History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 159

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1534

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

pulpit. Mr. Samuel H. Babcock gave a pulpit car- pet, chair, and Bible, and Miss Louisa G. Davenport one hundred and fifty dollars. All of these donors, except Miss Davenport, were citizens of other towns. On Dec. 9, 1835, the building was dedicated anew to God, with "solemn and interesting" services, the music led by Deacon Martin. In 1851 it received a new change ; in 1868, a new organ ; and, finally, in 1871, another change, which made it as we see it to-day. Long may it stand, an emblem of the en- during, a symbol from the past, a silent voice speaking the name of the All-Holy !

Quietly, meanwhile, it has done its work, under the peculiar conditions of a widely-scattered and very shifting membership. Five ministers it has had since the new epoch in its history began,-Huntoon, Angier, Morison, Washburn, and the present pastor, Rev. Frederick Frothingham.

The First Evangelical Society of Milton was organized in 1834, it being an offshoot, so to speak, of the old First Church, organized in 1678.

By the records we find that Rev. Samuel Gile was ordained as pastor of the First Parish on Feb. 18, 1807, and continued his ministrations with that so- ciety for twenty-seven years, when, on account of a difference of opinion on doctrinal points, Mr. Giles' connection with the First Parish was dissolved Jan. 6, 1834, those of the parish agreeing with him in senti- ment, or who were drawn to him by strong personal attachments, severing their relations with the First Parish and forming a new society, now known as the " First Evangelical Society."

Mr. Gile continued his pastorate over the society thus formed until his decease, which occurred very suddenly on Sunday, the 16th day of October, 1836. At noon of that day, soon after reaching home, hav- ing officiated at the morning service apparently in the best of health, a trumpet from heaven sounded sum- moning him from the scenes where he was greatly beloved, not only by his own people, but by all the inhabitants.

Rev. Samuel W. Cozzens, who was called to suc- ceed the Rev. Mr. Gile, was installed May 24, 1837. He was a man of commanding ability, of great lit- erary attainments, and continued as pastor of the so- ciety for the space of ten years, when at his own request he received a dismissal, soon after removing from the town. Mr. Cozzens died at Medfield, Aug. 7, 1875, being brought thence for interment in Milton.

was given to Rev. Albert K. Teele, who accepting the invitation thus extended, was installed during the latter portion of that year, continuing his ministra- tions over the society for twenty-five years,. to the great acceptance of the parish, being released finally December, 1875, at his own desire, the society sorrow- fully accepting and acceding to his request that the relations existing for a quarter of a century between him and them as pastor and people should terminate ; kindlier relations than which on the part of both pastor and people never probably existed.

Rev. Dr. Teele, although having resigned his charge, still continues a resident of the town, honored and beloved by all her citizens, and ever taking an active part in all good works.

After an interim of six years, various candidates having been heard, the choice of the society fell upon Rev. Calvin G. Hill, the present pastor, who, installed some two years since as Dr. Teele's successor, is an earnest worker in the Lord's vineyard.

The Second Evangelical Society of Milton was organized Nov. 9, 1843, in that portion of the town then known as the " Railway Village," now called East Milton. Its house of worship was erected June 18, 1846. For some eight years or more after its organization the society did not have a regularly set- tled pastor, preachers hired for a shorter or longer term ministering to the spiritual wants of the people, when the parish giving a call to the Rev. Edwin Leonard, he was ordained over the society March 25, 1852, continuing with them some eight years ; he then withdrew, in other fields to labor, leaving the society without a pastor, and although some twenty- three years have since elapsed, and many are the preachers that have held forth to this congregation, no call has been given to any to permanently settle over the Second Evangelical Society.

The Lower Mills Baptist Church of Dorchester and Milton was organized Oct. 13, 1882. Previous to its organization services had been held for nearly two years by an organization known as the Lower Mills Baptist Mission. Twenty-five members united in forming the new church. On Nov. 22, 1882, a council was convened from neighboring Baptist churches to recognize the church and ordain its pastor. Rev. George W. Bosworth, D.D., Secretary of Massachusetts Baptist State Convention, gave the address of recognition, Rev. O. P. Gifford, of Boston, preached the sermon, and Rev. A. T. Dunn, of Bos- ton, gave the right hand of fellowship. The pastor, Rev. Nathan Hunt, has had charge of the church from his ordination until the present date. During

For some three years after the retirement of Mr. Cozzens the church was without any settled pastor, different clergymen officiating, when, in 1850, a call i that time the membership has more than doubled, and

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the church has received many other signs of tem- poral and spiritual prosperity. A hall is still used as a place of worship, but efforts will probably be made at no distant day to secure a more suitable place.

CHAPTER LXV.

MILTON-( Continued).

The Crehore Estate-The Sumners-The Wadsworths-The Vose Place-The Robert Tucker Place-The Oldest House in Milton-The Tucker House-The Billings House-The Blue Hills-The Foye House-The Hutchinson House-The Rob- bins House-The Governor Belcher Place -- Milton Cemetery -- Detailed History-Different Purchasers-Ancient Inscrip- tions-Tombs.

Ancient Homes and Estates.1-I can make out but five families who now live on land taken by their ancestors at the first settlement of this place. The | widow of John Crehore holds a part of the original

Governor Hutchinson's house, as Mrs. Robbins informs me, was confiscated after he fled from the country. It was purchased by Samuel Broom, and passing from his hands, became the residence of James Warren, whose wife, Mercy Warren, was the Crehore estate. The heirs of Simon and Rhoda | author of a valuable history of the Revolutionary (Kingsbury Sumner) Perry live on land owned by ! their ancestors, the Sumners. Mr. Rufus P. Sumner cultivates, as his homestead, land which has been in his family from the earliest period of our history. The grandfather of the Hon. Charles Sumner was born and lived on some part of the Brush Hill Sumner estate.

The Wadsworths, Jason, Thomas, Thatcher, and Josiah, live on land which has never been out of the hands of their ancestors since it was first cultivated.

The heirs of the late Col. Josiah H. Vose still occupy the place which has been owned by their family since 1654. And heirs of the late Mrs. Mary Boies Clark not only live on land owned by their an- cestor, Robert Tucker, the first of the name in Milton, but it is probable that they live in the very house that he built a short time before his death. In his will, made in 1682, he speaks of his " new house," and as that, as Mr. Robbins thinks, is the house now standing next beyond the Robbins house, on Brush Hill, it must have been built as early as 1680, and is undoubtedly the oldest house in Milton. Next to it in age, and of a date not much more recent, is the Billings house. Both these houses are of a primi- tive order of architecture, and evidently belong to a period when building materials were plenty and labor was scarce. The Billings house continued in that family for many generations. The house was widely known as a public-house before the beginning of the

present century, and was a favorite place of resort, especially at the cherry and strawberry seasons, for parties from Boston and the neighboring towns. The Blue Hills were more visited in those days than now, when the summit of Mount Washington is hardly a day's journey from Boston.

The other ancient houses in Milton belong to a later period, and to a much higher style of architec- ture. The Foye house, long occupied by Mr. Samuel Littlefield ; the Hutchinson house, better known to the present generation as the Russell house ; the In- man, or Robbins house, on Brush Hill ; and the Gov- ernor Belcher place (his house was burned in 1776) were not only in themselves among the finest in this neighborhood, but they have also associations of his- torical interest.

war. Thomas Lee, of Cambridge, owned it for a little while, and sold it to Patrick Jeffrey, who had married Madam Haley, a sister of the noted John Wilkes, of England. Jeffrey's wife left him, and he died at his home in Milton, in 1812. The estate was afterwards purchased by Mr. Barney Smith, and is now owned by his grandchildren, the heirs of his daughter, the late Mrs. Lydia Russell, mother of the late Jonathan Russell.

Milton Cemetery .- As no movement seems to have been made to secure a common burial-place in Milton until ten years after the eincorporation of the town, it follows that those who resided within the limits of " Unquity" (a contraction of Unquityquisset, the old Indian name of Milton) before and after in- corporation, must have buried their dead in Dorches- ter, or by common consent have appropriated one-or more places for this purpose within their own limits.

At this time there doubtless were settlements at different points along the principal roads, and several hundred inhabitants. Twelve years after incorpora- tion, the records give one hundred and twenty-five tax-payers, from which may be inferred a population of from four to eight hundred or more. It is hardly probable that their only place of burial was the dis- tant cemetery in Dorchester. The supposition is that the inhabitants had used the field of Reedman (after- wards Redman) for this purpose, and thus were led to fix upon this place as the common burial-ground.

The first notice found in the records respecting the " Burying Ground" is as follows :

1 Contributed by Rev. John H. Morison, D.D.

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

" The 24 Feby. 1672. Robert Reedman was allowed to be payedd out of the towne Rate tene shillings to pay for forty rods of Land for the Burying Place apprised and staked out by Anthony Gulliver, William Blake, Robert Babcock. Robert Reedman being present and consenting thereto-and was agreed betwixed the Towne and Robert Reedman that the towne should fence out this forty rods of land, with a sufficient stone wall, within two years, from Robert Reedman's land."-Town Rec- ords, vol. i. page 1.

The above-mentioned lot was about six rods in width on the road, and extended back about seven rods to the rear, or southerly side of the range of tombs now in the central part of the ground, the most westerly tomb in the range being in the southwesterly angle of the lot. These tombs are the oldest in the ground, and are supposed to have been built about the year 1719, the town having voted at the March meet- ing of that year, "That Capten John Billing shal have liberty to build a tomb in our Burying Place at the Direction of the Selectmen."

The ministerial tomb was probably built in 1729, it having been voted at the March meeting of that year, " That Mr. Oxenbrig Thacher should have lib- erty to build a Tomb in our burying Place for the Reverª Mr. Peter Thacher his Father deceased, and that Lieut. Henry Vose and Mr. Benjamin Fenno should order the place for said Tomb where there may be convenient room."

This tomb was not built on the Reedman lot. At, or previous to, this time a small addition was made on the easterly side, where the side avenue and min- isterial tomb now are, by taking some ten or twelve rods from the adjoining land, at that time owned by Samuel Henshaw ; but of this there is no record.

As early as 1699: attempts were made to enlarge the burying-place, and in that year a committee was chosen " to treat with any person that shall appeire to be the tru owener of the burying place fild as it is commonly called, for the obtaining an addition of land necessary to enlarge our burying place, or to treat of a price for the whole tracte, and to make their return to the Town at the next town meeting."

The " burying place fild" is supposed to be all that part of the Amory lot purchased of C. Breck and T. Hollis, Jr., which lies northerly of an old line of wall where the land begins to slope off to the swamp or low ground. Nothing appears to have grown out of this attempt to enlarge the ground, unless perhaps the small addition, where the ministerial tomb now stands, may have been made at this time.

Attempts to enlarge the ground were made again in 1734, 1738, 1749, and 1751, but without success, the owners of the adjoining land (Samuel Henshaw and William Foye) declining to sell.

In 1760, Madam Elizabeth Foye, and others, con- veyed to the town by a deed of gift half an acre and six rods of land to enlarge the burying-ground. The only notice of this grant to be found upon the records or files of the town is as follows :

At a town-meeting, held July 7, 1760, " Voted to choose a committee to take security of Mrs. Elizabeth Foye of a piece of land adjoining our Burying Place. Samuel Miller Esq. Benjamin Wadsworth and Mr. Josiah How was chose a committee for the above said purpose ; Voted that the said committee return ye hearty Thanks of this Town to Mrs. Elizabeth Foye for a grant of a piece of land to enlarge our Burying Place."

The original deed is lost. The following is a copy of it, taken from the "Suffolk Records," lib. 97, fol. 132 :

" Know all men by these presents, that we Elizabeth Foye, widow, Elizabeth Foye, spinster, and Mary Cooper, widow, all of Milton in the County of Suffolk, from a Regard to the In- habitants of the said Town of Milton, and in consideration of the sum of one shilling paid us do Give, Grant, Bargain and Convey unto the said inhabitants half an Acre and six Rods as staket by Mr. How of Land in Milton aforesaid, heretofore the Estate of Wm. Foye Esq. deceased, the same lying between the now Bury- ing Ground in said Milton, and Land lately sold to Mr. Josiah Howe of said Milton.

"To have and to hold the said half an Acre and six rods as staket by Mr How, of Land unto the said Inhabitants for a burying Ground forever.

" In witness whereof we hereto set our hands and seals this first day of September, in the thirty-fourth year of his Majestys Reign, Annoque Domini 1760.

"Signed, Sealed and Delivered

ELIZth FOYE (and a Seal).

in presence of ELIZABETH FOYE JUNT (and a Seal).

Benjamin Fessenden MARY COOPER (and a Seal). Mary Babbidge

" The six rods between the 6 & 7 line

as also between the 11 & 12 line was done before signing.

"SUFFOLK 88. September the first A. D. 1760 Elizabeth Foye, Elizabeth Foye and Mary Cooper personally appeared and ac- knowledged the above Instrument to be their deed.

" SAM1. MILLER, Jus. Peace.

" Feby. 4, 1762. Received and accordingly Entered and Examined. Pr EZEK! GOLDTHWAIT, Reg."

The Foye lot is situated on the westerly and south- erly sides of the Reedman lot, being bounded westerly by the easterly side of the central avenue of the pres- ent ground (old cemetery), and extending back some six or seven rods in the rear of the Reedman lot.

At the time of the above enlargement the ground had become filled with graves, and the supposition is that a few burials had already been made upon the Foye lot.

The next enlargement was made Sept. 15, 1794, by the purchase of three-quarters of an acre of land, at

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the rate of twenty-four pounds per acre, viz. : half an acre and twenty-two and a half rods from the heirs of Deacon Howe, and seventeen and a half rods from Col. Joseph Vose.

The Howe lot is directly in the rear of the Foye lot, extending back nine rods to the present southerly bounds of the old cemetery, and includes also a strip of land ten feet wide on the westerly side of the burying-ground, " to be reserved for a lane,"-which lane is now the central avenue.

The Vose lot is a strip of land about a rod wide on the easterly side of the Foye and Howe lots, which was reserved for and is now occupied by tombs.

April 21, 1837, Francis Amory, Esq., "in con- sideration of one dollar and divers other good causes," conveyed to the town of Milton, for the purpose of enlarging the "Graveyard" of said town, a lot of land adjoining the same, containing by estimation one acre and one quarter. This embraces that tract lying between the central avenue and the wall recently re- moved.

Dec. 11, 1854, the town purchased of Charles Breck and Thomas Hollis, Jr., eighteen acres and one hundred and sixteen rods of land, for the sum of eighteen hundred and four dollars. This tract lies in the rear and on the westerly side of the old cemetery, embracing all of the "Burying place fild," and ex- tending through the swamp and over the opposite hill. This new lot, being long and narrow, and reaching an inconvenient distance from the main entrance, required an additional avenue to the high- way.

April 21, 1858, Joseph Mckean Churchill, Esq., "in consideration of the sum of One Hundred and twenty-five dollars, and from love and affection for my native town and the inhabitants thereof, in order to furnish a convenient access to the New Cemetery lately purchased and laid out by said town," conveyed to the town a lot of land on the easterly side of Gun- Hill road, containing one acre, and opening the south- ern part of the cemetery to Gun-Hill road.

For the purpose of straightening the wall on the easterly side of the cemetery, and bringing the wall of the new cemetery in line with that of the old cem- etery, C. M. S. Churchill, Esq., " from regard to his native town and in consideration of one dollar," con- veyed to the town the necessary amount of land, by deed Feb. 10, 1870.

At the March meeting, 1874, the trustees were authorized to purchase twelve acres of land lying on the easterly side of the cemetery, and extending from Center Street to the rear line of the grounds.

The purchase was made at once ; the new grounds

were inclosed and connected by avenues and paths with the old, and made ready for use.

The whole amount of land now embraced in the cemetery is as follows :

By survey of Thomas Crehore, 1794, 1 acre, 2 quarters, 18 rods.

Amory, grant,

1837, 1 acre, 1 quarter.

Town purchase,

1854, 18 acres, 2 quarters, 36 rods.

J. M. Churchill, grant,

1858, 1 acre.

C. M. S. Churchill, grant, 1870,

8 rods.

Town purchase, 1874, 12 acres.

Total, 34 acres, 2 quarters, 20 rods.

First Purchase .- Within the old, original grounds is situated the Crehore lot, in which are tablets bear- ing ancient inscriptions, as follows :

In memory of Mrs Ann Crehore, wife of Mr William Crehore, who died Mch 25th, 1797, ŻE. 70.

In memory of Mr Jsaiah Crehore, who died Nov. 3d, 1770, aged 77 years.

Mrs Lydia Crehore, wife of Mr William Crehore, died Decmr 6th, 1785, in the 26th year of her age.

Here lies the remains of Capt. John Crehore, who departed this life Feb. 2ª, Anno Dom. 1775, aged 64 years.

Here lies the body of Timothy Crehore, who died Aug. 15th, 1739, in ye 73d year of his age.

Here lyes ye body of Mrs Ruth Crehore, she died June 27th, 1750, in ye 82d year of her age.

Here lies the remains of Dean Timothy Crehore, who de- parted this life Dec. 26, Anno Dom. 1755, in ye 67th year of his age.

Here lies ye body of Hannah Crehore, daughter of Deacon Timothy Crehore & Mrs Mary his wife, died Jan. 11th, 1735, in ye 21st year of her age.

Interred in this vicinity are the descendants of Teague Crehore, who settled in Milton about the year 1645.

The following is a record of ancient inscriptions on all tablets in Milton Cemetery from 1687 to and in- cluding 1800 :

Erected in memory of Mr Seth Adams, who departed this life Oct ye 12th, 1782, aged 41 years.

Stop, my friend, and think on me, I once was in this world like thee, Now I lie mouldering in the dust, In hopes to rise amongst the just.

Here lies buried the body of Seth Adams, Batr Arts, son of Mr Edward and Mrs Rachel Adams. He died June the 26th, 1736, in the 23d year of his age.

Here lies buried the body of Mrs Rachel Adams, wife to Mr Edward Adams. She died Nov. the 14th, 1727, in the 42d year of her age.

Here rests our Friend Mr John Adams, who departed this life June ye 11th, 1790, aged 81 years.

As corn maturely ripe is gathered home,

So his remains are brought into the tomb,

To sleep in silence till that glorious day, When Christ his light shall roll the stone away.

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Here lies buried the body of Mr Edward Adams, who died Sept the 22nd, 1743, in the 61st year of his age.

In memory of Sarah Adams, daur of Mr John Adams & Sarah his wife, who died Jan. 28th, 1766, aged 13 years & 10 mos.

In memory of Seth Adams, son of Mr Lemuel Adams and Mrs Hannah Adams, who died Jan. 20th, 1796, aged 11 years.

In memory of Lemuel Adams, son of Mr Lemuel Adams & Mrs Hannah Adams, who died Jan. 25th, 1796, aged 13 years.

In memory of Mrs Sarah Adams, late Consort of Mr John Adams, who died Nov. 16th, 1774, aged 63 years.

Death is a debt to nature due, As she has paid it so must you. In life then strive to get prepared To fly with her to meet the Lord.

Here lyes ye body of Eliphalet Adams, son of Mr John & Mrs Sarah Adams. He died Feb. 5th, 1747, in'ye 5th year of his age.

John, son of Mr John and Mrs Sarah Adams, aged 20 months & 10 ds, Decd August ye 28th, 1735.

In memory of 2 Children of Mr Nathaniel & Mrs Lucy Ar- nold, viz. :

Nathan, died Jan. 1st, 1792, in ye 6th year of his age; Betsy P., died May 3d, in ye 3d year of her age.

Here lie two children of Mr Nathan and Mrs Lucy Arnold :

John, died Dec. 31, 1795, aged 8 years 9 months ; Betsey, died Dec. 15, 1794, aged 6 months.

Here lies buried the body of Mr John Badcock, Junr, died April 10th, 1767, aged 24 years.

In memory of Mr Nathan Badcock, who died Jan. 29th, 1777, in the 60th year of his age.

Here lies the remains of Mrs Susanna Badcock, the late ami- able Consort of Mr Nathan Badcock, who died Aug. 7th, 1774, aged 55 years.

In faith she died, in dust she lies, But faith forsees that dust shall rise, When Jesus calls, while hope assumes And breaks her joy among the tombs.

Here lyes buried ye body of Mr William Badcock, who de- parted this life Mch 18th, 1772, aged 54 years & 4 days.

Beneath this stone death's prisoner lies,

The stone shall move, Death's prisoner rise,

When Jesus with almighty word Calls his dead saints to meet their God.

Sacred to the memory of Mrs Bathsheba Badcock, daur of Mr William & Mrs Hannah Badcock, who died April 28th, 1792, æt. 31 years.

When this vain life of care and trouble's o'er,

We die to live, and live to die no more.

Here lies ye body of Nathaniel Badcock, Juner, aged 31 years ; died January ye 224, 1718-9.

Here lies buried the body of Mr George Badcock, deed Mch Sth, 1731, in ye 46 year of his age.

In memory of Mrs Mary Bates, widow of Mr William Bates, of Weymouth, who died Dec. 30th, 1799, aged 87 years. The sweet remembrance of the just Shall flourish when they sleep in dust.

Vice Mori.

Erected in memory of Mr Samuel Bent, who died Dec. 14th, 1797, aged 26 years.

Early I left my earthly home of clay, Which rests in silence till that great day,

When Christ shall call his children to the skies,

Then hope in glory with the saints to rise.

B. Adams, Sculptor.

In memory of Martha Bent, who died Dec. 4, 1766, in the 66th year of her age.

Here lies ye body of Rachel Bent, wife to Joseph Bent; died July ye 5th, 1775, in ye 52ª year of her age.

Here lies ye body of Joseph Bent, aged 52 years; died Mch 31st, 1728.

In memory of Mr Eben Bent, who died Sep. 10th, 1796, aged 59 years.

This bed, thy dust shall keep in peace.

In memory of Mrs Melanda Bent, widow of Capt. Lemuel Bent, who died Oct. 20th, 1796, aged 67 years, 5 months.

In memory of Nathaniel Bicknell, son of Mr Nathaniel Bick- nell and Mrs Elizabth his wife. He died July ye 27, 1775, in ye 20th year of his age.

In youth, in time of health, my young friends, prepare for death.

Here lies buried the body of Mr Ebenezer Billings, who died Sep. 16, 1766, aged 47 years.

In patience and meekness few did him excell,

Faithful in Milton, where he did dwell ;

Reason we have, and fully trust,

That his soul is among the just.

Here lies buried ye body of Mr Joseph Billings, who departed this life July ye ISth, 1765, in ye 84 year of his age.

Mrs Maria Billings, wife of Mr Ebenezr Billings, who died December 19, 1785, in ye 40th year of her age.

Marian Billings, daug. of Mr Moses & Mrs Marian Billings, died Mch 19th, 1732, aged 7 months.

In memory of Mrs Ruhanah Billings, wife of Mr Joseph Billings. She died Feb. 24, 1740, aged 54 years.

Here lies her rest in peaceful dust, Till God in glory raised the just.

In memory of Mr Amariah Blake, who died May ye 19th, 1792, in ye 60th year of his age.

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History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 159

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1534