USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > History of old Braintree and Quincy : with a sketch of Randolph and Holbrook > Part 17
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > History of old Braintree and Quincy : with a sketch of Randolph and Holbrook > Part 17
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POST OFFICES.
At the time the town was first settled, regular post offices were unknown; still a sort of a post office was established by the Colonial General Court as early as 1639.1 It seems to have been the custom at that time for correspondents with and from England and the various colonies, to have their letters deposited in some public place, such as the Town House or Exchange in Boston, or the taverns in small hamlets, villages or towns. Per- sons expecting written intelligence, or desiring to communicate with their friends, would visit these public places of resort, and receive their letters or forward them to the place of destination at their pleasure. This careless and uncertain method of postal arrangement caused the Colonial Council, in 1677, to appoint Jolm Hayward 2 "post master for the whole colony."
It was only a few years previous to this period, that the parent government had established a Post Office Department, as consti- tuted and managed at the present time. This method of trans-
1. November 5th, 1639. "For preventing the miscarriage of letters, & it is ordered, that notice bee given that Richard Fairbanks, his house in Boston,. is the place appointed for all letters which are brought from beyond the seas, or are to bee sent thither are to be brought unto; & he is to take care that they be delivered er sent according to their direction; and he is allowed for every such letter a 1d, & must answer all miscarriages through his own neglect in this kind; provided that no man shall bee compelled to bring his letter thitlier ex- cept he please."-Mass. Rec., Vol. I., p. 281.
2. " In ans'r to the request of senerall merchants of Boston, declaring that they have heard many Complaints made by merchants and others that haue binn sencible of the losse of letters, whereby merchants, w'th their friends & imployers in forreigne parts, are greatly damified; many times letters are thronne vpon the exchange, that who will may take them vp, &c .; therefore humbly desire this court to depute some meet person to take in & convey let- ters according to y'r direction. This Court judgeth it meet to grant the peti- tioners' request herein, and have made choyee of Mr. John Hayward, the seriv- enner, to be the person for the service."-Mass. Rec., Vol. V., p. 147.
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POST OFFICES.
mitting the mails was carried into effect December 27th, 1660.1
The management of the postal affairs was under the control of the colony until 1692; from this period till 1710, under the Province Law.
For some time there had been considerable complaint and dis- satisfaction in regard .to the careless and irregular method by which letters were transmitted. To relieve them of their com- plaints, and also desiring to receive a greater revenue from their colonial subjects, the home government established a post office in North America, which continued until the colonies were sepa- rated, and declared themselves a free and independent nation by the war of the Revolution.
In 1784, a year after the close of the war, postal affairs in Massachusetts were quite limited.2
At the first session of the first Congress, in 1789, a resolution of an experimental kind was passed, to establish rules and regu- lations for the transmission of the mails, and the question con- tinned to be agitated until 1792, when a law was enacted for the purpose of organizing a Post Office Department, also to define and shorten the mail routes. This law, however, was of a tempo- rary nature, as will be seen by the last clause in the act :- " That the act shall be in force for the term of two years from the first day of June next, and no longer." It was several years after this before the question was definitely settled.
1. "The King also commands his postmasters of England for foreign parts, to open a regular communication, by running post, between the metropolis and Edinburgh, West Chester, Holyhead, Ireland, Plymonth, Exeter, &c. Rates of postage :- One letter, carried under 80 miles, 2d; under 140 miles, 4d; above that distance in England, 6d; to any part of Scotland, 8d. Even as late as be- tween 1730 and 1740, the post was only transmitted three days a week between Edinburgh and London, and the metropolis on one occasion only sent a single letter, which was for an Edinburgh banker named Ramsay."-Hayden's Diet. of Dates.
2. Postmaster General, Ebenezer Hayward, Esq., Boston; Assistant or clerk, Mr. James Byron; Postmaster at Boston, Mr. Jonathan Hastings; Post- master at Salem, Mr. Maseal Williams; Postmaster at Ipswich, Mr. Daniel Noyes; Postmaster at Newburyport, Mr. Burkley Emerson; Postmaster at Fal- mouth, Mr. Samuel Freeman; Postmaster at Worcester, Mr. Isaiah Thomas; Postmaster at Springfield, Mr. Moses Church. This seems, by the Massachu- setts Register, to have been the extent of the mail arrangements in the State.
24
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POST OFFICES.
We are unable to give the reason why the post office in Quincy was not established until three years after its separation and in- corporation, unless it was that Congress had not sufficiently per- fected the law to make the appointment. The first postmaster was Mr. Richard Cranch, who received his commission April 1st, 1795.1 This post office was located in the southeasterly corner of Mr. Cranch's domain, on School street, in a small building placed there for the purpose. This fine estate is now in the pos- session of Mr. James Edwards.
Mr. Cranch's death occurred in 1811, and Dr. Benjamin Vin- ton was appointed to succeed him January 1st, 1812. Dr. Vinton removed the office to his house on Granite street, corner of Hancock street, (next to the residence of the late John Briesler,) which is still standing.
Dr. Vinton died in 1813, having held the office somewhat over one year. After his decease Mr. Mottram Veazie, the old Town Clerk, whose portrait still hangs in the Selectmen's Room, re- ceived his commission as postmaster October 1st, 1813. During Mr. Veazie's administration the office was kept at his residence,2 on Hancock street, where the Hancock Hotel, (now the Adams Academy boarding-house,) stands.
At the death of Mr. Veazie, he was succeeded by Mr. Daniel French, August 11th, 1825.3 Mr. French continued in office
1. " The following were the rates of postage at that time for single letters; double letters were to pay double, and triple letters triple :
30 miles,
250 miles, 60 350 - 100 10 66 66 450 4 - 150
8 .' 123 15 6 cents.
-
20
More than 450 miles, - 200
" The Southern and Eastern mails were to run three times a week. The South- ern mails were to arrive at Boston for six months, from the first of May to the first of November, every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, by noon; and to leave Boston Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at noon. From the first of November to the first of May, the mails arrived at Boston on Monday, Wednes- day and Friday, at ten o'clock in the forenoon; and were to leave Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at one o'clock in the afternoon."
2. It is related that Governor Shirley at one time occupied this house as his residence.
3. It is stated in the Massachusetts Register that Mr. Savil was postmaster in Quiney from 1824 to 1831. This must be a mistake, as the official record at
-
-
2.1
17 cents.
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POST OFFICES.
until March 20th, 1849, having held the position for twenty-four successive years; if we include his re-appointment in 1853, which lasted abont one year, it would make twenty-five years that he served the public in this capacity. Mr. French trans- acted the business of the office in his hotel, which was the old Veazie house, until he erected a more spacious hotel in 1837, on the same site.
A political change in administration of the government caused Mr. French to be removed, and Dr. William B. Bugbee succeed- ed him March 20th, 1849. . This was the first removal of a post- master on political grounds since the incorporation of the town. Dr. Bugbee transferred the office to his apothecary shop, in the Town House, where the National Mt. Wollaston Bank now is.
The late Francis Williams, who succeeded Dr. W. B. Bugbee, received his commission as postmaster September 8th, 1851, and secured the building now occupied by Mr. John O. Holden, No. 87 Hancock street, for a post office. Mr. Williams being con- nected in more lucrative and important business, procured the services of Mr. Lysander S. Richards as acting postmaster.
On the election of Mr. Pierce, in 1852, as President, Mr. Daniel French, September 19th, 1853, was re-appointed as post- master. Mr. French removed the office to his residence on Temple street, which is now ocenpied by Mr. G. F. Wilson as a provision store.
Mr. John A. Green, the originator, former proprietor and edi- tor of the Quincy Patriot, received his appointment October 21st, 1854. Mr. Green removed the office to No. 87 Hancock street, the same building where Mr. Williams conducted the business of the office. Gen. Donahne and Mr. James M. Beck- ford were the acting postmasters under Mr. Green's adminis- tration.
During Mr. Buchanan's Presidency, Deacon George Baxter received a commission September 24th, 1858, as postmaster for this town. Mr. Baxter removed the post office to the Town House, and occupied the room that is now used by the Selectmen.
Washington gives no account of his appointment. This error evidently occurs from the circumstance of Mr. Savil's acting for Mr. Veazie while out of health. The Massachusetts Register we consider of little authority.
180
POST OFFICES.
On the election of Mr. Lincoln as President, Deacon Baxter was removed, and Mr. George L. Gill appointed in his place, April 18th, 1861. Mr. Gill established the office at No. 84 Hancock street, where the Quincy Savings Bank is now located, and was re-appointed June 16th, 1865.
On the election of Gen. Grant, who desired to reward disabled soldiers of the late war, Mr. John B. Bass was appointed to suc- ceed Mr. Gill. Mr. Bass received his commission September 21st, 1866, and removed the office to Mr. Veazie's apothecary shop, No. 95 Hancock street. After remaining there several years, he removed the office to No. 80, on the opposite side of the street, where it is still kept under his administration. It will be seen that there have been but ten postmasters in Quincy for the space of nearly a century, or eighty-five years, until the recent appointments of offices for local accommodation.
The first post office established in Braintree was in February, 1825, and was kept on Washington street, in the house of Mr. Asa French, who was appointed the first postmaster. The first office located in South Braintree was March 13th, 1845, and Jud- son Stoddard, Esq., received his commission as the first post- master. This office stood on the corner of Washington and Pearl streets. The office at the present time is under the man- agement of Mrs. Elias Hayward, widow of the late local histo- rian of the town, and who for several years previous to his de- cease was the postmaster. North and East Braintree are accommodated with ample postal facilities ; also Randolph and Holbrook.
There are, at the present time, in the four towns formerly comprising the old township of Braintree, ten post offices, as follows :- Central office, at Quiney ; Atlantic office, for the ac- commodation of the North Quincy village ; also one each at Wollaston Heights, Quincy Point and West Quincy. The fol- lowing are the present locations of the three Braintree post offices : The Braintree office, located at the corner of Washing- ton and Elm streets ; South Braintree, at the corner of Wash- ington street and Holbrook avenue ; and one at East Braintree. There is one at Randolph; two at Holbrook, called the Hol- brook and Brookville offices.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
FIRST CHURCH.
The religious history of Quincy should be passed by with no hasty glance, for it is radiant with points of great interest. It was here and at Boston that Antinomianism reached its heighth ; here was settled one of the first and greatest advocates of Uni- tarianism, and among the first settlers of this town can be mentioned men of great intellect and high culture, but zealous advocates of liberalism.
The religious history of this town begins with the year 1636, when the inhabitants of Mount Wollaston, which was then a part of Boston, petitioned that they might have a minister. This was reluctantly granted, and after some discussion Mr. Wheelwright was delegated to preach at the Mount. This was in fact nothing more than a branch of the first church of Boston, over which John Wilson was settled as pastor, or rather as Elder, as ministers were called in those days. Mr. Wilson was one of the earliest Pilgrims, having come from England in Gov. Win- throp's company in 1630. He was ordained as pastor over this church soon after his arrival, and officiated until his death, which occurred in 1667, he then being 78 years of age. He was among the first grantees of Mount Wollaston.
Associated with Mr. Wilson as teacher of the first church was the famous John Cotton, of whom Mr. Lunt says :- " His opin- ions were looked upon as law, and he is spoken of by the histo- rians of the period as doing more than any other individual to fix the principles of Congregationalism, and to mould into the . form which they have in the main preserved to this day, our ec- clesiastical institutions and observances."
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RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
It was here at Mount Wollaston and during Wheelwright's ad- ministration, that the first seeds of Antinomianism were sown in New England. This doctrine, as a plant, flourished for a while, but soon faded and passed away. Mrs. Ann Hutchinson, its principal advocate, was wont to gather at her house, after the weekly lectures at Mr. Cotton's meeting-house, her associates and friends, then to discuss the meagreness of the doctrines preached. Mrs. Hutchinson 1 came over to this country in Sep-
1. The theologians who were opposed to Mrs. Hutchinson and her Antino- mian doctrines, excused their expelling her from the colonies for her religious belief by saying it was for the falsehood of her declarations. Some of the Puri- tan writers go so far as to state that her sad death, by being massacred by the Indians, was a remarkable judgment of God for her heresies. Mr. Weld, an ardent divine at that period, says in his work "that she was delivered of as many unformed foetus's at a birth as she maintained errors, and that another actress was delivered of a monster, and that all the women were seized with a violent vomiting and purging. Stories as creditable as that regarding the Flanders Countess, who is said to have had as many children at a birth as there are days in a year."
Samuel Gorton, friendly to the Antinomian canse, the anthor of a small tract published in 1676, under the title of " A Glass for the People of New England," relates, " The next piece of wickedness I am to mind you of is your barbarous action committed against Mrs. Hutchinson, whom you first imprisoned, then banished, and so exposed her to that desolate condition that she fell into the hands of the Indians, who murdered her and her family, excepting one child, and after that made a notorious lie on the destroyed woman, which Samuel Clark, priest of London, taking the lie out of his brother Weld's short story, must needs put it into his book called 'God's Judgment against Heresy.' The woman before mentioned, having been by the priests and professors pumped and sifted to get something against her, laying their snares to entrap her, and taking their opportunity when husband and friends, as it were said, were ab- sent, examined and banished her. So she goes by water, with many others who perceived they must go to pot next, and providentially fell in with Rhode Island, where they made a cave or caves, and in them lived until the cold win- ter was passed, in which time it was known to the professors where they were, and that they had bought the island of the Indians. And the professors began to stir and endeavor to bring the island within the compass of their patent. So the poor molested woman, it is like, let in fear, and thought she would go far enough from their reach; so, going southward to seek a place to settle upon, there she and her family might live in quietness, fell upon a piece of land that was in controversy between the Dutch and the natives, and the natives being in a heat came upon them and were the executioners of what the New England priests, magistrates and church members were the occasion, through their . wicked and ernel proceedings in forcing them to flee from their rage and fury.
183
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
tember, 1634. Her husband had a grant of land made to him at Mount Wollaston, which afterwards, by investigation, was found to be mostly in the town of Milton. She is described as a woman of great gift of speech, and powers of mind keen enough to loosen the tightest knots of metaphysical polemics ; but Weld in his book says she was "a woman of a haughty and fierce car- riage, of a nimble wit and active spirit, and a very voluable tongue, more bold than a man, though in understanding and judgment inferior to many women." Yet this description from Weld must be taken with some allowance, as he was a bitter antagonist of Antinomianism. Whatever her powers were, true it is that she converted to her doctrine some of the most learned and influential men then residing in this vicinity, viz : John Wheelwright, Henry Vane, William Coddington, Mr. Dummer, Mr. Hangh and Thomas Savage.
" Henry Vane descended from a family which had been long distinguished in English History. He was born in 1612, emi- grated to America in 1635, and was received in Boston with every demonstration of respect. In 1636 he was elected Gover- nor of Massachusetts, being then only twenty-four years of age.
So, reader, thou mayest see the rage and envy of this professing generation, for they imprisoned and banished this tenderly bred woman in or toward winter, and what with fear and tossing to and fro the woman miscarried, upon which they grounded their abominable untruth. Many witnesses might be produced to prove this, and to disprove their abominable, frequently told slanders, and also printed by priests, and New England professors, and their confederates here in England."
The only apology we are able to make on this, seeming unjust persecution is, that it was an intolerant age. Toleration was preached against as a sin of the greatest magnitude, and which, if encouraged, would bring down the eternal judgment of heaven upon them and the colonies. So confirmed was Gov. Dud- ley in this belief that, at the time of his death, there was found in his breeches pocket, (the receptacle of many unprepared oratorical displays, ) this sentiment, fully written out in verse, of which the following two lines were the essence :
" Let men of God, in court and churches watch O'er such as do a toleration hatch."
" This doctrine prevailed many years, until their eyes were opened by a fresh persecution coming upon themselves from King James. This made his decla- ration for general liberty of conscience welcome, and they thanked the King for allowing to them what they before thought themselves bound in conscience to deny to others."
184
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
His party was, however, put down,1 and he sailed for England in August, 1637. He was a member of the Long Parliament, and a decided and consistent friend of liberty, although he disap- proved of the trial and execution of King Charles. He was too pure and just not to be an object of hatred and suspicion to
1. In 1637 an election was held for the choice of a governor, deputy gover- nor, and other officers of the colony. The religious excitement ran so high at this time that this election was as hotly contested between the Puritans and the Antinomian leaders as any ever held in New England, if not more so. The contest became so earnest that the Rev. Mr. Wilson, the first minister of Bos- ton, mounted the branch of a tree with his coat off, which was probably the first stump or tree speech ever made in Massachusetts. This political or religious contest was held on Newton Common, in the open air, in accordance with the custom of holding elections in old England at the hustings for the choice of members of Parliament. It is evident that the reason for selecting Newton as the place for election was for the purpose of getting away from the influence of Boston, as that was the stronghold of Antinomianism. From the branch of the tree Mr. Wilson harangned the multitude upon the religious aspect of the case, and denounced Antinomianism in no very liberal terms. This declamation, it is said, carried the election in favor of Gov. Winthrop, and was the cause of the defeat of Gov. Vane, to the great chagrin of himself and his friends.
The following is Hutchinson's account of the election :-
"At the opening of the Court of Election, 1637, which was not done until one o'clock, May 17th, a petition was again offered from many of the town of Boston, which the governor, Mr. Vane, would have read; but Mr. Winthrop, the deputy governor, opposed it as being out of order, this being the day by charter for elections, and the inhabitants all convened for that purpose, if other business was allowed to take up the time the election would be prevented; after the elections were over, the petition might be read. The governor and those of his party would not proceed unless the petition was read. The time being far spent, and many persons calling for election, the deputy governor called to the people to divide and the greater number should carry it; which was done, and the greater number was for proceeding. Still the governor refused, until the deputy governor told him they would go on without him; this caused him to submit. Mr. Winthrop was chosen governor, Mr. Dudley deputy governor, Mr. Saltonstall, son of Sir Richard, and Mr. Stonghton, new assistants, and Mr. Vane and his friends of the same persuasion, Dummer, Haugh and Codding- ton, left out of the magistracy. There was great danger of a violent tumult that day. The speeches on both sides were fierce, and they began to lay hands one on another, but the manifest majority on one side was a restraint to the other. Boston waited the event of this election of magistrates before they would choose their representatives for the other business of the General Court, and the next morning they chose Mr. Vane, the late governor, Mr. Coddington and Mr. Hangh. This election of Boston was immediately determined by the Court to be undue. The reason is not assigned in the record, but it is said this
185
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
Cromwell, when that ambitious personage had secured to him- self the supreme power. After the death of Oliver Cromwell, Vane came forth from his retirement and became a member of Parliament, where he was instrumental, by his eloquence, in overthrowing the government of Richard Cromwell. Upon the restoration of the monarchy, Vane, who had always been a' decided Republican, was seized and imprisoned, and finally beheaded. After he had been condemned to death it was sug- gested that by making submission to the King, his life might per- haps be saved. His noble reply was, 'If the King does not think himself more concerned for his honor and word than I am for my life, let him take it. Nay, I declare, that I value my life less in a good cause than the king can do his promise. He is so
reason was given, that all the freemen were not notified. A warrant was issued for a new choice, and Boston returned the same men again, and then they were not rejected. The sergeants who used to attend Mr. Vane laid down their hal- berds and went home as soon as the new governor was elected, and they refused to attend him to and from the meetings on the Lord's Day, as had been usual. They pretended this extraordinary respect was shown to Mr. Vane as a person of quality. The Court would have appointed others, but Mr. Winthrop took two of his servants to attend him. Mr. Vane professed himself ready to serve the cause of God in the meanest capacity. He was, notwithstanding, much mortified, and discovered his resentment. Although he had sat at church among the magistrates from his first arrival, yet he and those who had been left out with him placed themselves with the deacons, and when he was invited by the governor to return to his place he refused it."
" An extraordinary act made by the General Court this season very much heightened the discontent. Many persons of the favorite opinions in Boston were expected from England. A penalty, therefore, was laid on all persons who should entertain in their houses any stranger who came with intent to reside, or should allow the use of any lot or habitation above three weeks without lib- erty from one of the standing council or two other assistants. The penalty on private persons was forty pounds, and twenty pounds besides for every month they continued in the offence. And any town which gave and sold a lot to such stranger was subject to one hundred pounds penalty; but if any inhabitant of such place should enter his dissent with a magistrate, he was to be excused his part of the fine. This was a very severe order, and so disliked by the people of Boston that upon the return of the governor from Court they refused to go out to meet him or show him any respect."
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