USA > Massachusetts > Historical collections, being a general collection of interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &c., relating to the history and antiquities of every town in Massachusetts, with geographical descriptions > Part 43
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346
ACTON.
value of leather tanned and curried, $32,000. Population, 1,142. Distance, 17 miles from Northampton, 55 from Albany, N. Y., and 110 from Boston.
MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
THIS county was incorporated in 1643. The surface is uneven, and the soil varied. The principal streams in the limits of the county are the Merrimac, Charles, Concord, and Nashua. There are no mountains in this county, but its surface is diversified by numerous small hills, which are generally less than one hundred feet in height. The land in the northern and southern parts is the most uneven. The soil is not generally so good as that in some other parts of the state, but it well rewards cultivation. The manufacturing interests of this county are very important, particu- larly in the manufacture of cotton goods. In 1837, there were 52,860,194 yards of cotton goods manufactured, the value of which was $5,971,172, being nearly three times the value manufactured in any other county in the state. The canal, and particularly the railroads recently constructed in the county, afford great facili- ties in the transportation of goods to and from Boston. Cam- bridge and Concord are the shire towns. The following is a list of the towns in this county, which are 46 in number.
Acton,
Dracut,
Medford,
Townsend,
Ashby,
Dunstable,
Natick,
Tyngsborough,
Bedford,
Framingham,
Newton, Waltham,
Billerica, Groton,
Pepperell, Watertown,
Boxborough,
Holliston,
Reading, Wayland,
Brighton,
Hopkinton,
Burlington,
Lexington,
Sherburne, Shirley,
Westford,
Cambridge,
Lincoln,
South Reading, Weston,
Carlisle,
Littleton,
Stoneham, Wilmington,
Charlestown, Lowell,
Stow,
Woburn.
Chelmsford, Malden,
Sudbury,
Concord, Marlborough,
Tewksbury,
W. Cambridge,
In 1820, the population of this county was 61,476; in' 1830, it was 77,968; in 1837, it was 98,565.
ACTON.
THE town of Acton lies wholly within the ancient limits of Con- cord. Most of the lands comprised within its limits were granted to the town of Concord "for feeding;" they were, however, not very accurately defined, as when they were actually surveyed they were found to contain a greater number of acres than nomi- nally specified in the grants. A settlement was commenced in
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ASHBY.
these grants as early as 1656, and perhaps a few years earlier. The Shepherd and Law families were among the first. Many of the meadows were open prairies, and afforded, with little or no labor, grass in abundance. Some of the uplands had been cleared by the Indians, and were favorite places for feeding.
" In 1668, the town leased to Capt. Thomas Wheeler, for 20 years, 200 acres of upland near Mr. Silas Holden's present residence, and 60 acres of meadow lying in several parcels on Nashobah brook, on condition that he should keep, 'except 12 Sab- bath days yearly,' a herd of 50 cattle for 1s. per head for the inhabitants, to be paid ' one third part in wheat, one third part in rie or pease, and the other third part in Indian corn.' They were to be constantly watched by a 'herdsman,' and kept in a yard at night to protect them from the wild beasts. Capt. Wheeler agreed to build a house '40 feet by 18, and 12 stud,' covered with shingles, and to have a 'pair of chimneys ;' and a barn 40 by 24, and 12 high, to be left for the use of the town after the expiration of the lease."
The town was incorporated in 1735, one hundred years from the incorporation of Concord. The surface of the town is rough and uneven, though there are no considerable hills; and with some exceptions the soil is rocky and hard to cultivate. It contains, however, many good farms. The principal employment of the inhabitants is agriculture. There are, however, from 15,000 to 20,000 barrels annually manufactured here, and this business is a source of considerable income. There are two Congregational churches in this town, one for the Orthodox, the other for Unita- rians. This place is 21 miles N. W. of Boston, and 5 N. Westerly from Concord. Population, 1,071. The first meeting-house (42 feet by 36, and 21 feet high) was built in 1736, and served as a place of worship till the present one was erected, in 1808. The Rev. John Swift was the first minister ordained in this town; this was on Nov. 8, 1738. During the prevalence of the small-pox in Acton, in 1775, he was severely attacked, and was never able to preach afterwards. He died the same year, in the 37th year of his ministry. The Rev. Moses Adams was next ordained here, June 25, 1778. He died in 1819, aged 70. The Rev. Marshall Shed in 1820 became their next pastor; he was dismissed at his own re- quest, in May, 1831. The. Orthodox society seceded from the town, and formed a separate parish during the latter part of Mr. Shed's ministry, and the Rev. James T. Woodbury was ordained over them, Aug. 29, 1832. The Universalist society in this town was organized in 1816, and incorporated in 1825.
ASHBY.
THIS town was incorporated in 1767. It is situated at the north- western extremity of the county. This township is on elevated land, varied with hills and valleys, furnishing rich pastures and agreeable prospects. This is an agricultural town, and the farms are productive. The two churches in the central part of the town stand on high land, and may be seen from a great distance. Pop- ulation, 1,201. Distance, 25 miles from Concord, and 42 from
348
BEDFORD.
Boston. The manufacture of palm-leaf hats is the principal manu- facturing business performed in the town. In 1837, there were 59,989 hats manufactured, the value of which was $7,751 50.
BEDFORD.
BEDFORD originally belonged in part to the town of Concord. It was incorporated as a town in 1729. It is not very well situated for an agricultural town. About half of it is meadow land, un- improved, and partly incapable of improvement. It contains, however, several good farms, and nearly all the varieties of soil. The Shawshine is the only considerable stream of water. On this stream is a mill which was built before Philip's war, in 1676, and was then owned by Michael Bacon, who was allowed to have two garrison soldiers stationed there for his safety. Agriculture is the employment of a large portion of the people. The manufacture of shoes for the Boston market was begun here in 1805, by John Hosmer and Jonathan Bacon. In this business about 60 men and 80 women are employed. About 90,000 pairs of shoes, estimated to be worth $50,000, are made annually. There are 2 churches, 1 Orthodox and 1 Unitarian, and about 30 dwelling-houses, in the central part of the town. This place is 5 miles north-east of Con- cord, and 15 north-west of Boston, and contains 858 inhabitants.
The first meeting-house was completed in 1730. Committees were chosen the next and many subsequent "to seat the meeting- house," and "have respect to them that are 50 years old and up- wards ;" those under this age " to be seated according to their pay." A new meeting-house was erected in 1817. The first minister, Rev. Nicholas Bowes, was ordained July 15, 1730. He was dis- missed in 1734, and in 1735 went as chaplain in the northern army at Fort Edward. In 1756, Rev. Nathaniel Sherman was the next ordained here. Being opposed to the "half-way covenant," he was dismissed in 1766. The Rev. Joseph Penniman was the next regular minister, and was ordained in 1771, and continued here about twenty years. Though possessed of respectable talents, he was very eccentric in his manners and public performances. Soon after the 19th of April, 1775, he is said to have used the following expression in his prayer :- " We pray thee to send the British sol- diers where they will do some good; for thou knowest, O Lord ! that we have no use for them about here." The next minister was the Rev. Samuel Stearns, who was ordained in April, 1796.
Among the peculiar customs which prevailed in the church from. its first formation to the ordination of Mr. Stearns, was that of making public confession of particular offences committed by the members. These were drawn up in writing, and read by the min- ister before the congregation. Frequent notices are specified in the church records, such as "the confession of -- for the sin of intemperance," "for the breach of the seventh commandment," or
349
BILLERICA.
other sins, as the case might be, "was read before the congrega- tion." This custom was not peculiar to the church in Bedford ; it prevailed to some extent in many other churches.
BILLERICA.
THE ancient Indian name of Billerica was Shawshine, a name which it received from its vicinity to the river of this name. The present name is derived from Billericay, in the county of Essex, in England, whence it is supposed that several of the first inhabitants emigrated. As early as 1637, the general court appointed Capt. Jennison and Lieut. Spooner to view Shawshine, and to consider whether it be fit for a plantation. In 1641, it was granted to Cam- bridge, "provided they would make it a village to have ten fami- lies settled there within ten years." It appears that the first set- tlement was made about the year 1653. It was commenced by a number of respectable families from Cambridge, but the greater part were originally from England. The following are the names of some of the first principal settlers: John Parker, John Kit- tredge, John Rogers, William French, George Farley, Ralph Hill, Samuel Manning, Simon Crosby, Jonathan Danforth, Rev. Samuel Whiting, Thomas Richardson, Edward Farmer, Joseph Tompson.
In 1656, the inhabitants of Shawshine, in answer to their peti- tion, obtained a grant of land lying upon Concord river, near the farms of John and Robert Blood. To this tract the court granted the name of Billerica. In the same year, 8,000 acres of land lying at Natticott were granted to the inhabitants. About 6,300 acres were situated on the east of Merrimac river, and 1,750 on the west side. The town was divided into lots, by Jonathan Danforth, who was one of the committee for locating the home lots. These lots were most generally denominated ten and five acre lots. A ten acre lot, or a single share, contained 113 acres of upland, and 12 acres of meadow. A five acre lot contained half this quantity.
It appears that the first church was gathered in this town in 1663, and the Rev. Samuel Whiting was ordained in the same year. The first meeting-house was erected by John Parker, and completed about 1660; it was at first covered with thatch instead of shingles. A regard for purity of morals and an attention to re- ligious duties appear to have been the characteristics of the first inhabitants. Within a few years after the town was settled, three persons were chosen "to examine the several families, and see whether their children and servants were taught in the principles of religion." In 1675, the selectmen of this town passed an order that all children and youth from eight years old and upwards should be sent by their parents and masters to the Reverend Mr. Whiting, to receive catechetical instruction at such times as should be appointed. Mr. Whiting died in 1713, having preached in this place more than fifty years. He was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Ruggles.
350
BILLERICA.
Capt. Jonathan Danforth was one of the most active and enter- prising settlers of Billerica. He was distinguished for his mathe- matical knowledge, usefulness, and piety. From his skill in sur- veying, he was frequently employed in locating new towns and settlements in the provinces of New Hampshire and Massachu- setts. The plans of his surveys were very numerous, and many of them remain. He also left other manuscripts. A poem was written on his death, (in 1712,) of which the following is an ex- tract :
" He rode the circuit, chain'd great towns and farms To good behavior; and by well marked stations, He fixed their bounds for many generations. His art ne'er fail'd him, though the loadstone failed, When oft by mines and streams it was assailed ; All this is charming, but there's something higher, Gave him the lustre which we most admire."
Here follows an account of his piety, attention to religious du- ties, which are celebrated by the poet in the versification peculiar to that period.
About the period of king Philip's war, the number of families in Billerica was about forty-eight, and the number of dwelling-houses forty-seven. The alarm produced by the incursions of the Indians at this time, caused many persons to leave their habitations and seek refuge in the most compact part of the several towns. It is not known, however, that this town suffered any essential injury during Philip's war.
Within the original limits of this town lived a considerable body of Indians. The Pawtucketts, at Wamesit and its vicinity, con- tained in 1675 about 250 souls. They had been formerly esti- mated at 3,000. They inhabited a small tract of land on the east side of Concord river, and bordering on the Merrimac. The divi- sion line between them and the English, it is said, extended from Merrimac river, about half a mile below the mouth of Concord river, on a direct line to Concord river, two miles from its mouth. Their plantation was separated from the English by a ditch, which may be still traced. Within these limits is a hill, called Fort Hill, on which are some remains of their fortification. . In this place it seems the Indians were in some degree civilized, and attended to the cultivation of their lands.
During the French and Indian war, on Aug. 5th, 1695, the In- dians made an irruption on the inhabitants of this place. "In the northerly part of the town, on the east of Concord river, lived seve- ral families, who, though without garrisons and in time of war, felt no apprehensions of danger. Their remoteness from the fron- tiers might have contributed to their apparent security. The In- dians came suddenly upon them in the day-time. They entered the house of John Rogers while he was sleeping, and discharged an arrow at him, which entered his neck and pierced the jugular vein. Awakened by this sudden and unexpected attack, he started up, seized the arrow, which he forcibly withdrew, and expired with the instrument of death in his hand. A woman being in the
351
BILLERICA.
chamber, threw herself out of the window, and, though severely wounded, made her escape by concealing herself among some flags. A young woman was scalped, and left for dead, but survived the painful operation, and lived many years afterwards. A son and daughter of Mr. Rogers were made prisoners. The family of John Levistone suffered most severely. His mother-in-law and five young children were killed, and his oldest daughter captured. Thomas Rogers and his oldest son were killed. Mary, the wife of Dr. Roger Toothaker, was killed, and Margaret, his youngest daughter, taken prisoner. Fifteen persons were killed or taken at this surprisal. Though the Indians were immediately pursued by the inhabitants of the center of the town, yet so effectually had they taken precautions in their flight that all efforts to find them were unavailing. It is said that they even had tied up the mouths of their dogs with wampum, from an apprehension that their bark- ing would discover the direction they had taken. The shock given to the inhabitants by this melancholy event was long had in pain- ful remembrance."
Southern view of Billerica, (central part.)
The above is a southern view of the central part of Billerica, taken from the Concord road. The Unitarian church (erected in 1797) and the academy are seen on the left of the engraving. The tavern and post-office, the town-house, and some other build- ings, are seen on the opposite side of the street; the spire of the Orthodox Congregational church is seen on the extreme right. The village street is about a mile in extent. About two miles north- ward, the Middlesex canal crosses the Concord river; in the east- ern part of the town this canal and the Lowell railroad cross the Shawshine river; the canal crosses this river by means of an aqueduct 20 feet in height. Population, 1,49S. Distance, 10 miles from Concord, 6 from Lowell, and 18 from Boston. In 1837, there were 2 woollen mills, and 4 sets of machinery ; 96,319 yards of
352
BRIGHTON.
cloth were manufactured, valued at $32,561 ; males employed, 17; females, 23. There were 512 pairs of boots and 19,336 pairs of shoes manufactured, which were valued at $11,093.
The following inscriptions were copied from monuments in the grave-yard on the Concord road, about a mile from the central part of the village :
Sub hoc saxo sepulchrali conditi sunt cineres Reverendi domini SAMUELIS RUGGLES, ecclesia nuper pastoris Billerica : qui cursu quem Deus dederat peracto A. C. 1749, morti cessit tertio die Martii, cum vixisset annos circiter 68, et munere sacerdotali fer- me 41 fideliter perfunctus esset.
Which may be translated in the following manner :
Beneath this monumental stone are gathered the ashes of the Reverend SAMUEL RUG- GLES, late pastor of the church at Billerica ; who having finished the work appointed for him by God, departed in 1749, on the 3d day of March. He was about 68 years of age, and had faithfully discharged the ministerial office for almost 41 years.
Here lies ye body of the widow LYDIA DYAR, of Boston, the place of her nativity, where she left a good Estate & came into ye country May 22d, 1775, to escape ye abuce of ye Ministerial Troops sent by George ye 3d to subject North America. She died July 28th, 1776, aged 80 years.
The sweet remembrance of the just Shall flourish when they sleep in dust.
Beneath this stone rest the remains of the Rev. HENRY CUMMINGS, D. D., late pastor of the church and Christian Society in Billerica. Born Sept. 25th, 1739; ordained Jan. 26, 1763 ; died Sept. 5th, 1823. Possessing intellectual powers of the highest order, he was eminently learned, pious and faithful, and by his life and example illustrated and recommended the doctrine and virtues he taught and inculcated .- In grateful re- membrance of his distinguished virtues, this stone is erected by the people of his charge.
BOXBOROUGH.
THIS town was incorporated in 1783. The tract comprising the township is elevated and hilly. There is no stream of much im- portance in the town. The township lies between Concord and. Nashua rivers, and at nearly equal distance from both. The popu- lation of this town in 1837 was 433, being smaller than that of any other in Middlesex county. About one thousand dollars' worth of straw bonnets and palm-leaf hats were manufactured in this place. Limestone is found in the town, and hops have been cultivated to some extent. Distance, 9 miles from Concord, and 25 from Boston.
BRIGHTON.
BRIGHTON was formerly a part of Cambridge, and known by the name of Little Cambridge. It was incorporated in 1807. The town contains several beautiful country seats and highly-cultivated farms, 2 Congregational churches, 1 of which is Unitarian, and a bank, the "Brighton Bank," with a capital of $200,000. Popula-
353
BRIGHTON.
tion, 1,337. It is 16 miles S. E. from Concord, 35 E. of Wor- cester, 8 northerly from Dedham, and 5 W. of Boston.
A cattle fair was commenced here during the revolutionary war, and has been increasing in importance ever since. Most of the cattle for the supply of Boston market are brought in droves to this place, from two hundred to six thousand a week : every Mon- day is the fair, or market day, when the dealers in provisions resort thither to make purchases.
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Western view of Brighton, (central part.)
The above is a western view of the central part of Brighton, showing the place where the great cattle-market of New England is held. The street at this time is filled with cattle of various kinds, and with buyers and sellers. Large droves of cattle are driven from Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont to this market. Besides furnishing the Boston market, great numbers of cattle are collected, bought and slaughtered, and barreled up for exportation to various places. In the engraving the large building appearing on the left is the "Cattle Fair Hotel:" at times as many as 400 or 500 persons have been known to dine at this establishment on market days. The Unitarian church is the next building east- ward ; the Brighton Bank is seen on the opposite side of the street. A reporter attends the market, and his reports of the prices, &c., are published in the newspapers. " Winship's Gardens," celebrated for their great variety of shrubs and flowers, are about half a mile north of the Cattle Fair Hotel. The Worcester railroad passes through the northern part of these gardens.
The following statement of Brighton market for 1837 and 183S is from the public prints. In 1837, 32,664 beef cattle, 16,216 stores, 110,206 sheep, 17,052 swine; total sales estimated at $2,449,231. In 1838, 25,850 beef cattle, sales estimated at $1,317,330; 0,573 stores, sales $315,909; 104,640 sheep, sales $261,600; 26,164 swine, sales $163,165-total sales estimated at $2 058,004.
45
354
CAMBRIDGE.
BURLINGTON.
THIS town was incorporated in 1799. The land in this town is rather rough and hard to cultivate. There is a small stream in the town, called Vine brook, a branch of the Shawshine river, which flows into the Merrimac in the town of Andover. There is a Congregational church in the central part of the town. In 1837 there were 5,800 pairs of shoes manufactured in this town, valued at $4,900. There were twelve males and nine females employed in this business. Population, 522. Distance, 10 miles north-east of Concord, 11 S. E. from Lowell, and 13 from Boston,
CAMBRIDGE.
THE settlement of Cambridge commenced in 1631. It was originally intended to make it the metropolis of the province of Massachusetts. Governor Winthrop, Deputy Governor Dudley, and the assistants, having examined the territory lying in the vicini- ty of the new settlements, upon a view of this spot " all agreed it a fit place for a beautiful town, and took time to consider further about it." .On Dec. 29, 1630, " after many consultations about a fit place to build a town for the seat of government, they agree on a place N. W. side of Charles river, about three miles W. of Charles- town; and all except Mr. Endicot and Sharp (the former living at Salem, and the latter purposing to return to England) oblige themselves to build themselves houses there the following spring, and remove their ordnance and munition thither, and first call the place Newtown."* The town was laid out in squares, the streets intersecting each other at right angles ; one square was reserved and left open for the purpose of a market. According to agreement, the governor and other principal gentlemen, in the spring of 1631, began to erect their houses. On some considerations, however, " which at first came not into their minds, " the governor took down the frame of his house and removed it to Boston, which he intended to make the place of his future abode, much to the disap- pointment of the rest of the company, who were still resolved to build at Newtown.
In 1632 the court ordered " that £60 be levied out of the several plantations, towards making a palisado about the New Town." This fortification was made; and the fosse which was then dug about the town (says Dr. Holmes in his History of Cambridge) is in some places visible to this day. In some of the first years, the annual election of the governor and magistrates of the colony was holden in this town. "The people on these occasions assembled under an oak tree on the northerly side of the common, which long remained a venerable monument of the freedom, the patriotism, and the piety of the ancestors of New England." A considerable
Prince's Chronology, vol. ii.
355
CAMBRIDGE.
accession appears to have been made to this place in August, 1632, by the arrival of Mr. Hooker's company. Messrs. Hooker, Stone, and Haynes, the three principal fathers of the Connecticut colony, came over in 1633. The Rev. Mr. Hooker and his assistant, Rev. Samuel Stone, were the first settled ministers at Cambridge. The fame of the removal of these eminent men to America induced great numbers of the Puritans to come over, and the number of inhabitants so increased at Newtown, that Mr. Hooker and the whole of his church and congregation, in 1636, emigrated to Hart- ford, on Connecticut river. Their houses and lands at Newtown were purchased by the Rev. Thomas Shepherd and his company, who thus had the advantage of entering a settlement furnished with comfortable accommodations.
In 1636, the general court contemplated the erection of a public school at Newtown, and appropriated four hundred pounds for that purpose; which laid the foundation of Harvard college. In 1638, the Rev. John Harvard,* of Charlestown, endowed the pub- lic school with about eight hundred pounds. Thus endowed, this school was exalted to a college, and assumed the name of its prin- cipal benefactor; and Newtown, in compliment to the college, and in memory of the place where many of our fathers received their education, was now denominated Cambridge:
Cambridge is a half shire town, and may be divided into three parts. Old Cambridge, the seat of the University, is three miles from West Boston bridge, which divides Cambridge from Boston ; Cambridgeport is a compact, flourishing village, about half way between the University and the bridge, East Cambridge, for- merly Lechmere Point, is of newer growth, and is a very flourishing place. It is the seat of the county courts, and is connected with Boston by Canal bridge and the viaduct of the Boston and Lowell railroad over Charles river. There are three banks in the town : the Middlesex Bank, with a capital of $150,000, is located in East Cambridge ; the Charles River Bank (capital $100,000) is located in the ancient village ; the Cambridge Bank (capital $100,000) is located in Cambridgeport.
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