USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > South Boston > History of South Boston : formerly Dorchester Neck, now ward XII of the city of Boston > Part 3
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" 1700. This year, June 28th, Died Elder James Blake, aged 77 years. He was first a Deacon of ve Church in Dorchester about 11 years, & then a Ruling Elder of ye same Church about 14 years, unto his death." In his will he left to his son James, " the house and land whereon he now lives." This son married, on the 8th of July, 1664, Miss Ruth Batchelder as his second wife, and they had several children, the eldest son of whom was called James. In 1732 he died, after a long and painful sickness. Says the Annals :--
" Oct. 22d, Died Deacon James Blake, in ye 81st year of his age, he having Languished about 7 years with an ulcerous Leg very painfull; but at last died of an Epedemical Cold that then carried off many aged People. He was a Deacon in this Church about 23 years, and once Chosen Elder but refused it. Upon his Graue Stone is thus written :
' Here lyes Buried ye Body of MR. JAMES BLAKE, Who departed this Life Oct. 22d, 1732, aged 80 years & 2 months.
' He was a member in full Communion with ye Church of Christ in Dorchester aboue 55 years, and a Deacon of ye Same Church aboue 35 years.
' Seven years Strong Pain doth end at last, His weary Days and Nights are past ; The way is Rough, ye End is Peace ; Short Pain gives place to endless Ease.'" 4*
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
At his death his son James purchased the rights of the other children to the old homestead, and be- came sole possessor of it. This man, born in Mat- tapannock, April 30, 1688, O. S., was one of the most distinguished personages in Dorchester. He was for many years Town Clerk and Town Treasu- rer, and for several years the principal Selectman. All these offices he continued to fill till he was ren- dered incapable of active duty by sickness and in- firmity. He was first elected Selectman and Town Treasurer in 1724, and in 1725 he was also chosen Town Clerk. In 1749 he was prevented from at- tending the Town Meeting by sickness, and the citi- zens chose another person to the offices he had so long held. The following extract from the Annals shows what he thought of this deprivation of office :-
" By Reason of my sickness I was forced to be absent from this last Anniversary Town-Meeting, which I had not been before (as I suppose) for ye space of 30 years or more. And the Town left me out of all Publick business, after I had served them (I hope I may say faithfully according to my :ability), as a Town Treasurer, Selectman and Asses- sor, for ye space of 25 Years successively, and as Town Clerk for ye space of 24 Years successively ; I having in that time wrote in the second Book of ye Town Records 208 pages which finished the Book ; and have begun the Third Book of Records, & wrote therein 119 pages; besides making Tables for both ye two first Books of Records, in an Intire Book by itself. I have also in the Treasurer's business made, begun and wrote out two large folio Books of Ac- compts, containing about 224 folios or 448 Pages each; and the major part of the Third Folio Book of about ye same bigness. Besides large Bundles of
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FIRST SETTLERS OF MATTAPANNOCK.
Tax Lists, Tables to make Rates by, Warrants for Town Meetings, Divisions of ye Highways, Plans of Land sold by ye Town, &c. All which is more (I suppose) by many times over than any one man before me has wrote & done for the Town. When I first came into ye business I found many things in poor order; but I set myself Industriously (accord- ing to my ability), to Reform and Methodize things in ye best order I could. And though the Business was not Profitable, I spending a great deal of time & doing a great many things I was never paid for, especially in former years; yet, since I spent the prime of my time in ye Town's service, when I might have Imployed it more Profitably otherwise, and now am advanced in years, & so infirm and weakly as not to be able to do any other Business, to leave me out (not for any suggestion of male-administra- tion, but) only to help a young man to some Busi- ness, I cannot but look upon as ungratefull in ye Town ; and yet I would not Impute it to ye whole Town, the matter being carried chiefly (as I suppose) by a discontented Factious party."
The young man to whom reference is here made, was Mr. Noah Clap, who held the offices of Town Treasurer and Town Clerk for many years.
Mr. Blake was an excellent mathematician, and the most noted surveyor of his time. His plans were so accurate as to elicit universal praise, and during his life he surveyed several whole towns. He once made plans of every acre of land in Dorchester, and that when its territorial limits were much larger than at the present time. Many plans drawn by him are still in existence, and show by their elegant con- struction the hand of a master workman. The large book of plans of the whole of Dorchester, however,
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
cannot be found. When last seen, it was produced in one of the Courts in Boston to prove certain claims, and so great was the reliance placed on it, that the case was decided without any further evi- dence. These plans would prove of inestimable value, could they be found, in settling land claims, and any reasonable price would be paid for them by the Dorchester Antiquarian and Historical Society. It is feared that they are destroyed, although they may at some future time be brought to light. Among the plans which have escaped the destroying hand of time, there are several projects of different parts of South Boston. There is not in existence, however, to our knowledge, a complete map of Mattapannock made previous to 1776.
But by far the most useful work of Mr. Blake, was the compiling of his celebrated " Annals of Dorches- ter." This work gives a minute history of the town for a period of one hundred and twenty years previ- ous to his death. It contains lists of the Town Of- ficers for nearly every year; and many very inter- esting historical reminiscences, nowhere else to be found, are here preserved. The Annals were proba- bly written in South Boston, as the author resided in the Blake House at the Point during most of his life. To a Mattapannock man, and to a Mattapan- nock book, then, are we indebted for a work which was for many years the only authentic authority for the early accounts of the town of Dorchester, and even now it is considered by far the best history of the Town extant. It has been published in a neat form by the Dorchester Antiquarian and Historical Society, and is possessed by many of our citizens.
Mr. James Blake died in the year 1750, in the 63d year of his age. The following is the record
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DORCHESTER HEIGHTS.
made of it by his son, and is appended to the "An- nals :"-
"This Year Died Mr. James Blake, who wrote this Book thus far, on ye 4th Day of December, be- tween 8 & 9 of ye clock in ye Evening, in ye 63d year of his age: he had been in a very poor state of Health ever since his Relapse mentioned in ye year 1749. He was a very useful & serviceable man & often Imployed in ye Town & Proprietors' Business, & did a great deal for them, as may be seen by what he wrote himself in ye aforesaid year, 1749. He was much esteemed by men of Learning for his Learning & Piety."
In 1752 his mother, Mrs. Ruth Blake, died, in the 90th year of her agc. She suffered from no disease, but died of old age.
In 1701, Blake says that " This year, July 26th, Abby Christian was drowned & Cast ashore upon the Dorchester Neck of Land." Of the circumstan- ces of the death of this person we know nothing. It is probable she was drowned in Old Harbor, and washed upon the beach in Mattapannock by the waves.
CHAPTER V.
DORCHESTER HEIGHTS .- REVOLUTIONARY EVENTS.
IN 1776 Mattapannock was made to perform a most important part in the successful termination of the struggles of the American Colonists in their ef- forts for freedom. The British had for months oc- cupied Boston; and although besieged by the Amer- ican army, they had become quite contented, open
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
communication with England and other places, by water, supplying them every needed demand ..
On the 22d of December, 1775, Congress, after a long and serious debate, passed a resolution author- izing Gen. Washington to attack the troops in the town of Boston, notwithstanding the town and pro- perty in it might be destroyed. Feeling, however, that with his present army he could not succeed in dislodging the British, the Commander-in-Chief call- ed for more troops and also for ammunition. These in February were granted, and Washington felt like immediately adopting decisive measures. As near as could be ascertained, the British army consisted of only about five thousand men, while that of the Americans was composed of more than seventeen thousand. About this time supplies arrived for the loyal army, and Gen. Howe soon thought himself se- cure in his strong-hold. He determined on evacuat- ing Boston, but intended to wait till he could make arrangements for a long voyage. The Americans, however, did not consult his wishes, and prepared to make an immediate attack on the town, being deter- mined to oblige the British to leave, cost what it might.
Dorchester Heights had long been considered as the most convenient point from which to dislodge the British. Situated near Boston, it had complete command of the town, and also of the whole harbor. Nature had apparently formed the hill in a manner to second the ends of the sons of Liberty, and it only remained for them to take possession. Ac- cordingly, as soon as Washington could strengthen his army sufficiently to warrant the undertaking, he made active preparations for erecting redoubts on Dorchester Heights.
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DORCHESTER HEIGHTS.
In a letter dated Cambridge, 26th Feb., 1776, and directed to the Council of Massachusetts Bay, Gene- ral Washington wrote :
"I am making all possible preparation to take possession of the Heights of Dorchester, which I ex- pect I shall be able to accomplish by the latter end of this week, and it is believed that this, if any thing can, will bring the enemy out of Boston."
In another letter, directed to John Reed, and bearing date, Cambridge, March 3, 1776, we find the following :-
" I hope in a few nights to be in readiness to take post on Dorchester Point, as we are using every means in our power to provide materials for this purpose ; the ground being so hard frozen yet, that we cannot intrench, and therefore are obliged to de- pend entirely upon chandeliers, fascines, and screwed hay for our redoubts. It is expected that this work will bring on an action between the king's troops and ours."
It was felt to be a critical period, and every pre- caution was taken to strengthen the lines, and pre- pare for any repulse which the British might attempt to make. The following extract from the general orders, February 26, 1776, shows the care taken to prevent crime and cowardice :-
" All officers, non-commissioned officers, and sol- diers, are positively forbid playing at cards, and oth- er games of chance. At this time of public distress, men may find enough to do in the service of their God and their country, without abandoning them- "elves to vice and immorality."
" As the time is now fast approaching when every man must expect to be drawn into the field of action. it is highly important that he should prepare his mind,
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
as well as every thing necessary for it. It is a no- ble cause we are engaged in; it is the cause of virtue and mankind. Every temporal advantage and com- fort to us and our posterity depends upon the vigor of our exertions; in short, freedom or slavery must be the result of our conduct. There can, therefore,
be no greater inducement to behave well. But it may not be amiss for the troops to know, that if any man in action shall presume to skulk, hide himself, or retreat from the enemy without the orders of his commanding officer, he will be instantly shot down as an example of cowardice; cowards having too frequently disconcerted the best formed troops by their dastardly behavior."
General Washington applied at two foundries for mortars, and succeeded in contracting for quite a number of thirteen-inch ones to be delivered immedi- ately. As the ground was frozen very hard, it was necessary to procure substitutes for dirt, and, accord- ingly, chandeliers, fascines and screwed hay in vast quantities were collected in the American camp. The fascines were an immense collection of white birch faggots, procured from the farm of Capt. John Ho- mans, in the upper part of Dorchester. Washington rode over this farm, and selected it as the most pro- per place for the labor on account of its obscurity. A lieutenant and thirty soldiers were delegated to cut the brush. Two thousand bandages were pre- pared to dress broken limbs, and forty-five bateaux, each capable of carrying eighty men, and two float- ing batteries, were collected in Charles River. The whole design, however, was kept a profound secret, and for three nights the Americans cannonaded Bos- ton from Cobble Hill, Lechmere Point, and Lamb's Dam.
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DORCHESTER HEIGHTS.
Washington was certain that the taking possession of Dorchester Heights would bring on a battle, and he intended to attack Boston at the same time on the Cambridge side. He wrote to Congress on the 26th of Feb., and requested them to direct the towns in the vicinity to order the militia " to repair to the lines with their arms, ammunition, and accoutre- ments, instantly upon a signal being given." Accord- ingly, large numbers of troops came pouring into the camp, and every thing gave token of an approach- ing conflict. Four thousand chosen men were select- ed to attack Boston as soon as the attention of the British should be attracted to Dorchester Heights ..
On Monday night, March 4th, a severe cannonading on Boston was commenced by the Americans, and in return the British fired shot and shells into the camp at Cambridge. At about seven o'clock, two thou- sand men, under the command of General Thomas, marched across the causeway to Dorchester Heights. A covering party of eight hundred led the way ; then followed the carts with the necessary intrenching tools; then twelve hundred soldiers, under the im- mediate command of Gen. Thomas, and in the rear followed three hundred carts loaded with fascines and hay. The greatest silence was observed, no. one being permitted to speak above a whisper; and at eight o'clock the party arrived on the Heights and began operations. The covering party was di- vided, so that a portion were stationed at the point nearest Boston, and the remainder at the point near- est the Castle. As soon as the order was given to. commence, the three hundred cartmen, under the spe- cial command of Mr. Goddard, of Brookline; began to transport the fascines to the hill, and in a very few hours the necessary quantity was on the ground .. 5
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
Bundles of hay were arranged so as to protect the teams, and some of the drivers made three or more trips during the night. One of the teamsters, Mr. William Sumner, made five trips before daylight. This gentleman, who died a few years since, said that he saw and recognized Gen. Washington riding towards the forts, accompanied by a few of his offi- cers.
The veteran Gridley, the engineer of Bunker Hill, was engineer on Dorchester Heights at this time.
The occasion was one of intense interest and ex- citement. All the laborers exerted themselves to their utmost, and, as by magic, the fascines were set up with stakes like basket work, and the interstices were filled with whatever was procurable. The moon shone brightly, and lent her light to aid in the completion of a work which was to prove of the greatest advantage to Boston, and help secure the salvation of America. The silence of the night was disturbed by the continual roaring of cannon, and the bursting of the British shells, which often exploded high in the air, and threw their fiery fragments in every direction.
At about four o'clock, a party was sent to the hill to relieve those who had labored all night, and be- fore daylight two forts of sufficient strength to be a good defence against grape shot and small arms were finished. As the sun rose above the horizon, it revealed to the British two fortifications which had no existence the evening before. The haze of morn only served to render the redoubt still more formidable, and with astonishment they gazed on the work which had so completely brought them into the power of their enemies. Gen. Howe, when he saw the forts, exclaimed, " I know not what I shall do.
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DORCHESTER HEIGHTS.
The rebels have done more in one night than my whole army would have done in a month." " It must have been the employment of at least twelve thou- sand men," he wrote to Lord Dartmouth. It was immediately decided by the Admiral of the British fleet, that unless the Americans were dislodged, the vessels stationed in the harbor could not ride in safe- ty; and it was also very evident that the troops in Boston were now in a precarious situation. There were but two alternatives. Either the town must be evacuated, or the Americans driven from the Heights.
General Howe could not for a moment think of thus quietly yielding the possession of the town whose inhabitants had been the original cause of the war. Relying on the superior strength and disci- pline of his army, he immediately decided to attack the intrenchments, however great the hazard.
He ordered twenty-four hundred men, under the command of Earl Percy, to repair to Castle William, and at night to assail the new works. These prepa- rations were seen by the Americans, and with fever- ich excitement they prepared for the contest. Gen. Washington felt it to be a moment of the greatest importance to the cause of liberty, and his soldiers, worked to the highest pitch of enthusiasm, were ca- ser for the battle. Thousands assembled upon the neighboring hills, expecting to see repeated the scenes of Bunker Hill. The American works were low very strong, and in order to render the passage up the hill, should it be attempted, still more difficult, a large number of barrels filled with stones and sand were placed on the brow of the hill. These were to be rolled down the embankment as the columns were advancing. It is said that one of these barrels
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
was sent down the hill in order to see how far it would roll, and in its course it cut off a large elm tree at the root, and made an indenture a foot deep in another tree which was in its path.
Washington, as he-walked among his soldiers, ani- mated them by saying, "Remember it is the 5th of March, and avenge the death of your brethren." Both the Americans and British were cager for the contest, and to all human foresight the fields of Mat- tapannock were to be drenched with the blood of the combatants. At 12 o'clock the loyal troops began to embark for the Castle, but soon a violent wind arose, and prevented the soldiers from reaching their place of destination. During the night the storm continued, and the rain poured in torrents. So great was the surf that an attempt to land must have prov- ed fatal. The next day the wind was very boister- ous, and the rain still continued.
In the mean time the Americans were actively at work strengthening their redoubt. At length Genc- ral Howe gave up his project to attack the new works, and recalled his troops to Boston. He felt that the fortifications were now too strong to give any pro- bable hope for a successful assault; and although he was well aware of the dishonor which it would bring upon the British arms, still he concluded to evacuate the town rather than to have his army cut to pieces by the Americans.
On the 7th of March, Gen. Howe called a council of his officers, and it was then determined that it was advisable to leave Boston. As may be supposed, the army were surprised when they heard of this decision. To the Tories the news was astounding. They had been repeatedly informed that reinforce- ments sufficient to protect the town would be furnish-
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REVOLUTIONARY EVENTS.
ed by Parliament; and therefore, when they wero told that the British army was to retire from Bos- ton, they knew not which way to turn for protection. Many decided to undergo a long voyage rather than to commit themselves to the wrath of the Whigs, and Gen. Howe provided vessels for their accommoda- tion. Others ventured to remain.
Immediately the army in Boston began to make preparations to evacuate. The Tories, eager to save their personal property, used every exertion to have their goods, rather than the king's stores, placed in the vessels. The soldiers also fell to plundering the houses, and stripped them of every valuable article. Gen. Howe issued orders against these outrages, and threatened with death any who should be found engaged in them; but yet they were continued, and nearly every house and shop was entered and robbed of its most valuable contents. Gen. Howe caused all the public stores which could not be taken, to be destroyed. Several sloops were sunk, and many of the cannon spiked, or thrown into the sea. The greatest anxiety was now felt for the safety of the town. A few weeks before, the Americans had determined to destroy Boston if it should be neces- sary in order to dislodge the British. But now the danger was from another source. General Howe threatened, that if his troops were assaulted while leaving the harbor, he would fire the city. With the design of averting if possible such a calamity, certain indirect communications were attempted. Washing- ton was anxious to save blood-shed so far as it was in accordance with the best welfare of the cause of freedom, and Howe was equally desirous of prevent- ing an engagement; and although there was no ex. press negotiation, yet there was a tacit understand. 5*
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
ing that the British were to leave the harbor unmo- lested.
On the ninth of March, Washington planted a bat- tery on Leak, and Bird's Hill, and another at the Point, with the design of annoying the fleet if found necessary.
Nook's Hill, also, from its proximity to the city, was an important position, and Washington decided to fortify it, with a view of bringing the British com- pletely under his power. Accordingly, on the same night, a detachment was sent to erect a battery upon it. The night was very severely cold and bluster- ing, and the soldiers, by some strange thoughtless- ness, built a fire. The British had greatly feared the occupancy of Nook's Hill, and guided by the light, they commenced a severe cannonading upon the fortifying party, from the Green Store Battery, near the present corner of Washington and Dover streets. Four soldiers and a regimental surgeon named Dole were killed, and the troops were obliged to suspend operations and retreat. These were the only persons who lost their lives during all the mili- tary operations at Mattapannock.
The cannonade was a signal for a general discharge .of cannon and mortars from the American batteries, and all night there was a continuous roar of artille- ry, no less than eight hundred shot being fired. The scene was one of terrific grandeur. The whole sky was lighted up as the cannon belched forth their fiery columns of sulphurous flame.
The people of Boston, to whom had been commu- nicated the design of Howe to evacuate, were terror- stricken at the prospect that the town would be destroyed. Mrs. Adams in her Letters refers to . this night's cannonading in the following manner :-
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REVOLUTIONARY EVENTS.
" Sunday evening, March 10 .- A most terrible and incessant cannonade from half after eight until six this morning. I hear we have lost four men killed and some wounded, in attempting to take the hill ncarcst the town, called Nook's Hil !. We did some work, but fire from the ships beat off our men, so that they did not secure it, but retired to the fort upon the other hill."
The next week was one of great anxiety to both . parties. In Boston, preparations were being made to evacuate, not only by the soldiers, but by Tory citizens. In the American camp there was much disquietude. The designs of Howe could not be ascertained, and his moderation in preparing to va- cate the town made the besiegers very impatient. With the enemy wholly in their control, they de- sired, if possible, to save Boston from destruction. Washington feared the British General might be de- ceiving him, and that the arrival of additional troops and vessels, which were hourly expected, might change the aspect of affairs, and it was decided in a council of war, held on the 14th, at General Ward's head quarters in Roxbury, that if Boston was not evacuated on the next day, Nook's Hill should be fortified " at all events."
On Friday, the 15th, the troops in Boston were paraded, preparatory to taking their departure, the inhabitants of the town being ordered, by proclamation of the crier, not to leave their houses from 11 o'clock, A. M., till night. But a strong cast- erly wind suddenly sprung up, and the soldiers returned to their barracks. On the next day, as we learn from a manuscript journal kept by a gentleman who continued in Boston during its occupancy by the British, " The wind continued cast, and the troops
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