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