USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > History of Newton, Massachusetts : town and city, from its earliest settlement to the present time, 1630-1880 > Part 26
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SAMUEL WHITE, HENRY SEWALL.
DEPOSITION OF SARAH TRAY.
I Sarah Tray, of Natick, of above fifty years of age, do Testify and say that I often heard my Husbands's Grandmother Maugus often say that her husband, John Maugus did once own that peice of land on the west side of Charles River at the fishing place at the upper falls, which the Indians did improve, and the Rock House; and that her Husband Maugus had A Wig- wam on s'd piece of Land, and that he gave said land to his Daughter Catharine. I further Testify that my Husband's Mother Catharine used to say that her Father Maugus gave her the above peice of land, and that my Hus- band's Father and she had a Wigwam on s'd land, and lived there ; and I have often heard my Mother Catharine say that the English Man that Built the Mills purchased the privilidge of the Indians at s'd Falls; and I further say that I well remember that my Mother Catharine and Samuel Abraham used to Improve s'd land and the Rock House on s'd land by cutting Wood, mak- ing fires, drying fish and Eels for forty years past.
her SARAH + TRAY. mark.
Suffolk, ss. May ye 20th, 1748.
Sarah Tray, of Natick, Indian, above named, made oath to the truth of the above written Deposition in Perpetuam rei memoriam.
Before us SAMUEL WHITE, ) Justices of the Peace HENRY SEWALL, f and Quorum unus.
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DEPOSITIONS.
DEPOSITION OF EBENEZER WARE.
I Ebenezer Ware, of Needham, in the County of Suffolk, and province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, Yeoman, Testifie and say that above Seventy Years ago I knew a certain Eale-Ware in Charles River, Just above the upper falls in said River. I knew said Eal-Ware to be Improv'd above Twenty Years; and I further Testifie that about Seventy years ago John Clark, Senior, of Newton, Dec'd, told me he had Bought all the Indians' Right at the Upper falls for a Conveniancy to Build Mills thereon ; and furthermore I testifie and say that John Clark Junior, Dec'd, Told me that his Father Bought the above said Ele ware, and gave three Pounds for the same. The said Ele ware was in the River just above the foord way, which I and the Nighbours used to Pass over in, and below where the Cart Bridge now stands ; and, Furthermore, I testifie and say, as I used to pass by said ware frequently, that According to my Best Remembrance, the Stone Walls of said Ware was about three feet from the Botom of said River in hight when in Re- pare for Fishing; and furthermore, I, for near seventy years Past never heard any Person or Persons Lay Clame to said Ware, But the above named Clarks and the Owners of the Grist Mill at the upper falls.
his EBENEZER + WARE. mark.
Suffolk, ss., Octo'r 21th, 1763.
The above named Ebenezer Ware mad Oath to ye truth of ye above Depo- sition in Perpetuam rei memoriam.
Before us,
ELIPH'T POND, Justices of ye Peace ISAAC GARDNER, JUN'R, Quorum Unis.
DEPOSITION OF JEREMIAH WOODCOCK.
I Jeremiah Woodcock, of Needham, in the County of Suffolk, and Province of Massachusetts Bay, in New England, Yeoman, Testifie and say that I knew a Certain Eleware in Charles River, Just above the upper falls in said River, I knew said ware improved for several years for fishing; said ware was in the River, Just above the foordway in which I us'd to cross the River in, Just below where the Cart Bridge now stands, that according to the Best of my Remembrance When in Repare for Fishing, the Walls of said Ware were three feet in height ;
and also I heard Fifty years ago, the Clarks, then of Newton, were then the owners of said Eleware.
Suffolk, ss., Octo'r 21st, 1763.
JEREMIAH WOODCOCK.
The above named Jeremiah Woodcock made Oath to the truth of ye above Deposition, in Perpetuam rei memoriam.
Before us,
ELIPH'T POND, Justices of ye Peace ISAAC GARDNER, JUN'R, Quorum unis.
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HISTORY OF NEWTON.
DEPOSITION OF ELIAKIM COOK.
Eliakim Cook, of Neadham, in the County of Suffolk, and William Clark and Joseph Chaney, of Newton, in the County of Middlesex, all in the Com- monwelth of Masactusetts, Living Near the Great Falls Called the upper falls in Newtown, Severally testify and say that it is more than Sixty years that wee have been Conversant with the River and fishery about said falls, and that wee Never New aney Salt water fish to assend above said falls, nor do wee Remember Ever to have heard our Predessors say that aney Salt water fish did ever assend above said falls. Further we say, and Give it as our Opinion, that it is Impracticable for the fish to Assend said falls ever while wee consider it in the State of Nature
ELIAKIM COOK, WILLIAM CLARK, JOSEPH CHENEY.
Middlesex, ss., February 2, 1790.
Eliakim Cook, William Clark and Joseph Chaney made Oath to the truth of the above Deposition before me.
JOHN WOODWARD, Justice of the Peace.
The eel-wier, so called, and frequently referred to in the above papers, was a dam built by the Indians near the yard of the pres- ent cotton factory, and extending across the channel of the river from the rock to the island. The foundation-stones of this dam can still be seen in the bed of the river. The island was formed by a supplementary natural channel of the river, which in later times, was partially filled and partially became the race-way for the water that supplies power to the cotton factory,- the latter being erected partly on the island as it was, and partly on the main land or shore. By subsequent filling, the island has become part of the factory yard, and the indications that it was once an island have mainly disappeared, except as the fact is remembered by the older residents. The snuff-mills of General Elliot, at a later period, were erected, not on the island, but on the easterly shore. In 1798, according to Dr. Homer, this proprietor had three snuff- mills, containing twenty mortars.
John Clark, who built the first mill, was born in Watertown, October 13, 1641. His father, Hugh Clark, removed from Water- town to Roxbury, where he died in 1693. He was probably in Newton as early as 1681. His son John settled in Muddy River (Brookline) ; but his father conveyed to him by deed of gift sixty- seven acres of land in New Cambridge, in April, 1681, about which time the son probably removed from Muddy River to his
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MILLS AT THE UPPER FALLS.
new possession. This land was on the easterly side of the Dedham Road (Centre Street), adjoining and south of what afterwards became the Common in Newton Centre. John Clark died in 1695, aged fifty-four. In his will lie bequeathed to his two sons, John and William, " all his lands on the river towards the saw-mill, the residue of his property to remain in the hands of his executor, to bring up his small children." Eight acres of land at the river, with the saw-mill, were appraised at £180.
Mr. Clark's purchase, on the east side of the river, was ten or fifteen years earlier than Cook's purchase of the Indian, William Nehoiden, on the west side.
The saw-mill above referred to, in the progress of years, changed owners several times, and received various additions. In May, 1708, John Clark conveyed to Nathaniel Parker one-quarter part of the saw-mill, stream, dam and eel-wier, and half an acre of land, for twelve pounds, with an open highway from the county road to the mill and eel-wier. Soon afterwards, William Clark conveyed to Nathaniel Longley one-quarter part of the same. And John and William Clark, Nathaniel Parker and Nathaniel Longley became the equal owners of the mill, stream and eel-wier ; and they added thereto a grist-mill and a fulling-mill. In 1717, John Clark conveyed his quarter of the mills to Nathaniel Parker. In 1720, William Clark conveyed to Noah Parker, son of Na- thaniel Parker, one-quarter part of the saw-mill, fulling-mill, grist- mill and eel-wier, with the stream and dam, for ninety-five pounds. The same year, Nathaniel Longley conveyed his quarter part of the same to Noah Parker.
Nathaniel Parker conveyed to his son, Noah Parker, all his in- terest in said mills, being one-half of the same, valued at £150; Noah Parker became thus the sole owner of the mills and appur- tenances in 1720. In 1725, he conveyed the fulling-mill to Samuel Stowell, of Watertown. In 1747 Nathaniel Parker died, and in 1768, his son Noah died also. His mills and appurtenances then passed into the hands of his son and administrator, Thomas Par- ker, who was also one of the constituent members of the First Baptist church. Mr. Parker sold the same to Simon Elliot,* of Boston, tobacconist, and about thirty-five acres of land, including
* Mr. Elliot's son, bearing the same name, entered with spirit into the operations at Newton ; the latter was a Major General of the militia in Suffolk County. Like his father, he was a very enterprising man of business. He died in 1810.
268
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
a dwelling-house, barn, malt-house, etc., for £1,700, in 1778 and 1782. In addition to the business already established, Mr. Elliot erected snuff-mills, besides other enterprises. This new industry, with the grist-mill, was continued by him and his son, till the year 1814. It is said that the business carried on here, in the manu- facture of snuff and tobacco, was the most extensive in that line in New England. It is from this Mr. Elliot that the name of Elliot has impressed itself upon hall, factory and street at the Upper Falls, and not, as many suppose, from Rev. John Eliot, the missionary to the Indians at Nonantum Hill, whose name was dif- ferently spelled.
In 1814, the screw factory, wire-mill, four snuff-mills, annealing shop, dwelling-house, etc., were sold to the Elliot Manufacturing Company, Frederic Cabot, agent. The record that there were four snuff-mills at this spot, at this early date, and so large a busi- ness done in the manufacture of tobacco, reveals one of the leaks in the domestic economy of the generation then living. Undoubt- edly, the larger proportion of the product of the mills found its way out of town. But the fact of the existence of such an indus- try in their immediate neighborhood must have proved a temptation to many of the people to indulge in the filthy habit. The entire population of Newton in 1810 was only 1,709.
In the sale of his property to Elliot, Mr. Parker reserved about four acres of land below the Falls, to which he added by purchase in 1781, a small lot on the Needham side of the river opposite the small island, known as Turtle Island,- upon which the rolling- mill was built,- and which he sold to his son-in-law, Mr. Jona- than Bixby. At this place another dam and saw-mill were erected. by him in 1783. In 1799 Mr. Bixby sold this estate to the Newton Iron Works Company, who built the rolling-mill and commenced operations in the year 1800, in charge of Mr. Rufus Ellis, agent. These works have been in operation for many years, and were long occupied by the late Mr. Frederick Barden. In 1809, a new fac- tory was erected for the purpose of manufacturing cut-nails. The same building was afterwards occupied by Mr. Newell, as a paper mill. The same year (1809) the Worcester Turnpike was con- structed, passing directly by the nail and rolling mill, and bridg- ing the river at this point. In 1813 this company built a cotton- mill, containing about three thousand spindles, on the Needham side of the river, subsequently the site of the grist-mill. The cotton-mill was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1850.
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NEWTON FACTORIES.
The Elliot Manufacturing Company removed the old mills and buildings, constructed a new dam, and, with the assistance of Mr. Otis Pettee, who remained with them as mechanical superintendent several years, erected a cotton factory with about six thousand spindles for the manufacture of sheeting, and commenced opera- tions in the year 1821. In 1824, the same company built another large mill for making thread, which was in operation about five years, and was then changed to sheetings, making in all about ten thousand spindles in the two factories.
In the spring of 1831, Mr. Pettee left the employ of the Elliot Manufacturing Company, and started a small shop for building cotton machinery on his own account, enlarging from time to time, and in 1837 he built a foundry for making iron castings. This work called in a large number of families. In 1839 these works were destroyed by fire, involving a loss of upwards of $60,000. They were rebuilt in 1840 and 1841.
The Elliot Manufacturing Company, having been unsuccessful in their operations, became discouraged ; and, unable to agree as to what was the best course for them to pursue, at last determined to sell all their property, which they did in the fall of 1840, to Mr. Pettee. Large additions were immediately made, with improve- ments in machinery, etc., all of which tended to increase the pop- ulation. Mr. Pettee was a man of great genius and enterprise, and supplied machinery for many manufactories in the United States and Mexico. Mr. Pettee, having thus become possessed of the property of the Elliot Manufacturing Company, carried on the business with untiring energy and industry till his death, which occurred in February, 1853. Mr. Pettee was one of the warmest supporters of the project of building the railroad, passing through Newton Centre and Upper Falls, now the New York and New England Railroad. He had six sons and three daughters, and died aged fifty-eight.
In 1821, Mr. Rufus Ellis bought out the Newton Iron Works Company, of which he had been the agent, and became the sole owner. A new company was formed in 1823, consisting of seven persons, who obtained an Act of Incorporation by the name of the "Newton Factories," Rufus Ellis, Agent. In 1835, Rufus Ellis and David Ellis became the sole owners of this property.
Previous to the year 1800, the business carried on at the Upper Falls by water power was small, being three snuff-mills, a grist-
270
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
mill and saw-mill. Only about six families resided in the place. In 1850, there were at the upper dam, one cotton factory with about nine thousand spindles, machine shops sufficient to accom- modate three hundred workmen, and a steam furnace for iron cast- ings, employing about fifteen workmen. At the lower dam, a rolling-mill, working about fifteen hundred tons of bar iron into various shapes ; a nail factory, making about five hundred tons of cut-nails ; a cotton factory (on the Needham side), with about two thousand spindles, and manufacturing about five hundred thousand yards of cotton cloth annually. There were, at that date, in the village about one thousand three hundred inhabitants.
It is said that at the most flourishing period of the enterprise of nail-making at Newton Upper Falls, whole cargoes of nails were sent from the factory to Cuba and New Orleans, to be used in the manufacture of sugar-boxes.
The village of Newton Upper Falls has features of great beauty. Half a century ago, the population was mainly American ; but a foreign element has taken its place, changing the social status of the village, and imperilling that growth which wealth and taste might be expected to bring. But many of the most beautiful sites for building are yet unoccupied, and undoubtedly a prosperous future is assured to this charming locality.
NEWTON LOWER FALLS .- In June, 1703, "John Leverett, Esq., conveyed to John Hubbard, of Roxbury, four acres of land, upon Charles River, at the Lower Falls, bounded east by a forty-acre lot belonging to Harvard College ; west by the old path that leads to 'the wading place,' formerly, the Natick path, and south by Charles River,"- being the same land which the proprietors of the common and undivided lands in Cambridge granted to him, and the same which has since been occupied by all the mills on the Newton side of the river.
In 1705, John Hubbard, merchant, of Boston, conveyed to his son Nathaniel Hubbard, clerk, "one moiety of the four-acre lot, bounded north by the highway and south by the river, together with half of the iron works thereon, with two fire hearths and a hammer-wheel, which said John Hubbard and Caleb Church, of Watertown, are now building in partnership upon said land, with as much of the stream as may be necessary for said works, with half the dam, flume, head wares, running and going gear, utensils and appurtenances to the forge belonging."
-
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LOWER FALLS.
Business by water power commenced at Newton Lower Falls in 1704, by the erection of iron works, forge and trip-hammer by Mr. Jonathan Willard. The falls on the Charles River at this point are two miles below the Upper Falls ; the water makes two descents, the first about sixteen feet, the second about six. There are two dams and two bridges.
In June, 1722, Nathaniel Hubbard, of Dorchester, administrator on the estate of his father John Hubbard, who died in 1717, in consideration of one hundred and forty pounds, conveyed to Jona- than Willard, bloomer, of Newton, part of a tract of land pur- chased of John Leverett, Esq., with a smith's shop thereon, now in possession of said Willard, with the privileges thereto belonging ; also, all the title and interest which John Hubbard had to the said four acres of land, formerly of said Leverett, bounding south by the river, and north by the highway, with half the iron works thereon, two fire hearths, hammer-wheel, dam, head wares, water- courses, running and going gear, and utensils of said iron works. Jackson says, "Willard had occupied the smith's shop as a tenant several years previous to his purchase and partnership with Hub- bard. He was an ingenious, upright and conscientious man, and the first Baptist in the town,- the principal man of the iron works and of the village of the Lower Falls, for nearly half a century."
Jonathan Willard married Sarah Bartlett, December 20, 1708, and had eleven children, to all of whom he gave Scripture names. Though residing at the Lower Falls, he was baptized in 1729, and joined the First Baptist church in Boston. For many years he and his daughter Esther seem to have been alone in that faith. He died May 22, 1772, aged ninety-five years. Steadfast in his adhesion to his principles, he waited and prayed for the organi- zation of a Baptist church in Newton. It came, but not till eight years after his decease.
At different periods, various kinds of business requiring the aid of water power have been carried on, such as iron works, saw- mills, grist-mills, snuff-mills, clothing-mills, leather-mills, paper- mills, calico printing, machine shops, etc. But for more than half a century, the manufacture of paper has been the leading industry of the place. Eight or ten paper-mills, in constant operation, have supplied the wants of numerous traders, and fed the omnivo- rous mouths of the newspaper presses of the neighboring city. The names of the eminent Alexander H. Rice, Ex-Governor of the
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HISTORY OF NEWTON.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and of Thomas Rice, one of the most distinguished and patriotic citizens of the town, are indisso- lubly linked with this business, and with this part of the town.
The first paper-mill at the. Lower Falls was built about 1790, by Mr. John Ware, from Sherburne, brother of Rev. Henry Ware, D. D., Professor in Harvard University. His eldest daughter married Dr. Ebenezer Starr, in 1794. Dr. Starr was son of Dr. Josiah Starr, of Weston, and a man of note and influence outside of his profession. He graduated at Harvard College in 1789, settled as a physician at the Lower Falls, was representative two years, and died in 1830.
During the half century that followed Mr. Ware's commence- ment in 1790, under the management of the Curtises, the Crehores and the Rices, the business was greatly extended. Formerly the work was mostly done by hand, and was slow and laborious. By the invention of the Fourdrinier machine in England, the capacity to manufacture was greatly enhanced. The first machine of the kind ever worked in this country was placed in a mill at the Lower Falls.
It is recorded that paper-making, to a greater or less extent, has been carried on at this village for at least a hundred years. Mr. Benjamin Neale, long a resident of the village, stated when he was eighty years of age, that he was engaged in the business upwards of fifty years before. At one time the firm of A. C. and W. Curtis, of the Lower Falls, supplied the book paper used in many parts of the United States. The Crehore mill, still in active operation, has produced paper which has had an extensive sale thoughout the country. At the Lower Falls, also, there have been silk factories, and there are now cloth and hosiery mills, with shops for the manufacture of machinery, and other industries.
According to Mr. Neale,-
In 1800, there were about eight or ten families in the village of Newton Lower Falls. In 1823, there were four hundred and five inhabitants and about thirty-three dwelling-houses. In 1837, there were four hundred and ninety-three inhabitants, and about eighty-eight families. In 1847, there were five hundred and sixty inhabitants and about one hundred and three families. In 1850, there were six hundred and twenty-seven inhabitants, about one hundred and twenty-one families, and eighty dwelling-houses. In 1870, the population was seven hundred and fifty-seven ; in 1872, nine hundred and forty.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE CEMETERIES OF NEWTON .- THE OLD CEMETERY .- THE MEMO- RIAL PILLAR .- INTERESTING MONUMENTS .- WEST PARISH BURY- ING GROUND .- SOUTH BURIAL GROUND .- LOWER FALLS CEME- TERY .- DEATHS IN NEWTON .- DEATHS IN THE WEST PARISH.
THE OLD CEMETERY ON CENTRE STREET .- In imitation of the church-yards of England, the first cemetery, in Centre Street, was around the church. Where the early settlers, living, had worshipped, there they would sleep in death. They chose to have the sanctuary cast its holy shadows over the places where their dust reposed. Deacon John Jackson gave an acre of land for the first meeting-house, and for a burying place.
May 14, 1701, Abraham Jackson, son of Deacon John Jackson, added and gave for the setting of the school-house upon, the enlarging of the burying place, and the convenience of the training place, an acre more; which said two acres were then laid out and bounded, west and south by the highway, east by the land of Isaac Beach; marked at the southeast corner by stake and stones ; northeast corner, stake and stones ; north by the land of the said Abraham Jackson; a marked black oak tree near the easterly corner, and a white oak tree near the middle by the highway side; and a white oak at the northwest corner, by the highway side, " which marks were stated and the land measured out, the day and year above written, by Deacon James Trow- bridge, Abraham Jackson, Joseph Fuller and Edward Jackson."
"This valuable gift of two acres of land," says Mr. Jackson, "was the southwest corner of a tract of twenty acres, divided by lot in 1662 to Deacon John Jackson, as one of the proprietors of the Common lands of Cambridge, and which was then called Chestnut Hill. His son Abraham inherited this tract, and was one of the Selectmen when he gave the second acre and helped stake it out in 1701."
In 1717, he conveyed Chestnut Hill to his only son, Captain John Jackson, by deed of gift, and described it as follows, namely : " twenty acres at Chest- nut Hill, except four acres, which in 1686 he conveyed to Isaac Beach, which
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18
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HISTORY OF NEWTON.
lyeth within the bounds of the same, excepting also the land whereon the Meeting House now standeth, so long as the Town shall see cause to improve it for the use they now do."
Capt. John Jackson died in 1755, and his son John, of the fourth genera- tion, was the executor of his will. And he set up a claim to a part of this ancient gift in 1765, because it had never been legally conveyed to the town. But although the town had no paper title, they nevertheless had the " ninc points ;" they had been in actual possession of the first acre more than a hun - dred years, and of part of the second acre more than sixty years. But that portion of the second acre which lies between the present burying ground and Centre Street, was low, sometimes partly covered with water, was unsuitable for graves and none had been dug therc. And therefore it was doubtful whether the town cver fenced it or had actual possession, or had used it for either of the four purposes for which it was given, namely, for a meeting- house, burying placc, school-house or training place.
In consequence of the claim of John Jackson, grandson of Abraham, the town, at its March meeting, 1765, voted to settle the bounds of the burying- place.
At a subsequent town meeting, the same year, the Selectmen reported that " they had staked out one and a half acres, where the burying place then was, and John Jackson to give a sufficient title to the same, on condition that the town fence in the same, and maintain the fence forever."
By this settlement the town lost half an acre and about twenty rods of the original gifts. The remaining portion now measures one acre, three-quarters and twenty rods. The ancient donors werc not only liberal in their gift, but liberal in their measure also, staking out full two and a half acres, and call- ing it but two acres.
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