History of the town of Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement in 1630 to 1855, Part 12

Author: Brooks, Charles, 1795-1872; Whitmore, William Henry, 1836-1900. cn; Usher, James M
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Boston, Rand, Avery
Number of Pages: 738


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Medford > History of the town of Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement in 1630 to 1855 > Part 12


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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In the town-meetings, which were always opened with prayer by a deacon or some aged member of the church, a moderator presided. Fines were imposed for non-attend- ance. Each one had an equal right to speak. The Court ordered, in 1641, that " every man, whether inhabitant or foreigner, free or not free, shall have liberty to prefer a petition, bring forward a motion, or make a complaint, so it be done in convenient time, due order, and respectful manner."


The voting related mainly to making fences, laying out roads, regulating the pasturage of cattle, ringing the swine, killing wolves, bears, and foxes, and assessing rates. All these acts of the assembled inhabitants imply the posses-


I2I


HISTORY OF MEDFORD.


sion of legal, civil, and political rights, -just the rights which constitute a regularly organized body politic.


When Deputy-Gov. Dudley, and those with him, came to this neighborhood, they visited several places : they named one Boston, another Charlestown, another Meadford, another Roxbury, another Watertown, and another Dor- chester. On Wood's map of 1635, Medford is designated by the same mark as all other towns. Each of these places above named became towns, and each in the same way, - by becoming settlements ; and each claimed, and each as a town possessed, the same legal, civil, political, and muni- cipal rights. In proof that each of them was a town, sep- arate and distinct, and was so considered, and so treated by the General Court, each one of them was taxed by the General Court as early as Sept. 28, 1630, and each one continued to be so taxed. The Court put each one of them on the list of towns, and passed separate laws relating to each. If this does not constitute legal township, we know not what can. In these several towns there must have been municipal laws and regulations for levying and gath- ering the amounts assessed. If either of these towns had been only an appendage to its neighbor, it would have been so considered by its inhabitants, so organized in its mu- nicipal government, and so treated by the General Court. But this was not the case with either of them. At this early period, not a foot of land in Medford was owned by any inhabitant of Charlestown. We have elsewhere shown who were the several purchasers after the death of Mr. Cradock. There is therefore no just warrant for consid- ering Medford as "a manor," any more than Roxbury or Watertown. The early owners in these towns were few. Medford was never called " a manor " till Frothingham gave it that name. In all the old histories it is called a "town," in precisely the same way as Boston and Dorchester. If it was not a town after the passing of the "Act " of the General Court, it is not a town now ; for it has never been incorporated since. And, if it was not a town then, Boston, Roxbury, Charlestown, Dorchester, and Watertown are not towns now; for they have never been incorporated since.


It was called a " plantation," as other places were, because this was a common name adopted by the company in London, and very naturally transferred here. The name expressed the actual condition and incipient history of each town. It was sometimes, in the books, called Mistick,


122


HISTORY OF MEDFORD.


after the name of its river. It was sometimes called " Mr. Cradock's Farm," because that gentleman had introduced farmers to cultivate its lands, had impaled a park, had erected houses, built ships, and carried on an extensive fishery. He owned so large a part of the tract, and was so rich and distinguished, that it would have been strange if his name had not attached to it. We have wondered why the town has not always been called by his name.


The " celebrated Rev. James Noyes " became the pastor and teacher of the inhabitants of Medford in 1634. If having a Christian minister resident and laboring in a town completed the idea of township in those days, then Med- ford surely had every thing required in the definition.


Let us now look at the earliest records of Medford, and see what they prove. The first twenty-five or thirty pages of the first book of records are unfortunately lost, probably from carelessness about loose and decayed sheets. We find the first records which are preserved, noting down methodically, after the manner of those days, the usual doings of a legal town-meeting. No one can examine the old book, and not see that there was uniformity in the town- clerk's records. It is most clear, that the earliest records which are preserved are the regular continuation of the earlier ones which are lost. And what do we find in the oldest records ? We find the selectmen calling the annual town-meeting, in his Majesty's name, to choose the usual officers for the regulation of town-affairs, etc. The town speaks of itself as a town, taxes itself as a town, petitions the General Court as a town, and makes its laws like other towns, and never is there the slightest hint that Medford is " not a town, but rather a manor." In the early and tedious controversy about the Mystic Bridge, its neighbors treated with it as a town; its inhabitants took the oath of fidelity, and its municipal organization conformed, to the laws of the Colony.


The author of the "History of Charlestown" says of Medford, that "the town, in 1638, commenced a suit," etc. Here Medford is called a town, in 1638, by Frothingham himself, and is represented by him as acting in its corporate capacity in a legal process before the Quarter Court. If it ~ had been only a " manor," its lord or owner could alone have taken such action.


The same inference follows, if we turn to the acts of the General Court. From 1630 the Court considered Medford


123


HISTORY OF MEDFORD.


a town, and treated it accordingly ; and, when the inhabit- ants petitioned for an act of incorporation, the Legislature sent them the following reply, - that " the town had been incorporated, along with the other towns of the Province, by a general 'Act,' passed in 1630; and under this Act it had at any time a right to organize itself, and choose a representative, without further legislation." Here the highest authority of the Colony solemnly and emphatically declares Medford to be a town, a regularly incorporated town by the same " Act " as that for Boston, Charlestown, Water- town, Roxbury, and Dorchester. Thus Medford had been from 1630 an incorporated town, possessing all the civil, political, and municipal rights consequent on that " Act."


Frothingham says, "All printed authorities speak of . Medford as a town, and date its incorporation in 1630; but this appears to be an error." We are content to follow, in this matter, "all printed authorities " and the decision of the Legislature, and leave the novel supposition of 1846 to stand alone.


Medford was called a peculiar town : but its peculiarity did not consist in being stripped of its political rights and corporate organizations ; for, in the very enactment which calls it " peculiar," the General Court say it shall "have power as other towns, as to prudentials." If it had rights " as other towns," and was treated by the Legislature " as other towns," in what did its peculiarity consist ? This question is easily answered. Its peculiarity consisted in having the major part of its territory owned by one gen- tleman, and he a resident in London. Mr. Cradock, the strongest and wealthiest friend of the Colony, had this grant of land in partial remuneration for his great outlays for the company. He was sometimes excused from taxes. Here was another peculiarity, but no withdrawal or relin- quishment of vested rights. This fact rendered town-laws more important. It required very strong and peculiar laws to regulate the fishermen, coopers, ship-carpenters, and farmers whom Mr. Cradock had established here. Such laws could not be enforced, except by a proper civil author- ity, and such authority every thing proves to have existed.


Mr. Cradock's grants were not made till 1634-35; but Medford was taxed " as other towns" in 1630. Here, there- fore, were four or five years in which it acted as an incor- porated town before Mr. Cradock came into possession of his grant. During those four or five years it could not


124


HISTORY OF MEDFORD.


have been a "manor." But at that time it became a town ; which character it has possessed to this day unbroken, and which character was stamped upon it " by a general act" of the government in 1630, and now remains in force.


Causes of New-England Prosperity. - After the English Parliament had assembled in 1640, the persecutions of the Puritans were stopped. Deep policy suggested this change of affairs in England ; and a consequence was, that emigra- tion to New England largely ceased, and was not renewed with any spirit till 1773. New England, therefore, was principally peopled by the descendants of those who emi- grated between 1620 and 1640; and this fact we would mention as the first cause of prosperity. The population was homogeneous, and it inherited all the force and vigor of the original stock.


Another cause of prosperity to New England was found in the institution of families. Each family was a unit, a state, a church; and the father was both patriarch and priest. In these free and Christian families arose that intelligent and stubborn enterprise which could turn a wilderness into a garden, and barbarism into civilization. These families, unfettered and individualized, were happy to unite with all around them for the surer attainment of their common end.


The establishment of free schools was another most powerful cause of prosperity to New England. This origi- nal idea had potency enough to work out the highest re- sults of private and social good, the profoundest problems of life, government, and religion. It began in the right way, at the right place : it put the lever where it could move the world. Free churches became the continuation of free schools, taking up the process of instruction just where the schools had left it. Religion gave to learning its proper polarity. What would New England have been without its churches ? - a plantation without a sun.


Still another source of strength was the independence of towns. Each municipality felt itself to be sovereign in the ordering of its own affairs, while it was a recognized part of the body politic. A town, like an individual, must have the habit of self-government. It cannot be ruled by the militia, but only by the combined wisdom of the whole population. While a general government is almost wholly employed in averting evil, a town possesses the power of doing positive good. When our New-England towns levied


125


HISTORY OF MEDFORD.


taxes, opened roads, gathered a militia, founded schools, and supported churches, they thereby managed the great interests of the Colony, and in one sense became National Legislatures. And the people rejoiced in the absence of the taxes, tolls, fees, restrictions, and monopolies of Old England. Here a man could do what he pleased in lawful work and trade, and could do as much as he wished. Here he could work at two or ten trades if he was able. This was New-England free trade.


Another cause of prosperity, consequent in some meas- ure on the two last noticed, was the small number of laws made by the General Court. Society here had not reached that complicated state in which powerful political parties, fierce sectional jealousies, and conflicting moneyed aristoc- racies, so often make legislation interminable, contradic- tory, and deceptive. The diamond-cut-diamond system, now in such terrible activity among us, was not known to our fathers. Their laws were only the republication of those few general principles of justice and humanity which are easily gathered from the sacred pages. Such legislation, while the most simple, was the most effective and the least changeable.


But the chief cause of the social and material progress of the Colonies was the industry, economy, and energy of the people ; for in spite of the poverty of the soil, and the severity of the winter, they soon secured comfort and plenty. The noble lines of the poet well describe the land and the people : -


" Man is the nobler growth our realms supply, And souls are ripened in our northern sky."


The causes of prosperity so briefly noticed above are introduced, that we may here say that each one of them has been brought to bear, in its true relation and natural force, upon the town of Medford. With Medford before us, we conclude by saying that these elements of growth have produced throughout New England a remarkable activity of mind and body, a general diffusion of knowl- edge, an indomitable perseverance of will, social and civil order, self-forgetful patriotism, domestic love, and religious enthusiasm. These effects have, in their turn, become causes ; and the glorious results are extensive wealth, great moral influence, elevated Christian character, and solid happiness.


I26


HISTORY OF MEDFORD.


TOWN-OFFICERS. - A record of the incumbency of its municipal offices is an interesting part of the history of a town, and is valuable for reference. Lists are here sub- joined, giving the succession in the more important offices, commencing with the date from and after which the record can be made complete.


Moderators.


Benjamin Hall


1782-85


Thomas Brooks


Capt. Ebenezer Hall


1785-86, 1788-89 1787, 1791-94, 1801-02


Willis Hall


1790


Richard Hall


1795-96


Ebenezer Hall


1797-1800


John Brooks


1803


Jonathan Porter .


1804, 1806


Capt. Nathan Adams


1808, 1834


Timothy Bigelow


1809, 1814-21


Fitch Hall


1810-12


Timothy Cotting


1813, 1851


Luther Stearns


1816-17


Nathaniel Hall


1822


Dudley Hall


1823-28, 1831-33


Galen James


1829, 1834-37, 1839 1838


John Sparrell


1840, 1843, 1845, 1847-56, 1859, 1862, 1864-65


Alexander Gregg


. 1841-42, 1844, 1846 1850-51, 1853, 1857-58, 1860-62, 1864-65, 1883 1850, 1852, 1860


Thomas P. Smith


Thomas S. Harlow


1856, 1862


Elihu C. Baker


1857-64


Charles Russell .


1866-72, 1874-76 I867


Daniel A. Gleason . Benjamin H. Samson


1 868-69


John H. Hooper .


I873-82, 1884


F. J. Tay


. 1875


Michael F. Dwyer


1877-78-79-82


T. P. Dresser .


1885


Collectors of Taxes.


John T. White . 1843-77 | George W. W. Saville . 1878-85 Town-Clerks.


Jonathan Wade


1674 Thomas Tufts . 1718


Stephen Willis .


1675


William Willis 1719


John Bradstreet


I701


Benjamin Willis 1721


Stephen Willis .


I708


William Willis


1726


James M. Usher .


James O. Curtis


1853


Judah Loring


1856


Benjamin F. Hayes


1870


John P. Clisby


1805, 1807-08


Capt. Caleb Brooks


HISTORY OF MEDFORD.


I27


Ebenezer Brooks, jun. 1728 |


Nathaniel Hall .


1806


Benjamin Willis


1730


Abner Bartlett


1810


Thomas Seccomb


1745


Jonathan Porter


1819


Willis Hall


1767


Abner Bartlett .


1820


Richard Hall


1770


William Rogers


1826


Benjamin Hall, jun.


1783


Abner Bartlett . 1827


Andrew Hall


1792


William D. Fitch


1834


Nathaniel Hall


1794


Oliver Blake


1836


Samuel Swan


1796


Joseph P. Hall


1846


Nathaniel Hall .


1797


Parker R. Litchfield


1865


Luther Stearns .


1803


Town-Treasurers.


Stephen Willis


1696 | Jonathan Patten


1778


John Bradstreet


1700


Richard Hall


I786


Samuel Wade


1709


Jonathan Porter 1790


John Whitmore


1714 Isaac Warren


1793


William Willis .


1725


Samuel Buel


1794


John Richardson


1727


John Bishop


1798


Edward Brooks


1728


Joseph P. Hall .


1804


Samuel Brooks .


1729


Joseph Manning


1808


Stephen Hall


1733


William Rogers


1823


Edward Brooks


1735


Henry Porter .


1825


Benjamin Parker


1743


Turell Tufts


1827


Edward Brooks


1750


Timothy Cotting


1836


Thomas Brooks


1756


George W. Porter


1837


Aaron Hall


1761


Charles Currier


1862


Thomas Brooks


1763


George B. Green


1863


James Wyman .


1767


Parker R. Litchfield


1876


Selectmen. - In the following table is found the full list of selectmen from 1782 to 1883 inclusive. They served during a part of this time as assessors, overseers of the poor, and surveyors of highways.


Benjamin Hall .


1782-84


Joshua Simonds


1782-84


John Bishop .


1782


Capt. Ebenezer Hall.


1782-93


Richard Hall


1782-94


Willis Hall


1783-89


Thomas Brooks


1785-88


Moses Billings .


1785


John Brooks


1786-97, 1803


James Wyman .


1789-96


Ebenezer Hall, jun.


1790-1800


Benjamin Hall, jun. Peter Tufts


1794-97


Nathaniel Hall


1797-1804, 1812-13


Jonathan Porter


1797-1809


Capt. Caleb Brooks


1801-07


Samuel Teel


1804-07


1797-1804


128


HISTORY OF MEDFORD.


Benjamin Tufts


. 1805-10, 1812-17


Zaccheus Wyman


1809


Nathan Wait


1808-II


Nathan Adams


1808, 1819, 1821-25


Convers Francis


1810, 1817-18 . 1809


Jonathan Brooks Caul Fitch Hall


1810-II


Luther Stearns .


1810, 1812-17, 1819-20


1814


Isaac Brooks


1818-21, 1826


1820


Jeduthan Richardson


1821-22


Gilbert Blanchard


1822


Turell Tufts


1823-25, 1827-28


Joseph Swan


1823-24, 1826


Dudley Hall


1826-27


John P .. Clisby


1826, 1828-29, 1835, 1837, 1839


1826


John Howe .


1827, 1829


Leonard Buchanan


1828-29


John Symmes


1830-33


Timothy Cotting


1830-31, 1833, 1838, 1843-44, 1849-50


John King


1831, 1834


Thomas R. Peck


1832-40


Jesse Crosby


1832


John Sparrell


1834-35


Galen James


1 836-38


James O. Curtis


1836-40, 1851-52


Lewis Richardson Milton James


1840, 1846


Alexander Gregg


1841-43, 1845-46


John Taylor .


.


.


. 1844


William Haskins


1845-46, 1852, 1854


Horatio A. Smith . Benjamin Samson


1854-55


Peter C. Hall


1854, 1857-58


Nathan Richards .


1855


George W. Wild


1855


William M. Cudworth


1858


Albert H. Butters


1859-61, 1863, 1866-67


Joseph Roberts


1859


F. E. Foster


1860


Joshua T. Foster .


1861-62, 1866-67, 1870, 1873-74, 1880-82 1861-62


1862


William B. Thomas


1863, 1876-78


Alvah N. Cotton . 1863, 1868-69, 1871


Nathan W. Bridge


. I864-65


Charles Currier


1864-66, 1883-85


Atwood Littlefield, jun.


1864


James Gilchrist


1815-16


Thatcher Magoun


John Symmes


Darius Wait


1830


John B. Fitch


1839


James W. Brooks . Judah Loring


1841-42, 1844


1841-43


1845, 1859-60


Eleazer Boynton, jun. Charles S. Jacobs


.


Judah For


oring,


I29


HISTORY OF MEDFORD.


Henry M. Wild


1864


Charles Russell


1864-65


John P. Perry .


. 1864-66, 1868-69, 1871


F. H. Kidder


1864-66


Parker R. Litchfield .


1865-69, 1872-74


Elbridge Teel


186;


Joshua Clark


1865


Henry H. Gilmore


1866


Godfrey Ryder, jun. . Benjamin A. Hersey Henry Hastings


1867


William C. Haskins


1867, 1869-70


Caleb Mills


1868-69


Owen N. Abbott


1868-69


Daniel W. Lawrence


1870


James P. Richardson Silas F. Wild


1871-72


James Bean


1872-74


R. P. Hallowell


1872


George W. Gardner Freeman A. Loring . George H. Sampson . Elijah S. Waitt


1873


1873-74


William J. Floyd .


1873


John H. Hooper


1874-82


C. M. Jones .


1874


Charles M. Barrett C. D. Archibald


1874


Joseph E. Ober


1875-79 1875


Danforth Sprague


1877-79


1879-80


B. C. Leonard . Charles W. Jacobs 1878-80 Ira W. Hamlin 1884-85 John White . 1880 Grenville G. Redding 1884


Thomas B. Dill


1881-83 Horace D. Hadley 1884-85


Frank L. Stetson .


1881-82 John W. Bragden, jun. 1885


Charles H. Parker


1881-83


Morris W. Child . 1886


Thomas A. Eames


1883-85


L. H. Lovering


1886


Assessors. - Under this head we give the names of those who have filled the office of assessor ; although some of them acted in that capacity while they were selectmen, as already stated.


Joshua Simonds 1782, 1785-92


Willis Hall


. 1782, 1784, 1786-88, 1790-92


James Wyman . 1782 . . . .


Moses Billings


. 1782-84


Capt. Caleb Brooks


1782-84, 1789, 1796-181I 1785, 1788


John Brooks ·


1786-91


Capt. Ebenezer Hall .


1787-88, 1796


Thomas Brooks


1787


John Bishop, jun ..


1789


1867-69


1867-69


1870-71


1872


1873


1875-79


J. Henry Norcross


Isaac Hall


130


HISTORY OF MEDFORD.


Caul Fitch Hall


· 1789


Jonathan Porter


1790-92


Peter Tufts


1790-1802


Ebenezer Hall, jun.


1801-03, 1824-26, 1828-29, 1832-35


Samuel Swan


1793-95 .


Samuel Buel


1793-1802


Capt. Samuel Teel


1792-95


Ephraim Hall .


1793-95


Joseph P. Hall


1803-07


Capt. Nathaniel Adams


1804-08


Ephraim Bailey


1808-18


Zaccheus Wyman


1809


Joseph Swan 1810-13, 1816


Jeduthan Richardson


1812-19, 1821-24


William Bradbury


1814


Andrew Blanchard


1815


Abner Bartlett


1817-19, 1827


Nathan Adams


1819-21, 1826-29, 1841


Gilbert Blanchard


1821-23


John Howe


1821-27, 1834


John P. Clisby .


1825-26, 1828-29, 1833, 1835-37


1827


Jonathan Brooks


1827


John B. Fitch


1827


Andrew Blanchard


1828-29


John King 1830-31


John Sparrel . 1830, 1833-35, 1838, 1840, 1846, 1849, 1852, 1855-56


Thomas R. Peck .


1832, 1851


Jesse Crosby


1832


James W. Brooks


1837, 1839-40, 1843-45


. 1838


John T. Cram


1839, 1841-42


Oliver Blake


1840


Horatio A. Smith


1841-50, 1854, 1856, 1872, 1878-80


1842


James B. Gregg


1843-46


Charles Caldwell


1847-48, 1857-61


Samuel Joyce


1847-50


Henry Withington


1850-54


Elbridge Teel


1851, 1853-54, 1865


George T. Goodwin


1852, 1855


James O. Curtis


1852, 1872


Albert H. Butters .


1852, 1857, 1866-67


Joseph P. Hall


1853, 1862-63


Jonathan Oldham


1855


Samuel S. Blanchard


1858-59


George L. Barr


I860


Horatio Williams .


1861


Luther Farwell


1861-62


Henry H. Gilmore


1862, 1866


Atwood Litchfield, jun. 1863-64


1863


Joseph James


George T. Blake


1864


.


.


Pyam Cushing


1856


John Clough


Oliver M. Gale


Nathaniel Hall


131


John P. Perry .


1864-66, 1868, 1871


Charles Currier


1864-66


Franklin Patch


1864


Joseph L. Goldthwait


1864


Henry M. Wild


1864


Charles Russell


1865


Nathan W. Bridge


1865


Parker R. Litchfield .


1865-74


Joshua Clark


1865


J. T. Foster .


I866-67, 1872-74


Godfrey Ryder, jun.


1867-68


William C. Haskins


1857


Benjamin A. Hersey


I 867-68


Henry Hastings


1 867


Caleb Mills


868


Alvah N. Cotton


1868, 1870-71, 1879


Owen W. Abbott .


1868


Daniel W. Lawrence


1869


John Brown . 1869-70, 1875-78


1872


Silas F. Wild


1872


James Bean .


1872-74


George W. Gardner


1872


Freeman A. Loring


1873


George H. Sampson


1873


Elijah S. Wait 1873-74


1873


John H. Hooper .


1874-82, 1884-85


Charles N. Jones


1874


Charles M. Barrett


1874


Joseph Roberts 1875


1878-79, 1881-85


William C. Sprague


1880-83, 1885


James P. Richardson


1 880


Danford Sprague .


1881-82 | George W. Stetson 1885


James S. Sturtevant .


1884 | Ira W. Hamlin 1886


Representatives of Medford in the General Court.


Peter Tufts 1689 | John Hall . 1741


Peter Tufts


1690


William Willis 1742


Nathaniel Wade


1692


Andrew Hall I744


Peter Tufts 1694


Stephen Hall


1751


Thomas Willis . 1703


Samuel Brooks. 1762


Ebenezer Brooks


I 704


Stephen Hall


1 763


Thomas Willis .


1705


Benjamin Hall


I770


Stephen Willis .


1708


Simon Tufts


1772


Thomas Tufts


1714


Benjamin Hall .


1775


Peter Tufts


Thomas Brooks


I776


Thomas Tufts .


1718


T. Brooks (under the Consti- tution) 1780


John Bradshaw. Samuel Brooks .


1723


Thomas Brooks


1781


John Allford


1726


Aaron Hall I782


Benjamin Willis


I730


John Brooks 1785


William Willis .


1735|James Wyman


1787


R. P. Hallowell


William J. Floyd .


Joseph E. Ober


1715


I722


HISTORY OF MEDFORD.


I32


HISTORY OF MEDFORD.


Thomas Brooks


1788|


James M. Usher


1852


Ebenezer Hall .


1789


Joseph P. Hall


1853


Nathaniel Hall .


1800


Jonathan Oldham


1854


Timothy Bigelow


1808 John Sparrell


1855


Dudley Hall .


1813


Elihu C. Baker 1856


Abner Bartlett .


1815


Oliver Holman


1857


Turell Tufts


824


Elisha Hayden


1858


Thatcher Magoun .


1825


1826


Francis Brooks


186


John Stetson


1863


Thomas R. Peck


1833


E. Boynton, jun.


1864


Frederick A. Kendall


1834


Benjamin H. Davis


1866


Timothy Cotting 1834


James A. Hervey . 1869


John King


1835


John S. Cotton 1872


James O. Curtis


1836


Benjamin F. Hayes


1873


George W. Porter


1837


Daniel W. Lawrence


1875


Lewis Richardson .


1838


Baxter E. Perry


1876


Leonard Bucknam


1838


John H. Hooper


1879


Alexander Gregg


1840


Daniel W. Lawrence


1880


Thatcher R. Raymond


1843


John C. Rand


188I


Gorham Brooks


1846


John C. Rand .


1882


Joseph P. Hall .


1847


Joshua T. Foster .


1883


Thatcher R. Raymond


1850


Joshua T. Foster . 1884


Joseph P. Hall .


1851 |John H. Hooper


1885


Councillors.


John Brooks


1812


Peter C. Brooks .


1818


Timothy Bigelow


1820


Senators.


James M. Usher


1851


Sanford B. Perry


1852


E. C. Baker


1855


James M. Usher


1857-58


B. F. Hayes


1878-79


Eleazer Boynton


1885-86


Gov. Brooks. - The career and character of this distin- guished son of Medford are well set forth in an address delivered by Dr. John Dixwell before the Massachusetts Medical Society : -


" John Brooks was born in Medford, Mass., in May, 1752. His father, Capt. Caleb Brooks, was a respectable farmer, much esteemed and beloved by his friends and neighbors. His mother was a woman of superior personal charms and of remarkable talents, for one of her advantages and station in life. She early discovered in her son those faculties which were destined to raise him from the plough to the first station in society, and was solicitous to place him where he might cultivate them to advantage. We are probably much indebted to this excellent woman for the estimable traits of character displayed


William M. Cudworth 1860


John B. Fitch


John Sparrell


1831


12


I33


HISTORY OF MEDFORD.


in the son. Our matrons give the first and most important impress of our moralists, our statesmen, and our heroes. Happy is the lot of those who have mothers of that superior excellence which rises above the vain show and glitter of life, whose pleasures centre in the care of their offspring, in forming their habits, and directing their minds to elevated sentiments and noble objects, whose greatest pride is in those splendid ornaments, - the virtues displayed by their children.




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