History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 194

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III > Part 194

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It is to the credit of Medford that, for a long term of years, she has held a place in the van of the towns of the Commonwealth as far as regards her expendi- ture of money for the support of public schools.

During the early part of the present century, Med- ford was the seat of several private schools, two of which deserve especial notice. Dr. Luther Stearns (H. C. 1791), for many years conducted a classical boarding-school for boys and girls. His school was attended by children from the first families of New England, and enjoyed a deservedly high repute. Dr. Stearns was the father of George L. Stearns, the dis- tinguished philanthropist. Mr. John Angier (H. C. 1821), opened a school of similar character in 1821, and conducted it with great success until 1841, when he retired. His school was frequented by pupils from every part of the country and from the West Indies, and many of them rose to distinction in after life.

In connection with her educational establishment, Medford may claim the honor of being one of the first . towns in the State to maintain a free public library. As early as 1825, the " Medford Social Library " was founded by a society whose purpose was "to form a collection of books strictly useful, promotive of piety and good morals, and for the diffusion of valuable in-

formation." The library was maintained by annual assessments on its shareholders. In 1856, the trus- tees of the Social Library, in conformity with a vote of the stockholders, transferred the collection, numbering 1125 volumes, to the town "as the foun- dation of a permanent town library." Since that time the town has made liberal annual appropria- tions for the support aud increase of the library, now known as the Medford Public Library. In 1875, Mr. Thatcher Magoun presented to the town for the use of the library the mansion house on High Street, for- merly occupied by his father, with land adjoin- ing. He also gave five thousand dollars for fitting and furnishing the building for its uses. The Ma- goun mansion occupies a beautiful and stately site, and is architecturally well suited to the purposes to which it is devoted. Ilere the town has found con- venient accommodations for its growing collection of books. The reading-room is supplied with the best reviews and periodicals of the day, and contains a valuable reference library, which is always accessible to the public. The library now contains about 12,000 volumes, and the annual circulation of books is over 27,000.

Tufts College occupies a site just within the south- ern border of Medford, on a beautiful eminence, for- merly called Walnut Hill, but now known as College Hill. The college grounds are a portion of a tract of land one hundred acres in extent, the gift of Mr. Charles Tufts, of Somerville, for whom the college was named. The first foundation of Tufts College was the sum of $100,000, subscribed by Universal- ists in various. parts of the United States. Rev. Hosea Ballou (2d) was elected the first president of the college in 1861, and rendered invaluable service to the infant institution until his death in 1861. During the official term of his successor, Rev. Alonzo A. Miner, D.D., great additions were made to the funds of the college through gifts and endowments of friends. Sylvanus Packard gave generously to the institution in his lifetime, and bequeathed to it a sum amounting to about $300,000. Dr. William J. Walker was also a munificent benefactor, giving to it upwards of $200,000. Other liberal friends of the college were Dr. Oliver Dean, who contributed $90,- 000 to its funds, and Thomas A. Goddard, its first treasurer, who, in the infancy of the institution, when its income was small, met all deficiencies out of his own pocket.

The Divinity School of the college was established in 1869, and Rev. Thomas J. Sawyer, Packard Pro- fessor of Theology, was placed at its head. A large number of students have graduated from the school since its formation, and are occupying some of the most prominent and influential pulpits of their de- nomination in the United States.

Dr. Miner resigned the presidency of the college in 1875 and Rev. Elmer H. Chapin, a graduate of the college, was elected to fill the vacancy. Under his direc-

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

tion the affairs of the institution have prospered, and its curriculum has been greatly extended. Through the generosity of friends of the college, several fine buildings have been ereeted for its use during the last few years. The Goddard Chapel, erected out of funds provided by Mrs. Mary A. Goddard, is a stone structure, and its graceful campanile is a pleasing feature in a distant view of the college buildings. The Barnum Museum of Natural History, founded by Mr. Phineas T. Barnum, occupies the fine building given by him to the college. Its large exhibition hall contains an excellent collection of mammals, birds, fishes and reptiles, the gift of the founder.

With its growing endowments and the reputation deservedly won for the institution by its able and earnest-minded corps of instructors, Tufts College has an assured field of usefulness open before it.

Previous to the present century, the occupations of the people of Medford were chiefly agricultural, and mechanical industries were confined to the supply of local needs. Even up to the present time Medford has been very little engaged in manufactures. A very large proportion of the population finds its occu- pation in Boston, and Medford is rather a place of residence than of trade.

Owing to the extensive deposits of clay in the town, brick-making has been carried on from the time of its settlement, and the work done in the past has left permanent marks upon the fields in many parts of the town. The business is still prosecuted in South Medford.

A distillery was built in Medford as early as 1735 and it was followed by the erection of others. From its superior quality, perhaps due to the water used in its manufacture, " Medford rum " has acquired more than a local celebrity. The business is still success- fully carried on, on the site of the old distillery.

During the first three-quarters of the present een- tury, the great industry of Medford was ship-build- ing, and Medford-built ships enjoyed a high reputa- tion throughout the commercial world. The low banks of the Mystic afforded many favorable loca- tions for ship-yards, and the ships once launched found an easy passage down the deep tide-waters of the river to the wharves of Boston, where they were rigged and fitted out. As early as 1631, Governor Winthrop built a vessel of thirty tons on the banks of the Mystic, and the little craft received the name of the " BLESSING OF THE BAY." This was probably the first vessel built in New England, and perhaps, in the United States. In 1632, Mr. Cradock built a ship of one hundred tons register, and, a year later, one of two hundred tons. Small vessels, of which we have no record, doubtless continued to be built on the Mystic, but it was not until the beginning of the pre- sent century that the business assumed considerable proportions.

In 1802, Mr. Thacher Magoun, who has been styled "the pioneer of ship-building in Medford,"

established himself in a ship-yard on Riverside Ave- nue, a little below Park Street. He at once com- menced the construction of ships, many of them of large register for those days, and soon gained a rep- utation for the excellence of his models and his skill as a shipwright. Others engaged in the business, among them Mr. Calvin Turner, "esteemed one of the most skilful draughtsmen, as well as one of the most faithful builders in New England. In the course of seventy years 567 vessels, averaging 490 tons register, were built in Medford-an aggregate of 272,124 tons. Many of these ships were of a capacity of more than a thousand tons, and one measured two thousand tons. Some of the finest clippers that sailed the ocean were Medford-built ships.

After the opening of the Civil War the business of ship-building rapidly declined in Medford, as it did throughout the United States. The large share of the carrying trade of the world which this country hal enjoyed passed into other hands, and iron had superseded wood in the construction of ships. The last ship built in Medford was launched from the ship-yard of Mr. Joshua T. Foster, and the pleasant sound of the shipwright's busy hammer is no longer heard ou the Mystic. The fine class of American mechanics, that once formed a substantial part of the population of Medford, has largely disappeared ; only a few representatives of the dead industry re- main, and they have had to seek other employments for support. But the town still holds in grateful re- membrance the names of Magoun, Turner, Sprague, James, Curtis, Fuller, Lapham, Foster, Stetson, Waterman, Ewell, Cudworth and Taylor, the old Medtord masters in the noblest of all arts-the build- ing of ships.

The population of Medford has not increased as fast as some of the suburban towns of Boston, but it has had, nevertheless, a steady and wholesome growth. The following table gives the population at successive periods :-

In 1763, Medford had 741 inhabitants; 1776, 967; 1784, 981 ; 1790, 1020 ; 1800, 1114; 1810,11443; 1820, 1174; 1830, 1755; 1840, 2478 ; 1850, 3749; 1855, 4603; 1860, 4831 ; 1865, 4839 ; 1870, 5717 ; 1875, 6267; 1880, 7573 : 1885, 9041 ; 1890, 11,105.

The valuation of the town in 1889 was $9,279,715.

To the lover of antiquity and its associations, Med- ford presents peculiar attractions. Few towns in the United States have preserved so many features con- nected with the past, and it is a matter of regret that under the hands of what is styled " modern improve- ment," many of these are destined soon to pass away. The old High Street of the town, lined with ancient and substantial buildings, one of them dating back to 1689, is fragrant with the memory of the early time. The river upon which John Winthrop dwelt, winds its way through the lovely valley, and, north and south, are the forest-crowned heights of the Mid- dlesex Fells and the graceful slopes of Winter Hill.

The old "garrison" houses of the town are still

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standing. The Cradock House, in the eastern sec- tion of the town, erected in 1634, is probably the old- est house in English America. It has lately been carefully restored by pious hands, and will remain as a monument to the fathers of the settlement on May- sachusetts Bay. The old Royall mansion, the seat of Col. Isaac Royall, colonial magnate and loyalist, still remains one of the finest examples of the domestic architecture of the early part of the last century.

Such was and is " Old Medford," the home of kind- ness and hospitality, and a noble type of the ancient New England town.

CHAPTER LVI.

MARLBOROUGHI.

Original Grant-Indian Grant-First Meeting of Proprietors-Choners of House Lots in 1660- First Settlers-King Philip's War-French and Indian War.

THE territory embraced within the present town of Marlborongh originally comprised a portion of the town of Sudbury, which was granted in 1638. In 1656 a number of the leading citizens of Sudbury presented the following petition to the General Court :

" To the Hoo. Governor, Dep. Governor, Magistrates, and Deputies of the General Court now assembled in Boston.

" The Humble Petition of several of the inhabitants of Sudbury, whose names are here underwritten, showeth : That whereas your Peti- tioners have lived divers years io Sudbury, and God hath been pleased to increase our children, which are now diverse of them grown to man's estate ; and wee, many of us, growu into years, so that wee should bee glad to see them settled before the Lord take us away from hence, as also God having given us some considerable quantity of cattle, so that wee are so streightened that we cannot so comfortably anbsist as could be desired ; and some of us having taken some pains to view the country ; wee have found a place which lyeth westward about eight miles from Sudbury, which wee conceive might be comfortable for our subsistence.

" It is therefore the humble request of your Petitioners to this Hon'd Court, that you would bee pleased to grant unto us eight miles square, or so mnuch land as may containe to eight miles square, for to make a Plantation.

" If it shall please this Hon'd Court to grant our Petition, it is further then the request of your Petitioners to this Hon'd Court, that you will be pleased to appoint Mr. Thomas Danforth, or Liesten" Fisher to lay out the bounds of the Plantation ; and wee shall satisfy those whom this Hon'd Court shall please to employ in it. So apprehending this weighty occasion, wee shall no further trouble this Hou'd Conrt, but shall ever pray for your happiness.

" Edmund Rice, John Howe,

William Ward, John Bent, Sen'r,

Thomas King,

John Maynard,

John Woods,

Richard Newton,

Thomas Goodnow, Peter Bent,

John Ruddocke,

Edward Rice."

Henry Rice,

The General Court under date of May 14, 1656, replied as follows :

" In answer tu the Petition of the aforesaid inhabitants of Sudbury, the Court judgeth it ineete to grant them a proportion of land six miles, or otherwise in some convenient form equivalent thereunto, at the dis- cretion of the Committee, in the place desired : provided it bioder no former grant ; that there be a town settled with twenty or more families within three years, so as an able ministry may bee there maintained.

"And it is ordered that Mr. Edward Jackson, Capt. Eleazer Lnsher, Ephraim Child, with Mr. Thomas Danforth or Leisten" Fisher, shall bee, and hereby are appointed a Committee to lay out the bounds thereof,

and make return to the next Court of Election, or else the grant to bee void."

This grant embraced 29,419 acres.

A portion of this territory, however, had already been granted to the Indians, May 3, 1654, as follows : " Upon the l'etition of Mr. Eliot, in behalf of the Indians, liberty is granted to the Indians of Ockoocangansett, being eight miles west of Sudbury, to make a town there, provided it do not prejudice any former grant, nor that they shall dispose of it without leave first had and obtained of this Court." This grant contained 6000 acres.

At the first meeting of the proprietors held Sept. 25, 1656,

" It is concluded and ordered, That all yt doe take up lotts in yl Plan- tation shall pay to all public charges yt shall arise upon yo Plantation, according to their House Lotts, and themselves to be residents there within two years, or set A man in, that yo Town shall approve of, or else to loose their lotts ; but if God shall take away any man by death, such A one hath liberty to give his lutt to whom he will, this order to the contrary notwithstanding."

The same year William Ward, Thomas King, John Ruddocke and Joho llowe, " Were chosen to put the Atlairs of the said new Plantation in an orderly Way."

In September, 1657, the following names also ap- pear on their list :

William Kerly, Juhu Rediat, John Johnson, Thomas Rice, Solomon Johnson, Samnel Rice, Peter King, Christopher Banister.

" It is ordered that all such as lay clayme to any interest in the new Plantion at Whipsuppenicke are to perfect their house lots by the 25th of March next ensuing, or else loose all their interest in the aforesaid l'lantation.

" It is ordered that every one y' hath A Lott in ye aforesaid Planta- tion, shall pay twenty shillings by the 25th of March ensuing, or elso to loose all legal interest in yeaforesaid Plantation."

" Ata meeting of ye inhabitants aud proprietors of this Plantation ye lith of ye xi month, 1659,

" It is ordered that A Rate bee made for diffraying and satisfying ye charge for Laying out this plantation and other publicks charges to be collected of the inhabitants and proprietors.

" It is ordered, That every person ye claims any interest in the town of Marlborough, shall pay to all publicke charge, both for the minister and for all other town charges that have arisen about the plantation to this day from the beginning thereof, according to their proportion in yo rate now presented with said proportion due ; every person to pay at or before the 10th of November next ensuing, or else loose all legal interest in the aforesaid plantation ; that is to say, four pence an acre for each acre of their House Lotts to the Minister, and three pence for all the estate that hath beeu kept or brought to keep, being found in the town or about the town ; and nine pence an nere for every acre of their House Lotts to town charges, till all the debts that are due from the town to them that have been employed by the town or the plantation thereof.

" Signed :

" Edmnud Rice, Thomas King, Solomon Johnson, Richard Newton, William Ward, Thomas Goodnow, William Kerly, Henry Kerly, John Howe, Christopher Banister, John Johnson, John Anddocke."

" It is ordered that there bee a rate made ffor Mr. William Brimstuend, Minister, to bee collected of the inhabitants and proprietors of the town (for six months) at the rate of four pence per acre upon House Lotts, and three pence per Pound upon cattle."

The following is a list of owners of house-lots, 1660 :

Edmund Rice, William Ward, John Ruddocke, Thomas Goodnow, Joseph Rice, Samuel Rice, Christopher Banister, Thomas King, Willian Kerly, Solomon Johnson, John Johnson, Richard Newton, John Howe, Sr., John Howe, Jr., Henry Kerly, Richard Barnes, Thomas Rice, Joseph Holmes, Samuel llowe, Andrew Belcher, Obadiah Ward, Edward Rice, Richard Ward, Jolin Woods, Sr., John Maynard, Peter King, Benjamin Rice, a minister, Peter Bont, John Bellows, Abraham Howe, Thomas Gooduow, Jr., John Rutter, John Barrett, Juho Rediat, u blacksmith, Henry Axtell, John Newton.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

The first white settler of Marlborough was John Howe, in 1657 or '58. Other early settlers were Ed- mund Rice, William Ward, John Woods, Sr., John Maynard, Jonathan Johnson, John Ruddocke, Chris- topher Banister, John Barrett, Abraham Howe, Ed- ward Rice, Thomas Rice, William Kerly, Richard Ward, Samuel Brigham, Thomas Brigham, John Bent, Richard Barnes, Abraham Williams, Thomas Goodnow.

PIONEERS .- Among the early founders of Marl- borough were the following :

Adams, Alcocke, Alexander, Allen, Amsden, An- gier, Arnold, Axtell, Badcock, Baker, Banister, Bar- ber, Barker, Barnard, Barnes, Barston, Bartlett, Bar- rett, Bayley, Braman, Bellows, Bent, Bender, Bigelow, Bond, Bowker, Boyd, Breck, Brigham, Brown, Bruce, Bush, Church, Cogswell, Cotting, Cranston, Crosby, Cunningham, Curtis, Darling, Davis, Dawson, Dex- ter, Eager, Eames, Edwards, Fay, Felton, Forbush, Fosgate, Fosket, Foster, Franklin, Garfield, Gates, Gibbs, Gibbon, Gleason, Goddard, Gold, Golding, Goodale, Goodenow, Gott, Gore, Gould, Green, IIa- ger, Haggitt, Hale, Hall, Hapgood, Harrington, IIar- thorn, Hayden, Hemenway, Hinds, Holden, Holland, Holyoke, Horn, Hosmer, John Howe, Abraham Howe, Hudson, Hunter, Hunting, Jewell, Johnson, Jones, Joslin, Kerley, Keyes, Kidder, Knap, Knights, Lee, Lennard, Loring, Lyscom, Mann, Manson, Marble, Martin, Mason, Matthews, Maynard, Mixer, Moore, Morris, Morse, Moseman, Munroe, Newton, Oakes, Paekard, Parker, Parminter, Perry, Percival, Peters, Phelps, Potter, Pratt, Prescott, Priest, Ray, Rediat, Reed, Rice, Ripley, Robinson, Ruddock, Rugg, Rus- sell, Sampson, Sawin, Sawyer, Seaver, Shattuck, Sherman, Smith, Snow, Souther, Stanly, Stevens, Stewart, Stone, Stow, Stratton, Taylor, Tainter, Tem- ple, Thaping, Thomas, Tomblin, Townsend, Trow- bridge, Vockary, Wait, Walcutt, Walker, Walkup, Ward, Warren, Weeks, Wells, Wheeler, Wheelock, Whitcomb, Whitney, Wilder, Wilkins, Willians, Wilson, Winchester, Witherbee, Witt, Wood, Woods, Wyman.

The following were residents of the town in 1770:

Samuel Brigham, Urinh Brigham, George Brigham, Ithamar Brigham, . Paul Brigham, Ephraim Brigham, Josephs Brigham, Benjamin Brigham, Asa Brigham, Solomon Brigham, Caleb Brigham, Peter Bender, Job Carley, Adonijah Church, Jousthan Clefard, Ezekiel Clisby, Jacob Fel- ton, Silns Gates, William Goddard, John Gleason, Joseph Gleason, Elizur Holyoke, Joseph llowe, Joseph Howe, Jr., Samuel Sherman, David Smith, John Smith, Nathaniel Smith, Samuel Smith, Manning Sawin, Jason Sherman, Joseph Townsend, Jr., Jonathan Temple, John War- ren, John Weeks, Francis Weeks, Samuel Witt, Samuel Witt, Jr., Dun- iel Ward, John Woods, Josiah Wilkine, Joseph Wheeler, Alpheus Woods, Joseph Williams, Jabez Walcutt, Thomne Walkup, Benjamin Whitcomb, Josiah Witt, Solomon Bowker, Benjamin Wilder, Jonathan Werks, Samuel Hunting, Josiah Ilowe, Witherhee Whitney, John l'riest, Jr., Benjamin Sawin, Thomas Berry, Charles Whitcomb, John Buker, John Whitney, Amos Edmanils, Jacob Heminway, Aaron Eumes, John Shattuck, William Speakman, G. William Speakman, Joseph Dar- ling, John luntford, John Bannester, Solomon Barnard, Daniel Barnes, Daniel Barnes, Jr., Solomon Barnes, John Barnes, Moses Barnes, Aaron Barnes, Henry Barnes, Jonathan Barnes, Jr., John Barnes, Jr., Edward Barues, Mary Beaman, Nonh Beamun, Peter Bent, Jonas Bartlett, Wil-

liam Boyd, Abijsh Berry, Ivory Bigelow, Jonathan Bigelow, Joel Bige- low, Noah Bigelow, William Bigelow, Thaddeus Howe, Phinehas Howe, Artemas Howe, Elizabeth Howe, Abraham Howe, Asa Howe, Eleazer Howe, Luther Howe, Luke Howe, Elisha Hudson, Simon Howe, Elisha Hedge, Moses Howe, Lucy Howe, Noah Howe, Edward Johnson, Heze- kiah Maynard, Ichabod Jones, Zaccheus Maynard, Solomon Newton, Ezekiel Newton, Johu Parker, Josiah Parker, Andrew Rice, Jabez Rice, Jonah Rice, Zerubbabel Rice, Abraham Rice, Jesse Rice, Gershom Rice, Ebenezer Richard, John Richard, Joseph Stratton, Jonathan Stretton, Samnel Stratton, Rediat Stewart, Josiah Stow, Samuel Stan- hope, Robert Sinclair, Jonas Temple, Jonathan Tainter, Abraham Wil- liams, Larkin Williams, George Williams, William Williams, James Woods, Moses Woods, Peter Wood, Samuel Ward, Silas Wheeler, Caleb Winchester, Reuben Ward, William Slack, Joshua Bayley, Joseph Lamb, Jonathan Robinson, James Bowers, Samuel Curtis, Abraham Amsden. Joseph Arnold, Robert Baker, Winslow Brigham, Jonathan Barues, Fortunatus Barnes, Frederick Barnes, Thomas Bigelow, Gershom Bigelow, Timothy Bigelow, Jesse Bush, Micah Bush, John Bruce, Wil- liam Bruce, Samuel Bruce, Amasa Cranston, Abner Crsaston, Thomas {'arr, Daniel Cook, Robert Cane, Timothy Cheney, John Demont, Ben- jamin Dudley, Lucas Dann, John Darling, Alexander Boyd, Hezekiah Maynard, Stephen Hale, Sanmel Phillips, Levi Fay, Ephraim Barber, Francis Stevens, Samuel Havens, Jack Rice, Silas Carley, Moses Fay, Samuel Ward, Silas Rice, John Dexter, Robert Eames, Robert Eames, Jr., Uriah Eager, ['riah Eager, Jr., Jonathan Eager, John Eager, Aurou Eager, Nathaniel Faulkner, Archelaus Felton, Nathan Goodale, Abel Goulding, Phinehas Gates, John Goll, Nathaniel Gibbs, Abigail Hap- good, Mary Hapgood, Peter Howe , Seth Howe, Peter Howe, Jr., Thom- as Howe, Jr., Ebenezer llager, William Hager, Daniel Harrington, James Harrington, Edward Hunter, Daniel Hayden, Jacob Hale, Jacob Harrington, John Maynard, Ebenezer Maynard, Ebenezer Joslin, Na- than Mann, Micah Newton, William Newton, Joshua Newton, Adonijah Newton, Benjamin Rice, John Rundall, Jabez Rice, Jr., Nathati Reed, Simon Stow, Samnel Stevens, Silas Jewell, Thomas Goodale, Jonathan Loring, Joseph Lewes, Jonas Morse, William Morse, Jonas Morse, Jr., Stephen Morse, Ephraim Maynard, Ephraim Maynard, Jr., John Priest, Joseph Potter, Ephraim Potter, John Putnamn, Abraham Randall, David Rand, Thomas Stow, Samnel Stow, Josiah Stow, John Stow.

The largest tax-payers in Marlborough, 1770, were Ephraim Brigham, Henry Barnes, Joseph Howe, Peter Bent, Hezekiah Maynard and Zerubbabel Rice.

KING PHILIP'SWAR .- Marlborough, being a frontier town, was exposed to the incursions of the Indians, and prior to the breaking ont of Philip's war a fort had been erected at this point. A number of soldiers were stationed here, and October I, 1675, a meeting of the following citizens was held to adopt measures of defense :

Rev. Mr. Brimsmead, Deacon Ward, Thomas King, Solomon Johnson, Abraham Howe, John IIowe, Sen., John Woods, Sen., Richard Newton, Abraham Williams, Thomas Rice, John Johnson, Samuel Rice, John Bellows, Nathaniel Johnson, John Woods, Jr., Joseph Newton, Thomas Barnes, Josiah Howe, John Maynard, John Rediat, John Fay, Moses Newton, Richard Barnes, William Kerly and James Taylor.

Garrisons were established at the homes of William Keely, John Johnson, Deacon Ward, Sergeant Wood, Charles Williams, Joseph Rice, Simon Rice and Peter Bent. Sunday, March 26, 1676, was a memora- ble day for Marlborourgh. " No more alarm of raging foes," says Mr. Hudson "disturbed the quiet of that Sab- bath morning. The people assembled at the house where prayer was wont to be made, and a fervent peti- tion had been offered for their safety and protection. A hymn of praise had been sung. Their spiritual leader,

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MARLBOROUGH.

the Rev. Mr. Brimsmead, commenced his sermon, and was dispensing to them the word of life, when he was interrupted by the appalling cry-' The Indians are upon us.' The confusion and dismay which ensued, can be better imagined than described! The assem- · bly instantly broke up; and the people made for the neighboring garrison, where, with a single exception, they all arrived in safety, just in season to elude the savage foe. One of the worshipers (Moses Newton, a son of Richard Newton, one of the thirteen original proprietors of the town), to his honor be it recorded, less moved by fear than by humanity, seeing an aged and infirm female who could not move rapidly from the scene of danger, resolved to rescue her from im- pending destruction, or perish in the attempt. In his noble effort he succeeded, and brought her safely to the garrison, though in so doing he received a ball in his elbow, from the effects of which he never fully recovered.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 194

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278