USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Bedford > History of the town of Bedford, Middlesex county, Massachusetts, from its earliest settlement to the year of Our Lord 1891 > Part 21
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" Boston, Nov. 27, 1798. Received of Mr. Josiah Hill four pound in Cash and four pound in Cyder, in full of the Rent of my house and Land in Bedford, from first April, 1798, to first April, 1799. - Abigail Otis."
It appears that Josiah Hill was of the "aris- tocracy " of that time, as he was taxed in Sep- tember. 1800, "a duty of three dollars upon a two-wheel carriage, called a chaise, owned by him, with a top, to be drawn by one horse, for the conveyance of persons." The estate, in part, remained in the Hill name until about 1885.
ROBINSON HOUSE.
ROBINSON or FOSTER. - This is one of the very old homesteads of Bedford. The house, demolished about 1870, was of the oldest styles of architecture of New England. The brick- lined wall leads to the conclusion that it was used as a resort for safety in the Indian wars, and may have been the garrison that has not been located in the town, of which there is evi- dence. The name of Bowman is traced to this place before 1700. Jesse Robinson bought the place and settled here about 1800. His son Charles remained on the homestead, where three of the third generation were born. The estate was sold out of the family about 1870, since which the present dwelling has been erected on the exact site of the former.
son of Sammel, married, Oct. 1, 1733, Elizabeth Grimes, and located here. From him it went to
SAMPSON HOUSE.
his daughter, Phoebe Fitch Sprague, wife of John, who was son of Nicholas, of Billerica, born April 26, 1759. It was next in possession of their daughter Susannah, wife of William Clark ; and she was succeeded by her daughter, Sarah C., wife of Albert P. Sampson. The cedar swamp, divided into lots, is separated from the estate by " Mingo Ditch." The swamp is desig- nated in a deed from Andrew Wadkins to James Wheeler, in 1728, as " Sancta Domingo Swamp," which in our language may be called Sacred Do- minion, and may suggest the present " Mingo."
C. H. WooD. - This was the Wright estate. The "Old Red House " was occupied by sev- eral generations of the family. James Wright was in the Revolution from Bedford. He was chosen .deacon in 1785, and was a prominent man in town and church. He led in the mu- sie of worship and had charge of the town's " l'itch Pipe " and " Big Fiddle." The first birth in the family recorded in town was that of Tab- itha, born in 1768. The Wrights carried on the business of tanning and currying here. Henry Wood followed the Wrights in possession, and his son succeeded him, and erected the present commodious buildings.
Associated with the Wright homestead was that now owned by Martin Kelley. It was a part of the Page purchase of 1687. Timothy Page, son of John and Rebecca Wheeler. born 1741, married and settled here about 1767. Their children were Joseph W. and Dorcas. The lat- ter was born three days after the opening en- gagement of the Revolution, in which her father took a part at Concord. He entered the Conti- nental army, and was killed at White Plains, N.Y. Dorcas Page married James Wright, Jr., and became the mother of seven children. Tar- box, Centre, and Bacon were owners of the estate before the present, who erected the modern dwelling, and converted the barren acres to a productive vegetable farm.
CAPTAIN SMITH FARM. - This land must have been included in the Grant to Thomas Oakes
PINE GROVE FARM. - The larger part of the land was on the Concord side. Zachariah Fitch, | and in the common lands of Billerica. A portion
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of the farm was doubtless taken from the share of the allotment of 1707 that fell to Jonathan Hill. Oliver Pollard, who married Mary Hill in 1777, was an early possessor of the estate. Rev. Nathaniel Sherman, settled as minister of the town in 1759, lived at this place during a part of his ministry. Oliver Pollard, Sr., died in 1831, aged 94 years. He was succeeded by his son Oliver, who built the present dwelling, and sold to John Smith, whose son. George H., continued the family possession until his death, in 1889.
WINTHROP FARM. - Hiram Dutton's house is thought to represent the first dwelling erected on the Winthrop Farm, and it is not impossible that the ancient house now standing was built by Job Lane soon after his purchase of fifteen hundred aeres of Fitz John Winthrop, in 1664. The farm was in the family possession for many years. Moses Fitch was a more recent owner and was succeeded by Abbott, who was followed by the present possessor.
Brook Side is a very appropriate name given to the Fitch homestead. Samuel Fitch, who inherited one-fourth of the Winthrop farm from his grandfather, Job Lane, built a house and set- tled here previous to 1696. Samuel was the first clerk of the town of Bedford. He was succeeded in the homestead possession by a son Jeremialı, who had a son Jeremiah. The owners in the fourth generation of the name were Matthew and John (twin sons of Jeremiah, 2d). Four brothers went from this estate to Concord on the morning of April 19, 1775. After about one hundred and twenty-five years of Fitch posses- sion, the farm was bought by John P. Reed, who removed the old house. It stood near the brook, which crossed beneath the highway in its winding course to the river. The sills of the house were below the surface, requiring a step down to enter the rooms. Charles L. Wait was a later owner, and the present is Marcellus Cope- land.
Sunny Side is the name recently given to a second homestead that was taken from the Fitch land. Stephen Lane, son of Timothy and Lydia (Davis), born in 1755, married Alice (Stearns) Abbott, in 1806, and lived here. Their dangh- ter, Lydia Harriet, wife of John W. Hayward, inherited the property, and sold to Justus P. Hastings ; others have followed in ownership. Mrs. Hooper is now in possession.
possession. He married Hannah Lane, daugh- ter of Samuel. They had a large family born here, of whom, Jonathan, married Ruhamalı Page, and carried on the business of a cooper, on the homestead, until he removed to Boston, in 1824. Their son, Hon. Jonathan A. Lane, of Boston, began life at this place. Charles Lane. the donor of the Town Hall clock, was one of the sixth generation. Arinda Lane, sister of Charles, married George Fisk. in 1824, and re- mained, with her family, at her paternal home- stead. George Fisk manufactured band-boxes here. It was the birthplace of Jonathan Fisk, who died in the Civil War. One of the first chaises owned in town was bought by Hannah Lane, after the death of her husband. The first cooking stove owned in town was used here by George Fisk.
The Jackson farm was a part of the Lane estate. The first building erected was Jonathan Lane's cooper shop.
Frederick Davis. This was a Lane posses- sion, until sold by John Lane to Dea. Moses Fitel, who married Rachel Stearns, and oeen- pied it. They were succeeded by son Joel, who sold to Thaddeus Davis, father of the present owner. The original buildings were removed by the first Davis owner, who erected new ones which were destroyed by fire, after which the present commodious buildings were erected.
Edward A. Butters. It was a part of Oliver Pollard's estate, and formerly included in the Lane farm. A plan made by Stephen Davis, in 1773, shows Pollard as owner at that time. MIis son Obed received it as a reward for marrying before other members of his generation in the family. Levi Bailey bought the estate early in the present century. It was sold by his execu- tor to a grandson, the present owner.
Elm Farm is a name given by the present owners of a share of the Lane farm. Capt. Samuel Lane, who died in 1802, was the last of the name to cultivate this farm. His heirs joined in a deed of sale to Oliver Pollard, April 20, 1803. Jacob Gragg was a later owner. He started the present dwelling, which has been greatly enlarged. The modern additions were made in 1890 by the owner, George C. Skilton.
Job B. Lane. This estate has never been out of the Lane family since the purchase by Job, in 1664. Walter David, now living with his mother at the homestead, is of the eighth gen- eration of the family and name who have ocen- pied this estate. The house was built by David. (See Family Record.)
John Lane married, in 1745, Ruth Bowman, and later, Mrs. Sarah (Abbott) Hildreth, and settled on that part of the Job Lane estate known as the George Fisk homestead. Jona- Coolidge. This was in the Lane name until than, born in 1763, succeeded his father in the | purchased by Charles Coolidge, who sold to the
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CHESTNUT AVENUE. PICKMAN HOUSE.
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present owner, Mrs. Drake. The old house stood west of the present highway. On Stephen Davis' plan James Lane is located there in 1773. Five generations of the name of Lane were born there. Oliver J. Lane built the present dwell- ing.
Francis Rodman. The dwelling stands on the western border of the common grounds of Bil- lerica which were divided in 1707, but part of the land was included in the Job Lane purchase. Meshach Penniman, brother of the third minis- ter, was located at this place during the Revo- lution. The town took special precaution to prevent his gaining a residence, by refusing to tax him, and the Lanes may never have quitted their claim. James Lane, with his wife, Molly Pollard, were the successors of Penniman. Own- ers since the Lanes have been Goodwin, Mans- field, Bacon, Cutler, Davis, to the present.
William W. Farrell. This part of the Win- throp Farm left the Lane name when purchased by Quincy Blake, of the heirs of Eliab Lane. The house was built very early, probably by Joseph Fitch, who married Sarah Grimes, in 1731. He was a builder of note, and the con- tractor for building the first meeting-house. He is recorded as a mill-wright, and without doubt was the early proprietor of the mill on Pepper- grass Brook. Josialı Crosby, at the age of fif- teen years, was bound to Joseph Fitch to learn the "millright's art."
Fitzgeralds. - This is thought to have been the tavern kept by Walter Pollard. (See Indus- tries.) There was an early saw mill on Pepper- children's marriage, and did so brotherly agree." grass Brook where it crosses this farm. It belonged to the Lane estate. The present house is supposed to have been moved from that local- ity. Pollard was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Pen- niman. Dr. Amariah Preston, who began the practice of medicine in this town in 1790, mar- ried Hannah Reed, October 18 of that year, and located at this place. (See Biographical Sketch.) He was succeeded by Jane Pollard, who married Thomas Smith in 1833. It was later owned by Daniel Kinnivan, and now held by his heirs.
Samuel H. Huckins' farm represents a part of the Job Lane purchase of 1664. John Lane married, in 1714, Catherine Whiting, and located here. He was succeeded by his son, Samuel, who died June 26, 1802, and, leaving no sons, the estate was no longer hield in the name. The original dwelling was strongly built, with plank walls and brick linings. It was removed by Peter Farmer, who built the present house. He was succeeded by Banfield, who was followed by the present owner.
HENRY DESMAZES .- (Oak Grove Farm.) This
farm extends into that part of the Dudley Farm which was purchased by John Stearns. Job Lane. the founder of the second Lane family in this town, bought a house and fifty acres of land of Caleb Farley, about the year 1700. This he exchanged with Christopher Page for a house and one hundred and fifty acres of land, near the Shawshine River, in the year 1727. The Hutchinson family is found here soon after the incorporation of Bedford. Benjamin and his wife, Rebecca, were doubtless residents of the place. She died in 1814 and he in 1815. They had each attained the age of ninety-one years. Simeon Stearns bought the place after the death of the Hutchinsons, and settled here. He was succeeded by his son, Elbridge W., who sold the estate and located in the village.
Dudley L. Pickman is the present owner of that part of the Dudley farm which was owned by Edward Stearns in 1766, and then set off to Bedford. His son, Elijah, succeeded to the homestead, and was followed by his brother, Simeon. B. B. Frothingham, of Charlestown, came later, and was followed by James Vila. Walcott and Emery came about 1840, removed the old house, and built the present dwelling. The property has had numerous owners, and is now in the possession of one who is descended from Lieut-Gov Dudley, who, with Gov. John Winthrop, selected their farms, in 1638, when standing by the boulders seen in the illustration which they then named the "Two Brothers," "in remembrance that they were brothers by their The line of descent of the present owner from the grantee of the colony is as follows: Gov. Dudley (grantee) ; Rev. Samuel Dudley; Doro- thy Dudley, married Moses Leavett; Rev. Dud- ley Leavitt; Mary Pickering Leavitt, married William Pickman; Dudley L. Pickman; Wil- liam Dudley Pickman; Dudley Leavitt Fickman. Tradition says that the large trees seen in the rear of the buildings were being set by Solo- mon Stearns at the time of the alarm of the march of the British. He was in the engage- ment at Concord, April 19, 1775, entered the camp at Cambridge, and there contracted a dis- ease which terminated his life in one month. Timber for the first bridge built over Charles River at Charlestown came from this farm. It was furnished by Edward Stearns.
William J. Stoddard was the last owner of the Uriah Goodwin homestead, who occupied it many years. Goodwin was from Billerica. He was succeeded by his son, Uriah, who built the house on the site of the original, which was destroyed by fire. Uriah Goodwin lived in Bos-
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ton after his residence at this farm, and later returned to it.
REV. SAMUEL STEARNS. - This homestead rep- resents a part of the common land that was divid- ed in 1707. The house was built for Rev. Joseph Penniman, the third minister of the town. It was the second house of which Renben Duren was the architect. It was not fully completed when Rev. Samuel Stearns became the minister of the town, and purchased the mansion-house with a farm of about twenty acres. It is still owned by the family.
homestead. He was a faithful friend of his native town. Miss Caroline M. Fitch next suc- ceeded to the possession, and still owns the homestead. There was once included with the farm all of the land from the Elbridge W. Stearns estate to the Common. The benevolent and pro- gressive spirit of Jeremiah Fitch (third) prompt- ed him to offer inducements to people to build houses and establish homes. Some of the build- ers on the Fitch land were David Rice, Amos B. Cutler, Lewis P. Gleason, Edward Merritt, and George Dutton.
A
THE STEARNS HOUSE.
AARON H. MARCH. - The first store of the town was kept on this site by Henry Abbott, of Andover. He began the business of a store- ROUNDS. - This homestead was a portion of the estate of John Reed, Esq., who died in 1805. It was inherited by his son Roger, who erected keeper soon after the fourth minister began his the present mansion on the site of one of the work among the people. Abbott was succeeded very early houses of the town. He married, in by Elijah Stearns, Esq., who erected the house , 1790, Sarah (daughter of Capt. Jolin Webber and Sarah Fassett). Their children born here were Sally and Eliot. The latter married, in 1821, Capt. Charles O. Gragg (a seafaring man).
and the building now used for a store. The first post-office was established on this site. The present owner purchased of the Stearns heirs.
STONE CROFT FARM is the oldest homestead | The homestead was sold by them, and has had in the village. Benjamin Kidder bought land various owners before the present. of several parties between 1729 and 1756. and John Walsh. - The dwelling was built by Charles O. Gragg on a part of the above described estate, and at first occupied by him. built the present dwelling before 1731. He sold to Daniel Rea or Ray, whose two sons sold to Jeremiah Fitch, Jr., in 1766, who kept tavern here and provided the entertainment for the SILAS WILKINS, - The homestead on Wilkins' Hill was included in John Moore's farm, and was inherited by his daughter Mary, who married Thaddeus Fitch, son of Joseph. Their three children, Mary, Sarah, and Joseph, were born minute men on the morning of April 19, 1775. He occupied it until death, in 1808, and was succeeded by his son Jeremiah, who was a mer- chant in Boston, and spent but little time at the
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here. The possessions were temporary after Silas Wilkins sold the farm.
SPRING STREET. - Previous to IS28 the first dwelling on this street, in going from the village, was that already designated as the Mrs. Sarah Foster place, better known to earlier generations by the name of ROBINSON. Mr. Joshua Page, whose career as a builder marks a very impor- tant epoch in the development of the town, be- gan the Spring street enterprise about 1828. He purchased a pasture of James Wright, and began the buildings on the north side of the street, fol- lowing the wisdom of the fathers, who located so as to face the south. He purchased and removed the second schoolhouse of the Centre, after the erection of the brick house, and made it into two tenements, known as the SAUNDERS place. It was early owned and occupied by Job Webber, son of Capt. John, then by son Artemas, and by his son, Marcus B.
HENRY Woons. - Joseph French was the owner and occupant as early as 1780. He was in the Concord settlement in 1764, and had Samuel, Joseph, Elizabeth, Mary, Margaret, and Jona- than, born between 1676 and 1690. (Shattuck.) The French dwelling was a garrison house in the early Indian wars. It was forty-two feet long by twenty wide, and in later years had " an ell " twenty by sixteen feet. The upper story of the garrison projected over the lower on the side facing the highway, and in this projection were loopholes, through which the flintlock mus- kets could be put and discharged in time of attack by the Indians. The door was thickly studded with wrought iron nails to prevent the Indians from splitting it. There was also a large iron locker upon it. The family had much trouble from the natives, and when employed on back lots kept a musket near at hand, as the savages would appear from their hiding places without provocation. The garrison was destroyed in the September gale of 1815.
The "ell " was built in 1693 to accommodate a daughter, who married Richard Wheeler. Joseph French, Sr., died in 1732. He provided by will for his wife. With other articles of produce from the farm, she was to have five barrels of cider annually. Joseph French, Jr., proved an unfaithful executor of his father's will. and years were spent in litigation. The Woolley possession came through the marriage of Samuel with a daughter of Joseph French.
Samuel French died in 1738, without issue, having bequeathed his share of the estate to relatives, and made provision for gravestones for his parents as well as himself. Richard Wheeler sold his share to Jonathan, brother of
Samuel Woolley. The Woolley brothers carried on the farm together. Jonathan was a giant in stature; he was killed by falling into a hole in the vicinity of the Virginia road. His share of the estate was divided between his brothers and sisters. Mary, one of them, who married Josiah Davis, had set off to her the land on which the " red house " was located about 1767. The Davis share was sold in 1791 to Edward Carey, son of Rebecca French, and by him sold to Oliver Reed, Jr .. in 1795. By a deed of Dec. IS, 1731, Joseph French, Jr., gave to Rebecca Carey, his daughter, "one acre of upland and orchard with one-half of the house, standing upon a part of two acres of upland conveyed to him by his father;" and French sold in 1732 to James Carey, "about one-half acre of land and half a malt-house standing thereon." Samuel Woolley became the possessor of a large share of the estate, on which he spent his life. He was a prominent man of the town for forty years, was often entrusted with the care of the estates of widows and orphans. Samuel Hartwell married Sarah Woolley. and they sold to Oliver Reed in 1785. Thus the whole estate became the property of the Reed family, and remained in the name until sold to Henry Wood by the heirs of Nathan O. Reed, who were of the fourth generation in possession. Mr. Wood erected the mansion house.
Three names that are found in the early tax records of the town are traced to this farm, vis., Benjamin Colburn, who married Elizabeth Wool- ley, William Colburn, who married Margaret Woolley, and James Carey, who married Rebecca French. Carey was a Nantucket merchant.
Miss ABBY L. HARTWELL. - This was built by Jonathan Bacon at the beginning of the century. The next owner was John Merriam, Esq. Then followed Dea. Amos Hartwell. and the present owner and occupant.
Mrs. ELIZABETH HARTWELL. - This was a portion of the estate of John Merriam, Esq. Inherited by daughter Susan. wife of Dr. A. B. Adams. Sold by Adams to Joseph Hartwell about 1865.
. DUDLEY HARTFORD. - Built by John Mer- riam, Esq., and occupied by son John Agustus, who inherited the estate from his father. Sold by him, and has passed through several names to the present.
Mrs. ELIZA WEBBER and Mr. HIRAM REED. - The east end of the house was the first school- house built in the South district, added to and completed by Elbridge Bacon.
WEBBER AVENUE. - As the career of Joshua Page marked an important epoch in the develop-
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ment of the village in the first quarter of the nineteenth century. so that of Wallace G. Web- ber marks one in the last quarter of the century. In 1886 he bought a field of the heirs of Dea. P. W. Chamberlin, built a street through the centre, laid out the land into building lots, and offered in- ducements to parties desiring to establish homes. Webber Avenue and the houses upon it, with the factory and dwelling on Loomis street. are the result of this opening enterprise. He later bought a portion of the Reed, Stiles, Lawrence estate, built Hillside Avenne, and opened up the land for building on which his stable stands, having pre- viously built his house and established a home on Main street. Other results of his enterprise are to be seen on Sonth street.
OLD SITES. - Beyond the Springs. and now included in that estate, was the Abbott home- stead. Moses Abbott married Mary Hill in 1755, and probably loeated here and became the found- ers of the influential family of that name in this town for a century. It is very probable that Obed and Elizabeth settled here about 1725, and that their son Moses was born here, in January, 1727-8. It had been owned by Hezekiah Hutchinson and Elijah Hill. Franklin Stearns and Sally Lane married in 1828, and settled here. It passed through different names to Joseph Brown, sold by his son Moses and widow Rachel to Dr. W. R. Hayden, about 1860.
In the field nearly opposite the home of Peter Kelly. in South Bedford, was the Samuel Mer- riam homestead. In the same locality, on the John Merriam estate, was the Trask home.
Henry Smith's harness-shop is on the site of a brick-end house owned by David Lane and Thomas Goodwin.
The home of Michael McMahan is on the site of the Porter homestead. It was a prominent estate, and owned by a leading family about 1760. Joseph Porter died here July, 1770.
On the Amos Hunnewell farm may be seen two cellar depressions. On one stood a house that was moved to the site of the Crosby house. It was a very strong building with brick-lined walls.
In the "Neck Field " near Concord river, on a portion of the Winthrop farm, is the cellar of an estate known as the Simonds lot.
On the south of Concord street was John Hosmer's house at the opening of the present century.
"Saul Bacon's" house was on the north side of Pine Hill road, on the Henry Jefts portion of the Squadron division of 1707. The Bacon farm was purchased by Oliver Pollard early in the century, and the house, which must have been
Imilt before the Squadron division, was demol- ished.
In the east quarter, near the junction of the Lexington, Burlington, and Bedford bounds was the Kendall homestead.
On the right hand side of the street in going . from the village to Hosmer and Muzzy's stood the Bacon dwelling. A little north of the Hos- mer and Muzzy house, on the right hand side of the road, was the Blood dwelling; and between Josiah Davis' dwelling and the river was another Blood dwelling. The later estate was purchased by Davis and Fitch.
CHAPTER XXXV.
Sketches of the Clergymen who have Succeeded Rer. Samuel Stearns as Pastor of the Church of Christ and Trinitarian Congrega- tional Society, in their Order of Service.
REV. JONATHAN LEAVITT, son of Roswell Leavitt and Dorothy Ashley, was born at Cor- nish, N.H., Oct. 21, 1800. He fitted for college at Meriden, N.H., and graduated as valedicto- rian of his elass at Amherst College in 1825, and studied theology at Andover Seminary. He went to South Carolina, making the jour- ney from his native town on horseback. He preached for a time at Pendleton, S.C., and then returned, and labored as minister at Acworth, N.H., and at Waltham, Mass., and settled as the immediate successor of Rev. Samuel Stearns. at Bedford, Jan. 11, 1837, where he ministered until Oct. 12, 1840, when he was dismissed to enter upon a broader field of labor at Provi- (lence, R. I., and there remained as pastor of Richmond Street Church a quarter of a century, when his health failed, and he resigned. One who knew him as a preacher says of him: "He preached without notes, he was very scriptural and very spiritual, his figure was striking, his voice clear and admirable in modulation, his ser- monizing original and of a high order; often he was mystical, very often thrillingly eloquent. He was an effective preacher in saving men and women. He belonged to a type which has largely disappeared." The students of Brown University were attracted to his church, and many were regular worshippers with his people. Amherst College, of which he was a trustee in 1855, honored him, in 1863, with the degree of D.D., which he declined, as a matter of con- science, as he had previously declined the offer of a professorship. He married, Oct. 10, 1837, Charlotte Esther, daughter of Rev. Samuel Stearns, his predecessor in the Bedford minis- try. She died Feb. 27, 1850. He died Oct. 7,
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