USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > History of Newton, Massachusetts : town and city, from its earliest settlement to the present time, 1630-1880 > Part 4
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" This liberal grant," says Mr. Hudson, in his History of Lexing- ton, p. 37, " was made in 1642 ; but no permanent settlement being made, the church in 1644 was about to remove to Muttakeese (now
37
NAMES OF NEWTON.
Yarmouth), where a settlement had recently been commenced. To counteract this movement, the General Court in 1644 passed the following order : 'Shawshine is granted to Cambridge without any condition of making a village there; and the land between them and Concord is granted all, all save what is formerly granted to the military company, provided the church present continue at Cambridge.'."
The limits of this grant of Shawshine, as of most of the grants of that period, are very indefinite, and it is not possible to define with precision what is included. But it is generally admitted that the Shawshine grant extended to the Merrimack River. We know it included all the town of Billerica, the greater portion of Bedford, and all that portion of Lexington north of the eight-mile line. Billerica was incorporated in 1655 into a town by the consent of Cambridge. It was at that time a large territory, bounded on Cambridge Farms (Lexington), Chelmsford, Andover, Woburn and Concord.
It is a curious fact that this territory, represented as meagre in extent on the one hand, and poorly suited to cultivation on the other, has come to be not only the home of a busy and prosperous population, but also the seat of the best institutions of literature, science, theology, law and medicine in the Commonwealth. A survey of the present situation of things as compared with the above report and its occasion, recalls the remark of Mr. Webster, who once said, in relation to the State of New Hampshire, that when, on account of the hardness of her soil and the chill of her climate, she could raise nothing else, she erected churches and school-houses, and raised men.
On the establishment of Harvard University, in 1638, it was ordered by the General Court " that Newtown should henceforward be called Cambridge," in compliment to the place where so many of the civil and clerical fathers of New England had been educated. The large territory obtained on the south side of Charles River, comprising nearly the whole of what is now Brighton and Newton, was at first called "The south side of Charles River," and some- times "Nonantum," the Indian name. After religious services were held regularly on the south side of the river, about 1654, it was called " Cambridge Village," until 1679 ; but by authority of the General Court, after December, 1691, Newtown.
38
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
In the year 1798, as appears from an article by Dr. Homer in the Massachusetts Historical Collections for that year, the extent of Newton from north to south, measuring from Watertown line to Dedham line, was six miles and thirty-six rods, the measure be- ing made along the county-road; from east to west, measuring from the bridge at Newton Lower Falls to Cambridge (which at that date included Brighton or Little Cambridge), four miles three quarters and fifty-one rods. The whole town, including the several ponds, was at that time, by careful estimate, reckoned to embrace 12,940 acres. At the same date, Charles River, with its various windings, washed the edges of the town for about sixteen miles.
In 1838, one thousand eight hundred acres of the extreme southerly part of Newton were set off to Roxbury. In 1847, about six hundred and forty acres, at the extreme northwesterly part of the town, were set off to Waltham. In 1838 the area of the town was about 14,513 acres. After the construction of the Chestnut Hill Reservoir by the Water Commissioners of the city of Boston, a slight change was made in the boundary of Newton by an exchange of land, so that these beautiful sheets of water might be entirely within the limits of Boston, and under its jurisdiction. - Brighton having been annexed to the city of Boston, the two cities Newton and Boston, for a considerable distance near this point, are bordering on each other.
CHAPTER III.
FIRST SETTLERS .- SETTLERS UP TO 1700 .- STATISTICS IN 1645 .- MOVEMENTS FOR AN INDEPENDENT TOWN.
THE first settlers of Cambridge Village did not come in a body, but family after family, one by one. Most of them were, at the time of their settlement, in the prime of life,- only two, so far as is known, being more than fifty years of age, and only five having reached forty. The majority of them were between twenty-one and thirty-five. And the hardships incident to life in a new coun- try seem to have been not unfavorable to health and longevity. Out of thirty, whose age at the time of their death is recorded, only two died under fifty ; only eight under seventy ; and fourteen lived beyond eighty.
It is very instructive to recur to the names of these venerable men of a past generation. Our sympathies are profoundly stirred, when we contemplate the scenes of trial through which they must have passed, the simple means which were at their command to sustain life and supply it with sources of enjoyment, and the bravery with which they addressed themselves to the task of work- ing out their destiny. They came with vigorous arms and coura- geous hearts, resolved to win for themselves a home in the wilder- ness, and to secure for themselves and their posterity that liberty which was denied them in England.
The following table presents the names of the male settlers, found upon the Records down to 1700. "John Jackson's pur- chase," says Mr. Francis Jackson, from whose work we copy, in the main, this table, "is recorded upon the Proprietors' Records, in 1639. His son John's grave-stone, still standing, records his death Oct. 17, 1675, aged 36, which makes his birth the same year of his father's purchase. He had five sons and ten daughters, and about fifty grandchildren. We therefore begin our list of settlers with John Jackson, sr."
39
40
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
This table exhibits, together with the names of the first settlers in Newton, several other items of historical interest.
FIRST SETTLERS OF NEWTON.
Date of settle- ment.
Age at settle- ment.
Names.
Where from.
Date of death.
Age at Inventory. death.
1639
39
Dea. John Jackson ..
London
1674-5
75
£1230 0 0
1640
30
Dea. Samuel Hyde ...
do.
1689
79
1643
42
Edward Jackson ...
do.
1681
791/2
2477 19 0
1644
33
John Fuller
England.
1698
87
534 5 0
1647
21
Jonathan Hydc ..
London
1711
85
972 0 0
1649
29
Capt. Thomas Prentice John Parker .
Hingham, Ms ...
1686
71
412 2 0
1650
..
Thomas Hammond ..
do.
1675
..
271 19 0
1650
27
John Ward t ...
Sudbury, Ms ....
1708
82
88 16 10
1650
21
James Prentice ..
England.
1710
81
286 14 0
1650
..
Thomas Wiswall .
Dorchester, Ms.
1683
..
1658
40
John Kenrick
Boston,
1686
82
85 6 9
1662
34
Abraham Williams
Watertown,
66
1712
84
1664
28
James Trowbridge ...
Dorchester,
1717
81
240 0 7
1664
34
John Spring ..
Watertown,
66
1717
27
1664
28
John Eliot, jr
Roxbury,
1668
33
457 2 5
In addition to these twenty, there were at the time of Eliot's ordination (1664) twelve young men of the second generation, nearly all unmarried, viz. :
John Jackson, jr.,
Sebas Jackson, sons of Edward Jackson,
Jonathan Jackson,
Noah Wiswall, son of Thomas Wiswall,
John Kenrick,
sons of John Kenrick,
Elijah Kenrick,
Vincent Druce, jr.,
sons of Vincent Druce,
John Druce,
Samuel Hyde, sons of Samuel Hyde,
Job Hyde,
Thomas Park, son of Richard Park,
Thomas Hammond, jr.
..
340 0 0
1661
23
Isaac Williams
Roxbury,
1708
69
1139 16 2
1650
Vincent Druce
do.
1678
1710
89
1650
35
Richard Park.
Cambridge, Ms.
1665
1647
England.
do.
1654
Thomas Prentice, 2nd.
..
* Samuel Holly was in Cambridge in 1636, owned a house and eighteen acres of land adjoining John Jackson in 1639, six acres of which he sold to Edward Jackson for $5 in 1643, and died the same year.
John Ward had conveyed most of his property by deed of gift to his children before his death; this was also the fact with regard to several of the first settlers, and of course this property was not included in their inventories.
41
SETTLERS BEFORE 1700.
Date of Age at settlement. settlement.
Names.
Where from.
Date of Age at death. death.
1666
..
Gregory Cook
1691
..
1667
..
Humphrey Osland
1720
. .
1669
Daniel Bacon ..
Bridgewater ..
1691
1670
27
Thomas Greenwood.
1693
50
1672
26
Samuel Trusedale.
Boston.
1695
49
1673
.
Nehemiah Hobart.
Hingham.
1712
. .
1674
..
Joseph Miller
Charlestown ..
1697
..
. .
1675
26
John Woodward.
Watertown ...
1732
83
1675
30
John Mason.
do.
...
1730
85
1678
..
Isaac Beach.
do.
...
1736
90
1678
31
Stephen Cook.
do.
...
1738
91
1678
..
Daniel Ray.
Charlestown .. Roxbury.
1710
..
1678
. .
N. McDaniel (Scotch)
Waltham
....
. .
1678
John Parker (South).
Watertown
1678
56
1678
27
P. Stanchet (or Hanchet) ...
Roxbury.
....
. .
1679
William Robinson
1680
58
Nathaniel Wilson.
Roxbury.
1692
70
1680
40
John Clark
Brookline
1695
54
1682
John Mirick
Charlestown ..
1706
72
1686
25
John Knapp.
Watertown ... do.
1754
92
1686
Nathaniel Crane.
1687
..
John Staples.
Cambridge · do.
1734
76
1692
38
Joseph Bush. .
1723
..
1692
..
Abraham Chamberlain
Brookline.
..
..
1693
..
Nathaniel Parker.
Dedham
....
. .
1694
William Tucker.
Boston
....
..
1695
Andrew Hall.
1756
1695
William Brown.
Malden.
1736
..
1696
Sebrean Carter
....
1696
..
John Smith ,
Cambridge
1697
. .
Ebenezer Littlefield
Dedham.
1728
..
1698
24
John Holland.
Watertown
1771
..
1700
e
John Grimes.
....
..
1700
Samuel Paris.
1700
40
Jonathan Coolidge
Watertown ...
....
..
1700
24
Nathaniel Longley
1732
56
1678
..
John Alexander. David Mead ..
1796
. .
1678
..
Daniel Macoy
do.
.
1686
24
Ebenezer Stone.
William Thomas.
1697
1688
30
1688
30
Nathaniel Healy.
1689
.
Thomas Chamberlain
..
Ephraim Wheeler.
. .
1692
..
John Foot
...
..
1695
Jonathan Green.
....
..
..
1700
..
Jacob Chamberlain.
....
..
50
1674
26
Joseph Bartlett.
Cambridge
1702
. .
1674
Henry Seger.
1694
. .
1678
..
Simon Ong.
.
1681
1733
..
1740
82
. .
Such were the names of the men who first cultivated these broad acres and conquered the difficulties incident to the life of the early settler. They were forced to struggle with the infelicities of a rigorous climate and a hard and stony soil. They were few in number, surrounded for a time by untutored savages ; and all the conveniences of living were to be created by their own hands ; their homes were to be built, their streets to be made, their bridges to be thrown across the brooks and to span the river. The forests were to be changed into fruitful fields, mills to be erected on their
42
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
streams, church spires to point heavenward, and the busy hum of industry to take the place of the primeval solitudes. But the men were equal to the emergencies, and under favor of a wise and pro- tecting Providence, they accomplished what they undertook.
An Inventory on the cover of the first Newton Book of Records shows something of the wealth of the early inhabitants, as well as the relative value of different articles at that day. The Inventory was taken and values affixed by the Selectmen. The date is 1645.
Persons (rateable),
135 at £20
Total, £2700
Houses,
90 €
28
66
2520
Oxen,
134 «
6
804
Cows,
208
9
1872
Horses,
20
7
140
do.
three years old,
6
5
30
do.
two
one
66
42
4
66
168
do.
two
66
74
66
2 10
66
185
do.
one
79
·1 10
118 10
Steers,
14
66
5
66
70
Sheep,
37
66
1 10
66
55 10
Swine,
62
1
66
62
Goats,
58
8
23 04
2 barques,
66
5
Goods,
66
9 10
£8801 04
1650. - A sale of fifty acres of land was effected at 5s. per acre, probably a farm of wild land.
1648. - Forty acres at £2.
In 1656 the inhabitants of Cambridge Village formed a distinct congregation for public worship, and the same year petitioned the General Court to be released from paying rates for the support of the ministry at Cambridge church. The Court's committee report- ed against the petition and the petitioners had leave to withdraw. In 1661 they renewed the petition, and the Court granted them " freedom from all church rates for the support of the ministry in Cambridge, and for all lands and estates which were more than four miles from Cambridge meeting-house, the measure to be in the usual paths that may be ordinarily passed."
The petitioners were not satisfied with the dividing line, and in 1662 they petitioned the Court for a new line. In October, 1662,
27
do.
5
2
66
10
Heifers, three
9
3
66
1 10
& a shallop,
43
DIVISION FROM CAMBRIDGE.
the Court appointed a committee to give a hearing to the petition- ers and their opponents. This committee ran the line and settled the bounds, so far as ministerial taxes were concerned, creating substantially the same line that now divides Newton from Brighton.
In 1672 a new petition was presented from the inhabitants of the Village, asking to be set off from Cambridge and made a town by themselves. In answer to this petition, in 1673, the Court granted to the petitioners the right to " elect annually one Consta- ble and three Selectmen, dwelling among themselves," continuing to be a part of Cambridge only so far as related to the payment of certain taxes. But the action of the Court was not satisfactory to the Village, and they did not accept it nor act under it.
Again in 1677 further action was had relative to the dividing line between Cambridge and Cambridge Village through referees, two to be chosen by Cambridge, two by the Village, and these four to choose a fifth. The line of this committee did not differ essen- tially from the line run in 1662.
· In 1678, fifty-two out of sixty-five of the freemen of the Village signed a petition to the General Court, " praying to be set off from the town of Cambridge and be made a town by itself." Cambridge presented a remonstrance, signed by its Selectmen ; but, notwith- standing, the Court so far granted the petition as to order that the freeholders should meet on the 27th of August, 1679, and elect Selectmen and other town officers to manage the municipal affairs of the Village. This was an important, but not full concession on the part of the Court ; but the people had to wait nearly ten years more before they attained the object of their desire. The attitude of the settlers in Cambridge Village was one of persistent deter- mination ; and, as if foreshadowing, in those early days, the spirit of the revolution which occurred a century later, they stood firm . in their resistance of everything which, in their judgment, savored of oppression.
The several steps in this history of the separation are of so much importance that they are worthy to be presented in complete detail, which will be given in a succeeding chapter.
.
CHAPTER IV.
EXTRACTS FROM RECORDS OF CAMBRIDGE .- EXTRACTS FROM COLONY RECORDS .- EXTRACTS FROM RECORDS OF NEW CAMBRIDGE .- EXTRACTS FROM LATER RECORDS OF NEWTON.
THESE records would be imperfect without a specimen of the early and quaint legislation of the colonists and townsmen, while the settlement was yet in its infancy. We introduce, from the Cambridge, Colonial and Town Records, a chapter of items which have a curious interest. The laws of a community are an index to their civilization. Their economical and political arrangements are the embodiment of their thoughts, the exponent of their condi- tion, and the key to their character. The serial legislation of a people is, in an important sense, the history of the people, and furnishes the details of their progress in individual and associated life.
EXTRACTS FROM THE RECORDS OF CAMBRIDGE.
1640.
The town granted to Joseph Cooke a farm of 400 acres of the nearest upland adjoining to his meadows lying beyond Cheese Cake Brook, and between that and Charles River, and also to go with a straight line on the hithermost side of his meadow on this side Cheese Cake Brook, down by the edge of the highland to Charles River -(the same land that Cooke sold to John Fuller in 1658).
Also, granted to Samuel Shepard a farm of 400 acres of upland, beyond the aforesaid farm granted to Joseph Cooke, adjoining unto the meadows which were some time in the occupation of brother Greene for Richard Sal- tonstall, with fourscore acres of that meadow lying most convenient.
1644.
It is ordered by the townsmen that no person with his family shall come as an inhabitant into our town, without the consent of the major part of the
44
45
EXTRACTS FROM RECORDS.
townsmen for the time being, under penalty of 20 shillings for every week ; and no man shall let out his house to any person coming from another place to settle him or herself as an inhabitant in our town, without the consent of the major part of the townsmen, under a penalty of 20 shillings a week for every such default.
1647.
April 12 .- The Town bargained with Waban, the Indian Chief (Eliot's first convert to Christianity), who lived in a large wigwam on Nonantum Hill, to keep six score head of dry cattle on the south side of Charles River, and he is to have the full sum of £8, to be paid as follows, viz., 30s. to James Cut- ler, and the rest in Indian corn at 3s., after Michaeltide next. He is to take care of them from the twenty-first day of this present month, and to keep them until three weeks after Michaelmas, and if any be lost or ill, he is to send word unto the town ; and if any be lost through his carelessness, he is to pay according to the value of the beast for his defect.
WABAN, his - mark.
Waban, according to a note by A. H. Ward, under the instruc- tion of the English, became an excellent penman, at least so far as his signature was evidence of good penmanship. Original Deeds, bearing his signature, are still in existence ; in two, which I have seen, he wrote THOMAS (the prefix name given him by the English) over WABAN, thus :
THOMAS WABAN.
By an estimate of the numbers of persons and of the estates in Cambridge taken by the Selectmen in 1647, it appears that there were in the town at that date, 135 ratable persons ; 90 houses ; 208 cows, valued at £9 per head ; 131 oxen, valued at £6 per head ; 229 young cattle ; 20 horses, valued at £7 each ; 37 sheep, at £1 10s. ; 62 swine, at £1, and 58 goats, at 8s.
1648.
Joseph Cooke, Mr. Edward Jackson and Edward Goffe were chosen com- missioners or referees to end small causes, under 40 shillings,-and for many years succeeding.
1649.
It is ordained by the townsmen that all persons provide that their dogs may do no harm in corn fields or gardens, by scraping up the fish, under the pen- alty of three pence for every dog that shall be taken damage feasant, with all other just damages.
46
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
1656.
The inhabitants of Cambridge consented to pay each his proportion of a rate of £200 towards building a Bridge over Charles River. This Bridge, from the foot of what is now Dunster Street in Cambridge, was completed about 1660, and called " The Great Bridge;" in modern times "Brighton Bridge."
Persons were appointed by the Selectmen to execute the order of the General Court, for the improvement of all the families within the town in spinning, and manufacturing clothes.
1657.
The Deacons, with Edward Jackson, Goffe, Stedman and Winship, to make and levy a rate of £240 from the members of [for] our pastor, Mr. Mitchell.
1661.
We do agree and consent that all the common lands on the south side of the river, on the cast side of Dedham path, shall be divided into propriety to the several inhabitants that have an interest in them.
Mr. Edward Jackson, Lieut. Thomas Prentice and John Jackson vs. the Selectmen of Cambridge, in a plea of replevin of their goods, distrained by order of said Selectmen towards the building of the Bridge over Charles. River,-
The Jury, having heard the respective pleas and answer of both parties, together with the evidence and records of Court, presented in the case, -- which are on file,-
Verdict for the defendants.
1662.
A tree was granted to the Rev. Mr. Mitchell for a cider press, and timber to James Hubbard for fencing his orchard and for making him a loom.
In 1662, two hundred and sixty-seven acres of the common lands in Cambridge Village [south side of the river] were divided among ninety proprietors.
A large body of lands at Shawshine (now Billerica) was. granted by the General Court to the Proprietors of Cambridge. The Billerica lands were divided among the proprietors in 1652. Of this division,
Edward Jackson had 400 acres, which, by his will, he gave to Harvard College.
Thomas Prentice had 150 acres.
Samuel Hyde had 80
do.
John Jackson had 50 do.
Jonathan Hyde had 20 do.
John Parker had 20 do.
Vincent Druce had 15 do.
47
EXTRACTS FROM RECORDS.
1663.
Edward Jackson was released from all ordinary trainings, paying eight shillings per annum to the Military Company where he lives.
1664.
January 20 .- At a meeting of the inhabitants and proprietors of the town lands, it is agreed among them that the persons hereafter named be a com- mittee to draw up the list of the names of such inhabitants as have interest in said common lands, as near as may be according to the order and agree- ment of the thirteen men recorded in the Town Book, or according to any other righteous rule, as they shall see meet, and the proportion to each inhabi- tant aforesaid their just right for number of acres in the common lands on the south side of the river, yet undivided.
Also, in a distinct list, to proportion and allot in a way of free gift so much of the said lands unto the inhabitants of the town that have no interest with respect to quality, desert or standing in the town, and bearing public charges, according as said committee shall think equal and just; and the said com- mittee, having drawn up the list aforesaid, to call all the aforesaid inhabitants together, and present the same unto them for their final approbation.
At which meeting, the major vote, either affirmative or negative, shall be conclusive in this matter.
The committee are as follows, namely, all the Selectmen of Cambridge, Lieut. Winship, Edward Shepard, Richard Robins, Philip Cooke, John Shepard and David Fiske; and if it should appear that the major part of the aforesaid inhabitants do vote in the affirmative, and agree to what is to them presented, then there shall be a proceeding to draw lots, according to what is agreed to, [in] such a method and manner as shall be proposed by said com- mittee for the division of all the common lands on the south side of the river ; and the committee are desired to despatch the work as soon as conveniently they can,-the townsmen to appoint time and place of meeting.
Voted in the affirmative, the day and year above named.
By this vote, 267512 acres of the common lands in Cambridge Village were divided among 133 proprietors. Of these, Edward Jackson had 30 acres, John Jackson 20 acres and Thomas Prentice 9 acres.
1668.
Elder Wiswall, Edward Jackson and John Jackson were appointed to cate- chise the children at the new church at the Village.
Samuel Hyde was notified to appear before the Selectmen to answer for falling trees on the highway against his own land ;- to which he replied, that when he gave the land for a highway, he conditioned to reserve the timber and wood for his own use ; and he was promised the same by John Jackson, John Ward and John Parker.
Samuel Hyde complains against Edward Jackson for leaving out of his invoice 15 acres of English grass and 120 acres of inclosed pasture,- also, of John Jackson, for leaving out ten acres of meadow and an ox from his invoice.
48
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
1676.
At a town meeting called to consider about fortifying the town against the Indians, it was judged necessary that something be done for the fencing in the town with a stockade, or something equivalent. Materials were accord- ingly provided ; but King Philip's war being soon after terminated, the town ordered that the Selectmen should improve the timber that was brought for the fortifications for the repairing of the Great Bridge
This bridge was rebuilt in 1690, at the expense of Cambridge and Newton, with some aid from the public treasury, and crosses Charles River south of the College, on the way from Cambridge to Brookline and Roxbury. Before the erection of a bridge at this place, there was a ferry from a wharf at the foot of Water Street in Cambridge to the highway leading to Roxbury.
1678.
The law of fidelity to the country to be administered to all, of sixteen years of age and upwards.
1689.
Capt. Thomas Prentice, commander of a troop of horse in the Lower Middlesex Regiment, presented the nomination of officers for said company, viz. : William Bond, Lieutenant; Jonathan Hammond, Cornet, and John Fowle, Quarter Master.
Ordered, that Capt. Prentice and Mr. Noah Wiswall be desired to gather up the arms belonging to the Indians of Natick, which have been pawned by several persons.
EXTRACTS FROM COLONY RECORDS.
Some of the early Records of the Colony,- whose control embraced the administration of Newtown,-are equally curious and interesting with the preceding. The legislation for the Colony prescribed the status of the legislation for Newtown likewise ; and the legislation of Newtown (Cambridge) extended its sway over the entire territory embraced in Cambridge and New Cam- bridge,-the latter being a part of the former. We give here a few specimens which cannot properly be included under any other head. They show the spirit of the times when they originated.
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