USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 170
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"June 22, 1705.
" Per order of the Selectmen,
" JOSEPH PROUT, Toun Clerk.
" EPHRAIM SAVAGE,
" BEZOUR ALLEN, > Committee."
" OLIVER NOYES,
In consequence of the continued strenuous opposi- tion to the petition of the people of Muddy River, another petition was sent to the Legislature in the fall of 1705, signed by thirty-two citizens of that village, as follows :
805
BROOKLINE.
" To his Excellency, the Governor, Council, and Assembly, in General Court convened. The humble petition of the inhabit- ants of Muddy River, sheweth.
"That at a session of this honorable Court, held at Boston on 13 August, 1704, the said inhabitants exhibited their hum- ble petition praying, that the said Muddy River might be al- lowed a separate village or peculiar, and be invested with such powers and rights, as they may be enabled by themselves to manage the general affairs of the said place. Which petition has been transmitted to the Selectmen of the Town of Boston, that they may consider the same; since which your humble petitioners, not having been informed of any objection made by the Town of Boston, aforesaid, we presume, that there is no obstruction to our humble request made in our petition.
" Wherefore we humbly beseech your Excellency, that this honorable Court will be pleased to proceed to pass an Act for the establishing of the said place a separate village or peculiar, with such powers as aforesaid, and your petitioners shall ever pray.
"Samuel Sewall, Jr.
" Thos. Gardner.
John Devotion.
Joseph Gardner.
Thomas Steadman, Jr.
John Ackers.
".Samuel Aspinwall.
" Eleazer Aspinwall.
" William Sharp.
" Edward Devotion.
" Josiah Winchester, Jr.
" John Ellis.
Peter Boylston. John Ackers, Jr.
"John Winchester, Jr.
William Ackers.
" Thomas Woodward.
Benjamin White, Jr.
" __ Holland.
Caleb Gardner.
" __ Gardner.
John Seaver.
"Joseph White.
Henry Winchester."
The prayer of the above petition was granted on the thirteenth day of November, 1705, as appears by the following record of the town grants :
" Anno Regni Auna Reginæ Quarte.
" At a great and general Court for her Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, begun and held, at Boston upon Wednesday, 13th May, 1705 and continued by several prorogations unto Wednesday, 24th October, following and then met, 13th November, 1705.
" In Council.
"The order passed by the Representatives, upon the Petition of the inhabitants of Muddy River, a Hamlet of Boston, read on Saturday last,
"Ordered, That the praier of the petition be granted; and the powers & Privileges of a Township, be given to the Inhab- itants of the lands commonly known by the name of Muddy River, The Town to be called BROOKLYN; who are hereby en- joined to build a meeting-house, & obtain an able Orthodox Minister, according to the Direction of the Law, to be settled among them, within the Space of Three Years next coming.
" Provided, That all Common Lands, belonging to the Town of Boston, lying within the bounds of the said Muddy River, not disposed of, or alloted out, shall still remain to the Proprie- tors of said lands.
"Which order, being again read, was concurred, and is con- sented to.
" JOSEPH DUDLEY.
" ISAAC ADDINGTON, Secretary."
Origin of Towns .- The early history of this sec- tion of country has a peculiar charm to those who are descendants of the early settlers, and they may take just pride in the fact that this is one of the finest specimens of a New England town. The origin of these bodies politic has a curious and interesting history. It is believed to have been an institution originating in and peculiar to the colonies, as nothing had existed like them in any of the older countries. The " Hundreds" or Tithings of England may have suggested the idea, but those have a different purpose. They are for the purpose of civil and domestic police, while the division of a territory into local districts, bounded by geographical lines, the inhabitants clothed with corporate powers and duties like the towns of old Massachusetts, is an institution originating in the colonies planted here. It is highly probable the result, in part, of accident at first, like many other measures of the early settlers, while, later on, their wisdom, foresight, and good judgment led them to adapt their policy to the condition of the people. Many of the early towns simply had the name changed | by order of the General Court, as, for example, "that Trimountain shall be called Boston," while other set- | tlements, in process of time, were allowed to organize and take on the form of town government on certain conditions, such as the support of the gospel, main- tenance of highways, and the general management of municipal affairs, and the support of free schools. The chief requisition in the incorporation of this town being the building of a meeting-house and the supporting of an " orthodox minister."
" To be made a Town, then, in 1705, was to be admitted to an equal partnership in that great com- pany of Massachusetts municipalities, which were gradually but surely building up the Colony into a grand Commonwealth, fit to take its stand and do its whole share in establishing and upholding an Inde- pendent and United Nation. The old Colony of Plym- outh, with all its cherished Pilgrim associations, after just threescore years and ten of separate existence, had been made a part of Massachusetts, only fifteen years before, under the new Provincial Charter. There were at that time about eighty-two towns in Massa- chusetts, not including such as have since fallen within the jurisdiction of Maine, or other adjoining States ; there are now, I believe, more than three hundred and forty. Brookline was the eighty-third, if my careful friend, Mr. W. H. Whitmore, has counted correctly ; and she was not slow in attesting her title to be in- cluded in this goodly fellowship. Her records, in- deed, afford ample evidence of the patriotism and public spirit which have characterized her inhabitants
" A True Copy Examined by me,
Josiah Winchester.
" Benjamin White.
" Thomas Steadman.
" John Winchester.
Josiah Steadman.
Thomas Gardner, Jr.
Ralph Shepard. Abraham Chamberlain.
806
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
in every memorable period from that day to this."- Winthrop.
The inhabitants having been duly organized and be- come a town, entered immediately upon the duties of a municipal corporation. The first meeting was held at the old school-house on Monday, March 4, 1706, and the first business was to choose town officers. The following is a record of the first town-meeting :
" Brooklin 1706
" At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of Brooklin on Munday March 4th 1705/6 leagally warned
"Voted that Peter Boylston should sarve as Counstable for this present yeare
"Voted that five Select-men be chosen to manage the affairs of this Town. The parsons chosen by vote of ye Inhabitants to serve as Select men for this present yeare were Leut. Thomas Gardner Samuel Aspenwall John Winchester Josiah Winchester Mr Samuel Sewal
" Voted that Josiah Winchester sen'r should serve as Town clark for this yeare instant
" Voted that 3 met parson be chosen for Assessors for this present yeare
" Voted that Samuel Aspenwall Joseph Gardner and Rogger Adams should serve as Assessors for this yeare currant
"Voted that Daniel Harris and Samuel clark should sarve as Tything-men
".Voted that Eleazer Aspinwall Benjamin White jun'r and Robert Harris should serve as surveighers of High wayes
" Voted that John Winchester jun'r & Edward Devotion should serve as fence viewers
" Voted that Daniel Harris and Thomas Stedman jun'r should be overseears of the Common-Lands In Brooklin for this yeare Currant
"Voted that Nathaniel Holland and William Sharp should serve as Hawards or field-drivers for this yeare
" At a Town Meeting of ye Inhabitants of Brooklin March 25 1706 leagally warned
" Voted that John Winchester sen'r should serve as an assessor for this present yeare in the Rome of Rogger Adams who refused to serve
" Voted that there should be a Burying place in this Town of Brooklin.
" Voted that the Burying-place should be on a spot of Land on the south side of the Hill in Mr Cottons farm pointing be- tween the two Roads if it can be attaind.
" At this Meeting of the Inhabitants they were desired to manifest their minds concerning their Building a Meting-house In Brooklin and setling an Orthodox Minister there which proposal was declined by them and left to further considera- tion
" Voted that twelve pound be levied by tax upon the Inhabit- ants of this Town for Repairing the School-House and for the Support of the School for this present yeare. 1706.
" John Winchester sen'r Samuel Aspenwal and Joseph Gard- ner being chosen Assessors of the province Tax to be levied on this Town for this present yeare, mad Oath to perform the work, and office of Assessors as the Law Directs adminisr to them by Josiah Winchester, Town clark, on March, 25, 1709
Ecclesiastical History .- Attending Church in Roxbury .- On the 10th of December, 1672, the meet- ing-house belonging to the church in Roxbury, where the people of Brookline attended, needing repairs, it
was, " after much debate with love and condescending one to another, concluded by Voate to build a ' nue' meeting house as near the other as conveniently may be;" and on the 14th of April, 1674, the selectmen and the committee met at Sergt. Ruggles', and " there toke account of the number of hands that were hired to help 'raze' the nue meeting-house." In the con- struction of this building the people of Brookline contributed £104 5s., and worshiped there until the erection of their own church, in 1715, one-fifth part of the church being allotted to them, they having contributed in that proportion towards the parish ex- penses. Here follows a list of the contributors :
A List of the names and sums of our Brethren & neighbors of MUDDY RIVER that they contribute towards the erecting of a new meeting house in Roxbury.
€ 8. d.
8.
Thomas Gardner ... 10 0
0
| John Clarke, 3
0
0
John White, Jr ..... 10 0
0
0 1 James Clarke. 10
0
John Sharpe, Jr ... 5
0
0 Edward Devotion. 5
0
0
Thomas Boistan .... 5
0
0 Henry Stevens. ...
5
0
0
Richard Wolford ... 1
10
0
1 John Parker
1
10
0
Andrew Gardner ...
5
0
0 Edward Keebe. 1
10
0
Joseph White ..
3
0
0 Goodwife Keebe .... 0
10
0
Moises Crafts 2
0
0
7 Mrs. - Mather ) and 0
0
John Evens.
0 15
=
James Rementon ) Thomas Woodward 0 10 0
John Accers.
1
10
0
0 | Goodman Winches- 0 ter
7
0
0
John Harise.
2
0 0 | Samuel Dunkin 1 10 0
Benjamin Child.
0
0
Denman Meriam ... 1
0
0
Total. 104 5
For many years previous to the incorporation of the town of Brookline the people subjected them- selves to great inconveniences before they were able to erect a house of worship, and united with a neigh- boring society. Tradition informs us that they as- sembled regularly with the church in Roxbury, and according to the records of that church many were admitted members on equal terms with its own members, to partake of the benefit of gospel ordi- nances.
" In the year 1698 the Select men of Roxbury with the Dea- cons being a commite choson by the Town of Roxbury for seat- ing people in the meting House they sent to the Inhabitants of Muddyriver to request of them to send sum Men to set with them selves In sd commitie to Act for and in behalf of the rest of the Inhabitants in that Respect upon which motion the In- habitants of Muddyriver being notified did convean to gether to consider of this matter and cam to this result that they would chuse by voate three men and send to assist In managin the matter aforesaid. the persons chosen were Leut. Thomas Gard- ner. Sarg't Benjamin White & John Winchester who met and sat with them at time and place appointed at which time it was demanded what Right and previledg the Town of Roxbury did aprehend that the Inhabitants of Muddyriver ought to injoy in sd Meting-house and it was Granted they ought to have a fifth part and accordingly to defrey one fifth part of the expens & charge that did arise for Repairing sd Metinghouse. at which place namely at Mr. John Ruggises house at ye Flower-de-luce
| Edward Mills 0 10
0
Peter Aspinwall ... 7
Clement Corban 1
10
0
John Winchester .. 3
0
Robert Harrise ..
4
0
807
BROOKLINE.
in Roxbury upon the 21 of February In the year 1699 thes three men chosen as a foresaid by the Inhabitants of Muddy- river did on behalf the Rest of the Inhabitants defray the fifth part of all past and present charges their part amounting to six pound & four shilings."
First Meeting-House in Brookline .- When the act of incorporation was passed it contained a clause which enjoined the building of a meeting-house and the settling of an "able orthodox minister" within three years. But, for reasons not stated, this act was not carried into effect till nine years later. The first record having reference to the building of a meeting-house was
March 2, 1713 .- " Voted that three men be chosen and ap- pointed to surveigh the limits of this town and to find the cen- ter or middle thereof and to inquire where a Convenient Place may be Procured whereon to build a meeting-house; as neare the center of said Town as may be."
" Voted that Samuel Aspinwall, John Druce & Peter Boylston be appointed a Committee to Manage the afaire relating to the Meeting-house aforesaid."
Several places for building were proposed, but, owing to a disagreement, a committee of the General Court was called to fix upon the location.
" At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of Brooklin. Regulerly assembled on December 2d 1713. Mr Caleb Gardner jun'r did offer and tender freely to Give and bequeath raifie and confirme unto the Town of Brooklin above said. a piece of Land nigh to his dwelling House, Lyeing west ward therefrom on the left hand of the Road way Leading to Roxbury. where on to build a Meet- ing house for the Publick worship of God.
" Voted that Leut. Thomas Gardnar Leut. Samuel Aspin- wall Mr Joseph White. Mr Thomas Stedman and Mr John Sever, be a Commite for the sd Town to treate with Mr Caleb Gardnar above sd about the Bounds of sd piece of Land, and to Desire of him a Legal Conveighance and Confirmation thereof to sd Town.
"Voted that the Meting-House aforesaid should be of the same Demensions with the Meting-House in the South-west part of Roxbury.
" Voted that Leut. Thomas Gardnar. Leut. Samuel Aspinwall Mr Erosamond Drew. Mr Thomas Stedman & Mr John Sever be a Committee to Manage the Concern or affair of Building the above said Meeting-House."
The committee of the General Court decided upon the above location as the best, and no further opposi- tion was manifested. It must be borne in mind that at this time the cemetery lot on the south side of the road had not been purchased, and neither Cypress Street nor the old " Worcester Turnpike" had been thought of. The spot where this old meeting-house stood is that now occupied by Mr. John Townsend as a stable-lot, formerly the old parsonage ground. This " meting-hous spott" contained about one-quarter of an acre of land, and cost about fifteen pounds and eighteen shillings. The building stood with the side to the road, having entrances at the east and west ends, and a door in the centre of the front.
On account of the extra expense incurred in the erection of the meeting-house, Dec. 2, 1713, it was " voted not to send a Representative to General Court," as they were " too poor."
The frame of this church was raised Nov. 10, 1714, and the following anecdote is told of the two builders, -Deacon Samuel Clark and Lieut. Isaac Gardner :
" The young carpenters, when the frame was raised, played at leap-frog on the ridge-pole. They lived to be, the one eighty-one years of age and the other eighty-three, and each came to the same place of worship in his old age supported by two canes or crutches."
The meeting-house was forty-four feet long and thirty-five feet wide. It originally contained but fourteen pews and several long benches. There was a gallery, and probably long benches therein for the children, who, in those days, never sat with their parents. Afterwards fourteen more pews were added on the floor and four in the gallery. There was no steeple to this house till the town voted, in Septem- ber, 1771, to build one.
It is generally supposed that those who assisted at the raising had a pretty good time, with plenty to eat and to cheer, as was the custom at raisings in those days. It also appears there was some fault found, as may be seen in the following vote :
October 31, 1715 .- " Att a Town meeting. Legally Warned that whereas a Demurr being raised among the inhabitants of the Town Concerning the cost and manner of the Dinner that was Provided att the Raising of the meeting House."
"Voted that they do Allow both of the cost and manner thereof."
"Our meeting-house-our meeting-house,-
It stood upon a hill, Where autumn gales and wintry blasts Piped around it loud and shrill.
" No steeple graced its homely roof With upward-pointing spire ; Our villagers were much too meek A steeple to desire. " And never did the welcome tones Of Sabbath-morning bell Our humble village worshippers The hour of worship tell."
The pulpit was of oak, and upon it was kept an hour-glass for measuring the time. Over the pulpit was an immense sounding-board, a thing common in early days. A clock was a luxury not yet aspired to by the fathers of the town.
May 16, 1715 .- Voted, "that the committee shall lay the lower floor and gallery floors, fill the walls with brick and laithe & Plaister with lime, to set up all the Windows and Glaze them and to make and set up all the Doors, to be performed with con- venient speed, and that they shall also Clapboard the house throughout." Also voted, the committee " shall glaze the win- dows with Diamond glase."
1
808
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
The building having at length been completed, it was dedicated to public worship June 3, 1715. Rev. Nehemiah Walter, pastor of the First Church in Rox- bury, and for several years colleague with the famous " Apostle Eliot," preached the sermon. Next came the " Seating of the meting-hous." A principal part of the lower floor was divided into long seats, and heads of families were located in situations remote from their respective households. The seats were arranged by persons appointed by the town for that purpose, respect being had to dignity, age, standing, etc.
" March 12 1716 Att a meeting of the inhabitants of Brook- line Legally warned :
" Voted that the vacant room in the meeting house aforesd. whereon to erect pews be disposed of by sale to those persons who by a committe chosen by the vote of the town for that end, shall think meet : and consequently a committe was elected : to wit : Josiah Winchester sen'r Erosamond Drew. Samuel As- pinwal. John Druce John Winchester Thomas Stedman & Ben- jamin White Jun'r.
"The Committe Chosen to dispose of the vacant room in ye meeting house whereon to Erect Pews & to vallue the same having concluded that Affair made their return. And by order of the select men it is here Entered ? me John Seaver Town Clerk May 1-1718 & is as followeth-
" To Mr Sam'll Sewall the sd committe ordered that he should have that spott or room next the Pulpit on the west. & vallued it at five pounds, who accepted thereof.
"To John Winchester sen'r said committe ordered that he should have the next spott or room westerly of mr Sewall's & vallued it at four pounds & ten shillings who accepted thereof.
"To Capt. Sam'll Aspinwall the said Committe ordered that he should have that spott or room at the westerly Corner of the meeting house, & vallued it at three pounds and fifteen shillings who accepted thereof
" To Lt. Thomas Gardner the said Committe ordered that he should have that spott or room between Capt. Aspinwall's And the westerly Door of the meeting house and vallued it at four pounds & ten shillings who accepted yr of
" To John Seaver the said Committe ordered that he should have that spott or room between the westerly Door of the meet- ing house & the stairs leading to the mens Gallerrie & vallued it at four pounds & five shillings who accepted thereof
"To John Druce the said Committe ordered that he should have that spott or room on the left hand of the going up the stairs. into the mens Gallery & vallued it at three pounds & ten shillings who accepted thereof.
" To Joseph Gardner the said Committe ordered that he should have that spott or room on the left hand of the coming in at the Southerly Door of the meeting house & vallued it at three pounds & ten shillings who accepted thereof
"Fo Josiah Winchester sen'r the sd committe ordered that he should have that spott or room on the right hand of the coming in at the southerly Door of the meeting house & vallued it at three pounds & ten shillings who accepted thereof
" To Thomas Stedman the said Committe ordered that he | should have that spott or room between Josiah's Winchester's & the going up into the women's Gallery and vallued it at three | pounds and ten shillings who accepted thereof.
" To William Sharp the said Committe ordered that he should have that spott or room between the stairs leading up into the
women's Gallery & the Easterly Door of the meeting house & vallued it at four pounds and ten shillings who accepted thereof.
"To Ensign Benjamin White the said Committe ordered that he should have that spott or room on the right hand of the com- ing in at the east Door of the meeting house & vallued it at three pounds who accepted thereof.
" To Benjamin White Jun'r the said Committe ordered that he should have that spott or room between Ensign White's and Peter Boylston's & vallued it at four pounds who accepted thereof.
" To Peter Boylston the said committe ordered that he should have that spot or room at the North corner of the meeting house between Benjamin White's and the minister's Pew & vallued it at three pounds and ten shillings who accepted yr of
" The said Committe appointed the minister's pew to be next the Pulpit on the right hand of the going up into the Pulpit on the North"
When Hon. Jonathan Mason purchased the house formerly belonging to Deacon Benjamin White, now the residence of Hon. Theodore Lyman, he removed the old farm-house to make room for a new one in 1809, and between the floors was found a paper con- taining the following account of the manner in which the congregation were seated on the ninth day of March, 1719, as follows :
" Whole number of individuals seated, 66, of whom 28 couples were men and their wives.
"In the men's foreseat, in the body seats are seated Josiah Winchester, Capt. Aspinwall, Joseph Gardner and Edward De- votion.
" In the second seat, are seated William Story, Joseph God- dard, Thomas Woodward, Daniel Harris and John Ackers.
" In the third seat, are seated James Griggs, Samuel Newell, Abraham Chamberlain, Ebenezer Kendrick and Robert Harris.
"In the fourth seat, are seated Thomas Lee, William Davis and Joseph Scott.
" In the front foreseat in the gallery, are seated Caleb Gard- ner, Josiah Winchester, Samuel White, Henry Winchester, Joseph Adams, Robert Sharp, Thomas Cotton and Samuel Clark, Jun.
"In the foreseat in the side gallery, are seated Joshua Sted- man, William Gleason, Dudley Boylston, Addington Gardner, John Taylor, Stephen Winchester and Philip Torrey.
" In the second seat in the front, are seated Isaac Gleason, John Wedge, Thomas Woodward, Jun., and James Goddard.
"In the women's foreseat, in the body seats are seated the wife of Josiah Winchester, sen., the widow Ackers, the wife of Joseph Gardner and the wife of Edward Devotion.
" In the second seat, are seated the wife of William Story, the wife of Joseph Goddard, the wife of Thomas Woodward, the wife of Daniel Harris, the wife of John Ackers and the widow Hannah Stedman.
"In the third seat, the wife of James Griggs, the wife of Samuel Newell, the wife of Abraham Chamberlain, the wife of Ebenezer Kenrick, and the wife of Robert Harris.
" In the fourth seat, the wife of Thomas Lee, the wife of Wil- liam Davis, and the wife of Joseph Scott.
"In the front foreseat in the gallery, the wife of Samuel White, the wife of Henry Winchester, the wife of Joseph Adams, the wife of Robert Sharp and the wife of Samuel Clark, jun.
" In the foreseat in the side gallery, the wife of Joshua Sted- man, the wife of William Gleason, the wife of Dudley Boylston, the wife of Addington Gardner, the wife of John Taylor.
809
BROOKLINE.
"In the second seat in the front, the wife of John Wedge and the wife of James Goddard."
Second Meeting-House .- The old church edifice, after standing more than fourscore years, was quite inadequate to accommodate the increased population of the town. The congregation received quite a large accession, soon after Dr. Pierce's ordination, of Dor- chester people who removed here, following their fellow-townsmen in whom they took a just pride. Among these were the Robinsons, Withingtons, Leeds, Tolmans, and others.
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