USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Wellesley > Epitaphs from graveyards in Wellesley (formerly West Needham.), North Natwick and Saint Mary's churchyard in Newton Lower Falls, Massachusetts; with genealogical and biographical notes > Part 1
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M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY (Middlesex
-
3 1833 01145 6214
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/epitaphsfromgrav00clar
Mrs. Sarah E. M. Kings bury .
with the regards of GeorgeR. Clarke. September 1900.
EPITAPHS FROM GRAVEYARDS
Newton Lower Falls, " Massachusetts
WELLESLEY (FORMERLY WEST NEEDHAM), NORTH NATICK, AND SAINT MARY'S CHURCHYARD IN NEWTON LOWER FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS
WITH
Benealogical and Biographical Notes BY
GEORGE KUHN CLARKE, LL. B.
PRIVATELY PRINTED BOSTON 1900
COPYRIGHT, 1900 GEORGE K. CLARKE NEEDHAM, MASS.
SINE
LABORES
NIHIL
T.R.MARVIN & SON BOSTON MASS 1823
PRINTERS
1136854
TO MY MANY COLLEAGUES IN THE VARIOUS TOWN OFFICES, WHO WITH RARE EXCEPTIONS HAVE SERVED THE TOWN OF NEEDHAM FAITHFULLY AND WELL, AND SOME OF WHOM HAVE GONE TO "THAT UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY, FROM WHOSE BOURN NO TRAVELLER RETURNS," THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED.
PREFACE
T "HE inscriptions in an old graveyard are to me pathetic, im- pressive and interesting, the verses, sometimes crude, reveal- ing the religious hopes and tastes of successive generations.
Moreover having devoted much time during some of the best years of my life to the service of the Town of Needham, I have been led to search its venerable records in order to learn some- thing of my predecessors.
The epitaphs included in this volume, and those which I con- tributed to the Dedham Historical Register for April, 1899, were copied by me in the autumns of 1897 and 1898. In the genealog- ical and biographical notes I have utilized my large collection of memoranda copied from the Needham town and church records, and these are the sources of my information unless otherwise indi- cated. Only when it seems unavoidable have I availed of printed matter or copies. I am well aware that correspondence and the examination of town and church records outside of Needham would perfect my annotations, but it is not feasible for me to attempt more than I have done. That my work may be kept within rea- sonable limits, I have not located homes or described landed pos- sessions. Old maps and the deeds recorded at Boston and at Dedham will in most instances furnish this information to those who care to investigate.
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Preface
As to military service, the volumes issued from time to time by the Commonwealth and by the various patriotic societies, render it unnecessary for me to give details. The town report for 1898, published in 1899, contains a list with particulars of forty-six soldiers of the Revolution from Needham, whose burial places are known. This list was prepared by the writer, who with the Select- men was the ' Committee on the Graves of Revolutionary Soldiers,' and placed the S. A. R. markers.
The fact that a man held even a minor town office in the last century, or the early part of this one, I have thought worthy of preservation and have introduced considerable town history. I am aware that this collection is unique and perhaps includes irrelevant matter, but I believe that it will be valuable in the future.
In the New England Historical and Genealogical Register for January and for April, 1899, I published a list of the books, pamph- lets and newspapers that contain historical or genealogical matter relative to Needham; and to the Dedham Historical Register for April, 1899, I furnished twenty-three epitaphs, with notes, from an old graveyard in the easterly part of Weston, where are bur- ied some persons more or less identified with Needham. I am indebted to my esteemed friend the Honorable Enos Houghton Tucker, a native of Needham, whose age and accurate memory en- ables him to give information that few possess, and who is always ready to help me. .
In my historical expeditions I have often been accompanied by my neighbor, Mr. Ward Nicholas Hunt, a gentleman of anti- quarian tastes, and have received assistance from him which I wish to acknowledge.
Although I have at three different times carefully compared my manuscript with the epitaphs, I intend to discard it so far as the inscriptions are concerned, and to read the proof from the original. I have reproduced as well as I could the different styles of the let- tering on the stones. On these old gravestones it is often difficult
vii
Preface
to decide whether words are intended to be in italics or not ; and this is particularly true of the verse. The abbreviations used in the notes are in most instances obvious ; they are b., for born ; d., for died; m., for married ; int., for intention of marriage ; yr., for year ; mo., for month ; dy., for day ; dau., for daughter ; N., for Needham ; T., for Town ; Ch., for church; rec., for record ; Need. Ephs., for Needham Epitaphs ; Ded. Hist. Reg., for Dedham Historical Reg- ister ; gen., for genealogy ; Mass. S. and S. in Rev., for Massachu- setts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolution.
The months are abbreviated only in the genealogical portion of the notes. All places are in Massachusetts unless the State is named. No mention is made of any foot stone unless that alone remains to mark a grave.
I offer this book as my contribution to the history of Needham, and of its earlier inhabitants.
GEORGE K. CLARKE.
JANUARY 1, 1900.
EPITAPHS
FROM THE OLD GRAVEYARD IN WELLESLEY
FORMERLY THE WEST PRECINCT OF NEEDHAM
TOMBS.
O F the five old tombs near the church but two remain. There is a large receiving tomb, built in 1854, in the westerly part of the graveyard.
1 The tomb between the vestry and the sidewalk is inscribed
D. M. 1836.
In 1898 it was owned by - Hathaway. Rebecca Morse m. Aug. 20, 1848, Harrison Hathaway. D. M. doubtless stands for Daniel Morse.
2 From the Bullard tomb undertaker George H. Robbins removed, October 6, 1893, thirteen bodies which were not identified, to a lot in the west part of Woodlawn Cemetery. This tomb, together with the Parker and Smith tombs, was destroyed to make space for the vestry.
The remains of the following Bullards may have been in the tomb :
Moses, who was lieutenant of the West Company, April 19, 1775, and allowed £6, 13sh., 4d., on December 15, 1777, "for
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The Old Graveyard
his Going to Ticonderoga in the Year 1776." As Capt. Moses Bullard he was chosen one of a committee December 27, 1780, " to hire the men that are Now Called for," and also January 15 and 29, 1781, " to Procure the men that are Now Called for." In 1781 he was elected selectman, but declined. He was one of the committee of the West Precinct 1781, '86- 88, precinct collector 1782. For military service see Year book S. A. R., 1897, p. 199, and Mass. S. and S. in Rev., Vol. II. He was major of the Ist Suffolk Regiment of militia 1782-85. His father was Nathaniel. See 42.
John was in Capt. Aaron Smith's Company, April 19, 1775. For military service of John, Joseph and Nathaniel, all of Needham, see Mass. S. and S. in Rev., Vol. II.
Nathaniel, who d. Nov. 27, 1816, was a deputy sheriff 1799- 1816 inclusive, and Nathaniel,* his son, succeeded him as deputy sheriff, and d. Mar. IO, 1837, aged 47. Nathaniel, senior, was collector for the West Precinct in 1790, and one of the precinct committee 1793, '97. He was son of Capt. Moses.
Captain Timothy was elected selectman in 1819, but de- clined; on the committee of the West Precinct 1838-41. He was son of Ensign Ephraim (see 42) and d. Dec. 6, 1844, aged 65.
3 From the Parker tomb Mr. Robbins removed, October 6, 1893, twenty-one unidentified bodies to the lot in Wood- lawn Cemetery in which the remains from the Bullard and Smith tombs were placed. The Wellesley Congregational Church owns this lot and others.
The Parkers had five representatives among the petitioners for the incorporation of the town in 1710, viz : John, Jr., Isaac, Jonathan, Samuel and John (Senior). Jonathan was a surveyor of highways 1712, '13, tythingman 1715, '18, '19, constable, then the only one, 1716.
Wrongly called William in the Massachusetts Register, 1820-27.
West Needham
John, Senior, was the first tythingman, and was chosen February 8, 1711/12. He was fence viewer 1715, constable 1719.
In 1716 there were two tythingmen, and in 1718 three. The office was not abolished until 1867, although the duties of the tythingmen had been indefinite for ninety years. Four were chosen in 1866, viz : Everett Johnson Eaton, John Kings- bury, Freeman Phillips and Richard Boynton.
Samuel was one of the "Survayers of hyways." and sworn 1712, constable 1717, selectman and assessor 1744, '45 (two years) ; Jonathan was town treasurer 1750-55 inclusive,* and Enoch was on a committee "to hire Men into the Publick Service of the war if any Shall be Wanting" May 29, 1780, and was selectman and assessor 1782, one of the West Precinct committee 1790-97, and served as moderator of its meetings in 1795. The Parkers doubtless held many minor town offices subsequent to 1720.
Jacob was a minute man, and Jonathan was killed by the British at West Cambridge, April 19, 1775, and buried near the scene of the fight. He lived on Charles River Street, nearly opposite the modern William Pierce house, but a short distance to the southeast. The house was subsequently owned and occupied by Deacon Isaac Shepard, and after his decease, which occurred in 1819, by Spencer Fuller. Jona- than is said to have left his plow in the field when the news came that called him to his death. The Parker school is named in his memory.
In 1834 William B., of Needham, was lieutenant colonel of the Ist Regiment of the 2d Brigade of the Ist Division of the militia, and in 1835 colonel. Previously he had raised in Needham and commanded the Norfolk Rifle Rangers, a uniformed militia company of which Paul Dewing was
* Hereafter let the word inclusive be understood. The years given in all cases are those of election, viz : 1750-55 means six full years, - March, 1750, to March, 1756.
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The Old Graveyard
lieutenant and John Welles Lyon ensign. Later John J. Gorham, a tall man, was captain of the Rangers.
Several of the Parkers lived in "The Hundreds," and one family owned the farm on Blossom Street where the old Methodist meeting house, removed thither, has replaced the ancient house. "Parker Plain," which is in "The Hun- dreds," south of Blossom Street, derives its name from this family.
4 On October 6, 1893, Mr. Robbins removed thirty-three unidentified bodies from the Smith tomb.
A brief account of the Smiths who have been prominent in town, but who do not appear later in this volume, may be of some interest.
There were as many as three distinct races of Smiths here in early times. The most numerous were descendants of Christopher ; but James, who came from the north of Ireland in 1718 (see Needham Recorder, December 7, 1896, and Need. Ephs., p. 6), was the founder of an eminently respect- able family. John, Jr., Christopher and Joshua were peti- tioners for the incorporation of the town in 1710. Christo- pher was a surveyor of highways 1712, '20, one of the two field drivers 1716. On March 27, 1717, "Christp: Smith, Henery Duing, Hawards." These officers appear the fol- lowing year, 1718, and in 1719, but not again. Christopher was a fence viewer in 1720.
John was representative to the General Court in 1714, re- elected in 1715, and declined ; selectman 1711, '13-16, '18, '20 (seven years), assessor 1713-16, '18, '20. " Sarnt " John Smith was a fence viewer in 1714. On January 29, 1717/18, the town chose John Smith, Sr., Samuel Parker and Thomas Metcalf a committee "to provid a buerall Cloath," also " Scalls and weights Such as the Law Directs," and " Meaf- uers for Standards for this town." John Smith, Sr., was chosen March 14, 1719/20, "to hould out ye box upon Sabbath Days & Diliue ye money to Josiah Kingsbery treasurer."
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West Needham
The selectmen were usually five in number until March, 1733, when three only were chosen. In the early years the town clerk was ex-officio a selectman. The number of select- men was five until 1845, with the exception of the following years : seven in 1714, nine in 1747, three in 1733, '38, '41, ESTE, 830, '# ; and from 1845 to the present time the num- ber has been three.
John, Jr., was fence viewer 1713, '16, '19, tythingman 1717, selectman and assessor 1717, '19, '22, '24, '26 and '28. On March 10, 1711/12, he was on a committee with " Sarg." John Fisher, Jeremiah Woodcock, Robert Cook and Joseph "Danill" "to Answer the Commity of Dedham in Reffarance to Stating a Line Betwene the town of Dadham & Needham." In the preceding February he had been on a committee with Woodcock and Daniell to "treat " with Dedham as to the line. On January 14, 1718/19, he was on the "Comity " to care for the school land, and to "Set up a Schoole." See 5.
Jonathan was a field driver 1713, '15, '20, one of the three " Hawards" 1718. In 1719 "Jonath Smith Andrew Wod - kins for the Regelalating of Swine & Sworn."
Jonathan was selectman 1736, '38, '49, assessor 1736, and in 1740 "Jonathan Smith & John Goodanow were Chosen to take Care of ye Deer." Ensign Aaron, afterwards lieu- tenant, was selectman 1737, '40, '42, '44, '47-51. Aaron was again elected in 1754, but declined. He was assessor 1737, '40, '44, '47, '48, '51, fence viewer 1754, '69, one of the " Dearreaves " 1760, '73-76, warden 1768 (excused), '71.
At this period it is difficult to distinguish between him and his kinsman later known as Capt. Aaron, as they may both have been lieutenants, and confusion as to these minor town offices is possible. (Need. Ephs., p. 12.) (See Ded. Hist. Reg., Vol. VII, p. 136, and Vol. IX, p. 10, for an account of him and of three of his relatives bearing the same name.) March 13, 1738/9, John Fisher, Esq., "Jeames " Smith and Aaron Smith were a committee "to draw up
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The Old Graveyard
Sumthing to bring to the Town Refpecting Rams Running att Large."
I have not attempted to mention fully the minor town offices held by the Smiths after 1720.
Jonathan was selectman in 1758, and was perhaps identical with the Jonathan mentioned before.
Aaron, Jr., known as " Hawk" Aaron, nephew of lieuten- ant Aaron, was a private in the East Company April 19, 1775, and served later in the war. The Ded. Hist. Reg., Vols. VII and IX, contain biographical matter which I wrote relative to him, and I will add a few items.
On May 6, 1778, he was on a committee " to hier the men that are now to be raifed. Difcrecinary, and at the beft Method they can."
On July 26, 1779, he was the first named in the record of a committee "to Set what Some of money men Should have that go into the war for ye town of Needham," and August 2, he was on the committee "to Confider and Say what Allow- ance thofe Officers Should have That were Mentioned in the laft Report of ye Committee."
On March 13, 1780, he was one of the committee of " Cor- respondence Infpection & Safety," and May 29, he was on a committee to reckon with the committee "Chosen to Hire Men into the Publick Service of the war."
On December 27, 1780, he was one of the five added to the previously appointed committee of three "to hire the men that are Now Called for," and January 29, 1781, he was one of a committee of nine to ascertain the amount of the town debts.
He was a field driver in 1777, fence viewer in 1778, high- way surveyor 1780, '88, moderator several times, constable, selectman 1781, assessor 1787, collector for the First Parish 1785, '88 "to collect taxes for 1787," and on its standing committee 1791, '92.
In 1792 he was one of the three agents to "Carry on all Caufes or Suits at Law in favor or againft the Town," in 1794
I5
West Needham
on a committee with reference to " an allowance being made to those men that are Drafted as minute men." In 1796 he was on a committee "for building & repairing School Houses," as the Great Plain member, and in 1797 he was chosen one of the committee to reckon with the town treasurer.
In 1792 and 1793 either he or his relative later known as " Squire Aaron," was one of a committee of three "to join with Natick Committee to petition the General Court to form the Two Towns agreeable to a Vote."
In 1796 one of these Aarons was a hogreave, and one of three men chosen "to open the Bridle way acrofs Chestnut Hill." " Hawk" Aaron was an innholder for some years, and owned upwards of 300 acres of land in Needham, most of it near his home.
Pelatiah, son of "Hawk" Aaron, was collector for the south side of the First Parish 1801. "Feby 8, 1795 Aaron Smith the 3d owned the covenant ; and was baptized (Priva- tim quia ægrotate)." Ch. Rec. kept by Rev. S. Palmer. This Aaron was a son of "Hawk " Aaron, and the young man d. Feb. 16, 1795, aged 22 years.
Capt. Robert, son of James, who came from the north of Ireland (Need. Ephs., p. 20), was assessor 1758, '76. He commanded the East Company (militia) April 19, 1775, and there is an S. A. R. bronze marker on his grave. He also served later in the war.
On May 29, 1775, he was chosen the committee, consist- ing of one, of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety. July 15 he was on a committee "to Confult what Method to Raife the money to Incouriage the Men that are to be Raifed to Go to Canady." On February 17, 1777, he was one of a committee of seven "To See what has been paid, and who has Done a turn or part of a turn, Perfonally," and March 19, 1779, he was chosen on a committee of five " to Set what Sum of Money the Town Shall Allow to a man that may be Drafted or Goes Volentary into the Publick Service of the
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The Old Graveyard
war for the Town of Needham when Called for in ye Enfuing year," and August, 1779, he was chosen a delegate to a con- vention at Cambridge to prepare a Constitution or form of Government, but did not attend.
On January 29, 1781, he was placed on the committee "to Procure the men that are Now Called for," and April 5, 1781, he was again chosen one of the committee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety. In 1794 he was one of the com- mittee as to "an allowance being made to those men that are Drafted as minute men."
He was collector in 1793 "for ye South division in said Parish " (the First Parish) and on its standing committee 1784, '85 (two years), and was selectman 1793-95. He served on many committees of the town not named in this brief list, and was a leading citizen. For a short account of him see the History and Directory of Needham, 1888-89, p. 31, and the Needham Recorder, December 7, 1896.
Capt. William, brother of Capt. Robert, was assessor 1765, selectman 1770, '75, '79, and on the committee of the First Parish 1782. In 1776 and again in 1777 he was chosen one of the committee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety, and March 9, 1778, he was on the committee to decide what the town "Shall allow to a man that Shall be Drafted or Goes Vollentery into the Publick Service of the war." He is called Cap" in the town records. He d. Sept. 21, 1811, aged 87.
Jonathan was a corporal in Capt. Aaron Smith's Company April 19, 1775, and John, Jr., John 3d, Jeremiah, Samuel, Ithamar, Jr., and Abiel who was of Natick, were privates in the same company.
David, Jonathan, and Ithamar were minute men April 19, 1775, and William was in the East Company. Wil- liam, Jr., was a soldier in the Revolution and served near Boston.
John, Sr., enlisted for service in Canada, and in February, 1777, was paid his bounty of £7.
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West Needham
On June 6, 1780, Jonathan was on a committee of nine to report on the acceptance of the " Form of Government " pro- posed for the State. Lieut. Jonathan was one of the West Precinct committee 1790.
Benjamin is said to have been the last survivor of the Rev- olutionary soldiers who went from Needham.
Luther was elected selectman April 5, 1819, and declined.
Luther 2d was sexton of the West Precinct for some years early in this century.
James, son of Capt. Robert, was town clerk 1800, select- man 1807-II, representative to the General Court 1808 and '09 (Need. Ephs., p. 22).
Amraphel, son of James preceding, was collector for the east part of the town, selectman 1829, '31, assistant assessor 1830, 31 (Need. Ephs., p. 40).
James, brother of the preceding, was selectman 1840, '41, assessor 1840, '43, on the standing committee of the First Parish 1836, '43, '44, warden of the town farm five years. He d. March 28, 1894, aged 90 years and was buried in N. For an account of him, and of several generations of his family, see the Needham Recorder for December 7, 1896.
Daniel was on the committee of the First Parish in 1800, and was its collector for the north side in 1801. Daniel, probably this one, d. Nov. 6, 1802, aged 56.
Timothy was the collector in 1793 "for ye north division in said parish," and again in 1805 and in 1814. The latter year his compensation was .037 cents on a dollar. (Need. Ephs., p. 27).
Newell, son of Timothy, was chosen deacon of the First Church, May 31, 1822, but declined, and in 1832 was elected parish treasurer, but did not serve. It is said that he was called "Deacon could be," and his neighbor Israel Whitney " Deacon would be." The town records in some instances give Newell Smith the title of Deacon. He was on the standing committee of the parish in 1835.
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The Old Graveyard
Timothy Newell, son of Newell, was selectman 1849-51. For half a century he kept a record of events in the town, but after his death the manuscript was burned by a person incapable of appreciating its value.
5
NOYES
This tomb was built in 1809 by Sarah, widow of the Rev. Stephen Badger of Natick, and bequeathed to the Rev. Thomas Noyes, whose remains with those of members of his family rest here. Mr. Noyes, who was A. M. both at Harvard and at Brown, was ordained as the first minister of the church in the West Precinct, July 10, 1799, dismissed July 9, 1833, and d. Dec. 29, 1837. He was on the first school board, then called Inspecting School Committee, in 1826, and served also 1827-36.
Prior to 1826 the town chose only district school com- mittees consisting of three men in each district, but that year elected a general committee of seven, retaining a pru- dential committee in each district.
In 1838 the school committee, which the previous year had been reduced to three, was designated as the Superin- tending School Committee, and in 1843 the selection of the prudential committees was left to the districts. These school districts were created May II, 1785, and at the March meet- ing in 1855 had ceased to exist.
The choice of a general school committee in 1826 was the result of State legislation. In 1870 the number of the committee was increased to six, and so continued until the division of the town in 1881. As early as 1714 a school was maintained, and about 1718 the town received from Timothy Dwight a gift of land in what is now Dover, the income to be used for the schools. The town still owns this land which is 40 acres, and the school at the old Centre is named the Dwight school.
On January 14, 1718/19 it was put to vote to see if the town would "Set up a Schoole for the teaching of Children
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West Needham
for Some time in ye year and it was anfwered by a vote in the affarmmitive it was also voted in the affarmmitei that their Should be a Rate made of Six pounds for the Suport of the Schoole.
" all so voted to Chufe a Commity to Looke after a per- cill of Land Given for the Suport of the School By M: Tim- othy Dwight.
"it was voted in the affarmmitive that this Schoole Should be a moving Schoole and Keept at three places in the Town & lift to the Commity to procuer places Conveinent."
"Jere : woodCok Benjm mills jun John Smith juner was Chofen a Commity to take the whole hereof."
On January II, 1724/5,* the town voted that there should be a "Schoole Keept in four parts of the town."
I cannot learn that there was any building for school pur- poses in East Needham in 1732, but there was in West Needham in 1735.
Mr. Noyes m. Rebecca, d. May 13, 1832, dau. of Dr. Wil- liam Deming, and grand-dau. of Rev. Oliver Peabody, and the tomb is now owned wholly or in part by Mrs. Frances Mary Edwena (Noyes) White, wife of the Honorable George White. Mrs. White is descended from several of the old families of Needham. Rev. Thomas Noyes m. secondly Sarah Brown Callender.
The births of four of Mr. Noyes's children are recorded in Needham.
For an account of Mr. Noyes, with portrait, see the His- tory of the Wellesley Congregational Church, by the Rev. Edward Herrick Chandler, 1898. From this excellent church history it appears that a large proportion of the persons bur- ied in the old graveyard were members of the church of which Mr. Chandler is now the pastor.
* Apparently the early town clerks wrote the year new style whenever they failed to give the double date. To avoid uncertainty I have given the double date in such instances.
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The Old Graveyard
6-7 DAVID SMITH | died Feb. 24, 1832, | Æt. 71. PHEBE SMITH | died Nov. 14, 1848, | Æt. 80.
Those who knew them loved them.
Where two or more numbers are together, viz. 6-7, it means that there is more than one inscription on the stone. He was b. July 19, 1761, son of David and Elizabeth (Dewing) Smith, who were m. March 27, 175I. (T. and Ch. Recs.)
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