USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : containing carefully prepared histories of every city and town in the county, Vol. I > Part 48
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
Rev. Dr. Abiel Holmes, in his well-known His- tory of Cambridge, under date of 1800, says : " Besides the Town, or Grammar School, there are six school-houses in the town ; two in each of the three parishes." The two in this South Parish were the one just described, and the second of more recent date, on the west corner of Cambridge and North Harvard streets. This was removed, nearly fifty years since, by Mr Colby, on building his house near that corner, and may be seen here in the town to-day, occupied as a dwelling-house.
The three precinct parishes of Cambridge were generally, sometimes equally, represented on town committees and on the board of selectmen. The Cambridge school-committee, ehosen March, 1795, embraced from this parish Rev. Dr. Foster and Mr. Jonathan Winship. The latter was grandfather of Mr. Francis Lyman Winship, at present repre- senting this ward on the Boston school-committee. Both he and his brother, Mr. J. P. C. Winship, rendered valuable services on the school-committee of Brighton before annexation.
The two ancient schools here described, supple- mented by various private schools, transmitted the advantages of learning to our modern days. The teachers were very generally supplied, as was the early pulpit here, by those who were in some way associated with the college. The " district sys- tem " was superseded by the " graded system " but little later than in the First Parish of Cambridge. A school of essentially the same character as the modern high school, but snstained by a private cor- poration, which erected for it an edifice on Academy Hill, was kept here in 1839 and 1840, by Mr. Josiah Rutter, a Harvard graduate. This was fol- lowed by the publie high school proper, in 1841, at first opened in the same building, begun by Mr. John Ruggles, also a graduate of Harvard,
assisted for a few years in the female department by Miss Delia A. Gardner, a successful teacher of girls. Mr. Ruggles laid, in his fine scholarship and wide experience, the foundations of a flourish- ing high school, on which after teachers have well built. During his eighteen years' serviee a large number of young men entered Harvard and other colleges. Several, too, as female teachers in this and other towns subsequently honored the school of their early training. It may be added, that, on Mr. Ruggles leaving the office in 1859, his numer- ous friends, his old and new pupils, tendered him a festival, and presented a silver service to the re- tiring teacher.
The town has enjoyed, from its carly settlement, sufficient private schools. Vicinity to the college doubtless favored them. They are often referred to here, in records of the seventeenth century. Mr. James Dana, son of Caleb, near in line to Richard, the ancestor, taught a well-remembered school for boys and girls at the opening of this century, mn the old Dana Mansion on Washington, near Allston, Street. Mr. Jacob Knapp, a graduate of Harvard in 1802, taught a classical seliool of much repute, for boys, several years, at his house on Bowen's Hill, - afterwards owned by Captain William Perkins Matchett. Hosea Hildreth, a graduate of Harvard in 1805, taught a private school, and was of further assistance in liis rare gifts as instruetor in singing and musie in the place. Major Thomas Hovey, who had served in the Revolution, - still often remembered in tradi- tions, -and J. F. Durivage, and Teacher Miles, and Jonas Wilder, who laid down the work not quite fifty years ago, all taught private schools here. Besides the many connected with the eol- lege who in early times instructed here, Henry W. Torrey, the present accomplished professor of his- tory in the University, and several others, while undergraduates, taught the public schools at va- rious seasons.
The town of Brighton, after her incorporation, supported liberally her schools, and in the tables of the Massachusetts Board of Education stood first on the list for the years 1842 and 1843 among the towns and cities of the commonwealth in the pro rata appropriation for each school child. She was among the earliest of the towns, in 1839, to deposit at the State House, as required by the statute, a copy of her annual school report, in printed form and not in manuscript, either being then allowed, while now the former only is valid Her school-
292
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
houses and furnishings have been well cared for. She has been nearly six years under the Boston school system; and two of her largest school- houses, in brick and stone, - the Bennett and the Allston, - were pronounced by the Mayor, at the recent dedication of the latter house, as among the finest in the city.
As early as 1824 the Brighton Social Library was formed. It was established by proprietors, when, as yet, very few towns or cities in the state had public libraries for circulation. This social library was, in 1858, merged in the Brighton Library Association, a body of young men incor- porated by the legislature for the circulation of books, for public lectures, for exercises in declama- tion, composition, and debate. Mr. James Holton, of an ancient family here, dying in 1863, left a bequest for a public town library, the provisions of which were fulfilled in 1861 by the town elect- ing trustees, and organizing the Holton Public Library, successfully conducted for ten years. On the town's annexation with Boston, January, 1874, the imposing building in brick and freestone, on Rockland Street, which had been begun by the town, was completed by the city at a cost of $ 70,000, and was dedicated October 29, 1875, under the auspices of Mayor Cobb and the city officials, as a branch of the city library. The ad- dresses of the Mayor and the president of the trustees, Mr. Greenough, with the address of dedi- cation by Mr. Whitney, comprising full details of the occasion and institution of the library, were published by the city.
Our sketch has thus far dealt with the living. The disposing of the dead claims notice. The first burial-ground was laid out on Market Street, nearly under the shadow of the ancient meeting-house, in 1764, the first in Cambridge (First Parish), which is opposite to the colleges, having been laid out in 1635. This ancient ground answered for inter- ments on this side of the river until 1850, when the town purchased the beautiful well-wooded tract on South Street, known as the Aspinwall Woods, embracing nearly fourteen acres. Prepared with appropriate foot and carriage pathis, made attractive with shrubbery, foliage, and flowers, Evergreen Cemetery was consecrated, in the presence of a large throng, August 7, 1850, by Rev. Mr. Swazey, assisted by Rev. Mr. Whitney. The becoming gateway, in Egyptian architecture, modelled after the first gateway in Mount Auburn, greets, from the outside, the coming mourner with the engraven
words, " I am the Resurrection and the Life;" and, from the inside, greets the mourner, who has laid down his dead, with the words, " Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you." The monu- ment of Ilolton, founder of the Public Library, and many other interesting shafts, stand here ; and the city government, by watchful care, is daily making it one of Boston's most attractive gardens of graves.
Those gates, draped with the American flag inter- twined with the insignia of mourning, opened wide to fast-gathering throngs on the 26th of August, 1866, for the dedication of the Soldiers' Monu- ment. Brighton contributed very liberally of men and means for the suppression of the Rebellion. More than two hundred enlisted, and twenty-three furnished substitutes. The battle had been fought, the victory won. The returned soldiers had been received by their grateful fellow-citizens on the 22d of June previous in a spacious grove, - one of " God's first temples." They had been welcomed home by public procession, by the peal of bells, by the cannon that woke the echoes of our hills and valleys. And now, spared in the dreadful conflict of war, they sat down in safety, with grateful thou- sands, to testify that
" Peace hath her victories no less renowned than war." They were gathered about the graceful shaft in massive gramte, which was one of the earliest in the state to be reared, on the termination of hos- tilities, to tell of the valor and to seal the memory of their departed comrades. In fitting words or address from Mr. Bickford, chairman of the select- men, of scripture, hymns, and prayer from Rev. Mr. Bowles, and by an oration from the writer of these records, the monument was formally conse- crated.
Here it will be in place to note the tradition that while Colonel Gardner, borne wounded from Bunker Hill, as already detailed, lay dying at his sister's house, General Washington, mounted, and accompanied by his aids, rode " across the river " and visited the intrepid hero. Surely, as we recall the noble, sympathetic heart of Washington, we may lift this out from the shadow of tradition, and exclaim, " It must be truth."
Written history has it that General La Fayette, while at Boston in June, 1825, visited Brighton and was hospitably received at the hotel, now on the corner of Washington and Cambridge Streets, - the same building which in early times had been the mansion-house of the Winship family. It was
BRIGHTON.
occupied, at the period of the General's visit, by Mr. Samuel Dudley. The school children were arranged in lines, between which the General, at- tended by his son, Mr. George Washington La Fayette, passed. Some then present recall perfectly the brilliant pageant of that bright June day. The kiss the good General impressed on more than one fair brow passed thence upon the memory and lingers there to-day.
It is further recorded that Henry Clay visited the town in October, 1833, and was entertained by the citizens at a collation in the large dining-hall of the Cattle Fair Hotel, erected in 1830 in Market Square. The published narrative states that Mr. Clay recognized in " the yards" some of his fine steers, which, by a long journey in that day, had yet found their way from Ashland, Kentucky, before him, to the spot. Doubtless their large expressive eyes looked as gladly upon their master as did those of Webster's noble steers when led, in October, 1851, to his open window, on the broad green lawn, where he lay, dying, in his Marshfield mansion.
" Oak Square," a pleasant portion of the town on its west border, was thus named by vote of the town, March 5, 1860, as comprising all the town's land at the junction of Washington, Fancnil, and Nonantum Streets. Here stood the " Old Oak Tree," in close proximity to the school-house. The state commissioners, appointed in 1837 to make a zoological and botanical survey of Massa- chusetts, spent eight years in their work, and pub- lished, in thick octavo, a report on the forest trees and shrubs of Massachusetts. They presented this as the largest and oldest white-oak tree in their survey of the whole state. Its circumference on the ground was given as twenty-five feet and ninc inches, -two feet and three inches more than the circumference of the Great Elm on Boston Common. Through decay, the trunk was hollow at the base. The vast weight of wide-spreading branches was sustained at last by a mere shell of trunk, and the tree was ordered to be ent down, in May, 1855, from fear of its possible fall.1 The wigwam of Waban, chief of the Nonantums, lay a little west of the tree, in Newton, and he must often have
1 The tree was painted by Harvey, of Boston. A minnte description of it, and of its removal, was published in the Boston Transcript of July 26, 1855. But its age ? Mr. Emerson and his scientific commission, in their rich botanical lore, must be onr anthority. Read his words very deliberately : " It had probably passed its prime, centuries befare the first English raice was heard on the shores of Massachusetts Bay."
rested in its generous s. Apostle Eliot preached una extended from it northeast 1 and connected the settlement . what was at first called " Cambrie
a
Ancient Oak of Brighton.
On the estate of Mr. George H. Brooks, on Faneuil Street, late the estate of his father, Samuel Brooks, earlier the state of Thomas Sparhawk, and, still further back, of Nathaniel Oliver, is a natural spring of water slightly impregnated with iron, and of valuable properties. A granite curb about it is inscribed, as then located, 1832. But the spring, still free-flowing, constant, cold, salu- brious, was, more than fifty years ago, a well- known resort for invalids.
There are several ancient historic mansions in this town dating back to early Cambridge days. Some are rich in old-time associations with the Revolution, with tales of confiscation and political feuds. On Price's map of Boston, of 1743, on which buildings and blocks are singly and specially engraved, one, as he looks southwest to the noble range of hills, the Corey and Nonantum, in this ward, will see a magnificent house of great size and height and quaint architecture, with terraces and
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
Jed on the map above the ingham's seat." Though out in South Cambridge, after- was brought within the range pect of the Town of Boston," for acence of locality and surroundings. state subsequently became the property Ward Apthorp, who sold it in 1762 to ohn Dennie, whose name appears on com- attees in this sketch. While occupied by Mr. Dennie, it was accidentally burned to the ground, January, 1770. The friends of Mr. Dennie imme- diately contributed very generously for his relief, and the mansion was at once rebuilt. Mr. Dennie died August 7, 1777, aged fifty-seven. The place was subsequently owned and occupied by Samuel W. Pomeroy ; by Jared Coffin from Nantucket, 1843; and is now the estate and residence of his son-in-law, David Nevins.
Mr. Dennie's sympathies, as is well known, were strongly with England in the Revolution; and prominent on the subscription paper are the names of the leading men of Boston who so sympathized, as Harrison Gray, Nathaniel Bethune, John Irving, Ralph Inman, John Apthorp, and many others. The paper opens : " Boston, January 16, 1770. Whereas the dwelling-house of our good friend, Mr. John Dennie, together with a great part of his furniture and winter stores to his very great loss and the peculiar distress of his family at this season of the year, was lately consumed by fire, - we the subscribers, in order to alleviate his present mis- fortune, do cheerfully promise to pay to him, or to Mr. Thomas Gray of Boston, Merchant, for the use and benefit of our Said Friend, the sums set against our names." Three hundred pounds were sub- scribed, in sums of forty ponnds and less ; and among the neighbors of Mr. Dennie, and fellow- worshippers at the ancient church presented in this sketch, are the names of James Bryant, George Dana, Edward Jackson, and others. Traditions of the wonderful fire of 1770-an event rarer then than now -and of the daring exploits of the " Har- vard boys," with their small college engine, lived far down into this century.
The ancient Faneuil estate, on Faneuil Street, is another of the eminently historic mansions of old Middlesex. It was built before the middle of the last century by Benjamin Faneuil, whose brother Peter, of Faneuil Hall memory, spent much of his time here. The first house was burned by a treach- crous servant and immediately rebuilt. Benjamin
Faneuil's only daughter married George Bethune, Sr. Susan, daughter of Mr. Bethune, married at this house, 1778, Edmund Dunkin, who came to this country in 1775. They were parents of several children born here; and likewise of Benjamin Faneuil Dunkin, born in Philadelphia, a classmate and friend of Edward Everett at Harvard College, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of South Caro- lina. The estate was subsequently in possession of 'Thomas English, until purchased by Samuel Park- man of Boston, whose son, Mr. John Parkman, occupied it until his death. Mr. Samuel Bigelow owned and occupied it from 1838, making extensive alterations and accessions, He sold the estate in 1864 to James M. Murdock. The present owner and occupant is Mr. Luther Adams. It is still a place of uncommon beauty and historical interest.
The large estate of Gorham Parsons, long famous ·for its well- cultivated and ornamented grounds, was sold in 1838, and subdivided in lots, as its owner, enfeebled in health, retired to' his home farm at Byfield, where he died, 1843, at the age of seventy- six. The original mansion, formerly the Charles Apthorp place, remains, and is of great antiquity.
The Champney house and the Dana house are each two hundred years old.
It becomes us to name those who have made bequests to the town. Mr. Ebenezer Smith, whose birth is in the Cambridge records, March 9, 1688-9, son of Henry and Lydia (Buck) Smith, was a man of very large estate for that day, and most promi- nent in the civil and religious history of this place. He died, unmarried, in an ancient house still stand- ing. It could have told its tale of the Revolution when its venerable owner of nearly ninety years was wont to sit there in his arm-chair. Ilis will is very voluminous, so numerous and varied are his bequests. We name only the parsonage estate, at the foot of Rockland Street, with money to the ancient Precinct Parish ; and, for the benefit of the school here, six acres of woodland in Newton, to supply poor children, in place of the inevitable " twenty-five cent tax for fire-wood," on com- mencing their winter school. A grateful people inscribed above his tomb, in the ancient burial- ground here, -
" Intombed
MR. EBENEZER SMITH, who died, September, 11, 1776, Æ 85.
"This, as a testimony of gratitude and csteem, is here inscribed by the Parish Society, to which he was a friend and benefactor."
295
BRIGHTON.
This land passed, at the date of annexation, to the city of Boston ; and, centrally situated in New- ton, will probably, with the increasing call for house-lots, inure to the benefit of our Boston treasury.
The gift of Mr. Stephen Hastings Bennett of this town, in 1861, of land on Winship Place, Agricultural Hill, for the erection of the first Bennett Grammar School-house, is fully detailed in the town school report of that year. The city authorities, after annexation, caused a marble slab to be inscribed with Mr. Bennett's name on the front of their large school-house on Chestnut Hill Avenue, in recognition of some privileges in con- nection with his bequest.
Three families, among the very earliest in the founding of Cambridge, settled on the south side of Charles River, afterwards Brighton, - namely, Richard Dana, Elder Richard Champney, and Na- thaniel Sparhawk. To their names we may add that of Lieutenant Edward Winship, who settled on the College side in 1635, but whose descendants, in the succeeding generations, were early and largely represented on this side. Richard Dana died here, April 2, 1690, from the effects of a fall ; is repre- sented by a lineal descendant of the sixth genera- tion, Mr. James Dana, now in his seventy-fifth year, with other branches of the family. Richard Champney, fellow-passenger and close friend of Shepard, the first minister of Cambridge, is repre- sented by William Richards Champney, of the fifth generation, in his eighty-second year. The Spar- hawk family is represented by Edward Corey Spar- hawk, who, in his seventy-sixth year, owns and occupies the ancestral estate, which has never been separated from the Sparhawk name.
Of those who from public official station or authorship in this place attained distinction the names of Rev. Dr. Worcester, and the wife and daughters of Rev. Dr. Foster have been cited. Rev. East Apthorp, D. D., founder and first rector of Christ Church, Cambridge, was born at Brigh- ton, then South Cambridge, 1733. He was dis- tingnished for his learned controversy with Rev. Dr. Mayhew of the West Church, Boston; for his intellectual gifts; and as builder of that noted edifice on Main Street, Cambridge, some- times called the Bishop's Palace. Daniel Bowen, who opened the first museum in Boston in 1791, resided here for a quarter of a century; he was
the owner of the fine old mansion on Bowen Hill, named for him, where he carried on the art of printing as early as 1800. Colonel Isaac Mun- roe was born here, April 26, 1783; first appren- ticed to Benjamin Russell, founder of the Boston Patriot; died, founder and editor of the Baltimore Patriot, December 21, 1859, aged seventy-fonr, eminent in character, as for signal editorial capacity. Hon. Joseph Adams Pond, an adopted citizen of Brighton, died, president of the Massachusetts sen- ate, October 28, 1867, - suddenly stricken down on the 24th at the State House in the dawn of his rising fame, at the early age of forty. Sara P. (Willis) Parton, more widely known by her nom de plume, Fanny Fern, was a resident some years here ; Dr. Eldridge, father of her first husband, was a physician here. Hon. Joseph Breck, the veteran horticulturist, florist, and author of some of the best books on flowers, was president of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and a state senator ; he died here, June 14, 1873, aged sev- enty-eight. Captain Samuel G. Adams, born at Brighton, November 22, 1825, is now developing rarest gifts and reputation in his responsible sta- tion as general superintendent of Boston Police. Henry Baldwin, born at Brighton, son of Life and Susanna D. (Dudley) Baldwin, Jannary 7, 1834, is Judge of the Municipal Court, Boston (Brighton Distriet). James Holton Rice, born at Brighton, September 14, 1839, son of Edmund and Martha Ann (Fletcher) Rice, is clerk of the Muncipal Court Boston (Brighton District). William Wirt Warren, born at Brighton, February 27, 1834, son of William and Abigail Lyman (Bannister) War- ren, was senator of Massachusetts ; representative from this district in the Forty-third Congress. William Henry Baldwin, born at Brighton, Octo- ber 20, 1826, son of Henry and Mary (Brackett) Baldwin, is president of the Young Men's Christian Union. Let his own works praise him. Joseph Bass Eaton, a late munificent benefactor to the above Union of $80,000, was born in Boston, 1803, but was for several years pupil here in the classical school of Mr. Jacob Knapp. Rev. Titus Strong, D. D., author, and forty years rector in Greenfield, was born in Brighton, Jannary 28, 1787; died June 11, 1855; mentioned by Allibone, Spragne, and Drake (Francis S.) for numerons works on education and theology.
.
296
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
BURLINGTON.
BY SAMUEL SEWALL.
S ITUATED in the easterly part of the county, Burlington is bounded on the northwest by Bedford and Billerica, on the northeast by Wilmington, on the east by Woburn, and on the southwest by Lexington. It is thirteen miles northwest of Boston, on the old stage- road from Boston to Lowell. It has no direct railroad con- nection, the nearest station being at Woburn Centre, three miles distant.
Burlington is almost entirely an agricultural town, having but little manufacturing or mechanical business. The centre of the town is on elevated ground, from which may be had many fine views of the surrounding country. The soil, for the most part, is good for farming purposes. The people are largely employed in raising fruit, hay, vege- tables, and milk for the market.
Vine Brook, one of the principal branches of the Shawshine River, flows through the southwesterly part of the town, watering many acres of meadow land, and furnishing power for a saw and grist mill, and to one factory for printing woollen cloths, owned by Thomas Barr and Company. Sources of Ipswich River originate in the easterly part of the town.
obliged to travel four or five miles to attend public worship, crossing the deep drifts in winter with the aid of snow-shoes.
Despite the pious zeal of those days, the inlabi- tants of Shawshine began to manifest much uneasi- ness at the hardships they were thus obliged to undergo, and to seek earnestly for a change. After five years of struggle to effect a separation from the church of their fathers, Shawshine was incor- porated, by order of the provincial legislature, as the Second Parish or Precinct of Woburn, Sep- tember 16, 1730, Old Style, or, according to our present mode of reckoning, September 27, 1730. Two years afterward, in 1732, a meeting-house was built in Woburn Precinct.
But the separation as a parish did not satisfy the inhabitants of the precinct, and, notwithstand- ing the strenuous opposition of the people of Wo- burn, who strongly objected to losing any part of their widely extended territory, the efforts for a final division at last succeeded. Woburn Precinct was incorporated as the town of Burlington, Feb- ruary 28, 1799. The population of Burlington, at this time, was 534. In 1810 it had fallen off to 471, but increased during the next ten years, reaching 508 in 1820. By the last census (1870) the population was 650. There are five schools in the town, four of which are in session through- out the year, and one additional during the winter months.
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.