USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Boston notions; being an authentic and concise account of "that village," from 1630 to 1847 > Part 4
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Fort-hill was originally called Corn-hill ; there was a Fort bega.i on it,ia 1632, by the people of Boston, Charlestown, Roxbury and Dorchester ; and completed 1634, and ordi- nance momated in it, in May; Sir Edmund Andross took shelter in the fort, in the commotions of 1689, where he, and his accomplices were made prisoners, for their tyranny and oppression.
Beacon hill, was situated on the northwest side of the com. mon, a littlo northeast of the State House; on the top of it,
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BOSTON NOTIONS. Page 19. BEACON AND MONUMENT ON BEACON HILL
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The four Tablets bearing the inscriptions here copied, with the Eagle which surmounted the Monument, is preserved in the State House.
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was a beacon, with a tar barrel at its apex, erected in 1635, which was to have been fired, to give an alarm in the coun- try, if Boston should be attacked or beseiged : this was blown down in 1789, and a plain doric column erected of brick and stone, incrusted with cement ; a large gilt eagle, at its top, supporting the arms of America : its elevation, 60 feet ; di- ameter of the column, 4 feet ; the pedestal, 8 feet, : the hill was of a sugar loaf form, 138 feet above the level of the sea.
Inscriptions, commemorating important occurrences, were on the tablets of the pedestal ; as follows : on its south, To commemorate that train of events, which led to the American Revolution, and finally secured liberty and independence, to the United States, this column is erected by the voluntary contributions of the citizens of Boston, MDCCXC.
On the west side ; Stamp act passed 1765, repealed 1766. Board of Customs established, 1767. British troops fired on the inhabitants, March 5, 1770. Tea destroyed in Boston, Dec. 16. Port of Boston, shut and guarded, June 1, 1774. General Congress at Philadelphia, Sept. 4. Provincial Con- gress at Concord, Oct 11. Battle of Lexington, April 9, 1775. Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17. Washington took command of the Army, July 2. Boston evacuated, March 17, 1776. Independence declared by Congress, July 4, 1776. Hancock, president.
On the north side; Capture of Hessians at Trenton, Dec. 26, 1776. Capture of Hessians, at Bennington, Aug. 16, 1777. Capture of army at Saratoga, Oct. 17,-Alliance with France, Feb. 6, 1778,-Confederations of the United States, formed, July 9. Constitution of Massachusetts, formed 1780. Bow- doin, president of convention. Capture of British army, at York, Oct. 19, 1781. Preliminaries of Peace, Nov. 30, 1782. Definitive treaty of Peace, Sept. 10, 1783. Federal constitu- tion formed Sep. 17, 1787, and ratified by the United States, 1787 to 1790. New Congress assembled at New York, April
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16, 789. Washington inaugurated President, April 30. Pub- lic debts, funded. Aug. 4, 1790 : aud on the east side, AMERICANS ; WHILE FROM THIS EMINENCE, SCENES OF LUX- URIENT FERTILITY, OF FLOURISHING COMMERCE, AND THE A- BODES OF SOCIAL HAPPINESS MEET YOUR VIEW, FORGET NOT THOSE WHO BY THEIR EXERTIONS, HAVE SECURED TO YOU THESE BLESSINGS.
A mill creek was formed July 5, 1631, from the town dock, through, into a cove on the northwest-by-north, line ; and a plank was laid over it in Ann St. which had the name of draw bridge, it being originally intended to have been made to hoist for vessels to pass ; one also, in Middle Street, (now Hanover,) which was called the Mill bridge, it being near to a grist mill : this whole creek was filled in with earth, in 1825.
PRIMITIVE ITEMS.
The first night watch in Boston, was appointed Feb. 1635: In 1653, in lieu of a watch, a bellman was provided, to go a- bout from 10 till five in the morning .- In 1649, it was order- ed that no person should play at shuffle-board, bowling or any other play, about a public house, under pain of forfeiture of 20 shillings from the keeper, and 5 from every person playing; also, if any one deny the scriptures, to be the word of God, to be fined £50 or whipped 40 stripes, unless he pub- liely recant; in which case, his fine is €10, and whipped if he pay not that ;- and if the said offender after said recantation or punishment, shall the second time obstinately maintain the said wicked opinion, he shall be banished or put to death as the court shall judge.
It was ordered that every inhabitant having any of Johu Reeve's and Lowdowick Muggleton's books, and shall not
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bring or send them unto the next magistrate, shall forfeit £10 and the books burnt in the market place at Boston, on the next lecture day by the common executioner .- Philip Rat- clif, (a servant) being convicted of slanderous invectives against the church and government; to be whipped, lose his ears and to be banished, which was " presently " exe- ented.
1640. Edward Palmer was hired to build a pair of Stocks, and on being adjudged as asking a great price for them, was sentenced to be put in them for one hour .- and Capt. Stone was sentenced to pay £100, to Justice Ludlow, for calling him a just-ass, and also, prohibited from coming into Boston without the Governors leave, upon pain of death .- Josias , Plastow, for stealing four baskets of corn from the Indians ; was ordered to return eight baskets, to be fined £5, and to be called Josias, and not Mr. Josias in future.
1635, Nov. 30, It was agreed, that no further grants of al- lotments of land shall be made to new comers, without they may become members of the church :- also, that none shall sell their houses or lands without the consent of the allot- ters :- and also, all who have allotments for habitation shall build thereon, by the first of March, or else the land will be disposed of.
1636, June 6, Richard Fairbank, sold two houses "in Sudbury end," to two strangers contrary to order, which sale was made void and he fined five pounds.
1638, Jan. 8, Eighty-six poor families with 337 heads, were allowed 4 and 5 acres each, according to the distance from Boston, at muddy river, (Brookline :)-and 30 other families, Gov. Winthrop, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Wilson, " and other principal persons" 300 acres and upwards, each.
1642, March 4, It was ordered, that the remaining lands not disposed of excepting those laid out for commons at Bos- ton, Braintree and muddy river, be divided among the
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present inhabitants, with such as may join us within two months ; the apportionment to be done by the Selectmen.
1645, Sept. 7, It was ordered, that all grants of land, were, and shall be, ESTATES IN FEE SIMPLE, with due privileges to the grantees, and their heirs, forever ; except where a term of years had been expressed.
1652, Feb. Richard Woody, is admitted an inhabitant, on condition he shall not be offensive, by his trade.
1657, John Pierce, is admitted an inhabitant, on the testi- mony of J. Everill and I. Collamore.
1652, An Irish woman was admitted, on the bond of D. Faulkner, for seven pounds ; that she should not become the town's expense.
Sargent Perkins, for being drunk, to carry 40 turfs to the Fort .- Samuel Lovell, admonished to take heed of light car- riage .- Catherine, wife of Richard Cornish, was found suspi- cious of incontinency, and admonished to take heed .- John Wedgewood, for being in the company of drunkards, to be set in the stocks .- John Daw, for criminal connexion with an Indian woman, to be severely whipped ; and at the next session of the court, it was changed to death, to both parties, if with another man's wife.
Dock Square, was formerly a ' cove or bay,' the tide ri- sing near to the pump, in front of the late Mr. Tuckerman's building : it was filled up, about 1780.
Oliver's Dock came up to Kilby Street, on one side of which, stood the famous Stamp office, which was destroyed by the citizens and b'hoys, in 1765 : and with that move- ment, was the most effective resistance made. to the British scheme of taxation ; and the first public demonstration, that the people intended to obtain freedom and independence for themselves and their descendents, throughout all time.
The greater part of Quaker Lane, (Congress St.) is made land ; it is in the recollection of the 'oldest inhabitant,' that
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lighters and boats' came up as far as Congress St .- Smelt were taken in Federal St. near to the church; from a viev. of the grounds in connexion with the above, it may be sup posed that the greater part of Congress St., all Liberty Square and Kilby St. were flats, on which the tide rose.
The first settlers pitched their tents at the base of the three hills on their eastern side, but many removed to the north end, which became the most elegant and populous part of the town.
Mr. Johnson, who came to Boston at the invitation of Mr. Blackstone, had his square portion of land comprising all between Court and School Sts. and between Tremont and Washington Street ; on being near his last days he desired to be buried at the south-west corner of his lot; and the people exhibiting their attachment to him wished to be buried near him; this was the origin of the Stone Chapel burying ground.
1631, March 16. The first recorded fire, was on this day at noon ; the chimney of Mr. Thomas Sharp's house took fire, " the splinters not being clayed at the top and taking the thatch burnt it down : " the wind being north-west, car- ried the fire to Mr. Colburn's house some rods off, and burnt that down; with much of their furniture and other goods be- longing to those who hired part of the buildings.
1631, March 4. Nicholas Knopp was fined £5, for taking on himself to cure the scurvy with a water of no value yet selling it at a dear rate ; to be imprisoned till he has paid the fine or else be whipped, and be liable to any man's action of whom he had received money for said water.
March 22. All who have cards or dice or gaming tables, shall make way with them before the next court .- May 18, W. Cheeseborough's house burnt, all the people being present.
1632, May 8. Gov. John Winthrop, re-chosen Governor and Thomas Dudley, Lieut. Governor. Conant's Island
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(Winthrop's Island) was granted to the Governor, at a nomi- nal rent.
1634, April. Long Island, Hog and Deer Island, were granted to Boston, for nominal rent, and convenient enlarge- ment at Mount Wolaston : they were permitted to cut wood on Dorchester neck.
1636. Romney Marsh, (Chelsea) Spectacle Island, and Noddles Island, (East Boston) were added ; at these places, portions of the soil, were allotted to every family in Boston.
Mr. Wm. Blackstone was admitted to take the freeman's oath, before the law restricted that privilege to church mem- bers, only, of the puritan faith ; he was an ordained Episco- pal clergyman ; a man of great learning, and of generous sentiments, yet eccentric : two writers state, that he lived in Boston, 9 or 10 years : it appears he did not much enjoy him- self among his associates, and sold all his rights here, ex- cepting six acres of well cultivated land, located near Cam- bridge bridge, then called Barton's point ; he never would join any church here, saying,' I came from England, be- cause I did not like the LORD BISHOPS, but I cannot join with you, because I would not be under the LORD BRETH- REN': he removed to Cumberland, built a house, formed for himself a beautiful park, and cultivated part of the land, known as the ' Whipple farm : ' he raised an orchard there, being the first that bore the yellow sweeting apple ; and it was said, he raised the first orchard in Massachusetts : though he did not agree with Roger Williams, he often walk. ed to Providence, to preach : and to encourage his young hearers, and gratify his own benevolent feelings, he would have them partake of his beautiful fruit, which were the first they had ever seen :- he was in Boston, April 17, 1635, and again, on March 9, of that year, as the records testify : when he became aged, and could not walk far, as he had no horse, he rode on a Bull, he had trained for that purpose ;
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he died, May 26, 1675, and was buried on Study hill, where a flat stone, marks his grave.
1633, Sept. 4, The Rev. Mr. Cotton arrived, and with him, two hundred other passengers; he was ordained teach- er of the first Church, situated in State Street, Oct. 10.
1634, March. In Gov. Winthrop's Journal, it is stated, that by order of court, a market was erected in Boston, to be kept every Thursday, that being Lecture day ; this is the first notice of the Thursday lecture, in that Journal ; but by an order of Court, Oct. 1633, appointing one o'clock for them, shows, that they had been earlier established.
John Cogan, opened the first shop, and Samuel Cole the first house for entertainment.
1634. The general court, held a session in Mr. Cotton's church ; he, preaching the election sermon ; and laid it down as a rule, that a magistrate ought not to be reduced to a pri- vate citizen, without just cause and public conviction, &c. but his sermon did not have the effect he probably intended; for the freemen proceeded to vote, and made choice of Thos. Dudley for Governor, and Roger Ludlow for Lieut. Governor ; leaving out Mr. Winthrop, altogether ; and Newton, (Cam- bridge,) became the seat of government for the year.
1634. In the course of this fall, some of the people had been abused and insulted on board a vessel in the harbour ; and the supercargo of the ship, being on shore, he was seiz- ed and committed, till he gave bail, that the offender should be forthcoming ; when, upon examination, not much could be made of the matter, the bail was discharged, with advice to the master, not to bring any such disorderly people here again.
1633, Feb. 9. It was agreed by general consent, that the inhabitants shall plant, only, upon ground already broken up, or upon Noddles Island, from Mr. Maverick's grant ; and
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that every able man shall have two acres to plant, and every youth one acre.
1632, Oct. 3. Every one shall pay a penny sterling, for ev. ery time of taking tobacco in any place. The first notorious thief in Massachusetts, was sentenced to lose all his estate; out of which double amount to be paid for whatever stolen; to be whipped ; bound out for three years, and after that to be dealt with as the court directs.
The court at Boston, ordered a man to be severely whipt for cursing, swearing, justifying the same, and glorying in it.
1633. Mr, Cotton desired baptism for his son, born on the passage whom he named Seaborn.
Nov. The Sachem Chicatabot died : he had frequented Boston, and was on very friendly terms with Gov. Winthrop: at one time he came with his 'sannops' and squaws, and presented the Gov. with a bushel of corn : after refreshing themselves with a cup of sack and a taste of tobacco the sa- chem ordered the whole party away, in a thunder storm: himself with one squaw and a ' cannop, ' staying all night: he sometimes dressed like the inhabitants, but his best dress being on the wane, he wanted the Gov. to sell him a suit; but was told that English Sagamores did not truck, but calling his tailor, was directed to make a suit, to be ready in three days : at that time Chicatabot returned, and his new dress of regimentals were put on and suited him finely and pleas- ed him mightily : he was treated to a collation, but would not eat till the Gov. had asked thanks, and ending the re- past desired for the same; and after presenting two good skins of Beaver to the Gov. he departed : in this, he gave evidence of great politeness : some of his brother chiefs on a visit at one time being invited to attend a sermon, getting weary of the service went out, broke into a near house. and satisfied their hunger with the best they could find.
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1634. A man who had often been punished for being drunk, was now ordered to wear a red D, about his neck, for a year.
April 3. Governor Winthrop went on foot to Agawam, (Ipswich, ] and spent the Sabbath there, preaching.
1635, Ordered, that any one entering into any private con- ference at a public meeting, to the hinderance of its concerns, shall forfeit twelve-pence, for public uses.
May 6th. A court was held at Newton (Cambridge.) when John Haynes, Esq., of that place, was chosen Governor, and Richard Bellingham of Boston, Deputy Governor : these Officers were elected with written votes, but the Assistants, were chosen without names : the Gov. nominating one Assist- ant to the voters : they all then went out at one door, and came in again at another ; and each put a piece of paper in- to a hat : such as voted for the one nominated, had some fig- ure or seroll, upon it; and those opposed to him, put in a blank paper.
Absence from church, the Assistants were to take cogniz- ance of; and fine the delinquents not exceeding 10 shillings, or by imprisonment.
Punishment for any deviation from the peculiar line, mark- ed out by the Puritans, to this date, 1635, had been sentenced in most cases, by ex-post-facto law ; taking life and limb : branding with hot iron, and clipping off ears ; but at this date, the deputies agreed, that a body of laws, should be framed, which would be approved of by the General Court, and some ministers ; as a fundamental code.
Mr. Wilson returned from London, with his wife, May 26, 1632,-and the Congregation began in August, to build a house for public worship, and one for their pastor, and made a voluntary contribution of 120 pounds. The Meeting-house was erected on the south side of State Street, about where the Exchange Coffee House now is ; its roof was thatched,
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and its walls were of mud. Up to that peried one hundre and fifty-one members; of whom 94 were men and 57 w men had joined the Boston church in full communion : those days, there was a distinction of offices in the chure which is not now retained. Mr. Wilson was first ordained at teacher, and Nov. 22, was chosen Pastor : Mr. Thon Oliver was chosen ruling Elder.
CONFUSION IN THE CHURCH.
1635, Oet. 6, Two ships arrived, and Mr. Henry Vane, (son and heir to Sir Henry Vane, comptroller to the King's house,) came passenger : he had been employed by his father while Ambassador for foreign affairs ; but being call ed to the obedience of the Gospel, forsook all the honors and perferments of the Court to enjoy the ordinances of Christ in there purity here : he was now twenty-one years of age: made great professions of religion : enthusiastic, and cox formed to the peculiar scruples of the day : the people son became attached to him and admitted him a member of the Church Nov. 1st, and on the 30th, was appointed with T. Oliver, and T. Leverett, for one year to have the hearing and decision of all cases of dispute, in heu of trial at court but that appointment was not repeated.
Mr. Vane and Hugh Peters. endeavored to unite some of the " people of quality." with their magistrates ; where there appeared to be a little difficulty or misunderstanding and at a meeting procured by them of all parties ; harmo ny was restored.
It was at this time, Jan. 1636, that, that useful, pious, and good man Roger Williams, was sentenced to banishmen or death for having been guilty of heresy : the most impor ant count, was that of avowing his conviction and belie
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that by immersion in the river, and not by the ordinance of sprinkling, was the primitive and most correct platform for a connexion and for a true acceptancy in the church.
Mr Vane, was admitted a freeman March 3, 1536 : and at the election in May, was chosen Governor and Mr. Win- throp, Lieut. Governor :- The Gov. took more state upon him than any one of his predecessors : 15 ships in the har- bor fired salutes on his election, and in return he invited their commanders to a dinner : his administration for some months satisfied the people; but towards the end of the year they were discontented and weary of his goverment : and this he was made sensible of : he received letters from home inviting his return, which he communicated to Messrs. Winthrop and Dudley, and they agreed that the oc- casion would justify him in a compliance.
He called a meeting of the General Court, and made known the necessity of his quitting the country : the court considered the subject till next day, when one of the mem- bers lamented the loss of such a Governor at such a time, in such pathetic terms that Mr. Vane burst into tears ; and avowed that although his contimmance here would involve the utter ruin of his estates in England ; yet he would have hazarded all that rather than have left them at such a time if other things had not pressed him more ; which was their differences of opinion and dissentions : scandalous imputa- tions on himself, as if he was the author of it all : therefore he thought it was best to give piace for a time : this last part displeased the court, but on his acknowledgement that it was an expression that slipped from him, in passion; they silently consented to his departure.
Some of the church regretting his loss, held a meeting ; and agreed that they did not apprehend any necessity for his leaving for the reasons alledged : and sent some of their members to signify as much to the court : Gov. Vane
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expressed himself so obedient to the church, that notwith standing the licence of the court, he durst not go away, con trary to the will of the church.
The dissensions Mr. Vane referred to, were in the church which at that time, composed the great body of the people of the town : the members usually met together, once week, to repeat, review, and debate, the Sunday Sermons and as their doctrines did not permit the women to bear part in the discussions, they thought they might hold similar meetings, among themselves, with much usefulness : ac cordingly Mrs. Ann, wife of Wm. Hutchinson, a woman of piety, ready talents, and flow of speech, established one at her house : her fame gained a numerous auditory ; from 60 to 80 usually attended : she took the lead in prayer, and in repeating Mr. Cotton's sermons : after which she made ob- servations, and reflections, on their tendency, &c., a reason she gave for her practice, was, the injunction given by Paul, that the elder women should teach the younger : these meet- ings were generally approved of, until she commenced ma- king invidious distinctions, between the ministers of the colo ny ; classing a few as evangelical, and under the covenant of grace, and all the rest were under the covenant of works,
Mr. J. Wheelwright, a half-brother to Mrs. Hutchinson, and a minister of learning, and piety, joined with her in these sentiments : to the above classification, two other new tenets were added; first, that the person of the Holy Ghost, dwell- eth in a justified person : second, that sanctification was no proof of justification; and in addition to these important items, she maintained, that individuals might as herself had been, favored with immediate revelations, equally infallible, with the scriptures.
The greater part of the Boston church, with Mr. Cotton, and Gov. Vane, held to the doctrines of the indwelling of the Holy Ghost; Mr. Vane, even maintained the idea, of a per-
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sonal union ; Mr. Winthrop, Rev. J. Wilson, and four or five members, denied both : but at last concluded, that the Holy Ghost, is God; and dwells in the believer, as the Father and the Son ; yet as Scripture does not declare the manner of this union, and as the mention of the person of the Holy Ghost, is not made there, or in the writings of the primitive churches, it was earnestly desired that the word person, should be foreborne, as tending only to doubtful disputation.
Such are some of the strange vagaries, that disturbed the peace of Boston, in 1636 ; its church became opposed to all churches in the country : arraying their ministers, and mag- istrates against this vineyard of Calvinism.
Ministers from the country, repaired to Boston, to examine the case in a friendly and private manner ; as some strange ideas had crept into their own churches : on the subject of sanctification there was but little difference, but on personal union they could not agree. Mr. Peters at this conference, told Gov. Vane, that less than two years gone, the churches and the inhabitants were at peace and happy ; and besought him to consider his little experience, and to beware of hasty and peremptory conclusions which he perceived he was very liable to ; this could not be misunderstood. Mr. Wilson made a speech on the sad state of the churches and the dan- ger of a separation, laying all the blame on the new opinion- ists; the General Court holden in March, joined in the con- troversy : it had a party in favor of Mr. Cotton, but more were on the side of Mr. Wilson and his friends. Mr. Wheel- wright preached a sermon on Fast day, increasing the irrita- tion ; and the court was to take that into consideration.
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