was instituted March
10, 1867, at Holliston. A member ' of this Post writes,
j ".\mong the institutions of Holliston which are
widely useful. Post 6, G. .\. R., deserves a prominent
i place. Its charities have bten extensive, and its
composition being such as to remove it both from the
field of politics and sectarianism, it has been able to
reach in an unobtrusive way many a suflerer and has
brought comparative comfort to many a poor, but de-
serving family. Its disbursements, since its organi-
zation, have amounted to nearly $7000 ($12,000 in
1800). It has had a varying history. It has been
burned out three times, but each time ha.-< arisen with
its membership more firmly united, and with a
stronger desire to fulfill the high purpose to which it
is most sincerely consecrated.
"The relief committee of the Post has worked in
entire sympathy with the town authorities, and has
been an important auxiliary in the work of finding
out the needy and honestly paying the amounts voted
year by year by the town. It is named the Powell
T. Wyman Post, in ati'ectionate remembrance of the
first commander of the Si.Meenth Regiment. It has
for .some years occupied a building on Green Street,
owned by itself, and well deserves the respect which
it enjoys in the community."
In 1890 this building w.as removed to Exchange
Street, and was greatly enlarged and improved.
The number of comrades in 1890 was fifty-two, ,nnd
the Commander was D. F. Travis; I. H. (Carpenter,
Senior Vice; O. L. Cutting, Junior Vice ; J. N. Fisk,
Adjutant ; and I. M. Hart, Quartermaster.
Several years after the foundation of the G, A. R.,
a new order called the Sons of Veterans, w.as institu-
ted. It is composed of the sons of soldiers who served
in the late war and received honorable discharge
therefrom. The associations are called Camps, and
Camp 15. A. Bridges, (so called from late officer of Com-
pany B, and Captain of Company E, ."Sixteenth Regi-
ment Massachusetts Volunteers), No. 63, of Massa-
chusetts, was organized May 5, 1865. The capt.ain in
1890, was N. E. Bridges, and the number of members
thirty-four. This Camp is armed.
The Women's Relief Corps, formed in ISSl, is an
auxiliary to the (r. A. R., and assists the widows and
children of soldiers, by supplies of clolliingand mate-
rials. It is also a general assistant to the Grand
Army, in its work of benevolence. In 1890, Mrs. Z.
Talbot is President, and Mrs. Lewis Bullard, Secre-
tary.
Several societies for social and benevolent purposes
exist in Holliston. The Mt. Hollis Lodge of Free
and Accepted Masons was chartered in 1865, or, ac-
cording to their usage, February 14, A. M. 5865. The
number of members at present is about eighty; the
lodge continues to prosper, and holds monthly meet-
ings in Masonic Hall. The Worshipful Master in
1890 is H. C. Kingman.
' C. S. Wildor.
HOLLISTON.
453
A lodge of the Sons of Temperance was formed
here many years since. It was re-organized in De-
cember, 1889, and now has about twenty members.
The Worthy Patriarch is Albert E. Phipps.
Societies for the promotion of temperance have for
a long time been present in HoUiston, the first one
having been organized as early as 1827. In 1876 the
cause received a fresh impulse, and three societies
were working in this direction. At the present time
the etforts iu this moral reform are conducted by so-
cieties au.iciliary to the religious societies of the town,
by the Sons of Temperance and by the Reform Club
and its auxiliary, the Women's Christian Temperance
Union, No. 15.
.\ lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
exised in the town some years, and many members of
that order reside here at present. A re-organization
or a new organization is contemplated in the near
future.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians is a social and
charitable society for the mutual aid of its members.
There is a Xational, State and county organization,
and each of them meets semi-annually. In this State
there are from ten thousand to twelve thousand mem-
bers, and in Middlesex County about thirty-eight
hundred members. M. F. Coughlin, of .HoUiston, is
the county delegate. The society in this town, Divi-
sion No. 24, was chartered July I'J, 1876, with twenty
members. It holds meetings every Monday night in
A. O. H. Hall, Forbes' Block, and has there a read-
ing-room and billiard hall for the purpose of interest-
ing its members, ft always has from •iSOO to $1000
deposited in the bank, from which to draw its requi-
sitions for .lid. The president in 1390 is C. F. Dris-
coll, and the secretary, John H. Coughlin, and the
membership has increased to fifty.
A lodge of the Knights of Honor (No. 647) was or-
ganized in HoUiston June .'i, 1877. It is a society
for mutual benefit, and meets on the first Friday of
each month in Masonic Hall. The number of mem-
bers was fifty in 1880; it has now increased to eighty-
two. William H. Smart is the Dictator in 1890.
February 18, 1884, Grange No. 115 of the Patrons
of Husbandry was founded. It has attracted to its
raembei>hip not only farmers and their families, but
many others who are interested in its objects. It is a
social order for the mutual improvement of its mem-
bers and the advancement of the interests of agricul-
ture and horticulture, and persons of both sexes are
admitted. It has proved to be a desirable organiza-
tion, and has developed much latent talent among its
members. Its meetings are held twice in each month,
and in the fall season it holds an annual fair. The
number of members in 1890 was one hundred and
forty, and the Worthy Master was .1. B. Parkin.
July 4, 1876, the citizens celebrated the centennial
anniversary of the independence of the nation in a
highly appropriate and enthusiatic manner. Various
committees were chosen, who made full preparations
for the event, and the celebration was a success and a
pleasure to all. Salutes were fired and bells rung in
the morning, a procession was formed and marched
through the principal streets, and all then assembled
in the Congregational Church. The exercises con-
sisted of an invocation by Rev. J. Gill, prayer by Rev.
G. M. Adams, reading of Declaration of Independence
by Professor G.Y. Washburn, oration by Rev. Edmund
Dowse, of Sherborn, and benediction by Rev. George
F. Walker, then of Blackstone, a former resident of
the town. Excellent singing was interspersed, in-
cluding Whittier's Centennial Hymn.
At the conclusion of these exercises the procession
was reformed and marched to Mt. HoUis Grove, where
ample refreshments had been provided. The HoUis-
ton Band then furnished music, and Hon. Alden I/e-
land, president of the day, introduced C. S. Wilder
as toast-master, and many appropriate sentiments re-
ceived responses from present and former citizens.
Many buildings were decorated, and as a whole more
elaborately than ever before in HoUiston. Fire-works
in the evening and music by the band closed the cel-
ebration, which was a notable one and will be long
remembered.
The 150th anniversary of the formation of the Con-
gregational Church was celebrated Wednesday, June
11,1879. The church was formed October 31, 1728,
0. S., so that the exact anniversary, allowing for the
change from old to new style, was November 11, 1878.
The celebration was postponed to the more pleasant
season of the year. In response to special invitation,
a large number of the former members of the church
and congregation returned to HoUiston for the occa-
sion. Many were present also from the neighboring
towns. The meeting-house was very fully and beau-
tifully decorated with flowers, ferns, evergreens, mot-
toes and emblematic designs. All but one of the
former pastors of the church now living were present,
and that one responded by letter. Exercises were
held both forenoon and afternoon, and a social re-
union took place in the evening.
The historical discourse, delivered by the pastor.
Rev. George M. Adams, was an exceedingly interest-
ing and valuable paper, presenting facts and remin-
iscences of great importance for future reference, as
the writer of this article has learned, during its prep-
aration. This anniversary was an occasion of great
interest to all who had ever been connected with the
church or congregation.
During this same year, July 19, 1879, the public
library commenced its existence. The plan ofform-
ing a town library originated with Elias BuUarJ,
Esq., who in his will left $1000, ander certain con-
ditions for that purpose. Seth Thayer, Esq., then
contributed $500, and several others lesser sums. The
town appropriated $500 at first and have since granted
$400 annually for its support. The library is kept in
the town-house and is opened for use during the after-
noons and evenings of Wednesday and Saturday of
454
HISTORY OF xMIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
each week. It is found to be a very popular institu-
tion. Miiis Josephine £. Rockwood is and has been
the librarian.
The charge of this Library is committed to six trus-
tees, two of whom are annually chosen by the town for
three years. Portraits of Eliaa Bullard, Esq., Mr.
Seth Thayer and Rev. George M. Adams, D. D., adorn
the walls of the room, that of Esquire Bullard having
been presented by his daughter, Mrs. Robert R.
Bishop.
The Holliston Mutual Fire Insurance Company
was incorporated and carried on business for about
twenty years. William R. Thayer, O. B. Bullard,
A. N. Currier and Thomas E. Andrews were its man-
agers at different dates. It closed in 1862, and the
insurance was transferred to George B. Fiske, who is,
and has been for many years, an agent for several
companies.of that kind. A Loan Fund Association
also existed here many years ago.
Mr. John N. Fiske, a native of the town, has for
many years been established as a job and manufac-
turing printer, and employs steam as a motive power.
His work is good and tasteful. Mr. Fiske has also
been the enumerator of the census of 1890.
No newspapers are printed in the town. But an
edition of the Framingham Gazette, called the HollU-
ton Transcript, is furnished weekly to the citizens.
The Milford Daily News is also sent here regularly.
Of both of these newspapers James F. Fiske is the
correspondent, and also of the Boston Globe. Mr.
Fiske has b«en a reporter for many years. He has
also been town treasurer, and was postmaster for
seventeen years, the longest term of service of any
person in that office. He was succeeded, July 12,
1886, by Frank Cass, who remains postmaster in
1890.
There is a good variety of stores in Holliston, suf-
ficient for supplying the wants of the people, both
in health and in sickness.
A " History of Sherborn and Holliston," with gen-
ealogies, by Rev. Abner Morse, was published in Bos-
ton in 1856.
It is said that Rev. Timothy Dickenson (1789-1813)
wrote a pamphlet history of Holliston, extending to
his day.
Rev. Mr. Fitch's century sermon (1826). Rev. Dr.
Dowse's centennial address (1876) and Rev. Dr.
Adams's historical discourse (1879), all contain valu-
able points concerning the history of the town.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
HENRY BULLARD.
Henry Bullard is a direct descendant of Benjamin
Bullard, one among the first planters of Water-
town in 1630, and who drew land there in 1637 and
1644. His son Benjamin settled in the extreme
southern part of Sherborn prior to 1658, a portion of
his farm being within the bounds of Medway (now
Jlillis).
Henry is the son of Titus and Esther Bullard and
was born, at his present residence, July 13, 1815.
His grandfather, Henry, born in 1749, settled here in
the southeast part of Holliston and built the present
bouse; so that Mr. Bullard is of the third generation
occupying the homestead. A large farm is attached
and it has been successfully carried on by the subject
of this sketch.
After acquiring an education in the common and
high schools of that day, Mr. Bullard served as a
teacher in this town and in Framingham. That he
was successful may be inferred trom the fact that he
was invited to take charge of the High School in
Framingham. He was obliged to decline, however,
as he had an engagement to enter business in Hollis-
ton. He afterwards conducted business in a store
lor three years in Cincinnati, Ohio, and for eight years
in Medway, Mass. Then the declining health of his
mother called him home, and he has since resided on
the farm. He married Bethia S. Wheeler, of Med-
way, about fifty years since, and they have had seven
children, all of whom are still living, ilrs. Bullard,
a most estimable woman, lived to a good age and
passed to a higher life in 1890, beloved and lamented
by all.
Mr. Bullard has been a selectman of Holliston for
five years, during; four of which he was chairman of
the board. He has been tlie tirst vice-president of
the Holliston Savings Bank from the time of its
organization, and has also beeu a trusteeand member
of the Investment Committee of that institution. He
is an owner of real estate in Holliston, Framingham
and several other towns, and devotes a considerable
part of bis time to its care. He is a member of the
Holliston Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry.
APPr.ETON BULLARD.
Appleton Bullard was born in Medway, Mass.,
March 17, 1804, the son of Malachi and Polly (Little-
field) Bullard. He was the third child, Elias Bullard,
Esq., of Holliston, being the first, and Rev. Malachi
Bullard, of Winchendon, the second. A younger
brother, Hartwell, resided in Westborough. At the
age of about thirty years Jfr. Bullard was married to
Hepzibah L. Harding, of Medway, and settled in
Holliston. While here he was a prominent citizen,
held in much esteem by the people of the town. He
was selectman, assessor, overseer of poor, and in fact
held most of the town offices at one time or another.
About 1854 he returned to Medway about the time
of the decease of his father .and mother (who died
nearly at the same time) and took charge of the farm
at the homestead. He there remained during the rest
of his life, and also held all the town offices there.
But be died in Holliston, suddenly, at the residence
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HOLLISTON.
455
of his brother Elias, and within two or three hours of
the death of the latter, November 2, 1875. Mrs. Bul-
lard remained in Medway until four or five years
since, when she removed to Metcalf's Station, Hol-
liston.
Mr. Ballard was a member of the Congregational
Church for many years. He was a carpenter and
worked at that trade both in Medway and Holliston.
He assisted his father in building the Congregational
Church in Holliston in 1822, and he built churches in
Millis, West Medway and Bellingham.
ELIAS BULLARD.*
Elias Bullard was born in Medway December 31,
1799. He was the son of Malachi and Polly Bullard,
and was the oldest of six children. He early mani-
fested a fondness for books, and, determining to fit
for college, was placed by his father under the charge
of Rev. Dr. Jacob [de, of Medway, with whom he
pursued bis preparatory studies. He entered Brown
Universitv in 1819, and graduated in 1823. He studied
law with Elijah Morse, Esq., of Boston, and upon
being admitted to the bar, commenced practice in
Holliston, October 7, 1826. It had been his intention
to locate in Boston, but a decided indication of lung
diflicully, with hemorrhages, compelled him to follow
the advice of his physician, and seek a location fur-
ther inland. He remained continuously in Holliston
ill the practice of his profession until his death, a
period of forty-nine years. He was the first lawyer
to settle in the town, and no other one settled there
during his life.
During this long period of professional labor, Mr.
Bullard transacted the business of a wide circle of
clients, anil maintained the constant respect of all
who knew him. His advice was sought on account
of the fairness of his mind and the soundness of his
judgment ; and the confidence of the community was
reposed in him to an unusual degree. He was dis-
posed towards the peaceful settlement of controversy,
and much litigation was tranquillized and stopped, by
his calm and restraining influence, before it was en-
tered upon. As might have been expected, he was
frequently called to act in positions of pecuniary trust
and responsibility.
He faithfully performed his part in town affairs,
and took interest especially in the schools, serving
many years upon the School Committee. He three
times represented the town in the Legislature — in
1834, 1835 and 1870. In the latter year he was the
senior member, and called the House to order. In
his address upon that occasion he spoke of the great
changes which had taken place in the more than a
generation since his first session.
He was largely concerned in the building of the
Milford branch of the Boston and Worcester Rail-
1 Contribatwl.
road through Holliston, and waa counsel for the cor-
poration in the matter. He was throughout life a
constant reader and a studious man, was considerate
and mindful of the rights of others, and broad and tol-
erant in his views and conduct. He waa a great lover
of home. He married Persis Daniels, of Sherborn, who
survived him, and of this union were born two children
— Mary Helen, who also survived her father, the wife
of Robert R. Bishop, of Newton, and Josephine Dan-
iels, who died before his decease, the wife of Dr.
Daniel W. Jones.
Mr. Bullard died November 2, 1875, lamented in
the town, and in surrounding towns, to an extent
which seldom occurs. He was a member of the Con-
gregational Church in Holliston.
MOSES A. HARRIMAN.
Mr. Harriman was born in Bridgewater, N. H.,
May 3, 1812. Before he came to Holliston in 1835,
he was a school teacher in the State of Ohio, and
also resided in Natick, Mass., where he worked in
making shoes for Henry Wilson, afterwards distin-
guished as a Senator and Vice-President of the United
States. After removing to Holliston, he lived at first
in the west end of the town with Amaaa Forristall and
made " brogans." In the year 1839 he purchased the
.Vustin Bellows estate in East Holliston, built or en-
larged the shop there, and commenced the manufac-
ture of shoes and boots. This business he continued
during the whole remainder of his life, devoting the
greater part of the time to the manufacture of boots,
in which he had quite a considerable trade.
In 1841 he married Susan Newton, a resident of
Holliston, but a native of Shrewsbury, Mass. They
had two children, but neither have survived. An
adopted son is in business in Boston.
Mr. Harriman was a member of the Board of As-
sessors for two years. He joined the Methodist. Church
in 1845, and ever afterwards led a consistent Christian
life. He was for many years a trustee and steward of
that church, and was one of its chief financial sup-
porters. He was also for some time the superintend-
ent of its Sunday-school.
Mr. Harriman was an active business man and he
secured the good will of all with whom he had deal-
ings. Although reserved in his conversation concern-
ing matters of business, he had the good' tact to
manage it successfully, and succeeded in accumula-
ting a handsome competency. He waa a favorite with
his workmen, who attended his funeral in a body and
keenly felt his loss. He died September 12, 1879.
ZEPHANIAH TALBOT.
Mr. Talbot was born in South Hanover, Mass.,
June 22, 1834. He was educated in the public
schools and in Hanover Academy, and then as
a full apprentice in the Corliss Steam Engine Co.,
456
HISTORY OF xMIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
at Providence, Rhode Island. He was a staff officer
in the United States Navy, from 1860 to 1866,
being assistant engineer. Applying for duty in
active service, he was ordered to proceed from San
Francisco to the North. He received two promotions
and served as chief engineer on the Gunboats Cho-
cura and Iosco, and superintended the placing of the
engines in them. He was on duty in the North At-
lantic blockading squadron and was present at the
capture of Fort Fisher. He continued in the service
after the close of the war, and was appointed first as-
sistant professor of steam-engineering at the Naval
Academy, Annapolis, Md., this branch being then
first introduced as a study. In the year 1866, he re-
signed his office for the purpose of entering business.
Mr. Talbot's first connection with Mr. D. K. Stet-
son was at Woodville, Hopkinton, Mass., in the man-
ufacture of shoe nails and tacks. In the year 1866,
they removed to HoUiston, established themselves on
the site of the old comb factory in East Holliston,
whereas Stetson & Talbot, they continued the above
mentioned business for twenty-one years. In 1887
Mr. Talbot purchased the interest of Mr. Stetson tnd
has since conducted the business himself A refer-
ence to the description of this industry in another
part of this article, will show the magnitude of the
business. He has obtained one patent and applied
for three others connected with this manufacture.
Mr. Talbot was a member of the Board of Select-
men in 1866 ; chairman of the Board of Assessors four
years, from 1876 ; and a member of the school com-
mittee for ten years, a portion of that time as chair-
man. He was also a director of the National Bank
and Trustee of the Savings Bank for several years.
In 1882 he was chosen treasurer of the Holliston
Mills, and has continued to occupy that post. He
has also been treasurer and a director of the Hollis-
ton Water Company since its first incorporation in
1884.
In May, 1863, he was married to Eliza F. Paul, of
Boston. They have had four children, one of whom,
Henry P., after a course of study at the Institute of
Technology, in Boston, proceeded to Europe for fur-
ther education, and in 1890 took the degree of Ph.D.
at Leipsic.
CHAPTER XXXVIL
^LDSy.
BY WILLIAM T. DAVIS.
Malden was originally a part of Charlestown.
Chariestown was first visited, as far as is certainly
known, by John Smith in 1614. There is no evidence
that earlier explorers, including Verazzano, Gosnold,
Martin Pring, Waymouth, Champlain and Hudson,
either entered the harbor of Boston, or even saw its
adjacent lands. John Smith, attersome years' connec-
tion with the Southern VirginiaCompany, returned to
England, and in 1614 sailed with two ships " to take
whales and also to make trials of a mine of gold and
copper.'' On his arrival al Monhegan, near the mouth
of the Penobscot River, he anchored his vessels and
sailed with eight men in a shallop, along the more
southerly coast as far as Cape Cod, giving the name
of New England to the country, and " drawing a map
from poicit to point, isle to isle, and harbor to harbor,
with the soundings, sands, rocks and landmarks."
A copy of this map was submitted by Smith, on his
return to England, to Prince Charles, afterwards
Charles the First, who attached names to ihe various
points there delineated. Of these names, Plymouth,
named, it is believed, in honor of Sir Ferdinando
Gorges, at that time Governor at the castle in
Plymouth, and one of Smith's patrons; Cape Anne,
named after Anne of Denmark, the mother of the
Prince, and Charles River, named after himself, re-
main, while all the other names, including Cape
James for Cape Cod,Milford Haven for Provincetown
Harbor, Stuard'sBay for Barnstable Bay, Point George
for Brant Point, Oxford for Marshfield, London for
Cohaaset, Cheviot Hills for the Blue Hills, Talbott's
Bay for Gloucester Harbor, and Dartmouth, Sandwich
and Cambridge, for places near Portland, never came
into use.
Smith was followed by Thomas Dermer, in 1619,
who put into Massachusetts Bay, and visited Plym-
outh, but there is no evidence that he sighted the
northerly shore of the bay. The "Mayflower" followed
in 1620, the " Fortune" in 1021, ihe " Ann" and " Little
James," in 1623, ail making Plymouth their only
destination, and in the last o! these years Robert
Gorges, appointed Lieutenant-General of New Eng-
land, came in a ship which was (he pioneer in the
great movement which ended in the settlement of the
Massachusetts Colony. All the enterprises connected
with these arrivals on the New England coast were
conducted under the authority of an English com-
pany, first known as the Northern Virginia Company,
iiod afterwards as " The council established at
Plymouth, in the county of Devon, for the planting,
ordering, ruling and governing of New England in
America."
This company, together with the Southern Virginia
Company, or, as it was called, the Virginia Company,
was established in 1606. On the 10th of April in that
year King James divided by letters patent between
these two companies, a strip of land one hundred
miles wide, along the Atlantic coast of North Amer-
ica, extending from the thirty-fourth to the forty-
fifth degree of north latitude, a territory which then
went under the name of Virginia. This territory ex-
tended from Cape Fear to Passamaquoddy Bay. The
patent, or charter, to the Virginia Company was
granted to certain knights, gentlemen, merchants
and adventurers of London, who were permitted to
MALDEN.
457
claim between the the thirty-fourth and forty-first
degrees, or between Cape Fear and a point within the
boundaries of New York harbor. The patent, or
charter, to the Northern Virginia Company was grant-
ed to knights, gentlemen, merchants and adventurers
of Bristol, Exeter and Plymouth, who were permitted
to claim between the thirty-eighth and forty-fifth de-
grees, or between the southeastern corner of Maryland
and Passamaquoddy Bay. That portion of the strip
between the thirty-eighth and forty-first degrees in-
cluded in both patents, was open to the company first
occupying it, and neither company was permitted to
make a se'tlement within one hundred miles of a
settlement of the other company.
In 1620, the King having become displeased with
Sir Edwin Sandys, the Governor and Treasurer of the
Southern Company, forbade his re-election, but his
successor, the Earl of Southampton, being no less
obnoxious, he was disposed to show special favor to
the Northern Company, and granted it a new act of
incorporation under the title, already referred to, of
" The council established at Plymouth, in the county
of Devon, for the planting, ordering and governing
of New England in America." Under their new
charter a new grant was made to the company, ex-
tending from the Atlantic to the Pacific and bounded
by the fortieth and forty eighth degrees of latitude.
Under the authority of this company the settlement'
of the Massachusetts Colony was made. In 1622 they
granted to Robert Gorges all that part of the terri-
tory " commonly called or known by the name of the
Mnssachusiack upon the northeaside of the Bay
called or known by the name of the Massachusett."
This grant, according to the best authorities, included
the region about Boston harbor, bounded on one side
by Nahant and on the other by Point Allerton, and ex-
tending thirty miles into the interior, " with all the
rivers, islands, minerals, etc.," within its limits. This
grant included, of course, the territory afterwards occu-
pied by the town of Charlestown, and Charlestown when
settled included Maiden, Everett, Melrose, Woburn,
Stoneham, Burlington, Somerville, a large partof Med-
ford and a small part of Cambridge, West Cambridge
and Reading, Arlington, Lexington and Winchester.
In 1623 Robert Gorges, as has been already stated,
was appointed by the Plymouth Council, Lieutenant-
General of New England, and came over to secure his
grant and establish a colony. In the next year, hav-
ing failed in his colonial enterprise, he returned to
England " until better occasion should offer itself unto
him." It is probable that on his departure he left
some remnants of his colony behind, as in 1626 there
were planters at " Winnissemit," and as William
Blackstone, the first settler of Boston, appears in the
records as the agent of Gorges in 1626, and others con-
nected with him and his enterprise were at about the I
same date inhabitants of what was later the Massa- I
chusetts Colony. !
After the death of Robert Gorges his older brother
John, to whom his grant descended, leased, in or about
1628, a part of the land claimed by him to John Old-
ham and John Dorrill. This lease included the terri-
tory afterward embraced within the limits of Char es-
town, and covered " all the lands within the Massa-
chusetts Bay, between Charles River and Abousett (or
Saugus) River, containing in length by straight line,
four miles up the Charles River, with the main land
northwest from the border of said Bay, including all
creeks and points by the way ; and three miles in
length from the mouth of the foresaid river Abousett
up into the main land, upon a straight line southwest,
including all creeks and points; and all the land in
breadth and length between the foresaid rivers, with
all prerogatives, royal mines excepted."
In 1628 the council for Plymouth, the successor of
the old Northern Virginia Company, notwithstanding
the grant they had made to Robert Gorges in 1622,
under which Oldham and Dorrell claimed as lessees,
sold the territory included in that grant to the Mas-
sachusetts Colony, bounding the lands conveyed by
points three miles north of the Merrimack River and
three miles south of the Charles River, and extend-
ing from the Atlantic Ocean to the South Sea. Old-
ham, of course, protested against this sale of lands
to whicji he had reason to believe that he was right-
fully entitled, but for some reason the Plymouth
Council held the claim to be void and disregarded it.
On September 6, 1628, John Endicott arrived in
Salem, as the representative and local Governor of
the Massachusetts Coloiiy. Included among the mem-
bers of the company arriving with Endicott, accord-
ing to some authorities, were Ralph Sprague and his
brothers Richard and William, who, not long after
their arrival set out on an expedition, during which
they traveled about twelve miles to the westward
from Nahumkeik (now Salem) and " lighted of a place
situate and lyeing on the north side of the Charles
River full of Indians called Aberginians." It is said
that by this baud of adventurers it was agreed, with
the approbation of Governor Endicott, " that this place
on the north side of the Charles River, by the natives
called Mishawum, shall henceforth, from the name
of the river, be called Charlestown."
But authorities differ as to the place, time and man-
ner of the settlement of Charlestown, and as to the
persons by whom it was settled. Besides the lease of
lands to John Oldham and John Dorrell, there was a
claim made by Sir William Brereton, under a deed
dated January 10, 1629, of " all the land in breadth
lyeinge from ye east side of Charles River to the
easterly parte off the cape called Nahante, and all the
lands lyeinge in length twenty miles northea.st into ye
maine land from the mouth of the said Charles River
lyeing also in length twenty miles into the maine land
northeast from ye said Cape Nahante ; also two Islands
lyeinge next unto the shore between Nahante and
Charles River, the bigger called Brereton, and the
lesser, Susanna." This claim also was rejected by the
458
HISTORY OP MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Plymouth Council, and the Massachusetts Company
in England sent a letter to Endicott by the " George
Bonaventure," which arrived in Salem June 22, 1629,
from which the following is an extract :
'* We pray you and the couocil there to advise seriously togetlier for
the maiDteoaDce of our privllegea and peaceable government, which, if
it may be done by a temperate course, we much desire it, though with
some inconvenience, so as our government and privileges be not brought
in contempt, wishing rather there might t>e such a union as might draw
the heathen by our good example to the embracing of Christ and his
gospel than that offence should by given to the heathen, and a ecandal
to our religion through our disagreement amongst oui-selves. But if
necessity require a more severe course where fair means will not prevail,
we pray you to deal, as in yuur discretions you shall think fittest for the
general good and safety of the plantation and preservation of our priv-
ileges. And because we would not omit to do anything which might
strengthen our right, we would have you (as soon as these ships, or any
of them, arrive with you, whereby you may have men to do it) send
forty or fifty persons to Massachusetts Bay to inhabit there, which we
pray you not to protract, but to do it with nil sjieed ; and if any of our
company in particular shall desire to settle themselves there, or to send
servants thither, we desire all accommodation and encouragenietit may
be given them thereunto, whereby the better to strengthen our posses-
sion there against all or any that shall Intrude upon us, which we would
nut have you, by any means, give way unto ; with thi^ caution oofwilh-
standing — That for such of our countrymen as you tiud there planted,
so as they be willing to live under uur government, you endeavor to give
them all fitting and due accommodation ad to any o: ■ourselves ; yen, if
yon see cause for it, though it be with more than ordinary privileges in
point of trade."
Immediately after the arrival of the ships referred to
in the above letter, Thomas Greaves and Rev.
Francis Bright, with a party of colonists, were dis-
patched for Massachusetts Bay to take possession of
the lands included in their patent and silence the
claims of Oldham and Dorrell and Brereton. The
precise date of their arrival at Charlestown if render-
ed doubtful by the uncertain statements of different
historians. It is probable that Thomas Greaves and
the letter from which the above extract is taken
arrived at Salem in the "George Bonaventure'
on the 22d of June. It seems also probable that
Higginson and Bright arrived in the " Talbot " and
" Lion's Whelp " on the 29th of June, and yet the con-
clusion reached by Frothingham, in his " History of
Charlestown," is that Greaves and Bright reached
Charlestown on their expedition from Salem on the
24th of June. It does not even appear sure that
Ralph and Richard and William Sprague, already
referred to as settlers of Charlestown, were not
companions of Greaves and Wright, instead of
their forerunners. At any rate, it is certain that
about the last of June or the first of July, the
settlement of Charlestown was definitely made, and
during the year 1629 Higginson wrote: "There
are in all of us, both old and new planters, about
three hundred, whereof two hundred of them are
settled at Neihura-kek, now called Salem ; and the
rest have planted themselves at Masathulets Bay,
beginning to build a towne there which wee doe call
Cherton on Charles Towne." There seems, however,
to be a concurrence of opinion, after attempts to
reconcile conflicting statements, that the day of the
arrival of Greaves, the agent of the Massachusetts
Colony, at Charlestown, was June 2-lth, old style, or
July 4th, new style, and that therefore that is the date
of the foundation and settlement of the town.
At this place a .settlement was made with the con-
sent of John Sagamore, the local native chief of a
tribe of the Pawtuckets, a chief " of gentle and good
disposition, a handsome young man conversant with
us," as Thomas Dudley said, " affecting English ap-
parel and houses, and speaking well of our God."
On the arrival of a second company foUowicg
the lead of Endicott about one-third of the number
more than one hundred in all, proceeded to Charles-
town. On the arrival of Winthrop, in 1630, with a
company of fifteen hundred persons, in a well-equipped
fleet fitted out in England at an espen.se of more than
twenty-one thousand pounds sterling, the Charles and
Mystic Rivers were speedily explored, and Charles-
town was selected .as the place for the settlement ot
the Massachusetts Colony. At that time the pro.\im-
ity to tide- water, the two rivers, the Charle? and
Mystic, and the scattered lanrls which had been
cleared by the natives, made the spot as attractive
as any which could be found in the territory of New
England. The presence of the Indians was, however,
a constant menace to the peace and safety of the
settlement, which demanded the utmost sagacity and
watchfulness to guard against. Sagamore John made
his home upon the creek which runs from the niaishes
between Powder Horn Hill and Winnisimmet into
the Mystic. While he was the nominal ruler of the
tribe, his mother, the Squaw Sachem and the widow
of Nanapashemet, the old ruler, was the actual head
f)f the tribe.
During the prevalence of small-po.x in 1632, the
Squaw Sachem and her two sons. Sagamore John and
Sagamore James, died, and Wenepoygen, a younger
brother, became chief He was given by the settlers
the name of George Rumney Marsh, from the jilace
where he lived, on the southern border of the present
town of Maiden. Until 1851 he entertained kindly
feelings towards the colonists, when he made claims
to land which he declared had been the property ot
his brother, Sagamore John, which the General Court
finally attempted to settle by ordering twenty acres to
be laid out for him to make use of. .\fter the death
of his mother, the Squaw Sachem, he became the
chief of the Pawtuckets and the nominal head of the
Nipmucks, who occupied lands towards the Connecti-
icut River. He joined King Philip in the war of
1675 and 1676, and, when taken prisoner, was sent a
slave to Barbadoes. Finally released, he returned to
Massachusetts, and died the last Pawturket sachem,
in 1684.
Notwithstanding the near presence of the natives,
the people of Charlestown began at a very early
period to push out into the adjacent country, and
within and without the borders of that town to settle
wherever they could find land suited to their needs.
' New colonists were constantly arriving from England,
MALDEN.
459
and during the first ten years after the arrival of
Winthrop it is estimated that four thousand families
had reached the shores of New England, including
more than twenty-one thousand persons. They had
come from a country where the ownership of land
was a prize which only the wealthy were able to se-
cure, and the almost limitless bounds of the western
world attracted a continued wave of emigration, with
liberal homesteads and farms, almost free of cost, as
the expected rewards of their enterprise. The eager-
ness displayed in our own day by the settlers of Okla-
homa and other newly-opened Territories to possess
advantageous sites for homes, finds a parallel in the
days of our fathers, when almost for the asking the
poor English laborer, with only sufficient means to
secure a passage across the Atlantic, could become
the lord of lands on a footing, so far as ownership
was concerned, with the more favored in his English
home.
Soon after the settlement of Charlestown a move-
ment was made to establish a church. The Massa-
chusetts Colony had instructed the three ministers,
Messrs. Higginson, Skelton and Bright, who were
among the members, that in case they could not
agree who should "inhabit at Massachusetts Bay,"
they should " make choice of one of the three by lot,
and he on whom the lot should fall should go, with
his family, to perform that work." Rev. Francis
Bright was finally selected, and engaged for £20 for
the expenses of his journey, his passage out and back
and a salary of £20 per year. He was to receive also
£10 for the purchase of books, and a dwelling-house
and land, to be used by him and left to his successor
in the ministry. If he remained seven years he was
to receive one hundred acres of land for his own use.
Mr. Bright, however, was not a thorough Puritan, and
the increasing non-conformity of the colonists dis-
inclined him to continue as their pastor, and in July,
1630, he returned to England. It was said of him on
his departure " that he began to hew stones in the
mountains wherewith to build, but when he saw all
sorts of stones would not suit in the building, aa he
supposed, he, not unlike Jonah, fled from the presence
of the Lord and went down to Tarshish."
In 1629 Thomas Greaves, the agent of the Colony at
Charlestown, sent to England the following descrip-
tion of the country in the neighborhood of his place
of settlement :
" Tliia much I can alfirmu ia geoerall, that I never came Id a more
goudly country in all my life, all tbioga condiilered. If it hath not at
iioy time been manureU and huHbauded, yet it is very beautiful in open
lands mixed with goodly woods, andngain open platnee, in some places
live hundred acres, some places more, some leas ; not much troublesome
for tocleare, for the plough to goe in, no place t>arren but on the tops of
the hila ; the g'-asse and weeds grow up to a niau's face in the lowland,
and by fresh rivers abundance of graase and large meadowee without
any tree or r-hrubbe to hinder the ?ith. I never saw, except in Hungaria,
unto which I always paralell the couutrie in all our must reapecta, for
every thing that is heare eyther sowoe or planted prospereth far better
than in old Rnglund. The increase of corne is here larre beyond expec-
tation, as I have seene here by experience in bariy, the which because
it i£ BO much above youre conception, 1 will not mention. And cattle
do proapere very well, and those that are bredd here farre greater than
thoee with you in England. Vines doe grow here plentifully laden with
the biggest grapes that ever I saw, some I have seene foure inches about,
so that I am bold to say of this countrie as it is commonly said in Ger-
many of Hungaria, that for cattel, corne and wine it e.\celleth. We
have many more hopeful commodities here in this country, the which
time will teach to make good use of. In the mean time we abound
with such things which next under Ood doe make us subsist ; as fish
fowl, deere, and sundrie sorts of fruits as musk-melleons, water-mel-
leons, Indian pompeons, Indian peare, t>eanes, and many other odde
fruits that I cannot name. All which are made good and pleasant
through this mains bleiwiDg of Ood, the healthfulnesse of the countree,
which far exceedeth all parts that ever I have beene in. It is observed
that few or none doe here fat sicke , unless of the scurvey, that they
bring from aboard the ship with them, whereof I have cured some of my
companie onelyby labour."
Such letters as this written to England — and there
were many — served to excite the adventurous spirit of
the age and enlarged the wave of immigration, which
was already flowing with full tide on the New Eng-
land shores. After the arrival of Winthrop, in 1630,
the settlement at Charlestown rapidly grew and ex-
tended its boundaries. Shawmutor Boston was soon
settled.
"Some went without the nock of this town who travelled up into the
main till they came to a place well watered, whither Sir Richard Salton-
stall and Sir. Phillips, minister, went, with several others, and settled a
planution and called it Wattertowne. Others went on the other side of
Charles Blver, and then travelled up into the coisutry and likewise flnd-
ing good waters, settleU there with Mr. Lndlow and called the planta-
liin Dorchester, wbtther went Mr. Maverick and Mr. Warham, who
were their ministera.
'* In the meantime 31 r. Blackstone, dwelling on the other aide of
Charles River alone at a place by the Indians called Shawmutt, where
he only had a cottage at or not far off the place called Blackstone's
Point, be came and acquainted the Governor of an excellent spring there
u ilhuut inviting him thither. Whereupon after the death of Sir. John-
3nn and divers others the Governor, with Mr Wilson and ihe greatest
part of the churtih, removed thither: whither also the frame of the Oov-
ernor's house in preparalion at this town was (also to the discontent of
some) carried when people began to build their bouses against winter
atid the place was calleU Boston.
"After these things Mr. Pinchenand several others planted betwixt
Boston and Dorchester, which place was called Roxbury.
"Now, after all this, the Indians' treachery being feared. It was
jU'lged meet the English should place their towns aa near together m
could be, for which end Sir Dudley and Mr. Broadstreete, with some
others, went and bnilt and planted between Charlestown and Watertown,
who called it Newtown (which was afterwards calleil Cambridge)
" ilthers went out to a place between Charlestown and Salem, culled
Suugust (since ordered to be called Lynn). ^
* ' And thus, by reason of discouragements and difficulties that strangers
in a wilderness at Urst meet withal, though aa to some tbings but sup-
posed, as in this case, people might have found water abundant in this
town and needed not to have perished for want, or wandered to other
places for relief, would they but have looked after it. But this, attended
with other circumstances, the wisdom of God made use of as a means for
spreading his Gospel and peopling of this great and then terrible wil-
derness, and this sudden spreading into several townships came to be of
far better use for the .entertainment of so many hnndreds of people that
come for several years following hither, in such multitudes from most
parts of old England, than if they had now remained altogether in this
town. »
" But after their departure from this town to the peopling and plant-
ing of the towns aforesaid, and in particular of the removal of the Oov-
eruorand tbe greatest part of our new gathered church, with the Pas-
tor, to Boston, the few inhabit.>nts of this town remaining were con-
strained for three years after generally to go to Boston on the Lord's day
to hear the word and enjoy the sacraments before they could be other
wise supplied."
Thus by the dispersion of the Colony into adjacent
460
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
territory the following towna were established before
1649:
Boston, in 1630; Dorchester, 1630; Roxbury, 1630;
Watertown, 1630; Medford, 1630; Ipswich, 1634;
Concord. 1635; Lynn, 1637; Sudbury, 1639; Glou-
cester, 1639 ; Haverhill, 1645 ; Manchester, 1645 ;
Andover, 1646; Marblehead, 1649; Newbury, 1635;
R'.wley, 1639; Salisbury, 1640; Wenham, 1643;
Woburn, 1642 ; Braintree, 1640; Dedham, 1636 ; Wey-
mouth, 1635; Hingham, 1635; Hull, 1644. These,
with Salem, settled in 1629, were all the towns wi.hin
the limits of the Massachusetts Colony establisihed
before May 2, 1649, the date of the establishment of
the town of Maiden.
It was not long after the settlement of Charlestown
that difficulties arose concerning town boundaries.
These were finally settled by the General Court. In
1633 the Court established lines between Charlestown
and Newtown or Cambridge by ordering that the land
" impaled by Newton men, with the neck thereto ad-
joining where Mr. Greaves dwelleth, shall belong to
the said Newton." The Charlestown bounds were to
"end at a tree marked by the said pale and to pass
by that tree in a straight line unto tbemeadowing be-
tween the westermost part of the great lot of land grant-
ed to John Winthrop and the nearest part thereto of
the bounds of Watertown." The land granted to John
Winthrop here mentioned included the acres of the
Ten Hills farm. On the 2d of July 1633, the Court also
granted to the town of Charlestown " Mistick Side," as
it was called, ordering that " the ground lying betwixt
the North river and the creek on the North side of Mr.
Maverick's, and up into the country, shall belong to
the inhabitants of Charlestown." On the 3il of March
1636, another order of Court was made providing that
" Charlestown bounds shall run eight miles into the
country from the meeting-house if not other bounds
intercept, reserving ihe propriety of farms, granted
to John Winthrop, Esq., John Nowell, Mr. Cradock,
and Mr. Wilson to the owners thereof, as also free
ingress and egress for the servants and cattle of the
said gentlemen and common for their cattle, on the
back side of Mr. Cradock's farm." No further grants
were made to the town after 1640, and not much time
elapsed after that date before its boundaries began
to be broken by the formation of new towns.
In 1633 William Wood, the author of "New Eng-
land's Prospect," gives the following description of
Charlestown :
"On the north aide of Chflrles lUver id Chnriestown, which id another
neck of land on whose nonh side runs Mistick River. This town from
all things mtij be well paralelled with lier oeighbor, Boston, being in
the saine fashion with her bare neck and constrained to borrow con-
Teniencee from the main and to provide for themselves farms in the
conntry for their better snbsiBtence. At this town there is kept a ferry-
boat to carry passengen over Charles River, which between the two
towns is a quarter of a mile over, being a very deep clianoel. Here may
ride forty ships at a time. Up higher it is a broad bay, being about two
mites between the shores Into which runs Stony River and Moddy River.
Towards the southwest, in the middle of the bay, is a great oyster bank.
Towards the northwest of this bay is a great creek, upon whose shore is
situated the valley of Medford, a very fertile and pleasant place and ht
for more inhabitants than are yet in it. This town is a mile and a half
from Cliarlestown." "The next town is Miatick, which is three miles
from Cliarlestown by land and a league and a hiilf by water. It is
deated by the water side very pleasantly ; there be not many housed us
yet. At the bead of Ibis river are great and spacious ponds whither th«
.\lewives press to spawn. This being a noted place for tbat kind of Hsh,
the English resort hither to take them. On the west side of this river
the Governor hath a farm where he keeps most of his cattle. On the
east side is Mister Cradock's plantation, where he hath impaled a park
where he keeps bis cattle till he can store it with deer. Here, likewise,
he is at charges of buildiug ships. The last year one was upon the
stocks of a hundred ton ; that iK^ing Unished, they are to build one twice
her burden. Ships without either ballast ur loading may Hoat down
thid river ; otherwise the oyster bank would hinder them which crudteth
Ihe channel."
After the departure of Rev. .Mr. Bright from
Charlestown, in 1630, whose ministrations were not
over an organized church, the lir»t church of Boston
was organized July 30, 1630. John Wilson was
chosen teacher; Increase Nowell, ruling elder ; Wil-
liam Gager and William .Vspinwall, deacons. This
was the fourth church in New England. The Plym-
outh Church was the first, the Salem Church the
second, the Dorchester Church, organized in Eng-
land, the third, and the Boston Church the fourth.
This church was Hrst gathered in Charlestown, and
at the end of three months removed to Boston. Duriug
the two following years the people of both Boston
and Charlestown attended this church. On the 5th of
June, 1632, Rev. Thomas James arrivedatCharlestown,
' and immediate steps were taken to form a church in
that town. ()n the 14th of October thirty-five per-
sons were dismissed from the Boston church, and on
the 21st of that month the first public services were
held. The new church was formed November 2, 1632,
and Mr. James was chosen pastor. The thirty-five
persons forming the church were Increase and
' Parnel Nowell, Thomas and Christian Beecher,
Abraham and Grace Palmer, Ralph and Jane
Sprasrue, Edward and Sarah Ctravers, Nicholas and
' Amy Stowers, Ezekiel and Susan Richeson, Henry
and Elizabeth Harwood, Robert and Jane Hale,
George and Margaret Hucheson, Thomas and Eliza-
beth James, William and Ann Frothingham, Ralph
I and Alice Mousall, Richard and Arnold Cole, Rich-
ard and Mary Sprague, John and Bethiah Haule,
William Dade, Thomas Minor and Thomas Squire.
1 In 1633 the relations between Mr. James and his
people became so unpleasant that a tlivision of the
church was threatened. This diviiion, however, was
: healed when Rev. Zechariah Symmes arrived in
Charlestown and became pastor, as the successor of
Mr. James. During the pastorate of Mr. Symmes the
town of Maiden was established. In 1638 the town
of Charlestown voted that a large part of the grant
of land which afterwards included Maiden should be
I reserved " for such desirable persons as should be
received in," or for "such as may come with another
j minister." The part so reserved was described as
, lying "at the head of the five acre lots and running
in a straight line from Powder Horn Hill to the head
MALDEN.
461
of North River, together with three hundred acres
above Cradock'a farm.'' Before 1640 a few settlers
had fouod their way from Chariestown to the Mistick
side, but before the establishment of the town of
Maiden no church had been organized within that
territory. Forming an exception to the general rule,
the town preceded the church, and was not its
creation. But though no organized church existed,
the distance from the parent church at Chariestown
rendered it necessary to establish independent re-
ligous services, and employ some minister to oflBciate.
It is recorded that at that cime, Mr. Sargeant, " a
Godly Christian," and some young students from the
college broke the seals to the people. As the settle-
ment on the Miatick side grew, the desire soon
sprang up in the mind.s of the people to form both
an independent town and an organized independent
church. On the Ist of January, 1649, a committee
of men living on the Chariestown side of the river
was chosen " to meet three chosen brethren on Mis-
tick side," to agree upon the terms of a separation
and the boundaries of a new town. The committee
reported that, " to the end the work of Christ and
the things of his house there in hand may be more
comfortably carried on, It i.'^ agreed as followeth :
that the Mistick side men should be a town by
themselves." In accordance with the report of the
committee, and in consequence of the assent of the
Chariestown men to the formation of the new town,
the Court of Assistants, on the 2d of May, 1649, old
style, nr the I2th of May, new style, " upon the peti-
tion of .Mistick side men, they are granted to be a
distinct towne, and the name thereof to be called
Maulden."
The name of the town is due to the fact that
some of the settlers came from the town in Eng-
land bearing that name. It wag largely the cus-
tom, not only among the Puritans of Massachu-
setts, who had only recently left the scenes of
their old English homes, but also of the Pilgrims
of Plymouth, who luid long been weaned from
loving associations of English life, to give to New
England towns, and even to hamlets and outlying
ili.scricts and farms and hills and plains, the names
with which they were familiar in the land from which
they had come. The wri.,er of this sketch owes to
some of these names on the estates of early Plymouth
.settlers the discovery of the spot of their birth, or
that from which they had migrated to the New World.
Maiden in England lies in the county of Essex, about
thirty-eight miles from London, and is supposed to be
the aiic'ent Camalodunum, once the capital of Cuno-
beline, an old British King; and the seat of the first
Roman Colony in Great Britain. Cunobeline or
Cymbeline flourished in the year 4 of the Christian
era. Not many years later the Emperor Claudius,
after his invasion of Britain, established at Maiden a
Roman colony, and it is said, made ita place of maguifi-
cence and beauty. It was written Maeldune by the
Saxons, being composed of two words — Mael, across,
and dune, a hill. In the time of the Conqueror it was
j called Meldone, and subsequently Meaudon, Manden,
I Maldon and Maiden.
' The early records of the town of Maiden are lost and
therefore no list of its earliest settlers has been pre-
[ served. It is known, however, that among them were
1 Joseph Hills, Ralph Sprague, Edward Carrington,
j Thomas Squire, John Wayte, James Greene, Abra-
ham Hill, Thomas Osborne, John Lewis and Thomas
. Caule. Of many of these men little is known. Jos-
eph Hills came with his wife Rose from Maiden in
England. In 1647 he was the Speaker of the House
of Deputies and edited the revision of Massachusetts
laws printed in 1648, which was ihe first code of laws
established by authority in New England. It was
undoubtedly in honor of him that the town was
named. He removed to Newbury in 1665.
Ralph Sprague was the oldest of three brothers, all
of whom came to Chariestown. The two others,
Richard and William, have been already referred to.
They were the sons of Edward Sprague, a fuller, of
Upway, in Dorsetshire, England. Ralph wa.s about
twenty-five years of. age when he arrived. In 1630
he wius chosen constable and made freeman, and, in
1632, was one of the founders of the Chariestown
church. He was a selectman and representative,
and a member of the artillery company. He died In
1650, leaving four sons — John and Richard, born In
England; Samuel, born in 1631, and Phineas — and a
daughter, Mary, who married Daniel Edmands. His
widow, Joanna Sprague, married Edward Converse,
and died in 1680.
Thomas Squire was a freeman in 1634, and, in 1636,
a member of the artillery company.
After the organization of the town Joseph Hills
was chosen its first deputy to the General Court,
John Wayte, the first town clerk, and Thomas Squire,
William Brackenbury, John Upham, John Wayte
and Thomas Caule, selectmen, and Richard Adams,
constable.
In 1650 Rev. Marmaduke Matthews was invited to
settle as pastor over the church in Maiden, which
until that time had no ordained minister. Mr. Mat-
thews was bom in Swansey, in Glamorganshire, in
Wales, In 1605. It is known that in 1623 he was a
.^cholar In All Souls' College, Oxford. He arrived
In Boston from Barnstable, England, September 21
1638, and was first settled over the church in Yar-
mouth, in the Colony of Plymouth, where he went
with its earliest settlers. Nathaniel Mortin, in "New
England's Memorial," speaks of him as one "of the
j Godly and able (Jospel Preachers with which the
Lord was pleased of his great goodness richly to ac-
complish and adorn the Plymouth Colony." He left
Yarmouth about the year 1647, and removed into the
Massachusetts Colony.
Previous to the invltitlon e.xtended to Mr. Mat-
thews to settle in Maiden, invitations were sent 'o
462
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Mr. Miller, of Rowley, Mr. Blenmaa, John Wilson
(son of the Boston minister), Samuel Mather, Ezekiel
Cheever and several others. But difficulties, soon
after the settlement of Mr. Matthews, arose in the
church. In 1649 the people of Hull, where Mr. Mat-
thews had preached, asked the General Court for
" encouragement" to him to return to them. At that
time the Court assisted feeble churches, and the en-
couragement asked for was financial aid from the
Colonial treasury. The Court replied—" that it in
no way judged it meet to grant the inhabitants of
Hull their desire," and further said that they found
several erroneous expressions, "others weak, inconve-
nient and safe," for which it judged it proper to order
that Mr. Matthews should be admonished by the
Grovernor in the name of the Court. It was true that
the preaching of Mr. Matthews was peculiar, and his
doctrinal opinions were different from those of other
New England ministers. Before his settlement in
Maiden the churches of Charlestown and Roxbury
remonstrated with their Maiden brethren against his
ordination. In lt)50 Mr. Matthews asked of the
Court the privilege of explaining his language to
which exceptions had been taken, and, on the 22d of
May, the Court ordered thiit he should have a bearing
at the house of Mr. Philips, of Boston, before the
elders of Boston, Charlestown, Roxbury and Dor-
chester. The explanation at the conference was not
satisfactory, and at the General Court held on the 7th
of May, 1651, a bill was presented complaining of the
" former and later miscarriages " of Mr. Matthews,
and he was ordered to appear and make answer.
After a hearing it was determined that he " had for-
merly given much offense to magistrates, elders and
many brethren by unsafe and unsound expressions in
his public teaching; that he had failed to give sat-
isfaction to those magistrates and elders who had
been appointed for the purpose at his request ; that
he had since delivered other unsafe and offensive ex-
pressions ; that magistrates, ministers and churches
had written to the church in Maiden to give infor-
mation of these offences, and to advise against pro-
ceeding to ordain him ; and that yet, contrary to all
advice and the rule of God's Word, as also to the
peace of the churches, the church of Maiden hutb
proceeded to the ordination of Mr. Matthews ; there-
fore, taking into consideration the premises and the
dangerous consequences and effects that may follow
such proceedings, it orders that all the offencra touch-
ing doctrinal points shall be duly considered by a
committee of nine of the magistrates and Deputies."
The committee was authorized to call to its aid the
reverend elders, and was directed to report at the
next session of the Court. The Maiden church was
also ordered to appear and answer to the complaint
of ordaining their minister under such circumstances.
The nine magistrates sitting in the case were, Simon
Bradstreet, Samuel Simonds, William Hawthorne,
Edward Johnson, John Glover, Eleazer Lusher, Dan-
iel Gookin, Richard Brown and Humphrey Atherton.
Mr. Matthews was required to appear on the 11th of
June, 1651, and on the loth he submitted the follow-
ing so-called confession to the council :
"To ye Honored Committee of ye GenerAlI Court, appointed to examine
eome doctrinall pcinUi delivered utt HuU and since yt time at Ualden,
hy M. M.
Honored of God and of bis people :
'* Haring given you an account of my sence and of my faith in ye
conclusions, wich were accused before you (or others) should count that
faith a fansie, and that seuce to be non-sence, I desire yt God may forgive
them : 1 doe, cunceaving yt such doe not yet soe well know what they
doe, as they shall know hereafter.
'* Yet, in cose yt this should reach any satisfaction to buch as art lyett
unsalistled with my expresaione, for to know that I doe acknowledge yt
there be sundrie defects in sundry points yt I have delivered; I doe
hereby signifie yt through mercy I cannot but see and also iugenu-
ously confeese yt some of my sayings are uot safe nor sound in the super*
lutive degree, to-wit : they are not mo«t safe, nor yett eylher sound or
safe Id a comparative degree ; for 1 eaaily yeald yt not only wiser men
probably would, but also 1 my self possiblie mought have made out x'i
ntiodand my own meaning iu tonus more sound and more safe than 1
have done had I not been too much wanting, both to liis sacred majesty
whose unworthy messenger I was, and also to my hearers, and to my
self, for well I desire to be humbled, and of which I desire tu be healed
by ye author of both. As 1 do nut doubt but yt cooscientiovis and chur-
itable-bearted Christians (whose property and practice it is to put uppoQ
doubtfull positions not ye worst construction but ye best) will discerne
as 1 doe, y t there is a degree of sonndness in what I doe own, though
but a positive degree.
" However it is and (I tru«t) forever shall be my case to be more cir-
cumspect than 1 have hitheito been in avoyding all appearances yt way
for ye time to come yt soe I may ye better approve my self, through ye
grace of Christ and to ye glory of God, such a workman as need not be
ashamed. In ye interim I remayue amongst his unworthy eervitois yn
most unworthy, and : — Your accused and condemned
fellow<reatureto commend in ye
thioga of (Thrtst.
" Mabhaooke Matthewes.
" Botlon, IhU 13th of ije 4 monrt, 1681. "
The above confession was not held to be satisfac-
tory, and the marshal was ordered to levy on his
effects to pay the fine which was imposed upon him.
As no effects could be found beside his library, it was
ordered that the execution be " respited until other
goods appear besides books." In the mean time be
remained with the Maiden Church, retaining its con-
fidence and esteem. On the 28th of October, 1651,
the following petition, signed by the women of hia
church, was sent to the General Court :
" To the Hon'd Court :
** The petition of many inhabitants of alalden and Charlestown of
Mlstick side bnmbly sbewetb ■■
"That the Almighty God, in great mercie to oor souls, as we trust,
bath, after many prayers, endeavoia and long waiting, brought Mr.
^lattbews among usand put bira into the work of the ministry ; by whose
pious life and labors the Lord hath afforded us many saving convictions,
directions, reproofs and consolations; whose continuance in the service
of Christ, if it were the gowl plearare of God, we much desire ; and it is
our humble request to the honored Court that you would please to pass
by some personal and particular failings (which may, a-S we liumbly
conceive, be your glory, and no grief of heart to you in time to come),
and to permit him to employ those talents God hath furnished him
withal ; so shall we, your humble pelitionerv, \nth many others, be
bound to pray, Jcc, 28—8 — 51.
" Mr». Sergeant. Margaret Pementer.
.loan Sprague. Han. Wbitemore.
Jane Learned. Eliz. Green
SlizubethCaiTiDgton. Mary Rust.
MALDEN.
463
Bridget Squire.
Mary Wayte.
Sarah Hills.
An Bibble.
Eliz. Gr««D.
WId. Blancher.
Ellz. AdaoiB.
Rebec. Hills.
Samh BuckQam.
ThaoklaDd Sbeppie.
Fmn. Cooke.
Eliz. Koowker.
Bridget Dexter.
Lydia GreeDlaod.
Ellz. GroTer.
Haa. Barret.
Eliz. Mirrable. •
Sarah Ost)ourn.
An. Hett.
Mary Pratt.
Eliz. GreeD.
Joan Chadwicke.
Margaret Green.
Helen Luddingtoo.
Susan Wellington.
Joana Call.
Rachel Attwood.
Marge Welding."
But notwithstanding this petition and a subsequent
further confession of Mr. Matthews, the Court refused
to remit the fine, and in October, 1651, arraigned the
Maiden Church for persisting in the ordination of
their minister. In their answer to the ariaignment
the church said, " We know of no law of Christ or of
the country that binds any church of Christ not to
ordain their own otficers without advice of magistrates
and churches. We freely acknowledge ourselves en-
gaged to any that in love afford any .idvice unto us.
But we conceive a church is not bound to such advice,
any farther than God commeLda it to their understand-
ing and conscience. Our laws allow every church free
liberty of all the ordinances of Crod according to the
rule of the .Scripture ; and in paiticular, Iree liberty
of election and ordination of all their otficers from
lime to time, provided they be pious, able and ortho-
do-t, and that no injunction shall be put upon any
church officer or member in point of doctrine or dis-
cipline, whether for substance or circumstance be-
sides the institutions of the Lord."
The answer was of no avail, and on the 31st of Oc-
tober, Irt-il, a fine of fifty pounds was levied on the
estates of three of the members of the church, who
were required to assess the sum on the remainder of the
otVending brethren. Finally the fine of the ten pounds
against Mr. Matthews was remitted, and ten pounds
of the fine levied on the church members were re-
mitted, and in the course of the ten following years
the remaining forty pounds were paid.
In lii.'i2, Mr. .Matthews left Maiden, and after
preaching a short time in Lynn, returned to England,
where he became vicar of the St. John Church in
his native town of Swanzey. After the accession of
Charles the Second to the throne, under the Act of
Uniformity, passed in 1662, he gave up his living
rather than yield to the requirements of the law. Af-
ter twenty years, during which, as he said, he was
" comfortably maintained by the children of God, by
his own children and by the children of the world,"
he died in 1683.
Though it is no part of the writer's plan to present
in this chapter anything more than an outline of the
ecclesiastical history of Maiden, leaving to the pen of
another the delineation of its details, the experience
of the -Maiden church in its earliest pastoral relations
is here included as essential to a correct portrayal of
the methods and principles of the government by
which Massachusetts Colony was controlled, and under
which the various towns came into being.
In the Plymouth Colony it was different. While
the Puritans of Massachusetts brought with them the
narrow spirit against which they had contended in
the Old World, the Pilgrims of Plymouth, almost for-
getful of the persecutions from which they had suf-
ered, weaned during their residence in Holland from
the ties which had once bound them to their English
home, and chastened by their long exile into a new
life in which old resentments had no place, per-
mitted in their little communities the freest scope to
individual freedom of opinion on matters pertaining
to the church. So long as the spirit of the Pilgrims
prevailed in the Plymouth Colony, it had never failed
to exert an influence in mellowing and softening the
asperities of its more rigid neighbor. But in later
years, when the tide of population had flowed in from
Massachusetts to settle its towns and control its legis-
ation, then and not till then were laws, betraying a
narrow and persecuting spirit, copied from the Massa-
chusetts Code and placed on lis statute-books.
In 1654 Mr. Matthews was succeeded by Michael
Wigglesworth. Mr. Wigglesworth was born in Eng-
land in 1631, and at the age of seven years arrived at
Charlestown with his father and family. They re-
moved to New Haven shortly after, and after prepara-
tion for college under Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, he entered
Harvard, and graduated in 1651, one of a classof ten,
which included, besides himself. Seaborn Cotton, son
of Rev. John Cotton ; Thomas Dudley, son of Gov-
ernor Thomaa Dudley ; John Glover, Henry Butler,
Nathaniel Pelham, perhaps a son of Herbert Pelhara,
the first treasurer of the college ; John Davis, Isaac and
Ichabod Chauncy, sons of Rev. Charles Chauncy, of
Scituate, but afterwards president of the college, and
Jonathan Burr. After graduating, he became a fel-
low and tutor at Harvard, and Increase Matthews,
one of his pupils, said of him that, " With a rare
faithfulness did he adorn his station. He used all the
means imaginable to make his pupils not only good
scholars, but also good Christians, and instil into
;hem those things which might render them rich bless-
ings unto the Churches of God. Unto his watchful and
painful essays to keep them close unto their academ-
ical exercises, he added serious admonitions unto
them about their inferior slate; and (as I find in his
reserved papers) he employed his prayers and tears to
God for them, and had such a flaming zeal to make
them worthy men, that upon reflection, he was afraid
lest his cares for their good and his aflection to them
should so drink up his very spirit, as to steal away his
heart from God."
Mr. Wigglesworth, as might be expected from his
appointment as a tutor at Harvard, was a scholar of
large attainments and culture, and in 1662 published
a poem entitled "The Day of Doom," of which two
editions were published within four years, the first of
464
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
which was of 1800 copies. Altogether seven editions
have been issued in this country and one in England.
In 1669 he published a poem on the sanctiGcation of
afflictions, of which at least five editions have been
published. His ministry continued until his death,
June 10, 1705, during which he was prevented from
preaching some years by ill health, and was aided in
his ministry at different times by three colleagues.
The first was Benjamin Bunker, who was ordained
December 9, 1663, and remained in service until his
death, March 12, 1669. Mr. Bunker was the son of
George Bunker, of Charlestown, and was born in thai
town in 1635. He graduated at Harvard in 1658, one
of a class of seven. The second was Benjamin Black
man, who was settled about 1674, and left in 1678.
He was the son of Rev. Adam Blackman, of Stratford,
Connecticut. After leaving Maiden he preached in
Scarboro, Maine, from which place he removed to
Saco, which town he represented in the General Court
in 1683. The third was Thomas Cheever, who wa."
ordained July 27, 1681, and was dismissed May 20,
1686. He was the son of Ezekiel Cheever, and grad-
uated at Harvard in 1677. After many yearsof retire-
ment, he waa ordained the first pastor of the first
church in Chel.-ea, October 19, 1715, where he re-
mained until his death, in 1750, at the age of ninety-
one years.
The connection of the family of Rev. Mr. Wiggles-
worth with Harvard College was a remarkable one.
His son Edward, a graduate at that college in 1710,
was its first HoUis Professor of Divinity, and con-
tinued in office forty-three years until his death, in
1765. Edward, the son of Edward, a graduate in
1749, succeeded his father in otfice and continued in
service twenty-six years until his resignation, in 1792.
The last Edward was succeeded in the professor's
chair by Rev. David Tappan, grandson of Samuel
Tappan, of Newbury, who married Abigail, daughter
of Rev. Michael Wiggiesworth.
After several ineffectual efforts to settle a successor
to Mr. Wiggiesworth, on the Ist of July, 1707, the j
Maiden Church was presented by the grand jury for '
being without a minister and was ordered to obtain !
one at once. Several more attempts were made to
secure a pastor, all of which failed until the 14th ol
September, 1708, when Lieutenant Henry Green and
John Green, in behalf of the town, informed the Court
" that they have had several meetings of the church,
and one of the town, in order to the accommodating o(
that affair, but can make nothing take effect; but yet
are in a very unsettled and divided frame and so like
to continue and leave themselves to the pleasure of i
the Court." The Court, however, ordered " that Mr. !
Thomas Tufts is a suitable person qualified for the
work of the ministry in Maiden, and see cause to set-
tle him there in that work, and further ordered the
town of Maiden to pay him for his maintenance dur-
ing his continuance in said work amongst them, after
the rate of seventy pounds money per annum; the
same to be levied upon the respective inhabitants of
j the town, according to their respective proportion to
: the province tas for the time being."
I In the mean time, while ihe Court was thus consid-
I ering the matter, an invitation had been extended to
Rev. David Parsons, of Springfield, who made his ap-
1 pearance in Maiden to preach on the Sunday when
I Mr. Tufts entered on his ministry in compliance with
j the order which the Court had issued. A committee
applied to the Court in behalf of the church to sus-
I pend its order, and on the grant of their peticioD Mr.
j Parsons was ordained early in the year 1709. In
I 1721 he was dismissed and removed to Leicester,
I where he was installed September 15, 1721, and dis-
missed March 6, 1735. Mr. Parsons graduated at
i Harvard in 1705, in the class wi'.h Edward Holyoke,
who was president of the college from 1787 to his
death, June 1, 1769. He died in Leicester in 1737.
1 Rev. Joseph Emerson succeeded Mr. Parsons and
was ordained October 31, 1721. He was the son of
Rev. Joseph Emerson, of Mendon, and was born in
Chelmsford April 20, 1700. He graduated at Harvard
ill 1717, and married, December 27, 1721, Mary,
daughter of the Rev. Samuel Moody, of York, Maine,
by whom he had nine sons and three daughters.
Three ofhis sons were ministers — Joseph, ofPepperell ;
William, of Concord, and John, of Conway. His
grave-stone, in Maiden, says: " Here lies interred the
remains of that learned, pious and faithful minister
of the Gospel, the Rev. Mr. Joseph Emerson, late
pastor of the First Church in JIalden, who very sud-
denly departed this life, July the 13, Anno Domini
1767, in the 68th year of his age, and forty-fifth of
his ministry. How blessed are the dead who die in
the Lord. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the
death of His saints.''
The successor of Mr. Emerson was Rev. Peter
Thacher, who wasordained September 19, 1770. He
was the son of Oxenbridge Thacher, and was born in
Milton, March 21, 1752. He graduated at Harvard
in 1769, in the class with James Winthrop, Theophilus
Parsons, William Tudor and Peleg Wadsworth, and
was declared by Whitefield to be the ablest preacher
in the Colonies. Mr. Thacher was a delegate from
Maiden to the convention which framed the Constitu-
tion of Ma?8achu8etts, and took an active part gen-
erally in the transformation scenes of the Revolution-
ary period. In 1785, on the 12lh of January, he was
installed as the successor of Rev. Dr. Cooper, in the
Brattle Street Church, in Boston, leaving the Maiden
church after a pastorate of fifteen years. He died in
Savannah, Georgia, December 16, 1802, a victim to
a disease of the lungs, from which he had sought
relief in the milder air of the South.
Rev. .•Vdoniram Judson followed Mr. Thacher, and
was ordained January 23, 1787. Mr. Judson was
born in Woodbury, Conn., June 25, 1751, and gradu-
ated at Yale College in 1775. After his settlement
in Maiden he was installed at Wenham, December
MALDEN.
465
26, 1792, and at Plymouth, May 12, 1802. In 1817
his connection with the Plymouth Church was dis-
solved, and having fully embraced the Baptist faith,
he preached a few years in Scituate, and there died,
November 25, 1826. He married Abigail, daughter
of Abraham and Abigail Brown, of Tiverton, Rhode
Island, and had four children, — Adoniram, Abigail
Brown, Elnathan and JIary Alice. Adoniram, the
oldest of their children, was the distinguished mission-
ary at Burmah, and was born in Maiden, August 9,
1788. He graduated at Brown University iu 1807,
and opened a private school in Plymouth, where he
prepared for the press a book entitled, " Young
Ladies' Arithmetic,' and also a work on English
Grammar. In 1808, while traveling through the
United States, his mind became imbued with infidel
views of religion, and with uo decided plana as to his
course in life, he was for a short time a member of a
theatrical company. In 1809, having passed through
a season of skepticism and doubt, he joined the
Third Congregational Church, in Plymouth, over
which his father was the pastor, and after a short
time spent at tlie Andover Seminary, he was admitted
to preach by the Orange Association of Congregation-
al Ministers, in Vermont. His ordination took place
February G, 1812. About that time he married Ann
Haseltiue, and sailed February 19, 1812, for India,
with a view to devoting his life to missionary-work.
He settled in Rangoon, where he labored for nearly
forty years, for the promotion of the cause he had es-
poused. He acquired a thorough knowledge of the
Burmese language, into which he translated the
Bible and 'other books. In 1820 his wife died, and
in April, 1834, he married Mrs. Sarah H. Boardman,
the widow of George Dana Boardman, a brother
missionary. By his second wife he had five child-
ren— Adoniram, Eluathau, Henry, Edward and Abby.
His second wife died September 1, 1845, and in June,
1846, he married Emily Chubbuck, well known in
literature as Fanny Forrester, by whom he had one
child, Emily, who married a gentleman by the name
of Hanna. Mr. Judsou made only one visit to his
native country during his whole missionary service,
during which he married his third wife. The writer
of this sketch saw him during this visit, and the
saint-like expression which he wore, together with
his intercourse with those about him, gave him the
impression of a man who, though lingering among
the scenes of earth, seemed to belong to a higher
and purer world.
The successor of Mr. Judson in Maiden church
was Rev. Eliakim Willis. He was born in New Bed-
ford, January 9, 1714, and graduated at Harvard in
1735. He was settled first over the church of the
South Precinct of Maiden, October 16, 1751. After
about forty years' service in that precinct this church
was united with the North or First Church, March
25, 1792, and it is probable that he was either ordain-
ed about that time, or assumed, by an agreement be-
SO-iii
tween the two churches the pastorate of the reunited
church. In order that the reader may understand
the reference to the South church, it will be neces-
sary to go back to an earlier date in Maiden's eccles-
iastical record.
The first meeting-house was built not far from the
year 1650, though the precise date of its erection is
not known. In 1727, its size proving inadequate to
the wants of the congregation, it was proposed to
build a new one. Two sites were at first proposed,
one near the old church site near Bell Rock and the
other in the orchard of the parsonage ; but both of
them were finally abandoned and the town voted to
build " between Lewis' Bridge and the pond on the
west side of the country road." Up to that time
those who dwelt at " Mistic " Side within the limits of
Charlestown, had worshipped with the inhabitants of
Maiden. In 1726 " Mistic " side was annexed to Mai-
den, including all the territory of Charlestown on the
northerly side of "Mistic'' River, and the easterly side
of North River, except a small strip of land at Penny
Ferry, and comprises about one-half of the town of
Everett. The members of the church living in the
annexed territory were dissatisfied with the location.
They said, however, that they would agree to a loca-
tion selected by a committee of '' wise and indiffer-
ent men.".
Yielding to their wishes, the town voted, on the
17th of November, 1727, to choose a committee of
" five eminent men of the colony, to whom the three
localities mentioned should be submitted for their
decision."
The committee reported in favorof the Lewis Bridge
location, but a majority of the Board of Selectmen be-
ing south side men refused to put the report on rec-
ord. The Court, however, interposed and not only
required the report to be recorded but ordered the
meeting-house to be built between the bridge and the
pound, on the site now occupied by the meeting-house
of the First Church. The house was raised August
28, 1729, and it is described as being unpainted inside
and outside, with the pulpit on the north side op-
posite the south door which was the principal en-
trance. Two stairways in the comers led to the
galleries, and the record states that " the east stair
was for women and the west stair for men, and they
could not get together in the gallery without getting
over the railing. The first sermon preached in the
new church was preached by Rev. Mr. Emerson,
August 16, 1730, but very soon after the south side
people became dissatisfied and, though contributing
to the support of the ministry absented themselves
from church worship. In 1733 they petitioned the
Court to be made " a distinct Township or Precinct,"
with Pemberton's Brook as the northern bound. This
was opposed by the town and the petition rejected, but
in 1734 a council of neighboring churches established
the Maiden South Church and a meeting-house was
built on land given by Jonathan Sargeant for that
466
HISTOKY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
purpose. It was built on Nelson's Hill, but it is stated
that it was never fully completed, and is represented
as having beeu in 1787 in a dilapidated condition.
Rev. Joseph Stimpson, of Charlestown, wasordain-
ed the first pastor of the South Church, September
24, 1735. In 1737 the town was finally divided into
two precincts, and the south people were henceforth
relieved from bearing their share of the support of
two ministers. Mr. Stimpson was a graduate of Har-
vard in 1720. He was partially disabled from per-
forming his duties as pastor and was dismissed in
1744. He remained in Maiden after his dismissal
until his death, in 1752.
In June, 1747, Rev. Aaron Cleveland, a native of
Cambridge, and a graduate at Harvard in the class o(
1735, was installed. He remained in Maiden three
years, when he removed to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and
became a clergyman of the Established Church. He
died in Philadelphia in 1754.
Rev. Eliakim Willis, already referred to, succeedeil
Mr. Cleveland soon after his dismissal. Some oppo-
sition was made to his settlement" on account of an in-
ability to support him, and the prospect of the two
parishes being united again if his settlement be de-
ferred." When Mr. Judson was ordained in 1787 the
same objection was made by a part of the church, who
" feared that it would offer an effectual barrier in pre-
venting the mutually wished for union of the two
Churches, both of which have severely felt their sep-
aration, and thus remaining will probably terminate
in the ruin of both." A protest against Mr. Judson's
settlement was made by the dissatisfied persons who
afterwards left the church and joined the South
Church, thus giving a temporary encouragement to
the people of the south. The South Church, on the
strength of reinforcements, repaired their old meet-
ing-house and struggled on until the dismissal of Mr.
Judson opened a way for a return of the new to the
old church, a re-union of both and the continued ser-
vice of Rev. Mr. Willis as the pastor of the united
churches, in 1792. Mr. Willis remained .is pastor
until his death, which occurred March 14, 1801. His
funeral took place on Wednesday, March 18th, and
Rev. Messrs. Roby, Prentiss, Osgood, Thacher, Lothrop
and Eliot attended as pall-bearers. Rev. John Lothrop
made the first prayer at the funeral. Dr. Peter Thach-
er preached the sermon and Rev. Mr. Prentiss made
the concluding prayer.
Rev. Aaron Green succeeded Mr. Willis, having
been ordained September 30, 1795, as his colleague.
He was born in Maiden, January 2, 1765, and gradu-
ated at Harvard in 1789. On the 8th of August 1827,
he resigned his pastoral charge and soon after removed
to Andover, where he died December 23, 1853, the
last survivor of his class. During the pastorate of Mr-
Green, Samuel Shepard, a Baptist, arrived in Maiden'
in 1797 and preached a sermon which planted the
seed from which the Baptist Society of Maiden finally
sprang. Regular services were established in 1800,
first in a school-house and afterwards in a barn when
the school-house was closed to the "Schismatics," as
they were called, and on the 27th of December, 1803,
the first Baptist Church with a membership of forty-
two persons, was formally recognized by a council of
the neighboring churches. In 1804 a meeting-house
was built on Salem Street, on a site now endowed in
the Salem Street Cemetery. This house was occupied
until 1843, when a new meeting-house wa.s built at the
corner of Salem and Main Streets. The present Bap-
tist meeting-house was built on the same site, after
the destruction of the two preceding it by fire.
In 1802, also during the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Green,
the meeting-house of the First Church was taken
down and replaced by the present brick structure,
which has been several times enlarged and remodeled.
It originally had two towers or cupolns, in one of which
a bell was hung, presented to the church by Timothy
Dexter, of Newburyport.
During the pastorate also of Mr. Green the First
Church suffered another depletion by the formation
of the Methodist Society in North Maiden. In 1813
most of the people in that section of the town were
Republicans in politics, and became much excited by
the delivery of a sermon in the old church strongly
inclining to Federalism. A new society was conse-
quently formed, which gradually drifted into Method-
ism, and became the parent of the present Methodist
Episcopal Church in Maiden Centre. The new society
held its first meetings in the hou-e of James Howard,
and afterwards in one of the school-houses of the town.
Services were held in the school-house on School-
house Hill until 1825, when a meeting-house was built
on Main Street. In 1843 the meeting-house now used
was built.
In this sketch of Maiden only one additional event
in its ecclesiastical history will be referred to, and
with that event the divisions and subdivisions of the
First Church will end. After the formation of the
Baptist and Methodist Societies, that church passed
through a most important experience, and one which,
so far as its doctrinal life was concerned, radically
changed its current. Mr. Green, who was not inclined
to preach doctrinal sermons, belonged to the Armiiiian
School, and the majority of his people were far from
displeased with the expression of his liberal senti-
ments. There was even among some of them an in-
clination towards Universalism. The seed sown by
him only needed some crisis in the church to develop
it, and the crisis was reached when, after the resigna-
tion of Mr. Green, the selection of a new minister
became necessary. In the discussions which pre-
ceded this selection, the widely differing sentiments
of members of the church showed themselves and the
struggle between the old and new order of things was
a serious one. The struggle ended by the choice of
Rev. Sylvanus Cobb, a Universalist minister, who was
installed July 30, 1828, against the wishes of a consid-
erable portion of the church, which at once withdrew
MALDEN.
467
and took steps to form anew society. The disaffected
members met at first in Sargent's Hall and afterwards
in one of the school-houses. A claim was set up that
the new society was in reality the First Church and
entitled to all its privileges including, the possession
of its records. It is not necessary to recur to the un-
fortunate dissensions of this period, and it is sufficient to
state that the new society was organized in 1832 under
the name of the Trinitarian Congregational Society,
and Rev. Alexander W. McClure was ordained as its
pastor. A meeting-hou^e was erected in Haskins
Street in 1833, and tinally removed to Main Street
uear the square, where it was destroyed by the famous
gale of September 3, 1809. The old society with its
new faith, retains the name of the First Pariah and
worships in the old church built in 1803.
Returning now to the general history of the town,
the record states that only a few years after its estab-
lishment its people experienced the necessity of more
room, and presented the following petition to the Gen-
eral Court.
*'To the Hon<i ('oiirt now assembled at Boston, the 7"* of the 4"> mo.,
VitVI, the petiriuD uf the iuhaUitaatii uf Maiden huinbly shewlog:
" Thitt the boiiniis uf our town iire exceL'diag rtrai(;ht, the uiost of otir
impru\f<l l;inil :tu<i riiemluw bejot; titnUeil iil>um two uiilos in length aod
ODe in breiuith ; ;ind thut uLm tho iiiu^t puit uf it by purchiiae from
C'hiirlcdtuwn, whereof we were a sniall branch ; from whom aldo we bad
uli the CtiinuuDd we wore, which in very eiiiill uud rockie.
" That hitherto we havu had no euliirgeiuunt from the cuuntrie, Dor
run we have any n^ere Hdjolnin^, Iteiug diirruiinded by ^iiodry town-
Nhi|)(). That our i:liiirf;ed to the coiiiitrie and ministry much exceedetb
»undry others who have imiDy timed our .iccomnmdatious and aa many
liere do kuuw.
" Our teacher, >rr. Win^lesworth, aid*) hath bt-en lony visited with
vphe gr>*at weakuedsed from which it \s much f>.-ared he will not he re>
t'overed.
" Fur tlieee luid "ther wet;;hlie cout)id<tnili<iiis, our most humble peti-
tion to thi^) mu..h huiiored Court, id thai a iinct of lands of about fuuret
miles i^iuare at a piuce called'Peunycooko, may Ui- grunted aaau addition
to UB, for our belter eiipport and •-•ncouragcuieut, in the service of Christ
and the (.'ouutrie ; to be laid out by Mr. Junathao I>auforth or maie
ntherurtist, and (.'apt. IM. JoOsou or John Parker.
" :?u with "ur heartie prayers to G<.»i for your, utmost peace and pros-
peritio, we crave leave to subscribe ourdelves.
"yr verie huniblu servauts,
" Jorifph liilU,
" NV'ill. IJrackeubury,
"John Wayte,
'' JohQ Spra(;ce,
" Abra. Hill,
'* Tho. Call,
*' Job Lane,
*' Peter Tafta,
" Robert HurdeD,
" In the uame of the reet."
This petition was rejected, and it was ordered by
the Court, *' upon information that Pennicook is an
apt place for a township, and in consideration of the
Lord's great blessing upon the countrie in multiply-
ing the inhabitants and plantations here; and that
almost all such plans are already taken up, it is
ordered by the court that the lands at Pennicook be
reserved for a plantation till so many of such as have
petitioned for lands there or at others, shall present
to settle a plantation there."
It was not until 1726 that the boundaries of the
town were enlarged. In that year, as has been al-
ready stated, "Mystic side " was annexed, including
so much of the town of Charlestown as lay on the
northerly side of the Mystic River and the easterly
side of north river, except a small strip of land at
Penny Ferry." Since that time the boundary lines
have been changed at various times.
On the 10th of June, 1817, an act was passed setting
off from Maiden to Medford a tract, —
** BegfoDiDg at the boundary-line bet^veen nid towns, at the point
where the creek, running from Creek Head, so called, croaees said boun*
dary line ; thence ninniug in a southeasterly direction, by said creek,
pursuing the course thereof, to a stake on the southerly side thereof, on
the land of Nathan Holden, bearing south fifty degrees east and distant
from the place of beginning, in a straight line, about one hundred aud
twenty eight rods ; thence south six degrees west across the Bradbury
farm, so called, at>otit two hundred rods, to a stake in the line between
said farm and land of Richard Dexter ; thence south nine degrees east,
so us to divide the land of said Dexter, and passing in a straight line be-
tween said Dexter's land and land of Benjauiio Tufts, about one hun-
dred and thirty rods to Mystic Rlrer, at a stake ; thence westerly, by
Cystic Uiver, to the old dividing line between said towns, and by said
old line to the place of beginning ; Provided herein that said lauds and
the inhabitants thereon shall be holden to pay all such taxes as have
been lawfully assessed or granted by oaid towu of Maiden, in the same
manner oa they would hare been holdeu if this act had not been
passed."
On the 3d of May, 1850, the town of Melrose was
incorporated and set off from Maiden, the territory in-
cluded in the act of incorporation, —
" Degioning at the monument set up at the Junction of the towns of
Saugus, North Chelsea and Maiden ; theuce running uortb eichty-eigbt
degrees twelve minutes west to the town of Medford, said line, where it
crosses Main Street, so called, being one hundred and sixty-seven feet
south of the mile-stone standing on (he easterly side of said street, south
of the dwelling-house of Joseph Lyode (2d), aud on Wiuhington Street
one hundred and twenty-two feet north of the laud of Robert T. Barrett,
ou said street, on the most northerly corner of said Barrett's land, ad-
joining land of John J. ^labooey."
On the 9th of March, 1870, an act was passed in-
corporating the town of Everett, including that por-
tion of the town of Maiden, —
** Beginning at the Stone monument in the line between said Maiden
and the toiyn of Medford, which is marked number 'three;' theuce
runniug easterly and southerly by the centre of a creek and Muldt-n
River to the centre of the Slalden Canal ; thence by the centre of said
canal to the range of the north line of Wyllis Avenue ; thence by said
lust named line end the northerly side of said avenue to Moiu Street ;
thence across Main Street to the southerly line of Belmont fjtreet ;
thence by the southerly side of Belmont Street to Ferry Street ; thence
croflsiDg Kerry Street, obliquely, to the northerly side of Rich Street;
thence north fifty-six degrees east, by the northerly side of Rich Street,
fourteen hundred and ninety-one feet to a stake ; thence south eighty-
four degreeB east six thousand and eleven feet to a stake in the line be-
tween said 3Ialden and the town of North Chelsea, said stake being two
hundred and forty-seven feet northerly from the stone monument in said
last meuUoned line, which is marked M N C eleven ; and thence south*
westerly. Northwesterly and northerly as the present dividing line be-
tween said Maiden and North Chelsea, Chelsea, Charlestown, Somerrilfe
and Medford mns to the first-mentioned bound."
On the 20th of April, 1877, a portion of the town
of iledford was annexed to Maiden, beginning, —
** At a stone bound at Creek Head, ao called ; thence running north-
westerly to an angle in the wall on the northeast line of Salem Street
forty-eight aud oue-tenth feet westerly from the east face of the west
gate-post in front of William TothiU's house; thonce running northerly
pamllel with and nine hundred and eighty-six and sixty-six one-hun-
dredtbs feetdlatant westerly from the present line dividing Medforl and
Maiden to the line t>etween Medford and Stoneham ; thence runniug
468
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
eagterly, by the laat-named line, to the line between Medford and Mai- !
den ; thence mnning aontherly by the present eftaterly boundary of
Medford to the point of tieginniu^." ;
On the 20th of February, 1878, the above act was
amended so as to make the second and third courses
of the boundary lines read as follows :
"Thence running northerly to a stone monument on the southerly line
of the town of Stoneham ; thence easterly nine hundred ninety and
Rixty-four one hundredths feet to a stone monnment at the intereection of
the southerly line of said Stoneham and the westerly tine of the town of
5lelrose."
Though the growth of Maiden has, in recent years,
been exceedingly rapid, its population has been of
course seriously affected by these changes in its
boundary lines. Until the present century its increase
was slight. In 1800 it numbered only 1059, in ISIO,
only 1384, and not much more when its territory was
first impaired by the annexation of a part to Med-
ford. When the town of Melrose was set off and
incorporated in 1850, the population was 4780, of
which JHelrose took 1260 ; at the time of the incor-
poration of the town of Everett, in 1870, its popula-
tion was 9570, of which Everett took 2200, leaving
7370. In 1875, the population was 10,843 ; in 1880,
12,017; in 1881, at the time of the incorporation of
the city of Maiden, about 12,300, and by the recent
census, something over 23,000. Various causes have
combined to cause the rapid increase of population
in these later years. The establishment of railroad
communications developed the slioe manufacture
and other smaller trades, so that the manufacturing
product of the town, which was, in 1837, only §350,000
per annum, began to increase after the opening of the
Boston and Maine Railroad in 1849, and has gone
on at more than equal pace with the population.
The Edgeworth Company alone has b.ad an annual
product of more than $2,000,000, and th.it of the Rub-
ber Shoe Company has exceeded that amount. All
the various enterprises which are the necessary con-
sequences of growth have been established, and before
the incorporation of the town as a city an ample
Fire Department had been organized, a Public Library
had been incorporated, and in 1870, a system ot
water works was completed. The annexation to
Medford, in 1877, of about two hundred acres with
only about one hundred inhabitants, was neither
seriously opposed nor felt. The division of the town
in 1870, however, resulting in the incorporation of
South Maiden as the town of Everett, was made
against the earnest opposition of the town. It took
from the old town all the territorj* which was annexed
from Charlestown, in 1726, and the southeastern
portion of the old town. It was made after a con-
test continuing through nearly a quarter of a century,
and after six ineffectual efforts. It was the old and
common story, repeated in the experience of many
towns, of an outlying district containing a minority
of the population, jealous of its rights and claim-
ing to be oppressed by unjust and inequitable taxa-
tion, for the benefit of the majority in the central
town. The rapid growth and increasing prosperity
of the mother town has been so great, however,
that the dissensions which preceded the division have
been healed, and the loss, which at the time seemed
irreparable, has long since been forgotten.
Next to the ecclesiastical history of the town, its
educational record is one of the most interest. lis
schools at the present time are of a high order, and
receive the most liberal support from the tax-payers.
The early history of the schools is of the mo.<t mea-
gre character and only interesting as showing from
what small beginnings the present system has grown
and how thoroughly, under our free institutions <>f
government, the people of this, in common with other
towns, appreciate the necessity of a good common-
school education as a couditimi of public welfare.
The earliest reference to schools on the iecoids vihich
has been preserved is under date of 1691, when it is
mentioned that Ezekiel Jenkins con'.inued to be the
town's school-inastLT. In 1693, John Spriigue, Jr.,
acted in that capacity, and in 1697, John Moulton.
John Sprague, who was a resident in the town and
town clerk, was in service again in 1699, and locurdid
in the town books, under date of Murch 27lb, that :
" John Sprague fbose .-'cool-mii^tar." The iucorrcct
orthography of Mr. Sprague should imt be taken as
evidence of his want of education or of a lack of ca-
pacity to impart instruction. The writir, who has
examined and copied many old reconls, has found
that in the colonial days orthography seeme<l to be
guided by no fixed rules, and tliat men who we know
were men of study and culture, wouM spell the same
word in several different ways and often on the same
page.
In 1701 Maiden was indicted " for want of a school-
master for writing and reading," and in 17o2, John
Sprague was again " chose scool-marstar for ye veer
insueing to learn children and youth to Reed and
Wright and to Refmetick, according to hi.s best skill."
His school was kept in four several places ut foui' dil-
ferent times, in the year and he received ten pounds
for his service.
In 1703, on the 1st of March, it w:ts " votted that
ye scool shall be kep in ye watch-hous for this yeere,"
and on the 8th of the same month, " by a vote,
Ezeckiell Jenkins is chose scool-mastar for the pre-
sent yeer ; acd the scoole to be kept at his own
hous, he is to have 3 pounds for ye yeer ; and ye
benefit of ye scollars." This school was doubtless a
mixed private and public school, and Mr. .lenkins
probably received fees from the pupils. In 1705
Nathaniel Waite w.is employed and received twenty
shillings from the town, and "the benefit of the
scholars." In 1708 John Sprague was again chosen
schoolmaster and declined, Nathaniel Waite taking
his place. In 1709 "Jacob Wilson chose scool-mastar
for ye yeer ensuing to lam children To Reed and to
Wright and Refmetick, and he is to have two shillins
paid him by ye nown ; and he is to have ye benefit of
MALDEN.
469
ye scoolara." In 1710, Moses Hill was employed for a
short time, followed in the same year by Thomas
Pols, of Boston, John Sprague and Samuel Wiggles-
worth, of Ipswich. In the same year, too, it was
voted that the " school be removed into three parts of
the town, the first half yeer in the center, and one-
quarter in ye southwardly end, and one-quarter in ye
northardly end of ye town."
Mr. Wigglesworth's engagement being for six
month.'s, it was voted that the school should be kept
four months in the parsonage, and the other two
months in some house in the north part of the town.
With the exception of Mr. Pols and Mr. Wiggles-
worth, all the teachers up to this time had been
Maiden men, and Mr. Wigglesworth was a native of
the town, being the son of Rev. Michael Wiggles-
worth, who died during his pastorate in Maiden in
1705. Samuel Wigglesworth was the only one of the
teachers mentioned who had received a collegiate
education. He graduated at Harvard in 1707, and
was probably reading for the ministry with Rev. Mr.
Parsons, when it was voted that the school should be
kept in the parsonage.
In 1711 Mr. Wigglesworth was engaged for an
additional six mouths' term, and it was voted to build
a school-house between John Wilson's house and the
pound. In 1712 it was voted "yt ye school-house
shall be built 20 foots in lengte, 16 foots wide, 6 foots
stud between joints," and thirty-five pounds were voted
to pay for the construction. It was built by William
Green, of Maiden, and the contract for the work dated
October 27, 1712, was signed by hira and by Henry
Green, Thomas Newhall, Samuel Sprague and .lohn
Green, selectmen of Maiden. In 1713 Francis Fox-
croft was engaged for six months, with a salary of
fifteen pounds, and it was voted" that ye school-house
shall be improved for a wach hens when there is an
occasion, and nott To disoblige ye school in sd hous
at aney time." Mr. Foxcroft was a son of Hon.
Francis Foxcroft, of Cambridge, and graduated in
1712.
Thomas Vernon was employed in 1714, and in 1715
John Bishop was engaged for six months, with a sal-
ary of £18. In 1717 Daniel Putnam, who graduated
from Harvard in that year, was engaged for nine
months, and in 1718 Richard Dana was employed
" for one quarter, sartain," with the pay of £10 10s.
Mr. Dana was the grandson of Richard Dana, who
settled in Cambridge in 1(540. He was born in Cam-
bridge, July 7, 1699, and graduated in Harvard in
1718, the year of his teaching in Maiden. He mar-
ried the sister of Judge Edmund Trowbridge, and
was the father of Francis Dana, chief justice of the
Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts from 1791
to 1806.
In 1719 Maiden was again presented to the ("'ourt
for want of a grammar school, and ordered to obtain
a schoolmaster. In 1720 Josiah Marshal, a Harvard
graduate of that year, was engaged for a quarter of a
year, and in 1723 Nathan Bucknam, probably a Mai-
den man, and a graduate from Harvard in 1721, was
employed to keep school twelve months. At that
time the school was kept five months at the centre
of the town and three and a half months each in the
north and south parts. In 1726 John Emerson, a
college graduate of that year, was employed, and in
1730 £60 were voted for the salary of a schoolmaster,
and the school-house, called old, though only eighteen
years of age, was given to a poor man, named Thomas
Degressha.
In 1732 and 1733 John Sprague was again in the
service of the town, and in 1737 it was voted that the
school be kept half of the time on the south and half
on the north side of Pemberton's Brook. In 1751
Nathaniel Jenkins was engaged for six months for
£16, and remained in office forty years. The original
occupation of Mr. Jenkins was that of a shoemaker;
but with some qualifications for teaching, he placed
himself under the instruction of Rev. Mr. Emerson
and prepared himself for the profession in which he
served so long. He is represented to have been an
excellent teacher, and to have kept a school in which,
in his later years, the higher branches were success-
fully taught. A complete history of the school sys-
tem of Maiden up to the present time is impracticable
within the space allotted to this sketch. The simple
record here given, taken largely from the centennial
book of Maiden, published in 1850, to which the
writer is also indebted for other material, must suffice,
with a statement, however, of the system as it is now
perfected and managed.
According to the last report of the School Com-
mittee, there were in Maiden 3412 children between
five and fifteen years years of age. Of these, 2317
attended the public schools ; 605, the parochial
schools; thirty-one, private schools; and 459 were
either at home or at work. For the accommodation
of the public school children there were fifteen
schools. In the High School there were two hundred
and thirteen. With the rapid growth of the popula-
tion the average increase during the last three years
of scholars in this school has been twenty. The
school was under the management of George E. Gay,
as principal, with six assistants.
The Centre School, was under the charge of Lewis
A. Burr, principal, with thirteen assistants.
The Maplewood School, with an average attendance
of three hundred and ninety-seven, was under the
care of Arthur L. Doe, principal, with twelve assistants.
The West School, with an average attendance of
■three hundred and forty-four, was under Laura A.
Leonard, principal, with eleven assistants.
The Belmont School, with an average attendance
of two hundred and seveuty-two, under John S.
Emerson, with six assistants.
The Judson School, with an average attendance of
one hundred and flfly-nine, was under Mary F. Grif-
fith, with three assistants.
470
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
The Emerson School, with an average attendance
of one hundred and three, was under Carrie F. Oak-
man, with four assistants.
The Converse School, with an average attendance
of one hundred and thirty-seven, was under Emeline
L. Eogera, with three assistants.
The Greenwood School, with an average attendance
of one hundred and thirty-four, was under Ella P.
Payson, with three assistants.
The Linden School, with an average attendance of
ninety-four, was under Abby JI. Fellow's, with two
assistants.
The Oak Grove School, with an average attendance
of sixty-seven, was under Ella M. Coops, with one
assistant.
The Coverly School, with an average attendance of
one hundred and forty-seven, was under Clara JL
Sweetser, with three assistants.
The Pierce School, with an average attendance of
one hundred and fifty-six, was under Anna C. Ennis,
with three assistants.
Besides these schools there were the Evening
School, with au average attendance of ninety-.-six,
under the cliarge of C. M. Sargent, and the Evening
Drawing School, with an average attendance of fifty-
one, under the charge of George E. Morris.
The School Committee, according to the last report,
consisted of Hon. Joseph F. Wiggin, mayor, chairman
tx officio — Erastus B. Powers, chairman, Aaron 0.
Dowse, William H. Hawley, Roswell R. Robinson,
Henry A. Fenn, C. Maria Nordstrom, James B. Foster,
Wilbur H. Sargeant and William F. Whitcher. The
superintendent of schools was Charles A. Daniels,
and the secretary of the School Committee, Frank E.
Woodward.
Intimately connected with the cause of education
is the Public Library, which was established by a vote
of the town, March 12, 1877. Its establishment was
due to a bequest of §5000, made by John Gardner, of
Charlestown, who was a son of Dr. Henry and Sarah
(Beecham) Gardner, and was born in Maiden, April
19, 1813, and died March 16, 1876. The library was
opened to the public February 14, 1879, with 364:^
volumes, and at the close of the first year 1870
volumes had been added. At the close of the second
year the shelves contained 6112 volumes and 670
pamphlets, besides paintings and other articles of
value. The number of volumes in the library Decem-
ber 3, 1889, was 16,837, and the number of pamphlets
3990. The total circulation for the year 1889 was
59,084 volumes. For that year the city of Maiden
appropriated the sum of $4600 for the support of the
library, and the dog-tax, amounting to $1985.84.
There were received by the treasurer from other
sources during that year, $2781.39, mak ing total
receipts of $9367.23.
The expenditures during the year were : For books,
$1238.62; salaries and service, $2528.13; binding,
$349.69; expenses and supplies, $1629.86; catalogue
expenses, $503.58; insurance, S92 ; Maplewood deliv-
ery, $200. The following funds are held by the
trustees: the Converse Memorial Building Fund,
•^25,000; uninvested income from the same, $2137.75;
the Holm Fund, $5000, and the Lord bequest, $500.
Deloraine P. Corey is president ; William F. Lang,
secretary; Thomas Lang, treasurer; Henry L. Moody,
librarian, and Edward S. Currier, Eiisha S. Converse,
George W. Walker, William A. Wilde, A. R. Turner,
Jr., Daniel L. Millikin, trustees, together with the
mayor, chairman of the Board of Aldermen, and
president of the Council ex officio.
Resuming the history of the town, it will be proper
to allude to the part taken by Maiden in the various
wars which have di.-sturbed the current of New Eng-
land life. Mr. Corey says, in his sketch of Maiden,
that "since the days of King Philip the people of
Maiden had always borne their share in the various
expeditions which were sent forth. Maiden troopers
under Captain William Green, whilora of the Three
County Troop, marched on an expedition against the
Indians in 1695; and Edmund Chamberlain, a son of
that Edmund Chamberlaiu who fell at the Narragan-
sett fight, who was boru alter his father was slain,
died from disease contracted iu the ex))edition to
Port Royal in 1710. About the same time James
Hovey was a prisoner iu the hands of the French and
Indians in Canada. Later nine young men from
Maiden laid down their lives in the performance of
their duty in the celebrated siegeof Louisbourgin 1745.
In the successive campaigns of the French Wars,
which began in 1755 and extended over a period of
nearly eight years, the men of Maiden took an active
part. Lieutenant Simon Wade was wounded in the
futile expedition against Crown Point and was killed
at the capitulation of Fort William Henry in 1757,
when the savages of Montcalm's army, iu the presence
of their French allies, inhumanly massacred the
greater part of the unfortunate garrison. In a com-
pany commanded by Dr. Ebenezer Marrow, of Med-
ford, in 1758, were Lieutenants Samuel Burditt and
Darius Green, with thirty-one non-commissioned ofli-
cers and privates of Maiden. This company was sent
to the westward with the forces under General Aber-
crombie and particip.ited in the unsuccessful and
bloody attempt upon Ticonderoga, in which the colo-
nial troops experienced a heavy loss and were after-
wards much reduced by sickness. The Maiden men
who died in this campaign were James Whittemore,
John Burdictt, Jr., Ezekiel Floyd, Joseph Jenkins
and Nathaniel Wait. In a company in service in
1762 commanded by Captain Moses Hart, of Lynn,
were eleven men of Maiden, and individuals were
scattered in various regiments during the war. This
war was the nursery of the Army of the Revolution ;
and there seems to have been a growing fondness for
military life at this lime among all classes. The en-
rolled militia of Maiden in 1758 was one hundred and
thirty-four men under the command of Captain John
MALDEN.
471
Dexter. In 1763 its officers were Captain Ezra Green,
Lieutenant Jabez Lynde and Ensign Thomas Hills."
With the termination of the French Wars the peo-
ple of Maiden settled down once more to the pursuits
of a peaceful life. In common with the people ot
other towns in New England, they had been initiated
into the methods of military life and were prepared
for a renewal of strife if the welfare of their country
demanded it. It is, indeed, a question difficult to an-
swer whether such a readiness would have been found
to resist the aggression of the mother country had
not the people of New England become accustomed
to the use of arms and to the scenes ot war in the
prolonged struggles with the French only a few years
before. It is certain that Washington found in that
struggle that military training and discipline which
fitted him for a leadership of the armies of the Colo-
nies against the cohorts of a King.
In 1770 the town voted '* that we will not use any
foreign tea, nor contenence the use of it in our
families, unless for sickness, till the revenue acts are
repealed." On the 22d of November, 1772, at a meet-
ing held in Boston to consider the subject of the salary
of the judges, a letter of correspondence to other towns
was adopted. This letter called on the towns to stand
" firm as one man," to open a free communication of
sentiment with Boston and expressed a confidence that
"regard to themselves and the rising generation would
not suffer them to doze or «et supinely indifferent on the
brink of destruction while the iron hand of oppression
was daily tearing the choice.-tt fruit from the fair tree of
liberty." At a meeting of the town of Maiden heid on
the otb of J.inuary, 1773, to consider the communica-
tion from the town of Boston, it was voted that Cap-
tain Ebenezer Harnden act as moderator, and that
Captain John Dexter, Mr. James Kettell, Mr. Ezra
Sargeant, Eiisit^n Benjamin Blauey, ^[r. Ezekiel Jen-
kins, Mr. Thomas Hill, Mr. David Sargeant, Mr.
Samuel Sprague, Mr. John Grover, Jr., Mr. Josiah
Howard and Mr. Samuel Waitt " be a committee U)
take into consideration the request of the town of
Boston respecting ye late alarming report that sti-
pends are affixed to the offices of the judges of ye
Superior Court of Judicature in this province, added
to many other grievancies under which the people
have for some years groaned, and also to draw up in-
structions for their Representatives and lay ye whole
before the town for their acceptance."
At an adjourned meeting held on the 14th of Jan-
uary, 1773, the committee reported as follows : —
"naviogtakfin into serious coodiJcration y« state of j"* rights of y*
culooists of tbia pruviuc^ in particuliir, as men, aa Cbristlaos and aa
British Hubjecta; and alao the list I'f theee infriugeineDta and injurious
viuUtlun of these ri(?bt3 traiwuiiited to us from the vigilaiit and piitri-
otic iubabitaots of y« town of Boston, by their committee of correspond-
ence,
" RaoUeti, As f;ir as we are capable of Judging that y said rights and
also y« list of infringements and riolationa of the rights are exhibited in
a just point of light, and, therefore, with hearts deeply penetrated by
the cruel oppresions and iiidiguitied witli which we are treated by our
elder brethren at home, and with y* shuddering prospects twfore uh, un-
der y* present critical situation of onr public affairs ; the alarming in-
quisitorial Court appointed at Rhode Island ; also replete with deep con-
cern for onr prosperity,
"i^Mo/wd, That we will, at all Times, and upon all just occasions,
with oar best blood and treasure, in conjunction with oor brethren of
this province and y" other prorinces, pursue every justifiable and consti-
tutional measure for the obtaining a redress of our insupportable bar-
dens, and in y* defence and support of our invaluable rights, Civil and
Religious, purchased by our ancestors at j* expense of their treasure
and their blood ; and therefore
** Betolved, That our RepreaentatlTe be lostmcted to use his utmost
endeavors in the General Assembly that the Honorable Constitutional
Judges of the Superior Court of Justice In this province should have a
support equal to their importance. Also, that our Representative um
his endeavors that an address be again made to our gracious Sovereign
for the reetoration of our invaded rights and privileges, and that this
people may be treated as indeed they are, loyal subjects of Great Brit-
ain. Moreover, since it hath pleased the great Governor of the Uni-
verse of late to answer y* prayers of the people by terrible things in
Righteousness,
" Besolvedy Thatour RepresentaUve be instructed to use his endeavors
that a day of humiliation be appointed for our many and great iniqui-
ties ; and to seek of Him a right way for us and for oor Uttle ones and
for eill onr substance, and that a letter of grateful acknowledgments he
sent to our worthy Brethren, the inhabitants of Boston, for their vigi-
iHUce and spirit upon this and many other occasions; with hearty good
wishes and prayers that they may Bee good days according to the time
in which they have Id peculiar manner seen insult and massacre.
"John Dexter, per order."
Accompanying the report were the following in-
structions to the Representative of Maiden in the
General Court :
** To Capt. Ebenaer Harnden:
••3ia, — The right of choosing a person to represent ns In the General
Anembly carries in the nature of the thing the right to instract him.
And though we reposed the highest confidence in you when we chose
you into the office, yet we then reserved this right to ourselves to be
made use of on extraordinary and alarming occasions.
'* Such an occasion we esteem that to be in which we now instruct
you. This is the late rumor which has prevailed of salaries beiug alSxed
to the Honorable Judges of the Superior Court, etc., paid to them by the
King iudepeudent ol tho people, out of a revenue unconstitutionally
mised upon us. This we esteem an intolerable grievance, a grlevnuce
which strikes at y* root of our liberties. We now, air, desire and in-
ifruct you to make use of every legal method in your power to obtain
redre« hereof. Purticularly to exert your utmost influence in y« Gene-
ral Assembly that an ample and honorable support be offered to them out
of y» treasury of this province. We also instnict you to forward in y«
General Assembly an bumble addieea and remonstrance to our gracioud
sovereign, begging from his royal clemency and justice relief under this
proceeding. Thia we hope will reiirh not ouly y« royal ear but heart
also, and will be followed by y» best efforts.
" When we chose you to represent us in y« General Assembly we did
it esteeming you a staunch and firm friend to our civil and religious lib-
erties.
" We have no reason to alter our sentiments concerning you in this
regard. Tet that your own opinion and sentiments may he conhrmed
by having those of your constituents, * we now, air, instruct you to
exert yourself to the utmost in urder to obtain a redress of our present
grievances, and a confirmation of those rights and privileges, whicli to
enjoy without molestation induced our forefathers to emigrate from their
native land and plant that in which we now dwelL
" We trust, tiir, we shall always find you in the numberof thode mem-
bers of the General Court who, while they feel and express the warm-
est loyalty to their Sovereign, steadily and firmly maintain y« rights
of their constituents.
" .\3 we cannot but think that the prevailing iniquities of our Land
have induced a righteoiia God to permit men of violence thus to harass
us, so, sir, we instruct you to use your utmost induence in the General
Assembly that some effectual measures may be taken in order to carry
ya good and wholesome laws of thia province for y* suppression of im-
morality into more full and complete execution ; and also that a day of
humiliation may be observed through the province on account of his
favors npon ns in tbese regards, and deprecate his displeasare and ask
bis divine interposition in favor of our sinking land.
' '* John DsxTSBf per order,"
472
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, xMASSACHUSETTS.
The report and instructions were unanimously
adopted, and the meeting adjourned to the 21st of the
same month. At the adjourned meeting the follow-
ing letter was adopted, and it was voted that the clerk
should send a copy of the same to the Boston Com-
mittee of Correspondence:
*' To the respectable iDhabitants of the town of Btiston : It is with the
utmost aatisfnction and pleasure that we have, from time to time, ob-
served your solicitous care and pnideot endeavors to suppress all ap-
pearances of tfTBnny and oppression, and to maintain the past rights
and privileges of a distressed people. And particularly of late that you
have nut been intimidated by ye alarming reports that bare reached our
ears ; but as our fears and distresses increase your zeal and resolution
abroad.
" We give you our hearty and sincere thanks for all the salutary
measures you have adopted for the common safety. And we heartily
9th of September, 1774, and were unanimously ap-
proVed. At a meeting held on the 20th of September
it was voted that Captain Ebenezer Harnden and
Captain John Dexter be appointed delegates to at-
tend a Provincial Congress to be held at Concord the
second Tuesday in October. It was also voted that a
committee, consisting of Captain John Dexter, Cap-
tain Eben Harnden, Deacon Joseph Perking, ^Ir. Ezra
Sargeant, Mr. John Green. Jr., Mr. John Wait, Mr.
David Sargeant, Captain Benj. Blaney, Mr. Joseph
Howard, Mr. John Bucknam, Mr. Ezekiel Jenkins
and Lieut. Amos Upham, be appointed " to hear and
consider any matters of controversy that may arise in
this town between man and man, between party and
wish and desire that every town in this Province and tbro' the land j party, and USe their wise and prudent endeavors for
an amicable and pacific accommodation of such dif-
ferences; and if possible promote that love, peace
and friendship which will so much strengthen the
common cause as well as prevent unnecessary and
expensive law-suits, and that tlie town will support
said committee in their determination so far aa they
shall appear to be just, and in such manner as shall
be thought proper."
At the sunie meeting it w.os voted that Capt.
i Ebenezer Harnden be the representative of the town
in the General Court, and on the 23tli a letter of in-
' structirtns to the representative was adopted. Again,
on the 27lh of May, 1770, instructions to Ezra Sar-
geant, then lepresentative, were adopted by the in-
habitants of the town, and their instructions, here
given in full, will close the record of the preliminary
steps taken by the town in approaching the War of
Revolution :
" To Mr. Kzra \'^arijeavt :
• 's;m:_A Resi.hltiuu nf the late Honorable House of Reprei«en-
1 talives, culling upon the several towns iu this Culuny to express their
[ minds with rL-s|K>ct to the itiipoilrtiit qiit-stioii uf Auieiican Itulepeudeoce
! iri the occiisiou uf our now instnirtiug you.
' " The time was, fir, when we love^l the Kiuc and the people of Great
' Britain with an affection truly 61tal ; we felt ourselves Interested iu
their glory, wo bhaied in their joys ami sorrows, we cheerfully poured
the fruit of all our labors into the lap uf i.nr Mother (Vuiuti-y, and witli-
I out reluctance e.Tpended our blotwl and oni- treasure in eheir cause.
! ■• These were our sentiments towards Great Britain; while she con-
tinued to act the part of a parent slate we felt ourselves happy
' iu our connection with her, nor wi.fhed it to be dissolved. But
I our sentiments are altered ; it is now the anient wish of ourselves that
.Vmenca may becoute Free and Inilependeut States. A sense of unpro-
] voked injuries will arouse tlio resentment of the most peaceful. Such
I injuries these t'olouies have received from Britain. Unjustifiable
' claims have been made I'y the King and his minions to tax us without
our couseut. These claims have l>een prosecuted in a nuinner cruel and
i unjust to the highest degree ; the frantic policy of .\diuiui8lration hath
induced ihem to send Fleets and Armies to .Vmerica that by depriving us
; of ,.nr trade and cutting the throats of our brethren they mt^ht awe ns
into submia'iion and erect asystem of despotism w liich should so far en-
large ihe inliuence of the down ad to enable it to rivet their fhackles
upon the people of Great Britain. This was brought to a crisis upon
' the memomble nineteenth of April. We remember the fatal day— the
expiring groans of our murdered countrymen yet vibntte iu oirr ears ! !
' We now behold the flames uf their peaceful dwellings ascending to
Heaven; we hear their blmKl crying to us from the ground, vengeance,
and charging us, as we value the peace of their names, to have no further
may have such a sense of danger and of duty as readily to lend a help-
ing hand in this time of need. By the papers transmitted to you here- j
with you will And that a committee has b«en chosen by this town to
correspond with yours on matters of publick .concernment. We trust |
you will always find them and us ready to receive any intimation of this .
nature from you aitd to join in such moasurea as may be thought best, j
And may the great overruler and disposer of all events so direct and 1
succeed your wise endeavors as that ye yoke of tyranny nnty be entirely
broken and New England's yet invaluable privileges inviolate to the |
latest generattons. j
" May all vice and immorality be suppressed and piety and virtue t
reign triumphant. .\nd may you in particular, the res^iectahle inhabit-
ants of boston, thro' the propitions smiles of heaven see the happy ,
fruita of your unwearied dili;;pnce in the cause of liberty. May you al-
ways he deemed among the early projectors and constant pursuers of
those legal and constitutional mellKHls which may establish our charter
rights on a basis durable as the foundations of the earth ; and may pos-
terity, yet uuboro, nse up and call you blessed."
Another meeting was held on the 13th of Decem-
ber, 1773, at which Captain John Dexter w.is chosen
moderator, and Captain John Dexter, Mr. Ezra Sar-
geant, Captain Eben Harnden, Dr. Jonathan Porter,
Mr. Thomas Hills, Mr. Ezekiel Jenkins, Mr. James
Kettell, Ensign Benjamin Blaney and Captain N.
Hatch, were chosen a committee to report on certain
papers received from the town of Boston relating to
the importation .and landing of the article of tea.
The committee reported at the same meeting a pre-
amble and four resoluti.-.ns sustaining the inhabitants
of Boston in their action.
On the 25th of August, 1774, at a meeting called to
consider the affairs of the Province, Ezra Sargent was
chosen moderator, and, among other things, it was
voted " that the Committee of Correspondence for this
town, viz.: Captain .lohn Dexter, Mr. James Kettell,
Mr. Thomas Hills, Mr. Samuel Sprague and Captain
Ebenezer Harnden, or any three of them, shall attend
a general meetir.g of the committees of the several
towns in this county, to be convened at Concord the
thirteenth inst., to consult and determine what is ex-
pedient to be done at this very critical juncture of
affairs; and that the said Committee of Correspond-
ence shall, from time to time, as there may be occa-
sion, consult and advise with the committees of any
other towns in this County or Province on the affairs ,
of our public grievances."
. . I connection with a King who can unfeelingly bear of the slaughter nf his
The resolves passed at the meeting m Concord ,„bjects and composedly sleep with their Wood npon bis soul. The
were presented to the town at a meeting held on the ' manner in which the war has been prosecuted has confirmed us in their
MALDEN.
473
seDtimeDts; Piracy aod murder, robbery and breach of faith ha^o been
conspicuous in the conduct of the King's Troops, defPDselesa towns have
been attacked and destroyed— the ruins of Cbarlestown, which are daily
in our view, daily remind us of this. The cries of the widow and the
orphan demand our attention; they demand that the hand of duty should
wipe the tears from their eyes and that the swurd of their country
sboiilit avengti their wrongs. We long entertained hopes that the spirit
of the Oritieh N'ation would once more induce them to assert their own
and our rights and bring to coudign punishnieut the elevated villains
who hitve trampled upon the sacred rights of man and affronted the
n]aje5ty of the people.
" We hoped in vain. They have lost their love to freedom ; they have
lost the spirit of Judt resentment. We therefore renounce with disdain
our coDuectlun with a kingdom of slaves : we bid a final adieu to
Britain. Could an accommodation be now affected we have reason to
think that it wuiitd be fatal to the liberties of America— we should soon
catch the contagion uf venality and dissipation which has subjected
Britain to lawle% domination. Were wo placed in the situation we were
in the year 1773; were the powers of appointing to office and com-
manding the militia in the Lauds of Governors, our arts, tradeaand man-
ufactures would be cramped ; nay, more than this, the llfeof every man
who has been active in the cause of his counti*y wonld be endangered
Fur these roadons, as well as many others which might be produced, we
are continued in the opinion that the present age will be deficient in
their duty toGo*I, their iwsterity and t!ieni.<>elves, if they do not estab-
lish nu -American Republic. Thii is the only form of novemnient which
we wi:ih to see estahlialied, for we can never willingly be subject to any
other King than He who, being possei<sed of infinite wisdom, guo^lness
and rectitude, is alone fit to possess unlimited power.
** We have freely spi-ken our sentiments upon this important subject ;
but we mean not to dictate — we have unbounded confidence In the wis-
dom and upiiijhruens of the Cnntiiienial foncress; with pleasure we
remember tiiat tho atT.iir is iimltrr their direction ; and we now Instruct
you, Sir, to give (hem the ^tri'mrej-t assunmce that if they should declare
America to be a Free and Inilependent Republic, your constituents will
support and defend the lueHsuro to the loat drop of their blood and the
last farthing of their treasure."
Nor was the spirit displayed in thia communication
a spirit of boasting, which wjis destined to fail when put
to the test. In the repeated calU for men to recruit
the armies of the war, ^Talden performed its full share.
The list of soldiers furniMhed '\s not a long one, but it
must be remembered that at that time the popula-
tion of the town was only nine hundred and eighty-
three, of whom forty-eight were negroes and four
hundreil and aixtoen under sixteen years of age.
According to Mr. Corey, in 1767 there were seven
work-housen or shops in the town, with a trading stock
of two hundred and forty-four pounds. The people
had at interest eleven hundred and sixty-nine pouuda
six shilling.-* and eight pence, and the live-stock of
the farmers consisted of eighty-four horses, one hun-
dred oxen and four hundred and eighty-six cows, be-
sides sheep and a few swine. The products of the
land were tifty-eio:ht hundred and thirty-nine bushels
of grain and six hundrefl and fifty- two barrels of cider
with one thousand and fifty-two tons of hay, of which
eight hundred and sixteen tons were salt hay.
With these slender resources the people went into the
war with a determination and spirit of self-sacrifice in
which no town excelled, if there were many that
equaled it.
The following list of soldiers of the Revolution is
aa complete aa can be made out from the rolls in the
office of Secretary of State:
Enlisted in Capt. Russell's company of Col. Jonathan Brewer's regi-
meut for duty on Prospect Hill, Charlestowo, 1775: Gideon Willlsnu.
Enlisted in Kpbraim Corey's eorapany, Col. Prescott'i regiment, 1775 :
Stephen Sweetaer.
Enlisted iu Capt. .\bner Cranson's company for duty on Prospect Hill,
17T.1 : Jonathan Mower.
Enlisted in Capt. Wood's company, Col. Jonathan Ward's regiment,
1775 : Nehemiah Newell.
Enlisted in Capt. Nailer Hatch's company, 37th Regiment of Conti-
nental Army under Lieut. -Col. Wm. Bond, 1775 : Nailer Hatch, capt. ;
Nathan Eaton, lieut. ; Elijah Caswell, sgt. ; Barnabas Newhall, sgt. ;
Unite Cos., sgt. ; Chas. Hill, Corp. ; Amos Sergeant, Dao. Euower, Ebeo.
Eaton, Ebeo. Barns, Floyd Pratt, Geo. Harrington, John GroTer, Joshua
Caswell, Josiah Pain, James Pain, Joseph Baldwin, Josbna Gill, Joel
Whitmore, John Gruhara, John Spragiie, James Nichols, Joseph Hollo*
way, John Hatch, Nathan Bucknam, Nathan Burditt, Obadiab Jenkins,
Prince Hill, Phlnehas Sergeant. Robert Burditt, Stephen Pain, Solomon
Sergeant, Samnel HuUoway, Samuel Bishop, Samnel Bnrdltt, Samuel
Grover, Solomon Dow, Silas Sergeant, Thomaa Wbeeler, William
S Prague.
Enlisted In Wm. Perkins* company of artillery Col. Richard Gridley's
regiment, 1775 : Eliakim Caswell.
Marched to Watertown April 19, 1775, Benjamin Blaney, capt: Na-
than Lyndes.
Sent to Point Shirley under Capt. Benjamin Blaney In 1776.
Enlisted in Capt. Stephen Dana's company, Col. Mcintosh's regiment
177G, for one mouth : Nehemiah Oaks, John Sergeant, fifer; Jacob Ser-
geant. Samuel Waitt, Jtihn Jenkins, Joseph Jenkins, Nalbl. Floyd
Benjamin Bill, Samuel Oliver. Nathan Hills, John Palne, Joseph Bald-
win, Charles Hills.
Enlisted Id the Continental Army for three years, 1777 : Samuel
Barns, Andrew Bennett, Samuel Bishop, Samuel Berry, John Blackford,
John Boyd, John Burnam, Wm. Bucknam, Juho Blanchard, Joses
Bucknam, Robert Bushley.
Enlisted In Capt. Benjamin Edgell's company. Col. John Jacobs' regi-
ment, 1778 : Samuel Grover, John Grover.
OTHER ENLISTMENTS. 1782, James Barrett. . . .6 moa
1780, Joseph Shaker ... 3 years 1782, Benjamin Hilts ... 6 mos
17S0, William Watts ... 3 years 1782, William Wrentnell . 6 moa
1780, Tbomaa Battom. . . 3 years 1730, Anthony Hoskins . . 3 mos
17S0, Daniel Green . . . . 3 years 1780, John Taylor 6 mos
178(1. Ji'el Whittemore . . 3 years 1780, Jerry Lovering ... 6 mos
1780, John Low 3 years 1780, John Bailey 6 uios
1780, Dauiel Rankin ... 3 years Benjamin Blaney, Captain,
1730, Edward Pierce ... 3 years Nathan Lynde, Lieutenant,
1780, Jonathan Knower . 3 yeara William Wait, Lieutenant,
17S0, James Salluck . . • 3 yeara AmoaSheets, Sergeant,
1779, Joshua Geary ... 3 years Amos Howard, Sergeant,
1779, Pomp 3Iagus .... 3 years Neliemiah Oaks, Sergeant,
1779, Samuel Hazelton . . 3 years Jabez Lynde, Sergeant,
1779. James Barrett ... 3 years Bernard Gr«en, Corporal,
1781. Thomas Wheeler . 3 years Micah Wait, Corporal,
1781, Phillip Pratt . . . . 3 years Jacob Parker, Corporal,
1731, Enoch Jenkins ... 7 years jobn Venter. Corporal,
1781, Obadiab Jenkins . 3 years \y_ Sergeant, Drummer.
1781, Sam'l Barns. Capt . 3 years Samuel Green, Fifer.
1781, And. Bennett, Corp . 3 years
1780, Edward Pratt .... 0 moe privates.
17S0, Sam'l Hazelton . . G mos Timothy Tufle,
1730, Benj. Hills 6 mos Ebenezer Wait,
1780, James Barrett .... 6 mos Tbonias Walt,
1780, Wm. Bnutnall .... 6 mos Joseph Lynde,
1780, John Christie. . . . 6 nios Daniel Chadwick,
17S0, Thomaa Wheeler . . 6 mos Edward Jenkfmt,
1780, James Johnson . . . 6 mos Ebenezer Pain,
1780, Peter Bartwr .... 6 mos John Nichols, Jr.,
1780, John Bailey .... 6 mos Joeepb Pratt,
1777, John Boyd 9 mos John Spragne,
1779, Joshua Geary . . . . 9 mos Thomas Sargent,
1779, Benj. Wait 9 mos JacobSargent,
1778, Daniel Raokin ... 6 mos Joseph Bnrdltt,
17S2, Robert Morrison . . 2 years Aaron Bucknam,
1782, Timothy Carder . . 3 years John Dexter,
1782, Samnel Hazelton . . 6 mos Richard Dexter,
1732, David Wait 6 moe Jacob Pratt,
1732, Asa Witt 6 mos John Howard,
1782, .\aron Brigbam . . . tj mos Charles Hill,
1782, Ebenezer Watson . . 6 mos Ebenezer Sfaute,
474
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Francii Pbillipa,
John Tufti,
Ezra Howard^
BenjatniD Lynde,
BeaoDi VtotOD,
William Sprague,
PhilemoD Monroe,
James Wade.
Bobert Olirer,
Jonathan Gardner,
William Dpham,
Edward Newhall,
John JenkinB,
Joseph JenidDS,
John Gould,
Stephen Pain, Jr.,
Benjamin Buck nam,
David Sar^nt,
Samnel Baldwin,
Levi Joseph Perkins,
John Manser,
John Ramsdell,
Phlneas Spra^e,
Era Hatch.
Among the men who have been specially mentioned
as conspicuous in service during the war, were Capt.
Benjamin Blaney, Capt. John Dexter, Capt. Naler
Hatch, Sergeant Bernard Green, Corporal Timothy
TL'fts, Pomp Magus, (a negro), Capt. Daniel Waters,
Capt. Jonathan Oakes, Dr. John Sprague and Dr.
Ezra Green ; the last four performing their chief ser-
vice on the sea. Capt. Waters distinguished himself
while in command of the armed ship "Thorn, "carrying
eighteen guns and one hundred and twenty men, by the
capture of the English brigs "Tryon" and " Erskine,"
carrying thirty-four guns and one hundred and sev-
enty-one men. Capt. Oakes commanded at various
times the Brigantine "Hawke" and the ship "Favorite,"
in which he made successful cruises. Dr. Sprague, in
the military service in the early part of the war, was
afterwards in the schooner "Active" and surgeon on
board the State sloop " Winthrop," in which he re-
mained until the close of the Revolution. Dr. Green,
also first in the military service, afterwards became
surgeon of the "Ranger," commanded by Paul Jones,
and later of the ship "Alexander." But it is making
an invidious distinction to mention even their names
while there were so many others equally patriotic, and
if not performing, yet ready to perform as brilliant
service.
In the troubles with the French at the close of the
last century and in the War of 1812 Maiden took
little part and suffered few burdens. Nor was the
embargo a matter of special interest to its people.
While the people in the sea-ports encountered embar-
rassments and losses, those only a little removed from
the coast saw only the clouds without feeling the
storm. Maiden from the date of these events led a
peaceful life, gradually increasing its population and
business, and, as the neighboring city of Boston began
to overflow its borders, felt the wave of prosperity and
wealth flowing towards the town.
On the 23d of May, 1849, the two hundredth anni-
versary of the incorporation of the town was celebra-
ted. An oration was delivered by James D. Green,
and a poem by Gilbert Haven, Jr. A procession was
formed under the marshalahip of Augustus L. Barrett,
assisted by Aaron Barrett, Charles Eastham, J. P.
Lord and Francis Odiorne, and escorted by the
Washington Light Infantry, of Boston, with the
Boston Brigade Band, and marched to Bell Rock
Pasture, where the ceremonies were had. On the
platform were seated, besides the Orator and Poet,
Gilbert Haven, the president of the day, John P.
Bigelow, the mayor of Boston, Samuel T. Armstrong,
Rev. Messrs. Streeter, Neal and Church, of Boston,
Rev. Mr. Hague, of Roxbury, Rev. Mr. Whittemore,
of Cambridge, Rev. Messrs. Buddington and Ellis,
George Washington Warren, Richard Frothingham,
Rev. Dr. Ballon, Daniel P. King, Rev. Mr. Upham,
Isaac Hill and Rev. Aaron Green. After the cere-
monies the procession was again formed, and
marched to the dining-pavilion, where accommoda-
tions had been provided for two thousand persons.
In the evening there was a display of fire-works, and
the town was illuminated.
When the War of the Rebellion broke out, the
people of Maiden were ready to perform their part in
the terrible emergency. On the 20th of April, ISCl,
at a citizens' meeting, it was resolved "that we be-
lieve it to be the duty of every lover of his country
and his race to assist in crushing out the rebellion and
treason now existing in the Southern States " —
"and that the Town of Maiden, true to its ancient
history, will furnish the men and the means to the ex-
tent of her ability for this object and we recommend
the immediate formation of a company of volunteer
militia to aid in preserving the Government of the
United States." A committee was chosen to raise
funds and purchase uniforms, con.sisting of J. H. Ab-
bott, George D. B. Blanchard, J. S. Rice, Paschal P.
P. Ware, M. Crocker and Lorin L. Fuller. The sum
of $2526.05 was raised by the committee. At a legal
meeting of the town held on the 1st of May, 18G1, it
was voted that the selectmen, with a committee of
seven, be authorized to expend a sum not exceeding
$10,000 in aid of the families of volunteers. The
committee consisted of Matthias Crocker, George D.
B. Blanchard, Lorin L. Fuller, J. H. Abbott, Rich-
ard Ward, G. L. Fall and George W. Wilson.
On the 15th of July it was voted by the town to
pay a bounty of $100 to each volunteer mustered in
before the 20th of August.
At the same meeting a recruiting committee was
chosen, consisting of David L. Webster, GilbertHaven,
E.S. Converse, R. G. Hill, Caleb Wait, Henry Rams-
dell, Henry W. Van Vorhees, Daniel Emmons, Mat-
thias Crocker, John Shackford, Hubbard Russell, Geo.
P. Cox, Charles S. Maldt, Thomas Darling, John
Turck, Matthew Fitzpatrick, James Cutter, James
Cruickshanks, Lorin L. Fuller, J. H. Abbott, Hub-
bard R. Lewis, Wm. H. Hill, Joshua Webster, James
McShane, A. H. Evans, C. Cronan, Wm. H. Cromack,
Thomas M. Butnam, F. D. Hayward and Henry A.
Wentworth.
On the 27th of August, 1862, it was voted to pay a
bounty of $100 each to men enlisted for nine months.
Most of the men raised during the spring of 1861
enlisted in Company K, Seventeenth Regiment, for
three years, and a few in Companies A, C, D, H and I
of the same regiment.
In 1881 the population of Maiden exceeded twelve
MALDEN.
475
thousand, and by an act passed March Slat, in that
year, it was incorporated as a city and divided into
six wards. The act of incorporation provided that
the government should be vested in a mayor, a board
of seven aldermen and a Common Council of eigh-
teen. The Board of Selectmen were required to
divide the town into six wards, and it was provided
that the election of city and ward officers should
take place annually on the first Tuesday of December,
and that the municipal year should begin on the first
Monday of January, following. In 1887 the act was
amended so that the city should be divided into seven
wards, and that one alderman and three members of the
Council should be chosen from each ward. The city
officers for the first municipal year, 1882, were as
follows :
Water RegUtrar.
Phineas Spragne.
Supt. of Waltr Workt.
Ward W. Hawkea.
Matjor.
Klisba S. ConverBe.
Alderinen.
Waiil 1. Tristriim Gnttin.
" 1. JuhtiM. Devir.
*' 3. Juseph 31. Ulissell.
" 4. George T. Coverly iCbn.)
" 5. Lorin L. Fuller.
'■ u. Frank M. Clark.
Common Cunticil.
in.rj I.
CliarlfS F. finite.
J.ihD P. Uu^lU.
Win. Perkins.
n<ir.( i.
Wm. U. >[uipliy.
Wni. V. Ihuketl.
MicUael Mi-Nuinee.
ir.,r,i :i.
Jaliiefl Uarttett.
James il. Taylor.
Eiluard C Holmes.
Il.irrl 4.
Henry I-J. Tiiriifr, Jr.
Patrick H. Desiilollil,
Syl-.ester W. Guiilil iresigneil).
Cieolge T. Bailey ^fur vac.)
H'.ird .'>.
James Pierce, presiileiit.
Cliitrlea Spni^iie.
Frauk F. z^illiuian.
Ward 6.
Cbarles L. Davenport.
Daniel P. Wiao.
Osreola A. Wliitniore.
CUy Cttik.
Leverett D. HolJen.
Cltfrlc of O'linat.
George A. Gardner.
Treamtrer,
Albert F. Sargent.
AiiMor.
Marvin Lincoln.
Solicitor.
Thoroaa .'lavage.
Engiiiefr.
Albert F. Sargent.
As$euort.
iJeorge C. Blancliard.
Clmrlta) .\. W'hittenjore.
Aea B. Brown.
Overseers of Poor.
Henry M, Uartsborn.
Tiniollty Counell.
Dana Uolden.
Water Cotumiuioiitrs.
Herbert Porter.
Wui. F. Chester.
George W. Walker.
Collector of Tajres.
Charles .\. Holmes, resigned.
Geo. E. Uitcbcock, vacancy.
iiclioot CommiUee.
EiUvard Gay.
Elnatban U. Howes.
Russell B. WiggiD.
Joseph W. Cbadwick.
.Marcellns i/uggaa.
Benj. B. Lawrence.
.\ndrew J. Kreeiuan,
John H. i.'orbett.
.X.lfred A. Turner, Jr.
Sinking F'ind ComniittioHera.
Stiltinau K. Roberts.
.\lbert H. Davenport,
ticolge W. Walker.
James H. Whitaker.
Kzra .\. Stevens.
James Pierce.
Trustees of Public Librari/.
John K. C. Sleeper.
Uussell B. Wlggin.
Daniel L. MiUikin.
Win. A. Wilde.
Thomas Lang.
Joseph W. i.'hadwick.
George \V. Walker.
\Vm. F. Merrill.
Deloraine P. Corey.
Chief of Police.
Harris P. Mitchell.
Chief Engineer Fire.
Thomas W. Uougb.
Sup. of Streets,
.\ndrew J. Wentworth.
CUy Physician.
Peleg Wadswortb.
Supt. of Schools.
W'm. U. Lambert.
Sec. and Treos. of SinJt. Fund Com.
Theodora N. Fogue.
I Librarian.
Henry L. Moody.
SupL of Almshouse.
I Oeorge W. Stiles.
The mayors of the city since 1882 have been:
John E. C. Sleeper, 1883.
Lorin L. Fuller, 1884-«5.
Marcellos Coggao, ISSE-JT.
Jowph F. WlgglD, 1888-90.
I
The Fire Department of the city consists of a chief
engineer, four assistants, one engineer of steamer, one
stoker, five drivers, twenty-eight hosemen, ten hook-
and-ladder men, and one secretary to the Board of
Engineers. The apparatus of the department consists
of two steam fire-engines, one old steam fire-engine
stored, two hose-wagons, three hose-carriages, one
hook-and-ladder carriage with 333 feet of ladders, one
supply wagon, one double pung, three single pungs,
one pung for hooks and ladders, one engineer's car-
riage, one engineer's sleigh, six thousand feet of hose,
a fire-alarm, nine horses, four houses and two hun-
dred and fifty hydrants. The amount of money ex-
pended during the year 1889 was $14,842.05.
The amount of money paid out by the treasurer
during the same year for city expenses was $624,-
888.18. Of this sum $110,373.43 was paid out for
the support of schools ; $15,436.53, for street lights ;
$54,909.12, for streets; $16,424.70 for the Poor Depart-
ment, and Police Department $16,076.52.
The following is a complete list of those who have
represented Maiden in the General Court since 1680 :
Job Lane, 1686
Joseph Wilson, 1688-49, '94, 1703-
04
HeoryGtven, 1689, '94, 1703-04
John Sprague, IG9U
Pblneas Sprague, 1691
John Green, 1692-94, '96
John Greenland, 1695, 1708, '10-
15, '17, '20
Edward Sprague, 1696, 1703
Isaac Hill, 1698
Phineaa Upliam, 1705, '16, '18
Jacob Wilson, 1716, "19, '31, '37
Jonathan Sargent, 1721, '24-28, '30
Samuel Backnam, 1722, '39
Timothy Sprague, 1732, '34
Samuel Wayta, 1735-36
Joseph Lynde, 1739, '41, '43
Samuel Greeo, 1742
Joeea Bncknam, 1744-51, 'S3
Barnard Townsend,1755
Benjamin Hills, 1754, '57
Thomas Pratt, 1758-59
Ezra Green, 1760, '62
John Doiter, 1763-64
Ebenezer Harnden, 1765-74
Ezra Sargeant, 1775-77, '81, '84, '86
Benjamin Blaney, ITiS-M, '83, '87
Wm. Wait, 1788
Thomas Hilla, 1789
Isaac Smith, 1790-95
Barnard Green, 1797
Edward Wade, 179S
Jonathan Oakea, 1799-1802, '06-
'13
Jonas Qreen, 1811-16
Ebenezer Harnden, 1813-14
Ebenezer Nichols, 1816-17, '19
Nathan Xlchola, 1819-2U, '23, '
Ck>tton Sprague, 1823-26
Edward Wade, 1826-'28, '31, '3:
Isaac Stilea, 1829
James Crane, 1832, '36
Wm. H. Richardson, 1832
Wm. Pierce, 1833, '35
Sylvanus Cobb, 18.13, '3 6
Driah Chamberlain, 1835
George Emerson, 1836
Timothy Bailey, 1836
Daniel A. Perkins, 1837
E. N. Harris, 1837
Leavitt Corbett, 1838
Theodot« L. Stiles, 1839
Wm. Nichols, 1839
Wm. Oliver, 1840
Beiu'amin G. Hill, 1842
Jonathan Oakeo, 1843
Samuel 8. Upbam, 1846
Lemuel Cox, 184T
Thomas Wait, 1850
Wm. Johnson, 1851
Temple Dodge, 1852
Henry W. Van Voorhe*, 1853
David Fanlkner, 1854
Wm. J. Eamea, 1855
David B. Sbepard,'1866
George P. Cox, 1857
Phineaa Spragne, 1858
J. Q. A. Griffin, 186»-€0
Richard Ward, 1861
Caleb Wait, 1862
George W. Copeland, 1863-65
James Pierce, 1866.
476
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
In 1867 Maiden and- Soraerville constituted the
Fourth Representative District of Middlesex County
and were represented as follows :
1867— James Pierce of Maiden
David M. Bean of Maiden
John A. Hughes of Somerville
1668— John A. Hughes of Somerville
John Runey of Somerville
George P. Coi of Maiden
1S69— George P. Cox of Maiden
John Runey of Somerville
Charles H. Guild of Somerville
1870— George P. Coi of Maiden
Joseph M. Rnssoll of Maldeu
Selwin Z. Bowman of Somerville
1871— Selwin Z. Bowman of Somerville
Charles H. Guild of Somerville
Joseph M. Bussell of Maiden
1872— Charles H. Taylor of Somerville
Samuel A. Carlton of Somerville
John H. Abbott of Maiden
In 1873 Maiden, Everett and Somerville constituted
the Fovirth District, and were represented as follows:
lS73-Quincy A. Vinal of Somerville
Alonzo H. Evans of Everett
John H.Abbott of Maiden
l^f-S— J. A. Cummiogs of Somerville
Horace Haskioj of Somerville
J. K. 0. Sleeper of Maiden
1875— James Pierce of Maldeu
J. A. OilDimings of Somerville
S. Z. Boivman of Somen ille
1870- Charles G. Pope of Somerville
Theodore N. Foque of Maiden
Alonzo H. Evans of Everett
In 1877 Maiden and Everett constituted the Eighth
District and were represented as follows :
1877— John K. C. Sleeper of Maiden
Henry M. Hartshorn of Maiden
IS78— Elisha S. Converse ■ of Maiden
George S. Marshall of Everett
1679— EUaha S. Converse of Maldeu
James P. Magee of Maiden
1860- James P. Magee of Maiden
George S. Marsliall of Everett
1881— Ezra A. Stevens of Maiden
William Johnson of Everett
1382— Ezra A. Stevens of Maiden
William F. Chester of Maiden
1883-Willlam F. Chester of Maiden
George E. Smith of Everstt
1884— Joshua H. Millett of Maiden
George E. Smith of Everett
1885-Joshua H. Millett of Maiden
George W. Walker of Maiden
1886-Georg6 W. Walker .... of Maiden
Dudley P. BaUey of Everett
In 1887 Maiden alone constituted the Ninth Dis-
trict, and was represented as follows :
1887-Wllllam A. Wilde. 1889-Henry E. Turner, Jr.
Daniel L. Mllliken. Thomas E. Barker.
1388— Daniel L. MllUken. 1890— Thomaa E. Barker.
William A. Wilde. Heqry E, Turner. Jr.
The city of Maiden is supplied with water from
Spot Pond and Eaton's Meadow, for which it owes a
debt of $580,000, of which the following amounts were
issued and became due at the times specified :
1200,000 at 6 per cent, issued July I, 1870, doe July, 1890.
11,000,000 at 6 per cent , issued July 2, 1872, due July 2, 1892.
950,000 at 6 per cent., issued July 1, 1876, due July 1, 18B6.
$25,000 at 3)4 per cent., issued July 1, 18»5, due July 1, 1895.
815,000 at 4 per cent., issued Jan. 1, ISSG, due Jan. 1, 1001.
810,(100 at 4 per cent., issued July 1, 1S86, due Jan. 1, 1901.
J40,IX10 at 4 per cent., issued July 1, 1887, due July 1, 1907.
S5,0P0 at 4 per cent., iai^ued Oct. 1, 1888, due July 1, 1907.
810,1100 at 4 per cent., issued Oct. 1, 1888, due July 1, 1907.
825,000 at 4 per cent., issued July 1, 1S.^^, due July 1, 1907.
$25,000 at 4 per cent., issued Oct. 1, l«,srt, due July 1, 1908.
820,000 at 4 per cent., issued Oct. 1, 1888, due July 1, 1908.
$20,000 at 4 per cent., issued Jan. 1, 1889, due July 1, 1908.
$16,000 at 4 per cent., issued April 1, 1S»9. duo July 1, I9113.
520,000 at 4 per cent., issued Aug. 2, 1889, due July 1, 1908.
The sinking fund, fcr the liquidation of the water
debt, is $172,931.02, leaving a net water debt of
8407,068.98.
The assessed valuation of the city is $16,133,537.50,
consisting of real estate, 814,073,900; personal e.'f-
tate, .$2,024,200, and resident bank stock. 835,437.50,
on which the rate of taxation in 1889 was 815.50 on
one thousand dollars.
The funded debt of the city, December 31, 1889,
exclusive of water debt, was $220,050.
A sewage system for the city is now being pro-
vided for. The Legislature of 1889 passed an act
providing for the building, maintenance and operation
of a system of sewage disposal for the Mystic and
Charle-* River valleys. It provided for the appoint-
ment of commissioners by the Governor and Council
to construct a sewer through the city to deep tide-
water. The Commonwealth is to is.sue bonds for the
construction and operation of this sewer, and one-
eightieth part of the amount is to be assessed in each
of the tirst ten years in each city and town embraced
in the system ; one-si.\tieth part in each of the second
ten years ; one-thirtieth part in each of the next ten
years, and the remainder is equally divided in the re-
maining ten years. The proportion of the tax is to
be determined by three commissioners, appointed by
the Supreme Judicial Court, subject to revision every
five years on the demand of any city or town inter-
ested. The main sewer, thus constructed under the
direction of the Commonwealth, is to be used as an
outlet for a local system, including the whole city.
When both the State and local systems are completed.
Maiden, now suffering from the want of adequate
drainage, will be able to boast of one of the moat
thorough and effective sewage systems in the Com-
monwealth.
With these details, this portion of the sketch of
Maiden, already filling more space than was allotted
to it, must close. The writer feels that it should have
been written by some son of Maiden familiar with its
antecedents, its localities, its institutions and its peo-
ple. He is sure, however, that what it may lack in
thoroughness and detail will be more than made
up by the history which, it is hoped, will be soon
published by that more competent historian, Mr. D.
P. Corey, who is now zealously engaged in the work,
and to whom the writer wishes to express his thanks
for material, giving his sketch even the little merit it
may possess.
MALDEN.
477
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
JfALDEX— {Continued).
THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF MALDEN.
BY REV. JOSHUA W. WELLMAN, D.D.
The fathers of New England were godly men,
who, in their native land, had been trained in the
stern school of persecution. While suffering for con-
science sake, they had little time to mature plans
for the ordering of their anticipated colonial life be-
yond the sea. The Pilgrims, who landed at Plymouth
in 1620, had established the. order of their church
8ome years before, but the civil compact under which
they were to live was drawn up on board the " May-
flower.'' The Puritans, who came with John Win-
throp to Massachusetts Bay in 1630, had previously
determined, to a certain extent, the form of their civil
organization, but upon reaching these shores had no
very clearly-uefined ideas res))ectingthe ecclesiastical
polity which they should adopt. Concerning this mat-
ter of church-order, however, they were wise enough to
receive instructions from leading men in the Plymouth
Colonv. From the first, they seemed to have enter-
tained the general idea that both godliness and liberty
should somehow be made dominant in the realm ot
civil government, and also in that of religous faith
and life. They, as well as the Pilgrims, had left na-
tive land, home and kindred, and at peril of life had
come into a vast a<id terrible wilderness that they
might secure to themselves and their children relig-
ious liberty. They were not slow, therefore, to accept
the teaching that they should make the church in-
dependent of all extraneous human authority, and
then guard its freedom with the utmost vigilance.
They were anxious to secure in some way the perma-
nent protection of religious liberty. Upon reaching
the New World, the fii-st thing they did in the direc-
tion of establishing good order in their community,
was to determine the form of their church. That
■ luestion decided, the church itself was at once or-
ganized. The manner of organization was simple and
reverential.
The church at Charlestown was formed July 30,
1630, and the order of proceedings was as follows :
"On a Jay solemn ir.ed with prayera and fasting, the Rererend Mr.
\Vil3on, aftijr the muDner uf piweediog in the year before at Salem,
-ntered into a church covenant with Winthrop, Dudley and Johnson.
Two days after, ou Sunday, they associated with them three of the
aMnlaata, Jlr. Sowell, Mr. Sharp and .Mr. Bradstreet, and two other
perwns, Mr. (iager and 3lr. Culb.irn. Others were presently added ; and
the church so constituted eleclwl Mr. Wilson to be its teacher and or-
.lained him to that cb;irge at Mishawum (Charlestown). \t the same
time Mr. Nowell was choaen to be ruling eliler, »nd Mr. Gager and 3Ir.
Aspinwall to be deacons. ' (Palfrey's lIistor.r of New England, vol. i.
p. 316.)
Such was the form of their church. The first
churches in New England were distinct, independent,
volunUry, local organizations, each having the right
to elect ita own oflficers, to receive and dismiss mem-
bers, to ordain its ministers, also to dismiss them
for cause, t« discipline disorderly members, and to en-
gage freely in any work which would promote piety
and good morals in the community. Such at least
they were in theory.
The large company of " about a thousand " persons,
who came over the sea in a fleet under the lead of
John Winthrop, did not come as a wholly unorgan-
ized body. They had given more thought to the civil
than to the ecclesiastical polity under which they
should live. This Colony had been organized under
a charter, and their government in its final form con-
sisted of a Governor, a Deputy Governor, a Court of
.Assistants and a General Court. The latter was the
legislative body. The Court of AssistanU, though
exercising legislative power, yet also, with the Gov-
ernor, constituted the executive branch of the gov-
ernment, and were called "The Magistrates.'' But
how were the magistrates and the General Court to be
constituted such ? Where should the appointing or
electing power be lodged ? They had now organized
a church, the integrity, the good order, the purity, the
freedom and all the rights of which must be preserved
at all hazards, lest its members should be plunged
again into the fires of persecution. The State must
be brought practically under the power of Christian
men. The Church and State, therefore, must be so
related to each other as to be mutually helpful, the
Church securing high moral and religious character in
the personnel of the government, and the State main-
taining the good order, the purity and the faith of
the Church. In this way it was supposed that the
State would be made a Christian State; in other words,
that the entire legislative and administrative govern-
ment would become in character and power what
Christian men would make it. But, for obvious rea-
sons, the churches as such could not be allowed to take
part in the administration of civil affairs. The free-
men—that is, those to whom alone the right of suf-
frage had been entrusted — were not all professedly
Christians in the evangelical meaning of that term.
Could the body of freemen be composed exclusively
of such men as were of mature age, and had confessed
Christ, and had taken the freeman's oath, that body
would naturally elect only godly and able men to
places of power in the civil government, and then the
State would become practically a Christian Slate-
Accordingly, at the very first meeting of the General
Court for elections, in the Bay Colony, which occurred
I on May 18, 1631, the law was enacted, that for the
I future the right of suffrage should be given only to
j such men in the Colony as were members of churches.
In due time, on this plan, the body of freemen would
be composed entirely of church members, and the
General Court would come into being by what was
then considered a popular election, but in which only
certain members of churches could vote. Whatever
may be said of the wisdom of this law, the motive in
478
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
the enactment of it was high and pure. Its purpose
was distinctly stated in the preamble. It was enact-
ed " To the end, the body of the commons may be
preserved of honest and good men.''
"The conception,'' as Mr. Palfrey has justly re-
marked, " if a delusion and impracticable, was a
noble one. Nothing better can be imagined for the
welfare of a country than that it should be ruled on
Christian principles; in other words, that its rulers
shall be Christian men — men of disinterestedness and
integrity of the choicest quality that the world
knows — men whose fear of God exalts them above
every other fear, and whose controlling love of God
and of man consecrates them to the most generous
aims." '
The theory was, as has been stated, that the
churches should be iudepecdent, subject, within the
sphere of their own proper action, to the dictation
or control of no superior authority, civil or ecclesiasti-
cal, and acknowledging Christ only as their head.
But ere long and most inconsistently the General
Court began to supervise and even direct the action
of individual churches; to judge of the qualifications
of ministers ; to inflict penalties upon churches which
ordained ministers without the approbation of
neighboring churches, or of the magistrates ; to re-
quest, and to specify the purpose of, the assembling
of synods ; to receive the reports of the transactions of
such synods, and to exercise the right of approvin>f
or disapproving of the same. Thus, strange to say, in
the same colony in which the law was enacted that
only church members should be allowed to take the
freeman's oath, and be invested with the right of
suffrage, the supreme legislative body and the
magistrates were found to be possessed of an authority
in ecclesiastical matters superior to that of the
churches themselves. This legal union of Church and
State, however well meant, in which only church
members could be entrusted with the elective |
franchise, and in which the civil authorities were
invested with a superior power in the management
of ecclesiastical afikirs, was destined to be the source
of great injustice and trouble to individual churches; ;
yet it was continued for sixty years.
In the meanwhile the freemen, or legal voters, who ;
in time were all church members, elected not only
the deputies, or members of the General Court, and ■
the magistrates, but also the oflBcers of the precincts 1
or towns in which they lived. The time at length
came when all the legal voters in a town-meeting ]
were members of the church. There was no parish,
no ecclesiastical society, in the modern sense of those
term. The towns were the only local organizations
connected with the church. In a town-meeting the
legal voters could transact both civil and ecclesiastical
business ; and the records of those meetings were at \
once town records, and what would now be called -
• . i
' Paltnj't "Hmory uf New EnglaDd," vol. I. p. 34.'i. i
i parish records. Ou this limited territory there was
I a clear organic union of Church and State; but the
I Church power here was supreme. As a consequence,
I the secular and religious affairs of the community
were so interwoven and blended that it is now
extremely difficult to disentangle the ecclesiastical
history from the civil history of an ancient New
I England town. If either history is to be written
I truthfully and perspicuously, the writer must occas-
j ioually state, or at least make intelligible reference
I to, certain events and transactions that properly
I belong to the other history. The attempt, however,
will be made in the following annals to keep as
nearly as possible within the limits of ecclesiastical
history.
It should also be said, in a preliminary way, that
the sources of information respecting the early history
of Maiden are unfortunately quite meagre. The
town records previous to the year 1()78 have disap-
peared. The existing records of the First Church
reach back only to the year 1770. This church, at
present date (1890), is two hundred and forty-one
years old. Its records covering the tirst half of this
period are lost. Aside from such of the town and
church records as have been preserved, a valuable
source of historical material is I'ound in " The Bi-Cen-
tennial Book of Maiden." This small volume was
published in connection with the enthusiastic cele-
bration of the two hundredth anniversary of the in-
corporation of the town, which occurred in 1849. Its
authors were a committee appointed by the citizens,
and consisting of Rev. A. \V. McClure, then pastor
of the First Church ; Rev. J. G. Adams, then pastor
of the Universalist Church ; and William H. Richard-
son, Jr., then a prominent citizen of Maiden. Tliecliief
purpose of the book was to put on record the memo-
rable public services of that great Anniversary Dav.
But the committee wisely added a considerable
amount of historical and genealogical information,
which, if not as ample nor as methodically arranged
as might be desired, must yet have been gathered at
cost of much laborious aud faithful research, and is
now of the greatest value. Indeed, in no other one
volume can at present be found so much of the kind
of material which is indispensable in writing the
history of Maldeu. There is also in " The Hittory of
Middlesex County,"' by Samuel Adams Drake, an in-
valuable article upon Maiden, written with rare his-
toric insight and accuracy, by Deloraine P. Corey,
Esq. To Mr. Corey and to the authors of "The Bi-Cen-
tennial Book of Maiden" the present writer is largely
indebted. The additional information that will be
presented has been gathered, item by item, from va-
rious and widely-separated sources.
The Organization oe the First Church.^
The following account of the origin of the town, aud
of the First Church ia it is given, in quaint language,
by Edward Johnson, in his famous book entitled,
" Wonder- Working Providence ofZion's Saviour in
MALDEN.
479
New England." Speaking of events which occurred
iu 1G48, he says :
" About this time the town of Afalden had his flnt fonodatloD stone
laid by certain persons, who issued out of Cbarlestown, and Indeed had
her whole structure within the bounds of this more elder Town, being
severed by the broad spreading river of Mistick the one from the other,
whose troublesome passage caiu»ed the people on the North side of the
river to plead for Town privileges wlthlD themselves, which accordingly
was granted them. . . . The people gathered into a church some die-
tance^of time before they could attain to any Church Officer to adminis-
ter the Seals unto them, yet in the meantime at their Sabbath assemblies
they had a Godly Christian named Mr. Sarjant, who did preach the Word
nntotbem, and afterwards they were supplied at times with some young
students from the Colledg, till the year 1650."
From this statement we learn that the entire terri-
tory of Maiden was at first within the bounds of
Charlestown ; that the people who first settled upon
this territory came from " the elder Town," that is,
from that part of Charlestown which was on the
south side of Mystic River; that the people on the
north side, or " Mistick side," as it was called, were
moved to " plead for Town-privileges," on account ol
the " troublesome passage " over " the broad spread-
ing river ; " that " the people gathered into a church,"
and maintained regular Sabbath services of preach-
ing and worship, "some distance of time" before
they could obtain a minister; that, during a part of
this period, one " Jfr. Sarjant" " did preach the Word
unto them," and that afterwards a similar service was
rendered by young students from Harvard College.
Mr. Sarjant was doubtless the William Sargeant who.
as Mr. Corey affirms, " was here as early as 1643,"
and whose lands, " which were possessed by his de-
scendants nearly two centuries, were in the southern
part of the town." The fact that he was by occupa-
tion a " haberdasher," that is, a seller of small wares,
such as ribbons, needles and thread, indicates that he
was a lay-preacher, who, doubtless by his godliness
and e.tperiuiental knowledge of Christ and the Holy
Scriptures, was able to edily the people. He was ad-
mitted to the church in Charlestown, January 10,
1639. He came from England in 1638, and was made
a freeman in Charlestown in 1639.
The exact date of the organization of the First
Church in Maiden is not known. There is evidence
that it was not organized before 1649. From the " Bi-
centennial Book" we learn that:
"The Middlesex Beglstry of Deeds, (Lib. 11, pp. 32, 83) contains a
record of a defaced agreeuient (and attestation thereto,) between the
Commissiouers of Charlestown and Myhticside. for dividing theunappro-
priatetl common lands, in which occurs the following clause : ' In con-
•Hidenttiou, the brethren of Mystic-side are, by the providence of God,
shortly to go iuto a church estate by themselves, and for the more com-
fortable proceeding and carrying on of that worlc of Christ among
tbem.* — This lostruriient, it is Siiid, purports to have been drawn by
authority of a certain writing bearing data, 31arch 26, 1649. From
this it appears th:it tbe church at that time was not organized, bnt un-
doubtedly was a few weeiu alter.'*
Such was the conclusion of Dr. McClure, and it
seems to have been well grounded. " The instru-
ment" containing an " agreement " must have been
drawn after the date of " a certain writing," for it was
drawn "hy authority " of that writing. That writing
was dated March 26, 1649. It must, therefore, have
been after that date that " the brethren on Mystic
side," were preparing " shortly to go into a church
estate by themselves." Very likely the " instrument "
was drafted on the same day as the " writing " (only
after the " writing"), as both appear to have been es-
sential to the consummation of " the agreement."
Moreover, that the word " shortly" indicates a period
of not more than a few weeks is made quite probable
by the fact that the people of Mystic side, at this
very time, were taking measures to secure the incor-
poration of their town. Their petition to the Gener-
al Court was responded to, on May 11, 1649, in tbe
following laconic Act of Incorporation :
*'In answer to the petlcon of seult inhabitants of Mistick side, their
request is graonted, viz., to be a distinct tonne of tbemaelvea, and the
name thereof to be Maulden." (Records of Massachusetts, vol. 111. p. 162).
As late, probably, as March 26, 1649, or sixteen
days before the date of the above Act of Incorpora-
tion, " the brethren on Mystic side," most or all of
whom were doubtless members of some church, as
the very term " brethren " would seem to indicate,
were preparing " shortly to go into a church estate."
It can hardly be doubted that these same " brethren "
were the men, or among the men, who petitioned the
General Court to incorporate their town. It is quite
certain, then, that they were seeking at once the
incorporation of their town, and the organization of
a church within it, and, more than probable, that
tbey obtained both at about the same time. The
date of the organization of the First Church in
Maiden, therefore, is almost certainly not far from
May 11, 1649.
The statements of Exlward Johnson are indefinite.
Referring, perhaps, to the year 1648, he says : " About
this time the town of Maiden had his first foundation
stones laid," but we know that the town was not
incorporated until 1649. His subsequent statement,
that " the people gathered into a church some dis-
tance of time before they could attain any Church
officer to administer the seals unto them," gives us
no date. For ought he says, the expression "some
distance of time " may refer to the period between
May 11, 1649, and the date of the settlement of the
first minister in Maiden. It is absolutely certain
that no church was organized in this town before
March 26, 1649, for after that date, or at that date,
" the brethren " were preparing " shortly to go into a
church estate." This is the testimony of a legal
document witnessed and recorded. As compared
with this legal and positive statement, the careless
and indefinite statements of Johnson are of no
weight.
Moreover, there is evidence that the chief purpose
of the Mystic side men in seeking the incorporation
of their town was, that they might enjoy better re-
ligious privileges. Richard Frolhinghan, in his " His-
tory of Charlestown," informs us, that as early as
January 1, 1649, "a large committee was chosen fixim
480
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
the inhabitants" residing on the south side of the |
Mystic River, " ' to meet three chosen brethren on I
Mistick side,' to agree upon the terms of a separa- i
tion, and the boundaries of a new town. This com-
mittee made an elaborate report beginning: 'To the j
end, the work of Christ, and the things of his i
house there in hand, may be more comfortably car- ]
ried on, it is agreed as followeth : ' " that the Mistick !
side men shall be a town by themselves, &c. This I
language indicates that, at that date, the work of !
Christ had been begun on Mystic side, and that the
things of His house were " in hand," but not that a
church had been organized, and that they were
in the full enjoyment of Christian privileges. The
truth appeared to be, that they had already estab-
lished, in an informal way, religious services on
Mystic side, which had been conducted for the most
part by a Christian layman, William Sargeant, but
that now they proposed to organize a church, settle
a minister, build a parsonage, and, perhaps, a meet-
ing-house.
When the First Church in Maiden was formed there
had previously existed in the territory now com-
prised in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts forty-
two churcliej. Three of these had been organized
in England, and transferred bodily to this country.
Two of the entire number, however, had removed to
Connecticut. The Maiden Church, therefore, when
formed in 1649, was the forty-first church in Mass-
achusetts. Several of those early churches Lave,
within the last hundred years, ceased to be orthodox
as are more needed in every community and nation
than any other class of people. On board the ships
that brought them over the sea they bad au abundance
of religious services — " Preaching and catechising,
fasting and thanksgiving, were duly observed." Win-
throp, on the voyage, wrote a little book, entitled " A
Model of Christian Charity," which evinced that in
his owu heart was living the spirit of Christ. Cefoie
dwelling-houses could have been prepared for all
the company they organized the Church of Christ,
and established the Christian ministry. Those who
joined them during the years immediately following
were like-minded. Indeed, no other class of people
were permitted to make their homes in the Colony.
The colonists speedily pushed out from Charlestown,
southwest across the channel to Shaivinut (Boston ),
westward to New Town (Cambridge), :ind northwiird
across the Mjstic River to Mystic side (Jlaldeii); and
soon to regions still beyond, taking possession of the
wild lands, subduing the wilderness and eslalJli^llillg
Christian homes. And Cotton Mother, speaking of
this people, tells us that, "Wherever they sat ilovvn
they were so mindful of their errand into the wilder-
ness, that still one of their first w(vrks was to gather a
church into the covenant a.nd order of the gospel."
(Magnalip, vol. i. p. 79.)
As early as 1631, or only one year after the settle-
ment of Charlestown, English people were living on
Mysticside. Seven years later the populatiou had come
to be considerable ; and ten years from that date, or in
1648, the inhabitants on this territory were numerous
Congregational Churches ; and at present date (1890) I enough to be moving for the organization of a
there are only twenty-three orthodox Congregational
Churches in this Commonwealth which are older
than the First Church in Maiden. This church is
more ancient than any church of the same denomi-
nation within the former limits of Boston. Only one
church, indeed, of this order, within the present lim-
its of Boston is older, and that is the First Church in
Charlestown (now a part of Boston). The Old South
Church, Boston, so famous in history, was organized
in 1669, and the Park Street Church as late as 1809
The latter is a young church in comparison with
that sisterhood of ancient churches to which the
Maiden Church belongs.
The First Members of the Church. — It would
be interesting to know more than we do of the men
church. This movement and their previous zeal in
establishing and maintaining regular religious ser-
vices are what we would expect of men and women,
who belonged to Governor. Wiuthrop's colony. There
were among tbem some of the first settlers of Charles-
town. We know that several of their number came
over the sea later. But they ail belonged to one and
the same class of English people. They were Puritans.
They accepted heartily the Calviuistic interpretation
of the Scriptures. Their religious beliefs had made
them righteous and self-sacrificing, courageous and
great lovers of liberty. They feared and loved God.
Christ was dear to their hearts, and lived in their
lives. Sin and irreligion were hateful to them,
prayer and Christian service were their delight.
and women who were the original members of this j Such in character and faith were the people who
ancient church gathered on Mystic side. But we
may be thankful that, while the biography of no one
of them has come down to us, we are not left in entire
ignorance of their general character. The fact tha.,
they " issued out of Charlestown " tells us something.
We know what sort of people settled in that town
nineteen years before. They were Governor Wiu-
throp's people, godly men and women for the most
part, Puritans in faith and character, people of such
sterling integrity and worth a.s the world always has
need of — of such moral and religious stamina, indeed,
founded the First Church in Maiden.
Some of the original members of the Maiden Church
were previously original members of the church iu
Charlestown. Others of this number joined the
Charlestown Church some years alter it was formed,
Others atill, who were among the original members of
the Maiden Church, may never have united with the
First Church in Charlestown. There is evidence that,
in some instances, good Christian people resided for
several years in Charlestown, and yet were never con-
nected with the church in that town, for the reason
MALDEN.
481
that from the first they expected to remove sooner or | order, and as " the leader of the Maiden band " even
later to some other plantation. Edward Johnson, the ' before the first town officers were chosen.
author of " The Wonder- Working Providence of
Zion's Saviour," was one of this class.
He was a prominent man in the Colony, and eminent
in Christian service ; yet he resided six years in
Charlestown without becoming a member of the
church there. He then removed to Woburn, and
took an active and leading part in the organization of woods from Salem to the mouth of the Mystic River,
Ralph Sprague, one of the founders of the church
in Maiden, came from England, " at his own cost,"
probably with Higgiason's company, to Salem, in
1629. His wife, Joan, came with him ; also two
brothers, Richard and William. He was one of the
pioneers who, that same year, came through the
the First Church in that town. Some of the founders
of the church in Maiden may have pursued a similar
course. In that case they removed their church rela-
tion directly from some church in the old country to
the new church in Maiden.
No catalogue of the original members of the Mai-
den Church has been preserved, yet the names of
some of them are known. Mr. Corey speaks of " a
document in relation to the church, written in 1648,"
which contains the namea of several " of the leading
men of Maiden.'' As this document pertained " to
the Church," the men whose names it contained prob-
ably took p;irt in the organization of the church the
next year. "They were Joseph Hills, Ralph Sprague,
Edward Carrington, Thomas Squire, John Wayte,
James Greene, Abraham Hill, Thomas Osborne, John
Lewis and Thomas Caule."
Joseph Hills was a lawyer by profession, and an
eminent man, not only in his town and church, but
also in the Colony. Dr. McClure places him in his
list of " distinguished citizens," and records the fol-
lowing particulars respecting him :
"He was born in 161)2; came to New England at
least as early as 16;J9, and was admitted as freeman in
1645. He resided at first in Charlestown, then in
Maiden, and at last in Newbury, whither he re-
moved in 16r)7, and where he died February 5, 1688,
aged Sii years. He was representative from Charles-
town in the General Court lor 164", in which year
he was also Speaker. He was fur some time captain
of the Maiden Company, and represented Maiden from
1650 to 1656. He was for several years one of the
Assistants of the colony. . . . His first wife was Rose
Dunster, a sister of Henry Dunster, the first president
of Harvard College."'
Mr. Corey, speaking of the part Mr. Hills took in
laying the foundations of the town, says: " He had
been engaged in important commissions with the
leading men of the government." " He had just com-
pleted the famous revision of the Massachusetts laws,
which was printed in 1648, and which was the first
code of laws established by authority in New England.
He came with his wife, Rose, from Maldon, in Essex,
England, and in compliment to him. Mystic side is
supposed to have received its new name." Mr.
Frothingham speaks of him as " the principal char-
acter in Maiden ; " and Edward Johnson describes
him as " active to bring the laws of the country in
31-iii
'"(Bi-CenteDDial Book," p. 168.;
took possession of the place on the southern side of
the river, afterwards and now called Charlestown,
and settled there. Probably he was a member of the
church organized at Salem under those godly minis-
ters, Skelton and Higginson. He was certainly a
member ot the church organized in Charlestown, and
which in a few weeks removed to Boston, for his name
is in the list of those, who, in 1632, were dismissed
from the First Church in Boston to organize a new
church in Charlestown. This Second Church in
Charlestown, now called the First Church, was
the church from which the brethren came who
organized the church in Maiden. Ralph Sprague
took the oath of a freeman in 1631, was made con-
stable at the General Court in 1630, held several
military oflices, and was frequently representative in
the General Court. He died in November, 1650.
Edward Carrington, as Dr. McClure informs us,
was admitted freeman in Charlestown in 1636 ; was
one of the principal men in Mystic side at the time of
the incorporation of Maiden. He also seems to have
been a man of some wealth and considerable influence.
Thomas Squire came to Charlestown with his wife,
Bridget, in Winthrop's company, in 1630; was No. S3
on the list of church members, in Boston ; was dis-
missed in 1632, with others, to oiganize the new
church in Charlestown.
" John Wayet, Esq., was very prominent among the
first settlers of Maiden. He was the representative
of the town in the General Court from 1666 to 1684,
and in the last-named year, was Speaker of the
House. He served many years also as one of the
selectmen." (Dr. McClure.)
James Greene came from England, was in Charles-
town in 1646 and in Mystic Side in 1647. He was a
member of the church in Charlestown. He and his
wife, Elizabeth, were doubtless among the original
members of the First Church in Maiden. He died
March 26, 1687, aged aeventy-seveu years.
Abraham Hill was made a freeman in Charlestown
in 1640, and died in Maiden, February 13, 1676. He
was the ancestor of the Hills in Cambridge and of
several noted families in New Hampshire. His wife's
name, perhaps, was Sarah.
Thomas Osborne was in Charlestown in 1644, and
was made freeman in 1649. He lived on Mystic side.
His wife, Sarah, was one of the sisterhood who
" stood up manfully in defence of their pastor. Rev.
Mr. Mathews, against the General Court." In 1662
he and hia wife were dismissed to the church in
482
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTT, MASSACHUSETTS.
Charlestown. The next year he " united with Gould
as a Baptist, having embraced the opinions of that
sect as early as 1658." (Savage.)
John Lewis came to Charlestown in 1634. His
first wife's name was Margaret, and by her he had six
children. His second wife's name was Mary Brown
and six children were born to them. He died Sep-
tember 16, 1657.
Thomas Caule, or Call, "a baker, came from Eng-
land with his wife, Bennett, and three children. He
died May, 1676." The name of his second wife was
Joanna, and she was one of the brave women who
pleaded for their minister before the fTeneral Court.
(Dr. McClure.)
Such were the ten men who, it is thought, were
among " the leading men of Maiden " at the time its
First Church wasorganized. Six of them surely were
among the original members of the church, and veiy
likely all of them were. As a class, they were evi-
dently men of ability, integrity and influence. They
were worthy to be the founders of a Christian Church
and to aid in founding a Christian State. Among the
original members were also Wllliaui Sargeant, " the
godly Christian " and lay-preacher, and his good
wife, .loan. John Upham, who was a leading citizen,
held many important offices and trusts in both the
town and the Colony, and was " deacon of the church
for at least twenty years," and his wife, Elizabeth,
were likewise in the list of Brst members. In the
same class, too, without doubt, were most, if not all,
of the thirty-six women who, as will later be shown,
so honorably and publicly stood up in defence of
their minister when they thought him wronged. To
this select number others doubtless belonged, whose
names, though now unlettered on the pages of the
earthly church records, are, we believe, imperishably
"written in the Lamb'.s Book of Life."
The church, which thus began its history early in
May, 1649, entered at once and vigorously upon the
difficult task of obtaining a minister. The members
do not seem to have been unduly fastidious. Within
about a year they extended calls to no less than nine
candidates, viz., to "Mr. Miller, then at Rowley;
Mr. Blinmun, Mr. John Wilson, son of the first pas-
tor of Boston; Mr. Samuel Mather, Mr. Ezekiel
Cheever, Mr. Lyon, to one of the Watertown officers,
to one of the Charlestown church officers and to Mr.
John Breck." (Dr. McClure.) Several of these were
probably at the time students in Harvard College
preparing for the ministry. Some of the list after-
wards became distinguished ministers. None of them
accepted the call from Maiden.
Rev. Marmaduke Mathews the First Minis-
ter.— The first pastor of the church was Rev. Marma-
duke Mathews. He received and accepted a call
some time in the early part of the year 1650. The
exact date of his settlement is not known. During
his brief pastorate he was a sorely afflicted man, but
his troubles were not occasioned by unhappy relations
between him and his church, but partly by neighbor-
ing churches, and chiefly by the General Court and
the magistrates. His case was a remarkable one, and
deserves much ampler treatment than we have space
to give it.
Rev. Marmaduke Mathews, son of Matthew Ma-
thews, born in 1606, at Swansea, in southern Wales,
graduated at Oxford February 20, 1624, at the age of
eighteen ; arrived at Boston September 21, 1638. His
wife, Catharine, united with the First Church in Bos-
ton February 6, 1639. He settled in Yarmouth and
was the first minister in that town, remaining there
from 1639 to 1643. Winlhrop calls him a "godly
minister." Morton, in his " Memorial," under dale
of 1642, mentions his name as among "the special-
ist " of "a considerable number of godly and able
gospel preachers," with whom " about that time the
Lord was pleased, of his great goodneis, richly to ac-
complish and adorn the Colony of Plimouth," " who
then being dispersed and disposed of to the several
churches and congregations thereof, gave light in a
glorious and resplendent manner as burning and
shining lights." Hutchinson speaks of "a set of
pious and learned ministers" who were pastors of
churches in Plymouth Colony in 1643, and Hubbard
affirms that one of this number was Marmaduke
Mathews.
Having closed his ministry in Yarmouth in 1643,
Mr. Mathews, probably in 1644, removed to Hull and
preached in that town, it would seem, several years,
for in 1650 he was spoken of as having iaie^y preached
in Hull.
The civil authorities in Plymouth Colony appear
to have had some dealing with Mr. Mathews before
he left Yarmouth. Mr. Frederick Freeman, in his
" History of C'ape Cod," informs us that even under
the jurisdiction of the Pilgrims,
'* A stri't watch waa kept over the churches by the magistracy. No
church could be gathered without the permissioo of the niagistratee,
aod aoy minuiter preaching without their approbatioD waa liable to li
penalty. Mr. Matbewa thus offended, and waa fined ten pounds."
But the antiquarians have not yet decided with
any unanimity whether he committed this ofience
through mere inadvertence ; or because he did not be-
lieve that a minister of Christ, in his beliefs and offi-
cial service, should be subjected to the will of the
civil authorities ; or was thus punished because he
was judged to have preached erroneous doctrines.
Yet Mr. Freeman, in a foot-note, adds the following
apparently just remark : " Mr. Mathews has been
represented by some of his contemporaries as ' weak
and eccentric,' but we are inclined to think the weak-
ness was mere artless simplicity, and the eccentricity
the frankness of a man void of subtlety."
The imposition of this fine, however, in 1643, and
the troubles connected with it, may have occasioned
his departure from Yarmouth, which occurred the
same year. The people in Hull were satisfied with
his ministry, yet for some reason he left them. They
MAIDEN.
483
then petitioned the magistrates of the Massachusetts
Colony that he might be returned to ihem. On May
2, 1649, the following remarkable response was made
to their petition :
"The Court thinks it noway meet to gmut . . . their desire for
Mr. UathewB returaiog to them, nor residing with them, and do declare
that they And several erronioiia expressions, others weak, iuconveDieDt
and unsafe, for which it judgetli it meet to order, that the said Mr.
3Iatheivs should be admonished by the Governor in the name of this
Court." (Recortlsof MasSAChusetta, vol. ii. p. 276).
This action of the magistrates indicates that in
some way they had already reached the conclusion
that this minister's preaching was not what it should
be.
Two days later, or on May 4th, the General Court
or House of Deputies received a petition from the
people of Hull " for the encouraging [that is, the
furnishing of pecuniary aid tc] Mr. Mathews to go
to them and preach amongst them." The reply ol
" the whole Court " is: "That Mr. Mathews should
not return to Hull, nor reside with them." And
further they " do declare that they find several erro
neous expressions, others weak, inconvenient and
unsafe, for which they judge it meet to order, that
the said Mr. Mathews should be admonished by the
Governor in the name of the Court." Doubtless the
admonition was duly given by the Governor. Mr.
Mathews did not return to Hull.
In the early part of the next year, 1650, Mr. Math-
ews is preaching acceptably to the people in Mai-
den. The church wishes to ordain him as its pastor.
In the mean time Mr. Mathews requests of the Court
an opportunity to explain the binguage used in his
preaching to which exception had been taken. The
voluntary presentation of this request was frank and
honorable, and di.scloses an ingenuous confidence on
his part that he could give a satisfactory explanation.
On June 21, 16.50, the Court ordered that his request
should be granted, and that on the 28th of that month
an opportunity should be furnished him to "give sat-
isfaction for what he had formerly delivered as erro-
neous, &c., to the elders of Boston, Charlestown, Rox-
bury and Dorchester, with such of the magistrates as
shall please to be then present (if he can.) "'
Mr. Mathews appears before that council, but fails
to give satisfaction. Two churches, that of Charles-
town and that of Ruxbury, wrote to their brethren
in Maiden, earnestly advising them not to ordain
him. "The latter, in reply, requested that any 'sin'
in their pastor-elect might be pointed out, and they
would consider it. No reply was received Irom Rox-
bury previous to the ordination, and only the views
of Mr. Nowell, from Charlestown, but whether in be-
half of the church, or as a magistrate, is not stated.
Mr. Mathews was ordained."^ The b.'ethren in Mai-
den were aware that the church in Salem "ordained,"
that is, installed, Mr. Skelton as its pastor and Mr.
' Records of 31assAchiisetta, vol. it, part I, p. 21.
- Krothingham's ' History ofCharleatowii," p. 122.
Higginson as its teacher; that the church in Charles-
town ordained Mr. Wilson as its teacher. They
knew also that the Cambridge platform, adopted two
years before (1648), allowed a church not only to
choose, but ordain its own oflScers. Why, then,
should they not ordain as their pastor the man whom
they had chosen to that office ? In ordaining Mr.
Mathews they supposed they were doing what they
had a perfect right to do, and evidently intended no
disrespect to magistrates or to other churches, and
had they and their pastor been left to themselves,
they might have long labored together in the interest
of Christ and His kingdom— for ought that can now
be seen — in great peace and joy.
Another year passed. On May 7, 1651, the Gene-
ral Court again assembled. Early in the session Mr.
Mai hews was summoned to appear and give satisfac-
tion for " former and later miscarriages." He appears
at the appointed time. May 15th, and listens to
charges, nine in number, grounded upon certain pas-
sages taken from his sermons. He " owned not" the
charges ; but they were supported by the testimony
of two Maiden men, John Hawthorne and Thomss
Lynde. Hawthorne, at another time, was anxious
to obtain from the Court a license to keep a tavern in
Maiden, and sell intoxicating drinks. The hearing
appears to have continued through several days. Mr.
Mathews made an elaborate defense in a paper of
considerable length, in which he explained in detail
the several passages in his sermons on which the nine
charges had been grounded. He wns a trained schol-
ar. He delighted in careful distinctions and defini-
tions. These seemed to him obvious and important,
and in his simplicity he thought he could make them
seem so to others. He read his Hebrew Bible flu-
ently, held it, perhaps, in his hand, as he discoursed
to tlie plain men of the Court upon the meaning of
certain Hebrew words, and gave the exegesis of cer-
tain passages in the Hebrew Scriptures.
The tribunal before which he stood was made up of
sturdy, honest Puritans. They were farmers, mechan-
ics, wood-choppers and captains of military compa-
nies,— good men and true, doubtless, all of them.
But they could not understand the fine theological
distinctions and exegetical subtleties of the Oxford
divine. Only fourteen years before, the whole Col-
ony had been thrown into the wildest excitement
and panic by the Antinomian teachings of Ann
Hutchinson, which were judged to be subversive of
good morals and of all civil law and order, as well as of
the divine law and Christian faith. The deputies
and magistrates were suspicious that Mr. Mathews
was another Antinomian, or something worse. In
reality, he was far removed from Antinomianism, al-
though, beyond question, he did believe in the inde-
pendence of the local church, and that a Christian
minister is responsible for his religions beliefc and
teachings to no authority save that of the charch of
which he is a minister, and that of Christ, the only
484
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Head of the Church. Apparently it was this belief, his
rare scholarship not always wisely exhibited, his fond-
ness for using unusual words and expressions iu at-
tempting to make plain what he regarded as important
theological distinctions, that aroused suspicions and
occasioned all his troubles. In his theological belief
he appears to have been a strict Calviuist. There is no
evidence that he was a spiritualist, oratrauscendental-
ist, in the ordinary sense of ihuse terms. But his mind
worked analytically, and he was in the habit of pre-
senting his analysis of scriptural doctrine iu his ser-
mons. For example, one charge made a»;ainst him
was that of teaching, that the saints have a larger va-
riety of righteousnesses than Christ Himself h.Ts. His
reply was :
" When I said that saints have more variety of
righteousnesses than Christ hath, it was in the explicu-
tion of the word in Isaiah, 45: 24, which in the origi-
nal is in the plural number, rigbteousnei-ses. ' Surely
in the Lord have I righteousuesses and strength ; ' not
that they have more variety of righteousnesses than He
hath to give; because they have from Him, besides
inherent righteousness and moral righteousness, im-
putative righteousness also, which He needed uot
for himself."
This statement, in which he discriminated between
the different kinds of righteousness, may have seem-
ed to the plain men of the Court to be dark sayings,
" unsafe and inconvenient expressions," but there was
nothing in them that was inconsistent with the
strictest Calvinism; and this was evidently the judg-
ment of his own people, among whom was Joseph
Hill, one of the ablest, most intelligent and orthodox
men in the Colony. Mr. Mathews' rhetorical and some-
what startling method of presenting this discrimina-
tion was doubtless what alarmed the brave captains
and other deputies in the General Court.
Another charge made against the Maiden minister
was that of teaching that no sin should be reproved
save the sin of unbelief, and that no virtue should be
enjoined save that of faith. This charge was grounded
upon a fact — namely, the teaching, by Mr. Mathews,
that all sins are included in that unbelief which the
gospel so severely condemns ; and that all virtues are
included in that faith which the gospel so earnestly
enjoins. But this teaching is by no means equivalent
to saying that there are no sins to be reproved ex-
cept unbelief; or that there are no virtues or duties
to be enjoined except faith. Consequently Mr.
Mathews replied :
" I do believe and profess that all sins, of all per-
sons, both under the law and under the gospel, are to
be reproved both in unbelievers and others. And if
any words, at any time, in any place, among any per-
sons, have fallen from my lips or pen, which in the
judgment of any seem to sound otherwise, I do not
own them as my judgment." (Hutchinson papers.)
This answer was doubtless honestly given ; and if
so, it is difficult to see why it was not satisfactory.
All that is recorded of Mr. Mathews goes to show
that he was a highly cultivated man for the times in
which he lived. That he was most devout and spirit-
ually-minded, there can be no question. That he was
thoroughly evangelical in his faith, of a pure and pa-
tient spirit, perfectly frank and guileless, and unusu-
ally faithful and zealous in all the work of the
Christian ministry, is almost equally certain. He
presented to the Court carefully prepared and able —
perhaps too able — answers to all the charges prefer-
red against him. Then came a written testimony,
signed by nine members of his church in Maiden,
affirming that in his answers to the Court he had stat-
ed, upon the points in question, for substance what he
had delivered in his sermons, — nine brethren thus
testifying for him against two Maiden men testifying
in opposition to him. Moreover, there is still extant
a deposition, in favor of the pastor, signed by five of
the leading brethren of his church, dated May IGth
and certified by a magistrate on the 17th, in which
they affirm that the answers " our Reverend Pastor,
Mr. Marmaduke Mathews, hath given unto the Court "
" are the substance of what was publicly delivered
by him, and are the truth and nothing but the truth."
But all was in vain. The church, as well as its pas-
tor, was under suspicion, and the testimony in his
favor — though it so greatly preponderated iu both
character and quantity the testimony against him —
availed nothing. The tribunal would not acquit him.
On the contrary, " the Court declared" that the ac-
cused minister had " formerly and latterly given of-
fence to magistrates and elders, and many brethren,
in some unsafe, if not unsound, expressions in his
public teaching ;" that he had " not yet given satis-
faction to those magistrates and elders who were ap-
pointed to receive satisfaction from him ; " that since
that time he had " delivered in his public ministry
other unsafe and offensive expressions," on account of
which " magistrates, ministers and churches " had
been moved " to write to the church of Maiden to ad-
vise them not to proceed to his ordination," — that
" yet, contrary to all advice and the rule of God's word,
as also the peace of the churches, the church of
Maiden hath proceeded to the ordination of Mr.
Mathews."
The Court, therefore, " taking into consideration
the premises and the dangerous consequences and
effects that may follow such proceedings," ordered
that the offences " touching doctrinal points " should
fimt be duly considered by a Committee of Magistrates
and Deputies. This committee consisted of " Mr.
Simon Bradstreet, Mr. Samuel Simonds, Captain Wil-
liam Hawthorne, Captain Edward Johnson, Jlr. John
Glover, Captain Eleazer Luaher, Captain Daniel
Gookin, Mr. Richard Brown and Captain Humphrey
Atherton." These five captains and four untitled
citizens were to examine a scholarly minister, a
graduate of Oxford, and decide the question of the
soundness or unsoundness of his theology. They
MALDEN.
485
were to meet on the 11th of June following, at the
Ship Tavern, Boston ; and it was thoughtfully pro-
vided that, "in case of difficulty." the committee
could call in some of the " Reverend Elders" to give
" help and advice." They were required to make re-
turn to the Court at its next session. The church of
Maiden, for the offence of ordaining Mr. Mathews
without the approbation of magistrates and churches,
was ordered to make answer at the next session of the
Court. It was also ordered that Mr. Mathews, for
"suffering himself to be ordained, contrary to the
rules of God's word," " to the offence of the Magis-
trates, Reverend Elders and some churches, should
give satisfaction to the Court at its present session by
an humble acknowledging of his sin for so proceed-
ing." But ill case he refused to do this, he was "to
pay the sum of £10 within one month." Fifteen
deputies dissented from this judgment. The whole
number was forty-one.
Mr. Mathews failed to appear before the Cnurt to
make humble acknowledgment of his " sin" in suffer-
ing himself to be ordained the pastor of the church
in Maiden. Consequently the marshal was ordered
"to levy" on his goods "the sum of £10 as his fine."
The marshal, in attempting to execute this order
could find no goods in the possession of the minister,
except a library, and in due time he so reported to the
Court. This latter, consequently, at its next session,
ordered that the execution of the judgment of £10
against Mr. Mathews "shall be respited till other
goods appear besides books."
Mr. Mathews was popular with his people; and his
church, being indignant with Mr. Lynde, one of its
members, for having given testimony against the pas-
tor before the Court, proposed to subject him to se-
vere discipline for his offence. The Court of Assist-
ants, hearing of this, addressed to the church a letter,
<lated March 4, ltJ51, which is significant as indicat-
ing the relation of the magistrates, or of "The Coun-
sel!," as they called themselves, to individual
churches. The letter is as follows :
'^Christian FrifwU nud Brethren:
" We, beiii:^ treilihly iufurmed of :iouie purpofle of joiin to proceed
further to *eii.ture Tbomiu Tjyaile for ttie teatiiiiooy be gnve in Court
:i(;Hinat ilr. Matbewti, aod that to excuniruunicatiuii, iiiitJ knowing our-
aelvea witU what temlemetn and caution be gave hid aforemtd testi-
itioDy. uDd what diaturbaace your pruceedlug may probably occu^iou,
bulb iu the cburcbea and civil ^overuliient ; we tliuuglit it uo leM tliau
our (Jutv. io a cAae of this coocerniiient, tjet icit/ioiu amj iitteuiion ur desire
in the least to mfrinije the liberty the O'rd Jcaua VliriMt fuitli pt\teha»etl for ttiM
ihurchea, to deeire you to take couDscIl aud advice uf three or four of
your uext neighbouring cburcbea in the cafle aforesaid, before you pro-
ceed to further cenaure ; — it being alao Thomaa Lyiid'a earneat request,
aa we are informed ; au ttiat if the caae shall appear clear to ulhere, aa it
may aeem to do to you, you may tben proceed with more peace and com-
fort, aud be more fully couviuced, if then he abuuld continue obetinate.
But in caae it ahould appear otherwise to other churches than it dotb t<>
you, the rule of Uod'a word may be further attended therein, for the
preservation of true love aud peace, which we desire you will jointly
endeavour to promote with ourselves. So we rest your loving frieuda.
" By order of the (.'otinsell,
'• EoWABU KA\\aoN, Secrttarii."'
(Maas. " lliflt. Coll.," vol. Ui., secood aeries.)
In the mean time the committee of nine captains
and yeomen, appointed by the Court to investigate
the theology of Mr. Mathews, proceeded to discharge
their duty. A detailed narrative of the proceedings
in that investigation, on June 11, 1651, at the Ship
Tavern, Boston, would be of exceeding interest. But
no such narrative has been preserved. There is ex-
tant, however, a characteristic letter which Mr.
Mathews addressed to that committee. The date of
the letter — June 13, 1651 — indicates that it was writ-
ten after he had appeared before the committee, and
had passed the ordeal of his examination. He wrote
thus:
"To ye Honored Committee of ye Generall Court, appointed to examine
some doctrinail points delivered att Hull and since yt time at Mai-
den by M. M,, Honored of Qod and of hla people :
" Having given you an account uf my aence and of my faith in ye
concluaiotia web were accuaed before you, I thought good to acquaint
you, yt, if any among you (or others) ahould count that faith a faosie,
aud tbatseoce to be nun -aence, I desire yt God may forgive them: I doe,
couceaving yt such doe not yet ao well know what they doe, as ibey
shall know hereafter.
'*Yet, in case yt this should reach any aatisfaction, to such as are
(yett) unsatiafled with my expressions, for to know that I do acknowl-
edge yt there be auudrie defects in aundrie points yt 1 have delivered,
I doe hereby aignlfie yt through mercy 1 cannot but see and also io-
geouously confess yt some of my aayings are not aafe nor sound in the
superlative degree : to wit : they are not moat aafe ; nor yett eytber
riound or aafe in a comparative degree; for I easily yeald yt uotonely
wiaer men probably wunhl, but alao I myself poeiblie monght, have made
out X'a niynd (Chriat'a mind) and my owne meaning in termes more
sound and more aafe than I have done, had I uot been too much wanting
liutb to hla sacred nmjeaty, whose unwortby'messenger I was, aud also to
tuy bearers, and to myself, for web Ideeire tobe humbled, and of web I
desire lobe healed by ye author of both. As I doe nut doubt but yt
conscientious and charitable hearted Christians (whose property and
practise it is to put uppon doubtfull positions not ye worst construction
but ye beat) will discern, as 1 doe, yt there is a degree of souadnessiD
what I do uwne, though but a positive degree.
" However, it ia and 1 1 trust) ever aball be, my care to be more clrcnni
apect than I have hitherto been in avoydlng all appearances yt way for
ye time to couie, yt si>u I may ye better approve myself through ye grace
uf (,'hriat and }e glory of tjud, audi a workman as need not be ashamed.
In ye intt-rim I remayne amongst his unworthy servants ye meet un-
worthy, and
" Your accused and condemoed
fellow-creature to commend iD
ye things of Christ,
" Marhaduke ^Fatheves.
" Boston, this 13tb of ye 4 month, 1651."
(Fiotbingham'a ** History of Charlestown," pp. 124, 125.)
The committee's report is dated June 17, 1651, and
reads thus :
" Upon aerious considerutton of the charges brought io against Mr.
Mathews, together with the answers to them by himself giveo, as also
upon conference with hiniaelf concerning the aame, we, the t^^nunittee,
yet I'emain much nnaatlaQetl, tindiog several particulars weak, unsafe
and unsound, and uot retracted by him, some whereof are contained in
thid paper, with hia last deliberate answer thereunto.
"SivoN Bboadstkeet,
"WtLLIAM HaWTHOKHX,
" BlCUABO BaoWN,
" JoHM GI.OVBA,
*' Eleazkr Lushes,
" HuMPUUT Atheetom."
Three other members of the committee did not sign
this report. One of the three, however (Samnel
Symonds), notified the Court that he was not present
at the examination of Mr. Mathews ; but having per-
used his writings, he fully assented to the report of
the committee.
486
HISTORy OP xMIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
The Court in its autumnal session resumed its con-
sideration of the case of Mr. Mathews and that of his
church. In response to summons, the pastor and
■ three members of the church in Maiden — Mr. Joseph
Hills, Edward Carrington and John Wayte — appeared
before "the whole Court," Oct. 24, 1651. Mr. Math-
ews' case was taken up first. The Court had not
received much light from its committee respecting
the theology of the pastor. Moreover, the idea seems
at last to have dawned upon the magistrates and
deputies that the churches and ministers were better
fitted to deal with theological questions than a com-
mittee of soldiers and citizens. Accordingly, as Mr.
Mathews had not given satisfaction through " their
Committee or otherwise," the Court declared " that,
although the civil and church powers may proceed
concerning ofienders in their several ways, without
interfering one with another, yet, in this case, upon
consideration, they judge it doth stand with wisdom
to have the churches to act before themselves." Ac-
cordingly, it is decided that the church of Maiden
shall speedily deal with Mr. Matthews. And if he
"doth acknowledge his errors and unsafe expressions,
and give satisfaction under his hand," and the magis-
trates are informed of it within sii weeks, "the mat-
ter at present may so rest." Otherwise the secretary
of the Court " shall give notice to the churches of
Cambridge, Charlestown, Lynn and Reading" — not
excluding other churches — " to send messengers " to
constitute a council, which shall give advice to the
church in Maiden, and also shall decide the questions
at issue respecting the theological beliefs of Mr.
Mathews.
The Court next considered the offence of the church
in ordaining Mr. Mathews without the approbation
of the magistrates and other churches. The three breth-
ren present, under the lead of Joseph Hills, himself an
able lawyer, and at that time a member of the Gene-
ral Court, defended their church with great ability.
They presented a written argument. Mr. Frothing-
ham speaks of it aa a " manly and well-prepared doc-
ument," and adds :
" It argues, first, that the offensive expressions
delivered at Maiden were not so much before ordina-
tion as after; and 'for the business of Hull,' Mr.
Mathews had undergone his punishment, and ' stood
clear in law : ' second, that in case they had ' swerved
from any rule of Christ,' they should have been pro-
ceeded with ' in a church way,' for they ' both owned
and honoured church communions : ' third, that they
had invited two churches, before ordination, to pur-
sue this course, and were ready to reply to any charges
of ' sin ' they had committed : fourth, they begged the
Court to consider what passed between them and the
magistrates, and ' that no return was made only by
Mr. Nowell:' fifth, that it was with grief of heart
they seemed 'to wave or undervalue' the advice of
any magistrate or church, but, considering the liberty
of the churches, allowed by law, to choose their own
officers, and apprehending him (Mr. Mathews) to be
both pious, able and orthodox, as the law provides,
we proceeded.' The gist of the document, however,
is contained in the last specifications — a part of
which reads as follows :
" ' Our plea is, that we know no law of Christ or
the country, that binds any church of Christ not to
ordain their own officers without advice from magis-
trates and churches. We freely acknowledge our-
selves engaged to any that in love offered any advice
unto us, but we conceive a church is not bound to
such advice farther than God commends it to their
understanding and conscience. And if a church act
contrary to such advice, we see not how, or by what
rule, they are bound to take offence against a church
of Christ in that respect, namely, for not attending
that advice, or that a church ol Chri.st so doing should
be concluded offenders in any court of justice, and so
plead that our laws allow every church free liberty of
all the ordinances of God accordiner to the rule of the
.Scripture ; and in particular free liberty of selection
and ordination of all their officers, from time to time,
provided they be pious, able and orthodox. And
that no injunction shall be put upon any church offi-
cer or member, in point of doctrine or discipline,
whether for substance or circumstance, besides the In-
stitutes of the Lord.'" (" History of Charlestown,"
p. 127.)
But under all this able and seemingly conclusive
reasoning in defence of the church, the Court remained
unconvinced. The church, thus arraigned and de-
fended, was condemned as guilty of a gross offence in
ordaining its own minister. It has been suggested
that the Court grounded its action upou a statute of
1641, which empowered the civil authority to forbid
any church to be gathered without approbation of
magistrates and other churches, and also " to see that
the peace, ordinances and rules of Christ are observed
in every church." (Felt's " Ecclesiastical History,"
vol. ii. p. 53.) But was there, in thia case, any breach
of the statute ? The Court might also have defended
its right to deal with the church at Maiden, if there
was occasion for it, by appealing to the Cambridge
platform ; for that platform, while allowing each
church to choose and ordain its own officers, also de-
clares, that, " It is the duty of the magistrate to take
care of matters of religion, and to improve bis civil
authority for the observing of the duties commanded
in the first, as well as for observing the duties com-
manded in the second table ;" and to restrain and
punish certain sins, among which are " heresy '" and
•' venting corrupt and pernicious opi nions that destroy
the foundation." But admitting that the magistrates
were legally in possession of this right, was there, in
this instance, any occasion for the exercise of it?
The sentence against the church reads thus:
"The Court ordere, that the membera of the Church of MaldeD shall
be flDed for their offeliaes the earn of fifty pouDds, which shall Dot extend
to ao7 penon that bath given thfa Court satisfactioD, aad that cod-
MALDEN.
487
senCdvl not to Ur. Muthews' ordiuutiua. And it is further ordered^ that
the said fifty pouDds shall be levied by execurloa od the estates of Mr.
JuMph Hills, Edward Carrtngton aud John Wayte, who are hereby em-
piiwered to make prop-trtlon of the said sum ou the rest of the members
uf thechurch, except t>efore excepted."
There seems to have been preserved no complete
list of the theological errors charged against Mr.
Mathews. Statements of some of these charges, how-
ever, with Mr. Mathews' answer, are extant. Two of
them, with the answers given, have been noticed.
There is not space to present more ; but it seems well-
nigh inexplicable that such answers as he gave were
not satisfactory — at least to the more intelligent of 1
the reverend elders of the churches — and that they [
did not interpose in his behalf.
Mr. Mathews, convinced at last that he could not
make himself understood, and that he must be labor-
ing under some real inability to set forth clearly, and
with proper and safe expressions, the truths of God's
Word, on the 28th of October, 1651, sent to the Court
the following confession :
" To Ike Honourable Court :
" 3[ai-maduke Matthews humbly shewetb, —
"That through Diercy I am in some meuiiiire seusible of my great iusuf-
ficieocy to declare the couosel of God uoto his people (as I ought to do),
and bow (through the darkness and ignorance that is in me) I am ver}-
apt to let fall some expressious that are weak and inconvenient ; and I
do acknowledge that iu several of those expressions referred to in the
examination of the Honoured Committee 1 might (had the Lord seen it
so good) have expressed and delivered myself in terms uiure free from
exception ; and it is my desire (the Lord strengthening nie), as much as
in me lieth, to avoid all appearances of evil therein for time to come, us
iu all other respects whatsoever; which, that I may do, 1 humbly de-
sire your hearty prayers to iiod for me, and, in special, that 1 may take
heed to the ministry committed to me, that I may fulfil it to the praise
of God and profit of bis people.
" Your humble aervaut iu any service of Christ,
"SIabmaduke Mathews."
The same day, October 28th, thirty-six women of
.Maiden, several of them wivea of the leading nieu in
the church, honored their pastor, and gained for their
own names a glorious immortality, by sending to the
court the following petition :
" To llu Uua'il C'uurl ;
" The petition ul' many inhabitants of .Maiden and Charlestuwu, or
M-istick side, humbly sheweth : That the Almighty God, iu great mercy
to our souls, ;Li ue trust, bath, after many prayers, endeavors and lung
waiting, broncht Mr. 3latbews among us and put him into the work uf
the miuisiry , by whose pious life and labors the Lord hath afforded us
many ^aviug convictions, directious, reproofs and consolations ; and
whose continuance in the service of Christ, if it were the good pleasure
Iff God, we much desire ; and it ie our humble request to this hunoreil
Cuurt that you would be pleased to paas by some f»ersonal aud particular
tailings (which may, as we buuibly cuiiceivf, be for your glory, and no
i^rief of heart to you in time to come), and to permit hiiu to employ those
talents God has furnished him witbal. So shall we, your humble peti-
tioners, and many others, be bound to pray, ±c.
** Joan Sargeant. Thankslord Shepperd.
Joan Spragiie. Fra. Cooke.
Jane Learned. Eliz. Kiioher.
Eliz. Carringtuu. Bridget Dexter.
Bridget Squire. Lydta Greenland.
Mary Wayte. Marget Pemertoo.
Sai«h Hills. Han. Whitlamore.
An. BIbble. KlU. Green.
Eliz. Greene. .Mary Rust.
Wld. Blancher. Eliz. Grover.
Eliz. Addama. Han. Barret.
Sarah Bucknam. EUl. Mirrable.
Satab Osboum.
An. Hett.
Marj- Pratt.
Eliz. Green.
Joan Chadwicka.
Marget Green.
Helen Luddington.
Susan Wilkinson.
Joanna (^11.
Rachell Attwood.
Marge Welding.
Rebec. Hills."
If any persons now living can trace their descent
from any one of those noble matrons, they may well
be proud of their lineage.
On the 31st of October Joseph Hills, in behalf of
his brethren, made further representation :
" In this they set forth the great pains they had taken to procure a
minister — having applied to not less than nine * orthodox, approved men *
— before they had any thought of Ur. Mathews. They also urged thai
the written objections to bim, sent by certain ' honored magistrates,* did
not come In the form of official acta, but merely as advice, which the
church felt at lil>erty to accept or not, aa they pleaaed." (Dr. Mc-
Clnre.)
But no argument, pleading or petition was of any
avail ; the Court was inexorable. The only response
made to the pathetic petition of the thirty-six
women, and the repeated pleadings of Joseph Hills,
himself a deputy and a member of the church for
which he pleaded, was the stern judgment of the
Court, that the young church should be burdened and
disgraced by a fine of fifty pounds.
The next year, (May 27, 1652) "The messengers
of the churches of Charlestown, Cambridge, Lynn and
Reading make these returns to the Court." They
report some confession from Mr. Mathews, but are
not tiiUy satisfied. In view of this result of council,
the Court," having perused Mr. Mathews' confession,''
" and finding it not to be such and so full as might be
expected, yet are willing so to accept it at present as
to pass it by," but refuse to remit the fines imposetl
upon Mr. Mathews and the church, " the country be-
ing put to ao great trouble, charges and expen.ses
in hearing of the cause." But at the autumnal
session (October 26, 1652), the Court, in response
to petitions, remitted Mr. Mathews' fine, and ten
pounds of that imposed upon the church. On May
29, 1655, in answer lo the petition of Joseph Hills
and seven other members of the church, in which
they humbly acknowledge their ofl'ence, and crave a
remitment of over thirteen pounds of the fine yet un-
paid, the Court accepts the humble acknowledgments
but refuse to remit the fine. Finally, on the Slst of
Mav, 1660, it was ordered that the whole matter of the
fine imposed upon the church should be submitted to
the County Court of Middlesex for examination aud
adjustment. " In 1662 the Court abated ten pounds
of the fine of Edward Carrington." It cost the
colonial government something to collect that fine
from the Maiden church. It is doubtful whether the
whole of it was ever paid. But at a later date the
General Court gave to Joseph Bills a considerable
tract of land in recognition of his valuable public
services.
Mr. Mathews appears to have left Maiden of his
own will, probably in 1652. He preached for a short
time iu Lynn, but in two or three years returned to
488
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
his native town, Swansea, in Soutliern Wales, where
he was known and beloved. He became at once
vicar of St. John's Church in that town, where he
labored with zeal and success, until the Act of
Uniformity was passed in 1602. This was too much
for him to bear. In the interest of religious freedom
he refused to submit, and was one of the two thousand
Puritan ministers who were driven from their
churches and silenced. Dr. Oalamy says of him :
" He left a good living when he had nothing
else to subsist upon. He afterwards preached
by connivance of the magistrates in a little chapel
at the end of the town. He was a very pious
and zealous man, who went about to instruct people
from house to house. All his discourse, in a manner,
was about spiritual matters. He made no visits but
such as were religious and ministerial, and received
none but in a religious manner. . . . He lived above
the world, and depended wholly upon Providence for
the support of himself aud Lis family. ... He lived
to a good old age, and lontinued useful to the hisl.
He died about HiS;',." '
After Mr. .Mathews' departure from Jlaldeii, Mr.
Nathaniel Upham preached for a time as stated sup-
ply. He was the sou of.Jt>hn and Elizabeth Uplium.
Hi.'* father has already been referred to :is one of
the original members of the church, and one of its
deacons for twenty years. Nathaniel was bom in
England, and was but three years old when the family
arrived in this country. He was admitted as free-
mason in 1G5.3, and was then probably not far from
twenty-one years of age. He married, on the 5th of
March, lOGl, in Cambridge, Miss Elizabeth Steadman,
and on the 20th of the same mouth he died. Dr.
McClure thinks that " he was undoubtedly one of the
students from the college mentioned by Johnson, as
assisting to supply the pulpit before the coming of
Mr. Mathews." If so, he took only a partial college
course, for his name is not in the catalogue of the
graduates of Harvard.
Rev. Michael Wioglesworth xisd His Col-
leagues.— This distinguished divine, the second min-
ister settled in Maiden, was bora October 18, 1631, j
probably iu some part of Yorkshire, England. His
father's name was Edward. The son, in his brief |
autobiography, says : !
" I was burn of Godly Parent*, that feared the Lord greatly, even '
from their youth, bnt in an ungodly plwe, . . . that was cunaiitued
with Hre iu a greut part uf it, after GuU Imd brouRht tliem out of it.
Tlioctegodlyparents of mine meeting uith opposition and pel-seciltinn fur
religion, bi-cause they went from their own Parish Church to hear the
word and reeeive the Lord's Supper, etc., took up resolutions to plurk-
up their stakes and remove themselves to New England, and accord
ingly tiiey did so, leaving dear relations, friend.sand acquaintances, their
native laud, a Dew built house, a nourishing tnule, to expose themselves
to the hazzard of the seas, and to the distressing difficulties of a howl-
ing wilderness, that they might enjoy Liberty of Conscience and Christ '■
in bis ordinances. And the Lord brought them hither, and landed them
at Charlestowo, after many difficulties and hazzards, and nis along with
them, being a child not full seven yearv old." The family arrived
1 " NoQ Coofomust's Memorial," rul. iL pp. 627, 62S.
"probably in the latter part of .\usU8t, Itujs." (^lemoir of Rev.
Michael Wigglesworth, by John Ward Dean, pp. 14, 13(1.)
In October they went to New Haven, and for a
time were in straitened circumstances, as they " dwelt
in a cellar, partly underground, covered with earth,
I the first winter." The next summer the father, am-
bitious to give his only son a good education, placed
him under the instruction of the celebrated Ezekiel
' Cheever, then a young man, afterwards a teacher in
I Ipswich, Charlestown aud Boston. The boy's educa-
tion was soon interrupted by the lameness and ill-
I health of his father. But in his fourteenth year, as
\ iie was judged " not tit lor husbandry," he was again
i sent to school, and " in two years and three-quar-
ters " was deemed tilted for Harvard College; " aud
I thither," he says, "I was sent far from my parents
! and acijuaiutance." He speaks pathetically of the
I s.acritices his father made in securing the education of
I his son, and tells the story of his own conversion :
•* It Wiui .in act ,,f ;;rertt .-•elf-deuial in ijiy lather, that, nutwithstaudiug
, lii.- (ivvii l.tuieui-ris and great ueiikne:--, uf IxhIv, which re<iuired the Sel'-
\ ice ami helpfulness uf a ^ou, and ii.ivilli; but ,iln' sun, to he the statT
.lud supporter of his weakness, he wuiiM vet, I'ur my good, l*e content to
• h.-ny hini.>ielf uf that cuuifort and lu'si^tanre I might have lent him."
■' When I first lauie to the i;,illege I had, iruleed, .■iijuyed the beneht uf
teligiuiis aud strict •--tliK-aliuii, anil Gu<l in liis mercy aii'l pity kept nie
fioin at-andaluus sins before I raiiie lliillier and after 1 i-iiiiie there ; but
;ihis! I had a naughty, vile heart, and was acted by cumipt nature, and
therefore could propound no right and noble ends to tnysetf, hut acted
hum self and fur self. I was, ilideiil, :,ludiuUf, aud .struve to outdo in.v
C'-'Uipeera, bnt it was for honor and applaud and preferment and such
jioor beggarly ends. Thus I had my ends, and liod liml bis ends far dif-
fering fn.ni mine. . . , Hut whi-n I had been there about th|-ee
yeai-s aihl a half, Gud, in his luve aiel pity Iu my ^uul, wrought a great
rlmUL'e in nie, butli ill heail ami life, and (ruiii that time furwaid (
learneil tu >tiidy uith t,.,d and lor tiud. .\iiil whereas befule that I
had lli.iughtsof iipplviiig myself tu the i-liiily and piiictiieuf pbysick,
I wbully laid a>ide tlio>e thuiiglit!. and did chuuse tu serve L'lil ist in the
w..rk of the iiiiiii.^iry, if he wuiibl pk-.ise to ht me for it, and to ac-
cept iiiy service in that great work."
He was graduated in Ki.iil. Mr. Dean informed us
I hat, ■' In the college catalogue, the name of Michael
Wigglesworth stands at the head of his class ;" that
" he was chosen fellow of the college not long after he
was graduated, and was one of the earliest members
of the corporation, chosen by the body It-^elf;" and
that, " he was a tutor as early as .luly, 16.52."' Later
in his life he w.is considered a candidate for the pres-
idency of the college, and probably was elected to
that office, but declinetl to accept the position." (See
Mr. Dean's "'Memoir of ^Michael Wigglesworth," pp.
S8-89.)
Having prepared himself for the Christian minis-
try while serving the college as a tutor, he received
a call to become the minister of the church in Mai-
den. The exact date of the ordination is not known.
Dr. .McClure says :
" When about twenty-two years of age he was invited to preach in
Maiden. It was some five months before he concluded to accept the in*
vitatiun. He supplied the pulpit a year and a half, being much troubled
tu decide what his duty might be, before he was inducted into the pas-
loral office. This was in or about the year lll,'»4."
Mr. Dean, in his "Memoir of Mr. Wigglesworth,"
says: "I presume that his ordination did not take
MALDEN.
489
place till after Aug. 25, 1656," as that was the date
of his dismission from the church in Cambridge and
recommendation to the church in Maiden.
Mr. VVigglesworth w.is a young man of deep piety,
and sincerely devoted to the service of Christ. Cotton
Mather, speaking of him as a tutor in the college,
says:
*• With a rare faithfulDeas did he adom the Station. He uaed all the
means imagiDabte to make hia Pupils not only good ScholarB, bat also
good Christians, and to instil into tbem those things which might render
them rich Blessings unto the Churches of God. ... He employed
bis Prayers and Tears to God for them ; and had such a flaming zeal to
make them worthy men, that, upon Reflection, he was afraid, lest hia
cares for their Good, and bis affertion for them, should fo drink op his
very Spirit iia to steal away bis heart from Goii." (Funeral sermon.)
It was a young man of such piety, and of such
evangelistic fervor, as well as of rare scholarship,
who came to Maiden to be its second minister. He
was ordained as Teac/ier. His predecessor, Mr. Math-
ews, was ordained as Pastor. This distinction, then
familiar to the churches, was not so much a dis-
tinction of offices as a division of ministerial labors.
According to the Cambridge Platform: "The pastor's
special work is, to attend to exliortatioc, and therein
to administer a word of wisdom ; the teacher is to at-
tend to doctrine, and therein to administer a word of
knowledge." Either might administer the sacra-
ments. The pastor was to have the watch and care
of the church ; the teacher was to instruct the people
in the doctrines of Christianity. The distinction im-
plies that there were to be, if possible, two ministers
in every church. Few young churches were able to
support two ministers. But Mr. Dean suggests that,
" Perhaps Mr. Wigglesworth may have thought him-
self not well fitted for the active duties of parochial
life, and may have chosen the office of teacher, to in-
dicate the service he was best able to render to his
parish."
The ardent piety and the passion for the conversion
and salvation of souls, which hecarried into his min-
isterial labors, are disclosed in a few extracts from his
private Sabbath memoranda, first published by Dr.
McClure :
" Mnrch 21, 10.58. Oh, how vehemenlly do I desire to serre God, and
not myself, in the conversion of souls this day! My soul longs after
thy house and work, O God I "
"January 0, 1B.J9. My soul panteth after thee, 0 God! After more
of thy favors, more of thine image. 0 satisfy me with the fatness of
thy bouse, make me to drink of the rivers of thy joys, so that for the
outward pressures 1 may have inward sopportings and consolations. I
long to serve thee, 0 Christ ! help thou me ! '^
" Febmary G. My soul, be cheerful la thy work ; than senrest a good
Master."
"June .J. Now, in the strength of Christ, I desire to seek him and
the atlvancement of God's glory, in the salvation of souls this day. <)h,
that I might see the fruit of my labors before I die I 0 my soul ! per-
fonn this .as thy ladt."
Mr. Wlgglesworth's physical constitution was never
robust. He suffered repeatedly from attacks of severe
sickness. Not many years after his settlement he was
found to be atflicted with some occult disease, which
seriously interrupted his public ministerial labors,
and at length occasioned the entire suspension of
them. He thought of resigning his office, but his
people seem to have been unwilling that he should
do so, though he soon ceased to receive a salary.
During the time of this enforced relinquishment of
his pulpit (a period of at least twenty-one years)
three ministers in succession were called to be his
colleagues, and each was ordained as pastor of the
church.
The first of these was Rev. Benjamin Bunker.
He was born in Charlestown in 1635, and was the son
of George and Judith Bunker. His father owned
some of the high land in that town, and Bunker Hill
received its name from him. The son was graduated
at Harvard in 1658, and was ordained pastor of the
church in Maiden December 9, 1663, when he was
twenty-eight years old. He died in his pastorate,
February 2, 1669-70. The fact that " Mr. Wiggles-
worth wrote his elegj', in which he gives him a high
character for sincerity, modesty and devotion to his
calling," indicates that the relations between them
were fraternal and helpful.
The second colleague was Bev. Benjamin Black-
man, son of Rev. Adam Blackman, first minister of
Stratford, Ct. Sprague's Annals, (article on Wiggles-
worth) inform us that he " was ordained in Maiden
in 1674, and resigned his charge in 1678." Mr. Dean re-
marks : '' Rev. Mr. Blackman was ordained as pastor."
The town records simply state that he " suppUed the
desk four years, and left in the year 1678." His de-
parture appears to have occurred " in consequence of
some discontent." In 1679 " a committee settled
with Mr. Blackman ; " but " nine years afterwards, in
May 1688, he sued the town for arrears still due."
(Dr. McClure.) He went from Maiden to Scarboro',
Me., where he seems to have been respected as a
preacher and a citizen. He was the representative of
ihat town in 1683. It is believed that he died in
Boston.
Rev. Thomas Cheever, son of the celebrated school-
master, Ezekiel Cheever, was the fifth minister in
Maiden, and the third colleague of Mr. Wigglesworth.
He was born August 3, 1658, graduated at Harvard
in 1677, came to Maiden in his twenty-second year,
" began to preach there on the 14th of February,
1679-80, but was not ordained till the 27th of July,
1681. His connection with this parish lasted about
six years, including the time he acted as stated supply."
(Mr. Dean, in Memoir of Mr. Wigglesworth.) lu
1686 some difficulty arose between him and his people,
on account of certain offensive words uttered by him.
What the words were is not now known, but " they
are supposed to have been of a theological nature."
(Mr. Corey.) The trouble was so serious that an
pcclesiastial council was called, " which met in Mai-
den, April 7, 1686, and adjourned to Boston, where
meetings were held May 20th and 27th, and Jane
10th." The council, while not approving of the
offensive words, yet advised the church to grant Mr.
Cheever " a loving dismission." (Mr. Dean, Memoir
490
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
of Mr. Wiggleaworth, pp. 90,91.) After his dismis-
sal he " lived in retirement nearly thirty years," but
" on October 19, 1715, he was settled aa pastor of the
First Church in Chelsea, where he officiated over
thirty-four years, and where he died, December 27,
1749, at the advanced age of ninety-one." (Mr. Dean.)
The fact, that while settled at Chelsea he preached in
Maiden two sermons, which were printed, indicates,
that pleasant relations had been restored between him
and the Maiden Church.
At the time Mr. Bunker was ordained, Mr. Wig-
giesworth was in the West Indies. He had sailed for
Bermuda, September 23, 1663, mainly for the benefit
of his health, but also, as he himself says, " to help the
people's modesty," in putting in his place "a better
watchman " and "a more painful laborour." He re-
mained in Bermuda seven months and a half, and then
returned home, none the better for the stormy voyage
and warm climate, and consequently much discourag-
ed. But the affectionate manner in which the people
received him upon hi3 return, greatly cheered his
heart.
Although for many years after this he was not able
to preach, he was yet not inactive. He was faithful in
conversing with his people, as he had opportunity,
upon the subject of personal religion ; and these con-
versations were effectual in the conversion of many,
and in the instruction and comfort of Christians. He
also employed his pen, and became the moat cele-
brated pott in New England in that early time. His
purpose, however, was not to obtain fame, but to
serve Christ, even when disabled by sickness, in the
proclamation of His gospel. The first poem be pub-
lished was "The Day of Doom." As many as ten
editions have been issued. The date of the last ia
1867. The first edition (1692) of eighteen hundred
copies was sold within a year, which (as Mr. Dean
thinks), considering the small population of the
country at that time, " indicates a popularity almost,
if not quite, equal to that of ' Uncle Tom's Cabin,'
in our time."
For a century and a half at least, it was highly es-
teemed by the Christian people of New England for
the religious instruction and inspiration it imparted.
Judged as poetry, the work has no great merit. Some
of its lines are uncouth and rough. The author was
evidently more anxious about the religious teaching
than about the smoothness of his verse. He accepted
the extreme views held by some theologians of his
day, respecting the future state of the non -elect who
die in infancy, ana expressed this view in a few lines
in his long poem. Because of these few lines, some
in modern times have expressed their abhorrence of
the whole poem and of its author, believing the latter
to have been a man of hard and cruel, if not fiendish,
temper. Yet in truth he was possessed of a most sweet
and gentle spirit, his life was full of kind words and
deeds, and was devoted to the good of others. Of this
work it has been said :
" It breathes throughout a atraio of piety. . . . True, there ure Boiue
thiDgB in this composition which do Qot perfectly Euit the Diodenite re-
ligion of the present day ; yet, whether this be owing to the improve-
ment or degeneracy of our virtue I leave to be answered by the lived
and consciences of my brethren." (Mr. Dean's '' Memoirs," p. 09).
Another published poem was entitled, " Meat out
of the Eater." This too, received the public favor.
Mr. Wigglesworth also, during the interruption of
his public ministry, devoted himself to the study, and
soon after to the practice of medicine. He seemed to
have become a skillful physician, for his medical ser-
vices were in demand by the people, not only of
Maiden, but also of the towns beyond. By his kind
offices to the sick, and his tender sympathy for the
suffering, he appears to have endeared himself to
many. Some, however, may still regard him as a hard,
unsympathetic man, and never forgive him for a few
lines of his poetry. But the Rev. Andrew P. Pea-
body, D. D., a distinguished Unitarian, who is an op-
ponent of many of Mr. Wigglesworth's beliefs, is yet
quoted by Mr. Dean as saying of the Poet Preacher
of Maiden :
" He wae, it is believed, notwithstanding bis repnlr^ive creed, ' n ntan
of the beatitudes,' a physician to the bodies no less than to the souls of
his parishioners, genial and devotedly kind in the relations and dutieu
of bissoctaland protesaional life, and distinguished — even in those ilays
iif abounding sanctity— for the ningleups'i and purity of heart that char-
acterized his whole walk and convei-sation." ('• Memoir of Mr. Wig-
glesworth," pp. 1'24, 125.)
During the terrible witchcraft delusion of 1692, Mr.
Wigglesworth appears to have taken no active part
on either side. But in the last year of his life, in a
letter to Dr. Increase Mather, he interpreted the suf-
ferings of the people at that day, from drought and
war, as " a judgment of God for the innocent blood
shed in those melancholy times.''
His restoration to health was sudden and une.x-
pected.
.\bout the yfar Ibat;, — " It pleased Ood." says Dr. Cotton Mather,
" wondrously to restore his faithful servant. He that had been lor
near twenty years almost buried alive comes abroad again, and for as
many years more must, in a public usefulness, receive the answer and
harvest of the thnusands of supplications with which the *^od of his
health had been addressed by him and for him." (Funeral Sermon.)
During these last twenty years of his life he was
the only minister in Maiden, and his faithful minis-
trations appear to have been abundant and, with
the exception of one time of sickness, continuoue.
" It was a surprise to us," remarks I>r. Mather, "to see a little,
let-ble shadow of a man, beyond seventy, preaching usually twice or
ihrice in a week — visiting and comforting the altllcted, encouraging the
private meetings, catechising the children of the llock, managing the
government of the church and attending the sick, not only as a pastor,
but aa a physician too, and this not only in his own town, but also in
i all those of the vicinity. Thus he did unto the last, and he was only
I one Lord's day taken off before his laflt."
1 Attacked by a fever, after a sickness of ten days
he entered into rest. His death occurred at nine
o'clock on Sabbath morning, June 10, 1705. He was
nearly seventy-four years old. As already intimated,
the famous Dr. Cotton Mather, of Boston, preached
the fiineral sermon. Mr. Wigglesworth had been in
malden.
491
Maiden, the Lord's " faithful one for about a jubilee
of years together.'' His frail form was laid away amidst
the graves of many of his parishioners, "and his
sepulchre is with us unto this day."
Not far from the time when Mr. Wigglesworth
received his call to become the minister of Maiden,
or in 1654, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary
Reyner, of Rowley. After some five years of happy
married life, she died Dec. 21, 1659, leaving one child,
Mercy, hardly four years of age. The bereaved hus-
band's grief was sincere and deep. He lived a widower
about twenty years, or until 1679, when he married
Miss Martha Mudge, probably the daughter of
Thomas Mudge, of Maiden. She was theu about
eighteen years of age, and six years younger than his
only daughter. This great disparity in age occa-
sioned much opposition to the marriage. His kin-
dred disapproved of it. His people frowned upon
it. His brethren in the ministry remonstrated. His
intimate friend, Dr. Increase Mather, addressed to him
a letter of expostulation, in which he said, among
other things: " The like never was in New England.
Nay, I question whether the like hath been known
in the Christian world." His letter in reply to Dr.
Mather, though not preserved, doubtless contained a
full and frank explanation. It was shown to several
other ministers ; and while they were not satisfied,
they seem to have made no further opposition. It is
believed that he never regretted the marriage, for
after her death he spoke of her with great affection
and gratitude. One son and five daughters were
born to them. She died Sept. 4, 1600, after a mar-
ried life of about eleven years, aged twenty-eight.
His last wife was Mrs. Sybil .Vvery, widow of Dr.
Jonathan Avery, a physician of Dedham, Ma.ssachu-
setts. She was a daughter of Nathaniel Sparhawk, of
Cambridge. T^e e.>iact date of their marriage is
not known, but the year was probably 1691. "She
was born about the year 1655, and consequently was
about seven years older than his previous wife, though
more than twenty years younger than he. She be-
longed to a family of some distinction in the colony."
" She survived her husband a little over three
years," and "died August 6, 1708, in the 54th year
of her age, leaving one child, Edward." (Dean's
"Memoir," pp.105, J21.) This youngest son, Edward
VVigglesworih, D.D., was the first Professor of Divin-
ity at Harvard College on the Hollis foundation, and
held the office for forty-three years. HU immediate
successor Wiis his own son, Edward Wigglesworth, Jr.
D.D., who continued in office twenty-six years. Hk
immediate successor on the Hollis foundation was the
Rev. David Tappan, the grandson of .Abigail, the first
daughter of the Maiden preacher by his second wife.
This daughter waa married to Samuel Tappan, of
Newbury. Dr. McClure properly speaks of it as " a
very remarkable circumstance," that the first three
Hollis professors " who held ihe chair for eighty suc-
cessive years, with high reputation, should have been
respectively, the son, grandson and great-grandson of
that good man." Michael Wigglesworth. (" Bi-Cen-
tennial Book," pp. 155-156.)
Rev. David Parsons, the Sixth Minister in
Malden. — The church now proceeded to the difficult
task of finding a minister who could fill the large
vacancy made in the town of Maiden by the lamented
death of Mr. Wigglesworth. But soon a sad division
appeared in the church, and a still more serious con-
flict began between the church and the town — the lat-
ter at that time standing, in its relation to the church,
as a parish. Within two years five ministers in suc-
cession were approved by the church and nominated
to the town. In four of these cases the town con-
curred with the church, but usually with a
divided vote. All these calls were declined, probably
on account of the contentions and the small salary
offered by the town. The civil authorities then inter-
fered. The following summary account of this inter-
ference in given by Dr. McClure :
"July 1, 1707, the Town of Maiden wa8 presented
by the Grand Jury to the Quarter Sessions Court
for not having a minister settled according to statute,
and ordered to obtain one forthwith, and waa threat-
ened with the severity of the law. September 9th the
Selectmen made answer that they have applied them-
selves to Mr. Clap, and were waiting for his reply.
The Selectmen were required to give further answer
at the adjourned Court. September 30th the Select-
men answer that Mr. Clap had replied in Ihe nega-
tive a few days before; they requested further time,
which was granted. December 9th the Selectmen
report, ' that they have had a general meeting of the
town, and are in a hopeful way of being supplied,
having applied themselves to Mr. Gookin. . . .
March 9, 1708, Lieut. Henry Green, in behalf of the
town, reports, that they have applied to Mr. Joseph
Parsons, who has the matter under consideration.
. . . Sept. 14, 1708, Lieut. Henry Green and
John Green, in behalf of Maiden, inform the Court
' that they have had several meetings of the Church,
and one of the Town, in order to the accommodating of
that affair, referring to a minister, but can make noth-
ing take effect, but yet are in a very unsettled and
divided frame, and so like to continue, and leave
themselves to the pleasure of the Court.' "
In view of all these transactions, " The Court do
unanimously agree and conclude as followeth; That
Mr. Thomas Tufts is a suitable person, qualified as
aforesaid for the work of the ministry in that town of
Maiden, and see cause to settle him there in that work ;
and do order the town to pay him for his mainten-
ance during his continuance in said work amongst
them, after the rate of £70 money per annum."
(" Bi-Centecnial Book," pp. 158-159.)
In the mean time Mr. David Parsons, of Spring-
field, was invited by the church to preach as a can-
didate. It so happened that he and Mr. Tufts ap-
peared in Maiden at the same time, both desiring to
492
HISTORY OP MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACFUISETTS.
preach on the same Sabbath. It was arranged that
one should preach in the morning and the other in
the afternoon. They did so. Promptly, on Monday,
the church met and voted to give Mr. Parsons a call,
twenty-six out of thirty-one, voting for him, and the
others not voting at all. Two days later, on Wednes-
day, October 27, 1708, the town met, and by a vote of
fifty-three approved of the action of the church.
Twelve persons, however, signed a protest, to the
effect that they conceive such action to be a con-
tempt of authority, and do think that ihey are not
able to maintain two ministers at once. But a hum-
ble petition was sent to the General Court, praying
that the order of the Quarter Sessions Court, which
had appointed Mr. Thomas Tufts to be the minister of
Maiden, might be revoked. In response the Court
directed that the said order should be stayed until
the result of the call to Mr. Parsons should be known.
It would not be surprising if a clergyman, who ac-
cepted a call given so hastily and under such peculiar
and extreme pressure, did not find his ministry a
pleasant one. He was ordained, probably, in the
springer summer of 1709. The town contracted to
pnt the parsonage in repair, and to give him a salary
of sixty pounds a year, the use of the parsonage
and " all the naked money,'' that is, all the money
dropped into the contribution box by strangers and
the more liberal inhabitants.
On June 14, 1720, the town was presented to the
Quarter Sessions for non-fulfilment of the contract
with Mr. Parsons. The prosecution was directed by
a committee of the church, and the defence was made by
a committee of the town. The verdictof the jury sus-
tained the complaint. -Vfter an examination of the
parsonage by some of the justices, it was ordered that
the selectmen pay a fine of ten pounds unless they
speedily " repair the house and fences." The repairs
were made and subsequently the case was dismissed.
In 1721, Mr. Parsons, after a ministry of some twelve
years, was dismissed, by advice of a council, and
doubtless commended as a good and faithful minister,
for he was settled again the same year (September 15,
1721), as the first minister in Leicester, where he la-
bored in the ministry until March 6, 1735, at which
date he was dismissed. He died at Leicester in 1737.
When he came to Maiden there were divisions in the
church and town, and they seem to have continued
through his ministry, but evidently were not all oc-
casioned by himself If he had strenuous enemies,
he also had devoted friends, quite a number of
whom, in the ardor of their personal attachment to
their pastor, removed with him to Leicester.
Rev. Joseph Emer-son, the Seventh Minister
OF Malden. — Mr. Emerson's faithful and successful
ministry extended over a period of forty-five and
one-half years. He was born in Chelmsford, April
20, 1700, and was the son of Edward, "some time
deacon of Newbury," and Rebecca, daughter of Cor-
nelius Waldo, " from whom," says one of her de-
scendants, " came that beloved name into the family."
("Memoir of Ralph Waldo Emerson," by James Elliot
Cabot, vol. i. p. S.) Deacon Edward Emerson was
the son of Rev. Joseph Emerson, " the pioneer minis-
ter of Mendon, who barely escaped with his life when
the village was destroyed by the Indians," and of Eliz-
abeth Buckley, granddaughter of Rev. Peter Buckley,
who, "being silenced by Laud for non-conformity,
crossed the sea, in 1634, to New England, and pushed
out through the woods . . . to Concord, and there
spent most of his fortune as a pioneer of civilization."
He was a famous minister in his clay, greatly honored
" by his people, and by all the ministers in the coun-
try." Rev. Joseph Emerson, the JIalden minister,
who could boast of such a distinguished ancestry,
is represented to have been a precocious child ; was
able to pray in the family, in the absence of his father,
before lie was eight years of age, " to the edification,
and astonishment" of those present; was admitted to
Harvard College in 1713, when he had but recently
finished his thirteenth year, and was graduated in
1717. "He began to preach to general acceptani'e
when he was eighteen." He was engaged in teaching
:ind preached occasionally, during the next two nr
three years. In March, 1721, the church and town of
-Maiden, holding separate meetings on the same day,
voted to call Mr. Emerson to be their minister. At
that time he was not far from twcnty-imc years of
age. He was ordained October 31, 1721. On De-
cember 27, 1721, he married .Miss .Mary .Moody, of
York, Maine, daughter of Rev. Samuel Moody and
Hannah Sewall, who was " the only daughter of John
Sewall, of Newbury, and the first cousin of the Rev.
Dr. Sewall. minister of the Old South Church, Bos-
ton." " Father Moody,'' though distinguished for his
eccentricity, was a man of prodigious mental force
of unimpeachable integrity and sincerity. His min-
istry was uncommonly successful. He "was a
zealous friend of revivals of religion." Whitefield
" visited him and preached to his people." He
has been spoken of as "a man of transcendent zeal
in doctrine and practice." " When the oltended par-
ishioners, wounded by his pointed preaching, would
rise to go out of church, he cried out, ' Come back,
you graceless sinner, come back ! ' And when they
began to fall into ill customs and ventured into the
ale-house on a Saturday night, the valiant pastor went
in after them, collared the sinners, dragged them
forth, and sent them forth with rousing admonitions."
("Memoirs of Ralph W. Emerson," vol. i. p. 10.)
The children of Rev. Joseph Emerscn and Marj-
Moody numbered nine sons and four daughters.
Seven sons and three daughters lived to grow up.
Three of his sons were ministers, viz. : Joseph, who
was born .\.ug. 25, 1724, graduated at Harvard in 1743,
ordained at Pepperell, February 26, 1747, and died
October 29, 1775 ; William, who was born May 21,
1743, graduated at Harvard in 1761, and was ordained
at Concord, January 1, 1766, and died October 20,
MALDEX.
493
1776 ; and John, who was bom November 25, 1745,
graduated at Harvard in 1764, was ordained the first
minister of Conway, December 21, 1769, and died
June 26, 1826, at the age of eighty-one. Rev. Wil-
liam Emerson was " the patriot minister of Concord."
He preached to the minute-men, and was a leader in
the Revolutionary movements of the day. He was
distinguished for his eloquence as a preacher, and es-
pecially " noted for his beautiful reading of the
hymns." He was also a man of literary tastes, but
had little opportunity to cultivate them. He volun-
teered to serve as the chaplain of a regiment, and
when, in 1776, a reinforcement was sent from Massa-
chusetts to the array at Ticonderoga, he went with'
the troops as chaplain. But the unaccustomed expo-
sure brought on a severe attack of bilious fever, and
he died at Rutland, Vt., at the age of thirty-three.
" His wife was Phebe Bliss (his ' Phebe-bird ' he
calls her in one of his letters), daughter of the Rev.
Daniel Bliss, his predecessor in the Concord pulpit."
Two children were given them, William and Mary
Moody. This William Emerson, Jr., was born in
Concord, May 6, 176'.l, graduated at Harvard in 1789,
was ordained at the age of twenty-three at Harvard
(a town some twelve miles from Concord), May 23,
17i'2, and was called to the First Church in Boston in
1799. He married. October 25, 179C, Ruth Haakina,
fifth daughter of Mr. John Hawkins, of Boston. The
fourth child .and third son of Rev. William Emerson,
Jr., and Ruth (Haskins), was Ralph Waldo Em-
erson, who was l)orn in Boston, May 25, 1803. This
celebrated author, therefore, was the great-grandson
of Rev. Joseph Emerson, of Maiden. Mary Moody
Emerson, the sister of Rev. William Emerson, Jr.,
w.ia a remarkable woman, and her unique char-
acter is vividly .set forth by her nephew, Ralph Waldo
Emerson, in an article published in the Atlantic
Moiithli/ of 18S:;.
Rev. Wm. Emerson, .Sr., the eminent patriot and
eloquent preacher of Concord, was doubtless a man
of sincere and earnest evangelical faith. But Rev.
John Pierce, D.D., affirms that Rev. William Emer-
son, Jr., minister of the First Church in Boston, "in
his theological views, perhaps went farther on the
liberal side, than most of his brethren with whom he
was jisaociated." And he significantly adds, " I know
not to what extent he preached his peculiar views,
but I am not aware that he has ever definitely express-
ed them in any of his publications." Dr. Charles
Lowell, says of him ; " He was, to say the least,
far from having any sympathy with Calvinism."
(Sprague's .\.nnals, vol. viii. Unitarian.)
Mary Moody Emerson spent most of her childhood
and youth in Maiden, first with her grandmother
Emerson until the latter died, and then with her aunt,
asisterofher father. She was a woman of keen intel-
lect, and appears to have accepted, with satisfaction,
the religious faith of her fathers. There was nothing
negative in her nature, and she could not endure a
religion made up chiefly of negations. Her idea
seemed to have been that all men of earnestness and
power must believe in Calvinism when they know
what it is. Duplicity was no part of her character,
and she could have bad no patience with any con-
cealment or compromising of religious faith.
Rev. Joseph Emerson, of Maiden, was a stanch
Puritan in faith and character. He heartily accepted
the Calvinistic interpretation of the Scriptures, and
preached faithfully what he believed. His heart was
full of kindness and his nature was sympathetic, yet in
his preaching he was never negative, indefinite or
compromising. His own 8(m, the Rev. Joseph Emer-
son, of Pepperell, in a sermon preached in Maiden in
memory of his deceased father, said of him: "He
was a Boanerges, a son of thunder to the workers of
iniquity ; a Barnabas, a son of consolation to the
mourners in Zion." He preached and prayed and
labored for the conversion of his people, and not in
vain. He believed in the new birth, and in revivals
of religion. He and Samuel Moody, his father-in-law
and Daniel Bliss, the predecessor of his son William
in the ministry at Concord, it is said, " were prominent
supporters of Whitefield, and invited him into their
pulpits." Daniel Bliss, '' a Qame of fire," as his suc-
cessor and son-in-law called him, was " the introducer
of a new style of preaching, bold, ' zealous, impassioned,
enthusiastic,' which brought him into trouble with
the lukewarm Arminianism of the day." ("Memoir of
Ralph W. Emerson," vol. i. p. 12). The Maiden
minister is believed to have been in profound sym-
pathy with this style of preaching. At the same time
he bad a reputation as a high scholar, and delighted in
scholarly studies. Mr. Cabot spoke of him as " a
heroic scholar." His own granddaughter, Mary Moody
Emerson, calls him " the greatest student in the
country," and remarks, that " He was a reader of the
Iliad, and said he would be sorry to think that the
men and cities he read of never existed." He " left
a library considerable for those days." Withal he
.seems to have been an eminently prudent man, wise
in speech and action. During his ministry a prolonged
and fierce conflict raged in the town, respecting the
location of a new meeting-house, which resulted in a
division of the people, and the organization of the
South Church in Maiden, yet he " was not reproached
by any as the cause." He was a positive man, and
did not remain silent in those troublesome times in
his parish. He spoke openly and preached faithfully
against the contentions and alienations, but appears
to have retained the respect of both parties. He must
have been a man of vigorous health, as during his long
ministry of more than forty-five years he lost but two
Sabbaths by sickness. He died suddenly. The quaint
language of the town record is : He " deceased in the
evening of the 13 day of July, 1767, very soon after
lying down to sleep who was cheirly and in health
before " All his living children, ten in number, were
present at the funeral of their father, and followed
494
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
the pulpit orator, and tobersteci higher ihnn 6onie of his contemporaries
who were at least his eiiuals in eruijiliun, but without the advantage of
his brilliant endowments." iSpragut's " .Annals, ' vol, i. p. TV.i )
Mr. Thacher'3 ministry in Maiden corered the ex-
him as his form was borne to the grave. He was
greatly beloved by his people, and long after his death
his name was familar and his memory fragrant in
Maiden.
Rev. Peter Thacher, D.D.— Mr. Thacher was siting period of the great Revolutionary struggle,
the eighth minister of the First Church in Maiden. ''"'^ '^^ abundant opportunity given him to sway
He was born in Milton, March 21, 1752, and was the ^^^ people by bin impassioned eloquence was well
son of Oxenbridge Thacher, "a very eminent lawyer, '"iproved. By both pen and speech he gave utter-
and a coadjutor of the early patriots of the Revolu- ^"^^ '" words by which the patriotic passions of
tion." He was the grandson of Rev. Peter Thacher [ ^^^ population were wrought up to white heat.
who married a daughter of Rev. John Oxenbridge,
the latter a pastor of the First Church in Boston. He
was the great-grandson of Rev. Thomas Thacher, the
first pastor of the Old South Church, in Boston. The
grandfather of our J[r. Thacher was pastor of the
church in Milton for forty-si.x yearj ; and his father,
Rev. Thomas Thacher, was pastor of the Old South
Some of those words, as we read them now, seem
still hot with the old fire that burned in them when
they came fresh from his pen and lips. During
tho.se stirring years the town of Maiden repeatedly
gave "instructions ' to her representative in the Gen-
eral Court. These " in-^tructions " were drawn up by
Mr. Thacher and adopted by the town. One of those
Church for about nine and two-thirds years, bavins 'lo^'""ient'* closes with these words:
been installed the first pastor of that church, Febru-
ary 16, 1669, and dying in the pastorate, October 15,
1678. His father was Rev. Peler Thacher, minister
at Salisbury, in England. He did not come to this
country.
The eighth minister of the First Church in Maiden,
" The people in the province are a free and brave
people ; and we are iletermined. in the strength of our
God, that we will, in spite of open force and private
treachery, live and die as becomes ihe descendants of
such ancestors as ours, who sacrificed their all that
they and their posterity niigiit be free." Another of
therefore, belonged to an eminently ministerial family. ^^^"^ papers, dated May 27, 1776, ends thus :— " And
He was graduated at Harvard College in 1769. After "'^ °°'*' '"'truet you, Sir, to give them [m'^mbers of
the death of Mr. Emerson the old animosities amon" ^^^' Continental C'iin<.'re.-s] the strongest assurance,
the people of Maiden seemed to have revived, and 'l^*' 'f "j''y »''f'i'''J declare America to be a Free and
there was much division and conflict over the ques- Independent Republic, your constituents will support
tion of electing a new minister. At this critical ■'^''d defend the measure lo the Last Drop of Tueir
juncture, Mr. Thacher, by invitation from a single
man, preached one Sabbath morning in the Maiden
church. "His youthful and engaging mien," says
Dr. JlcClure. " his silvery voice and golden eloquence
.so charmed Ihe disturbed elements, that during the
Blood and the La.<t Farthing of their Treas-
ures." ("Bi-Centennial Book,' pp. 210, 212.)
It is said that Mr. Thacher even, "on one occasion,
joined a military corps, but, having put himself
under command of the military officer of the town,
intermission it was decided by acclamation that this ^^ '"'''■^ ordered to remain at home, that he might
was the man to heal the dissensions." He was or-
dained September 19, 1770, when he was only eighteen
years of age. He was a magnetic and brilliant
preacher, yet perhaps more eloquent than profound.
He had sincere evangelistic fervor, especially in the
earlier part of h:s ministry. It is said of him that, —
"His ruling passion, from Lis earliest years, seems to have been to
proclaim the Gospel of the gnice of God to his fellow-men ; and to this
everything else was rendered subordinate, and, so tar as possible, subaer.
vient. With the studies belonging appropriately to his College cours«,
he connected the study of Theology ; and at the time of his graduation
he was well-nigb prepared, according to the usage of the time, to enter
on hit professional career. . . . His flrst effoi-ta in the pulpit awak-
ened an uncommon interest. The multitudes crowded after him, and
hung upon his lips almost as if he had been a representative from aome
serve the cause of humanity in the discharge of
the appropriate duties of his otiice.'' (Spragues " An-
nals," vol. i. p. 720.)
After a ministry of some fourteen years in Maiden,
Mr. Thacher was called to the pastorate of the Brat-
tle Street Church in Boston. Such a proceeding was
unusual in those times, the union of pastor and peo-
ple being then regarded, not only as sacred, but
inviolable except for the most imperative reasons.
The complaints of his peoj-le in Maiden " were loud
and bitter." But the prospect of a larger service in
a wider field prevailed with their pastor, and the peo-
ple yielded. While they relused to the end to
brighter world. Whitefield. in reference particularly to the fervour of sanction the action of the IJustOll Church, thev gave
his prayers, called him 'the Young Elijah ; ' and the stricineas of bis to their pastor a letter of atl'ectionate commendation.
orthodoxy, not less than the depth and waruitli of his devotion, gave " Hu vv.iu,licn.i o,l fl^,. e l-ci „ l • . -i i
.. ., , . '^ , rie \Mis uisnH.-»eU Uec. 6, l/o4. and wa-* in.-'taileil
him great favour, especially with ibo more ie.ilous portion of the com- •,,>.- in. laiicu
in the Brattle street Church, Jan. 12, 17S5, where he
continued in otfice seventeen years, or until his last
illness."
porlii
munity." (Sprague's " .\nnals," vol. i. p. 720.)
The Hon. Harrison Gray Otis, who sat under Mr.
Thacher's preaching during his later ministry in
Boston, speaking of his settlement in Maiden, says : —
*' He thus became endeared to bis people by his aS'ectionate deport-
ment; and, being gifted with a good person, nielodiotte voice, fine de-
ltTer7 and fervid eloquence, he soon came to be regarded aA a model of
" His religious character is repieseuled to have shone moat brightly in
the earlier and later periods of his life. During the period when be was
brought into contact with the world, politically and socially, at so many
poihIM, tin- fiTvour of his religious feelings is snid to have considerably
abated, uud Ins public miuialracion to have bvcouie, if not leaa popular,
MALDEN.
495
at least ten §piritoal and less effective. But tcwards the close of his
niioietry, especially when the evil days of adversity came, his mind re-
covered the tone of deep evangelical feeling which he had early exhib-
ited, and Christianity, by her most serene and heavenly inflnences, illu-
minated his path to the grave." (Sprague'a "Annals," vol. i. p. 722.)
Having gone to Savannah for the benefit of his
health, he died there December 16, 1802.
Soon after he was settled in Maiden, on October 8,
1770, he married Mrs. Elizabeth Poule. Ten children
were born to them ; two of them becoming distin-
guished clergymen, and one an eminent lawyer.
Many honors were conferred upon him, and among
them the degree of Doctor of Divinity by the Univer-
.sity of Edinburgh, in 1791.
The .A.NCIENT MEETiyG-HousES in Malden. —
The meeting-house in which the scholarly Mathews
preached, and, during the early part of his ministry,
the gifted Wigglesworth also, was located, as Mr.
Corey informs us, " a little to the westward of Bell
Rock." It was probably a small and plain building,
designed to be u.sed only temporarily as a place of
worship. Bell Rock — an historical locality in Mai-
den, and well known to all the older inhabitants — is
about a third of a mile south of the present city hall,
on the west side of JIaIn Street, a few rods from the
old parsonage house, which is on the opposite side of
the street, and at the present time (1890) is owned
by George H. Wilson, Esq. This rocky elevation re-
ceived its name, according to tradition, from the cir-
cumstance that in the early time a bell was placed
upon it to call the people together on the Sabbath for
worship, and on other occasiion:}. This bell, it is said,
was rung at first by being .struck with a hammer, and
afterwards by b^ing swung In a frame from which It '
w.is suspended. Not till 1()9.3 did the town vote
" that the bel! shall be hanged on the top of the meet- 1
ing-house."
On November 9, 1658, the selectmen, by written ,
contract, engaged one Job Lane to build a new meet-
ing-house, for which they were to pay him " the sum
of one hundred and fifty pounds in corn, cord wood,
8>>und and merchantable at prices current, and fat ■
cattle." This second house of worship was also locat- '
ed near Bell Rock ; probably a little to the south of '
it. The contract required that it should be "a good, '
strong. Artificial meeting House, of Thirty-three foot
Square." "All the sells, girts, mayne posts, plates, i
Beams and all other principal Timbers shall be of '
good and sound white or Black oake." Among other
things, there were to be " a territt on the topp about ;
six foot squr, to hang the bell in with rayles about it," ;
" thre dores . . . east, west and south," a "pull- -,
pitt and cover to be of wainscott to conteyne ffive or
SIX persons," a " deacon's seat allso of wainscott with |
door, and a table joyned to it to fall downe, for the 1
Lord's Supper," and " seats throughout, made with j
good planks, with rayles on the topps, boards at the j
Backs, and timbers at the ends." " The windows," i
says Dr. McClure, " were few and small, on account
of the great expense of them, and were constructed
with diamond panes in leaden sashes, according to
the fashion of the times."
"A Seating Committee," elected by the town, an-
nually assigned to each member of the congregation
his seat in the house of worship, arranging the people
"in an order corresponding to their share of the min-
ister's rate, — age, deafness and dignity being taken
into account." The work of this committee was
called "dignifying the seats," and must have been,
for both the committee and the people, a serious busi-
ness. It was an out-cropping, in an uncongenial
clime, of the old English aristocratic temper. More-
over, it was thought necessary to good order, to seat
the men on one side of the house and the women on
the other side. A few of the most wealthy and nota-
ble persons in the community were sometimes, by
special vote of the town, permitted to build for them-
selves, at their own cost, square pews separated from
the common seats.
March 14, 1692, the town of Maiden voted, that
"Corronal page hath liberty to build a pew." Colo-
nel Nicholas Page was a wealthy merchant and a
prominent military officer, whose favorite residence
was on a fine farm in Chelsea. When living there he
worshiped with the people of Maiden and generously
aided them in supporting the minister. He presented
to the First Church in Maiden two elegant silver
chalices, which bear this inscription: "The gift of
Col. Nicholas Page to the Church in Maiden, 1701."
They are still used by the church at every communion
service. Colonel Page appears to have been the first
man who received permission from the town of Mai-
den to build for himself and family a square pew;
subsequently a few others were accorded the same
privilege. These persons, of course, were exempted
from coming under the orders of the committee ap-
pointed to "dignify the seats." The deacons also ob-
tained a similar exemption, as they occupied "the
deacons' pew," which was always located immediately
under the front of the pulpit, and was elevated some-
what above the level of the other pews. A pew was
also set apart for the deacons' wives, and probably
another for the minister's family. The remainder of
the congregation were seated by the seating commit-
tee. But who should seat that committee? It is easy
to see that this might become a momentous question,
especially if the committee should be inclined to dignify
themselves unduly by appropriating some of the most
honorable seats. A single record shows how the
town of Maiden, in one instance at least, solved this
difficult problem. On January 2, 1695, at a town-
meeting it was " Voted, that Two deakens shall seate
those commitis that is acointed [appointed] to Seate
ye meeting-hous." It was doubtless thought that the
deacons, as they could not have been offended by any
official and unfair assignment of their own seatf,
would be under no temptation to lake revenge, but
would exercise an impartial judgment in deciding
496
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
the grave question of the rank and dignity of the sev-
eral members of the seating committee.
Many of the yoUng people were permitted to sit
together in the galleries of the meeting-house. Con-
sequently the town of Maiden, following the general ;
practice in New England, made careful provision to j
keep them in order. At one time the householders,
or masters of families, were required to take turns in |
performing thia police service. Afterwards a parish
officer was annually elected, who was called " the I
tithing-man," and one of whose duties it was to main- |
tain strict order in the house of God during the hours
of public worship ; but he probably was never a
very popular man among the more ardent and impul-
sive youths of Maiden.
Near to an old-fashioned meeting-house in New
England would almost or quite invariably have been
seen the horse-blocks and horse-sheds, or stables. The
former were for the convenience of the women in
mounting their horses ; and the latter were for the
sheltering of the horses during the long services of
public worship. In Maiden, December y, 168H, it was
voted in town-meeting, that six men, whose names
are given, should have " the privilege of a peece of
land of 24 foots long and 9 foots wide, . . . for to set
a stable to shelter their horses on the Sabbath days."
Similar votes were passed in subsequent years. On
March 5, 1711, seventeen men were accorded the priv-
ilege of erecting stables on the town's laud, near to
the meeting-house, not exceeding "three foots and
half in breadth for on hors." The narrowness of the
stables indicates that the people did not ride to meet-
ing in any kind of " wheel-carriage," but " on horse-
back."
The second meeting-house, the building of which
was begun in 1658, appears not to have been finished
until after June, 1660. But it answered the needs of ;
the people, as a bouse of worship, for more than forty
years, or until 1702, when it was enlarged " by cut-
ting it in two, and carrying off one end twenty-four
feet." In 1721 the town raised forty pounds" for the
further enlargement of the meeting-house." In 1727,
sixty-seven years after the building of this second
meeting-house, or twenty-tive years after the first en-
largement of it, it was found necessary to build again
the house of God. The question of location was in-
stantly raised, and a prolonged and bitter conflict en-
sued, during which seeds of strife and division, of
the contest raged until the General Court interposed
with the stern order that the new house should be
placed on the north location.
On August 28, 1729, the frame of the third meeting-
house in Maiden was raised. It " was built." says
Dr. McClure, " with but one gallery ; but afterwards
another was built above the first. These were appro-
priated to children and youth." According to Mr.
Corey's vivid description :
The building "was unpaiuted, both inside and
outside. The pulpit stood on the north side, opposite
the great south door, which was the principal en-
trance. Another door-way, on the easterly side, gave
additional facilities for ingress and egress. In two
comers stairways gave access to the gallery ; and the
description quaintly adds: 'The east stair was for
women and the west stair for men, and they could
not get together in the gallery without getting over
the railing.'" Rev. Thomas C. Thacher, son of the
eighth miuieter of Maiden, writing, in 1849, of this
third house of worship, in which, when a child, he
listened to the eloquent preaching of his father, says :
" There seems to rise again before me that ancient,
weather-beaten church, the place of my earlier wor-
ship, and where my venerated father taught and
prayed. . . . Some of my ancient friends may re-
member that old meeting-house. It was one of the
plainest and strictest of its sect. It looked the old
Puritan all over. It had no tower nor belfry. Its
little bell was hung outside on a beam projecting
from the gable-end of the building. Close by stood
the old school-house, with its enormous fireplace
and rude benches, where I learned my rudiments."'
In this plain meeting-house the people worshiped
for about seventy-three years. It gave place, in 1803,
to a brick church, which, though repeatedly remod-
eled, has stood to the present time (1890), and is now
used by the Universialist Society, or the First Parish.
When this house was built, if we may judge from the
laconic parish record, there was no long debate or
conflict respecting the building of it or its location.
Perhaps the people recalled sadly the traditions that
had come down to them respecting the dissensions
and conflicts of the former lime. The record is dated
Dec. 7, 1801, and reads thus:
" Voted, to build a brick meeting-house. Voted, to
purchase the bricks rather than make them. Voted,
to pass over the 6th and 7th articles. Voted, to ad-
personal alienation and animosity were sown, which j journ." This house was dedicated January 19, 1803.
sprang up and bore bitter fruit through scores of years.
Mr. Emerson had then been settled only five or six
yeai's. He was a wise man and a lover of peace, but
he could not calm the tempest. The people in the
south part of the town contended for the old site near
Bell Rock; the people in the north part for the site
on which now stands the Universalist house of wor-
ship. Other sites were proposed, but received little
consideration. The painful details of the struggle
need not be rehearsed. It is sufficient to say, that
The bell for this church was given by the eccentric
Mr. Dexter, usually called " Lord Timothy Dexter.''
The two cupolas, which were at first placed upon the
house, were taken down in 1824, and in the place ot
them was erected the presenc steeple.
The Paksona(;e Land and Houses.— On Decem-
ber 22, 1651, the town, by vote, gave and granted to
the then " present preaching elder (Mr. Mathews),
1"B1-Centennittl Book, ' p. 181.
MALDEN.
497
and hU next successor, and so, from time to time, to
his successors, four acres of ground purcliased of
James Green for that end, and the house built there-
upon, at the charge of all the inhabitants." This
land was the parsonage land, now owned by George
H. Wilson, Esq. This house was probably located a
few rods south of the dwelling-house now owned by
^[r. Wilson, and was occupied by the successive min-
isters of Maiden for about seveuty-three years. On
August 1, 1724 — Mr. Emerson then being the minis-
ter— this parsonage-house, with nearly all its con-
tents, was consumed by fire. Within a few months a
new house, located a few rods north of the site of the
burned house, was completed, and Mr. Emeraon with
his family moved into it, January 5, 1725. Dr. Mc-
Clure affirms that "the frame of thU house — the rest
of it having long since been pretty much renovated —
is still standing." It was sold to Mr. Wilson by the
First Parish in l<S-to, and at the present time (1890)
is still standing, and still owned by Mr. Wilson. This
is the house in which the celebrated missionary, Rev.
Adoniram Judson, was born, on August 9, 1788, his
father, Rev. Adoniram Judson, being at that time
the pastor of the First (Church in ilalden. The pres-
ent age of this ancient house is one hundred and six-
ty-five years.
The M.vlden South Church. —The action of the
Treneral Court, in arbitrarily deciding the question
of the location of the third meeting-house, did
not terminate the contentions and alienations that |
had vexed the town. The southern people were !
grievously oti'ended by the ordsr of the Court, j
On the 9th of Auiiust, 1730, Rev. Mr. Emerson
prearlied the farewell sermon in the old meeting-
house near Hell Rock, from the test: " Remera- j
ber how thou hast received and heard." The j
next Sabbath the congregation worshiped for the i
first time in the new meeliiig-house. But the day
was not a joyful one to all the people. A divi-
sion of the parish was impending. The old aliena-
tions continued. At length the malcontents decided
to withdraw and establish public worship in the
southern part of the town. On Sept. 13, 1730, they
held their first separate meeting, and some time in the
next year begin to erect a house of worship on
" Nelson's hill." The location was on or near the pres-
ent corner of Hancock Street and Broadway, in
Everett. "The meeting-house," says Mr. Corey, " was
never fully completed, and it is said to have been in
a very dilapidated condition in 1787." " It was
reached by a way twenty-six feet wide, which led I
from the highway." Dr. JlcClure speaks of it as |
standing, "on that black and lonely Jiill," "in the j
midst of lots," and remarks, that " those who resorted I
to it never enjoyed the convenience of a public road." '
The separate meeting first established was main- i
taiued tor three years. " A Council of three I
churches" was then called to organize a church. It |
seems to have taken two or three days to etTect the '
32-iii
organization, for the council met April 16, 1734, and
on April 18th, " embodied what for fifty-eight years
was known as the Maiden South Church." The
number of male members at first was sixteen. No
officers were chosen until the 4th of September in that
year, when John Mudge was elected deacon, and
Jonathan Sargeant and Ebenezer Upham were
elected ruling elders. On Sept. 24, 1735, Rev. Joseph
Stimpson was chosen pastor, who, on account of his ill
health, was dismissed in 1744. The next pastor. Rev.
Aaron Cleveland, was installed in 1747, and in two
or three years was dismissed. He was an intimate
friend of Dr. Benjamin Franklin ; was the great grand-
father of the Hon. William E. Dodge, of New York
city, and of the Rt. Rev. A. Cleveland Cox, Bishop of
the diocese of Western New York ; and he was the
great-great-grandfather of Grover Cleveland, Ex-
President of the United States. He died in Phila-
delphia, at the house of his friend Benjamin Frank-
lin, August 11, 1757. The third and last pastor of the
South Church was Rev.Eliakim Willis, who was ordain-
ed Oct. 25, 1752. The existence of this church from its
beginning seems to have been little more than a lin-
gering death. " In the course of thirty or forty
years," says Dr. McClure, " their interests so far de-
cayed that they barely maintained the forms of pub-
lic worship. Mr. Willis was obliged to take the par-
sonage to satisfy his claims for salary. He then
preached for some time, for a little pittance, which
was raised from Sabbath to Sabbath," depending
mainly " upon his labor as a farmer for a livelihood."
In 17S7 a brief spasm of life was given to this dying
church, by the addition to it of a score of disaffected
members of the First Church. Their first work was
to repair the long-neglected meeting-house. "They
found the windows badly shattered, the clap-boards
hanging down by the end, and the whole edifice pre-
senting a most cheerless and desolate aspect." Five
years later this house, which should never have been
built, was abandoned forever as a house of worship.
The South Church decided to terminate its separate
existence, and to return to the mother church. On
March 25, 1792, the two churches assembled in the
" North Meeting-House," and there " voted to be in-
corporated, with their officers, into one body."
Rev. Adoniram Judson, Ninth Pastor of the
First Church. — He was the youngest son of El-
nathan and Mary Judson, was born in Woodbury,
Conn., in June, 1752, and graduated at Yale College
in 1775. He married, November 23, 1786, Abigail
Brown, who was born December 14, 1759, in Tiverton,
R. I., and was the eldest daughter of Abraham and
Abigail Brown.
The First Church, on December 8, 1784, had reluc-
tantly parted with its popular minister. Rev. Peter
Thacher. On July 3, 1786, it voted to call to the pas-
torate Rev. Adoniram Judson. His settlement, how-
ever, was strenuously opposed by some of the people.
The church found great difficulty in agreeing upon
498
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
the composition of the council that should be called
to ordain the pastor-elect. The majority voted from
time to time to call an ordaining council, specifying
each time the churches which should be invited to
send delegates, until no less than four such votes had
been passed. Letter missives were issued for three of
these councils. One was prevented from assembling
by a great storm. Of the other two, the first met
November 15, 1786 ; but after an examination of the
circumstances attending the call, its members were
not able to agree upon a result. Mr. Judson, after
understanding that " the diflBculties," which caused a
difference of opinion in the council, " did not imme-
diately relate to him," requested a dissolution of that
body." "And upon his desire the council dissolved."
The last council summoned by letters missive as-
sembled January 23, 1787; "and notwithstanding
there were found some objections against the ordina-
tion, they deemed it their duty to proceed to the ex-
amination of the pastor-elect." Having carefully ex-
amined him, "the Council were unanimously satisfied
with his qualifications for the Gospel Ministry," and
accordingly " ordained him to the pastoral office."
(Church Records.)
The "objections," which probably came for the
most part from persons who were not members of the
church, but of the parish only, appear to have been
made, not against Mr. Judson personally, but .against
his theological beliefs. These opponents, however,
weie extremely earnest and persistent. They pleaded
also that the settlement of Mr. Judson would prove
"an effectual barrier in preventing the mutually
wished-for union of the two parishes in this town,
both of which have severely felt their sepH ration and
thus remaining will probably terminate in the ruin of
both." Twenty-one men, under the lead of Capt.
John Dexter, presented to the council an earnest pro-
test against the ordination of Mr. Judson, which,
however, proved of no avail. The signers of this pro-
test are reported to have been men of prominence and
influence, and most of them soon seceded and
united with the people of the South Precinct. Probably
various considerations influenced those who set them-
selves so strenuously against the settlement of Mr.
Judson. Indeed, it looks as if a serious attempt was
made at this time by a minority, to change the
doctrinal faith, if not the ecclesiastical polity, of the
church. It is quite significant that the vote of the
church to call Mr. Judson (as well as that, to call a
previous candidate, Rev. David Avery) was preceded
by another vote, which was worded as follows :
"For the iofonnatioD of the Geotleiuen that we May luTite to Settle
amoDge Qs. . . . Voted, that we cuoeider oureelvea a CoDgregattoDal
Cbnrch in CummuDion and Fellowuhip witti the Churches of that order
in this and Neighhuhng States, and l]xpect the Pastor tliat niay be Sett
over us in the Lord to be Instated and to Confumi in all Kccleaiastical
Matlen to the General Practice and Usages of this and other Churche,
of that Denomination agreeable to the word of God." (Church
Becordi.)
The only specific theological objection, which wa?
put on record, to the settlement of Jlr. Judson, was
that of Capt. John Dexter, who entered a protest
against " Settling a Minister of Bade Hopkintonian
Principels," referring evidently to the principles of
" Consistent Calvinism." But what Capt. Dextur and
his party called " Bade" principles were the Christian
beliefs which, at a later day, made the son of that
pastor- elect a self-sacrificing and apostolic missionary
— "The apostle of Burmah, " as he was called, whose
name is immortal. What that objector and his party
found fault with were those interpretations of the
Scriptures which inspired the men who founded the
Andover Theological Seminary, who organized the
American Board for Foreign Missions, and nearly all
our great missionary and benevolent societies ; which
inspired in the churches that evangelistic spirit -that,
under God, has brought on the great revivals of relig-
ion, for which New England has been distinguished
during the present century. It was a sad day for the
First Church in Maiden when it had uii its roll, or on
its parish-roll, the names of men who were opposed to
such " Principels," and called them " Bade." This
factious spirit was unanimous. Indeed, it proved to
be the beginning of a sad history. Mr. .fudson wan an
able and godly man, but he hibored ii; vain to unite
the divided people. After .^tni^'giing at the task for
about four and a half years, at his uwii request, an
ecclesiastical council was called, which sanctioned '.he
dissolution of the pastoral relation. He was dismissed
August Jl, 1791, with emphatic coniuiendations from
the council, and also from the people to whom he bad
ministered. He was installed in December, 1702,
pastor of the Congregational Church in Wenham,
Mass., and, after a pastorate of bevea years, was
dismissed at his own request, in 1799. In 1802 he
was installed pastor of a Congregational Church in
Plymouth, Ma.ss., and remained theie fifteen years, or
until 1817, when he re^igned on account of a change
in his views respecting the mode and the subjects of
Christian baptism. He died in Scituate, Mass.,
November 25, 1820, aged seventy six years. Although
he at last followed his distinguished son into the
Baptist denomination, he was buried, at his own re-
quest, from a church dedicated to the service of his
earlier faith.
To the question which has repeatedly been asked,
" What was the relation of the Judson family, when
residing in Maiden, to the First Baptist Church in
that town ? the answer must be, none whatever, for
the simple reason that there was no Baptist Church
in Maiden at that time. The pastorate of Rev. Mr.
Judson, with the First (or Congregational) Church
in that town, as we have seen, coiumeuced January
23, 1787, and terminated August 21, 17"Jl,- but the
First Baptist Church in Maiden was not organized
until 1803, or until twelve years after Mr. Judson
had left the town. His distinguished son, the
missionary, was born in JIalden, August 9, 178S, and
doubtless in his infancy received in baptism the seal
MALDEN.
499
of that ancient covenant which Paul teaches is not
disannulled in the Christian era. He was only three
years of age when his family left Maiden, and was
twenty-four years old before he became a Baptist.
Twenty-one years, therefore, had passed after he left
Maiden before he embraced the distinctive views of
the Baptists ; and his father did not embrace them
until twenty-six years after he had left this town. It
is difficult to see, therefore, what special relation any
of the Judson family had to the First Baptist Church
in Maiden. But in God's Providence it is an honor
to the town, and all the Christian Churches in it may
well rejoice and give thanks that such a noble
missionary as Dr. Adoniram Judson, " the apostle of
Burmah," was born in Maiden.
Rev. Eliakim Willis, the Tenth Pastor of
THE First Church. — When the First and South
Churches in Maiden met in the North meeting-
house, March 25, 1792, and " voted to be incorporated,
with their officers, into one body," that vote made the
Rev. Eliakira Willis the minister of the First Church
Previous to that vote the First Church had no pastor,
but was provided with deacons. The South Church
probably had no deacons, but was provided with a
pastor. When, therefore, the two churches "with
their officers," were merged into one church, the latter
was fully officered. There does not appear to have
been any formal installation of Mr. Willis into his
office. Xo council was called, either for an install-
ation service or to advise, or even to rec:)gnize the
union of the two churches. There was, doubtless, a
reason for this. Any examination of the beliefs of
Mr. Willis, or of those held by his former church,
might have made trouble.
Little is known of the early life of Mr. Willis. He
was born in Dartmouth. Mass., June 9, 1714. Dart-
mouth at that time included the territory now com-
prised in the city of New Bedford. He was graduated
at Harvard College in 173-'j ; was called to the pastor-
ate of the South Church in Maiden, October 16, 1751,
and was ordained October 25, 1752. He had been the
minister of the South Church about forty years, when
he was called to be the tenth pastor of the First
Church. And when he entered upon the latter pas-
torate he was nearly four-score years of age. He was
then for several years the sole settled minister in
Maiden. He died in the pastorate, March 14, 1801,
at the age of eighty-seven years. The funeral services
were held on the ISth of March. Six neighboring
ministers were invited to serve "as pall-holders," viz.:
"Revd. Messrs. Roby, Prentiss, Osgood, Morse, Thacher
aud Lathrop. Dnct. Jlorse being on a journey, Doct.
Eliot was apply'' to in his room." The services were
conducted with "great solemnity." The meeting-
house was " shrouded in black." The members of the I
church wore badges of mourning. " Doct. Lathrop j
made the first prayer. Doct. Thatcher preached from
2 Tim., 4 Ch., G, 7, 8 verses. Mr. Prentiss made ye Last ;
prayer." An imposing procession followed the body
of the venerable minister to the grave. Although
his prolonged ministry in Maiden appears not to have
been in spiritual results a successfiil one, yet in his
death he was highly honored.
September 27th, " a letter left by Mr. Willis, and
delivered by his executors," was read to the church,
" wherein he begs the church to accept from his ex-
ecutors a bible, and exhorts that the scriptures may
be read in public every Lord's day ; whereon the
church voted that the scriptures be read in public,
forenoon and afternoon, every Lord's day, except in
severe cold weather." Mr. Willis also " left a number
of theological works as the basis of a parish library."
Ic his theological beliefs Mr. Willis was evidently
an Arminian. The Arminianism of his day, however,
must not be confounded with that of the Wesleys.
It was, indeed, in several respects, the extreme op-
posite of the Wesleyan Arminiauism. The latter was
" warm, vital and evangelical ;" the former "was cold,
formal, unreligious, sceptical, tending to scepticism
and infidelity." ("Sketches of the Theological History
of New England," by Enoch Pond. D.D., p. 28.)
It would more properly have been called Pelagianism,
or Semi-Pelagianism. Prof. Mosea Stuart affirmed
that the Arminianism that troubled some of the
churches of New England in the last century, and in
the beginning of the present, was not the theology of
Arminius, but " was Semi-Pelagianism in some re-
spects, and Semi-Rationalism in some others ; a com-
pound of latitudinarian sentiments." " Arminianism
now is, one might almost say, everything or anything
that is opposed to orthodoxy. It exists in all forms
and all gradations." (" Biblical Repository," 1831, p.
304.) Perhaps the most prominent characteristic of the
so-called Arminians was their violent opposition to
about every doctrine that is distinctively Calvinistic.
Yet they generally claimed that they were standing
only for a broad, liberal and tolerant theology ; that it
was really of no consequence what a man believed ; that
a good character and a respectable life were the main
things ; and that these can be attained apart from any
experimental religion or change of heart. "They
discouraged warmth and engagedneas in religion as
things of a bad tendency," and were afraid of noth-
ing 80 much as what they called enthusiasm. Innova-
tions in point of doctrine were considered of small
importance. If people attended public worship on
the Sabbath, and paid their taxes, and made no pre-
tensions to any unusual seriousness, but sneered and
scoffed at those who did, they might expect to be re-
garded as very good men." (" Sketches of the Theo-
logical History of New England," by Dr. Enoch Pond,
pp. 29, 30.)
The Arminian ministers wholly disregarded, in their
preaching, the Scriptural distinction between saints
and sinners, between the regenerate and the un-
generate. They abominated all evangelistic fervor,
and especially revivals of religion. The advent of
Whitefield and the power of his preaching aroused
500
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
their anger, and he was excluded from their pulpits.
They ceased to make a credible evidence of conver-
sion a condition of admission to the church, and in-
vited all persons of decent character and respectable
lives to come into full communion. The consequence
was that few became church- members, and in manv
instances even the congregations sadly diminished.
The undeniable historic fact is, that this so-called
Armmianism was the common, broad highway to
Unitarianism and to Uuiversalism.
In less than a year after, Mr. Willis was ordained
as the minister of the South Church in Maiden, or on
December 28, 1752, that church adopted a new Con-
fession of Faith and Covenant which were written
undoubtedly by the pastor. As a confession of faith
it was extremely meagre and vapid, having in its
original form only three articles of belief. As a creed
it was also indefinite, superficial and equivocal. In
one part it was unintelligible, and in some of its state-
ments glaringly defective and misleading. Any Ar-
minian of that day could have subscribed to this
creed without hesitation. Evidently it was intended
to be an Arminian confession of faith. At a later
date the Universalists in Maiden made it the basis ol
their creed and covenant.
When J[r. Willis became the pastor of the First i "•"" communion,"— that is. to the L^.nl's Supper,
The church record adds :
"After Borae rime epeDt, with reepect to the fii^t, the Church ad-
Juarned to the 'i4th inatiiut."
The next records are as follows :
"Nor. 24 the Church met acconiins t" a<lj..iirnnient. After »onie
time spent, beiug much diviUtfil in i^eiitiuient. iind several men.bfra be-
ing akEent, voted to adjourn, for funller roii>i<leruliun, to ye first tues-
day of April nent, to meet Ht iIih north nii'oliiin-lioiise.
'* 1794. — At a Church meeting Decemh' I'.l'b the I'iU^tor coniniunicati-d
to them a Request to him Signed by a Nniiiber of tlie Brelliren of the
Church to appoint a Chh meelini;, lluit (he Lu»l Vole of the Clinrch
might Iw fteconsidered. and the niattfr theu under t i>[isidenition lie
taken up. if the Chh uliiinld think lit.— after <..uie Conference, the
Church Voted io the NeKali\e, by the majority of t)ue.
" 179.5, .\pril 7"». — The Church met acnndin;; to ailjournment, and
1" Chose Deacon Ihinisdell Moderator. •J°''i.', ihe i linrch heina almost
equally divided, relutiie ti. the »ul.jert, which hml been under cousid-
eration, voted, that the Meeting be di-,-olved; wliiih is accordingly
dis-solved."
It is quite probable iliat Mr. Willis, early in his
ministry with the South Church, iii'ro>juced " the halt-
way covenant," so-called— that is, invited people of
respectable character and ccuiveisation to receive
baptism and own the church cuvfnur.t. — without
coming to the Lord's Supi)pr, — in order that their
infant children might be baptized ; and that, at a
later date, he took a further step, anil invited to
as well as to baptism, — all persons of ileceiitly moral
character and life. It is cer/nin, as the church
Church (March 25, 1792) he brought with him this
Confession of Faith and Covenant. There is no rec-
ord of its adoption by the First Church; yet it ap- i records show, that he attempted to introduce the
pears to have become, in some way, its Creed and I half-way covenant into the First Church; an;l quite
Covenant, and to have remained such so long as that | likely he attempted to accoiiiplish this as a prepara-
church was permitted to sustain any relation to the ' ''"■! "^ 'lie church to lake a further step, and receive
First Parish. I into full membership all persons who were not openly
Mr. Willis also not only brought into the First immoral. The tendency of the hall-way covenant.
Church the members of the Siiuth Church (very few and of receiving to lull cnnimunioii those who gave
probably in number), who had been religiously edu-
cated under his Arminian preaching and creed, hut
also brought back to the First Parish, at least, if not
into the church, the score of men who were so in-
tensely dissatisfied with Mr. Judson's " Bade Hop-
kintoniau Principels," and who, in consequence ol
his ordination, withdrew to the South Parish. The
only class of people in New England, at that time.
no evidence of having been bfirn •>( the S|ilrit, was
to (ill the churches with unconverted ii!cm!)ers, and the
pulpits with unconverted ministers. The church rec-
ords clearly show how perilously near the First Church
in Maiden — the church of -\Liiliews. Wigglesworth,
Emerson and Thacher — came to abandoning its an-
cient evangelical faith, and entering u|)on a course
which would have brought it speedily to Uiiitarian-
haviog any connection with evangelical churches, j ism, or Universalism, and then very likely to a
lingering death like that of the South Church, aud
finally to extinction.
Rev. Aaron Green, the Eleventh Minister
OF THE First Church. — He was born in JIalden,
Jan. 2, 1765, and was the son of Ezra and Mary (Vin-
ton) Green. He was the grandson of Samuel (born
in Maiden in 1679) and Martha Green ; and the
great-grandson of John Green, who was probably
born in Maiden in 1600, and was the son of James
Green, who came from England, and settled on .Mv.s-
tic side in 1647. Rev. Aaron Green was graduated
at Harvard College in 1789, and was ordained in his
native town, Sept. 30, 1795, as colleague pastor with
the venerable Mr. Willis. After the death of Mr.
Willis, in 1801, Mr. Green remained the sole pastor
who were strenuously antagonizing orthodox beliefs,
were the so-called Arminians. The twenty-one se-
ceders, who were so bitterly opposed to the evangeli-
cal beliefs of Adoniram Judson, were delighted with
the beliefs of Mr. Willis. This corroborates the view
that both Mr. Willis and the seceders from the First
Parish were Arminians.
Less than three years after the settlement of Mr.
Willis as pastor of the First Church, at a church
meeting held November 10, 1791:
"The Pastor acquainted the brethren with his desire of kDOwing
their mind, relative to the admission of any of a blameless life aud con-
▼ersatioD, to the owning or recognizing of the Covenant, that their
children might be admitted to Baptism, — also relative to the terms or
nunner of receiving members into full communion (i.s.), fvitb or with-
out a written Relation."
MALDEN.
501
of the First Church until he was dismissed, August
8, 1827. The period of his entire ministry in Mai-
den was nearly thirty-two years. In 1796 he mar-
ried Eunice Orne, of Lynnfield, and their children
were four sons and one daughter. His half-brother,
Dr. Ezra Green, born June 17, 1746, graduated at
Harvard in 1765, a surgeon in the army and navy
during the War of the Revolution, settled in Dover,
N. H., and married Susannah Hayes. He died July
'25, 1847, aged 101 years. Another half-brother,
Bernard Green, born Jan. 14, 1752, was in the army of
the Revolution, served the town of Maiden in various
offices, represented it in the Legislature, and died July
15, 1839, aged eighty-two years. Rev. Aaron Green,
upon the resignation of his pastoral charge, removed
to Andover. Like his two brothers, he reached a
good old age. He survived all his college class-
mates, and died Dec. 23, 1853, eighty-nine years of
age.
Theologically, Mr. Green was in sympathy with his
predecessor and colleague. Rev. Eliakim Willis.
Tradition represents him as preaching none of those
great truths of revelation which the Holy Spirit is
wont to use for the conviction and regeneration of
men. His hearers were never aroused by the stu-
pendous proclamations that " Except a man be born
again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God," nor were
they urged to instant " repentance towards God and
faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ," as conditions of
salvation. Doubtless Mr. Corey is correct in affirming
that " Mr. Green, whose sermons were rarely doc-
trinal, but mainly on the practice of piety and the
efficacy of good works, was of the Arminian School,
and it is said that his preaching w.is cot displeasing
to a majority of his hearers." The constant burden
of the Armioian preaching in that day, we are told,
was "do and lice, do and live," and it is added, that
" the congregations wore all the while doing less and
becoming more dead." Doubtless no minister holding
an earnest evangelical faith, like thatof Rev. Adoni-
ram Judson, could have been called and settled as a
colleague with Rev. Mr. Willis; or if called, it would
have been by only a bare majority of the church, and
in the face of a most remorseless opposition from the
parish ; and the faithful pastorate of such a minister
would have been more burdened with tribulation and
persecution than was even that of Mr. Judson. Mr.
Green, however, for a time at least, gave satisfaction
to the majority of his people. He seems to have ac-
cepted heartily Mr. Willis' .Vrminian creed and cov-
enant. Indeed, under his direction, that document
was printed as late as 1.S23, and it was set forth as
the " Confession of Faith, and the Covenant of the
First Congregational Church in Maiden." In this
printed copy are found a few, yet important, changes
from the original form. There is no reason, however,
to believe that these changes were made by Mr. Green.
They were probably made by Mr. Willis himself, at
the time he persuaded theTirst Church to adopt this
creed and covenant. The changes, however, were not
for the better. The Confession of Faith (as distin-
guished from the covenant), in its original form, had
three articles of belief — one very defective, respecting
the being and character of God ; another, as equally
defective, respecting the sacraments of the church;
and a third respecting " the communion of the
churches." The third article of belief is omitted in
the printed form which is represented to have been
adopted by the First Church. Very likely this
change was made in expectation that ere long the
church could be wrested from " the communion of
Churches," which it had so dearly prized through all
its long history. But if such an expectation was
cherished by any, they were destined to be disap-
pointed. Several other changes were also made, all
disclosing a positive trend towards a still more nn-
evangelical faith. In the mean time there were few
additions to the church, and many in the congrega-
tion, hearing nothing from the pulpit which con-
vinced them of the truth, the reasonableness and the
mighty spiritual power of the great historic beliefs
of this church, were becoming increasingly averse to
them.
Under such conditions there must have come sooner
or later a crisis. In those days few Arminians in the
pulpits, or in the pews, remained stationary. Ere long
some of them denied the personality and regenerating
work of the Holy Spirit, and became Universalists ;
others denied the divinity and propitiatory sacrifice
of Christ, and became Unitarians. In the third decade
of the present century each of these issues was reached
by different persons in Maiden. A few became Uni-
tarians. A larger number became avowed Universal-
ists. Had the Universalists at this time quietly with-
drawn from the First Church and Parish, as they had
a perfect right to do, and organized their own church
and parish, and built their own house of worship, as
the Baptists had already done, and as the Methodists
were then doing, it would have been, beyond all ques-
tion, honorable on their part, would have prevented
a great and prolonged conflict, and saved the town
from what is now, and must forever, remain, a most
painful passage in its history. But they decided to
take a different course.
The first signal of the coming contest appears to
have been an article in the warrant for a parish meet-
ing, to be held May 8, 1826, which read thus :
'• 8th. To see if they [the membera of the Firat Parish] will permit
.MiDiBtera of other denomiuatioDS In good standing to preach Lectaree
in the Brick Meeting-House, when the same is not occupied by their re-
8i)ected Factor, and pass any Votes on the subject that the good of the
Parish, The promotion of frieDdship and good will may suggest, Agiee-
abletu the petition of William Barrett, Esq., and others."
At the meeting held on May 8th it was voted '' Not
to admit Ministers of other denominations in good
standing to preach in the meeting-house when it is
not occupied by our Rev. Pastor." The next year,
upon the written request of Artemas Cutter and
twelve others, an article to the same effect, but in
502
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
more explicit terms, was inserted in the warrant for
a pariah meeting, as follows :
"To see if they will permitt ministers in good
standing of the Universalist denomination to preach
Lectures in the Brick meeting-house when it is not in
use by our respected Pastor, and pass any Votes on the
subject that they may think Propper."' At the meet-
ing of the parish held agreeably to this warrant on
January 8, 1827, it was "Voted, second. To permitt
ministers of the Universalist denomination to preach
Lectures in the Brick meeting-house when it is not in
use by our respected Pastor. Voted, third, To choose
a Committee to wait on our respected Pastor and get
permission of him for Preachers of the Universalist
denomination to preach lectures in the pulpit of the
Brick meeting-house."
A week later, or on January 15, 1827, a written re-
quest, signed by William H. Richardson and twenty-
seven others, was presented to the Parish Clerk, to
call a parish meeting, to act upon two articles: —
" First, To choo.se a moderator. Second, To see if
the Society will Prohibit Jlinisters of the Universali.-^t
denomination preaching Lectures in .«aid Brick Meet-
ing-house." At the meeting of the parish, held in
accordance with this request, on January 24, 1827,
it was " Voted, not to prohibit Ministers," etc. On
January 27, 1827, Joseph Lynds and ten others re-
quested the clerk to call a meeting of the parish, to
be held February 3, 1827, to act upon two articles,
the second of which was, " To see if the Society will
prohibit Ministers of the Universalist denomination,"
etc. The .society met according to the warrant, Feb-
ruary 3d, and " Voted not to prohibit Ministers of the
Universalist denomination preaching lectures in the
Brick Meeting-house."
A similar article was in the warrant for a parish-
meeting to be held May 27, 1827, but at the meeting
it was voted to pass over that article. On June 10,
1827, the resignation of Mr. Green was read from the
pulpit, by the preacher for the day. Rev. Mr. Sewall.
The conflict in the parish had evidently become ex-
tremely violent, acd the pastor could endure it no
longer. He was a good and kind-hearted man, and
had been generally beloved by his people. His
preaching had been so indefinite and neutral as to give
no offence to anybody ; and now, in the time of strife,
he thought to keep his speech and conduct so iudefi-
aite and neutral as to satisfy both parties. But, aa i
usual in sucii cases, beseems to have satisfied neither.
The Universalists had no further need of him, aa he
would not announce himself a Universalist, and unite
with them in their attempt to change the long estab-
lished religious faith of the church and parish. The
members of the church (who, though now few in
number were nearly all, — strange to say, considering
the religious instruction they had so long been receiv-
ing— thoroughly orthodox in their beliefs), were dis-
pleased, because their pastor did not take an open
and firm stand with them, and lead them in a brave
defence of the ancient faith of their church. He
could not see it to be his duty to take either course,
but in the miilst of the battle determined to flee from
the scene, and leave the contending parties to settle
their strife as best they could.
In his letter of resignation, while he expressed sin-
cere adection for his people, and gratefully recognizes
their love and kindness to himself, he also speaks in
plain terms of his grievous trials, and earnestly de-
fends the neutral course he had taken, which seems
to have been severely criticised by some of his people.
His resignation was accepted, after he had been
kindly invited to supply the pulpit for a short time.
An ecclesiastical council was called to approve of this
sundering of the pastoral tie, and he was dismissed
August 8, 1827, with warm commendations from the
council and from both the church and the jiarish.
The Separation of the First Chuklh from
THE First Parish. — Previous to May s, 1820, cer-
tain members of parish had become :ic(|Uainted wiili
several Universalist ministers. '■ Whitteniore, Ballmi,
."t-treeter and Pean, Universalists. had preached in Mai-
den in the old brick school-house once standing on
Pleasant Street." At the above date began tlie etlwrts.
already noticed, to introduce into the pul|)it of the First
Church these or other Universalist ])rcachers, al-
though Mr. (Treen was still the pastor, — etl'orts which
overwhelmed him with grief, forced his resignation,
and br"Ught on a controversy which for years rilled
the town with the most painful dissensions and l)it-
ter enmities.
Mr. Green's resignation of his iia.'?toral office did
not arrest, but rather intensified, the contest between
the Universalists and those who adhered to the ancient
faith of the church. The struggle, however, was con-
tinued mainly, not within the church, but within !he
parish. It would seem from the records of the par-
ish, and also from those of the Church, that the Uni-
versalists were now determined that the entire prop-
erty of tbe parish should be used — as it never before
had been used, and as it was never entrusied to the
parish to be used — for the support of a Universalist
minister and for the propagation of Universalism in
Maiden. On the other hand, nearly all the members
of the First Church resented the attempt to settle
over them a Universalist minister, without the vote
of the church and against its will. They knew that
from the beginning the Congregational Churches had
enjoyed the priceless liberty and the sacred right of
electing their own pastors; and that the parish, at a
later date, had come into being mainly to exercise a
trusteeship in the service of the church, and had
never intentionally, by the Bill of Rights or by any
legislation, been invested with the right to vote in the
election of a pastor, except in concurrence or non-
concurrence with an election previously made by the
church ; and that all the property in the care of the
parish was trust property — property entrusted to if for
certain specific purposes and for no other — which
MALDEN.
503
could never be honestly and rightfully used except in
support of the faith and the minister of that particu-
lar church to which the pariah itself was legally and
organically united.
The number of the members of the church at that
time, according to the church records, was eighty-
three, twenty of whom were males, and sixty-three
were females. The number of active members then
living in Maiden was probably less. The male mem-
bers doubtless, were all, or nearly ail, members also of
the parish, and others in the parish sympathized with
them and actively supported them. The women of the
church were not members of the parish; had they
been, the fin.il issue of the conflict, beyond question,
would have been quite different from what it was.
The comparative strength of the two parties was
usually indicated in the choice of a moderator at the
parish meeting, although often the number of votes
cast was not recorded. At a meeting of the parish
held Aug. 1, 1827, in the choice of a moderator, "Ed-
ward Wade, Esq. (ihe candidate of the Universalists),
had eighty-eight votes, and Ephraim Buck, Esq. (the
candidate of the Congregationalists). had one hun-
dred and eleven, and wius elected." This was an im-
portant meeting, tor (on account, apparently, of some
illegality in the calling and transactions of several
previous meetings, including the annual meeting in
May), all the pKrish officers were to be elected, and,
what wa.s of still more moment, ''a committee to sup-
ply the puljiit wa" to be chosen." As the Congrega-
tionalists were now the m:ijority,they elected the parish
olficers aud also the committee to supply the pulpit.
But at the next annual parish meeting, held March
20, 182S, although the number of votes cast for moder-
ator was not recorded, Edward Wade, the leader of
the Universalists, was elected to that office, and all
the parish officers elected, also the five members of
the committee chosen to supply the pulpit, were
Universalists. It would be interesting to know how
the orthodox majority of the year before had been {
overcome, and a Universalist majority had been i
gained. But the parish records are silent upon this
subject, and they were never again under the control
of the Congregationalists.
Previous to this annual parish meeting the Rev
Sylvanus Cobb, a young Universalist preacher of
considerable reputation in his own denomination, and
especially distinguished as a controversialist, had
preached several times in Maiden, probably in the
hi;ll of the school-house then standing on the south
side of Pleasant Street, upon the site now occupied by
the Ma.soiiic Building. Mr. Cobb had made a favor- !
able impression upon the Universalists, and at the I
parish meeting above referred to (March 20, 1828), I
" The followlDg motioD waa njnde aoJ adopted, viz., tlmt from tbe
high oppiDion thij society Enteruuna uf the KeT<* Sylvantu Cobb our
Committee be tequesteU to Empluy him aa our SliDister for oae year —
oa sach terms as shall be satisfactory to him and hoDorahle to the so- |
ciety — aod in case of bis deliiiqueocy for any part of said time, sach
other pet«}a or persons aa they imiy think proper.'* >
But at a parish meeting held June 25, 1828, it
was
" Voted, To adopt the motiua made ill irtitlug by Mr. Benj' G. Hill,
which is as follows— That the high satisfaction derived from the Pa»-
toral Labours of the Rev. Sylvauos Cobb stace his stay Id Maiden that it
is deemed a subject of expediency to appoint a Committee to wait on him
to obtain bis terms of settlement with the society and report (aa soon as
can b« convenient) to this meeting. Voted, That Jlr. Beiy» Lynde, W«
Barrett and Dea. Eben' Towosend l>e a committee for the purposes
above. Voted, Not to proceed any further on busineaa of this meeting
untill the committee aforesaid report their doings."
This committee, after an interview with Mr. Cobb,
who was already residing in the parsonage, returned
to the meeting and presented in writing a long report,
in which are stated in minute detail the terms upon
which Mr. Cobb agrees to settle " over said Parish or
Society as their Pastor.'' The society at once voted
that the report be accepted, " and that Mr. Cobb be
settled agreeably thereto;" also that the "installa-
tion " shall take place July 30, 1828, and that a com-
mittee be chosen " to write letters of communication
to the several Clergymen which they may deem pro-
per to officiate at the solemnization of the connection
between this society and the Rev. Sylvanus Cobb."
Several other votes are entered upon the record as
having been passed, and finally the clerk records that,
by vote, the meeting was dissolved, and officially signs
his name. Then he adds another record, as follows:
'* N. B. this Vote waa taken but overlooked to be put In its regular
place, which vote was na follows, viz.. Voted, that this Parish concur
with /As recommendation of ihe church. . . . The recommendation la as
followeth ... at a meeting of the first church of CUrist in Maiden at
tbe Parsonage house June Si, 1828, voted unanimously that this church
recomniend to the Parish with which we stand connected to settle Rev.
.Sylvanus Cobb as our Pastor. Ebeu'. Townseud, Clerk pro tern, .\tteet
Ch'. Hill, Parish Clk."
On the day appointed for the installation services,
(July 30, 1828) " the Council met in the parlors of
William Barrett — Hosea Ballou, of Boston ; Sebastian
Streeter, Thomas Whittermore, of Cambridge ; Russell
Streeter, of Waterto wn, and Walter Balfour, of Charles-
town, assisting."
Turning now to the records of the First Church in
Maiden, we find several entries which are of marked
significance, especially when compared with the above
recorded transactions of the so-called " First Church,"
and of the First Parish. Under date of " Maiden,
May 31, 1828," is found the following record of aciion
taken by the First Church at a church meeting :
" Wliereaa a complaint has been laid iin before the Flnt Congrega-
tional Church in Maiden against B'. Ebeoezer Townsend, specifying
that, contrary to tbe wishes and faith of the Church, be is aiding and
assisting in supplying the pulpit in the Fir:it Congregational Society in
this place with an Uuivetvaliat preacher, which doctrine to this Church
is heresy ; aud whereas tbe first and second steps according to the goepel
have been taken with him without obtaining satisfaction ; and wher«aa
be haa t>een cited to appear before tbe Church and answer to said com-
plaint, and he having failed to render any satisfaction to tbe Church ;
therefore Voted, that we consider said Townsend's [couduct?), aa stated
in the above complaint, a breach of Church covenant, and that he be
no longer a member of this Church. Voted that tbe above be read be-
fore the Church at their next communion, before tbe administration of
the ordinance of the supper.
Attest, EpHBAix Buck, Clerk."
504
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
The next record presents a scene which most pa-
thetically discloses the sweet and tender spirit of the
paatorles3 church and the unfailing fidelity of its
members to their evangelistic and Christly mission,
even in the darkest days of its great tribulation. The
record reads thus :
"Malden, June 1, 182S.
'"Tbis day the aacranient of the Lord'a Supper was adniiuistered. and
four persona were admitted by profeaalon to tbla Church, viz,: Uriah
Oakea, Jr., Granville Jefta, Charlotte Oakes and Eliza A. Pieree. The
three first were baptised. .\tteat,
" EpiiEAiu Buck, Cleric.'^
This scene, coming in as it does in the height of the
battle, amidst the clash of arms, "the thunder of the
captains and the shouting," seems even now like a
rife in the overshadowing blackness through which
can be seen heaven.
The record immediately following the above is as
follows:
" Malden, July 30, 1828.
"This day the Rev. Sylvamia Cobb, an UniverBalist preacher, id said to
be iustalled to the piistoriil cure of the first church in ^lulden. The
church, having heard that the above iustallation was to take phice, pre-
pared and seat in the following [remonstrance, but the council refused
to hear it.
Remonstrance.
"To the Ecclcsi.istical Council to be convened In Maiden .Tuly u"th,
lb28, for the purpose of iosdilllng the Kc-v. Sy Ivanua Cobb, as Pastor of
the hrst Church uud i'(iii..<h in said town.
*' Ct.NTLCMEN, — lluving lioiirU tliiit u meeting of the first Chnrch in
Maiden, ivilhout the ilcsire, ur request, or kuouled)^e 'if the members, Imil
been culled by the Itev. Sylvauus Cobb, who himself was not a member ,
and that at said unauthol'ized uieeting, attended only by 31r. Ebenezei
Txwnseud (e.^cunimuni' Hteil Iroui our Church lliiy Jl, 18JS), hia wile,
Susannah, and ^liss Elizabeth H. Sargent, the Uev. Sylvanus Cobb vtut
elected by them a member, ujt tiley claim, of the finit Church in Maldeu ;
and that attei ward the tifuresaid persons, together with the Uev. Sylva-
Q us Cobb, proceeded to receive to Church lellowship sundry other per-
sons, and also to elect the Rev. Sylvanus Cobb to be the Clerk, and the
said Ebeiiezer Townseiid to be a Deacou of the said first Church, as they
claim; and also ha\ing heard that the first Pariah in Maldeu had gi\en
to the Kev. Sylvanus Inibb a call to settle in the ministry over the said
first Parish ; and that Weduesday, the thirtieth day of July Instant, was
appointed for the installation —
" We, the undersigued officers and membet^ of the church connected
with the said first parish, having nevor alienated ourselves, by certificate
or otherwise, from the said Church or Parish, wholly disown and disup-
prove of the doiugs of the above named Ebeuezer Townseud, his wife and
Miss Elizabeth A. Sargent and those Connected with them in the above-
named tmnsactions, aa being entirely unprecedeuted and contrary to
all eccleaiaslicul usage, and contiary to our own wishes and feelings.
And we do also hereby reiiionslrate against any ecclesiastical Council
proceeding to install the Rev. Sylvanus Cobb as pastor over the First
Church in Maldeu. Maiden. July 29, 1828.
" Epuilaiu Bucic, ) ^ Lewis Fishes,
f Deacona.
"SILAS Saroknt, } Nathan Newuall,
"AM03 Saboei«t, Wm. H. Ricuabdson."
" PUINEAS SFaAGUE,
**We, the undersigned, being members of the First Church in Maltlei,
approTe uf the above remonstrance." To this approval of the remon-
strance are affixed the signatures of twenty-nine women, aud the whole
is followed by the official certification : " True copy, Epliraiiu Buck,
Clerk."
This remonstrance had no effect at the time, as the
council of Universalist ministers which was called to
install the Rev. Mr. Cobb refiiaed to hear it read.
It is but fair to look next at the records of the
Universalist Church in Maiden. Opening the book,
we find that they are called •' Records of the First
Church of Christ in Maiden." The record of the
first meeting is, in part, as follows:
" .\t a meeting of the Fir?t Church of Christ in Maiden, bolden at the
Parsonage house, May 22<f, 182'* ;
"1«. Voted that we .^pprove the doings of the Parish in employing
Rev. Sylvanus Cobb to lead in our ptihlic devotions, and minister unto
us the word of life, the present year.
"2*. "Noted that Rev. Sylvanus Cobb and Mrs. Eunice 11. Cobb be re-
ceived into fellowsliipas members of this Cliiirrh.
"Sd. Voted to receive Bra. Charles IIill, Artemns Cutter and Edward
Wade into fellowship as meuibers of this I'hnrch.
"4if>. Chose Br. Sylvanus Cobb Secretary of this Church.'*
A committee was then appointed " to ])re])are u new
draught of the Confession of Faith and Covenant used
by the Church in the adrai.ision of meraberH. with
I suitable amendments, sind also to dniusrht a code of
By-Laws." The meeting was then adjourned.
The question inevitably arises at this ptiiiit, Who
elected Rev. Mr. Cobb and received him aa .i member
of the First Church in Maiden? It is recorded that
he was received :it a meeting of the First Church in
that town. But it is certain that neither the deacona
nor anv other of the numerous members of the First
Church who si;rncd " the remonstrance " had re-
ceived any nolitication of that meeting, or had any
knowledge of it until after it had been held. Was
that .so-called ihuridi meeting com posed , at its open-
in;?, of simply Fbeiiezer To\vi-,s<.-nd, his wife Susannah,
aud Miss Elizabeth H. Sargent? and did tliey three
assume to be the "' First Church in Maiden," and as
such church receive members and elect Mr. Cobb as
.secretary? If so, the prayer: "God have mercy on
their souls," ought to have gone up from the hearts of
all good people in Maiden ; and not for those three
persons only should the prayer have been ofiered, but
also for fill who abetted or sanctioned such a transac-
tion. It is not believed that such a jirocedure would
now be regarded by any member of the Universalist
Church iu Maiden with any other than feelings of
repugnance and reprobation.
The First Universalist Church in JIalden held its
second meeting on June 7, 1828, at which it received
seven persons by confession of faith, adopted " a new
draught" of the Arminiau Confession of Faith and
Covenant, written by Rev. Eliakim Willis, " with
suitable amendments," and also adopted a resolution
as follows :
*' Retolved, That whereas Deacons Buck and S.trgeant have withdrawn
themselves' from the Parish with which we, as a Church, stand con-
nected, have abjiented thems'-'lves from our religious meetings, and have
united themselves to another religious Society, we can, therefore, no
longer recognize them as Deacons of this First Church of Christ in ^lal-
den ; and it is expedient that we proceed to choose at least one person
to that office at the present time.. . . Chose Br. Ebenezer Townstnil
FliBt Deacon of this Church."
But Deacons Buck and Sargent, in the "Remon-
strance" of July 30, 1828 (quoted above), distinctly
and publicly affirmed that they were still " ofEiers
and members of the church connected with the First
Parish, having never alienated ourselves, by certifi-
cate or otherwise, from said church or parish," nor
MALDEN.
505
had they united themselves to any other religious
society. They continued for years after this to be
oflBcers of the First Church and members of the First
Parish. There is n,o record, up to this date, of any
vote by which the First Parish had formally and le-
gally sundered its long-continued connection with the
First Church, nor of any vote by which the First
Church had formally and legally sundered its long-
continued connection with the First Parish.
It should be noticed that Ebenezer Townsend ap-
pears at this meeting as a member of the church, so
called, there assembled, and is elected deacon. But
there is no record of his having been received to this
Universalist Church. He must, therefore, have been
one of those two or three members of the First Church
who, on Jlay 22, 1828, met secretly at a private house,
called themselves •' The First Church of Christ in
Maiden," received Rev. Air. Cobb and four other per-
sons, sis they claimed, into the " First Church," and
then elected Mr. Cobb secretary of that church. Mrs.
Susan Tovvn.sentl and Miss Elizabeth H. Sargent are
also recognized in the records of the Universalist
Church as members of that church, but there cloes
not appear to be any reconl of their reception into
that i-luircli. This indi' ates that they united with
Mr. Townsend. on Afay 22, 1S28, in calling them-
selves "The First Oliurcli of Christ in Maiden." It
does not appetir that any others were associated with
those three persons in that notorious act of assump-
tion and fraud, until they had received Mr. Cobb and
others as members.
The First Universalist Cluirch in Maiden held its
third meeting " at the P!irsnnii;;e,.rune 23, 1828." The
record of this meeting is as lollows :
" I't Clicne Br. K. Wii.le, M..Jei-itor pro lem.
"j-i (■}»•.■»« Hr. K. Tti\vii-;^n'I, 5- i.-retury jto (fm.
" ,iJ Vutt^ii uimiiiiiiouyly, rii;it tliid (,'hnrcb reconimeDd to the Parish
with whii li wti stHnti connected, t>j aettlu Itev. Sylvaoua Cuhb as Piutor
of our Cbiircli iiod Puri:)h.
■• KiirN Townsend, St:cetary pro tern.
" .\ truo copy of the Record of the liieettu^.
"SvLVANUS Cobb, Stcrtiary.^*
Returninjr now to the history of the First Church,
we cannot find that more than three of its members
united in the organiz.atioii of the Universalist Church,
viz.: one man and two women ; and the one man was,
after due form and process of discipline, excommuni-
cated from the First Church before the Universalist
Church held its second meeting. The brethren of the
First Church, and other men in the town who sympa-
thized with them, retained their connection with the
First Parish so long as there was any hope of restoring
the parish property to the uses for which it had been
intrusted to the parish. As late as January 23, 1832,
they appear to have made a most earnest but fruitless
effort, through the power of the ballot, to discharge
their obligations as honest men, placed in care of
trust property, a part of which had come down to
them, unperverted in its use, through nearly two
centuries. At a meeting of the First Parish, held at
the above date, the whole number of votes cast for
moderator was 228. Of this, Edward Wade, Esq., a
leader of the Universalists, received 134 ; the good
physician and orthodox deacon, Ephraim Buck, re-
ceived ninety-three ; and Thomas Odiorne received
one. Another unsuccessful attempt of this kind was
made at a parish meeting held March 26, 1832. This
was the last effort which the orthodox party made,
through the ballot, to save the parish property to the
uses for which it had been intrusted to the parish.
It may not be best, in this place, to describe in detail
the proceedings by which a Universalist majority was
secured in those decisive parish-meetings. It is a
j painful story. Suffice it now to say that the majority,
according to abundant and trustworthy evidence, was
obtained by methods which were anything but right-
eous and honorable. And w'hen that majority was
obtained, the bars were put up. New rules for the
admission of members were forthwith adopted, which
thereafter made it impossible for any persons except
Universalists to become members of this ancient
orthodox parish.
After the orthodox party had failed to restore by
their votes the parish property to the service of evan-
gelical faith, the service to which it was consecrated
by its donors, they brought suit at law against the
parish. But this, too, failed of success. The courts
at that time were dominated by the influence of an
extraordinary decision of the Supreme Judicial Court
of the Commonwealth, which had bereft the Congre-
gational Churches of some of their dearest rights and
most sacred liberties. That decision was given in the
year 1820, in what has usually been termed "the Ded-
ham case," but is now correctly cited as Baker versus
Fales, 16 Mass., 488, and was regarded by some of the
most eminent lawyers of the time, headed by Daniel
Webster, as an unwarranted and unrighteous deci-
sion.
The Universalists in Maiden pleaded that decision
as justifying their method of organizing their church,
their seizure, by a majority vote unrighteously ob-
tained, of the entire parish-property, which had been
sacredly devoted by the contributors of it to the sup-
port of an evangelical church and ministry, and their
devotion of that property forever to the support of a
Universalist Church and ministry. Possibly they
had the legal power to do at that time what they did.
But might does not make right. No power, no civil
constitution, no law or statute, no decision of courts,
can transmute falsehood, fraud and breach of trust
into righteousness, else American slavery, with all its
inexpressible wickedness and infamy, and a thousand
other tyrannies, persecutions and atrocious wrongs,
would have been made righteous.
The members of the First Church clung affection-
ately to their place of worship, attending faithfully
the religious services held at the brick meeting-
house, until, without their consent, against their pro-
test, and to their dismay and grief, the UniversaJist
506
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
majority in the parish called the Rev. Mr. Cobb, au !
avowed Universalist, to become the settled pastor of
the First Church and Parish, and he accepted the
call. Then the stern, remorseless voice of arbitrary
power said to them, as it said to their Puritan Fathers
in England two centuries before — Conform to a faith |
and to a worship which your souls abominate, sit un- j
der preaching which you believe to be false and haz-
ardous to the eternal interests of men, or flee hence
and go whither you will. They would not be false to j
God and their vows ; they would not deny their Lord I
and His gospel, nor defile their consciences ; and so \
they fled from their own house of worship, endeared j
to them by a thousand sacred associations and tender
memories, where they and their fathers and mothers
had worshipped God, where they had received baptism
and had confessed Christ a.s their Saviour and King.
The exiled flock turned first into Captain John Sar- i
gent's Hall, a little dingy upper room near the corner
of Salem and Ferry Streets, now used as a court-
room. Afterwards they gathered for their public
religious services in a small ha'l in the second story
of the brick school-house on Pleasant Street. There
were no persons of wealth among them. They had
left a good meeting-house, a fine parsonage-house,
and ample parsonage lands, the parish wood-lots,
and a ministerial fund of about §4000 — the whole, ac-
cording to one estimate, valued at about S20,000. They
were few in number, and could ill aflbrd to bear the
pecuniary burdens which they now assumed. But
they were rich in faith, in hope and in good works.
The brethren of the First Church, and other
men sympathizing with them, had now separated
from the Universalist Church and minister, but not i
from the First Church. As has already been shown, ■
in the conscientious discharge of their duty as en- |
trusted with the parish property, they took active |
part in the parish meetings as late as March 26, 1832.
But in July of that year they organized a religious
society, which, in the place of the First Parish, was
soon legally connected with the First Church. In the
preamble to the Constitution and By-Laws of that
society, they say : —
" WhereAa we consider the serrice and worship of God, in ita purity
and ^jioiplicily, not only a high and important duty, but an inentiruable
privilege, one that infiuitely transcendsnil others, and one fur the support
of which all tliinRS else, if necessary, should !« sacriticed ; — and being
fully persuaded in our own minds that the right ways of the Lord are
perverted in the tirst religious Society in this place ; and that any
lurther attempts to restore the ancient order of things in the first reli-
gious Society would be not only useless and vain, but fraught with
more evils than wDuld be atoned for by all the ministerial property be-
longing to said Society if obtaiued ; therefore we whose names are here
inserted . . . do, on this twentieth day of July, in the year of our Lord
eighteen hundred and thirty-two, hereby constitute and form ourselved
into a religious Society, by the name of The Trinilanan Oongregaiiouai
Soriely ; — and we do hereby mutually covenant and a^ree with each
other, and with such other persona as may hereafter unite with us, that
we will maintain and support the public worship of God (to the extent
of our ability), according to the ancient usages of Congregational Socie-
ties in New England."
The First Church was now wholly separated from
the First Parish. It had passed through the greatest
trial in its long history of nearly two hundred years.
But it had not been alone in ita tribulations. It
had known the blessedness of fellowship in suf-
fering. In the early part of the present century
eighty-one Congregational Churches in Massachusetts
were forced in a similar way to separate themselves
from the parishes or societies with which they had
been connected. In most of these cases, however. Uni-
tarians were the aggressors, and pursued a course in
many particulars similar to that adopted by the Uni-
versalists in Maiden, taking from orthodox Churches
their meeting-houses, parsonage-houses, ministerial
lands .ind all other property. In some instances they
wrenched from these churches even their communion
service and church records. The action of the Uni-
versalists in Maiden with reference to the communion
service of the First Parish will be noticed further on.
Rev. Alexander Wilsox McClure, D.D., the
Twelfth Pastor of the First Church.— The fol-
lowing extracts have beep taken from a manuscript
biography of Dr. McClure, which has been com-
menced (and it is hoped will be completed) by one
eminently fitted to give to the world, in appreciative
and elegant words, the life of this brilliant man. this
masterful and brave minister of Christ :
'* .\Iexunder Wilson McClure was bom in Boston, May 8, 1S('8, and
was named for his maternal grandfather, Captain Alexander Wilson,
wliote mother w;is the only daughter of Rev. John .Moreliead, the fil-st
Presbyreriau Miuii^ter of Boston. His ancestry was S.*otch-Irish on
holh sides ol the house, his grcat-great-irrundfather ou his father's side
being John JlcClinlock, one of the besieged at Londonderry, Irelaud,
during the famous siece of lO&'J. These faiuilies were identified with
the great Protestant struggle of the period iu the Nortli of Ireland.
His uncle. Rev. David McClure, was a distinguished ^lissionary to llie
Indians of his day.
'• His father. Thomas McClure, was a merchant of vigorous iuteltect
and great force of character. He u as possertsed of fine bui'iness aluliry
and was the owner of Schooners and Coasters which carried on active
trade along the Eastern Coast quite far lo the South.
** His mother, 51ary Wilson, . . . was a woman of much personal
charm, and possessed a dignified and elegant bearing, which, added to
a hue wit and taleut in conversation, made her a prominent member of
the social circles of her day.
" He was the youngest of all his father's children, and on him waa
lavished all that a father's pride aud a mother's uQection could suggest,
[lis capacity was considered exceptionally good from earliest childhood,
and bis precocious scholaiahip excited the wonder of his patents and
teachers. .\t the age of eiglit he was reading Shakespeare with avidity,
bad finished Rollin'a Ancient History and other worlis, and at fifteen,
when ready to entwr College, he had made himself acquainted with all
the books in the Librarj- of the Doeton .\then:eum. He was trained in
the Boston Latin School and entered "Vale College in 13'^. . . . \
finished and high-bred t>earing was. through life, one of hi* prominent
characteristics. At College his life ivaa of the gayest. His well disci-
plined mind euabled him to perform his college duties Willi very little
labor, and his irrepressible spirits sought amusement aud excitement in
ways which often defied the strict rules of the College. His father dying
very suddenly at the conclusion of hie sophomore year, he was trans-
ferred by his mother to Amherst College, where he graduated at the age
ot nineteen."
During Mr. McClure's senior year there occurred a
season of special religious interest in the college, and
under its quickening influence, with all the enthu-
siasm of his nature, he consecrated himself to the
service of Christ, and soon "Set his face towards the
ministry." There is a vivid account of his conver-
MALDEN.
507
sion, including a letter which he wrote to his mother
at the time, in one of Jacob Abbott's booiia, entitled
" The Corner-Stone," pp. 320-331. His name is not
given, but it is known that the subject of the narra-
tive was Senior McClure. The depth of his convic-
tions and the genuineness of the religious change
which he experienced doubtless had much to do in
determining his subsequent theological beliefs. In-
deed, he was born into an era of heated theological
discussion. His father had be^n a prominent mem-
ber of the old Federal Street Church, Boston, and for
years sat under the preaching of the distinguished
Dr. William Ellery Channing. But when Dr. Chan-
ning embraced Unitarian views, the sturdy Scotch-
man, Thomas McClure, could not brook the new
gospel, left the church, united with the Park Street
Church, and was subsequently elected one of its dea-
cons. Such an experience of the father could hardly
have failed to exert a moulding influence upon the
religious character of the son, especially after his
conversion.
Mr. McClure entered Amlover Theological Semi-
nary in 1827, and was grailuated from the same in
1830. In the seminary he w;i3 the class-mate of men
who afterwards bore such distinguished names as
William Adunis, D.D., LL D., George B. Clieever,
D.D., Bela B. Ed^vard^ D.D., William G. Shaufler,
D.D.. and President Leonard Woodt, D.D., LL.D.
The year following his graduation Mr. McClure
was a resident licentiate at Andover. At the begin-
ning of this year, or some time in the autumn of
1830, his life, like a new-creating power, came into
the history of M:ilden. He preached as stated sup-
ply to the First Church — probably coming from An-
dover every Saturday — until April fi, 1831, when he be-
came acting pastor. In this capacity he labored until
December 111, 1S32. At this date he was ordained to
the Christian ministry, and installed pastor of the
First Church in Maiden. The ordaining council as-
sembled in the hall of the Brick School-house at nine
in the morning. Public services were held in the
Baptist Church in the afternoon. Rev. Dr. Lindsley,
of the Park Street Church, Boston, preached the ser-
mon. "The services," writes the clerk of the church.
Dr. Buck, " were solemn and interesting, the day was
pleasant and the congregation respectable." Six days
after his ordination (December 25, 1832), at South
Hadley, Ma.ss., Mr. JlcClure and Miss Mary Brewster
Gould were united in marriage. Mrs. McClure was
the daughter of Rev. Vinson and Mindwell Wood-
bridge Gould, of Southampton, Mass. The young
pastor and his bride were soon received into the house
of Dr. Buck, and resided there for about a year. The
house was on the corner of Main Street and Gould
Avenue, on a lot which is now vacant.
The advent of 3Ir. McClure to Maiden, in the au-
tumn of 1830, was most opportune. Rev. Aaron
Green had been dismissed August 8, 1827. For about
seven months after hi.-s dismissal the First Church
and the orthodox members of the First Parish had
control of the pulpit, and it was supplied by various
orthodox ministers. " Mr. Talcot Bates " appears to
have preached as a candidate for settlement, and
some of the people desired that he should be called to
the pastorate ; but the parish, at a meeting held Dec.
26, 1827, voted not to extend to him a call. Rev.
William W. Niles also preached as a candidate, and
I made a number of warm friends, at whose request a
parish-meeting was called to see if the members of
the parish would invite him to settle with them in
the ministry. But the parish, January 8, 1828, re-
fused even to consider the question of his settlement,
by a vote of fifty-three against twenty-nine. There
is no record that the church took any action in either
of these cases. The Universaliats, on March 8, 1828,
having, by a majority vote in the parish, obtained
control of the pulpit, and having at that date voted
to invite a Universalist — Rev. Sylvanus Cobb — to oflS
ciate as their minister for one year, the First Church
was driven to seek another place of worship and an-
other minister. The first indication, in the records
of the church, of any change in its place of worship,
is under date of May 18, 1828. On that day, it being
the Sabbath, the First Church worshiped in Captain
John Sargent's Hall, and Rev. Cornelius B. Everest
preached. At a church-meeting, held after divine
service in the afternoon, it was voted, that the Rev.
Mr. Everest "be invited to exercise all the rights and
duties of a Pastor of this church." He accepted the
invitation, and appears to have served as acting pas-
I tor for about one year. The Rev. John R. Adams,
I brother of Dr. William Adams of Xew York, preached
I to this little flock for some time previous to the com-
I ing of Mr. McClure. When the latter began his ser-
! vice as stated supply, the First Church had held ser-
vices of worship separate from those of the First
I Parish for more than two years; but the conflict was
still raging. None of the orthodox party had sev-
ered their connection with the First Parish, and the
clangor and heat of iheological debate still filled the
town.
McClure was a strict Calvinist. He belonged to
the class of theologians designated at that time as
Old School, in distinction from those called New
j School. Those men whom Capt. John Dexter con-
demned, on account of their " Bade Hopkintonian
^ Principels," weie New School in their theology, or, as
! they preferred to call themselves, " Consistent Calvin-
ists." Theologically, Mr. JlcClure was in sympathy
with his predecessors in the Maiden pulpit, Mathews,
Wigglesworth and Emerson. Rev. Mr. Wigglesworth,
after his decease, was referred to, in an oration deliv-
ered at Cambridge, as " Orthodoxus Maldunatus."
The same title might appropriately have been given
to Rev. McClure. But the difference between the
Old School and the New, of that time, was trifling in
comparison with the difference between both of those
Schools and the Aiminians. Mr, McClure was
508
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
thoroughly evangelical in his faith. Out of his own
experience, aa well as out of the Word of God, he had
learned to believe in the reality and the nece.ssity of
the new birth. Under a profound sense of the de-
pendence of all men upon the regenerating grace of
the Holy Spirit for salvation, he preached, and lab-
ored and prayed for the immediate conversion of the
impenitent among his people ; and not without
marked success. He had not preached a year before
a powerful revival of religion came on. When he en-
tered upon his labors in Maiden he was but twenty-
two years old. When the time came to gather the re-
cent converts into the church, and welcome them to
the Lord's Table, as Mr. McClure had not been or-
dained, and therefore could not officiate at the sacra-
ment of the Lord's Supper, it was arranged that Dr.
John Codman, of Dorchester, should perform that ser-
vice. Accordingly, on communion Sabbath, Novem-
ber 0, 1S31, Dr. Codman being present and conduct-
ing the services, twenty-three persons were received
into the church, by confession of Christ. It is certain
that no such scene as this had been witnessed by this
church for more than half a century, if ever before.
Moreover, this large addition was made to the church
when it was in the midst of fiery trials and suH'eriiigs,
such as few churches in our country outside the Con-
gregational denomination have been called to endure.
Rev. S. Osgood Wright, iu his " Historical Dis-
course, delivered in Maiden, December 1, 1831,"
remarks :
"The neatest rulilition evpr known to have been ina<le at anyone
tittle [to the First Chiircli in MiiltJen] whs nitiiie on Nov. 6, lS;il. Tweu-
:y-tiiree were tlteu iidjeii by profeadion. Re\. 3Ir. McOlure id the pres-
ent iniuister." AntI he ttlso siiys, "Since they [the First t''Iiureh] left
llie itieetint;-hi)itse, tltey liitve addetl to tlteir unttilier tliirly-three —
tweoty-uine liy profession and lour by letter. The whole uuniber or
ojelubers is now eighty-bix — twetjly-fuur males nnd oi-\ty-two reiualcs."
In connection with thi.^ revival occurred an event
of special significance. Mr. McClure was then only
an acting pastor. Yet, guided by him, the church
■^tvas led to examine as never before the Armiuian
creed, and covenant which Eliakim Willis had foisted
upon it forty years before. Under that creed, and
under the preaching, the teaching, the religious in-
difference and moral corruption that went with it,
one church in a growing town had become extinct ;
and the First Church itself had first sunk into .in
ominous indifference and stupor, and then had been
thrown into convulsions and conflicts which brought
it to death's door. But now the church, quickened
and enlightened in the atmosphere of a powerful re-
vival of religion, saw these mournful facts in all their
relations as in the light of the noon-day sun, and took in
their full significance. Then came decisive action. On
November 2, 1832, that entire day having previously
been set apart for the purpose, the members of the
church, now spiritually revived, assembled, and with
great solemnity, with fastings, confession and pray-
ers, and in the presence of neighboring ministers,
they abolished that Arminian creed, and with joy
and thanksgiving adopted a thoroughly evangelical
Confession of Faith and Covenant, thus placing the
church once more upon its ancient foundation — that
upon which it stood in the days of its greatest spirit-
ual power and glory, '' the foundation of the apostles
and projihets, Jesus Christ himself beitig the chief
corner-stone." This occurred only four days before
that communion Sabbath on which twenty-three re-
cent converts were received into the fellowship of the
church, and received only upon credible evidence
that they had been born of the Spirit.
In the mean time it devolved upon this ynung min-
ister, not ouly to preach the gospel for the conversion
of his impenitent hearers and the strengthening of the
faith of Christians, but also to cheer the tiespondirig
hearts of the little exiled band, and to lead them in a
vigorous defence of both their faith and their rights.
The manuscript biography already referred to has in
it this passage :
" Mr. McClure roused the orthodu.x minority to action, and reported
to a lawsuit to ubtaiii the prnpert.r wtit^-h hud bi't'ii bestowed l>v the
Culviiiistic tbiinderi^ (jf tlie Muldi'ii t.'hnrch. But the rase u'lis lu>t. .VII
that remained fur tlit.-lii to do was to l>i-gii) au'aiti as an llifatit < hiircii,
boy (* .site, and eiert a new house of wui^tiip us tliey niii;lit be able.
The only property which they retained was tl.c treasnrt-s vihivti Cei-
faiu departed nieiiil'ers hatl dinlicateil to the sacramental use of the
Churili, Mr. ilct'lure — thi-ii lwe:ity-twi> years old— finarde<l thcf-o
(|iiaiiil and saeted ve*(sels at no litth- ri^k to hlliiself. Ntiw that the in-
terest iu points of theolot;iral belief has ciiantred, we .afinot cuiueive
of the Intense exciteioetit Ihey caitse'l then. DnritiK a iunr;e ..f four
lectures on ' Ulliversalistn ' ilelilered liy Mr. McLliire, in Maiden, iu
lS'-',.lf he WHS escorted home after eai h )>.v a l>odT of youii^ lueu to protect
him from personal violence at the hands of the o|<i>usliig party."
When Mr. McClure began his ministry in Maiden,
the First Church was at its lowest. Its enemies were
exultant and defiant. Their leader, Rev. Sylyanus
Cobb, was a man of large physical presence. Mr.
McClure had none of that kind of largeness to boast
of. He was of slender stature, and very youthful in
appearance. He was received in the town by the
opponents of his faith and of his church in a manner
anything but courteous. They spoke of him as " a
mere boy," and ha was insulted upon the streets. At
first they deemed it quite safe to make him in various
ways the butt of their ridicule. But those who,
either in private or public, assaulted him or his re-
ligious faith with contemptuous speech, seldom or
never made the second attack. He was a mau of fine
scholarship, and an accomplished theologian, of good
breeding and high spirit, and withal, an almost match-
less controversalist. All this made it dangerous to
assault him. But he was also a man o( brilliant and
caustic wit. His power in the use of irony and sar-
casm, and of quick and sharp repartee, has seldom
been equaled. Those who at first thought to deride
him, soon regarded him with suitable fear, and for
their own protection, if from no higher motive, treat-
ed him with marked respect. His sincere piety and
his downright earnestness in all the work of the
Christian ministry endeared him to his own people,
gained for him the confidence of all, and softened the
MALDEN.
509
asperity of even the worst enemies of his faith. A
minister who was acquainted with him, and well in-
formed respecting his achievements in Maiden, says:
" I had a profound respect for his gifts, his character
and hia work. In the earlier years he fought a hard
battle, but fought it bravely, and came at last to be
greatly esteemed and honored by those who had
fought against him."
3Ir. McClure's wit waa often as harmless as it was
brilliant, but sometimes it hurt. In either case, how-
ever, it was a part of himself, as natural as the tones
of his voice. He never put it on exhibition. It
might be said of him, as Ralph Waldo Emerson said 1
of his Aunt Mary, that he " never used [his wit] for
display, any more than a wasp would parade his ;
sting." He used it only for a purpose, and generally
it was effective. The following incident illustrates his
ability in the line of sharp repartee. It is related
by a distinguished professional gentleman who was
presetit at the meeting.
" On one occaiiioD, Sir. 31cClure, na chairman of the School Cummittee,
nroBU in a town-oieetiug auil rcqilealeU .1 larger iipiiropriution of money
for Ibe niipport of the public stboolB, ;ind siippurltfil his request by facts
and arguuiejits. Instantly a man wliosa reputation for generosity waa
not high, sprang to bis feet to Dispose the aUaitioDal appropriation. His
remarks, buwevf r, were lar;;ely a violent tirade against clergymen. He
declared tlieiu to be useless members of society, cumberers of the
grouml, lazy fellows, a heavy bunleu upon the conmmnity, supported at
creat expeute by the town. He also remarked that iu deference to bis
wife be [laid ten dollars a year for the salvation of bis bOuI, and be con-
sidered that a dear and even extravagant price. He sat down amidst
1-Mid laughter and applause. Air. McLMure calmly rose from his seat,
explaining further the urgoni need of a larger jipprupriation for the
scho"ls, and then adJeil :— ' .\ltbouili I dllTer from the geutleman, who
has just stKjkeu, on the main -(Ueaiiuu at issue, I am bappy to say that
there is one point '>n which I fully u;;ree with hiiu, and that is that ten
dollars a year [wtiil for the salvation of bis soul is too nincli. But the
gentleltian forgot to state the reason, which is, that ten millions of such
souls as his could dance together on Ibo point of a i-antbric needle with-
out jostlitiif, at the ijime time crying, (J I the inunenoilyof spaCL- ! ' The
speaker sjit down amidst ' thunders uf applause,* which were repeated,
and t>o long continued that the man of small soul left the ball."
The meeting voted unanimously to increase the ap-
propriation fur schools.
He remained pastor of thi.s church until Nov. 9,
1842. when at his own re(|uest, mainly on account of
impaired hoalth, he was dismissed. From 1844 to
1S4<3, he was the acting pastor of the Presbyterian
Church it Si. Augustine, Florida. He then returned
to Boston where h.' was the editor of The Chrktian
Observatory from 1847 to 1850. He was also assistant
editor of Tlie Puritan Recorder for three years. The
First Church in Maiden called him the second time
to its service. He supplied the pulpit six months,
and then he was in.->talled its pastor, Xov. 22, 1848.
But after a successful pastorate of about three years
and a half, he received an urgent call from the Grand
Street (Reformed Dutch) Church, .lersey City, N. J.,
and was dismissed from the church in Maiden, April
28, 1852. The First Church, in reluctantly granting
his request for this second dismissal, says: — ''Our
hearts are moved with grief at parting from our long
tried, and faithful friend and Pastor, and with a feel
ing akin to desolation in view of our bereaved state."
He remained in the pastorate of the Grand Street
Church about three years, when he was called to the
Secretaryship of the American and Foreign Chris-
tian Union, and for several years filled that office.
In 1856, he was sent to serve as chaplain of the
American Legation at Rome, Italy. " The American
Chapel in Paris was erected largely by funds which
Dr. McClure secured with great zeal and labor."
In March 1859, " broken down by bronchial disease,
he retired from public service, and was a great suf-
ferer until bis death." He died in Canonsburg, Pa.,
Sept. 20, 1865, but he was buried in the cemetery on
Salem Street, in Maiden, by the side of his three
little children whom he laid there so tearfully years
before. It waa probably his own request that his
body might rest where sleep so many of the people
whom he loved, and to whom he ministered in the
Gospel of Christ.
The entire length of Dr. McClure's ministry in
Maiden, as stated supply, acting pastor and pastor,
was about sixteen years. He waa respected more and
more in the town, and the esteem and affection of his
own people for him increased to the last. Feelings
equally appreciative and affectionate also appear to
have been cherished by him towards this town and
especially the people of whom be was pastor. Mrs.
McClure, who is still living, speaking of her husband
in a recent letter, remarks : "His love for Maiden,
for the church and people amounted to enthusiasm, —
his youthful, .ardent love." He was also highly es-
teemed by his brethren in the ministry. One of the
leading ministers of Boston atfirmed that " no one
had ever done so much for his mind and heart as Dr.
McClure had." Amherst College, his Alma Mater, in
1854, gave him the honorary degree of Doctor of Di-
vinity.
He was a versatile scholar, and his abilities were as
varied as they were great. In one of the notices, pub-
lished at the time of his death, occur these words :
** A great man in fallen — yea aacended. His talenta were uairersal,
his learning waa great, in science, history, hia own language, Latin,
Greet, Hebrew, French, German, Italian. His wit waa brilliant, hia
memory e.xtr»orUiuary ; hia disiuterestedneaa notable. But hia great
excellence waa hia humble trust in Christ, and hia unreserred conaecra-
I tion to Hia cauae."
I In the biographical sketch, from which quotations
have already been made, among other characteristics
: mentioned are the following :
1 " Hia friendabipe and peraoDal attachmeDts were almost idolatrona ;
be waa a faithful and dtsintereated friend ; be never shirked nor failed
to appear when his presence aad influence were needed in advernty.
He waa bold as a lion iu defending those who were unjustly aaaailed,
while be could, in a masterly way and by a few words, expoee the pre-
tentions, and lay bore a sophism. He waa a derotional man. Listen*
ing to bis facetiousness, which would keep a company excit«d with
. niirtb, one would be greatly struck, in bearing him pray, with the deep
reverence and awe, and the earneat supplicatory tone of hia prayers. He
I waa a godly man, a sound divine, a trenchant controversmliat (aa witoeai
I bis unparalleled Lectured on tJltra-Universatiam), and withal be waa a
' true Christian gentleman. His forgiving spirit waa an eminent cbar-
acteristic. While hia sensitiveness waa acute and his feelings were im-
510
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
pnlsive, resentment had no lodgement in him. He was truly magnani-
mous."
Dr. McClure was a prolific writer for the press. He
published valuable articles in the Christian Ohserva-
tory, of which he was editor, New Brunswick Revieir
and in the Literary and Theological Review ; also in
the Boston Recorder, the Puritan Recorder, of which
he was for several years co-editor with Dr. Parsons
Cooke, and in other religious papers. He was the
author of a small book entitled, "The Life-Boat," an
allegorj', whicii had a large circulation ; of " Four
Lectures on IJltra-Universalism," a volume which
quickly reached a fourth edition, and which was
called "a theological classic unanswered and unan-
swerable ; " of the lives of John Wilson, John Nor-
ton, John Davenport and John Cotton, in "The
Series of the Lives of the Chief Fathers of New Eng-
land," and a book entitled, "The Translators Re-
vived," which gives a bingraphical sketch of each
translator concerned in King James' version of the
Bible.
Dr. McCiure occupies a conspicuous position in the
history of Maiden. Becoming pastor of the First
Church at the time it was swiftly approaching extinc-
tion, he, under God and His truth, arrested ils down-
ward progress, revived its failing life and courage,
and restored to it its ancient hoimr and power. He
changed, largely, the currents of thought and belief
in Maiden, and the morals and manners of the com-
munity were much the better for his coming into it.
Upon questions of faith, and of right and >vrong, he
was never indefinite or equivocal. He was no trim-
mer. It was impossible for him to be guilty of hedg-
ing, or of cowardly concealment. He was grandiv
positive in his beliefs, and grandly brave in proclaim-
ing them, though he did not know that he w.as. He
appears to have been utterly ignorant of the experi-
ence of fear in any line of duty, and therefore was not
conscious of doing a brave thing in giving clear and
positive utterance to any truth or message of (rod.
In dealing with troubled and anxious souls, he was
gentle and tender as a mother, but it was not in hiiu
to fear wicked and defiant men. He was himself a
faithful friend and a righteous man, and his delight
in all true and royal souls was unbounded. Some of
the ministers of Maiden have been great and godly
men, who wrought better than they knew, and bet-
ter than the people of their time knew. Dr. McClure
was one of these, and the impress of his own strong
and manly character — and especially of his grand
loyalty to truth and righteousness — still abides upon
the town. He is one of that blessed company to whom
has been fulfilled the words of the Seer of Patmos,
written by command of a Voice from Heaven : " Their
works do follow them."
Rev. Chauxcey Goodrich, the Thirteenth
Pastor of the First Chdrch.— Mr. Goodrich was
born in Middletown, Connecticut, July 20, 1817. His
father was the distinguished Chauncey Allen Goodrich,
' D.D. LL.D., who was born in New Haven, Connecti-
' cut, October 23, 1790, graduated at Yale in 1810, was
tutor in that college from 1312 to 1814, was or-
dained at Middletown in 18f30, was Professor of Rhet-
oric and Oratory in Yale from 1817 to 1839 ; and
then of Pastoral Theology in the Theological De-
partment, holding this position until his death,
which occurred February 25, 18C0. The mother of
' Rev. Chauncey Goodrich was Julia, the daughter of
, Noah Webster, LL.D., the celebrated lexicographer.
The son graduated at Yale in 1S37, taughtoneyear in
a private school in Virginia, spent two years in the
Theological Department at New Haven, and was or-
dained Pastor of the First Church in Maiden .\ugust
30, 1843, whe.'e he labored successfully until, at his
own request, he was dismissed November 1, 1847.
! Mr. Goodrich was a scholarly, modest and courteous
man, accustomed to the society of educated people,
and was much respected and beloved in Miilden. .V
lady who renif niliered -eeing biin in M;ildeii in her
early childhood, speaks now of " his gentle, reiliicd lace
and manner."
The church and society parted with him, after iiis
, ministry with them of about tour year<, with exprts-
sions of sincere regret. He was installed Pastor of
the Congregational Church in Wateitoivn, Connecti-
cut, .A.ugu?t 22, 1849, and on account of ini[)aiied
health relinquished that pa&torate Noveniber 1, 18o(j.
.\fter that time he resided in New Haven, and, among
other literary labors in which he was engaged, aided
his father iu preparing the revised edition of '■ Web-
ster's Unabridged Dicli<inary." He also continued
in this work after his father's death. He departed
this life March 27, 1808, aged forty years.
On October 22, 1843, shortly after his ordination at
Maiden, he married ^liss Elizabeth E. Coe, daughter
of Rev. Noah Coe, at Greenwich, Connecticut. Their
son, an only surviving child, graduated at Yale in ISOti.
Ret. .\ahon C. .\pajis, the Folrteexth Mixi.<-
ter. — Dr. McClure closed his second pastorate in
Maiden April 28, 18.!i2. Mr. Adams was installed
July 29th, of the same year. The latter was born in
Bangor, Maine, in ISIo, and was the ."on of Eliashib
.\dams (who was the son of Eliashib, of Canterbury,
Connecticut), and of .Vnna (Leland), daughter of Rev.
John Leland, of Peru, Massachusett". He graduated
at Bowdoin College in 1838, and at Bangor Seminary
in 1839. On .fuly 10th, of the latter year, he was or-
dained.
During the earlier 3'ears of his ministry he laborecl
in Maine. .\fterwards he settled in New Jersey.
Coming next to Maiden, in 1852, he continued in his
pastorate there for five years, and was dismissed at
his own request, July 15, 1S57. The next year he
was installed pastor of the Congregational Church in
-luburn, Me., where he labored for ten years. In
1868 he accepted a call to the pastorate of the Con-
gregational Church in Wethersfield, Conn. This po-
sition he held until 1879. At the present date (1890)
MALDEN.
511
he continuea to reside in Wetherafield. Mr. Adams
has served in the Christian ministry about fifty-one
years, and is still engaged in the work he loves, hav-
ing now the pastoral charge of a parish in the vicin-
ity of his residence.
Mr. Adams' ministry in Maiden was rich in spirit-
ual fruits. On a single Sabbath — May 6, 1855 — forty-
five persona united with the church ; thirty-seven by
confession of Christ and eight by letter. During the
five years of his ministry here seventy-nine united
with the church ; twenty-eight by letter and fifty-one
by confession of Christ. The church, upon his resig-
nation, put on record its testimony " to his faithful-
ness as a pastor and a preacher," also to the pain it
felt ill parting with him, and expressed to him its
" Christian sympathy and affection." Mr. Adams
himself speaks of his life and work in this town
thus :
"My five yefti-9 at Jlnlden I reckon u umong the brightest and moBt
stimulating in my ministry. W.. Imd an excellent company of brethren.
Oiir Sunday-School and prayer-meetings were uncommonly interesting
and helpful ; and there were seusous of special progresa and ingathering.
1 left there with great reluctance."
Mr. Adams' wife was Harriet S. Johnson a daugh-
ter of Dr. A. and Julia (Sargent) Johnson. Their
two sons, John S. and George E. Adams, are
both deacons, the former in the Harvard Church,
Brookline, Mass., and the latter in the Shawmut
Church, Boston. The '.wo daughters, Charlotte E.
and Harriet S. are married, the former residing in
Salt Lake City, and the latter in Wethersfield, Con-
necticut.
It is a matter of some intere.st that Mr. Adams was
one of four brothers — ''brought up in the old Puri-
tanic fashion," — three of whom became ministers of
the gospel. Two of these have entered into their
rest— Rev. George E. Adams, after a ministry of forty-
eight years, and Rev. John C. Adams, after a minis-
try of over thirty years. The Rev. Aaron C. Adams
having already labored in his calling fifty-one years^
the total length of the three ministries is one hundrea
and twenty-nine years.
The Fifteenth Mini.ster of the First Church
WAS Rev. Charles Edward Reed. — He was born
.January 28, 1S.30, in Taucton, Mass., was graduated
at Andover Seminary, in 1857, and was ordained in
Maiden, April 7, 1858. His pastorate was terminated
by act of council, December 1, 1869. He is now in
business in Milwaukie, Wis., and is a member and an
otBcer of a Congregational Church.
Rev. Addison Pimxeo Foster, D.D., wa.s the
.SIXTEENTH minister OF THE FiRST CHURCH. —
His father was Rev. Eden B. Foster, D.D., long the
able preacher and faithful pastor of the John Street
Church, Lowell, Mass. The sou w.is born September
25, 1841, at Henniker, N. H., fitted for college at
Phillips Academy, Andover, was graduated at Wil-
liams' College, in 186-3, .spent two years in theological
study, at Princeton, N. J., and graduated .it the sem-
inary at Andover, in 1866. His first pastorate was
with the Appleton Street Church, Lowell, Mass.,
where he was ordained, October 3, 1866. On account
of impaired health, he relinquished his pastoral charge
in 1868. After resting for two years, he became act-
ing pastor for one year at Dubuque, Iowa. He was
installed pastor of the First Church, in Maiden, Mar.
29, 1876. After a brief, but successful ministry, he
resigned his charge. The brethren of the church, by
formal resolutions, urged him to remain, expressing
their high appreciation of his character, and recog-
nizing gratefully the success of his ministry. But he
insisted upon the acceptance of his resignation, and
was dismissed by Council, September 18, 1872. He
was installed pastor of the First Church, Chelsea,
October 1, 1872 ; was called thence to the First Con-
gregationalist Church, in Jersey City, N. J., in the
spring of 1877, and labored in that pastorate about
nine years. Dr. Foster was installed as pastor of
Immanuel Church, Boston, April 1, 1886, and tills
that position at the present time.
Rev. Joshua W. Wellman, was called to be the
Seventeenth Pastoe of the First Church, in Mai-
den, and was installed March 25, 1874. After a serv-
ice of little more than nine years, he relinquished the
pastorate under advice of physicians, and was dis-
missed by sanction of Council, April 17, 1883.
The present pastor is the Rev. Theodore Clau-
dius Pease. He wai born October 14, 1853, in
Poughkeepsie, N. Y., was graduated at Harvard Col-
lege, in 1875, and at Andover Seminary, in 1880. He
was ordained to the ministrv, and installed as pastor
of the Congregational Church, in ^Vest Lebanon, N.
H., September 8, 1880. From that pastorate, he was
called to be the eighteenth minister, of the First
Church, in Maiden, and was installed December 16,
1884.
Modern Meeting-Houses of the First Church.
After the Church was deprived of its house of wor-
ship in 1828, it worshipped for about five years in an
" upper room." In 1832, the Trintarian Congrega-
tional Society, which in September of that year, be-
came connected with the First Church began the
erection of a meeting-house.
This house was completed in the spring of 1833.
The building committee, of which Rev. Mr. McClure
was chairman, made its final report, April 2, 1833,
and received the thanks of the society. The dedica-
tion of the church probably occurred not far fi-om that
date. This house of worship was located on the
southeast corner of Maine and Haskins Streets. Im-
mediately east of it was also erected a parsonage house.
This house appears to have been built by a joint-stock
company, upon land sold to the company, with certain
conditions, by the society.
Mr. and Mrs. McClure, having boarded with Dr.
Buck during the first year after their marriage, and
having resided another year in a house owned by
512
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
William Barrett, and situated on Haskins Street, just
east of the present Unitarian Church, moved into the
new parsonage house. This was their home during
the remainder of Mr. McClure's first pastorate. Dur-
ing his second pastorate, they resided in the second
house west of the depot of the Boston and Maine
Railroad. To the same parsonage, however, Rev.
Chauncey Goodrich brought his young bride in Octo-
ber, 1843, they having been united in marriage leas
than two months after his ordination. But at the
close of the ministry of Mr. Goodrich, the parsonage
was sold. The house is standing at the present time,
and is still used as a dwelling-house.
In building the meeting-house a debt was incurred,
which, though not large, was for many years a, heavy
burden upon the small society. In this house the
church and society worshipped about seven teen years.
In 1848, those of the congregation, who resided in
South Maiden, expressed a desire to organize a church
and build a houseof worship in their part of the town.
Consequently in March of that year, twenty one mem-
bers of the First Church were dismissed that they
might organize a new church on the territory now
comprised in the town of Everett. Mo.st <.'( those
who now remained with the First Church regarded
their house of worship as located too far to the south.
It wiis, therefore, moved in 1850 to the site now occu-
pied by the Fire Engine House near the Square, and
at the same time was enlarged. Here the church and
congregation had their church home for nineteen
years, when they found themselves again straitened
for room. As the house was in the process of being
elevated, and also enlarged the second time, it wa.-
blown down in the memorable " September gale '' ol
1869. This occurred In the last year of the p;LStorate
of liev. Mr. Reed. The society immediately addressed
it-self to the work of building again the house of God,
which was completed in about a year, and was dedi-
cated March 23, 1871. This is the house of worship
which is occupied at the present time by the First
Church. Six days after the dedication of this house,
Rev. Addison P. Foster was installed as pastor of the
church and society.
The Prosperity of the CnrRCH. — The growth
of the First Church, during the sixty-two years which
have elapsed since its separation from the First Parish
has exceeded its growth during any previous sixty
years of its long history. When Mr. McClure began
his labors as acting pastor of the church in April,
1831, the entire number of church members resi-
dent, or recognized as members, could not have been
much over sixty ; for Rev. S. O. Wright in his " His-
torical Discourse," delivered in December ISSl, (a
month after the reception of twenty-three, on one
Sabbath, by profession), affirmed that the whole num-
ber of members was then eighty-six. But in the Di-
rectory of the First Church for 1890, the number ol
members is stated to be .572, of whom 452 are resident
and ninety-six non-resident.
in 1831, the congregation could be accommodated
j in a small hall in the second story of a school-house.
1 But in 1890, a church with seats for an audience of
I about nine hundred is barely sufMcient for the congre-
gation. The members of tlie Sabbath-school at the
- present time number 543. The church also sustains
, a mission Sabbath-school of ItSS members in that part
j of Maiden called Edgeworth. ^Members of the church
I are likewise connected with a religious enterprise cm
I Belmont Hill, which is designated " Mystic-side Con-
i gregational Union," and whicli, it is e-\i>ecied, will
I soon grow into a church. The schnol al Edgeworth
I Is sustained by " The Edgewnrth Jiis^ion Society,"
! and was organized in 1852, with almut twenty schol-
j ars. Its sessions were held at tir>t In a freight deput,
I then in a private house, later In a scbool-hcjuse. A
I chapel was built in 1 SOti, and was dedicated in Decem-
I her of that year. Tliis Sabbath-siho.il, during the
thirty-eight years of Its history, has had only three
superintendents: Thomas S. Williams, Esq., for some
! years superintendent of the Bo-^ton and .M^ilnc K. K,,
Dea. James Freeman, for nmny ye;irs DeacMi nt the
First Church, and Mr. Jo^^ph \V. ('Iindwick, 'Master
I in the Boston Latin .schonl. E.ich of the tirst two
served in this office about ten ypai-. .Mr. Chadwick,
the present superintendent, ha- <ervcd alu'iit nliietf-cii
years. A prayer and conference nieeling (with preach-
ing occasionally"! is held every Sabbath evening. Tlii>
history of this nii^sion has been one of great success
and of marked usefulncssi.
Other Conore';.\tioxai, Cnri;rHF.-. — In the
spring of 1848, the Congregaiionalist.-. \\ ho lesldtd In
Xorth Maiden, — a territory now compriseil in the
beautiful town of Melrose, — let-ling that the growing
population in that vicinity should be better provided
with religious privileges, organized an Orihudox Con-
gregational Church. They erected a house of wur-hiii,
which was dedicated in 1849. The same year the
Rev. Stillman Pratt, who hail preached to them fur
several months, was installed as their pastor. Such
was the origin of the present prosperous Congrega-
tional Church In Melrose.
The organization of the Winthhop Cnrncn In
1848 in South Maiden, — a territory which is now
comprised in the pleasant and rapidly growii g to^n
of Everett — has already been mentioned. It wor-
shipped for a time in the hall of the South-West Dis-
trict School-house. Its first minister was Rev.
George E. Pratt, who was ordained In 1849. This
church was unhappily divided in 1858. But the two
parts were brought together again in ISlil, constilu-
ting the present united and efficient Congregational
Church in Everett.
The First Coxgregatiox.vl Cuvecii in M.vple-
WOOD.— On July 2, 1S73, four ])ersons at the house of
Mr. Frank P. Harrlman, of Maplewood, Maiden,
prayerfully considered the question of the organiza-
tion of a Congregational Church In that part of the
town. On Wednesday of the following week another
MALDEN.
51^
prayer-meeting was held with special reference to
the same subject, at the house of Mr. John H. Potter.
The following paper was drawn up December 22,
1873 : " We the undersigned, residents of Maplewood
and vicinity, desire that a Congregational Church be
established in this place, and guarantee our support for
the furtherance of that object." Twenty-two persons
signed this paper. These people decided at once to
hold services of public worship on the Sabbath. Rev.
J. W. Turner was invited to serve as acting pastor.
The Massachusetts Home Missionary Society ofl'ered
to contribute S400 towards his support, provided op
portunity should be offered him to preach and labor
elsewhere one-half of the time. It was soon arranged
that he should divide his services between Maplewood
and Edgeworth ; the first place being in the easterly,
and the other in the westerly part of Maiden. The
people at Maplewood leased Kandal's Hall, and the
first service of public worship was held on the morn-
ing of the first Sabbath in January, 187-L They had
furni.shed the hall and named it "Salem Hall.'' A
Sabbath-school was instituted, in the afternoon, of
eighteen members. On January 20, a Sabbath-school
was fully organized with Mr. Frank P. Harriman,
superintendent; Mr. John H. Pijtter, assistant super-
intendent; and Mr. E. P. Woodward, secretary and
treasurer. During the first year the average attend-
ance was forty-six, and during the second year fifty-
three.
•'The First Congreg.itional Society in Maple-
wood " was organized March 30, 1874. " The First
Congregational Church in Maplewood " was organ-
ized, by advice of a Council, in Salem Hall, on
June 10, 1874. In the same hall the church and
society worshipped nearly three years. In the lat-
ter part of this period the society erected a house
of worship, which was dedicated June 7, 1877. A
debt was incurred, and some difficulty has been ex-
perienced in canceling the same, but there is now
a good prospect that the society will soon be en-
tirely free from debt.
Rev. J. W. Turner may properly be called the
father of this church. He was an able and earnest
preacher, a true and godly man, and he became
warmly attached to the little Hock that gathered
around him, and was greatly interested in the or-
ganization and prosperity of this church. He
closed his labors with this people in February,
1875.
On the 16th of May, in the same year. Rev. Silas
Ketchum was called to be the pastor of this church
and society. He preferred not to be installed, but
served as acting pastor until October 1, 1876. Mr.
Ketchum was a scholarly and accomplished man.
His able sermons and faithful pastoral labors were
highly appreciated by his people, and they parted
with him with sincere regret. The next acting
pa.stor was Rev. Alfred S. Hudson, whose ministry
in Maplewood commenced October 8, 1876, and who
3a-iii
at the same time was acting pastor of the yonng
Congregational Church in Linden (a portion of the
city of Maiden, lying northeast of Maplewood.)
He continued with the church in Maplewood nearly
seven years. His labors were earnest and faithfiil,
but were prosecuted in the face of some difScolties,
for which, perhaps, neither he nor his church were
responsible. His pastorate terminated in June, 1883.
After this various ministers supplied the pulpit until
September 1 1883, when Rev. H. Allen Shorey be-
came acting pastor, and served as such until Octo-
ber 1, 1884. At that date Rev. William F. Obear
commenced his labors as the acting pastor of this
church and society. He is still with them, and his
ministry is happy and successful.
The church is united and faithful, supporting a
Qourishing Sabbath-school and all departments of
church work, and is inspired by the hope of still
larger prosperity. The present number of church
members is eighty-five, of whom thirty are males and
fifty-five females.
The Union Congbegational Church in Linden
(Northeast Maiden), was organized with fourteen
members, by advice of an Ecclesiastical Council, June
13, 1876. Of the fourteen members, eleven presented
letters to the Council, and three made public confes-
sion of Christ. A Sabbath-school had been organized
January 17, 1874, and at about the same time union
religious services had been commenced in a hall then
standing on Lynn Street. The Sabbath-school and
the weekly religious service had been continued until
the time came to form a church. "The Union Con-
gregational Society " was organized May 6, 1876, to
act in connection with the church, and was incorpor-
ated June 7th of the same year.
At a meeting of the church held soon after its or-
ganization, J. F. Jeferds and William J. Pratt were
elected to serve as deacons until January, 1877. At
its second meeting the church voted to call Rev.
Alfred S. Hudson to become its acting pastor for six
months from October 1, 1876. The society subse-
quently concurred with the church in extending this
call to Mr. Hudson. He continued his ministry,
however, with the church and society for about five
years, terminating his pastoral labors November 26,
1881. Rev. Edmund S. Potter succeeded Mr. Hudson
as acting pastor, commencing his labors June 1, 1882,
and he still continues his acceptable and successful
ministry with this people.
The Union Congregational Society soon after its
organization initiated measures to build a house of
worship. The corner-stone was laid October 11, 1876.
Religious services were held for some time in the
vestry. The auditorium was fiirnished in the fall of
1879. A debt was incurred which was gradually di-
minished until the last payment was made December
28, 1886, and the society began the year 1887 free from
debt. But the house was not formally dedicated until
October 24, 1879. The present members of the church
514
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
number forty-six, of whom thirteen are males and
thirty-three are females. The p'esent superintendent
of the Sabbath-school is Mr. H. G. Tomlinson, and
the number of members is two hundred and six.
This church abides in the unity of the Spirit and in
the bond of peace; and with its wise and faithful pas-
tor is doing good work for Christ and His kingdom in
that part of the city.
The First Baptist Church ix Maldejj. — This
church was organized in 1803. During the previous
century and a half the First Church has been the
only church at Maiden Centre. Various influence?,
at last combined to bring about the foundingof a Bap-
tist Church. Some of these influences had been active
for at least sixteen years, or from the time of the set-
tlement of Rev. Adoniram Judson as pastor of the
First Church. The Baptisw were strictly evangelical
in faith. They believed in conversions and revivaLs
under special manifestations of the regenerating grace
of the Holy Spirit. Some of the more spiritual and
godly members of the First Church had become
alarmed in view of various sad developments of Ai-
minianism, under the ministries of their pastors,
Willis and Greene. Such Christians would naturally
be attracted by the earnest evangelistic preaching ot
Baptist ministers, even though taking at first no spec-
i.il interest in their views of baptism. Their own
deeper religious needs were not met by the preaching
to which they were accustomed to listen. They had
been "hocked to learn that members of their own
church and congregation were bitterly opposed to the
conversion of souls and to revivals of religion. The
following statements respecting the actual religious
condition of Maiden at that time are undoubtedly in
the main true, and they largely explain the demand
which existed for evangelical preaching and lor the
founding of a Baptist Church:
*' Not a few of the members of the Pariab rhiircli, admitteil thmtigh
Infant baptism, had become the active oppouenta of the great revival
vhich wan then commencing iu New England. An energetic protest to
the settlement of Mr. Judson, the father of our beloved Diirnian mif-
Bionary, bad been entered on the reconls because be was of the ' Bade
Uopkintonian Principels." And the opposition to what na» then si> prop-
erly called ' experimental religion " at length preTailed and Mr. .ludson
retired. But the eyes of many were opened. . . . Bnt while some pro-
fessed their convictions, and united with Baptist churches in the Ticinity,
others remained, waiting to see whereunto this thing would grow.
Meanwhile there was in this town an alarming dearth of spiritual reli-
gion. Such was the stale of things when, in 1797, Kev. Dr Sbepbard, of
Brentwood X. U., visited Maiden, and was invited to preach at the
house of Mr. John Tufts. This sermon, the first Baptist sermon ever
preached in the town, attracted Immediate attention, so different was its
whole spirit from anythli^g heard at the Parish Church. Meetings
were continued on the afternoon and evening of every third Wednesday,
Rev. McsEn. Shephard, Peak and Smith officiating. God blessed the
enterprise and a revival of religion was the result. Sabbath preaching
began in 1800." (Church Manual of the First Baptist Church in Maiden, i
In 1803 Rev. Henry Pottle, an earnest and warm-
hearted Baptist minister, preached in Maiden. A
revival followed and about fifty were subsequently
baptized. It is sadly indicative of the moral and
religious degeneracy of the town, once distinguished
I for its godliness, that this revival of religion awoke
j the spirit of persecution, and the little band of Bap-
' tist Christians were driven from the Centre School-
! house. It was the .^^ame spirit that a few years before
' so furiously opposed Adoniram Judson, on account of
I his evangelical faith and preaching, drove him from
the First Church, and put in his place Eliakim Willis
j with his Arminian creed and preaching. The only
I place now open to the Baptists was a barn on Salem
Street, owned by Mr. Benjamin Faulkner. In this
i barn they worshipped until September, 1S04, " unde-
i terred by the winter storm or the opposition of their
enemies." Under the direction of Mr. Pottle a church
I was organized, composed mainly of recent converts.
I " They met at the bouse of ^Ir. Phillips, and .'ilr. Joseph Dyei waa
I chosen clerk. .\ committee wa^ appointed to call arouiicil, that their pro-
ceedings might be regular in form, and that the new church might be tn
( feIlMwi.hlp with the snrrouniling churches of their 'Faith and tirder '
; The t'onncil, composed of delegates from the Baptist churches in Bo.ston,
I Newton and Beverly, convened on the 27th of Fehruary, IS"", in the
1 l>arn, where the brethren and histers, forty-two in number, were duh
' constituted and recoguized .as a church, under the name ..f rhe Fir-*t
I Baptiht t;hurch in ^laldeu." (< hurch ■vianual-i
In January, 1S04, probably in the barn, this church
I for the first time commemorated the Lord's death,
i the number of communicants being sixty-four, fifty-
j two of wiioro were recent converts. In September of
! 1?04 their meeting-house was -''O nearly completed
j that they occupied it as a place of worship, and when
finished it was dedicated. It w.i.s located on ground
ntiw inclutled in Salem Street Cemetery. In this
" exceedingly plain house, with its large windows and
-square belfry," the church worshipi)ed thirty-nine
years. The first deacons of the church were Samuel
AVait, Jr., and Samuel Wheeler. Rev. Mr. Pottle
appears to have terminated his successful ministry
with this church early in 1807. The number of
church-members at the time he left was 110. He was
succeeiled in 1S07 by Rev. William Bently, who re-
mained tinly one year. He was followed by Rev. Ely
Ball, who served as preacher, but wa.s not invited to
be ])astor. From 1808 to 1815 there was no settled
pastor. The church in these years appears to have
sutTered from internal -strifes and divisions. During
this period various ministers supplied the pulpit, one
of whom was Rev. J. Livermore, who preached two
years. Rev. Samuel Wydown was then called to the
pastorate, but he left at the end of one year. In 181f>
Rev. Ebenezer Nelson, who had removed from South
Reading to >[alden, became the pastor of the church.
He labored for seven years, but remained nominal
pastor two years longer. He died in office May 4,
1825, in the seventy-second year of his age, and the
fortieth of his ministry. He is said to have been the
first and only minister who has died while in official
connection with this church. His successor was a
voung man, Mr. John Cookson, who was ordained
pastor of the church March 24, 1824, and left after a
pastorate of two years. Eev. J. N. Brown was in-
stalled as pastor December 20, 1826, and remained one
MALDEN.
515
year. A call was extended to Rev. Avery Briggs,
September 28, 182S, who served the church four
years, during which he baptized nearly sixty per-
sons. The house of worship was also enlarged and
furnished with a bell. The next pastor was Rev. Con-
ant Sawyer, who continued in office three years.
Rev. E. N. Harris was settled as pastor April 1, 1837,
but soon " avowed his belief in Universalism, and, by
his unchristian inHuence, involved the church and
society in great difficulty. He was finally excom-
municated, but subsequently renounced his errors
and sought restoration to the church." Rev. Joseph
M. Driver officiated as pastor from 1838 to 1840 ;
and Rev. Nathaniel \V. Williams from 1S40 to 1843.
During the pastorate of the latter there was a sea-
son of special religiout interest ; William Oliver,
John B. Faulkner and Thornas W.ait were chosen dea-
cons: and a spacious and elegant uieetiiig-house was
erected on the coruer of Main and Salem Streets at a
cost of SI0,OO0. This house was dedica'ed February
22, 1843. In June, 1843, the church recalled a former
pastor, Rev. John C;«>ksou. He was succeeded in
1848 by Rev. Charles B. S:uith, whose pastorate was
terminated in 1850. His successor was Rev. William
F. Stubbert, who began his pastorate September 1,
1851.
In 1853 themeeting-house, ten yearsafter it was dedi-
cated, was repaired and a baptistery was added and at
thesarae time the vestry was made more commodious,
the entire improvements costing about SOOOO. But
this beautiful house of worship was destroyed by fire
March 3, 1855. Invitations from the Congregational
and Uiiiversalist Societies to occupy their houses of
worship were accepted, and the work of erecting a
new house upon the old site was soon commenced.
The new church was dedicated February 14, 185<5.
During Jlr. .Stubbert's pastorate of eight years,
seventy-two persons were admitted to the church by
baptism and sixty-seven by letter. Eli.''ha S. Con-
verse and William Hunter were elected deacons, the
former in 1854, the latter in 1856. Mr. Stubbert left
in 1859.
The next pastor was Rev. Daniel W. Faunce, D.D.,
who began his ministry with this people in May, 18C0.
But two years later the church was again afflicted
with a great calamity. Their house of worship, only
six years after it was completed, was consumed by
the flames. It was in the midst of our great Civil War.
The recent building of the church now destroyed had
drawn heavily upon the resources of the people.
Nevertheless they bravely set themselves to the work
of building again the house of God upon "the same
hallowed spot." The new church was dedicated
March 31, 1864. In this year. Deacons John B.
Faulkner and ElishaS. Converse having resigned their
office. Freeman A. Smith and Alfred R. Turner were
elected deacons for the next seven years. The pastor-
ate of Rev. Dr. Faunce was one of marked success.
He labored with the church six years and then re-
signed, to the great regret of his people. During his
pastorate one hundred and thirteen persons were
added to the church, and of these sixty-one received
baptism.
In 1867 Charles Merrill and David Hutchins were
elected deacons. And on the 17th of July in that
year Rev. George F. Warren, of Lowell, was installed
as paster of the church. He resigned his pastorate
November 7, 1869.
Rev. Samuel W. Foljambe, D.D., began his minis-
try with this people May 1, 1870, and resigned his
office October 1, 1886. His pastorate of more than
sixteen years was longer than that of any of his pre-
decessors in the service of this church. The ministry
of this eloquent preacher and faithful pastor proved
a great bles■^ing to the people. His hearers received
knowledge of the truth, and were edified. Many
were convicted of sin, born of the Spirit and added to
the church. Early in his pastorate two new Baptist
Churches were organized, which were offshoots of the
church under his care. From the First Baptist
Church in Maiden:
"July 18, 1871, eighteen persons (afterwarda iocreMed to twentjrtwo)
were distnifiseii to aid in forming a church la Everett ; and Aug, 17,
1S71, letters of disaii8*il were granted to nineteen persons (subsequently
iucreuwd to tweuty-four) to form a church in Slaplewood, the outgrowth
of the Sabbuth-school established in 1868."
John H. Parker was elected deacon in 1871 and re-
elected in 1878. E. T. Underhill was elected deacon
in 1874, William Hardy in 1880 and Horace M. Wiley
the same year, and William Mann in 1882. John H.
Parker was reelected in 1878 and 1885 and Horace M.
Wiley in 1887. James B. Uphara was elected 1888.
James H. Morse, Jesse Cudworth, Joseph Hague and
David Hutchins in 1889, and G. Fred. Estie in 1890.
The present pastor of this church and society is
Rev. J. Nelson Lewis. He began his ministry with
them October 23, 1887, and recognition services were
held November 16th of the same year. The members
of this churth at the present time number 625, of
whom 210 are males and 415 are females. The mem-
bers of the Sabbath-school number 891.
The question of a new and larger house of worship
was aeaia pressed upon this people in the early part
of the year 1888. At a special meeting held on the
3d of December in that year, a committee was ap-
pointed to procure plans and raise money. The com-
mittee consisted of Deacon E. S. Convene, E. F.
Bickford, A. R. Turner, Jr., Deacon J. B. Upham,
W. C. Langley, Jr., James Pierce, Deacon John H.
Parker, Deacon Jesse Cudworth, Deacon David
Hutchins, John N. Williams, Deacon H. M. Wiley
and G. L. Richards. A. R. Turner was chosen chair-
man and G. L. Richards secretary.
" On MondAy evening, Jan. 28, 1889, a public meeting was held in the
rhurch to create an interest in the movement. Speeches wer« made by
the Pastor, Eev. J. Nelson Le«T«, A. B. Turner, Jr., E. F. Bickford and
E. S. Converse, who said formally that if the people would raise JIO,000
for the new charch he would give $30,iX)0, and if more vras raised, he
would give dollar for dollar. Stereopticon views of plans for the church
were also shown.
516
HISTORY OF .MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS'.
" By July 1, 1889, the amouot of $30,000 had been subscribed, which
aeciired the subscription of $30,000 by E. S. (A)nver8e. In tbp mean
lime the committee hud selected U.S. McKay, of Boston, as thoHrchilett.
At a meeting of the society hi'ld on May 2^, 1380, th« couimitlee I'f
twelTf was miide the buildinycominitte'', nud E. F. Biikford wad chosen
chairman and G. L. Richards sf^retary.
"The old church was moved to the no^thea^t corner of the lot about
Oct. iBt, and arrangements wore immediately made for the constntrtion
of the foundation of the new church.
" On the 26th of Febniar>', Iti'tO, at a meeting of (he society, the rmu-
mittee reported that owing to th** unsettled condition of tlie labor
market, and to recent farge fires in lloatou ;ind Lynn, the cost i)f build-
ing materials had very much imreased, aleo that the rc<iniremeutt* uf
the church were such that the building could not be erected for StJo.OiH),
i!L8 at tiiirt proposed, and tbat iu viow of this they recommended that
$10,000 or more be appropriated, with the uuderetandiug that thisisnm
he raised by subscription, if possible ; which was toted. In cnnnecttoii
with the above vote, Hon. E. S. Converse r^^newed his former genorons
offer to coutrlbute iw much more as the church and society should raisf
prior to Jan. I, 18U2."
•
In addition to this ample contribution of Mr.
Converse to aid in building the new house of wor-
ship, he has recently presented to the Baptist Society
a fine parsonage house, the grounds of which are
contiguous to the spacious meeting-house lot. The
value of this parsonage Louse, and of the land given
with it, ui)on a part of which the north end of the
new church stands, has l)een estimated to be 5':i0,00l>.
It is due to this public and iirincely benefactor to
add that he and his estimable wife have al.so, within
a few years, presented to the city of Maiden the
munificent gift of a Free Tublic Library Building,
which is to serve as a fountain of intellectual light
and life, and also us the memorial of a beloved son
who wiis suddenly taken from them iu his early man-
hood. To this noble gift Mr. Converse has added
permanent funds for the purchase of books. He has
also given costly paintings and beautiful statuary.
The First Baptist Cliurch in Maiden, like other
churches, has had its times of trouble and trial. The
dames have twice consumed its house of worship.
It has been obliged repeatedly to make great sacri-
fices in building the house of God. Nor has perfect
peace always reigned within itself, as is indicated by
a famous pamphlet, entitled : "The History of Wars
and Fightings (Without Shedding of Blood), in the
Baptist Church iu Maiden, Written By John
Sprague, S'. Ma*. One of the Members 1812." Yet,
on the whole, this church, during the eighty-seven
years of its history, has been blest abundantly in
things temporal and spiritual. It has wrought bravely
and nobly for Christ and His Kingdom. The early
days of this church fell upoj) the most critical period in
all the long history of evangelical faith in this town,
and it proved itself equal to the hour. It rendered
a splendid service iu the defence and propagation of
that faith at just the time when its enemies were
flushed with seeming victory, and unbelief, gross in-
temperance and ungodliness abounded. If it shall
remain true to the same evangelistic beliefs and fear-
lessly proclaim them for the salvation of men, the
prospect is, that with ampler means it will render in
the future still grander services for God's Kingdom
of truth and righteousness in Maiden, in the land
and in the world.
The Fir.st Baptist Church in M.^plewood. —
Religious meetings began to be held by Baptists in
this part of Maiden February 22, lS8i). Preaching
services, conducted by Rev. G. F. Warren, then pas-
tor of the First Baptist Church at the Centre, soon
followed, attended with considerable religious interest.
\ Sunday-school was organized in August, ISHS, with
sixty scholars. For a time its sessions were held in
the Grammar Schof)l-house, but at length the use of
this house was forbidden by a single member of the
School Board. His action, however, was soon over-
ruled by the full board. In the fall of 1869 a chapel,
which was nearly completed, wius blown down by " the
great September gale " of that year, and made a com-
plete wreck. But a meeting of the Baptist Church
at Maiden Centre was at once culled, and ?=liiCMi were
subscribed. The (leople at Maplewood raised >=n'iO
more; and another chapel better than the first was
erected. It was dedicated March Z, 1870. fn Sep-
tember of the same year Rev. William Boyd became
•' the first regular supply." He ceased to supply the
pulidt in April, 1871. A similar service was then
rendered by .Mr. J. K. Richardson, a student in New-
ton Theological Seminary. A Baptist Church of
twenty-eight members was organized August 2, 1871,
and Wiia recognized October IS. 1871. Mr. Richard-
son was its acting pastor until his theological course
was completed at Newton, when he accei)ted a call to
become the pastor of the church, and w-.m ordained
July 10, 1872. But receiving a call from Rutland.
Vermont, he closed his ministry with this church in
April, 1871. On April i!, 1870, Rev. M. N. Reed be-
gan his pastorate with this church, and terminated the
same in November, 1877. The next ministerial laborer
with these peo|)le was Mr. '1". G. CUiss, a student at
Madison University, who came June 25, 1878, and
one year from that date was ordained as pastor of the
church. Early in the year 1880, the entire debt of
the church ($1500) was paid oH". In 1882, under the
energetic leading of the pastor, aided by the Massa-
chusetts Baptist Convention and by contributions from
churches and friends, the present commodious house
of worship was erected, to which was attached the old
chapel as a vestry. The cost of the whole was over
$11,000, all of which was secured before the house was
dedicated in October, 1882. Rev. Mr. Cass resigned
his pastorate early in 1883, to accept a call from the
Baptist Church in Claremont, N. H., and Rev. S. X.
Severance became pastor in April of the same year.
He continued his labors until October, 1889, when he
resigned to accept the pastorate of the Baptist Church
in Keene, N. H. In December, 1889, Rev. George W.
Rigler, of Antrim, N. H., accepted a call from the
church in Maplewood, and is its present pastor. This
church, with its congregation and Sabbath-school, has
steadily increased through the nineteen years of its
history, the members of the church numbering at the
MALDEN.
517
present time 164, and the members of the Sabbath-
achool 225.
The Centre Methodist Episcopal Church. —
Itinerant and other Jlethodist preachers held religious
services in private houses within the limits of llalden
many years previous to the organization of a Method-
ist Church in the town. As early aa 1791 Rev. Jesse
Lee preached in the east part of the town, near the
Saugus and Chelsea line, and under the influence of
that sermon two men, Mr. John Waitt and another
Mr. Waitt, were converted. In 1800, or not far from
that year, Mr. Joseph Snelliug and Rev. Thomas C.
Pierce came out from Boston and preached in Mai-
den, Mr. Snelling discoursing with great impressive-
ness upon the lives of poets.
But the earliest movement of the Methodists in the
direction of church organization was made in North
Maiden (now Jlelrose). As early as 1813, religious
services, preliminary to the founding of a Methodist
Church, were conducted there by Rev. Timothy Mer-
ritt. He was succeeded in this labor the same year
by Rev. Thomas C. Pierce, and he by Rev. Ephraim
Wiley. Under the direction of Mr. Wiley, "in the
summer of 181.0, a church was duly organized accord-
ing to the Discipline." -Mr. Wiley was succeeded in
1818 by Rev. Drlando Hinds, "who officiated one
year, during which a meeting-house was built." The
church thus organized was the mother Methodist
Church in Maiden.
On May 12, 1815, two persons were converted un-
der the influence of a revival in North Maiden.
These persons were James Howard and his wife,
Mary (Cox) Howard. In the early part of the fol-
lowing year (I81ii) Mr. Howard and his family moved
to Maiden Centre, and for several months resided in
the house of Mr. rfamuel Cox, which is still standing,
on Pleasant Street, opposite the last factory. The
next year he moved into his new house on the west
side of Summer Street, near the corner of that street
and Rockland Avenue.
It is .saiil that when Mr. and Mrs. Howard moved
to Maiden Centre, they and Mr. John Waitt, who
lived on Cross Street, were the only Methodists in
tliat part of the town. Religious meetings were con-
ducted at an early day in the house of John Waitt.
But at the residence of Jlr. Howard, in August, ISIO,
appears to have begun the movement which led to
the organization of a church. Some time in that
month, at the request of Fatiier Howard, as he was
called, aud at his residetice, Rev. Ephraim Wiley
held a public religious service, and preached from
the te.^t: "These are they which came out of great
tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made
them white in the blood of the Lamb." .Soon after
this a class was formed under the leadership of James
Howard, which met at his house and was maintained
for several years. Perhaps it was merged int<j the
class which, as we shall see, was formed in 1820, but
Mr. Howard continued to be its leader. In the mean
time religious meetinga, under the lead of Methodist
ministers, were held, first in the school-house at the
corner of Salem and Sprague Streets, then in Stiles'
Hall, at the corner of Pleasant and Washington
Streets — where now stands the new and beautiful
Methodist house of worship — and also in the hall of
the Brick School-house on Pleasant Street, which ap-
pears to have been the cradle of infant churches iu
Maiden.
On August 15, 1819, Gilbert Haven, the father of
Bishop Gilbert Haven, requested the First Church,
of which he was then a member, to give him a letter
of dismission and recommendation to the Baptist
Church. He was persuaded, however, to withdraw
his request. Mr. Haven, himself a man of warm and
earnest evangelical piety, was evidently restless under
the cold, indefinite preaching of the Arminian minis-
ter who at that day was pastor of the First (Congre-
gational) Church; and on June .3, 1821, he again
asked for a letter of dismission, but now he expressed
a desire to be recommended to the Methodist Church,
which was then being organized, or had recently been
formed there, showing that it was not chiefly any
change of view respecting Christian baptism that led
him to leave the First Church. His request waa
granted.
Rev. S. Osgood Wright, himself a Methodist min-
ister, in his historical discourse, already referred to,
which was preached December 1, 1831, gives what is
probably a trustworthy account of the origin and
early history of the Methodist Church at Maiden
l.'entre. Speaking of Mr. James Howard, his wife
.Mary and Jlr. John Waitt, who, as he affirmed, were
the only Methodists living at Maiden Centre in 1810,
he says :
" They cuiitiDiieO to live in the love and fellowaliip of the Churcli of
tlieir eflpousiil, without receiving ftuy acceaeionE* to their uuutberg until
ihe year lti20. .\t this time a revival commenced in the north socicry
:tn<l extended to the centre of tlie town. Seveml persons now withdrew
from ihe Baptist Church and one from the f'ongrei.'ationalist, who to-
;cethor with several others, were formed into a class. These, like many
in similar circuuistiinces, had uiany difficulties to encounter aud many
l.rejudicea to overcome. Deing without a house of worship, they met io
the school-house hall (the Brick School-house), and were supplied a
[lortluQ of the time with preaching hy the minister of the north chnrch.
Receiving a gradual ai'teseion of naniber?, they proceeded to erect a
iiiei.ting-house. which was dedicated in 1325. Rev. Joseph Marsh
lahtireil very succKMfully with this society at this time ; and to him be-
longs much praise for his activityand peneverance in providing a house
of worship. The first preacher who resided with them waa Rev. Ebeo-
.•zer Iresun. who came iu 1828. Rev. Johu T. Burrtll succeeded him,
and remained two years, and gave place to Rev. Timothy Merritt, the
present minister. This church has had its seaaons of adversity aud proe-
iierity. It has moved onward under the guidance of the day-star of
hope, and sat down in tears and the darkness of clouds aud disappoint-
lueut. It has received a gradual increase of membera, and the whole
number is iiuw fifty."
The meeting-house, referred to by Mr. Wright as
dedicated in 1825, is still standing upon its original
site. It has, however, been remodeled into a double
dwelling-house, and is located on the west side of
.Main Street, the fourth building .south of Mountain
Avenue. The date of its dedication La said to have
518
HISTORr OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
been April 27, 1826. The second house of worship
was located at the corner of Pleasant and Waverly
Streets, and was dedicated October 20, 1842. This
house also is still standing, and is now occupied as a
store by a furniture dealer, Mr. C. C. Homer. The
third house of God built by this church, and the one
in which it now worships, wa?. dedicated May 13,
1874. This large and beautiful house is located at
the corner of Pleasant and Washington Streets, on
the site of the old Stiles Hall, in which the early
Methodists in Maiden sometimes worshipped.
The names of the ministers who were in charge of
this church previous to 1826 are not known. But
beginning with Rev. Joseph Marsh, of that year, the
church has had thirty-eight pastors, one of them —
Rev. Joseph Cummings — serving in two pastorates,
separated by an interval of thirty-one years. The
present minister in charge is Rev. W. P. Odell, who
is now in the fourth year of his successful pastorate.
PASTORS OF TRI3 CUUECH.
1826. Rev. Joseph Marsh.
1827. G. W. Fuirbiiiiks.
lSj8. Rev. Ebeiiezer Ireson.
18i9-:)0. Rev. J. T. BurriU.
18;)l. Rev. Tiniolhy Merritt.
1832. Rev. A. U. Swinerion.
IS-TS. Rev. C. Noble.
1S34. Rev. N. B. Spimlding.
18.35. Rev. R. W. .\IIeii.
18J6. Hev. E Olhenmn.
1837. Rev. H. B. Skinuer.
1838. Rev. Charles Hiiyward.
1839. Rev. S. G. Hiler, Jr.
1840. Rev. Moses Palmer.
1841-42. Rev. GeorEe LandoD.
1843. Rev. Joseph Whitman.
1644. Rev. fi. W. Frost.
1845. Rev. Jacob Sanborn.
1S5C-51. Rev. W. S. Studley.
1S52. Rev. \V. U. Clark.
18.=.3. Rev. J. D. Bridge.
1854-55. Rev. Wm. R. Bagnall.
185(>-i7. Rev. Lorenzo R. Th.nyer.
I8.J8-59. Rev. Daniel Steele.
IPiUi. Rev. Isaac 3. Cnsbmau.
186l-'-,2. Rev. E. 0. Haven.
:803-f.5. Rev. J. W. F. Barnes.
1866. Rev. L. T. Townaend.
18B7. Rev. .\. 0. Hamilton.
I8C8-7II. Rev. T. Berton Smith.
1871-73. Rev. J. J. Jones.
1874. Rev. Joseph Scott.
1875-77. Rev. D. C. Knowles.
lS7,S-79. Rev. Joseph Cummingfl.
1880-S2. Rev. 3. F. Jones.
1683-S5. Rev. J. H. JIausfield.
1846-47. Rev. Joseph Cummings. 1880-90. Kev. W. P. Odell.
1848-49. Rev. Joseph Dennison.
This church was organized in 1821, and its Sunday-
school in 1822. In its early years it had a hard strug-
gle, as many a church of Christ has had, for exi^t-
• ence, and at times since that day it has been main-
tained only by the loving devotion and large sacri-
fices of its members. But glorious has been its victory.
Its days of small things and struggle for life are over.
It has, for the present, the finest house of worship in
the city, also a larger number of church members
than any other church in the city, save the Catholic,
and the largest Protestant Sabbath-school, except the
school of the First Baptist Church. The number of
its church members at the present time is 666, and
the number of its Sabbath-school 736. This church
stands up bravely for all true moral reforms, for
truth and righteousness in the city and in the land,
and for pure and earnest evangelical religion every-
where.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, Maple-
wood, Malden. — The following historical sketch of
this church has been courteously furnished by its
present pastor, Rev. J. W. Fulton. It has been iina
few places slightly abbreviated, or condensed.
The first religious gathering in this part of the
city was held in the year 1837, in the first school-
house that was ever built here. A Baptist brother,
Aaron Wait;, preached at 6 o'clock p.m., Sundays,
in warm and pleaj-ant weather. No conversions are
reported, and no organization was accomplished.
In 1839 and 18-10, Father Blodgett, a farmer in
Linden, and a Methodist local preacher, obtained the
use of the house occupied by Samuel Burrill, which
now stands on Salem Street, at the head of Beach
Sireet, and during those years held two prayer-meet-
ings a week, bringing the people in stormy winter
weather in hw sleigh. People also came from East
Saugus to help him. From these meetings a revival
started, which reached most of the families in this
part of Maiden. Many were converted. .A.mong the
number was Miss Lydie Keagh, who organized, in
1843, the first Sunday-school in Maplewood. This
school was held during the summer in the school-
house that stood where Mr. RoLkweil's house now
.Hiauds, at the corner ol Rockwell an<l Salem Streets.
The first superiiiteiulent was Josefdi Cheever. There
were five classes. .\s cijld weaiher came on, the
school was held at Miss Reagh's house. It gradually
dwindled away to one girl, Francis Ferrald, who
came every Sunday for six montli.-', to recite her lesson
to Mi.ss Reagh.
In 1850, in one room of a --mall school-house,
which stood where the present school-house stands, a
second Sunday-school-house was organized. Charles
Meade, the teacher of the public school, assisted
by Sanfcrd B. French, .\lbert Norton and Temple
Dodge, of Maiden Centre, all C'onuregationalists,
were the leaders. Mr. French was superintendent.
After suptaining this school for :rome time, three ot
these brethren moved away, and it was thought, on
.account of the predominance of Methodists, chat a
church, if one should ever be organized, must be of
that denomination. So the Congregaiionalist broth-
ers then asked the Methodists to take charge of the
school.
Mr. Wilbur Haven then became superintendent,
and Mr. Xewcomb his assistant. Mi.ss Rebecca
Knowles, of Maiden Centre, led the singing.
In the same .school-house preaching services were
conducted by a local preacher — Mr. Staples, of Lynn,
who received $200 a year. He was followed by Ed-
ward Oathman, of Chelsea, and he by local preachers,
Fathers Blodgett, of Linden, and Poole, of Lynn, who
preached alternate Sundays.
The first house of worship erected in this part of
Maiden was that of the ilelhodist Episcopal Church,
in 18.57. From the congregation which worshipped
in it was organized the present Baptist and Congre-
gationalist Churches, of Maplewood. This first house
of worship was located where the present Methodist
Church stands. The land was given by W. R. Fer-
nald and Joshua Webster, on condition that it should
always be used for a Methodist Church, and that said
MALDEN.
519
church should always stand directly opposite a certain
elm tree.
The building committee were Silas Anderson, W.
A. Fernald, Edward Fuller, George Barber and John
Emerson. The contract for the cellar was signed
April 18, 1857, by H. R. Lewis, contractor. The first
money for the cellar was given by Mr. W. Huntley,
who, when solicited by Father Blodgett, remarked
that he had nothing to give but some old cent-pieces
in a barrel. This Father Blodgett accepted with
thanks, and the next day carried off the barrel in his
old tip-cart. Upon opening the barrel it was found
to contain thirty-five dollars in old-fashioned one-
cent pieces, and these weighed fifty-seven pounds.
The ladies organized a society for furnishing the
church, some of them, under the lead of Miss Reagh,
binding shoes to obtain money. The church was
dedicated in Feb., 1858, and the sermorv was preached
by Rev. E. O. Haven, afterwards Bishop Haven, who
was a cousin of Bishop Gilbert Haven.
The members of the first Board of Trustees were
Gilbert Haven, Charles Pratt, Edward Fuller, W. R.
Fernald, Thomas Reagh, Father Blodgett and Eben
Neagles. Local preachers, Blodgett and Poole were
in charge.
In the spring ot 1858, Rev. E. (). Haven was ap-
pointed to this charge by Conference. The number
of church members at this time was twenty-six. He
was followed by Rev. Charles H. Sewell, who was
pastor for 18.'i9 and 1860. His successor in 18tjl was
Rev. \. P. Andrews. During the pastorate of the
latter the church was burned to the ground. In 1802,
Rev. E. O. Haven was again pastor. In 1803 and
1804, Rev. L. P. Fro.st, a local preacher, was in
charge. Until 1803 the .school-house waa used aa a
place of worship. But in that year a chapel was
built at a cost of about $3000, nearly one-half of
which came from the insurance upon the former
building.
The church was suljsequently served by the follow-
ing pastors :
lati5. Rev. W. C. Sawyer.
1866-t;7. Kev S. I'uahiQj.
1SB8-69. Bev .l.,l.n \V. Hauilltun
1870. Kev. .1. W. Tniek.
1»71. Rev. ij. C. Wilb*r.
During ilr. Smith's term of service, on account of
the discipline of a uieuiber, a number left the church,
which so reduced its finances that Mr. Smith felt
compelled to leave the pulpit, but he still kept offi-
cial control, and Rev. George H. Clark supplied the
pulpit the remainder of the year.
Afterwards the pastors were:
1B78. Rev. K. W. Allen. 18**-8(J Rev. Josepb Caii.lliu.
1S79-80. Rev. S. S. Rodgers. 1»87-8'J. Rev. Selh Cary.
l»81-«3. Rev. J. H. Emeraou.
During the last year of Rev. Mr. Gary's pa-storate
the church waa entirely remodeled, at au expense of
$4500. This work was not completed until the pres-
ent year. The edifice was re-opened and re-dedicated
ia7J-73. Rev. R. W. CopelauJ.
l»74. Bev. 1. H. Packard.
Itf7j. Rev. Cbarlen VuuDg.
1676-77. Rev. C. -S. Suiitb.
June 22 and 23, 1890; $2500 had previously been
raised by subscription, and at the time of dedication
the remaining $2000 was secured. The present edi-
fice is a Gothic structure, finished and furnished in
oak, and lighted by electric lightf.
The present number of members in the church is
one hundred and twenty, and in the Sabbath-school
two hundred.
Thus through several reverses this church has been
brought, and is now in a prosperous condition.
Among its pastors may be found several who have
received the honorary title of Doctor of Divinity, and
one who was made Bishop.
This church now, in grateful review of the past,
can sing :
" Thus far the Lord bath led me oo,
Thus far His power prolongs my days."
May they also ever be able to sing, with faith in
God for the future :
" And every eveolog shall make known
Some fresh memorial of His grace.'*i
Belmont Methodist Episcopal Church. — This
church was organized by members of the " Bel-
mont Union Church " on July 26, 1888. This Union
Church was preceded by the " Glendale Christian
Union Society." The latter was organized more than
twenty years ago by the Young Men's Christian Asso-
ciation of Maiden. It was strictly undenominational,
and maintained a Sabbath-school and religious meet-
ings in a school-house on Ferry Street. This Union
Society undoubtedly accomplished good, but its trials
were many, including a lawsuit. The source of its
troubles was twofold : it was a Union Society, and its
location, after South Maiden became the town of
Everett, waa near the line betweeu Everett and Mai-
den. Either of these sources of trouble is almost in-
variably, if not always, sufficient to occasion the death
of a mission or a church. The Glendale Christian
Union Society became extinct. The Baptists of Ever-
ett took possession of the property it had gathered,
and there is now on Ferry Street a Baptist Mission
Society.
The Christian people who withdrew from the Glen-
dale Union still felt the need of religious privileges
in that part of the city, and some movement was
made to procure a site for a chapel on Ferry Street,
in Maldeu. In the mean time Mr. John P. Rusaeil
offered as a free gift a lot of land containing about
five thousand square feet, situated on Fairmont
Street, Belmont Hill, on condition that a chapel
should be built upon it, and that the church to be or-
ganized should be forever strictly undenominational
or non-sectarian. In consequence of this offer of
Mr. Russell, on June 5, 1882, "The Belmont Chris-
tian Union Society in Maiden " was legally organ-
ized. The written instrument, or constitution, under
which it waa organized, consisted of Preamble, Stand-
ing Rules and By-Laws. The standing rules were
520
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
only two in number. The siecond of these reads as
follows :
** No motion to change the society from a union to a denominational
or sectarian (Society) sliall b« received, and no sectarian discnBaion shall
be allowed in the Society meetings. And we do farther agree to the fol-
lowing by'laws, for the more particular goTernment of this Society."
At the same meeting at which this society was or-
ganized, and pledged to remain forever a Union Soci-
ety, it accepted by a unanimous vote Mr. Russell's
gift of land, with the conditions upon which it was
offered, and also voted that the sincere thanks of the
society should be expressed to the donor. The land
was deeded to the society by Mr. Russell, and the con-
ditions already referred to were expressed in the deed.
Upon this basis the society received subscriptions
from benevolent people of various religious denomina-
tions, also sums of money raised in other ways, and
with the same built a chapel upon the land they had
received. A Sabbath-school was organized, prayer-
meetings were held, and preaching on the Sabbath by
various evangelical ministers, mostly Congregational,
was maintained until September 15, 1884, at which
date the society voted to hire Rev. William F. Obear
to serve as acting pastor for one year, beginning on
the Ist of the following October, at a salary of S-500,
it being understood that he should also labor one-hall
of the time as acting pastor of the First Congrega-
tional Church in Maplewood.
Under the lead of Rev. Mr. Obear, on May 13,
1885, " The Belmont Union Church " was organized
with eight members. It was organized, as its name
indicates, as a strictly undenominational, though
evangelical, church, and this in honest fulfillment
of pledges made to the donor of the land, and vir-
tually also to all the donors of money. Mr. Obear
labored successfully with this society and church for
three years. During this period thirty-six persons
were added to the eight original members of the
church, a large portion of whom united by confession
of Christ, making a total of forty-four members.
The church and society then invited Rev. John E.
Wheeler to serve as pastor one year. He entered
upon his duties November 1, 1887, and l.ibored about
nine months. During this time nine persons united
with the church, five of them by confession of Christ.
The members of the Sabbath-school numbered nearly
200.
In July, 1888, a warrant was posted for a meeting
of the society to be holden on the 24th of that month.
The second article in the warrant was as follows :
" To hear a proposition from the Methodist Episcopal,
Church in Maiden, and to take such action on the
same as may be deemed advisable." The society ac-
cordingly met July 24th, and, after the meeting was
organized, voted to hear the propositions sent from
the Methodist Episcopal Church in Maiden. It was
presented in writing and was in substance, that, "The
Belmont Christian UnionSociety shall sell or convey
to Trustees of the Belmont Methodist Episcopal Church
when organized " all the property real and personal
"of said Union Society, and that the said Trustees of
the Belmont Methodist Episcopal Church will, in
such case, assume the mortgage outstanding on said
real estate, and also all the floating debts of said
Union Society, amounting to about SIOOO. It was
also added : "This proposition is upon the under-
standing that Mr. John P. Ru?sell will release to the
said Trustees of the Belmont Methodist Episcopal
Church all right and title and interest he may have
at law or equity by reason of the conditions con-
tained in his deed of said real estate to the Union So-
ciety, dated June 29, 1882."
After hearing this proposition read, the Union So-
ciety, in violation of one of its own " Standing Rules,"
and also of its solemn contract and promise to remain
forever a Union Society, upon the basis of which
contract and promise money had been raised to build
a chapel, voted — though not unanimously — '"to auth-
orize the selling or conveying of all the real and
personal property " in its possession to the trustees of
the Belmont Methodist Church, " whenever such
Board of Trustees shall be organized." It was under-
stood that Mr. Russell had given his assent to this
arrangement. Whether the questions of his legal
right to autliurize such a transaction, and of the legal-
ity and morality of all these proceedings, were prop-
erly considered, the records of the society do not in-
form us. The presiding elder, however, was present,
and read to the meeting the written proposition from
the Centre Methodist Episcopal Church.
Two days later, or on .Tuly 26, 1888, some thirty
members of the Belmont Union Church met at the
chapel. No public notice of the meeting had been
given. A minority of some eighteen or twenty mem-
bers had no knov/ledge that such a meeting was to be
held. The thirty members thus assembled voted to
give to themselves letters of dismission from the Bel-
mont Union Church, and recommendation to the
Belmont Methodist Episcopal Church, soon to be con-
stituted. They then voted to authorize the clerk of the
Union Church to give letters of dismission and recom-
mendation to such absent members as should desire
him to do so. These thirty persins were then and
there constituted and declared to be by the presiding
elder, who had been present through all the proceed-
ings, a Melhndiit Episcopal Church. The pastor of
the Centre Methodist Episcopal Church — the Rev.
Willis P. Odell — was also present, and was declared
by the presiding elder to be the pastor of the new
church. Such was the origin, according to the records
and the testimony of competent witnesses, of the Bel-
mont Methodist Episcopal Church in Maiden. No
comment is needed.
The Belmont Union Church never by vote declared
its own dissolution, and therefore still exists as a true
Church of Christ, with all the rights, liberties and
possessions which belonged to it at the time when
thirty of its members thus left it. The fact that this
MALDEN.
521
church does not at present maintain public religious
services does not render it non-existent.
The second and present pastor of the Belmont
Methodist Church is Rev. Oliver W. Hutchinson. He
began his labors September 15, 1888. The church was
organized with thirty members and a Sabbath-school
with 130 members. The church now (1890) has eighty-
six members, and the Sabbath-school about 250. The
chapel has been moved to a larger lot on the corner
of Boston and Fairmont Streets, and has been en-
larged, the whole at an expense of about $3000. The
entire property is now valued at about §6000. "The
church is entirely free from debt. The congregation
and Sunday-school constantly grow. The people
feel encouraged ; they believe they are laying the
foundation of a large and prosperous church."
The First Universalist Church and First
Parish. — Some account of the origin of this church
on May 22, 1828, of its connection with the First
Parish, and of the installation, July .30, 1828, of its
first minister. Rev. Sylvanus Cobb, has already been
given. Mr. Cobb continued in office until August 28,
1837, when the parish accepted his resignation. His
successor was Rev. J. G. Adams, of Claremont, N. H.,
who was installed February 28, 1838. The Universa-
list Church the same year, or ten years after its
organization, under the ministry of Mr. Adams
through its Deacons, Artemus Cutter and Abraham T.
Neally, made a formal demand upon Silas Sargent,
deacon of the First Church, for "all the property"
then " in his possession belonging to the First Cburch
of Christ in Maiden." The property referred to in-
cluded the communion service and probably a small
trust fund. Deacon Sargent refused to surrender this
property without the consent of the First Church.
The Universalist Church then began a suit at law
against Deacon Sargent, and the case was brought be-
fore the Supreme Judicial Court. But representa-
tives of the two Churches, after two meetings for
conference, both parties being desirous of avoiding the
vexation and expense of litigation, on October 25,
1839, signed an agreement according to which the
Universalist Church was to withdraw the suit at law
then pending before the Supreme Court, and forever
waive its claim to the property in dispute, yet without
admission that that claim was unfounded or unjust,
and the First Church was to pay to the Universalist
Church one hundred dollars, yet without "at all
admitting that their claim to the property in dispute
is or can be invalidated." This agreement was
ratified by the two churches.
It is worthy of record that in subsequent years the
two pastors of these churches, McClure and Adams,
united heartily in promoting temperance, and in
other labors for the welfare of the town. " Antago-
nistic," says Mr. Corey, "as they were in their re-
ligious beliefs, with the memories of the recent con-
flicts of their societies still alive, thev stood shoulder
to shoulder and hand in hand in the many reforms
which they instituted or promoted, and cemented a
friendship which time did not destroy, which is still
green in the heart of the surviver, and which may
make more joyous the meeting on the shores of life."
Mr. Adams' ministry with the Universalists con-
tinued fifteen years. His resignation was accepted
by the parish with much reluctance, Feb. 2, 1853 ;
the members of the Parish at the same time putting
on record expressions of their high esteem and warm
affection for him as their pastor and friend.
The next minister of this people was Rev. D. P.
Livermore, who was installed Dec. 18, 1853. After a
ministry of nearly two years his resignation was
reluctantly accepted, to take effect Nov. 1, 1855.
His successor was Rev. W. C. Brooks, who probably
was installed in September of 1856. He resigned
Dec. 31, 18-')7, and the dissolution of the pastoral
relation took place April 1, 1858. He was followed
by Rev. Thomas J. Greenwood, who " entered on his
labors as pastor of the First Parish, May 2, 1858."
He labored in the pastoral office with marked fidel-
ity for five years, bringing an unusually large num-
ber of persons into the church. Yet his official
relation was terminated by the parish in August,
1863. His successor was Rev. Thomas Gorman, who
accepted a call, and entered upon his duties, but
after a few months' labor, resigned the pastorate.
Rev. J. F. Powers was the next minister. He
began work on the first Sunday in April, 1866; and,
after a pastorate of five years and seven months, re-
signed on account of exhaustion from overwork,
preaching his last sermon on the third Sabbath in
October 1871. Rev. William S. Bell was then invited
to become the pastor. He was installed in October,
1872, but as early as March 10, 1873, the parish
voted to accept his resignation.
The parish next called to the pastorate Rev. Wil-
liam H. Ryder, of Arlington, who began labor July
1, 1873, but was not installed in his office until Oct.
5th of that year. Mr. Ryder, by his eloquence in
the pulpit, and by his efficiency and popularity as
a minister, largely promoted the prosperity of
I he church and parish. After serving in this posi-
tion about nine years, he received a flattering call to
become the pastor of the Universalist Society in
Cincinnati, Ohio, and accepted the call. Upon his
resignation, his pastoral relation to his people in
Maiden was dissolved July 15, 1882. A series of
resolutions expressive of deep regret at parting with
him, and of sincere esteem and gratitude, were unan-
imously adopted by the parish.
Rev. G. F. Babbitt was called to be the successor
of Mr. Ryder, and was installed Feb. 29, 1884. After
some two years of service, not being able longer to
believe in the distinctive doctrines of Universalism,
and having accepted the evangelical faith aa held by
the Baptist denomination, he resigned his pastorate
and was dismissed May 1, 1886, and is now snccesa-
522
HISTORY OF .MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
fully laboring aa the pastor of a Baptist Church in
Weatboro', Massachusetts.
The present pastor is Rev, W. F. Dusseault, who was
called from Marlboro', Mass., and was installed May
5, 1887. Mr. Dusseault is the eleventh pastor of the
Uciversalist Church and Parish in Maiden.
It is worthy of notice that there appears to be but
one record of any action on the part of this church
in calling or dismissing a minister. The parish ap-
pears to have assumed the entire authority and re-
sponsibility in every instance — save in the settlement
of Mr. Cobb — of electing and dismissing the chief
officer of the church.
The brick meeting-house, built by an orthodox
church and parish in 1802, is now occupied by the
Univeraalist Church and Parish. The house, how-
ever, has been repeatedly remodeled and renovated.
The change in its structure was made in 1836, during
the ministry of Rev. Sylvanus Cobb, when the build-
ing was " divided into two stories, the upper being
used for public worship and the lower containing a
large hall and other rooms for public purposes." This
ancient meetincj-house has been well preserved by the
First Parish. It '* seems," as Mr. Corey justly re-
marks, " to bear an e^er-present air of youth."
The CnrRcu of the Immaculate Coxcep-
Tiox. — The foUowiug sketch of the history of this
church is taken, in an abbreviated form, mainly from
an elaborate and interesting historical article pub-
lished in the Sacred Heart Eeview, July 12, 1890.
Maiden had existed as an incorporated town two
hundred and four years before any Roman Catholic
Church was established within its limits. Previous
to 1853 the few Catholics in Maiden were obliged to
hear Mass in adjoining towns. But during that year
Rev. John Ryan was appointed the first Roman
Catholic pastor in Maiden, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Fitz-
patrick. His pastoral care, however, was not con-
fined to Maiden, but extended overMedford, Melrose,
Wakefield, Stoneham, Winchester and Everett.
The Review presents as follows the early history of
Catholicism in Maiden :
" The first ilaas was celfcbrated in fjreea'd Hall, now known hb Dowl-
ing'a Block, corner of PleasAiit and Middlesex Streets. There were
about 200 CatbolicB assembled un that occaaioo. The SuDday-scbool in
the befjinniug numbered about sixty children. For ooiue time Father
Ryan resided with a parubioner on Jack&oo Street, then purcU4.sed the
house which is now the convent. In this dwelling the Holy Sacrilice
was offered until the basement chapel uf the church was ready for divine
service. Among the promiiieDt parishioners of early days may be men-
tioned Denis Grimes, in whose house Father Ryan resided; John Raf-
ferty, first sexton ; and John James '\Iahoney, who bad beea American
<!^nsul to Algiers ; in passing we may say that the beautiful residence
)ind grounds now occupied by Mr. Duttoo, of the firm of Houghton Sl
Dutton, of Boston, was in those days the home of Mr. Mahoney-
" The progress of the church was extraordinary, notwithstanding the
fact that Maiden, like many anothercity, held within its boundaries a few
desperadoes whose threats and deeds proved them validly entitled to the
name in which they gloried. 'Know-nothings,' and made them aliens,
indeed, to the great body of enlighfened Americana.
" Within one year the few Catholics in Maiden purchased a lot of
land fur a church on Summer Street^ and the Catholics of Medford,
I equally zealous, purchased a lot in Medford. But it was found that
their united strength wa:i necessary and the land was sold, and the
Catholics of both places united and purchased the present site, betweeu
.^[edford and Maiden, and built a church thereon. This wai^in 1854, the
I year ever memorable as that which saw proclaimed the dogma ^of the
' Immaculate Conception, in honor of which the newly-erected church
u'us named. The first Mass was offered there on Cliristmas day. .\s it
\ first stood the Little church accommodated three or four hundred peo-
ple.
"Father ilcShaue succeeded Father Ryan; Father Scully labored
there as pastor later on ; Father GleasoD became pastor in 1808. During
his pastomte the church was twice enlarged, a parochial residence and
;i school-house built, and the School Sistera of >'otre Dame introduced
iutothe diocese — the former parochial residence becoming their con-
vent.'*
I In 1884 Rev. M. F. Flatley was appointed pastor
of the parish in Maiden, and is now its permanent
, rector. At that time Wakefield, which, at first, was
a mission attended from Maiden, had a parish, and
! Father Flatley had been its first pastor. Winchester
had been set off with Woburn and Everett withChel-
; sea. Stoneham had a distinct Catholic parish, with
I a mission in Melrose, and there was a separate parish
in Medford.
" Father Flatley was born in Ireland in l&4'i. After making his eai ly
.-tudies there in a private classical flclioul, he came to .\nierira, gradu-
I ated in ISfi.S from Holy ".'ross College, Wurcester ; received the first
I honors of his clasd, carrying off the gold medal. Ilia theological studies
I were made in Sl. MHr>''s .Seminar), Baltimore, and there he was oi
-lained a priest, Dec. 28, I8i'8. He then tunie*! to the diocese of Boston,
fur which he had studied. It was in St. James" Church, Boston, of
which Father Jame^i k. Ilealey (now Bishop of Portland, Me.; was then
l>astor, that Father Flatley spent the first five year? of hia ministry in
the holiest of callings. In June, iHTi, he was sent tu Wakefield."
His pastorate in Wakefield is represented to have
been laborious and successful. During the business
panic of 1873-78, with the co-operation of his people,
he paid off a debt of 814,000. Having^ been trans-
ferred, in 1884, to the parish in Maiden, he was made,
in 1888, its first permanent rector.
"During his short pastorate hurt) he bus renovated and beautified th^
< hurch, so that it will nuw compare favorably with many of the churches
of the Archdiocese. He has purclia^ed three acres of land, known us the
Cobiirn estate, in the east end of Maiden, and there be has opened a
uew miesioD, and in the near future he will build there a church and
:<chool.
" Kear the Parochial School un Highlaud Avenu«-, is another t>eautiful
lot of land which he has secured, and will devute to parish purposes.
He is about to open a. new cemetery of Mventeeu acres which is now
being laid out into lota. With the enormous running expenses of thb
|)arish he has paid nearly $25,000 of the debt."
Father Flatley is assisted by three curates — Fathers
Curran, Sullivan and Cunningham:
" Rev. F. J. Curratj . . was born in Randolph, Maaa., Feb. U, laoi.
He made bis early studies in Raodulph. graduated from the High Schuol
-March 10. 1871, being the first Catholic to receive a diploma. The fol-
lowing September he entered St. Charles' Coltege, Md., gradaated there-
Irom in 1874, and in September entered St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy, X.
Y. He was ordained priest Dec. 21, 1378. His first appointment waa
to St. Peter's, Cambridge, where he labored a year and a half, being ad-
■^igned to Maiden June 8, 1880. During his ten years in this parish bt*
has been identified with erery good work.
" Bev. D. F. Sullirnn was twra in Boston May 3, 1855 ; graduated from
Holy Cross College, Worcester, June 2, 1876 : entered St. Joseph's Semi-
nary, Troy.N. Y., 1876; ordained priest Dec. 20, 1879. After serTing
MALDEN.
523
ID Cambridffeport and Winchester two je&ra, be was appointed to Maiden
Dec. 27, 1881.
" Rev. F. A. CuDDiDgham was born in Roxbury in 1863 ; he graduated
ia Boston College in 1884. A podt-graduate of 1885, he received the de*
gree of B.A., went to the American Cullege, Rome, the same year ; was
ordained there in 1889. He merited the honor of writing the poem,
'America's Greeting,' upon the occasion of the golden jubilee of our
Holy Father, Leo XJH."
" The Catholic Church of Maiden is finely situated on Pleasant Street
It is built of brick, is cruciform, has a capacity of seating 1300. The
basement chapel is plain, yet very devotioual. The main church is beau-
tiful. The paintings are worthy of special note. ... It was during the
renovation of the church effected in the present pastorate that these
paintings were added. The statue of the Sacred Heart, which stands
within the sanctuary, is the most beautiful in this country. It is the
very statne that took the prize at the Paris Exposition of 1889. . . . The
sanctuary is lit by an arch of thirty gas jets ; the body of the church by
sixteen upright candelabra each containing twenty-two lights. There
are forty altar-boys and a sanctuary choir of forty members attached to
this church."
The " School Sisters of Notre Dame " constitute a
teaching order, which is distinct from that of che
" Congregation of Notre Dame," and from that of
the Sisters of Notre Dame, and was originally founded
in France in 1598.
"The flrvt house in America was established at St. Mary's, Pennsyl-
vania, in 1847, but was snbsiHiuently transferred to Baltimore, where
Mother Mary Clara ia Superior. In 18-50 a house was established in
Milwaukee, Mother Mary Caroline, Superior. This is the General
Mother-House for America, and is the special head-house and novitiate
fur all the western bouses, Baltimore being the same for the eastern
province. . . . Their parochial schools are attended by 56,222
children. In academies there are 2610 pupilu ; in asylums 1713 orphans.
" Their tlrstschool in the norih was opened In September, 1881, in Mai-
den ; the second In Canton, 1885, Rer.Johu Flatley, now of St. Peter's,
Cambridge, then rector ; the third in Roxbury, IS89, Redemptorist
Fathers in charge."
It is reported, that in the parochial school
den —
in Mai-
" There are 750 pupils, boys nndgirla. Their ages range from five to
fourteen years ioclusivety. The school erabrares three departnieDta — the
primary, preparatory and sjammar, each aubdirided into two grades,
each grade cotuposed of two divisions.
" The course of stndy ia as follows : Elementary or advanced, accord-
ing to the grade of the pupil ; Chriatian doctrine, embracing Catechism,
Holy Scripture and Church History ; object lessons, introducing phys-
iology, botany, geology, etc. ; spelling, reading, combining elocution ;
arithmetic, mental and written ; book-keeping and algebra, geography,
history, grammar, rhetoric, composition, both of letters and essays, and
natural philosophy."
It is Stated in the last report of the superintendent
of schools, that in the year 1819 the number of
children between five and fifteen years of age In the
parochial school in Maiden was 60-5, and that the
number in the public schooLs was 2317- The Review,
from which we have so freely quoted, makes no allu-
sion to our public schools, nor to the education of any
children in the city, except those in the parochial
school. This would have no special significance, if
the Catholics in this city, as in all northern cities
and towns, were not greatly indebted to our system of
public schools. Many Catholics, educated in our public
schools, are well aware, that neither they nor their
children would have received any school education
whatever, had it not been for our system of free '
schools. These educated and intelligent Catholics
would doubtless be much gratified if their church
authorities and publications would gratefully and
courteously acknowledge this large indebtedness.
We have not been able to verify the statement of the
Review, tha*; Catholicism in its early days in Maiden
sufiered from " a few desperadoes, whose threats and
deeds " "made them aliens indeed to the great body
of enlightened Americans." But even if the state-
ment be true, it is but fair to say, that the citizens of
Maiden have no sympathy with anything that tends
to interfere with the fullest freedom in the worship
of God.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church. — Previous to the
organization of this church, another Episcopal Church,
known as " Grace Church," had existed for a brief time
in Maiden. The following historical account of these
two churches is mainly an abbreviation of written
documents which have been kindly furnished by pres-
ent oflScers of St. Paul's Church :
On Sunday, September 27, 1861, evening service,
according to the rites of the Protestant Episcopal
Church, was held by Rev. William H. Munroe (then
rector of Trinity Church, Melrose), for the first time
ill Maiden, in a small hall on Irving Street. Even-
ing services were continued in this hall until Decem-
ber Ist, when a larger hall, over the Boston and
Maine Depot, was secured. In this hall evening ser-
vices were conducted until June 1, 1862, when both
morning and evening services were held. A morning
service, however, was held on Christmas, 1861, on
Sunday after Christmas, and on Easter Sunday, 1862.
During all this time the church was dependent upon
clergymen from neighboring towns to conduct the
services.
On October 17. 1861, at a meeting held in the
evening, the following document was presented and
signed:
*' The undersigned, citizens of Maiden, hereby asaociate ourselvea to-
gether as a Religious Parish and Society, under the name of Grace
Church, for the wotahip of Almighty God, in accordance with theCanons
and Liturgy of the Protestant Episcopal Church, Oct 17, 1861.
•' G. W. Clark, J. 3. F. Cashing, William Embley, John V. H. Gush-
ing, Jamea Hamoett, Samuel H. Wooda, Mary C- Clark, Mary F. Cox,
Abbie W. Woods, J. A. Woods."
A subscription list was also made up for the support
of a rector, amounting to $99.
During the first five months of 1862 a series of ser-
mons on the doctrines and polity of the Episcopal
Church was given in this hall, on Tuesday evenings,
by Bishop Eandall, Drs. BoUes and Lambert, Rev.
Mr. Palmer, Dr. Wells, Rev. William R. Huntington,
Rev. F. D. Huntington and Dr. John Cotton Smith.
On May 3, 1862, a petition for a warrant to call a
vestry to organize Grace Church was signed. This
petition was granted by B. G. Hill, justice of the
pei>ce, and a warrant was issued May 5th. The meet-
524
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
ing thus legally called was held May 12, 1862. Prayer
was offered by Rev. William H. Munroe, of Melrose,
J. S. F. Gushing was elected clerk, and G. W. Clark,
moderator. J. S. F. Gushing and William Embley
were elected wardens. G. W. Glark, William A.
Herrick, James Hammett, William Linderby and
Thomas M. Kaulback were elected vestrymen. J. S.
F. Gushing, S. H. Woods and G. W." Clark were
elected delegates to represent the church, and to ask
its admission to the Diocesan Convention to be held
in Boston, June 4, 1862.
From the number of votes cast it would appear
that ten persons were present at this meeting. The
Rev. Joseph Kidder officiated as rector from May to
October of 1862, giving his services as a labor of love.
December 30th the Rev. Dexter Potter was invited
to become the rector of Grace Church. He accepted
the invitation and remained with the church until
February 3, 1864. During this period the church
and congregation appear to have been quite small, as
on November 3, 1863, the number of communicants
in the church was twenty, and the numbei of Sab-
bath-school scholars from thirty-five to forty.
April 25, 1864, Rev. C. Ingles Chapin was called to
the rectorship at a salary of S800. He made the fol-
lowing report to the convention in the spring of 1865:
*'(1race Cborch. Maiden : Biiptisms, 17 ; commuincants last reporte<l^
19 ; died, 1 ; removed, ;t ; added, 10; present number, -".4 ; cuntlrmeDi),
9 ; marriages, 1 ; burials, 5. ^unday-scliool : Teachers, 7 ; scbolare,
C. Missionary collrctious, 820 ; for SuDday-gcbwd, So'' ; for rbililren's
Cbapgl Kund, $110; ('bristnioa and Easter festivals, }41.5(i ; otber pur-
puses within the Parish, 52-*>.
" By the blessing of God our work has been prospered. The present
pressing need of the Tarish is a suitable chuicb or chapel. This want
supplied, there is nothing to prevent a nipid growth."
As early as May, 1862, the refusal of a lot of land
known as the Heater Piece, on the Dexter estate, was
obtained, but afterwards the site, for some reason, was
not regarded .as a suitable one for a church. But in
March, 18(15, under Rev. Mr. Chapin's rectorship, the
subject of land and a church was again brought up,
and a committee was appointed to examine a church
in Chelsea, with a view to its purchase and removal,
but the project was found not to be feasible.
August 4, 1865, Rev. C. Ingles Chapin resigned and
soon after services ceased, and Grace Church existed
only as a corporation. The records of Grace Church
came to an end with a meeting held Nov. 22, 1809, at
which time James Hammett w.ts clerk.
Persons who were members of Grace Church affirm
that this abrupt termination of its services, followed
after a time by the extinction of the church itself, was
occasioned by some lack of harmony in the brother-
hood, and also of funds to meet necessary expenses.
After the cessation of religious services, quite a
number of the members of Grace Church hired seats
at the Methodist Episcopal Church, and on Easter
Sunday, 1866, the house was given up entirely to the
parish of Grace Church, Bishop Randall preaching in
the morning and Rev. George Denham in the even-
ing, the choir using the Episcopal Church music
throughout the day.
Steps were taken early in the year 1867 preliminary
to the organization of another Episcopal Church in
Maiden. On January 13th of that year .services of
worship, conducted .iccording to the liturgy of that
church, began to be held in private houses, and on
February Ist the rooms of the Young Men's Christian
Association, in Waits' Block, having been engaged,
the services were held in them. On March 26, 1867,
a meeting was called of all persons intere.ited in form-
ing a parish or corporation in Maiden, according to
the rites and usages of the Protestant Episcopal
Church, and a petition, requesting B. G. Hill, justice
of the peace, to call a meeting for the purpose of or-
ganizing such a parish, was signed. A warrant for
this meeting was issued April 14th. The meeting thus
legally called was held April 21, 1867, and a Protest-
ant Episcopal Church was organized under the uaiiie
of .5/. Paul's Church. This meeting was held in
Waits' Block, and officers of the (.hnrch were elected,
as follows: As Wardens, Charles F. Stansbury and
X. B. Converse; as Vc-strymeii. C. A. Stearns, G. W.
Wil.son, William W. N. Cox, Alexander Hendersf)n
and O. N. Coburn ; a.s Treasurer, G. W. Clark ; as
Clerk, Alexander Henderson. A constitution and
by-laws were adopted and signed by the following
persons:
Cliurles F. stansbury, William Stearns, .\. B. I'onvel'^e, C. Wil.son,
(>. N. ("olinrn, li. W. I'larlc. .Vli'xaudtr llcnileriioii, Leonard WoihIs,
.^[.l.)., J. S. Chapin, .TaiueH HaiMUett, .). >I.Kuulback, Joseph \. Ilill,
.1. S. F. Crushing. .1. Edward Uurtf, C L. Haufurd, I'tuules bowuer ;tDd
William Linderby.
The hall over the Boston and Maine Depot was
leased at §125 a year. The use of a part of the furni-
ture formerly used by Grace Clurch was offered by
its tri^isurer to St. Paul's Church.
April 16, 186S, Rev. (jeorge Putnam Huntington,
son of Rev. Dr. Frederick D. HiMitington, Bishop of
Central New York, w.as called to take the pastoral
charge of St. Paul's Church and Parish. He accepted
April 17th, for one year, at a salary of i^!)0O,and enter-
ed upon his duties the following Sabbath. 0?i May
30, 1869, he was elected rector, and accepted the
office.
At a meeting of Grace Church, held May 14, 1868,
the following resolutions were offered and adopted :
" liexotieil. That the organization known jw (;irace i'liiircli be from this
date dissolved, and the [iroperty beton^ng to it be transferred to an
'iriranization known aeSt. Paul's Church, Slalden."
" This action was legalized by an .\ct of the Legislature parsed March
;;l, 1ST9."
During the period between April 2, 1867, and No-
vember 28, 1870, several committees were appointed
to consider and report upon the question of the loca-
tion and erection of a house of worship. Numerous
sites and various plans for obtaining a house of wor-
ship, including the project of removing a church from
Medford, were reported. But none of these reports
were found on the whole to be acceptable. Finally,
MALDEN.
525
on November 28, 1870, a committee was authorized
to purchase a lot on Washington Street, of Mr.
Charles Heath. This land was eventually secured,
and upon it was erected the present Episcopal Church.
" This church was consecrated by Bishop Eastburn,
on May 23, 1872. The total cost of the buildings and
grounds was $15,729.72. The parish house was built
in 1883, at a cost of about $2500.
" Rev.George P. Huntington resigned the rectorship
on account of ill health, August 15, 1884. Rev. John
Milton Peck was called to be his successor, and
preached his first sermon February 22, 1885. He re-
signed June 4, 1887.
" Mr. Peck .suddenly departed this life July 24,
ISW, at Meuahauut, near Falmouth, Mass., where he
was passiug the summer with his family. In his
early life Mr. Peck was a Congregationalial, but later
became an Episcopalian, and entered the Episcopal
ministry. He had served as rector in the Episcopal
Parishe.i of Rutland, Vt., Claremont, N. H., and in
several other places. He came to Maiden from
Bridgewater, highly recommended by the bishop. He
has since preached in various places in the vicinity of
Boston, and during the present summer had supplied
the Episcopal pulpit in Brookline, where he preached
the .Sabbath before he died. Rev. Sir. Peck was a
scholarly man, and of much literary culture. He has
written several pleasing poems.'
The present rector in the Episcopal Church io
Maiden is Rev. George Alexander Strong. He
preached his first sermon as rector, October 15, 1887.
.Vt the present time the wardens of the church are
Allan J. Chase and ^Villiam Be de l;is (.'asas ; Clerk,
William D. Hawley; Treasurer, Matthew C. Grier;
Vestrymen, Alfred Tcjuks, Charles B. Shaw, Charles
J. -Vddy, ( leorge T. Brown, Otis E. Waitt and George
C. Tale.
The present number of coinmunicant.s is 220, and
of Sunday-school scholars, 206. The seats in this
church are free. The charter refjuires that " no rent
charge or exaction shall ever be made or demanded
for occupation or use of its seats." The expenses are
met' by the Sunday ortertory.
St. Luke'.s Episcopal Chuf.ch, Linden, Mal-
PEX. — The following sketch of the origin and history
of this church is official :
" The services of the Episcopal Church in Linden
began November 23, 1873, when but few persons took
|)art in the worship. From 1873 to 1876 the Rev.
George P. Huntington, then rector of St. Paul's
Church at ilalden Centre, held full evening prayers
and preached on the fourth Sunday, in the afternoon,
every month. The last of these services w.is held
September 24, 1876. But services of worship were
again commenced by Rev. Mr. Huntington January
8, 1882. From that time different neighboring clergy-
men conducted worship until December 31st, when
Mr. T. L. Fisher first read the evening service, and
from that time officiated as lay-reader, the Rev. Mr.
Huntington coming once a month to celebrate the
Holy Communion. Mr. Fisher was ordained to the
diaconate in May, 1883, and continued in charge until
he was ordained to the priesthood in December, 1884.
He entered upon the duties of his ministry on Christ-
mas Day.
" Services of public worship thus far had been held
in various places, but in the last part of this period in
Associate Hall. The cellar for the new church was
completed before December 17, 1883, and the church
was consecrated by the Bishop of Massachusetts, April
29, 1884. The cost of the church was $5163. This
sum, however, does not include payment for decoration
of the walls of the church, the altar, lecturn, prayer- •
desks, chancel rail, clergy chairs, two chandeliers and
memorial windows, all of which were presented.
" St. Luke's Parish was formally organized by the
election of a vestry oa July 1, 1885. The Rev. T. L.
Fisher closed his services as rector of St. Luke's
Church on (he first Sunday in Lent, 1888. The Rev.
L. H. Merrill entered upon his duties, as the successor
of Rev. Mr. Fisher, October 18, 1888, and terminated
them in February, 1890. He was followed by the
present rector. Rev. Edward Owen, who began his
labors in the same month in which Rev. Mr. Merrill
left. The present number of communicants is fifty,
and the Sunday-school scholars number fifty-five."
The First Unitarian CoKGREGATiONAL Society
of Maiden was organized with ten members (six
males and four females), December 21, 1875. The
names of the original members were, Nathaniel W.
Starbird, AsaR. Brown, Harrison J. Dawes, Seth C.
Jones, Martha J. Noyes, Caroline M. Franch, Jose-
phine Coburu, Louis D. Starbird, C. M. H. Abbott
and Daniel M. Wilson. To these were added twenty-
seven members the first year, and nine the second
year.
All members of the society subscribed to the fol-
lowing statement :
" The UDdereigoed unite iu the following faith and purpoae. Oar
fiiith ii in God, and in His Son Jeeus the Christ. And we hereby form
uurstilTea into a Society, that we may co-operate in the study and prac-
tii-t* of i'hristiaiiity."
The first pastor was. Rev. Daniel M. Wilson, who be-
gan his ministry with this people inl876,andcloi!ed it
in December, 1878. The second pastor was Rev. Henry
Westcott, who was installed November 1, 1881. While
taking his summer vacation, he died suddenly of
heart-disease, July 16, 1883. The third and present
pastor is Rev. Benjamin H. Bailey, who entereil upon*
his labors with this society April 9, 1884.
The organization of this society took place in
Richardson's Hall, in Central Square, but ita religious
services were held mainly in Odd Fellows' Hall until
the dedication of its new house of worahip, which
took place October 11, 1878. This house was erected
at a cost, aside from the land, of $8000, and is located
on Haskins Street, not far from Main Street The
members of the society number, at the present times
526
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTF. MASSACHUSETTS.
seventy-two, forly-five of whom are males, and twenty-
seven are females. The Sabbath-school was organized
with eight members in 1877. The number of its
members now is over one hundred and ten.
This society at the present time is more prosperous
than it ever was before. Within a year it has pur-
chased a new and superior organ for its church, at
a cost of $1600. Its accomplished and faithful pastor
is respected and beloved by his people, and is con-
stantly adding to his friends and enlarging the so-
ciety.
The Faulkner Evangelical Union Church.
— This church is located at '" Faulkner Station," — a
name given to that portion of the city which is ac-
commodated by a railroad depot of that name, and is
situated between Maiden Centre and Maplewood.
The evangelistic movement which led to the organi-
zation of this church was commenced by Mr. Fred-
erick A. HoudleMe. In 1882 he erected the Mystic
Hall, near Faulkner Station, as a place of public
worship, though a part of the building was devoted
to other purposes. For a time he bore the entire
financial burden of maintaining religious services.
His chief associate in corjJucting religious meetings
was Capt. George W. Lane, an earnest and successful
Sabbath-school missionary for a number of years on
the coasts of Maine and North Carolina. A Sabbath-
school was organized iu Mystic Hall in October, 1882,
with six teachers and sixty-eight scholars, and with
Mr. Houdlette as superintendent. Earnest evangel-
istic prayer-meetings were also held weekly, and ser-
vices of worship, with preaching, on the Sabbath.
Rev. E. S. Potter, a Congregational clergyman, who
had then labored in the ministry with large success
forty-eight years, vfaa invited to serve as acting pas- i
tor, and he entered upon his labors June 4, 1882, and
preached his last sermon September 1, 1889. I
On March 22, 1883, at a meeting held in Mystic j
Hall, of which Mr. Houdlette was chairman, and
Mr. E. A. Atwood, secretary, a society under the
name of " The Faulkner Evangelical Union," was
organized with Mr. A. C. Dowse as clerk; Mr. George
R. Conrad as treasurer; Messrs. J. I. Stewart and
Daniel Wilder as auditors ; and Mr. E. A.. Atwood as
superintendent of the Sabbath-school. The religious
belief of the society was expressed in the following
formula :
"This Unioa recognizes the Scriptures of the Old and New Testa-
ments as its sole authority in matters of doctrine, and its infallible rule
of faith and practice. It requires on the part of its membeis a substaQ.
ttal assent to them. It requires that the public ministry shall accord
with them. But, because not all persons agree in their interpretation
of the Scriptures, and to the end that none may be offended or excluded
fit>m its fellowship, this Union does not require, as a condition of uem*
berahip, that every candidate shall perfectly understand them, or agree
with every other member in their interpretation of the same, being
▼ery confident that the Lord hath much truth yet to break forth out
of His Holy word." [Then follows the AposUes* Creed,]
In the summer of 1885 Deacon John B. Faulkner,
who had been a member for many years and an officer
of the First Baptist Church in Maiden, a gentleman >
: of wealth, and in honor of whom the railroad station
! had received its name, intimated his intention to
j present a lot of land to the Union, and to build upon
it a house of worship, whereupon the Faulkner
Evangelical Union, by taking the necessary legal
j steps, became, on December 8, 1885, an incorporated
society. On the 17th of the same month Deacon
Faulkner conveyed, by deed, to the Faulkner Evan-
I gelical Union, a lot of land valued at SIOOO. In the
; deed the donor makes the following statement:
[ *'I donate this property to the Society, and Church when instituted,
I known by the name of The Faulkner Evangelical Union, to be en
trusted to the Prudential Committee of said Society, with a Board of
Trustees, who shall act in concurrence with the above-named Commit-
tee.
'* The object of this donation is the establishment aud maintenance of
the uidinanceaof religion in accordance with the belief and usages of
the society ns it now exists. \ud furthermore this house of worobip
shall be kept free from all incuuibrance whatsoever, to have and to hold
the granted premitjes.with all the privileges and appurtenances thereto be-
longing, to the said The Faulkner Evangelical Union, to their own use
and behoof forever.'*
The organization of the Union Society was designed
to be preliminary to the organization of a church.
Accordingly "The Faulkner Evangelical Union
Church " was organized on February 12, 1886, with
Mr. E. A. Atwood as clerk and treasurer. The con-
fession of faith adopted was evangelical.
The house of worship was completed in Juue, 1886.
The entire expense of the building, including the
land, was about S7000, and the whole was a munifi-
cent gilt to the Faulkner Evangelical Union and
Church from Dea. John B. Faulkner. The church
was dedicated June 9, 1886. In the public services
of the afternoon, Dea. Faulkner, with fitting words,
presented the keys of the church to the chairman of
the Board of Trustees, closing with the remark : " I
hope this will prove a blessing to the people." In
the evening a sermon was preached by Rev. John L.
Withrow, D.D., of the Park Street Church, Boston,
and Rev. W. F. Obear, of Maplewood, ofl'ered the
dedicatory prayer.
The present number of church members is forty-
four, and the members of the Sabbath-school number
about one hundred and twenty. Rev. Harry P. Ran-
kin, a Methodist minister, is the present acting pastor.
There are now in JIalden, ministering to the relig-
ious and spiritual needs of its more than twenty-three
thousand inhabitants, fourteen Christian churches.
One of these churches is two hundred and forty-one
years old. The other thirteen have come into exist-
ence during the period of the last eighty-seven years.
With all their imperfections, mistakes and partial
failures, they have yet stood as bulwarks against im-
morality, intemperance, all unrighteousness and
crime. Without churches and the preached gospel.
Maiden would have been uninhabitable to respectable
people. They have been the light, the joy and the
glory of the town ; while in their ministries of salva-
tion and consolation they have been to thousands as
the open gates of Heaven.
MALDEN.
527
CHAPTEK XXXIX.
MA LOEN — ( Continuad).
SOCIETIES.
BY GEO. HOWARD FALL.
There are over seventy societies to be found in
Maiden to-day. Many of these are secret and com-
paratively unimportant. Quite a number have no
more members than officers. Still others are little
more than mutual admiration clubs, ijocieties which
are purely secret or self-centred have little claim
upon [he pen of the historian. To be of general in-
terest, they must be connected with the general wel-
fare, or must, at least, be typical of the community's
development. An individual's history is of value
just 30 far ss it represents the spirit of the times or
just so far as his life and acts present a history of the
times. Of the same nature is the history of a society.
If it has sought to accomplish public work, whether
good or bad, the historian Is bound to recognize it.
But if private matters and individual interests only
have been considered, a history of it would be a tax
upon public forbearance.
Many of the societies are doing general work,
and illustrate phases of social development. Of these
there is none more important than the Maiden Delib-
erative Assembly. This society was organized Decem-
ber i^th, 1875, by ten young men, who met at the
house of Mr. Charles D. Weld. Its object and pur-
pose was (first) the full and free discussion of the
leading questions of the day ; (second) exercise and
training in parliamentary practice. Its founders
were Elijah Oeorge, Otis E. Waitt, Sidney D. Shat-
tuck, \. R. Turner, .Fr., A. F. Crocker, Chas. D.
Weld, Horace F. Gleason, J. C. Auld, Frank F. Sar-
gent, J. Q. A. Brett. The society now numbers over
eighty members, comprising representatives from
every cla.«s and profession. Such subjects as the fol-
lowing hpve been discussed :
Reso/ved, that it will subserve the best interests of
Maiden ^") adopt a city charter ; That church proper-
ty ought to be taxed ; That a property qualification
should be one of the conditions of the exercise of
the suffrage ; That the enactment of national laws
providing for compulsory education should be en-
couraged ; That the right of suffrage should be ex-
tended to women ; That all railroads should be owned
and controlled by the State ; That the Bible should
be read in the public schools ; That Pomeroy ought
to be hanged ; That Chinese immigration ought to be
prohibited ; That prohibitory legislation is conducive
to the best interests of this Commonwealth ; That
England would be justified in interfering in the laws
between Turkey and Servia. That Free Trade will
best advance the commercial interests of the United
States; That all National, State and Municipal oflS-
cers should be denied the right of suffrage during
their term of office ; That labor organizations are
detrimental to the general welfare ; That capital pun-
ishment should be abolished ; That the President of
the United States should be elected for a term of six
years, and no longer ; That Tilden was fairly elected ;
That bad cooking is the cause of more misery than
alcoholic liquors ; That women should vote in muni-
cipal elections; That the poll-tax should be abol-
ished ; That life is not worth living.
This society has exercised a potent influence upon
Maiden affairs. Many officers, first of the town, and
later of the city government, have been among it*
members, and in the assembly room learned to fairly
view those questions which otherwise they might
have seen only through the mist of local and politi-
cal prejudice. In the town-meeting, and in the
ward-room, speeches have been continually made
under the stimulus of passion and self-interest. In
the assembly room, one motive controlled discus-
sion,— that of the pure reason. No limits except
those of time have ever been allowed to interfere
with the freedom of debate. Again and again have
the citizens poured into the meetings as the one
place where they could hear fairly discussed the
living questions of the day. These were called the
public meetings of the assembly, and ladies were
always welcome.
The great success of this society has been due to
two causes. First, any man could Join provided he
possessed good morals and intellectual capacity.
These were the only requisites. The society has
uever been ruled by a "set." Secondly, freedom from
burdensome rules and orders. Members are allowed
to come into and gooutof the room when they please.
Hence an uninteresting debate will clear the hall;>fr
sf ; and disputants know that in order to keep their
audience they must have something to say worth
hearing. Ninety per cent, of all debating societies
are killed out by the strictness of their rules.
Among the many subjects of public interest which
the assembly has considered was one concerning the
advisability of revising the city charter. The assem-
bly voluntarily took upon itself, early in 1888, the task
of preparing the outlines of a new charter. A com-
mittee of five was appointed, who examined all the
charters of neighboring cities, and also studied for
some six weeks the problem of municipal govern-
ment. As a result, the modern problem of city gov-
ernment became widely discussed in Maiden, and the
end is not yet. This self-appointed task of the assem-
bly is only an instance.
The water question, the sewerage, the electric light,
streets, fire department, etc., etc., have all been over-
hauled and examined from an impartial standpoint.
The Sewerage Bill, for the Metropolitan Valley,
which passed the Legislature recently, is due largely
to the efforts of the assembly. The assembly brought
the merits of the scheme before the people of Mai-
528
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
dcD, at one of its public meetings. The citizens of
Maiden did the rest.
The following gentlemen have served as presidents
of the assembly since its organization : Elijah George,
Harry P. Ballard, George F. Foster, A. A. Knights,
George A. Littlefield, Frank P. Bennett, A. R.
Turner, Jr., George D. Ayers, Alfred H. Jones, Sid-
ney D. Shatluck, Jerome H. Fiske, John S. Patton,
Charles D. Weld, George L. Gould, Alfred E. Cox,
Daniel L. Milliken, A. J. Freeman, R. R. Robinson,
Tristram Griffin, Elnathan D. Howes, Clarence A.
Perkins, F. H. Page, William F. Merrill, Frank E.
Woodward, Charles R. Magee, F. O. Woodruff, Geo.
Howard Fall, George L. Richards, John M. Corbett,
George H. Woodrurt', Eugene H. Cox, Charles G.
Schaedel, H. Hubbard, F. A. Lux, Hairy H. Barrett.
Edwin S. Blaine, H. L. Boutwell, Curtis S. Pease,
F. I. Winslow and George W. Cox.
Old and New — The Wumaii's Club of Maiden. —
On Friday, October 18, 1878, thirteen Maiden women
met at the house of Mrs. H. H. Robinson, ao the in-
vitation of Mrs. Harriette R. Shattuck, " to consider
the feasibility of forming a woman's club in Maiden."
From this small beginning, "Old and New" has
gradually grown into a large club, numbering, in
March, 1890, lOU members. It is the only woman's
club in the city, and one of three in Middlesex Coun-
ty. The presidents during the twelve years of its
existence have been Harriette R. Shattuck, Rosella
F. Baxter, Loriette A. Eaton, Harriette H. Robinson
and Cora E. Pease.
December 10, 1889, the club was duly incorporated
under ihe charter-name of the Old and New, of Mas-
sachusetts. The incorporators are Cora E. Pease,
Ella F. Bean, Cynthia M. Shepherd, Harriette R.
Shattuck, Adeline A. Nichols, Rosella F. Baxter,
Harriette H. Robinson, Lena D. M. Siuer, Caroline
D. Waldron and Caroline A. Danforth. The purpose
of the club, as stated in its charter, is literary and
educational work, and establishing and maintaining
a place for social meetings for the convenience of the
women of Maiden and vicinity. Mutual improve-
ment is its object, and incidentally, whatever work
for the outside public it may be able to do in addi-
tion. In pursuance of the first object, lectures and
other entertainments are given by members of the
club, and by persons invited to address it, on literary,
ethical, scientific and domestic topics. Half of the
twenty-four meetings each year are in charge of three
committees, who, on the afternoons respectively as
signed to them, provide speakers and topics appro-
priate to their respective departments. The other
half of the meetings are in charge of the club itself,
which provides for them in executive session. Dur-
ing the last year the club listened to essays upon
" Utopias ; Old and New ; " " Mirabeau and the
French Revolution;" "Robert Browning;" "The
Schools of Russia;" "Electrical Engineering;"
" Dust and Dampness ; " " Some Curious Beliefs of
the Ancient Botanists and Herbalists ; " " A Group of
Tolstoi's Women ; " " Ethics in its Practical Rela-
tions;" "Morals of Materialism;" and the "Re-
moval of Lord Elgin's Marbles from Greece."
Of the thirteen meetings conducted by club mem-
bers alone, two have been devoted solely to business.
One was occupied with accounts of summer vacations,
one with readings by members, two with debates, one
with housekeeping essays, and a short entertainment
to close, two with essays by members, the subjects be-
ing " The Science of Financial Success " and " The
Ethics of Finaucial Success."
The main idea of mutual improvement has been
advanced by original work, in writing, speaking and
debating, as well as in listening. One feature has been
an original magazine, containing compositions in
prose and rhyme from the members of the club. There
are also a writing-group and a reading-group formed
by the club, the former having been in existence about
nine years, and the latter less than one year. The
writing-group has been a great means of developing
the literary and critical talent of those club members
who belong to it. Its president from the beginning
has been Mr.s. R. F. Baxter. It is a rule that each of
the twelve members of this group shall write at least
five articles each year ; and these articles are read in
the group and criticised in a friendly but candid spirit
by each one present. By this means the members have
learned not only to bear the more adverse criticism,
but also to know how to criticise frankly in return.
Courses of public lectures are occasionally given by
distinguished lecturers. Under the auspices of the Old
and New. Another feature of the club's outside work
is the formation of a committee which sends reading-
matter every week to a number of women living in
isolated localities.
It remains to speak of the management of Old and
New, which is the most important fact regarding it,
and the secret of its success. The leading principle
upon which this club is founded is the belief that
every woman has within her the germ of some latent
talent, which only needs cultivation in order to bear
fruit. " Old and New " stands for the development of
the individual, and its main intent is to draw its
members out and encourage them to speak their inner
thought. In order to carry out their ideas, it was
necessary to adopt two principles, — democratic man-
agement and rotation in office. The business of the
club is transacted by its members in executive session.
There are no executive committee or directors, and,
although under the charter trustees are necessary,
these officers are merely nominal. They can do nothing
unless first instructed by the club at a regular execu-
tive session. The opportunity for wire-pulling is thus
reduced to its lowest terms. A new matter is first pre-
sented before the whole club by any individual who
wishes to present it. It is then fully and fairly dis-
cussed, and, unless referred to a committee for some
reason, is decided by a majority vote.
MALDEN.
529
It has been a rule from the beginning that no officer
except the secretary and ihe treasurer and no member
of a committee shall serve in the same position for
more than two consecutive years, or be eligible for
re-election until a year has intervened. It was felt in
the beginning, and is now still more strongly, that a
club whose object is " mutual improvement '' cannot
attain that object without giving opportunity to all
to compete for the honorary offices. Without the
provision for rotation, experience shows that only one
or two women ever have a chance in any society to
become a president or a vice-president, or a chairman,
and thus to learn to preside and to conduct meetings.
The result in Old and New has been that in twelve
years six women have become educated in the duties
of a presiding officer.
The principle of rotation in office does not apply so
strictly in societies for philanthropic or special work ;
but in a woman's club, where women meet together
to learn and to grow, it is at the same lime a safe-
guard and an inspiration. Old and New has proved
the value of this principle by long and successful ex-
perience.
The Woman's CHRiisrux Te.uperance Union.
— This association was organized .\.pril 10, 1876. Jlrs.
P. S. J. Talbot was chosen president; Jliss Hattie A.
Sawyer, secretary; and Mrs. Charles Merrill, treas-
urer. Mrs. Talbot still holds the office as president,
a continuous service of more than fourteen years.
The object of this Union is to educate public senti-
ment to the standard of total abstinence from alco-
holic liquors as a beverage, to secure the right educa-
tion of the young as to the use of alcoholic liquors
and narcotics, to reclaim the fallen, to enlist and
unite the women of the city in temperance work, to
obtain the legal prohibition of the lifiuor traffic, and
by co-operation with other associations in the State
and nation, to promote the cause of universal temper-
ance and sobriety. The first work of the A[alden
W. C. T. U. wa.s to assist in organizing a reform club,
hiring a club-room, furnishing it with a library and
games to interest these reformed men, that they might
not return to their former resorts. A gospel temper-
ance meeting was held every Sunday evening with
large and interested attendance. Large numbers
signed the pledge, and many intemperate men were
reformed.
A juvenile temperance society was formed with Mr.
S. F. Fairfield and sister as superintendents. It be-
came very prosperous, with a membership of five
hundred, and still continues under the name of the
" Loyal Temperance Legion.'' Its present very
efficient superintendent is Mrs. Dr. Peleg Wadsworth.
One of the " boys " from this region recently organ-
ized a total abstinence society in the University at
Berlin, Germany, which is increasing in influence
and popularity.
The W. 0. T. U. has placed scientific temperance
text-books in the Public Library, and in all the libra-
34-iii
ries of the Maiden public schools ; also treatises on
tobacco ; and, in answer to their petition the School
Board have placed the temperance text-books in the
hands of each public-schoolteacher, also in the hands
of the pupils of the three highest grades in all the
public schools of Maiden, at the same time directing
that the children of the lower grades shall be taught
orally by the teachers, examinations being required
as in other studies.
Interesting temperance books by the best authors
have also been placed in all the libraries of the Mai-
den Sunday-schools. Temperance lessonn are taught,
temperance Sunday-school concerts are held, and
hundreds of children and teachers have signed the
pledge, and the rolls of honor which are passed once
a year in the Sunday-schools, under the supervision
of the W. C. T. U. superintendent.
Literature, written upon the difiFerent phases of the
temperance question, ia very widely circulated among
the people at large. The press and the churches are
influenced by the society to encourage and sustain a
healthy, earnest temperance sentiment in the com-
munity, which has for the past fourteen years been
successful. No licenses for the sale of intoxicating
liquors have been granted by the city government ex-
cept for medicinal and mechanical purposes ; and in
no town or city of Massachusetts has the prohibitory
law been so thoroughty respected and enforced as in
Maiden. The wonderful growth of Maiden, it having
doubled it^ population in ten years, is largely due to
the fact of there being " No license,'' the result in a
great measure of the W. C. T. U's. faithfiil work.
The work of the AVoman's Christian Temperance
Union permeates every branch of society, and has de-
partments seeking to reform the many vices and social
evils which so constantly tempt the young from the
path of truth and virtue. It is non-sectarian in relig-
ion, and non-partisan in politics, seeking to save in
the name and spirit of the divine Master whom it
loves and serves.
Malden Medical Improvement Society. — This
society was instituted in 1888, but it was really an
outgrowth of the Holmes Medical Club, which was
started in the city of Maiden some ten years ago, and
included the select physicians of Maiden, Medford,
Melrose and Stoneham. This society is conducted
on the same plan as the State Medical Society, meet-
ing monthly, when essays and papers are read. There
is also a presentation of cases. In the winter of 1889,
there was given a course of lectures worthy of note. In
this society was born the idea of the Maiden City
Hospital ; and when Deacon Converse was a.sked
what he could do to help embody the idea, he re-
sponded nobly by giving $10,000 in cash, and several
acres of beautiful land. John L. Sullivan is the pres-
ent president of the society ; John B. Mahoney, secre-
tary ; Godfrey Ryder, treasurer.
The British-Ameeican Association. — ^The chief
aim of this association is to get the Britiab-Ameiicaa
530
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
people to become naturalized citizens, thereby ena-
bling them to vote; also to encourage social inter-
course among the members. The present officers are
Saml. P. Priest, president; James Scales, vice-presi-
dent; A. J. Crockford, secretary. The society now
numbers about forty members.
Malden Industrial Aid Society.— This society
wiis organized in 1875, the year of the great fire at the
Rubber Works. Its object, as stated in the constitu-
tion is to relieve and prevent destitution, by render-
ing prompt, efficient, and judicious aid to the deserv-
ing, necBisiious poor in our own town ; and to encour-
ape thrift, by endeavoring to cultivate the self-respect
and self-reliance of those to whom aid is rendered.
Tlie society also endeavors to find employment for
the unemployed, and is conducted on the same plan
as the Boston Industrial Society. The members
number about two hundred, and meet once a year to
select oflicers and to distribute about $1000. Any
citizen can become a member by paying the small
aiaount of one dollar. The present officers are E. S.
C inverse, president; J. K. C. Sleeper, vice-president;
Jnhn W. Chadwick, secretary ; William H. Sargeant,
treasurer, and John H. Parker, auditor.
United Okder of the Goldex Cro-ss, ilvsTif
CoMMAHDERY. — This association was organized lor
the purpose of paying to its members a death benefit
oi" from $500 to $2000, also of caring for sick members
and for mutual help. It is a secret order, composed
of about 100 members in Maiden Centre, and about
eighty in Maplewood.
The order itself was organized in Tennessee in
1876, and now numbers about 18,000 to 20,000 mem-
bers. It ranks third among the great orders, the
Ancient Order of United Workmen holding the first
rank, secondly the Knights of Honor, and thirdly
the Golden Cross. One of the features of the Golden
Cross Order is that the members pledge themselves
not to drink, buy or make intoxicating liquors while
they belong to the order. Ladies are permitted to
join. Harvey L. Boutwell, Esq., a citizen of Maiden,
goes to Louisville, Kentucky, this year, as the Su-
preme Representative of the Grand Comraandery of
Massachusetts. This society has gained more mem-
bers within the past year than any other similar order
in the United States.
Good Templars.— Laurel Lodge, No. 152, 1. O. G.
T., organized in 1887, and now numbers from forty to
fifty members. It is a temperance organization,
whose object is to reform the drunkard, and keep
sober men sober. It is the largest secret temperance
organization in the country. The Sons of Temper-
ance is an older order, but not as influeotial. When
it was first organized it admitted men only; but a :
few years later the Order of Grood Templars was formed,
for the purpose of admitting women as well as men.
The order flourished rapidly, and did such good work
that the Sons of Temperance changed their rules and
admitted ladies, following the example so nobly set.
Free Masonry. — Masonry is more flourishing in
Maiden than in any other city or town of its size in
the Commonwealth. The oldest organization is the
Mt. Vernon Lodge. Its charter bears the date of
A.D., 1857, and its members now number 230. OflS-
cers : Worshipful Master, John Newell ; Senior War-
den, Joseph F. Wiggin ; Junior Warden, Edward G.
Wise; Treasurer, James Ham mett; Secretary, Alfred
Tonks.
Converse Lodge. — This newer organization received
its charter the Sth of January, 1887, and the brothers
nownumber 142. Oflicers : Worshipful Master, Fred-
erick J. Foss ; Senior Warden, Joseph W. Sanders ;
Junior Warden, Eugene Nelson ; Treasurer, Joseph
M. Russell ; Secretary, Charles R. Magee.
Following these orders cuuie tirst : Tlie Hoi/al An-h
Chapter of the Tabernacle, which received its charter
in March, 1887. The companions now number 197.
Officers: Most Excellent High Priest, Geo. E. Nor-
ris ; Excellent King, Frederick li. Currier; Scribe,
George L. Griffin ; Trea.surer, Joseph ^F. Russell .
Secretary, Arthur W. Hutchins.
Second : Mihoie Conn'il, Boyd and i>ekct Masters,
organized December 12, 1856; constituted February
27, 1868 ; 193 members, iifticers : Thrice Illustri-
ous Master, William Bicktbrd; Deputy Master, James
Emerson ; Principal Conductor of the Wort, Freder-
ick G. Currier; Treasurer, Wiiislow B. Southnortli :
Recorder, Arthur W. Hutchins ; Master of Ceremo-
nies, George E.Cofrua; Captain of the Guard, Clarence
0. Walker: Conductor, Edwin A. Kelley; Chaplain,
James H. Waite ; Steward, Chas. C. Blanchard ; Sen-
tinel, Henry L. Putnam.
Third : Beauseani Commandery, Knights Templar.
Date of charter, October 20, 18S6. Officers: Emi-
nent Commander, Sir T. Fred. Martin ; Generalissimo,
Sir Rudolph Cramer; Captain-General, Sir Henry D.
Wilder; Treasurer, Sir Joseph L. Bicknell ; Secre-
tary, Sir Allan J. Chase.
Malden Young Men's Christian Association.
— In the fall of 1884 this institution first took form
and shape in the mind of one young man whose hope
it had been for several years, and then by the union
of several others, whose desires were as strong as his.
As a result, a dozen or more young men who desired
an opportunity for self-culture and improvement in
various studies, decided tojoin together in a kind of
class, to meet at their houses one evening in each
week, and talk over the readings which they should
undertake in their leisure hours. They represented
the various religious denominations of Maiden, and
sought religious progress as well as intellectual cul-
ture. The meetings were continued during the win-
ter, and when the spring approached the class de-
cided to hold a small prayer-meeting on Sunday even-
ings for the purpose of helping and influencing the
young men of the city. The first meeting was held
at the Baptist vestry, and then alternately among the
various churches. Next they rented a hall in Bar-
MALDEN.
531
rett's Building and finally in Bailey's Building- By '■
this time many citizens were asking that the work
m:£;ht become permanent and that an active and eflS-
cient association might be formed. At this time the
class consisted of the following members: G. Louis ,
Richards, Samuel M. Fairfield, F. J. Salsman, Dr.
George 31. French, Geo. C. Currier, Chester Crosby,
Arthur Leonard, Caleb Crawford, William Merrill,
Fred. Schwartz, Chas. J. Bartlett. Richard Kerr, H.
S. Howard, X. E. bourse.
September 10, 1885, an initial meeting for the pur-
pose of organizing a larger association was held at the
vestry of the Baptist Church. At this time a com-
mittee, representing the several churches, was ap-
pointed to canvas for members. The ten who were
appointed for the purpose entered immediately upon
their task, and at the October meeting reported that
the signatures of over three hundred young men had
been secured, also that a general feeling in favor of
the work existed in the community. At the next
meeting, held October Jlst, Walter C. Douglass, the
State secretary of the Massachusetts associations, was
present. In his remarks, he. said : " We have a defi-
nite and distinct work to do — to labor for young men.
This work is needed to meet the various temptations
and pitfalls which the adversary has placed in their
way. As the devil works distinctly in every large
community for the (lowiifall of this class more than
any other, so our work is for the same class and to
the opposite re^>ult."
The Maiden institution, which chose to base its
action upon the principles which had made possible
the formation and successful prosecution of sixty sim-
ilar associations in other parts of the State, adopted
the truths expressed in that part nf the constitution
which states that " the object of the association shall
be to improve the spiritual, intellectual, social and
phy.sical condition of young men by appropriate
means and methods in hiirmony with the spirit of the
gospel."
A further extract from the constitution, relative to
the duties of membere, shows what the institution ex-
pects of itself: " The members of this ;issociation shall
seek out young men ami eudeavor to bring them
under moral and religious influences l)y introducing
them to the members and to the principles of the as-
sociation. November i5, 158-5, at a meeting held in
the vestry of the Methodist Church, the following
Board of Directors was constituted: Hon- J. K- C.
Sleeper, George E. Gay, 0. Louis Richards, Clarence
O. Walker, John H. Parker, Herbert Porter, W. H.
Sargeant, M. C. Grier, Rev. M. M. Cutler, William B.
de las Casas, A. 1). Cromby, .\. J. Chase, Freeman
A. Smith, H. B. Griffin, S. M. Fairfield.
The board was empowered by the constitution to
choose a president and two vice-presidents for the
association. For president it chose the principal o'
the High School, Mr. George E. Gay, a man pre-
eminently fitted for the position. For vice-presidents
Hon. J. K. C. Sleeper and Clarence O. Walker.
Matthew C. Grier and Wilbur H. Sargeant were made
respectively secretary and treasurer. To the impor-
tant position of general secretary, the board called
William R. Comer, who was formerly connected with
the Boston association. The next and very important
step was to secure proper headquarters. The Masonic
building was then being erected, and, through the
generosity of Maiden citizens, handsomely furnished
rooms were opened to the public in that beautiful
building in November of 1886. The rooms were
made free, to be used by any young man, whether a
member of the association or not. Classes for vocal
music and instruction in penmanship were formed,
and a course of entertainment furnished for the win-
ter. At the annual meeting, in December, 1886, Mr.
Gay declined further service, and Mr. Herbert Porter
was elected president in his stead. Under his effi-
cient care and faithfulness, for two years, the associa-
tion gained in number and extended its influence.
October 12, 1888, a vote was passed, making the
association a corporation under the laws ef the State.
With the new form of organization came a change in
the filling of the offices. Those who had been the
incentive and spirit in previous years declined to fur-
ther serve, and at the head of the association was
placed Mr. William R. Hawley, who also served effi-
ciently for two years.
The community, seeing, by the earnest efforts of
former workers, that the influence of the association's
work was being felt in every home, and in almost
every church, gave it a zealous support. In August,
188i), Mr. William R. Comer resigned his position as
general secretary, and Mr. W. H. Simonds, who was
acting in a similar capacity in Keene, N. H., was
elected to the office. It is due to Mr. Comer, how-
ever, to say that the present prosperity of the associa-
tion is largely due to his ability and faithful efforts
during the previous years, which were the formative
years of the society.
Each year of the association's existence had brought
forth several young men to that point in every man's
, life when he accepts or rejects the proffered Gospel of
salvation. But it was left to the laborers in the fall
of 1889 to see the spiritual harvest for which many
had long looked. The assistance of Messrs. Martin
and Peabody were secured for this service, !»nd the
'. association could say with the apostle, " And the
Lord added to the church daily."
In the fall of 1889 a short-hand class was formed
and largely attended. In the spring of 1890 an Out-
! ing Club was organized, and, through the generosity of
: Hon. E. P. Converse, gronnda were secured at the
Fells for lawn tennis and base-bail.
In five years the Maiden Young Men's Christian
Association takes its place the eighth in size in the
State, though the city itself ranks as the eighteenth
in size. A large proportion of Maiden's best citizens
have enrolled their names among its members. To
.")32
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY. MASSACHUSETTS.
tho co-operation and influence of such men have been
added the noble efforts of the Women's Auxiliary.
These ladies have cared for the parlor, keeping it sup-
pl:ed with flowers, and have furnished refreshments
at the association's reception. The value of their
labor in behalf of the association can never be esti-
mated.
The societies existing in .Maiden at present are as
follows :
MASONIC.
3It]unt Vernon Lodge, chartered 18.18 ; fJonverBe Lodge, A. F. A A. 31.,
chartered 1887 ; Royal Arch Chapter of the Tabernacle, chartered 1836 ;
Melroae Council, R. A S. M., instituted 18d7 ; BeaiiKeanl Oomiuandery of
Knighta Templar, instituted lS8b.
Ol'It FEI,Li)\V8.
Middlesex Lodge, No. 17, chartered 1863 ; Maiden Lodge Association, I.
Vt. 0. F., Middtfsex Encampment, No. 9, chartered 18S7 ; Maiden odd
Fellow*' Association ; PatriarchB 3Iilitftnt, I. O. 0. F. ; <'anton M;ililen,
No. 55.
MIRCELLANE0U9.
American Legion of Honor, orynuized 1870.
Ancient Order of Hibemians, UiviBion No. 12; organized 1372.
Ancient Order of I'nited Workmen, Mizpab Lodge. No. H> ; organized
1879.
BritiBb<American AadociaCioo, Linden Branch, No. 4, Linden.
Grand Army of the Republic, Major General Hiruni G. Berry Post,
No. 40.
Order of the Sons of Veterans, George H. Patch Camp, No wi.
Major-G«neral Hiram G. Berry Woman's Relief Corps, No. t^ . uigau*
ized 1878
Golden Bnle Alliance, St. John Chapter, No. 17; organized 18R0.
Home Circle, Mystic Side Council, No. 32 ; organized 1S82.
Independent Order of Red Men, Weoepoykin Tribe, No. 47.
Knights of Honor, Maiden Lodge, Xo. 352; ornaui^ed 187fi. 3Iaple-
wuod Lodge, No. 863, Muplewood ; urgauized 1878.
Knights of Pythiua, Spartan Lodge, No. 59. Frank L. Converae Lodge,
No. 75.
Knighta and Ladies of Honor. Linden Lodge, No. 301, Linden.
M. C. O. O. F.. lona Court, No. 10; organized U~i>.
New England Order of Protection, Reliance Lodge, No. 3, Limleo.
Same, Progress Lodge, No, 11, organized 1888.
Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, Company L, Fifth Regiment, Mai-
den Rifles ; organized 1883.
Order of Columbus, John Hancock Settlement, No. 2 ; instituted 188D-
Orderof the Iron Hall, Local Branch No. 238, Linden.
OrderofTonti. Washington Lodge, Nu. 33 ; instituted 1886.
Order of United Friends, Longfellow Council ; instituted 1882. Same,
Salome Council, No. 64, Linden ; instituted 1883.
P. F. Y. B. 0.
Royal Arcannm, Mystic Side Council, No. 265 ; organized 1879.
Same, Linden Conncil, No. 172, Linden ; organized 1878.
R. S. of G. F., Siloam Aasembly, No. 86.
Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Maiden.
Panl Revere, No. 18, Temple of Honor ; organized 1877.
Whittemore Lodge^ No. 180, Independent Order Good Templars.
Sagamore Council, No. 3^ Temple of Honor.
St. Mary's Total Atwtlnence Society, organized 1885.
Laurel Lodge, No. 152, Independent Order Good Templars.
Pauline Revere Social, No. IG, Temple of Honor.
Reliance Division, No. 18, Sons of Temperance.
Garfield Dlrision, No. 55, Sons of Temperance.
Union Endowment, organized 1889.
United Oixler of Golden Cross, 3Ialden Coramandery, No. 45 ; instituted
18T9. Mystic Commandery, No. 216, Faulkner ; instituted 1882. Same,
Maplewood Coramandery, No. 219, Maplewood ; instituted 1882.
United Order of Pilgrim Fathers, King Philip Colony, No." 17.
High Rock Colony, No. 39, Maplewood, instituted 1882. I
CarpcDten' and Joiners' Union, No. 152, instituted 18H9. i
Maiden Board of Trade, instituted 1889.
Maiden Civil Service Reform Association, Maiden Deliberative As-
sembly, Maiden Firemen's Relief Association, Maiden Industrial Aid |
Society ; Maiden Society for Medical ImproTement, instituted 1888. [
Maplewood Readiu^-Ruoni.
Union Materniil Socifty, organized 1«S6.
Maiden Mutual Benefit Association, organized 1875.
Old and New — The Woman's <_ iuli.
Samaritan Circle.
Voung Men Christian .Vssociation. organized 1>85.
Women's Auxiliary and Voung Men's Christian Assorjation.
Woman's Chrintian Terai'erdM'-e I'Di-m.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
ELIfiHA SI, A OF. ruNVERSE.
Elisha Slade Converse, son of Elisha and Betsey
Wheatou Converse, was born in Needhaua, Mass.,
July 30, 1S20. His parents removed to Woodstock,
Conn., in 1824, and here he remained until twelve
years of age, when be went with his parents to
Thompson, Conn., and for nearly a year worked in a
cotton factory at that place. In 1833 he came to
Boston, where he lived for a short time with his
brother, Deacon James \V. Converse, and attended the
McKean School. He was subsequently employed by
his brother-in-law, Mr. Aaron Bu. ler, of South Boston,
as clerk in his store, where he remained until 183(5.
He then returned to Woodstock, where he attended
school and worked on a farm until seventeen years
old. At this time he went to Thompson and engaged
for two years with Mr. Albert G. Whipple to learn
the clothier's trade. He scon after formed a partner-
ship with Mr. Whipple which continued until young
Converse was twenty-one years of age, when he
purchased Mr. W^hipple's interest and continued the
business.
In 1841 Mr. Converge removed to Boston and
formed a partnership in the shoe and leather business
with Benjamin Poland, under the lirm-name of
Poland & Converse. During this period he lived
with his brother, Deacon James W. Converse, on
Pearl Street, and also at Jamaica Plain. In 1847 he
removed to Stoneliam, where Poland & Converse had
a branch business of grinding and preparing drugs,
spices, etc. This partnership w.-is dissolved in 1849,
and Mr. John Robson became associated with Mr.
Converse, and the business was continued under the
firm-name of Converse & Robson until 1853, when
Mr. Converse withdrew from the partnership, and
founded the Boston Rubber Shoe Company. He
was elected its treasurer, in which capacity he has
remained to the present time. This company is one
of the representative institutions of New England.
Mr. Converse early manifested laudable interest in
religious matters. He united with the First Baptist
Church of Thomp.son, at Brandy Hill, in 1832, and
while living in Boston was a member of the Federal
Street Baptist Church. He became a member of the
Baptist Church in Maiden in 1847 and was chosen
deacon in 1854, and oflBciated until his resignation,
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MALDEN.
533
March 17, 1865. He removed to JVTaldea in 1850,
locating on Linden Court.
Upon the organization of the Maiden Bank, in 1851,
he became one of it3 directors, and in 1856 was chosen
president, and has occupied that position to the pres-
ent time, a period of thirty-four years.
September 4, 1843. he united in marriage with Mary
Diana Edmands, and their family consisted of four
children, viz. : Frank Eugene, born October 1, 1846,
and died December 15, 1863 ; Mary Ida, born January
7, 1853, married January 4, 1882. Mr. Costello C.
Converse, of Boston ; Harry Elisha, born May 7, 1863 ;
and Francis Eugenia, born May 14, 1865.
All measures tending to advance the interests of
Maiden have found in Mr. Converse an earnest advo-
cate. He represented the town in the General Court
in 1878 and 1879, and in 1880 and 18S1 was a member
of the Senate, and upon the incorporation of Maiden
as a city he was chosen its first mayor by an almost
unanimous vote. He is the man whom the citizens
of Maiden most delight to honor.
In 1863 a sad affliction was visited upon Mr. and
Mrs. Converse by the tragic death of their eldest son,
who at the time was assistant cashier of the Maiden
Bank. He was shot and killed in ttie bank at noon-
day by E. \V. Green, of Maiden, the motive being
robbery. He was a youth of seventeen, of great
promise and of singular purity, the inspiration and
delight of a wide circle of lovin;? hearts to whom he
stood for sweetness and light. The Converse Memorial
Building, erected as a memorial to Frank Eugene,
was dedicated October 1, 1885.
In 1888 Mr. Converse gave a fund of S25,000 for the
extension of the memorial building when necessary,
and has recently given, in money and land, about
.■*30,000 in aid of the Free Hospital.
KAVID AYERS.
David Avers, the son of David andSarah (.Seaverns)
Ayers, w.is born in Needham, Mass., iu that part of
the town which is now Weliesley, July 27, 1818.
The only school education which he received was
in the common schools of his native town, with the
exception of about four months' instruction in 1833
in the private school of Mr. Marshall S. Rice, of Xew-
ton. In 1832 he removed to Boston, and for a little
more than a year was office boy for the late Theophilus
Parsons, Esq., at that time practicing law in Boston.
When not needed at his office he worked at Mr.
Parsons' house, doing such work as was required of
him.
After leaving Mr. Parsons' office he entered Mr.
Rice's school, aa stated above, and in the fall of 1833,
he left school again, returned to Boston, and became
salesman and helper in the retail grocery store of
Benjamin Dutton, his brother-in-law. In 1835 he
entered the employ of Baxter & Dutton, and in
1837 that of Stratton & Houghton, both firms being
wholesale grocers. He remained with Strattou &
Houghton until 1843, when he became a partner with
Mr. John Stratton, under the firm-name of Stratton
& Ayers. At the end of about a year this partnership
was dissolved. He remained, however, in Mr. Strat-
ton's employ until 1847, when he again became a
partner in the firm of Stratton & Ayers. In 1850
John Stratton retired from the firm, and his son,
George F. Stratton, took his place. In 1861 Mr. Jamea
F. Eaton became a member of the firm, the name of
which was then changed to that of Stratton, Ayers &,
Eaton.
In 1865 Mr. George F. Stratton retired, and Ayers
& Eaton continued in business until 1875, when
they also retired from active business. In 1856 he
was married to Martha E., daughter of Ivory Lord
and Nancy (Hill) Huckins, of Great Falls, N. H..
by whom he had four children, of whom two sons
and one daughter are now Ivving, viz., George D.
Ayers, a member of the Suffolk Bar ; Charles H.
Ayers, a merchant of New Haven, Conn., and Cora
E. Ayers, still residing in Maiden. Mr. Ayers joined
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1843, and is
still a member of that fraternity. In that order he is
a member of Massachusetts Lodge and Massasoit
Encampment, and also the Grand Lodge and Grand
Encampment of Maasachusetts. He is a Past Grand
of Massachusetts Lodge, and Past Chief Patriarch of
Massasoit Encampment, Past Grand Warden of the
Grand Lodge, and was for several years one of the
District Deputy Grand Masters. He is also a Past
Grand Patriarch of the Grand Encampment of Mas.-a-
chusetts. In 1858 he became a citizen of 3(alden,
and has taken an active part in its affairs, especially
in town-meetings. Never, unless sick, was he absent
from any of them. He served on many important
committees, took an active interest in schools, and
served seven years, from 1873 to 1876 inclusive, and
from 1884 to 1886 inclusive, on the School Committee.
From 1872 to 1878, inclusive, he was a member and
secretary of the Board of Road Commissioners of the
town of Maiden. He is careful, methodical and
painstaking in all matters, especially where public
interests are concrned. He thoroughly studied idl
public questions in regard to which he was calletl
upon to act. In all the positions he occupied he took
great pains to know his duty, and was just, firm and
resolute in the performance thereof. He has been
one of the trustees of the Maiden Savings Bank since
1878, and one of the examining committee of the
bank since 1880, both of which positions he now fills.
He has also been one of the vice-presidents of that
institution.
His views are broad and progressive. He always
endeavors to keep abreast of the times, is bold and
outspoken, but tolerant of the opinion of others. In
politics he is a progressive Democrat, a tariff and
civil service reformer. He is one of the vice-presi-
dents of the Maiden Civil Service Reform Association.
534
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
REV. M. F. FLATLEY, P.E.
Kev. M. F. Flatley, P.R., Maiden, Mass., was born
in Ireland, where he made his early studies in a pri-
vate classical school, and in St. Jarlath's College,
Tuam.
When about eighteen years of age he arrived in
Boston, and the same week entered the College of the
Holy Cross, Worcester, Mass. Here he studied
rhetoric and philosophy, and graduated with the
highest honors, June, 1865. In September of the
same year he entered the Theological Seminary of
St. Mary's, Baltimore, Md., conducted by the Sulpic-
ian Fathers.
After a theological course of three years and a half,
he was ordained priest, December 28, 1868, in the old
cathedral, by the Most Rev. Martin J. Spaulding,
D.D., Archbishop of Baltimorfe.
His first mission was Brookline and Brighton — at
that time, January 1869, forming but one parish.
July 12, 1869, he was appointed to St. James' Church,
Boston, as assistant to Rev. James A. Hejiley, now
Bishop of Portland, Maine. After serving four years
Father Flatley has lately returned from an extended
tour of Europe, Egypt and the Holy Land.
REV. JOSHUA \V. WELLMAN, D.D.
Rev. Joshua W. Wellman, son of James Ripley
and Phebe (Wyman) Wellman, was born in Corni>h,
Sullivan County, N. H., Nnvemher 28, 1821. His
father. Deacon James Ripley Wellm.in, was born in
Cornish, N. H., February 21, 1789, and died there
November 1, 1860. He was the son of James and
Althea (Ripley) Wellman. .Tiimes Wellman, the
grandfather, was the son of the Kev. James Wellman,
who was installed the tirst pastor of the First Church
in Cornish, September 29, 1768. He whs born in
Lynn, Mtiss., was graduated at Harvard L^ollege in
1744, and died in Cornish, aged eifrhty-five years, De-
cember 18, 1S08. Althea (Ripley) Wellman, the
grandmother, was a descendant in the sixth genera-
lion from Governor William Bradford, of Plymouth
Colony. Joshua Wyman Wellniaii, after attending
in this large and important parish, embracing the j the public schools in Cornish till he was fifteen years
entire centre of the city, he wa.s appointed by His | of age, was fitted fur cullege at the Kimball Union
Grace, the Archbishop, in June, 1873, to be the first 1 Academy, Meriden, X. H., from which he «as grad-
pastor of Wakefield and Reading.
While in St. James' Parish, Boston, he was a con-
stant and zealous worker in the cause of temperance.
He organized the St. James' Young Men's Total Ab-
.stinence Society, and was its director for four years.
He won for it the most costly and beautiful banner in
the State, and made the society the largest and most
nourishing in the city. He was one of the chief or-
ganizers of the Massachusetts Catholic Total Abstin-
ence Union, also of its first convention, and was
elected its treasurer five successive years.
Being the first priest to live in Wakefield, he had
to provide everything for church and parochial house.
He raised the church — only a portion of it was built —
fourteen feet, had it wheeled round to face up-town,
built a brick basement, and purchased the land for
its extension. He also purchased a parochial house
and grounds. Notwithstanding the panicky times,
he paid off a debt of .$14,000 and left the church and
uated in 1842, entering Danuiuiith Culltge that year,
and graduating in 1816.
In the winter of 18;iS-:!'J he taught school in Hart-
ford, V't., :uul later, during his college coiir-e, in Up-
ton and East Randolph (nfiw Holbrook), Mass. From
1846 to 1S49 he taught in Ivimball Union Academy
a part of each year, and in 1847 was for two terms
principal of the academy in Roclioster, .Mass. Enter-
ing the .\ndover Theological Si-niinary in 1S47, he
was graduated in 18-"(ii, ami was then a resident licen-
tiate in the seminary for one year. ■
He was ordained to the Christian ministry and in-
stalled as jixstor of the historic First (Church in Derrvi
X. H., .June IS, 18.'«1, where lie remained rive years.
He was installeil pastor of the Eliot t'hurch, X'ewton.
.Mass., June 11, 1856, and dismissed October 23, 1.873.
His pastorate in X'^ewton included the exciting period
of the Civil War. During the earlv period of the con-
flict he visited the South and saw something of the
church property entirely free from debt, when he was | horrors of war. He was strongly opposed to slavery
transferred from Wakefield to Maiden, In July, 1884, | and supported the war as necessary to save the Union.
His plain statement of his views in his sermons pro-
duced considerable excitement at a time when many
believed that the pulpit should be silent on such
subjects. He continueil, however, in every way
which seemed to him to«be jiroper, to help forward
the cause of justice. The church became eminently
patriotic, and twenty-seven men from the congrega-
tion enlisted in the war.
During this pastorate the church grew from small
membership to be one of the largest and most promi-
nent churches in the State.
March 25, 1874, Mr. Wellman was installed pastor
of the ancient First Church in Maiden, Mass., the
Archbishop Williams appointed him administrator of
Maiden, and in September of same year he was ap-
pointed its pastor. In the year 1888 he was promoted
and appointed permanent rector of Maiden.
During his short stay iu Maiden he has already
greatly improved the exterior, and at much expense
has beautified the interior of the brick church. He has
purchased land for school purposes, and on one of the
lots he is now erecting a brick school-house, to cost
about $75,000. He has also purchased land for a new
cemetery, and a costly estate of three acres near the
centre of Maiden, on which church and school will
be erected, and form the beginning of a new parish.
/2-
yo-*^^'
ASHLAND.
535
history of which is given at length in this volume;
and which, under his care, grew into a large and in-
fluential church. He remained in this position till
Mav 6, 1883, since which time he has not been set-
tled, but has continued to preach in various locali-
ties, while using much of his time for literary work.
October 24, 1854, he married Ellen M., daughter
of Caleb Strong and Prudence (Durfee) Holbrook, of
East Randolph (now Holbrook), Miias.
Their children are: Arthur Holbrook, who married,
October 11, 1887, Jennie Louise Faulkner; Edward
Wyman, who married, October 1, 1884, Emma R.
Patch; Ellen Holbrook, who married, October 24,
1883, Robert Cushman King, and Annie Durfee
Wellman.
Mr. Wellman was elected a corporate member of
the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions in 1867, and he has been one of the man-
agers of the Congregational Sunday-school and Pub-
lishing Society since 1870 ; and a trustee of Phillips
Academy, in Andover, since 1870. He is a member
of the New England Historic Genealogical Society,
a corporate member of the General Theological Li-
brary, of Boston, and for many years a director of the
American College and Educational Society, of which
he is now vice-president. He was a leading advocate
of the formation of the Congregational Club of Bos-
ton, of which be was an original member. Olivet
College, in 18C8, and Dartmouth College, in 1870,
bestowed upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
He has published: "The Church Polity of the Pil-
grims ; " " Review of the Sabbath Hymn and Tune-
Book ; " " Our Nation under the Government of God,"
a war sermon preached in 1802; '• T'bristianity and
our Civil Institutions ; " "A Review of Dr. A. V. G.
.Vllen's Biograpliy of Jonathan Edwards ; " besides
numerous sermons, addresses and magazine articles.
He made an argument before the Visitors of Andover
Theological Seminary, in the famous 'Andover Case,"
so called, which was published in the book called
the "Andover Case."
CHAPTER XL.
ASHL.iXD.
BY GEORGE T. HIGLEY.
The Surface. — The town of Ashland is situated
in the southwesterly part of Middlesex County, and
is bounded northeast by Framingham, east by Sher-
born, south by Holliston, southwest and west by Hop-
kinton, and northwest by Southborough. Its meas-
urement froni e;ist to west is four miles, from north to
south three miles, and it contains twelve and five-
eighths square miles. Its population in 1885 was 2633,
and its latest valuation (1889), was 31,300,901. Its out-
line is irregular, the only straight divisional line
against neighboring towns beingthe Holliston bound-
ary. The Framingham line is nearly straight, having
but a slight bend at Winter Street. Against South-
borough there are three bearings, against Hopkinton
four, and in the short distance bounding on Sherborn,
there are two, the bend in this line being but slight.
The town was incorporated March 16, 1846, being
composed of portions of the towns of Framingham,
Holliston and Hopkinton. The part taken from Hjp-
kinton was the territory lying between Cold Spring
Brook and Sudbury River; from Holliston, that lying
east of Cold Spring Brook and down the river to the
old Framingham line traced below ; from Framingham,
the rest of the territory on the south side of the river
and all on the north side. The old line between
Framingham and Holliston, beginning at a point on
the river a few rods below the iron bridge, crossing
Union Street, ran easterly nearly parallel to the north
boundary of Wildwood Cemetery, to a stone bound
near the northeasterly corner of the " Old Orchard,"
in the woods on the Town Farm, thence southerly to
a bound in the road about ten rods north of the house of
the late W. D. Cole, and thence easterly with a slight
southerly deflection past a stone bound situated on
land of Mrs. W. H. Wright, at the entrance of the
Cozzens meadow, to the angle in the middle of the
Sherborn line. This old boundary line cut in two the
farms of the two Grouts, Higley, Dearth and others.
The surface of the land is moderately hilly. Taking
a bird's eye view, the most marked feature is the de-
pression caused by the Sudbury River, which flows
through from west to east. A hardly less noticeable
depression is the valley of Cold Spring Brook, whi. h
stream, after traveising thesouthwestpartof the town,
joins the river well to the east. Indian Brook, cod-
ing down to the river from the southwest, in the wtst
part of the town, yields another line of low-lying sur-
face. Away in the extreme east there is a wide plain
of low land, mostly swamp and peat meadow, lyii g
south and west of Waushakum Pond. Into this pond
flow two brooks coming from the south, one from be-
yond the Holliston line. From these various depres-
sions, in all directions, the land rises to hills of mod-
erate elevation. The low lands are wide or gently
slope upward, and upon the elevations are plains, the
surface everywhere affording convenient farms. On
most of the elevated lands, woods and cultivated fiel is
are intermingled.
But few points in the landscape are so conspicuous
as to have acquired distinctive names. What is ni w
"the village" was, before the incorporation of the
town, called Unionville. The extended hill which
rises slowly at the southwest of the village is called
" Magunko," in remembrance of an Indian settlement
of the same or a similar name once located upon ita
eastern slope. In the north part of the town a slight-
ly higher elevation has received the name of " Wild-
cat Hill;" north of the river, in the east, " Ballard
Hill " and " Banner Hill," at the southwest of the
536
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
cemetery, are names now seldom heard. Of the
names which have formerly been applied to certain
districts, names not always euphonious, none seem to
survive except that of " Oregon," which designates a
small cluster of houses bordering on Southborough,
and " Chattanooga," which is the name of the new
factory village at the westerly end of the town. These
names are also applied to the schools in their respec-
tive districts. For the rest of the town the names
given to the schools apply to the districts : " Number
Two" designating the southwest part of the town,
and "Number Six" the southeasterly district. Ref-
erence is still made to the " Cutler District," to des-
ignate the school and territory about one mile north-
east from the village, and otherwise known as " Dis-
trict Number Five." But this appellation is going
out of use, the family for whom the district was
named having now moved away. While to point out
any particular locality the name of the person living
near may be given, yet, at the present time, the in-
fluence of no family seems to be so pervasive as to
give its name to the neighborhood.
Of the population of the town, which is now,
doubtless, somewhat above the figures of 1885, about
une-third live upon its farms, these inhabitants being
scattered evenly over its surface, though somewhat
less thickly in the northern part than elsewhere.
The remainder are gathered in a village situated at
nearly the geographical centre of the town, upon an
almost level plain lying at the junction of the river
and Cold Spring Brook. Before these waters meet,
the river, whose general (low is easterly, sweeps round
by a bend to the south, thus cutting otf or blunting
the sharpness of the angle which would otherwise be
formed by the junction of the streams, and forming
an almost circular boundary to the village on the
east. On the southwest this plain pushes up Cold
Spring Brook, and up the river valley to the west,
while it presses back against the land lying between
these two valleys. Thus is formed the village plain,
a basin more than half a mile in width, and extend-
ing far up the river, and having pleasant overlooking
hills on all sides. Sudbury River forms the norther-
ly and northeasterly boundary of the village, Cold
Spring Brook the southeasterly and southerly, and
the steadily-rising slope of land which, at its eleva-
tion, is called " Magunko," the southwesterly.
The whole town is traversed from west to east by
the Boston and Albany Railroad, of which the Ash-
land Station is twenty-four miles distant from Boston.
The New York and New England Railroad Company
run their cars from .\shland Centre, at their junction
with the Boston and Albany, through Hopkinton and
Milford to Providence, Rhode Island.
iNtOEPORATION. — In 1837 the first petition for
setting off the town, signed by James Jackson and
130 others, was presented to the Senate. The Com-
mittee on Towns reported a bill which, however, was
denied a " tiiird reading." The petition was afterward
referred to the next General Court. In 1838 the sub-
ject was again brought up, many remonstrances from
clusters of individuals being sent in. Each of the
three towns from which it was proposed to take a
portion of the territory voted to oppose the measure,
and sent agents to carry out their wishes. The peti-
tion got no further than the committee of the Senate,
whose report of " leave to withdraw " was accepted.
The matter rested till 1840, when a new petition,
drawn up and circulated by Calvin Shepherd, Jr.,
and signed by James Jackson and 209 others, was
again presented to the Senate. This petition was re-
inforced by others until about all the voters residing
within the limits of the proposed town had become
petitioners. At this time the towns of Franiinghani
and Holliston voted not to oppose; while Hopkinton
passed a contrary vote — yeas, 159 ; nays, 115 — and ap-
pointed their resident lawyer, Samuel Walcott, Esq.,
agent to act for them in opposition. Remonstrances
I were sent in from various persons residing in the
three towns interested. The petitioners were repre-
sented by a lawyer from Sudbury. A very thorough
, hearing was had before the joint Committee on
Towns; all the facts favorable, or the contrary, were
brought out by the opposing parties. The reports of
this committee and of that of 1838 recite at length
the statistics of population, resources and busines.-i,
I and present a showing favorable to the i)etitioners.
The bill, as proposed by the committee, with the excep-
tion of the change of name from Un ion ville to Ashland,
suggested by Calvin Shepherd, Jr., who was then a
member of the House of Representatives, was passed by
I both Houses, was signed by Governor Briggs, and
I took ert'ect upon its passage, March 14, 1846. The
! boundaries of the town, which had been determined
l)y the survey of William F. Ellis, are fully defined
in the act of incorporation. Within a year or two
afterwards the selectmen of Ashland, meeting in con-
i ference with those of the neighboring towns, set up
I monuments at each of the angles. There have been
' ^everal etibrts made, by persons interested, to change
I the boundaries, but only one has been successful. In
1853, for the benefit of parties who then occupied the
mill at Cordaville, the bound on the south side of the
I river, which stood at first west of the road leading
! from the mill to Hopkinton Centre, was carried down
j stream to its present position, leaving that road
I wholly in the town of Hopkinton.
The act of incorporation attempted to apportion
equitably the town burdens, .\shland was to support,
'■ (luring their natural lives, one-twelfth of the Fram-
! ingham paupers, one-fifth of those belonging to Hop-
kinton, and one-eighth of the Holliston poor. Hollis-
ton pauper-farm, which remains to the present time
within the Ashland limits, was not to be taxed, a
provision which, at the request of .Vshland, was an-
nulled by the Legislature of 1848. Ashland was re-
quired to assume six hundred dollars of Hopkin-
ton's debt, which sum was soon afterwards paid. It
ASHLAND.
537
seems to have been admitted that Ashland became
owner of all the public property located on its ter-
ritory, which consisted principally of a very few
school-houses. Hopkinton, however, craved the fire
engine, which one night certain of its inhabitants
carried away, but in the law suit which followed, the
Court decided that the engine must be returned,
which was done.
Organization. — The first town-meetiug was held
March 31, 1846, in the Chapel Hall. At this meeting,
which was called by Major Calvin Shepard, as a jus-
tice of the peace, a full corps of town officers was
chosen. The town's first honors were bestowed upon
Calvin Shepard, Jr., Josiah Burnham, Dexter Rock-
wood, Andrew AUard and Albert Ellis, they being
chosen selectmen. Benjamin Homer began his
twenty-years' term as treasurer. Among the other
officers elected familiar names appear: William F.
Ellis, S. N. Cutler, William Eame-s, William Seaver,
James Jackson. Daniel Eames began his service as
moderator. C. F. W. Parkhust was chosen town
clerk, perhaps for his even, free penmanship, an illus-
tration of which could afterwards, for many years,
usually be seen posted at the side of the meeting-
house door, where he " published " all the proposed
marriages. At that first meeting a rule was estab-
lished, which has prevailed ever since, that warrants
for town-meetings must be posted at least eight days
b<»fore the meeting, and another attempt was then
made, which has failed, whenever tried, to the present
day, to enact a code of town by-laws.
Atthesecond meeting, held on April Sth, the assessors
were intrusted with the duty of arranging the highway
districts, and they appear to have marked out thir-
teen, a number not substantially varied from, but for
a short period, through the entire history of the town,
to the abrogation of the law relating to highway
surveyors in 18S1I. A committee of seven were
chosen to take into consideration the whole subject of
school districts, schools, school-houses, and the divi-
sion of the school money. The names of Elias Grout
and William F. Ellis stand respectively first and
second on this list. Their report made at the ad-
journed meeting, with slight amendments, was
adopted. No less than five town-meetings were held
before the end of June. During those months about
the whole work of the town seems to have been laid
out, and particularly the subject of roads and school-
houses was dealt with.
Further Acts of the Town.— At the annual
meeting in 1847 the appropriations were $2000
for town expense.^, ?500 for highways, and S800
for schools, figures that were not much changed
during the first years of the town. In 1850 the
fire-engine called the " Magunko " w.is bought for
^^oOO. About the same time the town purchased of
James Jackson his interest in the Chapel building.
In this year the question of building a town-hall
began to be agitated in connection with necessary
school provisions for the Centre District- It was not,
however, until 1855, and after many plans had been
proposed and votes passed, that the appropriation of
§10,000 was finally made, and a committee actually
set about the work of building. The Building Com-
mittee were, Elias Grout, Andrew AUard, John A.
Whitney, James Jackson and William Jennison. In
December of that year this committee reported the
building erected at a cost slightly less than the ap-
propriation. They appear to have charged the town
twenty-five dollars each for services. At the same
meeting the superintending School Committee were
authorized to make necessary changes in the system of
conducting the schools and to hire a grammar-school
teacher. The graded system for the Centre District
was introduced the next year.
In 1858 the old custom of letting out the paupers
to the lowest bidder was still in force, though the
overseers of the poor were allowed the alternative of
hiring a farm upon which to place the town paupers.
Late in the following year the Thomas Fiske farm
was purchased for that purpose. Six years later the
town sold this place, and purchased of Elias Grout a
more commodious farm in the easterly part of the
town, which has since been occupied as the home of
most of the Ashland paupers. From the year 1861,
through the war, the town furnished its .several quotas
of soldiers, responding promptly with men and money,
when called upon. Some account of its work may be
found elsewhere.
Up to the year 1871 the old " Magunko " had
served to extinguish the few fires which had over-
taken the town, " Capt." John A. Whitney standing
high upon the engine and urging on the thirty labor-
ing men who were working the brakes. But the days
of hand-power were passing away. In that year the
sum of $7500 was voted for a steam fire-engine, hose-
carriage and house, and the next year hooks, ladders
and a truck were added, the whole resulting in an
excellent fire equipment, since appreciated on many
occasions. The firemen at first paid S3.50, annually,
and allowed their poll taxes, later received S6, and
in 1878 $12.
About this time action was taken by the town in
favor of the Hopkinton Railroad, with the proviso
that its northerly terminus should be at the cenwe of
the town. Within two years following §10,000 were
invested in the capital stock of the road, an invest-
ment which proved a loss to the town, as a subse-
quent sale by the mortgagee divested the stockholders
of all property in the road.
The purchasing of Wildwood Cemetery in 1869,
and the establishment of the Public Library in 1880,
will be spoken of in subsequent paragraphs.
For some account of the laying out of roads, and
provisions made by the town for schools, reference
may be had to the subsequent portions of this narra-
tive, which treat of those subjects.
Public provision was first made for lighting the
538
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
streets in 1881, an appropriation of §300 being then
made for that purpose, llany individuals had before
erected lamp-posts, and the town now furnished
lamps and service. At a later date the town also set
many of the posts, and the streets ic the village were
fairly well lighted with kerosene oil lamps. At the
close of 1889 an electric light company from South
Framingham was admitted to do business, and at the
beginning of the following year had erected two arc
and about forty incandescent lights.
At the close of the war the town's indebtedness
was $30,000. The building of the school-house on
Main Street, the subscriptions to the Hopkinton Rail-
road, the purchase of the land and preparing the
grounds of Wildwood Cemetery, and the provision of
a steam fire-engine, were extraordinary expenses in-
curred since the war, carrying up the indebtedness in
1872 to $53,000. Annually an appropriation has been
made to reduce the debt, varying from $4000 to $1500.
In 1882 the town debt was $25,000 and consisted
principally of notes not soon to mature. To have in
readiness the means of paying these obligations at
maturity, a sinking fund was established and three
commissioners were appointed. The sinkini,' fund,
t)y vote of the town, is to be discharged in 1890. At
the beginning of 1889 the town debt had been re-
duced to about §10,000.
Town Officers. — When the voters of the town of
Ashland first assembled in the Chapel Hall for the
transaction of business, the work to be done was not
new to them. They had learned the method of pro-
cedure by attending similar meetings in the towns
from which they had come. A full proportion of
those who gathered had been accustomed to take an
active part in such meetings, and had held offices in
the parent towns. This will account for the direct-
ness with which they proceeded to lay out within the
first few months the whole work of organization. The
first town officers elected were therefore not a random
or an experimental selection, but they were men who
had been tried and found equal tosimilar work before.
Thus was early established a rule which has been fol-
lowed since, to elect to office those men who have
proved themselves qualified. The burden of doing
the town work has been assigned to substantially a cer-
tain few persons, who year after year have been chosen
to the offices, sometimes upon one board, sometimes
upon another, but almost always their names appear-
ing somewhere in the list. Those men who have
served as selectmen have often at other times been
chosen assessors or overseers of the poor. Not un-
frequently a new man will be elected as a third as-
sessor or overseer, but it will always be found that
at least one of the board has held some important
office before and has demonstrated his fitness to be
trusted. It has been the policy of the town usually
to re-elect the town clerk in recognition of the fact
that his knowledge of the doings of the town ac-
quired in past service is valuable, and may be used
in assisting other officers. For about the same reasons
the treasurer is not often changed; experience has
taught him how best to manage the town's finances.
Upon the board of school committee it has been the
custom to elect one or more of the clergymen, if there
are such in town who are noted for scholarship, and
have remained sufficiently long to form an acquaint-
ance with the people. Politics have invariably been
ruled out of meetings held for the election of town
officers. The man supposed to be best fitted for the
office-according to the judgment generally prevailing,
has as a rule been elected. The assessors, school
committee, treasurer and tax collector have always
been paid for services, the allowances, however, at
first being small. The town's first treasurer, who
retired at the end of 1865, never charged above thirty
dollars annually, and for most of the time he was
serving, only ten dollars. The treasurer for 186(3
charged SlOO, setting an example which has been
followed by all the succeeding treasurers. The school
committee for many years were paid only one dollar
per day, the assessors two dollars. The members of
these boards now get two and one-half dollars. The
selectmen made no charge for services for many
years, nor did the overseers of the poor. More re-
cently the work of the different boards has increased,
and their pay has been advanced in proportion. The
trustees of the library, the trustees of Wildwood
Cemetery, the commissioners of the sinking fund
and the park commissioners seem to be the only
boards whose members now receive no pay for ser-
vices. The matter of pay is never a just criterion by
which to judge of services which have been rendered,
as many of the town's agents have spent time and
money freely, with no expectation of a recompense,
and without even receiving afterwards any public
Licknowledgmentof their valuable services. The writer
is happy to record that the town has once in its whole
history, departed from its usual custom of unappre-
ciaiive silence. When their first treasurer, after long
and obliging services, retired from the office, the town,
at their meeting of March 5, 1866 (so say the
records), did " extend a vote of thanks to Benjamin
Homer for his acceptable services as treasurer the
past twenty years." The real agents of the town who
have done the work are only partly represented in
the lists of town officers, and of these there is allowed
only space for two lists. The selectmen since the
org.lnizatiou of the town are as follows, viz. :
184C— Calvin Sheperd, Jr., Josiah Burobam, Dexter Rockwood, Ad-
.Irew Allard, .Albert Ellis.
1&4T — William JenuisoD, Peuuel t'lark, Dexter Rockwood, Eliaa
Grout. Williaiu Eatues.
lS4d — Williaiu F. Ellis, Juaiab Cloyea, John Work8.
1S40-.O2 — Eliaj^ Grom, Willard R. Eaniefl, William Eames.
185;l — Simeon X. Cutler, Willard R. Eamee, William Eames.
1S.>4 — Eliaa Grout, Jamed Jackdc^n, William C. Jeooisou.
18o5— William Eames, J. E Forbusb, Charles Twitcbell.
18o6-o7 — William Eames, Benjamin Homer, Henry Cutler.
1858— Elias Grout, Henry Cutler, John Clark.
1859 — Eliafl Grout, William Eames, Benjamin Homer.
1860-61— Ellas Grout, W. A. Scott, J. N. Pike.
ASHLAND.
539
1862— J. N. Pike, Henry Cutler, Charles Alden.
I8C3-«4-^. N. Pike, Charlea Alden, John Clnrk.
186S— J. N. Pike, Charlea Alden, Alvah Jletcalf.
1866 — J. N. Pike, Alvah Metcalf, Benjamin Homer.
1867— J. N. Pike, Alrah Metcalf, C. H. Tilton.
1868— W. F. Ellis, W. R. Eames, B. T. Thompson.
1869— W. F. Ellis, Elia3 Grout, W. A. K.Noyes.
1870 — John Clark, B. T. Thompson, J. H. Dadraun.
1871- John Clark, Henry Cutler, J. H. Dadniun.
1872— John Clark, AUah Metcalf, S. .A. Cole.
1873— Charles Alden, S. A. Cole, R. S. Rosa.
1874-76 —Charlea Alden, Abner Greenwood, J. A. Whitney.
1877-78 — Abner Greenwood, R. N. Koss, S. S. Baker.
1879-81)— A. Greenwood, S. S. Baker, J. A. Balroni.
1881- a. N. Ross, C. H. Tilton, A. Metcalf.
1882-83— C. H. Tilton, R. X. Ross, C. F. Grout.
1884-85— Adrian Foote, J. A. Balcoui, B. H. Hartahorne.
1886— A. W. Eames (2d), J. .<.. Balcnm, G. C. Fiske.
1«87— A. W. Eames (2d), \V. F. Ellis, G. C. Fiake.
1888— Adrian Foote, C. H. Tilton, J. .\. Bulcom.
188'J— Adrian Foote, J. A. Balconi, W. W. Smith.
1890— A. Foote, J. A. Balcom, C. E. Lorini?.
Only one Senator ha^i Rone from Ashland, J. N.
Pike, in 1872. Since 1S5G Ashiaud has been united
with Hopkinton in its representative district. For
the years 1S56 and 1857 the town passed votes no*- to
send a representative. The tbllowiug representatives
from Ashland served in the years below specified :
1S51-52, James Jackson ; 1853, Elian Grout ; 13.34, Simeon N. Cutler;
1855, William M. Thayer; 1659, William F. Kills; 1S02, Benjamin
Homer; 1805, John Clark ; 1868, William 9ea»-er ; 18TI, J. S. Pike;
1874, Charlea Alden ; 1877, Wm. F. Ellis ; 1880, S. F. Thayer ; 1883,
Caleb Uolbrook ; 1886, F. N. Oxley ; ISS'J, .Vbner Greenwood.
Ways. — The public ways as they existed at the
incorporation of the town were nearly all retained,
while othi^rs have been added. By consulting a map
of Ashland, it will be observed that the roads formerly
extended through the town in three .systems. Thus
there were ro.ads crossing from Holliston, Hopkinton
and the southerly partof Southlioro',and ;ill centering
in Fianiingham. The Hopkinton road lay through
the villaire nt' Unionville, and the traveler could take
his choice of ways, by the old road through Cherry
Street, past what is now the Dwiglit Printing Com-
pany's grist-mill over the ' Common," or l)y the more
level way through Union and Fountain Streets and
Park's Corner. The road from Holliston led past the
old burying ground, \\'illiam Eames', the Poor Farm
and Park's Corner, with a diversion by the Joseph
Morse place to South Framinghain. The inhabitants
of the soiithern part of Snuthborough and further west
went by the "iJregon " road, traversing the northerly
part of the town. All the inhabitants dwelling north
of the river, as far west as " Chattanooga," and those
south of the river living east of the paper-mill and
north of W. D. Cole's, depended upon Framingham
for school privileges, and went to Framingham Centre
to trade, to vote and to attend church, excepting that
for a time a Baptist church might have been reached
at Park's Corner. The people of Unionville journeyed
to Hopkinton to church and town-meeting, while the
inhabitants on the east side of Cold Spring Brook
north to the Framingham line toiled slowly over the
hills to Holliston for the like privileges. At the
incorporation of the town a new centre of trade, church
influence and municipal business was created, which
it became necessary to connect with the outlying
districts by passable roads. Ways'were also required
to render the schools accessible to the inhabitants of
the new districts. For these purposes new roads
were built, the principal of which areas follows : from
F. 0. Grout's house through the woods over the old
disused Central Turnpike to the junction with Foun-
tain Street ; from the " Oregon " District southerly to
its junction with Winter Street, opening a road to
Fayville ; from Cordaville, through what is now
"Chattanooga," to Winter Street, Southborough
building its portion ; from William Eames' place
southerly to the Warren Morse place, avoiding the hill
and the distance round " the old red school-house "
in the woods ; Cross Street in District No. 3, to give
the inhabitants living on High Street access to their
school ; Concord Street from Fiske's to Front Street.
At a few points roads have been altered, straightened
or discontinued, notably near the Albert Hayden
place, by which the road over " the Common " to
Framingham was shortened and improved, and near
Josiah Burnham's house, the old road having been
abandoned and a new one built for convenience of
the neighborhood in reaching both their school and
the village.' At a somewhat later date Main Street
was continued from Union Street toward Holliston,
in a straight line to its junction with Prospect Street,
thus avoiding the necessity of the detour past the
cemetery ; and quite recently a way was built from
the house of William Eames, past District Xo. 6
school-house, by which a difficult hill on the old road
has been avoided. Most of the early roads were laid
! out by the county commissioners, and met with more
I nr less opposition from the town.
I In the village there have been changes in the roads
i since the town was set otf. Pleasant Street was very
j early built by the town, Mr. Jackson givingthe land,
j tind was a substitution for a discontinued road, which
I clung to the south shore of the Mill Pond. All the
I buildings upon Pleasant Street to Alvah Metcalfs
I house, and all on the avenues leading south from this
j street to the railroad, have been erected since the or-
I ganization of the town.
! The land for Central Street was given by the own-
I ers, Benjamin Homer and the heirs of Capt. John
I Stone, and the street was constructed by the town
about 1850. At the opening of the new cemetery
I Homer Avenue was laid out, affording a direct way
I thereto. The old road from the railroad crossing to
: Ellas Grout's house was formerly broken at Union
\ Street, the northerly part leading into that street at a
1 point slightly nearer the new house of Mr. Holbrook
■ than at present, and the southerly [part hugging the
bank of the river from Union Street to Cold Spring
bridge. The northerly part of Alden Street, as fir
south as Central, was opened to the public by Charlea
.Vlden, in honor of whom it was named, in 1868, for
540
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
the purpose of makicg his land accessible to building.
The part south of Union Street was laid open about
the same time by Albert Leland, the owner of the
land in that neighborhood. The connecting portion
between Union and Central streets was seized and
laid out by the town several years later, in the face
of some opposition. Esty Street was opened by C. C.
Esty, the owner of most of the land through which
it was constructed, in 1868, and was afterwards accept-
ed by the town.
Buildings. — Substantially all the buildings now
standing upon the streets so far mentioned have been
erected since the incorporation of the town, and
nearly all between the years 1868 and 1873. On the
other hand, the houses as they now appear, with a
few exceptions, were at that time standing on Jfain
Street, from Union to its northern terminus, and on
Front Street from the Jennings house west to Mrs.
.Terusha Whittemore's. On Union and Cherry streets
very few of the houses are older than the town ; on
Concord and Granite streets all are new. Xone of
the buildings in town are very old. One who came
to town in 1818 says that there were then in sight on
the whole plain, from a point of view at the factory,
besides the " Long Block " and the " Boarding-House,''
only the houses of Michael Homer and Capt. Stone
at the east, the " Old Mansion " at the south, and that
of Matthew Metcalf away at the west. Across the river
at the north, part way up the hill, was the Clark house.
As to the business buildings, when they were
erected, for what purposes, and who occupied them,
can be gathered from the account to be given later of
the industries of the town.
Laxd.mauks. — In the changes that have taken
place, many landmarks have been removed. It is
only about twenty years ago that the dwelling-
house was burned which was situated on the spot
built upon by Sir John Frankland, near the Hop-
kinton line, and which contained as parcel of
itself portions of the original Frankland house.
In the easterly part of the town the old house for
many years occupied by J. E. Morse, said to have
been built by James Haven two hundred and si.xty
years ago, has recently been burned. The " Old
Mission '" house occupied by Roger Dench over one
hundred and fifty years ago, and which stood upon
the premises of Mrs. Eliza A. Howe, but a few
feet southwesterly from her house, was burned in
1877. The long quadrangular house formerly occupied
by Capt. John Stone, located on the north side of
Union Street, about where the house occupied by
Curnyn now stands, was taken down about 1850. A
little to the southwest, on the new school grounds, may
still be seen the cellar-hole of the bam used in con-
nection with this house. The house occupied by
Benjamin Homer in 1846, and which had descended
to him from his grandfather through his father, was
moved about 1870 to its present location on the east
side of Homer Avenue.
Burial-Grounds. — In 1846 there were three
burial-grounds within the limits of the town. In the
woods at the extreme south, almost at the Hollistou
line, on the old disused road leading from William
Eames' house, over the hill, there is a spot of land
which has been used for a burial-ground until quite
recently by the inhabitants of that neighborhood. In
the days when the travel from Framingham to Hol-
liston passed, this locality was not so lonely and
desolate as now. What is probably the oldest burial-
ground in town is the half-acre of land on Union Street,
near the Xewhall boot-shop. Here are a tomb and
grave-stones, marking the graves of some of the early
settlers. Since the town was set off this yard has
become ihe property of the town, and has been walled
in and otherwise improved. Until 1869 the principal
burial-ground was the two acres lying in the rear ot
the Congregational Church. Originally at this point
there was a small grave-yard owned by the Union-
ville Evangelical Society. Later the town of Hop-
kinton became the owner of the lot, and added sulfi-
cient land to increase the yard to its present size.
Within a year or two Hopkinton has released what in-
terest, if any, it had remaining to the town of Ashland,
so that the last named town now owns the fee in the
land. The yard seems to be for the most part filled
with graves, yet the holders of the lots continue to
bury their dead within its limits.
WiLDWOOD Cemetery.— In 1869 the town pur-
chased of Charles Alden twenty-three acres of land,
situated half a mile east of the village, on the north-
east side of Homer Avenue, and lying on the southeast
bank of the river. The ground rises from the river
in an irregular and pleasing manner, to an ele-
vation of about seventy-five feet in the extreme
rear, the surface everywhere presenting a full
view of the village which lies below. When first
taken, most of the land was covered with a growth ot
oak and ohestnut-trees, which have since been partly
cleared away in those portions which have been
graded and wrought for use. Only a small part ot
the whole tract has yet been occupied, but this
section has been carefully laid out in paths and lots, <
the natural contour of the surface readily lending
itself to the designs of the landscape artist. A con-
siderable sum of money was at tirst expended in im-
proving the grounds, and sufficient portions of the sur-
face were then wrought to meet burial requirements to
the present lime, ilany families have purchased lots
upon which they have erected monuments. Burials
have begun upon the high ground.s and by the river
side. The grounds are well-kept, the town employing
a gardener who devotes his time to the work. A small
stream of excellent water runs through the grounds
along the southwest part, at the foot of the hills,
which is used for drinking and also for watering the
hill-slopes, the water being forced up by machines.
Wildwood Cemetery is the name given to this beau-
tiful burial-ground. Eight years ago the town
ASHLAND.
541
bought an additional acre of land at the entrance of the
grounds, and removed therefrom the old buildings, so
that now the inhabitants of Ashland have secured for
all time a worthy place for the burial of their dead.
The original committee appointed by the town to
prepare the grounds, making a cemetery out of the
forest, appear to have done their work well. Their
names are Warren Whitney, Henry Cutler, Willard
R. Eames, Charles .\lden and Alvah Metcalf. The
cemetery is now under the government of a board of 1
five trustees chosen by the town, one of whom is
chosen annually to serve for a term of five years. -
ScHOOL-S. — The town of Ashland adopted the
method of conducting schools which had prevailed in
Framingham. There was no division into territorial
districts, each having a corporate standing, owning
and holding its school property, ;is was the cxise in
many country places, but the town bought the land
and erected the school-houses. At the same time
there was a quasi-district arrangement, the method.-; i
of the district system being in part followed. There
were chosen at the annual town-meeting two com-
mittees, called respectively the school committee and
the prudential school committee. The former had a
legal standing, but the latter exi.sted by custom and
by acquiescence on the part of all concerned. Under
this system the prudential committeeman had charge
of the school-house in his district, provided fuel and
hired the teachers. A meeting was usually held in
each district at least once a year, at which the pru-
dential committee for the ensuing year was nominated
and the question determined, by bidding or otherwise,-
as to who should provide the fuel for the ne.tt year
and the price to be paid for it. The nominee of the
district was invariably elected at the succeeding town-
meeting. The school committee proper, usually called
the superintending school committee, in distinction
from the prudential committee, consisted of three
persons chosen for their fitness for the office. They
were taken from the class of liberal, or at least well-
educated men ; often they were old teachers. The
duty of the school committee was to examine the
candidates for teachers, to visit the schools, to have a
general superintendence over them, including the
text-books, and to make an annual report, in writing,
to the town upon their condition. In this way the
schools were conducted many years in an acceptable
manner, especially to the inhabitants of the outside
districts.
But the influence of the cities and larger towns be-
gan to be felt, where the cumbersome machinery of
the system above described had been abandoned, and :
a simple system introduced of schools conducted
under the sole charge of one committee, and graded
by classes so far as practicable. In 1850 the town
abandoned the election of a prudential committee,
and added three members to the school committee, ,
which, again increased in 1S68, became a committee i
of nine, one-third elected each year. For a time care
was taken that, at least, one member of the nine
should be chosen from the residents of each district,
in order to maintain the proper equilibrium of school
influence throughout the town. The districts, too,
at first, held their meetings, as before, to nominate
the candidate for election from their district. But it
proved inconvenient always to maintain this rule, and
deviations from it were more and more allowed, till
the rule had at last become obsolete. Then it began
to be felt that a committee of nine persons was larger
than could be needed for a small town, and that the
school business could be done more conveniently and
no less efficiently by a board of a smaller number.
The town about 1880 had reduced the number to
three, one member to be elected annually, and this
arrangement, proving entirely satisfactory, has pre-
vailed to the present time.
The division of the school money among the dis-
tricts was at first made by vote of the town, and seems
to have been based on the number of families or
scholars in the district. But the rule was varied,
sometimes equal amounts being assigned to all the
districts. Once the Centre District was allowed to
count as one and one-half. Later the division was
left to the Judgment of the superintending school
committee, and this committee appears to have re-
covered from the town gradually a recognition of the
rights which the law really gave them.
Feeling that the burden upon scholars of purchas-
ing school-books had become excessive, in order to
reduce the price, in 1882 the, town appropriated S300
to be used in purchasing a supply to be sold without
profit for cash. This plan was pursued successfully
two years, when the law requiring towns to furnish
school-books free to their scholars went iuto effect.
The supply on hand was then turned over to the new
use. Books and supplies are now purchased as
needed, and are issued by the agent of the town upon
the requisition of the school-teachers.
In the spring of 1889, taking advantage of the new
law, a union with the town of Hopkinton was effected
and a superintendent of schools was chosen for the
two towns, who has now completed one year of suc-
cessful service.
The locating of schools which pre-supposed a divi-
sion of the town into districts was done by the com-
mittee on schools appointed at the second town-meet-
ing held on April 8, 18-16.
The limits of the district having been determined,
to find the actual spot for the location of the school-
house, measurements were made to decide as to iik
geographical centre, and the house was built at a
point on the road nearest that centre. There were
originally seven districts, reduced to six when the
school-house in District Xo. 3 was erected. Five new
schocd-houses were built very early, and they stand to-
day in their original locations, though in three of
them no schools now assemble. The school in the
542
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Centre District, otherwise called District No. 1, was
kept in the chapel, a two-story brick building, which
stood on the site of the town-hall, but more to the
front. Only the first story in this building was fitted
with school furniture, and regularly occupied for
school purposes. There were seats for about fifty
scholars. Overflow schools were sometimes kept in
the hall above and in other buildings in the village.
Before 1850 the number of pupiis attending the Cen-
tre School had become double that in District 6. Be-
tween these two schools there were many contests in
spelling occurring on winter evenings. The schools
in the other districts were smaller, particularly in
Nos. 2 and 4. After 1855 the attendance in the out-
lying schools began to decrease, a tendency which ha.s
not been checked even to the present time. The
result has been seen in the closing of the schools in
Districts 2, 3 and 5, though the last-named school
was also weakened by the cutting off of a portion of the
di.itrict by the flowage from " Dam 2." In the north-
erly part of the territory of District 3, in 1887, a new
school-house was built to accommodate the children
from the new village at Chattanooga Mills.
Meantime a great change has been going on in the
centre of the town. It was early found that the school
.accommodations were insuflScient, that something
more than one school-room in the Chapel building
was needed. It was also believed that there were
now scholars enough in this district to put in success-
ful operation the graded system, which had proved
beneficial in the cities and larger towns. At a meet-
ing of the town held in 1855, it was decided to erect
a town building, upon the first floor of which provi-
sion should be made for the schools in the centre oi
the town. Four school-rooms of a size to seat fifty
pupils each were provided and furnished in a sub-
stantial and, for the time, superior manner. The
schools in this district then began anew under the
graded system. From 1856 for two years a high
school was taught by H. F. Allen, and about 1863
portions of the tuitions of scholars attending the pri-
vate school of Warden Reynolds were paid for a year
or two by the town. With these exceptions it was no!
attempted to carry scholars beyond the grade of the
grammar-school, requiring those who desired to pur-
sue more advanced studies either to go out of town
for the needed instruction or to obtain it in the occa-
sional private schools which were taught on the tui-
tion plan.
High School. — In 1867 the number of scholars
having increased, to meet the general desire; as well
is to keep abreast with neighboring towns, it was
again voted to organize a high school, though the
number of resident families was not sufficient to com-
pel the town to take such action. From the date of
its final establishment there has been no interruption
to the high school. At first the services of but one
teacher were required. Later, when the number of
scholars had increased, an assistant was furnished,
and now for many years two teachers have devoted
their time to the school, and, if short periods at the
change of teachers be excepted, with almost uniformly
satisfactory results. The principal, at least, has
always had the preparation afforded by a college
course of study ; the assistant now employed is a col-
lege graduate. So successfully has this school been
conducted, that very few scholars have gone away to
other schools, even for acquiring the necessary pre-
paration for college or the higher technical schools.
Following is a list of the principals of the high
school, with dates and periods of teaching :
J. O. Norris, 55 weeks, from June, 1867 ; H. E. Mar-
rion, 8 weeks, from September, 1S68; Francis Savage,
27 weeks, from .January, 1869 ; H. E. Bartlett,40 weeks,
from September, 1869 ; .1. .\. P.nge, 13 weeks, from
September. 1870 ; A. S. Roe, 187 weeks, from January,
1S71 ; J. B. Jlesservey, 40 weeks, from .September,
1875; A. J. George. 240 weeks, from Seiiieiuber, 1^76 ;
W. H. Thom]>son, 40 week.s, from >e|itenil)er, 18S2 ;
F. E. Whitteroore, 120 week.-*, from September, 1883;
E. H. Alger, 13 weeks, from SejUeniber, ISSO ; C. W.
.\yer, 4 weeks, from January, 1887; H. A. Blood, 63
weeks, from Februnry, 1887 ; Walter !M(jores, SO
weeks, from September, ISSS.
Other Schools.— The grammar school, 'hough
belonging to the series of graded schools in the Cen-
tre District, has been opeu to pupils Irom all parts of
the town, who have chosen to attend. This school
has always been the special care of the committee,
and none but teachers of sterling character and large
experience have been employed, The appointments
of teachers to the lower grades, and in the mixed
schools, have usually been made from the graduates
of the high school, or of one of the State normal
schools. It has been the practice of the committee to
retain goo''. teachers, advjincing them in grade and
pay, and marriage of a female teacher has not worked
a forfeiture of her position. The schools have suf-
fered at times from the e.xcursions of marauding sup-
erintendents from larger places, but the offer of high-
er wages has not always proved a suflicient lure.
Teachers have usually preferred to keep their present
assured positions, though they get less money. An
exception, however, must be allowed in the case of the
high school principals, who have .as a rule left at the
end of from two to six years for better positions, as
the town though liberal in all school matters, neces-
sarily sets a limit to salaries. Contrary to the tenden-
cy in the outlying districts, the number of scholars in
the centre of the town has always been increasing.
Before 1870 the four rooms in the town hall building,
with the .addition of one of the ante-rooms up stairs,
could not be made to seal all the scholars. A room
was fitted up in Adams Block, at the corner of Rail-
road and Aldeu streets, providing for about forty of
the smallest scholars. This arrangement not proving
permanent, as no other quarters could be secured, the
school committee, with the consent of the selectmen,
ASHLAND.
543
put up and furnished the small school building now
standing east of the town hall. Still the rooms were
crowded, the number of pupils running up aa high as
seventy-five in the lowest grade. In 1871 eighty
rods of land were bought on South Main Street, and
the four-room school-house now occupied was erected
and furnished at a cost of about ten thousand dollars.
This relieved the pressure, furnishing accommoda-
tions sufficient to the present time. More recently
the conviction gained ground that the rooms in the
town hall building did not meet the modern require-
ments of school-rooms, and that some of them were
needed for other purposes ; as a result, in 1889 the
town voted to erect an appropriate school building on
their lot of land, situated on Central Street, lately
bought for the purpose, and are now engaged in put-
ting up a building which will accommodate the high
and grammar schools, and one other school.
Until about the year 1855 there were only two
sessions or terms of the schools, consisting usually o(
twelve weeks each. The summer term began ir
May, a .female teacher being employed, and none but
the smaller scholars attending. The principal school
was in the winter term, commencing the first Mon-
day after Thanksgiving. A male teacher was em-
ployed, and, as all the large boys and girls in the
district attended, the strong qualities of the teacher
were sure to be tested. Soon after the year above
named, female teachers only began to be employed,
and the number of weeks of schooling wa.s incre.ased.
For many years the schools below the high school
were kept thirty weeks annually, the time being
divided into three equal terms. Recently, two to
five weeks have been added to the length of the
school year. The high school year has always been
forty weeks. With the change from male to female
teachers in the winter, the attendance of grown-up
boys and girls in the district schools fell away. It
may, however, be said that those who, under the
early custom, would have attended school in the
winter, but now remained at home, were few, for
most of this class, about this time adopting the new
fashions of living, went into the boot-shops, or, going
away from home, struck out for themselves. But
looking back and comparing the palmy days of the
district school with those of later times, it cannot
but be observed that a certain amouut of sturdiness
has been subtracted from the outlying districts, and
its substitute for the people of those districts must
be found, if at all, in the growth and culture afibrded
by the high school now convening in the centre of
the town.
Two Teachers. — It is impossible to refer to each
of the long line of teachers who have toiled in this
town ; but going back a considerable period, a pass-
ing reference may be made to one or two who have
left a specially lasting impression by virtue of their
persocal influence. Under the old district adminis-
tration the names of L. H. Cobb and Samuel Upton
will occur to the minds of residents who have now
passed middle life. Upton taught in the Centre
District for two or three winters, conducting a large
school with very great ability. He was at the time
taking his course in Dartmouth College. He after-
wards became a lawyer, and is now a judge in the
highest court in New Hampshire, his native State.
Cobb wa-i also a Dartmouth student, a classmate of
Upton, and preceded him in school work in Ashland.
Cobb taught five winters in District No. 6, taking the
school through the period of its greatest strength.
There were then in that school fifty scholars, of ages
varying from four to twenty-one. His administra-
tion was severe but just, and truly inspiring. So
much interested in hio work was he, that, in addition
to his regular duties, he aided his scholars in forming
a lyceum, the meetings of which were held weekly
during the winter terms of several years. About
everything of an intellectual order within the capac-
ity of the scholars was planned and executed at these
meetings. There was always a debate, with the reg-
ular array of disputants, after the manner of lyceums
in those days. There was a " naper," upon the prep-
aration of which much time had been spent ; there
was declamation, music, everything but a play. To
add to the interest, other schools were invited to par-
ticipate in the exercises, the final wind-up usually
beiug a good-natured combat in spelling. At these
meetings lectures were sometimes given by Cobb,
Upton and others, including Sanborn Tenney, then
the Park's Corner teacher, afterwards the professor in
natural science. The result of all this fervor, breath-
ing intellectual life into No. G, was the awakening of
aspirations among the youth of that district. Two of
the boys at least who participated in the debates of
that lyceum have, as men, made their mark : E. F.
Dewing, after the war, judge of the District Court in
New Orleans, and afterwards, for years, to the time
of his decease, a prominent lawyer in a neighboring
town, and Rev. J. E. Tivitchell, D.D., for many years
a successful pastor of prominent city churches, and
now located in New Haven, Conn.
Libraries. — The earliest known library kept for
use within the territorial limits of this town was the
collection of books, principally novels, purchased and
owueil by Ephraim Bigelow. He lived on the place
occupied by the late W. D. Cole in the easterly part
of the town. From about 1815 for twenty-five years
people came from all directions, within a radius of
five miles, to take out books, paying for their use at
the rate of two cents a week. When the school library
was provided for the Park's Corner District in Fram-
ingham, this collection was carried over to that point
and placed in the care of George Fay. who also had
charge of the school library.
.About the year 1830, Matthew Metcalf, Eliaa Na-
son and Andrew Allard went to Boston together and
bought one hundred and fifty volumes, paying two
hundred dollars, aud placed them in the counting-
544
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
room of the cotton factory for general circulation.
The selection was made mostly by Mr. Nason, who
was then teaching school in the village. This library
was in use about ten years, when the books were sold
to the families interested in them. The original con-
tributions were from one to five dollars, and no
charge was made for the use of the books. About
1840 the State had a series of books prepared under
the supervision of the Board of Education, which
were furnished upon payment, to those towns that
desired to introduce them. These books treated upon
scientific and historical subjects, and were bound in
a uniform style. Fifty or more volumes were placed
in each of the school-rooms in Framingham and Hop-
kinton and were issued to the households in the dis-
tricts. Much interest was manifested in this move-
ment, and the books were eagerly read ; but no new
books were added, so the interest gradually fell
away. The library belonging to what is now the
Centre District is supposed to have been scattered
and lost. Twenty volumes, originally in the district
now comprising the westerly part of the town, are
still in existence and in a fair state of preservation.
Shortly before the war a few persons clubbing to-
gether bought about fifty volumes, mostly histories
and biographies, and placed them in the office of the
shoe-shop of C. H. Tilton, in charge of George H.
Ellis as librarian. The subscribers had free use of
the books ; other persons were allowed to take them
out upon payment of a fee. After about one year the
club suspended and divided the books among the
members.
In the year 1859, with money raised by subscription,
the Agricultural Library (so-called from the prevail-
ing character of the books) was purchased and put
into general circulation. This was the first effort
made, after the incorporation of the town, to furnish
a free library. It would appear from the books of the
librarian still preserved, that there were upwards of
125 volumes in this library. The principal patronage
came from the farmers, but nearly all the families in
town, at one time or another, appear to have taken
out books. No additions were made and the books
gradually disappeared. Mr. S. W. Wiggins, the libra-
rian, at whose store the library was kept, still had in
his possession at the establishment of the present
Public Library, eight volumes, which he placed in
that collection.
A period of twenty years now followed, in which
discouraging views prevailed, and the untoward end
of the Agricultural Library was cited by way of illus-
tration, forgetting that to attain success other books
than those on farming are needed, as well as frequent
reinforcements by the addition of new books. But
that the towns-people desired to read, if only books
of the right kind could be tiirnished, was shown all
through this period by the patronage given to private
circulating libraries.
First came to town one Uriah Pollard in 1870,
bringing 500 fresh volumes, mostly novels and histor-
ies, and putting them in circulation at a charge of
two cents a day. This library was kept in the store
of Horace Yeaton,in a building since burned. For
two or three years this venture proved profitable to
the owner, as the circulation was large. The period of
popularity was prolonged by the addition from time
to time of a few new volumes. After the interest had
fallen off the library was sold.
Xext, a club of a dozen persons was formed, and
fifty dollars raised, by which a small library was pur-
chased, to be kept at the drug-store of Billings & Ox-
ley. This movement lasted a year, at the end of
which time the books were sold by auction to the sub-
scribers.
Then followed other circulating libraries, each in
turn having its day. Mrs. Franklin Moulton pur-
chased a small library of interesting books, which .she
kept at her residence on Railroad ."^ireet. W. T. Hill
selected about 200 volumes, mostly novels, coveriug
and labeling them ne.itly, and keeping them .several
years at his printing-office. Still later, S. A. Davis,
profiting by the example of others who had turned an
honest penny in the business, placed a library of
about three hundred volumes in hi.s periodical store
on Railroad Street. This, like the libraries which
preceded it, was composed of poi)ular work.s, and
was largely patronized until the opening of the Public
Library. He still retains his books and loans them as
they are called for.
In parallel movement with the libraries there have
been circulations of books and magazines owned by
clubs, which, after having gone the rounds, would be
divided or sold at auction among the members. There
have been few, if any, years in the history of the
town when one or more clulis of this character have
not been in the field.
At least one special ett'ort has been made to furnish
the public with the free use of magazines and papers.
E. P. Tenney during his pastorate with the Congre-
gational Church, raised funds by solicitation, hired a
room in the then post-office building and had it fur-
nished for a general reading-room. This room was
kept open one year, day and evening, with, however,
but a small attendance of readers.
Even after the partly successful experiment with
the Agricultural Library before referred to, there
were those who believed that a free public library,
if properly managed, could be made to succeed, and
furthermore that the interests of the town demanded
that an effort should be made to establish such a
library. In the spring of 1S71 A. .S. Roe, theu
principal of the high school, now master of the
Worcester high school, made strenuous etlbrts to
awaken an interest in the subject ; some of the citizens,
at his request, met at the town hall building and dis-
cussed the question. It was thought that one thou-
sand dollars would be needed to start a public librarj"
with prospect of success. Mr. Roe drew up a sub-
ASHLAND.
545
scription paper and uommenced its circulation. Alvah
Metcalf, Henry Cutler and a few others put down
liberal sums; but when two hundred and Ijftv dollars
had been subscribed, it was found that the limit to
which the people would then go had been reached.
Many persons, when approached, proved to be unwill-
ing; to contribute, giving as a reason that the time had
not yet come for a public library. The town, it was
said, was struggling under a large war debt, and the
consequent heavy taxes, and was suffering under the
general depression in values and incomes, which had
overtaken the whole land at that time. So the sub-
ject was reluctantly dropped.
Public Libkary. — The condition of the town's
finances anuually improved. Year by year some part
of the debt was paid. In 1S80 the opinion began to
be entertained that the time had come for the estab-
lishment of a free public library. It was in the spring
of that year that (}. T. Higley, having requested the
insertion of an article uf)on the subject in the warrant
for the annual town-meeting, made a motion at that
meeting, which was carried, that such a library be es-
tablished by the town under the provisions of the
statute law. This proved to be a beginning. A com-
mittee, consisting of G. T. Higley, \V. F. Ellis, S. S.
Baker, .Vdrian Foote, Ellas (irout and Paul Stevens,
were chosen to carry this vote into ett'ect. No action
was taken till the succeeding fall. At thut time the
cnraniittee, having called to their aid many of the cit-
i/eus, planned a series of entertaiuinents which after-
wards took place, with the ell'ect of raising the needed
funds, and at the same time awakening a general in-
terest in the subject. In this movement the churches
anil other public organizations participated. All the
population, e.'cceptions, if any, being very few, took an
active personal interest. The funds obtained from
entertainments were mure than doubled by cash sub-
scription.s, which immediately followed, the whole
secured luni amounting to nearly one thousand dol-
lars. With this eight hundred volumes were pur-
chased, which became at once a working nucleus.
The town voted to assign the dog tax to the library,
and this, with two hundred ilollars appropriated an-
nually to the present time, has now served to collect a
library of nearly three thousand volumes. Theselec-
tions of books have been made by the trustees, princi-
pally through their secretary, who has made it a strict
duty to study the subject. Books that have become
standard are easily found. To acquire a knowledge of
new books, the notices which appear in the literary
columns of the papers and in periodicals devoted to
the subject are studied, and from notes taken the pur-
chasing li-sts are made. Books asked for by persons
using the library, especially by teachers and students,
are bought if no valid reason exists for excluding
them. This process of selection has been found to
work satisfactorily, as only the best books and those
that are wanted are admitted. All ages, and classes,
and dwellers in all parts of the town use the library.
o5-iii
In it the schools find aid in their work, special priv-
ileges being granted in the use of the books to teachers
and students. A board of six trustees chosen by the
town, one-third annually, conduct the library. A
printed catalogue has been prepared for home use,
supplementary slips being added after each new pur-
chase. Although the books are freely entrusted to the
care of young persons to be taken to their homes,
after nine years' constant use, not half a dozen vol-
umes have been lost, or were unaccounted for at the
last annual examination of the library. The system
in use, of fines, of charging upon personal cards, and
of requiring each applicant for a book to fill out a slip
to be left with the librariau, absolutely protects the
library from all loss or damage, except the ordinary
wear and tear.
Hitherto the library has occupied one of the ante-
rooms in the town hall building. At the last meeting
of the town a vote was passed to move it into one of
the large rooms on the first floor of this building,
where it is intended also to fit up a public reading-
room.
Mills, Waters, Etc. — At the time the town was
established, most of its business was done in the mills
located upon the river. First in order of importance
was the four-story frame mill of the Middlesex Union
Factory Company, in which cotton-cloth was manu-
factured. This mill, which stood upon the present
site of the Dwight Printing Company's machine-
shop, at the corner of Main and Myrtle Streets, had
been built some thirty years before by a corporation
called the Middlesex Manufacturing Company. In
1827 certain Boston parties had bought the property,
and one year later had become incorporated under
the name first mentioned.
James Jackson, who had had experience in a mill
in Sutton, had come to this place about 1825. He
was appointed resident manager of the new company,
and had remained in this ofiice to the time our narra-
tive commences, in 1846. At this time a small build-
ing stood near the east end of the factory, occupied
for counting-room by the company, and for a store.
" Long Block," then glorying in three times its pres-
ent length, was across the street, filled with tenants,
operatives in the factory. The " Boardlng-House,"
standing at the head of the street, vacated about six
years before by Mr. Jackson himself, was now occu-
pied, as its name imports, as a home for the unmar-
ried employees. The small houses farther to the west
were filled with factory tenants. Since Mr. Jackson's
advent the enterprise had prospered. By buying
stock from time to time, he had, in 184(5, become sub-
stantially the owner of the property. At this time
the mill was still running at its full capacity, turning
out products valued at §65,000 annually ; but owing to
competition and other causes, later the business be-
came unprofitable, and was closed, Mr. Jackson
retiring. The factory was never again started ; in 1854
it was burned to the ground. Thus came to an end the
546
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
business enterprise wliicti had given birth and pros-
perity to the village of Unionville, and had definitely
led up to the establishment of the town.
The counting-room building survived the fire, and,
after being used for some years as a store, was moved
away ; nothing of the factory remained except the
large wooden undershot water-wheel, which for many
years afterwards was allowed to revolve, at first, pre-
sumably, to keep it from rotting, but finally, as we
small boys concluded, solely for amusement. Close
upon the dam stood the grist-mill then as now, only
that the farmer who then brought his corn to grind,
was never sure of having his grist ready when he
wanted it, as the factory took what it needed of the
water first; if any was left the grist-mill had it. But
the failure of the factory brought revenge to the grist-
mill, which ever since has had its own way. In the
spring of 1868 the Boston Flax-Mills bought the
property, and proceeded to erect the frame building,
known as the machine-shop, now standing at the
corner of Main and Myrtle streets, intending to occupy
it for the manutacture of linen goods. Before the
works were completed, in the fall of that year, the
whole property was sold to the Dwiglit Printing
Company.
The Dwight Printing Company was organized as a
corporation under Massachusetts laws in 1868, with a
capital of S30(),000. There were originally thrcestock-
holders, — William Dwight, Jordan, Marsh & Com-
pany, and Francis Skinner & Company. Subse-
quently Jordan, Marsh & Company bought out the
other stockholders, thus becoming sole owners of the
three hundred shares of stock. Still later the indi-
vidual members of this partnership succeeded to the
ownership of the stock, and are now its sole owners.
The Dwight Printing Company first bought of the
Boston Flax Mills, about six acres of laud, which
comprised the original plant of the Jfiddlesex Union
Factory Company. This conveyance covered the fac-
tory and grist-mill water privileges, and the lands
below the dam, including the canal, which had been
formerly used in connection with them. Other con-
veyances to the company followed, by which title was
obtained to 125 acres of additional lands along the
northerly banks of the river and the north shore of
the Mill Pond.
The purpose of this company was to establish an
extensive business in bleaching, dyeing and printing
cotton cloths.
Immediately after its organization the company
prepared plans for a series of extensive buildings,
such as would be needed in their business. Within
the next two years seven large granite buildings, in-
tended to be covered with mansard roofs, were begun
and carried forward, four of them to completion. A
machine-shop already built was furnished, utilizing
the water-power. At the same time a new street was
cut through the company's land on the north side of
the river, and ten double houses were erected for the
use of employees. Including houses standing upon
the lands purchased by the company, teiiemeiit-i for
forty families were provided. The cominiiiy's build-
ings were erected under the supervision of Gen. Wil-
liam Dwight, Jr., who came to Ashland and rciiiuined
during the process of erection. Kichard M. Uoss was
chief mechanic, and Adrian Foote was put in general
charge of the company's property, taking uu his resi-
dence in town and remaining to the pr«ent lime.
The elTect of the sudden entrance of this coiii|i:uiy
into town and its conspicuous building ofierations w-is
to raise the price of real estate,and cau?einlier new busi-
ness to start up. New stores were oiiened, houses were
built. Land which before had been held only ibr
agricultural [lurposes, wiis surveyed uml put ii|i(in the
market tor building lots. Wnrkingmen who had
saved a few hundred dollar.-, thought ihe time had
come for them to secure homes ; so buying iliirty or
forty rods of land, they built liousfs, laisiug Ipv niort-
gatre the balance of funds ni'cded to compk-lc tluiii.
Those were times of genera! inthilioii; the cost of
labor and materials was hi.;|] : con?e(iueMtly their
houses, when completed. reiirt>enttd high valuer. The
mortgages placed upon them were somttimt-s larger
Lhan the whole cost of aimilar premises lilteen years
later, or before the war.
The company had only partly erected llieir liuihl-
ings, when- it began to be rumored iluic tiic i ity of
Boston was in search ot a further water jiijiply, and
had its eve upon the .'^udl)ury Uiver. Tlii-. :it once
put an entirely new complexion upon ibepro-jiec-
tive value of this eiUerprisH. It' the water of the
river was to be taken tor dome>t:c ii>e. it was clear
ihat the proposed Ijusiness ot the comjiauy rould not
be carried on, .i-s products from the dyeing processes
must necessarily go into the water and pollute it.
It was therefore decided to cease work upon the
buildings until the water question should be linally
determined.
This action of the company in suspending all
operations came dis.istrously upuu the town. The
prospects predicated upon the increase of business
which would be caused by the carrying on of the
company's operations, came to an end, causing gen-
eral difiappointment. Houses and other buildings
became vacant, and the values in real estate fell
away.
In 1872 the city of Boston obtained from the Leg-
islature an act which condemned finally to tlitrir use
the waters of the Sudbury River and its tributaries.
From this time it was manifest that the company's
buildings could never be occupied as at first intended.
The question now was for what purposes, and to
what extent could they be used. To determine this
question, a suit wius brought against the city of Bos-
ton, in 1876, in the nature of a claim for damages
for injury to the company's water rights. The ques-
tions of law involved were carried up to the Supreme
Judicial Court, and the decision, drawn up by Justice
ASHLAND.
547
Amea, reported in Volume 122, of the Massachusetts
reports, page 585, finds that while riparian proprie-
tors " retain all their common law rights in the river,
so far as they are not inconsistent with the use de-
fined in the statute," the petitioner had acquired no
right by express grant or prescription " to befoul the
water, or render it unfit for drinking purposes," and
was not entitled to damages. This was equivalent to
deciding that the water of the river could still be
used for " domestic purposes, for watering cattle in it.
for cutting ice," and also for mechanical power if
not attended with pollution.
Since that time the property has awaited a pur-
chaser ; SoOO.OOO have been expended in land and
buildings, the latter containing 175,000 feet of floor
room. A spur track from the Boston and Albany
Railroad brings freight and coal to the doors of the
buildings, affording the best of facilities for handling
goods. The plant has been kept in good condition,
and will some day doubtless be put to a profitable
use.
The Dwight Printing Company also owns the
" Bigelow Paper-Mill property," including about
nine acres of land, a wide flowage, and valuable
water rights situated on Sudbury River about one
and a half miles west of .Ashland Village.
A. D. Warren, a thread manufacturer of Wor-
cester, in the latter part of 1879, came to Ashland,
and leasing for a term of years one of the Dwight
Printing Company's buildings, fitted up a factory for
the manufacture of spool cotton.
After the mill had been running but a short time,
in January, ISS", a corporation was organized under
the name of the Warren Thread Company, with a
capital of twenty-five thousand dollars. All the stock
was immediately bought by Eben D. Jordan, James
C. Jordan, Eben D. Jordan, Jr., and Adrian Foote,
who froin that time to the present have remained the
sole owners of the stock. Eben D. Jordan was
chosen president, and Adrian Foote treasurer. This
mill takes cotton yarn as it comes from various fac-
tories in New England and twists it into thread.
The thread, which is of many sizes and colors, is
wound upon .-'pools, and after being marked accord-
ing to quality and to suit customers, is shipped to all
parts of the United States. About seventy-five hands
are emplnyed at the mill, who have work the j'ear
round. Tlie value of the annual product is about
three hundred thousand dollars.
The next concern of importance was the paper-mill
of Calvin Shei)ard & Son. The "son" was Calvin
Shepard, .Jr., who, at his father's death, succeeded to
the property and business. The mill stood half a
mile e;ust of the village, at the junction of Fountain
and Union Streets, just west of the iron bridge. The
paper, which was for newspaper supplies, wa3 at first
made by baud. Afterwards water-power was used,
and tinally steam and water-power combined. The
water to carry the mill was taken out of the river
just above the dam recently removed, at a point about
seventy feet southwest from the bridge, and was car-
ried directly across Union Street to the north. The
raceway has been filled with earth, though its south-
erly end can yet be traced. The old site of the mill
has been entirely obliterated by the Boston Water
Board in leveling the ground upon the bank of their
water-basin. The first mill was burnt down in 1842,
and was immediately rebuilt on a larger scale. Shep-
ard employed twenty to twenty-five hands. He
turned out an annual product of about $30,000. His
business, at first successful, owing to competition and
other causes, at length became unremunerative, and
was closed about 1850. For a year or two after that
date he attempted the manufacture of combs, but did
not succeed in making this new business profitable.
The property was now sold to Lee Claflin, and Shepard
moved to Taunton. In 1857 he took up his residence
in Boston, serving most of the time for thirty years
afterward as visitor for the Overseers of the Poor and
Provident Association. He was one of the most
prominent men in the early history of the town. He
is now residing in Edgartown much enfeebled with
age.
Charles Alden bought the Shepard Paper-Mill
property of Lee Claflin, of Hopkinton, about 1855.
He introduced machines to pulverize quartz and other
minerals. Just before the war he had succeeded in
obtaining a monopoly of the emery manufacture,
having the sole right to import the Smyrna stone, the
only stone then supposed to be available. The war
coming on, the call for emery to be used in polishing
and for other purposes was enormously increased, and
.\lden, having the facilities for its manufacture, turned
his whole attention to that business. During the war
his business was thriving and remunerative, and he
acquired property. Later there was still a market
for emery, as it came more to be used in the arts, but
on account of others engaging in its manufacture and
other sources for the supply of stone being found, a
competition in the business arose, which greatly re-
duced the profits of its manufacture.
In 1868 Alden changed the form of the business
ownership, which had already become a partnership,
to that of a corporation, under the nameof the Wash-
ington Mills Emery Manufacturing Company, him-
self, at first, holding a majority of the stock. This
company became owner of the property, and contin-
ued to carry on the business at that point until the
city of Boston bought its real estate and water rights.
Shortly before the expiration of the time allowed the
company to remove their buildings, they were con-
sumed by fire, the insurance being recovered only
after a protracted lawsuit. The company then re-
moved its business to New England Village, now
North Grafton.
In about 1870, Alden, having disposed of his inter-
est in the emery manufacturing business, built a
mill on the west side of Union Street, just north of
548
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
the iron bridge, for the manufacture of emery-wheela.
A stoclr company was formed for this purpose, under
the name of the Vitrified Wheel and Emery Com-
pany, with Alden as iirst manager. This company
carried on its business till bought out by the city of
Boston, afler which the building was taken down and
removed.
After Alden withdrew from this last-named com-
pany he built an emery-mill on the spur track at the
Cutler Mills ; but had hardly begun business when
the city of Boston also absorbed this concern, remov-
ing the buildings. This closed the business enter-
prises of Alden in Ashland.
Very marked results accompanied the success of
his early emery business. He purchased a large
tract of laud of Benjamin Homer, in 1866, and about
the same time smaller tracts from the heirs of John
intone and others, and commenced building houses.
His operations were mostly in the neighborhood of ]
Homer Avenue and the street which bears his name, j
Nearly all the houses on these streets were built by
him or with the aid of his money. To any reputable
[>erson who wouUl buj* from him a house-lot he would ;
t'urnish means for erecting the house, taking back a t
mortgage to secure the money loaned. The registry
in which Ashland real estate conveyances are re- i
corded contains evidence of a large number of deeds |
given by Alden between the years 1S67 and 1873.
His share in the work of building the Methodist :
Church is referred to in the account given of that <
church. I
In 1879 Alden removed from town, enga'.;ing in '.
other enterprises till nearly the time of his death,
which occurred in 1888. His funeral was attended
at the Methodist Church, in Ashland, and his re-
mains were buried in Wildwood Cemetery, the land
for which was bought of himself, and which, as one
of the board of town trustees, he had helped to lay
out and beautify.
About a mile below the Shepard Paper-Mill stood
the Cutler Mills. At this point the water-power ear-
ly employed in connection with the iron foundry ot
Gilbert Marshall and Richard Sears was used by
Sears to run the saw-mill built by him, and from 1818 i
to carry also the grist-mill erected by Calvin Bige- ,
low, the owner at that date of the water privilege. !
Subsequently the property, passing successively ,
through the hands of James Whittemore and Wil- i
liam Greenwood, finally came into possession of 8. \.
Cutler. The grist-mill stood at the northerly extrem-
ity of the dam, was a one and one-half story building,
and was painted in the old-time Venetian red. At
the southerly end of the dam was tfae saw-mill, with
its up-and-down saw and all the openers to the
weather, for which such mills of old were famous. This
mill was also rigged with a set of stones for the grind- |
ing of gypsum into flour, or " plaster," as it was I
called, which in those days was used by farmers to I
sow upon old pasture lands, and to put in their po-
tato-hills as a fertilizer. The farmers brought their
corn to the mill for grinding, and the sillier took a
toll of two quarts for each bushel ground. In the
winter logs were brought to the mill-yard on sleu.s,
and later in the season the boards or planks into
which they had been sawed were carried away. AH
these processes were carried on leisurely, much to the
comfort of the patrons of the mill, whn, while their
grist was being prepared, learned the news from the
miller. Cutler at first coiitimied ihc operatii-.g of
these mills in the old way, but later he began buying
corn, and, after grinding it into meal, selling to the
stores. His new business grew rapidly, one or more
of his sons were admitted into iiartnershi[), and the
name of the firm now became S. X. Cutler & Son.
They bought their corn by large cmaiitiiies in the
West, and became heavy patrons of the railroads,
thus inducing the Boston A .Albany Railroad Compa-
ny to build a spur track for their benefit. A large
and convenient mill furlli^lle<l with elevators and
other apparatus, wiis erei.tfd on the side ol the -.tream
next to the track. This mill was wholly liurnod in
the fall of 1S67, but the uc.Nt s|)ring it had been re-
placed and was running. Thus by energy an exten-
sive and valuable business wa.s esiabiislied, which was
continued till the removal of the firm in l'S7(;. At
this time the city of Boston bonirht the whole prop-
erty, and subsequently took down the building, so
that now no trace remains. The original site of the
old red mill is now many feet under water in " Basin
2,'' of the city's system of water ^u]1ply, on the Sud-
bury River. A little to the west of where the high-
way formerly passed under the railroad the betl of
the spur track may still be traced, but the site of the
principal mill has been dug over and is lost in the
graded bank, or lies partly covered by water.
One mile west of the village, on the Sudbury Rivi-r,
is located the box-mill of .VIvah Metealf. The dam
and the original building were erected about lS;jo by
John Cloyes, for the manufacture of sash an<l blind.s.
Very early a set of stones was put in for grinding
corn. In 18-14 Cloyes sold to Daniel White, who one
year later conveyed to Henry Brown. In 1>547 H. F_
Goodale, of Marlborough, became owner. .As a tenant
under Goodale, Micah B. Priest, also of Marlborough,
manufactured boxes used in casing boots shoes
and bonnets. Metealf bought ihe property of Good-
ale in 1860, and continued the business, gradually
increasing it. In 1870 the mill proving too small lor
the amount of business to be done, was [lulled down,
and the present commodious building erected. To
supplement the water-power, not always sufficient in
summer, steam was provided. The stoues lor grind-
ing corn were left out of the new mill. Two years
ago a stone dam was built, so that now the mill has
superior facilities for turning out boot-boxes. About
two million feet of boards are made into boxes an-
nually. The careful supervision and personal labor
of the owner have built up this successful business.
ASHLAND.
549
Haifa mile farther west are the reaiains of the
Bigeiow Paper-Mill dam. This was once the site of
a flourishing business in the manufacture of a fine
quality of hand-made paper. The original owners
were John, David and Perkins Bigeiow, and Gardner
Wilder (2d.) They bought laud lying upon the stream
in 1817, and in that or the following year built the
dam and mill. Shortly before the establishment of
the town, the lust of the Bigelows had withdrawn
from the business. David Bigeiow, who maintained
his hold longest, resided in Framingham Centre, and
rode daily to his mill. There are still remaining
traditions of the personal beauty and superior social
influence of tlie women belonging to the Bigeiow
families. About 1S4G Hon. Isaac Ames, judge of
Suffolk Probate Court, for himself or as attorney for
Hazen Morse, was interested in this mill. Silas
Warren, Samuel Whitney and probably others were
connected with it, and engaged, after the town was
organized, in the manufacture of wall-paper. Samuel
Whitney used to tell how, when he once found him-
self "bort of matorial*, he went into his potato-field
and gathering ilie vines and weeds, ground them up
and made them into pulp, thus saving fifty dollars
in the way of stock. But the business was at length
closed ami the property remained idle. The mill was
burned about 1S06.
.A.fter this propeity had ceased to be used it passed
successively, by deeds, to John Clark, 18G4; E. P.
Dewing, ]^6'>, and to Thomas Corey in 1SG8. In 1869
the Dwight Printiug Company bought the land, water
privilege and rights of flowing, and are now the ownera.
The dam had been maintained until very recently,
but iKv.v the middle part has been washed away.
Siill farther west on the river, near the town
limits, un the site »( the "Old Forge," are located
the Chattinooga Woolen-Mills, owned and oper-
ated liy Taft & Aid rich. M this point there is a
dam and a (all of about twenty-five feet, with two
wooden w.'iler-wheels of one hundred and sixty horse-
power. About the time of the incorporation of the
town, W. B. and A. .T. Wood, the owneri, built a
paper-mill, which, for several years, was run by Isaac
Ames. In 1S03 David Fales & Company started up
the works, manufacturing satinets and woolen goods.
They carried on the business for about eight years,
after which the mill was left idle. In 1873 the Woods
sold the whole property to C. and C. T. Aldrich, who
enlarged the mill and put in steam-power, to be used
when the water was low. In 1876 Charles Aldrich
sold his inierest to L. H. Taft, of Usbridge, who, six
years later, sold to his father, Moses Taft. The pres-
ent firm is composed of Moses Taft and Charles T.
Aldrich, the latter residing upon the premises and
conducting the mill. Taft & .\ldrich employ about
seventy-five hands. Since Aldrich came, a village
ha.s grown up at this point, which is called Chat-
tanooga, and a school-house has been built in the
neighborhood.
On Cold Spring Brook, about three miles from its
junction with Sudbury River, there was formerly a
saw-mill and grist-mill, which in early times were in
operation when the water in the brook was sufficient
to run them. After the incorporation of the town
S. N. Cutler & Company appear to have bad an in-
terest in the property. But the mill was many years
ago abandoned, and the privilege is now lost in the
flowage of " Dam 4 " of the Boston water supply.
On a small brook which empties into Waushakum
Pond, at the place late of W. D. Cole, for many
years prior to 1850, stood a shop owned by James
Bigeiow. Here was a small water-power which
Bigeiow employed to run a turning-lathe and a saw
rigged for wheelwright work. Bigeiow could make
anything, from a clock to an ox-cart. While en-
gaged in rimming out a gun-barrel at his lathe, an
end of his neckerchief caught on the shaft of the
rimmer, which, winding round quickly, before he
could become disengaged, caused his death.
There are uo great ponds within the town limits,
excepting a portion of Waushakum. The Fram-
ingham boundary line, which crosses this pond,
leaves in Ashland, perhaps, a little less than a quar-
ter part. This part of the pond affords the best
fishing. Here, until about twenty years ago, sports-
men cauglit good strings of perch and horned-pout in
the summer, and pickerel through the ice in the
winter. But since the pond has been " improved,"
by the cultivation of black baas, no fisherman has
any luck.
The Ashland waters, once a principal source of
pecuniary benefit, the town can no longer call its own.
Of the six once flourishing mills that stood upon the
banks of the Sudbury, only two remain, and these no
doubt are doomed. In 1872 the City of Boston ob-
tained from the Legislature an act conferring the
right to take the waters of the river and all its
tributaries for the purpose of acquiring an ad-
ditional water supply. As rapidly as its plans could
be formed, the city proceeded to obtain, by purchase
or seizure, all the business property upon the river
east of the village, and cleared off" completely the
banks of the stream in this section. It placed an em-
bargo upon the valuable water-power in the centre,
without oflfering the owners any compensation. The
two remaining privileges west of the village it has so
far permitted the owners to use, but always in the
face of uncertainties as to how long or in what man-
ner they may be allowed to use them. With the ex-
ception of the small amount of water required to keep
up the flowage of the stream, and the amounts that
may be necessary for extinguishing fires, for domestic
purposes, and for generating steam in the towns
bordering on the river, aU the waters of the Sud-
bury and its tributaries above a certain point in
the town of Framingham have been presented aa
a gift by the Legislature to the city of Boston,
reserving only to immediate owners the right to
550
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
sell their interest therein for such price as they
may be able to get, or to recover compensation for
property taken only by the vexatious process of law.
The city of Boston, in accordance with the provisions
of this act and the rules of law, has paid the price
for lands bought and has satisfied the judgments ob-
tained for lands and rights seized in the cases of those
who by law were entitled to recover and who have
brought suits. But the large indirect damage to the
town, in the destruction of its business and taxable
property, has not been paid, nor is it by law recover-
able. The many and valuable rights of private
owners to drain into the river and its tributaries,
seized by the city, have not been paid for, and the
right to obtain compensation is now irrecoverably
lost, because the owners had received no actual notice
of the seizure and did not bring their action for
damages within the time allotted by statute. Under
the guise of general legislation, the city of Boston ha.>
obtained the passage of punitive laws, restricting the
rights of land-owners in the free use of their property
and widely enlarging tiie sphere of the law of nuis-
ance. The agents of the Boston Water Board have
continually annoyed the owners of hin.Is lying upon the
banks of the river and the in-flowing brooks, by com-
ing uninvited upon their premises for the purpose of
discovering sources of pollution to the water, and by
issuing orders for removal of such causes of pollution
without first having procured any authoritative deter-
mination of what is a pollution of their water supply.
"Dam 2," of the Sudbury water system, which was
buili about 1878, in the town of Framingham, flowed
the river to the Shepard Dam. The city of Boston
built an iron bridge just below this point, and also a
bridge below the site of the Cutler Mills, and, by
laying out and building such parts ss were necessary,
opened two good road.'? to Park's Corner, in place of
the one old road, in part submerged, which formerly
crossed the river at the Cutler .Mills.
Less than a mile up Cold Spring Brook the city,
in about 1885, built a dam nearly half a mile long,
for storing water on this brock. The lands covered
by this basin were obtained from the owners by pur-
chase, the deeds conveying full title. In 1890 the
city of Boston began the dam on Indian Brook, hav-
ing obtained title to the lands proposed to be covered
partly by purchase and partly by seizure.
The agents of the Boston Water Board have for-
bidden fishing upon the ice in their basins in the
winter, though no prosecutions for that offence have
yet been made. All persons are prohibited from
bathing in the Sudbury or its tributaries.
In 1888 an act was passed by the Legislature for-
bidding bathing in the Waushakum Pond, as the
Sherborn prison takes water from that source ; but
this act seems to be strictly confined to the waters of
the pond; therefore, it is suggested that Ashland boys
may learn to swim in the Bigelow Pond, on the afflu-
ent brook, a mile to the southwest.
Boot and Shoe BudiXESS. — In the early years of
j the towu the work of making shoes was not all done
j .IS it now is — in the factory — nor was the business all
I carried on by a few large concerns. There were small
manufacturers, who would buy a few sides of leather
in Bostou, cut .nnd make them into shoes in their
shops in the country, and then return to the city,
selling the products of their own labor. In those
days there was no difficulty in finding a market for
such goods at paying prices. Men, who, in the end,
became large manufacturers, frequently began in this
way, acquiring a practical knowledge of every part
of the business!, from the selecting of the stock,
through the iirocesses of manufacture, to the final
disposition of the gooil:, in the market. This manu-
facturing in a small way was then common, and w.is
often taken up by men, who, for the time being, hap-
pened to have no other employment. In this way,
too. work couid be afforded for a whole family, as
there would be some part that each member could
assist in doing.
When the small shop began to enlarge and furnish
work for persons outside of the family, the business
was carried on in a way quite unlike the pro!<ent. In
184t5, and for a few years alterwards, there were no huL'e
gatherings of workmen in the shops of the manul.ic-
turers; all the work, except the cutting of the leather,
was done away from the shop. The shoemaker would
come, often from a neighboring town, with his team,
and take out stock enough to keep him in work for a
week or more. Quite far back, when shoes, rather
than boots, were made in this ■section, the workman
would take the leather juit as it came from the h;in(ls
of the cutter, who did his work without the aid of
machinery. Going home with the stock, his wife
would bind and close the shoes, while he did the
bottoming. His boys would be taught while yaing
to peg. and, later, to last, and, still Liter, before they
had reached the age of twenty-one years, they would
acquire skill in fitting and trimming, thus becoming
expert in all the parts of the bottoming process.
There were many farmers who worked on shoes
in the winter, when they had nothing else to do;
and, generally, the work of the shoemaker could be
taken up and laid down to suit circumstances.
Where the manufacture of boots was carried on, the
crimping, closing and treeing, though at first done by
the workmen at their own houses, was at length con-
fined to the shop of the manufacturer. Slowly ma-
chines were invented for doing the work at the
factory ; but for a long time the bottoming was per-
formed wholly by hand, and at the homes of the
workmen. Finally, upon the introduction of the
pegging machine, the bottoraer was obliged to go
where this was set up, .as such machines cost too much
for him to buy. The invention of other machines
soon following, the employment of steam-power at
the factory to run them finally required the assem-
bling of all the workmen at that place. Now within
ASHLAND.
551
tlie hist twenty years the little shops, which so com-
monly stood by the houses of the workmen and were
used by them, have been abandoned, and the com-
paratively free life of the shoemaker of thirty years
ago has been exchanged for the routine work of the
factory operative. Wages may have increased, and a
better average living been gained, but the former
freedom of tiie individual has been partly lost in the
changed methods of doing work and especially in the
surrender nf rights to associations which have been
established for the protection of the workingman.
As the manufacture of boots and shoes has been
and still is the principal business in this town it will
be proper to give a somewhat full account of this busi-
ness, beginning at the time the town was incorporated
and tracing the history of the different shops.
Calvin Dyer in 1841) was occupying for his boot-
shop the building on Main Street, which is now the
stable of Mrs. .John Phipps. He had a few years be-
fore erected both the house .and shop standing at this
point. At an earlier date he had m.inufactured in
the Mitchell and Bryant shop, to be spoken of later.
He was very active iii getting the town set off. He
remained, however, only a year after that event,
moving his family to Worcester, himself accepting
employment iu passenger conductor on the Boston
and Worcester Railroad.
Daniel i[orey follipwed Dyer in this shop, but did
not continue long in the business. The buildings
had been imirtgageil to Lee Clartin, and the niortg.ige
war now foreclosed.
In lS->2 Simpson Jones bought these premises of
Clartin, and moved in from the Broad barn, where he
had siarted a few months before. The boots manu-
fiictured by him were sold by Whitney & Hines, of
Bi)^t(in, on ci)mmis>ior,. Lator he manufactured for
Lee Clartin. In about ISGO the shop which stood at
the coriKT of Union and Main streets, on land now
owned by Jcdin Connor, had been vacated by William
Wheelook, and xs tliis was a larger and more con-
venient building, Jones now occupied it, turning his
former shop into a stable. .Ibout this time he be
came a (lartner in the tirni of Xewhall it Company,
of Boston, he receiving the stock and making up the
boots, while the Boston partners attended to the buy-
ing and selling. This substantial business was con-
tinued till his death, in 1S(3.">.
William Whei-lock came from Mendou in 1857.
John Clark built for him a shop at the junction of
Union and Main C^treets, upon the Connor land, then
owned by Clark. Wheelock, as a partner iu the firm
of Severance & Wheelock, at once began manufac-
turing boots in this building. This business lasted
but a year or two. Wheelock then bought the land
where now the Xewhall shop is located, and moving
there a small building from Hayden Row, made of this
a nucleus about which a larger shop was built. As a
partner in the firm of Boyd, Bi igham & Wheelock,
he here attended to the mauufacture of shoes till
about 1871, when his, health failing, he was obliged to
cease doing business. He died with consumption two
years later. Wheelock introduced into his shop a
caloric engine, which in that day was in these parts
considered a novelty.
H. Newhall & Company, of Boston, bought this
shop of Wheelock and carried on the business until
1882. They enlarged the building and put in steam-
power. The factory was first in charge of Samuel
Seaver until his death, in 1876. For the next four or
five years C. M. Adams was superintendent, and dur-
ing the last year a Mr. Godfrey, from Milford. The
firm finally transferred its business to their shop in
Woodville, giving as a reason that they could manu-
facture there at a lower figure. The building has
since remained unoccupied.
In May, 184G, the boot-shop of Edwin A. Forbush,
which stood on the south side of Union Street, at
what is now the Neff place, was totally burned.
This shop was never rebuilt.
Forbush after the fire, for a few months, did busi-
ness in a part of the antiquated "Stone" house,
which then stood on the opposite side of the street.
He next formed a partnership with William Seaver,
and for about two years they manufactured boots in
the Seaver shop, to be referred to later. They also
played checkers very late of nights, if tradition may
be trusted, both being experts in the game and quite
equally matched. In 1849 Forbush bought one of the
" Sullivan " houses and erected a boot-shop within
the yard of the enclosure. It has always been sup-
posed that this building was located very near, indeed,
to the west line of the lot, as there was a sharp con-
troversy in words about the rights of the respective
owners, echoes of which have not yet wholly died
away.
Forbush, after dissolving connection with Seaver,
for a short time manufactured boots in his new shop.
About this time he invented a machine for siding
boots. He got Lee Claflin interested, and by his aid
fitted up a foundry for the manufacture of machines
in one of the Shepard Paper-Mill buildings, which
were now owned by Claflin. Afterexperimentiug here
at a cost of $40,000, Claflin having tired of the ven-
ture, Forbush took his machine to Lawrence and
there had castings made. Afterwards a Milford con-
cern became interested, but at this poiut Forbush
abandoned the enterprise, and nothing more was done
to bring the machine into use. The model was
burned in the Boston fire of 1872. It is said that at
one time Forbush was offered one hundred thousand
dollars for his invention. When Forbush returned to
Ashland, as Thayer and Wiggins were manufacturing
boots in his shop, he formed a partnership with P.
Ware, Jr., and commenced on shoes in Leland's
Block, of which building some account will be given
later. The business was continued, either in this or
his own shop, until after the coming on of the war.
A sewed shoe was made by this firm for army use.
552
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, JIASSACHUSETTS.
Later, skins in the shape of the ordinary buffalo robe
were cut into uppers and made by them into mocca-
sins, the fur side in. After dissolving partnership
with Ware he continued in business alone, still mak-
ing moccasins; now working for Wilson, Corey &
Company. After North Carolina was opened at the
close of the war he went to Winston, in that State,
and leased a plantation for a term of years. He also
opened a store in Winston. Meantime his shop in
Ashland was occupied by his son, P. W. Forbush,
who for about two years manufactured shoes, which
were sold by P. Ware in Boston. E. A. Forbush re-
turned to Ashland in 1869, and after running his shop
one year, ceased work on account of failure of health.
Ten months later he died.
George S. Downs, during the sickness of Forbush,
carried on the business as his agent. After his death
Downs began business for himself, manufacturing
shoes for Potter, White & Bailey. This business was
continued for several years, until receiving an offer
of a lucrative position as superintendent of the shoe-
shop in the State Prison, he moved away. That was
the end of this boot-shop as such. About ten years
ago this building was converted into a tenement-
house. Forbush was an active, public-spirited man ;
he was frequently elected to town office, for mpny
years was chosen moderator of the town-meetings,
and was a leading member in the Baptist Church.
William Seaver came to Asiiland from Hopkinton
about 1840. In 1S4G he was manufacturing boots in
the first shop built and occupied by him, the same
building now standing on Front Street next to the
hardware store of Perry & Enslin, and occupied as a
dwelling. Seaver also built and occupied till his
death the dwelling-house standing next door west.
After the dissolution of the partnership with E. A-
Forbush, spoken of above, he continued the business
alone in the same building. About 1852, in this build-
ing, George W. Jones was interested with him as a
partner for about three years. Later, Seaver moved
into a shop across the street, standing on the present
site of the barn of A. Greenwood & Son. After a
time his sons, George and Henry, were admitted into
partnership. They manufactured mostly small boots
of cheap grade. In about 1863 Seaver accomplished
some real estate exchanges, and aa a result became
owner of the whole land now covered by the Green-
wood coal shed and Blake's, building. He then sold
off the small buildings that occupied the ground, to
be taken away and converted into dwelling-houses,
and moved upon the spot now covered by Blake's
building, a shop of about the same size, which had
stood at the junction of Main and Union streets, and
had been formerly occupied successively by Wheelock
& Jones as before related. He sold to Blake and Bal-
com tbe easterly part of the lot. and they erected a
building of similar dimensions to his own, leaving
between the two buildings a clear space of forty-
eight feet. Here he and his sons, under the firm-
name of Seaver & .Sons, carried on the business till
1872, when the Boston fire destroyed a large amount
of goods belonging to them, and upon which the in-
surance proved almost worthless, owing to the failure
of the companies carrying the risk. This fiie was
the cause of finally closing his business aa a boot
manufacturer. For many years afterward he was en-
gaged in the business of undertaker, keeping goods
for sale and personally conducting funerals. He died
in 1888, after a somewhat prolonged illness. From
the first he was a prominent man in town affairs,
holding various town offices. He was a deacon of
the Congregational Church, almost covering its whole
history. As a justice of the peace, he tried civil
causes, while justices still had jurisdiction. Earlier,
criminal cases also were tried before him. His judg-
ment was often sought in matters having a legal
bearing.
Hiram Temple came to town about the time of
its organization, and commencpd manufacturing boots
in the second story of the pMssenger station, which
then stood on the north side of the track near the
Main Street crossing. Temple seems to have -uc-
ceeded to the business of Montgomery Bixby. While
in this building George F. Seaver joined Temple, first
as an employee, later becoming a partner in tlie busi-
ness. When the Baptist .Society, moving into their
new church, abandoned their chapel on Front Street,
Temple bought and fitted this building for a boot
shop and store. George Brewster was put in charge
of the store, which occupied the front part, while llie
boot business w.as carried on in the remaining por-
tions. After two or three years a fire totally c(m-
sumed the building. Temple then erected a build-
ing on the south side of Railroad Street, near where
now stands the store of Mrs. .McPartlin, which, in
connection with his partner, Seaver, he occupied for
the boot business. In r. short time, sniling out to his
partner, he moved to .Marlboiough where he still re-
sides.
Seaver soon left this location and started business
at Park's Corner. Returning after about a year, he
joined his father in the partnership spoken of above.
.\fter the dissolution of this business connection,
about the time of the Boston fire, he manufactured
boots as a partner with one Thompson in a building
owned by Ezra Morse, situated near Morse's lumber-
yard on Front Street. Within a year or two a fire
occurred, by which this building was consumed.
Seaver, then going West, closed his business connection
with this town. In 1888 he died in Chicago. He
served as town clerk for several years.
Albert Leland came from Holliston and set up the
manufacturing of boots shortly before the establish-
ment of the town ; his first shop, now known as the
" Light-House,'' and situated near Cold Spring Brook,
on Main Street, was located in the rear of the Grout
& Enslin Grocery. From this building he moved into
Broad's barn, where he was manufacturing about 1S4G,
ASHLAND.
553
when it waa burned. In 1850 he erected the building
now owned by Mrs. Ann Manning, situated on Summer
Street. Here he manufactured boot3 in the rear,
while he kept store in the front part of the building.
S. F. Woodbury became a partner with him in the
store business in 1852. In 1853 he and Woodbury
bought the corner lot on the opposite side of Summer
Street, extending from Main Street to what is now the
market of A. W. Eames. The southerly part of the
land was sold to Charles Wenzell. Upon the front
part Leland & Woodbury erected the building since
known as Leland Block, or Central Block. The first
building waa begun in 1853, and the work had pro-
ceeded as far as the roof-bo.irds, when a violent wind
blew down the whole .structure. Some defect in
the foundation contributed to its fall. It is said that
there w:i3 scarcely a whole timber left in the mas.s of
ruins.
With the aid of contributions from citizens who
sympathized with them in their misfortune, funds were
secured again to set up the building, which was now
carried to completion. In 1S")8 Woodbury conveyed
his interest to Leland. The building, as first erected,
stood too high for convenience, so it was lowered
some six feet, to its present level. The shingled roof
was afterwards covered with slates, and the homely
columns, which for many years stood at the front,
were removed. In this form, substantially, the build-
ing stood till June, 1S89, when, catching fire from the
blazing livery-ftable of W. A. Scott, the high-pitched
roof waa burneil otl'. Later in this year, B. C. Hatha-
way, of Westborough, became owner, and added to
the attractiveness of the building by putting on the
present Hat roof, and otherwise changing the external
appearance.
Albert Leland moved into this building about 1854,
and afterward carried on the manufacture of boots,
for the most part alone, till about 1870, when the
second and third stories of the building were changed
into tenement dwelling", and the two floors in the
roof into halls and bed-rooms. About 1S57 Leland
rented all of the building, which had before been occu-
pied for manufacturing boots, to P. Ware, Jr., who,
with E. A. Forbush, manufactured shoes for some two
or three years. When this firm moved out, Leland
again took up the boot business, taking into partner-
ship George B. Cole, his son-in-law. The bnilding
was DOW divided up, several concerns occupying dif-
ferent floors and carrying on bu»ines.t at the same
time. In 1864, besides Leland &, Cole, Blake & Bal-
com were occupying.
In 1866, Leland & Cole having dissolved, were
running separately on different floors, and on a third
floor C. M. Adam.s was doing business. Nearly all
the time in connection with the making of boots,
Leland had carried on :i store chiefly with others, of
which some account will be given later. He waa a
man of solid proportions, physically and mentally,
and by his enterprise accumulated a snug property,
part of which he left to his favorite church, the Baptist.
He died in 1877.
George B. Cole was at first in partnership with
Albert Leland, and later was doing business for him-
.self in Central Block, as has been stated above. In
1868, when Blake & Balcom vacated the Clark shop,
now standing on the east side of Main Street, a little
j south of Union Street, Cole began occupying and
afterward bought it in 1872. In the same year he
built the house next beyond, where he resided for a
time. In this shop he continued the manufacture of
boots, either alone, or in connection with his brother
S. Augustus Cole, until 1876. In that year, while
returning from the Centennial Exhibition at Phila-
delphia, he took a violent cold, which shortly after-
wards resulted in his death, he not having yet
reached middle age. He was an active, courteous
man, who took an interest in the affairs of the town,
and of the Baptist Church, of which he was a mem-
ber.
Shortly before 1850, Sylvester Hartshorn and Abra-
ham Tilton formed a partnership, under the name of
Hartshorn & Tilton, and fitted up for a shop, the
old William Greenwood blacksmith building, which
stood on Cherry Street, a few feet south of the pres-
ent dwelling of A. T. Jones. This firm manufac-
tured boors for only a year or two, and then dissolved.
Abraham Tilton went on with the business In con-
nection with Charles H. Tilton two years longer.
Abraham had before manufactured boots at the place
of his former residence in the westerly part of the
town. About 1853 he built a shop near his house on
Pleasant Street, in which he manufactured boots
some eight or ten years. After his death the shop
was altered into dwelling-house tenements.
Charles H. Tilton, in 1853, bought a lot of land on
the bank of what is now the Dwight Printing Com-
pany's Canal, at a point opposite Dea. Perry's house,
and built a frame shop about 23 by 28 feet. In that
building he commenced the manufacture of boots,
which was continued by him at this place three years,
after which this building was moved a short distance
up Pleasant Street, and converted into a dwelling-
house. In 1856 he purchased a quarter of an acre of
land on the south side of Pleasant Street, where his
present shop stands, and erected a two-story building
of moderate dimensions, here entering upon business
on a larger scale. The war coming on, he engaged
in making army .shoes. Larger quarters were now
called for. In 1862 one hundred feet were added to
the buildings. The processes of making shoea were
now rapidly changing. Machinery was added year
after year, Tilton being always ready to try any new
machine th.at promised success. Steam-power, being
required to run the machinery, was next introdnced.
X\l parts of the manufacturing were now done in the
factory, very little of the bottoming even after this
time being put out, and a few yeara later none at all.
The work was principally upon boots of medium
554
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
weight, for which a market was found tbioiigliout the
country, antl especially in the West. The name of
the maker was stamped upon the beat qualities of the
goods. About 1874 another one hundred feet was
added to the main building, and a factory waa built
to supply the shop with lasts. This latter business
was given up in ISSO, that this building might be
added to the capacity of the boot-shop, and at the
same time two hundred feet more were built on, and
a large store-house erected, the latter being connec-
ted to the main building by a foot-bridge. Previous-
ly a aide-track had been laid to the factory by the
Boston & Albany Railroad Company; so that now
hand-trucks, for carrying stock or goods, could run
from the railroad freight-platform to all points in the
buildings. These building operations resulted in es-
tablishing in Ashland one of the largest and most
convenient boot-sho[)s in the State. Meanwhile there
had grown up along with the sliop a whole neighbor-
hood of houses, Tilton having erected many of them,
and himself owning twenty-five tenements; he also
added two large frame barns, in which were kept
blooded stock. Havir.g retired from the boot busi-
ness in 1S8J, he is now giving attention to his farm
and to the improvement of his stock.
Houghton, Coolidge & Co., the large firm of man-
ufacturers and dealers in boots and ?hoes, who have
several boot and shoe tactories in the State, and
whose princi|ial place of business is on High Street
in Boston, took a lease of the Tilton shop for a term
of years in 1SS.5, and at once entered upon a large
manufacturing business. They found this shop fully
equipped «"ith machinery, provided with sufficient
steam-power, and with Ireight-cars at its doors. Since
that date the business h.as gone forward with only an
annual stop of a week, to take account of stock. This
shop affords employment for about five hundred men,
women and boys, and turns out three thousand pairs
of boots and shoes daily. The value of the .".nnual
business is S1,000,UOO. The pay-roll for 1S90 will
amount to §J75,000, being double that of the first
year. The workmen are paid regularly on Thursdays
of each week. The plan pursued by this firm is to
manufacture samples of boots and ^hoes in the fall
and winter, which they show to their customers
throughout the country. Orders are received through
the medium of traveling agents, who go the rounds
twice a year, to be filled at different dates through-
out the season. As fast as orders are taken, the
shop is put at work upon them, and the goods are
manufactured, which, if not wanted for delivery im-
mediately, are stored in their own store-room, or in
the large unoccupied stone buildings of the Dwight
Printing Company. .\t all seasons of the year, es-
pecially from July onward till the middle of the fall,
large quantities of boots and shoes are shipped to all
points in the West and Southwest, being loaded di-
rectly from the storage buildings into the freight cars
of the Boston and Albany Railroad. In the winter
the help are working mostly upon shoes, at other
seasons upon both boots and shoes. All classes and
qualities for men's and boys' wear are made in this
shop. The resident managers of the factoiy are \V.
B. Temple and J. E. Tilton.
Paschal Blake came to town m 1S62 and worked
the first six months for .\ljraham Tilton. Afterwanls
he was in partnership with Tilton one year. He
then set up business for himself, commencing in
rooms in the Leland building. After a few months
Josiah A. Balcom formed with him a partnership
under the name of Blake & Balcom. .Vt the end (;f
two years the firm moved into tiie shop on Main
Street, fitted for thein by John Clark, who had
moved the building upon this spot from across
the roail in the field where it had served as a barn.
In ISCS they bought of William .Seaver a lot of land,
where now are the coal-sheds of Abnei' fireenwood,
and built upon the easterly side a two-story shop of
about the same dimensions as Blake's building, now
standing just at the west. Seaver & •■^ons h.ad erecte^l
II siiviilar shop on the site of the iMSi-nitntinned
building. A space of about tiirty-eiglit feet wliicli
was left between these shops people began t(; suggest
might well be utilized as a continuation for Concord
Street toward the JIain Street crossing. But the
f:wncrs of these two builditigs thought a better use
could be put to that open space, so they built each
half-way across a narrow two-story i)r(ijection, giving
the appearance on the Front .Street face of one large
building and on the back side of two projecting
wings. This firn) continued to carry on the business
till 1874, when they dissolved partnership, Balcom
buying the real estate. .Vbout this time the shop
lately nccnoied by Seaver v't Sons was in the market.
Blake, purchasing this, set up and carried on business
alone. On April (i, 1870, the whole combined
building was consumed by fire. Blake has since
continuetl to reside in Ashland, but has not engaged
further in the manufacture of boots.
Josiah A. Balcom, after dissolving partnership with
Blake, as above related, commenced the manufacture
of boots alone in the same shop. He pursued mostly
that method of doing business whici-i at this time w;is
becoming customary among the shops, that is, to fill
orders for goods, and not to make up a large slock in
advance of orders, destined to commission houses to
be marketed at a loss. He did about the same vol-
ume of business as before the dissolution. He re-
mained here till the fire before spoken of, after which
he opened business again in the Cole shop, near Union
Street. His work now was principally upon shoes.
His business increasing, in 1S86 he bought a lot of
land situated next to his home on Alden Street, and
erected a three-story frame building, equipping it with
modern conveniences, including steam-|>ower. Here,
every working day in the year, his business goes for-
ward regularly, the steam whistle summoning and dis-
missing the workmen, who, having once been admitted
ASHLAND.
655
to this shop and given satisfaction, are permanently
retained.
C. M. Adams began the manufacture of boots in 1866
in the second story of the Wiggins store. Remaining
here a year or two, he moved into Leland Block,
where he continued business about three years. He
then moved into buildings of his own recently com-
pleted at the corner of Alden and Railroad Streets.
He occupied for his boot business a portion of the
larger building and the second story of the bakery
stable, whicli stood upon the site of the present bakery
shed. In 1879 a fire which started in the stable con-
sumed that building, and catching the large building,
destroyed that also. The building as it now appears
was immediately re-erected, Mr. Adams occupying,
however, with his boot business only the middle por-
tion of the first floor, and that only for a short time
subsequently to his connection with H. Newhall &
Company, as superintendent in their shop. At a still
later period, in partnership with C. S. Brewer and C.
F. Davis, he manufactured shoes for a year or two in
the " Gothic Arcade," on Alden Street, and afterward
alone, his own building being occupied with other
business. For two or three years, at a period before
the tire. D. R. Chamberlain was in company with
him. After this partnership was dissolved Chamber-
lain continued to work for him until the final failure
of his health.
In 1888 Charles Grieshaber, buying out the stock of
C. M. Adams, commenced the manufacture of shoes
in the Gothic Arcade, a one-story building situated
on Alden Street. This building is furnished with a
hot-air engine, which is used in Grieshaber's business,
atTording the necessary power.
Montgomery Bixby was manufacturing boots, at
about the date of the organization of the town, in
the second story of what was then the railroad pas-
senger depot, being followed a year or two later in
the occupancy of this building by Hiram Temple, as
has been before related. Bixby had been preceded
in businens by Calvin Dyer, and at a still earlier time
by Mitchell & Bryant, when the building stood a few
feet north of the Main Street crossing.
It has been before stated that about 1857, S. W.
Wiggins was in the boot business three years, in part-
nei-ship with E. S. Thayer. At the time when the
town was organized, besides keeping store on the
first floor of the brick building now owned by J. N.
West, in the second story he was manufacturing
boots alone This business he had been engaged in
for several years, commencing in 1841. Benjamin
C. Pond, a man well known in the early days of this
town, was foreman in this shop. The business was
then carried on according to methods now out of
date ; there was more barter than cash ; keeping a
store at the same time, the boots manufactured by
him were bartered in Boston for hardware and other
stock for the store. In buying stock for the shop
the barter also came in play ; so many feet of upper-
leather, so many pounds of sole-leather and so much
cash would be given for a case of boots. Here in
town the workmen on boots were paid largely in
orders on the stores. Where a boot-shop and store
were carried on by the same person, the work was
paid for in goods chiefly out of the store. After
Wiggins moved into his new building, in 1850, the
custom of orders declined rapidly, and within a few
years became obsolete. Upon moving away Wiggins
closed his boot business.
George W. Jones, in about 1853, after dissolving
partnership with Dea. Seaver, manufactured boots
for Whitney & Hines over his store, situated at the
corner of Main and Summer Streets. This business
was continued but a short time.
Stores. — It is not inten'ded to give a full account
of the stores which have done business in this town ;
only a few can be referred to. Many, if not all the
early stores were general — that is, dry-goods, groceries,
crockery and furniture were kept for sale in them.
The first in the order of time kept in the village was
the store which atood at the ea.st end of the cotton
factory. This was opened by Homer Tilton, about the
time the factory was built. A Mr. Barton followed Til-
ton, who, in turn, was followed by William Jennison.
Jennison was in occupancy at the time when the town
was set off. Soon after he moved into his own store, of
which mention will be made below. George W. Fair-
banks was the hist occupant of this store, which was
closed about 1855.
One of the earliest general stores was kept by Ebeu
Tombs in the basement of the house of W. R. Fames.
This store was finally closed about 1840.
In 1841 S. W. Wiggins moved into the brick build-
ing now owned by J. N. West, occupying the first
floor for a store, and the second for a boot-shop
as has been related. In the store business he followed
a Mr. Parks. The succession before this had been
from Studley & Homer, through Valentine & Brew-
ster, to Parks. In early times the second story of
this building was entered by an outside stair-way at
the east end, and was occupied for offices when not
in use for other purposes. Wiggins continued to carry
on the business of a general store at this place till
about 1850, when he put up the large frame building
standing on the north side of Front Street at the
corner of Concord, and which is still known as his
'building. Upon its completion he moved in, and
kept a general store for two or three years, when he
sold out and went West. The business was now
carried on successively by William Jones, by Thayer,
Sweet & Company, Cheever & Thayer (Silas F.), and
Cheever alone until 1860, when Wiggins again came
into possession. For a long term of years Wiggins
now had the ownership and control, establishing a
firm character for the store. In 1876 the business
passed into the name of E. S. Thayer & Company,
Wiggins remaining manager. Later, his health be-
coming less secure, he slowly withdrew, and finally
556
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
the store was closed. A portion of the building was
leased to A. A. Coburn, and has since been occupied
by. him for the sale of dry-goods and clothing.
William Jennison is well remembered by persons
of middle age, as being for a series of years one of
the principal store-keepers in town. He began a few
years before the town was incorporated in the factory
store. In 1845 he bought land of the Uuionville
Evangelical Society and built what is still known as
the " Brick Store," situated on the northeast side of
Main Street, west of the Congregational Church.
About the same time he built the house nearly oppo-
site, which he occupied with his family. He kept a
general store till 1851, when, dying, the business came
into the hands of his son William. The last-named,
aided by his brother Albert, both of whom had ac-
quired experience under their father, carried on the
business for a few years longer. They then sold out
and moved to New York. After the departure of the
Jennisons the brick store never seemed to retain its
tenants. It Ilt-s been occupied at intervals to the
present time chiefly for a store and market. In 1847
the Dwight Printing Company became the owner of
the real estate.
George A. Tilton was engaged in various venture.i
for the sale of goods from about 1800 to 1887. Be-
ginning with a stock of drugs in Woodbury's build-
ing, he moved into the Brick Store, which he bought
about 1862. He now added a stock of groceries. In
1867 he sold the business to W. A. Tilton and E. F.
Greenwood. About this time he erected two small
buildings at the east of the brick store to meet the
then great demand for business accommodations. A
few years later these buildings becoming vacated, he
moved them to Alden Street and converted them into
a store for himself which be called the Gothic Arcade.
This store was afterwards closed and the real estate
passed into other hands.
William A. Tilton, beginning as an apothecary in
the Brick Store, afterwards erected on leased land the
small building at the east of the Central House, which
he occupied in this business for sis years. He then
sold to E. T. Billings, who has continued as proprie-
tor to the present time. The building is now owned
by George E. Whittemore. For several years Bill-
ings baa served as town clerk, having his office in
this building.
Something has been said about the boot business of
Albert Leland. His store business was hardly less
important. In the first building he erected, which is
now owned by Mrs.'^Ia^ning, and situated on Sum-
mer Street, he provided ^r a general store, which was
kept in the front part, customers a.scending several
steps from the street upon entering. In 1852 S. F.
Woodbury became a partner in the business of this
store. A few years later Central Block was built by
Leland & Woodbury, as has already been related,
and Woodbury continued a partner with him in the
store business. In 1858 the partnership was dissolved,
Woodbury taking the stock. As h.as been before
mentioned, these were the days of store orders, given
by the boot-shops, which probably formed the basis
of half the trade. If the manufacturer owned a store,
he was doubly fortunate, for he got a profit both on
the boots the workman made and on the goods he
bought. After a few years ^Voodbury retired and
William Jones was taken into partnership with Le-
land. Horace Yeaton succeeded Jones, and after
Yeaton others, either alone or in company with Le-
land, kept a general store till 1S69. After this time
Leland did not engage in business.
In the year last named Bernard Billings opened a
drug-store on the first flour of Central Block. In
1872 F. X. Oxley became a partner, and the firm
took the name of Billings iV Oxley. In ]875 0.'cley
bought the interest of his [lartncr and continued the
business alone till I'^'JO, wht-n he sold to (.'. E. Thayer,
the present proprietor.
James O'Brien, who occupies the westerly i'ront
room in Central Block for his shoe-siore and harness-
shop, first .iiinmeiiced busines.s in 1^>74, iji While-
bouse Building. He made the chaiig"- iu location in
1879, then adding boots and shoes to his slock. His
trade has been largely increased.
George W. Jones bought a lot of "land of Captain
Stone and erected a building at what is now the cor-
ner of Main and yunuucr ."streets, in 1S46. He after-
wards occupied these jiremises for the purjioses cf a
general store. In lS5;j this building was moved
southerly on Main Street fifty or sixty fei't, to be
used as a dwelling-house. At the same time a build-
ing which had stood in the rear and been occupied .is
a barn was brought furward to the mrner and re-
ceived additions. This constituted his store till about
IS70. In 1867 X. A. Coburn bad become interested
with him, and together they now enlarged the build-
ing to its present dimensions. About this time Jones
Ibrmed also other business connections in Boston.
When he died, in 1872, he was a ])artner in the firm
of Jones, Williams I'i: Faxon.
In 1870 William Euslin bought one-third interest
in this real estate. This stand was now occupied by
A. A. Coburn and Franklin Ensliu, who had formed a
partnership under the name of Coburn & Etislin.
A large general-store business was done till 1878,
when the firm dissolved, dividing the stock and
the building, Coburn taking the dry-goods and Ens-
lin the groceries. Coburn continued to trade here
in dry-goods and clothing till 1886, when he moved
i into the Wiggins Store, on Front Street, where he
now is. Enslin dealt in groceries until 1877, when
he sold to E. F. Miller & Son, who after a short time
.sold to C. F. Grout and C. W. Enslin. The last
named formed a partneship under the name of
Grout & Enslin, and have continued the business to
the present time. Ever since Jones opened a store
on this corner a substantial and prosperous business
has been done at this point.
ASHLAND.
557
In 1883 Henry I. Pike and J. E. Woods came from
Westborough, and forming a partnership under the
name of Pike & Woods, commenced doing a grocery
business iu the new brick building of A. Greenwood,
situated at corner of Front and Concord Streets, i
They called themselves the Boston Branch, put prices
down and sold mostly for cash. They at once secured a ]
good trade in this and neighboring towns. In the spring j
of 1889 the partnership was dissolved, Woods keeping"!
the business and Pike going back to Westborough.
About 1850 John Clark came from Acton and be-
gan the manufacture uf tinware in the lower part of
one of the Brewster buildings, which stood on the
site of Greenwood's stable. He also kept hardware
for sale. After two years he bought the land on the
north side of Front Street, then vacant since the
burning of Temple's shop, and erected the building
now used for dwellings and the hardware-store of
Perry & Enslin. He now greatly increased his busi-
ness of manufacturing tin-peddlers' supplies. In
1855 Edwin Perry began working for Clark in the |
store and in issuing goods to the peddlers. Five
vears later Clark sold the business to Lyman Patch |
and Perry, — the former taking a deed of the real i
estate. The business now went on under the name '
of E. Perry & Co. After about four years Patch sold ,
his interest back to Clark. Then for seven years the
business was conducted under the name of Clark & j
Perrv. A hirge number of tin-peddlers' carts were !
now sent out, covering the country in some directions i
to the distance of thirty or forty miles. The firm
usually owned the carts, the peddlers often, but not ,
always, providing the horses. These were the palmy ;
days of tin-peddling, as the good price then obtained j
liir rag stock encouraged barter, by which the tinware
was largely disposed of. In 1877 Clark sold all his
interest, including the real estate, to Edwin Perry
and Franklin Eiisiin, who have continued to the
present time an extensive business under the firm-
name of Perry i*c Enslin.
S. F. Woodbury, after the firm of Leiand & Wood-
bury had been dissolved, carried on the store in the
Leiaud building for about two years. He then
bought and enlarged the Temple boot-shop. on Ptail-
road Street, where he kept a store for a short time.
In about 1S70 he erected another building just at the
west, a portion of which he occupied for a clothing-
^tore. In 1873 he exchanged his stock with Horace
Yeatou fcjr real estate, and three years later bought
it back. He closed business in 1877.
C. B. Stockwell occupied for a shoe-store the west-
erly portion of the Woodbury building until it was
burned, in 1877. He then leased a lot of land on
Front Street, where he built a small store, which he
is now occupying.
About 1875 A. F. Farwell fitted up a confectionery
factory and store in the building next west from the
brick store, where he continued in business till he
sold, in 1887, to R. E. Hunt, the 'present owner.
Of the stores established more recently, and now
running, are the dry-goods store of C. T. Scott and
the grocery of O'Connor & Shaughnessy.
S. A. Davis began his business as a dealer in news-
papers and periodicals in 1870, having his first store
in Whitehouse building. Later h^ became a dealer
in fruits and confectionery. After Draper vacated
the store in Broad's building on Railroad Street in
1877, Davis took possession and has remained in this
location to the present time. When changing to
these larger quarters he found room to add a stock of
fancy goods and books for a circulating library.
From time to time clothing dealers have brought in
stocks and opened stores, but none have been able to
establish a permanent business. Of those who have
remained longest, may be named H. M. Dufur, the
noted wrestler, and George S. Hutchins.
Tailors. — Among tailors, Waite's name is remem-
bered in part from the tailor's work his widow did for
many years after his death. Bodemer, who followed
in the early years of the town, had for his place of
business the renovated blacksmith's shop which once
stood about where the steamer-house now stands.
Next came Baylies, who occupied the same quarters.
Later, Lewis Kingsbury for several years had his shop
in West's building. W. M. Draper, who in the seven-
ties occupied the store now of S. A. Davis, made his
way chiefly by his marked personal traits. John N.
West came from Boylston and established his business
about 1867. He had bravely maintained his hold,
brought up a family of children and was still work-
ing at his trade when, a few years ago, by a sudden
stroke he was totally disabled.
Want of space forbids reference to the long line of
dressmakers and milliners.
Bakery. — Ever since C. M. Adams first erected his
building at the corner of Alden and Railroad Streets,
in 1870, the town has had the benefit of a local baker>-,
as the serviceable oven at that place has attracted its
counterpart, the baker. Frank B. Tilton, coming from
Natick, was the first to open a bakery in this town.
He was followed by Fiske & Stratton, several other
bakers successively followed in the business in Adams
Block, none remaining above a year or two, until
Michael F. and Thomas R. Twiss took possession in
1884. Under the name of Twiss Brothers they have
carried on the business to the present time.
Maekets. — Until about twenty-five years ago there
, were no meat markets in the village, the people there, as
' elsewhere, depending for supplies upon the carts which
called at their doors. A. W. Eames (2d) opened a
market in a building erecjed for him on Summer
Street in 1870, and the business has been continued
! ever since at that point. Many different persons have
I at times kept meats and provisions for sale at various
stands, but few have continued long in the business.
Besides Eames, Theodore Jones and John H. Jack-
j son at the present time keep well-patronized markets,
and send around carts in this and neighboring towns.
558
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
For many years Melvin Whittemore has carrieii on
trade in fish, both from his market and his wagon.
Carpenters. — At the head of the li-tt i)f carpen-
ters who are noted for length of service, and results
accomplished, stands Richard R. Brewster. He came
to town soon after James Jackson, being specially
engiige to look after the carpenter work needed about
the cotton-factory. In 1845 he built a house on
Front Street, which he occupied till his death, in 1S7S.
About 1835 he succeeded to the business of Studley &
Homer. They had built a carpenter's shop just
at the west of their brick building, now known as
J. N. West's, and had carried on a lumber-yard and
store at that point. To conduct the store business in
the brick building, Brewster took into partnership
first William and later Samuel Valentine. The
store and partnership were dropped in a few years,
but the carpenter's shop and the lumber-yard he kept.
Later this shop was moved to the spot now covered
by the brick block of Abiier Greenwood, and fitted
for a dwelling. It was finally taken down in ISSo.
He now buiit and occupied a carpenter's shop situat-
ed on Front Street, about where now stands the coal-
shed of Abner Greenwood. This was probably about
1840. His lumber-yard, near West's building, about
the same time he moved upon land now of the Boston
and Albany Railroad Company, lying between their
track and Front Street, east of Greenwood's building.
In his yard he kept a good stock of Itimlier for sale,
till near the time of his decease. Abi>ut ISoO he
rented the lower part of his carpenter shop to one
Hammond, who came from Dover, for a wheelwright
bu-'-iness, and the second-story to Aaron Rice for a !
harness-shop. He built at this time a second carpen- |
ter-shop at the east of the one rented, standing about
on the site of Greenwood's barn. .Snli^equently thi.--
building was rented to John Clark, Williaui Seaver,
the Sons of Temperance and other tenants. Both ol
these buildings were finally moved away and convert-
ed into dwellings. About 1850 he and Orlin Allard
built a steam-mill on the south side of Front Street,
near the railroad track, at about the location of Ezra
Morse's buildings, and fitted it with machinery for
making doors, sash and blinds. This mill had a steam
planer, the first used in Ashland. Charles V. Guy
superintended the running of the mill, which after a
year or two was burned, taking fire in the absence at
breakfast of the attendant. Some years later Guv
went west with Wiggins, and engn::;ed in the manu-
facture of lumber.
Brewster built for their owners many of the houses
and other buildings ia town. He was active in es-
tablishing the Congregational Sunday-school and
church, though not a church member. His influence
was felt in the setting otf and building-up of the town,
and his aid waa freely given to its business interests.
Charles Homer, one of the children of Michael
Homer, learning his carpenter's trade in Fram- i
ingham, commenced business here in partnership
with Studley, reference to which has already been
' made. He soon went away, later engaging in
government work. For one of these contracts with
the government he claimed that a large sum of
money was due him, which could never be obtained.
He finally returned to Ashland to speud his last davs,
and died in 1888.
Edward and Charles Knowlton were doing carpen-
ter work before andafter theestablishmentof the town.
Charles Knowlton superintended the rebuilding of
Shepard's paper-mill after the fire in 1842. Alonzo
Perkins was at one time associated as a partner with
Charles Knowlton. He was among the early soldiers
in the Civil War.
Eleazer Whittaker was mostly engaged in doing
carpenter repairs at the cotton factory. He was said
to be very "ingenious," could "make and attach a
mosquito's bill.''
Willard Stiles was following his trade as carpenter
in 1841). He built many of the older houses. His
-o.T, Gilbert Stiles, succeeded to the business.
Abijah Adams and George H. Adams, his son,
came from Rutland about 185-"i and built a hou>e and
-.hop on Main Street, where now the daughter of the
former and the son and widow of the latter reside.
E. L. Sherman, whose native place is Westborough
and who is still working at his trade as a cariJeuter,
came to town in 1844.
Warren Wright, who began carpentering with
George H. Adams, his nephew, formerly drove stage
from Hayden Row through Hopkinton Centre to
Ashland. J. F. Porter is known beyond the limits
of the town as a builde'', and is now erecting the
school-house on Central Street. Charles H. Bigelow,
>on of James Bigelow, whose early home was the W.
D. Cole place, was noted before he h.ad become par-
tially disabled, for the excellence of his work. It is
said that Bigelow would work half a day with George
H. Adams, as partner upon a job, without speaking,
these two silent men fully com[ireliending each other.
Blacksmiths. — In former times blacksmiths' shops
were located without much reference to villages, just
where their owners happened to reside. In 1S4G,
Daniel Lamb had for many years pursued this trade
in a shop on the Sherborn Road at the limit of the
town. Lamb kept working at that spot till disabled
by old age. The shop remains, but has been turned
to other uses. Just above the Shepard, or, as it is
called in the older histories, the Howe dam, on the
river bank, Alexander Clark, with his sons, Newell
and Alexander, ke|)t a blacksmith-shop. The busi-
ness at this place was discontinued about 1840.
Newell Clark was in the Greenwood shop for a
short time about 1840. In 1841 he occupied a black-
smith-shop for a year or two, which stood where
Greenwood's old office now is on the south side of
Front Street. This building was afterwards moved
off and changed into a dwelling-house. Clark went
to South Framingham and opened business.
ASHLAND.
559
William Greenwood's blacksmith-shop stood on the
west side of Cherry Street, at a spot a little to the
south of the present residence of A. T. Joues. This
seems to have been the principal shop in this region
in pre-Ashland times.
About 1843 Addison Fisher came from Medway
and opened a blacksmith-shop on Front Street at a
point about where Blake's building now stands. Capt.
Moses Clafliu followed Fisher in the business.
In 1847 Abner Greenwood, quitliug the old location
of his father, William, on Cherry Street, commenced
work in this shop. In ISoO he built his shop on Con-
cord Street, and soon after the two dwelling-houses
next to the south, [n 1863 he formed a partnership
with Harvey Piper, who had before worked for him,
which continued till 18o(3, when Piper bought the
business. In lSo',1 Piper moved into the basement of
Taggart's new wlieehvriglit shop across the street, and
Greenwood resumed black^niithing alone in his shop.
Here he continued till 18(58, making money, when
Gibbs ti)ok the business, selling out to Whitcomb.
George Boutilier occuiiied this shop twelve years,
beginning in 1878. In 1882 Greenwood erected the
fine brick building standing at the corner of Front
and Concord Streets.
Herbert H. Piptr, upon the failure of his father's
health, succeeded him in business and remained two
years in the Taggart ba.->einonl. He then leased a
spot of land on the east side of Concord Street, and
building a shop, has since carrieil on his trade there.
Painters. — Henry .1. D.idiuun, who was born in
the northern part of what is now the town of Ash-
land, in ISoS, early loa.-ned the house-painter's trade,
and followed it in this town and vicinity throughout
his life, which closed in 1870. About 1850 .Tohn W.
Spooner came from New Bedford and engaged in the
same business. Later these men formed a partnership
under the name of Dadmun & Spooner. For many
years they worked together; ibcn separating, they
shared between them nearly the whole business of the
town. Biitli built houses and paint-shops. Dadmun,
after dissolving the firinconnecUon with Spooner, took
his son James into partnership, and later C. F. Grout.
James died two years before his father. The business
was closed ai the hitter's death. Dadmun and S[>ooner
were both men of marked individuality. Spooner,
being active in the prosecution of temperance work,
was threatened with injury, and the firing of his build-
ing more than once seemed to him proof that injury
was actually intended. C. H. Spooner and G. T. Jones,
once employees of Spooner, now have a monopoly of
the house-painting wort: in .Vshland.
0. A. Wilco.'c in 1S70 erected a building on the
West side of Concord Street, close to the canal, in
which to do ornamental and carriage-painting. After
following his trade lor a series of years, he sold his
building and business to R. A. Taggart. Since that
time some half a dozen ditf'erenc persons have occupied 1
this building, each for a short time only.
Wheelwright. — With the exception of Ham-
mond, who for a short time occupied one of the
Brewster carpenter-shops, R. A. Taggart is the only
one who has made an exclusive business of doing
wheelwright work in the village. He built and occu-
pies a shop on the west side of Concord Street.
Coal Dealers.— At first George W. Jones did all
the coal business, two or three car-loads a year sup-
idying his customers. In 1867 Ezra Morse succeeded
to Jones' coal business, and two years later added a
stock of lumber. He erected sheds and continued in
the business about ten years.
In 1866 J. N. Pike and C. H. Tilton erected a coal-
■ihed between Front Street and the railroad, and en-
gaged in the business, Pike soon selling to his part-
ner. In 1869 Abner Greenwood bought the shed
and commenced a business which he has carried on
to the present time. He deals in anthracite coal
exclusively, handling one thousand tons annually.
He also sells hay, lime and cement.
C. H. Tilton in 1873 again returned to the coal
trade, building sheds along the railroad near his
boot factory. In 1885, when he closed his boot manu-
facturing, he transferred the coal business to his son,
C. H. Tilton, Jr., who now carries it on.
Ice Dealer. — For many years G. C. Fiske has
; 'Upplied ice to the people of Ashland from his two
I ice-houses. In addition to this business he carries on
I the farm formerly worked by his father. ■
I BARHEits. — There have usually been at least two
barber-shops in the village. Charles H. Nichols,
I whose place of business is on Front Street, com-
I inenced in 1871.
Hotels. — Capt. John Stone built and opened the
' Railroad House, now Scott's Hotel, in 1834 ; a barn
was also built, standing more to the front than the
[)re3ent stable, with cow-yard where Central Block
I now stands. Stone at that time quit the old dwelling
on Union Street, known as the "Simpson " house,
ind moved into the hotel with his family. He car-
ried on the hotel only about a year. Later he took
, up his abode in the dwelling situated a few rods to
1 the west, which has ever since been occupied by him
')T his descendants. Stone continued to own the
■ hotel property and leased to different parties. The
lessees seem to have occupied in the following order,
none of them for long periods : Reignolds, Fuller,
Angler, Atherton, Barber, Warren, Bates & Thayer
Bates, Scott.
Smith Bates and Silas F. Thayer bought out Silas
Warren in 1848. The business included the livery
stable. In the spring following, Thayer sold to his
partner the hotel business, but retained the livery.
Thayer carried on the livery stable nine years and
then sold to W. A. Scott, himself moving to Hopkin-
ton. Bates sold the hotel furniture and business to
Scott in 1849. From that time to the present Scott
has carried on the hotel and stable. In 18G8, after
the death of Captain Stone, he bought the whole
560
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
hotel property. The stable was burned July 30,
1851, at the time of an officers' drill, when there
were many strangers in town, and a^ain on June 15,
1889. It has now again been rebuilt. In the years
before the towd was incorporated the second story in
the wooden easterly extension of the hotei was some-
times used as a hall for public meetings. In ISG'J
O. A. Wilcox bought the lot of land on the north
side of Front Street, on which now stand the Cen-
tral House and post-office building. There were two
houses then upon it. Altering and enlarging the j
more easterly of these to its present proportions and i
furnishing it, he opened a hotel which was named the
Central House. Here he carried on the business, until
1878, when becomingdissatisfied with results, he moved
to Kansas. The receivers of the Mercantile Savings i
Bank having taken possession as mortgagee, at first ;
leased these premises to various persons, as tenants ai
will, and finally sold in 1879 to F. D. Osgood, who
shortly afterwards conveyed to Michael Manning, the t
present owner of the property.
In 1869 the Megonko House and livery stable,
situated on Pleasant Street, were erected and furnished
byC. H. Tilton. S. F.Thayer returned from Hopkin-
ton to conduct the business. At the end of four
vears the livery stable was closed, and the hotel
business passed into the hands of C. F. Hanson.
Hanson was followed successively by Babcock and
Greely. In about 1880 the hotel building was finished
into tenement dwellings.
There have usually been one or more restaurants
in operation in the village, their lease of life uol
often extending beyond one year.
Livery St.vbles. — The history of the Scott livery
stable h;is been given in connection with the account
of the hotel now bearing the same name.
The livery stable on Summer Street, for many years
conducted by S. F. Thayer, was built by Charle?
Wen/ell about 1861, he buying the land from Albert
Leiand. Wenzell kept stable five or six years, and
sold to Ed. Carter, who continued the busines.-
only ayear or two. The whole property now came
into the hands of John Clark, who took James.
Moffatt into partuership in the livery business. Later
Clark sold to Moffatt the business, retaining owner-
ship of the real estate. In 1875 Thayer bought the
personal property, and in 1889 his son, Charles E.
Thayer, became owner of the real estate.
In 1846 S. F. Thayer began keeping livery stable
in a building which stood upon the present site ol
Mary C. Broad's dwelling-house. In the same year,
1847, Willard Broad became owner of this building
and the house which stood at the corner, whose loca-
tion is marked by the ceilar-hole, visible now for
many years. Thayer occupied only for a year, then
moving into the " Stone " stable on Main Street.
Afterward Broad's barn was occupied successively by
Wenzell for a livery stable, and Albert Leiand as a
boot-shop, till it was burned in about 1850. The
second story was occupied from about 1S45 as a boot-
bottomer's shop by Willard Broad, who hired work-
men and lan teams. Years later Broad was a pione*.
in the gilding of boot-tops, and accumulated a small
[iniperty before the shops introduced gildiug-rL .
chines.
Railroads. — In 1834 the Boston and Worcester
Railroad Company, having completed its road from
Bo-ton to this point, ran its trains into the low build-
ing which now forms the easterly end of the freight-
house. This was its first station. Later the two-
story boot-shop, which had stood back of the Main
Street tlag-house, was moved forward to the north
side of the track and served for purposes of a railroad
passenger station in its first story and for a boot-nliop
in its second. There were outside stairs at the east
end. Below, just east of the building, was an open
shed, which at a later date was moved easterly and
attached to the first depot, making of the whole the
present freight-house. About 1850 the passenger sta-
tion was sold and moved to the north side of Front
Street, where such part of it as survived a aubsec|uent
fire was rebuilt into the prt-scnt post-otiice building.
A new station was erected on the south side of the
track, on the spot now covered by the west end of the
present building, which seived till 1S8S, when it was
moved across the street and converted into the store
now owned by Mrs. Mci'artlin. The present fine
building was erected in the last-named year. It is to
be followed by a brick freight-house, to stand on
Front Street.
In 1872 the Hopkintou Railroad Company, havinf:
completed their road from Milford to Ashland, com-
menced running trains, and there has been no inter-
ruption in the service to the present time. The new
track laid on the south portion of the Boston and
.Vlbany road-bed, leading from Cherry Street east,
admits the trains to the station of the latter road.
Orting to the failure of the Ho|)kinton Railroad Com-
pany to meet their obligations, the mortgage on the
road was foreclosed in 1883. At the sale the property
was bought by George Draper, who afterwards sold
to the Milford and Woonsocket Railroad Company,
which in turn has leased to the New York and Xew
England Railroad Company for a term of ninety-nine
years. The latter company is now in possession,
John T. Jackson being the local freight agent, while
passenger tickets are sold by the agent of the Boston
and Albany Railroad Company.
The last-named company has been the successor ot
the Boston and Worcester Railroad Company since
1867. Timothy Vincent was the first general station
agent at this point. In about 1841 he was succeeded
by James H. Jones, who continued in that position
till October, 1873; during the last four years of this
period the business being mostly done by his son, C.
U. Jones, who had been appointed clerk. Since the
resignation of his father, J. Newton Pike has served
as agent.
ASHLAND.
561
Express Companies. — Ever since the first days of
"'■press companies Ashland has had an agency. Wil-
. .m W. Whitaker will be remembered as one of the
ea-'iest of the agents and afterward as uiau-ofall-
rk about the station till his death, about five years
ago. E. F. Greenwood was for many years the active
agent of the Adams Express Company, now repre-
sented by A. J. Lowe. J. N. Pike is agent of the
American Express Company and H. G. Stiles of the
Ashland and Boston Express Company.
Post-Office. — The Unionville post-oflBce was es-
tablished January 7, 1835, presumably, in great part,
for the benefit of the cotton-factory. Matthew Met-
calf was the first post-master, and the factory store-
building was the place where the post-office was kept.
On March 17, 1840, William Jennison succeeded to
this lucrative position, and on March 6, 1S46, James
O. Clark was made happy by appointment to it. All
this lime the office was kept in the factory-store,
which building, considering it was also the counting-
room for the factory, and devoted to various other im-
portant purposes, must have been the principal busi-
ness centre of the village. The general post-office
at Washington, from which names and dates have
been obtained, has this note: " April 29, 1846, name
changed to Ashland." As the town was incorporated
on March IGth it will be seen that the Post-Office De-
partment, so far as it was concerned, graciously ex-
tended the life of the dying Unionville jusl forty-four
days. Clark held the office till XprW S, 1847, when
Willard W. Warren obtained the appointment. Dur-
ing, or perhaps at the commencement of Warren's
term, the post-office was transferred to the store of G.
W. Jones, at corner of Main and Summer Streets.
.Fames H. .Tones was ai)pointed January IX, 1S51, and
opened an office in the railroad station. He perlorm-
eil the work ot |)i>stmiisti'r unassisted lor years, in ad-
dition to his regular duties .as railroad agent at this
point. Later, bis daughter, Caroline H. Jones, aided
him, gradually taking upon herself the whole work.
When Jones' health finally faileil. Miss Jones was
appointed assistant, and conducted the office, her
father only signing necessary papers. About 187-T
the location of the post-office was changed to the
small building in the curtilage of the Jones house, ou
Main Street. Jones died August 18, 18S5. On Sep-
tember 21st of the same year, Adrian Foote was ap-
pointed to the office. Ou February 2t), 1887, Caleb
Holbrook assumed the work as post-master, which he
had before carried on as Foote's agent. The office
was removed in 1885 to the Coburn Building, situa-
ted on the north side of Front Street.
New,spapers. — The Asldand Advertiser is the orig-
inal local newspaper. It was first published August
7, 1869, by George W. Morse, of whom some notice
appears elsewhere. H. H. Tilton soon acquired a half-
interest. The printing was first done in rooms in the
second story of the Jones Building, on a hand-press.
About a year later the editing and printing were
36-iii
transferred to the third story of the Broad Building,
where the paper remained till its removal to South
Framingham, January 21, 1876, and consolidation
with the Framingham Oazette. The following per-
sons were concerned as owners or editors, or both,
while the business remained in Asbland : Morse &
Walker, Walker & Mayhew, Geo. P. Mayhew, Edgar
Potter and Potter & Vincent. The Ashland Adverti-
■ler is now printed weekly at South Framingham, by
the Lakeview Printing Company, and contains about
j the same matter as the Framingham Oazette, but
somewhat differently arranged on the local pages.
The Ashland Advocate and Ashland Tribune are week-
I ly papers, having a circulation in Ashland, and are
; printed, respectively, in Marlborough and South Fra-
I mingham.
', Surveyors. — Matbew Metcalf was a surveyor of
i land fifty years ago. He was also a justice of the
I peace and made many of the deeds of that day. His
j handwriting, though fine, was always even and clear.
' William F. Ellis, who had been a student with
I Metcalf, began work as a surveyor, shortly before the
j organization of the town. He did substantially all
1 the local work of that kind till about ten years ago,
' when his railroad engineering, in which business he
; had also become an expert, took him away temporar-
1 ily. He still retained his residence in Ashland and
' returned in 1887, to resume his local work. Follow-
ing the employment of surveyor so many years in
; .Vshland, he became acquainted with the farms and
: other divisions of land, having in many cases person-
al knowledge of the bounds and dividing lines. He
i was a Justice of the peace, and his bold, uniform band-
writing may be found upon very many of the deeds,
aftecting Ashland property, passed during the last
■ fifty years. He also wrote wills and administered
upon estates. He was kept much in town office, aud
there is probably no board of town officers upon
i which he has not served. His influence in establish-
ing aud conducting the town has been second to none.
He died suddenly of heart-disease, in August, 1888.
i <Teorge A. Ellis and William F. Ellis, sons of the
Ellis above mentioned, while learning the business of
1 surveyor, assisted their father, but moved away upon
j entering on business of their own.
I George H.Stone, a son of Captain John Stone, has
i been known as an engineer and surveyor, although he
spent most of his life in operations away from town.
j He studied in the office of Simeon Borden, of Fall
River. Beginning for himself, he was first engaged
in the engineering department of the Boston & Wor-
cester Railroad Company. He was living in Natick
from 1857 to 1862, at which latter date he joined the
army, being attached first to the Sixth, and later to
the Twenty-sixth Regiment of Massachusetts Volun-
teers. He was made lieutenant of engineers, and
placed on the staff of General Weitzel, at New Or-
leans. In this city he was in charge of the work of
restoring the levees destroyed by the rebels at their
562
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
retreat. After the war he returned to Natick, and
later was engaged about a year and a half as engineer
in the construction of the European and North Amer-
ican Railroad in Maine. In 1869 he removed to Ash-
land, making that his home, and engaging in various
enterprises till his death, in 1879.
Physicians. — Any account of the physicians who
have practiced in the town of Ashland would be inade-
quate without some mention of Dr. James S. Sullivan,
whose memory is still fresh and cheering in the
minds of the older people. He came here in about
1835, and remained several years. He had an office
in the second story of the West Building. He built
the two "Sullivan " houses, that is, those now owned
by Mrs. E. M. F. Forbush and Mrs. Mary E. Brewer.
He possessed a large heart, as well as a bright mind,
and became much beloved. He married Miss Jane
Valentine, of Hopkintoii. He went away in about
1843, wandering Westand South, spending some years
in Darien, Georgia, and finally dying in Savannah.
Dr. Jonas C. Harris followed Sullivan. He first
lived in the "Simmons " house, that being the house
next easterly from Mrs. Willard Broad's. He built
what is now known as the " John Clark " house, sit-
uated on Main Street subsequently to the setting off
the town, which he helped accomplish. He was ad-
mitted to be a good physician even by his enemies.
His nature was of a positive kind that hews out its
own way. He was made a colonel of mililia. He
moved away about 1853, going to Cambridge, where
he has since remained, having a successful practice.
About this time or perhaps earlier, Drs. Learned
and Wheeler were in town, the latter conducting a
school for boys in one of the " Sullivan " houses.
Dr. Jackson, an eclectic physician, came before
Harris went away. He spent several years in practice.
Dr. William Barrett took the house of Dr. Harris
upon the departure of the latter, and practiced medi-
cine very successfully for a number of years. Hi"
wife was a sister of E. A. Forbush, of whom mention
has been made. Dr. Barrett went away lo Boston,
where he has found a large field for labur.
Dr. William Rogers was a successful physician here
for many years. He lived in the " Buck " house, the
same now owned by the Adams sisters, on Fruot
Street. He was of a social nature and made manv
friends. His health failed and he was obliged to
give up working in his profession some fifteen years
ago. He has been dead for several years.
Dr. Seaver lived in the " Simmons " house and
practiced medicine for several years.
Dr. J. M. Wiggin followed Seaver, residing for a
time in the same house. About 1S70 he built a resi-
dence on the corner of Railroad and Alden Streets,
and practiced medicine successfully to nearly the
time of his decease, in 1882. He was a man of good
judgment and decided opinions. He held town office,
acting on the Board of Overseers of the Poor. He
had formerly been a Methodist preacher, and ap-
peared in the pulpit occasionally during his stay in
Ashland.
Dr. G. C. Pierce came to Ashland in September,
1866. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and of
the Harvard Medical School. He spent two years in
Bellevne Medical School, New York City. He is a
member of the Massachusetts Medical Society and
other societies. About 1870 he built a house at the
corner of Central and Alden Streets, in which since
that time he has resided and had his office. Being
one of the physicians longe.st in practice in this vi-
cinity, he is called to neighboring towns for attend-
ance and consultation. He was for many years a
member of the School Committee.
Dr. J. H. Redfeara came lo town first in 1879 and
remained four years. He then eng.iged ia business
which took him to Texas during the winter seasons.
.Vfter an absence of six years he returned to Ashland.
His office is at hi.■^ rcHidenue o'l Main Street. He
graduated from the College of Physicians and Sur-
geons in New York City. He is a member of the
Massachusett-( Medical Society, and corresponding
member of the Gyn;t;cological .Society of Boston.
Dr. I. J. Clark took up his resideuce iu this place
in 1SS3, and continued in the practice of medicine
till 18S6, when he sold his business and moved to
Woburn. He has now been for several years prac-
ticing in Haverhill.
Dr. F. E. Mayberry .succeeded to the business of
Dr. Clark, remainiug three years, when he removed
to Hoosick Fall.s, N. Y.
Dr. Geo. W. Bu'terrielil, who is a graduate of the
Boston University Mfdital School, began the prac-
tice of medicine in this pUce in 1^83. In the aan)e
year he moved into the Jdui Chirk house, on Main
Street, where he has since reside I and had his office.
He has recently b'lUght that [ilact-. Practicing hc-
moeopathicaliy, he rides much into neighboring towns.
H- is a meml)er nf (he School C. niniiit' e.
For iiiany year Dr. W..ite came iroin H pk nlon
one dav in each week, and, having a room in Scon's
Hotel, attended to dt-nti-try.
About 1870 Dr. H. A. Mansfield opened a dental
office in Broad's Building, and prosemted his bu.si-
ness for several ye^rs, when he went to Evanstop, in
the suburbs of Chicago, whert- he has reiently died.
Dr. F. E. Lewis succeeded to the office and busi-
ness of Mansfield, remaining for a term of years,
then removing to Natick. where he now has an office.
Dr. M. G. Leonard opened a dental office in 1883,
in Adams Block, remainiug only about u year.
Dr. E. J. Dixon now practices dentistry at his
office in Greenwood's Block on Front Street.
Lawyers. — It is quite certain that a young man
opened a law-office in Ashland as early as 1850, but
he could have remained only a short time. No one
seems to remember his name, or anything about him,
except that his hair was red.
George W. Norris was the first lawyer to take up a
ASHLAND.
563
cootinuoua abode in town. He came in June, 1869,
aad remained till May, 1876. He had an office in the
Jones building, which during the latter part of his
stay he occupied only in the evening, being at his
Boston office during the day. After a time he bought
and moved into the cottage house standing near the
east end of Pleasant Street, where he continued to
reside until his departure from town. He was a mem-
ber of the School Committee during a term of years.
After leaving town, in 1885, he was appointed Gov-
ernment agent with the tribe of Nez Perces Indians.
For several years he remained with his family at this
post. He now resides in Boston, having a law-office
in Rogers Building.
George W. Mor.-<e came to Ashland in 1869, while
he was yet a law student in Boston. He was admit-
ted to the bar in June of that year, and opened an
office in Central Block. In the following July he
started the Ashland Advertiser. While he remained
in town he was editor of this paper. In July, 1870,
having gathered a law business in Boston sufficient
for his support, he sold his interest in the paper, and
removed from town, carrying away as his wife, Miss
Clara R. Bolt, one of Ashland's school-teachers. He
now has a large law business in Boston.
George T. Higley, who is a graduate of Amherst
College, and of the School of Law in Boston Univer-
sity, began the practice of law in 1873, opening an
office in Broad's Building. He still remains in his
original (juarters. In 1875 he removed his family
into the house then erected by him, situated at the
corner of Central and Alden Streets, where he contin-
ues to reside. He was a member of the School Com-
mittee for many years.
Henry Hogan, having recently been admitted to
practice law in the State Courts, does law business in
the town in the evening, being away at another office
during the day. He was a student at the Boston
University School of Law.
S0CIETIE.S. — Aiulenl Free and Aaepted Mmuns. —
The North Star Lodge was chartered June 14, a.l.
5865. The society met at first in the hall in Wig-
gins' building. In 1884 commodious rooms were ele-
gantly fitted up in the third story of Green wood'H
Block, in which the meetings have since been held.
Grand Army of the Bepublic. — Col. Prescott Post,
No. 18, was instituted August 12, 1867, and meets
every Wednesday evening in their hall in the Jones
building. Its membership numbers fifty.
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. — Aihiand Lodge,
Xo. 164, was established October 9, 1872. The meet-
ings were held first in the G. A. R. Hall, afterward for
a time in the old Masonic Hall. For many years pre-
vious to 1890 this society occupied the hall in Adams
Block, fitted up for their use. At the commencement
of that year they took possession of large, finely-
furnished rooms in the third story of Central Block.
Daughters of Rebecca. — Aurelia Lodge, No. 80, was
instituted June 21, 1889, and meets in the Odd Fel-
lows' Hall on the first and third Fridays of each
month.
Order of the Eastern Star. — Olive Branch Chapter,
No. 12, was chartered June 28, 1881, and convenes in
the Masonic Halt on the first Tuesday evening of
each month.
Woman's Relief Corps. — Col. Prescott Relief Corps,
No. 15, was instituted April 12, 1880. This society
meets in the G, A. R. Hall.
Ancient Order Hibernians. — Division No. 22 meets
in its hall in Central Block, on the first Tuesday of
each month.
Patrons of Husbandry. — Ashland Lodge, No. 124,
meets in the G. A. R. Hall on alternate Tuesday
evenings. Its charter dates from April 7, 1885.
Knights of Lahor. — Washington Association, As-
sembly No. 4530, was chartered November 3, 1885.
This society hold their meetings in their hall in
.idams Block.
Looters' Protective Union. — The local Branch of this
society meet in their hall in Broad's Building.
Other societies have been organized and meet in
the interest of life insurance, temperance, athletics,
and for other purposes.
Churches and Ministers. — The First Universal-
ist Society in Ashland held its first meeting for or-
ganization May 13, 1871. John Clark was chosen
treasurer, and John W. Spooner, John Clark, H. H.
Tilton, H. W. Barrett and T. A. Osborn a parish
committee, with George W. Norrig as clerk. There
were also among its corporators William Wlieelock,
O. A. Wilcox, Hubbard Willson and others. The
society leased the hall in Adams Building, at the
corner of Railroad and .\ldeu Streets. Meetings
were held here regularly for about two years.
George Proctor was hired as preacher the first year.
He was succeeded by Anson Titus, and by students
from Tuft's College. A cjuartette choir and organist
were employed, and much interest was shown in the
enterprise. The number of families, however, whose
members desired to attend the meetings was found
insufficient to warrant their continuance.
Catholic Church.— Oa December 20, 1858, Fa-
ther P. Cuddihy, of Milford, first celebrated mass in
the town hall in Ashland. At that time Ashland,
Hopkinton and probably other towns were a part of
his parish. From this time onward Father Cuddihy
or his curate came to Ashland and read mass about
once in three months. It was some years later that
another parish was formed, with Hopkinton as the
centre, and embracing also Ashland and other towns.
Father Thomas Barry was placed in charge, and at-
tended to the Ashland mission, having services once a
month. He was succeeded by Father Minietti, who
was in turn succeeded by Father John J. Ryan. It
was during the term of Father Ryan that money was
raised, chiefly by subscriptions, and a lot of land sit-
uated on Esty Street was piu-chased to be devoted to
religious purposes. The building of the church
564
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
which now stands upon that land was begun July 1,
1874, and waa carried forward bj degrees, so as not to
incur too much of a debt. Late in that year the
church had been built so far as to be covered in, and
the basement put in a condition for use. First ser-
vices were held on December 26, 1874, at which Fa-
ther Ryan officiated. Father J. S. CuUen, who had
been curate in the Hopkinton parish from the days of
Father Barry, was now assigned as priest in charge of
a new parish embracing the field of Framingham
Centre, South Framingham and Ashland. For a
short lime he resided in Ashland, in the brick house
on Union Street, and then moved to South Framing-
ham. Up to the time when the church was occupied,
services had been held in the town hall ; afterward
there were regular services in the basement of the
new building. A Sunday-school, which had been
early established, was held weekly. The church went
on increasing in numbers and financial strength.
The building was carried forward to completion in
the year 1883, and on the 16th day of December, in
that year, the final dedicatory exercises were held.
The church is a substantial building of pleasing de-
sign, having a finished basement and an audience-
room with a seating capacity of 400. To the rear is
an addition containing rooms for the priest. Shortly
after the completion of the church Ashland was des-
ignated as a parish, and Fr. M. F. Delaney was as-
signed as the priest in charge. He took up his re.'i-
dence at the B. F. Brown house, on Summer Street.
At that time there was a debt of about $6000 ; this
has since been removed by means of subscriptions,
pew-rents, fairs and the annual tax of one day's earn-
ings levied upon the members, and the church is now
free. The membership of the church, if estimated
upon the basis of the whole Catholic population, is
about 700; if confined to those who give attention ro
religious observances, it is somewhat less than half
that number. Frequently the audiences in attend-
ance upon religious exercises occupy the entire seat-
ing capacity of the church. Recently plans have
been made for a dwelling-house for the priest, to be
erected to the southeast of the church. On the lat
of May, 1890, Fr. Delaney was .sent to Natick to have
charge of a much larger church, and Fr. John Heftier- j
nan has been stationed in Ashland.
Congregalional Church. — This church grew out of
a previously existing Sunday-school, which was es-
tablished as far back as 1828. About 1832, $600
were subscribed, principally by those interested in
the cotton factory, and with this sum, a second story
was built upon the village school-house, to be occu-
pied for religious purposes. Thi.H building stood on
the site of the present Town Hall, but nearer the
street, and was called "The Chapel." The second
story of this building was fitted up with movable
seats, made of pine boards, and afforded seating capa-
city for about one hundred persons. Besides being
in use for religious purposes on Sundays, during the
week it was occupied, as occasion demanded, for lec-
tures, lyceum debates, town-meetings and other pub-
lic purposes, until it was torn down in 1S55, to give
place to the present Town Hall.
The Union Evangelical Society was organized as a
legal body from the worshipers in the chapel Feb.
17, 1835. In the spring of this year, the society
bought of James Jackson about two acres of land,
on the northeasterly side of Main Street, opposite to
the chapel, with a view to erect a meeiing-house
thereon. The land purchased, besides comprising the
lot at present occupied, extended back into the ceme-
tery, and westerly to include the laud now covered by
the ■' Brick Store." The southeasterly line of the
lot was the same as at present, but was produced to
near the back side of the cemetery ; thence turning
at a right angle, the line rau northwesterly to the
canal, and up the canal as far as the confectionery
store. The last-named land was sold to William
Jennison, and the portion of the land northeasterly
of the present cemetery wall was sold to the town
of Hopkinton, and is now owned, with the remainder
of the cemetery, by the town of Asbljnd. A strip
of land on the west side of the present church lot
was set apart to be leased for sheds, the " lessees to
hold the land as long as sheds shall be su|jporlcd lor
use of horses on said land." A committee was ap-
pointed to ''build the house on the credit of the
society," consisting ni Jaaits Jackson, Josiah Cioyes,
Jr., Calvin Shepard, Jr., William Jennison, John
Stone, Richard R. Brewster, Abel Greenwood, Jr.,
Matthew Metcalf and .Joseph Ballard. Ttie house
seems to have been modeled alter the Ba|)tist Church
in Westborough. It was completed that season, aud
was dedicated January 21, 1830. This was the build-
ing now known as the Congregational Church, and
the only change in its external appearance to this
day has been caused by the substitution, in 1889, of
stained windows in place of the old plain gla:<s, and
the erection of a chapel, about 1870, attached to the
rear. In 1846 the name of the society was changed
by vote to the " First Parish in Ashland," since which
'ime all its acts have been done in that name. Re-
cently some doubt having arisen as to the legality of
this change, in 1889 an act of the Legislature was
passed establishing this name and legalizing all acts
before done under it. The records of this society,
both church and parish, have been preserved, and
are tolerably complete. The method of conducting
the church is in the dual form customary in the Con-
gregational order, the " parish " holding the title to
the property and transacting the bu.siness, and the
" church " conducting the religious exercises. Any
person, male or female, above twenty-one years of
age, is eligible to membership in the parish, but is
received only upon its formal consent. No one is
admitted to the church except upon assenting to its
creed and articles of covenant.
The church at its organization numbered twenty-
ASHLAVD.
565
one members, all but three joining by letter from
neighboring churches, of whom thirteen c'iime from
Framingham. JIany more members soon joined, and
the church appears to have been always self-support-
ing. Its memberrhip in the course of fifteen or twenty
years arose to about one hundred and fifty, but has,
especially since the establishment of the Methodist
Church, which drew from its numbers, fallen away,
so that there are now but one hundred and twenty.
Twice in the history of the church the inside of the
building has been remodeled, the first to accommodate
a larger audience, the second, which occurred in 1889,
to secure a conformity to modern ideas. The pews
were originally sold by auction to attendants at the
church, are still largely owned by individual pro-
prietors, and are taxed for the support of preaching.
The society has taken part of the pews for unpaid
taxes and these are rented. A portion of the expenses
is now raised by subscriptions, and the Social and
Literary Society turn in .a contribution of about two
hundred dollars annually. There is no permanent
debt, and the parish has never placed a mortgage
upon the premises.
Prominent men in the town, though not members
of the church, have been and still are active members
of the parish. A prosperous Sunday-school convenes
every Sabbath in th3 year in the church and chapel.
With this is connected a library, often renewed. A
few years ago a branch of the Christian Endeavor or-
ganization wai rstablished, which has served to add
to the membership of the church, doing in a more
quiet way the work formerly accomplished by revi-
vals.
This church has bad but few deacons, their terms
of service having been long. Calvin Shepard, Jr.,
was appointed at the organization of the church; a
few ye-.rs later William Seaver was chosen. These
two men served for many years, the latter continuing
to act until shortly before his death, which occurred
in 1887. After Deacon Shepard moved away from
town. Dexter Rockwood was chosen and continued to
act till his death. Later have followed in the office
Edwin Perry, William Ockiugton and W. H. Hoven-
deo, who ate still acting.
The following is a list of the ministers who have
been settled or hired for periods of more than one
year: James Mclntyre, who, while a student in
the senior class at Andover Theological Seminary,
had commenced preaching to the congregation in
April, 1834, was ordained and installed pastor of the
church January 21, 1836. He was employed at a
salary of five hundred and fifty dollars. His father-
in-law, Barllett. of Xewburyport, built for him the
house standing opposite the church, which was occu-
pied by him while he remained in town, and was
sold to James Jackson on his departure. He is said
to have been a remarkably genial man, and suc-
ceeded well in uniting in one congregation the var-
ious denominational elements. After two years, hia
wife dying, at his own request he was dismissed, and
returned to Elkton, Md., his native place. Forty
years later, by invitation, he attended the semi-centen-
nial celebration of the Sunday-school, and received
the hearty welcome due to the pleasant memory of
his early labors.
The next pastor was Joseph Haven, Jr., also a
young man from the seminary at Andover. He was
ordained and installed November 6, 1839, and re-
mained seven years, carrying the church through
the period during which the question of a new town
was agitated and its organization effected. He is
said to have taken a strong interest in the formation
of the town. He was a man of fine personal appear-
ance and an able preacher. He and his father, also
a minister, who lived with him, bought of Captain
Heywood the house now owned by S. W. Wiggins,
and occupied it during hia stay in town. The salary
paid him was six hundred and Sfty dollars. His
contract with the society made provision for termi-
nating his term of service by either party giving six
months' notice. It is said that, spurred on by advisers
who believed in the potency of doctrinal sermons, he
once preached a discourse in which the short-comings
of other denominations than his own were pungently
set forth, and that this caused offence in the minds of
some. The Baptist portion of the congregation firom
this time withdrew, and took steps to establish a
church of their own denomination. On December
16, 1846, he was dismissed to accept a call from Har-
vard Church, in Brookline, in charge of which he
remained four years. Afterwards he became succes-
sively Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy in
Amherst College, Professor of Systematic Theology
in Chicago Theological Seminary, and again Professor
of Mental and Moral Philosophy in Chicago Univer-
sity. He died May 23, 1874. His books on " Mental
and Moral Philosophy " and the " History of Ethics "
have bad a wide sale.
Cbarles L. Mills, following Mr. Haven, was in-
stalled as pastor February 11, 1847. He was a man
of advanced middle age. His health gave way, and
he was dismissed at his request in April, 1849, return-
ing to Middlefield, Conn. A very pleasant memory
still remains of the happy inflaence of Mrs. Mills as a
" perfect lady.'"
William M. Thayer, of Franklin, was ordained and
installed June 20, 1849. He was a graduate of Brown
University and had recently studied theology with
Dr. Jacob Ide, of Medway, a theologian of the old
school. Mr. Thayer's seven years of ministerial
labor were exhibitions of strength and /.eal. Hia
interest extended to town afifairs so that be became
popularly known, and was chosen to represent the
town one year in the Legislature. He bonght the
lot of land and built the house now owned by B.
W. Houghton, on Pleasant Street. His voice finally
failed him and he was dismissed, December 25,
1856. He returned to Franklin, where he has
566
HISTORY OP MIDDLESEX COUNTY. MASSACHUSETTS.
since resided. After the recovery of hia voice he
engaged in lecturing on temperance, becoming well-
known throughout the State. He was for many years
secretary of the JIassachusetts Total Abstinence So-
ciety. He is still engaged in preaching and lecturing.
He is the author of a series of juvenile works, setting
forth in a popular manner the lives of distinguished
Americans.
T. F. Clary, a man of middle age, followed Mr.
Thayer, being installed December 25, ISoti. He came
from Thetford, Vt., where he had concluded a success-
ful pastorate. He was thought by many to bean able
preacher, but misfortunes seemed to combine agaiust
him, resulting in his dismissal, March 30, 1859.
Horace Parker, a recent graduate of Amherst Col-
lege, next supplied the pulpit for two years. He was
ordained but not installed, Jlay .31, iSfil, the records
of the council showing an implied protest at the
irregularity of .such a proceeding. He w.is a direct,
practical preacher, and succeeded in adding members
to the church. He has since labored in the churches
at Leominster, Ashby, Pepperell, Lunenburg, and
other places. In the winter of 186-1-65 he was with
the Christian Commission in the array.
A. H. Currier was ordained and installed December
3, 1862, and held the office of pastor for three years.
This was during the stress of wartimes, and he gave
strong support to all town measures in aid of the war.
He built and occupied the house on Pleasant Street
now owned by G. W. Norri.s. There was strength
•and rea-sonableness in his preaching and a peculiar
degree of gentlemanliness in his manners. April 28,
1865, he was dismissed to become pastor in a much
larger field of the Second Congregational Church in
Lynn, where he labored for many years. He is now
a professor In Oberlin College.
George G. Phipps was stated supply from Septem-
ber, 1865, to December, 1867. He was a very accept-
able preacher and a genial companion. He went
away to be settled over the church at Wellesley,
where he remained for many years. He is now pas-
tor of the Congregational Church at Newton High-
lands.
M. M. Cutter followed as pastor, being ordained
and installed December 29, 1868. He, too, was of a
social turn, and was beloved, especially by those
young people who, like himself, were devotees of the
musical art. He was dismissed, at bis own request,
March 31, 1873.
E. P. Tenney was stated supply from the spring of
1873 till June, 1876. Subsequently his efforts in this
vicinity in raising funds for Colorado College, of
which he had been appointed president, were suc-
cessful. He is now living in Manchester-by-the-Sea.
Thomas Morong preached first on July 1, 1876.
Later he was hired as stated supply. On June 12,
1878, he was installed pastor, and remained in the
service of the church till March 4, 1888. During this
time the church prospered. Never did it seem easier
to raise all needed funds. Mr. Morong's thought whs
mature, often unique, always interesting. His ser-
mons were carefully prepared, his illustrations being
often drawn from the field.* of science, with which he
had made himself familiar. With him, in particular,
botany was a favorite study. Taking it up first as a
pastime, he became afterwards a clo.se student and a
recognized authority in this .science. He is now en-
gaged in making original researches in South
.\merica, being in the employ of certain botanical
societies. He was finally dismissed from his pastor-
ate February 24, 1S9<>.
On the same day Charles H. Dutton was ordained
and recognized as pastor of the church. Mr. Dutton
is a graduate of Amherst College and has been a
student in the Hartford Theological Seminary.
All the ministers of this church, it is believed, have
been graduates of colleges. All have brought with
them wives, who have is a greater or Je.-'s degree
assi.'-ted them in their pastoral work. Seven of the
twelve have been ordained, thus showing the prefer-
ence of this church for young pastors.
Baptist Church. — The first preaching service oc-
curred December 30, 1841. The gathering was at
William Waite's house, situated, as the streets are
now named, at the corner of Main and Cherry.
Aaron Haynes, of Southborough, delivered the ser-
mon. On January 6, 1842, a regular prayer-meeting
was established, the houses of the attendants in turn
serving as the place of assemblage. Occasional
preaching services were also held at dwelling-houses,
and sometimes in the chapel then standing on the
site of the present town-hall. In May, 1843, regular
Sunday services were begun in the hotel kept by
Thomas Barber (now .Scott's Hotel), students from
Newton Seminary officiating.
On November 8th, in the same year, the Union-
ville Baptist Church was organized, with a member-
ship of forty-five, twenty-two residing in the towu of
Hopkinton, twenty-three in Framingham, many hav-
ing formerly been regular attendants at the meetings
of the Congregational Church and contributing to its
support. Only two of the original members of the
Baptist Church are now living, — Mrs. Caroline Bal-
lard and Mr. Frank Chickering.
.\n eftbrt was soon made to provide a house of
worship. Through a committee appointed for the
purpose, a lot of land now lying on the south side of
Front Street, opposite the dwelling of Mrs. E. A.
Forbush, was purchased of William Seaver, and a
cellar, of which the remains can still be seen, was
commenced. The purpose for which the land was to
be used had been kept a secret, and when it became
known that a Baptist church was going up at that
point, there was a small tempest in the neighbor-
hood. So this spot was exchanged for other land
owned by Seaver, on the opposite side of the street, —
the same now occupied by the hardware concern of
Perry & Enslin. A frame chapel was now built on
ASHLAND.
567
the land thus finally acquired, having the dimensions
of thirty-one by forty-five feet, and at a cost of one
thousand dollars. This building was dedicated on
March 20, 1845, by appropriate religious services,
and at the same time was ordniued Zenas P. Wilde, the
first pastor of the church, who had responded favor-
ably to the moderate call by the society of three hun-
dred dollars annually. This building was occupied
by the church for their religious services during the
next five years, after which time it was sold and
used for a boot-shop until its destruction by fire.
On the 30ih day of April, 1849, the society adopted
as their corporate name the Ashland Baptist Church.
A larger place of convening was now found to be
needed. A comniitteecjnsisting of Benjamin Homer,
Edwin A. Forbush, Charles Morse, Albert Leiand
and Richard Montague were chosen to erect aihurch
upon the new lot of land lately purch>sed of Captain
John Stone, s-iiuated on the east side of Summer
Street. The committee's action re=ultrd in securing
for the society its present commodious building,
which was dedicated on .April 10, 18.50, by services
conducted by the pastor, B. F. Bronson. Funds to
purchase the land and build ihischurch we-eobtaiued
by subscription, but not in *uffi ient amount; so that
a debt remained, which was discharged by Oliver
Brewer and Charles ilorse, who received the notes of
the church deacons for the moneys advanced by them.
During the ministry of Rev. K. Holt this indebted-
ness, or what remained of it, was paid off, so that the
society then became quite free from debt. Since then,
on account of misfortune.-*, other debts have been in-
curred, though the church is now paying the running
expenses. The present menibirrship is one hundred
and twenty, about one-third of whom are non-resi-
dents. The church records to .March 2t), 1846, the
date of the burning of the E. A. Forbush boot-shop,
were destroyed in that tire. A getieral minute has
been entered covering the early years, and the princi-
pal facts relating to the church down to nearly the |
pre-ent time were recently gathered by Miss M. A.
Homer and are [ireserveii in a manuscript history.
Prominent among the early members of the society
appear the names of .Michael Homer, Benjamin
Homer, T. S. Burlinganie, who was the first deacon,
Alvah Ormes, Lyman Fay and E. .A. Forbush. Later
Albert Leiand became connected with the church, I
and afterwards to the time of his death was, perhaps,
its most influential member. He was a man of prop-
erty, and at his decease lelt to the church a devise of
real estate which will eventually become operative.
For consistency and usefulness in more recent
years the life of Dea. David R. Chamberlain is cited,
who died February 14, 1880.
Tn calling a pastor it has not been the custom of this
church, at least in recent years, to convene a council
for installation ceremonies. Any person who has
been ordained in the Baptist Church, is eligible to
serve as pastor, and the only distinction in hiring
seems to be that the term may be limited, or left in-
definite, according to the circumstances of the given
case. Both methods have been practiced by this
church, the present pastor, S. T. Frost, having been
empl<yed for an indefinite period.
Following is a list of pastors, with a few brief notes
concerning them :
Z. P. Wilde closed his labors July 2, 1846, and after
preaching in Marblehead, Boylston, and perhaps
other places, became a missionary in New York City.
He was noted for his able pastoral work.
B. F. Bronson was pastor from December 7, 1846,
to November 10, 1850. He was afterwards connected
with churches in Waltham, West Putnam, Connecti-
cut and Andover, Masa., where be is now living in
retirement.
Prof. Henry Day came from Brown University to
take charge of this church March 1, 1851. He re-
mained only till June 6, 1852, when he returned to
his college work. He is remembered as an interesting
preacher. Later be was a pastor in Philadelphia
and in Indianapolis, and now resides in the last-
named city.
N. Medbury, who lived upon the farm now occupied
by William Enslin, was pastor from 1853 to 1854.
K. Holt officiated from January 3, 1856, to January
29, 1860, then going to Milford. He is now living in
Petersham.
W. W. Ames was pastor from .February 26, 1860,
to .September, 1861.
D. F. Lamson commenced work with the church
April 20, 1862, and closed on November 29, 1865. He
not only conducted his church ably, but worked for
and with the town in promoting enlistments, and in
awakening enthusiasm during the war. Later he
became pastor of churches in Nortliboro', Worcester,
Hartford, Conn., and in Manchester-by-the-Sea, where
he is now residing.
R. B. Moody ably occupied the pulpit from April
26, 1866, to February 22, 1868. Afterwards he was
for many years ptistor of the church in Plymouth,
and is now at the Monument Church in Chariestown.
G. B. Potter's term of service was from May, 1868,
to November, 1870. He died at Newton, and was
buried November 25, 1870, in Wildwood Cemetery.
Annually his grave is decorated by his surviving
soldier comrades.
W. R. Maul, who served from January 15, 1871, to
November, 1872, was thought by Benjamin Homer,
who listened to his sermons every Sabbath, to be the
.ahle-t preacher who had stood in the Baptist pulpit.
He was afterwards pastor at Hobcken, and is now at
the Mariners' Church on Staten Island.
J. D. Meeson followed, October 5, 1873, to April 1,
1875, going thence to Lebanon, N. Y. He is now
in Melrose without a charge.
N. B. Wilson was pastor from November 1, 1875, to
April 31, 1878, and L. S. Fitts from September, 1878,
to May 1, 1881.
568
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
A. M. Higgins took charge on May 1, 1881, and
continaed to February 14, 1883, when he went to
Somerville to reside. He now preaches at different
places, aa opportunities are afforded.
C. D. R. Meacham was pa3t<jr from May 1, 1883, to
June, 1886, going at that time to Canton. He has
built a residence in Stoneham.
D. G. Macdonald was pastor from August, 18S6, to
January, 1888, while pursuing his studies in the theo-
logical seminary. He has now returned to labor in
Canada.
S. T. Frost, the present pastor, began his labors in
July, 1888.
Methodist Episcopal Church. — There were people
residing in town who, although they bad been in the
liabit of attending religious services at the Congrega-
tional or Baptist Churches, had never felt (jiiite at
home.
It had been intended, whenever a favorable time
came and sufficient means could be insured to curry
I it on, that a church of the Methodist faith should be
established. In view of the growth of the tnwn, and
the fact that a competent leader having rtnaiuiHl
means — in the person of Charles Alden^was ready to
take up the work, in 186() the question of establish-
ing a church began to be entertained. The move-
ment commenced with the holding of prayer-meetings
at the houses of believers in that faith. Besides Mr.
Alden, Mr. Hayden, Hiram Mellen, George .Scott and
others, including persons from Hopkinton, became in-
terested and met together at the meetings. It was not
till the spring of 1868 that plans had become fully ma-
tured. At that time Mr. Alden attended the General
Conference, and, making known the purpose of the
Methodist people here to establish a church, obtained
the a.sHignment of his friend. Rev. George W. Mans-
field, as a minister to this station. Mr. Mansfield
had been resting for two years, that he might recover
his broken health. He came at once and opened his
work, commencing preaching services in the Town-
hall, which were continued here each Sabbath, until
the succeeding spring.
Soon after the arrival of Mr. Mansfield the work
of establishing a church was begun. The records
show that on July 15, 1868, the Methodist Episcopal
Church of Ashland was organized, according to the
forms of law. On July .5th, preceding, the Quarterly
Conference had appointed as trustees, Charles Alden,
George Scott, William A. Tilton, J. N. Pike, and A.
T. Davis. At the the meeting of the trustees held on
the date of its organization, J. N. Pike was chosen
president, and A. T. Davis secretary. At the same
meeting a committee on the building of the church
was appointed, consisting of the persons above named
with the exception of Mr. Davis, and with the ad-
dition of three more members — Charles H. Tilton
Alvah Metcalf and John Crismess. This committee
went speedily to work, Mr. Alden taking a very ac-
tive part. A lot of land situated on the eastern side
of Alden Street, at the junction of Church Avenue,
was furnished by Alden from lands owned by him-
self. Plans for the building were obtained and the
work commenced and pushed forward, so that before
the next spring the church was completed, furnished,
provided with an organ, and ready for occupancy.
The church was dedicated free of debt, March 3,
1869, the presiding elder conducting the exercises.
The funds for buildiug and furnishing this church
which, including all expenses, cost about $1.5,(»00, were
furnished chiefly by Charles Alden in the first in-
stance, and it is said in the final outcome, that the
enterprise cost him ?80(JI> in actual money. At a
meeting of the trustees held May '2-i, 1S69, the fol-
lowing vote was passed, " that we, the Iru.stees accept
the deed of the M. K. Church from Brother Alden,"
and that the " trustees extend to Brother .Alden a
vote of thanks for the interest he has taken and the
money he has expended in building and furnishing
the .M. E. (/hurch." For the |>urpose of reimbursing
Mr. Alden in part for moneys advanced, subscriptions
were obtained from the people. About s.=)(lO were
raised at a fair held by the church, which were used
to delray expense of carpeLs and other furnishings,
fn the building of the church and collecting a con-
gregation, the elliirts of the pastor and his wife were
constant anil effective, much of their success being
due, doubtless, to skill derived from previous ex-
perience in similar work. This church started off
with a membership of sixteen, which has been in-
crea.ied so that the present number is one hundred
and thirty. Its original members came in part from
the other churches, bui there was never any other
than kind feelings exercised toward the churches from
which they came. Alden had lor several years, up
to the time when he began to attend the Methodist
meetings, been a regular attendant at the Congrega-
tional Church, and superintendent of its Sunday-
school. That church had recently shown courtesy
toward its .Methodist attendants by hiring for several
months as its pulpit supply, a Mr. Cushing, who was
a Methodist minister. This church has freely joined
with other churches iu all work which can best be
done unitedly. A flourishing Sunday-school is con-
nected with the church.
The succession of pastors is as follows, their terms
beginning about April 1st, the regular time for
change of ministers in this denomination. George W.
Mansfield was with the church from April, 1868, three
years. His excellent work has already been alluded
to. His wife was a very able assistant. Since
leaving Ashland his health has allowed him to con-
tinue in his ministerial labors. He has now been at
Gloucester since .\pril, 1889.
A. O. Hamilton was with the church two years be-
ginning April, 1871. He was noted for good dis-
courses, and particularly for his fine performances as
a reader. While here he was pursuing, as he found
time, the stady of medicine, and is now a physician
ASHLAND.
569
in practice in East Boston, having taken charge of
but one church since leaving Ashland.
Luramus Crowell was a scholarly preacher and had
formerly been a presiding elder; coming in 1873, he
remained one year.
In 1874 Henry Lummis commenced a pastorate of
three years, during which time he became greatly re-
spected both by his church and the people of the
town. As a member of the school committee, oppor-
tunity was afforded for making use of his wide and
accurate scholarship. After serving as pastor at va-
rious stations, he is now discharging the duties of a
professor in one of the Western colleges.
J. R. Cushing followed in 1877, remaining three
years. He was a genial man and an acceptable i
preacher. He too became well known in town, hold- |
ing for a time the office of school committee. He has |
left samples of his large, even handwriting in the !
committee's record-book, having served as secretary i
of that board. He is now pastor of the Stanton
Avenue r'hurch in Boston.
Elias Hodge followed in 1880, his term of service
being two years. He was an acceptable preacher
and an agreeable companion.
W. H. Cook came in 1882, remaining one year.
E. A. Manning was an able preacher and a wide-
awake citizen. He was often employed to report
public meetings for the press. It is in this capacity I
that for many years his erect figure upon the stage has j
become familiar to the frequenters of the Chautauqua !
meetings at the Framingham camping-ground. He
came to Ashland in 1383 and remained two years.
In 1885 Pastors Full and Hopkins supplied.
■T. C. Smith was assigned to this church in 1886.
There were those who thought his sermons equal to
any that have been delivered in the church, He re-
signed in the summer of 1887, and has recently
deceased.
( '. H. Talmage, while pursuing his course of theologi-
cal study in Boston University, was sent here to supply
the pulpit in the last part of 1887. In the following
year he was appointed pastor. He manifested energy
in all his work. He succeeded in collecting the scat-
tered congregation and in securing much-needed re-
pairs of the church edifice. The next year he was
a.ssigned to a church in Boston Highlands.
Harvey H. Paine came in 1889 and is still with the
church.
Civil W ah.— When the war broke out in 1861 the
town was in debt ••51(),000, chiefly for the cost of the
Town Hall built six years before. The town, how-
ever, assumed readily the new burden imposed by the
war. No one at first supposed that there was to be a
long, hard trial of strength between the contending
parties. As the war progressed it became apparent,
however, that only the greater resources of the Xorth
would enable that section finally to prevail. The
town of Ashland came forward in response to every
call and provided its full quota. At first it was only
necessary to appeal to the patriotism of the citizens
to secure the required number of volunteers. After-
ward inducements were offered in the way of bounties
to the persons enlisting and aid to their families.
The bounties paid varied widely, but tended to in-
crease as the war went on, sometimes running above
5400. Ashland provided for the calls made out of its
own citizens, if a very small number of recruits near
the close of the war be excepted. When soldiers
were wanted public meetings were held, which were
addressed by citizens and by speakers from abroad.
At the close of the meeting volunteers were called for,
and under the inspiration of the hour were readily
obtained. The first call by the President for twenty
companies of three months' men, made April 15, 1861,
was filled from the State Jlilitia. Of the thirty-nine
regiments of three years' men called for on May 3,
1861, Massachusetts procured by solicitation the priv-
ilege of sending six regiments. In the Eleventh
and Twelfth, sent forward at this time, Ashland fur-
nished a considerable number of men.
In July of the same year an act of Congress au-
thorized the President to call for 500,000 men, and
thenceforward requisitions were made upon the
States as soldiers were wanted. In response to the
calls upon the town of Ashland, enlistments were
made onward quite to the close of the war, chiefly for
three years. The Thirty-second Infantry and Second
Cavalry contained a large number of these men. In
response to the President's call of August 4, 1862, for
300,000 nine months' men, a considerable number en-
listed in the Fifth Infantry. The other enlistments
are widely scattered in the service, and are mostly for
three years, a few being for one year and one hundred
Jays, respectively. The town made liberal promises
to its volunteers. Taking early advantage of the war
acts passed by the Legislature, tbey voted in the fall
of 1861 to appropriate money in aid of the families of
the soldiers, and in the summer of 1862 for the en-
couragement of enlistments. Subsequently similar
votes were passed, adding to the sums appropriated;
and in March, 1863, it was voted that the selectmen be
instructed to send for the bodies of deceased soldiers.
In 1865 the poll-taxes of the soldiers were abated for
that year. The whole amount of money appropriated
and expended by the town for war purposes was
about .'$12,000 ; a sum nearly as large, raised and paid as
aid to the families of the soldiers, was afterward re-
paid by the State. According to the report of the
Adjutant-General, Ashland furnished one hundred and
eighty-four men for the war, which was a surplus ot
eleven above all demands.
Among these soldiers, three only were commis-
sioned officers, these men having been promoted from
the ranks. The following is a roll of officers and pri-
vates, intended to include residents of Ashland, and
persons serving upon its quotas. The first date given
is that of muster ill. A final date standing unexplained
shows the close of service, which may be by expira-
570
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
tion of term, by order of War Department, or by
other discharge.
ilh Regt. Inf. (100 diisi"), Co. «.— Webster Brooks, Corp., July 27, '(54,
November 16, 'l^; Elbridge Moulton, July 27, '64, NoTcmber IB, '64 ;
NormaD Smith, July 27, '6t, Xurember 16, '64.
Company K. — MofleB Clark, July 19, '64, November 16, '64 ; Charles H.
Jewell, July 19. '64. November 16, 'W.
\Oth UnaUacJied Ok Tiff., (l(jft datj$) — Frank A. JohnaoD, lat lieut.,
Auk. 9. '64, November 16, *64.
19(4 VnnUached Co., Inf. (1 yrar) — Otis Chickering, November 25, '64.
June 27, '65 ; Joseph P. Ockington, Nov. 25, '64. June 27, '65.
oth Btgt. Inf. (9 moutht), Co. f.— Charles E. Kimball, September 16, '62,
July 2, '6.1.
Compani/ E. (Mustered in, September 16, '02 ; mustered out July 2. 63)
— Lewis H. Kingsbury, sergt. ; Henry Perkins. Corp.; Frank A. Wall,
Corp.; Webster Brooks, Geo. S. Chamberlain. Francis H. Chickeriug,
Albert B. Comey, S. An^istus Davis, Geor^Ee .^. Ellis. Levi Fairbanks,
Ceo. S. Fisher, Henrj- M. Frail, John W. Gowell, Ezra Morse, corp :
Marcena 5t. Greenwood, Joseph W. Hartshorn, Eliphalet J. Jones,
Elbridge .Moulton, .loseph P. Ockington, John A. Parker, Augustus
Perkins, cha'les C. Pollard, Stephen Spooner. Dana M. Wenzell, William
II. Wheeler ; Henry G. Hun-inian, Corp., Jan. 13, '03, died of typhoid
fever at Newbern, North Carol-na.
iid Regl. Inf. (9 moullu), Co. B.— David Robinson (Holliston) Septem-
ber 3, '62, August 2(1, 'r-3.
43(i Regl. Inf. (0 mnnlhK), Co. B.— Stanislaus Fontaine, October 11, '62 ;
John Gaviu, October 11. '62, July 30, '63 ; Thomas Rowley, October
11, 'O'i.
44(ft Reg. Inf. (9 Tnou(/i«) Vo. A'.— -\ver)- Sylvester, September 12, '02,
June 18. 'Ol.
45tA Reg. Inf. lO nionthn], Co. f. — William F McNamara (Framingbam)
September 26, '62, July 7. '63.
Com/ma///.— Charles H. .Moore (Marlboro'), October 7, '62, October 21,
'62, transferred to " F" Co., July 7, '63.
51ft Ba(. Lt. .4r(. (3 f/eural. — Pacsiello Emerson, December 22, '63;
wounded ut Berryville, Va., discharged June 1*2, "65.
IStft Bal Lt .^rl. (3 j«ir«).— John H. McGarrity, Sept. 16, '64, Jan.
14, '65, trans. Oth Battery, June 19, '05; Eugene Shepard, Sept. 16, '64,
Aug. 4, '65.
2d Reg. ITvij. Arl, Co. B.— Fred. O. Grout (Blackstone), Aug. 31, '64,
Jan. 15, '6'i, trans. Co. E, 17th Inf., June 30, '65 ; Edward C. Matth,
July ;9, '63, Sept. 3, '65.
Company B— Ora P. Howland, Sept. 20, '6t, June 26, '63 ; William H.
Nason, Sept. 19, '64, Dec. 16, '64, trans. 17th Inf., Co. G, prom. Corp.,
June .'iO, '6i.
Company G. — Geo. P. Read, Dec. 7, '63, April 4, '64, died .\nder8on.
ville, Ga. ; Avery Sylvester (Worcester), Dec. 7, '63, Oct., '64, died Flor-
ence, S. C. ; Wright Walker, Sept. 19, '64, Jan. 17, '65, trana 17th
Inf.
Companv L. — Amos R. Babcock, Dec. 22, '63, Sept. 3, '65 ; William
D. Bell Dec. 22. '63, Sept. .3, '65.
4iA Beg. Wry .^rt. (1 je<ir), Co. K, 261A CnaUached Co. H'ry .M.—
Charles C. Pollard. Corp., Aug. 23, '64, June 17, '65.
2901 UnatCaclud Co. Wvy Art (1 year). —James Madden, Sept. 19, '04
June IS, '65.
2d Reg. Car. (3 yean), Co. B.— George A. Cook, Corp., Sept. 23, '63,
Feb. 22, '64, prisoner, June 13, '65 ; Eastman Uuley, Sept. 17, 'la, July
2(), '65 ; George F. Duley, Sept. 22. '63, Oct. 4, '64, died Andersonville,
Ga. ; E. A. Forbush, Jr., alias James Smith, Sept. 14, '63, July 20 '65 ;
George V. 3Iarsb, Jan. 5, '64, July 20, '65 ; Stephen Spooner, Sept. 4,
'63, Feb. 22, '64, killed by guerrillas near Draiusville, Va.
Company C. — Benjamin Johnson, Dec. 15, '63, Dec. 30, '63.
Company D. — Stephen A. Cole, sergt., Jan. 5, '64, wd. Fort Stephens,
Md., July 20. '65 ; Arthur L. Parker, Dec. 8, '6.3, wd. Five Forks, Va.,
May 24, '65, for disability ; Harlan P. Boyd, Jan. 5, '64. July 20, '65, as
absent, sick ; Orton W Cole, Jan. 5, '64, July 20, '65 ; Buenell W. Col.
lier, Jau. 5, '64, wd. Vienna, Va., July 6, '65 ; Charles D. Hart, Dec. 21.
'63, wd. Fort Stephens. Md., traus. V. R. C, July 20, 65; Joseph W.
Hartshorn, Jan. 5, '64. July 20, '65 ; George W. Morse, Jan. 5, '64, .Sept.
13, '64, wd. Shenandoah Valley, Va., Juno 21, '65; Edward McKnight,
Jan. 5, '64, Sept. 13, '64, lost right arm Shenandoah Valley, Sept. 11, '65
from hospital ; Arthur W. Stiles, Jan. 5, '64, July 20, '65.
Company £.— Augustns J. Davis, (S. Augustus Davis,) Sept. 9, '64>
June 13, '65 ; Charles F. Davis, Sept. 6, '64, June 13, '65.
Company P. — John S. Nuttage, Feb. 23, '64, cap. and died Sept 29,' 64,
Danville, Va.
Company B. — Chas. E. Duley, Corp., Dec. 21, '61, Aug. 25 '64, wd.
Berryville, Va., July 20, '65; John Cowhey, Dea 31, '63, July 10, '65,
for disability.
Company K — Hiram Mellen, Dec. 12, '63, July 20, '65.
Company Unknown. — Dennis McCarty.
\ei Reg. Inf. (3 yeart\ Co. K. — Charles W. Hathaway (Framinghara),
Aug. 17, '61, May 25, '64.
ill Reg. Inf. (3 i/«ar»), Co. y.— Thomas K. Clapp, May 25, '61, wd.
bat Cedar Mt., Aug. 9, *61, for disability ; Benjamin F. Montague, .May
25, '61, .\ug. 9, '62, killed at bat Cedar Mt ; Timothy Sullivan, May 25,
'61, Oct, '63, enl. U. S. Army.
lOlA Reg. Inf. (3 »Mr»), Co. C— Martin Kennedy (Boston), Dec. 8,
'63, June 21, '64, trans. 37th Inf., trans. 2i th luf., June 19, '65.
llt/i Reg. Inf. (3 yeara) Band (must, in Aug. 3, '61, must, out Aug. S,
'62) —Samuel S. Baker, Abner E. Bell, Chnrles S. Brenster, George F.
Coxon, Edward Daniels, Lorenzo Frost Beuj. H. Hartshurne (Sept. 23.
'61, diiiability), Kobert J. Neal (Boston), Wm. A. F. Noyes, .Augustus
Perkins, Charles Spooner.
The same band, leaving out Hartshorue and adding Benj. G.Brown.
James H. Dadmun, Gilbert W. Holbrook and Prince Kpouoer, served
(three years) in Third Brigade, Second Division, Second Army Corps,
from July 10, '63, to July 1, 05.
Company A. — John Shaughnessy (Roslon), June 13, '61, Feb. 22, '64.
Company C. — Edward GronS, Jone 13, '61, .\ug. 1.5, '62.
Company «.— William Mansfield, June 13, '61, Feb. 22, 61, to re-
enli6t ; Williiim Mansfield, Corp., Feb. 23, '64, July 14, '65 ; Charles
R. T Knowlton, June 13, '61. July 13, '63, killed Gettysburg, Pa.
Company I. — William Maley. (Boston). June 13, '61.
Vlth Reg. Inf. (3 years), Co. B. — Granville H. Smith, Corp. (Framing-
ham', June 26, '61, Oct. 20, '62, died of fever at Suioketown Hospital ;
Isaac R. Bubcock, June '26, '61, July 8, '64; Aloozo G Duran (E. Rjiy-
uiond. Me.), June 26, '61, Sept. 17, '62, killed at Antietam, 31d. ; Loreuzo
Frost, June 26, 61, Aug. 1, '61, trans, lllh Inf. ; .\rthur L. Parker, Juue
26, '01, Fob. 2, '63, wd. uud disch. ; John B. Whalen, June 20, '61, July
8, '64.
Company F — .Augustus Perry, July 22, '63.
Company G. — Thomas Johnson, July 22, '63 ; Emil Ruff, Sept. 22, *63;
Chariea L Stoddard, July 21, '03, April 6, '64, disability.
Company H. — James L. Bell, July 21, '63, June 25, '64, trans. 39th Inf.,
Co. B. June 29, '05 ; Henry K. Smith, July 21, '63, June 25, '64, trans.
39tb Inf., Co. B. died Andersonville, Ga.
Company I. — George A. Cook, corp., June 26, '61, Oct. 12, '62, for
wounds rec'd in battle ; Hans C. Hanson, July 21. '63, June 25. '64,
trans. 39tb Inf., Co. D, died Andersonville, Ga. ; Saofurd P. Lane, July
21, '63, June 25, '64, trans. 30tb Inf., prisoner and died probably at An-
dersonville, Ga.
Ciiaeatijned Recrniu. — Francis Baldwin, July 21, '63 ; William Ryan.
Sept. 22, '63, April 12, 1864.
13(A Reg. Inf. {.i yean), Co. .H.— Charles E. Duley, (Sudbury) July 16,
'61. Dec 15, '62, disability.
Company I. — James Sullivan (Marlboro'), July 16. '61, Aug. 1, '64.
16(A Reg. Inf. 13 yeorj), Co. B.— Edward T. Dean, sergt., July 2, '61,
July 27, '64 ; Albert Hadley, Corp. (Holliston), July 2, '61, July 27, '64 ;
Eastman Duley (Sherboro), .luly 2, '61, Dec. 11. '62, for wounds received
in battle ; Chester E. Lesfiure, Corp., July 2, '61, May 13, '63, killed
t haucellorsville, Vo. ; Edward Enslin, July 2, '61, July 27, '64 ; Wil-
liam H. Maynard, July 2, '61, Jan, 7, '62, disability ; Edwin L. Ferry,
Nov. 4, '61, Dec. 12, '63, trans. V R. C. ; Altert A. Whittemore, July
2, '61, July 27, '64; Elbridge G. Whittemore, July 2, '61, Sept 24, '61,
disability.
I'tliRegl. /a/. (3 years), Co. P.— Wright Walker, Sept 19, '64, Juno
30, '65.
18lA Reg. Inf. (3 yearM), Co. F.— Geo. H. Houghton, Aug. 24, '61, Dec.
19, '62.
2otft Reg. Inf. {'6 years) , Co. A. — Michael Hennesey, 3Iar. 4. '62, Mar.
29. '64, to re-enlist; Michael Heunesey (Cambridge), Mar. 30, '64, taken
prisoner, died Feb. 22, '65, Salisbury, N. C.
Company C. — Albert Reise, sergt. (Boston), Jaly 18, '61, wd. at Fred-
ericksburg, Va., Feb. 18, '62; Jacob Bender (Boston), July 18, '61, 5Iar.
6, '63, com. sergt.
Company F. — James BlcGuire, Mar. 4, '62, May "28, '62, wounded
Fredericksburg, Va.
Company O. — John Wells, Sept. 19, '64, June 8, '65.
Vnauigned RecrvUe. — Michael Bradley, Mar. 4, '62 ; Jaiues Kennedy,
Mar. 4, '62.
2IK Reg. Inf. (3 yeart), Co. £.— Matblaa Hsckmon, Aug. 29, '62, Aug.
30, '64.
^41^^'
^^-Lc^^.^
ASHLAND.
571
22d Reg. Tnf (3 ye>\rs), Co. K. — Adoniram J- Smith, Oct. 4, '61, Jan.
31, '63, diaability.
23d Reg. Int. (J ijears), (.>). ^.—Elliott S. Reed, Oct. 9, '61, Dec. 2, '63,
to re-enlist ; Elliott S. Reed, Dec. 3, '63, July 28, '64.
24th B^y [nf. (3 ytnn), Co. J.— George H Warren, Sept, 6, '61, Sept.
6, '64.
25th Reg. Inf. 13 yeaii\, Co. .1.— Frederick A. Sottage, Oct. 1", 61,
Dec. 17, '63, to re-enli8t for Ilupltinton, July 13, '65.
Company D.— Slartin L. Parmenter (Wetfiter), Oct. 9, '61, Dec. 17, '63,
to re enlist ; Martin L. Parmenter (Webster), Dec. 18, '63, July 13, '65.
Comptiitrj H. — John S. Powers (Framinghanil, .\ug. 14, '62. Jan. 18,
'64, to re-enlist ; John S. Powers (Framingbaiu) Jan. 10, '64, June 3, '64,
killed Cold Harbor, Va.
rmmgited fiecniito.— Aarou Rice, Feb. 2.3, '64, Feb. 26, '64.
26(A Reg. Inf. (3 yean), Co. A. — John H. Balcom, musician (Pepperell),
Sept. 2, '61, Dec. 31, 1864, to re-eoliat ; Jobu U. Balcom, musician, Jan.
1, '64, Aug. 26, I860.
29ih Reg. Inf. Ojeara) Co. H.— John B. Aldrich, Dec. 16, '61, Oct. 22,
1862, died Long Island, X. T.
3lJ( Keg. Inf. (3 yeari\, Co. A'.— Willard W. Watkins, Feb. 4, '62, Feb.
4, 1864, to re-enlist; Willard W. Wntkins. eergt., Feb. 15, '64, Sept. 9,
186.'^.
3'2d Reg. Inf. (3 yenritl, Co. H. — Augtistua A. Coburn, let sergt., Jan.
5, '64, Dec. 4, 1864, 2d lieut., disch. at close of ".rar; Albert C. -Andrews,
1st sergt., Jan. .>, "64, June 20, 1865, absent, wounded ; Aug A. Cuburn,
sergt. iFraraingfaam), .\ug. ;il, '62, Jan. 4, 1861, to re-enlist; William
Formeau, sergt.. Jan. i. '64, June '29, 18C5 ; ,\lbert C. Andrews, Corp.,
Aug. 11, '02, Jan. 4, 1861, to re-«nllst ; James L. Bell, Corp., July 21,
"63, June 29, 18B.i ; WNIiam Fomiean, Corp., Aug. U, '62, Jan. 4, 1864,
to re-enlist ; Geo. B. Twitchell, Corp., Jan. i, 64, wd Sept. 16, 1864,
trans. V. R. C. Mar. .'8. 1865 ; Oecar W. West, corp , Aug. 11, '62, Jan.
1, 1864, to re-enllst ; Oscar W. West, Corp., Jan. 5, '64, July II, 1885;
Edward F. Whittemore, Corp.. Jan. 5, '64, May 12, 1864, lust right arm
near Spottsylvania. June 3. 1>65 ; Willard Aldrich, Aug. 11, '62, Jan. 4,
1864, to reeulist ; Willard Aldrich, Jan. .i, '64, July 12, 1.965 ; William
Fitz, Aug 11, ■t>2 ; Preston W. Forbush, Aug. 11, '62, assigned to quar-
termaster's dept.. 3Iay 3U, )S65 ; Da?id Hennessey, Aug. 11, 62, Jan.
4, 1864, to re. enlist ; David Hennessey, Jan. 5, '64. May 23, I8t)4, pris-
oner Xorth .\nna,Ri7er, paroled Nor. 30, 1864, died Annapolis, Md. ;
Frank A. Johnson, .Aug. 11, h2 ; John Slaley, Aug. 11, 't;2; .Vndrew J.
Perry, Aug. 11, '6-2. Dec. 18, 1863, trans. V. R. C, Jan. 4, 1864, to re en-
list ; .\udrew J. Pi-rrj-, Jan. 5. '''.4, June 18, ls04, wd. at Petersburg,
July 13, 1863: Silas S. Seaver, Aug. 11, '62, Jan 4, 1864, disability.
Geo. B. Twitchell, Aug. 11, ■fi-2, Jan. 4, 1*''.4, to re-enlist ; George H.
Vose, .Vug. 11, 62, May 30, 1865 ; Edward F. Whittemore, Aug. 11, '62,
Jan. 4, 1864, to re-eulist ; Samuel G. Wincb. Aug. 11, 62. May 10, 1865.
■'.■\l Reg. Lit. (3 ■jfurt\, Oi. ''.—William Bell, Aug. 6, '62, Sept. 12,
1863. trans. V. R. i' . Sept. S, ISi'vl, disability ; George Scott, .\ug. 6,
'62. June 11, 1865.
3.i/ft Reg. Inf. |3 ii'.ari\, Co. .(. — Wm H. Frankland. corp , Aug. 9,
'62, Oct. 4, lSi.2, sergt., Nov. 3, 186:!, disability.
il'ompany C— John W. H'idges iChelseai, Aug 19, 62. Dec l:i. 1862,
killed.
36t/i Reg. (i yeurai, Co. i*.— Chus. 0 MeCcalf, musician, Aug. 13, '62,
April 30, 1864, ditability.
38»i Reg. luf. (4 year.>. Co. /T— William 0. Andrews, Aog. -■0, '62,
N'ov. 3, 1863, disability.
59^A Reg. Inf. (i iienra] Co. B.—Lovi Ramsden, Jan. 4, '64, wd- Spott-
sylvania, Feb. 9, 1865, disability.
Com/Mny C— Abuer P. i'hase. Jan 4 '64. Sept. 17, 1862, wd. .\ntie-
tam, Va., April 8, 186.5, disability.
Hodi R-g. Inf. (1 yetir), Co. £.— Lionel D. Phillips, Sept. 9, 64, Jan. 6,
'65.
Veler'in Reierre Orps.— Edward J. Ford, Sept. 20, '64.
Xitei/ i3 yenrtj. — \\ illiam Sloan, Aug. 19, "64, furnished by J. N. Pike;
John Sullivan, .Vug. 19, "64, furnished by Juhn <?lark ; John Wilson,
Oct. 20, '64, furnished by Henr}* Cutler.
^th Manne Reg. Inf. (3 'leare), Co. .4. — Moores R. .Vdams, Sept., "61,
Sept., '64.
5(» X. n. Reg. Inf. (9 raoii/li»l.— Lorenzo Frost, after Aug. 8, '62.
V.'Jh X. Y. Cav. (1 ye.ir), l.'o. iT.— George T. Higley, Oct. 8, 64, trans.
3d Provisional .\. Y. Cav. Sept. 21, '65 ; Wakefield L. Higley, Oct. 8,
'64, trans. .3d Pro. S. V. Cav.. died in hosp. W.ishioston, D. C ., Sept.
4, '6.5.
Residing iu or CredUeti lo the Qitoti of Aihland, but Regiment, if any, un-
kniown. — Lorenzo Bolden (colored), Vicksburg, Miss., Dec. 3, '64 ; .Vdol-
phus Burgesa (colored). Fort ilonroe, Feb. 6, '65 ; Benj, Davenport
(colored), Vicksbiirg, Miss., Nov. 3, '64; Herman S. Greenwood, July
12, '63, Dec. 10, '63, disability ; John Harvey, enl. out of town ; Henry
W. Jackson; Thomas C. Pond, July 21, '63, disch. for disability; Wm.
H. Pratt, July 21, '63, Sept. 16, '63, disability ; Henry Wellington.
Drafted (3 yeare) and Furniahed Snbetitutge or Paid Commutation. —
Lyman Beck, July 10, '63 : E. Francis Claflln, July 10, '63 ; Charles
i Cloyes, July 10, '63 ; Daniel Fenton, July 10 '63; Edwin Perry, July
j 10, 63 ; Alfred B. Rugg, July 10, '63 ; Samuel Senver, July 10, '63 ;
I Charles H. Tilton, July 10, '63 ; J. Edward Tilton, July 10, '63 ; Jacob
Winchester, July 10, '63 ; Curtis B. Young, July 10, '63.
BIOGKAPHICAL.
ALVAH METCALF.
Alvah Metcalf was born in Appleton, Maine, April
12, 1824. He was the eighth in descent from Michael
Metcalf, who came from England, and settled in Ded-
ham, in 1637. His father was born in Franklin,
Mass, but had removed to Maine when a young man,
and there his eight children were born and brought
up. Alvah was the second child by his mother,
Melinda Phillips, of Auburn, Moss. ; he is the
seventh in direct line from Rev. George Phillips, the
first mioi.oter in Waterlown, Mass., who came to
America from England in 1630. His opportunities
for an education were few, but he improved what he
had. He attended district school only winters, and
when there was no school in his own district he went
to another near by. In those days a fire-place
occupied the greater part of one end of ihe room, and
'our-foot logs were rolled in without being split.
During the summer of his eighteenth year he worked
in Massachusetts, and in the winter of 1845 he ob-
tained his last schooling. But his education did not
end there. He has always been a great reader, giving
especial attention to history and science. Natural
Science is his hobby and he never tires of studying the
works of the great naturalists. His strong application
and his retentive memory have stored his mind with
knowledge, so that he may, without doubt, be classed
among the best of self-educated men.
While at home in Maine, Mr. Metcalf had worked
chiefly at coopering, but at the age of twenty-one he
came to Massachusetts. Arriving at Boston in the
morning, he at once set out by stage for Franklin,
where he was to work during the summer. He
reached his destination at night, not having eaten
anything since he left the schooner in the morning,
for he was afraid that he might want his only remain-
ing six-peuce for some other purpose. The next two
years he spent in a cooper-shop in Smithfield, R. I.
Mr. Metcalf obtained his first experience in wood-
working when he was employed by Milton Whiting,
in his saw and grist-mill, Unionville, Franklin. Here
he worked for seventeen dollars a month, laboring at
least fifteen hours a day. The next year 1850, he
took charge of the business himself, and hired the mill
for four years. In 1855 he hired part of the mill
572
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
belonging to Peter Whiting. The upper part was
used for making shoddy and cotton batting, but in the
lower story Mr. Metcalf sawed logs and made the
boards up into boxes that were used for straw-goods,
boots and shoes. Many places in this vicinity were
supplied from this mill. In 1856 he bought the
Luther Eockwood farm in Holliston for $2600, and
moved his family there.
Farming, however, didn't agree with him, or rather
he didn't like farming, bO the next year he traded the
farm for the mill and house that he now owns in Ash-
land. At this time he was worth about §4000.
The original dam at this place was built by John
Cloyes about 1835. It was eighteen inches high,
and the power obtained was ouly sufficient to run a
turning-lathe and a grind-stone. Later a mortising
machine was put in. and sash and blinds were manu-
factured. In 1844, Cloyes sold out to Daniel White,
who the next year conveyed it to Henry Bacon. In
1847 it came into possession of H. F. Goodale, of
Marlboro', who let it to Micah B. Priest, also of
Marlboro'. It was with Mr. Priest that Mr. M>-tcalf
exchanged bis farm in 1857, and becameownerof the
mill where he has since carried on the mHUufacture
of bo.xes, and gradu-illy increased the business.
During the war this mill always had pleniy to do.
because there was slways a supply of lumberon band,
and customers could be sure of prompt attention to
their orders.
Adjoining the mill is a small shop where forab^ut
five years kegs were made for Emery Mills, then
situated in the ea-stern part of the town. Nearly all
of the towns in this vicinity have at one time or
another been furnished with boxes, as South Framing-
ham, Natick, Holliston and Wes'.boro'. The quality
of box furni-hed has always been first-class, and
orders are quickly filled.
In 1870 a new and larger mill was built in place of
the old one in such a way that only a few hours were
lost in changing from the one to the other. The new
mill is 44x61 feet, with two ells each 24 feet square.
The attic is used for storing boxes and lumber,
the second story is given up to the manufacture of
boxes, the ground floor is used chiefly for planing,
while in the basement are the water-wheels and the
engine, the latter necessary through the increased
business. The engine is of twenty-five horsepower. A
atone boiler-house has been built behind the mill, and
a large chimney constructed. Two years ago a stone
dam was built in the place of the old wooden one.
New and improved machinery has been added, and
recently a large tank and automatic sprinklers have
been introduced for protection against fire. Over two
milion feet of lumber is used annually, and S30,000
worth of boxes were sold. From 1871-75 the manu-
facture of flocks was carried on in addition to the
box business, while the stones for grinding grain
were left out of the new mill.
Mr. Metcalf has been twice married — first, May 30,
1850, to Harriet H. Vose, and second, to Harriet M.
Makepeace, October 11. 1859. By his first marriage
he has three children ; by his second, seven. His
services to the town have been many and varied. He
has been measurer of firewood, highway surveyor,
overseer of the poor, assessor and School Committee.
For nine years he was one of the trustees of Wild-
wood Cemetery, and on the Board of Selectmen he has
served six years. He has been one of the trustees of
the Methodist Church since its beginning, having
also been one of the building committee. He is also
a member of the Masonic Order.
In 1877 he took a trip to California, being gone two
months. He visited Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los
Angeles and the Yosemite Valley. The valley is en-
tered by t»o routes from Merced — the Mariposa and
Coulterville. Mr. Metcalf went in by one of these
routes and came out by the other, traveling over four
hundred miles by stage. He was one of a party of
eight who, with a guide, took mustangs and rode out
to the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees. He brought
home with him a great many curiosities, most of them
illustrative of his favorite study — natural science
These now fill a large cabinet in his home and are
with much interest shown to all his guests.
In 1881 he lost a part of his left hand in a planer.
It was cut oB" below the wrist. Being a temperate
man the wound soon healed, and in a week he was out
to the mill to look after hl» bu.siness. He retains the
use of his wrist and the amount of work he can do,
though maimed, is surprising. While on the Beard of
•Selecimtn he was zealous in suppressing the liquor
traffic.
He-has always been a hard worker and a careful
planner. Though he has lost considerably in business
accommodations, he has never failed to meet his own
obligations, and by personal supervision and strict at-
tention to business he has built up the large manufac-
tory he now controls.
CHARLES TAFT ALDRICH.
The ancestors of Mr. Aldrich were Englishmen,
some of whom came early to America, settling in
Rhode Island, near the site of the present enterpris-
ing town of Woonsocket. The grandfather of the
subject of this sketch was Isaac Aldrich, one of the
pioneers in woolen manufacturing in New England
and engaged in it soon after Samuel Slater introduced
cotton machinery at Pawtucket.
Charles, son of Isaac, born in Rhode Island in
1815, married Abigail K. Taft, of Uxbridge, in 1842.
They had eight children, of whom Charles T. is the
oldest, who was born in Millbury, Mass., April 12,
1845. His childhood and youth were passed in com-
pany with his brothers and sisters at the home of his
parents. When about four years old he met with an
accident which resulted in a lameness for life. It
was thought his lameness would prevent his taking
"^■^%^>iy^'
4.
c-d
^^^
-/--c^
A
ASHLAND.
573
any part in the business in which many of this fam-
ily had been engaged, so that after leaving the gram-
mar school he attended the High School with the in-
tention of fitting for college. During this stage of
preparation for the higher degrees of learuiug the
desire to learn the business of manufacturing fre-
quently showed itself. He finally decided to waive
the college course and master the details of woolen
manufacture. To do so he entered a woolen-mill in
which his father, Charles, was a superintendent, and
there learned the business, and in 1862 went to Bell-
ingham, Mass., and there commenced the manufacture
of flannels with his father. In this bu.iiness he was
successful until 1868, when the mill was burned, en-
tailing much loss. He then went to Kansas with the
intention of farming on a large scale, but the great
drouth of 1869 put an end to bis eff irts in this direc-
tion. Leaving Kansas, he weut into Arkansas and
built a flour-mill in the vicinity of " Pea Ridge," a
location made memorable by the great battle fought
there during the War of the Erbellioii. Owing to
illness caused by the climate, lie returned to New
EngUnd in 1871, and c^'ramenced tUe manufacture of
horse blHukets in Wori'ester. This bu>ine8S was very
profit ible, owing to hit u.si'ig ma'erlal that had iiot
been utilized bt-fore, and also to the prevalence of the
" epizootic " distemper among horses that year, which
creat' d an unusual demand. In 1873 Mr. Aldrich
settled in Ashland, where he commenced the manu-
facture of satinetH and blankels for the New York
market. This mauuiacturingserms iikely to continue
in the family, as his oldest son, Charles T., Jr., is engaged
in the -ame buaiuess in a mill in Worc.-ster County,
and the other sons are with ihsir father at home. Mr.
Aldriuh married Emma G., daughter of Smith Aldrich,
of Blackstoue, in 1864, and Irom this union there are
Charles T. Jr., b. rn July 19, 1866; Henry A., born
March 31, 1868; Louii H., born November 4, 1870,
and Alice M., born June 11, 1873. Mrs. Aldrich died
November 23, 1S89, deeply mourned by her family
and friends. Mr. Aldrich is a Methodist in religion
and a Republican iu politics. Although interested in
public matters, he has avoided political oflBces and at-
tended closely to his business and built up a pretty
home and village about his mills. Mr. Aldrich has
recently ^ustalned a severe loss in the burning of his
mill buildings, October 7, 1890. This water privilege,
situated on the Sudbury River, is a very valuable one,
and the mills will be rebuilt, unless the city of Bos-
ton shall decide to take the water, a project now
under discussion.
Mr. Aldrich is a specimen of robust manhood from
which the lameness of his childhood does not seem to
detract, and belongs to the class of New Englanders
known as self-made and successful.
ELIA9 GROUT.
The subject of this sketch is a descendant in the
sixth generation of Captain John Grout, the famous
miller of Sudbury, who came to this country as early
as 1638. His father, Ellas, Sr., was born in Medfield,
but settled in Sherborn, and in 1801 removed to the
south part of Framingham. He served in the Revo-
lutionary War, was a " minute-man " from Sherborn
in 1775, and was in the battle of Bunker Hill.
Elias, Jr., the youngest son of Elias, Sr., and his
wife, Eleanor (Dadmun), was born June 3, 1816.
He received a good education at the Framingham
and Leicester Academies, and was a successful teacher
in the common schools for many years. At the in-
corporation of Ashland, in 1846, his farm was in-
cluded in the new town, which has honored him with
most of the offices within her gift. He was repre-
^entative in the Legislature of 1853, selectman,
assessor, overseer of the poor, school committee for
many successive years.
Being raised upon a farm he has ever taken an
intelligent interest in agriculture; was president of
the Middlesex South Agricultural Society, 1861-62,
and a member of the State Board, 1863-65.
Mr. Grout has ofieu been intrusted with public and
per.-onal matters, where careluiness, integrity and
sound judgment were required. In 1852 he was seLt
to Eagland by the Jennings Heirs Association, to in-
vestigate their claims to the great William Jennings
estate there. After a careful inquiry and -.earch of the
archives of the Library of the Briti:<h Museum, Doc-
tors' Commons, Chancery Courts, Government State
Paper Olfice, and other sources, he reported to his
associates that no claim of real or s-upposed heirs in
America could be sustained — a conclusion fully con-
firmed by agents since employed.
In 1865, Mr. Grout was engaged by H. J. Sargent
and other heirs of the distinguished James Swan, for-
merly of Boston, to go to Charleston, West Virginia,
to examine into the legal status of the vast iracts
purchased by said Swan in the last century, 1780-
1790. On this trip, in May, 1565, he met a son of
the late Josiah Randall, trustee of certain French
claimants to these lands, and the following winter he
was employed by Mr. Randall, and spent three
months exploring the lands in question, and examin-
ing the records in some fifteen counties — reporting in
writing to Mr. Randall in Philadelphia.
After disposing of his farm, Mr. Grout engaged in
the cotton businasa from 1867 to 1882, w(th head-
quarters at Kingston, N. C. Since then he has
enjoyed the quiet of his pleasant home and family.
He married Nov. 21, 1839, Harriet Fiske, daughter
of Richard and Betsey Fiske, of Framingham, a
lady of good education, rare beauty of person and
excellence of character. Their children were : Charles
Muzzey, born October 24, 1810, lost at sea ofi" Bahama
Islands, October 3,1864; Channing Fuhe, horn July
24, 1842, married, first, Carrie P. Tilton, second, Sarah
Jones ; merchant, Ashland ; Edgar Pollen, born
December 24, 1845, owner of cattle ranch, Wyoming;
Mary Rowland, born May 7, 1850, married Samuel
574
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
E. Poole, deceased, of Ashland. She has one son,
Charles G. Poole, born June 18, 1870.
CHARLES HEKEY TILTON.'
The Tilton family are of English origin, and Abra-
ham Tilton was the first to emigrate to America, com-
ing with the colony of one hundred and twenty Eng-
lish and Scotch familits, which arrived in Boston in
1718. John Morse, who was the maternal ancestor
of the Tiltons, also came over with this colony.
Among this band of sturdy settlers are to be found
the names of many who, as pioneer settlers, laid the
foundations of what have since become prosperous
towns and villages in New Hampshire, Maine and
Massachusetts. Abraham Tilton joined his fortunes
with that portion of the colony (eighteen families)
which settled Hopkinton, and where to this day are
to be found worthy representatives of that name. In
the fourth generation from Abraham was Leonard,
the father of the subject of this sketch. Leonard was
born in Hopkinton, October 7, 1800. Catherine H.
Morse, the wire of Leonard, ^vas born in Dummerston,
Vermont, January 7, 1806. They had six children,
the first-born being Charles Henry, who was born
November 30, 1829. His parents are both deceased,
his father June 11, 1841, and his mother September
13, 1877. When Charles H. was three years old the
family moved to Bennington, Vermont, and here he
remained until the death of his father. It was here
that his school-days were passed, his educational ad-
vantages being such as were afforded by the district
schools of the Green Mountain State. On the death
of his father, who left but a very limited estate,
Charles, whose assistance in the support of the family
was needed, left school and with the family removed
to that part of Hopkinton now Ashland, where
Charles entered a shoe-shop and for a number of
years, by prudence and close attention to all details
in the manufacture of boots and shoes, not only be-
came well-versed in the business, but also became an
important factor in the family economy. At the
age of twenty -one, being dissatisfied at the prevailing
rate of wages paid to competent and skilled operators,
Charles started in a. small way for himself, his first
case of boots (which were children's red- topped boots)
being made from stock supplied on credit by a Boston
leather merchant, who was a shrewd observer of young
men and knew the value to such, of a kind word and
kindly assistance ; nor was young Tilton's case the
only one where Hon. Lee Claflin gave timely assist-
ance by allowing credit to such as could bring the
collateral inherent in an honest face. Mr. Tilton
was successful in his business undertakings, and
gradually worked his way up to an enviable promi-
nence in this great New England industry, establish-
ing himself in one of the finest and best-appointed
1 Coutributsd.
shoe factories in the Commonwealth, it being known
all over this section of the country as " the model
boot and shoe factory," which was built by him on
his own land, of which he had bought some one hun-
dred acres, erecting thereon some forty dwellings,
laying out streets and, with his own bands, setting out
shade and fruit trees, thus making it the most beauti-
ful section of Ashland. October 1, 1850, Mr. Tilton
married Caroline M., daughter of Henry and Myra
C. (Coggins) Babcock, who has borne him two chil-
dren—Jennie M., May 23, 1860, and Charles H., Jr.,
November 30, 1862. Jennie M. was married. May 25,
1888, to Rev. Carey F. Abbott, of Nashua, N. H., and
they have one child, Ruth Tilton, born November 26,
1889. In politics Mr. Tilton has been a thorough-
going Republican since that party was first organized.
While avoiding political office, he has in town affairs
been efficient and useful, being for a number of years
on the Board of Selectmen and for four years its chair-
man, also a member of the Board of Assessors, justice
of the peace, a director in the South Framingbam
National Bank and president of the Middlesex South
Agricultural Society.
He retired from the boot and shoe business in 1886.
Mr. Tilton is a lover of the horse, as is also Charles
H., Jr., and has some fine specimens in his commo-
dious stables at Ashland. He is also a breeder of fine
cattle, and bis opinion on matters relating to the
breeding and care of stock is quite professional.
As a citizen, Mr. Tilton is upright and law-abiding ;
is a contributor to the support of the Congregational
Church ; is well-informed on the general topics of the
times, and with easy fortunes is taking a good share
of that happiness and contentment which should go
hand in hand with merited success in one's life work.
J. NEWTON PIKE.
Says an old philosopher, ".^11 men, whatever their
condition, who have done anything of value ought to
record the history of their lives." Eventful periods
occur at rare intervals in the lives of men the most
distinguished, but even in their more retired walks of
private life there are few whose lives are not marked
by some vicissitudes of fortune, which, however
trivial they may seem, are yet sufficient to excite
great interest.
The events which give the highest interest to biog-
raphy are of a volatile and evanescent nature and are
soon forgotten. It is the part of the biographer to
collect these passing events and fix them indelibly
upon the pages of history, that succeeding genera-
tions may know how their predecessors lived, what
ideas governed them, what trials and difficulties they
encountered and how they overcame them, and even
their domestic relations, for all these teach a lesson
that will be serviceable by pointing out what paths
led to success, and what roads are to be avoided as
leading to failure.
^ y^ 7^
Cr-y-L^
//^
■^-v.
ASHLAND.
575
There is none so humble that his life can fail to
be an object of interest when viewed in the right
light. Hovr much more will this interest be enhanced
when we contemplate the life of a man who, by his
own heroic struggles, has hewn out his own pathway
to success and compelled the fates to grant him his
reward. Most certainly one who by his own efforts
has attained affluence and social position, and through
all the changing events of life has preserved his in-
tegrity unimpaired, is deserving the pen of the
historian.
Such a man is the subject of this sketch. He was
born August 24, 1824, in that part of the town of
Hopkinton, Mass., which is now incorporated in the
town of Ashland. Here, too, his father, Benjamin,
WiW born, and his graaduther, Joaithm, lived for
many years. The latter was a minute-man, and par-
ticipated in the famous battles of Bunker Hill and
Ticonderoga. At the former engagement he stood
within a few feet of the immortal Warren when he
received his death-wound.
J. Newton Pike was one of four children and spent
his youth at his father's home, enjoying the school
privileges of his time, viz., twelve weeks in the winter,
and twelve weeks in the summer, at the distriit
school. These opportunities he improved to the
best possible advantage until the spring of his
thirteenth year, when, his father's health being poor,
the boy was obliged to give up the summer term and
assist in earning a livelihood for himself and the
balance of the family.
In the sunraer of his fifteenth year he went away
from home to work on a farm, returning in the au-
tumn and attending the winter scho il. At twenty-
one, through the kindness of a friend who loaned
him the necessary funds, young Pike attended the
autumn term of the Hopkinton Academy, and during
the winter- of the next lour years taught school, be-
ing employed on a farm during the summer months
of '46 and '47, and in the track department of the
Bosto 1 Si Albany Railroad duriuk; the -summers of '4S
and '49. In '50 he was placed in cuarge of a force of
men in this department on this railroad, and contin-
ued therrin until Octuber, 1866, when he resigned
this positi'in, and accepted that of clerk in the otlice
of the Emery Work' of Charles Alden, where he re-
mained Until 1875. The-e works were merged into
the Washington Mills Emery Manulacturing Com-
pany, of which corporation he was chosen clerk. In
'74 this plant was purchased by the Vitrified Wheel
and Emery Company, and Mr. Pike was made fore-
man of the emery department of the business, retain-
ing that position until in 78 the city of Boston pos-
sessed itself of the Sudbury River, for a part of its
water supply, which permanently closed the manufac-
ture of these goods in thin section. Superintendent \V.
H. Birnes, of the Boston & Albany Railroad, learn-
ing of Mr. Pike's release from service with this com-
pany, tendered him the position of station-agent at
Ashland, which position he accepted and has occupied
constantly ever since.
In 1860 Mr. Pike was elected a member of the
Board of Selectmen for the town of Ashland. The
War of the Rebellion breaking out, he distinguished
himself by his devotion to his country's flag, and his
services in raising troops, and in assisting the families
of soldiers, caused his townsmen to elect him chair-
man of the board in 1862, which position he filled for
six years with great credit to himself, and to the gen-
eral satisfaction of his townsmen.
In 1871 he was elected Representative from the
Fifteenth Representative District, consisting of the
towns of Ashland and Hopkinton, and in 1872 was
sent to the Senate from the Fifth Senatorial District,
consisting of the towns of Newton, Natick, Framing-
ham, Ashland, Sherborn, Wayiand, Weston, Hol-
liston and Hopkinton.
In 1871, Mr. Pike was appointed trial justice by
His Excellency, William Claflio, Governor of the
Commonwealth, which position he continued to fill
until the establishment of the district courts. He
has also served repeatedly as member of the School
Committee, and overseer of the poor.
May 12, 1851, Mr. Pike married Martha, daughter
of Josiah and Martha Buinham, — a fortunate union,
for Mrs. Pike proved to be a true helpmeet in the
fullest sense of the word, and has, by her wise coun-
sel, ready hand and abiding faith, helped to win the
victories of life. And now, as the twilight approaches
and the shadows are falling toward the east, together
they look back to that May morning with feelings
of gratitude that life has yielded them so much of its
joys aud comforts.
Two children have blessed this union — Edgar A.,
born May 16, 1864, and died June 19, 1865 ; Willie
B., born April 18, 1866. He married Angy, daughter
of George and Jane Boutilier, November 9, 1887, and
lives with his parents.
Another member of the family who has been as one
of their own children to Mr. and Mrs. Pike is Mollie
E. Burnham, born October 8, 1869, and whose parents
died when she was six years old, since which time
she has been a memher of Mr. Pike's family.
Mr. Pike was made a Mason at Framingham, and
was one ot the charter members of North Star Lodge
of this town at its institution.
Iq 1870, with his wife, he united with the Method-
ist Church, and has been one of its trustees ever
since, and for the past ten years superintendent of its
sabbath-school.
Modest and retiring in his manner, upright and
honorable in Jiis business transactions, loyal to his
friends, conscientious in the discharge of his life
duties, he has won the esteem and respect of all who
knew him, and life has been crowned with a gener-
ous degree of success. May he long live to enjoy the
same.
576
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
CHAPTER XLI.
EVERETT.
BY DUDLEY P. BAILEY.
The town of Everett, formerly known as South
Maiden, was incorporated March 9, 1870, and named
in honor of Edward Everett. It contains a territo-
rial area of about 2325 acres, lying between the
Mystic River on the south {separating it from Boston
and Charleatown), Medford on the west, (Maiden
River forming the boundary), the city of Maldeu
on the north, Chelsea and Revere on the east, Island
End River forming the boundary for a part of the
distance.
A tongue of land, extending on both sides of Broad-
way, from Mystic River nearly to Mystic Street, con-
taining the old Charlestown Almshouse, belongs to
and is under the jurisdiction of the city of Boston.
About five hundred acres, in the southwesterly por-
tion of the town, consist of salt marsh, and the whole
of that section is but little above tide-water, but from
the EasterQ Division of the Boston and Maine Rail-
road, and the Saugus Branch, the land gradually rises
toward the northeast, reaching an altitude of 133 feet
above mean low water on Belmont Hill, and 175 feet
above mean low water on Mount Washington, which
last is the highest point of land in town. Between
these two hills runs a narrow valley, broadening into
extensive meadows, as it stretches northwesterly to
Maiden. On the easterly side of this valley rises
Corbett Hill, from the summit of which the land
slopes gently northeasterly to the Maiden line. The
greater proportion of the town is not more than fifty
feet above mean low water.
The general shape of the town approaches the form
of an ellipse, its longest axis running northeast and
southwest. Ita greatest length is about two and one-
half miles ; its greatest breadth about one and three-
quarters miles. The number of acres taxed in 1890
was 1816.
About one hundred acres in the northeasterly por-
tionof the town are occupied by Woodlawn Cemetery,
one of the most beautiful in the vicinity of Boston.
Between 150 and 200 acres are occupied bystreets and
ways, and a considerable portion consists of water
surface.
Of Everett's geology, Nason's "Gazetteerof Massa-
chusetts," says : " The geological formation is upper
conglomerate, drift and the St. John's Group. The
soil is sandy loam in some parts; in others clayey."
This last feature is found almost uniformly on the
high lands. Clay land suitable for the manufacture
of bricks is also found on the lowlands not far above
tide-water.
There are about 1100 to 1200 acres suitable for
building. Some of the best building land is compris-
ed in the strip of territory southwest of Belmont Hill
and Mt. Washington, and just above the railroad ex-
tending from Chelsea .to Maiden. The soil in this
tract is composed for the most part of a sandy loam,
with a sub-stratum of gravel.
Farming is carried on to a limited extent, mostly in
the form of market gardening. The number of farms
in 1885 was forty. The aggregate value of their pro-
ducts was $66,076, the largest items being milk, §19,-
955; green-house products, §12,520 ; vegetables, $13,-
577. The total value of the agricultural property
was §460,925. Of the taxable area, 946 acres, accord-
ing to the census of 1885, weredevoted to agricultural
pursuits, of which 356 acres were cultivated, and 390
acres uncultivated, the latter including 12 acres of
woodland.
The number of manufacturing establishments in
1885 was forty-four, of which two were corporations
having eighteen stockholders, and forty-two private
firms, with fifty-eight partners and members. The
total capital invested was §1,129,698, of which s60,400
were invested in buildings and fixtures, and §127,ii70
in machinery. The value of stock was §878,016; the
value of goods made, and work done, was §1,490,795 ;
the number of employees was 717 ; the amount of
wages paid, §304,270 ; tlie aggregate number of day's
work performed was 11,886 out of a possible 13,566 —
an average of 268 working days for the year, leaving
13 per cent, of lost time. The oldest branch of manu-
factures is that of bricks, one establishment in this
branch dating from the year 179.'i. Of the total manu-
factured product, bricks, building materials anil stone
work represented §803,454; clothing and straw goods,
§33,941 ; iron goods, §66.000; oils, paint", colors and
chemicals, §492,497. The fire losses by the different
manufactories for the ten years ending June 30, ISS.'i,
were §146,750.
Everett ranked in It^So as the seventy-eighth town
in the Commonwealth in regard to its manufacturing
products, and the one hundred and fifty-first in regard
to the product of each individual.
The principal manufacturing establishment in
Everett is that of the Cochrane Chemical Company,
consisting of several large buildings, occupying thir-
teen acres of land and employing about 140 hands.
The business was begun by Alexander Cochrane at
Maiden in 1858. On his death, in 1865, he was sue
ceeded by his sons, Alexander and Hugh Cochrane.
In 1872 they purchased the establishment in Everett,
founded in 1868 by the New England Chemical Com-
pany with a capital of $.300,000, this company having
been financially unsuccessful. After purchasing the
works of the New England Chemical Company,
Messrs. A. and H. Cochrane erected two new build-
ings, doubled the capacity of the works and made
Everett the principal theatre of their manufacturing
operations. The building west of the Eastern Rail-
road was burned in 1882, but has since been rebuilt.
The company manufactures acids and other chemicals,
chiefly sulphuric, muriatic, nitric and other acids.
The Union Stone Company was established in 1869
EVERETT.
577
and formerly carried on quite a business, employing
about forty hands in the manufacture of emery wheels
and emery wheel machinery for grinding and polish-
ing. The works were burned in 1881, and though
they were rebuilt the company apparently never re-
covered from the blow. In 1889 it failed and in
March last its works, consisting of a factory and
71,000 feet of land, were sold at auction.
The Waters Governor Works, established by Mr.
Charles Waters for the purpose of manufacturing
steam-engine governors on a patent issued to Mr.
Waters January 3, 1871, were located in Everett,
about eight years ago in a building formerly owned
by Hervey Waters and designed by him for a scythe
factory. Mr. Charles Waters died in 1880," and Mr.
Edward Dewey purchased the business and on April
27, 1882, became owner of the factory at Everett,
where he shortly after commenced manufacturing
operations, which were continued by himself and Mr.
R. B. Lincoln, under the firm-name of Edward Dewey
& Co., until the death of Mr. Dewey, April 9, 1890.
Since that time the bu-siness hiia been carried on by
Mr. Lincoln, the surviving partner. The establish-
ment employs from forty to fifty hands and manu-
factures from 2500 to 40t)0 steam governors annually.
In November, 1888, Messrs. 0. J. Faxon & Co.
started, in one of the buildings connected with the
works, a foundry which manufactures castings for the
governor works and piano plates.
The furniture factory now owned and operated by
Charles H. Bangs was originally established by Mr.
Treo. D. Otis in 1885 for the manufacture of chamber
furniture. The establishment was purchased by Mr.
Bangs in March, 1888, and is now devoted to the
manufacture of drugstore interiors, for which Everett
has the largest establishment of its kind in the world.
The business was begun by Mr. Bangs in the latter
part of the year 1885. The idea originated with Mr.
Bangs of making such work in sectional form for con-
venience in shipment and adaptability to different
situations or locations. This method has become very
popular on account of the quality of the work that
can be produced by being able to concentrate the re-
quired workmen upon a single specialty. The enter-
prise has grown from a very modest beginning to one
of large proportions, Mr. Bangs having in his em-
ploy at the present time between eighty and ninety
employees, including a great many different trades,
such as designers, draughtsmen, carvers, show-case
makers, ghis^-grinders, metal-workers, silver-platers,
millmen, cabinet-makers, gla-ss-stainera, etc. Besides
these several men are employed for setting up the
work, which is now being shipped to every part of
the United States, and several the past year have been
exported. The present output of the establishment
is at the rate of nearly a quarter of a million per
year, and the demand seems to be rapidly increasing.
Many of the finest drug-stores in the country are the
product of these factories.
37-iii
Stephen H. Kimball's factory was originally estab-
lished for the manufacture of children's carriages in
1875. The factory was partially burned January 29,
1879, but was afterwards rebuilt and enlarged. The
establishment is now devoted mainly to the manu-
facture of invalid chairs and athletic goods.
In 1881 White, Wiley & Co. established a varnish
factory near the Chelsea line. The firm dissolved
January, 1883, and the factory in Everett was trans-
ferred to Messrs. Wiley & Richardson, who carried on
the business until April, 1888, when Mr. Benj. J.
Richardson, one of the original firm, became sole pro-
prietor. No information has been furnished in re-
gard to its operations.
Though not coming within line of manufacturing
business, the sale of spring water has assumed pro-
portions which entitle it to mention as one of the im-
portant industries of Everett. Everett or South Mai-
den spring water has from time immemorial been noted
for its excellent qualities. The first systematic at-
tempt to make it an article of merchandize was made
by the Everett Spring Water Co. in 1881, when they
purchased the land at the junction of Ferry and
Chelsea Streets, andsoon after established a plant in-
cluding the present Everett Spring House. They have
since done an extensive business in the sale of Everett
Spring Water.
The Belmont Hill Spring, owned by the Belmont
Hill Water Co., enjoys a deservedly high reputation,
and the water from this supply commands a large
sale.
The Glendale Springs, operated by S. G. Bennett,
are of more recent date.
A large proportion of the residents of the town are
engaged in business in Boston. The population
of the town, according to the census of 1890, is 11,043,
as compared with 2220, May 1, 1870. The valuation
of the town May 1, 1890, was $7,889,650, of which $7,
451,300 was real estate and $438,350 personal property.
The assessed valuatioa of real estate is divided as fol-
lows:—Land, $3,355,950 ; buildings, 84,095,350.
The number of dwelling-houses May 1, 1890 was
2225, as compared with 414 in 1870. The total tax-
ation for the State, county and town purposes in 1890
was $120,585.92, and the rate $14.50 on the $1000. Of the
total population of 5825 shown by the census of 1885,
4610 were native-born and 1215 of foreign birth. Of
the native-born, 3253 were born in Masisachusetts, 637
in Maine, 313 in New Hampshire, 116 in New York,
and 92 in Vermont. Of the foreign-bom, 436 were
born in Ireland, 463 in the British Provinces, 173 in
England and Scotland. As to civil condition, 3012
were single, 2503 married, 299 widowed and 11 di-
vorced.
As Everett was originally a part of Maiden, its his-
tory grows out of that of the parent town, of which it is
a continuation. The history of South Maiden there-
fore first demands notice.
The whole town of Maiden was originally included.
.578
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Uy virtue of a grant in 1C33, within the territorial
limits of Charlestown, the country north of Mystic
River being known as " Mystic Side " or " Mystic
Field." The exact date of the first settlement is not
known, but as early as 1629, Ralph Sprague, who in
the preceding year bad landed at Salem, and taken
up his residence at Charlestown, with his two brothers
Richard and William, passed over and explored the
country on Mystic Side, which they found an " un-
couth wilderness," full of" stately timber," inhabited
by a remnant of the once powerful tribe of Pawtuc-
kets, under the rule of an Indian chief called Saga-
more John, who dwelt at Beacham Point, now the
Van Voorhis estate.
His tribe had been under the leadership of the
Sachem Nanapashemet, who was killed in 1619.
After his death his widow, the Squaw Sachem, estab-
lished her authority over the tribe, and among the
curiosities to be found at the Middlesex Registry of
Deeds is a grant from the Squaw Sachem of a large
territory in the vicinity, probably including the ter-
ritory of Maiden and of several adjoining towns,
dated in 1639.
In 1634 an allotment of land was made to the seve-
ral inhabitants of the tract, afterwards known as the
Five Acres Lot, bounded by the line running from
the Powder Horn Hill to the North or Maiden River;
and the Charlestown Book of Possessions, as early as
1638, shows allotments of numerous tracts on the
Mystic Side, within the territorial limits of Everett.
Penny Ferry was established where Maiden Bridge
now is in 1640, and it continued to exist until the
opening of the bridge in 1787. The road to the ferry,
according to Corey's " History of Maiden," lay near the
edge of the marshes, between the burying-ground and
Mystic River, in part coinciding with Bow and JIain
Streets.
So far as known, the earliest settlers in what is now
Everett, were William Sargent, described as a " godly
Christian," in 1643 or earlier; Thomas Whittemore,
near Chelsea line. 1645 or earlier ; Thomas Caule, at
the Ferry, as early as 1643 ; Deacon John Upham, in
1660, apparently in what is now West Everett; Peter
Tutts, between 1638 and 1640. He kept the Penny
l^erry, where Maiden Bridge now is, in 1646. William
Bucknam, the ancestor of a long line of prominent
citizens of Maiden, appears as a purchaser of real es-
tate as early as 1649, and was certainly a resident at
Mystic Side prior to 1664. The old house supposed
to have been erected by him was, until about a dozen
years ago, occupied by our veteran fireman, Joseph
Swan, one of his descendants, and stood on the site of
Mr. Swan's present residence. Portions of this edifice
are still standing near the spot. It is among the old-
est buildings in town, if not the oldest.
By act of the Court of Assistants passed May 16,
1849, O. S., " Upon the petition of the Mystick Side
men they are granted to be a distinct Towne, and the
name thereof to be called Mauldon." The boundary
between Charlestown and the new town appears to
have been established on a line running from near
Powder Horn Hill in a northwesterly direction to
the North (now Maiden) River, and Stephen Fosilick,
Thomas Whit,tem.>re. William Sargent and Richard
Pratt are mentioned as abutters thereon.
The portion still remaining within the limits of
Charlestown included all the southwesterly portion
of Everett, and must have corresponded nearly with
what was afterwards the Southwest School District,
though including a somewhat smaller area. Judging
from references in ancient deeds, the line, which
passed through the Bucknam farm would extend
from southeast to northwest, some distance southerly
from Nichols, High and Hancock Streets. The ex-
act location ('annot now be given.
These territorial arrangements continued until
1726, when the remaining territory of Charlestown
north of the Mystic River was annexed to the town
of Maiden except a small strip of land at Penny
Ferr)-, which has been mentioned before as still be-
longing to the city of Boston.
Steps had been taken to elfect a separation from
Charlestown as early as 1721. It appears from the
Maiden town records that " At A (iriieral Town
meting jn maiden on ye second of June 1721, John
pratt moderator. It was putt To vote to se whor This
Touu will Joine with our Charlestown iiaightbours jn
petitioning To veGenerall Court for Ther coming otf
from Charlestown to be one Township with maiden
according To ye warrant. And ye vote ])asse(l on the
.Vfirmative. And That is all yt dwell on ye north
side of mistick River up To maiden line; and from
boston line To niedford line." Chelsea w:us then a
part of Boston and so remained until 1738.
On account of the ojiposition of Charlestown the
separation was not consummated until 1726, when it
was effected in answer to the petition of Joses Buck-
nam, Jacob Wilson and Jonathan Birrett. The tract
thus set otf comprised about one-half of the present
town of Everett, and thirty-four years later, in 17(iO, it
was inhabited by thirty families.
South Maiden had always been separated In some
measure by natural geographical features from the
rest of the town by the Great Swamp, extending from
the Chelsea line westerly so that a comjiaratively
narrow strip of habitable territory connected the
south with the rest of the town. The southerly part
had not been long annexed to Maiden before tliey
began to desire separation.
The immediate occasion for this movement was the
re-locationof the meeting-house at the Centre, which,
by an order of the General Court, made August 4,
1729, was to be placed where the Universalist Church
now stands, instead of on the old site at or near Bell
Rock. The location of this meeting-house gave rise
to a very bitter controversy between the north and
the south parts of the town. The new meeting-house
was occupied for the first time August 16, 1730, and
EVERETT.
579
on the 13th of September following, the people on
the south side held their first separate meeting for
public worship. In 1734 they appear to have erected
a house of worship on what is now Belmont Hill, on
the lot now occupied by Hawes Atwood as a resi-
dence, at the corner of High Street and Broadway.
The lot for the church was given by Jonathan Sar-
gant, a worthy descendant of the " godly Christian "
before mentioned, " in consideration of the love,
good-will and affection that I have for and do bear
for the Christian people that inhabit in the south part
of Maiden, and for the propagation of the Gospel
among them," and " for the erecting of a new meeting-
house in order to the worshipping of God in the Con-
gregational way.'' His deed is dated August 6, 1731,
and the lot comprised a quarter of an acre and was
reached by a way twenty-six feet wide which led from
the highway.
A council of three churches met April 16, 1734,
and on the 18th embodied the South Church with
sixteen male members. On the 4th of September
following Jonathan Sargant and Ebenezer Upham
were chosen ruling elders, and John Mudge, deacon.
Rev. Joseph Stimpson, of Charlestown, was settled as
pjistor of this church September 24, 1735, and con-
tinued to serve, with some interruptions on account
of ill-health, until 1744, when he was dismissed.
The south part still remained by law an integral
part of Maiden proper, but a movement had been in-
augurated some time before to have it incorporated as
a separate town or precinct, and at a public town-
meeting, held March 5, 1733, it was " voted that Jon-
athan Barrett, John Willson and Lieutenant Samuel
liucknam to be agcants to appear at the Generall
Court the second Wednesday of the next Sessions to
act in behalf of the town of Maiden, referring to a
petition of Joses Bucknum, John Madge, and sundery
other of the inhabitance of the Southerdly part
of said town, which petition is that the Generall
I'ourt would set them of into a disstiact Township or
precinct, according to the bounds mentioned in said
petition."
At a town-meeting held May 17, 1736, "according
to the desire of Mr. Jonathan Sargant and others, it
was put to a vote to see if the town will set them of
witli all the inhabitants and estates into a distinct
town.slii[)orparrish by the bounds hereafter mentioned,
beginning at a stake and heep of stones in the marsh
by Molt4)n's island, which is the station-line or
bounds between Boston and Maiden, and so as bos-
ton line runs to the creek where Boston line crosses
the creek in Capt. Oliver's farm, and from thence on
a strate line to pemberton's brook at the bridge,
and from the said bridge south and southwesterly as
the lane runs to the end of hutchinson's lane, and
from thence on a strate line to sandy bank river, then
as the river runs to the mouth of it, and from the
mouth of the said river southeast as the grate river
runs to wormwood point, formerly so-called, [now
a part of the VanVoorhis estate] and from the said
point northeastwardly as the river runs to the first
station, with all there proportionable part of all there
ministerial lands belonging to the said town, and it
passed in the negative." These bounds would include
somewhat more than the present territory of Everett.
In 1737 the efforts of South Maiden for separation
were more successful, and by actof the General Court
passed December 27, 1737, the south part of Maiden
was set off as a separate parish by the lines prayed for
by the petitioners, " Saving that Samuel Bucknam,
John Shute, Jamea Hovey, James Green, Obadiah
Jenkins, Isaac Waite, Isaac Wheeler and Jonathan
Knower" were allowed to continue with the North
Precinct, so long as they, with their families, should
attend the public worship there.
From this time much of our knowledge of South
Maiden and of the men who were prominent in its
affairs for more than a hundred years later, is derived
from the records of the South Parish and South School
District.
The first precinct meeting was held January 23,
1738, at which Captain Samuel Green was chosen
moderator ; Thomas Waite (3d), clerk ; Captain
Samuel Green, Stower Sprague, Benjamin Blaney,
Samuel Stower, Joseph Willson, committee to call
precinct meetings.
At a meeting held March 13, 1738, a permanent or-
ganization was effected : Elder Jonathan Sargant,
moderator; Thomas Waite (3d), clerk; James Bar-
rett, Captain Samuel Green, Nathaniel Upham, John
Burditt, Joseph Willson, committee ; Lieut. Thomas
Burditt, Thomas Waite (3d), Stower Sprague, Benja-
min Blaney, John Winslow, assessors ; Joses Buck-
nam, treasurer; and Phinehas Sargant, collector.
A parish was a territorial corporation at that time,
and taxes were assessed for the support of public wor-
ship in the same manner as ordinary town taxes. The
assessors held their first recorded meeting at the house
of Benjamin Blaney, now occupied by William J. Part-
ridge, June 9, 1738, and assessed a sum of seventy-five
pounds for the support of " ye ministry."
At a meeting of the South Precinct March 30, 1739,
"a vote was called for to see if ye Precinct would finish
ye school-house, and ye vote pased in ye negitive."
At a public meeting of the South Precinct in Mai-
den, May 8, 1739, voted, " To finish ye outeside of the
meeting-house." •
The South Precinct maintained a troubled existence
of fifty-five years For about three years after the
departure of Mr. Stimpson they were without a pastor.
On April 2, 1747, Rev. Aaron Cleveland was called to
the pastorate at a salary of £360, "old tenor " — depre-
ciated paper-money, not worth twenty cents on the
dollar. Shortly after, on April 24, 1747, the South
Pariah voted to raise £1200, old tenor, for the purpose
of providing a parsonage, and selected the tract of
land which, with eight acres added in 1749, is now
known as the "Sargent and Popkin Estate," on Main,
580
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Prescott, Everett and Tremont Streets. The old par-
sonage may still be seen at the corner of Main and
Prescott Streets. Mr. Cleveland commenced his
labors May 23, 1747, and continued to serve until
Nov., 1750. For somewhat more than a year from
this time the parish was without a pastor. On Oct.
16, 1751, it concurred with the church in calling Rev-
Eliakim Willis as the precinct's minister, but the
negotiations for his settlement were somewhat pro-
tracted, and it was not until February 20, 1752, that
the terms were definitely fi.xed, the salary to be £53
6s. Sd. specie value, use of the parsonage, enlarged
and repaired, and 18 cords of wood. Considerable
opposition was developed by a portion of the parish,
who desired re-union with the North Precinct, which
now proposed to pull down the new meeting-house and
remove it to its original site. These overtures were
rejected and Mr. Willis commenced his labors. The
affairs of the parish steadily declined from this time,
owing largely to internal discord and the withdrawal of
influential members. In 1758 it proposed a re-union
with the North Parish, the united parish to maintain
two ministers to be paid from the town treasury, but the
North Parish acted upon these proposals " in the
negitive." On March 23, 1706, the South Precinct,
finding itself unable longer to raise the money to pay
Mr. Willis hia salary, voted to convey to him its par-
sonage-house and laud, on condition that he would
relinquish his civil contract and preach to them for
three years, the weekly eontributions to belong
to the parish, and to be paid to Mr. Willis for
the purpose of extending the period of his service.
This parsonage estate remained in the hands of Mr.
Willis and of his devisees until 1870, when all of it
except the house-lot was sold and cut up into build-
ing lots. At the end of the term for which he was
thus compensated, Mr. Willis, at the request of the
parish, engaged to continue the work of the ministry
for a free contribution. From March 27, 1775, to
June 5, 1787, through all the period of the Revolu-
tionary War, and for four years after, there is no
record of any parish meeting.
At the latter date, in consequence of dissensions in
the North Parish, growing out of the ministry of Rev.
Adoniram Judson, a considerable number of wealthy
members left the former and joined the South Pre-
cinct. With this seasonable reinforcement, the pros-
pects of the South Parish brightened. The then
dilapidated old meeting-house on Belmont Hill was
repaired, and for four years the parish enjoyed an era
of prosperity. On the dismission of Rev. Mr. Judson,
in 1791, the way was opened for a reconciliation
between the North and South Parishes.
At a meeting held January 12, 1792, the South
Parish accepted the terms of union reported by a
joint committee of the two parishes, tind on February
23, 1792, after a separation of fifty-five years, the arti-
cles of union were confirmed by the General Court.
Rev. Mr. Willis became the pastor of the united
churches, and so continued until his death, though
with Rev. Aaron Green as colleague after September
25, 1795.
By the terras of the agreement it was stiniiliited
also that the Rev. Mr. Willis should be allowed to
preach in the South Jfeeting-house six Sabbaths a
year so long as he should continue able to administer
the sacrament to any of the then church.
The old meeting-house continued to stand for sev-
eral years longer, but was at length sold about the
year 1796. On December 10, ISOO, we find the last
entry of a meeting of the South I'arish, at which
meeting it was "Voted that the Money the Meeting-
House w;is Sold for that Belonped to the Huuth Par-
ish in Maiden Should be Jis a fund in the hands of
the Treasurer of the South Diatrict upon hitrest so
long as the District Continues to be a District in the
South Part of Said Town and that the Intrest of that
Money be anualy be Laid out By the Said District
Comttee for the Beuifit of the Schooling of the yuutli."
At this point we may notice a few of the proiiiiiient
citizens who were residents in this part of Maiden
during the latter part of the eighteenth and the early
part of the nineteenth century.
Captain Isaac Smith was for many years a repre-
sentative of the town of Maiden in the General
Court, and was said to have been an influential mem-
ber. Though taken from the almshouse in Boston
when a boy, he sustained, as a citizen, an enviable
and untarnished reputation. He is mentioned as the
commander of an armed vessel in the Revolutionary
War. He lived first in the iioith part of the town^
and afterwards removed to South Maiden, where he
had large landed possessions, which, after his death,
in 1795, were for the most i)art sold to his son-iu-law,
Captain Nathan Nichols, for many years a prominent
and respected citizen of Maiden. At the time of his
death Captain Smith was said to have been the
wealthiest man in Maiden. As indicating the stand-
ard of wealth in those days, it may be added that
Captain Smith left, after his estate was settled, about
.'?20,000 to be divided among his ten lieirs.
Rev. Eliakim Willis, already mentioned as pastor
first of the South Parish and then of the united par-
ishes, was a man of eminent piety and very highly
respected in the community. He was born in New
Bedford, January 9, 1714, and graduated from Har-
vard College in 1735. He died March 14, ISOl, aged
eighty-eight. He was chairman of the committee
that reported the instructions of the town of Maiden,
addressed to Ezra Sargent, then representative in the
General Court.
There still remained at or near 1800 several citi-
zens who had Uik en a prominent and honorable part
in the Revolution ary War. Among these may be
mentioned Captain Benjamin Blaney, who com-
manded the company of militia from this town in the
battle of Lexington, and the company which marched
to join Was hington's army^in [New Jersey in Decem-
EVERETT
581
ber, 1776. His father was a prominent man in the
South Parish, and a magistrate of some note, and was
found dead in the road when returning from the
discharge of his duty, not without suspicions of
murder. Captain Blaney was prompt in duty and
persevering in effort. He frequently served as mod-
erator in parish meetings. He removed from the
town in the latter part of his life.
Colonel John Popkin was of a Welsh family, and
was born iu Boston in 1743. Before the Revolution-
ary War he was a member of Paddock's artillery
company. In the army he was a captain of artillery
in Gridley's regiment, and was in the battle of Bunk-
er Hill and at the siege of Boston. He was commis-
sioned captain in Knox's artillery and was in the
battle of White Plains; he was made a major in
Greatou's regiment January 1, 1777; was aide to
General Lincoln at Saratoga and was commissioned
lieutenant-colonel of Crane's artillery regiment July
15, 1777, in which position he continued until the
disbanding of the army, in 1783. After the war he
resided in Bolton and later in South Maiden, in the
old South Parish parsonage-house devised in part to
his wife by Rev. Mr. Willis, on Main near the corner
of Prescott Street, where he died, May 8, 1827. He
was a member of the Society of Cincinnati, and was
for many years an inspector of customs in Boston.
He walked to and from Maiden, four miles, every
(lay, from 17S9 until he was more than eighty-four
years old. His most distinguished descendant was
Rev. John S. Popkin, born January 19, 1774, a cler-
gyman and professor in Harvard College, and his
successor in the Society of the Cincinnati.
Captain .Jonathan Oakes was born iu Maiden, Oc-
tober 4, 1751. and was in connnand of a vessel in the
merchant service before he w.-iy, twenty years of age.
In the latter part of 1770 he was captain of the pri-
vate armed brigantine "The Hawke," of ten guns and
eighty men. The next year "The Hawke" was taken
into the service of the State, and sailed with Captain
Manlej', on the disastrous cruise in which his asso-
ciates were captured at Halifax. Captain Oakes was
more fortunate, and, being separated from them, he
escaped and took several valuable prizes. Hecontinued
in command of the '' Hawke " until 1779, making three
important cajjturea in 1778, when he purchased an in-
terest in the armed brigantine " Thomas," of which
he took command. In 1780 he made a cruise in the
ship '• Favorite," of ten guns, and when he returned
he took command of the " Patty," of which he was
an owner. In 1781, while in comand of the latter
vessel, he took the British brig " Betsey," bound to
Lisbon. He w.is a representative in the General
Court for twelve terms, the longest service on record
with one exception. Capt.ain Oakes died August 16,
1818, at the age of sixty-seven years, leaving a son of
the same name, who also was for many years a prom-
inent citizen of South Maiden. Two grandchildren
of the latter are now living in Everett.
Captain Daniel Waters was among those who
marched with Captain Blaney on the day of the bat-
tle of Lexington, where he saw his only service upon
the land. Immediately upon the investment of Bos-
ton he was appointed by Washington upon the gun-
boat doing duty on Charles River, and, in 1776, was
promoted to the schooner "Lee," in which position
he distinguished himself by bringing the prize .ship
"Hope," which had been captured by Captain Mug-
ford, into Boston Harbor, in the face of the British
fleet, and by assisting in the capture of a number of
transports, in one of which was the colonel and a por-
tion of the Seventy-first Regiment, with supplies of
great value to the Continental service. He was ap-
pointed a captain in the United States Navy, March
15, 1777. He sailed aa a volunteer with Captain
Manley in the " Hancock," and upon the capture of
the British frigate " Fox," of twenty-eight guns, was
put in command of that vessel. Both vessels were
captured at Halifax by a superior British force. Cap-
tain Waters was taken a prisoner to New York, where
he was retained untH April, 1778, when he was ex-
changed. In March, 1779, he was in command of the
United States brig " General Gates." He commanded
the ship "General Putnam," a privateer of twenty
guns, on the expedition to the Penobscot, in 1779.
In December, 1779, he sailed on a cruise in the armed
ship " Thorn," of eighteen guns and 120 men, and, on
Christmas morning captured two British brigs, "Try-
on " and " Sir William Erskine," after inflicting great
loss upon both. These two brigs carried thirty-four
guns and 178 men. The " Thorn " lost eighteen men,
killed and wounded, among the latter being Captain
Waters, who received a wound in the knee, from the
effects of which he became permanently lame. The
"Tryon," after being captured, escaped, while the
" Thorn " was pursuing the " Erskine," but iu a shat-
tered condition.
In January, 1780, Capt. Waters fell in withtheship
" Sparlin," of eighteen guns and seventy-five men,
from Liverpool for New York, whicii was taken after
an action of forty minutes. His next, and probably
his last voyage, was as commander of the armed ship
" Friendship,'' from Boston, to which he was appoint-
ed in January, 1781. After the war he retired from
the sea and lived on his farm in Maiden, where he
died March 26,1816. The site of his residence was
at or near the present location of the Everett Spring
House, and his lauds extended on the westerly side
of Ferry Street, as far north as the estate of Thaddeus
Peirce, and southerly to Island End.
Besides the persons above mentioned, the names of
Nalor Hatch and Nathan Nichols, appear as com-
manders of armed vessels. Capt. Hatch commanded
a company which was stationed at Beacham's Point,
on the Van Vooris estate, during the battle of Bunker
Hill. He also commanded the earthworks afterwards
thrown up at Beacham's Point, and at the junction
of Main and Bow Streets.
582
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
For many of the foregoing particulars I am indebt-
ed to the historical sketch of Maiden, by Deloraine
P. Corey, in Drake's '' History of Middlesex County,"
to the " Bi-centennial Book of Maiden," and to
Muasey's " Reminiscences and Memorials."
It may be well to notice in this place some of the
changes in the southern part of the town. In the
course of one hundred and sixty or seventy years
since its settlement, it had become a fairly prosperous
farming community, with convenient roads and means
of communication with Boston. It is probable that
the oldest road is that leading to Penny Ferry, al-
ready mentioned. It is impossible to give the exact
date at which this road was laid out.
In 1796 a county road was laid out three rods wide
from Main Street to what is now Everett Square, and
thence northeasterly in a nearly straight line over
Belmont and Corbett Hills, and through the swamp,
and then turning easterly to Linden. A portion of
this road is now known as Lynn Street, a part aa School
Street, and for upwards of a mile between these two. it
was mostly within the limits of what was afterwards
the Newburyport Turnpike. The road to Wormwood
Point, now known as Beacham Street, was laid out in
1681 ; Shute Street as a town-way in 1695, and after-
wards as a county road. Chelsea Street, formerly ex-
tending through Bucknam and Locust Streets to
Main Street, was laid out in 1653. Another old road
is Ferry Street, formerly known as the county road to
Winnisimmet. Main, Ferry and Chelsea Streets have
been several times widened by the county commis-
sioners. Elm Street, Nichols Lane, (now a part of
Nichols Street), Paine's Lane (now a part of Chelsea
Street), and Baldwin Avenue are also old roads. So far
as can be ascertained, these are the only roads in
South Maiden of an earlier date than 1800. Former-
ly, ordinary travel went around through Medford, and
thence to Boston, making quite a journey and inter-
fering seriously with public conveuience. The build-
ing of Maiden bridge, which was formally opened to
the public by the firing of cannon and other festivi-
ties, Sept. 29, 1787, proved of great benefit to South
Maiden, offering, as it did, a direct route to Charles-
town and Boston.
This bridge was built by private capital, and was for
seventy-two years owned and operated by the Maiden
Bridge Corporation as a toll-bridge. The payment of
the tolls imposed a heavy tax upon the public travel,
and continued to impede the growth of South Maiden.
To reach Boston it was necessary, according to the
" Bi-centennial Book of Maiden," to pass two toll-
bridges, and a man could not ride into Boston and out
again without paying the heavy tax of forty-seven
cents.
The south part of Maiden did not long remain
without a separate local organization. The South
Parish was succeeded by the South School District.
Ou the 6th day of May, 1799, the town of Maiden
voted " To accept the report of the committee ap-
pointed to divide the town into districts." This
report provided for three districts, — the North, the
Middle and the South Districts, — the boundaries of
the South District to begin at the wharf on Maiden
Bank, so called, thence running easterly over the hill
to the Chelsea line, leaving Jacob Perkins and Asa
Tufts a little to the southward of said line. This
line was probably not far from the line between the
South and North Parishes, and included a slightly
larger area than the present town of Everett. The
South Precinct had evidently had a school-house for
many years located on the southeast side of the
County road, laid out in 1796 ; but on the division of
the town into districts, it was deemed advisable to
build a new one, and on October 7, 1799, the town
voted to build a school-house in the south part of
the town, of the same dimensions as the one proposed
for the north part, and to raise $600 for the purpose
of building these school-hou-<es. William Emerson,
Stepheu Pain, Jr., Joseph Barrett, .Ir., Berniiid
Green, Esq., and Capt. Amos Sargent were appointed
as a building committee for both. On the 7th
day of .-^pril, ISOO, the selectmen were empowered
to purchase land as a site for the school-house, and
pursuant to this .luthority they purchased of Thomas
Sargent, for S20, the lot near the corner of Hancock
Street and Broadway, where the house of Hon.
Alonzo H. Evans now stands. The South School-
house was erected thereon at the cost of about $300,
and continued on or near that spot for the next forty-
two years. The old school-house w.as bought of the
proprietors by the town at an appraisal for $50, and
sold for $35. The first meeting of the South District
was held December 10, 1800, on the same day as the
last meeting of the South Parish. Capt. Benjamin
Blaney was chosen moderator, Ezra Sargent (since
1758 clerk of the South Parish) was chosen clerk,
Capt. Jonathan Oakes, Stepheu Pain, Jr., Capt. Amos
Sargent a committee ; Mr. John Howard, treasurer.
It was voted " that the Committee Shall hire such
a Master, and when they think best for the Benifit of
the Children." It was also voted " that the fifty Dol-
lars that Belonged to the Proprietors of the old School-
house ly on interest, and that the interest of it be an-
nualy Laid out for the Benifit of Schooling of the
youth of the South District."
In 1802 Uriah Oakes, whose descendants to the
third generation are still living in town, appears as
treasurer. The last entry in the handwriting of Ezra
Sargent is under date of March 12, 1804. He was
succeeded April 12, 1805, by Winslow Sargent.
From April, 1808, to March 4, 1819, there is no
record of any meeting of the South District. At the
meeting held on the latter date Captain Ebenezer
Nichols appears aa moderator ; Isaac Parker, clerk ;
Nathan Lynde, treasurer ; Captain Eben Nichols,
Captain Nathan Nichols and Isaac Parker were chosen
a committee to purchase land for the district at their
discretion.
EVERETT.
583
At a meeting held March 25, 1820, it was voted "to
remove the School-house, and Captain Nathan Nich-
ols, Captain Ehenezer Nichols, Captain Uriah Oakes,
Captain Thomas Oakes and Thadeus Pierce were
chosen a committee for the purpose." June 14, 1823,
Captain N.athan Nichols was chosen clerk, and from
that date to 1830 the records are very neatly kept in
his handwriting. He was for many years a prominent
citizen of Maiden and a man of sound business quali-
fications, and grandfather of our present town treas-
urer. On the 12th of March, 1830, Solomon Corey
was chosen clerk, and so continued until 1834.
Nathan Lynde was treasurer of the South District
from March 4, 1819, to March 21, 1835, a period of
sixteen years. From the year 1820 the names of
William Pierce, Thaddeus Pierce (father of the pres-
ent Thaddeus), Thoma-s Oakes, Captain Henry Rich
Elisha Webb, Daviil Faulkner, Daniel A. Perkins^
Leavitt Cmbett, Alfred Osgood and Seth Grammer
frequently appear iu the proceedings of the South
District.
At a meeting held March 27, 1837, measures were
taken for establishing a |)rimary school, which was
subsequently opened in Webb's Hall, so-called, in the
house now owned and occupied by Dea. Calvin Hos-
raer. By a report of the financial concerns of the
South District for the year 1839, the cash receipts are
stated at .*i;41.52.
In 1841 the iticrea.sing population of the South Dis-
trict and the local jealousies of its diflerent sections
led to an agitation for a division, and on March 19,
1842, Captain Junathan Oakes, William Pierce, Ste-
phen Stimpson, Benjamin Nichols, Benjamin S. Shute
and Solomon .Shute were chosen a committee to report
on a proper division line between the two districts
This committee reported JIarcli 21, 1842, in favor of
a line running across the hill so as to leave Daniel A.
Perkins, Jonathan Baldwin, Jr., and William Whitte-
more on the west side of the hill, the east side to keep
the school-house and land for their own. .\t a town-
meeting held April 18. 1842, it was voted that the
South District be divided according to the above line,
and all the inhabitants southwest of said line were
set ofl' as a new district by the name of the South-
west School District. At this time there were in
South Maiden eighty-eight houses and one hundred
and five families as compared with fifty-two houses
iu 1828.
The South School District continued in existence
until 1853, and the old school-house was, in August
following the division, removed to the present Glen-
dale School-house lot on Ferry Street, which the
South District purchased of Mary PoUey for the sum
of S300, originally containing about two acres, of
which an acre and three-quarters were sold. The old
school-house was repaired and continued to be used
until 1854, when it was replaced by a new building,
which continued in use until 1885, when it was, in
tui-u, replaced by the present Glendale School-house.
John Cutter, Jr., was chosen clerk of the South
District June 18, 1842, and served until March 7,
1849, when he was succeeded by Charles D. Adams,
who continued in office until the abolition of the dis-
trict system.
The Southwest District, as the new district was
called, embraced the larger portion of the population
and wealth of the former South District. It held its
first meeting on May 12, 1842. William Peirce was
chosen moderator; William Johnson, the last clerk
of the South District before the division and for many
years a prominent citizen of Maiden and Everett, as-
sessor, town treasurer, representative to the General
Court in 1851 and 1882, was chosen clerk ; Stephen
Stimpson, Prudential Committee. A Building Commit-
tee was chosen consisting of Jonathan Oakes, Stephen
Stimpson, George Winslow, Uriah Oakes, Charles
Baldwin, Henry Van Voorhis and William Peirce.
This committee was authorized to select and purchase
a lot of land as a site for the school-house, and to bor-
row not exceeding $1500 for building the same, in
addition to ^00 to be raised by taxation, making a
total of $2000 placed at the disposal of the building
committee.
A plan prepared by A. Benjamin was presented and
it was voted to make the building two stories high,
and thirty by forty feet in size on the ground. The
committee were authorized to expend not exceeding
^2400 for this building. The Prudential Committee
were authorized to employ such teachers as thev
judged proper, and a school w.is opened in a small
house on School Street, while the new building was
in process of erection. By a report of the Building
Committee, presented at a meeting held August 22,
1842, it appears that the contractor, Mr. Elisha B.
Loring, received for labor and material furnished
S1581.89. The cost of the land, which was purchased
of Jonathan Oakes, now worth probably $5000 or
more, was SI50. The chairs for the building coat
$108, and the furnace $149.44. These and various
other items brought the total cost up to .$2595.11. A
vote of thanks to the Building Committee was adopted
and the Prudential Committee was directed to employ
a male teacher.
The upper story was not at first used for school
purposes, but continued to be used as a hall, and the
Building Committee were authorized to furnish the
same with seats. The Prudential Committee were
also at the same meeting authorized to let the school-
house hall for all religious worship, lyceums and sing-
ing-schools, but not to allow dancing or drilling.
At the annual meeting of the district held March
21, 1842, Solomon Corey was chosen clerk and con-
tinued to hold that office until the abolirion of the
district system in 1853. A school district library was
established in 1842 and rules were adopted for the
regulation thereof on March 21, 1843. David N. Bad-
ger was chosen as the first librarian at the same
meeting.
584
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Schools were opened in the new school building in
the fall of 1842. From the report of the Prudential
Committee March, 1843, it appears that the number of
school children in the Southwest School District, be-
tween the ages of four and sixteen years, was 119, and
that the amount paid for teachers' services from the
organization of the district was $306, male teachers
receiving thirty dollars and female teachers sixteen
dollars per month, and other incidental expenses
brought up the total expenditures to $347.67. The
district continued to prosper and was steadily reduc-
ing its debt when, on Friday, the 27th day of Febru-
ary, 1846, at about one o'clock in the morning, the
new school building took fire and was totally de-
stroyed with its contents, including apparatus and
library. The loss was estimated at $2700; the insur-
ance was only $1200. The examination of the schools
was to have taken place the same day.
On the 12th day of March the district met and
voted to build .i new school-house larger than the
first, and chose as a Building Committee, George
Wiuslow, Stephen Stimpson, Samuel H. Clapp, Capt.
.Jonathan Cakes, William Peirce, James H. Dix,
Charles Baldwin and David N. Badger. From a re-
port of the treasurer at the same meeting it appears
that the total expenditure for schools was $497.02
for the preceding year. It was voted that the new
school-house be fifty-five feet long, forty-two feet
wide, two stories high ; the first story to be fitted up
i;nmediately for school purposes, the second to be
used as a public hall until needed for use as a school-
room. It was also voted to raise $500 for the build-
ing by taxation this year. An attempt to reconsider
this action March 24th, was defeated by a vote of forty-
two to twenty-five, but the width of the building was
reduced to thirty-six feet instead of forty-two, and
the expenditure was limited to $3300, which was
considerably exceeded. The new building, like the
old, was erected by our late esteemed fellow-citizen,
Mr. E. B. Loring, with that thoroughness which was 1
characteristic of his work. It continued to be used
for school purposes by Maiden and Everett for forty-
three years, and after being remodeled in 1871, and
partially burned in 1875, was abandoned for school
purposes in the fall of 1889. Transformed into an
engine-house during the year 1890, it promises to
serve out a further extended term of usefulness.
The final report of the Financial Committee, sub-
mitted March 18, 1847, shows a total expenditure on
the building of $3642.32, of which the contractor, Mr.
E. B. Loring, received $2903.33, including extras.
The whole number of scholars in the district. May
1, 1846, between the ages of four and sixteen years
was 166. On the 30th day of October, 1847, it was
voted to let the school-house hall free for Sabbath-
schools. A committee consisting of Jonathan Oakes,
Solomon Corey and Daniel A. Perkins was chosen at
the same meeting to petition the Legislature for le.ave
to assess and collect their own district tuxes. This
movement developed into an efl'ort to have South
Maiden set otf and incorporated as the town of
" VVinthrop," and a petition for this purpose, headed
by Jonathan Oakes, was presented to the General
Court, February 2, 1848, by Mr. Bowker, of Boston,
and referred to the Committee on Towns, which, on
April 13, 1848, reported " leave to withdraw" and the
matter was referred to the next General Court, April
17,1848. At the next session, on January 11, 1849,
the petition was taken from the files of the previous
year and referred to the Committee on Towns, which
again reported leave to withdraw March 19, 1849.
which report was accepted March 29th. At the follow-
ingsession redoubled etibrts were made for separation,
and numerous petitions were presented from South
Maiden, beginning with one headed by James H. Dix,
presented by Mr. Brewster, of Boston, January 1(">,
1850. Other petitions followed, headed respectively
by Miss Joanna T. Oliver and Willard Sears.
From a statement entered in the record-book of the
Southwest District under date of February 1, 1S5(.I, the
following interesting facts appear in regard to Maiden
and the proposed new town.
The whole town grant for schools for 910 scholars
was $3000, of which the Southwest District with 147
children received ^'495.3.'), and the South District with
77 children received !r2&9.49, and both with 224
children, $754.84.
The valuation of the Southwest District was: Real
estate, $255,658 ; personal, $70,321. .South District:
Real estate, $102,843 ; personal, $18,145. ToUl,
$446,9iJ7, without iucluding estates of non-residents.
The estimated number of polls in the proposed
town of ^^'inthrop was 305; number of inhabitaiiU
was 1169. The whole amount of property was stated
to be $711,233.
The parent town of Maiden, attacked on the north
by the petition to incorporate Jlelrose (which was
successful), and on the south by the petition to incor-
porate Winthrop, struggled earnestly to preserve its
territorial integrity, and succeeded in postponing the
incorporation of South Maiden for twenty years more.
The Committee on Towns reported leave to withdraw
as before, and this report was accepted April 29, 1850.
The effort for separation was by a petition presented
t() the Legislature March 25th. The matter was
April 18th referred to the next General Court in
which the petiuons were taken from the files Feb. 14,
1857, and adverse report made April 18th, and accept-
ed April 21st.
The last meeting of the Southwest District was
held March 16, 1853, at which Solomon Corey was
chosen clerk ; Timothy C. Edmester, Prudential Com-
mittee; Stephen Stimpson, treasurer; Wm. Pierce,
and H. W. VanVoorhis, Finance Committee. Their
term of office was short, for at a town-meeting held
April 4, 1853, Maiden abolished the district system.
Aa showing the relative importance of South Mai-
den, the following figures, giving the school appro-
EVERETT.
585
priattons for the whole town and the proportion
allotted to South Maiden for four years previous to
the abolition of the district system, will be of interest :
SCHOOL APPROPRIATIONS.
Teart. Whole Toim. Portion AUolUd Per cent, of Total.
U> S. and B. W. Ditlt.
184»-o0 $3000 $754.84 25.16
18.10-51 350O 897.22 25.6
18.il-o2 4000 1,408.27 35.2
1S52-53 4000 1,186.56 29.6
On the Ist day of May, 1853, the number of tax-
payers in the Southwest District was 199, and in the
South District, eighty-eight. As indicating the com-
parative wealth and taxation of 1853 and 1889, it may
be added that there were in the South and Southwest
Districts in 1853, only fourteen tax-payers, who were
assessed $100 or more each, against 173 in Everett in
1889. .A.fter making all due allowance for increased
rate.^, these figures indicate a marked increase in
wealth. The names of the tax-payers in South Jlal-
deii paying $100 or more in 1853 were : Eliphalet
Kimball, $113.89; Nathan Lynde's heirs, $240.43;
John Lewis, $161.92 ; Xathan Nichols' heirs, $450.50;
Uriah Oakes' widow, $337.31; Wm. and G. W.
Pierce, $172.53; Rebecca Perkins, $110.84; Joseph
Swan, ••?1S9.S7; Stephen Stirapson, $123.07 ; Simon
Tufts, $273.84 ; H. W. and J. C. Van Voorhis, $582.94 ;
Geo. Wiiislow's estate, $189.18; Leavitt Corbett,
$192.15; David Faulkner's widow $135.22.
The abolition of the district system marks the
close of another epoch in the hi.story of South ilal-
den, and at this point it may be well to note some of
the changes which had occurred during the previous
fifty-four years since the establishment of the South
Di.strict.
One of the most important public works belonging
to this period was the construction of the Newbury-
port Turnpike, which was laid out pursuant to a
warrant of the county commissioners dated Septem-
ber 22, 1804. The proprietors were incorporated
March 8, 1803. The work of laying out this road
extended through the years 1804, 1805, 1806. The
portion in South .Maiden was laid out and constructed
in the two latter years. ' This road was laid out four
rods wide and has so continued to the present time.
It covered in part the location of the county road
laid out in 1796 to East Maiden. It continued to be
operateti as a turnpike road until 1852, when it was
made a public highway by the county commissioners.
In 1856 the boundaries were established by suitable
monuments, and it has for more than eighty years
constituted one of the important landmarks within
our territory, and one of the great arteries of travel.
It e.^tends in a straight line northeasterly from Mai-
den Bridge to near the northerly boundary of Ev-
erett, where it turns slightly to the west just before
reaching the Maiden line.
From the re-union of the North and South Par-
ishes in 1792, until 1S47, there appears to have been
no regular places of worship in the south part of
Maiden, though for a time before the district was di-
vided. Miss Lambert, a day-school teacher, main-
tained a Sabbath-school in the old red school- house
on the hill, where Mr. Evans' house now standi. In
1847, such was the growth in population and wealth,
that the religious needs of the community began to
require some local religious organization and ser-
vice. By the union and co-operation of several mem-
bers of the different evangelical churches and other
benevolent persons residing in South Maiden and
Chelsea, a Sabbath-achooi was opened in the school-
house of the Southwest District, on the first Sunday
in May, 1847. The first superintendent of this Sun-
day-school was Deacon Calvin Hosmer, a member of
the Baptist Church in Maiden. J. H. Dix was secre-
tary and treasurer, and W. C. Barrett librarian. At
the first session thirty-six persons were present, and
such was the interest manifested that theformation of
a church began to be seriously considered. For the
purpose of trying the experiment for a few months,
the hall in the Southwest District was opened for
public worship on December 19, 1847, and Rev. J. A.
Benton was engaged to supply the pulpit for the first
Sabbath. On the evening of March 8, 1848, a number
of persons residing in South Maiden, and members of
different churches, convened at the house of Mr.
Uriah Oakes to consult with reference to the forma-
tion of a church, and Uriah Oakes, John Willcutt
and Samuel H. Clapp were made a committee to pre-
pare articles of faith and make other needed prepara-
tory arrangements.
The council met the 16th day of March. Among
the facts presented for the consideration of this coun-
cil were the following : Within a radius of one mile
from the school-house there dwelt a population of
600, steadily increasing. The Sunday-school, which
began with 36 members, then numbered 140, and for
the last four Sabbaths the average attendance had
been 118. The attendance at the meetings for public
worship in the hall had varied from 80 to 240 in the
day-time, and from 60 to 200 iu the evening, and the
increase had been gradual from the beginning, and
during the last three Sabbaths the average had been
223. The council voted to proceed with the organi-
zation of the church in the evening, the exercises of
which were. Reading of results of council; Scriptures
by Rev. Mr. Guernsey, of Charlestown ; prayer by
Rev. Mr. McClure, of Maiden ; sermon by Dr. Blag-
den, of Boston ; constituting the church and prayer
by Rev. I. P. Langworthy, of Chelsea; fellowship of
the churches by Dr. Edward Beecher, of Boston ; and
concluding prayer and benediction by Rev. J. A.
Benton.
The names of the original members of the church
were as follows : Isaac Clapp, Samuel H. Clapp,
Uriah Oakes, Nehemiah M. Rider, Wm. Whittemore,
Jr., John Willcntt, Eliza A. Baldwin, Harriet Bat-
telle, Elizabeth Blaney, Susan P. Clapp, Rebecca J.
586
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
T. Mansfield, Charlotte Oakes, Sarah Oakes, Elizabeth
W. Oliver, Joanna T. Oliver, Lucy B. Oliver, Lucy
Pierce, Elizabeth Stimpson, Esther Whittemore,
Esther R. Whittemore, Joanna T. Whittemore,
Mariah H. Whittemore, Emeline Willcutt, Mary A.
AVilson, twenty-four in all. Miss Joanna T. Oliver,
whose portrait may be seen in the vestry of the Con-
gregational Church, was one of the earliest pioneers
as she was one of the most earnest workers in this
field.
This little church met almost uniformly for busi-
ness, at first at the residence of Mr. Uriah Oakes.
March 25, 1848, at the regular business meeting held
at the house of Mr. Oakes, it was voted that this
church shall be called the " Winthrop Congregational
Church," probably in anticipation of the incorpora-
tion of South Maldeu as the proposed new town of
Winthrop. Uriah Oukes and John Willcutt were the
first deacons. Rev. J. A. Benton Wiis, on July 19,
184S, unanimously called as acting pastor, in which
position he continued to officiate until November,
1848. Though the period of his ministration was
short, he deeply influenced the polity of the church,
inasmuch as he was the author of the Confession of
Faith and Hy-laws, which, with some changes in
1871 and 1886, still continue in u.-^e. After the de-
parture of Mr. Benton_ the church was for about a
year without a regular pastor.
On the 18th of October, 1849, Rev. Francis G.
Pratt, of Andover Theological Seminary, pursuant to
a call of the church, August 19, 1849, was installed as
the first regular piwtor of the church, in which position
he continued for more than eight years, until April
13, 1858. During his ministry land was pur-
chased for a house of worship, and the building
which the church still occupies, with a seating capa-
city of about 350, was erected in 1852. It was dedi-
cated December 8, 1848, and the first Sabbath ser-
vices were held in the uew church on December 12,
1852, previous to which time the meetings had been
maintained in the Southwest District School-house.
The house and laud cost about $12,000. In securing
this Dea. Eliphalet Kimball was a prime mover, and
Samuel H. Clapp, James H. Dix, Alonzo H. Evans,
Wm. Whittemore, Wm. Baldwin and J. M. Gilford
were also prominent in this movement. The pastor-
ate of Mr. Pratt was a prosperous one for the church,
many members being added during his ministry.
On the 8th of September, 1859, Rev. James Cruik-
shanks was installed, pursuant to a call extended to
him on the 9th of June, and accepted June 26th.
The church was far from unanimous in this call, and
during the deliberations of the council there was
presented a protest, in behalf of fifty-five members of
the church, against the settlement of Mr. Cruik-
shanks. After listening to both sides, the council
decided that the proceedings were regular, and they
proceeded with the installation. Thereupon sixteen
members, having been denied regular letters of dis-
mission, withdrew under the advice of an ex-parte
council, and formed the Chapel Congregational
Church of South Maiden, of which Rev. L. H. An-
gler was pastor. They purchased a lot of laud and
erected a chapel on the site of the present residence
of Mr. George C. Stowers, at the corner of Cottage
and Winter Streets, which last street from that fact
w.as for some time called Chapel Street. The new
Chapel Congregational Church continued to exist
u!itil October, 1861, when, after various negotiations,
both that and the Winthrop Congregational Church
were disbanded, and reunited in one body as the
South Maiden Congregational Church, October 31,
1861. Of this council, Rev. Dr. Blagden, p;istor of
the Old South Church, of Boston, w.as moderator.
The original cause for the disruption had been re-
moved in the resignation of Rev. Mr. Cruikshanks,
which was tendered June 15, 1859. He was dis-
missed by council .luue 29tli following. The first
de-icons of the new church were Uriah Oakes, E. P.
Foster and George Whittemore. The chapel was
burned January 2, 1867.
On April 6, 1862, Rev. Oliver Brown, of Quincy,
-Mass., became acting pastor, in which position he
continued until February 26, 1864, having received
January 4, 1864, a vote of thanks for his earnest and
successful labors in the interest of peace. On Feb-
ruary 26, 1864, a call was extended to Rev. David .M.
Hean to become pastor, which w.is accepted March
5th, and on June 28th he was duly installed by a
council called for that purpose. During his pastorale
occurred a powerful revival, as the result of which
there were added to the church July 1, 1866, nineteen
individuals, besides numerous others in the course of
his ministry. On November 24, 186S, Rev. Mr. Bean
was dismissed by council. On January 28, 1869, a
call was extended by the church to Rev. Albert
Bryant, formerly mii-sion.ary in Turkey, who accepted
and was installed March 25, 1869. During his min-
istry in 1871, the creed and by-laws were revised, and
a young people's prayer-meeting was instituted. .Mr.
Bryant's pastorate continued until May 13, 1874, when
he was di8misi>ed.
On the 4th of August, 1874, a call was extended to
Rev. W. J. Batt, which was declined, and in January
following, a call was extended to Rev. Webster
Hazlewood, who was installed July 7, 1875, resigned
February 10, 1876, and was dismissed by council May
4, 1876. From August 1, 1876, until October 17,
1881, Rev. Wm. H. Bolster served as acting pastor,
harmonizing the dissensions growing out of the pre-
vious pastorate, and leaving the church in a healthy
and prosperous condition. From an able historical
sermon delivered by Mr. Bolster, November 11, 1877,
many of the foregoing particulai-s are derived.
On the 26th of April, 1882, Rev. George Y. Wash-
burn, a graduate of Andover, who had supplied the
pulpit for five months, was ordained and installed.
During his ministry large numbers were added to the
EVERETT.
58:
church, which also prospered in other directions. On
July 1, 1883, as the result of a revival, thirty-five
were added to the church, twenty-four on profession
of faith. A debt of §4000, which had existed since
the building of the church in 1852, was extinguished.
This desirable result was consummated April 26, 1886.
The church hiis since been newly frescoed in a very
tasteful manner by Mr. Everett B. Wilson, a graduate
of the Everett grammar school. In 1887 and 1888,
especially the latter, there were revivals resulting in
numerous additions to the church. The Courtland
Street Mission was instituted March 29, 1885, and in
the same year a chapel was erected there by Captain
Samuel J. Sewall, one of the public-spirited citizens
of Mystic Village.
Mr. William H. Whipple was the first superin-
tendent. Religious services and a Sunday-school
have sini-e been maintained there. The whole num-
ber in the Sunday-school is 126; average, 80. Near
the close of Mr. Washburn's pastorate, the church
became interested in the Mystic Side Mission, main-
tained by the Maiden and Everett Congregational
Churches, through the Mystic Side Congregational
Union, organized March 28, 1889. Under the au-
spices of this association a Sunday-school was opened
March 31, 1889, in a room formerly occupied as a
grocery-store, at the corner of Main and Woodville
Streets, Everett. The membership has increased
from 61 to 190, with an average attendance of 130
in the spring of 1890. The Union has purchased
34,0110 feet of land on Willis Avenue, with a view to
erecting a house of worship. The superintendent is
James M. Morey, of Maiden.
Mr. Washburn closed his labors in April, 1889.
During his pastorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of
the re-union of the Winthrop and Chapel Churches
was appropriately commemorated, October 31, 1S86>-
on which occasion Mr. Washburn delivered a very
interesting historical sermon.
Rev. Eddy T. Pitts was called to the pastorate July
30, 1889, and, having accepted the call, commenced
his labors on Sunday, September 1, 1889, and still
continues in this position. The membership of the
church in October, 1889, was 258, as compared with 145
in 1870. The number in the Sunday-school in April,
1890, was 410, as compared with 230 in 1879. The
number of volumes in the Sunday school library in
April, 1890, was 374. The receipts of the society dur-
ing the year 1889-90 were S-3096.14; the expendi-
tures $3,080.57.
The account of the Congregational Church has car-
ried us far beyond the period under notice at the
time of its institution. Returning now to the period
prior to the abolition of the district system, a few
facts require mention. Some time after the establish-
ment of the Fire Depa.-tmcnt in JMalden, an engine was
procured and an engine-house built in South Maiden
in 1847. The first fire-engine was a common hand-
engine, named " General Taylor," in honor of the
I hero of the Mexican War, then freshly wearing the
I laurels of victory. This continued in use as the only
I engine in South Maiden and Everett until 1878. The
engine-house erected in 1847 was partially destroyed
I by fire in 1860, when it was sold and removed to the
I lot next southwest of Whittier's store, where it still
i stands, remodeled into a dwelling-house. The pres-
ent engine-house, about to be abandoned, was erected
in 1860, and the engine-house lot was at the same
time enlarged.
Woodlawu Cemetery, occupying about one hun-
dred acres, in the east part of Everett, besides seventy-
six acres more, owned by the corjwration, was organ-
ized August 31, 1850. The grounds were consecrated
July 2, 1851 ; the corporation confirmed and estab-
lished April, 1855. The first interment was made on
the evening of July 1st, next preceding the consecra-
tion. The whole number of interments to June 1,
1.856, was nine hundred and forty-eight.
The order of exercises at the consecration consist-
ed of music, reading of the Scriptures, by Rev. I. P.
Langworthy, prayer by Rev. \Vm. I. Buddington,
original hymn by Rev. J. H. Clinch, of Boston, ad.
dress by Rev. Geo. E. Ellis, of Charletown, hymn by
Henry W. Fuller, Esq., prayer and benediction by
Levi Fuller.
Mr. Henry W. Fuller was connected with the
cemetery from its origin to his death, August 14,
1889, and to make it what it is may be said to have
been his life-work, and the cemetery is his most en-
during monument.
Woodlawn is one of the most tastefully adorned
cemeteries in the suburbs of Boston, and does last-
ing honor to the elegant taste of Mr. Fuller. It
embraces an area of about one hundred acres be-
tween Elm and Fuller Streets. The corporation has
made repeated attempts to procure from the town
leave to bury in an adjoining tract of land contain-
ing about seventy-six acres, known as the Corbett
farm, purchased by the corporation in 1868, but
heretofore without success. The number of inter-
ments in Woodlawn Cemetery to January 1, 1879,
was 11,459, and the total to April 25, 1890, was
19,187.
The town has during the present year laid out a
tract of land of about twelve acres between Fuller
street and Woodlawn as a burial-ground, to be called
Glen wood Cemetery.
A new road to Chelsea, now known as Second
Street, was laid out by the county commissioners in
1852, and was built in 1854, at a cost of S5279.89.
A post-oflSce was established in South Maiden, and
Solomon Corey, father of the late incumbent, was
appointed the first postmaster, January 17, 1852.
The first post-office was established, and was for
several years kept in the store of Mr. Uriah Oakes,
at the corner of Chelsea Street and Broadway, now
occupied as a fruit store. In 1857, James H. Dix
succeeded Mr. Corey, and removed the post-office to
588
HISTOKY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
the store now occupied by Whittier Brothers. Mr.
Dix continued to be postmaster during 1857 and
apart of 1858, and was in 1858 succeeded by George
W. Chase, who served until June 10, 1859, when
David N. Badger was appointed, and continued in
the office until about January 1, 1865, when he was
succeeded by Joseph Gerrish, who was postmaster
from 1865 to 1869. David N. Badger was then reap-
pointed, and served until November 7, 1871, when
George E. Kimball was appointed as the first post-
master of Everett proper, in which position he re-
mained until July 'lb, 1872.
Before the erection of the Masonic Building, Mr.
Badger had kept the post-office in his building on
Broadway (the old engine-house reconstructed),
next southwest of Whittier's store. The post-office
was removed to the Masonic Building in the fall of
1871. Shortly after Mr. Kimball's appointment sev-
eral improvements were introduced. Two daily mails
were establislied instead of one, as bad formerly been
the case, and letter-boxes were provided. Mr. Kim-
ball having removed to Chelsea, Dr. James B. Ever-
ett was appointed postmaster July 25, 1872, having
been the acting postmaster for several months prior
to that date.
He continued in service until April 6, 1886. In
187G Mr. Kimball again returned to Everett, and as
a.'isistant postmaster was connected w'th the office
during the remainder of Dr. Everett's term. The
postal service during this period wa.s greatly extended
and improved. Everett was made a money-order
office in 1879. Shortly afterwards, in the same year,
an additional daily mail was established, making three
daily. A telephone was connected with the office in
1880. A Sunday mail was established early in 1881.
A telegraph office was opened November 0, 1882. In
1884 it became an international money-order office.
On the 6th of April, 1886, Columbus Corey, son of
the first postmaster, succeeded Dr. Everett. The
office up to this time had been kept in Dr. Everett's
drug-store, but on the appointment of Mr. Corey anew
office, with suitable appointments, was fitted up also
in the Masonic Building, separate from any other
place of business, a change which had become im-
perative owing to the growth of the business. In the
thirty-eight years which have elapsed since the es-
tablishment of the post-office, the business has shown
a wonderful increa.«e. This is indicated by the in-
crease in the compensation of the postmaster from
$53.90 in 1853 to $141.66 in 1863, §430 in 1873, and
$12U0 in 1882, when it became a Presidential office.
The business of the post-office for the year ending
March 31, 1890, amounted to S5602.82, and the com-
pensation of the postmaster to $1700. On the Ist day
of June, 1890, Mr. Corey was succeeded by Mr.
Charles Manser, who had been designated as the
choice of the majority of the Republicans by a caucus
held in Everett Hall, April 21, 1890. On July 1,
1890, another daily mail was established, making four
every week-day.. A free postal delivery was establish-
ed Nov. 1, 1890, the houses having been numbered
pursuant to a vote of the town adopted in March,
1890. Through the kindness of Postmaster Corey
the following interesting facts, relating to the growth
of the business during his term of service, have been
furnished :
YetjT eji'Htig
J/urc/i 31.
.1ft.
Dome'
"J
ic.
ordtra istiied
Fureian.
Posliil iiola
issued.
Tutul Recripti.
1S87
4!I2
120
482
53460
1888
019
191
497
45(11
1889
778
35+
582
6(134
1 390
951
321
617
5003
A large part of South Maiden, or Mystic side, was
originally laid out in small lots of tive and ten acres
each. The greatest admirer of the system of peasant
proprietors could ask for nothing better; but in the
course of two centuries, these holdings, too small to
afford the owners a livelihood, had one by one been
absorbed by large landed proprietors until nearly the
whole area of South Maiden was divided among a
small number of large farms, several of them exceed-
ing 100 acres each.
About the year 1845 these large tracts began to be cut
up and sub-divided, and laid out into house-lols, and
during the twelve years from 1845 to 1857, no less
than twenty-five large and important tracts of land
were thus surveyed and placed upon the market in
lota desirable for building purposes, .\mong these we
may mention the Daniel Waters estate in 1845; the
Winnisimmet Company's land in 1846 ; the former
farm of Jonathan Oakes, on Belmont Hill, and the
farm of Timothy Clapp, in 1S50; the Belmont lands
and the esLnte of Jonathan Oakes' heirs, on School
.Street, in 1S52; the Lynde farm in 1S54 ; Mount
Washington and the Samuel Pierce farm, on both
sides of Bradford Street, in 1S56. The opening of
these large tract? to settlement had no small influence
in promoting the subsequent increase in population
and wealth.
The period just then beginning opened up several
important facilities for public travel. The Eastern
Railroad and the Saugus Branch were both opened in
1854, and communication by street railway with Bos-
ton was opened in 1858; one line of cars running up
Main Street to Maiden, operated by the Maiden &
Melrose Raiiroad Co., afterwards leased to the Middle-
-sex Railroad Co., incorporated June 6, 1856 ; and
another line up School Street and Broadway and
through Summer Street to Woodlawn and Cliftondale,
operated by the Cliftondale Railroad Co., incorpo-
rated April 1, 1859. In the course of a few years
later they made half-hourly trips during the day, and
hourly trips until late in the evening, and the fare to
Maiden was ten cents. The last-named route was
■abandoned many years ago.
During the preceding half-century the tolls on
Maiden Bridge had been materially reduced, but the
tolls levied upon travelers upon that and the Waireu
and Charles River Bridges still constituted a serious
EVERETT.
589
incumbrance upon public travel. The two latter
bridges were made free April 30, 1858. One of the
most important events as regards the growth of South
.Maiden was the abolition of tolls on Maiden Bridge,
which was laid out as a public highway, free from
tolls, April 1, 1859. The significance of this event
was not misunderstood by the inhabitants of South
-Maiden, and the day was observed with great rejoic-
ings. The town bells were rung, and a detachment of
the Charlestown Artillery fired a national salute at
morning, noon, evening and at eleven o'clock. A
procession, headed by Captain Stephen Stimpson as
chief marshal, followed by a cavalcade of prominent
citizens on horseback (ami)ng them Hon. Alonzo H.
Evans and Deacon iJalvin Hosmer), escorting the
selectmen of the town in a barouche, drawn by four
white horses, with the Maiden Brass Band, the Gen-
eral Taylor Engine Company, and the children of the
public schools in several vehicles, and others, pro-
ceeded across the bridge with flags flying, as far as
Charlestown Square and back again to South Maiden,
where they partook of a bountiful collation, and
listened to patriotic adilresses in the afternoon.
.V great impetus was given to the growth of the
population, which rose from 1169 in 1850 to 1547 in
ISlJO, and 1986 in 1S()7. The assessors' valuation, not
including the estates of non-residents, increased from
^^779,125 in 1854. to .-5910,675 in 1860, and to §1,104,-
493 iu 1867. The number of miles of accepted streets
in 1S59 was eleven, increased in 1869 to fourteen.
At the outbreak of the war tiiirty-seven of the citi-
zens of South Maiden responded to their country's
call, but until the organization of a Grand Army
Post here the record of iheir names and deeds was
never brought together, and is even now imperfect,
though the most important facts so far as known are
given below.
Previous to 1883 there was no Grand Army Post at
Everett, partly owing to the fact that Everett was not
a distinct municipality until several years after the
war. In the spring of 1883 a few of the veterans con-
ceived the idea of organizing a post. On canvassing
the town it was found that fifty or si.tty old soldiers
were at that time residents of Everett. The post was
formally instituted on Thursday evening, June 14,
1883, in Everett Hall, with a membership of twenty-
four, by Deputy Commander Geo. S. Evans and staff.
The name of James A. Perkins Post was adopted in
honor of Lieut. James Amory Perkins, of the Twenty-
fourth Massachusetts Volunteers, a gallant and effi-
cient otiicer, who was killed in an assault upon Fort
Wagner on Morris Island, .August 16, 1863, at the
early age of twenty-seven years.
The Post prospered and increased from the outset,
meeting first in Odd Fellows' Hall until the spring of
1884, when it leased what was lately known as Grand
Army Hall, on Chelsea Street, adjoining the Masonic
Building. '
.Vbout this time a relief fund was established for
the relief of old soldiers and sailors and their families,
whether members of the organization or not, and it
now amounts to a considerable sum. In the spring
of 1889 the Post leased its present quarters on the
third floor of Plaisted's Block. The membership in
April, 1890, amounted to nearly ninety. It annually
observes Memorial Day with appropriate ceremonies,
and from an eloquent address by the adjutant of the
post, Comrade Andrew J. Bennett, delivered on Sun-
day afternoon, May 29, 1887, a few extracts are given,
with some additions giving such particulars as can be
obtained in reference to the men of South Maiden
who oflered themselves on the altar of their country
during the Civil War.
" Roll of Honor of South Malden, 1861-1865.
These are the names of patriots who have passed over
to the majority : Robert Atkins, Third Iowa, who left
a peaceful home, never in the flesh to return.
James M. Baldwin, First Massachusetts Cavalry ;
Harry H. Currier, Forty-fourth Massachusetts; Hugh
L. Currier, Forty-fourth Massachusetts. Well I knew
these in the old days, in the decade before the strug-
gle ; in the sunshine of youth, before we dreamed
that any occasion would present itself in their lives to
make them heroes.
Edward E. Clapp, Pennsylvania Infantry, who fell
at Spottsylvania in 1862; one whose life, yielded up
at the demand of his country, had given the promise
of large usefulness. " He had that fine fibre of man-
hood which is better than genius.'' Rest, beloved son
and afliectiocLate brother ; soldier of the Republic,
faithful unto death, rest !
" Green be the turf above joii, frieuda of our better dayn ;
None knew yuu but to love you, uone named 3'uu but to pralue.**
Charles Dean, Sr., morocco dresser, died at Soldiers'
Home, Chelsea, May 27, 1887; Hervey Dix, Third
Iowa, who fell in 1861, in a victorious engagement at
Kirksville, Missouri, whose last words were, "The
Third Iowa never surrenders." The lyric muse has
chanted his dirge in a requiem dedicated to hia regi-
ment. His familiar form, I doubt not, is present to
the mind's eye of those who knew him.
Stephen Emerson, theological student, graduate of
Harvard College, First Massachusetts Infantry, killed
at Chancellorsville, May 5, 1863. Had this youth re-
turned, he might, perhaps, have been our Laureate. At
the call to arms he doffed his college gown, girt on his
armor, went to the front and died like a hero. " Greater
love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life
for his friends."
Joseph P. Emmons, brickmaker, about twenty-two
years old, a former Maiden school-boy, died at Ander-
sonville, Company I, D. C. Cavalry, and afterwards
Company G, First Maine Cavalry; Wm. H.
Faber, rope-maker, Nineteenth Massachusetts ; an old
Maiden school-boy. Some of you will remember
when the flag was at half-mast in this village, in 1864,
his death having been reported. He recovered, re-
turned and died at home.
590
HISTORY OF :MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Ephraim Hall, Nineteenth Massachusetts, one of
the cleverest men of one of the cleverest regiments
sent out by the old Bay State.
JesseLincoln, Thirty-fifth Massachusetts ; a smooth-
faced boy. His comrade relates that one morning
when his company was moving out to the front, and
Jesse, weak and debiliated, had been ordered by the
surgeon to remain in camp, he persisted in following;
" Bob looks so lonesome, going off without me,'' said
the boy.
Edwin Lord, First Massachusetts Cavalry. A brave
man.
Joseph Spooner, First Massachusetts ; type of stal-
wart New England stock, grandsoldier of the glorious
First Massachusetts, whom Hooker led and Cudworth
loved, who was in all the campaigns from the bap-
tismal battle of Blackburn's Ford, in July, 1861, till
one day in 18G4, when the survivors stood before our
war Governor, who characterized them as " War-worn i
ami scar- worn veterans." i
John Cfpooner, Forty-fifth Massachusetts. Younger ,
brother of the preceding. Somewhere along the
broken line, where the waters of theGulf beat .".gainst j
the coast of the Loue Star State, he found a grave. ]
Augustus S. Stimpsoii, First Massachusetts Cavalry.
He was a fireman, as was his comrade, Lord. The
circumstances of this man's life, before he became a i
soldier, from week to week, and month to month,
made him familiar with danger. i
William Whittemore, Forty-fourth Massachusetts. I
We could not think of him as dead ; it seemed as
though at any time we might see him approaching
u.s, with the smile of greeting in his eyes."
The following is the list of names of living com-
rades who enlisted from South Maiden :
Hetirge Atkins, 2d Muss.
Bartlett Biildwiii, Ist 5Imw. Cny.
FmDk A. Brown, nth Mass., tlie
tint uiao to eulist Truni South
jriMen.
Si'b:uitiMii rutter.
Chiu). H. Dean, 2r) 3Ihm. Cut.
Daniel De^oioud, 33d Masi.
John Knrle.
tieo. EiiierBon, -IStb Maw.
Ilonice FliiRR.
Alexander Greene, 1st Cav.
Tliofl. (<rover, 45th .Maaa.
Edward Lawton, 17th Ma«8.
Fred. Liucolti, Navy.
Ejishu A. Litring, ::i>t)i .Ala^s.
Fniiik 51. Luiiup, I'-th .M:uje.
Stephen McMagh.
Hiram .'tlills. Navy.
Wm. H. .Mirick, 17th .lliiss.
Isaac Newton Organ, ;:Stli .Maaa.
Wui. C I'eabody, 3:1<1 Mui^.
Wni. F. Pike, ."ith and lilst 5Xafie.
Edward L. Shute, ttti Mnaa.
Tiiilian II. Van Voorliis, 44th Ma&<.
James .\. Wallace, 4."itb Mafia.
.\hdrew J. Iteunett, 1st Blnaa. Lgt.
Battery.
It is to be hoped that a suitable monument may be
erected in our new town cemetery to the soldiers who
fell during the War of the Rebellion.
The.Universalist Society, the second religious so-
ciety in South Maiden of those now existing, was
formed in 1865. As near as can be ascertained, re-
ligious ser\'ices began to be held by them in 1864, but
the earliest record of any meeting for business is
under date of March 28, 1865, at Badger's Hall. This
meeting was called to order by Wilson Quint. Wil-
liam Johnson was made chairman and R. M. Barnard
clerk. A committee consisting of Messrs. Quint,
Lewis and Barnard was appointed to make arrange-
ments with Rev. B. K. Euss, of Somerville, to preach
for one year as a supply. The society continued to
worship in Badger's Hall until September, 1872, their
principal ministers being Rev. T. J. Greenwood, Dr.
A. A. Miner, Rev. H. J. Cushman, Rev. L. L. Briggs,
Rev. A. J. Canfield, Rev. W. H. Cudworth and Rev.
W. H. Rider, then a theological student. Just before
the incorporation of the town they completed their
organization as a religious society, July 8, 1869, the
petitioners for this purpose being William Johnson,
Anthony Waterman, J. D. Bean, H. M. Currier,
David N. Badger, James Pickering, Thomas Leavitt,
Eiisha B. Loring, Elisha A. Loring, Francis B. Wal-
\U, Thomas Lewis, Adams B. Cook, E. M. Barnard,
Philip Ham.
Shortly afterithelincorporation of the town, a move-
ment was commenced for building a church, and on
May 22, 1871, it was voted to commence building
when subscriptions reached S3000. On the 24th of
September, 1871, a building committee was chosen,
consisting of Anthony Waterman, Elisha B. Loring
:ind R. M. Barnard. On the 19th of October, 1871,
the committee was instructed to commence. The lot
at the corner of Summer Street and Broadway was
purchased, and the corner-atone laid May 14, 1872.
The first religious service was held in the vestry June
22, 1872, and the building was formally dedicated
Wednesday, September 25, 1872, and the first relig-
ious service in the new church was held on the Sun-
day following. This church was remodeled in 1880,
and re-dedicated January 17, 1890, with appropriate
ceremonies.
The first superintemlent of the Universalist Sun-
day-school was .Mr. Wilson Quint, who was .•■ucceeded
by J. D. Bean, Mr. Philip Ham, Isaac E. Coburii,
Rev. R. P. Bush, September 10, 1888, and Mr. A. J.
Bennett. The Sunday-school has increased from 150
in 1879. to 227 in the spring of 1800. The Sunday-
school library contains 550 volumes. The pulpit con-
tinued to be occupied by preachers settled in neigh-
boring towns, principally Rev. Warren H. Cudworth,
until December 1, 1879, when R. Perry Bush, then a
student in the divinity school at Tufts College, was
engaged as a stated supply until April 14, 1880, when
lie was unanimously called as pastor, and was in-
stalled June 13, 1880.
The original cost of the building and land w.as
.^10,000, and it had a seating capacity of upwards of
200, which by the remodeling was increased to about
400, at a cost of S9000. It is adorned with memorial
windows, the gift of R. M. Barnard ami Henry
.Schrow. The architects of the remodeled building
were Messrs. Brigham and Spofford.
In 1866 two new school-houses were erected, one on
Thorndike Street and the other on Ferry Street, at a
cost of about $8500, finished and furnished. Schools
were opened in the lower story of both buildings in
the spring of 1867, the upper stories being left unfin-
EVERETT.
591
ished until some years later. Both of these buildings
have since been sold. In 1868 a school-house was al-
so erected on Hancock Street at the corner of Hanson
Street, costing for building and land §2165.61. The
first school in this building was established in the
spring of 1869. This school was discontinued in
November, 1874, and the land and building sold at
auction for §1341.17, in 1875.
On July 15, 1867, a Sunday-school was organized
in the Glendale District by members of the Young
Jlen's Christian Association of Maiden, which result-
ed January 1, 1870, in the organization of the Glen-
dale Union Cbri.stian Society, with twelve members,
which purchased the lot of land on wliich the Glen-
ilale Chapel now stands, August 1, 1S72, for §672. In
1882 a movement was inaugurated for building a
house of worship; the corner-stone was laid July 6,
1SS2, and the completed edifice was dedicated Octo-
ber II, 1882, the sermon being preached by Rev. W.
F. Mallalieu. The cost of the building and land was
about §2700. A Sunday-school was maintained there
and al-io occasional religious services until 1888, when,
these having been discontinued, the chapel was leased
to the First Baptist Church in Everett, which, on
December 16, 1888, opened a Mission Sunday-school
there, wliicli bad a membership of 126 in December,
188!). The number of volumes in the Sunday-school
library is about 300.
The only other organization antedating the incor-
piiration of the town is that of the Palestine Lodge of
Free .Masons, which originated in a meeting heUl Sep-
tember 23, 1868, at which permission was asked of the
Mt. Veruon Lodge of Maiden to form a lodge of Free
and Accepted JIasons in South Maiden, and Palestine
wus the name agreed upon for the now lodge. The peti-
tion, signed by 14 members of Mt. Vernon Lodge was
irrauteil at tlie regular communication of Mt. V^ernon
Loilge held December :'., 1868. The dispensation was
granted Decembers, 1868, by Charles C. Dane, (Jrand
Master of tile Grand Lodge of .Massachusetts. The
tirand .Master appointed George W. Pierce, M;ister;
Henry L. Cha.se, Senior Warden, and Alfred Tufts
.riiiiior Warden. The first regular communication of
the Palestine Lodge was held in the engine-liouse
ball, January 14, 1S61», at which the organization was
completed, as follows: Treasurer, Thomas Leavitt ;
Secretary, James P. Stewart ; Senior Deacon, J.
Franklin Wakefield; .lunior Deacon, Philip Ham;
Senior Steward, John G. Berry; Junior .Steward, .VI
bert W. Lewis; Inside Sentinel, Benjamin Corey;
Marshal, Stephen A. Stimpson; Tyler, Thomas Lea-
vitt; Chaplain, James Skinner.
The lodge continued to operate under dispensation
until December 8, 186'J, when it received a full char-
ter.
The charter members were George W. Pierce, Hen-
ry L. Chase, .A.lfred Tufts, Thomas Leavitt, James P.
Stewart, J. Franklin Wakefield, Philip Ham, Steph-
c'l .V. Stimpson, Benjamin Corey, .\lbcrt W. Lewis,
Henry W. Van Voorhis, John C. Van Voorhis, Peter
Hanson and John G. Berry, the same who petitioned
for the dispensation. But four of these, Messrs. Lea-
vitt, Lewis, Stewart and Ham, still remain members ;
Messrs. Pierce, Tufts, Wakefield, Hanson and Stimp-
son have died, and Brothers Chase, H. W. and J. C.
Van Voorhis, Corey and Berry have withdrawn.
The lodge was formally constituted December 22,
1869, by Grand Master William Sewall Gardner, and
suite, and the first board of oflScers was installed at
the same meeting. The lodge continued to bold its
meetings at engine-house hall until the spring of
1872. The need of a building, both for their own and
town purposes, was apparent, and the action of the
town in postponing the erection of a town -hall sug-
gested the idea of erecting a building .suitable both
for town and lodge purposes. As the result, the Ma-
sonic Building, at the corner of Broadway and Chelsea
Streets was commenced in October, 1870, completed
in 1871, and enlarged in 1872. The lodge moved to
their new hall in the spring of 1872, and the same was
dedicated with appropriate ceremonies on Tuesday
evening, June 11th, in the same year, by Grand Mas-
ter Sereno D. Nickerson, of the Grand Lodge of
Massachusetts. The Masters of the lodge have been
as follows: George W. Pierce, 1860-70-71-72; Chas.
D. Stearns, 1873-74 ; Charles F. Atwood, 1875-76 ;
Philip Ham, 1877-78; Columbus Corey, 1879-80;
Nathan Nichols, 1881-82; John F. Nichols, Jr.,
1883-84; James A. Wallace, 1885-86; Francis A.
Dyer, 1887-88; George W. Whittemore, 1889-90.
There have been admitted in all 165 members, of
whom eleven have died, thirty-four have been dis-
misied, and fifteen excluded.
With all these developments of local life, the agi-
tation for incorporation as a separate town, which had
slumbered since 1857, revived in full force. In tlie
autu.ain of 1867 petitions were circulated, and, having
obtained numerous signers, were presented in the
next General Court. The first was that of Hawes
Atwood and sixty-two others, presented by Mr.
Hughes, of Somerville, in the House on Jan. 10, 1868,
tor the incorporation of South Maiden as a new town.
Remonstrances were also presented. The attempt
was unsuccessful, and on the 25th of February, 1868,
the committee on towns reported reference to the
next General Court, which, on the 27th of February,
was accepted.
At the next session the effort was renewed, the
petition of Hawes Atwood and others being taken
trom the files of the previous year and referred to the
Committee on Towns. January 18, 1869, several ad-
ditional petitions were also filed with some remon-
strances. March 16th the committee again reported
leave to withdraw, but a minority dissented and re-
ported a substitute bill. On the ]9th day of March,
the report coming up for consideration, a substitute
bill incorporating the town was moved by Mr. Good-
speed, of Athol, on behalfof the minority of the Com-
592
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
mittee on Towns. This bill was debated on two suc-
cessive days, and on March 25th was rejected by a tie
vote of 67 to 67, and on the same day the report was
accepted, 69 to 67. On the 26th of March reconsider-
ation was moved, and the matter was again debated
on March 30, 1869)»when the motion to reconsider
was rejected by a tie vote of 101 to 101. After this
the report was accepted, thus ending the struggle for
that year. The name of Winthrop having already
been appropriated by another town, it became neces-
sary to substitute some other name for the i)ropo8ed
new town, and Everett was selected at a meeting
held at the Congregationalist vestry. The vote of the
town of Maiden to purchase the franchise of the Spot
Pond Water Company, thus incurring a heavy water
debt, furnished another argument to the petitioners
for separation in the struggle of 1870.
At the next session of the Legislature in 1S70, there
were two projects before the General Court — one on
petition of E. S. Converse, and others to annex the
whole of Maiden to Boston, on which leave to with-
draw was reported ; another, a petition to incorporate
the town of Everett. Petitions came in more numer-
ously than before, there being some 30!) petitioners
against 66 remonstrants. The committee, of which
William Cogswell, now member of Congress, was
chairman, reported leave to withdraw February
14, 1S70, but a minority dissented and reported a
substitute bill, and on February 23d the uM;tion tu
substitute the bill was debated the remainder of that
day and a part of the next, when the bill was sub.sti-
tuted — yeas, 126; nays not counted. The next day.
on ordering the bill to a third reading, the vote stood :
yeas. 130; nays, 69. Among the distinguished name;'
recorded in favor of the division were those of T. H.
Sweetser, J. E. Fitzgerald, B. F. Mills, Bushrod
Morse, G. H. Ruffin, C. R. Train and A.J. Water-
man (both of the last afterwards attorney-generals) ;
and on the other side, General William Cogswell, A.
W. Beard (late State treasurer, and now collector).
Selwyn 7i. Bowman (afterwards member of Congress),
T. C. Hurd (clerk of courts of Middlesex County),
and J. K. Tarbox (afterwards member of Congress).
The bill was engrossed in the House, February
26th, and sent to the Senate, where, after passing
through prior stages, it was, on the 3d day of March,
ordered to a third reading, 216 yeas to ten nays,
among the yeas being Messrs. George M. Buttrick.
(now a resid'int of Everett), C. R. Ladd (afterwards
auditor) and Patrick A. Collins (late member of Con-
gress). The bill was engrossed in the Senate on the
following day, and on March 9th it was enacted in
both Houses and signed by the Governor.
The achievement of this victory after so protracted
a struggle was signalized by great rejoicings in Everett.
On the evening of the day on which the bill was signed
the people gathered in the public squareandinthe ves-
try of the Congregational Church ; speeches of congrat-
ulation were delivered, and a salute of 100 guns fired,
with other demonstrations of rejoicing. In Jlay the
organization of the new town was celebrated by a
sumptuous collation under one of Yale's largest tents,
in which some six hundred persons participated.
Alonzo H. Evans presided, and, after a short address
of welcome, read letters from the Governor of Mass-
achusetts, the mayor of Boston and other distin-
guished persons. Interesting speeches were also made
by Lieut. -Colonel Parker, Rev. Albert Bryant, Patrick
.\. Collins, A. 0. Brewster ;'nd others. Among those
prominent in the contest for the incorporation of ;he
new town were A. H. Evans, Hawes Atwood, William
I .fohnson, .\nthony Waterman, Stephen H. Kiiiibiill,
I Henry S. Whitraore, Columbus Corey, William E.
I Titcomb and Thomas Leavitt.
The first town-meeting warrant was issue<l by James
Cr. Foster, justice of the peace, .M:iiv.'li '.', lS7fi, and the
lirst town-meeting was held .March 21, 1S7<), in the
vestry of the Congregationalist Church, where the
town-meetings continued to be held during the first
year after the town was incorporated. .U this town-
meeting Alonzo H. Evans was chosen modenitor,
Joseph H. Cannell, clerk, by 119 votes over J. F.
Wakefield, who had 104 votes, .Mr. Cannell having
served by succe.^sive re-elections to the present time.
Hawes Atwood cast the first vote. Hawes .\twood,
-V. H. Evans, Columbus Corey, Anthony Waterman
i and Elisha B. Loring were appointed a comiiiitlee on
the division of debts, public property, etc., with
.Maiden. It was voted to have five selectmen, and the
first board elected, who were also overseers of the
poor, consisted of Henry W. Van Voorhis, Win. H.
Lounsbury, Elisha B. Loriiig, George W. I'eirce and
P. Richmond Pratt. Of these, George W. Peirce and
Elisha B. Loring have since deceased. Mr. Loring
had tilled many places of trust in the parent town of
.Maiden, and served by successive re-elections until
March, 1876. He died February 21, 1890, after living
to an advanced age, universally trusted and respected.
James G. Foster, Wm. Johnson and Otis Merriam
were elected iissessors. Daniel Emmons was chosen
treasurer, by 116 votes to 104 for P. P. P. Ware,
and served by successive re-elections until January 1,
1880. For School Committee, George S. Marshall
and diaries F. Atwood were elected for three years ;
J. H. Whitman and Wilson Quint for two years, and
James G. Foster and H. M. Curr'er for one year.
Mr. Quint declined to serve on the School Committee,
and the joint convention of selectmen and School
Committee elected Dr. J. F. Wakefield.
Solomon Shute, Benjamin Corey, E. B. Edmester,
Thomas Leavitt, George Sargent and Timothy Mur-
phy were elected constables. The number of ballots
cast at the first town-meeting was 232. A code of
by-laws was adopted May 17, 1870. The first audi-
tors, chosen November 8, 1870, were Columbus Corey
and Joseph H. Cannell.
On the 4th of April the following appropria-
tions were made; For schools, including contingent,
EVERETT.
593
$8000.00 ; highways, S3500.00 ; salaries of town offi-
cers, $5^5.00; poor, §500.00; Fire Department,
$200.00 ; contingent, ^3000.00 ; street lamps, S500.00 ;
bridges, $o00.00; interest on town debt, $3000.00.
These — with tiie State tax, S2726.40; county tax,
§1109.91; overlays, ii974.53 — made a total tax levied
the first year of $24,845.84.
The number of dwelling-houses in town May 1,
1870, was 414; the number of acres of land taxed,
1959, or about 120 acres greater than it is at present,
120 acres west of Maiden River having been set off
to Medford in 1875 ; the number of children be-
tween five and fifteen years of age, 432.
In the division of the towu property, the town of
Everett received all the real estate located within its
limits, with some personal property, valued in all at
§37,ti06.99, and in consideration of same, it assumed
$3S,5UO.OO of the debt of the old town. As showing
the changes in the rates of interest, it may be re-
marked that the first loan procured by the town of
Everett bore seven per cent, interest, and this rate
w;u> paid for several years. By the rejiort made to
the secretary of (he Board of Agriculture, by the
town clerk, October 17, l.'<70, it apfiears that there
were at that time twenty-six miles of streets, four
having been laid out and accepted the first year, viz. :
Lincoln Street, Eremont .V venue, Garland Street, and
0;ik Street, now called Central Avenue.
The school accommodations of the town at that
time consisted of the old Centre School-house, with
two small rooms ayd one large one ; the Glendale
School-hou.'ie, with two small rooni.-*, and the Han-
cock Street, Eerry Street and Thorndike Street
School-houses, with one rinislieil room each.
.\mong ihe first things that came up for considera-
tion by the new town, was that of providing a Town-
House, which was indefinitely postponeil; the pro-
posed alterations in the old Centre School-house
met the same fate. At a town-meeting held January
11, 1S71, it was voted to lease the hall and offices in
the Miisonic building for town purposes. The first
town-meeting in Everett Hall was held March 28,
1.S71, where all sul>3e(]ueut town-meetings have been
held.
The incorporation of the town gave a marked im-
petus to all kinds of local improvement. Several
additional tracts of land were laid out into house-
lots, and opened to settlement, and the increase in
population and wealth the first five years was very
rapid, the |)opulation increasing from 2220 in 1870,
to 3G51 in 1S75, and the valuation from §1,736,379.00
to .•?4,404,(J.30.00.
Nor was it in material growth only that this pros-
perity was manifested. Two religious societies,
the Baptist and Methodist, came into existence
within the first two years after the town was incor-
porated. The Methodist Church originated in a
class-meeting held at the house of Joseph Ladd,
.\pril 12, 1S70. The society was formally organized
oS-iii
October 11, 1870, and ground was broken for their
church on the same day. The church had sixteen
constituent members. The first pastor was Rev. W.
F. Mallalieu, D.D. The corner-stone of the new edi-
fice was laid December 19, 1870, and the completed
structure was dedicated May 24, 1871, the cost of the
building and land being $14,000. Rev. William
Cheney was pastor from April, 1871, until April, 1872 ;
Rev. Edward \V. Virgin from April, 1872, to April,
1875; Rev. Edward P. King from April, 1875, to
April, 1878 ; Rev. Edward R. Thorndike from April,
1878, to April, 1881 ; Rev. Thomas Corwin Watkins
from April, 1881, to April, 1884; Rev. J. W. Dear-
born from April, 1884, to April, 1887 ; Rev. F. T.
Pomeroy from April, 1887, to April, 1890, and Rev.
Charles Young from April, 1890, to date.
The Sunday-school, which numbered in April, 1890,
352, as compared with 198 in 1879, was organized May
28, 1871. Charles W. Johnson was the first superin-
tendent, and served four years. The parsonage was
built in 1875. The membership of the church in
.Vpril, 1890, was 218 and 14 probationers, as compared
with 128 members and 14 probationers in 1879. The
church was seated with pews in place of settees,
which had been previously used, in 1886, at a cost of
§500. The number of volumes in the Sunday-school
library is 500. The total amount of money raised for
church expenses from the date of organization has
been S35,000.
Until 1882 this church was burdened with a heavy
debt. Sunday, June 4, 1882, was set apart for raising
the debt, and voluntary subscriptions were asked for
and some $4000 were pledged, to be paid in two
years in four payments. The pastor, Rev. T. C. Wat-
kins, labored indefatigably to make up the remainder,
and his efforts were finally crowned with success. To
him belongs the honor of being the pioneer in the
movement for raising the church debts in Everett,
and within a very few years every other church in
town, stimulated by the example of the Methodists,
had likewise paid its church debt. On Tuesday, July
4, 1882, subscriptions having been made covering the
total amount of the church debt of §8000, the event
was commemorated by ajubilee in Library Hall.
The Baptist Church started about a year later than
the Methodist. The first meeting was held at the
house of Levi Brown, on Charlestown Street, April 5,
1871, at which it was ascertained that there were some
forty residents of Everett who were members of Bap-
tist Churches, besides others of Baptist sentiments. On
Sunday^ April 9, 1871, the first public religious service
was held, consisting of a prayer-meeting in Everett
Hall, followed by the organization of a Sunday-school.
Deacon Levi Pierce was moderator, and Mr. J. H.
Parker, of Maiden, was the first superintendent, and
5. H. Kimball the first treasurer.
On June 8, 1871, a meeting was held at Levi Brown's
house for the purpose of organizing a church, and a
nucleus was there formed- The church was formally
594
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY. MASSACHUSETTS.
constituted July 3, 1871, with thirty-two charter
members, by a council of which Rev. G. W. Gardner,
D.D., was moderator. The sermon w.is preached by
Rev. S. W. Foljambe, of Maiden. W. 0. Dodge was
elected first clerk ; Dr. Levi Pierce, treasurer, who
resigned and was succeeded by G. L. Packard. P.
F. Packard and Levi Pierce were the first de.icons.
For several months Mr. J. H. Arthur, a student in
the Newton Theological Seminary, afterwards a
missionary in Japan and since deceased, labored with
great success, and gathered in a large number of
members. Rev. W. F. Stubbert was called to the
pastorate October 10, 1871, but declined. On January
22, 1872, a unanimous call was extended to Rev.
William B. Smith, who accepted the call and com-
menced his labors ou the first Sunday in February,
1872. He was installed May 9, 1872. This pastorate
w;u< of short dur.ation, as dissensions soon sprang up
in the church. Mr. Smith resigned, and his resig-
nation was accepted .Vpril 11, 1873, to take effect
May 1st.
On the 24th of September, 1873, tlie church was
formally organized as a corporation, and, on the 15th
of October following, purchased the lot of laud on
which its church edifice stands, from David N.
Badger. The corner-stone of the church was laid
June 24, 1874, by Rev. S. W. Foljambe. During a
considerable portion of the period since Mr. Smith's
resignation the pulpit h.ad been 3up|)lied by Rev. J.
R. Stubbert. a student in Newton Seminary. On the
22d day of September the church was formally
dedicated, and Rev. Frank B. Sleeper, who had been
called to the pastorate .July 8, 1874, was installed.
The first Sunday service in the new church was held
September 27, 1874. There were seventy-three
members at the date of the dedication, and eighty-
three in the Sunday-school. The land, building and
furnishing cost about S13,000. The building has a
seating capacity of about 280 in the main part, and
seventy-five in the vestry. Mr. Sleeper continued
pastor until November 25, 1877, when he resigned and
accepted a call to the First Baptist Church in
Gardner. For some time after this the church was
without a pastor, but depended upon supplies for
preaching, among whom Rev. L. G. Barrett deserves
mention as one whose labors were especially fruitful.
September 23, 1878, a call was extended to Rev. W.
F. Stubbert, D.D., of Bloomfield, N. J., who had been
preaching for the church since May. He consented
to remain for a time, but closed his labors January
25, 1879, after a short but most useful pastorate, in
which he did much to restore and encour.age the
church. Rev. L. L. Potter, then a student, was em-
ployed for six months, April 7, 1879. The church
then numbered 135. Mr. Potter was called as a
permanent pastor, and was formally installed October
9, 1879. His pastorate lasted but about a year, as he
resigned September 5, 1880, and closed his labors
September 30th. The pulpit was then supplied for
some time by Rev. A. N. Dary, who was called to the
pastorate February 25th, while still a sjjident at
Newton, and ordained August 4, 1881. He re-signed
September 23, 1883, and closed his labors October 1st.
Rev. William 0. Ayer, was called January 1, 1884,
and began his labors with the church February 10th,
and was installed February 26, 18S4. During his
pastorate, stimulated by the example of the Jlethodists
the church resolved to pay off its debt, which
amounted to upwards of .'f^200. The day chosen to
invite pledges for this purpose was Easter Sund.ay,
.•Vpril 13, 1884, when, after a sermon appropriate to
the occasion, pledges were invited, and in less than
one hour the whole amount was giiaraiitee<l. the final
payment being made in March, 1.'>S7. During the
year 1886 extensive repairs were made on tlie church.
The Sundav-school has had, be.side< Mr. Jnhu H.
Parker, of Maiden, foursuiicrintendcut.s, viz.: William
O. Dodge, N. J. Mead, R. .V. Edwards and Amos
E. Hall, the present incumbent, i'lierc arc about
5(X) volumes in the •Sundny-'-cliool library, llcv. W.
O. Ayer resigned .June 20th, and clost-d his labors
June 29, 1800, after a useful and sucoc-sful pastnrale
of nearly six and one-half years, during whicli the
membership of the church w.as increased from 174 to
271, a net gain of 97. The number of persons baptized
was eighty five.
The educational wani.s of the towu received early
.ittention. The upper story of the Ferry Street
School-house was finished, and a grammar schoid
opened there in the autumn of l>i70, which three
years later w;is reduced to a sub-granmi.ir grade. A
movement was started in 1871 to erect a new and
commodious school-house in place of the old Centre
building, which had been standing nearly a ijuartcr
of a century, but this was defeated, and instead, the
Centre School-house was remodeled Jind refurnished
with improved seats and desks, which had previously
been of an antiquated design.
In the autumn of 1870, although the i)opulation of
the town had not reached the number essential to
make a High School obligatory, a beginning was
made at the Centre School-house with a class of six-
teen, of whom five graduated in 1874 — the first grad-
uating class. The school has been from the com-
mencement under the charge of Mr. R. A. Rideout,
who had been from 1S(3G a teacher in the Centre
Grammar School, first of South Maiden and after-
wards of Everett. The whole number of difl'erent
pupils connected with the High School since its estab-
lishment has been 379, of whom sixty-nine have taken
a business course of two years. The number of gradu-
ates has been 122, several of whom have served the
town with credit as teachers in the public schools,
while others have filled other positions of usefulness.
In the thirteen years from the establishment of the
Maiden High School in 1857 to 1870, inclusive, only
fourteen pupils from South Maiden graduated from
that institution. The Everett High School was kept
EVERETT.
595
first in the old Centre School-house, from which it
was removed to the third floor of the Masonic build-
ing in 1872, and from that to the Locuat Street School-
house in 1875, where it remained until 1881, when
it had dwindled to only fifteen pupils. la 1882 it
was removed to its present quarters, where it has
shown a marked increase in numbers until within
the past year. An assistant was first employed in
1872 ; a second assistant was employed in 1886.
Among our educational institutions should be men-
tioned the Home School, established April 15, 1874,
and at first kept in the Cuneo Building near Everett
Square. In 1875 it was removed to a building erected
for its use next southwest of the Congregational
Church, where it remained until 1889. It was at first
under the charge of Mrs. A. P. Potter and Miss O. J.
Pierce, and after the retirement of Miss Pierce was
continued under the management of the former. In
June, 18S0, it awarded iliijlouias to its first graduates.
In September of the same year a college preparatory
department w:i8 added. Subsequently a branch of
the school was opened at Xatick in 1885 and has been
very successful.
Owing to the rapid growth of the town a more re-
tired location was found to be desirable, and in 1888
a tract of land on the corner of Summer and Argyle
Streets, containing 40,000 square feet, was purchased,
and in the following year a large and commodious
edifice was erected, which was opened for the school
in September, 1889. The architect was Mr. (teo. F.
Wallis, the builder Mr. G. H. Peters, of Everett. The
elevated location of the building commands a fine
view of the surrounding country, and the school has
been equii)[)ed with all the appliances for doing the
host work. The course of study embraces four years.
.Vlthough the introduction of water by the town of
Maiden was one of the prominent grievances urged
:is a ground of separation, Everett had not been in-
corporated more than a yeiir before the necessity of a
water supply became apparent, and on the 29th of
March, 1871, a committee of five wiis chosen, consist-
ing of Otis ilerriam, Anthony Waterman, Lewis P.
True, W. H. Lounsbury .and George S. Marshall, to
see what arrangements could be made for a supply of
;>ure water from the city of Charlestown, and also to
meet a committee of the Legislature for the purpose
iif securing the necessary legal authority.
On ,Iune 29, 1871, the act of the Legislature of
.Vpril 19, 1871, .authorizing the introduction of water,
was accepted, and a committee of five, consisting of
.VIonzo H. Evans, W. H. Lounsbury, Otis Merriam,
Anthony Waterman and Lewis P. True, was appointed
tn procure estimates from different sources, and tore-
port on the best plan. On the 5th of September this
committee reported, their report was accepted, and the
town voted by a large majority to introduce water,
and to authorize the treasurer to issue bonds of the
town, to an amount not exceeding $50,000.00, for a
term of twenty years, at a rate of six per cent, inter-
est per annum, to defray the expense of the introduc-
tion of water. It was estimated that this sum would
be sufficient to lay nine and one-fourth miles of pipe.
Otis Merriam, H. W. Van Voorhis, Alonzo H.Evans,
W. H. Lounsbury and Charles Woodberry were
chosen water commissioners, with full powers for
making all contracts and laying all pipes. This com-
mittee entered into a contract with the city of Char-
lestown, October 5, 1871, by virtue of which the city
of Charlestown was to furnish water, the town of Ev-
erett to lay and maintain the necessary pipes and
structures for the distribution of the water, the city
of Charlestown receiving eighty-five per cent, of the
water rates, Everett receiving only fifteen per cent.
The water commissioners concluded a contract with
George H. Norman, of Newport, Rhode Island, Octo-
ber 11, 1871, for laying 40,000 or more feet of pipe,
with seventy-five hydrants and gates for same, for the
sum of $40,640.00, of which 5000 feet were to be ten-
inch pipe, 4000 feet eight-inch, 18,000 feet six-inch,
and 13,000 feet four-inch pipe. The work of laying
the pipes was not commenced till early in October,
but before it could be completed cold weather set in,
and it was necessary to suspend operations until the
following spring. About 23,000 feet of pipe had been
laid. The original estimate of $50,000.00 having
proved insufficient, the town was authorized by the
Legislature to expend a further sum of §50,000.00, to
be raised by taxation or borrowing. The town, on
April 22, 1872, accepted this act, and authorized the
further issue of bonds, like those previously issued,
to the amount of $50,000.00. The work was resumed
as soon as the spring opened and carried forward
without interruption, until about thirteen miles, or
three and three-fourths miles more than the original
estimate, had been constructed. Water was intro-
duced May 1, 1872. The cost of the works to Febru-
ary 28, 1873, was about $84,000.00.
The burdensome contract with the city of Charles-
town continued in force until June 1, 1886, when,
through the efforts of a committee, consisting of
Thomas Leavitt, F. P. Bennett, Geo. Taylor, I. T. Win-
chester, N. J. Mead, G. F. Foster and Daniel Russell,
a modification of this contract was secured, by which
Everett h&s received fifty per cent, of the water rates
since July 1, 1886.
The water-works were further improved in 1888 by
the construction of a plant for providing a high-water
service, which was put in successful operation in July,
1888, the entire cost being less than $10,000.00, this
including the purchase of a, lot of land, the erection
of a pumping-station on Irving Street, with the neces-
sary machinery, and also the purchase of land and the
erection of a reservoir on Mt. Washington.
The total expenditures on account of the Water De-
partment to December 31, 1889, have been $159,255.49,
besides $2853.77 expended for hydrants, about $10,-
000.00 for the high-water service, and $103,020.00 for
interest on the water debt to Dec. 31, 1889. Of this
596
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
iimount, $126,873.37 have been provided for by taxa-
tion. The water rates received from the incorpora-
tionof the town to DecemberSl, 1889, were $46,5.52.72,
of which about $30,000.00 have been received since
the modification of the water contract in 18S6. The
receipts in 1889 were $10,003.39, and in 1890 about
811,000.00, the receipts being now adequate to pay
the cost of maintenance of the waterworks and the
interest on the water debt, besides providing a sink-
ing fund. It is probable that it will be unnecessary
to impose any further burden on the tax-payers on
account of the water- works, and that taxation may
thus be materially reduced. The gross amount of the
water debt December 31, 1889, was $100,01)0.00. The
total amount nf pipe laid to December 31, 1889, was
106,319 feet, or about twenty miles, of which 12,444
feet were two-inch pipe, 941 feet of three-inch, 46.704
feet of four-inch, 47,621 feet of six-inch, 2681 leet of
eight-inch, and 7128 feet of ten-inch pipe.
The Everett Lodge of Odd Fellows was instituted
March IS, 1875, with fifteen charter members, as Ibl-
lows: A. F. Ferguson, C. O.Sanborn, Carlos E. Bolton,
W. \V. Bullock, Nathan B. Raymond, J. O. W. Dear-
ing, William Tyzzer, Jr., Josiah A. Kingman, William
H. Pierce, George \. Colby, Joseph W. Bartlett, A.
B. Iluhinsoi), David Smith, George ^\'. Paine and S.
C. Currier. The first meeting was held in the Masonic
Hall, through the kindness of Palestine Lodge, and
subsequent meetings were held in Everett small hall
until July 18, 1875, when the lodge moved into a room
fitted up for that purpose on the third floor of the
Masonic Building, where they remained until April,
1888, when, having purchased the present fine brick
Odd Fellows' Building, formerly known as the Library
Building, and having fitted up the third floor for a
lodge-room, they moved into their present quarters,
which were dedicated with appropriate exercises May
2, 1888. The membership of the lodge in the Spring
of 1890 was 180, as compared with 69 in the year 1879.
A. F. Ferguson was Noble Grand for thirteen years,
being succeeded by Walter U. Day, who at present
fills that position.
The rapid increase of population made it evident
that new school accommodations would soon be re-
quired. The upper story of the Thorndike School-
house was finished in 1873 at a cost of about $1000,
and a new school was opened there in the fall of 1873.
In the spring of 1873 plans were brought forward for
the erection of two new school-houses, one at Mt.
Washington and the other at Locust Street. The Mt.
Washington School-house project was defeated. Fav-
orable action wasat firatsecured upon the Locust Street
School-house, but at a subsequent meeting reconsid-
eration prevailed, and the matter went over until the
spring of 1874, when an appropriation of $8000 was
made, to which $800 was later added from the school
appropriation.
The cost of the land, 15,020 square feet was, S2388.-
•50, and the building erected, by Mead, Mason & Co.,
cost $5253, making a total cost of land, building,
furnaces, $8826, without finishing the upper story.
Two schools were opened in the building in Novem-
ber, 1874, and in 1875 the upper story w.as finished at
a cost of about .$1350, bringing the total cost to about
$10,786. The building was further enl^irgcd in 18S8,
by the addition of four school- rooms, besides addition-
al hall room, the old buiKlinir beinf; moved back.
The architects were Messrs. Brigliani and .Spotl'oril,
and the contractor Mr. G. M. Coan, :Liid the appro-
priation for the same Wiia ■■s70U0. An aiiditioiial lot
of land in the rear was purchased for $1900 in 18;s;),
and the total cost of the building as it stands has been
upwards of $20,500. Largely tliruugh the eflbrt.s of
Mr. S. C. Currier, a town clock was procured and
placed in the tower of this school-house in 1S.S9, and
the event was celebrated by a gathering at the school-
house, at which addresses were made by various citi-
zens.
The building of ihc .Alt. Washington Suliool-hoiise
was delayed until 1877, when an a|>propri;iiion of
$5000 was made at a towu-meetiiig held .MMrch ■~^,
1877. The original lot of land, consisting of 12,77'J
square feet, was purchased of ihe Doston Five Cents
Saving Bank lor $1277.90 (ten cents per foot). The
plan was drawn by G. F. W'allis, and the building
erected by J. H. Kibby >V: .Son, of Chelse:i, costing,
with the ufiper story unfinished, about $iiiii)o. .Schools
were openeil in the lower story in tlie spring of 1,S78.
The upper story was finished in 18.So, und the building
was reconstructed and enlarged, as it now is, in 1887.
the architects being Brighan: i^SpoiJ'urd, and the con-
tractor, J. A. Corkum. The lot has also been enlarged
by the purchase of 10,(iUO feet of additional land,
and the whole cost of building and land as they now
stand has been upwards of $16,500.
Daring the period of haid times, from 1875 to 1881,
the educational interests of the town suffered se-
verely. The population of the centre of the town
outgrew the accommodations furnished in the old
Centre School-house, and in 1876 Badger's Hall, since
remodeled into dwelling-houses, wa.s engaged, and a
primary school opened in the same. This sufficed
for two years, when the necessity of further enlarge-
ment compelled the hiring of a room over the present
store of I. T. Winchester, where a school, first of the
intermediate, but afterwards of the primary gra<le,
was located. At a town-meeting held July 15, 1878,
a motion to appoint a committee to consider the
matter of purchasing a lot of land and erecting
another Centre School-house there, was defeated by a
vote of 143 to 29. On May 27, 1879, another similar
effort was defeated by a vote of 93 to 60.
In the spring of 1881 a committee of nine, ap-
pointed in November, 1880, to consider the subject of
school accommod.'jtions in concurrence with the
School Committee, reported in favor of additional
accommodations, both for the Centre and the Mystic
Village Districts. An appropriation of $6000 was
EVERETT.
597
made for the latter, with little opposition in addition
to the proceeds realized from the sale of the old
Thorndike Street School-house, making an available
fund of $6600, with which the present Thorndike
Street School-house was erected in the same year,
three schools being opened in the building in the
following autumn. The architect of the building
was Tristram Griffin, and the contractor, Joel Snow.
The proposal for an additional Centre School-house
encountered a bitter opposition, extending until late
in the night at several successive town-meetings ; but,
notwithstanding all the opposition, an appropriation
of $12,000.00 w.as secured, and a building committee
selected. The lot of land on Church Street, contain-
ing 19,088 feet, was purchased of H. G. Turner, for
$2278.40, on the 10th of llaj- ; the filling and grading
of the lot cost S470.70. Mr. Tristram GriflSn was the
architect. Ground was broken for the building Janu-
ary 21, 18S1 ; the foundation was constructed by Mr.
W. M. Dodge for $940.00. The contract for the
building above the foundation was awarded to
Richardson & Young, of Boston. The cost of the
building, aside from the furnishings and blackboards,
was 87384.70. The furnaces and other appliances
brought the total up to the appropriation of $12,000.
The building was dedicated on January 2, 1882, with
appropriate ceremonies, in which the Hon. John D.
Long, then Governor, and Hon. J. W. Dickiuson,
secretary of the Board of Education, participated.
It was not the building in itself which elicited this
marked demonstration, but the fact that it marked a
turning-point in the educational history of Everett,
which has been steadily onward from that day to the
present time. The building was first occupied for
school [Hirposes Monday, January 9, 1882. The lot
was further enlarged later in the year, by the pur-
chase of additional land between the original lot and
Liberty Street, at a cost of 81000.00, giving a total
area of 26,495 square feet. In 1886 the building was
enlargeil by adding two rooms for the lower grades,
and one room of double size for the High School, with
suitable recitation rooms. The enlargement was de-
signed by Mr. Tristram Griffin, the former architect,
and the additions were constructed by the former
contractor-*, Richardson & Young, of Boston, the
foundation being the work of Patrick Lineban,
of .Maiden. The total cost of the addition was $7000.00.
In it are the High School, and six schools of the
primary and intermediate grades.
In 188.5 the Glendale School-house, after being in
service for thirty-one years, could no longer ac-
commodate the increased school population of that
district, and at a town-meeting, held March 10, 1885,
an appropriation of .$6500, with the proceeds realized
from the sale of the old building, was m.ade for
the erection of a four-room school-house on the
old site. The architect employed by the building
committee was John Lyman Faxon, and the contract-
ors were Mead, M:ison & Company. The building
contains four rooms, and the total cost of the
edifice, with eleven thousand five hundred and
seven feet of additional land purchased in the rear
and heating apparatus, was about S8300, of which
the contractors received $6625. Four schools, much
better graded than before, were opened in the new
building in November, 1885.
Within two years after the enlargement of the
Church Street School-house in 1886, so rapid was the
increase of population that the Centre schools began
to be again over-crowded, and complaints were made
as to the sanitary condition of the old Centre School-
house, which at the incorporation of the town was
far the best of our school-houses. A committee of
nine was appointed to consider the subject, and this
committee reported unanimously in favor of selling,
or otherwise disposing of, the old Centre School-house,
and of appropriating thesum of $25,000 forthe purpose
of erecting a brick school-house in the central part of
the town sufficient to contain eight rooms, each 28 by
36 feet. The appropriation recommended was unani-
mously passed, and the matter of erecting the building
was committed to the same committee, and this com-
mittee purchased twenty-two thousand square feet of
land at the junction of Broadway and Broadway
Court, at eighteen cents per square foot, making the
total cost of the land $3960. The committee em-
ployed Wesley L. Minor as architect. The found.a-
ticns were constructed by Patrick Linehan, of Maiden,
.It an expense of S988.25, and the building contr.act,
above the foundations, was awarded to Mead, Mason
& Company, at the price of $18,722, to which extras
amounting to upwards of $2000 must be added.
Various other items have brought the cost to date up
to $27,941.86, and there is still an unsettled claim on
account of the contr.actors. On the 23d of September,
1889, three schools were opened in the Broadwav
School-house, and on the 14th of October the last of
the remaining schools in the old Centre School-house
was removed to the new building. The old building
was thus finally abandoned, after a continuous service
for school purposes by the towns of Maiden and Ever-
ett of forty-two years.
The erection of the Broadway School-house com-
pleted the entire reconstruction of the school accom-
modations of the town of Everett. There remained
no longer a solitary school-house inherited from the
town of Maiden. Everett has now six large, com-
modious and fairly well ventilated school-houses con-
taining thirty-nine school-rooms, with a seating
capacity of two thousand and twenty-nine, and two
recitation rooms — all costing $103,275. The town
employs thirty-eight teachers. Within the paat two
years these school-houses have been provided with
electric one-session signals.
The subject of an evening school had been agitated
for some years, but never took shape until 1889. On
the 19th day of March, pursuant to the recommenda-
tion of the School Committee, an appropriation of
598
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
^00 was made, and on the 15th day of October fol-
lowing, after the legal notices had been given, an
evening school was opened in the Broadway School-
house, the seasiona being maintained Monday, Tues-
day, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 7.30 to
9.30. The number of different scholars attending
during the first term was 116, the largest number at any
one session was 81, and the average number present
for the whole term, ending Friday, Dec. 20th, was 29.
The oldest scholar attending was 41 years of age, the
youngest 13, and the average age was 15 2-15 years.
This institution affords a means of education to any
who have previously enjoyed very limited opportuni-
ties in this direction, and bids fair to achieve perma-
nent usefulness.
For five years after its iucorporation, Everett was an
integral part of the representative district, consisting
of Maiden, Somerville and Everett, represented in the
Legislature by three members. The first effort to se-
cure a representation from Everett was in the autumn
of 1872, when Alonzo H. Evans received the nomi-
nation at a Republican caucus and was elected. As
Everett was a small part of the district, it did not
secure representation again until 1875, when Mr.
Evans was again nominated and elected, having thus
served in the Legislatures of 1873 and 187G, both
years on the Committee on Banks and Banking.
In 1876 the re-arrangement of the districts as-
sociated Everett with Maiden as a district having two
representatives, of which^ by agreement with JLil-
den, Everett was to have six representatives in
ten years. The first representative in the new
district was George S. Marshall, who was nomi-
nated after an animated contest in the largest
caucus ever held in Everett up to that time, by
a vote of 150 to 140 for Robert M. Barnard, an<i
was elected in November, 1877, serving in the Legis-
lature of 1878 on the Committee on Banks and Bank-
ing. He was re-elected in 1879, serving in the Legis-
lature of 1880 on the Committee on Education.
William Johnson was elected as his successor in
1880, serving in the Legislature in 1881 on the Com-
mittee on^Woman's Suffrage. He was succeeded in
1882 by George E. Smith, Rsq., who was elected, after
a spirited contest at the polls, over our late esteemed
fellow-citizen, John S. Nichols. Mr. Smith was re-
elected in 1883, thus serving in the Legislatures of
1883 and 1884, on tne Committee on Education in
1883, in 1884 on the Committee on Taxation ; also as
House chairman of the Committee on Roads and
Bridges.
He was succeeded in 1885 by Dudley P. Bailey,
who was the last representative from Everett in the
old district. In 1886 Everett became a district by it-
self, entitled to one representative, and Mr. Bailey
was re-elected as the first representative in the new
district, serving in the Legislatures of 1886 and '87
as House chairman of the Committee on Taxation in
both years, and on the Committee on Probate and In-
solvency in 1887. He was succeeded by Joseph H.
Cannell, who was elected in 1887, and re-elected in
1888, serving in the Legislatures of 1888 and 1889 on
the Committee on Street Railways. In the caucus of
1889 the candidates were Adams B. Cook, Thomas
Leavitt and John S. Gate, the latter being nominated
;md elected, serving in the Legislature of 1890 on the
Committee on Street Railways.
All of the foregoing representatives elected have
been Republicans. The Democratic nominees from
Everett who have contested the elections have been
as follows: 1871, Joseph E. Nichols; 1872, Columbus
Corey ; 1873, E. A. Alger, Jr., and C. Corey ; 1874, C.
Corey; 1875, J. E. Nichols; 1876, J. E. Nichols;
1877, Daniel Emmons; 1878, Daniel Emmons, (Demo-
cratic) and Alfred Tufts (Greenback) ; 1879, Wear T.
Melvin, (Butler Dem.) and George F. Foster (Reg.
Dem.); 1880, Charles F. Atwood ; 1881, Charles F.
Atwood; 1882, John S. Nichols, .Sr. ; 1883, Charles F.
Atwood; 1885, Otis W. Greene ; 1886, Woodbury A.
Ham; 1887, Charles C. Nichols; 1888, Willi:iui
Bassett.'
Everett h.is never been repre.sented in the Senate
until two years ago. In 1874, Alonzo H. Evans,
the first representative, was* nominated, but in the
great political avalanche of that year he was defeated.
From this time, owing to local jealousies, no candi-
date from Everett succeeded in securing the nom-
ination of the Senatorial District Convention until
1888, when Mr. Evans was nominated and elected,
being re-elected in the autumn of 1889, and serving
in the Senate in 1889 and 18iK). In both years he was
chairman of the Senate Committee on Banks and
Banking, and served also ou the Committee ou Ta.'ca-
lion.
It would be interesting to write our political history
more in detail, but it would be a very delicate sub-
ject to treat, and it is perhaps better that numy of the
local contests of the past should not go into history.
As a part of our local municipal history the follow-
ing names of the different citizens who have filled
the more important town otfices since the incorpora-
tion of the town are presented :
SelactmeD : W. H. Louiialiiiry, 1870-Ti ; H. W. Van Voorliia, IS7H-7J ;
George W. Pierce, 1870-71 ; E. B. Loring. ls7a-75; P. Kirliiiioml Pm!t,
1870-71 ; JosepU E. Nichols, 1871-73 ; C'olunibiM Corey, 1871-7G ; Clarke
ThonipeoD, 1872-70 ; Lewis P. True, la7J-74, 1S8G-87 ; SnlllDel J. Cox,
1873-75, 1877-80; Philip U.ini, 1S71-TB, ISSO-ftt; Charles F. .\twouJ,
1871^70; Adams B. Cook, 1870-79, 1880-81 ; Woodbury A. Haiu, 1879-
30, 1881-83; Gillian H. Van Voorhis, 1879-80, 1887-00; Nathaniel J.
Mead, 1880-81 ; IsaAc T. Winchester, IS81-«3, 1884-86 ; Geo. F. Foster,
I883-K4; Fred. Johnson, 1883-84; Harden Palmer, 1883-8G ; Nulhauiel
B. PhiDimer, 1884-8U ; Frank P. Beniielt, 1886-87 ; Francis E. Dyer,
1886-90 ; John S. Cote, 1887-89 ; Charles H. Spencer, 1889-UO.
Clerk: Joseph U. Cannell, 1870-90.
Treasurer: Daniel Emmons, 1870 to Jan . 1, 1880 ; Wm. Johnson, 1880-
8G; Joseph E. Nichols, 1886-00; Nathan Nichols, 189U. Mr. Johnson
died in offlce In 1886, his lellow-citizens testifying their regard for him
I In 18S9 there was no Detuocratic candidate for representative, and
the opposition concentrated un Thomas Leavitt, Independent Republi-
can.
EVERETT.
599
by re-electing him while on his dying bed. Appropriate reeolations
were pa«ed in honor of him in town-meeting, April 27, 1836.
AaseMora : Wm. Johnson, 1870-80 ; Jaa. O. Foster, 1870-74 ; Otis Mer-
ri;ira, 1870-73 ; Robert JI. Durnnrd, 1872-75; Joseph E. Nichols, 1876-
78, I8S0-«7 ; Henry W. Van Voorbis, 1875-73, 1880-^6 ; Columbus ijorey,
1877-87, 1890 ; Francis E. Dyer, 1878-80 ; Albert W. Lewis, 1886-90 ;
Amos Roberts, 1887-89 ; Geo. G. Ladd, 1887-90 ; Daniel 0. DeRrbom,
1SS9-90.
School Committee : Jbs. G. Foster, 1870-71 ; H. M. Currier, 1870-73 ;
Ceo. 3 Marahull, 1870-73, 1370-79; Chaa. F. Atwood, 1870-76; Dr. J.
F. Wakefield, 1870-71, 1381-84 ; J. H. Whitman, 1870-73 ; 0. 0. Hickok,
1371-82, 1886-87 ; Andrew J. Bennett, 187-.!-74 ; E. A. Alger, Jr., 1873-
74 ; Dudley P. Bniley, 1873-74, 1876-80, 1882-90 ; Albert \V. Lewis,
1874-78, 1879-90; John n. Burt, 1874-70; Isaac E.Cobnm, 1874-77; Fran-
cis E. Dyer, 1874-78 ; Harden Palmer, 1877-83 ; James B. Everett,
1878-01 ; Henry .\. Tenny, 1S7!^-8I. l83:(-85 ; Stephen F. Hoogs, 1880-
85, 1886-89, 1890; .Vatlian Xicliols, 1880-90 ; John C. Spofford, 1886-90;
Geo. M. Buttrirk, 1387-90; Roscoe E. Brown, 1889-90; Geo. N. P.
Mead, 1SS9-90 ; Miiiy O. Bullfinch, 1889-90 ; Sarah J. Cluugh, 1889-90i
Darius Hadloy, 1S90.
Auditors: Columbus Corey, 1870-71; J. II. Cannell, 1870-76; Tho«.
Laaiitt, 1871-74, 1875-7fi; George F. Foster. 1872-73, 1874-75, 1878-79 ;
A. F. Ferdusou, 1.S74-75, 1876-SO ; S. A. Slimson, 1870-77, 1888-89; H.
A. Tenuey, 1S77-T9 . Chnriea E. Jennings, 1.S79-83 ; Frank P. Bennett.
1879-81 ; Geo. H. Burr, 1881-86, 1889-941; Henry K. Veazie, 1883-90;
Chas. C. Nichols. 1886-88; Henry E.Taylor, 1890.
The first Water Committee cousisted of live persons, to be elected an-
nually, pursuant to chapter 20,1, of the acts of 1871. The persons
chosen ou Ibis comuiitlee were Charles Woudberry, Wm. H. Lounabury,
H. W. Van Voorhis, Otis Kerriam, A. H. Evans, and they served for
two years, when Ihey were succeeded l.y the Water Board elected pur-
suant to chapter US of the acts of 1873, who have been as follows : W.
H. Louu.sl.ury, lS73-7r, ; Irving A. Evans, 1873-74; Geo. F. Foster,
1873-74 ; Thos. Leavitt, 1374-80, 1882-90; Chas. D. Stearns, 1874-77;
Chas. W. Jlerrill, 1 870-78 ; Stephen A. Stlmson, 1877-81 ; Nathan Nich-
ols, lS7'.P-82 ; Nathan B. Smith, 1880-82 ; Geo. Taylor, 1882-86 ; Daniel
Russell, Jr., 18.^2-sr,, 1S90 ; Kobeit H. Jeuklns, 188.5-90 ; Isiuie T. Win-
chester, 1880-90.
A siiikiuK fund w.-ia established in 1876. The fol-
lowing cili/.eu.s have serveii as sinking fund couimia-
sioners :
Am..s Hulierts, 1S7C-S0 ; J.wiah A. Kinpuan, 1S7C-S9 ; Chas. Wood-
berry, IJ7I-77 , .I..aepli li. Cannell. 1S70-9U ; Ja-i P. Stewart, 1889-90;
Jaa. K. Liiikiu, lS89-9il.
The selectmen .icted is overseers of the poor for
the veais 1S70-80. The overseers of the poor since
that time have been as follows :
K.)b.-rt B. Rogers, Sr, 1SS0-S2 ; Adams B. Cook, 1S80-85, 1888-90;
Sleplien C. Currier, 1880-31, lSS-.'-«3; N. F. Shippee, 1881-34; Samuel
P. Caunell. lSS:l-90 ; Geo. 3. Mamlmll, 1384-90 ; D. P. .Murphy, 1886-88.
The selectmen also acted xs Hoard of Health dur-
ing the ten years 1870-80. The members of the
boaril since th:it time have been as follows :
Geo. F. Foster, lns<i-.?l ; Adams B. Cook, 1380-81 ; Alfred Tufls,
18811-81 ; Fr.mcis E. Dyer, 1881-8-.' ; Isuic T. Winchester, 1881-84 ; Dr.
W. G. Hanwm, 1832-80 ; Dr. J. F. Wakefield, 1883-86; Joseph .M. Ba»-
sett, 1S84-SO; John Reed, 1880-K7 ; Wm. (Joodhue, ISi'e-OO ; Dr. Ab-
bott Sauford. 1S80-88 ; D. W. Fitzgerald, 1387-88, 1889-90 ; Dr. E. W.
Hill, 1883-?0; Dr. W K. Knowles, lSSS-90; Dr. E. C. Newton, 189t).
Trubtees of the Public Library : James B. Everett, 1880-90 ; Henry
A. Tenney, 188i)-'.iO ; Geo. E Kiuiball, 1830-90 ; Dudley P. Bailey, 1880-
90 ; F. B. Wallls, 1330-34, 1889-90 ; 0. F. Atwood, 1380-81 ; Geo. S. Mar-
shall. 1880-Jjl , Wm. G. Coleaworthy, 1830-«2 ; Edward R. Thomdlke,
1880-81 ; Rev. B. P. Bush, 1381-90 ; W. G. Beaver, 1881-83 ; Geo. H.
Burr, 1881-90 ; Geo. E. Smith, 1382-90 ; Albert N. Dary, 1883-84 ; Gil-
mau C. Hickok, 1884-90 ; Martin J. Cahill, 1884-89.
The selectmen have acted as surveyors of highway
for the years 1870-72, 187-1-75, 1879-80, 1885-87.
The following gentlemen have been elected as survey-
ors of highwavs:
Daniel Eamea, 1872-74; Geo. W. Paine, 1876-77 ; Benj. F. Nichols,
1880-85, 1887-89.
The Highway Department has been managed by
the following gentlemen as road commissioners for
the terms named :
Louis p. True, Caleb Richardson and Geo. W. Paine, 1375-76 ; Robert
SI. Barnard, 1877-78, 1889-90 ; Samnel J. Sewall, 1877-79; Geo- W.
Pierce, 1877-78; Leonard Emerton, Sr., 1878-79; Benj. F. Nichols,
1878-79 ; Solomon Shnte, 1889-90 ; Tho«. Leavitt, 1889-90 ; Amoe Stone,
1890.
Until the year 1881 the financial year of the town
ended on the last day of February and the town-
meetings were held on the fourth Tuesday in March.
By an amendment of the by-laws made in 1881 the
financial year was made to correspond with the cal-
endar year, the accounts being made up for ten
months ending December 31, 1881. In 1882 and
subsequent years the annual town-meeting has been
held on the first Tuesday in March. The by-laws
were further amended April 28, 1887, by adopting
certain building regulations, and these, not having
been found sufficiently stringent, were amended and
strengthened in December, 1889, and with these and
certain other amendments the by-laws of 1881 con-
stitute the regulations governing town atfaire.
The expenditures of the town of Everett for the
first two decades of its history, 1870-89 inclusive,
have been as follows :
Total.
1870-80. 1880-89. 1870-89.
School, current expenses. . .$110,979.66 J174,98S.33 S28.';,9H.3.0l
" special 23,073.06 83,000.68' 106,073.72
Public Library 10,924.60 10,924.60
Highway, curr«nt expenses. . 60,847.06 77,098.89 137,945.9.0
" construction ... 00,83:1.14 15,073.36 76,506.60
gravel lots 5,916.25 8,000.00 13.91625
•• street watering 6,118,81 6,118.81
" Maiden Bridge . . . 4,0iX).OO .... 4,000.01)
sidewalks 12,386.45 12,3Si-,.40
streetlights .... 8,114.67 26,170.38 34,291.05
Shade-trees 274.00 1,189.96 1,463.90
Stone cnisher ■ ■ . 2,333. (i3 2,833. liO
Fire Department, general .. . 13,785.15 25,738.23 39,523.33
special . . . 5,.036.48 1,048.93 7,186.43
Poor Department 18,1-28.30 38,065.83 58,194.24
Police* 2,600.50 96,867 24 29,407.74
Interest on town debt 40,082.64 4-2,935.55 8.-l,018.19
Interest on water debt .... 43,020.00 60,000.00 103,0-20.00
Sinking Fund 12,026.00 39,488.65 51,,'il3.03
Wator-works 107,607.48 60,610.02' 168,217.50
Hydrants 2,829.37 2,329.37
State miUtary aid 6,608.28 6,680.50 13,288.75
Salaries 24,370.42 32,817.71 57,188.13
DefalcatioQ 23,-297.53 .... 23,-297.63
Miscellaneous 29,749.08 39,833.54 69,532.02
Taxes abated and refunded . . 7,717.23 15,671.98 23,389.21
Tax titles 671.72 431.i9 1,103.01
ToUl for town purposes . . J«09,837.68 5812,005.00 81,421,843.28
State tax $28,468.80 $48,190.1)0 r6,658.80
County tax 16,403.35 27,-2U.64 43,614.99
State and county taxes paid W4,372.15 $75,401.64 $120,273.79
Total $654,709.83 $887,407.24 $1,512,117.07
1 UnaetUed cUims in course of liquidation to be added.
3 Included iu miacellaneous until 1877. No specific appropriation.
600
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Of these expenditures SI, 205,122.38 were raised
by taxation— $463,294.21 in the years 1870-80 and
$741,828.17 in the ten years 1880-89 inclusive.
Water bonds were issued to the amount of $100,000,
and $77,000 borrowed for other town purposes, be-
sides the portion of the Maiden debt assumed and
loans paid off, and there have been received from var-
ious sources other than taxation and loans (chiefly
the bank, corporation and dog taxes, sale of town
property and water rates), $214,164.96, making the
total taxation, loans (net) and other receipts,
$1,596,287.34. The total principal of the water debt,
January 1, 1890, was $100,000, and of the town debt,
$117,500, of which §38,500 were inherited from Mai-
den. Against this was held a sinking fund of
$69,675.21, of which $32,725 has been derived from
taxation, $22,359.55 from interest on investments,
and the balance from various sources.
Down to 1878 the Fire Department had continued
very much in the condition in which it was in 1847,
except that in 1875 a hook-and-ladder company was
formed, apparatus purchased, and a house erected for
the same. At a town-meeting held May 0, 1878, the
town voted to purchase a steam fire-engine and
equipments, an appropriation of S3400 being made.
After the new steamer, the " Joseph Swan," had been
purchased, the Fire Department was reorganized and
made more efficient. On March 19, 18S5, an appro-
priation of $1600 was made to provide an electric
fire alarm, and the remodeling of the old Centre
School-house for an engine-house, at a cost of .$6700,
will afford facilities which promise to increase still
more the efficiency of the department.
At the time the town was incorporated the street-
car accommodations were very poor, the rails being
mostly of wood, surmounted by iron straps. The
running time was very slow, and the fares high. On
the Eastern Railroad and the Saugus Branch were
located two unsightly structures, built in 1854 for
stations, utterly inadequate to the wants of the pub-
lic. The fares were eight cents for single trip and
six and one-half cents for commutation tickets.
This was reduced in May, 1879, to six cents for single
fare, and five cents for commutation tickets. lu the
fall of 1879, after a united effort, a new station was
secured between Broadway and Main Street, the lot
being purchased by private subscription and the
town laying out Railroad Street in the rear. In 1880
a station was established at East Everett, the expense
being mainly defrayed by private subscription, and
trains began stopping there on Monday, December
20, 1880. In 1881 a freight track was located at the
foot of Carter Street on the Saugus Branch. In ;
1882 a new station was built on the Saugus Branch,
about one thousand feet north from the site of the i
old station, at the foot of Waters Street. The open- j
ing of the new station was celebrated by a banquet
and entertainment, at which about 250 persons were
present. Though the removal of the station aroused
much bitter feeling at the time among those who
were discommoded, it has proved beneficial in the
end, as it resulted in establishing still another station
on the Saugus Branch at West Street, which was
opened about the 1st of March, 1890, although trains
had stopped there for passengers since June, 1888.
The horse-car accommodations continued to be
very unsatisfactory until within the last three ye.irs,
the running time being frequently changed, besides
being very slow, and the management unprogres.sive,
not to say stupid. There was, however, some im-
provement, as the track had, in the course of years,
been relaid with iron rails, and iu some places paved,
and fares somewhat reduced. . The route to Everett
•Springs had been opened Sept. 14, 1882, as a branch
line.
The rails were laid to Elm Street in June, 1884,
and cars commenced running hourly trips on this
route as an inilependent line July 1, ISSl. Half-
hourly trips were inaugurated .May 2, 1SS5. The ex-
tension to Wuddlawn Cemetery was commenced July
I 24, 18S4, and cars began running hourly a?id hulf-
I hourly trips most of the day before August 10, 1SS4.
j A larger number of half-hourly trips was insiitulL-d
May 8, 1S86.
One of the most imi)ortant events atlecting our
horse-car accommodations was the advent of the
Lynn & Boston Railroad, which secured a conditional
location to Everett Square in April. 1886, and an
unconditional location June 9, 1SS6. Cars com-
menced running over this line August 11, 188(i, and
have made hourly trips from that date to the present
time.
The Middlesex Railroad at last began to awake to
the fact of impending competition, and when, later in
the year, through consolidation with the Highland
Railroad Coiii|)any, more ]>rogressive elements were
infused into the management, the outlook for better
accommodations visibly brightened. During the
summer and fall of 1887 the work of iniprovemeut
commenced in earnest. On July 4, 1SS7, the fares to
Boston were reduced from six to five cents. The
horse-car tracks which had previously been Ideated on
School Street, were relocated on Broadway. From
the Eastern Railroad to Everett Square a double-
track paved with granite blocks was laid, and a single-
track, also paved, extended over the hill to Ferry
Street, and thence through Ferry Street to Maiden
Centre. Cars commenced running over Belmont
Hill betwen Maiden and Boston December 19, 1887.
During the same year a new route was located
through Bucknam Street with the track in the mid-
dle of the street and paved. Cars commenced run-
ning over this route December 8, 1887, the location
on Chelsea Street from Bucknam to Main Street
being discontinued. In 1888 a paved double-track
was laid below the Eastern Railroad to Sullivan
Square, resulting in further reduction of running
time, and greater regularity and frequency of trips.
EVERETT.
601
During the paaD year the track has been moved into
the centre of Main Street and paved, resulting in
another great improvement, and in June, 1890, a loca-
tion was granted for a double-track on Ferry Street
between Elm and Chelsea Streets, and also on Chel-
sea Street from Ferry Street to Everett Square. It is
expected that a second track will soon belaid through
Main Street, and that the advent of electric-cars may
still further shorten the running time between
Everett and Boston.
During 1888 also the horse-car tracks were laid
in Ferry Street from Broadway to Elm Street, and
the East Middlesex Railroad Company commenced
running cars by that route to Chelsea and the
Beaches.
At the time the town was incorporated, and, indeed,
for many years afterwards, its sidewalks were in very
poor condition, though gradually improving. Since
1886 the improvement has been more rapid, the town
having in that year adopted the practice of paying
one-half the expense of setting edge-stones and lay-
ing brick or concrete sidewalks in front of the estates
of those who will pay one-half of this expense. The
widening of Main, Chelsea and Ferry Streets, in 1874
and 1875, involving an outlay of 5>43,218, was one of
the principal public improvements in our highways.
In 1882 and subsequent years, largely through the
efforts of the f>erett Town Improvement Associa-
tion— a most useful society, which existed from 1882
to 1887 — the streets of the town have been quite ex-
tensively adorned with shade-trees. In 1888 the sys-
tem of lighting the streets with electricity was intro-
duce<l.
The Everett Public Library wxs dedicated May 1.
1879, and was opened for the delivery of books May
10,1879. It had been proposed as e.irly as 1871,
when the proceeds of a ball held November 21, 1871>
were set aside as a contribution to a fund for that
purpose. The movement first took definite shape at
a meeting of citizens held in Everett Small Hall,
June 21, 1878, when a board of directors was chosen
and a committee appointed to solicit contributions of
money and books. The library, when opened, was
composed mainly of books thus contributed, number-
ing 1289 volumes. It was maintained as a private
enterprise through the liberality of various public-
spirited citizens until May 3, 1880, when it was turned
over to and accepted by the town, and has since been
maintained at the public expense. A reading-room
was opened January 26, 1884, but discontinued within
about a year, as not required by the public wants-
The number of volumes in the library December 31'
1889, was 6181 ; the number of deliveries in 1889,
27,850, as compared with 10,940 in 1880. The total
expenditures upon it to December 31, 1889, have been
$11,603.47, of which S4145.89 have been expended for
books and magazines. The town makes an annual
appropriation for the library (SIOOO in 1890, besides
the dog-tax, amounting to S1279.08).
The flrat town-clock sv:is a gift to the town by Mrs.
Caroline M. Barnard. It is a large tower-clock weigh-
ing 900 pounds, was placed in the tower of the Congre-
gational Church, August 15, 1883, and started August
25th. The expenses attending the necessary changes
in the tower were met by subscription secured
through the agency of a committee of the Everett
Town Improvement Association. It was formally
presented to and accepted by the town at a meeting
held November 13, 1883, and suitable resolutions of
thanks to the public-spirited donor adopted.
Up to the year 1876 the large Catholic population
residing in town had enjoyed no local place of relig-
ious worship. In June of that year .a Sunday-school
was opened, and regular Sunday services shortly af-
terwards began to be held in Everett Hall, in which
they continued to be held for a year and a half. On
July 13, 1877, 12,160 square feet of land on the corner
of Broadway and Mansfield Place were purchased for
*3040. The erection of the present church edifice
was begun in 1877, the vestry being finished ready for
occupancy about January 1, 1878, and the main au-
ditorium some years later. The church is under the
pastoral care of Rev. Joseph F. Mohan, rector, or-
dained in 1871, who was until lately assisted in his
labors by Rev. James G. Gilday, as assistant rector.
It is estimated that about one-quarter of the popu-
lation of Everett is connected with this church.
Grace Episcopal Church dates from June 10,
1886, when the first service was held in the rooms of
the Young Men's Christian Association, conducted by
Rev. J. S. Beers, Rev. G. W. Durrell and the choir of
St. Thomas' Church of Somerville. On February 5,
1886, at a meeting of those interested in the establish-
ment of an Episcopal Church, held in the same place,
it was voted to continue the services, and a system of
pledges was adopted. On February 15, 1886, the first
election of officers took place and the society took
ilefinite shape. On March 12th the name of Grace
Church was decided upon, and the committee reported
that they had hired G. A. R. Hall for Sunday
services.
The society was first conducted as a mission, and
Rev. Francis Gilliat, the first missionary, assumed
charge May 4, 1886. The society grew and prospered,
and on January 21, 1887, it was voted to purchase
the land on Chelsea, at the head of Corey Street, for
church purposes. It was conveyed to them April 23,
1887, at the price of s6500. On the 14th of Decem-
ber, 1887, Mr. Gilliat tendered his resignation, and
Rev. J. P. Pierce, of Dorchester, supplied the pulpit
until April 22, 1888, when Rev. Percy Barnes suc-
ceeded Mr. Gilliat as missionary. On June 8, 1888,
the society voted to build a chapel on the land be-
longing to the parish. This was commenced July
16, 1888, Norman C. Clark, architect. The new
chapel cost, with furnishings, about S5000. The first
service in it was held December 23, 1888. On De-
cember 2, 1888, Mr. Barnes resigned and Rev. J. P.
602
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Pierce again took temporary charge. On April 22,
1889, the society voted to request the appointment of
Rev. T. B. Martin, of Pine Meadow, as missionary in
the church, who commenced his labors July 7th.
After having operated for upwards of four years as a
mission, the society was organized as a parish with a
governing power of the rector, two wardens, clerk,
treasurer and eight vestrymen, on the 10th of April,
1889.
The youngest of the religious societies of Everett
is the Advent Church, which was organized March
28, 1889, with eight constituent members. The date
of the first meeting for public worship was March 31,
1889; the officiating clergyman was Elder L. Boutelle.
The church has not yet had a settled pastor. The
number of members now belonging to the church is
21. It has raised for church expenses during the
pasi financial year about $400, and $25 for benevo-
lent purposes. A Sunday-school was organized May
12, 1889, at a meeting of which R. S. Sidelinger was
moderator, with 12 members, since increased to 40.
Johu H. Murphy has been its superintendent since
organization. The first officers of the church were:
Elder, John H. Murphy : Deacon, A. A. Anderson ;
Clerk, Remly S. Sidelinger; Treasurer, Charles H.
Weeks. The Sunday-school library numbers 225
volumes.
The Everett Young Men's Christian Association,
which has been a living force for good in town dur-
ing the past five years, was organized September 15, i
1884, although a society for special work among
young men h.id existed previou.sly for about five
mouths. The first officers were Francis Batchelder,
president ; William F. Moore, secretary ; Benjamin
F. Noyes, treasurer ; the first two having held simi-
lar positions in the provisional organization, and
having continued in these positions by subsequent
re-elections until September, 1889, when, with all the
other members of the board, they declined a re-elec-
tion. Captain Noyes died in November, 1884.
His place was filled temporarily until the follow-
ing May, when George H. Small was chosen for
the office. In 1885 the Executive Committee was
increa.sed to five, and A. N. Smith was chosen vice-
president, and held office until September, 1889. Mr.
W. B. Marshall was the first assistant secretary, but
declined a further election at the end of two years,
and Mr. W. B. Price was chosen in his place, being
elected the following year. Thus only one change
was made in the board during four years. The har-
monious and efficient action of this first Executive
Committee contributed in no small degree to the suc-
cess attained by the Association. The present officers,
elected in September, 1890, are Rollins A. Edwards,
president ; F. C. Danforth, vice-president ; W. B.
Marshall, secretary ; F. Batchelder, treasurer, F. J.
Harding, assistant secretary and E. E. Randall, assist-
ant treasurer.
The first room occupied by the Association was the
banquet-room in Odd Fellows' Building, then known
as Library Building, which was opened with appro-
priate exercises in the hall above on the evening of
November 24, 1884. Rev. Phillips Brooks, of Boston,
was the principal speaker, being followed by Rev.
W. O. Ayer, and the president and the secretary of
the Association. Later a change was made to the
front room in the same building, and the Association
being obliged to vacate this, another change was made
to Everett Small Hall as the only available place.
During the spring and summer of 1S87 the demand
for a building grew more and more pronounced,
stimulated by the inconvenient quartei-s in which the
Association was then located, and in October of that
year the organ of the Association, the V. M. C. A.
Star, published the plans and elevation of the pro-
posed building. This seemed to crystallize the move-
ment. A canvass w.is beguu soon after, and in 1888
the present lot of land was jiurch.ised, the cornerstone
of the building was laid July 21, 1888, and the present
commodious and convenient building w.ts erected
after much persistent and self-sacrificing work, at a
cost of $17,030, Brigham and Sportir.rd being the
architects and G. M. Coan, contractor. The seating
and furnishing of the hall and other parts of the
building cost about $2500 more. The ladies of the
town supplied the piano used in the building, and also
raised enough money to pay for furnishing the mem-
bers' parlor. After the Woman's Auxiliary was
formed, they furnished seats for the large hall, besides
making a gift of $500 for the building fund. The
Boys' Branch paid for fitting up their room and social
hall. The Yoke Fellows furnished the room in the
tower, and the Heartsease Band, the reception, read-
ing and amusement rooms. The grand piano in the
large hall was a gift from the Say and Seal Club. Mr.
Herbert Loud and other friends have presented pic-
tures. The building was dedicated with appropriate
ceremonies, November 12. 1888, Rev. Phillips Brooks
again being principal speaker, while Rev. W. O.
Ayer, with Messrs. Batchelder and Moor, officiated in
the same capacities in which they did almost exactly
four years previously. Thereligious work has always
been kept in the foreground, and the strong Monday
evening meeting, for men only, baa really been the
backbone of the Association. The gymnasium was
opened in December, 1888, and at once attained a de-
served popularity among the young men. Mr. Walter
C. Day volunteered his services the first season and is
now engaged on a salary. In April, 1888, the Boys'
Branch was formed, the first officers being Ellie H.
Dorety, president ; George D. Marshall, vice-presi-
dent; Charles W. Hapgood, secretary; and Fred. N.
Small, treasurer. Master Dorety took a great interest
in the work and made an excellent presiding officer.
His untimely death in the summer following was a
great loss to the Branch. The Woman's Auxiliary
was formed on May 1, 1888, and the assistance ren-
dered has been invaluable in upbuilding the Asso-
EVERETT.
603
elation. The first board of officers was, Mrs. A. P.
Potter, president ; Mrs. A. Campbell, Mrs. J. W.
Moore, Mrs. J. W. Masury, Mrs. J. S. Gate, vice-presi-
deuts ; Miss Grace L. Batchelder, secretary ; and Miss
Carrie L. Stimpson, treasurer.
This Association has entertained the district
convention on two occasions, and the first Woman's
Auxiliary convention ever held in the world took
place in Everett.
From a very interesting and valuable article in our
enterprising local paper, the Eoerett Herald, on Octo-
ber 29, 1887, the following summary, showing the re-
ligious status of Everett, was furnished:
Average Attendance.
Chtircb. Cburch Sunday- Sunday Friday
Service. School. Evening. Evening.
75
60
G3
Cnii^regatiunal,
235
MO
150
Uuiversalidt,
140
130
lIetlio<li9t,
17.-,
150
l.-iO
Buptist,
ISO
154
110
St Mary'a Catlio
ic.
9U0
151
Grace EpiriCupul,
9()
100
(jleniiale Cllapel.
50
05
(JourtlanJ St. Oli
A pel.
59
45
The foregoing figures, if brought forward to date,
would undoubtedly show a marked increase.
During the past year some highly interesting in-
formation in regard to the religious condition of our
town has been obtained by means of a religious can-
vas-s, taken under the auspices of the various churches.
It is, of course, not entirely complete, but gives a
fairly good idea of the religious condition of the town.
The whole number of calls made was 1968, including
7GU(j persons. The church preferences of the."e jier-
soiis were as follows : Congregational, including the
Mission .at the Line, 1399; Methodist, 1132; Baptist,
1109; Uuiversalist, 943; Episcop.al, 585—309 indi-
viduals expre.tsed no preference, but claimed to be
Protestants, an<l there were 257 persons included as
Lutherans, Swedenborgians, Presbyterians, Spiritual-
ists, Adventists, etc., making 5824 reported aa Protest-
anti, with 1782 noted as Catholics. The total popu-
lation at that time was estimated at 10,000. On the
basis of these census reports, it was estimated that the
total number of Protestants was 72f>0, Catholics, 2380.
It was found that there were attending churches out
of town: Congregationalists, 150; Methodists, 85;
Baptists, 27; Universalists, 7; Episcopalians, 15. The
average attendance in the Protestant Churches was
stated to be 2235, leaving, after deducting children
under five years of age, 4476 who did not regularly
attend public worship. Many of those, however, un-
doubtedly attend more or less frequently, and it
would certainly be safe to estimate the church-going
population at upwards of fifty per cent, of the total
population. The foregoing facts were presented by
Rev. F. T. Pomeroy at a Sunday evening mass-meet-
ing, held in the Y. M. C. A. Hall, January 5, 1890.
The steady growth of the population in Everett has
made it apparent for some time that a system of sew-
erage had become necessary. The matter was brought
up at a town-meeting held March 13, 1888, at which a
committee of fifteen was appointed to consider the
matter and report at a future meeting.' This commit-
tee, by its chairman, Amos Stone, presented its report
at a town-meeting held March 5, 1889, when it was
voted, 267 in favor to one opposed, that the system
of sewerage recommended in the report of the com-
mittee be adopted, and that the treasurer be author-
ized to borrow from time to time, with the approval
of the selectmen, a sum of money not exceeding .?50,-
000.00, to pay for the same. The plan presented esti-
mated that the existing streets requiring drainage had
a total length of twenty-eight miles, and they esti-
mated the cost of the proposed system of sewerage for
these twenty-eight miles of streets as follows :
3 mlle« of 36 by 36 inches,' at ?3,00 S47,520.00
3 miles of 24 by 24 inches, at 2.00 31,680.00
3 miles of 13 by 18 inches, at 1.50 23,760.00
3 miles of 12 by 12 inches, at 1.00 15,S40.00
10 miles of 10 by 10 Inches, at 0.80 65,584.00
amounting to $186,384.00, the average cost per mile
being estimated at $6657.00, and the average cost per
foot at $1.26. The actual construction of the sewer
has recently been commenced.
It will, when constructed, connect with the system
of metropolitan sewerage just laid out by the State
Sewerage Commission, but until this is ready will
have an outlet into Mystic River.
There was no local newspaper in Everett at the
time of its incori)oration, but soon afterwards the
publisher of the Maiden J/iVror established an edition
of that paper, called the Everett Pioneer, which he
continued to publish until about 1875.
The first strictly local paper was the Everett Free
Press, the first number of which appeared May 24,
1873, then a small sheet of four pages, each 11 x 14
inches, with four columns of reading matter. On the
10th of April, 1875, it was enlarged to seven columns,
and on July 17, 1886, it was further enlarged to cover
eight pages. The columns of the Free Press have been
valuable not only for local news, but also as a per-
manent record of facts relating to our local history.
The Free Press continued to be the only newspaper
published in town nntil October 31, 1885. Its pub-
lisher from the first has been Mr. Benjamin F.
Morgan.
On October 31, 1885, the first number of another
local paper. The Eoerett Herald, appeared, published
by Benjamin Johnson, publisher of the Maiden City
Press and the New England Grocer. It was edited for
three months by Mr. C. G. Newcomb. In January,
1886, Mr. George W. Davies succeeded to the editorial
chair, and has since held that position. The Herald
is Republican in politics and independent in expres-
sion, and it is devoted to local interests. Its manage-
ment is enterprising; it is neatly printed and has
shown commendable enterprise in gathering news,
which has been rewarded by a steady growth in its
circulation. In April, 1890, Mr. George W. Davies
604
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
purchased of Mr. Johoson all his interest in the
Herald, and became publisher as well as editor. Both
of the local papers are issued on Saturday, at a sub-
scription price of two dollars per annum.
In addition to the above, the Rev. T. C. Watkins,
for a short time during his pastorate, published a
small local paper devoted to the interests of the
Methodist Society, called the Sunbeam, and the Rev.
F. T. Pomeroy conducted a similar enterprise, called
the Friendly Hand.
The Young Men's Christian Association has also
issued a small sheet for several years past, called the
Y. M. C. A. Star, established in April, 1886. The
first four issues were published at irregular intervals,
but from September, 1886, it was issued regularly
once a month until recently, when the practice was
resumed of issuing it at irregular intervals.
One of our latest local institutions is the Everett
Savings Bank, which was incorporated March 1, 1889.
The first meeting of the corporators was held April
11. 1889, and the corporation was organized with the
following officers: President, Wilmot R. Evans;
vice-presidents, Woodbury A. Ham, Robert M. Bar-
nard ; treasurer, Samuel P. Cannell ; clerk, Henry K.
Veazie; trustees, Woodbury A. Ham, Wilmot R.
Evans, Robert M. Barnard, Samuel P. Cannell, George
S. Marshall, Samuel M. Johnson, Isaac T. Winches-
ter, Adams B. Cook, Daniel B. Fessenden, Thomas
Leavitt, Cyrus S. Hapgood, John S. Gate, Nath.iniel
J. Me.ad, Henry K. Veazie, Joseph E.Nichol.s, James
P. Stewart, Francis E. Dyer, Thornton A. Smith,
Dudley P. Bailey.
The bank opened for business May 11, 1889, and
the total amount of deposits received up to the close
of business on June 30, 1890, was S40,864, and the
total number of depositors had been 331. At the
same date there remained on deposit $20,247, held by
three hundred and sixteen depositors, showing an
average to each depositor of ^4.07.
The Everett Co-operative Bank opened for business
October 14,1890; President, Samuel Freeman (2d),
vice-president Charles B. Ladd, secretary and treas-
urer, Charles E. Jennings.
The following societies also exist in town besides
those already mentioned :
Americcm Ltgion of Hornr. — Lincoln Council, No. 753. Established
October 1, 1831.
Anciiq^ Order of XJniUd Tl^ortnMn.— Franklin Uxlge, No. 51. Eatab-
liebed November 11, XS83.
Ord*r of the Sons of Veteraju. — Gen. A. P. Martin Camp, No. 62, Estab-
lisbed April 26, 1886.
IFomm'f iieJia/Orpi.— Jamea A. Ferkina Corpa, No. 40. Eetablished
April 26, 1886.
Homu Circle. — Comfort Council.
Improved Order of Bed Mei\,—Keaotiommitt Tribe, No. 56. Estab-
lished December Vi, 1887.
KnighU and Ladies of Honor.— Longfellow Lodge, No. G09.
EaifSUof the Golden £ii<;fa — Halspear Castle, No. 66. Established
Febmarj 8, 1887.
New &tglaiui Order of Protection.
Order of lonh.— Bay State Lodge.
Boyai Arcammm, — Palladium Couucil, No. 237. Established March 22.
1879.
Boyal Conclave of Enighle and Ladiee,
Bone of Temperance. — Golden Star DiTision, No. 81. Egtal']i>hed
December, 1884.
VnUed Order Gclden Circle. — Wendell Phillips Commander?, No. 279.
Established February 26, 1835.
Uniied Order of Pilgrim Fathert. — Gov. Bradford Colony, No. TS.
The following statistics of Everett will show its
rapid growth :
Pop.
School
Chil-
dreti.
Valuation.
Tai Levy.
Bate.
Ko. of
JIuni*ra
1870
2152
432
Jl, 736,379
824,845 84
S13 31)
414
1871
2471
503
2,42:1,232
31,040
73
12 00
I'.il
1872
2712
541
3,091,924
38,912 10
11 80
.-.44
1873
3177
002
3,911,875
55,023 94
13 30
0:15
1874
34C8
618
4,408,525
62,378
74
13 30
7(11
1875
3000
f.80
4,404,650
62,389
(^5
1:! :;0
770
1876
36114
097
4,491,4(10
40,898
(10
10 (10
7S_*
1877
3i;Sl)
724
4,542,550
47,4('.;i
5(1
10 00
504
1878
383:1
744
4,090,9511
49,103
9.3
11 50
822
1879
:18S8
734
4,103,950
45,272
70
10 5(1
828
1880
4037
704
4,'.'21,4(IO
40,7:10
27
1(1 6(1
S34
1881
44(12
832
4,263,55(1
.'■.9,903
.18
1:1 50
800
1882
4038
87'J
4,03:1,1100
7.3,9(;0
90
15 40
881
1883
4S11I
912
4,79r.,.WO
62,745
M
12 .'•.0
9:i7
1884
5154
965
4,9511, l.iO
C6,3(:9
:jo
12 8U
liHill
18S5 ■
jiAi)
10:10
5,133,000
i;9,ir.s
.'.0
12 80
1114
1886
6-.'T5
1145
,'.,461,800
70,072
77
13 ..O
ij.'.a
18S7
li'JOj
1217
5,8.15,850
82.895
48
13 5(1
1420
IS88
8115
1415
6,499,10(1
91,;)(ri
14
13 ::u
1021
1899
9202
1059
7,21(l,:i(JO
113,720
75
15 (.0
184,s
180U
lU,li7B
1847
7,889,050
12(i.5»5
92
14 50
2225
The foregding statistics of poi)ulati(in are those of
the assessors. The census returns gave the popiiiatinn
as 2220 in 1S70; oG.'Jl in 1870; 41;i9 in 1880 ; 6.S2."i in
1885 and 11.043 in 1890.
With a remarkable record of progress during the
first two decades of its history, Everett enters upon
its third decade almost large enough to be a city, and
with great possibilities for the future if its opporluni-
ties are rightly improved.
BIOGUAPIIICAL.
AMOS 3T0NE.
Amos Stone, thirdsonof Phineas — a lineal descend-
ant of Rev. Samuel Stone, who came to this country
from England a. d. 1633 — and Hannah (.Tones) Stone,
was born at Weare, New Hampshire, August 16, 1816,
and lived there with his parents until 1824, when they
removed to Charlestown, Middlesex County, Massa-
chusetts. He was educated at the Charlestown Free
School. At the age of fifteen he went to work in his
father's grocery-store, and remained there until he
was twenty-one years of age.' He then engaged in the
real estate business, and has continued in that busi-
ness more or less down to the present time, and has
become one of the largest real estate holders in Mid-
dlesex County.
Charlestown was incorporated a city in 1847; he
was elected its first city treasurer and collector of
taxes, which office he held eight years, till the close
of 1854. The first two years the office was a trying
EVERETT.
605
one; he followed an eaay-dispositioned town treas-
urer and collector, who took no pains to enforce the
prompt payment of the taxes assessed. Mr. Stone, be-
ing a systematic and prompt business man, proceeded
in an energetic manner to collect the back taxes com-
mitted to him, and all others when they were due ;
many solid business men, who had been benefited by
the former collector's indulgence, protested, but, find-
ing Mr. Stone was in earnest, paid. One large rail-
road corporation repeatedly refused to pay its taxes ;
one afternoon, as an important train was about to leave
the station, he attached the engine just before it was
cou()led to the train ; the result was a check for the
araountdue, with the costs, was handed to him, and the
train allowed to depart. After a few such instances
taxes were paid reasonably prompt.
In the fall of 18-55 Mr. Stone was elected treasurer
of the county of Middlesex, and held that office for
thirty years, until January 1, 188tj, when he declined
a re-election. The following will show the public ap-
[ireciation of his services :
" .^Lr. Amos Stone, who has held the important office
of County Treasurer for .Middlesex for some thirty
years, having decided to retire on account of advanc-
ing years, he being sixty-eight years of age, the County
Convention for Middlesex, which was held this week,
nominated for the office .Mr. J. O. Hayden,one of the
proprietors of the i^omerville Journal. Mr. Hayden is
every way qualified tor the position and he will dis-
cbarge the duties of the oHice with the fidelity and
accuracy that hiis distinguished his predecessor for
over a quarter of a century.
"The following resolution was unanimously passed
by tiie Middlesex County Republican Convention, held
in the city of Cambridge, October 7, 1SS5, as a testi-
monial to the long services of its retiring County
Treiisurer, Ainos Stone. The resolution was offered
by the Hon. Selwyn Z. B(jwman, of Somerville :
^'Hemlrpd, That we, the Ropublican Jcleirfttea in County Convention
iibH^inliletl, ilt'siiH to pliice u|kid recuni unr iipprecialiua of tlie clmn4cter
.iii<i ii»-rvifi'- of Anioci :5toiie, Kaq., who for tliirty yeare had so ubly an<l
iirci-iitnl/ly iierfornied the ilntiea of TreHsuior of this County of Miildle-
9('V. His lone term of service is the best evidence that he hiu per-
r.iiinetl tliose duties to tlie satisfaction of tlie people, regardleaa of party,
:ind that he has had their confldcDCe and esteem. We congratulate him
iilhin Ills lonu and lionorabb' career in m prominent and responsible a
puMition in which he has alvvays xhovvn himself a courteous gentleman,
iin able financier and a rlear-heailed business man, and, as he votnnta-
rily witlulraws from the cares of public life, we can assure him that he
lakeii with him the beet wishes of the people that his remainiug years
may be full of luippiness and prosperity."
In 185-1: the Charlestown Five Cents Savings Bank
was incorporated. He took an active and leading
part in its organization, and was elected one of its
triiateea and its first treasurer, which positions he has
continuousiy held.
It has proved one of the most prosperous and suc-
cessful banks in the Commonwealth. For more than
ten years he, as treasurer, with the assistance of the
president, performed all the labor of the bank without
any compensation to either.
In 1861 the Mutual Protection Fire Insurance
Company w£i3 incorporated and organized, in which
he took a leading part, and was chosen one of its di-
rectors, and soon succeeded to the presidency, which
position he now holds.
In 1863 he was elected a director in the Monument
National Bank, and, on the death of Hon. James O.
Curtis, was elected its president, which position he now
holds.
He was one of the original shareholders of the
Mystic River Company, a large landed corporation ,
and for more than twenty years has been its clerk
and treasurer.
In the several positions held by him as treasurer,
he has administered the duties with signal ability,
allowing no waste of the public funds, and has con-
ducted the business as though it was his own private
affair, allowing no monies to be paid out except duly
approved by the proper boards or officers, and in strict
conformity to law.
His attention to business, great executive ability
and physical endurance, enabled him to work six-
teen hours per day, and to perform all the duties in
the several offices that he held at the same time, and
during the thirty years that he held the office of
county treasurer, never employing a clerk or assi.st-
ant during the entire term. The writer of this has
frequently heard him say that he never wanted more
than six hours of sleep out of twenty-four.
His strict fidelity and clear head have enabled him
to perform all the duties without loss to himself or the
several treasuries committed to his trust.
With all his cares and close application to business,
he was ever ready to hear and give judicious advice
and council to aid the poor and unfortunate to over-
come their difficulties and troubles, nor felt himself
demeaned by so doing, some of whom to-day rejoice
in the beneficial results of the same, and in possessing
a good business position and property through his
advice and assistance. He was generous, and gave
.''rcely to relieve the wants of the distressed poor, dis-
pensing his charities mainly in person, so that he
could see to whom, where and in what manner his
money was given and the resnlts thereof.
In politics he was formerly a Democrat — voted for
Franklin Pierce — then he became a Republican and
voted for John C. Fremont and has continued in that
party since.
When the Rebellion was begun he was one of the
first to come to the support of the Government ; be-
fore the Government had made any provision for the
soldiers enlisted, was one of the twenty-one persons
who paid the expense of fitting out the first three
companies from Charlestown to go to Washington to
defend the Capital. Although exempt from draft by
reason of age, he sent the first representative recruit
from Charlestown at his own expense, also sent a
colored recruit, and contributed hundreds of dollars
during the continuance of the war for military pur-
606
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
poses. Early in life he joined the Free Masons and is i
quite prominent in the order, and is now treasurer of
two Masonic organizations. '
He remained a single man until after he was fifty
years of age ; he married Sarah E. Mills; they live in
the town of Everett, Middlesex County, Massachu-
setts, where they have a beautiful and pleasant home.
They moved from Charlestown to Everett in 1872.
Until recently Mr. Stone has not taken an active
part in town affairs in Everett, though a liberal con-
tributor to all matters of public interest. In 1888, !
when a committee was appointed to consider the ques-
tion of sewerage, he was appointed a member and
was chosen chairman. On March 5, 1889, this com-
mittee presented an able report, drafted bv Mr. Stone, '
which was adopted by a vote of 267 to 1. A com-
mission of five, of which Mr. Stone was chairman, was
chosen to carry out the recommendations contained
in the report. In March, 1890, to enable him more
effectively to carry out these rccominemlations, he
was elected one of the roiul commissioners of the town
of Everett for three years, the first and only town office
he has ever held.
JOHN C. SPOFFORD.'
One of the younger residents of Middles.e.'i County,
whose successful professional career is worthy of
mention, is John C. Spofford, of Everett, Mass.
Mr. Spofford was born in Wel)ster, Androscoggin
County, Maine, November 25, 1854, where his early
life was that of the American country boy; working
on the farm in summer, and in winter attending the
district school, where he first began to play with
draughting tools, and to look forward to his present
profession. Afterward, however, this education was
considerably extended at Jlonmouth Academy, .Mon-
mouth, Maine, and at the Maine Wesleyan Seniinury,
at Kent's Hill. Following the time-honored custom
of New England students, Mr. Spofi'ord at this period
taught school for several terms. He has always since
taken an active interest in educational matters,
having served on the School Committee in his native
town, and having been for lour years a member of
the Everett School Board.
Al about this time also, Mr. Spofford worked a good
deal at the carpenter and the masim's trades, and
thereby acquired an .actual knowledge c)f building
construction, which has since proved of great service
to him.
In 1879 he entered the ofiice of H. J. Preston, in
Boston, and began in earnest the study of archi-
tecture.
In February, 1881, Mr. Spofford was engaged as a
draughtsman by Messrs. Sturgis & Brigham, well-
known Boston architects, and remained with that
firm until 1886, having charge in that time of the
construction of many important public buildings I
-I
^ Cuntributed. i
and noteworthy private residences. Among these
were the Commonwealth building, in Boston, the
residence of H. H. Rogers, of the Standard Oil Com-
pany, in New York City, and the Massachusetts
Hospital Life Insurance Company's building, on
State Street, Boston.
In March, 1887, Mr. .Spofford formed a partnership
with Mr. Willard M. Bacon, under the firm-name of
Spofford & Bacon, but withdrew from this a year
later and united with Mr. Charles Brigham, formerly
of Sturgis & Brigham, m forming the present firm of
Brigham &Spotfurd, who are well-known as thearchi-
tects of the alterations and enlargement of the Capitol
buildings of Maine and Massachusetts.
Of the less important work that has issued from
their office the following buildings may perha[)s be
considered especially noteworthy : — The City Hall
at Lewiston, Maine ; the Town Hall at Fairhayen,
.Massachusetts ; the Memorial Hall at Belfast, Maine ;
the Episcopal Church at Melrose, Massachusetts ;
the Union Square Baptist Church at Sonierville,
Massachusetts; a church at Rosbury ; the residence
ofj. Manchester Haynes, at Augusta ; that of B. D.
Wliitcomb, at Elm Hill, Rnxbury, and that of C. H.
Souther, at Jamica Plain. The new statioiisat Stoiigh-
ton and Roxbury, on the Providence Division of the
Old Colony Railroad, are also their work.
Mr. Spofford has taken much interest in Jfasonry
and Odd Fellowship and in the work of various fra-
ternal societies; among others in that of the Knights
and Ladies of Honor of which he has been Grand
Protector of Massachusetts.
In -Vug. 1888, the subject of this sketch succeeded
the Hon. .\insworth R. Spofford (the libarian of Con-
gress) as president of the "Spoflbrd Fttuiily .\ssocia-
tion." At that time seven hundred members of this
family gathered from all parts of the United States to
commemorate the fact thai. 2.50 years before in the
year 1G38, John Spoflbrd and Elizabeth Scott came
from Yorkshire, Eng., and settled at Rowley (now
Georgetown,) Mass. Jlr. Spofford is also connected
with the well-known Wentworth family, being a lineal
descendant of that John Wentworth who held by
Queen Anne's appointment the Lieutenant-Gover-
norship of the Province of New Hampshire, from
1717 to 1730. Captain John Wentworth, Mr. Spof-
ford's grandfather's great grandfather fought on " the
plains of Abraham," at the Battle of Quebec, and
helped to carry Wolfe to the rock beside which he
died.
The character of a certain eminent man was once
summed up in these words :
'* He could toil terribly."
The writer has known Mr. SpoflTord from his earliest
childhood and feels sure that no one who has met him
often, either in the hay-field, or in the school-room,
or at the draughting table, will be disposed to dispute
his ability to do, when necessary, two days' work in
one, and come back next morning ready for another
FRAMINGHAM.
607
day of the same sort, and his friends, relying on the
marked ability to withstand the wear and tear of life
which his kins-people have shown, hope from his hand
and brain in the future much good architectural work.
In the longevity below mentioned there is some-
thing curious.
How few of us can look back upon a child-
hood spent in a house wherein dwelt five generations
of our own kin.
Some sneering foreigner once said that very few
Americans could tell their great-grandfather's name.
However that may be, it is very certain that there are
not in any land many living who can call back, as a
thing seen with their own eyes, the form and features
of their grandfather's grandfather. At the age of four-
teen Foster Wentwortb, the great-great-grandfather of
Mr. Spofford, entered tlie Revolutionary Army as a
waiter for his father, the Capt. John ^V^entwortll men-
tioned above. When he died, at the age of ninety-
niue .John C w;i3 about 7 years old.
Mr. Spotfu.-d married, on the 7th of July, 1881, Miss
Ella M. Fuller of Turner, Maine. Mr. and Mrs. Spof-
ford soon alter removed to Everett and made it their
permanent home. They have one child, Mabel Fuller
Spotford, born April 11, 1SS3.
CHAPTER XLir.
1-WlAilIXGHAif.
BV REV. roSIAH U. TEMPLE.
FRA.M[.v(iHA>( is situated in the southwestern part
of Middlese.'c County, midway and on a direct line
between Worcester and Boston. The old turnpike
between these cities ran through the Centre village;
ihe Biiatoii & .Vlbany Railroad runs through the South
village; the Obi Colony Railroad, Northern Division,
IroMi New I'edliird to Fitchburg, and to Lowell, runs
through both the South and Centre villages.
When the act of Incorporation w;is granted in 1700,
the town was bounded easterly.by Sudbury, Cochitu-
ate Pond and Natick lands ; southerly by Sherborn
and the Imlian lands ; west by Marlborough and north
by Sudbury. Its present boundaries are, northeasterly
by Wayland, easterly by Natick, southeasterly by
Sherborn, southwesterly by Ashland, west by South-
borough and Marlborough, and north by Sudbury.
As originally laid out, the Plantation contained
about 20,500 acres. Subsequently several tracts, of
greater or lesser extent, were transferred to other
towns. Simpson's Farm of 500 acre.s was set to Hop-
kinton, when that town was incorporated in 1715.
Holliston took ofiF a point of the southern extremity
of the town in 1724. In 1727 Southborough took in
the long strip of land known as Fiddle Neck. The
Lfg was annexed to Marlborough in 1791. By these
subtractions the area of the township was reduced
to 18,976 acres. In 1846 a tract of about 3000 acres
was setoff to form, with parts of Hopkinton and Hol-
liston, the new town of Ashland. In 1871 a tri-
angular piece of land was taken from the town of
Natick and annexed to Framingham. The present
area of the town ia 15,930 acres.
The more striking natural features of the territory
are the range of high hills on the north, near Sud-
bury line, known by the names of Nobscot, Doeskin
Hill and Gibbs' Mountain ; the four ponds lying in
a cluster near the southern border; Cochituate Pond,
on the eastern border ; and the Sudbury River, which
Hows diagonally through the town from southwest to
northeaat. The view from the top of Nobscot is
broad and diversified ; and the prospect from the
Normal School, on the westerly face of Bare Hill, is
one of great variety and rare beauty.
English adventurers explored these lands as early
as 1633, and became acquainted with the features of
the country ; but the Colonial government took no
action intended to promote a settlement here till
1640, when a considerable grant, within its limits,
was made to the widow of Rev. Josse Glover. In 1633
a company of four men started from Watertown to go
to the Connecticut River. The party consisted of John
Oldham, Samuel Hall and two others, who went to
look out a place for a new settlement at that then dis-
tant point.
The only way from Cambridge to Hartford, where
the path would not cross any considerable stream of
water, was up the northern bank of the Charles River
to Waltham Centre ; thence to the northerly end of
Cochituate Pond ; thence, following a southwesterly
course through the village of South Framingham,
into what was the northwest part of Sherborn ; then
turning more west, through Hopkinton, and follow-
iug the upper south slope of the water-shed of the
streams that ran into Narragansett Bay and the
Sound. The route was somewhat circuitous, but
comparatively safe.
The Oldham party probably had a limited knowl-
edge of the geography of the country, and followed,
in the main, an old Indian trail. The chronicle of
the time says that Mr. Oldham " lodged at Indian
towns all the way." This trail waa followed in 1636
by Rev. Messrs. Hooker and Stone, and their large
company, on their journey from Cambridge to Hart-
ford, and was known in contemporary records for two
generations as " The Old Connecticut Path."
In the earliest notices of the territory now embrac-
ed in this town, it is described as Wildemest Land
lying north of the path from Sudbury to Nipnox.
Later (1662) it is called " The tract of waste lands be-
longing to Thomas Danforth, Esq., lying between
Marlbury and the Old Connecticut Path;" and still
later (1693), " A Plantation situated between Sud-
bury, Marlbury, Sherborn, and the Indian Plantation
at Natick, and westerly is the wilderness." A con-
608
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
siderable part of these lands, viz. : those which lay on
the easterly side of Sudbury River, was disposed of by
the General Court to individuals and to the Xatick
plantation, between the years 1640 and 16(30. In
1660-62 the Court granted to Thomas Dauforth, Esq.,
the larger part of the lands on the westerly side of
the liver. To this granted laud Mr. Danforth added,
by purchase, the tract situated west and south of
Farm Pond, extending as far as the old Sherborn line.
The combined gift and purchase covered about two-
thirds of what constituted the township ; and the
place was, for many years, officially designated as
" Mr. Danforth's Farms."
No record has been discovered of any act of the
General Court by which these lands were treated into
a plantation. Settlers came on slowly aud were much
scattered. Until 1075 all the adults were members
of the church in Sudbury ; aud must of them had
home-ties there, and did not desire and were not
able to bear the burdens of separate civil and eccle-
siastical charges. When bherborn was organized into
a township, the inhabitauts living in the south part
of our territory " had privilege and did duty " there,
the statute providing that " for all such i>lacesas were
not yet laid within the bounds of any town, the
same lands : with the [lersons and estates lliercupnii,
shall be assessed by the voles of the town next unto
it; the measure or estimation shall be by the distance
of the meeting-houses." A few families dwelling in
the northwesterly part of the plantation went to meet-
ing and paid taxes in Marlborough.
ISDIAX Occupation. — The natural features of the
country included in the limits of the original town
grant mark it as a desirable abiding-place of the
native red man. The swamps abounded iu beaver
and other fur-bearing animals ; the ponds were stop-
ping-places of migratory fowl, and the breeding-
places of shad and salmon ; the several falls, and the
mouths of fhe smaller streams running into Sudbury
River aud Stoney Brook, were excellent fishing-
places; the higher hills sheltered the larger sorts of
wild game, and were well covered with chestnut
trees to furnish a store of nuts ; and the plains sup-
plied rich and easily-tilled planting-fields.
The Indian had a faculty of adapting means to ends,
and uniformly pitched his tent, and chose his village
site, with a view to take advantage of natural facili-
ties for securing food, game and fish in their se;uson,
corn and nuts for the late summer and fall supply.
Looking at our territory, and taking the natural
advantages of location as a guide, we should expect
to find Indian villages of considerable size at three
distinct points, viz., at the outlet of Cochituate Pond
near the falls at Saxonville, aud around Farm Pond.
All the conditions requisite to Indian cor.gregate lite
are found at these localities. And the probability
arising from these natural indications, is made a cer-
tainty by the existence at these several points of un-
mistakable Indian remaim, and by historical records.
The India.v Village of Washakamaug. —
When Thomas Eames took up land, and built a
house at the north end of Farm Pond in 1669, the
lands to the east and southward were owned by John
Awassaraog; and most of the Eames farm was subse-
quently purchased of him, or his children. How
this tract came into Awassamog's possession, is stated
in legal instruments bearing his signature. In a pa-
per duly executed, appointing his son his successor,
and dated December 1, 1684, he recites :
" John Awassaraog, of Xnticke, not now like to continue lung btffore
his (leceude, Hiid notabloto lotike after the Indian (itiu that yet dn r<-niain
iiiipuid fur by Englitilt pruprietura, do hereby acknoule(l;:e Thomas
Awnt^sjiiiiiig, niy natural sou, my natural hrir, and betnist aiirl empttwer
hill) in luy stead to sell, bargaine, and alienate any of that land the
Indian title of which do yet belong to me, according to the sagauitire
litis
His marke.
John O Awosomng." 1
In a deed dated January 21, 1684-^0, in which his
sons and other blood-relations joined, conveying the
title of his Framingham and other lands to the said
heir and successor, John Awassamog recites as fol-
lows:
" Know all men by (bese p^'^ents. that we, John Awabsnniua^, ^ilnluel
A\v:issauioag, John .Mouritia. Peter K|thi-;nm, ICleiizer ri-sari and .lushna
\uaBaamoag, Inilians uf Natlck, in the LMUUty uf .Mi(i<lle<:ex, In New
l.li;;land, fur reasuns us therenntu muriii;;, have given atirl crauleil, and
<lu bylliii-e presents grant, aliene, eufeolle, assigne, m.ike o\er and Cun-
lii-jn unto 'riii>mas AwasKamug, Indian uf the siinte town and county
aturesuid, all lliat unr whole nali\e title, ricbt and interest in that tract
yii land lying, situate aud being betweetie the bounds <if Natick. Charles
i'i\ei, .Mailboruugh, and a |>oint of lllackstoue's river lieyond Melldon —
all of which said right, title and interest in the said land itbal is n<>t
already legally diii|H)Sed oO we, the said Juhu Aw-aFMimung, Saninel
Aw'assanioag, .lonlina .Xwussailioag, John Mouquii. Peter Lplirailn aud
Uleuzer Pegan, do hereby avouch and declare to be, at the delivery of
lliese presents, unr own jiruper estate, aud lawfully in unr power to
alienate and dispose of, — it being our natitral iiglit, descending tu us
Iruui the chiefe sachem Wl'TTAWt'SHAN, uncle to the said Julio .Awassa-
uiuag. Sen., wliu wan the chiefe sachem of salil laud, aud nearly related
to us all, as may be made to appear." -
This deed carries the title and ownership of the
lands in question back to " the chief sachem \Vur-
TAWUtjHAN, uncle of John Awassamoag, Sen.," aud
lixes approximately the time of his occupancy here.
This date could not vary much from 1620-30.
At any rate, the records make it clear, that about
1630 the lands lying between Farm Pond and the
Natick line, and indefinitely southward, were owned
by the chieftain Wuttuwushan, and that the title
descended to his nephew Awassamog, who was living
on our territory iu I(i49-o0, and till 1084, and through
whom the title passed to the Eames family.
About the year 1635, Awassamog married Yawata,
the daughter of Nanepashemet, chief of the Pawtueket
I tribe, whose possessions extended from Chelsea and
Lynn on the coast, through Middlesex County to the
Pawtueket Falls (Lowell) on the Merrimack River.
The young couple lived for a time at Winnisimet
(Chelsea), where their oldest child Muminquash
: (known afterwards as James Rumneymarsh) was born.
1 Mass. Cul. Itecords, T. W^\,
• Moss. Col. Itecords, r. 031, b'SZ.
FRAMINGHAM.
609
Their other children were known as John Awassa-
mog, Jr., Samuel Awassamog, Joshua Awassamog,
Thomas Awassamog and Amos Awassamog.
When the apostle Eliot began his labors with the
Indians at Nonantum, Awassamog appears to have
been living at Mistick (Medford), and sometimes at-
tended Mr. Eliot's preaching.
Awassamog died in the early part of 1685. That
his last years were spent near his Framingham home
is made evident from the recital in the deed given by
his sous to the sons of Thomas Eames, of the fact,
that " for sundry years until his death, he, the said
Thomas Eames, did give relief to John Awassamog,
chief proprietor of these lands."
His widow was alive in 1GS6, when she signed a deed
of lands of her tribe in Salem. She probably died at
the house of her son, James Rumneymarsh, in the
bounds of Natick.
I.NOI.VN VlLLAUE AT CoCHITUATE. — This word is
spelled in official ilocuments, Wachittuate, Coijcha-
wicke, Catchchauitt, Charchittuwick, Kutchetuit,
Coi.hichiiwauke, Cochichowicke, etc. Asissocommon
with Indian place-words, modern usage has changed
the original application of the term. Neither the In-
dians nor the early English settlers applied the name
to the pond, but to the high blu6f just south of the
outlet. The exact Indian use of the term is given by
Thomas Mayliew, Peter Noyes and Edmund Rice, in
their record of the laying out of Mrs. Glover's farm in
1044 : '• The southwest bounds are the little river that
issueth out of the Great Pond at Corkituate."
The word signifies, " place of the rushing torrent,"
or " wild, ilashirig brook," referring to the outlet in
time of high water.
Of the original native owners of the land at this
point and the immediate vicinity we have no positive
knowledge. This tract was included in the grant
made by the General Court, under the right of emi-
nent domain, to the Indians at Natick, after that
plantation was established ; and the deeds to the
lliiglish purchasers, all of which bear date subsequent
to this grant, are signed by Wabau, Piambow, Tom
Tray and others. These names and some other
reasons favor the inference that these lands were in-
cluded in the inheritance of the tribe which dwelt at
the Falls below, to be noticed hereafter.
But fortunately for history, the viilage-site on the
blutf was lelt untouched by the plow till a period
within the memory of men now living; and the re-
mains clearly indicate the permanent residence of a
considerable clan. Mr. Joseph Brown, who was born
near by, and was often on the spot, says, '' I have
been in the old Indian fort which stood on the highest
point of the hill south of the outlet of Long Pond, a
great many times. It used to include about an acre
and a half of land. A circular bank of earth with
ditch outside, the whole about four feet high, enclosed
it ; and there was a raised mound in the centre, made,
I suppose, for a lookout. There were several cellar-
o'J-iii
holes — ' granaries ' — inside the bank. It was woods
all around ; but this place was always bare. It was
first plowed up by Col. James Brown, who leveled
the bank, filled up the holes, sowed rye, and made it
into a pasture. There was an Indian weir in the
brook, at the foot of the bluff, a little way down from
the outlet." To this clear statement nothing need
be added.
Quite recently, two large mortars were found here ;
also abundance of pestles, gouges, spear-heada and
fragments of steatite kettles, etc. Six or seren large
granaries are still visible.
The size of the evidently strong fort indicates that
the Indians regarded it as a place of importance, as
well as a place of security. The land on the west
slope of the hill was favorable for a planting-field.
The height of the hill made it a good lookout-point.
But the carefully constructed weir shows that the
fisheries here were a prime factor in native estima-
tion. The number of large granaries (which were
lined with clay) shows that immense quantities of
ihad and salmon were caught, dried and stored here
in che spring, for use in time of need.
Indian Village at the Falls. — The following
deed, executed before the General Court had made
formal grant of the land in question, is pretty con-
clusive evidence of aboriginal ownership on the part
of the grantors, and it goes far to establish a very
early occupancy by the same parties:
"Tbis witneaeeth that William BoraaD, Cnptoiu Jostali, Ruger, Si
.lamea, anil Keaquisan, iDdfaoa, duw liveiog at Naticke the Indian
Pluutatlun aeare Sudbury in ttie MaasachuaettB Bay in New England,
ITur and In couaideration ur a valluable sume of Peage and other goodra
tone in hand paid by John Stone of Sudbury aforenamed to our full
content & batiBiaction, before the ulgning and delivery hereof have
given, granted, bargained A sould, awtigned, enfeoffed & confirmed, and
by tlieie presents do give, grant, bargain 11 sell, lueigue, eofeotTe ami
confirme unto the aaid Jno. Stone, hia lleyrea Sl aasignee, a i>arcell of
Broaken up and ffenced in land, lyingon the South Bide of Sudbury line,
upon the Falla of Sudbnry River, and bounded with the Common land
4urrouuding. The said land conteyning by eBtimatiun about ten .Vcrea
more ur lesse. To have 4 to bould the aaid land with the Beucee and all
other the privilegea and appurtenances thereof be the eanie more or lesse,
to him the said Jno. Stone, his Heyres and Assignee forever, to bis and
Iheir only propper use .ibebouffe. In witnea whereof wee the above
named Indiaus have hereunto put our hands & sealer thia 15th day of
May 1656."
A part of these names are known to be those of
Indians belonging to the northward, at Stow and
beyond. This fact, and other circumstances, lead to
the belief that the place was under the jurisdiction
of the Wamesitts, whose headquarters was at Paw-
tucket Falls (Lowell) ; and there is a probability that
the Indian village at Cochitoate belonged to the
same tribe, before it was given to the Natick planta-
tion.
The wigwams include! within this lot stood where
Mr. Simpson's cottage and garden now are.
The fort of this clan was on the east side of the
river, on the point of the bluff opposite the Saxon-
ville Mills. It had a bold front and sides, and was
easily defended, and withal was handy to their fish-
610
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, iMASSACHUSETTS.
iug-placea and corn-fields. A spring of water came
out near the soulheaql foot. The large granaries
were where ia now J. R. Entwistle's house-lot, and
were plainly to be seen when he graded up the
place.
Some Indian graves have been discovered near the
spot, and remains indicating that the bodies before
burial were doubled up by bringing the knees against
the chin, and laid upon the side.
Many choice ornaments, as well as the common
domestic utensils and implements of war, have been
found along the top of the bluff.
NoBSCOT. — This hill was the residence of the noted
Indians, old Jethro and his son Peter. The great
stone-heap, evidently intended as a look-out, stands
on the highest point of the hill. It is named in the
records as early as 1G54.
Murder of the Eames Family. — The princi-
pal tragic event which happened in our plantation
during King Philip's War was the murderous assault
on the family of Thomas Eames, February 1, lt)7-j-76.
The Eames house stood on the southern declivity
of Mount Wayte, the nearest neighbor being distant
one and a half miles. The family consisted of Mr.
Eames, his wife and ten children, varying in age
from twenty-four years to seven mouths. The father
was abseat, having gone to Boston for a guard, and
a supply of ammunition. A party of eleven Indians,
headed' by Netus, came suddenly upon the defence-
less family, burned the barn, cattle and house, killed
the mother and five children, and carried off five or
six children and such plunder as they needed.
The family tradition is, that the mother had ex-
pressed the resolution never to be taken alive by the
savages; and that, true to her word, she bravely
defended her home, using hot soap and such weapons
as were at hand in the kitchen. According to the
confession of one of the murderers, the party, com-
prising six of the former residents at Magunkooki
had returned to that place for some corn which was
left the previous autumn in their granaries, and find-
ing that it had been destroyed, started at once,
partly for food and partly for revenge, towards the
nearest English farmstead. And it is probable that
the stout resistance of the courageoas woman so
provoked them that they left nothing alive.
The children were carried to the neighborhood of
Wachusett, and two of them to Menameset. Three
of them found means to escape from their captors,
and returned in the course of a few months. The
two girls, one probably a daughter of Mr. Eames by
a former marriage, were seen by Thomas Reed, at
Turner's Falls, about the middle of May. They
were heard of later, near Albany. The younger was
redeemed, the elder never returned.
Of the Indian murderers, three were tried, con-
victed and hanged, two were sold into slavery, two
died violent deaths, and two were pardoned.
Name. — On the Colonial records, the place is offi-
cially designated as Mr. DanforUCi Fann3,'3.\\A Fram-
ingham. In a single instance, on the Middlesex
County records, where entry is made of the births of
two children of Thomas Eames, and one child of
Joseph Bradish, the name is writteu Frainllinjlimii.
And in a petition drawn up by Peter Clayes in liiOS,
and presented to the Legislature, this spelling is used.
Neither has anything more than a clericaJ authority;
and both may have been clerical inadvertencies. In
the records of the Middlesex County Courr, under
date Dec. 23, 1(373, and elsewhere, the name is writ-
ten Framingham, and uniformly so iu the < ieiioral
Court records; and in Mr. Danfurtli's numerous
leases, of different dates, and in his will, the name is
writteu without the I. Mr. Danforth's own usage is,
of course, final authority in the matter. Oct. '11,
1675, a tax was laid, " to meet the charges of the
present war with the Indians," and Framingham was
assessed il. Dec. "28, lG7"i, Frauiiuirhain :s ordered
to raise one soldier, a< \ih proportion of a levy of .'Iti'l.
But whether the word be -pelled w itii or without
an /, there is no doubt that the Plantation lecc-ivud
its name from the birthplacu of Thoma.s Daiil'orili in
England.
The Old Coxxecth x't Path.— This traveled
way was alluded to in connection with the early
journeys of Mr. Oldham's party an<l llie niiL;ralioii
of Rev. Messrs. Hooker and Stone and their cmu-
pany from Cambridge to Hartford. At a later date
this path — which is named on the iSudbury town
records in 1G43, and w;uj formally laid out from
Watertown to Mr. Dun.ster's farm (in the present
town of Wayland) in 1(341) — became an important
factor in the settlement of Framingham, and deserves
special notice. It influenced the course of ex[>lora-
tion hither, and most of the early land grant to
patrons and settlers were located on this path.
Coming from Watertown to the northerly end of
Cochituate Pond, thence it Ibllowed the present road
to the house of Joseph Brown, where it turned more
to the west, crossing Cochituate Brook at the ford way,
where was afterwards the fulling-mill dam; thence
by a southerly and southwesterly course to a point
about thirty rods east of Mollis Hastings' ; thence on
nearly a straight line to the Para rubber-works, and
across the railroad, when it turned slightly to the
west, going "past the South School-house site, and
from thence bearing to the left, over the Beaver Dam,
nearly as the road now runs into Sherboru,aud round
the southerly side of the Quinneh meadow, just shun-
ning the marshy lands,' and turning more west, crossed
Cold Spring Brook, about thirty rods above its junc-
tion with Hopkinton River ; thence westerly to the
cold spring on the Franklaud place, in the west part
of Ashland, and so through Grafton,' in this State,
and Thompson, Conn.
1 See RuMell'a Grant, Ma«. Col. Bee., iv. pt. 1, p. 370.
s " Uaasanamesit is Dear uoto the uld road- way to Connecticat." Mass*
niBt. Soc Ck)ll., 1, 1S5.
FRAMINGHAM.
611
Early LA>fD Grants — Mm. Glover's Farm. — The
earliest fjr.iiit of land within our town limits, by the
Oeneral Court, was nimle 1G39— 10, to Mrs. Elizabeth
Glover, willow of Rev. Josse Glover.
This farm, laid out as GOO acres, was found on
me;i3urement to contain 960 acres ; embracing all
that land lying between Sudbury town-line (now
Wayland) on the north, Sudbury River on the west,
Cocliituate Brook on the south, Cochituate Pond on
the east, and from the northeast point of this pond to
the nearest point of Dudley Pond, and so by this
pond to itf northeast corner, and from there north,
direct to the old Sudbury line.
Thomas Mayhtw's Farvi.—" October 17, 1043, Mr.
Mayliew is granted o'*0 acres of land in regard to his
charge abmit the bridge by Watertown mill, and the
bridge to belong to the country" {^MiDm. Col. Rcc, ii.
31]. In liiOti, Mayhew assigned his grant to John
Stone and Nathaniel Treadway.
" In obe<lience to this grant and assignment. Now
laid out this ISth day of June, 170.S, said 3lt0 acres to
the heirs of John Stone and Nathaniel Treadway:
This land, lying between JIarlborough, Magunkook
and Frainingliam, and so bounded : This land is some
good, some bad, some pine and some oak land, and
some meatlow in it, as may appear from the plat of
the same .surveyed by David Haynes."
(.Irnnt:! to Bbiiund /Jice.— "October 23, 10-32, Ed-
mund Rice, of Sudbury, preferring a petition for the
grant of three little pieces of meadow, containing
about 20 acres, and 30 acres of upland, lying a mile
from Cochituate Brook, hath his request granted."
In \C)7m Edmund Rice petitioned the General Court
for another parcel of land " near the path leading to
Connecticut ; " and June ?>, IGo'J, is the record : " Laid
out, the farm of Mr. Edmund Rice, of Sudbury, in the
place appointed by the Court, th.it is, beginning at a hill,
leaving C«)necticott path on the north or northwest-
erly of it, anil a brook on the .south of it, and two hills
and a little piece of meadow on the east of it, with
live acres of meadow lying on the east side, being
[)art of the .-^ame grant; also the said tract of land
being bounded with the wilderness on the west, all of
which said tract of land contaiueth eighty acres."
This eighty acres lay between Beaver Dam Brook,
(ileason's Pond ami (ileason's Hill; the southwest
corner bound being a tree at the Beaver Dam.
(,'niiits In John Stoiif. — In IG-30 Mr. Stone bought of
the Indians eleven acres of land at the Falls in Sud-
bury River, which, with tifty. acres additional, was
confirmed to liiin by the General Court in May the
same year. Later he secured, by purchasje, other
considerable tracts of land upon the river below the
Falls, and elsewhere.
Russell's Farm. — "May 15, 1G57, Mr. Richard Rus-
sell having binn very serviceable to the countrie in
his publicque imployment of Treasurer for many
years, for which he hath had no aniiuall stipend, this
Court iloth grauQt him live hundred acres of land, in
any place not formerly graunted, upon Nipnop River,
at his choice." This grant was laid out May 6, 1659,
and is thus described: "Laid out unto Mr. Richard
Russell, Treasurer, five hundred acres of land, lying
in the wilderness, upon both sides of the path that
leadeth from Sudbury toward Nipnop, & is bounded
on the northeast with Washakam Pond, and a
swampe adjoyning thereto, and on the west by a
marked tree and the west side of an ashen swampe,
and on the south with the upland adjoyning to the
southerly or southwest point of that meadow which
lyeth on the westerly side of the aforesaid meadow,
and on the north extending on the north side of the
aforesaid path, and is surrounded with the wilderness,
Edmund Rice, Tho. Noyes."
Waijte's Farm.—" May 25, 1658, In answer to the
petition of Richard Wayte, one of those that were
Srst sent out against the Pequotts, & for Beverall ser-
vices, the Court judgeth it meete to graunt him three
hundred acres of land."
The record of the laying out of this grant is as fol-
lows : " Laid out unto Richard Wayte, marshall, three
hundred acres of land in the wilderness, between
Chochittuate and Nipnop, in manner following, viz.
there being a necke of land about two hundred &
twenty acres, more or less, & is surrounded with Sud-
bury River, a great pond, & a smale brooke that run-
neth from the said pond into the river, and from the
southerly end of the said pond running to the river
againe by a westerly line ; and on the westerly side of
Sudbury River to extend his bounds from the said
river twenty pole in breadth so farre in length as his
land lyeth against the said river ; also, on the north-
erly & northeast of the said brooke & pond, he hath
five patches of meadow, containing about twenty
acres more or less, being all surrounded with wilder-
ness land ; also, on the northeast side of Washakum
Ponds he hath sixty acres, being bounded with the
said pond on the southwest, and an Indian bridge on
the east, and elsewhere by marked trees, the wilder-
ness surrounding.
" Oct. 20, 1658. Thomas Danforth, Andrew
Belcher."
Corlett's Farm. — " In answer to the petition of
Daniel Weld and Elijah Corlett, schoolmasters, the
Court, considering the usefulnesa of the petitioners in
an employment of so common concernment for the
good of the whole country, and the little encourage-
ment that they have had from their respective towns,
for their service and unwearied pains in that employ-
ment, do judge meet to grant to each of them two
hundred acres of land, to be taken up adjoining to
such lands as have been already granted and laid out,
by order of this court."
Mr. Corlett was schoolmaster of Cambridge, and
his farm of 200 acres was laid out within our bounds,
May 28, 1661. It took in the Elisha Frost farm, and
the land to the west.
Mr. Dan/orth's Farms.—" Oct. 16, 1660. Whereas,
612
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
at the request of this Court, Mr. Thomas Danforth
hath attended the service of this Court in surveying
the laws at the presa, and making an index thereto,
this Court judgeth meet, as a gratuity for his pains,
to grant him two hundred and fifty acres of laud, to
be laid out in any place not legally disposed of by
this Court." This lot was laid out adjoining Sudbury
town-line, on the west side of Sudbury liiver.
" May 7, 1602. The Court judgeth it meet to grant
to Mr. Thomaa Danforth, two hundred acres of land,
adjoining to same lands he hath between Conecticot
path and Marlborough, and appoint Ensign Noyes of
Sudbury, with old Goodman Rice and John How, to
lay it out, with other lands granted to him by this
Court ; and the act of any two of them to be account-
ed valid, both for quantity and quality." This 200
acres was laid out adjoining to and west of the for-
mer grant of 250 acres.
On the same day, i.e., Jlay 7, 1662,
" It is vrdereii, that for ;ind in cuDsitleralion of 3Ir. Tliomas Diinfurlli
bid furniabing tbe Comitii«6ionore to Yorlt, i.e., Major tieneml Deiubttii
auil Maj. Wiu. Ilawtburu, with tt-ii puunda money, siiall Iiave t^rauteii
bim iw an .iililitiou to tlie twn liumlrcil iicreti of land granlod liim hy thii;
Oourt in Oth pago of tliis Session, so much land lyini; bftween Whip-
sutrerage and Couecticutt path, adjoining to his farm, as old Goodman
Kice and GooUmaD How of Marlborow shall judco the said ten pounds
111 he worth, and tliey are inipowered to hound the same to llim."
"Oct. 3, 1WV2. Laid nut unto Thomaa Danforth Esq. a parcell of
laud lying hetweeue iMarlborough and Kenecticut Path, and is bounded
easterly by Sudbury lands adjoined to that part of their bounds neere
Lannnni, the land of John Stone, and a part of Natick Plantation ;
southerly l>y the lands of the said Thomas Danforth and Natlck lands ;
northerly with the other part of Sudbury tniunds towards Marlbnry;
and westerly with tbe country lauds, the said west line being limited
by li pine tree marked with D and standing on the north side of that
branch of Sunliury river that oomelh from Marlluiry [Stonoy brook] and
on the west side of Annellico brook, and from the said pine continuing
a southwest line unto the other branch of Sudbury river that lathe
liounds of Natick plantations [Hopkiuton river] ; and from the said pine
tree northerly continuing unto Suilhury bounds, mnning by ;t tre«
marked in the highway that teudcth from John Stone's house to Marl-
bury ; in which tract of land bounded as abovesaiil is contained two
hundred acres of land belonging uuto John Stone [the Corlett Fami]
and is e.xccpled out id that laid out unto tbe said Thomas Danforth ; also
four hundred and fifty acres of land granted by the General '''ourt in
two several grants to the said Thomas Danforth ; and the reraaioder
thereof is for the satisfaction of moneys disbursed by the said Thomas
Danforth for the use of the country, by the appointiuent of tbe General
Court. Given under our hands tbe 27tb of May, 1662.
*' Edhoni> Rice,
"John llow,
" Kt a County Court held at Cambridge, Oct. 7, U1C2, Edmond Rice
and Jolin IIow, appearing in (^urt, acknowledged this atxtve written to
be their act, according to tbe appointment of the GeoerBl Court.
" Daniel Gookin,
"Stmom Wili.aro,
'*BlCHAaD El'SSELL.
"The Court allows & approves this return." t
This grant covered most of the Framingham terri-
tory on the westerly side of Sudbury River, and be-
tween the river and Southborough line.
Thus it appears that for the ten pounds money paid
out, Mr. Danforth received a tract of about 14,00ii
acres. Adding the -150 acres previously set oft' to
him, and the Wayte and Russell farms, he held in all,
1 Mass. Col. Rec, It. pt. 2, pp, 07, 08.
by gift and purchase, not less thau 10,500 acres of
land within the limits of the old Framingham [ilauta-
lion.
William Crowne's Grant. — A farm of 500 acres was
granted, October 8, 1662, to William Ciowue, ' as an
acknowledgment of the great paines he was at in
behalf of this country when he was in England."
This farm lay on the southerly side of Hopkinton
River, and covered what is now the village of Ash-
land— then reckoned Framingham territory.
Grants to Thomas Eames.—Oa his petition of (Jclo-
ber 17, 1670, the Court made a grant of 200 acres to
Mr. Fames, which was laid out " in the wilderness
adjoining to Lancaster."
Jan. 24, 1070-77, Mr. Eames asked the Court for a
grant of tbe Indian lands at South Fianiingliam, near
his former home. The following deed recites all the
particulars ot this grant :
"Whereas in Court at Nouantuui January Jl"' HjTi'i Thouius Kama
propounded to have a parcel of laud beloui,'iiig to .Nulick lliat is cue -
pas:<ed by ye hind of -Mr. Thomas Danforth, Jolin Death .iml John >t"lie
on three parts, aud the ludiinwtlieu cimseuled that in exchaniic of lauds
between Sherborn aud Natlck the above said pjircel of land dt-sin-d by
Thomas Eauis shuuhl Ito iucluded in ye lauds that Jilii-ibuin men haM*
iu Exchange from Natick, as attesliil by a col^y of that Court record
under ye hand of Slajor Daniel Gookin deceaaed : .Mso whereas luauriwer
lo a motion made by Thomas Lams to ye llenenil Cuiut lu-lii ^t liontmi
ye .a"! day of May Ir.T'J the Court did there allow and coiilu-ui IIih arrant
and Eichaiiye made of ye lamls above meutioiied, .is appealed liy ye
record of ye -uid Court : -Vise whereas Sherlmrn in ye Kxelian^te by tliem
made with Nalick did omit to include the above ..inid lands therein, so
that to ye ilay of ye date hereof ye said Natick Indians liave had no con-
sideration in money or lands for their above said Kinds that was pro-
pounded by Tliomae Eames as above ; .^Uo « bereiui I'liomas Kanies be-
fore his decease was peaceably seized of Kaid lauds, and did «:ttle ye name
by disposetng some part thereof to his ihildron that now are dwelling
thereon with lour families, and did alao bell to uliieis sundry parti
thereof that ale now dwelling thereon, all which lo di.-possess would be
verv great injustice; -Vmr Jliioic all tiimj /-f/ IhfFr jiicitftits. that we I'eter
Eplimiui, Thomas Wabait, Daniel Tonaw.uupa Milll^ter, Juuaa Molta-
hanl, Joseph Tabauioinoso, Indians of Xalick with Je consent and by
Iho order of the rest of ye Indiana ol that planlatlou, for aud iu consid-
eration of the premises, as also not forgelling the great sullerlng of ye
aaid Thomas l-jiincs by those Indians Ihat burnt his Imuse, bain and
cattle, and killed his wife and three children, ami captivated hie more,
whereof only three returueil, who are now dwelling on ye said lalidn,
whome now to mine a second time by turning them olf ibose lauds ue
are not willing to be any occasion thereof; AIbo, we well Unowiiig, Ihat
although the above said Thomas Eames by reason of his being impover-
ished aa above said, did not procure a legall conveyance of ye said lulids,
yet for sundry years until his death did give releife lo J.ihn Waii:>aniug
Cheife proprietor of thoee lands; We the above nauied Peter Epliniim,
etc. for audoD ye bebalfe of ourselves as also the rest of ye Indiatis, I bat
can claim any right or title in ye above said truct or parcell of laud ; for
and in further consideration of Ten pounds, current money, to iis in
hand paid before ye sealing and delivery hereof by John Eames sun of
ve above named Thomaa Eames dei-eiiaetl, who dwellelh upon part ot ye
said lands, the receipt whereof we do acknowledge by these pi-esents ; as
aUo for twelve fiuunds more current money for ye use of ounielves, and
ye rest of ye Indians of ye said plantation to be by us disiMteed of as the
Governor or Loiu* Governor for the time being nball i-nler, for ye inie
payment of which twelve (jounds, the said John Eames hath given a
specially under his hand and seal bearing date w ith tliese presents ; liate
ijUxti, granted, bargained, sold, enfeilTed, ulc."
This farm was bounded north by Sudbury River
from the point where the Eames Brook enters lo a
point near the north aide of the Agricultural grounds,
thence the line ran easterly to the northeast corner of
the State Muster grounds ; the east line ran from this
FRAMLNGHAM.
613
point by a southerly course to Beaver Dam Brook,
which brook was its southerly bouud'; the west bound
was the Wayte meadow and Farm Pond. The eighty
acres already granted to Edmund Rice was excepted
out of the grant, under the title vested in John Death.
Srr. Eames also received a grant from the town of
Sherborn, of a home-lot of thirty acres. This was
located on Chestnut Brook, about half a mile up the
stream from the Hunt place, and adjoined the home-
lot of Thomas Awassamog.
The Belcher and Lynde Farm of 150 acres, lying
north of the Corlett grant, was a gitt from Thomas
Danforth, dated March G, 11)72-73, " to his loving kins-
man, Andrew Belcher, Jr."
Gookin and How' a Purchase was a tract of 1700 acres
covering what is known as " Rice's End," and includ-
ing the celebrated Indian Head Farm. These pro-
prietors bought the tract of the Indians of Natick,
May 19, 1GS2.
Buck.mixster's Lea.se. — Reserving the common
lands at the southwesterly part of the town, and 600
acres on Nobscot and Doeskin Hill (the former for
the use of .ill his tenants, and the latter for the bene-
fit of his heirs), and excepting the farms of Winch
and Frost, and the MellenH, Mr. Danforth in May,
1693, executed a lease for 999 years of the balance of
his Framiiighara lands, to Joseph White, of Roxbury,
and Jo'»e[)h Buckminster, of Muddy River. Owing to
failure on the part of the lessees to pay the annual
rental, this lea.se was canceled, and another lease to
Buckminster alone, was executed March 25, 1699,
running 999 years, the annual rental being twenty-
two pounds current money.
Two Classes of Land Titles. — All the lands ly-
ing easterly of .Sudbury River were held by right of
grant from the General Court, or purchase of the In-
dians, and confirmation by the Court ; while the title
to the west side lands included in Mr. Danforth's
grants, is derived from a lease running 999 years.
First Settlers. — Only a part of the men who
received grants of land within our territory became
actual settlers. The first man to build upon our soil
was John Stone, who removed from Sudbury (now
Wayland), .ind put up a house at Otter Neck, on the
west side of Sudbury river, in 1646 or 1647. By what
right he held or claimed the land here is not known —
probably that of squatter sovereignty, — but so far as
appears, no one questioned his title.
The next settler was Henry Rice, who received a
deed and built a house on his father's grant in 1659.
John Bent bought land of Henry Rice, came on in
1662, and built near the fordway over Cochituate
Brook, on the west side of the Old Connecticut Path.
Thomas Eames settled near Mt. Wayte in 1669.
Joseph Bradish was here at this date, but his location
is unknown. Two of John Stone's sons, Daniel and
David, settled near their father as early as 1667. And
these were probably all the inhabitants liviug within
our limits when Philip's War broke out and put a
stop to settlements. These families were all from
Sudbury, and are denominated in deeds and other of-
ficial documents, "Sudbury Out-Dwellers," or " Sud-
bury Farmers."
The first recognition of the place by the colonial
government as in a sense a distinct plantation, is in
1675, when Framingham was taxed a country rate of
one pound, and was required to Airnish one soldier
for the country's service.
The death of King Philip in 1676, and the killing
in battle or banglDg of the principal hostile chiefs,
and the destruction of the Indian villages and strong-
holds, gave assurance of a permanent peace, and set-
tiers began to come on in considerable numbers. But
for twelve years the new-comers were Sudbury people,
and (except the Stones) located on the east side of
the river, and on the Eames, Rice, and Gookin and
How grants. John Death bought one-half of the
Benj. Rice land in 1673, but did not build till 1677.
Hia house stood near the Beaver Dam. Thomas
Gleason had bought the north half of the same land
in 1673, and located near the pond which bears his
name, in 1678. In 1676 or 1678 John Eames and
Zachariah Paddleford took up lots on their father
Eames' grant, and with their father became inhabit-
ants. John Pratt and Thomas Pratt, Jr., settled on
Pratt's Plain at the same date ; and in 1679 Isaac
Learned settled south of Learned's Pond.
About 1687, when Mr. Danforth had matured and
made known his plana for disposing of hia lands by
long leases, settlers began to locate on the west side
of Farm Pond, and on the west side of Sudbury
River. The Whitneys and the Mellens, from Water-
town, settled on Danforth land in 1687 or 1688 ;
George Walkup, Stephen Jennings and John Shears
were in possession of lands near Nobscot in 1689 ;
the Havens, from Lynn, came on in 1690 ; Samuel
Winch was here at that date; Thomas Frost built
south of Nobscot as early as 1693 ; the Nurse, Clayea,
Bridges, Elliot and Barton families settled at Salem
End in the spring of the same year. All these lo-
cated on Danforth land.
And these last named, as well as the settlers for the
next ten years, came on mostly in groups. The
Salem End families came from Salem Village (Dan-
vers) ; the Pikes, Winches, Boutwells and Eatons
came from Reading. Bowen, the Hemenways, Sea-
ver, Pepper, Heath, etc., came from Roxbury. John
Town, the first to locate near the Centre Village,
came from Essex County, and was allied by marriage
to the Salem End families.
Settlers came on rapidly, particularly upon the
west side lands, after 1690 ; so that at the date of Mr.
Danforth's death, in November, 1699, there were in
all about seventy families located in our territory, and
a population of near 350 souls. Eleven houses had
been built at Rice's End, fifteen on Pratt's Plain and
Sherborn Row, ten on Mellen'a Neck and southward,
twelve at Salem End, seven on Pike Row and the
614
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
road to Southborough, and twelve at North Framing--
ham, including Stone's End.
A romantic aa well as tragic interest attaches to the
colony that located at Salem End. As before stated,
these families came from Danvers, then called Salem
Village, where they were involved in the strange
complications and sad results of the witchcraft delu-
sion. Eebecca (Town) Nurse, the wife of Francis,
and mother of Benjamin and Sarah (Town) Claye.s,
the wife of Peter, were sisters, and were among the
earliest of the accused victims and sufferers. They
were committed to the prison in Boston, March 1,
1G92. Mrs. Nurse was the mother of eight children
and was an honored member of the old church in
Salem. At her trial, the evidence against her
was so weak that the jury twice failed to convict ; but
on a third return to court, because she failed to give
satisfactory answers to cert.ain questions which they
proposed, they brought her in guilty. It was after-
wards shown that from deafness, she had failed to
fully comprehend the proposed questions. She was
e-Kecuted July 19, 1G92.
The wife of Peter Clayes w.is tried, and found
guilty, and condemned to death. In August she was
committed to the jail at Ipswich, to await execution.
Her husband was allowed to visit her in prison, and
spent much of his time there. And in some way she
found means to escape, and was concealed by her
friends till the removal to Framingham, the ue.xt
spring. As the witchcraft frenzy abated in the fall
of 1G92, probably the authorities were not an.xious
to recapture the fugitive. Mrs. Clayes was the
mother, by her first husband, Edmond Bridges, of
Benjamin and Caleb Bridges, who were of the Salem
End Colony. It should be said to his credit, that
Gov. Danforth wiis largely instrumental in allaying
the witchcraft excitement, and stopping convictions
by the court.
Incorporation of the Town.— The first move-
ment of the settlers, looking to incorporation into a
township, was made March 2, 1692-93. The names
attached to the petition are of men dwelling .at Rice's
End, South Framingham and Park'.s Corner, i.e., east
side settlers. The intention evidently was to have
the centre village of the new town on Pratt's Plain
(now the State muster grounds), and attain, by grant
or otherwise, the " wilderness land," i.e., Danforth 's
farms, lying to the westward. But Mr. Danforth had
already conceived the plan of bringing his large
landed estate under settlement and into town privi-
leges, and the east side scheme failed.
That first petition has important historical value,
and is here inserted :
"The Petition of their Majti" subjects now Dwelling upon sundry
ffanuefl granted in tboee I^emute iaudd bcittuate and Ijeine betweeuL*
Sudbury, Concord, Alarlbury, Nulicl^ and Sherborne, and westerly is tbe
willdemesH —
" Humbly Sheweth
**That your peUtionera soiue of no have there dwelt neer fforty
Vearefl, And hare frum time to time Jucreaaed our numbers, Aud mure
especially uf Lute, Soe that now wee are about Oorly [Taliiilies, Sonii-
liaveing built and &uoie building, And wee ho]»e may sincerely say tli.it
wee have endeavored to attend tbe WoFBliip of God, Some of us att oii<*
Towne .t some att another as wee best nii^iit. butt liy Reason of our
remoteness, four ftive and Bonie six miles from any Meetinp-hoUi?e. An-
I uncapable to carry our ffamilyes with us nor yelt to Kinctitie God's sab-
j baths as wee ought besides many other iiiciuivenieiu-es (Ilu'vitabh-) in
our pret^ent circunistanrcs. And there being Lands Ailjac-ut that mi::iit
well accommodate more ffamilyes lyeing partly in Xalirk bound.:, the
Indians fo whome it belongs being mostly gone some by dt-alli and
others removed ehsewliere, and our westerly bounds beini: tbe wiblor.
ness. Sue that wee have a prospect If this Hon''' Colllt shall f;.vour tbi-
otir humble address, That our numbers will be ffurther Increaseil, w liere-
by wee may be enaldeil to carri" (Oi the worship ol Gtnl i have the bene-
fitt of prudentiall order anum:; tuirselvi-s
"The Premises i'ousitlered
" Yo^ petitioners doe therebtre humbly retiuest y* favt-nr of yor
exellency and this Hon'-' Court, That by the autliorilvof this Cwutl we
may be made a Township .t have the order and ptivibses ibat ba\e
beene accubti'med to olbers in our lireumstiinci-s i.e. .Sonie Kasenienl in
our Ta.\es Ibat nee may tbe better bee enabled to carry on our piibli. k
Town charges ; That sor iddition nniy bee gninted us out of the uil-
demesa adiacent, .And in c:uje the lion'' Court shall >ee reason to I. v.
I en4-e N:itick Indians lo make sale of anv part of Ibeir I.al'tre HbiutalioU
tb.lt wee may have libeity t<> puri ba>e llnise l.aluls Ibat will bee aei-Miii-
modablu to this place."
Signed by .ruhn RcMit, Renjiiiniii Whitney, .Inliii
Eaiiies, Thomas Gleason, Isaac Learned, .loliii llnw.
Thomas Pr.att, David Stone, David Ilice, Tliomiis
Drury, Nathaniel Haven and twenty others.
The ne.Kt move was made by west siile settlers in
1004-95. This was checkmated by Slierbiirii. wliicii
.started a plan looking to the aiinexalion of liiie's
End and Pratt's Plain to that town.
Ill lfJ97 a ])etition — largely signed by both east -side
and west-side inhabitants — was hlncked by the Sud-
bury farmers living near Cochitnate Pond.
These coiiHictins interests were hard to boadjiistid.
Sudbury bad luiilribuled some of licr best men :is
settlers on these lands, iiiid siill exeici.sed a ly"'"'
jurisdiction over the northeasterly portion, uiidei- the
title of Sudbury Farms. Sherborn had naturally
drawn the settlers who dwelt around Farm Pond
towards her meeting-house, receiveil them to licr
church and conferred civil and iiolitical iirivilcgcs in
consideration of taxes for the .support of public wor-
ship. Her opposition to a new town here w.is most
determined and persistent and potent. And when,
after a struggle of seven years, it became evitlent that
the new townshij) was to be erected, she secured the
insertion of a clause in the act of incorporation,
" saving unto Sherborn all their rights of land granted
by the General Court to the first inhabitants, and
those since purchased by exchange with the Indians
of Natick or otherwise.'' This clause gave rise to a
legal contest of nine years' duration, the double tax-
ing of several families, much bad feeling, and was
only ended by the Legislature granting unto the
town of Sherborn "4000 acres of wilderness country
land where they can find it any way convenient (or
said town, in compen.sation for these seventeen fami-
lies."
The act incorporating the town of Framingham
bears date June 25, 1700.
FRAMINGHAM.
615
At this time there were thirty-three houses on the
westerly, and thirty-one on the easterly side of the
river. The number of inhabitants was " above three
hundred and fifty souls."
No Central Village-Site. — A peculiarity of
our town is, that there is no central point marked out
by nature as the village-site, to which all material and
social interests easily gravitate. The geographical
centre was broken, swampy land, inconvenient for
roads and uninviting for settlement. The original
meeMng-house site, in the old cemetery, was pitched
upon, because it accommodated tlie more thickly set-
tled out-districts, viz., Rice's End, Pratt's Plain,
Park's Corner and Salem End ; and because it was
nearer to Sherborn Row (now South Framingham)
than the Sherborn meeting-house was, and thus would
bring these families within the statute which required
all settlers to .seek civil and religious privileges in the
town to whose meeting-house their residence was
nearest. The site of the present Central village was
selected as a compromise of conflicting interests, with
which nobody was quite satisfied. The lands most
eligible for hnmcsteads and for cultivation were dis-
tant from this point, and were distant from each other.
And what added to the difficulty of centralizing and
uniting our early poi)ulation was the fact that these
detached clusters of settlers were each a little centre
of its own in previous associations and social ties.
The Stones were a jiower by themselves, and were
given places of honor in Sudbury church and town,
to which tliey were stroiijrly attached. The same was
true of the families at Rice's End. The Pratt's Plain
settlers had received like tavor from Sherborn church
and town. The IJigelows, Lennieds, Whitneys and
Mellens li:i<l i-nmnion associations formed while they
lived in W^itirtown. The Havens were large land-
holders, and were somewhat isolated. The Salem End
families had been mutual sullVrers from the witchcraft
delusions .tiuI judicial trials .at Danvers, and had
taken refiigo and found a peacelul home in this then
wilderness land. The Re.ading and the Roxbury
colonies, which located in the northerly part of the
plantation, bad each its separate interest and ties.
The selection by Col. Buckminstcr of his homestead
farm in the upper valley of Baiting Brook, naturally
brought his old neighbors to locate near him, and to
consult his wishes and follow his lead.
And the fact that the settlers en the east side of
the river held their lands in fee simple, while the
settlers on nanforth lands had only leases, was a cir-
cumstance, perhaps trival in itself, but which had its
influence in se|>arating interests. The leased farms
held several valuable rights in common, from which
the east-side settlers were debarred. Mr. Danforth
was a man of large views and well-defined aims. He
planned to build up a township of enterprising men
by leasing the land on easy terms, and securing to
each tenant a right of pastur.age and fuel in the
reserved commons, which embraced a tract of about
5000 acres. In addition, Mr. Danforth set apart a
large tract "for the benefit of the ministry."
The diverse social elements were slow in assimilat-
ing, were often agitated by disturbing influences,
and once came perilously nearer a destructive ex-
plosion. The ministerial lands were the subject of
unchristian contention, and the commons, which
were intended to be a band of union and mutual
advantage, became a field for individual avarice and
over-reaching.
FiBST Meeting-House. — To meet the needs of
the many families who could not go to the neighbor-
ing towns to attend public Sabbath worship, and to
strengthen their appeal to the Legislature for an act
of incorporation, our settlers proceeded, in the sum-
mer of 1698, to erect the frame of a meeting-house,
and cover it in. This house stood on the high land
in the east central part of the old cemetery. As
originally built, it was in size thirty by forty feet,
and two stories high, fronting the south. It was so
far finished that Sabbath services were held in it the
next year. It was boarded and clapboarded, but not
painted. The windows on the front side were of
uniform size, and in regular order; on the ends, and
north side, they were put in where, and of such size,
as individual pew-owners pleased — probably many of
them without frames. Originally there was one large
double door in front ; but individuals were allowed,
or took the liberty, to cut doors at the ends and north
side, wherever most convenient to reach their re-
spective pews.
Inside, the walls were unfinished. The pulpit
stood on the north side, opposite the great door. A
gallery extended across the ends and front side — the
east end and half the front was called the " women's
gallery," and reached by the " women's stairs," at the
southeast corner ; the west end and half the front
was called the " men's gallery," and reached by the
men's stairs," from the southwest corner. A " bar "
across the centre of the front gallery indicated the
dividing line, which was not to be crossed by either
sex. Long seats of the rudest construction ran around
the galleries, next the walls, and in front.
On the lower floor were two bodies of seats, or
benches, separated by an alley — the east range al-
lotted to the women, the west to the men. The dea-
cons' seat was in front of the pulpit. Under the
galleries were long seats, running parallel with the
walls. By special vote of the town, individuals were
allowed to take away portions of these long seats,
and build pews, against the walls, six feet by four
and one-half or five.
The site selected was " the most accommodable
spot" on the ministerial land for the scattered popu-
lation. It brought " the seventeen families " nearer
to a place of worship than Sherborn meeting-house.
The east side settlers gravitated to the Great Bridge
by easy paths from Rice's End and Sherborn Row.
The people from Nohacot and Stone's End had paths
616
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
to Pike's Row, and thence by the Edgell place on
nearly a straight line to the meeting-house. A road
from the Hemenways through Temple Street, met the
road from Salem End on the present E. W. Whiting
place, which then ran east past the house of C. J.
Frost, about twenty rods east of which it received the
path from the Mellen and Haven neighborhoods, and
then led direct to the meeting-house.
The Fibst Minister.— August 21, 1700. The
town made overtures to Mr. John Swift, of Milton,
then supplying the pulpit, to continue their minister,
offering him, in case he should be settled " one
hundred acres of land and ten acres of meadow." [The
land comprised the tract, whose boundaries extended
from the bridge by the old cemetery, southwesterly
to Duck Pond and the southern declivity of Bare
Hill ; thence southerly to Sudbury River ; thence as
the river runs to the bridge aforesaid.]
May 22, 1701. The town " voted to give a call to
Mr. John Swift to abide and settle with us, the in-
habitants of Framinghara, as our legal minister."
C^hose Abial Lamb, David Rice, Benjamin Bridges,
John Town, John Haven, Peter Cloyce, Sen., Sam-
uel Winch and Thomas Drury to give the call in be-
half of the inhabitants.
'* Voted, To Hive Mr, Swift, in udditiuri t») tlie liind ami nieailuw, Cr.o
ia uiouej yearly, aud f^Dd biDi iu liid woutl (thirty-five corda) ; to fence
iu tweuty acres, with a good ditcb where it iK ditchuMe. and wlierc it
can't be ditched to net up a gODd flre-rail fence ; and also tu give CUiO
towards the bnildiu^ of a buuye, one-fifth of tlie same in uiutiey."
The church was organized, aud a pastor ordained
October 8, 1701.
Externally, the meeting-house was not attractive,
nor was it very comfortable within. But all the peo-
ple had helped to build it, and all loved it as their
sanctuary, and as marking the " God's Acre" where
their dead were buried. With a small enlargement in
1715, it met the wants of the first generation of
settlers, but the second generation aud the new
comers demanded something better, and with great
unanimity in 1725 voted to build a new house on the
old spot. Through the opposition of a minority,
actuated by ideas of location, and in part by a purpose
of land speculation, the building was delayed, and
the question of location came near splitting the town
asunder, and actually rent the church in twain.
1733. A presentment was issued by the Superior
Court against the town, for not having a decent meet-
ing-house in said town.
The Second Meeting-House was built in 1735.
It stood at the northeast corner of the centre Common,
(just inside the present fence), fronting south. Size
fifty-five by forty-two feet, thirty feet between joints.
Had three stories. Doors on south, east and west
sides. £550 was granted to build the house, and
finish ithe outside — though it was not painted till
1772. £350 was granted, at different times, for finish-
ing the inside of the house. The pulpit was on the
north side, and double galleries extended around the
other three sides. The committee was instructed to
build a pulpit, a body of long seats below, leaving an
alley between the men's aud women's seats, lay the
floors, make seats in the lower gallery, and two pair
of stairs (men's and women's) to said gallery. The
space next the walls under the galleries was reserved
for pews.
The new meeting-house, though standing literally
" in the woods," and surrounded by swamps, became
a potent factor in town .affairs, and as a converging
point for the town highways ; and between 1735 and
1745 these were readjusted and laid out in the
main as they exist at present.
The population li.id increased from 350 to 900.
The appropriations for ordinary town espense.s in
1745 were £735, old tenor— £2u0 for highways, £300
for preaching, £135 for schools, £100 For incidcnlals.
The first pastor. Mr. Swift, died April 25, 1745.
His successor, Jlr. JIatthew Bridge, was ordained
Febniary 10, 174G. The town grunted him a settle-
ment of £G00, old tenor, and a yearly salary of £2G0.
Tlie expenses of his ordin.ition were £109 S.i. 2e/. ;
including £96 9s. 4(/. for keeping the ministers anil
messengers two days ; £3 !Ss. ; for chickens, £10 2,i.
for beef and £G 3?. lor tavern bills.
As a result of the contc-st about the ministerial
land, growing out of the claim and seizure of said
landsby the lessee of Mr. Danforth, a divided sentiment
had obtained in the church, aggravated by difficulties
with the first pastor. The settlement of a new minis-
ter was the occasion of the culmination of the alienated
feeling. The majority w.is uncompromising, and the
minority seceded and took steps which led to the
organization of .n second Congregational Church in
October, 174t>. A small uieeting-house was built, and
Mr. Solomon Reed was ordained pastor of the new
church in January, 1747. The new organization
numbered over eighty members, and maintained a
separate existence about ten years, when a part re-
turned to the old church .and a part united in forming
the First Baptist Society in Framingham.
Esiigrations. — Framingham contributed largely
of her enterprising inhabitants towards the planting
of colonies at several new centres. A considerable
number of our citizens became grantees of Oxford in
1713. Among them were Town, Barton, Elliott,
Earned, Gleason, Lamb and Stone. Some Mellen,
How and Haven families removed to Hopkinton be-
tween 1715 and 1720. The Bents, Stevenses, Stones
and Howes were among the early settlers of Rutland.
Others become incorporated with Holliston in 1724,
with Shrewsbury in 1727, with Grafton near the same
date and with Templeton a few years later.
In the Waes. — The following Framingham names
are found on the rolls of the expedition to Canada in
1690 : John Jones, Francis Moquet, Daniel Mack
Clafelin, Joseph Trumbull, Caleb Bridges, Daniel
Mixer, Daniel Stone, Jr., Samuel Wesson, Jacob
Gibbs. They enlisted in the Sudbury company, and
were sharers in the grant known as the Sudbury-
FRAMTNGHAM.
617
Cauada Grant of 1741, which was located in Maine,
embracing the present towns of Canton and Jay. The
survivors of this company, while prosecuting their
claim in 1741, met several times at Mr. Moquet's
tavern in Framingham.
Forts and Garrison-House3. — The war known
as Queen Anne's War came on soon after the incor-
poration of the town. It was declared in May, 1702,
and terminated by the treaty of Utrecht, March 30,
1713. This was a period of general alarm, in which
Framingham participated ; though few of our men
were drafted into the service. In the expedition to
Port Royal, September 16, 1710, Joseph Buckminiater
was captain of grenadiers in ciir Charles Hobby's
regiment, and sailed in the brigantine " Henrietta."
(Jthers from Framingham in this expedition were
David Rice, died April 20, 1711 ; Jonathan Proven-
der; Benjamin Provender, died January 21, 1711;
Joseph Adams.
Ample precautions were taken to meet hostile visits
from the Indians, who scourged the frontiers. A
sentry was posted on the top- of Bare hill, during the
time of public worship, on the Sabbath, to give alarm,
in case of the appearance of the savages. Several
forts or garrisons were built in difiFerent parts of the
town, by neighbors clubbing together for mutual pro-
tection. From the vote of the town in 1710, for dis-
tributing the ammunition, it is probable that at that
date there were not less than four such garrisons. The
location of three of them is known. One stood near
the then house of Joseph Buckminater, a little to the
southeast of the present house of E. F. Bowditch ;
another .it Salera End, between the present houses of
James Fenton and Dr. Peter Parker, on the north
side of tlie brook; a third on Mellen's Neck, to the
north of Jose|)h A. Merriam's. The fourth was prob-
ably located near the south end of Learned's Pond.
The Salem End fort was built of logs, with a watch-
box above the roof at the gable end, and was sur-
rounded by long pickets firmly set in the ground.
This outer defence had a heavy plank gate, hung on
wooden hinges. There was a stoned-up cellar under-
neath, where food could be stored, and a well just
outside the gate. When an alarm was sounded, all
the families within reach hurried to the fort. It is a
current tradition, that on a dark night, when the
neighboring families were collected here, with two
watchmen in the sentry-box, the dogs gave warning
that an enemy was near. The sentries fired in the
direction whence the sounds came, and the alarm
ceased. The next morning, blood was discovered
near the gate, and tracked across the swale to near
the Badger farm.
Mr. Barry gives the following : " An aged inhabit-
ant of this town relates an instance of narrow escape
from death, on a like occasion, which occurred to his
grandmother. Having gone alone to the yard to
milk, about two hours before sunset, she carefully
looked around to see if there were Indians in the
neighborhood. Supposing herself secure, she pro-
ceeded to her work, and while in the act of milking,
an Indian (who, as was their custom, had disguised
himself with brakes, and crawled along on his belly)
suddenly struck her in the back with a knife. She
instantly sprung, and by the eflFort twitched the knife
from the Indian's grasp ; and before he could rise,
had advanced so far, that she succeeded in reaching
the bouse, with the knife in her back. An alarm was
immediately given, by three successive discharges of
a musket, which soon brought a reinforcement from
the neighborhood of what is now called the Silk
Farm, where was a garrison well provided with
powerful dogs and arms. On pursuing, however,
they found no traces of the Indian. The woman sur-
vived her injury."
The farmers went to their work in the fields, carry-
ing with them fire-arms for protection. The husband
would go with his wife to the barnyard, and watch
while she milked the cows. " An aged woman of this
town heard, fromher grandmother, an accountof this
practice in her day ; the latter adding, that her hus-
band's presence was, after all, of no great service, for
instead of watching for Indians, he would throw him-
self upon his back, and sing loud enough to be heard
through the neighborhood." (Barry.)
At this date, and for many years after, one or more
dwelling-houses in every district was built so as to be
arrow-proof and bullet-proof. A description of the
Learned house, which stood where Mrs. Katherine
Eames now lives, will answer for all. It was a two-
atory house without a leanto. The frame, i. e., the
sills, posts, girths and plates, were of heavy timbers.
Instead of studs in the lower story, logs split in half
were set upright, face and back alternately, so as to
match by overlapping the edges. The space under
the windows on the back side was filled in with
bricks ; on the front side and ends with two-inch
planks. The lathing was nailed to the logs on the
inside, and the boards were nailed in like manner on
the outside. The doors were of planks, and the win-
dows were provided with inside shutters.
Some of these garrison-houses were lined with
planks instead of split logs. The Dr. Stone house,
which stood on Pratt's Plain, near the arsenal ; the
John Eames house, built where is now R. L. Day's
house ; the Nathaniel Haven house, which stood
west of Washakum Pond (the Charles Morse place,
now in Ashland); the original Nathaniel Eames
house, late Jonathan Eames', were plank-lined garri-
son-houses. A similar house, buOt about 1730, by
Nathaniel Haven for his son, and placed on the oppo-
site of the road from the father's, is still standing, as
is the Nathaniel Eames house. The former is owned
by Joseph Morse.
Father Ralle's War, — This war lasted from 1722
to 1726. Its principal theatre was in the province of
Maine; but the French Indians from Canada made
assaults on the infant settlements along the entire
618
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTS', MASSACHUSETTS.
northern border of Massachusetts ; and all our towns
were called upon to contribute their quota of men.
Framingham shared in theae levies. Colonel Joseph
Buckrainster, then in command of the South Middle-
sex Regiment, sent troops to the relief of exposed
points. Jona. Lamb was employed to transport mili-
tary stores from Boston to Eutland, then a frontier
town. In Sergeant Thomas Buckminster's " Rutland
Scout" were David Pratt, Philip Pratt, and Thompson
Wood, of Framingham. Gideon Bridges, Jeremiah
Belknap, Hackaliah Bridges, Simon Goddard, Jere-
miah Wedges and Benoni Hemenway were out in a
detachment from August 25th to November 28, 1722.
D.aniel How, Benjamin Hemenway, Mark Whitney
and Daniel Rider, of this town, served in Captain
Samuel Wright's Eutland Company, from November
10. 1723, to June 10, 1724. Jeremiah Wedges and
Uriah Clark were in service at Fort Dumraer, Feb.
1st to Jlay 31, 1724. In 1725, June to November,
Daniel How, promoted to be sergeant, Thomas Walk-
up, Benoni Hemenway, John Stone and Samuel Hud-
son, apprentice to Jonathan Ragg, were in Captain
Samuel Wright's company.
Muster Itfll t,/ Otjilain Tuaac CTuri'.-
August :2lRt to Sepleuibcr 13, 17-J.^ :
Compfttiji of Tttioperf^ uvit from
Ciipt.
Isauc <'larlL, .
Frani
Phinehas Rkc,
Fram
Lt.
JoDa Lamb,
Fraoi
Moses Uaveu,
Fmm
Cor»
Joseph Ware,
Sherb
Uriah Dniry,
Fmm
Corp.
Nathaniel Eaiiies,
Fmm
Joseph Hrintnall.
Fnitii
Corp.
Ebenr Li'land,
Sherh
Bf-zaleel Hice,
Fram
Corp.
Jonas Eaton,
Frarn
(Jeorpe Wulknp.
Fnini
*-'orp.
Kleazer Kitler,
Sberb
Isaac btanhope,
Fram
Truuip
Tho< BtllowB,
Marl
Samuel Walker,
Fram
Truinit'
Nero BenBou.
Fmm
Thomas Stoue
Fmm
Clerk,
Samuel Stone,
Fmui
John Stacy,
Fmm
Jatnee Cla.Tes,
Fiaui
JuniithaQ Nutliug
Fram
Johu Bent,
F nil II
Oliver Death.
Fram
Joseph Ilaveo,
FrftDi
Samuel Willianifl,
ShtTl.
JoBJah Kice.
Fmm
Joseph LelaiiJ,
Sherh
Daniel Pratt,
Fram
Asa Morse,
Sherb
Matthias Tlaik,
Frant
Edward Learned,
Sherb
Thomas Wiuth,
Frnui
lE>aac Leiaud,
Sherl.
Jacob Pepper,
Fram
George FairUink,
Sherb
Abrubam Kice.
Fram
Joseph Morse,
Sherb
Ezekiel Kice,
Fmm
Junathaa Fairbaok
Sherb
Hubert Seaver,
Fmm
David Moree,
Sherh
Samuel Frizzell,
Fram
Juoatban Dewing,
Sherb
French and Indian Wars.— This town was not
the theatre of any of the thrilling events of these
wars, which were the final struggle of the French
Government to secure control of New England, in
which that power utilized to the fullest extent the
savage tribes of our northern border. Our men, how-
ever, took an active and honorable part in the defence
of the frontiers. Joseph Buckminster, Jr., was col-
onel in commission and command of the South Mid-
dlesex militia at this date, and was prompt in enlist-
ing and forwarding troops as called for by the provin-
cial authorities.
In the memorable expedition against Louisbourg in
1745, in Capt. Ephraim Baker's company. Sir Wil-
liam Pepperell's regiment, were Lieut. John Butler,
(who died in the service), Philip Pratt, James Clayes,
John Nixon (then eighteen years old), John Seaver,
Robert Seaver, the father, and his two sons, Joseph
and Benjamin (one of whom died at Louisbourg).
Jonathan Youngman, Jonas Gleason and Sheans
Berry were out in the same expedition.
Capt. Josiah Brown (of Sudbury) and his troopers
were ordered out on an alarm September 23, 1747. ( )n
the muster-roll are the names of Lieut. Thomas
Winch, Corp. Daniel Gregory, Clerk Daniel Stone,
Trumpeters Jonathan Belcher and Nathaniel Seaver,
Centinels Samuel Winch, Phineas Gibbs, Jonathan
Maynard, Isaac Read, Benjamin Eaton, Wiliiani
Brown, John Bruce, Elias Whitney. .John Hemenway,
Micah Gibbs, Samuel Frost, Jo.se|)h Brintnall, Mat-
thew Gibbs, John Gould, of Framingham.
Daniel Brewer, John Harris, I?aac How, John Pnr-
menter and William Hutson were in Lieut. John
Catlin's detachment at Fort ."^hirlev. December li>,
1747, to October ,S1, 1748.
Thomas Walkup was in service during the w.ir ;
was with Capt. H. Hobbs' nmgers in 48, and .'it No.
4 with Capt. P. Stevens in '49.
John Edgell, an apprentice to Jacob Pike, of this
town, w.is impressed, and joined C:i[it. .losiali W'illanl.
.fr.'s company at Fort Dinnmer. February , Hi, 174.'^.
He was in a detachment of men uniler.^ersrt. Thomas
Taylor, marching from Xorthfield In thefurt .Inly 14th,
when they fell int<j an ambush of Krenchand Indians.
Two of Taylor's men were killed, and eleven taken
prisoners and carried to Canada. Edgell was among
the latter. He lost everytliing of arms and clothinsr ;
and during the march to the north was subjected to
great hardships, by which he was incapacitated from
labor. He, with the other captives, was sold to the
French, and remained in Canail.i till the Last of Sep-
tember, when he was released anil returned home.
Jiinathan Brewer was out in the <ampaign of
'49; stationed at Fort Dnmmer. He anil John Nixon,
both of whom were distinguished ntficers in the War
of the Revolution, took their first le.-snns in camp and
field service in this war.
The old French War ended in 174!i, and what is
known as the Lust Freiuli and Intliaii War began in
1754.
The active militia of Framingham at this date
numbered about 170 able-bodied men, and 00 on the
alarm list. Of our men, not less than IGO were out
at dirterent times during this war — some of them of
course being counted more then once, as having en-
listed or been drafted for successive expeditions.
In the opening campaign of this war, in 1754, the
following men of this town enlisted in Capt. John
Johnson's company, and were out three months, viz.,
Jonathan Brewer, Simon Learned, Joseph Butler,
Phinebas Butler, John How, Eliab Brewer, John
Pierce, Simon Gleason, Phinehas Gleason, William
Dunn, William Graves, Phinehas Graves, Michael
Haven, Simon Pratt.
John Nixon enlisted M&rch 27, 1755, in Capt.
FRAMINGHAM.
619
Ebenezer Newell's Roxbury Oompany, and received a
commission as lieutenaut: but before marching he
was transferred to Capt. Jonathan Hoar's Concord
Company, and was promoted September 8th to be
captain. The company was attached to the Crown
Point expedition, and was in service till December
17th. Jonathan Gibbs was lieutenant in the same
company; Amos Gates was sergeant; Ebenezer
Boutwell was corporal ; George Walkup was drum-
mer, and in a short time was promoted to be drum-ma-
jor. Jonathan Treadway was taken sick and sent home
on furlough November 3d, and died December 17th.
Other Framingham men enlisted in Capt. Newell's
company at the same time as Lieutenant Nixon, and
were in the Crown Point expedition, and discharged
January 3, 1756 : Sergeant Shears Berry, Sergeant
Is.aac Gleason, Corporal Jonathan Belcher, Abijah
Berry, Eben. Darling, Jojjn Darling, John Edgell,
Simon Edgell, Thoma.s Ni.xon, Joseph Sever, Benja-
min Tower.
Four men from this town joined Capt. Stephen
Hosmer's company, for the Crown Point expedi-
tion, one of whom, David Sanger, died at Alb.any,
December l.'ith. Three of our men were in Capt.
John Tapliii's company, same expedition; and six
others enli.ste<l in ditiVreiit companies, making forty-
four in all who took [lart in this first campaign of
the war.
In IT.JO ihirty-eight of our men were in the service.
Capt. John Nixon and Iiis company were stationed
at the camp near Lake George. Hi.s brother Thomas,
aged twenty, was ensign, and .'^fimon Edgell, twentv-
two, was sergeant. Benjamin Angier, William Piifl'er,
Jacob Tovvtisend, Fsajic Allard and Ensign John
Stouedied in the service this year. Daniel Coiler was
taken captive by the Fndiaus near Lake George.
FraTicis Uallut wiis taken prisoner at Oswego, when
that fori, was captured, .Vugiist 14th.
Captain Josiah Sti)ne, with his troop of horse, was
in service at Crmvn Point, September 15th to Octo-
ber ;ioth.
Th« year'17")7 was long remembered as the year of
great preparations and great disappointments. The
expedition against Crown Point and Ticonderoga
was )>opular, and oflicers and men enlisted readily —
to be balked in their expectations by the order of
Lord London, who sent tiiem on a fruitless ex-
pedition .against Louisbourg.
The following characteristic letter will explain it-
self:—
" FsAHnxiHAM, Jalj 18, 1857.
'* May it please the Hon**' his ^fajeaty's CoUQcil ;
"In ol>edieiice toanonJerfrom yoorHonontB of thelOth of May, 1757,
I liuve takeD effectual care and citiised every person, both upon the Alarm
Liat ami Tnviued band List, in the Ue^iiiienc of Militia under my com-
uiaiiil and also the respective Town stocks in said Regiment, to be fiirnish*
ed with Arms and Ammunition acconliuR to law, and now ready with my
whole Keeiment. to meet and confront the French in any part of the
Province, at a miaute's warning, even with seven days* provisioud.
** I am. Tour liiiuours moat oht. serv^
" Jos. BuCtMJNSTER."
The regular companies from this neighborhood,
last year, remained in the service ; and most of
our militia were called for in one or other of the
" alarms '' about Fort William Henry. Timothy
Pierce, son of Thomas, was made prisoner at the tak-
ing of this fort and carried to Canada.
In 1758 seventeen Framingham men were with
Col. Ruggles' regiment, mostly in Capt. John
Nixon's company, on the New York frontier;
Ensign Thomas Trowbridge and fifteen men were
in Capt. John Taplin's company, raised for the re-
duction of Canada, and ten men enlisted in
Captain Aaron Fay's company for the same
destination. Micajah Glea.son was in the expedition
against Louisburg.
Ralph Hemenway enlisted and marched with his
company, but was taken sick and lay in the hospital
for some time. The General Court allowed him for
his extra expenses, £3. 5. 0.
1759. Niagara was invested by Gen. Prideaux, July 6
and was taken on the 24th. Ticonderoga was reached
by the division under Gen. Amherst, July 22, and
after a siege taken ; when Crown Point was abandon-
ed by the French, who retired to the Isle aux Noix, at
the northern extremity of the lake.
Capt. John Nixon, with many of his old officers
and men, turned out March 31, and was stationed at
Worcester, in Col. T. Ruggles' regiment, till April
30. At this date his company was reorganized, and
attached to Col. John Jones' (of Hopkinton) regi-
ment, which marched under Gen. Jeffrey .\mherst,
for the invasion of Canada. The company was in ser-
vice till Dec. 20. The Framingham names are as fol-
lows :
('apt. .Tohn Nixon.
Lieut. .Joseph Gibbs.
Lieut. Thomas Nixon.
Kns. James Mellen.
.Tonathan Pierce, aged '25.
Silua Hemenway, aged 21.
t"Jeorg6 Lilly, aged 21.
Xathaniel Brown, ased 18,
Oliver Robinson, iiced 19.
I'aleb Drury, Jr., aged 2.1.
Bezaleel Wright, aged 4'J.
KItenezer Cutting, aged 17.
.lona. Hemenway, aged 19.
Elijah Houghton, aged -M.
Thomas Kendall, Jr., aged 45.
Isaac Fi:ilc, Jr., aged 22.
.fohn ^latthewa, aged 40.
Joseph Stone, aged .'i7.
Dan. Tombs, Jr. (Hopk.), aged 19.
Gilbert Dench (Hopk.), aged 17.
Ebenezer Haven, aged 22.
Esun Nortbgate, aged 37.
.Allen Flogg, aged 18.
Dooiel Haven, aged 45.
Joseph Bigelow, aged 24.
John Gould, aged 38.
Phinehas Graves, aged 24.
Elijah Drury, aged 22.
Isaiah Taylor, aged 25.
Micfth Gleason, aged 17.
Peter Gallot, aged 24.
Daniel Uaven, aged 20.
Isaac Fisk, Jr., served through the campaign. While
returning home he was taken sick between Crown
Point and No. 4, and with great difficulty got as far
as Mt. Grace (in Warwick), seventy miles from home.
His father went with a horse to fetch him to Framing-
ham. But he was so ill that he could not get on or
off a horse without help ; and the father was absent
seven days, and he was not able to do anything for
about six weeks. Expenses allowed by the General
Court, £1. 1. 4.
1700. Ten Framingham men enlisted for the reduc-
tion of Canada, and were assigned to Capt. William
620
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Jones' Co. (of HoUistou), and were in service from
Tab. 14 to Dec. 26.
Capt. Nixon's company was in service from April
15 to Nov. 17, 1761. It was a popular company, and
numbered thirteen officers and eighty-eight pri-
vates. Eight of the officers and twenty-three of the
men were from Framingham.
The small-pox was very prevalent in Canada at this
time, and many of the American soldiers took it.
'* Tbe petition of Rnlpli Ilemmenway, of FrumiDgbam.
"To hia Gxoellenry Fra Bernard :
** Humbly Bliewetb timt liieaon, John ITemmt^nway, enlisted in 1761
under Capt. Brighaui, of Soutliborougli, Col. Wliitcomb'a regiment, and
continued in aervice till the army broke up'; and in bis return took the
ainall-pox, and waa taken down six days after bia return borne, and con-
tinued tbirteen daya, and died ; by reaaon of wlilcb your petitioner waa
put to great trouble and coat : be bod to utove liia family half a mile dis-
tant ; and could not take tbem home in less than three montba ; and
paid two-nuraes iUi. 4., beaidea 1G abillin^ for necesaariea. Pruya the
Court to allow bim, as otbera are allowed in such caaca."
The General Court allowed him £4. 4.
Miscellany. — 1".'J4. The first four months of this
year are made memorable by the prevalence of a
fatal distem]>er, known as the great " sickness." The
town records notice the death of seven persons as vic-
tims of the disea.se ; but it is nearly certain that other
deaths occurred, which were not recorded : The God-
dard family, living on the place now of J. H. Temple,
and the families living north of theMountain, appear
to have been the greatest suffers. Rev. David God-
dard, minister, of Leicester, while on a visit here, was
taken dowii, and died January 19. His mother died
February 4th, and his father, the Hon. Edward God-
dard, died February 9. Others of the family were
sick but recovered. Joshua Hemenway, Jr., died
January 30.
The distemper broke out in Holliston .ibout the
middle of December, and between that date and
March there w^ere forty-six deaths in a population of
four hundred. " Four families were wholly broken
up, losing both their heads. The sickness was so pre-
valent that but few families escaped. For more than
a month there were not enough well to tend to the
sick and bury the dead : tho' they spent their whole
time in these services; but the sick suffered and the
dead lay unburied ; and that, notwithstanding help
was procured, and charitable assistance afforded by
many in neighboring towns. In the height of the
disease there were from two to five burials each day."
[Journal of Rev. Mr. Prentice.] The selectmen applied
to the Legislature for aid, and " the sum of £26, 13, 4,
was granted and paid out the public treasury to the
selectmen of Holliston, (in consideration of the calam-
itous circumstances occasioned by the late mortal sick-
ness that prevailed there ) , to be applied for the use and
relief of such poor, indigent persons as may most need
the same."
The number of deaths in Sherborn was between
twenty and thirty.
1755, Nov. 18. A terrible earthquake took place a
little after four o'clock, in a serene and pleasant night,
and continued near four and a half minutes. The
shock was the most violent ever known in the coun-
try. Its course was from northwest to southeast, and
it extended entirely across New England and the
Middle States.
1756-7. During this winter snow fell to the depth
of nearly six feet. The following extracts from a
journal kept by Henry Eames, indicate the prosrrena
of the storms : " Dec. 17, 1756, snow 15 inches deep.
Snow 20lh day, 15 inches more. Snow 23d day, 7
or 8 inches more. Cold rain, 26th day; 27th, warm
three days, then some rain. Jan. 3, 1757, cold N.
W. snow, about two or three inches. Jan. 9, about
noon very hot fog, then rain. 17th, very cold N. \V.
wind. 22d, rain, and thaw very fast. 24lh and 25tli,
snow to the value of 10 inches ; the night after, eight
inches more. 30th and 31st, thawed away most of the
.snow that came last ; the whole depth above 4 feet
and 4 inches. Feb. 2, snow and hail seven inches
deep. 5th, snow seven inches deep more. 6th, rain
most of the day. 7th, !*now three inches deep. 10th,
S. wind and rain, till the snow wasted the most of it."
Polls axd Estates, 1760. — From an ollicial re-
turn it appears that at this date FramingliHiii bad
Number of ratable polla
Number of non-ratable polla . .
Number uf dwelliug-bouses . . .
Number of work-buuses or abulia
Number of mitia
Nnuiber of Iron fouodariea . . .
.Vnnifcer uj tetTanls h-ir ti/u ....
Tradiug stock
301
30
19S
■M
S
I
xr.o i:i 11
Money at iutereat £9:i»i 17 4
Number of liuraea
do of oxen
of cowa
of sheep
of HwineM months old
ncrea of cuw pastures
bushela of grain raised .
barrels of cider mode .
tone of English liay .
tons of meadow hay .
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
1G2
724
ssa
35
l.(iii;<
an.r.ii,-.
1,710
447 -j
l.i'-l'i
Slaves axd Colored Inhabitants. — The num-
ber of slaves returned in the preceding taWe is seven.
Perhaps no better place will occur for giving a list
of the Negro slaves (so far as is known) owned at
different times by Framingham families.
In 1716, John Stone held as a slave, Jane, wife of
John Jackson, of New London, Connecticut, who
commenced a process to recover her freedom.
Jane, a negro girl owned by Col. Buckminster, was
baptized in 1722.
October 9, 1733, Thomas Frost bought of Jon.athan
Smith of Sudbury, for £60 current money, a negro
man named Gloster, aged about 30 years.
Plato Lambert, born December, 1, 1737, was taken
when an infant by Mrs. Martha Nichols of this town.
Primus, owned by Aaron Pike, was baptized in
1744.
Mereah, owned by widow Samuel Frost, was bap-
tized in 1746.
FRAMINGHAM.
621
Jenny, owned by Lieut. Thomas Winch, and Vilot
owned by Jonathan Rugg, were baptized in 1746.
Flora, owned by Deacon Peter Balch, was baptized
in 1747, and is named in his will made in 1755.
Flora, Brill, and Titus, owned by Mrs. Ebenezer
Winchester, were baptized in 1748.
Hannover a negro man owned by Nathaniel Bel-
knap, was baptized in 1755.
Phebe, owned by Captain Simou Edgell, was bap-
tized in 1767. The following bill of sale refers to this
Negro girl, who was assigned by Mrs. Balch to Cap-
tain Edgell. It will show the mode of conducting
such transactions :
" Know all ^Iem by these rresenta, that I Jouiah Rlcbardaon Jud. of
Sudbury ia the Coiiuty uf Miildles^x, genCleiueD, for aoU in considera-
tiuD of the eiini of one Pound oix abitliugs and eight peace, lawful
money, to tue in hand well and truly paid at tbe eneeating hereof by
Elizjibetb Bulcb of FraminghHm widow, the Receipt whereof I do
hereby acknowledge, and for tlie coui»ideratioa thereof, />► .SeM to the
t<aid Klizitbetb Balch aiul to her heirs and ;ui8igua forever, .1 Segro fe-
uitilf child named Pltebe^ of about two years old, with her wearing ap-
|iarel she now hatb. And I the said Joeiab e'ovenaiita to and with tbe
Bail! Kli/jibeth ISalch and Iier heirs and (Ubigns, that tbe uaij Negro
I'hild is my Slave for Life, and lliat 1 liave good right to sell and con-
vey her in manner aforesaid for the term uf licr natural life; and that
by force and virtue hereof the said tllizabetb DalcU sbiill bold her the
said IMiehe lor a slave for the term of her natural life. In Witucsa
whereof, 1 the said Josiah RicliardS4)U JuD., have hereunto set my band
and seal this I'-jth day of August iTt34.
** In presence of ** Josl.vH UlcUARDSON Jt'N [Seal]
"Samuel Jones."
Dill, a negro woman, in tbe service of Deacon
D;iiiiel Stone, died December 13, 1767.
Rev. Mr. Swift owned live slaves, which were dis-
posed of in his will, dated September 1743, aa follows :
Francis, negro man, to his son, Rev. John Swift, of
Acton ; Guy, negro man, to his son-in-law, Rev.
Phillips Payson, of Walpole ; Nero, negro man, to
his son-in-law, Ebenezer Robie of Sudbury. His
two negro women, Dido, wife of Nero, and Esther,
iier daughter, he left for the service of his wife until
lier decease, after which they were to be the property
of his daughter Manila, wife ol Major John Farrar.
Xero, or Nero Benson, was trumpeter in Captain
Isaac Clark's troo[) in 1725. He married in 1731,
Dido Dingo. He was a member in full communion
of Mr. Swift's church ; and in 1737 transferred
his relation to the iliurch in Hopkinton, showing
that his spiritual liberty was not restricted. He was
admitted to Rev. Mr. Loring's church in Sudbury,
November 0, 174ii, and died at Sudbury, July 3, 1757.
He left a wife and three children, one of whom, Wil-
liam, was owned for a time by Joseph Collins, of
Soulhborough.
Cato Hanker was owned by Joseph Haven, Esq.,
and was born in his house (the David Neviiis place).
He w;i3 a shoemaker, and received his freedom ; and
April 10, 1721, bought for ten shillings, ten square
roils of laud of Daniel Haven, where he built a small
house. The house stood on the north side of the road,
a short distance to the eastward of the David Haven
li.iusc, on land now owned by Jthe Sturtevauts. In
his old age he was accustomed to tell that he had
many times stood in the road east of his house, and
" fished both ways " in time of high water. He left
a son, William.
A noted character of the class under consideration
was Prince, sometimes called Prince Young, but
whose name is recorded as Prince Yongey, and Prince
Jonar, by which last name he is noticed in the town
records in 1767. He was brought from Africa when
about twenty-five years old, having been a person of
consideration in his native land, from which circum-
stance, perhaps, he received his name. He was
bought by Col. Joseph Buckminster, Jr., and was
afterwards owned by his son, Dea. Thomas Buck-
minster. He married, in 1737, Nanny Peterattucks
of Framingham, by whom he had several children,
among them a son who died young, and a daughter
Phebe, who never married.
Prince was a faithful servant, and by his honesty,
temperance and prudence, so gained the confidence
of his first ma.'>ter. Col. Joseph Buckminster, that he
was left with the management of a large farm during
his master's absence at the General Court. He occu-
pied a cabin near the turnpike, and cultivated for his
own use a piece of meadow, which has since been
known as Prince's meadow. He gave as the reason
for choosing this spot, that it resembled the soil of
his native country. During the latter part of his life
he was offered his freedom, which he had the sagacity
to decline, pithily saying, " Massa eat the meat ; he
now pick the bone." Prince shunned the society of
persons of his own color. He always appeared in
public armed with a tomahawk ; yet he was a favorite
with children, and would bear great provocations
from them. He learned to read, and possessed the
religious turn of mind characteristic of his race. In
his last sickness, he remarked with much simplicity,
that he was " not afraid to be dead, but to die." He
passed an extreme old age in the family of Dea.
Thomas Buckminster, and died December 21, 1797,
at the age of about 100 years. — Barry.
Cato Titus was iu Framingham in 1770.
Brin, commonly called Blaney Grusha, was at one
time owned by Col. Micah Stone. He is named in
the tax-list of 1757. He was in the military service
during the Revolutionary War ; was at the battle of
Bnnker Hill. He died February, 1820.
Another noted character, still well remembered by
many of our inhabitants, was Jim Rigga. He was a
mulatto, born in St. Domingo ; was owned as aslave at
the South ; escaped from slavery, and after many ad-
ventures, reached this town. According to his own ac-
count he was hostler to Gen. (then Col.) Washington
in the campaign of 1755, and was then nineteen years
old. He was in service in the Revolutionary War.
He built a shanty near Lawson Buckminster's grist-
mill, back of Mrs. Newell's house. He did jobbing,
and made baskets in the families of Buckminster,
Belknap, Home, and the families of How, Eames and
622
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Haven at the south part. He died at the house of Johu
Wenzell, Sen., in 1S28, and was buried in the South
Cemetery. He must have been about ninety-two at
his death.
Other colored men of note who have lived in Fram-
ingliam, were Crispus Attucks, Peter Salem and Cato
Hart. Their biography properly belongs to the next
chapter.
The strong race prejudice existed in this town as
elsewhere. Pews in remote corners of the meeting-
houses were specially assigned for the occupancy of
negroes. As late as 1826, when the First Baptist
Society built its meeting-house at the Centre, pews for
the exclusive use of colored people, were constructed
in a kind of attic gallery, reached by separate stairs.
Physician.s. — Dr. Bezuleel Rice commenced prac-
tice here aa early as 1720, and continued till 1743.
Dr. Joseph Nichols lived in FramingUam from 1730
to 17f)2.
Dr. John Mellen is named in the town records in
1747.
Dr. Ebenezer Henieiiway was in practice in this
town from 1750 to 1784. Ho lived on the I.oriiig
Manson place (now W. li. \S''ard), and had a grist-
mill on the stream.
Jeremiah Pike, a noted boue-setter, was conteni-
poi-ary with Dr. Hemenway.
Dr. Johu Sparhawk was in Framinghain in 17">7.
Dr. Richard Perkins, H. U., 1748, son of Rev.
Daniel Perkins, of West Bridgeuater, w;us in jiractice
here in 1758.
The wife of John Trowbridge, Sen., practiced as a
midwife.
Taverns. — Jonathan Rice kept a tavern and store,
a little south of S. D. Hardy's, 1708, and for many
years. Jona. Maynard had a liouse of entertainment
before 1723, at the Aaron Bullard place, south side of
Bare Hill.
Daniel How opened a tavern about forty-tive rod.s
southeast of the old Charles Clark place, in 1726,
which he sold in 1736, or '37, to Samuel Gleason, who
continued the tavern lor many years.
About 1728 Hezekiah Rice opened a tavern at the
Captain Uriah Rice place (now .\. S. Furber's).
Francis Moquet kept tavern at the old Buckmins-
ter stand (near E. H. Warren's store) from 1729 to
1735. He afterwards bought the place next east ol
O. F. Hastings', where he had a tavern and store as
late as 1749. After Mr. Moquet left the Buckminster
stand. Col. Joseph Buckminster took it, and spent his
■ days here, as did his son, Joseph, and grandson, Dea-
con Thomas.
Nichols kept tavern at the Nathan Goddard
place.
John Trowbridge, Jr., had a public house before
1757, and for many years thereafter. January 11,
1759, he sent the following petition to the General
Court: "The Petition of John Trowbridge, Jr., of
"Ftamingh&m, shtweth, that he entertained Capt. Endi-
cott's Company on their march from Boston towards
-Vlbany, in the year 1757 ; that on application to
him he cannot obtain payment, although (as he is in-
formed) the said Endicott h:is received the billeting
money for his whole company; that he apprehends
he is left without remedy against the said Endicott,
by reason of his not being present with his company
when they received their entertainment at his house ;
praying for relief."
"Jan. 11, 1759. Josiah Drury, of Framingham,
Itetitiona for license by the General Court, as an Inn-
holder in said town, the person who lives in his
neighborhood who had for some lime kept a Tavern,
not having renewed his license, and the selectmen
judging the [dace convenient for that biisines.s." The
Court of Sessions were impowered and directed to
grant the license jirayed for. The tavern was at the
east part of the town.
War of the Uevoi.itidx. — October 21, 17ti'>, the
town " voted to instruct their representative in the
I leiicral Court: 1. To inomole and readily join in
>uch dutiful reiniinstrances ;iiid liiinible petitions to
the King and P;irli:inieiil, as b:ivc :i direct tendency
to obtain a repeal of the Stamp Act. 2. That you do
not give your assent to :iiiy .Vet of .Vssenibly that
rtliall imply the willingne.><s of your cinstiiuents to
submit to any ta.xes that are imposed in :iny other
way than by the llre:it :ind Gericr:il Court of this
Province, according to the institution of this Govern-
Mient."
September 2(), 1768, Jlr. Thomas Temple wjisclioseii
to join the Committee in Convention at Faneuil Hall,
in Boston, " to consult such measures iu> may be lor
the safety of the Province."
Cri.ipus Altnch. — The quartering of troops on the
town of Boston, and the exa-speration of the people at
such an attempt to overawe and coerce them, pre-
pared the way for the tragic scenes of the 5th of
March, 1770, known as The Bunion Mnssaerc.
A principal character in the bloo<ly aft'ray was ;i
Framingham man.
Crispus Attucks, who is admitted to have been the
leader of the party, was a mulatto, born near the
Framingham town line, a short distance to the e;ut-
ward of the State Arsenal. The old cellar-hole where
the Attucks family lived is still visible. He wiis
probably a descendant of John .\uttuck, an Indian,
who was taken prisoner and executed at the same
time with Capt. Tom, in June, 1076. Probably the
family hiid intermarried with negroes who were slaves,
and :is the offspring of such marriages were held to be
slaves, he inherited their condition, although it seems
likely that the blood of three races coursed through
his veins. He h.id been bought by Dea. William
Brown, of Framingham, as early as 1747. But he
thus early acquired some ideas of the value of man-
hood and liberty, as appears from the following
advertisement in the Boston Gazette of October 2,
1750:
FRAMINGHAM.
623
" Ran away from his Master, William Brown of FraniiogbatDt on the
3ilthof Sapteniber laat, a niiilutto Fellow, about twenty-seven years of
fise, named Crispii'', 6 feet 2 ioclies high, short curled hair, his knees
nearer toother thiin commuD, and hud od a light coloured Beaver-skin
coat, piiiiu brown fustian Jacket, or brown all-wool one, new buck-sklQ
Brefcbes, blue yarn sfockiDgs. and a cliecked woolen sliirt. Whoever
will fake up said Runaway and convey liini lo his aforesaid Master, shall
have ten pounds old tenor RewanI, and all nrcessjiry charges paid. And
all >I;istereaf veiisels antl others are hereby cautioneil against concealing
or carrying u(T said Soivaut, on penalty of the law."
A deaceiidaiit of Dea. Brown says of Iiira : " Crispua
was well inf<jrmed, and, except in the instance re-
ferred to in the advertisement, wtis faithful to his
master. He was a good judge of cattle, and was
allowed to buy and sell upon his owu judgment of
their value. He waa fond of a seafaring life, and
probably with consent of his master, was accustomed
to take coasting voyages. The account of the time
says, "he lately belonged to New Providence, and
was here in order to go to North Carolina."
He waa of huge bodily proportions, and brave almost
to recklessness. .John .Vdaina, who defended Capt.
Prestfju at his trial, .says: " Attucks was seen about
eight minutes before the firing at the head of twenty or
thirty sailors in Cornhill, and had in his hiind a large
cord-wood stick. . . . He was a stout fellow, who.se
very looks were enough to terrify any person. . . .
when he came down upon the soldiers by the sentry-
bo.\, they pushed him off; but he cried out, ' Don'tbe
afraid of them! They dare not tire! Kill them ! kill
them! Knock tlieiu over!'" At the tiring he was
killed instantly, two balls entering his breast. He was
about forty-seven years old.
.May 28, 1770, the town, by unanimous vote, de-
clared against "the pernicious practice of piirchiisiug
ami drinking Foreign tea, and also of trading with
the importers of English goods ; " and March 25, 1774,
it waa endoi-sed, "That we ourselves, or any for or
under us, will not buy any teas subject to duty ; nor
knowingly trade with any merchant or country trader
that deals in that detestable commodity." .\.nd the
duclaraticin was made : " And since such means and
methods are used to Destroy our Privileges, which
were purchased by the Dearest Blood of our Ances-
tors, those that stand foremost in a proper Defence
of our Privileges, shall have our greatest Regards ;
.Vnd if any shall be so regardless of our Political
Preservation and that of Posterity as to Endevor
to L'ouiitciact our Determination, We will treat them
in the Manner their conduct Deserves."
May 18, 1774, the town chose the following Com-
mittee of Correspondence : Joseph Haven, Esq.,
Capt. Josiah Stone, Dea. William Brown, Ebenezer
Marshall, Lieut. David Haven, Joseph Buckminster,
Esq., and Maj. John Farrar.
Capt. Josiah Stone, Joseph Haven, Esq., and Dea.
Wm. Brown were appointed delegates to the Provin-
cial Congress, which met at Concord in October.
Capt. Stone, with Dea. Brown as his substitute,
was sent to the Second Congress ; and Joseph Haven,
Esq., and Capt. Stone were sent to the Third Congress.
September 9, 1774, the town voted " To purchase,
at the town's' expense, five barrels of powder and 5
cwt. of bullets or lead, for an addition lo the town's
stock."
September 30, 1774, voted " to purchase a chest of
25 fire-arras and two field-pieces, of such size as the
Committee shall judge proper." Joseph Winch,
Daniel Sanger, James Glover and Captain Benj. Ed-
wards were the committee. This meeting waa ad-
journed for four days, and public notice was given
requesting that " every person above the age of six-
teen years shall attend, to consider and deter-
mine with regard to the Militia as the whole body
shall judge proper." A very full meeting convened,
ind it was voted " that there be two Militia Com-
panys besides the Troop in this town : and that each
company choose such officers as they judge best to
have command in this day of distress in our Public
.A.iFaira."
The Provincial Congress, which met in October,
idopted a plan, providing that all able-bodied men
^hould be enrolled, and that those should assemble
immediately, and elect their proper officers, and that
these company officers should assemble as .soon as
may be, and elect field officers: and that the militia,
so organized, should be subject to the orders of the
Committee of Safety.
At a meeting of the town, November 8th, " it was
voted to accept the resolve of the Provincial Congress
relative to the Militia." And this led to the forma-
tion of two companies of minute-men.
Fortunately the papers showing the method of
Drganizing these companies a/e preserved, and are
herewith copied :
*' We, the subscribers, from a sense of our duty, to preserve our Liber-
ties and Privileges; .\nd iu compliance with the Res«>Ives of the Pro-
viucial Congress, together with the desire of our superior oQicerv, volun-
rarily enlist oucveWes Minute-men, and protnisa to hold ourselves iu
readiness to march at the shortest notice, if requested by the otHcerB we
■hall hereafter elect."
This paper was signed by Simon Edgell, Thomas
Drury, Samuel Abbot, James Clayes, Jr., John Fisk,
.Moses Learned, Matthias Bent, Jr., John Eaton,
Lawson Buckminster, Frederick Manson, and others,
to the number of sixty-eight.
This company organized December 2d, as appears
from the following certificate :
•'These may certify that in Framingham, on the second of December,
1774, a number of men enlisted as Minute .Men, and was formed into a
companye ; then made choice of Mr. Simou Edgell captain, Tbuniaa
Drury brat lieutenant, Lawson Buckminster second lieutenaut, officers
for said Companye according to the directions of the late Provincial
Congress in their Resolve in October *J6, 1774.
** Signed
** SAiitJEL BinJ.AaD,
" MiCAJt Stone,
" Abmee Peeet,
"John Teowbbidoe,
" N. D. Said companye consists of 70 men, including offlceil.'*
At the same time a second company, comprising
sixty men, was enlisted, and organized in the same
way. The officers elected were : Thomas Nixon, cap-
Fleld officers
of this
Regiment.
624
HISTORY OF xMIDDLBSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
tain; Micajah Gleason, first lieutenant; JohnEames,
second lieutenant; Samuel Gleaaon, ensign; Ebene-
zer Hemenway, clerk. Some of the other leading
names were : Peter Clayes, Abel Childs, Moses and
Nathaniel Eames, John Farrar, Jr., Jona. Hemen-
way, Jona. Hill, Needham Maynard, Asa and John
Nurse, Jona. Temple, Joseph Winch.
These companies at once put themselves in active
drill in the manual and field manoeuvre. Each man
was required to provide himself with a musket,
bayonet, cartridge-box and thirty-six rounds of
.ammunition. The companies met as ofteu as once n
week, and squads of men, by arrangement, would
meet at the houses of the officers, aud spend evenings '•
going through the manual exercise. Says one of i
them: " I have spent many an evening, with a number
of my near neighbors, going through the exercise in
the barn floor, with my mittens on." j
These minute companies were in part composed of
the young and adventurous spirits among us; but
many of our most substantial citizens enlisted, aud
were faithful in drilling, and ready to " fall in" when
ilie emergency came.
1775. " January 2, 1775. At a town meeting duly
warned, it was vo/ed, that there .>ihall be a contribution
for the town of Boston under their present Distress.
And Maj. John Trowbridge, Gideou Haven, Daniel
Sanger, Benjamin Mixer, Ebenezer Marshall, David
Patterson, Deacon William Brown aud Dr. Ebenezer i
Hemenway were chosen a committee for that purpose ;
and next Wednesday and Friday at 1 o'clock were
appointed as the times when the people should :
assemble at such several places as the committee shall '
designate, to bring in their subscriptions." j
Capt. Josiah Stone and Deacon William Brown '
were chosen delegates to the Second Provincial i
Congress, to meet at Cambridge the 1st of February.
Capt. Benjamin Edwards, Joseph Nichols, Daniel
Sanger, Capt. Amos Gates and Col. Micah Stone were |
chosen a Committee of Inspectiou, " whose duty it j
shall be to see that the Association of the Continental ;
Congress be duly carried into full execution." I
The Battle of Lexington aud Concord. — April 19, ]
1775. The news that the British troops were on the i
march for Lexington and Concord appears to have ]
reached Framingham before eight o'clock in the morn-
ing. The bell was rung, and the alarm guns fired;
and in about an hour a considerable part of the two
companies of minute-men and one company of the
militia were on the way to Concord, which place
they reached about noon. Capt. Edgell went on foot
the entire distance, carrying his gun. Those living
at the extreme south and west sides of the town
were a little behind the party from the centre and
north side.
Soon after the men were gone, a strange panic
seized upon the women and children living in the
Edgell and Belknap District. Some one started the
storj that " the Negroes were coming to m.assacrc
them all !" Nobody stopped to ask where the hostile
negroes were coming from ; for all our own colored
people were patriots. It was probably a lingering
memory of the earlier Indian alarms, which took this
indefinite shape, aided by the feeling of terror
awakened by their defenceless condition, and the
uncertainty of the issue of the pending fight. The
wife of Capt. Edgell and the other matrons brought
the axes and pitchforks and clubs into the house, and
securely bolted the doors, and passed the day and
night in anxious suspense.
Our companies reached Concord, not in season to
join in the fray at the North Bridge, but in season to
I'oin in the pursuit of the flying British column.
From the evidence preserved, it appears that a part
of our men participated in the daring assault at Mer-
riani's Corner, and that all had arrived and were active
in the more successful attacks in the Lincoln woods.
Captain Edgell and Captain (ileason had seen service
in the Inilian wars; they were cool and daring, and
kept their men well in hand, which accounts for the
few casualties of the day among them. Captain
Ni.xon and our two captains, who acted in concert,
well knew the need of disci|iline in harassing a re-
treating enemy, and that most casualties happen on
such occasions from rashness and needless exposure.
A single deliberate shot, from a man behind a safe
cover, is efl'ective, when a dozen hurried shots are
harmless.
Our captains kept up the pursuit till the Briti.sh
reached and pa-ssed Cambridge; and then the men
(lisposed of themselves as best they could lor the
night.
The following incident shows the value of presence
of mind iu emergency. In the pursuit from Concord,
when ou the borders of Lexington, Noah Eaton (2d),
of this town, fired upon the British, and squatted be-
hind a knoll to reload, just as a regular came up on
the other side of the knoll, and as it proved, for the
same purpose. Eaton instantly brought his gun to
his shoulder, and demanded a surrender. The soldier
laid down his musket, when Eaton proceeded to re-
load. Seeing the state of the case, the soldier re-
marked, '■ My gun is empty, but I could have loaded
in half the time you take, as I have cartridges." The
soldier returned to Framingham with his captor the
next day, and continued in his service.
Josiah Temple, then living at Lechmore Point,
Cambridge, started with a detachment of militiamen
to intercept the British, on their return, and in the
severe skirmish which took pl.ace just on the line be-
tween Lexington and Cambridge, received a musket-
ball in the shoulder, which he carried to his grave.
Daniel Hemenway, a member of Captain Edgell's
company, was the only one of our minute-men who
was wounded that day ; but he kept on with his com-
rades to Cambridge, and remained in the service four-
teen days.
Ebenezer Hemenway, of Captain Gleasou's com-
FRAMINGHAM.
625
pany, shot a British soldier named Thomas Sowers,
near Merriara's Comer, and took his gun, which he
brought home with him.
As will appear from tlie muster-rolls, all our Fram-
ingham men followed the British as far as Cambridge,
and passed the night there. And only eight of the
total n( one hundred and fifty-three returned home the
next day. The rest remained in the service for longer
or shorter periods, .is indicated below.
Captain Edgell took seventy-seven men to thescene
of action, thirty-eight of whom returned at the end of
four days; the others continued in the service from
ten to nineteen days. Captain Edgell was out twenty-
two days. The second company marched under Cap-
tain Micajah'Gleason, Captain Nixon having been
promoted. This company numbered forty-nine men,
who were in service from three to twenty-eight days.
Captain Jesse Eames took twenty-four men of the
militia to Concord and Cambridge that day, most of
wlioai were out ten days.
It was at the earnest entreaty of the Committee of
Safety and the general officers, that Captain Edgell,
Captain Gleason and Captain Eames, and so large a
part of our minute-men and militia remained at Cam-
bridge. The E.xecutive Committee had summoned the
Provincial Congress to meet April 22d ; and they begged
these minute compr.nies to hold the ground till more
permanent companie>< could be enlisted.
On the :23d the Congress resolved to call on Massa-
chusetts to furnish 13,500 men for eight months' ser-
vice.
On that day Captain Gleason resigned command of
his minute company, and immediately raised from
his own men, and other companies on the ground, a
company of fifty men, and reported for duty. His
commission is dated April 23d, and his company waa
that day mustered into service.
The aext day, Lieut. Thomas Drury, of Captaiu
Edgell's company, resigned his commission, and com-
menced recruiting a company for the eight months'
service. On that and the few following days he en-
listed si.tty-three men. His commission as captain is
dated April 24th, and his company drew pay from
that dale.
In all, eighty-niue Framingham men were enlisted
for the eight months' service in 1775.
April 24th the Committee of Safety sent ten seta of
beating papers to Colonel Jonathan Brewer, a native
of Framingham, but who, since 1770, had resided in
Waltham, on the border of Watertown. He prompt-
ly raised a regiment, composed of eightcompanies and
400 men.
The officers of the regiment, all of whom enlisted
April 24th, were :
Coloaet, JoDa. Brewer, of Waltliiini, burn in Fraiuiacham.
Lieutenant-Culunel, Williiim Biicknijiidter, of Barre, tK>rn in Framing.
Iiam.
Major, Nathaniel i^iidwnrth, uf Eadt Sndbnry.
.\iijutant, Juhn Butler, uf Peterboroiiyb.
yuarterniaater, Charles Dougberty, of Framingham.
40-iii
Surgeon, D. Townsend, ol Bo«ton.
1 The same day, April 24th, Captain John Nixon
I was tendered a commission as colonel of a regiment ;
I and on the 27th the Committee of Safety ordered that
he receive nine sets of '' beating papers," which he was
', to send to such men of his acquaintance as were con-
I sidered suitable to be commissioned as captains. The
field officers of the regiment when organized were: Col-
j nel, John Nixon, of Sudbury; Lieutenant-Colonel,
I Thos. Nixon, of Framingham ; Major, John Buttrick,
of Concord ; Adjutant, Abel Holden,ofSudbury; Quar-
termaster, John White, of Haverhill ; Surgeon, Isaac
Spofford, of Haverhill ; Surgeon's Mate, Josiah Lang-
don, of Sudbury. The oflicers of the regiment drew
pay from April 24th, and it was recognized by Gen-
eral Ward, and sent by his orders on several impor-
tant expeditions; though it appears not to have mus-
tered into service, as a regiment, till June 5th.
April 24th, nine sets of beating-papers were issued
to Colonel David Brewer, a brother of Colonel Jona-
than, then a resident of Palmer. June 15th, the
Committee of Safety reported that " Colonel David
Brewer had raised nine companies, amounting, in-
cluding officers, to -165 men, who are now posted at
Roxbury, Dorchester and Watertown." This regi-
ment was commissioned June 17lh. The lieu-
tenant-colonel was Rufus Putnam, of Brookfield ;
the major was Nathaniel Danielson, of Brimfield;
the adjutant was Thomas Weeks, of Greenwich ; with
Ebenezer Washburn, of Hardwick, quartermaster,
and Estes Howe, of Belchertown, surgeon. Micah
Dougherty, of this town, enlisted for the eight months'
service in Captain Jona. Danforth's company, in Col-
onel David Brewer's regiment.
Samuel Brewer, a native of this town (brother of
Jonathan and David), but then living in Rutland, en-
listed in the eight months' service, was appointed
adjutant-general of the troops in Roxbury under
General Thomas. He was wounded at Bunker Hill,
June 17th. In 1776 he raised and commanded a regi-
ment which served at Ticonderoga. He, with his
regiment, was in the campaign of 1777, which ended
with the defeat of Burgoyne.
Battle of Bunker Bill.— By returns dated June 17,
1775, it appears that Colonel Jonaihan Brewer's regi-
ment comprised eight companies, and numbered 371
men. Col. John Nixon's regiment had eight compan-
ies, and numbered 390 men. Both these regiments
took a leading part in the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Colonel Brewer was ordered by General Ward early
in the morning to go to the support of Colonel Pres-
cott. About half of his regiment was absent on leave
or in camp at Brookline, so that he went upon the
hill with only about 180 men. The regiment took a
position at the left of the redoubt, in the open field,
which it held through the day, leaving the line of
battle only when General Warren, who stood at the
head of the rail-fence breast-work — between the regi-
ments of Brewer and Nison^-deemed it prudent to
626
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
retire. Colonel Brewer received a painful wound ;
Lieutenant-Colonel Buckrainster, just before the re-
treat, received a dangerous wound from a musket-bail
entering the right shoulder and coming out in the
middle of his back, which made him a cripple for life.
Adjutant Butler was wounded in the arm. Seven ol
the regiment were reported killed, and eleven
wounded.
Colonel Nixon's regiment was sent to the support
of Prescott about the same time as Colonel Brewer's.
His men helped to build the hay breastwork, took
position behind it next to Colonel Brewer, and held
their ground till the British got possession of the gap.
Swelt states that Colonel Nixon marched upon the
field with three hundred men. The two Framingham
companies — Captain Drury's and Captain Gleason's —
who were attached to the regiment, liad respectively
sixty-three and fifty men. A part of Captain Drury's
men were sent to the redoubt to support Prescott just
before the British charge. One of them, Peter Salem,
who shot Major Pitcairn, was a member of this com-
pany. The rest of the company was at the head of
the rail-fence. Sergeant Ebenezer Eaton, of thi.«
town, happened to have position near where Genera)
Warren stood during the action, started to leave the
defences with hira, was close to him when he received
the fatal shot, and, with some comrades, attempted to
carry him off the field; but the British onset forced
them to leave the body. Colonel Nixon was severely
wounded during the third attack and bad to be car-
ried off the hill. Lieutenant William Maynard, of
Captain Drury's company, received a bullet in his
hip, which he carried to his grave. Three of this
regiment were reported killed and ten wounded.
Most of these casualties happened after the men left
the breastwork. The reason why the shots of the
British did so little execution during the action is
found in a statement made by Sergeant Eaton: "The
British fired over our heads; the tops of the young
apple-trees where we stood were cut ail to pieces by
their bullete."
After the 17th the several regiments went into camp
at different points. Colonel David Brewer remained
at Roxbury through the season, where he probably
died late in the autumn. Colonel Jonathan Brewer's
regiment was stationed at Prospect Hill. He re-
mained here till November 16th, when, by some new
arrangement of companies, he was requested to trans-
fer the command of his regiment to Colonel Asa
Whitcomb. For this graceful act he was thanked by
the Provincial Congress; and General Washington
issued an order the same day: "That Col. Jonathan
Brewer be appointed Barrack Master untill something
better worth his acceptance could be provided." He
held this appointment till the army moved to New
York the next year. Colonel John Nixon and his
regiment went into camp on Winter Hill, where he
remained until March, 1776, and probably held the
post till the army moved to New York. He was com-
missioned brigadier-general August 9, 1776, and was
put in command of Governor's Island. On the evac-
uation of New York City his brigade moved up the
North River and took a leading part in the campaign
of 1777 against Burgoyne; was at Stillwater Septem-
ber 19th, and at Saratoga October lllh. General
Nixon was a member of the court-martial for the trial
of General Schuyler October 1, 1778. Owing to ill-
health, occasioned by his wounds and his long-con-
tinued service in camp and field, he felt compelled to
resign his commission ; and September 10, 1780, he
received an honorable discharge.
On the promotion of Colonel John Nixon, his
brother, Thomas Nixon, was put in command of the
regiment. He took an active part in the campaign
against Burgoyne, and was stationed at various im-
portant points on the North River from 1777 to the
close of the war, when he was honorably discharged.
Captain Micajah Gleason followed the fortunes of his
colonel, and was killed at White Plains in the fall
(October 28th), of 1776.
An order was issued by the Council of War, De-
cember 1, 1775, for raising 5000 men " to defend the
fortifications at Cambridge and Roxbury." In re-
sponse Captain Simon Edgell raised a company of
thirty-three men and reported for duty at Roxburj',
where he was in service six weeks. Immediately on
his return he raised a company of eighty-five men,
and served at Cambridge till April Ist. In command
of a company of seventy-eight men, he marched for
Ticonderoga, August 15, 1776, and was in service till
December 4th. The company was attached to Colonel
.Samuel Brewer's regiment. Captain Edgell was in
service in Rhode Island in 1778.
Sergeant Frederick Manson and a squad of ten
Framingham men were in service at Noddle's Island
from June 19 to December 2, 1776. As sergeant-
major he and Drum-Major Joshua Eaton were in the
battle of Stillwater, September 19, 1777.
Captain Joseph Winch raised a company of ninety
men, and marched August 1-t, 1777, oia Bennington,
for service in the Northern Department, and was out
till December 10th. This company took part in the
battles of Stillwater and Saratoga.
Lieutenant Jonathan Temple, of this town, enlisted
in Captain John Walton's company. Colonel E.
Brooks' regiment, and was in service ou the North
River tlirough the year 1776.
Captain John Trowbridge was in service " in the
Jersies " for three months, in 1777. Uriah Rice was
a member of the company.
In the campaign of 1777 Framingham had, in the
regular service (not including Colonel T. Nixon), nine
commissioned officers, viz. ; Captain John Gleason,
Lieutenants Peter Clayes, Charles Dougherty, Micah
Dougherty, Cornelius Claflin, Samuel Frost, Nathan
Drury, Jonathan Maynard, Luther Trowbridge.
The First Three- Tears' Men.— By a resolve of Janu-
ary, 1777, the towns were required to furnish a quota
FRAMINGHAM.
627
of men, enlisted or drafted for three years, to be at-
tached to the regular army. Framingham enlisted
fifty-three men under this call.
In Colonel Abner Perry's regiment of militia, or-
dered to Rhode Island on an alarm, July 27, 1780,
were Lieutenant-Colonel John Trowbridge, Major
John Gleason, Adjutant James Mellen, Jr., Quarter-
master Frederick Maoson, of this town. In addition,
same service, were Captain Nathan Drury and thirty-
six men, Captain David Brewer and twenty-three
men. Captain Lawson Buckminster and forty-nine
men. Lieutenant John Mayhew and thirteen men
were in service in Rhode Island from June 3d to Sep-
tember 30th.
Lieutenant Peter Clayes, promoted to be captain^
and ten Framingham men served during the last
years of the war in Colonel Thomas Nixon's regiment.
Lieutenant James Mellen and thirty-four men were
in Captain Staples Chamberlain's company, on a
forty days' expedition to Tiverton, R. I., in the spring
of 1781.
Lieutenant Joshua Trowbridge and seven Framing-
ham men were in service July 5th to November 30,
1781.
Under the call of December 2, 1780, for " the last
three-years' men,'' this town raised forty-three men;
of these twenty-seven were re-enlistments, or those
who originally enlisted for the war. The diflBculty
of raising these men is seen from the fact that the
town voted to raise £50,000 to hire soldiers. The
committee was authorized to agree to pay the men in
money or cattle, and to pay the advance wages before
they should march. The following receipt shows the
large bounties paid :
" We the subijchbera hiiviiig eiiUstetl i>urw>lvefl intu the r'ontiDeutal
Army for the temi of Three Yfurs, .iiul ilo hereby acknowledge to
Iiuve received uf the Town of KniiiiiDghant for that service, the sum
of oue hundred dolhira hurd iiiuney per year— \V.. say, Received by na,
blankets for the use of the army,
follows :
The bill was as
To 39 pairs of shoefl ^
To 39 pairs of hose
To 30 pairs of shirts
To 19 blaokets
'* The Setectmeo of FramiDgbam Dr.
1 £40 old tenor £1660
24 old tenor 936
40 old tenor 1560
95 old tenor 1805
£5861
Charges for collerting said clothing 261
Charges for transporting the same 60
".\pril 10, ITiil. " .Vbel Bensoh.
"John Fberm.\h.
"James Dose.
'* Sot..3MON Newton.
" EpIISAIM NEWTOIf.
'* Nathaniel Pratt.
"John Phatt.
'* Ephraih Phatt."
1780. Bee/. — " October 16. Capt. Joseph Eamea,
Lieut. Samuel Gleason, Jr., and Lieut. Joseph Mixer
were chosen a committee to purchase the Beef now
called for to supply the army ; and the town granted
the sum of £17.000 to pay for the same, which sum
was ordered to be put into the next town rate."
" November 27. Another order for Beef for the
army was issued. The amount required of Framing-
ham was thirty-one hundred weight. And December
4th, a further order required 21,431 pounds. And the
town granted the sum of £35,000 to purchase the
Beef now called for."
1781. February 1st. The town was called upon to
furnish a quantity of shoes, stockings, shirts and
£6182
** Allowed £6182 old currency, which is eqtial to £154.11, new emis-
sion bills."
In June an order was received requiring the town
to furnish 8854 lbs. of Beef for the army ; and the
sum of £220, new emission, was granted to pay for
the same.
Deaths. — The following is a list of the men from
this town who died in service during the Revolution-
ary War. Probably it is not complete ; for it is a
.singular fact that, with few exceptions, the company
and regimental roils, now preserved, contain no
detailed record of casualties. The only reference to
such is to give in figures the number of the dead,
wounded and missing.
Ciesar Boston, died ; served 21 months and 2 days.
Rev. Matthew Bridge, died of dj'seolery.
Capt. Elijah Clayes, died at White Plains, 17T6.
David Cutting, wounded, and perished in a burning bam.
Samuel Eamus, died of disease.
Corning Fairbanks, killed at Bunker Hill.
Fruncis Gallot, died at Stillwater.
John Gallot, died of disease.
Charles Gates, died of disease.
Capt. }[icajah Gleason, killed at White Plains, October 28, 1776.
David Haven, killed near Saratoga, October 8, 1777.
Isaac Hemenway, died January 31, 1778.
Job Houghton, died 1779.
Moees Learned, Jr., died September 17, 1782.
Daniel Maxwell, killed; served -il months and 17 days.
Nathan Mixer, killed in battle at Bennington.
Solomon Newton, Sr., died in 1782.
Josiah iVuTse, d.atSeaconk, R. I., Suptember, 1778.
John Pike, Jr., died of disease.
Moees Pike, killed Angust 28, 1773.
Jonathan Bice, died of disease.
John flolbrook Rice, died at Danbory, Ct.
Peter Rice, Jr., died at Hackensack, September 15, 1780.
Joseph Temple, died of disease. ,
Josiah Waite, died of disease.
Epbraim Whitney, k. by accident, September 16, 1775.
Jonathan Whitney, killed in battle.
Capticily of Lieut. Jonathan Maynard. — Jonathan
Maynard, of this town, then a student in Harvard
College, enlisted in the eight months' service April
' 24, 1775, in Capt Thomas Drury's company. June
17th, he was with his company at the battle of Bunker
Hill. The next year he went with the army to New
I York, and was in the campaign of '76 and'77 on the
! North River, and .in the battles of Stillwater and
I Saratoga. In 1778, he was lieutenant in one of the
companies in Col. Ichabod Alden's Seventh Mass.
Regiment, Gen. J. Nixon's brigade. While Alden's
regiment was stationed at or near West Point, viz.. May
30, 1778, Lieut. Maynard with a small party went out
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
on a foraging excursion to a considerable distance
from the camp, when they were set upon by a scout-
ing band of Indians, and after a sharp skirmish taken
prisoners. They were conducted for a distance of
several miles away from the American lines, when a
halt was made, and all but the lieutenant were toma-
hawked and scalped. As he wore a sword, he was
considered a great prize, and was conducted to the
camp of Brant, their chieftain. The precise locality
of this chiefs camp at this date has not not been
ascertained.
After a brief consultation, it was decided to burn
the captive. The fagots were collected, and he was
tied to a tree, and the fire wiis ready to be kindled.
Though a stranger to all in the group, and ignorant
of the fact that the Indian chief was a Free Mason,
as his last hope, Lieut. Maynard gave the Master
Mason's sign of distress. The sign was recognizeil
by Brant, who was standing by ; and he ordered thf
execution to be postponed. Maynard was put under
guard ; and in due time, with other prisoners, was sent
to Quebec. He was held in captivity here till De-
cember 2t), 1780, when he was exchanged.
Lieut. Maynard rejoined his company at West
Point, January 4, 1781. His old colonel, .Video, ha<l
been killed by the Indians at Cherry \'alley, Novem-
ber 11, 1778, and the regiment was in command ol
Col. John Brooks. Maynard received his lieuten-
ant's pay of £8 per month for the full time of his
captivity. A few weeks after his return, i. c, January
-5, 1781, he was promoted to the captaincy of his
company (his commission is dated February 22d),
and continued in the service at various points on the
North River, and as recruiting officer, till November
19, 1782, when he resigned and received an honorable
discharge.
Peter Salem. — He is sometimes called Salem Mid-
dlesex. He was a slave, originally owned by Capt.
Jeremiah Belknap. He was admitted to the church
under the half-way covenant Aug. 16, 1760. He was
sold by Capt. B. to Major Lawson Buckminster, be-
fore the war. He served as a minute man in Capt.
Edgell's company April 19, '75. April 24th he enlisted
in Capt. Thomas Drury's company for the eight
months' service. He enlisted for three years Jan. 1,
1777 ; and re-enlisted April 16, 1782, for a like term.
As no tlave could be mustered into the army, his
enlistment by consent of his master worked a practi-
cal emancipation. And there is no doubt, from the
well-known patriotism of Major Buckminster, that he
cheerfully assented t^ the enlistment.
Peter served faithfully as a soldier, during the war,
most of the time in Col. Thomas Nixon's regiment,
and as the colonel's body servant. He was in the
battle of Bunker Hill June 17, 1775. During the
action he, with others, was sent from Capt. Drury's
company, as a support to Col. Prescott in the re-
doubt. He reached the redoubt just as Prescott's
men had spent their last powder ; and with a single
charge in his gun, and [>erhaps another in his powder-
horn. Just then, in the language of Judge Maynard,
" I saw a British officer . . . come up with some
pomp, and he cried out, 'Surrender, you rebels !'
But Prescott . . . made a little motion with his
hand, and that was the List word the Briton sjioke ;
befell at once." There is a concurrence of testi-
mony which leaves no doubt that this shot was fired
by Peter Salem. Major Pitcairn fell into the arms of
his son, who bore him ofi'to his boat, and thence to a
house in Prince Street, Boston, where he died. The
loss of so gallant an officer at this critical moment
formed one of the most touching incidents of that
eventful day.
At the clo.^eof the war. in 17S3, Peter married Katy
Benson, a granddaughter of Nero, and built a small
house on hind then owned by Peter Rice, on the exact
spot where now stand.s the dwelling-house of Moses
.M. Fiske, near Sucker Pond. He lived here till 1792
or '93. But his marriage proved an unhappy one : and
Peter left his native town and settled in Leicester.
Ou his return to Framingham, Peter was not
treated in all respects like the common poor; but to
the credit of his former ina.-<ters be it recorded, that
.Maj. Lawson Buckminster and Capt. Jeremiah Belk-
nap, together with Samuel Hemenway, gave a bond
to the town " to su])port him during his natural life."
He died at the house of William Walkiip, Sen., Aug.
If), 1816, and was buried in the north central part of
the old cemetery, where a suitable monument has
lately been erected by the town to his memory.
It is a fact of interest, as illustrating the prevalent
sentiment of the time, and as a contrast with the pres-
ent, that the men who were trusted with the lead of
public affairs at the opening of ihe Revolution had
reached, or passed, the period commonly designated
middle life. Thomas Temple, who was sent as a dele-
gate of the town to attend the first general Convention
ill Faneuil Hall, to inaugurate resistance to the op-
pressive measures of the British mini.stry, was 54
years old at the time of his election. Joseph Haven,
chairman of the first Committee of Correspondence
and delegate to the first Provincial Congress, was 76 ;
Josiab Stone, his associate in both trusts, was 50 ;
Dea. William Brown, also associated with them, was
51. Ebenezer Marshall, 53; Joseph Eames, 55:
Benjamin Eaton, 51 ; John Farrar, .56 ; John Trow-
bridge, 45 ; Dr. Ebenezer Hemenway, 65, were the
active members of the more important committees.
Joseph Nichols, the youngest of the political leaders,
was 37. John Nixon was 48 when he led his minute-
men to Concord in '75 ; Simon Edgell was 42 ;
Thomas Drury was 40 ; Micajah Glesson, the junior
among our military leaders that year, was 35.
Deaths by Lightning. — An incident occurred this
year (1777) which made a lasting impression on the
public mind. While Mr. Wheaton was supplying the
pulpit, he negotiated for the purchase of a horse; and
arranged with Mr. John Clayes, who lived at Salem
FRAMINGHAM.
029
End, where is now the L. 0. Emerson house, to ex-
amine and try the animal. June 3d, a little after
noon, some of the neighbors came together to witness
the trial. Besides Mr. Clayes, there were present
Abraham Rice, Peter Parker, Simon Pratt and his
son Ephraim. Mr. Parker mounted the liorse, and
had ridden to a considerable distance away, when a
small cloud suddenly came up from the northwest.
On his return, the company, who had been in the
house during his absence, came out towards the road.
A few drops of rain were at this moment falling. As
Mr. Parker rode up, Mr. Clayes stepped outside the
gate, leaving the others leaning against the fence
within; and just as he took the horse by the bridle,
the lightning struck the party, and probtrated them
all on the ground. Mr. Clayes, Mr. Rice and the
horse were instantly killed. Mr. Parker lay as if
dead, but gradually recovered consciousness, though a
long time elapsed before he fully regained his health.
The boy, who was standing a short distai.ce from the
rest, recovered immediately. Mr. Pratt came to
slowly, and suffered from the stroke for a long time.
Mr. Clayes was struck in the head, the duid passing
along the neck and breast and down both legs, leaving
a well-defined mark, but not injuring his shoes. The
horse was also struck in the head, and marks of the
lightning were visible down both fore legs. The
party all wore woolen clothes, and were all singed in
body and dress. There was but this single flash of
lightning from the cloud, and only .a few drops ol
rain. Mr. Rice was in his eightieth year, and J[r.
Clayes was forty-one. The sad event was commemor-
ated in an elegy written by Jliss Lydia Learned,
which was printed and widely circulated. Two
stanzas are inscribeil on the grave-stone, which may
l)e found in the old cemetery.
Bniiiily hinil. — By an act of the Massachu.setLs
Legislature passed in 1801, 200 acres of land in the Pro-
vince of Maine were granted to such officers and sol-
diers as enlisted in this .State and served through the
war. A large number of t>ur men were entitled to this
bounty land ; and probably many of them received
it. It is known that three men, then living in Fram-
ingham, received a title to laud under this act, viz. :
Cato Hart, John Harvey and Isaac How.
Cato Hart, a negro, enlisted for the war February,
1777, in the Framingham quota ; Wivs attached to the
Seventh Continental Regiment, and was honorably
discharged at the disbanding of the army. His resi-
dence in 180.3 was in Mendon. He received a deed,
dated August iJ, 1805, of 200 acres of land, being Lot
No. 12, in Mara Hill, near the boundary between
Maine and New Brunswick, " for p.itriotic services
rendered in the Revolutionary War." He :issigned
the deed to Jona. Maynard, Eiq. The grant w.ia in-
cluded in the tract which was surrendered to Great
Britain by the Ashburton Treaty of August 20, 1842.
This lot, and the other granted lots and townships in-
cluded within the said surrendered territory, were
recently surveyed and located, and the titles obtained
in some way, by a sharp claimant, who received from
the Uuited States Government large suras of money
in payment for the same.
John Harvey, then of Southborough, afterwards of
Framingham, enlisted among the First Three- Years'
Men, and served through the war. His deed of 200
acres bears date August 6, 1805 ; was assigned to
Esq. Maynard ; and full payment for the land was
recovered of the United States Government, by the
claimant above referred to.
Isaac How (wife Lois) sold his 200 acres, being
Lot No. 68 at Mars Hill, in 1833, to Lawaon Buck-
minster, for $100.
The population of the town at the close of the war
was about 1500, and from the loss of many of its
young men, and the unsettled habits of those who
survived, the increase was slow for the next twenty
years. The heavy drain of money, though cheerfully
borne, for payment of bounties to soldiers, and cloth-
ing and supplies for the army, in connection with
the depreciation of the circulating currency, letl; most
of our families in greatly reduced circumstances; and
the main thought and anxiety was how to avoid ex-
penses and repair damages, and get on one's feet
again. The soldiers came home poor, many of them
sick, most of them with plans of life deranged, and
with discouraging prospects for the future. The
State levied taxes ; and the town levied taxes; and
real estate owners were called to bear the heaviest
burden of this direct taxation. The farmer could not
conceal his farm from the assessor, or the tax-gath-
erer, or the sheriff. And this pressure upon the agricul-
tural industry accounts for the distress, and disor-
<lers, and opposition to State taxes, which showed
itself in the central and western counties, and ripened
into open resistance. Demagogues and adventurers
— always the product of " hard times" — took advan-
tage of these unsettled and irritating conditions to
stir up strife, and gain notoriety and influence. The
culmination of aBairs was what Ls known in history
as the " Shays' Rebellion."
Our town records furnish only the following items
in relation to this uprising : January 15, 1787, upon
summons issued by the commissioned officers, the
three militia companies of this town met, and en-
listed the number of men called for. They rendez-
voused at Weston January 20th ; were with the
forces under command of Major-Generai Lincoln,
and marched as far as Worcester. Our men returned
home February 27th. Framingham was called upon
to furnish stores for this expedition, and sent 2296
pounds of bread, 1120 pounds of beef, and five bush-
els of beans, for which the State allowed the sum of
£36 138. 6«/.
Among the losses suffered by this town in the war
none was more seriously felt than that of the pastor
of the church. Rev. Mr. Bridge. As before stated, he
was ordained in 1746. Under his ministry religion
630
HISTORY OF xMIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
flourished, personal animosities were healed, sectional
diriaiona were largely united, and all the best inter-
ests of society were nurtured. He waa considerate
and conservative, and a true patriot. Duty to his
country, and duty to the large number of his people
then in the army, induced him to tender his services
to the Government, and he was appointed a 'chaplain
to the regiments stationed at Cambridge in the sum-
mer of 1775. While in the discharge of his duty he
was seized with an epidemic disease which prevailed
in the camp, of which he died shortly after his return
home, Sept. 2, 1775, in the fifty-fifth year of his age,
and thirtieth of his ministry.
In the general disturbance and uncertainty of the
times the pastorate remained vacant for several yeans.
The town was ready to offer a minister a fair salary
in the then currency, or in farm products ; but the
values of both currency and products were constantly
changing ; what was ii fair salary to-day might be of
little marketable value to-morrow. Mr. David Kel-
logg began his labors as candidate and pulpit supply
in April, 1778, his pay for each Sabbath being " the
price of eight bushels of Indian corn at market." He
received a call to settle in the fall of that year, on a
salary of 100 pounds per annum, a fifth part of which
was to be paid in pork, and a large portion of the
balance in beef, cider, sheep's wool and flax. In
July, 1780, the call was renewed, 100 pounds being the
stipulated salary, " to be paid in Indian corn at 3
shillings per bushel, and rye at 4 shillings." He was
ordained January 10, 1781.
The peculiar terms of payment of Mr. Kellogg's
salary made it a matter of nice calculation how much
he should annually receive. Hence it was customary
each year, at the annual town-meeting, to choose a
committee to confer with the pastor, and determine
the present prices of corn and rye, and how much
more or less than £100 is equivalent to the original
agreement. In April, 1809, such a committee re-
ported : " That 250 bushels of rye at 6a. per bushel
produced $250, and 333J bushels of corn at5«. amount
to $277.78, making $527.78, which quantities of grain
are agreeable to the original contract, and with which
sum Mr. Kellogg will be content." In 1821 a simi-
lar committee reported as follows : "That estimating
rye at 75 cts. per buahel, and corn at 50 cts., Mr. K.'a
salary, according to the terms of his contract, amounts
to $375.17. And in consideration that he, during a
considerable part of the late war, when corn and rye
were worth from one to two dollars per bushel, con-
sented to receive a much less sum than was due by
his contract, your committee have thought it reason-
able to recommend a grant of $450," — which sum the
town voted to appropriate.
The ministry was a power in society at that day ;
and one of the important influences which counter-
acted the attendant evils of war, and helped to tide
over its effects, was the broad conservatism and high
character and Christian labors of Mr. Bridge and his
successor. Always, but especially in the time of so-
cial crises and convulsions, the great facts and
truths of our holy religion lift a man's thoughts
above his earthly environments, and the godly life of
its ministers points and leads the way to the better
realities of heaven. Mr. Kellogg continued the only
settled minister in town till 1807, when Mr. Charles
Train commenced preaching for the Baptists, from
which date the two held contemporary pastorates for
about a quarter of a century. To these two men
Framingham owes directly, in a large degree, her
present high standing in intelligence, morals, and
that general thrift which is not found except in con-
nection with culture and virtue.
SiNiJiXG. — This part of religious worship had an
important place in the Sabbath services in our fa-
thers' time. In Mr. Swift's day few, except the pastor
and deacons, had p.salm-books ; and it was custom-
ary for the minister to read the psalm in full, when
the senior deacon would rise, face the audience, and
repeat the first line, which would be sung by the con-
gregation ; and so on to the end of the .■<ix or eight
stanzas. Before Mr. Bridge's day, an edition of the
Psalm.s and Hymns was printed, containing a collec-
tion of thirty-seven tunes inserted at the end. Mr.
Bridge was a good singer, and was accustomed to
meet such of his people as chose to come for instruc-
tion and practice in music. July, 1754, a vote was
passed by the church, "desiring seven brethren, viz.,
John Cloyes, Benjamin Pepper, John Farrar, Beza-
leel and David Rice, Samuel Dedman and Daniel
Adams, together with Mr. Ebeiiezer Marshall, to take
immediate care to qualify them>elves to set the psalm
in public ; and as soon as they are properly qualified,
to lead the assembly in that part of Divine Wor-
ship."
The first attempt to form a choir was made in 1768,
when a number of singers petitioned the town " to
appropriate the front seat in the upper gallery for
their use, that they might sit together."
Soon after the formation of the choir, stringed in-
struments were introduced, to set the tune and lead
the voices. But it gave great offence to older people.
On oue occasion, when the violin was disabled, an
old man, in terms more forcible than polite, gave
thanks aloud thai the Lord's fiddle was brnl-en ! Some
years later, when Billings' Collection was introduced,
and the choir, for the first time, sang the tune of
" David the King," an aged man cried out, " Hold,
hold I" and seizing his hat, left the meeting-house.
The custom of" lining the psalm" continued for a
longtime after the organization of a choir; but it
waa very annoying to them. It ceased about 1785,
and on this wise: Old Deacon Brown, who, as sen-
ior deacon, had the right to perform the service,
was rather slow in his movements, and had the habit
of adjusting his glasses and clearing his throat before
beginning to read. At the date in question. Col.
David Brewer was chosen chorister. Taking advan-
FRAMINGHAM.
631
tage of the deacon's well-known habit, on the first
Sabbath of his leadership, the colonel (acting, no
doubt, on a previous understanding with his choir)
struck in singing so quick after Mr. Kellogg had fin-
ished reading, that the deacon had no chance to be-
gin his work. He looked up in amazement — and so
did a great many others in the congregation. After
that there was no more attempt to "deacon the
hymn."
In 1798 the town granted thirty dollars to hire a
singing-master. For several years the annual pro-
ceeds of the alewive fishery in Cochituate Brook
were given to th« singers, and hence received the
name of the singers' fish privilege. The town was ac-
customed to choose annually a committee "to regu-
late the singing." In' 1805 the town " voted that the
singers shall regulate themselves, so long as they
shall continue to fill the seats .assigned them, and
behave with decency and order."
Villages. — Aa before stated, the geographical cen-
tre of the town possessed no natural advantages to
make it desirable to settlers. The steep northerly
declivity of Bare Hill, and the broken and swampv
lands to the west and north, as well as eastward, were
the reverse of attractive and convenient. It was an
acknowledged rule to place the meeting-house where
the whole people would be best accommodated ; and
roads were laid out from all out-districts, to the meet-
ing-house aa a centre. Such was the case as regards
the first house of worship, which stood in the old
cemetery. But this spot was wide of the true centre.
The second meeting-house place (laid out in 1735, al
the northeast angle of the Centre Common), chosen
aa a sort of compromise, was nearer the territorial
centre: but it was equally inconvenient for building
and business purposes. Once established, however,
the roads were made to converge here, and the sanc-
tuary became the attracting centre of religious inter-
ests, and hence to a large extent of social solicitude
and plans for the public good. And the building of
the academy here at a later date settled the que!>tion
of the central village site; and business enterprises
governed themselves accordingly.
1800. — The Centre Villaue. — At thia date the
site of our village was mostly covered with wood and
bushea, or given up to pasturage. The meeting-house,
which stood in front of the Otis Boynton house, was
surrounded with large forest-trees. The Academy
occupied the site of the stone school-house. The
work-house waa about four or five rods northwesterly
from the town hall, and the school-house stood on the
road-side nearly in front of Mrs. Bean's. A small
red store stood where is now Esty's Block. This waa
built in 1781 by Daniel Bridge, felt-maker and hatter.
Mr. Houghton's tavern, just finished, occupied the
site of the present hotel ; Abner Wheeler's store, also
just finished, stood on the site of Trowbridge &. Sav-
age's store. To the northward could be seen the par-
sonage of Rev. Mr. Kellogg, now \V. H. Mellen'a, and
the Capt. Simon Edgell farm-bnildinga. To the east
were Buckminster's tavern, on the site of Greo. H.
Waterman's house ; Daniel Gregory's dwelLinghouse,
now Orre Parker's ; the tower-like hay-scalea in firont
of the tavern ; Gregory's store on the river-bank,
where E. H. Warren's house now is ; and a small house
nearer the cemetery, with a shop behind it. Across
the bridge were I. Warren's tannery and dwelling-
house, Eli BuUard's house, at the angle of the roads,
and Isaac Stone's house and barn, on the Abner
Wheeler place. On the south side of Bare Hill was
the old Swift house, then occupied by Nathaniel A.
Jones, and the John Town house, then owned by
Aaron Bullard. On the Salem End road, the first
house was Ezekiel Rice's, known aa the Amaaa Ken-
dall place. On what is now Pleasant Street, Wm.
Maynard lived in a small house then standing in the
corner of the garden west of Dr. E. H. Bigelow's ;
Jona. Maynard lived in the Charles Williams house;
Timothy Eames, the mason, lived in a small house on
the Richard S. Briggs place ; and Lawson Buckmin-
ster's tavern stood where is now the dwelling-house
of Moses Ellis.
1800. — South Framinqham. — ^This, now the lead-
ing village of the town, was then a dull place. San-
ger's tavern and store. Rider's cider-mill and Tor-
rey's shoe-shop comprised the business of the place.
And families of Gleason, Learned, How, Eames,
Rider, Haven and Pratt comprised the population.
The impulse given to business by the coming in of
the Clarks and others, and by the establishment of
straw works on a large scale, the opening of the rail-
road with its natural accessories, and the starting of
new and large business enterprises, will be narrated
in their proper place.
Saxosville in 1800.— At this date "The Falls,"
as the place was called, had importance chiefly be-
cause of its unfailing water-power, and its saw-mill,
two grist-mills and fulling-mills.
The first corn-mill within the limits of the Fram-
ingham Plantation was built here by Elder John
Stone, before 1659. A little later a saw-mill was get
up on the same dam, probably by Daniel Stone, Sr.,
May 22, 1711, Daniel Stone, Sr., sold "one-fourth
part of the stream, together with the corn and saw-
mill standing thereon." to Samuel How, Sr., of Sud-
bury. After the death of Mr. How his share was
bought, February 15, 1714, by Deacon Stone dnd his
son, John Stone. A fulling-mill standing on "an
island which waa part of the dam," was in operation
here as early aa 1735, probably built by Micah Stone,
who also had a clothier's shop. The privilege was
held by the Stone family till 1824, when it waa sold to
the mill corporation. After the War of 1812, Isaac
Dench bought the right to use the waste-water of the
pond, and built a small shop on the rocks forming
the north wing of the dam, where he put in a turning-
lathe for the manufacture of wheel-hubs, bedsteads,
etc. His son Gilbert owned it at the time of his
632
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
death, in 1828, when the water privilege wad appraised
at $300.
The history of the Saxon Factory Co. and ita suc-
cessors properly belongs to a subsequent section.
Soon after 1748, Deacon William Brown put in a
grist-mill on the privilege in Cochituate Brook, east
of the road. This continued in use till 1813. His
son Ebenezer built a saw-mill on the same dam about
1795. In 1811 the privilege was sold by Ebenezer
Brown to Hopestill Leland and Col. Calvin Sanger, of
Sherborn, who organized the Framingham Manufac-
turing Co., and erected a cotton-mill, which did a
large business for many years. The property passed
into the hands of I. McLellan, of Boston. In July,
1844, this privilege was sold to William H. Knight,
who put in machinery for spinning woolen yarns.
Mr. Knight sold to the city of Boston.
Before the Revolution Deacon Brown built a full-
ing-mill at the old fordingplace, southwest of his
dwelling-house. This came into the possession of his
son .'Andrew — Major Andrew, he was called, — who
carried on business here till his death, in 1803. The
property then fell to Rcger Brown, brother of An-
drew, and through him to his son, Colonel James.
Luther Rice occupied the fiilling-mill for a time, and j
put in machinery for spinning cotton thread. In
1829, Colonel James Brown sold the privilege to Wil-
liam H. Knight. Mr. Knight changed the machinery,
and immediately commenced here the manufacture
of carpets.
At the date in question, besides Stone's and Brown's
mills, there was Tucker's tavern at the north end
of the Pond, the store ou the corner opposite F. H-
Sprague's, the blacksmith shop at Glesison's old
stand, and another at the corners on the road to Lan-
ham, and Fiske's Tannery, all of which contributed
to the importance of that end of the town as a busi-
ness centre.
1800. — Park's Corner. — At the date under consid-
eration. Park's Corner was a busy place. The tavern I
(thr^n kept by .louas Dean) and the store attracted a
large custom. Marshall's forge turned out farming
tools in variety. Major Hale, who lived to the Houtli,
on the Royal Urout place, was a large manufacturer
of wool cards. And this corner w;ih then, and con-
tinued to be for a quarter of a century, the rallying-
point of the First Baptist Society, which had an im-
portant influence in the ecclesia-stical atfairs of the
town.
1800. — Brackett's Corner.— From the earliest
settlement of the town this was a busy place. For
many years Joshua Eaton's tannery and Trowbridge's
tavern made the corner by School-house No. 7 a
greater business centre. But Capt. Isaac Clark, car-
penter, on the west, and Boutwell's tin-shop, on the
east, naturally helped to draw business towards this
corner ; and David Patterson, blacksmith, and tavern-
keeper, who came here in 1758, and built the Brackett
House, contributed materially to its prosperity.
Josiah Winch, the brick-mason, commenced business
here for himself in 1790. But the coming of Solomon
Brackett in 1794, and Amos Parkhurst a year or two
later, gave a new start to business enterprise. Mr.
Brackett was a blacksmith, and took the old Patter-
son stand, which he carried on for a few years; and
'hen, with the aid of Amos Parkhurst, set up a bakery
which became famous, and flourished for a long term
of years ; and after his death was carried on by his
son and son-in-law. In 1845 the number of hands
employed was four; value of bread baked, §8000.
M.\.soNic Lodge. — The "Middlesex Lodge" of
Free Masons was instituted in this town in 1795. The
original members were Jona. Maynard, Muster ; Peter
Ciayes, Senior Warden ; Barzillai Bannister, Junior
Warden; John Ni.xon,. Samuel Frost, Thomas Nixon,
-Varon Brown, Gilbert iMarshall, Beiij. Champney,
Thomas Buci:lin, Winslow Corbett, Samuel Haven.
Lodge meetings were held tirst in the .\cadeiny Hall ;
then in the hall over Henderson's store; then in
Esty's Block ; then in its present hall over Eastman's
store.
FltA.^fING^AM Artillery Company. — This com-
pany was organized in March, 1799. The original
members were Josiah Abbott, Eli«ha Belknap, John
Bent, Eben' Brown, Eli Bullard, Josiah Ciayes, Joseph
Eaton, Elislia Jones, .lohn Nurse, Lawson Nurse,
.\rtemas Parker, John Parker, Nathan Parker, Daniel
.Sanger, Zedekiah Sanger, David Stone, Purchase
Stone, John Temple. The company paraded the first
time July 4, 1799, under the following oflicers: Eli
Bullard, captain ; John Nurse, tirst lieutenant; Eben'
Brown, .second lieutenant; Purchase ."^^tone, pioneer;
Elisha Belknap, fifer ; David Stone, drummer. The
gun-house was built in the fall of 1799, on the lot
where the old townhouae stood, now Otis Boynton's
corner. In 1808 the town sold to the Commonwealth
a spot in front of the present dwelling-house of James
W. Clark, whither the gun-house was removed, and
where it remained till 1834. The successive com-
manders of the company have been Eli Bullard, John
Nur.^e, Lawson Nurse, ILirtin Stone, com. .\pril 12,
1810, dis. March 13, 1813; John Temple, com. April
15, 1813, dis. November 25, 1814 ; James Brown, com.
February 15, 1815; Adam Hemenway, Alex' H.
Jones, Leonard Arnold, Amos Johnson, Jr., Charles
Trowbridge, dis. December 23, 1829. At this date
the company disbanded; and the guns and other
State property were returned to the arsenal at Boston.
The gun-house and land were purchased by Rev.
George Trask, March 26, 1834.
This company was ordered out during the War of
1812, and w.as stationed at South Boston, and at Com-
mercial Point, in Dorchester. It was in service from
Sept. 10 to Oct. 30, 1814. The oflicers in command
were John Temple, captain ; James Brown and Adam
Hemenway, lieutenants ; Leonard Arnold, Elisha
Frost, Jr., .A.bel Eaton, Thomas Hastings, sergeants;
Amaaa Kendall, Thomas Arnold, Richard Fiske, Jr.,
FRAMINGHAM,
633
Alex' H. Jones, corporals ; Horace Frost, fifer ;
William Belcher, drummer. The number of privates
was twenty-seven.
A new era in the history of the Centre Village be-
gan with the building of the Brick School-house and
establishing of the Academy, 1792-99. The young
men and young women, who had had no occasion to
go there except on the Sabbath, now gathered there
every day in the week, and naturally began to take
some interest in its surroundings and growth. And
new names, and young blood from abroad, came in at
this juncture. Dr. J. B. Kittredge, a well-educated
and ambitious young physician, located here in 1791.
Eli Bullard,the lawyer, came here in 1793. Timothy
Eames, the brick-mason, and John Houghton, black-
smith, set up business in 1794. Isaac Warren com-
menced the canning business in 1797. Abner Wheeler,
trader, was here in 1798, followed three years later by
his brother, Benjamin. Nathan Stone, carpenter, and
Martin Stone, blacksmith, settled here in 1801 ; Asa
Holt, the saddler, in 1802; William Larrabee, shne-
maker, occupied the old Red Store in 1803.
In 1805 a movement was made looking to the build-
ing of a new meeting-house in the near future. The
three-story house of worship, which had stood seventy
years, began to look old and antiquated, and a house
more modern in its style and appointments was
needed. June 2, 180t>, it was voted to build a house
of wood, sixty-live feet square, two stories high, with
a tower, not a porch. Land was purchased of Martin
and Nathan Stone and Captain Simon Edgell, lying
north of the Common, on which to set the house.
May 4, 1807, the town ' voted, that the selectmen
dispose of the privilege of selling liquor on the Com-
mon, during the time of raising the new meeting-
house." May 2Gth, " Began to raise the meeting-
house ; June 1st, finished raising it."
The house stood on the spot now occupied by the
meeting-house of the First Parish. It had entrance-
doors from the base of the tower only. Both outside
and inside were fully fini.shed. A gallery extended
around the east, south and west sides, with square
pews next the walls, and long seats on the slope in
front. On the ground floor, square pews, raised one
step, were built around the walls; and four ranges of
slips, with centre and side-aisles, tilled thebody of the
house.
The cost of the house was $12,475.37. The bell,
which cost S437.64, was the gift of Colonel Micah
Stone. The pews and slips were sold witliout reserve
to the highest bidder. The amount received from the
sale was 814,884.
The meeting-house was dedicated February 24,
1808 ; sermon by the pastor, Rev. David Kellogg,
from Haggai ii. 7.
1823. — Stoves for warming the meeting-house were
set up. Hitherto, the men kept warm as best they
could; the women were accustomed to carry fi'Ot-
scoves, filled with coals from the fireplace at home.
The cost of the two stoves, pipe and chimney, and a
blind for the large window behind the pulpit, was
$266.41.
Crying the Bans. — The custom prevailed till about
1830, of announcing in the public meeting-house, just
before the opening of the afternoon service, all inten-
tions of marriage, entered with the lown clerk, during
the preceding week. The said clerk would rise in his
pew, and read in a distinct voice: "Marriage in-
tended— between John Smith, of Boston, and Keturah
Jones, of this town." As a rule, the lady found il
convenient to be absent from meeting that aflernoon.
The Worcester Turnpike. — In the warrant for
a town-meeting May 6, 1805, is an article: "To see if
the town will approve or disapprove of a Turnpike
road being made through any part of this town." No
action was taken on the article. The movement,
begun at this date, resulted in the incorporation,
March 7, 1806 [act in addition passed June 10, 1808],
of the Worcester Turnpike Corporation, to make a
road to run from Roxbury to Worcester, via the Neck
of the Ponds in Natick, thence near the house of
Jona. Rugg in Framingham, thence to the house of
Deacon Chamberlain in Southboro', etc., with power
to erect four toll-gates. The old stage road between
Worcester and Boston was via Northboro', Marlboro',
South Sudbury, Wayland, Weston, Waltham. The
new road considerably shortened the distance between
Worcester and Boston. The steep hills kept oflT the
teaming of heavy merchandise, but a stage route was
at once established ; and as Framingham was the cen-
tral point for changing horses and making repairs it
};ave a great impetus to local business. The through
travel rapidly increased ; the stage lines were extended
to Northampton and Albany ; and the promptness of
the service made this the favorite route; so that for a
long term of years not less than seventeen stages
passed through this town daily. The opening of the
Boston and Worcester Railroad, in 1835, drew off the
through travel, and, as a consequence, the corporation
gave up the turnpike in 1841, and by the action of the
county commissione:'s it became a county road. From
1810 to 1835 the stageman's horn was a signal as
common and well known as the railroad engineer's
whistle of to-day.
The Framingham Post-OfBce was established De-
cember 29, 1810, Jona. Maynard postmaster. The
office was kept at Martin Stone's tavern, afterwards
Henderson's and Gaines'. Mr. Maynard was suc-
ceeded by Samuel Warren, March 29, 1832; John
Clark, April 30, 1853 ; S. B. Wilde, April 12, 1861 ;
Mrs. J. H. S. Wilde, July 30, 1864; George F. Hart-
well, September 15, 1876; Charles A. Hemenway,
March 29, 1886.
New E^^^ERPRISES. — With the new meeting-house
and turnpike came new professional men, and new
mechanics and business enterprises, which gave a new
impulse to life at the Centre. Josiah Adams, Esq.,
who was to take an important part in social as well
634
HISTORY OP MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
as civil affaire, came here in 1807; as also did the
Rev. Charles Traio, who was to be not less potent in
whatever contributes to the town's well-being. Wil-
liam Henderson, an energetic business man, took
Gregory's store in 1806; removed to the Square and
put up a two-story building for a store and Masonic
Hall in 1811. It stood where is now Wight's carriage
barn. Asa Brigham, tailor, located here, on the old
Kingsbury corner in 1809. His shop is remembered as
'Squire Kingsbury's office. Eustis & Simmons, car-
riage-trimmers and harness-makers, established busi-
ness here, where is now Miss Moulton's Block, in
1810 ; John Ballard (2d) came the next year, and event-
ually bought out the business. Amasa Kendall, car-
penter, was here in 1812. Josiah W. Goodnow,
cabinet-maker, built a shop just west of Eustis &
Simmons in 1812, and the house (known as the
Goodnow house) in 1814. Captain Peter Johnson,
builder; Isaac Stevens, tailor ; Peter Coolidge, black-
smith, came to the village in 1813. Dexter Esty,
builder, and Jesse Belknap, Jr., wheelwright, came
in 1814; Nathan H. Foster, gunsmith, and John
Kent, carriage-maker, in 1815. Foster's shop stood
on the site of Lewis Stiles' market; and Kent built
an addition to J. Ballard's harness-shop. Jesse
Whitney, shoemaker, William K. Phipps, tailor, and
Thomas Rice, Jr., carpenter, settled here in 1816.
Mr. Phipps' shop occupied the site of G. Joyce's
house; and Mr. Rice built on John C. Hastings' cor-
ner. Mr. Rice afterwards bought the Red Store,
moved it up street, went into the grocery trade, and
the same building is now the dwelling-house of Mrs.
Eliza Haven.
Samuel Warren, who learned the cabinet-maker's
trade of Stephen Rice, bought Goodnow's shop and
started business in 1818. Dexter Hemenway, house
carpenter, bought the old Gregory store by Warren's
bridge, and began business for himself in 1820. Hol-
lis Cloyes and George W. Mansir, house-painters,
began business the same year, and were joined by
Obed Winter, three years later. Otis Boynton, book-
binder, came to town in 1822 ; Mitchell & Hunt, hat-
ters, in 1823. The hatter's shop is now Otis Childs'
dwelling-house.
Dr. Simon Whitney began his long and successful
professional career in 1822.
Education — Schools. — Fortunately for the town,
there were, among the early settlers, men and
women who had received a good common education,
and were qualified to teach others.
The first mention in the town records of a public
school is under date of September 3, 1706, when the
town voted " that Deacon Joshua Hemenway should
be our school master the year ensuing, and that Benj.
Bridges and Peter Clayea, Jr., should agree with him
what he should have for his pains."
Previous to this whatever instruction was given to
the children was on private account, and in the fam-
ily. Probably the wife of Daniel Stone taught such
children as chose to come to her house at Stone's End ;
Thomas Drury did the same for the children at Rice's
End ; Isaac Learned for Sherborn Row, and Joshua
Hemenway for Salem End and the north side settlers.
And when appointed public school-master, Deacon
Hemenway received the scholars at his own house,
as no school-house was built till ten years after this
date.
Wriling-Master.—" AprU 3, 1710, voted that Dea-
can Joshua Hemenway shall be school master for to
learn youth to write henceforward, and when he has
a mind to lay it down, he will give the town timely
notice to provide another school master."
School-Dames. — March 2, 1713, voted, " Lieutenant
Drury and Ebenr Harrington to be school masters to
instruct the youth of Framingham in writing; and
the selectmen are appointed to settle school dames in
each quarter of the town, which masters and mis-
tresses are to continue until August next; and Dea-
con David Rice and Isaac Learned are cho?en to
agree for and with a school master for to serve from
said August until the end of the year." Deacon
Hemenway was engaged, and " paid out of the town
treasury the full sum of ten pounds current money of
New England."
Grammar Schools. — July 7, 1714, voted, "that 25
pounds be raised for defraying the charge of a gram-
mar school in town." Edward Goddard was appoint-
ed grammar-master, and taught for a year.
Moving School. — Dec. 8, 1714, voted " that the school
be kept the present winter season in 5 places in town,
viz. 1 month each at the house of John Gleason,
Thomas Pratt, Samuel Winch, Cort. Samuel How,
and Benj. Bridges. The next year Abraham Cozzena
proposed to keep achool for one year, for 17 pounds,
one-half to be paid before the middle of January,
and one-half by the last of March : accepted. Voted
that the school be kept nine weeks on the south side
of the River, and eight weeks on the north side." In
1716, " voted to have a moving school kept in the
four quarters of the town, at Edward Goddard's,
Ebenr Winchester's, John Eames, Jt.'s, and John
Stone's, four weeks at each place: " and Mr. Edward
Goddard agreed to keep the school for 15 pounds,
" provided that those that send any children to be in-
structed at my dwelling house to pay 6(2. per head per
week." The system of " moving schools " was kept
up till 1750.
School- House. — Mar. 5, 1716. The town voted to
build a school-house, and set it about 20 or 30 poll
from the west end of the meeting-house. When built,
the house was 22x16 feet, and 6 feet between joints.
It had two large fire-places, one at each end. Cost,
£17 lOs.
Mar., 1717. The town was "presented" for not
having a grammar school " according to law." The
school-house was unfinished ; and " suitable " masters
were averse to the moving system. In Dec, 1717, a
committee was appointed " to indent with a school
FRAMINGHAM.
635
master (suitable) as by law is directed, for one quarter
of a year." The committee reported Feb. 10th, " that
they have used utmost diligence, but can find no mas-
ter to be had as yet." Aug. o, 1718, [ihe school-
house was still unfinished] the town voted " that the
committee, Jona. Lamb, and Nathaniel Eames, go
forthwith to Mr. Edward Goddard, and see upon what
terms he will serve the town as school master for a
year; and if he will serve as cheap or something
cheaper than another, then they are to make a bar-
gain with him for a full year." Abraham Cozzens
would serve for £13, and was hired for the year, and
also for 1719.
1719. The school-house was finished, Mr. Ephraim
Bigelow making the furniture, viz., " a table, and seats
for the youth to ait upon," for which he charged 12s.
School-dames were employed in the out-districts.
1720. Mr. Robert Pepper was employed to keep
the grammar school, for 30 pounds. Voted, " that
the school master may have the free use of the school
house for himself and family to dwell in, the year en-
suing. Voted that the school be kept in 6 distinct
places in the several parts or corners of the town."
Mr. Pepper was retained till the fall of 1724.
1724. July 21st, voted "that the committee to hire a
school master shall first treat with a scholar of the
College ; that they treat with Sir James Stone (H.
U. 1724), and acquaint him that the town is desirous
to enjoy him as their school-master, in case he can
comply with their custom, viz., to teach any small
children of either sex that mav be sent to him, and
to remove into the several quarters r)f the town." He
accepted the proposal on condition of receiving a
salary of 4:4o ; which sum was granted. He con-
tinued to be employed for three years.
1727. Mr. James Bridgham (11. U. 1726) was em-
ployed to keep the school the present year ; salary,
£25; to be kept iu six places, the school- house to be
one of them.
1729. Mr. Noyes Parris (H. U. 1721) school-master ;
salary, £30.
1730. At this date our own sons began to gr.iduate
from college, and for a time were put in charge of
the school, in preference to strangers. Mr. Phinehas
Hemenway, son of Oea. Joshua (H. U. 1730), kept the
school this year and the next ; salary, £50 ; school
kept in six dilferent places.
1732. Mr. Samuel Kendall, (H. U. 1731), a nephew
of Thomas and Eliezer, was our school-master;
salary, £48.
1733-34. Mr. John Swift, Jr. (H. U. 1733), school-
master ; salary, £55.
1735. Mr. Joshua Eaton (H. U. 1735), school-master,
salary, £60.
1738. Mr. Chas. Gleason (H. U. 1738), school-mas-
ter; salary, £70.
1739-iO. Mr. Joseph Buckminster, Jr. (H. U. 1739);
school-master; salary, £70 ; the school was kept in
seven different places.
1749. The District System. — The town proceeded this
year to divide the territory into nine wards or dis-
tricts, viz., the Centre District, which took in all the
families living within one and a half miles from the
meeting-house, and eight districts in "the out-
skirts," each of which was to have its own school.
This movement was a great innovation on the
moving nchool system ; and it gave so great satisfaction
that measures were taken to make it permanent. An
article was inserted in the warrant for the next May
meeting, " To see if the town will choose a meet per-
son in each District of the out-akirt schools in said
town, to draw their respective parts of money out of
the town treasury." And Messrs. Richard Haven,
Ebenezer Gleason, Ebenr. Goddard, Joseph Nichols,
Thomas Temple, Noah Eaton, Daniel Stone and
Bezaleel Rice were chosen said committee, with power
" to dispose of the said 'money in manner as each
District shall order." The next step was to build
school-houses in the several out-districts. This mat-
ter and a re-construction of the districts was referred
to a committee, which reported October 22, 1750, as
follows :
" 1. We find it necessary that there be one school-
house in the Centre of the town, or at the meeting-
house, according to the former vote of the town :
" 2. We find that the out-skirts of the town cannot
be divided into less than four schools, and, all things
considered, that it is not beneficial to divide them
into more. Report accepted.
" Voted, the sum of £30 Ids. id. lawful money, to
pay for the school-house now built at the Centre.
" Voted the sum of £80 lawful money, to build the
four new school-houses i.e., £20 for each ; said houses
to be 20x14 feet and 7 feet stud, to be finished work-
manlike." District or prudential committees were ap-
pointed, viz. : Thomas Temple, Noah Eaton, Daniel
Stone and Bezaleel Rice.
The town had failed, for some years, to support a
grammar school, and this year was presented by the
grand jury, and paid fine and costs, £11 7s.
1751-52. Mr. Benjamin Webb (H. U. 1743), gram-
mar school master, with a salary of £35.
1755. " The town ezprest their minds by a vote,
that women's schools should be kept at the five
school-houses in the summer season, to the amount of
half the money granted for the school, and the other
half for the support of a grammar school the other
half year. Voted that the grammar school should re-
move to the several school-houses in manner as here-
tofore, until the town give instructions otherwise."
Granted £30 for the support of the school.
1757. Dr. John Sparhawk, school-master.
1758. Mr. John Haven (H. U. 1757), was school-
master, and continued to teach till 1767.
June 3, 1765. Voted that the town will improve five
school-dames, eight weeks each, this year. Voted that
the grammar schools be kept in the public school-
houses ; and the school be doubled, and that there be
636
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
two masters employed six months at one and the
same time, in the winter half year : £65 granted for
the support of schools. The same arrangement con-
tinued for the three following years.
1768. Voted that each squadron keep a womaa's
school sixteen weeks in the year, and £25 is granted
for this purpose. Voted, that each squadron have the
liberty to employ men instead of women to keep the
schools above expressed, so long as their money will
hold. Mr. James Parker (H. U. 1763), was one of the
school-masters this year.
1769. No women's schools were kept this year ; but
each squadron was allowed to expend £4 for writing
schools.
June 4, 1770. Votedto have one grammar school, to
be kept in the several school-houses six months, be-
ginning in October; and also a writing school for the
same time. Voted that Dr. Ebenezer Hemen way open a
grammarschool athisown house theothersix months;
and that there shall be sixteen weeks women's school
kept in each school-house at the same time. Major
John Farrar and Thomas Temple were appointed a
committee " to provide a grammar-master." £30
lawful money was granted for the support of the
grammar and writing schools. This arrangement con-
tinued for three or four years.
In 1774 the town was divided into eight school dis-
tricts. In some cases the old school-houses were
utilized ; in some they were moved to more central
spots ; in others, new houses were built.
May 10, 1790. " The committee appointed by the
town to take into consideration the expediency of
dividing the town into school districts agreeable to a
law passed June, a.d. 1789, Report : that the district
lines be hereafter the same that they have been for
several years last past, reference being had to the
town book for ascertaining said lines.''
" Voted, that there be one writing school kept 12
months each year, as follows : in the district including
Stone's mills, 8 weeks; in the north district, 7 weeks;
in the southeast district, 5^ weeks ; in Salem End dis-
trict, 8 weeks, 2 weeks of which to be kept on the
Common, if the inhabitants there provide a house for
the purpose; in the remaining 4 districts, 6 weeks
each. And no scholar shall be sent out of one district
to another, without the consent of such district. That
a grammar master be immediately engaged for 12
months, and keep school as follows: one month in
each of the districts ; and no scholar to be sent from
one district to another, except those that study Eng-
lish grammar, or the Greek and Latin languages. The
remaining 4 months the grammar school to be kept
in the Centre." £70 was granted for the support of
schools.
April 2, 1792. "Voted to have 96 weeks women's
schools ; 48 weeks grammar school ; and 68 weeks
writing school, proportioned as they were last year."
The school districts held their annual meetings for
the transaction of business, and chose a clerk who
kept a record of the doings of the meetings. The
prudential committees, who were nominated by the
district at the annual meeting, had charge of the
school-houses, provided wood, hired school-dames and
drew their respective proportions of school money out
of the town treasury. Later, they hired school-mas-
ters as well as dames. By the rules adopted by the
town in 1800 {see below), the power and duties of
prudential committees were much extended. In more
modern times the State law made the hiring of teach-
ers the duty of the School Committee. But in this
town the two committees commonly acted in har-
mony, and thus the preferences of each district were
carried out.
The district system was abolished by vote of the
town in 1866.
School Committees. — In early times the business of
providing a school-master, or writing-master, or
school-dames, was intrusted to special committees, or
the selectmen. When the town was divided into dis-
tricts, prudential committees were chosen in each
ward. In 1798 the town " voted to choose a commit-
tee of five persons, to inspect and regulate the schools,
viz. : Jona. Maynard, Esq., Capt. Peter Clayes, Capt.
John Trowbridge, Capt. Samuel Frost and Lieut.
John Jones. In 1799 the committee consisted of
Messrs. Maynard, Trowbridge, Eli Bullard, Esq., Eli-
sha Frost and Ebenr. Eaton. But the duties of the
committee were not clearly defined, and the relation
of this committee to the prudential committees was
matter of doubt. .A.nd in lSO(.t, Capt. John Trow-
bridge, Dea. Thomas Buckminster, Col. David Brewer,
John Fiske, Ebenr. Eaton, James Clayes, Elisha Frost,
Esq. Maynard and Esq. Bullard were appointed a
committee to draw up by-laws for regulating the
schools. Their report was as follows :
" 1, Tbal tbe coiniiiittee-uiau of each schuol district hn OirecteW tu visit
the school tbe weok after it opeOB, to PODault with the teaclier wbetber
tbe scbolun are furoiBhod with books suited to tbe i^tage of learoiog io
which they are. — Aod if auy bcholar is destitute of a book, wbo^e pareuta
are uoable to furnish him with the same, said coiuiiiitttre-raaii l>e direct-
ed to fnroish him, and briug in liis account to Ibn town for payment ;
but if any scholar be destitute of a book whose parents are able to fur-
nish the saiue, and shall continue without a book for one week after
being visited as aforesaid, said child shall be excluded from tbe school
until properly furnished.
" 2. That it be the duty of tbe district coiiiinittee-iuan to notify the
chairman of tbe Visiting CoDimittee, of tbe time when tbe school will
close in order that said Committee may regulate their visits accordingly -
"."5. That tbe Visiting Committee be desired to visit the women's
schools, to see that tbe first rudiments of reading and spelling are prop-
erly taught.
'* 4. That it be recommended to tbe inhabitants not to send any scholar
to the writing school but those who can read words of two syllables by
spelling the same.
'* 5. That each master of a writing school furnish himself with a Bible,
and that he read a portion thereof himself, or cause the same to be read
in bis school at least once a day.
" 6. That no work be allowed to be done in women's schools, except the
art of Lettering. [This meant working the alphabet, or moral proverbs,
with the needle, un ' Samplers,' which were then, and continued to be
for the next quarter of a century, the pride of the girls ]
** 7. That the committee-tnao of each district be directed to see that tbe
foregoing articles be carried into effect."
FRAMINGHAM.
631
In 1801 the town granted 1600 for the support of
schools ; and voted " that S175 of the same be equally
divided between the nine districts ; that two-fifths of
the whole sum be apportioned for the women's
schools, and three-fifths for the master's schools ; that
no master or mistress be admitted to teach a school
without first obtaining the certificates required by law ;
and that no scholar be admitted into a master's
school unless they are capable of being classed."
By vote of the town in 1802, it was made the duty
of the School Committee to examine school-masters
and mistresses, and to visit the several schools.
The number of the superintending committee varied
from three to nine, and they served without pay. In
1833, through the infiuenceof O. S. Keith, Esq., a
man of culture, common sense, thorough knowledge
of schools, and devotion to the interests of common-
school education — seconded by Rev. Charles Train —
the town voted to reduce the number to three, and to
pay each man one dollar per day for his services.
This was afterwards increaseil to two dollars per day-
The committee this year were Rev. Charles Train, O.
S. Keith, Esq., and .J. .1. Miirahall. In 1867, on the
abolition of the otiice of prudential committee-man,
the School Committee was enlarged to twelve. And
in 1871 a superintendent of schools was appointed, on
whom was devolved the supervision of the several
.schools, his compensation being a fixed -salary. In
1881 thenumber of the School Committee was reduced
to six.
In 1827 the town voted "that the vote passed in
1825, specifying the number of weeks' schooling to
be kept in each district by a master, be abolished ;
and that each school district be at liberty to expend
their proportion of money granted for schooling, as
they think proper."
In those days the winter schools were always in
charge of male teachers, sometimes undergraduates,
who took this method to obtain means to pay college
expenses ; but they were largely our own boys, who
were educated at the academy. This plan continued
in al! our districts till 184S. In 184'J the innovation
was made of employing females to teach the winter
school in Districts No. 1 and .5. The School Commit-
tee this year were Carleton Parker, B. G. Northrop
and Jona. Aldrich. Other districts soon came into the
arrangement, so that in 1855 the change was com-
plete, except in Xo. 8, where Charles S. Whitmore
continued to teach for the winter terms of 1855
and '56.
TTie SchooU fjrraded. — The first attempt to introduce
anything like gradation, depending on age or scholar-
ship, into our schools, was made in 1831, when in the
Centre and at .Saxonville the districts voted to iiave
a fall term of eleven weeks, to be in charge of a fe-
male, where all the children in the district under ten
years might attend ; and all over ten might go to the
winter school. The movement proved a success. The
number of pupils in the fall at the Centre was 65, in
the winter 63 ; at Saxonville the numbers respectively
were 40 and 66. When the Town Hall was erected,
in 1834, the lower story was divided into two large
and convenient school-rooms, and two departments
of the school permanently established. The division
of the Saxonville territory into two districts obviated
the difficulty of too many scholars, for a time ; but
eventually both these districts organized two depart-
ments.
The systematic grading of the schools in the Centre,
at Saxonville and at South Framingham grew up
with the necessities of each case.
The grammar school at Saxonville was organized
in 1856, at the Centre in 1857, at South Framingham
in 1869.
The high schools were established earlier. The one
at Saxonville was opened in 1852. It was kept in
one of the rooms under the town hall there till 1857,
when the new school-house was erected. The high
school at the Centre was established in the fail of
1852. As stated in another place, it was the legal
successor of the Framingham Academy, and was kept
in the academy building till 1857, when the present
school-house was built.
The grading of the schools was completed, and a
regular course of study for the Centre high fchool,
comprising four years, was inaugurated in 1865, by
the committee, consisting of Rev. J. H. Temple,
Rev. S. D. Robbins and Rev. Geo. E. Hill. The same
course, modified by circumstances, was introduced in-
to the Saxonville high school. The School Committee
in their annual report for this year, say : " All the
schools of the town are now pursuing a uniform, sim-
ple and effective system of study — a system which is
not a mere theory, nor a forced growth ; but one that
has silently and slowly taken shape, to meet the
actual wants and the conditions of our schools. There
is uniformity of text-books in all the schools of the
town ; and all the scholars are doing the same work,
in the same way. The mixed schools in the oiiter
districts have each its own classification, and a uni-
form grade. The village schools are graded by a com-
mon standard : and all of like capacity are working
up in the use of the same text-books towards the high
schools."
The growth of the town in population has required
a corresponding enlargement of the means of educa-
tion. New school-bouses have been built, and more
teachers employed, and the system of management
has been changed to meet modern ideas and
demands.
The following summary of the report of the School
Committee and superintendent for the year 1888-89,
will show the present condition of our public
j schools :
I Number of penons io to\rn, t)etweeD the ign of fire and
fifteen, April 1, 188S 1620
NtiDitMr of achools 37
Number of mule teachera 2
Number of female teacben 3S
638
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Special teacher of music 1
Special t«acber of drawing 1
Nnmber of differeut papils atteDdiDg ecbool duriog the
jesr 1878
Avera^ Domber beloDging 1536
Average daily attendance 1424
Per cent, of aTerage attendance 927.
Scbolan bj grades —
Number in high schools 133
Nnmber in grammar schools 290
Number in intermediate schools 394
Nnmber in primary schools 858
Number in mixed schools 160
Number in Normal Practice 81
Evening School. — By vote of the town, SIOOO was
appropriated for the support of aa evening school at
South Framingham. This was kept for a term of
twenty weeks. Whole number in attendance, 147 ;
average attendance, about 70.
The general plan or course of study in the schools
of the lower grades covers a period of nine years.
The high school course covers four years. Nominally
there are two departments in this school, called the
English course and the classical course, merged, how-
ever, into one, so far as the branches pursued are
common to both. The English course is intended to
fit pupils for business, for teaching in primary schools
and for active life in the best society. The classical
course, in addition to the common English branches,
embraces the higher mathematics and the Latin and
Greek languages, sufficient for admission to college.
Town Grants to Schools. — The following table shows
the number of children of school age in town, the |
amount of money granted for the support of schools, !
and the cost per capita, at different dates. No return ,
of the number of school children, before 1795, nor j
between 1801 and 1834, has been found : :
Dale.
Ho. Scholan.
Appropriation.
Pit Scholar.
1796 . .
... 618
£100
3j
2d. 3/.
1798 . .
... 649
$500
77 cte.
1801 . .
... 655
$600
93 els.
1834. .
. . . 802
S1300
n.6o
1845. .
. . .1030
li'iOO
2.42
1857. .
... 853
86000
7.00
1867. .
... 900
J6500
7.22
1877. .
... 977
J15,660
15.91
1882. .
. . . 990
JIS.SOO
18.68
1888. .
. . . 1620
127,176
16.77
Framingham Academy.— Early in the spring of
1792, Rev. David Kellogg and twenty- two associates
organized as The Proprietors of the Brick School-
House in Framingham ; and built a school house on
the west side of the Training-Field, where is now the
stone school-house. The house was two stories high, j
and cost £176 9». 6d. The associates were : David Kel-
logg, Jona. Hale, David Brewer, Simon Edgell, Elijah
Stone, Peter Clayes, Ezra Haven, Joseph Bennett, j
Matthias Bent, Jr., John Trowbridge, Jr., Samuel
Frost, Jr., Jona. Rugg, John Fiske, Ebenezer Eaton,
Thomas Buckminster, Jona. Maynard, Elisba Frost,
Barzillai Bannister, Lawson Buckminster, Lawson
Nurse, Samuel Bullard and Andrew Brown. The ob-
ject, as stated in the constitution, was " to disseminate !
piety, virtue and useful knowledge ; and establish a '
Grammar school in said town, as a school of liberal
arts and sciences." The by-laws provided that " no
person shall be admitted a member of the Society,
unless he sustains a good moral character ; " and that
" no person shall be admitted as a preceptor in the
school, unless he has received a collegiate education,
and been endowed with a degree of Bachelor of Arts
in some University." '" Every branch of science shall
be taught in said school, which is conducive to pri-
vate benefit, or of public uiility and importance; . . .
a primary regard being had to the initiation of youth
into principles of piety and virtue." " Children of
both sexes shall be admitted upon equal terms." "The
charges of the school shall be levied upon the polls
(meaning the scholars)."
October 17, 171t3, the Proprietors received deeds of
one acre of land for the school-bouse site, i. «., three-
fourths of an acre of Thomas Buckminster, and one-
fourth of Samuel Frost. The lot extended on the
east to the line of the Common and Training-Field,
which line was several rods easterly of the present
highway. In 1822 two acres of land additional, and
adjoining the other lot, was purchased of Thomas
Buckminster, by the academy trustees, all together
constituting what is known as Academy Land.
The school was opened November 27, 1792, under
the instruction of James Hawley, afterwards tutor in
Harvard University.
In 1798 the Proprietors petitioned the Legislature
for an act of incorporation as an Academy ; and the
town voted to grant $1000 to support the Academy
school, i. e., the interest of said sum to be paid an-
nually, provided it will exempt the town from keep-
ing a grammar school : .'ind provided further that the
Legislature will make a grant of half a township of
land at the eastward, to the .\^cademy. [The $00
interest was annually paid till 1824, when it was as-
certained that such a town appropriation was illegal ;
and it was discontinued.]
March 1, 1799, the Legislature passed "An Act for
establishing an Academy in Framingham," and ap-
pointed the following persons a board of trustees,
viz. : Rev. David Kellogg, Rev. Josiah Bridge, Rev.
Jacob Bigelow, Artemas Ward, Jr., Jona. Maynard,
Jona. Hale, Samuel Frost, Peter Clayes and David
Brewer. ''And it be iurther enacted, that the said
Academy be endowed with a tract of land equal to
one-half of a township six miles square, of any unap-
propriated lands within the counties of Hancock and
Washington." June 4, 1802, this half township, sit-
uated in Washington County, on the eastern boundary
of Maine, was conveyed to ihe trustees, and was
known as the " Framingham Grant." This tract of
land, which contained 11,520 acres, was sold by the
trustees, in 1803, to Jona. Mayuard and Samuel Weed
for $5000, for which sum thegrantees executed a bond,
said bond constituting a fund, the interest of which
was applied for the support of the school. Final pay-
ment of the principal of said bond was made May 15,
FRAMINGHAM.
639
1833. This balf-towDship was included in the land
ceded to Great Britain by the Ashburton Treaty ; and
has since been surveyed and located by a claimant,
who has been paid for the same by the United States
Government.
The academy thus established became an import-
ant factor in the social life, the educational standing
and the material prosperity of the town. The varied
and good fruits of the institution have been ripening
for three generations, and are not yet all gathered.
It numbers among its alumni hundreds of successful
teachers and professional men, embracing the names
of those well known in ecclesiastical, political and
judicial departments in our own State and through-
out the country.
In 1822 the trustees erected a dwelling-house for
the preceptor, where is now the High School build-
ing, at a cost of $3500.
In 1826 John Trowbridge devised by will a legacy
of $500 to the trustees, the interest of which has
since been applied, agreeably to the directions of the
donor, in aid of young men of this town preparing
for college.
In 1837 the original brick structure was taken
down and replaced by a stone school-house (now
used by the primary school). The cost was $3000.
In 1838 Micah Stone left by will a legacy of $3000,
the interest of which was to be applied to the reduc-
tion of the charge of tuition to pupils belonging to
the town. This legacy was recovered by the heirs
after the academy was merged in the town High
School.
By acts of the Legislature, passed May 30, 1851,
and March 15, 1852, the trustees of the academy were
authorized to convey to the town all the property,
belonging to said corporation, including all trust
funds, provided the said town shall establish and for-
ever maintain, upon the real estate so conveyed, a
town High School. The School Committee were
authorized to act as trustees, and the town treasurer
to act as the corporation treasurer. The Supreme
Court decided that this transfer of property to the
town, and vesting the rights and powers of the trust-
ees in certain impersonal oflBcers, virtually dissolved
the Academy corporation. Had the board of trustees
continued in the exercise of their fiinctions, and kept
proper records, even though the same individuals
should hold the two offices of trustee and School
Committee, the trust fiind would not have been for-
feited.
State yormal School.— The first Normal School estab-
lished in Massachusetts, and the first school devoted
exclusively to the education of female teachers, was
opened at Lexington, July 3, 1839. This school was
removed to West Newton, September, 1844; and was
transferred to Framinghara, December, 1853.
In 1852 the Board of Education, finding larger ac-
commodations necessary than were furnished at New-
ton, determined to build a new school-house, at Newton
or elsewhere, as eligibility of site, and offers of material
aid, might afford the stronger inducement. A few of
our public-spirited men made ofier of a lot of land,
which possessed singular advantages for such an in-
stitution, and the town granted a liberal sum of mon-
ey in aid, and the board decided to locate here. The
site selected was on the northwest slope of Bare Hill
commanding a wide and varied prospect, suflSciently
elevated to insure pure air, and protected on the
north by a beautiful grove of native trees, the grove
being the gift of Wm. M. Clark.
As appears from the deeds, James W. Brown con-
veyed to the Commonwealth two and one-quarter
acres and ten rods ; Josiah Stedman, one and three-
quarters acres and ten rods ; I. S. Wheeler, one acre
and eighteen rods ; Wm. M. Clark, forty-four and one-
third rods of land. These deeds bear date December
30, 1852, and are conditioned on the erection here
and maintenance of a State Normal School.
The town voted to give to the State the sum of
$2500 towards the erection of the building, on con-
dition that the school should be established and con-
tinued here. The Boston & Worcester Railroad
corporation also contributed $2000 for the construc-
tion of the building.
The school-house was erected in 1853, after plans
prepared by Alex'r R. Esty. The whole cost of the
building was $12,552. The house waa suitably dedi-
cated December 15, 1853, and was immediately occu-
pied by the school. Subsequently, [three and one-
half acres of land, adjoining to the first purchase,
were bought by the State, and a commodious board-
ing-house erected.
In the fall of 1854 a plan was matured by Eben S.
Stearns, principal of the school, and the School Com-
mittee of Framingham, for the organization of a
model graded school, to comprise the pupils in the
several schools in the Centre District, which should
be under the joint superintendence of said principal
and the School Committee, in which regular instruc-
tion should be given by the advanced pupils of the
Normal School, free of charge to the town. The
plan was sanctioned by a vote of the town, and was
tried for a single term. But, before its advantages
and disadvantages were fairly tested, it was aban-
doned.
In 1867 measures were taken for starting another
model class, as a department of the Normal School
work. In 1870 the building was enlarged, and a
room fitted up expressly for a model school. The
town furnished the room, and engaged to pay one-
half the permanent teacher's salary. Each Normal
scholar is required to give instruction here, for a cer-
tain part of the senior year. It is nominally a town
school, and under town supervision ; but practically
is in charge of the principal of the Normal School.
The pupils range from the lowest primary to the
highest grammar grades, and are received from our
own districts and from the neighboring towns, by con-
640
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
sent of the School Committee. Tuition is free. Here-
tofore the town has paid §200 annually, but it is now
paying $370 towards the support of the school.
The building occupied as a school-room since 1853
proving inadequate to the needs of the institution,
the Legislature of 1888 made an appropriation for a
new house. This was erected during the past year, at
a cost of $100,000. Externally and internally, it com-
bines good taste, elegance, and adaptation to the wants
of a model Normal School.
The principals of the Normal School, since its re-
moval to Framingham, have been, Mr. Eben S.
Stearns, 1849-55; Mr. George N. Bigelow, 185-5-
G6; Miss .\nnie E. Johnson, 1866-75, and Miss
Ellen Hyde, 1875 — . The regular course of study
comprises two years, with provision for an advanced
course of two years additional. Tuition is free to all
who intend to become teachers in the public schools
of the State. Total number of pupils who have been
connected with the school to the close of the school
year 1888 is 2186 ; number of graduate?, 1640.
Town Library. — Mr. Barry says : " The last of the
Common Lands (about 40 acres) was sold about the
year 1785, and the proceeds appropriated to the pur-
chase of a public library." Of the history of this
library little is known. The books were kept in 1809,
in the house of Martin Stone. In 1815, Rev. David
Kellogg, Kev. Charles Train, Josiah Adams, Esq.,
Benj. Wheeler, Nathan Stone, Maj. Lawson Buck-
minster, Jesse Haven, Col. Jonas Clayes, and others
organized (or re-organized) 2 he Social Library. This
was managed by aboard of five trustees, a clerk, treas-
urer, and librarian : price of shares, $4 ; annual fee,
50 cents. Each proprietor was entitled to take out
two volumes for the term of 60 days. No. of volumes
in the library, 443, which was increa-sed by gift and
purchase to about 600. This society flourished for
several years. In 1834 the proprietors and others
formed The Lyceum Libranj, on much the same plan
as the preceding. This was succeeded, after a few
years, by The Framingham Library, which continued
till the formation of the Public Library. In 1851,
Lorenzo Sabine, Col. Moses Edgell, I. S. Wheeler,
Benj. Yeaton and others organized The Reading Club,
and fitted up a room which was supplied with the
leading American and English magazines.
In 1854, James W. Clark, George Phipps, Charles
Upham, Francis Jaques, C'd. Moses Edgell and
others started a movement which resulted in the
establishment, April 9, 1355, of the Framingham Town
Library. The books owned by the Framingham
Library, and the periodicals held by the Reading
Club, were generously given as a nucleus of the new
Public Library and readiog-room. The original town
grant to the library was $1125. The books were kept
in one of the lower rooms of the Town Hall. In 1857,
Geo. Phipps made to the library a donation of §350.
In 1865, James W. Clark made a donation of $300,
and in 1873 a further donation of $500, to the library.
In 1873 Mrs. Eliza B. Eaton left to the town a legacy
of $500, the income to be expended for the use of the
library. Col. Moses Edgell, who died Feb. 8, 1875,
in his will provided that rhe town should be the resi-
duary legatee of his estate ; and the sum thus accru-
ing should be kept and known as the Edgell Library
Fund, the income of which should be expended for
the purchase of books for the library, works of art,
and in defraying the expense of taking care of the
same. This fund amounts to $47,000.
The present Library Buildiug (known as " Memor-
ial Hall," to coinmemmorate the soldiers who died in
the late war) was erected in 1872-73, at a cost of
.•?28,.500.
In 1887 a donation of $3200 was made to the town
by Mrs. George H. Gordon, and the Library building
was enlarged by an annex to the book-room for the
accommodation of new s^helves, thus greatly increas-
ing the capacity of the ball.
The annual appropriation by the town for the sup-
port of the library, for many years, was $400, and
one-half of the dog tax. Since the opening of the
new Memorial Hall the appropriation has usually
been $1200, and one-half of the dog tax.
Branch agencies for the delivery of books atSaxon-
ville and South Framingham were established in
1874.
In 1871, George Phipps gave the sum of $3000,
with which to purchase a bronze statue of " The
Soldier," and 1881, George B. Brown donated $250,
being one-half the cost of the granite pedestal on
which the statue stands.
Number of volumes in the library, January 1,
1889, 13,877.
Graduates.— The following is a list, substantially
complete, of persons, natives or residents of Framing-
ham, who have received a collegiate education:
PbiDehos Henienwav, H. U. V?M, Cong, min., Townaend, Maa».
D»Ti(l Goildnrd, U. I'. 1731, ConR lilin., Leiceeter, Mubs.
Elins Huven, H. U. 17:13, L'onR. iiiin., Fraiiklio, .Mass.
John Swift, H. I'. 1733, Conj;. min., Acton, Mass.
Nathan Haven, H. U. 1737, died.
JoBopli BiickniinBler, H. U. 1739, Cong. uiin.. nutland, Mass.
Aninrlah Front, H. V. 1740, Cong, min., Milford, Masa.
John Mellen, H. U. 1741, Ccpng. min.. Sterling, Miu«..
John Wilaon, H. V. 1741, physician, Hoplilntou, Mass.
Ebenezer Winchester, H. I'. 1744, physician.
Samuel Haven, H. U. 1749, Cong, mm., Portemouth, X. H.
Jason Haven, H. V. 1754, Cong, min., Dedbam, Mi»«.
Moses lleuiennay, H. U. 173.i, Cong, min.. Wells, Me.
John Haven, H. U. 1737, teacher, Kram., Greenland, N. H.
Eliab Stooe, H. U. 17.'>t*, Cong, min., Reading, .Mass.
Jloaei Adams, H. U. 1771, Cong. luin.. Acton, Mass.
John Reed, Y. 0. 177i Cong, miu.. West Bridgewatcr. Mas«„D.D.,
M. C. 17'.U, six years.
Solomon Reed, Y. C. 1775, Cong, min , I'etersh.im, Mass.
Jonathan ."lluynard, H. U 177.''., justice of peace, Frnm.
Samuel Keed, Y. I'. 1777, Cong, niiu., Warwick, Mass,
Moses Haven, H. V. 178J, died.
Timolby Reeil, D. C. 17.S2, lawyer, W. Bridgewater, 51a«8.
.lacob Haven, H I'. KtW. Cong, min., Croydon, N. H.
Joseph Bl.\by, U. U. I7'JI, died.
Daniel Stone, U. U. 17'J1, physician, Sharon, Maes.
Samuel Temple. D. C. W-f^. teacher, .-vnthor, Porchester, Mass.
Joseph Locke, D. C. 17'J7, lawyer, Billerica, Mass.
FRAMINGHAM.
641
John B. Fiske, D. C. 1798, lawyer. New York.
William Ballanl, H. U. 1700, phygtoi.in, Fraiiiin^hao).
Mosea M. Fiake, D. O. 180-J, teacher, N'iubville, Tenc.
John Brewer, I(. U. 18m4, phynicmD, Phihulelphia.
Jones niickiiiinster, II. U. iSiH, teacher, , Teiio.
Williiim Haven, R L^. IfiU'.), Jieil.
William Katon, W. C. 1810, Coog. niin., Fitrhlmip;, Miu*s.
John L. Parkhurst, B. V. 1812, <'nng. uiin., Standish, Me.
Dana Cliiyes, 31id. i.\ IS15, Cong, miu., Meriiit-u N. U.
Joseph Bennett, H. l'. 1S18, Cong, tiiin., W.>lmrti, .^laas.
Jert-niy Parbhurst, Y. C. 1810. physician, I'liiliuU'lphia.
Edward Frost, H. U. 18:iJ, physician, AVuvlam], >lafis.
Increase S. Wheeler, II. U. I82ii, inercbaut, Fniiiiini^ham.
John T. Kittredge, .\. i\ 182S, physician, Kraiiiiiigham.
Joshua T. Eaton, V. C. 1831), Kpisc. clorg.. Mhio und N. Y.
Peter I'urker, Y. C. 18:11, miadiunary (o China, minister plenipoteoti-
ary, utc.
Klbridge Brudhiiry, A. C. iSol, Cong, niio., Sandinfiehl, MaM.
Aliiior B. Wheeler. H. V. 1831, physician, n<wtun, Mass.
Arthurs. Train, B. L'. I8:i3, Bapt. miu., Haverhill, .Mats.
Josiah Ahltutt, Y. C, iS.iT), physician, Uullw, N. H.
Wiu. J. BuckiiiinHter, il. U. 18^i.'>, editor, Bui^tou, .MaMi.
Edward Stune, B. U. iH-iS, t'nit. min., Xorridgowuck, 31e.
Edward Uruuer, II. (J. 18:iti, farmer.
Oliver J. Fiska, B. V. tH:J7, Bapt. min., TeDnevsee.
Cbarlen U. Train, U. II. 1837, lawy«r, M. C., Ut>sIou, Ma/i8.
Charlctf P. Johnson, \. C. 1&;J9, lecturer. New York.
James W. Brown. W. C 1840, teacher, Ffiuuin^haui.
Sumner Clurk, A. C. 184U, Cong. min. iu New llanipriliire.
Benj. A. Edwards, B. U. IS41, Uapt. miu., Bolton, Maafl.
Horace D. Walker, Y. C. l.'<41, Cong, miu., Abiiigton, Mafis.
Addiwiu Builurd, W. C. 1.S42, Prt-nb. miu., I'rof. Lafavelto Coll.,
Kastou, I'a., D.D.
IfMHti F. Shepard, II. IT. 1842, consul general. China.
ID. U. Ilaveu, Wesl. C. 1842, 3Ie[h. Episc. min., bishop.
Samuel W. Eatuii. Y. C. 1842, Cuug. inlu., Lauciister, Wia.
Hubert Gordon, 11. U. 184 t, lawyer, Fiaminghaiii.
Rnfns F. Brewer, H. U. 1845, teacher, Framiugbam.
C. C. Esty, Y. C. \s\5. lawyer, .H. C. FraiuincliHm.
Julii) Edmund:*, V. C. 1847, lihrariuu, IMiiladulphiu.
G<H>rge A. Iloyt, D. 0., 1817, physician, Fruuiingbuui.
Onslow ilemunway, B. U. 1848. died.
David P. Temple, Y. C, 1851, teacher, York, Neb.
Thuuuis 6. Sent, Y. C. 1S51, lawyer, Milford, Muss.
F. C. Browne, II. L'. 1851, ornithologist, Framingham.
.Abner H. Wenzell, .\. C. 1853. lawyer, Marlborough. Ma^a.
Fre«lerick Wliaeler, H. D. 1854, lawyer, FramiDgham.
Di\i C. Hoyt, A. C. 18.>5, physician, Sliiford, Mass.
George T. Higlt-y, A. C. 1857, lawyer, Ashland, Mass.
Frederick A. Billings, A. C. 1859, farmer, Framiugham.
James H. Schneider, Y. C. IStit), teacher, Dridgewater, Maiss.
George Rico, Y. C. 1860. physician, Fniminghani.
llarrj B. Scott, H. U. 186U, colonel iu late war, laud ageut Burliug.
ton, Iowa.
Solomon H. Bnickett, H. U. 1862, teacher, St. J.-hnsbury, Vt.
Geitrgs F. Bemis, W. C. 1862, jeweler, Fniminghani.
Clark Carter, II. L^ 1862, Cong, minister, Lawrence, Mass.
Frederick L. Ilosmer, II. U. 1862, Unit. mio.
E'lwin T. Home, H. L'. 186t, teacher, Boston, Mass.
Edmund S. Clark, T. C. 1865, merchaot, Boston, Moss.
Henry G. Blair, U. U, ISW, druggist, Omaha, Neb.
Charles II. Parkhurst, A. C. 1866, Presb. min.. New York.
John Iv. Brown, H. L'. 1369, missionary, llarpoot, Turkey.
Sidney .\. Phillips, 0. C. 1869, lawyer, Framiugham.
Walter .\dani5, H. L'. 1870, lawyer, Boston, Mass.
Michael U. Simpson, IL U. 1871, died in Italy,
lieorge D. Bigelow, D. C. 1873, lawyer, Boston, Moss.
Ralph Stone, H. C. 1873, lawyer, Buffalo, N. Y.
Howard E. Parkhui-st, A. C. 1S73, professor of music.
Arthur .^I. Clark, T. C. 1877, Rom. Calh. priest.
Howard K. Bruwn. H. U. 1879, lawyer, Boston, 3Ias8.
Frederick H. Ellis, H. U. 1879, lawyer, Boston, Mass.
Samuel E. Somerby, H. U. 1879, lawyer, Boston, Mass.
Fmnk Simpson, II. U. Is79, manufacturer, Framiugham.
Elizabeth B. Root, Wellesley Coll. 1880. teacher, Philadelphia.
Emma C. B. Gray, Smith Coll. 1880, teacher.
Frank E. Rice, Y. C. 1882, civil engineer.
•il-iii
Wm. H. Tliompson, A. C. 1882, teacker.
George M. RicharclKoo, H. U. 1882.
Herbert A. Richantson, II. U. 1SS2.
Charles F. Slason, H. L'. 1SS2, Imrser of H. (J.
.\rthur K. Stone, H. U. IS83, phyeictao, Bostoo.
George PoDieruy tladtmao, A. C. 1884, Cong, min.
Warren S. AJanu, D. C. 1885.
Theopbihrs Huntington Root, U. U. 1S8.5, Cong. min.
Gertrude Howe, Wellesley Coll. 1885, teacher.
(.isgood 'riltoii Eaftnmn, A. C. 1885, clerk, Kansas City, Uo.
Charles .\lbert Brown, H. V. tSHfi, merchant. New York.
Frank Alexjinder Kendall, H. U. 188t}, .irchitect, Boston.
John SIcKiostry Merriam, H. U. 1886, lawyer, Boston.
Robert Hogg, H. V. 188li, merchant, Boston.
Williatn J, Fennessj, Montreal Coll. 1886, Cath. priest.
Edward J. Harriman, H. U. 1888.
Linie W. Bridges, cIhsb of 18<)1, Smith College.
Frank F. Howe, class of 1892 in H. U.
Funny Bi;;elow, class of 1892, Mt. Uolyoke Coll.
Klhel D. Puffer, class of 18'J2, Smith College.
Nettie SI. C. £iitwistle, class of 1893, Smith College.
Ecclesiastical. — As stated iu its chronological
order, a church was organized in Framingham, Oc-
tober 8, 1701, and Rev. John Swift (H. U. 1697) was
ordained the lirst pastor. He died April 24, 1745.
His successor, Eev. Matthew Bridge {H. U. 1741),
was ordained February 19, 1746, and died September
2, 1775. During his pastorate, i.e., iu the autumn of
174(5, the Second Congregational Church was formed,
and Rev. Solomon Reed (H. U. 1739) was ordained
as pastor. He remained in otfice tec years, and soon
after his dismissal the church disbanded. The suc-
cessor of Mr. Bridge in the First Church was Rev.
David Kellogg, (D. C. 1775 ; D.D. 1824). He was or-
dained January 10, 1781, and continued in the pas-
toral office till his death, August 13, 1843, at the ad-
vanced age of eighty -seven years, nine months.
In his views of church polity, Dr. Kellogg was a
thorough Congregationalist. Previous to his ordina-
tion, on specific inquiries being put to him by the
church, he announced his intention to conduct him-
self according to the Congregational principles of
church discipline, as understood and applied by this
church, from its earliest history, and gave his assent
" to the Cambridge platform (eldership excluded), as
the rule of ecclesiastical government, agreeably to the
custom of these New England Churches.''
" As a Congregationalist of the old school, he was
settled in the Christian ministry ; and, to the princi-
ples, usages and habits of thought of the times co-
temporaneous with his settlement, he adhered to the
last." — Barry.
In personal appearance Dr. Kellogg was more than
ordinarily prepossessing. In stature he was above the
medium height ; with a well-proportioned and mus-
cular frame; a fresh yet placid countenance ; strongly-
marked features, expressive of an even temperament,
good sense, decision and benevolence. His general
bearing combined dignity with ease ; hiastep was firm,
his pre.sence commanding. He had the air of one
who to native refinement added true culture and
knowledge of the world. It was evident that he was
conscious of a truthful and manly spirit; and, with a
dense of the high character of his profession, was
642
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
united a genial nature, which found expression in
those courteous manners by which he was ever so dis-
tinguished. He was, in the best sense, a Christian
gentleman of the old school.
Coming to this town towards the close of the Revo-
lutionary War, he had the opportunity, and his char-
acter and talents and purposes fitted him for a large
and beneficent influence in shaping the course of
local events. Unselfish, conservative, of broad views
and lively sympathies, he was a power for good in all
departments of the town's life.
Owing to a division of sentiment between the church
and the parish in regard to Christian doctrines, in
1830, Dr. Kellogg and the majority of the church with-
drew from the old meeting-house, and built a new one
which waa dedicated .September 15, 1830 ; and the same
day Rev. George Traak (Bowd. Col. 18'26), waa or-
dained colleague pastor. Mr. Trask was dismissed
April 6, 1836. The successive pastors of the church
have been : Rev. David Brigham, (U. C. ISIS), in-
stalled December 29, 1831), dismissed May 9, 1844;
Rev. Increase N. Tarbox, D.D. (Y. C. 1839), ordained
November 22, 1844, dismissed July 2, 1851 ; Rev.
Joseph C. Bodwell, D.D., (D. C. 1833), installed June
30, 1852, dismissed November 5, 18G2 ; Rev. John K.
McLean (U. C. 1858), installed February 19. 1SG3,
dismissed September 1, 18G7 ; Rev. M. J. Savage, in-
stalled January 23, 1868, dismissed April, 1870; Rev.
Lucius R. Eastman, Jr. (A. C. 1857), installed June
8, 1871.
At the separation in 1830, the parish held themeet-
inghouse; and the church connected therewith has
been known as The Church of the First Parish. The
pastors have been Rev. Arterasis B. Muzzey (U. U.
1824), ordained June 30, 1830, dismissed May 18, 1833 ;
Rev. George Chapman ( H. U. 1828), ordained Novem-
ber (), 1833, <lied in office June 2, 1834 ; Rev. William
Barry (B. U. 1822), installed December 16, 1835,
dismissed December Hi, 1845 ; Rev. John N. Bellows,
ordained April 15, 1846, dismissed 1849 ; Rev. Jos-
eph H. Phipps, ordained 1849, dismissed 1853 ; Rev.
Samuel D. Robbins, installed 1854 ; dismissed 1867 ;
Rev. H. G. SpauldingCH. U. I860), installed 1868,
dismissed 1872; Rev. Charles A. Humphreys (H. U.
1860), installed November 1, 1873.
First Baptist Church in Framingham. — The earliest
denominational effort in this town by the Baptists,
was made about the time when Rev. Mr. Reed re-
signed the charge of the Second Congregational
Church, and by persons who had been connected
with that church. This was probably in the spring
or summer of 1757. Elders Whitman Jacobs and Noah
Adams, from Connecticut, preached here ; and in 1762,
Mr. Jacobs administered baptism to four persons.
A Baptist Society appears to have been organized that
year, which supported preaching part of the time.
Between 1762 and 1792 about thirty persons were
baptized in Framingham ; but there is no evidence
that they were constituted into a church. In 1809,
there were but five Baptist professors here, viz.. Rev.
Charles Train, Benj. Haven, the wife of John Fiske,
the wife of Moses Fiske, and the wife of Amasa How.
In 1810, Elder Grafton baptized two persons ;
and in 1811 Mr. Train baptized five. August 4, 1811,
a church was organized under the name of " The
Baptist Church of Weston and Framingham." A
powerful revival commenced in this church, and
spread through the town in 1814-15, as the result of
which about fifty were added to the church. In the
fifteen years while this church continued a branch of
the Weston church, the numbers added were 177 by
baptism, and 32 by letter. May 3, 1826, this church
became a distinct body, with U9 members.
The First Baptist Society in Framingham was in-
corporated June 22, 1812.
Preachers and Pastors. — Mr. Joseph Byxbe, .Jr.,
who lived on the Hopkins (T. B. Wales, Jr.) place,
was probably the first >tated [ireacher. Others were,
Nathaniel Green, who lived and died in Leicester;
Simon Snow, of Upton, preached here and at Weston
two or three years, afterwards became a Congrt-ga-
tionalist, and died at Thoinaslon, Me.; Noaii Alden,
of Bellingham, was here in 1773 ; Elisha Rich, a gun-
smith, liveil in town for a time, and preached regu-
larly on the Sabbath ; removed to Chelmsford, and
thence to the West; Edward Clark supplied the desk
from 1780 to '90; removed to Jlcdfield, but returned
in 1801, and preached till the settlement of Mr. Train.
Rev. Charles Train (H. U. 1S(I5), was ordained Janu-
ary 30, 1811; disnii-ssed Se|)teinber 1839. Rev. Enoch
Hutchinson wi« installed August 24, 1840 ; disuiis.sed
January S, 1841. He was a college graduate, and
ilistinguished scholar in the Arabic language and
literature. Rev. James Johnston preached from June
27, 1841, to August Id, 1845. Rev. Jona. Aldrich
(B. U. 1826) commenced his labors September 27, 1846,
and resigned April 3, 1851. In this time lie baptized
eighty persons. Rev. Wm. C. Child, D.l)., a gradu-
.ate of Union College, was pastor from May 1, 1851, to
.\pril 1, 1856. During his pastorate fifty-three per-
sons were baptized. Rev. Joseph A. Goodhue (1). C.
1848), was here, 1859 to July 31, 1862. Rev. A. W.
Carr succeeded, and remained till November 1, 1865.
Rev. Arthur S. Train, D.D. (B. U. 1833), was in-
stalled in 1866, and died in office January 2, 1872.
Rev. W. P. Upham commenced his labors October 1,
1872, and resigned in 1877. Rev. George E. Leeson
(B. U. 1874) was ordained July 29, 1877 ; died in office
August 20, 1881. The present paster, Rev. Franklin
Hutchinson, was born in West Hoboken, N. J., Au-
gu.st 26, 1853 ; educated at. N. Y. Uuiversity, and
Union Theol. Sem., class of 1881 ; ordained June
18, 1882.
TTie First Methodist- Episcopal Church. — A move-
ment to establish this denomination in this town was
made in 1788.
Probably Lieut. Jona. Hill became acquainted
with the tenets and methods of the denomination
FRAMINGHAM.
643
when in the array near New York, in the Revolution-
ary War ; at which time Francis Asbary, the first
bishop of the church in the United States, was actively
at work in that region.
The first class consisted of Jona. Hill (leader),
Benj. Stone, Isaac Stone and their wives, and Matthew
Stone. They first met for religious worship in the
dwelling-house of Benj. Stone. This was one of the
earliest — if not the earliest — church of the order,
gathered in Massachusetts. The records of the old
Needham Circuit do not extend back of 1791 ; and
there is no doubt that the Saxonville Class helped to
make up ihe reputed uumber of thirty-five members.
For several years the church in this town was
visited by various preachers, viz.: John Hill, Bishop
Asbury, Jesse Lee, Ezekiel Cooper and George Picker-
ing, through who.fe missionary zeal ^lethodism was
firmly established in New England.
For thirty-five years the growth of Jlethodism in
town was slow, and confined to a few families. In
1825 Jlr. Lewis Jones, who was an earnest man and
a successful worker in the denomination for a third
of a century, gathered a class at " The Corners," north
of Saxonville, of which he was appointed leader. The
names of the members of tiiia class are as follows :
Lewis Jones, Sarah Stone, Catherine Hill, Pcrsis
Hill (afterwards Eaton), Joseph Potter, .fane Walker,
Joseph Moulton, Olive Moulton, Hannah Stone,
Betsey Eaton, Luther Underwood, Walter Stone,
Eliza ."^tone, Pamelia Hill, L. Dudley, Sallie Flagg,
Eliza Belcher, Elbridge Bradbury, Betsey Bailey,
Uoxana CJodenow, Elenor Godenow, Lewis Dudley,
Patty Dudley, Ann Moulton, Abagail Bradbury, Wil-
liam Dudley, Susan Stone, Sally Underwood, Fisher
Ames, L. Ames, M. Eaton and Jenny Eaton.
A meeting-house was erected at the Corner in 1833-
34, and a society was duly organized during the last-
named year.
A prominent and worthy member of the church dur-
ing this couipiiratively early period of its history was
Jiitham Haven, a local preacher, father of the late
Hishop E. O. Haven.
During the single decade that the society continued
to worship in the church at the " Corners," it enjoyed
only a scant prosperity. The Conference preachers
who served it were C. Virgin, Peter Sabin, N. B.
Spalding, Paul Townsend, Thomas W. Tucker, George
Pickering and Willard Smith. The society, in the
year 1842, considering themselves financially too
feeble to support a Conference preacher. Rev. L. P.
Frost, then teaching in Wayland, near by, was en-
gaged to supply the pulpit, which he did most accept-
ably.
In 1844, for the better accommodation of people
living around the factories, the church was removed
to the village.
In 1880 the present tasteful and commodious house
of worship was erected, at a cost, including the land,
of about $10,000. It was dedicated January 5, 1881.
The Saxonville Religious Society was incorporated
February 22, 1827, and a meeting-house was built the
same year. Religious worship was at first conducted
by ministers of the Unitarian denomination, and sub-
sequently for a time by the Methodists and others. A
Congregational Church was organized May 26, 1833,
which later took the name of the Edwards Church in
Saxonville.
The first pastor of this church was Rev. Corbin
Kidder (A. C. 1828), ordained July 30, 1834; dis-
missed October 25, 1837. His successors have been
Rev. Isaac Hosford (D. C. 1826), ordained February
24, 1838, dismissed March 10, 1847; Rev. Birdsey G.
Northrop (Y. C. 1841). or-iained March 10, 1847, dis-
missed November 6, 1857 ; Rev. Henry Allen (D. C.
1849), installed November 6, 1857, dismissed October
1,1859; Rev. John H. Pettengill (Y. C. 1837), in-
stalled April 16, 1860, dismissed 1862; Rev. George
E. Hill (Y. C. 1846), installed October 15, 1863. dis-
misjed 1870 ; Rev. Charles Jones (U. C. 1832). in-
stalled October 4, 1870, dismissed 1879; Rev. Samuel
Bell (D. C. 1866), was stated supply 1880 and '82 ;
Rev. Theodore L. Day (Y. C. 1867), commenced hia
pastoral labors in March, 1883, and continued in
office till his death, in 1885. He was succeeded by
Rev. Moody A. Stevens, the present pastor.
A Universaliit Society was formed November, 1829,
and built a meeting-house, which was dedicated Sep-
tember, 1832. The society employed ministers, who
entered upon their pastoral duties without the form
of a regular installation. After maintaining preach-
ing for about twenty years, the society dissolved.
Catholic Churches. — Mission work was commenced
at Saxonville by Rev. George Hamilton as early as
1844, which resulted in the organization of St.
George's Parish and the erection of a church, which
was opened for public worship September 14, 1845.
The successors of Fr. Hamilton have been Rev.
Edward Farrelly, Rev. Xohn Walsh, Rev. Anthony J.
Rossi, a graduate of St. Mary's Seminary, near St.
Louis, Mo., and Rev. James E. Rogers.
In July, 1877, a new parish, known as St. Bridget's
Parish, was organized, taking in Framingham Centre,
South Framingham and Ashland.
This parish purchased the church edifice at the
Centre, built by the Universalbts, and later built a
commodious church at the South Village, which is
now known as SL Stephen's Church. Regular wor-
ship is maintained at both places. This parish is in
charge of Rev. John S. Cullen.
The South Framingham Baptist Church was consti-
tuted March 17, 1854. A meeting-house was erected
and dedicated March 15, 1855.
The pastors have been. Rev. Bradford H. Lincoln,
installed March 30, 1854; dismissed Nov. 2, 1855.
Rev. Samuel W. Folj&mbe, installed April 20, 1856 ;
dismissed December 31, 1858. Rev. Theron Brown
(Y. C. 1856), installed December 15, 1859; dismissed
November 29, 1861. Rev. Samuel Brooks (B. U.
644
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
1852), was here about two years. Rev. A. M. Hig-
giiis (B. U. 1854), installed March 31, 1865 ; dismissed
January 1, 1867. Rev. T. T. Fillmer (Roch. U.), in-
stalled January 3, 1868 ; dismissed . Rev. George
R. Darrow, installed February 1, 1874; preached two
years. Rev. Henry G. Safford (B. U. 1858), installed
December 12, 1875; dismissed 1885. Rev. E. S.
Wheeler.
St. John's Church, Protestant Episcopal. — On appli-
cation of Charles R. Train, George Eastwood, T. C.
Hard, J. AV. Brown, A. R. Esty and others, the parish
was duly organized December 21, 1860; wardens, J.
W. Brown, A. R. Esty ; clerk, T. C. Hiird. Services
were held for a time in the town hall ; then in the
old Univeraalist meeting-house. In 1870 a tasty
atone church was erected on the west slope of Bare
hill, and first occupied on Easter Sunday, 1871. It
was consecrated June 12, 1872.
A Methodist Episcopal Church was gathered at South
Frainingham in February, 1869, and formally organ-
ized ut the Quarterly Conference held at the house of
H. W. Carter, November 5, 1869. There were at this
(late about twenty members in full connection. Ser-
vices were held in Waverley Hall till the autumn of
1873, when the Kennedy property was purchased by
the society, and the hall since known as " Irving
Hall" was fitted up for a place of worship. The
dedicatory sermon was preached December 21, 1873,
by Rev. William R. Clark, D.D. A new and hand-
some church edifice has lately been erected.
The South Congregational Church, composed largely
of members dismissed from the church at the Centre
for that purpose, was organized at South Framing-
ham, January 2, 1873. The first meetings were held
in Nobscot Hall. A commodious chapel was built
and dedicated in 1874. A large and imposing church
edifice was erected in 1883. The original number of
members was 57; number January 1, 1889, 239.
Rev. D. M. Bean (Y. C. 1858), was acting pastor, 1873-
79; Rev. Wm. R. Eastman (Y. C. 1854) was in-
stalled February 12, 1880, dismissed 1888; Rev.
Frederick E. Emrich was installed January 29, 1890.
The First Universalint Society of South Framingham
was organized April 28, 1878; re-organized under the
statute April 5, 1882. The original number of mem-
bers was twenty-seven. A neat church edifice was
built on Franklin Street, and dedicated Nov. 9, 1882.
-I Presbyterian Church was organized at South
Framingham two years ago, which has worshipped in
a hired hall. A contract has just been made for
building a church on the comer of HoUis and Win-
throp Streets. Rev. J. W. Flagg is pastor.
Cemeteries. — The Old Burying- Oround. As was
customary in those days, the first burials of the dead
were in the grounds immediately surrounding the
meeting-house. And as these grounds were included
in the " Meeting-house Lands " reserved by Mr.
Danforth, there was a manifest propriety in using
them for this sacred purpose.
This ground was fenced in with "a good four-foot
wall" inlS05-06; but it was much neglected, and
cows and sheep were pastured thereon. About the
year 1850 a system of improvements, in charge of
Mrs. J. J. Clark and Jos. G. Bannister, was be-
gun, and has been carried on more recently by
Dexter Heraenway. The walks have been graded and
graveled ; the head-stones righted up or buried on
the top of the graves, and the grounds generally put
in order. The expense of these improvements has
been borne in part from the avails of the " May Fes-
tival," originally started by some public-s])iriteil la-
dies as early as 1849, and continued annually to the
present time.
South Burying- Ground. — Thi.s small plot of land,
one-half acre, wjis set apart for burial purposes in
1824. January 24, 1S24, .fosepli Haven executed a
deed of this land, to Levi Metcalf, Obed Daniels,
Elias Grout, ,Tohn Wenzell, and others, " proprietors
of the South Burj'iiig Ground in KrumiiigliuMi." In
1874, the surviving proprietors deeded the land to the
town.
In 1883, Willard Howe donated to the town tlie
sum of $250, 10 be known as the " ILpwe Ceiuttery
Fund," the annual income of wliicli is to be used
" for the care of the Scmth Cemetery in Franiingliam,
and especially of Lot No. 14."
Saxonvillc Cemetery. This Burial Lot, then com-
prising one acre, wiis purcliased Iiy the town of
Charles Fiske, in 1838. In ISC.J, .Mr. Fiske sold to
the town another acre, on the easterly side.
The Catholic Cemetery, consisting of abnul five
acres, was consecrated in 1856.
Edgell Grove Cemetery. — June 27, 1S46, the town
I appointed a committee, consisting of Moses Kdjiell,
N. S. Bennett, Warren Nixon, Patten Johnson and
Dexter Esty, to procure a lot of land near the Centre
village for a new burial place. In 1S48 nine and a
half acres of woodland, lying northwest of the Com-
mon, was purchased of Colonel Edgell, and formally
consecrated by appropriate ceremonies. In 1858 three
acres additional, lying on the southwesterly side, were
purchased of James W. Brown ; and about three
acres on the northerly and northeasterly sides, were by
deed of gift, made over to the town by Colonel Edgell
at his decease. Ai)ril 30, 1S62, James W. Clark do-
nated to the town eight and a half acres, lying on the
southwest side, and in 1876 gave a deed of the land
lying upon the southeastern line of the original
grounds. Other lands have been purchased, so that
the present area is twenty-eight acres.
By his will. Col. Moses Edgell bequeathed the sum
of $20,000, a part of which is to be expended in Imild-
ing within the grounds, a chapel ; and the remainder
is to constitute a permanent fund, the income of
which is to be expended in the care and improvement
of the cemetery. George Phipps bequeathed the sum
of $500, the income of which is to be applied, 1, in
the proper care of the donor's own lot ; 2, for the
FRAMINGHAM.
645
general benefit of the cemetery. There is also a fund
of about $500, the income of which is at the disposal
of the trustees. There is also a fund, now amounting
to ^010, contributed by owners of lots, the income of
which is to be applied to the perpetual care of the
said lots. And it is worthy of record th.it from the
avails of the annual " May Festival," organized May
1, 1848, and managed by the ladies, there have been
expended for improvements in this and the old ceme-
tery, not less than S9500.
Industries. — Such was the situation of the town,
and such the character of the inhabitants and such
the facilities of obtaining water power that the chief
dependence of our people from the first, was on home
productions and manufactures. Wool and tlax for
garments, corn and the smaller grains for food, grist
and saw and fulling-mills, tanneries and most of the
mechanical tr.ades came with the early settlers, and
grew in numbers and scope with the growth of popu-
lation.
Stone's corn-mill at the Falls, built in 1()59, and
the saw .and fulling-mills there before 173.3, have al-
ready been noticed. Savil Simpson built grist and
saw-mills on Hopkiuson River in 1707 ; and Col. Jo-
seph Buclcminster put in a grist-mill on the brook
near his house about the same date.
The mechanical trades essential to the wauts of
everyday life were introduced early. Most of the
first comers had some practical knowledge of the use
of carpenter's nnd shoe-in.ikers' tools. Some men had
a smattering of several trades. Thomas Eames, a
settler in 1009, was mason and brickmaker. Isaac
Learned, cooper, was here in 1070; .fohn How, car-
penter. 1(!8'.>; Isaac Clark, carpenter, 1()92; Caleb
Bridges, bricklayer, Benjamin Britlges, blacksmith,
the wift- of .loseph Trumbull, weaver, were here in
10915; .Jeremiiih Pike, spinning-wheel maker, 1090;
.lo-seph Buckmiii-^ter, tanner, 1703; Jonathan Rugg,
blacksmith, 1704; Jonas Eaton, carpenter, brick-
maker and tanner, 1700 ; John Singletarj', cooper,
1709; Dea. Moses Haven, shoemaker, 1710 ; Eben-
ezer Henienway, weaver, 1711; Jonathan Maynard,
weaver, 1713 ; Joseph Haven, shoemaker, and Eben-
ezer Boutwell, tinker, 1721. William Ballord, the
tailor, and Thomas Temple, the cabinet-maker, came
later, but before the old French War. Professional
weavers made only the better class of dress goods,
woolen and linen, and linsey-woolsey; the mother of
the family usually had a spinning-wheel and loom,
and made the common clothing goods.
Forges were established by Andrew Newton on
Hopkinton River in 1745, and by Ebenezer Marshall
on the same stream, at the site of Cutler's mills in
1747. These turned out axes, hoes, scythes and farm-
ing tools generally. Later a forge was put in on the
river, north of Addison G. Kendall's.
Manufactures. — It was not till after 1800 that the
water-power of Sudbury River and its main afHuents
was fully utilized for manufacturing purposes.
The Revolutionary War taught our people to de-
pend on themselves for the necessaries of life, and
the rude machinery of the household and the fulling-
mill met the demand. But the return of peace and
prosperity created new wants which these primitive
appliances could not supply. Immense importations
from abroad were made, and foreign luxuries became
home necessities. This state of things was suddenly
arrested by the breaking out of hostilities between
England and France, and the restrictions placed upon
commerce by these governments aimed directly
against each other, but indirectly affecting our coun-
try. The embroilment of our government led to the
embargo act of 1807, and the interdict of commercial
intercourse with England and France of 1809, and
culminated in the declaration of war against Great
Britain in 1812. This embroglio threw our people
again upon their own resources for supplying the
need of clothing and commodities. Extensive man-
ufacturing establishments were started lor almost
every sort of merchandise.
The dams already constructed on the Hopkinton
and Sudbury Rivers and Cochituate Brook were
brought into use for new and more complicated
ventures.
The first of the new enterprises was the cotton-
factory oh the Hopkinton River, at what is now Ash-
land Centre. January 23, 1811, Samuel Valentine,
Jr., bought the privilege of Samuel Clark, and in con-
nection with Aaron Eames, Elias Grout, Fisher Met-
ealf and others, organized the Middlesex Manutac-
turing Company. Buildings were erected and the
manufacture of cotton goods commenced. The enter-
prise had a varied history till 1828, soon after which
it came into possession of James Jackson, a man of
energy and business tact, through whose influence
the village of Uuionville sprang up, which flourished
and grew into an important centre. Mr. Jackson sold
the property in 1852. It is now owned by the Dwight
Print Company.
Cotton Factory at SaxonviUe, — ^The starting of this
enterprise was only a few months later than the one
at Unionville. In the same year Hopestill Leland,
of Sherborn, bought the Deacon Brown privilege on
Cochituate Brook, of Ebenezer Brown, and erected a
cotton-mill. February 0, 1813, Calvin Sanger, Aaron
Leland, Joseph Sanger, Leonard Dearth, Benjamin
Wheeler, Luther Belknap, Hopestill Leland, Jr.,
Comfort Walker, Moses Adams, Lewis Wheeler,
Micah Adams, Joseph L. Richardson, Phillips Clark
and Eliaa Whiting were incorporated as the Fram-
ingham Manufacturing Company, for the purpose of
manufacturing wool and cotton, with power to hold
real estate to the value of $30,000, and personal estate
to the value of $50,000. The next year, Mr. Leland
sold six acres, with corn and grist-mills, to this com-
pany, and thirty-two acres to Calvin Sanger — all the
interest of the new enterprise. Mr. Walker located
here, and the company started with energy and soon
646
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
gathered a considerable number of families, liaving
children old enough to work in the mill, opened a
store in charge of Samuel Murdock, employed a
blacksmith (Joseph Prichard) and did a large, though
not profitable, business for a number of years. The
property eventually passed into new hands repre-
sented by I. McLellan, of Boston. The factory build-
ing wa8 burned in 1834. In July, 1844, this privi-
lege 'was sold to William H. Knight, who put up a
building and set up machinery for spinning woolen
yarns. Mr. Knight sold to the city of Boston.
Woolen Factory at Saxonville. — April 5, 1822, the
following persona, viz., Jere. Gore, John S. Harris,
Stephen Gore, Jr., Ephraim Jones, all of Boston, and
Abner, Benj. and Eliphalet Wheeler, of Framingham,
bought of Charles Fiske, Isaac Dench, Josiah Stone,
Abel Eaton, Abner Stone, and others, the land on
both sides the river, together with the water privilege
and buildings, dwelling-houses, etc., at the Falls in
Saxonville, and the next year built the first woolen-
mill. February 4, 1824, the parties above-named
were incorporated under the name of the Saxon Fac-
tory Company, for the purpose of manufiicturing wool
in the town of Framingham, with power to hold real
estate, not exceeding the value of $100,000, and capi-
tal stock to the amount of 8200,000. May 8, 1824,
Jere. Gore and his associates sold the entire estate
and water rights, for S20,000, to the Saxon Factory.
The canal had been dug and a mill erected in 1823.
February 8, 1825, the Saxon Factory and the Lei-
cester Factory were, by act of the Legislature, "made
one corporation, for the purpose of manufacturing
wool, cotton and machinery in Leicester and Fram-
ingham."
June 11, 1829, Joseph Head, Henry Gardner, Ed-
ward Miller, H. H. Jones and others were incorpor-
ated as the Saxon Cotton and Woolen Factory, for
the purpose of manufacturing cotton and wool in the
town of Framingham.
February 16, 1832, the name of the company was
changed to that of the Saxon Factory. The statistics
of this company April 1, 1837, were: Woolen-mills,
5; sets of machinery, 11; wool consumed, 744,000
lbs.; cloth manufactured, 268,640 yards; value,$311,-
800; males employed, 105; females, 141; capital in-
vested, $415,000.
In 1837 the New England Worsted Company pur-
chased the entire property of the Saxon Company
and removed their worsted machinery from Lowell to
Framingham. The main business since then has
been the manufacture of worsted carpet-yarns and
woolen-blankets. In 1858 this entire property was
bought by M. H. Simpson and Nathaniel Francis,
and the name changed to the Saxonville Mills. No
change was made in the kind of goods manufactured.
During the late Civil War the company filled large
orders for blue Kersey army cloth. The statistics
for 1865 were : Number of mills, 4 ; sets of machin-
ery, 25; pounds of scoured wool consumed, 2,000,000;
gross value of stock used, §800,000 ; yards of blanket-
ing manufactured, 1,500,000 ; value, §900,000 ; pounds
of yarn manufactured and not made into cloth, 600,-
000; value, §300,000; yards of army cloth made,
150,000; value, §200,000; males employed, 393; fe-
males, 390. Statistics for 1875: Mills, 2; capital,
§800,000; value of goods manufactured, §850,000;
males employed, 263; females, 268. In 1878 the
company commenced the manufacture of hair-cloth,
in imitation of seal-skin ; but the move was not a
success. The mills were burnt in 1883, and re-built
on a dift'erent plan — a large single story edifice.
Carpet Factory.— In 1829 Mr. Wm. H. Knight bought
of Col. James Brown the old fulling-mill privilege on
Cochituate Brook, changed the cotton -thread machin-
ery and immediately commenced the manufacture of
carpets. His means were limited, and not at all
commensurate with his skill. At first he would pur-
chase wool only sufficient for a single piece of car-
peting, work it up, take the piece to Boston, and from
the proceeds buy more wool. The business prospered,
and in 1839 Mr. Knight bought the "bridge lot,"
eighty rods below the fulling-mill site, where lie put
in a dam, erected new buildings and started large
carpet works. In 1S44 he purchased the old cottoii-
mill privilege, where he put in machinery for spin-
ning woolen yarn. Controlling and using these three
water-powers, which embraced the whole fall of the
stream, his business rapidly increased, so that in 1845
— only fifteen years after his humble beginning — the
returns show : Amount of wool annually consumed.
465,000 pounds; yards of carpeting [jroduced. 199.037 ;
value, §149,030; males employed, 191 ; female.", 41.
Mr. Knight sold all his i)r{)perty and water-rights
on Cochituate Brook to the city of Boston, June 2.'),
1S46. The buildings connected with the bridge lot
works were burnt on the morning of March 20, 1847.
Paper-Mills. — In 1817 Dexter and David Bigelow
erected a mill on the HopkinUm River, for the man-
ufacture of writing-paper ; and in 1828 Calvin Shepard
and Son purchased the site of the Dench Mills, on the
same stream, and put in paper-making machinery.
These privileges are now in Ashland. In 1837 the
stock manufactured was 278 tons ; value of paper,
§46,000; males employed, twelve; females, eleven;
capital invested, §50,000.
Book- Bindery. — Otis Boynton established a book-
bindery here in the spring of 1822. In 1833 John J.
Marshall joined the concern, and a book and station-
ery store was opened. The business was carried on
till February, 1864.
Hatters. — Daniel Bridge, felt-maker and hatter,
built a shop in the Centre in 1781, and remained here
a few years. In 1823 Silas Hunt and Ira Mitchell
established a hat manufactory, where is now Otis
Childs' dwelling-house. In 1845 four hands were em-
ployed, and the net income of the business was $2500.
The business was given up in 1852, Mr. Mitchell and
Mr. Junes removing to Milford.
FRAMINGHAM.
647
Tanneries. — Colonel Joseph Buckminster and Jonas
Eaton built tan-worka very early. Joshua Eaton,
soon after 1723, established a tan-yard near School-
bouse No. 7. David Stone and Jonathan Hill had a
tannery north of Saxonville before 1769. They sold
to John Stone, of East Sudbury, who sold Msirch 17,
1788, to Elijah Clayes, who carried on the business
till March 27, 1790, when he sold to Micah Fiske, by
whom and his sou Charles it was conducted for half a
century.
Isa-ic Warren bought the John Fiske Tannery of
Eli BuUard in 1797, and carried on the business till
his death.
In 1780 Thomas and Ezekiel Williams of Roxbury,
tanners and curriers, bought the Mixer Tannery, on
Roaring Brook, near Southborou-ih line, where is now
the brick-yard, which they sold in 1790 to Benjamin
Eaton, Jr., who continued the business, and died
there.
There wa.i> a tannery north of the Albert G. Gibbs
house, known as the Dench Tannery, but by whom
started is uncertain. In 1809 Joseph Bennett sold it
to his son Nathaniel S., who sold April 21, 1817, to
Lewis Keyes and Francis Dana, who sold December
8, 1818, to .\aron and Henry H. Hyde, who carried on
the business for many years. These tanneries were
operated on the cold process, requiring at least six
months to properly cure the hides. The introduction,
elsewhere, of the hot liquor process, and modern
machinery, broke up the business in this town.
Slrnw Braid and Bonnet Maniif'tcture. — In 1799 or
1800, the wife of Joseph Bennett aud her daughter,
Betsey, commenced the plaiting of grass and rye
straw, wliiih material was made into lials and bonnets;
anil tlius a profitable business was started, which con-
tinued for some years. The bonnets were trimmed
around the edges with nipping braid made of three
strands.
The following memorandum shows that Mrs. Mary
Rice, wife of Ca|)t. Uriah, started a like business at
nearly the same time: "Oct. 2, ISOO, we began to
work on straw bonnets and trimmings; and cleared
$840." Mrs. Rice carried on the business for about
fifty years. Her trade was principally in Boston,
.Salem, Gloucester and Portland.
Maj. Benj. Wheeler went into the straw braid and
bonnet business in 1807. His trade was largely with
the South, and amounted in some years to $30,000.
About 1813, Ca|>t. J. J. Clark commenced the bonnet
business, which he continued till 1830. The wife of
Joseph Sanger was also engaged in the manufacture
of straw bonnets.
The starting of this business in town created a new
and profitable family industry. The braid was made
by the girls and boys at home. The winter rye was
cut in June; the straw scalded aud cured. That part
which grew within the sheath was cut in uniform
lengths, and whitened by brimstone fumes, and split
on a iiand machine, coarse or fine, according to the
demand and the skill of the braider. The fine braid
was known as " Dunstable." A smart girl would
braid 10 to 12 yards per day of the fine, and 18 to 24
yards of the coarse. Fine braid was sold at 3 to 3i
cents per yard. Store-keepers took it in payment for
goods. They sold their goods for two prices, cash
price and itraw price ; the latter being considerably
higher than the other.
The wife of Lovell Eamea commenced manufactur-
ing bonnets in 1825 ; and about 1830, her son Horace
took charge of the business, and added a distinct de-
partment of bleaching and pressing, for himself and
the bonnet makers in this and the neighboring towns.
Franklin Hanson commenced working for Mr. Fames
in 1836; and in 1840, Mr. Manson took the business
into his own hands. In 1844, Mr. Manson entered
into partnership with George Richardson, for the
mannfacture of straw bonnets. Their straw shop
(now Liberty Block) was built in 1845. The partner-
ship was dissolved at the end of two years; and soon
after Mr. Manson built a shop, and carried on busi-
ness on his own account, till 1864.
Alexander Clark commenced the manufacture of
straw bonnets, as a distinct business in 1838, and with
his brother Newell continued till 1853, when he began
the manufacture of palm leaf hats and shaker hoods,
which he and his son kept up till a late date.
After leaving Mr. Manson, George Richardson and
his brother Augustus carried on the bonnet business
till 1860.
Augustus Richardson built a new shop, where he
manufactured straw goods to a large extent, for some
years ; and was succeeded by George P. Metcalf and
H. K. White.
Curtis H. Barber succeeded to the business of Mr.
Manson in 1864, and now has a large manufactory of
his own, near the Baptist meeting-house.
The statistics of this industry in this town, are:
1836. Straw bonnets manufactured, 2950 ; value,
$5350. 1845. Number of bonnets manufactured,
31,000 ; value, 820,100. The cost of the braid was
S450. 1855. Number of straw bonnets made, 107,-
000 ; straw hats, 60,000 ; males employed, 25 ; fe-
males, 300. 1865. Number of straw bonnets made,
120,000; value, $180,000. Number of straw hats
made, 120,000; value $12,000. Number of males
employed, 50 ; females, 800. Number of palm leaf
hoods manufactured, 230,000 ; value, $65,000. Num-
ber of males employed, 6 ; females, 40. 1875. Value
of straw goods manuiactured, $830,000. Capital in-
vested, $255,000.
. MaasaehuietU Silk Company. — March 14, 1836,
Thomas G. Fessenden, Geo. C. Barret and Wm. H.
Montague were incorporated as The Massachusetts
Silk Co., " for the purpose of raising, reeling, throw-
ing and manufacturing silk, in the town of Ffaming-
ham." Capital stock $150,000. April 25. 1836, the di-
rectors bought, for $7150, the home farm of Col. Nat.
Fiske, containing 139 acres, with buildings, etc.
648
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Eight or ten acres of land were planted with mulberry
cuttinga, which grew luxuriously. The company
was taxed for two or three years.
A little before this date, Wm. Buckminster, Esq.,
planted what is now known as the old agricultural
grounds, with mulberry cuttings, with a view to the
feeding of silk worms. The trees flourished ; but the
worms were not a success.
Framingham India Rubber Company. — May 16,
1836, Wm. K. Phipps, Dexter Hemenway and Isaac
Stevens were incorporated as the Framingham India
Rubber Company, "for the purpose of manufacturing
all articles consisting wholly or in part of India rubber,
in the town of Framingham." Capital stock, $70,000.
Wm. K. Phipps was the originator of the project. He
was of an inventive genius ; and had discovered a
method of dissolving rubber, and spreading it on
cloth, etc. The company commenced work in the
summer of 1835, in Mr. Phipps' shop. After incor-
poration, they bought three-fourths of an acre of land,
and built a large shop where they manufactured large
quantities of rubber-coated canvas for car-tops, cloth
for aprons, using silesia for the base, and some rubber
shoes. The price of the raw rubber was six or seven
cents per pound. Besides the corporators, James
Boyd of Boston, Samuel Warren, Micah Stone, John
Ballard (2d), and Gardner Kellogg were stockholders.
The company carried on business for three years ;
sold the real esUite to J. J. Marshall, who converted
the shop into a dwelling-house (now owned by Jlrs.
M. F. Tracy and Mrs. J. Hammond). The stock-
holders met with no loss, and made no gain.
Soon after Mr. Phipps' success in dissolving rubber
was known, Dr. Simon Whitney commenced makins
experiments and discovered a new process. May 16,
1836, Simon Whitney, Geo. Bullard, W. E. Fauikiirr,
and Barker, of Weston, were incorporated as the
Water Power India Rubber Company, " for the |>ur-
pose of manufacturing all articles composed wiiolly or
in part of India rubber, and also various kinds of ma-
chinery." Capital stock, $130,000. This company
erected a shop on Stony Brook, just below Bullard's
Bridge, where they made men's wearing apparel,
aprons, bonnets, etc. The name of the company ap-
pears on our tax-list 1836-42. The shop w:i3 removed
to the William Moulton place, and is now W. C.
Wight's livery stable.
The Oouamer Rubber Company began work at the
South village in 1876, and removed to Park's Corner
in 1877. The Para Rubber Shoe Company commenced
business at the South village in 1884. The history of
these last two enterprises belongs to a separate section.
Hastings' Carriage Manufactory. — Hollis Hastings
commenced the manufacture of harnesses and car-
riages in 1832. In 1835, he bought the old Town
House,' and removed to the corner, south of his
father's wheelwright's shop, where he carried on
carriage and harness -making in all their branches,
with success, for about thirty-five years.
Fire Department. — In 1818 a fire-engine was pur-
chased by subscription ; and the town appropriated
S70 to build an engine-house. It was placed directly
back of Symmes' harness-shop.
Fire-wardens were first chosen in 1819. In 1823
a set of fire-hooks, a harness for the engine, twenty-
four buckets, and poles for the wardens were pur-
chased, at an expense of §100. A fire-engine was
procured atSaxonville in 1828 or '29; and an engine-
house was built there in 1833. In 1835 the town
voted to remit their poll taxes to all regularly enlisted
firemen. In 1841 a new engine was bought for the
Centre, and the old tub removed to the South village,
and a company formed there. An act to establish a
Fire Department in Framingham was passed February
3, 1847, which w.as accepted by the town, and the
department organized in 1853.
There are now owned by the town two steam fire-
engines, one located at the Centre and one at Saxon-
ville. A hooV-and-ladder company has been organ-
ized at the South village. There is also a well-a|i-
pointed hose company. A system of fire-alarms lias
been establislied in each of the villages. The hand-
engine was transferred to Nobscot, where a full and
efficient company has been formed.
Railroads. — The project of building a railroad from
Boston to Worcester was agitated as early .is 1827.
The charter w^as granted .June 23, 1831. Two routes
were surveyed, one where it is built, and the other
through Framingham Centre. The route throiifrli
the Centre was regarded as the most feasible; but
the Wheeler brothers and others interested in the
turnpike strongly opposed this plan, and tlicir (qi-
position led to the selection ot" the southern route.
The road w.os opened for travel to Angler's Corner
Aprils, 1834; to Ashland September 30, 1834; to
Worcester June .30, 1835.
The first train through this town consisted of an
eiigine-(the " Yankee," weighing six tons) and seven
cars, of about the size of a stage-coach, with iloors at
the sides. The train stopped at the South Framing-
ham statiim for a while, and then stopped at Farm
Pond to take in water, which was p.assed up iti pails.
The fare between Framingham and Boston wiw
seventy-five cents in summer and ■'?1 in winter.
The opening of the railroad gave a great impetus to
the business life of the South village, and caused a
declension as marked in the Centre.
The Saxonville Branch Railroad was opened in
1840. The Milford Branch was completed and opened
in 1847. In 1850 a branch w.tb built connecting the
South and Centre villages.
The Agricultural Branch Railroad, from South
Framingham to Northboro', was built in I8.54; and
purchased and extended by the Boston, Clinton &
Fitchburg Company to Fitchburg, in 1865. The
Mansfield & Framingham Railroad was completed
and opened in June, 1870 ; and the Framingham <&
Lowell Road in August, 1871. The last three roads
FRAMINGHAM.
649
are leased and operated by the Old C!olony Road a:s
its Northern Division.
Banks. — The Framingham Bank was incorporated
March 25, 1833 ; the persons named in the act as
corporators were Micah Stone, Dexter Fay, Sullivan
Fay, Elijah Perry, Rufus Brewer, Moses Edgell and
Josiah Adams. Capital stock, $100,000 ; increased in
1846 to $150,000, and in 1849 to $200,000. It was
changed from a State to a National bank in Novem-
ber, 1864. The successive presidents have been
Josiah Adams, Micah Stone, Oliver Dean, Sullivan
Fay, Francis Jaques, Moses Edgell, James W. Clark,
I. S. Wheeler, J. J. Vakntine. Cashiers: Rufus
Brewer, William H. Foster, Edward Illsley, Francis
Jaques, Francis T. Clark, James J. Valentine, Fred.
L. Oaks. The first dividend was declared April,
1834; and in no instance since have the regular semi-
annual dividends in April and October been passed.
This bank was removed to the South Village in
1888, having purchased the assets and assumed the
liabilities of the bank established there.
The South Pramingliam Xational Bank was organ-
ized June 14, 1880, with a paid-up capital of $100,000.
President, James W. Clark ; cashier, F. M. Stockwell.
The succeeding presidents were Adolphus Merriam
and Franklin Manson. Fred. L. Oaks succeeded
F. M. Stockwell as cashier. In 1888 this bank sur-
rendered its charter, and its business was assumed by
the older bank.
Framingham Savings Bank. — This institution was
chartered in March, 1846, and commenced business
the following May. Col. Moses Edgell, in whose
mind first originated the idea of a savings bank in
this town, was chosen president at its organization!
and held the office till 1871. He was succeeded by
George Phipps, who remained in office until his death,
February 19, 1876. Charles Upham succeeded Mr.
Phipps, and died in office, March 10, 1880. Luther
F. Fuller, Adolphus Merriam and F. E. Gregory have
since held the office. The secretaries and treasurers
have been Rufus Brewer, Edward Illsley, Lorenzo
Sabine, Coleman S. Adams, L. F. Fuller. Amount
of deposits November 1, 1846, .?4969 ; amount
November 1, 1882, .51,314,318.58.
A branch, for receiving and paying deposits, was
opened at the South Village in March, 1883, and the
bank removed there the next year. In August, 1885,
an injunction was placed upon the bank, since which
date its business has been confined to the care of its
securities, adjustment of losses and bringing its
affiiira into shape for a full resumption of business.
TVte Farm^s' and Mec/uinica' Savings Bank of South
Framingham was incorporated April 23, 1883, and
commenced business in May. President, Willard
Howe ; Treasurer, George E. Cutler. Amount of
deposits, March 1, 1890, $403,982.
The South Framingham Co- Operaliue Bank was or-
ganized in 1889 ; authorized capital, one million dol-
lars.
Boston Water- Works. — Cochituate System. — The
act, authorizing the city of Boston to take the water
of Long Pond was passed March 30, 1846. It con-
ferred the right to construct a dam at the outlet, eight
feet higher than the floor of the existing flume. In
1859 the Legislature gave the city power to raise the
dam two feet more.
Aug. 13, 1846, the city received a deed from W. H.
Knight, conveying all his right and title to Long and
Dug Ponds, and the adjacent lands, which had been
purchased by him of the Framingham Manufacturing
Company, and of individual owners, and comprising,
beside the water privilege, one factory building situ-
ated at the upper privilege, 83x33 feet, three stories
high, and filled with worsted and woolen machinery,
in full operation ; also two large dwelling-houses and
six acres of land adjoining ; three dwelling-house.s and
one acre of land at the middle privilege; and at the
lower privilege, one factory, 147x33 feet, three stories
high, with ells, all filled with machinery in complete
working order ; also one other factory, 100x33 feet,
three stories high, filled with carpet looms. The price
paid Mr. Knight was $150,000.
The works were so far completed that water was
introduced into Boston Oct. 25, 1848.
The full capacity of Cochituate Pond in gallons is
2,011,165,000.
The original cost of the works, in and around the
pond, including the conduit, was $1,403,212,31.
Sudbury River System. — The act authorizingthecity
of Boston to take the water of Sudbury River, Farm
Pond and their affluents, in and above the town of
Framingham, was passed April 8, 1872.
The formal taking of Sudbury River under this act
was done January 21, 1875.
A temporary dam across the river, below the mouth
of Fames' Brook, to turn the water into Farm Pond,
was built immediately ; and also a trench was dug
from the southerly end of the pond to Beaver Dam
Brook, by which the water could be conveyed into
Cochituate Pond.
In December, 1875, and February, 1 876, the city of
Boston made seizure of the lands bordering on
Hopkinton River and Stony Brook, for the purposes
of storage basins ; and proceeded to construct three
dams — No, 1, below the junction of Hopkinton River
and Stony Brook ; No. 2, on Hopkinton River, and
No. 3, on Stony Brook. Reservoir No. 1 covers 126
acres; No. 2, 154 acres; No. 3, 285 acres; Farm
Pond, 190 acres. The combined holding capacity is
4,847,552,989 gallons.
These basins and the conduit were so far finished
that water was let into Chestnut Hill Reservoir
February 13, 1878, though the dams and basins were
not considered finished till the succeeding winter.
The original cost was: »
Paid B. F. Butler aad tbe Mill uwuera, including M.
U. SlmpMn $543,190
Paid land daniuges 507,572
650
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Paid buildJDg new bigbwaya 00,512
Paid coat of three dams and gate-bouaes 322,329
Paid coat of conduit 2,778,400
Paid cost of engineering, and miacellaDeoiu .... - 321,228
Paid temporary conuectioD 75,611
$4,008,8421
These figures do not include the cost of Chestnut
Hill reservoir, and the distributing service below,
nor the cost of land, construction of darn and basin
No. 4, completed at a later date.
Newspapers. — The first newspaper established in
this town was the Framingham Courier, a good-sized
folio, printed and published weekly by George
Brown. It was started in April, 1835, and was
continued for less than a year. The Fraviingham
Gcizette was established in June, 1871, by Pratt &
Wood. The Framingham Tribune was established in
October, 188.3, by Charles J. McPherson.
Saxonville Post-Office. — This office was estab-
lished March 5, 1828, Francis A. Bertody, post-
master. He was succeeded by Charles Fiske, January
4, 1830; Henry F.A.Richardson, February 28,1854;
Samuel P. Griffin, June 22, 1855 ; Samuel S. Danforth,
August 15, 1859; John R. Clark, .\.ugust 15, 1861 ;
Luther F. Fuller, May 30, 18G5; Patrick Hayes, Jr.,
1885 ; J. \V. Parmenter, 1889.
The South Framingham Post-Office was estab
lished February 12, 1841, Joseph Fuller, post-master
He was succeeded by Edward A. Clark, April 1, 1844
Samuel O. Daniels, July 7, 1849 ; SViilard Howe
July 1, 1853; John B. Lombard, 1885; Edward F
Phinney, March, 1890.
The Nobscot Post-Office was established June
18, 1878, Josiah S. Williams, post-master.
Provisio.v for the Poor.— By his will, dated
1728, Abraham Belknap left £10 for the support of
the poor of the town. In 173i) the town granted £■'>
for the relief of a poor family. And the custom pre-
vailed for many years to take up a contribution on
Thanksgiving and fast days, and to pay for the board
and clothing of the sick poor out of the town treas-
ury. (Jverseers of the poor were first chosen in 1741.
In 1757 the overseers hired the house, built by Rev.
Mr. Swifl for a study, for a work-house. A work-
house, 32 X 16 feet, was built in 1771, on the Centre
Common, a few rods northwesterly from the present
town hall, where the able-bodied poor were placed
and kept at work. It wa.s tuken down or removed
about 1805. In 1813 Col. Micah Stone left to the
town a legacy of about $10,000, the annual income of
which was to be applied to the support of his own
needy descendants, if any, and the balance to the
general poor. For many years the custom prevailed of
letting out the town's poor to the lowest bidder for
terms of five years. In 1823 Col. James Brown took
them ; in 1828 John Wenzell was the lowest bidder. In
1832 the town purchased the farm of Mrs. Solomon
1 Tbeaa flgurea are tajcen from the prioted Beporta of tbe BotituD
Water Boatil.
Fay, enlarged the buildings, procured stock, etc., at a
total cost of $4964.17. The house was burnt in 1841,
and the present more commodious one erected. In
1868 George Phipps gave to the town the sum of
§10,000, "To be held as a perpetual ftind, called the
Phipps Poor Fund, the annual income of which
is to be distributed by the selectmen, at their discre-
tion, for the support of the worthy poor of the town
out of the almshouse." In his will Mr. Phipps left
the additional sum of $10,000, the annual income of
which is to be expended under the same conditions
as the first gift, said fund now amounting to §20,U00.
War of the Rebeli^oj.', 1 801-65. — The action
of Framingham on the breaking out of the Rebellion
was prompt and decisive. Upon the first tidings of
an attack upon the Goverment of the United States
many of our young men enrolled themselves in the
active militia; and by the end of .\pril, 1861, nearly
a full company was raised and ready for organization
and equipment.
May 6, 1S<!1, a town-meeting was held to act on
the following articles: First, "To see if the town
will appropriate money to constitute a fund to pro-
vide a suitable outfit for such military companies as
may be organized in this town and accepted by the
Slate, and to furnish all necessary aid to the families
of members of the companies, residents of the town,
during such time as they shall be absent in the ser-
vice of their country." Article second, " To see if the
town will choose a committee to receive and e.tpeiid
said fund."
Under these articles the following preamble and
votes were passed :
^*\ilirreas a grave and extmortlinnry emen^enry now exists ; wliereby
tbe security uf our beloved guvprnmeut is tlin* ileijeil liy a portion t-f
the (jeopio w Iio are bound iiud sworn lo t*iip|iort. defend and obey it:
And ir/jere.iK. in the prosecution of its designs, the rebellious [Htrliou
have reaorteil to the eni[iloyraent of armed force ; have uuhiwfully
and forcibly seized and do noiv liold niucb pn>[>erty belougioj; to the
cuniluon government, and do generally disown and set it at detiaui-e ;
And irAereiw, we, the citizens of this to«n, do profess, and are ready
to maintain our uuswerviiig loyalty to the government obtained hy
our fathers by tbe sacrifice of llieir blood and treasure, and handed
down to usas a sacred and inestimable k< ft, under which we have
enjoyed those blesaing^ which make life happy : — We have asaend'led
together this day, to take such nieusin-es m are in our power, to aasist
in preaerving and maiut^iiniug lor ourselves and our children, this goo*!-
ly heritage.
'* Voted 1. That the town appropriate tbe sum of 5S0<K), ^• coiisLltute
the proposed fund.
"Voted 2. To choose a committee of nine, to take charge of and
expend the said fund ; and C. C. Esty, Oliver Bennett, Win. H Car-
ter, David Fiske, Joeepb Fuller, George A. Trowbridi;e, Frnucia
Jacques, Win, Hastings and lieury Cowles were chosen that commit-
teee."
It is worthy of notice that the above provision for
aid to the families of soldiers is seventeen days prior
to any action by the Commonwealth.
The militia company proceeded to perfect its organ-
ization, and continued in active drill till the 24th of
May, when it was ascertained that it would not be
received into any existing regiments. And the Legis-
lature, in extra session, having made provision for
FRAMINGHAM.
651
the maintenance of the militia at the expense of the
Commonwealth, the town's aid was suspended, and
the company disbanded. Most of its members, how-
ever, enlisted for the war in existing or projected
regiments.
Upon the 4th of July, 1862, the President issued a
call for more volunteers for three years' service. The
quota of this town was forty-four. At a meeting of
our citizens a committee was chosen to obtain sub-
scriptions for a fund to pay a bounty of $100 to each
volunteer who should enlist under this call. Forty-
eight subscribers contributed the sum of $4700, and
the same was paid out in bounties.
In August, 1862, a call was issued by the President
for volunteers for nine months' service.
September 1, 1862, at a town-meeting it was
■• r..Md To reimburae from the town treamiry to the contributors the
■uniofHTtXi, already advanced to pay bountlw. FofrJ, that there be
paid fron. the town Ireajury, $lurt to each volunteer, when muatered
Into service, a, a bounty. VoUd, that the 8um of S18,0OO be apprupna-
teJ for the purposes above nam«l, to be expended under the direction
of the selectmen."
The contributors of the $4700 fund held a meeting
September 3, 1862, and voted that the said sum of
money now reimbursed by the town, be placed in the
handsof a committee, to be called the Citizens' Mili-
tary Committee, to be expended at their discretion, for
the promotion of enlistments, and for the relief o«
soldiers and their families.
At the March meeting in 1863 the town " voted,
that the selectmen be instructed to bring home and
inter the bodies of such soldiers as may die in the
service, at the town's expense ;" and directed the
trustees of the Edgell Grove Cemetery to set apart a
suitable lot for thai purpose, to be called the Soldiers'
Lot.
As authorized by statute, at various times the
town raised and paid the bounties for men to fill all
our quotas.
Total amount expended by the town in bountiea and
recruiting expenses • . . . . 533,828.86
Amount paid by the town at aid to famillel of soldiera,
moat of which ha» been reimbuiwd by the State . . 820,4.56.87
Amount of indiviilual aubecriptiona to the various re-
cruiting and bounty funds 23,142.50
$83,428.23
In addition to the above-named money expenditure,
the Ladies' Association, Auxiliary to the Sanitary Com-
mission, were active and generous in preparing and
forwarding boxes filled with articles of necessity and
comfort, for the sick and wounded soldiers, in the
barracks and hospitals. Such associations were or-
ganized at the Centre, at Saxonville and at South
Framingham. These blessed ministries of love were
above all price.
The number of soldiers of all grades enlisted and
sent into the field by Framingham during the war was
as follows :
Doe hundred days' men .
Nine months' men . .
One year's men
Three years' men, cavalry
Three years' men, heayy artillery ^
Three years' men, light artillery
Three years' men. Infantry
Men enlisted in United States Army
Men enlisted in United Stales Navy •_^
Total ^
Number of men killed in action or died of wounds,
twenty. Number of men died of disease while in ser-
vice, eleven.
District Court.— The Southern Middlesex Dis-
trict Court .was established in 1874. It meets daily
at the court-room in South Framingham. Justice, C.
C. Esty ; Special Justices, L. H. Wakefield, Walter
Adams. Judge Esty was succeeded by Willis A.
Kingsbury in 1885.
Camp-Meeting Association.— October 2, 1871,
Rev. W. R. Clark and E. D. Winslow purchased
forty-five acres of land, including Mt. Wayte, at the
northerly end of Farm Pond, and laid out the ground
for preaching-stand, tents and cottages. The first
"camp-meeting" was held in August, 1872. The
Chautauqua Assembly now holds its annual sessions
on these grounds.
State Muster Grounds.— These grounds, situ-
ated on Pratt's Plain, at the junction of Eastern Ave-
nue and Concord Street, were purchased by the Com-
monwealth in 1873. The lot covers about 115 acres.
The Union Street Railway Company was
organized in 1888. The track extends from the Cen-
tre to the South Village, and from there to Saxon-
ville.
Professional Men.— Zatryers.- In eariy times
our people sought legal advice, and put their suits in
charge of lawyers located at or near the county-seats.
Rev. Mr. Swift was often employed to draw up wills,
as was his successor, Mr. Bridge. Thomas Drury,
Joshua Hemenway, Edward Goddard, Col. Buck-
minster, senior and junior, held the ottice of justice
of the peace, and wrote deeds and other official
papers. Mr. Goddard was well educated, and under-
stood the principles of law, aa well as the forms of
legal proceedings, and was often employed by the
town in the prosecution and defence of suits. The
same was true of Joseph Buckminster, Jr. Joseph
Haven, Josiah Stone, Jona. Maynard severally held
commissions as justice of the peace, and did a large
official business. Mr. Stona was appointed special
I judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 1782.
Eli Bullard, (H. U. 1787) opened a lawyer's office in
Framingham in 1791, and was in practice till his
death. Josiah Adams, (H. U. 1801) admitted to the
bar 1807, was here till hia death. William Buck-
minster, (class of 1809 H. U.) admitted to the bar
1811 ; at Vassalboro ', Me., till 1822, then in this
town'till his death. Lawson Kingsbury, (D. C. 1808)
was here from 1814 till his death. Omen S. Keith
(H. U. 1826,) was in practice here 1830-38 ; removed
to Boston. Charies R. Train .(B. U. 1837), in practice
652
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
here 1840-63 ; removed to Boston. C. C. Esty (Y.
C. 1845) commenced practice in 1848; appointed
judge of the District Court 1874. Robert Gordon (H.
U. 1843) opened an office herein 1862, and remained
till hia death F. F. Heard, H. U. 1848, had an of-
fice in this town, 1851-56. Coleman S. Adams, studied
law in Baltimore, Md.; opened an office in Framing-
ham, 1858. Theodore C. Hurd, U. C. 1858 ; in town
1860 till he was chosen clerk of the courts of Middle-
sex County. E. W. Washburn bad a law office at
South Framingham, 1870-78. Those who have re-
cently entered the profession here, are- Sidney A.
Phillips, D. C. 1869; Walter Adams, H. U. 1870;
George C. Travis, H. U. 1869 ; Ira B. Forbes, Charles
S. Barker, Fred. M. Esty, Willis A. Kingsbury, H. U.
1873 ; judge of District Court, John W. AUard, D. C.
1854; John M. Merriam. H. U. 1886; J. L. O'Neill.
Phygicians.— John Page, 1712-23; Bezaleel Rice,
1720-43 ; Joseph Nichols, 1730-52; John Mellen,
1747 ; Ebenezer Hemenway, 1750-84 ; Jeremiah Pike,
a noted bone-setter, was contemporary with Dr. Hem-
enway; John Sparkhawk, 1757; Richard Perkins,
H. U. 1748, was in practice here 1758; Elijah Stone,
1705-1804; Daniel Perkins, 178.5-92; Richard P.
Bridge, 17S9; John B. Kittredge, 179I-184S; Timo-
thy Merriam, 1791-1835; Ebenezer Ames, 1812,13,
removed to Wayland ; Simon Whitney, H. U. 1818,
waa in practice here 1822-<jl ; John T. Kittredge, A.
C. 1828, was in practice with his father till his death,
1837 ; Edward A. Holyoke, 1838-43 ; Otis Hoyt 1838-
47; EnosHoyt, 1847, till his death, 1875; John W.
Osgood, 1842-67 ; George A. Hoyt, D. U. 1847, 1852-
57 ; George M. Howe, 1862-82 ; Allston W. Whitney.
1852-67; O. O. John.son, 1850-82; Henry Cowles,
1852 till now ; Edgar Parker, 1866-70; E. L. Warren,
1870-78; George Rice, Y. C. 1S60, physician and
pharmacist ; George Beard, eclectic physician, has late-
ly died; Z. B. Adams, H. U. 1853, completed a course
in the Harvard Medical School ; studied in Paris ;
surgeon in thearmy 1861-^4; located in Framingham
1868 ; E. A. Hobbs, J. J. Boynton, L. M. Palmer, J.
J. McCann, 0. W. Collins, Anna M. Wilkin, L. B.
Holbrook, have recently located at South Framing-
ham. George Holman died, Marcus Ide died, Walter N.
Sharp, at Saxonville. Enos H. Bigelow at the
Centre.
Members of Conqres-s.— Lorenzo Sabine, Thirty-
second Congress; Charles R. Train, 1859-63; C. C.
Esty, 1872-73.
State Senators. — Captain Josiah Stone, 1780,
five years; Jona. Maynard, Esq., 1801, seven years;
Rev. Charles Train, 1829-31; Josiah Adams, Esq.,
1841; Joseph Fuller, 1852; Abial S. Lewis, 1856;
James W. Clark, 1871 ; Edward J. Slatterly, 1887.
STATISTICS.
PopulutUm,
PdIU.
VaiiuiUon.
1699 over
350
1710 about
44S
Ill
1705
1,280
331
£2897 17<. Si
1776
1,599
380
1790
ISUO
1810
1820
1830
1840
ISM
1860
1805
1870
1875
1880
1885
1S80
7*01011 Grants-
1,598
1,025
1,670
2,037
2,1113
3,():!ii
4,a'.2
4,227
4,005
4,908
5,107
C.2n2
8,275
9,5«0
-ISSU, tfl2,2(J7.
1884, IB,3S0.
1888, 107,339.
-Issued 1S88 .
383
35(1
395
472
090
905
1,073
1,U95
1,107
1,319
1,048
2,1M
2,044
Kulr uD tlOOO .
«.'
19 6l. 8<2.
$14,843
18,509
2-2,572
0(14,355
651,:150
1,910,013
2,208,.-.;)7
2,799,:i(>8
3,697,H7
4,:l03,'JSii
4,7K5,Uli
5,a8(J,J(Hl
7,173,.'.70
.... 51(1
.... 9
. . . 13
?120,(KI0
$r.(».(io
. 1,258.94
450.IH1
. 8,0."ji;.o2
. 4,020.00
500. Ul'
20,0(Hi.iNt
, 47,imi>.lHl
.'.0."
Sfwer Birnds-
Ttnrn Ftinilt — Kftton Fund, I.ibmry ....
Academy Fliud, Si'liouls . . .
Centre (.'uniinoii Fund ....
Stone Fiinti, Poor
Eilgell (^Irove Ccnii-lery Fund
Phipjw (7enielery Fund . . .
Pliipi'fl I'uur Funil
Kd^ell Liliniry Fund ....
Ilowe (^fnic(ecy Fuinl ....
l.ss.<(.— Vuluj\(ioii('f rcnieafute . |f."i.4:tl,(tm».(iO
Valnuliuii uf |ierB(UiHl eslate l,742,5!u.lKl
Number ipf peraciiis itaaeiwed 3,170
Niiniber of pen»ou3 on iKopei-(y ..... 1, :!.■.!
Number uT persuuH uii ]iult» uiily 1,819
Number uf dwelltng-liouseH l,.*ii;'.
Number of horsed 977
Number of cows •.ic,5
NiKuber of other cuttle 254
Number of sheep 031
Number of swiiio 1.",:;
Value of bulldlncn 8n,.Vjl,4iKP.iPO
Vulue of land ■J,;;<i9,0(io.((U
Town Officers 1889 : Clerk, Frank E. Hemenway ;
selectmen, Walter .\(iams, John H. GooJell, Jo.seph
C. Clo yes, G(.'orge A. Keed, Cieorge O. Bent : treixsiirer,
Samuel B. Bird ; collector, Charles J. Frost ; auditor,
William A. Brown ; assessors, Francis E. Stearns,
Eleazer Goulding, Josiah S. Williams; road coinnii;*-
sloners, William H. Walsh, Ira L. Dunaven, George
P. Metcalf ; overseers of poor, James L. Bropliy,
William F. Ward, Charles O. Trowbridge ; constable,
William C. Wight; School committee, Joseph B.
Johnsou, Lewis M. Palmer, F. C. Stearns, John W.
AUard, John S. Cullen, Walter Adams ; board of
health, Z. B. Adams, .1. J. Boynton, F. H. Sprague ;
commissioner of sinking fund, Clifford Folger ; trus-
tees of town library, Z. B. Adams, C. A. Humphrey,
F. B. Home, S. A. Phillips, L. F. Fuller, L. R. East-
man, Jr., W. F. Hurd, S. B. Bird. J. S. Cullen, Walter
Adams, J. W. Allard, J. Bj Johnson.
Town AppaoPRlATioNS, 1889.
Schools 831,476 23
SuperiDleDdent of Schools l,o(JU.(iO
Hiifbways, regular 11,000.00
Uigbways, 8i>eciul 17,150.9(3
Support of poor 0,900.21
(Contingencies 4,OOO.U0
Police 6,500.00
Enforcing liquor law 1.5(>0.00
Fire De|iartmeut 8,900.00
Electric lights 5,000.00
FRAMINGHAM,
653
Boani of Health 1,000.00
Town Library 3,230.00
HjilranH 2,900.00
Firealann 1,500.00
G. A. R. 500.00
Decoration Day 200.00
Salaries of town officora 4,l70.fH)
Abatement of taxei 1,200.00
Incidentals 2,037.00
CHAPTER XLI[I.
FEAMINGIUSl—l, Contln ued).
BY C. J. Mcl'HERSON.
In attempting to apeak of South Framingham, the
writer asks the considerate judgment of those of his
neighbors who are natives of the town and who, con-
sequently, must be l)etter posted upon the condition
of things here a quarter of a century ago and more.
No attempt is made in this chapter to treat of the
earlier days, tiiat portion of the history of the whole
town of Franiingham being left in the well-qualified
hands of the Rev. J. H. Temple. This chapter deals
only with the more modern developments, and a pic-
ture of the place as it is to-day, and is written by one
ot her busiest toilers, an adopted son whose love for
and pride in the old as well as the new town, is
scarcely second to any.
Twenty-five years ago South Framingham had al-
ready shown signs of an ambition to be something
more than the un[)retentioLi3 farming village of earl-
ier days. The Boston & Worcester (now the Boston
& Albany) Railroad had been opened in 1835, the
branch toSaxonville in IS-Ui, the branch to Milford
in 1S47, the branch to Framingham Centre in 18.50.
Thus more than ten years before the war the vil-
lage had become a point of some size on the railroad
map of the State. But it was destined to become at
an early day one of the greatest of New England rail-
road centres. The value of a railway runniDg north
and south, across the several main lines east and
west, was early seen, for such a line would be a great
distributing road for ])orts to the south, like New
Beilford, Fall River and Newport, besides being a feeder
to the roads with which it intersected. So it was that
in 18G5 the railroad from South Framingham- to
Fitchburg was completed ; that from South Framing-
ham to JIanstield in 1870 ; and that from Framing-
ham to Lowell in 1871. The last three named roads
form a part of the Old Colony system ; the first three
named are owned by the Boston & Albany. Still an-
other road is projected by the Old Colony Company,
this being a direct line from South Framingham to
Boston, by way of Dedham or West Roxbury. Tlie
last annual meeting of the Old Colony stockholders
authorized the directors to proceed with this con-
struction. To-day there are living in South Fram-
ingham about 250 railroad employees, besides their
families. There are over one hundred trains daily,
passenger and freight, arriving and leaving here.
The elegant stone Boston & Albany passenger station
was built at a cost of over $60,000. The freight-yards
of both systems are large ones, that for the Old Col-
ony being an especially busy place, as trains are
broken and made up here for all Southeastern Mass-
achusetts. The Old Colony brick round-house con-
tains twelve locomotives, and is already too small for
the business here. These unrivaled railroad advan-
tages account very largely for the wonderful growth
of the place, and promise great things for its future.
The Boston & Albany management is now rapidly
pushing its four parallel tracks westward from Bos-
ton to South Framingham. The agent in charge of
the Boston & Albany interests here is C. T. Boynton ;
the Old Colony agent is G. F. Amadou.
Years ago South Framingham was a favorite picnic
resort, but with the exception of charming Lakeview,
most of its attractive groves have had to give way to
modern improvements and growth. To-day the town
is one of the most beautiful to be found anywhere.
With the exception of the business section, most of
its surface is undulating, and through it like great
silken threads wind the Sudbury River and its tribu-
i taries. Nestling within its borders are four beautiful
great ponds, named respectively Farm, Waushakum,
Learned's and Gleason's. From the first two the
city of Boston takes part of its water supply. The
town has been as healthful as beautiful. A few years
ago the Water Board of the city of Boston, building a
conduit across Farm Pond, drained off the pond,
leaving the bottom exposed to the sun all summer.
The consequence was a small epidemic of malaria,
which lasted for two years or so, but with that brief
1 exception good health has been the rule here. This,
with the natural attractions of the place, brought
' many people to reside here, even before the develop-
, ment of the place as a business centre.
j The Public Schools have been excellent and
j with excellent supervision, having had a superinten-
j dent for many years, D.r. O. W. Collins tilling that
1 position at present. The School Committee consists
! of six members, two being elected each year for three
I years. The number of scholars in town in 1880, be-
[ tween the ages of five and fifteen years, was 1114, and
that number has gradually increased from year to
year, until for the school year ending April 1, 1800,
the number was 2009. The rapid growth of the town
the past eight years, consequent upon the establish-
ment of several factories here, brought in some who
had not had the advantages of an early education,
and for these an evening school ha.s been maintained
the past three winters, the average attendance nightly
' being about fifty. In addition to the high schools,
j the State Normal School at Framingham Centre
offers excellent advantages to our young people,
I New Villages.— With the coming of the new in-
dustries came busy little settlements around them.
654
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
HastiDgsville, just beyond the State muster-field, on
the road to Saxonville, taking its name from the
Hastings family, who lived and did business there,
was one of the older settlements. After the coming
of the Para Rubber Factory came the dwellings in
what is known as the Pari District. About a mile
away, on the broad acres of Loker Brothers, has
grown up, since the beginning of 1884, what is known
as Lokerville, with over 100 handsome cottages, a
chapel, school-house and store. Just over the Sher-
born line, near the " Para," is Sherbornville, a col-
lection of new houses, accommodating about 300 peo-
ple, all on account of the Para business. Around the
boot-factory has grown up a bustling centre, with a
school-house and store. This is called Coburnville,
named for a member of the boot manufacturing firm,
Mr. N. P. Coburn. Around the three new rattan
industries is growing up a handsome settlement
called Prattville, in compliment to Mr. Wellington
N. Pratt, who owned most of the laud and is enter-
prisingly developing it. Mr. R. M. Everit, of New
Haven, Conn., has laid out many acres into handsome
streets and house-lots, and so hiis Mr. T. L. Sturte-
vant and Mr. John H. Goodell. The sections owned
by them are being rapidly built upon.
South Framingham has gained rapidly in popula-
tion and valuation during the last ten or fifteen years.
The growth of South Framingham practically meas-
ures the growth of the town, for, substantially, the
whole of the gain has been in this village. In 1875
the population of the town was -5167 ; in 1880 it was
6235 ; in 1885 it was 8275 ; by the census of 1890 it is
nearly 10,000, and very few towns in the State are
growing faster. By the census of 1885 it was shown
that South Framingham's ratio of gain, taken by it-
self, would place it at the head of the list of towns in
the State in the percentage of gain. In eight years fol-
lowing 1880 the ratable polls had increased 1000.
The number of cows in town is just about the same as
ten years ago, but the gain in horses is 300. The gain
in real estate valuation for the past ten years, conse-
quent on the great amount of building, has averaged
over $250,000 yearly, the gain for the past year being
$325,000. The gain in personal property has been
nearly $100,000 yearly, making the total gain in South
Framingham for the past ten years about $350,000
yearly. For this time the average of the tax rate is
$11.60 on $1000, and this, notwithstanding the build-
ing of several new school-houses, a new engine-house,
a very complete new Fire Department, new stone-
crusher, many new streets and bridges, the grading of
streets for the introduction of the street railroad, the
introduction of electric street-lights and a hydrant
service, evening schools, new police station, etc., all
of which have been paid for in full.
The census of 1890 shows Framingham to be, with
one exception, the largest town in Middlesex County,
only the eight cities in the county being larger. The
Legislature of 1890 passed a bill allowing the annex-
ation of a part of Sherborn, bordering on South Fram-
ingham, to this town ; but the town, fearing the pos-
sibility of a large expense in draining that territory
on account of its contiguity to Boston's water supply,
declined to accept the act. Had the territory been
annexed, Framingham's population would thus have
been increased from three hundred to four hundred ;
but to all intents and purposes, except for voting, this
population is now a partof South Framingham, doing
its trading and working here, and being situated over
two miles from Sherborn Village.
The last Representative to the State Legislature
from this village was Joel C. Clark, who served in
1879. The town has sentaRepresentativeevery year,
but he has always come from one of the other villages.
The Hon. Edward J. Slattery was elected to the State
Senate from here, serving in 1887 and 1888. The
town selectmen elected from this village since 1S60
have been : O. W. Livermore, '60-61 ; Gilnian Ful-
ler, '62-64, '74-76; Andrew Coolidge, '65-70 ; Wil-
lard Howe, '71-72; E. L. Sturtevant, '7.1 ; Eleazar
Goulding, '77-81, '83; B. T. Manaon, '81-82; B. T.
Thompson, '82; George R. Cutler, '84-85; J. H.
Goodell, '86-89; C. N. Fuller, '86, '88; A. M. Eames,
■87; George O. Bent, '88-89; R. M. French, '90; C.
P. Knowlton, '90.
The present Senatorial district comprises the city of
-Marlboro' and the towns of Framingham, Natick,
Hopkinton, Holliston, Ashland, Sherborn, Sudbury,
Wayland, Weston, Maynard.
The Representative district, entitled to two Re|>re-
sentatives, includes the towns of Framingham, Hol-
liston, Wayland, Sherborn.
The town is in the Ninth Congressional District
and the Sixth Councilor District. On account of its
central location and easy accessibility by railroad,
many of the political conventions are held here. The
working committees of the two principal political
parties in town have usually been large, with sub-
committees in the different villages. As a rule, the
citizens have not adhered strictly to party lines in
their selection of town officials, although occasionally
this rule has been departed from. At the present
time the Republican and Democratic parties in town
are of nearly the same size, while the Prohibitionists
have a modest representation. When the State Leg-
islature authorized large towns to establish the pre-
cinct system of voting in fall elections, Framingham
adopted the change in 1886, and found it a most
agreeable one. The town has four precincts.
In 1889 the Australian ballot system of voting was
first tried, and it proved to be popular at once.
For a number of years a slight effort had been made
to abolish the board of three road commissioners,
who had full charge of the work upon the roads and
bridges of the town, but it was not until the present
year — 1890 — that this movement was successful, and
the provisions of the statute enacted by last year's
Legislature, allowing the selectmen to appoint a sup-
FRAMINGHAM.
655
erintendent of streets, was accepted and the road
commission abolislied. The selectmen appointed Mr.
William H. Walsh superintendent of streets, he hav-
ing lieen one of the road commissioners forsome years
past. Within two years the town officers' headquar-
ters have gradually been removed to South Framing-
ham, and now they are all located here. The time is
looked forward to as being not far away when Fram-
ingham will apply for a city charter, and many of
her most conservative citizens believe that the time
has come when that form ot government is best adapt-
ed to her needs. From time to time the agitation
for a division of the county, or the formation of a
new county out of two or three others, has been agi-
tated, and Framingham h;i3 been designated as the
most convenient place for the county-seat. The new
county may never materialize, buttjouth Framingham
will continue to be the natural centre of many miles
of territory in this vicinity.
The property in town e.vempted from ta.tation, by
the report of the iissesaor in 1888, is appraised at
$12ri,2UU. This amount Ls made up of the churches,
grounds of the Cam[)-Meeting Association, Middlesex
i^oulh .Vgricultural Grounds, and Home for the Aged.
In addition to this is the ))roperty owned by the Com-
monwealth, including the State Normal School prop-
erty and the State Muster Field.
The property owned by the town, as appraised by
the assessors, exclusive of cemeteries, amounts to
about $15U,0o0. This does not include the sewerage
system, which cost §lol),000, and which is bonded.
With the excefition of the latter, the town is practic-
ally free from clebt, beside having several funds left by
[Xiblic benefactors. The (Jol. Moses Edgell fund for
the beiielit of the Public Library amounts to $47,000,
while the Joseph Phipps fund for the worthy poor of
the town is •■?2U,00o.
Considerable attention has been paid to caring for
shade-trees on nur resident streets, and the result re-
pays well the care e.^i>ended.
The Sherborn Reformatory Prison for Women may
be said almost to be one of the institutions of this
town, since it is located upon the dividing line be-
tween this village and Sherborn, a part of the property
being each side of the line. The South Framingham
railroad and mail facilities are used, but the institu-
tion will |)robably be referred to at more length by
Dr. IJlanchard, in his chapter on Sherborn.
The town has had a Board of Health for years, al-
though that board has had comparatively little to do.
Special attention has been paid to vaccination, to
drainage, to infectious and contagious diseases that
might be spread through the schools, and regulations
have been maintained and circulars issued concerning
sinall-pox, scarlet and typhoid fevers, measles, diph-
theria, etc. Until within four months the board for
the past few years has consisted of Dr. Z. B. Adams,
Dr. J. J. Boynton, F. H. Sprague.
The Western Union Telegraph office is open night
and day, and so is the telephone exchange, aa well as
on Sunday.
A Free Public Reading-Room is maintained by the
town, being located now in Nobscot Block. This is
well supplied with magazines and papers, and from it
books are distributed from the main Public Library at
the Centre Village, which is one of the oldest free
public libraries in the world, and which contains about
15,000 volumes.
The town is lighted by electric lights, both arc and
incandescent, the latter being deemed the more satis-
factory upon streets much shaded by trees.
The public buildings owned by the town are not as
a rule conspicuous for size or elegance. Some of the
school-houses are well adapted to the demands upon
them, as are the engine-houses. At both the Centre
and Saxonville villages there is an old-fashioned town
hall, comfortable for ordinary gatherings, but both
totally inadequate to accommodate the voters of the
town at town-meeting times. From time to time the
project of building a large town hall at South Fra-
mingham has been discussed, but the wise view has
been that it were better to wait a little while longer,
when the rapidly increasing population should make
a city of the town, for then a city hall will be re-
quired— a building altogether different in size and
arrangement from a town hall.
Business Blocks. — Waverley Block was built in
1851, and for that lime it was an especial credit to
the town, containing stores, offices, and a public hall.
An addition was afterwards built. The block had a
slated pitched roof, with cupola, but in the summer
of 1889 fire nearly consumed it, and it waa rebuilt
with a Hat roof. It stands in a conspicuous position,
opposite the railroads, on the south side, and on the
corner of Irving Square. It is owned by Henry
Bullard, of Holliston.
Xobgcot Block, a commanding wooden structure,
was built in 1871 by P. G. Rice for Wm. A. & George
Rice, and is now owned by E. 0. Rice, these all being
brothers. It is located near the railroads on the
north side, contains stores, offices, the District Court-
room, and two banking-rooms. During the present
year it has been much improved.
Union Block, situated opposite the railway station,
on the south side, was built in 1870 by Geo. W. Bige-
low and C. C. Esty, principally for the wheel business.
It was afterwards let for other purposes, and finished
off for stores, offices and other business apartments,
in which way it is now occupied.
The Odd Fellows' Building Association set the ex-
ample of building with brick when it erected its hand-
some block on the south side of Irving Square in
1876. Besides the Odd Fellows' apartments, which
have also" been let to other societies, the block contains
stores and offices.
In 1882 Mr. H. Gardner Eames built Elmwood
Block, just south of Odd Fellows' Block. This is a
wooden structure with stores on the street level, and
656
HISTORY" OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
the Opera-House overhead. It is uow owned by 3Ir.
Wm. H. Trowbridge.
The old Liberty Block was remodeled in 1884 by
the owners, Messrs. Cutler, Ranney and Claik, and a
handsome new brick annex was built. This is on the
north side of ihe railroad and at present the post-
office is located there, besides Pythian Hall, stores,
offices, club-rooms and banking-rooms.
David Eames built Central Block in Irving Square,
of wood, in I88-. It contains stores and offices.
Reardon's Block, on Howard Street, was built of
w^)od in 1884. It has stores below and tenements
overhead.
Within a year past a new era in the construction
of business blocks has been ushered in, in the build-
ing of .some handsome new brick blocks of modern
arrangement.
Joshua Smith took the initiative by building the
largest block in town, a sustantial four-story brick
structure with brown-stone trimmings. It faces the
railroads, on the south side, overlooking Irving
Sijuare. In it are six large stores, ^lasouic Hall and
banquet hall, club-rooms and offices. It is iieated by
the hot water system and lighted with gas and electric
lights. It has just been finished.
Tlie Tribune BiiUdiiuj followed close after the Smith
Block, and is nearly completed at this writing. It i.s
of four stories, of brick with brown-stone trimmings,
and overlooks Irving Square. Besides the Tribune
newspaper quarters, there are four large stores, the
largest public hall in the place, next to the Opcra-
Ilouse, offices, club-rooms, i)hotograph studio and
public bath-rooms. Il is heated by steam and lighted
by gas and electric lights.
TTic Manson Building Company is now building on
the north .side of the railroad, opposite Nobscot Block,
a handsome brick block of four stories, also to have
brown-stone trimmings. This block will have four
large stores, two public orsociety halls, banking-rooms
and offices, one of the features being a first-class fire-
proof and burglar-proof vault.
Besides the blocks above enumerated, there are
many smaller ones where stores and offices are lo-
cated.
Public Halls. — Of these there ia no lack. Largest
in size is the Opera-House, and following in the order
of their size comes Union Hall in the Tribune Build-
ing, Masonic Hall in Smith Block, Odd Fellows'
Hall in Odd Fellows' Block, Pythian Hall in Liberty
Block, Hibernian Hall on Howard Street, the two
new halls in the Manson Building, Nobscot Hall,
used as the District Court-room, G. A. R. Hall in
Irving Block, St. Stephen's Hall in Liberty Block.
Hotels. — These may be enumerated as follows:
Old Colony House, Winthrop House, South Fram-
ingham Hotel, Everit House, Coburn House, Procter
House, Grant House.
Fire Department. — It was in 1841 that the old
Framingham Centre fire-tub was brought to South
Framingham. It was then called "Franklin No. 3."
Along in the forties it was exchanged for a new tub
of the S. & D. Thayer make, and this new accession
was dubbed "Niagara No. 3." This tub was run
until 1859, when it was exchanged for another new
tub of the Hunneman build, and this w;ia also chris-
tened " Niagara No. 3." The company which manned
the " Franklin " numbered thirty, but there were
forty-five members in the last " Niagara "' company.
When, in 1885, the street water hydrant service wiis
completed for use, the old Niagara hand-tub was sent
to Nobscot (North Framingham), and out of the old
ci>mpany two new companies were organized— one
the hose company, the other the hook-aud-ladder
company, which was named after Willi.s M. llanney,
one of South Framingham's enterprising citizens.
For the hose company a reel-carriage Wiis Ijought,
but this has recently been supersedoil by the more
modern hose-wagon, in which the hose is (oldeil. A
liaiidsome and well-equipped hook-and-ladder truck
of the GleasoM & Bailey make was the next purchase.
.Since 1885 two ha'idsome steam fire-engines nt' the
^Silsby build have been bought for the ;)ther villages
of the town, — one each for Framingham Centre and
•Saxonville, the last one arriving in April, 188G, —
while a fine new engine-house for the Centre village
was dedicated a few months ago. Before the close of
1880 the town was supplied with the Gamewell fire-
alarm system. To-day there are twenty-one boxes,
and in addition to ringing the bells of the town, a
large steam-gong is blown, — this latter being located
upon the water company's |)umping-station.
The Fra.min(;ham Wateu Co-MPANY was organ-
ized in 1883, after more or less discussion in town as
to the benefits to come from street water and the duty
of the town to provide it. The corporators were
-Messrs. Willis M. Ranney, Charles F. Cutler, George
E. Cutler, Sidney A. Phillips, William C. McLellan.
The Holly system was the one adopted, the water
being drawn from galleries in Farm Pcnd, one of the
sources of the city of Boston's water supply. The
water is forced directly through the mains by means
of two large pumps, one high pressure and the other
a compound pump. While but one of them is used
at a time, both are kept ready for instant service.
The works were completed ready for use in the early
summer of 1885, and an exhibition of their working
was given on the occasion of the July 4th celebra-
tion of that year. There are now thirteen miles of
|)ipe in the system, and the plant is competent to do
twice the volume of business required of it, with the
present pumps. Willis M. Ranney is president of
the company, George E. Cutler, treasurer, and Sidney
X. Phillips, clerk and counsel. Thus far only South
Framingham has been piped, but the service is now
being extended to certain portions of the Centre,
notably the Normal School district. Within the past
two years a strong feeling has been expressed in town
that the town should itself own and operate the water-
FRAMINGHAM.
657
works, and a committee was appointed, in the spring
of 1889, to examine into the matter, confer with the
company and report. The report, while making no
definite recommendations, appeared to favor town
ownership of the works. There are about eighty fire
hydrants in South Framingham, and about eighty
pounds pressure is constantly maintained at the
pumping station.
District Court.— "The First District Court of
Southern Middlesex " was established here in 1874,
with one jusiice, two special justices and a clerk. The
court meets every day in the year except Sundays and
legal holidays. The court-room is in Nobscot Block.
At the organization of the court, the Hon. C. C. Esty,
of Framingham, was appointed justice, with L. H.
Wakefield, Esq., of Hopkinton, and E. C. Mor^e, Esq ,
of Xatick, special justices. The towns in the district
originally included Framingham, Ashland, Hopkin-
ton, Xatick, Sudbury, Wayland, Holliston and Sher-
born, but Xatick and Hopkinton were afterwards set
off from the district. Justice Morse's last service on
the bench of the District Court was on April 19, 1881 ,
and Xatick being set off April 28, 1881, Mr. Morse
was made a trial justice in that town. Mr. Wake-
field has remained to the present time the first special
justice of the court. His residence is now South
Framingham. Judge Esty retired in December, 1885,
and Willis A. Kingsbury, Esq., then of Holliston, but
now of South Framingham, was appointed in his place
in January, 1886, and assumed his office for the first
time on February 9, 1886. He still holds the posi-
tion. When Special Justice Morse retired, in April,
1881, Walter Adams, Esq., of Framingham, was ap-
pointed to the vacani, position, which he still holds.
He first held court on June 22, 1881. At the organi-
zation of the court, Sidney A. Phillips, Esq., was
appointed clerk, which position he held until 1878,
when he retired, and Ira B. Forbes, Esq., was appoint-
ed. He held the office until 1880, when the present
clerk, Joseph H. Ladd, Esq., was appointed on August
30. In this court there are from GOO to 900 criminal
complaints issued in a year, and from 100 to 125 civil
entries made.
Telephone Business. — South Framingham men
were among the pioneers in the telephone business.
A Mr. Hardy had a license fi-om the American Bell
Telephone Company to build a telephone line from
Boston to Worcester. This right was bought by three
South Framingham men in 1880 — Messrs. Charles F.
Cutler, who was in the grain business ; Willis M.
Ranney, who at that time was bookkeeper for Cutler &
Co., and Joel C. Clark, who was in the printing busi-
ness. These three organized The Central Massachu-
setts Telephone Company, with C. F. Cutler, presi-
dent ; J. C. Clark, secretary ; W. M. Ranney, treasurer.
They built the line from Boston to Worcester, with
local exchanges in about all the towns on the line.
In about two years these same gentlemen went to the
western part of the State and brought out the Spring-
field Company, consolidating it with the other, under
the name of the Consolidated Massachusetts Tele-
phone Company. In 1884 the company sold out to
the Lowell telephone syndicate. Messrs. Cutler and
Clark remained in the telephone business, going to
Xew York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where
they now have large interests. Mr. Ranney engaged
in the lumber and wood and coal business in South
Framingham, and became president of the Framing-
ham Water Company.
The Post-Office. — The South Framingham post-
office was established February 12, 1841, Hon. Jos-
eph Fuller being appointed postmaster, and retaining
the position until April 1, 1844, when Edward A.
Clark was appointed. Mr. Clark's term of service
expired in July, 1849, and S. 0. Daniels was then
postmaster until July 1, 1853. From the latter date
Willard Howe served as postmaster until July 1, 1885,
when he resigned after a service of thirty-two years
in the position, to a day. John B. Lombard assumed
the duties of the office on July 1, 1885, holding it
nearly five years, or until April 1, 1890, when Captain
Edward F. Phinney assumed the office. When Mr.
Howe took the office, in 1853, his salary based on the
commissions, was $125 yearly, and out of this came
all the expenses of rent, fuel, lights, clerk hire, etc.
To-day the office is one of the second-class, with
S2000 salary for the post-master, while the government
pays the expenses above named.
Following is the report of the count of the num-
ber of pieces and weight of matter, with amount of
postage thereon, mailed during the seven consecutive
days beginning at 6 o'clock a.m. Monday, May 5th,
and ending at 6 o'clock A.Jf. Monday, May 12, 1890,
at the post-office at South Framingham, which was
taken, in common with other offices throughout the
country at the same time, for statistical purposes, and
by order of the Postmaster-General :
DoHECTIC. No. of Weight Anit. uf
FiBST Class Mattee. pi*^ced. lbs. u?.. pudiu^e.
Letters mailed to other offices 58U7 110 7 Slls '>4
Local letters • . . JTS l:i 4 lii :;4
Postal cartla to other olSces O-'tU do ti 'M
Local postal cards -m I ^^ 2 :t4
Seco»d-Ci..\ss Matter.
Mailed by publishera toother offices, Ic. per llj. 570 fA 55
Mailed by piiblisherB for local delivery .... 7li!) t>3
Mailed by pQblisber? in county, tree 70 .i
Newspapers, Ic. per 4 oz., to other offices . . ItjS :U 2 1 7ti
THLBD-CI.ABS AIaTTKB.
Mailed to other offices 47 'ja 1 Jl
FoUBTH-CLAriS MaTTEB.
Mailed to other offices 5ti 2« S 4 7.1
Foreign letters 61 17 3 -^
Other matter 12 2 s ji
official matter 1 15 2 3
9IKr> :t47 16 S150 24
Amusement Halls. — Waverley Hall was built in
1851, by Elias Howe. For a long time it was the only
hall in the village. Subsequently Irving Hall and
X''obscot Hall were built, but it was not until Elm-
wood Hall was erected by H. Gardner Eames, in
1882, thatany attempt was made to provide scenery for
theatrical performances. Elmwood Hall seated nearly
900 people. The first real scenery was used in it in
March of 1883. During the roller skating craze,
658
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Mtears. F. H. Hunt and Edgar S. Twichell built
Alpha Rink on South Street, in the summer of 1883,
and the following year Mr. Eames built Elmwood
Rink, in the rear of the hall. Mr. Eames sold the
hall and rink to Wm. H. Trowbridge in 1885, and the
following year Mr. Trowbridge greatly enlarged and
altered the building, changing its name to Elmwood
Opera-House. It is now one of the cosiest little
theatres in the State outside the large cities, seats
about 1100 people, has a horse-shoe balcony, large
stage with machinery, scenery and properties, abund-
ance of dressing-rooms, electric lights, is handsomely
frescoed, and withal a most attractive place.
Lakeview. — South Framingham has had some
particularly handsome and inviting picnic resorts,
made so largely by the several small lakes or large
ponds in the town. For many years Harmony Grove,
on the easterly banks of Farm Pond, was a popular
place. In 1871 Rev. Wm. R. Clark, D.D., and E. D.
Wiuslow purchased forty-five acres at the northerly
end of Farm Pond, for the South Framingham Camp-
Meeting Association. This land, which included
Mt. VVayte, was improved and laid out for the pur-
poses intended, and has ever since been a popular re-
sort. Methodist camp-meetings are held here year-
ly, but the grounds have gained their principal fame
during the past ten years, from being the gathering
place of the New England Chautauqua Sunday-school
Assembly. During the ten or twelve consecutive
days of the " Assembly," many tliousands of people
visit the grounds, and the reports of tiie meetings are
widely published. The superintendents of instruc-
tion have been Bishop John H. Vincent, and Rev.
Drs. Jesse L. Hurlbut, of New York, and Albert E.
Dunning, of Boston. Hon. B. B. Johnson, of Wal-
tham, is president of the Assembly, which has become
incorporated within a year, and of the Camp-Meeting
Association, which owns the grounds, Rev. Dr. W.
R. Clark is president of the Board of Directors, and
ex-Gov. Wm. Claflin, LL.D., is chairman of the
Land Committee. Samuel Cochran is superinten-
dent of the grounds. There are about 100 hand-
somely painted and well kept cottages on the
grounds, besides the tents which are used in the
summertime. In addition to the large covered audi-
torium, with seats for four or five thousand people,
there is a large dormitory, dining-saloon with steam-
boiler and other accessories, stables, etc. The Public
Assembly buildings are the Hall of Philosophy, or
Hall on the Hill, Normal Hall, the C. L. S. C. Alum-
ni headquarters building, and handsome and conven-
ient buildings, eacli for the Methodist, Baptist and
Congregational headquarters. A sample program of
the ten days' meetings is the one just held, which con-
sists of twenty lectures upon literature, history, trav-
el, science, art, political economy, ten lectures on
temperance, two monologue entertainments, or char-
acter impersonations, eight concerts, with a chorus
of 200 trained voices, besides soloists and instrumen-
talists, sermons, normal and children's classes,
chorus trainings, C. L. S. C. round tables, camp-
fires, athletic games, illuminations of the grounds
and fireworks, and many special features. It is not
strange that such a program, with some of the best
talent in this and other lands, should make this place
popular. These meetings are held in July.
The State Muster-Field comprises about llo
acres aud is kept in good order tor the annual en-
campment of the State militia. These grounds were
bought by the Commonwealth in 1873, and are ad-
mirably adapted to the purpose for which they are
used. Captain Luke R. Landy is superintendent.
Besides his residence there is an arsenal in which are
placed various military stores; there are the guard-
houses, brigade headquarters, cook-houses, fort, rifle-
targets and butts, stables, etc. Two brigade musters
are held annually, with about 2500 of the Stale
militia present each time, and besides these there are
meetings for rifle practice and other drills. The street-
cars from South Framingham to Saxonville run by
the field, which at muster-time is, with the exception
of the parade-ground, white with tents.
The Seaverage System. — South Framingham has
a sewerage system of which it may well be proud, both
from the fact that it is practically the pioneer system
of its kind in the country, with the possible esceji-
lion of Pullman, III., and on account of its thorough
construction aud couiplete adaptation to the needs of
the place. It is probable that no other city or town
in the country of its size has a sewerage .system ap-
proaching this in completeness, and the question is
:ujked : Why has South Framingham so expensive a
system? The cause dates away back to the time
when the city of Boston was permitted to take the
waters in this vicinity for her water supply. Having
once taken these waters, it was necessary to preserve
their purity for domestic purposes, and so the big
city early began a crusade against the people in the
towns along her water supply, to compel them to dis-
continue all pollution of these streams.
So important was this matter deemed that the
Legislature of 1884 provided for the appointment of
a State Drainage Commission to inquire into and re-
port upon the protection of water supplies, the
methods of sewage disposal, and the application of
such methods to the towns and cities in the Common-
wealth which seemed most to call for it. This com-
mission, reporting upon the Sudbury and Cochituate
basins, .said that in the case of some small towns, in-
terference was unnecessary, " but in respect to Natick
and South Framingham the present need of sewerage
relief is crying.'' A joint system was proposed by
this commission, substantially as it stands to-day, to
include the Sherborn Woman's Reformatory, if desir-
able. They recommended that Boston pay $20,000
towards the cost of such a system, and the Common-
wealth $15,000, the estimated cost being $135,000.
But the town ot Natick would take no steps in the
FRAMINGHAM.
659
matter, and Framingham eventually lelt compelled
to do it alone, in order to preserve her manufactur-
ing industries, for it was these latter, chiefly, which
polluted the tributaries to Boston's drinking water.
Early in 1885 we find Boston instituting a suit
against the town of Framingham for the abatement
of nuisances and pollution of her water supply.
In February, 1886, the legislative Committee on
Drainage gave a hearing to the Framingham Board
of Health, for authority to build an open drain from
South Framingham to Sazonville, beyond the water-
shed of the Boston water supply. It was designed to
drain certain low, wet sections of the village through
this drain, rather than to provide for sewage from the
bouses and factories of the whole village. It was a
good scheme in itself, but did not go far enough.
A town-meeting on November 29, 1886, had for its
special business the discussion of the proposition to
petition the ne.xt Legislature for leave to construct a
system of sewerage for the town, and the meeting in-
structed its selectmen to so petition, and they were
constituted the town's Committee on Drainage. Hear-
ings were then held from week to week to ascertain the
ideas and deriires of the citizens, and at the hearings
the claims of the several methods of sewage disposal
were advanced. Some favored the open drain to Sax-
onville ; some advocated a trunk sewer from Worces-
ter to Boston, with opportunities for the towns along
the way to enter; some believed in the precipitation
idea, and this system of disposal, by means of chemi-
cals, was illustrated by experiments by a German
chemist; the intermittent filtration and broad irriga-
tion methods were discussed. Me.antime the town's
Drainage Committee had busied itself gathering in-
formation, and finally it secured the services of Civil
Engineer S. C. Heald, of Worcester, for preliminary
investigations, surveys and estimates, and $1500 wa-s
appropriated by the town for this purpose. A draft of
a bill, representing the need.s of the town, was pre-
pared by Town Counsel, Walter Adams and Hon.
William Gaston, of Boston, and presented to the
Legislature. Upon this bill legisl.itive hearings
were held, the legislative Committee on Drainage vis-
ited the town and I'xaminod the premises thoroughly,
and in spite of the active opposition of Xatick's Rep-
resentativr-j, the bill passed the Legislature almost
unanimously, and was signed by the Governor. En-
gineer Heald recommended the adoption of the irri-
gation system, which was also the recommendation of
the ytate Drainage Commission, and it wa.s this sys-
tem which the town adopted. The city of Boston
offered to pay S25,(H)0 towards the cost, and on Feb-
ruaiy 20, 1888, the town appropriated .$140,000 to
construct the system, bonds for that amount being
issued, to run for twenty years. The town chose as a
committee to have in charge the construction of the
system, Messrs. Walter Adams, John H. Goodell,
Charles H. Fuller, Patrick Hayes, Jr., William H.
Hastings, Franklin E. Gregory, James R. Entwistle,
Edward J. Slattery, Henry L. Sawyer. The town
chose as a Bond Committee, to act with the town
treasurer, Messrs. James J. Valentine, Francis C.
Stearns, Thomas L. Barber. For Commissioners of
the Sinking Fund, the town chose Clifford Folger for
one year, Franklin H. Sprague for two years, Frank-
lin E. Gregory for three years. The plan was ap-
proved by the State Board of Health, and thus every-
thing was made ready for construction. The act of
the Legislature gave the town the right to take a suit,
able tract of land just over the Natick boundary line,
belonging to Framingham parties, for a sewage farm.
Engineer Heald, in his report, reviewed the me-
chanical filtration, chemical precipitation and irriga-
tion systems, and strongly advised the adoption of the
latter, and his recommendations were adopted. He
was employed as the engineer, but, going to Europe
.shortly after, he left the whole work of preparing the
plans, specifications, etc., to Engineer John J. Van
Valkenburg, who superintended the construction
throughout, and afterwards became the town engin-
eer. The work was most thoroughly done, and to-
day stands far ahead of any other system of the kind
in the United States, the system at Pullman, 111.,
being after the same idea, but not nearly so complete.
Of the 24x36 inch brick sewer in our streets there
is over 3100 feet, and of the sewer-pipes of various
sizes there is over 22,000 feet additional, with 135
man-holes. The sewage runs by gravity through the
streets to the pumping-station. At this place the
main 24x36 inch sewer delivers the sewage into a man-
hole ten feet in diameter, and from this it flows in
either of three directions : first, if desired, directly to
the pumps, or to either of two large subterranean
reservoirs, each with a capacity of 200,000 gallons.
The Davidson Compound Condensing Pumpiug En-
gines lift the sewage from these reservoirs and forces
it through about 10,000 feet of 12-inch iron force-
main to the filtration field of 70 acres. From the
large manhole which this force-main enters, the sew-
age flows by gravity along the fields, being conducted
wherever desired by the use of gates, each field con-
taining about an acre and being surrounded by em-
bankments. This system is receiving many visitors
from towns and cities which have to face the problem
of sewage disposal. Its management is in the hands
of a Sewer Committee of three, one of whom is elected
each year for three years. Messrs. John H. Goodell,
Russell M. French and Patrick Hayes, Jr., comprise
the committee at present, and Major J. M. Wiswell is
the superintendent.
Street Railroad. — One of the modern improve-
ments is the street railway, connecting this village
with Framingham Centre and Saxonville. For years
the coach run between the South and Centre villages
by William C. Wight had been deemed a suflicient
conveyance, oftentimes running empty. The establish-
ment of the Para Rubber Shoe Works at South
Framingham brought many employees from Saxon-
660
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
viUe, and these were conveyed morniog and night in
coaches and barges. The many special occasions,
like town-meetings, hearings, caucuses, entertain-
ments, conventions, which brought the people of the
three principal villages of the town together, as well
as the necessities of the factory operatives and the
conveyance of the South Framingham High School
students to the school at the Centre, inspired the
idea that a street railway might be made to pay, and
this matter was taken up by the local newspapers and
so agitated that at length several schemes were ad-
vanced for the construction of such a road. One of
the first of the schemes was that of the Suspension
Transportation Company, which petitioned theselect-
men for the right to construct and operate a line be-
tween the South and Centre villages. The idea was
to plant a line of posts on which, upon side brackets,
would be strung two heavy cable wires, one at the
top, and one about eight feet below. Between these
two wires a car holding perhaps twelve persons was
to be operated by an electric current passing out over
one, through the car motor, and returning to a central
station upon the other wire. Obvious objections
were raised to this scheme, and the petition was
dismissed. Meantime, by the continued agitation,
people were becoming convinced that some kind of a
road would soon be a necessity. Early in February
of 1887, certain gentlemen in town, prominent among
whom were Charles H. Emerson, Samuel B. Bird,
Clifford Folger, L. F. Fuller and Ira B. Forbes,
together with the Haines Brothers and others of New
York, associated themselves together to form a
corporation known as the Framingham Street Rail-
way Company. The capital stock was placed at
.$35,000, and the length of the road was to be four
miles. From the South Framingham terminus near
the Boston & Albany passenger depot, the road was
to run through Framingham Centre to the Old Colony
railroad station. One branch was to run to the
State muster-field on Concord Street, and another
short branch to the Para Rubber Works.
The very next week a rival association was formed,
many of the gentlemen interested in it being those
who had been for some time intending to ask for a
franchise, but who were not disposed to hurry matters,
until awakened by the prompt action of Haiues
Brothers and their allies. The last corporation was
to be known as the Framingham Centre Street Rail-
way Company, and differed from the first-named
company in that while that was to be controlled by
outside parties, this latter company was composed of
a long list of stock-holders, all of whom, with two
exceptions (and they only owning three shares), were
citizens of Framingham. The capital stock of this
latter company was to be $20,000, and the number of
miles of road two and one-half, the route being the
same as that of the other company without the Para
and muster-field branches. The leading spirits in
this enterprise were Sidney A. Phillips, William C.
Wight, William H. Hastings, C. C. Stevens, George
H. Waterman.
With petitions for location from both of these
compa!iies before the selectmen, the latter were forced
to carefully examine their respective merits. The
competition was warm and close, and it began to put
the Haines Bros, at a disadvantage. To reintbrce
their position, these gentlemen and their associates
supplemented their first association with another one,
to be called the Saxonville and South Framingham
Street Railway Company. Its route was to be from
Saxonville to the State muster-field, connecting with
the Concord Street terminus of the " Framingham
Street Railway Company." This last bit of stratagem
proved a wise move, for it secured the active co-op-
eration of Saxonville citizens, who had no direct rail
communication with the other villages of the town.
After much investigation by the selectmen, the two
companies in which the Haines Bros, were interested
were denied the franchise asked for. A new associ-
ation was at once formed to take their place. This
last a-sociation was named " The Framingham
Union Street Railway Company." and it was organ-
ized with a capital of $60,000. It was a virtual con-
solidation of the two companies which had been giv-
en leave to withdraw, and provided for building a road
;'rom South Framingham to the Centre and Saxon-
ville, as well as the branch to the Para factory. It
included more citizens of the town on its Hat of stock-
holders than any of the other companies, there being
sixty-eight Saxonville names alone. With the home
capital, practical railroad men from Fall River and
New Bedford were associated, and on July 20, 1887,
this new company was granted a franchise. Work
went rapidly forward. Charles H. Emerson was
chosen president, and Samuel B. Bird treasurer, and
they, with Clifford Folger, L. F. Childs, James R.
Entwistle, L. F. Fuller, E. F. Sprague, of this town,
and Charles F. Shaw, of New Bedford, acted as di-
rectors, but Mr. F. W. Brightman, of Fall River, was
one of the moving spirits of the whole enterprise.
The construction and equipment were of the very
best, four miles of the road being paved the entire
length, and the total cost being much more than the
capital stock. Stables and car-houses were built, both
at Framingham Centre and Saxonville. The formal
opening of the road occurred on May 29, 1S88, the
day before " Memorial " day. Three cars, trimmed
with Hags, loaded with invited guests, made the initial
trip, ' Uncle Dexter ' Hemenway, the oldest man
in town, and who had driven the first pick into the
ground for the construction of the road, riding on the
first car. The railroad has been of great value to the
town in bringing the different villages together, and,
under the careful and efficient management of Presi-
dent Emerson and his associates, has from the first
proved a good investment. It is now in contempla-
tion to replace the horses at an early day with an
electrical system of propulsion.
FRAMINGHAM.
661
Within two months of the time of writing (July,
1890) a franchise has been granted by the selectmen
for an electric street railway through the village from
the Natick to the Ashland town lines. This road, if
built, it is presumed is to form part of a road running
through Wellesley and Newton to Boston.
Newspapers. — The newspaper business in town
has been comparatively uneventful. The Framing-
ham Courier, started at Framingham Centre in 1835,
lived less than a year.
Edgar Potter started The Framingham Enterprise
in Feb., 1874, consolidating in 1875 whhThe Gazette.
The Framingham Gazette was established at South
Framingham in 1871, by Pratt & Wood, of Marlboro'.
It was bought of them by C. M. Vincent in the fall
of 1873. About one year later, in September, 1874,
Messrs. W. W. Pease and F. M. Jernegan formed a
partnership with Mr. Vincent, with the firm-name of
C. M. Vincent & Co. In the fall of 1873 Edgar Pot-
ter had purchased The Ashland Advertiser, starting
The Framingham Enterprise the following February.
The Middlesex Newspaper Company was formed De-
cember 14, 1875, with C. M. Vincent, president; J.
G. Clark, clerk and treasurer, and these two, with
George C. Travis, directors. The new company not
only bought 77te Gazette of C. M. Vincent & Co., but
it also bought of Mr. Potter TTie Enterprise and 7%e
Ashland Advertiser, merging the former into The
Gazette. The company also started The Holliston
Transcript and The Hopkinton News, the latter of
which was discontinued in 1880, the formerstill being
published. Mr. Vincent was made editor, serving as
such for one year, when Mr. Potter became editor for
one year, from January 1, 1877. About January 1,
1878, Rev. L. B. Hatch, having bought a controlling
interest in the stock, became editor and manager, with
Walter W. Pease as assistant manager. Mr. Hatch
was president of the company and Mr. Pease a direc-
tor. The latter was also foremanof the oflSce. Judge
C. C. Esty was a director in 1879, and when Mr.
Hatch resigned as president in October, 1880, Judge
Esty succeeded him in that oflBce. On January 9,
1883, Mr. W. W. Pease became president ; F. N. Oxley,
of Ashland, treasurer ; and they, with Hon. Joseph
T. Pease, directors. Mr. Oxley sold his interest in a
few weeks to W. W. Pease, and from that time Mr.
Pease was president and treasurer, as well as editor
and manager, with Jos. T. and H. M. Pease asso-
ciated with him as directors. On January 11, 1889,
the stock of the company was bought by Ora 0. Davia
and Walter F. Blake, who had worked in the office-
About two months afterwards, March 18, 1889, the
business was sold to the J. C. Clark Printing Com-
pany, the whole concern then taking the name of
The Lakeview Printing Company. The Gazette,
which had been a seven-column folio (four pages, of
seven columns each), was enlarged, in 1883, to eight
columns to the page, and in 1889 it was further en-
larged to nine columns to the page. Ora 0. Davis is
now manager of the paper, Mr. Blake being treasurer
and general manager of the company. The Gazette
has paid but little attention to politics, taking a neu-
tral stand and aiming to make an acceptable home
paper, free from offence on this score.
The Framingham Tribune was started October 27,
1883, by Charles J. McPherson, in a small office in
Union Block. The type-setting was done here, but
the paper's forms were sent out of town for the press-
work at first, as the publisher had no presses. Mr.
McPherson started the Sherhom Tribune at the same
time, doing the work at the same office. In addition
to these he had for some time, and still continued to
publish The Walpole Star and The Norwood Review,
which he had printed at Mansfield. The latter were
eight-column folios, but the two Tribunes were seven
column folios. But seven numbers of the latter were
printed before more room was taken in the same block
and a new Cottrell cylinder press was put in, on which
No. 8 of Vol. I was printed. This was on December
14, 1883. A small steam-engine followed the press.
No. 8 was an enlargement, the paper being eight col-
umns to the page, instead of seven. Mr. Walter H.
Davia, who had been doing a small job printing busi-
ness in town, entered into partnership with Mr. Mc-
Pherson, under the firm-name of McPherson & Davis,
and a small job printing business was added to the
newspaper business. The partnership had lasted but
a few weeks when another enlargement came. A stock
company organized under Massachusetts law with
$5000 capital was formed, Messrs. McPherson and
Davis owning a majority of the stock. "The Union
Publishing Company " was the style of the new or-
ganization, and it owned and printed at the start The
Framingham Tribune, Slierbom Tribune, Walpole Star,
Norwood Remew. A little later The Medfield Bulletin
was bought and published for two or three years, being
afterwards sold again. Still later TheAshland Tribune,
Southboro' Tribune, Sudbury Tribune were started and
are still published by the company. The first number
of the Tribune under the Union Publishing Company
was on April 25, 1884, being No. 27 of Vol. I. This
number marked still another enlargement, the paper
now appearing as a six-column quarto (eight pages of
six columns each.) Mr. McPherson became general
manager of the new company, and Mr. Davis, clerk,
while both of them were directors. The former has
been editor and manager from the beginning to the
present time. At the time of the organization of the
new company Wm. B. Jones, since deceased, became,
associate editor for a short time. On June 19, 1885,
the Tribune took on the form of an eight-column
folio again. One half the paper had heretofore been
printed in Boston, and was known as a " ready print,"
but by this last change all the printing was done at
the home office, although a considerable quantity of
stereotype plate general matter was used. From Jan-
uary 1st to June 4, 1886, the paper was a seven -coliunn
foUo, then an eight-column folio again until October
1)62
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
29, 1886, when it again took the eight-page, or quarto
form which it has ever since retained, except when,
as b often the case, it appears as ten pages. In
March, 1886, after having twice previously outgrown
and enlarged the office quarters, a removal was made
to the new brick Liberty Block, where the third Hoor
was taken, and a new boiler and engine put in.
This, in tujn, has been outgrown and other room
in the building gradually taken, until now a removal
has been made to specially prepared and convenient
quarters in the new four-story brick "Tribune Buiid-
inj;." The IVibune liiis been independent politically,
striving to be first of all a Hrst-claas local newspaper.
Its circulation is uver 2000 copies.
On November 1, 18'J0, Tlie Dailij Trili'iue was
launched, with a fair share of advertising patronage
and support. The size of the daily is four pages of
six columns each, the price being two cents a copy.
It covers all the neighboring towns for news, and is
independent politically. It is an off«hoot from the
Weekly Tribune, and is under the same management.
The Banks. — The Fraviinghmn Savings Bunk was
chartered in 1846, and did business at Framingham
Centre until 1884, when it removed to South Fram-
ingham. lis ))residents have been Moses Edgell,
Geo. Phipps, Charles Upham, Luther F. Fuller,
Adolphus Merriam, Franklin E. Gregory. Messrs.
Phipps, Upham and Merriam died in office. The
treasurers have been Rufus Brewer, Edward Il-ley,
Loren/.o Sabin, Coleman S. Adams, Luther F. Ful-
ler. Walter Adams, Esq., is the bank's solicitor.
The statement May 1, 1890, shows §1,860,734.14 de-
posits, and it is undoubtedly one of the strongest
banks in the State. At ])resent the officers are :
President, Franklin E. Gregory; Vice-Presidents,
Samuel B. Bird, J. Henry Robinson, Franklin Man-
son ; Treasurer, Luther F. Fuller; Trustees, F. E.
Gregory, S. B. Bird, J.H.Robinson, F. Manson, L. F.
Fuller, John S. Cullen, Adrian Foot, Walter Adams,
Francis C. Stearns, Geo. C. Travis, Edward F. Ken-
dall, ClitTord Folger, Simeon H. Williams.
The Fdrniers' and Mechanics' Savings Bank was or-
ganized April 23, 1883, and opened for business June
4, 1883. Willard Howe has been president, George
E. Cutler treasurer, and Stearns G. Davenport clerk,
from the start. To-day the deposits amount to $430,000.
The bank has never lost a dollar, and has paid divi-
dends of from four to five per. cent since the start.
The vice-presidents are A. C. Blanchard, D. T.
Bridges, J. R. Entwistle. The trustees are Willard
Howe, H. L. Sawyer, James Fennessy, Jos. W. Bal-
lard, Chas. D. Lewis, S. G. Davenport, Geo. E. Cutler,
Franklin Enslin, Willis M. Ranney, Sidney A. Phil-
lips, James R. Entwistle, Patrick Hayes, Jr. Sidney
A. Phillips, Esq., is the bank's solicitor.
The South Framingham Co- Operative Bank was
chartered April 18, 1889. The deposits now amount
to over $28,000. A dividend of six per cent, was de-
clared at the end of the first year's business. Charles
J. McPherson is president; Alfred M. Eames, vice
president; Harrie L. Davenport, secretary and treas-
urer. Willis A. Kingsbury, Esq., is solicitor. The
directors are R. M. French, E. Gouldiug, J. .1.
. .McCann, Joshua Smith, W. A. Kingsbury, Alvah T
Bridges, R. L. Everit, F. H. Fales, J. H. Goodell, J.
B. .fohnsou, G. L. Whitney, J. H. Conway.
The Friimingham Xntional Bank was incorporated
;is a State bank in 1833, and changed in 1S64 to a
national bunk. Up to 1S64 it had paid out in divi-
' dends a little more than §383,000. Since 1864, the
time when the institution i)ecame a national bank,
the dividends have considerably exceeded §'iiiO,000,
I and in all its history no scnii-aiinual "dividend has
evcT been piissed. The capital is s2U0,Oi)O. The
bank had always been located at Framingham Centre
I until 18S8, when it removed to South Framingham,
! having bought out the business (if the South Fram-
; ingham National Bank. James J. Valentine, who
lor twenty-six yeiirs h«d been clerk and cashier in
the bank, is president ; Franklin E. Gregory is vice-
president, and Freil. L. Oaks is cashier. The direc-
tors are J. J. Valentine, F. E. Gregory, .fohn B. Wal-
' cott, W. M. Ranney, ^\'alter Adams, S. B. Bird, T.
L. Barber.
I The South Framingham National Bank was organ-
ized June 14, 1880, and began business in July of
j that year, with a capital of $100,000. Although the
I bank did a good business and was pro.sperous, certain
of the older stockholders looked with favor upon a
proposition of the Framingham National Bank to as-
sume their business, paying a good premium for the
stock, and, although the bank had SIOO,000 on de-
posit, and S200 UOO worth of good loans, it went into
liquidation in August of 1888, receiving from the old
bank about $114 for each ?hare of stock. The presi-
dents of the bank were James W. Clark, Adolphus
Merriam and Franklin Manson. The cashiers were
F. M. Stockwell and Fred. L. Oaks.
Churches. — In South Framingham there are seven
churches, — Roman Catholic, Congregationalist, Bap-
tist, Methodist, Universalist, Episcopal, Presbyterian,
while at the other villages of the town most of the
above denominations are represented, as well as the
Unitarian. Brief sketches are given of the churches
at South Framingham.
Tlie Baptist Church is the oldest one in the village.
Previous to the last month of 1851 the inhabitants of
the village attended church at Framingham Centre,
but the growth of the South village consequent to the
establishment of the straw hat and bonnet industry
demanded a place of worship nearer home. Occa-
sional meetings had been held at the various dwellings
and in the village school-house, and for some time
a Bible class had been conducted on Sunday evenings
by Alexander Clark, and on week-days some portion
of the Bible was read aloud in his straw shop. This
was early in the forties. Not long after Revs. Apple-
ton Belknap, of Framingham, and B. F. Bronson, of
FRAMINGHAM.
663
Ashland, and other ministers preached for a few Sun-
days in Mr. Clark's shop, seventy -five persons or more
attending these services. The writer is indebted to
an historical address delivered on March 16, 1879, by
Rev. H. G. Safford, for most of the information con-
cerning the growth of the Baptist Church. He tells
us that in 1844 Rev. I. N. Tarbox became pastor of
the Centre Congregational Church, and in 1846 Rev.
Jonathan Aldrich, of the Centre Baptist Church, and
that soon after there was a revival of religious interest
in town. A considerable number of the young men
and women connected with the straw shops at South
Framingham became interested and were converted.
In 1851, Elias Howe, then of Boston, built Waverley
Hall in the central part of the village, and during its
building he spoke of holding meetings in it, and upon
its completion, previous to the dedication ball, he in-
vited Rev. Mr. Olmstead, a Baptist minister, and
editor of the Watchman, then residing in Framing-
ham, to preach upon a Sunday evening early in No-
vember. Mr. Olmstead, being unwell, came with a
substitute in the person of Rev. S. S. Cutting, another
Baptist minister, associated with Mi. Olmstead on the
Watchman's editorial staff, also a temporary resident
of Framingham, and he preached to a large and at-
tentive company. At the close of this meeting a call
was issued, inviting all who were interested in having
staced religious services in the village to meet to con-
sider the matter. This meeting was held in the depot
on the evening of November 18, 1851. Hon. Joseph
Fuller was chosen chairman, and it was voted to have
stated religious meetings. The nearnes-i of Newton
Theological Seminary, where pulpit supplies could be
easily obtained, was one principal reason why it was
unanimously voted iit this meeting that the preaching
should be of the Baptist faith. Waverley Hall was
hired for the meetings, and Messrs. Olmstead and
Cutting were engaged to preach half the time, alter-
nating with students from Newton Seminary. In two
days the sum of $281.50 was pledged for these meet-
ings, and the first service was held on Sunday, De-
cember 7, 1851, Rev. S. S. Cutting preaching to a
large and attentive congregation. On December 21st,
a Sunday-school was formed, having thirty-nine
scholars at the start. During these nearly forty years
this Sunday-school has continued with but one brief
interruption one summer. Elbridge Gale was the
first superintendent, with Alexander Clark for assist-
ant. The office of superintendent has since been
filled by Alexander Clark for twenty-eight years, and
for shorter terms by Deacons Edwards and Phillips,
and Messrs. J. C. Clark, G. C. Travis, E. F. Phinney,
Rev. E. S. Wheeler, A. M. I/ang, Mr. Lang holding
the office at present. The membership of the school
at present is 200.
Preaching was continued in Waverley Hall during
the first year, but on account of an advance in rent the
regular services were then given up, but some months
afterward Richardson's {afterwards Liberty, now Py-
thian) Hall was secured for one year. The services
had thus far been carried on by the South Framing-
ham Baptist Society. On March 17, 1854, the South
Framingham Baptist Church was organized with
twenty-two members. On Sunday afternoon, March
26th, the church was formally recognized by a council
of the Baptist churches from the neighboring towns.
Rev. B. H. Lincoln, of Bordentown, New Jersey, was
the first regular pastor, commencing his labors on
Sunday, April 9, 1854. In April, 1855, the deed was
secured for the present church location, the lot cost-
ing $1500. Subscriptions to the proposed new church
edifice were generous, and a committee, consisting of
A. Clark, F. Manson, Newell Clark and J. Hemen-
way, was appointed to go ahead with the erection of
a church edifice. A. R. Esty, of Framingham, was
selected as the architect, and in December of 1854
the vestry of the present building was ready for dedi-
cation, and this service was performed on the Satur-
day evening preceding the first Sabbath in January,
1855. The whole house, upon its completion, was
dedicated on Thursday afternoon, March 15, 1855.
In the spring of 1867 a bell costing $800, and
weighing 1600 pounds, was put into the belfry. Early
in 1869 a few of the families connected with the
church aided in starting the new Methodist Church,
and in January, 1873, the organization of a Congre-
gational Church drew still ftirther from this church.
Early in 1878 the organization of a Univeraalist
Chu^h drew still a little more from the attendance ;
but all these years the growth had been more than
commensurate with the drains upon the church by
deaths, removals and the formation of new ones.
The pipe-organ was put into the church by Alexander
Clark and son Willard, in 1861, and for nearly thirty
years Mr. Willard E. Clark has served as organist.
The pastors of the church have been : Rev. Brad-
ford H. Lincoln, 1854-55; Rev. Samuel W. Foljambe,
1856-58; Rev. Theron Brown, 1859-61; Rev. SamueL
Brooks (acting), 1862^4; Rev. Alexander M. Hig-
gins, 1865-67; Rev. Thomas T. Filmer, 1868-73; Rev.
George R. Darrow (acting), 1874-75; Rev. Henry G.
Safford, 1875-84; Rev. Edwin S. Wheeler, 1884-90,
still pastor. The present church membership is 221.
Connected with this church is the new Hills Chapel
Mission at Lokerville, the handsome little chapel
having been erected in that rapidly-growing section
of the village in 1888, largely through the gift of the
late Mr. Samuel Hills and wife. A Sunday-school is
also maintained at Hills Chapel.
Connected with the Baptist Church are the Young-
Christians' Association, Ladies' Missionary Society
and the Ladies' Social Circle. The latter circle was
organized in 1851, even before the church was organ-
ized, and has been a powerfiil factor for good.
Through it the church was originally furnished, the
bell was booght, and many works of benevolence
have been carried out.
Methodist Episcopal Church. — It was in February of
664
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, iMASSACHUSETTS.
1869 that some people of the Methodist persuasion
first got together here with a view to forming a so-
ciety. Meeting from house to house, they were form-
ally organized at the house of Horace W. Carter on
November 5, 1869, the Quarterly Conference being
held there. Besides the other attendants there were
at the start twenty members in full communion.
Waverley Hall was used as a meeting-place until
1873, when the Kennedy property, adjoining, was
purchased by the society, and Irving Hall became the
place of meeting. Rev. William R. Clark, D.D.,
preached the dedicatory sermon December 21, 1873.
By degrees, as the society grew, it was found that the
hall was too small for its meetings, and the project of
building a church was agitated. The Kennedy pur-
chase had grown more valuable as the town grew, the
hall was in demand for other purposes, and there was
land enough adjacent to the Irving building, but a
part of their original purchase, for a suitable church
building. Under these favorable conditions the idea
of building a meeting-house grew rapidly, and in 1883
^Ir. H. W. Corson, of Natick, was employed to pre-
pare plans and build the present meeting-house,
which has a capacity for seating 250 in the audito-
rium, with parlors in the rear which can be made a
part of the auditorium by raising the sash partition,
which is hung on weights. Other rooms are provided
above and in the basement. The new church was
dedicated February 21, 1884, and so much has the
society since grown that it is often tested to it^ full
capacity. Within a month of the time of writing, a
handsome pipe-organ has been put into the church.
The tiill church membership is now 135, besides
twenty-five probationers. The Sunday-school now
numbers 160, and is steadily growing under the super-
intendency of Mr. C. T. Boynton, who has been su-
perintendent the past four years. The pastors who
have been stationed here since ^he society's formation
are: Rev. F. B. Hampton, who died after preaching
two Sabbaths, and Rev. J. M. Avann, 1869; Rev.
Seth C. Carey, 1870-72; Rev. John H. Mansfield,
1873; Rev. Joshua Gill, 1874-75, and 1879-81; Rev.
D. K. Merrill, 1876; Rev. Phinehas Sloper, 1877;
Rev. John H. Emerson, 1878 ; Rev. Almon F. Hoyt,
1882; Rev. William Full, 1883-85; Rev. George E.
Sanderson, 1886-87; Rev. A. J. Hall, 1887-88; Rev.
E. W. Virgin, 1890.
Grace Congregational Church. — The first steps
leading to the formation of this church were taken
July 11, 1872, when, by appointment, a prayer-meet-
ing was held in the ante-room of Nobscot Hall, at
which thirty persons were present. These meetings
were continued week by week and increased in at-
tendance and interest. Nov. 5th it was decided to or-
ganize a Congregational Church in South Framing-
ham, and committees were chosen to take the necessary
preliminary steps for the formation of the church and
society or parish, also to see if funds could be raised
to meet the expense of the first year.
On Dec. 1, 1872 the first regular Sabbath service
was held in Nobscot Hall, at which Rev. L. R. East-
man, Jr., pastor of Plymouth Church, Framingham
Centre, preached. This hall, afterwards the District
Court-room, continued to be the place of meeting .
of the church until the completion of the chapel in
January, 1874.
The church was organized January 2, 1873, as the
South Church of Framingham, with fifty-seven mem-
bers, and recognized by a council of the neighboring
churches held that day. Of those thus uniting, thirty-
four were from Plymouth Church, Framingham,
which may be called the mother church, both from
this circumstance and from their active i^ympathy
and help. The Home Missionary Society was repre-
sented on the council, it being supposed that the
church would need the help of this society ; but it did
no', as it was self-supporting from the start.
In April, lS7.i, the church and society extended a
call to Rev. David M. Bean to become their pastor.
This call was accepted and he began the duties of
the pastorate May 4*h, without installation.
In July of that year the society purchased of Frank-
lin Manson the lot of land on which the church and
chapel are situated, and steps were taken at once to
erect a chapel. Jan. 29, 1874, " The Chapel " was dedi-
cated. Rev. E. K. Alden, D.D., preaching the ser-
mon. The cost of building and land was about
§8100, fully two-thirds of which was raised before
dedication, and the balance during the two years fol-
lowing. The chapel was thirty-six by sixty feet, and
would seat about 250 persons.
The piistorate of Rev. ilr. Bean was a very impor-
tant period in the history of the church. It contin-
ued until August 1, 1879, for a period of a little over
six years. During this time the church enjoyed a
steady and healthy growth. It increased in mem-
bership from 67 to 133, 54 being received during this
time on confession of faith.
In January, 1880, the place adjoining the church
property on the east was purchased with the inten-
tion of remodeling the house for a parsonage. The
total cost of the parsonage property when these
changes were made was about :?5,5o0.
February 12, 1880, Rev. William R. Eiistman was
installed as pastor.
Soon after the establishment in the place of the
Para Rubber Shoe Company it was apparent that the
chapel was too small, and about the 1st of January,
1873, the first steps were taken toward the building
of a church. At this time the church had been or-
ganized ten years and had a membership of 144. Mr.
L. B. Valk, of New York, was employed as architect.
The corner-stone of the building was laid August
31st, and it was completed in the following March
and dedicated the 2d day of April, free of debt,
the cost being about §10,000. The bell, costing about
$500, was the gift of Mr. George M. Amsden. The
church is about sixty by seventy feet and seats 490
FRA3IINGHAM.
665
persons. The floor is bowled, and seats are arranged on
circular lines.
In November, 1886, the property adjoining the
church on the south was purchased by Elbridge E.
Rice for $5500. An extension was added to the
church in the rear of the pulpit and a pipe-organ
placed therein at a total cost of about $3800.
May 20, 1888, Rev. W. R. Eastman presented his
resignation as pastor, to take eSect September Ist.
He was regularly dismissed by a council held July
9th. During the eight and a half years of his pastor-
ate seventy-four persons were received on confession
of faith and the church increased in numbers from
132 to 245.
The Rev. Frederick E. Emrich commenced his la-
bors as pastor February 7, 1889, the church having ex-
tended him a call to become their pastor for one year.
December 19, 1884, the church incorporated as Grace
Congregational Church, and the property of the
society was soon after transferred to the new organiza-
tion. January 29, 1890, Rev. F. E. Emrich was
installed by council as the pastor of the church. As
the result in part of a series of special meetings forty-
one persons were received into the church on confes-
sion of faith from January 1, 1890 to the July commun-
ion, and the total membership has increased from
251 to 313. The attendance at the church services
has so increased that there is a great demand for
more sittings, and a movement is now on foot (July,
1390) for enlarging the church and providing better
accommodation for the Sunday-school, for which
purpose it is proposed to raise $10,000.
The seats in the church have always been free
(that is, not sold or leased), and the expenses have
been met by a system of voluntary ofierings. Four-
tifths of the seats have been assigned to those desiring
regular seats, the balance being reserved for strangers.
The following have served the church as deacons :
Andrew Coolidge, 1873-80; Simeon H. Williams,
1873-81 ; Benjamin T. Thompson, 1878-80,-'82-85,'87 ;
Charles H. Emerson, 1880-82; Edwin A. Freese,
1880-83 ; Fred. L. Oaks, 1881-84, 86, '89 ; Frederick
J. Stevens, 1883-36, '88— Fred. W. Taft, 1884-87,'89—
Sampson Bridges, 1885-88, '90.
The Sunaay-school was organized as soon as the
church was started. Its present membership is over
450. The average attendance in 1889 was 244, and
for the lirst half of 1890 over 280. The present sup-
erintendent is Dr. George Rice. A full list of those
who have held the office is as follows: Wm. W.
Wood, 1873 ; Geo. L. Clapp, 1874r-75 ; Frank A. Day,
1876 and January to September, 1880; Geo. B. Over-
hiser, 1877 ; Dr. George Rice, 1878-79, 1889-90 ; Fred.
L. Oaks, September to December, 1880, 1881-82, 1887-
88 ; Frederick J. Stevens, 1883-86. Other societies
connected with the church are as follows : the
Ladies' Association, a social and home missionary
organization, formed April 14, 1874 ; the Ladies'
Foreign Missionary Society, organized February 10,
1875 ; the Young People's Society of Christian Endeav-
or, organized December 4, 1883 ; the Junior Society
of Christian Endeavor, organized October 27, 1884;
the Gleaner, a children's missionary society, organ-
ized in 1884.
Roman Catholic. — St. Stephen's Roman Catholic
Church is the largest and handsomest in the village.
The first movement to provide a place of worship in
this village for Roman Catholics was in 1876, when
meetings were held in Waverley Hall, Rev. A. J.
Rossi, of St. George's Parish, Saxonville, being in
charge of the movement. As a result, the old Sax-
onville Parish was divided, and St. Bridget's Parish
was established in July, 1877, the church edifice at
Framingham Centre, built by the Universalists and
afterwards used by the Episcopalians, being pur-
chased. This still left South Framingham Catholics
without a local place of worship, all attending St.
Bridget's Church at the Centre. In 1878 Rev. John
S. CuUen, who was rector of St. Bridget's, started a
mission in Waverley Hall, the Catholic population
then in the village numbering about 300 souls, in-
cluding infanta. The meetings were well sustained,
and as the village grew, so did the parish. The es-
tablishment here of the Pari Rubber Shoe Co.'s busi-
ness in 1882 had an electrical effect upon this parish,
:i8 indeed it had upon the whole village, and the hall
accommodations were soon inadequate to the demands
upon them. The new St. Stephen's Parish was set
off from St. Bridget's, and formally organized by it-
self in May, 1883. A centrally located church site
was purchased of Augustus Richardson, on Concord
Street, and plans were made for a new church edifice.
The corner-stone was laid December 16, 1883, in the
presence of 1000 people, the stone being blessed and
laid by Vicar-General Wm. Byrne, D.D., Archbishop
Williams being at the time in Rome. The sermon
was preached by Rev. P. A. McKenna, of Hudson.
On Christmas Day, 1884, the new building was oc-
cupied for the first time. It was built by A. Fales &
Sons, of this village, P. W. Ford, of Boston, being the
architect. It seats about 1000 people. A deep-toned
bell was afterwards put in the tower, and a very fine
pipe-organ was put into the church in 1887. A new
cemetery, consisting of twenty-four acres, beautifully
situated between this village and Saxonville, was pre-
pared in 1888-89. and consecrated on November 8,
1889. A lot of land has been bought on Clinton Street,
near the church, upon which a handsome parochial
residence is to be erected at once, the plans being al-
ready prepared. There are now about 3000 parishion-
ers, and a flourishing Sunday-school has an attend-
ance of about 450. The church has a large and
well-trained choir. Connected with the parish is the
Ladies' Sodality of the Blessed Vii^n, with about 75
members, the League of thn Sacred Heart, the SL
Stephen's Cadets, an organization of about 240 chil-
dren, who are pledged to total abstinence from intox-
icating liquors until they reach their majority, and
666
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
who are also pledged to avoid profanity, and respect
God's name. Father Cullen's assistants have been
Rev. J. J. Nilan, for three years from 1879 ; Rev. J.
A. Donnelly, for nine months following ; Rev. E. P.
Allen, D.D., for two years ; Rev. J. W. Galligan, for
five years, until July, 1889; and Rev. D. C. Riordan,
the present assistant rector, from that time. Be-
sides the large St. Stephen's Parish, Fr. CuUen also
has charge of St. Bridget's at Framingham Cen-
tre, he and his assistant dividing the work between
them, and they also conduct religious services each
Sunday at the Sherborn Reformatory for Women,
which is partly in South Framingham. It is probable
that a second assistant will soon be needed.
Uiiiversalist Church. — The First Universalist So-
ciety in South Framingham was started in Novem-
ber, 1877. For one year it worshipped in Nobscot
Hall (now the District Court-room) and then removed
to Liberty Hall, where it worshipped two years. The
pretty little church edifice now occupied by the
society was built and dedicated by this people, the
services of dedication being on November 9, 1882.
The church, built of wood, with a tower and steeple
containing a bell, has a seating capacity of about 250.
The " First Universalist Parish of South Framing-
ham" was organized April 28, 1878, with twenty-
seven members, choosing as officers : Moderator,
Adolphus Merriam ; Clerk and Treasurer, S. G.
Davenport ; Standing Committee, Daniel Hewes,
John Hemenway, F. P. Steams — " these five officers
to constitute the trustees of the parish." Rev. W.
A. Start, of Cambridge, secretary of the Massachu-
setts Universalist Convention, was the founder of the
society, and he supplied the pulpit until Rev. Albert
Hammatt came, he being ordained October 13, 1880.
Rev. W. W. Hayward was settled over the parish
December 11, 1883, and the present pastor. Rev. W.
F. Potter, took charge of the parish in May, 1889.
The Sunday-school was organized soon after the
society, and for nine years Mr. B. F. Merriam has
been ita superintendent. Its membership is about
100. Connected with the society are a Ladies' Asso-
ciation, a circle of King's Daughters, and a circle of
Sisters of Bethany among the children.
Episcopal Mistion — St. Andrew's Episcopal Mis-
sion was started in the Methodist Church in 1884,
preaching services being held at first once a month,
with Sunday-school every Sunday afternoon. Rev.
Frank S. Harraden, rector of St. John's Church,
Framingham Centre, was in charge of the movement.
Meetings were subsequently held in G. A. R. Hall,
then in Liberty Hall, and early in 1887 the mission
began to hold its meetings in ihe Universalist Church,
arrangements being made with the latter society for
the use of the church for a part of each Sunday.
About 1886 there was an agitation in the mission for
a church edifice of their own, and Mr. R. M. Everit,
of New Haven, a large land-owner in this village,
made Ibe people a present of a good building lot for
a church, but the movement for building has been
abandoned for the present. Mr. Harraden departed
for another field in 1889, and October 1st, of that yeiir,
Rev. Arthur Hess became rector of St. John's Church
at the Centre, with the same charge over the mission
at South Framingham. The mission now has about
seventy-five adherents, with a membership of forty in
the Sunday-school. There is a Ladies' Aid Society,
and a social circle among the young people called
The South Framingham Guild.
The Presbyterian Church.— It was on June 13, 18St),
that the first Presbyterian services were held in town,
the place being Grand Army or " Irving" Hall, in
this village, where both the Methodist and Ei)iscopal
missions had previously worshiped. Rev. Edward
Hunting Rudd, a Princeton student, took charge of
the work for the first three months, starting the first
meeting, and showing marked ability for his work.
That the movement had the eudorsement of the
other churches in the town may be judged from the
fact that at this first service the Methodist organist
played the organ, and the Baptist choir led the sing-
ing, while at subsequent meetings the pastors of most
of the other churches participated in the services.
One week after this first service a Sunday-school was
started. After Mr. Rudd's departure the pulpit was
filled from time to time by Rev. W. L. Cunningham,
of New Jersey ; Rev. S. E. Lane, D.D., of South
Framingham ; Rev. James ^V. Flagg, of Vermont ;
Rev. J. A. McDonald, of Nova Scotia, and others.
The church was formally organized on December 8,
1886, with twenty-three members, when the commis-
sion appointed by the Boston Presbytery for that pur-
pose was present. It took the name of the " First
Presbyterian Church of South Framingham." On
June 11, 1887, the church called Rev. James W.
Flagg, of South Ryegate, Vermont, to be its pastor,
and Mr. Flagg was installed over his new charge on
October 12, 1887. Under his guidance the church
has grown steadily, having now a membership of
eighty-five. The Sabbath-school numbers seventy-
five scholars and ten officers and teachers, and has
had Mr. Charles W. Weller for it* superintendent from
the first. Up to July 1, 1887, the society worshiped
in Grand Army Hall, but at that time removed to
larger quarters in Pythian Hall in Liberty Block.
In July of 1889 a movement was started looking to
the building of a new church. Over $1000 was sub-
scribed on one Sabbath by the members, and Messrs.
T. L. and E. L. Siurtevant presented the society for
a church site a fine corner-lot on the corner of Hol-
lis and Winthrop Streets. On that site the founda-
tion and under-pinning is all completed for a com-
fortable edifice, having the main auditorium raided a
few feet above the street, with vestry, parlors and
other rooms below. It is expected the new edifice
will be built before winter. There is a Young Peo-
ple's Christian Endeavor Society connected with the
church, which is doing good work.
FRAMINGHAM.
667
Societies, Associations and Clubs. — South
Framingham, like most other large towns, does not lack
for representatives of the many fraternal, benevolent
and social societies. Among these societies the Ma-
sonic is the oldest. Jliddlesex Lodge, at Framing-
ham Centre, was organized in 1795, and all through
the dark days of the persecutions of the order never
missed holding a meeting. It still holds in its mem-
bership many South Framingham men, and under
the present Master, Walter Adams, Esq., has been
particularly prosperous; but as the latter village
grew, and before the days of horse-cars in town, it was
found inconvenient for a large body of men to go two
miles to the Centre to the meetings, and so it came
about that
Alpha Lodge,. {. F. and A. M., was instituted in South
Framingham, in 1875, the first meeting for organiza-
tion being on September 28ch of that year, the place
being Irving, (since known as G. A. R.) Hall. There
were 25 charter members, and the membership now
is 107. The Past Masters have been \V. H. Phipps,
by dispen.sation, and the following by election : Chas.
P. Knowlton, Chas. F. Cutler, L. M. Butler, N. L.
Sawtelle, Alexander Hoyt, F. M. Pratt, L. M. Pal-
mer, and the present Worshipful Master is Fred. L.
Oaks. Edgar Potter is secretary. Meetings have
been held the past few years in Odd Fellows' Hall ;
but Masonic Hall, in the new Smith Block, has just
been fitted up by the lodge. The regular meetings
are held the second Wednesday evening of each
month.
Concord Royal Anh Chapter, A. F. and A. M., was
organized at Concord in 1S26, but removed to Fram-
ingham in 1852. It is made up to-day of Masons
from both Middlesex Lodge, at Framingham Centre,
and Alpha Lodge, at South Framingham. Joseph
Drew Thomas, of South Framingham, is the present
Most Excellent High Priest, and Edwin Moultrop, of
Framingham, is secretary. The Chapter is noted for
its fine work. It meets at South Framingham.
A Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, a la-
dies' auxiliary to the Masonic bodies, has recently
been formed, and has 48 members. It has been
named Orient Chapter. Mrs. Ann M. Hooker is
Worthy Matron, and A. J. Heath, Secretary.
Framingham Lodge, No. 45, /. 0. 0. F., was char-
tered August 29, 1844, first meeting in Saxonville,
but gave up its charter June 1, 1853. It was rein-
stituted in South Framingham, February 24. 1875,
since which time it has held regular meetings every
Wednesday evening. It now has 180 members.
Wright Summers is Noble Grand, and Charles E.
Mather, Recording Secretary. The lodge has fine
quarters in Odd Fellows' Block, the handsome brick
block being owned by the Odd Fellows' Building As-
sociation.
Waushakum Encampment, No. 52, /. 0. 0. F., was
organized May 3, 1877, having then eight members.
It now has 115 members, and meets in Odd Fellows'
Hall the first and third Fridays of each month. F.
W. Bridges is Chief Patriarch, and C. H. Bridges,
Scribe.
FideUly Degree Lodge, Daughters of Rebecca, auxili-
ary to the Odd Fellows, was instituted May 14, 1886,
with a membership of 60. It now has 202 members,
and a very fine paraphernalia. It meets the second
and fourth Friday evenings in the month, in Odd Fel-
lows' Hall. Mrs. E. H. Martin is Noble Grand, and
Mrs. J. B. Robie, Secretary.
Pericles Lodge, No. 4, Knights of Pythias, was insti-
tuted in Odd Fellows' Hall, on Nov. 5, 1885, with 25
charter members. It afterwards removed for a time
to G. A. R. Hall, and in 1887 leased and fitted up
Pythian Hall, in Liberty Block, which it now occu-
pies and conirols, and sub-leases to other organiza-
tions. Albert A. Jackson is Chancellor Commander,
and H. F. Hamilton, Keeper of Records and Seal.
The lodge now has a membership of 110 in good
standing.
Mizpah Assembly, No. 6, Pythian Sisterhood, was or-
ganized March 14, 1889, with 12 charter members.
At present the membership is 23. It holds meetings
Lwice a month in Pythian Hall. Mrs. J. H. Safford
is Chancellor Commander, and Miss E. L. Kittredge,
Keeper of Records and Seal. This Assembly is aux-
iliary to the Knights of Pythias.
Plymouth Rock Council, No. 37, Order of United
American Mechanics, was instituted November 26,
1888, with 45 members, and now has 90 members,
meeting every Monday evening in Masonic Hall, in
Smith Block. E. A. Temple is Councilor, and H. E.
Miller, Recording Secretary.
Netus Tribe, No. 43, Independent Order of Red Men,
was instituted June 13, 1887, with 20 charter mem-
bers. It was instituted in Odd Fellows' Hall, where
for some little time it held its meetings, afterwards
meeting in Pythian Hall for three years. Since July
1, 1890, it has met in the new Masonic Hall, in Smith
Block. The tribe has already shown steady growth,
and now has a membership of 128. It has a good
paraphernalia, and does good work in the exemplifi-
cation of the degrees. Otis Cutting is Sachem, and
David H. Durand, Keeper of Records.
Wauneta Council, No. 29, Degree of Pocahontas, an
auxiliary to the Red Men, was instituted November
14, 1889, having then forty-seven members. The
membership is now seventy-five, and it meets twice a
month, first and third Fridays, in Masonic Hall. Mrs.
A. D. Leland is Worthy Pocahontas, and Mrs. Mary
E. Porter, Secretary.
Gen. J. G. Foster Post No. 163, G. A. R., was Instituted
March 25, 1884, with thirty members. It now has a
membership of seventy, all well uniformed, and main-
tains a cosy 6. A. R. Hall, which it sublets to other
societies. It meets the second and fourth Tuesday even-
ings in the month. Capt. E. F. Phinney is commander,
and Maj. J. M. Wiswell, adjutant. Previous to the
organization of Foster Post, D. Brigham Eames Post,
668
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
No. 142, existed at South Framingham. It was
started in the winter of 1869-70, but afterwards moved
to Saxonville, and its name was changed to Burnside i
Post.
Gen. J. G. Foster Camp 59, Sons of Veterans, was |
organized March 5, 1886, with thirteen members, and |
at the present time has forty-five. It meets the second i
and fourth Thursday evenings in the month, in G. A. R. I
Hall. Wm. O'Callahan is captain, and S. Fred. Wil-
son, first sergeant. The Camp is well uniformed and
well drilled.
Gen. J. G. Foster Woman's Relief Corps was organ-
ized May 16, 1884, with twelve members, and now
has seventy-five. It is an independent corps, and has
been a power ibr good in its chosen work, and a most
valuable auxiliary to the " boys in blue." It meets the
first and third Tuesdays in G. A. K. Hall. Mrs. E. F.
Phinney is president, and Mrs. M. E. Porter, secre-
tary.
Garfield Council, No. 857, Royal Arcanum, was in-
stituted in G. A. R. Hall, September 25, 1884, with
fourteen charter members. The membership is now
thirty-nine. It meets tbe second and fourth Friday
evenings in the month in Pythian Hall. C. J. Mc-
Pherson is Regent, and E. S. Twichel, Secretary.
Trimount Lodge, No. 670, Knights of Honor, was in-
stituted June 15, 1877, with fourteen members and
now has twenty-six members. Meetings are held the
first and third Mondays in the month in G. A.R.Hall.
E. A. Johnson is Dictator, and W. M. Ranney, Re-
porter.
Framingham Council, No. 1163, American Legion of
Honor, was instituted September 19, 1883, with thirty-
two charter members, and now numbers seventy-eight
members. It meets the second and fourth Monday
evenings of the month in G. A. R. Hall. A. A. Jackson
is Commander, and W. K. Ephlin, Secretary.
Framingham Commandery, No. 400, United Order
GoldenOross, was instituted July 17, 1889, with thirty-
one members, the membership at present being
twenty-eight. Meetings are held in G. A. R. Hall
the first and third Wednesday evenings of each
month. O. A. Hemenway is Noble Commander and
H. F. Nichols, Keeper of Records.
Lakeview Colony, United Order of the Pilgrim Fathers,
was instituted September 13, 1888, with twenty-seven
members and now has thirty-five. Meetings are held
in G. A. R. Hall the first and third Thursday even-
ings in each month. Mr. F. F. Stacey is Governor,
and Mrs. M. E. Newton, Secretary.
Local Branch, No. 979, Order of the Iron Hall, was
instituted February 13, 1889, with thirty members.
It has since had sixty members, but the membership
now is forty-eight. George M. Farrar is Chief Justice,
and Asa D. Forbes, Accountant. Meetings are held
the first and third Friday evenings in the month in
G. A. R. Hall.
Gen. Nixon Oommajidery, No. 33, Peoples Five Tears'
Benefit Order, was organized in October of 1889. It
nad then, and still has, forty members. W. F. Rich-
ardson is Worthy Commander, and Edward F. Phin-
ney, Worthy Secretary. It meets monthly in G. A. R.
Hall.
Linden Lodge, Independent Order of Good Templars,
was organized September 16, 1889, with twenty-seven
members, and now has ninety, with an ambition to
be the best lodge in the State. Meetings are held in
G. A. R. Hall every Saturday evening. J. A. C.
Hamil is Chief Templar, and E. B. Parsons, Sec-
retary.
Division 30, Ancient Order of Hibernians, was or-
ganized June 11, 1884, with twenty-three members,
and now has eighty-five. Meetings are held on Sun-
days, in A. O. H. Hall. James W. Burk is President,
and W. O'Mally, Secretary.
Morning Star, Temple of Honor, No. 28, was organ-
ized in October, 1884, with twenty-five members, and
now has thirty. It meets in G. A. R. Hall, the second
and fourth Friday evenings of the month. Geo. C.
Blades is Worthy Chief Templar, and Geo. L. Clapp,
Worthy Recorder.
TTie Woman's Christian Temperance Union was or-
ganized March 1, 1878. It has seventy-five members.
Mrs. S. J. Wakefield is president, and Mrs. W. A.
Bailey, secretary.
The Loyal Temperance Legion, comprisiog children
of from ten to sixteen years old, was organized in
March, 1889, with thirty-eight members. The mem-
bership is now 240, and meetings are held every
Tuesday afternoon, except in vacation time. Henry
Hilton is president, and Miss Evelyn Stearns, secre-
tary. Mrs. W. W. Pease is chorister.
St. Stephen's Total Abstinence Society was organized
Jan. 6, 1885, with thirty members and now has one
hundred. Meetings are held Sunday afternoons in
their hall in Liberty Block. David T. Flynn is pres-
ident and John J. Gannon, secretary. An off-shoot
from the society is the company of St. Stephen's Ca-
dets, a handsomely uniformed and well-drilled com-
pany of young men.
The Union Associates were organized in November,
1883, with twenty members for social purposes. The
membership now i& fifty, and new rooms are being
prepared in the Tribune Building. The regular busi-
ness meetings are held monthly, but the rooms are
open for members every day and evening. William
O'Callahan is president and Arthur Miller, secretary.
TTie Catholic Union was organized for literary and
social improvement in February, 1890, with thirty
members, and now has forty. Meetings are held on
Thursday evenings in St. Stephen's Hall. James J.
McCloskey is president, and Thomas R. Hill, secre-
tary.
The Framingham Club, the leading social organiza-
tion of the town, was organized about the first ctf 1890,
being incorporated on March 11th, with ninety mem-
bers. The membership now is 114. Chas. E. Haber-
stroh is president and Chas. BuUe, secretary. The
FRAMINGHAM.
669
club-rooms are in Smith Block, and are open to mem-
bers every day and evening in the year.
The Commerciai Club was organized in February,
1888, its membership being limited to twenty-five.
Thomas L. Barber is president, and E. L. Everit is
secretary. The club's room is in Liberty Block.
The Framingham Hittorical and Natural History
Society was organized March 31, 1888, with twenty
members, and now has eighty. C. A. Belknap is
president, Willard Howe, secretary, and Edgar Pot-
ter, curator. The object of the society is the collec-
tion and preservation of articles relating to and illus-
trating the history of Framingham and vicinity ; nat-
ural and scientific curiosities; specimens of natural
history; recording and preserving items of passing
events that may become items of interest in the fu-
ture, and the erection of a building as a safe reposi-
tory of the same. The society's quarters, with its
collection, are at the residence of Willard Howe on
Concord Street.
The Framingham Dramatie Club is an association
formed in May, 1890. Austin W. Phipps is manager
and Miss Fleda Brown, secretary. The object is the
presentation of local dramatics, and the club meets
in Elmwood Opera-House.
The Framingham Medical Society was organized
December 29, 1887, with ten members. It is an asso-
ciation of physicians from this and surrounding
towns, the membership, at present, being fourteen.
Meetings are held monthly on the first Tuesday at
the houses of members.
The Framingham Hospital is the result of some
years of agitation, and the society is now incorporated
under a charter from the Legislature of 1890, with
the right to hold $50,000 worth of real and personal
property. Active steps will soon be taken to make
the organization of practical benefit to the community.
The Framingham Drill Club is an organization of
young men and boys, moat of whom are students in
the schools of the town, and the object is chiefly phy-
sical improvement. The club comprises about eighty
members, and is divided into two companies, making
a small school batallion. Out of compliment to
Supt. LukeR. Landy, of the State muster-field at this
place, who was chiefly instrumental in organizing
them, the boys voted to be known as "The Landy
Cadets." The boys are uniformed, have regular
drills, and are allowed under the school law to carry
arms. Their drill-master has been Lieutenant Hun-
ter, of Company L, of the Ninth Regiment, of Natick,
and under his instructions the boys have come to a
high degree of proficiency in drill, with a corre-
sponding improvement in their general carriage.
The Woman's Club was organized in May of 1889
with twenty-three members, and now has thirty-five.
The object is mutual improvement along an intellec-
tual line, and it meets fortnightly on Tuesday after-
noons. Mrs. Sewell Fisher is president and Mrs. C.
F. Beard, secretary.
The Framingham Art Club was organized May 1 ,
1890, with thirty members, and now has forty. Mrs.
C. F. Beard is president and Mrs. C. U. Fuller,
secretary. The studio is in Smith Block and lessons
are given three times a week. At present instruction
is chiefly confined to drawing and painting, but other
branches of art will be taken up in time. It is de-
signed to give exhibitions from time to time, and to
establish an evening art school.
Waushakum Brass Band was formed in the spriz^g
of 1888, and is finely uniformed. The membership
is twenty-eight. Ed. S. Hemenway is leader. The
band-room is in Union Block.
Elmwood Bugle, Fife and Drum Corps was organized
Oct. 20, 1886, and numbers fifteen musicians, well
uniformed. W. E. Walters is captain. Meetings are
held in Alpha Rink.
The South Middlesex Driving Association was organ-
ized in May, 1890, and its track is at the grounds of
the Middlesex South Agricultural Association, in
this village. The track is kept in good condition for
practice, and occasionally trotting races are held,
with liberal purses to the winners. C. J. Fillmore is
secretary of the association, L. P. Sleeper is track
manager. The directors are H. S. Drake, J. H. Jordan,
E. L. Deschamps.
The Middlesex South Agricultural Society, which was
organized in 1854, formerly held its fairs at Framing-
ham Centre, but in 1869 twenty-five acres were
bought on Union Avenue, in this village, and con-
venient exhibition buildings established there, as well
as a half-mile trotting track, the whole at a cost of
$16,000. Since then a few acres have been sold, but
the grounds and buildings are in excellent condition,
and the annual exhibitions in September are largely
attended. Each year S600 is received from the State
for premiums, nearly twice that amount being offered
exhibitors. The annual meetings are held the first
Monday in December. N. B. Douglas, of Sherborn,
is president, and Samuel B. Bird, of Framingham,
secretary.
The Firemen's Mutual Belief Association was organ-
ized January 21, 1889, among the firemen of the town
for the objects which its name implies. William H.
Burke is president, and George T. Fuller, secretary.
There are about 40 members. Quarterly meetings
are held on the first Monday evenings of January,
April, July and October.
The South Framingham Base Ball Association, main-
tains grounds on Concord Street, which are fenced
in, and on which base ball and other athletic sports
are held. Frank E. Farrar is manager of the asso-
ciation, and Russell M. French, treasurer.
A Nationalist Club has been started, July, 1890,
with C. A. Simpson, president, and W. D. Mc Pherson,
secretary.
TTie Industrial Unions. — The industrial unions of
the town are quite well organized, and hold regular
meetings. Among these unions in the village are the
670
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Carpenters' and Joinere', Painters' and Decorators',
Lasters' Protective, International Leather-Workers',
Rubber-Workers', Brotherhood of Railroad Brake-
men, Trainmen's Protective Association.
Among the organizations which have lately gone
out of existence in the village are:
77te Citizens' Association, a body of gentlemen seek-
ing to improve the growth and prosperity of the town,
was organized February 8, 1886, but died after two
years, although accomplishing much good in that
time.
The Literary Society was started in March, 1875,
with fifty members, and had over one hundred mem-
bers afterwards. It was very prosperous for ten years,
but in 1886 surrendered, giving the money in its
treasury — about $50 — to the Choral Union.
The Choral Union, organized in 1884, existed be-
tween four and five years, aud had a marked eflFect
upon the musical culture of the town. Concerts were
given from time to time, but, like many another good
thing, it finally succumbed to lack of interest.
Business Interests. — As a business centre, South
Framingham has already achieved considerable dis-
tinction. It is the natural centre of a circle of
twenty-five or thirty miles, within whose radius are a
score or more of thriving towns. We have seen that
it is on two main lines of railway with their branches ;
being situated twenty miles west of Boston, twenty
miles east of Worcester, twenty-five miles south of
Fitchburg and Lowell and thirty miles north of
Taunton. Most of the village is of level land, and
the business part is considerably cut up with railroad
tracks, affording numerous sites for manufacturing
establishments. Unlike many towns, this one is not
tribute to any other town or city, but is an independ-
ent community, rapidly growing from its own re-
sources. Previous to 1840 there were but a few strag-
gling houses each side of the Boston and Worcester
Railroad track. The development of the straw-hat
and bonnet industry in the " forties" drew outsiders
in, until in war time we find that business flourishing
in town, and there was practically no other manu-
facturing business here.
The bonnet 'business which had been begun by
Mrs. Lovell Earaes in 1825, and enlarged by her son,
Horace, who took charge in 1830, was purchased by
Franklin Manson in 1840, and carried on until 1864
by him, when it was sold to Curtis H. Barber, who
subsequently took his son, Thomas L., in with him.
To-day this large business is carried on by T. L.
Barber & Company, at a finely appointed factory on
Park Street, which year by year has been extended
and improved. In the busy season about four hun-
dred employees are kept at work, one hundred and
forty of whom are men, the rest women. The product
is ladies' straw-hats in different styles, and the firm
has a very high reputation for fine work. The sales-
rooms are with Messrs. Gottbold & Company, 561-063
Broadway, New York.
Mr. Temple, in his " History of Framingham," has
told of the connection of Alexander and Willard E.
Clark in the business, also of Augustus and George
Richardson, George P. Metcalf and H. K. White.
The firm which succeeded these latter gentleman was
(A.) Richardson & Crafts. This firm was succeeded
by the new firm of Crafts, Emmons & Billings ; this
in turn by Emmons & Billings, with a change later
on to H. O. Billings & Co., and still later, in 1888,
by the present firm of Staples & Smalley. These
latter gentlemen came from Westboro', leasing the
factory of Mr. Billings. About the 1st of December,
1887, a large part of this factory was burned, but Mr.
Billings, with great enterprise, set about rebuilding,
and by dint of hard work on the part of a large force
of men, night and day, in about two weeks a large
and better factory than any of its predecessors stood
finished. Messrs. Fales & Sons, belonging here, were
the builders. This great speed was necessitated on
account of the busy season at the factory. In recog-
nition of Mr. Billings' enterprise and his determina-
tion to keep the busii^ess in town when outside par-
ties had offered him inducements to remove elsewhere,
250 of the business men of the town tendered him a
complimentary banquet, which probably has never
been equaled by any other similar event in the town.
This factory now employs in the busy season about
250 hands.
The largest industry in the town to-day is that of
the Pard Rubber-Shoe Company, of which A. L. Coo-
lidge, of Boston, is president, aud J. L. Stickney,
treasurer. It was in 1881 that this company was
formed in Boston with a capital stock of $300,000, in-
creased a few months afterwards to $500,000, and still
later to $1,000,000. Certain enterprising gentlemen
here saw the opportunity to secure the industry for
the town, and shortly the terms were arranged. By
these terms a company known as the South Framing-
ham Manufacturing Company was formed in town to
put up the buildings and lease them to the Para Com-
pany. The total cost of the land and buildings was
$101,000. They were completed early in 1882 and
occupied. The oflicers of the building company are :
Franklin Manson, president; Sidney A. I'hillips,
E.sq., clerk ; Willard Howe, treasurer. The plant is
well located, but a few minutes' walk from the post-
ofiice and railroad station, covers fifteen acres, and is
on the line of the Boston aud Albany Railroad, from
which a spur track runs into the factory yard rmd by
the large store-houses. The average number of em-
ployees is about 1000, divided between both sexes.
Joseph D. Thomas is superintendent, and he has had
a large experience in the rubber business in this and
foreign countries. Until recently the company made
rubber clothing as a part of its product, but this
branch of the business has been discontinued and at-
tention paid wholly to footwear. The product em-
braces all grades, from the heavy lumbermen's boots
to the finest and most highly-finished ladies' rubbers.
FRAMINGHAM.
671
Some of these latter are finished with fancy cloth,
silk or satin and fur-tipped tops. The ordinary arctics
and rubbers are made, as well as a line of fine tennis
shoes. Messrs. Houghton, Coolidge & Co., of Boston,
are the selling agents. The Para pay-roll amounts to
about $10,000 per week, and about 14,000 pairs of
boots and shoes are made daily. There are over five
acres of floor space in the establishment. The largest
steam-engine is of 1000 horse-power. *
The Gossamer Rubber Clothing Ckympany began work
here in 1875, their plant — all brick buildings — being
located on the line of the Boston & Albany Railroad.
Messrs. Ira M. aud Wra. H. Conant, of Boston, com-
prise the company, and T. H. Videto is superintend-
ent. The Boston oflice is at 300 Federal Street. The
South Framingham plane is valued at about $75,000.
The Messrs. Conant were the pioneers in this business,
and this is believed to be the oldest gossamer company
in the country, and the facilities are such that a larger
product can be turned out than from any other rubber
clothing mill. All qualities of rubber cloth for clothing
are made, from the common cotton to the richest silks.
About twenty hands are employed in the coating de-
partment, and some 300 girls are employed in the
Boston department, making the cloth into clothing.
Gregory & Co.'s Boot Factory, which is the second
largest industry in town, and one of the largest boot
factories in New England, was established here in
1882. At that time the firm was known as Bridges &
Co., and it was only on January 1, 1890, that Mr. D. T.
Bridges retired from the head of the concern, after
having been connected with it for forty-three years,
and being a partner for thirty-three years. The busi-
ness was originally located in Hopkinton, and had
twice been burned out before it was finally decided to
locate at South Framingham on account of its
superior business facilities. On April 24, 1885, the
new factory was half destroyed by fire, a brick par-
tition wall saving the rear half. The burned part
was immediately rebuilt. The factory stands on high
ground, buta few rods from the Boston & Albany Rail-
road, from which it has a special track; 240.x40 feet
is the ground size, and four stories above a high
basement, the height. Store-houses and other build-
ings afford additional facilities. The goods made are
miMtly of the heavier kinds, although many of them
are handsomely finished. The firm comprises N. P.
Coburn, of Newton ; ex-Uov. William Claflin, of New-
ton ; James A. Woolson, of Cambridge; D. T. Bridges,
W. F. Gregory, Oliver B. Root, of Framingham.
Five of the foremen have been with the concern an
average of over thirty-five years, and many of the
employees have worked for the firm a long time. The
usual number of employees is about 400, although
more can be accommodated, and are employed at
times.
WilUama' Box Factory was located in the "Old
Stone Mill," on Howard Street, in 1870, the firm-
name then being Fales & Williams. The firm car-
ried on a general building and wood-working busi-
ness, but dissolved partnership in 1875, when Mr.
Abner Fales continued the building business, and
Mr. S. H. Williams the mill business. The box
business finally outgrew the " Old Stone Mill," and
Mr. Williams erected a model plant a short distance
away, the Old Colony Railroad, beside which the mill
stands, putting a spur track into the mill yard. This
new mill, three stories high, was built by A. Fales &
Sons in 1886, and occupied in January of 1887. It
is fitted with the most modern machinery for sawing
the logs into boards, planing them, and manufactur-
ing packing-boxes for the rubber boot and shoe and
other factories in the neighborhood. About thirty
men are employed, and 12,000 to 15,000 feet of boards
are made into boxes daily. The mill is run by steam-
power.
The Framingham Box Company was started in Feb-
ruary of 1889. Previous to that, about the Ist of
August, 1888, Mr. S. G. Damren started a paper-box
factory here, being located on the third floor of S. H.
Williams' box factory. After running it tor a few
months he was obliged to go to Maine on other busi-
ness, and the box business was sacrificed. It had
been shown, however, that such a business could live
in town, and so a company was incorporated with
^000 capital, all paid in, and Mr. J. W. Jones, who
had beeu Mr. Dararen's foreman, was secured as gen-
eral manager, being also a stockholder. J. J. Valen-
tine is president of the company, and W. M. Ranney,
treasurer. The company, which started with ten
hands, now keeps thirty constantly employed, mak-
ing 5000 boxes daily. While shoe-boxes are a special-
ly, almost every variety of paper-boxes are made,
some of them being very handsome. Mr. Jones is
one of the most progressive box-makers in the coun-
try, and the business is rapidly growing under his
management.
A. M. Eames <£• Co., wheel manufacturers. Alfred
M. Eames began making wheel-hubs in the basement
of Union Block in 1871, and continued that business
'intil 1877, when he enlarged the business, going into
the manufacture of wheels. His brother, Edwin A.,
had, iu company with Geo. W. Bigelow and C. C.
E-sty, been manufacturing wheels in Union Block,
under the firm-name of Eames, Bigelow & Co., their
business being transferred to the Framingham Wheel
Co. iu 1874, the latter company discontinuing busi-
ness in 1882. Edwin was a very fine wheel-maker,
and is to-day, and became superintendent of Alfred's
business, which in 1877 employed but three men but
now employs about twelve, making all sizes of wheels,
but making a specialty of the highest grade of light
carriage wheels, supplying the best carriage-makers in
New England. A large business is also done in
rims, spokes and hubs. The buildings include two
three-story factories, boiler and engine-house and sev-
eral store-houses. Both brothers have been in the wheel
business constantly from boyhood. Edwin went to
672
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, xMASSACHUSETTS.
Worcester at the age of nineteen, and in four years
was foreman of the shop, in which capacity he remain-
ed seven or eight years, coming to South Framingbam
and starting the firm of Eames, Bigeiow & Co. in 1870.
Alfred was superintendent of the Toledo Wheel Co.,
coming here in 1870 and starting business. About
1874 Edwin went to West Chester, Pa., where he was
foreman for one year, then going to Elizabeth, N. J.,
where he was foreman for five years. In 1881 he went
to Paris and fitted up with the latest improved ma-
chinery one of the largest wheel concerns in Europe.
The Framingham Electric Company is now an im-
portant factor in the town's economy. Mr. S. O.
Daniels, a native of this town, but afterwards a busi-
ness raan of Natick, had established an electric light-
ing plant in the latter town, and on December 23,
1886, Mr. Daniels started work on a small plant for
South Framingham. The lights were started on
January 15, 1887, with a power of seven arc lights.
When once the utility of the system had been de-
monstrated, and more customers had been secured,
Mr. Daniels bought of Gov. Wm. Claflin a lot of land
in the centre of the village on the Milford Branch
Railroad track, and erectea a fine plant there. March
28, 1888, Mr. Daniels suddenly died at his home in
Natick of apoplexy, and the electric business was left in
charge of H. W. True, who had been Mr. Daniels'
superintendent. The business having been put into
a stock company, the controlling interest was pur-
chased by the Thomson-Houston Electric Company,
and Mr. True was installed as manager. Under his
wise and energetic management the business of the
company baa been very much extended, and the town
now uses electricity exclusively for its street lights.
Improvements have been made at the generating
station from time to time, and at this time the ca-
pacity of the station is 125 arc lights and 2500 incan-
descenta, while there are actually in use about 100
arc lights and 2000 incandescent lights. There are
two engines and several dynamos, all of the latest
type.
Ordway's Reed-chair Factory. — It was in February of
1888 that Mr. A. H. Ordway, attracted by the fine rail-
road facilities, removed to this place from Mattapoi-
sett a comparatively small chair-manufacturing bus-
iness. Temporary quarters were secured in the Dunn
Building, on Howard Street, but in the fail of the
same year a convenient factory of three stories above
the basement, 40x100 feet on the ground, was erected
on land secured of Wellington H. Pratt. This fac-
tory was finished and occupied in November, 1888,
and this business has proved one of the most desira-
ble in the town. Mr. Ordway confines his manufac-
tures chiefly to one or two patterns of a base-rocker
arm-chair of reed-wbrk, and these are shipped all
over the country. About forty hands are employed,
and the factory is equipped with all the necessary
conveniences. Besides the chairs, an elegant line of
bent-wood and plush-upholstered foot-resta is made.
Marston'a Rattan Factory. — Attracted by Mr. Ord-
way's business and the inducements held out by the
place, Mr. H. A. Marston, of Wakefield, moved his
business here in the fall of 1889, building himself a
model four-story factory, 40x100 on the ground, be-
sides a brick boiler and engine-house, bleach-bouse,
etc. He located his factory directly opposite Mr.
Ordway's, and between them there is a branch of the
Old Colony Railroad. Mr. Marston's business is the
importation of rattan from Singapore and other for-
eign points, and the splitting of it up into a fine
class of cane, leaving the pith or reeds for chair-man-
ufacture, like Mr. Ordway's. Mr. Marston's ma-
chines are of his own manufacture and patent, and
be maintains a machine-shop in his factory for build-
ing them. He lights the factories from his own
electric plant, and heats them from bis steam-boilers.
Beside the cane and reed manufacture, Mr. Marston
Is a large dealer in wooden chairs of Western manu-
facture. There are about fifty employees.
New England Rattan Company. — Mr. A. H. Ord-
way was chiefly Instrumental In securing the location
here of Mr. H. A. Marston's business, and Mr. Mars-
ton in turn, aided by other citizens. Induced the New
England Rattan Company to move their business
from Wakefield to this place, and tbe latter company
was not slow to see the superior 0f>p<irtunltie3 for
transacting business here. So it followed that in
March, 1889, a fine four-story factory with high base-
ment, was finished for their occupancy, just opposite
those of Messrs. Ordway and Marston. The company
manufactures an elegant line of rattan and reed chairs
of many patterns and styles of finish, besides tables*,
easels and other parlor furniture in bamboo work.
The oflBcers of the company are : President, W. E.
Ryan ; Secretary and Treasurer, Matbias Hollander ;
Directors, H. Ryan, L. S. Mansfield, R. M. French,
H. Leuchtman, Richard Cuff. About forty-five
hands are employed.
The Union Publishing Company was formed and be-
gan business here in April, 1884. From fifteen to
twenty hands are employed. Rooms were first taken
in Union Block and successively enlarged until March
of 1886, when the third floor of Liberty Block was
taken. These quarters having become too small,
the company has now moved into the new Tri-
bune Building on Irving Street. The company does
a general job prioting and newspaper publishing bus-
iness, the papers published being the Framingham
Tribune, Ashland Tribune, Sherbom Tribune, Southboro'
Tribune, Sudbury Tribune. C. J. McPherson is presi-
dent and manager, and A. P. McPherson, treasurer.
The Lakeview Pririting Company was organized
early in 1889 to succeed the J. C. Clark Printing
Company, which was established here in 1872. occu-
pying quarters ever since in Union Block. The com-
pany employs from fifteen to twenty hands, and does
a general job printing and newspaper publishing
business, besides being agent for certain specialties.
FRAMTNGHAM.
673
The papers published are Thf Pramingham Gazette,
Ashland Adrertiser, Holliston Transcript. C. F. Cut-
ler is president, and W. F. Blake, treasurer and
manager.
The La%t-Factory of E. D. Stone was established
about ten years ago, Mr. Stoae coming from Auburn.
Me. A superior grade of shoe-lasts is made, its prin-
cipal customers being the Para Rubber-Shoe Com-
pany, near whose works it is located, and the shoe-
factories in this and vicinity towns. It is well
equipped with steam machinery and employs about
ten hands.
A. Fates & Sons have a well-equipped ateam-power
plant, on the line of the Old Colony Railroad, for the
manufacture of builders' finish and materials. They
are large builders themselves, erecting many railroad
stations and other large buildings. They employ, on
an average, from forty to fifty men, although some-
times having mr.ny more.
Leather Goods.— In 1886 William D. Higgins
started in the village the manufacture of leather
music-rolls, collar and cuff-boxes, toilet-cases and
similar work, keeping a small force of men at work.
Recently he has sold out to H. F. Twombly cfe Co.,
who now conduct the business. George H. Fames
started in the same business last year, and has made
it so successful that he has recently built and moved
into a new factory off Union Avenue.
T. L. Stnrteciint, who is an inventor of some note>
is now building steam-yachts here on the shores of
Waushakum Pond. His latest invention is a steam-
boiler with a wonderful capacity to generate stean*.
Its fuel is gas or petroleum, and its great generating
power allows of its being of very small size. Thus a
thirty horse-power engine is put into a thirty-foot
boat, and the result is a remarkable speed. Among
Mr. Sturtevant's other inventions are the Sturtevant
.Stone-Crusher and Pulverizer, a rifle and cartridge.
^Ir. Sturtevant has also been a large owner in the
Bowker Fertilizer business, starting it with Mr. Bow-
ker about twenty years ago.
The Ice Buiinea. — The local trade has been well
supplied from the ice-house? of C. C. Stevens, C. L.
Foster and John Willis, but in the summer of 1889
immense ice-houses, with all the attendant machinery,
stables, dwelling-house, etc., etc., were built near the
shore of Wausliakum Pond by the Drivers' Union Ice
(.'ompany of Boston. This plant, which is situated
on the Milford Branch Railroad, cost about $50,000,
and in it can be stored .iO,000 tons of ice, which is
gathered here of purest quality.
The Frniningham <Jas Fuel and Power Company,
which holds a franchise from the town, was organized
in 1888, under Massachusetts law, with §75,000
capital. It proposes to furfiish gas for all domestic
and manufacturing purposes, such as for illuminating,
heating, cooking, for gas-engines, making steam,
forging, etc. Land has been bought on Irving Street,
and at this writing the construction of the system is
•13-iu
nearly completed. C. J. McPherson is president of the
company aud H. S. Jackson treasurer.
Grain Elevator. — Sprague & Williams, who, in addi-
tion to their grocery business, have done a large grain
business, erected in the spring of 1890 a grain-
mill and elevator, on Hollis Court, adjacent to Mil-
ford Division of the Boston & Albany Railroad track.
It is supplied with every requisite labor-saving con-
venience.
The Beef Refrigerator of Geo. E. Fitch & Co. was
established in the village in 1884, being connected
with Armour & Co.'s great Chicago establishment.
The next year a convenient new building was built
with a large ice capacity and overhead railroads for
handling the more than $100,000 worth of annually
dressed meat which comes to it in refrigerator cars
and is disbursed. John J. Anderson manages the
business, another branch of which is cared for at
Westboro' by Mr. Fitch.
H. L. Sawyer, in addition to his large tin, piping,
stove, hardwareand plumbing business, has for several
years manufactured japanned powder-flasks and fish-
bait boxes at his Howard Street factory.
Thomas Wist & Co., machinists, manufacture the
Wise steam motor, which has been used somewhat in
the United States Navy. Mr. Wise is also the maker
of a storage system of incandescent electric lights.
E. E. Craiulall & Co. manufacture and deal in all
varieties of carriages, besides conducting a general
repair-shop for all branches of the business.
F. F. Avery manufactures an extensive line of mat-
tresses for shipment to other cities as well as neighbor-
hood trade.
N. B. .Johnson makes a superior grade of harness
dressing under the name of the Perfection Harness
Dressing. He employs a number of selling .igents. ,
A. n. H. Warren & Go. conduct the book-bindery
which was moved here from Cambridgeport in the
summer of 1889. Excellent work is turned out, cus-
tomers coming from other towns and cities.
E.ipress Business. — With the business growth of the
place, the express companies have kept pace. Of
these there are now seven, all well equipped for
business. These are the Adams, American, New
York and Boston Despatch, Boston & Worcester,
Farrar's, Davis, Dart & Co's.
Among the industries conducted here the past few
years may be raentioued the Sterling Rubber Works,
manufacturers of go^amer rubber clothing, which
were removed to Readville about four years ago ; the
Framingham Wheel Works, Charles E. Bradley's
carriage-works, the J. M. Anthony machine-shop, the
three latter concerns going out of business.
Cutler & Company's grain mills did agood business
until about 1879, when they were destroyed by fire,
and the business removed to their mills at North Wil-
braliam, although the business office is still retained
at South Framingham. A spring-bed business, con-
ducted by a Mr. Frail, of Hopkinton, employed about
674
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
fifteen men. The factory was located off South Street,
but was burned about ten years ago, and the busi-
ness was discontinued.
Professional Men. — In addition to the clergy-
men, mentioned among the churches, there are —
Physicians : J. J. and J. S. Boynton, L. M. Palmer,
J. J. McCann, E. A. Hobbs. O. W. Collins, F. W.
Patch, Anna Wilkin.
Dentists: C. F. Beard, George F. Beard, W. I.
Brigham, W. C. Chamberlain, J. A. Hayes.
Lawyers: W. A. Kingsbury, Sidney A. Phillips,
Walter Adams, L. H. Wakefield, George C. Travis,
C. C. Estey, Ira B. Forbes, F. M. Esty, John W.
Allard, Charles S. Forbes, J. L. O'Neil, John M.
Merriman, T. W. Barrelle.
Civil Engineer : J. J. Van Valkenburg.
Architects: J. W. Patston, George L. Nichols.
Employing Mechanics. — The following individ-
uals and concerns are all in business in the place,
and some of them employ quite a number of hands:
Builders : A. Falfls & Sons, Wells & Tuttle, James
Daisley, Avery Daisley, John P. Kyte, J. R. & R. P.
Clark, James H. Combs, James McMahan, N. T. Ab-
bott, John Butland, Edward Damon, W. E. Fay, Rice
Brothers, C R.Harding, Edward P. Simpson, all car-
penters ; and A. D. Swan, C. P. Haskell, masons.
Plumbers, Gas and Steam Pipers . H. L. Sawyer and
James Sheldon ; Thomas Wise, piper.
Wheelwrights, Blacksmiths, Carriage-builders and
Horse-shoers : Thomson Brothers, W. J. Arbuckle,
E. E. Craudall & Co. ; M. McNamara, shoei.
Painters : Oilman Fuller, H. R. Mockler, J. E.
Vollmer, Joseph Harail, J. F. Roach, E. E. Crandall
& Co., W. T. Wright, Robt. McCann, J. H. Randall.
Roofers and Concrete-pavers : French Brothers, M.
E. Balcome & Co., Drury & Co.
Stone-masons: John Gallagher, D. McLaughlin,
Peter Teabeau, Jesse Bryant, William Green.
Lather: Edwin Hambliu.
Shoe-maters : Thomas Rimmer, John Slater, John
J. Slattery.
Harness-makers : D. C. York, Joshua Smith.
Hair-cutters : John A. Morse, Alonzo Sackett, Geo.
Gaadig, Henry Taylor, Frank Farnsworth.
Marble and Granite-roorker : J. B. Whalen.
Granite-worker: James O'Connor.
Tradesmen. — Dry Goods: Clifford Folger & Co.,
A. M. Lang, A. J. Wood & Co.
Clothiers: E. B. Mclntyre & Co., F. C. Hastings,
C. H. Whitcomb & Co., The Wardrobe.
Boots and Shoes : Geo. E. Fowler, Geo. A. Carr &
Co., J. F. McGlennan, A. J. Heraenway, Clifford Fol-
ger & Co.
Gentlemen's Furnishing Goods, other than those
named : O. S. Buttolph.
Furniture : A. R. Newton & Son, J. J. McCloskey.
Grocers: Sprague & Williams, Stearns Brothers,
Adams & Morse, Slattery & Flynn, C. S. Oaks, M. E.
Hamilton, Whitmore i Daboll, Robt. McGlory.
Marketmen : E. H. Kittredge & Co., L. F. Fames,
F. H. Hunt, Coburn & Hooker, W. H. Greeley, W.
F. Ward, Hawkes & Hemenway.
Fish-Markets: Fitts Brothers, Bennett & Gerrish.
Butter, Eggs and Chefse: Wellington H. Pratt,
Geo. M. Amsden.
Junk-dealer : Samuel Falkner.
Bakers: Wm. Stratton, T. H. Abbott, J. G. Klier.
Coal andWond : Willis M. Ranney, H. C. Kingman,
Otis Cutting.
Lumber and Building Material: W. M. Ranney,
Fales & Sons.
Lime, Sand, ('anent, Hay, Etc. .■ H. C. Kingman.
Grain ond Flour : Cutler & Co., Sprague & Wil-
liams, Eastman Brothers.
Milliners: Mrs. E. E. Teague, Miss A. J. Wood,
Miss Grace Lee, Miss E. B. Fuller.
Dressmakers . Mrs. Withington, Mrs. A. Page,
Miss Hill.
Jewelers and Watch-makers : Cyrus N. Gibbs, W,
W. Haynes, J. M. Bacon, A. W. Edmonds.
Druggists: Charles L. Curtis, G. W. Cutler, Geo.
Rice, I. A. Lombard.
Confectionery: F. M. Wilbur, Geo. J. Masterson,
besides grocers and druggists.
Hardware and Paints: W: E. Harding & Co., H.
L. Sawyer.
Toys, Pictures, etc. : Geo. E. Watkins & Co.
Newsdealers : Allen Robie, G. W. Cutler, G. J.
Masterson, Armstrong's Restaurant.
Restaurants: H. C. Bowers, G. W. Armstrong. S. S.
Given.
Florists : W. S. Phelps & Sons, C. J. Power.
Real Estate Agents: B. Judd, W. F. Richardson,
A. H. Tucker.
Local Teamsters and Expressmen . Geo. H. Davis,
A. J. Sullivan, Edwin Stone, E. E. Ramsdell, Ira L.
Dunavec, D. McLaughlin, John Horr, A. Saucier.
Livery Stable Men and Hackmen : Joshua Smith,
D. J. Cooney, A. W. Fay, C. J. Fillmore, Lawrence
Flynn, Jr., W. A. Flynn, F. E. Brooks.
Tailors: M. Cotter, K. Ryan, C. D. Bates, J. M.
Morrissey.
Carriage Dealers : 'E.'E,.CT2iuA2.\\ <& Co., Thomson
Bros., Rock & Young.
Fruit Dealers : S. & G. Garbarrino, E. T. Yon.
Undertakers . W. T. Gove, P. N. Everett, M. Under-
wood.
Laundries: L. E. Russell, Sun Kee & Co., The
Charlie Company.
Photographers : J. L. Sweet, F. J. Williams.
Billiard Parlor : F. E. Deming.
Insurance Agents: W. E. Clark & Son, J.S. Adams,
Burtis Judd, F. M. Esty, A. H. Tucker, S. G. Davenport.
Auctioneers : H. W. Cotton, J. H. Eames, Edgar
Potter, W. F. Richardson.
Milkmen : A. P. Houghton, L. Gould.
Dog Kennels and Breeders: J. R. Teague, J. A. Morse.
Bill Poster: Manager of Elmwood Opera House.
/^:5^^^^,'i^i^-
FRAMINGHAM.
675
BIOGRAPHICAL.
MICHAEL H. SIMPSON.
Michael H. Simpsoo was emphatically an Essex
County man, although much of his long and active
business life was spent in Suffolk and Mliddleses
Counties, where he brought into a high state of de-
velopment the well-known industries connected with
the"Roxbury Carpet Company" and "Saxonville
Mills." He was the son of Paul Simpson, Esq., a
wealthy ship-owner of Newburyport, during the days
when a phenomenal success sometimes attended the
sending of cargoes of merchandise to foreign ports.
Deciding early upon a business career, young Simp-
son entered into it with that energy and keen insight
which distinguished him in after-life. Before they
were of age, he, with Charles H. Coffin, of New-
buryport, and George Otis, son of Harrison Gray
Otis, of Boston (afterwards partners), made a highly
successful venture by sending a ship and cargo to
Calcutta, they being sole owners. This may, perhaps,
be considered the basis of the fortune which Mr.
Simpson afterwards acquired. His business career
soon showed that to a fine physical constitution he
united a keen sagacity in adapting means to ends,
unusual executive ability, and an indomitible will.
By the connection of his firm with the wool trade of
South America his attention was drawn to the neces-
sity of freeing Buenos Ayres wool from burrs to
enhance its value. His inventive brain soon grasped
the situation, and he produced a machine for this
purpose which proved of great value, the modern
burring-machine, now in general use, being the out-
growth of this invention. In the various industries
with which his name was connected, for him to dis-
cover a need or necessity for improvement was to
give himself no rest until he had devised a way for
the accomplishment of the desired end. His exten-
sive career as a manufacturer and employer of labor
also gave scope for the development of those finer
qualities of mind and heart which characterized the
man. It was his delight to lay out parks and drives,
in connection with his estates, which he always
opened to the public. In order to give employment,
he would purchase tracts of waste land and convert
them into richly productive fields. As a friend and
companion he was genial and charming. He posses.sed
a mind well stored with the resources of history and
philosophy.
He ever recognized a beneficent, over-ruling Provi-
dence in all the ways of life, and sought by precept
and example to inculcate the principles of a high
morality in all those with whom he was brought in j
contact. His love for his native town manifested i
itself in his generous benefactions to the Public !
Library, towards town improvements, a fund for
keeping the streets watered and in various other ways. |
Mr. Simpson was twice married. His first wife was
Elizabeth Rilham, of Boston, by whom he had several
children. His second marriage was to Evangeline E.
Thurston Marrs, of Framingham, who survives him.
His death occurred at his residence in Boston, De-
cember 22, 1884.
HON. PETER PARKER.
Peter Parker, one of the most honored and most
.successful of the early missionaries who went to
China from the United States, was the third son of
Nathan and Catherine (Murdock) Parker, and was
born June 18, 1804, in Framingham, Massachusetts.
When he was four years of age his father had a
severe attack of illness, from the effects of which he
never fully recovered; and, as his two older brothers
had died in infancy, Peter was very early obliged to
assist in the support of his parents and of his three
sisters. At the age of fifteen he taught the common
school in the adjoining town of Holliston, and for
some years was employed as a teacher in the differ-
ent school districts of the neighborhood. In a short
memoir of himself, which he wrote, he says that
while thus employed he never failed to put into the
hands of his father all the money that he received,
" not reserving a single dollar" for his own use. Be-
fore leaving home to teach in Holliston, he had made
a public profession of his determination to lead a re-
ligious life, and it was not long before he informed
his friends that he wished to prepare himself to en-
ter the Christian ministry. But the ill health of his
father, and the dependence of the family on his lab-
ors, interposed difficulties, which for some years pre-
vented his beginning the necessary studies. At last,
when he had attained the age of twenty-one, his fa-
ther was able to make arrangments by which he
could be assured of a support for himself and family
for the rest of his life, and friends having offered to
provide Peter with the pecuniary assistance he might
need while obtaining a liberal education, after he had
exhausted the few hundred dollars that he had of his
own, he entered Day's Academy, in Wrentham, and
began in March, 1826, in his twenty-second year, to
fit for college. In September, 1827, he entered .Am-
herst College, as freshman. There he remained three
years, till he gained the consent of his friends to go to
Yale College, in New Haven, where he received the
degree of Bachelor of Arts, graduating with the class
of 1831, in which were a large number of men who
afterwards became distinguished in the different
walks of life. After graduation he began the study
of theology in the Yale Divinity School.
About this time the officers of the American Board
of Commissioners for Foreign Missions were consid-
ering the possibility of doing something for the evan-
gelization of the great Empire of China. The diffi-
culties in the way seemed insuperable. The re-
strictive policy which characterized the government
of that country made anj'thing like full and intimate
intercourse with the people well-nigh impossible.
676
HISTOKT OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, ^MASSACHUSETTS.
But it had been found that the Chinese were very
ready to avail themselves of the services of the phy- ]
sicians of the East India Company, and that these j
benevolent men had been very successful in obtaining j
the confidence of those whose maladies they had |
healed. It therefore occurred to the friends of missions
in the United States, that a missionary who should
also have had a thorough medical education might
be able to use his ability as a physician to gain access
to the people, and thus introduce Christianity among
them. With this object in view, it was proposed to
Mr. Parker, who was known to be ready to devote his
life to missionary work among the heathen, to fit
himself to go to China as a medical missionary. Ac-
cordingly, while pursuing his theological studies in
the Yale Divinity School, he at the same time studied
medicine in the Yale Medical School, and in March,
1834, received the degree of Doctor of Medicine.
Having also completed his theological studies, he
was ordained as a Christian minister in Philadelphia,
the following 16th of May, and sailed from New York
for Canton, .lune 4th, which city he reached October
26th, in the same year.
Alter spending some time in the acquisition of the
language of ilie people, Dr. Parker opened iu Canton,
November 4, 1S35, a free hospital for persons allected
with diseases of the eye, of the treatment of which
the native practitioners were particularly ignorant.
The success which he at once attained surpassed
all that the moat sanguine hopes of the friends ol
missions had anticipated. The iirst day, though
previous notice had been given, no patient ven-
tured to come. The second day, a solitary female.
alHicted with glaucoma, presented herself. The third
day half a dozen persons appeared; and after this
those who were suffering began to come in con-
stantly increasing numbers. At the end of a year
the aggregate of patients who had been relieved
amounted lo 2152 ; and, according to the Report whi( h
was published at the time, " had the object been to
swell this catalogue, and were the strength of one in-
dividual suflBcient for the task, the number might
have been increased by thousands." The success
which had at once attended the labors of Dr. Parker
made it evident that he had proved himself admirably
fitted for the work which had been entrusted to him.
Perhaps, much of this success was due to the rare
qualities of the man. Possessed of an imposing
physique, with a manner which was naturally digni-
fied and composed, there was, in addition, something
so benevolent, so kindly, and so truthful in the ex-
pression of his face, and the tones of his voice that he
irresistibly inspired every one with whom he came in
contact with confidence in the honesty of his pur-
pose and his readiness to extend sympathy and as-
sistance. While working for the relief of the suffer-
ings of those who came to the hospital, it should also
be stated that he sought in every way in his power to
commend to all the value of the Christian religion.
The doors of the hospital continued to be open to all
comers till June, 1840, when, in consequence of the
disgraceful and persistent etlorts of the British Gov-
ernment to force the Emperor of China to alter the
laws of the country, so that Englishmen could sell
opium without let or hindrance to the Chinese peo-
ple, ensued war. The port of Canton was threat-
ened with blockade l)y the English fleet, and it be-
came necessary to close the institution. From the
time that it had been opened, in 1835, during a
period of a little over four years, upwards of nine
thousand persons had received treatment and relief.
Dr. Parker said : " Patients from all parts of the
Empire had availed themselves of the benefits of the
hospital. The applicants during the first years of its
establishment had been confined to the lower and
middle classes ; now persons of all ranks — military,
naval and civil — were among the number; the Nan-
hoe hien. or district magistrate, the LUstoiii-house
officer, salt inspectors, ]>roviiKial judges, piovincial
treasurer, a Tartar general. Governors of Provinces,
Commissioner Linn himselt, and a number of the
imperial family, had sought relief of tht^ foreiirn phy-
sician." The account of wli^U Dr. Parker had ilr.ne,
and hi* successful and repeated perloruiaijce of many
very diflicult surgical nperaiious, lud attracted the
attention and adminitio.u of medical men in the
United States and Great Britain, and a high piace
had been accorded to him in the profes.-sion.
It certainly was a great ini.sl'ortune that at tljis
lime he was obliged to withdraw from Canton. What
he had already done was fell by all persons who were
interested in the cause of missions in China to have
been of inestimable value, by disarming the preju-
dices of a great multitude of iiiriuential jieople
against the foreigners, whim they had been taught to
think of as '"outside barbarians."
During the years of his first residence in China, in
addition to his work in the hospital. Dr. Parker on
several occasions rendered valuable assistance in the
general work of missions. The most important, per-
haps, of his services of this kind was in conntction
with the expedition, undertaken in 1837, by several
of the missionaries in China, which had tor its object
the establishment of a mission in Japan. That ex-
pedition proved to be a failure as far as the immediate
object in view was concerned ; but, on his return to
Canton, Dr. Parker published an account of the
voyage, and of a visit wdich was made to the Loo
Choo Islands.
The closing of the hospital in 1840 gave Dr. Parker
an opportunity of returning to the United States for
a visit. Having started from China in July, he
reached New York in the following December, and
spent the next eighteen months in unwearied eflbrts
to diffuse information through the country respect-
ing China, and to interest Christian people every-
where in the cause of missions among the Chinese.
In addition, he had interviews with Presidents Van
<<^ c^- '(^'c^ ^y^~^rj
if-^^i^j-^'^/-:^^:^- '■%":
FRAMINGHAM.
677
Buren, Harrison, and Tyler, and with the Secretary of
State, Mr. Daniel Webster, before whom he urged
the importance of sending a United Statea minister to
Cbina, as soon as the war then waging should come
to an end, for the purpose of arranging a commercial
treaty with that government, and of giving protec-
tion to American citizens resident in the country. It
was owing to the representations which he made,
that the Hon. Caleb Ciishing was sent to China in
the following year as American Minister. Dr. Parker
also made a hurried visit to England, for the purpose
of calling the attention of English Christiana to the
advantages which might be obtained by sending out
medical missionaries to China. He was successful in
bringing the subject to the attention of the Arch-
bishiip of Canterbury, the Duke of Wellington, the
Marcjuis of Lansdowi, the Bishops of L'jndon and of
Durham, and . I lar^e number of other distinguished
mei;. He mi-.de the acquaintance of Sir Benjamin
Brodie. Dr. Hoi land, .Sir Henry Halford, and other
pnmimcnt Eaglish physicians and surgeons. He was
presented in Paris to Louis Philippe, the Kiug of
the Fieuch, and h.ad the c^pportunity of a long
coavernation with him on the condition of affairs in
China.
Having returned from England to the United
States in June, iS-i'2, he sailed a few months later from
Bost.m tor Cantou, having previously been married
in Washiasr'.ou. .\Iurch 2'J, 1841, to Miss Harriet C.
Webster, daughter of .Mr. Jv,hu O. Webster, of
Auiiiata, Mi'iiie. Mrs. Webster accompanied him,
and was the tirst foreign lady to reside in China.
On reaching Canton he re-opened the hospital, and
was even more succes.-iful than before. But it was
not long before Hon. Caleb Gushing arrived, in
February, 1S44, as Envoy Extraordinary and ilinis-
ter Plenipotentiary of the United States to China,
who at once requested Dr. Parker to become Chiaese
Secretary and Intel preter of the Legation. After
careful cousideratiou, and with the hope that he
might have wider opportunities of usefulness, he
accepted Mr. Cushing's offer. He gave up his con-
uectiou with the American Board, but with the help
iif native a.ss stants, whom he had trained, he was
able to cmitlnue his oversight of the hospital till in
1855, finding his health impaired, he resigned his
secretaryship, and returned to America. During
these years be repeatedly acted as Charge d' atfaires
ad interim.
A few mouths after reaching home, at the special
request of the government, he returned to China as
United States Commissioner and Minister plenipo-
tentiary, for the purpose of revising the treaty of
1844. On his way to China, passing through Lon-
don, he had a consultation with the Earl of Claren-
don, in order that the policy of the two governments
they represented might be concurrent. In Paris, also,
he bad an interview for the same purpose, with
Count Walewsky, the French Minister for Foreign
Affairs. His duties aa Commissioner occupied Dr.
Parker for two years, when he felt obliged to resign
and to return to America, his health having been
somewhat enfeebled owing to the effects of a sunstroke.
He fixed his residence in Washington, with his
paternal homestead in- Framingham as a summer
resort. His later years were spent in retirement, the
only public office which he held being that of Regent
of the Smithsonian Institution, to which he was
elected in 1868. After several years of infirm health
he died in Washington, January 10, 1888, in his
eighty-fourth year.
ADOLPHTJS MERRIAM.
Adolphus Merriam was descended from a pioneer
family of the town of Concord, Mass. His ancestor,
Joseph Meriam, came from the county of Kent, Eng-
land, in 1038 and settled in Concord. From that
early date until the death of Joseph Merriam, the
father of Adolphus, in 1856, through five generations,
the family name was prominent in the history of tliat
town. The Meriam settlement became known as
"Meriam's Corner." It was at this spot that the first
vigorous attack was made on the retreating British as
they left Concord on the memorable 19th of April,
1775. Josiah Meriam, the grandfather of Adolphu.s,
was one of the men at the North Bridge, and used an
old flint-lock which his ancestor had brought with
him from England. It was his house that the British
entered on the retreat, and in it exercised freely their
spirit of mischief and plunder. This house, l)y the
way, is not the Meriam house which is now standing,
but was an older one, all trace of which is gone, that
stood nearer the corner of the Bedford and Le.xiugtoii
roads.
Joseph Merriam, the father of Adolphus, when a
young man moved from Meriam's Corner to a farm on
the Virginia road, near the Lincoln line. Here
Adolphus was bom August 23, 1820. He was the
youngest of ten children. His early life w:is that of
a farmer's boy, with its usual amount of hard work
and limited advantages. In addition to the few years
of study in the district school he enjoyed a term iu
the Framingham Academy.
When he was seventeen years old he went to South-
bridge, Massachusetts, and entered the olHce of the
Hamilton Woolen Company, in which his brother,
Charles, was interested. For several years he served
what may be called a term of apprenticeship iu the
business of woolen and cotton manufacture. His
master and model was Samuel L. Fiske, whom he
faithfully served and ardently admired, and whose
influence had a marked effect in strengthening his
own natural habits of thrill, of promptness in dis-
charging obligations and of honesty and honor in
business affairs.
In 1846 he married Caroline McKinstry, daughter
of John McKinstry, of Southbridge. Mr. Merriam
remained in Southbridge twelve years. During this
678
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
time he was ateadily promoted until he was entrusted
with the superintendency of large interests connected
with the Hamilton Woolen Company. In 1850 he
purchased a small mill in Springfield, Vermont,
which he operated auccessfully for four years. He
then returned to Southbridge and entered into a part-
nership with Joshua and Gayton Ballard in the
manufacture of woolen goods.
Mr. Merriam was very active in all public matters
in Southbridge. He was one of the leaders of the
Lyceum. When a young man he identified himself
with the temperance movement, to the principles of
which he strictly adhered during his life. He corre-
sponded with Rev. Adin Ballou and George Draper,
with reference to the social community which they
founded at Hopedale, and seriously contemplated
joining it. He served the town as assessor and select-
man, was connected with the National and Savings
Banks of the town, and during the war was active as
selectman in filling the town quota and in advocating
the Federal cause.
In 1864 he moved to South Framingham, where
he lived until his death. He became interested in
the manufacture of woolen goods in Millbury, where
he was associated with Peter Simpson ; and in Corda-
ville, in company with Hubbard Willson. He was
also a director of the Hamilton Woolen Company,
and clerk of the corporation, and a director of the
jEtna Mills at Watertown. In addition to these in-
terests he was for many years a director and president
of the American Powder Company, and president of
the Gunpowder Trade Association of the United
States.
When the Framingham Savings Bank became em-
barrassed, it was the demand of the community that
Mr. Merriam accept the presidency of the reorganized
board of trustees. He was at the time the president
of the National Bank, and was very reluctant to add
to the business cares which already demanded close
attention. The duties involved in the reorgani-
zation, and in the restoration of the credit of the
Savings Bank, were very exacting and subjected the
president to much annoyance and anxiety. He en-
deavored to perform them with the same care that he
expended in his own atTairs. He often expressed his
confidence in the final restoration of credit and re-
sumption of business by ihe bank, and his calm con-
fidence and patient work did much to assure deposi-
tors, and to bring about the successful termination of j
the bank's misfortune. i
In addition to discharging this public trust, Mr.
Merriam, in the course of his life, cared for many pri- |
vate trusts, all of which were scrupulously managed '
and settled.
Mr. Merriam avoided prominence in public affairs
in Framingham. His influence, however, was exerted
quietly toward the promotion of many worthy politi-
cal, social and moral causes. He was the first presi-
dent of the South Framingham Literary Society, and
was one of its most constant workers during the ten
years of its life. For a short time in his school-days
in Concord, Theodore Parker had been his teacher.
In later life he was an earnest student of Parker's
sermons and writings, which he felt were in accord
with his own religious convictions. When the move-
ment to establish a society of liberal Christians in
South Framingham was initiated he gave it his
hearty support. Later he was made the moderator of
the First Universalist Society, and worshiped with
that society constantly until his death.
Mr. Merriam died November '11, 1888, after an
illness which had incapacitated him for active work
for several months. The summary of his character
which appeared in the Framingham Tribune, at the
time of his death, is so just that it may well conclude
this sketch : "The death of Adolphus Merriam brings
a loss to Framingham that will be keenly felt. In
all matters where his interest was enlisted his course
was marked by keen insight and sound judgment.
Perhaps his distinguishing trait was his plain and
simple manner, wholly devoid uf the ostentation af-
fected by some men when they achieve a small part
of the success that was his. Always genial and ap-
proachable, it was his lot and pleasure often to advise
other men, and his advice was always worth seeking.
His presence will be sadly missed, but his influence
will be felt for a long time to come."
JOHN BALL KITTEEDGE, M.D.'
Doctor Kittredge was a descendant of John Kitt-
redge, who settled in Billerica as early as 1660, where
he died October 18, 1676. He was a considerable
land-owner in Billerica, and received a grant of sixty-
four acres in the limits of what became Tewksbury,
on which some of the later generations of the family
have resided.
The eldest son of John, Sr., was named for his father,
settled in Billerica, studied medicine, and was the
first of a long line of noted physicians. Dr. John (3d),
the eldest son of Doctor John (2d), called his eldest
son John (4th), whose eldest son was John (5th). The
brothers of John (5th) were Simeon and Benjamin.
Benjamin was born March 7, 1741. He was a well-
known physician of Tewksbury and Andover, and
was the father of eight sons, all physicians, viz : Ben-
jamin, of Exeter; Henry, of Tewksbury; John Ball,
of Framingham ; Jacob, of Billerica and Ohio ; Rufus,
of Portsmouth ; George, of Epping, N. H. ; Theodore,
of Kittery ; Charles, of Watertown.
John B., the subject of this sketch, was born Octo-
ber 8, 1771 ; studied with his father, as was the cus-
tom of the time, came to Framingham in his twenty-
first year, and probably entered the office of Dr. Dan-
iel Perkins, and took his practice when he moved
West the next year.
> By J. H. Temple.
//' . /////.'/,/a
^ A", y^y
"^i-v-il^ 4u^^t^'-'/^
FRAMINGHAM.
679
Framiogham waa then in a kind of transition state.
The Revolutionary War had changed the social order
and business conditions, as well as the inhabitants.
The older men were striving to repair the wastes of
war; the younger men were planning new enterprises
and taking the lead in municipal affairs. The popu-
lation of the town was much scattered, and the cen-
tres of trade and enterprise were at several points
near the outskirts. Aside from the meeting-house,
there had been little to attract people to the territor-
ial centre. The minister. Rev. David Kellogg, was,
however, strong in the regards of the people, and, by
his talents and high ministerial character, was a
power for good in all social and religious and business
affairs. And the signs all pointed to the site of the
present village as the coming centre of town activity
and influence.
The young physician wisely located at this point,
and allied himself with the new movement and with
the pastor of the church.
He was a man of fine pre^'ence, and affable, though
dignified manners, and every way calculated to make
a favorable impression.
The inception of the plan for the establishment of
a grammar-school of high order at the Centre — which
soon was transformed into the Framingham Acad-
emy— gave Dr. Kittredge the opportunity of ingra-
tiating himself with the leading families, by further-
ing in every wise way the new educational institution
and drawing in pupils. He gave a hearty support to
the movement ; and his interest in the Academy
and the public schools continued through his active
life.
Undoubtedly the reputation of the family as physi-
ciaus predisposed the public in bis favor ; but he was
a born doctor, and started with the determination of
achieving success. He gave his time and his best
work and leading interest to his profession, and made
everything else subsidiary. And he had bro.id sym-
pathies, which prevented favoritism. A family in
humble circumstances was aure of receiving his kind
attention and the most considerate treatment.
Technically, as judged by present standards, his
medical education was defective. But practically, he
was well equipped — by natural taste, by quick percep-
tive powers, by the habit of close observation, by the
logical faculty of tracing cause and effect, as well as
careful reading of the works then extant.
Perhaps his JorU lay in his accurate diaenosis of
disease. It may have been partly intuition; but his
careful analysis of symptoms, and study of temper-
aments and habits of living, and family predisposi-
tions, aided the natural perception.
And his cheery and hopeful demeanor in the sick-
room was a powerful adjunct to the medicine he pre-
scribed. " We'll have you out again in a few days I"
was the inspiring assurance with which he was wont
to bid good-bye to his patient.
His large practice brought fame and wealth. And
after his means became ample, he was greatly helpful
to young men of good character and habits — particu-
larly mechanics just starting in business on their own
account — by loaning them money on their individual
note. It was done not grudgingly, but willingly.
The debtor felt that the lender took an interest in
him and his success, and had confidence in his hon-
esty and ability ; and thus the loan was a powerful
motive to diligence and economy, as well as a work-
ing capital.
Dr. Kittredge died February 29, 1848. He married
Mary Kellogg, daughter of Rev. David Kellogg, pas-
tor of the church in Framirgham. Their children
were: 1. Ellen, who married Dexter Stone, a mer-
chant of Philadelphia, and had two daughters, Mary,
and Ellen K. ; 2. John T., who graduated at Amherst
College 1828, studied medicine with his father, began
practice in his native town, and died at the early age
of twenty-six.
H0LLI8 HASTINGS.
The subject of this sketch is descended from
Thomas Hastings, who, at the age of twenty-nine,
with his wife, Susanna, came to New England in the
summer of 1634 and settled in Watertown. He em-
barked at Ipswich, Eugland, April 10th of that year,
in the "Elizabeth," William Andrews master, and
probably arrived in May. He was admitted a free-
man May 6, 1635, and was a selectman of Watertown
from 1638 to 1643, and again from 1650 to 1671. He
was town clerk in 1671-77 and '80, and Representa-
tive in 1673. His wife died February 2, 1650, and in
April, 1651, he married Margaret, daughter of Wil-
liam and Martha Cheney, of Roxbury. His children
— all by the second wife — were Thomas, born July 1,
1652; John, March 4, 1654; William, August 8,
1655 ; Joseph, September 11, 1657 ; Benjamin, August
9, 1659 ; Nathaniel, September 25, 1661 ; Hepzibah,
January 1, 1663, and Samuel, March 12, 1665. He
died in 1685, at the age of eighty.
Of the children of Thomas, John, born as above, in
Watertown, married, June 18, 1679, Abigail, daugh-
ter of John and Abigail Hammond, of Watertown,
and died March 28, 1718, only a few days before
h's wife, who died on the 7th of April following. He
left eight children : Abigail, born December 8, 1680 ;
John, baptized December 4, 1687 ; Elizabeth, bap-
tized December 4, 1687; Hepzibah, baptized at same
date ; William, baptized July 13, 1690 ; Samuel,
born 1695, aud Thomas and Joseph, baptized July 10,
1698.
Of these children, Joseph married, October 2, 1716,
Lydia, daughter of Abraham and Mary (Hyde) Brown,
of Watertown, and had fourteen children: Elizabeth,
born March 4, 1717; Lydia, November 26, 1718;
Grace, April 2, 1720; Joseph, June 1, 1722; an infant
unnamed, 1724; Lucy, April 9, 1726; Josiah, Febru-
ary 28, 1728; Jonas, September 15, 1729; Susanna,
May 26, 1731; Eliphalet, October 10, 1734; Thank-
G80
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
ful, October 12, 1736 ; Sarah, November, 1737 ; an
infant, 1739, and Lois, May 4, 1742.
Of these, Eiiphalet, born in Waltham, as above,
married, August 20, 1761, Susan, daughter of Samuel
and Anna (Bemis) Fislce, of Waltham. He was in
the French and Indian War, and present at the cap-
ture of Quebec, in 1759. He was also a soldier in
the devolution and died in Framingham in 1824.
His children were Lucy, born September 30, 1761 ;
Elias, February 13, 1763 ; Susanna, baptized in Feb-
ruary, 1765 > Louisa Ann, born April 19, 1767; Wil-
liam, September 12, 1769; Anna; Eiiphalet, Novem-
ber 22, 1774; Charles, September 22, 1776 ; Thomas,
June 19, 1780 ; Samuel, November 14, 1782, and
Susan, October 18, 1786.
Of these children, Thom'ts was born in Waltham,
and married, April 3, 1803, Nabby, daughter of Sam-
uel and Martha (Jennings) Abbot, of Framingham.
He died August 22, 1864. His children were Sam-
uel Abbot, born October 3, 1803, William, June 15,
1805; HoUis, May 8, 1807; Thomas, April IS, 1809;
Eiiphalet, July 31, 1811; Josiah, July 25, 1813;
John Kittredge, March 17, 1816 ; Otis Fisk, Novem-
ber 18, 1818, Dexter, August 4, 1822.
HoUis Hastings, one of these children, is the sub-
ject of this sketch. He was born in Framingham,
and received his education in the public schools of
that town and of Weston. He learned the trade of
harness and carriage-making, with Marshal Jones, of
Weston, and during thirty-five years carried on that
business in his native town. With sufficient means,
the fruit of his industry and .skill, he retired from
active business, and has since occupied his time in
the care of his property, and in satisfying his desires
to see the world and learn something of his brother
men in iheir varying conditions of climate, of govern-
ment and social life. To this end he ha-s visited
every State in the Union, including those recently
ailmitted when they were Territories, and has twice
visited the Old World. The information acquired in
his travels has expanded and strengthened a natur-
ally active and receptive mind, and enables him to
discuss with unusual intelligence the questions which
on both sides of the ocean agitate the public mind.
His independence of thought enables him to freely
think out the problems of the day, and reach conclu-
sions untrammeled by the shackles which too often
keep men in old ruts after the purpose for which they !
were made has disappeared. In politics originally a |
Webster Whig, more recently an independent voter, !
he weighs questions as they rise, and votes with this
or that party which the most readily meets in his |
opinion the demand of the hour. He believes that '
parties should be organized solely to subserve the |
interests of the country, and not to perpetuate I
themselves, and that when a party begins to act
solely for itself it is time for It to die. Brought up
in the orthodox Congregational Church, he has con-
tinued a member of that faith. While in Europe
his letters, written for the Waltham Sentinel, of which
his brother was the editor, were full of interesting
matter, and marked by intelligence and thought in
the discussion of foreign affairs. His interviews with
Lord John Russell and others, in which he forcibly
presented what are called the Alabama Claims, were
especially interesting.
Mr. Hastings has never been a seeker for oflBce, and,
with the exception of a term on the School Board of
Framingham, his life has been spent outside of the
active political field. He married. May 2, 1832,
Abigail White, daughter of Dr. Norton, of Framing-
ham. who died March 8, 1880. His childten have
been, George, born January 31, 1833 ; Horatio Car-
ter, March 11, 1834; Daxter, November 24, 1835;
Emily Carter. December 31, 1836 ; Naucy Dean, Au-
gust 10, 1839; Samuel Dean, March 15, 1841 ; Josiah,
July 2, 1844; Richard Briggs, January 12, 1846, and
Jane Elizabeth, January 29, 1848.
Mr. Hastings is still living at the age of eighty-
three, with mind and body unimpaired, and in the
management of his affairs exhibits no abatement of
the shrewdness and skill which have characterized
him through life.
REV. .rOHX S. CULLEN".
Rev. John S. Cullen was born in the town of Old-
castle, County of Meath, Ireland, on Christmas Day,
December 25, 1848. He came to this country with
his parents in the early part of 1852, settling at Black-
stone, Mass., where he attended the public schools until
about eleven years old. when he was sent to St.
Joseph's College, in Susquehanna County, Pa. There
he stayed from the fall of 1860 to 1863. when he en-
tered Holy Cross College, Worcester. He remained
there three years. From there he went, in 1866, to
Nicolet College, near Three Rivers, P. Q., staying
there one year and graduating. In 1867 he went to
Orand Seminary, Montreal, to study theology, remain-
ing there until December 31, 1871, and being ordained
there as a priest. On Jan. 15, 1872, he came to
Hopkinton, M:uss., as assistant pastor, and remained
in that position six years, when he was appointed to
take charge of the missions at South Framingham
and Ashland. He lived in the latter town about
eightmonths, removing to South Framingham in May,
1879. About this time St. Bridget's Mission was es-
tablished at Framingham Centre, and added to his
care. During his ministrations the uncompleted
church at Ashland was finished, and in January of
1885 that town was made an independent parish and
given to Rev. M. F. Delaney. The work grew so at
South Framingham that an assistant was soon
necessary, for in addition to the growing St. Stephen's
Parish there, the mission at St. Bridget's was main-
taining in addition to the regular Sunday services at
the Woman's Reformatory at Sherborn. The corner-
stone of the new St. Stephen's Church edifice was laid
in December, 1883, and the structure was occupied on
^i:^^<.<^£c^£6^.
^
l^
c
4
FRAMINGHAM.
681
Christmas of 1884. The parish now numbers about
3000 souls and Father CuUen is sincerely beloved by
nil. During his residence in Hopkinton he served
four years on the School Committee of the town, and
he has been a member of the Framingham School
Board as well as one of the trustees of the town library
for nearly six years, usually receiving the hearty sup-
port of all parties and a unanimous election. He has
been a trustee of the Framingham Savings Bank for
about ten years, and has served on various town com-
mittees. His interest and labor in the work of total
abstinence from intoxicating liquors haa been a
power for good among the people of his parish and of
the town generally. Among the young people and
children he has especially loved to promote pure
living and abstinence from profanity and other
bad habits. It can truly be said that he is respected
by all his townsmen and beloved by many besides his
own people. He is now building a handsome and
comfortnblc parochial residence, and all wish him
many years of comfort and usefulness in it.
JAMES R. ENTWISTLE.
James R. Entwistle was born in the village of Sai-
onville, town of Framingham, in 1845, and here he
has ever since made his home, with the exception
of two years spent in the West. He was educated in
the town schools, and at an early age worked in the
Saxonville Mills, and also in the store of Hunt &
Fuller in the village. In 1863 the young man went
to Boston to work in the jobbing shoe trade, but the
following two years he spent in the West, being
located at Evansville, Ind., and Cincinnati, Ohio-
Returning to Boston, he entered the employ of Hos-
mer & Winch, boot and shoe jobbers, and since 1875
has been a member of the firm of Hosmer, Codding
& Co., of that city, jobbers in boots, shoes and rub-
bers. This drm is enterprising and well-known and
is doing a large business.
Mr. Entwistle's business capacity has been recog-
nized in his selection as president of the Framingham
Electric Company, which supplies the town with
light, as a secretary and a director of the Framing-
ham Union Street Railway Company, and it is not
too much to say that he has been a prominent factor
in the success of that company. He was an incor-
porator and is a trustee of the Farmers' and Mechanics'
Savings Bank of South Framingham. His church
affiliations are with the Congregational ists, being a
contriljutor to the support of that denomination.
He is al.so a member of the Edwards Parish at
.Saxoiiville. He is a prominent member of the Ma-
sonic Fraternity and has been for years a member of
the Royal Arcanum. That his capacity for good
service has been appreciated by his townsmen is
rihown by the fact that he was for several years upon
the School Committee of the town, was chosen the
first auditor of the town's accounts, served on the
Board of Selectmen of the town in the years 1877 and
1878, and represented the town in the Legislature in
1882 and 1883. He was a member of the Sewerage
Committee which had in charge the construction of
the town's sewerage system, and has been for some
years chairman of the Board of Registrars of Voters.
In politics he is a Democrat, and in 1888 he was a
delegate to the National Convention at St. Louis,
which nominated Mr. Cleveland for President. Self-
made, popular, in the prime of life, any biography
made of Mr. Entwistle at this time must be incom-
plete.
ALEXAJ^DEB CLARK.
Alexander Clark, Jr., was born in Framingham,
November 7, 1811. His father was the village black-
smith and the son worked for him in the same busi-
ness, afterwards engaging in it for himself, and later,
in company with his brother Newell, starting a shop
in South Framingham, where now is the drinking
fountain in Irving Square. This was about 1831 ; but
when the square was opened, the shop was removed
to the site on which afterwards grew up Charles E.
Bradley's carriage- manufacturing business. Selling
their business, Alexander and Newell went into the
manufacture of straw bonnets in 1838, under the
firm-name of A. & N. Clark. This firm was suc-
ceeded later by that of A. Clark & Son, Alexander's
son, Willard E., being associated with him. From
bonnets this firm went to making palm-leaf hats and
Shaker hoods in 1853. These had an immense sale
all over the country and the firm cleared many thou-
sand dollars, but the hoods afterwards went out of
style, and shop and machinery lay idle. The firm
then fitted up a factory for the manufacture of shoes,
but soon gave up the business. Alexander retired
from active business some fifteen or twenty years ago,
since which time until his death, which occurred
August 11, 1890, his attention has been given to the
care of his real estate, of which he possessed consid-
erable. In 1853-54 when the town Fire Department
had just been organized, Mr. Clark was third assist-
ant engineer of the Department, being in charge of
the South Framingham Division. He lived to see
the tiny village grow almost to the dimensions of a
small, bustling city.
Mr. Clark was always deeply interested in religious
work. Before 1840 there was no church at South
Framingham, and he conducted Bible readings at his
house on Sundays, and read the Bible aloud in his
shop on week-days. Sunday services were afterwards
held in his shop, with preaching by neighboring min-
isters. He was foremost in starting the Baptist
Church in 1851, was its first treasurer, and assistant
superintendent of the Sunday-school at the start.
When the church edifice was built he was chairman
of the building committee, and for thirty years he
was superintendent of the Sunday-school, being for
682
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
many years also a member or leader of the choir. For
years he oflSciated as undertaker in the village.
Mr. Clark was three times married, — on June 23,
1835, to Nancy Daniels, who died December 5, 1838 ;
on April 7, 1840, to the widow Abbie Blake Adams,
to whom was born one son, Willard E. ; on April 17,
1889, he took for his third wife Nettie Ashbrook
Steeves, of Moncton, New Brunswick, who survives
him.
CHAPTER XLIV.
BELMONT.
BY THOMAS W. DAVIS.
It was said, somewhat irreverently, by an earnest
advocate of the Hoosac Tunnel, before that wonderful
triumph of modern engineering had become an ac-
complished fact, that the finger of God marked the
valleys of the Deerfield and Hoosac Rivers for the lo-
cation of a great railroad, and the full force of the re-
mark is readily grasped by any one who, stand-
ing on the ridge which separates those streams,
observes the line of deeper green which in-
dicates the descent of the hills on either hand to the
course of the waters below. The objection was at
once offered that, to make this argument avail, the
finger should have pierced the mountain, and thus
have made I he route complete. Human enterprise has
now supplied that which was lacking, and from the
Atlantic plain of the Mystic and the Charles, across
the valleys of the Nashua and the Connecticut with
its tributaries, under and between the highlands of the
Green and Taconic Ranges, the iron horse makes his
regular journeys to meet the waters of the Hudson at
Troy, It is interesting to note how, in its advance
from one river system to another, the railroad has
seized upon a depression here in the mountain wall
of separation, a sloping upland there, and to observe
again how communities spring into being all along
the lines that help to tie the opposite ends of the
land together. No town in New England, unless it
be a railroad centre, owes its existence as a distinct
municipality more directly to railroad enterprise,
than does the town of Belmont. Its struggle for birth
ended happily in the same contest that determined
the completion of the Hoosac Tunnel, and there was
a peculiar fitness in the union of the friends of the
town and the advocates of the Tunnel ic their efforts.
In the gradual growth of the ice trade, which was
for so long a period of years an important factor in
the development of Boston as a leading port of com-
merce, a railroad had been built from Charlestown to
Fresh Pond, for the purpose of carrying its ice to tide-
water. An extension of this road to the westward waa
projected. To pass from the valley of the Mystic to
that of the Charles the most feasible route waa found
to be between Fresh and Spy Ponds, and thence along
the southern border of Wellington Hill. At the
western extremity of the hill, a slight elevation turns
Beaver Brook from a southerly to a westerly direction,
and cau.ses it to empty its waters into the Charles
River at Waltham, and the location of the railroad
followed the brook in its westerly course. Aside from
the advantages of this route, as determined by the
topographical survey— advantages so great that another
highway to the West has since taken the same outlet —
it was an additional recommendation that the valley
at the base of Wellington Hill was sparsely populat-
ed. It formed the outskirts of two old towns. Water-
town and West Cambridge (now Arlington), and was,
by reason of its remoteness from the centres of those
towns, occupied exclusively by a farming population.
In 1843 a charter was obtained for the Fitchburg
Railroad, and it was opened to Waltham in Decem-
ber of that year. At the crossing of Concord Turn-
pike was placed the station of Wellington Hill, des-
tined to make the centre of the charming surburban
town of Belmont. At this time there were about one
hundred and twenty-five families residing upon the
territory now included within the limits of the town.
Improved facilities for communication with the neigh-
boring metropolis led to a steady growth in numbers.
The increase was sot rapid. There was no place of
public worship nearer than West Cambridge or
Watertown, no store, post-office, nor public hall. The
policy of the railroad in respect to train accommoda-
tions and rates of fare was a fluctuating one, as, indeed,
it continued to be for many years. The roads and the
schools were not such as to otfer special attractions to
those seeking a residence.
Believing that they could govern themselves aod
provide for their needs as citizens more satisfactorily
than was possible while they continued in the towns
of which they formed a comparatively unimportant
part, a large majority of the residents near Wellington
Hill and in the village which had been begun around
the station at Waverley, applied in 1854 to the Gen-
eral Court for an act of incorporation as a town. This
petition was signed by Charles Stone and 127
others. Remonstrances were presented by citizens of
Waltham, from which a few acres were asked ; of
Watertown, which would lose half of its already cir-
cumscribed territory ; of West Cambridge, whose
" Flob End " suddenly acquired new value, and a
few voters in the proposed new town ; the land
companies, two in number, owning real estate in
Waverley and at Strawberry Hill also opposed the peti-
tion, and by concurrent vote of the two Houses of the
Legislature, the petitioners had leave to withdraw.
In 1855 petitions, headed by Jacob Hittinger,
David Mack, Albert Higgina and Leonard Stone
were received in the Senate and referred to the Com-
mittee on Towns. Remonstrances from the towns,
whfse territory was affected, were also presented, and
from citizens of Watertown whose residences were in
BELMONT.
083
the proposed town. After several hearings a bill was
reported, which did not go beyond the house first
taking action upon it, being refused a third read-
ing in the Senate by a vote of nine to four.
Immediately after the adjournment of the Legis-
lature, measures were taken by the appointment of
committees and subscription of money for expenses,
to keep alive the interest of the people in the project,
and a petition from Jacob Hittinger and 101 others
was presented to the Legislature of 1856. Remon-
strances were also presented. The Committee on
Towns reported leave to withdraw, but a bill was sub-
stituted, which passed the Senate and was defeated in
the House. In 1857 a petition was presented, signed
by Jacob Hittinger and 129 others, the usual remon-
strances being offered. After a careful and exhaus-
tive examination into the merits of the enterprise,
the Committee on Towns were unanimous in report-
ing a bill, which was defeated in the Senate.
The petition of 1858 was signed by Jacob Hittin-
ger and 201 others. The remonstrants, like the peti-
tioners, were more numerous than in previous years,
as the possibility of favorable action upon the peti-
tion became greater. Leave to withdraw was re-
ported, and a substitute bill was introduced in the
Senate only to meet with defeat. In 1869 the peti-
tioners, again headed by Jacob Hittinger, were 203
in number. The usual remonstrances were presented.
A majority of the Committee on Towns reported a
bill which, after long and careful consideration,
passed the House, and the struggle was at last ended
by the favorable action of the Senate and the approval
of the Governor, Hon. Nathaniel P. Banks, which
was given March 18, 1859.
The town, as incorporated, took from Waltham
429 acres, from West Cambridge 1773 acres, and from
Watertown 1446 acres, making a total of 3648 acres,
or 5.75 square miles, .\rlinglon bounds it upon the
uorth, Cambridge upon the east and Watertown on
the souxh. Its western boundary touches Lexington,
Waltham and Watertown. Its town-hall is six and
a half miles W.S.W. from the State-House. The pop-
ulation in 1853, when the first petitions for incorpor-
ation were circulated, was 1004, which was increased
to 1175 at the date of incorporation. The valuation
in 1859 was §2,036,077.
The first town-meeting was held March 28, 1859.
At this meeting the act of incorporation was accepted,
and Mansur W. Marsh, Jacob Hittinger, J. Varnum
Fletcher, Jonas B. Chenery and Joseph Hill were
elected selectmen, and Mr. Marsh was subsequently
chosen chairman of the board ; J. Oliver Wellington,
Josiah Bright, Edwin Locke, William J. Underwood
and H. R. Fillebrown were elected assessors; Samuel
P. Hammatt, town clerk, and George S. Adams,
treasurer and collector of taxes. The first town tax
was $12,500.85, which was raised by a levy of $5.11
on $1000, and a poll tax of $1.50 on 325 polls. One
hundred and twenty-six regularly called town-meet-
ings have since been held, and thirty-six adjourned
meetings.
The second meeting of the new town was held
April 13, 1859. Under the fourteenth article of the
warrant, " to see if the town will defray the expenses
necessarily incurred in procuring their act of In-
corporation," etc., the town voted to pay the expen-
ses, and the treasurer was authorized to borrow, upon
the notes of the town, a sufficient sum for the pur-
pose, not exceeding $9000, and to pay the same over
upon such vouchers as were approved by the sub-
committee of the petitioners for incorporation. Bills
were immediately presented and paid, amounting to
$8779.20. A suit in equity was thereupon brought
by Jonathan Frost and others, to obtain a decree
compelling a restoration of the money to the town
treasury, the note having been paid in due time
from moneys obtained by the tax levy of 1859. The
case was heard before the full bench of the Supreme
Court in March, 1862, and an order was issued re-
quiring the treasurer to restore to the town treasury
the sum paid out with interest, the whole amounting
to $10,681.14, but deducting S478.68, which was al-
lowed to the plalntifTs in equity, for counsel fees and
other expenses incurred in bringing the suit for the
benefit of the town. Mr. Adams, the treasurer, was
reimbursed by a subscription. Later decisions have
gone fiirther than this, in forbidding a town to raise
by taxation money to be expended in opposing its
own dismemberment.
For much of the early history of the territory now
included within the limits of Belmont, one must
look to the town from which it came. There was
but little common interest among its scattered inhab-
itants until they united in the struggle for corporate
existence. Ecclesiastically, politically and socially,
they were identified with the towns in which they
dwelt. In the latter part of the year 1855 the need
of a suitable building for public worship became felt
to such a degree that January 1, 1856, a paper was
put in circulation upon which the sum of $7000 was
pledged in amounts ranging from $100 to $500. At
a meeting held January 3d, of that year, the follow-
ing committee was chosen to build a " meeting-
house: " David Mack (chairman), Samuel O. Mead,
Charles Stone, Edwin Locke, Albert Higgins, John
L. Alexander and J. M. Hollingsworth. In Septem-
ber, Mr. Mack resigned his position and J. Oliver
Wellington was elected ch^ujman in his stead., The
church was located on Concord Turnpike, near the
railroad station. It was built by John C. Sawin
from plans by Enoch Fuller, and was completed in
the fall of 1857. Its total cost was about $13,000.
The church was dedicated December 2, 1857, and
was occupied as a place of worship by the Belmont
Congregational Society (Unitarian) until February
12, 1890, when it was destroyed by fire. At the time
of the fire it had become the property of J. V.
Fletcher. Nearly two years before it had been decid-
684
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
ed to erect a new building under the leaderaliip of
the ladies of the Arachne Club ; subscriptions were
secured, and entertainments in aid of the enterprise
were given, prominent among the subscribers being
the firm of J. V. Fletcher & Co. and Edwin F.
Atkina, who gave $5000 each. The building commit-
tee consisted of J. Henry Fletcher, William E.
Stowe, H. O. Underwood, Mrs. J. M. Hernandez and
John F. Richardson. A site having been selected,
nearly opposite the old church, the new building was
erected in 1889, at a cost of upwards of $26,000.
Hartwell & flichardson were the architects of the
new church, and the builder was E. Atwood, Jr.
The walls are of field stone, the gables and tower of
wood, covered with cement plaster. The tower, at
the northerly corner of the building, contains the bell
from the old church and a clock provided by the
town. Within, the finish is of cypress, the roof of
the auditorium being of hard pine. Beautiful me-
morial windows are placed in this room. The vestry
and ladies' parlor are upon the same floor as the
large audience-room, and can be made a part of it
when required, and a well-appointed kitchen and
dining-room testify to the fact that the modern
church supplements its work as a factor in Christian
civilization by ministering to the social needs of hu-
manity. The church was dedicated April 9, 1890,
with appropriate services, including an original hymn
by the pastor, and the dedicatory sermon by Rev.
Brooke Herford, of Boston.
The pastors of the Society since its organization
have been Rev. Amos Smith, from October, 1857, to
March. 1872 ; Rev. Harvey C. Bates, October, 1873,
to September, 1876 ; Rev. Ivory F. Waterhouse,
March, 1877, until his death, at the age of fifty years,
March 2, 1882; Rev. J. Bradley Gilman, May, 1883,
to March, 1886 ; and Rev. Hilary Bygrave, from
November, 1886, to the present time. Rev. Mr. Smith
continued to reside in Beimont after his resignation,
until his death, September 12, 1887, at the age of sev-
enty years.
The first steps to provide for regular public worship
at Waverley were taken at a meeting held May 27,
1861. There were present at this meeting Daniel
Deshon, John Taggard, .John Sylveiter, Har-
rington, Samuel Greene, William Lowry, Frank Cot-
tle, W. A. Blodgett and Seromua Gates.
A committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions
to an amount " not less than five hundred dollars,"
for the support of worship for one year from June 1,
1861. At an adjourned meeting held Saturday, June
1st, the committee reported that they should be able to
secure the necessary funds, and it was voted to extend
an invitation to Rev. Charles Jones to preach for one
year in Waverley Hall, at a salary of four hundred
dollars. The call was accepted. The following year
au attempt was made to substitute the Episcopal for
the Congregational form of worship and two subscrip-
tion papers were, under the direction of a committee,
presented to the inhabitants of the village. The can-
vass which followed resulted in a larger support, both
in money and numbers, for Congregational worship,
and at a meeting held May 12, 1862, it was voted to
continue that form. An efibrt made at a subsequent
meeting to reconsider this vote was not successful.
Rev. Hubbard Winslow was now invited to become
the pastor of the little society, and he filled that office
until June 1, 1868. For more than a year following
the pulpit was supplied by various preachers. Sep-
tember 1, 1864, Rev. Josiah W. Turner assumed the
pastoral charge at a salary of eight hundred dollars
per annum. July 11, 1865, an ecclesiastical council
of the neighboring (Triuitiirian CongregHlioual )
churches was held, for the purpose of recognizing
'The Fir.st Congregational Church of AVuveriey."
The original members of the church were : Rev.
Josiah W. Turner, Mra. Almena \V. Tiiruer, Rjv-.
Daniel Butler, Mrs. Jane D. ButKr, Daniel Deshon,
Mrs. Eunice Deshon, John ."iylvescer, Mr?. Lacy J.
Sylvester, William Jewett, Mrs. L is M. Jewesr,
Seromus Gates, Mra. Lemira H. Gates, Vv'iliiam
Lowry, Miss Frances >L Grant, J. D.^uglas tJutler,
Mijs Mary F. Turner. Willi:im L Mvry wao ths rlrsi.
deacon of the church, in which odice lie has beiu
succeeded by Solyman W. Grant and \V illiam Jew-
ett.
Rev. Mr. Turner was installed aj pastor February
1, 1866, and was dismissed July 1, 1873. His suc-
cessors have been: Rev. John L. Ewell, December
10, 1874, to March 16, 1S78; Rev. William H. Teel,
July 3, 1878, to August 1, 1883 ; and Rev. George P.
Gilmaa, from November 16, 1883, to the date of writ-
ing.
The society supporting the church was legally
incorporated Feb. 29, 1868, as the '' First Congrega-
tional Society of Waverley." Active steps were at
once taken under the leadership of the pastor for the
erection of a house of worship. A lot at the north-
east corner of White and North Streets was donated
by the Waverley Company, subscriptions were pledged
and the corner-stone of a church was laid August 12,
1869. The building was erected from plans drawn by
Hamroatt& J. E. Billings, and was dedicated Janu-
ary 13, 1870. The style of the church is Early
Gothic. Its plan is a quadrilateral with a bell-tower
in the corner and is divided into church and vestry
in connection. The church proper has an opeu tim-
ber roof and windows of painted and stained-glass of
simple design. All the finish and pews are of oak,
and the pulpit and furniture are of black walnut.
The seating capacity is about two hundred and twen-
ty. It may be remarked in passing, that the Sab-
bath-school at Waverley antedates the church by sev-
eral years.
The Waverley Christian Union was organized in
December, 1882. Its membership consists of those
who contribute to the support of the union and sub-
scribe to the following covenant:
BELiMONT.
685
" In the love of the truth and in the spirit of Jeaus
Christ, we join for the worship of God and the service
of niau."
The society has held a regular preaching service
and a Sabbath-school in Waverley Hall since the
date of its organization. The pastor of the Belmont
Congregational Sbciety has thus far been the pastor
of the union. Thirty-four persons were baptized by
Rev. J. B. Oilman at a service held November 1,
1885. Additions have been made to the society from
time to time, and the erection of a house of worship
has been contemplated, and will be accomplished in
the not far distant future.
All Saints' Guild (Episcopal) was organized on
All Saints' Eve, October 31, 1887, at the home of
Miss Lucy A. Hill, Waverley. For nearly two years
previous to its organization. Rev. Edward A. Rand,
of VVatertown, conducted occasional cottage services,
the first of these being held at the residence of Mr.
H. A. Scranton, Waverley, on Good Friday evening,
April, 1886. Sunday afternoon services were held
during the summers of 1887 and 1888 at Miss Hill's
residence ; evening cottage-service has been held
once a month on a week-day since the formation of
the Guild, and latterly, Rev. Mr. Rand, assisted by
Rev. Thomas Bell, of Arlington, has conducted a
Suuday afternoon service once a month at the Town
Hall, Belmont. The present officers of the Guild are :
Rev. Edward A. Rand, president; Mrs. H. A. Scran-
ton, vice-president; Miss E. J. Woodward, secretary ;
Mrs. A. \. Adams, treasurer, and an executive com-
mittee of eight members.
The families in the northeast part of the town have
very largely continued to find their church-home in
the tDWii iif Arlington. A mission enterprise in the
Mount Auburn district of Watertown has also re-
ceived liberal support from residents of Belmont.
The Roman Catholics in the town, although main-
taining a Sabbath-school for a number of years, have
been connected with parishes in Arlington, Cambridge
and Watertown until a very recent date. After hold-
ing regular services at the Town Hall for some
months, a site was selected for a church on Common
Street, near School Street, and subscriptions were be-
gun for the expenses of erection in May, 1886. The
work was pushed forward rapidly under the super-
vision of a building committee, consisting of Edward
Quigley, James Hart, W. J. Reed, J. F. Leonard and
C. J. McGiuniss. The first .Mass in the church waa
celebrated June 5, 1887, and it waa dedicated March
31, 18S9, by Right Rev. John J. Williams, Archbishop
of Boston, assisted by a large number of the clergy of
the diocese. The dedication sermon was by Rev. D.
O'Callaghan, of South Boston, and an address was
given by Rev. Robert J. Fulton, of Boston College.
The pastor of the church, which bears the name of
St. Joseph's, is Rev. Thomas H. Shahan.
Upon the territory incorporated into the town of Bel-
mont were three school-houses, one on Brighton
Street (still standing on the same location), one on
Washington Street and one at the corner of Beech and
North Streets, at Waverley. In the building on
Brighton street were two schools, the higher of which,
the North Grammar, waa taught by Mr. Arthur P.
Smith. The other buildings each contained a primary
school. A fifth school, called the South Grammar,
was at once organized in the Washington Street
school-house and placed under the charge of Mr.
David Mack. The reputation of both of these gentle-
men as instructors testifies to the educational advan-
tages enjoyed at even this early day in our history by
the youth of the town . Arrangements were also made
by which pupils already admitted to the High Schools
might complete, without change of school, the course
of study they had entered upon. Another school-
house, on Grove Street, was at once provided for, the
scholars in the southeast portion of the town remain-
ing until the completion of this building in the
schools of Watertown. Mr. Smith resigned his posi-
tion in the North Grammar School in 1864, and the
school was, a few months later, reduced to an inter-
mediate grade upon the establishment of a new Cen-
tral Grammar School. Ill health necessitated the re-
tirement of Mr. Mack in September, 1861. His suc-
cessors were Rev. James Thuriton, 1861 ; William W.
Colburn, 1861-62; Augustus W. Wiggin, 1862-
63, and De Forest Safford, 1863-65, when the
school was merged in the Central Grammar School,
of which Eben H. Davis became the first princioal.
In the following year this school took the name of the
High School, which it has since retained, although in
1869 it was, for a few months, reduced to a grammar
grade. Mr. E. H. Davis resigned in 1870 to accept a
superintendent's position. His successor was Thomas
W. Davis, who was directecl, in taking charge of the
school, to restore it to its higher grade. Mr. T. W.
Davis resigned in 1881 to engage in teaching in the
city of Cambridge, but has continued to reside in Bel-
mont. Charles L. Clay waa principal in 1881, and :n
December of that year was succeeded by the present
principal, Henry H. Butler. The liberality of the
town in educational matters is illustrated by the fact
that this school has been maintained for so many
years with no requirement therefor under the laws of
the Commonwealth. Its sessions for two years were
held in the vestry of the Congregational Church. The
High School building on School Street was erected in
1867 at a cost of $15,000, and waa dedicated December
2d of that year. The hall in its lower story was occu-
pied by the town for its meetings until 1882, after
which both stories were devoted to school purposes.
The Washington Street building was moved to the
same enclosure as the High School in 1867, and la
still in service.
The school-house at the comer of Beech and North
Streets waa burned in 1872. A new brick building
waa erected the next year in a more central location
at the corner of North and Waverley Streets, the cost
686
HISTORY' OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
of building and land being about §16,000. Meanwhile,
the school was accommodated in the vestry of the
Waverley Congregational Church.
A school-house on Gushing Street, in the Mt. Au-
burn District, was built in 1871. This and the build-
ing on Grove Street were purchased by Cambridge
in 1880, when the territory adjacent to Fresh Pond
yrds annexed to that city. The teachers whose ser-
vices to the town have continued through the longest
term of years are Miss Hannah B. McGinniss and
Miss Harriet A. Hill, who were appointed in 1870,
and Miss Etta C. Leonard in 1871. The labors of the
teachers in the schools have been, with but alight
exception, faithful and self-denying, and it is pleasant
to record that they have been appreciated. An unusually
large proportion of those employed have been persons
ofsuccessful experience elsewhere. Skilled superinten-
dence of the schools began with the school year of
1890, the first incumbent of the office of superinten-
dent being I. F. Hall, who .also superintends the
schools of Leominster, devoting to each town a fixed
amount of time per week. A vote of the town at the
annual meeting of 1890, was favorable to the erection
of a new building, to embody the advanced ideas of
the day, in respect to ventilation and general sanitary
arrangements, and to provide accommodations for a
largely increased number of pupils, but the measure
has as yet failed to be carried into effect, motions to
appropriate the money necessary for its erection not
having received the two-thirds vote which is required
when payment is to extend through a series of years.
The Public Library dates its existence from the
year 1868. Much of the credit for its inception
belongs to the late David Mack, who circulated the
original subscription papers for a " Free Public Li-
brary," was one of the Library Committee and the
first librarian. With him, by vote of the town, were
associated upon the committee the chairman of the
Board of Selectmen, the chairman of the School
Committee, and Rev. Amos Smith and Rev. J. W.
Turner, "the two settled clergymen of the town, ex-
officio." Rev. Mr. Smith declined to serve and the
chairman of the School Committee resigned his
position up)on that board and so ceased to be a mem-
ber of the Library Committee. The first report of
the committee, made by Mr. Mack, showed the num-
ber of volumes in the library to be 817, of which
667 were acquired by purchase and 118 were received
from the library of the Farmers' Club. A room in
the new High School building, adjacent to the hall
occupied by the town for its meetings, was a.ssigned
to the library, and the town appropriated §500
towards its organization and maintenance. The room
was open for the delivery of books one hour each
week. In 1873 the librarian made his second report,
showing an increase to 1G50 volumes, and including
an earnest appeal for enlarged accommodations,
which was renewed in the following year. At the
annual meeting in 1873 the town voted to place the
library in the charge of trustees, and one of the
first steps taken by the new officers was to remove the
library to a larger room in the basement of the Uni-
tarian Church. Two members of the board have
.served upon it from its organization to the present
time, and the term of office has from the beginning
been, by election, for three years. Mr. Mack resigned
the position of librarian in 1876 and was succeeded
by Walter H. Stone. The catalogue of 1877 contains
the names of 2849 volumes. The purposes of the
management were concisely stated in the report for
that year. " Believing that a few good books thor-
I oughly read, are more beneficial than any course of
1 reading more extended in surface, but lacking in
\ depth, the trustees commend, to younger readers
e3pecially, that they learn to draw deep from ' the
wells of English undefiled' of our standard writers,
while at the same time provision is made for gratifying
the taste of those who read for recreation, and derive
profit therefrom incidentally." In the report for the
year 1881 the trustees congratulated the citizens upon
the approaching completion of the new Town Hall
and Library Building, and acknowledged a donation
of $1000 from an anonymous " well-wisher of the
Public Library." The town increased two fold in
the following year its annual appropriation for the
library. This appropriation has, since that time,
averaged nearly SIOOO, including the amount returned
to the town from the " Dog Tax,'' after the damages
done by these animals in the county have been set-
tled. The removal of the library to its present
quarters was made in the summer of 1882, at which
time a reading-room was also instituted and open to
the public two afternoons and evenings each week
and for about three hours every Sunday. Mr. Stone
resigned his position in 188.3, and Mr. Edward W.
Brown, the present librarian, was appointed in his
stead. In 1886 the privilege was granted to the High
School of the use of the library, by allowing the
principal to draw from it twenty-five volumes at any
one time, to be used in the school at his discretion.
The library now contains 6700 volumes, a large pro-
portion being works of standard value, and in the
reading-room are to be found the leading popular
periodicals of the day.
The hall in the High School building not being
conveniently located, and being totally inadequate to
the needs of the town, preliminary steps were taken
in March, 1881, looking to the erection of a Town
Hall and Public Library building. In .\pril of that
year an appropriation was made by unanimous vote
of the town and a Building Committee appointed, con-
sisting of W. J. Underwood, J. V. Fletcher, .1. S.
Kendall, D. F. Learned, Varnum Frost, S. S. C. Rus-
sell and W. E. Stowe.
A lot, eligibly located and containing upwards of
40,000 square feet, was presented to the town bv
El isha Atkins. The structure erected upon this site
is so complete in all its appointments that it has been
BELMONT.
687
the model for pimilar buildings in thriving towns of
the Commonwealth. It is of Queen Anne archi-
tecture, built of brick and terra cotta, situated at the
junction of Pleasant Street and Concord Avenue. In
a ba.sement, wholly above the natural surface of the
ground, which slopes toward the south, are the rooms
of the officers of the town, with an apartment for
chemical engine and hose-carriage at the rear.
Upon the main floor above, lighted from the north,
is the Town Hall, with its gallery, lobby and ante-
rooms, stage and dressing-rooms, the latter being in a
half-story under the stage and above the engine-room.
The chief entrance to the building is under a broad,
deeply-recessed arch, in the southwestern front, the
place of honor being given to a bronze tablet bearing
the names of the Belmont heroes who fell in the War
of the Rebellion.
A side entrance upon the same wall of the building
admits to a corridor between the main hall and the
rooms above the town offices which are occupied by
the Public Library. These rooms consist of a waiting-
room, in which is the desk of the librarian, separated
by a wooden .screen from the reading-room at the
front of the building, with 6re-place and alcove in the
circular tower, and a book-room which is reached by
a passage-way behind the librarian's desk, and which
has space for about 15,000 volumes. The architect was
Henry W. Hartwell, of Boston, and the cost of the
building was nearly $-50,000. It was dedicated June
22, 1882, on one of those perfect days which nature
provides in the loveliest month of the year. The for-
mal exercises of dedication consisted of prayer by
Rev. W. H. Teel ; presentation of the keys of the
building by W. J. Underwood of the Building Com-
mittee"; their reception by Josiah S. Kendall, of the
Board of Selectmen, and T. W. Davis, of the Trustees
of the Library; the "patriarchal bleasin?" of the
Commonwealth, by His Excellency, John D.Long;
and short addresses by President Robert R. Bishop, ol
the State Senate; Henry \V. Muzzey, of Cambridge,
and Dr. J. C. Harris, of Arlington, representing at
the time those places iu the General Court ; W.
H. Ingraham, of Watertown ; Mansur \V. Marsh and
Rev. Daniel Butler, of Belmont. The exercises were
interspersed with music by the Belmont Choral So-
ciety. An extract from the remarks of one of the
speakers, as printed in an account of the proceedings,
sets forth so clearly what may be called the motive of
the building, that it is reproduced here :
" It has been .said that, at the creation. Eve was
taken, not from man's head to be his ruler, nor from
liis feet to be his slave, but from his side as his equal,
his companion and his friend. So, upon the same
level, have you placed the Public Library, represen-
tative of the education to be derived from books, and
this hall, in which the lessons are to be taught by liv-
ing men. Here we are to be developed by intercourse
with the minds of our fellows ; there we may hold
communion with the spirits of those long passed away.
There we can learn the history of the past ; here we
ourselves are to be makers of history, while we exercise
the highest powers of human government in the
meetings of a pure democracy regulating its own inter-
nal affairs. In both places we are to instruct and
train our children in the duties and responsibilities of
citizenship. But the fitness does not end thus. On
yonder tablet, without the doors of this building, are
the names of those who, in the discharge of such re-
sponsibilities, gave their lives for their country, and
we honor their memory to-day. Long be it ere the
land is called upon to undergo another baptism of
blood. Bat in the peaceful walks of daily life, where,
nevertheless, hard battles may be fought and victories
gained, or on the field of death, if God so wills, may
one and all who gather here to stand beside us or fol-
low in our foot-steps, so live and act and so die as to
prove how faithfully and thoroughly the great lessons
of duty and patriotism have been taught within these
walls."
A promenade concert in the evening closed the
pleasures of the day, during which the whole town
had kept " open house," and all seemed to rejoice in
the final removal of the stigma affixed by a speaker
in the Legislature a quarter of a century before,
when he reproached the people for asking for incorpor-
ation as a town before they had within their limits
" a church, a public-hall, or even a blacksmith-shop."
The Park south of the railroad tracks, at the
junction of Common Street and Concord Avenue, was
laid out in the year 1881. Part of the funds needed
for its purchase were raised by subscription, and the
balance was furnished by the town, which has assum-
ed its maintenance. The Park Commissioners are W.
J. Underwood, J. Willard Hill and Edwin F. Atkins,
who have served continuously since the creation of
the Board in 1882.
The grounds around the railroad stations adjoining
are also parks in tl^emselves, and show the results to
be obtained by intelligent care.
The Fire Department of the town of Belmont may
be said to date from about the year 1826, when
an engine was located near Meeting-house Hill.
The engine aud company connected with it bore the
name of " Protector, No. 3," while in the town of
Watertown. In Belmont the name became " Pro-
tector, No. 1."
In 1833 the town of West Cambridge purchased an
engine for the South District. The engine and com-
pany stationed in this locality is " Howard, No. 2."
In 1873 a Babcock Extinguisher, to be manned by a
company of ten men, was purchased, and located on
Pleasant Street near Concord Avenue. On the com-
pletion of the Town Hall, this machine was placed
in a suitable room in the basement. In 188Z, after
the introduction of a system of water supply, two hose
companies were organized and provided with wagons
carrying 600 feet each of hose. The wagons were
bailt by a Belmont manufacturer, Mr. Eden Price,
688
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
and are stationed, one at Waverley, in the village hall
building, and the other at the Town Hall. The com-
panies are named respectively Waverley Hose, No. 1,
and Belmont Hose, No. 2. In addition to this organ-
ization the town is the owner of nearly forty Johnson
hand-pumps, distributed among householders. The
various organizations have a fair record of service.
It may be noted as an historical fact that they do not
go so far afield at the present time as they were once
inclined to do, in the days when steam fire-engines
were less common, and the aid of a body of enthasias-
tic workers was welcomed by the adjoining towns as
a valuable auxiliary in conquering the devouring
element, and of late years no attempt has been made
to reach and extinguish the rising moon. In June,
1890, a fire-alarm telegraph was put in operation,
with signal-boxes at a few points, and alarms struck
on the bell of the Congregational Church at Waverley,
on a large gong at the Town Hall and on small bells
at the houses of the engineers. The engineers of the
department are David Chenery, chief; Herbert H.
Russell, George A. Prentiss and David S. McCabe.
The post-oflBce at Belmont was established in 185G.
Dr. J. L. Alexander was the first postmaster. He was
succeeded a few years later by the present incumbent
of the office, Aaron A. Adams.
The post-office at Waverley was established in
1858. The first postmaster was Seromus Gates, who
held the office about fifteen years, and served in the
mean time a term of enlistment in the Forty-second
Massachusetts Regiment in 1864. He was succeeded
by Larra W. llunroe. The present postmaster is
Herbert H. Russell.
The unanimity with which the town, in 1881, pro-
ceeded to the erection of the Town Hall has already
been spoken of. The most serious difference in opin-
ion among the voters was of earlier date and is
worthy of passing notice. In May, 1871, a petition
was presented to the selectmen for the laying out a
road from North Street in Waverley, over the High-
lands and Wellington Hill to the southerly line of
Arlington, there to connect with a similar road from
the principal street in Arlington, the whole to bear
the name of Highland Avenue. The selectmen viewed
the premises and laid out the road substantially as
asked for. It was to be nearly two miles in length,
and to be built at an expense of perhaps $30,000, but
probably more money would have been needed to
complete it in a satisfactory manner. At the annual
meeting in 1872 the action of the selectmen came be-
fore the town for acceptance. It was at once evident
that there was strong opposition to the project, many j
of the voters feeling that the town would receive a
benefit from the road entirely disproportionate to the
outlay incurred. Consideration of the article in the
warrant was at once proposed to the adjourned meet-
ing to be held a month later, and at that time the
town voted to again postpone all consideration of the
subject to the next annual meeting, and also refused
to pay for the surveying and plans which had been
made. March 4, 1873 the town voted not to accept
the road. April 7th a motion was made to reconsider
this vote. The motion to reconsider was lost, and,
as it was known that the county commissioners had
been applied to to lay out the road as a county way,
parts of the proposed avenue lying in two towns, a
committee was appointed to appear before that Board
and oppose any action. It was, however, voted to
pay the expenses incurred by the selectmen in pro-
curing a survey. July 28th, upon au order from the
commissioners to build the road, action was postponed
for a ironth to obtain further information a.s to ex-
pense, etc., and to allow bids to be made for building.
August 25th the town voted not to build. The
matter was again brought up in a meeting held Sep-
tember 22d, upon a proposition to construct the road
without sidewalks, and with a narrow road-bed for the
time being. By a vote of more than two to one it
was then voted that the town " refuse to build High-
land Avenue, so-called, as ordered by the county
commissioners, either thirty or fifty feet wide, or with
or without sidewalks, or in any manner." As the
commissioners did not endeavor to carry their order
into effect, the subject ceased for the time to be an
isBue in local politics. The bids for construction
showed a great difference in opinion among contrac-
tors as to the cost, the lowest bid being $26,500, the
highest in the neighborhood of $90,000.
In 1877 a proposition was made that the commis-
sioners be asked to lay out the road "in an economi-
cal manner," not to cost over ?18,000, certain modifi-
cations having been made in the plans. Considera-
tion of the subject was indefinitely postponed, the vote
standing 120 to eighty-six, and the effort to construct
the road was never renewed.
The petition of the Watertown Water Supply Com-
pany to the Legislature of 1885, for authority to lay
mains and supply water to inhabitants of Belmont,
led the town to take action looking to a system of
works under its own control. A committee was ap-
pointed to appear before the legislative committee
and act as might best protect the interests of the
town. The result of their labors appeared in the
passage of a bill empowering the town to provide an
independent supply, or to contract with the Water-
town Co. or the city of Cambridge, on such terms as
might be agreed upon. The act was at once accepted
by the town. In the following winter a movement
was inaugurated in the village of Waverley, having
for its object the commencement of operations under
the act. This movement was soon merged in a more
extended action on the part of citizens throughout
the town, a citizens' committee of twenty was organ-
ized, and at the following annual town-meeting,
after a sharp parliamentary contest, the town voted
to proceed with the work. The decided majority ob-
tained by the friends of the measure disarmed its op-
ponents, and the necessary appropriations were made
BELMONT.
689
by a unanimous vote. The Water Commissioners
elected at a subsequent meeting were W. J. Under-
wood, T. D. Blalce and Gustavus C. Holt, who still
continue in office. The town has about ten miles of
street mains, with sixty-uine hydrants, (the sys-
tem is being extended from year to year), which are
connected with the pipes of the Watertowu Water
Supply Co., and carry the water obtained by that
company from basins dug near the Charles River
near Bemis Station in Watertown. The town divides
with the company the receipts from private services.
At the expiration of its contract with the Supply
Company, the town is at liberty to make a new con-
tract, or to provide an independent supply if it so
desires. The system gives general satisfaction.
Gas Introduced. — Gas for public lighting was
introduced into the town in 18G7. The expense was
so great in proportion to the benefit received, and the
Arlington Gas Light Co., which holds the right to lay
pipes in the streets, not doing that work except in a
small section of the town, the lighting of the streets
was performed mainly by gasoline, from 1874 to 1889.
Dissatisfaction with the results opened the way for the
introduction of the electric light. Early in the year
1889 the Somerville Electric Light Co. introduced
an experimental service, and found little difficulty in
obtaining a vote of :he town favorable to a contract
for a short term of years. The system is of incandes-
cent lamps, with arc lights at a few central points.
The system has not yet come into use for domestic
lighting, nor, with a single exception, for business
purposes.
The Civil War. — The record of the town in the
Civil War is a highly honorable one. With a total
population of less than 1250, it furnished, under the
twelve calls of the President of the United States,
one hundred anil forty-seven men, and paid out as
a town and by subscription of citizens, upwards of
?;'26,00O for bounties and other direct expenses of the
town in tilling its quota. Those who went into the
service could not Ju so accompanied by their neigh-
bors and friends, but were obliged to serve with
strangers. Half a dozen men in any one regiment
was as large a group as went together into the ser-
vice. The bronze tablet at the entrance of the Town
Hall records the names of those who made the
supreme sacrifice — the gift of their lives — for the
sake of the nation. The inscription is as follows :
III 3IeDiuri.im
John L.tciiK, James McGinniss,
S«'pt. J-', IsW. Juue 24, 1S68.
Charles V. Marsh, Albert C. Frost,
Missing. Sept. 17, 1363.
William H. Bensost, Lewis H. 3Iarsii,
Oct. 10, 18tJ2. May 13, ISM.
The surviving veterans are associated in the Grand
Army of the Republic, with Francis Gould Post, No.
36, of Arlington, under whose direction the annual
ceremonies in the town on Memorial Day are con-
ducted.
44-iii
A New Hall. — Until the year 1871, Waverley
Hall was the name given to the hall in the second
story of the store building erected by the Waverley
(Land) Co., near the railroad station at Waverley.
The building in that year became private property, and
alterations were made by which the hall ceased to
exist. A substitute was provided by the town in the
second story of the new school-house, erected in 1874.
When it became necessary to use this for school pur-
poses, the initiatory steps were taken at a meeting of
residents of the village, at the house of George H.
Stearns, looking to the erection of a building in
which provision could be made for meetings for
religious and social purposes. After carefiil delibera-
tion a stock company was formed in 1881, called the
Waverley Hall Company, which proceeded to erect a
suitable building on the south side of Church Street.
The structure is of the Swiss style of architecture,
two and one-half stories in height, forty by sixty
feet in size, and has a tower in which is a bell, con-
tributed by citizens, and a clock, voted by the town.
The building was provided with furniture from the
proceeds of a fair, supplementing private subscrip-
tion. The lower story contains a store, and the room
of the Waverley Hose Company. The main hall, with
its stage and convenient dressing-rooms, occupies the
second story, and the half-story above is devoted to a
kitchen and small hall which can be used for society
purposes, and for a supper-room. The present board
of directors are John Fenderson, president; F. E.
Whitcomb, vice-president; G. C. Holt, clerk and
treasurer ; laaac Watts, J. L. Ellis, G. H. Steams
and H. M. Ellison.
Physiciaj?s. — It is a testimony to the healthfiil-
ness of Belmont that for many years it had no resi-
dent physician. Those who needed medical assist-
ance called upon the doctors in the towns around, and
the same practice is largely followed to-day. Dr.
George H. Caldwell was located in Waverley in 1876
and 1877, but was engaged in other business, while
attendiug to such calls as were made upon him. Dr.
George W. Jones commenced practice in Belmont in
1879, and removed to Cambridgeport in 1881. The
present physicians are Dr. H. A. Yenetchi, irom 1885,
and Dr. L. B. Clark, who established himself at Wa-
verley early in the present year.
Secret Societies. — Belmont Lodge of Free and
Accepted Masons was erected in March, 1864, under a
dispensation from William Parkman, Grand Master,
and a charter was granted in March, 1865, to eleven
Master Masons, viz. : William B. Bothamly, William
W. Mead, William J. Underwood, Jonas B. Chenery,
George W. Ware, Jr., Orlando M. Homer, Charles L.
Heywood, Horace H. Homer, John Alexander, John
G. Smith and Albert Higgins. Messrs. Bothamly,
Underwood and H. H. Homer are stiU members of
the lodge, the membership of nearly ail the others
having been terminated by death. The Worshipfnl
Masters have been William B. Bothamly, William
690
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
W. Mead, Alvin L. Fisher, George H. Porter, Henry
M. Haines, John H. Latin, Charles E. Chenery,
George H. Chenery, William M. Nassau, William
Munroe, John H. Pettinger, J. Lucius Ellis, Frank
Chandler, James D. Evans and William H. Pierce.
The lodge met in the (old) Waverley Hall until
1870, in the Town Hall in the High School building
untih 1880. The lodge-room in the station of the
Fitchbui^ Railroad, at Belmont, was dedicated by
Charles A. Welch, Grand Master, and officers of the
Grand Lodge, February 26, 1880. The lodge has a
membership of 75. William W. Mead, the second
Master, died August 14, 1883, while holding the
office of secretary. He had been devoted to the in-
terests of the lodge from its formatiou, and no men-
tion of the body would be complete which did not
include a tribute to his memory. He was prominent
also in the affairs of the town, having been a member
of the School Committee from 1872 to 1881, and town
clerk from 1871 until his death. He was the son of
Samuel O. Mead, who was one of the leading spirits
in the movement for the incorporation of the town
and in the formation of the Belmont Congregational
Society.
Waverley Council, No. 313, Roijnl Arramtm, was in-
stituted April 30, 1879, at the hall in the school build-
ing at the corner of North and Waverley Streets. Its
meetings were held at different places until lS82i
when a lease was taken of the upper rooms in the
new Waverley Hall building. The Past Regents of
the Council are William Munroe, H. W. Ball, T. W.
Davis, J. H. Pettinger, John Fenderson, G. H. Stearns,
Isaac Watts, F. E. Whitcomb, J. L. Ellis, J. D.
Evans, G. C. Holt and W. H. Benjamin. The pres-
ent officers are W. G. Roberts, Regent; H. S. Harris,
Vice- Regent ; J. B. Perault, Orator ; W. H. Benja-
min, Past Regent; C. W. Benjamin, Secretary ; Ed-
ward Haskins, Collector; H. H. Russell, Treasurer ;
J. R. Mackessy, Jr., Chaplain ; Benjamin Hamman,
Guide ; B. A. Harris, Warden ; W. J. Reed, Sentry.
The Council is in a flourishing condition.
Belmokt Savings Bahk. — In 1885 a charter was
obtained from the Legislature for the Belmont Sav-
ings Bank largely through the instrumentality of
Hon. J. V. Fletcher, who was a member of the Com-
mittee on Banks and Banking. The use of a room
in the Town Hall was granted gratuitously to the
bank, which was organized in the latter part of that
year, and commenced business in January following.
About a year after, the bank suffered from the depre-
dations of burglars, who carried away bonds and
other securities of several thousand dollars in value
and a small sum of money. In spite of the interrup-
tion and delay in realizing income occasioned by the
robbery, the bank has paid dividends regularly and
is upon a substantial footing. Its officers remain as
when first organized, and are as follows : President,
J. V. Fletcher ; Vice Presidents, J. S. Kendall, G. F.
Blake, Frederic Dodge and J. O. Wellington ; clerk.
T. W. Davis. The above, with J. H. Fletcher, Jacob
Hittinger, T. D. Blake, J. L. Ellis, Henry Frost, G.
C. Holt, J. E. Locke, Chandler Robbiiis, A. E. Hill,
J. W. Hill and D. F. Learned, constitute the Board
of Trustees. The treasurer is W. L. Chenery.
The deposits in April, 1890, amountid to .S4J,442.41.
IXDUSTRIES. — Until the aiiiiexation of the Mount
Auburn District to Cambridge, the cuttiog and stor-
ing of ice was a leading industry during the winter
months, the first ice exported from this to warmer
countries havinc been taken from Fresh I'lmd by
Frederick Tudor, who sent a cargo to .Marti ni([iie in
1805. The War of 1812 put an end to the tnitfic for a
time, but with concessions from the Culjan govern-
ment it was resumed a few years later. The amount
exported by Mr. Tudor in 1>5:'."2 w.os forty-two hun-
dred tons, all of which wai taken from Fresh Pond.
In 1833 the first shipment was made to the East Indies.
Belmont's repre.sentative in the ice trade was Jacob
Hittinger, a sketch of whose lite is a|ipende(l to this
article.
The manufacture of brick in the ton n ua.-< begun
in 1S7.'5 by the Cambridi^e ISrick Coni|iaiiy, on the
territory al'terwards annexed to Cambridge. The
company was not successful, and the works were
abandoned. In lS>iS I'arry Brothers it Company
bought twenty acres of land on Concord Avenue,
three-fourths of a mile from the Belmont station, and
have a plant in successful operation. Near this are
the sau. age works of W. II. Burke, established in
1SS6. Wagons are manufactured by Eden Price, at
the corner of Pleasant and Brigliton S^treets. Belmont '
has always been, however, pre-eminently an agri-
cultural community. ."-Special attention has been paid
for many years to the cultivatiou of -injall fruits, to
say nothingoflhedays when iliestrawherriesfrom Bel-
mont were always the first in the Boston markets,
long before railroad transportation was reduced to the
science which enables us to enjoy " the best berry that
God ever made" before the snows of winter have
ceased to fall upcm our hillsi<le3 ; passing without
mention the festivals of the years gone by, when from
far and near guests came to taste the fruit in the
atmosphere that had brought it to perfection. The
census returns of 18S"i show that the town is first in
the county in the value of its fruit products, and at
the same time second in the value of vegetables
raised for the market. The acreage devoted to these
purposes is limited, lying mainly in the eastern
portion of the town. It was .said with truth at the
time of its incorporation that Belmont took from both
West Cambridge and Watertown much of iheir
richest land, some of it being, in the opinion of good
judges, the best farming land in the State. In the
northern and western sections the soil is generally
good, but not so deep or fertile.
The dairy products are very small. The town is
notable in stock-raising for having been the first place
in the country in which a purely-bred herd of Hoi-
BELMONT.
691
stein cattle was maintained. This was at the " High-
land Stock Farm" owned and carried on for many
years by Winthrop W. Chenery, and until recently
in the possession of a member of his family. Importa-
tions were made by Mr. Chenery in 1852, '54, '59 and
'61. " The considerations which in the first instance
led to these importations were a confident belief in the
superiority of the dairy cows of North Holland . . .
and also in their adaptation to the climate of New
England, which in its variableness is strikingly
similar to that of Holland." The animals imported
in 1861 formed the ground-work of the present Hol-
stein stock of this country. In 1872, Mr. Chenery
prepared the Holstein Herd-Book, which was pub-
lished by authority of the Association of Breeders of
Thoroughbred Holstein Cattle, of which he was then
president.
Following the usual course of places convenient to
our large cities, and possessing marked natural at-
tractions, the population of the town is becoming
" residential." An increasing proportion of the in-
habitants have no direct interest in the soil, except as
it furnishes an agreeable and healthful location for
the homes which are taking [mssession of the hill-
sides and confining the husbandmen to even narrower
limits. In 1881 the M;issachusetts Central Railroad
was constructed and opened to travel as far as Hud-
son, twenty- nine miles from Boston. The original
laying-out of this road in Belmont was south of its
present road-bed, and crossing the Fitchbnrg Railroad
by an overhead bri<lge near Hill'.i Crossing. On ac-
count of the large number of grade-crossings made
necessary by this route, it was opposed by many citizens.
The road was finally located parallel and adjacent to
the Fitchburg road upon its north side from Hill's
Crossing to Clematis Station, in Waltham. Failing
to pay its expenses, the road experienced financial
difficulties and a change of name, and now, as the
Central .Massachusetts Railroad, is leased and operated
by the Boston and Maine Railroad, as a part of its
southern division, and over it trains are sent out to
the west and south, by way of the bridge across the
Hudson River at Poughkeepsie. Toj^ether, the two
roads give good accommodation to travel and at reason-
able rates. Few towns can boa.st of finer views than
are to be had from the slopes of the swelling hills
that eniborder the villHges of Belmont. It merits its
name, which was derived from the residence of John
P. Gushing, later known .is the Payson estate, upon the
street separating Belmont from Watertown. This
street was formerly known as the Back Road, but
after Mr. Cushing called his estate Belmont, the name
was given to the street, and later it was considered
the most appropriate that could be chosen for the
new town. Until invaded by the Payson Park Land
Co., in 1886, the hundred acres or more surrounding
the mansion-house furnished the best example of an
American residence upon English models to be
found in this part of the country. John P. Cushing,
who had in early life amassed a fortune in China, re-
turned to the United States and acquired from differ-
ent owners the land upon which, about the year 1830,
he erected his mansion-house at a cost of more than
$115,000. At the left and in front of the house was
the undulating lawn containing thirty acres, and
surrounded by trees, the main driveway at its side
being shaded by long, irregular rows of lofty elms.
Behind the house was the great flower garden, flanked
by high walls and green-houses, with a grand con-
servatory at the rear. Along the east side of the
vegetable garden, which lay behind the conservatory,
past the great deer park, a winding walk among the
trees led to a rustic summer-bouse upon the highland
anciently called Pequossette Hill, from which a varied
and extended view of Boston and its suburbs was re-
vealed to the observer. Broad and fertile fields ex-
tended to the westward. Mr. Cushing's later years
were marked by active participation in public affairs
and by generous, unpretentious charities. He ex-
pended large sums to beautify the grounds, which were
liberally thrown open to the public. After his death,
which occurred April 12, 1862, the estate came into
the possession of Samuel R. Payson, who occupied it
for a quarter of a century. He continued the policy
which had marked its management while Mr. Cush-
ing was its owner, and when it was purchased by the
trustees of the Land Company it was estimated that
more than half a million dollars had been expended
to adorn aspot already made beautiful by nature.
The mansion-house and land immediately adjoin-
ing are now owned by Mr. B. F. Harding, and under
his charge has been founded the Belmont School, the
management of which is in conformity to the princi-
ples of the Episcopal Church, and whose object is " to
give not only a thorough preparation for the Univer-
sity and the Technical School, but also a liberal
training in branches not now required for entrance to
college." The school was opened September 25, 1889,
and is, like its appointments of building and grounds,
to rank with the best in every particular. Its loca-
tion is in itself a continual inspiration.
A short distance to the westward of the Payson es-
tate, after passing the " Haunted House of Water-
town '' upon the left, we come to the residence of
Samuel Barnard, of the family of Major Barnard, who
commanded a company at " Lexington alarm." A
little further, on the side of the hill sloping to the
lowland known in olden times as Pequossette
Meadow, was the house built by Nathaniel Bright in
the latter part of the seventeenth century. Previous
to the incorporation of Belmont this was the oldest
house in Watertown, and one of its owners, in 1876,
was Nathaniel T. Bright. It has since been torn down.
The land continues in the possession of the family.
Aside from this house there were, in 1820, only four
houses on that part of Watertown which now com-
prises the village of Waverley, and all of these bad
yielded to the ravages of time before the new town
692
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
waa formed. The old cellar of one of them is still to
be distinguished at the foot of the hill on Belmont
Street, but no one knows or inquires as to those who
once dwelt upon the spot.
At " Commodore's Corner," Belmont Street enters
Watertown. Opposite this corner (in Watertown)
was the meeting-house of the Middle Precinct, erected
in 1695. Its location was a compromise between con-
tending factions. It was an unsuccessful one. The
building was a cause of continued bitterness during
the few years it was suffered to stand, for it was only
1722 when it was voted in town-meeting to sell
" What was left of the old meeting-house." Lexing-
ton Street turns from Belmont Street northward at
this point. This was the " Old Concord Road." Its
first well-defined change of level marks the summit
of " Elbow Hill." The new road goes through the
top of the hill, the old one went around it, and only
a little unevenness in the turf shows the bounds of
the original thoroughfare. In the valley below, the
street crosses the railroad. The first station of the
Fitchburg Railroad here was called Plympton's
Crossing. The street continues past the entrance to
the grounds belonging to the JIaasachusetts General
Hospital to the foot of Mill Street, near Beaver
Brook, which is the line of division betweer Belmont
and Waltham. All the land east of Lexington Street
to the line of the Bright estate on Belmont Street
and across the valley nearly to the summit of the hill
north of the railroads, comprising about three hun-
dred acres, was included in the plots of the Waverley
Company, which was incorporated in 1855, after its
affairs had been managed for some months by J. C.
Dunn, G. G. Hubbard and Eates Howe as trustees. A
considerable part of the ancient Pequossette, or King's
Common, waa among the holdings of this company.
The village of Waverley waa the outgrowth of their
enterprise. The company waa not upon good terms
with the railroad management, and the result has
been shown in the slow development of what was, in
its inception, one of the most promising settlements
in the vicinity of Boston. The sales of land were,
for many years, few and far between, until in 1875
the company disposed of one hundred acres upon the
so-called Waverley Highlands to the Massachusetts
General Hospital. It is expected that at some future
time buildings will be erected here for a retreat for
insane persons, when the removal of the McLean
Asylum from Somerville becomes definitely necessary,
and the grounds are being skilfully improved and de-
veloped with a view to such occupancy. In the
mean time nearly $75,000 has been expended in the
construction of a " Convalescents' Home " upon the
southwest slope of the hill, to which patients from the
General Hospital on Blossom Street, in Boston, are
brought where pure air seema to be all that is needed
to secure their recovery. The view from the Home
covers the villages of Watertown, of Newton and
Waltham, and is bounded by the hills of Norfolk and
Worcester Counties. The grounds of the hospital are
bordered on the west by Mill Street. This is one of
the original streets of Watertown, running parallel
to Beaver Brook, upon which, in 1662 or 1663, Thom-
as Agar, of Roxbury, built a mill for fulling cloth.
This was the second mill erected within the old
boundaries of Watertown. Its precise location can-
not now be determined. In 1663 it was sold " to
Thomas Loveran, late of Dedham, County Essex,
Old England, cloth-worker." In 1669 or 1670 Love-
eran sold it to Timothy Hawkins (from whom Agar
bought the privilege) and Benjamin Garfield. Near,
possibly at the site of this mill was Plympton's sati-
net factory, which was destroyed by fire in 1848. The
great water-wheel was set in motion during the fire,
and so resisted the flames. Its last fragments disap-
peared in 1876, and the ruins of the wall into which
it was built still remain at the foot of what is now
called the cascade. An illustration of the wheel
forms the frontispiece of Country Life, published in
1866 by R. M. Copeland, who then owned the prop-
erty, and it has been reproduced in popular maga-
zines. Richard M. Staigg, the arti.st, iitterwiird resid-
ed upon the estate. Reaver Brook was a favorite
resort of James Russell Lowell, and the mill formerly
standing at the upper pond is the scene of one of his
most charming poems, of which a contemporary says,
" there is no finer specimen of an ideal landscape in
modern verse."
" lluahed with broad eunlight lies the hill,
And, mioutiog the Iud^ day's Idm,
The Cfdur'a sbaduw, tilow and ^till.
Creeps o'er its lUal of ^my muss.
Warm noon briois full the rnlley's cup,
The aapeua letivea are Bcarce astir,
Only the little mill trends up
Itabusy, never-ceading burr.
Climbing the loose-piled wall that bpnis
The road along the mill-pond's brink,
From 'neatb the arcbioi; barberry-stems,
My footstep scares the shy chewink.
Beneath a bouy buttonwood
The mill's red door lets forth the din ;
The whitened miller, dust imbued.
Flits past the square of dark within.
No mountain torrent's strength is here ;
Sweet Beaver, child of forest still.
Heaps its small pitcher to the ear.
And gently waits the the miller's will.
Swift slips Undine along the race
Unheard, and then, with tlashing t>ound,
Floods the dull wheel with light and grace,
And, laughing, hunts the loath drudge round.'*
A few rods below, on the other side of Lexington
i Street, on the Waltham side of the brook, are the
I far-famed Waverley Oaks, the most remarkable group
of aboriginal trees in New England. Here Lowell's
poem, " The Oak," was conceived. There are in all
twenty-six of these trees. Of the principal group,
which stands upon a long mound, supposed to have
been produced in remote ages by glacial action.
Underwood writes : " The oats are seven or eight in
BELMONT.
693
number, as like as so many stout brothers, planted on
sloping drives west of the brook. They have a
human, resolute air. Their great arms look as if
ready to ' hit out from the shoulder.' Elms have
their graceful ways, willows their pensive attitudes,
firs their loneliness, but the aboriginal oaks express
the strength and the rugged endurance of nature."
It was the opinion of Agassiz that no trees on the
Western Continent have greater age, and an exami-
nation of one which fell some years since, indicated
that it had withstood the tempests of more than eight
hundred years.
Mill Street now ends at the Concord Turnpike.
Beyond and leading to Lexington is its continuation.
Winter Street, near which, upon the estate of Geo.
H. Cotton, is the well-known Belmont Natural Spring,
whose waters are largely sold in Boston, to those who
demand something purer than Cochituate or the
Mystic can supply.
Eastward from the junction of Mill and Winter
Streets, Concord Turnpike (in modern speech — ave-
nue), leads over Wellington Hill to the central vil-
lage of Belmont. Upon the summit of the hill is
the Highland Stock Farm, where were bred the Dutch
cattle, to which reference has been made in another
place. Descending the slope, the panorama spread
before the observer is unsurpassed, unless, possibly,
we except the view from Arlington Heights, a mile
to the northward, and embraces the metropolis and
its suburbs in every direction. The handsome estate
upon the north of the avenue w.is at one time owned
by Henry M. Clarke, a wealthy paper manufacturer,
and upon it he built the costliest barn of its time in
New England. After the place became the property
of Charles Fairchild, a rerddeuce was built upon it
for the occupancy of Willi:iiu D. Howelis, and the
frieze in the study bore the Shakespearean inscrip-
tion, " From Venice to Belmont." Elisha Atkins, of
the Union Pacific Railroad, lived in the house on the
brow of the hill, his son and successor, Edwin F.
Atkins, being domiciled in the Ware homestead on
the south side of the avenue. Near his house is still
to be seen the weather-beaten stone which, until
1859, marked the junction of the three towns from
which Belmont was taken. This part of the hill,
with the Town Hall and church at its foot, furnishes
the landscape which, displayed upon a trefoil to sym-
bolize the three towns, forms the background of the
seal of the town, adopted in 1882, while far to the
front the seal displays an ideal figure, a colossal
statue of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and gardens.
Back of the E. F. Atkins estate runs a section of the
old turnpike, abandoned because of its steepness, and
now grass-grown. W. Sloane Kennedy, the biog-
rapher of Longfellow and Whittier, has pitched his
tent beside the old road, and looks out upon a view
the beauty of which he must himself describe.
The grounds around the home of the writer in-
clude a disused portion of this very turnpike along
which Emerson often trudged as he went to and fro
between Concord and Harvard College.
" It is now in part a wild and lovely grass-grown
lane, commanding an inspiring view of Cambridge,
Medford, Roxbury and the sea. At night, the myriad
lights of the vast entourojre glitter below and far away;
on the distant horizon the steady electric lights at the
Point of Pines gleam out, and always the red light
of the revolving lamp down the harbor waxes, wanes
and disappears, to again appear, linger a moment and
then be again snufifed out in the black void around it."
Just below, upon the old road, Mrs. Abby Morton
Diaz, another biographer — for did she not write the
" William Henry Letters " ?— has found a home. At
the left of her enclosure are the grounds on Pleasant
Street surrounding the house of the late David Mack,
specially remembered in Belmont for his connection
with its library, but of more extended reputation be-
cause of his membership in the phalanx which gath-
ered at Brook Farm nearly fifty years ago. For a
number of years he conducted a school for young
ladies here, and was for a time a teacher in the public
schools. He died July 24, 1878, at the age of seventy-
four years. Here also lived for a few months the
artist, George Fuller.
At the corner of Pleasant Street and Concord Ave-
nue is the Town Hall and Public Library Building,
on a corner of the homestead of Eleazer Homer,
whose house, with its old-fashioned combination of
brick and wood walls, is still standing. Before it, for
many years, was to be seen a fine specimen of the
Kalmia latifolia, or mountain laurel, remarkable for
its beauty, and thriving in a region in which the shrub
had never been indigenous. Across the railroad tracks
is the Belmont Park, beyond which are the handsome
dwellings upon the old " plantation," now occupied
by the Underwood family. The mansion-house
of James Brown (now the property of his son), with
its charming lawn and dense woodland at the north,
looks out upon the park and plantation and the new
Unitarian Church beyond.
In the quaint old house south of the Brown estate,
among other relics of the past, is the arm-chair of
Henry Price, the first Grand Master of Freemasons
in America, who, at the age of eighty-four years, met
an accidental death a hundred years ago. On the
other side of the way, beyond the buildings of the Un-
derwood estate, is the octagonal building now used as
a summer-house, which, at the time of the incorpora-
tion of the town, was the station of Wellington Hill,
standing at the junction of Common Street and Con-
cord Avenue.
Passing along Common Street, and leaving the
little Catholic Church of St. Joseph's on the left, we
reach the Winthrop W. Chenery estate, now the prop-
erty of W. L. Lockhart. So gradual is the ascent to
the top of the hill above that with a sense of surprise
we look back at the view which includes the spires
of Arlington and Medford. A few steps farther and
694
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
we gaze to the westward upon the village of Waver-
ley, lying almost at our feet, with the hills of Wal-
tham forming a background. Continuing upon Com-
mon Street we may come again to the Payson Park J
but Washington Street — one of the oldest streets in
the town — anciently called Hill Street, from Pequos-
sette Hill, near whose summit it passes, turns here to
the east. Descending its slope toward the valley of
Fresh Pond, past the homes of the Stone family, we
enter School Street, on the right. At the very foot
of Pequossette Hill is the Hittinger residence, where
Jacob Hittinger lived at the time when, for five suc-
ceaaive years, he headed the list of those who sought
for recognition as an independent town. From the
green-houses which his sons have erected on this farm
14,000 cucumbers have been sent to the Boston mar-
ket in a single day. Trespassing, by courteous per-
mission, upon the private way leading through the
farm to Grove Street, we stand upon the confines of
the town and look upon the little village of the dead,
set apart thirty years ago for the final resting-place
of those who, one by one, would cease to be reckoned
among the world's living, as they went forward to a
longer and better life among the great majority.
Until 1880 the larger part of the village of Mount
Auburn, located on (the modern) Strawberry Hill,
between Belmont and Mount Auburn Cemeteries, be-
longed to the town of Belmont. In April of that
year, after a prolonged hearing before a legislative
committee, all this territory, with other land adjacent
to Fresh Pond, comprising in all 570 acres, was an-
nexed to the city of Cambridge. The city had for
several years endeavored to secure control of the en-
tire shore of the pond for the purpose of maintaining,
under her own regulations, the purity of her water
supply. Defeated in successive Legislatures, her ef-
forts at this time were successful, and in spite of the
unanimous protest of the townspeople, Belmont lost
one-tenth of its taxable property, one-third of its
school-children and one-sixth of its area, being left
with a territory of about 3075 acres. On the new
boundary line between Belmont and Cambridge, not
far fi-om the old Bird tavern, on Belmont Street, is a
singular depression, called the Amphitheatre upon the
maps which Professor Hosford has prepared in illus-
trating his theory of the location of the ancient city
of Norumbega, only a few miles away.
The eastern boundary of the town coincides with
that part of Brighton Street to which Cambridge has
given the name of Adams Street on one side of Con-
cord Avenue and Wellington Street upon the other.
Near the junction of these streets lived Richard Rich-
ardson, selectman in Cambridge from 1791-95, who
built that part of the Concord Turnpike which lay
near the line between West Cambridge and Water-
town. Not far from the toll-gate at this point he built a
tavern, anticipating that the turnpike would become
a great thoroughfare, and he had large holdings in
the stock of the company. The investments were not
profitable and be lost heavily. A number of his de-
scendants reside in this town.
Wellington Street is Brighton Street again before
we reach Hill's Crossing and the stations of the rail-
roads, which are built on land formerly belonging to
the Hill family. The name has been associated with
the locality for nearly two hundred years. Its most
noted member was Isaac Hill, editor and statesman,
who was born April 6, 1789, in that part of the West
Precinct of Cambridge which became a part of Bel-
mont. He was the owner and editor of the New
Hampshire PatHot, published at Concord for more
than twenty years, beginning in ISO'J. Failing of an
election to the United States Senate in 1828, he was
Second Comptroller of the Trea^'Ury undt^r Jackson in
1829, and was chosen to the Senate in 1830. At the
close of his six years' term he was elected Governor
of New Hampshire and held that office from 1836 to
1839. In 1840 he became Sub-Treasurer of the United
States at Boston. After his retirement from public
life he continued his editorial labors until his death
at Washington, D. C, in 1851.
This part of West Cambridge was known as the
South District, and was disrespectfully spoken of as
"Flob-end." From it came many trusted and re-
spected officials of the town. The names of Hill,
Frost, Russell and Locke, of Wellington and Prentiss,
are to be found on page after page of the old records.
From this section, too, was Mansur W. Marsh, first
chairman of the selectmen of Belmont, who had pre-
viously served West Cambridge in the same capacity,
having been a selectman of that town eleven years,
represented it in the Legislature and held the posi-
tions of assessor and School Committee. His service
as selectman in the two towns was in all twenty-two
years, at intervals from 1841 to 187ij. It is gratifying
to record that he still lives, the oldest citizen of the
town, enjoying iu the evening of life the satisfaction
that attends the consciousness of long and faithful
labor for the public good. His residence on Prospect
Street, was, in 1775, the "house on the hill," to
which the women and children fled for refuge on the
19th of April, when the British, passing through
Menotomy to destroy the rebel stores at Concord,
made the homes of the valley unsafe. While Bel-
mont justly claims a share in the associations and
glory of the battle of " Concord, Lexington and Cam-
bridge,"— for all this part of her territory was included
in the West Precinct of Cambridge, — it is not knowu
that any English soldiers came that day within the
present limits of the town. Tradition speaks of one
poor fellow, wounded and separated from his com-
mand, wandering down Spring Valley, and doubtless
wishing for the night to come and hide him from un-
friendly eyes while he made an expiring effort to
reach the barracks from which he set out in high
spirits a few hours before; but whether he lived or
died, or indeed was more than a creature of the im-
agination, history refuses to tell.
BELMONT.
695
Tlie tornado ol 1851 passed through the present
town of Belmont. Beginning near Prospect Hill in
Waltham, and extending across the Mystic River
in Jledford, its destructive force was put forth with
the greatest energy as it passed across the northern
point of Watertown into West Cambridge. Rev.
Charles Brooks, of Medford, in describing it, says,
" It exhibited a power in the elements never witnessed
by the oldest inhabitants of this region. Houses
strongly built were demolished aa if they had been
made of paper ; oak and walnut and cedar trees of the
largest growLli were entirely uprooted, some of them
snatched out of the ground and carried through long
distances; roofs of buildings taken up as if by sudden
suction, and carried into the embrace of the cloud
and tran.sporteil for miles." The damage to estates
now in Belmont w.is reckoned at about $10,000.
Returniu;; along Pleasant Street from our jaunt
about the town, the Wellington homestead recalls
the name of Jeduthun Wellington, whose enterprise
and public spirit gave the tirst distinctive name to
this locality. He was, in fact, a leading citizen of his
day ; he had been sergeant and lieutenant in the
Revolutionary Army, afterwards colonel of militia,
and had received the honors of his towns-folk as
selectman for eighteen years, precinct assessor, treas-
urer and collector, and Representative in the General
Court for nine years. To encourage travel over the
turnpike passing near his house, his yoke of stout
oxen was at the service of the te.amater, who other-
wise might not be able to climb the old road which a
later generation has cea.sed to use. It was little won-
der that the friend in need .should be regarded with
favor, and that the steep bit should become known as
Wellington's, and tlii^n, Wellington, Hill. The eleva-
tion is three hundred feet above the sea level, mid-
way in height between Prospect Hill on the west,
and Jleeting-house Hill on the south. The rain fall-
ing u|)on its eastern slope tinds its way through Wel-
lington Brook and .Mewife Brook, or Menotomy
River, into the Mystic ; that which drops upon its
western front reaches the ocean by a longer route
through Beaver Brook and the Charles.
Various attempts have been made to establish a
local newspaper which should represent the interests
and give the weekly history of the town. These pub-
lications have had a brief existence. The Middlesex
Townsman, published at Arlington, but with a branch
oflBce in Belmont, was discontinued for lack of sup-
port, after being issued weekly for about eighteen
months. During the year 1889, the Belmont Courier
appeared regularly under the management of Harry
W. Poor. This paper depended for ita circulation
upon the town of Belmont alone. It paid expenses,
and it was proposed to continue its publication for
another year, but upon the acceptance by ita proprie-
tor of a position upon the Boston Globe, he decided
to discontinue it. The local news is now gathered by
the Belmont Bulletin, a special edition of the IValer-
town Enterprise, prepared for circulation in the town
of Belmont.
"The History of Guildhall, Vt.," a volume of 275
pages, bears the imprint of Waverley, Mass., 1886,
and its author, E. C. Benton, was his own compositor,
pressman, and publisher, the printing being done apon
a private press at hia own residence.
In addition to the private school of David Mack,
and the Belmont school of B. F. Harding, which have
already been alluded to, an effort was made to estab-
lish in Belmont the Wayside School, which had had
a successful experience in Concord under the super-
vision of Miss M. C. Pratt. Miss Pratt was at the head
of the school when it was moved to Belmont, but her
connection with it soon ceased, and, largely because
of the lack of proper accommodations at the outset,
the school was discontinued, after occupying in suc-
cession houses on Pleasant Street, Clark Street, and
the Thayer mansion at Waverley. In these days, when
physical training goes hand in hand with mental cul-
ture, it is perhaps not oat of place to refer to the rid-
ing-school of J. Howard Stone, as one of the educa-
tional institutions domiciled in the town ; and to pass
from this to the organization! engaged in fostering a
taste for athletic sports, the Belmont Base Ball Asso-
ciation, which is in the third year of its existence, the
Belmont Tennis Club, whose grounds on Thomas
Street are newly laid out, and were formally opened by
a reception to friends, given July 4, 1890. A similar
organization has convenient grounds at Waverley.
Belmont is notable for the number of its old fami-
lies, those whose ancestors have resided upon the ter-
ritory from the time when the division of lands was
made among the proprietors. The final division was
made by Watertown in 1636, and by Cambridge in
1685. Representatives of the Watertown families of
Chenery, Clarke, Livfermore, Bright, Barnard and
Stone, are occupying lands which were in the posses-
sion of their ancestors two hundred and fifty years
ago, and the names of Wellington, Locke, Hill, Frost,
Richardson and Prentiss, perpetuate the remembrance
of those who assisted in 1685 in the settlement of
Menotomy, or the West Precinct of Cambridge. The
ability and reputation of these families is indicated by
the public positions which have been so often and so
acceptably filled by their members. In independence
of thought, sound judgment, and loyalty to right, the
citizens of Belmont stand second to none of their
sister communities, and in exemplifying these traits,
they only portray the character of those who occupied
these hillsides and these valleys many years ago.
A list of the leading officials of the town since ita
incorporation is appended :
SiLicrvnc.— JUnnr W. Uanb, 1859-«3, 1867-71, 1876 ; Jacob Hlttin-
ger, I8i»-ei ; J. Vamam Fletcher, 185»-61, 1867 ; Jonaa B. CbaDerjr, 1859;
Joseph Hill , 1859 ; Tho«. Livennore, 1862-63, 1869-70; Wm. Henry Locke,
lK62-6t, 1866 ; Amoa HID, 1864-66 ; Cbaa. L. Heyvood, 1864 ; George
W. Ware, 1866 ; Daniel L. Tainter, 1865-68 ; Fred. W. Bright, 1867-68 ;
JuKiub S. Eenilall, 1868-70, 187^79, 1881—; Isaac Watts, 1871-72 ; J.
WUlard Hill, 1871-72 ; Henry Rlchardaoo, 1872-74 ; George W. Ware,
696
HISTOKT OP MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Jr., 1873-75, 1880 ; Thomaa S. HittlDger, 1875 ; Conven F. LiTennore,
lS76-«); JlearyFnat, Jr., 1877-82; J. Henry Fletcher, 1881-89; Jacob
Hlttinger, Jr., 1883—; Frank Chandler, 1890—.
Amissoes.— J. OIlTer Wellington, 1859-76 ; Jo«iah Bright, 18S9-60;
Edwin Locke, 1859; William J. Underwood, 1869-64, 1867-75 ; H. R.
FUlebioim, 18fi9; Thomaa LiTermore, 1861-CA ; Joaiah S. Kendall, 1865-
79, 1881—; George S. Teeie, 1866-66 ; Winthrop L. Chenery, 1876-79 ;
Leonaid S. King, 1877 ; Henry Klchardaon, 1878-80 ; Joseph 0. Wel-
lington, 1880—; William Unnroe, 1880-82 ; Thomaa W. Davia, 1883—.
Town CLsua.— Samnel P. Hammatt, 1859-«0 ; Francis E. Yatea, 1861-
70; WUUam W. Mead, 1871-83; Winthrop L. Chenery, 1883—.
Town Triasubeb AMD ColxlCTOB. — George 3. Adama, 1859-66; Edwin
Locke, 1867-75 ; Winthrop L. Chenery, 1876 — .
School ComcrrTEC— BeT. Amoe Smith, 1859-64 ; Edwin Locke, 1859-
64 ;.Iuac Watta, 1869-60 ; Dan'l F. Learned, 1859-69, 1872-80 ; Adolpbus
Brown, 1869 ; Amos Hill, 1860-65 ; William J. Underwood, 1860-61,
1866-69 ; KeT. James Tbarston, 1861 ; Joaiah S. Kendall, 1862-65 ;
George L. Underwood, M.D., 1862 ; William A. Blodgett, 1863-ii8 ;
Wanrn 8. Frost, 1866, 1868-73, 1879-81 ; Rev. Joaiah W. Tamer, 1868-
71 ; Edward Whitney, 1868 ; Samuel P. Hammatt, 1868-69 ; Henry
Richardson, 1869-85 ; Manaur W. JIaiah. 1870 ; Horace Bird, 1870-72 ;
George W. Ware, Jr,1870-71 ; R«t. Daniel Butler, 1871, 1876-80 ; Wil-
liam W. Mead, 1872-81 ; Winthrop L. Chenery, 1872-75 ; Solymon W.
Grant, 1873-76, 1878-79 ; Luther W. Hough, 1874-75, 1882-87 ; J. Hen-
ry Fletcher, 1876-78; George H. Caldwell, M.D., 1877; George W.
Jonea, M.D., 1880 ; ReT. William H. Teel, 1881-82 ; Harry 0. Under-
wood, 1881-84 ; Frederic Dodge, 1882— ; William Munroe, 1882 ; Horace
W. Ball, 1883— ; Edward Haakins, 1883-86, 1890— ; Harry H. Baldwin,
1886— ; Edward F. Otis, 1886 ; Mrs. Caroline A. R. Whitney, 1887-89 ;
Mrs. Mary F. W. Homer, 1889— ; John H. Edwards, 1889 ; Mrs. Jennie
C. Underwood, 1890—.
Trdbtxes or Public Library. — William J. Underwood, 1873 — ; J.
Vamum Fletcher, 1873— ; Leonard 3. King, 1873 ; Rer. Harvey C.
Bales, 1874-76; Thomaa.W. Davis, 1877—; William E. Stowe, 1883— ;
John M. Brown, 1883— ; Frederic Dodge, 1889 — .
Representatives in General Court. — In 1863
Winthrop W. Chenery represented the district in-
ciading Waltham and Watertown. The redistricting
after the incorporation of the town did not take place
till after the State census of 1865. Since 1866 Water-
town and Belmont have formed a representative dis-
trict. The Belmont representatives from this district
have been :
Henry M. Clarke, 1867-68 ; George W. Ware, Jr., 1882 ; Edward
Whitney, 1876-77 ; Rev. Daniel Butler, 1883 ; J. Vamum Fletcher,
1886-86 ; J. Henry Fletcher, 1890.
J. Vamum Fletcher was State Senator from the
Second Middlesex District in 1887 and 1888.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
COL. THOMAS LIVERMORE.
Among the oldest families of the ancient town of
Watertown is that of the subject of this sketch, Col.
Thomaa Livermore, a descendant in the sixth gener-
ation of John, who landed on these shores from Eng-
land in 1634. The homestead of the family for many
generations has been on what is now School Street in
the northeastern part of the old town, in the vicinity
of Fresh Pond. Here they appear to have planted
themselves at an early day, and not unlikely cleared
the primeval forest to found a home. Two Amos
Livermorea, son and father, together with Oliver,
Daniel and Samuel, reach back from Thomas to John,
the original settler. They chose a fertile tract of
country sloping gently from west to east, and termi-
nating on the verge of the Pond. In this sheltered
and sunny place five or six generations of Livermores
have cultivated and improved the land until it has
become rich in orchards and gardens, and is dotted
here and there with pleasant, comfortable homes.
Thomaa was born May 30, 1798, on that portion of
the original tract now owned and occupied by his
children, in an old house which was burned in his
boyhood and replaced by his father with the present
spacious dwelling.
His advantages of education were limited to the
district school, then open but a few months in the
year and often taught by young collegians in the win-
ter term, more anxious to earn a few dollars than to
properly instruct and guide the young. The work
and responsibility of the farm, intercourse with men
and acquaintance with prnctii.al affiiirs formed his
chief means of education. Thus he grew up to man-
hood used to hardship, in habits uf patient indus-
try and careful economy. Early in life he united
with the First Congregational (Unitarian) Church
of the town, then under the iuiiiistratii)us of Rev.
Converse Francis, afterwards professor in the Divin-
ity School of Harvard University. It shows in what
estimation he was held by his pastor and associates
that he was chosen a deacon of the church in his
twenty-fourth year, an office which he held for more
than a half a century. Thomas Livermore and Sarah
C. Grant were united in marriage April 20, 1824.
She was the daughter of a neighboring farmer, like
himself used to care and responsibility, and through
the nearly fifty years of their married life a most
faithful and devoted wife. Mr. Livermore early be-
came a member of the Watertown and Waltham Ar-
tillery Company, of which he was chosen lieutenant
in 1821 and rose to be captain, major, lieutenant-col-
onel and t;olonel during the following eight or ten
years. His tall, erect, commanding form made him
especially conspicuous as a military officer, and he
always retained something of a military air and man-
ner, due no doubt to his early training in the Artil-
lery. To the Ancient and Honorable Company of
Boston he was elected an honorary member. He
seems never to have lost his interest in military
parades, and long after he had withdrawn from the
company used to attend the trainings and musters.
Col. Livermore was deeply interested iu politics. In
early life an ardent Whig, he remained true to that
party until the great struggle for freedom in Kansas,
when he became identified with the Free-Soil party
and afterwards with the Republican. In 1844 he was
elected on the Whig ticket to the House of Represent-
atives of the State Legislature. But when that party
broke up on the slavery issue, he took his stand on
the side of freedom and ever after gave his vote and
influence to sustain the good cause. In the War of
r'
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BELMONT.
697
the Rebellion he was a stanch supporter of Lincoln
and the army, and rejoiced heartily in the downfall
of slavery and the triumph of the Union.
In municipal affairs he was active and faithful in
securing efficient management. For several years he
was elected on the Board of Selectmen in Watertown,
and for two years a member of the School Committee.
In 1859, when Belmont was incorporated, that
portion of Watertown where he resided was annexed
to the new town, and his interests were transferred to
its growth and prosperity. Here he became identified
with a new church and a new community, and served
them as willingly as he had served the old. He was
soon chosen on the Board of Selectmen and on that
of the assessors, and through the remainder of his
life he gave his sympathy and influence to the wel-
fare of Belmont.
From this sketch of the life of Col. Livermore,
it is evident that he was a man in whose integrity
his fellow-townsmen had entire confidence. They
trusted in his judgment, they relied upon his honesty,
they regaided him as one who was above all crooked
and self-seeking ways in bis management of public
aflairs. Plain, unpretending, straightforward, firm
and faithful in what he believed was right, such is
the record of his life and such the character which
he sustained among his fellow-men. Col. Livermore
was in feeble and failing health for some months be-
fore his death. Of his ten children, seven had passed
on before him, and three remained iu the old home
to cheer his declining days. The end came on March
28, 187.3, at the age of seventy-five years, and the
stalwart form, that had borne .so well the toil and
burden of life, wa.s laid at rest in the peaceful shades
of Mount Auburn. Mrs. Livermore passed a serene
and cheerful old age, surrounded by those who
tenderly ministered to her needs, and in her eighty-
seventh year rejoined him in the immortal world.
JACOB HITTINGER.
Jacob Hittinger was a descendant of an old French
family and was born in Roxbury, March 10, 1811.
His father died while abroad five years later, having
previously removed to Charlestown, where young
Hittinger received his education. In 1825 he entered
the employment of George Pierce as a gardener, and
five years later engaged in the produce business in
Boston with William E. Otis & Co. Of this firm he
was a member for several years, being actively inter-
ested at the same time in the firm of Hill & Hittin-
ger, whose business was cutting and shipping ice
from Spy and Fresh Ponds. The firm of Hill & Hit-
tinger was dissolved in 1841, and was succeeded by
the firm of Gage, Hittinger & Co., of which the only
surviving partner is Hon. T. T. Sawyer, of Charles-
town. It was to this firm conjointly with John Hill,
Mr. Hittinger's former partner, that the merchants of
Boston were indebted for the notable enterprise dis-
played, when, 1844, the harbor being frozen, a passage
was cut from the wharf at East Boston, through which
the Cunard steamer coald proceed to sea on the day
appointed for her sailing. A failure to accomplish the
work would have seriously affected the future of Boston
as a commercial port. Mr. Hittinger's interest in the
firm of Gage, Hittinger & Co. was disposed of a few
years later, but he continued to famish ice to its suc-
cessor. Gage, Sawyer & Co., and was interested in the
early shipments of ice to the Barbadoea by Lombard
& Whitmore. In the closing years of his business
life he carried on the trade in his own name.
Mr. Hittinger's first wife was Mary Wilson. At
her death she left a daughter, who became the wife
of Charles Davenport. He married again, April
30, 1846, Mary Elizabeth King, a younger sister of
Rev. Thomas Starr King, whose name is borne by
the oldest son of this union, Thomas S. Hittinger,
superintendent of the Fresh Pond- Ice Company, of
which company Mrs. Davenport's son is the treasurer.
Soon after his second marriage Mr. Hittinger bought
a large tract of land adjoining the oldCushing Estate,
within the limits of the present town of Belmont.
With the exception of a few months spent in Charles-
town, this place was his residence until the end of
his life. His intelligent management redeemed from
the marshes all that part of the estate which is now
occupied by three of his sons as one of the largest
market gardens in the vicinity of Boston. Of the
seven sons of the second marriage six are living, the
fourth in order of age, Daniel Webster Hittinger,
having died at Belmont, October 28, 1875. Mrs.
Hittinger continues to reside in the houee standing
on the estate at the time of its purchase.
Mr. Hittinger's interest in the town of Belmont
was shown by his leadership for four successive years
of the petitioners for the incorporation of the new
town and his devotion of time, influence and money
to their interests. For many of the necessary ex-
penses incurred he neither asked nor received any
recompense. He was a member of the first Board of
Selectmen, chosen in 1869; was re-elected in 1860
and 1861, and was an influential citizen until the last
years of his life. Pecuniary difficulties, arising in the
critical business years of 1873 and 1874, left him a
poor man. Though he never recovered his financial
standing, he could look with pride upon the stalwart
sons whose filial attention ministered to the comfort
of his dying hours, and feel that they were ready to
take up and bear successfolly the burdens which old
age removed from his shoulders. He died at Bel-
mont, April 4, 1880, leaving behind him the record
of a life of activity and integrity, and of an influence
exerted for the permanent advantage of the commu-
nity in which his lot had been cast.
GEOBQE FOBDYCB BLAKE.
The subject of this sketch is descended from one of
our oldest New England fBunilies, and one that has an
698
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
honorable record. His ancestor, William Blake, came
to this country from Little Baddow, Essex, England,
in 1630, the year that Governor Winthrop and the
Ma-saachusetts Bay Colony came over, and settled at
Dorchester, Mass. In 1636 he removed, with William
Pynchon and others, to Springfield, Mass., but his de-
scendants for three generations continued to reside at
Dorchester and Boston, where they were highly es-
teemed, two of them having held the office of deacon
of the church and selectmen of the town, and one was
a member of the General Court. At the period of the
outbreak of the War for Independence we find In-
crease Blake living in Boston, on King (now State)
Street, near the scene of the Boston massacre, and en-
gaged in the manufacture of tin-plate goods. His
public-spirited refusal to supply the British with can-
teens, which he had furnished for the provincial
troops, aroused the retaliatory spirit of the Tories ;
his shop and other property were destroyed, and
after the Battle of Bunker Hill he found it expedient
to remove to Worcester, Mass. His son, Thomai*
Dawes Blake, the father of the present representative
of the family, was born in Boston in 1768, and was
educated in the schools of Worcester. He was en-
gaged for a few years in teaching, then studied medi-
cine and later settled at Farmington, Me., where he
continued in the practice of his profession until his
death, in 184i).
George Fordyce Blake was born in Farmington,
Me., May 20, 1819. At the early age of fourteen he
was apprenticed to learn the trade of house-carpen-
try. In 1839 he left his native town to start in the
world for himself. He first went to South Danvers
(now Peabody), where he remained seven years, work-
ing at his trade. From that place he went to Cam-
bridge to take the position of mechanical engineer
at the brick-yards of Mr. Peter Hubbell, with the
general charge of the works. There he manifested
that fidelity, thoroughness, intelligence and inventive
talent which have contributed so largely to his suc-
cess. Naturally modest, never over-sanguine, that
success seems to have surprised him more than those
who knew him best. While thus employed, he de-
vised a water-meter for which he received his first
patent, in 1862. After the removal of the brick-
yards to Medford, it was found that the clay obtained
there could not be worked with the ordinary machin-
ery, and Mr. Blake planned and constructed a new
machine for pulverizing the clay, which was patented
in 1861. In order more efficiently to free the clay-
pits from water, he invented what is perhaps his
greatest achievement — the Blake Steam-Pump — and
thus laid the foundation of his fortune. The practical
testing of his pump, at the yards, proving its great
capacity, he, in company with Mr. Job A. Turner
and his former employer, Mr. Peter Hubbell, com-
menced in 1864 the manufacture of steam-pumps and
water-meters in a building on Province Street, Bos-
ton. The business grew so rapidly that several suc-
cessive removals to better quarters were necessary,
and in 1873 the firm purchased and occupied the large
building on the corner of Causeway and Friend
Streets. Their foundry fur large castings was at East
Cambridge. In 1874 a joint stock company was in-
corporated under the title, — " The George F. Blake
Manufacturing Company," with Mr. George F. Blake
as president. In 1879 the company ]nirchased the
large plant of the Knowles Steam-Pump Company, at
Warren, Mass., thus greatly extending their facilities.
But even with this increase of capacity it was found
necessary, in 1890, to remove the Boston manufac'ory
to East Cambridge, where extensive works were
erected, covering four acres, with amain buildine 400
feet long by 100 feet broad, with every convenience
for the successful prosecution of the work. The busi-
ness has been recently sold to an English syndicate
for the sum of $3,000,000, though Mr. Blake still re-
tains an interest.
In the course of his successful career Mr. Blake b:is
given unremitting attention to his business ami has
brought his intelligent judgment to bear upon all its
various details. For a long time, until the growth of
the business made that an impossibility, all the plans
and drawings for the special adaptation of machinery
were made under his personal supervision. The re-
sult is seen in the vast business that has grown up.
The Blake pumps have gone to all parts of the world
and have been adapted to every conceivable use,
some of them, constructed for supplying cities with
water, having a capacity of 20,000,000 gallons in 2-i
hours.
In 1869, Mr. Blake removed to Belmont. His
beautiful home stands on a breezy hill overlooking a
wide stretch of country to the northward and west-
ward of Boston, and is surrounded by fine trees and
well-kept lawns. While his busy life has kept him
from much direct participation in public atfiiirs, he
has always taken a deep interest in all public ques-
tions, especially such as pertain to the moral well-
being of the community, and, when free from the ex-
acting cares of his business, has found true delight and
recreation in his library among his favorite books.
HON. J. V. FLETCHER.
A sketch of the town of Belmont would be in-,
complete which did not contain extended mention of
a family so thoroughly identified with its inception,
birth and growth as that of Hon. J. V. Fletcher. He
was one of the active workers in securing the act of
incorporation, became a member of the first Board of
Selectmen, and scarcely any matter of public interest
and benefit has appealed to the citizens lor support
that has not received from him material encourage-
ment. The people have endorsed his actions by
assigning him the duty of representing their interests
in the General Court, and a wider constituency has
ratified the local verdict by electing him to a seat in
the Senate Chamber.
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BELMONT.
699
Jonathan Farnum Fletcher is a descendant in the
seventh generation of the Robert Fletcher who came
from England to Concord, Mass., in 1630, and became
prominentia the affairs of that town, which was in-
corporated Ave years later. His son William removed
to Chelmsford. Joseph, the grandson of William,
settled in Westford upon his marriage in 1715, and
here, a hundred years later, February 28, 1812, the
subject of this sketch was born. Of his early years
Mr. Fletcher says little, but the fact that he is the
owner of the ancestral home at Westford, delighting
to steal a day now and again from business cares to
visit it, and that it has become under his bandsa Mecca
of pilgrimage for members of a large and widely-
scattered family, sufficiently indicates the pleasant
associations clustering about the spot in which he
spent his boyhoo<l. He is a trustee of the Westford
Academy. Before attaining his majority he engaged
in the [)rovision business in Medford, at the age of
twenty-four he took to himself a wife, and in the
following year, 1837, he established the business in
Boston with which his name has been associated for
more than half a century, and in which he is still
actively engaged. During most of this time he has
been the occupant of two stalls at the very centre of
Quincy, better known as Faneuil Hall market, and
he is now the senior tenant of the building. Two
additional stalls have recently been added, to
accommodate an increasing business.
In 18.01, when the Faneuil Hall Bank was chartered
by the Legislature, Mr. Fletcher was one of the three
parties named in the act of incorporation. After be-
ing a director of the bank for nearly forty years, he
became its president upon the death, in 1888, of Mr.
Nathan Robbins, who was also one of the original
corporators. He is also vice-president of the newly-
establi.shed Hammond Packing Company.
in the town of Belmont Mr. Fletcher held the
office of selectman in 1S59,'{30 and '61, and was
again elected in 1867. tiince that time he has held
no town oUice, except the position of trustee of the
Public Library, which he has filled continuously since
1873, the year in which the "board was created. He
was one of the building committee of the town-hall,
and two marble clocks in the main audience- room,
and in the reading-room, are the souvenirs of his
connection with the building. la 1885 and 1886 he
was representative from the district comprising the
towns of Belmont and Watertown, and in November,
1886, was chosen Senator from the Second Middlesex
District. During his service in the Senate, in 1887
and 1888, he was chairman of the Committee on Banks
and Banking, and discharged other important com-
mittee work. His son, J. Henry Fletcher, is the
present representative (1890) of the Sixteenth Middle-
sex District.
Upon a charter being obtained, largely through his
instrumentality, for the Belmont Savings Bank, Mr.
Fletcher resigned his trusteeship in the Charlestown
Five Cent Savings Bank, to become president of the
new institution, and his closest auperviaion is given
to its afifairs.
Mr. Fletcher married, in 1836, Marcy Ann Hill, of
West Cambridge. Their golden wedding was
pleasantly observed by a large gathering of personal
friends and business associates of Mr. Fletcher.
They resided in Charlestown for about twenty years,
during which time Mr. Fletcher was for two years a
member of the Common Council, and four years al-
derman of that city. The residence in Belmont was
built shortly before the incorporation of the town,
upon the estate which had been for many years oc-
cupied by Mrs. Fletcher's father. Mrs. Fletcher died
October 31, 1888. " Her children rise up and call her
blessed." A beautiful window in the new Unitarian
Church at Belmont is her husband's tribute to her
memory.
Mr. Fletcher's duties as the head of the Faneuil
Hall Bank tend to draw him away from the active
life of the market, in which be has so long been a
central figure, and are a preparation for the rest from
physical exertion which he has earned by so many
years of well-directed, successful toil.
In his home at Belmont, and elsewhere, as occasion
offers, he enjoys exercising the privileges of hospital-
ity. His first dinner to his associates in the Faneuil
Hall and Belmont Banks, after becoming president of
the two institutions, was marked by a feature worthy
of the highest commendation and repetition, the pres-
ence at the tables of the clerks and other employees
as well as the directors and trustees. It is a pleasure
to see wealth bestowed upon those who can use it
aright. In business enterprise, in hospitality and in
charity, Mr. Fletcher has shown himself worthy, and
when he chooses to resign the helm of his vessel, he
has the satisfaction of knowing that the sons and
daughters whom he has trained will be his fit suc-
cessors as trustees of the goods which the Lord has
bestowed.
WILLIAM L. LOCKHAET.
William L. Lockhart, whose portrait accompanies
this sketch, is easily at the head of the manufactur-
ing undertakers of this section of the county. His
life is a striking illustration of what can be accom-
plished by a strong, resolute will, joined to business
tact and devoted to the development of a special
line of trade. As his name indicates, Mr. Lockhart
is of Scotch ancestry, belonging to a family which
came to Nova Scotia in the early years of its occupa-
tion by English-speaking people. He was born July
20, 1827. In boyhood he assisted his father, who
followed the occupation of a ship-caj^jenter, and
acquired a love for the sea, which he has never lost.
At the age of eighteen he shipped as cook for a voy-
age along the coast. Evidently the duties were not
as agreeable as he had anticipated, for he left the
vessel at Eaatport, walked to Machias, and thence
700
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
continaed his journey to Boston, where he endeav-
ored to find a place to learn a trade. Not being suc-
cessful, he returned home, but in a few months came
to Boston again and engaged as an apprentice at
fifty dollars a year and his board. Having learned
the carpenter's trade, he pursued it for a while, but,
with a foresight that indicated his business sagacity,
decided to devote himself to a specialty, and with
this in view entered the employ of John Peak, a
leading cofSn-maker, and spent four years in learning
every detail of the business. At the age of twenty-
seven, with a capital of $300, which represented the
industry and patient economy of years, be began for
himself at Cambridge, not far from the Court-house.
In 1860 nearly all that he had made was swept away
by fire, but, undaunted, he at once proceeded to re-
establish himself, and to erect a building near the
railroad station at East Cambridge, which, with its
additions and extensions, he has occupied to the
present time, although his offices and sales-rooms are
in a fine building constructed from his own plans, at
the corner of Staniford and Causeway Streets, in
Boston. His establishment is, in all its appointments,
the most complete in New England, if not in Amer-
ica, and all those to whom the need common to hu-
manity comes, " to bury their dead out of their sight,"
have reason to appreciate the provisions made to
remove all responsibility from the mourner and place
in professional hands the cares incident to such oc-
casions. Every detail of the business is conducted
under his direct and personal supervision. During
the earlier years of his business life Mr. Lockhart's
residence was in Cambridge. He has lived in Bel-
mont about twelve years, having purchased, in 1878,
the estate of the late Winthrop W. Chenery on Com-
mon Street A view of the mansion has appeared in
these pages. Its exterior is unchanged from the days
of its earlier owner. The apartments within con-
form to the critical tastes of the present occupant,
who is assisted by his estimable wife in dispensing
hospitality to the friends who meet beneath his roof-
tree. Mr. Lockhart's delight in the beauties of
nature is shown by the enjoyment he finds in the sur-
roundings of his residence, in the care with which he
has maintained and developed his forest, garden and
field. His early bent for the sea is gratified by his
ownership of the well-known yacht " Alice," and the
months he spends from season to season upon the
coast of the Southern Statex. He has never been an
aspirant for public office, though taking a deep inter-
est in matters relating to the public welfare, feeling
that one's best service to the world can be rendered
in faithful attention to the work which has been set
for his hands to accomplish.
CHAPTER XLV.
WALTHAM.
BY NATHAN WARREN.
The history of a New England town is full of interest
and is an object-lesson in the fundamental principles
and practice of our government. The rise and
progress of such an institution for self-government is
that of a little Commonwealth conducted by its own
citizens under the purest and simplest form of de-
mocracy. The town in New England is a miniature
Commonwealth. Its Legislature is the town-meet-
ing; its legislators are the voters in their individual
capacity. The development of such a government in
its political and material afiairs, in all matters pertain-
ing to its social and educational welfare and in its
religious character, so far as religion was in former
times more intimately connected with the body
politic, is a study of more importance than the mere
recital of events and the growth of wealth and popu-
lation. Whether the town remains practically at
a standstill for a hundred or more years, like some of
our towns — yet prosperous in all that makes happy
homes, a well-ordered community — and insures a fair
competence to its people iti their walks of life, or
whether under the impetus of manufactures or trade,
or from a fortunate position for enterprise or
residence, it shows great progress in business and
population and all that belongs to municipal impor-
tance, its course is governed by the same elements of
republican characteristics and the same principles of
popular jurisprudence.
To trace the beginnings and locality of early settle-
ment— the circumstances which dictated the direction
of progress and development; the causes which gave :i
turn to local political affairs and led to divisions and
the creation of new towns ; the names and qualities of
the " forefathers of the hamlet," and of those of their
descendants who have guided public sentiment and
have fostered and encouraged private and public enter-
prise; the incidents of local history, important in
their results rather than in the nature of their oc-
currence— is a subject worthy of the historian in the
bearing it has upon the institutions under which we,
as a people, have sought peace and prosperity. The
town is the unit of our system of government. It is
the primitive source of popular sovereignty. It is
the child as well as parent of our institutions, and in
New England attains a power and individuality not
known and recognized to so full au extent in the
rest of the country. The details of its history are
pregnant with the fate which has wrought great events
on the continent.
Waltham was incorporated January 4, 1737-38, old
style— by the modem calender January 15, 1738. Its
history for the first century of settlement is so blended
with that of the parent town of Watertown that it is
WALTHAM.
701
difficult to separate the incidents of its existence for
that period or to fix upon what was distinctive to its
territory and inhabitants. With no defined village
or local parish interests until shortly before its in-
corporation, the early records give us but vague infor-
mation as to what portions of the annals of Watertown
particularly apply to the early history of the part
subsequently set off as Waltham. Until the last of
the seventeenth century its territory was practically
a wilderness. A fringe of farms occupied the hills in
its northern limits. The Great or Sudbury Road
traversed the plain on its southern limits by Charles
River, but no collection of houses, church or school-
house marked any locality to give prominence in
traditions or data to anything distinctively belonging
to the locality.
Watertown, within the limits of which, as above
stated, Waltham was included for the first century of
its settlement, was one of the first settled places in
the Massachusetts Bay Colony, ranking as fourth in
the order of incorporation. It has well been called
the " mother of towns," for out of her territory have
been formed the towns of Weston and Waltham and
parts of Lincoln, Cambridge and Belmont. Besides
these contributions from her area she sent forth col-
onists to the Connecticut River settlements, to
Weathersfield, Connecticut, JIartha's Vineyard and
the neighboring new settlements in Eastern and Cen-
tral Massachusetts, so that hardly a town in Middle-
sex County but has families which trace their origin
to this prolific and enterprising mother. In 163(5 it
was the most populous town in the Colony, and fears
were entertained that the population was getting too
crowded for the general welfare. This feeling was
iloubtless one of the reasons which prompted the
healthy exodus to other localities.
Within its original limits is the location of the
newly-discovered city of Norumbega. This illusory
town of the early voyagers, half-mythical, half-au-
thentic, has recently given rise to considerable specula-
tion. The discoveries made have not been accepted
as establishing an ante-colonial settlement, but at
least have given a touch of romance to the beautiful
and historical Charles River, and the localities along
its banks, where enterprising traders from other
lands may have given the primitive wilderness a dis-
play of thrift and busy civilization. The imagination
may fondly picture the waters of the river along the
borders of Waltham and Watertown freighted with
strange and picturesque craft, bearing to unknown
countries the products of the forests, the results of the
long and patient toil of the trapper and of the barter
with the aborigines. Here, by the researches of the
eminent man who has zealously followed his investi-
gations, are the evidences of a busy, intelligent popu-
lation who have left their record in various places
within the ancient borders of Watertown. But the
early colonists make no note of their observations of
any evidences of previous occupation by civilized
men, and it is only after the lapse of two centuries
and a half that additional renown and pre-historic
information have been given to the region.
In the cursory review of the history of Watertown
in its general relation with that of Waltham, and so
far as it has special reference to the latter, we find
much of sterling and absorbing interest that cannot
be omitted and yet must be touched upon but lightly.
The first authoritative record of discovery or of a visit
by European settlers was May 30, ItiSO, when a party
of ten from Dorchester went up Charles River in
a boat and landed at a spot supposed to be where the
United States Arsenal now stands. They were hos-
pitably received by the Indians, who were quite
numerous in the vicinity, and were supposed to have
planted some crops, but they made no permanent
settlement. Later, in June of the same year. Sir
Richard Saltonstall moved from Charlestown up the
Charles River, and established a settlement, to which
the name of Watertown was given. Rev. Mr. Phil-
lips accompanied him as the pastor of the church, and
thus on its religious and municipal basis the nucleus
of the original town and prosperous offspring was se-
curely and permanently located. The new settlers
were of the best class of immigrants, hardy, indus-
trious, familiar with husbandry or some trade, and
imbued with those staying qualities necessary to suc-
cessful colonization. Many of them were from the
west of England, but the greater number doubtless
came from London and vicinity. They were Puritan
Qon-conformists who came to worship God in their
own way and to bear heroically the consequences of
their acts. Physically and morally they were well
equipped to wrestle with the wilderness and to lay the
foundations of a State where the nobility of man
should be above that of rank.
On July 30, 1630, the church estate was formally
established as the first work for permanent organiza-
tion, the covenant was subscribed by about forty men
and civil and ecclesiastical government authorita-
tively commenced. At the Court of Assbtants, Sep-
tember 7th, it was ordered that the town be called
Watertown.
The character and qualities of the early settlers are
conspicuous for an occurrence which had an im-
portant bearing upon the future policy of the Colony,
and reflects honor upon those who manifested the
spirit of the occasion. It was the resistance to tax-
ation without representation. When the Court of
Assistants, in 1632, ordered Watertown to pay its pro-
portion of a levy towards making a palisade about
ye^vton, the assembly of the people voted " that it
was not safe to pay moneys after that sort," as they
were not represented in the Court of Assistants. The
agitation of this subject gave origin to the committee
of two from each town and to the representative body
composed of these committees to manage the affairs
of the Colony and to become what is now known as
the House of Representatives. Thus to the people of
702
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Watertown is due the historic credit of originating
this popular representative body, and of establishing
its power over taxation. With a prophetic instinct
its primitive law-makers composed of the freemen in
their collective wisdom seemed to have foreshadowed
the contest that was to occur between their descend-
ants and the mother country nearly a century and a
half later on the same great principle of taxation
without representation.
The first recorded adventure and exploration of the
part of the country now comprised within the limits
of Waltham was on the 27th of January, 1632, when
Governor Winthrop and "some company with him j
went up by Charles River about eight miles above
Watertown." This journey was doubtless on foot
and for the purpose of laying out a public road. The
account of this visit is a valuable contribution to
local history and description, and the names applied
by the explorers to the prominent features of the
landscape are retained to the present day. Winihrop's
journal says they " named the first brook, on the
north side of the river (being a fair stream and com-
ing from a pond a mile from the river), Beaver .
Brook, because the beavers had shorn down divers
great trees there, and made divers dams across the j
brook. Thence they went to a great rock, upon
which stood a high stone, cleft in sunder, that four
men might go through, which they called Adam's
Chair, because the youngest of their company was
Adam Winthrop. Thence they came to anotlier '
brook, greater than the former, which they called I
Masters' Brook, because the eldest of their
company was one John Masters. Thence they came
to another high pointed rock, having a fair aspect on
the west side, which they called by the name of
Mount Feake, from one Robert Feake, who had
married the Governor's daughter-in-law. Oa the west
side of Mount Feake they went up a very high rock,
from whence they might see all over Neipnett, and a
very high hill due west, about forty miles otf, and to
the N. W. the high hills by Merrimack, above
sixty miles off." Beaver Brook is still quite a large
stream, emptying into Charles River on the north,
and forming the natural eastern border to what has
been known as Waltham Plain. The pond described
was what is now a meadow between Lexington Street
and the Lyman estate. This pond was on the western
branch of the brook, a half-mile or more above the
confluence with the eastern branch. It would seem
from Winthrop's own record that he regarded the
western branch as the main stream and so applied the
name. The pond, or its present site, is the only one
that can be identified with hia record. But within
the past generation a heated and quite amusing contro-
versy has arisen over the appellation of this and the
eastern branch. It is claimed that the latter is the
only original and duly accepted Beaver Brook of
history and tradition, and that the western branch is
Cheater Brook. To the eastern branch has been
given the appropriate and euphonious name of Clem-
atis Brook. This application was considered almost
a sacrilegious innovation upon the sanctity of old
names, but it remains in popular use. The wordy
contest over the subject was conducted zealously in
the local paper of the day, almost to the personal
estrangement of the principal advocates of the re-
spective names, but still the brooks run on as men
may come and go and dispute over what was the
proper name to be applied to carry out the original
designation of the Puritan Governor.
The nest local object, Ma.sters Brook, emptying
into the river on the north, forming the western
boundary of the plain, retains its designation, while
Mount Feake is the site of the cemetery of the same
name. The high rock may be what is called Boston
Rock Hill, near where the reservoir of the water-
works is located ; while Adam's Chair is supposed to
have been destroyed by the Fitchburg Railroad. But
historical lore is doubtless at fault or Winthrop's
journal was inaccurate. Hes[ieaksof Masters Brook
as larger than Beaver Brook. This coulil never have
been. That description fully uicels the o;use off^tony
Crook, a mil.e uii the river, and tlmving into it like-
wise on the north. This journey and the facts ad-
duced theretroui have been amply treated by local
historians, but with evident inability to reconcile the
account with objects visited. The conflict of names
and descriptions doubtless arose from Winthrop's in-
advertence in writing his journal or to the CDiifusion
of localities in making up his record alter his return
from his tour of exjiloration.
The Indian name of Charles River in Waltham was
Quinobin, and tlie designation has been preserved in
the name of some local organiz.ations.
The query has often arisen as to what was the face
of the country in the early settlements. Was it con-
tinuous and uninterrupted forest and wilderness?
Were the settlers obliged to make a clearing in the
primitive forest for every tract of land to be cultivated,
for every house to be erected '?
Reference is seldom made to the fact by historians,
either because it has not been deemed of sutficient im-
portance, or because the settlers made little record on
the subject. But " Wood's Prospect," that quaint and
highly-instructive volume of experience in Xcw Eng-
land in 1633, states that the country was not all for-
ests. There was much clear land, not only naturally,
but from the work of Indians, who had made and pre-
served such tracts for their planting.
The first grant of land within the limits of Waltham
was that of five hundred acres to John Oldham. This
grant was in the southwestern part of the town, and
included Mount Feake and ic the vicinity of Roberts
Station. No reason is assigned for this especial favor
to one individual. Oldham was a prominent man of
those days, and had figured quite conspicuously in the
Plymouth Colony and among the wayward and con-
vivial settlers at Merry Mount, and established a
"WALTHAM.
703
reputation not quite consistent with Puritan simplicity
and rectitude. He had led an eventful life, and his
leading qualities were quickly recognized by the
community with which fortuneor his own inclinations
united him. He was one of those men who naturally
and by force of circumstances come to the front when
occasion requires a leading mind. When the General
Court was established he was chosen one of the first
representatives from Watertown, and in the original
town he continued to reside, never occupying the
grant allowed him. He met his death tragically by
Indians when trading off Block Island. His death
was followed by even more tragic and war-like results,
for it gave origin to the famous Pequot War. Thus
the first and largest grantee of Waltham, the enter-
prising trader, the energetic magistrate, unconsciously
brought about the first serious and disastrous Indian
war in New England.
As the necessities for land increased with a growing
population, more territory was divided into large
areas, to which local designations were given. These
divisions relate almost exclusively to the territory of
Waltham. The earliest general grant after the
original small lots was that of the Great Dividends,
made in July, 103(3. The land was divided into four
divisions. L'ach one hundred and sixty rods in width,
running parallel along the )iorthern limits of the
town. These divisions were sometimes called squad-
rons, and the lines dividing them the squadron lines.
It is conjectured that they commenced near the pres-
ent boumlarv lines between W;itertown and Waltham,
and ran in a northwesterly direction. The next
general grant of land wa.s the Beaver Brook Plow
Lands, extending from the Driftway (now Gore
Street), near the eastern line of Waltham, south of the
great dividends to the Oldham grant in the west. The
part of this grant situated east of Beaver Brook was
tailed the "Hither" or "Little Plain," while the
section west of Beaver Brook was known as the
Farther or Great Plain. These ilesignations are now
all obsolete, save that, perhaps, of the (ireat, or Walt-
!;ain plain, on which the city is now principally
locatcil.
In addition, in Pil^S, was the Lieu of Township lots
apportioned to those freemen who had no lots at the
township. They were situated west of the Plain
south iif the great dividends and extended westward
beyond Stony Brook. This completed the general di-
vision or allotment of lands in Waltham.
The course of settlement was not towards the level
lands of the plains, but for some reason it followed
only the hills skirting the northern part of the town.
As the population wjis quite exclusively of farmers it
doubtless chose the stronger and more fertile land of
the hills rather than the sandy soil of the plain. Be-
sides that, it was moving in the direction of the gen-
eral trend of migration from the original settlement
at Mount Auburn. In this section of the town for
nearly two centuries was located the numerical and
intellectual strength of the town. The region is now
devoted to farming and still retains the local appel-
laiions of Pond End and Trapelo, applied to different
sections. The former derives its name from the large
pond in the northwest of Waltham, called at different
times Mead's, Sherman's or Hardy's as the chance of
the possessor of adjacent lands or the caprices of the
day may determine. Trapelo traces its name from no
reliable origin, though it is supposed or imagined that
the word may be a corruption of the words " trap be-
low," used to localize a place of trapping. It is to be
regretted that this historical and expressive name is
not officially recognized in any local designation. The
well-known Trapelo road, still an important thorough-
fare, named often in ancient records and famous in
tradition, is modernized into North Street. But in
popular parlance the name is still applied to the dis-
trict.
Another locality in that part of the town still re-
tains its ancient cognomen of " Piety Corner," a
name derived from the fact that some of the deacons
and leading men of the church formerly resided in
that vicinity.
Sudbury road, now Main Street, early laid out as a
principal thoroughfare to the western settlements, ex-
tended through the comparatively uninhabited plain,
important only as a means of communication to dis-
tant regions. The fact that the territory was unsettled
doubtless accounts for its generous width and straight
direction, as otherwise it might have followed a course
to lead past the scattered farm-houses situated at the
caprice and convenience of their owners.
The first bridge over Beaver Brook was built in
1673, and the records state that a gallon of " liccur"
was provided on the occasion, doubtless as a neces-
sary element in its construction.
The growth of Waltham as an outlying part of
Watertown was slow and without annals of note. Its
areas were used mainly as pasturage grounds, into
which it was divided by local and natural bounds.
Large ranges were established extending from Beaver
Brook to Stony Brook, and doubtless for a half-cen-
tury that land was held in common, unfenced, though
allotted in small sections to different owners. The
principal hills received early in the settlement the
names they now bear, and Mackerel Hill, Prospect
(at first, for some reason never explained, called Knop's
Garden), Bear Hill, are recorded as landmarks to bound
and designate tracts of land and the progress of set-
tlement.
With the increase of population dissensions natur-
ally arose in regard to church and educational afiairs.
The people thought it a hardship to go to the east
end of Watertown to church. The school also was
situated at the same place. These two pillars upon
which New England progress and advancement rested
were desired for local convenience. Military neces-
sity also prompted a more convenient policy of as-
sembling the able-bodied men. In 1691 the town
704
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
was divided into three precints, Eastern, Middle and
Western, practically now the municipalities of Water-
town, Waltham and Weston respectively. Lieut.
Garfield's company was the train-band of the Middle
Precinct, and thus on a semi-military basis Waltham
commenced its territorial identity.
In 1692 a town-meeting was held to decide upon
the location of a new meeting-house nearer the cen-
tre of population, but the irreconcilable division of
sentiment prevented any agreement. An appeal was
made to Governor Phippa and Council to settle the
dispute through a committee. The committee made
a recommendation that a new meeting-house be erec-
ted at Commodore's Corner, in the westerly part of
the present limits of Watertown, and about one-half
mile east of the Waltham line. This meeting-house
was to take the place of the original church and be
the " place of meeting to worship God, for the whole
town." After much controversy and under protest of
many of the freeholders, the request of the committee
was accepted and the meeting-house built in 1G96.
Rev. Henry Gibbs, the pastor of the old church, re-
fused to accept the charge of the new church. With
the disappointed portion of the residents, he remained
with the old church, and Rev. Samuel Angler was
chosen as pastor of the new church. The town sup-
ported from its treasury both churches, and constant
difficulties arose from the expense of repairing the
houses, and otherwise maintaining two antagonistic
societies. Mr. Angler's church subsequently became
the First Church of Waltham, and its establishment
foreshadowed the inevitable division of the town.
The dissensions were maintained in an embittered
struggle of several years, and all efforts for adjust-
ment only confirmed the contending parties in adhe-
sion to their course. The General Court was brought
into the controversy, and in 1712 ordered that the
church be moved at the expense of both precincts to
such a spot in the Middle Precinct as the latter
should select. This order was treated with contempt-
uous disobedience, and affairs continued to work out
their solution by the ordinary development of local
interests and prejudices.
In 1713 Weston was set off and Incorporated as a
town, and the territorial division of Waltham, com-
prising the Middle Precinct, became thenceforth
known as the Western Precinct. The reduction of the
area and population of the town, by giving munici-
pal independence to the part which had been most
strenuous in its demands and complaints, in regard
to facilities for attending church, proved to be no sol-
ution of the difficulties between the remaining sect-
ions. Permanent reconciliation seemed as far off as
ever, and the two churches divided the counsels of
the town on all matters pertaining to local govern-
ment in religious, political and educational matters.
Efforts were made for the location of a church edifice
in the Western Precinct, and in 1715 the town voted
" to build a meeting-house for the accommodation of
the inhabitants of the most westerly part of the
town," but naught came of the decision. Before this,
in 1703, a grave-yard at present called Grove Hill
Cemetery, in Waltham, had been laid out in the
westerly precinct. This sacred abode of the dead,
around which in our New England towns the affec-
tions of the people are centred, added an increased
local attachment to the precinct, apart from the pa-
rent town. The spiritual consolation of the church
within their limits seemed as essential to the inhabit-
ants as the holy and mournful associations of the
last resting-place, to which, from the administrations
of the pastor and the simple and pathetic solemnity
of the fuaeral, the dead were borne. At the death of
Mr. Angler in 1719, and his interment in this grave-
yard, the determination for a meeting-house in the
precinct gathered new force. The town relented in
its opposition, and in April, 1721, approved the rec-
ommendations of a committee, that "the west meet-
ing-hou.se be removed within two years to a spot
about twenty rods west of Nathaniel Livermore's
house."
In 1720 the line separating the E;xsteru and West-
ern Precincts was determined and l.iid out tonl'orm-
ing to the present boundary line, and the Western
Precinct began to exercise the powers approaching
those of separate municipal government
Precinct-meetings were held, records kept, local
committees for public affaire chosen, and the farmers
began to realize the privileges of a primitive kind of
popular sovereignty in their governmental affairs.
As the church was not considered worth moving,
an edifice of the kind was purchased in Newton and
removed and set up on the new location. This loca-
tion was at the junction of the present Lyman and
Beaver Streets, in the triangular lot west of the beau-
tiful mansion and grounds of the Lyman estate. The
site is at some distance from the circle of the settled
limits of the town, in the midst of sylvan beauty of
the most grand and picturesque character on one
hand and on the other the expanse of highly culti-
vated fields and lawns. The repose of its early life is
scarcely changed by the progress and .ictivity of a
busy town whose growth has proceeded in an opposite
direction. Here for upwards of a century it stood in
its solitary simplicity, the spiritual home of the com-
munity, the monitor of events most marked and im-
portant in local history. From its |)ulpit came the
inspired teachings of the successors of the beloved
Angler, many of them men of eminent ability and
honored reputation, whose names have a veneration
belonging to a life passed in sincere service for the
welfare of their followers, leaving its impression of
good done for no love of favor or earthly reward.
Rev. Wareham Williams was chosen pastor in 1723,
and was the first settled minister of Waltham, serving
in the pastorate until his death, in 1751.
With the settlement of the ecclesiastical question
another remained of almost equal magnitude to dis-
WALTHAM.
705
turb the harmony of the two precincts. This was the
educational question in the establishment of a local
school. It is to the credit of our ancestors that they
considered the school interests of so vital importance
as to justify the division of the town and public re-
sentment over the manner in which their requests for
years for the creation of schools had been ignored.
The regular article in the town warrant for the grant-
ing of " money for the encouragement of learning in
the West Precinct" would come up only to be mea-
gerly acted upon. Finally two of the assessors, Wil-
liam Brown and Nathaniel Harris, refused to levy the
usual school tax upon the inhabitants of the West
Precinct. This was another instance of the spirit of
resistaince to taxation without representation, which
from the first animated the people and ca.st its beacon
light for the future. Upon a petition to the General
Court that body ordered " that the town have two
school-houses and two masters, of which each precinct
to have one."
At a precinct-meeting in 1729, Allen Flagg offered
a part of his orchard as a site for a school-house.
Alter some opposition on the part of the town the
order was passed to fix upon a piece of ground be-
tween old Deacon Sanderson's and Mr. Allen Flagg's,
near Harris' Corner, to be the place to build a school-
house on for the West Precinct. This place is what
has since been known as "Piety Cj^ner."
The final cause of controversy and ultimate division
was the refusal of the town to grant the precinct the
care and extension of highways required by its growth
and increase of population. Roth precincts had by
this time come to the wise conclusion that a house
divided against itself cannot stand, and the East Pre-
cinct reconciled itself to the fact that a permanent
separation was better than an inharmonious union.
For some years the Western Precinct had repeatedly
petitioned for a separation and for their incorporation
into a town, but the Eastern Precinct had strenuously
and successfully opposed the action. Now it gener-
ously consented to a division and took formal action
to that end.
A petition was presented to the House of Repre-
sentatives on December 14, 1737, by William Brown,
Daniel Benjamin and Samuel Livermore in behalf of
the inhabitants of the West Precinct of Watertown,
" praying the said precinct may be created into a
separate and distinct township, which is also agree-
able to the East Precinct in said Town, as appears
by their note accompanying the petition." A bill to
that effect was passed and was signed by His Excel-
lency, Governor Belcher, January 4, 1737-38, and the
name of Waltham given to the new town.
The name given in the act is the first Intimation
of what it was proposed to call the town. It is not
known by whom or why it was suggested. But it is
supposed to have been given because some of the res-
idents came from one of the towns of that name in
England. Waltham Abbey, a town near London, is
•15-iii
generally accepted as the place from which the name
was derived. The name is beautiful and appropriate
in its signification, being a compound of two Anglo-
Saxon words meaning a forest home. The wild and
extensive forests still extant in Waltham and those
which are preserved and cared for on some well-known
estates, with the shaded roads winding amidst their
borders of native trees, give even at this day a pleas-
ing suggestion of the appropriateness of the name.
At the time of the act of incorporation it was or-
dered that William Brown be informed to assemble
the legal voters to elect the town clerk and other of-
ficers, to standuntil the anniversary meeting in March.
At a meeting held January 18th, pursuiant to the
notification given by Deacon Brown, the following
officers were chosen :
Moderator : Deacon Thomas Livermore.
Selectmen : Deacon William Brown, Deacon Thomas
Livermore, Mr. Daniel Benjamin, Mr. Joseph Pierce,
Lieutenant Thomas Biglow.
Town Clerk and Treasurer : Samuel Livermore.
Constable: Mr. Joseph Hastings.
Assessors : George Lawrence, John Cutting, John
Chadwick.
Sealer of Leather : Mr. Joseph Stratton.
Fence Viewers: John Ball, Jr., Joseph Hagar.
Surveyors of Highways: .John Ball ye 3d, John
Viels.
Tytheing-Men: Isaac Peirce, Theophilus Mansfield.
Hogreres: Josiah Harrington, Elnathan Whitney.
Thus the new town was fully inaugurated in it.s
municipal character and started on its career to work
out its destiny.
The number of inhabitants at that time was proba-
bly about five hundred aud fifty. The boundaries of
the town were the same as those of the precinct, and
the area comprised about eight thousand eight hun-
dred and ninety-one acres. Since the incorporation
but two changes of any moment have been made in
the boundaries and area. In 1849 it received an ac-
cession of territory from Newton, on the south side of
Charles River, and in 1859 it lost a part of its terri-
tory in the northeast part of the town to form a part
of the new town of Belmont.
The situation of Waltham is most eligible and its
natural scenery is varied and beautiful. It combines
the rugged and picturesque outlines of eminences
which skirt the northern and western limits of the
city, wild forest growth, the cnltivated areas of
thrifty farms and estates under a high state of tillage,
walks and drives amid sylvan beauty, stretches of
water in ponds and brooks and rivers to diversify the
scene and give to the landscapes the effect so pleasing
to mind and eye, and withal the busy and thrifty ap-
pearance of a typical American manufacturing town
where a great proportion of the laborers and artisans
live in houses of which they hold the title. The
thickly-settled part of the city is on an undulating
706
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
plain, while the surrounding hills form with it a kind
of natural amphitheatre. This is intersected by
Charlea River, giving rise to the designations of
"North Side" and "South Side" respectively of
those parts of the city. The river is spanned by
numerous bridges of substantial structure, which af-
ford ample communication to bind the people together
in the bonds of common local interest. Charles
River, besides being the primal element of Waltham's
prosperity in the facilities it furnishes for manufac-
turing purposes, is one of the chief elements of the
natural attractiveness. Its course above the factories,
where its waters are devoted to the utility of man, is
one of great beauty and charming effect. Winding
amid picturesque banks densely wooded, with the
foliage extending to the water's edge, broadening into
a miniature lake with a beautiful island in its midst
like a gem upon its bosom, furnishing in the intrica-
cies of its shores the delightful vistas where the eye
loves to lose itself, occasionally varying its natural
features with the outlines of some residence, it sug-
gests, with its irregular expanse and wild romantic
banks for many miles of its course, a theme worthy of
the artist's pencil or poet's imagination.
On the other hand. Prospect Hill, one of the high-
est eminences in the vicinity, rising four hundred and
eighty-two feet above the sea-level, an elevation per.
haps insignificant in its comparative height, affords a
remarkable view, combining in its range of vision
every variety of landscape and giving at a glance so
much that may be said to be representative of New
England in its traditions and history, its learning and
culture, its arts and manufactures, its commerce and
agriculture. In this connection no more faithful
sketch of the scenery here unfolded can be given than
that presented by the most prominent and distin-
guished son of Waltham in a local address :
"From tbecreet of the lener Prospect Hill is preMoted a panorama o
beauty, embracing an i-ntfre sweep of the horizon, except when broken
by the summit of the attjoining eminence. The unaided vision follows
the vessels of our own or of distant lands, entering and departing the
hartwr of Boston. On the west, the many mountain ranges of New
England rise up betore us, mountain on mountaiD, until summit and
cloud are united. Vou can her« watch the heavy, varying shadows of
Wacbuset and Monajinock, and follow range upon range, nntU the
mountains disappear in the cloud-cape of the azure sky. On the south,
in the river valley, clusters the line of picturesque and prosperous New
Kngland villages that All the plateau of the river to the sea. In what
part of the world can we find a cluster of thrifty towtu and cities that,
in beauty or prosperity, equal thoee that lie at the foot of the Tri-moun-
tain city ? — river, lake, and ocean, hill and vale, copse, dell and forest,
plain cottage and the stately man<iion, diverBifying the prospect. Every
line of railway that creeps out upon the plain is marked upon this busy
and beautiful map of New England life by an unbroken succession of I
the habitations of men and the houses of God. Nature and art thus {
combined, the evidences of happiness and prosperity multiplying on I
every side, preaent a scene that surfeits every sense with pleasant emo- I
tions."
The soil of Waltham and the natural features
otherwise are well adapted to agriculture and the
purposes of more thickly populated residence. The
soil in the northern part, which, as has heretofore
been stated, was the locality first settled, is strong
and fertile ; that of the plain on the north side of
the river is a lighter, sandy loam, with a substratum
of sand, while that of the south side is of the same
general character, but with a substratum of almost
impervious clay. There are no sterile tracts or irre-
claimable swamps of any great extent to impede the
successful progress of the husbandman or present
obstacles to the resident. The rocky summits and
sides of the hills are covered with a thrifty growth of
forest when allowed to grow without the impediment
of axe or forest fires. Oak, in its several varieties,
white pine, elm, the common maple, birch and hem-
lock are the principal indigenous trees, while nearly
all kinds of this latitude are found scattered through
its forests.
Such are some of the natural features of Waltham
at its incorporation, which exist to a greater or less
extent to-day, and are appropriately connected with
its history. Their utility has entered into its develop-
ment. The physical characteristics of a place have
their political significance in the broad sense uf the
term.
It may be interesting also, both for casual and his-
torical purposes, to note the general appearance, char-
acteristics and environment of the town in other than
its natural aspects at the time of it.s incorporation,
when it entered upon its history as a separate muni-
cipality, and took the cares and responsibilities of an
individual township. Waltham was then little more
than a community living in scattered farm-houses,
with no well-defined village or centre of population.
Between Beaver Brook and Pleasant Street was an
inn and a few houses, presenting the nearest sem-
blance to a village. The single church was quite
isolated, standing at some distance from this locality.
The territory to the west, where is now located
the busy and thickly populated limits of the city,
then extended as vacant land, devoted to pasturage,
a little agriculture and forest growth. Waltham
Plain, a familiar appellation in all the .'urrounding
country, was only a broad tract of unoccupied land,
intersected by a wide and straight country road — the
Sudbury Road, then a great thoroughfare of traffic
and communication, and one of the main arteries of
travel in the Colony from Boston to the interior and
western towns.
Consequently, the number of taverns for the enter-
tainment of man and beast waj out of proportion to
the population. There were two or three in the east-
ern section of the town and as many in the western
section. In this connection it is said that towards
the close of the century the Sudbury Road was tiie
greatest highway leading from Boston, and the travel
of stages to New York and the interior of heavy
teams and lighter vehicles of ose and pleasure was
important and incessant. There were at one time
nine inns within the limits of the town. As in those
days, next to the meeting-house on Sunday, the
inn was the centre of news and local gossip, as well
WALTHAM.
707
as a place of hilarity and hospitality, the imagination
may picture along the old road many characteristic
acenes of life and excitement incidental to the olden
time and to the traditions of the country inn as cel-
ebrated in prose and poetry.
There were few other streets in the town. Beaver
Street, as at present named, and the Trapelo Road,
were the principal thoroughfares leading in the direc-
tion of Boston. Traverse roads, like Skunk or
Mixer's Lane, sometimes recorded as the way to the
school-house, now called Bacon Street, leading to
Piety Corner; Prospect Lane, running over the hill
as at present ; South Street, extending to the Poor
Farm, a lane where now is Harvard Street, running
to the fields adjacent to >It. Feake; Grove Street,
known as the back road to Watertown ; a road leading
from Piety Corner to the hills towards Lincoln, Pig-
eon Lane, running northward to Trapelo, were about
all the highways which broke the solitude of the lit-
tle town and opened the intervening land to cultiva-
tion and settlement.
In the northern part lay the social, political and
financial strength of the town. The farmei's of
Trapelo, Pond End and Piety Corner came over to
the town-meetings in the church and managed public
affairs both by intellectual and numerical force. At
this period they furuished the most prominent town
officers and representatives and administered the gov-
ernment with firmness and good judgment. The
abilities of the early residents are displayed by their
acta and results ; and the names of Wellington,
Bright, Smith, Livermore, Lawrence, Stearns, Niles,
Clark, Childs, Sanderson, Fiske are represented
among the citizens of the present day.
At this period the Province was in a quiet state in
its political at?iiirs and in its relations with the mother
country. The contest between the New England
Colonies and the French, which was to test so severely
the spirit and valor of the people in the successful
attack upon Louisbourg, had not commenced, but the
cloud was rising upon the horizon. The Provinces
still regarded England as their old home. Xo sub-
jects were more loyal. There was no thought of aught
but devotion to the mother country. Jonathan
Belcher was Governor. He was appointed by the
Crown, and although he was born in the Colonies,
was an ardent advocate nf the royal prerogative,
(xeorge the Second was King and Walpole was at the
head of the ministry, hastening to his fall, which was
to close a remarkable career in otfice. While the
Provincials felt a deep interest in everything pertain-
ing to the welfare of the kingdom, they werejealousof
any infringement of their rights of local government,
and already controversies were arising ^between the
Governor and the General Court on questions of local
issue, which were eventually to be settled only by
war and final separation. Already had Montesquieu,
with his far-reaching prescience in political affairs
and keen penetration of coming events, noted the
fact that in the forests of America was arising a peo-
ple who would ultimately become a nation and shake
ofi" the trammels which bound them to another govern-
ment.
Religion had lost much of its austerity and intol-
erant character among the people through the lapse
of time and change of mind and character since the
early settlement. But still the church ruled in secu-
lar as well as in spiritual affairs. Its potent influence
was felt in all the walks of life. It was the nucleus
of the body politic as well as the soul of the spiritual
body. On every Sabbath-day the greater part of the
population congregated at the meeting-hoose. The
men, and women, and boys sat apart, the latter often on
the pulpit or gallery-stairs. The deacons sat in front
facing the congregation, while the sexton turned the
hour-glass as the houn> were exhausted in the discus-
sion of the heads of the long sermon.
The choir, made up of the graduates of the winter
singing-school, rendered the plaintive and vigorous
hymns of the ancient psalmody with native harmony
and sonorous effect. The gathering of the people at
church, especially those who came from a distance,
and brought their dinners, gave to the community an
opportunity for neighborhood greetings and for the in-
terchange of the current news of the day and the gos-
sip which gave a savor to the uneventful routine of
life. The sacred and secular associations which clus-
ter around the meeting-houses of that day are an
effective part of the unwritten yet not less important
and interesting history of the land.
It was about this period that the great awakening
in religious matters took place in the Colonies. Ed-
wards, the great philosopher and theologian, repre-
sented the Calvinistic doctrines and expounded them
svith a vigor and effect, earnestness and erudition
hitherto unknown in the country. Whitefield, re-
cently arrived from England, was making a tour of
the Colonies and quickening religious zeal by his fer-
vid eloquence, his charm of manner, sincerity of
views and marvelous versatility as a pulpit orator.
A lively interest was created throughout the Colonies
by the controversies over opposing principles of faith,
and acrimonious and sometimes bitter discussions
arose through a more liberal interpretation of the
Scriptures and progressive independence among the
people on eectarian matters.
Newspapers were hardly known in the country
towns, and not of general circulation. There were
but a very few throughout the broad extent of the
Colonies, and those gave but the most meagre synop-
sis of what may be called the news of the day.
In general literature we find our times in the days of
Pope, Swift and Fielding in England, and of Franklin
and Edwards in our own land, who may be consid-
ered the pioneers in American literature. There was
little variety to select from throughout the households,
and that pertained mainly to a religious character.
In private libraries, as shown in the enumeration of
708
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
books beqneathed or administered upon, it is curious
to note the religious commentaries and worlds upon di- ;
vinity, without one ray of the iightof poetry, or fiction, ;
or descriptive writing, though such works were then
extant, and to-day are regarded as of standard char-
acter. The constant reading and re-reading of these
works gave a fund of limited knowledge on those sub-
jects, but above all inculcated a purity of style and
diction and a vocabulary of excellent English which
marked the writings and utterances even of those
whose ways of life led them from the domain of let-
ters. Subsequently when our towns sent forth their
little manifestoes against the tyranny of the British
Crown, and the farmers gave expressions to their
sentiments in words full of meaning, their written
protests called forth admiration in British Parliament
for their incisive English, purity of style and ele-
vation of thought and expression.
In financial matters an irregular and debased paper
currency was afflicting the people and causing em-
barrassments and losses in trade. There were differ-
ent issues of paper, and the early and latest were
called respectively old and new tenor and passed in
a ratio of three or four to one. In nearly all trans-
actions and payments recorded at this time, the stip-
ulation is made that the terms shall be of old or new
tenor.
Slavery existed to a limited extent, and we may
occasionally note the sale of a servant or quaint
observation upon the disposition of such a chattel in
a will.
Local amusements were few and simple. They
were confined mainly to the neighborhood gathering
or perhaps a dance at the tavern. Stern realities
took the place of the social amenities of life and
taught the dependence of all upon the pursuit of a
livelihood amid the severe scenes of nature and the
primitive hardships and inconveniences of a country
still new and unredeemed from the wilderness.
But in Boston the colonial life shone resplendent,
and the town, with its closer connection with Eng-
land and iti centres of wealth and trade, reflected in
ambitious imitation the customs prevailing in the old
countries. And I cannot close this sketch of the
times at the period when Waltham was enrolled
among the towns of the Bay Colony better than by
introducing, from the interesting book of W. R. Bliss
on " Colonial Times," a vivid picture of Boston as it
appeared to the denizen from the outlying country in
this very year, 1738 : " From the elevated site of St.
Greorge's Tavern on Roxbury Neck the traveler saw
the steeples of Boston, its harbor lively with vessels,
the King's ships riding before the town. As he rode
along the narrow way leading into the quiet town the
most prominent object attracting his attention was a
gallows standing at the gate. When he rode within
he found in everything around him a wonderful con-
trast to the quiet and monotonous views which had
always surrounded his life at his country home. The
streets were paved with cobble-stone and were
thronged with hackney coaches, sedan chairs, four-
horse shays, and calashes in some of which gayly-
dresaed people were riding, the horse being driven by
their negro slaves. Gentlemen on handsome saddle-
horses paced by him. He noticed with amazement
the stately brick houses and their pleasant gardens in
which pear-trees and peach-trees were blooming. In
the Mall gentlemen dressed in embroidered coats,
satin waistcoats, silken hose and full wigs were tak-
ing an after-dinner stroll with ladies who were attired
with bright silks and furbelowed scarfs, and adorned
with artificial flowers and patches on their cheeks.
Boston wa-s an active, thrifty, trading town ; its shops,
distilleries, wind-mills and rope-walks were all
agoing, and as he turned into King St. and pulled up
to the Bunch of Grapes tavern, he was near the Town
House and conveniently situated for all purposes of
business or pleasure."'
Such is an imperfect view of the aspect of the
country and of artUirs at the time Waltham entered
the sisterhood of towns of the Massachusetts Colony.
And as every town, as an integral part of the Colony,
had its direct influence in the policy that was to de-
cide the destiny of the country, we can trace the
humble yet important sphere of such a community,
the relations which it bore in the pending era of his-
tory. It was the character and sentiment of the
towns banded together by a common feeling and in-
dependently asserting their rights and publishing to
the world their principles of government which pre-
pared the whole people for concerted action, as
though by common impulse, and precipitated the
Revolution that was to startle the world and work
changes in governments and peoples far beyond the
limits of the American Continent.
In the first annual election after the incorporation,
in March, 1738, an entire change was made in all the
oflicers from the highest to the lowest, with the excep-
tion of the clerk. Thomas Hammond, John Bemis,
John Smith, Ensign Thomas Harrington and Deacon
Jonathan Sanderson were chosen selectmen. Samuel
Livermore was chosen clerk and treasurer, an oflice
he was to continue to hold for many years in suc-
cession. Lt. Thomas Biglow was chosen Represen-
tative. A pound was built, as we are informed by the
appropriations, and the " town Stockes were fitted
up." Thus we are impressed with the facts that un-
ruly cattle and men were to be cared for and re-
strained in the very inception of government. Action
was also taken in July of the same year towards the
permanent establishment of a school, and a commit-
tee was appointed "to treat with Mr. Thomas Har-
rington and agree with him if they can to keep the
school for one-quarter of a year as cheap as they
can." The agreement was made, and annually there-
after for some years £80 were appropriated for the
ensuing year. Subsequently, the same year the school
was made a moving school. For this purpose, the
WALT HAM.
709
territory was divided into three squadrons or districts,
and the school was to be kept a proportionate part
of the year in each squadron. Each squadron was
to furnish a place for the school and board for the
teacher. The First Squadron included that portion of
the town east of the church and north of Beaver
Street ; the Second that west of the church and north
of Beaver Street; and the Third all south of Beaver
Street, including the plains from the Watertown line
to Stony Brook. This division gives an adequate
idea of the sparse population within the limits of the
present thickly populated portion of the city, and of
the disproportionate number of inhabitants in the
farming area of the north and east. The regular
school-house remained at " Piety Corner " where it
was first located.
The records also throw light upon the customs of
the time in the ample provision made for the funeral
of a widow buried at public expense. Four pairs of
men's and two pairs of 'women's gloves were provided,
and also " such a quantity of rum as should be found
necessary." Also in another case, gloves were fur-
nished at public expense for the minister and select-
men and for the bearers, who, according to the custom
of the Jay, literally bore the corpse on their shoul-
ders to the grave-yard, and cider for all who attended
the funeral services.
In January 1739, ajoint committee was appointed
by Watertown and Waltham to arrange for the ap-
portionment of the outstanding debt of the town of
Watertown at the time of the division. The debt
was satisfactorily divided with the arrangement that
Watertown should assume £95 5». 3rf. and Waltham
£80 8s. 11'/. In iEarch of the same year a commit-
tee of the three towns originally comprised in the
territory of Watertown, Weston and Waltham was
appointed to renew the boundaries of the grant at
Wachusett Hills. This tract of land was granted to
Watertown by the General Court in compensation
for land taken from the town when Concord was laid
out. The boundaries of Concord by its grant of six
miles square encroached upon Watertown, and after
repeated grants, which were never located, the Gen-
eral Court, after the lapse of a century, apportioned a
tract of tn-i) thousand acres at Wachusett. This land
was held jointly by the three towns until Waltham
and Weston sold their share in 1756 for £267 6*. 8d.,
or two thousand pounds, old tenor.
Another joint ownership of the three towns was
that of the Great Bridge which crossed Charles River
at Watertown. It was built at the head of tide-water
and was undoubtedly the first bridge over the river,
and for many years the only one. It furnished the
only access by land for the towns north of the river
to Boston by way of Boston Neck. The building and
maintenance of the bridge was always a subject of
much controversy until the present century. Water-
town maintained that as it was for the use and
convenience of so many towns, it should be sup-
ported by the county, but its claims in this respect
were not allowed. When Weston and Waltham were
set off, it was one of the stipulations that those towns
should bear their proportion of its support. In 1742,
on the adjustment of the accounts by the selectmen of
the three towns, the share of Waltham was £59 6«.
7d. Waltham continued to contribute to the support
of this bridge until the beginning of the present cen-
tury, when, in relinquishing its share of proprietorship
of the weirs located near the same place on the river
which were originally owned by Watertown, its obli-
gations for further contributions were canceled.
About this time, on voting to re-apportion the pews
in the meeting-house for the ensuing five years, the
first choice was given to the largest tax-payer and so
on in order through the house, with the provision
that where the claims were equal, age should deter-
mine the choice. Samuel Livermore, in considera-
tion of the use of his land for the meetinj^-house to
stand upon, was granted a pew on the east side of the
pulpit for himself and heirs during such occupation.
The ammunition of the town was kept in the
belfry. The stock required by law amounted to 150
pounds of powder, 300 pounds bullets and 450 flints.
In 1744 the number of men reported by Captain Sam-
uel Livermore, as under his command, was 90. Capt.
Livermore was a man of much prominence and many
offices — captain of the militia company, deacon of the
church, sexton, town clerk, town treasurer, represent-
ative repeatedly to the General Court.
As the cause of education was one of the primarv
causes of the separation from Watertown and the es-
tablishment of the town, the records show that the
subject of the schools was ever an important one in
the town-meeting. The moving schools were for a
time abandoned and then re-established. Finally,
district schools were organized permanently in differ-
ent quarters of the town and maintained with regu-
larity. Waltham has ever kept up its traditional
interest in the schools, supported them generously,
and maintained their high character in accordance
with the standard of the day. No town has with more
careful vigilance guarded the public welfare in this
respect. In all that regards public education, it has
stood in the front rank and been true to the history
and memories of its origin.
Also from the beginning of its corporate existence
another subject of contention which precipitated the
division has ever received especial care and support.
The highways were an early and fruitful theme of
local consideration. In the belief that they were not
what they should be when the former municipal rela-
tions were maintained, the town from the first made
ample provision for their care and extension, and
displayed the sincerity of its views by its action.
Among the most liberal appropriations were those for
the highways. These appropriations, expended with
care and system, have been maintained to the present
time. Waltham roads in the past have stood the test
710
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
of criticism, and Ijave been cited in official reports
without its borders for their construction and care of
maintenance. It is only since larger increase of
wealth in other suburban communities, allowing
greater expenditures per mile and per capita, that
her roads have not held the first place in comparative
excellence.
In the French and Indian Wars, which drew all
New England into active and bloody participation,
Waltham furnished its due proportion of soldiers.
Though the records do not show that separate compa-
nies for such service were organized, there are the
names of its citizens borne on the rolls of companies
organized in the vicinity. Louisbourg, Lake George
and Ticonderoga drew from every New England
hamlet the youth who sought to defend the Colo-
nies and maintain the military renown of their an-
cestors.
The growth of the town was slight during these
years, as nothing occurred to stimulate the coming of
many new residents. The community depended on
its natural increase. Early marriages and large fami-
lies marked provincial life. The yeomanry of Wal-
tham, like thai of all its sister towns, was developing
into vigorous hardihood with the strong physical and
intellectual qualities that in due time, under a des-
tiny which they could not foresee, were to startle the
world with a revolution in the form and principle of
government, and give a new turn to human aflfairs.
They were unconsciously forming a character and
husbanding resources to stand them in the days of
trial. The school-house and the town-meeting were
inculcating the principles and powers of self-govern-
ment, and the spirit of freedom was abroad in the
land.
The files of the probate records give us interesting
details of the inner life of families and estates, and of
the customs and legal forma affecting social and busi-
ness matters.
The inventory of the personal effects of Isaac
Brown, who died at this time, is recorded. He was
evidently a yeoman and shopkeeper. Besides the
firelock and sword, which were usually included ic
the list of valuables transmitted by will or inherit-
ance, was one negro girl, " Vilet," whose value was
placed by appraisal at £26 13«. -id. Among his shop-
goods were "garlix," "osnabrig," "Dowlas" and
" Tammy," articles then undoubtedly recognized by
the fashion of the day. John Ball in his will directs
that if his negro man "prove Cross or Disobedient to
the commands of his wife that he be sold by his Ex-
ecutor." Capt. John Cutting's estate furnishes an
inventory of literature, including the "Great Bible''
and two small Bibles, some of Mather's works, " Christ
dying a sacrifice," "the Blessed Hope," "Sundry
Pamphelets," besides five slaves, with their appraised
value as follows : Slave Lucy, £20 ; Bartholomew, £20;
Dinah, £20 ; Ishmael, £15, and Thomas, £1. In some
inventories the list of books left or bequeathed inclu- '
ded what is now regarded as the standard literature
of the day ; in others, Latin and Greek classics in the
original ; but generally the books were of a solemn
and deeply religious character.
In 1757, when the Acadians or French Neutrals
were exiled from their homes and distributed among
the different provinces, some of the unfortunates
were sent to Waltham. They became a burden oT
public support and were not the objects of that hos-
pitality and charity to which their misfortunes would
seem to have entitled them. Every town would re-
lieve itself of them when occasion would allow, and
if one of them strayed from another place he was
quite peremptorily ordered away. At one time as
many as thirty were residents in the town. Different
in race and religion, speaking a foreign tongue, ac-
customed to another mode of life, friendless and
homeless, they undoubtedly suffered a physical and
mental pain which in these days would appeal to our
warmest sympathies. But the bitterness of the con-
test along the Canadian border waged between the
English and French, and their descendants, with the
cruel participation of the Indians and the fierce
animosity of religion, steeled the hearts of the pro-
vincials against the humane feelings which otherwise
would have marked their conduct.
Much of the local legislation is on the subject of
schools, their assignment to different parts of the
town, the hiring of teachers and appropriations for
their pay. After several suggestions which were not,
at first, favorably received, the town in 1760 voted to
hire a school-mistress. Mrs. Geo. Lawrence was ap-
pointed and may be assumed to be the first female
teacher in the town.
In 1761 a work-house was ordered to be built and
a committee appointed for the purpose. It was prob-
ably located near the corner of Weston and South
Streets. In the same year action was taken, in co-
operation with Newton, to build a bridge over
Charles River near the mouth of Beaver Brook.
This was at the location of the present Newton
Street bridge, and was the first bridge over the river
within the limits of Waltham.
The close of the French War, in 1763, while it
brought peace to the Colonies, and dispelled the fears
of the savage invasions, to which the northern bor-
ders had been subject, drew in its train the results
which soon alienated the people from England and
precipitated the final separation. England began to
devise new means to pay for the war and keep up its
military establishment in America. The Stamp Act,
in 1765, was among these resources. Instantly the
people were aroused. Every little hamlet felt that a
question of principle was at stake, more than that of
the mere amount of the tax. Waltham was in touch
with its sister communities on the questions of popu-
lar colonial rights, which agitated the public mind
for the next ten years, and its records give ample evi-
dence of the patriotic spirit which animated its peo-
WALTHAM.
711
pie aad sought expression in the resolutions and
action of its town-meetings. It was the town-meet-
ings which icept public opinion aroused and made
their influence felt, even across the sea, so that the
British Parliament passed an order forbidding that
they should be held, except for the choice of officers
and the appropriations for ordinary expenses.
In 1764 Joseph Dix was chosen representative and
commenced a service of fifteen consecutive years,
thus representing the town through the critical period
of American history. He succeeded Samuel Liver-
more, who had served seventeen years, fourteen of
which were of consecutive service. At this time the
population of the town was 663, including four-
teen slaves. There were ninety-four houses and 107
lamilies.
Boston was the commercial and political centre of
the Colonies, and as the seat of provincial government
gave inspiration to all the lesser towns within the cir-
cle of its influence. Its resolutions and actions were
endorsed so as to give greater force to its leadership
and to its greater interest in all that appertained to
public welfare. la 1767 the town endorsed Boston's
approval of the measures to " promote industry, econ-
omy and manufacturing," and later, by other acts,
showed its disposition to keep in step with the pre-
vailing and growing sentiment of liberty.
Late in the, year 1772 the famous Committee of
Correspondence of Boston was formed and commenced
that work which was great because great results fol
lowed. The object of ihe committee was to open a
correspondence with all the towns in the Colony and
with other Colonies, and to publish to the world the
sense of wrong inflicted upon the people by the home
government. It was a plan to create a unity of sen-
timent and action, and encourage an interchange of
opinion on the great question of the hour. It has
been aptly termed the foundation of the American
Union. The time had come when the feelings of
every little community were brought to a tension that
could not stand mere inaction. Submission was deg-
radation and ultimate loss of liberty, and the spirit of
loyalty, ever so manifest, must yield to higher prin-
ciples.
January 23, 1773, the letter from the committee
was read iu town-meeting. It asked for an explicit
declaration of the sense of the people, and solicited
full communication of their sentiments. It al^o set
forth in spirited words the grievances of the Colonies
and the invasion of their civil and religious rights.
The town appointed a committee, consisting of Sam-
uel Livermore, Esq., Jonas Dix, Esq., Captain Abijah
Brown, Leonard Williams, Esq., and Deacon Isaac
Stearns, " to take the same into consideration, draw
up a vote in answer to said Letter, and report." But
there is no record that such a report was ever made.
Another letter, setting forth the barbarous and un-
christian practices of African slavery, waa read at a
town-meeting in May, and referred to the repiesenta-
tive, to act upon according to his discretion. In July,
1774, the selectmen voted to lay in a stock of ammu-
nition, consisting of four half-barrels of powder, four
and one-half hundred- weight of bullets, and 300 flints.
In September, in response to a recommendation of an
assembly of delegates from Middlesex County, held
at Concord, that the town appoint local Committees of
Correspondence, the following vote was passed at a
town meeting :
" Voted and chose Captain William Coolidge. Dea.
Elijah Livermore, Captain Abijah Brown, Lieutenant
Abijah Child and Ensign Abraham Fierce a commit-
tee for other towns to send to in any emergency, and
they to send to other towns on any emergency." This
committee was a local Committee of Safety. When
the question came up among the several towns of re-
solving the General Court into a Provipcial Congress,
the town appointed Captain Abijah Brown, Leonard
Williams and Jonathan Brewer a committee to adopt
instructions to the representative on the subject.
Subsequently Jacob Bigelow was chosen delegate.
Waltham had two delegates, Jacob Bigelow and
Eleazer Brooks. Watertown, three ; Newton, three;
Weston, three.
December 12, 1774, a town-meeting was held to take
into serious consideration the Association of the
Grand American Continental Congress, and according
to their resolves, to choose a committee to attentively
observe that such association be punctually and
strictly carried into execution. Jonas Dix, Cornet
Nathaniel Bridge and Dea. Elijah Livermore were
chosen committee.
At a town -meeting held Jan. 9, 1775, the question
was put " to know the mind of the Town, whether
they will all be prepared and stand ready-equipped
as minute-men, and it passed in the affirmative."
Jonas Dix was chosen delegate to the Second Con-
gress at the same meeting.
The selectmen for the eventfiil year, 1775, were
Jonas Dix, Cornet Nathaniel Bridge, Lieut. Daniel
Child, Josiah Brown and John Clark. One or two
merit more than passing notice for their personal
qualities and worth, and deserved prominence, as all
do, for the important era in the history of the country
in which they served and guided the aflfairs of the
little town. " Squire " Dix, as he was called, waa a
man of great ability, as recognized by the important
committees on which he served in Congress, and by
the frequent suffrages of his fellow-citizens for posi-
tions of responsibility and honor. No man seems to
have served the town with more activity, and have
done more for the cause of liberty in those historic
days. Nathaniel Bridge was intimate with Washing-
ton, and entertained him at his house while in com-
mand at Cambridge. Thus in the men whom she
chose to represent her, at home and in Congress, by
the acts of her town-meetings, and by the patriotic
fervor and devotion of her inhabitants, Waltham waa
fully in accord with the neighboring towns when the
712
HISTORY OP MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
impending struggle for reaiscance and finally for inde-
pendence (vaa to commence.
When the first act of the Revolution transpired at
Lexington, April 19, 1775, it would be expected that
Waltham, a contiguous town, would be prominently
conspicaoua through her militia company with the
events of the day. But the records aresingularly ob-
scure in regard to any part taken by the towns peo-
ple in that memorable affair. There are a few indi-
vidual instances of citizens who joined in the pursuit
of the regulars, but there is no other authority, either
by record or tradition, that the military force was
near the scene of action. It has been a source of
wonder and conjecture among local historians and
orators, why the town did not unite with the neigh-
boring towns in sending it^ company to the scene of
duty. It has tiven been surmised that Waltham was
a Tory town, with a majority of its citizens in sym-
pathy with the royal cause. But recent researches in
the archives of the Slate fully disprove such intima-
tions. There is ample evidence that the citizens were
fully aroused with the spirit of patriotism and the
militia company was in active service, though not
present at the contest along the line of march of the
British troops. The record of the Committee of
Liberty shows that during the winter preceding the
battle, cannon, ammunition and military stores were
stflred at Waltham. Doubtless in contemplation of a
raid by British troops, and from the danger through
the proximity to Boston, of their sudden seizure, the
committee had the cannon, mortars, powder, balls,
shells, etc., transported to Worcester and Concord.
Previous to the Concord expedition, spies had been
ovef the road between Boston and Worcester, and had
been apprehended at Weston. When it was known
that the troops were preparing for a march into the
country, it was a matter of doubt whether their desti-
nation was Concord or Worcester, and on the day of
the battle when Percy's troops marched out over
Boston Neck, it was even then a matter of conjecture
as to whether they were intended as reinforcements to
the troops returning from Concord, or as a diversion
in the direction of Worcester. As Waltham was on
the direct road to Worcester, it was but natural that
alarm should spread through its borders and the local
company should be ready for work near at home.
Many families left their homes with their valuables
in anticipation of attack, and the greatest anxiety per
vaded the little comunity. But the muster-roll of the
Waltham Company, in the State archives, tells its own
story. It gives the list of 12 oflicers and 109 privates
who were on duty for three days at this time, marched
28 miles and drew pay forthe service according to the
following certificate :
**CompaDy iD Waltbom, cald out by Colonel Thomas Gardner on
alarm in defence of the Liberties of .\mer1ca under the command of
Abr&bam Pierce, Capt. to Concord, and Lexenton flte and the number of
miles traveld and how our Expenses and these Llns may sartiQe that my
Company was keept apoo ganl til Saturday the 4 dfiy after the flte at
Concord. " AnaAtiAU Fcibce, Captain."
The list is remarkable in the fact that it shows
that more than one-half of the male population of
Waltham above sixteen years was under arms that
day and did their country service. But what route
they marched and what were the incidents of their
service cannot be ascertained.
Immediately after the battle troops began to gather
from the country and march towards Boston ; some of
the regiments were encamped at Waltham, but were
removed with the main army to Cambridge. Walt-
ham raised a company for the service. This company
was commanded by Captain Abijah Child, and was
attached to the Thirty-seventh Foot, commanded by
Captain Thomas Gardner. Besides this company
there were men from the town scattered through other
regiments of the army. Captain Childs' company
was undoubtedly in the battle of Bunker Hill, as 'he
regiment was in the battle and Colonel Gardner was
there mortally wounded and six men were killed,
though no names are given in any of the accounts.
In the subsequent records of the town votes are passed
for reimbursing some of the citizens for accoutrements
lost at Bunker Hill.
The most prominent military man of the town was
Colonel Jonathan Brewer, who commanded a regi-
ment in the Continental Army, and was at Bunker
Hill, where he was wounded. He made ;in ort'er to
Congress to raise troops foi: the invasion of Canada.
When this expedition was organized and marched to
the capture of Quebec, under .\rnold, through the
wilds of Maine under great privations, Waltham men
were with it, and afterwards were awarded additional
pay for their sufferings. .-Vs Colonel Brewer, Captain
Childs and other officers were with Washington in
the Jerseys in 1776, it is supposed that the Waithani
Company shared the fortunes of the army out of New
England. To all the requisitions of men during the
remainder of the war, the town responded with patri-
j otic devotion and the soldiers were rewarded with
I liberal pay and bounties by their fellow-citizens.
I In March, 1776, Captain William Coolidge, Thomas
Wellington and Lieutenant Samuel Stearns were
I chosen a Committee of Correspondence. As they are
also referred to as the Committee of "Inspection"
and "Safety," doubtless they had general supervisitn
of the local military and the share of Waltham in
conducting the war during their term of service. In
May, 1776, the town voted to engage their fortunes
and lives in support of a declaration of independence
should Congress for the safety of the Colonies so de-
clare them. When the declaration was proclaimed it
was read and spread at length on the town records.
After opposing in one year the formation of a State
Constitution, the town instructed the representative
in 1777 to join with others in the formation of such
Constitution as shall best promote the happiness of
the nation. In 1778, at a meeting, it was voted to in-
struct the representative to vote in favor of ratifying
^he Articles of Confederation.
WALTHAM.
713
In August, 1779, Jonas Dix, Esq., andCapt. Jonas
Clark were elected delegates to the Constitutional
Convention.
During the remainder of the war the struggle bore
hard upon all the towns. Constant calls came for
men, some to serve with the Continental Army, and
others to perform special service where the exigencies
of war and the possibilities of attack might require.
As orders were issued respectively at different times
to the first and second companies of militia, it is in-
ferred that there were two companies in town at that
period. The currency had become so depreciated
that fabulous sums were paid for bounties, and also
for wages and salaries of those in civil stations and
for the necessaries of life. A convention was held at
Concord for the regulation of prices of merchandise
and labor, and in obedience to the recommendation
of that convention the following schedule of prices
was fixed: Hay, 36«. per hundred-weight ; oats, 36s.
per bushel ; labor for haying and wall-laying, 42«.
per day ; mechanics with tools and found, 60«. ;
blacksmiths for shoeing a horse, £4; meal of butchers'
meat and vegetables, 12s.; same with tea, 15«. ; mug
of flip, 12s. ; bowl of toddy, 12s; making a coat, £6 ;
breeches, £3, etc. A committee of eleven was elected and
directed by the town to carry out the provisions of the
order. Persons who should charge more than these
rates were to be dealt with bytheComraitteeof Inspec-
tion, Safety and Correspondence, and have theirnames
published in the newspapers. In the demand for
soldiers, the bounties in many cases were specified to
be in silver.
In 1780, the first election under the new State
Constitution was held, and the vote of the town was :
for Governor, John Hancock, 54; James Bowdoin, 3.
The natural increase of population, probably owing
to the demands of war, had not been sustained, and
in 1783 the population numbered but 683. When the
new Constitution of the United States was referred to
the people of the State for ratification, Leonard
Williams was chosen delegate to the Convention. In
the vote for ratification in 1788, though the majority
of the delegates from Middlesex County opposed the
new Constitution, the delegate from Waltham voted
for it, thus showing that he forecast the future
correctly in relation to that great instrument of civil
governmant. When, in the first year of the adminis-
tration, Washington visited Massachusetts, he passed
through Waltham. He was received at Weston by a
horse company and escorted through the town with
every demonstration of the respect to which he was
entitled.
It was not uncommon for people in identifying
themselves as new citizens of a town, to have the fact
publicly known and to be formally accepted as such.
In 1793, Christopher Gore was received as a citizen,
in accordance with his own request, expressed in
writing. He was a distinguished lawyer of Boston,
and afterwards rose to high political prominence as
diplomatist, Governor and United States Senator.
He bought large tracts of land, and bnilt an elegant
home. His residence and surrounding estate are to-
day among the mosi attractive of the State. The
grand imposing mansion, not ornate but substantial,
the spacious grounds and beautiful old trees, and the
extensive fields under high cultivation, show the
accumulated taste and care of nearly a century. A
place of the same character, which has been celebra-
ted for about as long a time, is the Lyman estate,
with its mansion-house, lawns and gardens, its farm-
houses and fields. Both of these places have been
quite historical as examples of American estates pre-
served for some generations in their original and
ideal grandeur and proportions.
Until 1796 the finances of the town were conducted
in the tables of pounds, shillings and pence, bat after
that time dollars and cents came into universal use.
In the War of 1812 Waltham manifested a spirit of
generosity to her soldiers, paying them liberally, in
addition to the stipend allowed by the government.
The military company was called into service, but the
service was of the bloodless character which apper-
tained to guard duty, or the watching against the
attack of an enemy which never came. Party spirit
ran high, and opposition to the war and criticism of
its management were carried into town-meetings and
elections, social gatherings, and even into the church.
Rev. Mr. Ripley in one of his sermons gave vehement
and independent expressions to his views, which
raised a great feeling. Some of his congregation left
the church, and the town took up the matter in a
town-meeting, but after much discussion and a close
vote, the meeting decided to take no further action.
About this time the character of the town for the
future took a decided change. Hitherto Waltham
had been quite exclusively an agricultural commu-
nity, and had followed the uneventful and tranquil
life of such a condition. Two or three mills had
been established on its streams. A small woolen-mill
bad been operated on the east bank of Beaver Brook,
or Clematis Brook as now called, and a paper-mill
stood near where the mills of the Boston Manufac-
turing Company now stand, but they were too insig-
nificant to establish for the town any reputation for
manufacturing industries, or to give employment to
many people. In 1813 the Boston Manufacturing
Company was organized by Francis C. Lowell, Na-
than Appleton, Patrick T. Jackson and others, for
the manutacture of cotton cloth by the newly-invented
power-loom, and Waltham was selected as a site for
the operation. Boyce's paper-mill was bought with
its water privilege, and additional privileges were
purchased of some mills in Watertown. The new
enterprise was started originally for the purpose of
weaving cloth, the spinning to be done elsewhere, as
was common in England and other countries at that
day. Some mills in Rhode Island were at that time
making cloth by the same process. But the plan of
714
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
the Waltham Mills was changed before completion,
so as to embrace spinning as well as weaving, and
thus the Waltham factories were the first in America
where cotton was taken in its raw state and made
into cloth in one establishment and under one roof.
The sketch of the manufacturing industries elsewhere
precludes the necessity of giving but a mere cursory
and briefly historical review of this enterprise; but
even the most general description of Waltham would
be incomplete without special reference to this manu-
factory, which has been so closely identified with the
history of the town, with its growth and progress,
and the material welfare of the people. Leaving out
its industrial feature, it has been a potent element in
the development of the town and of the country, far-
reaching beyond the mere operation of mechanical
appliances for material interests. There is a moral
and intellectual as well as mechanical side to the
origin and successful inception of this adventure in
American manufacturing which brings it within the
domain of history in its highest sense.
Lowell was the soul of the new undertaking, the
inventive genius and inspired projector. On a visit
to England, just before the War of 1812, he observed
and studied the source of her greatness on sea and
land. He saw that it lay in her commerce and manu-
factures. He burned with patriotic devotion to trans-
fer some of that power to his native land. He gave
his mind and hand to the work, and studied practi-
cally and theoretit^ally on forms of machinery to im-
prove those he had seen abroad. With prophetic
eye he saw that our streams, running idly to the sea,
the cotton and wool grown upon our soil, the faculties
of the American race could all be utilized and com-
bined in a system of manufacturing industries to give
the country wealth and prosperity and greater inde-
pendence and importance among the nations of the
world. Of his associates, Appleton was the man of
means, the capitalist, the broad-minded, far-seeing
man of afifairs ; Jackson was the executive manager,
the treasurer and agent, who looked after the details
of management. With them there was afterwards
associated Paul Moody, a skillful, practical mechanic,
whose knowledge and experience could adapt the in-
genious devices of Lowell. To these men is due the
credit and honor for transcending that of starting and
successfully developing a new work of industry. They
seemed actuated by the highest moral and patriotic
impulses. Lowell and Appleton had observed in
England the ignorance, poverty and degradation of
the factory operatives. They determined that their
operatives should be kept on a higher plane and have
the advantages of the better influence of life. With
the factories, a church was established and a school-
house was built, and the treasurer consented to be the
local committee-man of the school. Good boarding-
houses were erected and maintained with due regard
to the purposes for which they were built. A library
was purchased and a, lyceum was fostered. Thus
every opportunity was given for the employed to feel
the dignified and ennobling influence of labor.
These high principles on the part of the originators
of the mills, and the policy pursued for a long series
of years, gave evidence of the firm basis on which
American cotton factories were established. They
are bright lights in the history of manufactures, and
the lapse of time gives them even greater lustre and
importance. It is an interesting fact that for three-
quarters of a century, during which the factory has
been continuously in operation, no strike or estrange-
ment between employers and employees has ever
occurred.
In 1819 the company purchased the mills of the
Waltham Cotton and Wool Factory Company, an es-
tablishment erected in 1812 on the banks of the river
in the southeast part of the town, and proceeded to
build additional mills and a bleachery, where cloth
could be bleached by chemical process. This location
has since been known as the Lower Place, and its in-
terests have been principally identified with those of
the main corporation. The street which connected
them by the banks of the river was long one of the
most beautiful in town, extending amid groves of
forest-trees surrounding some beautiful estates; but
these groves have lately disappeared, and the man-
sions are turned into tenement-houses under the on-
ward march of progress, and the shaded seclusion of
road and adjacent lands have necessarily been sacri-
ficed to the requirements of business advancement.
Before this time the town had somewhat outgrown
the spirit of unity, and the local feelings and jeal-
ousies of a scattered community had begun to mani-
fest themselves to a degree. A sectional division in
church matters had created and developed a schism
which followed local rather than religious lines. The
origin of this difiSculty is said to have been a sleigh-
ride, which was gotten up in the parish, and to which
several were not invited who thought they were en-
titled to such recognition. Explanations were given,
apologies were made, but all to no purpose. The
social compact which bound the different parts of the
town together was hopelessly broken. The agitation
extended to the utmost borders, and discordance took
the place of harmony, and faction of unity. The
residents of the hills entertained a hostile feeling to
those of the plains. The only semblance of a village
was still near Beaver Brook. The coming of the
factories would increase the power and population in
the southern section of the town, by the river and on
the broad area of the plain, still but sparsely settled,
and move the populous part of the village in that di-
rection. The farmers of the north part did not re-
gard the advent of manufactories, their artisans and
operatives, with any considerable degree of satisfac-
tion. They opposed the factory people in town-meet-
ings and in church, and with a natural conservatism
looked upon the new-comers as temporary sojourners
not permanently interested in the afiifiirs of the town.
WALTHAM.
715
But a few years chauged these feelings. Those en-
gaged in the mills actively participated in the affairs
of the town for the general good ; the spirit of good
(■itizenship prevailed, and the American rule of
obedience to the will of the majority reconciled any
differences on the score of occupation or locality.
The manufacturing corporations provided church
services in the school-house for a number of years,
until the congregation was large enough and able to
erect an edifice. With the growth of population, and
the varying shades of religious belief, other churches
have arisen from time to time, so that one or two
places of worship of each of the prevailing denomi-
nations of New England are well sustained in the
city.
Another institution which the manufactunng com-
pany fostered and encouraged by financial assistance,
as well as by moral recognition, was the library and
lyceum. The Rumford Institute of Mutual Instruc-
tion, founded in 1826, was largely composed of those
working in the factory. It was one of the earliest
and most useful institutions of its kind in this part of
the country, and its history has been honorably and
notably connected with that of the town. It origin-
ally started as a debating club, with evening studies
on subjects of the day, generally of a scientific na-
ture.
Public lectures were given, often by its own members
and distinguished persons from abroad. A library
was a special feature from the inception, and the com-
pany generously donated a collection of books it
purchased for its operatives, called the Manufacturers'
Library, and contributed for many years funds for the
purchase of new books. It erected a building with
a hall for lectures and rooms for a library, which it
rented to the institute free, on condition that it de-
voted sixty dollars a year to the purchase of books.
This building, called the Rumford Building, was sold
to the town in 1854, and, with alterations and en-
largements, is the present City Hall. The library
was given to the town by the institute in 1865, and
was the nucleus of the present.
Another illustration of a minor character of the
encouraging care for education is the fact that the
factory bell rang every morning at quarter of nine
o'clock to call the children to school. For upwards
of half a century, as regularly as it summoned opera-
tives to and from their daily toil, its peals summoned
children to their lessons.
The schools of Waltham have always been kept up
to a high standard of excellence, and have ranked
with the best in the State. It has been noted already
that one of the causes of the separation of the town
from Watertown was the insufficiency of school ac-
commodations, and hence the principle and practice
so strongly contended for have ever been sustained by
the descendants of the seceding fathers. Appropria-
tions have always been made with no niggardly hand,
and the people have generously taxed themselves to
provide for the education of the youth. In the year
1833 the first town or high school was established.
This was located in the fitst story of the new town-
hall erected at that time. Previous to that time all
public schools had been in the common single grade
district school, and the town had held its meetings in
the church. The town-house, which stood on the
site of the present North Grammar School, at the cor-
ner of Lexington and School Streets, was devoted ex-
clusively to school purposes in 1849, for both the high
and grammar schools, and in 1869 was abandoned for
the purpose and sold for removal.
Near it stood the armory of the artillery company,
and the public flag-staff, and the vacant land around
on both sides of the adjacent street was the only
public common then owned by the town. In 1854
the town purchased a larger part of the present
beautiful common of the Boston Manufacturing Com-
pany, which had reserved it from their land for public
purposes, and, with a commendable spirit, parted
with it only on condition that it should be forever
used as a park. Addition and extension on the
southern side, made by the city in 1886, have com-
pleted its area to just proportions, and furnished the
people with a most attractive public square, adorned
with trees, in the midst of its busiest life. The
original preservation and maintenance of such a park
in a place where land has enhanced in value every
year and is in demand for the local growth and
material prosperity show obviously the character of
the people and their sentiment in regard to objects of
public use, adornment and recreation. For it is with
a strong opposition of a minority when the expense
is to be borne from the public treasury, that such a
reservation can be made.
During the first half of the present century Walt-
ham was a popular resort for military gatherings of
the day. Its broad plains and ample hotels furnished
facilities for the mustering of the militia forces and
their entertainment, without the necessity of camping
on the tented field. War and all its associations
were more of a tradition than a reality to nearly all
but the few surviving Revolutionary soldiers, and the
annual muster and May training had something of a
picturesque and grotesque character, compared with the
military encampments of to-day. Few even of the
officers had ever seen any service, and the semblance
of actual warfare mafntained for a day or two of duty
seems to have partaken of the mock-heroic. The
gaudy trappings, the variegated uniforms, the indiffer-
ent discipline, made of a militia training a picture
rivaling the combinations of a kaleidoscope. With the
hilarity and lively scenes of such an occasion, all the
country round about took an active interest. In the
days of compulsory service, the un-uniformed forces
presented a contrast to the uniformed and organized
companies. The latter, from different towns, oiten
entered into a spirit of rivalry, in the colors and elab-
orate details of uniforms and equipments. The shrill
716
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
fife and rattling drum, with the more pretentious mar-
tial music of a country band, added materially to the
pomp and circumstance of ihe muster-field and the
annual training.
A semi-military celebration was the " Cornwallis,"
held on the 19th of October, the anniversary of the
eventful day at Yorktown, and commemorative of
the surrender of Lord Cornwallis to Washington.
There was a strange blending of the sublime and
ridiculous on these occasions, with the marshaling of
the opposing forces, the mock battle and surrender,
and the travesty upon the reality of war. It was one
of these autumnal gatherings at Waltham which
prompted some descriptive lines of Lowell in his
Biglow papers.
But the preservation of the patriotic and military
spirit in this way served its purpose when the days of
trial came and the spirit and patriotism of the young
who witnessed these scenes of imaginary warfare was
to be tested in the actual conflict of arms for the sal-
vation of the country.
With the establishment of the cotton manufactur-
ing industry and its gradual and successful growth,
the town had a healthy and steady increase of popu-
lation and general prosperity. There were few other
important industries for many years. "The corpor-
ation," as it was called, and its leading men were the
principal features of the tovfti in its municipal and
material development. The village extended up the
main highway in the direction of the factories, and
the centre was permanently located where to-day may
be considered the heart of the city, with its principal
buildings and offices. With all that wag incidental
to its progress, there was a weli-ordered public senti-
ment that all was well for future prosperity. The
streets were generally laid out wide and straight, and
were kept in excellent repair — in fact, the town was
one of the first to adopt the McAdara system in the
construction of the principal thoroughfares. And in
nearly all town matters, with the exception of some
minor affairs which are always exceptional, a liberal
policy WHS pursued to the ultimate welfare of the
whole community.
In 1843 the Fitchburg Railroad was built to Wal-
tham, and in 1845 it was extended beyond to Fitch-
burg. This naturally gave something of an impetus
to growth for some years, but the policy of that cor-
poration from about 1850 to 186Cr was such an anom-
aly in railroad management as to check much pro-
gress from that source, and to turn the tide of subur-
ban travel in other directions. The action of this
railroad, in regard to transportation and public ac-
commodation, has been considered a great detriment
to the town in the past, and has in that regard affect-
ed the record of its history. The progressive policy
for the past twenty-five years can hardly make
amends for former mistakes.
In 1853 the Watertown Branch of the Fitchburg
Railroad was extended to Waltham, thus giving the
people the facilities of a separate line of communica-
tion with Boston. The low fares and frequent trains on
the different roads now furnish the citizens unusual
advantages in the way of railway passenger traflSc.
In 1849 Ihe town received an addition of territory
which ultimately had a great effect upon its growth
and prosperity, and widened the area of its industrial
facilities. This gain of territory was from the annexa-
tion of a part of Newton, adjacent to Charles River,
and contiguous to the populous part of Waltham. At
that time there was on one portion the works of 'he
Chemical Company, and a few dwellings, but the re-
mainder was largely wild land, with some parts given
to agriculture. It has developed with almost the
phenomenal rapidity of a western town, and has
grown into a thrifty and populous part of the city.
This smart growth is mainly the result of the estab-
lishment of the American Waltham Watch Com-
pany's works. Previous to this time some new man-
ufacturing enterprises had sprung up— an iron foun-
dry ; a manufactory or laboratory where some of the
first experiments were made with petroleum in the
manufacture of oil, [)araffine, etc.; a crayon factory,
the original and still quite exclusively the principal
manufactory of black-board crayons ia the country,
the product of the inventive genius of one of the citi-
zens. But the inception of watch-making by per-
fected machinery, in a manufactory at first organized
under Mr. .V. L. Dennison, has more than other en-
terprises advanced the progress of Waltham, given it
a character as a manufacturing centre and extended
its name for its fine products over the civilized world.
The ill success of the first enterprise, its restoration
and successful development under the executive abil-
ity of Mr. Royal E. Robbins, are an interesting and
essential feature of the history of local manufactures.
But this great establishment, with the liberal and in-
telligent spirit of its projectors, the skill and high
character of its mechanics and operatives, male and
female, the inventive genius displayed in machinery
that by delicate and intricate movements performs
the part of handiwork, with greatest rapidity and pre-
cision, is an important element in the history of the
city, apart from its industrial character. In the high-
est degree it is representative of American skill and
management, and of the morai and intellectual stand-
ard of artisans. No better evidence of thrift and
social culture is needed than the beautiful and attrac-
tive homes, with ample grounds, owned and built by
those whose livelihood is derived from this well-or-
ganized and successful manufactory.
At an agricultural and industrial fair in 1857, the
first of the kind ever held in the town, the local pro-
ducts of the field, the home and the workshop were
gathered in an exhibition which showed the extent
and diversity of the industries of a town of 6000 in-
habitants. This fair was held under the auspices of
the "Agricultural Library Association," an organiza-
tion which, with a change of name after a few years
WALTHAM.
717
to the " Farmers' Club," has done much to foster the
interests of the town. Composed not exclusively of
farmers, but more generally of those of other occupa-
tions, it has, through its weekly meetings in the win-
ter and other gatherings, done much for the common
welfare in cultivating among those whose business
leads in different directions, that social and friendly
intercourse upon which a general community of in-
terests depends.
In 1859 Waltham sacriSced a portion of its terri-
tory, about 429 acres, for the incorporation of the
town of Belmont. The part taken was all that east
of Clematis Brook, which is now the northeastern
boundary of the city. Little opposition was made
to the surrender of this area, as in a liberal spirit the
people were not averse to contributing to the forma-
tion of the beautiful rural town which is now one of
its attractive neighboring communities. With what
was gained from Newton and lost to Belmont the
area of the city is about the same as when first incor-
porated.
In 1861, when the Civil War burst upon the land,
the citizens of the town displayed the loyalty and
patriotic ardor, manifested throughout New England
and the North, and by public and private demonstra-
tion entered into the spirit of devotion to the Union.
Immediately on the firing upon Fort Sumter, a mass-
meeting of the citizens was called, patriotic speeches
were made and enthusiastic and determined action
was taken to support the cause of the Government.
Captain Gardner Banks announced his purpose to
raise a company for service and the enlistment rolls
were opened and well filled at the meeting.
Flags were displayed on the factories, school-
houses, public and private buildings, the common
was lively with squads of recruits drilling, and the
usual aspect of the village instantly underwent a
change.
A town-meeting was held and official action taken
to carry out the will of the people, without distiuction
of party, in vindication of national honor and the in-
tegrity of the Union. Money was appropriated for
extra pay to soldiers for a specified time, and for sup-
port of their families. The women of the town, emu-
lating the example of the men, held sewing meetings,
and worked upon uniforms and other articles of neces-
sity for the comfort and welfare of the soldier. The
uniforms of the first company were made almost ex-
clusively by their skillful and patriotic efforts. Few
then supposed that the war would last more than a
tew months, but the impressive and serious earnest-
ness with which the first, as well as subsequent steps
The first company was attached to the Sixteenth
Massachusetts Volunteers. Later in the same year,
when a call for more troops was issued, the militia
company of Light Dragoons formed the nucleus of
two cavalry companies which were attached to the
First Massachusetts Cavalry. These companies served
with distinction throughout their term of service.
In 1862, when the reverses of the Union arms and
the power of the rebellion compelled the government
to call for still more troops, the town, with equal en-
thusiasm and liberality, responded to the demands
upon it for more soldiers. And when the draft was
made, all quotas were filled without a conscription* of
but a few men. Private subscriptions, besides the
town appropriations, provided liberal bounties and
every duty of patriotism was loyally fiilfilled.
The women of the town were loyally active during
the whole period of the war in providing for the sol-
diers in the field, and doing everything in their power
to alleviate their sufferings and enhance their com-
fort, through the medium of Soldiers' Aid and Relief
Societies. In 1864 a large fair was held in aid of the
Sanitary Commission, which was very successful and
through which a generous sum was raised for the
great cause.
The town furnished about 400 soldiers and sailors,
and nearly every Massachusetts regiment was repre-
sented by some of its citizens. Fifvy-three of the
number, as nearly as can be ascertained, never re-
turned, but nobly sacrificed their lives in battle or in
the hospital for the cause of their country. Soon after
the war, Waltham was among the first towns to erect
{ a soldiers' monument. This monument, an ornamen-
I tal granite shaft, inscribed with the names of those
I who gave their lives, is located upon the Common.
; It also organized one of the First G{and Army Posts
in the State, which to-day is active in perpetuating
the memory of those who served their country in the
time of its peril.
The only regular military organization is the
Waltham Rifies, organized in 1874, and attached to
the Fifth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia.
Waltham has always in due time responded to the
demands upon it called for by its advancement in
population and prosperity. In 1829 the first fire-
engine was purchased, and in 1844 a Fire Department
was organized under a perfect system, with engineers
and subordinates. Previous to the purchasing of an
engine there had been an independant organization
of citizens called the Fire Club, each member of
which was equipped with two buckets and other im-
plements for extinguishing fires and saving property.
were taken showed the existence of the old spirit of This club now keeps up an informal organization
the fathers and of the staying qualities of people who by an annual supper. The first steam fire-engine was
reluctantly, dutifully, and with firm determination > added to the department in 1871, and the fire-alarm
took up the gage of battle. I telegraph introduced in 1881. The present Fire De-
Many enlisted in other companies in and out of the | partment is a finely-organized and well-managed in-
State, and the number offering for service was greater | stitntion in the city. Its adequate equipment, and
than the demand. the harmonious feeling between the different com-
718
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
panics, and between the men and officers and engi-
neers, render it one of special efficiency and cliaracter.
The force now consists of one steam fire-engine, one
chemical engine, four hose carriages, one hoolc-and-
ladder truck, supply wagon, etc.
The Waltham Bank was established in 1836. Luke
Fiske was the first president, and Nathaniel Maynard
the first cashier. The capital originally was $100,000,
and was subsequently increased to $150,000. The
Savings Bank was established in 1853.
The streets were first lighted in 1852. The Gas
Light Company was formed and gas introduced in
1853. The same company added an electric plant to
its works and introduced electric lights in 1886. A
horse railroad was built and opened between Wal-
tham and West Newton in 1868, and in 1872 was ex-
tended up Main to Weston Street. It was changed
to an electric road in 1890.
The people had been agitating the question of the
introduction of water for some years, and different
source.^ of supply had been suggested. After con-
siderable deliberation and a careful examination o^
different places and methods, the town decided, in
1873, to take water from a filtering basin near Charles
River above the factories by pumping into a reservoir
ou Boston Rock Hill. In excavating for the filtering
basin, springs were struck on the land side of the
basin, giving a supply of pure water ample for all
present necessities, besides the facilities for direct
draught from the river.
July 4, 1876, the centennial celebration of National
Independence was carried out with much public spirit
and parade. A military and civic procession marched
through the principal streets, and an historical oration
was delivered by Josiah Rutter, Esq., in a large tent
on the Common, Concerts and children's entertain-
ments were given at Rumford Hall, while boat-races
and games furnished recreation for others. A fine
display of fire-works on the Common ended the suc-
cessful and patriotic celebration of the day.
Mention has already been made of the date and lo-
cation of the first bridge over Charles River on the
site of the present Newton Street Bridge. This
bridge, within a few years, has been rebuilt into an
arched bridge of stone. Moody Street Bridge was
built in 1847, originally of wood; it has since been
rebuilt of iron. Farwell Street Bridge, below the
bleachery, is a structure of iron. In 1889 a massive
new arch bridge of stone was completed from Pros-
pect to Maple Streets, near the watch factory. This
is the most expensive and imposing bridge across the
river, and furnishes one of the most attractive
thoroughfares, whether for business or pleasure. It
supplanted a wooden foot-bridge erected in 1885,
mainly for the convenience of the watch factory
operatives living on the north side of the river.
The Massachusetts Central Railroad constructed
its road through Waltham in 1881, and thus gave ad
ditional facilities for communication with Boston,
and westward into the interior of the State and be-
yond.
Where the citizens as a whole have been backward
in supplying the necessary improvements, private
citizens have by public spirit and enterprise in some
cases supplied the deficiency. With the growth in
population, places of public gathering for meetings,
entertainment?, and the ordinary purposes of a large
community become inadequate in size and number.
The town had outgrown Rumford Hall, which, with
its historical associations as the assembly room of
Rumford Institute, was also used as the Town Hall.
Propositions were made for erection of a new and
spacious Town Hall. Town-meetings were held with
warm discussion. It was voted to build a hall on
the Common ; subsequently, that vote was reconsider-
ed and another location chosen. One meeting would
negative the act of another, and the attempt to have
a new Town Hall came finally to naught. In 1881
under the spirited management of a few gentlemen, a
stock company of citizens was formed and Music Hall
was erected. This structure, with its frontage of
stores aud officea and spacious vestibule and audi-
torium in the rear, is a useful and ornamental insti-
tution of the city. In 1890 alterations were made by
which it was more especially adapted for theairical
entertainments, and it is now largely used for the
drama, as well as for the general purposes of a large as-
sembly room. The name was changed to Park Theatre.
Under the judicious management of the present les?ee,
Mr. W. D. Bradstreet, as a local theatre it furnishes
the people two or three times a week in the season
with a good variety of literary, dramatic and musical
entertainments.
By the census of 1880 the population was very
nearly 12,000, the requisite number for a city. As
the town-meetings were oftentimes too large for the
proper transaction of business, and the rate of in-
crease of population was such as to render a chanu:e
to a city form of government inevitable within a short
time, the subject of application for a city charter began
to be advocated. The proposition naturally met with
much opposition at first from the more conservative
people, and the first vote of the town was against the
measure. But renewed interest was at once manifest-
ed, and on a second vote, November 30, 1883, the
town voted seven hundred and twenty-four to si.'^
hundred and sixty-five to apply for a city charter,
and appointed a committee of fifteen to prepare :i
charter. The Legislature granted the charter .hiiie
2, 1884, and it was accepted by the people .July, 1884,
by a vote of nine hundred aud seventeen to six hun-
dred and thirty-nine. In date of organization Wal-
tham was the twenty-third city of Massachusetts.
Public sentiment in the town had been quite freely
expressed in favor of a one board city government,
the council or legislative branch to consist of but one
body, instead of a Board of Aldermen and Common
Council, as customary in other cities of Massachusetts.
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WALTHAM.
719
A charter with this provision was granted. This
novel feature was regarded as an innovation, and the
first experiment in Waltham has been watched with
considerable interest by those interested in muaicipal
government. A board of twenty-one aldermen, with
three from each of seven wards, was instituted, and
has been found to work satisfactorily. The only
change from that system deemed desirable was one
to break up the local character of the representation
from each ward. In 1889 an amendment was adopt-
ed to the effect that one of the aldermen from each
ward be elected by the people at large.
The change from a town to a city form of govern-
ment was made January, 1885, when the inaugura-
tion exercises took place in Music Hall before a large
assemblage of the people. The chairman of the
Board of Selectmen, Mr. Timothy Leary, in transfer-
ring the affairs of the town to the new custodians,
impressively commented upon the past history and
record of the town, the honor and honesty of its offi-
cials and the sacred character of the trust for the peo-
ple which had been maintained inviolate since the
date of incorporation. There had been no record of
the malfeasance of any officer or of the loss of a dol-
lar of public money through the dishonesty of any
official. The last Board of Selectmen was Timothy
Leary, F. Buttrick, T. P. Smith, Charles H. Emerson,
Lebbeus S. Foster.
Hon. B. B. Johnson had been elected the first
mayor, and he- assumed the duties of the office with
recognition of the fact that the new system of the
Aldermanic Board was, in a measure, experimental,
and would be regarded for its successful and practical
operation beyond the limits of the municipality.
Henry N. Fisher was elected the president of the
Board of Aldermen. The city has been conducted so
38 to commend itself to the citizens, even the most
conservative, who strongly opposed such organization.
Hon. Charles F. Stone served as mayor in 1886,
and Hon. H. N. Fisher from 1887-90.
Henry N. Fisher was president of the Board of
.Vldermen from 188-5-86, Charles P. Bond from 1887-
88, '90, and Thomas B. Eaton in 1889.
The City Treamrers have been J. C. Thorpe, 1885-
86 ; E. A. Harrington, 1887-90.
The OUy Clerk.— L. N. Hall, 1885-90.
The City Auditor!.— ¥.. A. Harrington, 1885-86 ;
F>. .r. Sanderson, 1887-90.
City Solicitors.— Thomas H. Armstrong, 1885-88;
Oeorge L. Mayberry, 1889-90.
The one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the
incorporation of Waltham was celebrated January 16,
1888, under the auspices of the city government and
a committee of citizens. The exercises were held in
Music Hall, and consisted of an introductory address
by His Honor, Mayor Fisher, an historical address, an
original poem by Rev. E. N. Hayward, a hymn by
W. M. FuUertoo, music and singing, and a short ad-
dress by His Excellency, Governor Ames. In the even-
ing there was a banquet, at which General Banks
presided, and at which speeches were made by prom-
inent gentlemen. This banquet was followed by
dancing. As the celebration was arranged in a lim-
ited time, the preparation of the historical address
was referred to a committee of three, each of whom
prepared a portion. This rather novel plan of joint
authorship worked admirably, and was successfully
carried out to a complete composition adapted to the
occasion. The committee on historical address were
Charles F. Stone, Nathan Warren and Thomas H.
Armstrong. It was impressively read by the Hon. F.
M. Stone.
The history of Waltham, thus briefly and imper-
fectly sketched to the present day, is a part of the
history of the Commonwealth and of the progress and
development of the country. It is what a free, intel-
ligent people have made it, under the blessings of our
form of government and the foundations laid by the
early fathers. There is no glamour of war, of royal
endowments or special privileges in its simple annals,
[t is no exception to hundreds of other thrifty places
throughout the land — in its general prosperity.
Its industrial progress and its representative charac-
ter of American enterprise. Besides its song and daugh-
ters who have remained and contributed to the city's
growth many have gone out from its farms and factories,
its schools and homes, to the uttermost parts of the
earth, have helped build up other States and earned
an enviable name for their enterprise and genius.
Their fortunes may be linked with other destinies,
but their fondest memories go back to the place
they once called home.
Waltham has furnished two Governors of Massa-
chusetts, Christopher Gore and Nathaniel P. Banks ;
one United States Senator, Christopher Gore ; a
member of Congress for several terras, a Speaker of
the National House of Representatives and a Major-
General of Volunteers, in the person of N. P. Banks ;
five Senators in the Ma^sachusettx Legislature, —
Luke Fiske, Gideon Haynes, F. M. Stone, N. P.
Banks and David Randall. Its Representatives to
the General Court since 1800 have been as follows :
1802, JonUbui Coolldge; 1804, Jooathan Coolidge; 1806-08, Abnor
Suideraon ; 1809-17, David TovDsend ; 1820, Saiid Townsend; 1821-22,
Luke Fiake ; 1823, Luke Fiske and Chas. Lymau ; 1821, Isaac Beniis, Jr.,
aDd David Towniend ; 1825, Luke Fiske ; 1826, David Townsend ; 1827,
David Townsend and Isaac Bemis, Jr.; l828-;iO, Jonas Clark ; 1831, Amoe
Uarrinffton and David Townsend ; 1832, Jonas Clark and John Vilea ;
1837, David Kendall and Robert Anderson ; 1838, Luks Fiske; 183»-40,
Elisba Crebore ; 1841, Jonas Clarke ; 1842, Joba Abbott ; 1843-44, John
M. Peck; 1849-52, N. P. Banks, Jr.; 1853-54, Horatio Moors; 185.i,
Samuel 0. Upbam ; 1856, William P. Childs ; 18-57, Horatio Moore ; 1868,
Jamei G. Moore ; 1859, Joeiab Rntter ; 18GU, F. M. Stone ; 1861, Daniel
French ; 1862, F. M. Stone and Josiah Beard ; 1863, Jamea G. Moore ;
1864-64, F. M. Stone ; 1866-67, Emory W. Lane ; 1868-6!), Royal S. War-
ren ; 187U, HoraUo Moore ; 1871, Thomas Hill ; 1872, W. A. Adams ; 1873,
William Roberts ; 1874, W. A. Adams ; 1875, Wm. E. Bright ; 1876, F. M.
Stone; 1877-79, David Randall ; 1880-81, Nathan Warren: 1882, Bufua
Warren ; 1883, John 3. Williams ; 1884, Kobt. Treat Paiiie, Jr.; 1885-«6,
Ersklne Warden ; 1887-88, Erskine Warden and Samuel O. Upham ; 1889,
Henry S. Milton ; 1890, Henry S. Milton and Chaa. Moore.
In the years omitted the town sent nu representative.
720
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
The populatiuQ of Waltham at different periods has
been aa follows :
1765, 663 ; 1783, 689 ; 1790, 882 ; 1800, 903 ; 1810,
1014; 1820, 1677; 1830, 1857; 1840, 2504; 1850,
4464; 1860, 6397; 1865, 6898; 1870, 9065; 1875,
9967 ; 1880, 11,712 ; 1885, 14,609 ; 1890, 18.533.
A sketch of Waltham would not be complete with-
out special reference to its most eminent citizen, the
product of its soil and its thrifty manufacturing life.
General Nathaniel Prentice Banks is a loyal son of
this, his native town, where he now resides. Born of
humble and respectable parentage, connected with
the factory life, growing up amidst the busy scenes
of the early manufacturing industries of America, ob-
taining limited education at the village school, he
exemplifies in the highest degree the possibilities of
the American youth. Commencing work in the fac-
tories when a mere boy, he availed himself of the
facilities for self-education, proving himself an apt
pupil under adverse circumstances, and early evinced
remarkable oratorical powers. In the village lyceum,
and in town-meeting, he was able to cope in debate
with the strongest opponents. He has always been
true to his early instincts, and by his fine personal
presence, and his fervid eloquence, he has maintained
the dignity of labor. From the time when he was
first elected to represent the town in the Legislature,
after macy unsuccessful trials, to the present day, he
has been prominent in public affairs ot the State and
nation. In the changing fortunes of political life, in
peace and in war, he has maintained the high charac-
ter of personal and public honor and integrity. Hon-
ored with age and universal respect, he is again serv-
ing the people of his district in the National House
of Representatives. At home he is the unpretentious
citizen, deeply interested in whatever appertains to
the welfare of the community.
The growth of Waltham has been steady and con-
servative, without spasmodic successes and reverses,
and speculative attempts at progress, to be followed
by reaction. Improvements are made as suggested
by the necessities of the time and by prudent prepa-
ration for the future. Taxes are kept within reason-
able limit, and the public enterprises are generally
carried out with proper consideration of cost and
need. A system of drainage has been inaugurated
and extended with due regard to the growing require-
ments of such work. An improved system of sewer-
age to connect with the metropolitan system of Boston
and vicinity, under an act of the Legislature, will
soon be commenced. With its eligible location, the
firm basis of its present manufacturing enterprises,
and the inheritance of the past, Waltham may well
look forward for a prosperous future as one of the
leading manufacturing cities of the Commonwealth.
CHAPTEE XLVI.
VfAL TMAM~{ Continued).
MILITARY HISTORY.
BY NATHAN WARREN.
The original territorial division of Waltham as a
part of Watertown was on a military basis and for
. the purpose of a public defence by arms. The ne-
cessity of promptly summoning men together in view
of Indian troubles occasioned the division of Water-
town into three precincts, each with a military com-
pany or train-band. What is now Waltham, as
elsewhere stated, was the Middle Precinct, and was
assigned to Lieutenant Benjamin Garfield's command.
As all the male inhabitants capable of bearing arms
were required to be ready for military service at any
time, the early history of the town is seen to have
been of a semi-military character. The formation of
the precinct was in 1691.
It is not a matter of record what part the men of
Waltham took as soldiers in the early wars, but doubt-
less in Queen Anne's War, which raged from 17(12 to
1713, between the colonists on one hand and the
French and Indians o( Canada on the other, the pre-
cinct furnished its share of men. Milita; y titles were
very common, and generally used in reference to those
who bore them in civil affairs. Probably few were
acquired in actual service, but were won in peaceful
duty of the annual trainings. Their bestowal and
use show, however, the natural military spirit of the
people. In March, 1744, Captain Samuel Livermore
reported ninety men under his command.
Of enlistments of Waltham men in the Colonial
service we find that of Ebenezer Bigelow, in Captain
Stephen Richard's company in 1740, and that of
Captain John Cutting in 1744, while in 1748 Nathan
Morse and John Barnard were serving at Fort Shir-
ley. In the old French and Indian War, from 1755
to 1763, in which New England was engaged, from
Lake George to Louisbourg, until the final victory of
Quebec, the town furnished many men. Ensign
Robert Smith, Lieutenant Ebenezer Brown, Sergeant
William Cox, Cornet Jonathan Pierce, Jonas Cutter,
John Bean, Phineaa Stearns, Joseph Wellington,
Thomas Wellington, William Benjamin, Daniel
Fisk, Abram Hill, Abijah Brown, Thomas Harring-
ton, Isaac Gleason, Josiah Whitney, David Fisk,
William Cummings were in the service. In the
Crown Point expedition were Abram Gregory and
Abijah Gregory. Benjamin Lawrence and Thomas
Hammond were also in the service, and in 1737 Cor-
poral Jonathan Pierce and Ensign William Liver-
more. In Captain Jonathan Brown's company served
Josiah Barnard, Isaac Corey, John Whitehead, Nicho-
las Lucas, WiUiam Cox, David Standly, Timothy
Flagg, Abram Sanderson, Ix)wden Priest, Jouas
Steward, William Graves, John Wellington, John
WALTHAM.
r2i
Wellington, Jr., Phineas Stearns, Trueworthy Smith,
and Jedediah White.
This war was the school of the Revolution and
gave to the returning soldiers of every town and
hamlet a knowledge and experience in the art of war,
and a military prestige which served well when re-
sistance to the mother country became necessary.
When the eventful 19th of April, 1775, came, Wal-
tham*s company of minute-men was on duly, though
not at Lexington. There is no record of the place
of service, but the muster-roll tells a story of duty
performed by twelve officers and- one hundred and
nine men, who marched twenty-eight miles and were
on duty for three days as follows:
" Compaojr in Waltbain Cald out by ColoDel Tfaotnas GardDer on
Alarm id defence of the Liberties of Am&rica uodor the CtimmaDd of
Abraham Peirce, Capt., to Coucord and Lexeuton tlte and tbeouniberof
miles travpld and boor our Gxpensefl aod these Lias may sartifie that my
<'ompaiiy wu Keept upon i^anl till Saterday the 4 day after the fita at
Cod cord.
".\brabam Peirce, Capt., 28 mile, 3 tl&ya, lot.; Samuel Stearus,
Lieut., 28 milu, 3 days, ir'a. lOd. ; John Clark, 2 Lieut., 28 mile, 3 days,
ins. lOd. ; Isaac bii^r, EiDi., 2S mite. 3 days, 9«. lOd. ; Jadidiab thair,
Serg , 28 mile, 3 days, "«. Md. ; Elisba Cox, Serg., 7«. i)4d. ; Josiah
uiixer, Serg., Ts. id. ; Samuel harriogtoD, Serg., 7f. id. ; Joshua Swan,
Corp. ,7s ; John GleeoD, Corp., Ts ; William Cooledg, Corp., 7f. ; Josiah
Barnard, Corp. ; Josph hager, guns, Jonas Stams, Samuel Bigelow,
Beselah flag:g, William Stager, Abljab Biglow, Beniamin harringlon,
Joshua Garfield, Elijah Livermore, Josiah Hastings, I day ; Jooiah
Brown, I <lay ; Ephrini hanimood, timmutliy dagg, Narthael Bridg,
William Brig, Benjamin Stratton, Stephen Welman, Samuel Lo^et, wiU
liam Brown, Josiah Brown. EleserBradshaw, Jonaa Smith, Nathan viU,
Junus vilu, Leoard Williams, Elishua Starns, Jonathan titarna, Jonathan
warreu, Edward Gatfield, ElisUa harriiigtun, Beojamio White, Samuel
Gull, ^uns (Gale), Asra Dench. .\udruw Benjamin, Samuel Gall (Gale),
.\bijuh Fidk. Zack Wetiun, Amoe tisk, Jose harringtOD, William hager,
guns, Junuthan hager, Matthias Collins, Benjamin hager, Jonathan dix,
John Sims, Cuttiu Claik, Ephriam Peirce, Jech B> 11, Josiah Connors,
niicah Dunipo, Isaac Gleeson, amos barhngton, oliver baget, Seth Pond,
daoiel Cutting. Ii^aac Parkhurst, Joseph Corey, Jonathan Cox, Pbinehas
Warreu, Elipbit Hastings, Peetr Warren, william warren, John Coledg,
Elipbit warren, Samuel Guddin, Samuel fuller, Jordg Larrance, Jonas
Larrance, Elijah Cutting, Benja Gallop. Elijah tolman, Inaac Cliild, Ab-
ijtli Child, Jonas Child, Abram Beeamis, Abrm Bemia, guner, Jonas
Smith, gunr, Josiah Bemis, Ruben Semis, leaac Bemis, Abrun Child,
Elisba Child. ElLsba Cuttter. Pbinehas warrin. Job Priest, James Priest,
John viU, 2 days ; Isaac Peirce, 2 days ; Samuel Robards, Phinehas
Larrance, Jonas Dix, Esquir, Jonas Dix, Juner, Joeiah Whitney, wil-
liam witlington, Jordg willington, tbaddeus willington, I day ; Joseph
willington, I Jay ; Elijah Larrance, Daniel Stoms, Josiah Sanderaon,
.\bnar Sandersuu, Jubn Sandereun, Josiah Smith, Abijab Livermore,
J'xidiah white, ElUlia Livermore.Ely Joneti, Amos Brown, Joseph Brown,
I -lay ; John Larrance, 1 day ; William Co«»le«Ig."
M:iy 13, 1775, the .selectmen delivered to the fol-
lowing soldiers each a blanket, " they being enlisted
in the service of Massachusetts for the Defense of the
liberty of America:"
Eliphalet Hastings, Jonas Lawrence, Kl^ah Cutting, Elisba Cox, WH-
liaru Lock, Samuel Roberts, John Glynn, Joeiah Converee, Cutting
• lark, Abmham ParkhurHt, .Matthew Peirce. Josiah Bemis, J r., Daniel
Warren, Elijah Mead, Samuel Mullikin. Amos Fiske, Zechariah Weston,
Jul) Priest, David Smith, Benjamin Gallop, Amos Harrington, George
Wellington, Micah Bumpo. Jonas Smith, Jr., John Vlles, Joeiah LoTett,
Elisba Harrington, Habakkuk Steams, Jesse Goodell, Nathan Wright,
Aisa i^ould, Bezmleel Wright, Abijab Fiske, Rufus Stacey. Isaac Bemis,
Elisba Stearns, Reuben Bemis, Timothy Flagg, Eliphalet Warren,
Pluses Warren, William Sprague, Thaddeus Child, Andrew BeQJamio,
JohnSymnu, Edmund Lock.
A company was formed under Captain Abijah
46-iii
Child and attached to the Thirty-seventh Regiment
of Foot, commanded by Colonel Thomas Gardner.
This regiment was at the battle of Bunker Hill, where
Colonel Gardner was mortally wounded. The other
casualties as a regiment are not given in any records
of the battle, but it is quite authoritatively known
that the Waltham Company was engaged. The mus-
ter roll of the company, October 6, 1775, gives the
return of Captain Abijah Child^s company in the
Thirty-seventh Regiment of Foot of the Continental
Army, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel William
Bond:
" Camp at Peo6Pect HiLL[SoMEBvit.LE], October 8, 1775.
" Captain, Abijab Cbild, Waltham ; Lieutenant Joshua Swan, Wal-
tham ; Ensign, Jedekioh Tbayer, Waltham ; Servants, Elisba Cox, Jo-
siah Converse, Jonas Smith, Ellaha Harrington, Waltham; Corporals,
Isaac Bemia, David Smith, Waltham ; Drummer, Benjamin Gallop,
Waltham; Privates, Reuben Bemis, Joeiah Bemis, Andrew Benjamin,
Elijah Cutting, Tbaddeos Child, Abijah Child, Jr., Amos Fiske, Abijah
Fisk, Tanothy Flagg, George WilliDgton, John Glynn, Jonas Lawrence,
William Lock, Josiah Lovett (discharged September 20, 1774), Edmund
Luck, Elijah Mead, Samuel Mullikin, Matthew Pierce, John Peek,
Abram Parkhurst (discharged), Samuel Roberts, William Sprague,
Eliaha Stearns, Joeiah Smith, Habbakuk Stearns, John Viles, Daniel
Warren, Micah Bumpo."
In June, 1776, the town voted £6 6». Sd. to be paid
to each non-commissioned officer and soldier who
shall engage in the expedition to Canada. The
money was appropriated to the following men :
Jno. Coolidge, Josiah Wyer, Ezra Peirce, Darid Stearns, Jno. Gleason,
Jona. Steams, Elisba Livermore. Edward Brown, Stephen Wetlman,
Elias Hastings, Eliphalet Hastings, Isaiah Edes, "for my negro," Abijab
Ftsk, Wm. Hager, Jno. Lawrence, Jno. Hager, Saml. Gale, Jr., Joeiah
Sanderaon, GU Jones, Nathaniel Sanderson, Abijab Brown. Jr., Benj.
Ellis.
In December, 1776, the following persons enlisted
for three months in Colonel Samuel Thatcher's regi-
ment, equipping themselves with guns, blankets and
all implements:
Saml. Lof kin, Sol. Eeyes, Jno. Glode, Jaa. Davis, Wm. Chambers,
Wm. Chambers, Tim. Brown, SamL Lof kin, Jr., Tim. Farrar, Tra.
Davidson, Jerb. WlUiams, Leml. Wheeler, Abel Parker.
In 1778 the town sent into the Eight Months* Cam-
paign, so-called, thirty men, viz.:
Col. Jona Brewer, Col. Abijab Brown, Capt. Abijah Child, Capt Abm.
Child, Lt. OIlTer Hagget, Capt. Jededi&h Thayer, Josiah Convers,
Kllsha Harrington, Lt Isaac Bemia, Darid Smith, ElishaStearns, Tbads.
Wellington, EliphsJet Warren, Chs. Warren, Moees Mead, Jr., Geo.
Wellington, Boben Bemis, Joei&fa Bemis, Jr., Amos Ftsk, Abijah Fisk,
Timothy Flagg, Jonas Lawrence, Wm. Lock, Joeiah Leaveatt, Edmund
Lock, Danl. Warren, Zack. Weston, Moses Warren, Amos Harrington,
Frans. Brewer.
And to the Cambridge lines, for the two months'
men :
Lieut Isaac Bemis, Phineas Warren, Jr., Joseph Wler, John Eiddsn,
Samuel Gale, Jr., Joel Harrington, Samnel Goodin, Tbads. Goodfn,
Ebenr. Phillips.
As the war progressed, increasing sums were paid
as bounties and for substitutes, and there were many
enlistments and re- enlistments of those whose names
appeared early in the service. In the depreciated
currency of the time, upwards of two thousand
pounds were paid for a single recruit for a few
722
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
months. The calls for men were often for a small
number for the town for special service, or in differ-
ent localities. Evidently these requisitions bore
hard upon the town, but the quotas were filled
through the sacrifices which the patriotism of our
fathers was always ready to make. The last Revolu-
tionary soldier of Waltham wa.s Nathan Lock, who
died in 1851, at the age of ninety years.
In the War of 1812 Waltham responded to the call
for troops with its military company. The services
of the company were required for but a brief period,
and were devoted to garrison duty at Boston Harbor.
The following is the roll of the company in service:
Joeeph Boar, JoDeB Lawrence, Elijah Lawrence, Nathaniel Stearns,
Ricliard Wellington, Jacob Lawrence, Amaaa Harrington, John Sander-
lion, (2dl, Alexander H. Piper, Henry FIsk, Richard Ontter, Isaac Far-
well, William Gom, Darius Wellington, Jacob Ryan, Timothy Morris,
Daniel Emerson, William Trask, Thomas Barnes. Abel Hubbard, William
I'lark, James Jones. Noah Hardy, John Cole. William D. Winch, Otis
Puffer.
David Stsarns, of Waltham, was purser in the
United States Navy in this war, and was on board the
"Frolic" in thememorablesea-fight with the" Wasp."
Different uniformed military companies from time
to time have been conspicuous in the history of the
town, and formed part of its annals in this respect.
One of the earliest and most famous of these organi-
zations during the present century was the Waltham
Light Infantry. It was composed of many of the
leading citizens of the town, and was considered a
leading corps on training-days and at the annual
muster. Its uniform of gray coat, with bell buttons,
white trousers, and heavy leather cap with plume,
was calculated to enhance the martial appearance of
those who trained in its ranks. It was succeeded in
time by the Waltham Artillery. This company was
formed in 1841, and its guus, two brass six-pounders,
were transferred from Watertown, where they had
been used by a company which had passed out of
existence. It was disbanded in 1857. Its last cap-
tain was Captain Gardner Banks, who commanded
the first company of Tolunteera from Waltham in the
Rebellion.
The Waltham Light Dragoons was organized in
1853, and during its existence was a prominent organ-
ization in military circles. At musters, in its tour of
duties, it was frequently called into requisition as
an escort to the commander-in-chief, and attracted
especial attention for its soldierly bearing, and also
from the fact that cavalry companies were even more
rare in the militia than at present. Its uniform was
similar to the cavalry uniform of the regular army at
that time. When the Rebellion broke out, it formed
a nucleus of two companies in the First Massachu-
setts Cavalry, one commanded by its past commander.
Captain William Gibbs, and the other by its captain,
M. A. Moore. The organization was kept up until
near the close of the war, when it disbanded.
When the Rebellion broke out Waltham evinced a
patriotic spirit common to all the loyal States, and, as
related elsewhere in the general history of the town,
immediately took steps to afford the necessary assist-
Huce in maintaining the Union. The first company
of troops raised was attached to the Sixteenth Regi-
ment of Massachusetts Volunteers as Company H,
and was officered by Captain Gardner Banks, First
Lieui^nant William A. Smith and Second Lieuten-
ant F. P. H. Rogers. This company, with its regi-
ment, saw severe service, gallantly sharing in nearly
all the battles of the Army of the Potomac for three
years, until the expiration of the term of enlistment.
Lieutenant Smith died after a short service, and
Lieutenant Rogers was killed in the first action in
which the regiment wsa engaged. Besides this com-
pany and the two cavalry companies above-men-
tioned, Waltham furnished many men for other
'.-ompanies and regiments. Among these may be
named the Thirty-fifth, Fortieth and Fifty-sixth
Regiments of the three years' troops, and the Fifth,
Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth of nine months' troops.
The record of all these men in the war was most
lionorable, and it would be invidious to select many
for commendation where all are deserving. The
highest oflicer from the town was Major-General N.
P. Banks, whose name and services were conspicuous
during the entire period of the war. Captain (after-
wards Colonel) Gardner Banks, of the Sixteenth Mas-
sachusetts Volunteers, was his brother, and another
brother. Lieutenant Hiram B. Banks, of the same
regiment, was killed in the second battle of Bull Run,
Two brothers. Lieutenant George F. Brown, and First
.Sergeant Charles L. Brown, of the Sixteenth Regi-
ment, both killed at Gettysburg; and Commissary
Sergeant Frank Miles, of the First Cavalry, who died
in the service, besides those named, are marked ex-
amples of the young men of the town who sacrificed
their lives for their country.
The town officially, in its town-meetings, and pri-
vately, by the public spirit and generosity of its citi-
zens, provided liberally for the soldiers and the cause
of the country. In a patriotic manner it answered
all the calls for men, and gave liberally from its store
for bounties to those who entered the service. Iti,
military record is not the least of an honorable heri-
tage which it leaves to the futuie.
Li£T OF SoLnixBS OF Waltuah ln the Rebellion.
Arnold, Charles I., enlisted Jnly 31, '62, 35th Reg. Co. D ; disrliargod
June 9, *66, cause, expiration of service.
Arnold, Marshall N., 35th D, from the camp.
Abbott, Wm. H., Dec. 16, '81, 30th I ; Oct. 26, '63, disability.
Adaml, John S., Aug 15, '62, 3«th K ; Dec. 22, '64, expiration of anr-
Tice.
Adams, John, July 25, '62, 35th D ; June 9, '6.% expiration of ser^-ice.
Alden, Albert, Sept. 21, '61, 24th I ; Jan. 20, 'G6, expiration of service.
Arnold, Thomas SI., Aug. '62, 40th .\ ; June 9, 'fio, expiration of service.
Atkins, John jr., 2nd Lieut., Sept. '23, '61, 4th cav., M ; April 16, '6t, lo
r»-«nlist in 4tb car.
Brown, Gcorg« 7. lieut., Jun* 29, '61, 16th H : killed at Gettysburg
July 2, '83.
Brown, Charles L., June 29, '61, 16th H ; died July 16, '63, of woonds
received at Gettysburg.
Blagga, Oeorgs I*., Oct. 16, '61, 24tb C ; May 28, '63, disability.
WALTHAM.
r23
Brackett, Edward J., July Z5, 62, 35th D; Jan. 4, '6S, ampntetion of
foot.
Bamett, William, Ang. 6, '«2, 35th P; Juno 9, '65, expiration of Mr-
Tice.
Boardman, Frederick. Aug. 6, *fiC. 3.srh 0 ; June 9, 'fi.'^, expiration of
service.
Boardman, Leonard, Aug. fi, '62, -^^tb P ; Jun« 9, '6.^, Axpiration of
eervice.
Bmdy, Patrick, Sept. 23, '61, lirt car. I. . Sept. 24, '64, expiration of
eerrice.
Banks, Gardner, promoted to capt., major, lient-c«I. June 29, '61, I6th
H ; Sept. 2, '63, dieabillty.
Baxter, Uiion A., lieaL, Sept. 2u, '61, Ut cav. M . died of fever Oct. 4,
'64, at Williamsburg, Va.
Brannon, ilartin, Sept. 2-5, '61, lat cav. L; Sept. 24, '61, expiration of
eervice.
Banks, Hiram B., lieut., April, 62, 16th K ; kille<i i>l Manaasas, Va .
Aug. 29, 62.
Bryant, John, June 29, '61 : Mch. 30, '63, disability.
Bodge, Charles II., Aug. 6, 62, J5th D ; March 30, '6.1, wound in right
arm.
Babcock, Kufus L , June 2'J, '61, I6th B ; March 20, '63, died of
disease.
Burgess, Henry F., June 29, '61, 16th H ; died at AndetBOnviUe July
21, '64.
Buxton, John H., Sept. 4, '61, 22d G ; Feb. 21, '63, disability.
Briggs, Benjamin F., July 26, '62, 35th D ; June 9, '65. expiration of
service.
BoultOD, William, June 29, '61, 16th H ; July 27. '67, expiration of
service.
Burrowa, James jr., June 29, '61. 16th H ; July 27. '64, expiration of
service.
Burbeck, John F., July 2, '61, 16th B ; Dec. 26, '63, to re-enlist.
Ballard, George F., Jan. 16, '62, '.^9th ; Jan. 16, "6.5, expiration of ser-
vice.
Brown, N'athan, Jan. 18, '•"•2, navy ; March. '6.i. expiration of service.
Bemis, A. Percy, 13th B ; deserted.
BArnes, Otis U., Nov. 28, '61, 32d B ; Feb. 'J. '63, disability.
B,fcroea. George L, Oct. 2S, '61. 32d B ; Kov. 23, '62, sickness. Promoted
2d lieut.
Baldwin, William F.. Nov. 11, '■ 1, 3'M B ; died July 2S, '63, of wounds
received at Gettysburg.
Blancbard, William L., .\ug. 29, '62, Hlh E . June IS, '63. expiration
uf service,
Brogao, Michael, Sept. 16, '62, 5th K ; July 2, *63, expiration of ser-
vice.
Blanchard. Edward B.. Aug. 29, '62, 44th E; June 18, '63, expiration
of service.
Baldwin, Frank, Sept. 12, "62, 44th E ; June 18, '63, expiration of ser.
vice.
Barnes, Theodore L., Sept. 12, '62, 44th E ; June 18, '63, expiration of
of service. Died at home .April 4, '64.
Brady, James W, Jan. 4, '64, 4th cav.
Blake, John D., Feb. 4, '64, 56th I; died Sept. 16, '64. a prisonerat
Richmond.
I oppenger. J>.hn. June ■_".(, '61, 16tb H ; Nov. 10, 62, .Usability.
Cousens. Ivory L., Aug. 1"*, *62, 32d K ; June 29, '6.j, expiration of
service.
Couseus, .Samuel, .\ug. 13, 'f.2, 32d K ; Dec. 20, "64, expiration of
service.
Crosby, Charles C. .\ug. 21, '61, 21et D ; Sept. 24, '6 1, expiration of
service.
I'onnelly, Patrick, June 2D. '61, 16lh H ; June 29, '64, expiration of
f-ervice.
I'oolidge, James E., July 23, '6'2, 35lh I' ; June 9, '65, expiration of
service.
Corrigan, Joeeph, July '2, '61, IGth K ; killed June 18. '62. at Fair Oaka.
I'ox, Michael, July 2. '61, 16th C.
Caughey, George H.. Sept. 17, '61, 1st cav. M ; Dec., '64.
Cunningham, William, Oct. 28, '61, tst cav. H ; Feb. 11, 'SI, disability.
Re-enlisted '64.
Connelly, Michael, June 13, "61, lltb D.
Cullen, Michael, Jan. 13, '61, 28th I ; Jan. 1, '64, to re-«nll«t.
Cloudman, William H., June 20, '61, 16th H ; July 27, '64. Promoted
sergt. major.
Corey, George H., Sept. R, '61, 3d battery ; Sept. 16, '64, expiration of
service.
Carey, John. Jlay I. ■«!, 28th C ; Nov. 21, '62.
Chapin, Ezra, June 29, '61, 16th H; July 27, '64, expiration ot
service.
Clasby, Daniel J. June2»,'M, I6th H; Aug. 28, '63. wounds received
at Chancellorsville.
Conlan, J., Sept. 23, '61, let cav. L ; April 20. '64, to re-enlirt. Final
discharge, Nov. 14, '65.
Carney, John, Sept. 23 '61, 1st cav. L ; Aug. 19, '64, disability.
Clarke, Charles E., July 2, '61, 16th K ; July 27, '64, expiration of
service,
Cousens, George B., Aug. 17, '61; 18th H ; '65, expiration of service.
Carson, F. D., Aug. 29, '62, 6th K ; July 2, '63, expiration of service.
Carson, E. C, Aug. 29, '62, 5th K ; July 2, '63, expiration of service.
Collins. John, Sept 16, '62, 5th K ; July 2, '63, expiration of service.
Crowley, William, Sept. 16, '62, 5th K ; July 2, '63, expiration of
service.
Collins, John, Sept. 16, '62. 5th K ; July 2, '63, expiration of service.
Crowley, F. C, lieut. Sept. 16, '62. 5th K ; July 2, '63, expiration of
service.
Curtis, John D., Sept. 16, '62, 5th K ; July 2. '63, expiration of service.
Curtis, J. H., Sept. 12, '62, 44th F ; June 18. '63, expiration of service.
Connors, Timothy, 4th excelsior brigade. No further record.
Cousens, Charles W., Feb. 4, '64, 56th L
Carr, Henry C, June 29. "61, 16th H ; killed May 3, '63, at Chancellors-
ville.
Darling, Gardner H., June 29, '61, 18th H ; Jaly 24, '64, expiration of
service, severely wounded.
] Donahoe, John H.. Dec. 26, '61, 99th N. T.
Darling, Charle* H., Sept. '20, '61, 1st cav. U ; '65, expiration of service.
I Re-enlisted '64. Final discharge Nor. 14. '65.
Dillon. John, June 29, '61, 1st cav. H ; died Oct. 7, 62, of wounds
received at Bull Run.
Dennett, E., Sept. 23, '61. 1st cav. M; Sept. 24, '64, expiration of
service.
Durivage, Henry A., Dec. 6, '61, 30th cav. ^ drowned, April 22, '62, near
the mouth of Miss, river.
Dwelle, George B, .\ug. 6, '62, .35th D; June 9, '65, expiration of
service.
Doberty, Edward, killed at Chancellonvllle.
Daily, John. Sept 16, "62,5th K ; July 2, '6,3, expiration of service.
Dean, William, Sept. 12, '62, 44th E ; June 18, '63, expiration of service.
Dannigan, John, Jan. 6. '64, 56th F ; died June 3, '64, in the service at
Philadelphia.
Emerson, Warren A., June 29, '61, 16th H ; June 8. '62, arm amputated.
Edson, Henry, Aug. 16, '61, 16th G ; July 27, '64, expiration of service.
Emerson, George N., Jnly 29, '61, 13th B.
Emerson. Warren F., Aug. 29, '62, 44th B ; June 18, '63, expiratloD
of service.
Egan, Thomas, Dec. 13, .61, 28th E ; died at Belle Isle prison, Jan. '64.
Fogg, William, Oct. 7, '61, 23d K ; May 7, '63, disability.
Frost, Charies L., Sept. 23, '61, 1st cav. M ; Sept 24, '64, expiration of
service.
Frost, Leslie D., July, '62, naval ; served on the vessels Sonoma and
Savannah.
Fairbanks, Luman F., June 27, '61, 6th H ; killed July 2, '63, at Gettys-
burg.
Flannery, Lawrence. July 31, '62, 36th D ; June 9, '65. expiration of
eervice.
' Field, George F., July 25, '62, 35tb D; June 9, *65, expil«tioQ of service.
I Fisher, Henry N., Ang. 10, '62, 35th D; March 4, '63, wound received
I at Antietam.
! Forsyth, John Jr. June 29, '61, 16th H ; killed July 3, '63, at Gettys-
I burg.
I Fisher. James H., April 21, '61, 16th H ; July 27, '64, expiration of
j service, wounded.
I FlUebrown. Oliver, Sept. 23, '61, Ut cav. M ; Sept. 24, '64, expiratioD
I of service.
I FUlehrown, Henry A., 5th battery ; expiration of service.
I Fall^ George F., May 5. '61, N. T. D; killed at Gettysburg.
1 Foster, Matthias 8., Jan. 29, '61, 16th H ; July 27, '64, expiration of
I service, promoted lleiit.
724
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Field, Edward H., S«pl. 1, 01, 1ft rav. M ; Sept. H, ■>;4, eipimtion ..f | llarueil, David, July 2, 'fil, Ifilh K ; Der. 22. '1.2, ilisahjlity.
service. ! Holbntok, Jt^epb, .lime 29, ''il, l^th H ; diwl .it Falmouth, Va., diseww.
Fieher, Charles R., Sept. 1«, '02, ."ith H ; .Inly 2, 'i.:i, •\|iiiati.)n uf ncrvici'. Uenson, A. P., June 29, 'i.l, Ifllh H ; July 27, T,4, expiration of service.
Kiske, William F., .Sept. 16, 1,2, 6th K. H >vy, I'alrirk, Oct. 4, 'fil, 1st cav. M ; "04, expiration of service, re-
FillebrowD, George E, Sept. 12, BJ, 4llli E; June 1*. '.'., .xpirali'in of enlisted.
service. Hildietli. .lames ii., 40th A.
Farwell, tleorge iK.Sept. 12, '(i2, 17th A ; .Iiine IS, h-t, eTpirfliiun ..f Harnderi, Nathaniel A., Aug. 11, '112. 40lh .\.
service. Harndeo, Wilsou, .Xiig. II, '02, Ittth A.
Fiske, Marcus JI., Sept. 12, '62, 44lli A ; June IK, 'fi:, expiraliun ..f Hoyt, Utis, promoted i-apt. June 2!>, '<<\, 16tb H ; July ■27, h*. expiration
service. I of service, wounded at Bull Run.
Frost, G. Frank, Sept. 26, 't)2 4:.th A; July 7, '03, expiration ..f hervi.e. j Hodcden. .Sewell I,., June jO, hi, lilh H ; June 29, '04, expiration "I
Field, Lyman Jr., .lune 29, '01, lt.th H; killed at Fair n.ik*. .Iiiue 19, '02. I service
Farnum, tieorge \V., 23d E. Ilolbrook. Bradford, .lune 29. 'OI. loth H ; .Marob 23, "03, disability.
Flynn, Patrick, May 25, '61, 'id I , July 14, 'OS, expinition of service. '. Huntress, (.Jeorge E., June 2'.', '01. loth H ; June 29, lA, expiration of
Fletcher, William H, May '2:!, '01, Ist B r .^Inv 25, '04, expiration of ; service.
service ; pro. to Ist lieut. i Hull, Heury f,..Iune 29, '01, loth H ; -luly 27, '04. expiration of service.
; How, Henry W., .lune 29, '01, loth H . killed June 3ii, '02, .%t C.lendule.
Olenn, Robert. Sept. 0, 'ki, 1st rav. M ; Oct. 9, '04, expiration of service. ' Va.
Green, (harles, Jan. I, '02, 2t:tb E; Feb. 10, •6.'?, wound received nt 1 Hunt, r. R., Aup. 19, '61, Ist cav. M ; f>ctober. "04, expiration of service
Fredericksburg. 1 Howe, Miram F , Oct. 31, '01, Ist eav. I; .'Sept. 24, '04. expiration r,t
Gitiiian, .Michael, Dec, 01, 17th D ; Feb. 10, '05, expiration of service, j service.
Goodnon, A. W , June 29, '01, loih H ; July 27, 'i4, expiration of
service.
Goodnow, A. R., Sept. 2, '01, 22d .\ ; Oct. 17, '61, expiration of service.
Gay, C. S., .'^ept. 23, '01, 1st cav. M : Sept. 24, '04, expiratiim I'f service.
Gallagher, John. Oct. 2S, '6', Ist cav. H.
Gilson, Lemuel, September 19, "01, 1st cav. L ; Hec. 11, 02. disiibilit.v
Healy, John, June 29. '01. lOih H. Aug 12, 03, disability, wounded at
C'hancelloreville, Va.
Hart well, A. H., .Sept. 12, '02,44th A : June I.*^, "63. expiration uf service.
Hartwell, Henry \V., Sept. 12, 02, 44tb .\ . .luno l?i, '63, expiration of
service.
Hill, Edward L., Sept. 12, '02, 44tb A ; June 18. 'on, expiration of service
Grinnell. Amoa, June 20, '01, lOtb H . July 27, '04, expiration of ser- I Houshtoii, B. S., Sept. 10, 'i;2, illi K ; died at N'-wbem, N. '' , Jan., 1803.
vice. 1 Howe, rliai les A., Sept. 16, '02, ."jth K ; July 2, '03, expinitiou of service.
Grant, Daniel <;., .lune 29, '01, loth H : .luly 27, '04. expii-ation ol ..er- llulchiiisoii, .loliu A., .luly I, "01, loth E ; Jan. 2.t, '''■''■, expiration ..f
service ; re^enlisted in '"U.
Harrington, Charles F.. Oct. 20, '62. Andrews sharpshooters, Oct., '04,
expiration of service.
Johnson. George E., Sept. '23, '01, 1st cav. M ; .'^ept. 23, '•'■4, expiration of
service,
.lenkins, William. Xixg. 11, '62, 40tli A ; June, '0.=,, expiration of sen'ice.
.Joyce, P.itrick, Sept. 16, '62, 5th K; July 2, '6.3, expirntioii uf service.
.Inckson, A. M., Jlay 5, '61, 74lh S. V. D ; Sept. 27, '02, disability.
Galloway, Charles, June 29, r.I, Kith H : -Nov. 16, i.2, disability.
Goodnow, E. W., Sept. 23. r 01, 1st cav L; resigne.l 'OS, promoted to
1st lieutenant.
Gmy, George, Dec 21, 0.1, 20th I . Jan. 1, '01, hospital steward.
Green, George M., .lune 29, '01, loth H , Aug. 12, 03, wounded nl
Chancellorsville In the hip.
Garrity, John, July 2.5, 02, 3.MI1 P.
Gibbe, .lohn 91., Sept. 12, '02, 11th F ; .June 1«, 03, expiration of ser-
„.,, ' , . '■ Kane, Rogers, Jan. 1, '62, died Aug. 4, 'h2, at the hospital.
G. lespie, John, Sept. 10, ■,,2, .sth K ; died June 23, '01, near Peters- 1 ^^ ,„,„„,, ^ j„„, 2„ .^1. ,„i, „ , p,,. ,^, ■,,,,, disability, wounded
burg.
Grant, Samuel, Sept. 1, 02, 5th K ; .luly 2. '03, expiration of service. ^■^X. Thorn""' June 28, 01. loth U , Jan. 29, '63, wound io the head.
Gibbs, Frank F., .^ept. 12. '02, »th A ; June 18, ra, expimtion of see ^j^ „,,.,„j„ g q,, „_ .„,_ ,„ ,.„. ,, _ >,„,. ,4, 05. expiration of ser-
vice. i 1, . I
vice, ad absent sick.
..!':.- f"' '"'"'"' ""'"■ "• ''■'• '" ""'■ '' • *■'"■'■■ ■■'■ '*^' ""'" ■*"""'' , Ki'l'l", Charles L., .> iig. Z>, '02,;^Hh D ^ Feb. 0, '6i, disability, wounded
I at Antielam.
Kimball. Lafayette. June 29, '61, loth H ; Jan. 0, '03. disability.
request.
Holbrook, Charles, served in the navy.
Hutchins, H. E., served in the navy.
Howard, Henry W., Aug. 1 1, '02, isth K ; 0.1, expiration of service ;
promoted to captain.
Hastings, Charles E., July 31, '02, :i5th Pi March 13, '63, disability.
Holland, Henry, 17th H.
Hickey, Edward, June 29, '01, I6tb H; killed July .1, 03, at Gettys-
burg.
Horey H. I.., Sept. 23, '01, 1st rav. M ; May 22. '03, disability.
Harlow, S. R., Aug. 24, '61, 20th ; Nov. 21, 'Si disability.
Hoyt, William R., Sept. 23, 01, 1st cav. L ; Sept. 24, '64, expiration of
service.
Hoyt, Charles N., June 29, 01, 10th H ; July 14. '0.1, expiration of service.
Howard, Andrew F., Sept. 20, '01, loth H ; July '27, '64, expiration of
service.
Holbrook, Maynnnl. Aug. 14, '0-2, 40lh C ; killed at Cold Harbor, 1864
Kiiuliall, Geo. H., Apr. 10, 01, I3th B ; Jan. 31, '02, com. 4th La., N. A.
Kenney, Patrick, -luly 2, '01, 10th K ; Jan. 20, "63, disability.
Kelley, .leremiah, Aug. 24, '61, 19th 1 ; spring "60, expiration of
service.
Kendall, Charles P., Sept. 23, '61, let cav. .M , Sept. 24, '64, expiration
of service.
[Calhuer, Daniel, Pec. 13. '01, 2''lli I, Nov. IT, 05, expiration "f
service.
Kendall, Amory H., Aug. 29, '62, )4tli E; June l.s, la, expiration of
service.
Kennedy, Martin. Apr. *02. navy ; tA*t., '04. expiration of service, vessel
UaratauBA.
Keith, Theodore S , acting as imsistant surgeon.
Lane Leonard C, .luly 1, I8O.3, loth E ; wounded Mine Run. '03, disahil-
ity, Dec. 15, 1804.
Hall, Frank C, July 31. '1.2, x;th D; June 9, '(«, expiration of service. ' Luce, Charles, .lune 29, 01, loth H ; Nov. 23, 02, disability.
Hatch, Edward, June 29, CI, I6th H; killed .May .3, '0:1, at Chancellors- Luce, Henry B., June 29, '01, loth II ; July 14, '05, expiration ..f ser-
''"»■ ^'>^ , vice, re-enlisted July II. '04.
Hatch, David G., June '29, '01, loth U ; killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July Lombard, R. T., June 29, '01, 16th H ; lieutenant, proni.jted captoin of
-. '•'3. Co. F, nth Keg., '04, afterward iimjor Uth Reg.
Harrington, Herman P., July 2, '01, lOtli K ; July, '64, expiration of Locke, William M., April 26, '61, loth H ; July 27, '64. expiration of
service. service.
Haye^ William. Oct. 5, '61, Ist cav. M ; died '63, at hospital Hilton ' Lawton. George, June 29, '61. 16lh H ; killed July 3, '63, at Gettysbur-;,
Head. Pa_
Hickey, Thomaa, Sept 23, '61, Ist cav. M ; '65, expiration of service ; re- Lawleal, John, navy ; was present at the taking of Mobile.
enlisted in '64. j Loyd, John, navy, aseistant engineer.
WALTHAM.
725
Livennore, WilUam B., Sept. 12, '02, 44tli E ; JUDS 18, '63,eipii«tion of
wrrice.
Lano, Ck)rneliuB C, Sept. 12, '62.
Lawrence, Nathan N., Dec. 6, 01, cav. attached to 3l)th Reg., June 16,
•62, Jiaabllity.
Moore, M. A.. Capt. Sept., "01, Ist cav. II ; ra, lilsability, died at Wal-
than, '64.
Mann, EUaa, Aug. 8, '02, Mth ; Oct. 10, 'i;5, expiration of service, died
Oct. l:l, TO, of lung fever caused by exposure in the service.
Miller, Leonard H., Aug. 14, 'C-2, 38th K ; died In New Orleani, July 13,
'6.3, of disease.
McAdams, Thomas, July 25, '62, 35th D; Jlay •28, '63, disability,
wounded, died at Walthani, March 26, *65.
Miles, Francis, Sept. 23, '61, let cav. M ; died Oct. 10, '62, of fever, at
Port Royal.
Marron, James. Sept. 2.3. '61, Ist cav. M ; Slarch 29, '63, disability. Re-
enlisted, talien prisoner and confined at Libby Prison, Va.
McNaraee, Jaraes, June 29, 01, IGth H ; July 27, 'M, expiration of ser-
vice.
O'Brien, Patrick, Sept. 23, '61, 1st car. M; discharged, re-enlisted.
O'Hem, Patriclc, Jan. 16, '62, 99th N. Y. ; July, '65, expiration of ser-
vice, re-enlisted Feb. 18, '64.
Parker, Anderson E., June 29, '61, 16th H ; Dec. 27, '63, disability.
Powers, Edwards, Oct. 5, '01, 1st cav. L ; Oct. 5, '64, expiration of ser-
vice.
Peabody, Henry W,, July 25, '62, 35th D ; Jan. 9, '85, explrsUon of ser-
vice.
Beck, John M , Sept. 16, '61, Uth Band ; Aug. 15, '62, Law discharging
military bands of music.
Perry, John, June 29, '61, 16th H ; June 29, '64, expiration of ser-
vice.
Polechio, Joseph, June 29, '61, ICth H ; June 29, '04, expiration of ser-
vice, transferred to Co. D.
Piper, Nahom, June 29, "61, loth H ; July '27, '64, expiration of ser-
vice.
Parks, J. L., Sept 23, "61, Ist cav. M ; Feb, ■63,dlnbiUty.
Powers, John E., June 29, '61, I6th H ; '6:1, disability.
Parks, George E., Sept. 14, '01, lat cav. M ; Sept. 24, '64, expiration of
McGuire, Patrick, '62, iSth U ; died in New York in consequence af p^^^ Charles H., June 29, '61, 16th H ; July 26, '63, disability.
wounds received in battle.
Murray, William, Sept. 23, '01, 1st cav. M ; Sept. 24, '64, expiration of
service.
5IcLearing, Barnard, 99th N. Y.
Mc.Mullen, Patrick, Sept. 17, 'lil, 24th D ; Sept. 17, '64, expiraUon of
service.
Manson, Frederick, Aug. 14, '62, 40th A ; May 23, '65, expiration of
service.
McLellan, F., 28th G.
:\Ule3, Thomas, Sept. 23, '01, Ist cav. M ; Jan. I'J, '65, resigned, flrst lieu-
tenant.
Mullaney, Matthew J., Apr. 30, HI, 10th li ; Oct. 20, '1/2, wounds re-
ceived at Gtendale, June 30, '02.
May, George T., -May 5, '61, 11th D ; June 20, "64, expiration of ser-
vice.
McOunigal, Barner, July 12, '01, IClh K ; died at Andersooville Prison-
July 29, '84.
McGuinneas, Francis, July 22, '61, 17th U ; Aug., '04, expiration of ser-
vice.
MiiCk, Thomas F.. .luly 24, '61, 2ntli H ; March .i, '62, disability.
McAvoy, Andrew, Dec. 16, '01, 30th I ; Jan. 1, '64, to re-enlist.
.Murphy, Thomas, July, '62, SOth ; July 0, '63, e.xpiration of service.
Moure, Charies F., April, "01, 16th H ; July 27, '04, e,\piration of ser-
vice.
.Manton, Patrick, Sept. 23, '61, lat cav. L: Sept. 24, '64, expiration of
service.
Mc.Mahau, Jubn, Aui;, 2'J, 01, 13th B; Aug. I, '04, expiration of ser-
vice.
McVey, Patrick, Sept. 23, 61, 24th I ; Oct. 3, '63, disability.
Manning, John, navy.
Murray, James, Dec. 11, '01, 0th Mass. battery ; died In New Orleans,
Dec. 10, '02.
Maynard, George H., Feb. 22, '01, 13th D ; Feb. 17, 'ftl, for promotion.
.Millar, William K., Sept. 12, '02, 44th D; July 2, '63, expiration of ser-
vice.
Millar, Leslie, S^pt, 12, 02, 44th E : June 18, '03, expiraliun of service.
Millar, Thomai, Aug. 19, '02, 5th K ; July 2, '■3, expiration of service.
McBiide, Michael, Sept. 16, '02, 5th K ; died on passage home from New
bero, N. C, 02.
Murse, Lcwellyu, Sept. 20, '02, 45th G ; May 7, '03, e.tplnifluu of ser-
vice.
.Moore, John F., Aug. iS, 02, 44th E ; June 18, '03, eipiratiou of ser-
vice.
.Matthews, William !£., June 29, 'lil, loth H . July 27, 04, expiration of
service.
.M urray, Uenry, July, '64, OOth G ; '65, expiration of service, rcenlisled
Dec. 24, '04.
Moore, Darius B.. July 13, '63, 32d D ; killed at l-aurel Hill, Va., May
12, 64.
Noouan, Edward J., Sept. 23, '61, 1st cav. L ; re-enlisted.
Nelson, Samuel, Sept. 16, '02, 5th K ; July 3, '63, e.xpiratiun uf ser-
vice.
Newcomb, John S., Dec. 3, 'b',',, 2d U. artillery G ; died Aug., 04, at
.\adenonville priaou.
Peterson, Joseph, .^ug. 22, 02, 40th B ; June 16, '05, expiration of ser-
vice.
Palmer, Mason M., June '29, '61, 16th H ; Dec. 24, '02, disability.
Parmenter, Henry W., Juno M, '61, loth U ; June 29, '64, expiration of
service, messenger at Washington, D. C, '06.
Potter, James M., June 20, 01, loth H ; Sept. 15, '6.3, disability.
Peck, William R., Sept. 17, '61, let cav. L ; Jan. 4, '04, hospital stew-
ard.
Pope, George B., Sept. 12, '62, 44th E ; June 18, '63, expiration of ser-
vice.
Parsons, Charles G., -Vug. 0, '62, 11th Mass. battery ; L. A. July 7, '63,
expiration of service.
Parsons, William H., Sept. 16, '62, 5th K ; July 2, '63, expiration of
service.
Perkins, Joseph S., Aug. 19, '62, 6th K ; July 2, '03, expiration of ser- .
vice.
Priest, Francis H., Sept. 10, '62, .ith K ; died in the service at Newberu.
Priest hod been with the company from Newbern to Goaldsboro', N.
C. ; hod marched 160 miles . was returning aick and exhausted ; in
sight of Newbern he exclaimed, •' Thank God, we are near home, " aud
soon after died.
Quakers, John, July 2, 'CI, 161h K ; Jan. 14, '<», disability.
Quinn, James, Jan., '02, 'J9th N. Y.
ijualters, Lawrence, July 25, '02, 35th D ; June 9, 05, expiration of ser-
vice.
ijualtera, M. J., Oct. 12, '61, 1st cav. L ; Nov. 15, '65, expiration of ser-
vice, re-enliated in '64 4tb cav. L.
RooTiy. Jamea, Sept. 23, '01, 1st cav. U ; .\pril 15, 'M, to re-eulist; re-
enlisted. Died at Waltham from exposure in Libby prison.
Ryan, George W,, Nov. 21, 61, 32d B ; Jan. 22. 'OJ, disability.
Ryan, Samuel, Dec. 13, '61, 30th I ; Jan. 0, 00, promotion to V. 3. C. T.
1st lieut. of Ist Inf. Corps D'Afrique.
Reed, Lewis A., June 29, '01, 18th H; July 2. '64, expiration of ser-
vice.
Rogers, John S.. Sept. 23, "01, 1st cav. M; '65, expiration of service,
re-enlisted "04.
Ttiddle, H. W., Sept. 23, '01, 1st cav. M -, Sept. 24, '64, expiration of
service, as absent, sick.
Rupert, Charles, June 2'J, '01. 161b H ; July 27, '64, expiration of ser-
vice. Isl lieul. Feb. 14, '64.
Russell, John H., June ."J, '81,16th U ; May 6, '03, disability, wounded
Nov., '01.
Rodman, John, July 2, '01, lOlh K.
Rogera, Francis P. H., lieut., June 29, '61, 10th H; killed at Fair Oaks,
Va., June 19, '02, promoted to 1st lieuL
Robinson, N. S., June -29, '61, 16th H ; Oct. 17, 03, disability.
Eobiiison, William II., June 29. 01, 16th H ; Feb. 16, '03. disability.
Robinson, George F., June 29. '01, loth H; Dec. 31, '82, wound received
June 18, '02, near Fair Oaks.
Robinson, Hiram A., Nov. 28, '01, 3'2d B : June 29, 'la, expiration of
service, re-eulialed Jan. 5, '64.
Rogers, Patrick, Nov. 9, '01. navy, served on the vessel " Sagamore."
Robeits. WilUam, chief engineer, .\ug. 15, '55, navy resigned Sept., '59
726
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
reenured '61 ; served on veeseU '* Michigan," *' Koanoke," '* Fulton,"
** Memphta," *' Niagara," " HouBatonic."
Band, Nahnm, Sept. 10, '62, 0th K ; July 2, 'C3, to re-eolist, re-enlisted
and died in AnderBonville, Aug, 13, *61.
Scott, Edward S., June 29, '61, 16th H ; Feb. 9, 63, for disability.
Stickney, George A., July 22, '62, 36th D ; June 9, '65, expiration of ser-
vice.
Smith, Simeon, June 29, '01, 16th H ; Oct. 2. '62, disability, died on hia
way home.
Spring, George W., July 31, '62, 35th D ; June 9, '65, expiration of ser-
vice.
Steams, William A., June 29, 61, leth H UcL 29, '62, disability,
ijmith, John F., June 29, '61, 16th H ; July 14, '65, expiration of ser-
vice, re-enlisted in the 11th Inf.
Sanderson, John L., Sept. 23, '61, Ist cav. JI ; Sept. 24, '64, expiration
of service.
Sanderson, Henry B., July 2, '61, 10th K ; July 27,' '64, expiration of
service.
Sullivan, Daniel, Sept. 13, '61, 29th A ; died Feb. 15, '63, at New Or-
leans.
Sherman, Hiram G., July 31, '62, 35th D ; Sot. 29, '64, expiration of
service, promoted to 2d lieut.
Sanderson, Geo. 0, Oct. 5, '61, Ist cav. L. ; Oct. 5, '04, expiration of
service.
Stearn?, William H., July 12, '61, 16th H ; July 27, '64, expiration of
service.
Stedman, John, April 20, '61, 16th H ; July 27, '64, expiration of ser-
vice.
Sawin, John C, Sept. 23, '61, Ist cav. 51 ; Sept. 24, '64, expiration of
service.
St. John, George B.,June '29, '61, ICth H ; Feb. 14, '63, disability.
Smith, John J., July '2, '61, 16th K ; Feb. 11, '63, disability.
Sanderson, Converse S., Oct. 5, '61, Ist cav. L ; Oct. 5, '64, expiration of
Hervice, transferred to Co. L, 4th cav.
Sawyer, Charles H., Oct. 23, '61, Ist cav. 31 ; Oct. 23, '04, expiration of
service, transferred to Co. M, 4lh cav.
.Savage, Samuel O., June .'9, '01, 10th H; 2d Lieut. May o, '63, disabil-
ity, died at Washington of wounds received at Chancellorsviile.
Soule, John W., June '29, '01, 16th H ; July 27, '64, expiration of ser-
vice, wounded at Gleodale.
Stone, George G., June 29, '61, 16th H ; diedat Waltbam, Feb. 24, '65,
transferred to V. R. C. Mar. 15, '04, surgeon's clerk, '66,
Sherman, Robert C, Aug. '61, loth K ; killed July2, '62, at Fair Oaks,
Va.
Sanderson, Horace, July ■:, '61, 16th K ; killed May 3, '03, at Chancel.
lorsvllle, Va.
Sullivan, Dennis, Sept. 16, '62, 5taK ; July 3, '63, expiration of service.
■Smith, Thomas G., Sept. 16, '62, 6th K ; July 2, '03, expiration of ser-
vice.
Smith, Edward P., Sept. 12, '62, 44th E ; June 18, '63, expiration of ser
vice.
Sherman, John M., Sept. 12, 62, 44th E, June 16, '63, expiration uf ser-
vice.
Steamn, Ephraim, Sept. '26, '62, 45tb li ; July 7, '63, expiration of ser-
vice.
Smith, Thomas P., Sept. 26, '62, 45th G , July 7, '63, expiration of
service.
Smith, John S., May 6, '61, 5th Excelsior Brigade, N. Y. ; '64, disability.
Sullivan, Jamea, 35th D.
Stickney, Warren, June '29, '61, 16th U ; July 27, '64, expiration of ser-
vice.
Smith, William A., June 29, '61, loth U , Not. 4, '61, disability, lal
lieuL, died at home from exposure in the army.
Stjckuay, Thomas EL, Feb. 4, '04, o6tb I ; May 29, '64, killed at North
Anna River, Va.
ThompflOD, Samuel, Sept. 23, 'bl, Idt cav. M; Sept., '64, expiration of
derrice.
Townsend, Jacob G., Juno 29, '61, loth H ; Mot. 21, '62, disability.
'Crayner, Charles, May 5, '62, 2d I ; July 3, '63, ha was killed at Gettys-
burg.
Teadley, Daniel, 19th L
Thompson, Thomaa W., Aug. 0, '62, 36tb D ; June 13, '66, uxpiiutiuu of
serrice.
Thompson, M. M., Aug. 16, '62, 36th I>; Aug. 9, '65, arm shot uB at
Trenton, N. J., July*. '65.
Thomaa, Hiram, Aug. 10, '62, 3.'ith D, May 11, '65, disability.
Thompson, Levi, June 29, '61, 16th H : Dec. '20, '63, to re-enlist.
Thompson, C. H., July, '61, 16th K ; July 27, '64, expiration of service.
Thayer, John O., Dec. 19, '61, Ist cav. M ; '64, disability, died in Cali-
fornia from exposure in service.
Taylor, James C.,Sept '61, 3:d K ; Feb. '03, disability.
Tower, Herman C, Sept. 12,62, 44th E ; June 18,'03, expiration of aervico
Tbomp!<on, Henry R., Sept. 26, '62, 45th A ; July 7, '63, expiration of
service.
Townsend, James A., 42d.
Viles, John, July 16, '61, 13th : Sept. 1, '6'2, by act of Congress.
Viles, John E., July 1, '61, 16th H ; July 27, '64, expiration of service.
Viles, Walter S., Juno 20, '61, 5lh D, Sickles' Brig.; July 23, '63, leg
amputated.
Whitney, John H., July 26,'62, 35th D , June9,'65, expiration of service.
Wyman, John M., July 25, '62, 35th D ; April 23, '63, disability.
Whitney, William G., July 29, '61, 10th H ; July 27. '64, expiration o(
service.
Whiting, Charles A., June 29, '61, 16th H ; July, 27, 04, expiration ol
service.
Wormwood, A. F., Oct. 5, '61, Ist cav. M , Sept. 24, '64, expiration of ser-
vice.
Wheeler, George E., June 29, '61, 10th H ; Jan. 19, '63, disability.
Wheeler, Charlei M , July 25, '62, 36th D : April, '6i, wound in arm,
transferred to V. R. C.
Wheeler, Edward B., Aug. 16, '62,35th D ; '62, disability, reenlisted
and discharged Feb. 27, '03.
Wills, William B., June 29, '61, 16th H ; Oct. 18, '62, while swelling
on the knee.
Wright, Henry E., June '20, '61, 10th H ; Dec. 4, '62, wound in left hip.
Wright, AInion. June29, '61, 16th H ; July 27, '64, expiration of service.
Wright, Jason B., June 29, '61, IClh H ; July •2'2, '63, disability, leg am-
putated.
Wright, Lyman, June 29, '61, lOtli U , Jan. 29, '63, disability.
Whitcomb, Horace G., Oct. 5, '61, l6t cav. M; '65, expiration of service.
Waters, Michael, Oct. 5, '61, 1st cav. M -, June 2, 03, disability.
Weeks, Albert, Jan. 1, '64, 26th E ; .iug. 20, '05, expiration of oervice.
Waters, William, Dec. 13, '61, ^Slb D.
Vilkins, Ira D., Jr., July 12, '61, 16th G ; Jan. 4, '64, to re-enliat.
Wood, William, Aug, 14, '02, 38th E ; July 23, '63, disability.
Wellington, Nathan, July 25, '6-2, 35th D ; June 9, '05, expiration of
ser\'ice.
Wellington, F. D., June 29, '61, 16th H ; May 13, '63, disability, injured
severely by the falling of a tree.
Whitney, George A., Feb. 9, '62, 32d F ; April 19, '65, expiration of
service.
Wellington, John M., Sept. 12, '62, 44th A ; June 18, 03, expiration of
service,
Wellington, George F S., Sept. 12, '62, 44th A ; June IS, '63, expira-
tion of serTice.
Wellington, Wm. S., Sept. 12, '62 44th A ; June 18, '63, expiration uf
service.
Warren, Nathan, Sept. 26, '62, 45th G ; July 7, '63, expiration of service.
Whitney, Henry L., Sept. 26, '62, 45th A ; July 7, '03, explratioo of service.
Whitcomb, Otis A., Sept. IC, '62, 6th K ; July 2, '63, expiration of service.
Whalen, John H., Sept. 16, '62, 5th K ; July 2, '63, expiration of service
Wormwood, James G., Sept. 19, '62, jth K ; July 2, '63, expiration of
service.
WInslow, Zenas, Sept. 16, '62, 5th K -, July 2, '63, expiration of aervico
Wellington, Junes L., March 3, '62, 32d F ; '05, expiration of service.
CHAPTER XLVII.
WALTMAM—[ Continued).
BY JOHN W. WILLIS. .'H D.
Among the earlier doctore of Waltham was Uriali
Hagar, M.D., who studied with Dr. Spring and Dr.
Hunnewell, of Watertown. He probably took his
medical degree at Harvard.
He was born in 1776, and began practice in Walt-
WALTHAM.
727
ham about 1800. For nearly twenty years he was the
only doctor in Waltham. He died in 1841.
Ebenezer Hobbs, A.M., M.D., was born in Weston
in 1794. Graduated from Harvard in 1814 ; received
his medical degree there in 1817, and settled in Walt-
ham. He continued in practice but a few years,
when he was appointed to the responsible position of
superintendent of the Booton Manufacturing Com-
pany of this town, which office he held for more than
forty years, till failing health, which immediately
preceded his death, compelled his resignation. A
part of this time he was also the treasurer of this large
corporation. He left its affairs in a highly prosper-
ous condition.
This formal record falls short of showing the great
influence which for many years he exerted upon the
affairs of Waltham. A gentleman dignified, yet
kindly, in manner; one to whom leadership is natur-
ally accorded. He belonged to a school which seems
to be passing from among us. He died in 1863. His
successor seems to have been Samuel Luther Dana,
A.M., M.D., LL.D., who was born at Amherst, N. H.,
July 11, 1795. He was prepared for college at Phil-
lips Academy, Exeter, N. H., and with his brother,
the late Prof. James Freeman Dana, entered Harvard
in 1809.
The brothers were endowed with a love for the
Natural Sciences, and entered upon the study of cer-
tain branches of it with great enthusiasm. They often
made excursions through the country lying thirty
miles around Boston for the purpose of examining its
geological structure and collecting mineralogical
specimens.
The result of these researches was a volume pub-
lished by the brothers in 1818, entitled the " Miner-
alogy and Geology of Boston and its Vicinity."
Immediately after graduating, in 1813, young Dana
commenced reading law with his uncle, Judge Samue!
Dana, then residing in Charlestown.
Having, however, a military inclination, stimulated,
perhaps, by the times, he received, March 12, 1814, an
appointment as third lieutenant in the United States
First Regiment of Artillery. May 1st following he
was promoted to second lieutenant, and servefl
through the war with Great Britain, in New York
and Virginia.
At the close of the war, in 1815, the army was re-
duced, but Lieutenant Dana was offered retention iu
the artillery arm, which he declined, and resigned
his commission May 31, 1815.
Shortly afterward he commenced the study of medi-
cine with Dr. Amos Bancroft, of Groton, Massachu-
setts. He received his medical degree and com-
menced the practice of his profession in Gloucester,
Massachusetts, in 1818.
From 1819 to 1826 he practiced in Waltham, re-
liuquishing which, he established there a chemical
laboratory for the manufacture of oil of vitriol and
bleaching salts.
He subsequently founded the Newton Chemical
Company, occupying grounds which were then a part
of Newton, but since annexed to Waltham.
He was manager and chemist for this company
until 1834.
He then received the appointment of resident and
consulting chemist to the Merrimac Manufacturing
Company, Lowell, Massachusetts, whither he moved,
and performed the duties of that office until his death,
which occurred March 11, 1868.
Dr. Dana was an original investigator, especially
in chemistry as applied to the industrial arts, and
made many original observations and discoveries,
notably in the manufacture of sulphuric acid. His
investigatioi^s into the more obscure points of the art
of printing on cotton-cloth shed much light upon the
subject, and led to many improvements in the pro-
cess. His discoveries with respect to bleaching cot-
ton were first published in the " Bulletin de la Soci6t6
Industrielle de Mulhause.''
The principles there established have led to the
American methods of bleaching, of which Persez, in
his " Traits de I'Impression des Tissues," says, " It real-
ized the perfection of chemical operations." While
in England in 1833 he published a clear exposition
of the changes which occur in the manufacture of
sulphuric acid.
When the discussion of the dangers arising from the
use of lead pipes for conveying water for drinking
purposes came up in this country he took part in it,
writing several pamphlets and making a report to the
City Government of Lowell upon the subject.
His translation and systematic arrangement of the
treatise of " Tanguerel on Lead Diseases " was an im-
portant contribution to medical knowledge.
Dr. Dana gave much time to agricultural experi-
ments, especially with reference to manures, and his
" Farmers' Muck Manual" was a very valuable dis-
cussion and exposition of an important subject. His
" Essay on Manures '' received the prize offered by
the Massachusetts Agricultural Society in 1843.
Dr. Dana enjoyed the friendship and acquaintance
of the leading scientific men of this country and
Europe. He was twice married, his wives being
sisters, daughters of Rev. Joseph Willard, president
of Harvard University from 1781 to 1804.
Dr. Dana received the degree of LL.D. from Am-
herst College in 1847.
Horatio Adams, M.D. was born in 1801. He took
his medical degree from Harvard in 1826, and in 1857
the honorary degree of A.M. was conferred upon
him also by Harvard.
His whole professional life was spent in Waltham.
Very early in his residence here he took a prominent
and leading position in his profession. In 1858 he
gave the annual address before the Massachusetts
Medical Society, and all through his life, by voice
and pen, joined prominently in discussions of the
medical questions of the day. A paper on the action
728
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
of water on lead pipe, written by him, was published
by the Maasachusetta Medical Society. He was prom-
inent in town afiairs, and was on the first Board of Di-
rectors of the Fitchburg Railroad.
He was also president of the American Waltham
Watch Company. He died in 1861.
Benjamin Faneuil D. Adams, son of Horatio
Adams, M.D., was born in Waltham in 1839. He
took the degree of A.B. in 1860 and M.D. in 1864,
from Harvard. After several months in Europe, he
commenced the practice of medicine in Waltham.
A large and responsible practice, in virtue of his own
merits as well as in remembrance of his recently de-
ceased and honored father, was at once accorded him.
He was chairman of the first Board of Health formed
in Waltham. He was obliged by ill health to relin-
quish practice in 1882, and has since lived in Colo-
rado Springs, Colorado.
Theodore Kittredge, M.D., was one in the long
line of physicians of this name. The family line
both in the number of generations and individuals
seems of suflBcient interest to be in part recorded here.
It will be easier to follow the genealogy by numbering
the generations.
1st. John Kittredge, born in England, was one of
the founders of Billerica, where he received a lana
grant in 1660. He died there in 1676.
2d. Dr. John Kittredge, the first in the line of
physicians, was born in Billerica in 1666. He ap-
pears to have passed his life there and died in 1714.
3d. Dr. John Kittredge of Billerica, bom 1685,
died 1756.
4th. John Kittredge, born in 1709, appears not to
have been a physician, but the hereditary tendency
asserts itself directly with increased force for his son.
5th. Dr. Benjamin Kittredge, born 1741, died 1776,
leaving eight sons, every one of whom became phy-
sicans. They were named and located as follows :
6th. Benjamin, Exeter, N. H. ; Henry, Tewksbury,
Mass. ; John, Framingham, Mass. ; Jacob, Billerica,
Mass., removed to Gallipolis, Ohio, in 1815, and died
there in 1824 ; Rufus, Portsmouth, N. H.
7th. George, Epping, N. H. ; Theodore, Kittery,
Maine; Charles, Watertown, Mass.
8th. Dr. Theodore Kittredge, son of George, was
born in Epping, N. H., in 1801. He graduated from
the Harvard Medical School in 1823. He seems to
have practiced medicine in his native town till 1832,
when he removed to Waltham. He married Harriet
Winslow, daughter of the distinguished Rev. George
Pickering, one of the founders of Methodism in this
country, and among the first to preach it in Massachu-
setts. Dr. Kittredge was a man of much energy of
character. He had a large practice in Waltham, and,
from his prominence and extended acquaintance in
the Methodist denomination, was often called to sur-
rounding towns. He was a devoted member of the
then new sect, a class leader for many years. With
the exception of one year spent in Bath, Maine, the
remainder of his life from 1832 to 1879 was passed
in Waltham, making, with his Epping labors fifty-six
years of continuous and active practice. He died in
Waltham in 1879. He had two brothers, one of
whom. Dr. George Kittredge settled at Newmarket,
N. H. He was at one time a member of Congress
from New Hampshire. The other brother, Charles,
was a druggist.
9th. Dr. Frank Rufus Caleb Kittredge was born
in Epping, N. H., in 1828. He graduated from
Harvard Medical School in 1853. Most of his life
was passed in Waltham. He was a man of much
natural ability, well educated in his profession and
otherwise. His pecuniary necessities never compelled
labor, and he failed to take so prominent position in
bis profession as under other circumstances, his abilities
natural and acquired, would have commanded. He
died in 1888. It will be noticed that only the direct
line — although two hundred and twenty-five years in
length — has been followed from the first Dr. Kittredge
to the Waltham branch. There has been and are
many other doctors in and from other branches. It
may well be doubted if any other name in this or any
other country has furnished so many generations or
so large a number of physicans as has that of Kitt-
redge.
Royal S. Warren, M.D., was born in Alstead, N.
H., in 1822, and received his degree from Harvard
in 1846. He settled in Waltham in 1847, and
commanded a large practice, till, in 1865, he met with
a railroad accident from no fault of his. While cross-
ing the Fitchburg Railroad at Moody Street he was
run into and terribly injured. He was confined to
I his house for about a year, and barely escaped with
[ his life. He was permanently disabled. In 1868 and
' 1869 he represented Waltham in the Legislature. He
also served on the School Committee. He removed
; to Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1880, where he has
since resided.
Charles Dowse, M.D., was born in Brighton, Mass.,
in 1813. He was educated at Wesleyan University
and Harvard Medical School, where he took his
degree. For the last six years of his life he practiced
in Waltham, where he died in 1860. His widow, a
sister of Hon. Wm. Baldwin, of Boston, survives him.
The physicians, members of the Massachusetts
Medical Society, now resident in Waltham are :
Theron Temple, Berkshire Medical College, 1856.
Practiced in Waltham since 1882.
John Q. A. McCollester, Jefferson Medical College,
1856. Practiced in Waltham since 1888.
John W. Willis, Harvard, 1861. Practiced in Wal-
tham since 1861.
Edward R. Cutler, Harvard, 1863. Practiced in
Waltham since 1870.
Cornelius J. McCormick, Harvard, 1876. Practiced
in Waltham since 1876.
William F. Jarvis, Harvard, 1880. Practiced in
Waltham since 1882.
WALTHAM.
729
Alfred Worcester, Harvard, 1883. Practiced in
Wallham since 1883.
Henry A. Wood, Harvard, 1883. Practiced in
Waltham since 1887.
Claribel M. Hutctiinson, Woman's Medical College
of the New York Infirmary, 1887. Practiced in Wal-
tham since 1889.
Walter S. Hays, Bellevue Medical College, 1885.
Practiced in Waltham since 1889.
Wayland. — Among the older physicians of Way-
land, or East Sudbury, as it was then called, was
Ebenezer Roby, born in Boston in 1701, graduated at
Harvard in 1719. He settled in Wayland about 1720,
visited England, from whence his father came, in
1723, and traveled on the Continent. In 1730 he
married Sarah, daughter of Rev. John Swift, of Fram-
I ngham.
One of the wedding presents from the father to his
daughter was a negro slave. The house in which he
lived was burned quite recently. He continued in
the practice of medicine to the time of his death,
which occurred in 1772. His tombstone, now stand-
ing, testifies to the high esteem in which he was held
as a man and physician.
His successor was his son, Dr. Ebenezer Roby, Jr.,
who was born 1732, and died in 1786.
Dr. Joseph Roby, son of Ebenezer, Jr., succeeded
to the practice of his father ; making the third in line.
He died in 1801.
Dr. Nathan Rice appears to have been next in the
order of succession. He was born in Framingham in
1769, commenced the practice of medicine in Way-
land in 1796, and died there in 1814. His father,
David, and grandfather, Bezaleel Rice, M.D., were
of Framingham.
A grandson is the present Watson E. Rice, M.D.,
of North Grafton, and two of his granddaughters are
the wives respectively of Alvah Hovey, D.D., presi-
dent of Newton (Baptist) Theological Institution, and
John W. Willis, M. D., of Waltham. A third grand-
daughter is the widow of Rev. Carpenter, and is a
missionary in Japan.
Dr. Ebenezer Ames succeeded Dr. Rice in 1814. He
was born in Marlboro', 1788, graduated in medicine
from Harvard, and spent the whole of his professional
life in Wayland, where he died in 1861. Dr. Ames
through his long career was much respected aa a
citizen and for his professional ability.
Waltha.m Hospital. — The " Waltham Hospi-
tal " was chartered in 1886. No definite steps tow-
ards active organization were taken till 1888, when
the promoters of a small private hospital, which was
now becoming able to serve the purpose for which the
Waltham Hospital was incorporated, were elected to
membership in the latter, thus giving to the hospital
de facto the advantage of being de legis a corporation
capable of receiving gifts large or small.
The president of the trustees is Hon. F. M. Stone ;
the attending physicians are J. W. Willis, M.D., E.
R. Cutler, M.D., C. J. McCormick, M.D., W. F. Jarvis,
M.D., A. Worcester, M.D., H. A.Wood, M.D.
Consulting physicians and surgeons, M. H. Rich-
ardson, M.D., Boston ; J. W. Elliot, M.D., Boston ;
Addie S. Whitney, M.D., Boston ; J. A. Mead, M.D.,
pathologist, Watertown ; matron. Miss May Hackett.
The nursing service is furnished by the Waltham
Training-School for Nurses, although the two cor- .
porations are entirely distinct.
Waltham Teaining-School fob Nurses— The
physicians of Waltham, like many others of their pro-
fessional brethren, had long felt the need of better
nursing service. The great majority of the old-time
nurses — although with many notable and honorable
exceptions — had taken up their business simply be-
cause they did not know what else to do with them-
selves. Considerations of fitness or preparation for
their work had small place.
Up to this time training-schools for nurses only ex-
isted in connection with hospitals, and the service of
a trained graduate nurse was difficult and expensive
to obtain. Consequently only the wealthy outside
of hospitals could command it. Considerations like
these impelled the members of the Massachusetts
Medical Society, resident in Waltham, and working
harmoniously together, to attempt the establishment
of such a school without the aid of a hospital.
Such a thing had not before been done, but that
had little deterring influence. Had not Waltham
been the first to take cotton in its natural state from
the field, and, under one roof, by machinery, produce
cotton cloth ? Had not the American Waltham
Watch Company produced the first watch ever made
by machinery? The foundation ideas were that
nurses could be trained in private practice, that in
many respecta would be better prepared for their sub-
sequent work than those who had merely hospital
training, and while receiving such training could ren-
der excellent nursing service under their instructors.
The plan was acted upon in February, 1885. Pub-
lic interest was easily aroused, for the public as well
as the doctors had felt the need. A small guaranty
fund was readily subscribed. A committee of three
ladies, in connection with the doctors, undertook the
business management. A class of seven young
women was formed, for a pupilage of two years, who
were to receive their board, a portion of their ward-
robe, about one hundred dollars for the first, and one
hundred and fifty for their second year, instruction
by lectures and at the bedside from their medical teach-
ers, and at the end of two years a certificate or di-
ploma of graduation. The scheme was a success
from the start It almost immediately became self-
sustaining ; the guarantors were called on for very
little. Constantly larger classes have been formed
each succeeding year, and the demand for service
of graduates of the school is greater than the supply.'
1 For farther Information Bee ** A New Way of Training Naraea," by A.
Worceiter, M.D., pnbliahed by Cupplet A Hnrd, Boeton,
730
HISTOKY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
HoMCEOPATHic PHYSICIANS.— George Russell,
M.D., Harvard Medical College, commenced to prac-
tice here about 1840. In 1848 removed to Boston,
but still retained a good share of his business here.
He was succeeded by Thomas Wales, M.D., Harvard
Medical College, who remained here but about a year;
and was followed in 1853 by Charles F. Adams, M.D.
(place of graduation unknown). He continued here
until 1858, and was succeeded by Charles F. Saun-
ders, M.D. (place of graduation unknown). He re-
mained until 1860, and was succeeded by Edward
Worcester, M.D., University of New York, who is
still in practice.
Irving S. Hall, M.D., Homoeopathic Medical
College of Pennsylvania, came here in 1874; is still in
practice.
J. F. Hadley, M.D., Boston University Medical
College, located here in 1885 ; is still in practice.
A. C. Reed, M.D., Boston University Medical Col-
lege, came in 1889, and still remains.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
WAL THAM—( Continued).
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY — BANKS.
BY ALEXANDER STARBUCK.
Churches. — A by no means to be overlooked
cause of Waltham's secession from the parent town
was the location of the meeting-house. In olden
times, when the meeting-house might be an extra three
or four miles off and attendance at service a not to be
deferred duty, the location was a matter of serious im-
portance. The first site was selected with a view to
accommodate those by whom it was to be used. In a
large township, such as Watertown originally was, the
centre of population was liable to change to a very
marked degree, and the meeting-house, which once
was centrally located, prove on the outskirts of popu-
lation. A readjustment was sought, and if satisfac-
tion was not obtained a new meeting-house would
often be authorized with a new centre of population,
which often proved the nucleus of another town. So
it was with the Farmers' Precinct, or Weston, and so
it was with the Middle, afterwards the West Precinct,
or Waltham.
In 1692 the old meeting-house was located opposite
the old graveyard, just southwest of Mount Auburn.
An effort was made to remove it where it would be more
convenient for the people. After much ill-feeling a
new building was put considerably farther west, at a
locality known as Commodore's Comer. The pastor.
Rev. Henry Gibbs, refused to recognize the new order
of things and continued to preach in the old building
and Rev. Samuel Angier was called to the pastorate
of the new society. Mr. Angler's church, being the
one recognized by the authorities, was, therefore, the
original church.
November 4, 1712, the General Court ordered that
as the ministers of the Middle Precinct had been sup-
ported by voluntary subscription it was voted that
each congregation bear the charges for its minister
and repairs of its meeting-house. Furthermore, that
both precincts bear the expense of removing the mid-
dle meeting-house to such a site as that precinct
should determine. The majority of the town treated
this order with contempt.
May 13, 1715, the town voted to "build a meeting-
house for the accommodation of the inhabitants of
the most westerly part of the town."' This was the
present Waltham, Weston or the Farmers' Precinct
having been previously set off. This vote was never
carried out. In 1719 Rev. Mr. Angier died and was
buried in the burial-ground set off to the precinct,
now Grove Hill Cemetery.
In November, .1720, inhabitants of both precincts
prayed for a division line in order that assessments
might be properly apportioned in accordance with the
order of the Court of November 4, 1712. The line
was laid out starting from the Charles River, running
"on a north course forty-nine degrees east," and end-
ing at the southwestern bounds of what is now Arling-
ton. The report of the committee of the General
Court further recommended the removal of the West
Meetiug-house within two years to a spot about twenty
rods west of Nathaniel Livermore's house, and that
the old meeting-house be removed or a new one built
on School-house Hill, the West Precinct to bear its
part of the expense of the removal or rebuilding of
the east house. This report was concurred in by the
Court, and April 24, 1721, the town voted to comply
with the recommendations. This practically settled
the ecclesiastical differences, but gave nuclei around
which could cluster the inhabitants, who were ulti-
mately to form two townships.
After the death of Mr. Angier no pastor was regu-
larly settled for quite a period. Rev. Hezekiah
Gold, Rev. Timothy Minuet and Rev. Mr. Gibson
were among those who preached to the people. Mr.
Francis names Robert Sturgeon also as one of the
pastors, but this must be an error, since the General
Court, in November, 1722, accuses him of having been
privately ordained to a " pretended middle church."
The report says he had been rebuked by two councils
and recommends that he be prosecuted by the Attor-
ney-General if he persists in his course. This report,
which also recommends the demolition of the Middle
meeting-house when the new West one was built, was
agreed to. Rev. Warham Williams was finally or-
dained pastor June 11, 1723.
At the time of Waltham's incorporation the people
were worshiping in a meeting-house which stood near
the present entrance to the Lyman estate. Rev. War-
ham Williams died in 1751, and in 1752 Rev. Jacob
Cushing, of Shrewsbury, was ordained as pastor. In
WALTHAM.
731
1767 the old church was abandoned and a new church
built on the triangular lot nearly opposite the en-
trance to the Lyman estate. This building stood
until it was torn down in 1741. Mr. Cushing died in
1809, and was succeded by Rev. Samuel Ripley.
During the War of 1812 some of the society not ap-
proving the anti-war stand adopted by Mr. Ripley,
engaged Rev. Elisha Williams to preach for them in
a school -house then situated east of the old burying-
ground, and afterwards in the hall of the Kimball
tavern. The society reunited again after the war,
but in 1320 fresh trouble arose and the Second Relig-
ious Society was formed.
The first society continued under Mr. Ripley's
charge until 1841, and then became extinct. The
other societies receive attention under their respec-
tive heads.
Christ Church, Episcopal. — This church was organ-
ized A. D. 1848, under the ministry of the Rev. A. C.
Patterson, who was then officiating in the vicinity of
Boston, for the purpose of planting the Episcopal
Church in places where it had not been established.
Services were first held in Rumford Hall, which con-
tinued to be used by the parish as their place of wor-
ship for about one year. In the mean time the pres-
ent church, on Central Street, was erected. The
Rev. Thomas F. Fales was called to be the first rec-
tor, and entered upon his duties in November, 1849.
In 1890 Mr. Falea retired, and was made pastor
Emeritus. Rev. H. N. Cunningham, of Watertown,
Conn., has accepted a call to the pastorate. The
church has been once enlarged since its erection,
adding about one-third to the number of its sittings.
Methodist Episcopal Church. — About the year '1820
the nucleus of the Methodist Episcopal Church be-
gan to form in the shape of class- meetings, a class of
twenty-four being gathered, with Charles Barnes as
leader. The class met regularly until 1825, when, a
majority of the members removing to Lowell, it was
discontinued. Circuit-preaching was occasionally
had and small appropriations were allowed for its
support.
Between 1828 and 1830 class-meetings were re-
sumed, Marshall Livermore being leader, succeeded
by Marshal Jones, and he (in 1833) by Dr. Theodore
Kittredge. Services were occasionally held in the
factory school-house on Elm Street, Smith's Academy
on School Street and the Masonic Hall on Main
Street. In March, 1837, regular services were com-
menced at Masonic Hall, Rev. Ziba B. Dunham, pas-
tor. The next year the church then owned by the
Second Society and standing on the Common was
purchased, and in June, 1838, a regular organization
was formed with about forty members. Between 1838
and 1843 Waltham and Watertown were united in
one conference, the following pastors being resident
here: 1838, Rev. T. Pickeriog; 1839, Rev. Edward A.
Lyon ; 1840, Rev. H. G. Barrus ; 1841, Rev. G. W.
Frost; 1842, Rev. B.K.Pierce. In 1843 Waltham
was separated from Watertown. Since then the fol-
lowing pastors have been assigned to this society :
1843, Rev. David Kilburn ; 1845, Rev. John Paulson ;
1846, Rev. Moses Webster ; 1848, Rev. Jacob Sanborn,
(under Mr. Sanborn the church was raised and a ves-
try put in) ; 1850, Rev. G. W. Bates (Mr. Bates died
while in charge) ; 1851, Rev. N. J. Merrill ; 1853, Rev.
Luman Boyden ; 1854, Rev. J. S. Barrows; 1866, Rev.
T. W. Lewis; 1858, Rev. E. A. Manning (in the fall
of 1859 the church was moved to the site of the pres-
ent one, remodeled and dedicated January 25, 1860,
the society in the mean time meeting in Rumford
Hall. On Sunday night, May 27, 1860, the edifice
was entirely destroyed by fire, and again Rumford
Hall was called into requisition. The new church
was completed and dedicated March 13, 1861). 1861,
Rev. S. Kelley ; 1863, Rev. D. K. Merrill ; 1865, Rev.
C. L. Eastman ; 1868, Rev. D. E. Chapin ; 1870, Rev.
L. J. Hall ; 1872, Rev. J. Wagner; 1875. Rev. W. A.
Braman; 1876, Rev. W. W. Colburn ; 1879, Rev. G.
H. Mansfield; 1880, Rev. L H. Packard; 1883, Rev.
G. F. Eaton ; 1886, Rev. J. M. Avann ; 1889, Rev.
Charles Tilton. During Mr. Avann's pastorate a
branch organization was formed on the south side of
the river and in 1888 a church building was erected.
In 1890 a separate church organization was created
for the South Side body, and it was incorporated as
the Immanu-EI Church. Rev. W. A. Wood haa been
pastor of the new society since its organization.
IHniiarian Congregational Church. — Sixty-five years
ago the only meeting-house in Waltham was located
on the triangular lot of land formed by the three
roads near the residence of the late Geo. W. Lyman,
Esq. To meet the wants of the growing village, and
particularly the operatives of the Boston Manufactur-
ing Company, all of whom in that day were Protest-
ants, the "Second Religious Society '' was formed in
1820. It was agreed that the denominational rela-
tions of the church which should be formed should
be determined by a majority of the subscribers to the
new society. Accordingly it was voted that the
church should be Congregational. It was organized
in the Congregational way, September 28, 1820. Its
original members were eighteen in number. The
society built its meeting-house on Church Street, on
the spot now used as the Catholic Cemetery, dedicat-
ing it January 16, 1821. Four years later there were
found to be great differences in their views of doctrin-
al truth between "the Church and the Society." A
separation took place. The church unanimously in
April, 1825, adhering to their pastor. Rev. Mr. Hard-
ing, then took the name of the Trinitarian Congrega-
tional Church. A new " Society " was organized and
a house of worship was built on Main Street, near
Lyman Street. Here the church continued to wor-
ship till within twenty years. Their present edifice
was dedicated in 1871. The pastors of this church
have been :
From 1820 to 1837, Rev. Sewall Harding.
732
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
From 1837 to 1857, Rev. John Whitney.
From 1858 to 1864, Rev. R. B. Thurston.
From 1865 to 1878, Rev. E. E. Strong.
From 1878 to 1881, no settled pastor.
The present pastor, Rev. B. M. Fullerton, took
charge of the society in the year 1881.
The Catliolic Society. — The Catholic Society was
instituted in Waltham in 1830. At the time the
building occupied by the Second Society on Church
Street was burned, the sheds belonging to it were
saved. The Catholics purchased the lot and these
sheds with it, and fitted up a section of the sheds for a
church. They used this temporarily, however, and
shortly after built a wooden building for this purpose.
This was destroyed by fire in June, 1848. Up to
1839 there was no settled pastor, clergymen from Bos-
ton conducting the services from time to time. In
1839 Rev. T. Fitzaimmons wa.s appointed pastor. He
was succeeded by Rev. M. Lynch, and he in turn by
Rev. Luther Strain. Mr. Strain continued pastor
until 1847, at which time Rev. Patrick FJood was ap-
pointed to succeed him. During the pastorate of
Mr. Flood, which continued until his death, in Decem-
ber, 1863, the large brick church on School Street was
erected. The building was occupied in 1860 and ded-
icated in 1877. Upon the death of Rev. Patrick
Flood, Rev. Bernard Flood, a nephew, was appointed.
He also died, as it were, in the harness, in December,
1876, from sickness brought on by his labor and expo-
sure in superintending the remodeling of the church.
Rev. Timothy Brosnahan, his successor and the pres-
ent pastor, was appointed early iu 1877, and under his
pastorate the church edifice has been completed and
furnished, the grounds laid out and beautified, and
the present parochial residence built (in 1884). So
heavy were the labors in this parish, one of the largest
in the vicinity of Boston, that it was necessary to
have an assistant, and Rev. J. J. Murphy was given
that position in 1876. On his appointment to a par-
ish in Weymouth, Massachusetts, Rev. J. S. McKone
was appointed to the place. He in turn was trans-
ferred to a church in East Boston, and was replaced
by Rev. Frs. J. J. Mahoney and J. Lally. Fr. Lally
died in 1888. Fr. Mahoney was promoted to his po-
sition and Rev. John A. Daily was appointed.
Fir»t Pariah. — The church in which this society
holds its services was dedicated February 9, 1839, and
Rev. George F. Simmons was installed as pastor Oc-
tober 27, 1841, Rev. Samuel Ripley being " associate
pastor." Mr. Simmons closed his ministry here, on
account of ill health, in April, 1843. Mr. Ripley re-
signed his pastorate April 6, 1846, on his removal
from town.
During the first thirty years which elapsed after the
resignation of Mr. Simmons the parish had but four
pastors. Of these the Rev. Thomas Hill was longest
settled, having been fifteen years minister of the par-
ish, returning here after eight years' absence and re-
maining until 1873. The dates of the beginning and
close of the pastorates which have filled these
thirty years are as follows :
Ordination of Rev. Thomas Hill, December 24,
1845. Resignation January, 1860. Ordination of
Rev. J. C. Parsons, June 6, 1860. Resignation, May,
1864. Installation of Rev. C. McCauley, December
29, 1869. Resignation, December, 1872.
The church edifice was thoroughly repaired and re-
modeled in the year 1867, under the superintendence
of Mr. Henry W. Hartwell, to whose skill its present
attractive appearance does great credit. Rev. Edward
C. Guild was installed June 7, 1873, and resigning
after about five years' service, was succeeded by the
present pastor. Rev. Edward J. Young.
Baptist Society. — The First Baptist Church in Wal-
tham was organized November 4, 1852, with a con-
stituent membership of twenty-one — eleven females
and ten males. During the first three years of its
existence it sustained Sabbath services in Rumford
Hall, holding its weekly prayer-meetings at the pri-
vate residences of its members. At the expiration
of three years its present house of worship was
erected, and dedicated February 14, 1855; Rev.
Baron Stow, of Boston, preaching the sermon, and
Rev. M. B. Anderson, of Roxbury, offering the dedi-
catory prayer.
The first pastor was Rev. M. L. Bickford, whose
pastorate extended from August, 1853, to June, 1863.
The pastoral office was then filled successively by Rev.
E. B. Eddy, Rev. A. M. Bacon, Rev. W. H. Shedd,
Rev. W. H. Barrows, 1872, and Rev. F. D. Bland, 1875,
who retired in 1879. Rev. J. V. Stratton was in.-tialled
in 1880.
DViug his pastorate a division occurred in the
church, and a new society, the Beth Eden, was organ-
ized on the south side of the river, in 1887. The
meetings of the new society were begun in the build-
ing used for a skating rink, and were afterwards held
in Endecott Hall. A new church edifice, begun in
1889, is in process of erection. Rev. George W.
Gardner was installed pastor of the new society in
November, 1888. On account of ill health he has
been compelled to resign his pastorate, his resigna-
tion to lake effect in November, 1890. Mr. Stratton's
pastorate ended in 1887, and the following year he
was succeeded by Rev. William M. Mick, the present
pastor.
Universalist Society. — In the spring of 1837 the Uni-
versalists in Waltham set up a meeting in the hall of
the Waltham Bank building, on Main Street, for
regular public worship, and in August of that year
Rev. William C. Hanscom, a young man of uncom-
mon promise, became their preacher; but rapidly-
failing health soon caused him to relinquish his work,
and after struggling with that fatal disease, consump-
tion, until May, 1838, he passed quietly away in the
triumphs of the faith he had so fondly cherished. A
humble marble monument marks the resting-place of
his remains upon the summit of our Grove Hill Ceme-
WALTHAM.
733
tery. The late Rev. SylvanusCobb, D.D., in the spring
of 1838, succeeded him as preacher to that people.
Being straitened for room, they obtained permission
from the town and removed from the Bank Hali into
the Town Hall, in the old grammar-school building on
Lexington Street. But the accommodations afforded
them in this place, though somewhat better than
those they had left, were found to be still insufficient.
About this period the First Parish Society erected
their present church edifice on Church Street, and it
was by invitation of those members of that parish
who declined to accompany the main body into their
new place of worship, that the Universalista removed
from the Town Hall into the old parish meeting-
house, then standing near the residence of George W.
Lyman, Esq. Up to this time the body had existed
only as a voluntary association, but on the 6th of
March, 1839, they organized in legal form into a
religious society, and took measures to secure an act
of incorporation, by the name of the " First Univer-
saliit Society in Waltham." Encouraged by the
proffered assistance of the late Theodore Lyman, Esq.,
the society proceeded to erect a house of worship
upon a lot presented to them by Mr. Lyman, on the
corner of Lyman and Summer Streets.
In the spring of 1840, Rev. Mr. Cobb relinquished
his charge, and in the autumn of the same year was
succeeded by Rev. Edwin A. Eaton, who ministered
to the society about three years ; and in the spring of
1844 he was succeeded by Rev. T. G. Farnsworth.
He retired from the pastorate in 1848, but continuing
his residence in the town, he continued his member-
ship also in the society during its existence. From
1848 to 1855 the society had no settled pastor, but by
temporary supplies continued, with little interruption,
to maintain regular public worship. In 1854 they
sold their lot on Lyman Street, and removed their
meeting-house to the corner of Main and Spring
Streets. Rev. Massena Goodrich was their pastor
from the spring of 1855 to 1857. He was succeeded
in the fall of 1857 by Rev. Henry A. Eaton, whose
ministry with them continued between one and two
years, during which time a serious dissension arose in
the society, the result of which was, the meeting-
house passed out of their hands, and they ceased to
exercise the functions of a religious organization.
From an early period of its existence there was
within the society a church organization and a flour-
ishing Sunday-school.
A new society was organized in September, 1865,
by the name of " The Universalist Society of Wal-
tham," and established regular public worship in
Rumford Hall. Rev. Benton Smith, through whose
labors, as the missionary of the Massachusetts Uni-
versalist Convention, the body was gathered, minis-
tered to the society some four years. Rev. Mrs. P. A.
Hanaford supplied their desk for one year; and in
September, 1871, Rev. M. R. Leonard entered upon
the duties of his charge. Mr. Leonard was succeeded
in 1884 by Rev. L. P. Blackford, the present pastor.
The present church edifice was erected in 1880.
Waltham Society oj the New Jerusalem Church. — It is
now more than sixty years since the Heavenly Doc-
trines, drawn from the Sacred Scriptures and re-
vealed through the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg,
found interested readers and receivers in Waltham.
Meetings were held at first at the residence of Cap-
tain John Clark, and were continued in, private rooms
until the need of more ample accommodations for
the increasing numbers was sensibly felt. Thia want
was fully supplied about thirty years ago by the
building of a stone chapel on Lexington Street, in a
section of the city known of old as " Piety Corner,"
and since that time Beuj. Worcester has led in pub-
lic worship. A part of the building was also used for
the " Waltham New Church School," which was
removed to the more commodious quarters it now
occupies in the brick building near by, built in 1864,
expressly for its accommodation.
In December, 1869, nearly everything perishable of
the chapel was destroyed by fire, the walls alone
standing to mark the spot hallowed by many pleas-
ant and sacred associations. In one year from the
cime of the fire a larger and more beautiful church
had arisen on the same site, in which religious ser-
vice has since been regularly held.
On Sunday, July 4, 1869, a distinct society of the
church was formally organized, the membership
numbering twenty-four, to which there have since been
some additions. The total number of church-mem-
bers resident here, however, is considerably larger
than the society represents, many retaining their
connection with other societies.
In addition to his labors as leader of the society,
Mr. Benjamin Worcester has charge of the New
Church School.
Aaceiuion Church. — The Episcopalians were the
first society to erect a church edifice on the South
Side of the river, and much of the honor of this
work belongs to Rev. Thomas F. Fales, pastor of
Christ Church. In 1882 the society was organized
and in 1882 the present edifice was erected. Rev. H.
S. Nash was installed its first pastor, a position he
occupied until 1885, when he resigned and the place
was supplied by Rev. Carlton P. Mills. Mr. Mills
was succeeded in 1888 by Rev. Mylton Maury, and
he in 1889 by Rev. A. B. Shields, the present rector.
Banks. — In the spring of 1 836 a petition by Luke
Fiske, George Miller and Nathaniel Maynard, for an
act of incorporation under the title of the Waltham
Bank, was granted by the General Court, and the
company was incorporated with a capital of $100,000.
A meeting was held at the Massasoit House, then
standing at the comer of Main and Linden Streets,
to accept the act of incorporation. Ephraim Allen
was elected moderator and Luke Fiske was chosen
president of the corporation. The act was accepted
and by-laws adopted. Luke Fiske, Ephraim Allen,
•34
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Willard Adama, Nathaniel Stearns, William Hobbs
and Jonas Clark, of Waltham, and Benjamin Dana, of
Watertown, were chosen directors. At a meeting
held May 30th, it was voted to add five directors to
the list, and James Draper, of Wayland, Marshall
Jones, of Weston, William Porter and George Miller,
of Waltham, and William Brigham, of Boston were
elected to the board. June 2d a committee was ap-
pointed to consider the question of a banking-house-
June 9th the committee recommended the erection of
a brick building thirty-six feet by twenty-six feet and
two stories high. July 5th it was determined to
build on the lot where the bank building now stands.
At the same meeting Nathaniel Maynard was elected
cashier. The first meeting in the new building was
held October 1, 1836, and the fact that stock had been
paid for to the amount of $50,000 in gold and silver
was sworn to. October 24, 1836, the first emission of
bills, amounting to §64,500, was authorized, and No-
vember 7th a further emisfsion of $44,300 was di-
rected. The capital was subsequently increased to
$200,000, but in 1864-65, in consequence of losses, it
was reduced to $150,000, at which point it now
stands. In December, 1864, the bank was chartered
as a national bank, and on April 1, 1865, commenced
business under its new charter. The law passed by
the Legislature, compelling the separation of deposit
and savings banks, made it necessary to build a wing
on the westerly side.
The Savings Bank was incorporated March 18,
1853, and the act was accepted April 15, 1853. On
the acceptance of the act "the following officers were
elected: Horatio Moore, president ; El iphalet Pear-
son, vice-president; D. A. Kimball, secretary and
treasurer ; Horatio Moore, Ebenezer Hobbs, E. Pear-
son, J. H. Priest, R. P. Davis, Gillnm Barnes, George
Bigelow, Leonard P. Frost, Phineas Upham, Thomas
Page, Samuel B. Whitney and D. A. Kimball, trus-
tees. The other original members were : Nathan
Hagar and Nathaniel L. Sibley, of Weston ; Jona-
than S. Parker, of Lexington ; Asahel Wheeler and
Galen Merriam, of West Newton ; D. T. Huckins. T.
Livermore, Seth Bemis and H. Cooper, of Watertown ;
Wm. F. Wheeler and Wm. Foster, of Lincoln ; Wm.
Mills and Thos. Rice, Jr., of Newton Lower Falls;
Horace Heard, of Wayland ; Thomas Barnes, George
W. Frost, John Roberts, Amory Moore and Daniel
C. Stratton, of Waltham.
The old building was demolished in 1888, the two
banks occupying quarters temporarily in the J. W.
Parmenter building on Moody Street. The new
building was completed in September, 1889, at a cost
of $50,000, and on September 30th of the same year
was first occupied for business.
CHAPTER XLIX.
WALTBAM—( Continued).
SCHOOLS AND NEWSPAPERS.
BY ALEXANDER STARBUCK.
Schools. — Waltham's separation from the parent
town of Watertown appears to have beeo principally
due to three causes : first, the early separation into
military precincts ; second, the location of the church ;
third, educational interests. As early as April 7,
1729, a meeting of the inhabitants of the West Pre-
cinct was held to consider, among other things, a lo-
cation for a school-house. Allen Flagg agreed to
donate to the precinct a suitable strip of land at the
north end of his orchard for the purpose, and it was
voted to accept the offer. February 4, 1729-30,
Zachariah Smith, Allen Flagg, Thomas Harrington,
Thomas Bigelow, Jonas Smith, John Childs and John
Cutting were delegated to see the selectmen and have
inserted in the warrant for the next town-ineeting an
article providing for an appropriation to build ou the
land of Mr. Flagg a school- house. The town de-
clined the gift and refused to grant the money,
greatly to the disappointment of the petitioners.
That action was taken in March. In May a com-
mittee wag appointed at a meeting of the people of
the West Precinct to endeavor to have that district
set off as a separate town, "and take Effectual care
that the same may be Established that Learning may
be Advanced among us or some other proper methods
whereby to obtain the same." A petition represent-
ing the sentiment of the people of the precinct was
forwarded to the General Court, which ordered the
town served with a copy and cited it to show cause
why the petition should not be granted. April 19,
1731, a committee was chosen by the town to oppose
the division. Nevertheless the Court recommended,
among other things, that the town provide two school-
houses, with two duly qualified schoolmasters, — one
for each precinct. The town {August 16, 1731) re-
fused to accept the recommendations and the assess-
ors of the West Precinct, — Nathaniel Harris and
Deacon William Brown, — feeling that the East Pre-
cinct was unjust to them, refused to assess the grant
made by the town for the support of schools. Again,
in March, 1732-33, an attempt was made for separa-
tion and again it was unsuccessful.
June 28, 1736, Nathaniel Harris, William Brown
and Daniel Benjamin, in behalf of the people of the
West Precinct, and against the resolute opposition
of the East Precinct people, obtained permission from
the General Court to set off land from the com-
mon lands devoted to highways, sufficient to raise a
sum of £1500, which was to be invested and the
interest used for the support of schools. So bitter
was the feeling growing out of this act that it culmi-
nated in a meeting of the inhabitants of the West
WALTHAM.
735
Precinct, December 7, 1737, at which a vote was
passed to petition the General Court for separation.
The prayer was granted, and January 4, 1737-38, the
town of Waltham was incorporated.
In July, 1738, the selectmen appointed two of their
number to secure a schoolmaster. In August they
reported that they had agreed on Daniel Harrington,
and he was employed. There were three school dis-
tricts. The principal school at that time was in the
location known aa " Piety Corner." Salary of Mr.
Harrington, £20 per quarter.
January, 1739-40, Adam Boardman was school-
teacher. January 25, 1741-42, Joseph Roberts was
engaged to teach at £5 per month, and on March
10th of the same year it was voted to have a " mov-
ing " school. la May John Cams agreed to keep the
school for two months in the district where John Dix
lived, at the north part of the town, at £5 per months
with an allowance of 19s. per week if he boarded
himself. In September the " movable " school was
discontinued ; £10 was appropriated to repair the
school-house, and £80 to support the school.
In November the selectmen agreed with William
Lawrence to teach the school for eight months, dating
from the previous July, the pay to be £6, old tenor
and his board. Mr. Lawrence was succeeded in 1745
by Elisha Harding. In March, 1746-47, a " moving "
school was again established, and Deacon William
Brown was chosen to teach the North District. March,
1747—18, Samuel Livermore, Jr., was appointed to
teach the West, Centre and North Districts. Jan-
uary, 1748-49, Caleb Upham was appointed a school-
teacher. In September, 1751, a discussion arose as to
whether the teacher should be a male or a female. It
was finally decided in favor of the former; and in
November of the same year it was voted to spend the
town's money to support the school in the school-
house, and that the teacher should be "a grammar-
school master."
1752, Jonas Clark and Samuel Livermore, school-
masters. Mr. Livermore continued to teach until
175fi. He was succeeded by Isaac Livermore, who
taught until some time in 1758. Leonard Williams
taught in the latter part of 1758 and the early part of
1759. In March, 1760, the town appropriated £2 to
carry on a children's reading-school in the southwest
part of the town. Deacon Isaac Stearns was appoint-
ed by the selectmen to engage a school-mistress for the
northerly portion of the town, and it. was agreed to
have a grammar school-master teach one quarter in
the school-house. Mrs. George Lawrence was se-
lected by Deacon Steams, and we may safely con-
clude that she was the first female teacher regularly
engaged by the town. In 1761 Jonathan Livermore,
Samuel Williams and John Wyeth were paid for
teaching school. In 1762 Samuel Williams and a
Mrs. Clark performed the same service ; in 1763 Mrs.
Lawrence, a daughter of William Coolidge, a daugh-
ter of Lois Fiske and Mr. Williams were selected. In
May, 1764, payment was ordered for the following-
named school-teachers : Thomas Fisk's daughter, Jo-
seph Hagar, Jr.'s wife, Joseph Bemis' wife, George
Lawrence's wife, Hopestill Bent's daughter-in-law,
Jonathan Sanderson, Jr.'s wife, John Diz's daughter,
Ebenezer Brown's son and Samuel Williams. In
March, 1765, it was voted that the grammar school
should be a " moving " school during the remainder
of the year. Leonard Williams and Elijah Brown
were appointed to teach it. The town granted £41
for educational purposes in September, of which £12
were for the women's schools.
In 1769 Jonas Dix, Jr., was appointed teacher of
the grammar school, and continued in the office un-
til 1772, when he resigned on account of ill health.
The town voted in the same year to build a new
school-house near the old one, but took no further
action towards carrying out its vote. In 1770, how-
ever, a committee was appointed to carry the vote
into execution and to repair the old building.
In 1771 a son of Josiah Brown was one of the five
teachers employed by the town. In 1772 William
Fisk succeeded Jonas Dix, Jr. Miss Ruth Russell and
a daughter of Jonathan Hammond were also teachers.
In March, 1774, the town voted to build a new school-
house near the meeting-house. By the report of the
committee having the matter in charge, made in
September, it appears that the work was done at an
expense of £81 5a. 3d. In November of the same year
the town voted to take down the old school-house and
build one in the northwest section of the town.
In 1777 Jonas Dix, Jr., and William Fisk are re-
corded as teachers. In 1779 Samuel Kendall, Mr.
Morse, Mr. Bridge and Eunice Mixer were paid for
teaching. In June, 1780, the appropriation for
schools was refused, probably because of the financial
pressure of the Revolution. October Uth the town
again refused an appropriation, but November 29th it
granted £3360. The currency of the time waa in a
sad state, as may be inferred from the fact that
£12,000 was appropriated for the purchase of 7200
pounds of beef. The teachers for that year were
Eunice Mixer, Samuel Kendall, Mr. Boardman, Ru-
hamah Wellington and Mr. Bridge.
In 1781 Jonaa Dix, Jr., and Mr. Bridge appear to
be the instructors. The selectmen voted in Decem-
ber of that year to engage Ebenezer Bowman to keep
the school " near the meeting-house." Mr. Bowman
continued to teach the following year. In 1782 Nathan-
iel Bridge's name also appears on the list of teachers.
In September, 1783, John Remington waa hired to
teach the school near the meeting-house, and Joseph
Jackson that at the foot of the hill. In the following
year Benjamin Green, Jr., was paid for teaching and
he was again engaged to teach the grammar school in
1785. Septembers, 1785, the town waa divided into four
school districts — Pond End, Trapelow, the southwest
part of the town above Mixer's Lane (Bacon Street)
and the Middle District, which included the balance
736
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
In February, 1786, Jonas Dix was engaged to teach
the grammar school for one year. In March John
Remington was paid for teaching and Abijah Bigelow
was engaged to teach at the new school-house at the
west end of the plain, as long as the appropriation
lasted, he to keep " two schools a day " after April 1st.
Mr. Jackson, Nathan Underwood and John Child
also appear to have been teachers during the year.
Capt. Samuel Bigelow appears to be one of four
teachers employed in 1787. In 1790 Messrs. Bridge,
Dix and Mead were paid for teaching. The school
grant of December, 1790, was thus apportioned to
the several school-houses : Upper end of Plain, £25
6«. 8d.; Foot of Hills, £22 2s.; near the meeting-house,
£30 5s. 3d.,- Trapelow, £18 3s. lOd./ proprietors of new
school-house (probably at the Lower Plain), £4 2s 3d.
In 1791 it was voted to buy the school-house at the
Upper Plain and Trapelow, they having been pro-
nounced suitable and the proprietors being willing to
sell. .\n appropriation of £77 Us. was made for the
one at the Upper Plain, the amount being divided
among twenty-one proprietors, all residing on upper
Main and on South Streets; £56 18s. lOd. were
paid for the one at Trapelow. The house near
the Widow Barnard's was not accepted. In the
selectmen's records for 1791 appears an order ap-
propriating 3s. 6d. to pay for a horse and chaise " to
bring the school mistress from Framingham.''
In April, 1792, a vote was passed to remove the
school-house near the meeting-house to a point just
below the present cemetery on Main Street. In Sep-
tember, 1795, the town appropriated £50 to purchase
stoves and shutters for the schools and make some
repairs, and chose a special committee of three from
each school district to attend to the expenditure of
school appropriations. They probably acted as a
school committee, and the organization was continued
from year to year, as we lose sight of special appro-
priations for teachers. In 1797 the schools taught by
males are styled " men's " schools and those taught by
females " women's " schools. In this year the town
appropriated $25 to establish a singing-school. In
1801 a School Committee of ten was elected, and this
arrangement appeared to work so satisfactorily that it
was continued voluntarily until the statute law made
it mandatory. In 1803 the town appropriated SI20 i
for a teacher of music. In 1813 the Factory Village |
(Bleachery) was set off as a separate school district.
In 1817 the town voted to set off the Boston Manu-
facturing Co.'s estates for a school district and to dis- |
continue the one at the Bleachery. In this connec-
tion it is well to note that for many years the Boston
Manufacturing Co. sustained schools of its own for
the instruction of the children of its employees.
Rev. Mr. Ripley appears about 1819-20 to have
caused considerable trouble in his flock by using a
portion of his time in teaching school, and it was
made a matter for town interference, an effort being
made to appoint a committee to interview him and
induce him to quit teaching, but his friends were too
numerous and the project was abandoned. In 1829
the town voted to exclude needle-work from the
morning session of the summer schools, allowing it
In the afternoon, and in 1830 a small sum was appro-
priated to procure medals to be given the most de-
serving scholars.
In spite of the law of 1789 in regard to the estab-
lishment of grammar schools, no effort was made to
comply with it until 1820. In 1821 the town was
sued for non-compliance with the act, but little heed
was paid to the suit. The attempt to establish such
a school was unsuccessfully repeated year after year.
In 1832, however, the town appropriated S1200 to
build a grammar school-house and town-house on the
old meeting-house common. Subsequently a vote
was passed to erect the building on the " gore of
land" owned by Mr. Lyman, that gentleman offering
to give the land and ■■?200 to assist the work. This
did not seem to suit, and after vote upon vote the
town purchased of Mr. T. R. Plympton the land now
occupied by the North Grammar School, increased
the appropriation somewhat and erected the building
there. Wheu the present structure was put up, the
old building was sold and removed to the corner of
School and Exchange Streets, where it was remodeled
into a tenement-house. In 1833 the town appro-
priated $300 to enable the School Committee to hire
a school-master and establish a High School, and di-
rected the committee to commence such a school at
the earliest possible day. The first principal of this
school was Franklin Hardy. After him came Josiah
Rutter (1835), William H. Ropes (1838), E. A. W.
Harlow (1841), Charles F. Simmons (1842), Daniel
French (1842), William H. Ropes (1844), Leonard P.
Frost (1847). During Mr. Frost's term of service
the town gave up the hall in the upper slcry, changed
it to make it suitable for school uses and established a.
High School there distinct from the grammar school,
Mr. Frost taking charge of the former and his broth-
er, George W., of the latter. In 1859 L. P. Frost suc-
ceeded his brother George; after him came William
E. Sheldon (1869), Alonzo Meserve (January, 1871),
John I. Prince (September, 1871), .lohn S. Hayes
(1879), John I. Prince (1879), Bradford W. Drake
(1879), who is now teaching. In 186S the town es-
tablished a grammar school on the south side of the
river and Arthur P. Smith was elected principal, a
position he still retains. In the High School the
principals succeeding L. P. Frost are Timothy W.
Bancroft (1859), Andrew J. Lathrop (1864), James C.
Parsons (1865). Minton Warren (1874), William E.
Bunten (1876), Ruel B. Clark (1877), Charles W.
Parmenter (1878), Eugene D. Russell (1889). There
are at present fourteen school buildings, about 2400
scholars and seventy teachers.
The present High and North Grammar School
buildings were erected in 1867 ; the South Grammar
building in 1876; the West, 1876; Heard Street,
WALTHAM
737
1880 ; Prospect Street, Orange Street and Bacon
Street, 1883; Grove Street, 1887; the High Street
Primary remodeled 1890. The Xewton Street build-
ing was erected in 1833, but bears no semblance to
the original structure.
In 1864 the advocates of the New Church faith
erected the school building used by them and have
maintained a school there which receives pupils from
all over the United States. In 1888 the St. Joseph
Parochial (Roman Catholic) School was established
and the building was completed for school purposes.
New.spaper.s. — The nei\'spaper life of Waliham,
so far as can be ascertained, commenced with the
publication of The Hiue, the first number of which
appeared under date of March 2, 1833. It was an
eight-page periodical, printed in magazine style with
a page form eight and a half inches by five inches. It
was edited and published by S. B. Emmons, who
for many years kept an apothecary store on Main
Street, in the building west of the Townsend Block.
It was for many months printed at the office of James
B. Dow, then located at No. 122 Washington Street,
Boston. By its first editorial we learn that it was " de.
voted to the publication of Original and Select Tales,
Essays, Music, Biography, Travels, Original and
Select Poetry, Amusing >[iscellany. Humorous
.Vnecdotes, etc., etc." Jt was published on alternate
Saturdays, at one dollar per year. For .some reason,
which does not appear through a perusal of its
columns, |)ul)licatioii \v:is sus|ieniled from May 20,
1S;{3, until February 14, l.S3-'J, the numbering both in
issues and pages proceeding at the latter time as
though there had been no interrcguuni. When its
publication was revivi-d it was [irinted by "Dill and
Sanborn, Music, Book and .fob Printers, 43Wa8hiiigton
Street, Boston." September •'}, 1835, it was printed in
Waltliam for the first time by W. C. Oeorge, who had
just established himself in Waltham :is a book and
job printer. January lil, 1830, the last number of
The Mice appeared. In his valedictory editor
Emmons said : " This number of the Hice completes
the [iresent volume. It will be succeeded shortly by
a |>aper of a larger size, to be published every week."
On the 7th of May, 1S;3(;, the first number of the
Wulthoiii Sdir, the pa|)er probably alluded to by Mr.
Emmons, appeared. It was published by Willard
C. George. The second number appeared under date
of June 4, 183(5, and the third June llth. Its life
was a brief one and its publication w.assoon suspended
for want of patronage. The Jfidillesrv Reporter was
published in Waltham about one year commencing in
1841. Nathaniel P. Banks, Jr., was its editor. It
appears that two other attempts were made to establish
neivspapers in Waltham between 1836 and 1848, but
names and dates are not at hand. The Waltham
Mirror made its opening bow on July 6th of the latter
year. It was a quarto, with a page form twelve and
one-half inches by nine and one-half inches. It was
published semimonthly by V. S. Williams, who kept
47-iii
a periodical and general goods sture in Wellington's
building, just west of the bank, and was edited by
H. B. Skinner, M.D., who had a Boston office at 60i
Corn hill. The ifirror lived about a year and then
went the way of its predecessors.
Between 1849 and 1856 two more unsuccessful
attempts were made to convince the people of Wal-
tham that they needed a newspaper. May 18, 1850,
D. Farnham commenced the publication of the Rum-
ford Journal. Like its predecessors its life was brief.
In April, 1852, appeared the first number of the
MassasoU Balance and Waliham Advocate, published
in Rumford Building by Kelley & Co. It also soon
died.
Apparently undismayed by the failures of the pre-
ceding twenty-three years, Josiah Hastings, in 1856,
launched the Waliham Sentinel on the sea of journal-
ism. Mr. Hastings had previously published a two-
page advertising sheet which was distributed free.
On the 15th of February, 1856, he issued the first
number of Waltham's first successful newspaper.
The currents and the winds seemed propitious, and for
twenty years the Sentinel paid its weekly visits to
hundreds of Waltham firesides. It was edited by
" an association of gentlemen." Its end was mel-
ancholy, even to the verge of the tragic. In 1876
the elder Mr. Hastings, his son William, who for
many years had assisted his father in the conduct
of the paper, and three grandchildren, the son and
two daughters of William, died within the brief
period of a few weeks. There was no one of the
family left whose training was in the direction of
newspaper work, and in 1877, the Sentinel was sold.
It was purchased by George Phinney, proprietor of
the Wallhrnn Free Press, and became merged in that
paper.
In February, 1863, George Phinney, who had had
previous journalistic experience in Bridgewater, com-
menced the publication of the Waltham Free Press.
At that time there was no distinctively Republican
paper in Waltham. The free Press early became
the Waltham organ of that party, and has contin-
ued the exponent of Republican ideas to the pres-
ent time. In the fall of 1884 Mr. Phinney dis-
posed of the paper to Robert B. Somers, .at that
time a compositor in the office of the Waltham
Dnilij Tribune. Alexander Starbuck was requested
to take the |)osition of editor, and did so. In the
fall of 1885 Mr. Starbuck purchased a half-intereat
in the paper, and in November of that year the
office, which up to that time had been located on
the north side of the river, was removed to its pres-
ent location, on the south side. March, 1888, Som-
ers & Starbuck commenced the publication of a daily
edition, which continues in successful operation at
the present time. October 1, 1889, the newspaper
and job-printing business, which, up to that time,
had been run jointly, were divided, and the partner-
ship dissolved, Mr. Somers assuming the job-print-
738
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
iDg and Mr. Starbuck taking the newspapers. In
its early life the Free Press passed through a varied
experience. It was started in the second story of a
building in the rear of Central (then Miller's)
Block, which was previously used for sleeping apart-
ments for the hotel in the upper stories of the
block, but which has since been turned quarter
round and moved to the line of Lexington Street.
While located here it passed the ordeal of fire. It
was then moved to a stone building back of Town-
send's Block, and for a second time encountered
fire. No serious accident, however, has since be-
fallen it.
The next newspaper to be established in Wal-
tham was the Wallham Record, which was started
in 1876 by Barry & Berry. After a few months'
experience Mr. Berry retired from the firm, and
Mr. Barryjcarried on the business until 1885, when he
disposed of the i?ecorrf to Pratt Brothers, of Marlboro'.
The paper was transferred to that town and merged
with a large number of publications issued from
the Marlboro' office. While in Mr. Barry's charge
it was exceedingly well conducted. During the latter
portion of its publicatiou in Waltham it was issued
semi-weekly.
The Waltham Daily Tribune was first published
October 2, 1882, under the management of Eaton &
Reed. It was first issued in Hovey's building on
Moody Street, just south of the railroad. Mr. Reed
subsequently disposed of his interest to Mr. Eaton.
Mr. Eaton continued in possession and retained the
position he held from the first as editor, until March
1888. He then sold out to a company of gentlemen^
who formed a corporation under the name of " The
Waltham Tribune Company." For several months
the paper was under the management of E. G. Bond.
Late in the fall of 1888 he was succeeded by H. E.
Browne, the present editor and manager. The com-
pany was incorporated in 1888 with a capital of
|il4.000.
On May 5, 1886, E. G. Bond published the first
number of the Charles River Laborer, a weekly news-
paper issued, according to its prospectus, in the in-
terest of the workingmen particularly. It was printed
by Rice & Drake, at their office, on Pine Street, near
Moody. It lived a little more than a year.
October 16, 1886, the Waltham Times, a daily news-
paper, published by Rice & Drake and edited by
T. P. James, made its appearance. It lived about a
year, and suspended publication.
Several amateur periodicals have appeared from
time to time, lived a few months and then quietly
died out, but as they were not designed to enter the
professional field, no attempt ia made to give them in
detail.
A single attempt has been made in Waltham to es-
tablish a magazine. In March, 1836, Willard C.
George published the first number of the Repertory, a
monthly magazine of twenty-six pages, published at
$1.00 a year. Mr. George must have received but lit-
tle encouragement, as it is said that the second num-
ber of the periodical never appeared.
The Christian Freeman and Family Visitor, edited
by Rev. Sylvanus Cobb, was printed by Josiah Hast-
ings about two years, beginning in the spring of 1839.
The office was then removed to Boston, the paper
being some years after merged into The Trumpet,
which in turn was merged in The Christian Leader.
CHAPTER L.
WALTHAM— ( Continued).
THE AMERICAN WALTHAM WATCH COMPANY.
The projector of the enterprise of systematic watch-
making, which has become an industry of no small
proportions in America, was Aaron L. Dennison.
He was a typical Yankee youth, born in Freeport,
Maine, in the year 1812. As he early evinced a taste
for mechanical pursuits he was apprenticed to a
watchmaker. After serving In that capacity about
three years, in Brunswick, Maine, he went to Boston,
where he obtained a situation with Messrs. Currier &
Trott, where he endeavored to perfect himself as a
journeyman.
The varieties of style in the construction of Swiss
and English watches, and the diversified jobs wbicb
aaturally come into the hands of the watch repairer,
would tend to stimulate ingenuity and develop
thought in one who was interested in his work.
Mr. Dennison certainly seems to have been pos-
sessed of progressive tendencies, so that it very nat-
urally occurred to him that there might possibly be
some improvement in the methods of watch-making,
especially in the direction of a greater uniformity in
sizes of corresponding parts in watches of the same
make. Visiting the United States Armory at Spring-
field, Massachusetts, he became greatly interested in
the machinery used in the manufacture of muskets
on the " interchangeable plan," and very naturally
the idea of applying the same system to the manu-
facture of watches presented itself to him ; and the
more he contemplated it the more firmly was he con-
vinced that the general system or method which was
evidently such a success in the making of firearms,
might, and without doubt would, in time be employed
in the performance of the required operation.s on the
smaller and more delicate parts of pocket time-
pieces.
Having become pos^^essed with this general idea,
Mr. Dennison devoted many hours of his spare time
to the study of the numerous details involved in the
adaptation of such a scheme.
His continued contemplation of the subject only
served to convince him that the mechanical difficul-
WALTHAM.
739
ties could be surmounted, and that therefore the
scheme of machine-made matches was practicable,
and, in time, was sure to be adopted.
With the earnest and very natural desire to see in
tangible form some rexultit from his long-continued
study, Mr. Oennison endeavored to impart to capital-
ists some of the enthusiasm which his long contem-
plation of the scheme had aroused in himself.
It is quite probable, however, that capital at that
time was even more conservative than it now is; so
that it is not surprising that several years should
elapse before any one was found bold enough to risk
his money in an egterpride the success of which was
at least problematical.
But in 1849 Mr. Dennison had an interview with
Mr. Edward Howard, who seems to have been filled
with an enthusiasm equal to his own, but with quite
a different scheme for its object. At that time Mr.
Howard was, in company with Mr. D. P. Davis, en-
gaged in the manufacture of clocks and scales, and
also standard weights and measures, for which they
had a contract from the State of M-issachusetts. They
had also done something in the way of making fire-
engines ; and at that time Mr. Howard was greatly
interested in a scheme for building locomotives on an
extensive scale.
Mr. Dennison succeeded not only in dissuading Mr.
Howard from any attempt to engage in the locomotive
business, but made him a convert to his own project
for watch-tnakiug. Having then obtained an ally,
who soon became quite as enthusiastic as himself,
Jlr. Dennison'a own courage and confidence increased,
and the two men began their search for a capitalist,
who would be able, by the aid of their prophetic
vision, to discern a profitable return for au invest-
ment in their novel undertaking. This individual
they found in the person of Mr. Samuel Curtis, of
Boston, who consented to invest the sum of $20,000
in the enterprise. The undertaking having been de-
finitely decided upon, the next thing to be determined
was as to the nature of the first practical action.
Without doubt Mr. Dennison had long before plan-
ned in his own mind very many details, and was pre-
pared to submit a definite course of procedure. His
suggestion was that a personal visit of inspection and
investigation be made to the watch-making districts
of England, and, at the same time, arrangements for
the purchase of needful supplies which could not be
readily procured iu American markets, such as
enamels, jewels, etc.
This recommendation of Mr. Dennison's was adopt-
ed ; and accordingly he soon went to England, where
he spent several months in gathering information as
to the systems and methods in use by the English
watch-makers ; his observation only serving to con-
firm him in his belief that Americans could readily
compete with them, especially in view of the fact
of the extreme conservatism of the English, which
prevented their ready adoption of new methods.
In a letter written by Mr. Dennison, while in
Europe, he says, " I found that the party setting up
as manufacturer of watches bought his Lancashire
movements, — a conglomeration of rough materials, —
and gave them out to A. B. C. and D. to have them
finished ; and how A. B. C. D. gave out the difliierent
jobs of pivoting certain wheels of the train to E. cer-
tain other parts to F., and the fusee cutting to G. —
dial-making, jeweling, gilding, motioning, etc., to
others, down almost the entire length of the alphabet.
. . . Finding things in this condition, as a matter of
course, my theory of Americans not finding any
difficulty in competing with the English, especially if
the interchangeable system and manufacturing in
large quantities was adopted, may be accepted as
reasonable."
During the absence of Mr. Dennison the other
parties in the enterprise were not idle, so that after
his return, work was commenced on a model watch,
j and some machinery end tools. Work was com-
menced on a factory building in October, 1850, and it
was completed in the following January. It was
located on Hamden Street, in Roxbury, — now a part
of the city of Boston, — and designated as the High-
land District. At that time the business was con-
ducted under the name of " The American Horologe
Company," and the capital invested consisted princi-
pally of the $20,000 furnished by Mr. Curtis, together
with the practical manufacturing experience of Messrs.
Howard & Davis, and the enthusiasm and confidence
of Mr. Dennison. Of this combination, the dollars
gradually but surely and forever disappeared ; the
manufacturing experience was considerably enlarged ;
and the enthusiasm probably remained unchanged.
Of course, in commencing the business of watch-
making, one of the primary matters to be decided
was the form of watch to be adopted, which involved
the construction of a model from which to work in
! the building of the tools and machines required. A
I small room was partitioned off in the Howard &
I Davis clock factory, and two men were detailed to
I begin this work. They were the brothers Oliver and
David Marsh. They were soon joined by Mr. Charles
i S. Moseley, whose name is familiar in many of the
watch factories of the country, and to whom is due the
credit of designing many machines now in use in all
American watch factories. Among others who were
engaged on the original watches and machines, it is
proper to mention here Mr. James Baker, who after-
ward became a foreman of one of the departments of
the Waltham factory, which he left in 1874, to en-
gage in mercantile business, returning, however,
after a few years' absence, and is still industriously at
work.
Mr. Nelson P. Stratton also soon became employed
in the new enterprise; and very naturally, for he was
a watchmaker by trade, having been engaged with
the brothers James & Henry Pitkin, who in 1838
attempted to establish a watch tactorj at Hartford,
740
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Conn., and did indeed make about 800 movements,
but, as their cost was greater than imported watches,
the enterprise was abandoned.
Believing that Mr. Stratton's experience in the Pit-
kins' factory would be of great value, Mr. Denniaon
persuaded him to give up his position with Messrs.
McKay, Spear & Brown, jewelers, on Washington
Street, Boston, and cast in his lot with the promoters
of the new industry.
In taking this action no mistake was made, for Mr.
Slratton soon became prominent in the management
of the business ; but of him more will be said here-
after. Of the other workmen who were employed at
■ an early date, mention should be made of Mr. James
T. Shepard, a brother-in-law of Mr. Stratton, who
left the Springfield Armory to contribute his labor
and skill to the new undertaking. He early became
the head of one of the departments of the work, and
still continues in the same position in the Walthr.m
factory.
Among others who, early entering the service of
the company, naturally came to occupy re^jponsible
positions, were Mr. John J. Lynch, who was foreman
of the jeweling department, until his death in Sep-
tember, 1885, and Mr. Albert T. Bacon, who was for
many years the general superintendent of the Wal-
tham factory.
Mr. David Marsh was adjuster of high-grade
watches, until he left the factory to enter mercantile
business.
In the summer of the next year (1851) a model
watch was completed. In size it correwponded with
the 18 size movement as made at the present time by
all American factories, but it is said to have been
radically different, however, in that it was designed
to run eight days with one winding, instead of about
thirty-six hours, as does the ordinary watch. But it
waa soon found that such a form of watch was im-
practicable, and it was abandoned for the one-day watch.
Before any watches had been completed, the name
of the company was changed to the Warren Manu-
facturing Company (probably in honor of Gen.
Joseph Warren, whose birth-place was not far from
the Roxbury factory), and the first hundred move-
ments produced bore this name. These were com-
pleted and placed on the market in 1853. The next
few hundred were named Samuel Curtis. But it was
soon realized that the company name was not suffi-
ciently suggestive of its business and it was changed
to the Boston Watch Company.
The two or three years' experience at the Roxbury
factory seems to have convinced the managers that
the location was in many respects an unfavorable
one, inasmuch as it was extremely dusty in the sum-
mer months, and it was also felt that in planning for
the future growth of the business, no slight regard
should be had for the requirements of the employes,
and provisions be made for their happiness and com-
fort in the direction of homes.
Influenced by this feeling, Mr. Dennison began to
search for a new and more favorable location. In
his explorations among the suburban towns within a
reasonable distance from Boston, he found a most
charming spot which seemed to possess ail the desired
ijualiticatioDS. This location was at Stony Brook, ai
the extreme eastern boundary of the town of Weston,
and about eleven miles from Boston, on the line of
the Fitchburg Railroad. But the owner of the de-
sired land, Mr. N. L. Sibley, not having the enthusi-
astic faith in the future magnitude of the watch-
making industry which possessed Mr. Denuison, could
not be made to realize the very great pecuniary ad-
vantage which would accrue to him from the estab-
lishment of such a factory.
Failing to agree with Mr. Sibley on terms of pur-
chase, that location was given up, and search was
made for some available site, which was soon found in
the " Bemis Farm," which was situated on the south
side of the Charles River, about three-fiuarters
of a mile from the centre of the village of Waltham,
and only ten miles from Boston.
Having then found a satisfactory location for the
factory, the next thing was to make it evident to the
employes that country life w:us a thing to be very
greatly desired. Accordingly, Mr. Dennison used to
plan excursions into the country, the objective-point,
of course, being a certain pasture on the south bank
of the Charles River. And then he would endeavor
lo awaken in his companions a little of the enthusin.sm
which seems always to have possessed him, by point-
ing out to them some of the very charming locations
on which to build houses. It is related that, on one
of these outing days, Mr. Dennison mounted a stone
wall, and waving his long arms toward the adjoining
field, he exclaimed lo his companions, "Somewhere
about there, genllcmcn, there is going to be a watch
factory." The factory was subsequently built on the
spot then designated ; and moreover, some of the
men actually located their homes on the very lots
chosen for them.
The establishment of an industry so novel and, in
the ofiinion of its projectors, so promising :ia watch-
making, naturally set in motion other schemes for
money-making, which should be more or less de-
pendent upon or co-operative with the new factory.
The Waltham Improvement Company was incor-
porated in March, 1854, with a capital of $100,000.
ITiey purchased most of the land in the vicinity of
the watch factory site, amounting to .several hundred
acres, and laid it out into building lots, with main
thoroughfares and intersecting streets.
Of the capital stock of this land corporation, the
Boston Watch Company held thirty shares, at ^^lOO
each.
Work was soon commenced on the new factory
buildings, and prosecuted so vigomusly that by Oc-
tober of that year they were ready for the reception
of the machinery and tools. An engine and the
WALTHAM.
741
needful boilers were put in place, shafting put up, and
the machinery moved from the Roxbury factory and
put in operation.
Thig factory was built in the form of two parallel
wings running towards the river, with a square build-
ing connecting the two in front, in which were located
the various offices.
The material used in the construction of these orig-
inal buildings was found on the spot, in the form of
the gravel which constitutes the bulk of the soil of
that region. This gravel was mixed with lime mor-
tar, and the compound poured into a mould of plank,
which was constructed in the form of a section of the
building. After a section of this "concrete" had
stood a sufficient time to become hardened, another
section was built upon it in like manner, and so the
process was continued, till the desired height was at-
tained.
This method of construction was so successful that
it was proposed to continue it, and one or two smaller
buildings were made in the same manner; but when,
after partly completing a building designed for use as
a boarding-house, a rain-storm washed it nearly all
down, confidence in that form of construction .seems
to have suffered a fatal shock ; for it was not again
attempted. Of these original buildings, the last one
was demolished in 1879.
For some time after entering the new factory about
fifty hands were employed, but few, if any, watches
were produced. This necessitated a continual draft
upon the very limited capital of the company, re-
lieved by little, if any income, so that it was but a
question of time when financial trouble would be
inevitable. And in less than two years matters had
become not only serious but desperate. All the
money which could be obtained had been absorbed,
the product was small, and, with a natural prejudice
against a new watch, the sales were slow ; and by the
spring of 1857 the end ot the second stage was reach-
ed, and the company made an assignment.
The property was offered for sale by the assignee,
and, on one rainy day in May, there was a gathering
in the open court between the buildings, and in a
short time the factory, witli all its equipments, to-
gether with what unfinished product it contained,
passed from the ownership of the men who had toiled
so hopefully for it.
Mr. Royal E. Robbins, of New York City, who had
for some years been in the watch importing business,
bid in the property, for himself and the firm of Tracy
ife Baker, who were to quite an amount creditors of
the unfortunate watch company ; the price being
$56,000.
The new firm-name was Tracy, Baker & Co. ; but
as this factory was so far distant from the watch-case
business of Messrs. Tracy & Baker, which was
located in Philadelphia, those men soon disposed of
their interest to Mr. Robbins, who associated with
him Mr. James Appleton and Mr. E. Tracy, and con-
ducted the business from September 1, 1857, under
the firm-name of Appleton, Tracy & Co.
Almost immediately the great commercial and
financial crisis of that year occurred, and for about
a year it was necessary to carry on the works without
returns from sales. With the aid of the New York
firm of Robbins & Appleton, and of some friendly
bankers in Boston, means were found to keep the
factory running until, in the autumn of 1858, better
times appeared, and a market for the product was
gradually made. But it was a severe struggle, and a
great trial to the faith and patience of Mr. Robbins.
His capital being all involved, and his ability to carry
through to success such a novel and risky enterprise
being a good deal questioned, he was reduced to
straits for money, which, in view of the subsequent
history of the concern, presents a great contrast of
conditions.
Many a time Mr. Robbins deposited with his own
hands in Boston banks large boxes of watches, as col-
l.iteral security for his notes, discounted at eighteen
per cent, by capitalists to whom he had been intro-
duced.
The co-operation of the workmen was secured, and
many concessions on their part, of both time and
wages, were considerately contributed to the mainten-
ance of operations throughout this disastrous period.
It was difficult enough, as many business men will
remember, for the best and longest established con-
cerns to borrow in that year, and it may well be be-
lieved that the effort to revive a bankrupted watch-
making business found very little favor amongst the
few who had money to lend.
However, in 1858 the clouds began to break. The
factory had by hard experience learned how to make
watches by machinery, and to make them well, at a
comparatively low cost. The future began to look
very promising, but more capital was needed. In
these circumstances Mr. Robbins proposed to the
Waltliam Improvement Company, that, inasmuch as
the prosperity of that company was in a great measure
dependent upon the success of the watch firm,
their mutual interests would be best promoted by a
union of properties in one company, whose capital
should be made large enough for their objects. This
proposal was so evidently wise that it met with accept-
ance, and " The Waltham Improvement Company, at
a shareholders' meeting, held August 26, 1858, voted
to buy the watch factory property, real and personal,
excepting the stock of finished goods then owned by
Royal E. Robbins, for the sum of ?1 00 ,000 and a bonus
of $20,000 ; and therefore voted to increase the capital
stock of the company to $200,000." Mr. Robbins im-
mediately subscribed the additional capital.
Dr. Horatio Adams was president of this company,
Mr. W. H. Keith was clerk, and Mr. Robbins was
elected treasurer and general business manager,
which position he has continuously held during the
thirty-two succeeding years.
742
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
With this consolidation the firm-name of Appleton,
Tracy & Co. disappeared, and the business was owned
and conducted by the Waltham Improvement Com-
pany ; but on Feb. 8, 1859, the name was, by act of the
Legslature, changed to the American Watch Company,
and under that name its products achieved a world-
wide reputation. On March 31, 1859, the oflScers of
the Improvement Company were formally chosen to
similar positions in the American Watch Company.
Dr. Adams continued to hold the office of president
till February 16, 1861, when he resigned on account
of ill health, and was succeeded on March 28th by
Mr. W. H. Keith.
Mr. Dennison continued to hold the position of
superintendent till 1861, at which time he severed
his connection with the company.
Mr. Stratton also acted for a time as assistant sup-
erintendent.
Until 1860 nothing was realized from the business
in the shape of divideni'.s, but in that year a five per
cent, dividend was declared — the first profitable re-
turn obtained from watch-making in America.
The productive capacity of the factory was gradu-
ally increased by the duplication of existing machines
and also by the designing and constructing of new
ones. Mention has already been made of Mi.
Moseley, as having been somewhat prominent in this
line. Another mechanic of special inventive ability
was obtained in the person of Mr. Charles Vander-
woerd, of whom more will be said hereafter.
In further search for competent mechanics, Mr.
Dennison seems to have had the United States Armory
still in his mind, and Mr. Ambrose Webster was
brought on from Springfield, and installed in the
machine-shop.
Mr. Webster was able to contribute to the factory
quite an essential element. He possessed, either by
nature or by virtue of the training and discipliue of
an apprenticeship in the United States Armory [then
under military superintendence], an appreciation of
the value of thorough system, and his help in this
direction was of very great service, especially at that
time, when it seemed evident that ihe bubiness was
destined to live, and when it was important to so
plan the methods of manufactiiring that the product
should be reliable, both as to quantity and quality.
Mr. Webster continued at the head of the machinery
department till 1872, when he took the position of
a.isistant superintendent; but during the six or more
years immediately preceding that time his sphere of
duties had so enlarged as to require an assistant, who
had direct charge of the machiue-shop.
The first person who acted in that capacity was Mr.
George Hunter, who later went to Elgin, Illinois, and
aided in starting the watch-factory there. In that
factory he took at first the position of machine-shop
foreman, but is now, and for the past fifteen years has
been the general superintendent.
On May 19, 1860, the capital of the American
Watch Company was increased to 8300,000. Hardly
had the newly re-organized company caught aglimpse
of daylight ahead, after the gloom of failure and
struggle, when the Civil War broke out, and all busi-
ness came to a stand-still.
With little or no hope of being able to find u
market for their product, unless that product should
be so small as to be made at an actual loss, it was de-
cided to reduce the expen.aes to the lowest point, but
at the same time to keep the factory in operation so
as to hold the leading operatives.
To this end the machine-shop was provided with
work at building a few small lathes, for which a
market was found ; the hours of work were reduced,
and most of the workmen who did not enlist in the
army were discharged. A few hands were kept at
work making machinery and in the production of
watch movements and cases.
But the very events from which so much was feared
were directly the means of great prosperity to this
young industry, for almost immediately a demand for
watches for soldiers sprang up, which lasted through-
out the war.
This sudden and unlooked-for demand for watches
was, fortunately, not an exacting one, save for cum-
ber. Had the demand been for watches of such a de-
gree of excellence as is now required, for accuracy
and finish, it could not have been met; for the simple
reason that few trained and experienced workmen
were then available. But, using such facilities as
were obtainable, in the way of workmen, machines
and tools, vigorous efibrts were put forth to supply
the welcome demand.
In common with everything else at that period, the
prices of all watches were high — perhaps relatively
higher than at any other time in the history of this
company. So that it is not a matter of surprise that
the profits of the business at that time were very large
indeed. As a result ol that season of prosperity a
large surplus was accumulated, and in 1865 the capi-
tal was increased to $750,000, the stock being dis-
tributed among the stockholders in the form of a spe-
cial dividend.
In 1862 the company bought out the plant and
property of the Nashua Watch Company ; and, as
they were at once incorporated with the Waltham
works, it may be interesting to give a brief sketch of
the history of the rise and fall of that establishment.
About 1857 or 1858 Mr. B. D. Bingham, of Nashua,
N. H., who had been amakerof clocks and regulators,
entered the employ of the Waltham Company, that
he might learn the various processes by which watches
were being made by machinery.
At that time Mr. Stratton was assistant superin-
tendent of the factory. He had invented an im-
proved main-spring barrel and obtained a patent upon
it, and also a hair-spring stud, both of which had
been adopted by the company.
Both Mr. Stratton and Mr. Bingham were quite
WALTHAiM.
743
ambitious, and, in the belief that the problems of suc-
cessful watch-making had been practically solved,
they began to lay plans for the establishment of a
similar enterprise.
In the confidence that capitalists could be induced
to invest in the undertaking, these two men visited
Xashua, N. H., in 1859, and did succeed in the for-
mation of a company, with a capital of $100,000. Re-
turning to Waltham, they enlisted the services of
several of the best men employed by the old company,
among whom were Mr. Moseley, Mr. Vanderwoerd and
some others.
A building was secured in Nashua, and fitted up so
as to adapt it to the requirements of the work to be
done. Mr. Stratton's. desire was to make a watch of
a higher grade than the Waltham Company had at
that time undertaken, and with that purpose, work
was at once commenced on the required machinery
and tools. Mr. Moseley served as the master me-
chanic, and, in connection with Mr. Vanderwoerd,
constructed a number of excellent machines.
But here the old story was quickly repeated, for in
1862 the money had all vanished ; and, although
about a thousand watches had been well-advanced to-
ward completion, the stockholders declined to put in
any additional money, and matters of necessity came
to a standstill.
There being no hope of further money, the only
thing remaining was to save as much as possible from
the wreck — for such the enterprise begun with so
much confidence had then become. It is not a mat-
ter of surprise that, with the knowledge of two fail-
ures in this industry, it was a difficult matter to find
parties ready to invest in the purchase of this property-
But Mr. Stratton finally succeeded in effecting a sale
to the American Watch Company, the price paid
being about one-half the original cost of the plant.
The Waltham Company paid $53,000 for the entire
property, which, in addition to the machinery, in-
cluded the watches then approaching completion,
which were made in both what are known as sixteen
and twenty size.
The Nashua factory was kept in operation while
the addition of buildings needful for accommodating
its machinery was being made to the Waltham fac-
tory, Mr. Charles W. Fogg being sent from Waltham
to superintend the work, until the fall of 1862, when
the property was removed to Waltham.
For several years these tools were kept by them-
selves, a new department being created, and put under
the general charge of Mr. Fogg, with Mr. Vander-
woerd in charge of the mechanical part of the work.
Mr. Fogg retained his position till about 1877, when
he retired from active life. The "Nashua Depart-
ment" was maintained till July, 1878, when a portion
of the work was consolidated with similar work of
the original factory ; and in 1884 the other parts of
the work were distributed among the several depart-
ments where they appropriately belonged.
The Nashua watches were of the form of construc-
tion designated aa " three-quarter plate," and, by vir-
tue of their form, and also the excellence of their
workmanship, as made at Waltham, took the highest
rank among American watches, but were not for many
years a source of direct profit to the company.
Having very briefly reviewed the history of the
Nashua Watch Factory, and seen how in that
instance, as in the case of the original venture of Mr.
Dennison, the fondest and most confident anticipa-
tions of success were doomed to disappointment, it
may be appropriate to make mention of the peculiar
fascination which has seemed to be connected with
the enterprise of watch-making in America.
When, on the sale of the property of the bankrupt
Boston Watch Company to Mr. Robbins, in 1857,
Mr. Howard retired, he took with him a confident as-
surance that watch-making could be made profitable,
and, attempting to demonstrate the fact, he again
embarked in the business at the original place in
Roxbury, where the business has since that time been
conducted, but with what measure of financial success
it is not our province to indicate.
Not disheartened nor intimidated by the failure of
the Nashua enterprise, several of the prominent men
of the Waltham factory (including some who were
engaged in the Nashua scheme), believing that the
rapidly-growing part of the country in the West
would prove favorable for the establishment of a fac-
tory patterned after the one at Waltham, visited
Chicago, and so succeeded in interesting capitalists
that the building of the Elgin, 111., factory resulted.
The fact that the principal owners of the Elgin fac-
tory were men of wealth, and thus able to replenish
their frequently exhausted treasury, alone prevented
the repetition there of the unfortunate experiences of
the earlier Waltham and Nashua factories. But
notwithstanding the fact that ten years passed before
the Elgin Company began to realize anything in the
way of dividends, and with the struggles and disasters
of the New England companies well known, there
has ever seemed to be a fascination in the idea of or-
ganizing watch factories which has caused to be
brought into existence a multitude of such establish-
ments, to the financial ruin of many a too confident
investor, and the heavy losses of very many more.
From tbia digression we now return to the consid-
eration of the fortunes of the American Watch
Company.
As has already been said, the original factory
buildings were constructed of "concrete;" but when
future enlargements took place, another form of con-
struction was adopted. Following the building of
the additions made needful by the absorption of the
Nashua concern, several new wings were added, the
years of 1864 and 1865 being particularly busy ones
in this direction.
A short two-story wing had already been built in
front, the lower story being devoted to the uses of the
744
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
gilding department, and the upper one to the work
of fitting the " trains." Further additions were made
by constructing other wings parellel with the street,
the original two-atory flat roof corridor building giv-
ing place to one of brick, with an additional story,
which was used as a finishing- room. A second cor-
ridor building was built, also of brick. This was lo-
cated about a hundred feet south of the first, and the
two connected by a two-story workshop ; another
similar wing extended about eighty feet to the south
of this second corridor, and in it was established a
portion of the Nashua machinery. In addition to
these, the machine-shop wing was extended toward
the river, and two wings parallel with the front, but
between it and the river, were built. Besides these,
a second engine-house and boiler-house were built
and equipped. With the exception of the two corri-
dor buildings, and the engine and boiler-houses, all
of these buildings were constructed with wooden
frames filled in solid with brick.
This period of extensive building seems to mark an
epoch in the history of the enterprise, which may
perhaps be designated as the fourth stage. While
the business was located at Roxbury it may be said
to have been in the ideal stage. And after removal
to Waltham, up to the year 1857, came the period of
experiment and failure. Following that, and Listing
till 1861, came a period of suspen-ie, succeeded by the
four yesjs which we have just considered, and which
may properly be regarded as a period of achieve-
ment and firm establishment.
The fifth stage, commencing about 186(j and reach-
ing to the present time, has been one of continued en-
largement, of which more will be said hereafter.
Still further additions are definitely planned, and
will doubtless be completed in due time.
In conjunction with the renewal and enlargement
of the factory buildings, the company was engaged
in providing homes for its people.
A large number of dwellings were erected within
a convenient distance of the factory. These were
planned in a variety of styles, and of varying sizes,
so as to accommodate the operatives with larger or
smaller families.
In many cases money was advanced to employees
who desired to build houses for themselves. The
streets were also adorned with young shade-trees,
which at this time are assuming fine proportions.
The character, and consequent reputation, of the
watches made by this company had been steadily
gaining, and as a consequence were in demand, and
found ready sale. But the attempts of foreign mak-
ers to retain their market in America, and the compe-
tition resulting from the multiplication of watch fac-
tories, has had the eflect to continually reduce the
prices, and so compelling a corresponding reduction
in the cost of manufacture, either at the sacrifice of
quality, reduction in wages, or in greatly increased
production.
Manifestly the first of these plans could only result
in eventual failure ; but even if it could be otherwise,
a concern which had by the labor of years gained a
high place in the estimation of the watch trade would
realize the value of what had cost them so much, and
endeavor by all means to retain their good reputation
by adhering to their high standard of ([uality.
The increased sales of watches also made necesssary
the corresponding increase of means for their produc-
tion ; and, while the tools which had been in use ui>
to the period of which we are writing (1865) had
probably never been equaled, it was by no means
certain that very great improvements might not be
made, both in capability and accuracy. It was na-
tural that in the beginning of the enlerpri.se the idea
should obtain that accuracy of operation would be
secured by delicacy of construction, and therefore the
machinery of those earlier years was made very light,
and with resulting sensitivenesss, which involved :i
corresponding delicacy of manipulation on the part
of ihe operative, which could only be acquired by a
period of education, and with results deiieti<ling
largely upon individual ability.
But the experience of years liad demonstrated that
delicacy of machinery did not insure uniformity of
result; and from about this time the theory of
machine-building has been materially modified in the
direction of increased strength and solidity. But
while obtaining a very marked improvement in
strength, and consequent uniformity of operation, no
radical departure was made in the principles of the
machines, the increase of factory capacity being
secured by the multiplication of existing machines.
There were occasional exceptions however, in the
direction of semi-automatic machines, serving to
foreshadow what might be done when the proper time
should come.
But without doubt the policy pursued in this matter
was the wisest for that time. Moreover, it may be
doubted if the peculiar mechanical or inventive
talent required for the production of automatic
machines had then been developed to any considerable
extent; although there was not lacking evidence of
no mean order of ability in machine construction.
The era of automatic machine construction com-
menced a few years later, and Mr. Vanderwoerd was
probably more prominent in his achievements in that
direction than any other individual. The most inter-
esting and valuable of his inventions was a machine
lor making the delicate screws which are so indis-
pensable in the structure of watches. This machine
is able to accomplish the work of three men, and is,
moreover, so arranged that but little attention is re-
quired, so that one man can easily attend to as many
as six machines.
When the United States Government called for
volunteersoldierstoaid in purting down the Rebellion,
and all through the loyal North men were leaving
home and business, and enrolling themselves in the
WALTHAM.
745
Tunka of the soldiery, the managers of the watch
factory were active and earnest in endeavors to
raise the needed recruits. Men who were valuable to
the company by reason of their skill and experience
were not on that account dissuaded from offering their
services to their country in its hour of peril and need ;
but were urged to enlist in the army, with the prom-
ise of employment on their return.
Of the numbers who went to the front, some re-
turned in safety, some were honorably discharged in
consequence of wounds, others came home maimed,
leaving perhaps some of their limbs to mingle with
the soil of the sunny South ; and some gave up their
lives on the held of battle.
A stranger would be impressed in observing the
employees as they leave the factory, by the number
of persons walking by the aid of canes, olhers need-
ing crutches, still others having but one arm ; and it
might seem that they were engaged in a business
which was especially dangerous. Quite the contrary
is the fact, however, for, among the tens of thousands
of persons who have been employed during the ex-
istence of the company, there has not a single fatality
occurred, the most serious accidents resulting in the
loss of one or two fingers, in almost or quite every in-
stance the result of individual carelessness.
The unusual number of lame and halt who are here
gathered is explained by the fact that many veterans
of the war are still employed, and that the nature of
the work is such that bodily infirmities, which in
many other industries would prove serious obstacles,
do not prevent the performance of certain kinds of
work which is essential. So, too, there are many in-
dividuals who are not in the enjoyment of vigorous
health, and who are yet compelled to labor, who here
find work which is within their ability.
But notwithstanding the fact that so many persona
in delicate health, and a larger number by no means
robust, are here employed, it has been a matter
of surprise to those who have investigated the sub-
ject, to find that the death rate is remarkably low.
In 1888 Mr. John Swinton spent some weeks in
studying the social life of Waltham, as connected
with the watch factory, and, in an article written by
him, he says, "One of the facta which has surprised
me most, in studying the state of things in the watch
factory, is the extraordinarily low rate of mortality
among the operatives. I find, by the carefully kept
records of each of the departments, that it is below
a half of one per cent, per annum.
"This is, of course, owing partly to the healthful-
ness of the locality, partly to the absence of child
labor in the factory, and partly to the excellent sani-
tary conditions in which the buildings are kept at
every season of the year. It is, nevertheless, proof
of the wonderful measure of welfare in the lives of
the 2500 workers now under review. It would not
be hard to mention factories in which the death rate
runs as high as three or four per cent, per annum."
But while the above statements are no doubt cor-
rect, it is not to be supposed that sickness is a thing
unknown.
It has always been the established policy of the
company to make the most careful and generous pro-
vision for the comfort and health of its operatives,
yet no provision can insure against the visits of epi-
demics which occasionally visit the various sections
of the country (like " La Grippe," which occa-
sioned a more general and serious disturbance than
anything of like character within the history of the
company).
To secure the advantages of mutual assistance in
cases of need, the operatives in the year 1866 estab-
lished the " Watch Factory Relief Association." Ar-
ticle 2 of its Constitution stated that "The object of
this Association shall be to aid all members whose
circumstances are such as to need relief in cases of
sickness or injury while in the employ of the Ameri-
can Watch Company, or whose sickness or injury
shall have been contracted while in the employ of
said company. None but members shall receive aid
except by concurrent action of the Relief Committee
and the vote of the Association. Persona working as
learners shall be exempt from dues the first four
months of their services with the American Watch
Company."
Other articles provided for choice of officers,
among whom was " a Relief Committee, consisting of
fout gentlemen and three ladies, to whom all appli-
cations for relief must be made, and whose duty it
shall be to see that timely assistance is rendered to
all in need."
The dues prescribed were, from the foremen, sixty
cents per quarter ; from all other men, fifty cents ;
and from women, thirty centa.
A further provision was, that " no Superintendent
or Foreman shall be eligible to any office in the As-
sociation."
A feeling of independence, and a disinclination to
accept charity in any form, without doubt deterred
very many members from applying for aid when in
sickness ; and quite possibly occasional payments to
some who were not in actual need served in time to
create a demand for a change in the method of relief;
and, in 1881, the Association was re-organized on a
strictly mutual basis; the assessment of dues was
changed from quarterly to monthly intervals, and the
amount of dues reduced to twenty-five cents, without
distinction as to sex or position. The restrictions as
to the holding of office were alao abolished. The
amount of money allowed to applicants for relief is
fixed by the constitution at $4.00 per week, after the
first week (for which no appropriation is allowed),
and in no case is the benefit to cover a period ex-
ceeding ten weeks in any one year. It is further pro-
vided that, in case of death of a member, the sum
of S50.00 shall be appropriated for funeral expenses.
The books of the treasurer of the Association show
746
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
that since its organization, in 1866, it has paid 103
3uch claims ; and that, up to the close of the year
1889, there had been paid out a total of nearly
$45,000 in yearly amounts, varying from $945 in 1866,
to $5814 in 1889.
Since the re-organization of the Association, in
1881, the condition of the treasury has allowed the
omission of ten regular assessments, and never in its
history has a special assessment been required until
1889, that being occasioned by the prevalence of the
epidemic, " La Grippe." The sympathy of the man-
agement of the Watch Company with the aims and
objects of this Relief Association has been manifested
by its annual contribution of $200 to its funds.
The years immediately following the close of the
Civil War, while constituting a period of general
business activity and apparent prosperity, were not
without intervals of anxiety and depression in the
watch-maiding industry. It has, however, seemed a
very remarkable thing that at times, when business in
general has been languishing, and many industries
have been obliged to completely suspend operations,
this factory has been almost uniformly kept busy.
This is the more strange because it would be expected
that in times of dullness and scarcity of money,
watches would naturally be a drug in the market.
But with the exception of a few months in the fall
and winter of 1873-74, when financial disturbance
was so nearly universal, this factory has been kept
steadily at work. And it is probable that it maf be
truthfully said that few, if any, towns in our country
suffered less during that period of business troubles,
than did Waltham.
Such a measure of prosperity as was shared by this
whole community was, without doubt, due almost en-
tirely to the exertions and the sagacity of the watch
factory management and its selling agents, and cannot
but be a matter of the greatest gratification.
The steady increase in the volume of business made
necessary a corresponding increase of capital. And
on August 3, 1870, half a million dollars were added,
—making a total of $1,250,000. But within three
years even this amount was found insuflicient; and
on January 14, 1873, the capital was increased to
$1,500,000.
With the desire to secure, if possible, a more com-
plete identification of interest in the business on the
part of the employes, and, at the same time, giving
them the opportunity for a profitable investmentof their
accumulated savings, Mr. Robbins made a provision
that the employes should be allowed to subscribe for a
portion of the new issue of stock on terms much
more favorable than could be obtained by other par-
ties. This opportunity was embraced by many of the
operatives, and while some of them subsequently dis-
posed of their shares, many others are still securing
their semi-annual returns. And if they are desirous
of disposing of their stock, they can do so at a large
advance.
When the National Centennial Exhibition was deter-
mined upon this company entered heartily into the work
of providing an exhibit which should be a fitting indi-
cation of the progress which America had made in this
branch of industry. Besides exhibiting a very large
number of finished watches, in various grades, and in
cases of silver and gold, a workshop was fitted up with a
number of the most interesting automatic machines
which had then been added to the equipment of the
factory. These machines were kept in practical op-
eration by a corps of operatives, who were inconstant
att«ndance during the entire season of the Philadel-
phia exhibition.
This exhibit proved to be one of the most attrac-
tive in the whole fair, and was from morning till
night surrounded by a dense crowd of eager and in-
terested visitors. In addition to these objects of such
interest to the curious, the company entered a number
of watches of various grades, to be submitted to the
most searching and exacting tests, to demonstrate
their accuracy as to time-keeping qualities.
It is a matter for congratulation and pardonable
pride, that, although in competition with the watches
of the old and celebrated makers of the Old World,
the watches entered by the American Watch Com-
I pany secured the highest award for accuracy. As an
indication of the wonderful precision which has been
attained in time-keeping mechanism, it may be said
that the three watches which gained the highest
award showed a mean daily variation of only .23 of
one second ; and an average difference of but .44 of
one second between the first and eleventh weeks of
the official tests.
The result of this competitive trial, together with
the wonderfully attractive exhibition of watches, and
the machines employed in their manufacture, was, as
might naturally be expected, to bring into more ex-
tended and favorable notice the Waltham Company,
and to create an increased demand for their goods.
It moreover forced from the European watch-makers
the unwilling acknowledgment that America had taken
the lead, and that evidently the days of watch-making
on the old plan were about numbered.
When Mr. Dennison severed his connection with
this company, in 1861, the position of superintendent
was assumed by Mr. Albert T. Bacon, who has been
mentioned as having early entered the service of the
original company in Roxbury. At about the same
time Mr. otratton was sent to London, to serve the
company as its agent for the purchase of supplies.
He remained there until 1878, when he retired from
active life.
Mr. Bacon continued in the position of general
superintendent until 1875, having as his assistant
during the last two years Mr. Ambrose Webster, who
was promoted to that position from his former one oi
master mechanic.
Mr. Woerd's abilities as an inventor of machinery
having been recognized by Mr. Robbins, he was, in
WALTHAM.
747
1874, assigned to the position and duties of mechani-
cal superintendent of the entire factory ; and held
I hat office until the resignation of Mr. Bacon, when
he was appointed general superintendent of the fac-
tory, with Mr. G. H. Shirley as his assistant.
Mr. Webster retired in 1876,shortly after Mr. Bacon
resigned.
While Mr. Woerd unquestionably possessed the in-
ventive faculty In a large measure, he was not so well
equipped to act as a manager, and his administration
on the broader scale was not successful, and he retired
in 1883.
Shortly after Mr. Bobbins became identified with
the factory the commercial and the manufacturing
branches of the business were separated, and since
that time the entire product of the factory has been
marketed by the selling agents of the company,
Messrs. Robbins & Appleton, who have evinced great
business ability, in creating and maintaining, as well
as supplying, an increasing demand for the Waltham
watches.
This has been accomplished by the employment of
a corps of trained salesmen, in their established offices
in New York, Boston, Chicago and elsewhere ; and
also by sending out " missionaries," whose duties are
to Tis>it the numerous watch- dealers, and ascertain
their wants, listen to their suggestions or complaints,
and rectify their mistakes.
Among those early employed in this capacity was
Mr. Ezra C. Fitch, a young man who came from an
apprentice's bench in the store of Bigelow <& Kennard,
of Boston. After being in the Boston office of Rob-
bins & Appleton for a time, he was sent out " on the
road,'' visiting various districts, principally in New
England. He was subsequently transferred to the
New York office ; and while connected with that
office he traveled over nearly every section of the
United States, becoming acquainted with nearly all
the leading watch-dealers of the country. Later he
devoted his entire time to the business of the New
York office, remaining there for several years, acquir-
ing an experience and developing a business sagacity
which naturally raised him to the head of the office,
and later to a partnership in the firm of Robbins &
Appleion.
During the latter part of Mr. Woerd's administration
it had become evident that a change was demanded,
it was decided to place Mr. Fitch in the general
management of the factory; and in March, 1883, he
removed from New York City, and entered upon his
new line of work and responsibility.
One great advantage obtained in this appointment
was the fact that Mr. Fitch was able, by reason of
his commercial experience and his extensive acquaint-
ance with the trade, to appreciate their wants as they
could not be felt by those whose entire experience
had been in the direction of mauufacturiug.
About three months after the advent of Mr. Fitch,
Mr. Woerd severed his connection wiih the factory.
and the office and duties of general superintendent
were assumed by Mr. Fitch. He was also chosen to
a place on the Board of Directors ; and in May, 1886,
was elected president of the company, all of which
positions he now occupies.
At the time this factory was started, and for many
years thereafter, all watches were made in the form
now designated as "key-winding," in which the
main-spring was wound by means of a key, which
was entirely separate from the watch, and which was
liable to be mislaid or lost, and to use which required
the opening of the watch-case, with the liability of
the introduction of dust, to the injury of the delicate
mechanism. After a time improved means for wind-
ing were adopted, in which the separate key was dis-
carded, and the winding performed by means of an
arbor extending through the case-pendant, upon the
outer end of which was fastened a knob or " crown."
By means of a lever, concealed within the case, or a
" push piece " projecting through its side, the
mechanism could be disconnected from the winding,
and made to engage with other wheels, for the pur-
pose of moving the hands. This form of construction
is known as the " stem-winding " or " keyless " watch,
and has to a great extent superseded the old form of
winding.
Desiring to still further improve their watches, both
in quality of workmanship and in mechanical devices,
the company in 1882 secured the services of Mr. D.
H. Church, of Chicago, who was known as a thorough
watch-maker, and possessed of unusual skill and in-
genuity. One of the first results of Mr. Church's
endeavors was the production of a device for still fur-
ther improving stem-winding watches, so as to do
away with the " hand-setting lever," which involved
the necessity of opening the case during the operation
of setting the hands. This new form of construction
tvas soon adopted, and became very popular, being
technically known as the " pendant-set."
In giving the history of an enterprise such as we
have been considering, it would be of interest to
dwell to some extent upon the careers of the
individuals who have been prominent in its develop-
ment ; but it baa been the endeavor of the writer
to subordinate individuals so far as possible, in the
simple story of the origin, trials and growth of this
world-renowned industry. And it remains in closing
to make mention of a few things which are of inter-
est, and may well become matters of permanent
record.
In 1885, by an act of the Massachusetts Legislature,
this company was authorized to increase its capital
to $4,000,000 and also to change its corporate name
by the insertion into it of the word " Waltham ;"
and under that authority it has, since March of that
year, existed under the name of the American Wal-
tham Watch Company.
In the same month it was voted by the stockholders
to increase the capital from $1,500,000 to $2,000,000.
748
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
In March, 1889, it was voted to still further increase
it, 80 as to make the amount $3,000,000.
On that occasion Mr. Kobbins made his thirtieth
annual report as treasurer; and its close gave a brief
review of the thirty years' work. Among other
interesting items he stated that up to February 1,
1879, 1,112,133 watch-movements had been made ;
and at the close of the year 1888 the number had
reached 3,800,-196, showing that the production of the
last ten years had been more than double that of the
preceding twenty years ; also that the sales since he
became treasurer had reached an aggregate of nearly
$48,000,000.
While it is a matter for congratulation that this
vast sura without question indicates a large total
return to the stockholders, it is also no less a fact
that the employees have shared in the prosperity of
the business to an extent which, to say the least,
is by no means common.
It has been a matter of no small pride with the
management that the scale of wages has been a liberal
oue. It is also a matter of almost universal com-
ment with visitors to the factory, as they are shown
through the various departments, or observe the
2800 operatives as they pass out at the close of
work, to note their appearance of superior intelligence
and refinement.
It would be difficult to Hud another manufacturing
concern the ranks of whose workmen have produced
so many persons who have entered professional life,
or adopted other forms of business as employers.
Among the graduates from this factory there are
several editors, lawyers, physicans, dentists and artists.
Others have become merchants and manufacturers.
Many are holding honorable portions in municipal
affairs. One is mayor of the city, another is post-
master, and another a member of the State Legisla-
ture.
The high character and superior intelligence of the
people who here find employment, together with the
liberal wages paid, will, in a great measure, account
for the absence of labor troubles, which have be-
come so common in many industries. But much is
also due to the governinfj desire on the part of the
officers of the company to be just and fair in the con-
sideration of all matters involving differences of
opinion, and apparent conflict of interests.
The introduction of improved methods of work
and the employment of labor-saving machines will
without doubt occasion temporary individual hard-
ships, but thoughtful men realize that such things are
to be expected, and are in fact inevitable ; but will
also realize that the permanent prosperity of the in-
dividual operatives is dependent upon the financial
success of their employers.
The decay of the watch industry in England, con-
sequent upon their loss of the American market, and
the fact that large numbers of Waltham watches are
sold abroad, has compelled the English to acknowl-
edge that, in certain respects at least, the American
system possesses a superiority. Several attempts have
been made within the last few years to inaugurate
the same general plan in some English establishments,
but it is understood with only a partial degree of
success.
Within recent months articles have been published
in English horological journals, in which the at-
tempt has been made to rob Mr. Dennison of the
creditof havingoriginated the system of interchangea-
bilily of parts, made possible by the employment of
a series of special machines. Nevertheless, the fact
remains that such a scheme, if ever conceived in
Europe, was never carried out, nor practically de-
monstrated until Mr. Dennison accomplished it. So
that whatever of honor or credit such an accomplish-
ment can claim is certainly due to Mr. Dennison and
his co-workers in originating this factory.
A person unacquainted with the almost infinite de-
tails involved in the conduct of a complete and exteu-
sive watch factory, can have little appreciation of the
difficulties and perplexities which are continually
arising. Nor can he comprehend the extremely wear-
ing nature of the duties involved in the judicious
management of such a business.
For these reasons it has often been felt that the
aiife and profitable limit of production could not be
very greatly in excess of that already attained.
But the invention and use of improved machines
continues to make possible an increase of product,
without greatly complicating the details; so that it is
expected that within a few months at least two
thousand movements per day will be produced.
The completion of watch No. 2,000,000 in January,
1883, was made the occasion of a slight celebratiou,
which took the form of a banquet. It was given by
the foremen of the various departments of the fac-
tory ; they having as invited guests, Mr. R. E. Rob-
bins, the treasurer; Mr. C. V. Woerd, the superin-
tendent; Mr. G. H. Shirley, assistant superintendent,
and representatives from the offices of the selling
agents. The most interesting feature of the occasion
was the address of Mr. Robbins, who, after expressing
his pleasure at meeting his captains and lieutenants
in that social way, gave a most interesting narrative
of some of the early difficulties and struggles of the
Watch Company, some of which have been recorded
in the foregoing pages. That occasion was so thor-
oughly enjoyed by all present that, as one result,
The Watch Factory Foremen's Association was or-
ganized, holding regular meetings for the discussion
of matters pertaining to the interests of the factory.
Similar banquets have been held each succeeding
year, the officers of the company, the selling agents,
and the foremen successively being the hosts.
On the completion of watch movement No. 3,000,-
000, the company fitted it with a handsome goid case,
and presented it to the Foremen's Association ; and
it has been carried by difierent members, no one being
WALTHAM.
r49
allowed to possess it for a longer period than six
months.
The present rate of production will, within a few
months, bring the number of finished movements to
a full 5,000,000, which event might well be the oc-
casion of a celebration.
As in the natural world there seema to be a par-
ticular pest or enemy to the various forms of vegeta-
tion', so there has within a few years been developed
to a marked degree an influence which has been the
cause of very serious disturbance in the time rate of
watches. The attempt to discover a remedy for this
difficulty haa engaged the time and taxed the ingenu-
ity of the management of this company and some of
its prominent assistants for many months, and the
problem has been successfully solved by the discovery
of certain alloys, which possess the properties of elas-
ticity and sufficient expansion under the influence of
heat, and also the non-magnetic property. So that
watches are now made which can be aafeiy exposed
to strong magnetic influences without fear of injury.
The rapid introduction of electricity as an agent for
the convenient transmission of power and for the pro-
duction of artificial light will, without doubt, be the
cause of injury to large numbers of watches of ordi-
nary construction, and it is therefore felt that the abil-
ity to construct non-magnetic watches, which is alone
possessed by this American company, is to be of in-
creasing value.
Allusion has been made to tiie great amount of de-
tail involved in the manufacture of watches, as con-
ducted at this factory. The statement of a few facta
will make this evident to the oniiiiary reader.
This company, at the |)reseiit time (IS'JO), is manu-
facturing watch-movements in five difl'ereut sizes,
and of each size several different grades are made.
While the dirt'erent grades of any one oize maj', and
do, possess the same general appearance, yet in cer-
tain details tliere are radical differences, and in others
there are required modifications in the operations
which enter into their construction and finish.
An ordinary watcii-movement is composed of up-
wards of one liundretl and fifty distinct pieces, and a
careful list of the distinct c)perations required to com-
[ilete them all shows the number to be over three
thousand seven hun<lred, or an average of twenty-five
operations for each piece. Some of them are, of
course, quite simple ; but others are complicated and
Involve the employment of special machines, many
of which are, from their character, v^ery expensive.
It will doubtless be evident that a business involv-
ing so much of detail, and ilemanding such a degree
of accuracy in workmanship, can be successfully con-
ducted only by the most careful attention to ail the de-
tails of It; and that thorough system is indispensable.
To attain these ends, the work of the factory is di-
vided into twenty-two departments, each under the
direct care of a foreman, some of whom have one or
more assistants. The departments are as follows:
Full Plate Department Leonard Greene, Foreman.
Three-quarter Plate Department . . Lorenzo Noble "
Pinion Turning " . . Martin Thomas "
Pinion-Cutting •' . . C. R. Hill
Escapement " . . C. C. Byam "
Flat Steel " . . J. T. Shepard
Jewel- .Making •' . . W. B. Wills
Jeweling " , . Alfred Warren "
Engraring " . . William Murray "
Balance " . . J. L. Keyser "
Main and Hair-Spring " . . John Logan "
Screw-Making " . . C. H. Maun **
Dial-Making " . . F. W. Wetherbee "
Dial-Painting " . K. L. Hull "
Punch and Hand " . . N. P. Mulloy ••
Machine " . . W. H. Wrenn
Gilding " . . A. P. WilUams
Finishing *' . . Thomas Gill **
Packing " . . Miss A. Clark "
Repairing " . . J. N. Hammond '*
Carpentering " . . C. W. H. Boulton "
Janitor and Supplies " . . C. J. Olney "
Aside from the foregoiog, who have specific duties,
there is a corps of what may be called executive offi-
cers, whose duties and cares are more general, but not
less exacting and wearing. The nature of their duties
is suggested by the several titles, viz. :
General Superintendent E. C. Fitch
Assistant Superintendent G. H. Shirley
Master ^(echanic E. A. Marsh
Master Watchmaker D. H. Church
Chief Inspector D. W. Eldridge
The oflScers of the corporation have been as follows :
18SR.— Horatio Adams, M.D , (Walthani Imp't Co.), president : R. E.
Kobhins. treasurer ; W. H. Keith, clerk.
lf*-^0. — Horatio Adams, Bl.D. (American Watch Company), president;
R. E. Ruhblos, treasurer; W. H. Keith, clerk.
Iffil.— W. II. Keith (American Watch Company), presideut ; B. E.
ttobbtns, treasurer ; Henry Martyn, clerk.
l«t;7.— I, W. Slulliken (American Watt'h Compauy), president ; R. E.
Ilobbins, treasurer; Henry Ma'rtyn, clerk.
1871. — 1. W\ .Mulliken (American Watch Company), president ; R. E.
Riibbtns, treasurer ; W. W. Titconib, clerk.
1874. — F. M. Stone (American Watch Company), presiilent ; K. E.
Ilobbins, treasurer ; W. W. Titconib, clerk.
1S78. — Horatio Moore I.Xmericaii Watch Company), preeideut ; R. E.
Ilobbins, treiisurer; W, W. Titcomh, clerk.
IJifiS. — Horatio ftloore (American Watch Company), president ; R. K
Robbins, treasurer; P. W. Carter, clerk.
18)*5.— Horatio Moore (American Waltbam Watch Comptuir), presi-
dent ; R. E. Kobbins, treasurer ; P. W. Carter, clerk.
1S88.— Ezra C. Fitch (American Waltbam Watch Company), presi-
dent ; R. E. Robbins, treasurer ; P. W. Carter, clerk.
In closing this imperfect, and somewhat fragment-
ary, sketch of the origin, trials and triumphs of this
pioneer in the watch-making industry in America, it
may be said, that while many other enterprises are
much more easily conducted, and may yield returns
to their stockholders far exceeding this, it may well
be doubted if in the whole country, or indeed in the
world, there can be found an enterprise more widely
and favorably known, or one which has been able to
promote such a general ditfiision of sound prosperity,
as has resulted, directly and indirectly, from the es-
tablishment and management of the manufacturing
industry now conducted under the name of " The
American Waltham Watch Company."
750
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
CHAPTER LI.
WALTHAM— {Continued).
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
BY NATHAN WARREN.
The Waltham Public Library was organized
as a free public library in 1865. At that time the
Eumford Inbtitute, an institution of long standing
and great influence for good in the town, oflered to
give its large and well-selected library, on condition
that it be made a free public library, and that its
charge and support thereafter should be as:iumed by
the town. The town accepted the proposition and
the present Public Library was thus formed and or-
ganized. The management of the library was in-
trusted to a board of eight directors, four of whom
were to be chosen in each year, and the funds for the
maintenance of the library and the purchase oi'
books were appropriated from the town treasury.
Rooms for books, and a reading-room, were secured
in the second story of the Waltham Bank Building.
Miss Lorenza Haynes was appointed librarian, and
thus the library, as one of the free public institu-
tions of the town, started on its course of usefulness.
But the history of the library before it was taken
under the fostering care of the town, is the most in-
teresting feature of its existence. It shows the desire
and successful efforts of a people to obtain informa-
tion, and draw from the store of public knowledge
that knowledge so essential to the welfare of a free
and intelligent people. It also furnishes a shining
example to the everlasting honor of the first cotton
manufacturing establishment in America, of the care
of the corporation for the moral and educational well-
being of the operatives, and of the people residing in
the locality of the manufactory. When the Boston
Manufacturing Company established its mills in
Waltham, among its early acts, besides the encourage-
ment of the church and the school for those connected
with the factories and their children, was the promo-
tion of a library of useful and entertaining knowledge.
Funds for that purpose were placed in the hands ot
Rev. Sewall Harding, the pastor of the church, who
made the first purchases of books. This was in the
year 1820. These books were loaned to the operatives
at stated periods, and the library was called the
Manufacturers' Library. When the Rum ford Insti-
tute was organized in 1826, besides providing for lec-
tures and debates, it started a collection of books.
This institution was substantially encouraged by the
manufacturing company, and a-s a foundation for a
permanent library, the Manufacturers' Library was
transferred to the Institute. This was a nucleus of
the large and well-selected library which was finally
given to the town as a public library. From small
beginnings, the gradual accretions of books, from gift
and purchase, swelled the number and insured a per-
manent and valuable collection. The manufacturing
company with continued liberality erected a building
for the lectures of the Institute, and provided cases
and facilities for keeping and delivering the books.
The proceeds of rent were devoted to the purchase of
new books. The class of books purchased and added
were of a general character, adapted to the use of
such a population, and of a high order, which shows
the care in their selection. The library was open
every Saturday evening, and the annual fee for its
privileges was merely a nominal sum. To minors
especial encouragement was given for availing them-
selves of the use of the library and attendance at its
lectures. Thus the library in the sphere of its use-
fulness, and the additions to its shelves, grew with
the growth of the town, and was an important ele-
ment in the social, moral and intellectual life. The
noble and broad-minded men who were the projecti^rs
of the factories showed that they were guided by
higher motives than those which attached to mere
business enterprises. When the library was trans-
ferred to the town, it comprised about three thousand
well-chosen volumes.
Soon after its organization as a Public Library,
the Social Library, of the First Parish Church, was
given to it. This library had been establifhcd under
the statutes passed for the encouragement of learn-
ing and knowledge in that way, and was connected
with the church of the town, though the books were
mostly of a general and secular character. In 187.3
the library of the Farmers' Club, consisting of
about two hundred and fifty volumes of agricultural
works, was added to the library as a gift from the
club.
As the extent of the library and the convenience of
the people required better accommodations, in 1880,
by the advice of the directors, the town authorized
the removal to a new block erected by Charles A.
Welch, at the corner of Charles and Moody Streets,
where, upon the ground-floor, much better facilities
were secured. The area was judiciously divided into
reception, reading, reference and alcove rooms, and
the location has proved itself as well adapted to the
purposes as any place not especially provided for
such use in its original design. It is hoped that at
some future time public or private munificence may
provide a building devoted to its exclusive use as a
Public Library. By the city charter the manage-
ment of the library is in charge of a board of six di-
rectors, two of whom are elected annually by the
Board of Aldermen. The appropriations by both the
town and city have always been liberal and have
been granted with an adequate comprehension of the
benefit of such an institution. By co-operation with
the School Board the library is made greatly to aid
the scholars of the public schools in their studies.
Special attention has been given to reference books,
and the room devoted to their use is one of its most
interesting apartments. The librarians have been
WALTHAM.
751
Miss Lorenza Haynes, Mr. A. J. Lathrop and Miss
Sumner Johnson, who at present holds that position.
The number of books is about fifteen thousand.
CHAPTER LII.
WALTSAM—(, Conlinutd).
MANUFACTORIES.
BY ALEXANDER STARBUCK.
Not many years after the settlement of Watertown
advantage was taken of the water privileges within
its borders for the establishment of such manufactures
as the limited needs of the colonists required and
would support. The earliest one of which we have
any account as having been established within what
are now the corporate limits of Waltham was a full-
ing-mill, erected at or near the site known as Ken-
dall's Mill, on Beaver Brook. On the 30th of May,
1662, Timothy Hawkins sold to Thomas Agar, of
Roxbury, fuller, three-quarters of an acre of land at
this place, " with all the accommodation of water, for
the erecting and maintenance of a fulling-mill in said
place, and on the river that passeth through the
same ; also the right of way." Mr. Agar did not
continue the business long at this place, for the record
says that December 18, 1663, but little more than a
year at best from the time he could have had his
mill in operation, he sold the land, " with the fulling-
mill thereon erected, to Thomas Loveran, late of Ded-
ham, Co. Essex, Old England, cloth- worker." Lover-
an seems to have continued in business here until
1669-70. .Tanuary 3d of that year he sold the mill
ti) Timothy Hawkins and Benjamin Garfield. Prior
to 1690 — how long before does not appear — the mill
was used for grinding com. In 1700 Samuel Stearns,
a son-in-law of Timothy Hawkins, was the owner in
whole or in part of the property.
It appears by a vote passed by the town of Water-
town, at a meeting held January 5, 1679-80, that a
grist-mill was in process of erection on Stony Brook,
the town voting " that the new corn-mill now set up
and to be finished at Stony Brook, be freed from rates
for 20 years." In 1684 this mill was owned by John
Bright and others. According to Bond: "These
mills were probably owned some time by Lieutenant
.Tohn Brewer, and afterwards, for a long time, known
.IS Bigelow's Mills." Bond also says: "The mills
built on the three points just referred to " (that is,
near the weir established at Watertown and the two
localities mentioned in this article) " were the only
ones in the town for the first seventy, probably the
first hundred, years after its settlement." There was
probably a mill also on the brook running east of
Lexington Street, and crossing Beaver Street, a
branch of Beaver Brook.
Probably the next mill which was erected in Wal-
tham was the one known as the Boies Paper Mill,
and was built and carried on by John Boies. Mr.
Boies manufactured brown and white paper and his
mill stood on land now occupied by the Boston
Manufacturing Company. It was at that time a pic-
turesque locality. The date of the erection of the
mill is not definitely fixed, but it was probably be-
tween 1780 and 1790. The Masaachuteita Magazine
for AprU, 1793, published an engraving of the mill,
showing the dwelling of Mr. Boies near by, and
accompanied it with the following description : " We
have the pleasure to present our patrons with a south
view of Mr. John Boyce's Paper Manufactory, com-
bining a prospectus of his dwelling-house and out-
buildings, together with a view of the meeting-house,
the seats of Messieurs Townsend and Pacy, and
Charles River. The situation is acknowledged to be
one of the most elegant and delightful in the town-
ship of Waltham, and has deservedly acquired the
name of EDEN VALE. It is about ten miles from
Boston, and one half mile from the Great Road on
the Plains." Boies' estate in 1798 was valued at
54550.
A similar mill was built by Governor Gore, near
the site of the present Waltham Bleachery, prior to
1800. In 1802 Nathan Uph^m erected a small
ivooden building on Stony Brook, near the Weston
line and commenced the manufacture of coarse
wrapping papers. Nathan, and Amos his brother, had.
served an apprenticeship with John Boies. They con-
tinued the business until 1820, when they disposed of
the mill to John M. Gibbs, who also continued the
manufacture until 1835, when he sold the mill to
Tohn and Stephen Roberts. Stephen died in 1845,
and John became sole owner. Eventually John's
son William became a partner, and the business was
carried on under the style of John Roberts and Son.
.lohn Roberts died in 1871, and William still carries
on the business, but the firm-name is unchanged.
The goods produced are sheathing and asbestos
papers principally, and large quantities are yearly
produced. The old wooden mill was long ago re-
placed by a more commodious and substantial stone
structure, and the water-power of the brook was
assisted by the steam engine.
In 1810 the Governor Gore mill was purchased by
the Waltham Cotton and Woolen Company, which
was organized that year. It is said that this company
at one time employed about two hundred hands and
Its weekly products reached 10,000 yards. Accord-
ing to " M. U.'" in the Massachusetts Historical
Society's Collections for 1815, the mill at that time
run, in its cotton department 2000 spindles, and
worked 300 pounds of cotton per day ; in the woolen
department were run 380 spindles, four jennies and
two jacks. Fourteen woolen looms were in operation
and sixty pounds of wool used per day. A portion
of the weaving was done outside the factory in the
752
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
neighboring and even in some distant towng. It was
unsuccessful, however, as a financial venture and
nine years after its incorporation (in February, 1819),
its property was sold to the Boston Manufacturing
Company for $200,000.
The Boston Manufacturing Company was incor-
porated in February, 1813. Francis C. Lowell and
Patrick I. Jackson purchased the mill and water
privilege established by Mr. Boies and, joining with
Nathan Appleton and others, organized the company
and were incorporated by the Legislature with a capi-
tal of $400,000. Work was at once commenced on
the buildings, and the mill nearest Moody Street was
completed during the first year. While the building
was in process of construction Mr. Lowell visited
England to study the mechanism of weaving as
practiced there and to obtain improved machinery,
with the intention of providing for the complete pro-
duction of cotton-cloth by machinery.
The new mill built by the company was of brick,
five stories high, ninety feet long and forty-five feet
wide, and running 3000 spindles. The roof was of
the double-pitch pattern. Within five years this
portion of the mill has been remodeled to conform
to the more modern portions. It was several months
after Mr. Lowell's return from England before the new
power loom was pecfected. The first record of its
work is on the books of the company under date of
February 2, 1SK5, at which time the entry was made
. of " 1242 yards 4-4" or thirty-six inches wide cotton.
There is no doubt that this entry records the date of
the first manufacture of cotton-cloth in America
where all the operations were performed under one
roof. The goods mentioned were made in imitation
of the cotton imported at that period from India.
The first product was at the rate of 4000 yards per
week. Only one store in Boston, that of a Mrs. Bow-
erf, on Comhlll, dealt in goods of this kind, and as
home-made cotton-goods were not viewed with par-
ticular favor, the sales were not by any means en-
couraging. The experiment was tried of selling the
product by auction. It proved successful ; about
thirty cents a yard being realized, and the business of
the company was firmly established.
In 1818 a new mill was erected, and the production
thereby increased to 25,000 yards per week. Three
widths were made: 30 inches, 37J inches and ')4
inches; the price being 30, 371 and 50 cents per yard,
respectively.
In 1833 the canal now in use by the company was
built. In 1836, by reason of drought, the water-sup-
ply failed, and a steam-engine was added to the mill
equipment. In 1847 the old wooden dam was re-
placed by the present granite one. In 1852 a new
mill, 200 feet long and 80 feet wide, was built for the
manufacture of extra-wide sheetings ; and soon after
the first wide sheetings made in America were woven
in this mill. The number of spindles at that time
was 40,000. In 1873 a new mill, 150x91 feet, was
built ; in 1879 an addition of 117 feet was built to this,
and in 1882 another addition was made. In 1888 the
remodeling of the old mill made the structures uni-
form ; and at the present writing, another new mill,
100 feet long, 70 feet wide and four stories high, is be-
ing built between River Street and the Fitchburg
Railroad and between Elm and Moody Streets. The
number of spindles at present in use is 60,000, but the
new mill will largely increase this number.
Soon after the Boston Manufacturing Company pur-
chased the plant of the Waltham Cotton and Woolen
Manufacturing Company the old mill was demolished,
and a new building commenced for the bleaching of
the company's product and the manufacture of a bet-
ter grade of cotton-cloth. The original intention was
to utilize the bleachery simply for the bleaching, fin-
ishing and dyeing of the company's goods, but the
field was gradually extended until its customers are
found in every portion of the United Slates. The old
methods, including the large wooden drying-sheds,
were replaced in 1873-74 with more modern appli-
ances and buildings, the present structures being
built of brick. The present capacity of the works is
a little over 100,000 yards of cloth per day.
In 18GS the Boston Manufacturing Company com-
menced the manufacture of hosiery, but the manu-
facture was, after several years' trial, abaiuloned, or
rather superseded by that of underwear. The present
production of undershirts and drawers is about 150,000
dozens per year. The industry was sttirted at the
bleachery, but the machinery was subsequently re-
moved to one of the company's new inill-building.'>,
near Moody Street.
The people of Waltham are much indebted to the
pioneers of the Boston Manufacturing Company for
many things. The corporation established, and for
many years maintained at its own expense, schools.
The Rumford Institute, which lor many years was
one of the educational institutions of Waltham,
originated among its employees, and was carefully
fostered by it until within comparatively few years.
The library organized by the institute was the nucleus
for the present Public Library. In various other ways
has the company shown a lively interest in the wel-
fare of Waltham.
In the year 1819 Patrick T. Jackson and others
commenced the manufacture of sulphuric acid in a
building near the junction of Charles River with
Beaver Brook. About six years after the business
was removed to a large lot of land bounded at present
by High, Newton, Pine and Hall Streets. Here for
manv years a very extensive manufacture of this
acid was carried on by a corporation called the New-
ton Chemical Company, the land at the time of
their incorporation being a portion of Newton. For
many years this establishment was without a rival in
its special business. The manufacture was abandoned
in 1872, and the land is now nearly covered with
dwelling-houses.
WALTHAM.
753
In 1835 Dr. Francis F. Field, a dentist, invented a
process for the manufacture of crayons for the use of
schools, tailors, carpenters, etc.
This was the beginning of a business which was
for several years carried on by Mr. Zenas Parmenter
and by Messrs. Parmenter, Powers & Powell in a little
shop, near the corner of Lexington and Pond Streets.
A fire destroyed their shop and their increasing busi-
ness demanding more room, they removed to the up-
per part of a building on Felton Street owned by
Davis and Farnum. The accommodations here did
not long suflSce, however, and about 1863 the old bed-
stead factory, the site of the present factory, was
hired. At first only the upper portion of that build-
ing was used, but the then firm of Parmenter &
Walker soon occupied the whole building and has
since so enlarged it on the east, the west, the north,
the south, and perpendicularly that not a semblance
of the original structure is left. In 1881 Mr. Par-
menter purchased Mr. Walker's interest, and in Jan-
uary, 1882, a company was formed and incorporated
under the title of the Parmenter Crayon Company,
with a paid-in capital of f45,000. From the insig-
nificant beginning of fifty years ago, the busine.ss has
reached colossal proportions. From two cases a week,
which was formerly considered u good showing, the
production has increased until now it has an average
of from twenty to twenty-five cases per day, with
facilities for twice that amount. The goods are shipped
to all parts of Europe, and to the more distant por-
tions of the globe, including New Zealand and Japan-
In 1862 Messrs. Kidder and Adams, machinists in
the employ of the American Watch Company, be-
lieving that there was an opening for the manufac-
ture of watch repairer's tools, left the employ of that
company and commenced the manufacture of lathes
for the trade. Their enterprise did not prove suffi-
ciently remunerative, and their business eventually
passed into the hands of Mr. John Stark, who has
since continued it.
Mr. Stark died in 1887, and the business is now
carried on by his sou.
In 1872 Messrs. John E. Whitcomb and George F.
Ballon, then in the employ of the American AVatch
Co., lett the service of that company, acd commenced
the manufacture of watch-makers' lathes. They
made what has ever since been known as the " Whit-
comb " lathe, embodying in it the distinctive features
which the experience of the watch company had
found to produce the best results. In 1874 Mr. Ballon
retired from ihe co-partnership, and in 1876, Mr.
Ambrose Webster, who had resigned his position as
assistant superintendent of the American Watch Com-
pany, joined with Mr. Whitcomb in the association
known as the American Watch Tool Company.
October 15, 1886, Mr. C. Hopkins Van Norman
commenced the manufacture of watch-makers' tools.
The business increased to such an extent, that in
1889 a large wooden building was erected near Pros-
48-iii
pect Street to accommodate it. The capital stock
was increased in 1890, and the plant removed to
Springfield, Mass.
The demand for lathes and tools made by these
companies extends throughout the civilized world.
The American Watch Tool Company has furnished
a very considerable portion of the equipment of sev-
eral watch-factories in this country and in Europe.
In 1883, Mr. Charles Vanderwoerd, after a connec-
tion of twenty years with the American Watch Com-
pany, resigned his position of general superintendent,
and purchased the plant of some machinists who had
recently commenced the manufacture of watch-
makers' tools. A company was organized under the
name of the Waltham Watch Tool Company, for the
purpose of making watch tools and machinery. After
making considerable machinery for watch-factories,
the attention of the company was turned to the
manufacture of watches on its own account. A tract
of land on Charles Street was purchased from the
cown, and a brick building, 100x25 feet, and three
stories high was erected. The original plans con-
template a structure with a central tower about forty
feet frontage with a wing each side, the part now
built being only a wing. The entire frontage of the
completed building will be 240 feet.
In the rear of the factory is a two-story wooden
building which is used as a carpenter's shop and gild-
ing-room. In June, 1885, the present name of the
corporation, " The United States Watch Company,"
was adopted in place of the former one, as express-
ing more clearly the business of the company.
The company is meeting with encouraging success
in the sale of its watches and is considering the com-
pletion of its building according to the original de-
signs.
In 1844 Mr. R. P. Davis established an iron
foundry in a building near the Moody Street crossing
of the Fitchburg Railroad. The business subsequently
passed into the hands of Frederick J. Davis, who, in
1860, erected a much larger building for it between
Felton Street and the railroad. Soon after the es-
tablishment of the business in its new location Mr.
.Tohn R. Farnum acquired an interest in it, and the
business was carried on under the name of Davis &
Farnum. The firm-name was changed in 1876 to the
Davis & Farnum Manufacturing Company, by which
name it is now known. The excellence of the work
turned out by Davis & Farnum soon so crowded them
with orders that their establishment on Felton Street
was entirely inadequate to meet their increasing busi-
ness and the tract of land near the Bleachery, now
occupied by them, was purchased and the buildings
erected in 1870. The foundry building is 250 feet
long and 125 feet wide, with three cupolas, having a
combined melting capacity of thirty-five tons per day,
running what is termed a three-hour heat. There are
also a pattern shop about 100 feet square and a sheet-
iron shop 100 feet by 50 feet, besides an office baild-
754
HISTORY OF MIDDLESBX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
ing and tenement- houses. About 150 persons are em-
ployed by the company during its busy season.
The specialty of the company and the branch of
business in which it has won its chief distinction is
the equipment of gas plants with every detail in
machinery and apparatus. Its operations in this line
have extended not only through New England, but
through the West and South and into the British
Provinces.
In J.880 Mr. Henry Richardson, whose service as a
machinist in the employ of the American Watch
Tool Co. had led him to study the subject, began to
experiment in the manufacture of a fine grade of
emery wheels, with the design to produce a wheel
better adapted to the fine work of watch and watch-
machine makers than any at that time made. He
was successful and the following year associated with
him Mr. Henry Shuman, also a machinist. A por-
tion of the brick building, now wholly occupied by
the firm, was leased and the business vigorously
pushed. The business was originally conducted under
the name of The Richardson Emery-Wheel Co., sub-
sequently being changed in style to The Waltham
Emery-Wheel Co., its present title. In 1883 Mr.
Harlan P. Hyde became associated with the firm as
treasurer and general manager. Mr. Hyde's previous
experience of nearly twenty years in the business
made him a valuable accession. Mr. Shuman retired
from the firm about six years ago. The business has
steadily increased, new buildings have been erected to
meet increasing demands, and instead of Messrs.
Richardson and Shuman being able to supply the
trade the labor of fifty employees is taxed to the ut-
most to that end. Even the buildings used are found
inadequate and the company has purchased an ex-
tensive tract of land near the Central Massachusetts
Railroad, where a large brick building, 250 feet long
by 40 feet wide, especially adapted to the work is
being erected. A considerable portion of this build-
ing will be two stories high. Commodious offices will
be arranged and separate buildings for engine and
boiler-rooms will be built.
The Waltham Gas-Light Company was incorpora-
ted in 1853. At the meeting for organization in
January, 1854, Horatio Adams, R. P. Davis, I. R.
Scott, R. S. Warren and Horatio Moore were chosen
directors, and Thomas Page clerk and treasurer.
Horatio Adams was elected president. The author-
ized capital was §150,000, although only $35,000
worth of stock was at first issued, the works being
constructed for less than the paid-in capital. In
October 1854, gas was first supplied to customers, the
price being $4 per 1000 cubic feet. In 1855 the pro-
duction was 3,000,000 cubic feet. The present pro-
duction is about 25,000,000 cubic feet. The paid-in
capital has been greatly increased until it reaches
now $140,000. In 1886 an electric plant was added
to the equipment, and on the 24th of December of
that year the electric light was first used for street
and store illumination in this city. In 1890 a con-
tract was made to supply power to the Newton Street
Railroa^, and as the electric plant in uae by the com-
pany had been outgrown, and there was a con-
siderable demand for power for industrial pursuits,
new buildings were erected, a new engine and boiler
added and the equipment in every way largely in-
creased.
In 1889, the Judson L. Thompson Manufacturing
Company of Syracuse, X. Y., having outgrown its
facilities for manufacture iu that city, and being
desirous of locating nearer the market lor its goods,
which consisted of metal buckles for rubber foot-
wear and small hardware decided to locate in Wal-
tham, a tract of land at Roberts Crossing being placed
at the company's disposal by the owner, William
Roberts, Esq. A brick building 400 feet by 75
feet has been erected, and the business of the com-
pany has been removed to this city.
Three shoe factories flourished in Waltham between
the years 1855 and 1860 — one owned by Bills & Jones,
located on Bacon Street, another owned by C. S.
Gay, near the corner of Bacon and Pond Streets, and
a third owned by B. F. Clough, and situated back of
Prospect Street. The one owned by Bills & Jones
employed just previous to the War of the Rebellion
about 100 hands, that of Mr. Clough employed 60
persons in 1857, and the other about twenty-five. The
business was long ago abandoned and the buildings
remodeled into dwellings.
An industry which originated in Waltham, and
which, while it did not in the brief years it was lo-
cated here materially affect this municipality, has
produced most important re^ults in the commercial
world, is the refining of kerosene oil. There seeins
to be no reasonable doubt but the first successful ex-
periments in this country, if not in the world, through
which kerosene oil became a cheap and popular
illuminant, were conducted in an iron building known
for years as the " Tar " factory, erected on the north
bank of the Charles River, just east of Peterson's ice-
houses. The building was constructed in 1852 or 1853
and was built for the purpose of utilizing gas tar, the
waste of gas- houses. The early products were coal-
tar benzole, naphtha, dead oils and pitches. Quoting
from a letter written by Joshua Merrill, Esq., presi-
dent of the Downer Kerosene Oil Company, " From
the distillates were derived a variety of products such
as coup oil, used in combination with fatty oils and
castor oil. Another product, benzole, was used iu
making gas by passing air through it in a machine
invented by Drake. It was a success and was largely
used until the more volatile petroleum naphthas super-
ceded it. Picric acid was another product made from
phenic acid, a product of the coal-tar distillation.
The dead oils were sold mostly to a Mr. Hiram
Hyde, who erected a plant near the factory for preserv-
ing wood by creosoting, the dead oils containing large
percentages of creosote. It was not until about 1865
-.'■^^j^a^Si&i:-:
cJry?
br? c/A^ .
^'/"'.'y/ . y/A
WALTHAM.
755
that Luther Atwood and William Atwood made kero-
sene at these works. They used a product obtained
in Canada, probably the outflow of the petroleum
wells, which were, up to this date, unknown to exist,
but they had, in some former time, flowed out oil
through the surface of the ground and it had evapor-
ated, leaving a kind of pitch. This was a true petro-
leum product and the Atwoods at once discovered its
utility for oil-making. The oil made from the Canada
petroleum surface pitch was the first burning oil
made in this country. James Young, of Glasgow,
Scotlaad, had made a product from coal distilled in
retorts as early as 1850. Young's oil was very poor,
disgusting in odor and of poor quality, while Atwood's
was white in color, sweet in smell and of excellent
burning qualities. I consider Luther Atwood the
father of the burning oil industry from coal and petro-
leum, and to Waltham belongs the honor of having
had him for a citizen from 1852 to 1856, and the plant
from which the great industry subsequently devel-
oped."
The building now occupied in its greatly enlarged
form by the Parmenter Crayon Company was used
by Stratton Brothers for awhile for the manufacture
of furniture. The extent of the business carried on
by them in its most prosperous time may be judged
from the fact that in 1857 they employed thirty men,
making on an average 6260 bedsteads, 624 arm-chairs,
3756 what-nots, 2496 tables, and 2600 ottomans a year.
In 1859, however, little trace of the business was left.
An organ-factory was established in 1890 by E. W.
Lane. The business is, however, as yet in its infancy.
Other small industries might be mentioned, but the
amount of capital invested and number of hands em-
ployed make the industries important only in the
aggregate.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
JONATHAN BROWN BRIGHT.'
Jonathan Brown Bright was bom in Waltham,
Mass., April 23, 1800, and died there, Dec. 17, 1879.
Mr. Bright's volume, "The Brights of Suffolk,
England," printed for private distribution in 1858,
but accessible to genealogical inquiries, closes with
Henry Bright, Jr., who came to New England in
1630, and settled in Watertown, Mass. Henry Bright,
Jr., married Anne Goldstone, who came from Suffolk,
England, in 1634. Through her he inherited the
homestead of her parents, in Watertown, east of and
adjoining the estate of the late John P. Cushing, and
opposite that of the late Alvan Adams. Here Henry
Bright, Jr., lived and died.
His son, the first Nathaniel Bright, of Watertown,
married Mary Coolidge, of the same town ; and their
son, the second Nathaniel Bright, married Ann Bow-
> B; th« Rev. Tbomu Hill, D.D., LL.D., of PortUnd, Ma.
man, all of Watertown. The homestead of the sec-
ond Nathaniel Bright was about three-fourths of a
mile west of the Goldstone place, and still remains
in the hands of his descendants. The old house
upon it, taken down in 1877, was said to have been
built before 1700.
The third Nathaniel Bright, son of the second,
married Sybil Stone, of Sudbury,' Mass., a descendant
of Gregory Stone. Their son, John Bright, of Wal-
tham, married Elizabeth Brown, of Watertown,
daughter of Captain Jonathan Brown. This John
Bright settled, in 1776, in Waltham, where he lived
until his death, in his eighty- seventh year, in 1840.
His ten children, of whom Jonathan Brown Bright
was the youngest, were born in the house which stood
□early where that stands in which the latter died, on
the main highway into Waltham, on the eastern bank
of Beaver Brook, the estate being divided by Grove
Street.
Elizabeth Brown, the mother of Jonathan B.
Bright, was a daughter of Jonathan Brown, of Water-
town (captain in the army at Lake George, 1758), and
Esther Mason, of Watertown, a descendant of Hugh
Mason. Captain Jonathan Brown was a son of Jona-
than Brown, of Watertown, and Elizabeth Simons,
of Lexington. This Jonathan was son of Captain
Abraham Brown, of Watertown, and Mary Hyde, of
Newton. Captain Abraham Brown dropped the final
e, which his father, Jonathan Browne, and his grand-
father, Abraham Browne, had carried. Abraham
Browne had married Lydia , in England, and
settled in Watertown, Mass. ; and his son Jonathan
married Mary Shattuck, of that town.
The old Brown estate, an original grant to the first
Abraham, now reduced in size, is still owned by
descendants of the name. The main body of the
house was built by Captain Abraham Brown, but a
part is still more ancient. It stands on the road from
Watertown village to Waltham, a little to the eaet of
the estate once owned by Governor Gore, afterwards
by Theodore Lyman.
The items given above may be recapitulated in the
following table, giving the pedigree of Jonathan B.
Bright on both the father's and the mother's side.
Henry Bright Jr. ^ Anne Qoldaton*.
Nathaniel Bright — Hary CooUdgs.
Natb&oiel Bright ^ Add Bowman.
Nathaniel Bright — Sybil Stone.
John Bright — Elizabeth Brown.
Abraham Browne ^ Lydia .
Jonathan Browne ^ Uary Sbattnck.
Capt. Abraham Brown — Mary Hyde.
Jonathan Brown ^ Elizabeth Simonda.
Capt. Jonathan Brown •* Esther MaAon.
Elizabeth Brown — John Bright.
John Bright, the father of Jonathan Brown Bright,
was a farmer and a tanner. Only two of the descend-
ants of Henry Bright, Jr., are known to have re-
ceived a college education — Henry, Harvard 1770, and
Nathaniel Francis, Harvard, 1866. But they have
been and are, almost without exception, men of good
756
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHTTSETTS.
senae, with a taste for reading, and of practical,
sound judgment. Mr. John Bright's large family
made industry an essential virtue among his children ;
and his strictly religious chiiracter made him a strict
disciplinarian to enforce it. At the age of four Jonathan
B. was sent to the district school ; and during the
next ten years was taught to read, to write and to
cipher, working at home during the long vacations.
At fourteen he was sent for one quarter to Wesiford
Academy, after which he took lessons for a short
time of the Rev. Samuel Ripley, so long pastor of the
First Parish, Waltham ; but, having no desire for a
collegiate education, he resumed labor on the farm
and in the tan-yard.
In 181G he attended, one term only, Framingham
Academy. The next year, having no more taste for
tanning or farming than for study, he went, with an
older brother, to New Orleans by sea, thence up the
river to St. Louis, and became his brother's clerk in
a store. Here he remained until of age, with the ex-
ception of one season in a branch store at Franklin,
on the Missouri. .Vs soon as he was of age he began
a retail business for himself in St. Stephens, Ala-
bama ; but the next year moved to Selma. During
the following year, 1823, of the seven men of Northern
birth in that town, four died of fever; and the other
three, iccluding Mr. Bright, suffered severely with
the same disease. This decided him to quit the
South. In 1824, finding no vessel at Mobile for Bos-
ton, he went to New York and .sought employment.
Making an engagement with Blackstock, Merle & Co.,
cotton brokers, he paid first a brief visit, after seven
years' absence, to his home ; then returning, spent
twenty-five years in New York, first as clerk, after-
wards as partner ; the firm changed to Merle & Bright,
and then to Merle, Bright & Co.
In 1849 he returned to the homestead on Beaver
Brook, then occupied by his maiden sister Mary, with
whom also an unmarried brother John resided. Mr.
Bright built here a larger house a few feet east of the
old one; and he and his only child, with the brother
and sister, constituted the family. Thirty-two years'
absence had not diminished his attachment to the old
place and to the companions of his childhood. They
passed away before him, but the thirty years of quiet
enjoyment which followed his retirement to the place
of his birth were made much happier by the pro-
longation of the sister's life nearly to the close of his
own.
In 1827 Mr. Bright married Miss Mary Huguenin
Garbrance ; but his happiness with her was inter-
rupted by her early death in 1830. Her only child,
a daughter, came with her father to Waltham in 1849,
and in 1861 married her cousin, William Ellery
Bright.
The thirty years, from 1849 to 1879, in which Mr.
Bright lived free from active business cares, were by
no means years of idleness. With the exception of a
journey in 1859 to Nassau, Havana, New Orleans and
St. Louis, and a shorter one in 1860 to Buffalo and
Quebec, the occupation of all those years was found
in his native town, doing private kindnesses and
fostering public improvements. I remember that one
of the earliest impressions I received nf him was from
the chairman of the board of assessors, who told me
that he had just had a peculiar experience : Mr.
Bright had come in, after the town had been assessed,
and said, " You have not made my tax large enough ;
add so many thousand dollars to my personal proper-
ty." It revealed the character of the man ; it was
bo'.h his integrity and bi.s public spirit that made him
thus voluntarily assume a larger proportion of the
public expenses.
In 1856 he was put on a town committee to select
ground for a new cemetery ; drew up the rejiort, which
rt;i8 accepted, and named all the avenues in the new
grounds, Mt. Feake, after ancient Waltham families —
a token of the strong interest which he then took in
the matter of genealogy.
He furnished a good deal of valuable local history
I and antiquarian lore to the WaJthum Sentinel and
I the Walthavi Free I'Tes«, during the years 1856-63.
He was an active promoter and leader of the Union
League of the town during the Civil War: and before
that in the organization ol a l-'aruiers' Club, which is
still in active operation. Rut the wire-pulling neces-
sary to success in carrying on matters di'iiendent on
popular votes was -so distasteful to a man of his pure,
simple and manly integrity, that, alter 18oS, he reso-
lutely declined to serve ou any committee in town
affairs.
In 1848, just before retiring trom business in New
York, Mr. Bright accidentiilly heard th;it Dr. Henry
Bond, of Philadelphia, had a genealogy of the Bright
family. 3Ir. Bright had a great interes^t in th.at mat-
ter, although up to that time he had had no leisure to
examine it. He immediately wrote to Dr. Bond, and
the correspondence was kept up until the latter gen-
tleman's death. Dr. Bond proved to have descended,
in one line, from Henry Bright, .Tr., and was also re-
oiotely connected with Mr. J. B. Bright by the mar-
riage of his grandfather to Mr. Bright's aunt. Dr.
Bond visited Mr. Bright at Waltham and spent .some
weeks there, while both were much engaged in col-
lecting genealogical material. Mr. Bright afterward
employed Mr. H. <";. Somerby to make researches in
England ; and in 1858 printed his valuable records of
"The Brights of Suffolk, England."
Since that volume w.as printed Mr. Bright has col-
lected material which would fill three more volumes
of the same size, relating to the family on this side
the Atlantic, and to other families of the same name.'
1 3Ir. Bright was admitted a resident member of the Xew England
Historic Genealogical Society Dec. 11, 1860, and made bin)gelf a life
member Starch 20, 18G3. He interested himself much in the society, and
was a frequent donor to its library. In 1870 he gare five hundred dol-
lan to the Building Fond, for pnn:hasing and fitting for the uses of the
society the building which it now occapiea.
WALTHAM.
757
The descendants of Henry Bright, Jr., have been
mostly farmers and mechanics, occasionally shop-
keepers, none holding other than town or parish
offices; but none dislionoring the name. The number
bearing the name is small, not exceeding, to the year
1850, one hundred and fifty ; but the descendants in
the female line have been more numerous.
By a will dated December 15, 1860, Mr. Bright be-
queathed to Harvard College fifty thousand dollars,
the income of which should be equally divided be-
tween the purchase of boots for the college library
and the support of scholarships to which Brights,
lineally and legitimately descended from Henry
Bright, Jr., shall have priority of claim. "I have se-
lected Harvard College," he says, " the most ancient
and venerated seat of learning in my native State, to
be the custodian of this legacy, as an expression of
my appreciation of its liberal yet conservative charac-
ter; trusting that its government will always respect
the sincere convictions of the recipients of the income
thereof." His daughter was made sole executrix,
and by a codicil her husband was added as co-exe-
cutor. They paid over the full legacy a year in
advance of the time allowed by law; so that the
college entered at once upon the enjoyment of the in-
come.
Mr. Bright's phrase " liberal yet conservative char-
acter," which he applies to the college, might well be
employed in describing himself With an energy of
character which in le^^s than thirty years lifted him
from the humblest commercial beginning to a
competence that could atfurd .such a legacy, he com-
bined a genuine shrinking modesty which oliscured his
worth from careless eyes. His energy led him to join
in aiding liberalizing movements; his modesty held
him in reserve and allowed his cool, sound judgment
to keep him in ;i more conservative position. His
independence was maintained by this happy self-re-
straint, which would allow him to run into neither
extreme of standing by old errors nor of rushing into
new ones.
Early in life Mr. Bright adopted views of the
Christian religion iu substantial agreement with
those of Dr. Cliauning, and he never saw reason to
modify them in any essential degree. His warmest
virtues were kept, as it were, cool and in the back-
ground by this wise and modest caution. Hegavetime^
labor and money to many good causes, public and pri-
vate ; and he gave with a kindly, cheerful spirit ; yet
so unostentatiously and so wisely that men's attention
was more taken up with the results of the action, than
with the action itself In private, personal kindnesses
he exercised a great delicacy ; so that, in some cases,
the recipient of a needed help received regular peri-
odical donations of a fixed sum, and endeavored for
some time in vain to know from whom, or through
what channel, they came ; in other cases the recipi-
ent thought of the gifts as tokens of friendship,
rather than any pecuniary aid.
WILLIAM E. BRIGHT.
William Ellery Bright was born in Mobile, Ala.,
September 26, 1831, and died at Waltham, Mass.,
March 12, 1882. His father was Henry Bright, who
was born in Waltham, August 31, 1793. His mother
was Abigail Fiske, who was born November 3, 1794.
His earliest American ancestor upon his father's side
was Henry Bright, born in the county of Suffolk,
England, in 1602, and coming to this country in 1630
with the company that settled at Watertown, Mass.
The subject of this sketch was of the seventh genera-
tion from this founder, and the order of his ancestry
was as follows, viz. :
Henry', John',
Nathaniel', Henry",
Nathaniel', Henry'.
Nathaniel*,
On the maternal side he was also of the seventh
American generation. The succession was as follows :
John',
Jacob*,
William',
Thomas',
Jonathan*,
Abigail',
Henry'.
Mr. Bright received a good early education at pri-
vate schools in New England, and was for many years
a member of the well-known firm of Torrey, Bright &
Capen, one of the leading carpet stores of Boston.
In 1861, February 28th, he was united in marriage
with Miss Elizabeth G. Bright, daughter of Jonathan
Brown Bright, of Waltham. From this union are
three children, — a son, bearing his father's name,
and two daughters, who, with their mother, survive.
A correspondent of the Boston Transcript, who
writes after a long and intimate acquaintance with
the decea.sed, says of him : " He was a man of excel-
lent business faculty, with a calm, clear and capacious
head, a soul of the highest rectitude and honor, and
a heart framed of generosity and kindness. In 1875
the good people of Waltham elected him to the Gen-
era] Court, and urged him to be a candidate again the
next year, but the pressure of his business obliged
him to decline. For the same cause he declined
various other local offices which he was, from time to
time, solicited to undertake. A continuous residence
of some thirty years in that town had made him well
known ; his steadfast integrity and his approved in-
telligence and liberality had gained him unbounded
confidence; while the warm heart and open hand
which he carried to works of piety and charity, his
uniform suavity of manner and his good judgment
and frank co-operation in matters of public interest
in town and church, endeared him to the hearts of
all who knew him."
JOHN ROBERTS.
Mr. John Roberta the subject of this sketch, was
born in Boston in 1802. At the age of fourteen he
758
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
left school and went to work in a shop for wagon-
building, where he remained until he was twenty-one.
At that time he established himself in Watertown in
the same business and continued there until 1835.
Previous to this time there had been a small paper-
mill on _Stony Brook, in the southwest part of Wal-
tham, near the confluence with Charles River. In
1835 Mr. Roberts, with his brother Stephen, who had
had practical experience in paper-making, purchased
this mill and entered into the business of paper man-
ufacture. In a few years he bought out his brother
and thereafter conducted the business alone until the
last part of his life, when his son was associated with
him. The firm-name of John Roberts & Son is one
of the oldest and best known in the paper manufac-
turing trade. Mr. Roberts put all his energy, indus-
try and leading qualities into his new business, and
established the basis of an honorable and successful
career, with the competence that follows good judg-
ment and thrifty management. Being naturally of an
inventive mind, he introduced many improvements
of his own into machinery and the process of manu-
facturing. Among his inventions was a machine for
tarring sheathing- paper used for building purposes.
Previously this paper had been dipped by hand. Mr.
Roberts' invention gave him a specialty in this kind
of paper and established a high grade of standard
article in tarred paper. He also manufactured the
first fine grade hardware papers in this country,
which are now so extensively used. In all improve-
ments in machinery and methods his foresight and
practical knowledge guided him to get the best. He
was one of the earliest manufacturers in the United
States to introduce the celebrated Fourdrinier machine
into the manufacture of paper, a machine which, in
its many modifications, is universally in operation in
paper manufacture. The picturesque mill of stone,
covered by a luxuriant growth of woodbine, sur-
rounded by the beauties of nature and the evidences
of thrift and prosperity, stands upon the original site
and continues in successful operation under his son,
William Roberts.
Mr. Roberts was a man of great firmness and force
of character, of the strictest integrity and high busi-
ness principles. Beneath the practical exterior of
his nature he had a warm and generous heart which
quickened in the desire to assist others who were
worthy and in trouble. In a quiet and unostentatious
way he materially helped many a young man in his
business who waa struggling with adverse circum-
stances and who, he thought, was honest and capable,
and needed only pecuniary aid in order to be estab-
lished on a good business foundation. His generosity
though well known, waa bestowed with little display.
He was especially interested in the laying out and
adornment of Mount Feake Cemetery, where, by the
banks of the river on which he had lived and passed
the greater portion of his life, his body now reposes.
He died in 1871, at the age of sixty-nine years. As
a public-spirited citizen, most patriotic when the
country was in danger, he took an active part in
whatever related to the welfare of the community.
JONAS W. PABMEXTEE.
Mr. Jonas Willis Parmenter was a man of good,
country-bred New England stock, who rose to
prominence in local business matters and to afflu-
ence by untiring industry, shrewdness and integ-
rity. Born in 1817, in the town of Sudbury,
where the family name has been prominent since
the days of early settlement, he came to Wal-
tham in early manhood, and was, until the time of
his death, actively engaged in pursuits identified
with the interests of his adopted home. He com-
menced with no capital but a clear head !>nd willing
hands, and worked up through the hard discipline
and experience of the man dependent entirely upon
himself. He was at first employed in the Bleachery
in an humble capacity, and afterwards started a small
trade on Main Street. About 1850 he engaged in the
coal business, and carried on that business success-
fully until failing health obliged him to retire. From
small beginnings, with good business ability, zealous
attention to the conduct of his afl'airs and unim-
peachable credit, he built up a trade that steadily
increased in amount and prosperity with the growth
of the town. With this business as a foundation he
amassed a handsome property acquired by trade and
fortunate investments. Although his regular busi-
ness was local, in his investments his operations took
a broader range. His judgment in this respect was
quite marked for ihe unerring sagacity displayed.
Mr. Parmenter was endowed by nature with a large
share of common sense, with good judgment and large
perceptive faculties. When he decided fully on a given
question or course of action subsequent events almost
invariably proved him to be right. His long service
with the Waltham Savings Bank, as one of the trust-
ees, and with the National Bank, as director, brought
him in connection with many people seeking loans,
and to them he gave the same attention as to his own
immediate business. He never allowed his personal
bias to influence him in accepting or rejecting an ap-
plication for a loan, but guided his decisions entirely
by the value and character of the security offered.
In financial matters he was of excellent judgment
and wise, natural foresight. By his connection with
the Waltham Improvement Company, which waa
soon merged into the American Watch Company, he
early became interested in the latter, being its firm
friend when friends were not as plenty as in these
days of its great prosperity.
He waa a reserved man and of few words, but of
warm feelings in all the domestic relations of life. In
the home circle, where he waa best known, he was
revered for his qualities of mind and heart. He had
strong convictions and never concealed them but by
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1-7
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SOMERVILLE.
759
his Datural reserve. He never sought public office,
though he served occasionally in some capacity of
trust. The last office he held was that of Water
Commissioner. He was an officer of many corpora-
tions, and at the time of his death was a direc-
tor in the Waltham National Bank, Newton and
Watertown Gas-Light Company, Waltham Gas-Light
Company, Bay State Brick Company, and a trustee
and member of the Investment Committee of the
Waltham Savings Bank. In all positions which he
held he performed his duties with unfaltering trust.
The later years of his life, until his death, in 1880,
were passed amid much pain and severe suffering,
which he bore with great courage and patience.
FRANCIS BUTTRICK.
Mr. Francis Buttrick has been prominently identi-
fied with the business interests of Waltham for up-
wards of a half-century. In the real estate operations
incident to a growing New England town, and in the
ownership of houses and other buildings which are so
intimately connected with the welfare of the people
and the prosperity of the place, he has been one of
the leading men. He is now by far the largest real
estate owner in the city. He has grown up with the
material development of Waltham, and is still active
in whatever pertains to the management of his prop-
erty. Mr. Buttrick was born in Pepperell, Mass., in
1814, and removed with his family to Concord in 1828.
Here, after receiving a limited education at the public
schools, he learned the trade of house carpenter with
his father. Working in that and the surrounding
towns as a journeyman, became to Waltham in 1838,
where he continued the same occupation. In 1844
he commenced business on his own account as builder
and employer. In 1857 he bought a lumber-yard,
planing and aaw-mill and box manufactory, and
entered into quite extensive operations in that line of
business, giving up his occupation as a carpenter.
He had lately retired from active participation in his
lumber business, which is now organized as the But-
trick Lumber Company.
Through his business as carpenter and builder, he
became intereste<:l in real estate, mostly of improved
character, with buildings devoted to the wants of a
manufacturing and laboring community. From small
beginnings in this way he has, by good judgment and
sagacity, fair dealing and attention to his affairs, ac-
quired a possession of real estate, varied and valuable,
in different parts of the city. As a landlord and
party in interest in property held by others, Mr. But-
trick has always been kind-hearted and disposed to
assist those who were inclined to assist themselves.
He has helped many to preserve their homes, when
under a more exacting man they might not have been
able to keep them. As a citizen, he has always taken
an interest in the affairs of the town and city, and con-
tributed his advice and support to all matters, public
and private, affecting the welfare of the community.
In material aid to the many objects constantly pre-
senting themselves for individual assistance, he has
bestowed his benefactions willingly and liberally.
Mr. Buttrick has been for many years a director in
the Waltham National Bank, is president of the
Waltham Music HaU Company, and a director in the
New England Northwestern Investment Company.
He was one of the original promoters and incorpora-
tors of the Waltham Co-operative Bank, and for sev-
eral years has been its president. This institution
has been most successful and praiseworthy in its
practical operation in encouraging men to invest
their earnings to the best advantage in their own local-
ity, and to build for themselves homes. Mr. Buttrick
has ever taken a deep interest in this institution, and
has given it from the first, the benefit of his active
efforts and good judgment.
He was a selectman of the town for several years,
and was a member of the laEt Board of Selectmen,
when the town government was changed to a city
form of government.
Mr. Buttrick is a man unassuming in life and man-
ner, bears the burdens of business easily and quietly.
Genial and hospitable in social life, always on the side
of good government and sound policy in public affairs,
local and general, conservative and level-headed in
business matters, he commands the respect of his
townspeople, and the confidence of ail who know him.
In 1849 he was married to Miss Augusta M. Far-
well. He has no children.
CHAPTER LIU.
SOMSJIVILU:.
BY WILLIAM T. DAVIS.
In writing a history of Somerville, as a contribu-
tion to a history of Middlesex County, in which the
histories of all its towns are included, the writer
thinks it will be superfluous to record the incidents
in its career before its incorporation, and while it was
contained within the bounds of Charlestown, from
which it was separated in 1842. The histories of
Maiden and of the county of Middlesex, to be found
in these volumes, cover enough of the ground prior
to the incorporation of Somerville, and render any
further allusion to it unnecessary.
In 1841 the people living in the westerly part of
Charlestown, becoming dissatisfied with the burdens
of taxation, unrelieved by corresponding benefits,
held a meeting on the 22d of November in that year,
at the Prospect Hill School-house, to discuss the
question of a division of the town. At that meeting
Joseph Miller presided, and Edwin Munroe, Jr.,
acted as secretary. A committee of seven, consisting
of Francis Bowman, Asa Pritchard, Eldward Cutter,
reo
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
RobertG. Tenney, Benjamin Hadley, John S. Edgerly
and John Tapley, was chosen to obtain the views of
the people on the question and report at an adjourned
meeting. At the adjourned meeting, held on the 29th
of November, a committee of six, consisting of Fran-
cis Bowman, John S. Edgerly, Clark Bennett, James
Hill, Jr., Oliver Tufts and S. S. Runey, was chosen to
investigate and report on town affairs generally, and
more particularly on the taxes paid by their section
of the town.
On the 3d of December the committee reported that
in 1840 the assessed tax of the town was §34,093.76
of which the sum of $5,687.78 was assessed on the in-
habitants and property above the bridge, over the
Middlesex Canal. An analysis of this tax showed
that the portion of it paid by inhabitants on property
in that section was $4,378.36, while the sum of
$1,068.28 was assessed on non-residents, $110.24 on
residents for property below the bridge, and $130.20
on the Tufts Miles tan-yard. They also reported that
in May, 1840, the population of that section was 1519,
the number of families 224 and the number of polls
437. They reported ihat in 1841 the number of polls
was 527, and the assessed tax of the whole town $57,-
522.98, of which the sum of $9,416.20 was paid by the
inhabitants and property of that section, divided as
follows: $7,221.34 by the inhabitants on property
within the section, $1,821.83 on non-residents, $156.03
on residents for property below the bridge, and $217
on the Tan-yard Wharf.
It was determined at this meeting to make an eflfort
to secure an act of incorporation for a new town, and
a committee of nine, consisting of Charles E. Oilman,
Hiram Allen, Edwin Munroe, Jr., Caleb W. Leland,
John C. Magoun, Oliver Tufts, Charles Miller, Samuel
Thompson and Robert G. Tenney, was chosen to se-
cure tlAsignatures of persons favorable to a division.
It seeaBBaecessaiy to make eflforts to this end greater
than;4.h«l(^«lt proved were necessary. An attempt
to obtain 'al^Htt of incorporation had been made in
1828, and ^^^^ed. A petition was sent to the
Legislature a^^^^time to be incorporated as the
town of Warren, a^^the petitioners had been given
leave to withdraw. It was now, therefore, deter-
mined to proceed with energy and witl^ care, and to
secure such evidence as would satisfj^^Hslators that
the best interests of all concerned deminwd a divi-
sion. The above committee was instructed to use
all honorable means to secure an act of incorporation
and to employ counsel. The committee organized by
the choice of Charles E. Oilman as chairman and
Edwin Munroe, Jr., as secretary. Ephraim Buttrick
was retained as counsel, and after some discussion
the name of Walford was selected for the proposed
new town, in honorof the first white settler ofCliarles-
town. At a later meeting, however, that name was
abandoned, and the name of Somerville, having no
special significance, was substituted.
At the session of the General Court held in 1842,
the following petition, signed by Guy C. Hawkins
and many others, was presented, which was opposed
by many citizens in the main part of the town, by the
inhabitants immediately outside of Charlestown Keek
by some of the people in the upper part of the section,
asking for the division :
"To the Honorable Sennte and Houee of Bepretenlalirea of the Commmi-
weaWi of Maeeachuaella, in General Court OBeembted :
*' R(;flpectfull7 represent the undereigned that they are citizens of
Charlestown, in the Commonwealth uf aiassachusctta afoi*8aid, and
resident in that part of said town lying westerly and northwesterly of
the bridge near the lliddlesex Canal at the Neck, so-called, and the high-
way leading thence to .Maiden Bridge and bounded by Mystic River on
the northeast and north, and by the town of Cambridge and West Cam-
bridge in the south and southwest— that the jtart of Charlestown embraced
within the limits aforesaid contain an area of jilwut four square miles and
a population exceeding fifteen hundred inhabitants thereof, and that the
interests, convenience and just rights of the iuhabitants require that the
territory included within said limits shall be set off from the town of
Charlestown and incorporated into a separate town.
" Wherefore your pelltiouers pray the Honorable Legislature that the
territory aforesaid, with the inhabitants thereof, may be set off and in.
corporaled into a sepanite town by the name of Somerville, and as in
duty bound will ever pray."
The following petition, in aid of that of Mr.
Hawkins and others, was signed and presented to the
Legislature by persons presumably residing in Charles-
town, outside the dissatisfied district:
" To the Honorable Senate and Houte of Rej» eientnlivei of the Common-
wealth of Jla^aachusetU in General Court aseenibttd:
" Humbly show the undersigned citizens of said Commonwealth that
they are severally thoownerBand proprietors of real estate, although they
do not now reside thereon, but elsewhere situated in that part of Charles-
town, in the Commonwealth of Slassachusetts, being Westerly and South-
westerly of the bridge over the Jliddlesei Canal at Charlestown Neck,
so-called, that the interests and just rights of your memorialists require
that the part of Charlestown being Westerly and Southwesterly of said
bridge should l)e incorporated into a separate and distinct town.
"Wherefor your petitioners pniy that the prayer of Guy C. Haw-
kins and othere, now pending before your Honorable t>odies for the in-
corporation of that part of Charlestown into a new town by the name
of Somerville, may be granted and in duty bound will ever pray."
Dr. E. C. Booth, in an interesting sketch of Somer-
ville, says that " when the matter came before the Leg-
islature, toward the close of the session, it was found
that the act could not be secured with the boundaries
as they were designated in the petition. The Rev.
J. D. Green, member from Cambridge, a moment
before the vote was to be put, declared nothing could
be efiiected at the present session unless the line was
drawn outside the neck as it now exists, and a narrow
strip in the northerly part of the town extending
near to Mystic Pond was ceded to Cambridge. Oniy
two of the committee of the petitioners were present;
but Mr. Hawkins declared he would assume the re-
sponsibility of the concession, and the act thus
modified passed the Legislature and was approved by
the Governor March 3, 1842." The act as is follows :
** Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Bepresentatives, in Gen-
eral Court assembled, and by authority of the same, as follows :
"Sect. 1. The westerly part of the town of Charlestowu, in the
County of Middlesex, Ixiunded and descril>ed as follows, vit.: beginning
at the southerly corner of Widow Steams' lot, near the town ledge, and
running north seventy degrees east four hundred and four feet ; thence
north thirty-flve and a quarter degrees east of Mystic River ; thence
along the Mystic Biver to the line of the tosro of Medford ; thence
SOMERVILLE.
761
alou); the JUeUfot'd liutj to Alewivu Bruok ; theuco aluug ibe bruok to tbe
line of the town of Cambrid^ ; thence along the Cambridge line to the
junction of Miller's Riyer with Charles River; thence along the westerly
side of Charles River to the westerly corner of the Mill datu ; thence
along the south westerly side of the Mill Pond to a point where a line north
by the magnetic needle, will strilce the point of beginning, is hereby Incor-
porated into a town by the name of Somerville ; and the inhabitants of
the town of Somerville are hereby invested with all the powers and
privileges, and shall be subject to the dntles and requisitions of other in-
corporate towns according to the constitution and laws of this Common-
wealth.
"Sect. 2. The inhabitants of said town of Somerville shall t>e holden
to pay all arrears of taxes which have been assessed upon them by the
town of Cbarleetowo, before the passing of this act, and also their pro-
portion of all county and State taxes that may be assessed upon them
previously to the taking of the next State valuation, said proportion to
be ascertained and determined by the last town valuation ; and the
said town of Somerville shall be holden to pay their proportion of the
debts due and owing at the time of the passage of this act from the
town of Charlestowu, and be entitled to receive of the town of Chai les-
town their proportion of all the corporate property now owned by said
Ust mentioned town, such proportion to be ascertained and determined
by the last valuation of said Cbarlestown.
'* Sect. 3. The said towns of Chjirlestown and Somerville shall be
respectively liable for the support of all persons who now do or here-
after shall stand in need of relief as paupers, whose settlement was
gained or derived from a settlement gained or derived within their re
spective limits.
"Sect. 4. Until the next apportionment of representatives to the
General Court, the town of Somerville "ball be entitled to one represen-
tative in the General Court and the town of Cbarlestown shall be enti-
tled to four representatives.
" Sect. 5. In case said towns shall disagree in respect to a division of
paupers, town properly, town debts or State and county taxes, the Court
of Common Pleas for the County of Middlesex are hereby authorized to
and shall, on application of either town, appoint three disinterested per-
sons to hear the parties and award thereon ; which award, when ac-
cepted by the Court, shall be linal.
"Sect. ti. Auy Justice of the peace in the Couuty of Middlesex is
hereby authorized to issue his warrant to any principal inhabitant of the
town of Somerville, requiring him to warn the inhabitants of said town
to meet, at the time and place therein appointed, for the purpose of
choosing all such town officers as towns are, by law, authorized and re-
quired to choose at their annual meetings.
" This act shall be in force from and after its passage."
Oq the 30th of April, 1S56, an act was passed alter-
ing and defining the boundary line between Somer-
ville and Cambridge, which provided that
" The dividing line b«-tween tiit^^o towus should hereafter be as fol-
lows ; beginning uu 31ilk Row (^-called) at a point being 20 ft. H
inches dietaut from the point on Milk Row where the land of .\nna
Hunnewell is divided from the land of Benjamin Rand, aud thence run-
ning in a Dortheastorly direction along the boundary line of said estates,
there measuring from Milk Row 222 ft. 4 inches, thence taming at a
right augle and running northwesterly along the west side of a
until it strikes Cotuge street (s<. t.alled), there measuring 208 ft. 6 indi-
es, then turuiug and running along the southerly side of said Cottage
street in a direction north of west until it reaches Elm street (so called),
there measuring :;Otl ft. until it intersects on Ibe westerly side of Elm
streetthe line before edLiblished between the said towns."
The territory of- the new town was four square
miles in extent and contained 2700 acres. Within
this territory were the several hills called Quarry
Hill, Ploughed Hill, Winter Hill, Prospect Hill and
Cobble Hill, and Ten Hills Farm, wliich, consisting of
600 acres, lay on the banks of Mystic River and was
granted to John Winthrop, September 6, 1630. On
this farm Winthrop built a bouse which he probably
occupied during a portion of the year. The first ves-
sel built in New England was built by Winthrop
on this farm called " Blessing of the Bay," and
launched about July 4, 1631. In 1677 it passed out
of the bands of the Winthrop family and in 1740 was
bought by Robert Temple and from him acquired the
name of Temple's Farm, by which it was known in
later days. In still later years it has been owned by
Elias Hasket Derby and leased to Samuel Jacques, in
whose hands it became famous for the thorough and
successful manner in which it was conducted.
On Quarry Hill the old powder-house stood, in
which powder was stored at the beginning of the
Revolution. On the Ist of September, 1774, Gen-
eral Gage sent Lieutenant-Colonel Madison with 216
men in thirteen boats up the Mystic, who crossed Win-
ter Hill, and, seizing the powder, conveyed it to Castle
William. Forts and redoubts were built on the other
hills in 1775 and on the 18th of July in that year, on
Prospect Hill, General Israel Putnam unfurled a flag
bearing on one side the inscription, " An appeal to
Heaven,'' and on the other, three vines, the armorial
bearing of Connecticut and the motto of the State.
On the 1st of January, 1776, with a salute of thir-
teen guns, a Union flag with thirteen stripes was on
this hill flung to the breeze. In 1777, Burgoyne and
his soldiers were encamped as prisoners on Prospect
and Winter Hills under a guard commanded by Gen-
eral Nathaniel Goodwin of Plymouth. On Cobble
Hill, the McLean Insane Asylum, a branch, as it
may perhaps be called, of the Massachusetts General
Hospital in Boston, was built and opened in 1818.
This hospital stands on the grounds once occupied by
the residence of Joseph Barrell and received its name
from John McLean, who gave to the institution about
SI 15,000. It has received numerous other gifts, among
which may be mentioned those of Samuel Eliot, in
1819, of $10,000; of Joseph Lee, in 1830, of $20,000,
and of Mary Belknap, in 1832, of$88,602, the residuary
amount of her estate. The diflferent superintendents
of the institution up to the present time have been Dr.
Rufus Wyman, a native of Woburn, appointed March
23, 1818, Dr. Phineas G. Lee, a native of New Britain,
Conn., appointed in 1832 ; Dr. Luther V. Bell, a na-
tive of Francestown, N. H., appointed in 1866; Dr.
Chauncy Booth, a native of Coventry, Conn., ap-
pointed in 1856 ; Dr. John E. Tyler, a native of Bos-
ton, appointed in 1858 ; Dr. George F. Jelly, a na-
tive of Salem, appointed in 1871, and Dr. Cowles,
the present superintendent. On Cobble Hill a fortifi-
cation planned by Putnam and Knox was begun
November 22, 1775, which was a part of the works
encircling Boston and afterwards forcing its evacua-
tion by the British forces in 1776.
On Ploughed Hill the Ursuline Convent was built
which was destroyed by a mob in 1834. It was
first established in Boston and removed to Somerville
in 1826. On Central Hill, as it is now called, but
really one of the eminences of Prospect Hill and con-
nected in the early part of the Revolution with the
other eminences by a rampart, are located the City
Hall of SomervUle, the Public Library and High
762
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
School building. There are few localities in Massa-
chusetts from which so comprehensive and interest-
ing a view of the surrounding country may be had,
and it redeems the city from the monotonous expres-
sion whicn the generally flat character of the terri-
tory would otherwise give to it.
On Winter Hill separated from Prospect or Cen-
tral Hill by a valley which forms a considerable por-
tion of the main part of the town, the most extensive
fortifications of 1775 were built. They were begun
by Stark on the 18th of June, and when finished they
were occupied by General Sullivan with troops from
New Hampshire.
At the time of the incorporation of the town its
valuation was $988,513, and its population 1013.
It had one grammar-school, five primary schools, no
meeting-house, less than two hundred houses, no
stores, one factory and one old tub fire-engine. It
had been simply an outlying suburb of Charlestown,
its people maintaining themselves by the products of
their milk and vegetable farms. The factory referred
to was the Milk Row Bleaching Company which was
incorporated April 18, 1838, with a capital of $50,000,
for the purpose of bleaching calendering, printing,
dyeing and finishing silk, cotton and linen yarns.
This company was authorized, April 17, 1848, to in-
crease its capital to $100,000 and to change its name
to " The Soraerville Dyeing and Bleaching Com-
pany."
There had been enterprises established within the
territory forming the new town, however, which had
brought its people into closer contact with the busi-
ness world, and had doubtless excited a feeling of un-
rest in the quiet life they had pursued. The Middle-
sex Canal had been chartered in 1793 and opened in
1803 from Charles River to the Merrimack. In 1804
the Medford turnpike was opened, and in 1835, about
the time that other important avenues of travel were
constructed, the Lowell Railroad was opened. The
final incorporation of the town was one of those steps
in the process of evolution which when taken seem
almost matters of accident, but which are really con-
summated in obedience to inexorable law.
In compliance with the act of incorporation, a
warrant issued by Epbraim Buttrick of East Cam-
bridge, justice of the peace, directed to Charles
Edward Oilman, dated March 5, 1842, requiring him
to call a town-meeting at two o'clock in the afternoon
of March 15th, for the organization of the town at
the Prospect Hill School-house. At a meeting of
citizens held March 10th, of which Columbus Tyler
was chairman, and Nathan Tufts, Jr., secretary, a
committee of three was chosen to nominate a commit-
tee of nine to nominate a list of town officers. The
committee of three was composed of Guy C. Haw-
kins, Charles Adams and James Hall, Jr., who nomi-
nated for the committee of nine : O. N. Towne, Wm.
A. Tufts, W. A. Russell, Jr., Joseph Miller, Charles
Miller, John Runey, Robert Vinal, Hiram Hackett
and Wm. Bonner. At the town-meeting held on the
14th of March, Francis Bowman was chosen modera-
tor and Charles E. Oilman, clerk. Edward Tufts was
chosen treasurer and collector, and Nathan Tufts,
John S. Edgerly, Caleb Leland, Luther Mitchell and
Levi Russell, selectmen. The School Committee
were James Hill, Henry Adams, Levi Russell and
Alfred Allen ; the Assessors, Guy C. Hawkins, John
C. Magoun and Oliver Tufts ; Assistant Assessors.
Nathan Tutts, John Runey and Charles Adams ;
Overseers of the Poor, Isaac S. Spring, Charles Adams
and Robert O. Tenney ; Board of Health, Hiram
Allen, Robert G. Tenney and P. W.Hayes; Constables,
Robert Sanborn and Benjamin Fiske; Field-Drivers,
Robert Sanborn and Asa Tufts; Fence-Viewers, Wm.
Bonner and Wm. A. Tufts ; Tythingmeu, Wm. Bonner
and Moses Griffin ; Finance Committee, Robert
Vinal, Wm. Munroe and Luther Mitchell. The
selectmen were made surveyors of highways.
At an adjourned meeting held on the 4th of April,
$1800 was appropriated for schools ; >?2000 for high-
ways ; $450 for county tax : $200 for the poor, and $300
for contingencies. At the same meeting Wm. A. Rus-
sell, Jesse Simpson and Robert Sanborn were chosen a
coltmittee on fisheries, and Hiram Allen, Levi Rus-
sell, T. Frost, Robert G. Tenney and Charles Adams,
fire- wards ; John S. Edgerly was added to the School
Committee; and Francis Bowman was chosen to fill
the place of Levi Russell on the Board of Selectmen,
who had declined.
The following persons were subsequently chosen
selectmen in the year set against their names up to
1871, the year of the incorporation of Somerville as
a city :
1S43, Francis BowmaD, Luther Mitchell, Caleb W. Leland, John S_
Edgerly and O. M. Towne.
Its44, Lutber Mitchell, Caleb W. Leland, John S. Edgerly, James Hill,
Jr., u. N. Towne and Benjamin Hadley.
Ib43, Francis Bowman, Benjamin Uadley, Geur^e O. Braatow, Joseph
Clark and Silaa Kingeley.
1846, Benjamin Hadley, Joseph Clark, Silas Kingsley, Edward Cut-
ter and Isaac S. Spring.
1847, Isaac S. Spring, Benjamin Hadley, Edward Cutter, Jusepb
Clark and Gardner T. Ring.
184S, Abram Welsh, John S. Edgerly, Thomaa J. Leland, Gardner T.
Ring and Charles Miller.
1849, JobD S. Edgerly, Thomaa T. Leland, Charles MUler, Abram
Welsh and Gardner T. Ring.
1860, John 3. Edgerly, Charles Miller, Thomas T. Leland, Chester
Guild and James Hill.
1861, John S, Edgerly, Thomas T. Leland, Charles Miller, Chester
Guild and John Runey.
1862, John S. Edgerly. Thomas T. Leland, Charles Miller, Nathan
Tufta, Jr., and John Bnney.
1853, John S. Edgerly, John Runey, Nathan Tufts, Jr., James M.
Shuts and Joseph Clark.
1864, John 3. Edgerly, John Runey, James M. Shute, Joseph Clark
and John K. Hall.
1866, John E. HalL James M. Shute, C. C. Walden, Beitjamin Wood-
ward and Benjamin Randall.
1866, James M. Shute, C. C. Walden, John C. Tenney, John S. Edger-
ly and N. C. Hawkins.
1867, James M. Shute, John 8. Edgerly, Samuel Hamblln, Benjamin
Randall and John C. Tenuey.
1868, James M. Shute, John C. Tenney, Betgamiu Randall, Mark
Fiske and Samuel Hamblln.
SOMERVILLE.
763
ldo9, J&mei M. :Sbute, John C. TeDuey, Benjaoiiu Ruudall, Mark
FUke and John 9. Ware.
1860, Beqjamln Bandall, Unrk Fiske, Albert Eenneaoo, Henry A.
Sdow and Thomaa CuDoingham.
1861, Benjamin Bandall, Henry A. Snow, Thomoa Cunningham, Al-
bert Eenneaon and Charles H. Guild.
1862, Benjamin Bandall, Henry A. Snow, Thomaa Cunningham, Al-
bert Kenneson and Charles H. Guild.
1S63, Henry A. Snow, Thomaa Cunningham, S. C. Whitehen, Levi
Tomaon and John B. Poor.
1864, John B. Poor, Leri Tomson, Francis Houghton, Nelaon Howe
and George W. Hadley.
186.'>, Nelaon Howe, Leri Tunuon, George W. Hadley, John B. Poor
and Francis Houghton.
1866, John R. Poor, NeUon Howe, Francis Houghton, George W.
Hadley and Silas H. Holland.
1867, Francis Hongbton, George W. Hadley, Silas H. Holland, George
0. Bnistow and Jacob T. Glines.
1868, Francis Houghton, Silas H. Holland, Jacob T. Glines, Cbarle'
S. Lincoln and John A. Paine.
1869, Francis Houghton, Silas H. Holland, Jacob T. Glines, John A.
Paine, Charles S. Lincoln, Horace Uaskins, John G. Hall, Austin Bel-
knap and Robert A. Vinal.
1870, John G. Hall, Horace Haskins, Austin Belknap, Jr., Cyrus S.
Crosby, Jacob T. Glines, Bobert A. Vioal, Francis Houghton, Charles S.
Lincoln and Nelson Howe.
1871, Austin Belknap, Charles S. Lincoln, John G. Hall, Robert A.
Vlnal, Horace Ha^kios, Cyrus T. Crosby, Person Daris, Jacob T. Glinefl
and Francis Honghton.
The following persons have repreaented Somerville
in the General Court from the date of its incorpora-
tion in 1843 to the present time ;
1843— Caleb W. Leiand
1844— None
184S — Caleb V,'. Leiand
1846— None
1847— None
18(8— None
1849— George 0. Brastow
1850 — Same
1861— Same
1S6-2— Edward C. Purdy
1^55 — None
1834— Chester Guild
18S3— James II. Shuts
1856— Isaac Story
1857— John S Edgerly
1858— Bollln W. Keyes
1839— Isaac F. Shepard
1860— Asa Flsk
1861— Columbus Tyler
1862— George 0. Bnistow
1863— Chester Guild
1864— Charles Powers
1865— Robert A. Vinal
1869— Frederick B. Kinsley
In 1867 Somerville and Maiden constituted the
Fourth Representative District of Middlesex County
and were represented as follows:
1867— James Pierce, Maiden
David M. Bean, Maiden
John A. Hughes, Somerrllle
1868 — John Buney, Somerrllle
John A. Hughes, Somerrille
George P. Cox, Maiden
1869— George P. Cox, Maiden
John Buney, Somerville
Chester H. Guild, Sumerrille
1870—3. Z. Bowman, Somerrllle
George P. Cox, Maiden
Joseph M. Russell, Maiden
1871 — S. Z. Bowman, Somerville
Chester U. Guild, Somerville
Joseph M. Russell, Maiden
1872— John H. Abbott, Maiden
Charles Taylor, Somerrllle
Samuel A, Carlton, Somerville
In 1873 Somerville, Everett and Maiden constituted
the Fourth Representative District in Middlesex
County and were represented as follows :
1875— S. Z. Bowman, Somerville
1873— Quincy A. Vlnal, aomerrllle
Alonzo H. Evans, Everett
John H. Abbott, Maiden
1874— K. C. Sleeper, Maiden
Horace Hasklns, Somerville
J. A. CommingB, Somerville
J. A. Cumminga, Somerville
James Pierce, Maiden
1876 — Theodore N. Foque, Maiden
Charles G. Pope, Somerrllle
Alonzo H. Erans, Ererett
In 1877 the First Ward of Somerville constituted
the Fourth Representative District of Middlesex
County, the Second Ward the Fifth District, the
Third and Fourth Wards the Sixth District, and these
districts were represented as follows :
DiatricL Dtllrttt,
1877— Charles O. Pops . . . . 4tb 1882— Gharlea H. Guild ... 4th
Thomas Cunningham . 5th Quincy A. Ylnai .... 6th
Enoch B. Morse . . . . 6tb Edward GUne* 6tb
1878— Richard E. Nickerson . 4th 1883— Elijah 0. Clark .... 4th
Thomas Connlngham . 5th Charles S. Lincoln . . 5th
Jacob T. Glines . . . . 6th Edward ,GIinea . . . . 6tb
1879— Bichard E. Nickeraon . 4th 1884— ElUah C. Clark .... 4th
James Long 5th John U. Woods .... 5tb
Jacob T. OUnes .... 6th Joseph M. Bailey . . . 6tfa
1880— John HaskeU BnUer . . 4Ui 1886— Levi T. S. Daris ... .4th
Bobert L. Spear . . . . 5tb Wm. H. Flynn .... 5th
Person Davis 6th Joseph U. Bailey ... 6th
1881— John HaskeU Butler . . 4th 1886— Leri T. 3. Daris .... 4th
Qnlncy A. Yinal .... 5th Wm. H. Flynn .... 5th
Person Daris 6th SamnsI C. DsrUag . . . 6tb
In 1887 the same wards conatituted the Fifth, Sixth
and Seventh Districts :
DiMtriel. DutricL
1887— SamnsI Cntlsr 5th 188S— Joshua H. Daris . . . . 5th
James T. Darlln .... 6tb Fluids H. Raymond . 6th
Samuel 0. Darling ... 7th Irrlng L. Russell ... 7th
1888— Samuel 0. Darling . . 5th 1890— Joshua H. Daris . . . Sth
Francis H. Raymond . 6th Fraacia H. Raymond . 6th
Irving L. Bnssell ... 7th Fred. K. Kilmer ... 7th
Aa has been already stated, at the time of the in-
corporation of Somerville as a town there was no
religious society or meeting-house within its borders.
In earlier times the existence of a distinct parish was
almost invariably the pioneer of a new town. All
through the periods of colonial and provincial days
the precinct was established as the nucleus of a sep-
arate municipal life, and indeed the town waa almost
another form of the precinct, adding civil services
and methods to the ecclesiastical life of the people. In
later times the factory on some outlying stream be-
came the centre of a new population, which in time
found it necessary to demand a distinct corporate
individuality. But Somerville, an exception to both
rules, was a mere extension of the people of Charles-
town farther out into the rich lands near the Mystic,
without any well-marked or natural line of division —
a people who gradually became so numerous as to
pay a considerable sum of the town tax without re-
ceiving its equivalent in improvement of schools,
roads and other features of a well-governed com-
munity.
The first movement made towards a separate relig-
ious organization was made by Elizabeth Page Whitt-
redge, of Beverly, a teacher in one of the public
schools, who, on the 1st of June, 1842, opened a
Union Sabbath-school on Medford Street. Its offi-
cers were George Tapley, superintendent ; Elizabeth
Page Whittredge, assistant ; Miss £. A. Bonner, sec-
retary, and Jeremiah Thorpe, librarian. This Sab-
bath-school formed the nucleus of the first church,
which held its first meeting in an upper room of the
engine-house the third Sunday in March in 1844.
Rev. Richard Manning Hodges, of Cambridge, offic-
iated, and about thirty families were represented.
Mr. Hodges continued his service with the society
about a year, and on the 22d of August, 1844, the
First Congregational Society was organized. Imme-
764
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
diateiy after, a meeting-house was built on Highland
Avenue, on land presented to the society, by Jacob
Mudge and Ezra Sleeper, of Boston, and dedicated
September 3, 1845.
Mr. Hodges is thought by the writer to have been
a native of Salem, and graduated at Harvard in
1815. Before preaching in Somerville he was at one
time settled in Bridgewater, but at the time of his ser-
vice in Somerville was unsettled and a resident of
Cambridge. Dr. Richard M. Hodges, the successful
and distinguished physician of Boston, is his son.
The following persons took an active part in the
formation of this society: Henry Adams, Sanford
Adams, Hiram Allen, Charles Bennett, Mary Bonner,
William Bonner, Emily Bonner, Levi BoUes, Sam-
uel C. Bradshaw, Jr., George O. Brastow, Edward
Cullen, Fitch Cullen, John S. Edgerly, Charles
Forster, William B. Graves, Guy C. Hawkins, James
Hilt, Jr., Mary B. Homer, Mrs. Jordan, Charles
Miller, Abigail Prentiss, Mary Runey, John Runey,
Stephen B. Sewall, A. C. Spring, O. N. Town, Nathan
Tafts, Timothy Tafts, Columbus Tyler and Robert
Vinal.
The successor of Mr. Hodges, or rather the first
settled minister in this society, was Rev. John Turner
Sargent, of Boston, who was installed February 8,
1846, and resigned March 4, 1848. Mr. Sargent was
also a Harvard graduate and a member of the class
of 1827. He was a member of the family in Boston
bearing that name, of which Col. Henry Sargent, an
artist of note and a member of the Academy of Arts
and Sciences, and Lucius Manlius Sargent, the author
of " Dealings with the Dead by a Sexton of the Old
School," were well-known members. He was a man
of thorough education, scholarly habits and refined
tastes, and could not fail to cleanse and purify the
moral atmosphere of any community in which his lot
might be cast.
Rev. Augustus R. Pope followed Mr. Sargent and
continued in the pastorate until his death. May 24, 1858.
Mr. Pope was a native of Boston and graduated at
Harvard in 1839, and from the Cambridge Divinity
School in 1842. Before his settlement at Somerville
he had been settled over the First Church of Kings-
ton, and both in Cambridge and Kingston the writer,
who knew him well during the latter part of his life,
had opportunity of seeing the energy and devotion
with which he carried on every work he was entrust-
ed to perform. In Somerville his boundless activity
could not find full play within the narrow limits of
his church, and various enterprises and interests,
among which were those of an educational character,
received and profited by his earnest labors.
Rev. Charles Lowe succeeded Mr. Pope, and was
installed May 8, 1859. Mr. Lowe graduated at Har-
vard in 1847, and from the Cambridge Divinity School
in 1851. He remained with the society until ill
health compelled him to resign on the 18th of June,
1865. He continued, however, to reside in Somer-
ville until his death, in June. 1874, and though, serv-
ing as the secretary of the American Unitarian As-
sociation, to be of service as trustee of the Public
Library and in other capacities to the community in
which he lived.
Rev. Henry Hervey Barber succeeded Mr. Lowe
and was installed December 2, 1866. Mr. Barber had
previously been settled five years in Harvard. Rev.
J. S. Thompson succeeded Mr. Barber, but at the
present time, October, 1890, the society is without a
pastor.
The first meeting-house of this society, built of
wood, was burned July 22, 1852, and the second, built
of brick, which w.is dedicated April 28, 1854, was also
burned October 8, 1867. The present brick church
erected on the same site was dedicated January 31,
1869.
The Perkins Street Baptist Society was organized
May 4, 1845, and held its meetings in a building on the
Neck and was called the Neck Village Baptist Society.
In the summer of 1853 the building w.is removed to
Perkins Street in Somerville and enlarged, and on the
22d of February, 1854, by an act of the Legislature
the present name of the society was assumed. Ou
the 8th of January, 1866, the meeting- house of this
society was burned, and on the 26th of June, 1867,
its present church edifice was dedicated. Previous to
1845 the easterly part of Somerville had few inhabi-
tants, and the first meetinghouse of the society was
built at the corner of Main and Haverhill Streets in
Charlestown at a cost of §6124.98, and dedicated June,
1845. The new edifice, built in 1866, cost !«25,000.
The first pa.s;or of this society was Rev. William
Stow, who was ordained June 25, 1845, and remained
in service until 1850. He was succeeded by Rev. C.
H. Toplitl", who was ordained September 30th iu that
year, and Rev. N. il. Williams followed Mr. Toplirt'
in 1852. Other pastorates followed, but at the p/e^ent
time the society has no pastor.
The First Orthodox Congregational Society was
organized at a meeting held at the house of Ebenezer
Davis, September 15, 1853. Oliver Dickson was chosen
moderator, S. N. Watsou, clerk, and Isaac S. Gross,
treasurer. The Prudential Committee chosen were :
Ebenezer Davis, Joseph Lovett, Temple Paul, G. ^.
Wheelwright and John R. Poor. On the 28th of
June, 1854, a committee was chosen to select a lot of
land and procure plans for a church edifice. The
corner-stone of the church was laid October lu, 1854,
and the house ou Franklin Street was dedicated July
12, 1855. On the 4th of May, 1855, Ebenezer Davis,
Oliver Dickson and Joseph Lovett were ciiosen dea-
cons ; N. J. Knight, Joshua H. Davis, James L. Tyler
and O. H. Granville, examining committee; Joseph
Lovett, treasurer ; and Moses H. Sargei.t, clerk. On
the 30th of November, 1855, it was voted to extend a
call to the Rev. Benjamin Judkins, Jr., and he was
installed January 3, 1856. Mr. Judkins closed his
pastorate June 2, 1858, and after a supply of the pul-
SOMERVILLE.
res
pit by Rev. David Temple Packard, he was invited to
become pastor, and was installed September 21, 1860.
Mr. Packard resigned .^pril 1, 1866, and preached his
farewell -sermon on the 23d of September.
On the 16th of March, 1867, the meeting-house of
the society was burned, and on the 27th of June, 1867,
Rev. L. R. Eastman, Jr., was installed. The corner-
stone of a new house of worship was laid August 27,
1867, and the house was dedicated September .30, 1868.
Jlr. Eastman resigned April 20, 1871, and was followed
by Rev. Wm. S. Hubbell, of West Roxbury, who was
installed February 1, 1872. Mr. Hubbell resigned
Xovember 5, 1881, and his successor. Rev. Wm. E.
Merriman, was installed April 19, 1882. The present
pastor of the society is Rev. James H. Ross.
The following are the other religious societies in
Somerville: The First Baptist was organized Decem-
ber .30, 1852. Its house of worship is on Belmont
Street near Summer, and its present pastor is Rev. F.
I >. Cunningham.
The Free- Will Baptist Society has a church edifice
on Broadway, between Lincoln and George Streets,
and was removed from Cbarlestown to Somerville
October], 1874. The present pastor is Rev. E. D.
^loulton.
Tiie Union Square Baptist Society was organized in
lS8o, and has a place of worship at 73 Bow Street.
Its present pastor is Rev. Charles S. Scott.
The West Somerville B.aptist Society was organized
in June, 1S74. The church edifice is on Elm Street,
corner of Wiuslow .\.venue, and Rev. Drew T. Wyman
IS piistor.
The Winter Hill Baptist Suciety was organized
.Tune 27, 1S81. Its house of worship is on School
Street, opposite Maple Avenue, and Rev. E. D. .Mason
is pastor.
The Broadway Congregational Church was organ-
ized in .lune, 1864. Its present pastor is Rev. C. E.
-Andrews.
The Day Street Congregational Society was organ-
ized in .\pril, 1S74. Its house is on Day Street, corner
• if Herbert, and Rev. H. C. Hitchcock is its pastor.
The Prospect Hill Congregational Society, which
was organized December 30, 1874, has a church edi-
fice on Warren .Vvenue, near Union Square, which
was dedicated October 19, 1876. Its pastor is Rev.
Edward S. Tead.
The Winter Hill Congregational Society was organ-
ized January 29, 1883. Its house is on Central Street,
corner of Broadway, and its pastor is Rev. Charles L.
Xoyes.
The Emanuel Episcopal Church was erected in 1870,
on Central Street, corner of Summer, and Rev. X. V.
Bishop is pastor.
The St. Thomas Episcopal Church was erected in
1S70, on Somerville Avenue, near Union Square. Its
pastor is Rev. George W. Durell.
The St. James Episcopal Church is on Newbury
Street, near Broadway.
The St. Ann's Catholic Church was dedicated Sep-
tember 25, 1881, and stands on Thurston Street, corner
of Medford. Its pastor is Rev. John B. Galvin.
St. Joseph's Catholic Church was dedicated Novem-
ber 21, 1874, on Washington Street, comer of Webster
Avenue. The pastor is Rev. Christopher T. McGrath.
The Broadway Methodist Church was organized in
June, 1873, and its house of worship on Broadway,
opposite Sargent Street, was erected in 1872. Its
pastor is Rev. A. M. Osgood.
The First Methodist Society, whose house is on
Bow Street near Summer was organized in 1856. Its
pastor is Rev. George Skene.
The Flint Street Methodist Society was organized
November 17, 1868, and has a house of worship on
Flint Street. Rev. C. M. Melden is its pastor.
The Park Avenue Methodist Society is located in
West Somerville, on Park Avenue near Elm Street,
and its pastor is Rev. H. Mathews.
The Union Square Presbyterian Society was organ-
ized September 25, 1887, and has a house on Warren
Vvenue. Its pastor is Rev. C. S. Dewing.
The First Universalist Society was organized in
1853. Its first church was burned January 2, 1860,
and the present one on First Street, corner of Tufts,
was dedicated in 1869. Its present pastor is Rev.
Charles A. Skinner.
The Third Universalist Society was organized Au-
.;ust 10,188 1 . Its place of wori»hip is on Morrison Street,
corner of Elm, and Rev. Mr. Smith officiates as the
pastor.
The Winter Hill Universali.st Society was organized
Tune 23, 1879, and is located on Thurston Street,
corner of Evergreen Avenue. Rev. Charles A.
Skinner ofEciates as pastor.
In 1850 a Fire Department was established by an
ict of the Legislature passed on the 2d of April
of that year, and the equipment for extinguishing
ires has grown from the single tub-engine located
.vithin the territory at the time of the incorporation
if the town, to an apparatus surpassed by no com-
munity in the State of equal size and population.
The Fire Department now consists of James N. Hop-
kins, chief engineer, and Nathaniel C. Barker, assist-
ant, with the following apparatus and men : Steamer,
Somerville, No. 1, located on Highland Avenue, with
3. A. Byrnes, engineer, W. A. Burbank, fireman, L.
D. Bixby, clerk, Irving C. Jackson, driver, L. D.
Bixby, driver of hose-carriage, James A. McLane,
fireman, Frank Langen, assistant foreman and
seven hosemen ; the John E. Wool Hose Company,
.Vo. 1, on Webster Street, with Thomas H. Daley,
foreman ; the Winter Hill Hose Company, No. 2, on
Marshall Street, with F. W. Ring, foreman ; the George
H. Foster Hose Company, No. 3, on Washington
Street, with C. H. Bridges, foreman ; the George O.
Brastow Hose Company, No. 4, with Samuel H.
Stevens, foreman, and the R. A. Vinal Hook-and-
Ladder Company No. 1, with Edwin H. Bright as
766
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
foreman, and a fire alarm with forty-six stations.
Besides the above the Department has two fire
extinguishers and about eight thousand feet of hose.
The sum expended for the current expenses of the
Department during the year 1889 was $32,696.65.
In 1853, by an act of the Legislature passed Febru-
ary 23d in that year, the Charleatown Gas Company
was allowed to extend its pipes into Somerville, and
on the 11th of April in the same year the Cambridge
Gas Co. was allowed the same privilege ; but on the
13th of April, 1854, Augustus R. Pope, Jamea M.
Shute and others were incorporated under the name
of the Somerville Gas Company. In 1851 the first
directory of Somerville was published, containing the
names of five hundred and sixty-one males. It
was published by Edward Tufts, of Somerville and
is a small duodecimo pamphlet of thirty-two pages.
At that time the populatioa of the town, which in
1842 was 1013, and in 1843 had increased to 1445, had
still further increased to 3540. The names of the
justices of the peace contained in the Directory were
Henry Adams, Alfred Allen, George O. Brastow,
Luther V. Bell, Ebenezer F. Cutter, John F. Hall,
Jonas H. Kendall, John C. Magoun, Samuel Poor,
Edward L. Stevens and Columbus Tyler.
A list of the streets and places, of which there
were fifty, may be interesting for purposes of com-
parison with the present localities of the town. They
were as follows :
Broadway, from CharlestonD to Weflt Cambridge.
Elm, from Broadway to Milk.
Medford, from Eaat Cambridge to Medfuni.
Adams, from Broadway to Medford.
Central, from Broadway to Milk.
Sycamore, from Broadway to Medford.
Derby, fW)m Broadway to Medford Turnpike.
' WalDQt, from Broadway to Bow.
CrOflB, from Broadway to Medford.
Biub, from Broadway to Pearl.
Glen, from Broadway to FUnt.
Franklin, from Broadway to Cambridge.
Mount Vernon, from Broadway to Perkina.
Pearl, from Croea.
Medford Turnpike, from CharlestowQ to Medford.
Park, from Beecb to Broadway.
Heatb, from Park to Derby.
Bond, from Park to Derby.
Perkina, from Franklin to Charleatown.
Cambridge, from Charleatown to Cambridge.
Tufts, from Cambridge to Croei.
Joy, from Cambridge to Poplar.
Linden No. 3, f^m Cambridge to Milk.
Boaton, from Cambridge to Walnut.
Linden, from Milk to Walnut.
Praepect, fTom Cambridge to Cambridgepoit.
Dane, from Cambridge to Milk.
Vine, from Cambridge to Milk.
Snow Hill, from Beacon to Milk.
Beacon, from SomerTille to Cambridgeport.
Church, from Medford to Central.
Milk, from Eaat Cambridge to Cambridge.
Bow, from MUk to Milk.
Laurel, fkom Milk to Sumner.
Oak, bom Milk to Beech.
Spring, f^m Milk to Summer.
Belmont, from Milk to Summer.
Porter, from Elm to Summer.
Linden No. 2, from Elm.
Russell, from Elm to Cambridge.
Orchard, from Russell.
Cottage Place, from Ruasell.
Hamlet, from Church.
Summer, from Central.
Beecb, from Oak to Spring.
Harvard, from Beech to Summer.
Elm Court, from Harvard.
Harvard Court, from Harvard.
Myrtle, from Perkina to Cambridge.
Florence, from Perkins to PearL
On the 29th of April, 1854, the Middlesex Railroad
Company was incorporated and constructed, in 1855,
a street railway to Boston, from the eastern boundary
of the town through Washington Street. In May,
1851, the Medford and Charlestown Railroad Com-
pany was chartered, and on the 29th of May, 1857,
George 0. Brastow, Henry A. Snow and Isaac F.
Shepard and others were incorporated as the Somer-
ville Horse Railroad Company, one of these occupy-
ing Main Street and Broadway and the other Wash-
ington, Jlilk and Elm Streets. The Somerville Horse
Railroad Company was authorized by its charter to
receive the rights, powers, privileges and franchises
ot the Middlesex Railroad Company, so far as the
same relate to proceedings within the limits of Som-
erville. At the present time all the various lines of
street railway in the town are owned and managed
by the West End Street Railway Company, whose
centre of operation is in Boston, which was incorpo-
rated in 1887.
In 1880 the population of the town had increased
to 8025, and its valuation, which had incre.ised from
.$988,513 in 1842 to §2,102,631 in 1850, had further
increased to $6,033,053. The number of houses was
at this date 1282, the number of polls 1751, and the
town debt was S90,924.
The first militia company in Somerville was the
Somerville Light Infantry, organized in October,
1853. In May, 1864, the company was enrolled as
Company B, Fourth Regiment, Third Brigade, Sec-
ond Divi-^ion ; but the regiment was afterwards num-
bered the Fifth, instead of the Fourth. The first
captain was George O. Brastow, who was succeeded,
June 29, 1854, by Francis Tufts, who served until
April, 1859. Captain Brastow was then re-elected,
and served until the autumn of 1861. Captain B. F.
Parker succeeded Captain Brastow, and still later it
was commanded by Captain W. E. Robinson, Captain
J. N. Coffin, Captain G. W. Daniels, Captain Charles
F. King, Captain R. Kramer and Lieutenant R. T.
Blackwell, and was disbanded July 6, 1876.
Coming now to the period of the late war, the ac-
tivity and patriotic spirit which characterized the
people of the whole Commonwealth were displayed
in Somerville. Before the blow was struck, che Som-
erville Light Infantry, in anticipation of trouble on
the part of the government of the State, had been,
like other militia companies in the Commonwealth,
notified of a possible call for men and of the necessity
SOMERVILLE.
•767
of retaining only such men in their ranks as would
be willing to respond at a moment's notice. When,
therefore, on the 15th of April, 1861, dispatches were
received announcing the surrender of Fort Sumter
and the issue of a proclamation by the President of
the United States, calling for seventy-five thousand
men for three months' service, Somerville was fully
prepared to perform her share in the emergency.
Further dispatches announced that Governor Andrew
had issued orders to the commanders of the Third,
Fourth, Sixth and Eighth Regiments of Massachu-
setts Militia to report, with their commands, on Bos-
ton Common the following day. A little later the
Fifth Regiment, under the command of Colonel Law-
rence, of Medford, was called for, and the Somerville
company quickly responded. On the 17th of April
a meeting of the citizens was held for the purpose of
rendering such aid to the company and to the fami-
lies of its members as might, under the circum-
stances, become necessary. Henry A. Jones was
chosen chairman, and Aaron Sargent secretary. A
committee of five, consisting of B. F. Adams, James
M. Shute, Columbus Tyler, Charles H. Guild and
Charles S. Lincoln, was chosen to prepare a plan,
and sub.sequently at the same meeting the following
resolution was reported and adopted :
" Regolved, that in the opinion of this meeting the
town should take measures to provide for such fami-
lies of members of the Somerville Light Infantry as
may need aid during the absence of that company
in defense of the National Government and of the
rights and liberties of mankind."
Remarks were made by James M. Shute, Columbus
Tyler, E. H. Wakefield, M. H. Sargent, Ebenezer
Davis, X&a. Fisk, John R. Poor, C. C. Walden and
others. Subscriptions were at once raised, amounting
to W308.50, and of this amount the sum of $700 was
presented to Captain Brastow, who had entered the
hall with his company.
It was voted that the remainder of the amount sub-
scribed should be deposited in the Lechmere Savings
Bank, subject to the drafts of the Board of Select-
men. On Saturday, the 20th of April, the company
gathered about the flagstaff in Union Square, where
the flag was saluted and Rev. Mr. Fairbanks made a
fervent prayer. A procession was then formed under
the direction of John K. Hall as chief marshal, and
marched to the Congregational Church, in Franklin
Street, where each member was presented with a Tes-
tament by Moses H. Sargent, each of which bore the
following inscription : "' And behold I am with thee
and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest
and will bring thee again into this land, for I will not
leave thee until I havedone that which I have spoken
to thee of."— Gen. 28 : 15. The procession then es-
corted the company to Faneuil Hall, in Boston, where
it was quartered until the next morning. On Sunday,
the 21st, it went to New York by the Fall River route,
reaching that city in the evening. At New York the
regiment embarked on steamers for Annapolis, and
reached Washington on the morning of Saturday,
April 27th. It was quartered in the United States
Treasury Building, performing guard duty during four
weeks ; and then encamped for one week in Camp
Andrew, on the Virginia bank of the Potomac, about
four miles from Washington, On Monday, June 2d,
the regiment encamped in Camp Massachusetts, about
one mile southwest of Alexandria, where it remained
until Tuesday, July 16tb. The regiment was engaged
in the battle of Bull Run, in which Frank £. Hana-
ford, a member of Company B, was killed. On Sun-
day, the 28th of July, the regiment left Washington ;
and arriving home, the Somerville company was re-
ceived by the Second Battalion of Infantry, and es-
corted by citizens, under a salute of one hundred
guns, to Prospect Hill, where, gathered round the flag-
staff, they were addressed by Rev. Mr. Fairbanks and
N. B. Proctor and an ode of welcome was sung. Cap-
tain Morton responded to the addresses of welcome,
and received also, with his men, the more private
congratulations of his neighbors and friends. W.
Francis Morris, a member of the company, was left in
the hospital, in Washington, sick, and died on the
3l8t of July.
At a legal meeting of the town, held on the 29th of
April, 1861, it was voted to instruct the selectmen to
provide for the families of volunteers, and to author-
ize the town treasurer to borrow a sum not exceeding
$5000 for the purpose. On the 28th of April it was
voted to borrow $6000 for the purpose of aiding fam-
ilies. In June, 1862, the President called for three
hundred thousand men, and of this number the quota
of Somerville was ninety-two. On the 19th of July
the town voted to raise a company to fill the quota
and to pay a bounty to each volunteer of one hundred
dollars. For this purpose it was voted to borrow
twelve thousand dollars. A committee of sixty, with
the selectmen added, was chosen as a rallying com-
mittee. On the 27th of August, 1862, the town voted
to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to other volun-
teers, and on the 24th of September to pay an addi-
tional bounty of seventy-five dollars to members of
the Somerville Light Infantry.
On the 27th of April, 1863, it was voted to borrow
ten thousand dollars for aid to soldiers' families, and
on the 10th of December, 1863, other appropriations
were made for the purpose of enlisting volunteers. In
1862 the Somerville Guard, raised to fill the quota
called for in June of that year, was recruited to the
full number of one hundred and one men, and en-
camped on the 12th of August on Prospect Hill,
when it was mustered in for three years, and remained
until the 3d of September, when it encamped at Box-
ford. It was attached as Company E to the Thirty-
ninth Regiment, and on the 6th of September took the
cars for Washington. After a short encampment at
Arlington Heights, it went into quarters at Poolea-
ville, Maryland, where it passed the winter.
768
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX C0UNT7, MASSACHUSETTS.
In April, 1863, the regiment removed to Washing-
ton, and on the 9th of July joined the Army of the
Potomac, with which it remained until the close of
the war. The casualties of the Somerville Guard,
during its service, were as follows : F. J. Oliver,
Washington Lovett, Joseph W. Whitmore, Henry E.
Howe and Richard J. Hyde died in rebel prisons;
William D. Palmer, Samuel O. Felker, Robert Pow-
ers, J. H. Roberts, William M. Harburn, Eugene B.
Hadly, Willard C. Kinsly and John Moran were
killed. Besides these, Frederick A. Glines, James
M, Allen, Charles G. Jones, David Gorham, John E.
Horton, George H. Hatch and David Kendrick fell
victims to disease.
It is unnecessary to recount all the various votes of
the town concerning the enlistmeut of men and appro-
priations of money for bounties and aid to families.
It is suflScient on this point to say that the whole
amount of money appropriated by the town for war
purposes, exclusive of State aid, was $133,039.41, and
that the amount contributed by citizens was $65,823.38.
It is stated by Dr. Booth, in his sketch of Somer-
ville, already referred to, that "Somerville furnished
forty commissioned officers and one thousand and
eighty-five men fjr the war in all branches of the ser-
vice, which was a surplus of one hundred and forty-
seven above the number required. Ninety-eight were
killed or died of disease incident to the hardships of
war, and two hundred and fifty were wounded. A
marble monument was erected in the cemetery in
1863 to the memory of the dead, and was paid for by
the money raised at the citizens' meeting, held April
18, 1861, for the purpose of aiding the Somerville
Light Infantry, previous to its departure for a three
months' service. It was the first soldiers' monument
erected in Massachusetts."
The writer finds no roll of soldiers in the office of
the clerk of Somerville, and has therefore been
obliged to rely on the Massachusetts record published
by the adjutant-general of the State for such a list as
he is able to furnish In this record he finds only
four hundred and fifty-one names entered as belong-
ing to Somerville, and their names will be found in
the list included in this sketch. To be added to this
list are, of course, the names of three or four hun-
dred who entered the naval service to the credit of
Somerville which the writer has not the data at hand
to include in the list. To be further added are the
soldiers credited generally to Massachusetts, of whom
Somerville had its share placed to its credit. The
writer trusts that it may be properly within his prov-
ince to suggest to the authorities of the city that
early steps be taken to secure from the archives in
Boston and Somerville and other available sources a
complete list of all soldiers and sailors entering the
service either credited to or belonging to the town.
The following is a list of the members of the Som-
erville Light Infantry belonging to Somerville, who
were mustered into the United States service in April,
1861, and served three months :
George O. Bnutow, capt.
Wm. E. RobiDBon, Ist It.
tVed. R. Kiuiiey, 2d It.
Walter C. Bailey, agt.
•TohQ Harrington, sgt.
Wm. R. Corlen, sgt.
John C. Wataon, sgt.
Henry H. RobinBon, corp.
James E. Paul, corp.
Ig.'iac Barker, Jr., corp.
Albion Adams.
John Adama.
Hawea At wood.
Edwia C. Bennett.
Martin U. Binney.
Warren A. Bird.
Chttrles H. Bonner.
Edward Brackett.
Albert Caawell.
Elkanab Crosby.
John E. Davis.
John T. Giles.
Joseph J. Giles.
Joseph Hale, Jr.
Henry C. Uamniund.
Frank K. Hanaaford.
'ieorge F. Harris,
John K. Hodgkins.
Jaoies R. Hopkiup.
PUny R. Howe.
Kichard J. Hy«le.
Horatio Jeokina, Jr.
Charles Kilbnm.
Willard C. Tinsley.
Charles A. Mooney.
Francis W. Moors.
George W. Nason, Jr.
Fletcher N. Nelson.
Judson W. Oliver.
Joseph W, Paine.
Oscar Parsona.
ChHrles U. Powers.
Charles C. Quimby.
Benjamin F. Schellinger.
Lucius H. Shultuck.
AVm. E. Shaw.
Nathan A. Slmonds.
Charles H. Sweeney.
John Van De Land.
Edward 31. Walker.
Kinsley Wallace.
Wm. W. WataoD.
George F. Whitcooib.
Joseph Young.
aiustered tiept, 19, 1862, for nine
months in Co. B, bth Regiment:
Benjamin F. Parker, capt
Walter C. Bailey, let It.
John Harrington, 2d IL
Edward W. Denny, let egt.
James E. Paul, sgt.
Kinsley Wallace, sgt.
Charles T. Robinson, agt.
Henry A. Augier, agt.
Eben' C. Mann, Jr., corp.
Charles E. Davis, corp.
Grunville W. Darcett, corp.
Nathaniel Dennett, corp.
Edwin Tamer, corp.
Cyrus B. Bowe, corp.
Willard L. Hawes, corp.
Wm. F. Snow, corp.
Thos. R. Watson, corp.
James H. Flagg, mna.
Frank Wniburg, mua.
Henry H. Robinson, 2d wag.
Nath»T. Abbett.
^lelvin Adams.
Wdi. a. Aiken.
Lewis A. Allen.
Joseph Anthony.
Wm. W. Anderson.
Joseph Arnold.
Joseph A. Austin.
Wm. Ayers.
George W. Barnes.
Thomas A. Barr.
Romanus E. Beers.
Charles K. Brackett.
Samuel R. Brintnell.
Calvin X. Bruce.
George W. Burro«i;hs.
Alonzo Butler.
John Cashin.
Russell T. Chamberlain.
John Clausen.
Fied. R. Cubb.
Jauies Cunningham.
Fred. L'ualiiug.
Ferdinanii D. Daniels.
Wm. E. Dick?un.
.Iamo3 H. Delliiway.
AdoljihuK DiiMenult.
Wm. Ellioir.
Jauiea Emmott.
Heury E. Gilson.
AlvinF. Glidden.
Moses F. Greenwood.
Daniel Hallahan.
Peter B. Haley.
Joseph Hanson.
DuRiel A. Hartwell.
Michael Havlin.
Patrick Hayes.
George W, Hinckley.
Charles B. Hollander.
Charles H. Holland.
Edwin ,\. Hubbard.
Wells W. Huston.
James H. Jewett.
George A. Kimball.
John C. Leavitt.
John W. Leavitt.
Nicholas liee.
George E. Lincoln.
Wm. E. Locke.
Eli \V. Loveless.
Wm. Manning.
George W. Maynard.
John A. Mills.
George E. Mitchell.
Henry M. Jloulton.
Michael Mumnaugh.
Edward Netlinger. ,
Benj. B. Parsons.
George C. Pattee.
Albert H. PauL
John A. Poor.
John H. Potter.
Charles A. Pressy.
Gardner W. Ring.
Henry H. Robinson.
John W. Roberts.
Edward L. Shattuck.
Joseph Sinclair.
Edward Stout.
SOMERVILLE.
7fi0
G«orge E. SturtevtiDt.
Sara. J. F. Thaypr.
Francis H. Thompson.
Samuel G. Tooipkina.
Francis E. Whitcomli.
Joseph A. Wbite.
.Albert Williaiiu.
George A. Willett.
Edward E. Winalow,
Charles H. Woodwell.
.lohn Tounie.
.Tames Clark.
Mustered July .ll, I.S61,
.\lvin G. IjOTejoy.
Peter TIiomp6'>n.
Mustered Jan. 1, iJifil,
Frederick Wbitcomb.
^fn'lfred Sept. 5. 1861, ftr ,''. i/.ni«
m M Ratlerij
Henry C. Haoimond, f-orp.
Mustered Sept. '', is»^l,
Wm. F. Steer.
^fttfter^d Jan. 3, I8fi4, /'or .\ //.ai«
m ilh Batlenj
George W. Colbatb.
Mustered Marcb 3, 1864,
John UarkioB.
M'lllTf'l Altg. Ill, 18K2, /or .1 yfy
111 OlA BiiUtry .
.lolin H. Sullivan, corp.
Mustered March 16, l«6t,
.lames (iurdoo.
Mustered Feb. !i, l'i'.4,
Sam. P. Hatc-b.
Mnetereil Jan. IJ, isr,4,
.lobn llnrrigan.
Mustered K^h. l."., lSf,4,
31icbael Horrignn.
■Ifii.dTf./ S'fl. 16, l*oJ, /■'■ nine
.«o„(/,« 1,1 (■„. (;. 42d (,>j. .
' "biirle:" Paine.
i8';2, /i.i
yr,tAt^,^,t >.pt, 12
iill,> 1.. Cv F.
Herbert Usborii.
\l,i.urrd !^pl. 22, ISf.2, /■). niif
mnr.(/.» "I Co. P, ITrA Bej. ;
Herbert '>. Porter.
Samuel F, Teele.
Alnnzo \V. Temple.
lf...<(ei<./ Se,.(. 29, lsr,2, /or unif
>n-"ithii in I'.-. R,:tntli Reg.:
.loKeph .\. Pike.
Victor..; Ilrl. 17, 1K62, for iiMt
.lr*bu K. MoultoD.
ilutlered "■1. .1, ISfil, /or ?. j.ar«
ill !«/ WU'r'ifj Lijhi .iriillirfi :
Frank A. Iloyt, bu(!ler.
M„il^,M 0.1. .1, isr.:l, /■..
ill J.l «.!((. ri/.-
I.iirian .\. llodgdun, 2<l It.
■Mustered Feb. 16, t«64.
>etb II. Hatch, .irtiflrer.
MtiBtereil March Is, isivt,
>lusler«d Jan. 26, l*ii4,
'leor^e IMadeu.
Wni. >tiibl.
.Mustered .Ian. 2.1, 1SG4,
Francis U. .Masou.
Mustered .\ug. 10, 1862,
Michael McCarroll.
49-iii
; yf'irt
.Mustered Feb. 1, 1864. |
.lames A. Nutter.
.Mustered Feb. 2.5, 1864, '<
Horace Record. I
Mustered Ian. 2.i, 1«64,
.lohn Stales.
Miislfr^d Jan. 2, ISrVJ, /'..r 3 ijeart
III UIH Bait fry :
Charles M. Miller.
lfii«(«r»fi .Ifmc/i 24, 1864, /or 3
i/earg in X'^th Battfry :
George Gordon. i
jlfii«l<T«<( Feh. 27, 1864, /"r 3 ytart j
in lilh Bnlltry: j
Frank Page. i
JTutl'rfd Mnrrh 14. 1864, /'or 3
yearn, Iff Reg., Hfavy .\rl. : |
Wm. H. .r. Webber.
Mustered Jan. 2, 1864, for 3 yeore
in 2J Reg., Heavy Art, :
Lewis Perry, corp. Co. C. '
Mustered Aug. 14, 186;1,
Edward W. Denny, 1st It.
Mustered Dec. 25, 1863, Co. L.
Henry W. Dey. I
^fiiglered Jan. 2, 1864, 3 yeare, l$t
Req. nf Cat. : j
William W. Warden, lit lieut.
Must. Sept. 12, 1S61, Co. B, I
.lohn Clarksoii. ;
Wm. D. Francis. j
Mustered Sept. 14, 1861, .
Heliodorus Wellington.
Mustered Sept. 17, 1861, Co. C,
.lohn A. Glines, sgt.
Charles C. Quimby, corp.
Charles F. Bartlett.
George W. BartloU.
Vlanson Bond.
Mii>lered Sept. 2.^, 1861,
Ifa B. Knowltou, wag.
Mu8tere<l Jan. 1, 186),
■Tonathan Atkinson.
Mustered Sept. 2.1. 1861,
Gilbert Wakeheld.
Mustered Oct. .5, 1861, (>. G,
Richard Hill, sergl.
MustereiJ March 21, 1864, Co. H,
I'harlefl Patterwtn.
Mnitterrd Jan. 6, 186*, .3 yare, new
P,all. of ( 111'. :
Edward B. Daniels, sergt.
Edward W. Hudson, bugler.
Robert (;. Havemy.
Maelered hee. 1,1861,3 yean, ls(
Re(i. "/Car., Cn. }[ :
Fred. D. Maynard, corp.
^fl|'^er'^l J<in. II, 1864, iiBOM. re-
el iiiVj, 1«( Beg.'/ Oir. :
T.nuis iMatber.
Mustered March 21, 1861,;
Daniel Rantsey.
.lfii«/<Te.( .liiy. 13, 1863, 3 yean,
■1.1 Red. dr., i-i. B:
Rrrnard F, Sheridan.
Mustered Aug. 10, 1863, Co. H,
Charles 31athewB.
Mustered Aug. 11, 1863, Co. I,
John O'Brien.
Mustered Aug. 14, 1863, Co. K,
James O'Donnelt.
.ViMlered Feh. .5, 1864, 3 yean, 3d
R'g. of Car. ( o. B.-
John Biiscb.
Mustered Jan. 6, 1864, 3 yeart, 4(A
Reg. o/ On., On. C:
Herman Hutchinson.
Mustered Dec. 4, 1861, Co. 1,
Richard Cunningham.
Jamee Fltzpatrick.
Frederick D. Maynard, corp. Co
M.
Mustered July 12, 1864, Co. K,
.John Foley.
Miutered March 26, 1864, 3 yean,
.i'd Reg. a/ Car. :
William H. Hawes, Ist sergt.
Miiitered May 24, 1861, 3 i/Mn,
Im Reg., d. F.-
Fred. A. S. Lewis,
Mustered May 23, 1861, Co. G,
Edward L. Gituian, capt.
M'Mered Aug. 20. 1862, 3 yan, 2d
Reg., I'o. C.
Joeepb Curtin.
Muttered Au^. 18, 1862, 3 year*,
ilh Reg., Co. E:
.Michael Eelley.
Mustered Feb. 19, 1862, Co. H,
Michael Cookley.
Muttered Jnn. 2, 1864, 3 ytart, Wlh
Reg., Co. E:
Jnmea W. Smith.
Miutered Dec. 29, 1864, Co. F,
.\ndrew C. Hatch, corp.
Mustered Jan. 30. 1864,
John Biswanger.
Mustered Sept. 1, 1862, Co. I,
Charles B. Lawrence.
Mastered June 13, 1861, Co. K,
John Hillman.
4,
Mastered Jan.
Wm. Reaves,
1864,
MueUred June 26, 1861, 3 yearn.
Vltk Reg., iy>. A:
Albert E. Mitchell.
Moees Hazeltine, corp. Co. C.
Nathaniel Hazeltine.
Muttered July 16, 1861, 3 yenn,
13M Reg., Co. A :
Charles F. Ruasell, corp.
Russell J. Whitton, Corp.
.Mustered July 28, 1861, Co. E,
Frank A. Ley.
Muttered Juty 12. 1861, /Are« year?,
Ifi/d Reg., tVi. D :
James Carroll.
Mustered Jan. 2, 1864,
James Suift.
Mustered Jan. 12, 1861, Co. F,
Lyman Center.
John Harking July 12, 1861.
John McCabe.
Reuben K. Tborne.
Jlmtereii Aug. 24, 1861, 3 year«,
18tA Reg., Co. F :
Tinothy Collins, Corp.
Fred. G. Cruden, corp.
.Uiiffereii July 27, 1863, three yean,
19(A Ref^iment, Co. (J.-
George Wood.
Mustered Aug. 28, 1861, Co. 1,
Martin Bradbum, wag.
Edward A. Bullock.
Mustered Sept. 13, 1861, Co. K,
Frank A. Nowell.
Richard Harpin, Feb. 17, 1864.
Wm. Allen, Feb. 17, 1864, un-
aaslgned.
George Davis.
George Wilson.
Dennis McNamaia, Aug. 20, 1861,
unasBigned.
Mmt^red July, 13, 1864, three yeart,
2ntk /Zegiment, Co I:
John Foley.
Muttered Aug. 27, 1863, three yeart,
22d Regiment :
Edwin C. Bennett, rapt.
Patrick Barry, Jane 27, 1864, Co.
C.
Patrick McHugh, Sept. 6, 1861,
Co I.
John Murphy, July 6, ISM.
Muttered Oct. 9, 1861, three yeart,
Tid Regiment, Co. A:
Fred. A. Gallethy.
Jonas L. Whitney.
Timothy Stanly, Oct. 29, 1861, Co.
B.
Rufus King, miis , Oct. 18, 1861,
Co. F.
(rrin M. Bennett, corp.. Nov. 5,
1861, Co. H.
Fletcher K. Nelson, Oct. .5, 1861.
Miutered Nm. 18, 1861, three ytart,
2Uh Regiment, Co. D;
George W. Ayera.
Muttered April 26, 18G4. three yiari,
261* Regimeut, Co E:
Samuel F. Teel.
Patrick Sheriden. Jan. 3, 1864, Co.
H.
Muttered May 23. 1864, three yean,
ZSth Regiment :
Martin BInney, lat It.
Dennis Day, Dec. 13, 1861, Co. A.
Timothy Lyons, Jan. 2, 1864, Co.
C.
Dennis W. Johnson, Dec. 28,
1863, Co. D.
Jamee LawBOn, March 14, 1864.
Richard Sballey, Jan. 24, 1862.
John Gormley, Dec. 13, 1861, Co.
E.
Peter Tehen, Jan. 2, 1864, Co. I.
Edward Carmien, March 21, 1S64,
onaasigned.
Miutirtd May 14, 1861, three yean,
201A Regimenl:
Tbomaa Hayes.
Dela H. King, Jan. 2, 1864, Co. F.
Thomas Bond, Ang. 31, 1864, an-
aasigned.
Muttered Jait. 2, 1864, three yean,
30lh Regiment, Co. A :
Charles Man, corp.
John Battles, Dm. 13, 1881, Co, B.
770
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
The following enlisted for one hundred days, and
were mustered into the service July 25, 1864, in Co.
B, 5th Regiment:
Joho N. Coffin, capt.
Charles T. Robioson, >8t It.
GmnTilIo W. Daaiela, 2d It.
George W. Burroaglis, 1st egt.
Wm. E. DtnkBon, egt.
Charles E. Hobbs, sgt.
Philip O. Woodberry, egt,
Edward H. Aikeo, corp.
Jtibez P. Delt, corp.
George H. Uate, corp,
Fred. W. Johosun, corp.
Frank Walburg, mua.
Alviu R. Bailey.
Wm. Buckmao.
Ileury F. Carter.
John W. Hatch.
Henry iIt^dM>u.
Fmnk .lames.
Henry Lovering.
James McCart.
Fmnk McDeniioit.
Wm. A. Melleu.
George B. Neis8.
Caleb A. Page.
Edward Peacock.
TbuniosS. Pratt.
Liitber H. Pregton.
George F. Bicker.
J. W. Robinson.
Wm. 0. Biitisell.
Samuel \1. Stevens.
Charles H. Tyler.
Frederick A. White.
3Iuttered hit'* the neivice for one
hundred datfi, July 'iU, IStU, tii
Co. D, i2d litginu^U:
James E. Merritt.
Jliutertd Noo. in, lijGl, Ihrte ijeuit,
Sid litgitnenl:
Joseph Austin, Ist It.
John A. Nonta, Nut. 27, l^'jl,
Co. C.
Wm. U. Norris, Oct. 31, 18(U.
Juiues Donahoe, July 0, l8t>2, Co.
G.
John Murphy, July <i, 1864, Co. 31.
.1f»«/«r«d June 7, ISC^, lhi(€ yean
39£/» lie^meiU :
Fred. U. Kinsly, col.
MolvlUaC. Parkhuntt, capt., June
7, 1866.
Joseph Giles, lat It., Aug. 14, 1862.
Willard C. Kinsly, 1st It., Nov. 13,
1862.
John U. Denault, Ist It., Sept. 8^
1864.
Edwiu Mills, 2d It., Jan. », 18G4.
George A- Bodge, '.!d It., April 3,
18tl5.
Edwin Wells, sgt.-maj., Aue. 12,
1863.
Elkanah <'roeby, egt.
John Kenneily, sgt.
George Myere, sgt.
Wm. D. Palmer, sgt.
Wm. H. Thomas, sgt.
George Vande Sarts, sgt.
Wm. M. Carr, corp.
Willard C. Fairchild, corp.
Fred. A. Glioee, corp.
David Gorham, corp.
John £. Hortoo, corp.
Leslie Stevens, corp.
Daniel Orowley, mus.
Jauiea II. Newell, mus.
Jease B. Abbott.
James M. Allen.
Wm. J. Arnold.
Wm. A. Baker.
Charles II. Beldiug.
August Beutz.
James Rertcher.
John T. Bolton.
Will. F. Boyntou.
George W, Wren.
Davis P. Buckoian.
John Byrnes.
John B. c'anfield.
Giistavus A. Clark.
AmbtX'se W, Coles.
Chau'ller il. Cole.
Herbert Cidlett.
Thomas Count- r.
<<eorge Cutter.
.Vmos K. DhvIs.
Albert H. Dodge.
Wm H. Dodge.
JiMiutliua C. Dyer.
Charles K. Edlepsou.
Samuel Einerson.
George A. Furrar.
Walter Fay.
Charles C. Ffllows.
Samuel o. Felk^r.
Charles K. Fitcham.
John E. Fntlei.
Elijah H. Gilcreaae.
Dexter Gray.
Kdward L. Grant.
Wm. K. (;. Graham.
Eugene B. Hndley.
Edward M. Hale.
John Halfurd.
John U. ilanley.
George R. Harlow.
Wni. M. Harburn.
George U, Hatch.
George A. Hills.
Patrick D. Hogan.
Patrick Horgan.
Henry E. Howe,
Richard J. Hyde.
Thomas L. Hyde.
Charles Q. Jouea,
Thomaa Kelley,
David Kendrick.
E. F. Kenneston.
John F. Locke.
Washington Lovett.
John McCarthy.
Alexander McGurdy.
Samuel McJnnkena.
George McNall.
John McQuade.
James H. MerretU
John S. Merrett.
John Moran.
George A. Northy.
Thomas O'Brien.
Henry O'Neil.
rohn O'Sulllvao.
^Vm. Odiome,
JnmeR McNay, Co. B.
Daniel Cooper, May 19, 1864, Co.
F.
John McMullin, Jan. 12. lKr.4.
Mustered Mar. 4, ISlU, three yetin^
hlth Ix'tgimetit. Co. G :
BTichael Cat>huian.
,\uilrow Fogerty.
Wm. Hyde.
Mustered J-ni. 14, IS64, three yearn
W.Wi Reginwnt, Co. C:
George King.
Auilrew Graham, Feb. fi, lSti4.
Juseph W. Martin.
Henry U. Hill, Jan. 4, 18f.4. Co.
E.
Win. Hnwarth.
John .M. Lovett.
George Shneidi.
Jolin Creamer, Mar. 12, 1864, Co.
H.
Wm. H. M. Calvert. April 2, IS84,
Co. I.
Francis J, Oliver. '
Judson J. Oliver.
Jeremiah T. Paine.
Gideon W. Perry.
Henry W. Pinkam.
Robert Powers.
John S. Roberts.
Sumner P. Rollins.
Henry Shaw.
John B. Shaw.
John Shcehan,
Addison Smith.
Hernuin C. Stickuey.
Frank W, Thompson.
.luseph W, Whctmore.
William C. Wilkutt.
Mttntered Sep. 3, 1SC2, three years,
■H)lU lUyimeul :
Chnrleti H. Gooding, IstF^gt.
^[n$te^ed ^[ar. 4, I8f,4, Ihiee *jtur$,
^*'>lh Regiment :
EdwKrd F. Littleficld, Ut It.
.lames A. Littlefield, Ut It.
James R. French, Dec. 26, |Sti3, Mustered Feb. lf\ \ii(}4^ Kej. Anmj :
Co. A. Joseph Hiile.
In the early days of the town its meetings were
held either in the Medford Street School-house or in
the engine-hou.se on the corner of Prospect and
\V:iahington Streets. When the Unitarian Church
was completed its vestry wius used for a lime, but
ailer the erection of che High School-house which was
founded in IS52, town-meetings were held in its lower
hall until the Forster School building was erected in
1807, when the large hall in the upper story was fit-
ted for a town hall and used by the town until the
incorporation of the city in 1S71.
On tlie od of May, ISGO, an act was passed by the
General Court authorizing Charlestowii to supply the
town of Somerville with water, and on the 14th of
Jlay, 1868, another act was passed authorizing
Somerville and Chariestown to lay pipes for the sup-
ply of water. Before that time the main reliance of
the town had been in wells. A contract was made
with the Chariestown authorities for a supply of
water, provided their present supply was more than
sufficient for Chariestown and Chelsea, at the rates
charged to the inhabitants of those cities, with a re-
bate to the town. The sum of $100,000 was raised
for the purpose of carrying out the enterprise, and the
town at once received the necessary supply. In 1870
under a subsequent act of the General Court, the town
was authorized to raise an additional sum of 5^100,000
and afterwards a third amount was raised, making the
sum total of water h)an $400,000. The town is now
supplied with Mystic water by the city of Boston
through pipes, and a water tower for high service of
its own. Boston collects the water rents and returns
to the city of Somerville tifty per cent, of the same.
The expenditure for high service was authorized by
the Legislature May 21, 1889. Tne pumping station
and tower intended for the high service alone can
furnish a supply of two million of gallons in twenty-
four hoars. A small part of Somerville near the
Cambridge line is supplied with water from Cam-
SOMERVILLE.
bridge, but the Somerville Water Board in their Re-
port for the year 1880 advise that 7051 feet of pipe
laid by the Cambridge Company, and supplying
about two hundred and fifty houses, be replaced by
the Somerville pipes; so that the supply of the
whole town shall be exclusively their own.
On the 31st of March, 1860, the town of Somer-
ville was authorized to lay sewers. The system is now
progressing rapidly towards completion, and during
the last year nearly twelve thousand feet have been
laid. During the same year the cost of construction
and maintenance was ?1(),968.B4.
On the 29th of April, 1871, the town of Som-
erville appointed a committee to prepare a set of
by-laws for the organization of a Public Library.
Trustees were chosen October 21, 1872, and on
the 14th of November met and organized. The
trustees were John P. Marshall, Quincy A. Vinal,
Charles O. Pope, Charles H. Guild, Charles Lowe
and Samuel A. Carlton. Isaac Putnam was chosen
librarian and the library was opened in a room in
City Hall in May, 1879, with 2386 volumes.
The present elegant and commodious Library
Buildiug on Prospect Hill was finished in 1885, and
dedicated in the Unitarian Church on the 29th of
September in that year. Mark F. Burns presided,
and the principal address was delivered by Justin
Winsor, the librarian of Harvard University. Short
addresses were also made by Rev. George W. Durell,
Rev. John S. Thomson and George A. Bruce. The
library contained at the close of 1889, 17,045 volumes,
of which 1162 were added during the year. The
available revenues for the same year were an appro-
priation of .$.3000. Receipts from dog licenses al-
lowed by the town, $2382.90 ; fines, $293.76 ; receipts
from catalogues, #44.05 ; payments for books, Sl.'ij.^O,
making a total of $5736.21. The expenses were:
Salaries. §1874.88 ; book.s, $2520.81 ; [irintiug and sta-
tionery, $406.67 ; binding, $146.95; newspapers, $12 ;
gas, $182.01 ; fuel, $233.05 ; water, $29 ; repairs, $382.83 ;
labor, $121.15; express, $41.15; incidentals, $48.66;
insurance, $142.50, making a total of $6151.66.
In 1868 two petitions were presented to the Gener-
al Court for a division of the town, but the petitioners
receiveil leave to withdraw. In that year also, under
the direction of the selectmen, a census was taken
which showed a population of 12,535. In 1869 a
movement was made looking towards annexation with
Charlestown and Boston, and the representatives to
the General Court from Somerville were instructed
to vote for it. The movement, however, failed, and
from that time until 1871 the popular feeling grew
in favor of a city charter. In that year a petition
was presented to the Legislature, and on the I4th of
April, 1871, the act was passed.
On the 7th of December, 1871, the selectmen met
and counted and declared the vote for city and ward
officers. For Ward One, Ansel Lewis was chosen
warden, and M. B. Stebbius clerk ; for Ward Two,
Robert A. Vinal, warden, and Samuel S. Sias, clerk ;
Ward Three, Samuel M. Pennock, warden, and Forest
G. Hawes, clerk ; Ward Four, Lebbeus Stetson, war-
den, and George W. Pratt, clerk. George O. Barstow
was chosen mayor, and the following aldermen and
Common Council :
Aldermen.
Wm. H. Farber
Osrk Bennett
George W. Hadlejr
John R. Poor
riiarlea G. Pope
E. .\. Curtis
John T. BoltoD
Walters. Barnes
r. E. Bj-rnea
Michael Deeban
i>i-eo S. Knapp
George W. Wyatt
I Daniel G. Chase
I Jacob T. Glines
Pereon Davia
I John G. Hall
Council.
Albert KennesoD
Thomas H. Lord
Wesly C. Crane
E. D. Conant
Patrick Bafferty
Stewart French
H. F. Woods
Natb'. Morrisoo
The following persons have served as mayors of the
city since 1872, in the years set against their names :
1872-73, George 0. Braatow ; 1374-75, Win. H. Furber ; 1876-77,
Anetin Belknap ; 1878-80, George A. Bruce ; 1881-84, John A. Cum-
niings ; 1886-88, Mark F. Burna ; 1889-tH), Charles G. Pope.
At the ceremonies attending the inauguration of
the city government January 1, 1871, the meeting
was called to order by August Belknap, chairman of
the Board of Selectmen, and a prayer was offered by
Rev. Henry F. Barber. Hon. George O. Brastow
then delivered his inaugural address. George Oliver
Brastow was born in Wrentham, September 8, 1811.
After a few years' residence in Maine he removed to
Somerville and engaged actively in business. In
1845 he was a selectman, from 1844 to 1862 on the
School Committee, Representative in 1849-51 and
1862, a member of the Senate in 1854, 1866-69, and
President of the Senate in 1868 and again in 1869
after the resignation of Robert C. Pitman on his ap-
pointment to the bench of the Superior Court. His
connection with the Somerville Light Infantry and
his service in the war have been already men-
tioned. After his return from the war he was for a
time a paymaster in the army, and in 1874-76 he was
a member of the Executive Council. He died No-
vember 23, 1878.
Address of Matos Brastow, Jan. 1, 1872.
" GciilUmea nf Ute rity OniitcU .—la entering upon the duties assigned
me by the very flattering Tote of my felloWH:itizeliS, the first impals«
of my heart is to expreas my thanks for the honor which their confi-
dence confers and to acknowledge my full appreciation of the reaponsi'
bility which it imposes upon me. The change from a town to a city form
of government was regarded by the wise and good men who established
our StAte, .18 of anibcient importance to be recognized and prorided for
in the Constitution of the Commonwealth.
" Kor about two centuriea after the settlemantof the Colony the people
of Maaaachiiselta adhered without change to the town ayatem of local
government. In small communities the town organization ia the most
desirable and the beat, because it is the most simple and the most demo-
rratic. It brings the people frequently together to consider and discuss
all matters pertaining to their municipal welfare, and by them all such
busineas is transacted in the town-meeting. But where a town has In-
creased in population beyond a certain limit, and Its rarions public needs
becomemore and more weighty and preasiDg, it is impoaible for the peg-
772
HISTOKY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
pie in the crowded town-meetiDg to give to all the queetioDS which
arise that careful deliberatioD which their importance demaodB ; con-
sequenttj a delegated or city form of govemmeat becomes a necessity.
The real differeoce Id Lbe two forms of goremmeDt ie jnet tUie: In the
town the people act directly for themselves in ' open town-meeting,'
in the city the people elect certain officers to act for them. This change
is entirely optional with the people tbemeelves. No town can become a
city uolesB its citizens desire the change.
" The city charter of Soinerville, granted by the last Legislature, has
been voted upon and legally accepted, and a city form of government
adopted by the people; and to us, the City Council, tbey have delegated
the public affairs of our new city. The Board of Aldermen and the
Common Council, in the exercise of their various duties, hold to the City
Government similar relative powers which the Senate and the House of
Representatives do to the State Government ; the upper branch being
considered the conservative and the lower branch the popular body.
" Each brunch in its action has a check upou the other ; and this fea-
ture, and the fact (hat every measure mUst pass through several stages ot
conEideration before it is finally adopted, is a peculiarity of a city form
of government as compared with that of a town, and furnishes ample
security against hasty and inconsiderate action.
" I'pou us is iai[K>sed a great tru?»t, and a weighty refiponsibility — to
us the welfare of our beautiful and rapidly-growing city is confided.
" It is well that a divine blessing has been invoked for the future
welfare of oar city, and it was fitting that a thank offering was rendered
for the past prosperity of our town.
" I congratulate you and 1 congratulate our fellow-ritizeiiB that this
change in our municipal government, which Ih the most important
event in our history, is made under circumstancee so promising and so
encouraging.
"The present debt of the town, including the water bon<ls, is five
hundred and niuoty-three t'lousanil three hundred and forty-mne dol-
lars, and the last araessed VHluation of its public projierty is six huntlred
and sixty thousand dollars.
"The growth and increase in population and taxable property lu
Somerville, and her progreHS in all that tends to improve and elevate a
community, have been constant and rapid, from its incorporation as a
town in 1842 to the present time. Its beginning was small and bumble,
and the contrast between its then 'day of small things ' and its present vig-
orous population Is most Htriking. At the time of Its incorporation the pop-
ulation of the town was only ten hundred and thirteen ; to-day our
population is fully sixteen thousand. In lft42 the aaseased value of tax-
able property of the town was nine hundred and eighty eight thousand
five hundred and thirteen dollars. In 1871 it was fifteen million seven
hundred and seventy-five lliousaod dollars. The whole amount of money
raised by taxation in 1842 was tour thousand seven hundred and fifty-
dollars ; in If^Tl the amount was two hundred and nixty thotmand four
hundred and sixty dollars and ninety-five cents. In 1842 there were
hut four schools find four teachem m Somerville ; to-day there are fifty
two schools and sixty-five teachers. The whole amount appropriated
for the support nf Bchools io 1842 was eighteen hundred dollars; the
amount appropriated the last year for the same purpose was fifty-nine
thousand four hundred dollars. When incorporated as a town, and
for two yean subsequent thereto, there waa not a church edifice within
our corporate limits, nor did there exist a religious society distinct from
former parish connections ; to^lay there are eleven church edifices, with as
many distinct organized religious societies. It will be seen from this brief
enumeration that our public schools hare been one of our most popular
and cherished institutions, and always in advance of our progress in
wealth and population. They have ever stood high on (he public rec-
ord ; and for several years Somerville has ranked number one in the
whole list of towns and cities lu the Commonwealth, judged by the
amouut of money appropriated for t'ach scholar. That the high charnc-
Hcter of our schools has contributed much toward the rapid and vigorous
growth of our towu there can be no doubt. They were never as a whole
in a more satisfactory condition than at the present time; and I ven-
ture but little when I pledge, in the name of myself and my associates,
that they shall not t>e permitted to recede from their present high posi-
tion from any lack of judicious fostering care on the partof the new
City Government.
"The removal within a few daysof the scholars of the High School from
the building occupied by them in past years to the new and elegant edifice
jQst being completed, will leave the old High School building unoccupied
and subject to such use as you may direct. I respectfully recommend that it
be set apart for a City Hall, and used for the purposes of the City Gor-
emment. With few alterations and small expense it can be made to af-
ford ample and convenient accoramodutiona for all our wants for several
years to come. If this recommendation meets the approval of the City
fi'ouncil, I would suggest that the neci-s^ary alterations be at once made ;
and that they iorlude a thoroughly fire-proof vault, sufticieiitly large for
the safe-keeping of the town aawellascity records, tlie preservation
of which must forever be of incalcuable importance.
"The proper care of our streets ehould. and, I have no doubt, will, re-
ceive that attention at your hands which their imp'^rtance demands. At
the present time they are generally in better condition thun usual ; es-
pecially is this the fact in regard to the main thoroughfares. In u city
Duiking such rapid growth as ours, and where individual interests and
enterprise are constantly opening uew stiefts, the question of accepting
and maintaining them by the city is one of daily increaisin^ importance,
and will require the exercise of our best judgment, in order that the
iuterests of the city, and of individual citizens, may be alike properly
regarded. In this connection, I would recommend that a careful alteu-
tion be given to (he provisiuus •}( (he betterment act, which liavf so
much importance and such salutary bearing upun the (|uestiou of laying
out new B(ree(s and the altering of uM ones ; as they have, ulso. in re-
gard to drainage and the cont.(ructiou "f ^ewers. These two subjects
are so intimately connected that it is Imrdly possible — nor is it desirable
— to B«parate them. With bo much presenting itoelf which rr<|uires
early attention, and while stt little can be uccomplir)hed in one year, it
is impossible but that individuaU must be more or le*s annoyed by tem-
porary delays ; and there will be much less difficulty iu deciding what
ought to be done than in 'letermining what ' au best be deferred for a
brief season. When nud where reasonably practicable, without iuip«»s-
ing too heavy taxation upon th«* people, the want of public iniprnvenieiit
aurely ought not to re(nnl private euifn'fW '• "*" should the wnitin;;
patience of individuals be nnreasoualily taxed. I tiusttliitf byionsiaiK
vigilunce on your part, by reasonably liberal appr^'priiitions of money,
Judiciously and prudently expended, the work of puhlir iuiprnventent
will be sure and constant, and the past Impes iind c\pe*i:itii'n!!i of our
citizens be fully realized.
" Closely toniiecte<i with tb** matter <>f siret^ls and tiighways are the
street railroads, which pass through our niuiULipal tboruughfiires. They
were originally cou8truc(ed wKh the T rail on the siile of the street.' ;
but having, in (he judgment uf the citizens, become prai tically the
cause of too much inconvenieme, they were hist summer removed from
Milk, Washington and JClm Streetb, iind new tracks were constmcled in
the centre of the streets, with tlat rails, ami thorouglily pave<l. This
change has proved beneficial and satisfactory to our people. The sam**
• Iiauge should be made on Broadway, and I recimuieud the application
of all proper iiieHUS for its speedy accomplisbmeiii. Iu tbf nifttter of
common sewers, it in your duty to carry out what has t-een begun, and
of perfecting the present HVHtem. A ronsiderable extent of gewenige has
been constructed, and, so far as I know, tho plan has l)een prop*^ and
the work well done. Vou will judge whether any improvemcn( "an be
made upon the existing plan, and if so you will aiinpt theni.
"Our Fire Department is, .is it has been for many years, in a most
efficient and satisfactory condition, and is repink-d by our people with
feelings of just and honest pride, uot only for the services it lias n.-ii-
dered, but for (he manly conduct and beuring of its olhcers and men.
For the toils, hardships and dangem which firemen fncounter, tlM-ir
greatest reward, next to an approving conscience, is in the knowlfdge
that their labore are properly appreciated by their fellow-citizens ; and
in both these respects 1 am sure the Somerville firemen have been richly
rewarded. The proi»er maintenance and encoaragemeiU of this indis-
pensible organization is iu our keeping.
"The comfort and convenience of a largo proportion of our people have
been much enhanced by the intrinluctiou of Mystic water. .More than
twenty-eiglit miles of p>|»d are laid in our streela, with one bnudrod and
forty-six hydrants connected therewith and judiciously distnbuteil over
our territory. The former appropnatlon for the water works has been
expended, and thereitponsibility of their furiber extension, nud uf iiiakutg
the requisite appropriation therefor, (ie\olve8 upon you.
"The Police Department of Somerville has increased in nninbers and
efficiency with an increase in population ;ind wealth, until it has become
of great interest and importance. In my judgment the forrn is well
organized and the members generally are vigilant and faithful to their
trust. In every largecommunity a well-organized police is indispensable
for the protection of persons and property, and f.ir tho mainli-naoce of
good order; and although strong by being clotln-d with the authority of
law, ita usefulness and efficiency depend upon the personal character
and manly deportment Of its individual members, and upon the moial
SOMERVILLE.
773
support aod sympathy of the citizeEia, of wbo8« lires and property they
are the coDstant protectors and guardlanfl.
" Upon the Uealtb Department redta a great redpooBihility. It is
chaigtd with duties which immediately affect the comfort and well-being
of every citizen. Intimately connected with this department is a matter
uf Kf^ac importance, and one which demands judicious consideration
Hud efficient action. I allude to the nuisance in Milltr's River, caused
by an accumulation of filth which covers a large area uf flats which are
bare at low water. The data are partly in Somerrille and partly in
Cambridge, the river being the boundary line between the two cities for
a coosiderabie distance, and both are equally responsible for the
nuisance. During 'the heated term* uf last summer, wheu the tide
WAS out, the stench from the flats was moat offensire. The selectmen
uf Somerrille and the City Government of Cambridge sought by united and
harmonious action to improve the condition of this locality. The aid of
tbe State Board of Health was sought and utringent rules were adopted
fur the preventHlion of further corruption of the water ; but in the judg-
ment of the authorities of Cambridge aud Somerville and of the State
Board of Healtb, nothing short of the tilling tbe flats with sand or
gravel could cure tbe existing evil, and :)uch filling caunot be under-
taken without permifiBlon from tbe Legislature. I know you will
heartily unite with the authorities uf Cambridge io procuring tbe
needed legislation, and In devisiug the best and most speedy mode fur
abating the nuisance, and thereby recloiminga luige extent ot worthless
territory to valuable building land. The improvement contemplated
embi-aces the construction by tbe two cities of a large box sewer of
siirtlcient size to conduct off all the water of tbe stream, and to serve the
purpose for drainage for quite au extent of both localities.
" With the requisite legislation eranted, it is, hoped and expected that
the several owners uf tbe ttuts will at once enter upon the work uf fill-
ing, and that without any reasonable delay this great improvement will
be accoitiplislied. Of course it will take time to complete the improve-
nientd, and the people, realizing and acknowledging the fact that tbe
wui'k of a, year cannot be accomplished in a day, must endeavor for a
while to cultivate the virtue of patience.
"The services of the B<,ianl uf Overseers of the Poor, which in the
early liistor>' of our town were hardly reijuired, are now and have been
uf laie years of much importance iu relieving the wants of the destitute
and needy. The peiqde uill require uf their servants that this class be
kindly cared fur ; that necessary aid be cheerfully, not grudgingly
bestowed ; that none among us shall aiilfer from want of the necessaries
uf life, »n>l that no child be kept from school for want of proper cloth
ing. The Board of Soldiers' Relief have a most sacred duty to preform.
The sick and needy of <'ur returned soldiers who endured hardships and
priviiiiona, and i^riled their lives for the preservation of our National
tiijvei'iimeut. .ire worthy obiects of our lavur and solicitude. The peo-
ple uf :^omerville who iu the time uf their country's need exhibited su
iiuich liberality in encouraging enlistments, and in care aud providing
fur the wants and comforts of her men in the 6eld, and their fantities at
home, will nevtr consent that one of tbem shall suffer from want, or that
he or any one uf his family ^hall ever be classeil or treated lis a pauper ;
and especially will they require that the families of our fallen heroes
shall be regarded with the most tender care. If the occasion per-
mitted I would gladly eay more in regard to tbe part uhich our peo-
ple toulc in promoting enlisluients and furnishing volunteers for the
war; but a single statement of G^en. William Schouler in the second
volume of his must valuable * History of Mnssacbusetts in the Civil
War' mustsuftice. After speaking of thegreat liberality of onr peo-
ple, butb nieii iiiid women, he says, 'Somerville furnished eleven hun-
dred aud thin > -five men for the war, which was a surplus of one hundred
and forty-*«even over and above all demands.' That statement stands as
the iiroud record of our town, when its population was much teas than
at present, and that record wilt forever stand as enduring proof of tbe
patriotism and liberality of its people, who, by their devotion to the
public welfare, have in tbe years that have passed been steadily laying
the sure foundation of our city, which is destined at no distant day to
rank favorably among the older cities of our Commonwealth.
"Gentlemen of the retiring Board of Selectmen: I cannot let tbe occa-
sion of entering upon my term uf official service pass, without expressing
to you my appreciation of the magnitude and importance of your pub-
lic duties during the past year; and also my high appreciation of the
fidelity with which tboae duties have been discharged. In thus express-
ing to you my own judgment, and my own feelings, I am sure I am but
giving utterance to the sentiments of all onr citizens who have bad op-
portunity to know and judge of your nflScial action. The faithful man-
ner in which the duties of a long line of town etScers have always been
performed, has been most creditable to them, and most satisfactory to an
appreciatlTe public ; and I congratulate you that in retiring from public
service, you carry with you the confidence, tbe esteem and the best
wishes of our entire community.
" Gentlemen of the City Council : The people of Somerrille, always con-
fiding and liberal, are ever watchful and exacting in regard to all mat-
ters pertaining to the public good; and while they will justify liberal
appropriations for the welfare of the city, they will exact of its govern-
ment zealous daTction to its various duties, and a judicious economy in
the expenditure of tbe public money. Let us see to it that no duty be
neglected, and that not a dollar be wasted."
Allusion has already beea made to the small pop-
ulation of Somerville, the meagre number of its
school children and the few schools maintained for
their education at the time of the incorporation of
the town in 1842. Aft«r that date it became not only
necessary to improve schools already existing, but to
add new ones to meet the rapidly increasing wants of
pupils. After the schools of low grade had been pro-
vided for, it was voted in the spring of 1851 to estab-
lish a High School. The building now occupied as
a city hall was first erected for the school. It was
designed to accommodate one hundred scholars,
and was dedicated on the 28th of April, 1852.
It opened with sixty scholars, and Robert Beckfcrd
with an assistant had charge. From 1854 to 1858 two
assistants were employed. The old building being soon
outgrown, the present building on Prospect Hill was
erected in 1871, and dedicated February 27, 1872. Since
Mr. Beckford left the school it has been under the
management of H. H.Babcock and George L. Baxter.
In May, 1889, the number of children in the town be-
tween the ages of five and fifteen was 6155, for whom
during the last year, one hundred and sixteen schools
were provided, under the care of one hundred and
thirty-five teachers. The following is a list of the
school-houses in that year with the date of their erec-
tion and number of teachers. Most of these houses,
it will be understood, accommodate more than one
school :
Buildings. Erection. Tchn. Buildings. Erection. Tchrs.
High 1871 10 Cedar Street Ift43 1
Prescott 1S»»7 12 Morse 18G9 9
Edgerly 1871 8 Beech Street 1872 1
Davis 1884 4 Spring Hill IS50 1
Luther V. Bell . . . 1874 18 FrankUn 1846 4
Prospect Hill 1848 8 Harvard 1861 1
Cummings 18ft4 4 Burns 1886 4
Brastow 1861 2 Highland 1880 9
Bennett 1868 4 Lincoln 1S85 4
Jackson 1861 4 Elm Street ^
Webster 1868 8 Music I
I nion . 1842 I Drawing 1
Fonrter 1866 14 Sewing . 1
Bingham 1886 i
The amount expended for the support of schools
in 1899 was, For school contingent, $20,556; fuel,
$6,049.90 ; school-house incidentals, $14,225.38 ; sala-
ries, $9365.49, making a total of $133,896.77. Be-
sides these amounts the sum of $25,000 was appropri-
ated for school-house in Ward 2, of which $14,727.14
was expended, and the sum of $25,000 was appropri-
ated for addition to the Morse School-house, of which
$5439.88 was expended. Beside the above schools
774
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
there were the St. Joseph's Parochial School, under
the care of Sister Mary Gertrude and eleven assistants,
and the Kindergarten School on Somerville Avenue,
conducted by Alice L. Warren and Sarah E. Kilmer.
The following is a complete list of expenditures of
the city in 1889 for various departments :
Fire Department, $40,016.71 ; Health Department,
$5226.54; Highways, $51,358.95; Indigent Soldiers
and Sailors, $1500; Interest, $45,824.16; Miscellan-
eous, $9373.25; Police, $41,241.08 j Public Library,
$6151.66; Public Grounds, $9109.58; Printing and
SUtionery, $5189.11 ; Reduction of Funded Debt,
$38,000; Salaries, $25,494.91; Schools, $133,896.77 ;
Sewers, $15,716.07; Sidewalks, $8,654.89; Street
Lights, $16,986.17; Support of Poor, $14,010.92 ; Wa-
tering StreeU, $9228.28; Water Maintenance, $10,-
542.35 ; County Tax, $21,367.03 ; State Tax, $27,560 ;
Overlay, $6997.37 ; School-house in Ward 2, $14,727.-
14 ; Addition to Morse School-house, $5439.88 ; Wa-
ter Works Extension, $82,279.26. The value of the
property of the city is estimated at $1,287,023.44. The
funded debt, December 31, 1889, was $952,r)O0. and
at the same date the valuation was $30,004,600.
The following societies and institutions are in ex-
istence in Somerville at the present time:
Somerrjlle SavingB Baok, locorporated Febrnary il, 1S85.
Somerville Co-oiterative Bank.
John Abbot Lodge of MaaoDs, cbartereU September 8, 1858.
Soley Lodge ufMaiWDH, cbartered April '2, ls79.
Somerville R. A. Chapter, chartered October 10, 1871.
Orient Council of Iloyal and Select Manteni, eatabliehed Jan. 2C, 1889.
OaaiB Lodge of Odd Fellowa, instituted September 17, I8t;8.
Paul Revere Ludge, Instituted March IS, lH7».
Caleb Rand Lmlge, iuslltuted Mny 2.1, 1883.
Somerville Eacanipment, No. 48.
Grand Canton Wadhington, No. R, P. M., Institnteil May 9, 1883.
Component, So. Iti.
Component, No. 17.
Erminie Lodge, No. TH, Danghtera of Rebekab ; Ivaolioe Lodge, No. 7,
instituted January 28, 1870.
Odd Fellows' Building Aaeociation, incorporated June 4, 1884.
Anicricuu Legiou of Honor, Prospect Council, No. lU.
Ancient Order of Furesters.
Ancient Order of Hibernians, Divieion Nu, H, Inatitnted 187n ; Diviaion,
No. 17, instituted 1872. ,
Ancient Order of United Workmen, Somerville Lodge, No. 48.
Britiah American .\ieoriation, Branch No. 10, orgaiii/ed Octuber, 1S87 ;
Branch No. 53.
Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, Local Union No. 24, organized
July 16. 1888,
Equitable Aid Union, Mystic Union, No. 703, Instituted March 9, ISSh;
Somerville Subordinate Union, instituted May 23, 1889.
Willard C. Kinsley Poet I.''.9, G. A. R.
Sons of Veterans, Henry B. LeightonCamp, IG.
Woman's Relief Corps, Willard C. Kinsley, No. 21.
Somerville Fife, Drum and Bugle Corps.
Home Circle — Harmony Council, No. 43, ins. March 3, 1832; Irving
Council, No. 44, ins. March 23. 1882 ; Somerville Council, No. 1i>3 ;
Washington Council. No. 9, ins. February, 1880.
Knightaand Ladies of Honor. Evening Star Lodge, No. 792.
I. 0. of Red Men, Webcowet Tribe, No. G6 ; Wonoba<|uabam Tribe,
No. 69.
Knighta of Honor, Warren Lodge. No. 182, instituted November. 1875 ;
Mt. Benedict Lodge, No. 872, instituted January, 1878 ; Cameron
Lodge, No. 1146, instituted July 2, 1878; Winter Hill Lodge, No. 423.
Knights of Labor, Assembly No. 2619 ; Emeet Assembly.
Knights of Pythias, Franklin Lodge, No. 41, instituted May 23, 1870.
L. O. L.. Mount Horeb Lodge, No. 19, organized April 18, 1871.
Order of tha Iron Hall.Xocai Branch, No. 257, org. Nov. 11, 1886 ; Lo-
cal Branch, No. 314 ; Local Branch, No. 430 ; Local Branch, No. 885.
org. f>ct. 15, 1888 ; Sisterhood Branch, No. 59f., org. Nov. 12, 1887;
Sisterhood Branch, No. S66, org. October, 1388.
Mass. Catholic Order of Foresters, Count Benedict, No. 39.
New England Order of Protection. Prospect Lodge, No. 71 ; Warren
Lodge. No. 26.
riasterers' Union of Cambridge and Somerville.
Royal Arcanum, Elm C'Ouncil, No. 36, instituted Dec. 5, 1877.
Company M, 8th Regiment, M. V. M.
RoyalSociety of Good Fellows, Mt. Benedict ^Aasembly, No. 119, ins.
Oct. 25, 1887 ; Prospect Assembly, Ni». 73 ; Somerville Assembly, No.
22, org. July 1, 1S86.
Royal CuncUve of Kuigbls and Ladies, Charles E. Oilman Council, No.
24; John A. Cnramlnga Council, No. 13; Mystic Council, No. 14 ;
Provident Council, No. 7.
Women's Christian Temperance Union— E;i!*t Somerville, Union Sijnare,
West Somerville, Winter Hill.
Vnung Women'sChrietian Temi»erauce Union.
St. Joseph's Total Abstinence uud Benevolent .<oiiety, org. Dec. 14, 1873.
United Fellowship, Reliance Council, No. 55.
Order ol United Friends, Revere t'^nncil. No. 235; liniuii Square Coun-
cil, No. 2o2 ; Excelsior Council, No. 3 ; Somerville f.'ouncil, No. b ;
Unity Council, No. 59.
Golden Star Lodge, No. 82, L. 0. G. T.. org. 1331.
.Sons of Temiwrance, Kinsley Division, No. 38; Prospect Division, No
?9 : Prospect Section, No. 7, org. Is85; Fntnam Commandery, No
38, t'rg. 1838 ; Crystal Wave < umntandery. No. 2i>4.
Order of Touti, Somerville Lodge, No. ;:1t'>.
Tenders' Union.
U. O. of L. 0. L., Unity Lodge, N... 7. org. 1884.
United Order of Pilgrim Fathers, (. larundon Colony, No. 73 ; Delft
Haven Colouy, No. 27.
United <Jrder of the Golden Cross, Grand r'ommaudery of Mass.
.Vtlus Real Elstate .\H90cJatlou, orgunized Jan. 4, 1339.
('eutml Club, incorporateil Dec. 13, 1336.
Fireman's Charitable Association.
Uilluide Club, Winter Hill. org. Oct. 18, 1882.
McLean .\syluni.
uwl Club, organized June 14, I88u.
Royal Arcanum Social Club, Ea^celsior Council.
iUM Literary .\asociiitlon.
Somerville Chess Club.
3omer\ille Union Hall .\asociiilion, incorporated April 17, 1869.
Welxrowet Club.
Somerville Catholic Lyceum.
Somerville Cycle Club.
Somerville Improvement Society.
Somerville Vnung ^luu'd Christiim Ansot'lation.
Souierville Wharf uud Improvement Com|tauy, incorp. March 29, 18s0.
Firemen's Relief Aieociation, incorporated filurch 23, 1090.
Somerville High School Association.
Among the manufacturing establishments in the
town are the American Tube Works, organized in
1871, and having a capital of $300,000; the Eagle
Shade Roller Company, incorporated in 1881, with a
capital of $100,000 ; the Middlesex Bleachery, with a
capital of :?300,000, and the Union GIas.s Company,
organized in 1864, with a capital of $50,000. Among
other industries is the North Packing Company, with
their slaughtering establishment on Medford Street,
with a capacity of two thousand hogs per day.
The Somerville Police Court was established by an
Act of the Legislature, passed April 23, 1872. Its
officers are Isaac Story, justice, Charles G. Pope and
John Haskell Batten, special justices, and Herbert
A. Chapin, clerk.
The city government for the year 1890 is composed
of the following officers:
Mayor : Charles 0. Pope.
Aldekmen : Ward 1. Charles HemeDway, president, Charlei B. San-
boni.
./J^ •.^■.
/"
y/th^Hri'^/ft. J//nTZi
SOMERVILLB.
^75
Ward 2— George A. Kimball, Allen F. Carpenter.
Ward 3 — Ezra D. Souther, Alvano T. Nickerwn.
Ward 4— John W. Converse^ Albert W. Edmands, George I. Vincent,
clerk.
CuHHON Council; Ward 1 — Clarence H. Willey, Edwin A. Wilcox,
Edric Elbridge, George W. Pricliant
Ward 2— Charles S. Butters, L. Roger Wentworth, William J. Mc-
Lean, William M. Armstrong.
Ward 3 — Charles B. Osgood, president, William E. Pulsifer, William
L. Barber, Frank E. Dickemian.
Ward 4— Isaac K. Webber, William A. Hunnewell, Frank E. Merrill,
Newell F. Caswell, Charles 8. Robertson, clerk.
School Cohhittre ; Charles G. Pope, mayor ex officio, Charles B.
Osgood, president of Council ex officio.
Ward 1— a. Newton Cutler, term expires 1891 ; Horace C. White,
term expires 1892 ; Horace P. ilemeuway, term expires 1890.
Ward 2— A. U. Carvill, term expires 1891 ; James E. Beard, term ex-
pires 1802 ; Charles I. Shepard, term expires 1890.
Ward .3— Norman W, Biughani, term expires 189l; Quincy E. Dick-
emian, term expires 1»92 ; Willium P. Hill, term expires 1891».
Ward 4 — Giles W. Bryant, terra expires 1892 ; Martin W. Carr, term
expires 1890 ; .\ddie B. Upham, terra expires 1S91.
Superintendent of Schools and Secrrtary : Clarence E. 5Ieleny.
As-^Ea^ors ; Benjamin F. Thompson, term expires 1890 ; George W.
Hodley, term expires 1891 ; Hiram D.Smith, tenu expires 1892; Wm.
P. Slitchell. clerk.
A.-jsistant .\s.SESSuR:i: Ward 1 — tieorge W. Bartlett.
Ward 2— Daviil .\. Sanborn.
Ward 3— Edgar T. Mayliew.
Ward 4— t<aniuel T. Richards.
Bo\Ru OF Health: J. Frank Wt^jllogton, chairman, term expires
1891 ; .Mrah U. Dciirborn, term expires 1892; Charles B. Crane, term
expires 1892 ; UilllHiii P. Mitchell, clerk ; Caleb A. Page, inspector.
OVKHsEERS uF THE Po'iR : Charles G. Pope, mayor, chairman ex officio ;
Charles G. Brett, four yeure from 1889 ; Herbert E. Hill, four yean
from 1886 ; E.lvrard B. West, Daniel C. SllllsoD, Charles C. Tolson,
Hgeot ; Frank W. Ivaaii, secretary.
Watfk liiHEn: Ailiia C. WIdding, Walter (!. Mentzer, Samuel W.
Holt, Frank G. Lombard, Frank A.Titus, Nathaniel Dennett, suiierin-
tendent ; Frederick W. Stoue, secretary.
Reoistkars of V.tTFit.s: Cromwell G. Rowell, rhairman, Charles P.
Lincoln, William II. Hawes, George I. ViucenL,city i lerk.
TRUsTEFji OF LiBHAKV ; Geofge \. Bruce, term expires IS92; Williura
K. Weld, term expires l.s'.i;^ ; James E. Wliitaker, term expires 1893;
■liihii B. Veall, term expires \yXi ; Charles S. Lincoln, term expires
1891 ; ('hristophur E. Uynies, term expires 1891 ; Elijah C. ('lark, term
expires 1892 ; Henry Ftltner, term expires 1891 ; Charles H. Brown, term
expires 1892.'
Librarian ; Harriet .\. Adams.
City I'LERlt ; George .\. Vincent
City Treasurer anp Collei-tor: John F. Ctde.
MEfi.-^ENOEtt ; Joirus Mann,
Solicitor; Selwyn Z. Bowman.
AuuiToB ; Charles 3. Robertson.
K.suineer: Horace L. Eaton.
SUFERIMTENDENT..F STREETS: Thomas H. Raines.
Superintenoknt (tF BulLDiNOS AND LiQllTS ; Thomas R. Roulstone.
ClllEP OP Poi.HF. : MelTille C. Parkhurst.
Chief F.Ni;iNKER of Fire Departheht; James R. Hopkins.
Inspect-'R of BuiLPiNds: James R. Hopkins.
CiTV Pn^.^rciAN: .\lTah B.Dearborn.
Iksfeltok uf Mir.li and Vineuar: Thomas Cunningham.
There are three newspapers in the town, with job
printing offices attached — the Somerville Jowiial, the
Artisan, and the Sentinel.
On the 25th of March, 1874, Somerville was author-
ized by law to take land for a public park. Under
the authority conferred by this act, about sixteen
acres of the Temple, or Ten Hills farm, on the banks
of llystic River, have been taken and converted into
a park, which haa probably cost up to the present
time between three and four hundred thousand dol-
lars.
Besides the clergymen and mayors whose names
have been mentioned in this sketch, there are many
others who should be referred to as identified with
the life and prosperity of Somerville. It is making
almost an invidious distinction to include here the
names of a few, while there are and have been many
worthy of credit. To the names of James M. Shute,
Thomas Cunningham, George O. Brastow, George A.
Bruce. S. Z. Bowman, J. R. Poor, Nelson Howe,
Charles H. Guild and J. Haskell might be added a
long list of those of other citizens who have per-
formed their full share in promoting the welfare of
their native or adopted town.
In closing this sketch of Somerville it may not
be improper to allude to the probable future of this
enterprising and rapidly-growing town. Had it not
been detached from Charlestown it would of course
have been long before this a part of Boston. So far
as the cause of its being is concerned, and the inspi-
ration of its life it is really a part of Boston now.
Upon the business of Boston, and its prosperity and
growth, the future increase and prosperity of Som-
erville depend. So many of its people, both male
and female, are engaged in enterprises and seek em-
ployment in that city, that the welfare and good gov-
ernment of the metropolis are almost as much matters
of interest to them as their own. The time, there-
fore, may not be far distant when the city which its
people have nourished in its infancy and youth, will
become in its full manhood a part of that great muni-
cipality which, with Somerville, Cambridge, Med-
ford. Maiden, Everett, Chelsea, Brocklineand Water-
town embraced within its limits, will, at the end of
another decade, include nearly nine hundred thousand
inhabitants within its borders.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
HON. JAMES M. SHDTE.
Mr. Shute is descended from Richard Shute, who
appeared in iledford in 1642, and had a wife, Eliza-
beth, and a son, Richard. The son, Richard, had a
wife, Lydia, and a son, John, born in Maiden, March
26, 1699. John had a son, Ebenezer, who was one of
twelve children, and was born in Maiden, Sept. 28,
1740. Ebenezer had a son, Ebenezer, born in Maiden,
who married Susanna Beal, of Hingham, and had six
children. The last Ebenezer was a carpenter and
builder, and removed to Boston, where the subject of
this sketch, one of his children, was born. May 5, 1812.
ilr. Shute attended the public schools of Boston
and graduated at the Boston English High School.
He learned the trade of printer, aud soon after se-
cured employment with the Boston Type and Stereo-
type Foundry. This foundry was established in
Charlestown, in 1817, by Elisha White, as a branch
of hia foundry in New York. In 1818 the property
•76
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
was bought by Charlea Ewer and Timothy Bedling-
toD, who appointed Samuel Haskell superintendent,
and tinally removed the eatablishment to Boston,
where it wag conducted for several years, on Wash-
ington Street, in the rear of the store of Samuel T.
Armstrong, between Court Street and Cornhill. Up
to that time the method prevailed of moulding and
casting type by hand. The process was of course a
slow one, and made the daily product of type small
and its coat high. About the year 1826 the first
machines were invented for casting type, and their
use was attempted by the company. In 1829 the
foundry company was incorporated as the Boston
Type and Stereotype Foundry.
Mr. Shute, after some years of faithful service as
an employee of the company, was appointed, while
still a young man, its agent and treasurer, and with
his assumption of its management may be dated the
birth of that prosperity which has since marked its
career. He continued in the management until 1852,
when the establishment was sold to John K. Rogers
and David Watson, and carried on in the name of
John K. Rogers & Company until in 1865, it was
incorporated as the Boston Type Foundry, the name
the company now bears.
When Mr. Shute assumed the management of af-
fairs the experiments with the type-machines had
not proved successful. The type produced by them
were pressed in the form with a want of uniformity,
and thus here and there a letter failed to make its
proper impression on the printed page. Mr. Shute
after further trial abandoned their use and ordered
them destroyed. At this juncture David Bruce, of
New York, appeared at the foundry with a machine
which he claimed remedied all the defec's of the old
machines, and offered it for sale to the company. Its
merits were at once detected by Mr. Shute, and its
defects also ; but, believing that the defects could be
remedied, he bought the right to use it in the manu-
facture of type for general sale, and to manufacture
the machines for the New England market. Mr.
Leonard, an intelligent artisan, was at once engaged
to make a new machine, heavier in all its parts, with
some alterations suggested by Mr. Shute. The re.-ult
was a successful one, and until the patent on the ma-
chine expired the company held the market at its
own price. The process of electrotyping fancy types
and borders was also introduced by Mr. Shute, and
added largely to the profits of the company's business.
During bis connection with the foundry company he
laid the foundation for wealth on which, in later
years, by shrewd business management he has been
steadily building.
In 1848 Mr. Shute removed to Somerville, then a
town in the sixth year of its rauuicipal life, and at
once won the confidence and esteem of his fellow-
citizens. From 1853 to 1859, inclusive, after his
retirement from active business in Boston, be served
as chairman of the Board of Selectmen of his adopt-
ed town, and on declining further service, the town,
at its annual meeting held on the 5th of March, 1860,
voted " that the thanks of the town be presented to
the Hon. James M. Khute, for the able, energetic and
faithful manner in which he has for several years
performed the arduous duties of chairman of the
Board of Selectmen, and that they be entered upon
the books of the town."
From 1861 to 1864, inclusive, he was a member of
the Executive Council, and uo member of the board
during those years held more confidential relations
with Governor Andrew, or was held by hiiu in
higher esteem. During the busiest and most exacting
years of the war he was chairman of the Finance
Committee of the Council, and the admirable finan-
cial condition of the Commonwealth at the close of
the struggle is a sufficient commentary on his service.
As chairman of the Hoosac Tunnel Commission
for several years, he rendered valuable service to the
State. On the resignation, in 186G, of John M.
Brooks, a member of the commission he was anxious
to have ex-Governor Andrew appointed in his
place, and proposed to surrender to him the position
of chairman. Governor Bullock, of course, was
ready to make the appointment, and Mr. Andrew
gave a hesitating consent to accept it. This consent,
however, he afterwards withdrew in the following
letter to Mr. Shute which is included in this sketch
for the purpose of showing both the relations exist-
ing between him and Mr. .Shute, and the conscien-
tiousness which he carried with him into the perform-
ance of public duties :
**'J6 Washington Street, Boston. Oct. lij, ISOG.
" ify dear Mr. ^thitte ; — I have again reconsidered the B-jbject of whicb
we talked yesterday, and with every desire to help you, and to aid the
grand design of another ibroiigh rente to the Lakes, I am still \vlioll>
unable to perceive how / could be of eiibstantial advantage without so
far neglecting 'The Law' an to injure nie i«cuniurily very luucb more
than any conipendation I should receive would repay. For I could never
be satiiified without trying to master every problem, nor without doing
my utmost to conquer success, on whatever line of action we might under,
take to ' flgbt It out.' Thus I should soon find myself iii over head and
ears, to Mu uiorjt, neglecting all other things, working at a trade other
than my own, and losing sight of the only Iradt which li luy own ; and
when I know so many men whom 1 think to be better fitted at the
moment than I am to take a leading part on your Board, 1 do not feel
that, in decliniug it, I omit any duty. I am very grateful for your kind
and generoiu appreciation of me, as well an for the cordial and friendly
way in which you have always treated me during an acquaintance both
intimate and coufidentiai, in which we have shared together the cares
of office.
" Nor do 1 (ail to recognize the Governor's good will and consideration
towards lue in consentiug to entertain my name when presented and to
give it precedence. I owe, both to the Governor and yourself, my
hearty thanka, and hope always to remain,
" Your sincere friend & servant,
*' John \. .\Nnaiw."
Mr. Shute married, November 25, 1835, Mary Eaton,
daughter of Thomas Robinson, of Boston, at that
time engaged in business in Chili, and has had thirteen
children. Of these, two died in infancy, one, a girl,
at four years of age, and two sons at full age. Of
these two sons, Thomas Robinson died in the Feejee
Islands, and the other, James M., Jr., married Helen
SOMERVILLE.
T77
Damon, of Holden, and died in Somerville. The re-
maining children, five daughters and three sons, are
all married. Walter, the oldest son, is engaged in the
lumber business in Charlestown ; Frank, the second
son, carries on the hardware business in Boston ; and
Arthur, the third son, is in the lumber business in
Ellsworth, Maine. Two of the daughters live in Cam-
bridge, two in Somerville, and one in Boston.
About 1870 Mr. Shute suffered a severe fracture of
a thigh-bone, from the etfecta of which he was for a
long time confined to his house in Somerville. After
a partial recovery he removed to Boston about twelve
years ago, purchasing the house No. 137 Newbury
Street, where, with his wife and the children of his
deceased son James, he still lives. The writer of this
sketch has known him for many years, both in public
and private life, and has had occasion to know the
esteem in which he has been held, both as a private
citizen and a servant of the State.
KNOWLTON SAMPSON CHAFFEE.
Matthew Chaffee lived in Boston as early as 1636,
and was a ship carpenter by trade. He was made a
freeman May 17, 1637, and was a member of the Artil-
lery Company in 1642, and removed to Newbury in
1649, where he bought a large farm of Dr. John Clark.
Thomas Chaffee was in Hingham in 1636, and removed
to Swansey before 1660. From one of these the sub-
ject of this sketch is descended.
He was boru in Becket, Massachusetts, July 11,
1814. His father and grandfather, both named
Thomas, lived in Becket and carried on the business
of farming. Thomas Chaffee, the father, born in
Becket, March 15, 1768, married at Ashford, Conn.,
November 21, 1791, Abigail, daughter of Colonel
Abraham Knowlton, of Lee, and had the following
children : Sampson Knowlton, born August 4, 1792;
Frederick, November 25, 1793 ; \Volcott, May 3, 1795 ;
Numan H., December 15,1796; Alma, February 9,
1801 ; Anna H., February 4, 1803 ; Thomas S., March
24, 1805 ; Lucinda, January 12, 1807 ; Prentiss, Jan-
uary 1, 1809; Abigail H., April 12, 1811, and Knowl-
ton Sampson, the subject of this sketch, July 11,
1814.
Mr. Chaffee attended the public schools of his
native town and the Lenox Academy, leaving the
latter institution at the age of eighteen. As his
father's means were small he was obliged at this age
to earu his own living and assist if possible in the
maintenance of the family home. His first occupa-
tion was that of driving a peddler's wagon, which in
the days before railroads were built, when small
traders found it diflScult to travel to central points for
purchasers, and drummers were unknown, was an
important one, and was carried on in New England
to an extent almost equaling in magnitude in some
instances, by especially enterprising men, the busi-
ness of many well-known wholesale merchants of our
own day. In this line of business the late James
Fiske began his career, and the highly finished car-
riages and well-groomed horses of the various owners
and drivers rattled into the villages of Massachusetts
with as much flourish and excitement as attended the
arrivals of coaches on the different important lines of
travel. It was not long before Mr. Chaffee owned and
drove his own team, and by unusual enterprise and
activity laid the foundations of the wealth which in
later years he has been able to accumulate.
With a mind and resources outgrowing one after
another the limited opportunities which such a man
would naturally find in the kinds of business first
sought by him in earning a livelihood, after a few
years of peddling he engaged in the stage business on
the great through route from Springfield to Albany.
First as driver and afterwards as a proprietor, he con-
tinued in this business until the establishment of rail-
road lines drove the stages off the road. While acting
as driver his day's work was in summer and winter,
in all weathers from Springfield to West Stockbridge
and back. By the exposure attending these early oc-
cupations he secured a rugged constitution which has
served him well in the responsible enterprises with
which he has since been connected. While still a
young man he removed to Somerville, in the earliest
years of that town, and established himself in the coal
business at tide-water in East Cambridge. After liv-
ing in Somerville three or four years he removed to
East Cambridge and has since that time made that
part of Cambridge his home.
In the coal business his means permitted him to
start only in the humblest way. By economy, thrift,
thorough integrity and the exercise of a shrewd
judgment in the general management of his trade,
the business, however, grew to large proportions, and
the savings of his earlier years began to swell into
rapidly accumulating wealth. So thoroughly were his
business qualities appreciated by those with whom he
came in contact, that he was early made a director in
the Lechmere National Bank at East Cambridge, and
finally president of the Union Horse Railway Com-
pany. He was also for many years the treasurer of
the Union Glass Company in Somerville, of which
his son was until his death business manager. His
position in these two companies finally demanded the
use of all his time and the coal business was abandoned.
His position in the railroad company was especially
an ardousand responsible one. The Union Company
owned and ran all the Cambridge lines, and the
Everett and Watertown and Newton lines, and, under
his watchful eye and incessant scrutiny, grew into
that great corporation which became finally the
property of the West End Company, and the nucleus
of that organization, which is doing so much towards
the solution of the problem of rapid-transit in the
city of Boston.
Mr. Chaffee married in Lee, January 27, 1836,
Amelia Shaylor, daughter of Pliny Shaylor, of that
778
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
town, and has had one son, Charles S. Chaffee, who
died in 1878, at the age of thirty-nine years, an active,
enterprising man, who at the time of his death, as has
already been mentioned, was the business manager
of the Union Glass Company in Somerville.
Mr. Chaffee was brought up in the Baptist faith,
and still belongs to the Baptist organization. In
politics he was reared a Whig, but became a Democrat
on the dissolution of the Whig party, and is an earnest
and conscientious opponent of the policy of the
Republicans. He was a delegate to the Democratic
National Convention in Charleston in 18*50, and at
that time a supporter of Douglas for the Presidency.
He was a member of the House of Representatives in
1863, and of the Senate in 1868, and in various other
capacities he has faithfully served confiding con-
stituencies. After a long life of active labor, he now
lives in East Cambridge, in feeble health, and since
the death of his wife, in 1889, has depended for the
comforts which an old man needs, on the faithful and
loving care of an adopted daughter, who anticipates
every want and alleviates the burdens of his declining
years.
CHARLES H. NORTH.
The subject of this sketch was born in Thoraas-
ville, Georgia, April 8, 1832, and is the son of Charles
P. and Lydia (Kendall) North, of West Winsor,
Vermont. He is descended from John North, who came
to Boston in the "Susan and Ellen" in l(i35, at the
age of twenty, and settled in the same year in Farm-
ington, Conn. His father, Charles P. North, was born
in West Winsor, and his grandfather .\aron North,
who became a permanent resident in West Winsor,
was born in Farmington, Conn. Charles P. North,
the father, was in business a number of years in the
South, but when the war of 1861 broke out he was
living in Covington, Kentucky. Early in the war he
enlisted in an Ohio regiment, and while serving with
the rank of captain, was killed at the battle of
Shiloh.
At the age of four years Charles H. North, the
subject of this sketch, went to West Winsor, and was
brought up in the family of his grandfather Kendall,
the father of his mother. Until he was fourteen
years of age he attended the common schools of that
town, and from fourteen to eighteen was employed in
farming. At the age of eighteen, he went to Waltham,
Mass., where, after a year's service in a bakery, he
entered French's Academy, and there received an ad-
ditional year's education. At the age of nineteen he
entered the employ of Sewall Blood, a Waltham baker,
and was engaged two years driving his customers'
wagon. At the age of twenty-one he removed to
Boston, and was employed in the Quincy Market by
John P. Squire, at twelve dollars a month. He had
already, before going to Waltham, a short experience
in the same market.
At the age of twenty-two he leased stall No. 29, in
Quincy Market, and there established himself on his
own account in the business of selling pork. The
energy and fidelity to business which he displayed
had already borne their fruit in result unusual for
so young a man, and gave promise of a career of
enterprise and success. His enlarging business re-
quired more room than a sipgle stall could furnish,
and not long after he established himself in No. 29,
he bought out the lessee of No. 27, and occupied an
entire square. Not long afterwards, he added the
store now occupied by him in North Market Street
to the needed .iccommodations of hia business.
Until 1867, Mr. North continued alone in business,
but in that year he formed a partnership with John
N. Merriam, S. Henry Skilton and Newman E.
Conant. Under the new partnership the business of
killing hogs was added to their previous enterprise,
and a killing and packing-house was established in
Somerville. In 1872, Mr. North bought out the share
of Mr. Merriam in the business, and that gentleman
retired from the firm. .Vt the end of ten years more
he bought out Mr. Conant, and until the present year
the firm has since continued with only Mr. North
and Mr. Skilton as members.
In January, 1890, a corporation was formed with a
capital of twelve hundred thousand dollars, and the
partnership ceased to e.tist. Of this corporation en-
titled the " North Packing Company," G. F. Swift, of
Chicago, is president; E.C.Swift, of Boston, treas-
urer; Charles H. North, general manager, and S.
Henry Skilton, assistant manager.
In June, 1878, the packing-house of the firm of C.
H. North &Oo.,ic Somerville, was burned and a loss
was sustained over and above insurance of eight hun-
dred thousand dollars. Another jmcking-house was se-
cured before the fire was extinguished, and prepara-
tions were at once made, not only to resume, but to
largely increa.se the former business. With present
accommodations the company is killing two thousand
hogs daily, and arrangements are soon to be com-
pleted for the transaction of double that amount of
business. At the present time the pay-roll of the
company contains the names of thirteen hundred
men, receiving thirteen thousand dollars per week.
Probably the name of no man in the world is better
known throughout the various channels of the special
trade in which he is engaged than that of Mr. North.
He finds his market in every nation of the globe, and
it is not an exaggerated statement that the product of
his establishment would furnish an abundance of
food for a half a million of persons every day in the
year.
Mr. North has discovered several remedies which
are sold on their merits and which he believes are
a great relief to suffering humanity. These remedies
are : North's pure white pepsin, North's rheumatic
cure, kidney cure, cure for heart disease and liver
cure.
Mr. North aft«r removing to Boston made that city
(j^4^&^ i/7^' /^A
^^zc^/x^.
SOMERVILLE.
779
his place of residence until 1876, when he removed to
Prospect Hill, Somerville, where he now lives. He
married, September 24, 1856, Jane, daughter of Micah
N. Lincoln, of Weat Winaor, Vermont, and has eight
children now living: Wayne H., Charles L., Jennie,
Mark N., George, Onata, Frederick K. and Harry J.
Mr. North is in theology orthodox, and in politics
Republican, having departed from the Democratic
faith in the transformation scenes immediately be-
fore and after the secession of the States of the South.
It is only necessary to read the record of his career,
to form a true estimate of the predominant traits in
his character. To have created and controlled the
great enterprise in which he has for so many years
been engaged, required peculiar and strong natural
powers, both physical and mental. These Mr. North
possesses to an eminent degree. Good intellectual
capacity, a readiness to plan and promptitude to ex-
ecute, a devotion and concentratedness in his work,
an indomitable resolution and a courage almost
heroic, and withal a hopeful spirit not easily
quenched, are the elements which have given their
possessor power, and made his career a success. He
illustrates well the true American, who with health,
strength, industry and integrity, under the elevating
influences of a free government, cannot fail to win
both reputation and wealth.
RUFUS BARRUri STICKNEY.'
The subject of this sketch is descended from Robert
Stickney of Frampton, in Lincolnshire, England.
William Stickney, son of Robert, was baptized
December 30, 1558, and married, June ItJ, 1585, Mar-
garet Pieraon. William, son of the Ixst William, was
bapti/e<l in St. Mary's Church in Frampton, Septem-
ber t), 15112. He came from Hull to New England
in W.il with his wife Elizabeth and three children,
Samuel, Amos and Mary, aud lande<i at Boston from
whence he \vent with his family to Rowley, of which
place he was one of the tirst settlers. Samuel Stick-
ney, one of his three children, was born in England
in 1633 and married, first, in Rowley, April 18, 1053,
Julia Swan, and second, in Bradford, April 6, 1C74,
Prudence (Leaven) Gage. William, one of the chil-
dren of Samuel, was born in Bradford, January 27,
1674, and married in that town, September 14, 1701,
Anne Hazeltine. He died in Bradford, February 21,
1706, leaving three children. William, one of the
children was born in Bratlford, October 14, 1705, and
married in Billerica, in June, 1729, Anne Whiting,
who died iu Billerica |M arch 25, 1749, at the age of
forty- four years. He married second, November 23,
1749, Hannah (Ballard) widow of Jeremiah Abbot, of
Billerica. HLs second wife died February 17, 1789,
at the age of seventy-five. Eleaser Stickney, one of
the fourteen children of the last William, was born in
'By Wm. T. Davia.
Billerica, August 30, 1740, and married there, January
25, 1762, Martha, daughter of Samuel Brown, who
died May 21, 1818. On the 24th of April, 1775, he
enlisted from the town of Wilmington, as second
lieutenant in Captain John Harnden's company in
Colonel Ebenezer Bridge's regiment. He was after-
wards ensign in Captain Ebenezer Harnden's company
in the same regiment, and was with that company at
the battle of Bunker Hill. In 1776 he enlisted as
private in Captain Jonathan Brown's company, in
Colonel David Green's regiment, and served in one or
another station three years. After the war he removed
to Tewksbury, and there died, January 5, 1824.
William Stickney, one of the fourteen children of
Eleazer, was born in Billerica, June 22, 1783, and
removed to Boston in 1805, where he married, March
22, 1809, Lucy, daughter of Micah and Lucy (Howe)
Drury, who was born in Framingham Octobers, 1787,
and died June 21 , 1812. He married, second, in Boston,
December 29, 1814, Margaret Nowell, who was born
in Boston, July 30, 1792, and died December 15, 1840.
He married, third, in Boston, July 10, 1842, Catherine
P., widow of Artemaa Hyde, and daughter of Joshua
Hardy, of Boston. He at various times after leaving
Boston lived at Medford and Charlestown and Somer-
ville, and died in Somerville, January 12, 1868.
Rufiis Barrus Stickney is the son of the last-men-
tioned William, and was born in Medford, Octo-
ber 1, 1824. His father was engaged as a retail
grocer in Salem Street, in Boston, many years, and
while in that business, began to prepare mustard for
table use, and carry it about for sale. He finally
abandoned his grocery business, and, remoiung to
Medford in 1822, built in that town a small factory
for the manufacture of mustard, the sale of which
had so largely increased as to warrant the enterprise.
In 1825, when Rufus was nine months old, he remov-
ed to Charlestown, and there erected a larger factory
for his still increasing business. Rufus attended the
public schools of Charlestown until he was thirteen
years of age, when he entered his father's establish-
ment, and began a business car^r, which has been
eminently prosperous.
Up to 1842 the manufacture of mustard had been
carried on by hand. At that time Rufus, who was
then eighteen years of age, induced his father to put
an engine into his factory, and thus make himself
better able to meet demands which he thought he saw
an opportunity of largely increasing. At that time,
also, his father established a grocery store in connec-
tion with his mustard enterprise, and devoting him-
self to the store, surrendered the care and manage-
ment of the factory to his son. In 1846, Rufus
separated from his father, and began to manufacture
mustard on his own account in South Boston, where
he remained two years. In 1848 he formed a part-
nership with J. R. Poor, of Danvers, under the firm-
name of Stickney A Poor, and the new concern built
a factory in Charlestown for the purpose of grinding
780
HISTOKF OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
and packing mustard, spices and coffee. A store was
also soon opened in Chatham Row, in Boston, for the
gale of goods, the firm afterwards for some years
occupying the stores 19 and 20 India Street. Mr.
Poor left the firm in 1877, and since 1880, Mr. Stick-
ney, retaining the old firm-name, has occupied the
store No. 205 in State Street Block.
In 1867, Stickney & Poor built another and
larger brick factory in Charlestown, retaining the old
wooden one for purposes of storage. The business of
Mr. Stickney now consists of the manufacture of
mustard, coffee and spices, including cloves, cassia,
mace, pimento and ginger, the grinding of herbs, the
preparation of yeast powders, sauces and flavoring
extracts, in which he employs about fifty hands, and
finds for his product a market in every State in the
Union. He imports his own raw materials, obtaining
his mustard seed from England, Holland, Italy and
California.
Mr. Stickney married, October 1, 1846, Mariana D.,
daughter of Henry Homer, of Boston, and had four
children — one who died in infancy; Anna, who died
in June, 1890; Susie, now living, and Rufus, whowas
engaged in business with his father, and died August
6, 1886. He married, second, October 26, 1865, Abbie
L. Beck.
A fair estimate of the character of Mr. Stickney is
suggested by his career. There are few men in busi-
ness in Massachusetts whose name is more widely
known. The products of his establishment have found
their way into many thousands of households, and
wherever they are used or known they carry with
them a trade-mark which commands the utmost con-
fidence and trust. From small beginnings, with a
knowledge and experience commencing at the early
age of thirteen years, he has built up an industry of
large proportions and accumulated wealth. His
career is only one of many illustrations of the folly of
modern legislators who, forgetting that the factory is
as much a place for the instruction of youth as the
public school, pass laws forbidding their employment
in those very occupations which can alone best pre-
pare them for a life of enterprise and usefulness. Had
Mr. Stickney remained longer over his books, under
the eye of a teacher, he would probably have failed to
learn the alphabet of a trade, upon a thorough knowl-
edge of which, in all its parts, his success in life was
to depend.
Mr. Stickney has devoted bis whole time and ener-
gies to his business. In political associations a Re-
publican, he has neither accepted nor sought otSce.
In religion an avowed Unitarian, he has always
avoided conspicuous notoriety in the affairs of his
church. Shrewd, sagacious and prudent in financial
affairs, he has been ready to give counsel and advice
when asked, but has refrained from accepting posi-
tions of responsibility and trust when he knew that
he could not give to them that care and scrutiny
which the confideace of those interested demanded
and deserved. At the age of sixty-six he is still
managing his affairs with unimpaired activity and
zeal ; and as a merchant and citizen, he has secured
universal respect and esteem in both his commercial
and civil life.
CHAPTER LIV.
HOPKINTON.
BV CLEMENT MESHKVE.
HOPKINTON, which received its name from Edward
Hopkins, is situated on the highest land in the ex-
treme southwesterly corner of Middlesex County,
about thirty miles southwesterly from Boston, on the
line of the Hopkinton and Milford Railroad.
It is bounded on the north by Southborough and
Ashland, on the east by Ashland and Holliston, on
the south by Holliston and Milford, and on the west
by Upton and Westbnro*. The Congregational Church
is inlatitude42° 13'south,and longitude 10° .31' west.
Its Indian name was Quansigomog, and originally oc-
cupied by the Nipmuck Indians.
The geological formation is calcareous gneiss, and
the land is hilly, broken and rocky, but produc-
tive and well watered, it being the principal source of
the Charles, Sudbury and Blackstone Rivers. The
town contains two large ponds. The larger of these
is called Lake Whitehall, and is the source of the
.Sudbury River. The other pond, called North, is one
of the sources of the Blackstone River. The ponds
and streams abound in pickerel, perch, bream {fomotis
vulgaris), .ind other edible fish, which made the place
a favorite resort for the aborigines at the time of the
settlement of the town. The town contains three
large swamps, originally covered with cedars, which
appears, by the town records, to have been of great
value to the early settlers.
Saddle Hill in the northern, and Bear Hill in the
southern part of the town, are noted rocky eminences,
on which the rattlesnake formerly bad its home.
The Hopkinton Mineral Springs, situated west of
Lake Whitehall, were discovered in 1816, and at one
time were quite celebrated as a fashionable resort.
The waters contain carbonic acid, carbonate of lime,
and now one of the springs is impregnated with sulphur.
In the eastern part of the town — now Ashland — the
Rev. John Eliot, previous to 1669, had established a
band of " praying Indians " on the northern slope of
Magonco Hill, and as early as 1669 had taught them
to make cedar shingles and clapboards, of which Elliot
says, " Unto which work in moyling in the swamp ye
are fitter yn many English, and many English choose
to buy ym of the Indians yn make ym themselves."
Of these Indians Major-Gen. Gookin, in 1674, gave the
following report : " Wagwonkkommonk is the seventh
town where the 'praying Indians' inhabit. The
HOPKINTON.
781
signification of the place's name id ' the place of great
trees.' It is situated partly within the bounds of
Natick, .-Hid partly upon land granted by the county.
It lieth west-southerly from Boston, about twenty-four
miles — midway between Natick and Hassananissett
(now Grafton). The number of the iuhabitante are
about eleven families and about fifty-five souls. There
are men and women eight members of the church at
Natick, and about fifteen baptized persons. The
quantity of the land belonging to it is about 3000
acres. The Indians plant upon a great hill, which is
very fertile ; and these people worship God and keep
the Sabbath, and observe civil order as do other towns.
They have a constable and other officers. Their
ruler's name is Pomkamon, a sober and active man,
and pious. Their teacher's name is Job, a person well
accepted for piety aiid ability among them. This
town was the last settling of the old towns. They
have plenty of corn, and keep some cattle and swine,
for which the place is well accommodated.*'
It appears that Nitits Annerocker^ Joshua Assalt,
John Dublet, William Joseph and John Jackstram
were members of the praying band of Indiana, who,
with others, under the lead of Nitus, made an attack
on the Ist of February, 1676, upon the house ol
Thomas Eames, near Farm Pond, in Framingham.
Mr. Eames had gone to Boston, but the mother and
her nine children made a stout resistance; but she
and four of the children were killed, and the remain-
der taken captive. Nitus, the leader of the party,
was killed at Marlborough, ou the 27th of March fol-
lowing. Aunecockerdied soon after, and three others
were tried, condemned and executed Sept. 21, 1676.
What were left of the Magunco Indians at the close
of King Philip's War moved from the place and
joined the Natick Indians, who for a long time held
pos-iession of the Magunco lands. It was voted by
them, September y* 24, 1715, " That the land of Ma-
«;unkook be sold to the trustees of Edward Hopkin's
legacy ; that Cape. Thomas Waban, Samuel Abraham,
Solomon Thomas, Abraham Speen, Thomas Pegan,
Isaac Nehemiah and Benjamin Fay be a committee
of agents for the proprietors of Natick to :Lgree with
Captain vSewell, Mr. John Leveritt, Major Fitch and
Mr. Daniel for y' sale of the lands of Magunkook and
to all things requisite in y" law fory* effectual invert-
ing y* said lands in y* trustees of Hopkin'a legacy."
On July 20, 1715, the trustees had petitioned the
General Court for a license to purchase a tract of
waste land known by the name of Magunkayoog.
This petition was granted, and in accordance with
the petition and vote the following deed for eight
thousand acres was executed by the Indians :
" A. Copy of Record-Book 17, Page 627.
"Attest, Char. B. Stevens, Rfg.
"Tbis Indeotiire, mode the Kleveoth Day of October, Aono Domini
uim Thousaad SeTen Hundred and fifteen, Aqdoz Retool, Ikgia Georgiz
nunc Magna Britania, Ac, Socundo, Between Thomi* Waban, Samuel
Abraham, Solomon Thomas, Abraham Speen, Thomaa Pegun, Isaac
Nehemiah and Be^janiia Tray, a Comuiittee or Agents for the Indian
Proprietors of the Plantation of Natick, within the Conntj of Middle*
sex and Province of the Maaeac husetts Bay in New England, of y* one
part, aud Joseph Dudley, William Tayler, Waitstill Wlnthrop, Samuel
Sewall, Eliakim Hutchinson, Penn Towneend, Edward Bromfleld, John
Higgineon and Simeon Stoddard. Esq"., Increase Mather, Doctor in
Dirinity, Cotton Mather, Doctor in Divinity, Jon. Leverett, President
of Harvard Colledge, Jeremiah Dummer, John Bnrrell, Esq"., William
Brattle, Minister of Cambridge, Nehemiah Walter, Minister of Box-
bury, Daniel OllTer k Thomas Fitch, Merchant, Andrew Belcher, Ad-
dington Davenport and Adam Winthrop, Esq™., All Inhabitants within
the ProTiDce aforesaid^ Tmstees appointed by a DecreS in His Majesties
High Court of Chancery, Dated the Nineteenth day of March, Anno
Domini 17L2« for the Purchasing Houses or Land for the perpetuating
of the Charity of j* Honorable Ed\rard Hopkins, Esq., and Improving
y*same on y* other part, Witneseeth, that the said Tbomaa Waban,
Samnel Abraham, Solomon Thomas, Abraham Speeo, Thomas Peguo,
Ifiaac Nehemiah and Benjamin Tray, a Committee or Agents as afore-
said, for Divers good Causes and Considerations, Them thereunto mov-
ing more especially for, and in Consideration of the Sum of Six
Hundred pounds in Good Bills ol Credit on the Province aforesaid To
them in hand paid To &, for the use, beneQt and beboofe of the Propri-
etors of the Plantation of Natick and of the Order of Settled Indian
Inhabitants thereof By the Trustees above named at and before the
Ensealing and Delivery of this prenent Indenture. The Beceipt of
which sum to full Consent and Satisfaction they do hereby acknowl-
edge, and for themselves and all other the proprietors and inhabitants
uf the Plantation or Town of Natick aforesaid, theire heirea, Execnton,
Adms., Agents or Committees, Acqnitt, Exonerate and Discharge the
said Joeepb Dudley, William Tayler, Waitstill Winthrop. Sam<> Sew-
all, Eliakim Hutchinson, Penn Townuend, Edward Bromfleld, John
Higglnson, Simeon Stoddard, Increase Mather, Cotton Mather, John
Leverett, Jeremiah Dummer, John BurreU, William Brattle, Nehemiah
Walter, Daniel Oliver, Thomas Fitch, Andrew Belcher, Addiugton
Davenport and Adam Winthrop, Trustees as aforesaid, and theire suc-
cessors forever. Have given, granted, bargained, sold, aliened. Enfeoffed,
Conveyed and Confirmed, and by these presents Do fully, freely. Clearly
dud absolutely give, Grant, bargain, Sell, alien, Enfeoffs, Release, Con-
vey and Confirms unto the said Joseph Dudley, William Tayler, Wait-
still Winthrop, Samuel Sewall, Eliakim Hutchinson, Penn Townsend,
Edward Bromfleld, John Hlggioson, Simson Stoddard, Increase Mather.
Cotton Mather, John Leverett, Jeremiah Dummer, John Burrell, Wil-
liam Brattle, Nehemiah Walter, Daniel Oliver, Thomas Fitch, Andrew
Belcher, Addington Davenport and Adam Winthrop, Tmstees as afore-
said (who have lately obtained liberty of the Great and General C-ourt
or Assembly of the Province aforesaid to Purchase the Same & to
theire Successors for Ever All that Certain Tract or parcell of Land
Situate, lying and being within the County of ^liddlesex aforesaid
Commonly Called and known by the Name of Magunkawog, containing
by Estimation Eight Thousand Acres, be the Same more or lees bounded
Eastwardly and southwardly by Sherborne; Weetwardly partly by Men-
don, principally by Province Lands ; Northwardly by Sndbnry River, or,
however, otherwise bounded or Etepnted to be bounded. Tba said Land
being more particularly Delineated, Set forth and Deacribed in and by
the Plan or Draught thereof hereunto annexed. Together with all and
singnlar ye Houseiug, Ediffices, Buildings, fruits. Trees, Woods, Under-
woods, wayes. Waters, Water Courses, Rivers, Ponds, Brooks, Cieeka,
Mines, Minerals, profits, Priviledges, rights, Comodlties, hereditaments,
emoluments, appur*** whatsoever thereunto belonging or in any wise ap-
pertaining, and the Reversion and Reversions, Remainder and Remain-
ders, Rents, Issues and profits thereof. To Have and To Hold the said
Tract or Parcell of Liiod with the members, profits, priviledges and ap-
purtenances thereof and all other ye above granted Premiiiee unto the
said Joseph Dudley, William Taylor, Waitstill Winthrop, Samnell Sew-
all, Eliakim Hutchinson, Penn Townsend, Edward Bromfleld, John
Higginson, Simeon Stoddard, Increase Mather, Cotton Mather, John
[/everett, Jeremiah Dummer, John Burrill, William Brsttle, Nehemiah
Waltsr, Daniel Oliver, Thomas Fitch, Andrew Belcher, Addington
Davenport A Adam Winthrop, Tmstees as aforesaid To A for the
proper ik sole use k uses Expressed In the Sold Decree of His Majes-
ties High Court of Chancery and to & for no other use. Intent and
Purpose whatsoever to them k to their« Successors for Erv. And ye
said Thomas Waban, Samuel Abraham, Solomon Tbomaa, Abraham
Speen, Thomas Pegun, Isaac Nehemiah and Benjamin Tray, Agents as
aforesaid, Do Covenant and Grant to and with the Trustees aforenamed,
and theire Successors, That they, the said Grantors, lo theire Capacity
aforesaid. Have in themselves by vertne of tLe power and Authority to
them gtven by the Indian Proprietors of Natick, afore«id, fbU power
:S2
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
apd Lawfull Authority To give, grant. Sell and Convey the raid Granted
Land Sc promises in manner as aforesaid. The same beioi^ free and Clear
and Clearly Exonemted A Discharged uf .t from all former and other
Gifts, Grants, Bargains, Sales, Leases, ^loitgages, Juj-ntures, Powera,
Titles, troubles, Charges and Incumbrances whatsoever. And further,
tliey the said Thomas Waban, Samuel .\brabain, Solomon Thomas.
Abmham Speen, Thomas Pegun, IsaMC Nehemiab and Benjamin Tray,
Agents aforesaid, Do hereby Covenant and Grant for themselves it ye
Proprietors of N'atick. afore6.iid (who are the owners of the said Granted
Land and premises), and for theire severall and Respective heires. Ex-
ecutora and AUmittistrators To warrant & Defend the same and ever^'
part thereof unto tbeni the said .ludeph Dudley, William Tailor, Wait-
still Winthrop, .Samuel Sewall, Eliakim Hutchinson, Penn TownsenU,
Edward Bromfield,.rohu Higgioson, .Simeon Stoddard, Increase blather,
Cotton Mather, John Leverett, .leremiah Duniiner, John Burrilt, Wil-
liam Brattle, Nehemiah Walter, Daniel tiliver, Thomas Fitcb, .\ndrew
Belcher, .\ddington Daven|K>rt ,b .\dam Winthrop, Trustees us aforesaid,
and theire Successor? for the uses aforementioned forever against the
f,egall Claiines and Demands of all and Ever> pei'son and persons whom-
soever. Saving out of the Said Graiite*! Land the farm of Messrs. Siiiipsou
and Parker's farm, so called, who have heretofore purchased the same.
In witness whereof the said parlies to these presents have hereunto In-
terchangeably sett theire lianils it Seals the day it year tint above writ-
ten — Thomas Waban and a Seal, The mark of Samuel .Vbralmm and a
Seal, The mark of Stdnmou Thomas and a Seal, The mark of .\braham
Speen & a Seal, The mark of Thomas i'egun and a Seal, The mark of
Isaac N'eheniiiih aud a Seal, Beujamin Tray and a Seal. Signe<l, .Scaled
and Delivered in the presence uf iis .lohu t'otton, Sam" Bollard, W^
Ryder, Jr., John Waiiis<|uon in .Middlesex, (icUiber l.^, 1715, Thomao
Waban, Samuel Abiaham, .Solomon Thomas, .\bniham Speen, Thomas
Pegun, Isaac Nehemiali and Ueliialiiiii Tray, a Coiiimiltee or Agents for
the Indian Proprietors of Natick, pei-8«iiially appeareil befi>r6 me, one ot
His Majesties .lustices of y* Peace for y" s*' it acknowledged the witbin
written Instrument by them and in theire said Cupacity Executed to be
theire free act it Deed, Thomas Oliver, Justice of y" Peace.
" Cliarlestown. February 17, 1715-16, Rec'd it Acconlingly Entered
"By Sam" Piiiris, Beg'.
" Oct. 15, 171.V16."
Afterward the (veneral Court gave to the trustees
the proviuce laud, thus swelling their possessions to
twenty-five thousand acres, which, on the petition of
the trustees, was incorporated into a township l)y the
name of Hopkinton. About one-half of these acres
was leased for ninety-nine years, and the remainder
was held as common land.
The province was granted on the condition that
the fee should remain in the province. This reser-
vation prevented the trustees from making valid con-
veyances, and the condition was removed December 1,
1716. But this question still remained : Could the
trustees legally give leases to run more than twenty-
one years, the land being "College or School land"?
To remedy this, the General Court, December 3,
1719, by a special act gave the trustees power to exe-
cute leases for a term "not exceeding ninety-nine
years."
Under these full powers, the trustees proceeded
to renew the leases already made, and to give other
leases, all to run for ninety-nine years from March
25, 1723, at an annual rent of three pence per acre.
These terms, being unsatisfactory to the tenants, were
changed by authority of the General Court, to an
annual rent of one penny sterling per acre until
March 25, 1823, and three pence per acre during the
remaining time of the leases. In 1823 troubles
arose again concerning the payments of rent, and the
Courts and Legislature were resorted to by both par-
ties. The matter was formally settled in 1832, when
the Legislature agreed to pay i^8000 to the trustees,
and the tenants S2000. In consideration of this
amount, the trustees abandoned their claim in the
land.
Edward Hopkins came from England in 1637, aud
settled in Connecticut, and became its Governor.
Returning to England, he died in le.j?, bequeathing
the sum of five hundred pounds out of his estate in
New England to trustees, to be invested, after the
death of his wife, in houses and lauds in New Eng-
land ; and that the income from these should be de-
voted to the support of students in the grammar and
divinity schools at Cambridge, Mass., aud to the pur-
chase of books to be given to meritorious students
at Harvard College.
The widow died in 169S, and after suit in chancery
the trustees obtained a verdict in satisfaction of the
legacy of five hundred pounds, amounting, with inter-
est, to eight hucdred pound.s. Six hundred pounds of
this sum was wasted in the purchase of the Maguncoy
land in Hopkinton.
Hopkinton was originally bounded by Sudbury,
Sherborn, Mendon, Sutton and Weslboro'. At this
time the town cout;ilued 25,U<I0 acres. On June 14,
1735, by an act of the General Court, abtmt 4000
acres were set off and formed a part of Upton, leaving
about 21 ,000 acres.
The boundaries of the town remained the same un-
til March 16, 1846, when a part wiis taken to form
the town of Ashland. The town at the present time
contains 18,509 acres.
It appears that in 1662 the Hon. William Crown
received a grant of land, which, according to its de-
scription, would cover nearly the entire village of
.Vshland ; the deed aud plan describes five hundred
acres " at a place near Cold Spring Brook, near the
road which leadeth from Sudbury on to Connecticut,
known as the (Connecticut Path), on the south side of
a branch of the Sudbury River, at a place called by
the Indians, Magunco hill."
The path referred to in the description of the grant to
the Crown was a trail followed by a small party who
passed up between the Charles aud Sudbury Rivers,
through Hopkinton, Grafton and Thompson in Con-
necticut, to the Connecticut River in 1633, and was
followed by Hooker and his party of one hundred
and sixty persons and about the same number of cat-
tle, who started from Watertown in 1635 for the Con-
necticut River, crossed Cold Spring at the ford-way
and entered upon and passed over the Crown Grant,
thence through Hopkinton, following the old Indian
trail, to what was called at that time Hassauamissit
(now Grafton).
The town of Hopkinton was incorporated Decem-
ber 13, 1715, and the first town-meeting was held
under the charter, March ye 25, 1724, under the fol-
lowing warrant :
" Where** the^Great and GenemI Court of je provence of the .Maeea-
HOPKINTON.
783
rhiisetts Ray in New England, have enacted and conetituted all thoee
laodn formerly called MugiitncoHg to:;ether with other waste lands
lying we«twflni to Siiten line from 8;iid Miie;unicoiig tuwoship by the
Diinie of ITopkiuton ; and granted all and tiiuguUr the priveleges and
powers of a township thereunto. And whereaa tt had been a continued
pmctice and custom iu the several townu withiu the provence annually
to choose ijelectnien for the managing of the prudentials of such towns,
anrl uther Town Ofticera for the executing of other mutters and thiugt<
in the law appointed by them to be done and performed ; and whereas
it i.-* enacted by ye said fireat and General Court that the FreeholderB
and Inhabitants of each town qualilie<t to rote in town affairs shall some-
time iu the month of March, aDUually conTeiieaccordiog to notice given
to the said Freeholders and Inhabitants, aud nominate and (■hoose
Sele<-tmpn or Townsmen, and all other officers and convenient for the
ordcritig the prudeutials of the town, and c-xeiuting of all other mat-
ters and tliingB in the law ap|>oiDted by theiu to be done, and whereas,
the Fiefholdere and other luhabilauts "f the town of Hopkiutoo
have often desired the direction and aasislance of the <.*omety of th<.'
Trustees of the said Town of Ilnpkiiitoii in order to there meeting and
convening together for the purpose and intentions aforesaid, and the
SHid i.'omety have desire<l the Subscriber, one of tbe^aid I'ommity and a
Justice of the Peee withiu the baid County of Middlesex to make out
and sign notiticjitinn, there being no Selertmnn or other Town Otticers
in the said town. These are therefore to notify the town tennaots both
Free Holders and other luliabiiauts <if llopkinton aforesaid to meet at
their Public Place for Divine Ser\ice and worship oo the Lord's Day,
on Wednesday the tweut.v-tifth of March, next couiiug, at ten of the
clock before uuou, t" choose Selei.-tmen and all other officers that the law
allowR of and directs unto. Given under my hand and t>enl io thii*
twenty-uinth <iay of Feby. in the twelfth year of the reign of King
George, .\nni> gnoflorui 17.^! — -4. .Tohm Lf.vkritt,
"JuKtice of the Pt'ice."
'■ Mr. .John H-iw you ar** directed to setup the above written notiflca-
tioQ in some public place in Hopkinton.
" J. Levebitt."
On the iliiy named in the warruiit the town to the
number of upwards of thirty met and tranuacted the
foHowing buHinesti:
" Voteil — that wu resolve to take upon us the powers of a I'own and
prncewl ancf choose Town 'tticers iis the law directa shall be choosen in
the month of March.
" Voted — to choose five Select Men.
** Voted — that all persous that have taken land and have made im-
pro\»'meni(i iu baid lowu and are here prenent may vote.
'* \i>ted— that .fnhu How shall be !Moilenitur iu b;(id uieeting.
" \ oted— that John nii\\ should ImTowu 1,'U>rkaad the tirst Selectman.
" Voted — that John Wood should be second Selectman.
'* Voted— tliat Henry i^Ielen should be tliinl Selectnmu.
" Voted — that Joseph llaveu should t>e fourth £jelectman.
*' Voted — that James 4'olar should be Hfth Selectman.
** Voted — that the diviseual line as to the Constables Collections to be
the byway leading from W.unsloJia meadow, so-called, to the meeting-
hoUM) place :iud su continue to the river.
*' Voted— that Saiuuell Watken should be Constable for the year en-
duing, in ye East Kud of ye town.
'- Voted — that 3lr. Benjamin Uuruup should be Constable in ye West
end 'if ye town.
"Voted — ttiat Mr. KInathan Allen should l»e Town Treasurer for ye
year ensuing.
" > itted — that Johnatban Knowlton, Thomis Walker, Mr. John
Wood and Jaiues Coles, Senior, should be Surveyorys of byways for ye
year ensuing.
" Voted^that Mr. Bohert Hambleton aud Mr. HotierC Huston should
be Tying men.
" Voted — that Joseph Comeiis, Ebenezer Lock should be fence
viewers.
** Voted — that Francis Parse aud Thomas Coock should be bogb
revee.
'* Vote*! that swine should run at large this year.
" Votetl — that Daniel Stoue and John Butler should be Held drivers.
" Voted— That Thomas Walker should be Clark of the market.'*
The following ia a list of those who served as select-
men in the years set against their names :
1724-25 — Joseph Haven, Capt. John Wood, John Jones, Benjamia
Burnap, Henry Itlellen. Aug. 26, 172.5, John How was choeen selectman
to supply the place of Capt. John Wood, removed by death.
1725-J6 — John How, Joseph Haven, Robert Houston, Lieut. Henry
Walker, Peter How.
172t>-27 — Joseph Haven, Denjamiu Burnap, John Jone?, Henry Mul-
len, Peter How.
n27-28— Henry Walker, John How, Peter How, Daniel Claflin, Rob-
ert Houston.
1728-29— Henry Walker, Henry Mellen, Joseph Haven, Joseph Bix-
by, Samuel Work.
I720-;jo— Henry Walker, Peter ilow, Joseph Bixby, John Brewer,
Isaac Whitney.
1731^-31 — John Jones, Joseph Haven, Joseph Bixby, Paul Langdon,
John Brewer.
1731-32 — Johu Jones, Joseph Haven, Paul Langdon, John Brewer,
Dea(^-ou Bixby.
17::2-33 — Paul I^ugdon, Nulhauiel Smith, John Junes, Jobu Osburue,
ICdmund Bowker.
I7.'):i-^:4 — Cupt. Joues, Joseph Haven, Paul Langdon, Jabez Dodge,
Peter How.
lT;i4-;;5— Capt. Jones, Joseph Haven, Lieut. Paul Langdon, Ebenezer
KimbaJ, Peter How.
I'^'V-^t) — Daniel Cladin, John Brewer, Joseph HoUen, Ebenezer
Lock, Jacob Gihbs.
I7;'t>-;7— Peter How, Jabez Dodge, Tlioiuas Walker, En*^ John Wood,
Johu Brewer. The aunual meeting held in March was, by (be General
Court, on the 1^^ day of June, declared ntdl and void, and on the 2tii'>
day of July the following board was chosen: Capt. John Jooea, Eben-
ezer Kimbal, Deacon Beojamin Burnap, Lieut. John Wood.
l737-^'i^ — John Junes, Peter How, Isaac Wliitoey, Benjamin Buma[i,
Jr., John Wood.
1738-:{0— John Joues, Joseph Haven, Peter How, Jabez Dodge, Eben-
«zer KimlMl.
\T.iO~M* — John Joues, James Goocb, John Haden, Ebenezer Kimbal,
Benj. Bumap.
1710-41— John Jones, Joseph Haven, James Goocb, John Wood, Joseph
Houghton.
1741-12— Capt. tioocb, Benj. Burnap, Thomas Walker, Lieut. Wood,
Jacob Gibbs.
1742-43 — lohn Jones, Jamei Goocb, Charles Morris, Capt. Dench,
Deacon Kimble.
1743-H — John Jones, Capt. James Gooch, Charles iMorria, Henry
Mellen, Roger Dench.
1744-45— Major John Joues, Henry Melleu, Thomai Walker, C. Mor-
ris, Benj. Wood.
1745-46 — John Jones, James Guoch, Henry Slelleo, Cbarles Morris,
Beuj. Burnap.
1746-17— Peter Huw, John Wood, Thomas Walker, John Jones, Joseph
Haven.
1747-48 — James Goocb, John Jones, Dec. Kimble, Solomon Parks,
Dec. Mellen.
1748— 10— Johu Jones, James Gooch, Heury Mellen, John Wood,
Thomas Walker.
1749-50 — John Jones, Benj. Wood, Heiuy Mellen, James Work, John
Rock wood.
1750-51 — .John Wootl, Daniel Bumap, Timothy Townsend, Joseph
Cody, Joseph Haven, Jr.
1752— ^ohn Wilson, Heury Mellen, John Jonee, Thomaa Wood, JaMon
Walker.
1753 — John Wilson, Joseph Wood, Jacob Gibbs, Beoj. Wood, George
Camel.
1754 — John Wilson, Henry Mellen, Joseph Wood, James Work,
Eleazer Rirler.
1755— John Wood, Joseph Cody, John Nutt, John Wilson, Henry Mel-
len.
17.56 — Thomas Mellen, Joseph Albee, Lamsou Jones, Caleb Claflin,
John Wood.
1757— Thomafi Mullen, Joseph Albee, John Wilson, John Jones, John
I 'bamberlain.
1758— Joseph Albee, Jobn Wilson, Thomas Mellen, Ricfaard Smitb,
James Nutt.
1759— Jobn Wood, Samuel Cbamberluin, Joseph Mellen, John Wilson,
Jason Walker.
1760-^ohn Wilson, Joseph Mellen, Jacob Chamberlain, William
Eames, Israel Walker,
iS-k
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
1761— John WilflOD, Joseph Albee, Jamea Wark, John Johm, Joseph
Mellen.
1762 — John WilBon, John Homea, John Jonee, Jr., Joeeph Mellen,
Samuel Chamberlain.
1763 — Thomaa Mellen, Timothy Towneeod, John Holmes, John Cham-
berlaJD, Jacob Gibbs.
1704— John Wilson, John Jonee, John Albee, John Nutt, Samuel
Chamberlain.
1765 — John Jones, James Wark, Thomas Mellen, Timothy Townsend,
Samnel Chamberlain.
1766— John Wilson, Joseph Mellen, John Chamberlain, Jacob Gibbs,
John Oebom.
17C7— Joseph Mellen, John Wilson, Eleazer Rider, Timothy Town-
send, Jamee Nutt.
1768— Thomaa Mellen, Joseph Albee, Timothy Townsend, John Cham*
berlain, Abraham Tilton.
1769— Jaaon Walker, John Holmes, John Jones, James Wark, John
Clark.
1770 — John Wilson, Jbboh Walker, John Jones, Joseph Wood, Samuel
Parks.
1771— Joseph Mellen, Samuel Chamberlain, Roger Dench, Elisba
Havden, James Hiscock.
1772— John Wilson, John Holmes, James Nutt, Samuel Purks, Roger
Dench.
1773— Thomas Mellen, Decon HaTen. Samuel Chamberlain, Gilbert
Dench. William Andrews.
1774 — Captain Mellen, Captain Townsend, Jasper Daniels, Jacob
GIbba, Colonel Jones.
1775— Captain Holmes. Samuel Parks, Barrekiae Morse, Gilbert Denrb.
Jasper Daulel.
1776— Captain Holmes, Coluoel Jones, Barreklas Morse. Saoiuel
Parka, Ebenezer (Jaflin, Jr.
1777— Colonel Jooes, Moses Haven, Samuel Parks, Samuel Bnwker,
Walter McFarland.
1778— Colonel Jones, Barreklas .\Iorde, Captain Dench, Edmund
Chamb«rlain, Henry Mellen.
1779— Colonel Jones, Barrekias Morse, Samuel Parks, Captain Holmes,
Isaac Clark, Jr.
1780— Captain Dench, David Cutler, Captain Eames, Uaac Clark,
Samuel Hayden.
1781— Colonel Joneg, Bars. Morse, Captain Holmes, Henry Mellen,
]\Iatthew Medcalf. '
1782- Henry Mellen, Matthew Medcalf, Abner Fiake, Captain Mc-
Farland, Jamea Freeland.
1783~-Matthew Medcalf, t^'aptain Holmes, Bars. Morse, Isaac (''lark,
Isaac Burnap.
1784 — Colonel Jones, Matthew Medcalf, David Cutler. Samuel Haven,
John Freeland.
1786 — Matthew Medcalf, Bars. Morse, Henry Mellen, James Nutt,
John Hayden.
1786 — Captain Holmes, Colonel Jone«, Bars. Morse, Samuel Pnrkj*,
Ebenezer Claflin, Jr.
1787— Captain Walter McFarland, Llentenant Abel Fiske, Isaac Bur-
nap, Captain N. Perry, Jeremiah Stlmpson.
1788 — Captain Gilbert Dench, Captain John Holmea, Lieutenant Isaac
Burnap, Joaeph Walker, Captain Nathaniel Perry.
1789 — Henry Mellen, Joseph Walker, Samuel Haven, Nehemiah How,
Timothy Townsend.
1790— Abel Fibke, Walter McFarland, Henry Mellen, John O. Wil-
BOD, Benj. Adams.
1791— Abel Fiske, Henry Mellen, laaac Burnap, Aaron Claflin, Wm.
Vajentioa.
1792- Henry Mellen, Walter McFarland, Nehemiah How, Wm. Val
eotine.
1793— Matthew Metcalf, Colonel Nathan Perry, .Joseph Walker, Wm.
Valentine, Wm. Nutt.
1794 — Henry Mellen, Nehemiah How, Joeeph Walker, Nathan Perry,
John Goulding.
1795 — Joseph Walker, Nehemiah How, S&muel Haven, Dr. Jeremy
Stimpflon, Eleazer Perry.
1796 — Joeeph Walker, Nehemiah How, Samuel HarsD, Isaac Bumsp
Moees Berry.
1797 — Joeeph Walker, Nehemiah IJow, Samuel Haren, Isaac Burnap,
Johnathan Steams.
1798 — Joaeph Walker, Henry Mellen, Nathan Perry, Nehemiah How,
John HaTen.
1799 — Timothy Shepard, Henry Mellen, Nathan Perry, Joel Norcross,
Joaiab Bockwood.
1800 — Dr. Shepard . Henry Mellen, Dec. Walker, Nathan Perry, Capt.
Wm. Wood.
IgOi— Nathan Perry, Nehemiah How, Walter McFarland, Johnathan
Stearns, Wm. Wood.
1802 — Nathan Perry, Wm. Wood, Asa Eames, Johnathan Steams.
1803— Timothy Shepard, Nathan Perry, Moses Chamberlain, Josiah
Lockwood, Sampson Bridges.
1804 — Timothy Shepard, Benj. Adams. Joel Norcross, Beuj. Pond,
Isaac Burnap.
1805— Benj. Adams, Benj. Pnnd, Joel Norcross, Moses Chamberlain.
John Goulding.
1806— Moses Chamberlain, Benj. Adams, Benj. Pond, Abijah Ellis.
Joseph Morse.
1807— Asa Eames, Abijah Ellis. Samuel Pliippe. .\aron Smith. Benj.
I Herrick.
1&08— Abijah Ellia, Samuel Phipps, Abel Smith. Daniel White, Fisher
Metcalf.
1809— Abijah Elli", Samuel Phipps, Nnthan Peny, KUfha Adams,
Joseph Morse.
LSio— Walter McFarland, Nathan Perry, Joel Norcross, Joseph Val-
entine, Amezlah Clattin.
1811— Moses Chamberlain. Nathan Perry, J^jseph Walker (M), Perry
Daniels, Joel Norcross.
1812— Joseph Valentine, Joel Norcross, Nathaniel Luring, Isaac Bur
nap, David Eames.
1813 — Joseph Valentine, .\maziah Claflin, Sathnoiel Loring, David
Eames, Samson Bridges.
1814 — Joseph Valentine, Amii/.tah Clndin, Samson Bridgep, Wm.
Rockwood, Wm. W(H>d.
1815— Joseph Valentine, Ama^iah f^laflin, Wm. Wnrnl, Wm. Rock-
wood, Joseph Walker.
1816 — Benj. Adams, Joseph W.ilker, Samson Bridgen, Nathwn Phipps,
Wm. Rockwood.
1817 — Nathan Phipps. Samson Bridges. Joseph Wnlker, Isaac Homes,
.loseph Smith.
181R— Nathan Phipi»s, Sdmson Bridges, Isaac Homep, Joseph Smith,
Joseph Morse.
1810— Joseph Valentine, Siiuison Bridges, Amasiali Clatlin, David
Eames, Elijah Fitch.
1820— Joseph Valentiue, Nathan Phipps, Sameon Bridges. Elijah
Fitch, Isaac Homes.
1821— Nathan Phipps, Samson Bridges, ?:iijah Fitch, Isaac Homes,
Thomas Buckley.
1822 — Nathan Phipps, .Irweph Valpiitine. Michael Homer, Nnthan
Woolaon, Carlton Corbett.
1823 — Joseph Valentine, Elijah Fitch, Carlton Corbett, .Alirhaei
Homer, Samuel Prentiss.
1821— Joseph Valentine, Nathan Phipps, Samson Bridges, Arba
Thayer, Daniel Singletary.
1825 — Joseph Valentine, Nathan Phipjis, Arba Thayer, William J^'oi-
son, Mathew Metcalf.
1826 — Nathan Phipps, Arba Thayer, Mathew Metcalf, William Jeni-
6on, Timothy Perry.
18-'7— Nathan Phipps, Arl»a Thayer, Mathew Metcalf, Timothy Perr>-,
Nathan .\damB.
1828— Abraham Harrington, .\rba Tliayer, Mathew Metcalf, Timothy
Perry, John Goulding, Jr.
1829 — Mathew Metcalf, Nathan Phipps. James Jackson, Aaron Smith,
John H Jones.
18;iC— Mathew Metcalf, Nathan Phipps. Arba Thayer, John H. Jones,
Amnsa Eames.
1831— Samuel B. Walcott, Arba Thayer, Aniara Eames, Nathan Ad-
ams, Richard Ganiage.
1832— Samuel B. Walcott, Mathew Metcalf, Amaziah Clatlin, Samson
Bridges. Richard Gumage.
1833 — Samuel B. Walcott, Nathan Phipps, Sams<m Bridges, Ezra
Haskel, John Stone.
1834— Samuel B. Walcott. Nathan Phipps, Samson Bridges, Amara
Eames, Ezra Haskel.
Ift35 — Samuel B. Walcott, Nathan Phipps, .\niara Eames, John Stone,
Samuel D. Davenport.
1836 — Samuel B. Walcott, Moses Phipps, Samson Bridges, Josiah Bur-
nam, Cromwell Glbbs.
1837— Nathan Phipps, Josiah Bnrnam, Cromwell Glbbs, Albert Wood,
Abner Albee.
HOPKINTON.
785
1838-Albert Wood, Amara EimiBS, Josiah Bamam, WiUiard Wads-
worth, Silas Mirick.
1839-Mathew Metcalf, Williard Wadswortb, WUllam A. Phipp.,
Joseph Woodward, William Adams.
1840-Williard Wadsworth, Joseph Woodward, William Adams, Mont-
gomery Bixby, Nathan Coburn.
184l-Mose8 Phipps, Nehemiah Pierce, Williard Wadsworth, Jona-
Phelps, Silas Jloore.
1842-M08ee Phipps, Nehemiah Phipps, A. K. EUsry, Benjamin Homer,
Almore Adams.
lg4.3_Amata Eames, Nehemiah Pierce, Abram R. Ellery.
18«-Amai» Eames, Albert Wood, John Workee, William A. Phipps,
Addison Thompson. „ . . „
18«-Amara Eames, Cromwell Gibbs, WUIiam ScaTer, CalTin Dyer,
John Workee.
1846-eromwell Gibbs, Nehemiah Pierce, Nathan P. Cobnrn.
m7-IIenry Waldron, Charles Seayer, Joseph Woodward, Benjamin,
F. Herrick, Augustus Phipps. _> „ p
18W-Augustu8 Phipps, Oharles Seaver, Joseph Woodward, Benj. f .
Herrick, Almon Adams.
1849_William A. Phipps, William aaHln, Isaac V. Adams, Lowell
Clallin, Hiram Comee. „ . ,. „ t
1850-Wllliam Claflin, Isaac V. Adams, Dexter Rice, Unah Bowker,
A. G. Walker.
mi-Albert Wood, Samuel D. Davenport, Eltokim A. Bates, John A.
Bazley, David W. Eames.
18S2-Albert Wood. A. G. Walker, I'riah Bowker, William Adams,
Cromwell Gibbs. ,, • u
1853-Augustua Phipps, Joseph Woodward, Amaaa Pierce, Uriah
Bowker, Artenius Johnson.
18.54-Albert Wood, Uriah Bowker, A. W. Johnson, Amasa Pierce,
Cromwell Gibbs. „ , r>
1856— IMHC V. Adams, Almond Adams, Addison Thompson, Samuel D.
Daveuport. . ,„ , w
1856-Almon Adams, I. V. Adams, Ambrose Woolson, A. W. Johnson,
Cromwell (Jibbs. ..,„„, ,» ■ i t
1857-Albert Woods, A. W. Johnson, C. W. OaBin, Daniel T.
DridKes, F. B. Miinsfteld.
1858-Almond .\danis,C. W. Claflin, D. T. Bridges, P. B. H. Matthews,
David Eauies, „ . „ .
1859-B. K. Herrick, F. B. Mansfield, Gardner Parker, E. A. Bates,
Darid Eames.
1860— E. A. Bates, F. B. Mansfield, Otis L. Woods, David Eames,
L. B. JIayberry.
1861-N. P. Coburn, E. A. Bates, B. F. Mansfisld, David Eames, Otis
L. Woods.
1862-N. P. Cobum, E. A. Bates, Gardner Parker, C. P. Morse, Thoe.
Meade.
1863-N. P. Coburn, E. A. Bates, Gardner Parker, C. P. Morse, Thos.
"iSe'-N. P. Cobum, E. A. Bates, Gardner Parker, C. P. Morse, Thos.
IStiJ^E. A- Bates, E. Thompson, Thoe. Meade, Charles Seaver, M. C.
Pliippe.
1866-E. A. Bale^ E. Thompeoo, M. C. Phipps.
lSti7-B. A. Date., M. C. Phipps, S. 8. Maybtr, Thos. Meade, Sylves-
'"l8M-E. A. Bates, M. C. Phipps. S. M. Kyes, 0. L. Woods, R. M.
^°1869-R. M. Fahey.OtisL. Woods, J. FiUgerald, Addison Pine.
1870— F.. A. Bates, B. M. Fahey, Robert C. Jenkins, Amssa Pierce,
John Fitzgerald.
1871-Wm. A. Phipps M. C. Phipps, Deiter Rice, Wm. B. Claflin,
Owen Woods.
1872-Wm. A. Phipps, M. C. Phipps, Wm. B. Claflin, Owen Wood,
F. W. Wood. ^ „ ,
187:i_Wm. A. Phipp^ M. C. Phipps, Wm. B. Claflin, Owen Wood,
F. W. Wood.
1874^Wm. A. Phipps, M. C. Phlpps, Wm. B. Ctaflin, Owen 'Wood,
F. W. Wood. „, ,
1875-W. A. Phipps, M. C. Phipps, Wm B. Claftln, Owen Woods, F.
W. Woods.
1876— Owen Woods, Albert Adams, Henry Flynn.
1877— Owen Wood, Martin R Phipp^ Henry nynn.
187g_Ow«n Wood, Martin B. Phipps, Henry Flynn.
1879—31. C. Phipps, C. Meserre, 0. 0. White.
50-iii
1880-C. Meeerve, M. C. Phipps, D. J. O'Brien, M. M. Woods, Wm.
0*8haughneBsy.
1881— C. Meeerve, D. J. O'Brien, M. M. Woods.
1882-M. C. Phipps, D. J. O'Brien, M. M. Woods. L. H. Wakefield,
Wm. O'Shaughnessy. -
1883-Erastus Thompson, D. J. O'Brien. M. M. Woods. M. C. Phipps,
John Phslan. „v i _
1884-Era.tas Thompson, D. J. O'Brien, M. M. Woods. John Phehui.
Horace Wood.
1885— Horace Wood,D. J. O'Brien, John Phelan.
1886- Horace Wood, D. J. O'Brten, John PheUn, Granby A. Bridges,
Gardner P. Woods.
1887-M. M. Woods, D. J. O'Brien, John Phelan, Horace Wood, B.
M. Fahy.
1888-M. M. Woods, Philip H. Carroll, Horace Phipps.
1889— Horace Phipps, Marcus »L Woods, John Longhlln.
1890— H. Phipps, John LoughUn. Fred A. Wood.
A list of the moderators of the annual meetings,
treasurer, clerk and representative of each year:
1724-John How. moderator; Elnathan Allen, treasurer; John How.
clerk. ^ .
1724-25— Henry Mellen. moderator; John Jones, treasurer; Josepn
Haven, clerk.
1725-25-John How. moderator ; John How, treasurer ; Joseph Hav-
en, clerk.
172G-27-John How, moderator; John How, treasurer; Joseph Hav-
en, clerk.
1727-28— Henry Walker, moderator; John How. treasurer; Henry
Walker, clerk.
1728-29— Henry Walker, moderator ; Daniel Claflin, treasurer ; Jowpn
Haven, clerk.
1729-30— Henry Walker, moderator; Daniel Claflin, treasurer;
Henry Walker, clerk.
1730-31-John Jones, moderator; Daniel Claflin, treasurer; Jo«ph
Haven, clerk.
1731-32 -John Jones, moderator; Daniel CTaflin. treasurer; Joseph
Haven, clerk.
1732-^3— Paul Langdon. moderator ; Daniel Claflin, treasurer ; Joseph
Haven, clerk.
1733-34— Johu Jones, moderator ; Daniel CUflin, treasurer ; Joseph
Haven, clerk.
1734-35-John Jones, moderator; Daniel Claflin, treasurer; Joseph
Haven, clerk ; John Jones, representative.
1736-36-Peter How, moderator; Daniel Oaflin. treasurer; Daniel
Claflin, clerk ; Capt. John Jones, repraentative.
1736-37-John Jones, moderator ; Thomas Walker, treasurer ; Peter
How. clerk.
July 26th- John Jones, moderator; Thomas Walker, treasurer;
Ebenezer Klmbal, clerk.
1737-38— John Jones, moderator ; Thomas Walker, treasurer ; Peter
How. clerk-
1738-39— John Jones, moderator; Nathaniel Smith, treasurer; Peter
How, clerk-
1739-40— John Jone^ moderator; Joeeph Haven, treasurer; Peter
How, clerk ; John Jones, representative.
1740-41-John Jones, moderator ; Joseph Haven, treasurer ; Joseph
Haven, clerk ; John Jones, representative.
1741-42— Capt. Oooch, moderator ; Thoipas WaUter, treasurer ; Joseph
Haven, clerk ; John Jones, representative.
1742-43— John Jones, moderator ; Tbomss Walker, treasurer; Charles
Morris, clerk ; John Jones, repreaenUUve.
1713 11 John Jones, moderator; Thomas Walker, treasurer ; Charles
Morris, clerk ; John Jones, representative.
1711 15 John Jones, moderator; Thomas Walker, treasurer ; Charles
Morris, clerk ; John Jones, representative.
1745_46— John Jones, moderator; Thomas Walker, treasurer; Charles
Morris, clerk ; John Jones, representative.
1746_17— John Jones, moderator ; Thomas Walker, treasurer ; James
Gooch, clerk ; John Jones, representoUve.
1747_j8— James Gooch, moderator ; Thomas WaUter, treasurer ; James
Gooch, clerk.
174g_49— John Jones, moderator ; Thomas Walker, trsasnrar ; James
Gooch, clerk.
1749-50— John Jones, moderator; Thomas Walker, treasurer ; Thomas
Walker, clerk ; John Jones, representative.
786
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
1760-51 — John Jones^ moderator ; Tbomaa Walker, treasurer ; Thr mas
Walker, clerk.
1752 — Joeepb Haven, moderator ; Tbomaa Walker, treasurer ; Tbomas
Walker, clerk.
1753 — John Wilson, moderator ; Timotby TowDsend, treasurer ; Tbomas
Walker, clerk.
1754 — Heary Mellen, moderator; Josepb Haven, treasurer; Tbomas
Walker, clerk.
1755— Henry Mellen, moderator; Joseph Haven, treasurer ; Tbomas
Walker, clerk.
1756 — .Jobn Jones, moderator ; Timothy Townsend, treasurer ; Tim-
othy Townsend, clerk.
1757 — John Wildoa, moderator; Timothy Towosend, treasurer ; Tim-
othy Townsend, clerk.
1758 — Henry Mellen, moderator ; Timothy Towoseod, treasurer ;
Timothy Towoseud, clerk.
1759 — Henry Mellen, moderator ; Timothy Townsend, treasurer ;
Timothy Townsend, clerk.
1760 — Tbunias Mellen, moderator; Jacob Gibbs, treasurer; Jobn
WilttOQ, clerk ; Jobn Jones, represuntative.
1761 — John Jones, moderator; Jasoo Walker, treasurer; John Wil-
80D, clerk.
1762 — Jobn Jones, moderator; Jason Walker, treHSurer ; John Wil-
son, clerk.
1763 — Tbomas Mellen, moderator ; Jaaon Wulker, treasurer : Jason
Wnlker, clerk ; Jubn Jones, representative.
1764 — John Jones, modertttor ; Jason Walker, treasurer , Jaeoo
Walker, clerk.
1765 — Tbomas Mellen, moderator ; Jason Walker, treasurer ; Jason
Walker, clerk ; John Jones, representative.
17G6 — Thomas Melleu, moderator; JaAon Walker, treH>^nrpr; Jnet'O
Walker, clerk,
1767 — Juitepb MelUn, moderator ; Jason Walker, irt>itsurer ; JHtfon
Walker, clerk ; Joseph Mellen, reprewntatiTe.
1768 — Joseph Mellen, moderator; Jason Walker, treasurer ; Jason
Walker, clerk ; Joseph Mellen, representatire.
17G9 — Jobn Wilson, moderator; John Abbe, treasurer; .Juhn Abbe,
clerk ; Joseph Mellen, representative.
177U — John Wilson, moderator; Jobn Abbe, treasurer; Jobn Abbe,
clerk.
1771~Jobn Wilson, moderator; Joseph Mellen, treasurer; Samuel
Barrett, Jr., clerk ; Joseph Mellen, representative.
1772 — Samuel Chamberlain, moderator ; Jacob Gihba, treasurer; Saiu.
uel Barrett, Jr., clerk ; John AVilson, representative.
1773— Thomas Mellen, moderator ; Jacob Gibbs, treasurer ; Samuel
Barrett, clerk ; Jobn Wilson, representative.
1774 — Capt. Mellen, moderator ; Jacob Gibbs, treasurer; Samuel Bar-
rett, clerk; Capt. Mellen, representative.
1775 — John Homes, moderator ; Jobn Homes, treuurer; Samuel Bar-
rett, clerk.
1776 — Col. Jonee, moderator ; Jamei Nutt, treasurer; Samuel Barrett,
clerk ; Jobn Homes, representative.
1777 — Col. Jonee, moderator; Jumes Nutt, treasurer; Samuel Bar-
rett, clerk.
1778 — Capt. Dencb, moderator ; James Nutt, treasurer ; Samuel Bar-
rett, clerk.
1779 — CoL Jonea, moderator; James Nutt, treasurer; Samuel Bar-
rett, clerk.
1780 — Capt. Dench, moderator ; David Cutter, treasurer ; Samuel Bar-
rett, clerk ; Gilbert Dencb, repreaeotative.
17SI — C^t. Dencb, moderator ; David Cutter, treasurer ; Samuel Bar-
rett, clerk ; Gilbert Dencb, representative.
1782 — Col. Jones, moderator ; Jotteph Walker, treasurer ; Samuel Bar-
rett, clerk ; Gilbert Dencb, representative.
1783 — Matbew MetcaU; moderator ; Joseph Walker, treaauriir ;
Samoel Barrett, clerk.
1784 — Col. Jones, moderator ; Jowpb Walker, treasurer ; Samuel Bar-
rett, clerk.
1785 — Matbew Metcalf, moderator; Joeepb Wulker, treasurer;
Samuel Barrett, clerk ; Gilbert Dencb, representative.
1786— Col. Jonea, moderator ; James Nutt, treasurer ; Samuel Barrett
clerk ; Walter McFarland, representative.
1787 — Matbew Metcalf, moderator ; Matbew Metcalf, treasurer ;
Tbomaa Freeland, clerk ; Gilbert Dencb, representative.
1788 — Gilbert Dencb, moderator ; Matbew Metcalf, treasurer ;
Tbomaa Freeland, clerk ; Walter McFarland, representative.
1789 — Gilbert Dencb, moderator; Matbew .Metcalf, treasurer, Tbomas
Freeland, clerk.
1790 — Gilbert Dencb, moderator ; Samuel Haven, treasurer ; Tbomas
Freeland, Jr., clerk ; Eben Olaflln, representative.
1791 — Dr. Jeremy Stimpson, moderator ; Samuel Haven, treasurer ;
Tbomas Freeland, Jr., clerk ; Eben Clafliu, representative.
1792 — Henry Mellen, moderator ; Samuel Haven, treasurer ; Tbomas
Freeland, clerk.
1793 — Matbew Metcalf, moderator ; Samuel Haven, treasurer ; Tbomas
Freeland, clerk ; Matbew Metcalf, representative.
171*1 — Dr. Jobn Nelson, moderator; Timothy Townsend, treasurer;
Tbomas Freeland, clerk ; Matbew Metcalf, representative.
1795 — Gilbert Dench, modei-ator ; Timotby Townsend, treasurer ;
Thomas Freeland, clerk ; Matbew Metcnlf, representative.
1796 — John O. Wilson, moderator; Moses Chamberlain, treasurer;
Thomas Freeland, clerk ; Gilbert Dencb, representative.
1797 — John 0. Wilson, moderator; Moses Chamberlain, treasurer.
Thomas Freeland, clerk ; Walter McFartand, representative.
1798 — Walter McFarland, moderator ; Moses Chamberlain, treasurer ;
Tbomaij Freeland, clerk ; Walter McFartaud, representative.
1799 — Timothy Sbepard, moderator ; Closes Chamberluio, treasurer ;
Epbrm. Read, clerk ; Walter McFarland, representative.
18(fO — DocL Sbepard, moderator ; .Closes Chamberlain, treasurer ,
Ephrm. Read, clerk ; Dr. Sbepard, representative.
I8U1 — Walter McFarland, modeiutor ; Joseph Walker, treasurer;
Ephr. Read, clerk ; Timothy Sbepard, representative.
1802 — AsaEames, moderator, Joseph Walker, treasurer; Ephr. Read,
rlerk.
1803 — Timorby Sbepard, moderator . Joseph Wulker, treasurer , Ephr.
Read, clerk ; Dr. Shepard, representarive.
18U4 — Walter McFarland, uu>der.i(or ; Joseph Walker, treasurer ;
Epbr. Read, clerk ; Wnlter McFarland, reprenentaiive.
1805 — Mosetj t'lianiberlaiii, moderator ; Jost-pb Walker, treasurer ;
Ephr. Read, clerk ; \\alter McF;irIand, reiiresentaiive.
18116 — Moses Chamberlain, moderator ; Johti Goulding, treasurer ;
Epbr. Bead, clerk ; Walter McFarland, reprea«ntati^e.
1807 — Asa Eanies, moderator ; John GouMinj;, treasurer ; Epbr. Read,
clerk ; Walter McFarland, representative.
1808 — Asa Eames, motlerator ; Jobn Goulding, treasurer ; Epbr.
Read, clerk ; Walter McFarlaud, representative.
1609 — Moses Cbantberlaiu, moderator ; Jobn Goulding, treasurer ;
Epbr. Read, clerk ; Walter McFarland, representative.
1810 — Moses Chamberlain, moderator ; John Goulding, treasurer ;
Ephr. Read, clerk ; Moses Chamberlain, representative.
1811 — Moses Chamberlain, moderator; John Goulding, treasurer;
Epbr. Read, clerk ; Moses Chamberlain, representative.
IHlJ — Joseph \iilentioe, moderator , Tbomas Bucklln, treasurer ;
Ephr. Read, clerk ; Joseph Valentine aud Moses Chamberlain, represen-
tatives.
1813 — Joseph Valentine, moderator; Thomas Bucklin, treasurer;
Epbr. Read, clerk; Joeepb Valentine and Moses Chamberlain, represen-
tatives.
1814 — Joseph Valentine, moderator; Tbomas Bncklin, treasurer;
Epbr. Read, clerk.
1815— Joeepb Valentine, moderator; Tbomas Bucklin, treasurer;
Ephr. Read, clerk.
1816 — Nathan Phlppe. moderator; Thomas Bucklin, treasurer; Epbr.
Read, clerk ; Nathan Phippsand Walter McFarland, represeotaliveH.
1817— Nathan Phippe, moderator ; Tbomas Bucklin, treasurer ; Ephr.
Read, clerk.
1818 — Nathan Phippe, moderator; Thomas Bucklin, treasurer; Ephr.
Read, clerk,
1819 — Nathan Phippe, moderator ; Thomas Bucklio, treasurer; Ephr.
Read, clerk.
18'-") — Joseph Valentine, moderator ; Moees Chamberlain, treasurer ;
Ephr. Read, clerk ; Nathan Pbipps, representative.
1821— Nathan Pbipps, moderator; Moses Chamberlain, treasurer;
Epbr. Read, clerk.
1822 — Nathan Pbipps, moderator; Moses Chamberlain, treasurer;
Epbr. Read, clerk ; Joseph Valentine, representative.
1823 — Joseph Valentine, moderator; Moses Chamberlain, treasurer;
Ephr. Bead, clerk ; Joeepb Valentine, representative.
1824 — Joseph Valentine, moderator; Moees Chamberlain, treasurer;
Epbr. Read, clerk ; Joseph Valentine, representative.
1825 — Joseph Valentine, moderator; Moeee Chamberlain, treasurer ;
Epbr. Read, clerk ; Joseph Valentine, repreeentative.
HOPKINTON.
787
1826 — Xathao Phippe, moderator; Sloees Cbamberlain, treasarer;
Ephr. Read, clerk ; Nathan Phfpps, representative.
1827 — Natban Phipps, moderator; Moses CUamberlalD. treasurer;
D. Siogletary, clerk; Thomas Bucklin, represeotative.
1828 — A. Harrington, moderator; Moses Chamberlain, treasurer; D.
Ringletary, clerk.
1829— Xatban Phippe, moderator; Moses Chamberlain, treasurer ; D.
Singlelary, clork ; Thomas Bucklin, Matthew Mctcalf, representatives.
1830— Nathan Phipps, moderator; Moses Chamberlain, treasarer ; D.
Siogletary, clerk ; Mathew Metcalf, representative.
1931 — Nathan Adams, moderator; D. Siogletary, treasurer; D. Single-
tary, clerk ; S. B. Walcott, representative.
1832— S. B. Walcott, moderator ; D. Singletary, treamirer ; D. Single-
tary« clerk.
1833 — S. B. Walcott, moderator; Daniel Eames, treasurer; D. Single-
tary, clerk; 3. B. Walcott, representative.
1S31 — S. B. Walcott, moderator ; D. Singletary, treasurer ; D. Single-
tary, clerk ; S. B. Walcott, Nathan Phipps, representatives.
18.15 — Nathan Phippe, moderator; D. Singletary, treasurer ;' D.
Singletary. clerk ; S. B. Walcott, Nathan Phipps, representutives.
1836— S. B. Walcott, moderator ; D. Singletary, treasurer ; D. Single-
tary, clerk ; 3. B. Walcott, Michael Homer, representatives.
18.*n — Nathan Phipps, moderator ; D. Singletary, treasurer ; D.
Singletary, clerk ; .Teffrees Hall, representatives.
1838 — Amara Eames, moderator; Augt. Phipps, treasurer ; D. Single-
tary, clerk ; Moses Phippe, Jefferson Pratt, representatives.
1839— Mathew Metcalf, moderator; Daniel Singletary, treasurer; D.
Singletary, clerk ; Jefferson Pratt, Amara Eamep, representatives.
1840 — .A.mara Eames, moderator ; .Marshiill Whitney, treasurer ; D.
Singletary, clerk ; Jefferson Pratt, representative.
1841 — S. D. Walcott, /uoderator ; Marshall Whitney, treasurer ; Augt,
Phipps, clerk : Amara Eames, representative.
1842 — S. B. Walcott, moderator; Marshall Whitney, trewurer ; .A,ugt.
Phippe, clerk ; Marshall Whitney, representative.
1843— Amara Eames, moderator ; Marshall Whitney, treasurer ;
Augt. Pliipps, clerk ; Neh. Pierce, representative.
1844 — .\lbert Wood, raodemtor ; J. Pratt, treasurer ; Augt. Phipps,
clerk ; Jueiiah Burnam, representative.
1815 — Amara Eames, nuKlerator ; Nathan A. Phipps, treasurer; Augt.
Phipps, clerk.
164&^.\bijah Ellis, niodenitor ; \. C. Putnam, treasurer; Augt.
Phipps, clerk ; S. B. Walcott, representative.
1847— Amara Eames, moderator ; A. C. Putnam, treasurer; A. H.
Keith, clerk ; Augt. Phippe, represenUtive.
1848 — 3. B. Walcott, moderator ; A. C. Putnam, treasurer ; A. H.
Keith, clerk ; William ('laflin, representative.
1849 — Augt. Phipps, moderator; A. C. Putnam, treasurer ; W. Wood-
ard (2d), clerk ; William Claflin, representative.
1850 — .Albert Wood, moderator ; \. C. Putnam, treasurer ; W. Wood-
ard (2d), clerk ; William Claflin, representative.
1851 — Augt. Pnipps, moderator ; A. C. Putnam, treasurer ; L. P. Co-
burn, clerk ; William Clatlin, representative.
1852 — Augt. Phipps, moderator ; A. C. Putnam, treasurer ; U. P. Co-
bum, clerk ; Levi P. Coburn, representative.
18.^3 — Augt. Phipps, moderator ; A. i". Putnam, treasurer ; L. P. Co-
burn, clerk; John A. Fitch, representative,
1864 — Daniel Eames, rao<lerator ; A. C. Pntnam, treasurer ; J. A.
Tillinghast, clerk ; John A. Fetch, representative.
1855 — John Fetch, moderator; John S. Crook, treasurer; J. A. Till-
inghast, clerk ; Uriah Bowker, representative.
1R56 — Alltert Wood, moderator; John 3. Crook, treasurer; J. A. Till-
inghast, clerk ; Albert Wood, representative.
18o7 — Albert Wood, moderator ; .1. Whittemore, treasurer ;'J. A. Till-
inghast, clerk ; Albert Wood, representative.
1858 — Daniel Eames, moderator ; J. Whittemore, 'treasurer ; J. A. Till-
inghast, clerk ; W. F. Ellis, representative.
1859 — Albert Wood, moderator ; J. Whittemore, treasurer ; J. A. Till-
inghast, clerk ; Wm. A. Phipp, representative.
1860 — Albert Wood, moderator ; J. Whittemore, treasurer ; J. A. Till-
inghast, clerk ; Hilton Clafiio, representative.
1861 — Albert Wood, moderator ; J. Whittemore, treasurer ; J. A. Till-
inghast, clerk ; Benj. Homer, representative.
1SG2 — Daniel Eames, moderator; J. Whittemore, treasurer ; J. Till-
inghast, clerk ; Erastns Thompson, representative.
1863 — C. P. Mor«e, moderator; J. Whittemore, treasurer; J. Tilling-
hast, clerk ; N. P. Cobumu^representative.
1864 — N. P. Cobum, moderator; J. Whittemore, treasurer; J. A.
Woodbury, clerk; John Clark, representative.
l86o-~C. Meserve, moderator ; J. Whittemore, treasurer ; J. A. Wood-
bury, clerk ; E. S. Thayer, representative.
1866 — C. Meeerve, moderator ; J . 3. Tileston, treasurer ; J. A. Wood-
bury, clerk ; L. H. Bowker, representative.
1867 — C. Meserve, moderator ; L. B. Mayberry, treasurer ; J. A.
Woodbury, clerk ; J. N. Pike, representative.
1868 — C. Meserve, moderator; L. B. Maybry, treasurer; J. C. P&lmer,
clerk; M C. Phipps, representative.
1869 — J. Whittemore, moderator; L. B. Maybry, treasurer; C. Mes-
erve, clerk ; E. A. Bates, representative.
1870 — J. A. Fitch, moderator; L. B. Maybry, treasurer ; C. Meserve,
clerk ; J. A. Pike, representative.
1871 — J. A. Woodbury, moderator ; L. B. Maybry, treasurer ; C. Mes
erve, clerk ; A. C. Putnam, representative.
I872^J. A. Woodbury, moderator ; L. B. Maybry, treasurer ; B. F.
Coburu, clerk ; M. L. Buck, representative.
1873 — C. fileserve, moderator ; L. B. Maybry, treasurer ; B. F. Co-
burn, clerk; Chas. Aldeo, representative.
1874 — 0. Meserve, moderator; L. B. Maybry, treasurer ; B. F. Co-
liiirn, clerk ; C. Meserve, representative.
1875 — C. Meserve, moderator ; L. B. Maybry, treasurer ; B. F. Co-
hum, clerk; £. A. Bates, representative.
1876 — J. A. Woodbury, moderator; L. B. Maybry, treasurer; B. F.
Cobum, clerk ; Wm. F. Ellis, representative.
1877 — J. A. Woodbury, moderator; L. B. Maybry, treasurer; J.
Whittemore, clerk; John Mahon, representative.
1878 — C. Meserve, moderator; L. B. Slaybry, treasurer; J. Whitte-
more, clerk ; J. Whittemore, representative.
1879 — C. Meserve, moderator ; L. B. Itfaybry, treasurer ; J. Whitte-
more, clerk ; Silas F. Thayer, representative.
1880 — J. A. Woodbury, moderator ; L. B. Maybry, treasurer ; J. Whit-
temore, clerk ; Owen Wood, representative.
1881— C. Meserve, moderator ; Owen Wood, treasurer; 0. P. Wonder*
ly, clerk ; Owen Wood, repreeeutattve.
1882 — J. A. Woodbury, moderator ; Owen Wood, treasurer ; C. P.
Wonderly, clerk ; Caleb Holbrook, representative.
1883 — J. .A. Woodbury, moderator ; Owen Wood, treasurer ; C. P.
Wonderly, clerk: Cromwell McFurland, representative.
1884 — R. M. Fahey, moderator; Owen Wood, treasurer; 0. P. Won-
derly, clerk ; Aloozo Cobum, representative.
1885 — C. Sleserve, moderator ; Owen Wood, treasurer ; C. P. Wonder-
ly, clerk, Fred. N. Oxley, representative.
1886 — B. M. Fahey, moderator ; E. D. Bllas, treasurer ; C. P. Won-
derly, clerk ; D. J. O'Brien, representative.
1887— E. M. Fahey, moderator; E. L. Bridges, treasurer ; C. P. Won-
derly, clerk ; D. J. O'Brien, representative.
188*— R. M. Fahey, moderator ; E. L. Bridges, treasurer ; 0. P. Won-
derly, clerk ; Abner Greenwood, representative.
1889 — .J. A. Woodbury, moderator; E. L. Bridges, treasurer; O. P.
Wonderly, clerk , Alonzo Coburn, representative.
1890 — J. \. Woodbury, moderator; D. J. O'Brien, treasurer; John F.
Fitzgerald, clerk.
Military. — It appears that in the expedition
against the West Indies, in the Spanish War, in 1741,
the town furnished eleven men and a boy, who en-
listed under Captain Jonathan Prescott.
These men were: Henry Walker, Henry Walker,
Jr., Edward Caryl, Gideon Gould, Frances Parce,
Thomas Bellews, Eleazer Rider, Cornelius Clafton,
Samuel Frale, Samuel Clemons, Ebenezer Collar and
Samuel Rousseau. The affair waa badly managed;
disease set in, and only Gideon Gould and the boy,
Henry Walker, Jr., returned to Hopkinton.
The first record of money being granted for military
purposes was at the October meeting, 1743, when the
town voted £20, old tenor, with the addition of £2 al-
ready in the hands of Captain Jones, to provide a stock
of ammunition. This grant was probably made in
anticipation of war between France and England,
788
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Thia war was declared June 2, 1744, known in
America as " King George's War," and was well rep-
resented by Samuel Speen, Edward Bowker, Josiah
Bowker, John Kelley, John Devine, Gideon Gould,
Samuel Walker, Sr., Timothy Tounling, Capt. Charles
Morris, Ebenezer Hall, Jr., Robert Bowker, !Micah
Bowker, Jonathan Fairbanks, John Galloway, Eben-
ezer Hall, Isaac Jones, Elisha Kenney, Isaac Merse,
Benjamin Stewart, Edmund Shays, Patrick Shays>
Simpson Twamuch, John Watkin, Joshua Whitney,
John Wilson, Sr., and John Wilson, Jr. Patrick
Shays was the father of Daniel Shays, who afterward
was at the head of the well-known " Shays' Rebel-
lion." Sergeant John Devine, Gideon Gould and
James Cloyes were at the capture of Louisbourg
under General Sir William Pepperill, 2d company.
First Massachusetts Regiment.
At the annual meeting in 1755 the town voted to
appropriate twenty pounds to furnish guns, powder
and bullets, which were stored in the meeting-house.
Many from Hopkinton were engaged in the French
and Indian War, which lasted from 1754 to 17G3.
Joseph Cody, Jr., George Ware, Daniel Gasset and
George Stimpson went to Crown Point. Daniel Gould,
Jason Rice and Solomon Walker were wounded in
the service.
Pelatiah Bixby, John Evans, Cornelius Claflin,
Joseph Cody, James Pierce, Samuel Bowker, Benjamin
Watkins, Daniel Evans, were at Fort George in Cap-
tain Jones' company.
Thomas Webster, John Evans and John Walker
were at Fort William Henry in 1756.
The passage of the Stamp Act by the British Par-
liament appeared to arouse the indignation of the
citizens of Hopkinton, as well as the citizens of neigh-
boring towns, for at a town meeting held November
27, 1767, the following article was acted upon, "To
consider some measures lately proposed by several
wise and publick-spirited gentlemen, adopted by the
town of Boston, to use our utmost indeavors unitedly
to save this Province from Poverty and Ruin that
threaten us; By using and recommending the strictest
frugality and economy ; By encouraging to the utmost
of our Power our own manufactures, not only such as
we have been heretofore in the Possession of, but also
by introducing new ones; By discouraging to the
utmost of our power the importation of European
Goods, particularly the Articles Enumerated in the
account published in the proceedings of the town of
Boston Relating thereto — Voted : That the town will
take all the produce and manufactures of this Prov-
ince; and to Lessen the use of Superfluities and Par-
ticularly the following Enumerated Articles imported
from abroad, viz : Loaf Sugar, Cordage, Anchors,
Coaches, Chases and Carriages of all sorts, house fur-
niture, Men and AVomen's hatts. Men's and Women's
apparel, Ready-made household furniture. Gloves,
Men and Women's Shoes, Sole Leather, Sheating and
Deer-tails, Gold and Silver and Thread Lace of all
sorts, Gold and Silver Buttons, Wrought plate of all
sorts, Diamond, Stone and plate ware. Snuff, Mustard,
Clocks and Watches, Silversmith's and Jeweller's
Ware, Broadcloths that cost above 10s. per yard,
Muffs, furrs and Tippetts, and all sorts of Millinery
Ware, Starch, Women aud children's Stays, fire
engines, china ware. Silk and Cotton Velvets, Gauzes
Peuterers' Hollow Ware, linseed oyl. Glue, lawns,
Cambrick, Silks of all kinds for garments. Malt
Liquers and Cheas."
This action of the town tended to awaken the spirit
of industry and constituted every household a busy
workshop.
"At a meeting held Sept. ye 21, 1768, for the pur-
pose of seeing if the town would think proper to
make choice of one or more suitable persons to serve
them as a committee at a convention proposed to be
held at Faneuil Hall in Boston, the 22nd day of
.September, Instant, at ten of the clock, before noon,
the citizens of the town Voted — To send one man to
represent the town at the Convention at Boston."
They chose Capt. Joseph Mellen to represent them.
"Voted, to choose ;i committee to give advice to our
Representative."
They chose Dr. John Wilson, Samuel Chamberlain,
John Nutt, Jacob Gibbs, John Albe and James Wark.
At an adjourned meeting October 3d they voted
four dollars for the expenses of Capt. Mellen White
at Boston, and thanks for his services.
As the feeling against England deepened, a resort
to arms became a certainty, and in consequence the
town commenced to make preparations for the inevi-
table crisis. It was voted September 5, 1774, to grant
£12 "to buy a stock of Powder, bullets and tents."
September 12th it was voted " to send Capt. Dench and
James Mellen as delegates to attend a Provincial
Congress at Concord." A committee was also chosen
" to draw up a bill of regulations in the time of con-
fusion and non-operalion of the civil law." February
20, 1775 it was voted to have three companies in
town. " Roger Dench was chosen Captain for ye
East Company, John Homes for ye West Company
and John Jones for ye Alarm Company." The town
also voted " that any man train under that Captain
he liketh best, and that every man equips himself
with arms and ammuuition according to Law."
On the 17th of April it was voted to have a com-
pany of Muster .Alen numbering forty, and that these
men have £1 each at their enlistment. It was also
voted to raise £50 to pay the Muster Men, and £6,
13a. 4</. for powder and other purposes.
April 19, 1775, when the news reached the town of
the advance of the British on Lexington, the citizens
of all classes became intensely excited, and no people
in the colonies caught the echo of the " shot heard
round the world," with a quicker or more responsive
ear, than the people of Hopkinton. For the Minute
Men mustered at once and went forward to aid in ar-
resting the progress of the enemy.
HOPKINTON.
789
The following persons were present April 19th, at
Roxbury :
Capt. John Homes, Lieut. Aaron Albe, Lieut. Dan-
iel Ernes, Sargt. Henry Millen, Sargt. EbenezerClaf-
lin, Jr., Sargt. John Freeland, Sargt Samuel Bowker,
Corp. John Battle, John Pirmenter, Isaac Burnap,
Dr. Samuel Johnson, Wm. Freeland, F. Wm. Barnes,
Joseph Thomas, Elisha Hayden, Wm. Bread, Abel
Fiske, T. Walker, Joshua Andrews, Jacob Parker,
Thomas Mone, Nathan Perry, Nathan Loring, Alex.
Calby, Francis Homes, Caleb Clafflin, Jr., Arthur
Carey, Daniel Loring, John Wales, Grendley Jack-
son, David Johnson, Thomas Fletcher, Joseph Jack-
son, Joseph Coddy, Atherton Clark, Joseph Barnes,
Benj. Adams, John Hers, Samuel Stimpson, Isaac
Jones, Samuel Valentine, Reuben Johnson, John
Commey, Jacob Chamberlain, Elisha Warren, Dr.
Sigismund Bondley, John Homes, Jr., Benjamin
Smith, Isaac Claflin, Ebenezer Singletary, Jeremiah
Butler, Thomas Hayden, Daniel Singletary, Amariah
Hayden, Ebenezer McFarlin, Ebenezer Smith, Na-
thaniel Smith, Jr., Joseph Loring, Thomas Low,
Amos Barrett, Wm. Haven, John Gibson, Samuel
Clark, John Emes, Fred'k Haven, Jr., Ezekiel Adams,
Samuel Snell, William Prentice, Wm. White, Thomas
Fanning, Levi Dunton, Moses Watkins, Anthony
Jones, Jr., Eli Claflin, William Pierce, Amos Stimp-
son, Alex. Stimpson, William Fanning, Joseph
Freeland, Samuel Chitlin, Moses Rice, Daniel Seaver,
James McFarland, John Claflin, Elisha Adams,
Aaron Emes, Henry Dunn, William Thomas, Simeon
Miller, Simeon Green.
Asa Bowker enlisted May 8, 1776, for three months
and .\rthur Carey, July 23d, served nine days in
Samuel A. Warren's company, Col. Read's regiment ;
James White enlisted in Capt. Cramor's company.
Col. Arnold's regiment ; Aaron Fames, Joseph Neeld,
in Capt. Jacob Miller's company, Col. Doolittle's reg-
iment ; George Clark, Theo. Biss, in Col. Patterson's
regiment, Capt. Fay's company, in 1775. Capt. James
Miller, Lieut. Aaron Albee, Lieut. Samuel Claflin,
Sergt. James Freeland, Sergt. Joseph Freeland, Sergt.
Samuel Snell. John Snell, Samuel Hiscock, William
Prentis, John Clemens, Daniel Sever, Benj. Mastick,
Ebenezer Tombs, Nathan Evans, William White,
Thomas Fanning, David Dunston, Moses Watkins,
Anthony Jones, Thadeus Spring, Richard Hiscock,
Joseph Dickinson, Eli Claflin, Abel Ephraam, Seaver
Hammond. Joshua Burnam, James Gibson, William
Pierce, William Tombs, Edward Gould, Thomas Free-
land, Lovett Mellen, William Fanning, Thomas Mc-
Farland,Col. Ward's regiment.
An abstract of the mileage of men to and from
camp, at a penny a mile, reckoning twenty miles to
a day, 1776 :
Miles Tnnl and
WagM
MAjor John Haden 64.1 5£ 9£
Sarg. JobD Willaoa M.I 6£ T£ 6<
John Whltoej 64.1 5£ 7£
JohnEamea 64.1 5£ T£
Abel Smith 64.1 6£ 7£
Nath"". Peko 64.1 5£ 7£
John Walker 64.1 6£ 7£
Jamea Wlae 64.1 5£ 7£
List of men that arrived at Fishkill, June 19, 1774,
Captain Perry's Company, Ballard's Regiment.
Age Height
Daniel Bovrker 17 5 4
John White 31 6 8
Isaac WiUon 20 58
Leri Smith 21 8 7
Daniel Wheaton 44 6
Joaeph Welah 38 54
Simeon Erana 30 5 4
Lit of Six-MonOu Hat 1777. — Jamea Amea, Levi Smith, John Tonng,
Joaeph Bread, Aia Bowker, Peter Barton, John Staney, John Clemona,
David Mellen, David \Vheaton, . Timothy Walker.— Captain Banka'
Company.
Sergeant, John Walker; Corporal, John Eamea ; Corporal, John
Whitney; John Bullard, John Stone, Archibald Fierce. — Captain
Baldwin's Company.
Lilt o/ Thrte-Yean Mm 1777.— William White, John Walker, Micah
Watkina, Daniel North, Eraatue Harris, William Fanning, Nathan
Evena.
DeKTiflivt Liit of Jfm /or 1779.
Age. Height.
Archibald Wood 30 5 7
Thomas Lowe 25 5 10
Pbeneaa Wood 18 5 1
Stephen Thayer 16 8
Nath-i DunUin 20 5 8>4
Horatio Duntlln 19 5 6'/<
Daniel Wheeler 44 6
Isaac Wilaon 20 68
Simeon Evana 29 88
Daniel Bowker 17 5 4
Lui of the SevetUh Diemon of Six Month afm, 3farv^d from Spriitg/ieU
Vndar Captain Da, July 7, 1780.
Age. Height.
John Young 17 5 3
David Wheeler IT 5 8
Levi Smith 23 66
David Miller IT 5 7
Ondir Cbpfc Itaac Pof* Juli/ 25, 1780.
Age. Height.
Timothy Walker 27 j 8
A LUt of JUan BttliMltd AfretabU to the Bttoht of December, 1780.
Age. Height.
Simon Eamea ^ 44 8 7
John Heacoock 18 5 9>^
Abner Qaaabat 19 5 8
Seth Morse 17 5 11
George We»r 18 5 6
Daniel Bowker 20 57
Joaeph Yonng 16 6 6
Reuben Albee 20 57
David Wheaton IT 5 8^
Benj. Green 18 S3
Thomaa Morey 38 5 II
Isaac Savage 40 5 7>^
Archibald Wood 36 3 7
Thomaa Lowe .' 25 5 10
PhinealWood 18 8 1
Stephen Shyer 16 6
Nath". DnutUn 20 8 8>i
Horatio DnntUn 19 6 6
LiMt Serving in Uc Arm^ in 1780. — Simeon Page, Moeea Craigie, Oliver
Tidd, John Harris, Sergeant William Harris, Asa Rider, William
Toomba.
Age. Height.
Peter Barton 21 86
Asa Bowker 23 57
790
HISTOKY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
A List of Men Enli»Ud AgreeabU tu Oie Reiolae oj December^ 1780.
Age. Height.
SimoD Eameg 41 oT
John Hescock 18 5 9J^
AbDer GasabeC 19 5 8
Seth Mono 17 5 11
G«org8 Weare 16 5 0
Ssnlel Bowker 20 6 7
Joseph ToQDg 16 5 6
Benben Albeo 17 5 8J^
Benj«. Green 18 5 3
ThomaaMorey 38 5 11
Isaac Savage 40 5 7|^
Liu Serving in Uis Arm}/ m 1780. — Simeon Page, Muses Craigie, Oliver
Tidd, Asa Rider, John H&nia (Sergeant), William Harris, William
Toomba.
A Lai of the Men EtdiaUd m the Continental Army for Three Team or
Owing the IFor.— Joshua WheatoD, William Fanning, William White,
lono Toombs, Isaac Bixby, Edoiand Gould, Asa Rider, William Youog,
Daniel North, Erastus Harris, Jr., Thomaa Freelaod, Jr., John Walker,
William Toombs, James Gay, William Prentice, John Graves, George
Fischer, John Welden, John Gould, Thomas Bushel], John Haven,
Adam BritasB, Geffree Graves, Bamhard Rodemaker, Granshaw Me-
haran, William Roseman, Frances Duplarey, Samuel Qetfus, Moses
Gray.
At a meeting held June 17, 1776, I find the follow-
ing record : "Put to vote to see weather the town will
Declare themselves Independent oC the Kingdom of
Great Britton in case the Contenautial Congress
should Declare the same — Past in the Aflfemetive by
a very Unanamose vote."
April 7, 1777, the town voted to give the men that
enlisted into the Continental service, eighteen pounds
aa a bounty by the town each man.
The records of the town, in the War of the Revo-
lution, for patriotism and love of liberty, cannot
be surpassed by any town in the State or country,
when taken in connection with the fact that it ap-
pears, by a report of a committee made to the town
December 28, 1789, that there was le."8 than 200 fam-
ilies in town.
It appears that in the War of 1812, the town fur-
nished its full quota. Colonel Joseph Valentine was
in command at Boston.
When the War of the Rebellion broke out, the
flr?t meeting to consider the matter relating to the
war, was held April 29, 1861, at which meeting
Nathan P. Coburn, Alonzo Coburn, William A.
Phipps, Clement Meserve and John A. Phipps were
appointed a committee to consider and report what
should be done by the town " to aid in the defence of
the nation." The committee reported " that the town
appropriate a sura not to exceed five thousand dol-
lars, to be expended for the purpose of organizing
and drilling military companies for the national de-
fence." The report was accepted and the money
appropriated. Lee Claflin, William A. Phipps, Al-
bert Wood, Charles P. Morse and Thomas Mead were
chosen a committee to superintend the expenditure of
the money.
1862, July 17, the town voted to pay a bounty of
fifty dollars to each volunteer for three years, or dur-
ing the war, to the number of forty-seven, to fill the
quota of the town. On the 18th of August the town
voted to increase the bounty to one hundred dollars,
and on September 18th the same bounty was author-
ized to be paid to volunteers for nine months' service,
and to pay the men Government pay from the time
they enlist until they are mustered into the service.
No action appears to have been taken by the town
in its corporate capacity for the years of 1863 and
1864, although recruiting was continued as usual.
April 11, 1865, voted to pay a bounty of one hun-
dred and twenty-five dollars to each volunteer to the
credit of the town for three years' services, to con-
tinue until March 1, 1865. Also to pay the same
bounty to drafted men.
Hopkinton furnished four hundred and twenty-five
men for the war, which was a surplus of sixteen over
and above all demands ; three were commissioned offi-
cers. The total amount of money appropriated and
expended by the town on account of the war exclu-
sive of State aid was thirty thousand dollars ($30,-
000.00).
The amount of money raised and expended by the
town for State aid was as follows : In 1861, §1,499.-
03, in 1862, $6,572.11, in 1863, $8,178.71, in 1864,
$8,600.00, in 1865,^5,000.00. Total amount $29,849.85.
The selectmen in 1861 were N. P. Coburn, E. A.
Bates, David Eames, O. L. Woods; in 1862, 1863,
1864, X. P. Coburn, E. A. Bates, Gardner Parker, C.
P. Morse, Thomas Mead ; 1865, E. A. Bates, Erastus
Thompson, Thomaa Mead, Charles Seaver, and M. C.
Phipps. The town clerk for 1861, 1862, 1863, was
Joseph A. Tillinghast ; I. Augustus Woodbury, for
1864 and 1865 ; the town treasurer during all the
years of the war was Jonathan Whittemore.
A list of persons serving in the Civil War as re-
corded in the records of the town :
Adams, Charles H.,enl., July 3, 1861, Co. D, 15th Beg. ; res., Hopkin-
lOQ ; died, Feb. 27, 1862, at Wushingtou, D. C, in hospital.
Adams, Wm. B., enl., Aug. 5, 1862, Uo. F, 14th Keg. ; res., Hopkin-
ton ; died at Wusbington, D. C, Sept. 29, 1803, of fever.
Adams, Henry, enL, Aug. 7, Itsol, Co. B, 25tb Reg. ; res., Hopkinton ;
dis., Oct. 20, 1804.
Armstrong, Luke, enl., Sept. 24, 9 mos., 42d Reg., Co. H.
Aldrich, George A., enl., March 4, 1804, 3 yts, 59th Beg., Co. H ;
rea., Hopkinton ; dls., July 31, 1803.
Bicknall, Sam. B., enl., July 2, 1861, 3 yrs, 16lh Reg., Co. Bj res.,
Hopkinton ; dis., Dec. 17, 1862.
Bryant, Stilnian, enl. July 12, 1861, 3 yrs, I3th Beg., Co. K; res.,
Hopkinton ; dis., Aug. 31, 1862.
Bmdford, J. E., enL, July 17, 1861, 3 yrs, 13th Reg., Co. K; res.,
Hopkinton ; dls., March 2, 1863.
Brown, Geo. H., enL, 1801, 3 yrs, 13th Reg., Co. B; res., Hopkin-
ton ; dis., Jan. 2;i, 1863.
Brenn, Jeremiah, 3 yrs, 9th Beg., Co. C ; res., Hopkinton.
Bnrke, Martin, 3 yrs, 9th Reg., Co. C ; res., Hopkinton ; trans, to
Vet. Res. Corps, SepL 30, 18t;3.
Baker, Henry E., enl., Aug. 4, 1862, 3 yrs, 14th Reg., Co. F ; res.,
Hopkinton ; dis., Juls8, 1864.
Barber, Charles H., enl., Aug. 1, 1862, 3 yre, 14th Reg., Co. F ; res.,
Hopkinton ; dis., July 30, 1864.
Burke, John S., enl., Aug 5, 1862, 3 yrs, 14th Reg., Co. F ; res.,
Hopkinton ; died of wounds June 18, 1864, near Petersburg, Va.
Bodge, John M., enl., Aug. 5, 1862, 3 yrs, 141h Reg., Co. F; died at
Hopkinton, Feb. 2, 1865, of chronic diarrhoea.
Barber, John, enl., .Aug. I, 1862, 3 yra, 14tb Reg., Co. F ; res., Hop-
kinton i died at Fort Craig, Arlington Height*, March 9, 1863.
HOPKINTON.
791
Bagley, Fred. C, enl., Aug. i, 1862, 14th Reg., Co. F ; res., Ilopkin-
ton ; di»., Oct. 10, 1863.
Boyle, Laarence, 3 yra, 19th Reg., Co. F ; rea., Hopkinton.
Batea, John F., 3 yra, 13th Reg., Co. K ; res., UopkiDton ; dis., Aug.
1, 1854.
BreDDan, Joho, 3 yra, 9th Reg., Co. A : rea., Hopklotoo.
Brady, J. 3 , 3 yr», 9th Reg., Co. A ; re«., Hopkiotou.
Burke, Alex., 3 yrs, 9th Reg., Co. A ; res., Hopkintoo.
Boyden, Joabna N., enl , Sept. 24, 1862, 9 moe, 12Dd Reg., Co.H;
res., HopkiDtoQ.
Bord, David H., enl., .^ug., 1864, 1 yr ; rea., JTopkiaton.
Bemis, Hiram C, enl.. May 13, 1864, 1 yr, lit Batt., Co. E; rea.,
Hopkinton ; dia., June 28, 1865.
Baaford, Wm. H. H., enl., Aug. 9, 1664, 1 yr, 4th H. A. ; rea., Hop-
kinton ; dis., July IS, 1865.
Boynton, Henry A., Aug. 15, 1864, 1 yr, 22nd H. A. ; rea., Hopkin-
ton.
Brown, Dexter, enl., Aug. 12, 1864, 1 yr, 22nd H. A. ; rea., Hopkin-
ton; dis., July 15. Idtto.
Bnrke, Michael, enl, Aug. 15, 1861, 1 yr, 22nd H. A. ; rea., Hopkin-
ton ; dlB., June 17, 1805.
Balea, .Vmoa R., enl., Dec. 23, 1863, 3 yta, IStb Batt. ; rsa., Hopkin-
ton ; dia., Aog. 15, 1865.
Baker, B. Frank, enl., July 10, 1864, 3'/^ moa, 5th Reg., Co. F; rea.,
Hopkinton -. dia.. Not. 16, 1864.
Clapp, Emery B., mua. in June 21, 1861, 3 yra, 40th N. T. Reg., Co.
G ; res., Hopkinton.
Catter, 3. C, enl., Aug. 23, 1862, 9 moa, 42nd Beg., Co. H ; rea.,
Hopkinton: dis., Aug. 20, 1863.
Connera, Peter D.
Cantillo, Jacob, enl., SepL 6, 1861, 3 yta, 22nd Beg., Co. A.; rea.,
Hopkinton ; dis., Oct. 1, 1862.
Conroy, Richard, mua. in Oct. 14, 1861, 3 yra, 3Uth Beg., Co. M ; res.,
Hopkinton; died, April 5, 1863, in aerrice.
Gary, John, Capt., enl. May, 1861, 3 yra, 9th Reg., Co. O ; rea., Hop-
kinton ; killed, June 27, 1862.
Claain, F. G., mua. in Aug. 7, 1862, 3 yrs, 14th Eeg., Co. F ; res.,
Hopkinton ; died at .\nderaonville, Aug. 1, 1864.
Coburn, Chaa. H., eni., Aug. 5., 1862, 3 yrs, Uth Beg., Co. F; res.,
Hopkinton ; died, Aug. 21, 1862, at Fort Ellswortb, Va.
Comey, Maneiua, enl., Aug. 7, 18ij2, 3 yrs, 1st Reg., Co. F ; res., Hopkin-
ton ; died, Dec. 17, 1864, at Hilton Head ; cau:^, dtarvation iu Rebel,
prison.
Cudworth, James C, mua. in .\ug. 7, 1862, 3 yrs, 14tb Reg., Co. F ;
rea., Hopkinton ; re-enlisted under gen. order.
Couiey, Lawson, raud. in Sept. 24, 1862, 9 moa, 42ud Reg,, Co. H ;
res., Hopkinton ; killed, June 23, 18i>3, at Brazier City, Louisiana,
Comey, Henry N., Capt., eni.. May 28, 1801, 3 yrs, 2nd Reg., Co. G ;
res., Hoplunton ; dis. at close of the war.
Comey, .Upbonso. enl., April 2, 1862, 3 yra, '25th Reg., Co. B ; res.,
Hopkinton ; killed at Cold Harbor.
Comey, James, enl., June, 1804, 3 yrs, 2oth Keg., Co. B. ; rea., Hop-
kinton ; dis., Aug. 7, 1865.
Cade, Harrison, 3 yra, I9th Reg., Co. F ; res., Hopkinton -, lulled,
June 30th, dt Glendale.
Connor, William, 3 yra, 20th Beg., Co. K ; rea., Hopkinton.
Cantillo, George E., Sept. 2, 1861, 3 yra, 22d Reg., Co. A ; rm. Hopkin-
ton; dia. Jan., 1864, tore-enlist.
Couchlin, Charles, 3 yra, 25th Reg., Co. C ; res., Hopkinton ; died of
woonda received at Roanoke Island.
Connora, Michael, mua. in Aug. 21, 1861, S yra, 20th Reg., Co. F ;
rea , Hopkinton.
Chadwick, John, 3 yra, 3d Reg., Co. A, R. f.; res., Hopldnton.
Cbadwick, E., 3 yrs, 3d Keg., (Jo. A, R. 1.; res., Hopkinton.
Cladin, 'Lather, mus. in Aug. 15, 1864,1 yr, 42d Reg., Co. H; res.,
Hopkinton; dia. Aug '20, 1865.
Claflin, John H., niua. in Sept. 24, 1862, 9 moa, 42d Beg., Co. H ; res.,
Hoplunton.
Crowley, Cornelius, enl., June 17, 1861, 3 yra, 15th Reg., Co. C ; res.,
Hopkinton ; N. Y. Vol.
Colman, Reuben C, mus. in Jan. 5, 1864, 26th Reg.; res., Hopkinton ;
dis. June, 1864, for disability.
Cutler, Alnsfforth, enl. Jan. 4, 1864, 3 yra, 4th Reg., Co. D ; rea , Hop-
ldnton ; dia. at close of the war.
Cunningham, CbarieeC, enl. Mar. 29, 1865, 1 yr, l32nd Reg., Co. A ;
res., Hopkinton , dia. May 5, 1865.
CTapp, William A., mua. In Doc. IS, 1863, lat Bag.; rea., Hopkinton.
Comey, Geo. R.,enl. Jan. 1, 1864, 3 yia, 15lh Batj re»., Hopkinton ;
dia. Aug. 11, 1866.
Dove, Edward, mua. in Oct. T, 1861, 3 yra, 26th Beg., Co. E ; rea., Hop-
lunton.
Dunn, Patrick, enL Dec. 3,1861, 3 yta, 30th Beg., Co. E ; rea., Hopkin-
ton ; dia. Jan. 1, 1864 ; re-«nliated.
DaUy; Jamea, mn». in Aug. 23, 1881, 3 yia, 19th Beg., Co. E ; rea.,
Hopkinton.
Dignan, Patrick, mna. In Oct. 28, 1861, 3 yra, 29th Beg., Co. B ; raa.,
Hopkinton ; dis. byreaaon of wonnda.
Deake, Albert 3., enL July 1, 1862,3 yr^ 16th Reg., Co. B ; tea.. Hop-
kinton ; dis. Oct. 7, 1862, by reaaon of wounds.
Dwyer, Michael, mna. in Aug. 11, 1862, 3 yra, 11th Eeg.; rea., Hopkin-
ton.
Deamond, Timothy, mus. in Aug. 7, 1862, 3yra, 9th Beg.; i«L, Hop-
kinton ; dia. June 21, 1864.
Doherty, Jame^ mua. in July 27, IMl, 3 yia, 19th Beg., Co. F; rea.,
Hopkinton.
Daily, Jamea, 3 yra, 9th Reg, Co. C ; rea., Hopkinton.
Kamea, David W., mua. in OcL 11, 1861, 3 yrs, 25th Eeg, Co. B ; rea.,
Hopkinton.
Ellery, James G., enL Aug. 5, 1861, 3 yra, Uth Beg, Co. P ; rea., Hop-
kinton ; dia. July 8, 1864.
Ellard, John, mna. in June 15, 1861, 3 yra, 9th Reg., Co. C ; rea., Hop-
kinton ; dia. Oct. 28, 1863.
Erwin, George, enl. Aug. 4, 1862, 3 yia, Uth Beg., Co. F ; rea., Hop-
kinton ; dis. Oct. 28, 1863.
Euatis, Samuel W., enL May 12, 1864, 1 yr, 22dBeg.; rea., Hopkinton ;
dis. Jane 17, 1866.
French, Henry D., mna. In May 25, 1861,3 yra, 2nd Bag., Co. B; tea.,
Hopkinton.
Fairbank^ Wm. H., enl. Sept., 1861, 3 yra, 20th Beg., Co. B; rea.,
Hopkinton.
Foster, Thomas, mna. in Aug. 20, 1861, 3 yra, 19th Beg., Co. G ; rea.
Hopkinton.
Fay, Sabinua, mus. in Aug, 7, 1862, 3 yra, 14th Beg., Co. F ; rea., Hop-
kinton ; dia. July 9, 1864.
Ferhuaton, Thomas, mus. In June 23, 1861, 1 yr, llth> Beg., Co. O ;
res., Hopldnton ; killed July 2nd, at Gettysburg.
Foley, Slartin, 3 yra, 20th Reg., Co. K ; res., Hopkinton.
Foley, Michael, res., Hopkintoo ; U. 3. Inf.
Flint, Maurice, res., Hopkinton ; Navy.
Flaherty, Patrick, 3 ytB,16th Reg., Co. F; rea., Hopkinton.
Foley, Thoniaa, 3 yrs, 16th Reg., Co. F ; res., Hopkinton ; died of
wounds. May 5, 1664.
Fitzgerald, Thomas, 3 yra, 9th Reg., Co. A ; res., Hopkinton.
FItzpstrick, John, 3 yra, 9th Reg., Co. A ; res., Hopkinton ; dis. Deo.
12, 1862.
Fitzgibbona, Patrick, mus. in Sept. 24, 1862, 9 moa, 42d Reg., Co. H ;
res., Hopkinton ; dis. Aug. 20, 1863.
Fay, Charles A., enl. Dec. 10, 1863, 3 jra, 1st Reg., Co. D, Car.; rsa.,
Hopkinton.
Fay, Adolphna J, enL June 4, 186i, 3 yn, 59th Beg., Co. D ; rea., Hop-
kinton ; died Oct. 13, 1864.
Fitch, Calvin W., mns. in Sept. 26, 1862, 9 moa, 45th Beg., Co. A ;
rea., Hopkinton ; died July 7, 1863.
Fitzgerald, Morria, mua. in Aug. 10, 1864, 1 yr. Navy ; rsa., Hopkin-
ton ; dia. Junes, 1866.
Flynn, Thnothy, mus. in Aug. 15, 1864, 1 yr, 22d Beg., Co. A ; rea.,
Hopkinton,
Oaasett, Thoa. B., mua. in July 17, 1861, 3 yra, 13th Reg., Co. E ; rea.,
Hopkinton ; killed at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1863,
Gasaett, Wm. H., mua in July 17, 1861, 3 yrs, 13th Reg., Co. K ; res.,
Hopkinton; wounded at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1863; dia. Mar. 23, 1863.
Greany, Charles, 3 yn, 9tb Beg., Co. C; res., Hopkinton; killed at
Gaines' MUIa, June 27, 1882.
Grlevea, Bobert, moa. in June 21. 1861, 3 yn, 40th Beg., N. T, Co. G ;
rea., Hopkinton,
Gibbona, William, 3 yra, 19th Beg, Co. F ; rea., Hopkinton.
GIbaon, Charles W., enl. Oct. 17, 1861, 3 yra, '2Sth Beg, c :o. B; rea.,
Hopkinton.
Gamage, Tbeo S, 3 yrs, 12th Reg., Co. B ; rea. Hopkinton.
Gibaon, George 3., mua. in Aug. 7, 1861, 3 yrs, 14th Reg., Co. F ; re*.,
Hopkinton ; dia. Feb. 28, 1864 ; re-enL Feb. 28, 1864, in aame regiment.
Gentbner, Wm. J. mna. in, Aug. 7, 1862, 3 yra., 14th Beg., Co. I ; ra*.,
i Hopkinton dia. Dec. 30, 1663; r»-«nliated aame Ca
792
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Gnuit, Tbomaa ; rea.. HopkintoD ; oiivy.
Grant, Patrick, mus. in, Oct. 1, 1861, 3 yrs, 4lh Reg., Co. H, K. I. Vol.;
res., Hopkinton.
Green, Edward, 3 yre, 9th Reg., Co. H ; res., Hopkinton.
Gorman, Morris, 3 yra, 4th Reg., R. I.; transferred to navy; res. Hop-
kintoo.
Gallagher, , 3 yrB, 9th Reg., Co. A ; rea., Hopkinton ; dis. June
21. 1861.
Graves, George H., mns. in, Jan. 5, 18M, 3 yre, 26th Reg.; rea., Hop-
kinton.
G«y, Frank B., ma». in, .\ug, 15, 1864, 1 year, •J2d U. H. A.; rea., Hop-
kinton.
Gamago, Henry B., mua. in Jan. 4, 1864, 3 yP!, 26th Reg., Oo. E; rea.,
Hopkinton ; killed in action near Wincheator, Va , Sept. 19, 1864.
Gerry, Joaeph H., mua. in Jan. 4, 1864, 3 yia, 4th Reg., Co. D ; dia.
Jnne 21, 1865.
Gerry, George W., mua. In Ang. 17, 18G4, 1 yr, let Batt. H. A.
Hodge, E. 0., mua. in July 16, 1801, 3 yra, 13th Reg , Co. B ; rea,,
Hopkinton ; dia. Aug. I, 1864.
Haley, John, 3 yra, 9th Reg., Co. C; rea., Hopkinton.
Hodge, Edaon F., mua. in Aug., 1862, 3 yra, 14th Reg., Co. F ; rea.,
Hopkinton ; dia. Jan. 30, 186.5.
Hager John, mua. In Dec. 13, 1861, 3 yr^., 16th Reg , Co. I ; rea., Hop-
kinton ; dia. Dec. 13, 1864.
Hogan, Michael, mua. in Aug. 7, 1862, 3 yra, 14th Reg., Co. F ; rea.,
Hopkinton.
Hughea, Jamea, 3 yra, 9th Reg., Co. C; rea., Hopkinton; killed at
Gaines' Mllla, June 27, 1862.
Howard James, 3 yra, 9th Reg., Co. C ; rea., Hopkinton.
Hurley, Edward, 3 yra, 9th Reg., Co. .\ ; res., Hopkinton ; dia. Oct.
19, 1862.
Haaeington, Daniel, :i yi^ 16th Reg.; rea., Hopkinton.
Henneaay, John, 3 yra, 2oth New York Vol.; rea., Hopkinton.
Uealey, Jamea, mua. in Aug. 11, 1862, 9 mua, 42d Reg., Co. C ; res.,
Hopkinton.
Howard, Edwin, mus. in Sept. 24, 1862, 9 uos, 42d Reg., Co. H ; res.,
Hopkinton ; dia. Aug. 211, 1863.
Haydeo, Luvell B., mua. in Sept. 25, 1862, 9 mos, 42d Reg., Co li ;
rea,, Uupkiotoii ; dia. Aug. 10, 1863.
Hager, Frank, mua. In Sept. 24, 1862, 9 nioa, 42d Reg., Co. H ; res.,
Hopkinton ; dia. Aug. 10, 1863.
Hager, George F., mus. In Aug. 19, 1864, 1 yr, 4th H. A., Cu. F; rea.,
Dopklnlon ; dia. July '22, 1865.
Heggem, John, mua. in Sept. 24, 1862, 9 moa, 42d Reg., Co. H ; rea.,
opkinton.
Halpln, John, mua. in Aug. 9, 1864, 1 yr, navy ; rea., Hopkinton ; dis.
Ang. 8, 1865.
Harrlman, Moaea, mua. in Aug. 12, 1864, let Batt. U. A.; rea., Hop-
kinton ; dia. .lune 17, 186.S.
Hickey, Thomaa, mua. In March 18, 1864. '23th Reg., Co. H ; rea. ilop-
itlnton ; dia. April 11, 1865.
Harklna, John F, mus. in Aug. 15, 1864, 1 yr, 22d Co. U. A.; rea., Hop-
kinton.
How, Elial W., mua. in Aug. 16, 1864, Co. E, lat Batt. H. A.; rea.,
Hopkinton.
Jenkina, Robert C, mua. in Aug. 9, 1861, 4 yra, 19tb Reg., Co. F ; rea.
Hopkinton ; dia. Feh. 12, 186.3, for disability ; ra-enlisted Jan. 1, 1864, 3
yiB, 26th Beg., Co. E; dis. Feb. 11, 1865.
Jagoe, Robert H., mua. In Aug. 9, 1864, 1 yr, navy ; res., Hopkinton.
Jadd, Sheldon J., mua. in Aug. 17, 1862, 3 yra, 14th Reg., Co. F; rea.,
Hopkinton; dia. June 3, 1865.
Johnaon, Samuel D., mua. in Aug. 12, 1864, 1 yr, Co. E, lat Batt. O. A.,
rea., Hopkinton ; dia. June 28, 1865.
Johnaon, Edwin L., mua. In Aug. 4, 1864, 3>^ moa, 19th Unattd. Co.,
rea., Hopkinton ; dia. Nov. 16,1854.
Kenneteon, Geo. B., mua in Aug. 7, 1802, 3 yra., I4th Reg., Co. F ;
rea. Hopkinton ; died in hoepital, D. C, June 29, 1864, of small-pox.
Eemp, Ezekiel, Jr., mua. in May 11, 1861, 3 yra., 2d Keg., Co. G ; rea.
Hopkinton ; dia. May '29, 1864.
King, Jaa., mua. in Ang. 19, 1861, 3 yra, 21st Reg., Co. T ; rea., Hop-
kinton ; dia. Dec. 31, 1863.
Keya, 3. N., mua. in Sept. 18, 1861, 3 yra, 25th Regt., Co. B ; rea., Hop-
kinton ; dia. Oct. 20, 1801.
Kemp, Charles, 3 yre, 62d Beg., Co. E, Penn. Vol.; rea., Hopkinton.
Kelley, James, 3 yra, 9th Beg., Co. C ; rea., Hopkinton.
Knowlton, Wm. H., 3yn, 16th Beg., Co. C; res., Hopkinton.
Eeaney, Jamea, 13th Reg. Ohio Vol.; res., Hopkinton.
Kelley, Patrick, 3 yra, 16th Reg., Co F ; rea., Hopkinton.
Kempton, Samuel, mua. in Aug. 24, 1862, 9 moa, 42d Reg., Co. H ; res.,
Hopkinton ; dis. Aug. 20, 1863.
Kinney, John, mua. in March 31, 1864, 28th Reg.; rea., Hopkinton.
Kempton, Russell A., mua. in Aug. 15, 1864, 1 yr, 22d Co. H. A.; res.,
Hopkinton ; dis. June 17, 1865.
Lee, Marshall, 3 yra, 2,5th Regt., Co. C ; rea , Hopkinton.
Learned, Calvin S., mua. in Oct. 7, 1861, 3 yra, 25th Reg., Co. E ; rea.,
Hopkinton ; died of fever Feb. 9, 1862, at Roanoke.
Locke, Andrew J., mua. in .\ug. 7, 1862, 3 yra. 14th Reg., Co. H ; res.,
Hopkinton ; died of wound June 16, 1864, at Petersburg.
Lynch, Patrick, mua. in Aug. 19, 18i>l, 22d U. H. A.; rea., Hopkinton.
Lackey, Simon, mus. in Sept. 24, 1862, 9 mos, 42d Regt., Co. H ; rea.,
Hopkinton.
Loring, Charlea £., mus. in Sept. 24, 18G'2, 9 moa., 4'2d Reg., Co. II ;
res., Hopkinton; dis. Aug. 20, 1863.
Lovering, George A., mus. iu July 2, 1861, 3 yra., 16th Beg, Co. B ;
rea., Hopkinton.
Learned, Samuel, mua. in Jan. 5, 1861, 25th Reg. ; rea., Hopkinton.
McGuire, John D., mua. in July 15, 1861, 3 yrs., 9th Reg., Co. C;
rea., Hopkinton.
Murphy, Cornelius, 3 yra., 9th Reg., Co. C ; res. Hopkinton.
Mitten, Martin, mus. in Dec. 16, 1861, 3 yra., 28th Reg., Co. K ; res.,
Hopkinton.
McCarty, .John, 3 yrs , 9th Reg., Co. A ; res., Hopkinton.
^lunroe, N. Bonaparte, 3 yra., 19th Re^. ; rea., Ilupkinton.
Mahuuey, Frank, 3 yrs., 9th Reg., (.'u. C ; res , Hupkiuton.
Slurray, James, 3 yra., Uth Reg., Co. C ; res., Hopkinton.
McMalion, Thumaa, 3 yrs., 9th Reg , < 'u. C ; res., Hopkinton.
SIcTlghe, .\nthoDy, 3 yrs., yth Reg., (.'o. C ; res., Hopkinton ; dis.
June 21, 1864.
Madden, Michael, mus. in Sept. 1'2, 1801, .'lOtk Reg., Co. B, Ohio Vol. ;
rea., Hopkiuton.
Madden, John 0., 115tlt Reg., Co. .\, Penii. Vol. ; res., Hopkinton.
Martin, W. H., mus. in Aug, 7, 1.S62, 3 yra., Utii Ket'., Co. F ; res.,
Hopkintou ; died of wouuda June 22, 1864.
Morae, Augustus P., mus. in Aug. 7, 1862, 3 yra., 14th Reg., Co. F ;
rea., Hopkinton; dis. July 9, 1864.
Miller, W. H., mus. in .Vng. 7, 1862, 3 yrs., 14th Reg., Co. F ; res.,
Hopkinton.
Millard, Charlea H., mua. in Aug. 7, 1862, 3 yra , 14th Reg., Co. F ;
rea., Hopkinton ; re-enl. Mar. 27, 1864 ; dia. Aug. 26, I860.
Merrill, Daniel L., mua. iu Aug. 7, 1862, 3 yrs., Hth Reg., Co. F ; rea.,
Hopkinton ; dia. July 9, 1864.
Murtaugli, Thomas, 3 yra., 9th Reg., Co. C ; res., Hopkinton ; killed
May 8, 1864, at Spottsylvauia, Va.
McDermott, John, navy ; rea., Hopkinton.
McCarty, Timothy, \. Y. Vol. ; res., Hopkinton.
McCarty, John, 3 yra., 11th Reg., Co. D ; res., Hopkinton.
Mc.\ulifre, Michael, miuj. in Aug. II, 186'2, 3 yra., 11th Beg., Co. H ;
rea., Hopkinton ; died April 23, 1863.
Mathews, Peter, 3 yra., N. Y. Vol. Heavy Art. ; rea. Hopkinton ; dia.
June 7, 1865.
McGuire, Thomas, 3 yra., 9th Beg., Co. G ; rea., Hopkintou.
Murphy, Michael, 3 yre., 9th Reg., Co. F ; res., Hopkinton.
Miland, Michael, rea. Hopkinton ; navy.
Mannz, Lawrence, mna. in Sept. 24, 1862, 9 moa., 42d Reg., Co. I ;
rea. Hopkinton,
McDonnough, Martin, mua. in Sept 24, 1862, 9 mos., 42d Beg., Co. H ;
rea. Hopkinton.
MansSeld, Jamea A., mua. in Sept. 24, 1862, 9 moa., 42d Beg., Co. H ;
rea. Hopkinton.
Morae, Charles F., mus. in Sept. 12, lo62, 9 mos., 44tb Beg., Co. F ;
rea. Hopkinton ; dis. Sept. 28, 1865.
Murphy, Patrick, mos. in Sept. 24, 1862 ; 9 mos., 42d Reg., Co. C ;
res. Hopkinton.
Morse, EUsha, mua. in Sept. 12, 9 mos., 44th Beg., Co. K; rea. Hop-
kinton.
Murray, Francis, mna. in Dec., 1863, 39th Reg. ; rea. Hopkinton.
McMahon, laaac, eul. Jan., 1864, 3 yra. ; res Hopkinton ; died June
I, 1864, of wounda.
McUahon, Jamea, enl. Nov. 8, 1863, 3 yra., 56th Beg., Co. D ; rea.,
Hopkinton ; dia. July 16, 1866.
McBride, Edward, mua. in Aug. 9, 1864, 1 yr. ; navy ; rea. Hop-
kinton.
HOPKINTON.
793
MaUony, Michael, mua. ia Aug. 15. ISM, I yr., •-•2d Co. C U. .V ■,
re». Hopkinton ; dia. June 17, 1865. ri u \ ■ re«
Matthews, John, mu.. in Aug, 16, 186+. 1 yr., iSd Co. U. H. A. , re...
^Mo^a^l^Jamea. moa. in Aug. 15, 1864, 1 yr., 22d U. H. A ; ree..
HopkiutoD.
Morey, Raphael, res. Westboro'. „ , . . „u «„.
Meeerye, Jared W., mus.in Aug. 19, 1864 ; res. Hopl^ntoc ; 4th Beg.
H. A. ; diB. July 13, 1865. „ , ■ .
Mccarty, Owen. mu.. iu Jan. 2, 1864, 9th Reg. ; res. Hopkinton.
Mansfield, Frederick S., m.is. in May 7, 1864, :i moe., .th Batt. ; res.,
HopklntoD ; dis. Aug. 2, 1864 U H. A. ; res..
McDonald, Lawrence, mus. in Aug. 15. 181.4, lyr., -a u. n. ,
Hopkinton ; died Jan., 1865, in rebel prison.
Newton. Hartwell, mus. in Aug. 12, 1661,3 yr-., ICth Reg. C. B,
res. Hopkinton ; dis. Feb. 6, 1863.
Noonau, Jeremiah, 3 yrs., 28th Reg., Co. C ; res. Hopkinton.
Neugent, Thomas ; navy ; res. Hopkinton.
Newton, Edwin .^.., mus. in Jan. 15, 1861, 3 yrs., 20th Reg.. Co. C
res. Hopkiutop. __ , . ,„„ .
Notage. George H.. mus. In Jan. 5. 1864.25th Reg., res. Hopkmton ,
'"o.t^f„,'jorn.'mns. in May, 1861, 3 yr,., 2d Reg., Co. F ; res. Hopkin-
ton ; dis. Jftn., 1863. r. ^ »
Osborn. Thomas, mus. in Aug. 3, 1S62, 3 yrs.. Uth R.g.. Co. F , res
Hopkinton ; dis. Juno 12, 1865.
O'Neil, Patrick, 3 yrs., Uth Reg., Co. C ; res. Hopkinton.
O'Donnell, Patrick. :i yrs.. 0th Reg., Co. I ; res. Hopkmton.
O'Laughlln. Laurance, mus. In Sept. 24. 1862. 9 mos. 42d Reg.. Co. H ,
'"o:B"ie''n'"rD.. mus. in Aug. 10. .864, Navy. 1 yr ; res.. Hopkinton
O'Brien' D. J., mus. iu Aug. 15. 18C4. U. H. A.; res., Hopkinton ; dis,
June 17, 1865. , , . „
O'Hare, Peter, mua. in 16, 1363. 28th Reg.; res.. Hopkinton.
O-Con^e™, Jerry, mus. in Aug. 15. U<A, 1 yr. U. H. A.; re... Hopk.n.
'""palmer, James II., n.us. In Jul, 9. 1861. :i yrs. 16th Reg.. Co. B; res.
UoDklnton ; dis. .\ug. il. 1862.
PaVkhurst. L. B.. mus. in July 12, 1861, 3 yr,. 15th Reg.. Co. D ; res..
Hopkinton ; dis. July 28. 1864.
Perry, W., mus. in July 2. 1801, 3 yrs, 16th Reg., Co. B , res., Hopkin-
ton ; dis. Feb. 11, 1803. Hopkinton.
Pierce, Lorenzo, mus. in Dec. 7, 186.,, -d n. a., laj. n , .r . f
Pyne Wm.. 3 ynK 9th Reg.. Co. C ; rfS.. Hopkinton.
Powen., John. 3 yra, 0th Reg.. Co. C; res. Hopkinton.
Phipps. Daniel, n.ns. in Aug. 2, 1862, 3 yrs, 14th Reg., Co. B , res.,
HoDkintoQ ; Jia- April I, 1865.
Pengree, H. L.. mus. in Aug. 7. 1962. 3 yr,. 14th Reg.. Co. F; re...
Hopkinton ; re-enlls.ed March 14. 18r4; dis. Aug. 16 188.5.
Pickering. Wm. R.. u.us. in Aug. 2. 186i 3 yrs, 14th Beg., Co. F , res.,
""pick^ring, AH., mu. in Aug. 7, 1862, 3 yr. Uth Reg., Co. F ; res.,
""Crnorace, mus. in Dec. 31, .863, 3 yrs, 14.h Beg.. Co. F ; res..
^"CrF.t il'" 'oAu g. T, 1862. 3 yr. Uth Reg.. Co. F ; re,.. Hop-
"'pri^irc'r-- -•■ H-P"'-- — - ^-- *■ ""• '^«"'
%Wpp^ D. S., mus. in Sept. 24. 1862, 4M Reg.. Co. H ; res., Hopkinton ;
''patTVamTA., mus. in Jan. 4, 1S64, 26th Reg.; res., Hopkinton.
pC'joTn. Jr., mus. in March U, 1864, 59th Beg.. Co. H ; re..,
"""pCwward A., mus. in May 4. 1864 •, r«.. Hopkinton; 3 mos. dis.
* He^'e! H*H.. mu.. in Jan. 9. 18M. 3 yr^ 4th Beg.. Co. D ; res.. Uo^
kinton ; dis. Kov. 26. 1865. „,<,<=■. isih Reir Co I •
Pulman. D. F., drafted 3 yrs, mus. m July .3, .36.,, 18th Keg., Lo. ,
raa Hooklnton; dis. June 29, 1865.
p'hrppl Lowe.. W. E., Aug. 6, 1864, 3K» n.os.. 19th 0. H.; re.., Hop-
"'p'^Toh'nt'iiiTn sept. 24, 1862, 9 mos., 42a Reg. Co. H ; re.,
="C::;'j"r:'n.^:Tn.y2, .861, 3 yr. 10th Reg., Co. B; r^
bT^Z^I'Lt^c. 28, .862, for disability, re-enlisted Feb. 4, ,8o4,
dis. July 28, 1866.
Richardson, E. A., mu.. in July 2. 1861, 3 yn, 16th Reg., Co. B. ; re..,
Hopkinton ; dis. July 27, 1864. r^cr^
lagers, F. 3.. mu. in Aug. 2, 1861, 3 yr. 21,t Beg.. Co. C , r*,
HopLton ; re.nl. Jan. 1, 1864, same Co. ; di«i "' '"'"»'^";«; ^"„.
Roger. Alex., enl. April 14, 1803, 1 yr, Ist Bat. H. A. ; re... Hopk.n
ton ; died Nov. 20, 1865.
Ryan John. 33d Beg.. Co. C ; re... Hopkinton.
Be^;.Joh;.3yT,. 9th Reg.. Co. C; re.. Hopkinton ; mo. out
June 21, 1864. „ . » n». v ■ rM
Rockwool. M. 3., mn,. in Ang. 23. 1864. 3 yr,. 3d Beg.. Co. E , re..,
Hopkinton ; dis. Nov. 20, 1866.
Riley, Charles F., mu. in Aug. 7, 1862, 3 yrs, Uth Beg, Co. F , res.^
Hopkinton ; died at AnderwnvUle. , , , „ p^ «• ■ res.
Rice Luther, mu. in Aug. 7, 1862, 3 yr,, Uth Reg, Co. F . re..
Hopkinton ; died at Washington. June 24, UM. „ „ . „
Richardson, D. M., mu. in Aug. 7, 1864, 3 yr. Uth Beg, Co. F , re.,
Elchard«,n, J. H., 3 yr. I6th Beg., Co. D ; re. Hopkinton .
Bankiu. Jame. 3, r. 11th Beg., Co. C; re., Hopkinton
Byan, John (l.t), mu. in June 15. 1861, 9th Reg., Co. C ; re... Hop-
kinton- mus. out June 21, 1864.
Roach, Patrick, 3 yr,, 5th Reg., Co. H ; re., Hopkinton.
Bagan Richard. 3 yr. 5th Keg.. Co. H. N. H. Vol.. ; res Hopkinton^
Ring, John. mns. in June 11. 1861, 3 y.,. 9th Reg.. Co. C ; re.. Hop-
kinton : die. June 21, 1864.
B^ley. John A., mus. in Dec. 29, 1863, 3 yr. 26th Beg., Co. C ; re.,
Hopkinton ; dis. Aug. 26. 1865. ~,h in H A re.
Rockwood, Juan E., mus. in Aug. 15. 1864. 1 yr. 22d \V. H. A. , re...
Hopkinton; dl. July 14, 1865.
iLkwood. George L.. mu. in Dec. 31. 1863. 3 yr. 16th Battery , res..
Hopkinton ; di. Aug. 16. 1863. .„ . „ r^„ u ■
Sheffield. Charles M.. mus. in Aug. 20. 1861. 3 yr. 19th Reg., Co. H .
res.. Hopkinton. „.t o n„ p . ,«
Shehan. Comeliu. mus. in June 16. 1891, 3 yr., 9lh Reg.. Co. C . re...
""shurtl'lff. H. C. mu. in Aug. 7. 1862. 3 yr. Uth Bee. Co. F; re..,
Hopkinton; di. March 8, 1804. ,,.k o „ r^ v ■ re.
Steams, Oberly, mu. in Aug. 7, 1862, 3 yrs, Uth Beg., Co. F , re..
Hopkinton ;re-enl. Dec. 31, 1863; die. Aug. 16, 1866.
Steam. Austin C..mm>. in July 17. 1861. 3 yr,, 13th Reg., Co. k,
IBS., Hopkinton ; di. Aug. 1. 1864. r.„ K ■
Steart-s. Jonathan J., mus. in July 17, 1861, 3 yr,, 13th Keg, Co. K ,
re. Hopkinton ; dis. Aug. 1. 1864. „ , , .
Sherman. Jam«, 3 ym. 10th Beg.. Co. K ; res.. Hopkinton.
She™n b. J.. 3 yr. O.h Beg.. Co. C ; re. Hopkinton ; transferred
"rha'n!";:::^™. ..^ ^..^^.C:^: HoP^^-o; kUled July
'•^r;:;."lr.'3";r. 9th Reg.. Co. C; re... Hopkinton ; killed
June '7 1362, Gaines' Mills.
Sha'n^an. Robert, 3 yr. 9th Reg.. Co. C ; re... Hopkinton ; dl.. June
""slntw. Henry, 3 y.,, 9th Reg., Co. C ; res., Hopkinton ; dl.. March
a 1863 dis&bility.
Sullivan, Patrick, 3 yr. 9th Reg.. O^. I ; re., Hopkmton; mn.. on.
■""sullivarMlchael, 3 yr,. 9th Beg.. Co. C; re... Hopkinton ; mu. out
■'"smith. "l^uben. mu. in Sept. 24. 1862, 9 mo,. 42d Reg.. Co. H ; r«.,
Hopkinton ; dis. Aug. 20, 1863. ,, „ . u^^
Smith, John M., mus. in Ang. 15, 1864, 1 yr. 22d U. H. A.; re., Hop-
"'smUh, F. E., n>us. in Fob. 22, 1864, 3 yr. 2d Beg., Co. F ; re., Hopkin-
ton died Feb. 1, 1865, in Rebel prison.
Shlvlin, John, mu. in Aug. 15, 1864, 1 yr. 22d U. H. A.; re... Ho,^
"'tTth. Samuel A., mu. in Feb. 22. 1864. 3 y™.-2d Reg.. Co. F ; re...
";;X~r^^TAug.l9,1864, 1 yr, 22d U. H. A.; re..
•"l^John, mu. in Sept. 4, 1864.2d H. A.; re.. HopklnU,a.
Siver Augustn. mu. in June 4. 1864. 3 yr. 26th Reg.. Co. E ; re...
Hopkinton; dis. Aug. 26. 1865.
Sanborn, Geo. L., mn. in Jan. 4, 1894, 3 yn. 26th Beg.. Co. E; re...
"^tm^^' John, mu,. in Feb. 8. 1865. 1 yr. 61st Beg., Co. I; re*.
HopkiotOQ.
794
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Smith, H. D., mas. in Sept. 24, 1862, 9 moa, 42d Bag., Co. H ; res.,
HopkiDtOD ; dis. Aug. 20, 1863.
Tl»iner, Thomas, mus. in July 16, 1862, 3 yrs, 16tli Reg., Co. B ; rea.,
Hopkioton.
Temple, N. B., man. in Sept. 2, 1861, 3 yre, 19th Reg., Co. H ; res.,
Uopkinton.
Temple, U. H., mos. in Aug. 24, 1861, 3 jra, 19tb Reg., Co. U ; res.,
Hopkinton.
Temple, Martin, 3 yre, 19th Reg.; res., Hopkioton.
Temple, H. M., 3 71s, 19tb Reg.; res., Hopkinton.
Thompson, A. O., mos. in Oct. 7, 1861, 3 jre, 25tta Beg., Cu. B ; res.,
Hopkinton ; dis. Not. 19, 1863.
' Tower, Joshua H., mos. in Aug. 7, 1862, 3 jrs, 14th Reg., Co. F ; rea.,
Uopkinton; died at Andersonville, Oct. 9, 1864.
Tempie, Geo. L., mus. in Jaly 26, 1861, 3 yn, 19tb Reg., Co. H ; res.,
Hopldnton.
Temple, Geo. W., mus. in Sept. 24, 1862, 9 mos., 42d Reg., Co. H ; res.,
Hopkinton.
Temple, Welcome, mus. in Sept. 24, 1862, 9 mos., 42d Reg., Co. H ;
res., Hopkinton ; died at New Orleans.
Tempie, Dalston, mos. in Aug. 15, 1864, 1 yr, 22d V. H. A.; res., Hop-
kinton ; dis. Jane 17, 1865.
Temple, Everett B., mos. in Aug. 16, 1864, 1 yr., 22d Co. U. H. A. ;
rea. Hopkioton ; dis. June 17, 1864.
Temple, Andrew A., mus. in Sept 24, 1862, 9 mos., 42d Reg., Co. H ;
res. Hopkinton ; dis. Aug. 20, 1863 ; re-eni. Uar. 12, 1864, 3 yrs., 59tL
Reg., Co. H ; dis. July 20, 1865.
Thayer, B. C, mus. in Sept. 24, 1862, 9 moa., 42d Reg., Co. H ; rea.
Hopkinton.
Thayer, Jona., mus. in Aug. 16, 18G4, 1 yr., 22d Co. U. H. A. ; res
Hopkinton ; dis. July IS, 18G5.
Tempie, Arba T., mus. in Mar. 11, 1864, S9tb Reg,, Co. H ; res Hop-
kinton.
Tllman, Henry, mns. in Feb. 3, 1865, 1 yr., 6(itb Keg.
Toomey, Timothy, mus. in Jan. 5, 18G4, 28th Reg. ; res. Hopkinton.
Vaughn, Elisha, mus. in Aug. 7, 1862, 3 yra., 14th Reg., Co. F ; res.
Hopkinton ; dis. July 8, 1864.
Walker, Geo., mus. in July 2, 1861, 3 yre., 16th Reg., Co. B; res.
Hopkioton ; re-enlisted under general order.
Warren, Daniel S , mus. in July 17, 1861, 3 yra., 13tb Reg., Co. K .
rea. Hopkioton ; re-enl. same Co. Feb. 19, 1864; dis. Aug. 29, 1865.
Whitney, J. J., mus. in :jept. 24. 1862, 9 mos., 42d Reg., Co. H ; res.
Hopkinton ; dis. Aug. 20, 1863 ; re-enL Aug. 15, 1864, I yr., J>d Cu. L .
U. .v.; dia. June 17, 1865.
Warren, Geo. W , 3 mos., 1S61 ; res. Hopkinton.
Wakefield, Wm. H., mus. in Aug. 12, 1861, 3 yra., 19tb Reg., Co. F .
rea. Hopkinton.
Ward, Samuel J., mns. in Aug. 9, 1861, 3 yrs., 19th Reg., Co. L ; res.
Hopkinton ; dis. Jan., 1862, disability.
Ward, George M., 3 yrs, 22d Reg., Co. K , res Hopkinton.
Warren, Aaron L., mos. in Sept. 14, 1861, 3 yra., 22d Reg., Co. A ; res
Hopkioton; dis. Aug., 1862, disability; re-enl. Jan. 9, 1864, 3 yrs., 4tb
Ca»., Co. D ; dia. Not, 26, 1885.
Wood, Gus W., 3 yrs., 22d Beg., Co. K ; rea. Hopkinton.
Weston, H. C, moa. in SepL 13, 1861, 3 yre., let Car., Co. D ; res. Hop-
kinton.
Ward, Almond, mua. In Aug. 1, 1862, 3 yn., 14th Reg., Co. F ; res.
Hopkinton ; dia. July 8, 1864.
Woolaon, Lem. C, moa. in Aug. 7, 1862, 3 yra., 14th Reg., Co. F ; rea.
Hopkinton ; died of wounds at City Point, June 26, 1864.
Wheeler, Albert B., mus. in Aug. 7, 1862, 3 yrs., 14th Reg, Co. F
rea Hopkinton ; dis. July 8. 1864.
Wheeler, Cephas E., mus. in Aug. 7, 1862, 3 yrs., 14tb Reg., Co. F
res. Hopkinton ; dia. July 8, 1864.
Wheeler, Jarris B., mua. io Aug. 7, 1862, 3 yrs., I4th Reg., (To. F
rea. Hopkinton ; dis. July 8, 1864.
Wise, Harry F., mus. in Aug. 7, 1862, 3 yra., 14th Beg., Co. F ; res.
Hopkinton ; wounded June 22, 1864 ; supposed to be dead.
Wheeler, Wlllard, mus. in July 17, 1861, 3 yre., I3th Reg., Co. K ; res
Hopkinton ; killed at the battle of Gettysburg, July I, 1863.
Wright, Wm. B., must. In Aug. 27, 1861, 3 yre., 19th Reg., Co. K ; rea
Hopkioton ; killed at the battle uf Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862.
Wright, Chas. U., must, in Aug. 28, 1861,3 yrs., I9tb Reg., IV>. D; res
Hopkioton ; dis. Feb., 1863, for disabllily.
Waters, John, must, in Aug., 27, 1861, 3 yra., 9th Reg , Co. C ; res
Hopkinton ; died of wounds. Not. 5, 1862.
Ward, Edward, must In Sept. IT, 1861, 3 yn., 4th Reg., Co. F, R. I.
VoL; rea. Hopkinton ; dis. Dec. 29, 1862, disability.
Ward, Wiliard L., must, in Sept. 21, 1861, 3 yre., 4th Reg., Co. V, R. I.
Vol.; res. Hopkinton ; dis. Not. 28, 1862, disability.
Ward, Michael, 3 yre , 4«th N. Y. Vol.; rea. Hopkinton.
Ward, James, 3 yre, 28(h Reg.; res. Hopkinton.
Whipple, Willis, must, in Oct. 7, 1861, 4 yrs., 2.ith Reg., Co. B ; rea.
Hopkinton; miasing at the battle of Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864, sup-
i poaed to haTe been killed.
j Watkina, H. A., must, in Sept. 24, 1862, 9 mos., 42d Reg., Co. H ; res.
Hopkinton; dis. Aug. 20, 1863.
Woods, Calvin W., must, in Sept. 24, 1862, 9 mos., 42d Reg., Co. H ;
res. Hopkinton.
Ward, Abner, Sept. 24, 1862, 9 mos., 42d Reg., Co. C ; res. Hopkinton ;
dia. Mar. 12, 1863.
Wayne, Silas, must, in Sept. 24, 1862, 9 luos., 42d Reg., Co. H ; res.
Hopkinton.
Ward, John W., must, in July 13, 1802, 3 yrs., 34th Rtg., Co. C ; rea.
HopkiotoD ; died in hospital, Jan 1, 1865, at .Annapolis, Md.
Wheeler. Wm. H., must. In Oct. 13, 1882, 3 yre., 2d Reg. Cavalry ;
rea. Hopkioton.
Williams, Thomas, must, in Aug. 12, IfeOl, 1 year, 1st Beg., Co. E ;
rea. Uopkinton ; diacharged.
Wallace, James, must, in .Vug. 15, 1864, 1 yr., 22d Co., U. H. A.; rea.
I Uopkinton.
Woods, Willaid L., must, iu Aug. 15, lf62, 1 yr., Hi Co. U. H A.;
res. Hopkioton ; dis. May 2, 1SIJ5.
Whittemore, Curtis H., must. In Sept. 12, 1862, 9 mos., 44tb Reg., Co.
C , res. Uopkinton ; dia. June 18, 18ikJ.
Woods, Chas. A., must, in Jan. 18, 1MJ4, 26th Reg.; res. Hopkinton.
Webster, John C. Jr., May 16, 1864, Co. B, let Butt., H. A. ; res. Hop-
kinton.
Wheeler, Hiram E., must, in Aug 15, 1804, 1 yr., 22d Co. U. H A. ;
res. Hopkinton ; dis. June 7, 1865.
Wood, .Marcus M., Jan. 4, 1<'64, 3 yre., 20th Reg., Co. D ; res. Uopkin-
ton ; dis. May 13, 1805.
Ward, George, must, in Oct. 11, 1802, 9 mos., 42d Reg., Co. C; res.
Hopkininn ; dis. Aug. 2", 1863.
Ward, Simeon, must. in. .Ian. 4, 1804,3 yra., 2utli Reg. , Cu. F; red.
Uopkinton ; dii-d Jan., Ie65, in rebel prison.
(I find that by the record that the 14th Regiment is used ioste:id uf
the let Regiment of H. A., which is incorrect as there was no 14th Reg-
ment in the same from Mass.)
Meeting-House. — A town-meetiug to see about
building a meeting-house was held January 5, 1724-25,
within one year after the organization of the town.
It was "voted to build a house forty-eight feet long,
thirty-eight feet wide and twenty feet between joynts
and that the house be stooded : that John Bowker,
Samuel Comins, Samuel Watkin, be a Comety to
provide the timber and frame it. Improving ihe peo-
ple of the town to worke out their rates, that the
comety have ia. a day til March, and after that 4«. 6d.
a day they finding themselves vital and drink ; that
the meeting-house be raised by ye 2d of May.
Some difference of opinion arose as to the proper
location of the meetiug-house, three places being se-
lected : first, at a lopt chestnut-tree, second, where the
timber lieth, third, at a place south of burying-place
marked by a walnut-tree. As a compromise, all parties
agreed to leave it to be decided by the lot ; the lot was
cast and it fell upon the spot south of the buryiug-
place in what is the highway.
The raising of the meeting-house was a great affair
as appears by the record. At a meeting held November
29, 1725, it was "voted that the town appropriate ten
pounds for the purpose ; that the meeting-house be
raised with spike poles, that it be left with the select-
HOPKINTON.
795
men to appoint the time when to raise the meeiing-
house, that Sart. Samuel Watkins, Sart. John Man-
ning and Thomas Walker, be a Comitee to take care
and provide for raising ye publick meeting-house ;
that all those that entertain those men with a supper
the evening after the raising of our publick meeting-
house that have been to said raiding shall have one
shilling 3 pence p^r head for each man allowed them
by the town of Hopkinston, they giving theire names
of each man to the town."
The house was raised in December, 1725, and was
so far completed that the town held its first meeting
in it June 26, 1726. The trustees contributed £100
towards the meeting-house. The house stood on the
spot where its was built until 1829, when it was
moved and used as a barn by Col. Joseph Valentine,
afterwards by ex-Gov. Ciaflin & Co., as a boot fac-
tory.
Pew-ground was granted to the leading families
who were placed around next the walls ; the size of
the pews was fixed by a vote of the town and varied
from six feet to seven feet long, and from five feet to
seven wide, according to the size of the family.
Where a pew came against a window the owner was
required to keep the glass in repair — an obligation
the owners appear to neglect, as the town at one of
its meetings chose a committee to board up the
windows.
The meeting-house was a plain structure without
a cupola or steeple, and wa.s painted outside in 1773
for the first time.
A number of the original members of the church
were Scotch Presbyterians, .\pril 9, 1731, the church
voted to comply with the Cambridge platform adopted
at Cambridge, 1649, as the rule of their discipline.
This action of the church gave great otfence to the
Presbyterians who, in 1734 organized a Presbyterian
Church and built a small meeting-house on what is
now called High Street, near the Ellery corner, but
they eventually removed to New Glasgow, now Blan-
ford, west of the Connecticut river. Robert McCook,
one of the number, said that he desired no letter of
dismission, but thought that the church should ask
a dismission from himself.
The pastor. Rev. Samuel Barrett, Jr., was bom at
Boston 1700, graduated at Harvard 1721. It appears
that he came from Medway here, as the town at a
meeting July 24, 1725, allowed John How five shil-
lings for going to Midway to treat with Mr. Barrett.
In a notice published at the time of his death it is
said " He was a pious good Christian ; a man of
great candor and good nature." He died December
11, 1772.
The trustees gave one hundred acres of land to the
first minister that should be ordained and settled in
the town, to be for him and his heirs for the term of
ninety-nine years, free from paying any rent, and
thirty pounds toward building his house upon his
own land.
The town voted him £100 "in day labor, oxens
worke, boards, shingle, clapboards, slet-worke or
other materials needful for the building an house for
him, and to pay it by the 1st of October next." The
house was built, in 1725, on the present site of the
town hall, where it remained until 1830, when it was
taken down by Col. Joseph Valentine.
Rev. Elijah Fitch was the second pastor ; he died
December 16, 1788. It is said of him that he was an
eloquent preacher, a fine scholar and poet. He wrote
and published a poem of several cantos, entitled
" The Beauties of Religion," also a poem called "The
Choir," in which he described his manner of life in
Hopkinton.
The following is an extract from a Century Sermon
preached in 1815 by the Rev. Nathaniel Howe. It
shows the nature of some of the Controversies which
take place between a pastor and his people :
" When the pablice took ddes opoa politics your mloKtw wu a
federalitit, thoagh he wu Benaible, a very great mioority of the town
were of dlfTereot eentlment. He believed tbeo aa he does now that he
ought to have more regard for his county than to any partlcalar part of
it. And when he has occasionally preached political Bermona they have
repeatedly occasioned uncomfortable feelinga.
" Another difficulty yonr Mluiter baa bad to encounter was the want
of support. A vast change has taken place In the expense of dressing
and living since my ordination, and yet no addition has been made to
my salary.
*' Wheh a candidate 1 determined 1 would never settle tUl I saw a
reasonable prospect of a comfortable support, and when settled I
would never complain of my salary. 1 remained of this mind till 1 had
been your minister for fifteen years.
" Borne down with the fatignes of manual labor, pressed into the
woods in the winter, to the plough in the spring, into the meadows in
the summer, to support my family com/ortable and fulfill my promises,
I felt the business of the ministry was greatly neglected ; that It was
impoasable for me to do what ought to be done in my profession unless
the people did more towattl my support.
" 1 (>>mimtted my thoughts to paper then committed them to four
brethren of the church, thea to the church as a body and afterward to
the town."
At a meeting of the town held December 15, 1806, 1
find the following record : Mr. Howe was called upon to
read to the town the communication he had made to
the church, upon which the vote to " see if the town
will (on account of the depreciation of money) add
$116.67, to the yearly salary of the Rev. Nathaniel
How till such times as labor and provisions fall in
their price as low as when he was ordained." This
passed in the negative by a large majority."
"Then Mr. How proposed to see if the town would add flI6.6T UU
auch timee as the membere of our General Court receive less than two
dollan* per day for their services. This was negatived by a large ma-
jority.
" Then Ur. How proposed to see If the town will add $118.87 for seven
years from the fint day of January next. This passed in the negative
by a large minority.
" Then &lr. How proposed to see if the town will make up one-half
the depredation on his salary from this time while he continues their
minister. This passed in the negative by a large m^ority.
" Then Mr. How proposed to see if the town will, in the future, pay two
hundred dollan for his annual salary and average in on labor, com, rye,
cider, butter and cheese, bee^ porke, at the prices they bore on the day
of his ordination. This passed in the negative by a largs m^ority.
" Then Mr. How proposed to see If the town will pnichaaa bis house
and land and keep it for the next minister. This passd In the negative
by a large majority.
796
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
"TbeD Mr, Sow propowd to see if the town will request tlie cbarcb,
by a Tota, to grant bim a dinmiteioD. Tbia paased io the negative by a
large majority.
"Tben Mr. How said he bad but one propositioD to make, which was
to see if the town were willing be should publish the communicatlou be
bad made to the cbnrch and read to the town and all the doings of the
town therein. And this also passed in the negative by a large ma
jority."
Near the conclasion of the sennan Mr. How says :
"My brethren, may I ask a question, a plain, simple queetioo ? How
shaU I obtain your consent 7 Shall I take silence for consent? Tour
countenances discover a willingness? Tbequestion is this, Do you know
by what means I have become ao rwh as to have a great bouse fluished
and furnished ? A farm, a herd of caltle, a dock uf sheep, horses and
money at interest ? I say nothing of my debts to-day. Shall 1 answer
the question? The principal reason is this, because 1 have been doing
your butmett and neglecting my oien. What is your business? Vuur
business is to support your minister, and that what I have been doing
for more tban twenty yeaia, and what is my business ? My busiuess is
to study and preach ; and in this have never abounded. It is I have
been absent from public worship not more than four or five Sab-
baths for twenty-five years ; but I have frequently been present anil at-
tempt to preach when it has been mortifying to me and coutii not be
edifying to you. I have sometimes admouislied reproof both to tht-
church and society io a manner that has been thoueht to discover some
degree of severity, but in these cases you have always had the good sense
enough to know you richly deserved it."
Ministers Phelps and Hall serveti as colleague pa.s-
tors with Mr. Howe.
Mr. Howe had one of the longest and most success-
ful pastorates. He succeded in doing much good for
the church in many ways, and his death, in 1837, was
an event which caused much sorrow. He waa a man
who, strong in his own convictions, had no fear in
announcing them from his pulpit.
The first meeting-house was commenced in 1725,
and the first meeting held therein was on .Tune 26,
1726. But the building, which was not finished for
many years, was removed in 1829, and another was
built, which was burned ia the destructive fire in
April, 1882.
May 21, 1723, a bigger part of ye inhabitants of the
town met, and " the following business was done :"
" Voted, The endeavoring for a minister to preach
with us constantly on Sabbath days.
2. " Voted, To levy a tax of an half-penny upon
the acre upon all the lots that are either taken up or
picked upon by gentlemen that they will take them
for the support of a minister.
3. " Voted, That they will every man bring in his
proportion to said tax to John How by the last day
of June next ensuing.
4. " Voted, To have a contribution every Sabbath,
and that every man paper his money and write his
name upon the paper, and set the sum that he puts in.
5. " Voted, That Mr. Hustone and Mr. Wood shall
receive said contribution, and take an account what
it is, and deliver it to the aforesaid John How, and
take care of none of said papers that none of them
be lost
6. " Voted, That Mr. John Wood and John How
take care that we are constantly provided with a min-
ister to preach with us on Sabbath days.
7. "Voted, To meet at John How's house on Sabbath
days at present."
This was the beginning of the movement which
established the church.
The pastors which have been in charge of the parish
are as follows:
Rev. Samuel Barrett 1724-1772.
Rev. ElUah Fitch 1772-1788.
Rev. Nathaniel Howe 1791-1837.
Rev. Amos A. Phel|« 1830-1832.
Rev. Jetfries Hall 18.'«-1838.
Rev. John 0. Webster 1838-18C4.
Rev. Josepb Boarduiaii 186^1868.
Rev. George H. Ide ■ 18B9-1S76.
Rev. Horatio O. Laiid 1877-1880.
Rev. Mr. Fullertoo otficiated until Rev. B. Story was installfd in
18C7.
English Church.— The Rev. Roger Price, rector
of Kings Chapel of Boston, came to Hopkinton in or
about 1745, and took up a tract of land containing
seven hundred and nine .teres and one hundred and
forty- two acres of common land.
He built a small church edifice and endowed it
with a glebe of one hundred and eighty acres, the
deed being dated July 9, 1748. After ofBciating here
for three or four years, he returned to England and
was succeeded by Rev. John Troutbeck, who was ap-
pointed chaplain of " frigate " Rose in 17G9. The fol-
lowing appear to be members of the church in 1752,
Sir Charles Henry Frankland, Thomas Higgins,
Julius Chase, William Wesson, Capt. David Ellis,
James Devine, Thomas Valentine, Patiick White,
John Mastick, Robert Barrett, James Fannys, Thomas
Chadock, William Brown, Patrick Shays (father of
the rebel Daniel Shays), Hugh Dempsey, Richard
Kelly, Rebecca Wilson, Peter Vialas, John Kelly and
Mrs. Dench.
The present members are James F. Braithwaite,
clerk; James Frith Braithwaite, Robert H. Braith-
waite, William Kennedy, Samnel A. Kennedy, Robert
H. Kennedy, James W. Kennedy, Dr. Walter A.
Phipps, George Davis, Harry Hemenway, David H.
Fisher.
The first building remained where it was built until
1818, when a committee made the following report to
the Board of Managers : " That having viewed and
examined the church in Hopkinton, and they were
decidedly of the opinion that the same was so far
decayed that any expenses bestowed on repairing
it would be lost, and that they had made a contract
with Samuel Valentine to build a new church, which
waa done at a cost of three thousand sixty-one dol-
lars and twenty-four cents ; the church was conse-
crated October 7, 1818, and destroyed by fire, July
18, 1865."
The first Methodist Church was built on Hayden
Row Street about eighty years ago, and bad for its
pastor Elder Bonney.
The church building on Church Street was built in
1865, by Deacon Lee Claiiin.
HOPKINTON.
191
Catholicity in Hopkinton.' — ^Time rolls his
restless course ; the changing years flit on, and, one
by one, unbidden to-morrows burst forth to-days only
to lose themselves again in the yesterdays of the som-
bre, silent past. Life is one continual change, and
t<> none can this be more evident than to him who
will carefully pause and reflect on the wonderful
transformations that have been effected during the
past forty years, since the inauguration of the Parish
of Hopkinton. Who, in those early days would have
presumed to predict so glorious a future for this
little hamlet? Who then dared hope that the day
would ever come when the Catholics of Hopkinton
could claim the proud distinction of having erected
to the honor and glory of God the grandest edifice
within the confines of New England. Truly it seems
the finger of God had pointed out the way for His
devoted children, and strengthened their hearts in
the hour of darkness against the attacks of a bigoted
and unrelenting world. But few of the early settlers
survive to tell the story of the sufferings and privations
undergone in the cause of Christ when the faithful
were forced to travel many weary miles over almost
impassable roads to receive the consolations of our
holy religion. As early as 1846 the Parish of Mil-
ford was formed, which included the present parishes
of Hopkinton, Medway, Holliston, Ashland, Upton,
Marlboro', Maynard, Rock Bottom, Westboro', Corda-
ville and Saxonville. Rev. Father Boyce of Wo.'ces-
ter was appointed first pastor, assisted by Rev. Father
Gibson, by whom regular monthly services were in-
stituted in the surrounding towns ; the priest being
obliged to travel from place to place, oftentimes ex-
posed to the inclemency of the weather, to care for
the wants of his devoted flock. Previous to this time
the Catholics of Hopkinton attended Mass at the
homes of Dominic McDevitt and Edward Mc-
Govern, both of Milford ; but upon the arrival of
Father Boyce as pastor of Milford, services were
held at the residence of .John MoDonough, who
sympathized with and materially aided these early
pioneers in their unswerving fidelity to their holy
ciuse. Still they remained unsatisfied and longed
for a church wherein they might worship God
according to the dictates of tonscience. The faith
of Saints Patrick and Columba glowed in their
hearts ; nor could they rest until they had a place
wherein a priest might dwell and preach the word of
God. With this object in view, a meeting was called
in November, 1849, by John Wilson, a Protestant, at
his home on Mt. Auburn Street, where were assem-
bled all the Catholic men, twenty-two in number,
from the outlying districts — very few then resided in
the town proper. What transpired at that meeting
is best told in the words of Michael Raferty, an eye-
witness, and the oldest Catholic resident living : " I
have attended many meetings, both political and re-
Bj Thoa. H. LeoibaD.
ligious, but never have I witnessed such enthusiasm
displayed as at that first meeting of the Catholics of
Hopkinton, and to John Wilson must be given the
honor of being the first to propose the establishment
of a Catholic Church in our town. His actions on
that occasion were something not soon to be forgotten,
and his generosity is worthy of record. Seven hun-
dred dollars were subscribed in a few moments, and
we voted to build a House of Prayer."
The following day Dr. Pratt offered an acre of land
(now a portion of the Catholic Cemetery ) as a site
for the proposed church. Michael Raferty was ap-
pointed to confer with Father Boyce, who in the
meanwhile had received an offer from another source.
Tins was from E. A. Bates, Esq., a citizen who owned
considerable property on what is now known as
Cedar Street, and, wishing to enhance the value of
the same, offered Father Boyce an acre of land and
$200, provided the building was erected within a cer-
tain time. The offer was accepted. Father Boyce
paying $100 ; but the building was not begun before
1851.
Toward the close of the year 1849, Father Boyce
was succeeded by Rev. Father Hamilton, assisted by
Father McGrath, who immediately undertook the
arduous work of erecting a church on the site pre-
viously selected. The following year Father Far-
rilly, of Saxonville, succeeded Father Hamilton,
coming here as often as necessity required, and
holding services at the home of Mr. John McDon-
ough, and laterin the old Town Hall.
The labors and the sacrifices of the pioneer mis-
sionaries of the East form the most important part of
our Catholic history. They are chronicled in the
traditions of the faithful, and need not be recited
here.
Despite his manifold duties and the countless sac-
rifices incident to so great an undertaking, Father
Farrilly determined to build a Church, and early in
1851 the contract was awarded to Artemus Johnson,
of Holliston, for the erection of a wooden church,
sixty by forty feet, known as St. Malachi's. Two
years later an addition was made, and here the
Catholics of Hopkinton knelt 'neath the shadowing
protection of the cross of Christ and heard the Word
of God.
It was in the spring of 1854 that Father Farrilly was
transferred from Saxonville to Milford, where he was
I stationed as resident pastor, with charge of the original
I parish heretofore mentioned, assisted by Father
O'Beirne and Father Welch, of Natick, lately de-
I ceased. Three weary years he labored assidaously
for the welfare of his people, when at length his
rugged frame, weakened, no doubt, by years of un-
ceasing toil, fell a prey to a disease which resulted
in his death in August, 1857. His remains were
interred in the church-yard, where they reposed
until August 15, 1883, at which time they were
transferred to the Catholic cemetery, where a mona-
798
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
ment had been erected in his honor by hia old
HopkintOQ parishioners. September 15, 1857, Kev.
P. Cuddihy, present rector of St. Mary's Parish
at Milford, was appointed his successor, who divided
the old parish with Father Welch, who had pre-
viously acted as curate to Father Farrilly, receiving
for himself the present towns of Milford, Hopkinton,
Medway, Hollistoo, Ashland, Marlboro' and Upton.
This system continued as late as 1866, at which time
Father Cuddihy gave up Hopkinton, Ashland, Marl-
boro', and commenced the building of a new church
in Milford. The history of Father Cuddihy's pastor-
ate during the nine years he remained with us, is but
the repetition of what every priest has been obliged
to undergo, whose mission was to sow the seed of
wisdom in a sparsely-settled locality. Yet Father
Cuddihy merits more than a passing notice for his
indefatigable exertions, and the respect and esteem
in which he is held to day by hia people is the best
criterion by which to judge of his ability as a man
and his zealous devotion as a priest in his sacred pro-
fession. Upon the retirement of Father Cuddihy,
July, 1866, his curate. Father Barry, was appointed
first resident Catholic pastor of Hopkinton, with
charge of Westboro', Ashland and Cordaville. This
was the real beginning of the Hopkinton Parish, and
during its brief existence of twenty-four years what
has it not accomplished 7
The work done in the short time which has inter-
vened since the institution of this parish shows more
plainly than any words of mine the noble generosity
which has ever been characteristic of this people, and
the self-sacrificing, zealous spirit of the pastors, who,
from time to time, had charge of this devoted flock.
Father Barry diligently followed in the footsteps of
his predecessors, and what he accomplished during
his mission of four short years here will not soon be
forgotten. April 1, 1870, he was transferred to Rock-
port, where he remained until his death, which oc-
curred Jan. 7, 1883. His remains lie at rest in our own
cemetery, as it had always been his desire to return
to his former parishioners. A few months ago the
St. John's C. T. and L. Society erected in his honor
a massive and costly monument as a memorial to
one whose services were as lasting as they were
exceptional.
Upon the removal of Father Barry, Father Minetti,
an Italian by birth, assumed charge April 23, 1870,
remaining in charge until Oct., 1872, at which time
he returned to Italy, giving place to Father Ryan,
formerly assistant rector of St. Joseph's, Boston. Soon
after the advent of Father Minetti the Boston diocese
was divided, Springfield being the new See, with
Right Rev. P. T. O'Reilly in charge. This left
Hopkinton and Ashland as one parish, Westboro'
and Cordaville having been included in the new
diocese. It was not until August, 1877, that Hopkin-
ton became a separate parish, at which time Rev. J.
S. Cullen, present rector of St. Stephen's, South Fram-
ingham, and formerly curate to Rev. Father Ryan,
was placed over a new parish, comprising the towns
of Ashland and Framingham. Meanwhile, Hopkin-
ton had thrived prosperously. Factories had been
built, and the Catholic population, which a few years
before numbered but a few hundred souls, steadily
increased, until at the time of Father Ryan's arrival
they numbered nearly two thousand souls. This,
together with the poor condition of St. Malachi's
Church, called for a larger and more substantial place
of worship. Accordingly, several meetings were held
relative to the proposed new church, until at a meet-
ing held in 1875, arrangements were completed for
the erection of a granite edifice, to be known as the
Church of St. John the Evangelist. The land on
Church Street was purchased from the late Dr. Pratt,
i at a cost of SGOOO, and the laying of the foundation
j commenced in May, 1876, the first sod being turned
by Father Ryan himself. Thence the work rapidly
! progressed, and May 15, 1877, we had the pleasure of
i seeing the comer-atone laid with imposing rites, by
I the Most Rev. John J. Williams, ArchbLi^hop of
1 Boston. Rev. Fr. Marsden, of Lawrence, delivered
1 the oration. No delay was now permitted, as the
[ " Old Church " had become rather unsafe, and all
were desirous of entering St. John's. At length the
I basement was completed, and Christmas morning,
i 1878, Mass was celebrated for the first time by Rev.
I Father Ryan, which my friend. Rev. Father J. J.
I O'Connor, now of Cleveland, Ohio, and myself
j had the honor of serving. What a Mass was
i that I Never did the pealing anthems resound more
j joyously than did our heartfelt Alleluias on that
happy morn. The very air of heaven seemed to
re-echo with the joyous " Gloria in Excelsis," and
the sublime strain of the " Credo." How happy was
our beloved pastor that morning ; how feelingly he
spoke of the kindness and generosity extended him in
the work he had undertaken, and the gratifying
results which had attended his every effort ; closing
his admirable discourse by wishing us a merry Christ-
mas and a happy, prosperous future. And we ! Were
we silent? Never were more heartfelt prayers uttered
than were poured forth that morning for the health
and prosperity of our dear pastor, who had already
j begun to show signs of weanness from the mighty
I load with which he was over-burdened. Still he per-
' severed in his endeavor, overseeing the whole work
I himself, both at the church and at the quarry, until at
1 length, broken-down by his persistent labors, he was
' forced to yield to the entreaties of his friends, and
January 11, 1881, started to make a tour of the south
! for the purpose of recruiting his health, now very
much impaired. Meanwhile, the building had been
completed, except the interior upstairs, and the spire ;
St. Malachi's had been torn down, the lumber dis-
posed of, and the land sold.
The finances of the parish were in an excellent
condition. Father Ryan having paid, during 1880,
HOPKINTON.
799
S13,000 of the debt, which in all amounted to scarce-
ly S25,000.
On the eve of his departure all the parishioners
assembled at the church to bid him farewell, never
thinking for a moment it was the last time they
should ever see him, and presented him on that occa-
sion with a purse of S700 as a slight token of their
affection and regard for him. The next morning he
departed, and during the following months of his ab-
sence frequent letters told of his speedy recovery till
we had been lured into the hope of seeing him return
in perfect health. Alas ! how sad, on awaking Sat-
urday morning, March 26, 1881, word was Sashed over
the wires announcing the death of our faithful pastor
at St. Louis, of spinal meningitis, which he contract-
ed during his brief sojourn there on his way home.
He had spent the intervening time traveling through
Florida, Nassau and Cuba, and was returning home
much improved in health when the fatal disease
seized him which terminated in his death. His body
arrived on the 29th ; escorted from the station by the
grandest funeral cortege ever witnessed in this vicin-
ity. Two days he laid in state in the basement of the
church, which was crowded day and night by the
thousands who came to do honor to his memory.
The funeral took place Wednesday, preceded by a
Solemn High Mass of Requiem, in which Rev. J. S.
CuUen, a former curate, was celebrant; Rev. T. Ma-
gi nnis, of Jamaica Plains, Deacon ; and Rev. P. A.
McKenna, Marlboro', Sub-deacon. An eloquent pan-
egyric was preached by Rev. Jno. M. Kremmer, of
Southbridge, a life-long friend of the deceased. Over
150 priests from all parts of the State were present
at the obsequies, the church was heavily draped, the
whole town in mourning and business generally sus-
pended.
In the words of Hamlet, of him we can say : " He
was a man, taken for all in all, we shall not look upon
his like again." He had devoted his time, labor, ay !
even his life to promote an enterprise which shall
ever stand a monument to his untiring energy. Fa-
ther Ryan was born in Boston, December 26, 1845.
The greater part of his youth was spent at Lawrence,
Mass., whither he went with his parents while yet a
mere boy. At an early age he entered Montreal Col-
lege, when having completed his collegiate course he
entered Troy Seminary, and was ordained to the holy
priesthood December 25, 1865. His first charge was
St. Joseph's Parish, Boston, where he remained until
transferred to Hopkinton, in November, 1872. Would
that it were permitted us to give in detail the edify-
ing history of his labors while in our midst; and yet!
where is the need ? Though ten years have passed
since he was laid to rest his memory still lives in the
hearts of the people, who will ever hold him in lov-
ing remembrance.
After the demise of Rev. Father Ryan conjecture
was rife as to his probable successor. Rev. F. J.
Glynn, of Brockton, Mass., then curate here, retained
full charge until a pastor should be appointed.
Nearly every priest in the diocese was mentioned as
the next rector ; nor was it a matter of slight import-
ance, as the condition of affairs needed an able admin-
istrator. Here was a costly church half finished,
with quite a debt when the size of the parish — about
2000 souls — is taken into consideration. Some little
time elapsed, however, before the appointment was
made, and it was not until the Sunday after Easter,
April 24th, that Father Mohan, who had been selected
to fill the vacancy, arrived. Up to this time be had
been rector at Ayer, Mass., but, obedient to hia Bish-
op, cheerfully resigned a flourishing parish to accept
one which required the work of years and care before
he could hope to enjoy the fruits of his labors. Yet
Father Mohan was not a man likely to become alarmed
at the enormity of the work laid out for him, nor dis-
heartened at the well-nigh hopeless task of complet-
ing the church.
The financial strain under which the people had
been laboring prior to his coming had necessitated a
cessation of the same at least for a brief period, and
accordingly Fr. Mohan contented himself by renewing
the Church Debt Society instituted some years pre-
viously by Fr. Ryan.
This was a society formed for the purpose of liquida-
ting the debt on the church by equalizing the bur-
deu so that all should pay a monthly assessment
which, though small, amounted to quite an item in
the year's income. During the next few years it
thrived, but afterwards gradually fell away, until fin-
ally in 1888 it ceased to exist altogether. Having
permitted one year to pass without calling on the peo-
ple for any subscription aside from the ordinary rev-
enues of the church, Fr. Mohan thought it time to
make some endeavor to remove altogether the debt
which he had been steadily diminishing. But ere he
began, a calamity as direful as it was une-xpected be-
fell the town, which for the time being paralyzed the
business interests and delayed for a considerable time
all prospects of completing the chcrch. The morning
of April 4, 1882, was a dark one indeed for Hopkinton.
About 2 o'clock A. M., we were awakened &om our
beds to find the very heart of the town, where stood
our principal factory, enveloped in flames. Aid was
quickly sent from the surrounding towns, but vain were
all endeavors to check the onward rush of the flames
which now presented one vast wall of fire extending
from the cemetery to Walcot Street. Dark, very dark
seemed the future of Hopkinton to that grief-stricken
throng gazing upon the ruins on that fatal morning ;
utterly hopeless seemed every prospect of ever again
attaining the prosperity which up to that time we had
enjoyed. Then spread forth the rumor, discouraging
indeed to those who had depended for their liveli-
hood upon that factory, that the company would not
rebuild. It was verified but too soon, as a few montha
later the firm of Bridges & Co. commenced the erec-
tion of a new factory at South Framingham. That
800
HISTORY OP MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
was a severe blow to Hopkinton, one from which the
town never fully recovered. All thought of complet-
ing the church was now at an end, and it was deemed
impracticable to attempt to pay off the old debt. The
people generally were in poor circumstances with no
prospect of brighter days to which they might look
forward, and accordingly it was thought advisable to
let matters rest for a while at least and allow them
time to recover from the effects of the sad calamity
which had befallen them. As in the previous year
Fr. Mohan contented himself with the proceeds of the
Church Debt Society calling for no subscriptions un-
til the following spring when a collection was taken
up which reduced the standing debt considerably.
Early in June, 1885, he was transferred to Everett, be-
ing succeeded by Rev. M. D. Murphy, our present
pastor. During his ministration here he had endeared
himself to his people by his modest, kindly bearing
and exceptional piety. He was an earnest advocate
in the cause of temperance and was charitable beyond
measure. As a testimony of the appreciation with
which his many good qualities were received on the
eve of his departure he was presented with a large
purse by his parishioners, who assembled in the base-
ment of the church to bid him farewell and wish him
a hearty God Speed. The altar boys at the same
time presented him with a beautiful gold pyx.
Time and space do not permit us to give the credit
due to each one of the different curates who so ably
seconded the efforts of their pastors in the interest of
God and religion. Would that it were permitted us
to dwell on the records of the past, giving to each his
full share of praise, so richly deserved, from the time
of the advent of Fr. Barry, first resident-pastor, to the
present time; but we must be content to remember
them as we knew them.
Below are given the names in the order of their
succession : Rev. Fr. Le Bretin, August to October,
1869; Rev. Fr. O'Farrell, October, 1869, to Novem-
ber, 1870 ; Rev. Fr. McNamara, May, 1871, to Decem-
ber, 1871 ; Rev. Fr. Cuilen, at present pastor at South
Frainingham, December, 1871, to August, 1877 ; Rev.
Fr. Glynn, of Brockton, November, 1878, to Decem-
ber, 1881 ; Rev. Fr. Whalen, December, 1881, to Feb-
ruary, 1883; Rev. Fr. McManus, of Salem, April,
1883, to November, 1885; Rev. Fr. Fagan, December,
29, 1885, to the present time.
In the summer of 1885 the Rev. M. D. Murphy re-
ceived his appointment as pastor of this parish, which
was already encumbered by a heavy debt. This was
entirely liquidated in a short period of time, and the
church, which remained for years in an unfinished
condition, with no prospect of completion, dedicated
with the most gorgeous details of ceremonial ever !
witnessed in New England. It is a noteworthy fact
that the two great ecclesiastical dignitaries on this
occasion were the same who were selected to act in a
similar capacity at Baltimore, on the occasion of the
one hundredth anniversary of the establishment of
the hierarchy of America. Mt. Rev. J. J. Williams,
D.D., Archbishop of Boston, celebrant, and the Mt.
Rev. P. J. Ryan, D.D., Archbishop of Philadelphia,
orator.
Our sketch ends here, as it is Father Murphy's
desire that this work, and not the pen of any indi-
vidual, bespeak his praise.
Non nobis Domine non iiobis sed nomini tuo da
gloriam.
EARLY SETTLERS.
Hopkinton was first settled in 1710 or '12. There
weresome peculiar facts in the settlement of the place,
which had an effect on the character of the people.
The first settlers did not come in colonies, as in other
places, nor by the way of relationship or acquaint-
ance, but single and aloue, seeking a home. They
came from almost as many different places as there
were individuals; the most of the first settlers came
from Sudbury, Franiingham, Sherborn, Concord,
Needham and Marlborough. There was one element
that entered largely into the character of these set-
tlers. They must have had some knowledge of the
place where they were to make their homes ; there
were rocks, hills and an almost unknown aud un-
broken forest. The soil was rich, but required the
hardest possible labor for its cultivation. To over-
come such obstacles one must have indomitable
courage and energy, a self-reliance and a will-
power that never tires, and only those who had
such qualities would seek here a home. Early
in 1719 the town received an important addi-
tion by the settlement of some Scotish families. A
century before their ancestors had emigrated from
Argyleshire, in the west of Scotland, to the counties of
Londonderry and Antrim, in the north of Ireland,
where they and their descendants shared largely in
the persecutions of the Protestants, in the reign of
Charles the First and James the Second. Burdened
with rents and tithes, and thirsting for the enjoy-
ments of civil and religious liberty, three Presby-
terian ministers, with many of their congregations re-
solved on removal to this country, of which they had
heard flattering reports. In the autumn of 1718, 120
families arrived, some in Boston and some in Port-
land. Some eighteen families of the 120 in the
spring of 1716 came to Hopkinton.
Among this number was Hugh Black, William
Montgomery, James Collier (one of the first select-
men elected in the town), Samuel and James Walk,
John, Robert and Patrick Hambleion, Robert McFar-
lane, Robert McCook, Robert Hustons, William Don-
aghy, Samuel Crooks and Joseph Young, the ancestor
of Brigham Young.
Among the first settlers were Joseph Bixby, the
father of Abner Bixby, bom August 30, 1712, and is
the earliest recorded birth to be found on the records.
Captain John Wood, elected on the Board of Select-
men in 1724, and "died Aug' ye 21, 17J5;" Henry Mel-
HOPKINTON.
801
len, who, it is said, built the first house in what is
now Hopkinton, near the Sheffield place ; "Samuel
Comins, one of y' builders of y' meeting-house," who
came to this place with his wife, Lydia, and six chil-
dren, from Needham, in ITlti; John How, in whose
house the meetings were held previous to the build-
ing of the meeting-house, and others.
According to the census of 1845 the following sched-
ule shows the agricultural product of the town :
tDdino Com
Rye
Biirley
Oats
Potatoes
Other Vegetablee
Hay
Fruit
Butter
Cheese
f>. tno biisbeig, value fi.non dollartl.
1,J35 " " !)4n
f.n " " 457
4.22« " " I,37S "
17,417 " " 4,3SS "
HOO " " loO "
1334 tons " 17,23S "
40,15? bushels " .=.,36fi " -
31,01S lbs. " 4.67R
U,3S- ■• •■ S90 "
POPVLITION.— 1776. 1134; 1700, 1317; 1800, 1372; 1810, 1345, 1S20.
Woo: 1830, 1809 ; 1S40, -^24.1: ISo'i, 2S01 , 1SS5, 3034 ; 1861), 4340; lS6.i,
4132 ; 1870. 4419 ; 1875, 4503 , lh«u, 4601 ; 188.5, .3922 ; 1X0(1, 4<H13.
Boot and Shoe Manufndory. — The cause of the
rapid increase of the population from 1840, when it
was 2145, to l'<t>0, when it was 4340, notwithstanding
the loss of Unionville in 1850, a loss of nearly 1000,
was the successful prosecution of the manufacture
of boots and shoes. To this town belongs the credit
of showing to the world that the bottoms of a boot or
shoe might be put on by wooden pegs. In 1820
.foseph Walker, a descendant of Thoines Walker, the
first "dark of the uiarkit, which oftice he held for
one fifty years,'" in Hopkinton, made the tliscoverj
that he could, instead of sticking on the .sole of a
boot or shoe, as had been the practice heretofore,
fasten the parts together by inserting rows of pegs,
cut from weil-seasoned birch or maple wood. This
discovery has produced a ureat and wonderful revo-
lution in the manufacture of boots and shoes in the
New England States. .Mr. \V;ilker with his five suns
long carried on the business in this town. He died
.lanuary 9, 1852.
In 1S2K two of his .sons, Leonard and Lovett .set up
for themselves, and for a number of years continued
to carry their boots and shoes to Boston and Provi-
ilence in a one-horse wagon. The work at that time
was done by hand, and in small shops attached to or
near by the dwellings of the workmen. By degrees
division of labor was introduced in the business, and
machinery driven by steam-power required larger
shops. Our manufacturers then had the privileges
and were proud to stamp their names on their works.
But not .so in this day of improvements.
Judging from the names we read on the boots and
shoes manufactured in Hopkinton at the present time,
one would imagine that the first settlers had left, and
the Dutch and Greeks have taken their places. Mr.
LeeClaflin, father of ex-Governor Claliin, commenced
the making of boots and shoes in Hayden Row in
1840, employing L. H. Bowker to do the work, while
he himself attended to the sale of the goods in Boston, i
Mr. Bowker was afterward of the firm of Phipps & j
Bowker. The firm of Davenport & Gibbs commenced
51-iii
business about this time. Claflin, Coburn & Co., com-
menced the business in the old meeting-house pre-
I vious to 1847, on Main Street, where they remained
until their new shop was built, in 1850. The business
was removed to Framingham, in 1883. S. & A. Crook
commenced the business in 1849 in the J. Walker
shop on Hayden Row Street, where they remained
until 1853, when then removed into the old meeting-
house on (trove Street, and remained there until
j March, 1860, when they removed into their present
; quarters, the third If not the second largest boot and
' shoe factory in the State, containing over sixty-five
, square feet of floorage; the machinery is driven by a
one hundred horse-power engine, the capacity of the
establishment being thirty-six hundred pairs per day.
The Messrs. (Vooks are natives of Hopkinton and
descendants ot Samuel Crook, who came from London-
derry, Ireland, and settled in this place in 1719.
Erastus Thompson i** Co. — Mr. Thompson came to
Hopkinton and commenced the boot and shoe busi-
ness in 1846, under the firm-name of Thompson,
Bales Si, Barker, in the upper story of the old Coffee-
house store on Main Street. The firm was dissolved
in 1853. Mr. Thompson continued the business in the
same place until 1857, when he removed to his new
shop, and the business has been carried on under the
present firm-name until the present time. Mr. Thomp-
son died in January, 1885 ; since that time the busi-
ness has been carried on by his sons.
The factory is 40x120, four floors, machinery run
by steam and has a capacity of 1 200 cases per day. A.
Coburn commenced business with W. F. Claflin,
brother of the ex-Governor, in the Woodard shop on
Hayden Row Street, in 1855 ; the firm continued until
1870, when it was dissolved, and a new firm formed
under the name of A. Coburn Son & Co. A new factory
was built on the site of the old factory in 1859, which
was destroyed by fire Aug. 27, 1889, which was re-
placed by a factory on the same site, forty by one
hundred and eighty, with an annex twenty-seven by
thirty, four floors, and is the best constructed factory
in the town and has a capacity of 1200 pairs per day.
(}. & F. W. Wood & Co., of Woodville, a part of
Hopkinton. They commenced business in 1867, in a
building on Wood Street, 25x50, four floors. Em-
[doyment was given to about (forty persona, the
output being 1200 cases the first year, the result ol
hand-work alone. In 1870 they bought of their
father, Colonel Albert Wood (a descendant of Captain
John Wood, one o( the first Board of Selectmen,
elected in 1724, and died August 21, 1725, and from
whom the village received its name), the stone mill
formerly used by Colonel Wood as a cotton factory,
and in 1877 they built a new building, 36x90, four
floors, the extensive machinery being ran by water-
power, the total capacity of the whole establishment
being 1100 pairs per day.
The Wood brothers are natives of Hopkinton and
the pioneers of the business in their native Tillage.
802
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
In 1850 there was eleven boot and shoe factories in
Hopliintou.
In 1855 the value of boots and shoes m;iruifactured
in Hopkinton amounted to .i'l,ii5S,820 ; males era-
ployed. 1233 : females, 88 ; totiil, 1321.
In 1885: value, $1,562,837 ; males empluyetl, 737;
females, 164; total, 901, showing an increase in valu-
ation of over $500,000, and a decrease »t' over 40U
hands, the effect of machinery in thirty years.
John Young, a descendant of Joseph Young, who
came from Londonderry, Ireland, and settled in Hop-
kinton in 1719, was born in Hopkinton, March 7, 17(>3.
He was the father of Brighani Young, the Mormon.
He moved from Hopkinton to Whittingham, Vt., in
January, 1801, where Brigham was born, June 1st ol
the same year. John returned to Hopkinton and
lived on Saddler Hill.
Walter McFarland, son of Ebenezer McFarland
and descendant of Robert McFarland, born in 174ii.
He represented the town in the Legislature for twelve
years and served in the Senate for the year 17S7. He
held many important positions of public trust. By
occupation a farmer and civil engineer. Died in 1S27.
Lee Claflin, son of Ebenezer and Sarah Claflin, was
born in Hopkinton, November 19, 1791, and ilied
February 23, 1871. Mr. ClaHiu was the architect ol
his own fortune. He had no ancestry to boast of and
no one to help him so much as he helped himself.
He was the first president of the Hopkinton Bank
and through his influence, with that of Coionei Val-
entine, D. Bucklin and others, the Hopkinton Academy
was instituted. He was in his day and time prominent
in the boot and shoe business and a great friend of the
Methodist Society and served one term in the Senate.
John Barrett, grandson of Samuel Barrett, the first
settled minister in Hopkinton was born in Hopkint<in
in 1769, and died April 4, 1821. He was the -author of
an English Grammar, which was published in 1819.
He was remarkable as a teacher of the Classic Lan-
guage and was one of the teachers of Horace Maun.
Col. Joseph Valentine, sou of Samuel Valentine,
born in Hopkinton, November, 1776, and died March
26, 1845. He possessed fine business capacity and
was for a long time one of the most prominent men,
of the town. He was a delegate in the convention
for the revision of the Constitution in 1820, and
represented the town in the General Court for six
years, and served as chief marshal at the consecra-
tion of Bunker Hill Monument.
Col. Albert Wood was born in Hopkinton, August
1, 1801, and died in 1887. Possessed of sterling
common sense, he for the long period of his life was
one of the most prominent men of the town. He
was previous to 1845 in the manufactiue of cotton
cloths and twine. The statistics of the cotton industry
for 1845 show the following facts: Cotton consumed,
280,000 pounds ; manufactured, 612,000 yards ; value,
$30,500 ; twine manufactured, 20,000 pounds; value,
$2,800; batting manufactured, 30,000 pounds; value,
$1400 ; males employed, forty ; females employed,
fifty. This industry was carried on in Massachusetts
l)y M. Wood, who was the father of Woodville.
The machinery was run by water-power supplied
by White Hall Pond.
He represented the town in the Legislature in 1856
and 1857, and held many other town offices, and was
a man of sterling integrity.
Capt. Daniel Shays, the leader of Shays' Rebell-
ion in 17Si)-S7, son of Patrick Shays, was born in
Hopkinton, at the " ."rliays place" on Saddle Hill
(where at the present time the old well and cellar can
be seen), iu 1747, He left HopkinU)n when about
twenty-one years old, and served in the Army of the
Revolution. He raised a company of which he was
appointed captain, and was wouniled in the service.
After Ihe war he >ettle(l in ihat part of Pelham now
Prescott. He finally settled in Sparta, where he died
poor September 29, 1820. He w:i8 of Scotch descent,
and the name on Ihe early records is s|«elled Shea,
Sha, and sometimes Psha.
At a meeting of the trustees held in Boston, 1711,
it was, •' voted, 1st, that the committee for .-ligning
leases to the tenants of the lands iu Hopkinton be
directed anil emjxiwered to allot and set out I2,-"'00
acres of the best and most improvable of the land,
within said townshii>. 2d, that they are directed to
lay out 100 acres of land for the ministry in such
convenient place and manner as they shall lind most
suitable for that use : that 100 acres of land shall be
hiid out for the first minister that shall be ordained
and settled in the town, to be for him and his heiis
for the term of ninety-nine years from the 25th of
.March hist past, free from paying any rent, and
that 100 acres shall be laid out for the school a
training-Held and burying-yard by said committee,
as they shall judge most accommodable, and that 2(iO
more shall be reserved to be allotted for other public
uses, as the trustees from time to time shall see meet
to direct. 3d. That the residue and remainder of
the lands over and above the above 12,500 acres with-
in said township belonging to the trustees, either by
purchase or the General Court grant, (the cedar
swamp that part of the town grant by the General
Court excepted), shall and remain a common to and
among the tenauts that shall hold these lands by
lease under the said trustees for their use and benefit,
each tenant to have a right and privilege to said
common, according to the quantity of land contained
and specified in their leiises for and during their term."
"Tile witbin ia a true copy uf UoconJ Bottk uf Hupkitittm Uec-oniM Nu.
3, rage 37. perCiLKli H.il [•E.\, UfB.
"This Indenture, made tlio Iweut.T-fiflli d.-iy of March ill tlio tweutv-
third year of tlie Reign of our Sovereign Loitl tJeurge. by tlie U nice of
God, of Great BritaiD, France and Ireland, Kiiiy Pefendernf tlie Fitilli,
.tc., Anooqne Domini. 1700. Between \1\& Kxcellancy, William Shirley,
Esq., Tbe Honorable Jonathan Uelclier, William Duiuer and S|ieucer
Phipa, Esq., Paul Dudley. Edward Hutchiuaoii, Jofliab Willard. Jacob
Wendell, E»qB., The Rev. Dr. Joseph Sewall, The Rev. Edward Holy-
oke, Preaident of Harvard College in Cambridge ; The Rev. Nehe-
miah Walter, minister of Roxbury ; The Rev. Nuthaniel Appleton, min-
1 ieter of Cambridge ; Samuel Sewall, Andrew Oliver, Thomas Hutchin-
BOD, Esq., and M' Edward Bromfield, merchant, all luhabitaQta within
HOPKINTON.
803
bis Majesty Province of the Klassachusetra Baj, id New En(;lanJ, Trun-
teea ap(>ointed by a Decree in hia Miijesiy Hijjh Tourt of (^Miancery,
Datetl the iiiiieteeoth duy of .^Urcli, Anno. Dom. 1712, for the purchoH-
inn hoiieea anil lamls fur iho [NiTiHttuiitiiic the Charity uf the Ilonorahla
KUward Hopkins;, tl6<\ . and ini|ii*oTi[iK of the same, < in the One [>art :
and includes Juhn Jones, JanicH Work, Ueury Milieu, B«*njuniin Wood
and .John Ri>ck\vo.Ml. t«electMieM of Hopkinton, in the Comity of iMidtlle-
■<-X. and their snrte'^irs within the Provim-o aforesaid, uf the other Part ;
Wituefwetb, that the siud William Shirh^y, Jonathan Belcher, Wni. Dum-
mer, Spemer Phips, Paul Dudley, Edward Hutchinson, Josiah Willard,
Jai-oh Wtfudall, Esq., Joseph .Sewall, E4lward Hnlyuke, Neh* Waller,
Nathaniel Appleton, Samuel S<'wall, Andrew Oliver, Tlionias Hiitchin-
boii und £d%viird BronihelU, Tnistces as aforct>jiid, as \v;«II for and in con-
. fii'lenitioo of the Keuta and Servicea herein afterreaervefl and of the per
furmance uf the Covenants and AgreHuieuts herein after expresseil and
nieoiioDe'l t" be kept, done and performed on the piirtand behalf of the
BMi'l John Jone:f, James Wark. Henry Milieu »t others ; aa also for other
fTKixl Knd valuable causes and i_'untjii|eratious them litrre unto especially
moving, Hnve demised, grantetJ, and to Farm, Lottt-n, and hy these pres-
L'nta do deuiir<e, ;;rant and to nirm-lett unto the b;iid Sele<*tmen and
their surct^sore, three certain tnu-t or i»arcel of land wituaie, lying and
beime in Hopkinston, within the Cuitnty of .Middle>e.<c litoreiJitd, con-
taining one hlllulred acrei. ^i» durvf yed and laid out by John Junes, .Sur-
reyor, being under oath, f-.-r the use and Imrip fit of -i S'O'it awl tnuninfj
fiel'l ami ('.Krijuifj f'lnce j'tn- tnid H'liit.iivitou, and is B4iunded viz: South-
erly <»n Wiliien and iiurden. wetsterly on a High way, northerly on
Mr Barrett and on highway, and Kar.terly on a bigliw;*y and on Stinit>-
son land, the other tract of forty-fiv'' acres Layeth at White ball, and i6
*"tunded southerly on ('omuirm land, westerly on Common laml, uortb-
erly on John Kelly land, and Euaterly od Common land, ;is may more
appear by the phins annext.
" To HaTe and To Hold the above-mentioned demiwtl Preinisea with the
appurteiiaDceK, unto the pwid Selectmen, and their Snccessora, fur the
ti«e afuresaid, for and dnriui;, and uuto the full Era and Term of Nine
hundred and uinety-uine yeara inmi the twenty-fifth day <>( Mi*rch Ha
:tl".ve said, thence next eauuiiiK nnd fully to be compleut ;ind ended:
Yielding and i»aying theri-fur yemly nod every year during the saiii
Ttiii litrehy dfiniwHl iinlo the TreaMitrer uf the said TrnsU't*f< f.ir the
rime being or hisassignu the Vt-arly Umi of one peppercorn if deniauded,
next Coming. And if it shall hxpiwn that the yearly Kent or KhiiIh
herein Itefore Keservoil. or any of rlu-ni or any p:irt there*»f, rtlmll
l»e iHfbind or nniKihl, in p;ut"r in all, liy the spiieu of Thirty days next
after any of the eaid days or I'imeri on uliich the said ought to ht* paid
aa afurenjud. That then and from therici-furib it shall and may t>e lawful
unto and for theTinsteeM uf Tre;LMir<'r there or bis Slu■ce^sors iind As-
nigns into the Demited preniise^ and t* v.-ry or any part thereof with the
appnrtenaiH'if, to '-nter aiii| dintntin for the '^ime: And the Otstreici or
Di-itreiiscH ihere fiuind U' take, kud, driveand carry away ami Ib'-sanie
tndetiin. iin|>ound iind k<'fp until the rsuid yearly Kent jmhI Kents in
manner and furiii, iiH afon-riHid Reservfd, and thu arn'anii;i<tt thereof, if
any smh shall be, shall (m unti> the s:iid Trnstew "r TiHaxiirer, or
to their or bin >ui-resfors and jMigns lully Ritiotie^l, runteiited and
p.-ud : And if it-hall happen, Ihiit the yatd yearly lieiit or Ui-nts herein
before Uf>erve<l ^liall bo behind and un|iiiid in part or in ull. and no tlis-
in-ss made ami tiiUi'n as uforeHtid during the thirty days above-men-
tioned, tty the(.piM.-<- of thirty -lays in-\i after the i-xpinitiun <if the thirty
dayn un wlm U Ibe same iiuglit to have l>een p;iid, or a distrcsa might
have been nmdi- ; Tliar then aud from thenceforth. It Nballiind may he
lawful to and for the said Truhti'i-Mor Treasurer, their and his hiiccessi)rB
and .uifti'ini into and upon the ^Jiid Demised i'renii(<ea mid evpry part
thereof with the appurtcuames wholly, t<i re-f nter and the same to
have :igain, n-tain, repossess and '-nioy in their former entate and title,
anything in thesu Preiients contaim-d to the cinilmry in any wii*e nol-
withdtanding. Andtbesaid Selertmon, for themselves and tlieirsnc-
cejwors, and every of them, iloth covenant, tirant and Agree to and
with the f<ai'l William Shirley, Jotiathau Belcher. Wni. Dnmnitsr, S(iea-
cer Phips, Paul Dudley, Edwanl Hat<-binBuii, Ji«iah \\ illanl, Jacob
WcndL-lI, R-iqr., Jixjepb Sewell, Edwanl Holyoke, Nehemiah Walter,
Nathttutel Apploton, Samuel Sewell, Andrew Oliver, Tbumus Ilutchin-
son and Edwanl Bromtield, Tnmtees, an aforesaid, theirsnccoeaora and
iUwigiiB, and every of tbem by these presents in manner and form fol-
lowing, That is to say, That the said Scloctnien, or some of tbem, shall
yearly and every year aud from Time to Time during the said Term
hereby Deiuised well and truly content, satisfy, pay or causeto be puid
unto the 3;iid Tnistees orTreiwnrcr, and thi;ir or hissiicceasors or assigns
the said yearly Rent or Rents herein before IleservetJ, and on tbeaeveml
Days or Times herein before appointed for the payment thereof, and in
the sanio nmnner and form as the same shall grow duo and payable, ac-
cording to the true Intent and meaning of these Presents. And at the
Expiration of the said Term or other Determination thereof, shall and
will surrender and deliTcr up unto the said Trustees or Treasurer, their
and his Successors, the Haiuu premisesin lik<> good and Tenantuble Repair
peaceably, quietly and willingly ; aud I hat he and they shall from time
to time and at all times during the said Term pay all Rates and Taxet
to Church and Common Wealth that shall be set and imposed, according
to Law, upon him and tbem and the Premises. And the said Trustees,
for themselves and :^ucce:idur9, do CoTenant, Promise and Agree to and
with the said Selectmen nod their successors, in oiaDner and form fol-
lowing. That is to say, That they faithfully performing and fulfilling
All and singular the Covenants, Agreements and Payments above Ex-
presseil, Diay and shall peaceably have, hold, poeseaa and enjoy all Ibe
above Demised Premises, for and during the Term aforesaid, without
Let, Trouble, Eviction or Disturbance from them the said Truate«or
their Successors, or from any other Person or Persona, from, by or un-
der tbem, or by their means or Procurement. And they further Cove-
nant and Promise, That the said Selectmen and their Succeasorv, hold-
ing and continuing in the Possession and Improvement of the Premises,
under the faithful performance of the Covenants, Agreements and Pay-
ments nltove expressed unto tbe Corapleatmeut and Knding of the said
Term of Nine hundred and ninety-nine years, without eviction or eject-
ment for breach of covenant attheexpirutlon of the same may and shall,
if be or they see cause, Renew tlifir Lease for such Term ofyearv, offer
the Life or Lives as shall then be agreed upon, by and between the
LesMr and Leasees that blialt then be, withoot any alteration of tbe cov-
enants and Agaeements before expressed. Save onlyuf tbe Rent to be
then Reserved which yet tbe Trustees for themselves and Successors
covenant, Promise and Agree to and with the said Selectmen and their
fiuccessors, That it nhall not be lawful for tbem nor will they Demand,
Let and Reserve ulxive Nine Pence per Acre for the said Lands and Prem-
ises, from and after the Expiration of tbe Term, as above said, at any
time ur for any Term whatsoever. Aud, Finally, the said Trustee)*, for
themselves, their Succeiwurs and Assigns, do Agree, ('overmnt and Prom-
ise to Discharge and Sivve the said Selectmen and their successors from
[taying any Province Land Tax for Three-Vuarten of the above De-
mised Lands. In Witness Whereof, tbeaforesald parties to these Presenta
have interchangeably hereunto set their Elanda and Seals the day and
year first above writcen.
** Signed, sealed and delivered in pres- ]
ence of us, Sami'el Ballard. '
Thomas Bbomfield,
Edwabu Hutchinson.
Thomas HrrrHiNeoM.
Edward BBOMnsLD.**
[SEAL.]
" Memorandum —
" Wherena the within named Tnisteea at their Meeting November
Iti, 1720, have agreed and voted that tbe Residue and remainder of the
Lriudn over and above Twelve Thousand five hundred Acres within the
Township of Hopkinston belonging to the said Trustees either hy pur-
chase or the General Courts Crant (the Cedar Swamps in the Part of the
Township granted hy the General Court excepte^l), shall l>e and remain
a ('onmion to and among the Tenements, .tec, Each Tenunnent to have
Right aud Privilege in the said Commons according to tbe 'luantitj ot
r«and B|teoified in his Lease and during hia term : That notwllhstandliig
the Exception and Reservation of tbe Cedar Swam|i8 as aforesaid all and
singular tbe Tenants that shall take and aign Leases within three yearrt,
from Ibe --'5th of March last past, Jcc, shall bo allowed the Beneht of cut-
ling both Cedar and Pine in the said Swaoipa for covering. Flooring and
tinishing the Houses and Barns which they shall erect and maintain on-
Ihe Premises ; hnt they are prohibited cutting and carrying off any
Timber out of the aaid swamps for sale and if any presume so to do, such
shall be impeachable of waste, ^Ic. . its i n and by tbe tbini, fourth aud
fifth votes past at theaaid meeting, more amply and plainly may appear,
reference thereunto being had : Wherefore now, pursuant bj the Diree-
tiofi and Power given unto us tbe Committee Subscribers uuto this pres-
ent Endorsement for ourselves and the within named Leeeers and ou r
and their Subscribers, We ilo Covenant and Grant to and with the
within najued Lessee, viz., His Executorv, Administrutorsund Assigns to
have and to hold a right and privilege in the said Conmion according to
the t^itanlity of land, specified iu tliu within written Lease for and dur*
ing his Tenu. Aud further that the said Leasee and his Executors, Ad-
luintstrators and Anigns, shall, and may lawfully from time to time,
have the Itenetit of cutting both i^dar and Pine, in the Swam|ie afore-
Miiit, for the covering, fiooriug nod finishing the Houses and Barns he
shall erect u(>on the Premises within written. And the said Lessee fur
himself, his Heirs, Executors, Adiniuistrntorsand Assigns, doth Covenant
and agree to and with the Lessers and their Successors not to cat or
carry off timber of any kind out of the flaid Swamps for sale or any mor
than for the I'ses aforesaid on pain and penalty of being Impeached an
Prosecuted for Waste.
"In WitDofls Whereof tbe Parties liaTe iotercbangably set their
hands awl seala this Day of Anno Domini 17
"Signed sealed and Detiv- -^ Edwabd IlrTCHiNSON [Seal]
Thomas HirrcntHeoN [Skal]
Edwabd Bbomfield [Seal]
ered in presence of us
Samukl Ballard,
Thomas Bboufielp,
"Si'VFOLK, S3., Boston, Octo. 17, 1761.
"Edward Hutchinson, Thomas HutcbinsoD, Esq'*, and Edward Brom
field acknowledged the above Instrument by them executed to be ther
free act and deed.
" Before me John Fate b weather, Jua. Peace."
In closing the history of Hopkintoa, there is much,
if space would allow, that coold be added. The
schools of the town are in good condition and in the
804
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY. MASSACHTTSETTS.
hands of a competent superintendent, and a commit-
tee devoted to their interest. Tlie town report for
1890 showa the followings statistics: number of
schools of all grades, 23 ; number of [)upil.s enrolled,
789; support of schools and incidentals, ?12,6D3.1i; ;
Highways, $3000 ; street-lights, .$250 ; support of the
poor, $6000; incidentals, SI 200; town officers, SlStifi ;
interest on town debt, S10,150 ; Memorial Day, $100.
The town has water-works which furnishes a liberal
supply of good water.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
HON. LEE TLAFLIN.
Hon. Lee Claflin', (Ebenezer^ Ebeuezer'), born in
Hopkinton, November 19, 1791, married Sar.ah
.A.dams, daughter of Elisha and Sarah (Watkins)
Adams, December 19, iSl-'i, certificate of the Rev.
Isaac Bowney. Engaged in the tanning business in
Milford as early as 1813 ; added the boot and shoe
business about 1821 . He rose from an humble be-
ginning and many judicious steps to wealth and
distinction. He represented the town in the Legis-
lature in 1834. Li 1839 or '40 he returned to Hop-
kinton, where he attained many honorable positions;
having been a member of the State Henate in 1S")9,
while a resident of that town. He was very early a
prominent member of the Liberty Party, and was
always active in the anti-slavery cause. He was
tH.^itrumental in establishing three banks, of which
he was the first president, the Milford, the Hopkin-
ton, and the Hide and Leather, of Boston. He was
greatly interested in all educational matters, being one
of the three designated founders of Boston Univer-
sity. After South Carolina surrendered to the Fed-
eral arms, he took an active part in the purchase of
the abandoned seminary at < )rangeburg, which finally
became Claflin University, which was named for him.
While an apprentice to Mr. Warren in Framing-
ham he joined the Methodist Church of which he
was a devoted and steadfast supporter all his life.
He made many donations to the churches and liter-
ary institutions of that denomination, and frequent
benefactions of a more general nature to the commu-
nity. He was a man of great mental vigor as well as
physical strength, which lasted to the end of his life.
He died from the effects of an accident, Feb. 23, 1871.
By his first wife he had three sons, William, Charles
Lee, who died in infancy, and Wilbur Fiak, who
resided in Hopkinton until his death, August 31,
188,5 — she died April 6th, 1834. Mr. Claflin married
March 8th, 1836, Polly Jones Harding, who survived
him several years.
SAMUEL AND ABRA.M CROOKS.
The ancestors of Samuel and Abram Crooks were
Scotch Presbyterians who, as runs the record, were
originally dwellers in Argyleshire, in the west of
Scotland. They went from there to Antrim and Lon-
donderry, ill the North of Ireland, as early as 1618.
.lust one hundred years later than this date, a colony of
120 families, among whom were the Crooks, emigrated
to America, a portion of them landing in Portland,
Maine, while the remainder came to Boston. Quite
a birge numberof these colonists went northward and
became the original settlers of Londonderry, Derry,
Derryfield aall other of the pioneer towns in New
Hampshire, while another portion consisting of eigh-
teen families journeyed westward and settled upon the
high-lands of Hopkinton, in the winter of 1719.
Among these sturdy settlers was Samuel Crooks, from
whom, in the fifth generation, the subjects of this
sketch are descended. First, .'^anitiel ; second, John ;
third, Abraham; fourth Samuel, who was the lather
of Samuel and Abraham, whose portraits accompany
this sketch.
Their father, Samuel, was bom in Hopkinton,
August 22, 1702, and in Miirch. 1818, married Eme-
line, daughter of Jfinatlian and Hannah (Thayer,
Stearns, to whom were born three sons, John, Samuel
and Abram. Their lather was a farmer and became
one of the leading spirits in the town. For many
years he was superintendent of the Town Farmi
and was a useful and valued ciliztn, who died in
(!)ctober, ISTH, universally respected. ( oiiiing now to
the filth generation, we find the eldest John born.
May 29, 1819; Samt'EL, the second, who was born in
Hopkinton, December 17, 1821, and Aefiam, the
youngest of the family, also born in Hopkiulon,
March 29, 1826. Sitmucl and Abnun having been so
intimately connected, and so closely identified with
each other in all business matters, it is thought bet-
ter to make the record of their lives a joint, one,
rather than to give them in sejiarate sketches. The
childhood days of these boys were spent on the farm,
and their experiences doubtless were similar to those
of the average New England farmer's boys. Their
educational advantages were such as were commonly
afforded by the District School, which w.as situated
about a half mile from their home. Leaving .school
they were fully occupied with the ordinary farm
duties, until at about the age of fifteen, they com-
menced in what has since proved to be their life-
work, and which has, from very small beginnings, so
wonderfully develoi)ed, that at this writing Ihey stand
Ihird OB\y in the output of their manufacture of all the
boot and shoe manufactories of this Conimoiiwealth.
They began by bottoming boots and shoes at the
village of Woodville, in the western part of the town
of Hopkinton. Here they gradually acquired a
knowledge of the full details of this business as then
prosecuted, and in 1849, commenced as boot and shoe
manufacturers in the building then known as the
Joseph Walker shop, which they rented from a man
who had befriended them in the early part of their
career as manufacturers. Hon. Lee Claflin, the father
of Ex-Grov. — William Claflin, of Newtonville, Mass.
' L:'.
/ ' I
^c^'T^'M^l
tft^^^z^
^
HOPKINTON.
805
Here they remained steadily increasing their business
until 1853, when they removed to Grove Street and
carried on a thriving business in " the old meeting-
house" which after disuse for purposes of religious j
worship was fitted up for a manufactory. Here they
continued until 18G0, wiien for the purpose of secur-
ing more extensive and better facilities for conduct
ing their large business, they removed to the " Daven-
port Block" on llain Street, in Hopkinton, where |
they have since remained. The premises now
occupied by them cover an area of about two acres,
and the main shop is an imposing building of five
stories, and is supplied with the latest appliances and
machinery, all of which is driven by an engine of 100
horse-power. In tiiis shop are employed about 500
operatives, who are furnished by tiiis firm with steady
and remunerative employment, and the result of their
busy and skilled handiwork is shown in the daily
completion on an average of over three thousand
pairs of boots and shoes which go into nearly all
parts of the world through the agency of the celebra-
ted house of William Cladin, Coburn & Co., of Bos-
ton, who handle all of this immense output. The
style of the firm as it has existed for nearly forty
years is S. & A. Crooks & Co. Samuel Crooks has
been identified with the Orthodox Church since 1842,
and has taken an active part in its welfare, and
contributed largely to its support. While declining
to take any active part in the official line of political
affairs, the Messrs. Crooks have been Republicans ever
since the organization of that party. Samuel haa
been quite prominent in the financial affairs of the
town, aud tor several years the vice-president and a
director in the Hopkinton National Bank, and also
vice-president of llie Hopkinton Savings Bank, both I
of which are thriving institutions, and both Samuel
and Abram have contributed very largely to the
success and the imporcanceof this beautiful town, and
the prosperity, wealth and happiness of her citizens.
November 13, 1814, Samuel Crooks married Sarah B.,
daughter of Ezekiel and Betsey (Johnson) Guy, and
there have been born to them seven children — Emeline
E., Charles H., .Mary E., Alice M., Herman R., Jennie
L. and George H.,all of whom except Jennie L. are de-
ceased. Jennie L. was married December 13, 1883, toG.
A. Bridges, and resides in Hopkinton. Abra.m Crooks
was married Noveml)er 27, 1849, to Annie M. Guy,
a sister of the wife of Samuel. From this union there
have been three children — Florence I., Mary A. and
Arthur R. Of these there are two living — Mary A.
and Arthur R. Florence I. died May 22, 1877, aged
twenty-one years. Mary A. was married in October,
1882, to Frank Thompson, and they resided in
Hopkinton. Arthur R. married October, 1889,
Lillian, daughter of Henry and Marietta A. (Fiske)
Adams, and they reside in Hopkinton.
The mother of the Messrs. Crooks died April, 1864.
LOWELL BOWKER MAYBRY.
The unostentatious routine of private life, although
in the aggregate more important to the welfare of the
community, cannot from its nature figure in the pub-
lic annals. But the names of men who distinguish
themselves for the possession of those qualitie.s of
character which so largely contribute to the success
of private life and to the public stability, of men who
have been exemplary in their personal and social re-
lations, thus winning the affection, respect and confi-
dence of those around them, ought not to perish.
Their example is more valuable to the majority of
local readers than that of illustrous heroes, statesmen
and writers, and all are benefited by the delineation
of those traits of character, which find scope and ex-
ercise in the common walks of life. Among the indi-
viduals of this class few are better entitled to be held
in respectful remembrance than the subject of this
sketch. His .ancestors were among the early settlers
of Hopkinton. His father was Dexter L. Maybry
and was born April 22, 1799. He carried on at dif-
ferent times in his life both farming and the boot and
shoe business. He married Mary Gage Bowker, who
was born Nov. 30, 1801, and they had five children, —
Lowell B., Susan L., Sarah L., Samuel D., and Eliza 0.
Lowell. B. was born Aug. 28, 1820, in Hopkinton,
which has been his permanent home since that date.
His childhood and youth were as uneventful as were
those of the average New England boy. As the first
born there would naturally come to him a degree of
responsibility for the care of a younger brother and
sisters, who a little later on became the sharers in
childhood sports and school-day duties. Lowell at-
tended the district school in the winter months and
received such education as could there be obtained.
Leaving school he went into the boot shop of his
Uncle Lovett H. Bowker in Hayden Row to learn
that business and there he remained for a long period.
And becoming well versed in all details of this manu-
facture, he in 1854 took charge of Bowker & Phipps'
large boot factory in the centre of the town, also the
currying business which was connected with it, where
he remained eight years.
He became prominently associated with the town
affairs, being elected a director of the Hopkinton Na-
tional Bank in 1854, where he served continuously
until 1876, when a further expression of confidence
was shown by his being elected to the presidency,
which position he still holds. He had but little taste
for politics and declined nominations to various posi-
tions of political trust. Being strongly opposed to
slavery he very naturally affiliated with the Republi-
cans, and has acted with them ever since their organ-
ization. Mr. Maybry is a member of the Congrega-
tional Church and contributes to its support. He is a
lover of music and has for over fifty years occupied a
place in the choir of that church. He haa also had a
hand in the organization of the various musical as-
sociations of the town.
806
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Mr. Maybry has been twice married, — first, Sep-
tember 22, 1847, to Sophia P. Walker, who died May
15, 1884, and second, February 27, 1889, to Mrs.
Mary M. Glidden, of Claremont, N. H., who is now
living. Mr. Maybry was, for many years, treasurer
and collector of the town of Hopkinton, and has
served on the Board of Selectmen. He has also, for
many years, had the management of the large real-
estate interests of Hon. William Claflin in this town,
by whom he is highly esteemed as trustworthy and
reliable. He is also the manager of several other
large estates. In matters of public policy his views
are sought, and he has the confidence and esteem of
his fellow-citizens of all parties. He has an intense
love of the beautiful in nature, and is a successful
farmer and an amateur florist.
CROMWELL MLFARLAND.
This family was one of the colony of Scotch and
Irish families that emigrated to America in 1718, and
many of whom settled in the vicinity of Hopkinton.
The name of the first American ancestor was Robert,
and he had a son, Ebenezer, who was a soldier in the
War of the Revolution. Ebenezer h.id a son, Law-
son, who was the father of the subject of this biogra-
phical notice. It seems proper here to note the fact
that a brother of Ebenezer was born in Hopkinton,
who became a very prominent citizen. He was Wal-
ter McFarland, a farmer, and also a skillful surveyor,
in which latter capacity he laid out a large portion
of Hopkinton and adjoining towns. He represented
his native town in the lower brunch of the Legisla-
ture for twelve years, and was for one term a member
of the upper branch.
Cromwell, son of Lawson and Deborah (Rockwood)
McFarland, was born in Hopkinton February 7,
1819, and his boyhood days were spent on his father's
farm, where he assisted his parents in the duties in-
cident to farm life in New England, and joined in
the sports peculiar to that locality. After a few years
of instruction in the Common School, where at least
the average of success was achieved, Cromwell worked
on the farm until, at the age of seventeen year?, he
concluded to try his hand at the prevailing occupa-
tion of the town's-people, making boots and shoes.
He followed this business until about 1840, when an
opportunity offered for him to join with William A.
Phipps, of Hopkinton (a brothe'-in-law), in the busi-
ness of supplying fresh meat to the families of Hop-
kinton and vicinity. This was long before the days of
refrigerator cars, Chicago Dre-ssed Beef or Luncheon
Beef, and this firm did all their own butchering.
They at first bought fat cattle in the vicinity of
Hopkinton, but as the population increased rapidly
they soon were obliged to go to the Brighton Stock
Yards for the supply. Mr. McFarland has continued
uninterruptedly in this business from 1840 up to the
present time and has met with a good measure of suc-
cess. June 2, 1842, Mr. McFarland married Han-
nah, daughter of Moses and Hannah (Adams) Phipps,
and they had three children — Curtis, born June 10,
1844 ; Anna, born July 3, 1850, and Henry, Deceml)er
17, 1852. Curtis died January 15, 18G4, and Anna
was married August 5, 18C9, to J. Sanlbrd Haven, nf
Hopkinton and they have had two children, one of
whom only is living — Henry JIcFarl.and married
Katie B. Adams, April 1, 1880. Cromwell McFar-
land h.as not been a man to court notoriety, or to seek
office, but was on the Board of Assessors of Hopkin-
ton and represented the town in the Legislature one
term, and also has been a director in Hopkinton
National Bank. Mr. McF.arland has ever discharged
the duties of citizenship it\ a creditable manner. Mr
McFarland, while not a member of any church, is h
regular atteudunt of the Congregational Cluircli, and
contributes to the support of public worship there.
For almost fifty years Mr. McFarland and the wife of
his choice in his young manhood have journeyed on
together, mutually helpful, winning material success
beyond any personal neeil, .as they stand facing the
approaching sunset of their well-spent lives.
WtLLIAM AUA.M.S I'HIPP^J.
The Phipps family are of English ancestry. For
our present purpose it is not thought necessary to go
beyond the date of the early settlement of New Eng-
land. There were several of this name who were of
the colony of 171S, some of whom landed at Port-
land, Maine, and settled that State. The name of the
first settler of whom William A. is a descendant, we
are uuable to determine from any available records,
but it is definitely statccl in an early history of
Maine " that several families of this name had reared
large numbers of children, one family having roii-
sisted oi Iwenlij-six children." With a few such sam-
ples at the present day, the census enumerator might
safely be charged with inaccuracy. During the early
days of the French and Indian War, William Phipps,
of Maine, a brave, fearless man, organized a body
of 2000 men and marched .at their heail to joiu in the
assault on Quebec, but losing liis way he arrived too
late to be of any service, but was afterwards in several
engagements and w.xs knighted for bravery, thus be-
coming Sir William Phipps.
In 1762 he was made Governor of the Province of
New Ham]>shire. Some of the Phipps family were
among the early settlers of Holliston, Mass., and
.Moses, the father of our subject, was born there and
moved to Hopkinton about 1S0<), where he became a
prominent citizen, representing the town of Hopkin-
ton in 1835, beside being for several years on the
Board of Selectmen, and in I.S40-41 and '42 was
chairman of the Board. He carried on farming be-
sides keeping a store and he was also a skilled black-
smith. Moses married Hannah Adams and they had
seven children — Wdliam A., Benjamin, Alpalet, .Tohn,
James, Hannah and Elmira. Of these children
Boujamin, John and James are deceased. The last
^//r^c..
MEDFORD.
807
named became a noted physician of Boston. Wil-
liam Adams Phipps was born in Hopkinton, Septem-
ber 19, 1809. He spent his boyhood at home and at-
tended the district school assisting in the work out of
school hours. He made good progress in school and
on leaving it he attended for some time a private
school in Holliston, also a term in Milford, Mass.,
and in Thompson, Connecticut. He became a
teacher and was efficient in that occupation, teaching
in his native town, also in Milford.
At the age of twenty-three he left teaching and
became a butcher, taking with him his brother-in-law
Cromwell McFarland, and they continued several
years. About 1S47 he commenced the manufacture
of boots, in which he continued with success until
187(> when he retired from active business. l\[r. Phipps
was for many years on the Board of Selectmen, and
represented the town in the General Court. He has
been a director in the Milford National Bank. In
politics his affiliations have chiefly been with the
Republican party. He has been a contributor to the
support of the Congregational Church. Mr. Phipps
has been twice married, first to Sarah Bowker, of
Hopkinton, and they had ten children — \Vm. H.,
Marilla F., Waldo, Vernon E., Frederick S., Anna A.,
Isabel D., Joseph B., Norman B., and a son who died
in infancy. Of these children four only are living.
The mother of these children died in (jotober, 1870.
His second marriage was with Maria H., daughter of
Stephen D. and Hannah (Farrington) Willie, Decem-
ber 11, 1872. She is a superior woman and in a re-
fined and tender way ministers to the needs of Mr.
Phipps in his declining years with uncomplaining
tenderness.
CH.VPTER LV.
MEDFOUI).
BY JAMES A. HERVEV.
Medforp, one of the oldest towns in Middlesex
County, lies ;ibout five miles northwest from Boston,
and joins bomidarie-* on its different sides with Som-
erville, Arlington, Winchester, Stoneham, Melrose,
Maiden and Everett. The town has borne its pres-
ent name from its first settlement, but all conjectures
which have been made as to its origin are unsatisfac-
tory. It is much to be regretted that the first twenty
or thirty pages in the manuscript which contain the
earliest town records are lost, the opening entry be-
ing dated '' the first Monday in February, in the year
of our Lord, 1C74." For all information touching the
history of the settlement of the town, we must have
recourse to contemporaneous records, to the writings
of Wintlirop, Dudley, Wood, Hutchinson aud others,
and to the registrie< of deeds aud probate; and much
light is incidentally thrown upon the life and history
of the town by the Massachusetts Colony Records and
the Historical Collections of the Massachusetts His-
torical Society. All ihe sources of information have
been carefully gleaned by Charles Brooks, the histo-
rian of the town.
Medford has been especially fortunate in possess- ■
ing such an annalist. A native of the town, with
which his family had a most respectable ancestral
connection, his history of the town was a labor of
love, and he devoted many years of his life to the
work. It is well observed by his editor, Mr. Usher,
that " no complete history of Medford can be written
which does not largely embody the material collected
by him.'' We are indebted to Mr. Usher for the ad-
ditions he has made to Brooks' text, and for his care-
ful narrative of the later history of the town, bringing
it up to a very recent date.
The settlement of Medford, contemporaneous with
that of Boston and the towns in its immediate vi-
cinity, was made by a detachment from the large
body of immigrants who, under the auspices of the
Massachusetts Bay Company, came over from Eng-
land in 1630, disembarking at Salem. The Massa-
chusetts Bay Company, which was chartered in 1628,
bad for its first governor, Matthew Cradock, who, al-
though he never visited New England, took an impor-
tant part in the management of the affairs of the col-
ony, and especially, as will be seen, in the settlement
of Medford. Although Cradock seems to have resigned
the office of governor in 1629, with a view to the trans-
ferrence of the government to New England, he was
elected one of the " Assistants " oT the Company, and
appears to have retained the home direction of its
affairs. Winthrop, the first Colonial governor, did
not enter upon his office until 1631.
The initiatory movements in England for the estab-
lishment of the colony, as well xs the manner in which
the immigrants distributed themselves in forming the
different settlements, have been carefully detailed by
tTovernor Dudley in his well-known letter to the
Countess of Lincoln. We give these extracts from
the letter : —
'^ To the Bight Honorable, mjr very good Lady, Ih* Lady Bridget, CouiilftM of
Lincoln.
"Madam, — Touclting the plantation which we here have begun, it
Tell out thus: About the year 16:^7 some Trtends, l>eing together in
Linciiliidhire, fell into ditjcuurse about New Rui^land aud the planting
■(f the l^M|w>l tliiTe; and, after flome deliltenitiun. we Imparted uur
rnoiioui, tiy Ifltere and nieisageti, to some in London and the Weet
Country, where it wa^ likewiiM deliberately thought upon, and at
leri>;tli, with iifteu negotiation, no ripene<l, that in the year 1624 we
prociireil a patent from hia ^lajeaty for uur planting between the
MoKttichusetls Bay and Charle-s KiTer on the south, and the Kiver of
^lerriiuuck on the north, and three utiles on either side of thoee riv-
t-ra aud baya, as also for the govemiuent of those who did or should
inhabit within tlint compaaa. And the same year we sent Mr. John
Kndicittt, auil some with hfm, to begin a plantation, and to strengthen
such .IS we should find there, which we sent thither from Dorchester
and some other places adjoining ; from whom, the same year, receiving
hopeful news, the next year (1629) we sent direnj shipe over, with
ab«>ut three hundred people, and some cows, goats and borBes, many of
which arrived safely.
** These, by their too large commendationa of the country and the
commodities thereof, invited us so strongly to go on, that Mr. Win-
808
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
tbrop, of Suffolk (who was well known ia bia own couQtrj, aod well
approved here for hia piety, liberality, wiadom and grarity), coming
ID to ua, we came to euch resolution, tbat in April, 1630, wo set sail
from Old England witb four good ships. And, in May following,
eigbt more followed ; two having gone before in Febniary and Marcb,
and two more following in June and August, besides anotber set out
by a private merchant. These seventeen abips arrived all safe in
New England for tbe increase of the plantation here this year (IB30),
but made a long, a tronblesome and costly voyage, being all wind-
bound long in England, and hindered witb contrary winds after they
set sail, and bo scattered with mists and tempests, that few of tbeni
arrived together. Our four ships which set out In April arrived here
in June and July, where be found tbe colony in a sad and unexpected
condition ; above eighty of them being dead the winter before, and
many of those alive weak and Hick, all tbe corn and bread among
them all hardly sufficient to feed them a fortnighl. But, bearing these
things as we might, we began to consult of our pluco uf sittiug down ;
fur Salem, where we landed, pleased us not.
" Aud to that purpose some were sent lu the Iluy tu tMsarch up tbe
rivers for a convenient place, who, upon their return, reported to have
found a govd place upon MUtick ; but 8ouie other uf as, seconding
thede, tu ;ipprovo or didliko of their judgment, we found a pUci'
liked us better, three leagues up Charles River, and thereupon uu-
sbipped our goods into other vessels, aud witb uiuch oust and labor
brought them iu July to Charlestown. But there receiving advertise-
ments (by some ol tbe late arrived ships), from London liud Amster-
daiu, uf ^5ome French preparatiotis against us ^uiany oi uur [>eople
brought with us being dick of fevers und the scurvy, aud we thereby
uuabte to cany up our ordnance und bag^'ugu so far), we were forced
to chauge cuiiusel, Hud lor uur present shelter to plant diopersedly,—
some at Charleatown, which atandeth on tbe north iijde of tbe mouth
uf Charira River ; some on the south oide Ibereuf, which place we
named Bu&ton (as we intended tu have done tbe place we first resolveJ
on) ; some of us upon MUtick, which we named Meudford ; cfome ol
us westward on Charles River, four mile from Charlestown, which
place we named Watertawn ; uibers of m two miles from Boston, in
a place we called Rozbwy ; uthen upon the River Saugus, between
Salem aud Charleatown , aud the Westeru-meu four miles aoutb from
Boston, in a place we named Dorchfster. They who had health u>
labor fell tu building, wherein many were interrupted with sickness,
and many died weekly, yea, almost daily.
" After riiv brief manner I say this: thai, it any couie bithei tu plant
fur worldly ends that can lixe well ut home, be comuiits mi errur ut
whicli he will soon repeut him ; but if for dpirituni, and that no par-
ticular ubslacle hinder bis removal, he may ttnd here what may well
content him, viz., luateriais lo build, fuel tu burn, ground to plant, .-^as
and fixers tu fish in, a pure air tu breathe in, good water tudnnk till
wine ur beer can be made ; which, together with the cowti, hogs aud
goats brought hither already, may auitice lor food ; a.-> for fowl aud
venison, they are daiutiei here, as welt ad in tingland. Fur clothes
and bedding, they muHt bring them with them, till time and industry
pr«jduce them here. In a word, we yet enjoy little to be envied, but
f U4lure much tu be pitied in the sickness and mortality of uur people.
If any godly man, out uf religious ends, will come uver to help ud in
the good work we are al>out, I think Ihey cannot di.'^jwse uf themsel\<-d,
nor of their estates, luoro to (Jod's glory aud the furtherance oi their
own reckoning ; but they mu»t nut be uf the puuier ctort yet, for divert
years. I am nuw, this l8th March, \\jM, sealing uiy letters.
'* Y'our Uonur'suld thankful servant,
"TdoMA:i DioLcy."
In the Charlestown records, 1064, John Green, io
givinjj a history of the first-comera, says :
" Aiuongut others that arrived ut Salem, at their uwu cuat, were '
Ralph Sprugue, with bis brethren, Kiclmrd aud William, whu, with
three or four more, by joint consent, and approbaliuu of Mr. .(ubn |
Eodicott, Governor, did. tbe same summer uf :inuu il6JS) (.'9), undei-
take a journey frum Salem, and traveled the W(X>dB ab«ive twelve milcti
to the westward, and lighted of a place situate and lying on the iiurlh
aide uf Charles River, full uf Indians, called Abergiuiaiis. Their uld
sachem being dead, bis eldest tiun, by the Knglish called Jubn .Saga-
more, waa their chief, and a man naturally of a gentle and good disp<>- :
■itiou. . . . They fuund it was a ueck of laud, generally full of stately
timber, aa was the main aud the laud lying uu the east side uf the
river, called Mystick Blver, from the farm Mr, Cradock's servants
had planted, called Mystick, which this river led up unto \ and, in-
deed, generally all tbe country round about was an uncouth wilder-
ness, full of timber."
These seem to have been the first Europeans who
visited the site of the present town of Medford.
Of the "four ships" mentioned by Dudley as sail-
ing from England in April, IGuO, two belonged to
Cradock, and one of the others, the " Arbella,"
brought over Winthrop. Cradoclc was a merchant
and a man of wealth, and the lading of his vesseU
was largely a private venture. The emigrants sent
over by him were men selected tor their fitness to
engage in the business of the fisheries and shipbuild-
ing, in which he proposed to embark, aud among
them were "coopers and cleavers of timber." Al-
though the company declared iu ltJ2'J that " the pro-
pagation of the gospel ia the thing we do profess
above all to be our aim in the settling of this planta-
tion," there can be no question that they expected to
make the enterprise self-supporting, and even protit-
able, and from the very start they took the proper
steps to attain that end.
Governor Winthrop iu hi." journal says: '^Thurs-
day, 17th of June, 1G30 : We went iu .Massachusetts
to find out a place for our sitting down. We went up
'Mystic River' about six miles." This, so far as we
know, was the first exploration of the river. Win-
throp at once established himself on a tract of land
on the south side of the Mystic, where he built a
house. To this estate he gave the name of tbe " Ten
Hills Farm," which it has ever since retained.
The name of '* Mystic Field?*," or "Mystic," was
applied to the lands on the south side of the river,
stretching from L'harlestown Xeck to the [londs at
the head of the stream, and including tbe Wintbnjp
farm. The name " Mystic " was sometimes extended
to Medford itself.
A grant of six hundred acres of lancl was made by
the " Court of A.ssistants " to Winthrop, in 1(531, " to
be set forth by metes and bounds, near his house in
Miatic, to enjoy to him and his heirs forever." Mr.
Winthrop appears to have been much pleased with
his new possessions, for writing to his son he says :
" Here is a.^ good land :i3 I have ever seen there [in
England], though none so bad as there," and in a
letter to his wife, written November 2y, 1G30, we find
these svords: "My dear wife, we are here in a para-
dise."
It was about the time when Winthrop established
himself at the Ten Hills Farm, iu the summer of
16o0, that Cradock's people made their settlement at
Medford. It was probably under Wiuthrop's direc-
tion that the ageut of Cradock fixed his headquarters
on the north side of the Mystic, nearly opposite the
Ten Hills Farm, and here the settlers at once ad.
dressed themselves to the work which they had in
hand. The existence of the plantation was authori-
tatively recognized as early as September 28, 1630,
when a tax of £3 was imposed on Medford for the
support of military teachers; and, in November of
MEDFORD.
809
the same year, another tax of £3 was laid on the
settlement.
From the beginning, Governor Cradock had been
an earnest and active friend of the new plantations,
and had held wise and far-reaching views as to the
means by which their prosperity could be secured.
Some uf his letters are extant, and furnish abundant
proof of his enthusiastic devotion to the enterprise,
at the same time giving us very favorable impressions
of the character of the man. Writing to Endicott,
in February, 162S, he says :
'* We are very coofideDt of your beat eiidea%'ore for the geDera) good ;
and we doubt uot but Qod will in mercy give a ble&fiog upoo our labors ;
iiod we trust you will not be uumiodful of tUe uiain end of our plaata-
tiou, by eudeavoriog to bring tbe Indiaua to the knowledge of tbe goa-
pel, wbicb that it may be speedier and better effected, tbe earnest deaire
of our whole compaay is, that you liave diligent aud watchful eye over
jur own people; that they live unblamable and without reproof, and
demean tbemselves justly and courteous towards tbe ludiaos, thereby
to draw them to alfect our persons, and consequently our religion; as
also to endeavor to get some of their children to train up to reading, and
consequently to religion, while they are young ; lierein, to young or old,
to omit no good oppoitunity tbat may tend to bring them out of that
woful state and condition they now .ire in ; in which case oar predeces-
sors in this our land sometimes were, and, but for the mercy and good-
ness of our good God, might have continued to this day ; but God, who
out of the boundless ocean of bis mercy bath showed pity and compaa-
sion to our land, he is all sutlicient and can bring this to pass which we
now desire in that country likewise. Only let us not be wapting on our
parts, now we are called to this work of the Lord ; neither, having put
our hands to the plough, let us look back, but go on cheerfully, and de-
pend upon God for a blessing upon our labors, who, by weak instruments,
IS able (if be see it goo<l) to bring glorious things to pass.
"Be of good courage, go on, and do worthily, and the Lord prosper
your endeavor.
" And now, minding to conclude this, I may not omit to put you in j
mind, however you seem to fear no enemies there, yet that you have a {
watchful fye for your own safety, and tbe safety of all those of our
nation with you, and nut to be too conlldeot of the hdelity of the savages. |
It is an old proverb, yet ud true, tAe 6ii'i(t child dreaiU tliejire. Our conn- >
trviiieii have suffered by their too much conhtlence ill Virginia. Let us !
by their iiaruis learn |o lieware ; and as we are cuuinianJed to be inno- |
^-eiil as dovi-.i, so withal we are enjoined to be wis« us serpents. The God i
of heaven and earth preserve and keep you from all foreign and inland <
euemied, and bles^i and prosper this plantation to *he enlargement of tbe j
kingdom of Jesus Christ, to whose merciful protection I commend you I
and all your associates there, known or unknown. \nd so, till my ne.xj, '
which shall be | GikI willing) by our ships, who I make account will be |
leady to set sail from hence about tbe 2Uth of this ne.xt month of March,
I end, and rest."
Another of his letters, written in April, 1629, speaks
well for his notions of equity in dealing with the In-
dians :
" Above all, we pray you be careful there be none
in our precincts permitted to do any injury (in the
least kind) to the heathen people; and if any otfend
in tbat w.ay, let them receive due correction. If auy
(if the savages pretend right of inheritance to all or
any part of the lands granted in our patent, we pray
you endeavor to purchase their title, that we may
avoid the le.ist scruple of intrusion."
The importance of the service which Governor
Cradock rendered to the infant plantatious is recog-
nized in the" First Letter of the Governor and Deputy
of the New England Company for a Plantation in
Massachusecta Bay, to the Governor and Council for
Loudon's Plantation in the Massachusetts Bay, in
New England," written in April, 1629. From this
we quote aa follows :
** We pray you give all good accommodation to our present governor,
Mr. Mathew Crudock, who, with some particular brethren of the com-
pany, have deeply engaged themselves in their private adventuree in
these shiiia, and those to come ; and aa we hold these men, that thus
deeply adventure In their privat*, to be (under God) special instruments
for the odrancing and strengthening of tbe plantation, which is done by
them without auy charge to the company's general stock, wherein, not-
withstanding, they are as deep or deeper engaged than any other.
"We have sent six shipwrights, of whom Robert Moulton is chief.
These men's entertainment is very chargeable to us ; and by agreement
it is to be borne two-thirds at tbe charge of the general company, and
tbe other one-third is to be borne by Mr. Cradock, our Governor, and
his associates interested in the private stock. We hope you will be care-
tul to see them so employed as may countervail tbe charge, desiring you
to agree with Mr. Sharp that their labor may be employed two-thirda for
tbe general company, and one-third for Mr. Cradock and bis aseoclatea,
praying you to accommodate said Mr. Cradock's people in all fitting
manner, as be doth well deserve.
" Our Governor, Mr. Crudock, hath entertained [paid tbe expenses of]
two gardeners, one of which he is content tbe company shall have use
of, if need he."
It is probable that Mr. Cradock's people at once
engaged in the fisheries, building, farming, and in
such other employments as furthered the interests for
which the settlement was established. Their patron
kept a watchful eye over their welfare. In the first
year of their settlement he provided a man, Richard
Waterman, " whose chief employment," he writes,
" will be to get you good venison." Cradock's opera-
tions were not confined to Medford. He had an
establishment also at Marblehead, where he employed
" Mr. Allerton and many fishermen." Aa early as
1632, his agent, Mr. Davison, built a vessel of one
hundred tons on the Mystic ; and the ne.xt year, one
of two hundred tons. Davison, in 1638, under the
authority of the General Court, builc the first bridge
over the Mystic River, a short distance from the site
of the present substantial stone structure known as
the Cradock Bridge.
The General Court, March 4, 1634, made a grant '
of land to Cradock as follows: "All tbe ground, as
well upland as meadow, lying and being betwixt the
land of Mr. Nowell and Mr. Wilson on the east, and
tbe partition betwixt Mistick bounds on the west,
bounded with Mistick River on the south, and the
rocks on the north." In 1635 the court ordered that
" the land formerly granted to Mr. Cradock, merchant,
shall extend one mile into the country from the
river-side in all places." These grants of land covered
almost the whole of the north side of the valley of
the Mystic within the present boundaries of Medford,
and comprised about two thousand acres.
This included all the territory of Medford in the
earliest stage of its history. Wood, in his description
of the Bay Settlements, written in 1634, thus speaks
of Medford :
" Towards the northwest of this bay is a great
creek, upon whose shore is situated the village of
Medford, a very fertile and pleasant place, and fit for
more inhabitants than are yet in it"
And further on, he says :
810
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
"The next town is Mistick, which is three miles
from Charlestown by land, and a league and a half
by water. It is seated by the water's side very pleas-
antly ; there are not many houses as yet. At the head
of this river are great and spacious ponds, whither the
alewives press to spawn. This being a noted place
for that kind of fish, the English resort hither to take
them. On the west side of this river the Governor
has a farm, where he keeps most of his cattle. Go
the east side is Mr. Craddock's plantation, where he
has impaled a park where he keeps his cattle till he
can store it with deer. Here, likewise, he is at
charges of building ships. The last year one was
upon the stocks of a hundred tons ; that being fini.shed,
they are to build one twice her burden. Ships, with-
out either ballast or loading, may float down the river,
otherwise the oyster bank would hinder them which
crosseth the channel."
While Mr. Cradock must in justice be considered as
the founder of the town of Jledford, it is doubtful
whether his connection with the settlement enured
to its ultimate advantage. His monopoly of the land
kept out small proprietors, thus restricting the settle-
ment of a permanent population, and after his death,
which occured in 1644, the settlement lost whatever
benefit it had received from his patrona ge. Mr. Sav-
age, in his edition of Winthrnp'a Journal, says :
" (>f 8o rtouriabiag a town as Medforil, tlie settlement M which bad
been made aa early aji that of any other, except (.'harlestown, in the bay,
it id remaikable that the early history is vei7 meagre. From several
atatenieot.) of it*, prnptjrtiun of the public charges iu the colony rates, it
niuat be concluded that it was, within the first eight yearB, superior in
wealth, at different times, to Newbur>-, I))swich, Hin^ham atvl Wcy-
mouth, all ancient towns. . . . Vet the nuniLier of jteopie wan certainly
small ; and the weight of the tax ivaa pn>bably borne by the properly
of Gov. Cradock, there investeil for tinhing and other purposes. When
that establishment was withdrawn, the town languished many years."
With our present scanty information, we can only
conjecture that the population of the infant settle-
ment consisted in a very large part of Mr. Cradock's
dependants and tenants, and so remained for some
years after his death. In 16.52 the heirs of Uradock
quitclaimed to Edward Collins " all -hat messuage,
farm or plantation, called Medford, in New England,"
by them owned. In 16.56, Collins .sold 1600 acres of
the land, together with the mansion and buildings to
Richard Russell of Charlestown. Five years after,
Russell sold the " mansion-house " with 1200 acres of
land to Jonathan Wade. After the de.ith of Russell,
his heirs sold 350 acres to Peter Tuft.s.
These successive sales ot large portions of the Cra-
dock estate indicate little more than a change of
proprietorship, and show that the taste for land
speculation is not a thing of rescent origin. It was
not till after the middle of the seventeenth century
that the lands of Jledford were sold in smaller parcels
and the town began to enter upon a natural and
healthy growth.
According to Brooks, the following Medford names
are found in the list of freemen, between 1630 and
1646:
John Collins, Jonathan Porter, Richard Bishop,
Thora.as Brooke, John Waite, William Manning, John
Hall, Richard Francis, William Blanchard, Henry
Simonds, Zachery Fitch, Richard Wade, Richard
Bugbe, John Watson, Abraham Newell, Henry
Brooke, Gamaliel Wayte, Hezekiah Usher, Thomas
Bradbury, Richard Swan, John Howe, Edmund An-
gler, Thomas Oakes, Hugh Pritchard.
In the county records we find the following names
of men represented as at Medford :
Heorge Felt 1C3.T
James Noyee lri,^4
Richani Berr>' ItWii
Thomas .Maybew \\i'Ci
Benjaniin Crisp 1i>3i;
James Garrett ircT
.John Smith IttiS
Richard looke 1040
Josiah Dawstia ItXl
Dlx 1641
Ri. Dexter . HU*
Jonathan Wade \W,%
Edwjird Collins 16110
John Call K.ll'J
Daniel Deane IGf.'J
Samuel Hayward lOTti
Caleb Brooks 1672
Daniel Markham 167".
John Whilmore lt;7y
John Lireeuland ll>78
Daniel Woodward 1G71»
Isiuic Fox lt.7n
William Sargent 1648 Stephen Willis li.BH
James lioodnow 1650 Thomas Willis 168U
.John JIartin 16:.0 John Hall 168ti
Eilward Convers 16^0 C-rsbom Swan Iti84
'ioulden Moore Iii.'i4 Joseph -\ngiei- V>»i
Robert Bunien Itioo John Bradsbaw 16s5
Richard Russell 16o6 Stephen Francis 16So
Tlios. Shepharrt 1607 Peter Tufts 1686
Thos. Danforth llWg Jonathan Tufts lonu
Thomas Greene liiou John Tufts 16'.HJ
James Penibertou 1660 * Simon Bradstreet 169o
.Io»eph Hills 1662
The following persons owned land in Medford be-
fore 16S0:
William Dady.
Rob. Broadlck.
Mrs. Anne lligginson.
l^aleb llobart.
John Palmer.
Nicholas [lavidson.
Increase Nowell.
Zachury Syniuies.
John Belts.
Jolhani (iibons.
Richard Stilman.
Mrs. Diary Eliot.
The town had, in 1707, 46 ratable polls, indicating
a population of about 230.
The depressed condition of Medford in the first
half century of its existence is plainly enough shown
by the small proportion of the tax impo.sed upon the
town under the general levy. It should be remem-
bered, however, that the grants of land, some of them
lying in Medford, made by the General Court to Rev.
Mr. Wilson, Matthew Cradock, and Mr. J. Newell,
were exempted from taxation. In the records of the
General Court, April 4, 1641, we find the following
curious piece of legislation : " It is ordered that all
farms that are within the bounds of any town shall
be of the town in which they lye, except Meadford."
Of course the income of the town was reduced by
the amount ot such exemption. In a general levy of
eeOO, in 1634, Medford paid £26 ; Charlestown, £45. In
1635, Medford paid £10, and Charlestown. £16. Win-
throp tells ua :
"Of a tax of £1,500, levied by the General Court
in 1637, the proportion paid by Medford was .G52.10*. ;
by Boston, 233.10*.; Ipswich, £180; Salem, £170.10«. ;
Dorchester, £140; Charlestown, £138; Roxbury,
MEDFORD.
811
£115; Watertown, £110; Newton, £106; Lynn,
£105."
In 1645, the levy upon the towns of the Province
was £616. 15«. ; and Medford's share was £7.
Following Brooks, we find that in 1657, Medford
was taxed as one of the towns of the county of Mid-
dlesex, in a county levy, £3. 6s. llii. ; in 1658, £3.
3s. \d.; in 1663, £4. 4«. 6d.; in 1670, £4. 124.; in
1674, £4. 3s. lOJ.; in 1676, £4. Is. lOd. During these
years Cambridge was paying £40 ; Woburn, £25 ;
Maiden, £16 ; and Charlestown, £60. A county-tax
of £1. 13s. 9(^, levied on Medford, January 17, 1684,
was paid by the inhabitants as follows :
S I. d.
8 4
4 3
3 3
John Bi'adshor - ,
.JoDathaaTiifls . .
Daniel Woodward
Andrew Mitchell .
Roger :^cott . . .
Edward Walker
Jacob Chamberlain
Joflepb Baker . . .
£ s. d.
U 0 S
0 0 10
0 0 8
0 8
0 7
0 8
0 8
0 8
£1 15 8
Capt. Jooatban Waile . . 0
Capt. Nathaniel Wade . 0
John H.All 0
1,'aleh Bruolia 0 1 11
Tbomaa Willis U .1 7
iitephen Wlllia U 1 10
Peter Tufta, Jr 0 ;j 4
Stephen Francia ... 0 1 10
John Whitmors .... 0 1 7
Gershom Swan 0 1 5
Isaac Foi 0 0 11
The excess raised in this tax, over the sum re-
quired, was to pay the collector.
"The first session of the General Court, under the
second charter, began Juue 8, 1692 ; and they voted
that 10.?. a poll, and one cjuarter part of the annual
income on all real and personal estate in the Prov-
ince, be assessed. These taxes, assessed upon the
Province by the House of Representatives from 1692
to 1702, averaged £11,000 per annum. Of this sum,
Medford paid, in 1692, £32. 18s. ; in 1696, £42; in
1698, £20; in 1702, £19. Is.; while Maiden paid, in
the .same years, £121, £90, £45, and £48. Woburn
paid £181, £144, £75, and £85. Cambridge paid £214,
£189, £102, and £102.
" To show a town-tax at this period, and also the
names most frequently occurring in the town's records,
we here insert ' a rate made by the selectmen, May 16,
1701, for defraying town-charges ; namely, for the
deputy, and the laying-in of ammunition, and for
fetching and carrying Mr. Woodbridge, and the
entertaining of him.'
.. <i.
c
Maj. Nathaniel Wade . . 1
John Wliitiuore .... 0
.Stephen Hall, Jr. . . 0
Eliezer Weir 0
John Bnulatreet .... 0
John .Mun
Lieut. Petar Tnfta
Ena. Stephen Franria
Serg. .lohn Bnuldhaw
Mr. Thoniaa Wlllia
Nathaniel Hall . .
John Fnmi-'ia ....
.Fohn Hall, Jr II 8 li
Jonalfaan Tufts 0 19 10
Stephen Willis, Jr. ... 0 8 8
Stephen Hall, Sr. ... 0 0 6
Serg Stephen Wlllia ..114
Ebeuezer Brtraka .... 0 17 8
iuaml Brook! 0 lu 10
0 7 8
old
1 5 10
0 10 8
0 11 6
0 17 I)
0 .5 4
0 IJ 6
£ I. d.
Mr. Richard Rookes .070
Jlra. Elizabeth Wada . 0 18 0
Parcill Hall 0 li i;
George Blanchard . . . U 3 C
Jacob Shepherd .... 0 13 0
Nathaniel Pierce ...020
Jamea Tufla (i 4 5
Timothy Prout n 1 6
Mr. Thomas Swan
. . 0
1
8
John Tufla
0
2
4
Mr. J<«ieph Pront . .
. . 0
0
10
Fnocia Whitraore .
0
4
0
Benjamin Marble . .
. . 0
2
s
James Wright .
. . 0
2
6
William Merroe . .
. . 0
2
6
Thoniaa Miler . . .
. . 0
2
G
Mathew Miler .
. 0
2
5
William Walden . .
. . 0
2
6
Tbomaa Clark . . .
. 0
2
8
Pet«rS«ccomb 0 2 6
Eben. Brooks his man ..020
Benjamin Petrce .... 0 2 0
Samuel Stone 0 2 0
William Paten 0 2 0
BIr. Jonathan Dunster .018
Mr. Jobn Ball . ... 1 1 10
As we follow down these records of assessments,
we find a gradual increase in the number of tax-pay-
ers. The tax-list, in 1730 — one hundred years after the
town's settlement — includes 98 names ; and, in 1798, we
learn that there were 146 " occupiers of houses " who
were taxed for more than $100 of property. We
have tolerably good proof that Medford had in 1754,
its share of men of substance, and could in that
respect compare not unfavorably with the neighboring
towns. In that year the General Court laid a tax on
coaches, chariots, chaises, calashes, and riding-chairs.
Medford had 1 chariot, 7 chaises, and 31 chairs.
Cambridge, at the same date, had 9 chaises and 36
chairs ; Woburn, 2 chaises and 9 chairs ; Maiden, 2
chaises and 20 chairs.
In its possession of a " chariot," Medford shows to
advantage in this record. The vehicle was probably
owned by Col. Isaac Royall.
The Indians seem to have played an unimportant
part in the early history of Medford. Nanepaahemit,
the sachem of the Pawtuckets, is said to have taken
up bis residence on the Mystic near the close of his
life, and was killed and buried there in 1619. He left
three sons, of whom Sagamore John was the chief of
that portion of the tribe which resided on the Mystic.
Governor Dudley, writing in 1631, says : " Upon the
River Mystic is situated Sagamore John ; and upon
the River Saugus, Sagamore James, his brother.
Both these brothers command not above thirty or
forty men, for aught I can learn." Rev. Francis
Higginson, in 1629, says of the Sagamores: "Their
subjects, above twelve years since, were swept away
by a great and grievous plague that was amongst
them, so that there are very few left to inhabit the
country. . . . The greatest Sagamores about ua can-
not make above three hundred men, and other less
Sagamores have not above fifteen subjects, and others
near about us but two." Governor Winthrop states
that, in 1633, Sagamores John and James, and most
of their people died of the small-pox. Sagamore
John was extremely friendly to the whites, and is thus
kindly noticed in " New England's First Fruits :"
"Sagamore John, Prince of MaasaipieserB, waa from our very hrat
landing more courteous, ingenuous, and, to the English, more loving,
than others of them. He desired to learn and apeak our language, and
loved to Imitate us in our behavior and appar«l, and began to hearken
after our <>od and bia waja, and would much commend Englishmen
and their iiod, saying, ' Much good men, much good God ; ' and being
convinced that our condition and ways were better far than theirs, did
resolve and promise to leave the Indiana, and come live with ua, but
yet, kept down by the fears and scoffs of the Indiana, had not power to
make good his purpose ; yet went on, not without some trouble of mind
and secret plucks of conscience, as the sequel declares ; for, being struck
with death, fearfully cried out of himself that he had not come to live
with us to have known our God better. * But now,' said be, ' I mnst
die. The God of the English is much angry with me, and wlU destroy
me. Ah ! I was afiBld of the scofb of the wicked Indians. Yet my
child ahall live with the Engiieb, and learn to know their God, when I
812
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
am dead. I will give him to Mr. ^yiIsOD : be is much good man, and
mucb love me.' So he sent for Mr. Wilson to come to him, and com-
mitted his only child to his care, and bo died."
After the death of Nanepa-ihemit, his wife, orSqua-
Sachem, as ahe was called, succeeded to his authority.
She married Webcowit, the mediciue-inan of the
tribe, and, ia 1G39, she deeded to Charlestown a tract
of land bordering on Medford, in terms aa follows : i
" Tlie 15th of the 2d nio., lt>;J9 ; Wee, Web-Cowet, and Squa Sachem i
doBelltiDto the inhabitants of tile towne of Charlestowne nil the bind
within the line granted them by the Court (excepting the famies and
the ground on the west of the two great ponds, called Jtftx/icJte P'>nd$),
from the south side of Mr. Nuwell's lott, neere the upper end of the
ponds, unto the little ruunet that comnieth from Cupt. Cook's mills,
which the Squa reserveth to their use for her life, for the ludians tu
plant and hunt upon ; and the wenre above the ponds they also reserve
for the Indiana to tit>b at whiles the Squa liveth ; and, after the death of
Squa Sachem, she dotli leave all Uer lands, from Mr. Maybue's bouse
to neere Salem, to the present Governor, .Mr. .lolin Wintbiop, sen., 3Ir.
Increase Nowell, Mr John Willson, .^Ir. Edward Gibbons, to dispose of,
and all Indiana to depart. .\nd, for satisfaction from Charlestowne,
wee acknowledge to have received, in full sattisfaction, twenty aud one
coates, ninten fathom of wampotn, and three biishrls of corn. In wit-
ness whereof, wee have here unto sett o'r hands tbe day and year above
named.
" The mark of Siif.v S.vchem, m'c.
" The mark of Web-Cowet, m."
The last remnant of the tribe which once held the
lands of the Mystic, is said by Brooks, to have taken
up its residence in " Turkey Swamp," in the northern
part of Medford. The skeletons of five Indians were
eihumed, from the grounds of the late Edward Brooks
in West Medford, in 1862, and many evidences of
their former occupancy of the locality have been found
in tools and weapons of stone.
Medford had a very contracted territory up to the
middle of the last century, and embraced only the
grants made to Mr. Cradock, in 1631 aud 'id ; the
lands granted to Wilson and Newell, 400 acres in
extent, intervened between the eastern boundary of
the town aud Maiden River. On the north, its line
followed the range of hills then called the " Rocks,"
parallel to, and one mile from the river. The Mystic
Ponds formed the western boundary, and on the
south, the town rested on the Mystic. The area of
the town was about 2000 acres. Until 1640, Med-
ford was surrounded by Charlestown, which then
embraced the present territory of Maiden, Stoneham,
Woburn, Burlington, Somerville and a part of the
three towns of Cambridge, Arlington and Medford.
The General Court ordered, Oct. 7, 1640, that
" Mr. Tynge, Mr. Samuel Sheepliard, and Goodman Edward Cuuverae,
are to set out the bounds between Charle^itowo and Mr. Cradock'a farm
uo the north side of Mistick River."
In 1687, the town appointed three gentlemen, who,
in conjunction with three appointed by Charlestown,
were directed to fix the boundaries between the two
towns. The committee reported as follows :
" We have settled and marked both stakes aud lots as folluwelh :
From the creek in the salt. marsh by a ditch below Wilson's farm and
Medford farm to a stake and heap of stones out of the swamp, then turn-
ing to a savin-tree and to three stakes more to heaps of stones within
George Blanchard's field with two stakes more and heaps of stones
standing all on tbe upland, and so round from stake to stake ea the
swamp runneth, and then straight to a stake on the south side of the
house of Joseph Blanchard's half, turning then to another oak, an old
marked tree, thence to a maple-tree, old marks, thence unto two young
maples, new marked, aud thence to three otakes to a creek-head, thence
straight to the corner line on tbe south side of the country ruad leading
to [.Maiden]."
Chafing within their narrow limits, the inhabitants
of Medford made repeated efforts for the extension of
their boundaries. In 1714, a committee was chosen
to petition Charlestown on the subject of annexing
certain districts. The petitioners ask " for some part
of Charlestown adjoining to Med.''ord, on the north
side of Mystic River." The same year, having receiv-
ed, as is supposed, an adverse reply to that petition,
they chose another committee to examine the Prov-
ince Records, and see if Medford has any right to
land lying in Charlestown, and, if so, to prosecute
the same at the town's expense.
Again, in 1726, the town presented a petition to
the inhabitantsof Charlestown, praying that the lands
on the north side cf the Mystic River might be set
ofi' to Medford. This request was emphatically re-
fiLsed ; aud, in 1738, another petition of the same im-
port met with a like fate.
In 1734, the town voted to " petition the Great and
General Court for a tract of the unappropriated lands
of this Province, to enable the said town of Medford
the better to support the ministry and the schools in
jaid town." The record of the action taken on this
petition is as follows:
" At a Great and General Court or Assembly for his Majesty's Prov-
ince of Massachusetts Ray, in N'ew England, begun and held at Boetim,
upon Wednesday, the '.iSth of Slay. 17.15, and continued by several ad-
journments to Wednesday, tbe 19th of November following, —
"20 May, 1735; -^ petition of the inhabitants of the town uf .Med-
ford, showing that tbe said town is of tbe smallest extent of any in ibo
Province, and yet their town-charges extremely high, so that tbe main-
tenance of uiinistry and school is very chargeable to them, au'l there-
fore praying for a gi-aut of some of the waste lands of the Province to
be appropriated for tbe support of the ministry and schoolmaster lu
said town.
"In the House of Representatives, read and ordered that tbe prayer
of tbe petition be so far granted as that tbe town of Medford is hereby
allowed and empowered, by a surveyor aud chairman on oath, to survey
and lay out one thou$and acra of the unappropriated lands of tbe Prov-
ince, and retnrn a plat thereof to this Court, within twelve months, for
confirmation for the uses within mentioned.
'* In Council, read and concurred. Dec. -atb : Consented to.
' A true copy, examined ;
" J. Belch t a.
' Thade. Mason,
" Depuljf Secretary,"
Under this grant the town .selected 1000 acres of
land on the Piacataqua River. The tract was called
the "Town's Farm," and was sold after a lew years'
posses-sion. It was of small value.
The long-felt desire of the people of Medford for
an increase of territory was at length gratified. In
1753 they presented the following petition to the Pro-
vincial authorities :
.'To hit Bjxellettcy, William ShtrUt/, Esq., Captain- GKUeral iiitd Uoveniur-
tH'Chicf in and over his Majealy' i Province of the Miieguvliuxetia Buy, m
Xeto England^ to the Honorable bit Majeety'a Council, and to the Honor-
able House of Repreeentativee.
'■ Tbe petition of the inhabitanta uf tbe town of Uedfoid, in tbe
County of Middlesex, bombly showetb that there are certain tracts of
MEDFORD.
'813
land lytD^on the southerly and northerly aides of said Medford, which
are bounded as follows ; viz., the floutherly tract, lying in Charlestown,
is bouDde«1 northerly with Mietic 'T .Medford River, westerly with the
westerly bounds of Mr. Smith's farm, southerly with the southerly
houQ.lH of Mr. Smith's, Mr. James Tufts'i*. and Mr. Jonathan Tufta's
farnw, and then runuiog from the south-easterly corner of said Jonathan
Tuftp's farm eastward straight to the westerly side of Col, Royal's farm,
Again westerly with the westerly bounds of Col. Royal's farm, again
Routtierly with its southerly bounds, and then running from the south-
easterly corner thereof, fiastward. straight to Jledford River.
"The northerly tract, lying also in Charlestown, in bounded southerly
with said Medford'i* northerly line and the southerly bounds of Mr.
Symmes's farm, westerly with the line that divides Mr. Syrames's from
Mr. Gardner's farm, northerly with Wobtirn and Stoneham lines, east-
erly on Maiden line.
" Which landp, with their inhabitants, we pray may be added to the
roniracted limits of the said town of Medford, together with a propor-
tionable part of the said town of Chariestown's rights and privileges,
according to the quantity and circumstances of said lands : at least,
these pieces of land, and the privileges, which are within the lands
hereby petitioned for.
" .\ud inasmuch as the said town of Charlestown has conveyed the
land called the gravel-pit, with the marsh adjoining, containing about
half an a*;re, that they used for getting gravel, laying timber, etc., for
the southerly half of the bridge commonly called Mktic Bridge, and the
'Causey' thereto adjoining, to Capt. Aaron Cleaveland and Mr. Samuel
Kendal ; for which considwration they have covenanted and agreed
with the said lowu of Charlestown to beep the half of the bridge and
the ' Causey ' aforesaid in ^wkI condition forever;
" We pruv, that, in case the hefore-descritwd lands are laid to said
Medtord, it may not be subjected to any cost or charges on account of
the before-mentioned part of said bridge and the Causey adjoining.
" Which petition we humbly conceive will appi*ar reaaonable by what
Fallows: —
" Fir< The contents of the said town of Medford are exceedingly
small, amounting to hut about two thousand acres, the inhabitantb very
few, and consequently its charges very great, compared with other
towns. Besides, as to brick-making, upon which our trading and a
great part of our oilier business depends, it very much tails.
" :^econdly. The said town of Charlestown almost encompaases the
tiiwn uf Medford, and therefore (notwithstanding the great necessity)
it ciLunot receive Urge addition from any other town.
''Thir'Uif, Those that uuw dwell on the said tracts of laud, and those
who heretofore dwelt on them, have from time to time enjoyed the
liberty of attending the public worship in Medford without paying any
thinii to the taxed there. Neither is there auy probability that any of
the luhubitanta ot'siiid lands, ur any other persons that may settle on
them, can, with any couveniency, attend the public worship in any
nther town. Moreover, the inhabiUints of the said southerly tract are
within about half a mile of said Medford meeting house,— the greatest
prtrt .jf them.— ami the rest within a mile.
"And thii inhaltitapls of the nurtherly tract before-mentioned are, the
farthest of them, but about two miles from said meeting-house. And
great part of the lands in both the said tracts are now owned and pos-
M;>sHd by those who are with us in this {wtition, and some of the inhab-
itantKofsaid Medford.
" Be*»idea, we apprehend it to be a very great hardship for the inhah-
ttuuts of said tracts of land to be obliged to go, almost all of them, more
than f"ur miles, and others more than seven miles, to town-meetings,
trainings, ftc.
*' Furthermore, we would humbly move that some of the honorable
menihers of the 'lenerul Assembly may be appointed to view the prem-
itit-H pviiiiiined fur, etc.
"In consideration of what is I'cfore-nientioned, and other moving
art;uments that nii^rht Iw used in this affair, we hope your Excellency
iiiid Honors, in your great wisdom and goo<lnes8, will grant our petition.
.Vlthuugh the inhabitants uf said Charlestown have not been pleased
r.. La so free (when petitiuned) as to let us know whether they would
gratify us heroin or not.
"So shall your petitioners, as in duty bound, ever pray.
"Caleb BaooKS. Jomathan Tufts.
" BcNJAUiN Pabk^eb. John Jcnks.
'* Benjamin Teal, Robeet Crane.
" James Tcfts. John Degbusut.
" Ebenezek Marbow^.
*' Medfon'., Dec. 13, IToS.
" We the lutMcriber^, being owneni of a considerBble part of the
OommiUee
for Bedford*
Buid lands, and having dwelling-bouses thereon, do hereby signify that
we heartily juin with the inhabitantii of Medford in the foregoing
petition.
"Samitel Brooks, "j
'* Ebenezsb Bbooks,
" Z. Pool,
" Joseph Tufts,
"Stephen Hall,
This petition was granted April 17, 1754, and from
that date the town entered upon a new and more
prosperous era of its history. Under the act the
boundaries of the town at the north were consider-
ably extended, and its accessions on the south included
all of its present territory, which lies south of the
river. The area of Medford was more than doubled,
and now embraced nearly six thousand acres. Since
that time it has lost portions of its territory, which
have at different times been set off to neighboring
towns — to some of them on their formation. The
present area of the town is about five thousand acres,*
or nearly eight square miles.
The organization of the municipal government of
the Colonial towns in che early times was of the sim-
plest sort. The population was small, nothing like
the present elaborate system of public service was
known, and little was done at the public charge.
Medford was very peculiarly situated. Mr. Davison,
Governor Craddock's agent, was vested with full au-
thority to conduct the affairs of the plantation, and,
owing to the loss of the earliest town records, we
cannot tell how soon the people took the management
of their concerns into their own hands. Probably it
was not till after the death of Mr. Cradock, in 16*44.
Among the earliest existing records of the town is the
following entry touching the proceedings of a town-
meeting :
** The first Monday of February in the year of our Lord 1677, Goodman
John Hall was choijen constable by the inhabitants of Mcadford for the
year ensuing. Joseph Wade, John Hall and Stephen Willis were chos-
en selectmen for ordering of the affairs of the plantation for the year
ensuing. John Whitmore, Daniel Woodward, Jacob Chamberlain, John
Hall.jun., Edward Walker, Walter Cranston, Patrick Hay, Andrew
Mitcliell and Thomas Fillebrown, jiin., took the oath of fidelity.
" Joseph Wads, Toum-clerk.'*
Mr. Brooks has preserved for us a copy of an old-
time warrant for a town-meeting:
*'To Mr. Stephen Hall, jun-, (.'onstable of Medford, Greeting: Youare
hereby required, in his Majesty's name, to warn the freeholders and
other inhabitants of Medford to meet at their meeting-house, the first
Monday of March next ensuing the date hereof, by eight o'clock in the
morning, then and there to choose a constable, selectmen, town-clerk
and other town-officers, as the law directs. And all persons to whom
the said town is indebted to bring in their accounts, and lay the same
before the said town. And the town-treasurar for said .Mtrdford is here-
by required to give said town at said meeting a particular account of
the disposing of the said town's money; and whatsoever else may be
needed, proper, and necessary to be discoursed on and determined of at
said meeting. Hereof you may not fail, as you will answer your de-
fault at the peril of the law.
" Dated in said Medford, February U, 1702, in the fourteenth year of
his Majesty's reign.
By order of the selectmen of said Medford.
"Jmo. Bradstbekt, Ibirn-cfcri."
A few years later we find that the departments of
the public service had increased in number:
814
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
*' March 5, 1694: Caleb Brooks vaa chosen constable far the year
ensiling. Major Nathaniel Wniie, Lieut. Peter Tufts and Pteiihen Wil-
lis were chosen selectmen. Jiilin Braiishaw Lind John Hall, jnn., were
chosen eiirveyipra of biRhwaye. Ensign Stephen Francis was cb"->6eu
tythiiig-man. John Hall, sen., and Lieut. Peter Tufts, were chosen
viewers of fences ; and Stephen Willis, town-clerk."
Again, in 1710 :
" At a town-meetinc, legally convened in Medford, I^Iarch f^, 1710,
Lient. Stephen Willie, chosen moderator; Peter Secconib, choF^n con
stable; Ebenezer Brookf*, John Hall and Samuel Wade, selerlnien ;
John Whitmore.jtin., and Thoiona Dill, surveyors of hiKbwHys; Ben-
jamin Peirce and Isaac Farwell, viewers of fences ; Ichabod Peirce and
John Albree, wood-corders ; Nath. Peirce, ho^ constable. At said mee t
infi, Lieut. Tbom;is Willis was chosen tythiug-man and sealer of
nejghts and measures. At said meeting, the selectmen were cbusen
) for this veur."
Coming down to a later date we find that the de-
partment;) of public service take a more modern com-
plexion :
'*At a town-meeting le^lly convened at Medford, March 7, 1748.
3Ir. .Andrew Hall wan chosen Mtxleraior.
Dea. Benj. Willis, ('apt. Samuel Brooks, Lieut. Stephen Hall, Select-
men.
Thnniaa Seccunib, Town-clerk.
Benj. Parker, Town Ireaburer.
Joseph Tufts, Thos. Brooks, Edwnnl Hall, .Assessors.
Stephen Willis, chosen Constable, refused to r^erve, and paid £10, uld
tenor.
Fiancis Wliitniore, 2d Constable, but refused fo serve, and [»aid i.\t',
old tenor.
Samuel Reeves, 3d Constable. He refused to serve, and paid £10, old
tenor.
Samuel Page, hired to serve as C-onstable, for £2r>, old tenor.
Jonathan Hall, Henry Fowie, Tlthing-men.
Stephen Bradshaw, Lieut. John Francis, Stephen (ireenleaf. Survey-
ors of Highways.
Samuel Brooke, jnn., William Tufts, John Hall, Fence-viewers.
Stephen tireeuteaf, John Bishop, Ebenezer Francis, Hog-reeves.
John Tnfts, Jacob Polly, Thomas Brooks, Wood-coniers.
Jonathan Watson, Capt. S&ml. Brooks, Surveyors of Boards and
Tiralwr.
Samuel Reeves, Pound-keeper.
Samuel Francis, Benjamin Tufta, Haywards, or Field-drivers.
Simon Bradshaw, Joseph Tufts, Deer-reeves.
Dea. Thomaa Hall, Sealer of Leather.
Benjamin Parker, Sealer of WeigbtA and UeaitureB.
Stephen Bradshaw, Grand juror.
Andrew Hall, Esq., Capt. Samuel Brooks, Litut. Stephen Htill, jnn.,
Zecbariah Poole. Ebenezer Brooks, a committee to manage the affair nf
obtaining some part of the lands now t>elonging to Charlestown, with
the inhabitants thereon.
Joseph Tufts, Lieut. Stephen Hall, jun., Thomas Brooks, a Committee
to audit the Town-treasurer's accounts for the year past, 1747, iind the
town's account likewise.
The inhabitanta of Medford to«»k a deep interest in
the rights, secured by the charter. In 1732 the town
voted that '*it was their desire that their representa-
tive should act with the greatest caution, and stand
for the defence of the privileges granted us by his
Majesty in the royal Charter."
The town maintained a thoroughly patriotic atti-
tude in the stirring events which immediately pre-
ceded the Revolution, and from time to time entered
vigorous protest against the oppressive acts of the
British Government, After the passage of the Stamp
Act (Oct. 21, 1765), the inhabiUnts of Medford held
a public meeting and gave open expression to their
sense of its unconstitutionality and injustice. A
remonstrance, addressed to their representative, was
adopted, in which they denounce the Stamp Act as
"this most grievous uf all acts, wherein a complica-
tion of those burdens and restraints are unhappily
imposed which will undeniably deprive us of those
invaluable liberties and priviliges which we, as free-
born Britons, have hitherto enjoyed. . . , Therefore
we seriously enjoin it upon you, as our representative,
that you be no ways aiding and a.ssisting in the exe-
cution of said act."
That the town was in full sympathy with the action
of Boston in resisting the importation of taxed tea is
proved by the following vote, passed December 31,
1772:
" Voted thrtt the thanka of the town ^'f Sledrort^be jn^^n to the rp-
Hpectalile inhatiitanlR of tbe town of Brrston for their itAttiotic riire and
vi(jilHnce (niaiiifedt on several occaRions) iu endeavoring to presene our
civil conRtitntion from innovation, ami to iiiaiutuin tlie t>inie inviolate.
And vvedoaasure Iheni ttiat our aR^lRtance nhall not lie vvnntint; in tlie
U5e of allRilch lawful proper nieaBure^ a« ubaU 1^ thought expedient to
be adopted for the preservation of our liberties, civil and leligioiie."
A little later tliey expressed their seiitinient-s upon
the same subject in a series c>t' resolutions adopteil in
town-meeting. A single extract will nhow their spirit:
"That we will exert onrtjelves, and joid with our American brethren,
in adopting and proBecuting all lei^tl and pro[>er ineadiireH to ilisi.-oiir-
age and prevent tbe landin};, storJDV and veudinc and 'jEiinp tbo6e teat)
among ub ; and that wbo^iever .^hall aid or auhist said India I'ouipany,
their factors or bervants. in either landing;, Hloring ll^^elltnf; tbc same,
does a manifeEt injury to hi8 country, and deiiervea to be treated with
severity and contempt,
" That we are ready at all tiniea. in conjnnctiuu with our American
brethren, as loyal subjects, to risk our lives and fortiiDes iii the ter\ ire
and (lefeusa tif Mis Majesty's person, crown and di;:iiity ; and ul.-o, its a
free iieople, in assertioc and maintaining inviolate our civil and reli-
gious rights and priTlleges aguiii»tall oppobers whatever."
A company of Medford men, fifty-nine in number,
under the command of Capt. Isaac Hall, took part in
the engagements at Concord and Lexington, and cue
of them, William Polly, was killed. The records of
the town show that throughout the Revolution, Med-
ford .stood ready to make all sacrifices to bring the
war to a succe.ssful conclusion, and we find fre<|uent
entries touching special taxation to meet the expenses
of the war, the raising of the town's quota of men,
and care for the families of the absent soldiers.
Besides furnishing its full quota of men to the Con-
tinental Army, Medford contributed three officers who
rendered distinguished service to the patriot cause.
Col. John Brooks (afterwards Governor of Massa-
chusetts) was born in Medford, May, 1752, where he
early engaged in the study of medicine under Dr.
f^imon Tufts, and on acquiring his profession, settled
at Reading. He had a natural fondness for military
exercises, and held the position of major iu the Col-
onial militia. He commanded a company of minute-
men on the 19th of April, and wa.s active in his [>ur-
suit of the British troops. He received the commis-
sion of major in the Continental Array, and assisted
in fortifying the heights of Dorchester. He w:is pro-
moted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel of the
Eighth Massachusetts Regiment, the practical com-
mand devolving upon him, owing to the sickness of
MEDFORD.
815
the Colonel. He distinguished himself by covering
the retreat of the army at White Plains, and the value
of his service was acknowledged by Washington,
whose esteem and confidence he held unto the end.
He was a proficient in military tactics, to the study
of which he had closely applied himself, and the reg-
iment he commanded was distinguished for the
superiority of its discipline. When Baron Steuben
was appointed inspector-general of the army, Colonel
Brooks was, by the order of Gen. Washington, asso-
ciated with him in the duty of introducing a uniform
system of tactics into the army. His gallant conduct
at Saratoga was especially marked. At the head of
his regiment, he stormed the entrenchments on tiie
right flank of the enemy, and maintained h"is position
against all attempts to dislodge him. This action
compelled Burgoyne to change his position, and con-
tributed in no small degree to his final surrender. At
the close of the war he settled in Medford, and once
more engaged in the practice of his profession. He
was elected Governor of the Commonwealth in 1816,
and held the office for seven successive terms. The
purity of his character, and the eminent service he
bad rendered his country and State, as a soldier and
civilian, gained for him universal esteem. He died
io 1825.
Col. Ebenezer Francis, born in Medford, in 1743,
raised and commanded the Eleventh Massachusetts
Regiment. He fell mortally wounded while engage<l
in a skirmish with British troops, at Hubbardton, near
Whitehall, N. Y. A contemporary record says of
him : " Xo officer so distinguished for his military
accomplishments and regular life as he. His conduct
in the Held is spoken of in the highest terms of ap-
plause."
John Francis, a brother of Col. Ebenezer Francis,
was adjutant in his brother's regiment, and dis-
tinguished himself by his bravery at Hubbardton.
He was wounded at Saratoga, and acquitted himself
with honor through his six years' term of service in
the Revolutionary army.
Medford has remained true to the patriotic tradi-
tions of the Revolution throughout its Liter history.
It furnished its full <|uotaof soldiers to the national
armies in the War of 1812. Lieut. John Brooks, a
son of Governor Brooks, was killed in the battle on
Lake Erie.
In the Civil War, the town of Medford came up to
the full level of its duty. It furnished two full com-
panies to the Union army. At the outbreak of the
Rebellion the town made a quick response to the call
for troops for the defence of the capital. The Law-
rence Light Guard, Company E, Fifth Massachusetts
Regiment, under the command ofCapt. JohnHutchins,
rendered valuable service as three months' volunteers.
In August, 18G2, the company enlisted for three years,
and as Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment, Massachu-
setts Volunteers shared the varied fortunes of the
Army of the Potomac. The regiment served with
great credit until the close of the war. In September,
1862, another town company, the Medford Light In-
fantry, Capt. Charles Currier, organized for that pur-
pose, enli.sted for nine months, and as Company F,
Fifth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, took hon-
orable part with the regiment in the military opera-
tions in North Carolina.
During the war, Medford furnished a large number
of men to other organizations. According to Mr.
Usher, eleven calls for men were made upon the
town, and the whole number brought by the town
into the field was 769.
As with all the early New England settlements,
the narratives of the ecclesiastical and the civil his-
tory of Medford are closely interwoven. For many
years after its settlement, the town had, except for
brief intervals, no settled ministry. Mr. James
Noyes, a graduate of Oxford, came to Boston in 1634,
and " was immediately called to preach at Mystic,
which he did for nearly one year." After his de-
parture, the town appears to have depended upon the
occasional ministrations of the clergymen of the
neighborhood, and, having contributed to the general
fund raised for the purpose, doubtless enjoyed its
share of the clerical service rendered to the infant
settlements by Rev. George Phillips and Rev. John
Wilson. In 1692, Mr. John Hancock, grandfather of
the patriot, was engaged as a preacher, but he re-
mained only a few months. It would appear from
the town records that, in 1694, a subscription was
raised for the support of a minister. His board was
fixed at five shillings a week. In 1698, the town
hired Mr. Benjamin Woodbridge, of Charlestown, to
preach for six months, and the connection con-
tinued, in some sort, for a period of ten years. He
seems never to have been regularly "settled" over
the parish, and the record of his ministry is one of
constant bickering and disagreement between pastor
and people. Their diffierences were referred to emi-
nent clergymen, and were brought before ecclesiasti-
cal councils, for arbitration and settlement ; but Mr.
Woodbridge held a most tenacious grasp upon his
position, and it was not till 1708 that the connection
was dissolved. He died in Medford in 1710, and,
despite the long-standing contention, it is pleasant to
record that the town made liberal provision for his
funeral, which wa» attended by the President of
Harvard College and a good representation of the
neighboring dignitaries.
In 1696, the town built its first meeting-house " on
the land of Mr. Thomas Willis, near the gate by
Marble Brook, on a rock on the north side of the
Woburn road." It was a small and unpretending
structure, "seven and twenty feet long, four and
twenty feet wide, and fifteen feet between joints." A
second church building waa erected in 1727, near the
site of the first, which had become too small for the
population.
In 1713, Medford entered upon a more prosperous.
816
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
period of its church history. Rev. Aaron Porter, a
graduate of Harvard College, was settled over the
parish, and he remained until his death in 1722. He
married a niece of Chief Justice Sewall, and is hon-
orably mentioned in his " Diary."
The successor of Mr. Porter was the Rev. Ebenezer
Turell, whose ministry lasted from 1724 to 1778, a
period of fifty-four years. Mr. Turell was a fine
type of the old colonial clergyman, dignified, yet
social and kindly. It is recorded to his credit that
he preached a sermon in favor of inoculation, at a
time (1730) when there was a strong popular preju-
dice against the new practice. By his will he freed
his slave Worcester, and left fifty pounds for his
maintenance, in case he should need it.
After the death of Mr. Turell, in 1778, Rev. David
O.xgood, who had, four years before, received settle-
ment as his colleague, assumed the sole charge of the
pastorship, which he held until his dei-th in 1822 —
a ministry of forty-eight years. Dr. Osgood was a
divine of considerable local celebrity, and was a man
of strong character and convictions. He was an
ardent Federalist, and did not hesitate to give free
expression to his political opinions in the pulpit.
Some of his utterances provoked sharp comment
from the contemporary partisan press. With hi"
pastorate, the history of the First Parish, as the only
church in Medford, conies to a close. The religious
fermentation which prevailed in the first quarter of
the present century in the churches of New England,
extended itself to Medford. Alter th« installation of
Rev. Andrew Bigelow, Mr. Osgood's successor, in
1823, a considerable number of the members of the
church, holding the old theological views, seceded,
and established the Second Congregational (Trinitar- '
ian) Church. The First Parish has maintained its
connection with the Unitarian body ever since.
The Second Congregational Church, composed, as
already mentioned, of those who withdrew from the ;
First Parish, was established in 1824, and erected a
church edifice on High Street near the Public Square.
Rev. Aaron Warner was the first pastor. As an out- j
growth from this society, the Third Congregational
Church was formed in 1847, and built a house of wor-
ship on Salem Street. The new society took the i
name of the Mystic Church. In 1874, the Second
and Third Congregational Churches were consolidat-
ed, and the reunited bodies have continued to wor-
ship in the house on Salom Street.
The Universalist Society was organized in 1831,
and Rev. Winslow Wright was installed as its first
pastor.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Medford was
incorporated in 1828, and built a chapel on Cross
Street. Since then the society has built two churches ,
on Salem Street, the second of which it now occupies.
The First Baptist Church was incorporated in 1842,
under the pastorship of Rev. George W. Bosworth,
and worshipped for thirty-one years in a chapel on
Salem Street. In 1873 the society erected a new
church edifice on Oakland Street.
The Grace (Episcopal) Church was organized in
i 1848, under the rectorship of Rev. David Greene
Haskins. Its elegant stone church on High Street,
the gift of Mrs. Gorham Brooks, was erected in 1S68.
In West Medford, the Congregational Church was
organized in 1872, and the Trinity Jlethodist Society
in the same year.
The first Catholic Church edifice in Medford was
built in 1885, on Salem Street, on land which is now
I a part of Maiden, and was designed for the use of the
' Catholics of both towns. In 187i>, the Catholics of
Medford purchased the church building of the
j Second Congregational Society, on High Street,
; which is now the place of worship of a distinctively
Medford parish.
True to the teachings of the New England fathers,
j Medford was from the first a liberal supporter of the
; cause of popular education. In the earliest records
of the town we find that a town-meeting was called,
"to see if the town will have a school kept for three
months." The question was decided affirmatively,
and it was voted that " this school shall be tree." In
i 1719, the town voted that the school continue during
i four months, and later, in 1720, it was voted ty build
a school-house ; up to that time itis probable that the
schools were kept in private houses. The same year
two schools were organized in the town. " Mr. Caleb
; Brooks was engaged to keep the West School for three
months, at two pounds per month ; .Mr. Henry Davi-
' son, the East, at the same price." In 1730, the town
; voted to build a new school-house, and to set up a
I reading and writing school for six months.
The following extract-s from the town records, as
given by Mr. Brooks, will best show the progressive
: measures adopted by the town for the advancement
of education :
Marrh 11, 1771 : "Voted to build the sctiool-honse upoD the Innd l>e-
, hind the meetiog-houge, on the aorthwefit corner of the land."
' ITTfi: " Voted that the nin^ter tDstnict girU two liourH after the t>oys
are dismiseed."
.April .'», 1790 : A committee wm cboeen to inquire " if it be expedit-nt
for jdrls to attend the niaster'a acliool." The committee wiaely rei-nni-
mended Ilie iltfimmtive ; whereupon, :it the next town-uicetinp, it wae
" voteii that girla have liberty to attend the ina>iter-Rchitol diirinp thipe
>:ummer months."
June 20, 1704: " Voteil that fetn.iles attend the master-school Fopa-
rately, fr>m the let of May hi tlie let of itrlober, four hours each day,
and that the lK>ys attend four tiours t-ach day, — Tliuniday and ^aturd.i y
afternoona lieing vacations.'' Same date : " \'uteil, that no children,
whether male or feiuule, be admitted into the public fH-houl under tlin
.igeof beveu yeara, nur then tinlefis they have l>een previously taught
to read the English language by spelling the same ; andaatliis regula-
tion will probably exclude uutny who have hereti>fi>re attended, there-
fore it 13
" Voted, that the selectmen are hereby cni|H»wcred to pay scboid-tnis-
tresses for instructing those childieu who arc excluded fro[u the jMiblic
town-school, ami whose parents are nnalde to pay such extra expensea.
'* And as the great end of (he public :^hool ia to furnish the youth
with such a nieaiturc of knowledge that they may be able to read :uid
write with propriety, and understand so much arithmetic as may tit
them for the common transactions of life; therefore. Voted, tlint the
selectmen and school-committee be desired from time to time to make
such re^lBlionfi in the school as may beet answer the above purposes,"
MEDFORD.
817
In 1818. when Meilford had 202 families, the expenses of the schools
were us follows :
Master for one year, at ?20 per month S24n
Board for the same, at S3 per week 156
Master, four months, at 520 per month SO
Board for the sjiiiie, at S3 per week 52
Three female teachers, tweuty-ftve weeks each, at S4 . . . 3t«)
Rent for school-huu:>es fur female scbooU 46
$873
With the advance of the present century, broader
views began to prevail in Massachusetts as to the true
scope of our system of popular education, and Med-
ford took an honorable place in the general movement
for improved methods in school management, and a
more liberal expenditure ot money in that behalf.
At a town-meeting held in 1S35, a special committee
was chosen " to inquire into the diHerent and best
methods of conducting public-schools, and to report
what improvements, what number and kind of schools
are necessary in this town to qualify every scholar
who desires an education, for the active duties of
life." This committee made such recommendations
as led to the immediate grading of the schools, and
to the establishment of a high school. Itis believed
that this high school was " the second or third organ-
ized in the State for the free co-education of the sexes
in the higher branches of learning." The eijuipment
of the school in the early period of its existence, was
on a humble scale, although classical study had from
the first a recognized place in the curriculum. Since
then, the standard of qualitication for lulmission has
been gradually raised, and every opportunity afforded
to the youth of the town fur thorough preparation for
college and the technological schools.
It is to the credit of Medford that, for a long term
of years, she has held a place in the van of the towns
of the Commonwealth as far as regards her expendi-
ture of money for the support of public schools.
During the early part of the present century, Med-
ford was the seat of several private schools, two of
which deserve especial notice. Dr. Luther Stearns
(H. C. 1701), for many years conducted a classical
boarding-school for boys and girls. His school was
attended by children from the first families of New
England, and enjoyed a deservedly high repute. Dr.
Stearns was the father of George L. Stearns, the dis-
tinguished philanthropist. Mr. John Angier (H. C.
1821), opened a school of similar character in 1S21,
and conducted it with great success until 1841, when
he retired. His school was frequented by pupils
from every part of the country and from the West
Indies, and many of them rose to distinction in after
life.
In connection with her educational establishment,
Medford may claim the honor of being one of the first
towns in the State to maintain a free public library.
As early as 1825, the "Medford Social Library" was
founded by a society whose purpose was " to form a
collection of books strictly useful, promotive of piety
and good morals, and for the diffusion of valuable in-
52-iii
formation." The library was maintained by annual
assessments on its shareholders. In 1856, the trus-
tees of the Social Library, in conformity with
a vote of the stockholders, transferred the collection,
numbering 1125 volumes, to the town "as the foun-
dation of a permanent town library." Since that
time the town has made liberal annual appropria-
tions for the support and increase of the library, now
known as the Medford Public Library. In 1875, Mr.
Thatcher Magoun presented to the town for the use
of the library the mansion house on High Street, for-
merly occupied by his father, with land adjoin-
ing. He also gave five thousand dollars for fitting
and furnishing the building for its uses. The Ma-
goun mansion occupies a beautiful and stately site,
and is architecturally well suited to the purposes to
which it is devoted. Here the town has found con-
venient accommodations for its growing collection of
books. The reading-room is supplied with the best
reviews and periodicals of the day, and contains a
valuable reference library, which is always accessible
to the public. The library now contains about 12,000
volumes, and the annual circulation of books is over
27,000.
Tufts College occupies a site just within the south-
ern border of Medford, on a beautiful eminence, for-
merly called Walnut Hill, but now known as College
Hill. The college grounds are a portion of a tract of
laud one hundred acres in extent, the gift of Mr.
Charles Tufts, of Somerville, for whom the college
was named. The first foundation of Tufts College
was the sum of 8100,000, subscribed by Universal-
ists in various parts of the United States. Rev.
Hosea Ballou (2d) was elected the first president of
the college in 1861, and rendered invaluable service
to the infant institution until his death in 1861.
During the oflicial terra of his successor, Rev. AJonzo
A. Miner, D.D., great additions were made to the
funds of the college through gifts and endowments of
friends. Sylvanus Packard gave generously to the
institution in his lifetime, and bequeathed to it a sum
amounting to about $300,000. Dr. William J.
Walker was also a munificent benefactor, giving to it
upwards of $200,000. Other liberal friends of the
college were Dr. Oliver Dean, who contributed $90,-
000 to its funds, and Thomas A. Goddard, its first
treasurer, who, in the infancy of the institution, when
its income was small, met all deficiencies out of his
own pocket.
The Divinity School of the college was established
in 1869, and Rev. Thomas J. Sawyer, Packard Pro-
fessor of Theology, was placed at its head. A large
number of students have graduated from the school
since its formation, and are occupying some of the
most prominent and influential pulpits of their de-
nomination in the United States.
Dr. Miner resigned the presidency of the college in
1875 and Rev. Elmer H. Chapin, a graduate of the
college, was elected to fill the "acancy. Under his direc-
818
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
tion the affairs of the institution have prospered, and
its curriculum has been greatly extended. Through
the generosity of friends of the college, several tine
buildings have been erected for its use during the
last few years. The Goddard Chapel, erected out of
funds provided by Mrs. Mary A. Goddard, is a stone
structure, and its graceful campanile is a pleasing
feature in a distant view of the college buildings.
The Barnum Museum of Natural History, founded by
Mr. Fhineas T. Barnum, occupies the fine building
given by him to the college. Its large exhibition
hall contains an excellent collection of mammids,
birds, fishes and reptiles, the gift of the fouuder.
With its growing endowments and the reputation
deservedly won for the institution by its able and
earnest-minded corps of instructors, Tufts College
has an assured field of usefulness open before it.
Previous to the present century, the occupations of
the people of Medford were chiefly agriculiural, and
mechanical industries were confined to the supply of
local needs. Even up to the present time Medfoid
has been very little engaged in manutactures. A
very large proportion of the population Knds its occu-
pation in Boston, and Medford is rather a place ol
residence than of trade.
Owing to the extensive deposits of clay in the town,
brick-making has been carried on from the time of
its settlement, and the work done in the past has left
permanent marks upon the fields in many parts of
the town. The business is still prosecuted in South
Medford.
A distillery was built in Medford as early as 1735_
and it was followed by the erection of others. From
its superior quality, perhaps due to the water used in
its manufacture, " Medford rum " has acquired more
than a local celebrity. The business is still success-
fully carried on, on the site of the old distillery.
During the first three-quarters of the present cen-
tury, the great industry of Medford was ship-build-
icg, and Medford-built ships enjoyed a high reputa-
tion throughout the commercial world. The low
banks of the Mystic afforded many favorable loca-
tions for ship-yards, and the ships once launched
found an easy passage down the deep tide-waters of
the river to the wharves of Boston, where they were
rigged and fitted out. As early as 1G31, Governor
Winthrop built a vessel of thirty tons on the banks
of the Mystic, and the little cratl received the name
of the " Blessino of the Bay." This was probably
the first vessel built in New England, and perhaps, in
the United States. In 1632, Mr. Cradock built a ship
of one hundred tons register, and, a year later, one of
two hundred tons. Small vessels, of which we have
no record, doubtless continued to be built on the
Mystic, but it was not until the beginning of the pre-
sent century that the business assumed considerable
proportions.
In 1802, Mr. Thacher Magoun, who has been
styled " the pioneer of ship-building in Medford,"
established himself in a ship-yard on Riverside Ave-
nue, a little below Park Street. He at once com-
menced the construction of ships, many of them of
large register for those days', and soon gained a rep-
utation for the excellence of his models and his skill
as a shipwright. Others engaged in the business,
among tliem Mr. Calvin Turner, " esteemed one of
the most skilful draughtsmen, as well as one of the
most faithful builders in New England. In the
course of seventy years 5t)7 vessels, averaging 490
tons register, were built in Medford — an aggregate of
-72,124 tons. Many of these ships were of a capacity
of more than a thousand tons, and one measured
two thousand tuns, tiome of the finest clipper that
nailed the ocean were Jledford-built ships.
After the opening of the Civil War the business
of slii(i-buiiding rapiilly declined in Medford, as it
did throughout the United !^tale.■>. The large share
i)f the carrying trade ufthe vvurld which this country
had enjoyed |iassud into uiIht hands, and iron had
.■.U|ierseded wuud lu the coiinl ruction of ships. The
last ship built iu .Medford was launched from the
shiii-yard of .Mr. .lusliua T. Fonter, and the ple:isant
sound of the -ihipwright's busy hammer is no longer
heard on the Mystic. The line chuss of American
mechanics, that once formed a substantial part of the
population of Medford,. has largely disappeared ;
only a few representatives of the dead industry re-
main, and they have had to seek other employments
lor support. But the town still holds in grateful re-
membrance the names of Magoun, Turner, Si)nigue,
James, Curtis, Fuller, La|)liani, Foster, Stetson,
Waterman, Ewell, Cudworth and Taylor, the old
Medford u\asters in the noblest of all arts — the build-
ing of ships.
The population of Medford has not increased as
last as some of the suburban towns of Boston, but it
has had, nevertheless, a steady and wholesome
growth. The following table gives the population at
successive periods : —
Iu 1763, Medford Lad 711 liiliuliitiinis : '.77r,, »i;7 ; 1784, 081; 1790,
IIWI; 1800, 1114; 18Iil,|I441; 18JU, H74; 1S30, 17.V. ; ISH, ■i*78 ; ISiiO,
:!740; 1855, 4C(tl ; ISiill, 48.(1 : ISU.",, 4»;i'J ; 1^7U. 0717 ; 1875, tUU" ; 1880,
7.573; 1885, WWl ; l.S'.IO, 11, IU...
The valuation of the town in 1S89 w:is .■?9,279,715.
To the lover of antiquity and its a.ssociations, Med-
ford presents peculiar attractions. Few towns in the
United States have preserved so many features con-
nected with the past, and it is a matter of regret that
under the hands of what is styled " modern improve-
ment," many of these are destined soon to pass away.
The old High Street of the town, lined with ancient
and substantial buildings, one of them dating back
to 1689, is fragrant with the memory of the early
time. The river upon which John Winthrop dwelt
winds its way through the lovely valley, and, north
and south, are the forest-crowced heights of the Mid-
dlesex Fells and the graceful slopes of Winter Hill.
The old "g.irrison" houses of the town are still
MARLBOROUGH.
819
standing. The Cradock House, in the eastern sec-
tion of the town, erected in 1634, is probably the old-
est house in English America. It has lately been
carefully restored by pious hands, and will remain as
a monument to the fathers of the settlement on Mas-
sachusetts Bay. The old Royall mansion, the seat of
Col. Isaac Royall, colonial magnate and loyalist, still
remains one of the finest examples of the domestic
architecture of the early part of the last century.
Such was and is " Old Medford," the home of kind-
ness and hospitality, and a noble type of the ancient
New England town.
CHAPTER LVI.
MARLBOROUGH.
Original Grajit — Indian Grant — F^H Meeting of Proprietort — Owner$ of
Hoiue Loi« m Itifif) — FiratS-.lUert— King Philip's War— French and Indian
War.
The territory embraced within the present town
of Marlborough originally comprised a portion of the
town of Sudbury, which was granted in 1638. In
16o6 a number of the leading citizens of Sudbury
presented the fiillowing petition to the General Court:
"To the Hon. Governor, Dep. Governor, Magiatratea, and Deputies of
the Gciienil Court now agMiiibled id DoatOD. '
*' Tlie Iliiuiljlo Petitiou of several of the inhabitants of Sudbury, i
w liO(*e name* are here unUerwhtteD, tthoweth : That wbereutf your Peti-
tionnrs have lived divers years in Sudbury, and Gutl hath bt^on pleased ;
to increase our children, wiiich are now diverse of theiii grown to man's i
estate ; iiiid wee, many uf us, (;rowo into yeiini, fM (hut wee Hhould bee i
gliid to see them settled before the Lord tntce us away from hence, as '
also (iod having giveu ns some cnnsidemble iiunnUty of cattle, so that
wee are so streigliteiied tliat we cannot &i comfortably Bubsict as could I
be dL'i^irL-il ; and some of us having taken some pains to view the country •
wee have found a place which Iretb- westward .il>out eight miles from I
Sudbury, which wee conceive might be comfortable for our subsistence, j
" It is ihorefore the humble request of your Petitiuuers to this Uou'd I
Court, that you would bee pleased to gmut unto us eight miles square, i
or so much land ;id may cuntaine to eight miles 6<(uai-e, for to make u
Plantatinn.
"If it shall please this Ilou'd Court to grant our Petition, it is further
then the requeot of your Petitioners to this Ilon'd Court, that you will
be pleased to appoint Mr. Thomas Danforth, or Liesten'^i Fisher to lay
t>ut the bounds of the Plantation ; and wee shall satisfy those whom this i
Hoo'd Court shall please to eiuploy in it. So apprehending this weighty I
oc-cosioQ, wee shall no further trouble this Hou'd Courf, but shall ever <
pruy for your happinedi.
'* Edmund Bice, John Howe,
William Ward, John Bent, Sen'r,
Thomas King, John Maynard,
John Wootis, Richard Newton,
Thomas Goodnow, Peter Bent,
John Ruddocke, Edwani Bice."
Henry Rice,
The General Court under date of May 14, 1656,
replied as follows :
" In answer to the Petition of the aforesaid inhabitants of Sudbury,
ttie Court judgeth it meete to grant them a proportion of land six miles,
or otberwibe in some convenient form equivalent thereunto, at the dis-
cretion of the Committee, in the place desired : provided it binder no
former grant ; that there be a town settled with twenty or more families
within three years, so as an able ministry may bee there maiatained,
"And it is ordered that Mr. &Iward Jackson, Capt. Eleazer Lusher,
Ephratm Child, with Mr. Thomas Danforth or Leiaten"J Fisher, shall bee,
and hereby are appointed a Committee to lay out the bounds thereof,
and make return to the next Court of Election, or else the gr&nt to bee
void."
This grant embraced 29,419 acres.
A portion of this territory, however, had already
been granted to the Indians, May 3. 1654, aa follows :
"Upon the Petition of Mr. Eliot, in behalf of
the Indians, liberty is granted to the Indians of
' Ockoocangansett, being eight miles west of Sudbury,
■ to make a town there, provided it do not prejudice
I any former grant, nor that they shall dispose of it
I without leave first had and obtained of this Court."
This grant contained 6000 acres.
At the first meeting of the proprietors held Sept.
25, 1656,
" It is concluded and ordered, That all yt doe take op lotts in y* Plan,
tation shall pay to all public charges y shall arise upon y« Plantation^
according to their Honse Lotts, and themselves to be residents there
within two years, or set A man in, that y* Town shall approve of, or else
to loose their lotts ; but if God shall take away any man by death, such
A one hath liberty to give his lott to whom he will, this order to the
contrarj* notwithstandiDg."
The same year William Ward, Thomas King, John Raddocke and
John Howe, " Were chosen to put the AflTaire of the said new Plantation
in an orderly Way."
In September, 1657, the following names also ap*
pear on their list:
William Kerly, John Bediat, John Johnson, Thomas Bice, Solomon
Johnson, Samuel Bice, Peter King, <'hristopher Banister.
** It is ordered that all such us lay clayme to any interest in the new
Plantion at Wblpsuppenicke are to perfect their house lots by the 25th
uf March next ensuing, or else loose all their interest in the aforesaid
Plantation.
" It is ordered Chat every one y* bath A Lott in y< aforesaid Planta-
tion, shall pay twenty shillings by the 'i'ith of March ensuing, or else to
loose all k'gul interest in y« aforesaid Plantation."
" Ata meeting of y« inhabitants aud proprietors of this Plantation j*
fith of y« xi month, ltio9,
" It Is ordered that A Rate bee made for diffraying and satisfying y»
charge for Laying out this plantation and other pnbliche charges to be
collected of the inhabitants and proprietors.
" It is ordered, That every person y' claims any interest in the town
of Marlborough, shall pay to all publicke charge, both for the minister
and for all other town charges that have arisen at>out the plantation to
this day from the beginning thereof, according to their proportion in y*
rate now presented with said proportion due \ every person to pay at or
before thelOthof November next ensuing, or else loose all legal interest
in the aforesaid plantation ; that is to say, four pence an acre for each
acre of their House Lotts to the Minister, and three pence for all the
estate that hath been kept or brought to keep, being found in the town
or about the town ; and nine pence an acre for every acre of their House
Lotts to town charges, till all the debts that are due from the town to
tbeni that have been employed by the town or the plantation thereof.
" Signed :
" Edmund Bice, Thomas King, Solomon JohnEon, Bichard Newton,
William Ward, Thomas Goodnow, William Kerly, Henry Kerly, John
Howe, Christopher Banister, John Johnson, John Buddocke.'*
" It is ordered that there bee a rate made ffor Mr. William Brimsmead,
Minister, to t>ce collected of the inhabitants and proprieton of the town
(for six mouths) at the rate of four pence per acre upon House LoCta,
and thiee pence per Pound upon cattle."
The following is a list of owners of house-lots, 1660 :
Edmund Bice, William Ward, John Buddocke, Thomas Goodnow,
Joseph Bice, Samuel Rice, Christopher Banister. Thomas King, Willian-
Kerly, Solomon Johnson, John Johnson, Richard Newton, John Howe,
Sr, John Howe, Jr., Henry Kerly, Bichard Bamea, Thomas Bice, Joseph
Holmes, Samuel Howe, Andrew Belcher, Obadkh Ward, Edward Blcs
Bichard Ward, John Woods, Sr., John Maynard, Peter King, Benjamin
Bice, a minister, Peter Bent, John Bellows. Abraham Howe, Thomas
Goodnow, Jr., John Butter, John Barrett, John Bediat, a blacksmith,
Heniy AxCell, John 2fewton.
820
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
The first white settler of Marlborough was John
Howe, in 1657 or '58. Other early settlers were Ed-
mund Rice, William Ward, John Woods, Sr., John
Maynard, Jonathan Johnson, John Ruddocke, Chris-
topher Banister, John Barrett, Abraham Howe, Ed-
ward Rice, Thomas Rice, William Kerly, Richard
Ward, Samuel Brigham, Thomas Brighara, John
Bent, Richard Barnes, Abraham Williams, Thomas
Goodnow.
Pioneers. — Among the early founders of •Marl-
borough were the following :
Adams, Alcocke, Alexander, Allen, Amsden, An-
gler, Arnold, Axtell, Badcock, Baker, Banister, Bar-
ber, Barker, Barnard, Barnes, Bar.ston, Bartlett, Bar-
rett, Bayley, Branian, Bellows, Bent, Bc-uder, Bigelow,
Bond, Bowker, Boyd, Breck, Brigham, Brown, Bruce,
Bush, Church, Cogswell, Cotting, Cranston, Crosby,
Cunningham, Curtis, Darling, Davis, Dawson, Dex-
ter, Eager, Eames, Edwards, F'ay, Feitoii, Forbush.
Foagate, Fosket, Foster, Franklin, Garfield, Gates,
Gibbs, (ribbon, Gleasou, Goddard, Gold, Golding,
Goodale, Goodeiiow, Gott, Gore, Ciould. (ireen, Ha-
ger, Haggitt, Hale, Hall, llapgood, Harrington, Har-
thorn, Haydeu, Hemenway, Hinds, Holden, Holland,
Holyoke, Horn, Uosmer, John Ho\ve, Abraham Howe,
Hudson, Hunter, Hunting, Jewell, Johnson, Jones,
Joslin, Kerley, Keyes, Kidder, Knap, Knights, Lee,
Lennard, Loring, Lyscom, Mann, Manson, Marble,
Martin, Mason, Matthews, Maynard, Mixer, Moore,
Morris, Morse, Moseman, Munroe, Newton, Cakes,
Packard, Parker, Parminter, Perry, Percival, Peters,
Phelps, Potter, Pratt, Prescott, Priest, Ray, Rediat,
Reed, Rice, Ripley, Robinson, Ruddock, Rugg, Rus-
sell, Sampson, Sawin, Sawyer, Seaver, Shattuek,
Sherman, Smith, Snow, Souther, Stanly, Stevens,
Stewart, Stone, Stow, Stratton, Taylor, Tainter, Tem-
ple, Thaping, Thomas, Tomblin, Townsend, Trow-
bridge, Vockary, Wait, Walcutt, Walker, Walkup,
Ward, Warren, Weeks, Wells, Wheeler, Wheelock,
Whitcomb, Whitney, Wilder, Wilkins, Williams,
Wilson, Winchester, Witherbee, Witt, Wood, Woods,
Wyman.
The following were residents of the town in 1770 :
Samuel Brigham, Urinb Brigham, George Brigliam, Ithumar Brigham,
Paul Brigham, Epbraiui Brigham, JuMph BrigLam, Beojauiin Brigham,
Asa Brlghani, Solumon Brigham, Caleb Bnghum, Peter lleDder, Jub
Carley, Adonijab Church, JuuathaD Clefurr), Czekiel Cltaby, Jacob Kel-
toD, Siloa Gates, William Goddard, Jubn Gleaauu, Joseph GleaaoD, Elizur
Holyoke, Joseph Howe, Joseph Howe, Jr., Sauiuel Sherman, David
Smith, John Smith, Natbauiel Smith, Samuel Smith, Maouing Sawiu,
Jhaod Shermao, Joeepb Townsend, .Ir., Jonathan Temple, John War-
reu, John Weeks, Francis Weeks, Samuel Witt, Samuel Witt, Jr., Dan-
iel Ward, John Woods, Joeiah Wilkius, Joseph Wheeler, Alpheiia
Woods, Joseph Williams, Jabez Wukiitt, Tboniau Walkup, Benjamin
Whitcomb, Joaiah Wilt, Solomon Bowker, Benjamin Wilder, Jonathan
Week*, Samuel Hunting, Joeiah Howe, Witherbee WLitney, John
Priest, Jr., Benjamin Sawin, Thomas Berry, Charles Whitcomb, John
Baker, John Whitney, Amos Edmauds, Jacob Heininway, Aaron Eames,
John Sbattuck, William Speakman, G. William Speakman, Juseph Dar-
ling, John Huntford, John Banneeter, Solomon Barnard, Daniel Barnes,
Daniel Barnes, Jr., Solomon Barnes, John Barnes, Moses Barnes, Aaron
Ilarnea, Henry Bamea, Jonathan Barnes, Jr., John Barnes, Jr., Edward
B^imea, Mary Beauiao, Noah Beaman, Peter Bent, Jonas Bartlett, Wil-
liam Boyd, .\bijah Berrk', Ivory Bigelow, Jouiitliun Bigelow, Joel Bige-
I low, Noah Bigelow, William Bigelow, TUaildeus Howe, Phinebaa Howe,
' .\rtemiia Howe, Elizjibeth Howe, .Vbrabaui Uowe, .\s;t Howe, Eleazer
' Howe, Luther Howe, Luke Howe. Elisba Hudson, Siniun Howe, Elisha
Hedge, Moses Howe, Lucv Howe. Noah Ilowe, Edward Juhnsou, Heze-
j kiah .Miivuard, Icliabotl .'ones, yOiccheus MaynanI, Soluuion Newton,
Ezekifl .Vewion, Joliu Parker, .lu^iali Parker, .Andrew Kice, Jabez _
I Rice, Jonah Rice, Zeiubbnbel Rice, .\brabam Rice, Je*ie Rice, Geisbuni
I Rice, El>euezer Ricbai'd, Jubn KicliurJ, Joseph Sliattou, Jonathan
Stratton. Satnuel Stratton, Keiliat Stewart, Jusiah Stow, Suniuel Stan-
hope. Robert Sinrlair, J«n:is Teiu|>le, Jonathan Tainter, .\brdhaui Wil-
I liam^. Larkin Williams, George Williams. William NVilliams, James
I WotKla, Moses Woods, Peler Wou-I, Samuel Ward, Silas Wheeler, Caleb
Winchester, Reuben Ward, Wiltiaiu Slack, Joshua Bayley, Joseph
Lamb, Jonathan Robinson, .lames Bowers, Samuel Curtis, .Abl-abani
AuiMlen, Joseph Arnold. Robert Baker. Winslow Bii^bam, Junatbau
I Barnes, Fortunatus Barnes, Fl'edetitk Barnes, 'I'bumas Bij;elo«, i-ersbum
: Higt'low, Tiiiiutby Uiseluw, Jesae llusb, 31iLali Bueb, John Bruce, Wil-
I liani Bruce, Samuel Bruce, Aniasa Cranston, Abuer CniUatoii, Thomas
, '.air, Daniel Cook, Robert Caue, Timutby Cheney, J.^lin Deuiont. Ben-
, jiimin Dudley, Luca? Duuu. John I'arliu^, .\le.\dnder Bojd, Hezekiah
j .Mayuard, Stephen Halt-, .-Samuel FlllllIl^s, Levi Ka> . Epbraim Barber,
Krancif* Stevens. Samuel Uu\eUB, Jatk Ulce, Sila.* Carle\ , Mo^es Fay,
I ,?amuel Ward, ^ilrts Kice, John Dexter, Robert Eauies Hubert Lame?,
j -Ir., Iiirtli Eager, L riali Eager, Jr., Juualhan Eagei, Jubn Eager, .Vaion
Eager, Nathaniel Fuulkuel, .Vlchcl.iub Feltou. N.itluiu Goi^dale, .\bel
. lioubliug, F'lnnebas <'.ileri, .l-iliu <tuM. Nathaniel Gibbs, .\bigail Hap-
I ^oud. Atary Ha|t;;u,>d, Peter HuHe,Setli Uuwe, Peter How tf, Jr., Thom-
j as Huv\e, Jr., Ebeur/er lla-.;er, William Ha^'er, Daniel Hairjn^tuu,
lames llal^nii;,-tuu, KilKar.l lluiitir, Dalllel llayleii, J.iob llab'. .lacub
llHrriiigtuii. .Juliii MaynanI, Kbfiie/LT Maj ti.ird, Klieiie7er .lu-Iiii, N"a-
[Ilau .Mann, Micah Newton, Wiiliaiii Newlun, Jushlla Ne\\ tun, .Atluuijah
.\owtou, Beniaiiiin Rice, John Ka'ndall, Jabez Itice, .Ir., Natliau Heed,
Simon Stow, >auiuel Stevens, SilsB Jewell, Tllouiiis Cuudale, Junatliatl
tAirili^, Joseph Lawes, .loiias Morse, William Mofs<-, Jonas .^lur-e, Jr.,
Stephen Morse, Kphraiui .Nlaynaiil^ ICpliraiiu ^Li> nanl. .Ir., John Priest,
Joseph Potter, Klibraiiu Putter, John Piltiiuiii, .Vbralialu ILindall, David
Itaud, Tholuajs Stow, Samuel Stow, Jusiah Stow, Jobu Stow.
The largest tax-payer.i in Marlborough, 1770, were
Ephraini Brigham, Henry Barnes, Joseph Howe,
Peter Bent, Hezekiah MaynanI and Zerubbabel Rice.
King Philip's War. — Marlborough, being a frontier
town, was exposed to the incursions of the Indians, and
prior to the breaking out of Philip's war a fort had
been erected at this point. A number of soldiers
were stationed here, and October 1, 1G75, a meeting
of the following citizens was held to adopt measures of
defense :
Rev. Mr, Brimsmead, Deacon Ward, Thomas King,
Solomon Johnson, .Vbraham Howe, John Howe, Sen.,
John Woods, Sen., Richard Newton, Abraham
I Williams, Thomtis Kice, John Johnson, Samuel
I Rice, John Bellows, Nathaniel -Johoson, John
' Woods, Jr., Joseph Newton, Thomas Barnes, Josiah
I Howe, John MaynanI, John Rediat, John Fay,
j Moses Newton, Richard Barnes, William Kerly and
! James Taylor.
I Garrisons were established at the homes of William
I Keely, John Johnson, Deacon Ward, Sergeant Wood,
■ Charles Williams, Joseph Rice, Simon Rice and
■ Peter Bent. Sunday, March 26, 1676, was a memora-
ble day for Marlborourgh. " No more alarm of raging
foes," says Mr. Hudson "disturbed the quiet of that Sab-
bath morning. The pet>ple assembled at the house
where prayer was wont to be made, and a fervent peti-
tion had been offered for their safety and protection. A
hymn of praise had been sung. Their spiritual leader,
MARLBOROUGH.
821
the Rev. Mr. Brimsmead, commenced his sermon, and
was dispensing to them the word of life, when he was
interrupted by the appalling cry — ' The Indians are
upon us.' The confusion and dismay which ensued,
can be better imagined than described I The assem-
bly instantly broke up ; and the people made for the
neighboring garrison, where, with a single exception,
they all arrived in safety, just in season to elude the
savage foe. One of the worshipers (Moses Newton, a
son of Richard Newton, one of the thirteen original
proprietors of the town), to his honor be it recorded,
less moved by fear than by humanity, seeing an aged
and infirm female who could not move rapidly from
the scene of danger, resolved to rescue her from im-
pending destruction, or perish in the attempt. In his
noble effort he succeeded, and brought her safely to
the garrison, though in so doing he received a ball in
his elbow, from the effects of which he never fully
recovered.
" Being secured in the garri.son, they were able to
defend themselves, but could afford no protection to
their property, much of which was destroyed, or
carried away. Thirteen of their dwellings, and eleven
barns, were laid in ashes ; their fences thrown down ;
their fruit-lrees hacked and peeled ; their cattle killed
or maimed ; so that their ravages were visible for
many years. But what would be more distressing to
our pious ancestors, than any other loss of mere prop-
erty, was that of their meeting-house, and the house
they had erected for their faithful minister — both of
which shared in the general conflagration. There is
a common tradition, that the Indians set fire to Mr.
Brimsmead's house, and that the flames communi-
cated with the meeting-house which stood near by,
and that that was the cause of its being burnt. This
might have been the case ; but the Indians, engaged
in A war of extermination, had no more regard for the
white man's religion than for the white man's life,
which they were taking every measure to destroy.
And it is possible, that the fact of this house being
located upon the Indian planting field, which gave
some ott'ense to the Indians, might have been one
cause of its destruction.
"Subsequent to this attack upon Marlborough, the
Indians, about three hundred strong, who undoubt-
edly felt that they were masters of this region of coun-
try, retired to the woods not far distant, and encamped
for the night. Lieut. Jacobs, of the garrison at Marl,
borough, conceived the bold design of surprising them
in their camp. Accordingly, on the night of the
27th, with a party of his men, and a portion of the
citizens of the town, he attacked tfaem when they
were wrapped in profound slumber, and killed and
wounded about forty, without sustaining any loss
himself."
French .a.nd Indian War. — During this war
Marlborough was in a constant state of alarm, and
twenty-six garrisons were organized as follows :
1. CapL Howe^t Garriaon : Samuel StevenB, Jamefl Howe, JoDatb&n
Howe, SaDiuel Stow, Jonathan Morse.
2. Mr. Breck'a Garriton.
3. CiipL Kerly'B Gitrri»m : Nathaniel Joslln, Joseph Maynard, Dea,
Woods, Nathaniel Johnson, Thomas Aniaden, Simon Gates, Joseph
Johnson,
4. Capt. Brigham'a Garrison : Peter Plimpton, Bet^amin Mixer.
5. laatic AnuiUn'a Gtirriion: Thomas Newton, Sergeant Maynard,
James Woods, Adam Martin, la. Temple, Deacon Newton, John
Amsden.
6. Is. /Zbtce's Ganiaon : Closes Newton, David Fay, John Newton,
Widow Johnson, Moaes Newton, Jr., James Cady.
7. Lieiit. Wmiitiia'a Gtirrison : Thomas Beaman, Peter Bent, Bichard
Barnes, Edward Bame<.
8. Eiiaign Howe'a Oarriaon : Ensign Bowker, Joseph Wait, David
Chnrch, Benjamin Rice, Peter Rice, Joseph Rice.
9. Samuei MorriWa Garrison : Sergeant Barrett, John Barnes, Benja-
min Bagley, Joseph Ward, Joshua Rice, Thomas Martin, Samuel Bush.
10. Thoinaa Brigham'a Gat-riaon : Jonathan Brigham, Oliver Ward,
Increase Ward.
11. John Hotee'a Gari-iaon : Zach. Eager, Abraham Eager, Danief
Johnson, Samuel Wheelock, Obadioh Ward, Thomas AxtelL
12. Samiul Goodnow's Garrison : Nathaniel Oakefl, Jonathan Forbuah,
Getshom Fay.
13. Li^t. Howe's Garrison : Thomas Ward, Edward Rice.
14. Nalhan Brigham'a Garrison : Joseph Stratton, Henry Bartlett,
.\1exander Stewart.
l.";. Samuel Ward, Sr.'a, GarriaoH : William Ward, Wid. Hannah
Ward, Jonathan Johnson, Sr., Caleb Rioe.
IG. Juhn Maitkeiea' Oarriaon: William .lohnsoo, Samuel Ward.
IT. Uanitl Htce'a Garrison : Wid. Sarah Taylor, Supply Weeks, Eleazer
Taylor.
18. Samuel Forbnsh'a Garrimn : James Bradish, Thomas Forbusb,
■Tames GleuMon.
19. Edmnwl Rice's Garri-ion: David Brigham, Isaac Tooiblin, David
Maynard.
iO. Tk;n,is Rlie'a Gai-rison : John Pratt, CTiarles Rice.
21. Tfi'tnjia HapgootCa l^arriann: John Forbuah, John Wheeler, J<wiah
Howe, B C'arly, Sr., .lames Carly,
22. Jfi/l Garriaon: Thomas Barrett, John Banister.
21. .Simon Minjnard's Gnrris-m: Adam Holloway, Benjamin Whitney,
Joseph Newton, John Keye?. .\biel Bush.
24. John .V^ic/'xi, Jr.'s, Gan-iaon : Eleazer Bellows, James Ea^er, .lames
Newtun, Benjamin Newton, Epbraim Newtjn, .luhn WtMida, .\brubaui
Newton.
25. Jiinathan ^rirlon's Gnrriuin : Is. Wo(}«l8. ThonioH Witherbee, la.
Amsden, Closes Lenanl, Roger Bnice.
26. Ji<srph .Ifor.se'j Garrison : Thomas Bijrelow, Sauiilel Blgelow, Sam-
uel florae, John Bigelow, John Sherman, Daniel Harrini;tun.
The committee to assign these garrisons consisted
of Thomas Howe, Samuel Brigham, Isaac Amsden,
Eleazer Howe, Daniel Howe, John Bowker, Jonathan
Johnson, Nathaniel Joslin, Peter Rice, John May-
nard and John Barrett.
CHAPTER LVIL
3fA RLBORO OGH—i Continued).
WAR OF THE RK VOLUTION.
Tlie Lexiugkm Alarm— The Miimte Men — List of Sotditrs—Volea, etc.—
Henry Barnea the BoijaliaL
As early as September 19, 1768, the people of Marl-
borough in town-meeting assembled, voted aa follows
relative to the action of Boston in connection with
the odious Stamp Act, " that it is their opinion that
what the town of Boston has done respecting the
present difficulties, is proper, and have accordingly
822
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
chosen Mr. Samuel Witt to meet the committee of
Boston, at the time and place named and proposed."
March 29, 1770, at a meeting of which John War-
ren was moderator, it was
" Voted^ That we highly approve of the noble and manly-Hpirited con-
duct in those Merchants who have a{;reed (and firmly abide by the same)
not to import goods from Great Britain, till the revenue acts are re-
peaJed, sacrificiog their own private interest to the public good.
" Voted^ The thanks of this town to the town of Boston, for the noble-
apirited resolutions and measures they have taken to promote the cause
of Liberty.
" Votsdj That we will, as far as lies In our power, in and by every con-
Btitutionai way, encourage, atrengtben and support those Slerchants and
others, who have discovered such a patriotic spirit as by the Noo-Iuipor-
lation Agreement, appears.
'• Voledy That those who have not conte into or do not abide by the
No n- Importation Agreement, and those that buy goods of the importers,
or purchase goods of thuse traders who Lave them of the present im-
porters, are enemies to their country and piwterity, and that they oiiglit
to be treated as such.
•• Voted, That we ourselves, or by any from or under us, will not di-
rectly or indirectly purcbade any goods of John BemarU, James and
Patrick McSIasters, Wni. Jacliaon, John Mein, Nathaniel Rogers, The-
uphilua Llllie, John Taylor, Anne and Elizabeth Cunimings, all of Boston ;
Israel Willlamfl, Esq., and son, of Hatfield, and Henry Barnes, of Marl-
borough aforesaid, (being importers), until a general importation shall
take place, or they come Into the Non-Iniportatiun Agreement of the
Uerchantsto thoir Hatlsfactiun.
" Retailed oTid Vuled, That the names of thowe who purchase goods of
the importers, or of those who buy of importers, aball be made public,
as far as we have the knowledge of them. "
December 21, 1772, Hezekiah Maynard, Alpheus
Woods, Edward Barnes, Jonas Morse and Daniel
Harrington were chosen a committee to draft instruc-
tions to their Repreaentative, and also to correspond
with the Committee of Correspondence of Boston.
At a meeting held January 1, 1773, the committee
submitted a report and resolutions, which were unan- |
imously adopted. Among the resolutions were the fol-
lowing:
" Betolved^ As the opinion of this town, that the whole Britiiih Em-
pire is under very alamiiDg circurastanceB, in that the contititiitiou uf
the nation being in part broken over, the rights of the people invaded,
great inroads made upon their lit>erty in an arbitrary manner, their
freedom, property and privileges, civil and religious, being wholly
taken from them, notwithstanding all the constitutional remonstrances
and petitions that have been made use of.
" Betolvedy That the British Colonies in America, and this Province in
particular, have a right to all the immunities, privileges and liberties
granted to them by the royal charter and acta of Parliament.
" Retolced, That the people of thia Province have ever been a loyal
people, and have never forfeited their charter rights by any disloyalty
whatever, and that they have good right to hold and enjoy their prop-
erty and privilegea ; and no power on eartli hasuny jnst right to alienlate
them from their just owners, without the consent of themselves or rep-
resentatives
" Besohed, That the many acts of Parliament Imposing in late years
duties on this as well as the other Culoniea, and the tolerating a Roman
priest, and appointing papists to high places of truat In the Britlab do-
minions, and aJao establishing the salaries of several of the first men of j
this Province, and also of the Judges of the Superior Court, and mak-
ing them Independent of the people, the great extension of admiralty
Jurisdiction, the quartering soldiers upon us in time of peace, the arbi-
trary demanding and the treacherous giving np of Castle William, our
chief fortress, the shedding innocent blood, as in the horrid masfticre in
Boston, March 5, 1770, all of which is unconstitational, and carries a
bad aspect, Ac."
At a meeting held in 1773 it was resolved:
'* That altfaoDgh our land is very fniltful, yet being taxed without our
consent, we may be brought to a morsel of bread, or but one meal of
meat In a week, which is the case with Ireland, a very fertile land ; and
as our great Lawgiver, and the law of nature, require self-preeervation,
we are determined by no means to submit to such arbitrary measures,
duties, tythes, taxea, &c., hut will unite with our brethren in this and
the neighboring Provinces, and oppose them to the last extremity.
'•That peace and harmony will never be enjoyed between Great Brit-
ain and the Colonies, until the interesta of both be inseparably connected ;
which will be accomplished by nothing dhort of a rep«;al of all UDcon-
stitutional acts, and the removal of all uinecures, pensioners, pimpa, in-
formers and bad governors.
"That we look upon every person who does not oppose the present
unconstitutional measures of adminiatratlon, eapecially Edwanl Wiiisluw
and others, of the ancient and memorable town of Plymouth, who with-
out giving one reason, have proteated against the proceed! nga of said
town, OS inimical to the interests of America, and onght to ba despised
by all the human race."
September 29, 1774, Peter Bent was elected repre-
sentative, and the town instructed him as follows :
" We liereby instruct you that vou adhere ?itrictly to the Charter of
this Province, atipniated and agreed to between their Majesties, King
William and (jueen Mary and thia Province, and that you pay no
acknowledgment to any unconatitutional and new fangled Counaellurs,
and that you do not i;ive your consent lo any act or thing that may he
construe4l a tacit aclinowledguient to any of the late oppressive, wicked
and unjust Acts of the Biitish Parliament, for ailering the Government
of the Province of Slassachnsetta Day."
In the mean time the town directed the selectmen
** to make an addition to the town's stock of ammuni-
tion— powder, bullets and Hints," They also instruct-
ed their constables not to pay the Province tax over
to the Royal Treasurer, but to the Treasurer appoint-
ed by the Provincial Congress. In 1775 fifty-tive ad-
ditional guns, with bayonets, were procured; drums
were furnished to the companies, blankets were pro-
cured for the minute-men, etc.
This was the condition of the public mind of
Marlborough when, on the 19th of April, 1775, the in-
telligence reached the town that the British had left
Boston, and were marching on Concord. Within a
few hours four companies from Marlborough, consist-
ing of 190 men, were marching to the scene of action.
List of Soldiers. — The following is a list of sol-
diers who were in the service from this town :
Roll of Captain Howe's company, which marched
on the 19th of April, 1775, to Cambridge, and were
absent from home sixteen days :
Cyprian IJuwe, captain; Amasa Cranston, lieutenant; Uriah Eager,
ensign ; Soloiuon Bowers, sergeant; Robert Hunter, sergeant ; Ebenezer
Uager, sergeant: William Hager, Matthias Museman, Joaiah Wilkins,
John Baker, Abner Goodale, Jabez Bush, Asa Barnes, Hiram Stow, Kur-
tunatus Wheeler, Aaron Eager, Joel Brigham, William Speakman,
Fraucij) James, Peter Howe, Rphraim Maynard, Silas Barnes, David
Hunter, Joaeph Miller, Simon Maynard, Luke Uager, Amos Wait, Adon-
ijah Newton, Jacob Priest, James Bruce, Joel Barnard, Timothy Bruce,
Nathaniel Bruce, Thomas Gooilale, James Priest, Ebenezer Eaoiea, Wil-
liam Brown, Alpheiu Morae, Jabez Rice, Jonathan Temple, Jeiluthun
Alexander, Joseph Baker, Nehemiah Howe, Abner Dnnton, Thaddeus
Shattuck, Frederick Wulcutt, Timothy Darling, Abraham Whitney.
Roll of Captain Brigham's company, which marched
to Cambridge, April 19, 1775, and were in the service
from ten to thirty days :
William Brigham, captain; Silas Gfttes, first lieutenant; Tthamar
Brigham, second lieutenant; Henry Brigham, sergeant; Noah Beaman,
sergeant; Joseph Brigham, sergeant; Ichabod Jones, sergeant; Thomas
Rice, corporal ; Ephraim Waid, corporal ; Josiah Priest, corporal ; Lewis
Brigham, corporal ; Gershom Rice, Jr., Samuel Eamea, Ephraim Wilder,
Oliver Hale, Simeon Howe, Ezeklel Cliaby, William Loring, Rediat
MARLBOROUGH.
823
Stewart, Jabez Bent, Jooathan Barnes, Jr., Samuel H^we, Silaa Carly,
Samuel Ward, .Ir., leaac Blorae. .Tames Ball, Frederick Ooodnow, John
Bagley, Timothy Bjiker, Ephraim Howe, Abraham Benman. Robert Horn,
Luke Howe, Lovewell Bri^h:irii, Ueuheo Howe, Reuben Wyman, Jonah
Newton, Thomas Jtfslio, Phiiiehaa Howe, Alexamler Church, Itharaar
Goodnow, Getirge Brishnm, iloaea Winiama. Jr., W'illlard Rice, Samuel
Howe, Genhora Brigham, Jabez Rice, Abraham Brigliam, Abijah Berry.
Roll of Captain Barnea's company, which marched
to Cambridge, April 19, 1775. A portion who went
on the 19th returned home after a few days, and were
succeeded by others — some of whom were in service
forty days :
Daniel Bjirnes, captain ; William Mmfb©, flret lieutenant; Panl Brig-
ham, second lieutenant; Jolin Loring, sergeant; Ephraim Baker,
sergeant; Antipjis Brigham, corporal; Jedwliah Tainter, corporal;
Obadiah Barre, Levi F;iy, William Rice, Peter Bent, Jonathan Brig-
ham, Janirs Bowept, John Baker, Joniw OarlioE;, Rolwrt Eames, .\bra-
ham Gonid, EHziir Holyoke, .Xsa Witt, Oiivitl Wynian, Moasa Rarnes,
Jonathan Weeks, Ivory Bicelow, Nathan Baker, Daniel Stevens, Isaac
Sherman, Beiijumiii Boyd, Benjamin Howe. Hczckiab Maynard, Elibu
Maynard, Steplien Phelpa. Daniel Rice, Daniel Robbinn, Mosea Roberta,
Prentice Russell, tUiver Russell, John Rice, John Rice, Jr., Roliert
Suintclajr, Epliniim Stow, John W. Woods, KranciB Walknp, Stephen
Feltoo, Thajldou.-? Howe, Dudley Hardy, John Lamb, Nalium Newton,
Jabez Rice, WilHum Williams, Aaron Wheeler, John Harrington, Fran-
cie Morse, Heman Stow, Benjamin Stpvena.
Marlborough men in Capt. Silas Gates* company,
called out on the Lexirigton alarm, April 19, 1775 :
Silaa Gat»>9, Capt.. Henry Bripham, Francis Mors**, Luke Howe,
Tbunias WlUiania. Asa BarncM, Benjamin B:irtlett, Abrah:\m Reaman,
George Bri:;liam, Klisha Barnes, L^riah Brigham. Joel Brewer, Alex-
ander Church, John Dexter, Aaron Fames, ^lutthiaa Felton, .Vbner
Goodale, .\aron Howe, Robert Horn, Jofl Ilager, John Kelly, Joehna
Lamb, William Loring, .lowph 5Iayn;ird, .Vshhel Rice, William Goo«l-
alo, Gcr^honi Riue, Samuel f^atf?, (tuar(n?i Stow, Ahraliam Howe, Sam-
uhI Wanl, Muses William.-^, Joseph Williams, Ifduthun Wyman, David
Hunter.
Eight months* men :
Lt. ('ill. Edward Hames, f apt., Paul Brtpham, Capt. Daniel Barnes,
Capt. .\iii;i?a I'ranston, Capt. Silas (Jutes, Lierit. M.i-fs Barrn-H, l.icut.
Williarii >ror3e, liieut. (>badi;ili Briu*". Sinum .\d;inH. .Icilutliun Alex-
and»-r,' Stf'plK-n .\llen, William B*)y'l, .Faiues Ball, Jolin liaker. Jam*"'
Bowfr:?. Eliliu Maynard, Ile/fkiah Maytiar"). Willium Kii-e, Jtts^pb Mil
ler, Paul NVwrun. Daniel RiL-e, John Ri>,H, .l„|ui Rire, Jr., David Wy-
man. I'eter B»-nt. J'-nithau Brishaui, .MualMUi Brishiiui.tJriorire Bender,
.\^tema'^ Brijjham. Eplinuni Baiber, Jouas Darlinz, Robert Kame■^,
.\braliam Gnuld, Frederick GoimIhow, Nehemiah Howe. Klizur Holyoke,
Uhailiah Johnson, John Kidder, K[ihranu Simoiidi>. Daniel Rubbins>
Olivpr Ru.-isell. Joini Sawiu, Fraurig Wulkup. .\s;i Witt, John W. W«jo<1s,
Reuben Wyman, John Wri^rht, Mi-scs Rohhins.
The following Marlborough men were also in the
service :
WilliHUi Brit;b:im. .lohn Barnes, F.li«ha Barnes, Frinh BriKliaui, Jcel
ItabU'lt. Silis Baker, KiLliarJ Bnulfurd, Henry Brigham, Ana Barnes,
Benjaiinn Bartlett, Abriham Beanian, George Brigham, David Hunter,
Joel Hager, Eilward Knapp, William Loring, Francis Meosiirve, Joseph
Newton, Roger Phel|w, Ashliel Rlct*, Joseph Robbins, John Stow, Quar-
tns Stow, Samuel Spoff.ird. David Snie, William SIii(-ld, Robert Scott.
William Weeks, Da\id Wait. Asa Witt. John Wiggins, Joseph Williams,
Jose)>li Waters.- Joel Beamao, Ale.xamler Church. John Dexter. Aorun
1 He was killed at Bunker Hill, where a. portion of the Marlborongh
nieu were engaged. They were under the command of Lt. Col. Jon-
athan Wanl and Maj. Edwanl Rames, of Jlarlbonnigh.
2 Waters was a Scotch Highlander, in the English service, and was
sent over with others to reiLforce General Howe at Boston. The
transport arrive*! after the British left Boston, and was captnrod,
Watera came to Marlborough and enlisted iuto the .Vinerican service,
and served in almost *>very campaign iluring tbo war. He married
io Marlborough, and after the peai-e uuide it his place of abode. He
died at an advanced age, retaining, to the day uf his death, the air
of a soldier.
Eames, Jonathan Crosby, Zerubbabel Eager, Matthias Felton, Samuel
Hudson, William Goodale, Samael Gates, Luke Howe, .\aron Nurse,
Robert Horn, Samuel Kelley, Jonathan Lamb, Francis Morse, Samuel
McNair, Pomeroy Grove, Joseph Pulling, Gershom Rice, .Abraham
Howe, Peter Stfivenson, Alexander Watson, Thomas Williams, Fortu-
natus NVbeeler, Samuel Ward, Moses Williams, Jonathan Wyman, Sam-
uel Wyman, Samuel Willanj.
The following men were drafted in 1777, for two
months : John Sawin, James Bruce, Stephen Baker,
James Hunter, Ebenezer Howe, Jacob Priest, Zelo-
tus Whitcomb, Samuel Hunting, John Barnes, Ash-
bel Rice, Matthias Felton, Reuben Priest, Lovewell
Brigham, Jonathan Wyman, Phinehaa Rice, Jona.
Smith, Eli Goodnow, Theophilus Hardy, Elizur
Holyoke, John Fay, John Gott Brigham, Jason
Harrington, Joseph Williams, Josiah Newton, Jonas
Darling, Robert Eames and John Harrington.
In 1778, Lt. Jonathan Weeks, Abner Dunton,
David Hunter, Prentice Russell, Samuel Howe, Jr.,
John W. Woods, Aaron Eager and Aaron Brigham,
were in service three months.
Capt, Amasa Cranston, Edward Wilkins, Abner
Goodale, James Gleason, Josiah Wilkins, Robert
Hunter, Silas Barnes and Daniel Barnes, were at
White Plains.
Among the nine months' men were Silas Baker,
Josiah Priest, Phinehas Moore, Abner Ward, Reuben
Priest, Tinaothy Rand and Joseph Johnson.
Capt. Moses Barnes was in the service two months,
from first of May to first of July, 1779, and had under
him, of Marlborough men, Quartus Stow, David Brig-
ham, Phineas Brigham, Aaron Beaman, William
Gates and Nathan Rice.
Among the six months' men were :
EHhu Maynanl, David Sale, .Vlexander Watson, John Stow, William
Weeks, Jtweph Johnson, David Wait, Stephen Baker. David Holloway,
ShiuupI Gates, Aaron Brigham, Joeepb Robbina, Aea Witt, David Brig-
liam, Paul Biiehani, .\aron Beaman, Abraham Stow, Juehtia Builey,
Joseph Waters, Joseph Newton, Roger Phelps, Zerubbabel Eager.
The following were in the service in Rhode Island:
Jacob Bruwn, William Dawwin, Joseph Waters, Tbomaa WIIIiamB,
Uriah Eager, Elihu Maynard, Abraham Stow, Ale.\ander WatHon, Dan-
iel Brigham, John Gates, Israel Brown, Israel Greenleaf, Putnam Phel)«,
Junmi Wilktud, Moees Eames, Paul Brigham, David Hollowuy, Moses
Williams, Wiiislow Stow, Morris Clary, Silas Gatex, .Ir., William Gates,
Auron Eager, Stephen F<ager, Samuel Gates, Aaron Beanian, Joteph
Rubbiua, Jotham Bayley, David Wait, Samuel Brigham, Jonathan
Goudnow, Silas Wilson, William Rice, Lovewell Brigham, William
Weeks, Tuluian Howe, Roger Phelpa, Asa Witt, Aaron Brigbtim,
Stephen Brigham, David Greenleaf, .Vbntlmm Prieet.
At Claverack, in 1780, under Capt. Amasa Cran-
ston, were
Alexander WatAon, Ephraim Jewell, Nathao Rice, Samuel Dnnton,
.\aron Brigham, William Goodale, Silas Baker, Noah Beaman, Jr.,
John Dunn.
The following is a list of three months" men in 1780.
William Cory, Gardner Howe, Stephen Smith, Solomon Howe, Eber
Keyes, Caleb Parker, Daniel Harrington, John Dunn. Joseph Temple,
John JeDQisoD, Adam Harrington, Samuel Duotoa, Aaron Brigham,
Koah Beaman, Silas Stow.
FruQcis Joneflf Nathaniel Brown, Ephraim Wilder, Reuben Wilder.
Samuel Gates, WillUim H. Woods, Luke Howe, Moees Williams, Joseph
Wevks, Elias Witt, Dana Newton, Isaac Proctor, David Sale, David
Wymau, Jedediah MAynard, William Mercer, Eliad Morae, John MacG»-
824
HISTORY OP MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
nellft, Timothy Johnson, Ell Howe, Stephen Hu>l9on, Clmrles Hu.lson,'
Samnel Raas. Jamea Whitney, Wilhum Kice, EhDlin Audtin, Pvler Little,
Francis Soames, Stephen Phelps, John Uiiker, I'hiuebns 31or8e, Jogepti
Johnson, Jonathan Wiggins.
The following is a list of three yejirs' men :
Joseph MJUer, David Hiirrid, Josiuli Hi-iesf, lieuhen Priest, James
Mahew, David Hill, John Dunn, Thonnia Uiikir. Alexander Crawfonl,
William Fosdick, Abner Smith, Juhn Cnin. J.iniitlian Pollard, Enoch
Kidder, Joseph Waters, Jucuh Onmn.Juiiuli ,\>«ron, Joseph Newton,
Samuel Little, Stephen Rt'«9ell, /enibbabel Kiiyer, John Dexter, Jona-
than Denter, Nathan Pratt, John Rice, Siloa Sawin, William Walker,
John Newton, Levi Fletcher, Job Spaulding, Samuel Oitsou, Tbomas
Ditaon, Reuben Wyman, Thomas C. Ridgewaj, Jo^iah Bailey, Thomaa
Gmenough, James Edy, John Gllliard, Silas llarthorn, William .Messer,
Thomaa Rldgeway, Jamea Parker, Dean Wyman, Andrew Keltle, Pat-
rick Mahony, Peter Willard, Joseph Dawson, Robert Jlansfield, Wil- 1
liom Rice, John Johnson, Samuel French, c'harlea Benjean, John Den- I
mark, John Ansel, Jonathan Newton, John B. Torrey, Samuel Fletcher, j
Benjamin Roberts, Prentice Uussell.
William Goodale, Ephraim Newton, .louatlian (.'rosby, William Bige-
low, Joseph Water*, Peter Stevenson, Samuel Spofford, Israel Greeuleaf,
John Barnes, Benjamin Gould, Richard Wynuiu. Abel Ray, Aaron
Brighani, Job Spaulding, John Rice, Joel Bartlctt, Fnincis Menford,
John Gates, Samnel McNair, Silna Baker, Edward Knapp, Robert Scott,
William Shield, Samuel Wyman, .Sniuuel Willnnl, Thomas Joslin, John
Newton, Stephen Phelps.
In March, 177G, the town chose .a committee of
seven of their prominent men " to devise ways and
means for the manufacture of saltpetre in private
families," as preparatory to the manufacture of gun-
powder. At a meeting held May 28. 1771), the town
voted, " That if the Honorable Contiuental Congress
shall, for the safety of the United Colonies, declare
them independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain,
we, the inhabitants of Marlborough, will solemnly 1
engage, with our lives and fortunes, to support them |
in the measure."
In 1776, the town voted "to gi^e to every soldier
that enlists to goto Canada, seven pounds as a bounty,
or twelve pounds as a hire, exclusive of the Court's
bounty, as the person that shall enlist shall choose."
In March, 1777, the town voted " to give each soldier
that shall enlist to serve in the Continental army the
term of three years, or during the war, for this town, the
sum of forty pounds as soon as they shall pass mu«ter."
They also empowered the Treasurer to borrow, in
behalf of the town, such a sum as should be neces-
sary to pay the soldiers thus enlisted.
At a meeting December 4, 1777, voted " to leave it
with the Selectmen to supply the families of such
non-commissioned officers and soldiers as have en-
gaged in the Continental army from this town."
In January, 1778, at a totvn-meeting, " Heard the
Articlea of Confederation and Perpetual Union be-
tween the United States of America — empowered the
Representatives to act and do as they shall judge
* Charles Hudson was killed hy our own men. He was out in a scout-
ing party near the enemy, when fears were entertained for their safety,
and another party waa sent out for their protection. Night came on,
and the last party, hearing the approach of troops, and supposing them
to be the enemy, secreted themselves, and on their near approach flred
upon them, killing (.""harles Hudson and another of the tirst named
party, before they discovered their mistake.
most for the advantage of this and the United States,
relative to that matter."
At a meeting held March, 1778, " Voted to pro-
vide 32 pairs of stockings, 10 pairs of shoes, 16 pairs
of breeches, and 32 shirts for the soldiers ; and that
the Selectmen provide them, and send them as soon
as may be upon the town's cost."
At a meeting held May, 1778, to act upon the sub-
ject of a new Frame of Government, the record-reads
as follows: "Alter hearing the Constitution and
Form of Government read, and Debates upon it —
seventy-six voters present at the meeting — thirty-four
were for approving and forty-two for disapproving of
the Form of Government." S>o the town, as far aa
their vote w:i3 concerned, rejected the proposed Con-
stitution ; and in this respect their voice was in har-
mony with that of the State.
.\dditional troops having been called for, the town,
at a meeting held May, 1778,
' * Volfd, To give to encli wldler lh:it shall enlist before the 15tb instant,
to serve iu the <'ontinent.il army for tlie term of nine months, t' do a
ttiiH j'oi liimr*-lf, thirty pounds as a bounty, huiI ei^lit pounds per month
wages for the time he shall serve in the army, over and iind above whiit
tlie ' "ontiuent gives.
'M'otct/, To give each soldier that shall enli.-t by Ibi- loth instant, to
serve in tlie militia and do duty at Peekskill, lo do <i Imn /of him ,!lf,
twenty pounds iis a buunly, and four pounds per mouth wages, over and
above what the (.outineut and State give."
The meeting was then adjourned to the Ijth instant,
when it w.is found that tlie requisite number of men
h.td not been obtained for the nine months' service;
whereupon it was
'Tu/f./, To give to encli uf the aliove-nanioil '-olilier? that shall enlist
before next ^londay, at tive o'clock, f m.. cne hiindreil and sixty pounds
to do a tin II /it llie tntrn, or. if either of llieiii cllotise to do a Inrii for tln-in-
^elvef, then the town shall give iheiii ft»rty pounds ns a bounty, and ten
pounds per mouth waires, if they shall enlist before five o'clock next
."^loniiay aftenionn, to terve in the f'oulinenlal army nine months.
"Voted, Tlmt the cthcers go to the Town Treiwiirer for the money to
pay the soldiers for their bounty and hire, and that the Town Treasurer
borrow the money upon the towns credit."
" In order to understand the expression of ' doing a
turn for themselves,' or for the town, it is necessary
to know that such was the difficulty in obtaining
soldiers that they resorted to drafts, and in some
towns a system of conscription was resorted to, as the
only means of sustaining the army. The citizens were
divided into classes, according to the valuation, and
amount of taxes paid by the individuals. Each class
was required to furnish a man, and provide for his
wages and support. Each member contributed accord-
ing to his property, and all delinquents were returned
to the .\sse33ors, and the sum due was included in his
next tax. When an individual did a turn of duty for
himself, he was excused from payment and exempt
from draft till all others had been called out. In
Marlborough, however, they had recourse only to
drafts, where the same rotation existed." (Hudson.)
Numerous calls were made for troops, audit was found
almost impossible to obtain them. Not, however, for
the want of patriotism on the part of the men, so
much as the want of ability in the Government to
MARLBOROUGH.
825
subsist and paj them. The town made a great effort
to obtain her quota of men, by offering bounties
in addition to the goverment pay ; but the deprecia-
tion of the currency rendered the large bounties of-
fered of but small value. Consequently, it was found
necessary to graduate the bounty upon something
more stable than a constantly depreciating paper cur-
rency. The following action of the town will show the
expedients to which the public were driven. At a
meeting held June 21, 1779, the record rp^ada thus :
'* Heard the R«Bolrea of the Great aod Geoeral Court of the 8th and
9tb ioatant, for raiaiog a reiaforcement to the armj.
"I'oltd^ To give each man that shall enlist, or hia legal representatire,
if he should die in the service, forty shilliugs per muDtb, to be paid in
produce of this couDtr)', io beefattweoty sbillinga per hundred, aod
Indiau corn at three sbiltiDgs per husbel, or as much utouey aa shall
purcbnse said produce, including their wages due from the Continent
and State. The above to be paid at the expiration of their service —
they producing a certificate from the commanding otficer that they have
been regularly discharged. And if the men do not turn out for the
above encoumgemeut in two daya, then the otficera draft according tu
the ordera of the General Coni-t; and if any man is dratted and will go,
he shall be entitled to the forty shillings per month, as set forth above.
Each mau engaged for the above encouragement is considered as doing
his turn.
"Fofefi, That sixty pounds be advanced by the Town Treasurer to
each man, before be marches, who engni^es in the Continental service
for nine months, which ia to be deducted at the final settlement.
"F'-fe'i, That the Treasurer be empowered to borrow the money for
three months on the credit of the town.''
".\t a meeting held Febnmry 1'2, 1731, Voted, To pive aa a bounty to
each man that shall engage in the Continental army, during the war,
twenty steera, three years old, or, in lieu of each steer, fourteen hard
dollars, and to be paid to the men that shall engage, one-third part at
the time of their p.i.s8ing muster, and the other two-lhirds, one-half in
one year frnui the time they shall engage, aud the other half in two
years from the time they shall so engage.
".\l80 V-<led, Tu give as a l>oiinty Ut each iii;ui tli.lt shall engage in the
Continental army for three years, twenty steer-; three years old, and to
bo paid to each man liS follows: Four steers ;\t the time of his p.nssing
muster, and sixteen steers at the expiration of three years, unless sooner
discburciPd ; and in tiiat case to he paid in proportion. The above steers
to be estimated at fifteen dollars each."
The people of Marlborough, with, perhaps, one ex-
ception, were loyal to the colonial cause. Henry
Barnes, however, was a royalist, and remained true to
the King. He was a favorite of the Governor, who
appointed him one of His Majesty's Justices of the
Peace for the county of Middlesex in 1766. He is
denominated an " importer " in the Marlborough Res-
olutions. He kept a store in Marlborough and ap-
pears to have been a man of wealth and enterprise.
In 1753 he preferred a petition to (xovernor Shirley,
in which he sets forth, " That he has lately been at
considerable expense and trouble in erecting in
Marlborough a commodious house, works and uten-
sils for the distilling and manufacturing of cider
spirits, and the same has so far answered hi." expecta-
tions, as that besides what has been consumed in the
Province, he has distilled the same spirit and sent to
Boston for exportation between two and three thou-
sand gallons, and the same is esteemed by proper
judges to be as good and wholesome as any spirit now
used ; " and prays that he may be licensed to retail it
in small quantities. Whereupon the Court of Ses-
sions and the selectmen of the town were empowered
to grant such license.
Henry Barnes resided in the east village, and was
a man of considerable property, and one of the
largest tax-payers in the town. He was the owner of
several slaves, one of whom, " Daphine," he left in
Marlborough, and she was supported out of his
estate. He left Marlborough early in 1775, and re-
paired to Boston to take shelter under protection of
the King's troops. An act was passed in 1778, in
which Mr. Barnes was mentioned, forbidding all per-
sons who had left the State and gone over to the
enemy, returning to their former homes; and provid-
ing, that in case of their return, they should be ar-
rested and sent out of the dominion of the United
States ; and in case they should, after such transpor-
tation, return without the leave of the General Court,
" they shall suffer the pains of death without benefit
of clergy." His property was confiscated and he
finally returned to London, where he died in 1808,
;iged 84.
CHAPTER LVm.
MARLBOROUGH— (Continued).
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
UiW'ii Congregational Church — The Second Parish, Unitarian — MethodiH
E^iKnpal — Firit Baptist — Church of the Holy Trviity — I'nioertaliM — Inp-
uiOLuUite Conception, Roman GtUtolic — St. Mary's, French CaOiolic —
French Ecaiigelical Church, Protestant Congregational.
Union Congregational Church ' — The history
of this church can be appropriately divided into the
three following periods: First, the period during
vvhich the church was connected with Town Parish.
Second, the period during which the church was
connected with First Parish.
Third, the period during which the church has been
connected with Union Society.
First Periodjrom 1666 to 1808.— The gospel of Je-
sus Christ was preached in Marlboro', abontassoon as
the first settlers began to cultivate the virgin soil.
As early as 1660 the voters took action for paying
Rev. William Brimsmead, who was then their minis-
ter. Rev. Richard Mather, of Dorchester, preached
an ordination sermon in Marlboro', April 7, 1659, and
as Mr. Brimsmead was bom in Dorchester, and was
preaching in Marlboro', before 1660, we conclude that
he was ordained in Marlboro', April 7, 1659. [See
history of Dorchester.]
The evangelistic services of the young minister from
Dorchester prepared the way for a church, which was
organized October 6, 1666, when Rev. William Brims-
mead was installed over the church, and as the min-
ister of the town with a salary of about £40. In those
days the church was composed of those who made a
1 By B«T. A. F. Newton.
826
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
public profession of repentance and faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ, but the minister was an officer of the
town in its parochial capacity.
The town-meetings were held in the meeting-house,
and the minister's salary was annually provided for
by vote in town-meeting.
The first meeting-house stood on what i.s now the
High School Common ; the dead were buried near the
meeting-house, according to the English custom-
Mr. Stillman B. Pratt, of ?Ae American, says : " It is
probable, however, that the earlier burials were all
made in the older graveyards at Wayland, Watertown
or Charlestown."
The oldest burial-stone in Marlboro' is that of Capt.
Edward Hutchinson in Spring Hill Cemetery, bearing
date August 12, 1675. He was killed by treaciierous
Indians in the King Philip War, and the meeting-
house was burned by the Indians March 2(1, 1(57().
Early the next year, another meeting house was
built by the Town Parish. In 1G88 a larger hou.se
took its place and this one stood for about 120 years.
After worshipping in meeting-houses on the Com-
mon for 145 years, a new meeting-lionse was needed,
and in 1805 the town voted in town-meeling — SI to M
— to build their new meeting-house on Spring Hill,
where Union Church now stands.
The land was purchased and prepared by private
funds, and a meeting-house built under the supervi-
sion of a committee chosen by the town for that pur-
pose. The change of location created ranch opposition
among the citizens of the west part of the town, and
this resulted in the erection of a meeting-house on
Pleasant Street, at the expense of private individuals.
Both houses were opened for public services on April
27, 1806.
Second period, from ISOS to 1835.— At about this
time occurs an important transition in the history of
this church, which is inseparably connected with the
history of the parish and town.
The church property, including land and meeting-
houses, was held by the town parish. Arising out
of the differences about the location of the new meet-
ing-house, came a separation of Church and State in
Marlborough, and thereby a division of the town
property.
Foreseeing the separation of municipal and paro-
chial interests of the towns of our Commonwealth,
the General Court passed a law regulating parishes
and precincts, and the officers thereof, June 28, 178G.
[See the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachu-
setts from November 28, 1708, to February 28, 1807,
Vol. I., p. 325.]
This law provided for the existence of more than
one parish in a town, and also gave to the officers of
the parish powers and privileges pertaining to the
parish similar to the powers and privileges of select-
men pertaining to the town. Under this law of 178G,
the fathers of the church in Marlborough acted.
The act of incorporation of the Second Parish in
Marlborough (now known as tlie Unitarian Church),
was passed by the General Court, February 2P,, 1808.
In the law of 1786, in section 5, occurs the follow-
ing langu.age :
"Section o. And be it further enacted by the autho-
rity aforesaid, that in all such towns or districts
where one or more parishes or precincts shall be reg-
ularly set off from such towns or districts, the re-
maining part of such town or district is hereby
deemed, declared and constituted an entire, perfect
and distinct parish or precinct, and shall be consid-
ered as the principal or first parish or precinct."
.■Vftcr the Second Parish had become incorporated,
February 23, ISOS, the First Pari.-.h app.nrate from the
town called their first parish meeting March 10, ISOs.
Soon after this the church voted to be known iis "The
Church in the First Parish." With them remained
the archives of the church from its earliest history.
This separation of Church and State occurred dur-
ing the ministry of Rev. Asa Packard, whose resigna-
tion was duly accepted by the church and town in
1806, after which the town no longer jirovided for the
support iif the ministry, or pai<l the expenses of the
meeting-house. l\Ir. Packard during bis p.isturate of
twentv-one years ba|)ti7.ed 100:i persons. November 2,
ISOS, Rev. S. F. Bucklin was ordained pastor of the
church in the First Parish, and the parochial ex-
penses were provided by the First Parish and not by
the town.
Rev. Asa Packard was installed over the .'^econd
Parish in 1808. The meeting-house and lands on
Spring Hill were now owned by the First Parisli.
The law determining this ownership is clearly st.a-
ted in the decision of the Supreme Court in the Octo-
ber term of 1S51. [8 Cashing, 168. Fii-st Pari.sh in
Suilbury v-i. Samuel Jones and others.]
According to the general rule of this Common-
wealth, meeting-houses and grounds went with the
parish. The church continued to worship under the
ministry of Rev. S. F. Bucklin until his dismission,
June 20, 1832. In March, 1833, the First Evangelical
Congregational Society was formed by persons who left
the First Parish. A large number of the church
members worshipped with the First Evangelical
Congregational Society under the ministry of Rev.
Charles Forbush, whose pastorate continued .seven
months.
Tliird Period, from 1835 to ISOO.— In 1S35 arrange-
ments were made for uniting the First Parish and the
First Evangelical Congregational Society, and the
church members worshipping with them. To secure
this result a petition w.is sent to the General Court,
asking that the First Parish and the first Evangelical
Congregational Society be incorporated into one
parish or society, by the name of Union Society, with
all the property, rights and privileges belonging to
said parish and society.
The Legislature granted the petition, and Union
Society was incorporated March 6, 1835.
MAKLBOKOUGH.
827
Soon after this act of incorporation, the church
voted to be known as the " Union Congregational
Church in Marlboro' " thereby agreeing in name with
the society with which they worshipped.
In 1836, the house built in 1806 was taken down,
and a smaller one built by Union Society.
This house was burned November 10, 1852.
In 1853, the house now occupied by the church
was built and dedicated, August 31, on which day
Rev. Levi A. Field was ordained pastor.
This meeting-house was repaired in 1868, at an ex-
pense of about $12,000, again repaired in 1886, at an
expense of about $3000.
In 1887, the question of ownership of the Common
in front of Union Congregational meeting-house,
was brought by an article in the warrant into town-
meeting in March.
At that time, Theodore Temple, Deacon John E.
Curtis and John Henry Maynard were chosen a
committee to investigate the facts and report what
claim if any the town had in the Common aforesaid.
One hundred dollars were appropriated for this pur-
pose.
In July following, at a special town-meeting, a
majority report, signed by Messrs. Temple and May-
nard, claiming that the town owned the Common,
and a minority report signeil by Deacon John E.
Curtis, claiming that Union Society owned the Com-
mon, were rendered. Neither report was adopted.
On motion of Hon. S. N, Aldrich (moderator), a com-
mittee was chosen to submit the facts to the Professors
of Real Property in Harvard University, and in Bos-
ton University, and obtain their o|>inlon respecting
the same.
The committee chosen were Theodore Temple,
.John Henry Maynard and John Chipman. Two
hundred dollars were appropriated for this purpose.
Messrs. Maynard and Chipman submitted the
evidence to the gentlemen according to the instruc-
tions of the town.
A special town-meeting was held October 4, 1887,
at seven o'clock p..\i., to hear the opinion of the
professors, which was " that as between the town and
the Union .Society in Marlborough the title to the
Common in front of the Union Church is now vested
in said society, and not in the town." feigned Ed-
mund H. Bennett, John C. Grey, Boston, September
21, 1887. At that town-meeting it w.is voted to in-
definitely postpone the subject.
The following November, a special town -meeting
was called at 5 f.M., and the ownership of the Com-
mon aforesaid, considered.
John Reagan moved that the selectmen, together
with Theodore Temple and John Henry Maynard, be
a committee with full power to take possession of
Union Common, employ counsel, etc., and that $1000
be appropriated from the liquor license money for the
expenses incurred. The motion w.xs carried.
A writ of entry was served upon the officers of the
Union Society, November 29, 1887, claiming the
common in front of Union Church.
The town employed as counsel, James W. McDonnel,
of Marlboro', and Frank Goulding, of Worcester.
Union Society employed as counsel. Judge E. F.
Johnson, of Marlboro', and Judge J. G. Abbot, of
Boston.
The lawyers for the town rendered a long opinion
on the case, in which they said, " As there is no evi-
dence that between 1805 and 1808, the town specially,
by vote or significant act, dedicated and devoted any
part of this lot to any other use, it would follow, upon
the separation into town and parish, the title vested
in the parish."
In the October term of the Superior Court, held in
Cambridge, the case was non-suited and the judge
decided the case in favor of Union Society.
The " Brimsmead Covenant " was adopted October
15, 1679, and was used till 1837, when Rev. S. F.
Rucklin prepared a revised church covenant and by-
laws, and also submitted articles of faith, all of which
were adopted.
The " Half-way Covenant " was in use from 1701 to
1836. By the conditions of the " Half-way Covenent,"
persons who were not church members could have
their children baptized. In May 31, 1818, a Sabbath-
school was established and continues to the present.
As early as 1810 this church contributed to benevo-
lent and missionary societies. Several missionaries
have gone to foreign lands from this church. Lucy
Goodale, wife of Rev. Asa. Thurston, went to the
Sandwich Islands in 1820. Grace Howe, wife of
Rev. James Roberts, went to Japan in 1878. Mr.
Arthur Brigham went to Japan as professor of agri-
culture, in the college at Saporo in 1888.
In May, 1818, the church voted to choose a com-
mittee of three to examine candidates for admission
to the church. This action led to greater care in the
.admission of church members.
In Jan., 1827, it was voted that those coming from
other churches should appear before the church com-
mittee. In 1883 deaconesses were elected and made
members of the church committee. In 1884 a long
standing debt of about $6,000 was paid. The present
membership of the church is about 380. There have
been 32 deacons of this church. Below is a list of
pastors from 1666 to the present time:
Rev. Williiini Brinumesd, installed Oit. 3, ICBfi, illamisBed 1 July .1,
1701 ; ReT. Ikibert Dreck, iasulled Oct. 25, 1704, dismissed' Jan. fi. 1731 ;
Rot. Denj. Kent, installed Oct. 21, 1733, diamiared Feb. 4, 1735 ; Re».
Aarun Suiitb, installed June II, 1740, dismissed April 29, 1778 ; Rev.
Asa Packard, iiialalled Uarcb 23, 1735, dismissed April 10, ISIMi; Her.
S. F. Bucklio, installed Nov. 2, 1808, dinnieeed June 20, 1832 : Rev.
Chaa. Forbush, instHiled Aug. 21, 1833, .lisniissed : Mar. 2C, lg:!4 ; Rev.
John N. Ooodbne, installed May 4, 1K3G, dismisaed > Sept. 13, 18:19 ;
Rev. Oeo. E. Day, installed Dec. 2, 1S4II, dismiaeed Dec. 23, 1847 ; Rev.
David I.. Ogden, instilled April 26, 1848, dismisaed July 23, 1850 ; Rev.
I :eur(;e Denham, supply, installed July, 1850, dismissed April 1, 1853 ;
Uev. Levi A. Field, installed Aug. 31, 1353, dismisaed > Oct. 22, 1859;
I Died in ollif^e.
- Puatur uf '* First Kvangelical Congregational Church and Society."
828
HISTOKY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Rar.Geo. N. Aotbony, installed Not. 8, I860, dismissed Jan. 27, 1869;
Rev. Charles B. Treat, installed Mar. 30, 1870, dismissed June 1, 1373 ;
ReT. John Willard, installed Dec. 30, 1873, dismissed June 30, 1879 ;
BoT. S. £. Eastman, snpply, installed Sept. 1, I88U, dismissed Oct. I,
1881 1 BeT. Albert F. Newton, installed Sept. 6, 1882.
The Second Parish ' (Unitarian). — On the 7th
of June, 1804, according to the records of the Unita-
rian Parish of Marlborough, " Sundry inhabitants of
the westerly part of Marlborough met at the house of
Capt. George Williams, and chose William Boyd,
Moderator, and Benjamin Rice, Jr., Clerk." At this
meeting, after "taking into consideration the difficul-
ties which existed in the Town as to building a meet-
ing-house," and for other reasons, which at this day
are not fully known, they chose a committee of ten
" to uotify the Inhabitants of the West part of the
Town, to attend at the adjournment of this meeting,
that they might express their minds relative to the
becoming a separate Society."
The adjourned meeting took place June 11, 1804,
and it was " Voted unanimously that they would en-
deavor to be separated from the Easterly part of the
Town of Marlborough, either as a poll parish, a pre-
cinct, or a separate Town." A committee of eleven
was chosen whose duty it was " to take all the matters
of our meeting into consideration ; and also to select
a spot or spots to build a Meeting-House on."
This committee met June 15, and voted to recom-
mend "to the Inhabitants to build a Meeting-House
on the land of Jo.siah Fay and Capt. William Gates,
west of Wheeler's Lane, near what is now Broad
Street."
On the r2th of July, they met again, and agreed to
petition the Selectmen of the Town to insert an article
in the next Town Warrant, "To see if the Town will
give their consent that those Inhabitants residing in
the Westerly part of Marlborough, may be incorpor-
ated,— and a separate Town made of the Territory ;
and to do and act in the premises as to them may
seem proper."
At a meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town, July
16, it was voted not to grant the aforesaid petition.
Aug. 26, 1804, the Committee of Eleven met, and
appointed three of their number, a sub-committee
" to prepare a petition to the General Court, and such
other papers as they may think necessary for the In-
habitants of the West End of the Town of Marlbo-
rough, who wish for a separation, to subscribe to at
their next meeting."
The petition to the General Court was drawn up
and signed by George Williams and seventy-five other
citizens of the West part of the Town. Messrs. Silas
Gates, Benjamin Rice, Jr., and Luke Drury, were
chosen as "Three agents to present the petition to
the General Court, and each was authorized to appear
in the name of the whole."
The petitioners immediately proceeded to organize
themselves as a society, to be known as "The Peti-
> By J. v. Jackman.
tioners for a Division of the Town of Marlborough."
Taking it as certain that their petition would be
granted, they proceeded to choose officers, to raise
money for various purpo.ses, and to make preparations
for building a meeting-house on land purchased for
the purpose.
Before the meeting-house was erected, however,
the committee of both branches of the General Cuurt
"heard the parties," and, after due consideration,
January 23, 1805, reported that " the petitioners have
leave to withdraw their petition." The General
Court accepted the report, and the effort to make a
new town was at an end.
The petitioners were, of course, much disappoint-
ed, and after paying all expenses incurred, voted to
distribute the remaining funds among the contribu-
tors according to the amount each hud paid, either
by taxation or voluntary contribution.
Things now took a different turn. The "Petition-
ers " met JIarch 28, 1805, and decided to make an
effort to secure land for a new road between the
houses of S-.inmel Gibbon and Jonah Rice, and also
for a " Meeting-House Spot." A eomuiittee was ap-
pointed to carry out this project, and at an adjourned
meeting, April 2, 1805, it was deemed advisable to go
ahead and purchase all necessary land, and erect a
meeting-house on the land of Benjamin Rice and
Windsor Ward. A subscription i>aper was circulated
at this meeting, and pledges amounting to five thou-
sand two hundred and twenty-one dollars were se-
cured.
At the next meeting, April 5, notice was given to
the "Town's Building Committee and the selectmen
of Marlborough that the inhabitants of the westerly
part " of the town " have determined to build a meet-
ing-house on lands of Benjamin Rice and Windsor
Ward," and that the said building committee had
better " lessen the dimension of their house, or pro-
ceed in any other way that they in their wisdom shall
think fit and proper."
The reason given in the notice for the step about
to be taken was that "it will be most for the peace
and happiness " of the parties concerned.
From this lime on to April 4, 1806, various meet-
ings were held concerning the proposed meeting-
house, and it was then voted, (April 4,) to "take
measures to form ourselves into a Religions Society
as soon as possible." At the same meeting, a com-
mittee of fifteen chosen for the purpose reported that,
" We, the subscribers, wishing to form ourselves into
a regular Religious Society, have for many years past
been satisfied with the services of the Rev. Asa Pack-
ard as a minister of the Gospel, and are still wishing
him to be our minister, feeling ourselves able and
willing to make him a reasonable compensation for
his .services in the ministry with us."
A committee was appointed "to wait upon the
Rev. Asa Packard and request him to supply the pul-
pit in the new Meeting-House."
MARLBOROUGH.
829
May 12, 1806, a petition was presented to the
selectmen asking that they would call a town-meet-
ing " to see whether the town will consent that the
subscribers, together with such -others as may join
them, shall be incorporated into a Religious Society,
by such name as the Legislature of the Common-
wealth may direct."
A petition to the General Court was also drawn up,
setting forth that the subscribers " had at great ex-
pense erected a convenient building for purposes of
Public Worship ; that they had employed a Public
Teacher, who constantly preaches in said building;
that they believed that the cause of religion and
good morals would be advanced by their incorpora-
tion into a religious society,' and that therefore
" your petitioners pray that they may be incorporated
as aforesaid, with such privileges and immunities as
appertain and belong to Parishes : — and as iu duty
bound will ever pray."
This petition was signed by George Williams and
one hundred and ten others.
There were now two branches of the church in
Marlborough, and it seems that they were harmonious
in all their proceedings, for when a t<jwn-meeting was
called for the purpose of eti'ecting a union of the two,
by paying all expenses incurred by the new society,
each branch voted that " we do not, either of us, mean
to oppose or interrupt the other branch of this
church, in the enjoyment of the special ordinances
of the Gospel, or the settlement of a Gospel Minis-
ter," and that they would oppose any such measure
as that proposed, on the ground that it would " neith-
er contribute to their honor, their peace, nor their
happiness, nor be consistent with either."
Various ertbrts were made by the town to bring the
two sections together, but to no purpose. The " Pe-
titioners " considered that they were entitled to ex-
istence as a separate society, because they had been
recognized as such by '' The unanimous voice of a
very respectable ecclesiastical council, mutually
ciiosen by the two branches of the Church of Christ
in Marlborough," and because they had " a teacher
of their own choice, and a meeting-house," which
they had "occupied more than one year."
The town threw every obstacle in the way, but
finally the " petitioners " were successful, for Febru-
ary 20, 1808, the " Act of Incorporation " passed the
House of Representatives, and February 22d, the Sen-
ate, and " The Second Parish of Marlborough," com-
monly known as the Unitarian Parish, had a legal
existence with "all the privileges and immunities
accorded to other parishes."
The first parish meeting under the " Act of Incor-
poration " was held March 8, 1808. At this meeting,
all necessary parish officers were chosen and meas-
ures'were taken to dedicate their meeting-house and
sell the pews therein.
The Rev. Asa Packard formally accepted the invi-
tation to become the pastor of the new society, and
the relation was sustained until he resigned the pas-
torate in 1819.
During his pastorate, the society received from Mr.
Ephraim Brigham the gift of a lot of land now known
as the " Brigham Cemetery," — the donor giving as a
reason for the giil, his " being moved thereunto by
respect for the remains of my honored and beloved
parents which were deposited there because infected
with small pox."
In 1819, the Rev. Mr. Packard was succeeded by
the Rev. Seth Alden, who remained pastor of the so-
ciety till 1834, when the Rev. William Morse became
his successor.
In 1837, the ladies of the parish met and organized
a society for benevolent purposes, and mutual im-
provement. For many years, they met in private
houses, and accomplished much good for the parish.
Finally, they gave up this plan, and held their meet-
ings in the vestry of the church, until, in 1880, they
were installed in sumptuous quarters contained in an
addition to the church built for the purpose by the
wealthy, public-spirited men and women of the par-
ish. The society is to-day known as "The Ladies'
i-ieneral Charitable Society," and is a powerful factor
in the management of parish affairs.
The Rev. Mr. Morse was succeeded in 1844 by the
Kev. Horatio Alger. Under his administration, the
parish received a gift of five hundred dollars ($500),
from Mrs. Eli/.abeth Phelps, the same to be devoted
to the establishment of a library. The collection of
books thus formed was increased by a gift of 200 vol-
umes from Henry Rice, Esq., of Boston. Many ad-
ditions have been made since that time, until, at the
present day, it contains more than 3000 well-selected
volumes, illustrating nearly every department of
English literature.
In 1855, the society took a decided stand against
the " Institution of Slavery," and declared that they
would "decline all such connection with other
churches calling themselves Christian, as shall impli-
cate us in any degree or in any way in the guilt of
upholding and perpetuating slavery."
The Rev. Mr. Alger resigned his pastorate in 1859,
and was succeeded in 1861 by the Rev. W. C. Tenney,
whose services as pastor ended in 1864.
In 1865, the Rev. Eugene De Normandie assumed
charge of the parish, and served as pastor till 1869.
During this time the church was thoroughly " remod-
elled and rebuilt."
The Rev. Calvin Stebbins followed Mr. De Nor-
mandie in 1869. A new parsonage was built for his
use by voluntary contributions from several members
of the parish.
In 1872, the parish voted to admit women over
eighteen years of age as members, with all the pri-
vileges enjoyed by men.
The services of the Rev. Mr. Stebbins were discon-
tinued in 1872. From that year to the present time
the parish has been under the charge of Rev. J. H.
830
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Wiggin, 1872-1875 ; Rev. R. A. Griffin, 1877-1888 ;
and Rev. Edward F. Hayward, the present pastor,
who began his term of service in 1889.
Such, in brief, is the history of the Unitarian Par-
ish of Marlboro'. It is to-day a highly prosperous
society, holding in its possession a " Ministerial Fund "
amounting to six thousand six hundred dollars
($6600), given by many of the earlier members of
the parish ; a fund for the maintenance of the
Brigham cemetery, known as the Gibbon Fund; a
fine church and organ, and a spacious common. AD
these, together with the parsonage before mentioned,
show the generosity of the noble men and women,
who have been enrolled in its membership.
Connected with the society is a flourishing Sunday-
school, consisting of nearly two hundred members,
under charge of S. H. Howe, Esq., who has been for
many years its efficient superintendent.
The expenses of the parish, with the single excep-
tion of a poll-tax, assessed on voting members, are
all met by voluntary contributions. Up to 1875,
parish expenses were met by taxation, but at that
time all pew-holders donated their pews to the society,
and from that date the seats in the church have all
been " free."
During the eighty-two years of its legal existence
the society has never seen a time when its men and
women were not ready and willing, each and all, to
maintain the honor and dignity of " The Second
Parish of Marlborough."
Methodist Episcopal Church.' — The history
of the Methodist Episcopal Church of JIarlborougb
is uni<iue. The seed of Methodism in this vicinity
was sown by Rev. George Pickering in 1798. Under
his preaching one Phineas Sawyer was converted,
and he at once established meetings in his house ami
factory, in the village of Feltonville, in the north
part of Marlborough (now Hudson).
The first Methodist Society in Marlborough wa.s
organized under the name of "The First Methodist
Society in Marlborough," March 18, 1821, with Dan-
iel Stratton, president, Lewis Jewell, vice-president,
and Solomon Weeks, clerk. For a time the society
held its meetings in barns and groves. From 1S21 to
1832 preachers from the Needham Circuit supplied,
and in 1832 the Marlborough Circuit was formed.
In 1827 a church edifice was built in a secluded spot
now known as " Gospel Hill," about equi-distant from
Marlborough Centre, Feltonville and Stow, and this
location was selected to accommodate the three vil-
lages. The building was dedicated March 5, 1828, by
the now famous Rev. E. K. Avery.
Amid great persecution the society prospered and
became noted. In 1851 a violent contention arose
over the question of removing the place of worship to
either Marlborough Centre, Feltonville or Rockbot-
tom, the latter being a village in Stow. The contest
• By L. L. TarteU.
waxed hot, and afterseveral tentative decisions the final
vote by agreement was taken December 27, 1852, and
resulted in deciding, by a bare majority, in remain-
ing on "Gospel Hill," and in "repairing the present
building." " From the heat of the debates," or from
other cause, the building took fire during that night
and was reduced to ashes. Thuj the struggle ended, and
the several factions were freed, and separated in peace.
Steps were at once taken to erect a church edifice
in Marlborough Centre, and the present edifice was
dedicated with a sermon by Rev. .Joseph Cummings,
D.D., October 19, 1853. Favored with some of the
most popular preachers in the " connection " the so-
ciety has prospered.
In 1887, under the pastorate of Rev. P. C. Sloper,
the church edifice was remodeled. The church and
parsonage are valued at §16,000.
The present officiary of the church is as follows :
Pastor, Rev. Ernest £'. Herrick ; f«unday-scho<)l
superintendent, John Boggs ; organist, Harrv Gili-
son ; chorister, ./anie.i H. Warner.
Trustees, E. Stowe, C. 15. Greenwood, ^V. W. Hol-
yoke, J. W. Baird, (.1. \V. Hulyoke, John Bogg^', Luther
L. Tarbell.
President, C. B. Greenwood ; clerk, Luther L. Tar-
bell ; treasurer, E. Slowe.
Stewards, W. W. liolyoke, H. E. Rice, Thomas Robb,
C. L. Perry, E. B. Clark, Hiram Greenwood, <t. W.
Holyoke, Mrs. \V. S. Frost, Mrs. C. B. Greenwood,
H. 0. Pendleton.
Treasurer, W. W. Holyoke.
The FiKsr Bai-tist Church was organized April
14, 1868, with the following constituent members :
Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Angier, Mr. and Mrs. H. Bel-
knap, Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Walker, Mr. and Mrs. H.
C. Gates, Miss Lizzie X. Crocker. Mrs. M. A. Dad-
mun. Miss Nancy A. Leger, Sliss E. M. Gates, Frank
H. Lowell, Robert A. Marshall, Edward P. Richard-
son, Marshall G. Richards, Miss Lucy Trask, Mrs.
William Allen and Mrs. A. F. Brigham.
This meeting was held at the house of Mr. W. D.
Walker. Previous to this time, however, baptism
services had been held in the town by Father Fritz,
the Baptist State Missionary. The first prayer-meet-
ing was held at the house of Mr. W. D. Walker, in
July, 1866. July 15. 1867, an informal or temporary
organization was ettected, with W. D. Walker a com-
mittee on pulpit supply and man-of-all-work; M. G.
Richards, solicitor of funds; F. H. Lowell, treasurer;
E. P. Richardson, clerk; and C. C. Curtis was au-
thorized to secure the use of Sons of Temperance Hall
as the temporary place of worship.
The first public services were held July 21, 1867,
and a sermon preached by Rev. D. F. Lamson, of
Northborough, Mass.
May 16, 1868, a call to'the first pastorate of the
church was voted to M. R. Deming, who was then
acting as pulpit supply, and at a meeting held June
6th it was reported that the call was accepted. A
MARLBOROUGH.
831
council for ordination met in the Universalist Churcti,
Marlboro', June 18th, and, after examination, Mr.
Demiug was regularly ordained and installed as pas-
tor. He remained until June :2, 1871. The first dea-
cons of the church were E. P. Kicharddou and Charles
Angier.
The pastors since Mr. Deming have been as fol-
lows : Rev. J. T. Burhoe, J. H. Barrows, L. \V. Frick
and the present etticient pastor. Rev. Charles Ran-
som Powers.
Definite action relative to securing a house of wor-
ship was taken in 18G'J. It was then decided to pur-
chase the present site of Fulton Hall, for which the
sum of $1701 wiis paid. The old town hall, then
standing where the pre.>4ent one stands, was sold at
auction on March 9, 1869, and was struck off to pas-
tor Deming for slOoO. It was removed to its present
position, raised a story and fitted up with two stores
on the first Hoor, and the upper part was finished and
furnished nearly as it is now.
November o, 188j, it was voted either to repair the
old and outgrown Fulton Hall or build anew. Land
was subsequently purchased on the corner of Wither-
bee and Mechanic Jjtreets, and the present fine
church edifice erected. It was formally dedicated
December 4, 1SS9.
The Chuuck of the Holy Trinity.' — The
rectors of St. Mark's Church, tjouthborough, were
called upon from time to time to perform relig-
ious offices for English Church families residing in
ilarlborough. Occasional services were held. While
the Rev. F. L. Bush and the Rev. Pelhham Williams,
B. T. D. were residing temporarily in Southborough,
these services were quite regular. At one time an
upper room in the building known as Marlborough
Block w;is the gathering-place of the little band of
worsliippers. Later, when the Rev. Waldo Burnett
became rector at Southborough, a store was rented
under the old Fulton Hall, nearly opposite the Old
Colony Depot, and church services were held there
every ."Sunday evening, excepting In mid-summer. This
" Mission Room " was often uncomfortably crowded.
ilr. and .Mrs. J. M. Sears, of Southborough, offered
to build a church, if the i)eople would purchase a
suitable lot.
Strenuous elforts were made, and the ground at the
corner of Main Street and Cotton Avenue was secured.
On November 17, 1887, the present beautiful church
was opened and consecrated by the Right Rev. B. H.
Paddock, D.D., the Bishop of Massachusetts. The
Rev. Mr. Burnett then resigned the charge of the
parish, and February 1, 1S88, the Rev. Geo. S. Pine
became the first renident rector. The parish had been
organized March 25, 1887, and was admitted into
union with the Diocesan Convention, May 22, 1889.
The present wardens are William M. Hamilton, and
John T. Stewart. The church, on a prominent corner
I ny ReT. Georee S. Pine.
of the Main Street, built in the early English style,
from a design by Emerson, the well-known Boston
architect, is an ornament to the town. Its interior
is simple in coloring, but artistic in form. It has a
rood screen of wrought-iron, a fine organ and beauti-
ful chancel appointments. The music, a prominent
feature of the services, is rendered by a well trained
choir of men and boys under the direction of Mr. B.
B. Gillette. Since the opening of the church there
has been a steady growth in the parish. The average
attendance at the services and in the Sunday-school
has more than doubled, the number of communicants
has increased seventy-five per cent, and the parish is
expanding itself more and more in the field of good
works.
Universalist Church.'' — Unfortunately the early
records of the First Universalist Church, of Marlboro',
Mass., have been lost, so that much which would be
of great interest to the present generation has passed
into the sea of oblivic-n. A few scattered papers and
documents, some of which are dated back over sixty
years, give no glimpses of the beginning of the church
history.
A society for worship was formed about the year
1825, and a church building was erected soon after.
Probably no settled pastor was called for the first few
years. The pulpit was supplied from Sunday to
Sunday with preaching from a large number of min-
isteca, among which were many of the most prominent
clergymen of that early day. In the year 1829, Rev.
Thomas J. Greenwood received a call to become
pastor of the church, at a salary of $500.
The call was accepted, and for fifteen years Mr.
Greenwood ministered to the society, loved by his
people, and respected by all. The pastorate was very
successful, for the society grew constantly in numbers
and wealth.
Following this pastorate is a period of several
years, which, unfortunately is almost a blank from
I he loss of the Church Record book. About all that
is known is that there was a decline in interest and
activity, which was followed by a period of dormancy.
In the year 1862 or '63, Rev. Sylvanus Cobb, D.D.,
was called to the pastorate, although he never became
a resident of Marlboro'. The scattered elements of
the parish were brought together by him, and re-or-
ganized, and a new period of prosperity began.
Rev. W. A. Start, now the secretary of the Massachu-
setts State Convention of Universalists, was Dr.
Cobb's successor. His pastorate began March 19,
1865, and continued three years. During this period,
the present church building was erected, the parish
greatly strengthened, the congregation increased, and
the Sunday-school built up to a membership of over
three hundred. The Rev. S. T. Aldrich, followed Mr.
Start, in a pastorate which was unfortunate, through
the pastor's deflection from the faith, and attempt to
- By KcT. F. 3. Bice.
832
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
form an Independent Society, This movement was
not a success, and in 1870, Rev. J. H. Weeks became
the pastor. He continued two years, being succeeded
by Rev. Ada C. Bowles, as non-resident pastor.
These pastorates were uneventlul, as was also that of
Rev. Lorenza Haynes, which followed. Adverse con-
ditions made the life of the society something of a
struggle. Burdened with debt, and somewhat dis-
heartened by its vicissitudes, for a time it was doubt-
ful what would be the outcome. Patience and perse-
verance, however, conquered, and in 1880, we find
the church under the guidance of a former pastor,
Rev. W. A. Start, State Missionary, renewed with
hope and courage. The debt is lightened by the gen-
erosity of friends, and particularly by the munificent
gift of Miss Harriet Fay, a member of the church,
since deceased. In 1881, Rev. James Taylor became
the pastor, holding that position for two years. Rev.
W. F. Dusseault followed him in a pastorate of five
years, which was abundantly ''lesssed. The church
is at present (1890) in charge of Rev. F. S. Rice, and
is united and prosperous.
The Roman Catholic Church of the I.mmac-
UL-^VTE Conception stands on Prospect Street. It is
a handsome brick structure, an ornament to the town
and creditable .ilike to the spirit of faith and gener-
osity which placed it there. It is the largest church
in Marlborough, its audience room seating some four-
teen hundred. Its choir, under the direction of John
Dalton (Prof. F. W. Riley, organist) is justly cele-
brated for the excellent rendition of its church music.
The [lastor is Rev. F. A. McKenna. He came here
as curate in 1870, and after some years' service as
pastor in the adjoining town of Hudson, was trans-
ferred back to Marlborough. His curate is Rev. John
T. O'Brien, ordained June, 1889.
The Catholics of Marlborough were organized as a
separate parish in January, 18G4, when Rev. John A.
Conlin was appointed resident pastor. Rev. Ed.
Farrelly, pastor of Milford, celebrated the Sacrifice
of the Mass, for the first time, in Marlborough, Saint
Patrick's Day, 1851. Marlborough was then a mis-
sion, and remained so under Father Farrelly's and
Father John Walsh's administration until 1864.
The corner-stone of the first Catholic Church in
Marlborough was laid August 1, 1854. Rev. Nicholas
J. O' Brien preached the dedication sermon.
The contrast between the present numerous con-
gregation and the one of that day is a fitting accom-
paniment to the many other contrasts suggested by
the celebration in Baltimore, November 10, 1889, of
the Centenary of the appointment of Bishop Carroll,
and also by the opening of the first Catholic Uni-
versity at Washington, November 13th.
St. Mary's Church {French Catholic). — Pastor
Rev. C. Caisse.
French Evangelical Church — The First French
Evangelical Church (Protestant) has a brief history
at this date ; it has a history to make in the future.
In 1888 there was no Protestant French missionary
located in Marlboro', and the Massachusets Home
Missionary Society sent Mr. X. P. Blouin here to sell
Bibles and Christian literature and converse with the
French people about the Gospel and the New Testa-
ment. He came in August, 1888, and remained until
JIarch, 1889. Immediately following him came Mr.
W. H. Parent, a student from Hartford Theological
Seminary, a converted Roman Catholic lawyer. He
preached in Forest Hall from March to September.
On his return to the seminary. Rev. Edward Pelietier
took his place and continues to preach the Gospel in
the French language. The audiences grew so large
that a church building soon became a necessity.
In the autumn of 1889 a fine lot of land on Lin-
coln Street, costing SIOOO, wa.s purchased by Mr.
Samuel Boyd, and given to trustees, on which was to
be built a French Church.
Money for the church building w.is solicited by
Rev. A. F. Newton, from the Middlesex South, Mid-
dlesex Union, and Worcester South Conferences.
The churches and Sunday-schools contributed gener-
ously, and the money was raised. In the summer of
1890 the foundation of rubble work was built, costing
S530.
In October the erection of a beautiful Gothic
Church, contracted for s3000, was commenced. The
building is 32x19 feet, with an addition of a porch,
11 feet y inches by 27 feet 8 inches. Above this
porch is a tower and steeple 72 feet high, crowned
with a star, 18 inches in diameter. There is ample
room for a parsonage in the rear of the church. The
seating capacity is about 250. There are about 3000
French people within a mile of the church. Electric
cars pass the church door.
The trustees of the society are Samuel Boyd, Dea-
con J. E. Curtis, Deacon L. W. Baker, Theodore
Meanor, D. A. Walker, F. L. Claflin and Rev. Joshua
Coit, secretary of the Massachusetts Home Mission-
ary Society. Rev. Edward Pelietier is the pastor.
CHAPTER LIX.
MARLBORO UQH—i, Continued).
Edncalional—Tlie Prru—Ftrtt Xnlional Bank— People' t Natioual Bank —
Public Librarg— Water Workl—Fire Departmmt— Steam Bailwa;/.
Educational. — As early as 1696 the town em-
ployed a master " to read English once a day at
least, also to write and cast accounts." In 1698 it
was voted to build a school-house, and Jonathan
Johnson was employed as teacher. In 1770, a con-
tract was made for a second school-house, and in
1701, the town was fined for not keeping a school-
master. In December of that year the town voted,
" That Thomas Rice and Isaac Amsden doo go forth
MARLBOROUGH.
833
with all speed convenient, in the town's name and
behalf, to doo what they can to provide a school-mas-
ter, qualified according to law, and to treat him with
terms for the half year or a twelvemonth, as they
shall think fit." lu 1702, £7 were paid to John
Holman, of Milton, " for teaching our children and
youth in reading, writing, and casting accounts; and
also in Latin, as occasion is, and in doing the duty of
school-master, four months."
In 1715, it was voted to build a new school-house,
24 feet by 18 feet. In 1718, £47 were appropriated
for schools. At that day, and for years after, the
schools were kept in different parts of the township,
and frequently in private houses.
In 1745, it was " Voted, That the school shall be
kept at the several parts of the town as heretofore."
And Samuel Witt, Colonel Williams, Thomas Hap-
good, Thomas Brigham, and Jotham Brigham, were
chosen a committee " to order the schools as above."
In September, 1745, it was " Voted, That all those
families that live more than a mile and a half from
either of the two school-houses, where the school
has been kept the past year, shall draw their propor-
tion of money out of the school rate."
Samuel Brigham received £57 10«. old tenor, in
full for keeping school two quarters in 1747.
March 13, 1748, "On the petition of Samuel Jones
and others, at the north-westerly part of the town, it
was put to vote, agreeably to said petition, whether
the petitioners should have their proportional part of
the school according to their pay, and it passed in the
aflBrmative."
" Voted and choae a committee of seven men, to apportioo the school
io six societies or squadrons, and the scholars to meet iit the same school-
bouses, where the school has been lately kept, and to be settled accord-
ing to the pay of each squadron, taking the north-westerly corner for
oue squadron.
** Agreeably to the vote of the town, the committee, namely, Dea. An-
drew Rice, Major John Brace, John Warren, Daniel Ilarrington, John
Banister, John Weeks, and .\braham Howe, have made the following
division ; that is, the squadron west of the meeting-house, the scholars
are to meet at the school-bouse near N'oah Church's, or the old tavern
place, thirteen weeks, four "lays, and three-fourths of a day, yearly
And the scholars are to meet in the squadron, at the west end of the
town, at the school-bouse near Moses Howe's, six weeks, three days,
and two-tbirds of one day, yearly. And the north-west squadron, the
scholars are to meet at such a place as the ^uadrou shall think proper,
two weeks and four days, yearly ; and the squadron easterly of the meet-
ing-house, the scholars are to come to the scbool-house near Joseph
Johnson's, sixteen weeks, one day, iiad one-third of a day, 3-early ; and
the squadron northerly of the meeting-house, at the school-house near
John Hapj5ood's, seven weeks and two-thirds of a day, yearly ; and the
squadron at the east end of the town, at the school-house near Joseph
Baker's, five weeks, four days, and two-thirtk of a day, yearly.
"The one-third, two-thirds, and three-fourths mentioned above, are
added to the north-west squadron, to make that up three weeka."
In 1762, it waa voted, " That the town will build
or repare the school-housen in the several squadrants
in the town, Where they Now are." Six new school-
houses were soon after erected.
The exigencies of the town were such that but little
attention was given to the schools during the Revolu-
tion.
53-iii
In 1790 there were seven school districts or squad-
rons as they were then called.
The act of 1834 establishing a school fund, and that
of 1837 creating the Board of Education, inforced new
life into the schools and from that time to the pre-
sent the citizens of Marlborough have kept abreast
with the rapid strides in educational interests through-
out the Commonwealth. The yearly appropriation
for schools was increased from 1900 in 1834, to $35,000
in 1889.
There are now free schools in the town with 51
teachers and an average daily attendance of 1684.
Whole number of pupils enrolled 2049.
0ift3. — The first benefaction to the town for edu-
cational purposes was that of Captain Ephraim Brig-
ham of £111. 1771. The interest of this fund was
used to establish the Brigham School. The fund was
finally merged in the general school fund.
In 1826 an academy was established, and in the fol-
lowing year a buUding was erected for its accommo-
dation. It was an individual enterprise.
In 1827 Silas Grates and his son Abraham gave $2000
towards its maintenance, and the name was changed
to Gates Academy. After a few years of prosperity
it declined, and in 1833 had nearly expired. In that
year Mr. 0. W. Albee took charge. He infused new
life into the enterprise and his success in bringing the
academy up to a high standard was almost phenome-
nal.
Mr. Albee was a man peculiarly fitted for the
position which he filled. Besides being a proficient
teacher he was a liberal-minded and public-spirited
citizen. He remained in charge of the academy until
it was merged in the high school in 1849. The be-
quests of the Messrs. Gates were finally transferred to
the town, and the interest appropriated to the support
of the high school.
Generous appropriations have been made for the
schools, and they are in a promising condition.
The following list shows the present attendance and
names of teachers :
£>;<loii>.—l8t grade. Miss Anna WItherbee, 6.1 pupils; 2d, Miss Hat-
tie Brigham, 47 ; 3d, Miss Mary E. Donovan, 61 ; 4th, Miss Emma B.
Baker, 47 ; 6th, Miss 3Iary EL Bartnett, 51 ; 6th, Mia Jennie Walcott,
48: Ttb, Miss Mary Kaler, .15 ; 8tb, Miss Angie Dudley, 32; 9tb, Mr. J.
V. Jackson and 31is8 .Mice Davis, 54. Total, 428 pupils.
BUdreth. — let. Miss Harriet Alexander, 45 pupils ; '2d, Miss Mary A.
Colleary, 50 ; 3d, Slices Mary Curtis and Joeephlne Morse, 60 ; 4th, Mia
Kate Sbaiigbnessy, 52 ; 5th, Miss Anna Hyde, 54 ; 6th, Miss Maggie
}IcCarthy, 54 ; 7th, Miss Anna Wall. 48 ; 8th, Miss Minnie Wonlen, 47 ;
'Jtb, Misses Ellen A. O'Connell and Melina Westcott, 63. Total, 4«8
pupils.
Waihiitgton. — Ist, Misses Addle Alexander and Lillian Holden, 58 pa-
pils ; 2d, Misses Anna Wilder and Florence Morse, 55 ; 3d, Misses Mary
O'Callahan and .\gnes McCarthy, 70 ; 4th, Misses Mary Fitzgerald and
Mary Moriarty, 63; olh. Miss Mary McDonald, 46; 6tb, Miss Wiunie
O'Donnell, 46 ; 7th, Miss J. B. Colbert, 46 ; 8th, Mlai Bessie D. Free-
man, 33. Total, 415 pupils.
PiecuaNj Street— Ist, grade. Miss Anna W. Packard, 40 pnpUa ; 1st, Mta
Mary A. Murphy, 45 ; 2d, Miss N. F. WheUn, 42 ; 2d, Miss M. E. Fay,
41 ; 3d, Miss Mary Cavanaugh, 45 ; 4th, Miss Lillian Pratt, 48 ; 4th, Mia
KellJe Quirk, 51 ; 5th, MissO. W. aieason,61 ; 6th and 7th, Miss F. A.
Gleason, — ; 8tb, Mlsaet E. A. Cook and Mary Collins, 48. Totml, 502
pupils.
S34
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
SRgk Sehool. — Ist jvu or grade, 64 pupils ; 2d year or grade, 54 ; 3d
year or grade, 24 ; 4th or senior year, 27. Total, 16»pupil8. Teachers.
O. H. Kockwood, Uisies Florence Lock, Mary H. Moras, Lucy Pierce,
M. L. Whitcher.
Farm School, mixed, MIes EmJly Mone, 20 pupils.
Kice School, mixed. Miss Bertha Stevens, 22 pupi1».
Bobin Hill School, mixed, Mia M. L. Frost, 24 pupils.
South Street School, 1st and 2d grades. Bliss 5Iary Fitzpalriek. Ir, pu-
pils. Total, 91 pupils.
The present School Committee is as follow.s : S. H.
Howe, chairman ; J. W. McDonald, secretary ; Wil-
liam L. Morse, treasurer ; Daniel W. Cosgrove, Charles
Favreau, Ellen A. O'Connell, clerk. Superintendent,
H. R. Roth.
The Press. — The first weekly newspaper estab-
lished in Marlboro, wa-s the " Mirror," in October,
1859, by Stillman B. Pratt, who learned the printer'.-
art in the office of the Middleborn' Gazette, having pur-
chased his little plant, wholly on credit, and com-
mencing his business life here with a capital of only
thirteen cents. This first office was in Union Block,
opposite the O. C. R. R., on Main Street, with only
one press — for hand use.
Mr. Pratt was a native of Orleans, Mass., born
November 24, 1836, the son of Rev. Slillman Pratt.
and came of a reformatory and protesting family.
John Pratt, his first American ancestor, was boy-
cotted out of England, by religious persecution, and
settled in Dorchester, Mass., in 1632. Other ancestors
took part in all the Indian and early wars of Massa-
chusetts, including King Philip's.
One ancestor was an officer in the French and In-
dian war. Both his grandfather and great-grandfather
were soldiers of the Revolution.
His father was early identified with the anti-slavery
and temperance reformations, and naturally enough
the Marlboro' Minor, from the start, advocated these
causes, then so unpopular.
In May 1861, a syndicate having previously capi
talised and established the Marlboro' Journal, the Mir-
ror v/ as parcbaeed by these gentlemen, and merged
with that paper.
Soon after this, Mr. Pratt became proprietor of the
Middleboro' Gazette, and later on established at Boston,
the AmericaD Workman, the official organ of Labor
Reform, and in 1869, he was run by that party a,^
their candidate for Secretary of State. Later on when
alien influence took possession of the leading labor
organization of America, the Workman was sold to
other parties.
During the ten years, from 1861 to 1871, local
journalism in Marlboro' had a varied history. George
Mills Joy, editor of the Journal, early enlisted in the
Union army, and shortly after the paper was discon-
tinued, and for a time Marlboro' had no paper printed
within its borders.
At the close of the war, Wm. W. Wood re-estab-
lished the itfaWfcoro' Mirror, and in May 1871, after
just ten years' absence, Mr. Pratt returned to Marlboro'
and purchased the same, and soon greatly extended
the business, consolidating the Mirror-Journal into a
i '■ hyphenated " paper ; started the weekly jU/aWfioro'
' Advertiier and established a large group of local papers
I throughout this whole section of the State, under the
firm-name of Pratt Brothers. He has owned more
local papers in Massachusetts than any other man.
In the fall of 1887, Pratt Brothers issued the Daily
MvTor, the first paper of its kind in these parts. This
daily was discontinued in 1889, A complete file is in
the State Library.
In 1888, Stillman B. Pratt established here a Relig-
ious Reformation paper, the Weelhj American, as a
protest against the parochial school and other alien
aggressions, and in advocacy of " Free Public Schools,
Free Speech, Press and Worship, and Free Shops.'
This paper soon achieved au international reputation,
and in 1S69, its editorial office was removed to Boston,
where it has ever since been published. Mr. Pratt's
editorial experience has been enriched by three tours
in Europe in 1.S61, 1SS5 and 1889.
In 1889, the local business was sold to S. B. Pratt's
' son, Wm. W. Pratt, who is still in charge of the job
; and newspaper interests under the old firm name of
Pratt Brother.^.
The Enterprise. — About two years ago the publish-
I ers of The Enterprise in Hudson, Messrs. Wood
[ Brothers, conceived and carried to a successful issue,
the idea of starting a similar paper under the name
' of The Marlboro' Enterprise, in this town. The first
number appeared September 8, 1888, and was received
J at once with the most marked favor. In less than a
' year it had demonstrated itself to be a success, and
I since that time ha^ grown steadily in scope and inliu-
j ence until already it takes a Iront place in the list of
J Marlboro" papers. On September 3, 1889, the first
I number of The Daily Enterprise was issued, and in a
I short time its business had increased to such an extent
I that it became necessary to put in a new plant in
Marlboro'. This was done, and for the first year the
business was carried on in the Hazelton block. About
the middle of November, 1890, the business outgrew
these quarters, and a new building was erected ou the
corner of Hiil and Devens Streets, with an office on
the Main Street. To this place the paper has been
removed, and it is expected will be able to do even
better work in the enlarged accommodations.
The Daily, is as yet a young paper, but it is alive
all over, and gives every evidence of having a strong
hold upon the people here.
While always aiming to give the news in the fullest
and most complete manner, it has carefully refrained
from espousing the cause of any particular party, sect
or creed. It is run in the interests of good govern-
ment, pure morals, and honest citizenship, and is the
determined opponent of error, wrong and corruption
wherever found.
To these principles it attributes its success, and that
the public appreciate the efforts of the publisher to
issue a good clean family newspaper, is evidenced
by the increasing popularity of The Enterprise.
JIARLBOROUGH.
835
The Marlboroug/i Star was established January 1,
1887 as a bi-weekly, through the desire of the Catho-
lic Lyceum, and at the suggestion of Fr. McKenna,
to have the Catholics who form a great part of Marl-
boro's people, to be represented by a weekly de-
voted to Irish American and Catholic interests, and
especially the advocacy of temperance. It was a six
column paper of twenty-four inches in length and
numbered four pages. Its editorial work was done by
the members of the Lyceum, promiment among whom
were John T. Winner and John F. Plunkett.
The paper continued under this management for
that year and then passed into the control of a stock-
company composed of many of the Lyceum people,
whose interest in the paper had not ceased. It was
made a seven column paper, a little longer than the
old one, and started off under the management of W.
D. Doyle. Mr. James L. Sullivan of Worcester as-
sumed its management August 9, 1890.
The Marlborough Times is edited and published by
Charles F. Morse.
Banks. — The First Xaiional Bank of Marlboro'. —
This was the one hundred and fifty-eighth bank
organized under the National Bank Act. When that
act became a law, February 25, 1SG3, Mark Fay, who
ha<l long had business dealings with Lancaster Bank,
of Lancaster, JIass., travelliug to and fro, on the days
of the weekly meetings of the directors, gathered
around him some of Marlboro's most enterprising cit-
izens, and together they organized the First National
Bank of Marlbnro,' with a capital of 850,000 and
authority to commence business October 1, 1803.
The first directors were Mark Fay, Samuel Boyd,
Sidney G. Fay, William Woods (2d), William Gib-
bon, Joseph Boyd, John M. Whiton, Erastus S.
Woods and George E. Woods. From the start for-
tune smiled upon the bank, and on January 28, 1864,
the original capital was increased to SIOO.OOO, and on
November 7th, in the same year, to §150,000, at which
figure ic remained until May 5, 1865, when it was
once more increased to $200,000.
Mark Fay was unanimously chosen as its first pres-
ident, which office he held until his death, in 1876,
when William Gibbon was chosen as his successor.
In 1S7S Sidney G. Fay became president, filling
that position until his death in 1882.
Edmund C. Whitney, formerly of the Lancaster
Bank, was elected as its first cashier, remaining in
that position until 1882, when he resigned to become
cashier of one of the Boston banks.
F. L. Claflin succeeded him as cashier, having
previously been in the Newton National Bank.
When the charter of the bank expired, in 1882, it
was wound up, its stockholders receiving, on August
30th, the sum of 8150 for every share of stock they
held, and immediately organized another bank with
the same name to commence business September 1,
1882, it being the twenty-seven hundred and seven-
tieth bank organized under the National Bank Act.
The capital was fixed at $300,000, at which figure it
stood until 1887, when it was reduced to $150,000.
The original directors of this bank were Samuel Boyd,
Wm. Morse, Sidney G. Fay, Wm. H. Fay, Charles L.
Fay, Edward F. Johnson, Esq., and T. A. Coolidge.
Sidney G. Fay was chosen the firat president, but as
sickness had overtaken him he was never able to
qualify, and the duties and responsibilities rested
upon the vice-president, Samuel Boyd, who, in Janu-
ary, 1883, was made president, Sidney G. Fay having
been removed by death. In January, 1885, William
H. Fay succeeded to the presidency, and occupies that
position at the present time.
F. L. Claflin is the only cashier the bank has had.
This institution, situated away from the business
centre of the town, but in the very heart of its popu-
lation, has, by its fair and honorable eflForts to serve
the community, won for itself an enviable reputation,
and a degree of success that justifies the wisdom of its
promoters in their efforts to retain and carry on in their
midst an institution with such an honoi able past to serve
the public in this rapidly-growing town in the future.
The Peoples' National Bank. — After a few years of
stagnation in the manufacturing business of the town
caused in part by " labor troubles," the year 1878
proved to be the beginning of a long season of pros-
perity, and growth, not only in the manufacture of
boots and shoes, but in the large and steady gain in
population. For years afterwards the first thing that
would attract the eye of strangers when coming into
town, would be the large number of buildings in all
parts of the town in process of construction.
There was at this time one National Bank, also a
Saviugs Bank in the town ; but the growing business
interests demanded more banking facilities. About the
first of September, 1878, a conference of a few public-
spirited gentlemen was held, and it was decided to see
what could be done towards getting subscription to
the capital stock of the proposed new bank. Mr. D.
W. Hitchcock, a retired Boston merchant, who made
Marlborough his place of residence, in 1872, but who
was well and favorably known in the town, accepted
the important duty of soliciting subscriptions. In a
very short time the whole amount of $100,000 was sub-
scribed, and on Sept. 26, 1878, a meeting of the sub-
scribers was held in Central Hall, Corey Block, to
choose a committee to complete the organization, and
to decide such other matters as might be deemed
best. Mr. S. N. Aldrich presided, and John L. Stone,
was secretary. It was decided to have for a name
'■ The Peoples' National Bank," and the following
were chosen a committee to take all necessary measures
to start the bank, viz., Elbridge Howe, S. J. Shaw,
D. W. Hitchcock, Samuel Boyd, S. H. Howe, Joseph
Boyd, John O'Connell, George N. Gate, S. N. Aldrich,
W. M. Warren, L. S. Brigham, Stephen A. Howe,
(2d,) Abel Howe andT. A. Coolidge, of Marlborough,
and J. S. Bradley, of Hudson, These same gentle-
men were afterward elected as the first Board of
836
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Directore, who organized with Elbridge Howe, as
president, S. J. Shaw, as vice-president, and Stephen
A. Howe (2d) secretary. With this Board of Direc-
tors, the success of the bank was assured from the start.
Immediate steps were taken to obtain a charter
from the authorities at Washington, and the organi-
zation was completed October 31st, and the bank
authorized to commence business December 9. After
several attempts to select a cashier, on the 4th day of
December, John L. Stone, of Marlborough was elected
to that position, and on the evening of the same day
his bond was accepted. Although not an experienced
banker, the selection may be said to have been a for-
tunate one, as he was well-known throughout this
and the adjoining towns, and his mercantile experi-
ence had learned him not only how to secure custom-
ers, but also how to keep them.
The rooms that were selected in the Town Hall
Building for the banking-rooms, not being ready for
occupancy as soon as expected the receiving of de-
posits was somewhat delayed ; the first deposit being
received from the well-known Insurance Agent Mr.
Samuel B. Maynard, on January 13, 1879.
From that day a steady increase has been made
until at the present time the number of depositors is
considerably over two hundred, and the amount to
the credit of depositors nearly ifnot quite $250,000.00.
In November 1882 the bank was moved into the
new building owned by Mr. Hiram Temple, and
known as Temple Block, thereby securing plensanter
and better rooms for its increasing business. The
bank has recently purchased a location on Main
Street, and will build a substantial brick building,
having all the modern improvements for the transac-
tion of the banking business. On the death of .Mr.
Elbridge Howe, who died in California April 5, 1886,
while travelling for the benefit of his health, Mr. D.
W. Hitchcock succeeded to the presidency of the bank.
It has been the policy of the managers of this in-
stitution to CLgage in all the legitimate branches of
banking, not only making it profitable for the stock-
holders, but an accommodation to the different classes
of customers. With this idea in view, they sell for-
eign exchange, buy and sell gevernment bonds, and
have first-class bonds for sale for investments, and
they never offer anything for sale that they do not
own. Nothing of this kind is sold on commission.
In January 1888 the bank was designated a United
States Depositary. The following is the condition of
the bank at the last annual meeting :
BE50CBCE8.
Loam and dieconnta $286,009.64
Overdmfta 28.8S
Ooited StateB Bonda 4 per cant, par Talue 25,000,00
Stcwba end aecnritiea 2,3.^>.0(»
Due from banka 63,752.07
Due from Dnited Statea Treaanry 10.00
Caahonhand 26,118.50
Expenges and taiea paid 132.30
Premium on United Statse Bonda 2,000.00
Bedemptian Fond 1,125.00
(407,106.38
LIABILITIEB.
Capital stock flon.OOO.OO
Surplus 20,000.00
Undivided PrnfitB 12,136.40
National Bank-notes Outst.indine 22,.500.00
Diridenda unpaid 005.-50
DpponitB 251,474.48
$107,106.38
The last dividend was a three per cent, semi-annual
dividend declared and payable January 1, 1890. The
present Board of Directors consists of: D. W. Hitch-
cock, S. H. Howe, John O'Connell, S. N. Aldrich,
W. M. Warren, L. S. Brigham, A. C. Weeks, Abel
Howe, B. F. Greeley, L. P. Howe, C. B. Greenwood,
John L. Stone and Walter P. Frye.
Such is a brief history of the Peoples' National
Bank of Marlborough, which wise men prophesied
would be a failure.
Marlborough Savings' Ba/U.'— On the 10th day of
May, 1860, Mark Fay, Samuel Boyd, Thomas Corey,
William Morse (2d) and Levi Bigelow met at the
office of Boyd & Corey, to accept the charter of this
institution, which bad been granted by the General
Court, and approved by Governor N. P. Banks, under
date (if April 3. 1860. This was thirty-three days be-
fore the celebration of the two hundredth anniver-
sary of the settlement of Marlborough occurred. The
population of the town was 5900, and yet no bank
or institution for savings had been organized by its
ciiizens. Mark Fay, the first named in this charter,
had for a time previous transacted business for his
towns people in the Savings and State Banks lo-
cated at Lancaster, both in the way of savings for
people of moderate means, also in procuring loans
upon real estate for those who wished them, and dis-
counts for the traders and manufacturers, and know-
ing the benefits the town might derive from an insti-
tution of this kind, had been instrumental in securing
this charter for Marlborough. At the first election of
officers. May 21, 18G0, Samuel Boyd was chosen
president; Jabez S. Witherbee, vice-president ; John
M. Farwell, clerk ; Mark Fay, treasurer, with Thomas
Corey, William Morse (2d), Samuel A. Chipman,
Benjamin F. Underbill, Levi Bigelow, Francis Brig-
ham, A. C. Felton, Asa Lewis, William P. Brigham,
Peter P. Howe, C. S. Hastings.
The bank was opened for business June 22, 1860,
at the office of Boyd & Corey, one day of each week.
The deposits the first six months amounted to $2312,
when a dividend of 2i per cent, was declared. Wil-
liam Morse (2d) was chosen president, May 19, 1862,
and remained in this office three years, when Mark
Fay was elected president and Edmund C. Whitney
was chosen treasurer. Sidney G. Fay succeeded his
father as president. May 16, 1870, remaining in office
two years, when Elbridge Howe was elected presi-
dent. He remained in office ten years and was agreat
help to the bank, as was Edmund C. Whitney, who
held the office of treasurer thirteen years. Edward
>By Edward B. Allej.
MARLBOKOUGH.
837
R. Alley, the present treasurer, was elected October,
1878. S. Herbert Howe was chosen president May
15, 1882, remaining to this date. The deposits now
amount to $1,421,576.42.
Marlborough County Operative Bank. — President,
Charles F. Robinson.
Public Libraet. — The first public library was
established in 1792, and the present library in 1870.
A gift of several hundred volumes was made by the
Mechanics' Institute. The town also voted $1300 for
its establishment. The citizens have manifested a
lively interest in the library, and liberal appropria-
tions have been made for its support. It contains
10,000 volumes.
The present trustees are as follows : E. L. Bigelow,
Miss H. E. Bigelow, W. D. Doyle, Rev. F. S. Rice,
J. E. Savage, J. V. Jackman, William H. Loughlin,
George Mastel, Francis C. Curtis and Mrs. H. E.
Bigelow. The librarian is Sarah E. Cutting, assist-
ants, Lottie G. .Moore and Marv S. Chamberlain.
Water- Works. — The water-works were construct-
ed in 1882, and completed at the close of 1883, at a cost
of $165,174.48. The water supply is Lake Williams.
The capacity of lake and water-shed is 175,000,000
gallons annually. Capacity of reservoir, 5,000,000 galls.
Present Board of Water Commmioners. — James T.
Murphy, term expiras 1890; R. D. S. Mortimer, term
expirfts 1891 ; John A. Connell, term expires 1892.
Officers. — James T. Murphy, president of the
board ; R. D. S. Mortimer, clerk of the board ; James
T. Murphy, treasurer of sinking fund; George A.
Stacy, superintendent of the works; William Mc-
Nally, water registrar.
The Fire Department, consists of one hook-aud-
ladder company and four hose companies. The chief
of the department is Mr. George H. Bigelow.
The Marlboro' Street Railw.w was chartered
by the General Court in chapter 16G of the acts for
the year 1888. The company was authorized to use
either animal or electric power in operating its cars.
It early became evident that the use of horses was
impracticable on account of heavy grades. The Presi-
dent, Samuel Boyd and the treasurer, Samuel C. Darl-
ing, visited Richmond, Virginia, Scranton, Pennsyl-
vania, and other places to examine the working of the
electric roads, which has recently been established at
those points, and the result was the equipment of the
Marlborough road for operation by electricity. The
road was completed and commenced operations on the
19th day of June, 1889. The first Board of Directors
consisted of Samuel Boyd, president; Samuel C. Darl-
ing, treasurer ; Stillman B. Pratt, Edward R. Alley,
Timothy A. Coolidge, Jas. T. Murphy, AlbaC. Weeks.
Since the opening the business of the road has stead-
ily increased, giving a fair rate of profit, and fulfill-
ing the anticipation of the projectors.
The total length of road operated at the start, 2.514
miles, an extension of one half mile has just been
completed.
The plant and rolling stock consists of two Arming-
ton & Sims' sixty horse-power engines, two No. 16,
Edison Dynamos, three box-cars, three open-cars ; the
Sprague system is osed.
CHAPTER LX.
MARLBOBOnGH—( Ccmtinved).
MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.
BY EDWARD R. ALLEY.
Marlborough has long occupied a front rank
among the leading shoe manufacturing towns of New
England. From small beginnings in 1835, the busi-
ness increased to an annual product of $1,200,000 in
1860. Since that its increase has also been rapid
and at the present time the value of the annual pro-
duct amounts to the sum of $6,855,000.
The making of shoes began here in 1835, when
Joseph Boyd, then a young man, having learned to
make custom shoes of Col. Ephraim Howe, began
manufacturing shoes in a small way in the addition
to his father's house, located at the junction of Maple
and Bridge Streets, now occupied by Josiah Bennett.
He continued here about a year, when Samuel Boyd,
his younger brother, having served an apprenticeship
and learned the tanner's trade of Col. Davis in North-
boro', joined Joseph and together they continued man-
ufacturing. In 1837 they bought the Hall Shop, as it
was called, which stood on the site of the Marlboro'
Block, Main Street. In 1839 Joseph went to St.
Louis, remaining there until 1845 when he returned
and again joined Samuel in 1846. In 1848 they
built the brick part of the Morse Shop on Maple
Street, and it was used as a bottoming shop, the shoes
being cut in the shop in the rear of what is now the
Dart House; he continued until 1851 when he went
to Southboro' and remained there manufacturing until
1858, then returned and joined S. Boyd & Corey, re-
maining a year or more when he formed a partner-
ship with Eugene Brigham, making up the firm of
J. Boyd & BrighamI; they commenced in the west
end of Corey Block ; here they made shoes for the
United States Army and were very successful, re-
maining there until 1864 when they built their new
shop on Main Street, at the corner of Newton Street.
Eugene Brigham retired in 1872, when the new firm
of J. Boyd & Co. was formed, consisting of J. Boyd,
Wm. Woodward and W. A. Alley. W. A. Alley retired
in 1858, and they continued to manufacture until 1879.
April 1, 1836. Samuel Boyd having learned the
tanner's trade, at Northboro', returned to his home
and joined Joseph, his older brother, who had begun
to make shoes one year before in an addition to their
father's house at the junction of Maple and Bridge
Streets ; they continued together and bought the Hall
Shop, which stood on the site of the Marlboro' Block,
in 1837. Joseph retired in 1839 and went to St. Louis.
838
HISTOKY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Samuel took his brother John M. as partner in
1841, and needing more room than the Hall Shop
would give them, they built the Commons Shop in
1843, located nearly south of the Orthodox Church,
now made into a house and owned by John E. Cur-
tis ; in 1846 Joseph, having returned from St. Louis,
took John's place in the firm ; in 1848 they built the
brick part of the Morse Shop now located on Maple St.
In 1849, Samuel Boyd took Thomas Corey as his
partner and built the corner shop on Maple Street.
Joseph remained until 1851, when he retired. In
1855, Boyd & Corey built the brick shop, now the
Central House ; here the business continued under
the firm names of Boyd Corey, S. Boyd, R. Boyd &
Witherbee. R. Boyd & Co., until 1870 when R. M.
Pomeroy & Co., entered the firm, making the house
of Boyd, Corey, Pomeroy & Co., and the mammoth
factory at the corner of Howe Street was built ; the
business was largely increased the Pomeroys retiring
in 1871, Thomas Corey and Daniel Ahl remaining
until 1872 when Ahl retired.
Mr. Corey died in 1874 and Samuel Boyd continued
until November 1, 1883, when he organized the Boyd
& Corey Boot and Shoe Manufacturing Company,
and continued to date, making fifty-five years cou-
tinuous manufacturing.
L. & L. Bigelow & Co., started shoe busine's in
1836 in a small shop standing on Pleasant Street on
land where now ia located the house of William
Morse, Esq. ; they manufactured here fur four years
and sold their machinery in 1840 to William Dad-
mun and retired from the shoe business. The building
used by them is now used for a dwelling and stands at
the junction of Beach Street and Clover Hill Road.
1838.— In 1838 or '39, John Winslow Stevens, manu-
factured shoes nearly opposite the Unitarian Church
on Pleasant Street. In 1849 he manufactured in what
was the Alley House on Lincoln Street. Later
in the Algernon Brigham House, on Pleasant Street.
Still later in a shop in the rear of his own house, on
Pleasant Street, situated next southerly the Unita-
rian parsonage. He retirad in 1858.
1840. — William Dadmun, at the closing up of the
hoe business of L. & L. Bigelow & Co. in 1840.
William Dadmun bought the machinery and begun
to manufacture shoes on Pleasant Street, opposite the
Unitarian Church ; the second shop was in old Mc-
Donough House, on Lincoln Street. He continued
alone until 1861, when he formed a copartnership
with Ezra Cutting, styled Dadmun & Cutting, which
was successful, so that in 1863 they built the large
shoe factory corner of Lincoln and Chestnut Streets.
In 1873 Mr. Cutting retired, and Mr. Dadmun took
hia son, William E., into the firm, making William
Dadmun & Co., and continued the business up to
1875, making thirty-five years active manufacturing.
1842. — Samuel Chipman, manufacturer on East Main
Street with his brother John, and so continued to
1845. In 1862 he was a member of the firm of Whit-
ney, Fulton & Chipman, in Middlesex Square, and
continued until 1864 or '65, when the property was
purchased by Rice & Hutchins.
1846. — Freeniiin Morse started the manufacturing of
shoei on the " Farms," and so continued until 185G,
when he took his brother George H. as partner, and
formed the firm of F. W. & G. H. Morse. They
bought the old Boyd brick shop on Maple Street, and
have continued to manufacture boots and shoes to
this date.
1849. — In 1849 one Chapin Daniels made shoes
in a small shop, standing where the No. 1 En-
gine House is now located.
1849. — Sidney G. Fay began business in June,
1849, and continued with varying success. He sold,
in January, 1866, to Chase, Merritt & Co., who con-
tinued until 1869 in factory on Lincoln Street. In 1869
the firm became Chase, Merrit & Blauchard, which
continued until 1877, when it was changed to Chase,
Marritt & Co., and continues to date, the company
consisting of H. S. Chase, George W. Merritt, W. E.
Richardson, and H. G. Chase.
1851. — In 1851 Charles G. Whitney began the manu-
facture of shoes in the C. L. Bliss barn, on East Main
Street, and continued until November 1, ISoj, when
betook Charles Palmer in partnership, under the firin-
name of C. G. Whitney &. Palmer. This firm con-
tinued one year, and in 1856 moved to a shop on Elm
Place, and continued until 1858, when the firm w;is
dissolved. In 1859 Mr. Whitney associated with him
Mr. C. M. Howe, and they manufactured in what is
the William Barnes house on Middlesex Square. In
1861 Howe retired and Palmer again became Whit-
ney's partner, and continued until 1862. when the
firm of Whitney, Felton & Chipman was formed, and
they built a large factory on Middlesex Square, and
continued until 1864 and '65, when Rice and Hutch-
ins purchased their business.
1836. — John Chipman began to manufacture shoes
in the shop used by Emery Cutting for custom work.
The shop is now occupied by Mr. Hemenway on East
Main Street. He continued with some changes until
1842, when his brother Samuel joined him; they re-
mained together until about 1845.
1845. — In 1845 Josiah Howe began to manufacture
shoes in part of John Holyoke's house on Pleasant
Street; he afterwards removed his shop to Mechanic
Street near Lorren Arnold's house ; here his health
failed ; he went to Cuba, where he died.
1848. — Sidney Howe continued the business left by
Josiah, on Mechanic Street ; removed to corner
Pleasant and Elm Streets ; continued about one year.
1842. — Charles Dana Bigelow learned his trade of
Thomas Holden, of Berlin ; in 1842 he commenced
work bottoming shoes, taking out work from Grafton
and Westboro': in 1S44 he had four small shops occu-
pied this way, and so continued until 1845. In 1847
he built a new shop, which at that time was the
largest shop ia town. He was the first to employ
MARLBOROUGH.
839
Canadian French on shoes, in Marlborough. 1852
his shop was burned and he removed to New York.
1841. — John M. Boyd began to manufacture shoes
in company with his brother Samuel, in 1841. They
built the Commons shop in 1843; they remained to-
gether until 1846; then John started alone, he owning
the Hall shop and the Commons shop; he continued
and in 1849 began to make boy's and youth's shoes.
All the shoes up to this day manufactured in Marlbo-
rough, had been child's shoes.
1842 he invented the shoe-die, having them made
at Lelacd and Thurston's, Kitville, Grafton, and the
die gave Marlborough great advantages over adjoin-
ing towns. 1853 he built the Jlarlborough Block and
manufactured in it until 1857, the business in three
years amounting to §500,000.
1851. — Thomas Jason Howe manufactured shoes in
1851 in the George Davis house, 1 East Main Street,
and continued until 1857.
1853. — In 1853 Charles M. Howe was manufactur-
ing shoes in the Geo. Brigham shop, on Main Street,
on the present site of the Windsor House. He after-
wards manufactured with C. G. Whitney in the Wm.
Barnes house, and later in the Exchange Building.
Henry O. Russell commenced on the old homestead,
on Elm Street in 1853, built a shop on Franklin
Street 18.55, formed copartnership with Thomas Hap-
good. This partnership continued until 1858, when
he formed copartnership with .Vbel Howe, under name
of Russell & Howe, aud continued one year. In
1859 he bought the Forest Hall Block, and conlinued
alone to manufacture there until 1875. In 1876 he
formed a partnership with William A. Alley, which
was successful and continued until 1888, when Alley
retired and Russell formed the firm of H. 0. Russell
& Co., and is manufacturing at this date.
1854. — John O'Counell started the manufacture of
child's shoes in a shop on the easterly aide of Howe
Street, and continued to increase his business until
1869 when he built his new shop on the same street, on
the line of the Old Colouy Railroad ; here he had suc-
cess, and in 1873 took in his son, John A., and, in 1880
Daniel, making the firm of John O'Connell & Sons.
They are doing a very successful business to-day.
1855. — S. Herbert Howe commenced making shoes
in the cooper shop on Pleasant Street. Here he
manufactured, with his brother Lewis A. Howe.
He subsequently purchased his brother's interest and
removed to the corner of Pleasant and Elm Streets,
the site of his present home factory. This shop
he has enlarged six times. March 12th, 1878, he pur-
chased the Diamond " F " shop of James Tucker, and
here began the manufacture of a finer grade of
goods. This shop he has enlarged three times.
June 4, 1889, he bought the Diamond " 0 " factory of
C. L. & L. T. Frye. He has united all of these fac-
tories under the corporate name of the S. H. Howe
Shoe Company, of which S. Herbert Howe is presi-
dent, and Louis P. Howe, vice-president, and the
capacity is seven thousand pairs of shoes per day.
Lewis A. Howe began to manufacture shoes with
his brother, S. Herbert Howe, in 1855, and continued
a few years. In 1861 Mr. Howe associated with him
in business Algernon S. Brigham, under the firm-
name of Brigham & Howe, and this firm con-
tinued in the factory comer of Pleasant and Chestnut
Streets, until 1865, when they removed to the factory
on Lincoln Street, now occupied by Frank Garvin.
Here they remained until 1870, when the firm dis-
solved, and Mr. Howe returned to Warren, Maine.
1858. — Timothy A. Cooledge removed here from
Natick in 1857, where he had worked with Henry
Wilson making shoes. He began in a small shop on
Pleasant Street on the site of his present large fac-
tory. The first four years he made men's brogans
and some boots. He gradually raised the standard
of his goods until about 1876, when his factory was
totally destroyed by fire. In 1877 he rebuilt this
factory on an improved plan, and has to-day one of
the best-equipped shops in the city. During all this
time Mr. Cooledge haa sold his entire production
through the house of Fogg, Houghton & Cooledge.
It may be remarked here that Mr. Cooledge's father
was a manufacturer of shoes in a small way in Natick.
1858. — Frank A. Howe began to manufacture shoes
in the John Allen House on Elm Street Afterward
he moved up the street farther to the Proctor Place.
His business demanding more room, he built a large
factory at the corner of Pleasant and Franklin Streets
in 1862. He continued here until 1875. Afterwards
James Tucker & Co. manufactured in this shop sev-
eral years. This factory was afterward bought by
S. H. Howe, and enlarged and known as the Diamond
"F" Shop.
1863.— In 1863 Davis & Longley built the most
easterly of the two Billings' shops. In 1864 Clapp &
Billings began to manufacture in this shop. They
made a specialty of boys and youths' laced and
buckle Congress shoes. In 1869 they bought the
shops next to the Windsor Hotel, and continued in
both shops until 1879, when Mr. J. B. Billings pur-
chased his partner's interest, and has continued
alone up to the present time.
1863. — John A. Fry began business in the Wins-
low Stevens shop in February, 1863, where he con-
tinued until January, 1864, when he removed to the
Elm Street shop. In 1866 he purchased of Allen
Howe the new shop at corner of Pleasant and Chest-
nut Streets, which he has enlarged four times. He
commenced the manufacture of boots in 1883, and
continues to date.
1867. — In 1867 Rice & Hutchins began manufac-
ture of boots and shoes in Middlesex Square in the
old shop of Felton & Chipman. Their factory was
burned in 1878, and was rebuilt with all modem im-
provements. They have continued to the present
time. This firm built a large factory on Cotting Ave-
840
flISTOKY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
nue in 1889. This is one of the leading firms in the
city, the amount produced amounting to §1,000,000.
The Boperintendent and manager of these factories is
Mr. John E. Curtis.
1875. — James Tucker & Co. bought the Frank A.
Howe shop, and manufactured for several years.
In 1858 John E. Curtis began the manufacture of
shoes on High Street, continuing here until 1861,
when he removed to the Marlboro' Block, and in 1868
bought the old Boyd & Corey shop, at the corner of
Maple and Main Streets. This he enlarged and man-
ufactured boots and shoes that had a wide reputation.
In 1872 Vaughn & Sanborn bought the business and
continued a short time ; afterward Mr. Curtis became
the superintendent of the E.ice & Hutchina factories.
Hiram Temple removed to Marlborough and began
the manufacture of shoes before 1845.
Abel Howe betran, in 1858, the manufacture of
shoes on Main Street, near Grant Street, with H. O.
Russell. He later removed to High St., near the Union
Church, and built a very large and convenient factory.
Hugh R. Bean manufactured shoes on Longley St.
In 1871 Levi VV. Baker manufactured boots and
shoes on High Street, and continued until 1877.
The Commonwealth Shoe Company builta model shoe
factory on Maple Street in 1888-89, and began to manu-
facture fine boots and shoes, Mr. M. Quirk, thesuperin-
tendent, having been previously connected with the
Boyd & Corey Boot and Shoe Manufacturing Company.
Charles L. and Lewis T. Frye manufactured shoes
in the Parsons shop, and later bought the William
Dadmun shop, corner of Rowland and Lincoln Streets,
closing in 1889, Jeremiah Desmond taking the Par-
sons shop when the Fryes removed.
In 1852 Stephen and William Eager manufactured
shoes at their shop on Hosmer Street.
In 1842 Elijah M. Dickinson made shoes on East
Main Street.
The manufacture of shoe dies was begun by S. K.
Taylor in the basement of the Brick shop in 1858 or
'59, and was afterwards removed to the Davy shop, on
Florence Street. He was succeeded by Taylor &
Blanchard, Samuel F. Draper, Hobbs & Mellen, and
T. Joseph Beaudry, who continues to this time.
James L. Belser and Henry Exley started a ma-
chine-shop in the basement of the J. B. Billings fac-
tory in 1866, continuing but a short time, when they
removed to the Brick shop. Taking Mr. Hall as part-
ner, the firm became Hall, Belser & Exley. In 1867
Henry Parsons succeeded Hall, making the firm of
Belser, Exley & Parsons, and they removed to Forest
Hall. Belser retired in 1869, and the firm built their
Lincoln Street shop in '72. Exley retired in '78,
leaving Mr. Parsons the proprietor of the business.
He has continued with good success the manufacture
of steam-engines, elevators and sole-cutters.
Hall, Sandiford & Watson started a machine-shop
on Lincoln Street in 1868, and continued about seven
years manufacturing sole-cutters and small machinery
used in shoe factories, Bevan & Alden running the
business from 1875 to 1878, afterwards as Bevan &
Davey to 1830, and Davey & Exley until 1884; then
they separated, Davey taking the upper part of Henry
Parsons' shop, while Henry Exley continued at the
old shop until 1887.
Julian P. Wood began the manufacture of punch-
machines in 1879, and later other shoe machinery.
Taking Herbert Willard as a partner in 1 887, the busi-
ness increased very fast. They hold several valuable
patents.
CHAPTER LXI.
MARLBORO UGH—( Continued).
MASONIC.
BY B. F. GREELEY.
United Brethren Lodge, A. F. and A. M. — The his-
tory of Free Masonry in Marlborough from the date
of its first introduction as an organized body until
the present time, covers a period of nearly seventy
years, and is marked by a most gi'atifying advance
in membership and efficiency.
Though a lengthy intermission separates the early
body from the present organization, the original
records now on file as well as oral traditions of a few
of the early brethren, have been handed down unim-
paired, and serve as a connecting link between these
two branches of the same family.
The desire of our grandfathers to organize a Ma-
sonic Lodge in this vicinity, culminated in the early
part of the year 1824, when application was made to
the Gr.ind Lodge of Massachusetts for a charter, but
owing to opposition from the Fredonia Lodge, A. F.
and A. M. of Noithborough. an adverse report was
made and the desired charter withheld ; later a second
application was made, which was granted, bearing
date of September 8, 1824. The first meeting under
the charter was held September 23, 1824, in a building
owned by Bro. Sullivan Thayer, located near the
present Exchange Building, and adjoining the brick
dwelling, corner of Exchange and Main Streets,
Wor. Bro. Abraham Gates was chosen Master ; Rev.
Seth Alden, Sen. Warden ; Richard Farwell, Jun.
Warden ; John Maynard, Treas. ; Freeman Stow,
Sect'y ; John G. Barnard, Sen. Deacon ; John Lyscom,
Jr., Jun. Deacon ; Isaac T. Stevens, Sen. Steward,
and Caleb Witherbee, Marshal. The records of Ma-
sonic work show the lodge to have been both popular
and prosperous, as numerous accessions to its mem-
bership were made, embracing many of the leading
men of this and the surrounding towns. The names
of no less than five clergymen appear on the rolls
during the years 1824, 1825, and 1826.
On the 28th of April, 1825, the lodge apartments
were dedicated according to ancient Masonic cer-
emonies, the brethren marching to the Unitarian
MAKLBOROUGH.
841
Church, where they were addressed by Rev. Seth
Alden, a brother Mason. In the afternoon they as-
sembled at the Spring Hill Church, where the lodge
was instituted, and the tenets of Masonry and cardi-
nal virtues of the order were solemnly emphasized to
the brethren. A banquet was spread in a large tent
adjoining the present Union Church common to which
the friends of the brethren were invited. The officers
were installed on the evening of the same date, and
an oration delivered in the meeting-house by Bro.
Samuel Clark.
September 1, 1825, Brother Jacob Frieze was chosen
master, holding the office until the following spring,
when he resigned, and March 26, 1826, Brother Rich-
ard Farwell was elected to fill the vacancy.
With increasing prosperity it was deemed advisable
to arrange for more commodious quarters for Lodge
purposes, and at the annual town-meeting in 1825, an
article was inserted in the Warrant, asking permis-
sion to build a school-house, with a Masonic hall in
the upper story. This article was passed over, and
no further action taken until two years later, when a
similar request was made, and the necessary grant
obtained. Jan. 11, 1827, a committee was chosen to
consider the subject of building a Masonic hall, and
in concert with the Citizen's Association, arrange-
ments were perfected by which a building wa-s to be
erected, the first floor of which was to be used as an
academy, and the upper room for a Masonic hall.
Quite a complete idea may be gained of the purposes
for which this building was intended, by referring to
a copy of the records taken July 4, 1860, from the
foundation stone of Gates Academy, formerly situat-
ed on " Old Meeting House Common," now known as
High School Common. This record was deposited by
the members of the Old United Brethren Lodge, Aug.
30, 1827, of which the following is an exact copy :
" On the 30th day of August, 1827, was laid the
foundation stone, on which is to be erected a build-
ing to be devoted to the promotion of Literature,
Science, Moral Virtue and the Ancient Order of Ma-
sonry. By the liberality of a number of individuals
of the Town of Marlborough, in which there are now
three churches, the ministers of which are Revs. Syl-
vester Bucklin, Seth Alden and Joseph E. Merrill,
ten School Districts and two thousand inhabitants."
In connection with this statement there was also
deposited a copy of the Articles of Agreement, speci-
fying that the building about to be erected was to be
used as follows : " The lower story of the building
shall be used for teaching children and youths, and
the second story shall be finished in such manner as
to accommodate the Free Masons."
On the above date the District Deputy Grand Mas-
ter was present with his suite, opening a Master
Mason's Lodge in Masonic Hall, and repaired to the
site of the new building, where the impressive cere-
monies attending the laying of the corner-stone were
solemnized. During the fall and winter months of
1827-28, the Academy Building, as it has since been
known, was completed, and the new Masonic apart-
ments in the upper story were appropriately dedica-
ted April 24, 1828, Wor. Brother Richard Farwell
being the presiding Master. These rooms were com-
fortably, though not elaborately, furnished, and meet-
ings were continued in them during the remainder of
the existence of Old United Brethren Lodge, which
probably terminated its active work about 1831 or
1832, though the name of United Brethren Lodge was
borne on the Grand Lodge records as late as 1834.
On the 2l8t of January, 1830, a committee was
chosen to take into consideration the " general state
of the lodge," and as this was about the time the
anti-masonic craze began, embracing the Morgan ex-
citement, and more especially the political agitations
of those days, many refrained from active member-
ship. With such an outspoken opposition, though
founded entirely on prejudice, the society became un-
popular, and it is probable that our brethren deemed
it wise to discontinue lodge work until a more auspi-
cious season.
Of the disposition of the furniture, jewels and par-
aphernalia of the order, no account is given, but the
records of Old United Brethren Lodge, from Septem-
ber 8, 1824, to October 27, 1830, inclusive, were found
among the books and papers of the late brother
Nicholas B. Proctor, after his decease in 1867. The
leaves were without binding, probably detached from
the secretary's book of records. Having had them
newly bound, they were returned, together with bro-
ther Proctor's Masonic diploma, to the possession and
care of the lodge, by his loyal sons, Joseph, Col.
Alfred N., and Albert E. Proctor, December 12, 1888.
The re-organization of United Brethren Lodge was
not effected until the fall of 1859. On December 1st
of this year, a meeting of the brethren was held
under Dispensation at the office of Messrs. Boyd &
Corey, corner of Main and Maple Streets. Several
representatives of the old lodge of thirty years pre-
vious were present, together with resident members
ot " Middlesex " of Framingham and other lodges.
Preliminary arrangements were made for permanent-
ly organizing a Master Mason's Lodge, securing suit-
able apartments and furniture, and the election of
officers. After several preparatory meetings of the
brethren, a hall was secured over the Boyd & Corey
office, and Alexander C. Felton, Esq., was selected
to preside over the lodge as its first Master.
December 14, 1859, the brethren met in these apart-
ments for the first time, where they continued to
hold meetings and work under Dispensation, until a
charter was granted September 12, 1860, with the
following as charter members: — Sylvester Bucklin,
Samuel Chipman, Thomas Corey, Martin Dadmun,
Jr., J. M. Farwell, Alexander C. Felton, Jonah Howe,
Asa Lewis, Wm. H. Marston, Burleigh Morse, S.;muel
J. M. Weston, Charles F. Morse and Jabez S. Wither-
bee. Of these brethren, three, Brothers Samuel Chip-
842
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
man, Jonah Howe and Jabez S. Witherbee were mem-
bers of the old lodge, and formed a connecting link
between the old and new organization.
Numerous accessions to the lodge were made dur-
ing the year, adding many sturdy and influential
citizens to its membership, and quite outgrowing
their limited quarters. During the fall of 1860, ar-
rangements were made and a lease obtained of a suit
of rooms at No. 136 Main Street, since known as
Corey's Block. These apartments were first occupied
October 16, 1860, when a special communication was
held for the purpose of receiving the officers of the
Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. Most Wor. Winslow
Lewis, Grand Master, who, together with his suite,
was present for the purpose of installing the officers
of the Lodge and dedicating the new apartments.
Wor. Bro. Alexander C. Felton was installed Mas-
ter, Bros. Burleigh Morse, Sen. Warden, J. S. With-
erbee, Jun. Warden, Sylvester Bucklin treasurer, and
J. M. Farwell secretary. From this time rapid strides
were made in additional membership and Masonic in-
terest ; the fathers of the lodge of to-day were then
taking their degrees, and their zeal and constancy is a
sufficient assurance of a thorough initiation.
At the date of the reorganization of United Breth-
ren Lodge, Feltonville (now known as Hudson), was
a part of Marlborough, and many of its best citizens
became members of the fraternity and affiliated with
the lodge here. This membership covered a period
of about five years. In the latter part of 1864 the
brethren from Hudson, tiring of their long journey
to attend lodge meetings, and having sufficient
strength to warrant independence, applied for and
obtained a charter for themselves. This signal-
ized the advent of Doric Lodge, A. F. and A. M., of
Hudson, which has since maintained a healthy
growth, and been ever active in promoting the tenets
of Masonry. An intimate fraternal feeling has al-
ways existed between United Brethren and Doric
Lodges, and frequent interchange of visits by the
brethren serves to strengthen the ties that bind them
as one band of friends and brothers.
The yeara of the Civil War found many brothers
espousing the Union cause, and taking active service
for the maintenance of the Government. The zeal
and loyalty of such as were spared to return have
never abated.
Thirteen Masters have presided over the lodge
since its organization in 1859, of whom all are living
at the date of this writing (1890) excepting Worship-
ful Brother, G«orge H. Adams, who presided with great
acceptance during the yeara 1869 to 1872, inclusive, and
who deceased after a brief illness and was buried from
the Unitarian Church with Masonic honors.
The following are the names of the Past Masters in
the order of their election, and their years of service.
Worahipfal Brothere, Aleiandpr 0 Felton. 1860-61 ; Burleigh Morae,
1862-63-64, '87 ; 3»mael J. Shaw, IBO". ; W. E. C. Worcejter, 1866 ;
Qeorge JJ. C»te, 1888, '75 ; George H. .\diima, 186ft-70-71-7'2 ; William
a. Fniat, 1873-74 ; Leva L Hapgood, 1876 ; George H. Wllitnejr, 1877-
i 78-79-80 ; Benjamin F. Greeley, 1881-82-83. '86; Frederick J. Je»ett,
1884-85 ; Edwin A. Evans, 1887-88-«9 ; J. Frank Child, 1890, and ig at
present presiding master.
To these brothers much of the interest in lodge
membership and proficiency in works may be attribut-
ed. Worshipful Brother Burleigh Morse, whose
name appears near the head of this list, is a veteran
in Masonry; his attendance has been long and faith-
ful, and his familiar face may be seen at lodge meet-
ings as regularly to-day, after thirty years of service,
as that of the youngest member.
To Worshipful Brother George N. Gate, may be
traced a marked advance in accuracy of lodge work
and attention to derail, the brother imparting to the
membership of his own dignity, which combined
with firmness of character, and a thorough knowledge
of the mysteries of freemasonry, raised the lodge to
a higher plane, with a corresponding increase of
interest by the brethren. This discipline has con-
tinued to exercise a most salutary efl'ect, and is worthy
of emulation.
At a meeting of the lodge held October 4, 1882,
especially I'onvened for considering the commutation
of the Grand Lodge Tax, Most Worshipful Samuel
C. Lawrence, Grand JIaster, was present, and urged
the importance of cancelling the remaining debt
from Masonic Temple. The meeting was very fully
attended, audit was decided to commute the tax by
one payment in full. Similar action became almost
unanimous throughout the lodges of the State, and
the administration of Worshipful Brother Lawrence,
saw the Grand Lodge indebtedness entirely ex-
tinguished.
The quarters secured by the brethren in October,
1860, were from time to time replenished with new
furniture, and uninterruptedly occupied by them
until the morning of December 7, 1883, when a
disastrous fire occurred, destroying both apartments
and furniture; unavailing elforts were made to save
the charter ; the books and records, however, were
secured, and, though somewhat stained by water and
smoke, were found to be entirely legible. The lodge
sustained a loss of about $1600, on which there was
an insurance of SIOOO. The brethren at once secured
the use of Pythian Hall as a place of meeting, until
such time as permanent apartments could be provided.
Arrangements were early made, and an agreement
signed, by which the lodge was to be granted a ten
years' lease of the entire upper floor of a contemplated
new brick block, since known as " Hazleton's Block "
No. 203 Main Street. Though long delayed, the
building was finally completed, and the upper-story
suitably divided, with a main hall and ante-rooms,
especially adapted for lodge purposes.
To a committee of the lodge was intrusted the
frescoing and furnishing of these rooms, which were
completed and occupied for the first time at a special
communication, August 5, 1885. At a public-meet-
ing of the lodge, October 14, 1885, Most Wor. Abra-
MARLBOROUGH.
843
ham H. Howland, Jr., Grand Master of the Grand
Lodge of Massachusetts, and his suite were present,
and according to ancient customs and usages, pro-
ceeded to dedicate the new apartments to Free
Masonry, to Virtue and Universal Benevolence.
These impressive ceremonies were supplemented by
remarks at length by the Grand Master and members
of his suite, charging the brethren to a continuance
of those Masonic principles and virtues, which have
ever been, and should ever be, the beacon lights of
symbolic and practical Masonry. About two hundred
member.'', visitors and ladies were present, and were
welcomed to the banquet-room at the close of the for-
mal e.xercises. Regular communications are held dur-
ing the entire year, on the evening of Wednesday on,
or before the Full of the Moon, though the lodge may,
at its option, adjourn over the months of July and
August. Special communications are convened from
time to time, on such days and dates as the Master
may designate.
The social character found in Masonry is pre-emi-
nently democratic, laying aside for the time those
artificial distinctions of rank and wealth, which,
though they may be requisite in the world, yet among
Ma."*on.s are unknown. Its members meet on one com-
mon level of brotherhood and equality, where virtue
and emulation in good works are preferments, and the
grand aim is to see " who best can work and best agree."
A series of public gatherings have been held at
Masonic Hall during the winter months for several
years past, to which the ladies are especially welcome.
Readings, music and social games add not a li'.tle to
the good feeling which characterizes the?e entertain-
ments. So far they have been successful, and have
seemingly become inseparable as a social phase of the
Masonic family.
In addition to that universal charity which per-
meates every Masonic body, there is connected with
United Brethren Lodge, a Mutual Benefit Associa-
tion, confined strictly to the affiliated members of this
lodge, by which each brother, paying into a general
fund the sura of one dollar, becomes a member. No
further assessment is made until a brother dies, when
one dollar more is collected and held as a reserve
fund. This money is entirely distinct and separate
from the funds of the lodge treasury, and payable
immediately upon the decease of a brother, to his
surviving representative, having as a primary object,
the supplying of ready money to the widow or orphans
in the hour of their bereavement, when incidental
expenses and funeral charges are imperative. The
benelits of this arrangement have been most gratify-
ing to the members of the fraternity upon several
occasions during the few years it has been in opera-
tion, and has received the cordial support of a large
percentage of the membership. To a true brother
the pleasure of giving in the hour of need is ample
reward, and in harmony with Masonic obligations.
United Brethren Lodge has for many years been
especially zealous in its care for sick and needy
brethren. A Relief Committee is annually appointed
by the Master, to visit the sick and extend pecuniary
aid when and where needed. A nurse or watcher is
supplied when occasion requires, and the expenses
paid from the Lodge treasury.
These duties have been most faithfully discharged.
It is claimed of our Institution, and is literally true,
that a Mason, destitute and worthy, "May find in
every clime a brother, and in every land a home."
Masonry teaches, however, that charity to the needy
should not partake of that exclusiveness, which ac-
cords relief to members " of the household only," or
be alone confined to the granting of pecuniary aid, for,
Masonically speaking, charity also embraces a state
of mind, which renders a brother full of love and
good-will towards others, to overlook misfortunes and
deal gently with the erring.
An Adoptive Rite in Masonry, known as "the Or-
der of the Eastern Star," has recently been instituted
under the guardianship of United Brethren Lodge,
and is now working under dispensation. This branch
is composed largely of ladies, drawing its membership
from the wives, widows, mothers, sisters and daugh-
ters of the Masonic fraternity. Affiliated Master-
Masons are also eligible aa membets, and fill a few of
the subordinate offices. Much interest has already
been manifested, and the work of organization and
initiation has advanced rapidly. From the numerous
applications for admission, there can be no doubt of
its popularity and success.
United Brethren Lodge is especially zealous in
transmitting the symbolisms of Masonry from the
older to the younger members of the Order, every in-
itiate being orally instructed in the lectures and work
of Ancient Craft Masonry, as handed down by the
fathers, without addition or innovation. The atten-
tive ear receives the sound from the instructive
tongue, guarding with vigilance the unwritten legends
of this mysterious order, whose venerable years have
numbered in its membership the most illustrious men
of their day, whose quiet and unostentatious deeds of
kindness have lightened the burden of the unfortu-
nate in every land, and whose charity is especially
invoked towards a brother, his widow and orphans.
Long may it continue in every good word and work,
bearing its deeds of love and charity, wherever the
hand of distress may prefer its suit, or the burdened
heart pour out its sorrows.
Houghton Royal Arch Chapter. — This organization
dates its beginning from the 14th of May, 1867, when
a number of Companions from Framingham R. A.
Chapter, residents of Marlborough, met in Masonic
Hall for the purpose of consulting in regard to the
formation of a chapter in this town.
Brother Burleigh Morse presided at this meeting,
with John F. Cotting as secretary. It was the unan-
imous sentiment of the Companions present that such
action should be taken, and it was voted to petition
744
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
the Grand Chapter of Massachusetts for permission
to open and hold a Chapter of the Royal Arch Ma-
sons in Marlborough.
The Grand Chapter promptly considered the peti-
tion, and June 11, 1867, the necessary dispensation
was granted by Ex. Comp., Richard Briggs, Grand
High Priest of the Grand Chapter.
The name of Houghton R. A. Chapter was adopted,
complimentary to Brother George Houghton, of Hud-
son, whose generous contributions aided largely in
supplying the necessary paraphernalia for lodge pur-
poses. The following Companions composed the first
Council, and filled the various subordinate ofiices:
Mort Ex. Burleigh Morae, High Priest; P. E. MilUy, Ex. King ; W.
E. C. Worcester, Ex. Scribe ; Martin Dadmun, Treasurer ; .Tohn F. Cut-
ting. Secretary; Rev. W. A. Start, Chaplain: M. P. RoKera, Capt. ot
Host ; C. F. Morae, P. S. ; E. A. Bradley, R. A. Capt. ; George N. Cale,
Master of 3d Veil ; C. D. Hunter, Master of 2d Veil ; George E. Sher-
man Master of 1st Veil ; £. F. Longley and L. Dadmun, Stewards.
Work under dispensation was continued until the
following year, when application was made for a
charter, which was granted, and the Chapter duly
iustituted September 25, 1868.
Accessions to membership from year to year have
been made from United Brethren Lodge, of Marlbor-
ough, Doric, of Hudson, Siloam, of Westboro', St.
Bernard, of Southboro', and various other lodges.
The following companions have presided over the
chapter since its organization : — Most Ex. Burleigh
Morae from 1867 to 1872 inclusive, also during the
year 1878. N. S. Chamberlain for the years 1873
and 1874. J. A. Clisbee 1875 to 1877 inclusive. T.
A. Coolidge 1879 to 1884 inclusive. George H. Whit-
ney 1885 and 1886. Lyman Morse 1887 to 1889.
Edward P. Miles 1890, and at present presiding, all
of whom are now active members, excepting Most
Ex. N. S. Chamberlain deceased.
The Corey Block fire of December 7, 1883, was the
occasion of serious loss to the Chapter, fire and
water destroying its Charter, Regalia, Furniture, &c.,
on which there was no insurance. The books and
records were fortunately saved uninjured. The coun-
cil at once secured temporary quarters in Pythian
Hall, and took immediate steps to replace thsir loss,
the brethren and their lady friends lending willing
hands in assistance.
On the completion of Hazelton Block in August,
1885, the chapter removed to Masonic Hall, where
they are now permanently located, with an active
membership of upwards of one hundred and sixty
companions.
Regular convocations are held monthly on the even-
ing of Friday on or after the full of the moon,
usually adjiiurning over the mcinths of July and Au-
gust. The annual convocation for election of oflScers
occurs at the regular meeting in September. Great
harmony prevails in the chapter, inspiring the offi-
cers and brethren in good works, and a unity of feel-
ing which is not limited to lodge meetings'.
An institution drawing together men of all shades
of opinion, and cementing them by such strong ties
of afiection, can only be productive of good, making
better men and better citizens.
CHAPTER LXII.
MA RLBOROUGH-{ Continued).
CIVIL HI.-STORY.
Incorporation — Pint Selectmm — Selectmen from 1661 to 1890— Toujii Cleiki
from 1660 to lS9fl — Treamrera — Repretentativea — Stitte Senatcra —
County Commttfionera — Detegatei* to Prooincial Congreat — Delegatea to
ConatUuiionai Couventioiia — Aaaiatant Treaaurer of VnxUd Sttitea —
Population — Valuation.
Maiilborough was incorporated June 12, 1660, the
order of the General Court was " that the name
of the said plantation (WhipsutTerage) shall be called
Marlborow." The name was doubtless derived from
Marlborough, England. It was formerly written Marl-
berg or Marlbridge.
Marlborough when incorporated, in addition to its
present territory, included all that tract lying within
the limits of the present towns of Westborough and
Northborough, set off in 1717 (Northborough was
set oflF from Westborough in 1766), Southborough set
off 1727, and Hudson in 1866.
Marlborough was incorporated as a city May 23,
1890, and accepted by the town July 14, 1890.
The first selectmen chosen were Edmund Rice,
William Ward, John Ruddocke, John Howe, Thomas
King, Solomon Johnson and Thomas Goodman.
Selectjien. — The following is a list of the select-
men from the incorporation of the town to the present
time, except the period from 1665 to 1739, of which
there are no records extant :
Edmund Rice. I661-«4.
William Ward, 1691-55, '71.
John Eaddocke, 1661-65, '71.
John Howe, Sen., 1CC1-I>4.
Thomas King, 1661-64.
Solomon Johnson, 1661-65, '71.
TLomas Goodnow, Sen., 1661-63,
'65.
John Woods, 1664, '65.
William Kerly, gen., 166'., '71.
Thomas Howe, I701.>
Joseph Newton, 17U1.
Nathaniel Joslin, 1701.
James Woods, 1701.
John Maynard, 1707, '10.
Samuel Brigham. 1707, '10.
Abraham Eager, 1707.
Joehna Bice, 1707, '10.
John Bowker, 1707, '10.
Zembbabel Eager, 173a.
Edward Same*, 1739.
Robert Barnard, 1739, '45, '47.
Joseph Baker, 1739, '41.
Thomas Brigham, 1740, '43.
Daniel Stewart, 1740, '41, '53.
Joseph Howe, 1740, '41, '44, '48,
'54.
Daniel Barnes, 1740, '41, '52, '60,
'81.
Samuel Stevens, 1741.
Joseph Slorse, 1741, '46.
I Uriah Eager, 1741, '52, '53,
; '50, '58, '60, '62, '88, '69.
I Joseph Tainter, 1741.
I James Wooda, 1741-49, '55-57
I Abraham Williams, 1741-U,
1 49, '52, '54.
' Samuel Witt, 1740, '42, '44, '45,
' '47, '48, '50, '53, '54.
I Samuel Brigham, 1741,
i '46, '48, '49, '54.
I Jedediab Brigham, 1741,
'52.
Andrew Rice, 1743, 'JO, ';
Jonathan Barnes, 1743,
'62.
Jabel Ward, 1743.
Abraham Beaman, 1744.
John Warren, 17+4, '46-50, '52-
61, '63-66, '67.
Jonas MotM, 1744, '49, '52, '55.
Abraham Howe, 1745, '53, '57, c;.
John Hapgood, 1745, '49, '53, '55,
'57, '59, '60.
John Sherman, 1746.
ThomaaHowe, 1745, '46, '61, '63,
'71.
Samuel Jonea, 1747, '48.
'46-
'44,
'43, '47,
, '03.
•57, '59
MARLBOROUGH.
845
Ephralm Brigham, 1749, '50, '54,
'56-59, '61, '62, '65, '67, '69.
JoMph Brighsm, 1740, '62, '64.
Hezekiah Maynard, 1750, '65, "Tl,
'73.
Poter Bent, 1750, "56, '50, '66, '67,
•70-72, '74, '77.
Thomas Bigelow, 1750, '62, '65.
Jabez Rice, 1752, '56.
John Weeks, 1753, '54, '56, '58-60,
'62-65, '70, '73.
Samuel Brigbam, 1755.
Jesse Rice, 1756, '57, '66, '68, '70.
Abraham Rice, 1758, '60, '61, '63,
•64, '66, '69, '70, '73.
Joseph Hapgood, 1758, '63, '64,
'66, 67.
John Banister, 1759.
Daniel Ward, 1760, '61.
Daniel Harrington, 1762, '66, '68,
G9, 71, '72.
Joel Brigham, 1763, '72.
Gershom Bigelow, 1763, '64.
John Barnes, 1764.
Uriah Brigham. 1765, '68, '69.
Gershom Rice, 1765-70, 'T2, '74,
'75.
Ebeuezer Dexter, 1766, '68.
Nathan Goodale, 1767. '69.
Simon Stow, 1767, '71, 75, '76, 78,
'79, '32, '83, '85, 87.
Manning Sawin, 1768, '72, '79-83,
'87.
Wlnslow Brigham, 1770-80, '82,
'84, 'S6, '88, '89, '01.
■Toseph Brigham, 1771.
Nathan Reed, 1772.
Robert Baker, 1773.
Edward Barnes, 1773-75.
George Brigham, 1774^76.
Silas Jewell, 1774.
Cyprian Howe, 1774, '78.
Ithamar Brigham, 177.5, '76, '78,
■79, '82.
Jonas Morse, Jr., 1775-77, 80-82,
■86, '97, '39.
Silas Gates, 1776, '70-81, '83, '35,
■87.
.\lpheus Woods, 1776, '87.
Edward Hunter, 1777, '79.
Haul Brigham, 1777.
Si^lomon Brigham, 1777.
.lucob Felton, 1777.
.Moses Woods, 1778, 'S3, '84, '8il,
'88, •'J2, '03, 'OS-'JS.
William Brigham, 1778, '82, '85.
Siinmel Stevens, 1778.
.loseph Howe, 1779.
William Boyd, 1780, '87.
Daniel Barnes, 1780, '31, '83.
Uriah Eager, Jr., 178U, '31, 83,
■84, "86.
\masa Cranston, 1781.
Samuel Curtis, 1781.
Silos Uiiyley, 1782.
,\bel Holden, 178:1.
(Jeorge Williams, 1784, '39-91.
Benjamin Bice, 1784.
Sulumon Barnes, 1784, '86, '88.
SaTiuel Stow, 1785.
Jonathan Weeks. 1785, 'S8-91, ''j3,
'94.
Joel Bice, 1785.
Peter Wood, 1785.
Jabez Rico, 1786, '88.
Thaddeus Howe, 1T8T.
John Stow, 1738, '90, 32-94.
Lnther Howe, 1788.
William Eager, 1789.
Samuel Howe, 1789, 1800. !
William Morse, 1790, '03, ''i4. i
Noah Rice, 1700-1800. i
Edward Barnes, 179(V96, 08, 1802, 1
'3. I
Archelaus Felton, 1790. I
Abner Goodale, 1791, 1800. ;
Joseph Williams, 1791.
William Lorlng, 1792.
Daniel Brigham, 1792-94, 1707-
1813.
Samuel Gibbon, 1794-1800, '2, '9.
Robert Hunter, 1795, '97-09, 1801.
■3, '5.
Aaron Brigham, 1795, 96, 1802-5.
Stephen Morse, 1795, '06.
Jonathan Hapgood, 17"ii-180O
1802-9, '11.
William Weeks, 1707.
Joseph Brigham, Jr., 1790, ISOl.
Paul Brigham, 1801.
John Loring, 1801, 'U.
Ithamar Brigbam, 1301, ■|i6. 'DO,
11-13
Stephen Eames, 1802-05, 08.
Samuel Witt, 1802.
Lovewell Barnes, 1803, '10-17.
Thomas Bice, 1804.
Silos Gates, 1804, 05, '07, 'OC.
BeDJamia Bice, Jr., 1804, 07, in,
■16, '19, '-20-22.
Micah Sherman, 1805-07. '09, Il-
ls.
Joel Cranston, 1806-09.
Joseph Howe, Jr., 1806-20.
William Weston, 1806, '07.
Ephniim Brigham, 1808.
John Weeks, 1808-10.
William Barnes, 1810.
Jedediah Brigham. 1810, 14-16.
Ell Bice, 1810, '23, ■28, '29.
William Gates, 1811-13, '15, ■lO-
21.
Abraham Stow, 1812, '13.
William Howe. 1812, 13.
Jabez Green, 1814.
Jabez Stow, I8I4.
SilosTemple, 1814-16.
Ephraim Slaynard, Jr., 1814, 'l.^,
'17-19.
Benjamin Clark, Jr., 1814.
Silas Felton, 18l6-'25.
Solomon Weeks, 1815, ■3'2-38.
Asbbei S. Brigbam, 1816.
John Howe, Jr., 1816, ^21. •22.
John Stevens, 1817-19.
Aaron Stevens, 1820-31.
William Holyoke, 1822-27.
Silas N'ewton, 1823-27, '4-2.
Ephruim Brigham, 1824, ^25.
Isaac Hayden, 1826-40, '44, '45,
'5S-60.
Stephen Bice, 1826, '27.
Jedediah Wood, 1828-31.
Epbraim Howe, 1828-40.
Stephen B. Phelps, 1830-~l."i, '49-
51.
Ezekiel Bruce, 1832-34.
(ieorge E. Manson, 1835-1.3, '58-
60.
Abel Bice, 1836-41.
William Bamea, 1839-42.
Winslow Ba^le^ 1841, '42, '44,
•45.
Lewis Bigelaw,}1842.
Stephen Morse, 1843, '58-«0.
Jacob Holyoke, 1843.
Ephraim Fairbanks, 1843.
Emerson Howe, 1843.
Jabez 3. Witberboe, 1844, 45, 47.
•48, '51-54. '57.
Silas R. Fairbanks, 1844. '45, '54.
Samuel Chipman, 1844, '45.
David Goodale, 1846-18, '.50, '51,
'.57.
Francis Brigham, 1846, '47.
Eber Howe, 1846-52.
Jacob Fairbanks, 1847, '48.
William H. Wood, 1849, 50.
Hollis Loring, 1849-51.
Jacob Holyoke. 1862.
Israel Howe, 1852.
Ebenezer Witt, 1852, '53.
Dwight Witt, 1853.
John F. Cotting, 1853, '54.
Lyman Perry, 1853.
Samuel Chipman, 1854. ^55.
Elbridge Howe, 1854-57.
B. F. Underbill, 1855, '56, '58-60.
George S. RawsoD, 18S5, 56.
Charles Howe, 1855.
George Brigbam, 1856.
Samuel E. Warren, 1856.
.\8a Lewis, 1857.
George E. Woods, 1887.
John Goodale, 1868-60.
Isaac Hayden, 1860.
Benj. F. Underbill, 1860.
Stephen Morse, 1860.
<ieo. E. Manson, 1860.
Wm. H. Wood, 1862.
John F. Cutting, 1862, '66, '73-
77.
William Wilson, 1864-66.
Frederick H. Moiw, 1864-65.
Charles H. Robinson, 1864-65.
William P. Brigham, 1866.
S. H. Howe, 1866, '73-75, '87.
Levi Bigelow, 1867.
Edward A. Gay, 1867.
John O'Connell, 1867-68, 1872-83.
Asa Smith, 1868.
Elbridge Howe, 1868, '72-79.
Samuel N. Aldrich, 1869-71.
Edward A. Gay, 1869-71.
Oharies H. Stevens, 1873-74.
E. P. Richardson, 1875.
Jamee T. Murphy, 1876 to the
present time.
Samuel Boyd, 1878.
D. S. Mooney, 1878.
David W. Hitchcock, 1879-83.
Francis C. Curtis, 1879-80.
E. C. Whitney, 1880.
Timothy A. Coolidge, 1880, '82-
83, '86.
Joseph A. Tremblay, 1880.
Charles H. Stone, 1880-84.
Williams. Frost, 1880.
Prescott West, 1880.
Charles A. Witt, 1883.
George E. Sherman, 1885.
Onesime Levaasenr, 1886.
George A. Howe, 1887.
James Campbell, 1888.
Michael Quirk, 1889.
Godfroid Brouillete, 1889.
TOWN CLIRKS FROM INCORPOBAIIOM TO THE PRESENT TIME.
John Buddocke was chosen 1660, Ebenezer Dexter, 1768.
and continued perhaps till
Philips war, 1675. There
may have been another clerk
between him and Williams.
Abraham Williams, 1682-17a),
1702-12.
Isaac Amsden, 1701, '12, '13.
Nathaniel Joslio, 1714-25.
Abraham Eager, 1726-30.
Joseph Stratton, 1731, 38.
lames Woods, 1732-37, '44-49.
Andrew Rice, 1739-43, '.50, '51.
John Warren, 1752, '53, '.56-61,
'63-67.
Samuel Brigham, 1754, 'S.'i.
Jonathan Bsj-nea, 1762.
TOWN TBEASUBEBS.
Uriah Brigham, 1769.
Wlnslow Brigham, 1770-80, 82.
Samuel Curtis, 1781.
Moses Woods, 178.'?-1803.
Benjamin Rice, 1804-06.
Daniel Brigbam, 1807-13.
Jedediah Brigham, 1814.
Silas Felton, 1815-27.
Heman Seaver, 1828-31.
Lambert Bigelow. 1832-53.
.John Phelps. 1854-fil.
Edward L. Bigilow, 1802-70.
William A. Allen, 1871-75.
John M. Whiton, Jr., 1876-81.
Peter B. Murphy, 1882 to present
time.
Thomas Howe, 1739, '40, '65, '67-
60.
George Brigbam, 1741.
Epbraim Brigham, 1742, '43, '50,
'52-64.
Jonathan Barnes, 1744—17.
Joseph Howe, 1748, 49.
John Warren, 1766, '70.
Hezeklub Maynatd, 1771.
Jonas Temple, 1772-74.
Moses Woods, 1775-77, '79, '80.
Simon Howe, 1778, '82-89.
Benjamin Bice, 1781, 1819-25.
Noah Bice, 1790-1800.
Daniel Brigbam, 1801-13.
Jedediah Brigbam, 1814-18.
Mark Fay. 1826-3-2, '38, '42, '43.
E. B. Witherbee, 1833, •34.
Lambert Bigelow, 1836-37, '44-
50, '52.
John Phelps 1839, '40.
Hollis Loring, 1841, '51, '53, 54,
'56.
George Brigham, 1855.
Winslow M. Warren, 1867-
Bei^jamio F. Underhill.
NaLum Witherbee.
Alba C. Weeks.
Patrick J. Conway.
REFaESESTATl\-£a TO THE OEMERAL COURT.
William Ward, 1666.
Samuel Ward, 1679.
Abraham Williams, 1679-32, '91,
'93-90.
Joseph Rice, 1683.
Obadish Ward, 1689, '90.
Henry Kerley, 1689, '93, 1703.
John Biigbam, 1689, '92.
846
HISTORV OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
John Barnes, 1092. Levi BIgelow, 1831, '32, '34, '39.
Samuel Brigham, 1697-99, 1705. Sylvester F. Backlin, 1835, '36.
Thomaa Howe, 1700, '01, '04, '06 Isaac Hayden, 1837, '39-41.
'11, "13, '17-19. Ezekiel Bruce, 1840, '42.
Thomas Beaman, 1707, '08, '12. Abel Rice, 1843, '44.
Peter Bice, 1709-11, '14, '20, '21, Lambert Bigelow, 1S45.
'28-30. David Goodale, 1847, '48.
Thomaa Rice, 1715, '16. Obadiah W. Albee, 1849. '51, '61.
William Ward, 1722. Francis Brigham, 1850, '52.
Caleb Rice, 1723-25, '27. Abraham W. Bice, 1854.
Nathan Brigham, 1726, '30. Lewis T. Frye, 1855.
John Sherman, 1731, '32. Hollie Luring, 1856, '57.
Joseph Rice, 1733-36, '3". Leonard E. Wakefield, 18.'^8.
Ebenezer Witt, 1737. John Phelps, 1669.
Samuel Brigham, 1741. Horatio .Mger, 1860.
Samuel Witt, 1745-19, '51-60, '62- 0. W. Albee, 1861.
70. Francis Briehani, 1862.
James Woods, 17.'i0. Samuel Duyd, 1863.
John Warren, 17iil, '03. Henry 0. Uussell, 1864.
Peter Bent, 1771-75. Xuhum Witherbee, 1865-06.
George Brigham, 1776, '77, '81. Hugh R. Bean, 1867.
Edward Hunter, 1777. Frederick H. MoiM, 1868.
Paul Brigham, 1777. Edward L. BIgelow, 1869, '71, '72.
Simou Stow, 1778-82. Samuel Howe, 1870.
Winsluw Brigham, 1783, '84. Francis C. Curtis, 1873, '74, 'S8, S9.
Edward Barnes, 1787, '92-98. Wni. A. Alley, 1875.
Jonas lloroe, 1790. James T. Murphy, 1876.
Willi..m Morse, 1791. S. Herbert Howe, 1877.
Jonathan Weeks, 1800-02. Daniel S. Mooney, 1878.
Daniel Brigham, 1803. 10, '12-19. James W. McDonald, I8T9.
John Luring, lK04-()8, '12-14. Timothy A. CooUdge, 1880-81.
Ephraim Barber, 1810, '11. Samuel N. AMrich, 1882.
■Samuel uibbon, 1817. Michael J. Buckley, 1883.
.loel I'raDslon, 1820, '21. William X. Davenport, 1884->=i,
Silas Felton, 1S.22, '24, '25. Timothy J. Harris, 188ii.
Daniel Stevens, I828-:il, ':«. Arthur A. Brigham, 1887.
Eli Rice, 1830, '34-36. I. Porter Morse, U88.
SlitU Senntorj.— Joel Cranston, Eli Rice, Stephen Pope, Obadiah W,
.\lbee, Charles M. Howe, Samuel N. Aldricb, William N. Davenpoil,
John W. McDonald.
DelegnUM lo the Frouincuil Congress. — Peter Bent, Edward Barnes, Oeorce
Drigham.
DeJefjfit^a to the Convntion for Framing the Conalitution, 1779-80. — Ed-
ward Barnes, Moses Woods, Winslow Brigham.
Delegates to the Convention to Ratify the CoiiatUution of the Ci'Ued States.—
Jonas Morse, Benjamin Sawin.
Delegate to the Convention in 182U lo Bti-ise the Constitution of Massachn-
aettM. — Joel Cranston.
Delegate to the Convention in 1853, to Revise the Constitution of Jlaseachu
setts. — Isaac Hayden.
Assistant Treasurer United Sto^ej.— Samuel N. Aldricb.
County Commufioner. — William S. Frost.
POPDLATlO.t,
1660, 55 ; 1670, 210 ; 1710, 530 ; 1750, lOflO ; 18O0, 163S ; 1840, 2135 ;
1850,2941; I860, 5910; 1870, 7855; 1872, 8941; 1875, 8424; 1880. 10,.
127 ; 1885, 10,941 ; 1890, 13,788.
VALUATION.
Nnmber of polls assessed 3,875
Peraonal Estate.
Valuation, excluding resident bank stock S^0,17u
Resident bonk stock IC5,:'^8
Total 81,016,518
Real Estate.
Valueof buildings, excluding land . . 52,905,840
Value of land, excluding buildings 2,30.3.280
Total J5,269,12u
Total valuation of assessed estate 96,284,638
Divided as follows :
Personal property owned by reaidenta, exclusive of bank stock
and corporation property 8697,470
Peiaonai estate owned by noo-residenta 64,350
Real estate owned by residents ... 4,842,650
Real estate owned by non-reaidents 248,145
Resident bank stock
Corporation property laial'le
Total
Less amount entitled to exempliuu
1C-.,3I8
292,17.^
$6,310,138
25, .100
in,;S4,ti3'i
Number of horses assessed, 1122; iflio 107.
Number of cows assessed, 1025 ; loss. 6.
Number of neat cattle assesseii. 173 ; loss, '
Numl'Pr of pbeep aosessed, 41: loss, 32.
Nnntber of suiue assessed, 128 ; gain, 23.
Number of 'hveliing.Iiouses assessed. 2006 :
Taxes apportioued as follows ;
On personal property
'.»n real estate
Male ...
Female ...
Rate of taxatiuu per Ih'jUSrtticI
On polU, J
fi>;,4:.i..'.!>
.S5,3-i0.75
. 7,654.00
24.1 KJ
516.20
CHAPTER LXIir.
il.i i:LIiOi:0Ci:n—\ tJuntiunedK
•Mtt Frlt^icehip — Celelinitiv.< "f Ti'" H"ii.lredlh .i .inn-ersartj of hli:orpor^-
ti'»ii "/ Ton-u^il''t' 'jf (tie y.'e/'^//"in — .>nc(-/(»'«, etc.
Odd FELL0W.-5H11'.' — .M;irlli()iniigh Lodge, Nn. 85.
[tidepeiident Order of Odd Fellows, was iuslituted
November 28, 1845, in the building uow numbered
'242 Lincoln Street. Among the names of those who
instituted the lodge may be mentioned, Lewis T.
Frye, Edward .\. Gay, John Chipinan, David Brown,
Thomas Corey, Lambert Bigelow (2d), Joseph Boyd,
William ilorse (2d), Samuel .\. Chipman, Loiinder
Bigelow, C'ha.s. Dana Bigelow and Sullivan D. Baker.
The first otBcers were: Nuble-firand, Edward A.
Gay; Vice-Grand, Samuel A. Chipmau ; Secretary,
Leander Bigelow.
Among those who soon after were admitted to
membership were, William Barnes (2d), Chas. L. Fay,
Lewis Felton, Elbridge Howe, David L. Brown,
Thomas E. Hapgood, Burleigh Morse, David Barnes,
Lorriman H. Russell and Frederick Jewett. Most of
these will be recognized as being among the most
prominent men in Marlborough, during the past
forty years.
The Lodge continued to hold its meetings in the
building where they organized, until October, 1846,
when they occupied a hall over Lambert Bigelow's
store, corner of Lincoln and Ple.asaut Streets. They
afterwards occupied a hall at the corner of Lincoln
and Mechanic Streets.
About 1856, the Lodge began to decline from vari-
ous causes, chiefly, the payment of too large sick bene-
fits in proportion to their income, and the financial
depression from which the town was then suflering.
No increase was made in their membership for some
time, and they finally surrendered their charter to the
Grand Lodge, on July 23, 1858.
1 By John S. Fay.
MARLBOROUGH.
847
About the year 1873, some interest being mani-
fested in the order, a petition signed by Burleigh
Morse, Lyman W. Howe, Tileaton Brigham and
Frederick Jewett, former members of the old lodge,
and four other resident Odd Fellows, was presented
to the Grand Lodge, who restored the charter, and
the Lodge was re-instituted November 6, 1873.
William Barnes and Sullivan D. Baker, former mem-
bers of the old lodge, united with them at this time,
making a total of ten members. Interest in the or-
der soon spread. The Lodge has prospered, until, at
the present time, it numbers 174 members. From
the date of its re- institution, November 6, 1873, the
Lodge occupied jointly with the Masonic Lodge, the
Masonic Hall situated on Main Street. This hall
was destroyed by fire, December 7, 1883. They then |
held their meetings in the Pythian Hall, until the j
completion of their present quarters, in Corey Block, |
which were dedicated with appropriate ceremonies
October 1, 1888.
Here they occupy an elegant suite of rooms, fitted
specially for them, and furnished throughout in first-
class shape, at an expense of about three thousand
dollars. The present officers, (October, 1890) are:
Noble-Grand, Arthur J. Clifford ; Vice-Grand, Charles
T. Berry; Recording-Secy., Percy F. Munsey ; Treas-
urer, Charles H. Marston ; Permanent Secy., Alexan-
der Berry.
Ou May 15, 1889, on a petition of members of Marl-
boro' Lodge, No. 85, and lodges in neighboring towns,
Ki/iff Saul Encampment, No. 69, was instituted in
Odd Fellows' Hall. The present membership is
eighty-nine. The present officers are : Chief Patri-
arch, Dr. C. S. Jackson ; Senior Warden, Herbert W.
Brigham; Scribe, Alexander Berry; Financial
Scribe, P. F. Munsey ; Treasurer, Charles F. Holyoke.
March 11, 1890, Star of Hope Degree Lodge, No. 86,
Daughters of Rebekah, was instituted in Marlboro'.
They now number one hundred and twenty-five mem-
bers. The present officers are: Noble Grand, Mrs.
Herbert W. Brigham ; Vice-Grand, Mrs. J. F. Tur-
ner ; Recording Secretary, Mrs. Austin B. Howe ;
Treasurer, Mrs. Joseph E. Warren ; Financial Secre-
tary, Mrs. John S. Fay.
In March, 1888, there was also instituted in con-
nection with Marlboro' Lodge, No. 85, The Odd Fel-
lows Relief Association of Marlboro', Mass. The mem-
bership is confined to members of Marlboro' Lodge,
No. 85, and its object is to relieve sick and disabled
brothers by paying a weekly sick benefit of five dol-
lars per week ; this being in addition to any benefits
obtained from the lodge, the association being main-
tained by assessments from its members. The present
board of officers is as follows : President, Oliver E.
Howe ; Vice-President, Herbert W. Bringham ; Sec-
retary and Treasurer, Charles H. Marston. Direct-
ors,— The president and vice-president, and secretary-
treasurer, and P. G. George A. Pratt, P. G. Horace
Hasting?, P. G. E. Irving Sawyer and Fred. L. Felton.
Celebration of Two Hundredth Anniversary
OF Incorporation of Town. — The town celebrated
its two hundredth anniversary of incorporation June
13, 1869. The officers of the day were as follows :
President, Francis B. Fay.
Vice-Presidents, Henry Rice, Jabez Rice, Stephen
R. Phelps, Dwight Witt, Isaac Hayden, Lambert Big-
elow, Solomon Weeks, William L. Howe, Stephen
Pope, John Goodale, Ezekiel Bruce, Alden Brigham.
Chaplain, Rev. Horatio Alger.
Treasurer, Samuel B. Maynard.
Chief Marshal, William H.Wood.
Assistant Marshals, Sylvester Bucklin, Henry 0.
Russell, Winslow M. Warren, John Chipman, Edward
.A.. Gay, Francis Brigham.
Toastmaster, Hollis Loring.
The services were held on Ockoocangansett Hill,
and opened by an invocationby Rev. Joseph Allan, D.
D. of Northborough ; a poem written by Wm. C. Bry-
ant was then read, followed by prayer by Rev. Horatio
Alger. Hon. Francis B. Fay at the close of a few re-
marks introduced Hon. Charles Hudson, who deliver-
ed an historical address. Following the address
of Mr. Hudson an original ode by Horatio Alger, Jr.,
was sung. After these exercises dinner was served,
plates having been laid for 1600 persons. A blessing
was invoked by Rev. William Morse, of Tyngsborough.
.\t the close of the dinner an original ode by William
F. Allen was sung.
The toastmaster of the day was Hollis Loring, and
the toasts were as follows :
1. Thit Centenniai Gaibering of the Borough Familia. — Ao occaslOD
L'ODBecratetl to grnteful recollections, to cheriebed aoticipatioDs, aDd to
social, fraternal and Christian groetlnga.
2. A cordial welcome home to ovr eldest Dcmghter, WetOtorovgh, — who,
one hundred and forty-tlir«« yeara ago, recelTed our western border for
her inheritance ; whoee precepts and examples have been a noble Re-
form Scbool, even to the present generation.
Hon. Edward Meilen responded.
3. Our Fair Daughter, Southborough.— Although she resides at tbe
^'nith, yet we are glad to know that she agrees in sentiment with ber
Mother ; that she goes for " free soil, free speech and free men.'*
Response by Rev. William J. Breed.
4. Sorthborrmgh, (mr only GmiidcftiW— Worthy, as such, to be re-
^rarded with especial favor by ber venerable Grandmother.
Response by George C. Davis.
5. The Earbf Clergy of Marlborough and the Marlborough Aseoeiation.
Response by Rev. Joseph Allen, D.D., of North-
borough.
6. The Legislature of Maeeachueetie — Ever mlndfnl of our material
i ntetests, yet never forgetful of our peteonal rights and ljbertie&
T. The Ancient Order of Free and Accepted Maeone.
This sentiment was responded to by Francis C.
Whiston, who exhibited an apron worn by Lafayette
at the laying of the corner-stone of Bunker Hill
monument, June 17, 1825.
8. The Foundert of Marlborough True to tbe Old Saxon Motto, — " Per-
sonal Liberty tbe antecedent. National Glory the consequenL"
Response by O. W. Albee.
9. Our Piljrjm fnM«r«.—" They built institutions for men, not men
for institutions."
848
HISTORr OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Responded to by Rev. Peter Parker, D.D.
10. The Orator of tJu Day. — Marlborough may weJl be proud of such
eoDB.
Response by Charles Hudson.
11. The Present CJerrpj of 3/ar/5oro»^A.— Though their ranks are
now sadly thioced, yet a remoaDt is left that will never be found want-
ing to the caiise of sound learning, of uiwhackled freedom, of vital piety
and practical righteouEness.
Responded to by L. E. Wakefield.
12. The Memory of the Recent Dead~GoodaU, Field ond Buctlin.
" We sympathize with thoae who weep,
\Vhom stern alBIctioDB bend,
Despairing o'er the lowly sleep
Of kindred or of friend ;
But they, who Jordan's swelling breast
No more are called to stem,
WLo in the eternal haven rest —
We mourn no more for thenL"
Dirge by the band.
13. Our Bpirtiaai Guidet of Other Days. — We gladly welcome them
from their distant tielde of labor, to our Festival of Commemoration.
Response by Rev. George E. Day, D.D.
14. The First SeUleii of Xtic Eugland.—lt fell to their lot 10 estab
llsb Ci^ iliZiition and Christianity iu u savage land. They laid the founda-
tion uf our prosperity ; let them be gratefully remembered by their chil-
dren.
William Brigham responded.
14. The Memorgof Bon. John D-ipw. — The only Governor of the State
and United States Senator, the Borough towns ever produced.
Response by A. McF. Davis, Esq., of Worcester.
The following sentiment was proposed by Colonel
Deiter Fay, of Southborough, aud read by Dexter
Newton, Esq. :
" Mai Iborowjb, a W'oitder/ul Mother. — With children more than a hun-
dred years old, and a Grandchild fourscore-yeare-aiid-ten, sitting on the
maternal lap, and not yet weaued."
Sentiment, by Edward Wilkina :
^*Our Father* and Mothers of \fiGO. — Could they see and know what we
do to-day, Ibey would be filled with admiration, like that of the Queen
of Sheba, when she beheld the splendor of Solomon."
Among other sentiments read, were the following :
''The Venerable Men viho are uiith us to-day. — With age, the common
excilemeota and warm blood of youth pa^s away ; but the heart of the
wise man, the older it grows the warmer it feels."
"The Sons and Daughters of Temperance. — In the practice of their prin-
ciples, may the Daughters be as pure as the crystal fount, and the Souei
a^ constant aa the Waters of Niagara."
•'Our Firemen; the Minvte-Men of Modern Times. — Like the Minute-
Men of old, they subdue their enemy by the use of their arms ; but. like
them too, they often find one fiie which conquera them — the fire of a
lady's eye."
Among the letters of regret from gentlemen not
being able to be present at the celebration, were those
from Hon. Henry Wilson, Hon. Josiah Quincy, Jr.,
R. W. Emerson, F. B. Sanborn, Frederick A. Pack-
ard, Hon. Charles Francis Adams, Hon. Charles R.
Train, Hon. John G. Palfrey, John Laughlin Sibley,
Hon. E. R. Hoar, Hon. Levi Lincoln, and Hon. Em-
ory Washburn.
War of the Rebellion.' — The part Marlbo-
rough took in the War of the Rebellion was fully
abreast of her sister towns throughout the State. The
Board of Selectmen were thoroughly imbued with che
>By J. W. Bame«.
.spirit of loyalty that everywhere prevailed, and by
calling town-meetings from time to time, as occasion
seemed to demand, the will of the citizens found ex-
pression in raising money to defray the expenses of
enlisting men for service in the army, under the sev-
eral calls from President Lincoln. War meetings
followed each other, and the fires of patriotic ardor
burned brightly to the end.
In April, 1861, the town voted to raise and appro-
priate $10,000 for war purposes. This was followed
by other sums, until the town had expended, in all,
§51,584.11, of which $45,368.45 was repaid by the
State. Men enlisted and joined the first regiments
that left the State. Company G, of the Ninth Infan-
try, was mainly recruited from this town, and was
mustered in June 11, 1861. Companies I and F, of
the Thirteenth Infantry, also recruited here, were the
next to leave, being mustered in July 16, 1861.
Other enlistments followed, and the town was repre-
i sented in almost every regiment that left the Slate.
Company I, Fifth Infantry — oine months — was most-
ly from this town, as also Companies I and E, of the
same regiment, for one hundred days. Other regiments
that contained a nucleus of Marlborough men, were:
Company I, of the Thirty-sixth Infantry, had 23 men ;
Company K, Fifty-seventh Infantry, had 25. The
Ninth and Sixteenth Light Batteries contained many
Marlborough men, as also the Second and Fourth
Cavalry. In all, Marlborough had 869 men engaged
— 574 for three years, 91 for one year, 108 for nine
months, and 96 for one hundred days.
John A. Rawlins Post 43, Grand Army of the
Republic, was organized and chartered, January 15,
1868. Its first commander was Charles F. Morse,
and its present (1890) commander, Francis C. Curtis.
The first public observance of Memorial Day was in
1869, in connection with the dedication of the Sol-
diers' Monument. The ceremony of decorating the
graves of deceased soldiers took place in the a. m.,
and the ceremonies attending the dedication of the
monument, which had been erected by vote of
the town, in the P. M., by a public parade of the civil
and military organizations of the town. The exerci-
ses took place on the High School Common. The
formal delivery of the monument to the town was by
William S. Frost, chairman of the Building Commit-
tee. Received on the part of the town by Hon. S. N.
Aldrich, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, fol-
lowed by an oration by Hon. Henry Wilson. Since
1871 — with the exception of one year — the town has
appropriated a sum of money to be expended under
the direction of Post 43, for the observance of Memo-
rial Day. After the first few years, the sum has been
fixed at S150.00. The Post is made up of good men,
to the number of one hundred and sixty, is well offi-
cered and stands well in the community.
A Ladies' Relief Society, in connection with the
Post, was organized December 6, 1870. It stands
among the first, if not the first, society of the kind
y c< / / .- / <• ^
MARLBOROUGH.
849
ever organized in this department. It has been the
strong right arm of tlie Post, and its work is so blend-
ed with the Post that the history of the one is the
history of the other. It has been independent of
State Corps, and its members, made up of the wives,
mothers, sisters, and daughters of the soldiers, have
demonstrated by their twenty years of successful ex-
istence, that judicious management and harmonious
home rule is more essential to success than an expen-
sive membership in a State Corps.
Societies. — Marlborough has a large number of
societies and organizations, .\mong these may be
mentioned Knights of Labor ; Knights of Honor;
Knights of Pythias; Marlborouirh Grange; Cold
Water Temple of Juvenile Templars; Spring Hill
Lodge, I. 0. G. T. ; St. John's Total Abstinence
Society ; Young Men's Catholic Total Abstinence
Society ; Catholic Lyceum Association ; Clau-na-gael
Association ; Enimett Association ; Grattan Associa-
tion ; Houp-la Club; Lincoln Club; Royal Society
of Good Fellows, No. 84 ; St. Jenn Baptist Society ;
Uniou Club; LTiiion Dramatique ; Marlborough
Lodge, So. 84, I. O. 0. F. ; Star of Hope Degree
Lodge, No. S(> ; Daughters of Rebekah, Independent
Order of Odd Fellows ; John A. Rawlins Post G. A.
R. ; F. C. Curtis, Camp, No. 'M; Hudson Relief
Society, connected with Post 4o ; Co. F, Sixth Bfgi-
meni, M. V. M. ; American Legion of Honor ; Ancient
Order of Hibernians; Ockoocangansett Tribe, No.
2-'), Improved ( )rder of Red Men ; Court Marlboro' '.
7703, Independent Crder of Foresters ; Daughters j
of Liberty; Ladies' IJranch, O. U. A. M. ; Taconic ;
Lodge, No. 13, (Jnler of the United Friends ; Board
of Trade, E. R. Alley, president; Marlborough Gas
Light Curn[>a'iy, S. H. Howe, president ; the
Marlborough Electric Campany.Lorren Arnold, presi-
dent.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
S.V.MUEI. BOYU.'
The history of a New England town is often largely
made by some one man, who, born and always living
within its limits, impresses himself upon its social and
industrial life, so that the life of the town is truly the
life of that man.
When Samuel Boyd, at the end of his seven years'
apprenticeship in the tanning establishment of Colo-
nel Jo-eph Davis, at Northboro', wiis urged by a son
of his master to remain in the place where he had
learned his trade, — a town which then had its two
cotton factories and its two tan-yards, — and when
warned that the farming town of Marlboro' was no
place for him, his ambitious reply was, that other
men in other towns had stayed at home and helped
I By Siiniuei C. Darling
build up their native place and that that was what he
proposed to do.
When he came home from Northboro', there
was not a single manufacturer in what is now the
town of Marlboro', and with the exception of himself
and brothers, there was but one young man between
the age of fourteen and twenty-five years, who was
not either at work upon a farm or absent firom the
town, for the purpose of carrying on business or
learning a trade elsewhere.
For more than half a century Samuel Boyd has
stayed at home and done his life-work, and built up his
native place, so that everybody who had known of
him and of his connection with the business and
development of the town, freely conceded the justice
of the compliment, when, in a leading article of one
of the Boston dailies, he was characterized as the
"Father of the town."
He was one of a family of eleven children of John
Boyd and Sophia Phelps. His paternal grandfather
served in the Revolutionary War. Born June 3,
1815, under the noble elms that now overlook the
estate of Mr. 0. P. Walker, in the southern part of
the town, he was reared and educated in the strict prin-
ciples and stern experiences of a hardy New England
home. Alterservingan apprenticeship at the tanner's
trade, he directed his attention to the manufacture of
boots and shoes. The business was conducted on a
small scale in the L part of what is now known
iis the Josiah Bennett house, and here was originated
the idea of subdivision of labor in the manufacture
of boots and shoes. A little room, 20x30, sufficed for
the purposes of the business there, and the empl(>y-
inent of four men, or a "team," as it was called, to do
the work, was the first .step toward that multiplied de-
tail which now characterizes the business. Succes-
sive changes and increase in the volume of the business
I)rought Mr. Boyd and his partners to the erection of
" the Big Shop" (so-called), in 1871, a mammoth fac-
tory, covering an area of more than one and one-half
acres, and believed to be the largest boot and shoe
manufactory under a continuous roof in the United
States.
The development of the business is simply wonder-
ful. In 1845 the total value of the product for the
entire town of Marlborough was $92,932 ; the usual
product of Mr. Boyd's factory alone is #1,500,000.
Mr. Boyd's relations with his workmen have always
been considerate and just. He has never forgotten
the days when he labored with his own hands.
In 1888 he conceived the idea of cutting up an estate
of sixty acres at Chestnut Hill into house lots for his
and other workmen, and of building an electric
street railway, that in addition to other advantages,
should make it possible for them to take their meals
at home. At his own cost, he embarked in these
enterprises and the result has not only been a bless-
ing to the workmen and in fact the whole town, but
has resulted in profit to himself. Long before this.
54-iii
850
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHFSETTS.
Mr. Boyd had identified himself prominently with
the steam railroad interests of Marlboroueh. The
construction of the Agricultural Branch Railroad
was delayed for some years from lack of sufficient
capital. Framingham, Southboroiigh and Nortli'ior-
ough had each pledged *50,000 to the enterprise.
The president of the Boston & Worcester Railmad
felt the importance of having Marlborough upon the
line of the Agricultural Branch, and his ciimpany
offered to guarantee six per cent, upon the sum of
S60,000 stock, if that sum could be raised for that
purpose, but not a cent at the time of this offer had
been raised in Marlborough. It was then that .Mr.
Boyd, foreseeing the value of connecting the road with
Marlborough, seconded the president's efforts by guar-
anteeing himself to raise $15,000 in Marlborough,
which he did, subscribing himself largely to the fund.
The result was the construction of the road to the
centre of Marlborough, and had Mr. Boyd's subse-
quent efforts for a trunk line for Marlborough been
fully crowned with success, the tracks which had thus
been constructed to the centre of the town, would
have been continued onward from that point to
Northborough and Clinton, and the town would have
been spared the inconveniences of the present braiiih
to the Y.
Mr. Boyd has never sought or cared for public
honors. In 1864 he was prevailed upon to iilliiw
his name to be used as a candidate for the tien-
eral Court and was elected and .served. Once, with-
out nomination for the office or consultation willi
him, he was elected selectman, but he has always ft-lt
that he could serve his town better in his business as
a manufacturer, than in political position. In mure
instances than one has he shown a noble public spirit.
Fifteen years ago, he offered the town a tract of
forty acres for a public park. Ten years afterward
he procured, in the face of much opposition, what is
now conceded to be the handsomest and, in fact, the
only pleasure thoroughfare leading out of town, the
re-location and strengthening by the County Commis-
sioners, of Maple Street. Forty years ago the estate ot
Caleb Witherbee, south of Main Street, had only a
laborer's lodge upon it. To-day, through Mr. Boyd's
foresight and energy, it is the fairest and most con-
venient residential portion of the city, crowned upon
what was then its treeless and wind-swept heights
with the stately mansion of the successful manu-
facturer.
While eschewing political preferment, Mr. Boyd
has of course been compelled to hold office in var-
ious institutions and enterprises, which he has either
originated or promoted, and which have converted
the pastoral quiet of the vill.age of 1836 into the
manufacturing stir of the Highland City of 1890.
He was director in the Marlborough Branch Rail-
road, now part of the Fitchburg Railroad System ;
Director in the Agricultural Branch Railroad : Di-
rector and at one time president of the First Nation-
al Bank of Marlborough ; Director of the People's
National Bank of Marlborough ; President of the
Marlborough Savings liaiik ; Director in the Hop-
kinton Bank of Ilnpkiiiton, .Massachusetts; and is
now ])resident of the Boyd A Corey Boot and Shoe
Manufacturing Company, the Che.stnut Hill Real
Estate Association and the Marlborough Electric
Street Railway Company, of the property of which
three last named companies, he is substantially the
owner.
His latest pitt is that of a sightly lot of land for
the French Evangelical Mission in Marlborough,
upon which a church is now in progress of erection.
At the time of this sketch, his vij^or and enterprise
in every direction, which makes for the welfare of his
native town of Muilborough is unabated and stimu-
lating.
SIMON HERBLKT HO\VE.
The characters of good men belong to mankind and
there is no duty more pleasant or useful than that
which seeks the rccournilioii of iheir virtues and stim-
ulates others to follow them. \n exaiuple of philan-
lhro|iic zeal steadily pursuing its benevolent designs
amidst the prevailing selfi.-liuess of business cumpe-
titi(m, will ever be of great benefit to the commun-
itv, and benedictions follow the steps of him who
proves himself to be a lover of his kind. With re-
spectable rank among such cliaraclers is found the
r.ul)ject of this sketch. The son of Samuel and Char-
lotte (Howe) Howe, of .Marlborough, he wa.s born
December 21. 1S:!5. His father wjis a cooper and
carried on that business in .^lal•lbo^l>ugh until 1842,
when he retired. Herbert spent his childhood and
youth at his h(mie enjoying the sports and performing
I the duties usual to boys in manufacturing villages in
I New England and in due time entered upon school
day experiences. He first attended the common school
and at the proper time entered the High School, from
which he graduated, and at the age of twenty, with
but little more than his willing hands and active brain
as the foundations of a business, he, in connection
with his elder brother, Lewis, commenced in a small
way the manufacture of shoes in the old cooper shop.
During the odd hours of his school days Herbert had
learned many of the important parts of shoe manu-
facture. He made shoes for .lohn W. Stevens, and
from the proceeds he paid his own board during his
school days.
By close attention to their business these young
men soon became known ;v8 factors of some conse-
quence in this industry, which has contributed so
much to the wealth and importance of their native
town. As their business increased there came the
need of more room, which was supplied by the addi-
tion of a story to the old cooper shop. Shortly after
Herbert bought out the interest of his brother Lewis,
thus assuming sole proprietorship of a business which
continued to increase in its volume, and for lack of
:^m'^^v^-ffm "
^.^^■-i?/ ^^^
L-^rT'
C''.-t/T7U <'
MAKLBOROUGH.
851
room Mr. Howe bought a shop on the corner of Pleas-
ant and Elm Streets and moved the old cooper's shop
up beside it and here went on winning the reputation
of an honest manufacturer and doing a fair amount of
business.
He remained here until 1861, when he formed a
co-partnership with Allen D. Howe, which continued
with but indifferent success up to 1865 when they dis-
solved partnership, and from this date 1865, practi-
cally commenced the business career of Mr. Herbert
Howe, which has been decidedly remarkable and re-
plete with many interesting incidents. Always
prompt and exact in meeting his financial obligations
a single incident will serve to give a cue to his whole
life. In 1857, the time of " the great snow-storm,"
when all public conveyance was blocked for several
days, he had a note falling due in a Boston bank, and
two of the three days of grace had passed, when he
started to walk through the drifts to Cordaville, a
station on the Boston and Worcester Railroad, six miles
distant, which feat he accomplished, and found that
the road had just been opened through to Boston,
where he arrived just a trifle late, but through the
courtesy of the cashier, who admired the spirit which
could overcome such obstacles, he obtained the paper
which for the first and only time in all his financial
career came so near to being dishonored.
He soon found need of more room and built on ad-
ditions from time to time until the present "Home"
shop standing on the spot where he commenced busi-
ness, is an ornament to the town, and with his other
two shops, the " Diamond F'' and the " Diamond 0,"
they form a monument to his successful management.
These three shops have been put into a stock com-
pany, with Mr. Howe as the principal stockholder
and president of the corporation, and his son Louis
P. Howe, as vice-president. The style of the corpor-
ation is the " S. H. Howe Shoe Co."
In these factories are made annually 2,151,474 pairs
of shoes. In the financial affairs of the town Mr.
Howe has taken great interest, and has been connec-
ted with several moneyed institutions.
In 1875 he was elected a trustee of the Marlborough
Savings Bank, and in 1882 its president, which ofiJce
he now holds. He was one of the original incorpor-
ators of ihe People's National Bank in 1879, and has
been on its board of directors uninterruptedly since
that date. Mr. Howe has acted with the Republican
party ever since its organization, has represented
Marlborough in the General Court, and in town
affairs has been for many years chairman of the
school-committee, a member of the board of select-
men, and some of the time its chairman.
Mr. Howe has been a constant attendant of the
Unitarian Church, also for some time the superinten-
dent of its Sunday-school and a liberal contributor to
the support of public worship, not only to his own
denomination but to every other in the town.
In private life Mr. Howe is known as a benevolent
and kind-hearted man, whose many charities have
been bestowed without ostentation or public an-
nouncement. Jan. 1, 1857, Mr. Howe married Har-
riet A., daughter of William P., and Lavinia (Baker)
Brigham, and from this union there have been four
children, Louis Porter, born May 29, 1858 ; Alice
Bakei", born Dec. 19, 1859; Charlotte Adelaide born
May 9, 1861 ; Annie Brigham. born June 15, 1871. Of
these children Alice 6., died Oct. 1860, and Annie B.,
died Sept. 1887. Louis P. married India Howe Ar-
nold, Jan. 1, 1887 ; Charlotte A., was married to Oscar
Herbert Stevens, May 6, 1885.
EDWARD F. BAENES, M.D.
Edward Forbes Barnes, M.D., was born in Marl-
borough, March 21, 1809, and was the oldest son of
Edward and Lucy (Brigham) Barnes. Until he was
of age he worked on the farm, but after obtaining his
majority he commenced his preparation for college
and entered Harvard in 1834 and graduated in 1838
in the class with Rufus Ellis, Judge Chaa. Devens,
James Russell Lowell, and J. F. W. Ware, attaining
a high rank as a scholar. After graduation he de-
voted some time to teaching school. Having decided
to devote himself to the medical profession he pur-
sued hia medical studies in the Harvard Medical
School and completed them in Paris, receiving his
degree of M.D. in 1844. In 1846 he commenced prac-
tice in Marlborough. During the thirty years that
followed he was constantly busy in his profes8ion,secur-
ingthe confidence of his patients. He was an able and
faithful physician, and proved himself a skilful and
successful practitioner. For several years he served as
a member of the School Committee, preparing some of
the annual reports of that body. Dr. Barnes was a
lover of good order and of all good institutions. Al-
though he nearly reached his three- score and ten
years, he retained to the last his faculties in an un-
usual degree. Dr. Barnes was an acute obderver of
passing events, and exercised a conscientious fidelity
in the discharge of his duty.
He was connected with the Massachusetts Medical
Society all through his professional life and was a
contributor to medical journals. Biography and his-
tory were favorite studies and his memory concern-
ing what he had read was remarkable. In local his-
torical matters he was well posted, and it is a source
of regret that what be had treasured up from his
reading is not more available in printed shape. He
was by common consent made president of the local
Historical and Genealogical Society when it was
organized. There was about him a peculiar attrac-
tiveness, a subtle fascination. He never obtruded
his own opinions upon any one, but was a model of
self-forgetftilness, self-depreciation and self-oblivion.
There was about him an air of repose, meekneas
and charity. Though really a very gifted man, he
was content, like hia Master, to be of no repatation.
852
mSTOKY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
He waa, in the best sense of the phrase, a good man.
In his nature righteousness and charity were blended.
Dr Barnes waa married to IMaria E., daughter of Ash-
bel and Lydia (Russell) Brigham, August 2(), 1821,
and by this union they had one child, Lizzie F., who
waa born October 7, 1848, and died July 12, 1SG9.
Also an adopted daughter, Josephine A., born .hin-
uary 18, 1870. Dr. Barnes died November 2, 1878,
and his widow is still living at the old home. She is
a superior woman, respected and beloved by all with
whom she associates.
JOHN ADDISON FBYE.
John A. Frye was born in Marlboro', Miiss., Nov.
27, 1830. His father was Lewis T., and his mother
was LevinaS. Lewis T. was a stove manufacturer, and
a man of considerable prominence in the town, hav-
ing represented it in the Legislature. The childhood
of John A. was passed through without unusual
incident, and in due time he commenced his school
days in the grammar-school, and finished his educa-
tion in due course in the high-school, under the
efficient training of Hon. O. W. Albee, who, as prin-
cipal of the Marlboro' high-school, gained a very
wide and justly enviable notoriety as a competent
educator. From his careful and thorough training
have gone out many of the boys of Marlboro' and
vicinity to careers of influence and business success.
After leaving school he entered the shoe-faiitory of
Mes'^rs. Hapgood & Russell, where he remained about
one year, when he made a change to the factory of
S.Herbert Howe, spending about one year ; he then
worked in the factory of S. G. Fay, remaining four
years, by which time he was a thorough master of
this business in all its departments. He left the Fay
shop to form a co-partnership with John W. Stevens,
on Pleasant Street, taking the management of the
factory, and bringing it up to a high state of pro-
duction, while Mr. Stevens managed the financial
part of the business.
In 1863 he bought out Mr. Stevens and single-
handed carried on the enterprise most successfully.
He remained in the old shop about one year when the
business had so grown that the young manufacturer
found it necessary to procure larger quarters, which
he found in a shop situated on Elm Street, Marl-
borough, to which he removed and where he remained
until 1865, when he again found he had out-
grown his accommodations and as the opportunity
otfered he traded shops with L. A. Howe, at the cor-
ner of Pleasant and Chestnut Streets, where Mr. Frye
has since remained and where, by a steady growth in
the volume and quantity of his manufacture, he has
been obliged to make additions at four diflTerent times,
each addition being made with reference to the
gradual improvement in the quality of the work
turned out as well as the quantity of it. In this fac-
tory, as it now stands, may be found all the latest and
best of the many labor-saving machines which from
time to time the ingenuity of the skilled mechanic
has provided. This factory ranks third only in ihe
list of large manufactories in town in the
total of annual output. Up to 1883 Mr. Frye had
confined himself to the manufacture of shoe-s of all
kinds, but at this date, for the first time, commenced
on boots chiefly for children and youth. Like most
of the country manufacturers Mr. Frye had disposed
of his goods through the medium of a commission
house in Boston, but in 1876 he changed this time-
honored plan and undertook to market his product
himself, placing it directly in the jobber's hands. This
plan worked so well and .so materially to his benefit
that he has continued it to the present time. When
by active competition the manufacturers have been
forced into very narrow margins for ]>rofits, the saving
of commissions to middle mc n hiis been a very im-
portant item. The good.s from the manufactory of
Mr. Frye are first-cla->s and are known to the trade
far and wide. He has managed his bu.tiness with
such sagacity and untiring industry for all these years
that a large material return has come to him, and with
unquestioned linancial resources he is able to gratify
a taste for farming in a genteel way for the pleasure
there is in It for him, and in doing this he has re-
claimed over lOO acres in the vicinity of his native
town, making that which was worthless to yield a
revenue and changing rocky wastes to green pastures.
Mr. Frye has been intere.sted in the breeding of fancy
stock and has had a very su|)erior herd of Jerseys,
among which were some justly celebrated animals.
In 1886, becoming convinced of the superiority of
the Holstein breed, he sold his Jerseys and imported
at great expense some of this breed, and now his herd
of Holsteins numbers 135 head of hii,'h grade cattle.
Mr. Frye has with representatives of this herd won
several prizes in 1890, having taken the premiums at
the New England Fair, at Worcester, the Rhode
Island State Fair, at Providence, also at Brattle-
borough, Vt., and Danbury, Conn. September 26,
1861, Mr. Frye married Elvira F., daughter of Otis
and Leviua (Rice) Russell, and they have had five
children, two of whom died in infancy. The living
are Walter P., Carrie L., and Delia M. Mr. Frye is a
liberal supporter of the Unitarian Church — while Mr.
Frye has avoided political activity, declining town
offices, he is a deciiled Republican, having cast his
first vote for the martyred Lincoln. Mr. Frye was
the first one in town to introduce electricity into his
factory for lighting purposes, owning his own plant
He is now enjoying the fruits of his successful activ-
ity in his handsome house, with fine grounds situated
on Ple.-tsant Street, and has the respect and esteem of
all good citizens.
DAVID MTHITE HITCHCOCK.'
New Englanders are justly proud of their ancestry,
and while Massachusetts has a long Hat of honored
1 By John L. Stone.
/'
v^?
>/(.
Xvj(>\OwV
A c
^M^
MARLBOROUGH.
853
names, she must not forget her sister Srates have a
first claim upon a hirge number. If the young men
of other States have flocked to Massachusetts, it was be-
cause larger opportunities were possible, and especial-
ly so to those who were inclined to mercantile pursuits.
So it has been in the town of Marlborough, as
many of her most respected and prosperous citizens
have come from without her borders.
Among this class none perhaps would claim the at-
tention of the historian more quickly than David
"White Hitchcock, son of Lemuel and Sally White
Hitchcock, who was born June 19th, 1831, at Wood-
stock, Vt. His father was a merchant, both at
Weatherafield, Vt., andClaremont, N. H., noted for
his integrity and uprightness in busines.s, and much
beloved by all who knew him for his kindly and genial
disposition. He <lied at the house of his eldest son,
John, in Newton, JI:ws., Nov. 9, 1SG6, aged eighty-
*even years. His mother was of the Wliite family, of
Watertown, Mxss. She died in Woodstock, Vt. in 1835.
David White Hitchcock was the seventh of nine
children, and the only living representative of the
family at this date, and received his education at the
common schools ofClaremont, N. H. Owing to a
reverse of fortune and the dea'h of the mother, the
family was broken up and scattered, the subject of
this sketch bginning life on a farm in Claremont, at
the age of nine years.
At the age of fifteen he entered the store of Henry
Patten, a Claremont merchant. After spending nearly
three years in Claremont, he went to Montpelier,
Vermont, as clerk in the employ of Harvey King,
then a prominent merchant of that place. At the age
of nineteen he went to Boston whither his two elder
brothers had preceded him (one being of the firm of
M. S. Lincoln & (-o., and the other of the firm of Nash,
Calleniler & Co.), and entered the employ of (Jti.s Nor
cross & Co., wholesale dealers in crockery and gla.s«
ware. Beginning as the humblest employee of this
firm, he soon made it apparent to the head of the
firm, a sharp, clear-headed man, that he liad in this
young man one who would prove a valuable acquisi-
tion to his business, and at the end of five years from
entering their employ, he was admitted a partner of
the firm. Here was given him an opportunity to rise
by his unfailing attention to business, his honesty, his
energy as a salesman, his shrewdness and prudence
as a business man to success and prosperity. He re-
mained as a partner of this firm eleven years. At the
expiration of this co-partnership in 1800 he withdrew
and' 'brmed a co-partnership with his brother John
under the firm name of John &■ David W. Hitch-
cock, for the purpose of doing a wholesale boot and
shoe business at GO Pearl Street, Boston.
The foundation of his future secure, he rapidly in-
creased in wealth and prosperity, carrying always with
him his earlier reputation for shrewdness, honesty
and ability, commanding the respect of all who knew
him.
The great fire in Bo.ston in November, 1822, fouml
the firm on the eve of retirement from business alto-
gether. After the fire it was dissolved and was
succeeded in the business by Leonard, Redpath &
Lamb, the two former being salesmen and the latter
book-keeper of the old firm, J. and D. W. Hitchcock
remaining as special partners. He was instrumeutal,
as was also his brother John, in building up the firm
of Wallace, Killiam & Bray, manufacturera of boots
and shoes, at Beverly, Mass., the two brothers being
the special partner} of the firm for eighteen years.
Mr. Hitchcock has always taken a warm interest in
starting other young men whose lives began in as small a
way as his own, and assisting them with advice and
money, most of them becoming as successful a.s he has
been. In 1873, after retiring from all active business,
although still interested in special co-partnerships,
and the care of several large estates, he purchased a
farm in the easterly part of the beautiful village of
Marlborough, Mass., and settled down with his family
to enjoy the balance of his days in abundance of lei-
sure, and with a reasonable endowment of this world's
wealth, to purchase luxury and comfort, that is, home
life without cares ; but even here his sagacity in man-
aging business affairs and his reputation for wise
counsel, were soon discovered by the people with
whom he was daily associated.
He was elected by his town's people to fill the oflice
of Selectman and served five years, three of them
being Chairman of the Board. He also was one of
the Board of construction of the waterworks in Marl-
borough ; after its completion was for one year Water
Commissioner.
It was by his exertions that the People's National
Bank was established in Jlarlborough of which Mr.
Elbridge Howe, an old and much esteemed resident,
was the first president, Mr. Hitchcock succeeding
him at his decease and still continuing in office. He
is also one of the Trustees of the Marlborough Savings
Bank.
He is a Director in the National Tube Works Com-
pany (a Massachusetts company having its works in
McKeesport, Pa.), the largest wrought iron pipe, tube
and rolling-mill in the world, giving employment to
5,500 men, having its offices in Boston, New York,
Chicago, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh, Pa. He is Secre-
tary and Treasurer of the National TransportHtion
Company, and Vice-President of the Monongahela
Furnace Company of McKeesport, Pa., both being
otfshoots from the National Tube Works Company.
He is also Presidentof the National Warehouse Com-
pany of Chicago, and Chairman of the American
Water Works and Guarantee Company (Limited), of
Pittsburgh, Pa., which lays and operates water works
in cities and towns in the United States.
Coming to Marlborough for retirement and leisure
these several important offices have been urged upon
him until he is again a thoroughly busy man. Lib-
eral in all ways, he requires the strictest accounting
854
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
in all monetary matters, and will not countenance
fraud or deception. Decided and tenacious in his
ideas, he respects one who freely and honestly speaks
his mind, even if it should not coincide with his.
Although coming to Marlborough an entire stranger,
no one has a livelier or deeper interest in the growth
and prosperity of the town.
Mr. Hitchcock married Anna Maria, the eldest
daughter of William Hervey and Ann Maria (How-
ard) Conant, of Boston, and by her had two children,
Lemuel and Alice Howard Hitchcock.
WINSLOW MORSE WARREN.
Winalow M. Warren, son of Samuel and Rebecca
(Morse) Warren, was born in Marlborough August 20,
1828. He was born on " the old Warren Place,"
where his father, grandfather and great-grandfather
had lived and toiled before him. They were farmers
and men of sterling worth in the community, and
each in his generation acquitted himself well, passing
down to the succeeding generation a good name for
honesty and probity of character. His childhood
and youth were much after the fashion of the aver-
age New England boy, — assisting in the lighter farm
duties, attending school and growing to vigorous
manhood.
He commenced his education in the Warren Dis-
trict School, on leaving which he entered the Acad-
emy, and here closed the educational portion of his
life. After a short period of business connected with
the farm, he, in 1850, formed a partnership in the
meat and provision business with George E. Woods,
which continued until 1864, when he entered the
firm of Dart & Co., in the express business between
Boston and Marlborough, in which business he has
continued up to the date of this issue, and of which
he has become the proprietor. He has also, for the
past twenty-five years, done an insurance business,
and has settled many estates. He has been a trustee
in the Marlborough Savings Bank, and also a mem-
ber of the Committee on Investments. He was one
of the original subscribers to the stock of the People's
National Bank and on the first Board of Direction.
Mr. Warren is a trustee of the Union Society, to
which was granted the land now and for many years
known as " the Common." Mr. Warren is a Repub-
lican, a contributor to the support of the Union Con-
gregational Church, a member of the " United Breth-
ren Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons,"
and was for several years treasurer of the town of
Marlborough.
July 2, 1879, Mr. Warren married Sarah, daughter
of William aud Martha (Phelps) Wilson. Mr. War-
ren is a well-known citizen of Marlborough, long
identified with the business interests of his native
town, and is the representative of two well-known
families of Marlborough, who were highly esteemed
in the early days of the town — the Morses and the
Warrens.
The e.xample of Mr. Warren in his daily walk and
conversation, is worthy of imitation by those who shall,
in succeeding generations, peruse this history of Mid-
dlesex County.
WILLIAM GIBBON'.
William Gibbon, son of Samuel Gibbon and Abi-
gail Cogsvvell, was born in Marlborough July 25, 1S07.
His father came to Marlborough from Dedham, JIass.,
in 1784, and bought the farm where William was born,
and which has been in the family since 1784. William
had but little opportunity for schooling, attending
the school kept by Aai-on Brigham twelve weeks a
year for several years. He worked on the farm, and,
by careful management and natural-born economy,
made his way up in the world. In 1863 Mr. Gibbon,
in connection with Mr. Mark Fay (one of the fore-
uiont men of Marlborough) organized the First N.ij
tional Rank, and was on its Board of Directors of the
j bank for twenty years. During this time he was
president, and also vice-president of this bank, and
vice-president aud trustee of the Marlborough Sav-
ings Bank.
Mr. Gibbon has acted with the Republican party
ever since its organization. Februarj' 12, 1835, Mr.
Gibbon married Eunice Wilson, of Peterborough,
N. H., and they had five children : Abbie A., born
August 1, 1837; Elizabeth J., born July 7, 1839;
Charlotte E., born September 1, 1844; Mary E., born
October 20, 1848; John, born April 24, 1851. Of
these children, Elizabeth J. and Charlotte E. are de-
ceased.
Mr. Gibbon has lived a long and useful life in this
community, and was respected and beloved by a
large circle of friends. He died November 11th,
1890.
TIMOTHY A. COOLIDGE.'
Timothy Augustus Coolidge, son of William and
Ann (Leighton) Coolidge, was born in Natick, Mid-
dlesex County, June 25, 1827.
The district school bestowed upon him an element-
ary education, and beyond this he has depended
entirely upon his perceptive faculties, studying from
the world about him.
His father was a shoemaker in a small way, and as
he was one of seven children, he was obliged very
early in life to provide for his own support. Until
he was twenty years old, he worked in the shop with
his father, with the exception of three months, when,
as a lad of thirteen years, he '' pegged " for Heury
Wilson — afterwards United States Senator and Vice-
president. Ever since his twentieth year, Mr. Cool-
idge has been a growing shoe manufacturer, at first
doing most of the work himself, now giving employ-
ment to hundreds of people.
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MARLBOROUGH.
855
From 1848 to '58 he manufactured shoes in Con-
cord, and from 1858 to the present time, has conducted
a manufactory in Marlborough.
On the ]7th day of October, 1848, he was married,
in Concord, to Sarah B., daughter of .A.bel and Rebecca
(Lewis) Davia, their only child being Melissa A. Cool-
idge. In September, 1854, he married his second
wife, Maria H., daughter of Thomas Davis.
In financial affairs he has gained a substantial
reputation as self-reliant, cautious, firm and just.
Politically he has followed the lead of his early
employer, Henry Wilson. Socially he has been found
enthusiastic in every department, and holds high
Masonic orders (32°). He has also been actively
identified with several philanthropic societies ; is an
active temperance man, and a valuable member of
the Farmers' and Mechanics' Club aod the Board of
Trade. He is a trustee of the Marlborough Savings
Bank and was a director iu, and is also vice-president
of the First Xational Bank of Marlborough. He is a
justice of the peace, and has beeu a member of the
Board of Selectmen, eight years ; chairman four years,
and in 1880 and '81 was elected to represent the 32d
Middlesex District in the Legislature.
WILI.IA.M X. DAVESPOET.
William Nathaniel Davenport, son of William J.
and Louisa (Howard) Davenport, was born in Boyl-
ston, Mass., Nov. :', 1S5G. He attended the district
school until he was eleven years of age; but about
this time he was thrown upon liis own resources for
his support, and went to work in the Boylston Cotton-
Mills, and remained there until he was thiiteen years
of age, when he went from there to Hudson, Mass.,
securing work iu the shoe-factory of W. F. Trow-
bridge, where he remained one year. He came to
Marlborough January 1, 1872, and went to work in
the shoe-factory of Clap|i & Billings, remaining nine
years. Xt this time lie decided to commence the
study of the law, and read law for one year in the
office of James T. Joslin, of Hudson, and then entered
the Law School at Ann .^rbor, Michigan, aud was
admitted to the bar of that State the same year. He
then came back to Massachusetts and entered the law
office of E. F. Johnson, Marlborough, remaining one
year, and was admitted to the bar of Middlesex
County, Juue 30, 1883. The first public office he
held was clerk of the Police Court of MarlboiouKh
which he resigned in June, 1884. This same year he
was nominated ou the Republican ticket for Repre-
sentative to the General Court of Jlassachusetts, and
was elected by a handsome plurality ; and he was
nominated and elected for the second term by a larger
majority, although the.district was very largely Demo-
cratic. Young Davenport had represented his con-
stituency so well in the House that he was elected to
the State Senate in 1S88-89, where he discharged his
duties in a satisfactory and intelligent manner. Mr
Davenport is a member of the Congregational Church,
and a member of several of the secret benevolent so-
cieties, being a member of the United Brethren
Lodge of A. F. and A. M., the Order of Red Men,
and has served for two years as Grand Commander of
the A. L. of H., and one year as Grand Leader of the
Home Circle. Mr. Davenport married Lizzie M.,
daughter of Lyman P. and Eliza L. (Moore) KeO'
dall, of Boylston, Mass.
JOHJf 8. FAY.'
John S. Fay, son of S. Chandler and Nancy (War-
ren) Fay, was born in Berlin, Worcester County,
January 15, 1840. He obtained bis education in the
public schools of Marlborough and at the Commercial
College in Worcester. When twenty-one years old,
at the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted as a
private in Company F, Thirteenth Massachusetts In-
fantry. He was with his regiment in all its marches
and engagements till April 30, 1863, when in action
near Fredericksburg, Va., he received a wound from
a shell which necessitated the amputation of his right
arm and right leg. While in the field hospital he
was taken prisoner and confined in Libby Prison for
one month. He did not succeed in reaching his
home until October — the most mutilated and crip-
pled of all who survived of the eight hundred and
thirty-one who enlisted for the war from Marlbor-
ough.
In 1865 Mr. Fay was appointed postmaster of Marl-
borough by President Johnson, and by successive ap-
pointments has held the position ever since. He has
been an active Grand Army man and has held many
offices in Post 43, which he aided to organize. He is
also a prominent Odd Fellow and a member of the
Grand Lodge of Mass^achusetts. He is also promi-
nently identified with the Unitarian Society of Marl-
borough. Mr. Fay has always been interested in the
welfare of his adopted city, and has won the respect
and esteem of his fellow-citizens. November 20,
1869, Mr. Fay married Lizzie, daughter of James M.
and Elizabeth (Pratt) Ingalls, of Marlborough. Their
only child is Frederic H. Fay.
NABUM WITHEEBEE.'
Nahum Witherbee, son of Caleb Witherbee, was
born at Marlborough, Massachusetts, April 11, 1811.
At an early age he learned the tailor's trade at Marl-
borough, and after working at different places he
commenced business in Andover, Massachusetts, with
a Mr. Abbott as partner. Finding a change desira-
ble, he went to Lynn and remained there for some
years. Having an offer from Emerson Leland, of
Boston, they formed a partnership in which he con-
tinued till 1860, when he removed to Marlborough
and started the clothing business there.
1 Frou "Oae Iu One Thoiuuid."
• By Edward F. Johiuoii.
856
HISTORY OP MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
He was soon elected a member of the House of Rep-
resentatives, in which he served two terms, and also
held the oflSce of Town Treasurer and Tax Collector,
and was one of the committee appointed to build a
new town-hail. He was one of the trustees of the
savings-bank and one of the investing committee.
In 1871 he was appointed a Trial Justice for
Middlesex County at Marlborough, and by his care-
ful study and his good judgment, he was regarded
one of the most accurate in the County. He held
that office till his death. He also did a great deal of
conveyancing and probate business and acted as ad-
ministrator, executor, trustee and guardian. His ser-
vices were much sought and he had the full confl-
dence of both the people of his town and of the
courts.
He was often selected as referee and acted in similar
positions and in a number of cases was appointed us
Auditor by the Superior Court, a position usually
filled by practicing lawyers.
He was a prominent member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church and one of the officers of that
body. He was a Master-Mason and Chaplain of the
Lodge for twenty years. No man in Marlborough
has been missed more, as he was affable, and at the
same time guided by his view of the right. While he
was conservative, he was a man of broad views and
unselfish and a steadfast friend. Many people are
indebted to his assistance freely given, and his name
is always spoken of with respect, and particularly by
the many who were the recipients of his kindness.
April 30, 1835, he married Miss Mary Smith, of
Chelmsford, who survives him. He died February
21,1882. He left one son.
MOSES HOWE.
The first American ancestor of this name was John,
who first settled in Watertown, and went from there
to Sudbury. He was one of the petitioners, in 1657,
for the grant which constituted Marlborough, and
was the son of John, who came from Warwickshire,
England, who was a descendant of John Howe, him-
self the son of Hodinhull, and connected with the
family of Sir Charles Howe, of Lancaster.
The first-mentioned John was admitted a freeman
in 1640. He came to Marlborough about 1657, .and
built a cabin a little to the east of the " Indian Plant-
ing Field," where his descendants lived for many
generations. This proximity to the " Indian Planta-
tion " brought him in contact with the natives, but
by his kindness he gained the confidence and good-
will of his savage neighbors, who not only respected
his rights, but in many cases made him the umpire in
cases of difficulties among themselves. John opened
the first public house in Marlborough prior to 1670.
He died here in 1687.
Moses, the subject of this sketch, was in direct
descent, by several generations, from John. His
father, Ephraim Howe, married Hannah Mayiiard, of
Framiugham, November, 1782. Moses was born
October 6, 17S3, and married Lucy Temple March IG,
1807. Their children were: Eveline, Ephraim, Lucy,
Betsy and Eli H. Moses w.ts a farmer, and owned a
large farm on the north side of Lake Williams, now
occupied by John W. Brigham. He was a man of
retiring nature, never desiring any public office, but
was a man of sterling integrity. He was born, lived
and died in the same house. He died October 4, 1SG3.
EPHRAI.M HOWE.
The line of ancestry has been given in the preced-
ing sketch of his father, Moses. Ephraim was born
in Marlborough, June 10, 1810, and received his
education at the district school. When a young lad
he went to work for Ira Temi)le, on a farm in the
eastern part of the town, and remained there until
twenty-two years of age, when he went to Boston and
entered the employ of Rufus Felton, a native of
JIarlborough. Here he remained until the spring of
1841, when he went t.-) New York City, and entered
into mercantile pursuits, in which he has been success-
ful, lie retains his interest in his old home, making
frequent visits to it and noting the growth and
prosperity of the thriving town, now grown to a
city.
An evidence of the fact that a love of early home
associations has not been lost amidst his active busi-
ness life and long residence in the metropolis, is this
record of the family and the engravings accompany
it placed in this history through his instrumentality.
He also has made a large contriluition forthepurjiose
of keeping in good order the resiing-[>l.aces of his
immediate ancestors, a tender tribute lo their memory
and his affection.
STEPHEN MORSE.'
Stephen Morse was born at Marlborough, Mass.,
January IC, 1797. At the age of fouiteen he went to
Sudbury to learn a tr.ide. At the age of twenty-one
he went to Boston in the employ of Jlr. Gaffield, then
the leading boot and shoe dealer of Boston. There
he became acquainted with the substantial men of
those days and through their influeuce gained a posi-
tion in the Suffolk Bank, where he remained till 1835.
A part of the time while in its employ, he traveled
over the New England States collecting specie for
the bills of the. State banks taken by the Suffolk
bank and, during this time, was under a heavy re-
sponsibility, as the amount of money in his care was
very large and the means of transportation were then
by teams and coaches not by steam as now.
When he resigned he was presented with a hand-
some sum of money by the directors and received
from them a vote of thanks for both his fidelity and
ability while in their employ.
1 By Udwanl K. JuLumju.
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MARLBOROUGH.
857
He removed to Marlborough ia 1835, and was soon
employed by the town as its agent in a lawsuit
which was very important and which involved
the taking of a large number of depositions and
which, after a long contest, resulted in favor of the
town. He was also employed in many other town
cases and held many ofSces in the town where his
good judgment and industry were of great advantage.
He, after he returned to Marlborough, settled a
great many estates and, although not a lawyer, gave
much advice that would have been to the credit of a
member of the bar. He was a prominent member of
the Union Society and was always public-spirited and
willing.
His honesty was never questioned and while he
was decided in his opinions, he was always open to
conviction if he was shown the right.
He owned, at the time of his death, a beautiful
farm in East Marlborough which has been in the
Morse family for 200 years, and where he had lived
many years and which his family now occupy.
He married Elizabeth Thompson, of Sudbury, July
5, 1824. She died October 30th, 1862 ; he married
Martha A. Moore, also of Sudbury, who survives him.
He left thr»e children, Stephen Morse, Jr., Emily T.
Morse and Mary H. Morse.
LEVI BIGELOAV.
Levi Bigelow, son of Gershom and Mary (Howe)
Bigelow, was born in Marlborough October 28, 1790.
He married July 23, 1809, Xancy Ames, daughter of
Deacon Moses and Lydia (Brigham) Ames, born in
Marlborough March 1, 1792. At the age of nineteen
he commenced teaching school in the town of Holden,
Mass., and he followed that occupation winters for
about thirty years, the greater portion of the time in
his own district. The remaining months of the year
he devoted to farming. He was for some years, in
company with his brother Lambert, interested in a
country store in the west part of Marlborough, but
withdrew from the firm after a few years. In addi-
tion to his farming he did much in surveying, making
out deeds, settling estates, was a justice of the peace
for thirty years, and he was always active in the cause
of education and for several years was one of the
School Committee. He represented the town in the
General Court in 1831, '32, '34, '39, and was one of
the assessors for seventeen years. In all of these po-
sitions he was known for his sterling integrity, firm-
ness of mind and steadfast opposition to any thing
that savored of compromise or a vacillating disposi-
tion. As a teacher he was very successful, a thorough
disciplinarian and always had the welfare of his pupils
at heart, many of whom, who became prominent busi-
ness men, have said that they owed much of their suc-
cess in life to the wise counsel that they received at his
hands during their school-days. Firmness, persever-
ance and honesty were ever prominent traits in his
character. His wife died suddenly January 22, 1850,
and he died April 3, 1859.
The children were Lydia, Leander, Mary Cordelia,
Electa, Levi, Jr., Lambert, Edwin M., Horace Holly,
Julian, William, Ann Theresa, Arthur J. and Ada
Genevieve.
HORACE H. BIGELOW.
Horace H. Bigelow was born in Marlborough
.Tune 2, 1827, and was the son of Levi and Nancy
(Ames) Bigelow. Like most New England boys,
his education was received in the public schools,
which he attended until the age of fifteen, when
he began the business of shoeraaking. The spirit
of the boy was not much different from that dis-
played in the man, and early in his business career
his natural mechanical and inventive endowments
began to develop, and finally won for him a high
place among his business associates.
Naturally his inventive genius developed in the
direction of the boot and shoe manufacture, and he
became the inventor of the heel-pressing and nailing
machines, from the sale of which he has won a large
fortune. Shoe manufacturing was the early dream of
the young inventor, and he soon found his way into
active work in this important industry. His business
energies were not confined to Massachusetts alone,
but were felt with beneficial results wherever im-
proved machinery was used in the various depart-
ments of this business.
Mr. Bigelow achieved considerable notoriety through
his plan of organizing prison labor for the manufac-
ture of boots and shoes under contracts.
In 1870 he withdrew from active, personal care of
manufacturing interests, and engaged in other equally
absorbing cares with the energy that had hitherto
characterized his actions. Securing control of the
Worcester and Shrewsbury Railroad and a large por-
tion of the real estate on Lake Quinsigamond, he
began at once the development of both, and has al-
ready accomplished much in the improvement of the
grounds at the Lake, thus making it one of the very
attractive sections of our State.
As President of the railroad he provided steel rails,
new and better engines and cars, built a pretty station
at the lake, with car-houses, and other improvements,
for the accomplishment of which he has expended
thousand of dollars, resulting in positive good to the
city of Worcester. At the lake he has built up the
charming village of " Lake View," and by a system of
easy payments has made it possible for any young
man to own a house there. While busy with these
important enterprises, he has also been instrumental
in establishing other industries. The Bullard Rifle
Company, of Springfield, Mass., is indebted to him for
its establishment The Electric Power Company
was promoted by him. The list might be extended
greatly in the simple enumeration of the various in-
terests that claim his care and attention. As a buai-
858
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
neas man, he has the record of achieving whatever
he has undertaken, and of never giving up until his
purpose is accomplished. Mr. Bigelow will ever be
credited with being helpful to his fellow-men.
The right of free speech is a sacred one to him, and
to maintain it in the person of one who was unjustly
oppressed, he did not hesitate to spend thousands of
dollars. Generous to a vanquished opponent, revenge
never enters into his battles against wrong.
Joining with Hon. Edward L. Davis, of Worcester,
they have given to the City of Worcester one hundred
and ten acres of land for a Lake Park. He consum-
mated the largest real-estate purchase ever made
within the city of Worcester proper.
The tract of land (formerly used for railroad pur-
poses) lying between Mechanic and Foster Streets,
covering 115,000 square feet, he bought, aud is holding
for the purpose of erecting thereon the finest building
devoted to business purposes in New England. With
the purchase of this land there came into his hands
the large building known as the skating-rink, in which
band concerts and various other attractions were
offered from time to time ; he was thus able to furnish
pleasant amusements to thousands. His only pur-
pose in allowing the rink to be run was to give the
people amusement at a low cost.
Mr. Bigelow is a man of liberal and generous
views, a friend of all worthy enterprises, a defender of
the poor, and a clear-headed man of affairs. He mar-
ried, first, Jan. 22, 1852, Lucy Ann, daughter of
Thomas and Patty Howe. She died September 25,
1857. He married, second, June 1, 1859, Adelaide E.
Buck, of Portland, Conn. His children are Adelaide
Frances, born December 24, 1860, married George A.
Stevens, of Worcester, June 23, 1886 ; Irving E., born
November 11, 1862, married Lillian A. Drennan,
November 17, 1887 ; Frank H. born February 8, 1875.
GEORGE N. GATE.
George Neal Gate, son of Moses and Abigail (Brews-
ter) Gate, was born December U, 1824, at Wolfbor-
ough, N. H. His father died when George was but
four years of age. The facilities offered for an early
education were very slight, but at the age of eighteen
Mr. Gate had fitted himself to teach and secured a
position in Rochester, N. H., which he held for two
years. At the close of the term in 1843, he went to
Boston, seeking a fortune, and secured employment at
Ashland, (then Unionville), to learn the trade of a
builder. For five years after completing his service
he remained in Ashland, carrying on the lumber bus-
iness and house carpentering. At this period his
health was so seriously affected that for three years
he was obliged to abandon all labors, but in 1856 had
so far recovered as to begin in Marlborough upon a
limited scale the lumber and contracting business in
which he is still engaged. Mr. Gate about this time
began the building and sale of dwellings on easy
terms, making it possible for the man with small
means to thereby secure a home for himself and fam-
ily.
Mr. Gate was a delegate to the first Free Soil con-
vention in Worcester in 1S48, has been a director in
the People's National Bank of Marlborough and is
now a director in the First National Bank and trustee
of the Marlboro' .Savings Bank. He has been a mem-
ber of the United Brethren Lodge of F. & A. M. for
thirty years.
Mr. Gate was instrumental in the advancement and
building up of the lodge as much or more than any
other one person, contributing his time and means to
that eud, which was gratifying to the members of the
lodge. He is a charter member of the Houghton R.
A. Chapter of Marlborough, and other societies.
August 25, 1857, Mr. Gate married Charlotte A.,
daughter of Mark and Sophia (Brigham) Fay, of
Marlborough, who died in 18Go, and ihcir only child,
a son, died the following year. In .\u!,'ust, 1869, Mr.
Gate married Adelle E. Glidden, of Lowell.
MARK FAY.
Mark Fay, son of Josiah and Hepsabeth (Collins)
Fay, was born in Southbornugh, Worcester County,
Massachu.setts, January 29, 1793, aud came to ilarl-
borough about 1800. His opportunities for an edu-
cation were limited to the common schools of that
time. He learned the trade of a cabinet-maker and
worked at his trade near what is known now as Wil-
liams Pond. He kept a country store such as was to
be found in country towns in that period. In 1850 it
was through his infiuence that the Marlborough
Branch of the Fitchburg Railroad was built, and he
contributed very largely of his time and means to
carry on and complete this enterprise.
In 1860 the Marlborough Savings Bank was estab-
lished through his efforts and he was its first treas-
urer.
In 1863 he secured the charter for the First National
Bank of Marlborough, and was its first president and
held that office until his death, which occurred June
29, 1876. Mr. Fay married Sophia Brigham in 1817,
and they had three sons and four daughters.
HON. SAMUEL N. ALDRICH. '
Hon. Samuel Nelson Aldrich, son of Sylvanus
Bucklin and Lucy Jane (Stoddard) Aldrich, was born
in Upton, Worcester County, February 3, 1838. His
education was acquired at the Worcester, Massachu-
setts, and Stonington, Connecticut, Academies, and at
Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island. Sub-
sequently he taught school in Upton, Holliston and
Worcester, Massachusetts. He commenced the study
of law in the office of Hon. Isaac Davis and E. B.
Stoddard, at Worcester, and finished at the Harvard
' From " One iu Uue Tlioiwaiid."
■f^
WILMINGTON.
859
Law School. In 1863 Mr. Aldrich w.as admitted to
the bar aod commeuced practice at Marlborough.
Since 1874 he has kept an office in Boston, though re-
taining his residence at Marlborough, living in Bos-
ton during the winter. In the public affairs of Marl-
borough Mr. Aldrich has been prominent, was for
nine years a member of the School Committee, also for
four years on the Board of Selectmen, officiating as
chairman of both. He has been a director of the
People's National Bank at Marlborough, president of
the Marlborough Board of Trade, president of the
Framingham & Lowell Railroad, (now a portion of
the Old Colony system), and president of the Central
Massachusetts Railroad.
In 1879 Mr. Aldrich was elected to the State Senate,
where he served as chairman of the committee on
bills in the third reading, and on the committee on
constitutional amendments. In 1880 he was again a
member of the State Senate. In 1883 he was a mem-
ber of the House and served on the judiciary committee.
In 1880 he was the Democratic candidate for Con-
gress from the Seventh Massachusetts District.
In March, 1887, Mr. Aldrich was appointed by
President Cleveland the assistant treasurer of the
United States at Boston, which position he resigned in
November, 1890, to accept the presidency of State
National Bank.
Besides this, he is a member of the Suffolk Bar, is
in the practice of his profession, and is still president
of the Central Massachusetts Railroad.
Mr. Aldrich married in 1865, at Upton, Mary J.,
daughter of J. T. and Eliza A. (Colburn) Macfarlaud.
They have a son, Harry M. Aldrich.
HON. OBADIAH W. ALBEE.
Hon. Obadiah W. Albee was the son of Moses
Albee, and was born in Milford, Massachusetts, March
24, 1808. His father was a farmer of limited means ;
he had au excellent reputation and was an honest
man. Obadiah W. attended the district school and
made good progress, and at eighteen years of age en-
tered Milford Academy, and there fitted for college.
He entered Brown University in 1828 and graduated
in 1832. In college he was a member of the United
Brothers Society, and in 1846 was chosen a member
of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. He worked his
way through college, having only twenty-five dol-
lars to start with. His graduation theme was the
" Prospects of Liberty in Europe." He came to
Marlborough in the spring of 1833. In politics he
acted with the Whigs (thinking them the most anti-
slavery) till the Mexican War convinced him of their
pro-slavery proclivities. He then acted partially
with the old Liberty party, but used hia best efforts,
both by pen and speech, to form the Free Soil party
which should unite the old Liberty men and the con-
scientious Whigs. In the session of 1849 he repre-
sented the town of Marlborough in the Legislature.
Early in 1850 he sailed for California, going by the
way of Cape Horn, returning by the Isthmus in
October, 1850. On arriving home he was returned
to the House of Representatives, where he served
through the memorable session in which Charles
Sumner was first elected to the United States Senate.
Mr. Albee was elected to the Massachusetts Senate
for 1855 and 1867 as a Republican. In 1849 he was a
member of the committe on elections. In 1855 he
was the chairman of the committee on federal rela-
tions and public lands, also one of the library com-
mittee. His moat extended legislative efforts, in
speech-making, were the following : In 1849, on the
anti-slavery resolutions ; in which debate Mr. Upham,
the presiding officer of the Senate, bore a distinguished
part. In 1851, on the proposition for a liquor law;
and in 1855, on the Loring address and personal lib-
erty bill. Mr. Albee married Miss Margaret Chip-
man, and they had six children. He died in July,
1866.
DAVID QOODALL.
David Goodall was bom April 1, 1791, married
Millicent, daughter of Thaddeus and Lucy Warren.
He was engaged in early life as a school teacher. He
was a man of decided talents, entergetic in character
and prominent in both church and town affairs. He
held the office of Deacon and filled from time to time
the principal offices in the town. He was a repre-
sentative to the General Court and a Justice of the
peace. He died Oct. 17, 1858.
CHAPTER LXIV.
WILMINGTON.
BY WILLIAM T. DAVIS.
Soon after the settlement of Charlestown the people
feeling the need of more agricultural land applied to
the General Court for the same and received a grant
of territory four miles square which was called
Charlestown village. On the 17tli of September, 1642,
it was ordered by the court that " Charlestown village
be called Woobume."
In September 1639 the inhabitants of Lynn peti-
tioned the General Court " for a place for an inland
plantation at the head of their bounds." In compli-
ance with the petition a tract of land fottr miles
square was granted with the condition " that the pe-
titioners shall within two years make some good pro-
ceeding in planting so as it may be a village fit to
contain a convenient number of inhabitants which may
in due time have a church there." This tract of land
was called " Linn village," and on the 29th of May,
1644, it was orderedby the court" that Linn village
at the request of the inhabitants thereof shall be call-
ed Redding."
860
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTS, MASSACHUSETTS.
The territory of the town of Wilmington is nearly
all within the limits of the old Charlestown village,
only a narrow strip being a part of the old Lynn vil-
lage. In 1724, the people living in that partof the town
of Woburn which was called Goshen, asked the town
either to remove the meeting-house to a spot more
convenient to them or to allow them to be set off as a
new town. Their request having been refused they ap-
plied to the General Court in 1729 for the establishment
of a separate precinct and their application was re-
jected. In 1730 another application was made to be
incorporated as a distinct town, and a committee of
the General Court was appointed to meet the agents
of the town, and consider the matter. The result
was that on the 25th of September 1730, theGener;il
Court passed the following act incorporating parts of
the territories of Woburn and Reading into a town
with the name of Wilmington.
" An act for erecting the north.ea8terly part part uf Wolmrn ami west-
erly part of Reading into a townsliip by the name uf \Vilniini;ton.
" Wlieread the iuliabitants of tlio north-eaateriy part uf tlie tuwn uf
Wubum, and the westt-rly part of the town uf Keiuling, in the cuunty "f
Middlesex are so situated as to l>e vf^ry remote from the place uf Ilie
publick worablp of God, in either uf the said towns, tiiany uf them living
near seven miles' dii^tance therefrom, wlut also latnuir nnder other preal
difflcnlties and iDCOQveuiences on several accounts and have tltereupuii
addressed this Court that they may be set off aud erected into a Eepamte
and distinct township, —
" Be it therefore enacted by His Kxcclleucy tlie Governonr, Council
and Representives in General Couit assembled, aud by tlie authority uf
the same.
" Sect. 1. Tliat all the lands lying and being within the north-easterly
part of Wobucii, aud westerly part uf Reading afuresaid be and herel-y
are, set off aud t-uustituted a separate and distinct township by the name
of Wilmington, according to the metee and bounds following, viz.: be-
ginning at the South. easterly part of the Land of Nud, so called, so to
extend to Andover line ; thence to Bllleric* Hue, and so upon said liim,
including Abrahaiu Jaq\ies bia farpi, aud so to run from tlieuce un Bil-
lerica hue one hundred rods further ; and from thence tu extend to the
Stone bridi^e, called the Cold Spriug Bridge, near the tree called the
Figure uf Four Tree ; thence on a tine to the South-easterly corner uf
John Towusend'a land, lately and now in the possession of Timothj'
Tuwnseod, about sixty-four rods easterly from Woburn line, includiug
said Towuseud's laud ; thence on a straight line to the soulb-east part uf
the land of Joel Jenkins ; aud from thence to extend to the Orat iiieii-
tinned bounds.
"And be it further enacted,
"Sect. 2. That the inhabitants of the said town of Wilmington shall
be liable nevertheless, and subject to pay their just proportion of their
past dues tu all province, county and town rates, fur this present year, in
the towns to which they respectively belongml, and shall be accordingly
assessed in such town in the same manner as they would have been if
this act bad not been made.
"Sect. 3. And the inhabitants of the said town of Wilmington are
hereby required, within the space uf three yeara from the publication of
Ihia act, to procure aud settle a learned orthodox minister uf good conver-
Bation, and make proviaion for his comfortable and honounible support ;
and also with all convenient speed erect and finish a suitable and con-
venient house for the publick worahlp of God in said town.
"SecL 4. And the said town of Wilmington is hereby accordingly en-
dowed aud vested with all powers, privileges, immunities and advantages,
which other towns in this pruviuce by law have and eujuy." (Passed
and published at Cambridge Sept. 25, 17^0).
The territory included within the limits of the new
town was small and its population was scattered.
The lands were go<»d for agricultural purposes and
the people occupying them were almost exclusively
farmers. Like other scattered settlements, that in
the out-lying districts of Woburn had suU'ered from
Indian depredations, but at the time of the formation
of the new town, comparative peace prevailed, only
to be disturbed by the French and Indian Wars,
which, a few years later, again threatened it.
In obedience to the requirements of the act of in-
corporation, a meeting-house was erected in Wilming-
ton in 1732, and a church with seventeen male mem-
bers was organized October 24, 1733. Wilmington was
one of the few towns incorporated at an early |)eriod,
in which a separate precinct did not anticipate a new
municipal organization. It would, however, have
been no exception to the general rule had its repeated
requests to the town of Woburn and to the General
Court been listened to and granted. It was an out-
lying village of its mother-town, ;\3 its mother-town
had been an outlying village of Charlestown, and the
General Court believed th.at any substantial argu-
ments in favor of a new precinct were ijuite as strong
in favor of the incoriioratioii of a new town.
On the day of the forin.ation of the church Rev.
James Varney was ordained as its pastor. Mr. Var-
ney wai a native of Boston, where he was born .Vuirust
8, 17III), and graduated at Harvard in 172.5 in the
class with Rev. Mather Byles anil Rev. Benjamin
Bradstreet. In the Harvard catalogue ot the period
when names were inserted in the order of their social
family rank, the name of Mr. Varney is the thirty-
third in a class of forty-five. Mr. Varney was dis-
missed April 5, 1739, on account of ill health and was
succeeded by Rev. Isaac Morrill, who was ordained
May 20, 1741. Mr. Morrill graduated at Harvard in
1737 ill the class with Peter Oliver, Rev. Peter
Thacher, Rev. Andrew Eliot and Ebenezer Gay. In
the social order Peter Oliver stood at the bead of the
class, with John Eliot .st^cond and Mr. Morrill the
twenty-fourth in a list of thirty-four. Mr. Morrill
continued in the jiastorate until his death, \vhich oc-
curred August 17, 1793, at the .ige of seventy-six.
During his pastorate he served xs chaplain in the
French Wars, in which also were a number of his
parishioners as soldiers, of whom Capt. Ebenezer
Jones and fourteen others are known to have been
killed.
Mr. Morrill was succeeded by Rev. Freegrace Rey-
nolds, who was ordained October 29, 1795, and re-
mained until June 9, IS30. He afterwards preached
in Leverett in Franklin County, Massachusetts, and
other pl.aces, and finally returned to Wilmington,
where he resided until his death, December (5, 1855,
at the age of eighty-eight years. During his pastor-
ate in 1813 a new meeting-house was erected, to take
the place of the old one built in 1732.
Rev. Francis Norwood, who followed Mr. Rey-
nolds, was installed May 18, 1831, and continued in
the pastorate until October 25, 1842.
Rev. Barnabas M. Fay succeeded Mr. Norwood and
was installed April 23, 1845. He remained until
July 30, 1850, and was followed by Rev. Joseph E.
Swallow on the 26th of March, 1851. Mr. Swallow
WILMINGTON.
861
was dismissed January I, 1856, and was succeeded by
Kev. Samuel H. Tolman, who was ordained August
14, 1856, and was dismissed June 7, 1870. During
the pastorate of Mr. Tolman, iu February, 1864, the
meeting-house of the society was burned and the
present house of worship was erected.
Rev. Benjamin A. Robie was installed April 13,
1871, and dismissed April 9, 1874. Rev. S. S. Math-
ews succeeded Mr. Robie October 23, 1874. and after
his dismissal, which occurred October 29, 1875, Rev.
Dauiel P. Noyes was installed October 11, 1877.
Jlr. Xoyes was succeeded by Rev. Elijah Harmon, the
present pastor.
In 1882, a Methodist Society was organized, and a
church erected uear the centre of the town. The
Rev. William Thurston is its present pastor.
A Catholic Church was built at the Centre in 1887,
and is occupied by a society under the care of the
Atidover pastorate.
In 1840, a Free Will Baptist Society was organized,
and iu 1S41, a meeting-house was erected. The soci-
ety was, for a few years, under the care of Elder John
M. Durgin, but was dually dissolved, and its meeting-
house sold to the town for town purposes, to which it
is still devoted.
The early occupation of farming has always been
continued up to the present time ; according to the
census of 1885, its products annually were as follows:
Aniaial prudui-tj caiifiistint; ot' calf Kkiu6, hitiea, booey, manure, pelts
Hriil \\\nA, S4.".-Jn,
I'liitliiiii; iii>:]ii<(jll:x ^iliittsauil slioe^, ?tM'.',.
L>iiirv prdiliKts iiirliiilJiiK butter, crcaiu ;iu>l tiiilk, ?1^),414.
I'.hxl iTiMuctd iUL'luiliug e-Huued fruit, catsup, dnetl fruit, iL-e, picklcH
autl viiiegur. StiJS.
T.iuial.i plautn, $17.
I.it|u<>rB auil beveraitCB (ucludilii; riilcr and wine, S9o4.
('•sultry prudisctd imliidiu;; *^io-^ feather:^, luuoure aud poultry,
54..-J.
WihmI pnxlucta includiug asli.^d, fence niild, fuel, bop [luled, lumber
uiid |n»f*t(«. 5ilS4ti.
Axe baiidteH, ^7.
f[o|w.3eedrt aud dot! -uap, 87>.
(Vri'aU iiiehuljns biiLkvv-hfat, f'rn and rye, Jl-iiV.t,
Kniits iucluilini; appli-d, liarberrie.-, Itltukberriet", Idueberries. butter-
nuts, cberricT*, ciieatuurd, I'ltrun, cnil>-HpplL's, t-ninberriet,, curranrs.
;;nii^(.l>erries, gripes, liuckleberries, iuan?t»ea, uielun:*, pears, plum?,
• ptiiicea, r.uplMTries, dhellbarks, -tniwbcrries aud tliiinbleberriea, fftiJ37.
Ilsiy, ctniw, lotidtT, stock beets and luriiip-*, 5Hi,411.
.Meats and :;"an!e includiu; Ix-ef, pork, iinittno and veal, $4lfiO.
^'e•;etableH inctiuliu^ :Ltpanit£U.'4. benup, beets, cabbaf^ed, carrots, cauli-
Il<jwer, celery. ;:reen corn, cihuuibers, ilaiidelious, lettuce, onituis, ojt>ter.
pi. lilt, parsliiiis, pea:!, pepiic-i-s, [mtatoe?, puiiipkius, radishes, rbuburb,
Sipiasbes, toiiiatues, turnips, etc., $76.i3.
The properly of the town exclusive of money,
stocks and bonds was according to the census as lol-
lows :
Value
Hay laud, UMH acres S 44,:;69
Crop land, Hi-.i acres 23,181
Orcbard land, 'ii' j acres 37.55
Paature land, 1:147 acres 29,J18
Unimproved land, 1730' '. acree •2.5,9fi«
Unimprovable land, 14 acres ItJO
Mines, etc., .J2:'j acrei I3,W
Woodland, 490114 acres 12-2,.s;i7
Dwellings, 151 Hl.ttl.""
Uarus, 1-il 43.5S4
Other buildings, 273 22,492
Machinee and ImplemeDts 20,467
Domestic animals 36,867
Frnit tree and Tines I0,2"i8
Slaking an aggregate of products of $7r>,O06, and of property of
J.'i2S,MG.
Among the products, the chief items were milk,
*16,540; eggs, $3528; fuel, $3853; apples, $1630;
cranberries, §5537 ; English hay, $9060 ; fresh hay,
$3594; pork, $1904; beef, $1439; and potatoes $3939.
The cultivation of cranberries has increased since the
above census was taken, and the probable product of
that article at the present time is about three thou-
sand barrels, valued in the Boston market at twenty-
four thousand dollars. The town has opportunities
for a still further increase of this product, which can-
not fail to aid its growth in population and wealth.
The demand for cranberries is yet in its infancy, and
wherever they can be grown, there is no fear that the
supply will exceed it. There is no industry which
circulates money with a more far-reachiug hand than
the cranberry industry, or one which promises better
results ill towns where it can be conducted. In the
lirst place, at the very time when woodland has sunk
in value to its lowest point, the swamps and shallow
ponds scattered through it, before valueless, are con-
verted into properties worth a thousand dollars au
acre, and then in the annual management of these
properties, there are to be paid for in cash, care, and
superiutendence, barrels, and their cooperage; cart-
iug, picking and packing, all distributing money to
men, women and children in every needy family, and
actually furnishing means of better living, which
could in no other way be secured.
It is not many years since considerable attention
was paid to raising apples, but with the exception,
perhaps, of Mr. Henry Sheldon, one of the prominent
men of Wilmington, none of the farmers of the town
Save either planted new orchards of any importance,
or even done much to revive the old ones. It is well
known that the Baldwin apple originated in Wil-
mington, the first tree of that variety having grown
on the farm of James Butters, which became known to
Loammi Baldwin, of Woburn, who cut scions from it,
and gave it both its reputation and name.
Besides the farming interests, there is little to give
occupation to the people of the town. At the present
time the shoe business is not carried on, though it is
expected that an establishment will be soon located
there. The tannery of Perry, Converse & Co., at
North Wilmington, the Merrimack Chemical Works
and the ice business are the only industries worthy
of mention. The time cannot be far distant, how-
ever, when activity and prosperity will prevail. The
location of the town is about sixteen miles from Bos-
ton, and between that city and Lowell, about the
same distance from Salem, and not far from Law-
rence, and with the Boston and Lowell, the Bos-
ton and Maine, the Salem and Lowell, and the
Lawrence Branch Railroads traversing its territory,
862
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
it certainly seems favorably situated for business
and growth. But whether or not it shall ever have
any large increase of local industries, it is appar-
ent that the overflow of population from Boston
must, in time, reach and flow into it. Its popu-
lation which in 1880 had only increased to 933
from 879 in 1875, has increased to 1250 in 1890, as is
shown by the census of this year.
The schools of Wilmington reflect credit on a town
with so small a population and valuation. With a
population of 1250, and a valuation of $761,762, and
186 children between the ages of five and fifteen,
one high-school, one grammar and six schools of a
lower grade are maintained at a cost in 1889, of
S3, 225.94. That a town so far from the point in
population where the law requires the establishment
of a High School, should have voluntarily burdened
itself with the needed taxation for its maintenance,
shows the high character of- the people and their
appreciation of the benefits to be derived from a more
thorough education than the common schools can
furnish. The course of study in the High School
embraces Geometry, Rhetoric, Civil Government,
Latin, French, Composition, Drawing, Algebra,
Physics, Physiology, United Slates History, English
History and Music. The School Committee for 1889
were, Charles W. Swain, Frank Carter and Richard
L. Folkins.
The expenditures of the town for the last year in
its various departments were as follows : for cemetery,
S312; town officers, including police and fire wardens,
?975.50 ; miscellaneous, S469.80 ; poor, .S1447.72 ;
highways, 5-2291.84; public buildings, S336. 31 ; schools
and supplies, $3572.69 ; library, S144.78 ; piano, *200 ;
common, S40 ; public well, $104.69 ; town debt,
$1941.56; State tax $429.77; county tax, $496.16;
State aid $192, making a total of $12,954.82.
The item of a public well in the above list indicates
that the town has no system of water-works. Its in-
habitants are supplied with water from wells. It
would be interesting if some comparison could be
made of the death-rates in those towns supplied with
water from wells with those in towns supplied from
ponds or streams, and an analysis of the prevailing
diseases in the two classes of towns. The writer has
no data at hand for such a comparison, except so far
as his own town (Plymouth) is concerned, which has
water-works, and where, in 1889, the number of deaths
was one and a half per cent, of the population against
one and eight-tenths in Wilmington. So far as the
causes of death are concerned, it is to be remarked
that while in the lists of deaths throughout the State,
about fourteen per cent, are caused by consumption,
in Wilmington, in 1889, only one in twenty-two died
of that disease. There may be a suggestion here
worth following up, in order to discover, if possible,
the remarkable exemption from a disease which com-
mits such terrible ravages in'the"' population of the
Northern States of our nation
In the War of the Rebellion the town of Wilming-
ton performed its full share in rescuing our Union
from dissolution. It is stated that the quota of the
town was ninety and that the number was filled. The
writer finds on the books of the adjutant-general the
names of fifty-six credited to the town, but to these
are t-) be added those who entered the naval service
and the share belonging to the town of that Large
number of negroes and others who were credited to
theState and divided among the towns. The follow-
ing is a list of those whose names appear in the re-
port of the adjutant-genera! with their rank and
with the company and regiment to which they were
attached and the term for which they enlisted :
Enlisted fur nine moothB in Touipdny D. oOtb Regiment of Muasachu-
riett8-\'ulunteera ; Levi Swam, sgt. ; Edward D. Pierson, sgt. ; James P.
Mortun, Corp. . Privntes, George Bancroft, Ileurj L. Bancroft, Jr., Ed-
win Blanchard, Daniel \V. Case, Henry \V. Eauie:^, Wm. Furlisa, ijaytuii
Gowing, OtiB Haniden, John L. Howard, George Milligan, Daniel >".
Pearson. George O. Peur»ou, AiiiLtoso L'pt-'n.
Fourieeulh Liubt Aitillerv. for three yearf , Privates. Cbarlea A.
Nichole, Sydney White.
Fifteenth Li-ht Artilk-ry. for three yeai':; Siineuu Jaquith, Bgt.
FiTRt Battalion of Heavy Artillery. Company E, three years: Fri-
».itee, Charles HI. Buck, H'inice Eantee, t.iilui.tu Gt.wing, i^eorge E. Ot-
cutt, George W. Sidcliuker.
Third Cavalry, Conipjiiiy K, three ve.irs: Privates, Frank F. Abbott,
B. F. Upton.
Fourth ('avalry, Company E, three year.-: Private, JIurciis M. Ban-
croft.
Fourth Cavalry, Company F, three years: <'orp., Henry F, Thonip-
3on.
Fifth Battalion, Frontier Cjivalry, Coliipauy D, three years Andrew
B. 31uiiroe, saddler.
Second Regiment ,>f MasKarliui,* tts V..hinteer.-. ti'.niipany I, three
veais: Theodore S. Butlers, corp. : .'ohn d. Whitehouse, mus. ; Pri-
vates, George M. Bailey, Thomas A. Bancroft, Juiiies O. trarter, Thomas
B. Flagg.
Thirteenth Beglnieut of .Ma^.sachii.setl.'. N'-dunteers, Company G, three
yearfl : Private, Marcus 31. Bancroft.
Si.vteenth Regiment of Massachusetts A'olunteers. Company F. three
years : George X. Chase, mus.
Twenty-second Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, Company F,
three years : Private, James Hale.
Twenty-si.xth Regiment of Massnchusetts Volunteers, Company D,
three years : Privates, Peter .Alexander, AI:inson Bond, John WiUon.
Twenty. ninth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, Company D,
three years : Private, .\llKTt V. Lancaster.
Thirty-third Regiment of .^lassachusetts Volnnteers, Company D,
three years : Privates, .\lt5ert Brown, r.eorge F. Eames, Frederick
Lewia, David G. Pierce, James H. Swain.
Fifty-eighth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, Company K,
thi^e years : Private, John .Andrews.
Fifty-ninth Regiment of Slassachnsetta Volunteers, Company B,
three years : Privates, Robert G. .\lludio, Peter Crook.
Fifty-ninth Regiment, c'onipauy c, three years: Private, .Michael
Bracken.
Fifty-ninth Regiment, tjompaiiy D, three years : Private, .\mhrnse
Upton,
Veteran Reserve Corps: Private, Wm. U. UcKianey.
Regular Army : Private, John R. Nichols, Jr.
Among the eminent men born in Wilmington may
be mentioned Timothy Walker, and his brother Sears
Cook Walker. Timothy Walker was born December
1, 1802, and graduated at Harvard, in 1826. After
leaving college he taught three years in the Round
Hill School at Northampton, and in 1829 entered the
Dane Law School at Cambridge, where he remained
one year. In 1830, he continued his studies in Cin-
WILMINGTON.
863
cinnati, and was admitted to the bar in 1831. In 1833,
in connection with Judge John C. Wright, he estab-
lished a law-school in Cincinnati, which in 1835 was
united with the college there. He continued a pro-
fessor in the college until 1844. He was at one time
Judge of the Hamilton County Court of Common
Pleas, and Editor of the Western Law Journal. He
was author of " Introduction to American Law," a
" Treatise on Geometry," and other works. He died
in Cincinnati, January 15, 1856.
Sears Cook Walker, was born March 28, 1805, and
graduated at Harvard, iu 1825. After graduating, he
taught school in Boston and Philadelphia, to which
latter place he removed in 1827. In 1834, he prepared
parallactic tables for use in computing phases of an
occultation, and in 1837, drew up a plan for the or-
ganization of an observatory in connection with the
Philadelphia High School. From 1840 to 1852, he
published observations and investigations made by
himself, and in 1841, published a memoir of the
periodical meteors of August and November. Iu 1845,
he was placed in the Washington observatory where
he made valuable observations and discoveries.
While Alexander Dallas Bache, had charge of the
coast survey, Mr. Walker in connection with him
carried out the method of telegraphic longitude de-
terminations, and introduced the chronographic
method of recording observations. He died in Cin-
cinnati, January 30, 1853.
Among the citizens of Wilmiugton during the pres-
ent and last generation who have been prominent in
town affairs may be mentioned William Henry Car-
ter, W. J. S. Marsh, Otis Carter, Edward A. Carter
and Henry Sheldon among the living, and Dr. Henry
Hiller, Samuel Nichols, Cyrus L. Carter, Henry
Ames and Joseph Ames among the dead.
Twelve or fifteen years ago a Public Library was
established in the town which has well-served to sup-
plement the public schools and to enable the gradu-
ates of those schools to keep alive their thirst for
knowledge, and constantly add to its store. According
to the report for 1889, the number of books in the
library at the end of the year was 1590, and the num-
ber taken out during the year, 2027. The payments
by the treasurer on account of the library during the
year were: for new books, S99.91 ; covering and re-
pairing books, 34.45 ; salary of librarian, $25 ; and
sundry items, 10.93.
The Board of Selectmen for the year 1890 consists
of Edward A. Carter, chairman ; Howard Eames and
James Kelley ; Henry Blanchard, Jr., is treasurer,
and Edward M. Nichols, town clerk.
The officers of the town for the last year were :
J. Howard Eamea, Henry Ruck, Natbaa B. Eamw, Mlectmen, over-
0e«n and asaemon.
Edward M. N'icbols, town clerk.
Henry Blanchard, treaenrpr,
Edward 31. Nichols, collector.
Wm. H. Carter, Warren Earnee, Fred. A. Karnes, auditora.
Daniel C. NorcrosB, constable.
Charles J. Sargent, Henry L. Carter, George N. Bnck, special police.
J. Howard Eames, Henry Buck, Nathan B. Eamea, fence viewers.
Edward N. Eames, Warren Eamea, .John Bailey, George W. Si.lel-
inker, Charles E. Carter, fleld drivers.
Henry B Nichols, Edward A. Carter, James E. Kelley, Henry Shel-
don, Howard M. Horton, meaaurersof wood and bark.
Hert>ert N. Buck, Edward 91. Nichols, Joeiab 0. Joqueth, public
weighers.
James A. Baxter, pound keeper.
James E. Kelley. measurer of leather.
Edward M. Nichols, Henry Hiller, Henry Sheldon, cemetery com.
niittee.
Charles E. Hudson, Charles M. Gowing, Ottia C. Buck, Common Com-
mittee.
Bicbard L. Folkins, Charles W. Swain, Frank Carter, school com-
mittee.
Arthur 0. Buck, Librarian.
Jonathan Carter, Dr. D. T. Russell, Charles W. Swain, Henry Ames,
I'Uis Gowing, Edgar N. Eames, tmsteed of Public Library.
Edward M. Nichols, sealer of weights and measures.
.Arthur N. Fezette, superintendent of alma-bouse.
Edward M. Nichols, undertaker.
Levi Swain, George E. Carter, Daniel C. Norcrosa, George T. Eames,
*.'harles F. Harris, fire and forest wardens.
Ariel P. Pearson, Dl«. No. 1, Wra. H. Carter, Dia. No. •>, Oils Gowing,
Dis. No. 3.J. Henry Buck, Dia Nn. 4, Henry Buck, Dis. No. 5, John
Bailey, Dis. No. 6 ; Charles Hopkiua, Dis. No. 7, Walter D. Carter, Dis.
\o. 8, Arthur N. Fezette, Dis. No. 9, Wm. H. Bontwell, Dia No. Id, Ed-
ward Sfeans, Dis. No. 11, George Milligan, Dia No. 12, Sylvester Carter,
Dia. No. 13, surveyors of highways.
Charles J. Sargent, Thomas McGnan, inspectors of ballots.
Otbniel Fames, Dennis McGuire, deputy inspector.
The town publishes once in ten years a list in detail
of the real and personal estates taxed, with the as-
sessed valuation. The following is a recapitulation
of the valuation for 1890:
V:ilue of real estate liable to taxation 8«Sn,28.i.ilO
Value of personal estate liable lo taxation SO.SS.'.IV)
Vahieof real and personal estate exempt from taxa-
tion il,.W.=).iiO
(l76l,76i!.0O
103
lli.ilTIl ,
.H7
iBK
. . 183
. . 1
. . 3
3
Total valuation
Number of acres assessed
Number of acres exempt . .
Total number of acres ...
Total number of pulls assessc)
Dwelling-houses
Barns
Saw-mitls
Stores ...
Blacksmith-^Uops . .
Ice-houaea
Slaughter-houses
Wind-mills . . . ^
Churches
School-houses
other buildings
HurBee
Oxen ....
Cattle
Sheep
Swine
State tax .^no.OO
t'ounty tax 515.24
Town tax 9981.00
Rate of taxation, J14 per SlOOO.
3
3
6
294
21T
12
.30(i
17
44
APPENDIX.
VOLUME I.— CAMBRIDGE.
HARVARD BRIDGE.
BY JOHN LIVEBMOBE.
The history and description of bridges connecting
Cambridge and Boston over the Charles River is not
complete without some notice of the Harvard Bridge
just finished, although not yet opened for public trav-
el, owing to an unfortunate disagreement between the
two cities as to the manner of crossing the track of
the Grand Junction Railroad, over which the bridge
must croMS, either at grade, or by an overhead bridge,
and as the question is still undecided, and is a subject
of much bitter feeling, no opinion will be given on
the general merits of the question, but only the hope
that the controversy will be settled soon to the satis-
faction of all the parties concerned.
In order to a right understanding of the causes and
necessities that led to the building of this structure
at the present time, and the reasons for its location
where it is, we must go back for more than fifty years
and see how step by step the present result has been
reached.
In the year 1828 the Legislature of Massachusetts
considered the subject of purchasing all the bridges
over Charles River for the purpose of freeing them
before their charters would legally expire, which
led to a prolonged controversy in which the rela-
tions between the public and the rights of corpora-
tions received essential modifications ; but no action
was taken on the subject until 183(3, when a charter
was granted to the " Hancock Free Bridge Corpora-
tion " to enable them to build a bridge over
Charles River at some point between Cragies and
West Boston Bridge or to purchase one or both bridges
for the purpose of making them free, but owing to
the pecuniary distress which prevailed in 1836 and
1837, the money could not be raised to conclude the
purchase. The scheme failed for the time, but in 1S4(> j
they received a second charter enabling them to not '
only purchase the two bridges, but to maintain them
as toll bridgesuntil a fund of $150,000 should be raised
to keep them in repair and then they were to be free
forever, and so the question of a new bridge was post-
poned for the time.
For more than twenty-five years the necessity of a
new route from Cambridgeport to Boston had been
agitated and discussed, but from various causes noth- ^
SU-i
ing was done until the year 1887, when the Legisla-
ture passed a compulsory act apportioning the cost
ec|ually between the two cities. From the first Bos-
: ton w!is reluctant to proceed with the work and did not
I enter into the enterprise with either zeal or spirit, but
i apparently with regret that they were legally bound
I to do their part. The work, however, was commenced
I and the mayors uf the two cities and Leander Greely
(a practical artisan) were appointed commissioners to
! superintend the building thereof, which they have
done.
The new avenue could be opened for travel as soon
as the question is definitely settled about the crossing
J of the track of the Boston and Albany Railroad.
I The question of the locality of the bridge was set-
tled without much difficulty and amicably at last.
j When the question was before the public, when it was
I first agitated, no one would have thought of locating
it so far south; but since that time the business and
population of Boston has been rapidly tending to-
wards the "South End," anil that part of Cambridge-
port now known as Ward Four has been developed,
and is fast becoming the most populous portion of the
city, and there were not found wanting citizens who
advanced a still more southerly location.
As has been stated the bridge, was built by special,
act of the Legislature, which was a compulsory act,
and apportioned the cost equally between the two
cities of Boston and Cambridge, and $500,000 was set
apart for its construction. The bridge is 2157 feet in
length, 70 feet wide, and 14 feet above mean high
water; the draw ia 135 feet long and 60 feet wide, and
is located in the centre of the structure. It is to be
operated by an electric motor. There are ten spans
to the bridge, on each side of the draw alternating
regularly between 105 and 75 feet in width. The
piers support girders 105 feet long, beiween every two
of which hangs a 75-foot girder loosely linked to the
other one at each end, so as to provide for the natural
expansion. There are also two spans 90 feet in
length on either side adjoining the draw, and an extra
span at the Cambridge end. The iron girders were
constructed by the Boston Bridge Works, thediflerent
sections being brought from the works on Sixth
Street, Cambridgeport, upon huge drays drawn by six
yokes of oxen to the water-side, and there put togeth-
er and towed to the bridge by lighters.
APPENDIX.
8t)5
The contract of the Boston Bridge Company was
$161,900, while the masonry piers built by Shields &
Carroll, of Toronto, Canada, were contracted for at
$122,820, the masonry abutments by W. H. Ward
$15,900, the draw foundations and pier by Boynton
Brothers §26,875, the spruce lumber by Wm. G. Bark-
er, the wooden flooring by W. H. Keys & Company,
the spruce posts by Miller & Shaw, the roadway ■
sheathing by Alexander Mclnnia and the iron railing
by the Manley Manufacturing Company, of Dalton,
Ga. I
When this new avenue is once opened to the pub- '
lie and the several approaches to it improved, and put
in order, it will without doubt be the finest and most
attractive avenue from the city to the suburban towns
in the vicinity, the direct route to the University, Mount ,
Auburn, the Washington or Longfellow Mansion, ;
Elmwood, the home of Lowell, and other residences
of distinguished persons, and it is also the great high- ,
way to Lexington and Concord — places of great his-
toric interest, so much visited by strangers from all
parts of the world. |
VOL. I. CAJIBRIDGE.
William E. Russell was elected Governor of Massa-
chusetts November 4, 1890.
VOL. II. LINCOLN.
William Francis Wheeler died October 10, 1890,
aged seventy-eight years, seven months.
VOL. III. WALTHAM.
Sherman Hoar was elected member of Congress
November 4, 1800.
ERRATA.
Page 201, vol. ii., firet column, flret line, " Harriet De War " Rhoiild
read " Mary Pe War."
Page 481, vol. iii., won^l rohinin, twenty-tliird line from b<itton>,
".lohn Wayet " should read "John Wayte."
Page 408, vol. iii., Kecund column, tweaty-tbird line from top, '* iinaui-
mous" ubould road "ominous."
INDKX.
A.
Abbott, Edward, i, 153
Abbott, JoBJah G., t, luv (ill.)
Abbot, Lymao^ i, 65
Acton, i, 241
Act iDcorporation, i, 241
Bev. John Swift, finit pastor, i, 243
Music in the First Church, i, 245
Woodlawn Cemetery, i, 246
North Acton Cemetery, i, 247
Mount Hope Cemetery, i, 217
The Brooltfl Tavern, i, 247
The Fletcher Uomeetead, i, 247
The Skinner House, i, 247
Tlie Old Parsonage, i, 217
Revolutiooary preliminaries, i, :!5l
Col. Winthrop E. Faulkner, i, 255
The Robbine Hotise, i, 255
CapL Darie' route to the North Bridge, i,
255
Aboer Hosmer's hunt, i, 257
Bar. J. T. Woodbury's speech, 1, 257
Capt. Isaac Daris, i, 261
ReTolutiooary War, i, 262
French and Indian War, i, 264
The second meeting-house, 1, 264
The great fire, i, 268
West ActoD, i, 269
Names from Historical Uap of Acton, i,
272
The Davis Monument, i, 274
School-houses, i, 278
The Old Chestnut Tree, i, 279
Geology, i. 280
The artist's view of Acton, i, 280
The 19th of April, 1861, i, 283
The Civil War, 1, 284
Memorial Library, i, 287
Congregational Church, i, 290
The BaptlslB, i, 293
ManofactureSf i, 21J4
Official, i, 295, 296
College graduates, 1, 296
Physicians. i.-298
Lawyer*, i, 299
Miscellaneous, t, 300
Biognpfaical, i, 301
Adams, Samuel, i, 392, 616
Adams, A. M., i. 601 (ill.)
Adams, John, il, 16
Agaasiz, Louis, i, 90, 153
Andrew, John A, i, 496
Albee, Obadiab W., iii, 859
Aldrich, Oharlea T., iii, 672 (ill.)
Aldrich, Samuel N., i, 497 ; iii, 858
Aldrich, Thomas B., i, 153
Allen, Nathan, ii, 203
Allen, Nathan Topliff, Hi, 168 (111.)
Alley, Edward K., iii, 837
866
Anderson, William H.. i, Ixxzi (ill.)
Apthorp, William F.. 153
Appltiton, Nathan, il, 8, 14
A;ipendix, iii, 86^
Arlington, iii, 173
Location, iii, 173
Menotomy, iii, 173
Peritfl of settlement, 1626-1732, iii, 173
The Squaw tachem, iii, 173
Early grant of (arms, iii, 174
The nrst mill, iii, 174
Early pnrsiiitfi, iii, 174
King Philip'6 War, iii, 174
The Second Precinct of Cambridge, ] 732-
1807, iii, 175
Early burial-pluce, iii, 175
FioDoer schools, iii, 177
The Revolution, iii, 177
Early industries, iii, 183
The town of West Cambridge, 1807-07, iii,
183
Firat town-nieetiug, West Ciimbiiilgc, iii,
184
Light infantry, iii, I&j
Schools, iii, 185
Social Librar>-, iii, 185
.Mms-house, iii, 186
Visit of Lafayette, iii, 186
The legacy of Dr. Ebenezer Learned, iii.
186
The Russell School, iii, 188
High School, iii, 188
Tornado of 1851. iii. I8!l
Town-house, iii, I'M
War of the Rebellion, iii, 100
Political, iii, 192
The town of Arlington, J667-90, iii, 103
West Cambridge changed to .\rllnglun, iii,
193
The Arlington Advocate, iii, 134
Arlington Land Company, iii, 194
Monuments, iii, 195, 196
Cbarrhee, iii, 196
Industrial pursuits, iii, 197
Market gardening in Arllnetonand Bel-
mont, iii, 198
Biographical, iii, 201
Ashby, i, 306
Descriptive, i, 306
Roads, i, 307
Old settlers, i, 307
Petitions, i, 308, 309
Incorporation, i, 310
The Revolution, i, 312
Mechanical industrieti, i, 314
Eccleaiastical. i, 316
The Civil War, i.3l9
Miscellaneous, i, 319
Civil, t, 32b
PoBt-offlcee, physicians, etc., i, 327
Biographical, i, 332
Ashland, iii, :>35
The surface, iii, 535
Incorporation, iii, 537
Organization, iii, 537
Further acts of the town, iii, ^37
Town-urticerrt, iii, 538
Ways, iii, 53'J
Buildings, iii, 510
Landmarks, iii, 540
Burial-groiimls, iii, 540
Wildwood Cemetery', iii, 510
Schools, iii, 541
Libmries, iii, 543
Public Library, iii, 5-15
fllills, walei-8, etc., iii, 545
Railroads, iii, 560
Express companieR, iii, ''61
Post-office, iii, 561
Newspapers, iii, 561
Physicians, iii, 562
Societies, iii, 563
Ecclesiastical, iii, 563
First UniverBalist Church, iii, 563
Catholic Church, ni, 563
Congregational, iii, 564
Union Evangeliciil, iii, 564
Baptist Church, iii, oiib
Methodist EptbCopKl, iii, .'i^'i
Civil War, iii. 569
Biographical, iii, 571
Ayers, David, iii, 53^1 (ill.)
Ayer, Frederick, ii, 105 (ill )
Ayer, Frederick F., ii, 105 (ill.)
Ayer, James C, ii, 101 (ill J, 686
Ayer, ii. 639
Inlrodtictiun. ii, K39
Topography, ii. 631
Early Indian tribes, ii, 640
Boundaries, li, 641
Enrly settlers, ii. 642
Highways, ii, 650
Ford-ways, li, 653
Bridges and taveros, ii. 654
Maps and plans, ii. 6SS
Canal, ii, 657
Railroads, ii, 658
Telegraph and telephones, li, 660
Schools and Ecboot-houses, ii, 661
Library, ii, 663
Water-works, ii, 665
Indnstrira, ii, 665
Ancient milU, ii, 666
Manufactures, ii, 667
New8]HiperB, ii, 669
Religious Socie fire, il, 670
Baptist, il, 670
Unitarian, ii, ft71
INDEX.
867
Catholic, ii, 672
Religious history, ii, 332
The Lee Street Society, i, 65
CoDgre^tiooaliat, ii, 673
Land distribution, dUraembenneiit, ii,
Allen Str«et Ckingregational Society,
Methodist, ii, 674
.338
(Unitarian), i, 66
Firea and fire-compaoies, ii, 675
Tbe Revolution, ii, .340
University (Tbnrcb, i, 66
New town, ii, 684
Educationitl, ii, 344
Christ Church, i, 66
Agitation Tor set off, ii, 6S4
Religious history, ii, 346
St. Peter's Church, i, 67
Incorporation, ii, 685
Miscellaneous, ii, .349
St. Philip's Church, i, 67
Biographical, ii, 364
Church of the Ascension, i, 67
B.
Blake, Francis, i, 499 (ill.), view. 500
St. James Parish, i, 67
Blake, George Fordyce, ill, 697 (ill.)
Tbe Episcopal Theological School, i.
Bftgnall. W. R., ii, 607
Blanchard, Albert H., i, 680, 706 (ill.) , iii, 431
98
Ba':oD, Joseph N., iii, 86
Blanchard, Simon, i, 305 (ill.)
First Baptist, i, 69
Bacon, Jonathan, ii, 856 (ill.)
Blood, Lorenzo P., iii, 230
Inman Square Mission, i, 69
Bacon, B. Franklin, iii, 88
Blood, Lutber, ii, 569 (ill.)
Second Baptist, 1, 69
Bacon, John W., i, Ixxi, 5:t4, 549, 560, 563
Booth, E. C, iii, 7S6
Old Cambridge Baptist, i, 69
Bacon, Oliver N., i, 660
Boott, Kirk, ii, 8 (ill.), 13, 17, 19, 23
North Avenue Baptist, i, 70
Baldwin, Loammi, Col., i, 376, 390, 397, 409, 446
Boyd, Samuel, iii, 849 (ill.)
The Broadway Baptist, i, 71
(ill.), ii, 4
Boynton, Royal B, i, 604 (ill.)
Charles River Baptist, i, 72
Barker, Horace R., ii, 93 (ill.)
Dodge, George M, 1, 4, 382
Union Baptist, 1, 72
Bancroft, George, i, 132, 1.52
Boutwell, George S., i, 1, 275 ; ii, 16
riret Univereallat, 1, 72
Bancroft, William A., i, Wiii, 176, IS8
Boxboro', ii, 759
Second Univeraalist, i, 73
Bailey, W. T., iii, 676
Early history, il, 770
Third Universalist, i, 73
Banks, Nathaniel P., iii, 719
Act of incorpomtlon, ii, 771
First Methodist Episcopal, i, 73
Barnes, Edward F., iii, 851 (ill.)
Military, Ii, 774
Harvard Street Church, i, 73
Barnes, J. \V., iii, 84«
Schools, ii, 775
Methodist Episcopal Church, in old
Barney, A. P., i, Iixiil
Ecclesiastical, ii, 77T
Cambridge, i, 74
Battles, Frank F., ii, 81 (ill.)
Biographical, il, 781
Grsce Methodist Episcopal, i, 74
Barton, Oeorf^, i, 280
Brackett, J. q.A., i, lvli(ill.)
St. Paul's (African), 1, 74,
Be<lrord, ii, 811
Bradley, Joseph .S., iii, 277 (ill.)
Rush African. 1, 74
Early history, ii, 311
Bradford, Ruth A., iii, 385
Reformed Episcopal, i, 74
Early votes, ii, 812
Brabrook, Joseph, 1, .302 (ill.), view, 302
St. Peter's R. C, 1, 74
The Shawshine Grant, il, 813
Brattle, William. 1, 179, 180
St. Mary's R. C, 1, 75
Indian claims, ii, 814
Bright, Jonathan Brown, iii, 755 (ill.)
St. Paul's R. C. i, 75
Name, ii, 816
Bright, Mrs. !U. E., residence of, 7.56
St. John's (Chnrch of the Sacred
Boundaries, ii. 816
Bright, William E., iii, 787 (ill.)
Heart), i, 76
First meeting-bouse, ii. 817
Brown, Abram E., ii, 871
New Jerusalem Church, i, 76
Taxes, ii, 817
Brooks. Artemaa L., ii, 94 (ill.)
Toung Men's Christian Association
Some old families and sites, ii, 81 7
Brooks, Ellezer, il, 663
1,77
Ecclesiastical, ii, 818
Brooks, Nathan, ii, 606 (111.)
Tbe East End Mission, 1, 77
S. hools and lihraries, ii, 823
Brooks, George M., i, Ixivl
Rarvaid Univereity, i, 77
Military, ii, 827
Brooks, Phillips, i, 55
Corporate and material grewth, i, 77
Miscellaneous, ii, 836, 8.39, 84», 844, sir,,
Bruce, George A., i, Ivii
Tbe Medical School, i, 101
847, 849, 853
Burns, George J., ii, 6:19
The Law School, i, lo3
Biographical, ii, 8.54
Burbank, Charles U., il, 236
Mnsenm of Comparative Zoology, i.
Belmont. Iii. 682
Bullock, Alex.H., ii, 16
103
Early history, iii, 682
Burke, William A., il, 82 (ill.)
Divinity School, i, 1(M, 140
Incorporation, iii, 683
Burdett, Joseph 0., i, Ivili
The Peabody Museum of American
Firet town-meeting, iii, 683
Rumbani, Walter, ii, 204 (ill.)
Arcbseology and Ethnology, i,*l(H
Ecclesiastical, iii, 683
Butler, Benjamin F., i, Ixvi (ill.); il, 127
The Bussey Institution, i, 104
K<liicational, iii, 685
Bullani, Henry, iii, 454 (lU.)
The Dental School, 1, 105
Public Library, iii, 686
Bullard, Elias, iii, 455 (ill.)
The Botanic Garden, i, 105
Fire Department, iii, 687
Bullard, Appleton, iii, 454 (111.)
The Astronomical Observatory, i, 105
Post-oflSce, iii, 688
Buttrick, Francis, iii, 759 (ill.), view, 719
Tbe Lawrence ScientiBc School, i, 105
Water-works, iii, 638
Bnrlington, i, 663
Progress of education, i, luft
Gas, iii, 689
Introduction, i, 663
Student life, i, 112
Civil War, iii, 689.
Civil history, i, 666
Commons, i, 112
A new hall, iii, 689
Ecclesiastical, 1, 670
The laws, liberties and orders, i, 113
Physicians, iii, 689
John Marrett's Almanacs, i, 674
Pt»yetB, i, 117
9ecr«t societies, iii, 689
C.
Discipline, 1. 121
Savings bank, iii, 690
Cambridge, i, I
Commencement, i, 127
Indiistriefl, iii, 690
Introdaction, i, 1
Class-day, i, 131
Waverly Oaks, iii, 692
Rerolntionary, i, 1
Dress, i, 131
Toruado of 1861, iii, 695
Harvard University, i, 2
College societies, i, 133
Newspapers, iii, 695.
Indians of (Cambridge and vicinity, i, 4
Harvard journalism, i, 13A
Town ofBciaU, iii, 695
Ecclesiastical, i, 11
Sports and gymnastics, i, 136
Representatives, iii, 696
Fltrt Chorcb, i, 13, 62
Conclusion, i, 140
Senator, iii, 696
First Evangelical Congregational, Cam-
The public schools, i, 142
Beinis, Ceorge F., ii, 637 (ill.)
brigeport, i, 62
Kindergarten, i, 147
Bemis, Setb, ill, 428 (ill.)
Second Evaogelical Congregational.
ThB Public Library, i, 148
Bennett, Joshua, ii, 355 (ill.)
1, 63
Literature, i, 151
Benton, Thomas H., ii, 33
Evangelical Church, East Cambridge,
Musical, i. 1.53
Big6low,L«vi, iii, 8.57 (ill.)
i, 63
Medical, i, 15S
Bigelow, Horace H., iii, 857 (ill.)
North Avenue Congregational, i, 63
Military, i, 176
Billerica, ii, 223.
Pilgrim (^ngregatlonal, i, 63
Civil, i, 190
The beginnings, ii, 223
Wood Memorial, i, 64
Banking and insurance, 1, 198
The Indians and Indian Wars, il, 326
Third Congregatiooal Society, 1, 66
Manufacturing and indnstrial, i, an
8f?8
INDEX.
MlKeUaoeoofl, i/210
Biographical, i, 214
Carlisle, i, 708
Early biatory, i, 708
locorporatioD, i, 711
Finrt towQ-meetiDg, i, 711
OfflceiB elected, i, 711
MeetiDg-hooses, i, 712, 732
Anaexed to Concord, i, 714
Vote™, etc., 1,716,717
iDCorporatioo of town, t, 717
Improremeot Aaeociation, i,7IS
Postmastera, i, 719
Town farrD, i, 719
Bonodary lines changed, i, 720
Free Public Library, i, 720
Fltig-staOs and flags, i, 721
Educational, i, 722
Btirying-grouQda, i, 722
PbysiciaoB. i, 72<i
Military, i, "27
Ecclesiaatical, I, 733
Carey Uomeetead, view, i, R3.=»,
Cameron, Allen, ii, 717 {ill.)
Cat«, HeorgeN., iii, 858 (ill.)
Cate, Edward W.,iii,88
Chamberlain, Samuel E., i. 18f>
Chaae. Charles C, ii, 1, US, 3.i7
Cbanning, Edward C, i, 152
Chani.ing. William H , i, 152
Chauocy, Charles, i, 32, 36, 10 , !(il
Chaffee, Knowltoo Sampson, iii,777 (ill.)
Chelmsford, ii, 231)
Map, ti, 240
Early history, ii, 239
Petition to trade with Indians, ii, 21 1
Roads and residences, ii, 244
Witchcraft, Ii. 248
The old hurylng-ground, ii, 248
Indian history, ii, 249
The Pawtuckets or Waraesitts, ii, 239
French and Indian Ware, ii, 250
The Revolution, i\,2r>^
Shays' Rabelllon, ii, Z5S
The RebellloD, ii,2o9
Education, ii. 2.^9
Manufacturers, ii, 254
Miscellaneous, ii, 2G9
Clergymen, ii, 269
Lawyen, ii, 271
Physiciaos, ii, 272
Church history, ii, 273
Statistical, ii, 274
Biographical, ii, 274
Choate, Rufna, ii, 127
CUflin, Lee, iii. 804 (ill.)
Clanin, William, iii, 163 (ill.)
Clark, Alvan, i, 191. 209, 210
Clark, George F., i,637
Clark, Alexander, iii, 1^81 (ill.)
Clark, Charles A., i, 707 (ill )
Clark. Olivei R., iii, 314
Clay, Henry, ii, 23
Cochrane, Alexander, li, 356 (ill.)
Coggan, Marcelloo, i, Ixxxii (ill.)
CooUdge. Austin J., iii. 436
C4>oUdge, Joshua, iii, 426 (ill.)
Coolidge, Timothy A., iii, 854 (ill.)
Colby. Gardner, iii, 159 (ill.)
Collioa, Edward Jackson, iii, 161 (ill.), Elui-
wood, view, iii, 162.
Collins, Edward U, iti, 161
Collins, Michael, ii, 322 (ill.)
Conant. Luther, i, 284
Concord,'.il, 570
Settlement, U, 570
The first road, ii, 571
Initial events, ii, f>71
Captain Thomas Wbeeler'e narrative, ii,
572
Independence in Church and State, ii, ^77
Preparations for Revolution, ii, 578
Journal of a British Spy, ii, 579
Concord fight, ii, 584
Brunt and strife of Revolutioo, ii, .i8it
Progress and prosperity as n shire-tnwn ami
a literary centre, ii, 587
Celebration, ii, 588
Monuments, ii, 569
Rebellion, ii, 590
Concord Courts, ii, 503
Militia companies, li, 594
Meadows, ii, 595
Education, ii, 596
Private schools, ii, 597
Societies, ii, .597
Newspapera, ii, 507
The Damon Mfg. Co. li, 5iifi
Prisons, ii, 60f»
Fires, ii,600
Musical matters, ii, ''01
Taverns, ii, 6(»1
Town donations, ii, i>iH
Hergymen, ii, fi03
Lawj'ei-a, ii, fifi-'t
Pliyeiciana, ii, 604
Harvard graduates, ii, ^'4
Statistics, ii, 60.=^
Offlciala under li. S. <»o\t'rninent, li, fiii-'j
Officials of Maraachusetts, ii, 64i.5
Officials of Middlesex Co.. ii, 605
Officials of the town, ii, 605
Biographical, il, 606
Tonverse, Etisha Slarle, iii, .5.12
Converse, Frank Eugene, iii,.S33 (ill.)
Cowley, Charles, i, l7iii ; li 16,101,105
Cooney, Patrick H.. i. 561
Cnugblan, T. W., iii, 342
Cox, George H., i. 232
Craige, Alexnoder, i, 5i»9, bOl (ill.)
Crafts, Ellen, iii, 353
Crooks, Samuol and Ahrani, in, 804 (ill.)
Crehore, Charles F., iii, 110
Crehoro, Joseph, i, 4-56
Crehoi'e, Lemuel, iii, ]6(t (ill.)
Crockett, David, ii, Jit
Crowley, Jeremiah, i, Ixiv
Cullen, .lohn S., iii, H80 (ill.)
(.'uninock, .Mexander G., li, 70 (ill.)
CumuiiogB, John, i. 361, 455 (ill.)
Curtis. Martha E. Sewall. i. 663
<'urtis, Benjamin R., i, Ixii ; iii, 425 (ill.)
Curtis, George T., i, Ixiii. 1.52
Cutter, Henry, li. 768 (ill.)
Cutter. Ephraim, i, 3u3
Cutter, William R., i, 334, 366, 377,394,452,
4 A 663, 746
Culler, Benjamin, i, 373, -374
D.
Dnort, Edward T.. i, ivi, 148, 149
Dana. Richard, i, xxxviii, 152, 191
Dana. Riciiard H., i, xxxviii, 152, 191, 620
Dana, Richard H., Jr.. i.lxii, 141
Dana, Samuel, i, xxxiii
Darling, SHmuel C, iii, 763, M9
Davenport, William N.iii, 8.55 (ill.)
Davis, Thomas W., iii, •i82
Davis, Arthur F., i, 280
Davis, Curtis, i, 2.33 (ill.)
Davis. W. T.,i, Ixxiv; iii, 456,759, 779,859
Daniels, Samuel 0., i, 568 (ill.)
I Damon, Calvin C, ii, 607
I Davenport, Bennett F., iii, 325
Dennison, Aaron L., iii, 738
, Devens, Charles, i, xxxi
Dickens, Charles, ii. 22
Dodge, B., ii, 886 (ill.)
Dracut. ii, 276
Early history, ii. 276
Name, ii, 277
Indian deed, ii, 277
Indian history, ii. 278
Rev. John Eliot, ii, 280
Wannalaucit, ii, 280
Frenchland Indian Wnr, ii, 2S2
Indian curiosities, ii, 282
A friendly visit, ii, 2.S2
An old garrison-house, li, 283
A brave woman, ii, 283
LovewelTs expedition, ii, 283
Petition for an Act of Incorporation, it.
284
Common, or reserved land, ii, 2?4
Roads laid out, ii, 286
Price of land, ii, 286
A'otes and records, ii. 287
Early industries, ii, 287
Billericii Great Bridge, ii, 287
Line eutabtished between New [lain)«hite
and MnssachiieellH, ii, JS-*
The Dark Dny, ii, 2j<s
Pawtucket Brid>re, li, 289
Old Bunt, ii, 200
Ecclesiastical, ii,200
Educational, il, 298
The Revolutionary Wur, ii, 300
Shays' Rebellion, ii,:l06
Miscellaneous, ii, 307
Fac-siniile of the oath of allegiance, 1783,
ii, 308
Ceotrei Village Academy, n, 313
Wrestling liy Dracut men, ii, 313
Decreaae of territory, ii, 316
War of the Rebellion, li, 316
Manufactures, ii, tl7
Biographical, li, 317
Draper. George, i, 5(i3
Draper, Ira, i, 503
Draper, .lames S., i. 503
Draper, Lemuel R., i, 503
Draper, William F.. i, 503
Drury. Williani. i,566 fill.)
Dimeter, Henry, i, 78, 144
Durant, Henry F., i, 237
Dnnstahle, i, 7.i6
Present rondition, i, 73fi
Topography, i, 73fi
Business interests, i, T37
Origin and early settlement, 1^3-1723, i.
7:ts
Continued attacks from (lie Indians, i, 742
Growth of the town, i, 746
Church and H;hool affairs, 1723-176S, i,
747
The Revolution, i, 761
Miscellaneous, i, 753
Church erected, i, 757
War of the Rebellioo, i, 758
Cornet hand, i, 759
Railroad, i, 759
Bi-Centennial celebration, 1821-90 i. 759
Biographical, i, 7H2
E.
Eastman, Mary F. iii, 216
Eaton, Cherter W., i, Ixxi, Ixxx ; ii, 717, 810
Edmanda. Jobo Wiley, iii, 157 (ill.)
INDEX.
869
Edwards, N. B., U, 27a (ill.)
Edwards, Jonathan, i, 422
Edgartoa, Charles A., i, 471, 485 (ill.)
Elliot, Charles William, i, 93
Eliot. John, i, 9, 10, 11. 514, J15, 516, 517, 536,
537 i ii, 1
EmersoD, Edward W., ii, 609
Bmersoa, Ralph Waldo, 1, 96, 100, 121, 15), ii.
609
Emery, Charles, i, 603 (ill.)
Eothwistle, James R., iii. u81 ^ill.)
Ensign, Charles S., iii, 369
Eodicott, John, i, ii
Everett, Edward, i, 96, 07, 152 ; ii, 16, 26, 58
Everett, iii, 576
Incorporation, iii, 576
Industries, iii, 576
Earl; history, iii, 578
Ecclesiastical, iii, 579
Schools, iii, 582
Newburyport turnpike, iii, bi-'t
Woodlawo Cemetery, iii, 587
PodlHilfice, iii, 587
.\bolitioa of tollsol) .Maiden Bridt;u, iii-
689
James .\. Perltina Post, G. A. B., iii, 589
Boll of Honor of So. Maiden, 1601->>5. iii.
590
Masonic, iii, JOl
First town-meotlDg, iii, 593
Home School, ill, 595
Water-worlts, iii, 695
Odd Fellows, Hi, 596
Schools, ill, 597
Represeutativsd, Iii, 598
Town-offlcers, ill, 598
Town expenditures, iii, 599
Public Library, iii, 601
Ecclesiastical, iii, 601
Vuun){ lien's Christian Association, iii.
602
The press, ill, 603
Everett Co-operative Baiill, iii, 604
.Societies, and certificates, iii, 6*)4
Biographical, iii, 004
Eudtis, William, i, 191
Evans, .\lonzo H., iii, 593, 7*9
P.
Farley, George S., i, liii
Fail, George Howard, iii, 527
Fay, John S.. iii, S4fi, 855 (ill.)
Fay, Mark, iii, 858
Felton, Cornelius C, i, 98, 132, 214 (ill )
Ferris, Mary L. D., iii, 38s
Fiske, John, i, 153
Fitch, E. C, iii. 747
Fitch, Jonas, iii, 24'i(ill.)
Fletcher, J. V , hi, 698(111.)
Fletcher, James, i, 238, 288, 29«, J97
Flatley, .M. F., iii, 534 (ill.)
Flint, Charles F., ii, 310 (ill.)
Fox, James A., i, 196, 22t (ill.)
Framingham, iii, 607
Original location, iii, 607
Original plantation, iii, 607
Indian occupation, iii, 608
Indian village of Wasbakamaiig, iii, 6o8
Indian village of Cochitaate, iii, 609
Indian village at the Falls, ill, 609
Nobacott, ill, 610
Murder of the Eames family, iii, 610
Name, iii, 610
The old Connecticut Path, Iii, 610
Early land grant, iii, 611
First settlers, iii, G13
Incorporation, iii, 614
Old Central Village site, iii, 615
First meeting-house, iii, 615
Firet minister, iii, 616
Courts and garrison-houses, iii, 617
Father Balle's War, iii, 617
French and Indian War, iii, 618
Miscellany, iii, 620
Physicians, iii, 622
Taverns, iii, 622
The Revolution, iii, 622
Villages, Iii, 631
Masonic, iii, 6.32
.\rtillery companies, iii, 632
Education, iii, 634
Town libraries, ill, 640
Graduates, iii, 640
Ecclesiastical, iii, 641
Fint Church, iii, Ul
Second Congregational, iii, 641
First Baptist, iii, 842
First Methodist Episcopal, iii, 612
SaxonvfUe Religious Soceity, iii, 643
Edwards Church, 111, 643
Uoiveisallst Society, iii, 643
Catholic Churches, iii, &43
South Framingham Baptist Chiirrh,
Iii, 643
St. Johu'a Episcopal, iii, 644
Methodist Episcopal, South Fraiinii^-
ham, iii, 644
South Congregational, ill, 644
First Universallst of South Framing
ham, iii, 644
Presbyterian, 3outb Vmmingham, iii,
644
Cemeteries, iii, <>44
Industries, ill, 645
Railroads, ill, 648
Banks, iii, 619
Boston water-works, iii, 649
Newspapers, iii, 650
Post-offlces, ill, 650
District Court, iii, 651
Camp-meeting .\SBOciatiun, iii, 651
State muster-grounds, iii, '>51
Union Street Railway Cum|iaiiy, iii, 651
Professiuoal, iii, 651
Lawyers, iii, 651
Physicians, iii, 652
Members of Congress, iii, 652
State Senators, iii, 652
Town-olficers, ill, 652
Knitiiiiigham, South iii, 653
Descriptive, iii, 653
Public schools, iii, 653
Sew villages, iii, 653
Business blocks, iii, 655
Public hail, iii, 656
Hotels, Hi, 656
Fire Department, iii, 656
The Framingham Water Co., iii, 656
District Court, iii, 657
Telephone business, iii, 657
Post-olSce, Iii, 657
Amusement halls, iii, 658
Street railroad. Hi, 659
NewspapetB, iii, 661
Banks, iii, 662
Churches, iii, 662
Societies, associations and clubs, iii, 667
BtiBinesa interests, iii, 670
Biographical, 675
Francis, Jamea B.. ii, 14 (ill.)
Frisbee, Jesse F., iii, 133, 150
French, Jonas H., i, 767 (111.)
French, Amos B., ii, 49 (ill.)
French, Josiah B., ii, 43 (ill.)
French, Abram 3., i, 602 (ill.)
French, Thomas L., iii, 431 (HI.)
Frye, John Addison, iii, 853 (iH.)
Furbur, Daniel L., iii, 40
a.
Garrison, William Lloyd, i, 153
Gates, Josiah, ii, 98 (ill.)
Gerry, Ira, ii, 498 (ill.)
Gerry, Elbridge, I, 191, 212
Gibbon, William, iU, 854 (ill.)
OHmore, Henry H., i, 150, 196, 203
Gilman, Alfred, ii, 189
Gllkey, Royal, iii, 338
Gleason, B. W., i, 658 (HI.)
Gleason, John, 11, 411 (HI.)'
Goodnow, L. Charles, ii, 412 (ill.)
Goodnow, George, ii, 407
Goodyear, Charles, I, 412
Gordon, George A., i, 65
Gore, Chrlstophsr, lil, 319
Goodall, David, iii, 859
Gookin, Daniel, i, 9, 10, II, 25,33, 177, 178
Gookin, Samuel, i, 178
Goldsmith, John, ii, 886 (ill.)
Goes, Elbridge H., iii, 2U5
Grant, IT. S., U, 37
Green, Samuel A., ii, 501, 567, 569
Green, Samuel Swett, i, 150
Greenhalge, Frederick T., i, Ixii, ii, 16, 56
Greeley, B. F., ill, 840
Qreenllef, Simon, i, 153
Grout, Franklin, i, 707 (ill.)
Grout, Elioa, Iii, 573 (111.)
Groton, 11, 501
Location, 11, 501
Original grant, ii, 501
Petitions for plantations, Ii, 502
Name of town, ii, 503
Documentary, ii, 505
Early trials and privations, ii, 507
Garrison houses, ii, 508
Philip's War, H, 509
Burning of the town, ii, 510
The assault of July, 1694, ii, 511
Queen Anne's War, ii,513
Lov^well's Fight, 11, 517
King George's War,ii, 619
The earliest minister, ii, 520
Successive mioisteis, ii, 521
Ecclesiastical history, 11, 525
Groton School, Ii, 526 (ill.)
Lawrence Academy, ii, 526
Physicians, ii, 527
List of Representatives, ii, 534
Various officera, ii, 538
Natives of Grotnn, Ac, ii, 539
War of the Revolution, ii, 540
Camp Stevens at Groton, ii, 540
PopuUtion, ii, 541
Summary, ii, 542
Slavery, ii, 543
Town clerks, ii, 544
Treasnren, II, 544
Old stores and the post office, ii, 545
The old taverns and stage coachss, ii, 551
Early landlords, ii, .551
Fire Department, ii,557
Manufactures, ii, 569
Ponds, ii, 560
Hills, il, 562
Meadows, 11, 562
Brooks, ii, 563
Miscellaoeous, 11, 564
Mim
870
INDEX.
KsdecUoD of ligbt, ii, 566
Biographical, ii, 5G5
H.
Eager, Lacie C, ii, 769
Hale, Edward Everett, i, 65, 139
HammoDd, John W., i, Ixzlx (ill.)
Hamilton, Samuel K., i, lixx (ill.)
Haocock, JohD, 1, 392 477, 616
Harlow, JohD M., i, 375
Harriman, Moaes A., HI, 4&5 (iU.)
HarrlDgtoo, David, i, 636 (ill.)
Harvard, John, i, 16, 77
Harvard Bridge, iil, 864
Harwood, Herbert J., ii, 867
Harwood, HarrisoD, 1, 5Ui (ill.)
Harwood, Joeepb A., il, 88'i (ill), view, 88'.;
Haatinga, Hollia, iii, 679 (ill.), view, G79
Haskell, EdwiD B., iii, 110, 168 (ill.)
Uayiieo, Edward P., i, 414
Hayden, William R., ii, 854 (ill.)
Hazeo, Heury A., ii, 323
Hervey, James A., iii, 807
Hayes, Francis B., i, 636 (ill.), view homestead.
637
Bay ward, Alinira L., i, 148, 149
Henieuway, Alfred, i, Ixxxii
Hereford, Brooke, i, 65
Uigginsun, Thoniaa Wentworth, i, 150, l&l, 191
HiggiDsoo, Mary Tbacher, i, 153
Higley, Geo.T., iii, 5.35
HildretU, Cbarlea L., ii, 83 (ill.)
Hill, Lutbur, ii, 500 (ill.)
Bill, Thomas, i, 98, 100
Hlncks, Edward W., i, 227 (111.)
BIttinger, Jacob, iil, 697 (ill.)
Hitchcock, David White, iii, 852 (ill.)
Hoar, E. Rockwood, i, xxx (ill), lUO
Hoar, George F., I, Ivi
Hoar, Leonard, i, 80
Hoar, Samuel, i, xliv
Hoar, Sherman, i, Ixxxiii ; Iil, 865
Hulliston, iii, 431
Location, iil, 431
Early grants, iii, 431
Early petitions, Iil, 432
Name, iii, 433
Incorporation, iil, 433
First town-meeting. Hi, 434
Ecclesiastical, iil, 434
' Pbysicians, iii, 441
Lawyere, Hi, 443
Civil history, iil, 444
The Revolution, iii, 448
ManufihctAry, iii, 447
Banks, iii, 450
The Civil War, iii, 451
Societies, iii, 452
Publlo Library, iii, 453
Insurance Company, iil, 454
Newspapera, Iil, 454
Biographical, 454.
Hopkintoo, iil, 780
Location, iii, 780
Indian deed, iii, 7HI
Incorporation, iii, 782
Flirt offlcers, Iii, 783
List of selectmen, iii, 783
List of moderators, treasnrera, clerks au<l
representatives, iii, 785
Military, iii, 787
Meeting-house, iii, 794
Eogliah CbuFcb, iii, 796
Catholicity, Iii, 797
Early settlera, iii, 800
Popnlatioo, iii, 801
Boot and tihoe manufacturers, iii, 801
Deeds of common and luinisterial lands,
iii, 802
Biographical, 796
Houghton, George, iii, 270 (ill.)
H^nghtoo, Henry 0., i, 1»6. 201
Houghton, Henry O. , Jr., i, 201
Hovey, Alvah, iii, 71, 159
Horsford, Eben Norton, i, 237 (ill.), 498
Hooker, Thomas, i, 13, 14, 1.5,16, 17.
Holmes, Abiel, i, 54, 55, 66, 57, 59, 152, 212
Holmes, John, i, 152
Holmes, Oliver Wendell, I, lUO, 132, 152, 191
Hoyt, Eli W., Ii, 111 (HI.)
Holyoke, Edward, i, 86
Hosmer, Dr. Alfred, ui, 423 (111.)
Hoemer, Bertha U., i, 279
Horn, Samuel, ii, 1U8 (HI.)
Howard, Levi, ii, 273 (ill.)
Howe, Moses, iii, 856 (ill.)
Howe, Ephruim, Iii, 856 (ill.)
Howe, Simon Herbert, iii, 850 (ill.)
Uowells, WilUam D., i, 153
Budson, iii, 250
Early history, iii, 250
Movement for incorporation of town, iii,
252
Town incorporated, iii, 267
First olBcera, iii, 257
Bolton territory contest, iii, 258
Educational, iii, 269
Public Library, iii, 260
Town-House, iii, 260
Fire Department, iii, 260
Water-works, iii, 261
Communication, iil, 262
Military aflairs, iii, 264
Grand Army, iil, 266
Manufactures, iii, 266
Business accessories, iii, 270
Newspapers, iii, 271
Cburchee, ill, 271
Social advantages, iii, 273
St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, iii,
273 (ill.)
Board of Trade, iii, 274
Natural advantages, iii, 275
Biographical, iii, 276
Hudson, Alfred S., ii, 377, 413, 437
Hudson, Charles, iii, '260
Huntress, Leonard, ii, 195 ; iii. 314
Hunnewell, Walter, Hi, 420 (HI.)
Hntcblnaon, Arnold, iii, 248 (HI.)
Hurd, Theodore C, i, Ixxxiil
Hyde, George, iii, 165 (ill.)
Hyde, James F. C, iii, 166 (ill.)
.rackman, J. V., iii, 823
fackson, Andrew, ii, 21
iackaon, Patrick T., H, 7
lefts, Luman T.. iii, 281 (ill.)
loalin, Jaa. T., iii, 274
loslin, Ralph E., Iii, 350
luhnaoD, Edwin K., i, 334 (ill.)
luhnson, Edward, i, 336, .137, 338
Pohnson, Edward F., i, 337, 350, 364, 365, 366,
370, 384, 450, iii, 856
.luhnson, John, i, 454 (ill.)
lohnson, B. B., iii, 712
lunea, Edward F., ii, 184
K.
Keyes, John 3., i, Ixxvii ; ii, 5'20
Keyes, John, 1, xU
Kindall, Jonas, i, 768 (ill.)
Kimball. James, ii, 884 (ill.)
Kimball, William, ii, 884 (iH )
Kimball, Gilman, ii, 21)1) (ill.)
Kirkland, John T., i, 'J3
Kittredge, Jeremiah, iii, 313 (HI.)
Klltredge, John B., iii, 678 (IH.)
Kittredge, J. C, iii, 313
Kittredge, William, ii, 18 (ilL)
Knowlee, John A , i, li.x (IH.)
Lafayette, Marquis De, i, 400
LamsoD, Alvan, i, 606 (ill.)
Lamson, Dauiel S., i. 486, 492, 495, 496
Lawrence, Abbott, ii, 565 (ill.)
Lawrence Homestead, 566
Laugdon, Samuel, i, 89
Leavitt, Ei-aemus D., i, 232 (ill.)
Lee, Fitz Hugh, i, 187
Leverett, John, i, 81, I78T
Leland, .\mariah, i, 706 (ill.)
Lexington, i, 604
Topography and scenery, i, 604
Civil history, i, OOC
The parish of Cambridge Farms, t, tl07
The Urat minister, i, HOT
The ArBt meeting-house, i, 608
The second minister, i, Oii3
Incorpomtion of town. i. OO'J
The Common, i, OO'J
Schottls, i, 610, 621
Old customs, i, 611
The Hancoik Home, i, 013
Military bialory, 613
War of the Kevulutiou, i, 615
War of 1812, i, 61'J
War of the Rebellion, i, 619
Education, i, 021
Libraries, i, 622
Ecclesiastical, i, 623
The First Chiircli, i, 62:i
The Baptist church, i, 026
The Second Coiigrcgutiulial Society, i,
C2,S
The First I'niversalidt Society, i, 628
Hancock Congregnlional Church, i,
029
Church of Our Redeemer, i, 62«
The Roman Catholic Church, i, 630
Miscellaneous, i. t'^0
Industries, i, 630
Hotels, i, 1)32
Savings bank, i, 632
Water-works, i, (.32
Gas coDipany, i, 633
Post-ofBce, i, 6.33
Historical Society, i, 633
Field and Garden Club, i, 034
Lodges, i, 634
Municipal statistics, i, 634
Old families, i. 634
Blogmphical, i, 6:',4
Lincoln, ii, 612
Incorporation, ii, 612
Early history, ii, 012
Churches, ii, 613
MlliUry history, ii, 616
French and Indian War, ii, 617
Hevolution, ii, 617
List of soldiers, ii, 021
War of 1812, ii,624
War of the Rebellion, ii, 625
Act of incorporation, ii, 026
Town officers, ii, 026
College gradnatea, U, 627
Physicians, II, 630
INDEX.
871
Educational, ii, 630
Burl&l-plsces, ii, 633
Biograpbical, il, 63t
LittletOD, ii, 857
Origin of name, ii, 857
iQdiao CroublM, ii, 857
Grant of Nashobab, ii, 8GI
Robbiua and Lawrence Irart, ii, 862
Bulltley and Hencbman purcbase, ii, 8<i;j
Firat records of town-meeting, ii, 865
First minister, ii, 866
Firet meeting-boose, ii, 866
Frencb War, ii, 86*
Tbe BeTolution, ii, 871
War of 1812, ii, 875
Ecclesiastical, ii, 875
Educational, ii, 876
Tbe Littleton Lyceum, ii, ST8
War of tbe Rebellion, ii, 879
Libraries), ii, 88U
IManufacturera, ii, 881
Population, ii^ 881
State Senator, ii, 881
Taverns, ii, 881
Cemeteries, il, 832
Blogi-aphical, ii, 882
Liverraore, Jobn.i. 190, 198, 201, 211, iii. 864
Livermore, George, i, 191, 199
Lirermorv, Isaac, i, 211
Livermore, Tbomas, iii, 696 (ill.)
Livingston, William, ii, 32 (ill.)
Lowell, ii, 1
Early history, ii, 1
Middlesex Canal, ii, 4
The town of Lowell, ii, 16
Annals, ii, 17
President Jackttun's visit, ii, 21
Boston Jk Lowell R. R., ii, 26
City of Lowell, ii, 26
Lowell water-works, ii, 41
The Colwell filotor, ii, 46
Mayors, ii, 50
Politics, ii, 58
Municipal oltlcers, ii, 63
Banks, ii, 61
Old Lowell National, ii, 64
Tbe Bailroa-I Bank, Ii, 66
The City Bank, ii, iM
Appleti>a Hink, ii, 66
Preacott Bank, ii, GU
Wauiesit Bunk, ii, 66
Merchants' National Bank, ii, 67
First National Banll, ii, 67
Co-operative Bank, ii, 67
Lowell Institution for Savings, ii. 67
City Inalitulion forSaviuga, ii, 6.S
Five Cent Savings Bank, ii, 68
Mechanics' Savings Bank, ii, 69
Central Savings, ii, 69
Merrimack River Savings Bank, ii, 60
Traders* £ Uecbanics* Fire Insurance (.'o
ii,70
Howard Fire Inanrance Co., ii, 70
Manutactarea, ii, 71
Merrimack Mfg. Co., ii, 71
Tbe Hamilton Mfg. Co, ii,73
Tbe -Appleton Co., ii, 74
Tbe Lowell Mfg. Co., ii, 75
Tbe Middlesex Co., ii, 76
The Suffolk Mfg. Co., ii, 77
Tbe Lawrence Mfg. Co., ii, 78
The Lowell Bleachery, ii, 79
The BooU CottoD-Uills, ii, 79
Tbe Maaeachnaetts Cottou-Mills, il, 80
Tbe Lowell Machine Shope, ii, 82
Minor mfrs., ii, 84
Metal mfra., ii, 90
Paper mfra., ii, 100
Carriage mfrs.. ii, 100
Medicine mfrs., ii, lUl
TheJ. C. .4jerCo.,ii, 101
C. I. Hood 4 Co., ii, 107
Other Companies, ii, 108
Miscellaneous, ii, 108
Schools, ii, 112
Edaon, ii, 116
Bartlett, il, 117
High School, ii, 118
Moody, Green, Colburn and Barnnm,
il, 119
Franklin and HIghUnd, ii, 120
Butler, Pawtucket and Mann, ii, 120
Waehington, Adams, Primary and
Catholic Parochial, ii, 121
Ecclesiastical history, ii, 126
St. Anne's Church, ii, 126
The House of Prayer, ii, 129
9t. John's Parish, II, 129
Pawtucket Church, il, 130
First Congregational, ii, 132
John St. Church, ii, 134
High St. Churcb, il, 135
Highland Congregational, ii, 1:16
Third Congregational, ii, 136
The Frencb Protestant, ii, 136
Swedish Evangelical Lutheran, ii, 137
Swedish Evangelical Mission, ii, 137
Tbe First Presbyterian, ii, 137
Weatminater Presbyterian, ii, 137
First Baptist, ii, 137
Wortheo St. Baptist, ii, 139
Baptlat French Miaaion, ii, 140
Branch St. Baptist, ii, 141
Fifth St. Baptist, ii, 141
Highland Baptist, ii, 141
St. Paul's Metbo<list, Ii, 141
Wortben St. Methodist, ii, 143
Central Methodist, ii, 143
Centralvllle Methodist, ii, 144
The Berean Primitive Methoilist, ii,
144
The FIret Primitive Methodist, ii, 144
Highland Methodist Episcopal, ii, 1 14
South Congregntional, ii, 145
Second Unitarian, ii, 146
Tbe Ministry at Large, ii, 146
First Cniversalist, Ii, 146
Sbattuck St. Univeraalist, il, 147
Paige St Free Will Bapliat, il, 148
Mount Vernon Free Baptist, ii, 149
Chelmsford St. Free Baptist, ii, 149
Advent Christian, ii, 149
St. Patr^ck•^ ii, 150 (ill.)
St. PeUr'a, ii, 178
St. Joseph's, ii, 178
Immacnlate Conception, ii, 178
St. Michael's, ii, 178
Church of tlie Sacred Heart, ii, 179
Military, ii, 179
War of tbe Rebellion, ii, 180
The Press, il, 188
Journal and Courier, ii, 189, 191
Daily Morning Times, ii, 192
Vol Populi, ii, 192
The Lowell Daily Citizen, ii, 192
Daily Citizen and News, ii, 192
Morning Mail, ii, 193
The Sun. ii, 193
Tbe Daily Times, il, 193
L'Unlon, il, 195
L'Etoile, ii, 196
Obsolete and consolidated journals, ii
193
Medical, il, 195, 216
Miscellaneous, il, 231
Poet-offlce, U, 231
Fire Department, ii, 232
Libraries, ii, 233
Rogers Fort Hill Park, ii, '238 a
Lowell, Charles, I, 152
Lowell, James Buanll, i, 132, 191
Lowell, Robert J. S., 1, 152
Lowell, John A., il, 10
Lowell, Francis C, ii, 7, 16
Lockhart, William L., iii, 899 (III.)
Long, John D., I, Ixixiil, 634
Lodge, Henry Cabot, il, 16
Locke, Samuel, 11, 88
M.
Maiden. Ill, 466
Early hiatorr, ill, 466
Indians, Ui, 468
IncorporattoQ, ill, 460
Name, Hi, 461
Early settlera, ill, 461
Boundaries enlarged, iii, 467
Schools, ill, 468
Public Library, Hi, 470
Militarr, lU, 470
King Philip's War, ill, 470
French Ware, iii, 470
Tbe Revolution, iii, 471
War of tbe Rebellion, iii, 474
Incorporation of city, iii, 476
Civil list, Ui, 475
Eccleaiaatical, iU, 477
First Church, 111,477
South Church, iii, 497
Wiothrop's Congregational, Maple-
wood, ill, 572
Union Congregational, iii, 513
First BapUst, iii, 514
Centre Metbodlat Episcopal, iii, 517
Methodist Episcopal, Maplewood, iii,
518
Belmont Episcopal, iii, 519
Firat Univeraalist C'hnrcb and First
Parish, Hi, 521
Cbnrch of tbe Immacnlate Conception,
iii, 522
St. Paul's Episcopal, iii, 523
St. Luke's Episcopal, Linden, Hi, 525
The Faulkner Evangelical Union,
iii, 526
Societies, iii, 527
Woman's Club, HI, 528
Woman's Christian Temperance
Union, iii, 529
Medical Improvement Society, iii, 629
Industrial Aid Society, ill, 530
United Order of the Golden Cross,
Mystic Coromandery, HI, 530
Good Templars, Hi, 530
Free Masonry, Hi, 530
Toung Men's Christian Association
iii, 530
Odd Fellowa, Hi, 532
Miscellaneons, ill, 532
Biographical, ill, 532
Maynard, ii, 437
Incorporation, ii, 437
Early porchase of territory, ii, 439
Indian deed, ii, 439
Indian occupants, il, 442
Condition of tbe country, ii, 443
Karly English occapanis, Ii, 444
872
INDEX.
Philip's War, ii, 445
IiocatioD of early hotoeateads, ii, 44G
Scboola, ii,450
Cnatoma, niiiDDerB and lawe, ii, 45U
Highways, Ic, ii, 452
Character of the settlemeDt, ii, 453
GoDgregatioaal Church, ii, 455
Methodist Church, ii, 455
Romao Catholic Church, ii, 455
The High School, ii, 457
PuhUc Library, ii, 45S
Biographical, ii,459
Aasabet River, ii, 4G0
Pompoflltticut Hill, ii, 461
Marlborough, ili, 819
Original grant, ii), 819
Indian grant, iii, 819
FljHt meeting of proprietors, iii, 810
Owners of house-lots in IGiiO, iii, Hl\i
First settlere, iii, 820
King Philip's Wur, iii, 82U
The French and Indian War, iii, 821
The Lexiugtoo alarm, iii, 822
The minute-men, iii, 823
List of soldiers, iii, 823
Ecclesiastical, lil, 824
I'uloD CoDgregatiooal, iii, 825
Secuud Parieh Unitarian, iii, S28
Methodlat Episcopal, iii, S3U
First Baptist, ili, S^iO
Church oftbeHoly,Trinity, iii. 831
Uuiversallst, iii, 831
Immaculate Cunceptiun ( Roman ( 'atbc-
lic),iii,832
St Mary's (French Catholic), iii, 832
French Evangelical Church, iii, 832
FducatioDul, ill, 832
The press, iii, 834
Banks, Iii, 835
Public Library, ili, 837
Midcellaueooa, iii, 837
MaunfacturiDg interests, ill, 837
Masonic, iii, 840
Civil history, iii, 844
Incorporation, iii, 344
First selectmen, iii, 844
Selectmen from lUOl-1890, iii, 844
Town-clerks from 1GOI-I8tf0, iii, aiCj
Treaeurera, iii, 845
Kepreaentatives, iii, 845
State Senators, Iii, 846
Ckjonty commiteionen, iii, 840
Delegates to Provincial Congress, iii,
844;
Delegates to Constitutional Conven-
tions, ill, 846
AsHtstant Treasurer of United States,
iii, 846
Population, lit, 846
Valuation, iii, 346
Odd Fellowship, iii, 846
Celebration of two hundredth anuiversary
uf incorporation of town, iii, 847
Waruf the Kebellion, iii, 848
Societies, etc., iii, 849
Biographical, tii,849
Manning, Otis, ii, 885 (ill.)
Marcy, Henry O , i. 15M, 166, 173
MardeD, George A., ii, 191 (ill.)
Marah, E. A., iii, 749
Marsh, Thomas J., tii, 315
Marshall, Thomas, i, 508 lill.)
MaiKio, Frank A., iii, 157
Maaon, David H., iii, 155 (ill.)
Mather, Cotton, i, 151
Mather, Increase, 1, 70 152
Maynard, Amory, ii, 459 (ill.)
Maybry, Lowell Bowker, iii, S05 (ill.)
McDonald, L., iii, 338
McFarland, Cromwell, iii.SUG, (ill.)
McKenna, P. A., iii, 832
McKenzie, Alexander, i, 11. tiO, 05, 1G5, 221 (ill
McPberson, Cliarlea J., iii, t;53
Meserve, Clenient, iii, 780
Medford, iii, 8t/7
Early history, iii, au7
Elarly documents, iii, 8U7
Early grant, iii, 307
Garty Medford names, iii, 8IU
Town tax of 1707, iii, 810
Indiana, iii, 811
Tbe Revolution, iii 813
The Civil War, iii, 814
Ecclesiastical, iii, S15
Education, iii, 810
Tuftd College, iii, al7
Ship-building, iii, 818
Population, iii, 818
ViUuation, iii, 818
Melrottt), iii, 205
Early history, iii, 205
Incorporation, iii, 2Uj
Eecltrsiaslical, iii, 209
Methodist Episcopal Church, iii, 2ii'>
ProtertUiiit Methodist, in, jny
Orthodox CuugregatiurmI, iii, i^lu
First Universalist, iii, 210
Trinity Episcupal, iii, 2lU
(Tuitarian, iii, 211
Routau Catholic, iii, 211
Highland Congregulioual, iii, Jll
Educational, iii. 211
MiliUiy, iii, 212
Societies, ai«ociation!i, cliiba, &c., iii, 21::
Bibliography and .MiitcelUneous, iii, 214
Public Library, tii, 218
Melrose Saviogii Bnuk, iii, 218
Rubt>er- works, iii, 2lS
Officials, iii, 218
Then and now, iii, 219
Biogr.iphicul, iii. 219
Melten, J^iuieii, i, 23G (ill.)
Merriam, Adolpbud, iii,077 (ill.)
Merrill, J. W., i, 230 (ill.)
Menard, Josetle Gertrude, i, 442
.Metcalf, Alva, iii, 571 (ill.)
Uorde, Stephen, iii, 856 (ill.)
Morse, Samuel F. B., i, 238.
Morse, Leonard, i, 5Uti (ill.)
Moody, Paul, ii, 9
Montague, Richard, i, 65
Munroe, Williaui, i, 635 (ill.)
N.
Natitk. i. 512
Natuml features aud productiuuci, i, 5)2
Indian settlemeut, 165i)-n00, i, 314
1700-1800, i, 52u
1800-1890, i. 525
Ecclesiastical, i, 536
Organization of the Indian CtuirLli, i.
536
Eliot's translation of the Biblf, i, S:i)i
Printing and distributing saiue, i, >il
Eliot's death, i, 537
Memorial window tu perpetuate bia
memory, i, o37
Pastor Takawambpait, i, 538
Peabody and Badger, miasiooarii;s tu
the Natick Indiana, i, 539, 540
Congregational Church, i, 540.
Baptist Church, i, 543 *
I Methodist Episcopal Chorcb, i, 514
1 St. Paul's Episcopal Church, i, 544
r Roman Catholic Churches, i, 544
, Uuitarian, or Eliot Church, i, 545
I The Johu Eliot Church, i, 545
The Methodist Church, i, 546
Elducational, i, 546
I Early schools, i, 546
i Libraries, i, 549
Monroe Institute, i, 549
Bacon Free Library, i, 551
Historical, Natural History aud Libra-
ry Society, I, 551
I University aud college graduates, i,
I 552
j ^liscellaneous, i, 553
' FupnlHlioii, i, 553
I Water Pepartoient, i, 553
> Fire Depiirtmeiit, i, 553
Oa»-ligbt Company, i, 558
; Electric C'tnipany, i. 553
! Natick National Bank, i, 553
Natick Five Cent Savings Bank, i. 5j3
I Henry Wilson Co operative Bank, i,
554
, Pitdt-officea, i. 554
I Manufactures, i, 5-54
Railroads, i, 559
Street r«iIroa«ls. i, 559
, Cemeteries, i, 559
I Lawyere, i, 560
. Kxpres^ conipaoie:}, i, 562
i Fraternitieb. i, ^62
j The press, i, 563
I Biogntphical, i, 663
' Napoleuii. Prime Jerome, ii, i4
I Newton, A. F., iii. S32
< Newton, iii, 1
i >^rly history, iii, 1
' Early rietllers, iii, 5
First iirlual settlei-s, iii, 8
I The Indiana, iii, 12
' Eliot mid the Nonautmii Indians, iii, 12
I Histuricul items, iii, 15
I Newton rpper Kulla. iii, 15
I The Lower Falls, iii, lb
I West Newtuu, iii, 17
NewtonviUe, iii, IS
> Newton Highlands, iii, 18
I .\uburndale, iii, 18
; Eliot, iii, 18
! Chestnut Hill, iii, 18
I Waban, iii, 19
j Wuodlund Station, iii, 19
I Riverside, iii, 19
The North Village, iii, 19
, Cemeteries, iii, 2o
The Revolution, iii, 21
Ecclesiastical History, iii, 27
1 Firat Church, iii, 27, 40
Second Congregational Church, West
j Newton, iii, 27
First Baptist Church, Newton, iii, 28
j First Religious Society, Newtou Upper
Falls, iii, 23
i UniTersalist Church, Newtou Upper
I Falls, iii, 28
Second Baptist Church, Newton, iii, 29
I Methodist Episcopal Church, Newtou
Upper Falls, iii, 29
St. Mary 'a Church, Newton Upper
Falls (Catholic), iii, 29
St. Mary'd Church, Newton Lower
Falls (Episcopal), iii, 29
Methodist Episcopal Church, Newton
Lower Falls, ili, 29
INDEX.
873
The Eliot Cliurcb, Newton, iii, 29
N'ewtoD Baptist Cbiircb, iii, :10
Grace Epi^opal, NewtoD, iit,:lO
Methodist Episcopal Church, Newton,
iii, au
Church oruur Lady.UelpofChrtdtiaus,
Iii, 30
Xewtou and WatertuwD Univeraalidt
Society, iii, 3u
The ETaugelical Co a gre;$atiooal
Church uf Auburndale, iti, 30
The Centenary Methodiat Episcopal
Church of Auburndale, iii, 30
Church of the Ueaaiab of West Newtou
and Auburndale, iii, 30
The North Evangelical Church, No-
uautuni, iii, 31
St. Bernard's Catholic Church, West
Newton, iii, 31
. Newtou Highlands Congregational
Church, iii, 31
St. Paul's Episcopal church, Xe»tou
Sighlands, lit, 31
Episcopal Church, Newton Centre, iii,
31
Methodist Episcopal Church, Newtou
Centre, iii, 31
Unitarian Church, Newton Centre, iii,
31
The Central Congregational Church,
NewtuQvllle, ill, 31
The UniversaliBt Society, Newtouville,
ill, 31
Methodist Episcopal Church, Newtou-
villa, iii, 31
Swedenborgian Society, NeMtonville,
iii. 3:i
Chestnut Hill Chapel, iii, 32
St Andrew's Episcopal Church, Cheal-
uut Hill. iii. 'S-Z
Thouipsonville Chapel, iii, 32
The First Baptist Church of West
Newton, iii, 32
First Unitarian, West Nswton, iii, 3'J
The Myrtle Baptist (colored), iii, 32
The Church of Vahveb ^Secund Ad-
vent), iii, J2
Slavery, iii, 32
Temperance, iii, Xi
Fire Department, iii, 3^}
Alma-houses, iii, 34
The Home fur Orphans aud Destitute Oii U,
iii, 34
The Pine Farm School, iii, 34
Home for the Children of Mlwiouai ies, iii.
34
Wesleyan Home for the ijrphao t'hildien
uf Missionaries, iii, 34
Missionary Home in Newton Centre, iii, 34
Singing-school, iii, 35
:duuday -school Union, iii, 35
Natural History Society, iii, 35
The CUdin Guard, iii, 35
Water-works, iii, 35
Conduits of the Boston Water-wurks pass-
ioE through Newton, iii, 3G
The Sudbury River Conduit, iii, 3tj
Cottage Hospital, iii, 36
Woodland Park Hotel, ill, 37
Newton becomes a city, iii, 37
List of tnayors, iii, 38 *
Worcester Railroad, iii, 38
The Newton Journal, iii, 38
The Newton Graphic, iii, 38
Post-offlcea, iii, 38
Lafayette at Newton, iii, 38
First coDtribution to the Home for Little
Wanderers in Boston, ill, 38
Church bell. West Newton, ill, 38
Revolutionary reminiscences, iii, 38
The dnest houses in the north and east
parts of Newton, iii. 38
Buried treasure, ill, 38
Population, iii, 39
Statistics, iii, 39
Mt. Ida, iii, 39
Block-house on Centre Street, ill, 39
Paiks, iii. 40
Charles Dickens at Newton Centre, iii, 40
(ioody Davis, of Oak Hill, lil, 40
Circuit Railroad, iii, 40
Edueatioual, iii, 49
Yearly appropriation for schools to 1800,
iii. 53
Statistics of 1890, iii. 61
The Fuller .Vcademy, iii, 65
Seth Davis' Private School, iii, 65
State Normal School, iii, 65
Boarding-school of Martha S. Rice, iii, 67
Moses Burbank's school, iii. 67
Academy at Newton Centre, iii, 67
Other private schools, ill, 68
Private schools in successful operation iu
1890, iii, 69
La Salle Seminary, Anburndale, UJ, 69
West Newton English and Claasicul
School, iii, 70
Miss Spears' KngUah and ClaasJcal
School, iii, 70
Riverside Home and Day School for
Girls, iii, 71
E. H. Cutler's Preparatory School, ill.
71
Newton Theological Institutiuo, iii, 71
Libraries, iii, 81
West Parish Social, iii, 81
Adeiphian, iii, 81
West NewtoD Atbeneum, iii, 82
Newtou Book Club, iii, 82
Newton Library Association, iii, 82
Library Land Fund Asaociatiou, Iii,
82
Newtou Free Library, iii, 83
Newton Centre Library Association,
iii, 85
North Village Library Aasociatioo, iii,
S5
Newton Lower Falb Free Libruy, iii.
85
Banks :
The NewtoD National Bank, iii. 8C
The First National Bank of West New-
ton, iii, 88
The West Newton Savings Bank, iii, |
38
Industries and manufactories, iii, 89
Clubs, societies, etc., iii, 110
Newton Horticolturai Society, iii, 110
The Jersey Stock Club of Newton, iii,
111
Newton Natural History Society, iii,
111
Eliot Memorial Association, ill, 112
The Newton Cottage Hospital, iii, 113
The Newton Athenseam, iii, 114
The Newton CTub, iii, 114
Civil Service Reform Association, iii
115
Pine Farms School, iii, 115
Rebecca Pomeroy Newton Home for
Orphao Girls, iii, 116
Toung Men's Christian Association,
ill, 116
Sunday*«chool Union, ill. 117
The Goddard Literary nnion, ill, 117
The Tuesday Clab, ill, 117
The Newtonville Women's Bureau,
iii, 118
Newton Centre Women's Clab, iii, 118
" The Neighbor!." iii. 118
Young Men's Social CTnioD, Newton
Centre, ill, 119
Auburndale ImproTement Society, Hi
119
Weot Newton Womeo's Edacatiooal
Club, ill, 119
"The Players," iii, 119
The Monday Evening Club, iii, 120
Newton Congregational Club, iii, 120
The Newton Boat Club, iii, 121
The Wesleyan Home, lil, 121
The Newton Fanciers* Glnb, ill, 122
Quinobequlo Araoclatlon, lit, 122
Grand Army of the Bepubllc, iii, 122
Newton Centre Improvement Associa-
tion, iii, 122
Newton Prohibition League, iii, 124
The Every Saturday aub, iU, 124
Masonic, lil, 124
Dalbooaie Lodge, iii, 124
Newton Royal Arch Chapter, Ui,
124
Gethsemane Commandery, iii, 124
Union Masouic Relief Asaociatiou
of MasBachuMtta, iU, 124
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Iii,
124
Waban Lodge, No. 156, ill, 124
Home Lodge, No. 162, ill, 125
Newton Lodge, No. 92, iii, 126
Garden City Encampment, No. 62,
iii, 126
Royal ArcaDom, iii, 125
Channing Council, No. 76, iii, 125
Triton Council, No. 547, Iii, 126
Echo Bridge Council, No. 843. iii,
125
United Order of the Goldeo Cross, iii,
125
Crescent Commandery, No. 86, Ui,
125
Order of the Iron Hall, iii, 125
Branch No. 392, ui, 125
Branch No. 396, iii, 126
Sisterhood Branch, iii, 125
Royal Society of Good Fetlowa, iii, 12S
Newton Assembly, No. 39, iii, 125
Auburn Assembly, No. 142, ill. 125
RnightB of HoQor, iii, 125
EUot Lodge. No. 638, ill, 12^
Gardeu City Lodge, No. 1901, ill,
125
Crystal Lake Lodge, No. 2235, iii,
126
Independent Order of Good Templars,
iii, 126
Loyalty Lodge, No. 154, iii, 125
American Legion of -Honor, Ui, 125
Newton CoqdoU, No. 859, iii. 125
Ancient Order of United Workmen, iii
125
Newton Lodge, No. 21, UI, 125
MasaacboMtte Catholic Order of For-
estezB, iii, 126
St. Bernard Court, No. 44, Ui, 125
United Order of Pilgrim Fatfaan, iU,
12&
874
INDEX.
NonaDtiun Colonjr, No, 77, iii, 125
Wom«D'a Cbritjtian Temptiruoca Vu-
ion, ill, 125
Improved Order of Red MeD, iii, 12.'i
Norambega Tribe, No. 70, iii, I'io
Mililary, iii, 125 •
Medlcsl, ill, 133, 147
GeologT, ill, UO
Biogiapbical, iii, 155
Neemetb, Jobn, U, 38 (ill.)
Neametb, Thomas, li, 38 (ill.)
Needbam, Daniel, i, xMil (ilL)
Mortb BaadioK, U, 308
Biograpblcal, il, 810
Norton, John F., i, 512
Norton, Cbarles E., i, 152
Noyea, Samoel, iU, 430 (III.)
Mortb, Charles H., iii, 778 (ill.)
O.
O'Brien, Jobn, il, 169 (ilL)
O'Brien, Micbaal, il, 173 (ill.)
O'Keefle, Katharine, ii, 150, 169, 183
Onoli, Uargaret Fuller, i, 153, 191
P.
Packer, Edmund H., il, 216, 219 (ill.)
Page, Alfred, il, 687 (ill.)
Page, Thomaa H., ii, 687 (ill.)
Paige, Lucius R., 1, 72, 144, 151, 162, 186, 190,
198
Paine. Robert Treat, i, 131
Palfrey, Sarah, I, 153
Palmer, Moses P., ii, 567 (ill.) v
Palmer, Charles D., ii, 57
Park, John C, i, Ixxi
Parker, Peter, iii, 675 (III.)
Parker, Moses G., ii, 208 (III.)
Parker, H. C, i, 437
Parmenler, J. W., ill, 758 (III.)
Parmenter, James P., iii, 173
Parmenter, William, I, 224 (ill.)
Parsons, Theophilus, i, 153
Peabodjr, Andrew P.,i, en, 140, 214, 217 (ill.),
222
Pspperell, Hi, 220
Parochial and ecclesiastical, ill, 220
Early settlement. 111, 220
Petition for town, ill, 220
Incorporation, iii, 220
First tavn meeting, ill, 220
First meetlng-bonse, ill, 221
Snbsequent chiirx:b hbrtory. 111, 222
Mniiiclpal and militant, 111,226
The RsTOlnUon, ill, '230
The Rebellion, ill, 234
The •' Hor8»«hed War," Hi 23S
PopuUtion and ralnation. 111, 236
Offlclals, ill, 236
Educational, 111, 236
Public Library, iii, 241
ludnatrlal pursuits, iii, 241
BloKrapbical, Iii, 246
Perhani, Henry 8., il, 239
Pettee, Otis, iii, 89
Perkins, Henry M., I, 136
Phippa, William Adams, iii, 806(111.)
Phillips, Wendell, I, Ixrl ; ii, 20
Pierce, Benjamin, il, 3
Pierce, Franklin, ii, 3
Pine, George S., ill, 831
PItcaim, Major, i, 617
Pike, J. Newton, 111, .074 (ill.)
Powers, Charles E., I, Ixiix (ill. ), 6U2
Powers, Charles, i. 599, 602 (ill.)
Porter, Edward O., 1, 629
Pope, Stephen, iii, 277 (111.)
Pratt, Miles, iii, 429 (ill.)
Pratt, Asa, iii, .366
Pratt, Charles, iii, 368
Prouty, Gardner, ii, 886 (ill.)
PriJe, E. W., iii, 281
Putnam, Mrs. 3. K., I, 152
Qiiiocy, Dorothy, i, 392
(juincy, Josiab P., i, 152
Quincy, Josiafa, i, 96
RawBon. Warren W, iii, 198, 204 (ill.)
Rand, Edward A., iii, 373
Kandall, J. W., i, 66i (ill.)
Reading, ii, 793
Early settlemeDt, ii, 793
Antecedents and characterietics uf tIrHt
settlers, il, 794
Old Isndmarks, ii, 786
Revolution, ii, 7S7
The Rebellion, ii, 783
Industries, ii, 799
Buildiaga, ii, 802
Churches, ii, S04
Old families, ii, 8U4
Societies, ii, 8U7
Itevere, Paul, I, 616
Read, J. Henr)', ii, 717 (ill.)
Itlce, Thomas, ill, 164 (ill.)
Idee, Reuben N., li, 610 (ill.)
Rice, F. S., iii, 831
Richardson, George F., i, Ixiv (ill.), 186 ; ii, 16,
37,373
Richardson, Helen Louise, iii, ^-10
Richardson, Daniel S., i, Ix (ill.); ii, 190, 37u
Kichardsoo, George C, i, 196
Richardson, Johu A. O., ii. .'iSl
Richardson, Samuel, ill, 422 (ill.)
Richardson, "NV. M,, i, xxxviii
Kichardsoo, Edwin F., I, 18G
Richardson, Willittm A., i, Ixxvii (ill.); it,
:m
Richmond, Perez O., ii, lOn (ill.)
Kindge, Freilerick H., 1,150
Rindge, Samuel Baker, I, 234 (ill.)
Robbins, Nathan, iii, 2U2 (ill.)
Robbius, Ell, ill, 2U3 (HI.)
Kobbin^ Martha, iii, 424
Kobbins, Royal E., iii, 741, 749
Robbins, Amus, iii, 2113 (ill.)
Roberts, Jobn, iii, 757 (ill.)
RobinsoD, John P , i, xliil ; ii, 20, 25, 127
Rodliir, Ferdinand, ii, 73 (ilL)
Rowley, C. H., ii, 689
Rogers, Benjamin, ii, 238a Till.)
Rogers, Elizabeth, il, 238 (ill.)
Rogers, Emily, ii, 238b (111.)
Rogers, Homer, ii, 412 (ill.)
Rogers, Zadock, ii, 238
Rogers, Jobn, i, 80, 161
Ru-^sell, Charles Tlieodor«, i, Ixii
Russell, William E., i, IxxviU, 150, 191 ; iii,
865.
Russell, Chambers, ii, 6.36
Russell, Jaa., ill, 201 (ill.)
Russell, Daol., iii, 219 (ill.)
S.
Saltonstall, Leverett, i, 96
Sargeant, Charles C, ii, 716 (ill.)
Savage, Wm. H., iii, 327
Saunden, Amos Joseph, 111,249(111.)
Savory, Charles A., ii, 205 (ilL)
Sawtelle, Thomas B., i, 306, o6!), iwio
Sears, Edmund H., i, 509 (ill.)
Sewell, Joseph, i, 8:{
Sewell, Samuel, i, 1.52
Shaw, Mrs. Quincy, i, 147, 148
Shaw, George S., i, 318, 321
Shays, Daniel, i, 461
Shedd, William G. T., i, 251
Sheldon, George T., ii, 274 (ill.)
Sherbom, i, 080
Early history, i, 680
The pioneers, i, 631
Population in 1674,1, R74, 683
Incorporation of town, i, 683
First town-meeting, i, 683
King Philip's War, i, 084
The i^rrison-bouaes, i, 684
The social compact, i, OUT
Ecclesiastical, i, 683
Educational, i, 094
Franiiogliitm and Hollietou iucorporuted,
1, 699
War of the Revolution, i, 699
Shays' Rpbellion, i, TOO
Phyniciaiia, 1, 700
Ceuic'teries, i, 701
War of the Kebellion, i, 702
Societies and cluba, i, ~tK\, 705
Refurniatory luatitutioufor Wouieu, i, 704
Newspapers, i, 705
Biographical, i, 706
Shepherd, Thomas, i, 10, 17, 18, 19, 21, 24, 28,
35, 151
Shirley, 1, 456
Incorporation, i, 4'6
First town-meeting, i, 456
Officers electeil, i, 456
Firat settlement, i, 457
DefMrriptive, i, 457
Buriut-gruund, i, 457
Tow n. house, i, 458
Post-office, i, 458
Almsliouss, i, 4.>8
Military, i, 459
The French War, i, 4.'.9
The Revoliltiou, i, 40ri
Slia.va' Inaurrectiuii, i, 401
Wur of the Rebellion, i, 462
Manufactures, i, 4(;;t
Scho<j|8, 1,471
Public Library, i, 475
Eccleainstical history, i, 475
The First Parish, i, 470
The Sliuker Coraiuunity, i, 478
Dniversaliat Society, i, 480
First Congregational Church, i, 481
Orthodox Congregational t^unli, i,
484
BapUst Church, I, 485
Biographical, I, 4SS
.Shute, Jarnea M., iii, 775 (ill.)
.Sibley, John Laugdon, i, 221, (ill.) 645
Simpson, Michael H., Iii, 015, (ill.)
Skinner, Henry, i, 301 (ill.), 302
Skinner view, i, 301
Small, Walter II., iii, 250, 259
Smith, S. F., iii,l, 172
Somerville, iii, 759
Incorporation, ill, "CO
The Revolution, iii, 761
llie McLean Insane Asylum, iii, 761
The Ursniine Convent, iii, 761
Proepect Hill, Hi, 761
Corey Hill, iii, 761
Cobble Hill, Hi, 761
Winter HIU, iii, 782 •■
INDEX
875
Ftntt towD-DieetfQg, iit, 702
List uf selectmen, iii, 762
Representatives, iii, 763
l!A:cle6iustical, iii, 763
Fire Department, iii, 765
Gu company, iif, 766
Street list, iii, 766
Midijlesex Railroad Company, iii, 766
First Sotnerrille Light Infantry, iii, 764)
War of the RelHlUon, iii, 766
Public Library, ill, 771
Incorporation of city, iii, 771
First officen, iii, 771
Mayors, iii, 771
Inauguration of flr^ city goremment, iii,
771
Hon. George O. Barstow's Inaugural Ad-
dress, iii, 771
Education, iii, 773
Town expenditures, 1889, iii, 773
Societies and institutions, ill, 774
Miscellaneous, ill, 773
Spalding, Jonatliao, 11, 35 (111.)
Spniding, Sidney, il, 39 (111.)
Spitlding, Juhu, i, Ixxii (ill.)
Spulding, JatueH F., 1, 67
Spurkj, Jured, i, 47, 152
Spuflbrd, John C, iii, 006 (ill.)
Squire, John P., I, 206 ; ill, 204 (111.)
Staples, C. A., i, 004, 620
Starbuck, .\lexaniler, iii, 730, 737
ytickney, RufuB Barms, iii, 779 (III.)
Stevens, WilllnmB., i, Ixixill; il, 461
Stevens, William F., ii, 499 (ill.)
Stearns, Edwin M., ii, 638
Stoneliauj, ii, 461
Early histury, ii, 461
Early proprietorship, ii, 463
Petition to the General Court, ii, 406
Early residents aud their locations, ii,
406
Incorporation of town, ii, 471
First town-meeting, ii, 472
Fli^t meetiug-house, ii, 472
Extracts fruo) church records, ii, 474
Civil and religious duties, ii, 476
Tax of 17.VI, ii, 470
The Revolution, il, 473,340
Inhabitants of 1784, ii, 480
Circulating Library and Public Library,
ii, 482
War of 1812, ii, 485
Education, ii, 488
Congregational Soc-iety, ii, 489
Unitarian Society, ii, 4S9
MelhoUist Society, il, 489
Baptist Society, ii, 489
War of the Eebelllon, 11,490
Boll of honor, ii, 493
Hay Tavern, ii, 494
Retrospective, ii, 495
William Tidd A Co., il, 496
Five CentSatings Bank, 11,496
Selectmen, ii, 497
Town-clerks, ii, 498
Representatives and special county com-
mlsBionera,ii, 498
Biographical, ii, 498
Stow, i, 637
Descriptive, i, 637
Settlements, 1,038 ,
Incorporation, i, 638
Indians, i, 640
EcclesiaAiral, i, 640
The First Church, i, 840
Univenalista, i, 646
Urthodox, i,646
Methodists,!, 646
Meeting-houses, i, 646
Educational, i, 048
College graduates, i, 650.
Military, i, 650
French and Indian War, i, 651
Ant»-Bevolution, i, 651
Revolution, i, 6S2
War of 1812, 1,653
The Behelllon, i, 664
New towns, i, 655
Cemeteries, 1, 655
Poand, i, 666
Poor and work-houses, i, 656
Slavery, 1, 656
Town-bouses, i, 656
Temperance, i, 656
Lafayette, i, 657
Homicide, i, 667
Business matters, i, 657
Rock Bottom Mills and Factory, i, 658
Personal notices, 1, 658
Story, Joeeph, 1, xlii
Story, William W., i, 152
Stone, Amos, iii, 604 (III.)
Stone, Bradley, i, 303 (ill.)
Stone, John L., iii, 852
Stott, Charles, il, 55 (ill.)
Stowe, Harriet Beecher, i,551
Stratton, Daniel Wilbur, iii, 279 (III.)
Sudbury, II, 377
Early grantaea, ii, 378
Land grants, ii, 37H
Indian deed, ii, 380
Town-meeting, ii, 382
Highways and bridges, ii, 383
Causeway, ii, 384
Church, il, 384
Land divisions, ii, 385
Laying out of new lands, ii, .386|
Garrisons, ii, 389
King Philip's War, ii, 390
Military, il, 396
Revolutionary War, 11, 399
TheGoodnow Library, ii, 404
Bailroads, Ii, 405
War of the Rebellion, il, 406
Celebrationa, ii, 407
Burying grounds, ii, 4^8
Physicians, ii, 41 1
Biographical, li, 411
Sweetser, Theodore H., i, Ixxvi
Swallow, Jas., i, 767 (ilL)
Swinton, John, iii, 745
Talbot, Zephaniah, iii, 455 (ill.)
Talbot, Charles P., ii, 85 (ill.)
Talbot, Thomas, il, c54
Tarhell, George G., ii, 636 (ill.)
Tarbell, L. L., iU, 830
Taylor, Moses, i, 304 (ill.)
Temple, Joaiah H., iii, 607
Tewksbury, iii, 281
Location, iii, 281
Geology, iii, 282
The State Alm»-hous«, iii, 282
Incorporation, iii, 286
The Church, iii, 287
French and Indian War, iii, 293
The RevolnUon, iii, 300
The schools, iii, 300
The press, iii, 302
Slavery, iii, 303
Natural history, iii, 303
Civil War, iii, 304
Public Library, iii, 306
Civil history, ill, 307
Biographical, iii, 312
Thompson, Benjamin (Count Rumford), i, 384,
410
Thompson, Leauder, I, 414, 446, 461
Thompson, Leonard, i, 392
Thompaoo, Albert, 1, 412
Thompson, Abljah, I, 357, 3«1, 364, 461 (ill.)
Thayer, WUIiam R., 1, 77
Thurston, Elizabeth P., iii, 81
Tilton, Charles Henry, iii, 574 (ilL
Townsend, 1, 569
Descriptive, i, 569
Early history, i, 571
The grant, i, 571
The charter, i, 672
Fhist settlers, i, 573
Ecclesiastical affaiiv, 1, 574
War of the Revolution, 1,579
The Shays Rebellion, I, 584
Educational, i, 586
Mechanical industries, i, 589
The Rebellion of 1861-65, i, 592
Lawyers, phy^cians and college graduates,
1.594
Post-offlco, 1, 595
Public Library. 1, 695
Fire Department, i, 596
Odd Fellows, 1, 596
The Farmers' Bank, 1, 596
Town officers, I, 596
Finale, I, 600
Biographical, i, 601
Train, Charles R., I, Ixiv (111.)
Trull, John, iii, 312
Trull, Jesse, iii, 312
Tuck, Edward, II, 65 (ill.)
Tuthill, Horace F., i, 238. 272
Tuthill, William D, i, 238
Tweed, Benjamin F.. 1,142
Tyler, Jonathan, ii, 44 (ill.)
Tyngsboro', il. 357
Early history, 11, 358
Charter, ii, 361
Lovewell's War, II, 367
Ecclesiastical history, il, 370, 374
The Revolution, il, 371
Sons of Tyngsboro', ii, 372
Manufacturers, ii, 375
Social Library, ii, 376
The Brinley mansion, iii, 376
The iron bridge, ii, 376
Traditions, il, 376
Improvements, il, 376
Van Buren, Martin, Ii, 21, 68
Van Dyke, Henry, i, 65
Varnum, B. F., ii, 21, 28
Vamom, Atkinson C, ii, 276
Varnum, Benjamin F., il, 318
Varnnm, James, ii, 320
Varnum, Jame* U., ii, 319
Varnum, John M., ii, 318
vr.
Wakefield, il, 717
Early settlement, ii, 717
First citizens of the old towD, Ii, 718
South Reading incorporated, II, 718
Name changed to Wakefield, il, 718
The celebration of July 4, 1868, il, 719
876
INDEX.
Topography and BitnatiOD, ii.720
Pre-historicBigoa, ii, 722
Ecclesiaitical, ii,723
The Firet Church, ii, 723
Baptist, ii, 723
UnlTermUst, ii, 723
St Joseph's, ii, 723
Methodist Ealacopal, il, 724
ImmaDDel Church, ii, 724
Fint CoDgregKtioDal, of GreeowooiJ,
ii, 724
MoDtroee Chapel Society, Ii, 724
EducaUooal, Ii, 724
LibmrieA, ii, 724
Newopftpera, ii, 725
MiUtary, ii, 725
The B«TolatioD, ii, 726
War of 1812, ii, 726
War of the RebelLiuo, ii, 727
Burial-groooda, ii, 729
Railroad facilitiea, ii, 731
Streets, ii, 731
Public aod private buildings, ii, 731
Population, ii, 732
Industries, ii, 733
Banking institotiona, ii, 736
Municipal, ii, 737
Senators, ii, 738
Representatives, ii, 738
mstorical societies, u, 73S
Men of note, il, 73»
Wadlin. Horace Q., ii, 793. 808.
Wade, Levi C.,iii,171 (ill.)
Wadsworth, Benj., i, 83
Walcott, Edward, i, 565 (ill.)
Walker, Theopbilus W., residence of the laiti,
iU. 712 (ill.)
Walker, Sears Cook, iil. Hti3
Walker, Francis A., i, 455
Walker, Samuel, iii, 424 (111.)
Walker, James, i, 98, 413
Walton, Electa N. L.. iii, 49
Waltham, iii, 700
lucorporation, iil, 700
Early exploration, iii, 702
First grant, iil, 702
Course of settlemeut, iil, 703
Weston set ufl, iii, 704
Natural features, iii, 706
Early customti, iii, 709
Educational, Hi. 709, 715
Frencb and Indian Wars, iii, 71u, 720
The ReTolution, iii, 711, 721
War of 1812, iil. 713, 722
Early manufactures, iii, 713
Military gatherings, iii, 715
Fitcbburg BaJlroad, iii, 716
Warol the Rebellioa, iii, 717, 722
Waltham Bank, ill, 718
Incorporution of city, Iil, 718
City aflalra. etc., iii, 719
Population, iii, 719
MiUtary, Ul, 720
Medical, iii. 726
Hospital, iu, 729
TrainiDg-School for Nurses, iii, 729
Humoeopathlo physicians, iil, 730
Ecclesiastical, iii, 730
Fint Society, iil, 731
Christ Church, Episcopal, iii, 731
Metbodist Epiocopal, iii, 731
Trinitarian Congregational, iii, 731
Catholic, iil, 732
Baptist, iii, 732
UniTorsallat, Ui, 732
Society of the New Jerusalem, iii, 733
AscenaioD, iii, 733
Banks, iii, 733
Waltham Bank, iii, 733
Savings Bank, iii, 734
Schools, iii, 734
Newspapere, iii, 737
Manufactures, iii, 738, 747
The American Waltham Watch Cuiiipuby,
iii. 738
Public Library, iil, 750
Biograpbical, iii, 755
Ward, Artemas. i, xlvi (ill.)
Warner, Frederick A., ii, 220 (ill-)
Warren, Joseph, i, 163
Warren, G*orge W., i, Ixiii
Warreo, Winslow Mor&e, iii, 3')4 {i\\.)
Warren, Natban, iii„70O, 750
Washington, George, i, 183, 449
Washburn, Emury, i, 187
Watertown, iii, 317
Mytbical period, iii, 317
Indians, iii, 317
Geographical, iii, 3lti
Bounds, iii, 318
Physical features uf the landd vvitblii the
present boundaries, iii, 321
Agricultural character uf the peiipie, iii.
323
Ecclesiastical, iii, 325
Early location of First Church, iii J25
First Parish, iii, 326
Phillips Church, iii, 338
Methodist Episcopal, iii, 040
St. Piitrick'd, iii, 342
Early people, iii. 344
Land grants, iii, 348
The great dividends, iii, 34^
Town gurernmeiit, iii, 352
Offlcei-B, iii, 352
Schools, iii, 353
Libraries, iii, 357
The Pratt gift, Iii, 366
The Wears, iii, 369
IniJlaD wars, iii, 377
The Revolutionary period, iii. 385
Civil War,iii,;l8y
Business interests, iii, 392
Hanks, iii, 395
Manufacturiug aud inechauical, iii, 307
Societies, iii, 414
Physicians, iii, 419
Biographical, iii, 428
Waylaod, 11, 4l3
Early history, ii, 413
Climate, ii, 419
Education, ii,420
Philip's War. ii, 421
New meeting-bouse. ii, 423
Educational, Ii, 424
Ecclesiaslicai, ii, 424
Revolutionary War, ii, 426
Incorporation of E. Sudbury, ii, 426
Soldiers of 1812, ii, 427
Evangelical Trinitarian Church, li, 428
The Civil War, li. 428
Railroads, ii. 428
Public Librarj', ii, 428
New town-hall. ii. 429
Burying ground, ii, 429
Old roads, ii, 432
Physicians, ii, 433
Lawyers, ii, 433
Prominent penK>ns, ii, 43t
The river meadows, ii, 435
Cochituate. ii, 436
The Quarter-Millennial anniversary, 1, 1437
Waters, Charles H., ii, 568 (ill.)
Waterhouae, Benj.. i, 163, 164
Webber, Samuel, i, '.i3
Webber, Wallace G., view, ii, S50
Wellmao. Joshua W. iii, 477. 534 till)
Wentwortb, Tappan, i, Ixxiii (ill.)
Wellington. Austin C,i, 188. 226 (ill.)
Weston, George F. , ii, 635
WetJtford, ii, 089
Situation, ii, 090
Granite mill, ii. 691
Forge Village, ii. 691
BruokAJde, ii, 692
PeirkerviUe, ii, 092
Nadhuii. ii, 692
Railroads, ii, 092
Indiana, ii, 092
Cemeteries, ii, 692
Post-offices, ii, ii93
Foreign products, ii, 693
Military, ii.694
Ecclesiaslicai history, ii,097
Educational, ii, 70U
Liiit uf (^raduHtes. ii, 7U2
Tuwn-bouse, ii, 705
Industries, ii. 705
Uificial, ii, 71j
The people, ii. 716
Biographical, li. 716
VVetjton, 1, 480
Settlement, i, 48d
The Farnjers' Precinct, i, 48T
Early church history, i, 4tf7
Ini-orporaiion. i, 488
Military, i. 489
The RevolutiuTi, i, 490
Schools, i, 493
Public Library, i,494
Industries, 1, 944
The Civil War, i, 495
MassachuHetts Central RuilruaJ, i, 497
Noruiiibega, i, 498
Biographical, i, 493
Wheeler, William F.. i, 391 : il, i;.12. 038 (ill.) ;
iii, 865.
White, Marie (Mrs. Jutiies Rnsaell Luwelli, i,
i:,3
White, William H.,ii, 9^i (ill.l
Whittemore. Thoiuau. i, 153
Whitteniure. George H., i, 'j3u
Whitfield, Geurge. i. 30
Whitney, Edwin, i. 601 (il'.)
iVhitney, .Myrou W.,i, 332 till). 333. 334
Whitney, Solon K., iii, 317
Whittier, Moeea, ii, 87 (ill.)
Winchester, ii. 746
Civil history previous to 17"20, ii, 746
Black Jlorse Village, ii, 74s
lucorporation, ii, 750
Civil history from 1S50 to present time,
ii, 752
Civil War, ii, 752
Water supplies, ii, 753
EcclesiastiCHl history, ii, 756
First Congregational, ii,756
Unitarian, ii, 761
Methodist Episcopal, ii,700
St. Mary's Roman Catholic, ii. 767
Highland Bethany Society, ii. 767
Biographical, ii, 768
WiDslow, Hewett Chandler, iii, 249 (ill.)
Winsor, Justin, i, 498
Winter, William, i, 153
Winn, John Bowers, t, 40l, 406, 452
Winn. Moses F., i, 361, 454 (ill.)
Winn, Charles Bowers, i, 407
INDEX.
S71
Wino. Timothy, i, 401.440, 453 (ill.)
WiDihrop, Robert C, i, 96, 275 ; ii, 303
Winthrop, John, i, 161
Wilde, William A., i, 288. 289
Winkley, J. Frank, i, 443
Wileon, Henry, i, 564
Willard, Samuel, i, ?n
Willard, Joseph, i, 9o
Williams, John J., i, 75
Witherbee, Nabum, iii, 355 fill)
WilmiDgton. Hi, 859
Early bietory, iii, So9
Ek;cIflsiRatical, iii,86U
Statiatica, iii, 861
Schools, iii. 862
War of the Rebellioo. iii. fi62
Public Library, iii, 863
Woburn, i, 334
iDtrodnctioD, i, 334
CiTil history to 1800, i, 336
The early settlement, i, 337
Early exploratioDS itnd mnpe, i, M**
PlaDt^ition of Wohurn, extracts from
Cbarlestown Records, i, 340
Incorporation, I, 347
The memorial for Christian liberty, i,
348
Eiiward Converse and bin trouble cun-
cprning (he King's letter, 1602, i,
348
Coutributioo from Ireland in 1G76, i,
349
Creat comet of 1680, i, 349
Miscellaoy, i, 340
The earthquake 'if Octol^r, 1727. 352
Ancient public liurial-grouinlB. 1,353
The census of 1800, i, 353
Profeasional men, i, 354
Social Library, i, 354
Civil history from 1800 totbeipresent time,
1, 355
Annals, i, 355
Early history of the leather buainese, I,
360
Miscellany, i,36I
Events from the Guide-poet, i, 362
Ned Kendall, i, 363
Other matter?, i, 363
As a city, i, 365
Incorporation, I, 366
FitBt charter election, i, 366
Officers elected, i, 366
The medical profesHion. i, 366
The legal prufession, i, 375
Military history, i, 377
The train-band, i, 377
Indian War, i, 379
The engagement at WTieelwright's
Pond. i. 381
Indian murders, i, 381
The killing of an Indian on the train-
ing-field in IG75. i, 382
King Philip's War, i. 382
Officers of the Provincial period, i, 384
The Revolutionary period, i, 389
Shays' Rebellion, i, 308
The Civil War, i, 402
Libraries, i, 406
Biogniphical notices, i, 410
Count Rumfurd, i, 410
Artista, i, 412
Inventors, i, 412
College preeidentA, i, 413
Hemberv of CongreM, i, 414
Ecclesiastical, i, 414
The Firrt Cbnrcb, i, 414
The Second Church, i, 426
The Third Chorch, i, 428
South Congregational, i. 430
Congregational, North Woburn, i. 431
Tint Baptist Church, i, 433
Independent Baptist, 1, 436
The Unitarian Church, i, 437
Methodist Episcopal, i, 441
North Wobum Chapel Anociation, i,
442
Roman Catholic Church, i, 442
Trinity Church and antecedents, i, 443
New Jenualem Church, i, 445
All SaJntv' Chapel, i, 445
Scandinavian Society, i, 445
St. John Baptist Church, I. 446
The Salvation Army, i, 446
Biographical, i, 446
Woodbury, Jamet T., i. 290
Woodbury, Levi, i, 290
Woodbury, Peter, i, 290
Wortheo, Ezra, ii, 9, 13
Wood, Jedediah, iU, 276 (ill.)
Wright, Alexander, ii, 76 (ill.)
Wright, George C, i, 304 (ill.)
Wyman, Jeffries, i, 169
Wyroan, Morrill, i, 165, 169
Wyman, A. A., i, 269
Y.
Young, Joeiab, ii,568
0\V\
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