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 6
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We have borne the bitter parting, We have said the long farewell : She hath gone the loved and cherished, In the spirit land to dwell.
She was 64 yrs., 2 mos., 21 dys., and was b. in Brewster, dau. of Willard and Hannah Sears. (T. Rec.)
According to the Sears Gen. she was b. in Harwich, May 20, 1788, bapt. Oct. 24, 1796, and her mother's maiden name was also Sears. Nancy m. Capt. Isaiah Howes, Feb. 9, 1812, and had a large family. She was killed by the cars at Grant- ville Station.
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West Needham
170 Capt. | ISAIAH HOWES | DIED | Sept. 6, 1873, | aged 85 yrs.
Why weep then for him, who having won The bound of man's appointed years, Life's blessings all enjoyed, life's labors done, Serenely to his final rest has passed.
He was b. July 10, 1788, d. in consequence of a fall from a wagon at Worcester ; he was son of Isaiah and Lydia (Chap- man) Howes. (Sears Gen.)
171
(Willow and urn.)
SACRED | To the Memory of | MR. SAMUEL GREENWOOD, | who died | Sep: 9, 1822 : | Æt. 60.
Lo! where the silent marble weeps, A saint in Jesus sweetly sleeps ; A heart within this sacred cell, Where pure religion once did dwell.
He was b. Nov. 19, 1763, son of Samuel and Grace (Mills) Greenwood, who were m. Apr. 20, 1753. (T. and Ch. Recs.)
The house of Dea. Samuel Greenwood of Sherborn was built in 1753. In 1774 Samuel was prominent among the " Antipedobaptists " in Needham, where they first appeared about 1770.
Samuel, the son, was a hogreave in 1786, '87, field driver and highway surveyor in 1797, fence viewer 1803, West dis- trict school committee 1819, '22. He was a leading Metho- dist, and in 1812 attended the church in "The Hundreds."
172
(Willow and urn.)
SACRED | To the Memory of | Mrs. TAMAR GREENWOOD | Wife of | Mr. Samt Greenwood ; | who died March 3, 1821 : | in the 43ª year of | her age. Depart my friends dry up your tears For we shall meet when Christ appears.
Samuel Greenwood of Needham and Tamar Harrington of Weston were m. Oct. I, 1812 (Weston T. Rec.) : their inten- tion of marriage is recorded Sept. 2. (Need. T. Rec.)
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They had three children whose births are recorded in Needham.
173 (Willow and urn.)
IN Memory of | MRS HANNAH GREENWOOD | Wife of Mr Samuel Greenwood | who died Decr. 19, 1808. | Æt. 43.
Behold and see as you pass by As you are now so once was I As I am now so you must be Prepare for Death & follow me.
She was b. Mar. I, 1753, dau. of Benjamin and Mary (Lam- son) Peirce, who were m. in Weston, May 7, 1752, by the Rev. Samuel Woodward. (Weston T. Rec.)
The intention of marriage of Samuel Greenwood of Need- ham and Hannah Peirce of Weston was recorded Jan. 15, 1786. (Weston T. Rec.) They had eleven children whose births are recorded in Needham.
174
(Urn.)
William | Son of M. Samt & Mrs Hannah | Greenwood | Obt. Augt 3 1800. A. 3 Mons A pleasant plant a blooming flower, Cut down and withered in an hour William was b. Apr. 26, 1800.
175
(Willow.)
In Memory of | JOHN W. GREENWOOD, | Son of | Mr. Samuel & Mrs. Tamar Greenwood, | who died April 10, 1820 : | Æt. 11 months.
John W. was b. Apr. 28, 1819, son of 171 and 172.
176-178
CHARLES GREENWOOD | DIED SEPT. 15, 1822. | AGED 29 YRS.
CAROLINE S. GREENWOOD | ALSO CHARLES HENRY | AGED 4 YRS. & 7 MONS A TRIBUTE OF AFFECTION
Charles was b. Sept. 15, 1792, son of 171 and 173.
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West Needham
Caroline Stevens was dau. of 8 and 9, m. Charles Green- wood of Boston, Jan. 30, 1820 (int. Jan. I). She was after his death a milliner, and d. in Townsend, Aug. 18, 1855.
179 MOSES GREENWOOD, | DIED | April 10, 1834. | Æt. 47 yrs.
He was b. Sept. 26, 1787, son of 171 and 173.
He was a hogreave 1812, '13, '28, surveyor of highways 1820-22, '26, '30, West district school committee 1820, fence viewer 1822, field driver 1822-24, '26-28.
The births of five of his children are recorded in Needham.
180 OLIVE GREENWOOD, | Wife of | Moses Greenwood, | Died Dec. 4. 1844, | Æt. 54 yrs.
She was b. May 29, 1791, dau. of Enoch and Olive Parker, m. Moses Greenwood Sept. 29, 1811 (int. Aug. 30).
181 WILLIAM F. GREENWOOD, | Died July 8, 1856, | Aged 39 yrs. | II mos. " He is not dead but sleepeth."
He was b. Aug. 13, 1816, son of 179 and 180.
182 LAURA A. | wife of | WILLIAM F GREENWOOD, | Died Feb. 9, 1871, | Aged 5 1 yrs. Gone to dwell with her loved ones in Heaven.
Laura Ann Dadmun was b. Dec. 24, 1819, dau. of 223 and Lydia Temple his wife, m. William F. Greenwood of Weston, May 27, 1841 (int. Apr. 30).
183 WILLIAM D. | son of | William F. & Laura | A. Green- wood, | DIED | Nov. 5, 1845, | Æt. I year I mo.
A bud to bloom in heaven.
184 ELLEN V. | daughter of | Wm. F. & L. A. Greenwood | died Oct. 22, 1862, | Æt. 20 y's & 3 m's.
A branch of the Greenwood family lived in East Needham. (See Need. Ephs.)
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185 Calvin Broad | Son of MY Theodore & | Mrs Efther Broad, | died Nov! 28th 1782 | Aged 7 Months.
Theodore Broad of Needham and Esther Smith of Natick were m. May 29, 1775.
Theodore was collector for the West Precinct 1778, '80 (there were two in 1778), and on its committee 1785.
He was a minute man, and Seth and Timothy were in the West and East Companies respectively, April 19, 1775. They also did much service later in the war. (Mass. S. and S. in Rev., Vol. II.) Timothy was son of Thomas (Need. Ephs., p. 23), and was collector for the First Parish 1789.
Hezekiah was a petitioner for the incorporation of the town in 1710, surveyor of highways 1716.
Major Hezekiah was a leading citizen of Natick, and was a delegate to the convention which ratified the Federal Consti- tution, town clerk, selectman, etc., and served in the Revo- lution. In 1797 he became a citizen of Needham in conse- quence of the change in the boundary. From 1800-08 he was one of the West Precinct committee, and moderator of seven or more of its meetings 1799-1804.
(Urn.) 186
ERECTED | IN Memory of | DEAN SAMUEL PRATT | who died June 16, 1807, | At. 56.
Forbear my friends to weep Since Death has lost its sting, Those christians that in Jesus sleep Our God will with him bring.
He was b. Aug. 5, 1751, son of Lemuel and Lydia (Willard) Pratt, who were m. Nov. 23, 1750. (There is also a Ch. Rec. of this marriage but the leaf is torn.)
On March II, 1765, " Enfn Lemuel Pratt Was Chosen to See to the Obfervation of the law Relating to ye Catching of Fifh."
On March 15, 1771, Cap" Lemuel Pratt was chosen one of a committee of three to " take a Plann of the Town," and August 31, 1774, he was elected to attend the county con-
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West Needham
vention. (See Capt. Caleb Kingsbury, p. 39.) Capt. Lemuel was moderator of the first meeting to organize the West Pre- cinct, January 19, 1775.
Samuel, see epitaph, was in the West Company April 19, 1775, and rendered service later in the war. At one time £5 was paid to him by the town for such service. (See T. Rec., Vol. III, p. 155.) There is a bronze S. A. R. marker on his grave.
He was a hogreave in 1775, Lower Falls district school committee 1792, '93, '97-99, 1805, and on the committee to hire teachers 1795.
On May 13, 1793, he was on the committee to make "Some alteration in the School Diftrict[s]," and May 9, 1796, he represented the Lower Falls school district on two commit- tees, viz : "for building & repairing School Houses," and "to afsertain what each Proprietors right is in the School Houses."
On March II, 1799, he was on the committee "to make Alterations in highway Districts." Selectman 1802.
187 HEPZIBETH PRATT, | wife of | Samuel Pratt, | died Dec. 4, 1833, | Æt. 80 yrs. God my Redeemer, lives, And often from the skies, Lookes down and watches all my dust, Till he shall bid it rise.
She was b. Aug. 28, 1751, dau. of Jeremiah and Hepzibah (Peterson) Gay, m. Samuel Pratt Dec. 3, 1775. She was then of Newton. (T. and Ch. Recs.)
(Willow and urn.) 188
LEMUEL PRATT, | died May 22, 1853, | ÆE. 77 yrs.
Death is a debt to nature due, That, I have paid, and so must you.
He was b. Sept. 28, 1776, son of 186 and 187, m. Mar. 14, 1805 (int. Dec. 23, 1804), Hannah Smith. (T. and Ch. Recs.)
He was a surveyor of highways 1804, '22, '25, '29, hogreave in 1805, '06, constable 1807, '08, pound keeper 1812, '13, '18,
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'30, '32, Brick district school committee 1818, '19, '21, '24. In 1824 this district is for the first time in the records called the "Center" district. Mr. Pratt was a fence viewer 1824, '28, field driver 1827, '30. In 1820 he attended the Baptist Church in Newton. Cyrus, brother of 188, d. Mar. 26, 1871, aged 81 yrs. He was b. in Needham, Feb. 26, 1790.
On May II, 1713, Josiah Newell and Joseph Haws were "Chosen by the town to make a pound," and December 29, 1713, Newell was granted " 2 pounds ten Shill 2 penc for de- fraying the Charg of Sitting up a pound for this Town."
On May 12, 1714, Haws was chosen the first pound keeper in Needham, which office he held in 1717, '18.
On September 2, 1721, it was voted to build a pound and stocks, and May II, 1722, to rebuild the pound on land given by Joseph Haws. The pound for many years was on the northerly side of Great Plain Avenue, as it is now called, at the entrance to the driveway leading to the residence of Michael W. Quinlan. The town now owns no pound, and the stray animals are cared for on the premises of the pound keeper.
Joseph Haws was a petitioner for the incorporation of the town in 1710, surveyor of highways 1713, tythingman 1716, constable 1718, selectman and assessor 1719. He d. Mar. 8, 1756, aged 92.
Joseph and Joseph, Jr., [Hawes] were in the West Com- pany April 19, 1775.
(Willow and urn.) 189
LYDIA, | wife of James Spear, | and daughter of | Samuel & | Hephzibah Pratt, | Born in Needham, | July 27, 1784, | Died in Boston, | April 4, 1856.
Dearest Mother thou has left us, Here thy loss we deeply feel, But 'tis God that hath bereft us, He can all our sorrows heal.
Lydia m. James Spear of Boston, Apr. 10, 1815 (int. Mar. 18).
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West Needham
190
(Clover leaf.)
IN Memory of | SAMUEL PRATT JR |who died | Nov! 12, 1801, | Aged 24.
Imitate his Virtues, & follow him to Glory.
He was b. in Weston, Jan. 31, 1778, son of 186 and 187. The births of several children of 186 and 187 are recorded in Needham.
191
(Willow and urn.)
In Memory of | CYRUS PRATT. | Who Died | April 20, 1821. | Aged 61 Yrs.
He was b. Oct. 31, 1760 (Oct. 30, Ch. Rec.), brother of 186, m. Deborah Smith Feb. 21, 1791. Cyrus Pratt, the younger,
He was a hogreave 1814, field driver 1818, '19, '22, sealer of bread 1825, sealer of leather 1828. The office of sealer of leather was abolished March 4, 1867.
In 1814 he and Ephraim attended St. Mary's Church (Episcopal), at Newton Lower Falls. (T. Rec., Vol. IV, p. 219.) Ephraim was a hogreave in 1819.
(Willow and urn.) 192
In Memory of | DEBORAH PRATT. | Who Died | March 24, 1840. | Aged 72 Y'rs.
She was wife of 191.
Jonathan, Daniel and Henry Pratt were taxed in Need- ham in 1716. Daniel was a surveyor of highways in 1718.
Henry was selectman and assessor 1725, '26, '28-31, '34, ' '35.
Lemuel was a selectman 1759-63, '73, assessor 1759-63. Probably identical with Capt. Lemuel. (See 186.)
Issachar, " Zebadiah " and Seth were in the West Company April 19, 1775, and Benanuel was credited to Needham as a soldier later in the war. (Year-book S. A. R., 1897, p. 389.)
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The Pratts of Weston, Newton and Needham are descend- ants of the noted Phinehas Pratt of Plymouth, one of the first settlers.
193 JEMIMA | wife of | Seth Muzzy, | DIED | Feb. 12, 1856, | Æt. 53.
Ah ! weep no more: for she is at rest Where sickness and sorrow never can come, She rests among the peaceful and blest, Dear Mother has gone to a happy home.
This stone is a short distance north of the south driveway, and southeast of the older Greenwood stones.
Seth Muzzy and Jemima Trull of Natick were m. Apr. 15, 1834 (int. Nov. 15, 1833).
Seth was b. in Needham, Sept. 6, 1803, d. in Natick, Sept. 8, 1871, fifth child of Benoni and Lucy (Lewis) Muzzy, who had ten children whose births are recorded in Needham.
Benoni was b. in Shrewsbury, Aug. 14, 1760, d. in Natick, Apr. 8, 1846, aged 86. He was bapt. Apr. 26, 1760, accord- ing to the History of Shrewsbury. Lucy Lewis was b. in Dedham, Jan. 13, 1763, d. in Boylston, Dec. 12, 1863. In 1796 " Benony " was a field driver, and again in 1822, '24-26. In the latter years the record calls him Benoni Mussey.
194
(Willow and urn.)
ERECTED | In Memory of | Mrs MARTHA | BRYANT | wife of | Mr Jonathan Bryant | who died | March 5, 1813 | Æt. 57.
Only the upper portion of this stone is visible ; the filling with earth has covered much of it, and the roots of trees have grown around it.
(Urn.) 195
ERECTED | IN memory of | MRS SOPHIA HOLDEN, | Consort of Mr Thomas Holden | of Boston | who died June 21, 1812 | Æt. 23.
This stone is largely below the surface of the ground, and it was difficult to obtain the inscription. There may be verses on it and also on 194.
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West Needham
196 £ FATHER. | THOMAS ARNOLD | Died | April 27, 1864: | aged 72 yrs.
He was 71 yrs., 5 mos., 15 dys., and was b. in Mercer, Me., son of Benjamin and Sarah (Greenleaf) Arnold. (T. Rec.)
197 MIs MARY ARNOLD, | wife of | Thomas Arnold, | died | Jan. 22, 1845, | aged 52 years.
198 BROTHER. | AMBROSE ARNOLD | Died | Dec. 19, 1847 : | aged 32 yrs.
He was a blacksmith. By his wife Martha B., he had Alvin F., b. Sept. 4, 1846.
199
(South face.) LEONARD
. Weep not for me, my pains are d'er We soon shall meet to part no more.
(North face.)
LEONARD C. WINCH, | Died Jan. 28, 1816, | Aged 2 years & | 18 days.
He had an uncle of the same name who was b. Feb. 16, 1801, d. Sept. 11, 1805. (Temple's Framingham.)
200
(South face.) .
MOTHER
Lo! where the silent marble weeps, A saint in Jesus sweetly sleeps, A heart within its sacred cell, Where pure religion once did dwell.
(North face.)
DORCAS WINCH | Died Sept'r 4, 1874, | Aged 85 years, | 6 mo's.
She was b. Feb. 17, 1789, dau. of 171 and 173.
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201 (South face.) FATHER.
" Be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh"
(North face.)
ENOCH WINCH, | Died Nov'r 24, 1821, | Aged 33 years.
He was b. Apr. 13, 1789, son of Jesse and Martha (Brown) Winch. (Temple's Framingham.) Enoch was killed at a "turkey shoot."
Enoch Winch of Natick and Dorcas Greenwood were m. Sept. 13, 1812 (int. Aug. 13), and had two children b. in Needham. (T. Rec.) Their son Enoch Brown Winch, b. in Needham, Nov. 22, 1816, was on the West Precinct com- mittee 1849-52.
202 In memory of | MR CHARLES MILLS. | who died Dec. 30, 1835, | Æt 32.
The KING of terrors hurled his dart,
Swift to its mark it flew ; It pierced a generous, virtuous heart, That vice nor folly knew.
No age from death can fly,
No friends but what must part ;
Death will dissolve the tendret tie Thats,s found within the heart.
This stone is about twelve feet east of the McCracken tomb.
Charles Mills d. of the small-pox. I do not know his an- cestry. Levi and " Merriam " Mills had a son Charles b. in Adams, May 7, 1800. (Need. T. Rec.)
203 In memory of | MRS SARAH Relict of | MR CHARLES MILLS, | who died March 6, 1836, | Æt 22.
Hence he arose, ascended high And showed our feet the way, Up to the Lord our souls shall fly At the great rising day.
Charles Mills m. Sarah Chambers June, 1835 (int. Apr. 24).
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West Needham
The Mills family is one of the oldest families in Needham. On July 2, 1705, the selectmen of Dedham gave Benjamin Mills a license to keep a public house near the Lower Falls. He together with Benjamin, Jr., William and Zachariah. petitioned for the incorporation of the town in 1710.
The aforesaid Benjamin, son of Samuel of Dedham, was selectman 1711, '19, and on Feb. 8, 1711/12, was elected con- stable, the first and only one in town. In early times the constable acted as collector of taxes, including the minister's salary. Mr. Mills was tythingman 1714, surveyor of highways 1715 (there were five that year), assessor 1719. A short, unaccepted street in Hahaton Field is named Mills Road in memory of this family.
For dismissal of Benjamin Mills and others from the First Church in Dedham to the church in Needham, March 6, 1719/20, see Ded. Hist. Reg., Vol. IV, p. 69.
On December 18, 1711, the town chose a committee of nine to select a site for the meeting house. The name of Benjamin Mills is first, and is followed by the names of Richard Moore, Sargeant John Fisher, John Smith, Sen., Jeremiah Woodcock, Robert Cook, Ephraim Ware, Andrew Dewing and Timothy Kingsbury. On December 25, 171I, the town voted that "infine Spring of Newtown Shold be the Mafter workman " and chose Messrs. Mills, Fisher, Smith, Woodcock, Cook and Ware, together with Jonathan Gay, Thomas Fuller, John Smith, Jun., Joseph Mills, Eleazer Kingsbury and George ( "joarg ") Robinson a committee to superintend its construction.
Benjamin Mills served on as many as a dozen different committees of the town appointed to attend to church mat- ters.
On June 23, 1713, Lieut. John Fisher was paid £2 for "Glasing of the meetting Houfe," and September 15, 1713, the town voted to have "Ens" John Spring of Newtown for the Carpender." He had already, apparently, partly com- pleted the meeting house. On August 16, 1714, John Spring
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receipted for £23 in full for work done on the meeting house.
On August 31, 1716, Jeremiah Woodcock contracted to finish the meeting house for £80, and gave a bond to have it done by June 1, 1717. He appears to have complied with the agreement.
Benjamin, Jr., son of Benjamin, was selectman and assessor 1717, town treasurer 1717. In 1719 he was on the commit- tee to care for the school land and to "Set up a Schoole." (See Noyes 5, p. 19.) He is buried in Needham. (Need. Ephs., p. 2.) On June 9, 1712, £2 was voted to him for en- tertaining at his house Mr. Oaks, the minister.
William was field driver 1713, fence viewer 1717, select- man and assessor 1732.
Zachariah was one of the two " Hawards" 1719, selectman and assessor 1734, '35, '43, '46, '47, assessor only 1741, select- man 1749.
Samuel was surveyor of highways 1712, constable 1715.
Joseph was fence viewer 1713, '16, surveyor of highways 1715, '17, '19, constable 1720, selectman and assessor 1723.
Ebenezer was field driver in 1715.
John, son of Benjamin, Jr., was selectman and assessor 1753. The house owned by Curtis McIntosh, and situated on the northerly side of Great Plain Avenue, was the home of John's wife, and was built by her father, Thomas Fuller, prior to 1708, and is probably the oldest house in town, its only rival being the Robert Fuller house, off Forest Street, owned by the heirs of Susan L. Atkins. The third oldest house in Needham is the old Townsend house now the home of the writer (see the Ded. Hist. Reg., Vol. I, p. 81 and Vol. X, p. 45) ; the fourth in age is probably another Fuller house, lately the home of John Wesley Greenwood, and the fifth is the Amos Fuller house built, it is said, in 1754, now owned by Augustus Newell, unless the house of Augustus Blackman, formerly the residence of Lieut. Col. Moses Mann, is older. On South Street is an ancient house owned by Samuel For-
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West Needham
syth. This house was once the home of a Mills family. About the year 1772 Ephraim Paine lived here.
The ancient Newell-Fisher house, at the corner of Central Avenue and Charles River Street, was long in a ruinous con- dition, having been uninhabited for twenty years, and was burned July 3, 1896. The Rev. Daniel Kimball, A. M., gave a lecture many years ago on the subject of the old houses then standing in the town, and his manuscript was in the possession of the late Charles Curtis Greenwood, and is now presumably in the custody of the Dedham Historical Society. There are several other old houses in Needham, but fewer than when Mr. Kimball gave his lecture, which ought to be printed. I recall the removal of the ancient chimney from the Fuller-Mills house, and the substitution of the modern one.
" Nov. 8, 1762 John Mills died in the morning." (Ch. Rec.) In the Suffolk Registry of Probate is a very full record of the settlement and distribution of John Mills's estate, which was administered on by Judith, his widow, and John Fisher. The inventory, August 29, 1763, amounted to £1050: 1 : 10, a goodly sum for those days, and there were Ibo acres of land, including a parcel adjoining the Fuller house on the present Great Plain Avenue. As Thomas Fuller survived his son-in-law John Mills, and as Mills's homestead was at the Upper Falls near Charles River, it is probable that his second son, Oliver, was the first Mills to occupy the Fuller house, now properly known as the Mills House. John Mills left ten children, and his eldest son, Richard, had a double portion of the estate. If it is a fact, as the probate record indicates, that Mills d. prior to July 2, 1762, it was another John who d. Nov. 8, 1762, but it was apparently not his son John.
Benjamin was selectman 1771, '84, assessor 1771, and d. suddenly Nov. 9, 1793, aged 73. On May 22, 1778, he was added to the committee "to take Care of the Continental Soldiers Families."
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The Old Graveyard
On October 30, 1778, the first warrant for a meeting of the First Parish was directed to him as constable.
Lieut. Oliver, son of John, was first lieutenant of the East Company April 19, 1775, and December 15, 1777, the town voted to pay him £6, 13sh., 4d., " For his Going to York in December 1776." On December 27, 1780, he was on the committee "to hire the men that are Now Called for." Se- lectman 1779, '86, '87, '89, '92, '94, '95.
He was a member of the First Parish, and served on its special committees. In 1794 Capt Lemuel and Lt Oliver were on the town committee of seven to see to "an allow- ance being made to those men that are Drafted as minute men." Baptized May 23, 1742, "Oliver, Son of John Mills." (Ch. Rec.)
On April 19, 1775, Elisha, son of Zachariah, was sergeant of the East Company, was killed at West Cambridge, and his body brought home in a cart by Aaron Smith, Jr., and, it is said, buried not far from the Revolutionary monu- ment on which his name is inscribed in the graveyard on Nehoiden Street. (See History of Norfolk County, 1884, p. 520, and the History and Directory of Needham, 1888-89, p. 28.)
David, Benjamin, Jr., Ezra, Philip and Lemuel were in the same company.
Lieut. William was in the Revolution.
Benjamin, Jr., and Luke, Jr., were in the West Com- pany April 19, 1775, and Amos, killed at West Cambridge, Abijah, Nehemiah, Jr., and Jonas were minute men from Needham.
Benjamin, Jr., and Benjamin, 3d, who enlisted for service in Canada, were paid a bounty of £7 each, February, 1777.
Luther graduated at Harvard College in 1792 (A. M.).
Lemuel, brother of Lieut. Oliver, was a militia captain, and had been a "Lexington alarm " man. He was chosen collector for the First Parish December II, 1780, and held that office in 1818, '20.
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West Needham
In 1794 he was a captain, but is called "Lt" in the records of an earlier date. For service on a committee in 1794 see Lieut. Oliver Mills. (Need. Ephs., p. 26.)
Lemuel, Jr., son of preceding, was elected assessor 1828, but declined.
Rufus, brother of Lemuel, Jr., was the first postmaster in Needham and served from 1827 to 1840. He lived in the house now the home of the writer, and had the post office there. Mr. Mills was one of the inspecting school committee 1828-31, '33-35, of the superintending school committee 1839, clerk of the First Parish 1828-39, and its treasurer 1834-38, town assessor 1829, '32-34, '39, '42, town treasurer 1830-34, constable 1832-34, coroner 1832-39, justice of the peace from February 9, 1846.
He also held many minor town offices such as sealer of bread 1828-31, prudential school committee 1829, '30, field driver 1830. He taught school in Dedham. (See Ded. Hist. Reg., Vol. V, p. 64, where his father is erroneously called Samuel.) For obituary notice see the Needham Chronicle, July 27, 1878. (Need. Ephs., p. 49.)
William Ritchie, son of Rufus, was on the school commit- tee 1872-74, selectman 1873, '74.
Edward Augustus, son of Rufus, was collector for the First Parish 1870, '72, and was one of its standing committee 1874- 77 (four years).
John, son of Lieut. Fisher, and grandson of Lieut. Oliver, was selectman 1841, '42. (Need. Ephs., p. 57.)
For facts relating to his second wife, Joanna Eames Dana, see Ded. Hist. Reg., Vol. IX, p. 8. She was rather a remark- able woman, and wrote excellent verse. A volume of her poems was published.
Davis Collins, brother of John preceding, was selectman 1832, '33, '43, '44, assessor 1841. He served on various special committees of the First Parish. (Need. Ephs., p. 58.)
John Fisher, son of Davis Collins, was the collector for the First Parish 1893-96, and,has been for many years one of its
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The Old Graveyard
choir. Since 1883 he has been the superintendent of the large cemetery owned by the parish, and town assessor 1894- (chairman of the assessors 1896, '97).
The Mills family have held a great number of minor town offices, and served on many committees of the town and parish not mentioned in the foregoing pages.
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