USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > History of Newton, Massachusetts : town and city, from its earliest settlement to the present time, 1630-1880 > Part 2
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 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84
" The waters of Wiswall's Pond, generally called ' Baptist Pond,' and, in recent times, 'Crystal Lake,' cover about thirty-three and a half acres, and of Hammond's Pond about twenty acres. The natural outlet for the waters of Wiswall's Pond, was upon its easterly side, crossing the Dedham road a little north of the Wiswall house, thence running through the Wiswall farm in a southerly direction, across the Sherburne road and the Worcester turnpike, to South Meadow Brook. The artificial outlet is a deep excavation, made on the northerly side of the pond, by the mill owners on Smelt
16
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
Brook, previous to the year 1700, to conduct the water of the pond into Smelt Brook. It is, however, believed that the quantity of water thus drawn from the pond, was not of sufficient advantage to cover the cost of the excavation and repairs."
This excavation passed west of the estate of Joshua Loring, Esq., President of the Blackstone National Bank, and is nearly obliterated in its whole course.
In 1871, Messrs. W. N. Bartholomew, Mellen Bray, Lorin F. Tyler, George S. Dexter, E. M. Fowle, M. G. Crane, George C. Rand, R. R. Bishop and J. F. C. Hyde, leased Wiswall's or Baptist Pond, as it is more generally termed, of the Massachusetts Commissioners for Inland Fisheries. This lease was made under the law of Massachusetts, passed for the especial purpose of in- creasing the breed of valuable fish. The pond was to be stocked with black bass from Plymouth, at a large expense, the fish costing $3.50 each. All fishing was forbidden in the pond from this time, any party offending being liable to pay a fine of $50.
The natural outlet of the waters of Hammond's Pond was from its southeast side, and was the commencement of the brook called " Pond Brook " or "Palmer's Brook ;" from thence running south- erly through the meadows in the westerly corner of Brookline, where it received sufficient accessions of water to drive the wheels of a saw mill, which formerly stood very near the dividing line between Brookline and Newton ; thence, by " Bald Pate Meadow," through the south part of Newton, by Palmer's and through " Brook Farm" to Charles River. A few years prior to 1854, an ar- tificial drain was made from the westerly side of Hammond's Pond, running northwest through the low grounds to the brook which crosses Centre Street a little south of the First Parish meeting- house, which stream falls into Smelt Brook near the territorial cen- tre of the town. This cut was made for the double purpose of draining the lands through which it was made, and of increasing the force of Smelt Brook.
" Silver Lake" is in the northerly part of Newton, near Charles River, and extensive factory operations have been carried on in that vicinity since the year 1804. It has no visible outlet. Like the other lakes or ponds of Newton, it has not merely added a charm to the landscape in summer, but has also proved a source of com- fort and of wealth, yielding every winter a supply of ice, which in modern times has come to be not only a luxury, but almost one of
17
BROOKS .- "COUNTY ROCK."
the necessaries of life. How thoughtful and bounteous was the Providence which laid up these stores of good for future use, even before the people knew how to appreciate them !
"Bullough's Pond " is near the geographical centre of the town, and lies in a hollow, encircled on nearly all sides by wooded hills. Its name is derived from the name of the ancient proprietor of land on the west side of the pond. It is of considerable extent from north to south, and is divided by Walnut Street into two portions, the principal being on the east side. This beautiful sheet of water, like a sapphire gem set round with emeralds, is of tolerable depth, and of great purity. Its superfluous waters mingle with those of Smelt Brook, through which they find their way ultimately to Charles River.
" South Meadow Brook" rises from several small branches in and near the Great Meadows, and, formerly, from the original out- let of the waters of Wiswall's Pond ; thence, running southwest through the Winchester farm to Charles River, about one mile above the Upper Falls. "Palmer's Brook" is described above.
et Cheesecake Brook" rises at the westerly part of the town, within a few rods of the spot where Deacon Staples' house stood, afterwards William Wiswall, 2d, and since, W. C. Strong, Esq., and runs northeast through the West Parish village and the Fuller farm to Charles River, near the dividing line between Waltham and Watertown. Its name is due to the picnic lunch of some of the early inhabitants, who, while out on a hunting expedition, be- coming weary and faint, sat down at noon on its banks to eat their cake and cheese, and slaked their thirst from its refreshing waters.
et Smelt Brook," the largest of the four, issues from a cold spring in the region of Alcock's Swamp, about half a mile north of the South Burial place ; thence, running northeast, it is reinforced by several small streams; thence, through the centre of the ancient " Mayhew farm," "Dummer farm " and "Wear lands," it enters Charles River, between the first dam and the first bridge ever built across that river. Its ancient name, " Smelt Brook," seems to have faded nearly away, and it has become a nameless stream. Some- times, however, it is called "Cold Spring Brook," with reference to the distant source out of which it flows.
There is a rock in the bed of Charles River which has received the name of "County Rock," and which is noted for being at the point of junction of two counties, Norfolk and Middlesex, and three towns, Newton, Needham and Weston.
2
18
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
Newton has been famed for the health and longevity of its in- habitants. Dr. Homer says, -"From accurate bills of mortality for about fifty years past [this was written in 1798], it appears that one seventieth part of the inhabitants dies annually. In the East Congregational Society, consisting of about 700 souls, 154 died from January 1, 1782, to January 1, 1799, averaging nine a year. Of this number, 49, considerably upwards of a fourth part, arrived to their seventieth year, and beyond, and 63, more than a third part, arrived to their sixtieth, and beyond. The sorrows of early widowhood are seldom known here. Of married men beneath 40, only one died within the bounds of the East Precinct, including the families of the Baptist Society, living within the same bounds, during more than sixteen years."
The town records and private bills of mortality, extending over a space of one hundred years, from 1691 to 1791, note, in all, 1,374 deaths ; but a few of the first years, it is conjectured, furnish in- complete returns. The proportion of deaths among the aged, many of them older than 80 years, seems to have been very considerable in all this period. In seventeen years, from January 1, 1782, to January 1, 1799, Dr. Homer notes the following deaths in the bounds of the East Parish :
Under two years, 24. Between 2 and 5, 6.
Between 40 and 50, 10.
50 and ·60, 10.
66 5 and 10, 12.
66 60 and 70, 14.
66 10 and 20, 4.
66 70 and 80, 27.
20 and 30, 16.
80 and 90, 16.
66 30 and 40, 9.
66 90 and 100, 6.
During ten years, from 1782 to 1792, within the limits of the East Congregational Society, there were 97 deaths, 17 of which were in the two neighboring houses of Messrs. John Jackson and Edward Durant; and 195 births. The marriages for the same period were, in the whole town, 103. The sum total of the mar- riages in Newton for a century after its incorporation was 747. "In 1792, 59 of the inhabitants, one twenty-third part of the whole population, had seen their seventieth year, and beyond." Up to that date (1792), but one person in the town had reached 100 years, though several had seen 90 and upwards. The person referred to was Mrs. Mary Davis, of the south part of the town, who died in 1752, in her 116th year.
19
MORTALITY.
According to the census of 1870, the population of Newton was then 12,825. The number, December 31, 1873, the last year of the town government, could not be far from 16,000. On the basis of that number, the proportion of deaths to the population, in that year, was one death to every eighty-one persons. The number of deaths in Newton in the year 1873, by consumption, was about one in ten of all the deaths. This is a very favorable statement, in view of the prevalence of this destructive disease. According to the statistics of Mr. Rice, on this subject, "in the years 1858 and 1859, about one in four of all the deaths in Newton were by consumption ; in 1860 and 1861, one in six and one-half ; in 1862 and 1863, about one in seven ; in 1864 and 1865, one in six ; in 1866 and 1867, one in five and three-fourths ; in 1868 and 1869, one in eight and three-fourths ; in 1870 and 1871, about one in nine and one-fourth; in 1872, one in eight and one-sixth ; and in 1873, as above stated, one in ten of all the deaths."
The following table, exhibiting the population and mortality of Newton, for the last fourteen years of the town government, is supposed to be nearly correct :
In 1860
population (U. S. Census)
8,382
deaths
94
one in 89
1861
8,600
66
136
63
1862
66
8,700
66
93
94
1863
8,750
149
59
1864
66
8,850
66
135
66
66
1865
" (State Census)
8,978
127
71
1866
66
9,100
66
116
66
78
1867
9,310
66
133
70
1868
66
9,900
66
136
66
73
1869
11,000
138
66
79
1870
(U. S. Census)
12,825
66
133
963
1871
14,000
66
119
66
117
1872
15,500
66
197
66
783
1873
66
16,000
66
196
S1
66
No finer territory can be found, in a like extent, than the town of Newton. Its broad avenues, bordered with trees and gardens, its extensive plains, its swelling hills, its glassy lakes, its well-kept lawns, its near and distant views of charming landscapes, reaching on the east to the waters of Massachusetts Bay and on the west to the summits of Wachusett and Monadnock, its fine residences and public buildings, including a score and a half of churches, its
20
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
tasteful cemetery, its magnificent public schools and seats of higher education, endowed and unendowed, are unsurpassed. A writer in the Boston Traveller draws the following picture of a single lo- cality, near the northwestern limit of the town. Many pictures, of equal beauty, could be presented to a visitor in almost any direction.
" Within ten miles of Boston," says this writer, "there is a stretch of river scenery that cannot be surpassed in the United States, and which cannot easily be equalled. We refer to the Charles River between Waltham and Auburndale, where it extends in a tortuous course, from one point to the other, a distance of three miles and a half. Until within a few years this lovely spot has scarcely been known beyond the limit of the inhabitants who have quietly taken possession of the elegant sites on either bank, and beautified and adorned them for their own pleasure. But the enterprise of man has invaded it, not to destroy, but to allow the public to partake of the enjoyment. The well appointed little steamer White Swan, owned and commanded by a Captain Gibbs, veteran of the last war, now plies regularly between Waltham and Auburndale bridge, carrying picnic parties, etc. Since this steam- er has been running, parties from Boston and places at greater distance have availed themselves of the privilege of enjoying this delightful scenery. Many who have travelled through Europe af- firm that for quiet beauty it is not equalled. One familiar with our Southern streams is reminded of the Yazoo, with the deep green and luxuriance of the foliage on the banks and the quiet of its waters. Along the banks of the river are located the summer resi- dences of Messrs. Cutler and Merrill, the elegant residence of R. M. Pulsifer, Mayor of Newton, the splendid mansion of Ex-Mayor Fowle, the Benyon mansion and others. Opposite to the residence of Mr. Pulsifer is Lily Pond Grove, one of the most beautiful sum- mer resorts in New England, fitted up with great taste and conven- ience. At sunset the river is alive with canoes, row-boats, shells and sail-boats, filled with ladies and gentlemen, adding, with the delightful music, greatly to the natural charms of the scenery. To those who are tired of fashionable resorts and would seek a quiet like this, we commend a trip on the White Swan, and a few hours' stroll on the banks of the Charles."
SCONAN
ECHO BRIDGE.
CHAPTER II.
EARLY BOSTON .- THE FORTIFICATION OF CAMBRIDGE .- ORIGIN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES .- THE ACQUISITION OF THE TERRITORY OF NEWTON .- FIRST SETTLEMENT .- MR. HOOKER'S COMPANY .- ACCESSIONS OF LANDS .- BOUNDARY LINES .- FIRST SETTLERS.
THE history of Newton is, in its earliest stages, intimately con- nected with the history of Boston. Boston, or Botolph's town, was originally a very contracted peninsula. It was named from Boston in Lincolnshire, England, the residence of Rev. John Cot- ton,- the first minister of our Boston, - before he emigrated to this country. Botolph's town,* or St. Botolph's town, - Botolph, that is, boat-help, because this saint was the patron of mariners,- was a name as appropriate for the colonial metropolis as it was for its English namesake. As Boston in England was on the sea, and its people had to do with commercial affairs,-so the new Boston was to be the residence of merchant princes, whose wealth was de- pendent largely upon their proximity to the ocean.
Many persons now living recollect a period when a portion of the North End of Boston, - at first, the court end of the town, - was but three streets wide : Fore, now North Street; Middle Street, now the northern half of Hanover Street; and Back Street, now the southern part of Salem Street. This territory reached from water to water ; and the North End of Boston was cut off from the residue of the town by a canal, occupying the space which is now Blackstone Street. This canal extended from Causeway Street on the west to its outlet on North Street, near Merchants' Row, on the east. Most of the territory from Causeway Street to Haymarket
* The original name of Boston was long preserved in the name of one of its streets ;- Botolph Street is on the northerly slope of Beacon Hill, running from Myrtle Street to Cambridge Street. Its name has been changed to Irving Street.
21
22
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
Square and from Prince to Pitts Street was covered with water ; and the tide-mills at the westerly end, which depended for their power on this pond, gave to the whole territory the title of " Mill Pond,"- the name by which many elderly people still speak of it.
At the south, the upper part of Washington Street, called the Neck, was a narrow strip of land which in time of high tides was overflowed by water; so that the farmers of Roxbury and Dor- chester, as late as the period of the Revolution, used to hasten home from the town, after they had disposed of their produce, lest their communication with the continent should be cut off. Long Wharf extended up State Street as far as India Street, and large ships were moored in the dock which afterwards became the site of the present Custom House. The bowsprits of vessels, of larger or smaller burden, used to extend over Liberty Square, and the tide washed the shore along the line which is now Harrison Av- enue. On the westerly side, all the Public Garden, and most of Charles Street, have been reclaimed from the water, and it is only a few years since the remains of a wrecked vessel were seen going to decay, east of the Boston and Albany Railroad, in the region now covered by the dwellings in Appleton Street and Columbus Avenue.
The territory of Boston was indeed small, but savage Indians were in the vicinity, and the inhabitants of the little peninsula felt it necessary to have a fortified place to flee to, in case of hostile invasion.
Dorchester, Charlestown, Watertown, Boston and Roxbury had already become settled, and they all participated in this spirit of wise precaution. Accordingly it was agreed that a fortified town should be built for security against the Indians ; and the Governor, Deputy-Governor and Assistants viewed many places for its loca- tion. In December, 1630, they resolved to build it upon the neck between Boston and Roxbury (probably in the place since called Roxbury Street), but that place was soon given up for several rea- sons, - among the most prominent of which was that there were no springs of running water. They finally decided to build it on the north side of Charles River, on the spot where the College now stands, and commenced its construction in the spring of 1631, lay- ing out the town in squares, with streets intersecting each other at. right angles.
23
FORTIFICATIONS .- REPRESENTATIVES.
In 1632 the General Court levied a rate of £60 upon the several plantations towards making a palisade about Newtown. This was a favorite project of old Governor Danforth, whose house was within the inclosure. The tax levied for this purpose was assessed upon the several towns as follows: viz., Watertown, viiil., the New Town, iiil., Charlton, viil., Meadford, iiil., Saugus and Marble Harbor, vi l., Salem, ivl. xs., Boston, viii l., Rocksbury, vii l., Dorchester, vii l., Wessaguscus v l., Winettsemet xxx s .* Dr. Paige says (History of Cambridge, p. 10),-"The location of the greater part of this fence or 'pale' is designated with tolerable accuracy by the ancient records of possessions and conveyances. Commencing in the present College yard, near the northwesterly angle of Gore Hall, and extending eastwardly, it passed very near the junction of Ellsworth Avenue with Cambridge Street, to the line between Cambridge and Charlestown (now Somerville), at its angle on Line Street near Cambridge Street, and thence followed that line to the creek, a few rods easterly from the track of the Grand Junction Railroad. Commencing again at the point first mentioned, the fence extended southwardly to the marsh near the junction of Holyoke Place with Mount Auburn Street. The kind of fence then erected is indicated in an Order passed Dec. 5, 1636 : ' That the common pales in all places, to be made after this day, shall be done with sufficient posts and rails, and not with crotches.'
" The £60 levied for fortifying New Town was probably the first State Tax; and the people delegated two from each town to see fair play in its apportionment. And this, I apprehend," we quote the words of Hon. William Jackson, "to have been the first step towards a House of Representatives. The people were impelled to the measure by their nervous sensibility about taxation.".
" The next year," says the same authority, "the taxation dele- gation not only apportioned the amount to be raised, but proceed- ed to prepare such business as the General Court were to act upon and decide. To quote the words of the Order which passed the Court of Elections,-'It shall be lawful for the freemen of every plantation to choose two or three deputies from each town to con-
* It is stated by Winthrop that Watertown objected to this assessment as unjust. Mr. Savage says, "To the agitation of this subject we may refer the origin of that Committee of two from each town to advise with the Court about raising public moneys, 'so as what they agree upon should bind all,' under date of May of this year 1632. This led to the representative body, having the full powers of all the freemen, except that of elections."
24
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
fer, and prepare the public business for the Governor and assis- tants to consider,' etc. Every town sent three, and thus occupied all the privilege yielded by the Court. When assembled in 1634, they acted with a decision and energy not surpassed by any subse- quent assembly of the same kind, from that day to this. They resolved that none but the General Court, of which they them- selves constituted the decided majority, have power to admit free- men, make laws, elect or remove officers, prescribe their powers and duties, make taxes, and dispose of lands. They also ordained trial by jury, directed the manner in which future deputies should be returned, and at the same session imposed a fine upon the Governor and assistants for violating an order of the General Court. At first the officers were chosen for three months, then semi-annually, and in 1643 annually."
Hutchinson says of the scheme of a House of Representatives, " It seems to have been agreed upon or fallen into by general con- sent of all the towns, as if it were a thing of necessity." Mr. William Jackson adds,-" To me it appears probable that the peo- ple demanded a participation in the powers of government, and made this participation the condition of their payment of taxes. And thus the very rate which was levied for the fortifying of New- town was the germ out of which the only representative government, chosen by those who were to be governed, arose,-the only one of the kind seen in the earth from the days of Noah to those of the Pilgrims."
The fortification around the new town was made and a fosse ex- cavated, inclosing a space of more than a thousand acres, " paled in," as a historian writing in 1633 remarks, "with one general fence, which was about one and a half miles in length. It is one of the neatest and best compacted towns in New England, having many fair structures, with many handsome-contrived streets. The inhabitants, most of them, are very rich. Half a mile westward of the town is a great pond (Fresh Pond), which is divided be- tween Newtown and Watertown, on the north side of Charles River."
The question of the right of the first settlers to the lands which they came to possess, and which have come down in regular suc- cession to their descendants, is too interesting and important to be wholly passed by. Dr. Paige has carefully investigated this mat- ter, and we avail ourselves of his careful statements (History of Cambridge, pp. 383, 384).
25
INDIAN LANDS PURCHASED.
" In the First General Letter of the Governor and Deputy of the New England Company for a Plantation in Massachusetts Bay, to the Governor and Council for London's Plantation in the Massachusetts Bay in New England,' dated 'In Gravesend the 17th of April, 1629,' is this important direction -'If any of the sal- vages pretend right of inheritance to all or any part of the lands granted in our pattent, wee pray you endeavour to purchase their tytle, that wee may avcyde the least scruple of intrusion.' Accord- ingly, at the session of the General Court, March 13, 1638-9, 'Mr. Gibons was desired to agree with the Indians for the land within the bounds of Watertowne, Cambridge and Boston.' The deed of conveyance, or release of title, I have not been able to find ; yet there is sufficient evidence that the purchase was made of the squaw-sachem, and that the price was duly paid. The General Court ordered, May 20, 1640, 'that the 131. 8s. 6d. layd out by Capt. Gibons shall bee paid him, vid. : 13l. 8s. 6d. by Watertowne and 10l. by Cambridge; and also Cambridge is to give squa- sachem a coate every winter while shee liveth.' This sale or convey- ance to Cambridge is recognized in a deed executed Jan. 13, 1639, by the 'squa-sachem of Misticke' and her husband Web- cowits, whereby they conveyed to Jotham Gibbons the reversion of all that parcel of land which lies against the ponds at Mistick aforesaid, together with the said ponds, all which we reserved from Charlestown and Cambridge, late called Newtowne, and all heredi- taments and appurtenances thereunto belonging, after the death of me the said squaw-sachem.' The inhabitants of Cambridge lived on friendly terms with the Indians.
" On the 8th of March, 1643, the 'squa-sachem' with four other Indian rulers, voluntarily put herself 'under the government and jurisdiction of the Massachusetts, to be governed and protected by them,' and promised 'to be true and faithful to the said govern- ment.' She is supposed to have died not long before 1662, when a claim was made for land in which she had reserved a life estate.
" One of the Indian chiefs who united with the squaw-sachem in this act of submission to 'the government and jurisdiction of the Massachusetts' was Cutshamache, Cutshamakin or Kuchamakin, who resided 'at a place called Neponsitt, within the bounds of Dorchester.' His authority extended over those who dwelt at Nonantum, which was then included in Cambridge."
26
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
In 1636, only six years after the settlement of Boston, the Gen- eral Court voted £400, equal to a year's rate of the whole colony, towards the erection of a public school or college. In 1637, an order was passed by the same honorable body, that the college should be at Newtown, " a place very pleasant and accommodate," and "then under the orthodox and soul-flourishing ministry of Mr. Thomas Shepherd." Of the ministry of Mr. Shepherd it is testi- fied, that it was so pungent and impressive that almost every Lord's day some gave visible evidence before the congregation of being moved by it ; so that it was a common thing for the members of a family who were compelled by sickness or for other cause to remain at home, to ask their friends, on their return from the house of God,-" Who seemed to be wrought upon by the word to-day?"
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.