USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Medford > History of the town of Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement, in 1630, to the present time, 1855 > Part 40
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In the record of taxes, one occasionally finds strange facts. Here is one: "June 27, 1695. As an unusual requisition, females who earned a livelihood were taxed each two shil-
421
MAP. - POST-OFFICE.
lings, being half what the males were assessed a head, in the tax of this date."
In our town-records we find the following notices side by side : " May 5, 1750: Voted to abate Thomas Brooks, jun.'s rates (£4. 13s. 4d., old tenor), he being not of age." " Voted to abate Lieutenant Stephen Hall's rates for his head (£3. 5s., old tenor), he being very old." In our earliest his- tory, when the inhabitants had raised a certain sum in advance, two men, Nathan Lyon and Roger Scott, who had contri- buted their share, soon after moved out of town. At the next town-meeting, it was unanimously voted to refund to these men what they had paid.
MAP.
Oct. 13, 1853: The town voted to authorize the select- men to treat with Mr. Henry F. Walling, of Boston, con- cerning a complete map of Medford. This skilful engineer engaged to furnish one for $750. It is now just finished ; and must give entire satisfaction, both as to its accuracy and beanty. Its size is thirty by thirty-seven inches, and its scale eight inches to a mile. It shows the entire town at one glance; while it gives correctly the topography, the hills, woods, streams, ponds, streets, mills, stores, dwellings, churches, &c. ; it gives the names of each householder in the place of his residence; it represents all the real estate of the town, and shows the number of square feet in each lot. This last fact will enable the assessors to apportion the tax more justly than they otherwise could, and will guide com- missioners in laying out roads. The map is accompanied by eleven other maps or sections, on a scale of two hundred feet to an inch, on sheets of twenty-six to thirty-nine inches, and are bound together in an atlas. Should a copy of this map be preserved through two hundred years, it would then pro- bably show that not even one lot of land would be possessed by any descendants of its present owner.
POST-OFFICE.
By examination of the books rescued from the fire of 1836 at Washington, it appears that the first office esta-
422
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
blished in Medford was in September, 1797. The first office was on the spot now occupied by the town-house. The post- masters have been as follows : -
Samuel Buel, appointed .
Sept. 1797
William Rogers, jun.,
July 21, 1813
William Rogers,
Oct. 20, 1818
Luther Angier, .
May 17, 1828
Samuel S. Green, jun.,
April 6, 1839
Luther Angier, .
April 8, 1841
Samuel S. Green, .
July 19, 1845
Alexander Gregg, .
July 30, 1847
James T. Floyd, jun., .
May 29,1849
James C. Winneck (the present incumbent),.
Aug. 23, 1853
A post-office was established in West Medford in 1853, and its daily mail is an increasing benefit to a growing vil- lage. The first postmaster was James M. Sanford; the second, Thaddeus A. Baldwin; and the third, the present one, is Franklin Patch.
TAVERNS.
For more than a hundred years, all the land travel to Bos- ton from Maine, from the eastern parts of New Hampshire, and the north-eastern parts of Massachusetts, passed through Medford ; and its distance from Boston made it a convenient stopping-place for travelling traders. Hence the need of public-houses. No town in the State, of its size, had so many in number, or better in quality ; and they were all placed conveniently on the great thoroughfare.
In early times, no one could " keep tavern " without a special license from the court. The form was as follows : "Nathaniel Pierce, of Medford, is permitted to sell liquors unto such sober-minded neighbors as he shall think meet, so as he sell not less than the quantity of a gallon at a time to one person, and not in smaller quantities by retail to the occasioning of drunkenness."
The first tavern of which we have any record was built by Major Jonathan Wade, about 1690, and kept by Nathaniel Pierce. It stood a few rods south of the bridge, on the cor- ner of Main and Short Streets, and, for more than a century, offered its accommodations to the public. It was bought by- Colonel Royal, and had on its sign a representation of Admi-
423
TAVERNS.
ral Vernon. Its owner wished to let it; and his advertise- ment, dated Dec. 26, 1743, reads thus : " Any persons before- handed, so as to lay in a good stock of liquors and other necessaries for a tavern, may meet with proper encourage- ment from Isaac Royal, Esq." Accompanying the above was this notice : " A person has a handsome mourning-coach, with a pair of good horses, to let out to any funeral, at ten shillings, old tenor, each funeral." This house acquired great popularity, especially when kept by Roger Billings, in 1775. It was afterwards kept by Mr. James Tufts and Son. It became a private dwelling about half a century ago, and so continued till its destruction by fire, Nov. 21, 1850.
The " Fountain House," next in order of time, was built as early as 1725 ; and yet stands, a comfortable residence. Being well placed on the great thoroughfare between Salem and Boston, it had extensive patronage. It aimed to be a little superior to other houses. Its sign represented two men shaking hands, who were called palaverers ; and hence the house first wore the name of Palaver Tavern. The two large trees in front had each a platform in its branches ; and these platforms were connected with each other and with the house by wooden bridges, and were used much in summer as places of resort for drinking punch and cordials. Tea-parties were sometimes gathered there. It was called Fountain House from having a new sign representing a fountain pouring punch into a large bowl.
The third tavern built in Medford stood on the west side of Main Street, about eight rods south of the bridge, and was the largest in town. It was built by Mr. Benjamin Parker, town-treasurer, as early as 1745, and was sold by him to Hezekiah Blanchard, who added a large dancing-hall to it, and called it " Union Hall." He left it to his son Hezekiah, who continued it a tavern till his death.
The fourth tavern was at the foot of Rock Hill, at the West End, and sometimes called the Rock Hill Tavern. Among its keepers were Messrs. " Usher, Wesson, Frost, and Putnam." It was a favorite resort for teamsters, and gained great popularity.
The new house, built by Mr. Jonathan Porter in the mar- ket-place, was opened as a tavern, but did not long continue as such.
The " Medford House," standing on the north-east corner of Main and Spring Streets, and now the only public-house in
424
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
the town, was built by Mr. Andrew Blanchard in 1804, and attained great popularity under its first keeper, Mr. Jaquith. It was furnished with four bowling-alleys, which proved too great a temptation to some. At a later period, the house came into the possession of a company of gentlemen, who were resolved to have it kept on temperance principles. This plan proved more moral than profitable ; and it passed from the hands of the company to its present Italian owner.
The taverns of olden time were the places of resort for gentlemen ; and one consequence was, good suppers and deep drinking. They also performed the office of newspa- pers. In 1760, Medford passed the following vote : - " That their names, posted on the several tavern-doors, shall be a sufficient notice for jurors." Saturday afternoon was the time when men came from all quarters of the town to see and hear all they could at the tavern. For many years, the favorite arena was at Mr. Blanchard's, where politics and theology, trade, barter, and taxes, were all mixed up together over hot flip and strong toddy.
The taverns served also as places for marketing. During most of the winter, they were filled every night with farmers from Vermont and New Hampshire, who had brought their pork, butter, grain, seeds, and poultry to market. Most families supplied themselves through these opportunities, and purchased the best articles at moderate prices.
Landlords could not grow rich very fast on country custom. The travelling farmer brought all his food for himself in a box, and that for his horse in a bag. He therefore paid only twelve cents for his bed, and as much for horse-keeping. It was not uncommon to have six days' expenses amount only to two dollars !
Taverns seemed to subserve all purposes. Auctions, thea- tricals, legerdemain, caucuses, military drills, balls, and dancing-schools, all came in place at the tavern. Especially sleigh-riding parties found them convenient. Medford was just about far enough from Boston to tempt a party to a ride on a pleasant moonlight evening. Scarcely one such evening passed without witnessing a gathering of young people, who brought with them their "fiddler," or procured our " Gree- nough ;" and who danced from seven to ten, then took a hearty supper, and reached Boston at twelve. New forms of trade and amusement have almost wholly displaced these former customs.
425
BURYING-GROUNDS.
Medford was favored in good tavern-keepers. Journeying in former days, one found queer specimens of humanity among this unique class. Generally, they were only varia- tions of Yankee Doodle. Some landlords were so full of sunshine that it was June all the year round ; others had minds so frost-bitten that there was no hope for you, except in the January thaw. Here was one so anxious to oblige that he would spring to throw a lasso round the moon, if you wished it ; and there another so cross, that putting a question to him was like squeezing a lemon.
BURYING-GROUNDS.
The places used by the first settlers of Medford for the burial of the dead are not positively known. Whether from unwillingness to follow England's example, in providing expensive and well-secured graveyards, or from their inability to do so, we cannot say ; but the fact is clear, that such pro- visions for the dead were not made. The oldest gravestones in the present graveyard, near Gravelly Bridge, were brought from England, and are remarkable for their width, thickness, and weight. The oldest bears the date of 1691. It may be that some of our gardens are cemeteries, and that from human soil we gather our daily bread, while the spade and ploughshare lacerate the relics of our ancestors.
March 20, 1705 : " Put to vote, whether the selectmen shall dis- course Mr. Dudley Wade, referring to the proposals made this meeting by Stephen Willis, jun., in said Wade's behalf, respecting the burying-place in Medford, and make return thereof to the town at the next town's meeting. Voted in the affirmative."
It does not appear what this proposition was, nor what action the town had upon it. Probably it was a proposal to sell the town some land for a place of burial ; and we pre- sume it was accepted, because, May 15, 1717, we find the following record : -
" Put to vote, whether the town will choose a committee, to join with the selectmen, to view some land offered by Mr. Aaron Cleav- land and John Willis, for the enlargement of the burying-place near Mistick Bridge; and bring in a report to the town of the same, at the next town-meeting, both of the price of said land, and the con- venience of the same for the use aforesaid."
54
.
426
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
This passed in the affirmative ; and the selectmen, Captain Tufts, Deacon' Willis, Deacon Whitmore, Ensign Francis, Captain Brooks, and Ensign Hall, were appointed the com- mittee to plan the enlargement proposed. The committee reported June 10th of the next month, when the town passed the following vote : -
" That the town will give Mr. Aaron Cleavland and John Willis, for a small parcel of land, for an addition to the burying-place, lying betwixt Mistick River and Gravelly Bridge, after the rate of thirty- two pounds per acre."
The portion they bought cost six pounds.
May 12, 1718 : " Put to vote, whether the burying-place, some time past bought of Mr. Aaron Cleavland, be continued in said Cleavland's hands, as to the herbage, until the town give further order; and, when the town see cause to fence it, it shall be fenced at the town's proper cost; and whether that, forthwith, a board fence be erected at the front of the land, with a gate and lock. Voted in the affirmative."
This vote would lead us to infer that the enclosure was ill cared for ; and the need of new fences is learned from the vote of Nov. 26, 1733, which was as follows : "Voted to have the front of the burying-place fenced in." At the same meeting, they directed " that the fence should be made of good cedar posts, white-pine boards, with handsome double gates, colored red." We apprehend that extraordinary care was not fashionable. One might infer that the " front " only was secured by a fence. From that day to the beginning of the present century, it was not unusual to let these precious, and we may add sacred, spots be exposed to the visits of vagrant animals.
May 12, 1785 : " Voted that no cattle be permitted to graze in the burying-ground."
The "Old Burying Ground," as it was called, being near the most populous part of Medford, was better defended by walls than was common in many towns ; yet we remember the wall on its east side, as low, broken, and insufficient.
March 5, 1739 : It is, for the first time, proposed to build tombs ; and the north side of the graveyard is designated as the most proper place. None were built until many years later.
The town passed the following vote, May 11, 1786: " Voted to give liberty to any person to build a tomb in the
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BURYING-GROUNDS.
burying-ground." This custom of burying the dead in tombs grew so fast and strong that almost every family had a tomb, or part of one. This prevented the erection of gravestones, and thereby deprived posterity of all the knowledge derived from these authentic records. It was the custom, in the ear- lier times, for a family to choose the spot in the burying- ground where they would gather their dead ; and for others to invade this spot was considered an outrage on social rights and Christian feelings. In the old burying-ground, there are many remains of this arrangement ; and we trust that no sacrilegious hand will now be laid on these sacred relics. In the south-west corner of that ground, the slaves were buried ; but no monumental stones were raised! Are there as many gravestones now standing within the old burying-ground as were there fifty years ago ? We think not. Where are they ? Can the mouths of the tombs answer ?
There were six tombs built in 1767 by private gentlemen. Benjamin Floyd was the builder. They are those nearest the front gate, on its western side, and are under the sidewalk of the street. The bricks of which they are built were made in the yard west of Rock Hill. The common price of a tomb has been one hundred and two dollars.
Though many new tombs had been built, and some little additional space secured in the old burying-ground, still there was need of further accommodations for burial ; and the town therefore voted, May 11, 1812, to request the selectmen to consider what further provisions could be made. This led to the appointment of a committee in May, 1813. A new burying-place seemed to be necessary ; and the committee so reported. No definite action was had until May, 1816, when another committee reported, that the land which the town had purchased in Cross Street, near Mr. Turner's ship-yard, for the position of an alms-house, had better be used as a burying- ground. The town acceded ; and then ordered that the land be laid out in lots, that a proper fence be built around it, and that trees be planted in such number and order as to make the enclosure appear as such a place should.
March 7, 1853: Voted to remove the pound on Cross Street, and extend the burial-ground to the line of said street, and build thereon a suitable iron fence, with stone base- ment.
The next movement for another burying-ground was March 6, 1837, when the town passed the following : " Voted
428
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
that the article relative to purchasing land for a burial-ground, in the easterly part of the town, be indefinitely postponed."
For many years, the eastern wall of the old burying- ground was broken and insufficient. The writer of this directed the attention of the Hon. Peter C. Brooks to the subject in 1846: the consequence was an offer of five hun- dred dollars from that gentleman to the town, for the pur- pose of building a granite wall, reaching from the Baptist meeting-house through the whole eastern front of the ground. The town accepted the offer, and voted thanks, Nov. 8, 1847. There was a strip of land, twenty feet or more, added here to the old limits ; and the new granite wall encloses it. This strip was laid out in lots, and sold at auction Aug. 3, 1848. Mr. Brooks had a lot reserved for him; and he chose the central one, and urged a relative to purchase the one conti- guous on the north, that we might be near our early ances- tors, who are buried a few feet west of these enclosures. We trust that future generations will cherish so much reverence for antiquity as will secure the ashes of their ancestors from removal or neglect.
The establishment of the cemetery of Mount Auburn has created in this neighborhood a strong preference for such burial-places ; and Medford resolved to have one. The fol- lowing was passed, Nov. 13, 1848: " Voted that the subject- matter of the fifth article in the warrant, relative to procuring additional land for burial purposes, be referred to a committee of five, to examine locations, obtain prices, &c., and to report at the next March meeting."
Nov. 12, 1849 : The committee reported it expedient to buy ten and a half acres of land, at fifty dollars per acre, of Leonard Bucknam. The town concurred, and empowered the committee to' make the purchase.
March 4, 1850 : " Voted to choose a committee to lay out and otherwise improve said new burying-ground." Also voted to expend five hundred dollars accordingly.
After further examination of this land, the committee recommended an abandonment of the above plan ; and, March 10, 1851, the town voted to build an alms-house on said land.
July 19, 1852: The subject came before the town ; and Messrs. George W. Porter, Robert L. Ells, Paul Curtis, John B. Hatch, and Sanford B. Perry, were chosen a com- mittee " to purchase land for a cemetery." These gentlemen
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BURYING-GROUNDS.
examined several spots, and finally recommended one owned by Mr. Edward Brooks, situated nearly opposite the head of Purchase Street, in West Medford, and containing twelve acres. It has a varied surface of hill, valley, and plain ; is well covered with young oaks and beautiful forest-trees; its soil is dry, and not liable to injury from rain ; the absence of ledges will make digging easy ; and its retired and accessible position renders it peculiarly fit for such a sacred appropria- tion. The committee had obtained the consent of the owner to sell; and the price was five thousand dollars. They recommended the purchase ; and the town accepted and adopted their report, Aug. 16, 1852. Thus an extensive and beautiful cemetery is secured to future generations.
The committee declined further service ; and Messrs. San- ford B. Perry, Paul Curtis, Edmund T. Hastings, George T. Goodwin, and James R. Turner, were chosen to attend to all further business connected with the subject. March 7, 1853, the town instructed the committee to build a receiving-tomb, to lay out roads and paths, to erect fences, and make such im- provements as they see fit.
Oct. 13, 1853 : The committee made their first report. They recommended that it be called OAK GROVE CEMETERY. Among the rules and regulations are the following : -
" The cemetery shall be under the care of the selectmen, who shall appoint a superintendent.„ Any citizen, who may become the owner of a lot, must submit to the conditions : Fences appropriate to the place may be built to enclose lots. No lot can be used for any purpose, except the burial of the dead. No tree shall be cut down without the consent of the Cemetery Committee. Any funeral monument or structure may be erected, except a tomb. Trees, shrubs, and flowers may be planted and cultivated. Any improper structure or offensive inscription shall be removed by the committee. No tomb shall be built within the cemetery, except by special vote of the town. No burials for hire. No disinterment, except by permission.
" The town-clerk shall be clerk of the Cemetery Committee. All deeds shall be executed in behalf of the town. The lots shall be apprized, numbered, and recorded, and the right of choice sold at public auction. Lots may afterwards be sold by the selectmen. Duplicate keys of the gates and receiving-tomb shall be kept by the officers. No dead body shall remain in the receiving-tomb, during warm weather, more than twenty days. No grave for any person, over twelve years of age, shall be less than five feet deep. All burials in the free public lot shall be in the order directed by the committee. No body shall be disinterred without permission of
430
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
the committee. No carriage shall be admitted within the grounds, unless by permission, or when accompanied by the owner of a lot. No refreshments, smoking, unseemly noise, discharge of fire-arms, or disorderly conduct, allowed. Vehicles admitted must be driven no faster than a walk. All writing upon or defacing of structures, all breaking of trees or gathering of flowers, forbidden. No indi- vidual shall be the proprietor of more than two lots. The town of Medford will for ever keep in good repair the fence, gates, carriage- ways, and footpaths of the cemetery, and make a secure place of burial for the dead, and an attractive resort for the living."
This brief abstract of the report of the committee shows the town anxious to make the most generous appropriations for this sacred and cherished object.
March 6, 1854 : The town accepted and adopted the report of the committee appointed to direct the preparation of the cemetery for use. The items of their bill of costs will suffi- ciently explain the very beginning of the noble work. They are as follows : -
Paid for land . . $5,000.00
" labor on streets
774.89
" receiving-tomb 359.10
" stone wall and posts .
715.63
"
sundries
280.98
$7,130.60
Due Mr. Wadsworth, for plan, &c.
$275.00
"
Denis and Roberts, for iron gates 60.00
" N. A. Chandler, for work 45.00
$380.00
$7,510.60
The place was solemnly consecrated by religious services, performed within the enclosure, Oct. 31, 1853 ; and then the lots were offered for sale at public auction. Thirty-one lots were sold on the first occasion for $634.50; and the highest price given for choice was $15; and the lowest, $1. The highest price fixed upon the best lots was $20 ; and the lowest price for a lot, $5.
February, 1855: The whole number of lots sold is fifty- one ; and their cost was $1,025.
Several who bought commenced immediately the prepara- tion of their grounds, and erected fences, and planted flower- shrubs and evergreens. Though just opened, there are already indications of good taste and costly expenditure. We trust that the inhabitants will be disposed to build a
431
CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS.
chapel, of Christian architecture, within twenty years; and surround the land, not with an iron fence, but a granite wall, eight feet high. Medford has faithfully performed a sacred duty in procuring this rural cemetery. The place must ere long become populous ; and, as one after another goes there to claim his tenantry in the dust below, may each surviving mourner be comforted in the assurance, that mortality is swal- lowed up of life !
CHAPTER XII.
CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS.
WE trust, that, for the honor of Medford, records under this head will not be found numerous. We must tell the whole truth, let honor or infamy be the consequence ; and we regret to learn that our plantation was so soon the scene of a mortal strife. In the Colony records, we thus read, Sept. 28, 1630: " A jury of fifteen were impanelled, concerning the death of Austen Bratcher " (Bradshaw). "Austen Bratcher, dying lately at Mr. Cradock's plantation, was viewed before his burial by divers persons. The jury's ver- dict : We find that the strokes given by Walter Palmer were occasionally the means of the death of Austen Bratcher ; and so to be manslaughter." Palmer was bound over to be tried at Boston for this death ; and, on the 9th of November, the jury bring in a verdict of " Not guilty."
At a court held at Watertown, March 8, 1631, " Ordered that Thomas Fox, servant of Mr. Cradock, shall be whipped for uttering malicious and scandalous speeches, whereby he sought to traduce the court, as if they had taken some bribe in the business concerning Walter Palmer." This Thomas Fox was fined four times, and seems to have been possessed by the very demon of mischief. He left the plantation with- out his benediction.
June 14, 1631 : " At this court, one Philip Radcliff, a ser- vant of Mr. Cradock, being convict, ore tenus, of most foul, scandalous invectives against our churches and government,
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