USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Acton in history > Part 9
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Mr. Hager's Place .- Elias Chaffin lived on this place a number of years. The next owner was Jonathan B. Davis. He kept it a good many years, then sold it to the present owner, Mr. George Hager.
Leland Place .- It was the home of Captain Stevens Hayward, the father of Stevens Hayward, Esq. Mr. Hayward living there during his life, theu his son Stevens owned it many years, afterwards he sold it to Benjamin Lentell. He lived there several years and sold it to Mr. Leland.
A. A. Haynes' Place .- It was the home of Deacon Benjamin Hayward. He had three sons-Moses, Aaron and Luke. Moses was accidentally shot by his own son. His home then was the late Cyrus Hay- ward's place. Aaron Hayward after the death of his father settled on the homestead, but died wlien quite young.
Alden Fuller Place .- Nathaniel Faulkner in the olden time lived there ; he owned the place ; he had several sons. Nathaniel kept the home-place aud lived there during his life. His daughter Sarah mar- ried Alden Fuller. He bought the home-place and lived there during his life.
Houghton Place .- Oliver Houghton bought that place, living in a very old house for a long time. There have been two houses built on that place, the low one built first. Levi Houghton succeeded his father and built the new house. Since his death George H. S. Houghton, a nephew, owns the farm and is living on it.
Mrs. Hapgood's Place was formerly owned by the Faulkners. A widow lived here who had three chil- dren. The son's name was Moses. There must have been two generations before it went into other hands. It has been owned by Brown and a Wilson. Daniel Wetherby bought it afterwards, then John Hapgood bought it.
Coffin Place .- Deacon John Hunt owned this farm for many years, for Mother Hapgood said (Molly Hunt, daughter of Deacon J. Hunt) when she was very small she remembered the 19th of April, and looked out of the window and saw James Hayward walking aloug as fast he could, with gun in his hand. He
seemed to be in a great hurry. It was the morning of the day he was killed iu Lexington. Jotham Hunt, son of Deacon J. Hunt, became owner of the place, lived there many years, then sold it to Porter Reed. Afterwards it was owned by George Coffin.
Jumes Hayward's Place .- Samuel Hosmer, brother of Deacon Silas Hosmer, built that house, occupying it several years. Some other families lived there be- fore Mr. Hayward bought it. There was a Mr. Hay- ward, the father of Jonas Hayward, who died when he was a young man. Samuel Hayward owned the farm that William Reed owned and lived there during his life. It was the place that Joseph Cole carried on several years and died there two or three years ago.
James W. Wheeler Place .- The old house that stood near that elm-tree was owned by Samuel Whee- ler. His son Nathan succeeded him and still occu- pied the old house during his life. James W. Whee- ler, his son, after a few years bought the farm and built a new house, owned by Octavius Knowlton.
Elisha Cutler Place. - Deacon John Wheeler, brother of Samuel Wheeler, owned this farm, living there during his life. Joel Whitcomb owned it awhile.
Simon Hunt was a brother of Deacon John Hunt, and his home was what was called the Bright Piace, the next house beyond the late Cyrus Hayward's place as you go towards Stowe.
A. & O. W. Mead & Co .- The history of this firm has such relations to Actou that a brief account of its record is here given.
O. W. Mead was born in Boxboro' Oct. 19, 1824. Worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-one years of age. His educatiou was limited to the dis- trict school until of age. He afterwards attended academy in Lunenburg three terms, and taught school in Luneuburg and Littleton, one term each.
At twenty-three years of age he went into the mar- keting business with his brother Adelbert, and drove a horse team to Boston weekly with all kinds of pro- duce.
He moved to West Acton in 1840, and there con- tinued his business with his brother successfully, transporting their freight over the Fitchburg Railroad to Boston. In 1867 his brother Adelbert, Varnum B. and himself leased store No. 35, on North Market St., and carried on the produce business under the name of A. & O. W. Mead & Co. Their business has been varied and extensive to the present time.
Their lumbering interests in New Hampshire and Maine have been large, in cattle and lands in Iowa, Minnesota and Territories considerable.
They built in West Acton the first refrigerator for storing fruit -- in this country-which proved very re- munerative for many years.
The first house has been supplanted by several larger and more costly buildings.
The firm has expended large sums of money in West Acton in buildings and otherwise, which has done much towards the adornment and general pros-
272
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
perity of the village, and have always taken a lively interest in the welfare of the town of their adoption.
O. W. Mead was an active director in the American Powder-Mill for twenty years, has been intrusted with the settlement of several estates, three years a direc- tor in the Florida Midland Railroad, been one of the di- rectors of the Board of Commerce, is now a director of the First National Bank of Ayer, one of the trustees of the North Middlesex Savings Bank, also president and manager of one of the largest herds of cattle in the Territory of Wyoming.
The business of this firm extends into millions year- lv.
Their father's name was Nathaniel ; their grand- father Deacon Oliver Mead. Their mother was Lucy Taylor, daughter of Capt. Oliver Taylor.
Luke Blanchard-He was born in Boxboro' Jan. 17, 1826, and lived there until he was twenty-four years of age.
He was the son of Simon, and moved into Acton in 1852. He married Jerusha M. Vose April 8, 1858, and had the following children : Mary Florence, born Aug. 8, 1859, died in two years aud four months ; Anna Maria, born Oct. 7, 1862; Arthur F., born Jan. 21, 1864; Mary Alice, born Dec. 21, 1867, died Feb. 2, 1889.
He has been a prosperous business man, accumulat- ing successfully through his own exertions. His bus- iness has been largely marketing and trading. His property is distributed in several towns, but his chief local interest has been for several years in West Acton.
He is grandson of Calvin Blanchard, who was at Bunker Hill, and helped build the breastworks pre- paratory to the fight, and was at the Concord fight April 19th.
He is the grandnephew of Luther Blanchard, who was the fifer at the Concord fight-in Capt. Davis' compauy-and a brother to Simon, grandson of Calvin.
HISTORICAL MAP OF ACTON.1-Old road from Capt. Davis' house to 1st Meeting-House :
Capt. Isaac Davls, 1775 ; Joseph Brown, 1813 ; Ward S. Haskell, Na- thaniel G. Brown, 1825; Charles H. Wheeler.
Rev. John Swift, 1740; Dea. Josiah Noyes, 1780; David Barnard. Esq., 1800 ; Joash Keyes, Eliab Grimes, Jonathan W. Teele, Dea. W. W. Davis.
Captain Phineas Osgood, 1744; Edward Harrington, 1800; Thomas F. Lawrence, 1872; Rev. James T. Woodbury, Capt. Daniel Tuttle.
The old Parsonage :
Josialı Piper, 1735; Rev. Moses Adams, 1819 ; Rev. Marshall Shedd, 1831 ; Isaac Bullard.
The old School-House north of the Parsonage, 1798 :
The Centre Village .- Edward Tuttle, Joseph W. Tuttle, Charles Tut- tle, Dea. Joseph Brabrook.
First Store .- Dea. Jolin and James Fletcher, his brother, Rev. James Fletcher, Memorial Library.
Peter Goodnow, M. D., Hon. Stevens Hayward, Mrs. Elizabeth Blood, Beujamin Wilde, Jr., Timothy Ilartwell, Silas Jones.
Store .- Stepheu Weston, John F. Davis.
James Joues, Widow Leighton, Dea. John Fletcher, Cyrus Dole, Henry M. Smith, John E. Cutter.
Samuel Chaffiu, Jeruslia Noyes, Elizabeth Brooks, T. Frederic Noyes. Hotel-Lieut. Henry Durant, 1808 ; Silas Jones, 1822 ; Horace Tuttle, 1835 ; Daniel Tuttle, 1840 ; John E. Cutter.
Samuel Joues, Esq., Doctor Abram Young, Simon Davis, Widow Har- riet Davis.
Store -- Dea. John and James Fletcher; Shoe Manufactory, John Fletcher and Sous.
First Meeting-house, 1736 ; School-house, 1771.
Brooks Tavern, Daniel Brooks, 1762 ; Paul Brooks, James Fletcher, Jr., Nathaniel Stearns.
James Fletcher, 1794, Dea. John's father, Abel Proctor, Silas Conant.
Jones Turnpike .- Laid out in 1817.
Widow Hannah Leighton, Samuel Jones, Esq., James Conant. Jonas Blodgett, Frank Hosmer.
Theodore Reed, Horace Tuttle, Dea. William D. Tuttle.
William Reed (3d), Joseph Reed.
The new road through the Centre. Laid out iu 1806.
John Cragin.
Allen Richardson, 1826; Charles F. Richardsou, Ai. Robbins.
The road over the Strawberry Hill, 1735. Bounds renewed 1803, and road straightened 1807, over the brook.
The road from Littleton line-Nashoba Corner, called Proctor's Road, 1746-leading to Cemetery, and crossing Harvard Turnpike at Daniel McCarthy's, 1735, and on to Joel Conant and so. east Acton.
Cotton Proctor, Peter Fletcher, Oliver Wetherbee, John Grimes. Magog Hill.
Jonas Allen, 1762; Simou Tuttle, 1762; Francis Tuttle, Town of Ac- ton. Simon Tuttle ; Jr., 1828.
Charles Handley, 1827.
School, 1787, at the crossing leading to Mr. Ham- moud's, burnt 1795.
Dr. Abraham Skinuer, Charles Tuttle.
Rocky Guzzle.
Woodlawn Cemetery, 1736.
Daniel F. Barker, 1809 ; Dea. Samuel Hosmer, 1839.
Joseph Barker, 1762-1809 ; Lieut. Reubeu Barker, Joseph W. Wheeler.
Abner Wheeler, Capt. Silas Jones, Daniel McCarthy.
Daniel Shepherd, 1735; John Cole, 1800; Alvin Raymond, Jedidiah Tuttle.
Joseph Cole, 1800; George B. Cole, William Ilosmer.
The Stow and Carlisle road, 1735-1803.
Capt. Samuel Davis, 1735 ; John Adams, Jr., 1770; Ebenezer Barker, 1807 ; Jonathan Barker, 1847; Cyrus Barker.
S. E. School, 1771 ; Forge, 1766.
County road from Mill Corner to Assabet River and Faulkner Mills, 1776.
Joseph Dudley, 1793; Reuben Barker, William S. Jones.
Josiah Hayward, 1735 ; Simeon Hayward, 1792; Mrs. Mary Skinner Hayward's Mills.
Towards Faulkner's Mills.
Lieut. Jolın Adams, 1750; Moses Fletcher, 1826; Peter Fletcher, Lemuel Dole, Frank Pratt.
Dea. Joseph Fletcher, 1735 ; Capt. Daniel Fletcher, 1776 ; Stephen Shepherd, Benjamin Wilde, 1797-1822; Asa Parker, 1825; Frauk D Barker, 1885.
Reuben Hosmer, 1800 ; Joseph Wilde, 1825; William A. Wilde.
Charles Robbins.
Capt. Johu llayward, 1775 ; Jolin S. Fletcher, Daniel Fletcher. Benjamin Robbius, 1820; John Fletcher, 1845.
1 By Horace F. Tuttle.
273
ACTON.
County road leading from Faulkner's Mills to S. E. Acton Mills.
Ammiruhamma Faulkner, before 1735, Fraucis Faulkner, Fraucis Faulkner, Jr., Winthrop Faulkner, Col. Winthrop E. Faulkner.
Road to Maynard, 1847.
Road to Store from Mill Corner, 1736.
Joseph W. Tuttle, Capt. Aaron C. Ilandley. Moses llayward, Cyrus Hayward.
David Forbuslı, 1735 ; David Forbuslı, Jr., 1771; Epliraim Forbusli, Abel Forbush, Isaiahı Reed.
Road to Store from Mill Corner.
John S. Fletcher Cross road.
Cyrus Putnam, 1829. Simon Ilunt, 1731 ; Capt. Simon llunt, Jr., 1775. Josiah Bright.
Nathan Robbins, 1736 ; George Robbins, 1775 ; George Robbins, Jr., 1826.
Sumner Blood Cross road.
Tilly Rohbins. Tilly Robbins, Jr.
Road from Mill Corner and Stow to Concord School.
Jonathan Tower. Ezra Wheeler, 1762 ; Lewis Wood, 1828 ; Mrs. C. D. Lothrop. Samnel Handley, 1807 ; Joseph Brown, 1820; Elijah Brown.
Daniel Brooks, 1776 ; Dea. John Brooks, 1735 ; Jonas Brooks, Esq., 1776 ; Nathan Wright, Obed Symonds.
Titus Law, 1735 ; Joel Conant, 1823; Johu Conaut, 11. Hanson. John and Stephen and Amos Laws, 1735 ; Abel Cole, 1890.
Asae Hosmer, Dea. Samuel Hosmer, Nathaniel Jones, Doctor Warner.
Road from the Laws to Silas Holden's, 1770.
Road from Stow and Concord Road to Harvard Turnpike, 1833.
Joel Hosmer, Jonathan Hosmer, Nat. Thurston Law.
Josiah Piper, 1825.
Joseph Piper, 1774 ; Joseph Piper, Jr., Silas Piper, Jonathan Piper, Abel Farrar.
Road from Harvard Turnpike to Moses Taylor, Esq.'s, site, 1797.
Road from Moses Taylor, Esq. to Centre, 1774:
Joseph Barker, 1762; Moses Richardson, 1800; Silas Taylor, 1822 ; Moses Taylor, Esq.
John Barker, 1736 ; Thad. Tuttle, 1797.
Road from Mill Corner to the Centre, way to meet- ing, 1735.
Store, Samuel Joues, 1735 ; Samnel Jones, Jr., Aaron Jones, 1776 ; El- nathan Jones.
Capt. Abel Jones, Abraham H. Jones. Universalist Church.
Simon IInut, School, 1771.
William Cutting, 1735 ; William Cntting, Jr., 1808 ; Luther B. Jones, 1826.
Cross road to the West road.
Dea. Jonathau Hosmer, 1735; Stephen Hosmer, 1765 ; Abner Hosmer, born 1754; Nathan D. Hosmer, 1800; Aaron Hosmer, Herman A. Gonld.
Simon Hosmer, Jr., Renhen L. Reed, John Kelly.
Jonathan Hosmer, 1760 ; Simon Hosmer, Esq., 1800 ; Francis Tuttle, Esq., Edward O'Neill.
County road along the brook from Mill Corner to the Stow and Carlisle road, 1847.
Road from Universalist church, Mill Corner to beyond the Ford Pond brook crossing near Mt. Hope Cemetery-before 1735.
Jacob Woods, 1735; Oliver Jones, 1771 ; Abraham Conaut, Esq., Win- throp F. Conant.
Simon Hunt's new house, 1735; John llunt, 1765 ; Jothaui Hunt, 1826 ; Joseph P. Read, George Coflin.
James Faulkner, Aaron Faulkner, 1800; Andrew Wilson, 1826 ; Daniel Wetherbee, Jolin Hapgood.
Mount Hope Cemetery.
County road from Mt. Hope Cemetery to store in West Acton, 1766.
Universalist Church. Baptist Church. Store, School.
Farr's road to Meeting in 1735, coming from Stow to West Acton.
Stepheu Farr, 1740; Oliver Houghton, Levi Iloughton.
Thomas Farr's, 1735 ; Nathaniel Faulkner, 1764; Nathaniel Faulkner, Jr., Nathaniel S. Faulkner, Frank II. Whitcomb.
Capt. Samnel llayward, 1735 ; James Hayward, born 1750 ; Capt. Stevens Hayward, Ilou. Stevens llayward, Orlando Leland.
Ezekiel Davis, Capt. Isaac Davis, born 1745; Elias Chaffin, Jonathan B. Davis, George Ilagar.
Capt. Samuel Hayward's way to Meeting, 1735- 1800.
Ilezekiah Wheeler, 1735; Sammel Wheeler, 1775-1797; Nathan Wheeler, James W. Wheeler.
Joseph Wheeler, Dea. John Wheeler, Elisha H. Cutler.
Road laid out 1762-a short line.
William Reed, Joseplı Reed.
Road from Store in West Acton to Littleton, 1760.
Bradbury Stone,
John Tuttle, 1800; Reuben Handley, Jacob Priest.
Timothy Brooks, William Reed, William Reed (2d), Isaac Reed.
David Brooks, 1735; Joseph Brooks, 1780; Silas Brooks, Ephraim
Hapgood, 1810 ; Ephraim Hapgood, Jr., Andrew Hapgood.
Nathaniel Hapgood, 1800.
Nathaniel Wheeler, 1762 ; Roger Wheeler, Eben Smith, Edwin Parker.
Abraham Hapgood, 1775 ; James llapgood, Simon Blauchard.
Cyrus Hapgood, Benjamin F. Hapgood, John Hapgood, Ephraim Hapgood, Jr., Ephraim Ilapgood, 1760.
Nashoba road from West Acton.
Judge Gilbert, 1775 ;"James Keyes, Ivory Keyes, 1845 ; Nahum Little- field.
From Nashoba to the Gravel-pit road, 1753.
Jolin Chaffin, 1762; Jolin Chaffin, Jr., Antoine Bulette, 1829.
Robert Chaffin, 1762 ; Robert ('laffin, Jr., 1829 ; A. Risso.
Lieut. Thomas Noyes, 1753; Capt. Joseph Noyes, 1808; Thomas J. Noyes, 1829 ; Alonzo L. Tuttle.
Gravel-pit road-County, 1846.
John Chaffin's road to Meeting in 1753.
James Fletcher, 1791 ; Potter Conant, 1795; Paul Conant, Samuel P. Conaut, 1808 ; Benjamin Robbins, Phineas Harrington, Simon Robbins.
Samuel Parlin, 1776 ; Davis Parlin, Jonathan Parlin, Thomas Ham- mond.
Off from the Harvard turnpike in coming from West Acton.
Samnel llosmer, 1795 ; Dea. Silas Hosmuer, 1812; Frank W. Knowl- ton.
The road leading from Stow to Concord before 1735.
Dea. Benjamin Hayward, Aaron Hayward, Lowell Wood, Albert A. Haynes.
Nagog Pond.
Captain Daniel White, J. K. Putney.
Dea. John White. David Lawson, 1762, in from road.
18
274
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Joseph Chamberlain, in from road.
Frederic Rouillard.
Solomon Duttou.
John Handley, David Handley.
Joseph Robbins, 1774 ; John Dinsmore Robbins, James Keyes, George R. Keyes.
Capt. Jolin Handley, 1830; John Rouillard.
Eben Robbins, Abraham Handley, Henry Loker.
Thomas Blanchard.
Charles Robbins.
Joseph Chaffin, 1797 ; Jonathan Wheeler.
Amos Noyes, Luther Davis.
Reuben Wheeler.
Joel Oliver, Ephraim Oliver.
Mark White (2d), William Stearns, Robert P. Boss, Ephraim Davis.
David Davis, Calvin llayward, Solomon Smith, Samuel Tuttle, 1800 ; Ilorace Hosmer.
William Billings, Heury Brooks.
Aaron Chaffin, Silas Conant. School.
Edward Wetherbee, Jonathan Billings, James E. Billings, Otis H. Forbush.
James Billings, 1775 ; James Hapgood, Isaiah Perkins.
John Robbins, 1800; Elbridge Robbins.
Joseplı Wooley, 1735.
Joseph Harris, 1735; Joseph Harris, Jr., 1735; Daniel Harris. John Barker, Jr., 1735.
Edward Wetherbee, 1775; Edward Wetherbee, Jr.
Elbridge J. Robbins.
Grist mill.
Daniel Wetherbee.
Road leading from Edward Wetherbee's across the brook, south of the saw-mill, 1749.
Forge before 1735.
Capt. Joseph Robbins, 1775.
In from the road near the rivulet, south of Joseph Robbins.
Capt. Thomas Wheeler, 1668. Nathan Robbins, before 1735.
Road from Daniel Wetherbee's to Silas Holden's place, on the Harvard Turnpike, 1865.
Samuel Wright, 1751 ; Samuel Wright, Jr., 1812; Silas Holden, 1823; Pope & Lyman.
New road over Strawberry Hill.
Solomon Burges, John Whitney.
Mark White, 1735 ; Samnel White, 1756 ; Simon Hapgood, Benjamin F. Hapgood.
Road to Concord, from Strawberry Hill, 1735.
Jonathan Cleaveland, 1735.
Reuben Wheeler, 1800 ; William Wheeler.
Addison Wheeler.
Col. Nathanial Edwards, 1750 ; John Edwards, Daniel Mccarthy. John Davis, 1735 ; Capt. Samuel Davis, 1763 ; Paul Dudley.
· Branch from Littleton road.
Lieut. Jonathan Billings, 1735 ; Jonathan Billings, 1762 ; Paul Dudley, 1808 ; Calvin Harris.
Ephraim Billings, 1775 ; Darius Billings, Joseph Estabrook.
Israel Giles.
Old road to Concord, 1735.
Benjamin Brabrook, 1735; House built, 1751 ; Benjamin Brabrook, 1770 ; George Brabrook, Hammond Taylor, 1890.
Near Concord line, 1735.
Seth Brooks, 1797 ; Nathan Brooks, Nathan Brooks, Jr., Wilber G. Davia, 1887.
The old road to Littleton in 1735.
Abram B. Handley.
Capt. Daniel Davis, Ebenezer Davis, Ebenezer Davis, Jr., Amasa Davis, William Davis.
Ebenezer Davis, William B. Davis.
The road from Acton Centre to Carlisle, 1735-1803.
Amos Handley, 1800.
Jonas Davis, Abel Conant, Luther Conant, Luther Conant, Jr., Esq. George W. Tuttle, 1800.
Old road from Acton to Carlisle.
Joseph Chaffin, 1784 ; Jonathan Wheeler.
Thomas Thorp, 1775 ; Nathan Chaffin.
Thomas Wheeler, 1735 ; Nehemiah's Hill.
Jerry Hosmer, 1824.
James Harris, 18.9.
Uriah Foster, Hugh Cash, Ebenezer Wood.
John Harris, 1769 ; John Harris, Jr., 1808 ; George H. Harris, 1889.
Moses Woods, 1800; Aaron Woods.
Cyrus Wheeler, 1844.
James Davis, 1800; Ebenezer Hayward.
Samuel Wheeler, 1735; Gershom Davis, 1740 ; John Hayward, Jr., Daniel Davis' Mill, 1775 ; Lieut. Phineas Wheeler, Francis Robbins.
Elijalı Davis, 1776.
Jonathan Davis, 1800.
Old East Cemetery before 1735.
School, Dea. John Heald, 1735 ; Lieut. John Ileald, 1762; Timothy Brown, 1800 ; John Nickles.
John Davis's Mill, 1735, on Charles Tuttle's brook. Daniel White's Mill on the Nagog brook below Abel Robbin's house, south of Thomas Moore.
THE DAVIS MONUMENT-The citizens of Acton believing that the name of Captain Isaac Davis, the first officer who fell in the struggle for independence, and also the names of his two brave townsmen, Abner Hosmer and James Hayward-one of whom fell by his side on the famous 19th of April, 1775, at the old North Bridge in Concord, and the other in the pursuit at Lexington on the same day-were deserv- ing of a better fame than history had usually awarded them, and a more commanding and enduring struc- ture than ordinary slabs of slate to tell the story of their martyrdom and mark the spot where their dust reposes, passed the following vote at a large town- meeting bolden on the 11th November A.D. 1850 .
" Voted, That the town of Acton erect a monument over Captain Isaac Davis, Hosmer and Hayward, and that their remains be taken up and put in some suit- able placc on Acton Common, if the friends of said Davis, Hosmer and Hayward are willing, and that the Selectmen and the three ministers in the town he a Com- mittee to lay out what they shall think proper or pe- tition Congress and the State Legislature for aid in erecting said monument."
A petition for this object was presented to the Leg- islature early in the session by Rev. J. T. Woodbury.
The committee consisted of Ivory Keyes, Luther Conant, James Tuttle, selectmen ; James T. Woodbury, Robert Stinson, Horace Richardson, ministers, in be- half of the town.
The joint committee of the Legislature or the Mil- itia to whom this petition was referred, unanimously submitted a report in favor of the project. The mat- ter was fully discussed, and after the eloquent address and appeal of Mr. Woodbury, the resolve was passed by a large majority.
Two thousand dollars were appropriated, to he join- ed by an appropriation of five hundred dollars by the
Photo Elec fo Boston
DAVIS MONUMENT.
275
ACTON.
town of Acton, to be expended under the direction of the Governor, George S. Boutwell, and a joint com- addition, this poetry : mittee of the town.
There was a difference of choice by the committee as to where on the Common the monument should stand. The decision was finally left with the Gover- nor, who decided upon the present site, a spot not suggested by any one before, but which all agreed was just the place for it as soon as mentioned by the Governor.
Another question decided, was whether it should be made of rough or hewn granite. "Let it be of God's own granite," said Mr. Woodbury, " and let it be from the Acton quarry nearest to the site." Most of the granite was taken from the hill in the rear of Mr. Woodbury's residence, less than a mile from the Com- mon to the north, and given by him for the purpose.
The model finally approved by the committee has been universally admired for its beauty, simplicity and impressiveness. It is seventy-five feet high ; the top is four feet four inches square; a square shaft, reaching upward from a finely-proportioned arch on each side at its base. The base is fifteen feet wide, and extends eight feet into the earth, and is of good, split, heavy blocks of granite. Through the centre of the cap-stone projects upward a wooden flag-staff, twenty-five feet in length, from the top of which a flag is kept floating, at the expense of the town, on all public days of patriotic import.
In a panel on the side facing the main avenue the inscription reads as follows :
"The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the town of Acton, co-operating to perpetuate the fame of their glorious deeds of patriotism, have erected this monu- ment in honor of Capt. Isaac Davis and privates Abner Hosmer and James Hayward, citizen soldiers of Acton and Provincial Minute-men, who fell in Concord Fight, the 19th day of April, A.D. 1775.
" On the morning of that eventful day the Provin- cial officers held a council of war near the old North Bridge in Concord : and as they separated, Davis ex- claimed, 'I haven't a man that is afraid to go!' and immediately marched his company from the left to the right of the line, and led in the first organized attack upon the troops of George III. in that mem- orable war, which, by the help of God, made the thirteen colonies independent of Great Britain and gave political being to the United States of America. " Acton, April 19, 1851."
The old gravestones, which stood for seventy-five years to mark the resting-place of the three patriots in Woodlawn Cemetery, have been laid on the sides of the mound at the base of the monument. They are very ancient in appearance, and bear the follow- ing interesting inscriptions :
" MENENT! MORg.
" Here lies the hody of Mr. Abner Hosmer, who was killed at Con- cord April 19th 1775, in ye defence of ye just rights of his country, being in the twenty-first year of his age."
Hayward's is even more interesting, containing, in
" This monument may unborn ages tell IIow brave yonng Hayward like a hero fell, When fighting for his countries liberty Was slain, and here his body now doth lye- He and his foe were by each other slain, His victim's blood with his ye earth did stain.
Upon ye field he was with victory crowned,
And yet must yield his breath upon that ground. He expressed his hope in God before his death,
After his foe had yielded up his hreath. Oh, may his death a lasting witness lye Against oppressor's bloody cruelty."
This contains the story of his death. After the defeat of the British he stopped at a pump to drink, when a British officer, who came out of the house, exclaimed, " You're a dead man !" Both aimed, fired, and both fell mortally wounded, the officer dying a few seconds before young Hayward. The powder- horn worn by Hayward was pierced with the ball, and is now preserved, having been silver-mounted by Edward Everett.
The third stone is that of Captain Davis, which is headed, "I say unto all, watch!" and then, after a record of his death, this is added: "Is there not an appointed time to man upon ye earth? Are not his days also like the days of an hireling? As the cloud vanisheth away, so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. He shall return no more to his house; neither shall his place know him any more! Job 7 : 1, 9, 10."
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