USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : containing carefully prepared histories of every city and town in the county, Vol. II > Part 58
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The order of St. Ursula was established in 1536, to give relief to the sick, and to educate gratui- tously female youth ; and the importance of its work was so fully appreciated that it escaped the perse- cutions to which monastic institutions were often subjected in Europe. After a time the vocation of the order was confined to its second object, - the education of female youth ; and as seminaries of learning the convents became established in America.
In 1820 such an institution was founded in Bos- ton, and six years later it was removed to Mount Benedict. The farm-house of Arnold Cook was fitted up for the school in 1826, while a more con- venient and commodions structure was in process of erection. The following year the convent was ready for occupancy. It was a four-story build- ing, eighty feet in length, facing towards the east, erected upon the summit of the hill ; a long flight of steps led up to it from the street. Two large wings were added on the west side in 1829. Alto- gether it was the most imposing structure of its kind in New England.
The grounds were laid out in a tasteful and attrac-
tive manner. The southern slope was arranged in three terraces, on which were reared vines, trees, and shrubs. A drive-way, shaded by handsome trees, led up in a diagonal direction from the south- east corner of the enclosure, and wound round a circular flower-bed in front of the house. The bishop's lodge and the stable were also upon the southern slope. On the northern face of the hill was grass-land, a vegetable garden, and an orchard.
Here, then, on a beautiful eminence, with a varied and delightful prospect extending for miles on every side, among a people believed to be as intelligent and orderly as any in the world, this little community of Ursuline nuns began their work of instructing female youth, drawn mostly from the respected and wealthy Protestant families of the vicinity.
For seven years the institution flourished, and doubtless would have continued in existence till the present time had it not been for the combination of events to be described.
Although the wealthier and more intelligent classes in Boston and vicinity were in the main tolerant of the convent, and believed that it carried out honestly and faithfully the objects it professed, the larger portion of the community, partly from inherited prejudices and partly from the direction given to thought by the pulpit, looked upon the system of convent education with jealousy and dis- trust, as tending towards the subversion of our in- stitutions. Local events conspired to fan the flame of popular feeling, till at last it broke forth into riot and sacrilege. The first of these events was the retirement of Miss Rebecca T. Reed from her novitiate, and a subsequent account of her life at the convent.
Miss Reed was a young woman of a respectable Protestant family dwelling in this town. Her parents had been possessed of some property, but at this time were in straitened circumstances. While at school Miss Reed witnessed the com- munity come out from Boston and take possession of their new quarters, and her curiosity was stimu- lated to make inquiries about their objects and mode of life. The more she learned of their seclu- 'sion and holy living, the more she became drawn towards a cloister life. She communicated her wishes to the superior and the bishop, and after conversation with them, and further consideration, against the wishes of her parents she entered the convent, with the intention of becoming a nun and
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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
an instructress, after a suitable period of prepara- tion and trial. But the bright visions of convent life which this highly imaginative young girl had conjured up were destined to be dissipated in a few brief months. The picture of a dreamy and perhaps indolent seclusion, and the fascination of a mysterious worship, gave way to the homely and sober routine of duties with each hour appropriate to its own special work or worship. To endure the hard couch, the plain fare, the exacting pen- ances, she realized that one must draw from deeper fountains of religious faith and love than she pos- sessed.
She resolved to return to the world, and that she might not be hindered in her resolution by physical restraint or by moral suasion, her departure took the form of an escape, and scaling the fence, she presented herself faint and bleeding at the house of Mr. Kidder, keeper of the toll-gate. She stated that she was tired of convent life, had mistaken hier vocation, and desired to return to her family, friends, and early religion. The story of her life during the months of her seclusion was not given to the public, but only rehearsed to a few particular friends, and the account committed to paper lay in manuscript till after the burning of the institution, when in justification to Miss Reed it was thought advisable that it should be published, with addi- tions and emendations by the authoress and her Protestant friends. It appeared under the title, Six Months in a Convent, and provoked a reply from the superior, which was followed by another pamphlet entitled, A Supplement to Six Months in a Convent. The escape of Miss Reed had long ceased to agitate the public, when another event took place which must be regarded as the exciting cause of the destruction of the convent.
Miss Harrison, or Mary John, had been an inmate of the institution for several years, and was a teacher of music. Whether she imagined herself unable to fulfil conscientiously the exactions of a monastic life at a time when body and mind were fatigued by her exertions in preparing for Coronation day, or whether she chose to leave the institution from other motives, will probably never be known. But on the afternoon of July 28, 1834, shortly before she would have held her recitation, she left the grounds in an irregular manner, and sought ad- mission at the house of Mr. Cutter. She there distinctly stated that she was tired of her secluded life and desired never to return to it. She talked calmly and rationally, and stayed until evening.
A Mr. and Mrs. Runey came in, and at her request took her to West Cambridge, to the parents of a former pupil at the school. In all her conversation and manner she displayed no signs of insanity what- ever. The bishop and superior were acquainted with her whereabouts, and riding out to West Cambridge succeeded in persuading lier to retire to the institution again, with the understanding that she should return to the world at any time. She asked the Cutters and Runeys to visit her, and if she did not appear in ten days, she requested them to go to the convent and have an inter- view with her. At her non-appearance at the specified time, this request was fulfilled; but the callers were told that Miss Harrison was sick and had no desire to see them, was perfectly satisfied with her present life, and wished to remain an in- mate of the institution. The report that a nun, declared to be in sound mind, liad escaped from the nunnery, was induced to return temporarily, but was not afterwards seen by the public, and had not left, acted like tinder upon the inflammable state of mind in the community.
Reports were circulated that a nun was impris- oned against her will, and that there were under- ground cells in the convent where the inmates were immured. Two young ladies walking about the grounds at this period were reported to have been set upon by dogs. Stories were current that, from the mystery of Miss Reed's account, there were abuses at the convent which were too horrible to be divulged.
Public indignation spread ; hand-bills were posted, and threats uttered which menaced the existence of the institution. The selectmen sought to allay the excitement, and visiting the convent, made a careful examination of the building, that they might proclaim the groundlessness of the charges ; but they were coldly received, and de- layed in their investigation, and before a public announcement was made of the purity of the insti- tution the rioters had done their work, the black- ened memorials of which exist to this day.
On the night of August 11, 1834, by dusk, entirely without the foreknowledge of the respect- able citizens of the community, little knots of men began to gather about the vicinity of the convent grounds. At nine o'clock the crowd had greatly increased ; many were in carriages, and the greater part were strangers to the residents, who neither knew whence they came nor what was their pur- pose. Some of the crowd started a bonfire just to
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SOMERVILLE.
the east of the convent, on the land of Mr. Kelly. This brought the fire companies from Boston, and Engine No. 13 came up the convent avenue. When it reached the building a volley of stones was discharged, yells were heard, and an attempt was made to batter down the doors. Finally, disregarding the expostulations of the superior and the feeble remonstrances of the selectmen, an entrance was effected by the rioters, and for an hour or more they ransacked the premises. The building was examined in every part, secretaries and drawers were broken open and rifled, costly musical instruments, furniture, and books were thrown from the windows. The sacramental vessels were taken from the ciborium and scat- tered about the fields; the cross was torn down and cast into the flames. All the symbols of wor- ship were removed and desecrated, -even the tomb which contained the bodies of several nuns, who had consecrated their lives to deeds of charity, mercy, and instruction, was ruthlessly entered, and left open to gratify the prurient curiosity of the rioters .. In the meantime the frightened inmates, numbering in the vicinity of about ten nuns and forty-seven pupils, many of a tender age, had passed into the courtyard between the wings, and had sought refuge near the tomb till they were taken to places of shelter. The rioters subse- quently set fire to the bishop's lodge and the other buildings, and did not retire from the vicinity till daylight, when many of them got into carriages and drove off.
The deeds of the rioters were accomplished without causing a general alarm among the inhabi- tants of Boston. But on the following day great indignation was manifested among the better classes in the community. The Catholics could hardly be restrained from acts of retaliation. A meeting was held in Faneuil Hall, and addresses made by prominent citizens, who condemned the outrage in the strongest terms. On the 15th of the month Governor Davis issued a proclamation offer- ing $500 reward for the discovery of the perpetra- tors, and calling upon all classes to heal the wound. Twelve men, of various employments, who were believed to have been engaged in the riot, were arrested and indicted. December 2, John R. Buz- zell, a brick-maker, against whom the evidence was strongest, was brought up for trial, and although he was generally believed to have been an active participant, and is said to have confessed his guilt years afterwards upon his death-bed, he was
acquitted. Notwithstanding the general desire among the better class to have the perpetrators brought to justice, Marvin Marcy, Jr., a boy of seventeen, who had been drawn into the affair purely from a love of mischief, was alone con- .victed, and he was set at liberty at the expiration of seven months.
Although endeavors have been made, no bill has ever passed the legislature indemnifying the Catholics for this wanton destruction of their prop- erty, and effacing a black stain upon the honor and good government of Massachusetts.
It remains to name a citizen closely and promi- nently identified with Somerville from the begin- ning of its corporate existence almost to the present time, who has been frequently mentioned in connec- tion with the various enterprises for the promotion of public interests or the public welfare.
George Oliver Brastow was born in Wrentham, September 8, 1811. He remained in his native town during his minority. After following the lumber business in Maine for a few years, in 1838 he became a resident of this place, and soon took an active part in the affairs of the town. In 1845 he was elected one of the board of selectmen, and from this time till his death he might almost constantly have been found occupying some public station or engaged in some public enterprise for the welfare of the community. He served three terms of office, aggregating eight years, - from 1844 to 1862, - upon the school committee. He was sent as a representative to the General Court from this district in 1849, and returned in 1850 and 1851, and in 1854 was elected to the senate. He was con- nected with the fire company at its formation in 1850, and in 1859 was one of the organizers of the Somerville Light Infantry, and their first captain. He was one of the charter members of John Abbot Lodge of Freemasons, and of Somerville Royal Arch Chapter.
The outbreak of the war found him again in command of the Somerville Light Infantry, and proffering his services to the governor for three months. Later he was appointed paymaster in the army. In 1862 he was again elected to the house of representatives, and again to the senate in 1866 and the three succeeding years, serving in 1868 as president of that body.
When the city government was inaugurated, popular feeling was directed toward Mr. Brastow as the most fitting person to become the first mayor, and he was almost unanimously elected,
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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
and the following year re-elected. Declining further service, he was elected to the governor's council for the years 1874, 1875, and 1876. At the time of his death, November 23, 1878, he was an inspector of the state-prison at Concord, and director of the Duxbury and Cohasset Railroad.
It is doubtful if any man in Somerville had a firmer hold upon the hearts of his townsmen than George O. Brastow. This hold was not gained by the display of any rare intellectual or moral quali- ties, but by his activity in promoting the interests of his adopted town, his familiar social standing with the people, his frank, genial nature, and his self-sacrificing generosity to the afflicted and needy of every class and color.
The intellectual qualities of Mr. Brastow's mind were not, however, by any means of a low order, for he was possessed of a good natural ability, and a mind exhibiting many admirable qualities for the public service. To a remarkable energy and a capacity for work, he united a good judgment of the wants of the people and a nice discrimination of the tone of popular feeling, while few men could assume a more imposing dignity on a fitting occa- sion ; in his social intercourse with the masses he had a hearty and jovial though bluff manner: He was the possessor of a strong common-sense with a lively fund of humor and anecdote, a presence of mind in any position or company, and a personal community with every individual with whom he came in contact that gave him great influence in the councils of the state as well as of the town.
Mr. Brastow is largely identified with the de-
velopment of this city. He bought lands, on enter- ing the town, with a view to erecting houses and speculating in real estate, and having no continu- ous private business turned his attention entirely to measures which would develop the district. Hence we find him engaged in almost every enterprise that was started for the welfare of the community, - the establishment of churches, schools, societies, companies. In all these diverse occupations he manifested the same earnest interest, and the same aptitude for the successful conduct of these con- cerns.
Mr. Brastow made for himself a war record that was highly honorable, and which clung to him during the remainder of his life. 'Soldiers of his command still speak of the watchfulness and affec- tionate care he bestowed upon his men, not only in the hour of engagement, but in the every-day life of the camp.
Mr. Brastow's period of service for the public weal, and for institutions and measures of recog- nized necessity in the community, extend over a period of more than thirty years, and justly entitle him to be placed in the foremost rank of the bene- factors of Somerville; and if we regard the high honors accorded to him at his decease, we find such to be the expression of the popular voice, and that he was furthermore accorded a first place in the hearts of his own fellow-citizens.1
1 Dr. Booth having sailed for Europe before this article was in type, the proof-sheets have been carefully read by Mr. Charles H. Guild, of Somerville, to whom hoth the author and editor are indebted for valuable suggestions. - ED.
339
. STONEHAM.
STONEHAM.
BY SILAS DEAN.
TONEHAM cannot, like many other towns and cities, produce any records or copies of records to show that the name was given in honor and memory of some place in the mother country. Although such a statement has been made in bygone days, the source whence it came cannot be relied upon as authentic. The best infor- mation obtained fixes the time of settlement about 1645, and though no names can be given, it may be that a few families be- came residents at an earlier period. Colonial records show that, on February 7, 1632, Gov- ernor Winthrop and a party visited the southerly part of the town. Of this visit the following ac- count is given : " The governor, Mr. Nowell, Mr. Elliott, and others went over Mystic River at Medford, and going north and by east among the rocks about two or three miles, they came to a very great pond, having in the midst an island of about one acre, and very thick with trees of pine and birch, and the pond had divers small rocks standing up here and there in it, which they therefore called Spot Pond. They went all about it on the ice. From thence towards the northwest about one half mile they came to the top of a very high rock, beneath which, towards the north, a goodly plain, partly open lands and partly woods, from whence there is a fair pros- pect, but it being then close and rainy, they could see but a small distance. The place they called Cheese Rock, because when they went to eat some- what, they had only cheese, because of the gov- ernor's man forgetting, for haste, to put up some bread."
In the year 1640 four brothers by the name of Holden came to this country, being natives of the county of Suffolk, England ; the fifth and youngest brother remaining in his native land. The names of three of them were Richard, Oliver, and Jus-
tinian. Oliver took up a permanent residence in the vicinity of what is now Charlestown Square. Justinian, not being able to procure land to his liking, finally removed to the present town of Westminster, in the northerly part of Worcester County. He is said to have taken possession of the township and remained there to the close of his life. The fourth brother, whose name is not given, removed to the state of Connecticut, and nothing further is known in regard to him. Richard, it appears, decided to locate in the northerly part of Charlestown, it being presumed that he remained with his brother Oliver until he had selected the ground for his new home. The land which he purchased, and where he built his house and lived for years, is but a short distance southwesterly from the house of Nathan Bucknam, deceased, in later years the property of J. Alvin Wilson. His house was near the brow of what is now known as Bear Hill, upon the summit of which stands the notable Cheese Rock. It appears that from Richard Holden descended all of his name in this immediate vicinity. His first child, Samuel, was born in 1649. Asa Holden, a former resident of this town, who died at Concord, New Hampshire, was a descendant of Richard in the fifth generation. There is an ancient stone in the burial-ground with this inscription : -
" Here lies ye body of Mrs. Anna Holden, wife of Sam- uel Holden, who departed this life June 18th, 1731, aged 72 years."
She was evidently the wife of Richard's first son, and, according to the date of her death, was born in the year 1659. As previously stated, when the four brothers Holden came to this country - the reason for their removal being that they might live in the enjoyment of religious ordinances - the youngest brother remained in England. The family was reported as having been heir to the estate of a rich lord, who was a bachelor. After his decease the remaining brother took all the in- heritance, and in 1646 came to this country with his family. He purchased a large tract of land in
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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
the state of Rhode Island, and there took up his abode. He made every possible effort, as has since been ascertained, to find his brothers, in order to give them their several portions of the estate, but all proved unavailing. His anticipations also of enjoyment in his new home in the possession of all desired religious privileges were soon blasted, for in a few short months he sickened and died. All hope of finding the brothers being given up, his widow sold the estate, took the property, which was, no doubt, of considerable amount, in her own pos- session, and returned to old England. Mr. George Piper, an Englishman by birth, who lived in East Woburn about forty years ago, stated that he had knowledge of a large sum of money on deposit in England, designated as the Holden fund, which leaves little reason to doubt that it was the same to which the Holden brothers were entitled.
If traditionary statements are to be relied upon, the first settler in town was a Scotchman, named Patrick Hay, afterwards called Peter Hay, but family record would lead to the belief that Richard Holden was the first one. It is probable that Hay was the first to settle at the centre, or what is now the business part of the town. The circumstances connected with Hay's coming to this country are as follows : He was bound out as an apprentice in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, but, being dissatis- fied with his situation, resolved to leave his master. He accordingly sailed on board a vessel bound for Salem. On his arrival at that port, being unable to pay for his passage, the captain sold or bound him out to a man in Lynnfield to work until he should earn the necessary sum, which would require some six or seven years of service. He served out his time, after which he concluded to settle in this vicinity, and commenced his labors by clearing the ground now known as Cobble Hill. It is stated that he came over from Lynn- field with his axe and gun, stopping for a few days at a time, and lodging in a building or hut which stood near the spot where the house of the widow Abby Locke now stands. From the fact of his bringing his gun, it would seem that he stood in fear of the Indians, although it is said that he purchased his land of them for the paltry sum of two coppers per acre.
Northerly from the tract of land owned by Hay, which might have extended considerably beyond the northern limits of what is now Elm Street, on the westerly section of that street, a man by the name of Thomas Gerry became the owner of the
lands, including in his purchase that lying on the northerly side of Farın IIill. Gerry came to Bos- ton in a war vessel, acting in the capacity of boat- swain. On his arrival he incidentally met the Scotchman Hay, came out and surveyed the land, and being pleased with the prospects of taking up a residence here, went back to Boston and obtained permission to return and live in the place, it is said, on condition that if called for to go on an expedition against the French, he would do so. He became acquainted with a young lady in Bos- ton, whom he married and brought to this place. He is said to have been a man of great courage, and the following incident is related of him : At that time wolves were numerous in this section. On a certain day Gerry was away from home until a late hour, and on his return called upon a family living near where the house of Cornelius Doyle now stands. It then being about dark, it was thought rather dangerous for him to go home. However, having an axe with him, he went his way, but after travelling a short distance he en- countered a number of wolves. He braced him- self against a large tree and fought it out with his brute antagonists. Notwithstanding his neighbor heard the conflict, he was left to conquer or die alone. He was victorious, and went home. In the morning he returned to the scene of the con- flict, and found that he had killed four wolves, and by the blood-stains it was evident that another was wounded. The bounty on each wolf was, at that time, £4. Gerry remained here for several years, but was eventually called upon to fulfil the promise made previous to settling. He left his wife and children, never to return, and it is stated that he fell during an engagement with a foreign enemy. He had several sons, one of whom settled in this town, another went to Harvard, and another to Marblehead. Elbridge Gerry, formerly gov- ernor of this state, and vice-president during Mr. Madison's administration, is said to have been connected with the family. The following extract from the oration of William B. Stevens, Esq., given at Stoneham, July 4, 1876, makes reference to the same person : " The next pioneer of whom I can speak with any degree of certainty was one who, as early as 1669, had made a clearing just beyond the northern slope of Farm Hill, and had his home there during King Philip's War. He was, at the same time, a cunning and courageous man. On a certain occasion, having reason to suspect that an Indian was lying in wait for him
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