USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Historical sketch of the town of Weymouth, Massachusetts, from 1622-1884 > Part 11
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
In 1859 the town voted to abolish the district system, and appointed a committee to take the necessary meas- ures to carry the vote into effect, but the following year a return to the old system was made. Again, in 1863, the same thing was voted, and in the next year rc- scinded. Thus the matter remained in uncertainty. until 1869, when the old arrangement was set aside and the present town system finally adopted. The same indefinite attitude was taken by the town with respect to the employment of a school superintendent. The first one was hired, in 1863, and from that time to the present, although a superintendent has been employed for the greater portion of the time, so many changes have been made and so uncertain the action that might be taken, that little benefit has been derived from the services of that officer.
The treatment of the schools by the town seems at last to have settled down upon a more permanent basis that bids fair to continue, and which will raise the schools to a much higher plane than they have ever
1
132
SKETCH OF WEYMOUTH.
occupied. The town system appears to have little, if any, opposition, and the superintendency seems also to have become an established fact. That this is the true course is very evident, from the fact that the town has now forty-eight schools in operation, under the charge of fifty-four teachers, with a school population of two thousand and six, between the ages of five and fifteen years, according to the report of the year 1883, necessi- tating an appropriation of not far from $32,000. Of the schools, two arc high, twelve grammar, twenty intermediate, and fourteen primary.
WEYMOUTH AND BRAINTREE ACADEMY.1-Feeling the need of a higher seminary of learning than any that had been sustained hitherto in the town, in the early part of the present century a project was undertaken by some of the prominent citizens of Weymouth Land- ing for the establishment of an academy of high grade, and an act of incorporation was obtained, dated 28th of February, 1828, in which Cotton Tufts, Joseph Loud, Noah Fifield, and others were named as corporators. A suitable building was erected the same year, upon land donated for the purpose by Capt. Warren Weston, on the side of the hill, a short distance above his dwell- ing, on the Weymouth and Braintree turnpike, and the institution was begun. The first principal was Thomas or Samuel Gregg, and soon after a Mr. Goodell was furnished him as an assistant. Mr. Gregg remained but a short time, and was succeeded by Samuel Thomas Worcester, afterwards judge, with Miss Mary F. R. Wales, as assistant: this was about the spring of 1830. These were soon married to each other, and left the school together. Calvin E. Park, a brother of Pro-
1 The records of the academy have been lost, and the facts respecting it are gathered from various sources worthy of credit.
133
SKETCH OF WEYMOUTH.
fessor Park, of Andover, followed Mr. Worcester, and Miss Lucy M. K. Brastow took the place of Miss Wales. Mr. Eldredge succeeded Mr. Park, and was probably the last that taught for the corporation. There were several who attempted private schools in the building, but, like the academy, they were financial failures, and in 1833 the building was sold and con- verted into a double tenement dwelling-house, having previously been used for a short time by the public schools. The building was burned in 1844.
NEWSPAPERS.1 - As far as information can be ob- tained, the first attempt at newspaper publishing in the town was made about fifty years ago, by Josiah White, of North Weymouth, an amateur printer, with very limited facilities. Only a few numbers were published, and those at irregular intervals. It soon ceased to ap- pear, for want of sufficient encouragement. For many years succeeding this, Weymouth was without a local press, although occasional attempts were made by pub- lishers of neighboring towns to introduce their own papers here with a slight change in the form and with a local heading. In 1867, the Weymouth Gazette, pub- lished by C. G. Easterbrook, made its first appearance, and it has since that time been issued regularly every week. It has made itself a local necessity, and has become a permanent institution. During the existence of the Gazette, several attempts have been made to introduce rival sheets, the first of these being the Wey- mouth Courier, which began its publication in 1876, in East Weymouth, under the charge of Jones & Co. It survived about one year. The Weymouth Advance was the next candidate for the position; started in 1877,
1 Furnished by Charles G. Easterbrook, Esq., editor of the Weymouth Gazette.
134
SKETCII OF WEYMOUTH.
at East Weymouth, by C. F. David, and had an exist- ence of about two years. Spooner & Webster under- took to resuscitate the latter enterprise, but, after a few weeks, the attempt was abandoned, as was also the effort to revive the Weymouth Courier by Mr. Spooner.
THE WEYMOUTH HISTORICAL SOCIETY.' - This so- ciety was organized in the spring of 1879, by several gentlemen, for purposes indicated by its name. The growing interest in historical matters and the absence of any history of this ancient and important town en- couraged the effort, and its object has been to collect and preserve historical material, mainly that connected with this town. Elias Richards, Esq., has been its pres- ident since its foundation, and it has succeeded in col- lecting a valuable amount of historical matter. It has also a small but constantly increasing library of histori- cal works. Its meetings are of much interest and are held monthly in the Tufts Library rooms, where also are located its library and other collections.
SOCIAL LIBRARIES were formed in several of the vil- lages in the town in the early part of the present cen- tury. The shares were owned by the members, and the expenses paid by a small annual fee. These proved of great benefit, but the foundations upon which they rested were not calculated for permanence, and in a few years they gradually disappeared. The first permanent organization of the kind was the Mutual Library Asso- ciation of South Weymouth, formed Nov. 13, 1863, with eighty members, holding about one hundred and thirty-five shares, and a library of four hundred vol- umes, which has now increased to fifteen hundred. Previous to Dec. 24, 1881, the library was supported
1 Compiled from the records of the society.
135
SKETCH OF WEYMOUTH.
by annual fees, fines, and occasional entertainments. Since that date it has been free to the public, depending upon private contributions and extra entertainments for its support. It is well patronized and promises perma- nence.1
THE TUFTS LIBRARY.2 - This is a free, public library, located at Weymouth Landing, and was estab- lished from a fund left by will, for this purpose, by the late Quincy Tufts, and his sister, Miss Susan Tufts, grandchildren of Dr. Cotton Tufts, one of Weymouth's most valuable citizens during the whole of the latter half of the eighteenth century. The estimated value of the fund is about twenty thousand dollars, and came into possession of the trustees of the Tufts Library in 1879, who immediately proceeded to apply it to its intended purposes. A part of the fund con- sisted of two buildings at the Landing, the lower story of one being fitted up for the library, and the income derived from the remainder of the fund devoted to fur- nishing and sustaining it. Books were purchased and arranged, a librarian engaged, and the library opened to the public the 1st of January of the year 1880, with about two thousand three hundred volumes. Since then, the library has been rapidly increased from the income of its funds, and from liberal appropriations by the town, until its volumes have reached the number of about seven thousand five hundred (Jan. 1, 1881), and is one of the most valuable and best selected for its size of any in the land. It is highly appreciated and exten- sively used by almost the whole body of inhabitants of sufficient age; and the call has been so large from the other villages of the town, that the trustees have made arrangements by which these can be supplied with the
1 Facts supplied by Henry A. Thomas, Esq.
2 From official records.
136
SKETCII OF WEYMOUTH.
books without expense to the takers, thus making it available to all the people, although it is located in one of the villages. The income of a part of the fund was set apart by the devisor, for free lectures upon educa- tional matters; and three courses of these have already been provided. The library is in the control of a board of trustees, consisting of the selectmen of the town, ex officio, and others chosen by the town according to the terms of the legacy.
-
137
SKETCH OF WEYMOUTH.
CHAPTER VIII.
Military Organizations: Early Companies, Company for the Castle, Wey- mouth Light Horse, Weymouth Artillery, Weymouth Light Infantry, Franklin Guards -Grand Army of the Republic: Lincoln Post, No. 40, Reynolds Post, No. 58- Societies and Associations: Masonic: Orphans Hope Lodge, Delta Lodge, South Shore Commandery, Pentalpa Royal Arch Chapter - Odd Fellows: Crescent Lodge, Wil- dey Lodge, Wompatuck Encampment - Knights of Pythias: Delphi Lodge - Knights of Honor: Pilgrim Lodge - Weymouth Agricul- tural and Industrial Society - Other Organizations.
MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.1 - Very early, in fact from the beginning of the settlement, the necessities of the times called the attention of the people to military matters. They were obliged to furnish themselves with arms, and to have some kind of organized associations, to resist their savage enemies, who were ever on the alert to surprise them. Consequently, among the earli- est movements recorded are the formation of military companies and the employment of men "to trayne " them. The records of Weymouth show its interest and participation in these organizations in the first years of its existence.
As the various wars began and ended, this feeling became active or dormant, and new movements were made from time to time, as fresh occasions called for them. Of the earlier organizations nothing very definite is known. In the first century of the colony, Weymouth had its troop of horse, besides its regular enrolment of militia, covering all able-bodied men of military age,
1 The facts for these sketches are drawn from the town records, State archives, and other sources.
138
SKETCH OF WEYMOUTH.
formed into companies and officered. This system, if the rude organizations can be dignified by such a term, continued for two hundred years.
Near the close of the first half of the eighteenth century an independent company was formed in Wey- mouth for service at Castle William, in Boston Harbor, under command of Major Adam Cushing. Its officers were Ebenezer White, captain; Ebenezer Porter, lieu- tenant; and John Porter, ensign; with a roster number- ing sixty-six persons, most of whom were young men, from eighteen to twenty-five years of age. A full list of its members is in existence at the present time.
During the latter part of the century the troop of horse was revived, and in 1798 the Weymouth Light- Horse Troop was regularly organized, with John White as its first captain, whose commission dates Aug. 13 of that year. This company held its existence about a dozen years, and included on its rolls a large portion of the active, prominent citizens.
The next organization was the Weymouth Artillery Company, formed in 1801, with Nathaniel Shaw as its first captain, his commission dating Oet. 5 of the same year. This company enjoyed an active life of more than forty years, and was composed of the "first young men " of the town. It disbanded about 1843.
The Weymouth Light Infantry was a local organi- zation, formed at Weymouth Landing in 1818, Levi Bates being its first captain, the date of whose commis- sion is recorded as Feb. 9, 1818. It was composed of the active men of the village, and continued its existence for abont fifteen years.
The Franklin Guards, of South Weymouth, was a local organization, as indicated by its name. Its first captain was Samuel P. Bayley, commissioned Feb. 26, 1822. The company was continued for ten or fifteen years.
139
SKETCH OF WEYMOUTH.
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC, DEPARTMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS.1- Lincoln Post, No. 40, named for our lamented President, was organized Jan. 2, 1868, at North Weymouth, having for its first Commander, Gen. B. F. Pratt, who had previously been a comrade of Post 15, in Boston. In August, 1873, it surrendered its charter and united with Post 58.
Reynolds Post, No. 58, was formed July 14, 1868, and numbered, Dec. 1, 1883, three hundred and nine- teen members. It was named in honor of Gen. John F. Reynolds, of the First Army Corps, under whom many of its comrades served. Its first Commander was Gen. James L. Bates; and its present, Col. B. S. Lovell. Its charity fund amounts to $13,000; and up to the begin- ning of 1883, the Post had expended, in relief and benefits to sick comrades and to widows and orphans of deceased soldiers, the sum of $6,768.83. During its later years the disbursements for these purposes have been about $1,000 annually. The funeral expenses of a comrade, to the amount of fifty dollars, are borne by the Post, in cases where the family or connections of the deceased would find it a burden to provide them. All of the members are uniformed. The Post is a most useful organization, and was never more prosperous than at present. Its regular meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.
SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONS.2- Masonic. - Among the most important associations in the town are the Masonic organizations, of which there are three.
The Orphans Hope Lodge of Ancient, Free, and Accepted Masons was instituted June 8, 1825; the
1 Supplied by Capt. Charles W. Hastings and others.
2 The materials for these sketches are mostly furnished by officers of the various societies named, and are gathered from their records.
140
SKETCH OF WEYMOUTH.
charter was granted to John Edson and others. In 1830, during the anti-Masonic excitement, the charter was returned to the Grand Lodge, and Sept. 10, 1856, was reissued on petition of Lovell Bicknell and others. John Edson was the first Master, and Timothy Gordon the first. Secretary. From the return of the charter the Lodge has always been in a prosperous condition, and never more successful than at the present time. Its meetings were held first at Weymouth Landing, then at North Weymouth, and since at East Weymouth, always in hired apartments; but a new hall is now in process of erection by the Lodge in the latter village, and will probably be ready for occupancy in the fall of 1884. The Lodge numbers one hundred and sixty-six members.
The Delta Lodge, at Weymouth Landing, was char- tered July 2, 1869, by the Grand Lodge; the first meet- ing having been held on May 12 of the previous year. Edward Avery was the first Worshipful Mas- ter; N. F. T. Hunt, Senior Warden; A. S. White, Treasurer; C. G. Thompson, Secretary. The present officers are Alden Bowditch, Worshipful Master; E. E. Richards, Senior Warden; John M. Walsh, Treasurer; Wm. S. Wallace, Secretary.
The South Shore Commandery of Knights Templars was duly constituted by charter Oct. 13, 1871, Z. L. Bick- nell, Commander; George Wyman Fay, Generalissimo; and E. Waters Burr, Captain-General. Its place of meeting is at East Weymouth, and its present member- ship (September, 1883) is one hundred and fifty-three. Its present officers are E. W. H. Bass, Commander; William Fearing, Generalissimo; Charles N. Marsh, Recorder; Andrew J. Garey, Captain-General; and Edmund G. Bates, Treasurer.
Pentalpa Royal Arch Chapter held its first meeting June 14, 1870. Stephen S. Bradford, High Priest;
141
SKETCH OF WEYMOUTH.
William Humphrey, King; A. A. Holbrook, Scribe; Samuel A. Bates, Secretary. Its present officers are Francis K. Slack, High Priest; Joel F. Sheppard, King; John M. Walsh, Scribe; William Cushing, Secretary; and its membership is one hundred and twenty-four.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows has two Lodges in the town.
The Crescent Lodge, No. 32, at East Weymouth, was instituted Aug. 22, 1845. It has received into its membership three hundred and forty-six, of whom forty-five have died.
The Wildcy Lodge, of South Weymouth, was insti- tuted March 9, 1875, with eighteen charter members, and has now a membership of one hundred and eigh- teen. Its growth has been steady and permanent, and it stands second to none in sustaining the objects of its organization. It has a fine building erected by its members, which, with its furnishing, has cost fifteen thousand dollars. In this building are a hall for the use of the Lodge, a public hall and two storcs.
The Wompatuck Encampment, No. 18, was origi- nally organized in Hingham, but surrendercd its charter Feb. 2, 1851. It was reinstated at East Weymouth, Oct. 27, 1875, at the petition of Stephen Cain and thir- teen others, with George W. Pratt, C. P .; A. H. Lcon- ard, Scribe; K. Chamberlain, Treasurer.
Knights of Pythias. - The Delphi Lodge, No. 15, was organized Dcc. 17, 1869, with thirteen charter members, at Weymouth Landing; was burned out Sept. 15, 1870, sustaining a loss of six hundred dollars. The Lodge now occupics a fine new hall, well furnished, and is growing rapidly, with a present membership of one hundred and twelve.
Knights of Honor. - The Pilgrim Lodge, No. 485, at East Weymouth, was organized Feb. 27, 1877, with
142
SKETCH OF WEYMOUTH.
thirteen charter members; first named "Cooper," in compliment of its first Dictator, but two years after this, for obvious reasons, the name was changed to "Pilgrim." Its growth has been slow but steady, and now numbers sixty members. This is a benevolent association, and pays two thousand dollars to the heirs of each member upon his death. Frank W. Lewis is the present Dic- tator.
The Weymouth Agricultural and Industrial Society was formed Oct. 31, 1864, for purposes indicated by its name, to promote the interests of agriculture and industry. Its first president was James L. Bates; and its present, Alvah Raymond. It owns about thirty-three acres of land in the southeasterly part of the town, upon which there is a half-mile track, with horse sta- bles, etc. Its stock is held at ten dollars per share, of which there are about nine hundred held by four hun- dred and seventy members. The society holds an annual fair upon its grounds, and is in a prosperous condition.
There are also several other organizations of similar character, among them the Hibernians of East Wey- mouth, a Council of the Royal Arcanum, at Weymouth Landing, and many temperance associations, Temple of Honor, Reform Club, Good Templars, Woman's Temperance Union, and others, of which fuller mention cannot be made for want of space.
143
SKETCH OF WEYMOUTH.
CHAPTER IX.
Business Enterpriscs1 - Mills: The Waltham-Richards-Bates Mill, Tide Mill, Tirrell's Mill, Recd's Mill, Loud's Mill, Vinson's Mill, Dyer's Mill -Turnpikes: Weymouth and Braintree, New Bedford, Hingham and Quincy Bridge - Railroads: Old Colony, South Shore - Ex- presses -Telegraph -Telephone - Financial Corporations-Banks: Union National, National of South Weymouth - Savings Banks: Weymouth, South Weymouth, East Weymouth - Weymouth and Braintree Fire Insurance Company - Manufactures: Boots and Shoes - Weymouth Iron Company - Fish Company - Weymouth Commercial Company - Ice Companies - Bradley Fertilizer Com- pany - Ship Building - Bay State Hammock Company - Howe & French -Firc-Works - Mitten Factory - Miscellaneous.
MILLS.2- Weymouth has always, from its settlement by the English, been noted for its excellent mill priv- ileges. Mill River, from its departure from Great Pond to its mouth at tide-water, abounds with valuable sites which have been improved during almost if not quite its entire history. The mill of William Waltham is men- tioned in his will in 1640. In the following January, 1641, a difficulty arose between Henry Waltham, to whom the
' The portion of this sketch devoted to business matters is necessarily very brief, the space allowing only a bare outline of important interests. Many are omitted entirely, among which are all of that class engaged in supplying the material wants of the inhabitants, very large in the aggre- gate, employing much capital and many individuals. Several of the smaller manufactures are also unmentioned for want of room. The compiler believes, however, that he has treated the business interests of the town as fully and fairly as can be reasonably demanded in a work of this magnitude.
2 The sketch of the mill property has been gathered from the town, county and private records, and from Quincy L. Rced, Esq., to whom the compiler is especially indebted for much valuable information, much of which has been omitted for want of space.
144
SKETCH OF WEYMOUTH.
property had passed, and Wealthean Richards, wife of Thomas Richards, whose husband was absent from the country and had left her in charge of his interest. This was submitted to a referenee consisting of Rev. Mr. Newman, James Parker, Esq., and Edward Bates. In 1642, Henry Waltham sold one half of his grist mill (the same property) to Joseph Arthur, of Weymouth, England, for one hundred and forty pounds, with other property. In 1651, after the death of Mr. Richards, who seems to have obtained possession of the whole property, the mill was set off to his widow. The town records of that date say it " was on the road to Hingham Plain." This loeates it at Baek River, below Whitman's Pond. The mill (or mills) seems to have passed into the hands of Elder Bates, and was used as a grist, saw, and fulling mill, probably in two different buildings and a short distance apart. After several changes the priv- ileges passed into the possession of the Weymouth Iron Company in 1837, which has sinee improved them.
The Tide Mill. - As early as 1669 the "tyde mill " is mentioned. In 1682 it is ealled " Nash's grist mill." In 1696, James Nash, the second of the name, left it to his grandson, James Drake, from whom it passed into possession of the Burrells, and soon after, the Webbs, with whom it remained for a hundred or more years. It was used for mill purposes until the present generation. It is now dismantled, and the privilege is not used. Its location was on Mill Cove, on the easterly side of Fore River, and not far from the original Weston settlement. . Tirrell's Mill. - This mill is situated very near the centre of the town, and dates from 1693, when the town granted a permit to Gideon Tirrell to set up a fulling mill at " blade mill." Whether the latter name refers to the name of the owner or to the kind of a mill previously there is not known It remained in the family of its original builder until quite recently, when it was bought
145
SKETCH OF WEYMOUTH.
by J. Loud & Co., and by them sold to Howe & French, the present owners.
Reed's Mill. - Following the course of the stream for about two miles towards its source, where it crosses the old Plymouth road, Reed's Mill is found, built near the close of the last century by Jeremiah Shaw. It came into the hands of Ezra Reed about 1811, and was used as a grist mill until 1855, when the present building was erected, which was occupied by E. & C. Sherman as a box factory for a dozen years. The upper mill was built in 1866, and was used as a saw mill until 1877, when it was leased to Cyrus Sherman and used for the manufacture of boot and shoe lasts, at which business he employs about twelve hands.
Loud's Mill. - This was probably the oldest mill above Tirrell's. It was built near the beginning of the last century, and was known as Sayle's Mill. That family is now extinct in the town. At that period quite a village clustered about this mill, of which only the ruined cellars remain. The present mill was erected in 1836 as a grist mill by Mr. Loud, where, in 1850, he commenced making boxes. He still carries on the busi- ness there, employing about ten persons. This mill is a short distance above the Reed Mill.
Vinson's Mill. - This mill, formerly known as Colson's, is located not far from Great Pond, and was erected about 1765. It passed into the hands of Mr. Vinson, and was used as a grist mill until about 1837, and afterwards for a time as a bucket and shingle mill. The property is now owned by Mr. Elon Sherman, and used as a box factory, with about fifteen workmen. A few years since the old mill was burned and a new one erected. Mr. Sherman has also, within a year or two, commenced the manufacture of paper cartons for shoes.
Dyer's Mill. - This mill is located on Marsh River, on Pleasant Street, and was probably built by William
146
SKETCH OF WEYMOUTH.
Reed before 1700. In 1716 it is named in the will of John Porter as the " saw mill." It subsequently passed into the hands of the Dyers, and was used by them as a grist mill. It has not been used for mill purposes for about fifty or sixty years.
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.