History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 102

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 102

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" HERE-LYETH-YE-BODY-OF-ANNE-YE WIFE-OF-CAP-EDMOND-GOODENOW- WHO-DYED-YE : 9: OF: MARCH 1876: AGED- 67-YEARS."

" HIERE-LYETH-YE-BODY-OF-JOSEPH- GOODENOW-WHO-DYED-YE-30-OF-MAY : 1676 : AGED-31-YEARS. FEBRY-18-1691."

" Here lies Buried The Body of ye worthy Joshua Haynes Esq De- ceased March ye 29, 1757 in the 88 year of His Age. He was a Hearty Promoter of the Public weal and Whose . . Humanity, Integrity and Laudable Munificence Enthalm Ilis name. He was charitable to the Poor and at his Death gave many Gifts to Particular . . Besides 2 Thou- sand Pounds Old Tener to a Publick School and ye Poor of ye Town of Sudbury."

Joshua Haynes was the donor of the fund called, in the list of bequests to Sudbury, the " Ancient Donation Fund."

" HIERE-LYES-YE-BODY-OF-MR-JONATHAN- SIMPSON-LATE-OF-BOSTON-WHO-DE- PARTED-THIS-LIFE-NOVR-1st-1773-IN-THE 54th YEAR-OF-IIIS-AGE.

" Charlestown doth claim his birth, Boston his habitation ; Sudbury hath his grave, Where was his expiration."

In 1800 this old burial-place was enlarged by land purchased of Abel and Luthier Gleason, and a strip

of land was bought of the William Noyes heirs, to connect the yard with the old Indian burying- ground. In 1835 land was set apart for a new cemetery. It was purchased of Joseph Bullard, and is situated a little northerly of Pine Brook, about a quarter of a inile south of the Centre. In 1871 a cemetery was laid out at Cochituatc.

The piety of our ancestors left little room for cus- toms that were senseless or uninstructive. If thicy were severely solemn, they were devoutly so; and, if they employed some curious devices, it was for the promotion of good. The position of their gravc- stones shows that the dead were laid with the feet toward the east, or, as it was termed, "facing the east." Whence and why this custom, we know not. It might have had reference to the star of the east that announced the birthplace of Christ; but whatever the cause, it doubtless was suggested by some religious idea. To us it is a strong reminder of the words of John Bunyan: "The pilgrim they laid in a large upper chamber whose window opened towards the sun rising; the name of the chamber was Peace, where he slept till break of day, and then he awoke and sang."

The character of the grave-stones was another peculiarity of those primitive times. It would seem the object was to impart to these mementos of the departed the most sombre aspect imaginable. As no flowers but those that were strewn by God's pitying hand were ever suffered to intrude their gay, sweet presence within the solemn enclosure, so the nearest approach to anything like sympathetic embellishment on those dark slabs was the weeping willow, which drooped its long branches over a funeral urn. But the more common ornament was the " skull and cross- bones," under which were uncouth markings and strange inscriptions. Sometimes the stones were placed in groups, sometimes in irregular rows. Some were placed upright and others horizontal on the ground; but, as the latter are few and of very early date, we infer that this mode was exceptional or that it soon passed out of use. Perhaps it was a wise pre- caution in those far-off times to protect the grave from the wild beasts which were prowling about through the adjacent forests in search of prey. Another peculiarity is the fewness of the stones in our old graveyards. A casual glance might lead one to think they were full of slate-stone slabs, but actual count gives only a few hundred for all who died in the first century and a half. Indeed, in the older portion of East Sudbury grave-yard there are only two or three scores of stones, yet the yard contains the remains of a large portion of the town's early inhabitants, and a new grave can hardly be dug with- out intruding upon an old one. This seems to show that the practice of marking graves in old times was the exception and not the rule. Still another charac- teristic feature of these ancient grounds was their barren aud neglected aspect. The graves were gradu-

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ally leveled by the touch of time, the ground became uneven and rough aud covered over with briars and wild grass. Yet we may beliere these spots were not in reality neglected nor forsaken, for, though the floral and decorative offering was a thing unknown, many an irregular, beaten path testified that the place of their dead was an oft-frequented spot.

In early times the dead were carried to the place of burial by the hands of friends. No hearse was used till about 1800, when one was purchased at a cost of fifty dollars. In process of time a bier was used, and, as late as the beginning of this ceutury, the body was carried on the shoulders of the bearers. In 1715 the town granted " three pounds for providing a burying cloth for ve town's use." In 1792 it voted to provide two burying cloths; these were to throw over the re- mains in their transit to the grave. This is indicated by the following record :

"Lieut. Thomas Rutter is chosen to dig graves, to carry the bier and the cloth to the place where the deceased person hath need of the use thereof, and shall be paid two shillings and six pence in money for every individual person."

In early times, gloves were provided for funeral occasions. We are informed of this repeatedly by the records of the town. About 1773, "To James Brown for 6 pairs of gloves for Isaac Allen's child's funeral- 11-"

"To Col. Noyes for 7 pairs gloves for Isaac Allen's burial-13-"

" To Cornelius Wood for 3 pairs gloves for John Goodenow's funeral." This was about 1673.

Almost down to the present time the good old cus- tom prevailed of ringing the bell on the occasion of a death. How it used to break into the monotony of our daily toil to have the silence suddenly broken by the slow tolling bell, that said plainer than words that another soul had dropped into eternity. Now a pause -- listen ! three times three-a man, or, three times two-a woman. Another pause, and theu strokes corresponding in number to the years of the deceased. On the morning of the funeral the bell tolled again, and also when the procession moved to the grave.

As late as 1860 it was common to have a note read- " put up," the phrase was-in church on the Sabbath following a death, in which the nearest relatives asked " the prayers of the church that the death be sancti- fied to them for their spiritual good."

The grounds early used for burial were owned by the town and set apart for its common use. No priv- ate parties possessed " God's acre " then. Proprietary lots were unknown one hundred years ago. Every citizen had a right to a spot for burial wherever in the town's burying-ground the friends might choose to take it. The rich and poor were alike borne to this common spot ; caste was laid aside, and nothing save the slab at the grave's head might indicate the former position of the silent occupant of the old-time burial- place. The graves of households were often in

groups, reminding one of our present family lots, but this was by common consent, and not by auy titled right to the spot.

The public-house was from an early date considered in Sudbury an important place. In 1653 or 1654 we find it on record that "John Parmenter, senior, shall keep a house of common entertainment, and that the court shall be moved on his behalf to grant a license to him."

The business of these places was to provide travelers with lodging and food, or to furnish " entertainment for man and beast." They were to an extent under the control of the town, as is indicated in a record of Oc- tober 4, 1684, when it was ordered that upon the "un- comfortable representations and reports concerning the miscarriage of things at the Ordinary . .. three or four of the selectmen, in the name of the rest, do particularly inquire into all matters relating thereto." In all of these taverns strong strong drink was proba- bly sold. Licenses were granted by the Provincial or Colonial Court, and the landlords were usually men of some prominence. Taverns were considered useful places in the early times, and laws existed relating to the rights of both landlord and guest. In the period of the Revolutionary War, when a price-list was de- termined at Sudbury for various common commodi- ties, the following was established for taverns :

"1779-Mugg West India Phlip 15 New England Do 12 Toddy in proportion A Good Dinner 20 Common Do 12 Best Supper & Breakfast 15 Each. Common Do 12, Lodging 4.

The " Parmenter Tavern " was the first one kept in town, and was on the late Dana Parmenter estate, a little westerly of the present Parmenter house. The build- ing was standing about eighty years since, and was looking old then. It was a large square house, and in the bar-room was a high bar. There the council was entertained which the Court appointed to settle the famous "cow common controversy." Subsequently, taverns at East Sudbury were kept as follows : one a little easterly of William Baldwin's, one at the Centre called the "Pequod House," one at the Reeves' place, one at the Corner, and one at the end of the old causeway, near the gravel pit. The tavern at the East Sudbury Centre was kept nearly a hundred years ago by John Stone, father of William, who afterwards kept one at Sudbury.

About 1814 the tavern at the centre was kept by Heard & Reeves. The building had a two-story front and over the kitchen in the rear was a low sloping roof. The barn stood sideways to the road, with large doors at each end. In the bar-room was a spa- cious fire-place where crackled the huge wood-fire on the stout andirons. Near by were a half-dozen log- gerheads ready for use whenever the villager, team- ster or transient traveler came in for his mug of hot flip. Here more or less of the townspeople gathered

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

at intermission between the long sermons on Sunday, while their good wives were spending the " nooning" at neighbor Russell's, just over the brook. The boys bought a small piece of ginger-bread for their lunch, and while they devoured with avidity the rare morsel of " boughten " sweet cake, their fathers sat by the fireside and talked of the war, of the crops and the cattle. Before departing they showed, in a substan- tial way, their respect for the landlord and their ap- preciation of the warmth and cheer of the place by the purchase of a mug of flip.

The Reeves tavern was situated on the road from Weston to Framingham, on the "Old Connecticut Path." This was a favorite resting-place for team- sters and travelers. The last landlord was Squire Jacob Reeves, a popular citizen of East Sudbury and an excellent man for his business. He was courteous, cheerful and kind to his patrons. The confidence reposed in him by the community as a business man was evinced by the positions of public trust in which he was placed. He was town clerk eighteen years, was justice of the peace and was several times sent as representative to the General Court. He was also deacon of the First Parish Church, and it is said that his character was in harmony with the functions of his office.

OLD ROADS .- There are several old roads in town, some of which have been discontinued, yet of which brief mention should be made.

Bridle Point Road .- This was early constructed. It began at a point near the Harry Reeves place, and coming out near the Dr. Ames place, passed between the present Braman and John Heard places, and ex- tending along and over the ridge, crossed the site of the present Sudbury and Wayland highway, a little east of the Samuel Russell place, and Mill Brook a little east of its junction with the river. By this way Rev. Edmund Brown's house was reached at Timber Neck, and the Rices who lived by the "Spring " after it was extended to the latter locality, in 1643. It doubtless also served as a hay-road and a short way from the centre of the settlement to the "Old Con- necticut Path." Until within less than a century this road was for a time the regular way to the "Isl- and." Before the building of Farm Bridge tradition says that a fording-place near the new causeway bridge (Bridle Point Bridge) was made use of for reaching that place; and that the road over the "Island " passed south of its present course until near the Abel Heard farm; and beyond the house it went north of the present road to Lanhain.

The road from the centre to the "Bridge Parson- age " (present Wettingtor place) was laid out about 1770.

In 1773 town action was taken relative to the "dis- continuance of the road from Dr. Roby's to Zecheriah Briant's " (Braman place).

In 1653 "it was voted to accept of a highway laid out from Pelatiah Dean's north east corner unto ye

town way leading from the Training field by Ephraim Curtis, Esq., by Lt. Rice's to Weston."

The same date a road was laid out from "Mr. Jon- athan Griffin's Corner running southwesterly into the way by Mr. Eliab Moore's north corner, formerly Mr. Jolın Adams'."

In early times there was a road from Pine Plain to the Cakebread Mill, which entered the mill road at a point just east of the mill.

Traces of this road are still visible by the bank. It is stated that about 1735-36 there was a change of highway from Whale's Bridge over Pine Plain.

In 1736 a new highway is spoken of over Pine Brook at John Grout's. Formerly a rcad passed northerly from the Pine Plain Road, starting at a point a little east of Clay-pit Bridge Hill, and passing "the ponds" went to the north part of the town. The road from the centre to the south part was early opened and called "Cotchituatt Road."

The Castle hill Road is in the town's northwesterly part, and probably so called from the peculiar-shaped hill or knoll along which it passes.

"Northwest Row " was a road still open as a pas- ture-path or hay-road, from the neighborhood of the Gleasons to the river meadow margin.

The new "great road " from Wayland to South Sudbury was made in the early part of the present century.

In 1743 an offer was made of land by Edward Sher- man and John Woodward for a "good and conven- ient way, two rods wide," in case the town would erect a bridge over the river. The same year a sub- scription was made for a bridge between the land of John Haynes on the west side of the river and John Woodward on the east side of the river.

A lane to the Cakebread Mill formerly extended from the Wayland Weston "Great road," beginning at a point just west of Deacon Noyes Morse's house.

PLACES OF INTEREST .- Whale's Bridge .-- This is a small bridge or culvert at the head of the mill-pond, and early referred to in the town records. It took its name from Philemon Whale, one of the early settlers, whose home may have been near by.

Clay-pit Hill .- This is on the east branch of Mill Brook, about an eighth of a mile above the mill-pond. There is a bridge near by, called Clay-pit Bridge or Clay-pit Hill Bridge. Both of these places took their names from the clay-pits near by, where bricks were early made. Other clay-pits were at Timber Neck, near the junction of Mill Brook and Pine Brook, a short distance southwesterly of the High School building.

Pine Plain .- This consists of the plain lands east- erly of Wayland Centre, in the vicinity of the Sum- mer Draper place. The locality is carly mentioned in the records, and probably took its name from the growth of pine forest found there.

Pine Brook .- This is a small stream that skirts a part of Pine Plain on the easterly. It is erossed by

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a small bridge near the Joseph Bullard place, and just below forms a junction with Mill Brook.

The Training-Field .- This was situated just south of the Abel Gleason place, and consisted of about nine acres of land. It was set apart in 1640, and in 1804 was sold to Nathan Gleason.

The Street .- This is that part of the old road of the settlement which extended from the Parmenter tav- ern to the town bridge. It was a term used by the old inhabitants, and is still familiar in the town.

The Pock Pasture .- This is northerly of Pine Plain, and now largely abounds with berry bushes or brush- wood. A small-pox hospital was formerly there, from which it derives its name. There was also a small-pox hospital on the "Island." Tradition states that the treatment in the two hospitals was different, and that in one most of the patients died, and in the other most of them recovered. There is the grave of a small- pox patient just east of Bridle Point Bridge.

Or Pasture .- This was a reservation set apart in 1640 as a common pasture for working oxen. It was situated between the North and South Streets towards Mill Brook.

The Ponds .- These are small bodies of water near the road, now discontinued, that extended from near Clay-pit Hill to the north part of the town.

Bridle Point .- This is often referred to in the early records, and is a well-known and ancient landmark. We have no knowledge of the origin of the name. It is the extremity of the ridge of land by the new causeway bridge. In a deed of 1666 it was spelled Bridell Poynt.

The New Causeway .- This, as the name implies, is the causeway last made, and is on the South Sudbury and Wayland great road. At the eastern end is the New Causeway or Bridle Point Bridge.

Farm Bridge .- This is the one that crosses the river on the road to the " Farm " or "Island." Recently a new bridge was constructed, and the causeway about it was considerably raised to take it above high water. In 1889 a bridge was built to the easterly of this, to allow the water to pass off from the meadows more readily in flood-time. There are also other bridges for this purpose on the other causeways that are call- ed " dry bridges," under which little or no water pass- es in a dry time.

The Common .- This public property was so called because it was "the town's Common land." The term, formerly, did not simply refer to a village green, but to all the land that was held in common by the early settlers. The old Common was at the centre, and contained about one acre ofland that was bought by the town in 1725-27, "as a site, ordered by a com- mittee of the General Court, on which to place the meeting-house." It was also to be used as a training- field. It was nearly square, and bounded southerly by the Farm road, easterly by the great road. The north line, it is stated, would come within about fifteen feet of L. K. Lovell's house; while the south line, or that

on the Farm road, extended from the corner to just beyond the house recently occupied by Mrs. Josiah Russell. At the southwest corner stood the school- house; and at the southeast corner the old meeting- house, which was removed about 1814. This land, as before stated, was sold to Dea. James Draper. The meeting-house was not moved entire, but was taken to pieces and set up without the replacement of some of its original external ornaments. When in its new position it had a common gable roof with slight pedi- ments and covings, and stood fronting the main street nearly on a line with the fence by the sidewalk as it is at present. It had a projecting porch on the front and also on each end. It had eight windows in front, four on each end, four on the back, one large circular top window back of the pulpit, and a semi-circular one in each gable end. It had neither steeple, turret nor chimney ; and near the beginning of the present century its paint was so weather-beaten as to make the original color quite indistinct. A fine sycamore tree stood just back of the pulpit window, and as it towered high above the building added very much to the otherwise plain appearance of the place. On tlie corner just south of the meeting-house, near the spot now occupied by Mellin's "law office," stood the "Pound." Just beyond the brook, on the right, stood the Samuel Russell house, with two stories in front and one back, within which the church-going damcs gathered on a cold Sunday to fill their foot-stoves with coals. There they also talked of the sick and bereaved, for whom prayers may have been offered at the morning service, and other matters of interest and curiosity.

The Village Grocery .- In the early part of the pres- ent century a small West India and dry-goods store was kept by Heard & Reeves. Later it had but onc proprietor, and was known as "Newell Heard's store." It was a low, red building, and stood a few feet southeasterly of the present railroad station. It was a genuine country grocery ; and old inhabitants still remember the tall, slim form of " Uncle Newell," as he was familiarly styled, who was in stature a typi- cal Heard. Mr. Heard was cross-eyed, which may have given rise to the story among the small boys that he could see in different directions at the same time.

This store was a great resort for the staid villagers, who, on a. fall or winter evening, gathered there, and many is the grave question of church and state that has been settled by the social group as it sat on the nail-kegs about the fire of that old-time grocery-storc. After the proprietor's death the building was removed, and a part of it is now on the premises of L. K. Lovell.

PHYSICIANS .- Ebenezer Roby, M.D .- One of the most noted physicians of East Sudbury was Dr. Ebe- nezer Roby. He was born in Boston in 1701, and graduated in Harvard College in 1719. He settled in Sudbury about 1725, and in 1730 marricd Sarah, daughter of Rev. John Swift, of Framingham. He

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

lived in the old Roby house, which was recently de- stroycd by fire. He was prominently connected with town matters in Sudbury, where he lived and prac- ticed his profession till his death. He was buried in the old grave-yard at East Sudbury, and the following is his epitaph :

" In memory of Ebenezer Roby, Esq., a Native of Boston New England.

" He fixed his residence in Sudbury in the character of a Physician, where he was long distinguished for his ability and success in the heal- ing art.

Born Sept 20th 1701 Died Sept 4th 1772 aged 71."

His son, Dr. Ebenezer Roby, Jr., born in 1732, also practiced medicine in Sudbury, and died July 16, 1786, aged fifty-four. Dr. Joseph Roby, son of Ebenezer, Jr., was a practicing physician in East Sudbury till 1801.

The following is a specimen of Dr. Roby's bills. It was rendered the town for attendance and medicine furnished to some of the French Neutrals. ; These un- fortunates were a part of the Nova Scotia exiles re- ferred to by Longfellow in his poem "Evangeline." One thousand of them were taken to the Massachu- setts Bay Province, and supported at public expense. Different towns, among which was Sudbury, had their quota to care for :

MASSACHUSETTS PROVINCE.

" For medicine and attendants for the French Neutrals from Nova Scotia.

" 1755, Dec. 11 -- To Sundry Medicines for French young woman -- 27 -- To Do. for girl 6d

"1756, March 22,-To Sundry Medicines and Journey in the night west side the river-0-5-8

"To Sundry Medicines and Journey west side 0-4-0

" To Do. 48 To Journey and Medicines 0-7-0

" To Do. ¿ for the old Gentleman when he fell off the house and was greatly bruised and sick of a fever the clavicula being broke."

The following are the physicians who succeeded the Drs. Roby : Nathan Rice, 1800-14; Ebenezer Ames, 1814-61 ; Edward Frost, 1830-38; Charles W. Barues, 1860-64 ; John McL. Hayward, 1874. Charles H. Boodey located in Cochituate in 1874, where he still resides.

LAWYERS .- Otliniel Tyler, Samuel H. Mann, Ed- ward Mellen, David L. Child, Richard F. Fuller, Franklin F. Heard, Gustavus A. Somerby, Richard T. Lombard, Daniel Bracket, Charles Smith.

SKETCHES OF PROMINENT PERSONS .- Edward Mellen, Esq., was born at Westborough, September 26, 1802. He graduated at Brown University in 1823, and went to Wayland November 30, 1830, where he died May 31, 1875. He was well known in the legal profession. In 1847 he was made justice of the Court of Common Pleas, and in 1855 was made chief justice of the same court. In 1854 he received from his alma mater the degree of LL.D.

Lydia Maria Child, whose maiden-name was Fran- cis, was born in Medford, Mass. She married David Lee Child, and went to Wayland in 1853. She was celebrated as a writer, and her works have had wide

eirculation. She was eminent as an advocate of free- dom for the black man, and long evinced her sincer- ity in his cause by substantial labors. She was an intimate acquaintance of and earnest co-worker with the prominent anti-slavery advocates of her time. Her home was an humble, unpretentious dwelling, situated about a quarter of a mile east of Sudbury River, on the Wayland and Sudbury Centre highway. Connected with her home was a small and tastefully- kept garden-patch, where she and her husband culti- vated flowers and a few vegetables in such moments as they could spare from their busy literary life. It was no uneommon thing for the passers-by to see one or both of this aged couple quietly at work in their little garden-plot, or perhaps toward the close of the day "looking toward sunset," beyond the peaceful meadows that fringe the bank of Sudbury River. Since the death of Mr. and Mrs. Child the place has gone into the possession of Mr. Alfred Cutting, who has built an addition to the original structure.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 102

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1226

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226