USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lexington > History of the town of Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1868, Volume I > Part 5
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Having drawn this general outline, and spoken of the families who resided in the outer parts of the town, it will be expected that we fill up the picture, and give the names of the families who resided in the centre. We have already inti- mated that the first settlers resided near the boundaries of the town, when there were no inhabitants in what is now regarded as the village. As their families increased, and the idea of becoming a separate parish was agitated, they would natur- ally turn their minds to some central point for a village. This would, as a matter of course, induce some of the sons of the first settlers to seek lands near the proposed village for their abode. There were also some families coming into town which would naturally desire the same central location. This contributed to the increase of population in the village. Among those who came into town and settled in the centre, was Benjamin Muzzy, probably from Malden, who bought his farm in 1693. He came to the precinct about that time, and took up his habitation on the place which Rufus Merriam now occupies.2 He was the ancestor of all the Lexington men of that name. A few years later, John Mason, from Water- town, settled on the Main Street near the old Munroe Tavern, and hence the name of "Mason's Hollow."
There is no plan of the township with the lots laid down, and hence it is impossible to state the exact location of the early families. The description given above will serve as a general guide, and other incidents and facts disclosed in the sequel will cast further light upon the subject.
The growth of the settlement was at first slow. A large share of the land being held by speculators, they would natur- ally retain it in their hands with the hope of an advance in price. The unsettled state of our relations with the Indians would doubtless deter many from leaving the older settle- ments, where they felt perfectly secure, and settling in a more exposed township. It is true that the place was never disturbed by the incursions of the savages, yet the fact that
1 63 Hancock Street. Occupied at present by Rev. J. M. Wilson. Dr. Fiske was a surgeon at the Battle of Lexington. Ed.
2 The Buckman Tavern, near the Common. Ed.
29
TO ITS INCORPORATION AS A TOWN
during Philip's War, they burned Sudbury, Groton, Andover, and Chelmsford must have spread terror and dismay through this settlement, at least so far as to check its increase. But after that desolating struggle was terminated by the death of Philip in 1676, the people had rest; and this, as well as other new settlements, received some accessions. In 1682, the num- ber of the families at the Farms amounted to about thirty, and the number of souls to about one hundred and eighty. Several of these families had come to the place within two or three years.
But in addition to the unavoidable privations of a new settlement, they were destitute of what was considered by our pious fathers one of the indispensable prerequisites to the growth and prosperity of the place. They had no ministry among them, and so had no convenient opportunity of enjoy- ing the ordinances of the Gospel, without travelling from five to ten miles. With this state of things they could not long be contented. Johnson, in his Wonder-Working Providence, has justly said of our fathers, "It is as unnatural for a right New England man to live without an able ministry, as for a smith to work his iron without fire." Actuated by such feel- ings as are here implied, in October, 1682, the people peti- tioned the General Court to be set off as a distinct parish. This petition was signed by James Cutler, Matthew Bridge, Sen., David Fiske, Sen., Samuel Stone, Sen., Francis Whit- more, John Tidd, Ephraim Winship, and John Winter, in behalf of themselves and the inhabitants of the Farms. The people of Cambridge zealously opposed the separation, and the prayer of the petitioners was not granted.
The application, however, was renewed in 1684, when the Court appointed a Committee to inquire into the merits of the case; and if they were satisfied that the prayer ought to be granted, to report a suitable boundary for the parish. The Committee, after due investigation, reported favorably to the petitioners; but the opposition of Cambridge again prevailed and the report of the Committee was defeated. Conscious of the rectitude of their intentions and the justice of their cause, they renewed their petition in 1691; when the Court, in view of the inconvenience under which they labored, and of the growth of the settlement, granted their request, as will be seen by an entry upon their Journal under date of December 15, 1691.1
1 See The Parish of Cambridge Farms, Proc. Lex. Hist. Soc., Vol. III, p. 25. Ed.
30
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
"Upon reading of the Petition of the Farmers and Inhabitants of the Farms within the Precincts, and Bounds of the Town of Cambridge towards Concord, therein setting forth their distance, (the neerest of them Living above five Miles) from Cambridge Meeting house, the Place of the Public Worship Praying that According to former Applications by them several Years since made unto this Court, for the Advantage of themselves, families, and Posterity, they may have this Courts favour, and License in Order to the calling of a fit Minister for dispensing the Gospell among them; as also that they may be a distinct Village for the Ends Pro- posed in their said Petition, The Select Men of Cambridge having had a Copy of Sd Petition sent them with a Notification of the time for their being heard thereupon, this day and Accordingly Attending.
"After a full hearing, and Consideration of what was Offered by both Parties; It is granted, and Ordered by this Court that the Petitioners be, and are hereby Permitted, and Allowed to invite, and Settle, an Able, and Orthodox Minister, for the dispensing of the Gospell, among them; And that all Inhabitants living within the Line formerly stated by a Committee of this Court, Anno 1684, beginning at the first run of Water, or Swampy Place over which is a Kind of a Bridge in the way on the Southerly side of Francis Whitmores house towards the Town of Cambridge Aforesaid cross the Neck of Land lying between Woburn Line, and that of Watertown side, upon a Southwest, and Northeast course, do Pay unto the Ministers maintenance there, And are hereby Empowered Annualy to chuse three, or five meet Persons to Assess their Inhabitants for the Support, and Maintenance of their Minister, As also a Constable, or Collector to gather the Same, by Warrant from the said Assessors. The Said Farmers not being hereby dis- charged from Paying their Proportion as formerly unto all Public charges in the Town, Except what refers to the Ministry, so long as they Maintain an Able Minister among themselves."
In the description of the boundary of the precinct only one line is mentioned; the other portions bordering on Water- town, Woburn, Concord, and Billerica, rendered a description of those lines unnecessary. The order conferring corporate powers upon the people of the Farms constituted them a pre- cinct and gave them authority to manage their parochial affairs; but in all other respects they remained a part of Cambridge as before.
Being incorporated December, 1691, the people assembled for the first time under the act, on the 22d of April, 1692, and made choice of David Fiske, Sen., as "Clark to wright the
31
TO ITS INCORPORATION AS A TOWN
votes of the inhabitants of this place, and keep a Record of them." This was the first corporate act of the farmers, and here their records commence. Before this date, all we know of the people of Cambridge Farms is gleaned from the Cam- bridge records, and other records and papers found in the hands of individuals. At their first meeting, April 22, after organizing by the choice of a clerk, they proceeded to carry out the object for which they had sought corporate powers, namely, that of obtaining a stated ministry.
"it was voted that Mr Benjamin Eastabrook shall be the man that shold be invited to preach to them by a clear voat and that he shall be spoken to to preach to us a year from the first of may 1692 and that Samuell Stone sen' and David ffiske sent shold speak to him to com and preach to us as abouesaid."
"it was voted that wee will give him 40 pounds for a year half in mony (viz) 20 pounds and 20 pounds in other pay at mony prise and that it shold be for his salory and to sattisfy for his Enter- tainment."
Previous to this meeting and probably immediately after obtaining their act of incorporation in December, 1691, an effort was made to erect a meeting-house in the precinct, and a subscription was set on foot to obtain funds for that pur- pose. This subscription is preserved, and is the oldest paper upon our records. It becomes exceedingly valuable, as it bears the names of the principal inhabitants and shows the interest they felt in the cause of religious institutions. It not only contains the names of the inhabitants, but is gener- ally a fair relative valuation of the property which each one possessed; for it should be remembered that at that day and for such an object, the people generally contributed according to their means. I shall have occasion to refer to this list fre- quently in the sequel.
32
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
The subscription of the seaueral Parsons towards the first Bulding of the meeting house
Names
Sum
Names
Sum
£ s.
£ 8.
David ffiske senor
2 10
Brought up
38 13
Samuel Stone senor
2 10
Joseph Teed
1 00
Mathew Bridg
2 10
Joseph Lock
1 00
Ephrim Winship
2 10
Isaac Sterns
1 00
John Winter
1 00
Samuell Teed
* 00
Joseph Symons
2 00
James Cutler
1 00
William monRoe
2 00
Daniell Stone
1 00
John Russell
2 12
John Cutler
12
Thomas Cutler
2 00
John Hews
1 10
Dauid ffiske junor
2 00
Jonathan Knight
2 00
Philip Russell
1 16
Wiliam Johnson
1 10
Wiliam Carly
1 10
Samuell Whitmore
1 10
corp John Stone
1 10
Mathew Bridg
1 00
John Johnson north
1 10
Thomas Blogit
1 00
corp William Read
2 00
Sam Stone dauids son
1 00
Samuell Winship
2 00
John Winter jun"
16
John Meriam
1 10
Josiah Hobs
10
Robert Meriam
1 10
John Teed senor
2 10
Thomas Johnson
1 05
Joseph Meriam
1 10
John monRoe
1 00
Sam11 Stone west
1 00
John Stone west
1 10
Benjamin Mozzy
2 00
£38 13
£62 01
* Figure torn. Ed.
It will beobserved that several of the names in the above list are distinguished by the points of the compass, as "North," and "West." This addition was for the purpose of distin- guishing them from persons of the same name, and was a poor substitute for senior and junior.
33
TO ITS INCORPORATION AS A TOWN
The following is the tax-bill for the payment of the minis- ter's salary from May 1, 1692, to May 1, 1693: -
£ s. d.
£ s. d.
David ffiske senº
1 11 0
Brought up
26 14 3
Sam11 Stone seno"
2 20
John Stone East
16 3
widow Meriam
1 12 0
John Winter
1 10
Joseph Meriam
14 6
John Meriam
16 9
Isaac Sterns
16 9
Joseph Symons
17 9
John Ston of the west
13 6
John Cutler
10 6
Samuel Stone East
13 0
Obadiah Johnson
7 6
Thomas Cutler
18 9
Joseph Perce
7 0
John Johnson
13 0
Thomas Rugg
6 0
Ephreim Winship
1
3 9
John Commy
6 0
Samuell Winship
16 0
David ffiske junor
1 00 0
John Russell
18 6
Thomas Smith
15 6
Philip Russell
1 00 0
John Smith
70
william mon Roe sen™
1 17 0
Samuell Stone west
18 0
John monRoe
8 0
Joseph Stone
9 6
Benjeman Muzze
1 16 6
nathaniel Bowman
7 6
John Hews
12 9
ffrancis Bowman
1 1 0
William Carly
1 00 3
Samuell Whitmore
13 0
William Johnson
8 6
Gorge Adams sen"
6 0
William Read
19 9
Gorge Adams jun™
11 0
John Teed
1 00 0
David Stone
8 6
Joseph Teed
9 0
John Axlin *
6 0
Samuell Teed
7 6
Josiah Hobs
6 0
Daniel Teed
7 6
Will monRoe jun™
60
Isreall Mead
1
30
John Poulter
7 6
Joseph Lock
10 6
Daniell Stone
8 6
Mathew Bridg senor
1 11 0
John Sterns
8 6
Mathew Bridg jun™
10 3
£41 12 6
£26 14 3
Dauid ffiske
Samuel Stone
Ephreim Winship
asesors
.
* Perhaps Aplin. Ed.
These two papers, the subscription for the meeting-house, and the first tax-bill for the support of their minister, are both ' valuable, as they contain the names of all the male inhab- itants, and show us who were the largest holders of real estate at the incorporation of the precinct. The tax-bill contains a full list of the ratable inhabitants, while the subscription, though it does not bear the name of every citizen, contains the names of some who were not resident in the place, but felt an interest in the prosperity of the settlement. There is also a remarkable coincidence between the tax and the subscription, which speaks well for the liberality of the in- habitants. On the subscription, David Fiske, Sen., Samuel
34
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
Stone, Sen., Matthew Bridge, Sen., Ephraim Winship, Joseph Simonds, and William Munroe stand the six highest, and on the tax-bill the same gentlemen maintain their relative posi- tion. In fact, the two papers show that each one was willing to bear his share of the burdens of supporting religious insti- tutions, whether they were imposed by a tax or left to his voluntary offering, - a fact which, we fear, would put many members of religious societies at this day to the blush.
The last tax-bill spread out upon the record is in 1696, and bears the names of about a dozen taxpayers not found on the list three years before. This increase consists of several young men who had arrived at a taxable age, and several others who had come into town. Among the latter were Ebenezer Whitney, Ebenezer Nutting, Daniel White, Joseph Grant, John Wilson, James Wilson, and John Lawrence. I have been thus particular in giving the names of the tax- payers, because it fixes the residence of individuals, and gives, approximately, the population at that period.
Being organized as a parish, the people took measures to secure to themselves the great object for which they had sought corporate powers, the enjoyment of a Gospel ministry. The meeting-house contemplated by the subscription of which we have spoken was erected early in the year 1692. It was located at the junction of the Concord and Bedford roads, near where the hay-scales now stand.1 Having engaged Mr. Estabrook to preach for them one year and provided a house of worship, they looked forward to a continued ministry and its permanent support. At their second parish meeting, held March 1, 1692-93, after choosing their appropriate officers, they adopted the following measure, the effect of which is felt to this day: -
"It was voted that a pese of land shall be bought for the minestry and payd for by the inhabitants by a rate."
"David ffiske, sen', Samuel Stone, sen", Ephreim Winship, Benjamin Muzze, William Roe and John Teed shall treat with the town of Cambridg to bye or obtain a pece of land for our mines- try."
At a meeting on the 24th of the same month
"it was voated that we will Improue men Chosen to treat with the
1 The location is indicated by a stone pulpit placed behind the Hayes Fountain. Ed.
35
TO ITS INCORPORATION AS A TOWN
selectmen of Cambridg and their Commity abought the pirchising the land abought the Casey and to make a full agreement with them either to by the wholl of sd land or part of it (which thay se best) for our minestry : and we ingage to stand to what those men shall agree unto and that we will bare euery one their proportion of mony for the pirchis of sd land."
The men chosen as aforesaid were David Fiske, Sen., Samuel Stone, Sen., John Teed, Ephraim Winship, Benjamin Muzzy, William Munroe, Sen., William Reed, and Francis Bowman, - the last two being added to the former com- mittee.
"thes men met with the select men of Cambridg and bought all the comon land afor named namly that on the east side of the Casey by mesur for 10 shilings ye acre 12 acres 6 pounds and the rest of the comon land on the other sid & on the south side of Vine brook medow for 12 pounds all in mony this was don Aprill 28 1693 as apear under the hand of the Town Clark (of Cambridge) Jona- than Remington a Rate was made for the payment of this mony upon all the inhabitants."
This was the foundation of the Ministerial Fund, which has proved, as such funds generally do, a source of evil as well as good.
After adopting measures for the support of the ministry, the people were desirous of having a settled minister. Mr. Estabrook had been employed only by the year, and, being gratified with his labors, they were anxious that the tenure of the relation should be rendered more permanent; and hence, at their meeting March 24, 1692-93, they adopted the fol- following hearty and sincere vote, though rather equivocally expressed : -
"at a meeting of the Inhabitants it was voted that we will give m" Benjamin Eastabrook a call to setel with us our minister for time to com till gods prouidens shall other ways dispose of him."
To show the sincerity of the invitation, and their high appreciation of him as a man and as their spiritual guide, it was voted at a subsequent meeting, "that we will buld a house for m' Benjamin Eastabrook upon his own land 42 foot long and 18 foot wide 14 foot stud and a silor under one of the rooms ... and ingage to pay every man his prepor- tion to the bulding and finishing the same and we giue power
36
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
to the select men to leuy the charg upon euery man in our presents."
When this house was finished, it was presented to him on the following liberal and manly terms: "Voted that the house bult for Mr. Benjamin Eastabrook shold be delivered to him freely without any obligation but his setteling with us and his taking ofis with us and abiding with us." This house was situ- ated on the easterly bank of Vine Brook, between Main Street (now Massachusetts Avenue) and the railroad.
Having given Mr. Estabrook a call to the permanent work of the ministry among them, they recommended the forma- tion of a church, and adopted measures for his ordination. But while they were preparing for the settlement of a minis- ter, they did not overlook the house in which he was to hold forth, and where they were to attend upon his teaching. The meeting-house, erected in 1692, appears not to have been finished in the inside. But with the increase of their means, and the prospect of a settled minister, they were desirous of "setting their house in order." At a meeting held July 26, 1695, they adopted a vote, replete with care and gallantry, showing that they were alive to every good work, and not behind the times in all improvements save in orthography.
"it was voated that the meeting house shal first be repayered and that the bodey of seats shall be driuen back and that ther shall be a table set up befor the body of seats the whol length of the body of seats and that the meeting house shall be seelled with pine bords and hansom seats for women made on each side the meting house raised to a conueniant height of which that on the east side next the door shal be for m" Eastabrook."
It was also "voated that the galorys shall be in larged and thre seats made on Each side galory and fouer seats in the front galory all made and well finished"; and "Samuell Win- ship, Jonathan Poulter, Samuell Stone, west, Joseph Teed, and Benjamin Muzzey" were entrusted with the execution of the work.
Having provided a house for Mr. Estabrook, and for the refitting of the meeting-house, they made further provision for his maintenance - the sum heretofore offered being deemed inadequate. It was voted, -
"1) that for the next three years to com we will giue him for his salory forty fiue pounds # year to be payd him half in mony and the
37
TO ITS INCORPORATION AS A TOWN
other halfe if it be not payd in mony then what it is shall be payd to him at mony prise Also that their shall be one contribution euery quarter of the year the aboue said three years and what is then giuen shall be payd to sd m' Eastabrook besids the aboue named 45 pounds
"2) it was voted that after the foresaid thre years ar out the 4 quarterly Contrebutions shal seas: and for the futer we will pay for his salory fifty six pounds + year in and as mony he continewing to preach with us and to take offis with us
"3) it was also voted that the select men or assesors and the Con- stable for the time being being Chosen from year to year shall stand ingaged for the payment of the aforesd salory and clear up their acounts with the minister within their year: and that what is payd that is not mony shall be brought to the minestors hous by the persons rated their preportion to pay and the acount brought in by them to the Constable."
These terms being acceptable to Mr. Estabrook, the 21st of October, 1696, was fixed upon for his ordination, and the selectmen and John Merriam were directed "to prouid what is nesesary for the entertainment of the majestrats ministors and mesingers of the chirches that day."
Mr. Estabrook was accordingly ordained, October 21, 1696, agreeably to the arrangement. Thus was perfected the great purpose for which they had for years been laboring. They built them a house of worship; they had gathered a Christian church; and to give life and vitality to the institu- tions of religion in their midst, and especially to render their Gospel privileges permanent, they had a tried and faithful pastor settled over them, according to the usages of the churches. No doubt they regarded this as an important era in their history, and looked forward with fond anticipation to years of Christian edification and prosperity. But alas, how uncertain are human anticipations! How fleeting are our visions of bliss! On the 22d of July, 1697, after a ministry of only nine months, Mr. Estabrook was removed from his earthly labors, to the great regret of his little flock.
Soon after the death of Mr. Estabrook, the attention of the society was directed to Mr. John Hancock, son of Nathaniel Hancock, of Cambridge. On the 7th of November, 1697, the parish made choice of him to preach for them till the May following as a candidate for settlement. He complied with their request, and subsequently received a call for a perma-
38
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
nent settlement - which he accepted; and on the 2d of No- vember, 1698, he was publicly ordained as their pastor. They agreed to give him eighty pounds as a settlement, and to pay him the same salary they had given his predecessor, Rev. Mr. Estabrook.
Having settled their minister on terms acceptable to the parties, the attention of the people was again called to their house of worship, and to the accommodation of the worship- pers. It seems that liberty had been given to Captain William Reed "to make a sette for his wiffe in ye meeting house one ye mens side in the hindemost seate fiue foote of ye east end of it: and so up to the stayers against it: - was then granted to him for ye use forementioned." The erection of this seat by Captain Reed induced others to make a similar applica- tion, and at a meeting held March 6, 1698-99, "Liberty was granted to Robert Meriam: Joseph Stone: John Poulter: Jonathan Poulter: John Roe: & : Thomas Meriam: to buield a seat for thar wifes on the within backe side of the met- tinge house from Goodwiffe Reeds seatt: to ye womens stayers."
But these individual efforts failed to meet the public wants, and the parish itself took the matter in hand. At a meeting, September 16, 1700, "it was then agred that they would build tow uper galleries: and put it into the hands of the assessors and Comitte to doe it desently and well and to agre with ye workman for the price of it: thise Comitte is to . be understod that that Comitte that Comitte that was chose at the last publique metting In June."
Though the people at the Farms had asked simply to be incorporated as a parish, and gave their first attention and care to the church, they did not entirely overlook the affairs of state. Feeling that they were in danger from sudden incur- sions of the Indians, and that their distance from the village of Cambridge, where the arms and ammunition were depos- ited, rendered those supplies nearly useless to them in case of a sudden attack, they directed "Capt: william Reed, Lt: Th: Cutteller & Ensigne simond ware Chosen to petition the town of Cambridge that: that parte of the Publique stock of Amunition In the town which is supposd to beLong to our share : may be Kept In the parish: - & it was also votted yt these thre gentlemen forementioned should take care for: & prouied a place to kep it In."
---
BUCKMAN TAVERN JONATHAN HARRINGTON HOUSE
HANCOCK-CLARKE HOUSE MUNROE TAVERN
39
TO ITS INCORPORATION AS A TOWN
Nor did the good people of the parish overlook the wants of the rising generation. "It was allso agred & Votted that the town be requested to aLow six pounds out of the town Ratte for ye Incorragmt of a scholle In ye Precinct." Neither did they confine their care to mere intellectual culture such as would be taught in the schools. They saw the importance of moral and religious culture, and felt it their duty to watch over the morals of the children and youth; and hence at a meeting held March 2, 1701-02, "It was allso Votted that Joseph Lock: Jno Laurence: John Mason & Jonathan Poullter : be requested to to take sum pruedent Care that the Chilldren & youth may nott play att metting: and thareby Profane the Lords Day."
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