USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Medford > History of the town of Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement in 1630 to 1855 > Part 45
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ers-in-arms, was a silent but most effective protest against this inveterate caste feeling. The gallant bearing of the " black regiments " in the field, and the heroic death of Col. Robert G. Shaw while leading his command in the assault upon Fort Wagner, stirred the public heart to a recognition of the claims of the colored race to a common humanity and equal political rights ; thus paving the way to their advancement to republican citizenship, under a regenerated constitution.
JAMES G. SWAN.
The family name borne by the subject of this brief bio- graphical notice had numerous and respectable represent- atives in this town, in the early part of this century ; but their descendants, as in the case of most of the old fami- lies, are widely scattered, and the name has become extinct in Medford.
James G. Swan, the third son of Samuel and Margaret (Tufts) Swan, was born in Medford, Jan. II, 1818. Of the early events of his life we have scant information. He appears to have been one of the early emigrants to the Pacific Coast, and for a long term of years has been a resident of Washington Territory, where he has held vari- ous offices under the United States Government. In 1871 he was appointed probate judge of Jefferson County, Wash- ington Territory, and held the office seven years. At the expiration of that time, he received the appointment of inspector of customs of the district of Puget Sound, and was stationed at Neah Bay, where he resided three years. During that period he made extensive and valuable col- lections for the United States Fish-Commission, with which he was connected. He now resides at Port Town- send, where he has his law-office. He holds the position of United States Commissioner for the third judicial dis- trict of Washington Territory.
Judge Swan went to Alaska in 1875, as United States commissioner to procure articles of Indian manufacture for the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, and he for- warded the finest collection ever received from the north- west coast.
He has had a strong predilection for literary and scien- tific pursuits. For twenty-five years he has been con- nected with the Smithsonian Institute as a collaborator,
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and many excellent monographs from his hand have ap- peared in the publications of that institution. They bear on scientific and ethnological subjects, and especially the manners, customs, and languages of the North-western Indians, and are the result of personal observation and research. Honorable mention has been made of his labors in the annual Smithsonian reports. He has also contrib- uted valuable papers to the United States Fish-Commis- sion, on the fisheries of Cape Flattery and Puget Sound.
In 1857 his book entitled "The North-west Coast ; or, Three Years in Washington Territory," was published by the Harpers.
In addition to the publications cited, he has made exten- sive contributions to the magazines and the press, largely on subjects relating to the section of country in which he resides, in his knowledge of which he may justly be con- sidered a specialist.
In the midst of his busy labors, Judge Swan has not for- gotton his birthplace. In 1880 he presented to the town of Medford a fine collection of Indian curiosities for the Public Library, where they are carefully preserved.
ROLAND GREENE USHER.
Roland Greene Usher was born Jan. 6, 1823, at Med- ford, and there spent the years of childhood and youth, until he removed to Lynn, where he has ever since re- sided. He has held many important public positions. He was mayor of Lynn for three years, having previously served in both branches of the city government. He was for three years a member of the Executive Council of the Commonwealth. He represented his city in the House of Representatives.
Prior to the war, he was lieutenant-colonel of the now historic "Eighth" Regiment. In April, 1861, he left home for Washington with that regiment, but was soon transferred to the regular army, and served throughout the war with the rank of major, but was, however, toward the close made lieutenant-colonel by brevet. On the re-organ- ization of the State militia, in 1866, he was appointed a member of the staff of the major-general commanding, and held that position for the ten years that followed. From 1871 until 1879, he was United-States Marshal for the District of Massachusetts. In February, 1883, he was
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appointed warden of the Massachusetts State Prison, which position he resigned in May, 1886.
THOMAS S. HARLOW.
Thomas S. Harlow was born in Castine, Me., Nov. 15, 1812. His family removed to Bangor, in 1824. In 1831 he came to Massachusetts, where he spent the next three years in teaching and in preparation for college. During the year following June, 1833, he had charge of the gram- mar school in this town, which was kept in the old brick schoolhouse behind the Unitarian Church. He entered the junior class in Bowdoin College in 1834, and was graduated in 1836. He studied law for two years in the office of Gov. Edward Kent, in Bangor, and edited a paper in Dover, Me., during the political campaign of 1838. He then went to Louisville, Ky., completed his legal studies, and was admitted to the bar in that city, in 1839. He practised his profession for three years in Paducah, Ky. ; but, in 1842, he returned to Massachusetts, and established himself permanently in the practice of the law in Boston.
In November, 1843, Mr. Harlow married Miss Lucy J. Hall, daughter of Ebenezer Hall of Medford, and removed to this town, where he has ever since resided.
On the establishment of the First District Court of Eastern Middlesex, he was appointed special justice of the court, which office he continues to hold, bringing to the dis- charge of its responsible duties a sound judgment, a natural sense of equity, and a wide range of professional learning.
Mr. Harlow has always taken a deep interest in all that concerns the welfare of Medford, and has lent a help- ing hand to every effort which has been made to promote its moral, educational, and material progress. He was for many years, in the earlier part of his life, a valued mem- ber of the school-committee, and a trustee of the public library ; and, although he has held no other public offices, he has made his knowledge of affairs, in various ways, serviceable to the town. Happy in the possession of a vigorous constitution and an active mind, he has not been willing to find in advancing years an excuse for abated usefulness.
In private life Mr. Harlow enjoys the universal respect of the community in which he lives. His social instincts are strong, and he is an excellent conversationalist, de-
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lighting in the free exchange of ideas, and ready to impart the copious stores of information he has gathered from books and from an extended experience in life. While strongly attached to the traditions of the past, and to that extent conservative, he has kept step with the great movements of the day, in full sympathy with the aspira- tions of good men for the elevation of humanity. Never seeking political preferment, and little studious of the arts of popularity, he is constitutionally fearless in the expression of his opinions, and his attitude upon all ques- tions, whether of national, state, or local interest, has been that of a thoughtful and self-respecting American citizen. Such men help to build up the best public sentiment, and are a source of strength to any community.
JOSHUA T. FOSTER.
Up to the time of the civil war, ship-building was by far the most important industry of Medford, and gave to the town an almost world-wide reputation. Hundreds of men were employed in the shipyards, and a more respectable body of mechanics never helped to make up the popula- tion of any town. The leading ship-builders ranked among the most influential citizens of Medford, and were men of strong sense and great practical ability. Among them, the subject of this brief biographical notice holds a promi- nent place.
Joshua T. Foster was born in South Scituate, Mass., Jan. 31, 1810. He came to Medford in 1826, and served his apprenticeship as a ship-carpenter, in the shipyard of Sprague & James. In 1852 he entered into partnership with John Taylor, succeeding his old employers in their business. A few years later the business fell into his sole hands, and was successfully conducted by him until 1873, about which time ship-building may almost be said to have ceased to be an American industry. In that year he built the last ship constructed in Medford.
Capt. Foster has always been an active and public-spirited citizen of Medford, and has taken great interest in town affairs. He was chosen captain of the Medford militia as early as 1834, and has held the title to this day. He has been elected to many public offices in the town, having served eleven years as selectman, -a part of the time as chairman of the board of selectmen, - and four years
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as assessor. The town has derived great advantage from his unremitting devotion to its interests, especially during the time of the Rebellion. In the years 1883 and 1884 he represented Medford in the General Court.
He has been a director of the Malden and Medford Gas Company since the time of its organization, and has lat- terly been its president. He was also, for many years, a director of the Bay State Brick Company.
He married, June 12, 1836, Miss Ellen G. Sprague, daughter of Mr. Isaac Sprague, ship-builder ; and has two children now living, a son and a daughter.
Few men in Medford are better known, or more kindly regarded, than Capt. Joshua T. Foster.
MOSS FINE COAT
Joshua . Foster
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CHAPTER XXIII.
HISTORICAL AND LOCAL ITEMS.
JULY 28, 1629: Mr. Joseph Bradshaw was present this day, as one of the assistants, at the sitting of the court in London.
1630: The fleet that brought over Governor Winthrop and the first settlers of Medford was nautically organized. The history says : "Articles of consortship were drawn between the captain and mariners. The Arbella to be the admiral ; the Talbot to be the vice-admiral ; the Am- brose, the rear-admiral." The Arbella was named in honor of Mrs. Johnson, the wife of one of the " five undertakers in London."
Aug. 23, 1630: "Ordered that no person shall use or take away any boat or canoe without leave from the owner thereof, on pain of fine and imprisonment, at the discre- tion of the court."
Aug. 23, 1630: "It was ordered that carpenters, join- ers, bricklayers, sawyers, thatchers, shall not take above 2s. a day, nor any man shall give more, under pain of IOs. to taker and giver ; and that sawyers shall not take above 4s. 6d. the hundred for boards, at six score the hundred, if they have their wood felled and squared for them; and not above 5s. 6d. if they fell and square their wood them- selves."
Feb. 7, 1632: On this day Governor Winthrop, Mr. Nowell, and others, crossed our ford in Medford, and trav- elled on an exploring expedition towards the north-east, and came "to a very great pond, having in the midst an island of about one acre, and very thick with trees of pine and beech ; and the pond had divers small rocks standing up here and there in it, which they therefore called Spot Pond. They went all about it on the ice."
1633 : Neal says, "Hardly a vessel came into these ports but was crowded with passengers for New England."
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July 2, 1633 : "It is ordered that no person sell either wine or strong water without leave from the governor or deputy-governor ; and no man shall give any strong water to any Indian." 1638: "Wine shall not be sold by inn- holders, but they may brew the beer they sell."
Oct. 1, 1633 : Thanksgiving Day appointed by the Gen- eral Court, -the first on record. It was as follows : " In regard to the many and extraordinary mercies which the Lord hath been pleased to vouchsafe of late to this plan- tation, - viz., a plentiful harvest, ships safely arrived with persons of special use and quality, etc., -it is ordered that Wednesday, 16th of this present month, shall be kept as a day of public thanksgiving through the several plan- tations."
1635 : A wharf, made by large trees laid crosswise, was built on the bank of Malden River, opposite the Welling- ton farm, near the present Wellington railroad station, and a cartway led from it to the first house built in Med- ford.
Oct. 28, 1636 : " It is ordered that the freemen of every town shall, from time to time, as occasion shall require, agree amongst themselves about the prices and rates of any town, whether workmen, laborer, or servant."
1636: "Buying provisions and victuals to sell again is forbidden, unless leave be obtained of the governor."
Nov. 20, 1637 : " Ordered that no person shall sell any cakes or buns, either in the markets, or victualling houses, or elsewhere, upon pain of Ios. fine; provided that this order shall not extend to such cakes as shall be made for any burial or marriage, or such like special occasion."
Sept. 9, 1639: Registration of births, marriages, and deaths, expressly required; and to be sent annually to the court.
1640: Matthew Cradock was a member of Parliament from London.
1644: Medford was called to mourn the death of its founder, Matthew Cradock, Esq .; and, in 1649, lost a friend and neighbor, in the death of Governor Winthrop.
1644 : It was customary with the early settlers in Medford to attend public worship in the neighboring towns when they had no preaching within their own plantation. On a sabbath in the year 1644, when it was a serious loss to have "the go-to-meeting bonnet " injured, the following semi-tragic scene occurred near Mystic Bridge. We give
-
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the narrative in the words of Governor Winthrop (" Jour- nal," vol. ii. p. 161): " One Dalkin and his wife, dwelling near Meadford, coming from Cambridge, where they had spent their sabbath, and being to pass over the river at a ford, the tide not being fallen enough, the husband ad- ventured over, and, finding it too deep, persuaded his wife to stay a while ; but, it raining very sore, she would needs adventure over, and was carried away with the stream past her depth. Her husband, not daring to go help her, cried out; and thereupon his dog, being at his house near by, came forth, and, seeing something in the water, swam to her ; and she caught hold of the dog's tail : so he drew her to the shore, and saved her life." If, at this time, the water was at flood-tide in Medford, there can be no doubt that marital chivalry was at a very low ebb.
March 4, 1645 : " Whereas complaint hath been made to this court, that divers persons within this jurisdiction do usually absent themselves from church meetings upon the Lord's day, power is therefore given to any two assist- ants to hear and censure, either by fine or imprisonment (at their discretion), all misdemeanors of that kind com- mitted by any inhabitant within this jurisdiction, pro- vided they exceed not the fine of five shillings for one offence."
1645 : Something may be guessed concerning the state of things among the early settlers, when "a man walks on snow-shoes five miles to buy a bushel of corn, carries it on his back to mill, and thence home."
May 6, 1646: The General Court forbid all persons taking any tobacco within five miles of any house.
1647: The sum of fifty pounds, and, in 1649, the ad- ditional sum of fifty pounds, given, by the will of Matthew Cradock, Esq., to the poor of St. Swithin's, are acknowl- edged as having been received, and entered in the "Vel- lum Book," Oct. 17, 1651. These sums were laid out in building shops against the church wall.
1647 : Charlestown's "part of Mistick Wear was granted as an allowance for the town school forever."
1647: The General Court invite the Synod to draw up " a confession of faith."
Nov. II, 1647: Medford was under the following law : Ordered that no lover shall seek the hand of his chosen one till he has asked permission of her parents. Penalty for the first offence, £5 ; for the second, £10; and for the
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third, imprisonment. According to this, courting, in those days, must have been a very dangerous business.
Oct. 18, 1648 : The coopers united in a company, and received from the General Court an Act of incorpora- tion.
May 2, 1649: The General Court say, "Upon the pe- tition of Mistick-side men, they are granted to be a dis- tinct town, and the name thereof to be called Mauldon"
1649: The Middlesex-county records before this date are lost.
1649: "Horses must be registered in a book kept in each town."
In a neighboring town, church troubles ran so high, in 1650, that they were obliged to call in the civil authori- ties.
1650 : "Goodman " and " goodwife " were common ap- pellations. "Mr." was applied only to persons of distinc- tion. "Esquire " was seldom used : it was esteemed above that of "reverend." Mr. Josias Plaistowe took corn from the Indians. The General Court ordered him to return the corn, and pay a fine; and "hereafter to be called by the name of Josias, and not Mr., as formerly he used to be."
1657 : The name of Jonathan Wade first appears on the records of the registry of deeds in Middlesex County, June II, 1657. Its next occurrence, May 20, 1662.
1670 : Some Indian children were brought up in our English families, and afterwards became idle and intem- perate. A gentleman asked the Indian father why this was so. He answered, "Tucks will be tucks, for all old hen be hatch 'em."
1673 : Population of New England, 120,000. Of these, 16,000 could bear arms. Boston had 1,500 families. In 1760, New England had 500,000 inhabitants, and 530 Congregational churches.
1673 : An author says, "At this time, there was not a house in New England which had more than twenty rooms. There were five hundred persons worth each three thousand pounds. The worst cottages were lofted."
February, 1674: The earliest record of town-meetings in Medford, which has escaped destruction, bears the above date.
Before 1676, there were but few settlements more than twenty miles from the Atlantic coast.
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1679: "The court decide that it is not lawful for a man to marry his former wife's sister."
In 1690, Medford chose a sealer of weights and meas- ures.
The "oath of fidelity" was often taken in Medford during the first century. It differed from the "freeman oath."
1697 : "Isaac Royal, merchant, of Boston, was mar- ried, by Benjamin Wadsworth, July 1, 1697, to Elizabeth, only child of Asaph Eliot, of Boston."
Hon. Isaac Royal chosen moderator of a town-meeting, - the first mention of his name on the records (about 1755).
May 3, 1697 : Voted to pay the representative eigh- teenpence per day during his service in the General Court.
1699 : John Bradstreet, of Medford, descendant of Governor Bradstreet, son of Simon, married his cousin, Mercy Wade, of Medford, Oct. 9, 1699. Their children were, Dudley, born Oct. 26, 1701, married Sarah Pierce, Aug. 18, 1724; Ann, born July 7, 1704; Lucy, born May 30, 1706; and Patience, born Feb. 13, 1712. Sarah mar- ried Rev. John Tufts, of Newbury, who was born in Medford.
Our ancestors generally assembled in town-meeting at six o'clock A.M., during the warm weather.
Nov. 26, 1700: "The above town-meeting was ad- journed to the sixth day of December next, to meet at the house of Stephen Willis, sen., about sun-setting."
1700 : Meeting-house in Medford so cold that men struck their feet together, and children gathered around their mothers' foot-stoves.
1700 : At this time, "black dogs" were put into the contribution-box in Medford. A silver coin bore this nickname.
1700 : Elders and messengers. These titles were used in letters missive, till the beginning of this century, to designate the pastors and delegates invited to assist in the ordination of ministers.
1700 : Charlestown voted "that all the waste land be- longing to the town, on the north side of Mystic River, should be divided, and laid out equally, to every person an equal share that hath been an inhabitant of this town six years, and is twenty-one years old; and the like share
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to all widows, householders, that have been six years in- habitants."
1703 : A terrific storm occurred in England. Bishop Kidder, bishop of Bath and Wells, was killed, with his wife, by the falling of chimneys upon them, while in bed in the palace at Wells. He was kinsman of the Kidders of Medford. Mrs. Samuel Kidder, formerly of Medford, was a descendant of Rev. John Rogers the martyr.
In 1712 a day-laborer in Medford was allowed two shil- lings ; for a team, one day, five shillings.
The Rev. Aaron Porter's signature may be seen in the town-records, under date of May 15 and Aug. 20, 1717.
June 12, 1717 : There was a hearing before the coun- cil concerning the question, whether Cambridge or Charles- town should be the shire-town of Middlesex County. Judge Sewall says : "Mr. Auchmuty pleaded very well for Charlestown. His discourse was very well worth hearing. Mr. Remington alleged and proved for Cambridge very pertinately and fully. It was decided for Cambridge on the 13th." Then came the question of concurrence before the House of Deputies. It was a close vote. The judge says : " Could not tell by lifting up the hands : were fain to divide the house. They for Cambridge went to the north side; they for Charlestown, to the south. Cam- bridge had forty-six, Charlestown forty-one."
1718 : Ruth Albree, daughter of John Albree, after- wards the mother of John Brooks, was baptized May 4, 1718, and was taken into church Jan. 24, 1743.
May 12, 1718 : "Put to vote, whether persons hiring any persons, or leasing out tenements, in Medford, may be obliged to acquaint the selectmen therewith, or liable to some fine. Voted in the negative."
1720: Tea began to be used in Medford.
1721 : Medford voted to turn the road away from a house while the small-pox was in that house.
Aug. 14, 1721: " Sundry inhabitants on the north side of Mystic River, who desired to be set off from Charlestown to Malden," were refused their petition by Charlestown. From the earliest times, there seems to have been a strong desire to break away from Charles- town. At first, it was the largest town in the colony ; but town after town has been severed from it, till it lost its identity as a town by being annexed to Boston, by an Act of the Legislature, May 14, 1873.
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In the graveyard at Malden, we find the following : -
"Here lies buried the body of Capt. Peter Tufts, who died Sept. 20, 1721, aged 73 years.
" Also the body of Mrs. Mercy Tufts, wife of Capt. Peter Tufts, who died June 18, 1715, aged 48 years.
" Mercy, daughter of Seaborn Cotton, was born Nov. 3, 1666. She married Capt. Peter Tufts, of Medford. Her grandfather was Rev. John Cotton, of England, a very distinguished divine." Dr. Simon Tufts, of Medford, was the youngest son of Peter and Mercy Tufts.
1727 : Mr. Thomas Seccomb left valuable records, in manuscript, containing a notice of every clergyman who preached in Medford, and all the texts preached from, be- tween 1727 and 1774; also a record of all baptisms and all contributions.
Book No. I begins Sept. 3, 1727, and ends June 1, 1736. No. 2 begins June 20, 1736, and ends Feb. 28, 1745. No. 3 begins March 3, 1745, and ends Dec. 3, 1767. No. 4 begins Dec. 20, 1767, and ends May I, 1774.
In the second meeting-house, 5,134 sermons were preached, and 1,218 persons were baptized.
Oct. 29, 1727 : The great earthquake occurred on this day (Sunday) ; and the selectmen of Medford appointed the next Wednesday, Nov. 2, to be observed as a day of fasting and humiliation on that account.
September, 1729: The Yankee habit of using a jack- knife on all occasions and in all places seems to have given our town some trouble ; for at this time they resolve, by a public vote, to prosecute those persons who have cut the seats of the new meeting-house.
Feb. 17, 1731 : Mr. Turell says in his record, " Mar- ried, standing together, William Watson and Abigail Hall."
1735 : Sampson, a negro slave, was sorely frightened by a wild bear and cub, which he met in the woods, near Governor Cradock's house. In a rock on the north-east border of Medford, near the corner of Melrose, is a deep excavation, called Bear's Den.
Oct. 8, 1738 : Governor Belcher attended meeting in Medford, Sunday. Rev. Mr. Turell preached.
July, 1743 : Ą species of very destructive worm ap- peared. They destroyed both grass and corn. Mr. Turell preached, July 3, on the event, from Lam. iii. 39, and Ezek. xviii. 25.
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1744. : A long-tailed comet, of unusual brightness, frightened some of our people more than Mr. Whitefield had ; but a wag here said, that he "thought it the most profitable itinerant preacher and friendly new-light that had yet appeared."
1745 : Medford voted thus: Any person who allows his dog to go into the meeting-house on Sunday shall pay ten shillings (old tenor) for each offence.
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