USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Genealogical history of the town of Reading, Mass., including the present towns of Wakefield, Reading, and North Reading, with chronological and historical sketches, from 1639 to 1874 > Part 3
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" Reading, England, is a borough and market town, having separate jurisdiction, in the county of Berks, twenty-six miles (S. E. by S.) from Abingdon, and thirty-nine miles (W. by S.) from London. Population in 1831 was sixteen thousand. It is supposed to have derived its name either from the British word 'redin,' signifying fern, with which the soil abounded ; or from 'rhyd,' a ford, and ' ing,' a meadow, which, from its situation on a tract of land intersected by the river Kennet, appears to be the more probable. It is a very ancient town. It was taken from the Saxons by the Danes in 871, and was the scene of several important ancient battles.
"It is pleasantly situated on the banks of the river Kennet, which, after passing through it, divides into two branches, uniting again pre- viously to its confluence with the Thames. It is in form an equilateral triangle ; is well paved ; lighted with gas ; contains a public library, grammar, Lancasterian, and other schools ; has been formerly engaged extensively in the manufacture of woollen cloth, sheeting, sail cloth, pins, etc., and contains iron foundries, breweries, and boat-building establishments, and is, moreover, largely engaged in the flour and grain trade. It has an abbey and vicarage, one Roman Catholic, three Bap- tist, two Independent churches, and one church each of Friends and Methodists. William, archbishop of Bourdeaux, in the reign of Henry III, and Archbishop Laud, principal minister of Charles I, who was beheaded on Tower Hill in 1644, were natives of Reading."
3
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
Our town of Reading, when incorporated, included, in the " four miles square grant," substantially the same territory as now constitutes the present towns of Reading and Wakefield. The territory of the present town of North Reading was added by a subsequent grant made in 1651.
This compass of land, thus assigned as the town of Reading, contin- ued as a single parish, transacting its municipal and parochial affairs through one and the same executive until 1713.
The earliest settlements were made in what is now the town of Wake- field. We are unable to state precisely who were the very first to build and locate upon the territory. It is probable that several families re- moved hither from Lynn in the same year, and as early as 1640.
The settlers who came here before the incorporation of the town in 1644, received their grants of land probably from the town of Lynn. The early records of Lynn, which should give the account of such grants, are wanting. Several leaves of the first book of records of Reading, containing the doings of the town for the three or four of the first years, are also wanting.
These respective records, if preserved, would, doubtless, have fur- nished more exact information in relation to the time and order of the arrival of the very early settlers. There is reason to conclude, how- ever, that the following persons, with their families, were inhabitants at or about the year of incorporation, viz. :-
Nicholas Brown, who settled first on the east side of the Great Pond,
where L. Beebe, Esq., now is, and afterwards in the east part of the town, where Edward Upton was in 1868.
Thomas Clark.
John Damon, who settled on the Common, where was formerly the Quannapowitt House.
William Cowdrey, who settled on Cowdrey's hill.
George Davis.
Robert Dunton.
Samuel Dunton.
Josiah Dustin, who settled near where now is E. E. Emerson's house. Jonas Eaton, who settled on Cowdrey's hill.
William Eaton, who settled on east side of Great Pond.
Zackery Fitch, who settled on Salem Street, near where Mrs. Elizabeth Aborn was in 1868.
Isaac Hart, who settled near where John F. Hartshorn now is.
Thomas Hartshorn, who settled on Elm Street, where Joseph Harts- horn now is.
4
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
William Hooper.
Thomas Kendall, who settled where Mrs. James Emerson now is. John Laukin.
Thomas Marshall.
William Martin.
John Pearson.
John Poole, who settled where the rattan factory now is.
Thomas Parker, who settled on Lowell Street, where Suel Winn lately owned.
Francis Smith, who settled at north end of Smith's Pond.
John Smith, who settled at place last named.
Jeremy Swayne, who settled in northeast part of the town where David Batchelder now owns.
Thomas Taylor.
Edward Taylor.
Richard Walker, lived on the place formerly owned by Major Suel Winn. Samuel Walker.
John Wiley, who settled in Woodville.
1644. - The earliest entry that is found upon the town records is the following, which was made at the latter end of the oldest book of records, the first few leaves thereof being lost, viz. : -
" Articles agreed upon betwixt the towne on the one part and John Poole on the other part, for the privilege of a Water Mill, for the use and service of the towne : -
" Ist. The aforesaid John Poole is to buyld the Mill and sett it on the end of Sargent Marshall's lott by the Marsh meadow ; the same to be made fitt for use, able to do the towns work, betwixt this and the 15th Aug next ensuing ; 2d. The said John Poole is to continue and maintain the said Mill for use, able and sufficient for the town's use, from time to time, he and his assigns, and to repair the same at his own expense, coste, and charge. 3d. The towne of Reading hath given and granted unto John Poole the liberty to bring the River out of its natural course, in such convenient place as may be most meete, without trouble or disturbance. 4th. The towne hath given liberty to the said John Poole to choose and take such (land ?) for the Mill, as shall be needful for the Mill in any lott or place about the ground. 5th: The towne doth also covenant with said John Poole to bring their corn to the Mill 2 or 3 days in the week for grinding their grists, and not have him attend the whole week, unless more days are required to do the work ; they do likewise covenant neither to sett up nor to
5
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
allow to be sett up any other Mill within the bounds of Reading, to hinder the custom of said Mill, so long as the said Poole, his heirs, or assigns shall well and sufficiently grind (for ?) the towne's use."
There is no doubt that the first meeting-house was erected at about this time. There is no record of its erection ; but we know by subse- quent references that one had been built before 1657, as some improve- ments on it were made in that year. The record of its erection was probably written upon those missing leaves, and was therefore erected before 1647.
Tradition said it stood on the Common, near where the post-office building now is. It was, no doubt, a rude, roughly-built' structure of moderate dimensions.
" It was sold in 1692 for twenty-five shillings and a 'watch-house frame,' and the money payd to Capt. Browne in part pay for the scoole."
1645. - This year, 1645, the First Congregational Church was gath- ered, being the twelfth in the colony ; and the Rev. Henry Green, from Watertown, was ordained its first pastor. For further particulars of Rev. Mr. Green, see subsequent account of Early Settlers.
This year the Court ordered that a military guard should be kept in every town against surprise by the Indians.
A military company had been already formed in the town, of which Richard Walker was captain.
The Court further ordered that youth from ten to sixteen years old shall be trained by an officer of each company on muster days in the use of small guns, half pikes, and also of bows and arrows, lest the Colony should be destitute of powder. This year a synod of the "elders of the churches throughout the United Colonies met at Cam- bridge to agree upon some answers to books written in defence of anabaptism and other errors, and for liberty of conscience, as a shelter for their toleration and so forth."
1646. - This year, 1646, William Witter, of Lynn, was presented by the grand jury at Salem court, for saying that "they who stayed whiles a child is baptized, do worship the divell, and do take the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost in vain," and was required to make public confession to satisfaction the next Lord's day, being fair, in the open congregation at Lynn. This William Witter was a Baptist, and died in 1659, aged seventy-five.
6
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
John Brock, the future minister of Reading, graduated at Harvard College this year.
In a Town Rate of £80, in Lynn, just before the settlement of Read- ing, -
€ S.
John Poole was taxed
I 15
Nicholas Browne was taxed .
I IO
Richard Walker " · I O
William Halsey, or Hescey, was taxed
.
I O
William Cowdrey
66
IO
William Martin
IO
Tho. Marshall
IO
Zackery Fitch 66
IO
The above-named persons all came to Reading.
1647-6-10. - The town ordered, " that there shall bee a genrall devision of land and meadow, according to parsons and cattell ; for evari parson tow akers, and to evari beste one aker ; and he, whose estate will not amount to tenne akers, shall have tenne akers ; and no man to exsede twenti akers ; and so for medow, he, whose estate will not amount to fife akers, shall have fife akers ; and so evari man accord- ing to parsons and estate, - tow akers for a parson, and one for a beaste."
Chose for committee to superintend this division, Wm. Cowdrey, Tho. Marshall, John Smith, and Richard Walker.
This was perhaps the first general division of lands, and probably referred to territory in the central part of what is now Wakefield ; but the particular assignment of lots, under this order, has not been pre- served.
This year the General Court enacts, " that if any young man attempt to address a young woman without the consent of her parents, or, in case of their absence, of the County Court, he shall be fined £5 for the first offence, f10 for the second, and imprisonment for the third."
1648. - In May, Rev. Henry Green, first pastor of the church, died.
The church then invited Samuel Haugh, of Boston, to supply in his room. Mr. Haugh commenced preaching here November, 1648, and was ordained pastor March 26, 1650. For further particulars of Mr. Haugh, see subsequent account of Early Settlers.
The names of the brethren and sisters of the church at Reading, from the 29th September, 1648, to 1650, inclusive, as prepared by Mr. Haugh, at the time of his ordination : -
7
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
Francis Smith,
William Martin,
Mrs. Frances Green (widow), William Cowdrey, Joanna Cowdrey,
Tho. Bancroft, Judith Poole,
John Pearson, Maudlin Pearson,
Sister Martin,
Brother Dunton,
Lydia Laukin,
Thomas Kendall,
Elizabeth Wiley,
Rebecca Kendall,
Elizabeth Hart,
Thomas Parker,
Zackery Fitch,
Amy Parker,
Mary Fitch,
George Davis,
William Eaton,
William Hooper,
Martha Eaton,
Elizabeth Hooper,
Jonas Eaton,
Mary Swayne, Joanna Marshall,
Grace Eaton,
John Bachelder,
Tho. Marshall,
Rebecca Bachelder,
Left. Marshall and wife,
Abigail Damon,
Tho. Hartshorn,
Left. ( John) Smith,
Susanna Hartshorn,
Catharine Smith.
N. B. - The following persons were added soon after, viz. : -
Mrs. Sarah Haugh, Samuel Walker and wife,
Lydia Dustin, Alice Clark.
This year, 1648, the building of a bridge over Ipswich River, four miles from Reading, on the road from the Bay, nearest, through Haver- hill to the eastward, was provided for.
Francis Smith, of Reading, had leave of the Court to draw wine in Reading for the refreshing of travellers and others, he paying excise, as the law in that case provides.
This year the town ordered and agreed "that any six of the towns- men, seeing any just cause for a general meeting, and give warning both of the time and place, that such men that shall be absent, not being able to satisfy the company, shall pay 12d for every such de- fault ; and further, it is agreed that if one shall depart the meeting, not having leave, such person shall pay 6d. for every such default ; and for executing this order, they have chosen William Cowdrey."
The town ordered, "that the neck that is called 'Chadwell's Neck' is given to Timothy Coper, and also 12 akers of medow, upon thes con- disons : If he come to improve it, ether by bilding or by fencing, by the last of the 3d month of 1649 ; if he do not come, the land and medow retorns to the towne ; and his heirs consent to pay 50 shillings to the towne for disapoynting them of an inhabbitant." He came not.
Edward Taylor,
Christiana Taylor,
8
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
Town ordered, "that Goodman Fitts (Fitch) shall have full sattisfact- son for a towne hieway downe his Lot in land contiguous."
Town ordered, " that all F- boards and planks shall pay tow pence uppon the hundred, sold or carried out off the towne."
In June, Margaret Jones, of Charlestown, was hung in Boston for witchcraft.
First election of surveyors of highways, chose John Poole, William Martin, Henry Felch, and John Pearson.
1649. - Town ordered, "that there shall be no Mill Path through Mas. Haugh's ground, nor no other way."
N. B. - Mr. Haugh owned the place recently owned by the late Noah Smith, Esq.
Wm. Cowdrey is chosen clerk of the writs, and Edward Taylor, constable.
The office of clerk of the writs included among its duties the re- cording of the action of the town as well as the record of writs, issued for trial of small causes.
This year, "the towne ordered that there being manni sad acsidantes in the Contree by fire, to the great damning of manny, by joining of barnes and haystackes to dwelling houwses, tharfor no barne nor hay. stacke shall be sett within six polles of anni dwelling howse opon pan- nilte of twentie shillings."
Also ordered, "that every dwelling house shall have a sufficient lather (ladder) standing by the chimney for the preventing of the dam- age of fire, and this to be binding by the tenth day of April, 1650, opon the pannilte of tenne shillings."
Three married women were this year fined five shillings apiece for scolding.
Nicholas Pinion was fined for swearing. Matthew Stanley, for win- ning the affections of John Tarbox's daughter, without her parents' consent, was fined £5, with 2s. 6d. fees.
Ralph Roote was authorized by the court to confirm the sale of a house and land in Reading, belonging to his daughter Sarah, a minor, to Thomas Taylor, of Watertown.
1650. - Town granted to Tho. Hartshorn, "tanne (10) akers of planting land, at the west end of Wm. Cowdrey's houselot," upon this condition, that it is ours to give. Also, in the same place, "2 akers to Tho. Clarke, 4 a. to Goodman Sawyer, and 3 a. to Tho Marshall, viz. Clarke Ist, Hartshorne 2d, Sawyer 3d, and Marshall 4th."
9
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
Town agreed with John Smith for having bulles to goe with the towne heard, for one year, and for the year he is to have £2 IOS.
Town ordered " that every man's fence is to be five rayles, or such a fence as the surveyors of fences shall judge to be equivalent to five rayles ; to be put up for the sufficient keeping out of cattell and hogges, by the Ist month."
This year, March 26, Rev. Samuel Haugh was ordained the 2d pas- tor of the church of Reading. See subsequent list of Early Settlers.
June 19, General Court ordered, "in answer to the petition of Mr. Samuel Haugh, for the confirmation of a ground of fower hundred acors of land, formerly granted to Mr. Atherton Haugh, that his petition should be granted, and the aforesaid land layed out nere the bounds of Concord northwest, and the Court doth appoint Capt. Willard and Sergt. Blood to lay out the same." This land was afterwards sold to Sergt. Blood.
The General Court ordered "a book lately imported from England, composed by Wm. Pinchon, of Springfield, on Redemptional Justifica- tion, to be burnt in Boston Market, and its author called to account." Capt. Richard Walker, the representative from Reading, and five others, dissented.
Johnson, in his "Wonder Working Providence of Zion's Savior in New England," published about this time, says : "That about the year 1645, the town of Reading had her foundation stone laid ; this and the town of Woburn were like the twins in the womb of Tamer, Reading thrusting forth the hand first, but her sister Woburn came first to the birth. Reading is well watered, and situate about a great pond, be- sides it hath two mills, the one a Saw-Mill, the other a Corn-Mill, which stand on two several streams ; it hath not been so fruitful for children as her sister Woburn hath ; her habitation is fallen in the very centre of the country ; they are well stocked with cattle for the number of people. They have gathered into a church, and ordained a pastor from among themselves at the same time ; a young man of good abilities to preach the word, and of a very humble behavior, named Mr. Green, he, having finished his course, departed this life not long after, whose labors are with the Lord. After him succeeded in the place one Mr. Hoph, a young man, one of the first fruits of New England, a man studious to promote the truths of Christ."
These pastors are both remembered in the following quaint verse, also written by Johnson : -
2
IO
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
" On earth's bed thou at noon hast laid thy head,
You that for Christ (as Green) here toil have taken, When nature fails, then rest it in earth's dead,
Till Christ, by 's word, with glory thee awaken ; Young Hoph, thou must be second to this man, In field encounter ; with Christ's foes shalt thou Stand up, and take his bright sword in thy hand, Error cut down, and make stout Stomach's bow ; Green 's gone before, thy warfare 's now begun, And last it may to see Rome's Babel fall ;
By weakest means, Christ, mighty works hath done, Keep footing fast, till Christ thee hence do call."
1651. Octo. - "The Court doth graunt to the inhabitants of Read- ing, as an addition to their former bounds, a certayne tract of land, about two miles content, lying between Mr. Bellingham's farm (in An- dover) and the great river (Ipswich), and so to joyne their former fower miles graunt, so as it hath not been already graunted to any towne or person, nor prejudicing any former graunt." This territory is now North Reading.
Town ordered, in Ist month, "that every man shall youke his hogges by the 6th of the 2d month next, upon penalty of paying sixpence for every day that any hogg shall be found unyouked, after they are to be youked ; every youke is to be as long as the hogg is heigh, and to be six inches above his neck."
· Also, " that no public meeting shall hould any longer than one can see to wright or read in the place of meeting ; and whatever is done afterwards is of no validiti ; and any nine men shall have power to acte any bisseness that is to be done uppon that meeting day."
Also, "that in the greatest levies that shall be made, the Poll shall be but 25. 6d. per head, and so proportionable for lesser levies ; - the reste to be put on estates."
Also, "that the Selectmen shall have power over all prudential offi- cers, except giving away land and timber."
Nicholas Brown, Edward Taylor, Zackery Fitch, and Jonas Eaton, were fined 6d. each for being late at town meeting ; and Geo. Davis was fined Is. 6d. for absence.
John Clarke, John Crandall, and Obadiah Holmes, came from New- port and attended a Baptist meeting that was held at the house of Wil- liam Witter, in Lynn, where Mr. Clarke began to preach. Here they were arrested as disturbers of the peace, were taken to Boston, and there imprisoned from the 20th to the 31st July, when they were sen-
II
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
tenced by the Court of Assistants, - Mr. Holmes to pay a fine of £30, Mr. Clarke, £20, and Mr. Crandall, £5.
The fines of Clarke and Crandall were paid, but Mr. Holmes refused to pay his, or suffer it to be paid, and was retained in prison till Sep- tember, when he was dismissed with thirty stripes.
The General Court enacted this year, "that if any males of less prop- erty than £200 wear gold or silver lace, or buttons or points at their knees, or walk in great boots (because leather is scarce), and if any females, not possessed of £200, wear silk or tiffany hoods or scarfs, they shall be prosecuted and fined.
1652. - This year the town ordered, -
" That the lottes that was to be laid out to be on Woburn line, is to be laid out on the Playne, and are to begin at the end next to Birchen Playne ; and if the Playne will not be enough for all, the rest to be laid out in the Pine Playne at Dirty Breech meadow, and to begin at the hither end next to the town."
Under this order the lots were drawn as follows : -
Acres
Acres
Henry Felch
drew
IO
Jeremy Fitch
drew
IO
Ensign Marshall
20
William Cowdrey
20
Jonas Eaton
II
Josiah Dustin
66
IO
Samuel Dunton
66
IO
Tho. Parker
66
15
Henry Bellflower
17
Tho. Clarke
¥
IO
Tho. Marshall (carpenter)
IO
William Martin
66
14
Isaac Hart
66
IO
Robert Dunton
66
IO
John Smith
66
IO
Edward Taylor
66
II
Jeremy Swayne
12
Samuel Walker
66
14
John Pearson
66
14
Tho. Kendall
14
Nicholas Browne
20
John (or William) Laukin "
IO
Capt. Walker
20
William Eaton
IO
Francis Smith
66
20
Tho. Taylor
66
IO
Zackery Fitch
66
18
John Damon
66
IO
John Poole
20
Robert Burnap
IO
Geo. Davis
66
II
John Wyley
66
IO
John Bachelder
IO
William Hooper
IO
This is the earliest complete list of the male inhabitants of Reading to be found.
Ordered by the town this year (1652), "that no man, after this pres- ent day, shall fall any Oak, Spruce, or Pine trees, fit for boards, within 3 miles of the Meeting-house, except it be for his own use, upon the penalty of 5 shillings for every tree so fallen ; and if any man shall fall
12
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
any timber for boards, beyond the 3 miles, and shall sell any of the same out of the town, he shall pay 12 pence for every hundred so sold for the use of the town."
1653. - Town ordered (Jan'y II) "that no man shall, after the pres- ent day, fall any trees upon the Common'for firewood, before the old wood is cut up, that. is fit to be cut up, within a mile of Edw'd Taylor's, and within a mile of Wm. Laukin's ; nor shall any man fall any trees beyond a mile of Edw'd Taylor's or Wm. Laukin's, for firewood or oth- erwise, but shall cut up all the bodys and all, upon penalty of 12d. for every load of wood he so falls."
Also ordered, " that all clapboard trees, palisade trees, rayle trees, and trees for posts that are already fallen, shall be cut out by the Ist April next ensuing ; and that it shall be lawful for any man to take them as his own if not so done."
Geo. Davis and Tho. Clarke were chosen to gather up that part of Mr. Haugh's rate that will not be freely payd without constraint.
Town further ordered, " that Thomas Browne, the Dish Turner, hath free liberty to fall ash trees and maple trees within the bounds of the town of Redding, upon the Common, upon condition that he shall pay ' scott and lotte' to the town of Redding."
" And that Walter Fairfield have free liberty to fall trees for his trade upon condition that he shall pay 'scott and lotte' to the town of Red- ding."
N. B. - When persons were taxed (in parish affairs) not to the same amount, but according to their ability, they were said to pay scot and lot.
A report of a committee for laying out a country highway between Redding and Winnesimett (Chelsea), made to the Colony Court in 1649, being set aside as "not so behoofful to the country " as was desirable, another committee, consisting of Thomas Marshall, John Smyth, and John Sprague, were appointed by the court to make another examina- tion with a view to find the best route for a highway from Redding to Winnesimett, and their report, made September 10, and adopted, was as follows : -
"From Reddinge town through Malden bounds, between the Pond and John Smyth's land, and so on by the east side of Mr. Joseph Hill's land to 'New Hockley Hole,' and so on in the old way by the Cowpen, and thence along on the east side of Tho. Coytmore's lott, by Ele Pond, in the old way to Tho. Lynd's land, then through the first field, and so on to Malden Meeting House, and so on to Chelsea -"
Sept. 10 .- "Capt. Richard Walker, Thomas Marshall, and Nicholas
I3
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
Holt, being appoynted by the Court to lay out the County highway from Andevour to Reddinge, have thus agreed to follow the cart-way from Andevour to Goodman Holt's farm, leavinge his howse about a quarter of a mile on the left hand, and so on in a strayte South, or nere a South lyne, to the falls of Ipswich river, according to the marked trees, and so from a river uppon the like strayght lyne to the head of a meddow, called the Great Meddow, to the Saw Mill1 in Reddinge, and from thence through common cornefields to the Meeting house, leavinge the lott of Josias Dustin on the right hand, and Zackariah Fitts, his lott, on the left hand ; and we agree that the said highway shall be fower rods wide at the least in all places, except through the common fields of Red- dinge, and there not to be less than two rods wide."
Henry Felch, being convicted of "departing the publique assembly when the ordinance of baptism was about to be administered, was ad- monished by the Court of his sin, and ordered to pay costs to Jonas Eaton two shillings."
1654. - " Zachariah Fitch and Joseph Dustin," over whose land the road from Andover was laid in 1653, " having petitioned the Court for the removing of a highway layd out through their planting ground," received this answer : "The said highway shall be and hereby is sus- pended from being made use of for the present, and that the first high- way formerly layd out shall be made use of, and accounted the only Country highway till this Court take further order."
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