USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Dedham > History of Dedham, Massachusetts > Part 28
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the sharp end of a deer's horn on the tip of a long stick, or the shoulder blade of an animal. After the hunt the women and the girls tore the meat into small strips and hung it on racks to dry over a low fire; a great many fish were dried in the same way for winter use. The women spread mats on the ground and scattered berries on them to be dried by the sun. The Indian women were very saving and never wasted anything. They spent much time in making yokes, mats and baskets. From the wood of the cedar tree the Indians built a frame for the canoe and covered it with a large piece of birch bark. In making the arrow, to the split end of the shaft, the Indian inserted the small notched edge of the arrowhead and then added three split wing feathers. of a wild goose to guide the arrow on its flight. The boys prac- ticed with the bow and arrow and each had his quiver, a skin bag deep enough to hold his arrows. Beautiful bows were given as prizes to the boy who was the best shot. The coming of a visitor to a camp was announced by the barking of many dogs which were kept in large numbers in all Indian villages.
As the Springfield Parish territory was originally a "peculiar hunting ground" of the Indians it could not have been a place of general residence. Arrowheads made from stone unknown in this section of the country, which geologists tell us are two thousand years old, are found here.
The Apostle Eliot in his ministrations found that single handed and alone he could hope to accomplish but little, so he early adopted the plan of colonizing his converts. For this purpose he selected, in 1650, that part of the Dedham territory now known as Natick, where he commenced a settlement on Charles River. The life lived on Dedham's grant of two thousand acres at South Natick was entirely different from the ordinary life of the Massachusetts Indian. In this Indian village each family had a house lot and "a gratuity unto their great content- ment." They were supplied with spades, hoes, axes and other farm implements and in time those living, especially on the south side of Charles River, became quite industrious and spread out over the surrounding country. They lived in houses and had orchards and cultivated fields and transferred their lands by Indian deeds. They were very proud of their orchards and some of their native apple trees are still found on the farm of the late
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James Draper on Glen Street, Natick, where many Indian cellar holes still abound. The Natick Indians traveled over the sur- rounding country offering their goods for sale. They found something to sell at all seasons of the year. In winter they sold brooms, pots, baskets and turkeys; in the spring cranberries and fish; in early summer strawberries; and in the fall grapes and venison. In 1678, there were two hundred and twelve Praying Indians at South Natick. The number gradually declined and in 1826 they became extinct. On land which was known as the "Indian Farm" were gathered for many years an abundance of wild apples grown on trees the Indians had planted. Their flowers, especially the rose, bloomed in great abundance and perhaps are still gathered in the early summer. Thomas Pegan, for whom Pegan hill was named, did not belong to an Indian tribe, neither did any of his people, they were an Indian family. Thomas Pegan lived on the northwest side of the hill near the top and was promi- nent in the affairs of the town, holding many offices. It is well to remember that there never was a separate tribe of "Natick Indians." They were called the "Naticks" after Eliot made his settlement there.
What was the daily life, habits, and customs of the Indians who once lived on Dedham soil? Fortunately we have an answer to this inquiry from Major General Gookin of Cambridge, Super- intendent of the Massachusetts Indians, who spent much time among the Indians of his charge. Major Gookin says: "Their food is generally boiled maize mixed with kidney beans, or without. They boil in their pottage fish and flesh of all sorts, either fresh or dried, as shad, bass, eels, alewives or any kind of herring or any other sort of fish. They also boil in the pottage all sorts of flesh taken in the hunt, as venison, bear's flesh, beaver, moose, otter and raccoon, cut into small pieces. Several sorts of roots are mixed with it as, Jerusalem artichokes, ground nuts, pump- kins and squashes. Also several sorts of masts; as acorns, chest- nuts and walnuts; which when husked and dried and powdered are used as a thickening for their pottage. Baking was done by digging a hole in the ground in which a fire was kindled. When the ashes were removed cedar bark was placed on the bottom and a fire over the hole did the baking. Beans were cooked in a
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hole in which hot stones did the baking. They sometimes heat their maize into a meal, and sifted it through a basket made for the purpose. Puddings were made of beaten corn and filled with great stores of blackberries. They also made strawberry bread which the squaws prepared by bruising the fruit in a mortar and mixing it with their parched meal. Again they made of this meal small cakes in which they mixed small pieces of dried meat. They made also a certain sort of meal of parched maize. This meal they called nakake. It is so sweet and toothsome and hearty that an Indian will travel many days with no other food, but this meal, which he eats as he feels the need and afterwards drinks water perhaps from a brook. This is what the Indians lived on when they traveled to their "peculiar hunting ground." In drying corn when in the milk the Indian put it in kettles and boiled it on the ear until it was pretty hard. It was then shelled from the cob with a clam shell and dried on bark in the sun. When thoroughly dry a kernel is no biger than a pea and will keep for years. When it is boiled again it swells as large as when it was on the cob and tastes incomparably sweeter than other corn. The Indian's barn was a hole in the ground lined and covered with bark and then with earth. What was the child life of the Indian ? Indian fathers and mothers were very affectionate and fond of their children whom they often named after birds and animals. The eagle, a brave and strong bird, was a favorite with them and still remains a symbol in American life. Indian babies were a happy little people, who slept on a baby board which was made by putting soft moss on a board and covering it with soft deer skin. To this board the baby was tied. As soon as the baby grew old enough his mother made him a pair of moccasins of soft skin for his little feet. Indian mothers believe in Good Spirits and Evil Spirits. Each baby moccasin had a hole in it to let the Evil Spirit out when the baby was ill and cried. When Indian mothers could not watch their children they tied their feet together so they could not run away. The Indian girls liked to play with their dolls, but the Indian boys liked their bows and arrows better. Indian boys were taught the use of the bow and
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arrow at an early age, by shooting at a mark. Indian* children were early taught to observe; when they saw a tree with scratches on the bark they knew a bear or raccoon was living near. They were trained to know the north side of a tree, and to judge whether the tracks of a deer were those of a buck or doe. The Indians kept many dogs with which the children played; they also had tamed baby bears, raccoons, squirrels and foxes which they kept as pets. They played games and Indian boys fished with bone hooks and wild hemp strings used as a fish line. The dogs were used by the Indians to draw the travois, a wheel- less wagon, made from two small trees with the tops tied together. A seat was made of sticks covered with a skin. The travois was tied to a dog and used in carrying packs from camp to camp. In this vicinity the deer was the most useful animal in Indian life. Deer meat, cut in strips, was hung on racks beneath which a fire was built which dried and smoked the meat. Deer skins were tanned in the sun and scraped smooth and soft. From deer skins moccasins were made for the feet and blankets for the braves. Indians drew marks and pictures on skins which was called picture writing. Some of these skins gave family history covering a period of time. The Indian men hunted in the fields and woods while the women did most of the other work. After a hunt the women and children went out and brought the meat and skins into the camp.
Fresh fish was broiled on the coals or fastened to a board and toasted before the fire. This last way of cooking was well suited to the bass, which were caught in almost incredible num- bers, or shot by half-grown boys with their arrows. This fish had the habit of swimming at the very surface of the water. The cooking utensils were few and simple; at first a few pots were made from soft stone and a few vessels made of baked clay which was found in abundance around Clay Brook. The agriculture carried on by the natives was of a very crude character. A stone set in a wooden staff is an indifferent axe for felling trees, so fire was the great agent employed in clearing the fields. For hoes they made use of bones, the shoulder blades of bears, moose or
* For a good description of Indian life, see Mrs. Therese A. Deming's Indian Life Series.
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deer. To make the maize into meal it was either ground between two stones or powdered with a wooden or stone pestle in a stone, or mortar made of a large log hollowed out at an end.
The winter among the Indians was a season of idleness. They removed from the summer field to the thick and wooded bottom lands where they sheltered themselves from the rigor of winter. Now and then they fished through the ice and speared a few fish; that was all. In the beginning of March they began to hunt. The pursuit of the beaver was their occupation as soon as the rivers, ponds and brooks were broken. Then came the great spring movement to the favorite fishing encampment which in the early time was around Wigwam pond and probably Buckmaster pond in Westwood, as well as Noanet's village on Charles River. The planting of the fields of maize, beans, pumpkin and squashes followed. Midsummer was again a season of idleness and of va- rious games and the season ended with the great fall hunt, their true harvest time and the real "Indian Summer." Roger Wil- liams, who is believed to have been restored to his family on Ded- ham territory, after his wanderings among the Indians, speaks of their uniform hospitality; he says, "they never failed to share their food, no matter how limited the supply, with a visitor."
Such was Indian life on the territory of Dedham at a far distant time. The Indians played games, and in the winter the braves and the boys were supplied with snowshoes. They had no musical instruments except the drum. Nahatan Street which extends from High Street in Westwood to Washington Street in Norwood was laid out in 1807 and named for the Nahatan family of Ponkapoag Indians. The last of the Aborigines in Dedham were Alexander Quabish and Sarah his wife. She died in 1774 and was buried in the old Indian burial place at the foot of Wig- wam hill being the last person buried there. Alexander died in Natick or Needham in 1776. Indian relics from time to time have been dug up on present Dedham territory including tools and ornaments. The Dedham Historical Society has a fine collec- tion of these relics including arrow-heads, stone bobs, spear heads, gouges, tomahawks, hatchets, pestles (used in grinding maize), scalping hatchets, etc., etc. In the absence of records, it may be assumed that there was little or no Indian life in what
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is now Norwood. Ponkapoag with its Indian settlement was only a few miles away and "Tiot" offered no special attractions for either a summer or winter home for the Indians. In Ponkapoag the Indians were engaged in planting and in keeping swine and cattle and besides they found excellent fishing in the ponds and the Neponset river. They had the advantage of a large cedar swamp, where the diligent among them earned money by cutting and shaving cedar shingles and clapboard, which found a ready sale in Boston and neighboring towns.
INDIAN DEEDS. The territory of Dedham was granted to the settlers having as we have seen Indian titles which they felt bound to extinguish. How well they carried out this contract is shown by two deeds hanging side by side, back of the Presi- dent's chair in the rooms of the Dedham Historical Society. These deeds together give the Indian title to early Dedham.
To all people unto whom these present shall come, Charles Josiah son of Josiah son and heir of Chickatabut only Sachem of the Massachusetts Country and sole proprietor thereof when the English arrived in these parts, sendeth greeting. Know ye that whereas in a late sale of the town of Dedham to the Inhabitants thereof I reserved to myself two hundred acres of land and to my heirs and assignes to be laid out near Neponset River near the saw mills of the said town which is since conveniently laid out as is there covenanted and agreed reference thereunto being had. Now be it known that I the afore said Charles Josiah Indian Sachem ... in consideration of a valuable sume of money to me in hand payd by Nathaniel Paige of Boston ... with the advice and consent knowledge and approbation of William Stoughton of Dorchester Esqr and Joseph Dudley of Roxbury Esqr my guar- dians and prochein amys have given graunted bargained sold aliened set over enfoeffed and confirmed ... unto him the said Nathaniel Paige all my right title and Interest in or to the said land by me reserved and surveyed as abovesaid lying scituate and being in the bounds of the aforesaid town of Dedham contain- ing by aestimation two hundred acres be the same more or less butted and bounded by the lines between the towns of Dorchester and Roxbury on the southward and on all other sides by the common and undisposed lands of the said town of Dedham or
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howsoever otherwise butted and bounded . .. To have and to hold possess and enjoy the whole aforesaid tract of land containing and bounded as aforesd ... In witness whereof I the said Charles Josiah have here unto set my hand and seal the eighth of October Anno Dom. one thousand six hundred eighty and five. . . Jacobi secundi Angliae &c primo.
In 1688 this tract of land was surveyed as the following copy shows.
By virtue of a warrant from his Excelency Sr Edmund Andros Knight Captain General and Governr in Chiefe of his Majestis teritory and Dominion of new England bearing Date Boston of April 1688.
I have survaied and Layd out for Mr Nathaniell Paige a Certaine tract of land being siteuat and lieing to the south west of naponsett Bridge, within the Limits of the towne of Denham in the County of [ ] begining at a Markt tree standing one the south side of naponsett River wheere the dividing line between Denham and Doachester croses the said River and runs by said Line by a Rainge of Marked tree & stakes south west one degree southerly ninety two chaines and then turns north sixty two Chaine to Naponset River and soe by said River as it runs Easterly to the marked tree where first begun at in forme tri- anguler and is bounded south and west by Comon Land not Layd out and northerly by Naponset River Conteyning within said bounds two hundred Akers.
Also another tract of Land Lieing to the south east of naponset Bridge joyning to the former within the limits of Dorchester bounds beginning at the north east Corner of the former tract at the tree standing by naponset River and Ranging by the dividing Line betweene Dorchester and Denham south west one degree southerly thirty three Chaines and then in length on the south side east thirty five Chaine to the Contrey Road and then in bredth by the Contrey Road north twenty five degrees easterly twenty six chaine and then in Length west twenty foure Chaine [to the] tree where first began being bounded north east and south west by the Comon not Layd out East by the Contrey Road and north west by the former Land Conteyning seventy Akers being in all two hundred and seventy Akers.
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Performed this 16th day of Aprill 1688 PHILLIP WELLES survr
In 1681 Dedham held seven deeds from the Indians several of which had been successfully negotiated by Richard Ellis and Timothy Dwight. For all of these conveyances an adequate con- sideration in money or Indian corn had been paid. Dedham also held three deeds to Pocumtuck, which were later given to the town of Deerfield. In 1681 the town voted that all deeds and other writings relating to the town rights should be collected and deposited in a box kept by Deacon Aldis for the purpose.
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CHAPTER XIX
TOWN CELEBRATIONS
SECOND CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY. At a town meeting held November 5, 1835, it was "Voted that the town will celebrate the 2d Centennial Anniversary of the incorporation and settlement of Dedham". A committee was appointed to con- sider the matter who reported to the town the following March, giving a general plan for the observance to be held on September 21, 1836.
The day was ushered in by the ringing of bells at sunrise and the firing of a salute of one hundred guns. At half past ten o'clock, a procession was formed with Nathaniel Guild as Chief Marshall, which under the escort of the Dedham Light Infantry and a Boston Brass Band, marched through the principal streets to the Meeting house of the First Parish in the following order.
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Military Escort Band Aide - Chief Marshal - Aide Committee of Arrangements President Orator and Chaplain Clergy Vice President Governor and Suite Marshals Invited Guests
Sheriff of Norfolk Selectmen of Dedham Marshals Citizens and Others who joined the procession
At the Norfolk House the procession was joined by His Excellency Edward Everett, Governor of the Commonwealth and his suite, together with the clergy and invited guests.
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On the green in front of the meeting house was an orna- mental arch, covered with evergreen and flowers. Upon one side was inscribed "Incorporated 1636", and on the other side "1836". Between the arch and the meeting house eight engine companies with their engines and apparatus were placed in two lines, leaving a space between them for the passing of the pro- cession. On the inner side of the line, about five hundred school children were arranged by their teachers. Under the arch and between the lines of the children the procession passed into the meeting house. The following original hymn written for the occasion by the Reverend John Pierpont was sung to the tune of "Old Hundred".
Not now, O God, beneath the trees That shade this plain, at nights cold moon Do Indian war-songs load the breeze, Or wolves sit howling to the moon.
The foes, the fears our fathers felt
Have, with our fathers, passed away; And where in their dark hours, they knelt, We come to praise thee and to pray.
We praise thee that thou plantedst them,
And mad'st thy heavens drop down their dew,
We pray that, shooting from their stem, We long may flourish where they grew.
. And, Father, leave us not alone :- Thou has been, and art still our trust :- Be thou our fortress; till our own Shall mingle with our fathers' dust.
Prayer was offered by the Reverend Alvan Lamson, pastor of the First Church. The historical address was given by Samuel F. Haven, Esq., of Worcester, a native of Dedham. Mr. Haven's paternal grandfather was the Reverend Jason Haven, and his maternal grandfather, the Reverend Samuel Dexter, both minis- ters of the First Church. Mr. Haven, a learned antiquarian, gave the most valuable historical address relating to the early history of Dedham that has ever been given on a like occasion.
At the dinner about six hundred persons were seated with Hon. James Richardson presiding. After the cloth was removed, the President announced the following (among other) sentiments
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which were received with satisfaction, and interspersed with music from the band.
1. The Day, with all its hallowed associations and congenial joys; may we prove true and faithful to our ancestors, to our institutions, and to posterity.
2. The memory of the first settlers of this town, their reso- lution, fortitude, perseverance, and devotion to civil and religious liberty: May we never, in our zeal to outstrife them in accom- plishments, leave their virtues in the rear.
The speech of Governor Everett, a direct descendant of Richard Everett, one of the first settlers of Dedham, was most eloquent and fitting. Other speeches were made by Judge John Davis, Josiah Quincy, Alexander Everett, Robert C. Winthrop, and others. An interesting part of the celebration was performed by the ladies of Dedham. They spread a table on the lower floor of the Court House and furnished a most ample collation. Music formed a part of the entertainment with the singing of an original hymn. Governor Everett with his suite visited the Court room. From a bench he made a short address to the ladies in which he remarked on the privations, sufferings, fortitude and piety of the first mothers and daughters of the colony.
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY. Ded- ham entered in 1885 with great enthusiasm upon arrangements for the celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town. Numerous committees were appointed and an appropriation of $2,500 was made by the town to meet the expense of the celebration, "on condition that no part of said sum should be expended for alcoholic liquor, or for wine, ale, or beer." As the bicentennial of the town was observed on September 21, the same day of the month was selected for the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary, namely September 21, 1886. The day proved to be perfect. It was estimated that eleven thousand attended, which was a large concourse of people to come together before the advent of the automobile. The day
Note :- In connection with the Anniversary, the Rev. Dr. Lamson gave three historical addresses to which posterity is indebted for much accurate historical data. The Rev. Calvin Durfee of the Second Parish preached a centennial discourse re- viewing the history of the Tiot parish. The Rev. John White of the Third Parish gave an interesting and valuable address on the history of the Clapboard Tree Parish. All of the above addresses were printed.
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was ushered in with the ringing of church bells and the firing of a salute of fifty guns at sunrise; all of which was repeated at sunset. Four band stands were erected at prominent places in the town. Band Concerts were given in the early morning. The concert on the Church Green, from 8 to 9 A. M. by the Cadet Band of Boston assisted by the children of the public schools, was one of the most interesting features of the celebration. The children stood in front of the church and sang national airs con- ducted by Arthur W. Thayer.
At 10 o'clock the Independent Corps of Cadets escorted the Governor and Staff, and invited guests to carriages in the pro- cession which had been formed under the marshalship of Gen. Stephen M. Weld. A governor's salute was fired as the procession started from Memorial Hall on the designated route, (through streets in which public buildings and residences were gay with flags and bunting)-High Street to Eastern Avenue, to East Street, to Walnut Street, to High Street, to Washington Street, to School Street, to Court Street, to Village Avenue, to High Street, to Court Street. The procession comprised the following divisions :
First Division Boston Cadet Band Chief of Division, Gen. Thomas Sherwin Grand Army Posts, Invited Guests and Town Officials
Second Division Norwood Band Dedham Fire Department
Third Division Baldwin's Cadet Band Chief of Division, Henry E. Crocker
Fourth Division Drum and Fife
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Chief of Division, F. F. Favor Company of Continentals - 50 strong - under Command of Capt. Daniel A. Beckford accompanied by twelve floats illustrating historic scenes
Fifth Division Chief of Staff, John Wardle, Jr.
This division composed of the Trade exhibits of the town, was represented by twenty-eight teams appropriately decorated.
At precisely 12 o'clock the procession arrived on the Church Green, where the Governor and Staff, and invited guests, reviewed it from the Band Stand. At this hour the chimes were rung upon St. Paul's Church, and a national salute was fired.
At 12:30, the Governor and guests entered the First Church which was beautifully decorated and crowded to its capacity. On a platform in front of the pulpit were seated the Governor and Staff, the Orator of the Day, Erastus Worthington, Esq., and the President of the Day, Thomas L. Wakefield, Esq. The services in the Church opened with an organ voluntary by Charles J. Capen followed by the singing of an original ode and verses* by Frederic J. Stimson and set to music by Arthur W. Thayer. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Joseph B. Seabury, followed by the address of the President of the Day, Thomas L. Wakefield, Esq. An original hymn by the Rev. Seth C. Beach was sung to the tune of "Dedham". The historical address of Erastus Worthington, Esq. was a contribution to the history of Dedham. He reminded his hearers that Political revolutions have changed the Colony to the Province, and the Province to the Common- wealth. The union between church and town, for two hundred years an inherent part of its legal constitution, had been dis- solved. Eight generations of men have been born, have lived and died here. But the town government, protected by the just limitation of legislative authority on the one hand, and giving to the people the right to manage and direct its civil administration on the other, has retained its hold on life with a. wonderful tenacity.
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