USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lexington > History of the town of Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1868, with a genealogical register of Lexington families > Part 5
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1 12 0
Obediah Johnson,
7
6
Joseph Merriam,
14
5
Joseph Perry,
7
0
John Johnson,
13
0
Thomas Rugg,
6 0
Ephraim Winship,
1 3
9
John Comey,
6 0
John Russell,
18 6
Thomas Smith,
15
6
Philip Russell,
1 00
0
John Smith,
7
0
William Munroe,
1 17
0
Isaac Stearnes,
16
9
John Munroe,
8
0
John Stone, 'West,'
13
6
Benjamin Muzzy,
1 16
6
Samuel Stone, 'East,'
13 0
William Carley,
1 00
3
Thomas Cutler,
18
9
John Hewes,
12
9
Samuel Stone, ' West,'
18
0
William Johnson,
8
6
Joseph Stone,
9
6
William Reed,
19
9
Nathaniel Bowman,
7
6
John Teed,
1 00
0
Francis Bowinan,
1
1
0
Joseph Teed,
9
0
Samuel Whitmore, 13 0
Samuel Teed,
7
6
George Adams, Sen.,
6
0
Daniel Teed,
7
6
George Adams, Jr.,
11 0
Israel Mead,
1 3
0
David Stone,
8
6
Joseph Locke,
10
6
John Axlin,
6
0
Matthew Bridge, Sen.,
1 11
0
Josiah Hobs,
6
0
Matthew Bridge, Jun.,
10
3
William Munroe, Jr.,
6
0
John Stone, 'East,'
16
3
John Poulter,
7
6
John Winter,
1
1
0
Daniel Stone,
8
6
John Merriam,
16
9
John Stearnes,
8
6
Joseph Symonds,
17
9
54
£41 1 5
£ 27
2 11
DAVID FISKE,
SAMUEL STONE,
Assessors.
EPHRAIM WINSHIP,
0
Samuel Winship,
16
0
David Fiske, Jr., 1 00
These two papers, the subscription for the meeting house, and the first tax bill for the support of their minister, are both valu- able, as they contain the names of all the male inhabitants, and
49
TO ITS INCORPORATION AS A TOWN.
show us who were the largest holders of real estate at the incor- poration 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 prosper- ity of the settlement. There is also a remarkable coincidence between the tax and the subscription, which speaks well for the liberality of the inhabitants. On the subscription, David Fiske, Sen., Samuel 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 position. In fact, the two papers show that each one was willing to bear his share of the burdens of supporting religious institutions, 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 tax payers 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 particu- lar in giving the names of the tax payers, because it fixes the residence of individuals, and gives, proximately, 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. 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 sup- port. At their second parish meeting, held March 1, 1692-3, after choosing their appropriate officers, they adopted the follow- ing measure, the effect of which is felt to this day : -
.
50
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
" It was voted that a pese of land shall be bought for the min- istry, and payd for by the inhabitants by a rate."
"David Fiske, Sen., Samuel Stone, Sen., Ephraim Winship, Benjamin Muzzy, William Munroe and John Teed shall treat with the town of Cambridge to by or obtain a pece of land for our ministry."
At a meeting on the 24th of the same month, "It was voted that we will empower the men chosen to treat with the seleetmen of Cambridge, and their committee, about the purchasing of the land about the casey, and to make a full agreement with them, either to buy the whole of said land, or a part of it, which they may see fit, for our ministry ; and that we engage to stand to what these men shall agree unto, and that we will bear every man their proportion of money for the purchasing saïd 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 two last being added to the former committee. These men met the selectmen of Cambridge, and bought all the common land aforesaid, viz., "that on the east side of the casey by meas- ure for 10 shillings per acre, 12 acres, 6 pounds ; and the rest of the common land on the other side, and on the south side of Vine Brook meadow, for 12 pounds in money." This was done April 28, 1693, as appears under the hand of the town clerk of Cambridge, Jonathan Remington. A rate was made for the payment of this money 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. Esta- brook 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, 1692-3, they adopted the following hearty and sin- cere vote, though rather equivocally expressed : "At a meeting of the inhabitants it was voted, that wee will give Mr. Benjamin Estabrook a call to settle with us, our minister for time to come, till God's providence otherwise dispose of him."
1
51
TO ITS INCORPORATION AS A TOWN.
To show the sincerity of the invitation, and their high appreci- ation of him as a man and as their spiritual guide, it was voted at a subsequent meeting, " that wee will build a house for Mr. Estabrook upon his own land, 42 feet long and 18 feet wide, 14 feet studs, and a cellar under one of the rooms ; and engage to pay every man his proportion to the building and finishing the same ; and we give power to the selectmen to levy the charge upon every man in our precinct."
When this house was finished, it was presented to him on the following liberal and manly terms : "Voted, that the house built for Mr. Benjamin Estabrook should be delivered to him freely without any obligation, but his settling with us, and his taking ofis with us, and abiding with us." This house was situated on the easterly bank of Vine brook, between Main street and the railroad.
Having given Mr. Estabrook a call to the permanent work of the ministry among them, they recommended the formation of a church, and adopted measures for his ordination. But while they were preparing for the settlement of a minister, 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, March 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 shal be driven back, and that there shal be a table set up before the body of seats, the whol length of the body seats ; and that the meeting house shall be seelled up with pine boards, and handsom seats for women be made on each side the meeting house, raised to convenient height, of which that on the east side next the door shal be for Mrs. Estabrook."
It was also voted "that the galary shall be inlarged, and thre seats made on each side galary, and four seats in the front galary, all made and well finished ; " and "Samuel Winship, Jonathan Poulter, Samuel Stone, west, Joseph Teed and
52
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
Benjamin Muzzy " 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 give Mr. Estabrook, for his salary, forty-five pounds, per year, to be paid him half in money ; the other half, if it be not paid in money, that what it is, shall be paid him at money prise. Also that there shall be one contribution every quarter of the year, the above-said three years, and what is then given shall be paid to Mr. Estabrook, besides the above-named forty-five pounds.
" 2. It was voated that after the aforesaid three years are out, the four quarterly contributions shall cease, and for the future we will pay him for his salary fifty-six pounds per year, in and as money, he continuing to preach with us, and take offis with us.
"3. It was also voted that the selectmen or assessors and constable for the time being, being chosen from year to year, shall stand engaged for the payment of the aforesaid salary, and shall clear up their accounts with the minister within the year, and that what is paid, that is not money, shall be brought to the minister's house by the persons voted their proportion to pay, and the account 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 provide what is necessary for the entertainment of the Magestral Ministers and Messengers of the Church 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 institutions 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
53
TO ITS INCORPORATION AS A TOWN.
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 permanent settle- ment- which he accepted ; and on the 2d of November, 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 worshipers. It seems that liberty had been given to Captain William Reed, " to make a sette for his wife in ye Meeting House, on ye men's side in the hindermost seate, five foote of the east end of it, and so up to the stayers against it, for ye use forementioned." The erection of this seat by Capt. Reed induced others to make a similar application, and at a meeting held March 6, 1698-9, " Liberty was granted to Robert Merriam, Joseph Stone, Jona- than Poulter, John Munroe and Thomas Merriam to byeld a seat for their wives, on the within back side of the Meeting House, from Goodwife Reed's to the women's stayers."
But these individual efforts failed to meet the public wants, and the parish itself took the matter in hand. At a meeting, Sept. 6, 1700, "It was then agreed that they would build tow upper galleries, and put it in the hands of the Assessors and Committee to doe the work decently and well, and to agree with the workmen for the price of it; this Committee is to be under- stood that Committee that was chosen at the last publique Meet- ing in June."
Though the people at the Farms had asked simply to be incor- porated as a parish, and gave their first attention and care to the church, they did not entirely overlook the affairs of state. Feel-
54
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
ing that they were in danger from sudden incursions of the Indians, and that their distance from the village of Cambridge, where the arms and ammunition were deposited, rendered them nearly useless to them in case of a sudden attack, they directed " Capt. William Reed, Lieutenant Thomas Cutler, and Ensign Simonds, to petition the town of Cambridge, that that part of the public stock of ammunition for the town which is supposed to belong to our share, may be kept in the parish ; and it was also voted that those three gentlemen should take care for and provide a place to keep it in."
Nor did the good people of the parish overlook the wants of the rising generation. "It was also agreed and voted, that the town [of Cambridge] be requested to allow six pounds out of the town's rate for the encouragement of a school in the precinct." Neither did they confine their care to mere intellectual culture such as would be taught in the schools. They saw the impor- tance 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 January 28, 1700, "It was voted that Joseph Locke, John Lawrence, John Mason and Jonathan Poulter be requested to take some prudent care that the children and youth may not play at meeting, and thereby profane the Lord's Day." And while they were desirous that their children should be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and so become ornaments of his church, and reflect honor upon the religion they professed, they had a just appreciation of the tem- poral wants of him whom they had chosen as their spiritual guide, and upon whose labors they must depend, in a great degree, in accomplishing that desirable and all-important end. Hence it was "voted that the Rev. Mr. Hancock's salary should be advanced to sixty pounds, payable as before, and the quar- terly contributions to continue till further order." It was also voted that Mr. Hancock be allowed to take timber from the parish land to repair his buildings and fences, and wood sufficient to supply his fires.
The meeting house erected in 1692, stood at the junction of the Concord and Bedford roads, near the present hay scales, and was upon land included within the highways ; the land which now constitutes the Common being private property. Seeing
55
TO ITS INCORPORATION AS A TOWN.
the propriety of securing a plot near the meeting house for a public common, at a meeting held in April, 1711, it was agreed by the inhabitants of the precinct to buy the land about the meeting house, of Mr. Benjamin Muzzy, and to do it by sub- scription. A paper was accordingly drawn up and circulated, and the following names and sums were obtained :
s. d.
£ s. d.
Ensign Joseph Bowman,
10
0
Brought up,
8 4 0
Capt. Joseph Estabrook,
10
0
Thomas Rugg,
4 0
Benjamin Muzzy,
10
0
Joseph Merriam, 5 0
Matthew Bridge,
10 0
Jonathan Fiske, 5
0
Samuel Stone,
10
0
Samuel Stearns,
6
0
Dea. Samuel Stone,
10
0
Joseph Stone, 5
0
Dea. John Merriam,
6
0
Sherebiah Kerbe,
1
0
John Mason,
6
0
Ens. Joseph Simonds, 5
0
Samuel Locke,
6
0
Thomas Blodgett, 5
0
William Russell,
4
0
John Meade,
8
0
George Munroe,
10
0
David Russell,
2
6
Joseph Loring,
5
0
John Locke,
5
0
Ephraim Winship,
4
0
Francis Whitmore,
4
0
John Muzzy,
2
6
Richard Muzzy,
5
0
John Munroe,
10
0
Samuel Winship,
5
0
Robert Merriam,
7
0
Samuel Whitmore, Sen.,
6
0
James Russell,
2
0
Joseph Brown,
6
0
John Cutler, Sen.,
5
0
William Munroe, Jr.,
6
0
Widow Fiske,
2
0
Isaac Hunt,
5
0
David Meade,
5
0
David Munroe,
3
0
Widow Hannah Stone,
2
6
John Russell, Sen.,
3
0
Daniel Stone,
3
0
Elihu Wardwell,
2
0
John Stone, 'West,'
5
0
John Comee,
2
0
Samuel Stone, Jr.,
6
0
Capt. William Reed,
10
0
David Fiske, Sen.,
5
0
Philip Russell, Sen.,
10
0
Robert Fiske,
2
0
Lieut. Thomas Cutler,
6
0
Thomas Merriam,
6 0
£14 86
£840
This subscription fell a trifle short of the purchase money, which was sixteen pounds, and was undoubtedly made up by individuals. The deed given by Mr. Muzzy, bearing date June 14, 1711, acknowledges the receipt of sixteen pounds, paid by " the inhabitants of that most northerly part and precinct of Cam- bridge commonly called Cambridge Farms, towards Concord,"
8
56
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
and grants "to the said inhabitants and their successors forever, a certain parcel of land, by estimation one acre and a half, more or less, lying and being situate in Cambridge Farms, nigh the meeting house, and is bounded northerly by the said Muzzy as the fence now stands, and elsewhere by highways ; to have and to hold said land with all the timber, stones, trees, wood and underwood, herbage and messuage, with all and singular, the profits, privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging."
This land, though bought by individuals of the parish, appears to have been dedicated to public use. In January, 1713, they voted to locate their meeting house upon this land, so that, when the parish became a town, and the town as successor of the parish came into possession of this property, they took it subject to the right of the parish to occupy such portion of it as might be necessary for a meeting house, and the necessary appurte- nances to the same. Consequently, the parish continued this use of a portion of the common more than a century, and aban- doned that use in 1846, since which time the whole property has been in the possession of the town, which now holds it by a clear and indisputable title ; and the Revolutionary associations which cluster around this spot, render it one of the consecrated battle-fields of our country, which will be remembered and honored as long as freedom has a votary, or heroic deeds com- mand the admiration of mankind.
Being merely a precinct, the people had no legal power to provide themselves with schools or roads, or even to select their own local town officers ; and being eight miles from Cambridge, and having an interest in many respects different from that of the central village, it is natural to suppose that they would desire to set up for themselves, that they might the better supply their own wants, and manage their own affairs in their own way. At a meeting held October 28, 1712, they chose a committee to confer with the town of Cambridge and to petition the General Court to erect them into a town.
This committee subsequently received a renewed expression of the same sentiments, and were by their constituents clothed with full powers to make such an arrangement with the people of Cambridge as they might deem expedient and equitable between the parties. In virtue of this authority they made an arrange-
57
TO ITS INCORPORATION AS A TOWN.
ment with the parent town for a separation, the new town becoming obligated to support in part what was denominated the " great bridge " over Charles river in Cambridge, of which we shall speak more particularly hereafter.
While the people at the Farms were aspiring at the indepen- dence of a town, and taking active measures to secure that end, they kept a steadfast cye upon those religious institutions on which their prosperity as a parish or a town must mainly depend. They therefore resolved to build them a meeting house more capacious in its dimensions, and one which would meet the wants of the growing population of the place. At a meeting held January 9, 1713, they voted to build a new mecting house on the plan of the one at Concord, - the house to be fifty fect long, forty feet wide, and twenty fect studs, with one tier of galleries, -to be located upon the land recently bought of Benjamin Muzzy. A committee, consisting of Capt. William Reed, Quarter-master Samuel Stone, Sergeant John Munroe, Mr. Thomas Merriam and Mr. Thomas Blodgett, was chosen to carry the measure into effect.
This meeting house, the second erected in the place, was situ- ated in the rear of the former, and nearly half way between the hay scales and the liberty pole. This house stood till it was superseded by another, built 1793, which was placed twenty feet in the rear of its predecessor. The house here proposed to be built was the one standing on the common at the opening of the Revolution.
Having arrived at a period when the corporate character of the place was to be changed, and the precinct was to be merged in the town, we may well pause and reflect upon the scenes through which the infant settlement had passed, the difficulties and dan- gers they had encountered, and the progress they had made. We have seen that for about a half a century they had no organ- ization of their own, no centre of attraction around which to gather ; but were like a distant colony, doomed to provide for themselves, and yet under the control of the home government. They were deprived of the advantages of schooling for their children, and, in a great degree, of the privileges of gospel insti- tutions. In a word, they were citizens of Cambridge, governed
58
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
by Cambridge regulations, subjected to Cambridge restrictions and taxed to maintain Cambridge institutions, and, at the same time, were so remote as to be deprived, in a great degree, of Cambridge privileges. Not, however, that the town of Cam- bridge was severe or exacting, or intended to be oppressive upon those who dwelt upon her remote territory. But, from the necessity of the case, they were deprived of many privileges enjoyed in more central localities, and exposed to many hard- ships from which their more favored townsmen were exempt.
Their isolated position and dependence upon a remote settle- ment, deprived them of those motives to build up institutions of their own, which are so essential to the growth and prosperity of any community. These circumstances were unfavorable to the increase of population, and so kept them longer in a state of comparative destitution. Living, as we do, in these days of prosperity, we can hardly realize the trials and privations of the first settlers. We can picture to ourselves the hardships encountered in the distant western wilderness, and the sufferings in unexplored regions of our country ; but can hardly realize that here - in the midst of a thriving population, in the centre of plenty and luxury, where agriculture pours forth all her stores, manufactures supply all the necessaries, and commerce all the luxuries, of life- there could ever have been want and destitu- tion, dangers and sufferings. But so it was. This section was once new, once the abode of savages and wild beasts, and our fathers who first explored these hills and dales, cleared dense forests and subdued a rugged soil, had to encounter the same toils and dangers, and submit to the trials and privations which fall to the lot of those who now penetrate the wilds of Nebraska and Oregon.
There is a kind of poetry in the descriptions of frontier adven- ture and wilderness life. We are animated by tales of dangers encountered and difficulties overcome, of clearing dense forests, and making the wilderness rejoice and blossom as the rose. But after all, those who pass through these scenes know that there are tangible hardships and sober realities in the toils and priva- tions, the dangers and sufferings, of a frontier life. To be exiled from the abodes of civilization, to be cut off from the comforts and enjoyments of a settled country, to roam with
59
TO ITS INCORPORATION AS A TOWN.
beasts of prey joint tenants of the forest, to dwell in rude habi- tations, and be doomed to incessant toil to obtain a coarse and scanty subsistence, - may be made attractive in a romance, or pleasing in song ; but when they are brought home to the expe- rience of men, they are found to be evils to be avoided rather than blessings to be desired.
It is true that the settlers at Cambridge Farms were not very far distant from the settlements at Cambridge and Watertown ; but these towns at that day were not what they are at pres- ent ; and these neighboring settlements, though they might, under some circumstances, afford protection, could not impart plenty, or relieve the daily pressing wants of the inhabitants. A grandchild of one of the early settlers in this place says : "The old patriarch has often related with tears in his eyes the poverty and destitution experienced, the hardships borne, and the trials endured by the first inhabitants of the place. Their dwellings were small and rude, -the same room serving the various purposes of kitchen and parlor, dining-room and bed- room, storehouse and workshop. Their furniture was of the most primitive kind; blocks or forms made of split logs fur- nished their scats, wooden spoons, made with a knife, enabled them to eat their bread and milk, or bean porridge, out of rude bowls or troughs, cut with an axe from blocks of wood."
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