History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 48

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

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and of which the following is a copy ; and a fac-simile of which may be found in Frothingham's "History of Charlestown : "-

" An order made by the inhabitants of Charlestowne at a full meet- ing for the government of the Town hy Selectmen.

" In consideration of the great trouble and chearg of the Inhabitants of Charlestowne by reason of the frequent meeting of the townsmen in generall and yt reason of many men meeting things were not so easily brought unto a joynt issne. It is therefore agreed by the sayde townes- men ioyntly, that these eleven men whose names are written on the other syde (w'th the advice of Pastor and Teacher desired in any case of conscience), shall entreat of all such business as shall couscerne the Townsmen, the choise of officers excepted, and what they or the greater part of them shall conclude, of the rest of the towne willingly to submit unto as their owne proper act, and these 11 to continue in this employ- ment for one yeare next ensuing the date hereof, being dated this : 10th of February, 1634 (1635).

" In witness of this agreement we whose names are under written have set o'r hands."

Soon afterward the General Court embodied this idea in its legislation, and made all the necessary arrangements for town government. From that day to this the town-meeting has been the true glory of New England; and before the Revolution it was, indeed, " the nursery of American Independence."

Concerning our early town system, George William Curtis has said :

" Each town was a small but perfect republic, as solitary and secluded in the New England wilderness as the Swiss canton among the Alps. No other practicable human institution has been devised or conceived to se- cure the just ends of local government so felicitons as the town-meet-

The town of Melrose was incorporated May 3, 1850. Most of its territory previous to incorporation was known as North Malden. A small portion of it, now forming the northwestern corner of the town, was set off from the eastern part of the town of Stoneham, by legislative act, March 15, 1853. The name of Melrose was suggested by William Bogle, a native of Scotland, who had been a resident for several years, coming before the Boston and Maine Railroad was built,-which was opened July 4, 1845-and when he had to go back and forth by the stage-coach line, which commenced running between Boston and Read- ing in 1798. It is situated in the most eastern part of the county of Middlesex, seven miles directly north of Boston. It has a superficial area of 2921 acres, about 2700 of which are taxable.

It is bounded on the north by Wakefield, on the east by Saugus (which is in the county of Essex), on the south by Malden and on the west by Stoncham and a small corner of Malden. Its shape is somewhat irregular, having a width on the Wakefield line of abont a mile, du the Saugus line two and one-half miles, about three miles on the Malden, and two and a half on the Stoneham and Malden line. Its surface is pleasantly diversified ; it has hills, valleys, ponds and streams. The larger part of the settlement is in the valley, which has L Pond in its centre. As the town is growing rapidly, the hills on either side are being fast encroached upon, that on the east being already largely occupied with fiue residences. The

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line of hills on the west side of the valley is more wooded, and in the southerly part there is a pretty waterfall, from the edge of what may be termed a many path-lined wildwood, which lies partly in Mel- rose, partly in Malden and partly in Medford.

This is a portion of the 4000 acres surrounding Spot Pond, now known as the Middlesex Fells.

Within the town's borders there are several sum- mits, from which very extended views of the sur- rounding country may be had-from the ocean on the east, the Blue Hills on the sonth, Mount Wachusett on the west and Mount Monadnock and other distant summits on the north. These local summits are Mount Zion, Mount Hood, Boston Rock, Atlantic Rock, Barrett Mount and Vinton Hill or West Rock.

The largest body of water within its limits is L Pond, containing about thirty acres, so named from its shape, and so referred to in the Charlestown Rec- ords as early as 1638. In early documents it has been variously spelled Ell, Eel, Ele and L; the different spelling probably arising by a misapprehension of the sound.

The other ponds are Swain's, Bennett, Dix, High. land and Long pond ; this latter extends into the town of Saugus. Both Long and Swain's Ponds were named as early as 1660, being thus referred to in the Charlestown records. L Pond Brook, the outlet of that pond, runs through the centre of the town, and is joined at Wyoming by the Spot Pond Brook, the outlet of Spot Pond, which lies within the territory of the town of Stonebam. Both these brooks, thus united, flow into the Malden River, at Malden.

Originally the territory of Melrose belonged to the town of Charlestown, which was settled in 1629, and was a far more extensive region than now, as it in- cluded what is now Malden, Everett, Melrose, Wo- burn, Stoneham, a small part of Cambridge, Somer- ville, Burlington, a large part of Medford, and Read- ing. Differences of opinion connected with the boundaries of the different towns arose, and were set- tled by the General Court. July 2, 1633, Mystic-side (now Malden) was granted to Charlestown, and it was ordered " that the ground lyeing betwixte the North Ryv" [sometimes called " Three Myle Brooke," now Malden River] & the creeke on the north side of

Mr. Mauacks, & soe vpp into the country, shall be- longe to the inhabitants of Charlton." As " vpp into the country " did not determine how far the line should go, another order, passed March 3, 1636, was more definite : "Ordered, that Charles Towne bounds shall run eight myles into the country from their meeteing-howse, if noe other bounds intercept, re- serueing the pprietie of ffermes graunted to John Winthrop, Esq., Mr. Nowell, M'. Cradocke & M'. Wilson, to the owners thereof, as also ffree ingresse & egresse for the serv's & cattell of the said gentt, & common for their cattell, on the backeside of M'. Cradocks fferme." And the Charlestown records of 1638 say that "the Gen" Court had setled theire Bounds by granting eight miles from the old Meeting- house into the Contry Northwest Northrly."

As Charlestown increased, its inhabitants passed over the Mystic River as early as 1640, and in that year a mill was built near Mount Prospect, by Thomas Coitmore. In 1649, this "Mystic-side" was set off by the General Court, and named Malden, from a town in England bearing that name, whence some of the early settlers came. Captain Edward Johnson, in his " Wonder-Working Providence of Zion's Sa- vionr in New England," says that Malden was settled " by certain persons, who issued out of Charles Town, and indeed had her whole structure within the bounds of this more elder Town, being severed by the broad- spreading river of Mistick, the one from the other, whose tronblesome passage caused the people on the North side of the river to plead for Town-privildeges within themselves, which accordingly was granted them."

Melrose has five divisions or settlements : the Mid- dlesex Fells-generally called Fells-and Wyoming The act of incorporation was brief, as compared with one passed nowadays: "Upon the petition of Mistick-side men, they are granted to be a distinct towne, & the name thereof to be called Mauldon." All the northern part of this new town, a tract of over two thousand acres, was for many years called " The Commons." It was "full of stately timber," and, says the Charlestown records, "indeed generally all the country round about was an uncouth wilder- tess." It was the home of the Indian and the wild in the sonthern part, the Centre, Melrose Highlands in the north, and Norrisville in the northeastern part, each having a railroad depot, with the excep- tion of Norrisville. The Highlands depot is also called the Stoneham depot, as for many years a horse railroad has connected with that town, two miles dis- tant. Abont two years ago the Malden and Melrose Horse-Railroad was extended from Malden, running through Main and Green Streets to Norrisville, thence through Franklin Street and connecting with | beast. It has been said that when the first settlers at that at the Highlands Station, the whole consolidated with the East Middlesex Horse-Railroad Company.

Boston sent out an exploring expedition, they came as far as the line of small hills in Malden, and turn- ing back, reported that beyond the hills was a deuse wilderness, and that probably nobody would ever pen- etrate the jungles.

In the process of time this land came to be very de- sirable both as woodland and pasturage ; and action was taken by the town looking to its preservation and utility. The Malden records, March 26, 1694, con- tain the report of a committee " to run lines between the Common and proprietors' lands, as follows: Run ye bonnds Round Reedy pond, ye bounds are first a great buttenwood tree before Joseph Lines dore-and so bounded Round with seuerall trecs marked with letter C next common." November 20th of the same

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year it was "Voted, That ye common shall be di- vided : bottom and top, yt is, land and wood ;" and November 26th a committee of three-Major William Johnson, Captain John Brown and Captain John Smith-reported to the town the manner in which it should be done, giving to every freeholder in the town a proportion according to his ratable estate. A com- mittee of seven were chosen to proceed with the divi- sion. It was voted that this committee " employ an artis to lay out the lots." Every lot was to " run 82 poles in length," and there was to be allowed " two poles in breadth between every range of lots for high- ways ... Every proprietor's name to be written dis- tinetly, and ye lots be well shuffled together, and one man chose by the town to draw them ont of a bag. The first name drawn to have the first lot." This division was thus made in 1695, when seventy-four freeholders, then in Malden, received their respective allotments.

But a number of families had taken up their abode in this region ere this division of "the commons " took place. They were the Spragues, the Lyndes and the Greens ; soon after eame the Barretts, Uphams, Howards and Vintous. There are many representa- tives of all these families in Melrose to-day. At a little later date, a while before, or at about the time of the Revolution, came the Pratts, Grovers, Emer- sons, Edmund-es, Herrings, Larrabees, Boardmans, Hemenways, Tainters, Goulds, Coxes, Eatons and Fullers. Most of these families also have many de- scendants still living in Melrose.

Some of these older families have an interesting history. As to the Lyndes: In former times they have owned nearly all of the southern territory of Melrose. Thomas Lynde came from England, settled in Charlestown, and became a freeman in 1634. His son, Ensign Thomas Lynde, came to Malden very soon after its incorporation, and from him all the Mel- rose Lyndes descended. There are several of the old homesteads of this family still remaining, one of them, that on Washington Street, being at least two hundred years old.

At a town-meeting held May 18, 1694, it was voted "that Samuel Green shall Injoy his hous and ye land yt stands on, and so much land about It as ye Com- mite shall se cause to lay to It," and the records, referring to lot No. 64, say, "part east against Redding Rhode and part on ye west of ye Green's farm." This refers to a farm of sixty-three aeres situated at the Highlands, and belonging to Samuel Green, who was a son of Thomas, who settled in Mal- den about the year 1651.

In 1629 three brothers, Ralph, Richard and Wil- liam Sprague, settled in Charlestown, and their names are first on a list of inhabitants for that year. Richard and William signed the document establish- ing the first Board of Selectmen in Charlestown, and Ralph was one of the eleven selectmen then elected.

John, the oldest son of Ralph, settled in Malden,

near the Coitmore Mill, which was for many years in possession of the Sprague family. The youngest son of John, Phineas, came to Melrose not far from the year 1700. The old homestead was on what is now Foster Street, and the residence of the late Liberty Bigelow stands on its site. The grandson of Phineas, also named Phineas, was the Revolutionary patriot of whom many interesting anecdotes are told; and he succeeded to the old farm and homestead on Foster Street. He kept a diary, which gives a few details concerning the old conplet :

" In 1780, the nineteenth day of May,

Will ever be remembered as heing the dark day."

" FRIDAY, MAY THE 19TH 1780." " This day was the most Remarkable day that ever my eyes beheld the air had bin full of smoak to an uncommon degres So that wee could scairce see a mountain at two miles distance for 3 or 4 days Past till this day after Noon the smoak all went off to the South at sunset a very black bank of a cloud appeared in the south and west the Nex morn- ing clondey and thundered in the west about ten oclock it began to Rain and grew vere dark aod at 12 it was allmost as dark ae Nite so that wee was obliged to lite our caodels aod Eate our dinger by caodel lite at Nooo day but between 1 and 2 oclock it grew lite again but in the Evening the cloud caim over ns again the moon was about the full it was the darkest Nite that ever was seen by us in the world."

During one of the intereolonial wars between the French and English Colonies, this same Sprague furnished a substitute :

" JAN. 13, 1761. " Received of Phinehas Sprague jnoe'r eight Pounds lawful money it being for my going a Solger to forte cumberland and I had a promes, not of Six Pounds be fore.

" Pr me JOHN BATTS."

When slavery existed in Massachusetts some of these old families in Melrose were slave-holders, as is witnessed by the following document given to this same Sprague :

" Koow all men by these present that I, Thomas Nickels, of Reding, In the County of middlesex, gentilman for and in Consideration of the sum of thirty three pounds six shillings and Eight pence lawfull money of New England to me jo hand paid by piniash Sprague, Jun of Malden in the same County above sd Cordwinder whereof I do here- by acknowledge the Receipt and ony selfe therewith fuly and entirely satisfied bave bargened sold set over and Deliverd, and by these present in plain and open markit acording to the due tourm of law in that case mad and provided do bargain set over and Deliver unto the said phinas Spraigue Juu a negro woman nand pidge with one negro boy to have and to hold to his proper use and behoofe of him the said phidas Spraigne his beirs, executors administrators aud assigns for ever and I Thomas nickles for my self my beirs executors administrators and asigos ganst all in all manner of person I sball warrant aud for ever De- fend by these presents In witness whereof with the Deliver of the bur- gained persons I have set to my hand and seal the twenty-five Day of april in the 17 fifty-three year of ye Raign of oure Souerign lord gorg the Second ouer grate Brittoo.

" THOMAS NICHOLS [seal].

"Signed and our Seal 1753 and Delever in the present of us. " JONª KIDDER. "EDWARD LAMBERT."

James Barrett first settled in Charlestown in 1635, from whence he went to Malden, where his son James was born, in 1644. His son, Deaeon Jonathan Bar- rett, born in 1675, went to Melrose about the year 1705, locating on Barrett Lane (now Porter Strect). He died in 1749, bequeathing to his son Joseph a slave named Israel, to serve him for six years. Is-

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

rael, wishing to learn a trade, was indentured to Joseph's brother Jacob, as follows :

" This Indenture witnesseth that whereas Deacon Jona. Barrit, late of Malden, deceased ordered in his last will and Testament yt his Negroman Survent Isrial should serve bis son, Joseph Barrit faithfully for ye space of six years after ye decease of ye above sd Testator, of which time there being Two years Past the sd Negro being desirous of Larning ye Trade and art of a Cooper which his sd master, Joseph Bar- ritt complied with aod by these Presente Pots and Binds the above sd Negroman a Prentice nuto Jacob Barritt of the town of Lancaster in the Connty of Worcester and Province of Massachusetts Bay in New Eng- land Miller and the al apprentice to serve him and wife from ye Day of ye Date hereof for and during the full term of fore years next during all which time ye sd apprentice his sd master and mistress faithfully shall serve, there secrets keep, there lawful commands gladly every- where obey. He shall do no damage to his sd master nor his mistress nor see it to be done by others without Letting or giving notice thereof to his sd master or mistress Goods or Lend them unlawfully to any one, he shall not Commit Fornication nor contract matrimony within sd term. At Cards or Dice or any other unlawful Game he shall not play, whereby his said master or mistress may be damaged, with his own Goods nor the goods of others he shall not absent himself Day or Night from his masters or mistress services without their Leave Dor haunt ale-houses taverns or play houses. But in all things hehave himself as a faithful Apprentice ought to do during said term. And the sd master and mistress shall nse ye utmost of their Endeavors to teach and in struct the said apprentice in the trade and mystery of a Cooper and procure and provide for him sufficient meat drink apparel washing and loging fitting for an apprentice during ye sd term and at the oxpira- tion of ye sd Termi return ye sd Apprentice as well clothed as at present to ye above sd master Joseph or his heirs who shall by these presents be obliged to receive the sd apprentice and clear the sd Jacob Barrit and his Heirs from all charges yt may arise after his time is out with him and for the true performance of every part of the sd covenants and agreements, either of ye Parties Bind themselves to the other by these presents in witoess whereof "they have Interchangeably put their bands and seals this seventh Day of September Anno Domini one Thousand seven Hundred and fifty-one and in the Twenty fifth year of his Majes- ties Reign.

" JOSEPH BARRETT.

" JACOB BARRETT.

" EBEN HARNDEN.

"SAMUEL SPRAGUE."

During the Revolution Joseph, son of the above Joseph, paid bounty money as follows :

" CAMBRIDGE, Angt. 17, 17SI.

" Recd of Mr. Joseph Barrett the sum of Twelve Pounds Solid Coine in full for all Accompts, Debts Dnes and Demands Against MY. Joseph Lyonds or Mr. Joseph Barretts Class for Procuring a man for three years' service in the Army.

" Recd by me,

BENJ. PERKINS."

Captain Jonathan, son of the above Joseph, was the first to begin the manufacture of shoes in Mel- rose, an industry still carried on by a grandson Jonathan Barrett. There are numerous Barretts now living in Melrose, among them Artemas, son of Captain Jonathan, from whom the foregoing doc- uments were obtained, and who owns many others of like interest.

Lieutenant Phineas Upham, of Malden, was the son of John Upham, who came to this country and was admitted freeman in 1635, and settled in Mal- den about the year 1650. Lieut. Upham was an active officer in "King Philip's War," conducting many scouting-parties, and was mortally wounded at the battle of "Narragansett Fort," December 19, 1675.

At the State House is the original document which

he signed, together with other commissioned officers,

a few days before the fight, and which they sent " To the Hon. Governor and Council now Sitting at Bos- ton," in which they made a request for company quartermasters, horses, trumpeters, etc.

From this Lieut. Upham descended all the Mal- den and Melrose Uphams; his grandson, Phineas, settled on Upham Hill, not far from the year 1700, where some of the old homesteads still remain, on one of which, that of George Upham, is still seen the old-fashioned well-sweep with its "iron-bound bucket."

Other interesting details concerning these and a number of the other early families may be found in the " Historical Address, delivered in Melrose, Massachu- setts, July 4, 1876," in accordance with Congressional act and Presidential proclamation, known as “The Centennial Fourth."

ROADS .- The first road, and only one for many years which passed through Melrose, was laid out by order of the General Court, at a session held Septem- ber 10, 1653, when

" Thomas Marshall. John Smyth & John Sprague being chosen to lay out the country high way betweene Reddings & Winnesemett do lay it out as follows : from Redding towne, through Maldon bounds, betwixt the pond & Jolin Smyths land, & so by the east side of Mr. Joseph Hills land, to New Hockley Hole, & so in the old way by the Cow Pen, & thence along on the east side of Thomas Coitmore's lott, by Ele Pond, in the old way to Thomas Lynds land, then through the first field, and so by the field by his bowse, from thence, on the old way, by Maldon meet- ing bowse, through the stony swampe, &c. . . . the sd way to be fower poles broade, in good ground, & six or eight where need requires."

" The old way," so often referred to in this order, means the old crooked Indian or bridle-path or trail, in use before this date, winding hither and thither, going around this hill, shunning that swamp or bog, and over which the early traveler wended his way be- tween Reading and Chelsea. Portions of this old original road are still traceable within the bounds of Melrose, and the rocks in the wheel-ruts show the abrasion of the old-time usage very distinctly.

On a plan of Malden, surveyed by Peter Tafts, Jr., of Medford, in 1795, the only roads laid down in what was then North Malden are, this main road, called the " Reading Road," and a "Stoneham Road," now Wyoming Avenue, which leaves this near where Ma- sonic HIall now stands. About this time "Upham Lane," now "Upham Street," was built through to Chelsea line, a portion of which town, at that time, extended up to Reading, between Malden and Saugus ; and what is now Howard Street had been built through to Saugus, making a continuous county road from Stoneham to Lynn. Main Street, as now exist- ing, was laid out in 1806. For many years these were the only roads or streets in Melrose, which now has forty miles of streets within its borders.

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MELROSE.

CHAPTER XVI.

MELROSE-(Continued).

ECCLESIASTICAL AND EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.

THE first organized religious society in Melrose (then North Malden) was the Methodist Episcopal Church. In the spring of 1813 a committee, consist- ing of Phineas Sprague, James Green and Jesse Up- ham, requested the Rev. Timothy Merritt-then a member of the Legislature from Maine-to preach in the little old school-house, which was situated on the corner of the old road, now Lebanon Street, and Up- ham Lane, now Upham Street. A political sermon had been delivered in the Orthodox Church at Mal- den Centre, which caused great dissatisfaction among the residents of North Malden ; and the call to Mr. Merritt was the result of an indignation meeting held in one of their barns. After a few Sabbaths Mr. Merritt was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Pierce, who was to receive $2.00 a Sunday.

In September following, Rev. Ephraim Wiley was engaged to preach, and some time during the next year a house was hired of Cotton Sprague, which stood on the site now occupied by the residence of the late Liberty Bigelow. In consequence of their continued success, a society was formed in 1815; and in 1818 a meeting-house, thirty feet long by thirty- two wide, was built at the junction of Main and Green Streets. Rev. Orlando Hinds was pastor at this time. He was followed by Rev. Isaac Jennison, and in 1820 the Rev. Ephraim Wiley again became pastor, being sent this time by the Methodist Conference. Next in succession came Revs. Leonard Frost, John Adams and Samuel Norris. Then came a period when the pulpit was supplied by local preachers, about which time some dissatisfied members withdrew and formed the Protestant Methodist Church, hereafter referred to.

The Methodists continued to occupy their meeting- house until 1842, when it was enlarged, improved and re-dedicated November 30th of that year. This house was occupied until 1858, when it was sold, moved to Main Street in the centre of the town, changed into Concert Hall, and was burned Novem- ber 30, 1875, with Boardman's Block, just thirty-three years from the day it was dedicated.

Their present church edifice on Main Street, was dedicated April 1, 1858, and up to this time the fol- lowing ministers had been settled over the society : Revs. G. W. Fairbanks, Le Roy Sunderland, Ezra Sprague, R. D. Estabrook, Mudge, Otheman, New- hall, R. Wallace, D. Richards, H. M. Bridge, Na- thaniel Bemis, John C. Ingalls, F. Griswold, John Merrill, Mark Staples, W. H. Hatch, Shepard, W. C. Iligh, J. W. Perkins, N. D. George and J. A. Adams.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 48

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