USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lexington > History of the town of Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1868, Volume I > Part 2
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HAYES MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN, UNVEILED APRIL 19, 1900
. 280
Henry H. Kitson, Sculptor.
REV. JOHN HANCOCK AND MRS. HANCOCK
304
From oil portraits by Smibert, owned by the Lexington Historical Society.
REV. JONAS CLARKE
334
Silhouette.
REV. WILLIAM G. SWETT
. 334
From an oil portrait by Francis Alexander, 1839; in the possession of the First Parish Church, Lexington.
REV. JASON WHITMAN
. 334
From an oil portrait painted in Portland, Maine, about 1845, by J. G. Cloudman; in the possession of the First Parish Church, Lexington.
REV. HENRY WESTCOTT
. 334
From a crayon portrait by Miss Marion S. Keyes, about 1884. In possession of the First Parish Church, Lexington.
REV. LEONARD J. LIVERMORE
334
From a photograph, about 1877.
REV. CHARLES FOLLEN
344
From an oil portrait by Gambardella, about 1838; in the possession of Mr. John H. Cabot, Brookline, Massachusetts.
REV. OLIVER A. DODGE
·
348
Pastor of the Baptist Church, Lexington, January 7, 1835, to May 28, 1840. From a daguerreotype, about 1838.
REV. CHARLES M. BOWERS, D.D
. 348
Pastor of the Baptist Church, Lexington, September 9, 1841, to March 27, 1845.
REV. IRA LELAND .
. 348
Pastor of the Baptist Church, Lexington, August 26, 1847, to June 28, 1857. From a photograph, about 1862.
xviii
ILLUSTRATIONS
REV. JOHN PRYOR, D.D . 348 Pastor of the Baptist Church, Lexington, January, 1875, to June, 1880. From a photograph, about 1860.
REV. LEONARD B. HATCH . 348 . Pastor of the Baptist Church, Lexington, November 4, 1886, to January, 1892. From a photograph.
FIRST PARISH CHURCH (UNITARIAN)
. 352
Erected, 1847; Isaac Melvin, architect.
CHURCH OF OUR REDEEMER (EPISCOPAL) 358
Erected, 1886; E. A. P. Newcomb, architect.
FOLLEN CHURCH (UNITARIAN)
358
Erected, 1839; Rev. Charles Follen, architect.
BAPTIST CHURCH
358
Erected, 1893; J. Williams Beal, architect.
. 362
SAINT BRIDGET'S CHURCH (ROMAN CATHOLIC)
Erected, 1875; Patrick W. Ford, architect.
HANCOCK CHURCH (TRINITARIAN-CONGREGATIONAL)
. 362
Erected, 1893; Lewis and Paine, architects.
REV. EDWARD GRIFFIN PORTER
·
. 374
.
.
First Pastor of Hancock Church; from a photograph, about 1889.
.
CHARLES TIDD
388
From a photograph.
DR. DIO LEWIS
388
From a photograph.
PROFESSOR HOSEA E. HOLT
. 388
From a photograph.
REV. SAMUEL J. MAY
388
From a photograph, about 1865.
CYRUS PIERCE
.
.
388
First principal of Lexington Normal School; from an engraving.
ADAMS SCHOOL
394
Built, 1859; cost about $4065.
OLD HIGH SCHOOL
.
·
394
Built as a town hall in 1846; Isaac Melvin, architect.
DIO LEWIS'S SCHOOL . 394 Built by Benjamin Muzzey as a tavern, "The Lexington House," 1847. Cost about $20,000; burned in 1867.
LEXINGTON NORMAL SCHOOL 394 Built for an academy in 1822; later used as Hancock Church.
ILLUSTRATIONS
xix
NEW ADAMS SCHOOL
400
From the architects' water-color drawing; built in 1912; cost, furnished, about $60,000. Brainerd and Leeds, architects.
MUNROE SCHOOL
400
Built in 1904; cost about $28,000; Willard D. Brown, architect.
HIGH SCHOOL .
. 400
Built in 1902; cost, furnished, about $61,500; Cooper and Bailey, architects.
HANCOCK SCHOOL
400
Built in 1891; cost about $61,000; Hartwell and Richardson, architects.
WILLIAM H. CARY
. 408
From a photograph, about 1850.
MRS. WILLIAM H. CARY (MARIA HASTINGS) .
. 408
Founder of Cary Memorial Library; from an oil portrait by Osgood, about
1850.
ELIAS PHINNEY
. 408
Author of a History of the Battle of Lexington; from an oil portrait.
MARY (PHINNEY), BARONESS VON OLNHAUSEN
408
From a photograph, about 1872.
GEORGE E. MUZZEY, FIRST LIEUTENANT AND Q. M.
446
From a photograph, about 1890.
LEONARD G. BABCOCK
446
From a photograph.
CAPTAIN ORIGEN B. DARLING
446
From a photograph, about 1898.
CHARLES T. WEST
. 446
From a photograph, about 1900.
ALBERT A. SHERMAN, FIRST SERGEANT
446
From a photograph, about 1900.
LOUIS E. CRONE, CAPTAIN, U. S. A.
446
From a photograph, about 1889.
IRA F. BURNHAM
446
From a photograph, about 1897.
APPROACH TO LEXINGTON COMMON, 1910
. 466
Massachusetts Avenue, looking westward.
SAMUEL CHANDLER
. 498
From a photograph.
SIMON W. ROBINSON
498
From a photograph.
BENJAMIN MUZZEY
498
From an oil portrait by Willard, about 1832, in the possession of the Muz- zey estate.
Xx
ILLUSTRATIONS
GEORGE W. ROBINSON . 498
From a photograph, about 1870.
REV. CALEB STETSON
498
From a crayon portrait in Buckman Tavern.
TOWN HALL
516
Built in 1871; Gridley J. F. Bryant, architect.
OLD BELFRY CLUB
516
Dedicated January 23, 1893.
STONE BUILDING
. 516
Built in 1833; Isaac Melvin, architect.
CARY MEMORIAL LIBRARY
516
Built in 1906; Willard D. Brown, architect.
DR. JOSEPH FISKE
556
Silhouette.
DR. STILLMAN SPAULDING . 556 . ·
From an oil portrait by George P. Alex. Healy, 1843; in the possession of John S. Spaulding, Lexington.
DR. WILLIAM J. CURRIER . 556
From a daguerreotype.
DR. HOWLAND HOLMES 556
From a photograph, 1888.
DR. SETH SALTMARSH . . 556
From a photograph, about 1895.
BRIEF CHRONOLOGY OF LEXINGTON EVENTS 1
DATE.
1630. Charter of Massachusetts Bay Colony. Arrival of Winthrop and Dudley at Salem.
1631. First Settlement at "Newe Towne" by Winthrop and Dudley company.
1634. Boundary of Newe Towne extended northward.
1636. Second extension of boundary of Newe Towne (to brook in rear of present Unitarian Church).
First grants of land in present township of Lexington, to Richard Herlarken- den (later transferred to Pelham).
1638. Name of Newe Towne changed to Cambridge.
1641. Third extension of boundary of Cambridge (northward to the Merrimack River).
1642. Herlarkenden grant transferred to Herbert Pelham and settlement made at Cambridge Farms (near Vine Brook).
1682. Settlers at Cambridge Farms petition the General Court to establish a sepa- rate parish. Petition denied.
1684. Settlers again petition the General Court for a separate parish, and again are refused.
1690. Buckman Tavern built.
1691. December 15. General Court grants petition for establishment of a sepa- rate parish at Cambridge Farms.
1692. April 22. Parish organized and "Mr. Benjamin Estabrook" invited to be- come the pastor the 1st of May.
First Meeting-house built.
1693. House built for "Mr. Estabrook."
Purchase of Ministerial Land from Cambridge.
1695. Munroe Tavern built.
1696. October 21. Mr. Estabrook ordained first pastor of Cambridge Farms.
1697. July 22. Death of Rev. Benjamin Estabrook. November 7. Mr. John Hancock invited to become pastor.
1698. November 2. Mr. John Hancock ordained pastor. Rev. John Hancock builds house on present Hancock Street.
1700. A bell for the use of the parish presented by the town of Cambridge.
1711. Land (about 1} acres) surrounding the Meeting-House (the "Common") pur- chased by subscription (cost, £16).
1713. March 31. Lexington incorporated (1712, March 20, O. S.).
Newly elected Selectmen vote to buy weights and measures, to build a town "Pound" and to erect Stocks.
1714. Second Meeting-House built - twenty feet in the rear (north) of the first. First Tavern in town opened to the public.
1715. First School-house erected on the Common, 28×20 feet, Joseph Estabrook, teacher.
1722. Common enlarged by purchase of one acre additional at cost of £25.
1733. November 2. Ebenezer Hancock invited to become his father's colleague.
1734. January 2. Ebenezer Hancock ordained.
1740. Rev. Ebenezer Hancock dies.
1752. Rev. John Hancock dics.
1 Compiled by Dr. Fred S. Piper of the committee.
xxii BRIEF CHRONOLOGY OF LEXINGTON EVENTS
DATE.
1754. Town of Lincoln incorporated (taking 974 acres from Lexington).
1755. May 19. Voted to invite Mr. Jonas Clarke to become pastor. November 5. Mr. Jonas Clarke ordained.
1761. First School-house torn down and the second built on same site. June 15. Isaac Stone gives a bell to the town for public use. Belfry built.
1770. Boston Massacre.
1772. Town chooses its first Committee of Correspondence.
1774. September 5. The first Continental Congress meets, followed one month later by the first Provincial Congress.
1775. February 26. General Gage's attempt to take stores at Salem fails.
April 16. Paul Revere comes to Lexington and Concord to give preliminary warning.
April 19. Battle of Lexington.
1781. Income from Ministerial Land first applied to support of the church.
1784. House erected at town farm for the accommodation of the poor.
Lexington Artillery Company organized (disbanded, 1847).
1789. November 5. George Washington visits Lexington and dines at Munroe Tavern.
1797. School-house on the Common sold and removed and three new ones built in the south, west, and north districts.
December 12. Hiram Lodge, A.F. and A.M., instituted in Munroe Tavern.
1799. Revolutionary Soldiers' Monument erected on the Common.
1805. Death of Rev. Jonas Clarke.
1807. Henry Coleman declines call to pastorate of church, and in October of the same year Avery Williams accepts the pastorate.
1808. Third School-house built on the Common, forty feet north of the Monument. 1810. August 24. Theodore Parker born.
1813. Rufus Merriam commissioned Postmaster, and first Post-Office in the town opened.
1821. School-house removed from the Common.
1822. Lexington "Rifle Rangers" organized.
Charter granted and building erected for the Lexington Academy.
1824. September 2. Lafayette visits Lexington.
1829. First Sunday School organized, by Rev. Charles Briggs, at First Parish Church.
1830. Baptist Church organized.
1833. Rev. T. P. Ropes becomes the first resident pastor of the Baptist Church.
1835. April 20. Remains of Minute-Men killed April 19, 1775, reinterred beneath the Monument, Lexington. Oration by Edward Everett.
Lexington Manual Labor Seminary opened by Timothy P. Ropes and Samuel Stetson.
Follen Church organized.
1836. First Post-Office established at East Lexington, Amos Adams, Postmaster.
1839. The present Follen Church erected.
First Normal School in the United States opened, July 3, in Lexington Acad- emy Building.
1845. Follen Church incorporated.
1846. First Parish Church (the last on the Common) burned. Railroad built to Lexington and first trains run over it.
1847. First Parish Church erected on present site.
1852. Louis Kossuth visits Lexington, May 11.
Roman Catholic Mass first celebrated.
1854. Lexington High School established.
March 27. Jonathan Harrington, last survivor of the Battle of Lexington, dies.
xxiii
BRIEF CHRONOLOGY OF LEXINGTON EVENTS
DATE.
1868. Hancock Church organized. Cary Library founded.
1869. Cary Library first opened, January 27.
1870. Simon W. Robinson Lodge instituted in November.
1871. Simon W. Robinson Lodge chartered. Lexington Savings Bank incorporated. Town Hall built.
1875. Great celebration of centenary of Battle of Lexington. Roman Catholic Church erected.
1877. Illuminating gas introduced.
1883. Episcopal Church organized.
1884. Town appropriates $1500 to mark places of historic interest.
1885. Town water-supply installed by Lexington Water Company.
1886. Lexington Historical Society organized and incorporated. Episcopal Church erected. Lexington Common regraded. First Superintendent of Schools employed.
1891. District schools abolished and central graded schools established
1893. Electric lights introduced. The present Baptist Church erected.
1894. Patriots' Day made a State holiday.
1900. Hayes Memorial Fountain unveiled April 19. First public use of street railway.
1903. Metropolitan water-supply installed.
1904. Rural Free Delivery of mail introduced May 16.
1906. New building of Cary Memorial Library opened.
1909. Post-Office at East Lexington discontinued October 15. Free postal delivery established October 16.
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
CHAPTER I :
FROM THE FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE INCORPORATION AS A TOWN
The Origin of Towns, and Value of Town Meetings - Character of the Early Set- tlers of the Province - Puritan Colonies compared with Others - History of Lexington involved in that of Cambridge - The People desire an Increase of Territory - Removal of Rev. Mr. Hooker and his Flock - Shawshine granted to Cambridge - Settlement of Cambridge Farms - Incorporated as a Pre- cinct - Erection of a Meeting-House - The Subscribers' Names - The First Tax Bill - Ministerial Land purchased - Mr. Estabrook called as their Min- ister - A House built for Mr. Estabrook - Mr. Estabrook's Ordination and Death - Mr. Hancock settled - Additional Seats in the Meeting-House pro- vided - Ammunition and School Money asked for - The Common purchased - The Precinct petition to be made a Town - Voted to build a New Meeting- House - Hardships and Privations of the First Settlers -The Prominence of the Religious Idea - Military Titles and Military Men.
THE object of history is to present a picture of the past, so that we may be stimulated to imitate the virtues and shun the vices of those who have gone before us. But as the events which engage our attention are, in great degree, the results of human actions, we can never understand the philosophy of history without ascertaining the characters and motives of the principal actors in the scenes narrated.
As we shall speak of the value and importance of the his- tory of towns, it may be desirable to understand the rise of these little municipalities, which had their origin in Massa- chusetts; and which have extended, with some modifications, over a large section of our country. Towns, in the present acceptation of the term, were not established at once, but grew up gradually, out of the wants of the people. As the Charter vested all power in the General Court, these planta- tions or towns could have no powers except those expressly granted them by the Court. The Puritans came to this country to enjoy religious privileges; hence they would naturally settle compactly, so that they could easily con vene for public worship, and also be able to support their schools. As all the land was
2
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
owned by the Colony, no individual or company could law- fully hold any portion of it, except by a grant from the General Court. Such grants were freely made to companies, and were denominated "plantations," or "townships." They were described by boundaries more or less specific, and were generally designated by some name.
But these towns had no powers beyond that of holding lands, on certain specific conditions, which usually included that of supporting a minister, and maintaining public wor- ship. As the labors and duties of the General Court multi- plied, they soon found it necessary, or at least convenient, to impose certain duties upon the towns. And, as might be expected, situated as they were, in a wilderness, surrounded by savages on whose friendship they could hardly rely, they first required these townships to do something for self-defence. As early as 1630, the General Court made it the duty of the towns to see that all their able-bodied men were supplied with firearms; and where any person, by reason of poverty, could not supply himself, arms were to be furnished by the towns. In 1634, towns were required to maintain a watch of two men by night, and also to provide, at their own expense, a place for the safe-keeping of arms and ammunition; and to see that all taxes were properly apportioned on the people. They were also empowered, when applied to, either by the employer or the employee, to fix the wages of labor. In 1635, towns were required to provide standard weights and measures; and, the year following, they were empowered to decide upon the location of houses within their respective limits, and to make certain by-laws in relation to their own affairs, subject to the revision of the Court, and to elect certain officers, such as con- stables and surveyors of highways. In 1637, towns were authorized to restrain swine from running at large within their limits, and to nominate to the Court suitable persons to sell wine and strong water. In 1639, they were empowered to erect posts, in some public place, on which intentions of marriage might be lawfully posted, in case they had no public lecture; and were required to make returns to the Court of all the births, deaths, and marriages.
The office of Selectman, which became one of the most important in the towns, grew up like the towns themselves, from small beginnings. In 1639, it was provided by the Court that towns might choose two or three men to lay out high-
3
TO ITS INCORPORATION AS A TOWN
ways; in 1642, they were spoken of as "selected townsmen," and as "men selected" to manage the prudential affairs; and in 1647, as "selectmen." In 1641, the selectmen of towns were fully authorized to lay out town ways and erect town bounds; and in 1646, towns were required to report to the General Court the names of all idle and unprofitable persons within the same, and to perambulate their town lines once in three years.
In this way the General Court, from time to time, as the case seemed to requirè, enlarged the duties and privileges of towns, and provided, somewhat in detail, for the number and duties of town officers. The manner in which they should hold their elections has been fully defined by statute. Towns are made municipal corporations, subject to the laws of the State; and as their duties, obligations, and liabilities, as well as their rights and privileges, are the result of long experi- ence, we might naturally conclude that such municipalities are founded in wisdom, and adapted to the wants of the people. And so, indeed, they have proved. In all our past history, in peace and in war, we have found these organiza- tions exactly suited to the condition, wants, and genius of our people. In addition to all the municipal duties and privileges, the towns had all the duties and prerogatives of parishes. The one, in a good degree, included the other. Towns were, in the absence of other provisions, parishes, though parishes were not always towns. The duties devolved upon towns, and the powers exercised by town officers, especially by the "townsmen," or selectmen, were greater in the early days of our history than they are at present.
History, to be instructive, must not only narrate events, but state the causes which produced them. Our stock of wis- dom is not materially increased by being told that an event occurred; but when we are made acquainted with the causes which brought it about, we have acquired valuable informa- tion; and, from this knowledge of the past, we can reason with tolerable certainty to the future. History, therefore, is valu- able very much as it presents the manners and customs of the people, the spirit of the age, the principles which prevailed, and the antecedents of events. The nearer the historian comes to the people, the source of all power, the more likely he will be to give the true philosophy of history. Town his- tories, which are in demand at this day, are valuable for this
4
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
very reason. They treat of events comparatively unimpor- tant; but in gleaning these minute facts, the writer comes near the actors, and walks, as it were, in the midst of society in the age in which the incidents occurred; and so imbibes their sentiments, and becomes familiar with the character of the people, the motives and springs of action which were in play, and the genius of the age of which he writes.
Primary assemblies, from whose records the town historian must of necessity obtain much of his information, exhibit the real condition and wants of the people more perfectly than any other. As the character of an individual can be best learned by observing his private walks, and noting his daily conduct, so the genius and spirit, the virtues and infirmities of a people are best learned by the transactions of small bodies of men in their primary meetings. It is there that their true characters stand out in full view. The history which reveals the actions and feelings of a town, furnishes more reliable information than can be obtained from the history of a State. A town meeting is a surer exponent of the will of the people than a legislative assembly, whether state or national.
In a free country like ours, the wants and wishes of the masses, their deep yearnings, and the great throbbings of the public heart, will show themselves in primary assemblies, long before they are perceived in State Legislatures or in Congress; and when towns speak in unison, their voice must ultimately be heard and heeded by the State. As all reforms begin with the people, knowing what towns have done, we can judge what the State must do.
Town meetings, in the early days of our history, were more important than they are at the present day. They were then the great forum where every serious question was discussed and settled. Town meetings were regarded as all-important byour fathers. Everything they held dear as Christians, or as citizens, was freely discussed and passed upon in these meet- ings. The building of meeting-houses, the settling of minis- ters, and even the seating of the congregation and the leading of the singers, were subjects on which the towns acted. The ordinary powers of towns at this day, such as the building of school-houses, and providing for schools, the laying-out and maintaining of highways, and the support of the poor, were exercised by our fathers. But they went much farther. The
5
TO ITS INCORPORATION AS A TOWN
duties of raising and equipping military companies were exer- cised, at times, by towns. Nor did their jurisdiction stop here. Every political question, however broad, whether it related to the town, province, or nation, was deemed by them a proper theme for town action; and our town records abound with reports of committees and resolutions passed, which are fraught with wisdom and patriotism.
The American Revolution was inaugurated in these pri- mary assemblies; and the history of that great political move- ment may be read in the resolutions and acts of the New England towns. It was in those meetings that the great questions were debated, the first steps taken, and the solemn pledges given. It was there that the masses of the people were instructed, their rights defined, and their duties pointed out. It was there that the fires of patriotism were kindled, the public heart warmed, and the people prepared for the great crisis which was before them. The importance of these primary gatherings at that day can hardly be overrated.
In the darkest days of the period immediately preceding the breaking-out of hostilities, when the Royal Governor had prorogued the Legislature and refused to order a new election, thus leaving us without a government; when an armed force occupied the town of Boston to overawe the patriots, and the people had no organized medium of communication with each other - that master spirit of liberty, SAMUEL ADAMS,1 who did more than any other man to organize the Revolution, called upon the good people of Boston to assemble in town meeting to consult upon all they held dear as citizens. It was in a Boston town meeting that Committees of Correspond- ence were suggested and organized; and it was in pursuance of this proposed organization that the towns throughout the Province held their public meetings, at which Committees of Correspondence were chosen, patriotic resolutions passed, and mutual pledges interchanged. These produced unity of action, created and embodied public sentiment, and so pre- pared the people for the impending struggle.
No one instrument contributed more to warm the patriot heart or nerve the patriot arm than these primary meet- ings of the people. Their effect was felt and acknowledged, not only in Massachusetts, but in the other Colonies. The influence they exerted was so great and controlling that the
1 See Proc. Lex. Hist. Soc., Vol. Iv, p. 94 .- Ed.
6
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
British Ministry became alarmed, and Parliament passed a solemn Act forbidding all town meetings throughout the Province, except the Annual Meeting for the choice of town officers. But such was the devotion of the people to these primary meetings that in the interior they paid no regard to the law, and, in the larger towns, near the headquarters of the Royal Governor, they evaded it by adjourning the Annual Meeting from time to time, so that they might be prepared, almost any day, to hold a legal meeting to deliberate upon public affairs, and adopt measures for the public safety. Re- garding the privilege of assembling for deliberation all- important, our fathers actually made the prohibition of town meetings one of the prominent charges against Great Britain, and urged it among other inflictions as a reason for resorting to arms. If there is any one thing which has given Faneuil Hall its notoriety, and secured to it the glorious appellation of "The Cradle of Liberty," it is the fact that within its walls the patriots of Boston held their town meetings, and adopted measures which roused the American people and shook the kingdom of Great Britain to its very centre.
The organization of townships has exerted a controlling influence upon the New England character. In these little democracies the people meet together on the ground of per- fect equality, to transact their own business in their own way. The town meetings serve as schools in which the multitudes are trained for the discharge of higher duties in the County, State, and Nation. Most of our public men who have filled and adorned the high places in the State and Nation have received some of their first lessons in the mode of doing busi- ness in our primary meetings, and in the offices to which our town organizations have given rise.
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