USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Medford > History of the town of Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement in 1630 to 1855 > Part 4
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Of insects we have our share, and could well do with fewer. If all persons would agree to let the birds live, we should have less complaint about destructive insects. The cedar or cherry bird is appointed to keep down the canker-worm; and, where this useful bird is allowed to live unmolested, those terrible scourges are kept in due subjection. The borer, which enters the roots of apple, peach, quince, and other trees, and eats his way up in the alburnum, is a destroyer of the first rank among us. Of late years, almost every variety of tree, plant, and shrub, appears to have its patron insect, that devours its blossoms or its fruit. They are so numerous and destructive, that many persons do not plant certain kinds of vines, in eat- ing which these creatures display a most voracious appe- tite. The bugs most complained of here are the squash, yellow, potato, cabbage, apple, peach, pear, and rose bugs. Fire, water, and all sorts of decoctions, powders, and fumi- gations, have been resorted to for the extermination of the above-named bugs, yet all with unsatisfactory results. A Medford gardener, many years ago, who raised the most and best melons and squashes of any man in the country,
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HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
was accustomed to place toads near his hills of plants. Every morning these hungry hunters would hop forth to their duty ; and their missile tongues, glued at the end, were sure to entrap every insect. Caterpillars and canker- worms have destroyed orchards, as grasshoppers have fields ; and the most thorough measures are necessary to prevent their ravages.
The keeping of honey-bees was a favorite employment in the days of our Medford ancestors, and a pound of honey bore, for nearly two centuries, the same price as a pound of butter. As early as 1640 bees were kept here, and their gathered sweets were among the very choicest deli- cacies on our ancestral tables. The modes now adopted for taking a portion of honey from every hive, and yet leaving enough to feed the insect family through the win- ter, was not known by our forefathers. Their mode of securing the honey of their bees was the extreme of cru- elty and ingratitude. When autumn flowers ceased to yield any sweets, the owner of bees resolved to devote one hive to destruction ; and his method was as follows: He dug a hole in the ground, near his apiary, six inches square and three deep; and into this hole he put brimstone enough to kill all the bees in any hive. When night had come, and the innocent family were soundly sleeping, the owner set fire to the brimstone, and then immediately placed the hive over the suffocating fumes, and there left it till morning, when it was found that not even a member of the hapless household was left !
We have given these broken notices of the natural his- tory of Medford, and of matters connected with it, in popular language, and without full scientific" arrangement, deeming any further catalogue foreign to the purposes of this history.
Chot Brooks.
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HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
CHAPTER II.
RECORDS OF THE TOWN OF MEDFORD.
THE best sources of history are contemporaneous rec- ords. The earliest records of the town extant are in a book fifteen inches long, six wide, and one inch thick. It is bound in parchment, and its leaves are tied together with leathern strings. The loss of the first thirty pages is much to be deplored. The first entry is as follows : -
" The first Monday of February, in the year of our Lord, 1674: At a meeting of the inhabitants of Medford, Mr. Nathaniel Wade was chosen constable for the year ensuing."
The chirography is good, the sentences are properly constructed, and the spelling is unusually correct for that period. In accordance with the pedantry of the day, Latin quotations are frequently introduced among the somewhat dry and meagre details of town business, furnishing satis- factory assurance of the sound scholarship of our fathers.
The first six pages of the book, in its present imperfect condition, were written by Jonathan Wade; and, so far as is now known, he was the first town-clerk. His successor was Stephen Willis, who held the office thirty-six years, in two terms of service, -from 1675 to 1701, and from 1708 to 1718. John Bradstreet was town-clerk in the in- terval. The book closes with the retirement of Stephen Willis from the position he had so long and faithfully filled. The last item in the volume is dated Aug. 20, 1718, and is the receipt of Rev. Aaron Porter for his salary.
The second volume is a small folio, bound in parchment. Its records cover the period from Feb. 12, 1718, to June 23, 1735.
The third volume is a large folio, sadly torn and injured. The later town-records are complete, and well preserved in books which are calculated to stand the wear and tear of time.
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HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
The early church-records of the First Parish furnish much interesting information touching the religious life of the period, and they incidentally throw a good deal of light upon the personal and family history of the old in- habitants. The first volume begins May 19, 1712, and ends April 13, 1774. It contains all the records of the church during the pastorates of Rev. Mr. Porter and Rev. Mr .. Turell, including births, baptisms, and marriages, the doings of the church, the admissions to the Lord's Supper, etc. ; but it does not notice the deaths. The second vol- ume contains all the records belonging to the ministry of Dr. Osgood. It begins Sept. 14, 1774, and ends with his last entry, Dec. 2, 1822, made twelve days before his death.
The earliest records of the town-treasurer which are preserved are those of Capt. Samuel Brooks, who died in 1768. '
The old records are made up of scanty and brief memo- randa, giving, in most cases, the barest statement of facts and transactions. The first official in Medford who seems to have had a just regard for posterity in making his rec- ords was Thomas Secomb, who, holding the office of town- clerk for twenty-two years (1745-67), recorded with admira- ble particularity the facts most important to the historian.
The First Settlement. - To show properly the first com- ing of our ancestors to this region, it will be necessary to trace their last movements in England. Valuable infor- mation touching the purposes of the migration, and the views of its promoters, is furnished in a letter of Gov. Dudley to the Countess of Lincoln, dated March 28, 1631. The following are extracts from it :-
To the Right Honorable, my very good Lady, the Lady Bridget, Countess of Lincoln.
MADAM, - Touching the plantation which we here have begun, it fell out :hus: About the year 1627 some friends, being together in Lincolnshire, fell into discourse about New England and the planting of the gospel there ; and, after some deliberation, we imparted our reasons, by letters and messages, to some in London and the West Country, where it was likewise deliberately thought upon, and at length, with often negotiation, so ripened, that in the year 1628 we procured a patent from his Majesty for our planting between the Massachusetts Bay and Charles River on the south, and the River of Merrimack on the north, and three miles on either side of those riv- ers and bays, as also for the government of those who did or should inhabit within that compass. And the same year we sent Mr. John Endicott, and some with him, to begin a plantation, and to strengthen
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such as we should find there, which we sent thither from Dorchester and some places adjoining ; from whom, the same year, receiving hopeful news, the next year (1629) we sent divers ships over, with about three hundred people, and some cows, goats, and horses, many of which arrived safely.
These, by their too large commendations of the country and the commodities thereof, invited us so strongly to go on, that Mr. Win- throp of Suffolk (who was well known in his own country, and well approved here for his piety, liberality, wisdom, and gravity), coming in to us, we came to such resolution, that in April, 1630, we set sail from Old England with four good ships. And, in May following, eight more followed ; two having gone before in February and March, and two more following in June and August, besides another set out by a private merchant. These seventeen ships arrived all safe in New England for the increase of the plantation here this year (1630), but made a long, a troublesome, and costly voyage, being all wind- bound long in England, and hindered with contrary winds after they set sail, and so scattered with mists and tempests, that few of them arrived together. Our four ships which set out in April arrived here in June and July, where we found the colony in a sad and unexpected condition ; above eighty of them being dead the winter before, and many of those alive weak and sick, all the corn and bread among them all hardly sufficient to feed them a fortnight. But, bearing these things as we might, we began to consult of our place of sitting down ; for Salem, where we landed, pleased us not.
And to that purpose some were sent to the Bay to search up the rivers for a convenient place, who, upon their return, reported to have found a good place upon Mistick ; but some other of us, seconding these, to approve or dislike of their judgment, we found a place liked us better, three leagues up Charles River, and thereupon un- shipped our goods into other vessels, and with much cost and labor brought them in July to Charlestown. But there receiving advertise- ments (by some of the late arrived ships), from London and Amster- dam, of some French preparations against us (many of our people brought with us being sick of fevers and the scurvy, and we thereby unable to carry up our ordnance and baggage so far), we were forced to change counsel, and for our present shelter to plant dispersedly, - some at Charlestown, which standeth on the north side of the mouth of Charles River; some on the south side thereof, which place we named Boston (as we intended to have done the place we first resolved on) ; some of us upon Mistick, which we named Meadford; some of us westward on Charles River, four miles from Charlestown, which place we named Watertown; others of us two miles from Boston, in a place we called Roxbury; others upon the River Saugus between Salem and Charlestown; and the Western-men four miles south from Boston, in a place we named Dorchester. They who had health to labor fell to building, wherein many were interrupted with sickness, and many died weekly, yea, almost daily.
After my brief manner I say this : that, if any come hither to plant for worldly ends that can live well at home, he commits an error of which he will soon repent him; but if for spiritual, and that no par- ticular obstacle hinder his removal, he may find here what may well content him, viz., materials to build, fuel to burn, ground to plant, seas and rivers to fish in, a pure air to breathe in, good water to drink till
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wine or beer can be made; which together with the cows, hogs, and goats brought hither already, may suffice for food: as for fowl and venison, they are dainties here, as well as in England. For clothes and bedding, they must bring them with them, till time and industry produce them here. In a word, we yet enjoy little to be envied, but endure much to be pitied in the sickness and mortality of our people. If any godly men, out of religious ends, will come over to help us in the good work we are about, I think they cannot dispose of themselves, nor of their estates, more to God's glory and the furtherance of their own reckoning ; but they must not be of the poorer sort yet, for divers years. I am now, this 28th March, 1631, sealing my letters. Your Honor's old thankful servant,
THOMAS DUDLEY.
By this letter we learn, that, while there was a religious purpose in the venture of those who first came to this part of New England, there was also, with many of them, large hope of temporal good Those who came over from Eng- land in 1628 met with dire misfortunes, and those who came in 1630 found the colony disheartened and in a famishing condition. The new-comers did not like Salem, and re- solved at once to make a new departure, and find, if possi- ble, a better location. In carrying out that resolve, they discovered the valley of the Mystic, which they called Mead- ford. Having supplied the wants of their friends at Salem, and having divided their party into six companies, those having health set to work earnestly at the different points named in the foregoing letter, and none were more prosper- ous than those who settled near the Mystic.
In the Charlestown records, 1664, John Green, in giving a history of the first-comers, says, -
" Amongst others that arrived at Salem at their own cost were Ralph Sprague, with his brethren Richard and William, who, with three or four more, by joint consent, and approbation of Mr. John Endicott, Governor, did, the same summer of anno 1628 (29), under- take a journey from Salem, and travelled the woods above twelve miles to the westward, and lighted of a place situate and lying on the north side of Charles River, full of Indians, called Aberginians. Their old sachem being dead, his eldest son, by the English called John Saga- more, was their chief, and a man naturally of a gentle and good dispo- sition. . .. They found it was a neck of land, generally full of stately timber, as was the main and the land lying on the east side of the river, called Mystick River, from the farm Mr. Cradock's servants had planted called Mystick, which this river led up unto ; and, indeed, generally all the country round about was an uncouth wilderness, full of timber."
These were the first European feet that pressed the soil we now tread.
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HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
Gov. Winthrop, in his Journal, says, -
"Thursday, 17th of June, 1630: We went to Massachusetts to find out a place for our sitting-down. We went up Mystick River about six miles."
This was probably the first exploration of the river, car- ried as far as Medford lines, and we may reasonably fix upon June 17, 1630, as the time when our Anglo-Saxon ancestors first came to Medford, and determined upon the settlement of the town, and thus took possession. The first settlers came from Suffolk, Essex, and Lincolnshire, in England.
The first grant made by the Court of Assistants of lands in Mystic was made to Gov. Winthrop in 1631. The record says, -
" Six hundred acres of land, to be set forth by metes and bounds, near his house in Mistick, to enjoy to him and his heirs forever."
He called his place the "Ten Hills Farm," which name it still retains, not as a farm, but as a section of the town, now converted into building-lots, and occupied for various purposes. This favorite selection of the chief magistrate would naturally turn his thoughts to his fast friend, Mathew Cradock, and lead him to induce Mr. Cradock's men to settle in the neighborhood. Thus we arrive at a natural reason for the first coming of shipwrights and fishermen to this locality. Gov. Winthrop had early settled the question for himself, and then immediately gave his advice to his friend's company ; for, by special contract in England, the artisans were to work two-thirds of the time for the com- pany, and one-third for Mr. Cradock. This arrangement brought the Governor and these workmen very near to- gether, and made it for the interest and convenience of both to become neighbors. We do not see how it could well have been otherwise.
The facts we infer are these. The four ships, " Arbella," "Jewell," "Ambrose," and "Talbot," which sailed from the Isle of Wight, April 8, 1630, brought the first settlers of this region. Two of the ships belonged to Mr. Cradock. The Governor had the care of Mr. Cradock's men, and, as soon as possible after his arrival, searched for the best place wherein to employ them. His choice fell on Mystic, probably on the seventeenth day of June ; and so rapidly did our young plantation thrive, that, on the 28th of Sep-
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tember (only three months afterwards), Medford was taxed three pounds for the support of military teachers.
Nov. 30, 1630, another tax of three pounds was levied. Thus Medford became a part of "London's Plantation in Massachusetts Bay." Twelve ships had brought, within a year, fifteen hundred persons ; and Medford had a large numerical share. The running streams of fresh water in our locality were a great inducement to English settlers ; for they thought such streams indispensable. In 1630, they would not settle in Roxbury "because there was no run- ning water." In Charlestown (1630) the "people grew discontented for want of water, who generally notioned no water good for a town but running springs." Medford, at the earliest period, became that anomalous body politic called a town, creating its own government, and electing its own officers.
Careful provisions were made by the London Company for the allotment of land. At the meeting in London, March 10, 1628-29, the Court say, -
" This day being appointed to take into consideration touching the division of the lands in New England, where our first plantation shall be, it was, after much debate, thought fit to refer this business to the Governor (Cradock), and a committee to be chosen to that purpose to assist him ; and, whatsoever they shall do therein, that to stand for good."
At the Court of Assistants, held in London, May 21, 1629, it was ordered :-
"That two hundred acres of land be by them allotted to each adventurer for fifty pounds' adventure in the common stock, and ac- cording to that proportion, for more or less, as the adventure is; to the intent that they may build their houses and improve their lands thereon. It is further fit and ordered, that all such as go over there in person, or send over others at their charge, and are adventurers in the common stock, shall have lands (fifty acres) allotted unto them for each person they transport to inhabit the plantation, as well servants as all others."
May 28, 1629: In the " second general letter " the Court said, -
" We have further taken into our consideration the fitness and con- veniency, or rather necessity, of making a dividend of land, and allot- ting a proportion to each adventurer ; and to this purpose have made and confirmed an Act, and sealed the same with our common seal."
The court above named was that of the London Com- pany, organized under the royal authority, with powers to
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HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
settle plantations, etc .; and the five undertakers in that enterprise were Gov. Winthrop, Deputy-Gov. Dudley, Sir Richard Saltonstall, Isaac Johnson, Esq, and Mr. Revil.
With the Governor and Mr. Cradock's men, many, doubt- less, were glad to associate themselves, because something like a definite organization already existed among them. The elements of power and prosperity seemed to be with them ; and we can imagine our first settlers beginning their eventful experiment with an assured confidence in its happy result. Although, in the letter of Gov. Dudley to the Countess of Lincoln, we find traces of discouragement in view of the obstacles which the first settlers encoun- tered, yet he gave his co-laborers just credit for courage and enterprise, by saying of them, "They who had health to labor fell to building ;" and, as we peruse the scanty records of their first endeavors, we see that they must have been energetic and determined men. As we look back to the first days and years of our township, we see, with our mind's eye, the lofty forest falling by the woodman's axe, and anon taking its place as material for the huts or log- houses which were the only shelter from the fast approach- ing cold ; and we know, that, however dark were some of the shadows that fell across their path, the light which their mighty blows let into the openings which they cleared in the forest gradually dispelled the gloom, and filled them with ever-increasing hope.
It has been well said by a high British authority, that " the first settlers of New England were picked men," and the remark will hold good of the little community which settled here. In the minute accounts which have come down to us, there is no mention of treachery, idleness, or dissipation. If any violation of good neighborhood, or civil law, or gospel morality, had existed, we should certainly have heard of it; for every man was emphatically his brother's keeper, and was Argus-eyed to detect the offender, and Briarean-handed to clutch him. We therefore confi- dently infer, that they who had concluded to make this place their home were men of character, and uncompromising Puritans, - men whose courage dared to meet the panther and the tomahawk, and whose piety inspired them with a steadfast faith in Him who had so graciously sustained them through all their afflictions.
The care which the English Company exercised over those who came to settle here may be more than inferred
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by that company's directions, dated April 17, 1629, in which is the following most excellent suggestion : -
"Our earnest desire is, that you take special care in settling these families, that the chief in the family (at least some of them) be grounded in religion; whereby morning and evening family duties may be duly performed, and a watchful eye held over all in each family, by one or more in each family to be appointed thereto, that so disorders may be prevented, and ill weeds nipt before they take too great a head."
The early histories tell of many, in other places, who became dissatisfied with their first choice, and moved to more promising localities ; but not a word of complaint reaches us from the first planters of Medford, and no one, to our knowledge, left the plantation. They brought with them the animus manendi.
To show how fast the settlement went on, it is said, under date of Oct. 30, 1631, that "the Governor erected a building of stone at Mistick." The houses of the first settlers were fortified by palisades, thought to be a very necessary defence of themselves and their cattle against the nocturnal attacks of wild beasts and savages. It was not uncommon for a plantation to unite in building a stone or brick house, into which they could retire for the night, or escape from the Indians. In Medford were built three of these strong brick citadels, two of which yet stand. Josselyn speaks of the town in 1638 as "a scattered vil- lage." We suppose that the three "forts," or brick houses, were placed conveniently for the protection of all the in- habitants. If so, the first settlers occupied the land near the river, on its north bank, from the old brick house on Ship Street to the west brick house now standing behind the house of the late Gov. Brooks. But soon' the popu- lation stretched westward to Mystic Pond ; and, when the inhabitants came to build their first meeting-house, they found the central place to be " Rock Hill," and there they built it.
During the winter of 1630-31 the anxiety of Medford's first inhabitants must have been very painful ; for a writer in that year says, -
"The scarcity of grain is great; every bushel of wheat-meal, 14s. sterling, every bushel of peas, Ios., and not easy to be procured either."
But the crops of 1631 were most abundant.
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HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
It was necessary to take proper precautions against the intrusion of interlopers. The Court of Assistants, Sept. 7, 1630, made the following regulation :-
"It is ordered that no person shall plant in any place within the limits of this patent, without leave from the Governor and assistants, or the major part of them."
Gov. Winthrop felt too deep an interest in his near neighbors to allow any infringement of this law; and the first planting of Medford was thus singularly auspicious under the supervision of the illustrious chief magistrate, called the " American Nehemiah," and by the more effec- tual patronage of the richest member of the company. Its numbers and prosperity increased while Mr. Cradock lived; but, when his interest was removed, they learned by a too sad experience how much his friendship and finan- cial aid had been worth to them.
How titles to estates were obtained in those times is a matter of solid interest, and it is cause for local pride that not a foot of land was taken from the Indians by force. Every acre of our township was fully and satisfactorily paid for, as will be shown elsewhere. Having thus honorably come into possession, the question was, How can ownership be legally secured ? That question was answered by the following most important order of the General Court, under date of April 1, 1634 :-
" It is ordered that the constable, and four or more of the chief inhabitants of every town (to be chosen by all the freemen there, at some meeting there), with the advice of some one or more of the next assistants, shall make a survey of the houses backside, cornfields, mowing-ground, and other lands, improved or enclosed, or granted by special order of the Court, of every free inhabitant there, and shall enter the same in a book (fairly written in words at length, and not in figures), with the several bounds and quantities, by the nearest esti- mation, and shall deliver a transcript thereof into the Court within six months now next ensuing ; and the same, so entered and recorded, shall be sufficient assurance to every such free inhabitant, his and their heirs and assigns, of such estate of inheritance, or as they shall have in any such houses, lands, or frank-tenements."
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