USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > South Boston > History of South Boston (its past and present) and prospects for the future, with sketches of prominent men > Part 3
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It is generally accepted, however, that the pecuniary condition of the persons, the number in family and other circumstances of a like nature were the determining factors.
It is certain that a few of the larger estates were owned by stock- holders in England, according to the patent.
These lands were ever regarded as the inheritance of the first settlers and their descendants.
At the outset all was bright and prosperous and the prospects were the best. The supplies they brought with them were abundant and for a time there was plenty and all went well. But having arrived too late to cultivate the soil, at the end of the first winter it was found the supplies were very low and for a time there was great suffering. Food became scarcer and scarcer. To many of them, with true
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
Christian spirit, it was accepted as a test of their courage and faith and all hoped and prayed for succor.
It is true, parcels of land and meadow had been granted to the several settlers, but the first year they produced nothing.
From a diary of Capt. Roger Clap is taken an expression of the situation. " Oh, the hunger that many suffered for the want of pro- visions," he writes, "and they saw no hope of immediate supply. Nothing but clams and mussels and fish. Bread was very scarce and sometimes the very crusts from my father's table would have been sweet to me. When I could have meal and water boiled together it was good, and one could not wish for better. It was not thought
M NOT HOUSE.
BLAKE HOUSE
strange then to drink water and eat samp or hominy without butter or milk. It would have been a strange thing to see a piece of roast beef, mutton or veal, though it was not long before there was roast goat."
Through all this suffering and privation no one grumbled. None wished to return to England so long as they could enjoy the worship of God without molestation.
On the contrary, Roger Clap and others frequently wrote to their friends inviting them to the new country and to there enjoy real freedom.
In 1631 relief came when the ship " Lion," heavily laden with food, arrived. Following this was a rich harvest and from that time onward there were better times. The suffering and privation they had endured had taught them to be economical and they were ever ready for a "rainy day."
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
The original boundaries of Dorchester varied. This was occa- sioned by the continual increase in territory and new grants of the court. A few years after the settlement, Dorchester extended and included the present towns of Milton, Stoughton, Canton, Sharon, Fox- boro and a part of Wrentham, a district 35 miles long and running to within 160 rods of the Rhode Island line.
All historians recognize the old Minot house on Chickatawbut Street, Neponset, erected before 1630, as the oldest wooden house now standing on the continent. It has undergone many changes, however. The Blake House on Cottage Street, close to the South Boston line, was built before 1650.
Inasmuch as the Massachusetts charter was drafted for a trading company and not as a basis of independent government, and as its pro- visions applied only to the stockholders such as Edward Rosseter, Roger Ludlow, John Glover and possibly Henry Wolcott and T. New- berry, a large number of the first settlers had no political rights under the charter.
Accordingly the Court of Assistants extended to all suitable persons, the privileges of freemanship. On the first application for this right, October 19, 1630, 108 persons appeared, the following twenty- four from Dorchester :
John Greenaway John Woolridge
William Phelps
John Benham Bigot Eggleston John Hoskins
Mr. Richard Southcote
John Philips Nicolas Upsall
Rev. John Warham
William Rockwell Roger Williams
Thomas Stoughton
Christopher Gibson Thomas Lombard
George Dyer
Mr. Thos. Southcote Mr. Ralph Glover
Thomas Ford
Rev. John Maverick
William Gallard
Stephen Terry
Henry Wolcott
William Hubbard
For many years Dorchester Neck was used solely for pasturage, and the only expense connected therewith was for the necessary fences or ditches used to prevent the cattle from straying off.
In 1633 it was ordered that all persons putting cattle in the Neck shall pay two shillings a head toward the charges, also stating the number and kinds of cattle to be allowed thereon.
To keep the cattle from straying away from the Neck fences were built. One of these was across the "Mouth of the Neck," about where is now the corner of Ninth and Dorchester Streets, which was not so broad then as it is now. A similar fence was also built at the " Mouth of the Little Neck," where is now Andrew Square.
Within a few years many changes occurred in the Dorchester settlement. Rev. Mr. Warham and a large number of people went to
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
Windsor, Conn., there to begin a new colony. Succeeding him was Rev. Mr. Mather, and with him also came a large number of new settlers.
The cause of this sudden and wholesale emigration was largely owing to the stories told of the rich bottom lands of the Connecticut Valley. Many of the Dorchester people were engaged in the fur business, and. learning of opportunities, went to Connecticut. During their first winter there (1634) there was much. suffering and many walked back to Dorchester, glad to get there. The emigration to the Connecticut Valley did not cease until 1637.
For a while the affairs were administered by the Court of Assist- ants, but the local authority rested largely in the clergymen, deacons and magistrates, and meetings of the settlers were frequent. In 1633 it became evident that some form of government was necessary, and at a meeting held October 8, an order was passed which provided for a town government, the first in this country, and consequently of much historic interest.
The order read as follows :
"An agreement made by the whole consent and vote of the plantation, Monday, October 8, 1633.
" IMPRIMIS-It is ordered, that for the general good and well ordering of the affairs of the plantation, there shall be, every Monday, before the court, by eight in the morning, and presently upon the beating of the drum. a general meeting of the inhabitants of the plantation at the meeting house, there to settle and set down such orders as may tend to the general good as aforesaid, and every man to be bound without gainsaying or resistance."
From this year also dates the electing of selectmen, twelve being chosen, although the number varied at times. They were to order the affairs of the plantation, to have monthly meetings, and their orders, confirmed by the plantation, were to be in full force and binding upon the inhabitants. This form of government was soon adopted by the other towns.
Thus Dorchester enjoyed the distinction of having the first town government.
There arrived, July 24, 1633, from Weymouth, England, a vessel with eighty passengers, who settled in Dorchester.
Having received permission from the town, Israel Stoughton, in 1633, erected a water mill, and in January following, the privilege of erecting a fishing weir was also granted to him.
In November, 1633, an order was passed for a "decent burial place and a bier to carry the dead upon."
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
The importance Dorchester had attained is evident from the pro- portion of taxes levied October 1, 1633. While Roxbury, Boston, Newton, Watertown and Charlestown were each taxed £48 and Salem £28, Dorchester was assessed £80.
What was probably the first Massachusetts Legislature or General Court, met in 1634. It consisted of twenty-four persons, representing eight towns. The Dorchester plantation sent Israel Stoughton, William Phelps and George Hull.
In 1635 the fortifying of the towns, erecting beacons, arming and disciplining the soldiers and the appointing of a military commission in the colony was the answer of Massachusetts to demands of England.
Until 1637 all the inhabitants of Dorchester were allowed to graze their cattle at Dorchester Neck. In that year, however, there was a formal division of the Neck and several of the settlers secured from the town exclusive privileges to use the pasture.
There is no record to show what method was used to grant these privileges. This was, however, the very first division of South Boston lands, but not until a few years later was exclusive ownership given.
In this year twenty men were appointed by the town to make out a list of residents of Dorchester who were to be allowed to use the Neck. It must be understood that the Neck was not divided off into any lots or divisions, but was to be used in its entirety by the chosen one hundred or more.
Following is a list of those who first had exclusive privileges in Dorchester Neck, now South Boston :
Thomas Andrews Mr. William Hathorne Robert Pierce
Mr. Humphrey AthertonJohn Hayden
Andrew Pitcher
Mr. James Bates
Richard Hawes John Pope
Mr. Bellingham
Mr. Hawkins
William Preston
John Benham
Mr. John Hill
Daniel Price
Mr. Briggs
John Holland
George Proctor
William Blake
John Holman
Widow Purchase
Edward Bullock
John Hull
William Read
Mr. Nicholas Butler
Jonas Humphrey
Mr. Thos. Richards
Bernard Capen
Mr. Hutchinson
Joseph Rigby
John Capen
Richard Jones
Thomas Sanford Matthew Sension
Nicolas Clap Roger Clap
Mr. John Knight Thomas Kinnersley John Kinsley
Widow Smed John Smith Mr. Stoughton
Austin Clement
Richard Collicut
Thomas Lambert
William Sumner
Robert Deeble
William Lane
Thomas Swift
Thomas Dickerman
Mr. Thomas Makepeace Nicolas Upsall
Thomas Dimeck
Mr. Martin
Richard Wade
Edward Clap
Thomas Jones
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
Nathaniel Duncan
Rev. Richard Mather
Nathaniel Wales
George Dwyer
Alexander Miller
George Way
John Eelles
John Miller
George Weeks
Joseph Farnsworth
Thomas Millet
John Whitcomb
Benjamin Fenn
Mr. George Minot
Edward White
Joseph Flood
John Moore
Widow Foster
Edward Munnings
Mr. Whitfield Mr. Whitman Bray Wilkins
Christopher Gibson
Mr. Thomas Newberry
Mr. John Gilbert
John Niles
Thomas Wiswell
Mr. John Glover
Mr. James Parker
Mr. Withington
John Greenaway
John Phillips
Henry Wright
Thomas Hatch
John Pierce
Richard Wright
It was about the time that the above grants were made and the Neck was divided and allotted, that there was quite a division of senti- ment as to whether the Neck should be used for pasturage or for planting, and it was a question of perennial agitation at the town meetings.
In 1642 there were sixty votes for planting and twenty-eight for feeding. During the controversy it was generally agreed that using the Neck for both purposes, the minority shall fence against the majority on certain conditions, the conditions being as to the nature of the planting. If this agreement was not complied with then the planter was to be secured by the owner of the cattle against damage. The number of cows, calves, horses and oxen was limited.
No swine were allowed pasturage at the Neck at any time. There were penalties for all those who put more than their proportion of cattle in this common pasture and also for those who put them in before the appointed time, which was about the middle of April.
It will be seen that, all along, Dorchester Neck was recognized principally as a place of pasturage and there was no thought of erecting a dwelling place there.
The section then, as now, was a peninsula, although at high tide the water flooded the little Neck and thus made it an island.
Some idea of the roads, paths and ways on the Neck, which were largely " cuts across lots " may be had from a description of them as given prior to 1650.
Leading from Dorchester was the main road, "the Way to the Castle," following practically the line of the present Dorchester Street to Emerson Street (or the " old road " as it was called fifty years later) from what is now the corner of Third and Dorchester Streets, along to where is now situated Police Station 12, then along Fourth Street and on to the shore opposite Castle William, now Fort Independence.
Between what is now Andrew Square and Ninth Street were short
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
roads or paths, one on each side, for the accomodation of owners of meadow or marsh lands on Little Neck.
Then there was what was known as " the Way to the Nook," or " Nook Lane." The Nook was in the vicinity of the present Lawrence School. This lane left the main road near the corner of Seventh and Dorchester Streets (the southwesterly line of the lane is now the north- easterly boundary of the Shurtleff school house grounds) running northwesterly toward Nook Hill. This road accomodated the many owners of small lots in this part of the Neck and was sometimes called, especially in later years, " the Way to Mr. Foster's," his house, built in 1674 or thereabouts, being about where Dahlgren Hall now stands.
At the Great Neck (in the vicinity of Seventh or Eighth Streets) were narrow paths between lots leading to marshes.
The " Way to go down to the Beach " followed the line of the ex- treme northeasterly end of the present Dorchester Street, at Third Street, or, it is thought by some, ran in a more northerly direction from the same point to the harbor.
The " Way to Powow Point" was from a point on Emerson Street, about where is now the old Hawes church, running south to the well or spring in the vicinity of what is now the Mosquito Fleet Yacht Club.
There was a narrow path running westerly from Powow Point near the line of Seventh Street, and it is believed there was a path in con- tinuation of this, around the southerly side of the hill, meeting the main road at the " Mouth of the Neck."
Probably the first street laid out in Dorchester was one beginning at the northeast end of what is now Pleasant Street, or at least that part of it between Stoughton and Cottage Streets. This is now called Pond Street and Crescent Avenue. From the Five Corners it ran northeast to a short distance below the Clapp residence, where there was a gate, and here, also, was the entrance to Dorchester Neck, called Little Neck.
There were several other streets laid out in Dorchester before 1640, but this particular one led to the Neck. The other streets were all near together and the houses were built closely so as to bring the people near each other.
What is now South Boston has undergone many changes since it was Dorchester Neck, particularly in its topography. The two princi- pal and most prominent hills, known in later years as Dorchester Heights, then were known as East and West Hills, although the east- erly one, whereon the Perkins Institution now stands, was sometimes re- ferred to as the Middle Hill and another, nearer to City Point, was the most easterly hill.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
These hills had several names during the Revolutionary period and maps of that time mark these eminences as Twin Hills, Strawberry Hill, Signal Tree Hill and also Nook Hill, or sometimes called Foster's Hill.
The most easterly of the Twin Hills has now almost entirely dis- appeared, but remnants of it may still be seen on East Fifth, between H and I Streets, and also in the vicinity of Storey Street.
What is now Independence Square was then known as Bush Tree Hill, but it was much larger in extent at that time.
The smaller hill, the highest point of which was about where the Lawrence School is now situated, was Nook Hill, sometimes known as Foster's, Fox or Dorchester Hill. The Continental army commanded this hill during the Revolution just before the evacuation of Boston.
Leek Hill was near the water's edge, at the northerly end of Dor- chester Street. It was a small hill, yet was fortified during the Revo- lution. It was supposed to have been named after Thomas Lake, one of the first settlers of Dorchester, who once owned the land.
At City Point, where now is Marine Park, the land was much higher than now, and about 1812 batteries were erected thereon.
Dorchester Neck had several ponds, swamps and creeks in the 17th century. There was a pond on the Wiswell estate, near Fourth and G Streets, and there were others on K Street, near Fifth Street, K and Third Streets, D and Seventh Streets. There were two swamps at the Point near the present Marine Park and smaller ones were scat- tered throughout the district.
Creeks were many in number, especially in the neighborhood of Little Neck, and there were two on the Great Neck, these latter cut- ting off communication between Dorchester and the Neck at high tide. In the vicinity of the present Broadway and D Street there was quite a creek and in later years Broadway at that place was only passable over an improvised bridge. Many salt and fresh water marshes are men- tioned in the old deeds.
Powow Point with its spring of fresh water, at the foot of what is now K street, was undoubtedly named for some Indians who camped there.
There was a great training day in Boston, lasting two days, Sept. II and 12, 1641, and the Dorchester soldiers took a prominent part.
In 1642 the first efforts to lay out and divide the lands on the Neck were made. Messrs. Jones, Glover and Wilkes were made com- missioners to give allowance to swamps as they might deem best. A portion of the Neck was reserved exclusively for the cattle, a common pasture.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
In 1645 a directory was adopted wherein were written rules and orders. Some of them were as follows:
" All things to be considered at the town meeting shall be previously placed in the hands of the Selectmen.
" All matters of importance shall first be in writing and read two or three times distinctly, before being voted on.
" Every man shall have liberty to speak his mind meekly and without noise.
" No man shall speak when another is speaking.
" All men should countenance and encourage all the town officers and not to find fault or revile them in the due execution of their offices."
During this year, also, it was provided that at the town meetings the Selectmen "shall choose one of their number as the Moderator."
The original division of the Massachusetts Bay Colony into coun- ties was on May 10, 1643. It was then that Essex, Middlesex, Suf- folk and Norfolk were formed. Suffolk county, as then constituted, contained Boston, Roxbury, Dorchester, Dedham, Braintree, Wey- mouth and Nantasket.
Suffolk county, in 1901, is sixteen miles at its greatest length and eight and one-half miles at the greatest width.
CHAPTER IV.
DAILY LIFE OF THE EARLY SETTLERS; DRESS.
Humble abodes in early years - Better style of dwellings in later years - Costumes of the day - Daily routine of a farmer and his family - Various occupations engage the time of the early settlers.
I N two hundred and seventy years many changes occur in the style of dwelling houses, interiorly and exteriorly, in the dress and habits of the people and even in the daily routine of the individual.
Although the inhabitants of Dorchester were but few in numbers in the 17th century, yet each was expected to do his or her share in the upbuilding of the town, each was in duty bound to live not only for self but for the general welfare and advancement of the community. Work they had and work they did, willingly and without complaining, and the greatest care was taken that all should lead true Christian lives, and every effort made to have all attend the church of God and listen to the words of wisdom intended to direct them in the right path and make of them good and worthy citizens.
The head of each family had the privilege of choosing his own homestead, although other lands were distributed by grants. At first the abodes were small, unpretentious affairs, mostly built of logs and covered with thatch taken from the salt marshes near by.
Thoughtful and considerate for the wants and welfare of the com- munity a piece of land was reserved for the free use of the inhabitants, whereon to build in the future, but this rule, it is said, was broken by their descendants who took possession of it all.
Industry and indefatigable labor soon bore fruit and the settlers in a few years built a better class of dwellings. The timber used was principally of oak, calculated to stand the test of time and the fierceness of tempests. In their clothing they maintained a similarity of style and finish.
Soon the small, humble huts, gave way to neat little cottages, many a story and a half in height, but with additional rooms and much more space. Well cared for farms pointed toward prosperity and better times.
There are a few of the early houses still standing in Dorchester that show the style of those times, and now, with a few alterations and some rebuilding, are the original houses of the 17th century.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
The best idea of the dress and habits of the first settlers of Dor- chester is obtained from a book by Rev. Charles Brooks. His descrip- tion is interesting, although lengthy, and the following is only an abstract :
" The every day dress was very plain and comfortable, but Sunday suits were more elaborate and expensive. The men, on Sunday, wore broad brimmed hats, turned up into three corners, with loops at the side, showing full bush wigs beneath them; long coats, the very opposite of swallow tails, having large pocketfolds and cuffs, and with- out collars, the buttons either plated or of pure silver and of the size of a half dollar.
" The vests, also without collars, were long, with graceful pen- dulous lappel pockets. The shirts had bosoms and wrist ruffles, with buckles at the wrist united by a link. The neck cloths or scarfs were of fine linen or figured stuff, or embroidered, the ends hanging loosely.
" Small clothes were in fashion and only reached a little below the knees, where they were ornamented with silver buckles of liberal size. The legs were covered with gray stockings and the feet with shoes ornamented with straps and silver buckles. Boots were sometimes worn, having broad white tops, and gloves were also in fashion on great occasions, and mittens in winter.
" A gentleman with his cocked hat and white bush wig, chocolate coat, buff vest and small-clothes, brown stockings and black shoes ruffles, buckles and buttons, presented an imposing figure, and he was a man who would probably demean himself with dignity and intelli- gence.
" Rich men dressed very expensively. They had a scarlet coat, wadded skirts, full sleeves, cuffs reaching to the elbows, wristbands fringed with lace, embroidered bands, tassels, gold buttons, vests fringed with lace and small-clothes with puffs, points, buckles and a sword hanging by the side.
" The visiting dress of the women was more costly, complicated and fancy than their husbands or brothers wore. Their coiffures were so high as to bring their faces almost into the middle of their bodies. They wore black silk or satin bonnets and their gowns were extremely long waisted with tight sleeves, which were oftentimes very short and with an immense frill at the elbow. They had spreading hoops and long trails, high heeled shoes, and, dressed in their brocades, flounces and embroidered aprons, they were prepared for any social function.
" Their dress on the Sabbath was simple, secure and modest. A cheap straw hat with only one bow on the outside and no ornament inside, topped off the head. A calico dress of sober colors, high up in the neck with a simple white muslin collar just peeping around
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
the top, a neat little shawl and a stout pair of shoes, and they were dressed ready for church."
To understand the habits and the daily routine of the people, it may be well to follow a family of moderate circumstances throughout their duties on a Saturday and Sunday.
Let us suppose the father is a strong, able-bodied farmer of about forty-six, and his wife seven years his junior. Their first child is a son of eighteen, and the next a daughter of sixteen. Then there are three boys, fourteen, eleven and eight, and the youngest child is a daughter of six.
Of hired men they had none. Extra help came from what they called " change work.'
Before daylight Saturday the entire family was awake and about their morning ablutions. The father, awake first, lighted the fire under the kettle in which the water for the porridge was to boil. Then he called the boys and finally the mother and eldest daughter, followed shortly afterward by the youngest of the family.
A wooden wash basin in the sink served each in turn and one roller towel sufficed for wiping all the faces. With all the sturdiness of their nature they went about their duties.
The dress of each was suited to their work. The father wore an old cocked hat or a thick cotton cap, no cravat but a low shirt collar, a short frock of strongest warp, a pair of old leather breeches and leggins which were tucked in above the knees and tied over the shoe with a string round the middle of the foot.
The boys had cotton caps or the remnants of old felt hats, short jackets of the coarsest fabric, leather breeches and leggins.
Just as the sun rose over the horizon the father and three sons were in the cow yard, milking. Then the youngest boy drove the cows to pasture, across to Dorchester Neck, replaced the bars, and hastened back to his next duties. The hogs had received their allowance of buttermilk, and the morning milk was strained off for the cream or heated to begin a cheese.
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