USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > History of Wakefield (Middlesex County) Massachusetts, compiled by William E. Eaton and History Committee > Part 2
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The next year, 1639, the colony made another grant of land extending still farther westward to the Charlestown line, later Stoneham and Woburn, and designated William Hathorn of Salem and Edward Tomlyn of Lynn to survey and lay out "Linn Village." This new section was soon divided among the first settlers-the first "Divident" extending northward from and including Cowdrey's Hill. It was here that Richard Walker, Thomas Kendall, Abraham Briant, Thomas Hartshorne, Thomas Clark, Thomas Taylor, and others settled.
To complete the territorial picture, the Colony in 1651 granted Red- ding land extending from the Ipswich River north to the new town of
[ 23 ]
or Saugus Riv.
.WOODS . RGAD
MIDDLE
PA
Choose Hiu
CHOOSE HILL RD.
SW
Dam
Ford crossed by Gov. Winthrop &' Officials, 1631
Dungeon
The
TO
Dungeon
Canal
53MMVH
Iron
Works 1643
The
DUNG
Lantern
Pirat
Vinegar
PARISH
now
PanFor
Pinie
"sadler's Rock
Richard Sadler
JOMOW
g
Great
Bridge 1639
COUNTRY
Ballard's
MILL HILL
Tavern
Edw. Huwell's Grish
Mill 1643 (Over stee)
NEWHALL'S
TANE
Upper
. Lunding
Ford &-
Breeds
Ferry
16391.
End
MAP OF EARLY LYNN
The arrow points to the ford-crossing on the Saugus River, the only place where it was fordable, in 1639. The first Redding settlers from Lynn crossed the river at this point, where, in 1631, Gov. Winthrop and officials made the crossing on their trip from Salem and Lynn to Boston. Below the ford was the famous Saugus Iron Works, established in 1643. The dam above prevented alewives (food for the early settlers) from coming to old Redding Pond, an act protested by the town, but without success.
ROUTE
08
Ist P.
3d
SAUG
PROD
ansion
545
H
"Landing
Ballard's
READING-1644 TO 1812
Andover-and this was when the early settlers really went into the market- ing of large areas to late arrivals, many from Salem and vicinity, where they settled in what is the North Reading of today.
To describe accurately the events and conditions of early settlement of Redding is most difficult, since so many of the early records have not been preserved. It can be supposed that the first group, on being allotted land in ample measure, departed from Lynn and journeyed in canoes up the Abbousett (Saugus) River, and by the old Indian trail, crossing the ford at Saugus, up the Nahant Street of the present day, passing to the south of "Castle Rock." With their families and cartels it was an adventure worthy to be more clearly described. Timber had to be cut, dwellings erected, lands to be cleared, cultivated and sown. Meadows had to be cut for cattle fodder; an embryonic local government established; the whole as "Linn Village," a Parish of Lynn, for just a few years, when the settlement came of age, so to speak; and there, by Colony decree, we have Redding in 1644 as an accepted, incorporated town of courageous and God- fearing men and their families.
KEY TO MAP 1647
The map on the next page is based on a list of the first settlers of Red- ding, who were given grants of land in 1647; this is the first general divi- sion of land of which there is any record.
There had been numerous earlier individual grants by Lynn prior to 1644, when Redding was incorporated. These grants were described in such general terms as to prohibit any accurate determination of location in many instances.
The location of homesteads, as indicated on the map, has been the result of a careful study of grants, deeds and wills, but the fact remains that, because these early settlers owned land in the places marked by a dwelling, it is no assurance that buildings had been erected as early as 1647. They must have had some sort of habitation on removal to Red- ding; and the map shows for the most part, the locations of early home- steads as they passed to the children or to the eldest son, as was the general practice. All were within the limits of the town of Wakefield.
No. 1. Francis Smith. On the westerly side of Main Street, a short dis- tance east of the present Wakefield Junction Railroad station.
No. 2. John Smith. On the easterly side of Main Street at the southeast corner of Nahant Street.
[ 25 ]
1
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TH- MILL 1644
LYNN
40
CHARLESTOWN
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LYNN
CHARLESTOWN
CASTLE
HILL
COUNTY
BOUND
MAP- OF OLD· READING MASSACHUSETTS BAY. COLONY -1647- SHOWING THE LOCATION OF THE HOMESTALLS OF THE FIRST SETTLERS ALL BEING WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE PRESENT. TOWM OF . WAKEFIELD
BARE
COWDREY HILL
419
DES ROTOTO BALEN
ROAD
READING-1644 TO 1812
No. 3. Henry Felch. On the westerly side of Main Street south of Mill River, the outlet of Crystal Lake. This is only a prob- ability. A descendant was living in this location in 1750.
No. 4. George Davis. On westerly side of Main Street, near the present High School. Land descriptions bounding west on the Charlestown line favor this location.
No. 5. Rev. Henry Green. The first minister. Northeast corner of Main and Water Streets, where the Wakefield Town Hall now stands. There is an old grant description that raises the question that perhaps the original owner of land at this point was Lieutenant Thomas Marshall.
No. 6. Samuel Dunton. On northerly side of Corne Mill River, near the northeast corner of Water and Crescent Streets.
No. 7. John Poole. North side of Corne Mill Road, near where the present Vernon Street enters Water Street.
No. S. Thomas Parker. On easterly side of Crescent Street facing what is now Mechanic Street.
No. 9. The First Meeting House. Westerly side of Main Street, south of Albion Street.
No. 10. Jeremy Fitch. Easterly side of Main Street, between Salem and Pearl Streets; homestead set well back in the direction of Pleasant Street.
No. 11. Josiah Dustin. Easterly side of Main Street, Lakeside near the present Lawrence Street.
No. 12. William Martin. Easterly side of Main Street, Lakeside next north of the Dustin homestead.
No. 13. Edward Hutchinson. Easterly side of Main Street, Lakeside, next north of William Martin, later in possession of Thomas Nichols.
No. 14. William Eaton. Easterly side of Main Street, Lakeside, above Aborn Avenue.
No. 15. Jonas Eaton. Easterly side of Main Street, Lakeside, next north of his brother, William Eaton.
No. 16. John Bachellor. Easterly side of Main Street, Lakeside, near the present Cordis Street.
No. 17. Nicholas Browne. Easterly side of Main Street, Lakeside, next north of the Bachellor homestead. There was a dwelling on the Browne land early, but when it was built is at present unknown.
[ 27 ]
HISTORY OF WAKEFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
No. 18. Edward Taylor. Easterly side of Main Street, Lakeside, prob- ably within the location of the Beebe estate of the present day. No. 19. Robert Burnap, Sr. Homestead was east of Lot End Road, (Vernon Street), and south of the old Reading-Salem road, : (Lowell Street). He was not listed in the 1647 grant but was there very soon after.
No. 20. Jeremiah Sweyne. On the easterly side of the early Reading- Salem road, south of and near the junction of Lowell and Salem Streets.
No. 21. Nicholas Brown. His early homestead was on the westerly side of the early Reading-Salem road, some distance north of Montrose Avenue.
No. 22. 'Isaac Hart. Southwest corner of the present Church and Com- mon Streets, facing what was later known as "Meeting House Green." This location was early known as "Hart's Corner."
No. 23. William Hooper. Southerly end of Church Street at the south end of Reading Pond, at or near the present Hartshorne house.
No. 24. Thomas Kendall. His homestead was on the southerly side of Prospect Street, on the easterly corner of the present Cedar Street. The old James Emerson house now standing is on or near the same site.
No. 25. Richard Walker. Northerly side of Elm Street, west of Winn Street. This site was later known as "Winn Place."
No. 26. Abraham Briant. Southerly side of Elm Street, the old and early road to Woburn, and east of Parker Road.
No. 27. Thomas Hartshorne. Westerly side of Elm Street, near the present Western Avenue. There is reason to believe that Elm Street was early used as Reading's Training Field. Its extraordinary width may thus be explained.
No. 28. William Cowdrey. Northerly side of Prospect Street, Cowdrey's Hill and east of Parker Road.
No. 29. William Hooper. Northerly side of Prospect Street, near the intersection with Hopkins Street.
1 page 104.
No. 30. Thomas Clark. Southerly side of Prospect Street, near its junc- tion with Park Avenue.
No. 31. Thomas Taylor. Southerly side of Prospect Street, Cowdrey's Hill, close to where Summit Avenue enters. His pasture extended south to the early Charlestown line. .
[ 28]
READING-1644 TO 1812
No. 32. Sergt. Thomas Marshall. Southerly side of Prospect Street is a probability, although his homestead at one time may have been in the southeasterly part of Reading.
The locations of the dwellings of Henry Feltch, Jr., John Pierson and Samuel Walker, all named in the 1647 grants, have not been deter- mined. Walker went early to Woburn and Pierson later to Lynn End (Lynnfield).
It is to be noted that no early homesteads appear to have been located on the westerly side of Main Street, from Lafayette Street to Water Street. Early owners of land in this section were Robert Burnap, Abraham Bryant, William Cowdrey and Ephraim Savage. It is prob- able that these men may have lived at one time on their land west of Main Street in the center of the new town. Eaton's History records that Cowdrey had a house south of Albion Street. It was probably near to Water Street where his land lay.
EARLY COMMUNITY PROBLEMS
The first two community problems were soon attended to. First, a meeting house was erected about 1645 on land on the southwest corner of Main and Albion Streets, the twenty-third in the Colony, and ere long, a parsonage just south of the meeting house with an orchard close by. Second, a burying ground was set out on the north side of Church Street, near the band stand in the Park. It was not until 1666 that it was fenced with pine rails. With these essentials for life and death, the settlement expanded and grew so that by 1667 there were fifty-nine houses built, a few main highways and open spaces located. The History of Reading, by the Hon. Lilley Eaton, gives in interesting detail the progress during the formative and later periods, as well as the rules and regulations under which life, lib- erty and happiness progressed down to 1868. The first church records in 1648 show a membership of sixty men and women. In this year the Rev. Henry Green, first minister of Reading, ordained November 5, 1645, died; and a license was issued to Francis Smith to sell intoxicating liquors. Ser- geant Thomas Marshall, Captains Bridges and Walker were appointed in 1645, Commissioners to negotiate a treaty with the Indians, but the final deed and payment did not pass until 1686.
A modified, democratic government was established in 1647 when, as far as the records show, the first Board of Selectmen of seven was elected. For a great many years town meetings were held in the meeting house and limited to daylight hours; in some years with a penalty for non-
[ 29 ]
HISTORY OF WAKEFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
attendance. Very early the town voted "that all business shall proceed orderly," and "nothing done hastily." In 1650 Captain Richard Walker was chosen the first Representative to the General Court.
The Pine Tree Shilling came into circulation in 1652, previous busi- ness transactions being by barter, English and Spanish money and Indian wampum.
In 1675 the town furnished its quota of men for "King Philip's War," Major Jeremiah Swayne, Captain Jonathan Poole, and seventeen others.
It was the habit of alewives to come up the Saugus River to Reading Pond to spawn. Such fish furnished good food for Reading families until 1675, when a dam built at the Saugus Iron Works destroyed this food supply, and so in righteous indignation, the town fathers protested. The dam remained!
SOME EARLY RULES AND REGULATIONS
The story of the early Massachusetts settlements has been so often told in prose and verse that it does not seem necessary here to repeat it. From the early log cabin to the lean-to, and the overhanging garrison to the more modern two-story colonial; from the pillion to the chaise; from the rugged life to the increasing comforts of living and transportation-all these afford increasing pleasure to those historically inclined. A study of early wills and inventories of real and personal property gives a clear insight into the developments of the Great Puritan Adventure. In these days it is difficult to realize the primitive conditions of life-no potatoes, but .turnips; no light but the candle and oil lamp, or the light from the great fireplace; no newspapers; a Bible and one book for reading; no window glass or paint, etc., but always a gun close at hand. Yet here was an independent life "with broadacres, large flocks and herds, a good store of flax, wood and cider and a large family!"
Of the early settlers it can be said "that they left their children a heritage of wisdom and common sense-and a conscience."
Among the, to us, strange rules and regulations governing the early community a few are given as samples :
The Town Crier, in stentorian voice proclaimed "that he who is to cry things lost shall keep a booke where he shall note down fully as such things."
"Youths from ten to sixteen years old shall be trained to the use of small guns, half pikes and also bows-and arrows, lest the Colony shall be destitute of powder."
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READING-1644 TO 1812
"If any young man attempted to address a young woman without the consent of her parents, or in case of their absence he shall be fined £15 for the first offence, £15 for the second offence and imprisonment for the third." Note: One swain was caught and fined £5:2:6.
"If anyone shall depart the town meeting without leave such person shall be fined six pence."
"That (to combat fire) no barn or haystack shall be sett within six poles of anni dwelling." Penalty 10 shillings.
"Every dwelling shall have a sufficient latner (ladder) standing by the chimney."
"The early rule was to fence land to keep out 'Cattle and hoggs'- not to keep them in."
"Every man was to yonke his hoggs; the yonke being as long as the hogg is high and to be six inches above his neck."
"That males of less property than £200 are probihited from wearing gold or silver lace, or buttons or points at their knees, or walk in great boots; or if any females, not possesed of £200 wear silk or tiffany hoods or scarfs, they shall be prosecuted and fined."
The General Court agreed "that for the dispatch of business the Depu- ties shall eat and especially dine-together in the Court House where they shall have breakfast, dinner and supper, and a cup of wine with the two last meals, and fire and bed for 3 shillings a day."
John Weston "was admonished and to make public acknowledgment for challenging Thomas Clark in the field to fight."
"Dogs coming to meeting on Lord's Day or lecture days, not with owner, or without pay to the dog's whipper, the owner shall pay six pence everytime they come to the meeting." The record tells that twenty-six men agreed to pay the dog-whipper.
A herdsman was chosen to look after the cattle on the Common "so they may not eat up and destroy in the Somer what should be for them in the winter."
In 1680, freemen, in voting for public officers, were obliged to use "Indian corne."
One of the "Goodwif's" for sweeping the meeting house for the year of 1690 was given "three bushels of Indyun Corne."
Just previous to 1700 the town voted "that there shall be shade trees left on the Common."
Voted that "no geese shall go on the Common after January 1 next, but that swine may."
Down through the early years there are recorded incidents and laws that give a glimpse of the gradual transformation of local life and habits.
[3]]
HISTORY OF WAKEFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
Main Street was known as the Common, much as it is laid out in these present times. Cutting of oak, spruce and pine trees on the Common was prohibited. No man was to turn "cattell" upon the Common from the middle of March to herding time. William Cowdrey was licensed to sell wine and strong liquors to the Indians with a one-pint limit. Robert Burnap was chosen keeper of the Pound. Slaves, male and female, ap- peared as servants earlier than 1655.
In 1657 it was voted to hold two town meetings a year, with a "fine of two shillings, six pence if not present by 9 in the forenoon." In 1661 a lease was made on terms of £7 yearly, payment to be made-one bushel of Ry and Indian (corn), all the rest in wheat and cattell. Part payment of a house was in "English goods, linens and wool." Thomas Chandler paid a debt with shovels, spades and axes; and Lieutenant Marshall a debt in "Fatt Beef and Fatt Pork."
In 1666, a quarter of a century following the settlement of Linn Vil- lage, Henry Merrow, who married (1661) Jane Wallis of Woburn, built the first house in the present town of Reading at or near the corner of Woburn and West Streets. It is said that Merrow was one of Cromwell's prisoners and was brought to America to work in the Saugus Iron Works.
In 1672 the town appeared to be having trouble with the ladies, so it was ordered "that any woman, convicted of Railing or Scholding, shall be gagged, or set in a ducking pool and dipped over head and ears three times."
For years the life of the Colonists was one of anxiety, of struggle against nature and its environments, for many of them against advancing age. From 1670 on, many of the early settlers passed away. They had reared large families, had seen sons and daughters married in good families within the town. Most wills devised property to the eldest sons. Widows were given rather meager allotments-such as "my wife to have the bed- room to the west of the hall; permission to use the hall and one half of the cellar, to have a small sum of money and a barrel of cider and one cow" --- all under the direction of the eldest son. Some estates where there were no sons went wholly, or in part, to married daughters. In all these early family documents we find the handwriting to be that of William Cowdrey, the scribe and adviser of the town's people. In many of the older documents the X (his or her) mark appears.
Early wills, with some variations, begin "being in perfect mind and memory though weak in body," and "I give and bequeath my soul unto the hands of God, my Creator, entreating Him through the merit of his blessed Son to accept me and my body to the earth, out of which it was
[ 32 ]
READING-1644 TO 1812
made in hope of a glorious and happy reunion of those old companions at the last day." So began the will of Nathaniel, the son of William Cowdrey.
William Cowdrey died in 1684 and this is what he gave by will to his wife Also; "one mare and to cows, and ten oxens and ten young calves and fower sheep and three young shoats and if there Be not soe many catell there in Being of Every Sort then they must be made up from some other Catell, or in something else, and furthermore I give unto my deare wife also one feather Bead and Boulster and Green Rug, fower Pillows and three Cotton Blankets, and three pares of cors. (corse) flaxen sheets and fower Pillow Pears Good and Bad; one pare of toe sheets and five napkins and a Littal tablecloth and ten Puter Dishes," etc. Two grandchildren each received "one pare of flaxen sheets."
There is mention in the will of Kendall Bryant of his wife, Elizabeth, who was to have the use of "the left end of my dwelling house during her widowhood." Robert Burnap's will recites that his wife, Sarah, is "to have all movables and my house to live in as long as she is a widow."
It is clear that those early settlers did not want a second husband to enjoy the fruits of their own hard labor. Still the number of second and third marriages for the men were a-plenty down through the years! Burnap's son left to his widow "the west lower bedroom in the Leanto."
James Boutwell, Sr., in his will gave to his daughters Mary and Eliz- abeth "choice of one room in my home to live."
The early records for the first hundred years told of many changes in real estate holdings. Some of the early, large farms, and especially large and small lots from first and subsequent divisions, were disposed of to later arrivals, or given to sons upon which to build and maintain homes. It was a natural transformation of material things to the newer generation.
The second meeting house was built in 1689 at "Hart's" corner on Church Street, a little south of the present meeting house of the First Parish. It signified a growth of religious interest, to care for the spiritual needs of a growing, healthful town. The cost was shared by 72 Redding men, 26 Lynn End (Lynnfield) men, and 10 men of that part of Charles- town now the town of Stoneham. There was now a meeting house and a burial ground, side by side!
The purchase of the town's open lands through the early years was by paying "as one can"; but in 1679 the town voted that hereafter town lands would be sold "only for cash."
In 1680 Robert Ken arrived in town; located on a small pond in our Common; built a blacksmith shop on the west shore. That's where "Ken's Pond" took its name.
[ 33 ]
HISTORY OF WAKEFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
In 1685 a highway to Woburn was laid out over Cowdrey's Hill and a highway to Stoneham over Cedar, Gould, Albion and Green Streets. In 1726 what is now Greenwood was set off from Malden and became a part of old Reading. In 1729 there was a meeting at Landlord Wesson's to hear the reading of the Indian Deed.
An old county road, much in use in early times, extended west from the First Parish meeting house, and north of the present Church Street, to a point east of the Hartshorne house. When the present Church Street was laid out, the county road was abandoned, but a portion thereof re- mains to this day in possession of the Middlesex County Commissioners
In 1733 the bill of expense of the funeral of Rev. Richard Brown, min- ister of the First Parish contained these items: for provisions, £2:1:0; for fetching the wine, 15s; for 5 qts. Rhom, 8s; for digging Mr. Brown's grave, 8s; Landlord Wesson for Rhom, 10s, 6d; Wm. Cowdrey for making the coffin, 15s; Andrew Tyler of Boston, 6 gold rings for funeral, £10:18:0.
In 1734 the town bought a "Kalash" and a horse to go with it. Seven years later Rev. George Whitefield preached on Reading Common.
In 1752 a new style of time (as it is today) was introduced into the country. The old style year began in March, with February the 12th month.
Up to 1775 all town meetings were called in the name of the then King of England.
Following the early settlement of Reading, the growth of population, of government and of industry and of social life was toward a long, sane and stable existence. Generations followed generations, many inherited from their parents-the continual flow of new peoples with more modern ideas and habits tended to create problems that had to be solved-and they were solved.
So it is that the town of Reading reached a maturity when it was de- sirable to set up separate and distinct areas of influence. To this end there was created three Parishes-what is now Wakefield was the First or South Parish; what is now North Reading was the Second or North Parish; and what is now Reading became the Third or West Parish, earlier (1673) named "Wood End." These districts continued down to 1812 when the First Parish was legally divorced from the other Parishes, as the Town of South Reading. This closed the first historical period of Reading exis- tence. The remaining two parishes took the name of Reading, and it was not until 1853 that the Second Parish separated from the Third Parish and was incorporated as the Town of North Reading.
The first 100 years-the Centennial of Incorporation-passed without apparent recognition of the importance of the event either by town or
[ 34 ]
READING-1644 TO 1812
parish. Searching the records discloses only one episode, i.e. "The Bible was read for the first time in the First Parish meeting house."
1700 - 1812
After sixty years the old Town of Reading had acquired a well- earned place in the Massachusetts Colony. Forty of the first settlers had passed on, leaving large families to take up the burdens of life, and gov- ernment. Fifty of the males had given several or more years as Selectmen with six as town clerks, and eight as delegates to the General Court.
A town school had been established to teach the children "reading. wrighting and sifering," the masters and parents to furnish the wood. The meeting house had been enlarged, and the new century opened with prosperity generally the portion of the inhabitants.
Six years later an Indian attack was made in the north part, killing a woman and three children. Other children carried off were recovered by the infuriated settlers.
As the years followed, the north part was set off as a separate parish in 1713, and later the west part was likewise set off. Meeting houses and schools followed. In 1720-1721 there were 184 Reading members of the Church, 7 from Malden (Melrose), 20 from Lynn End (Lynnfield), 25 from Charlestown (Stoneham) a total of 236.
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