USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : containing carefully prepared histories of every city and town in the county, Vol. I > Part 45
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86
This division of the town into quarters for the schools has always remained. The number has never been changed. The particular boundaries have been changed at times, apparently sometimes for the convenience of families, and sometimes for the more satisfactory distribution of district taxes.
The location of the respective school-houses has continued nearly the same. The greatest change has been in the northeast quarter, probably due to the opening of roads, and a slight change in the southeast. But town committees are some- times dilatory in their business. The committee appointed to quarter the town evidently failed in their duty. Things continued as before till late in 1790, when a new committee was instructed "to accomplish the business," which they did, and made their report in the following March. It seems probable that a house had already been erected in the first district; for at this meeting forty-five pounds were appropriated to build three school-houses, to be divided equally, with the par- ticular mention that the first district should receive their part of the money. These several school- houses seem to have been some years in building. It is doubtful if they were all completed before the opening of the next century. After 1808 all rec- ord of building ceases for a long time. The ap- propriation of money for separate schools for the sexes, " six months' man's and six months' wo- man's schooling," continued till 1802. The town records contain only a few facts concerning the condition of the schools henceforth till 1840. Money is annually appropriated, and the committee is chosen. Some question occasionally comes up as to the bounds of the districts, and so some estates are transferred ; or there is a vote to re- arrange the districts. An appropriation for a sing- ing-school is occasionally made.
The district system prevailed during most of the history of the town, but is now abolished. No reports of the length or condition of the schools are recorded till 1840. The reports that then began ' to be recorded were worthy of publication. They are noticeable for their earnestness, common-sense, and discretion. The one presented in 1846 may be given as an example of brevity : "Your com- mittee would report that in their opinion the schools, with one or two exceptions, have been wisely and judiciously managed the past year." In 1843, "through the liberal encouragement of the legislature," circulating libraries of useful books began to be established in each of the school- houses. During these years the school year was divided into two terms. Later, as the terms were lengthened, it was divided into three terms; this arrangement still continues. Each of the four schools has become small. An unsuccessful effort has been made to diminish the number.
276
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
The annual Report was first printed in 1853. The northeast district began the work of school- house reform by building anew, or making most thorough repairs, in 1842. The other quarters of the town slowly followed the good example. The school-houses now are suitable, convenient, and kept in good repair. We are unable to learn that any of the sons of Boxborough have as yet received a liberal education, save two sons of Rev. Mr. Wil- lard, who followed their father, and were graduated at Harvard in 1793 and 1809. A good common school or academic education, and a life of business, quiet or stirring, has better suited the genius of the people. But " the times are changing."
By far the most interesting and perhaps valu- able part of the history of this quiet town is on its religious side. The preamble to the act of incorporation shows that the town might never have been set off, except for the religious needs of the settlers. The store, the shop, and even the post-office have disappeared from the old centre on the hill. By persistent effort the church still survives, though moved from its original location. Early New England character had something origi- nal, independent, decided, in it, which found its natural element in religion, and its theatre of action in the church. A certain quaintness in its expression, characteristic of our Puritan ancestors, was not less noticeable in Boxborough than else- where. The records of the first church are gone. By the former identity of the town and the parish, the early town records, however, have preserved to us most of the important transactions. It was in the town-meeting that much of the present busi- ness of the church was done. It was an article in the warrant in 1783, " To see if the Town will take any Measures for to regulate Singing on the Lord's Day or appoint Quiristers for the same." And it was " voted to Chuse four Quiristers, As followeth." It was voted in town-meeting in 1796 "that Dr. Belknap's Books should be used for singing in the Congregation of Boxborough in room of Dr. Watts' Books." The town-meeting in the same year " voted and seated Ens. Samuel Wether- bee in the fore-seat below, and Samuel Draper seated in the fore-seat of the side gallery." Two years later the same autocracy, imbued with gener- ous sentiments " voted that the Methodist preach- ers may preach in the meeting-house in said Boxborough on the week-days during the town's pleasure, but not to molest or interrupt the Rev. Mr. Joseph Willard, when he shall appoint any
lecture or time to preach in said meeting-house at his pleasure." A month later it was "voted to tax all persons to the minister's rate agreeable to the Constitution." Repeatedly at the town-meeting persons had their minister's rate abated on cer- tifying that they worshipped with some other body and made their payments there. It never was made plainer than in these early New England towns that the body corporate intended to do nothing unreasonable; and also esteemed it its duty to see that the different members thereof omitted to do nothing reasonable. Constantly jeal- ous of personal independence, as late as 1860 it was ordered " that the school committee should not be biassed by any sectarian religion." Let us recall the modus operandi in completing the meeting- house. It was the prominent business of sundry town-meetings. The ground-plan was drawn for twenty-two pews. The people were then to pur- chase their " pue ground," build the pews at their own cost, and occupy them "till they sell or dis- pose of the same." When the pews were sold, the meeting showed its deference to property in pass- ing a vote that "the first twenty-two highest payers have the first offer of the pews, as is digni- fied and prized according to their pay, and that the highest pew be offered to the highest payer, giving him or them the choice of that or any other pew they or he like better at the same price; and if the first twenty-two highest refuse to take the pews, then they are to be offered unto the next twenty-two highest payers, and so on in proportion, till all have had the offer, if need be." It was voted to have the house finished in November, 1784. The church was organized on the 29th of April preceding. No records or traditions are left to tell what brilliant array of candidates came with high hopes for the new pastorate. But we find that when November came, the town voted "to concur with the church of Boxborough in giving the Rev. Mr. Joseph Willard a call to settle in the work of the ministry in said Boxborough." It took repeated town-meetings to fix the terms of his settlement. At length the final vote was passed December 27, " not to give Rev. Mr. Willard half- pay so long as he indureth his natural life, but to pay the Rev. Mr. Joseph Willard £75 of money annnally in silver money at six shillings eight pence per ounce, and find twenty cords of wood for his fire annually, so long as the Rev. Mr. Willard shall supply the Pulpit in said town of Boxborough, and no longer." The furnishing the wood was
277
BOXBOROUGH.
annually let out to the lowest bidder in town- meeting.
The years 1815 - 1818 were a time of consider- able controversy about repairing the old meeting- house or building a new one. Votes were passed ; then special meetings were called, and they were re- considered. As the hill on which the old meeting- house stood was some distance west of the centre, quite a party in the east part of the town was in favor not only of building anew, but of placing the new house nearer the actual centre. In May, 1816, the whole matter of building or repairing was left to a committee of three, two of whom, at least, were non-residents. This committee reported in favor of building on a site quite near the actual centre. The town refused to adopt the report. At a meet- ing in November a petition was presented, signed by twenty-three residents of the east part of the town, asking to have a new meecting-house, or one located on or near the spot named by the com- mittee of reference, or else to be discharged, and have liberty to go to the respective towns from which they were taken. Though the town had ever been democratic, this brought the doctrine of secession into practice too near home. It voted "to pass over the article." Various efforts were inade in town-meetings to reconcile both parties. But a new meeting-honse was not built, nor were any thorough repairs made. By suggestion from the people Mr. Willard withdrew from his long and laborious pastorate in December, 1823, when just completing his eighty-second year. He continued to reside at the parsonage till his death in Septem- ber, 1828. A graduate of Harvard, the first pas- tor of this little church was a well-educated though not a brilliant man; faithful in his ministry, and held in reverent esteem by his people. His work was in a humble and limited sphere. But in " fill- ing his place with credit to himself and usefulness to his people," he rendered that service to his country and Christianity which will never be val- ned too highly. The resiguation of Mr. Willard brought quite a turn in affairs. Though the amendment to the constitution disconnecting the churches and the state was not passed till Novem- ber, 1833, yet Boxborough no longer appropriated the salary and paid for twenty cords of wood from its treasury. When the Rev. Aaron Picket came to be their next minister, they voted " not to settle him, but to hire him for one year, after what money is already raised be expended, to preach for them in Boxborough, provided he will stay and
they can get money enough to pay him." The division which occurred in so many churches was near at hand here. The break was not a sudden one. In 1828 they voted " to let each denomination have the meeting-honse their proportionable part of the time, according to the valuation." A committee was then chosen in which each denomination was represented. The appearance, however, is, that the money was not raised by assessment, but by sub- scription. The final separation came in 1829, on the question of inviting the Rev. James R. Cush- ing to the pastorate. The church was in his favor ; the parish, adverse. The difference was in " re- ligions sentiment." Accordingly, on the 20th of May the church voted "that, having failed to se- cure the concurrence of the First Parish in inviting Mr. Cushing to become our Religious Teacher, we proceed to take the steps prescribed by Law to form a New Society." The same day such a society was legally formed, called the Evangelical Congregational Society, which speedily concurrred with the church in giving a call for settlement to Mr. Cushing. The First Parish continued its or- ganization for several years, with more or less of Sabbath service. But it slowly crumbled away. The new society and church concluded to erect their house of worship southeast of the old centre, where the road to Stow crosses the old Boston turnpike, where they now have a church and par- sonage. Their continuance has been through per- sistent effort. The scars of the old wounds still remain. With a few changes, Orthodox and Uni- versalist have stood apart, looking at each other, but leaving it to a coming generation to forget the former days of division, and to be interested to- gether in the Christian religion. The need that gave the town its organization must be the need that will preserve it.
The surface of the town is hilly and rocky. Limestone abounds in sufficient quantities on the Littleton side, so that the burning of lime was made quite a business several years ago. The soil, not deep, is productive. The wealth of the farmers has been in their milch cows; and of late their best success has been in furnishing milk for the Boston market. Trees grow Inxuriantly. Grape- vines are on every roadside. Berries abound in the pastures. Being only twenty-seven miles from Boston, vegetables, apples, grapes, pears, peachcs, berries, are extensively cultivated and successfully raised, to be supplied fresh to the market. The farmers are organized for discussion of their inter-
278
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
ests in the winter evenings, and for a biennial fair which is made very successful.
Boxborough lias the stable farm-life of New England, discreet to conservatism. A noticeable number of the estates have continued in the same family possession for more than a century. The first records of the town give us the names of Tay- ive, Wetherbee, Mead, Stevens, Stone, Blanchard, · Whitcomb, Batcheller, and others. These that are
given have all continued. Most of them have multiplied. The first six are still in possession of the farms upon which their fathers were probably the original settlers. Many of the sons of the town have taken honorable positions in business. None have risen to the heights of public fame ; none have fallen into the depths of shame and dis- honor. It has been a remarkable town for " keep- ing on the even tenor of its way."
BRIGHTON.
BY REV. FREDERIC A. WHITNEY.
HE entire age of the town of T Brighton as a distinct incor- porated municipality was but sixty-six years, two months, and twenty-seven days. This period was embraced between the date of the act of incorporation, Feb- ruary 24, 1807, and the date of the act of annexation, May 21, 1873, which was accepted by the city and town, October 8, 1873, to take full effect on the first Monday (5) of January, 1874. The township of Brighton survived twenty-eight years the township of her venerable mother, Cambridge, illustrious progenitor of so many successive dis- tinct municipalities.
But though the town life of Brighton is brief, an earlier date and more hoary age is symbolized by its seal, on this page. In 1864 the writer of this sketch was requested to submit a device for the seal. This he suggested from what had long been a prominent business of the place, second only to that which had made the town the great cattle-market of New England, allied with its floral and agricultural gardens, its nurseries and green- houses, its fruit and forest trees, vines, shrubs, botanical and medical plants. The enterprise and establishments of the Winship Brothers, Jonathan and Francis, who began in a small way, some sev- enty years ago, on Washington Street, opposite their mansion-house, and who were pioneers in this attractive and ennobling work, not only here, but indeed in all New England, have been followed by Joseph Breck and Son, William C. Strong,
Warren, Evers and Bock, Story, Smith, Brackett, Croughan, and many others in the past and the present, who have been thus identified with the trade in seeds and flowers, in trees and fruits. The cultivation of the strawberry has been long a spe- cialty here, as the extensive grounds of the Scott Brothers, originators of the two noted varieties, the Brighton Pine and the Scotts' Seedling, and the grounds of many others testify, while the rich and luscious grapes, grown abundantly here both in the open air and in hot-houses, make the seal more significant.
As the market design had been long engraved on the bills of one of the state banks of the town, in order not to duplicate that, the garden design was approved by the selectmen for the BRIGHTON seal. The place was in early times often, thougli not uniformly, desig- nated as "Little Cambridge," where many of the original Cambridge settlers, as Richard Dana, 1640, Elder Richard Champney, 1635, and Nathaniel Sparhawk made their homes. Thus an antiquity was claimed for it coeval with that of Cambridge, and the seal was inscribed, " Little Cambridge, a part of Cambridge, founded 16?). Brighton incorporated 1807." The seal was first used on the official reports of 1865, and subse- quently on all town documents, orders, bills, etc.,
279
BRIGHTON.
until annexation. It is now, with the scals and all the records of this and of the other towns and cities joined with Boston, in charge of the city clerk.
We have said that " Little Cambridge " was not the uniform carly designation of the place. It is a mistake, to be learned on but slight knowledge of original Cambridge records and history, to suppose that " Little Cambridge " was oftener employed than " South Cambridge," or "South Side," or " Third Parish," or " Third Precinct," or " South- erly part of the First Parish," or " Inhabitants on the South Side of the River," which latter expres- sion President Holyoke of the college used on some very ancient receipts, which are preserved, for money paid him for occasional pulpit services here. Indeed, the records of the First Church embodied here are inscribed on the cover, " Rec- ords of the Third Church of Christ in Cam- bridge."
" The New Towne," then, born in 1630, as shown on her own seal and on Brighton's, in good hope of being not only "a fortified Town," but the metropolis of the country, and seat of a grand public school, was not fairly baptized "Cambridge" until 1638. The offshoots from the parent stock, alludeu ~", in our opening, comprise a most in- teresting portion of the early Cambridge history. Meanwhile the desire of separate church accommo- dations on the south side of the river was steadily growing. It is not known how early public wor- ship was held here on the Sabbath, but as soon certainly as 1730 or 1734. Rev. Dr. Foster, the first settled minister, was ordained in the old church, erected in 1744. But in his dedication sermon of 1811, of the new church, which, surrounded by an iron fence, still stands in its place, he says : " Not a century has yet elapsed since your fathers solicited and obtained permission of the society to which thev belonged [old First Parish on north or college side] to worship by themselves during the inclement season of the year. This they deemed a privilege worthy of their desire and pursuit, though con- strained to congregate in a deserted private house." Nothing is known of that edifice, but it is referred to in the following time-worn record which has been preserved : " Cambridge, November 16, 1739. We the subscribers do oblige ourselves, our heirs, &c. to pay unto Messrs. Daniel Dana, William Brown, William Dana, Committee, each representa- tive sum annexed to our names for the use of a minister to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ at a
house formerly used for the worship of God in South Cambridge for every week during the months of December, January, February, and March, - as witness our hands and date, Daniel Dana, Samuel Smith, Benjamin Dana, Thomas Sparhawk, Hugh Scott, William Dana, Richard Champney." The moneys set against the names are in English rates. But something better than the " deserted private house " is soon wanted, as appears from two an- cient manuscript papers which have floated down from the past.
"Cambridge, January yº 29th, 1738-9. - At a meeting of The Inhabitants on the South side of Charles River, Mr. Benjamin Dana chosen Moderator. Voted, -- That Messrs. Samuel Smith, Benjamin Dana, W" Brown, Eben- ezer Smith, and Thomas Sparhawk be a Committee to pro- vide a meeting-house spot.
" Also Voted, - That Messrs W" Brown and Abraham Beverly compute the charge of a meeting house. Then Voted, - That this meeting be adjourned to Thursday the 15th of February, at 6 of the clock, afternoon, at the house of Mr. Thos. Dana, to recive the report of the Commit- tee."
"Cambridge, Feb. ye 15th, 1738-9: The Committee report that they have provided a Spot of Land in the South West Corner of Mr. Ebenezer Smith's land that was formerly Thos. Cheny's. The report of the Committee appointed to compute the charge, find that the charge of a meeting house fit to meet in doth amouut to Three Hnn- dred aud Eighty pounds Each of the reports read and accepted. Voted, - That Messrs. W= Brown, Benjamin Dana, Samuel Smith, Ebenezer Smith, and Thos. Sparhawk be a Committee to see what may be obtained by subserip- tions. Voted, -That this meeting be adjonrned to ihe 15th of March at the house of Mr. Thos. Dana, at six o'clock, afternoon."
" March ye 15th. At a meeting of the Inhabitants upon adjournment, Voted, - That if the Committee ean ohtain Three Hundred pounds by subscription, then to provide for building. Then Voted, - That this meeting be adjourned to the 16th of April, to the house of Mr. Thos. Dana at-two o'clock P. M."
" Mareh yº 9th, 1742-3. Whereas we the inhabitants on the South side of Charles River in Cambridge have mntu- ally agreed to build a meeting-house for the Publie Wor- ship of God upon a spot of ground which they have lately purchased for that purpose, provided a sum shall be raised sufficient to defray the charge of building said meeting- house, - Therefore we, the subscribers (being willing to encourage sueh a good work) Do promise to pay, each one his Representative sum set against his name, in work, or in such materials as the Committee that is appointed will accept of. And if the said Committee shall refuse to aeeept of some Labor and Materials that shall be offered hy any of us the said Subseribers, we do further promise to pay, each of us, our representative sums which we have subscribed, in good passable Bills of Credit Old Tenor to him that said inhabitants shall choose for their Collector ; when the said Collector shall Demand the
280
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
same; or any part thereof for to Defray the Charge that shall arise upon building and finishing the above said meeting-house.
Daniel Dana £ 10
Thomas Dana £ 15
W= Brown 20
Noah Sparhawk 20
Benjamin Dana
20 Samnel Phipps
20
Ebener. Smith
40 Thomas Sparhawk 25
William Dana
20 Lydia Stratton
6
Benjamin Cheney
15
Thomas Park 5
John Ellis 10
John Oldham
15
Thos. Thwing
10
Francis Wells 20
Abijah Learned
20 Samuel Bridgham 40
Josiah Brown
15 Solomon Robbins 15
Joshua Fuller
5 Nath'l Cunningham 42"
Had all the costly and extravagant churches of these latter days been favored with the same wis-
dom displayed in this early meeting-lionse enter- prise, fewer would have proved such sad millstones about the necks of their projectors. This was the gospel recipe for church building : "For which of you intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first and counteth the cost, whether he have suffi- cient to finish it." The spot of land has been secured, the cost has been counted ; more than the sum estimated for " a meeting-house fit to meet in " has been pledged, and by true and earnest men, -and why should they not build ? Doubt- less each one encouraged his brother; and think not that the committee in charge " refused to ac- cept aught of labor or materials" so freely and devoutly offered for the house of God. They did
WAT
Old First Church of Brighton ; erected 1744, removed 1811.
build. The reader may see the fac-simile of their humble meeting-house, one hundred and thirty-five years ago, on our modern page ! More humble it was when first erected than appears here, since it was then without tower or porch. The former on its west and the latter on its east side were appended in 1794, just fifty years later than the main honse, furnishing stairs to the galleries, which stairs rose at first from the corners of the church floor. So Brookline's first church, built in 1713, nine years
after the town's incorporation, did not receive its steeple until 1771, fifty-eight years after.1
We have no account of the dedication of this ancient church, but may confidently say that a devout dedication was not withheld. The beloved Appleton of the First Church of Cambridge, and minister to most of those who had erected the house, and Cooke of the Second Parish, Menotomy,
1 On the right of the engraving is seen the Osborn house; formerly Fessenden estate.
281
BRIGHTON.
or West Cambridge, then ordained five years, and Allen of Brookline, Storer of Watertown, and Hancock of Lexington, with others, may have participated in the services.
However it may have been dedicated, we have documentary evidence that the meeting-house was duly " dignified." An early universal custom of New England was to " seat " the stated members of the worshipping assembly. There was a stand- ing committee for this purpose. Those seats were to be permanently retained. Various scales for guiding the committee as instructions, or grounds of promotion, seem to have prevailed in different places. In some towns, positions of public trust, pious dispositions and behavior, peculiar service- ableness, made ground of distinction. In Newton it was voted that "age and gifts " should be the criterion, or standard. In the town of Reading " real estate and age " were prescribed ; while else - where it was enacted that " no precedence on ac- count of birth or rank " should constitute a claim. This business seems here to have been carefully con- sidered, as by the following early deliberations : --
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.