History of Needham, Massachusetts, 1711-1911 : including West Needham, now the town of Wellesley, to its separation from Needham in 1881, with some reference to its affairs to 1911, Part 49

Author: Clarke, George Kuhn, 1858- 4n
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Cambridge, U.S.A. : Privately printed at the University Press
Number of Pages: 794


USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Needham > History of Needham, Massachusetts, 1711-1911 : including West Needham, now the town of Wellesley, to its separation from Needham in 1881, with some reference to its affairs to 1911 > Part 49
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Wellesley > History of Needham, Massachusetts, 1711-1911 : including West Needham, now the town of Wellesley, to its separation from Needham in 1881, with some reference to its affairs to 1911 > Part 49


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58


In 1798 there were twenty-five dogs in the East part of the town and twenty-four in the West taxed at $I per head. The number licensed in different decades has been as fol- lows: - 1900 260, 1905 357, 1910 339. As far as known to the writer dogs under the age of six months have been omitted from the census. From 1869 to 1888 the schools benefited by the dog taxes, and from 1889 the Free Public Library, which received $722.52 from this source in 19II. Early in 1849 a large committee was chosen to enforce the dog law, and "to prevent dogs from going at large" unless the dog was "Muzzeled Sufficant to prevent his biting or doing damage, under a penalty of $10"; the committee was also to ask the General Court for a change in the law. In 1854 the town levied a tax of two dollars per head on all dogs running at large, and required the animals to be


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644


THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM


licensed and to wear collars with their owners' names inscribed thereon. Failure to observe these regulations was to involve a fine of $10 "without Judge or Jury".


As late as 1852 there were no seats in the town hall, except for certain officials, and such as were brought in for aged men, and the older citizens say that at the town meet- ings the dogs were almost as numerous as the voters, and that these noble animals greatly disturbed the meetings.


In 1859 there were still some sheep in Needham, and the inhabitants petitioned the General Court "for better pro- tection of Sheep from the ravages of Dogs", voting at the April meeting that if the General Court did not heed their re- quest then "the Town hereby request the Assessors to omit taking the Invoice of Dogs, and assessing a Dog Tax for the present year". In 1858 only thirty-one dogs had been reg- istered, of which number Davis C. Mills had three, presum- ably foxhounds, as he was well known as a fox-hunter through- out an extensive territory, and came of a hunting family.


FISH


On May 22, 1738, the town voted to petition the General Court to remove the "Comberance" at Watertown, which prevented fish from coming up the river, and in 1765 En- sign Lemuel Pratt was chosen by the town "to See to the Obfervation of the law Relating to ye Catching of Fifh". Under date of May 31, 1786, forty-six men, most of them of Needham, petitioned the General Court to protect the shad in the Charles River, which were taken with "Seanes & Wares" to the great injury "of the poorer part of the Community". The petitioners stated "That moft of the Sluices at the Damns below the lower falls in the Town of Newton are so conftructed as to render the pafsage of the said fifh difficult, and at some feafons impracticable", and that as a result "thofe valueable fifh will foon be exterpated from the faid River". The General Court failed to legislate at that time in behalf of the shad (House Files 1992).


E


C J I 1


State, County and Town Officers


Judge of the District Court of Northern Norfolk: - Hon. Emery Grover, June 15, 1898- .


Member of the Governor's Council: - Edgar Kimball Whitaker, 1851.


State Senators: - Joseph Emery Fiske, 1876, '77, Enos Houghton Tucker, 1888, '89.


Representatives in the General Court: -


Capt. Robert Cook,


1712, '26, '39.


John Smith,


1714.


Dea. Timothy Kingsbery, 1723.


1728, '29, '31.


1735-8, '40, '41, '51 (seven years).


William Bowdoin,


Lieut. Amos Fuller,


Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery,


Col. William McIntosh,


1775, '76, '80, '81, '83.


1777, '78.


1782, '85. 1787.


1789, '90.


Col. Jonathan Kingsbery,


Lieut. Col. Silas Alden,


Lieut. Daniel Ware,


James Smith,


1808, '09.


Capt. Jonathan Gay, Jr., 1814.


Capt. Elisha Lyon,


Seth Colburn,


1816, '39, '40. 1824.


Aaron Smith, 1827.


1752-5 (four years).


1756, '59-61, '66 (five years).


1768-72, '74, '79 (seven years)


Dea. John Fisher, Nathaniel Fisher, Robert Fuller, Jr., Lieut. William Fuller,


1793, '98, '99, 1801, '03. 1796. 1805-7, '10-13 (seven years).


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Josiah Kingsbery, John Fisher, Esq.,


re , -


646


THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM


George Fisher, Gen. Charles Rice,


Rufus Mills,


1832 (he was the first elected in November preceding the year of service), '33.


Thomas Kingsbury,


1834-6, '48, '49 (five years).


Solomon Flagg, Jr.,


1834, '61.


William Flagg,


1836, '37.


Dea. Asa Kingsbury,


1837, '38, '42.


Emery Fiske,


1840, '41.


Capt. George Smith,


1843,'44.


Rev. Daniel Kimball,


1846.


Edgar Kimball Whitaker,


1847.


Henry Robinson,


1850, '51.


Lauren Kingsbury,


1855, the district 1858.


George Keith Daniell,


1857, '66, '70.


Charles Curtis Greenwood,


1863.


Galen Orr,


1864.


John Morton Harris,


1872.


Joseph Emery Fiske,


1874.


James Mackintosh,


1876, '77, '81.


Lyman Knights Putney,


1880, '83.


Enos Houghton Tucker, 1885.


Albert Ebur Miller,


1888, '89.


William Carter, 1895.


Thomas Sutton,


1903, '04.


William Henry Carter,


1906.


William George Moseley, 1909, 'IO.


1830.


1831.


The following were elected to represent Needham in the General Court and declined to serve: - John Smith, 1715, Josiah Kingsbery, 1730, Capt. Moses Bullard, 1781, Lieut. William Fuller, 1782. The representative was chosen at the May meeting until 1831, and under the Second Charter, which includes the years 1711 to 1776, he was the only official connected with the general government of the Prov- ince that was chosen by the people. The election of cer-


647


THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM


tain County officers by the voters has already been referred to. In 1834, 1836, 1837, and 1840 Needham had two members of the General Court at one time, but there were many earlier years when no representative was chosen, and after the formation of the district the other towns included in it had each the representative for certain years according to an agreement of the local political committees. The years given in the list are those for which the member sat, without reference to the fact that since 1832 he has been elected in November of the previous year. From 1857 to 1876 Needham with Dover and Medfield formed the Four- teenth Norfolk district, but in 1876 the town of Norfolk was added and the number of the district was changed to the Ninth. In 1886 Millis took the place of Norfolk, and in 1906 Needham was separated from Dover, a town with which it had many associations and common interests, and also from Wellesley, which until 1881 was a part of Needham, and was united with Dedham to form the First Norfolk district.


County Commissioner: - Galen Orr, 1872-9.


Special County Commissioners : - Galen Orr, 1869-71, Everett Johnson Eaton, 1889-96 (died in office June 8).


Commissioner of Insolvency: - Emery Grover, 1877- January, 1896, when the office was abolished.


Deputy-Sheriffs : - Nathaniel Bullard, 1799-1816 (died in office November 27, 1816), Nathaniel Bullard, 1816-37 (died in office March 10, 1837), John Whiting Slack, 1828-34, William Wragg, 1893 (August 25)- .


Assistant Registrar of Probate: - Edwin Manton Grover, A.B., LL.B., 1904-died April 28, 1905.


Trial Justices : - George Keith Daniell, Emery Grover, July 31, 1868-June 15, 1898, when he became Judge of the District Court of Northern Norfolk.


The Justices of the Peace to 1846 were: - Capt. Jeremiah Fisher, appointed December 19, 1728, October 25, 1737, and November 5, 1761, John Fisher, Jr., appointed February


·


ed he


648


THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM


21, 1734/5, Ebenezer Fisher, appointed June 21, 1751, and November 5, 1761, Nathaniel Fisher, appointed March 25, 1767, Capt. William Faris, Josiah Newell, 1775-89, Lieut. William Fuller, 1795-1802, Col. Jonathan Kingsbery, 1800- , Dea. Isaac Shepard, 1806-9, Benjamin Slack, 1807- , James Ford, 1807- , Capt. Daniel Ware, 1809-19, Enoch Fisk, 1814 ?- 27, Capt. Artemas Newell, 1821-30, Peter Lyon, 1821-38, Capt. Elisha Lyon, 1824- , Aaron Smith, 1826-33, Israel Whitney, 1833- , Amos Allen, no dates, Rev. Daniel Kimball, 1835- , Capt. George Smith, 1837- , Dea. Thomas Kingsbury, 1838- , William Flagg, 1838- , Gen. Charles Rice, 1841- , Edgar K. Whitaker, 1843- (of the Quorum in 1850), Capt. Reuben Ware, 1845- , Rufus Mills, 1846- .


Coroners: - Nathaniel Fisher, appointed March 25, 1767, January 30, 1776, and October 17, 1781, David Smith, Jr., 1796 ?- 1832, Enoch Fuller, 1809-29, Daniel Ware, 1818-32, Rufus Mills, 1830-9, George K. Daniell 1871 and other years.


SELECTMEN


The names of the selectmen of Needham have been printed three times, but all of these lists contain errors, as they were made up from the records of the annual meetings only. The following is intended to be accurate :-


Deacon Timothy Kingsbery, 1711-18,1 '20, '21, '23,'24,'32,


Capt. John Fisher, John Smith,


Benjamin Mills,


Capt. Robert Cook,


33, '36, '39, '47 (seven- teen years). 17II, '14, '22-6 (seven years). 17II, '13-16, '18, '20 (seven years). 1711, '19. 1711-15, '18-21, '23, '24, '27- 3I, '34, '35, '37, '39-47, (twenty-eight years).


1 The years of election only are given and 1712-18 means seven full years, viz., from March, 1712 to March, 1719.


THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM


649


Joseph Daniell,


1712.


Deacon Jeremiah Woodcock, 1712-14, '19, '22, '33 (six


years).


Richard Moore,


Lieut. Thomas Metcalf, John Rice, Josiah Kingsbery,


Deacon Eleazer Kingsbery,


Benjamin Mills, Jr.,


John Smith, Jr.,


Josiah Newell,


1719, '22, '24, '25.


Joseph Hawes,


1719.


I72I.


I723.


1725, '26, '28-31, '34, '35 (eight years). 1725, '27.


1726, '28-32, '34, '35, '37, '39, 42, '43, '46-9 (sixteen years).


Ensign Thomas Fuller,


1727, '29, '39.


James Kingsbery,


William Mills,


John Fisher, Esq.,


1732, '36, '38, '45, '47, '50.


1734, '35, '43, '46, '47, '49.


1734, '35.


John Underwood,


Jonathan Smith,


Lieut. Amos Fuller,


Benoni Woodward,


Ensign Aaron Smith,


1712-14 (three years).


1714, '15, '18, '23, '27, '30, '31. 1715, '16, '18, '20.


1716, '17, '20-3, '25, '26, '28, '38 (ten years). 1716, '17, '21, '27, '29-31, '33, '36, '39, '41, '46-8 (four- teen years).


1717.


1717, '19, '22, '24, '26, '28.


Joseph Boyden,


Joseph Mills,


Henry Pratt,


Andrew Dewing, Capt. Robert Fuller,


1732, '41, '43. 1732.


Zachariah Mills,


Jonathan Huntting,


1736. 1736, '38, '49.


1737, '42, '43, '52, '54-8, '60, '61, '64, '65, '69 (fourteen years). 1737, '40. 1737, '40, '42, '44, '47-51


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650


THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM


Nathaniel Bullard,


(elected and declined 1754; served nine years). 1740, '46 (elected and de- clined 1732).


John Goodenow,


Jeremiah Fisher,


Samuel Parker,


Josiah Newell, Esq.,


Eliakim Cook,


Joseph Daniell,


Nathaniel Mann,


John Alden,


Capt. Caleb Kingsbery, Thomas Metcalf,


· 175I. 1752. 1752, '54, '59, '62, '70, '73.


1752-8, '60 (died 1760, Rob- ert Fuller was chosen on October 20). Metcalf was elected and declined on March 12, 1759; he served eight years.


Ephraim Ware, Jr., Lieut. Robert Fuller,


1752.


1753-62, '67, '68, '70, '72, '74, '76-8, '80, '84 (twenty years).


Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery,


1753, '56-8, '60, '62, '64, '65, '67, '68, '70, '73 (elected and declined on March 12, 1759; he served twelve years).


John Mills, Ebenezer Skinner,


I753.


1754.


Samuel Mackintyre,


1755-7, '60 (four years).


Samuel Daniell,


I755.


Jonathan Smith,


1758.


1740. 1742, '44, '45, '47, '48, '50. 1744, '45.


1744, '45, '47-51, '53, '61, '62, '64-6, '69, '74, '77 (de- clined in 1754; he served sixteen years).


1750, '51, '59, '66.


175I.


65I


THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM


Nathaniel Fisher,


Lemuel Pratt,


Ephraim Bullard,


Michael Metcalf,


Deacon John Fisher,


Jonathan Deming,


Timothy Newell, Josiah Eaton, John Kingsbery, Capt. Ephraim Jackson, Col. William McIntosh,


Seth Wilson,


Lieut. Ebenezer Fisher,


Capt. William Smith, Lieut. Jonathan Day, Amos Fuller, Benjamin Mills, Lieut. John Bacon,


Samuel Daggett, Josiah Ware,


Ebenezer Fuller, William Fuller, Esq.,


Lieut .- Col. Silas Alden,


John Slack, Lieut. Oliver Mills, Thomas Fuller, Aaron Smith, Jr.,


Stephen Bacon,


1759, '62, '73, '74, '77, '78, '82, '85. 1759-63, '73 (six years). 1761.


1763-5, '67, '68, '71, '72 (seven years). 1763-5, '68, '75, '81 (six years). 1763. 1763, '69, '72, '76.


1766, '74. 1766. I766. 1767, '68, '70, '75, '78, '80, '81, '83-5, '91, '92 (twelve years). 1767, '69. 1769. 1770, '75, '79. I77I. 1771, '72, '76, '89, '90. 1771, '84.


I77I. 1772 (elected May 21), '79. I773. 1774, '75 1775-81, '83-6, '88-92, '94-6, '98, 1800, 'OI (twenty-two years). 1776, '80, '87, '88, '91, '93, '97-1802 (twelve years). 1777, '78. 1779, '86, '87, '89, '92, '94, '95 1779, '80. 178I. 178I.


rved


172, enty '65, cted 12, elve


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50. 1,'62, (de- erved


1 de-


1754;


652


THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM


Robert Fuller, Jr.,


Enoch Parker,


Henry Dewing,


Eleazer Fuller,


Col. Jonathan Kingsbery,


Capt. Aaron Smith,


Jeremiah Daniell,


Jonathan Smith,


Dea. Isaac Shepard,


Lieut. Samuel Townsend,


Samuel Brown,


1785. 1785-8 (four years).


Nathaniel Ware,


I786.


Ebenezer Day,


1786.


Enoch Fisk, Esq.,


Moses Fisk,


Capt. Josiah Newell,


Aaron Smith, Esq.,


1787, '88, 1818 (May 14). 1789. 1790, '91, '93.


1790-99, 1801-4, '08-12, '17, '18 (resigned in May), '20, '22, '28, '29 (twenty-five years).


Capt. Robert Smith, Lieut. Jonathan Gay,


1793-5 (three years). 1796-8 (three years).


William Farris,


1796, '97.


Dr. Timothy Fuller,


1797 (May II).


Col. Moses Mann,


Samuel Pratt,


George Fisher,


Lieut. Moses Garfield,


Maj. Ebenezer McIntosh,


!


1782, '83, '87, '88, '92. 1782. 1782 (May 27). 1782, '83, '99, 1800-2 (six years). 1782, '90, '93-6, elected and declined in 1797, served '98, '99, 1800-3 (twelve years). 1783, '89; Captain Smith had been elected in 1781, but declined.


1783. 1784. 1784 (May 13).


1799, 1800, '04. 1802. 1803, '04, '16, '18, '19. 1803, '04, '06, '08, '12-19 (twelve years). 1803-7, '18, '19, '21, '23 (nine years).


653


THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM


Daniel Ware, Esq., Royal McIntosh,


Amos Fuller, Jr.,


David Smith, Jr.,


Benjamin Slack, Esq.,


James Smith, Dr. Samuel Gould,


Capt. George Smith, Seth Colburn,


Peter Lyon, Esq.,


Artemas Newell, Esq.,


Israel Whitney, Capt. Reuben Ware,


Gen. Charles Rice,


Capt. Ebenezer Fuller, Capt. Curtis MeIntosh, Thomas Kingsbury, Amraphel Smith,


Dea. Benjamin Fuller, Joseph Newell,


William Flagg,


Davis Collins Mills, Solomon Flagg, Jr.,


Dexter Ware, William Alden Kingsbury,


1805-16 (twelve years). 1805, '07.


1805.


1805-II (seven years).


1806, '19 (May 10)-22, '24-6, '31 (nine years). 1807-II (five years).


1809-12 (four years). 1817, '20, '22, '23, '26. 1817, '19 (elected and de- clined in 1820, '21).


1817, '20-3, '25, '26, '34 (eight years). 1820 (April 3)-3, elected in 1824 and declined, '26-8, '30 (eight years); died in office May 23, 1830.


1824, '34. 1824-6, '43 (four years). 1825, '27, '28, '30, '32, '33. 1827. 1827, '28. 1829, '30, '32, '33, '35. 1829, '31. 1829, '31. 1830 (November 1)-3 (three years and four months).


1831-3 (resigned in 1833), '35, 36, '44, '45, '52, '59, '60; died in office February 16, 1861. 1832, '33, '43, '44. 1833 (April 1), '42, '43, '46-9 (seven years). 1834, '35. 1834.


ad ut


six


nd 8,


654


THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM


Tyler Pettee,


1834.


John Smith Bird,


1835.


Col. Warren Dewing,


1835, '36, '45-8 (six years).


Otis Sawyer,


1836, '52-5 (five years).


Michael McIntosh,


1836.


Reuel Ware,


1836-8 (three years).


Spencer Fuller,


1837,'38.


Dea. Lauren Kingsbury,


1837, '38, '56, '57.


Jonathan Fuller, Jr.,


1837, '53-7 (six years).


Emery Fiske,


1838-40 (three years).


William Eaton,


Capt. William Pierce,


Moses Garfield, 2d,


James Smith,


1840, '41.


John Mills, Ichabod Bullen,


Daniel Grant,


Timothy Newell Smith,


George Keith Daniell,


Josiah Howe Carter,


Galen Orr, Charles Curtis Greenwood, Nathaniel Wales, Jr., George Howland,


Silas Gustavus Williams, Augustus Stevens,


Dexter Kingsbury,


Freeman Phillips, James Mackintosh,


1841, '42. 1842 (April 5). 1844. 1849-51 (three years). 1850, '51.


1852-4 (three years); he was living in 1907 aged ninety- six years, and was then still active. 1855, '58-65, '72 (ten years). 1856, '57. 1858-60 (three years). 1858. 1861-8 (eight years). 1861-8 (eight years).


1869, '70, '72. 1869, '70. 1870, '75-7, '81, '84 (resigned in December, 1884); he had then served six years lacking less than three months.


E


L


1839, '42-4 (four years).


1839-44, '48, '51 (eight years).


1839-41 (three years).


655


THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM


George Spring,


1871, '72.


Edmund Mortimer Wood,


1871. 1872.


Hezekiah Fuller,


Capt. Joseph Emery Fiske,


1873-6 (four years).


William Ritchie Mills,


1873, '74.


Everett Johnson Eaton,


Mark Lee,


1875-82 (resigned on May 5, 1882), '88, '89 (ten years); he died in office January 12, 1890.


Lyman Knights Putney,


Joseph Haven Dewing,


Enos Houghton Tucker,


Henry Blackman,


William Henry Harrison McIntosh,


Frederick Pope Glover,


William Carter,


Frank Eugene Stedman,


Thomas Sutton,


Arthur Whitaker,


Aaron Twigg,


Edgar Howard Bowers,


1889-95 (seven years). 1890-3 (four years). 1892-4, '97-1900, '02, '04, '05, '07, '08 (twelve years).


Francis Llewellyn Fuller, William George Moseley,


1894-6 (three years).


1895, '96.


George Kuhn Clarke,2 1896.


Walter Hewitt,


1897-1900 (four years).


Charles Elmer Stanwood,


1897-1900 (four years).


1 On March 5, 1888, the town voted to elect its selectmen and assessors for three years, and this vote took effect in 1889, but in 1894 the one-year terms were resumed. On March 2, 1903, the three-years term for assessors was again adopted.


2 Mr. Clarke was the last selectman chosen from the old Centre, and until the election of Austin Potter in 19II there had been none for fourteen years from the entire western portion of the town.


IS


1877 to the division of the town in April, 1881. 1878 to the division (three years). 1881-3, '85, '86 (five years). 1882 (May 29), '83.


1882, '83. 1884-8 (five years).


1884-7 (four years). 1887. 1888-911 (four years).


1


3).


1873,'74.


656


THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM


Walter Flint Snow,


Alfred John Mercer, Joseph Barke Thorpe,


Daniel Webster Richards,


1901, '03.


1901-3 (three years).


1902-5 (four years).


1904-6. Mr. Richards was a retired business man of ability, wide experience, and strong character. He rendered important service to the town, and died Octo- ber 4, 1906, while chairman of the selectmen.


William Gorse,


1906.


John Adams Tilton,


1906-10 (five years).


William Arthur Probert, 1907- ·


Henry Thomas Childs, 1909- .


Austin Potter,


I9II- .


The following were elected, but never served as select- men: - Isaac Underwood, 1772, Capt. Moses Bullard, 1781, Lieut. Ephraim Bullard, 1787, Luther Smith, 1819, Capt. Timothy Bullard, 1819.


The number of selectmen was five from 1711 to 1845, with the exception of the following years: - seven in 1714, three in 1733, 1738, 1741 and in 1830, nine in 1747. In the early years, apparently to 1731, the town clerk was ex- officio a selectman, but is included in the numbers given. Since 1845 there have been three selectmen each year. For- merly they received pay only for special services, such as perambulating the line, but occasionally the town furnished them with toddy, or other drink, at Morse's or Bullard's. For example: - on March 10, 1763, 19s., 4d. were granted to Landlord Bullard "for Some Entertainment the Select men had at his houfe in the Space of a year Paft". In the seventies the selectmen were paid $300 each per year for some years, but James Mackintosh declined all compensa- tion, and the writer has the impression that Mr. Mackintosh never drew a salary as selectman.


THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM


657


Town Clerks: - Timothy Kingsbery,


17II (December 4)-18, '20, '21, '23, '24 (eleven years and three months).


Richard Moore, Josiah Newell,


Capt. John Fisher,


Capt. Robert Fuller,


Thomas Fuller,


Capt. Jeremiah Fisher, Eliakim Cook,


Thomas Metcalf,


Lieut. Robert Fuller,


Moses Fuller,


Dr. Timothy Fuller,


Daniel Kingsbery,


James Smith,


Daniel Ware,


Col. Jonathan Kingsbery,


Capt. Jonathan Gay, Solomon Flagg,


Dr. Samuel Gould, Dea. Asa Kingsbury,


Solomon Flagg,


1714 (four months).


1719.


1722, '25-7 (four years). 1728-35, '37, '41-3, '46-9 (sixteen years). 1736, '38. 1739, '40, '44.


1745, '50, '51.


1752-60 (eight years and seven months); he died in office October 8, 1760.


1760 (October 20)-his death May 12, 1788.


May 12, 1788-96 (nine years); he was elected on June 9, 1788, and at the annual meeting on March 14, 1796, but declined the latter year. 1796 (May 9)-8 (three years). 1799. 1800. 1801. 1802-4 (three years).


1805-15, '23 (twelve years).


1816, '17, '22. Mr. Flagg was elected in 1820 and de- clined.


1818-21 (four years). 1824 to his death on August 17, 1850. August 19, 1850 to the di- vision of the town April,


-


!


f


658


THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM


1881 (thirty years and eight months).


Charles Curtis Greenwood, April, 1881 to his death on June 7, 1897.


Harrie Sumner Whittemore, by appointment of the select- men June 12, 1897. Thomas Sutton, 1897 (July I)- .


The following were elected, but never served as town clerk: - Michael Metcalf, March 14, 1763, Robert Fuller, May 13, 1793.


Town Treasurers : - Capt. Robert Cook,


Thomas Metcalf,


Josiah Kingsbery,


1714, '19-22, '28-30, '36-8 (eleven years).


Eleazer Kingsbery, 1715.


Benjamin Mills, Jr.,


Thomas Fuller,


Timothy Kingsbery, Benoni Woodward,


John Fisher,


Capt. Robert Fuller,


Jonathan Parker,


Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery, Timothy Newell,


1723, '24. I725. 1726; he was also elected in March, 1731/2, but de- clined. 1727, '31, '32.


I746-9 (four years).


1750-5 (six years).


1756-63 (eight years).


1761; he was elected on March 9, and excused from serving May 21, when Cap- tain Kingsbery was again chosen. 1764, '65. 1766-8 (three years). 1769-90 (twenty-two years).


Nathaniel Fisher, Capt. Caleb Kingsbery, Amos Fuller,


1712, '16, '18, '33-5, '39-45 (thirteen years).


1713.


1717.


659


THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM


Moses Fuller, Col. Jonathan Kingsbery,


Daniel Ware, Esq.,


Capt. Jonathan Gay, Aaron Smith, Rufus Mills, Israel Whitney, Esq.,


William Flagg, Esq., Elisha Lyon, Esq., Dea. Thomas Kingsbury,


Solomon Flagg,


Levi Ladd,


John Morton Harris, Thomas Sutton,


1791, '92. 1793 to his death October 15, 1806.


1806 (November 3)-1818 (eleven years and five months).


1818-21 (four years). 1822-4 (three years).


1830 (April 5)-4 (five years). 1835-7 (three years); he was elected in 1830, and de- clined. 1838. 1839-52 (fourteen years). 1853 to his death on May 14, 1859. 1859 (May) to the division of the town.


1881, '83 to his death on August 8, 1905. 1882.


1905 (by appointment of the selectmen August 12) to March, 1906.


Charles Elmer Stanwood, 1906- .


ASSESSORS


The selectmen were also elected assessors in 1712-32, 34-7, '40, '43-8, '51-7, '59-63, '67, '68, '71, '72, '82. For these years see list of the selectmen.


The Assessors from 1733 to 1911 were: -


Capt. Robert Cook,


I733, '38 (also twenty-five years when selectman, twenty-seven years in all, the longest service to date, 19II).


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8


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660


THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM


John Fisher, Jr.,


Benoni Woodward,


1733, '39 (elected and de- clined in 1750). 1733, '38 (elected in 1741 and declined).


Dea. Eleazer Kingsbery, 1738.


John Goodanow,


1739


Ebenezer Skinner,


Ensign Robert Fuller,


1739, '50 (June 25), '58 (May 25). 174I (elected and declined in 1758).


Amos Fuller,


1741.


Zachariah Mills,


1741.


Dea. Timothy Kingsbery,


1742.


Cornet Timothy Kingsbery, Jr., 1742.1


Peter Edes, 1742.


Ensign Thomas Fuller,


1749 (May 22).


Dea. Josiah Newell, Esq.,


1749.


Eliakim Cook,


Eleazer Kingsbery, Jr.,


1749. 1750, '66 (Captain in the latter year). 1750.


John Fuller,


Aaron Smith, Jr.,


Lieut. Robert Fuller,


Lieut. Jonathan Day,


Isaac Underwood,


Capt. Caleb Kingsbery,


William Smith,


Nathaniel Fisher,


Robert Fuller, Jr.,


Lieut. Samuel Townsend,


1758 (later Captain), 1787.


1764, '65 (elected on March II, as the selectmen ab- solutely refused to serve as assessors), '66, '69. 1764, '66, '69, '73, '75. 1764.


1765 (March II), '70. 1765 (March II). 1769. 1770, '74-81, '83-9, '92, '96, '98 (nineteen years). 1770, '74, '77, '80.


1 The only example in our records of a father and son serving together on the board of assessors, and constituting its majority.


THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM


661


Michael Metcalf,


1773, '75, also elected in 1776 and declined, served in 1777-9, '81, '83, '84 (eight years).


Josiah Upham, Joseph Daniell, Jr.,?


Capt. Robert Smith,


Jonathan Kingsbery, Jr.,


Lieut. William Fuller,


Amos Fuller,


Joseph Kingsbery, Jr.,


Dea. Isaac Shepard,


1780 (June 16), '81, '85, '86, '88-90, '93 (eight years). 1780, '96, 1801. 1785, '88, '91, '93-5, '97- 1802, '18 (Esq.); he served thirteen years.


John Slack,


1787. 1787.


Moses Fisk,


Aaron Smith, Jr.,


1787.1


Lieut. Ephraim Bullard,


1790, '97 (Captain).


Capt. Josiah Newell,


1791.


Enoch Fisk,


I792. 1794, '95.


Moses Fuller,


Ensign Nathan Dewing,


1796.


Lieut. John Tolman,


1797.


Adj. Daniel Ware,


Aaron Smith,


1798, '99, 1801 (elected on September 9), '03. 1800-2 (not elected till Sep- tember 9 in 1801), '04-17, '20 (elected 1824 and de-


1 This was undoubtedly "Hawk Aaron". There were five assessors elected in 1787 and the town defeated a motion to make the number seven.


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1773. 1774.


1776 (had been elected in 1758 and declined).


1776, '78, '79, '82, '86 (Lieu- tenant), '90 (Captain)-5, '99 (Colonel)-1802 (Esq. in 1801); served fifteen years. 1777 (December 15), '83, '84, '89.




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