USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Old Copp's Hill and Burial Ground : with historical sketches, January 1, 1882 > Part 2
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The Home is unsectarian and is supported by the dona- tions of kind friends. The Managers, Mrs. CASWELL and Miss WRIGHT, with many others, give their time gratuitously. The object of the Home is to teach the poor to be self-supporting.
LITTLE WANDERERS HOM
BALDWIN PLACE HOME.
The first meeting-house in Baldwin Place was dedicated March 15, 1746, enlarged in 1788, and again enlarged in 1797. The corner-stone of the present edifice was laid May 28, 1810, and the house was dedicated January 1st, 1811. On the 24th of March, 1865, the building having been purchased, the Home was instituted, and dedicated May 23d following. From that time, until March, 1882, five thousand two hundred and forty children have been received - eleven hundred being under five years of age. Over one thousand of the children were the orphans of soldiers. About four thousand have been placed in homes, where they are constantly looked after. The Home has been under the superintendence of Mr. R. G. TOLES from its organization until the present time.
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Old Copp's Hill and Burial Ground.
BETHEL
OSTON
BOSTON BAPTIST BETHEL CHURCH.
The corner of Hanover and North Bennett streets is a his- toric locality. Samuel Mather, son of Cotton and grandson of Increase Mather, was dismissed from the Second Church wor- shipping in North Square, December, 1741, and the following year a wooden edifice was erected by his friends on the above- mentioned spot, in which he preached about forty years. After his death the church was purchased by the Universalists, and Rev. John Murray was installed pastorin 1793. Edward Mitch- ell, Paul Dean and Sebastian Streeter were his successors in the pastoral office, For the last-named the present structure was erected in 1838. In 1864, through the efforts of the late Rev. Phinehas Stowe, it was procured for the First Baptist Mariner's Church. Mr. Stowe was pastor until his death in 1868. Since 1869, Rev. Henry A. Cooke has officiated. The church is now owned by the Boston Baptist Bethel Society. It is a free place of worship for seamen and others.
Old Copp's Hill and Burial Ground.
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ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
In 1834 Bishop Fenwick, after several ineffectual attempts to secure sufficient land for a church in a suitable location, pur- chased four lots, 20 by 85 feet each, on what was called Pond (now Endicott) Street. He superintended the erection of the building, besides attending to his many other official duties. Mass was celebrated at Christmas, the following year, in the basement. The building was completed and dedicated to the service of God, May 22, 1836.
The present edifice, which was dedicated December 16th, 1877, fronts on Thacher Street 83 feet 6 inches, and extends back on Endicott Street and Thacher Avenue 198 feet four inches. The building is of brick; with granite caps and trim - mings. The front is flanked with two towers, one on each side, 22 feet square by 170 feet in height, and surmounted by a cupola
1
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Old Copp's Hill and Burial Ground.
constructed to support a bell. The building was completed at a cost of about $200,000. At the principal entrance, which is 45 by 20 feet, are three doors, and there are five others that can be used in case of fire. Upon entering the church one cannot fail to be impressed with the beauty and simplicity of its architect- ural design. Its extreme depth is 186 feet, width 74 feet, height of ceiling 68 feet. The altar, which cost about $13,000, is one of the finest in the country. The church contains paintings and statuary, and a very fine organ, which is said to have cost $10,000. The present pastor is the Reverend William H. Dun- can, S. J., and the church is in charge of the Jesuit Fathers.
A large parochial residence adjoins the building, for the use of the pastor and his associates.
PORTUGUESE CHURCH, on Bennett Street. The present edifice was erected in 1828, by the First Methodist Society, who previously worshipped in a building on Hanover Avenue, and dedicated by Rev. Stephen Martindale. They sold the building to the Free Will Baptists, and by them it was sold to the Portu- guese Catholics, who now occupy it.
The ITALIAN CHURCH, on Prince Street, was erected in 1876, through the efforts of Reverend Father Guerrini, O. S. F., Dr. Joseph Pagani and others. It is now in charge of Reverend Father Boniface, O. S. F.
The old bell which has been in use on the South Ferry toll- house, Eastern Avenue, for many years, to notify the public of the arrival and departure of the ferry-boats, has a history. It was cast in 1673 for a convent, and, after many years use was sold as old junk, and brought to New Orleans, where it was purchased by the old Ferry Company, which has ceased to exist, and placed in its present position. Its surface bears the follow- ing inscription : " Maria maler Dei, ora pro nobis Anno Domini (Mary, mother of God pray for us, in the year of our Lord) 1673." A cross, divided into squares, is engraved upon it. In each of the squares is "I. H. S.," with a cross above and below each. It still retains its silvery tones.
On North Street, near North Square, is situated the NORTH END MISSION, an institution well known for its good works; where many poor people have been furnished with food and clothing and sent on their way rejoicing.
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Old Copp's Hill and Burial Ground.
Governor Hutchinson's Mansion.
On Garden Court, next the Clark residence, was the man- sion of Thomas Hutchinson, Governor of Massachusetts at the time of the Stamp Act troubles and the State Street massacre. On the night of the 26th of August, 1765, during the Stamp Act excitement, his house was sacked by the mob, hls furniture de- stroyed, and his valuable library badly damaged. The tea was destroyed in December, 1773, and, in the early part of 1774, he departed for England. He was reimbursed for his losses and received a pension. The building was erected after 1700 and destroyed in 1834.
Sir William Phipps (for whom Phipps Place was named), arrived in Boston May 14, 1692, with the new Charter for Mas- sachusetts, and a commission appointing him Governor. He built a noble mansion on the westerly corner of Salem and Charter streets. It was occupied by Rev. Dr. Walter, Rector of Christ Church, at the time of his death, in 1800, and demol- ished in 1839.
On Charter Street was born the hero of the Essex, Commo- dore Porter, who so valiantly fought the Phoebe and Cherub, off the harbor of Valparaiso, in 1814.
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Old Copp's Hill and Burial Ground.
Painter's Coat of Arms.
Imbedded in the front of a building on the corner of Han- over and Marshall streets, may be seeu a neatly-carved and well-preserved coat of arms. In the centre is a quartered shield, supported on either side with rampant lions chained ; resting on the shield is a crowned helmet ; above is apparently a phoenix rising out of the flames. At the top is
C 1 7 01 T K
and underneath the arms the motto: Amor Oviat Obediencia. This coat of arms was taken from an old wooden building on on the same spot that had for generations been occupied by painters, when the building was demolished in 1835.
Boston Stone.
BOSTON STONE 1737"
In the rear of the building just mentioned, enclosed in the wall, is a large block of brown sand- stone, with a cavity in the top, in which fits a round stone or globe made of the same material. It was brought from England about 1700, and was used by painters to grind paint. Deeply cut on its face are the words, "BOSTON STONE, 1737."
On Foster Street formerly stood Paul Revere's cannon and bell foundry. A variety of articles for domestic use were man- ufactured at this foundry. It is said to have been erected about 1790.
The house of Dr. Eliot, formerly pastor of the New North Church, still standing, is a wooden structure in fair condition. It is the second house from the north corner of Hanover and Tileston streets.
The old building on the corner of Marshall and Union streets, now known as Atwood's oyster house, was where Ben- jamin Thompson, afterward known as Count Rumford, learned his trade.
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Old Copp's Hill and Burial Ground.
Sir Henry Frankland's House
was built by William Clark, a noted merchant of Boston. It was situated on the corner of Garden Court and Bell Alley (now new Prince Street), and was said to be one of the finest in Bos- ton at the time. The main entrance was on Garden Court Street. It was the residence, in 1741, of Sir Charles Henry Frankland, Baronet, who was Collector of Customs under Gov. Shirley. The building was demolished when Prince Street was extended through to North Square. .
AN OLD HOUSE. The Wells mansion-house, on the cor- ner of Salem Street and Elmer Place, it is claimed, was erected about 1660. It is a two-and-a-half story clapboarded house, with hip roof; the second and third stories project over the lower -the second nearly two feet.
In Salem Street, in 1770, was the old printing office of Zachariah Fowle - first the master and then the partner of Isaiah Thomas - in which was printed the Massachusetts Spy.
The British, in 1775, had a battery on the corner of Prince and Salem streets.
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Old Copp's Hill and Burial Ground.
Green Dragon Tavern.
This noted old hostelry was situated on the border of the Mill Pond, now known as Union Street, and was purchased by the Masons, March 31, 1764. It was afterward known as the Freemasons' Arms. St. Andrew's Lodge was organized in the long room of this building. Under a charter from the Grand Lodge of Scotland they began regular meetings April 13th, 1764, which were continued until 1818. This estate has always remained the property of St. Andrew's Lodge. It was a two-story brick building, with a pitched roof. It was here the Committee of Safety met, aud from which the famous Tea Party started. It was used as a hospital during the Revolu- tion. Over the door of No. 84 Union Street may now be seen a large brown stone tablet, on which is carved a large Dragon. The original Dragon is said to have rested on an iron bar over the door.
Pine Tree Shilling.
John Hull, mint-master, is said to have coined the first SETAS 1612 600000 IN 200 New England shilling at his house on Sheafe Street, in 1652, using the same die thirty years. On the marriage of his daughter, Hannah, to Jus- tice Sewall, she is said to have re- ceived, as a mar- riage portion, her MA " weight in silver shilling pieces, struck from the New England die." Justice Sewall and John Hull are entombed in the Granary Burial Ground, on Tremont Street.
The Old North Meeting-House, the second church built in Boston, was erected in North Square in 1650; destroyed in 1676. The Second Baptist Society held their first services in the house of James Bownd, on Sheafe Street. In 1743, the first services by the Methodist Society in Boston were held in a hired room on the same street.
The descendants of many of the old families are yet living on old Copp's Hill. Among them are the Dodds, Goddards, Dillaways, Pitmans, Sargents, and Adamses.
Old Copp's Hill and Burial Ground.
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A North-Ender of Ye Revolutionary Day.
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Old Copp's Hill and Burial Ground.
North-End Public Schools.
The ELIOT SCHOOL-HOUSE is a large brick building front- ing on Wiggin Street, and running from North Bennett to Tiles- ton Street (formerly Love Lane). It was built in 1838, contains fourteen rooms and a large liall, and is valued at $93,000. It was instituted in 1712. Present Instructors: Colonel Samuel Harrington, Master. Granville S. Webster, Tilson A. Mead and Channing Folsom, Sub-Masters. Frances M. Bodge, Adolin M. Steele, Elizabeth M. Turner, Kate L. Dodge, Lucette A. Went- worth, Mary Heaton, Minnie I. Folger, M. Ella Wilkins, Clara A. Newell, Mary E. lianney, Isabel R. Haskins, Teachers. P. J. Riordan, Janitor.
Connected with the Eliot, fronting on North Bennett Street, is the WARE SCHOOL, which contains four rooms. It was built in 1852, and is valued at $38,000. Annie M. H. Gillespie, Mary E. Barrett, Kate S. Sawyer, Teachers. W. S. Riordan, Janitor.
The HANCOCK SCHOOL-HOUSE is a large, handsome brick building, extending from Prince to Parmenter Street, with eu- trance on both streets. It was built in 1847, is valued at $85,000, contains twelve rooms and one large hall. This and the Cush- man School are for girls only. James W. Webster, Master. Ellen C. Sawtelle, Amy E. Bradford, Josephine M. Robertson, Marie L. Macomber, Assistants. Helen M. Hitchings, Mary E. Skinuer, Susan E. Allen, Honora T. O'Dowd, Sophia L. Sher- man, Olive M. E. Rowe, Sarah F. Ellis, Elizabeth A. Fiske, Teachers. Joseph P. Fleming, Janitor.
Fronting on Parmenter Street is the CUSHMAN SCHOOL, built in 1868, valued at $97,000, and containing sixteen rooms. Teresa M. Gargan, Second Assistant. Sarah E. Ward, Adeline S. Bodge, M. A. P. Cross, Harriet M. Frazer, Mary L. Desmond, Mary J. Clark, Marcella C. Halliday, Mary G. Ruxton, Sarah J. Copp, Teachers. Charles E. Miley, Janitor.
On Charter Street is the FREEMAN SCHOOL, which was erected in 1868, is valued at $39,000, and contains six rooms. Juliaette Davis, J. Ida Munroe, A. Augusta Coleman, Sarah Ripley, Marcella E. Donegan, Eliza Brintnall, Teachers. Re- becca Marshall, Janitor.
The PORMORT SCHOOL, in Snelling Place, was built in 1855, is valued at $19,400, and contains six rooms. Emma C. Glaw- son, Cleone G. Tewksbury, Harriet E. Lampee, Rosa M. E. Reggio, Teachers. William Swanzey, Janitor.
The INGRAHAM SCHOOL, on Sheafe Street, was built in 1848, is valued at $16,000, and has three rooms. Josephine B. Silver, Cicely M. Kennemon, Esther W. Mansfield, Teachers. Francis Silver, Janitor.
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Old Copp's Hill and Burial Ground.
COPP'S HILL BURIAL GROUND.
Copp's Hill Burial Ground was the second place of inter- ment in Boston (King's Chapel being the first). It contains 83,800 square feet, and is the largest cemetery in the city proper. This ancient burial place is by no means a unit, although it ap- appears so to a visitor at the present time. It is made up of four tracts of land, purchased at four different times, and was for- merly known by distinct names for its different parts as follows: The Old North Burying Ground, Hull Street, or the Old North (the cemetery formerly where the Gasometer now stands was also called the Hull Street Burying Ground), Charter Street Burying Ground and the New North Burying Ground.
This cemetery is bounded on the north-east about 314 feet by Charter Street; on the north-west by Snowhill Street about 324 feet, above which the cemetery rises some twenty feet, being buttressed by a substantial wall of masonry; on the south-west about 330 feet by Hull Street; on the north-east by Marshall Place about 120 feet; on the north-east again about 127 feet by private property; and lastly, on the south-east about 123 feet, also by private property and the Hull Street Primary School.
The oldest portion, that which has been generally called the North Burial Ground, is situated at the north-easterly part of the present enclosure, and is the ground concerning which the following order was passed, November 5th, 1660 : "It is ordered that the old burial place be wholly deserted for some convenient season, and the new place appointed for burying only made use of, and was recorded in Suffolk Deeds, lib. 53, fol. 153, as follows: 'John Baker and Daniel Turell, sell to the Selectmen of Boston, a lot of land, 294 feet on the northerly side, 252 feet on the southerly side; in breadth on the easterly end 126 feet. Butting on the way that leadeth from the new meeting-house in Boston towards Charlestown Ferry, on the north; on the land of Wm. Phillips, southerly; on the land of John Baker and Daniel Turrell, easterly; and on the way that leadeth from Senter haven to Charlestown Ferry, westerly.'"' It was dated February 20th, 1659-60, but was not recorded until seventy-six years afterward. The south-easterly of this part was that chiefly used for the burial of the town's people, while
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Old Copp's Hill and Burial Ground.
that near Snowhill Street served for the last resting-place of slaves and freed persons.
The date of the first interment is unknown; it was probably soon after the land was purchased. The oldest inscriptions are dated 1661 and 1678. They are on a double stone, which was discovered beneath the surface in 1878, by the present Superin- tendent, and had doubtless been covered with the washings of the hill for more than a century. It is six months older than any other original inscription in the ground.
At that time the only entrance to the enclosure was from Charter Street, for, to the south-west of it, was situated the pasture of Judge Sewall, which really belonged to his wife, Hannah (the daughter of John Hull) as part of her inheritance. When this piece of land was conveyed to the town, the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company advanced a claim upon it under a mortgage held by that organization, but the matter was adjusted in a satisfactory manner and the town proceeded to use the land for the purpose for which it had been purchased.
About, forty years after the first purchase of land it was found necessary to enlarge the burying ground, and the tract of land adjoining it and fronting on Hull Street, was purchased by the Town, of Judge Sewall and his wife. (Suffolk Deeds, lib. 25, fol. 97). The deed is dated December 17th, 1707; in consid- eration of £50 paid and the release from payment of an annual quit-rent of 40 shillings for a certain cedar swamp in Brookline, Samuel Sewall and wife Hannah, sold to the Town of Boston, land for the enlargement of the North Burying Place. It ad- joined said place, northerly, measuring 250 feet; southerly it bounded on Hull Street, measuring across, in a straight line to the burying place, 140 feet ; on Hull Street it measured 180 feet ; westerly on Snowhill Street, 170 feet. These purchases com- prise what is now called the Old North Burying Ground. The north-westerly side formerly communicated with Lynu Street by a steep and very abrupt bank, which will be well remembered by the boys of fifty years ago, who used to claim that territory for a play-ground; the memory of others may carry them back to the " Wishing Rock," which stood conspicuously on the cor- ner of Snowhill and Charter streets, and the time when they formed in groups, wished, and went singing around the rock. It is related that on one occasion while the children were going around the rock, singing, the ground suddenly gave way and several of them were precipitated into a forgotten well under-
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Old Copp's Hill and Burial Ground.
neath them. They were rescued by persons who happened to be in the vicinity.
The portion of Snowhill Street now leading from Hull to Charter Street, was merely a foot-path or private passage, until about fifty years since. Iu 1832, Mr. Jacob Hall and others purchased a piece of land bordering on the north-west side of the old ground, and by permission of the city authorities, estab- lished the Hull Street Cemetery (on the site of the gasometer), and erected rows of tombs, at the same time relinquishing their right to the above-named portion of Snowhill Street, and mak- ing an arrangement with the city that the street should be a public walk or mall thirty-three feet in width. This cemetery was discontinued in 1853, and the remains were removed to Mount Hope Cemetery in February, 1861.
Where Snowhill Street now is, there was formerly a row of tombs, and a walk from one end to the other over the tombs, with steps at each end. When the street was cut through the openings of these tombs and their tablets were removed inside the fence.
In 1809 another addition was made by the purchase of land known as Jonathan Merry's pasture, and called the New North Burying Ground; it is now known as the Small Ground. The deed was dated December 18th, 1809, and is recorded in Suffolk Deeds, lib. 231, fol. 199. It is as follows: "For $10,000, Benja- min Weld, and his wife Nabby, sold to the Town of Boston a parcel of land, bounded south-west on Hull Street 148 feet ; north-west on the burial ground, 148 and 6 inches; north-east on land of Goodwin and others, 153 feet; south-east on land of Jonathan Merry, 123 feet; being land conveyed to Weld by Merry, October 21st, 1809, recorded lib. 230, fol. 191." On the south corner of the land thus purchased, fronting on Hull Street, stood the old Gun House of the Columbian Artillery. Fifty-five tombs were built, in 1814, around the sides of this new enclosure, by Hon. Charles Wells, and, after the removal of the Gun House (which had been removed to this lot in 1810) Edward Bell built fifteen tombs on its site in the autumn of 1827. The ground was laid out in ranges, and several bodies were al- lowed to be interred in one grave. The first person buried in the Small Ground was John Richardson, July 6th, 1810, having been drowned a few days previous.
In 1819, Hon Charles Wells built thirty-four tombs in a small grave-yard bouuded by the old and new burying grounds
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Old Copp's Hill and Burial Ground.
and Marshall Place, and fronting on Charter Street, which was called the Charter Street Burying Ground, and was recorded as follows, in Suffolk Deeds, lib. 262, fol. 296: "June 3d, 1819, John Bishop of Medford, sold to Chiarles Wells, for $1,051.30, land in Charter Street, bounded north-east on said street 20 feet ; north-easterly on the burying ground 20 feet wide; then con- tinuing westerly, 70 feet on the burying ground 20 feet wide; then continuing 50 feet more, 28 feet wide; south-west 28 feet on land formerly of Dr. Wm. Clark, but now a burying ground ; then south-east 50 feet, 28 feet wide, then continuing 70 feet more 20 feet wide, on land formerly owned by William Fowle; being the land which Stephen Gorham as administrator of Na- thaniel Holmes, sold to said Bishop, December 14th, 1791, re- corded lib. 184, fol. 59." It is now a part of the cemetery, the fence dividing the two grounds having been taken down about thirty years ago.
The eastern limit is overlooked by a block of houses which separates the cemetery from Salem Street and its outlying courts. Everywhere the enclosure rises above the adjacent territory. The remainder of the ground is surrounded by a neat iron fence.
The houses on the streets which bound this cemetery are mostly owned by the occupants, and, with few exceptions, are kept neat and clean. The neighboring streets are so little used that grass grows among the paving-stones, and, in some places, nearly covers them. At the north and north-west boundaries there is an open space, through which part of Charlestown Heights and the Navy Yard are visible; and by taking a stand near the centre of the Hill, the monument on Bunker Hill can be seen, bringing to mind the words of the great orator, when the corner-stone of this monument was laid by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, June 17th, 1825: "Let it rise ! let it rise ! till it shall meet the sun in its coming-let the earliest light of the morning gild it, and the parting day linger and play on its summit !"
The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company used this Hill on one occasion for parade and drill during the Revolution, having been refused admittance to the Common, the place in which, according to their Charter, they had a right to drill.
"In 1775, before the Artillery Company suspended its meetings, the Common was occupied by the British army, and the Artillery Company were refused .admittance. Capt, Bell, therefore, marched to Copp's Hill. Soon after the bridge over Charles River was built there was a complaint against the street
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Old Copp's Hill and Burial Ground.
at the foot of this hill. It was supposed the proprietors of that part of the hill enclosed from Suowhill Street ought to repair the wharf and street at their own expense. This led to inquiry, in town meeting, to whom it belonged; some one said it be- longed to this Company. Col. Jackson, their Treasurer, was sent for, and declared he considered it their property, a mort- gage upon it to them having long since run out, and that Capt. Bell, with the Company, had taken possession of it in 1775. Capt. Bell was then interrogated by Col. Dawes, the Moderator: Why did you march your company to Copp's Hill? Answer: I was prohibited from entering the Common; conceiving this hill to be the property of the Company, I marched them there, as a place no one had a right to exclude them from. Question by Moderator: Supposing a party of British troops should have been in possession of it, and should have forbid you entrance, what would you have done? Answer: I would have charged bayonets, and forced my way as surely as I would force my way into my dwelling-house, if taken possession of by a gang of thieves. The late Col. Wmn. Tudor, who was then present, said : ' Mr. Moderator, the hill. clearly belongs to that Company, and I wish they would execute a quit claim deed of it to me at a fair price.' The mortgage was discharged afterwards, and the street repaired by the town," [ Extract from the Company Minutes. ]
In the centre of the ground is a rod square of land which was conveyed by Samuel Sewall and his wife Hannah, to Joshua Gee, the noted ship-builder (who was the father of the distin- guished clergyman who was the assistant and successor of the famous Cotton Mather, from 1722 to 1748), "in consideration of two and thirty shillings paid them, being part of their pasture adjoining to the north burying place, in which parcel of ground Mrs, Mary Thatcher now lyeth buried: bounded northerly by said burying ground, and on all other sides by the land of said Samuel aud Hannah Sewall." Said Joshua Gee was to make and maintain one-half the fence, and have no right of way ex- cept through the North Burying Ground. This Mrs. Thatcher was the wife of Judah Thatcher of Yarmouth, and died Novem- ber 30th, 1708, aged 68 years. Her grave-stone stands in the north-east corner of said rod of land. There were no restric- tions in regard to its use ; it was bought by Mr. Gee because of a request of his wife that she might be laid away from the mul- titude. The deed is recorded in Suffolk Deeds. lib. 25, fol. 174. About four generations ago it fell into the hands of old Deacon Moses Grant, of Revolutionary fame, who was one of those who threw the tea overboard, and, at the risk of his life, helped to take two pieces of cannon from the British lines. This en- closure holds the remains of three generations of the Grant family, and is now owned by the heirs of the late Deacon Moses
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