USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > South Boston > History of South Boston : formerly Dorchester Neck, now ward XII of the city of Boston > Part 15
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Dorchester Avenue Railroad Company .- As the horse-cars upon this railway enter the city through South Boston, it is proper to speak of it here. The Company was incorporated in April, 1854. Its capi- tal stock is limited to $300,000, and is divided into shares of $50 cach. Its act of incorporation allows a double or single track to be laid from the Lower Mills in Dorchester, near Milton, to the foot of State street in Boston. A single track is now laid from the last named place over the Federal street Bridge and through South Boston, extending a large part of the way to the contemplated southern terminus, and cars pass regularly over it. The Mayor and Alder- men of Boston have power to designate the streets in South Boston which shall be used for the purpose, and are also permitted to purchase the whole pro- perty in South Boston in ten years after the road is opened, by paying at a specified rate. Not more than 5 cents fare is allowed to be taken for a pas- sage between any two stations in Boston, without permission of the Mayor and Aldermen.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
Broadway Railroad Company .- In April, 1854, a Company under this name was incorporated, with power to construct a railway, with single or double tracks, from South Boston Point to Dorchester Av- enue, where it was to form a junction with and enter upon the Dorchester Avenue Railroad, then incorpo- rated but not constructed. Horse-power only was allowed to be used on the road. The capital stock of the Company was to be $150,000, in shares of $50 cach. The City of Boston was to have the pri- vilege of purchasing of the Company all its rights, property, &c., in the road, at the end of ten years after its opening, on certain conditions, and the ex- istence of the corporation was limited to fifty years. Not more than five cents for cach passage was to be taken for fare, without the consent of the Mayor and Aldermen of the city. In June, 1856, the road not having been commenced, the above act was revived, to continue in force for three years more. In the spring of 1857, it was so far changed as to give the Company liberty to enter the city by passing over the Dover street Bridge and Mount Washington Avenue, by first obtaining the consent of the Mayor and Aldermen. The prospects are now favorable for a speedy commencement of the railway.
Washington Village .- Little Neck was the name of a small village situated at Dorchester Neck, on the old Causeway road, and occupying the knoll where the first settlers had the cattle gate. When Mattapannock became South Boston, this village re- mained on the Dorchester side of the line. It was so near South Boston, however, that its interests were closely identified with it, and it seemed in fact to be a part and parcel of the Ward. A brick school-
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MISCELLANEOUS.
house was built here by the town of Dorchester, and the village was becoming more and more populous. On the 4th of March, 1850, the inhabitants of Little Neck, in meeting assembled, voted to change the name of the place to Washington Village. Several attempts were made to have it annexed to Boston, and this was finally done. On petition of Joshua Jenkins, and others, in May, 1855, Washington Vil- lage, with its 1300 inhabitants, and the territory as far as the line of Capt. William Clapp's orchard-wall in Dorchester, was annexed to South Boston, thereby greatly increasing the extent of the territory of the Ward. (See Appendix J.)
Bay View .- This is the name given to a neat and growing village, situated at old Powow Point, on the southerly shore, bordering on South Boston Bay. It has a large number of very fine dwelling-houses, and its citizens are noted for their neighborly feel- ing and the endeavors they make for each others' benefit. A fine wide avenue (K street), lighted with gas, leads to it from Fourth street. The dwelling-house of the Rev. Lemuel Capen is here beautifully situa- ted, near the water, and with its out-buildings and surrounding grounds has the appearance of the bet- ter class of country farm-houses. Much credit is due to Samuel R. Spinney, Esq., who has a splendid man- sion in the village, and who is foremost with money and personal effort in sustaining its interests.
Several of the omnibuses, which pass regularly to and from the city, go to this place, and also to City Point. The cut of the Lawrence School House, on a previous page, represents one of the Bay View coaches passing down B street.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
CHAPTER XX.
EARLY INHABITANTS-STATISTICS OF POPULATION, ETC. -MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
OF the character of the native inhabitants of Mat- tapannock we know but little. There is no doubt. however, that our peninsula was formerly a favorite haunt of the Indian. Powow Point, situated near the south end of what is now K street, and facing Thompson's Island, is highly celebrated in the histo- ry of our Aborigines. Here the Indians, till within a few years, were in the habit of holding an annual feast. This gathering was in commemoration of a celebrated Indian treaty which was of great impor- tance to the first settlers, and called together multi- tudes of red-men of the forest. It is said that dur- ing this feast nothing was to be used except what came from the sca. Even the water was literally taken from the ocean, and drank from clam-shells. Near the centre of Powow Point is a spring of fresh water, which at high tide is completely covered by the sea. From this source the Indians procured water for common use. This Point is now owned by Rev. Lemuel Capen, and in its vicinity are to be found vast quantities of clam-shells, and occasionally Indian relics have been discovered. Doubtless if excavations were made in the neighborhood, many aboriginal memorials would be brought to light.
A few years previous to the settlement of Dor- chester, the Indians were visited by a dreadful pes- tilence, which swept off thousands of them. From a tradition furnished by John Thomas, an Indian who lived to a great age, and who died some years since
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POPULATION, ETC.
at Framingham, we learn that at Dorchester Neck so many Indians died that they remained unburied, and the few surviving Indians removed to other places. The Indians supposed that this scourge was sent upon them because of their cruel treatment of five Frenchmen who were wrecked on the coast and fell into their hands.
The population of Mattapannock, from the time of its first settlement till its annexation to Boston, was small. At the time of its annexation, it consisted of 12 families, or about 60 persons. These were mostly farmers, and spent their time in cultivating the land they possessed on the peninsula.
In 1810, this number had increased to 354-or 500 per cent. in six years-which showed pretty clearly the impulse which annexation had given to the growth of the place. In 1825, we find the popu- lation to have been 1,086-being a gain of 461 per cent. in fifteen years. In 1835, the number was 5,595-an increase of 181 per cent. in ten years. In 1840, the number was 6,176-a growth of only about 10 per cent. for the five years. In 1845, the gain was greater, the number of inhabitants being 10,020, or 62 per cent. increase. In 1850, the census show- ed the population of the ward to be 13,309-that of the whole city being 138,788. The increase in the former during these five years was nearly 33 per cent. In 1855, the population of South Boston, ex- clusive of Washington Village, which had just been annexed, was 16,612-making the gain for these five years about 25 per cent. The population of the an. nexed territory being 1,319, the total number in the ward was, in 1855, 17,931-making it the third ward in the city in point of numbers. By the cen-
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
sus, that year, the total population of the city was 162,748.
In the year 1838, when South Boston became a ward by itself, the number of voters was 712; in 1840, 853 ; in 1843, 1,124; in 1844, 1,382; in 1845, 1,421; in 1855, exclusive of Washington Village, 2,116. It will be seen that the voters did not in- crease in proportion to the population. This was mainly owing to the number of foreigners among the new comers into the ward. The proportion of voters was more favorable, however, in South Bos- ton, than in the city at large. The population of the city in 1845 was 114,326; in 1855, 162,748-& gain of 42.20 per cent. In the former year the num- ber of voters in the city was 20,351; in the latter, 23,342-a gain of only 14.69 per cent. In South Boston, during the same period, the increase of population was 65.78 per cent. ; that of voters, 41.16 per cent.
In 1840, the number of dwelling-houses in South Boston, according to Mr. Shattuck's Census Report, was 719; in 1845, 1,105 (82 of brick); in 1855, by the Census Report of that year, 1,978, being a larger number than in any other ward in the city. The number in all the wards of the city, in 1855, was 15,880. In 1845, Mr. Shattuck states that the num- ber of houses in Ward 12 owned by the occupants was 403-no other ward, except 11, equalling it in this respect. He also states that the number of houses in South Boston having cisterns, that year, was 692-more than in any other ward. In the same year, the number of families in South Boston was 1,654-in the whole city, 19,175; number of families to each house, 1.56-in the whole city, 1.87; number of persons to a house, 9.47-in the whole
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city, 10.57; number of persons to a family, 6.05-in the whole city, 5.96. In 1855, according to Mr. George Adams's Census Report, the whole number of families in South Boston was 3,107-in the whole city, 29,810; average number of families to one house, 1.57-in the whole city, 1.87; average num- ber of persons to one house, 8.39-in the whole city, 10.16; average number of persons to each family, 5.34-in the whole city, 5.41.
The rise in the value of real estate in South Bos- ton, has been, very naturally, since the erection of the North Free Bridge in 1828, much greater than the growth of the population, or the increase in the number of voters or of buildings. On page 78 of this work, will be found the valuation of real estate, taxes, &c. in the year 1804. From that time till the bridge was completed, but little advance seems to have taken place; but after that event, it was soon pretty well understood that the land in South Boston would some time really be used for house- lots, and it began to be valued accordingly. From 1835 to 1845, the increase in the population, as already stated, was 4,425, or about 79 per cent .; while the increase in the value of real estate, ac- cording to the following table, was more than 450 per cent. ! From 1845 to 1855, the gain in population was 42.30 per cent .; increase of voters, 14.69 per cent .; that of dwelling-houses, 79 per cent .- while the rise in the value of real estate amounted to more than 116 per cent. The growing manufacturing establishments in the ward, and an increased pro- portion of the better class of dwelling-houses, of course assisted in swelling the valuation of real estate. The table here given will be found interest- ing for present comparison, and convenient for future reference.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
Years.
Real Estate.
Personal Estate.
1835
$
506,200
$115,500
$
Total Valuation. 621,700 908,900
Polls. 734
Tax. $ 7,131 49
1840
753,400
155,500
1,027
11,583 40
1844
1,777,200
505,605
2,282,800
1,719
16,275 30
1845
2,900,000
567,800
3,467,800
1,796
22,460 46
1846
3,676,000
651,500
4,327,500
1,972
28,921 00
1847
4,229,000
718,200
4,947,200
2,123
32,867 70
1848
4,442,400
762,600
5,205,000
2,289
37,266 50
1849
4,809,000
790,400
5,599,400
2,233
39,745 60
1850
4,542,000
836,000
5,378,000
2,160
39,810 40
1851
4,423,000
866,000
5,289,000
2,293
40,462 50
1852
4,322,900
868,600
5,191,500
2,349
36,749 10
1853
4,577,300
1,031,300
5,608,600
2,465
46,322 86
1854
5,758,900
1,488,900
7,247,800
2,551
70,506 26
1855
6,280,600
1,695,000
7,975,600
2,592
65,300 12
1856
7,409,100
1,864,100
9,273,200
3,062
78,778 60
The births and deaths in South Boston, for a few years past, have been as follows-the total number of each in the whole city being also given.
Year.
Total Births in Boston.
Births in S. Boston.
Total Deaths in Boston.
Deaths in S. Boston.
1850
5,279
487
3,667
281 except City Institutions.
1851
5,388
553
3,855
313
1852
5.308
544
3,736
322
1853
5,596
573
4,284
371
1854
5,688
621
4,441
425
1855
5,816
691
4,080
526 includ'g City Institutions.
1856
5,922
838
4,253
465
During the year 1850, the deaths in South Boston were as 1 to 47 of its whole population-those in the whole city that year being 1 to 38. In the year 1855, however, the proportion was not so favorable, being about 1 to 38 in South Boston, after deducting the 59 deaths in the city institutions. In the inter- mediate years, it varied between the two rates. In 1856, Mr. Apollonio, the City Registrar, estimated the population of South Boston at 11.01 per cent. of the population of the whole city, the deaths during the year being 10.93 per cent. of the total deaths in
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MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION.
the city. During the same year the deaths from consumption were proportionally smaller in Ward 12 than in any other ward-being 13.54 per cent. of the total deaths in the ward. Ward 8 had the largest number of deaths by this disease-viz. 21.34 per cent. of all the deaths in its limits.
Scarlet fever prevailed extensively as an epidemic throughout the city in 1856, carrying off no less than 362 children-being 8.51 per cent. of all the deaths. South Boston suffered with the other wards, but not quite its full proportion-the deaths by this disease being 33 in Ward 12, or about 9 per cent. of the total number in all the wards. The number in Ward 1 was no less than 68-but in Ward 4, only 8.
Municipal Organization.
Previous to 1804, the peninsula called Dorchester Neck, constituting a part of Dorchester, was un- der the care and government of the authorities of that town. Those who resided on the Neck enjoyed all the privileges and immunities of the inhabitants of Dorchester proper, and were taxed according to the same rates.
In 1804, however, as before remarked, by an act of the Legislature, Dorchester Neck was made a part of Boston, and became subject to the rules and regulations of that town. The town was divided into twelve Wards, the twelfth consisting of not only South Boston, but also " all south side of Eliot to Orange street; east side of Orange street to Beach street; the south side of Beach street to Front street and the water, to the southern limits of the town."
In 1822, the town of Boston became a city, and the boundaries of the different Wards were then 20*
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
changed. Ward Twelve now consisted of "South Boston, the southerly side of Pine, across Washing- ton street to Warren street, the westerly side of Warren to Eliot street, the southerly side of Eliot. across Pleasant street, to Charles River, and all southerly of the above." On the 10th of December, 1838, the city proper had so increased in population. and South Boston had become so thickly settled, that it was deemed advisable to make the peninsula a separate Ward. Accordingly, since that time our citizens have voted as inhabitants of WARD XII.
The government of the whole city consists of a Mayor, twelve Aldermen, and forty-eight Common Councilmen, composing two Boards, which together are denominated the City Council. The Legislative power is vested in the Common Council, and the Ex- ecutive power in the Mayor and Aldermen. Four members of the Common Council are elected by the voters of Ward 12, and are citizens of South Boston. In former years, when only eight Aldermen were chosen, it was customary to have one from South Boston, and it is now required by the Revised Char- ter of 1854, that one shall represent each ward.
The following gentlemen have represented South Boston in the Board of Aldermen.
Cyrus Alger, 1824, 1827.
Adam Bent, 1831.
Josiah Dunham, 1834, 1835, 1836.
Thomas Richardson, 1837, 1838, 1839,
Larra Crane, 1842, 1844.
Samuel S. Perkins, 1845, 1849, 1850.
Thomas Jones, 1846, 1847. Benjamin James, 1852, 1853, 1857. Josiah Dunham, Jr., 1854, 1855. Eben Jackson, 1856.
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MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION.
In the Common Council, the following gentlemen have been the representatives of the citizens of Ward XII.
Cyrus Alger, 1822.
Noah Brooks, 1823.
Isaac Thom, 1824.
Adam Bent, 1825, 1826, 1827.
William Wright, 1827.
Thomas Melville Vinson, 1830, 1831.
James Wright, 1830.
Ebenezer Hayward, 1832.
Joseph Harris, Jr., 1832, 1833, 1834.
Josiah Dunham, 1833.
Josiah Lee Currell Amee, 1834, 1839, 1840.
Dr. John Bliss Stebbins, 1835.
William B. Dorr, 1835.
Alpheus Stetson, 1836.
Solon Jenkins, 1836, 1837, 1846.
Josiah Dunham, Jr., 1837, 1849, 1850, 1851.
Jeremy Drake, 1838, 1842, 1843, 1844.
Nehemiah P. Mann, 1838.
Nicholas Noyes, 1839.
George Page, 1839, 1840.
Horatio N. Crane, 1839, 1840.
Eben Jackson, 1840, 1843.
Samuel Leeds, 1841.
William H. Howard, 1841.
Seriah Stevens, 1841.
William B. Harding, 1841.
Willis Howes, 1842. John Tillson, 1842, 1843.
Caleb Thurston, 1842.
Romanus Emerson, 1843.
Asa Brown, 1844.
Henry W. Fletcher, 1844.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
Isaac Jones, 1844.
Samuel C. Demerest, 1845,
Thomas Jones, 1845.
Samuel W. Sloan, 1845. Theophilus Stover, 1845.
William Eaton, 1846, 1847.
Seth Adams, 1846. John W. Crafts, 1846.
Jabez Coney, 1847, 1850.
Samuel S. Perkins, 1847, 1848.
Alvan Simonds, 1847, 1848.
Benjamin James, 1848, 1849.
Joseph Smith, 1848, 1849, 1850, 1851.
Samuel D. Crane, 1849, 1850, 1851.
Zibeon Southard, 1851, 1852.
John Proctor, 1852,
George N. Noyes, 1852.
Samuel R. Spinney, 1852.
C. C. Conley, 1853, 1854.
Joshua Jenkins, 1853, 1854.
William S. Thacher, 1853.
James F. Whittemore, 1853, 1854.
E. H. Brainard, 1854, 1855. George S. Dexter, 1855.
Daniel Hall, 1855. Jedediah P. Bean, 1855.
Ezra Harlow, 1856.
F. M. Josselyn, Jr., 1856, 1857.
Lewis C. Whiton, 1856, 1857.
Sumner Crosby, 1856.
Henry Mason, 1857, D. W. Bailey, 1857.
In 1828, the inhabitants of South Boston, and the citizens of Ward 12 on the other side of the water, disagreed as to the list of officers nominated for
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POLICE-FIRE ALARM.
election, and accordingly those of the city proper nominated all Boston men, while those of Dorchester Neck nominated South Boston men. The city folks proved the most numerous, and elected their officers except one School Committee man. A meeting was appointed at twelve o'clock, to fill the vacancy. The South Bostonians thought it rather hard not to have any voice in the government, and determined to elect their candidate. At twelve o'clock, therefore, they went over to the Ward Room in the city in a body, cast their votes, and then adjourned the meeting be- fore the city voters had time to see through the plan. Of course the South Boston man was elected.
The Police, and the Fire Alarm Telegraph.
The Police Department of South Boston forms a section of the City Police, and has for its officers,- Robert Taylor, Captain ; George Smith and James D. Russell, Lieutenants. The complement of men is usually about 25.
In 1824, the first watch, consisting of two men, Messrs. Crowley and Bickford, were stationed at South Boston. They were, however, on duty but from 11 to 1 o'clock in summer, and from 10 till 2 o'clock in winter. In 1830, Jeptha R. Cowdin and Jacob Herrick succeeded, and Mr. Herrick is still connected with the Department.
The Police Station for South Boston is called Station 6, and is in the same building with the Perkins Engine, on Broadway, between B and C Streets.
There are six signal stations for fire alarms in South Boston, which constitutes District 6 of the city Telegraphic Alarm, and the wires are connected with the principal bells in the ward.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
CHAPTER XXI.
DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS.
John Hawes.
Most of the citizens of South Boston have heard of JOHN HAWES; yet few know of his history. The following sketch of him, taken from a funeral sermon preached on the occasion of his death, by Rev. Lemuel Capen, will be found interesting, and contains all of interest concerning him, probably, that can now be gathered :-
" Mr. Hawes was born in Dorchester, December 29, 1740, of the Old Style, answering to January 9, 1741, of the New ; making him 88 years old on the 9th of the month before he died. He was the third of a numerous family, and whilst a child, his father re- moved to Sharon. At the age of seven years, he was placed, to be brought up, with his maternal grandfather, Benjamin Bird, Esq., of this place, then Dorchester Neck, from whom he received the rudi- ments of a very limited education, such as was com- mon at that time. I cannot positively say, that he never attended a public school; but probably he never did. From what he used to relate of his grandfather, and the high estimation in which he ever held him, he derived from him also, I doubt not, the principles of that strong, inflexible character which he retained to the last. Here he spent most of his minority, till the time, or near the time, of his grandfather's decease. And after a few years at Dorchester, in learning a trade, he returned, at the death of his uncle, Mr. Jonathan Bird, to take charge
Am onn adr
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JOHN HAWES.
of the patrimonial estate, where he had been brought up. When he again left this place of his early at- tachments, he returned to Dorchester, where he lived many years in agricultural pursuits, an indus- trious citizen, and was for about forty-five years an exemplary member of the church in that place.
At rather an advanced age he married Mrs. Sarah Clap, widow of Mr. Elisha Clap, and daughter of Mr. Thomas Bird, for whom he had, very early, cherished a strong attachment-an attachment not easily to be broken; for he appears to have resolutely determin- ed not to marry any other. His sincere and fixed regard for his consort was sufficiently evinced by the provision made for her in his last will, about fif- teen years before his death. To her he devised the improvement of all his extensive real estate; and the whole income of his personal estate; to be at her entire disposal, during life. He survived her, however, over six years. The last twenty-five years of his life he spent in this place. Having no chil- dren, his strong attachments to these scenes of his childhood and youth, and the place where he had spent so large a portion of his mature and active life, in- duced him, no doubt, to appropriate the residue of his estate to the use of the inhabitants of South Bos- ton, after devising a competent portion of it to his nearest relatives, and those of his consort and other friends. The provision made by him for the pur- poses of education, and especially for erecting a house for religious worship, and for the support of the gospel ministry, seems to justify the application of what is related of the good centurion, in our con- text-' He loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.'
At the first view, it may seem perhaps that but
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
little, worthy of special notice, can be gathered from the life of a retired individual-one who through all his days had kept so much by himself, employed in the quiet pursuits of husbandry ; a man without edu- cation, and who had occupied so small a space in public life. But on a closer and more accurate in- spection, we may find in him much that is worthy of the imitation, not only of those in his own walks of life, but of those also who have the management of public concerns ; to whom are committed the higher trusts in the community. I have said he was with- out education. And truly, of the knowledge derived from books and learned instructors, he could boast but very little. Still, in the no less important con- cern of self-education he was peculiarly distinguished. But few men probably can be found, who have profit- ed more by observation and reflection, or have trea- sured up more maxims of practical wisdom for the discipline of their minds and the regulation of their conduct. In his person, manners, and general prin- ciples of action, he exhibited a fair specimen of the days long gone by. His tall figure, his thoughtful and sedate visage, his dress, his equipage-every thing about him bespoke him a representative of the earlier days of the last century. He was indeed among the last of those venerable men, so frequently to be met with in the records of the past. After that ancient model of " simplicity and godly sinceri- ty," which distinguished the first settlers of Dor- chester, of whom he was a lineal descendant, he had formed his character; and all the lines of it were too deep and strong to yield, in the least, to the in- fluence of modern refinement. Possibly he would have been considered rather an eccentric character in any age. But I am inclined to attribute this in-
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JOHN HAWES.
tication to an unusual degree of independence, and fixedness of principle, which led him to rely upon the resources of his own mind rather than the opin- ion or example of others; and strengthened the hold of his early impressions and associations. As usual with strong uncultivated minds, this trait in his character partook, in a considerable degree, of obsti- nacy. He formed his opinions and took his mea- sures with great care and deliberation; and it must be confessed, for the most part, with much discretion and good judgment. But when he had taken his ground, neither flattery nor persuasion, neither elo- quence nor argument, could divert his mind, or turn him from his purpose. For one who had mingled so little with society, and whose reading was limited almost exclusively to his Bible, his knowledge of the principles of human conduct was remarkably accu- rate. He was possessed of a native acuteness and discrimination, which enabled him readily to discern the characters of those with whom he had inter- course. So limited was his personal acquaintance with men and manners, that I hardly know how to account for it, but his knowledge of character seem- ed almost intuitive. It did not appear to be the re- sult of suspicion or distrust; for he was remarkably confiding, where he felt that confidence would not be misplaced. Open and ingenuous-entirely above disguise and 'cunning craftiness' himself, nothing was more certain to meet his cordial disapprobation, than a disposition in others to overreach and in- trigue. In addition to the natural strength of his intellect, he had much ready wit; and his society was often rendered peculiarly agreeable by his quaint humor, and his pithy and forcible remarks.
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