USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > History of old Braintree and Quincy : with a sketch of Randolph and Holbrook > Part 45
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > History of old Braintree and Quincy : with a sketch of Randolph and Holbrook > Part 45
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63
472
IRON WORKS.
By further investigation we have not been able to satisfactorily unravel this complicated matter. We have given in a note, the recorded bounds of the grant in controversy, and therefore the readers can judge for themselves who is right.
The following is Mr. James M. Robbins' idea of the disposition of this grant: "That by breach of contract it reverted back to Boston, and in 1711, was sold to parties in the town of Milton."
This is a copy of the legal conveyance of the land to the following gentlemen of Milton :- " The Boston Selectmen sold to Manasseh Tucker, Samuel Miller, John Wadsworth and Moses Belcher of Milton, in the County of Suffolk, for the consideration of £1500, sold certain Tracts or Quantity of common and cul- tivated land belonging to the town of Boston aforesaid, commonly called and known by the name of Blue Hill Lands, containing by estimation 3000 acres be the same more or less, lying and situated within the Township of Brantrey, for- merly called Mount Wollaston in the County of Suffolk, as it is Described and Delineated on a plan or draught thereof made and taken by Joshua Fisher, Sur- veyor, in the year of our Lord, 1654. Part of the land by him surveyed and platted as aforesaid lying on the southeasterly side having been released by the Town to the Braintrey Purchasers and is excepted in this sale. The Tract of land hereby intended and granted is butted and bounded northeasterly upon the Milton Line, southeasterly by the land late of John Hull, Esq., deceased, in part, and partly by the Land Released as aforesaid to the Braintrey Purchasers carrying now on that side a straight line near south from Milton Line aforesaid to the River, that is to the southward of Blue Hill, and bounded southerly and southwest upon the aforesaid River, including also in this grant a quantity of meadow, by estimation about twenty acres, and bounded westerly by Dorches- ter Lands or however otherwise the said lands are bounded, or reputed to be bounded, having always reference to the surveyor's plan or draught. May 17, 1711."-Lib. XXVI, fol. 5.
The released lands mentioned in the above instrument are those which were in controversy between Boston and Braintree for about half a century, and created a bitter feeling between the two towns. This release can be seen in Lib. XVIII, fol. 37.
It will be observed that the bounds of the land in controversy do not corre- spond with the bounds of the original grant to Mr. Winthrop, as it is impossible for us to conceive how the Braintree lands could be bounded on the Weymouth pond.
GLASS WORKS.
The establishment of glass works at Braintree, in that part of Quincy now called Germantown, grew out of an unsuccessful attempt to settle a German Colony in the western part of the Province of Massachusetts, and also two other townships in its Eastern Province, now included in the State of Maine.
Mr. Joseph Crellius, from Franconia, Germany, came to Phil- adelphia, where he resided a few years, and from whence he removed to Massachusetts. On his arrival, he opened negotia- tions with the Governor and General Court in reference to the importation of a Colony or Colonies of German Protestants into the Province by a petition and otherwise for that purpose.1 After considerable management, he succeeded in having four
1. "Jan. 3, 1749. The committee appointed by the General Court to take into consideration the importation of Protestant Germans, made the following report, which after its amendment was accepted and adopted :-
"The committee to consider some proper management for improving the natu- ral advantages of the soil, and having met and considered of the affair, report as follows, viz :- That it would be of public benefitt to import foreign Protes- tants to settle within this Province, are therefore of an opinion that the law which in any measure have a Tendancy to disuage such importation be super- sceded or Explained.
"The committee also propose that there be two townships of six miles square allowed them to settle in, viz :- The westward township lately laid out, at or near Massachusetts Fort, and one other Township east thereof and adjoining thereto, be the town for these purposes.
"That there be granted to cach family that shall settle in either of said towns one hundred acres, and a further grant of twenty-five acres to each son of such families between sixteen and twenty-one years of age for the benefit of son when he shall arrive at age. That each single man that shall settle in either aforesaid Towns, there be granted fifty-one acres of land.
"The committee also report that the following Bounty be allowed to the importer of foreign Protestant indented servants, viz :- For each servant that is to serve five years, five dollars; for four years, four dollars; for three years, three dollars, and so on, if sold within the province, provided if said servant
61
1
474
GLASS WORKS.
townships granted him; two of which were located at Fort Mas- sachusetts and were to contain seven square miles of territory, (this grant of land is now included within the limits of the towns of Lee and Williamston, in the western part of the Com- monwealth). The other two were to be surveyed and laid out from the head of Sebago pond, now in Cumberland County, State of Maine, and were to contain six square miles.
These grants were made on the condition that Mr. Crellins should import one hundred and twenty German Protestant fam- ilies into each of the said townships within three years, and also provide a learned Orthodox minister for two years, in each of them. Mr. Crellius not fulfilling his agreement with the gov- ernment within the specified time, the Legislature revoked his grants. Thus failed the project of establishing glass works in the towns of Lee and Williamston, Cumberland County, Maine, in 1749.
Mr. Crellius, not being disheartened by his failure to settle his former granted townships, devised the plan of organizing an- other company for the purpose of establishing a glass manufac- tory. This company consisted of the following persons, viz :- John Franklin, tallow chandler; Norton Quincy, merchant ; Peter Etter, stocking weaver, all of Boston; and Joseph Crel- lius, late of the City of Philadelphia. Isaac Winslow was after- wards added. This company, in 1750, leased of Col. John Quincy Shed's Neck, said at that time to comprise one hundred acres; for ten shillings per acre. This association immediately had Shed's Neck surveyed and laid out into lots, with ample, pleasant and commodious streets and squares; which squares were sufficiently Germanized by such names as Bern, Hanover, Hague, Zuric and Menheim, as to make it a German town. The
be afterward sold out of the Province, the vender shall repay the bounty afore- said. The committee further report for the incouragement of raising winter wheat within the Province, there be paid to each person who shall raise and convey to market and sell in either town such wheat, shall be 'allowed eight pence per bushell, and for each hundred of flower two shillings lawful money.
"This report on its passage was amended by granting four townships instead of two." -- Mass. Arch.
It appears by this report that the sale of indentured persons into servitude was allowed in Massachusetts at this time.
475
GLASS WORKS.
squares and streets were extensively ornamented with native and exotic trees and shrubs. The plan of Germantown, after it had been completed, was recorded in the company's books; in which they say, "this tract of land is intended for a town, to be called Germantown, and we, the joint proprietors of said tract of land, having at heart to promote the increase, settling and improvement of the said town for manufacturing purposes."
We are unable to devise the reason why this company did not commence business at Germantown, but such appears to have been the fact, as in 1752, Aug. 27th, they released this township1
1. " This Indenture between John Franklin of Boston, Norton Quincy, mer- chant, Peter Etter, Boston, Stocking Weaver, Joseph Crellius, late of the city of Philadelphia, and now of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, aforesaid mer- chant, Proprietors of a certain tract of land on Shed's Neck, now called Ger- mantown of the one part, and Joseph Palmer, and Richard Cranch both of Boston aforesaid, cardmakers of the other part, witnesseth, that the said John Franklin, Norton Quincy, Peter Etter, Joseph Crellins and Isaac Winslow, for and in consideration of the payment of the yearly rent and performance of the covenant and agreement hereinafter mentioned on the part of the said Joseph Palmer, and Richard Cranch, their heirs and assigns to be paid and performed, have and hereby do grant, bargain, sell and release, convey and confirm nnto them the said Joseph Palmer and Richard Cranch, their heirs and assigns for- ever all those seventeen lots or parcels of ground being part of a certain tract of land on Shed's Neck, aforesaid, now called Germantown, situated and being in the town of Braintree, in the County of Suffolk aforesaid, that is to say, two Lotts in Bern Square being numbered in the original general plan of German- town, aforesaid, No. one and fifty-two which are together butted and bonnded as follows, viz :- Southerly by Sumner Street, and there measuring sixty feet, southwesterly by Weymouth Street, and there they measured forty feet, north- westerly by lott No. two in Bern Square aforesaid, and there measuring sixty feet, and northwesterly by the lott No. fifty on Bern Square aforesaid and there they measure forty fect. Two other Lotts in Hanover Square, being numbered on said plan four and five which are together butted and bounded as follows, viz :- Southwesterly by Weymouth Street, and there they measure fifty-two feet, northwesterly by Lott numbered six in Hanover Square, aforesaid, and there they measure fifty-two feet, and southwesterly by lott number three on Hanover Square aforesaid, and there they measure fifty-two feet, and two other lotts in Hague Square being numbered on plan one and two, which are together butted and bounded, viz :- Southeasterly on Winter Street, and there fifty fect, and southwesterly by Weymouth Street and there they measure fifty-two feet. Northwesterly by lott number three in Hague Square aforesaid, and there they measure fifty feet, northeasterly by lott number thirty in Hague Square, afore- said, and there they measure fifty-two feet, and also two other lotts in Zuric Square being numbered on said plan fourteen and fifteen, which said lotts are
476
GLASS WORKS.
to Gen. Joseph Palmer and Mr. Richard Cranch, who were in- structed by the tenor of the lease to begin immediately building operations, which they did by having constructed chocolate mills, spermaceti and glass works, stocking weaving, salt man-
together butted and bounded as follows, viz :- Southwesterly by Weymouth Street and there measuring forty feet, northwesterly by Winter Street and there they measure sixty feet, northeasterly by lott numbered sixteen in Zuric Square, aforesaid, and there they measured forty feet, and southeasterly by lott num- bered thirteen in Zuric Square aforesaid, and there measure sixty feet, also eight water lotts, opposite Menheim Square, being numbered on said plan, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen and sixteen, which said lotts are together butted and bounded as follows, viz :- Northeasterly by southwest, Water Street, and there they measure one hundred and sixty feet, southeast by water lotts number eight opposite Menheim Square, aforesaid, and there they measure from southwest, Water Street the whole distance to low water be it more or less, southwesterly by the salt water, and there they measure one hun- dred and sixty feet at low water, and northwesterly by Pleasant Street, and there they measure from southwest Water street the whole distance te low water be it more or less, and also part of two other water lotts opposite to Menheim Square aforesaid being numbered on said plan seven and eight, which said part of said lotts are butted and bounded as follows, viz :- Northwesterly by south- west Water street and there it measures forty feet, southeasterly by water lott number six opposite Menheim Square and there it measures ninety feet, south- westerly by the other part of the aforesaid Water lott numbered seven and eight, and there it measures forty feet, and northwesterly by the aforementioned Water lott number nine, and there it measures ninety feet, together with all the ways, passages, waters, watercourses, priviledges, liberties, profits, commoda- tion, advantages, hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever, to all and every or either of the said seventeen lotts of ground belonging or in any wise apper- taining as by survey on general plan on the records of the said original plan of said proprietors. The said Joseph Palmer and Richard Cranch, their heirs and assigns to the only proper use and behoof of them the said Joseph Palmer and Richard Cranch, their heirs and assigns forever, yelding and paying thereof and thereunto the said John Franklin, Norton Quincy, Peter Etter, Joseph Crellius and Isaac Winslow, their heirs and assigns, at or upon the twenty-fifth day of March forever, in every year from and after the twenty-fifth day of De- cember next ensuing the day of the date hereof, the yearly rent of five shillings sterling, lawful money of Great Britain, for each and every said seventeen lotts or the value thereof in current lawful money of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, aforesaid, unto such person or persons as shall from time to time be ap- pointed by them, the said proprietors, their heirs and assigns, to receive the same, and further the said Joseph Palmer and Richard Cranch, their heirs and assigns, making, erecting, building, finishing, upon some part of the above granted premises at their own proper cost and charges, one or more substantial dwelling house or houses, of no less value than fifty pounds sterling, with good chimney or chimnies of brick or stone, to be laid in or built with lime and sand,
477
GLASS WORKS.
ufacturing, in which common salt, medicinal salts and saltpetre, were manufactured.
In the meantime a number of the German emigrants1 ordered by Mr. Crellius for his former plantations, had arrived at Boston, very poor, without friends or money, and in a suffering condi-
within the space of one year from the day of the date hereof, the said dwelling house or houses to be built agreeable to the plan and regulations fixed in said record for the building of houses at Germantown aforesaid, Provided, always, nevertheless that the yearly rent of five shillings per lott sterling, lawful money of Great Britain, shall be paid, &c.
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered, in the presence of Edward Winslow and John Winniett, Suffolk, Boston, Ang. 27th, 1752.
"The above-named John Franklin, Isaac Winslow, Peter Etter and Norton Quincy, and Peter Etter as Attorney to Joseph Crellius, personally appeared and acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be their free act and deed. Coram. Joshua Winslow, Justice of the Peace. Ang. 27th, 1752."-Suffolk Records, Lib. LXXXI, fol. 109.
1. It appears that according to the agreement between the German emigrants and those who were to transport them to America, that their rations were to be of a substantial nature, and of a sufficient quantity; and also, that sanitary regulations were to be strictly attended to.
" The said Isaac and Zachary Hope shall furnish us with a good, tight and commodious ship that sails well, and cause us to be transported on board of said ship to our destination. I Fixed bed-rooms or cabin are to be made in the ship six feet long and one and a half broad, for every whole freight. The said Isaac and Zachary Hope are to vietual the ship with very good provisions, viz: Good Bread, Syrup, Butter, Cheese, Bear, Good Fish, Water and other neces- saries. The ship is to be purified twice a day with vinegar and juniper berries, and to canse fresh air to circulate freely through the ship, and every whole freight shall daily receive the following rations :-
"Sunday, one pound of Beef boiled with Rice; Monday, Barley and Syrup; Tuesday, one pound of Flour of Wheat; Wednesday, one pound of Bacon with Peas; Thursday, one pound of Beef boiled with Rice; Friday, one pound of Flour of Wheat and one pound of Butter; Saturday, one pound of Bacon, one pound of Cheese and six pounds of Bread for the whole week. Every day one quart of Bear (as long as it remains drinkable), and two quarts for every whole freight, whoever desires Brandy shall receive the same every morning, and such as love Tobacco shall have one pound for their journey, at their set- ting out. They shall have liberty in time of fair weather to dress their victuals for themselves and their children, and for that purpose to make use of the fire from six o'clock in the morning to six at night, and to be on deck. Such as are sick shall especially be entitled to have the use of the fire and water as often as they desire it. All sorts of Spices and Wine shall be put on board the ship to be used for their refreshment, in order to take the better care of the sick."- Mass. Arch.
478
GLASS WORKS.
tion. To relieve them of their distress, the General Court, Jan. 1st, 1752, passed an order requesting the commissary department of the Province to supply Mr. Peter Etter with beds and blank- ets for the "poor suffering Palitines," and if there was not a sufficient supply, the commissary was ordered to purchase the number required.1
Jan. 8th, 1752. Mr. Peter Etter, interpreter for the German and French Protestant emigrants, informed the Government that twelve of these families had concluded an engagement with Palmer and Cranch, at Braintree. It would seem from this account, that this was the first coming of the Germans to what is now Quincy, and quite agrees with the town records, as several months after, we find the following German marriages solem- mized by Col. John Quincy, recorded in the town records, viz :- George Mearsh (afterwards spelled Mears), and Mary Elizabeth Bebsten, Dec. 24th, 1752; Geo. Martin Stubing and Earnestian Gezer, March 6th, 1753; Frederick Syder and Christian Solomy Harskrthin, March 20th, 1753; George Briesner (now called Briesler), and Elizabeth Hardwig, Oct. 5th, 1753. The recent decease of Mr. John Briesler, the last of this old German family in the regular male line of descent, has caused the name to be- come extinct. We will not vouch for the correctness of the orthography of these names, but have given them as we have found them.
" Nov. 27th, 1752, Mr. Isaac Winslow memorilised the Legis- lature to grant the company a patent for a term of years, for the reason of having been at an expense of hundreds of pounds ster- ling in erecting a glass-house at Germantown, and as they shall have to incur an expense of two thousand pounds sterling more before they can derive any advantage from glass making, they therefore aske this monopoly ; which was granted them."
This right to the exclusive manufacturing of glass did not
1. " The committee on emigration reported that the commissary be directed to supply Mr. Peter Etter with blankets and beds now in his hands, for the use of the poor Palitines who are now suffering by reason of the severity of the season, the blankets and beds to be returned when the Germans are done with them, and in case the commissary has not a number sufficient, he is then direc- ted to purchase so many as shall be wanted to enable him to comply with this order."-House Journal.
479
GLASS WORKS.
relieve their troubles. The Province and towns, at this time, were sparsely peopled, and the inhabitants were obliged to use the utmost frugality and industry to procure a subsistence; they had not the means to enable them to support manufactories of this kind, and these several industries at Germantown soon be- came embarrassed for the want of business, and the destruction of their buildings by fire. These embarrassments caused Mr. Palmer, April 2d, 1756, to petition the General Court for assist- ance, by granting him the privilege of establishing a lottery or lotteries, for the purpose of raising the sum of twelve hundred and fifty pounds.
The following are some of the reasons assigned why his peti- tion should be granted :-
" Having been at great expense in carrying on manufacturing at a place called Germantown; that he, with others, have suf- fered great loss by fire and otherwise, whereby they are wholly discouraged from proceeding further in the company's concerns. But being desirous of carrying on potash and cyder manufactor- ing, he has purchased a suitable piece of land and agreed with the workmen for this end ; but finding himself unable to execute his designs without some help, and praying such assistence (by way of a lottery or otherwise), as the Court shall deem meet." John Hartwig and others of said Germantown, petitioned in aid of said Palmer's petition, "We, the labourrers lately employed in the manufactories carried on there, setting fourth the difficul- ties they are under by the means of the failure of the same, and praying their circumstances may be taken into consideration, and such assistance may be afforded to some meet person who shall undertake the same whereby they may be still continued in the business they for some time passed have been employed in, or that they may be otherwise relieved." Aug. 17th, 1756.
Mr. Palmer's petition was called up in the house, and referred to the next setting of the Court. After a great deal of manage- ment and "log rolling," with both houses of the General Court, the bill was finally passed, April 25th, 1757, granting Mr. Palmer and others the right to establish a lottery,1 and the use of the
1. " An act for Raising a sum of money by Lottery for the encouragement of a settlement called Germantown in the town of Braintree :-
480
GLASS WORKS.
Representatives' Hall in its recess, to draw the lottery or lot- teries in; also, the use of the Province boxes. By the provisions of this act, granting Mr. Palmer the right to establish a lottery, he was to employ at least twenty persons in his various factories, a list of whose names were to be transmitted yearly to the com- mander-in-chief, that they might be exempted from draft and all military duty. By the return made in accordance with the pro- visions of this act, in 1757, we are able to give all the names of the male members of this Colony, who were subject to mili- tary duty, viz : - John Peter Hartwig, Henry Hardwig alias Frederick Phillip Hardwig, John Hardwig, Philip Hardwig, Adam Hardwig, George Briesler, Geo. Martin Stubing, Henry WVansell, Conrad Schrontenbrack, John Stole, Conrad Rach,
" Whereas this court are willing to give due encouragement to such foreign Protestants as are come over the sea to reside within this Province, those who have particularly settled together in a place called Germantown within the township of Braintree in the County of Suffolk, and for divers years past have carried on certain Manufactures there, whercon they altogether depend for a Livelihood. And whereas Joseph Palmer of said Germantown, Gentleman, hath represented that said Manufacture, (particularly that of Glass) wherein he is principal adventurer, are by the consumption of some of the Buildings by Fire and otherwise, declined and gone to decay and hath therefore prayed for the aid of this Court.
" Be it therefore enacted by the Council and House of Representatives :-
" That John Quincy, Josiah Quincy, Thomas Flucher and Isaac Winslow, Esq., with Edward Jackson, Merchant, all of the County of Suffolk, or any three of them, be and hereby are allowed and impowered to set up and carry on one or more Lottery or Lotteries, amounting in the whole to such a sum as by drawing or deducting ten per cent. out of the same, or out of each Prize or Benefit Ticket may raise the sum of Twelve Hundred and fifteen pounds, and no more, and that the said sum by them or any three of them, ap- plied within twelve months from and after drawing the first Lottery aforesaid (in the first place) to the payment of the charges of such a Lottery or Lotteries, and then the remainder to the Erecting on the said Joseph's Land such Build- ings and conveniences, for carrying on the Manufactury aforesaid, as by the said Joseph shall be thought most suitable for that purpose, and for Repairing such as remain unconsumed by Fire, and that the said John Quincy, Josiah Quincy, Thomas Flucher, Isaac Winslow, Esq., Edward Jackson, or any three of them, be the managers of said Lotterie and impowered to make all suitable and necessary Rules for the management thereof, and shall be sworn to the faithful Discharge of the said trust and as well as the said managers, as the said Joseph shall enter into Bonds of the Province Treasurer that the sum so raised shall be applied as soon as may be to the purpose designed as aforesaid, and
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.