USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > History of Newton, Massachusetts : town and city, from its earliest settlement to the present time, 1630-1880 > Part 5
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 following extracts are from the late A. H. Ward's manu- script compilations.
At the Court held in Newtowne, September 3, 1634, "it was ordered that no person shall take tobacco publiquely, under the penalty of eleven shillings,
49
EXTRACTS FROM COLONY RECORDS.
nor privately, in his own house or in the house of another, before strangers, and that two or more shall not take it anywhere, under the aforesaid penalty for each offence."
" At a Court holden at Newtowne on the second day of the ninth month, 1637, it was ordered that no person shall be allowed to sell cakes and bunns, except at funerals and weddings."
1660.
None are to be freemen but such as are in full communion with the church of Christ.
1671.
The ministers who supplied the pulpit of the church at New Cambridge, between the death of Mr. Eliot and the settlement of Mr. Hobart seem to have been unfairly dealt with by the parish in the matter of compensation for their services. Accordingly they sued the inhabitants of the Village for their pay, and a trial was had before the County Court in 1671. On a full hearing of both parties, according to the County Court Records, "the Court ordered that payment be made to those ministers that had labored among them, indif- ferently, to one as well as to another (all animosity among themselves not- withstanding), according as the Selectmen of the town had formerly advised in the case."
1674.
It is ordered by this Court that Cambridge Village shall henceforth be a distinct military company of themselves, and so to be exercised according to law. James Trowbridge, a Lieutenant by appointment.
Ordered, that Captain Thomas Prentice do send for some of the Indians that have submitted themselves to the justice of this Court, to fetch in or destroy the enemy that yet lies out; and in case they bring in any of the sachems, they shall have a suitable reward.
1677.
It is ordered by this Court that Mrs. Elizabeth Eliot, relict and sole execu- trix of the late Mr. John Eliot, of Cambridge Village, with the consent of the overseers of the will, be and they hereby are enabled with full powers to alienate and sell the house and lands in that place, lately belonging to the deceased, unto Mr. Nehemiah Hobart, minister of that place, or to any other person or persons ;- forasmuch as the said house goes to decay daily, and repairs will far exceed the rent, and the widow and son must suffer thereby :- provided it be done according to the terms of the will.
All persons, inhabitants as well as strangers, are to take the oath of fidelity to the country, etc., and all who refuse shall not have the benefit of our laws, to implead, sue, or recover any debt in any Court, nor have any protection while they continue in such obstinate refusal ; and the names of all who refuse to take the oath are to be returned to the Court.
4
50
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
The Court order and enact that the Sabbath laws be twice read annually, in March and September, by the minister ; and the Selectmen are ordered to see to it that there be one man appointed to inspect every ten families of his neighbors, which tithing men are empowered to do, in the absence of the Con- stable, to apprehend all Sabbath breakers, etc., and carry them before a Magis- trate, or other authority, or commit them to prison, as any Constable may do, to be proceeded with according to law.
And for the better putting in restraint and securing the offenders who trans- gress against the Sabbath laws in the meeting-house, or by abusive carriage or misbehavior, by making any noise or otherwise during the daytime, being laid hold of by any of the inhabitants, shall by the said person appointed to inspect this law, be forthwith carried and put into the cage in Boston, which is appointed to be forthwith erected by the Selectmen, to be set up in the market place, and in such other towns as the County Court shall appoint, there to remain till authority shall examine the person of the offender, and give order for his punishment as the matter may require, according to the laws relating to the Sabbath.
1678.
Forasmuch as it hath too often happened that through differences of opin- ion in several towns, and on other pretences, there have been attempts by some persons to erect new meeting-houses,- although on pretence of the public worship of God on the Lord's day, yet thereby laying foundations, if not for schism, and seduction to errors and heresies,- for perpetuating divi- sions and weakening such places where they dwell, in comfortable support of the ministry, orderly settled among them- for prevention thereof, it is-
Ordered, that no person whatever, without the consent of the freemen of the town where they live, first orderly had and obtained at a public meeting assembled for that end, etc., and every person or persons transgressing this law, every such house or houses where such persons shall so meet more than three times, with the land whereon such houses stand, and all private ways leading thereto, shall be forfeited to the use of the country, or demolished, as the Court shall order.
1680.
A Society of Baptists were censured by the Governor in open Court, and prohibited meeting as a Society in the public place they have built, or any other public house, except such as have been allowed by lawful authority.
EXTRACTS FROM RECORDS OF NEW CAMBRIDGE.
1679.
June 27 .- First town meeting. Selectmen and other town officers chosen, in anticipation of the separation of New Cambridge from Cambridge, which took place January 8, 1688.
51
EXTRACTS FROM RECORDS.
1681.
January 20 .- VOTED, that the Selectmen provide weights and measures for standards, for the use of the inhabitants.
John Spring chosen Sealer of weights and measures.
VOTED, that a rate be made for the procuring the weights and measures, and for repairing the glass about the Meeting-House, and to pay John Fuller, senior, what he has laid out for the raising of the new end of the Meeting- house.
VOTED, that no barley shall be brought in to Mr. Hobart, for his rate, after the first of February.
VOTED, that what had been recorded in the Old Book, that was of moment, should be transcribed into the New Book, and that Sergeant Ward and Noah Wiswall should see that it be done; and accordingly, it was forthwith done in their presence.
1685.
Captain Prentice and Edward Jackson were appointed a committee to warn John Jackson, who came from Rowley, to leave the town.
VOTED, that there be added to Mr. Hobart's maintenance £5 to the former £65, making his salary £70; and one third to be paid in money, without abatement.
1686.
A committee was chosen to treat with Cambridge, about our freedom from their town.
1687.
Jolın Ward and Noah Wiswall were joined to our Selectmen, to treat with the Selectmen of Cambridge to lay out a highway from our meeting-house to the Falls, probably to go through some of the common lands.
1688.
Jonathan Spring, Edward Jackson, Abraham Jackson and James Prentice chosen a committee about the Great Bridge.
1689.
Chose Ensign John Ward deputy this session; and he was instructed to advocate an enlargement of freemen,-that all free-holders, that are of an honest conversation and competent estate, may have their vote in all civil elections.
He served fifty-four days, and was paid one shilling and six pence per day.
Mr. Ward was elected deputy from New Cambridge eight times by his fellow-citizens, and as the first of a long series doubtless did efficient service. It was the day of small things, but the begin- ning of a worthy succession.
52
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
The first person who died in Newton, after it was incorporated, was Nathaniel Hammond, son of Thomas Hammond, sr. He died May 29, 1691, aged 48.
The first couple married in Newton, after it was incorporated, were Josiah Bush and Hannah -, December 25, 1691, (Christmas day). They were married by James Trowbridge, the first Town Clerk, and had three children.
1693.
Paid Joseph Fuller 20s. for killing three wolves.
Appointed Dr. Williams, Deacon Trowbridge and John Fuller, senior, committee for contributions.
1695.
VOTED, that a lawyer be employed against Cambridge; and if one cannot be had, then Captain Thomas Prentice, Captain Williams and John Fuller, senior, be joined with the Selectmen to implead Cambridge.
The Town Treasurer paid William Ward £3 0s. 10d. for killing wolves.
1696.
Paid Thomas Wiswall 6/8 for killing a wolf.
VOTED, that a new meeting-house be built, and placed near the old one; and Captain Prentice, John Fuller, senior, Captain Williams, John Ward, senior, Jonathan Hyde, senior, John Spring and Nathaniel Healy be a com- mittee to treat with workmen for building the same.
1697.
VOTED, that John Brewer, of Sudbury, be employed master-workman, to build the new meeting-house.
VOTED, to go on with the work of building, and John Spring, Jeremiah Fuller, Nathaniel Healy and John Hyde shall oversee the work and give directions for the getting of the timber, that so every quarter of the town may get a part of the timber, if they please.
VOTED, £200 for carrying on the work.
VOTED, that seats for the boys be made from the west door to the northwest corner of the house.
VOTED, that the vacant room on the east and north side of the house, to the pulpit, is granted for the setting up of pews for women, but they shall not be sold to a stranger.
1698.
VOTED, that a vane be provided to set upon the turret of the meeting- house.
53
EXTRACTS FROM RECORDS.
The vote to build this second meeting-house was passed in March, 1696 ; the work was commenced in the spring of 1697 and completed early in 1698. The building stood on the westerly side of Centre Street, opposite the burying-ground, near the spot after- wards occupied by the house of the late Gardner Colby, Esq. The place was once owned and occupied by John Spring, who probably gave the land to the town for that purpose. It was voted that " the building committee should seat the meeting-house, and that age and gifts (towards the building) should be the rule the committee should go by." This custom of "seating the meet- ing-house" was a shred of the old aristocracy of the mother coun- try. It created much ill feeling, until, finally, it was abolished.
The first meeting-house was still standing in 1717; but it is not known for what purpose it was then used.
1699.
VOTED, to build a school-house before the last of November, 16 feet by 14.
VOTED, 30 shillings to Daniel Ray, to look after the meeting-house and the swine.
1700.
John Staples was hired to keep the town school at five shillings per day. Lt. John Spring was allowed twenty shillings for sweeping and cleaning the meeting-house.
1707.
Thomas Oliver and Edward Jackson were ordained Deacons, and publicly inducted into office. The one was son-in-law, the other, son, of Edward Jackson, senior.
March 3. - VOTED, that those that shall kil black birds from ye : 1 : of April til the last of May, and bring their heads to the Court or Select men, shall be alowed twelve pence for dosen out of the town rate.
At a town meeting March ye 3 : 1707, for the choice of oficers, they elected five " survaighers of highways," and Jonathan Cooledge & Richard Wooderd chosen to take care of hogs, that they are yoked and ringed according to law.
VOTED, that the select men shall be Asesores, to ases the contrey rates.
1711.
March 5 .- VOTED, that once in the year, upon the thanksgiving day that falls in the year, that there shal be a contrybution for the poor, and that it shal be put into the town treasury, and to be ordered to the poor by the selectmen as they see need.
March 9 .- VOTED, that sheep shal go at liberty upon the commons.
VOTED, that the Selectmen and commity that is chosen shall go over the highways in town, and revue the marks and settle them, so far as they can, without charge to the town.
54
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
At the same town meeting, the citizens appointed fence viewers, tithing men, a sealer of leather, a person to take care of hogs, and one to provide a school master and agree with him.
In 1717, an act was passed by the town to prevent the destruction of deer,- which proves that at this date deer roamed in the forests of Newton.
1732.
March 31 .- VOTED, that two pence per head shall be paid out of the town treasury for every old black bird yt. shall be killed in this town, from the first day of April until the last day of June; and two pence per head for every jay bird yt. shall be killed at any time of the year ensuing; provided, always, that the birds shall be brought to some one of the Selectmen, constable or town clerk; as also for every gray-headed wood-pecker, two pence per head for every one that shall be killed within the year.
1733.
March 8 .- VOTED, that the Selectmen or Overseers of the Poor shall have power to provide à house, to set idle and disorderly persons on work for one year next ensuing; and that one of the school houses, in the recess of the school, shall be a work house for such idle and disorderly persons
1741.
An act was passed by the General Court to prevent the destruction of deer and thereupon Deer Reeves were chosen to see the law executed.
1744.
Samuel Miller, Isaac Williams and Richard Park were chosen to take care with respect to the free passage of fishi up and down Charles River.
1796.
VOTED, to have a stove to warm the meeting-house.
VOTED, that the deacons have liberty to sit out of the deacons' seat, if they choose.
1800.
March .- VOTED, to disannul the ancient mode of seating parishioners in the meeting-house.
1820.
October 16 .- Joseph Jackson and Ebenezer Cheney were elected delegates to the Convention for the purpose of altering or revising the Constitution of Massachusetts.
55
EXTRACTS FROM RECORDS.
EXTRACTS FROM LATER RECORDS OF NEWTON.
To these early and quaint Records, we add a few of more recent date, showing the progress of the town in legislation and economy.
A resolution was passed by the town April 4, 1842, proposed by the late Marshall S. Rice, as follows :
RESOLVED, that we review with regret the want of confidence we have be- trayed for a few years past in Heavenly Wisdom, to guide us in our town affairs, by not seeking it; and that hereafter we will return to the custom of our fathers, and have our town meetings opened by prayer. And the Select- men are hereby requested to engage the officiating clergymen of Newton to attend for that purpose, alternately, as near as may be.
1844.
March 25 .- The town voted to dispense with the election of tithing men. In the progressive advancement of society the office had become a mere form.
1845.
March .- The town for the first time voted a tax of one dollar per head on dogs.
1846.
May 4 .- By vote of the town, the Selectmen were ordered to procure a fire-proof safe for the preservation of the Records and important documents belonging to the town. When Newton became a city, this safe was given to Marshall S. Rice, Esq., the last town clerk, who had served in that capacity from 1846 to 1873, to universal acceptance. It was a fitting gift to a worthy recipient.
1846.
November 9 .- VOTED, to authorize the Selectmen to give or sell sufficient land near the Poor House for a Railroad depot. [At this date the Poor House was the old Pigeon estate, Auburndale.]
1848.
April 3 .- A law was passed requiring that dogs should be licensed, at a charge of two dollars each.
The pound, near the First Baptist Church at Newton Centre, was sold this year. Its location was a little east of the site of the Unitarian church, and the street which crosses the railroad near that point was known as Pound Lane, [now Cypress Street].
56
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
1849.
May 21. - VOTED, to sell the Powder House and its contents at Newton Centre. [The Powder House stood at the junction of Lyman Street with the Common.]
In March, 1851, the Selectmen were authorized by vote of the town, to purchase gravel and land for repairing the streets of the town.
In March, 1862, provision was made for the annual election of truant officers.
March, 1865, the town voted the sum of six hundred dollars to provide a suitable lock-up at Newton Corner.
Under date of March, 1865, the town adopted a design pre- sented for a corporate town seal.
In March, 1866, VOTED, to purchase a crushing machine, alone, or jointly with some ·adjacent town, to prepare rubble for macadamizing the principal roads. The Selectmen were authorized to employ night police, according to their discretion.
1867.
March .- VOTED, to appropriate $30,000 to purchase land for building a school-house at Newton Centre; $12,000 for the same purpose at Newton Upper Falls, and $26,000 at Newton Lower Falls.
The votes passed at the town meetings, as the period drew near when the town of Newton was to become the City of Newton, gave abundant proof of the spirit of progress. May 3, 1869, the town voted to employ an Engineer of roads, and renewed the vote passed three years before, to buy a stone-crusher. May 10, 1869, appro- priated a sum not exceeding $2,400 to purchase a piano for each of the Grammar schools. Also,
VOTED, to pay for gas, oil and care of lights, whenever the citi- zens furnish suitable lamps and erect them, free of charge to the town, in places approved by the Selectmen.
In March, 1870, an expenditure of $1,000 was authorized for evening schools next winter.
March, 1871 .- VOTED, to instruct the School Committee to appoint a Superintendent of schools.
March 6, 1871, appropriated $500 to fit up an armory for Co. L, First Regiment Massachusetts Infantry.
CHAPTER V.
LOOKING TOWARDS SEPARATION FROM CAMBRIDGE. - PETITION FOR FREEDOM FROM CHURCH RATES .- PETITION TO THE COURT TO BE SET OFF FROM CAMBRIDGE .- PROTEST OF THE TOWN.
PREVIOUS to August 27, 1679, the town meetings were held at Cambridge, and all the town officers were chosen there. After this date, meetings were held at Cambridge Village, by the freemen of the Village only, without dictation or interference from Cambridge or elsewhere. They took into their own hands the management and control of the prudential affairs of the Village on that day, as fully and completely as any other town, and con- ducted them according to the will and pleasure of the majority of the freeholders in the Village, until Newton became a city. It is probably true, however, that Cambridge and Cambridge Village were taxed together for a considerable number of years for State and County purposes. It could not have made much difference whether the State or County authorities doomed them together or separately ;- their proportion would have been about the same either way. They were also held to pay their proportionable parts towards the repair of the Great Bridge. This they were compelled to do until 1700, and even later. Nor were they allowed to send . a Deputy to the General Court until 1688. For town purposes they were independent ; but for County and State purposes they were to a certain extent connected with Cambridge and a part of it, until 1688, when the separation was fully consummated, and Newton became a free and independent corporation. The long struggle, the setting forth of arguments, the heart-burnings, the alternating tides of purposes formed and balked, of anticipations and disappointments, extending through a period of thirty-five years, form an interesting and characteristic chapter of history, worthy to be presented in detail in the following pages. It was
57
58
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
in these civil conflicts that the early settlers and their sons were trained for the sterner struggles which were in reserve for later years.
In the choice of Deputies to the General Court, the Village had no cause to complain, as a Deputy was chosen from the Village for twenty years. But no Selectman was ever chosen from the Village during the whole time they formed a part of Cambridge, about forty [fifty] years, except once, in 1665, (Mr. Edward Jackson). The other town officers chosen from the Village from 1664 to 1679, were highway surveyors, constables, fence viewers and hog-reeves. No assessors or other town officers were appointed from the Village. The men chosen from the Village to fill these minor offices, before the Village became a town, were Edward Jackson, Jonathan Jackson, John Fuller, Samuel Hyde, Thomas Prentice, Thomas Wiswall, John Ward, Jona- than Hyde, James Prentice, James Trowbridge, Thomas Prentice, jr., Daniel Bacon, 'Noah Wiswall, Job Hyde, John Kenrick, Isaac Williams, John Spring and Gregory Cook.
Deacon John Jackson, the first settler in the Village, and nine others were dead, when the town of Newton became wholly inde- pendent.
The heroic and aspiring spirit of the early inhabitants prompted them constantly to seek something better and higher than that which they had already acquired. It was not mere uneasiness and discontent. It was the spirit of enterprise, and the conception of and reaching forth towards the perfect, which forbade them to be satisfied with the present, if something better could be attained.
They turned their attention first to securing relief from the charge of sustaining the ministry in Cambridge. When this was accomplished, they aimed, as justly they might do, to be re- lieved from the tax of supporting the Cambridge Grammar school, and maintaining the Great Bridge between what was afterwards Brighton and Cambridge, and which was properly a county, and not a town, charge. The next move was for an independent town. Still later, having secured a church of their own, and a meeting- house, within their own town limits, some of them began to groan under the burden of too long a ride on the Sabbath to attend divine service. The question grew in importance and interest. Their grievances seemed to swell in magnitude. They petitioned the town for relief; and, after the example of the importunate widow in the Scriptures, they continued their efforts till they obtained their desire.
59
ANSWER TO THE PETITION.
It was in this way that, while town and parish limits were co-extensive, first, liberty was given to half a dozen families nearest Roxbury to worship and to pay their ministerial taxes there. This was the thin edge of the wedge, which was finally to be driven completely home, and to cleave the log asunder. In process of time they secured the erection of the meeting-house of the First Parish at a point nearer the centre of the town, its present location. After nearly sixty years, the West Parish was formed with church and meeting-house, and the citizens of that district began house-keeping for themselves. Not far from that time the First Parish Church and Society became independent of the town, the ecclesiastical and civil relations of the townsmen having be- come, as they should be, disjoined the one from the other. The First Baptist Church was formed in its vicinity, its members being drawn from all parts of the town. About thirty years later the Lower Falls had a church and society. The ecclesiastical elements of the town had crystallized in their distinctive forms, and the old methods of the primitive settlers had substantially disappeared.
The successive steps leading to these results are very interesting.
The first settlers of Cambridge Village, in their zeal to be independent of the town of Cambridge, commenced the first move- ment in that direction very gently, in the latter part of 1654 or about the beginning of 1655, at which time they began to hold religious meetings for public worship in Cambridge Village. They asked, first of all, to be released from paying rates to the church at Cambridge, on the ground that they were about to establish . the ordinances of Christ among themselves, and distinct from the town. Their request was answered by the Selectmen as follows :
Meeting of the Selectmen, March 12, 1655. - In answer to the request of some of our beloved brethren and neighbors, the inhabitants on the other side of the river, that they might have the ordinances of Christ among them, dis- tinct from the Town ; - the townsmen, not well understanding what they intend or do desire of the Town, nor yet being able to conceive how any thing can be granted in that respect, but the fraction will prove destructive to the whole body,-do not see ground to give any consent for any division of the Town. Also, we hope it is not the desire of our brethren so to accommodate them- selves by a division as thereby utterly to disenable and undo the church of Christ, with whom they have made so solemn an engagement in the Lord, which is apparent to us will be the effect thereof; and therefore do desire that we may join, both hand and heart, to worship the Lord together in one place, until the Lord shall be pleased to enlarge our hands, and show us our way more clear for a division.
60
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
It is stated by Dr. Holmes, in his History of Cambridge, that the inhabitants of Cambridge Village had become so numerous by the year 1656 as to form a distinct congregation for public worship, when an "abatement was made of one half of their proportion of the ministry's allowance, during the time they were provided with an able minister according to law."
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.