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 56
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77
" As soon as the whale becomes sensible of his wound, he dives into the water with incredible velocity for so heavy and unwieldy an animal, carrying the harpoon, held fast in his wound by its barbed point. Several hundred fathoms of line, fastened at one end to the harpoon and the other attached to the boat, are frequently run out be- fore the whale is exhausted and obliged to return to the top of the water for air. The harpooner stands ready to attack him again the moment he appears, and fastens anoth- er weapon in some part of his body. The whale again dives for a short time, and re- turns only to receive a new attack. At length, exhausted by his wounds and the loss of blood, which colors the water for some distance around him, he yields to his con- querors. He is then towed by the boat to the vessel, which keeps as near as possible to the scene of the battle, the crew witnessing with the deepest interest its progress and result. Several days are then spent in dissecting the prize and disposing of the valua- ble parts, when the crew are ready for a new and similar exploit. The profits of a voyage have frequently been from $30,000 to $50,000, and sometimes more."
The following notice of Peter Folger, one of the first settlers of the island, is taken from "a short Journal of Nantucket, by Zach- eus Macy," in the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical So- ciety, vol. iii. page 159.
" When the English first came to Nantucket, they appointed 5 men to divide and lay out 20 acres of house lot land to every share, and Peter Folger was one of the five. But it appears by the records, that any 3 of the 5 might do the business, provided the said.Peter Folger was one of them, from which it is plain the people saw something in him superior to others. It is observable also that the old deeds from the Indian sa- chems were examined by Peter Folger, and he wrote at the bottom of the deed and sign- ed it in addition to the signature of the justice ; for he understood and could speak the Indian tongue. Thus it is evident that both the English and the Indian had a great esteem for Peter Folger, who was grandfather to the famous Benjamin Franklin, the Printer, Statesman and Philosopher. His mother was the daughter of Peter Folger, and it seems that the whole of North America prides itself as much in Benjamin Franklin as the people of Nantucket did in his grandfather, Peter Folger."
57
₫ t
e
450
BELLINGHAM.
NORFOLK COUNTY.
THIS county was incorporated in 1793, previous to which time it formed a part of Suffolk county. This name was formerly ap- plied to a county composed of the towns in this state north of the Merrimac, with others in New Hampshire. After the separation of the states by a line three miles north of the Merrimac, the towns in this state were annexed to the county of Essex. The principal streams are Charles and Neponset rivers, with their branches. Much of the surface of Norfolk is broken and uneven, but no part can be considered mountainous. The ridges called the Blue Hills are the most noted elevations. Much of the soil is strong and rocky. That part of this county in the vicinity of Boston is generally in a high state of cultivation, as there is a good market for agricultural productions in the capital. The manufacture of boots and shoes is an important branch of business in this county. In 1837, there were 5,259 persons engaged in this manufacture. The following is a list of the towns, which are 22 in number.
Bellingham,
Dorchester,
Milton,
Stoughton,
Braintrec,
Dover,
Needham,
Walpole,
Brookline,
Foxborough,
Quincy,
Weymouth,
Canton, Franklin,
Randolph,
Wrentham.
Cohasset,
Medfield,
Roxbury,
· Dedham,
Medway,
Sharon,
In 1820, the population of this county was 36,471; in 1830, it was 41,901; in 1837, it was 50,399.
BELLINGHAM.
THIS town was set off from Dedham, and incorporated as a town in 1719. Rev. Jonathan Mills was ordained in 1727 over a Con- gregational church which had been previously formed in this place. He continued here about ten years, though not in the most harmo- nious manner, and was dismissed in 1737. He retired to Boston, where he died, in 1773. The people had occasional preaching after the dismissal of Mr. Mills, till 1774, when the meeting-house was demolished. For about the period of sixty years past, no Congre- gational minister has statedly held meetings in the town. The Congregational church has long been extinct. Some families of this order, however, are religiously associated with the west parish in Medway.
In the center of the town there are 2 churches, and 10 or 12 dwelling-houses. Distance, 5 miles from Mendon, 18 from Ded- ham, and 28 from Boston. Population, 1,159. In 1837, there were 2 cotton mills, 1,672 spindles; 427,470 yards of cotton goods were manufactured, valued at $35,110 25 ; males employed, 20; females, 34; one woollen mill, 2 sets of machinery; 24,000 yards of cloth
451
BROOKLINE.
were manufactured, valued at $62,000. There were 14,570 pairs of boots and 220 pairs of shoes manufactured, valued at $28,077; straw bonnets manufactured, 1,450, valued at $2,650. 1
BRAINTREE.
THIS town formerly included Quincy and Randolph, and was at first called Mount Wollaston, and is one of the most ancient places in the state, the first settlement being made in the town as early as 1625. The ancient history of Braintree now properly comes under the head of Quincy, as Mount Wollaston, the place where the first settlement was made, is within the limits of that town. Braintree was incorporated in 1640, Quincy in 1792.
The soil of this township, though not very fertile, is strong, and well repays cultivation. The Maniquot river, after passing through this town and affording many mill sites, meets the tide-waters of Weymouth Fore river at Braintree landing. In the town are manufactories of cotton, satinet, shovels, paper, nails, and choco- late; large quantities of shoes are made here. There is excellent granite found here, and large quantities are exported ; ship-build- ing is also carried on to some extent. There are 3 churches, one of which is Unitarian. On the eastern line of the town is situated the flourishing settlement of Weymouth village; about one third of it lies within the limits of this town. A view of this village is given in the account of Weymouth. (See Weymouth.) Population, 2,237. Distance, 12 miles S. E. of Dedham, and 10 southerly from Boston. In 1837, there were 65,604 pairs of boots, 71,117 pairs of shoes, manufactured in this town, the value of which was $202,363 03; males employed, 357; females, 265. There were two paper-mills; stock manufactured, 182 tons; value of paper, $25,000; one nail factory ; nails manufactured, 215 tons; value of nails manufactured, $33,460; hands employed, 19; value of cotton gins manufactured, $15,000; hands employed, 30.
"A survey between the tide-waters of this town and those of Taunton river, to unite Massachusetts and Narragansett bays by a ship canal, was commenced by the United States government in 1827. From the tide lock at Somerset, 13 miles below Taunton, the distance is 36 miles. The summit level between the bays is at Howard's meadow, in Randolph, 134 feet above high-water mark at Braintree or Weymouth landing. A ship canal in this direction, or one across Cape Cod at Sandwich, would save many lives and a vast amount of property."-Hayward's Massachusetts Directory.
BROOKLINE.
THIS town, before its incorporation in 1705, belonged to Boston, from which it was separated by a bay formed by Charles river.
452
BROOKLINE.
Wood, the author of "New England's Prospect," in describing Boston and other places in the vicinity, in 1633, says-
"The inhabitants of this place, [Boston] for their enlargement, have taken to them- selves farm-houses in a place called Muddy River, [Brookline] two miles from the town, where there is good ground, large timber, and store of marsh land and meadow. In this place they keep their swine and other cattle in the summer, whilst the corn is in the ground at Boston, and bring them to town in the winter." As early as 1686, the inhabitants at Muddy River had obtained an order that said hamlet should thence- forth be free from paying taxes to the town of Boston, and to have the privilege of an- nually choosing three men to manage their affairs. The conditions were, that they should bear their own expenses, erect a school-house, and maintain a reading and writ- ing master. After the overthrow of Andross, the town of Boston disannulled the above order, and rigorously exercised over them all the authority they possessed. After some considerable opposition, a petition, signed by 32 freeholders, was presented to the legis- lature in 1705, for a separation from Boston. The petition was granted, and the place was incorporated as a distinct town by the name of Brookline. " It is supposed that this name was adopted from the circumstance that Smelt brook is a boundary between that town and Cambridge, and that another brook, which falls into Muddy river, is a boundary between it and Roxbury."
The hills and woodlands of Brookline form a considerable part of the scenery presented to the view from the west of Boston com- mon. The town contains some of the finest country seats and best managed lands which adorn the environs of Boston. It is 5 miles northerly from Dedham, and 5 W. of Boston. Population, 1,083. There are 2 churches, 1 Congregational and 1 Baptist. A direct communication with Boston is effected by the construction of an immense mill-dam, a mile and a half in length, and 100 feet in the widest and 50 feet in the narrowest part, built with walls of stone, filled up compactly with gravel and other materials, at an enormous expense. It is water-tight, and raised three or four feet above high-water mark. This " Western Avenue," as it is called, was opened for passengers July 2, 1821. There was a splendid ceremony on the occasion. A cavalcade of citizens, under the direc- tion of Adj. Gen. Wm. H. Sumner, at an early hour entered the town over the dam, and were welcomed on the Boston side by the inhabitants. Several of the revolutionary forts may be traced in this town by some slight remains; and the site of one of the an- cient Indian forts, built by the natives before the settlement by the English, is yet discernible, on what is called Sewall's farm.
Zabdiel Boylston, F. R. S., an eminent physician, was a native of this town, born in 1680, and died in this town in 1766. He is distinguished as being the first who introduced the inoculation of the small-pox into America.
"The inoculation of small-pox was first performed in the English dominions in April, 1721, upon a daughter of the celebrated Lady M. W. Montague, who had be- come acquainted with inoculation as practised by Turkish women, during her residence in Constantinople.
" About this time Dr. Zabdiel Boylston, of Boston, was induced to adopt the same expedient, from reading an account of inoculation, and made his first experiment by inoculating his only son and two negro servants, on the 27th of June, 1721. Probably there never was greater opposition to any measure of real public utility than was ex- hibited on this occasion. Dr. Boylston was execrated and persecuted as a murderer, assaulted in the streets, and loaded with every species of abuse. His house was at- tacked with violence, so that neither himself nor his family could feel secure in it. At
453
CANTON.
one time he remained fourteen days in a secret apartment of his own house, unknown to any of his family except his wife. The enraged inhabitants patrolled the town in parties, with halters in their hands, threatening to hang him on the nearest tree, and repeatedly entered his house in search of him during his concealment. Such was the madness of the multitude, that, even after the excitement had in some measure subsid- ed, Dr. Boylston only ventured to visit his patients at midnight, and then in disguise. He had also to encounter violent opposition from most of the members of his own pro- fession, and notwithstanding he invited them all to visit his patients, and judge for themselves, received nothing but threats and insults in reply. Indeed, many sober, pious people were deliberately of opinion, when inoculation was first commenced, that, should any of his patients die, the doctor ought to be capitally indicted. He was re- peatedly summoned before the selectmen of Boston, and received their reprehension. His only friends were Dr. Cotton Mather and other clergymen, most of whom became zealous advocates for the new practice, and consequently drew upon themselves much odium from the populace. Some of them received personal injury ; others were insult- ed in the streets, and were hardly safe in their own dwellings ; nor were their services acceptable on Sunday to their respective audiences.
" A bill for prohibiting the practice of inoculation, under severe penalties, was brought before the legislature of Massachusetts, and actually passed the house of rep- resentatives, but some doubts existing in the senate, it failed to become a law.
" Dr. Boylston lived to see the cause he espoused triumphant, and its utility gene- rally appreciated. So prone are mankind to vacillate from one extreme to the other that, on a subsequent appearance of the small-pox in Boston, in the year 1792, the whole town was inoculated in three days, to appease the infatuation of the inhabitants respecting the danger apprehended from this deadly pestilence. Persons were inocu- lated indiscriminately, to the number of 9,152 ; and such was the hurry and confusion with which it was done, and such the impossibility of rendering proper assistance and attention to so large a number, that 165 deaths were the consequence."
CANTON.
CANTON was originally the south precinct of Dorchester, called Dorchester village; it was incorporated in 1797. The first church was embodied here in the year 1717, and Rev. Joseph Morse was ordained its minister the same year. He had preached in the village, previous to his ordination, nearly eleven years. He was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Dunbar, in 1727. Mr. Dunbar was a warm and decided friend to the liberties of his country. In 1755, he was chaplain to Col. Brown's regiment, in the expedition against Crown Point. "His zeal and firmness in the American Revolution contributed not a little to support the hopes and sus- tain the sinking spirits of his people, when clouds and darkness shrouded our prospects." He died in 1783, and was succeeded by Rev. Zachariah Howard, who was settled in 1786. The Rev. William Harlow was installed over the second church in 1829, resigned the same year.
The following is a westerly view of the viaduct in this town, on which passes the Boston and Providence railroad. It is constructed of granite, and is 600 feet in length, 63 feet above the foundation, on 6 arches, with a succession of arches at the top. It is an admirable piece of workmanship, and cost the company about $80,000. On the right of the engraving is seen the northern extremity of the stone factory, a large establishment for the manu- facture of cassimeres, which, when in full operation, employs be-
454
COHASSET.
South-western vien of Canton Viaduct.
tween 300 and 400 hands. The copper works of Mr. Revere, near the above, is an extensive establishment ; all kinds of copper are manufactured. There are also other large manufacturing estab- lishments in the limits of the town. There are 4 churches (2 Congregational, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist) and a bank, the "Neponset Bank." Population, 2,185. Since 1830, the popula- tion has increased one third. Distance, 5 miles from Dedham, 18 from Taunton, and 15 from Boston.
In 1837, there was 1 woollen mill, 14 sets of machinery; wool consumed, 300,000 lbs. ; cloth manufactured, 254,000 yards, valued at $250,000 ; males employed, 125 ; females, 125. One cotton mill ; 1,560 spindles ; 463,547 yards of cotton goods were manufactured. There were 8 furnaces for the manufacture of copper; 1,500,000 lbs. of copper were manufactured; value estimated, $400,000; forty hands were employed ; one forge; "shapes " manufactured, 129 tons, valuc, $21,330 ; fifty hands were employed in the manu- facture of hocs and coarse cutlery ; capital invested, $80,000. Two rolling mills, 1 cotton wicking mill, 1 cotton thread mill, and some other manufacturing establishments, were in operation.
COHASSET.
THIS town was originally a part of Hingham; it was incorpo- rated in 1770. The first minister of Cohasset was Rev. Nehemiah Hobart, the grandson of Rev. Peter Hobart, the first minister of Hingham. He was ordained in 1721, and continued in the minis- try till his death, in 1740. His successor was Rev. John Fowle, who continued here about thirteen years. Rev. John Brown was the next minister, who was settled here in 1747, and died in 1791. His successor was Mr. Shaw, who was in the ministry here about
a cal
C
1
S
a
to ne a ar
T
80
M
455
DEDHAM.
four years. The Rev. Jacob Flint, the next minister, was settled here in 1798. A Trinitarian church was built here in 1826, and Rev. Aaron Picket was installed the first pastor.
This town is noted for its rocky coasts, and for the numerous shipwrecks which have taken place on its borders. Cohasset rock, which consists of several small islands and sunken rocks, lies about three miles north-east of the harbor ; they have proved fatal to many vessels. This town has become quite a place of resort for citizens and strangers, in summer months, to enjoy the marine scenery and sea air. In 1837, there were 36 vessels em- ployed in the cod and mackerel fishery, the tonnage of which was 2,284; codfish caught, 750 quintals, valued at $2,250; mackerel caught, 11,700 barrels, value, $73,286; hands employed, 324. In five years preceding 1837, there were 17 vessels built, the ton- nage of which was 2,765, valued at $110,600. Population, 1,331. Distance, 6 miles from Hingham, and about 16 miles to Boston by water.
DEDHAM.
THE settlement of this town was commenced in 1635. In that year, the general court, then sitting at Newtown, (now Cambridge, ) granted a tract of land south of Charles river to 12 men. The next year 19 persons, including the first 12, petitioned the general court for an additional grant, lying on both sides of Charles river, which was made, agreeably to this petition. The last-mentioned grant included the territory of the present town of Dedham, and of a number of other towns in the vicinity. The first recorded public meeting was on the 15th of August, 1636, at which were present 18 persons. These adopted a covenant, by which each individual bound himself " to give information concerning any per- son who applied for admission, to submit to such fines as might be imposed for violation of rules, and to obey all such bye-laws and regulations as the inhabitants shall judge necessary for the management of their temporal affairs, for religion, and for loving society."
The government of the town was delegated by the freemen to 7 men, who were to be chosen annually. These 7 men met monthly, for many years, made many necessary bye-laws, which were recorded in the records of the town. Concerning the appropriation of the land, each man was provided with a lot of 12 acres if married, and 8 acres if unmarried; this to begin with. The after grants seem to have been made according to the necessities of members, or as a reward for services performed. The number of persons in a family was also made a rule by which to divide the lands ; quality, rank or desert and usefulness in the church or commonwealth was also a rule considerable in the apportionment.
In a petition to the general court the inhabitants requested that the town might be called Contentment ; which name is written over the record of the first several meet- ings. It would seem that the word well expresses the leading motives of the first 24 settlers in coming into this town. They were soon, however, associated with men of somewhat a different and higher character. The celebrated John Rogers, of Dedham, in England, had been forbidden to preach before the first settlers came to this country. Many of his people emigrated, and numbers settled in this place. From that circum-
456
DEDHAM.
stance, it may reasonably be inferred that the general court gave to the town the name of Dedham. The first settlers were more immediately from Watertown. They were as follows, viz. :
Edward Allyne, John Kingsbury,
Lambert Genere,
Francis Austin,
Abraham Shaw,
John Dwite,
Nicholas Phillips,
John Rogers,
Samuel Morse,
John Cooledge,
Ralph Shepard,
Joseph Shaw,
Phileman Dalton,
Richard Ewed,
John Gay,
William Bearstowe
Ezekiel Holliman, John Howard,
Thomas Bartleet,
In July, 1637, John Allin and Eleazer Lusher, and ten other persons, came to Ded- ham, bringing recommendations, and were at the same time admitted freemen. These 12 persons gave a more decided character to the whole company. The following is the list of freemen who had been admitted into Dedham previous to 1647.
Mr. John Allin, Edward Kempe,
Samuel Morse, Nicholas Phillips,
George Barber,
Mr. Timothy Dalton, John Leuson,
Robert Onion,
Mr. Thomas Carter, John Dwight,
John Morse,
Robert Feashe,
Mr. Ralph Wheelock, Henry Smith,
John Page,
John Gay,
Mr. John Hunting,
John Rogers,
Michael Powell,
Lambert Genery,
Mr. -- Pruden, John Shawe, Mr. Henry Phillips, Nathan Aldis, deac., F. Chickering, deac., Daniel Fisher,
Joseph Kingsbury, Nathaniel Colborne, Timothy Dwight, Peter Woodward,
Samuel Guile, John Ellis, Daniel Morse,
Edward Allyne,
John Bullard,
John Baker,
John Batchellor,
John Frayre,
Joshua Fisher,
Nathaniel Whiting,
Joseph Morse.
Eleazer Lusher,
Ferdinando Adams,
Robert Hinsdale,
Thomas Wight,
Anthony Fisher, Andrew Dewing,
Thomas Alcoke,
Abraham Shaw, Michael Metcalf,
The first settlers located themselves on the margin of the mead- ows, near the modern center. Each house-lot consisted of a part upland and a part meadow. These lots were laid out in narrow parallel slips. It is stated in Worthington's History of Dedham,* that in 1664, ninety-five small houses, near each other, were situ- ated within a short distance of the place where the court-house stands; the greater part of them east of that place and around Dwight's brook. A row of houses stood on the north side of High street, as that road was then called which extends from the bridge over Dwight's brook westwardly by the court-house. The greater number of these houses were built soon after the first settlement commenced. Four only of these were valued at £20; the greater number were worth from 3 to 10 pounds. At the time these houses were built, there were but very few carpenters, joiners, or masons in the colony. There was no saw-mill in the settlement for many years. The only boards which could be procured at first were those which were sawed by hand. The saw-pits yet to be seen denote that boards were sawed in the woods. The necessary ma- terials of glass and nails were scarcely to be obtained. These houses, therefore, must have been principally constructed by farmers, not by mechanics, and have been very rude and incon- venient. Most of them were probably covered with thatch roofs. By an ordinance of the town, a ladder was ordered to extend from
* " The History of Dedham from the beginning of its Settlement, in September, 1635, . to May, 1827, by Erastus Worthington." It is to this work the author is principally indebted for the facts in the history of this town. The " Historical Address" of Sam- uel F. Haven, Esq., on the second centennial anniversary, in 1836, with notes, is also another valuable publication respecting the history of this town.
Drawn by J. W. Barber-Engraved by E. L. Barber, New Haven, Conn. SOUTHERN VIEW OF THE COURT-HOUSE IN DEDHAM.
This Court-House, constructed of granite, is considered to be one of the best models for a public building in this country. The Unitarian and Orthodox churches are seen in the distance on the left.
h
457
DEDHAM.
the ground to the chimney, as a substitute for a more perfect fire engine. Around these houses nothing was seen but stumps, clumsy fences of poles, and an uneven and unsubdued soil.
Where the meeting-house of the first parish now stands, there stood for more than 30 years a low building, 36 feet long and 20 wide, 12 feet high, with a thatched roof, and a large ladder resting upon it. This was the first meeting-house. Near by was the school-house, standing on an area of 18 feet by 14, and rising to 3 stories ; the third story, however, was a watch-house, of small dimensions, and which stood beside the ample stone chimney. The spectator there elevated might view the plain, the site of the present village, then a common plough-field, containing about 200 acres of cleared land, partially subdued, yet full of stumps and roots. Around him at a further dis- tance were the herd-walks, as the common feeding lands were called, in the language of that time. One of these herd-walks was on Dedham Island, north of Charles river, and one was on East street, and more fully in view. The other herd-walk was on South Plain. The meadows were not yet cleared to any great extent. Beyond these herd-walks was a continued wilderness, which was becoming more disagreeable to the inhabitants, for the cattle, goats and sheep seem to have allured the wolves to their neighborhood. The dense swamps about Wigwam were not yet cleared. The numer- ous dogs in the plantation, which were so troublesome to the worshipping assembly, were not a sufficient guard against the wolves; and the killing of these animals was encouraged by a considerable bounty. A law of the colony, as well as the dangers of the people from Indian assaults, compelled the first settlers to build their houses near each other. The necessity of adhering to this law continued more than 50 years. But as soon as the inhabitants could live with safety on their farms, houses were built in all parts of the present town. In about 70 years' time, the humble village of the first settlers had disappeared, and the place was occupied by a few farmers for about 100 years. When Dedham became the county town, in 1793, the second village was begun on the place of the former .* The first school-house in Dedham was built in 1648. The master's salary until 1695 was £20; it was then raised to £25. The early settlers at various times made grants of land for the support of schools, and in 1680, Dr. William Avery gave £60 for a Latin school, but from mismanagement these funds were many years ago lost.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.