USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > History of Newton, Massachusetts : town and city, from its earliest settlement to the present time, 1630-1880 > Part 16
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9. At the request of Philip White and William Ward, we have opened a highway, two rods wide, through the lands from Dedham road, near the. brook [Palmer's Brook], through land of said White, as now trodden, to land of Nathaniel Healy and William Ward, to the highway that goeth to the Roxbury line.
Dec. 14, 1714. ABRAHAM JACKSON, JOHN STAPLES,
JOHN KENRICK,
EDWARD JACKSON, & Committee.
RICHARD WARD,
JOHN HYDE,
SAMUEL HYDE, JOHN GREENWOOD, 1
Selectmen.
In 1725, a rate of £40 was allowed by vote for the work of re- pairing the highways. Men were to be allowed for their labor three shillings per day, and " six shillings for a man and team."
The erection of the new meeting-house, which was dedicated in 1721, made it necessary to lay out new roads, to accommodate the worshippers from the northern, northwestern, western and other parts of the town. So strong an effort had been made to change the location of the meeting-house to a point nearer the geographical centre of the town, that the movers in that enterprise would not leave their fellow-citizens any cause for complaint on the ground of the inaccessibility of the new house of worship. And it was a thing of course that if new roads were necessary, they must be opened. The meeting-house was the centre towards which, in the judgment of the early inhabitants, everything converged. It was the pivot on which every other interest turned. It was the starting- point from which everything naturally radiated. Notwithstand- ing all their neighborhood and sectional jealousies, they spoke rev- erently of "our meeting-house," as the common ground of union and affection. The location of the house of God being ascertained and agreed upon, they could easily agree upon the paths by which it was to be approached. Personal interests often interfered with " a peaceable settlement," as to the location and direction of other roads ; but at this point their selfishness gave way to the higher sentiment of the soul's needs and of brotherly love. Happy the people, whose simple faith in God and regard for Divine things was able to overshadow all other ends, and, on this issue, to melt all their diversities into unity ! And happy will it be for their suc- cessors, if the same principles should lead always to similar results.
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HISTORY OF NEWTON.
We quote from the Records the two following statements, under date of March 2, 1726, on account of the importance of the two roads described, as great arteries of the ancient travel.
FROM WATERTOWN TO DEDHAM .- We whose names are underwritten, being Selectmen for the town of Newton for the time being, with a com- mittee chosen by the town to stake out the ways in our town, according to the act or doings of a committee chosen by the town to endeavor the peace- able settlement of said ways without charge to the town, did actually begin at Watertown line and from thence to Dedham line, as followeth :
First, beginning at the land of Mr. Jonathan Coolidge, between Jonathan Coolidge and Stephen Cooke, three and a half rods and four feet wide; be- tween Colonel Bond and John Mason's lands, three and a half rods and two feet; between Philip Norcross and Isaac Jackson and Mason's, three and a half rods ; at Dea. Edward Jackson, Ensign Samuel Hyde and John Osland, three and a half rods; Rev. Mr. Cotton's, Mr. Eliot, John Spring and Cap- tain John Jackson, three and a half rods ; at the corner of said Jackson and Spring's, two rods and five feet; heirs of James Prentice, three and a half rods ; John Osland, heirs of John Prentice, deceased, three and a half rods by the brook [crossing the road just south of the meeting-house of the First Church]; Eleazer Ward, three rods and four feet ; house of Bond, John Clark, John Bartlett, meeting-house land, Eleazer Ward, Nathaniel Parker, heirs of Thomas Wiswall, three rods; Noah Wiswall's barn, and open to the pond, William Clark, through the farm of Jared Eliot, Jonathan Ward, deceased, John Stone, Eleazer Stoddard, John Kenrick, John Hall, Robert Murdock, Jacob Chamberlain, causeway and Eliot farm, school-house land, David Richardson, Edward Ward and the brook [Palmer's Brook], Philip White, Nathaniel Healey, Michael Dwight, house of Benjamin Wilson, Edward Ward, to Dedham line.
The above indicates the line of direction of the road from Water- town to Dedham, with its varying width at successive points. It also shows the ownership of the estates, along the entire route. But the Selectmen stated the whole matter with far more particu- larity, so that there could be no mistake as to the legally authorized road. By means of stakes, and heaps of stones, and marked trees, they enabled future surveyors to proceed from point to point, through the entire distance, with the utmost certainty. As a speci- men of their scrupulous exactness in these statements, we give, from the Town Records, a verbatim copy of the document indicating the line of the road marked out from Brookline to the bridge at New- ton Lower Falls. All the roads of early Newton are described with the same consummate accuracy. The preceding statement de- scribes the great road bisecting Newton from north to south; the following, the road which bisects the town from east to west.
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ROADS AND STREETS.
Secondly, we have settled a Towne way from Brookline to the County bridg at the Lower Falles in Charles River; begining at the line of Brook- line, we have staked and marked out as followeth, being marked on the southerly side of said way wheare it is now troden (1) a stak and a heape of stones in the county line, in the land of Ensine John Sever; next, Chestnut tree marked neare the wale of said Sever; next a stake and a heape of stones by a Rock aginst the land of Mr. Sam. Clark; next, a white oake tree by the land of Mr. Henrey Winchester ; next, a gray oake, aginst the Land of Han- nah, Sarah and Elizabeth Printice; next, a gray oake; next, oake plant ; next, a white oake ; next, a wallnut tree; next a white oake aginst the Land of Mr. John Osland; next, a white oake aginst the Land of Mr. Edward Rugles ; next, a black oake; next, a white oake; next, a white oake; next, a white oake near the land of said Rugles, next a white oake by the land of Judg Dudley; next a heape of Stones wheare the way coms in from the south part of the towne,-the way to be three rods wide from said markes, and from thenc to be two rods and a halfe wide to a wallnut tree in the Land of Mr. Nathaniell Parker; next, a black oake, thus far to be two rods and a halfe wide; next, a white oake plant, theare to be two rods and six foot wide ; from thenc two rods and a halfe wide to a white oake; from thenc to be two rods and a halfe wide wleare it is now troden to a stone marked (R) aginst the house of Calib Parker; and from thenc as the Fenc now stands untill it come to the Land of Noah Wiswall to a white oak stump in said Parker's Land, said way to be two rods and a halfe wide to the Land of said Wiswall ; next a stake and a heape of stones, said way to be theare three rods wide; next a heape of stones on a Rock, theare sd. way to be three rods and three foot wide; next a heape of stones on a Rock; next a stake and a heap of stones, theare the way to be three Rods wide; next a stake at the corner of sd. Parker's land, entering into Dedham Rode: The said way from Ded- ham Rode to be three rods wide untill it come to the Lower Falles (except- ing in sum pertickluer placies heareafter expressed; And in Mr. Eliot's Farme, there to be as the Court has ordered it from Dedham Rode to a black oake in the Land of Mr. William Clarke; next, a black oake; next a stake and a heape of stones at ye corner of said William Clarke's and Ebenezer Woodard's Lands ; next a stake and a heape of stones aginst the land of said Woodard; next a stake and a heape of stones at the corner of said Ebenezer and Jonathan Woodard's Lands, said way to be two rods and five foots wide, at the going down of the hill through said Jonathan Woodard's Land; next a stake and a leape of stones at the corner of Mr. Eliezer Hide's Land; next a black oake, next a gray oake, next a black oake, next a black oake, next a white oake, next a stake and a heape of stones, next a stake and a heape of stones between the lands of said Hides and John Staples.
Next a black oake aginst the land of said Staples, said markes being on the northerly side of the way; next a stake and a heape of stones at the cor- ner between the Land of said Staples and land belonging to the Heirs of Henrey Segor, decsd. ; next a stake and a heape of stones, said way to be two rods and a halfe wide in the Vallie between the Lands of said Segor and Mr. John Trowbridg; next a stake and a heape of stones; next a stump
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HISTORY OF NEWTON.
marked; next a stake and a heape of stones ; next a stake and a heape of stones aginst the Land of Mr. Ebenezer Littellfeeld, said markes being on the south- erly side of the way; and thenc marked on the same side of the way to the falles ; next a stake and a heape of stones ; next a smale white oake plant with stones round it; next a black oake plant; next a post at the corner between the Land of sd. Littellfeeld and Mr. John Parker ; next a white oake, next a wallnut tree ; next a black oake ; next a gray oake ; next a stake and a heape of stones at the corner between the Lands of said Parker and Mr. Jonathan Willard; next a white oake ; next a black oake ; next a gray oake plant near the corner of the afforsd. Littellfeeld's Land; next a gray oake plant aginst the Land of said Littellfeeld. Lastly a great Red oake near to the Bridg over Charles River at ye Lower Falles. And it is to be understood yt. the said ways are not to go straight from marke to marke so as to incommod at said ways; but as the ways are now troden.
Dated in Newton, March the Second, Anno Domini 1725-6.
By order of the Selectmen. JEREMIAH FULLER,
Reco'd per me, JOHN STAPLES, Towne Clarke,
NATHANIEL LONGLEY,
March 9th 1725 /6.
RICHARD WARD, - Selectmen.
EDWARD WARD,
JOSEPH WARD,
DANIEL WOODARD,
WILLIAM TROWBRIDG,
SAMUEL JACKSON, CALIB KENRICK,
Comity.
The same year a road was laid out from Watertown to Newton Lower Falls through land of Solomon Park to land called "Fuller's farm," John Knapp, unto the lane in Fuller's farm, two rods wide.
It is not difficult for the older residents of Newton, by the aid of the Records, to trace the original course of these roads. The red, white, gray and black " oakes" have been cut down, and are gone to decay. The "plants " have become trees, and having served their generation, have vanished. The " heapes of stones" have been scattered, wrought into walls, or hidden in foundations. The "stakes" and "posts" have rotted and perished. But the names still linger in old title-deeds, and "re-appear in streets and avenues." A few of them are indelibly impressed on the estates of their ancient proprietors. But many of the pathways of the fathers remain substantially as they were,- a possession for the genera- tions of the present and of all future times. As the fathers left them to us, so we leave them to our successors.
In 1729, a way was opened, two rods wide, through land of Richard Ward, John Greenwood, Eleazer Hammond and Josiah Wilson, running on the southerly side of Richard Ward's dwelling- house, until it comes to Cambridge line. Also, a road "from the fording place in Charles River, against the townway in Weston,
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ROADS AND STREETS.
to the county road that goeth from the Lower Falls to Watertown, beginning at the river, through land of William Robinson and Benjamin Child, until it comes to the county road." In 1735, a way was opened, two rods wide, " from the Dedham road [Centre Street], near the house of Philip Norcross, to the northwest part of the town, by Isaac Jackson, Joseph Jackson, to Edward Jack- son's fence, on the west side of the brook [Smelt Brook], near to Sebas Jackson, jr.'s house, to Thomas Beals and William Trow- bridge, two rods wide."
Also, a new way, beginning at the county road, by Thomas Park's barn, through Thomas Beal's land, through Capt. Joseph Fuller's land, on the northwest side of his fence, till it comes to the way at Capt. Fuller's cor- ner; thence north on land of Capt. Fuller, till it comes to land of Thomas Beals and land of William Trowbridge, two rods wide.
In 1737 a vote was passed to " stake out the way that leads from Dedham road to Ensign Spring's mill, called Mill Lane." In 1741, " settled the bounds of a highway, as now trod, beginning at John Hill's land, by Thomas Draper's, Timothy Whitney's and John Healy's."
VOTED, to accept the way Stephen Winchester laid out, and he to have liberty to hang two gates.
VOTED, to lay out a way through James Cheney, jr.'s land, from the town road to the bridge at the Upper Falls, for the use of the town, near Noah Parker's house, and the town to relinquish all their rights to a way heretofore used, through Stephen Winchester's land, to the Falls.
In 1750, "the Selectmen laid out a way from the townway that leads to the house of widow Staples to the road called Natick road, beginning on Joseph Fuller's land and Daniel Woodward, to land of Thomas Miller, and through his land to Natick road. Also, a way from the county road near Allen's, to the brook called Cheesecake Brook, thence to Samuel Hastings' wall, and to the county road."
In 1751, a new way was laid out "through the Fuller farm, beginning at the house of Josiah Fuller, at a rock in said Fuller's fence, on the south side of the way; thence to Cornet John Fuller's land, widow Hannah Fuller, Joshua Fuller, to land of Thomas Fuller, deceased, to Jonathan Fuller, and over the brook called Cheesecake Brook, two rods wide, from said Josiah Fuller's easterly to said brook." In 1752, a new way was laid out "from the county road through land of Joseph Ward, Oakes Angier, Jonathan Fuller, leading to the Fuller farm."
In 1754, a new way was laid out " through land of William Marean, John Hammond, Stephen Winchester, Nathan Ward, John Ward, William Marean, jr., and over South Meadow Brook, from house of Israel Stowell at John Ward's gate."
168
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
In 1756, a new way was " laid out, beginning at the county road near the house of Benjamin Child, and through his land to the house of Jonathan Williams, two rods widc. Also, from Joseph Morse to the road leading to Checsecake Brook. Also, from Charles River, near the brook called Beaver Brook [in Waltham], to the townway near the house of John Fuller. Also, from Joseph Morse's, between the lands of Samucl Wheat and Samuel Hast- ings, to Cambridge lots, and thence through the land of said Wheat and land of Isaac Williams, to Josiah Goddard, to Dr. John Allen's and Samuel Hast- ings, till it meets the townway at the brook called Chcesecake Brook."
Says Mr. Seth Davis (1847),-
The main roads through the town in 1752 were the Sherburne Road, so called, and the Worcester Road. The former passed through the Lower Falls, and by the house [late] of Matthias Collins, Esq., and the East Parish meeting-house, [beginning on the west side of the town]. The one-story house which stood on the spot where the new house of Mr. Hawkes stands, was kept as a public house many years. Among the other occupants of the house in that capacity was the late Nathan Fuller, Esq. The said one-story house, taken down about 1840, stood on or near the spot where the first house on Woodward Street now stands, cast of Cherry Strcet.
The Worcester road passed over Weston Bridge, and over a range-way * now entirely disused by the public, by the house of Samuel Stimpson and the Messrs. Dix and Fullers, to the First Parish meeting-housc, which then stood at the intersection of the two principal roads to Boston ; thus forming, at that period and many years subsequent, the most convenient and only con- venient centre for the whole town, not only as a place of worship, but for holding town meetings. One branch of the Worcester road turned off, some- where, probably, between the houses of Mr. Dix and Mr. Frost, and passed over the highlands south of West Newton Village, and crossed the present road twenty or thirty rods south of Hull's Crossing [the Newtonville Station] to Newton Corner. A very few marks of its former location still exist. On that deserted portion west of Mr. Stimpson's was a public house, kept as such for many years, and a little west of the same was the house of Mr. Thomas Greenwood, who for many years held the office of Town Clerk, and in his day was the main personage for tying connubial knots. A few vestiges of both houses are still visible.
In 1757 was laid out " Fuller's way to Charles river, -beginning at the river, thence through Capt. Joshua Fuller's land to land of the heirs of Isaac Fuller. In 1760 a new way was laid out from Natick road, through land of John Burridge and Isaac Jackson, to the county road near the house of Sebas Jackson, two rods wide." 1761 .- At the request of Enoch Parker, Jolin Jackson and Samuel Jackson, we have turned the townway that leads from the road called Indian lane [now Sargent Street] to the county road near John Jackson's old house.
*"This range-way was the main road for many years ;-- the one over and upon which Burgoyne's army passed from Weston Bridge to Cambridge; and is now a public road, called Woodland Avenue."
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ROADS AND STREETS.
In 1787, "a new way was laid out and accepted from Angier's Corner wes- terly to land of Timothy Jackson, and from the brook westerly to Mrs. Mary Durant's barn." In 1788, "the old road, running past the school-house, thence southwest across Trowbridge's plain, thence northwest to Mrs. Mary Durant's barn, was discontinued; and the training-field which was given to the town by Judge Fuller's grandfather in 1735, situated in what is now New- tonville, was discontinued; and the land, nearly one acre, was to revert to Judge Fuller, he paying a reasonable price therefor."
The minute specifications in the descriptions of many of these roads are interesting, as showing the ownership of the estates through which the roads were laid out.
The following agreement, entered into by the heirs of John Fuller, owner of the "Fuller farm," opened in 1730 still another highway, which was accepted by the town in 1751.
The undersigned do all and everyone of us agree and consent to lay out an open highway two rods wide, as it is allowed of in the settlement of the farm called Fuller's farm, for the use of and convenience of the proprietors of said farm, down to the townway of Solomon Park's line, marked on a walnut tree and heap of stones in Jonathan Fuller's land; and then a walnut tree and then a white oak tree, and then a peach tree on land of Joseph Fuller; and then a white oak tree on land of Jeremiah Fuller; and then to a white oak tree, and then to a gray oak tree, and then to a walnut tree, and then over the dam at the upper end of the wet meadow, and then to a rock on the land of Jonathan Fuller, and then to the townway, for us. And also agreed to have liberty of passing through gates or bars, from one proprie- tor's way to the other, where the way is now trod. And we do oblige our- selves and our heirs to mend and maintain the said way forever, from the corner of the line between John Fuller and down to the townway at Solomon Park's line.
In witness whereof we set our hands and seals this thirtieth day of May, Anno Domini [1730], in the third year of the reign of our sovereign lord, George Second, of Great Britain, King, etc.
Signed,
JOSEPH FULLER, JOSHUA FULLER,
ELIZABETH + MIRICK, mark. MINDWELL FULLER,
JONATHAN FULLER,
JONATHAN FULLER, JR.,
her
ISAAC FULLER, ISAAC FULLER, JR.,
PRISCILLA + DIKE. mark.
THOMAS FULLER, CALEB FULLER.
In presence of us, her
JEREMIAH FULLER,
JOHN FULLER,
CHAPTER XIII.
THE NONANTUM INDIANS .- NONANTUM HILL .- FIRST MEETING .- SETTLEMENT AT NONANTUM .- ACT OF THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT. SETTLEMENT AT NATICK.
ON the southeastern slope of Nonantum Hill stood the wigwam of Waban,* where Eliot first preached to the Indians of America. Gookin, the friend and companion of Eliot, writes,-
The first place where he began to preach was Nonantum, near Watertown, on the south side of Charles River, about four or five miles from his own house, where lived at that time Waban, one of their principal men, and some Indians with him.
Tradition makes it possible to fix with tolerable accuracy the precise spot of this historic service. In 1659, John Kenrick had this land granted him, since which time it has remained in the family. A spring near by helps to fix the location. In 1713 the highway marks were fixed " from Dedham to Boston, from Ensign John Kenrick's through his land and Samuel Truesdale's, two rods wide ; they have liberty to hang two gates, one at corner of Joseph Ward's land and the other next to house of Isaac Patch." It is near this old road (still easily seen) where stood the substantial wigwam, erected by Gookin twenty years after Eliot first preached here ; the ground still shows evidence of such occupation .; Here in the quaint language of the day, "The alabaster box of precious ointment was first broken in the dark and gloomy habitations of the unclean."
* Signifying in English " wind" or " spirit."
¡ On a little plat of land, half a mile east of Centre Street, the recognized site of the wigwam of Waban, a terrace has been constructed, with a stone balustrade on the front, bearing a suitable inscription and the names of Wilson, Shepard, Gookin, Waban and others who were present at the first meeting. From the face of the wall a fountain is seen to flow, and rising from the centre of the terrace a memorial shaft.
170
171
ELIOT AND THE INDIANS.
The account of the first visit of Mr. Eliot to Nonantum for the purpose of preaching to the Indians is given by Mr. Eliot, in his graphic language as follows :
Upon October 28, 1646, four of us (having sought God), went unto the Indians inhabiting within our bounds with desire to make known the things of their peace to them. A little before we came to their wigwams five or six chiefs met us with English salutations, bidding us welcome; who, leading us unto the principal wigwam of Waanton (Waban), we found many more Indians, men, women and children gathered together from all quarters round about.
Those who accompanied Eliot were Gookin (aged 34), after- wards magistrate at Cambridge, Rev. John Wilson, of Boston, Elder Heath, of Roxbury (aged 61), and Thomas Shepard (aged 41), who afterwards wrote "The Clear Sunshine of the Gospel," and other tracts giving an account of this beginning among the Indians.
With unfeigned interest we contemplate these denizens of the forest, assembled together, like Cornelius and his friends, to hear the words of eternal life. There is a special interest in such a gathering, because it is the first of the kind on the American conti- nent. It was the missionary enterprise in advance. Eliot had not to cross seas and oceans to find his heathen auditors. They lived nearly at his own door ; by an hour's ride he could be among them. And as we contemplate their eager attention, their willing assent, their readiness to learn, and at the same time the opposi- tion of those who scoff, we seem to see the whole method and work of modern missions, not a theory to be tested in the future, but the veritable missionary enterprise already begun. After two centuries and a quarter, the work brings similar joys and sorrows.
The Indians, during an intercourse of several years with the English, had obtained some ideas of their religion and their Book, and were very desirous of being instructed by the white men in the wonderful things it contained.
In the assembly were Waban's wife, and their son Weegram- momenet, afterwards known as Thomas Waban. Prayer was offered in English, it is supposed by Mr. Wilson. Then Mr. Eliot preached from Ezekiel XXXVII: 9. "Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I
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HISTORY OF NEWTON.
prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army."
The text was doubtless selected by Mr. Eliot, because he saw a similarity between the dry bones of the valley and the condition of his heathen audience,-"that forlorn generation," as Mr. Wilson called them. When Mr. Eliot read his text, as if addressed specially to the chief, "Then said the Lord unto me, Prophesy unto Waban," etc., it must have seemed a personal call from the white man's God to serve him who had brought the Englishman across the mighty waters and himself from the hills of Musketa- quid,-each of them at that date forty-two years of age,-to meet in that rude wigwam. It was a striking manifestation of the Providence of God which had brought them together.
The sermon continued an hour and a quarter. Mr. Eliot began with the principles of natural religion, and then proceeded to the leading doctrines and precepts of Christianity : the ten command- ments ; the nature and consequences of sin ; the character, coming and exaltation of Christ ; the future judgment ; the blessedness of believers ; the creation and fall of man ; heaven and hell ; and closed with an exhortation to repentance and holiness. Desiring to know whether his audience had understood him, he asked if they com- prehended his meaning. They replied that they had understood all. He then asked whether all in the wigwam had understood, or only a few. With one accord every voice answered that they had all understood every thing he had said. Eliot testifies that " none of the Indians slept in sermon, or derided God's messenger."
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