USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Canton > History of the town of Canton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts > Part 40
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" A little to the right, and exactly northwest, we see Mount Kidder in New Ipswich ; then across Spofford's Gap is Spofford Mountain in Temple, and the sharper Temple Mountain. Next on the right we see the Pack-Monadnock, a remarkable mountain near Peterboro, with two similar summits connected by a short ridge. The northern peak is just sixty miles distant. Its height is 2,260 feet; that of the southern peak, 2,280 feet. In range with this mountain lies Sprague's Pond, two miles off. The next mountain group to the right is in Lyndeboro, N. H., a low ridge with two summits, of which the right-hand one, called Lyndeboro Pinnacle, is sixty iniles distant. Over the left side of Pinnacle is Crotchett Mountain in Francestown, sixty-six miles off, bearing N. 35° 15' W. A little to the right of Pinnacle, N. 30° 24' W., is Prospect Hill in Waltham, fourteen miles
471
TOPOGRAPHY.
distant, a rounded hill with a smaller summit rising from its left, bal- anced by a spur from its right flank. Between Pinnacle and Pros- pect we see Lincoln, on a hill eighteen miles away. At the right base of Prospect lies the village of Waltham, over which is Joe English Hill in New Boston, N. H., distant fifty-eight miles. Further to the right about north-northwest, are the twin Uncanoonucs in Goffstown, N. H., about fifty-nine miles distant. The right-hand peak is nearly over Readville schoolhouse. Just to the right of this building in the foreground stretches the large village of Hyde Park, three miles dis- tant, and nearly over its most prominent church are seen, in the dis- tauce, the spires of Arlington. To the west and northwest we also look down upon the meadows of Neponset River, which stream we can follow for several miles. Directly under the two summits of Pack- Monadnock, we get glimpses of Charles River. Some one of several hills about west-southwest may prove to be in Connecticut, but it is doubtful."
The academy at Milton stands two hundred and eight feet, and the meeting-house at West Dedham stands four hundred and five feet above the level of the sea. On May 30,. 1798, a staging was erected on the summit of Blue Hill. It was blown down Dec. 16, 1802; another was erected some time afterward. The United States Coast Survey also erected a monument a little west of the summit. They were en- camped here in September, 1845. The distance from the stone which marks the line between Milton and Canton to the top of Blue Hill is 2,402 feet; from this monument to the stone on Blue Hill Street is 1,745 feet, - in all 251} rods.
The other elevations in Canton would not be worth mention- ing were it not that their names may be preserved. Little Blue Hill, three hundred and thirty-five feet high, lies west of the Great Blue Hill, separated from it by the valley through which Washington Street passes. Clapp's Hill (so called in ancient times) is traversed by Spring Lane; Pitcher's Hill is situated near the old Red Bridge on Bolivar Street; Mount Hunger lies west of the Turnpike, on the southerly side of Reservoir Pond. Pillion Hill, between Taunt's Ledge and Dedham road, was named before 1720, from its supposed resemblance to the easy cushion on which our grandmothers rode behind
-
472
HISTORY OF CANTON.
their lords on horseback; the principal portion of this hill was carried into Boston, and is now in the Back Bay. Mount Enos deserves attention from the peculiar manner in which it obtained its name. It is situated on Frog Island, and is a rough, ragged hill. An early surveyor called it "a moun- tainous rock; " a later deed styles it a " rock Mount aneous," which in course of time, by bad spelling or rapid pronuncia- tion, became contracted into Mount Enos, and by that name it is known. It was conveyed in 1730 by Deacon Joseph Tucker to his son, and the year following Preserved Tucker conveyed it to John Pierce, Jr.
There still exist in England vast tracts of land, held in common for purposes of pasturage, - vestiges of the Ger- manic system of common fields, which was introduced into England by the Saxons. This system of common fields ownership consisted of small individual allotments, under joint control, those having the greater quantity, by the order of the early legislation, having power over the whole. So- cieties for the associate ownership of land were formed in this town as early as 1645; the expense of ditching and fencing was shared among the proprietors pro rata.
Between Blue Hill and the hills of Sharon, and forming the western boundary of Canton, lie the Fowl meadows. They are mentioned as early as 1646, and were granted in 1653 to Dedham, and the titles to their possession must be sought for in the Dedham grants. They extend in length about seven miles, with varying breadth. These meadows are covered near the river with a peculiar and luxuriant growth of grass, which takes its name from these meadows, - Fowl meadow, or false red-top, Poa serotina. It is con- jectured that the seed was brought into these meadows by ducks and other wild fowl. This grass grows tall and thick, is more soft and pliable than herds-grass, and will not spoil or suffer if allowed to stand beyond the usual time of mowing. Jacob Eliot, writing of it in 1749, called it " Fowl meadow," "duck," or "swamp wire" grass. This grass is supposed to have attracted the early inhabitants to settle in its vicin- ity; for with merely the trouble of reaping, they obtaincd
473
TOPOGRAPHY.
their winter supply of fodder. These meadows also contain excellent peat; and should our supply of coal ever become exhausted, fuel can here be obtained in an unlimited abundance.
The Blue Hill meadows were originally the lower end of what was known as the "Fearme " meadow, belonging to Mr. Stoughton. After he received his land contiguously, he relinquished his rights in this meadow; and in 1661 the town of Dorchester ordered William Sumner and others to " ripen and p'pare matters for the laying out of the Common Meadow in the Fresh Marsh about ye Blew Hills." It was divided among thirty-five proprietors, and the lots were laid out on the east side of the Neponset.
We have before us an ancient plan on sheepskin, which is almost illegible; it is dated 1665, and it is the original laying out of the Blue Hill meadows. This was the year that Mil- ton was incorporated, and the meadows were before that time in Dorchester. They formed a portion of the Fowl meadows, and were situated southeast of the Neponset River, directly northwest of Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Twelve Divisions. The records of the last century describe them as " being and lying partly in the township of Milton, and partly in the township of Stoughton, called and known by the name of the Blue Hill Meadows, and lying in Common Field." The proprietors' meetings from 1766 to the time of the Revolution were held at the old tavern of Capt. Lemuel Bent, which stood under the large elm-tree near the present Atherton tavern in Milton. The town of Dorchester voted, in 1706, that those persons who had lost their rights in the Blue Hill meadows should have a like quantity in Burnt Swamp. The ancient records are full of the regulations concerning the common fields. The meetings were con- ducted with as much ceremony as a town meeting. A moderator was chosen; a clerk elected to keep a record of the proceedings; a surveyor .was appointed to see that the fences were kept in repair until after mowing; an assess- ment was laid of a shilling, sometimes more, on each acre, to defray necessary charges. It was voted that a yoke
474
HISTORY OF CANTON.
of oxen might be turned in on three acres; two other cattle on three acres; one horse on three acres, - this to be done on the Ist of September.
An old deed unrecorded and bearing date 1743 shows that Josiah Kenney, of Stoughton, conveyed to Noah Damon, of Milton, three quarters of an acre and sixteen rods of fresh meadow, lying in the Blue Hill meadows in Stoughton, in the eighth lot, in said meadows, it being all the right laid out to Thomas Andrews.
Another association of owners of land in common for mowing and pasturage was designated as " The Proprietors of Burnt Swamp Meadow." This swamp was situated on the west of Green Lodge Street, as it crosses the Fowl meadows, and receives its name from a fire which must have occurred before 1698, and which consumed everything upon it.
On the 14th of November, 1737, Michael Shaller agreed to sell to certain gentlemen as much land as should be neces- sary for a way whereby they might remove their hay from the Burnt Swamp meadow. The way began where Shaller's and Silas Crane's land touched the highway, south of the old Shaller house, and so to the most convenient place through the swamp, Mr. Shaller to maintain a convenient gate or bars across the way. The next day articles of agreement were entered into, and trustees were ordered to build the way and give a faithful report of their doings. The gentlemen who signed this agreement were, Isaac Royall, William Crane, Ben- jamin Fenno, Sr. and Jr., Thomas Vose, William Sumner, Silas Crane, John Shepard, Bliss Tolman, and Isaac How. War- rants for holding meetings were issued by a justice of the peace, and the business transacted at a legal meeting. In 1776 the names of Thomas Crane, William Royall, Thomas Doty, and Nathan Crane, the last of whom was clerk, appear as proprietors. In 1779 the "causey" built to facilitate the removal of the hay was repaired. At the beginning of the century the owners were Abner Crane, Laban Lewis, Ezekiel Fisher, Ezekiel Johnson, Abel Puffer, and Nathan Crane. In 1805 Lieut. Michael Shaller was appointed surveyor; Capt. John Tucker appeared as an owner. Subsequently we find
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TOPOGRAPHY.
William Tucker, Abel Wentworth, John Davenport, Na- thaniel French, James Bent, Jesse Davenport. In 1821 the Widow Ruth Barker owned two acres; Capt. John Tucker, Ist, six acres; Abel Wentworth, six acres; Jabez Talbot, five acres; Jesse Davenport, two acres; James Bent, two and a half acres; Nathaniel Davenport, two and one half acres; Alexander Fisher, two acres; Michael Shaller, one acre; Ezekiel Fisher, Jr., three acres; Ezekiel Johnson, two acres ; Ebenezer Crane, three and one half acres; and Laban Lewis, two and one half acres. The causeway had a bridge covered with plank. The meetings of the company were held as late as 1835, when the question of obtaining an Act of Incorpora- tion was discussed. Laban Lewis was then clerk.
The common fields are situated in that part of the Fowl meadows near where the road to Norwood crosses them. These are described as bounded, " Southwesterly on Mashapog River; Northerly, on Neponset River, to a ditch in Eliphalet Baker's Meadow; Easterly, on White's Swamp and Jones' Shore."
The date of the laying out of these lands is not known to the writer. A plan taken in 1793 shows them to consist of one hundred and twenty-six acres. The proprietors appear to have received an Act of Incorporation on June 15, 1795. They had power to clear the river of obstructions. On the 15th of August of each year the cattle were turned in, and a register was kept by the clerk of the company. In 1806 Elijah Dunbar performed this service. Work was done " on y Long Causeway." Meetings were regularly held until 1824, probably later. The meadows around Pequit Brook were also held in common, probably from the time of the first settlement, as the dam was built in common about 1720. On March 2, 1802, a number of gentlemen, proprietors of meadow-lands lying in the vicinity of Pequit Brook, received an Act of Incorporation from the Legislature.
Another organization was known as the Neponset Meadow Proprietors. They were the owners of the meadows on both sides of the Neponset, lying between two parallel lines, cross- ing the river and meadows, the upper line being in the
476
HISTORY OF CANTON.
same direction and coinciding with the divisional line between Canton and Sharon; the lower line crossed the meadow near Paul's Bridge. The Act of Incorporation, which was passed March 3, 1798, excluded Elijah Dunbar and others, proprie- tors of the common fields; also the meadow-lands belong- ing to the heirs of Dr. John Sprague, Roger Billings, Israel Bailey, and some others.
The Neponset Meadow Company was an organization of owners of land in the Fowl meadows, who deemed that their rights had been infringed and their land injured by the rais- ing of dams on the lower Neponset. They received an Act of Incorporation in 1876, for the purpose of preventing en- croachments upon their rights by flowage.
On the level ground between Ponkapoag Pond and. the Great Blue Hill rises the Monaticut River. In Hale's survey of Boston, published in 1821, it is stated that the -
" Minaticut River hath its source in the town of Canton, near the Randolph line, and its course is easterly at the foot of the Blue Hills, touching the Braintree Great Pond and passing through Braintree southerly of the Little Pond, where it receives a small stream from Randolph, and graduating round easterly and northerly to the Brain- tree Iron-Works, and on to Braintree Bridge and Landing, up to which the tide flows, when it spreads into a considerable width, casting off several creeks, passeth under Quincy Bridge, and falls into Boston Harbor between the towns of Quincy and Weymouth."
This river is sometimes known in Milton as Blue Hill River, and farther on as Farm River.
Through the length of the Fowl meadows and forming the dividing line on the west between Canton and Dedham, flows the beautiful Neponset. Its western branch rises in the mead- ows of the northern part of Foxboro', and receiving addi- tions from Diamond, Mill, Bubbling, Hawes, Traphole, and Puffer's brooks, joins the eastern branch about a mile from the Stone Factory in Canton. The eastern branch is formed by the united waters of Massapoag, Beaver, Steep, York, Pequit, and Hartwell's brooks.
Massapoag Brook takes its rise from Massapoag Pond in Sharon, and passing through Reynolds's Misery meadow, re-
477
TOPOGRAPHY.
ceives just below the trowel-works the waters of Beaver Hole Meadow Brook, which rises in Sharon in the meadows west of the Boston and Providence Railroad, and receives a slight addition from Deborah Gannet's Brook. It passes the works of G. H. Mansfield and J. S. Shepard ; it is then divided, the original brook flowing by the silk factories and emptying into Forge Pond in the rear of the Crane schoolhouse, having fallen 260 feet. By an artificial canal cut in 1834, a portion of the water may be carried into Steep Brook. It will be noticed that this artificial division of Massapoag Brook forms an island, which is commonly known as Frog Island. It embraces all that part of Canton lying east of the upper and lower silk factories, and is bounded on the west by Steep Brook, northerly by Bolivar and Forge ponds. Within the limits of Frog Island are clay meadows which have fur- nished good brick ; a considerable business was done years ago by Luke Shepard in furnishing clay from these meadows to the Revere Copper Company.
Steep Brook rises in Stoughton, receiving a portion of its water from the Jonathan Leonard Brook, the pond near Brit- ton's awl factory, and Muddy Pond in that town, also from a powerful spring south of Central Street, known as " Zacha- riah Lyon's Hole; " flowing by the factory of Messrs. French and Ward, it crosses the Canton line, where it is joined by Henry's Brook and the artificial division of Massapoag Brook. Having formed this junction, the brook enters Boli- var Pond, where it is joined by Beaver Brook; the water then flows into Forge Pond.
Beaver Brook rises in Stoughton; it is formed partly by streams which rise in the meadows south of the line between Canton and Stoughton. Many years ago, a canal was dug at the southerly end of York Pond, a few feet lower than the natural outlet at the northerly end ; by this artificial canal the water was conveyed to the mill built before 1739 by Ensign George Wadsworth, known during the latter part of the eighteenth century as Packard's mill. The ruins of this mill still stand on Pine Street, in Stoughton, and are the most picturesque of any within easy driving distance of Canton.
478 ª
HISTORY OF CANTON.
Going through Indian Lane toward the Turnpike, they are within a stone's throw of the road. After leaving this ancient dam, Beaver Brook crosses Indian Lane and the Turnpike, where it furnishes the motive-power of what was known in our day as Henry Capen's mill, near which in 1824 stood the toll-house and gate. In 1763 it was known as Tilden's mill. In 1820 this mill was leased by Lewis Johnson, to hammer shovels, subsequently in the manufacture of gravestones. Here Michael Gallagher learned his trade, and kept the toll- gate, where his wife assisted him in taking the tolls. He sub- sequently removed to the house once occupied by J. Mason Everett, where he carried on his business until his death, July 26, 1855. He was a patriotic Irishman, and supported in his house, in 1845, Thomas Mooney while he was engaged in writing his " History of Ireland." Enos Upham, Jr., erected a mill at this spot for the purpose of making cotton yarn.
Leaving the Turnpike, Beaver Brook enters Ponkshire meadow, where it is joined by Ponkshire Brook, thence it flows through Beaver meadow, in the rear of the house of Mr. Enos Upham, where it is fed by a small brook which rises in the meadows near the Stoughton line. It is said that the remains of ancient beaver dams can still be seen in this locality. It then crosses Ragged Row and Pine Street, and by an artificial canal is diverted into Bolivar Pond. Its natural and original course, still traceable, passed down the valley between the old Red Bridge, which disappeared in 1882, and the shovel-works; it then joined Pequit Brook in what is now Forge Pond.
Ponkshire Brook starts from the swamps which lie east of Belcher's Corner, known in the ancient maps as Dead meadow. There are indications that two dams have been erected for some purpose to control the water at these meadows. Ponk- shire flows in a northerly direction, and empties into Beaver Brook in the Ponkshire meadows.
York Brook is the natural outlet from York Pond, but it has been dammed, and the water forced through an artificial culvert on the southerly side of the pond. York Brook starts from the northerly side of York Pond, and flows through
479
TOPOGRAPHY.
Monk's meadow, where it receives additional water. Before reaching Indian Lane it was dammed, and a saw-mill erected which was standing in 1760, the remains of which are still to be seen. It crosses Indian Lane near its junction with York Street ; flowing through the valley below, it formerly carried a grist-mill, situated directly in the rear of the house of Isaac May, Jr., from which an ancient walled lane - the predecessor of the present road - still leads. Here in 1789 David Talbot, the sad fate of whose daughter forms a melancholy chapter in Canton annals, tended the mill. Running parallel to York Street, the brook unites with Pequit between that street and the Turnpike.
Pequit Brook rises near the corner of Stoughton and Can- ton, against Randolph in Bear Swamp, crosses Cedar Street, flows through the Fenno farm, crosses York Street, and re- ceives York Brook; the conjoined brooks then cross the Turn- pike, and enter what has been known since 1828 as Reservoir Pond. It crosses Pleasant Street, flows through what are known as Pequit meadows, by the sites of two ancient mills, known at different periods as May's, Gill's, and Shepard's mill. It runs nearly parallel to Washington Street, passes under Sherman Street, and enters Forge Pond.
These brooks, with additions from other smaller brooks, form the east branch of the Neponset River, at one time called " Saw-Mill River."
Pecunit and Ponkapoag brooks enter the Neponset after the two branches have united. Ponkapoag Brook takes its rise at the western end of the pond of the same name, and flowing by the ancient mill-site of 1727, crosses Turnpike and Washington streets, at which place it received in 1700 the name of " Martin's Delight." Passing over three disused dams, it flows back of the Bemis place, where it is augmented by Aunt Katy's Brook. Joining Spring Brook, it proceeds through the Ponkapoag valley, across Elm and Green Lodge streets, and empties into the Neponset north of Green Lodge. In 1794 Nathan Crane erected a dam on the north side of the bridge on Elm Street, with an under-shot wheel.
Pecunit Brook rises in the Canton Cemetery, and flows
480
HISTORY OF CANTON.
through Pecunit valley across Elm Street, to the river not far from the iron bridge. A dam was erected across it by William Wheeler in 1787, but no mill was ever built on it.
A short distance below the source of Pecunit Brook the Canton Aqueduct Company, incorporated in 1836 for the purpose of forcing water up Prospect Hill to supply the resi- dents on Canton Corner, erected the same year a water-wheel which supplies a tank on the brow of the hill one hundred feet above. One who loved to wander in this picturesque spot thus describes it : -
" This town has a water-wheel, that stands far down in a ravine behind one of its churches, under the shadow of old pines, and cov- ered from the sun that sometimes looks down over the treetops upon its coarse wooden house, - a water-wheel that turns, moaning, from day to day, shut up in darkness, and yet lifts up the clear sparkling water into many homes, doing its work in solitude and bearing its bur- den steadfastly."
Porcupine Brook issues from the northern end of York Pond. It flows in a northerly direction through Rattlesnake " meadow, and empties into Pequit Brook east of the Turn- pike .. It receives a considerable augmentation from Muddy Pond, whose surplus water soaks through the bog under the road.
Aunt Katy's Brook takes its name from Miss Katy Black- man, who resided in the house by its margin for many years, and who died Feb. 10, 1849. It was before her day called Blackman's Brook, and on the map of 1831 it is called Spring Brook. It takes its rise on the southerly side of Washington Street, back of the old Eagle Inn, where there is said to be a spring called Carroll's Pool; it crosses Washington Street between Ridge Hill and the English Churchyard, and flows through Potash meadow into Ponka- poag Brook; an artificial canal at one time conducted it above the Bemis dam.
Spring Brook, mentioned in 1726, is farther north than Aunt Katy's. It rises east of Pecunit Street, and enters Ponkapoag Brook farther down the valley.
A MAP of the Town of
CANTON
MASS. (Formerly a part of Dorchester)
Stoughton was set off from Dorchester & Inc. Dec.22 1726 Canion was sel off from Stoughton & Inc. Feb 23 1797. Distance from the Post Office to Faneuil Hall Boston is 15m. 0 gr. 78r .. Dedham Court House . 6 ... . 1 . 55. The first settled Minister Joseph Morse, Settled Oct.30,1717. Census for 1800 gave 1110 Inhabitants 1810 .. . . . 1353.
- 1820 -- "_ 1268. 1830 __ ^_1517_
Contains the following Manufacturing Establishments_ Revere Copper Man. Co, consisting of 2 Furnaces for casting Can- non Bells. &c ; 2 Rolling Mills & 1Turning Mill; (they also man- ufacture Sheet Lead;)_ 1large Wool Factory, capable of manufac- turing 600,00 0yards per year :_ 3 ColtonFactories; IThread Do; 1 SatinettDo .; 1 Wick Yarn Da; 1Cutlery Do; 1Candlestick Do. 1 for Farmers' Utensils ;_ 2 Steel Furnaces, 4 Forges, 3 Grist Mills, 1 Saw Mill & 4 Machine Shops.
This Plan was made in conformity to a Law of the State and a vote of the Town of Canton, under the Direction of a Com- millee of five, chosen by the Town for that purpose. Containing . - 12610 Acres.
Deduct for Ponds & Roads 680. .....
Drawn from actual Survey by JOSEPH HODGES, Surveyor. Published March,1831.
ID
Copiecl February, 1892
BY Frederic Endicott.
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