USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Charlestown > Century of town life; a history of Charlestown, Massachusetts, 1775-1887 > Part 14
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H
58
B
A
C
Parish Land 1835, from a MB. Plan by James Hunnewell
D
K
K
(I)
E
V
49
A chapel
L
G
50
H
Y
9'
[Mason St.]
I
2
B
V
A
..
.. ....
[Jenner St.]
--.-
GO
Ropemakerstane Arrow St ...
Charles River
Bow St.
(c)
Parsonage
98
Middlegate, ( Prescott) St.
1
129
THE TOWN IN 1775.
PLAN II. S. E. slope of Town hill to Charles river.
A large piece of land between Harvard St. and Bow St., and S. of the double dotted line north of 44, was owned by Capt. or Maj. Thos. Jenner, a business man (distiller, etc.,) and a large owner and dealer in real estate, who died in 1765. Most of this piece was bought by him in 1729. The only plan in the whole block, N. to Arrow St., seen by the writer, is one of his "orchard " (1767) by Leach (deeds 68, p. 73) with angles made to fit a folio page rather than the land, for it can only be made to fit there by altering them (yet using the same figures) as in Plan II. It is a curiously crooked lot reaching from street to street. Sam. Conant, a baker, acquired a considerable amount of the land, buying of Jenner (1760) B and D, and through J. Hopkins (1759) C, and of Jenner's executrix (1768) the portion of the large (1729) lot A to A. Conant held the latter and sold (1798) a large strip across the northerly part (and from street to street) to M. Bridge, who also acquired more land S. of this. Sam. Larkin bought E (1757). Joseph Hopkins (see Plan I., 27) bought (1759) G, besides 26 ft. front, F, that he bought (1759) of Larkin, and subsequently a small strip, H. The frontages of these three on Harvard St. are shown by their initials in brackets. D. Goodwin bought (1768) the part K, on Bow St., and Jenner sold (1760) the lot L to T. Mason. The end lot, I, appears to have been where Sam., son of the Capt., lived in 1771. Claims for losses in 1775 were made by S. CONANT (215), who had a dwelling, large barn, and two chaise-houses (also a dwelling, bakehouse, and bolting-mills. See also 48) ; SAM. LARKIN (included in 6), Jos. HOP- KINS (in 9), SAM. JENNER (150), a house, and D. GOODWIN (in 148). On the corner lot, I, there has been (perhaps 40 years) a three-storied brick building, having on the curve a granite front with pilasters, the whole used for business. At H is a narrow, three-storied brick house with a swell front. At E is a three-storied briek house with a broad front, and a porch with wooden pillars, towards the street. It was built early in the century by Matthew Bridge, who came from Lexing- ton (1785), and who left it (1814) to his daughter Sally, Mrs. Seth Knowles. After her, Gov. Edward Everett occupied it (1836-40), then Wm. Carlton, who owned it about thirty years, and since, J. W. Trull, and F. Childs. The southerly part of the lot, meanwhile, has been open ground, attached, and shaded by trees. At A B C was the large home estate of Mr. Bridge, long occupied by his daughter Alice, Mrs. Baker, and also one of the three handsomest old places in the lower part of the town. The ground, several feet higher than the street, was shaded by a few large trees, and most of it was covered by
3
130
HARVARD, BOW, ARROW STREETS.
grass, or a belt of flower-beds before the house - a half-square one of wood, with the front and a porel towards the Square. The interior was well finished in the style prevalent nearly a century ago. On a large part of the site there now are a court, and eight three-storied brick houses built by Moses A. Dow.
The heirs of Abraham Snow inherited (1772) the estate 45 that he had owned for about 25 years, and his son Isaac appears to have held until the sheriff intervened (1790). Claim (151) was made for the estate of ABRAHAM. HARRIS and BATES (292) claimed in the estate of his widow. Wooden houses erected here, and some vacant land, long in bad order, were (30?) years ago succeeded by three swell- front, three-storied, briek houses on Harvard St., and a plain-fronted brick house on Arrow St., and (about 1865 ?) on the southern part (E. Welch's) Moses A. Dow built the large three-storied brick house (with a garden at the side) in which he lived, and died (1886).
Dr. ISAAC RAND bought (1741) of John Newell a large lot (on Bow, Arrow, and IIarvard), and appears to have left (1790) the part 46 to his daughter Margaret, wife of Nath! Austin. A portion of Dr. Rand's large claim (117) probably arose here.
JAMES BRASIER (141) appears to have bought (1761) from the estate of E. Rand, the lot 47, and to have sold it in 1787. (He valued a dwelling in C. at £163. 6. 8.) Somewhere near here JOHN NUTING (157) appears to have had his loss on buildings. He valued & a dwell- ing, " kitching at the back sid," £100.
John Bateman seems to have bought 48 (1744) with a house, and S. CONANT to have obtained it (1768), and loss here would be in the claim (215) of the latter.
D. GOODWIN (148) appears to have had 49, and to have sold it in 1787. EDW. POWERS seems to have held 50 between 1771 and 1784, and to have claimed (164) for loss in 1775. He had a house, barn, and shop, that he valued at £700. The lot passed to T. Harris (1787?) and was levied on by Woodward (1811) while (1811) Skinner & Hurd also levied on Harris on a small lot eastward. BRADISHI and GOOD- WIN (285) appear to have had a small loss hereabouts.
The small block on Middlegate, Bow, and Arrow Streets.
MARY FURZ, widow of Hugh, who bought in 1741, claimed (153) for loss of personal but on no real, in 1775, and was at 51. DANIEL WATERS (152) who bought (1766) of heirs of Adam Waters lot 52, had two dwellings that he valued at £600. Ile sold in, or after, 1790. In 1790, Jas. Frothingham bought 53 (on three streets). Of it, A was bought (1756) by JAS. BRADISHI (152), B by him (1755), and C
131
THE TOWN IN 1775.
(earlier, 1736?). He lost altogether 3 houses, 3 barns, and a black- smith shop. JAS., JR., had a small claim (133) on personal.
On the westerly side of Bow St., (at the upper part of the Plan) were (?) JOHN GOODWIN (145) with a small house and shop ; JOHN RAND (146), and the estate of THOS. RAND (135). JOSEPH LYNDE (127), who owned in several places, had land at or near the end of Washing- ton St. The Badger family had owned land at 54 reaching to the water, but on the street claims for loss on buildings were made by DAVID EDMANDS, JR. (139), on dwelling, and RICHARD TROW (140) end of a house. Joseph Lewis had owned 55, and MARY LEWIS (160) and SARAH LAWRENCE (158) } dwelling, heirs, claimed for loss on buildings. Somewhere in this region FRANCES LEE, widow, claimed (159) for loss of a house bought in 1766, etc.
JAMES BRASIER, who bought 56 in 1761, claimed (141) for loss (see No. 47), and WM. HUNNEWELL, who bought 57 in 1750, claimed (163) for loss of a dwelling, four rooms on a floor, and outbuildings. (Wil- liam, the writer's grandfather, lived three miles away. Sec p. 86.) In regard to block 58 there is difficulty in naming the claimants. Mary Hutchinson, Mrs. Tuck, and W. Abrahams owned here not long before the war. NATHANIEL RAND, ferryman, who had a loss (143) bought (1765) about midway in the block, and THADDEUS MASON (115) bought (1756) at the corner of the present Mason St. After the war the intricate operations of members of the Harris family extended to this area, as they did in several parts of its vicinity. (See p. xiv.)
A great deal of block 59 belonged to T. Jenner (see 44), whose heirs sold (1771) a large, irregular lot, A, that went into the estate of D. Goodwin. Richard Devens (8) and David Wait (19, see Plan I., 6) also owned here. The land extending to the water, before the war ap- pears to have been occupied by wharves, a distillery, and their attend- ant business, and to have comprised the original lots of Johnson and Brigden (sce Plan, 1638). The corner, B, passed to T. Harris, D. Austin (1795), and Isaac Warren, in whose estate it remained from 1802 to 1858. On it stood his house, similar to that of Mrs. Baker (44, A), and the two, personally well known to the writer, were the best of the older houses in this part of the town. The ground at B is now occupied by a three-storied brick building, and on the former garden stand two three-storied, swell-front, brick houses, years ago occupied by Geo. W. Warren and Col. T. Upham.
At 60 was another Austin estate, held by Jolin some years before the war, and (?) mortgaged by him in 1776. In 1824, Eben! lived here, and for considerable time later, " in a one and a half story, yellow
132
MAIN, NEAR HENLEY, STREET.
[wooden] house " (G. and E.), that was removed to give place to the billiard-room of the Waverley House. Lot 30, Plan I., adjoins, in the Square.
From the earliest years (see Plan, 1638), Bow St. was lined by dwellings, at first scattered, and for many years closely placed. Be- tween Washington St. and the Square have lived many well-known families. Among them were Henry Jacques (in a wooden house at 55, now much altered) ; Mr. Goodrich (56, do.); Thos. O. Holden (two- storied briek house at 57) ; T. Harris (in a three-storied older brick house at 58) ; Joseph IIunnewell, and W. W. Whieldon (48, two do.) ; Thos. Marshall (in a three-storied wooden house at K) ; Gilman Colla- more (in an old three-storied brick house at 50) ; besides others men- tioned at 59. The street has, however, changed very much within recent years, and the back land, westward, is covered with railroad traeks and buildings belonging to the Eastern (B. and M.) Co.
PLAN III., beginning at the N. E. corner of Main and Henley Sts.
The estate here (60*) has long been made prominent by a briek building, perhaps the largest of its date, and one of the oldest on the peninsula. Three stories high, with low, arched windows, and painted light gray relieved by red on the caps, bands, and cornice, it is still in very good order, and used, as chiefly from the first, for business. In the northerly end of the second story was the Union Library (1821-42), a sort of small Athenæum owned by shareholders (see p. 100). Here lived John and ABIGAIL STEVENS, the latter of whom elaimed (122) £1,504. for losses on buildings, ete., and £75. personal property. In 1794 Caleb Swan, merchant, bought the estate (on which there seems then to have been a house), and (deed 134, p. 489) sold it (1800) for $6,000. to Joseph Hurd, with the brick store thereon, which for many years has been held by his family. Ann Bradish, elose by here, re- ported her loss of { a house, and a large quantity of furniture, as did Alice, widow of Benj. Kettell.
The next estate (61) "was the homestead of RICHARD FOSTER, Esq.," who had a large mansion. His HEIRS elaimed (123) as already mentioned (pl. 10, 11). As farther described by deed (107, p. 480), the estate was sold to Caleb Swan (1792) together with a house " built since his [F.'s] decease." In 1810 Mr. Swan sold to John Skinner (deed 190, p. 198) who lived here nearly forty years, and who was for some time a prominent local business man (see pl. 15). The Swans were an important family, who ultimately went to New York. Benja- min Lincoln was one of the noblest business men of any family that
133
THE TOWN IN 1775.
has lived in the town. Tall, white-haired, dignified, he was a model of courtesy as well as of Christian character, in which he was not surpassed by any one prominent in the town for years after the rebuilding, while in wealth he far surpassed perhaps every other. The old house is standing, a wooden one, facing, and close on, the sidewalk, three stories high (the upper one of them low), clapboarded, topped by a cornice with modillions, but in place of its original parlors having shops on the lower floor.
Adjoining is (62) a four-storied, recent, wooden building, also with stores on the lower floor. On its site JOHN WHITE, who claimed (198) for loss in 1775, owned a house. He has been mentioned under (10). North of it is an estate (63), extending down " the lane to the Train- ing field," that was occupied by Capt. EBENEZER KENT, who claimed (194) on buildings, etc., burned £739. The building now here is similar to the last one described.
Winthrop St. leads across the old Back, now Warren, St., to the Training field (a short distance to the right of Plan III.). On this part of Back St., appear to have been LYDIA BOYLSTON (196), daughter of Richard (d. 1752), who had the " old part of his house ; " a portion of the loss of JON. BRADISHI (estate of ? 295) ; and (?) JOHN CARTER (206) a house two rooms on a floor, and HOPPIN AND SAMSON (77). On the East side (?) were ELIZ. REED & Co. (335), a dwelling, and (?) three owners numbered 293 and 294.
A considerable part of the land around the Trainingfield was used for some sort of farming. Isaiah Edes had a lot of mowing ; there was a Dizer pasture; Peter Edes owned on the northerly side, after- wards the site of the Almshouse, and now of Wallace Court, etc. Richard Devens had land, and Sam. Henley two lots. Losses here- abouts were claimed by SUSANNA WALLACE (248) on the west corner of Winthrop and High Sts., who had two houses ; by BENJ. BROWN (247), JACOB BURDITT (246), a small dwelling ; and THos. HARRIS (259), a house, barn, etc. Near the field were SAM. TOWNSEND (254), dwelling, barn, etc .; W.M. CALDER (239), dwelling, barn, and shop ; and, on a lane to the Point, MOSES PECK (256.) The largest loss was at the corner of Winthrop and Warren Sts., where there had been a distillery "over a hundred years " (G. & E., 1064) owned by JAS. TRUMBULL (1750-83), who had a large claim (243). He lost a man- sion house, and other buildings, and is mentioned on p. 125.
Across the present Winthrop St., and at the corner of Main St., is one of the oldest wooden buildings now on it, square, three stories high (the upper one of them low), clapboarded, painted a dark olive,
134
MAIN TO PLEASANT STREET.
and capped by a cornice with modillions. The estate (64) was bought in 1757 (deed 55, p. 4) for £362. 13. 4d. by NATHAN ADAMS, who claimed (193) in 1775 for a loss of £970. 10. 4d. on buildings. In 1783 he sold the land including a Boylston lot (196) for £300. to John Larkin.
At the corner of the present Monument Avenue (opened here in 1867) stands another large square wooden house of three stories, higher than the preceding but not quite as old. Externally it is plainer ; internally it was handsomely finished. For many years it was the well-known residence of John Hurd, but since his deatlı it has been altered, and stores made on the ground floor. To this estate (65), as well as to the last three and next one, Leach (1780) gives no clue, and its transfers, bounds, and references, like those of 66, are somewhat perplexing in the latter part of the last century. This seems to have been the Lemmon property, divided (93, p. 379) be- tween Dr. JOSEPHI and Mrs. Mary (Lemmon) LYNDE, in 1759. He valued house and barn, fore street, where he lived, at £533. 6. 8. Here seem to have been the shop of WM. GRUBB (228) who lost a dwelling, barn, and pump, and that of ISAIAH EDES (42) valued by him £66. 13. 4. He also lost a house (at 79 ?). TIMº AUSTIN (307) had liereabouts (?) a loss on personal. Subsequently the estate here seems to have passed to John Larkin.
On the northerly corner of Monument Avenue is a narrow, three- story, brick house, with a store below, built since the Avenue was opened, and covering a remnant (66) of an estate now chiefly occupied by that street, and traced from John Cofran, who left it in 1836, bought (1807) of Mrs. Susanna Nutting (172, p. 469) to whom it was deeded (121, p. 250) as the "Lemon lot" (53 ft. 2 in. front) by Joseph Cordis (1796) an extensive dealer in real estate for years after 1781, mentioned under 109. Here, apparently, occurred some of the loss of RUTH KETTELL (191) widow of Dea. Wm. (died, 1767), dwelling, bakehouse, storc, barn, etc. She, with her children, sold (1788, deed 102, p. 157), a lot 23 ft. front, with site of a house, to John Larkin, and (1790) another lot, 20 ft. front, to Wm., son of the Dea., with the house he lived in. William sold (1797) this to Andrew Kettell (129, p. 483). In 1767 (Survey) Mr. Lemmons was 533 ft. from P. Edes (lot 84).
The next two estates (67 and 68) are occupied in front by plain three-story brick buildings, with shops on the ground-floor and dwell- ings above. These, like quaint old wooden buildings that they replace, have long been owned by the family of Andrew KETTELL. WILLIAM
135
THE TOWN IN 1775.
and ANDREW (324), sons of Ruth (191), had a small personal loss, and part of her large claim on buildings may have originated here.
Without solving the perplexities in references to the next three estates (as to the last three) it may be sufficient to state that they are now occupied by not large wooden buildings, old or altered. A deed places at 69 T. CALL; the ESTATE of THOMAS (188) lost a house, barn, and shop. Lots 70 and 71 are marked by Leach D. and N. RAND. Deborah, a daughter of Joseph, inherited in 1769, and a claim (60) was made for his ESTATE. NATIIANIEL (185) claimed (for a dwelling, shop, workhouse, and barn) ; and ABRAHAM (350) for a shop, between this and the next lot, that he left "for the commity to prise as they think proper."
According to Leach, a passage 12 ft. wide was on the site of Pleasant St., and north of it was "Newell's house " (72). In 1766 James Kettell, a tavern-keeper, sold ELIPHALET NEWELL half a house, and the latter at his death (1813) had a corresponding piece of property. He claimed (184) for a loss of £480. on buildings, reporting a dwelling, bakehouse, and large barn on fore street. He also claimed for a dwelling and furniture on account of his mother, Abigail. The other half seems to have been owned in one of the Rand families, and the loss of it to form part of their claims. Here now stands a low three-storied wooden building, much altered, origin- ally the Warren Tavern, one of the first houses "erected after the conflagration. . .. Its large sign, which swung from a high post, bore on either side a likeness of Gen. Jos. Warren in his Masonic insignia as Grand Master. Attached to the house was a large hall, called afterwards Warren Hall." (Thos. Hooper, Rec. K. Sol. Lodge, p. 77). Here the first Masonic lodge in the town was formed; here Dr. Bartlett delivered an oration (March 14, 1786), the first work printed in the town ; and hence went the procession to hear Dr. Morse's Eulogy on Geo. Washington.
At 73 is another old, low, three-storied, and less altered wooden house on an estate marked "Hopping" by Leach (1780) ; but that Wm. Hoppin appears to have sold (1769) to Capt. JOHN HANCOCK, who claimed (84) for buildings and personal £417., having stated his loss of a large dwelling, barn, small buildings, and personal, "valey at" £416. 14. 10. Just here, however, the List of Claims, as is unusual, follows the estates in order, and the estate of WM. HOPPING (183) shows an estimate of £180. on buildings (see Water St.) Widow ABIGAIL NEWELL (296, a small lot of furniture) is said to have been next to him on Main St.
136
MAIN TO THOMPSON STREET.
The next estate (74), marked " BADGER " by Leach, was sold (1767) by Stephen to his son, REV. STEPHEN, the missionary to the Natick Indians (see Bibliography), who claimed (182) for £120. on buildings (dwelling and bakehouse in Main St.) but no personal. The existing building here, in recent style, is of wood, four stories high, painted dark, and used for a store below and a house above.
According to Leach, "HUTCHINSON" was at 75. By the List of Claims, SAMUEL (181) had a loss of £374. on real, and £114. 3s. on personal estate. He stated that the "house that I lived in, 5 rumes on the Lore floar," was worth £333. 6. 8, and that he had another house in Bow St.
At the corner of Thompson St. (laid ont in 1805) is an early three- storied wooden house, with its end close upon the street, having now stores on its lower floor, and on a former narrow garden or front area. This (76) was the estate of Hon. Benjamin Thompson, long an es- teemed and substantial citizen, and a member of the U. S. House of Representatives (1848-52). A portion of the land seems to have belonged with the preceding, and a portion to be that marked by Leach "S. Rand." SAMUEL RAND (180) stated a loss of a barn and ¿ a dwelling.
For some distance beyond this point, on this side of the street, Leach gives no clue, nor does he for a greater distance on the opposite, or westerly, side to which we turn.
Beside a lane, at 77, is an estate (part of 106) bought (1773) by Capt. ELEAZER JOHNSON (263) and sold by his executors (1808) to Susanna, wife of Capt. Eliphalet Newell, at whose death (1827) the building, since altered, now there, was described as a " brick house," 40 ft. front. It stands close on the street and was two stories high, but the sontherly half now has three stories. Here have lived Dr. Bemis (N. half), Dr. Bancroft, and before him Constantine F. Newell, a Greek who took that family name, and was one of the most attractive men in the society of the town at his time.
Across the front of the next estate (78) stands a quaint, white, wooden house, two stories high, with a hipped roof, where for many years Catharine Carlton lived and had a millinery shop, in which she also had a circulating library, both familiarly known. The estate was held by Wm Austin (1821-42) who bought of Nancy Harding, whose father had it of the heirs of David NEWELL, who died in 1770, and whose widow, MARY, had a claim (44) in 1775 (here, or in Water St.)
At the corner of Bow St. is an estate (79, reduced in breadth by widening that street), long held by Amos Tufts (deacon in the First
137
THE TOWN IN 1775.
Church, 1804-39), and still partly occupied by his three-storied brick house, with an end on the street, and a narrow garden in front. He bought it in 1796, it having been previously held by ISAIAH EDES, a part of whose claim (42) for losses in 1775 seems to have been here. (See also 65.) Ife reported a house "apprized when Grandfather died," £333. 6. 8, and "laid out on it," £100. Sarah, widow of Richard Kettell, lived near this corner, and lost a dwelling (£200).
On the opposite corner (Main and Harvard) is an estate (80) nearly covered by a three-story building with walls of split stone and quoins of block stone brought from the Outer Brewster by Gen. Nathaniel Austin. He bought that island in 1799, and erected this landmark, that may properly be considered a monument of its white-haired builder, who was for a long while one of the most striking and fa- miliar figures among the townspeople, and who occupied a room here for many years. The writer does not know who owned here in 1775.
Next stands (81, and partly on 82) a low and old three-storied wooden house, painted dark, but with a recent shop inserted. The land was occupied by CALL (C.) and BURNS (J.), the latter holding (after 1772) part of a house, 10 ft. on Main St., and both having claim 39 for loss in 1775. Ifannah Burn reported § a dwelling on Main St., and part of a barn, at £106. 13. 4. HANNAH, widow of C., had a small personal claim (40), but she reported loss of 3 of a dwelling, and a barn. (See 94.) Most of the larger lot adjoining (82) belonged to another CALEB CALL, a baker (38), who reported a loss of a dwell- ing, bakchouse, barn, and store. IIis administrator sold (1785) 52 ft. frontage to Dr. Josiah Bartlett, who also bought (1791) the narrow strip on which was the end of a house. In his time he was one of the most prominent men of the town, not only professionally, but in Masonry, and in public affairs. He delivered several addresses that were printed and are now scarce ; the earlier of them, indeed, are very rare ; the first has been mentioned (at 72). He died, and this estate was sold (1820) to Dr. W. J. Walker, also a well known physician, who sold in 1846. His house, of brick, three stories high (the upper of them low) stood back from the street, and before it was an arca on which grew two large trees. Though broad, the house was shallow. Since he left it, the area has been covered by a building, with a plain brick front, used for business.
On 83 is a large, three-story, wooden building of considerable age, with stores on the ground-floor, occupied for many years, after 181?, by Benj. Haines and Geo. W. Little. The estate, that had belonged to Dea. Jon. Kettell, was bought (1764) by Dea. SHEPPIE TOWNSEND,
138
MAIN ST., HURD ESTATES.
who claimed (37) for loss on real, but not on personal, in 1775, and from whom it passed to his son (1791), and from him (1793) to Dr. J. Bartlett. (There were a John Townsend, and John, Jr., who had small claims (36 and 344) for loss of personal property.)
The large estate (84) composed of sundry old lots belonged, in part at least, to THOMAS FLUCKER, a royalist, whose property was confis- cated by the State; yet in his name there was a claim (32) of £450. loss on buildings, etc. Rebecca Fowle (a daughter) and Elizabeth made out a claim for a house and barn. Joseph Hurd bought his estates (1785), in which the southerly part of 84 was apparently in- cluded. The northerly part appears to have belonged to PETER EDES, who claimed (35) £781. loss on buildings, etc., but no personal, and who removed to Harvard (G. and E. 520), where he died in 1787. On the consolidated estate Mr. Hurd built (about 1795) the three- storied wooden house still standing, one of the very best ever on the street (see p. 88), and kept a large part of the ground for a lawn and garden, both also still (1887) preserved.
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