History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : containing carefully prepared histories of every city and town in the county, Vol. II, Part 60

Author: Drake, Samuel Adams, 1833-1905
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Boston : Estes and Lauriat
Number of Pages: 650

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : containing carefully prepared histories of every city and town in the county, Vol. II > Part 60

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In 1809 Rev. John H. Stevens was elected a representative to the General Court, and was also re-elected in 1810. This year a bell was purchased by subscription, and placed upon the meeting- house. It was to be rnng for all the Sabbath services and all other religious meetings, also for funerals and all public meetings, as is usual in other places. Any one ringing the bell without the permission of the person employed for that purpose was to pay a penalty of five dollars.

In 1811 Jabez Lynde was chosen representative, and in 1812 Rev. Mr. Stevens was again elected. This was the first instance of the number of ballots cast being placed on the record, which is as follows : Rev. John H. Stevens, forty-one; Daniel Gonld, twenty-nine ; Peter Hay, 2d, three.

This year, in consequence of the pressure of the times, the minister's salary was reduced from $ 400 to $333.33.

Early in the morning of November 26, 1819, the inhabitants of the town were startled by the announcement that a brutal murder had been com- mitted the previous night. The family of Jacob Gonld consisted of two bachelor brothers, a maiden sister whose name was Polly, and a Widow Win- ship, the hired help. Between eight and nine o'clock in the evening of November 25 three ruf- fians, with blackened faces, and armed with dirks, entered the house occupied by the Goulds, which stood but a short distance from the one now owned and occupied by Philander Ames, and situated on the westerly side of Pond Street, a short distance north of Spot Pond. They inflicted a deadly wound upon Jacob, who died abont three o'clock in the morning. David and Polly were both woundcd. The robbers ascertained that $800 were in a chest, and secured the money. The event produced great excitement for miles around, and a reward of $500 was offered by David Gould for the detection of the robbers, and to this the gov- ernor of the state added $500 more. A man by the name of Daniels was arrested at Newport,

Rhode Island, and committed for trial, but just before the time appointed for it to take place he hung himself, thereby confirming the belief in his guilt, though he made no confession. Several others were arrested, but sufficient evidence against them was not obtained to warrant their detention.

The annual town-meeting for the election of officers was held at the school-house, Monday, March 6, 1826, wanting but one day to complete a hundred years from the time of the first annual meeting, that having occurred Monday, March 7, 1726, at 8 o'clock A. M. The following is a sum- mary of the town expenses for the year commenc- ing March 7, 1825, as reported by the board of selectmen.

Total expense of the poor $628.05

Money raised for a man school 150.00

Expended for a woman school 160.00

Militia, gunpowder, making cartridges, paper, etc. 7.25

Town Officers.

Town clerk

1.21

Collector's premium

40.00

Selectmen's account

17.70

Overseers of the poor

12.80

Assessor's services 26.23

Printing expenses

5.00

Making out accounts

8.60

Miscellaneous expenses

530.80

Debt of the town

504.90

JOHN H. WRIGHT,

DAVID GERRY,

Setectmen.

ALPHA RICHARDSON,

At this meeting it was voted to raise one hun- dred dollars to defray the expense of building a new school-house near where the old meeting- house stood. The building was to be two stories in height, - a school-room being finished in the lower story, and a hall above for the transaction of town business, and for holding public meetings. It was removed to the site where it now stands, at the corner of Central and Pleasant streets, in 1833.

In the year 1825 the number of dwelling-houses was seventy ; number of barns, sixty-three ; mills, shops, and other buildings, about seventy-five. The total valuation for the financial year ending March, 1826, was $157,251.50 ; total amount of polls, one hundred and sixty-six. Of this number nearly one half must have been engaged in shoe- making or other manufacturing business.

The ministry of Rev. Mr. Stevens terminated in 1827, he being dismissed November 11 of that year. During the time of his connection with the society he had enjoyed scasons of prosperity and

347

STONEHAM.

passed through varied scenes of sorrow and ad- versity. During his ministry he solemnized one hundred and seventy-five marriages. He also kept a record of two hundred and fifty-seven deaths. His successor, Rev. Joseph Searle, was installed May 1, 1828. This year a subscription paper was circulated, and fifty-seven dollars col- lected by Rev. Mr. Searle for the purpose of put- ting stoves in the meeting-house. During his stay in the place he specially interested himself in be- half of the schools. He was dismissed January 2, 1832. Rev. Jonas Colburn was settled August 1, of the same year. During the time of his ministry he was at each annual March mecting elected a member of the board of school committee. He was dismissed February 27, 1837.

The following description was given of the town for the year 1837 : " This is a small town, rocky and uneven. It has some good soil and a considerable quantity of woodland. The population, in 1837, was 932. During the year ending April 1, 1837, there were made in this town 380,100 pairs of shoes, valued at $181,717, employing more than half its inhabitants. Spot Pond, a beautiful sheet of soft and pure water, lies in this town, eight miles north from Boston. It covers an area of 283 acres, and is 143 feet above high-water mark. There is also said to be a fall of 100 feet in the distance of about 100 rods from the pond. A short distance northerly from Spot Pond is another one of small size, situated on the easterly side of Pond Street, and known as Doleful Pond. The water is said to be of great depth and in a constantly unsettled condition, which may account for the name. Refer- ence should also be made to a marble-pit situated at the southwesterly part of the town, upon land formerly belonging to Joseph Hurd, at the pres- ent time owned by Colonel Lyman Dike. The lime used in building the first meeting-house is said to have been taken from that place. The for- mer practice of removing the inarble to make lime was that of making a fire in the pit, thereby ren- dering it more susceptible of impression from the tools made use of for removing the same. Two pits are open at the present time ; small quantities of the marble have, at different times, been taken out; specimens of which, when worked, have proved it to be of an excellent quality. But as it lies far below the surface of the ground, it is supposed that the expense of getting it out would outweigh its value when ready for use."

The meeting-house erected in 1803 was destroyed

by fire, Sunday, January 5, 1840. The fire was discovered between the ceiling of the porch and the singers' gallery, soon after the commencement of the morning service. Religious services were held in the afternoon at the town-hall, and were continued at the same place during succeeding Sabbaths until October. The Congregational Meet- ing-house now standing on the east side of Main Street was erected and dedicated October 22.

The Universalist meeting-house (at present the Roman Catholic Church, standing on the north side of Pomeworth Street) was also built in 1840, on the lot of land now occupied by the Christian Union Church, and was dedicated August 20. This year a newspaper was published in town, bearing the significant name of The Stoneham Regulator. The population of the town, according to the census of 1840, was 1,017. Up to this time the number of shoe-manufacturers, as well as of shoemakers, had been steadily increasing, and consequently an increasing amount of capital was invested.

The Rev. John Haven was settled as pastor of the Congregational Church, February 24, 1841; and dismissed October 4, 1849. In 1844 a lot of land was purchased by the town, and laid out into two hundred and seventy-one burial lots, sit- uated on the northeasterly side of William Street, and was publicly consecrated May 15, of that year. It is now known as the William Street Cemetery. In 1847 it was voted that all school-district boun- daries should be annulled, and a committee was chosen to enlarge and make all necessary repairs on the school-houses, and build new ones where needed. Also to erect a building near the town- house with basement rooms, the second story to be finished for a town-hall and the lower story for school-rooms, this being the present town-house, which was first crected a short distance north from where it now stands; but was removed at the time of the erection of the high-school building.

In 1851, by vote of the town, at a meeting held January 20, five school-houses were erected.

The Stoneham Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in April, 1856, and at the present time has two hundred and fourteen members. It is under the pastorate of Rev. Charles W. Wilder.

April 5, 1856, a section of the northeasterly part of the town, containing about one hundred and ninety acres, was annexed to South Read- ing.

At a meeting held May 7, 1859, the town voted

348

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY. .

to establish a free public library, and appropriated for that purpose the sum of $300; aud at the annual March meeting in 1860 it was reported that the number of the volumes in the library was fourteen hundred and seventy.

At this meeting it was also voted to purchase land of William Richardson for a cemetery, if, in the opinion of an appointed committee, it should be for the interest of the town so to do, the ground being located on the westerly side of the town, adjoining Woburn. The lot was purchased, con- taining 222 acres and 14 rods, and was sub- sequently laid out into 699 burial lots.

The first society of the Methodist Episcopal church was organized January 2, 1865.

The religious society known as the Christian Union Church was organized February 23, 1867.

The First Baptist Church was organized Feb- ruary 7, 1870, with Rev. A. J. Hovey as pastor.

The Stoneliam Light Infantry Company, being Company L of the 7th Regiment Massachusetts Infantry, was one of the first to respond to the call of the President for troops at the time of the late Rebellion. The officers were John H. Dike, cap- tain ; Leander F. Lynde, Darius N. Stevens, James F. Rowe, and William B. Blaisdell of Lynn, lieutenants.

This company was transferred from the 7th to the 6th regiment. At two o'clock on the morning of April 17, 1861, Captain Dike received orders from the governor, by a special messenger de- spatched from the office of Adjutant-General Schouler, to report himself with his company at the state-house next morning. The reply of Cap- tain Dike to the messenger was, " Tell the adjutant- general that I shall be at the state-house with my full command by eleven o'clock to-day." True to his word, Captain Dike reported at the statc-house at eleven o'clock, and that afternoon, attached to the 6th regiment, the company left for Washing- ton. Two days afterwards, on the 19th of April, during their march through Baltimore, Captain Dike was shot down while 'leading his company through the mob, receiving a wound in the leg which made him a cripple for life.

Stoneham furnished four hundred and four men for the war, which was a surplus of forty-six above all demands. Twenty-five were commis- sioned officers. The amount of money raised and expended for war purposes, exclusive of state aid, was $36,646.79.

The amount of money raised and expended by

the town during the war for state aid to soldiers' families, and repaid by the commonwealth, was $36,111.73.

The women of Stoneham, from the commence- ment to the close of the war, were unceasing in their efforts to render aid to the soldiers.

Stoneham lost during the war : died of wounds, seven ; died in rebel prisons, four ; died of disease, twenty-one; killed in battle, eleven.

In July, 1868, the town voted to build a sol- dier's monument, and chose a committee to carry out the vote. The monument is of Concord gran- ite, and consists of a base six feet square and three feet high. On this is a pedestal, five feet square at the base, seven feet high, with a concave die sur- mounted with a heavy cornice. From the top of this springs the shaft, which is sixteen feet high. The four dies bear on their faces heavy marble shields, handsomely cut, and inscribed with the names of the soldiers whose deaths are commemo- rated. About middle way of the south side of the shaft, in bas-relief, are two hands clasped over the swords of Justice and of State crossed ; a wreath of laurel surrounds the hands, and the streamer that binds the wreath is inscribed: "By the sword she seeks peace under liberty." `Over these emblems is a canopy of stars. On the west the word " Justice," in a wreath. On the north, an anchor, cannon, national shield, and flags. On the east " Liberty," in a wreath.

The shield on the south side is inscribed : --

To the MEN OF STONEHAM who dicd for their country in the War of the Rebellion. Ereeted by the Town, A. D. 1869.

On the west side as follows :

DIED OF WOUNDS. Col. J. Parker Gould, 59th Mass., Aug. 21, 1864.1 Darins Johonnott, 19th Mass., March 22, 1865. Sidney F. Mellen, Sth Battery, Oct. 11, 1862. W. H. Richardson, 5th Mass., July 7, 1861. Charles A. Whittier, 13th Mass., Sept. 27, 1862. Frederick C. Ames, 36th Mass., June 25, 1864. William Hayes, 59th Mass., Jan. 31, 1869.

1 Jacob Parker Gould, a son of Jacob and Phebe C., was born May 15, 1822, graduated at Norwich University, Vermont ; was a civil engineer; was major of the 13th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers ; afterwards colonel of the 59th Massaebusetts regi- ment; wounded at the battle of Petershurg, Virginia, had a leg amputated, and died at Philadelphia, July 21, 1864.

349

STONEHAM.

DIED IN REBEL PRISONS.

James Riley, 11th U. S. Infantry, 1864. Corp. Hiram George, 59th Mass., Aug. 10, 1864. Peter Terney, 99tl N. Y., Oct. 16, 1864. Nathan M. Walton, 59th Mass., Sept. 11, 1864.

The north shield bears the following names : - DIED OF DISEASE.

Surgeon W. H. Heath, 2d Mass., Ang. 28, 1864. Sergt. W. V. B. Tibbitts, 33d Mass., March 15, 1863. Corp. Charles A. Holmes, 13th Mass., Feb. 20, 1862. Corp. N. E. Starbird, 33d Mass., Jan. 12, 1863. W. H. Ayers, 13th Mass., Dec. 12, 1863.1 I. B. Cowdrey, 2d Co. Sharpshooters, April 20, 1862. M. Morton Dike, 50th Mass., Nov. 29, 1863. Samuel 1. Dodge, Ist Co. Sharpshooters, Oct. 20, 1862. John T. Gowen, 38th Mass., March 19, 1863. Walter B G. Gray, 33d Mass., Aug. 23, 1864. Aaron A. Green, 33d Mass., June S, 1863. E. A. Hale, 19th Mass., June 30, 1862. William Holden, 42d Mass., Sept. 19, 1863. Alphonso H. Pinkham, 6th Mass., Sept. 14, 1863. Otis W. Pinkham, 33d Mass., May 15, 1863. William B. Smith, Sth Battery, Sept. 12, 1862. Joseph B. Wheeler, 13th Mass., May 28, 1864. Oliver Wheeler, Jr., 33d Mass., Nov. 10, 1862. George W. Young, 2d Co. Sharpshooters, Oct. 7, 1862. James A. Green, 99th N. Y., Sept. 6, 1863. Angustus F. Stevens, 6th Battery, 1862.

The east shield is inscribed as follows :

KILLED IN BATTLE.

Sergt. Charles H. Carr, 22d Mass., June 27, 1862. Sergt. Leonard S. Whittier, 59th Mass., May 12, 1864. George O. Berry, 13th Mass., Sept. 17, 1862. Jolın Brosnahan, 9th Mass., May 12, 1864. Philip O Buckstone, 33d Mass., Oct. 29, 1863. John E. Leclair, 13th Mass., Sept. 17, 1862. Joseph: Leclair, 33d Mass., May 15, 1864. John Nolan, 33d Mass., May 25, 1864. Joseph Wheeler, Ist H. A., June 20, 1864.

1 This name, and the date of the death of M. Morton Dike, are erroneously given on the monument. The first should be James H. Ayers, the secoud, Nov. 18, 1863. - ED.

Corp. Herschel A. Sanborn, 13th Mass., July 1, 1863. Jolin Roach, 11th U. S. Infantry, July 3, 1863.

DIED OF DISEASE.

Charles L. Nash, 56th Mass., Oct. 30, 1866. John L. Green, 99th N. Y., March 11, 1868. Victor W. Lorendo, Sth Battery, April 23, 1867. Otis M. Eastman, Ist Battery, April 22, 1867. Jolin S. George, 13th Vet. Res. Corps, May 10, 1865. John L. Hovey, 4th H. A., June 11, 1865.

It was at first intended to place the monument in Central Square, and had it been so located the architectural effect would have been much better. In its present location, on open ground in Linden- wood Cemetery, at the right of the main avenue, it does not appear so large as it really is, on account of its isolated position. By vote of the town the location was changed from Central Square to the Cemetery. It stands on a slight elevation, so that the top of the monument is about thirty feet above the avenue.

The following is from the oration of W. B. Stevens, Esq., July 4, 1876 : -

" Stoneham's company of minute-men having been engaged in the first battle of the Revolution it was almost a providential coincidence that Cap- tain Jolm H. Dike's company, from the same town, on the same day of the same month, should have participated in the first skirmish of the Rebel- lion. At Lexington, she was in the vanguard of the army which founded the Republic; at Balti- more and Washington, she led the hosts that saved the Union."

According to the census of Massachusetts, Stone- ham, in 1875, contained 4,984 inhabitants; males 2,36S, females 2,616.

The Stoneham Reform Club was organized by Dr. Reynolds, March 16, 1876, and has a member- ship of one hundred.

350

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

STOW.

BY REV. GEORGE F. CLARK.

FTER the incorporation of Con- cord, Sudbury, Marlborough, Lancaster, and Groton, there was left, environed by these towns and the Indian plantation of Nashoba (now Littleton), . quite a large traet of land called by the Indians Pompasittacutt. Upon this territory two settle- ments were made, -one by a Mr. Boon, near Sudbury, about 1660, the other by John Kettle, some three years later, near by the borders of Lancaster. Both of these men are said to have come from Charlestown, but neither remained as a permanent settler; for the breaking out of King Philip's War drove them from their homes, never to return. The day before tlie mas- saere of Wadsworth's company at Sudbury, Boon and his son, while removing their goods to a place of safety, were ambushed and slain by the savages. Nothing more is known relative to him or bis family. Kettle fled for protection to Laneaster, where his second wife and some of his children were captured by the Indians in their famous raid upon that town in 1676. There is a doubtful story about Kettle himself having been captured and killed by the red-skins. He probably died at sea about 1690. He married first Sarah Good- now, of Sudbury, and had by her three children, - John, Sarah (born Mareh 8, 1663), and Joseph. His second wife was Elizabeth Ward, by whom he had Jonathan, born November 24, 1670, and probably James.

In 1666 a lot of five hundred aeres was " layed out unto the Worshipfull Maj" Eleazer Lusher," for services rendered the government. A year or two later another lot of five hundred aeres was assigned to Captain Daniel Gookin, and also one of one hundred and fifty aeres to Rieliard Held- ridge. Probably none of these men ever resided upon their farms. The first direct movement towards the formation of a town was in 1669, when George Haywood and others asked the Gen-

eral Court to appoint some persons to view this land, " which," say they, " we judge may be con- venient to make a plantation in that your petition- ers may see what encouragement they may have to make farther address unto this honored court for acomodations for themselves, famalyes being at present much wanting therein."

October 13, 1669, the court appointed five per- sons to examine this territory and ascertain " the qualitye and quantity thereof, whither it be capable (if the farms be layed to it) to make a village." The committee report, May 31, 1670, that they find, by estimation, ten thousand aeres of " count- try's land, whereof five hundred acres of it is meadow; the greatest part of it is very meane land, but we judge there will be planting land enough to accommodate twenty familyes ; also about four thousand aeres more of lands that is taken up in farmns," that the Indian town of Na- shoba, bordering on one side "is exceeding well meadowed, and they make but little or no use of it." The court then granted the land to the petitioners, to make a village, " provided the place be settled with not lesse than tenn familyes within three years, and that a pious, orthodox, and able minister be mainteyned there." Daniel Gookin, Thomas Danforth, and Joseph Cooke, or any two of them, were appointed to regulate the settling of the place. These men, December 4, 1672, ap- pointed a committee of four to lay out twelve farms of fifty aeres each, and to "cast Lotts for them " among the persons and their associates to whom the territory was granted, provided that these persons " be men of good and honest conver- sations, orthodox in Religion," and engage to help. support " a Godly minister among them," and also settle upon their lands within two years from the next May, or else give up their lots to others who would settle. But as late as June 1, 1675, most of these lots had been forfeited by non-settlement, and the committee sought to have them improved by others. The Indian hostilities stayed all further proceedings for some years.

351

STOW.

This territory, being deserted during the war by the inhabitants, became a famous rendezvous for the savages, whence they made raids upon the neighboring towns. Tradition says that the In- dians once held a consultation upon Pompasitta- cutt Hill, overlooking Concord and Sudbury, relative to which place they should destroy. Sud- bury was decided upon, because one of the leading warriors said, " We no prosper, if we burn Con- cord. The Great Spirit love that people. He tell us not to go there. They have a great man there. He great pray." This allusion was to Rev. Edward Bulkley, the Concord minister. They feared his influence with the Great Spirit. Hence Concord was saved, and Sudbury suffered. Indians resided upon this territory for years after its settlement and incorporation, and some of the inhabitants now have deeds of land given by the aborigines to their ancestors. Soon after the in- corporation of the town a rate was made to pay Ben Bowhugh, or Piphugh, and James Speene and others, for lands purchased of them.

Who was the first settler in Stow after Philip's War is unknown. In 1681 we find a list of the twelve allotments of land. Lot number one was set apart for the first minister. The other eleven lots were probably taken up in 1678 or 1679, and were assigned to Boaz Brown, Gershom Heale, John Buttrick, Ephraim Heldreth, Thomas Stevens, Stephen Hall, Samuel Buttrick, Joseph Freeman, Joseph Daby, Thomas Gates, and Sydrack Hap- good. Subsequently, and before the middle of March, 1686, house-lots were granted to twenty- three other persons. The inhabitants having so increased in numbers as to be able to look after their own affairs, the prudential committee, on the 11th of October, 1681, appointed Thomas Stevens, Boaz Brown, Thomas Gates, and Stephen Hall, to take charge of the plantation; and they were in- vested with the powers of selectmen " for the carry- ing on of such affaires as shall relate to the good settlement of the place," subject, however, to in- structions from the committee. This committee, April 24, 1682, appointed Jolm Hayward, of Boston, plantation clerk. In the early part of 1683 the inhabitants became anxious to take their place among the towns of the colony, and made known their wishes to the prudential com- mittee, who on the 9th of April chose Thomas Stevens, of the plantation, as clerk, and directed the inhabitants to mcet, and choose five selectmen " to order and manage their Towne affaires, and

a Constable for ye year Ensueing." The meeting was held on the 19th of April, 1683, and Sergeant Benjamin Bozworth, Thomas Stevens, Stephen Hall, Boaz Brown, and Joseph Freeman were chosen selectmen, and Thomas Gates constable. Early in the following May the citizens met, and pre- pared a petition to the General Court, asking to be made a town with " some suttable comly Eng- lish name," and to be freed " from Country pub- lick Charges & Rates a while Longer," on account of the great expense they would be at in support- ing a minister, making bridges, and "other un- avoidable. heavye secular matters, yt will sorely pinch a poore people in soe yong a plantation, where they can not yet Raise competent ordinary food & Rayment." On the 16th of May, 1683, the General Court granted their prayer, and ordered them to be a town by the name of Stow, and freed them " from ye Country Rates for three yeares."

The town, thus constituted, was of very irregular shape, extending from the ancient bounds of Sud- bury to what is now Lunenburg. But portions of it have been taken from time to time to form the towns of Harvard, Boxborough, Shirley, Hud- son, and Maynard. It now comprises only about one third of its original area, and is bounded north by Boxborough and Acton, east by Maynard, south by Hudson, and west by Bolton and Harvard. It has three villages, -the Lower Village, where the first meeting-house was èrected, about a mile easterly of the Centre, and Rock Bottom, in the southerly part. The principal stream is the Assabet River, in the southeasterly part. Assabet Brook is the next largest stream. The two noted hills, Pom- pasittacutt and Shabbukin, are now respectively within the limits of Maynard and Harvard. But there. are beautiful views from Spindle, Birch, and Marble hills. In 1875 the population was 1,022.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : containing carefully prepared histories of every city and town in the county, Vol. II, Part 60

Author: Drake, Samuel Adams, 1833-1905 Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Boston : Estes and Lauriat Number of Pages: 650

Author: Drake, Samuel Adams, 1833-1905
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Boston : Estes and Lauriat
Number of Pages: 650