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 6
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 6
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).
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Andrew wadkins
Richard more
Jofhuaway Smith
Robart Cook
Samuel parker
Jeremiah Woodcok
John Fisher Juner John woodcok
thomas madcalf
Beniemin Mills Junr
Eleazar Kingsbery
Ebenezer Ware
James Kingsbry
Josiah Kingsbery Joseph Hawes
Jonathon Duin
John Smith Jun
Thomas ffuller
Robert ffuller Chriftopher Smith John gill
John Parker Juner
John Mackintier
ifaac parker hezekiah broad
Mathias ockinton
Andrew Dewing Junr william Mills Zechariah Mills
Edwart cook
Stephen Huntting
John parker
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Henry Alldin
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
This page is numbered 622 in the Archives, and is followed by an order that notice be served on the selectmen of Ded- ham, calling on them to answer the foregoing petition the "Second Tuesday of their next Sefsion". This order was "Sent down for Concurrance" from the Council "27th June. 1710: Ifa Addington S."
"June 28: 1710. Read & Concurr'd
John Clark Speaker"
On the back of this paper is written:
"Oct-º. 1711. "Dedham Farmers Petetion Dedham Farmers To Petetion./" be a Township May 1710"
Then follows the Act of Incorporation of the Town of Needham, which passed the Council November 5, as certi- fied by Isaac Addington, the Secretary, and was sent to the House, where "Nov": 6: 1711. Read, & Concurr'd. John Burrill Speaker"
The Original Bill is in the records of the General Court, and is signed by the Governor thus: "Consented to . J. Dudley" (Vol. 9, p. 162). The bill in the Archives differs from that in the General Court records in the use of capital letters and in punctuation. It appears impossible to ascertain when the Governor signed this Act, and the sixth day of Novem- ber, Old Style, equivalent to the seventeenth day, New Style, must be considered the birthday of the Town of Needham, notwithstanding the observance of the sixteenth in 1811. The chief of the Archives Department called the writer's attention to a mistake in the Manual of the General Court as to this date, and explained its origin. As there is nothing that commands more respect than a venerable error, it is probable that this one in the Manual will be quoted as an authority till the end of time, although corrected.
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
Page 624 of the Archives is the petition of the selectmen of Dedham, viz., "Samuel guild Thomas Fuller Robart Cook Joseph Wight", asking that the question of dividing the town be deferred till the May session. Their request was granted by the Council and House, October 31, 1710, with the following advice inserted by the Council: "And it is Recommended to the Town and the Petitioners to take care to procure an able minister to preach in this out part of the Town in the mean time". State Archives, Vol. 113, pp. 620-624.
THE BOUNDARY CONTROVERSY BETWEEN DEDHAM AND NEEDHAM
On May 28, 17II, a committee of the town of Dedham had reported in favor of the incorporation of the north part of the town, but designated a boundary line quite different from that desired by the petitioners for the new town, and later obtained by them. The report recommended that "a streight Line be run and Stated from Charls riuer at a place called the Landing place below Enfign Kindricks houfe to Charls riuer towards the South weft so as to com- prehend and take in the houfe and houfe lot of John Smith Sen"". This line ran from Kendricks Bridge southwesterly, and north of Bird's Hill, crossing Great Plain Avenue near Augustus Eaton's, thence crossing Webster, High Rock and South Streets to the Charles near the residence (1908) of Ezra Fuller. The report also contained a proposition as to the Province tax. The petitioners objected to the narrow limits proposed by Dedham, and addressed a peti- tion to Governor Dudley, the Council and House, dated June 7, 17II. They "Enform this Honoured Court" that notwithstanding the recommendation made to Dedham by the General Court the petitioners had had to pay the minis- ter themselves. "Never ye Lefs procurd ye Reverd mr Hale to preach with us This winter Seafon till Now & have paid him to satiffaction for his service". "That ye Land peti-
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nd
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
tioned for to be A Township, was purchafed by ye Town of Dedham of One W! Nehoiden Indian in ye year 1680 as of Record will apear to This Honed Court. And: Therefore we hope will not be Aledg'd as any Intrenchmt opon ye Towns former grant." Most of the lands "are already Laid out into Diftinctt propriys" and will be more valuable after the incorporation. The petitioners pray "that we may be Either freed as A Townfhip, or have Conveniant Scool- ing & preaching Maintaind Among us at ye Genell Charg of ye whol Town
" benjemin mills Sen John Fifher Robert Cook Benjemin Mills jun Jeremiah Woodcoke John Smith
In ye Name &
behalf of ye
said Pettion™s "
There are various papers, and certified copies of town records introduced to prove the Nehoiden trans- action. On February 8, 1711/12, Needham appointed Jonathan Gay and Joseph Daniell to treat with Dedham as to the boundary, and on March 10 the mother town chose three men to appeal to the General Court to change the line in favor of Dedham, and the same day Needham selected Jeremiah Woodcock, Joseph Daniell and John Smith, Jr., to maintain that "the Longe Diche, a straite Line from Riuer to Riuer" should be the line. "Sargeant" John Fisher and Robert Cook were added to the committee and directed to answer the Dedham men before the General Court. On April 7 the same citizens, with the exception of Ebenezer Ware in place of Daniell, were chosen "to Come to a Loveng a Greement" with Dedham. The General Court ended the controversy by deciding in favor of the existing line.
On February 15, 1714, Lieut. John Fisher, John Smith, Sr., and Ensign Robert Cook were named by the town to
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
"run" the line with Dedham; evidently an important perambulation.
The following document relates in part to the boundary question :
March 12, 17II. Petition of the Town of Dedham as to the line.
On June 5, 1712.
"Ordered that a commtee of both Houfes be appointed to go upon the Place to confider of a Line of divifion between the faid Towns, Having great Refpect to the ancient Town of Dedham, to hear both Sides & to Endeavour to bring them to an Agreemt between felves; Otherwife to propofe what they judge most agreable for the Benefit of both Towns, & Make Report to this Court at their next Sefsion, And Penn Townsend & Ephraim Hunt Esqrs are appointed of the Committee for this Affair, The faid Commtee alfo to confider & determine any difference that may be amongft the Inhabitants of Needham referring to the Place for Setting up their Meeting Houfe". State Archives, Vol. 113, pp. 620-629.
EARLY RECORDS OF THE TOWN OF NEEDHAM
On the inside of the cover of the first volume of the town records, besides an item as to a school, is written "Needham Old Town Book 1707/8".
The first page reads as follows:
The pettitions of the Inhabatance of ye North Side of Charles River in ye year 170 8/9 we made our adreses to the towne of Dedham for Libeity thatt we might attaing the gofpel amongstt our Selfes. . . March 10 in 1710 we made our Requistt to the town of Dedham againe for the Same Libeity May 15 1710 we made our adressis to the towne of Dedham a gaine for the fore menfhoned prive- liges. . . March 8 170 7/8 a petition was put to the town of Dedham for a lought forty ore fifty Acors of Land for the minestrey one the North side of Charls Rever wher
g
of ns- ted as tose the cted Jr., quer isher ected On nezer to a Court isting
Smith, wwn to
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
apone the towne & proprietors Choas Sar-Eleazer Kings- bery John Gay & Thomas Ockinton a Commit for to make lands & Sitt oight Said Land and make ther Return there of to be Recorded the Said Comity haue Laid out one the north Sid of Charles River - 40 and Six Acors of Land in one parcill and 13 Acors in another which aCordingly is Recorrded in the book of Dedham ReCords aS foloweth Dedham March the 19 1710 II Att a meeting of the pro- prietours of this town Itt was this Day proposed to the pro- prietours to graint to the pititioners on the north part of this town two parCells of Land for pultvie (?) for the miniftre one for a houfe Lot and another for a wood Lott the first parcell abbutteth north upon Rosemary meadow & east and upon a way Coming from sd medow towards the Weft and South and upon Rofemary meadow brook in part Eaftt The other parcell is one the Eaft Side of a hill abutting upon the way leading to Rosemary medow and Robart ffullers towards the north Containing abought 20 aCers.
The proprieators in Anfwer to the petitioners do Sitt aparte and Re ---- and graintt thatt the aboue Said Land pittitioned for Shall be grainted to the pititioners to them and their heyers for Euer for the minef - from on genera- tion to another for euer and nott to be Sold nor alien from the mineftre for euer but to Remaine for the publick ufe for the minestre one the north Side of Charles Riuer This is atrue copiy takin outt of the townes book of Dedham ReCords given by the Clark of Said town
Joseph Wight -
On the second page is recorded the Act of the General Court of August 22, 1712, locating the meeting-house.
On the third page is an attempt at a copy of the first part of the petition for the incorporation of the town. This petition was printed in full, with modern spelling and with some slight changes, as an appendix to Mr. Palmer's Cen- tury Sermon of 18II.
77
THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
NEEDHAM IN ENGLAND
From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary, in four volumes, 183I, it appears that Needham Market is in the County of Suffolk in the Parish of Barking, Hundred of Bosmere and Claydon, nine miles northwest of Ipswich. Population 1300 in 1831, 1393 in 1880. There is also in England another Needham, a parish in the Hundred of Earsham, Norfolk, one and one fourth miles southwest from Harleston. Popu- lation 351 in 1831. It is in the southern part of the County of Norfolk near the County of Suffolk. Dedham is in the northeast corner of the County of Essex, and but a short distance from the boundary between that County and Suffolk. Population 1651 in 1831. Suffolk is south of Norfolk, and Essex is south of Suffolk.
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Roads
Some of the roads in Needham were laid out prior to 171I, and others appear to have never been formally designated, but were early paths or trails. It is known that there were such paths through this region in the time of the Apostle Eliot, but he is said to have travelled on the Dover side of the river in his journeys from Roxbury to his Indian con- gregation at Natick. In the records of Dedham are original descriptions of roads now in Needham, and the following is a summary of those pages, with some paragraphs quoted verbatim: In 1687 a cart road was laid out on the north side of the Charles River to the "school ground," and also a leading way to its northern 'portion. In 1718 this "school ground" belonged in part to Thomas Aldridge's estate, and in 1765 to the heirs of his daughter, Widow Mary Lyon, and for them John Jones made a plan of the land, which extended from Green Street, as it is now called, to Solomon Fuller's Brook, and also included three acres on the easterly and southerly corners of South Street and Dedham Avenue. The total area belonging to the heirs of Mrs. Lyon was thirty-two acres, according to Mr. Jones's neatly drawn plan.
In 1694 a way was laid out over Rosemary Meadow Brook, and in 1698-9 John Fuller, Nathaniel Gay and John Smith laid out a road from the town, Dedham, to the Lower Falls, possibly not the falls now known by that name.
In 1701 that part of Great Plain Avenue formerly known as Causeway Street was laid out as a road, and also a road was laid out from the Great Plain road to the residence of
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
John Smith. A few years later Smith lived on High Rock Street, on the farm since owned by Joseph Richards, and if he lived there in 1701 the road then laid out was presumably a part of Webster and High Rock Streets. On the map of the town made in 1771 South Street does not extend east of Webster Street. In 1700 or 1701 Eleazer Kingsbery, John Smith and John Rice laid out a way from the "Great Plaine" toward Maugus Hill. On March 24, 1703, "John Smith & John Rice are chosen a Commity to lay out a highway from great Plaine to Birch plaine to the southeast corner of Joseph Hawes lot and strait up by his house to Striffe medow Brook at the Common weading place". The return was made February 18, 1703/4; this road was apparently a part of Great Plain Avenue. On March 4, 1705/6, Smith and Rice were appointed to satisfy Joseph Daniell, through whose land a road had been laid out, with a piece of the common land adjoining his.
On December 25, 1706, the selectmen appointed John Fuller, Sr., and John Smith, Sr., "a Commity to lay out a highway from the house of James Kingsbery to the house of Robert Cook and from thence to Charles River". "John Smith fen & Thomas Metcalfe being Deputed to lay out a h way make return of their laying out faid way from the way leading to the houfe of Josiah Kingsbery by the houfe of Robert ffuller as the fence now ftandeth untill it is paft the land of faid Robert ffuller & from thence it is bounded by marked trees untill it Come to the road leading from the Jofeph Haws to ftrife medow Brook & from thence to the Medow of faid Jofiah Kingsbery"; March 8, 1707/8. The latter road was from Forest Street, passing by the ancient Fuller house, and over the hill, joining Great Plain Avenue some distance east of Brook Street.1
1 The descriptions of these old roads are not clear, and Mr. James Mackintosh may be correct in saying that there never was a town road from the Robert Fuller house to Hawes Field, or connecting with the Great Plain road. If he is right, then the road that ran from Wellesley Avenue to Great Plain Avenue, through Hawes Field, was the one referred to.
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
In 17II the selectmen of Dedham appointed Daniel Fisher and Andrew Dewing, Sr., "to lay out a high way from Sherburn Road to the farm of Jonathan Gay which he bought of the town of Dedham". They laid it out two rods wide, and it must have been a road from Washington Street, possibly Pond and Oak Streets. The Turnpike was not built till 1808. The farm of Jonathan Gay was the "School Farm" of three hundred acres, which the town of Dedham sold to Mr. Gay for £50 by deed dated January I, 1699/1700; it may be roughly described as extending from Morse's Pond to the Weston line, and until the latter part of the last century was owned almost entire by the Stevens family, who still (1900) possess a considerable portion of it.
John Pain and John Rice were a committee "to Lay ought away from Thomas ffuller dayre House to the great playn road by order of the Select men." On June 2, 1713, the report was made as to the laying out of the said road, "by Matthias Ockintons houfe this way is Laid oute upon the Land of Benjeman gay a rod and on half" (illegible), and was recorded on the first page of the Needham town records. The town accepted, on February 23, 1715, the report of Jeremiah Woodcock and Timothy Kingsbery, who on March 17, 1714, had made an alteration in the "Road Runing before the houfe of matthew Tambling".
On June 22, 1714, the selectmen appointed John Parker, Sr., and John Smith, Jr., to view the premises, and to report as to a highway through land of Thomas Fuller, and by the house of Joseph Haws, in order to enable Josiah Kings- bery to get to his meadow. They reported the 24th, and began the proposed road near a bridge over Strife Meadow Brook, but Mr. Fuller objected, and July 3, the selectmen changed the proposed location, starting this time "from ye west end of ye Cancy leading ouer birch meeadow in at a paye of draw Bars unto fuller's field and so marked trees not uery far from ye side of burch meadow and so through a track of wood land to Josiah Kingsberys meadow and by ye
H
.
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
sid of sd meadow seuerl Rods (upon fuller's land) and so acros ouer a place of meadow to Jame Kingsbery's meadow". This road ran from Forest Street, near the Country Club, over the hill in a southwesterly direction, and joined Great Plain Avenue east of Brook Street, and not far from the junction of the avenue and another old road, which also ran from Forest Street.
On November 9, 1714, Sergeants Metcalf and Fuller with Eleazer Kingsbery were appointed to lay out a "Roade from Needham meetting houfe to the new bridg by ye houfe of Leute Cook", and on the 16th the town accepted a road from the road leading from Robert Fuller's to the meeting house "unto Rosemary medour brook and so offer ye brook and offer Rosemary brook neck unto fox medow as it is marked and so to Henery alldings & by his houfe offer the brook unto Letn Cooks Land". This is now Central Ave- nue, from the junction with Forest Street to the Upper Falls.
At a town meeting October II, 1715, a petition was pre- sented for a road through the house-lot of Henry Alden, the road to be "turned nearer the houfe of William Mills fo as to help the Sd mills with away to his hous & not go throw ye hous lot & orchard of Henery Allding this petition was Grainted". The selectmen laid it out through the land of William Mills, William "Eattin", Henry Alden, Joseph Mills and Lieut. Cook "to the houfe Lot of william mills & would have Layed out this Road into the Road Layed out to the bridg but Leutn Cook forbad us & we Stopt". This was the old road through Hahaton Field to the Upper Falls.1 On January 4, 1716, in answer to a petition "to have the way layed out upon the Land of Leut Cook to the new bridg", Joseph Boyding, Joseph Mills, Joseph Bar- bure, James Kingsbery and Ebenezer Ware were appointed a committee, and reported January 4, "begining where
1 This road was discontinued by vote of the town in 1896, although twice in 1893 a similar article was dismissed.
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
you Left of". This was the completion of Central Avenue at the Upper Falls. January 19, 1716, Thomas Metcalf and Josiah Newell were named a committee to lay out a road "from Joseph barbars bares to the way Leading to poles Ifland". Their work was not satisfactory, and two of the selectmen later performed the duty. On May 14, 1716, the town voted to "have the Laft way that was Layed out by the Houfe of william mills to be the way from the meeting Houfe to the bridg by Leut Cooks houfe".
On October 1, 1716, John Smith, Sr., John Rice and Timothy Kingsbery, selectmen, on petition for a road "to ye River by Ens Kindrecks" laid one out "begining upon the Land of Thomas aldridg and fo to the Land & Meadow of Joseph Barbur to the River where the Bridg is to be Raised". On February 3, 1718, the selectmen on petition of Josiah Kingsbery appointed Lieut. Cook and Ebenezer Ware "to have a hyway Layed out from his houfe to the Road goin to Dedham by Ebenezer Mills Houfe". They reported February 8, favoring a road "a long on the Lower Sid of Rosmary medow Damm & So a long too & offer Rosmare medow plain by william Eatons Houfe & So along one the East Corner of Lieu Cook land to the Road". On February 3, 1718, John Smith, John Rice and James Kings- bery were appointed to lay out a road "from the great playn Road over a Crost the Hill to the Hyway going from the damm to ye meeting Houfe". They reported on the 14th.
On January 29, 1720, there was a petition of Samuel Wilson and Thomas Fuller, Jr., for a road "from Charles River throgh the land of faid willson and the Said fullers and Jonathan parkers land by the house of the thae said parker till it coms to the top of the hill by the plain"; re- port made on January 30. Jonathan Parker and Jeremiah Woodcock as a committee laid out this road, which was from the Hanks Place, where Wilson then lived, to Central Avenue, viz., Charles River Street.
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
In March, 1719/20, in answer to a petition of Jonathan Smith for a highway from his house to the highway near Christopher Smith's house, the selectmen appointed the petitioner and Joseph Hawes to lay out a road and report. On January 23, 1720/1, there was a petition for a road "from ye Road going throw ye Chefnut trees; to ye dwelling houfe of Chriftph. Smith"; the report on this was made the 24th by Joseph Haws, Josiah Kingsbery, Christopher Smith and Nathaniel Bullard. Apparently Mr. Smith lived on the Reuel Ware place, and the road laid out in- cluded a small section of Great Plain Avenue and a portion of Brook Street. On February 13, 1720/1, on George Robin- son's petition, John Smith, Sr., Eleazer Kingsbery and Heze- kiah Broad were appointed "to vew and Lay out Sd way from the land of Sd Gorge Robinfon to ye Country Road"; they reported on the 14th; apparently Robinson lived near where Newton, Weston and Wellesley join.
On February 21, 1720/1, there was a report of Ephraim Ware, Thomas Metcalf and Robert Fuller, a committee, "to vew and Lay out a road from ye Road pafing by ye houfe of Ephraim ware" "we have Laid it out untill it Coms unto ye North west Corner of michells metCalfs medow & by the weft End of Sd metCalf medows throw Jofiah Kingsbery Land" "a littell pond on ye Eaft Side" "over a brook to Sd ffullers Houfe frame Eaft and upon Sd ffullers Land in part and part in ye Land of ye Hirf of Joseph Danell" "& So into ye Road yt leads from ye meetting houfe to Robert ffuller Dewelling Houfe"; this is Brookside Road and a part of Wellesley Avenue. Probably Ephraim Ware then lived in the old house south of Longfellow's Pond. Within twenty-five years this ancient homestead of the Wares showed its age to the passer by, and Miss Emma F. Ware of Milton had one photograph taken of it, which pho- tograph cannot now be found, nor can the negative. This estate is owned by Mr. Sheridan, who has made extensive additions to the house. Formerly the main roof sloped to
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
within a few feet of the ground at the rear, and there were porches on the east end and at the back.
June 21, 1721, "In perSuance of an order from the Select Men we have Layed out ye hy way two Rods wide begining near the Dwelling Houfe of John Smith Sen and from thence by the hy Rock as the way is drawn till it meets with the way that Leads from Dewings throw ye Great playn
Sam11 Willfon Thom: ffuller
Commity"
Mr. Smith lived on High Rock Street.
On September 21, 1721, Captain Cook, John Smith, John Rice and Josiah Kingsbery were chosen to arrange with Henry Pratt and William Chub as to some land wanted by the Town of Weston for a highway. On October 12, 1722, the selectmen appointed Josiah Kingsbery, John Smith and Ephraim Ware, Sr., "to Vew and Mark out Rode from Rose mery meedow dam to the Houfe of Henry Alldens"; this they did on the 17th, and also laid out a road from Alden's to Ephraim Ware's.
The following January, in answer to a petition of Josiah Newell, Samuel Smith and Aaron Smith, the selectmen appointed Dea. Timothy Kingsbery, Deacon Woodcock and Lieut. Thomas Fuller to report on a way "from Jofiah Newells houfe to the Meeting houfe"; part of Central Avenue. Their report on the 24th was favorable. On June 6, 1726, Ensign Thomas Fuller and Josiah Newell were chosen "to View & lay out" a highway from near Capt. John Fisher's to the meeting house. They reported Sep- tember 12, stating that Joseph Mills, who was to be notified, had been present. This road "begining att ye East Corner of John Fishers fild and so as ye Old Rode" was accepted by the selectmen March 16, 1726/7, "Exfepting throw Joseph Millef Lot".
On May 20, 1728, the town voted to continue the "Road Leading from the house of Samuel Smith unto the Great
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
plain and so through the Greate-plain unto James Kingsberys Dweling houfe"; the selectmen and Josiah Kingsbery were to "Macke the Bounds", and reported on the 22d.
On March 27, 1729, "In anfwer to a Request of Decon Timothy Kingsbery It was put to the Town whether thay would disalow and alter the Road that goeth through His the sd Decon Timothy Kingsberys Land that he has Latly purchased of Hezekiah Fuller of Dedham and Through the Land of Thomas Fuller of Dedham aforefd and take up with and Accept of a Road from the Brook by William Ock- intons House as it is Now Drawn and markt Two Rods Wide unto the house of Decon Timothy Kingsbery and so along untill it Comes unto the old orignall Great plain Road". Thomas Fuller was to have his timber and wood that were on the said land. On March 22, 1736, John Rice, Captain Cook, Jonathan Smith, Josiah Kingsbery and Ensign Nathaniel Bullard were appointed to view a road from Ensign Thomas Fuller's and Joseph Hawes's; on May 17th the town made a slight change in the lines as run by the committee. En- sign Fuller lived on Great Plain Avenue in the Fuller-Mills house, which is probably the oldest house in Needham, as it was built as early as 1708.
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