USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Brookline > Historical sketches of Brookline, Mass. > Part 23
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A great affliction came upon this lovely woman in the death of her daughter Mary, a young lady of twenty.
During several of the last years of Mrs. Heath's life she was deprived of the use of her limbs and was other- wise much afflicted, but her cheerful and beautiful spirit was triumphant over all her sorrows. She died in 1832, aged sixty-one years. It was a little singular that two other ladies, members of the First Church, and noted in the community for their personal worth, were removed by death the same year; these were the wife of Mr. Richard Sullivan, and the first wife of Mr. Benjamin Goddard. Dr. Pierce remarked that " the loss of three such women was enough to impoverish any church."
Mr. Charles Heath, the eldest son of Mr. Eben Heath, took down the old mansion in 1838. It was one of the substantial square houses of the olden time, built for cen- turies, with low ceilings and narrow windows with seats in the deep recesses, now long out of date. A fence con- taining much timber, elaborately constructed, surrounded the yard, and the borders were hedged with box. Mr. Heath built the house which is still standing and now oc- cupied by Francis Cabot, the same year, and occupied it many years himself.
Mr. Ebenezer Heath was for some time Town Treas- urer. He died in 1845 at the age of eighty.
The late Mr. Charles Heath is so well remembered that scarcely more than a passing notice is necessary, yet
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THE DARK DAY.
his memory deserves the tribute of recorded worth. Like his excellent mother he possessed traits of character which won the respect and esteem of all who knew him, and though his quiet and retiring disposition prevented his bearing great public responsibilities, he was none the less an honored and valued citizen. His death called forth expressions of sincere regret from those who were not bound to him by the ties of kindred, as well as from those who claimed him as their own. He left the sum of two thousand dollars in trust to be used for the poor of the First Parish, or for such persons as his executors deemed worthy, they not being beggars or common paupers.
Among ancient papers of the Heath family there is an account of the famous " dark day." It is uncertain whose handwriting it may be, but it was evidently written im- mediately after the event.
" May 19th, 1780. Being Friday there were several small showers in the morning. About three o'clock the Clouds began to have a yellowish appearance, this brassy Colour kept in- creasing. A little before Ten, it began to look dark, and by twelve o'clock we were obliged to light up candles. It was as dark as at an hour after sundown. At one the darkness began to abate, and by half-past three the clouds blew over and the afternoon was as pleasant as usual.
" The night following was as uncommonly dark as the day. Before nine o'clock there was a total privation of light; though the moon was but just past the full it did not give one ray of light till it was more than three hours high. People that were not above thirty rods from home could not get home without the greatest difficulty.
"There were various opinions about the darkness. Some were exceedingly surprised and tho't the Conclusion of all things was come. Others that a Comet passed between us and the sun. Others again that it was. a large body of Smoke that
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF BROOKLINE.
came from the woods that was on fire for many miles together at the westward. Others that it was a large Collection of Clouds and Vapors drove together by Contrary Winds."
On the site of the house built a few years since by George Bacon, formerly stood a large and handsome house, owned and occupied by Hon. Stephen Higginson, a member of the legislature in the last century under " the old Confederation." His descendants have lived in the town almost constantly since that time. Hon. Stephen Higginson died in 1828, at the age of eighty- five. The house was occupied for several years by Mr. Appleton, then by Dr. Warren, and was finally sold to Mr. Bacon, who removed the old structure and built the present house.
Nearly opposite this house stood a house built before the last century, by Joseph Gardner, one of that numer- ous family of whom an account has previously been given. Deacon Joseph White was the next occupant, and he died in 1777. His son Samuel (the one of whom an account has been previously given), succeeded him as owner, and then for a long period the house was owned and occupied by Jonathan Jackson. General Simon Elliot next bought the place, and built the present house in 1824. Simon Elliot Greene succeeded him, and more recently the late J. Sullivan Warren, who was held in high esteem in Brookline, as also in Boston, for many acts of liberality, and his general benevolence of char- acter. This gentleman left a sum of money to be ex- pended in beautifying the streets of this town with shade trees.
On the narrow lane which here crosses from Heath to Boylston Street, is the town " Pound," and it is generally known as " Pound Lane." This continues across Boyl- ston Street and to Beacon Street, at the upper part of
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POUND LANE.
the new reservoir. Possibly parts of it are traceable further.
It is a part of the old highway from Dedham to " Cambridge Village," and originally led to a village of Elliot's "praying Indians," who lived at the falls of Charles River, between Newton and Watertown. It has recently been widened and graded, and is now called " Reservoir Lane." It was one of the wildest and most picturesque lanes to be found in the country, and it would be difficult to convince one who had never explored it that such a place could be found within six miles of the State House. It was narrow, winding, rocky, and steep ; up hill and down dale, bordered with wild briers, and gay with wild flowers, or attractive with berries, accord- ing to the season. Two or three houses, difficult of ac- cess, built within fifteen or twenty years, stand along this lane, that was so secluded. Even now it is a retired and rustic place, but the great Reservoir is built and all the world goes to see it, and the little wild lane begins to be a thoroughfare.
To return to Pound Lane - there was little use for a Town Pound, comparatively, till about the year 1836, when Mr. Samuel Philbrick was instrumental in causing the town to pass a by-law, forbidding animals to be pas- tured along the streets. Previous to that time, cows, horses, and often swine, roamed at large, and grazed along the highways. Every avenue and driveway was necessarily closed with a gate to prevent the depredations of these marauders, and if a gate was accidentally left open, it was fortunate for the owner of the premises if his grounds were not invaded, and his fruit trees or gar- den damaged before the mischief was discovered.
Many persons fearing lest they should be called upon for damages for trespass, kept their children out of school,
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF BROOKLINE.
lounging by the roadsides to watch their cattle, and little barefooted boys and girls, with their cows, were a com- mon feature of the landscape.
It would naturally be supposed that so great a public improvement as that proposed by Mr. Philbrick, would have been hailed with delight by our townspeople, but this was not the case. The most formidable opposition came from the very people best able to provide pasturage for their live stock, on their own. grounds. Men who owned scores of acres of land, raised an outcry about being defrauded of their rights, and those who owned a solitary cow and no land, lamented the hard-heartedness of the rich who denied the poor the privilege of the way- side grass. But the law was enforced, and many an angry man made an irksome journey to the Pound, and reluctantly paid the necessary, fee to get poor Brindle or Dobbin released from "durance vile." Remarks de- cidedly uncomplimentary to Mr. Philbrick were freely indulged, but law triumphed, and gates ceased to be a necessity.
West of Pound Lane, on the north side of Heath Street, was the extensive farm of Deacon Benjamin White, son of Joseph White and brother of Samuel. He was one of the original founders of the town and the church, and is sometimes called " Ensign " Benjamin White.
On this farm was the ancient house, which was taken down in 1809, between the floors of which was found the paper, of which a copy has been given, containing the names of all who were seated in the meeting-house in 1719. There were four Benjamin Whites in succession from this ancestry, but Moses White occupied the house last mentioned, after his father, and his son of the same name after him. It was purchased from him in 1792, by Hon. Jonathan Mason, who had previously lived in
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POLITICS OF 1798.
the old Goddard or Gardner house, opposite the Reser- voir. He was a senator in Congress. He died in 1831.
An allusion to the politics of those times, occurs in an old letter dated in 1798, written by a lady of that vicin- ity.
The writer, mentioning two of her neighbors who called, says : -
"They spent the evening talking upon Politics. These trou- blesome times seem to take up every person's attention. I am almost sick of hearing the name of Federalists and Jacobins. We live in the midst of both. The upper and lower part of the Town are what people call Jacobins. They say those that live in the middle of the town are influenced by Mr. Mason and Mr. Cabot." [Hon. George Cabot at that time lived on the place now owned by the heirs of the late Samuel Goddard. ]
"I am sorry for 'Squire Gardner who said he wanted to please everybody, for he did not please anybody. At Town Meeting he stood in the broad aisle and durst not go one side or the other till somebody told him to go one side or the other, and at last he went on Dr. Aspinwall's side. He has said since that he was sorry he went to Town Meeting."
The Federalists, it will be remembered, were the party who desired to reelect Washington, but as he positively declined a third term of office, they had unanimously nominated and elected John Adams, whose political opinions were those of Washington. The Jacobins or Republicans believing the other party less devoted than themselves to the cause of popular liberty, had declared their preference for Thomas Jefferson, and the result had been the election of Adams to the Presidency, and Jeffer- son as Vice-president.
Hostilities between France and the United States were then impending, and party feeling, instead of subsiding, 22
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as is usually the case after an election is over, was ram- pant, and men and principles were handled without gloves, by everybody, from statesmen and their compeers, down to school-boys.
The people in the " middle of the town," whom the lady intimates to have been influenced by Mr. Mason and Mr. Cabot, were no doubt Federalists, as Mr. Mason had served in the Senate, under Washington, and was his personal friend and admirer, and Mr. Adams, as we have before stated, was a visitor at Mr. Mason's house.
An incident is connected with Mr. Mason's old house which is somewhat amusing. A colored woman, noted as a notorious thief, and a white girl in company, called at the house begging one day, and took the opportunity to steal some silver spoons. Mr. Mason had just before hired a new coachman. The man had been out, and on returning to the house was made acquainted with the loss. He instantly volunteered to go after the culprits and recover the lost silver, for he said that he had no- ticed them as he came along the road, digging dandelions in a field beside the way. It so happened that the per- sons whom the man saw, were indeed, by an odd coinci- dence, a colored woman and a white girl, but they were from Mr. Heath's family, Sukey, a trusty servant of theirs, and a young girl who was staying there.
The man made all possible speed down the road, and there in the field were the supposed vagrants. He jumped over the wall, and seizing them by the arms, ordered them to deliver up the silver they had stolen. As the terrified women stoutly denied any knowledge of what he meant, he compelled them to pour out their dande- lions, and to empty their pockets, every few minutes giving them a grip and a shake. No silver was to be found, however, and he proceeded to search their clothing,
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HON. THEODORE LYMAN'S PLACE.
the frightened creatures all the while protesting and as- serting their innocence. Finding nothing, and being shown the house where they lived, the self-made detec- tive finally let them go. Their anger and fright at being taken for thieves, and the whole ludicrous affair, made passing entertainment enough for the young people of the neighborhood.
In 1822, Benjamin Guild, Esq., purchased the house which Hon. Jonathan Mason had occupied. In 1841, it was sold to Hon. Theodore Lyman, formerly mayor of Boston, who took down the old house and built the pres- ent fine mansion. The beautiful trees which shade the avenue, were set out by Mr. Mason. Under the care of the various owners, all of whom have been gentlemen of taste, these beautiful trees and the fine lawn have been cultivated and brought to their present luxuriance. West of the house, the summit of the gradually sloping hill commands a magnificent prospect ; in clear weather, Wa- chusett, Watatick, and other mountains being distinctly visible.
A little beyond this house, on the opposite side of Heath Street, formerly stood the school-house for this part of the town. It was a one story wooden building, low in the walls, and with few conveniences. In this for many years, a school was kept by a female teacher in summer, and by a male teacher in winter. In this build- · ing the Worcesters were for several years employed as teachers. It was small, and became densely crowded with pupils long before a new one was built, though it was only a primary school. The new school-house, for both grammar and primary schools, which was thought adequate for many years, has already been enlarged to meet present needs.
On the north side of the street the next house of olden
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF BROOKLINE.
times was owned by Peter Gardner, another of the Gard- ner family, formerly so numerous in this part of the town. There were five houses occupied and owned by Gardners as early as 1688, of whom Peter was one.
After him it was owned by Benjamin White, who died in 1777, at the age of 70. He was one of the Se- lectmen for many years. His son Benjamin occupied the house for several years, but in 1790 he took down the old house, which had been standing more than a hun- dred years, and built the present large square house upon the same site .*
He died in 1814, and the large estate which had de- scended through three generations became now the posses- sion of the fourth Benjamin White. He died in 1839, and the estate passed into other hands.
West of this house about half a mile further on, upon the other side of the street, was a very old house, which was once the property of Joseph Adams. Still further west was another owned by Nathaniel Stedman when Brookline first became a town. Both these houses were bought by one of the Benjamin Whites, and pulled down on account of their great age.
The next house on the same side of the street was also once the property of Nathaniel Stedman, and was sold by him to Ebenezer Sargent. It was purchased of him by Deacon Winchester (of whom more hereafter), and finally became the property of the same Benjamin White who seems to have owned a goodly portion of this part of Brookline. It was built before 1740.
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The next house upon the opposite side, that built by Capt. Benjamin Gardner, was described in the article on the Gardner family.
* This has recently become the property of Mr. Cabot, who has built an ele- gant house upon the hill west of it.
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ELHANAN WINCHESTER.
The next house of any note, going westward, is the one owned for some years by Mark Sheafe. This old house has quite a history.
Among the earliest settlers of the town were John and Josialı Winchester. They were of Welsh origin. Elha- nan and Henry Winchester appear in the second genera- tion. Of Captain John Winchester we gave a sketch in an article on Harvard Street. Elhanan Winchester, above alluded to, lived in the house there mentioned, and was a member of the First Church, of which his ancestors had been the founders. This man and his son of the same name, for many years bore a conspicuous part in the relig- ious annals of this town and vicinity.
Mr. Winchester was married three times ; the first wife left no children, the second left six, and the third nine.
In the year 1744, when Mr. Winchester was a young man, there was quite an excitement in the First Church, of which Rev. Mr. Allen was pastor, and several persons left it, and established an order which they called "New Lights." They held worship in private houses, sometimes in the lower part of the town in the house of Nathaniel Shepherd, on what is now the Public Library ground. (This was before the Dana family owned it.) In the upper part of the town they met at the house of Mr. Winchester.
On Washington Street they sometimes met at the house of Mrs. Elizabeth Corey. They had a preacher, Mr. Jonathan Hyde, for about thirty years. Many of the laymen became exhorters, and among these was Mr. Win- chester. In 1751 his first child, Elhanan, was born. He was a most remarkable child from his earliest years. When only five years of age he could read any English book with ease and fluency. He was a delicate, thought- ful, gentle child, caring little for play, but devouring books with the keenest avidity. The few books then adapted
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF BROOKLINE.
to children were entirely inadequate for the cravings of his mind, and he read and studied the Bible till his knowledge of it was wonderful.
Mr. Winchester was not able to afford other than com- mon school instruction for his remarkable little boy, and he soon mastered all that he could obtain from this source. He then obtained a Latin grammar, and with one evening's study qualified himself to join a class who had been study- ing several weeks. When a little older he acquired with wonderful facility, French, Greek, and Hebrew.
An instance of his remarkable memory is stated by his biographer .* He had attended church one Sabbath with his father, where the building was in an unfinished state. (This was probably the old meeting-house at Newton known as " Father Grafton's.") The father sat below stairs, and the little boy in the gallery. The keen eyes of the strict parent, however, detected the child gazing about the building apparently engrossed with its details.
On returning home he called him to account for it, charging him with paying no attention to the sermon. The boy in self-defense immediately named the text and the place where it was to be found. The father however was not satisfied, and the boy proceeded to name the " heads" of the sermon, and repeated much that the preacher had said. The stern countenance of the father relaxed into something of complacency as the evidence of his son's attention and good memory was established, and the boy taking courage, continued, -
" And now, father, if you will not be offended, I will tell you the number of people, and the number of beams, posts, braces, rafters, and panes of glass there were in the meeting-house. I counted them all, and remembered the text too."
* Rev. Edwin M. Stone.
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The father with difficulty repressed a smile, but assum- ing a look of gravity he warned the child to "give hereafter undivided attention to religious exercises when in a place of worship."
This remarkable child was overwhelmed at the loss of his mother, who was a most affectionate and excellent woman, when he was only eight years of age. In his later years he always spoke of her with an intensity of affection and respect.
It became inconvenient after a time for the New Lights to meet from house to house, and Mr. Winchester, who had been made deacon, was assisted by his religious breth- ren to build a large house which should contain a hall or apartment convenient for their use. This was the house long known as "Richards' Hotel," afterwards as the Sheafe place, and now occupied by many Irish tenants.
In this house the New Lights worshipped undisturbed. After a time, however, young Winchester, who had made a formal profession of religion when about eighteen years of age, became a Baptist. His influence with his father was so great that he too left the New Lights and joined the Baptists soon after. The work of disintegration went on, and the sect was broken up, some joining the Congrega- tionalists, and some other sects.
In 1769 young Winchester was married to Alice Rogers of Rowley, Mass. . Soon after this he entered upon the public work of the ministry, staying for a short time at Canterbury, Conn., and afterwards removing to Rehoboth, Mass. At this place was a Baptist church of open communion practice. Mr. Winchester's youth, his eloquence, his wonderful memory and zeal, attracted crowds ; a revival followed, and he gathered a new church of seventy members.
In less than a year he so far changed his views as to
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF BROOKLINE.
believe in close communion, and was excluded from his church for breach of covenant. This produced a great commotion, and a council was called which decided that Mr. Winchester had left an error to embrace the truth. He soon became one of the most successful and popular preachers in his sect, returned to Brookline, and preached among his old friends, till he preached nearly all the New Lights into the close communion Baptist faith. It was at this time that his father joined this sect.
The next year, 1774, he decided to visit the South. On this visit he received a call from a church at Welch Neck, S. C., to become its pastor. He accepted the call, and after a short stay returned for his wife whom he had left in Massachusetts. When they arrived at Fairfax, Va., Mrs. Winchester was taken sick, and being unable to accompany him lie went on and resumed his duties with his church, leaving his wife in the care of a friend. The following spring he returned to carry her to his southern home. But when he arrived it was too late. She was laid away in her last rest, and he saw her no more. He did not return at once to his people, but came to Boston to visit his old friends, and spend the summer. During this summer he preached for Dr. Stedman. Be- fore autumn he had visited Rehoboth and married Miss Sarah Peck, one of his former parishioners. He returned in the autumn to his church, where he was welcomed with great joy, -a revival occurred, and forty persons were baptized, among whom was Mrs. Winchester. He was then in the full tide of success and popularity, and in the enjoy- ment of great domestic happiness. In less than a year from his marriage he was again bereaved, and himself prostrated with a fever which nearly cost him his life.
The . next year he was married again to a young lady of his own parish, and in less than a year she too was no
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REV. ELHANAN WINCHESTER.
more. Mr. Winchester often spoke of her as " one of the sweetest tempered women he ever saw."
He bore his solitude two years, and then married a widow of Philadelphia. In less than two years she had followed her predecessors. Mr. Winchester's friends, after this unhappy experience, advised him never again to enter into a matrimonial alliance, but he thought it best for a clergyman to be married, and after a year or two he married for the fifth time - taking a widow lady of Philadelphia, who led him an unhappy life during the rest of his days.
In 1780 he was called to Philadelphia, where he drew throngs, till the house was insufficient to contain them, and even St. Paul's, then the largest church in the city, was obtained, and immediately filled to overflowing.
Sometime before this Mr. Winchester had met with "Siegvolk's Everlasting Gospel," which held forth and illustrated the doctrine of Restoration, or what is now commonly called Universalism. He was half a convert to these views when he was preaching with such wonderful effect in Philadelphia. When it became a settled con- viction in his mind that these views were true, he preached them without reservation. This of course pro- duced a furore, and the crowds who listened were divided into warm friends and bitter persecutors. It would be amusing were it not lamentable, to note the change of sentiment which will seize and overpower one's best friends, in the bitterness engendered by diversities of relig- ious belief. Some, seeming to consider themselves cus- todians of the truth, resent it as a personal affront if a friend honestly avows different sentiments, and many who claim in these modern times to be the most liberal in their views, are the most rancorous in their feelings when one of their number goes over to another sect. It
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