USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts > Part 42
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398
HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
In 1820, the building now used as a hotel was built with timber cut where Leache's pond now is.
The Farwell-Adams house, on Billerica street, Owl's Nest, the old Parkhurst estate near McLarney's corner, the Coburn, Parker and Hodgman houses, on the Boston road, the Spaulding- Hazen place; the Hale house, now demolished, Whipple, Spaulding and Bowers houses, and the Marshall tavern, all now in Lowell, are some of the old residences which claim the interest of the historian.
The small house on South street, occupied by the Emerson family, was made of two buildings joined together. The north- east room was once a shoemaker's shop. The south part is, perhaps, 200 years old. In 1847, Hezekiah Parkhurst bought it of Ebenezer Cowdry.
The original Warren homestead, a little further south on this street, was built prior to 1697, on land given to Deacon Joseph Warren by Thomas Hinchman, his kinsman, January 1, 1699-1700.
In the South Village, the Berry house, so called, with brick ends, is a good example of that type, and well preserved. It was built by John Bateman, whose daughter, Charlotte, married Ezekiel Byam, the match manufacturer.
The Proctor homestead, built, probably, before 1790, was the birthplace of the late Thomas Parker Proctor, the lawyer of Boston.
The Thayer, or Nathan Crosby place, was once occupied by an eccentric German named Ritche, who fought at the Battle of Waterloo, and received a medal for bravery.
The Dutton house, probably built by the Chamberlains, about 1760, came into the possession of David Dutton, a cooper, in 1801, and is now occupied by the children of the late Edwin E. Dutton.
The Deacon Otis Adams house is quite old.
F. C. Byam's house was formerly used as a tavern.
D. P. Byam's house is close to a century in age.
The Charles Adams house was built by Isaac Adams, grand- father of the late Amos F. Adams, donor of the Adams Library.
The Robbins house, formerly owned and occupied by Dr. John Betteys, dates back to the earliest days of the Town's history. It is said to have been a block house, or garrison, and later a noon house.
George P. Mansfield's place and the home of Rev. John Parkhurst are old buildings.
The John Byam house is about a century old, built by Simeon, on the estate of Isaac. This property has been in the family from the first days of the settlement.
The C. W. Byam house, south of Robin's hill, once occupied by Dr. Jonas Marshall, is about 180 years old. On the opposite side of the road is the "Billy Byam place," of about the same age.
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THE LIFE OF LONG AGO
The Spaulding-Hazen place was probably a part of the estate deeded by Andrew, son of Edward, to his son, Henry, in 1706. Andrew bought of John and Daniel Waldo about 260 acres, being a part of the estate of Capt. Samuel Adams. The Waldos married, respectively, Rebecca and Susanna Adams, daughters of Sameul. Henry Spaulding was a tailor. His son, Henry, inherited the property. Then came Zebulon and Sherebiah and Sherebiah, Jr. In 1861, Sanford Hazen bought the homestead from the estate of the latter.
The original Edward Spaulding estate was at Newfield and Flaggy meadow, North Chelmsford.
The road that is now called Gorham street, in East Chelms- ford, is a comparatively new road, having been built about 1840, so there are no old houses on that road, excepting the Dyar house, and that was reached by a lane from what is now Carlisle street. This house was formerly the Carleton place. Before that, one Frost lived there. Thomas Marshall married his first wife, who was Hannah Frost, at that house, when he came to settle in East Chelmsford. The Frost house, therefore, must be older than the Marshall house. It has been somewhat altered.
The date of the marriage of Thomas Marshall and Hannah Frost is Feb. 22, 1753. So the old Marshall house, the only old house on what is now Carlisle street, was probably built about that time, as this Thomas was the first Marshall to settle in East Chelmsford. His brother, Dr. Jonas Marshall, lived at the C. W. Byam place before and during the Revolutionary War. The Marshall house was kept in the family until 1860, when Thomas Marshall's grandson, Thomas, died. This house has been enlarged, turned half way around, and altered a good deal. There are two old wells still on the place that are supposed to have been dug when the place was first built. This was the only house on the road at the time it was built, from the Billerica line to the Osgood house, which is just beyond the railroad bridge, on Gorham street, Lowell, but was then, of course, in East Chelmsford.
The Timothy Manning house, now the Sullivan place, near the French Cemetery, is an old house. Timothy Manning, the first occupant of the house, was a brother to William Manning, who was the first Manning who lived at the Manning Manse in Billerica. This is the only old house on the road from East Chelmsford to Chelmsford Centre. Nothing is known definitely of its age, but it is probably at least as old as the Marshall house, as tradition tells us that when Thomas Marshall went to Chelmsford Centre he went past this house.
The Pierces were another old family, and their house stood a little way beyond where William Manning now lives. One Stephen Pierce lived there. He had two sons, Stephen and Oliver, and Oliver built a house down at the end of that road, and his descend- ants lived there after him. The son, Stephen, built him a house on the spot where William Manning lives now, and lived there.
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
. He married Hannah Marshall, only daughter of Thomas Marshall and Hannah Frost Marshall, and they had a large family of children. Both these houses are still standing. The house in which Mr. Manning now lives has been considerably altered, but a part of the old house is still standing. The other house is now owned by Mr. Perry Thompson, and has also been much changed. The original Stephen Pierce house has long since gone, and is not remembered by anyone now living.
But a short distance from Carlisle street, on the same road as the Pierce house, was the old Livingston house. There are none of the Livingston descendants now living who know anything definite about the age of the house, but it is fully as old as any house in this neighborhood. This house was burned in November, 1907, but was not totally destroyed. The first schoolhouse that was built in East Chelmsford was very near this Livingston house, and was probably erected soon after 1800. That school- house is still in existence, but was given up as a schoolhouse in 1856 or 1857, and moved from its place, and has since been used as a dwelling house, and, of course, is greatly changed. Before this schoolhouse was built, school sessions were held for a short time in a chamber of the old Marshall house.
The Old Boston road, or Ayer's City road, leading to Plain street in Lowell, from East Chelmsford, is a very old road, older than Carlisle street, and was one of the main thoroughfares from New Hampshire to Boston, over which much teaming was done. The old Marshall house was, for a short time, a tavern on this route.
In some of the old houses in Chelmsford the walls are boarded, instead of plastered, and some of these boards, and those in the wainscoting under the windows, are of great width. In some cases, there are boards 15 to 18 feet long, and 32 inches wide, without a knot in them. In the Hayward house, at South Chelms- ford, there are boards 34 and 36 inches wide. A door is made of a single board about 32 inches wide. In this house, the lower rooms are less than 7 feet high. In one room on the second floor are portholes, low in the wall, large enough to take the muzzle of a gun, in case of an Indian attack. The foundations of the house are massive, and take in a huge boulder, which, apparently, lies in its original position. In one part of the cellar is a room built of stone, which was used as a hiding place. This has been walled up.
Many of the beams and rafters in the old houses are fastened together with tree-nails, i. e., wooden pins. The corner posts and summers or summertrees overhead, strongly in evidence in some of these buildings, are interesting structural features, and, made of virgin oak, hardened with age, defy attempts to drive nails into them, and auger bits are broken on them.
,
38-36
Porfiltrations sfortion) for the arestriction of frais
Euroy malle sexton with in our bonne above the dig.
of fine foot in length with a brobe on the Ing and to Grange the fame to the making house
The 28 Days of may, +forthe fall can have formantion with abraham varin to fus down the Birth in the having Wear grach, for fun ghilord the gian to be rais in the Lowny heter and by leaving alors i to hearinget al it
No. 23
FROM THE TOWN RECORDS. SEE PAGE 61, BOTTOM
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THE LIFE OF LONG AGO
INNHOLDERS AND RETAILERS.
This list contains the names of some of the old innkeepers of Chelmsford, but does not claim to be complete.
There was a tavern in Chelmsford in 1672.
In the year 1674, Edward Spalding, age 34, made deposition of conversation at "our ordinary."
Nathaniel Hill was landlord in 1695.
John Perham was an early keeper of a house for entertainment.
"At His Majestees Court of General Sessions of the Peace held at Cambridge by Adjournment on the fourteenth day of July Anno Domini 1724:
"Licences Renewed & Secured Viz:
"Capt Jonas Clark allowed to be an Innholder Mr John Parker allowed to be an Innholder
Mr Jonathan Barron allowed to be an Innholder Mr Thomas Reed allowed to be an Innholder Mr John Reed allowed to be an Innholder
Capt Hezekiah Butler allowed to be a retailer" In 1725 the same were renewed except the last. The retailers were: Mr Henry Blazedel Mrs Priscilla Butler
1752-Innholders:
Jonas Clark, Esq. John Parker
Jona. Parkhurst Jona. Spaulding
Retailers : Sampson Stoddard, Esq.
Saml. Adams
1757, Lieut. John Parker-Innholder. 1759-Innholders: Jno. Parker Jona. Parkhurst
Danl. Procter Henry Fletcher
Sampson Stoddard a Retailer
1761-Innholders: Jno. Parker Jona. Parkhurst
Danl. Procter Oliver Barron
Sampson Stoddard a Retailer 1765-Innholders: Danl. Procter
Reuben Hamblet
Oliver Barron
Retailers: Sampson Stoddard, Esq.
Jno. Spaulding Jur.
1769-Innholders:
Danl. Procter Oliver Barron
Moses Davis Jos. Dun
Retailers: Sampson Stoddard
Jno. Spaulding Jur.
1770-Innholders:
Danl. Procter Oliver Barron
Moses Davis Jos. Dun
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
Retailers:
Sampson Stoddard Esq. Sampson Stoddard Jur.
Jno. Spaulding Jur. Jno. Bridge In 1771 the names are the same as in 1770 and also Nehr. Abbot, Retailer
In 1807, Jonathan Manning and Jonathan Barron kept taverns where the selectmen and Town officers were entertained at the expense of the Town.
1824. Carter's hotel, East Chelmsford.
1829. William Reed.
1831. William, Jr., and T. J. Adams.
1836. Richard Taft; afterwards, McAllister & Taft.
1837. Thomas Moore.
1839. Mr. Clifford and John Gray.
1841. Joseph Adams, 2d.
1843. Joseph Reed.
1847. Arnold Burt. Henry B. Proctor.
1851. Reuben Simpson at North Chelmsford.
STOREKEEPERS
This is a partial list of storekeepers in Chelmsford, not previously mentioned.
1750 Major Sampson Stoddard 1845 Thomas Howe
1751 John Tucker 1848 E F Webster
1794 Samuel and Willard Marshall 1851
E A Parkhurst
1810 Colonel Ebenezer Bridge
1858 Hill & Parkhurst
1828 Ezekiel Byam 1860 John E. Stevens
1829 James Robbins
1862
E. K. Parkhurst
1831 Capt. Lovell Fletcher
1865 S. S. Parkhurst
1832 Abel Hunt
1869
S. S. Parkhurst
1838 Abel Hunt
Samuel Cummings
Capt Franklin Putnam
Libby and Evans
1843 S. S. Parkhurst 1880 S. W. Parkhurst
The store kept by S. S. Parkhurst was on the site of the Wilson block. The present store, facing on Chelmsford street, was moved to its present site when the railroad was built. It formerly stood where the flagman's house now is.
In 1824 Morrill, and Jonathan Tyler, kept stores in East Chelmsford.
FURNITURE.
The furniture of the early days was of the plainest sort- a home-made table, stools and benches and bedsteads. The bedticks were filled with straw, husks or pine needles. There were wooden or pewter spoons and platters and various other simple kitchen implements, with iron pots hanging from the
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THE LIFE OF LONG AGO
crane on pot-hooks and trammels. There were no forks. Table knives sometimes had a flat, dull edged, spoon shaped end to the blade, with which to lift the food to the mouth.
The fireplace was, of course, the only means of heating the house. Wood was rather a burden, to be got rid of. There was no need of Mr. John Clark's patent "invention for saving of firewood," which was probably some sort of stove, which in Boston in 1652 (the year when patented) may have been econ- omical.
Candle-wood or pitch pine furnished light in the evening, until cattle and sheep were sufficiently numerous to furnish tallow for "dips." Towards the year 1700 sperm oil began to be used.
The sun dial marked the sunny hours for the people, where it could be seen, but hunger must have been the surest indication of meal time.
John Bates was paid for "setting up the dial."
1705. To Jonathan Richardson for siting up the the Diall £0:6:0
Dec. 24. To Jonathan Barit for work done in siting up the Dial 0:2:0
1723. To Edward Foster for a Diall Post and mending the Diall 0:5:6
Clocks and watches were very rare even up to 1800 in the country.
William G. Langdon, an old watchmaker who died a few years ago, had been at his bench for seventy-five years. The writer has had some interesting conversation with him. When he began to work at his trade, men who carried watches were more notable than millionaires are now. Two-thirds of the families of New England were without clocks.
The hour-glass stood on the pulpit to limit the usual length of the sermon, and no doubt was used in private houses. On one occasion the preacher, turning it over, invited the congre- gation "to take another glass."
STOCKS.
The stocks, pillory and whipping post were the instruments of correction. There is no mention of the latter two in the Town records, but the laws of the Colony provided for their use in many cases. Even children, who were incorrigible, might be whipped with ten stripes for disorder and rudeness in public worship. The Court ordered in 1675 that the selectmen should appoint such place or places in the meeting house for children or youth to sit in, where they may be most together, and in public view, and some grave and sober person or persons were to have inspection over them.
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
The stocks were usually placed near the meeting house, and in Chelmsford, they were located on the common near where the Revolutionary monument now stands.
In 1698 John Bates, sen., received "for mending the Stoxs". £0: 1:6
1700. To Abraham Byam "for brunging the stooks" £0: 1:0
1729. To Edw. Foster for making new stocks £0:12:0
1737. He was paid for the stocks and mending the Irons.
There is an item in the Town records about 1790 "one chain to confine Wm. Powers with."
RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE.
The political system in this Colony was not really democratic, but aristocratic. The right of suffrage was given to those only who were church members and who were deemed fit to be made free.
In 1641 it was enacted that, Every Court within this Juris- diction where two Magistrates are present, may admit any Church Members, that are fit to be Freemen, giving them the Oath, and the Clerk of each Court shall certifie their Names to the Secretary at the next General Court.
In volume 106 of the State archives is a signed statement by John Fiske, the minister, in which he testifies to the General Court that Josiah Richardson, Eleazer Brown and Jacob Warren "have approved themselves unto our church," desiring that they may be made freemen and take the freeman's oath at the next County Court. This is dated Chelmsford, 9, 1 mo. [March 9] 1673/4.
In the same volume is the following:
These may testify the hon'red governor & General Courte assembled at Boston that Thomas Clark, Edward Spaulden, Joseph Harwell, Samuel fletcher, John Barrett, Cornilius Waldo are admitted into full communion with the Church of Christ at Chelmsford & therefore desire to take their freedom according to law.
Chelmsford 5-3-1679.
as attests Thomas Clark pastor to ye Church who hath desired Concord Deputy deliver it in to ye sd Cort.
FREEMAN'S OATH.
Whereas I [A. B.] being an Inhabitant of the Jurisdiction of the Massachusetts, and now to be made free. Do hereby ac- knowledge my selfe to be subject to the Government thereof (considering how I stand obliged to the King's Majesty, his Heires and Successors, by our Charter and the Government established thereby. Do swear accordingly, by the Great and
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THE LIFE OF LONG AGO
Dreadfull Name of the Ever-Living God, that I will bear Faith and true Alegiance to our Soveraigne Lord the King, his heires and successors,) and that I will be True and Faithfull to the same, and will accordingly yeild Assistance and Support thereunto with my person and estate, as in equity I am bound; And will also truely endeavour to maintain and preserve all the Liberties and privileges thereof, submitting my selfe to the wolesome Laws made and established by the same.
And farther that I will not Plot nor Practice any Evil against it, or consent to any that shall do so, but will timely discover and reveal the same to Lawfull Authority now here established, for the speedy prevention thereof.
Moreover I do Solemnly bind my selfe in the sight of God, that when I shall be called to give my Voyce touching any such matter of this State wherein Freemen are to deal, I will give my Vote and Suffrage as I shall in mine own Conscience judge best to Conduce and tend to the Publick Weale of the body, without respect of persons or favour of any man. So help me God in our Lord Jesus Christ. [Laws and Liberties.]
OLD LAWS.
A few items from the printed volume of Laws & Liberties; revised, 1672, may be interesting.
Apparel: Persons of mean condition were not allowed to take upon them the garb of Gentlemen, by wearing Gold or Silver lace or buttons, or points at the Knees, or to walk in great boots; or women of the same rank to wear silk or Tiffiny hoods or scarfs, which though allowable to persons of greater Estates or more liberal Education, "yet we cannot but judge it intollerable" in persons of mean condition.
Bakers were to have distinct marks for their bread.
When wheat sold at 3 shillings per bushell the penny white loaf by avoirdupois weight should weigh 11 ounces 1 gr .; wheat, 17 ounces 1 gr .; household 23 ounces. and so on by the scale; when wheat sold at 6s. 6d per bushell the white penny loaf should weigh 6 ounces: the wheat 9 ounces 2 gr. the household 12 ounces 2 gr.
Towns were to have separate marks for cattle. Chelmsford's mark was the letter C.
The law forbidding the celebration of Christmas was repealed in 1681.
The selectmen were to take care that children be taught to read.
Masters of families were to catechise their children and servants at least once a week-that they may be able to answer unto the questions that shall be propounded unto them out of the short orthodox Catechism by their parents or masters or any of the selectmen when they shall call them to a tryal.
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
The Court gave £400. to Harvard College, also the revenue of the ferry betwixt Charlestown & Boston-£100-to the President and fellows, and £100. added to the Country rate, laid on the towns.
The Civil Authority claimed the right to see that the or- dinances and Rules of Christ be observed in every church.
People were compelled to attend meeting-doors were shut or locked to keep them from departing before the end of service.
The people were taxed to provide house and maintenance for the minister.
In balloting the freemen used Indian corn for, and beans against. For a time only members of churches were made freemen and voters.
As for the balloting, the General Court ordered in 1643 "that for the yearly choosing of Assistants for the time to come, instead of papers the freemen shall use Indian beanes, the white beanes to manifest election, the black for blanks." In the same year that Chelmsford was settled, the ballot-box was "stuffed," but not in Chelmsford. In the records of the General Court we find that, "John Guppy, being under a great fine for puting in more cornes then one for the choyce of a magistrat, uppon his request to this Court, hath his fine abated to twenty shillings." The fine was £10.
Galloping or violent riding was prohibited in Boston Streets.
Gaming and dancing and the observance of Christmas were punished by fine.
Anabaptists who oppose the Baptizing of children were banished.
There was a heavy fine for denying any book of the Bible to be the written and infallible word of God.
Quakers were banished on pain of death.
Jesuits were banished.
Laborers may be impressed for any public work.
Cattle or other goods damnified in the Country service were to be made good.
There were many regulations relating to the Indians.
No liquors, ammunition, boats, or horses were to be sold to Indians.
All Keepers of ordinaries were to be licensed & "shall always be provided of strong wholesome beer, to be sold at two pence a quart"; also to provide entertainment for horses.
Ordinary keepers shall clear their houses in meeting-time.
There shall be no rude singing in taverns by drunkards who abuse the good gifts of God.
All intentions of marriage were to be 3 times published at public lecture or town meeting & posted at the meeting house 14 days. Magistrates only were to perform marriages. It was very shortly before the year 1700 that ministers began to exercise this function. It is recorded that John Hancock of North Cam-
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bridge and Elizabeth Clark of Chelmsford entered into a covenant of marriage before Mr. Thomas Clarke of Chelmsford, December ye 11th. 1700. In the Chelmsford records there are one or two earlier marriages by Mr. Clarke.
All men were to be furnished with arms. If too poor to pay for them they were to be put to service "to earn it out."
Towns were to provide a stock of ammunition.
No man shall receive above 40 stripes at one time.
Torture was allowed but none barbarous or inhuman.
Sabbath breakers were fined.
The Selectmen were to appoint how much each family shall spin.
No man shall take any tobacco within 20 poles of any house nor near any barn, hay cock &c. (for prevention of fires) nor in any inn, except in a private room so that none take offense. In 1643 Wampampeag (wampum, Indian shell money) was by law to pass current.
Watchmen were to see that lights were put out in the houses at an early hour to prevent fires; and to stop noise in the streets.
FIRE-WARDS AND ENGINE-MEN.
In 1711, in Boston, fire-wards carried a staff five feet in length, colored red and headed with a bright brass spire six inches long. On an alarm of fire, the fire-wards were to take their badges (staves) with them, immediately repair to the Place, and vigorously to assert their authority. Nicely painted leathern fire-buckets are still to be seen in some of our old houses. These were seized as the men ran to the scene of the fire, and stood in line to pass them, filled with water, to those who threw it on the blazing house, or poured it into the tub of the hand engine. There was generally an attempt to pump the tub dry, and thus shame those who were passing the buckets. Fifty years or more ago a Chelmsford man named Merriam invented a wonderful contrivance, shaped like a coffin with a spout at one end. It was to be carried to the fire and filled with water to be thus poured on the conflagration.
In 1823 five "engine men" were appointed by the Town.
In 1825 seven fire wardens were chosen: Kirk Boott, Paul Moody, Cyrus Baldwin, Phineas Whiting, Oliver M. Whipple and Charles Nichols.
1823, April 24. Kirk Boott, agent of the Merrimack Manu- facturing Co., represented to the Town that the Company were proprietors of a fire engine which they were desirous should be employed for the benefit of this Town. In accordance with his request, the selectmen appointed as enginemen:
Jonathan Burbank Nathaniel Holmes William Pearson Samuel S. Churchill
Simeon C. Sargent David Hamlet Joseph M. Dodge Abel Lincoln
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
Amos Pearson
John Boutwell
Charles Nichols John T. Spofford
Sewell Heasleton
John Clark
Leonard Cushing
Dennis Doane
Stephen W. Balcom
Calvin Fairbanks
Stephen Cushing John Dummer All of Chelmsford.
William Whall, 3d
A year later, several of these men were discharged, and the following appointed in their stead:
James R. Barnes
Jonathan Jaquith
Daniel Balch
Nathan Robbins
Francis Winch
Joseph Carlton
Abner Ball
Daniel W. Ferguson
Jonathan Gould
Jonathan Adams
In 1825, the proprietors of Locks and Canals, having provided themselves with an engine and buckets, subject to the direction of the Town, petitioned the selectmen, by Kirk Boott, treasurer and agent, to authorize the same and appoint 21 enginemen, which they did by virtue of the Statutes of 1785 and 1805, as follows:
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