USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > History of old Braintree and Quincy : with a sketch of Randolph and Holbrook > Part 42
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > History of old Braintree and Quincy : with a sketch of Randolph and Holbrook > Part 42
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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441
MILITARY.
Franklin Curtis, Captain ; Edward A. Spear, 1st Lieutenant ; Benjamin F. Meservey, 2d Lieutenant ; Charles F. Pray, Mat- thew M. C. Chubbuck, John Williams, Robert Monk, Sergeants; William H. H. Lapham, Thomas Smith, William S. Wilbur, Morton Packard, Corporals.
They proceeded to Fortress Monroe and were placed under the command of Col. Dimmock, and a few weeks after, under Gen. Benjamin F. Butler. This regiment, with others to the number of about four thousand men, was called upon to take a part in the first serious conflict of the war. This was at the battle of Big Bethel, Virginia, fought June 10th, 1861, under Brig .- Gen. E. W. Pierce, of Massachusetts. After several hours of fighting, Gen. Pierce was obliged to order a retreat. This defeat of the Northern troops was attributed to the incapacity of the'general in command. At this action Francis L. Souther, a member of Company H, received mortal wounds, of which he died the same day. He was the first soldier killed in the war, and was a native of Quincy. Mr. Souther was sent home by his comrades, and buried in the Mount Wollaston Cemetery with suitable military honors.
This record of the late civil war has been compiled from the war record of the town, made by Mr. Eben. W. Underwood, and published by the town in 1866.
The call for men to go into the army was large and often. The increased demand for money to carry it on, created a bur- densome tax upon her inhabitants and a large town debt, which has not, as yet, been fairly wiped out.
April 16th, 1861, eighty-three persons were ordered for three years ; May 3d, the same year, seventy-eight more were called into the service for the same time; June 17th, one hundred and forty-three more were ordered to serve for the same time; mak- ing the whole number called into the field, the first year, three hundred and four (304).
May 28th, 1862, seventy-five men were ordered for three years ; July 4th, one hundred and fourteen were selected for the same time; Aug. 4th, seventy-one more were ordered into the army for nine months; making the total number for 1862, two hundred and sixty (260).
57
442
MILITARY.
July 1st, 1863, the town sent eighteen volunteers to the war; July 17th of the same year,1 upon orders from the U. S. Gov- ernment, ninety-nine men were drafted for the army. Out of this number but four of the principals went to the field of strife
1. In 1863, the government made a requisition on the town for a draft, and ninety-nine of her citizens were drafted at Taunton, July 17th, viz :-
Those marked 1, were accepted and held for service; 2, furnished substitutes; 3, paid $300 commutation; 4, exempted for disability ; 5, exempted as being the only son of a widow, or the only son not in service; 7, claimed to be non-resi- dents; 8, aliens, or erroneously enrolled; 9, never reported.
Abbott, Henry S., 4 Dell, Lewis, 8
Adams, Harrison T., 3
Douglass, Francis, 2
Armstrong, Patrick, 4
Eaton, Horace, 4
O'Brien, Michael, 2
Badger, Leone C., 1
Edwards, James, 3
O'Niel, James, 9
Bancroft, Stephen K., 4
Ela, Samuel A., 4 Ellis, Richard, 8 Ewell, Charles F., 3
Patterson, James F., 4
Barker, William P., 4
Bartlett, Edward A., 4
Ewell, John J., 5
Pierce, Chas. F., 4 Pope, John A., 4
Bass, Benjamin F., 4
Faxon, Thomas, 4
Pope, Silas H., 2
Baxter, Jonathan, 2d, 3
Pratt, Wesley J., 1
Beale, George F., 7
Feltis, Asa W., 4 Field, George H., 3 Fletcher, Joseplı, 5 French, Francis W., 4 . French, Lewis L., 2 Glover, William B., 4 Hammond, Charles, 8 Hayden, Bartlett, 4
Prior, Paran H., 2 Putnam, Joseph E., 4 Reed, Francis L., 3 Reed, James, 4 Rideout, James W., 4 Rogers, Charles A., 4
Burrell, David J., 2
Burrell, Winslow, 5
Cain, Adoniram, 4 Cain, Lewis H., 9
Chadwick, John H., 3
Hardy, Benjamin, 9 Hardwick, Frederick, 4 Howland, William O., 3 Howley, Michael J., 4 Ivers, Timothy, 3 Johnson, Jonathan, 8 Kennison, George F., 4 Kirby, William T., 4
Ryder, James E., 2 Sargent, Walter C., 3 Saville, John F., 5 Saville, Charles L., 5 Sidelinger, Zenas H., 4 Spear, Samuel H.,, 4 Sprague, Phillip S., 4
Chubbuck, Henry, 4
Chubbuck, William K., 5 Leahy, Michael, 4
Conway, Thomas, 8
Lincoln, Thomas W., 2 Lombard, Joseph W., 4 Meserve, William P. F., 4 Walsh, Michael, 5
Cunningham, Jas. H., 4
Webb, Thomas H., 4
Curtis, George, 2d, 4
White, Isaiah, 4
Daily, Edward, 4
Whiting, Joseph W. 2d, 4
Davis, J. Alba, 2
Miller, Charles E., 4 Nutting, Edward, ± Newcomb, Benj. L., 3 Newcomb, Bryant, Jr., 1
Wilbur, Hanibal P., 3
The following men were drafted May 19th, 1864 :-
Baxter, George L., 20, 4 Cronin, Michael, !)
Brown, Charles H., 3 Cunningham, Jas. H., 4
Hardwick, Frederick, 4 Johnson, William, 8
Berry, John F., 1
Berry, James, 5
Boyle, Robert, 4
Brackett, George A., 3 Burr, James, 4
Preston, Andrew J., 2
Beard, George A., 4
Beckford, Dudley M., 7
Penniman, Win. W., 4
Baxter, Daniel W., 4
Owens, Thomas P., 4
Barnes, Oramel C., 3
Newcomb, Harrison G., 4 Newcomb, Samuel F., 4
Stearns, Levi, Jr., 4 Tirrell, James E., 2 Tirrell, Quincy, 3
Cook, Michael, S Crooker, Andrew, 4
443
for three years, and eleven furnished substitutes. Oct. 17th, of the same year, twenty-nine volunteers were sent for three years service. Total number, one hundred and forty-six (146).
Owens, Thomas P., 3
Smithı, Vernon, 9
Whitney, Adams, 3
Prescott, William G., 2
Spear, Albert B., 3
White, George, 4
Parker, Chase, 3 Thayer, George, 9 Wells, John D., 3
Shortland, Thomas, 4
The following persons were drafted June 15th, 1864, but were not called for, the Selectmen having furnished substitutes previous to the time of their being called into service :-
Adams, Joseph,
Marshall, J. P. C.,
Newcomb, C. Otis,
Faxon, William, Newcomb, Charles F.,
Owens, John,
Hayden, Arthur L.,
The following list comprises the substitutes furnished to complete the quota of Quincy, the parties furnishing them, the organization to which they were attached, and their term of service as far as known :-
PRINCIPALS.
SUBSTITUTES.
ORGANIZATION. TIME.
Burrell, David J.,
Thomas Molony,
11th Regiment,
3 years.
Cahill, George,
Michael Fitzgerald,
60th Regiment,
100 days.
Curtis Noah,
John Boy,
Navy,
3 years.
Davis, J. Alba,*
3 years.
Douglass, Francis,*
William McKnight,
3 years.
Gill, George L., Lincoln, Thomas W.,*
Alexander Sproul, Navy,
1 year.
Litchfield, Liba,
John Tool,
Navy,
3 years.
Morse, Stephen, Jr.,
William Mullen,
Navy,
1 year.
Nash, John W.,
Jolın Nash,
3 years.
O'Brien, Michael,* Pope, Silas H.,*
3 years.
Pratt, Edwin B.,
Andrew Murphy,
Michael Toomy, 19th Regiment,
3 years.
Ryder, James E.,
William Schmidt,
3 years.
Sawyer, Henry M.,
Jefferson Bonubo,
1 year.
Spear, Horace,
John M. Driscoll,
Navy,
3 years.
Tirrell, James E.,
John Smith,
3 years.
Whicher, Jolın D.,
John McCarty,
Williams, John S.,
George Jones,
Williams, Stedman,
Patrick Scannell,
3 years.
Faxon, J. Franklin,
French, Lewis E.,*
3 years.
Prescott, William G.,
Preston, Andrew J.,* Prior, Paran H.,*
3 years.
* These individuals paid their bounty to the government, who was supposed to have procured substitutes for them, and for this reason we are unable to give the names of the substitutes.
..
MILITARY.
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MILITARY.
Feb. 1st, 1864, twenty-five volunteers were called into the field for three years. March 15th, the same year, sixty-four vol- unteers were sent for the same length of time. May 19th, six- teen men were drafted, out of which number not one of the principals went into the army; six paid three hundred dollars commutation, five were exempted for disability, one furnished a
The following substitutes were furnished by the Selectmen :-
Alsten, Michael,
2d Regiment,
3 years.
Barret, William H.,
3d Regiment, H. A.,
1 year.
Blaisdell, Lemuel J.,
61st Regiment, 1 year.
Brannon, John N.,
1 year.
Briggs, William H.,
2d Regiment, H. A.,
1 year.
Dewoody, Mortimer L.,
Vet. Res. Corps,
3 years.
Dolan, John,
3d Regiment Cavalry,
1 year.
Donnavan, Timothy,
Vet. Res. Corps,
3 years.
Eccles, John,
61st Regiment,
1 year.
Flaherty, William,
Vet. Res. Corps,
3 years.
Frost, Charles,
61st Regiment,
1 year.
Garrity, Bernard,
3d Regiment Cavalry,
1 year.
Goldie, Henry F.,
3d Regiment Cavalry,
1 year.
Hastings, William,
4th Battery,
3 years.
Hathaway, George B.,
33d Regiment,
3 years.
Hennessy, John,
Navy,
3 years.
Johnson, William,
2dl Regiment,
3 years.
Kennedy, James,
22d Regiment,
3 years.
Kibber, Charles L.,
3d Regiment Cavalry,
1 year.
Lincoln, Charles K.,
3d Regiment Cavalry,
1 year.
Linnehan, William,
1 year.
Lomar, William,
2d Regiment,
3 years.
Lourney, Dennis,
Vet. Res. Corps,
3 years.
Maley, Melville,
17th Regiment,
1 year.
Maloney, David,
3d Regiment, H. A.,
1 year.
McGrath, John,
4th Battery,
3 years.
Mitchell, William,
2d Regiment, H. A.,
1 year.
Molly, George,
2d Regiment Cavalry,
3 years.
Mullen, Andrew,
4th Regiment Cavalry,
1 year.
Murphy, James,
2d Regiment, H. A.,
1 year.
Murphy, Michael,
3d Regiment, H. A.,
1 year.
Noyes, John,
3d Regiment, H. A.,
1 year.
Powrigh, Alfred,
2d Regiment Cavalry,
3 years.
. Snowden, James,
33d Regiment,
3 years.
Trask, Joseph E.,
29th U. Co., H. A., 1 year.
H. Farnam Smith, Esq., and Mrs. Mary J. Quincy each procured representa- tive recruits, who were credited to the quota of Quincy. The Selectmen pro- cured eight others, who nominally represented eight ladies of Quincy.
445
MILITARY.
substitute, three never reported-one as an alien, or erroneously enrolled. June 15th, seven men were drafted for three years, but were not called for, as the Selectmen procured substitutes to fill their places. July 6th, seventy-three men were sent into the field for one hundred days. July 19th, forty-eight volun- teers were dispatched to the army for one year. Dec. 19th, twenty-six men were sent by the town to the war for one year. Total number of men called for by the government for the year 1864, two hundred and fifty-nine (259); out of which number two hundred and forty-four went into service (244). All sol- diers here enumerated were volunteers, excepting those where a draft is mentioned.
Thus it would appear, that during the three years of the war, the town was called upon to furnish nine hundred and sixty- nine men, and sent by draft and volunteers, nine hundred and fifty-four. The balance of fifteen men not procured we are not able to account for.
A large number of the citizens of Quincy who entered the army were honored with commissions, as follows, viz. :--
Colonels,-Abner B. Packard, July 10th, 1857, who received his commission before the war, but with his regiment (the 4th) was called into the field at the breaking out of it; Henry Walker, Dec. 6th, 1862; Charles Francis Adams, Jr., Feb. 15th, 1865.
Lieutenant-Colonels,-Henry Walker, April 30th, 1862; Chas. F. Adams, Jr., July 15th, 1864.
Majors,-Luther S. Bent, July 29th, 1864, (U. S. Volunteers by Brevet, Sept. 30th, 1864) ; William G. Sheen, (U. S. Volun- teers by Brevet, April 1st, 1865) ; Benjamin F. Meservey, (U. S. Volunteers by Brevet, April 1st, 1865.)
Surgeons,-Henry M. Saville, July 11th, 1857; Edward Rus- sell, Feb., 1863 ; Wm. L. Faxon, Aug. 25th, 1863.
Assistant Surgeons,-William L. Faxon, April 16th, 1861 ; Geo. L. Smalley, July, 1862; Edward Russell, July 29th, 1862; Edward Russell (of Cavalry), Feb. 3d, 1864; John F. Saville, Dec. 5th, 1864 ; John F. Saville (of Cavalry), June 26th, 1865.
Captains, - Franklin Curtis, April 17th, 1861 ; Edward A. Spear, Aug. 14th, 1862; Charles N. Hunt, Aug. 22d, 1862; Ben-
446
MILITARY.
jamin F. Meservey, Oct. 24th, 1862; Charles F. Adams, Jr., Oct. 30th, 1862; Otis Rogers, Dec. 29th, 1862 ; Charles M. Sampson, April 16th, 1863 ; Charles F. Pray, Oct. 15th, 1863 ; Luther S. Bent, Dec. 24th, 1863; Joseph W. Morton, Jan. 5th, 1864; F. Edward Bent, July 14th, 1864; Wm. G. Sheen, Sept. 8th, 1864; Chas. H. Porter, Sept. 8th, 1864.
Adjutant,-Henry Walker, April 2d, 1861.
First Lieutenants,-Edward A. Spear, April 17th, 1861; Ben- jamin F. Meservey, Aug. 20th, 1861; Otis Rogers, Oct. 8th, 1861; Charles F. Adams, Jr., Dec. 19th, 1861; Wm. G. Sheen, Aug. 14th, 1862; George W. Gibson, Sept. 2d, 1862; Joseph W. Morton, Sept. 10th, 1862; Charles F. Pray, Nov. 1st, 1862 ; David T. Chubbuck, Dec. 21st, 1862; Luther S. Bent, Dec. 25th, 1862; William E. Rudderham, Jan. 15th, 1863; Charles H. Por- ter, Jan. 25th, 1863; John A. Pratt, Jan. 15th, 1864 ; Joseph E. Spear, March 11th, 1864; William H. Follett, March 11th, 1864; William F. Tanzy, March, 1864; Warren W. Adams, July 14th, 1864; Daniel F. French, Aug. 7th, 1864; Charles E. Pierce, Sept. 2d, 1864; Geo. A. Barker, Sept. 8th, 1864 ; John W. Martin, Nov. 14th, 1864 ; Charles N. Perkins, April 3d, 1865; F. Edward Bent, April 17th, 1865; Charles L. Nightin- gale, May 6th, 1865.
Second Lieutenants,-Benj. F. Meservey, April 17th, 1861; Joseph W. Morton, Feb. 20th, 1862; Charles F. Pray, April 3d, 1862; David T. Chubbuck, July 1st, 1862; George W. Gibson, July 29th, 1862; Luther S. Bent, July 30th, 1862; William G. Sheen, July 31st, 1862; Charles H. Porter, Aug. 14th, 1862; Wm. H. Follett, Oct. 12th, 1862; Joseph E. Spear, Oct. 18th, 1862; Thaddeus H. Newcomb, Oct. 22d, 1862; Horace A. Der- ry, Jan. 6th, 1863; William Boyd, May 16th, 1863 ; Thaddeus Churchill, Oct. 5th, 1863 ; Daniel F. French, April 26th, 1864; George A. Barker, May 4th, 1864 ; Albert Keating, July 14th, 1864 ; Wm. Q. Baxter, Sept. 2d, 1864; Jonas Shackley, Sept. 2d, 1864; Charles N. Perkins, Sept. 8th, 1864; F. Edward Bent, Feb. 28th, 1865 ; John Parker, Jr., March 7th, 1865.
Acting Assistant Paymasters in the Navy,-Geo. W. Morton, Sept. 25th, 1861; Samuel Thomas, Jr., Aug. 4th, 1863 ; Henry Lunt, Aug. 31st, 1864.
447
MILITARY.
Ensigns in the Navy,-Alonzo Elwell, March, 1863; William H. Elwell, Aug., 1863; R. Warren Elwell, Aug., 1863.
The number of deaths by being killed, wounded and other casualties, during the war, was one hundred and five, constitu- ting about one-ninth of the whole number sent into the field.1
1. Deaths of soldiers who went to the late war from Quincy :-
Killed in battle or who died of wounds,-Francis L. Souther, June 10th, 1861; John McGovern, Oct. 21st, 1861 (missing, supposed to have been killed); James Ryan, March 14th, 1862; Patrick Dermody, July 11th, 1862; Peter P. Marque, Ang. 30th, 1862 (missing, supposed to have been killed); Samuel S. Pierce, Aug. 30th, 1862; Henry A. Holden, Sept. 3d, 1862; Horatio N. Faxon, Sept. 17th, 1862; Luther M. Bent, Oct. 1st, 1862; Loring Bigelow, Oct. 18th, 1862; Lemuel A. Colburn, Nov. 11th, 1862; Charles W. Carver, Nov. 26th, 1862; Francis L. Nott, Jan. 1st, 1863; Henry F. Packard, Jan. 3d, 1863; John Manning, Dec. 13th, 1862; Richard Lawless, Dec. 16th, 1862; Garrett Fleming, June 30th, 1863; Joseph Flynn, May 5th, 1864; George Wyman, May 5th, 1864; Jolin Dag, May 6th, 1864; Elisha T. C. Ela, May 8th, 1864 (missing, supposed to have been killed); Michael MeGlone, May 12th, 1864; James Hughes, May 13th, 1864; James Kelly, May 19th, 1864; Timothy Sheahan, May 19th, 1864; Noah L. Cummings, May 26th, 1864; Charles F. Pray, June 3d, 1864; James Chubbuck, June 3d, 1864; William H. H. Lapham, June 3d, 1864; Edwin L. Joyce, June 16th, 1864; George W. Turner, June 18th, 1864; Thos. Wood, June 19th, 1864; Osmand Bennett, June, 1864; Matthew Keenan, July 30th, 1864 (missing, sup- posed to have been killed); George W. Basley, Aug. 5th, 1864; John Horgan, Ang. 17th, 1864; Joseph M. Luzarder, Aug. 18th, 1864; John P. Brown, Oct. 19th, 1864; James Donley, Feb. 6th, 1865. Whole number, 39.
Died in Prison,-1864-Arthur Dunn, Jan. 28th; Samuel N. Perry, March 31st; John Kelly, July 25th; John Cronin, Sept. 1st; Freeman M. Totman, Oct. 7th; Bryant Newcomb, Jr., Oct. 21st; Wm. H. Burns, Nov. 27th; George W. Savil, Dec. 5th; Henry A. Newcomb, Dec. 23d; Thos. W. McGann, Dec. 24th; 1865-Edward Damon, Jr., Jan. 3d; Michael Fenton (unknown); Wm. F. Thayer (unknown); Jonathan C. Durgin, Jan. 5th; Charles C. Dickerman, Jan. 25th; William E. Colburn, Feb. 18th; Vernon Smith, March 9th; Timothy Conlin, July. Whole number, 18.
Drowned,-1864-William O. Pope, Jan. 23d; 1865-Chas. F. Leavitt, Jan. ; Wm. F. Tanzy, Oct. 14th. Whole number, 3.
Died of Disease,-1862-Dennis Moriarty, Feb. 17th; Richard B. Hayden, April 10th; Wm. Jones, April 19th; Leonard B. Harrington, May 22d; Henry Trask, June 3d; George F. Lapham, July 27th; John Kehoe, Aug .; Ezra Bad- ger, Oct. 14th; Edward J. Gibson, Oct. 21st; George L. Smalley, Nov. 23d; Lorenzo D. Parker, Dec. 17th; 1863-Michael Enright, Jan. 11th; George Star- buek, Feb. 24th; Obed F. Allen, March 21st; William Flynn, May 3d; Uriel Joseph, July 7th; Francis G. Chubbuck, Oct. 2d; Charles D. Riley, Nov. 19th; Seth Crane, Dee. 22d; 1864-Greenleaf P. Foster, March 30; William Sheahan, March 26th; Josiah N. Kittredge, April 23d; George Burns, June 27th; Eben- ezer F. Cleverly, July 22d; Frederick Fletcher, Aug. 24th; David W. Bates,
.
448
MILITARY.
The expenses incurred to the town of Quincy for this war were as follows :- Amount paid for bounties, $34,632.50; amount subscribed by her citizens, $12,651.63; expense of recruiting, transportation of recruits, war records, meetings and extra ser- vices of the town officers, $1,627.98 ; making a total amount of $48,912.11.
A lot was selected in the Mount Wollaston Cemetery for the soldiers' graves, which has been adorned by a fine monument of Quincy granite, thirty-four feet, three inches high, and weigh- ing thirty-five tons; a fitting tribute to the patriotic dead. This monument was erected at an expense to the town of $1,691.18, and was dedicated June 25th, 1868, with suitable and appropri- ate services.
MCCLELLAN GUARDS.
After the close of the late civil war, between the North and South, the adopted citizens of Quincy organized a military com- pany, which was called the Mcclellan Guards.
This company selected for its first officers, William Boyd, Captain ; James Lycett, 1st Lieutenant ; Martin Heatherson, 2d Lieutenant. Under these competent officers, the company soon took a high rank for their efficiency in military exercises. For their excellency in regimental drill they had the honor of receiv- ing two prizes, as the most thoroughly-disciplined company in the 4th Regiment. In 1873, the company disbanded, for the want of financial encouragement, and also, not having a suffi-
Sept. 9th; Michael J. Howley, Sept. 23d; William Price, Oct. 14th; Morton Packard, Oct. 20th; Theodore H. Lunt, Oct. 23d; Henry T. Packard, Dec. 17th; 1865-Erasmus Thomas, March 14th; Eli Pierce, April 3d; Benj. R. Pierce, July 13th. Whole number, 34.
The following have died of disease, contracted while in the army, after being discharged :-
1862-Charles E. Messer; 1863-Isaac T. Newcomb, April 1st; Garrett Daily, April 5th; 1864-Michael Manning, May 14th; Henry C. White, Aug. 3d; Ed- ward L. Perkins, Sept. 10th; Charles G. Duggan, Dec. 20th; 1865-William Bnehan, Feb. 26th; John MeGann, Aug. 3d; Samuel A. Nightingale, Aug. 20th; Joseph William Morton, Dec. 17th.
MILITARY. 449
cient number in their ranks to comply with the change made in the military statute of the State.
There is not, at the present time, a military company in Nor- folk County, and we believe that the Mcclellan Guards was the last company disbanded, of the many fine military organizations that have existed in this County.
Since that part of the military history of Quiney which relates to the War of 1812 was printed, the author has obtained from Horatio Woodman, Esq., pension agent, the roll of Capt. Thos. Tirrell's company of militia, which served about thirty days, in September and October, 1814.
Thomas Tirrell, Captain; Elihu Thayer, Lieutenant; John Whitney, Ensign; Elisha Marsh, Josiah Glover, James Green, Benjamin Page, Sergeants; Josiah Brigham, William James, John Savil, George Nightingale, Corporals; Eliphalet Chandler, William Wheeler, John Talbot, William A. Field, Musicians; Joseph Arnold, Joseph Burrell, Seth Burrell, 2d, William Bel- cher, Charles Chandler, Jonathan Cook, Lewis Cleverly, Benj. Gray, Elisha Glover, Solomon Nightingale, John Newcomb, John Osborn, James Pratt, James Pray, Peter Pray, Henry Put- nam, Daniel B. Spear, Luther Spear, George Tirrell, Stephen Veazie, Thomas White, Samuel Hayden, 2d, Nathaniel Dexter, Ezra Damon, Joseph Wales, Josiah Adams, Solomon Hayden, Ebenezer Chandler.
58
IRON WORKS.
The first attempt to establish a manufacturing industry in Braintree was as early as 1643, or three years after the town was incorporated, but for the want of funds it was not com- pleted until two or three years after. Mr. John Winthrop came to the Colony with one thousand pounds in money, and workmen for the purpose of establishing the manufacture of iron ware, which was needful for the use of the Colonies. The first impor- tant action that we find taken on the subject, was by the town of Boston, who took a great and lively interest in the success of this important enterprise. The citizens of the town called a public meeting on the 19th of Jan., 1643, and there, after con- siderable debate, granted to John Winthrop, Jr., three thousand acres of land, viz :-
" There is granted unto John Winthrop, Jr., and his partners, and to their heyrs and assigns forever, three thousand acres of the common land of Braintry, for the encouragement of an iron work, to be set up about Monaticot River. The said three thou- sand acres to be layed out in the land next adjoyning and most convenient for their said iron works, by the direction of the Select Townsmen." It is said that this estate reverted back to Boston by breach of contract.
In 1711, Manassah Tucker, John Wadsworth and Samuel Miller, of the town of Milton, purchased this tract, which at that time was supposed to have been in that town.1 On sur- veying it, a large part of this territory was found to be within the limits of Braintree. Milton and Braintree conld not agree as to the jurisdiction of the land, and to definitely settle the question, it was referred to the General Court by the two towns
1. See address of Mr. James M. Robbins, delivered before the citizens of the town of Milton on the two hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of that town. 1862. Page 37.
451
IRON WORKS.
for a decision.1 The Court, after a full hearing, decided that fifteen hundred, or one-half of the three thousand acres, be- longed to Braintree, which was accepted as final.
These lands were called the Blue Hill lands, and were sold by
1. " The humble petition of the town of Milton within the said Province.
"Showeth,-That whereas they have lately with a great sum of money pur- chased of the Town of Boston, a great Tract of Land containing about three thousand acres of land called by the name of the Blue Hill Lands, bounded, upon Milton Line, northerly by Dorchester Laud, westerly by land called Mr. Hully's, Easterly by Monotocot River, easterly* and whereas the Tract of land is a part contained within the Township of Braintry, your petitioners most humbly pray the favour of this great and General Assembly, to annex the same to, and make it part of the Township of Milton, to which end the said town of Milton humbly pray your Excellency and Honor to consider, for the following reasons :-
" That the situation of the land is some miles nearer to Milton than any other Town, the greater or best part of it lying within a mile and a half of the Milton meeting-house.
"The poor circumstances of Milton, and the straitness of their Township is such, that they are under great difficulties and discouragement in the discharge of the public charges, and this addition would very much enable and encourage them to cheerfulness in their public affairs.
" Whoever they are who shall inhabit and improve these lands, must of necessity attend the public worship in Milton it being so near, and their chil- dren also may conveniently have the benefit of schooling in said Town, and cannot have it in any other Town.
" The inhabitants of said place must cart and transport their wood, hay and other matters through the town, and soon get to be of some advantage as well as a burthen.
" The said Town as is above said have purchased it, upon which account it is most equitable they should have the jurisdiction who have the property ; unless any great inconvenience to the contrary, which cannot be pretended ; all which whatsoever else your poor petitioners have to offer, being considered by the wis- dom and justice of Honorable Court, they humbly hope they may obtain the favour of granting their rights, which shall be most thankfully acknowledged by the Town. To your Excellency and Honor, Henry Vose, Manassah Tucker, John Wardsworth, a committee in behalf of the Town, March 14, 1711.
" The answer of the Town of Braintry to the Petition of the Town of Milton:
"And whereas the Petitioners say they have lately with a great sum of money purchased of the Town of Boston a great tract of land containing about three thousand acres, called by the name of the Blue Hill Lands, bounded, &c., which said tract of land the petitioners own is contained within the township of Braintry, but most humbly pray the favour of the Great and General Court to annex the same to, and make it a part of the Township of Milton, for which they offer several reasons to consideration.
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