USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Brookline > Proceedings of the Brookline Historical Society at the annual meeting > Part 10
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The first wedding in the family was that of the eldest daughter Susannah and John Goddard. He was the eldest son of John and Hannah Goddard of Brookline. Possessed of a fine and brilliant mind, he studied for the medical pro- fession after being graduated from Harvard College. His health however failed, and in hopes of improving it he obtained a position as surgeon on one of our armed vessels, intending to go to Spain, but was captured and carried to the West Indies, where he narrowly escaped death by fever. When at last liberated and on his way he was again
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captured, and suffered greatly ; but at length returned to his home safely, at the age of twenty-four. He then took up the practice of his profession in Portsmouth N. H., where he became widely celebrated in after years, both as a skilful physician and a member of the state Legislature. On May 4, 1783, Dr. John Goddard of Portsmouth and Susannah Heath of Brookline were "published," and on the fifth of June they were married, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Joseph Jackson, then minister of the Parish. To quote from the diary of the bride's younger sister, Elizabeth - "Doct. Goddard set out from Portsmouth Monday June 2nd, got to boston the next morning, bought his wedding Cloaths, left them to be made, got here to dinner. . June 4, Mrs Cheany of Roxbury was sent for by Sunrise in the morning. came here, made two sorts of Cake, loaf Cake and pound Cake very good indeed .. . June 5, Thursday, Doct. John Goddard and Sukey Heath entered the matrimonial state. The Company that was present was Mr. Jackson and family, Doct. Goddard's Father and Mother, Brothers, and Sisters, my two Uncle Crafts and their wives were here and Miss betsey Shed. Luck was here with his Violin in the evening. The Bride was drest in a Lilock colored Lute string gownd and coat. . .
. Sunday June 8, went to meeting Bride drest in strip'd Lute string Negligee, three white waving plooms on her hat, &c., wore her new short Polanee's flounced and trimmed with Blue. Monday, a very respectable Company was here to drink tea. Judge Sumner's Lady and Mrs. Rug- gles, General Heath's Children &c., about Forty in the whole, two Violins here in the evening, danced till two o'clock They had punce, and wine, cake and chees." On Tuesday another large company drank tea with the bride, and the next day the newly married couple took leave of the assembled family, and left for their new home. To quote again, " Wednes- day June II . . . Doct. Goddard and Lady set out for Ports- mouth, 7 o'clock, my Brother, Miss Hannah Goddard (sister of the groom) accompeing them. They reached rowly the first night, crost Amsbury ferry the next morn'g about 7 o'clock, got to Portsmouth in the afternoon. . All the folks are very dull now Sukey is gorn so far."
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Later the journal speaks of Dr. Goddard and his wife re- visiting the old home with their children. Susannah died three years after her marriage, leaving three sons .* The happy and affectionate intercourse with Dr. Goddard's family and Portsmouth, which began with Susannah's marriage, never ceased. After her death and Dr. Goddard's subsequent marriage, the warmest friendship between the two families continued ; the cousins were all friends ; the young people corresponded regularly and visited each other whenever opportunity occurred, and Aunt White and Aunt Eliza from Brookline were always welcomed guests at the Goddard man- sion. Aunt White went at once to Portsmouth to assume the care of the motherless little boys at the time of Susannah's death, and the following summer she brought the two younger ones to visit their Grandmother Heath at the old homestead in Brookline. After the children had returned to Portsmouth their grandmother wrote often, and made anxious inquiries for them. Sammy, the youngest boy, was evidently her favorite. Nuts and cakes were often sent from the old homestead, a few specially nice ones always marked "for Sammy," and hopes were repeatedly expressed that " they may come again, in cherry time, Sammy is so fond of cherries."
Another quotation from Betsey's diary alludes to the family practice of spending Commencement Day at the old Craft homestead. " Tuesday -, Nancy and I went down to my grandfather's just before Night, to stay all Night, and see the folks go by to Commencement. Wednesday afternoon my Uncle Daniel Craft and Lady, Aunt White, & Nancy & I rode over to Cambridge. ... Went into the meeting house a few minutes. Went to see a Sea Calf that was carried to Cambridge for a sight. A very curious creature. Six Cop- pers a sight . . . .”
The journals of Betsey Heath and her cousin Nancy White, kept while the writers were between the ages of fifteen and twenty, give a good description of their social life ; and it is a wonder, that with their necessary domestic labors, they accom- plished so much tea drinking and visiting.
* The youngest, Samuel, was the father of Miss Julia Goddard, Warren street.
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An interesting account of a wedding visit made to a friend in Roxbury is given by Nancy,-"Tuesday, August 24, went to pay the Wedding Visit, 27 ladies there to drink tea, 7 ladies from the Plain, Green Tea, Loaf Suger, Plumb & Plain Cake. A number of Gentlemen there in the Ev'ning, had Cake and Cheese, Punch Bevaradge, Wine, and wine & water. Two Fidlers ... we got home a quarter after two " That the young Harvard students then gave "teas" to the young women of their acquaintance, may be seen from the following : " Tuesday - Ebby, Betsey, & I went with Mrs. Jackson, Mrs. Abbot, and the two Sally Jackson's over to Cambridge to Joseph Jackson's Chamber. Had tea biscuits & butter and Cake. Jack Fleet and Elisha Gardner drank tea there. Got home about dark."
A party of young people, including the cousins, went one July afternoon to Mystic Fields, now a part of Medford. The " Fountain " was a fine tavern there, much used as a place of resort in the summer. It was shaded by two tall trees, each with a platform built in its branches. These platforms were connected with each other, and with the house, by wooden bridges; and were popular places for out-of-door merry making. Nancy writes : (we) " went to take a ride as far as Mystic, to the fountain. Nabby Gardner and I rode in Mr. Isaac Gardner's Chaise, all the rest on horses. All of us drest in Polanees, high Crown'd Hats & Sashes, Vandykes. Drank Tea in the Place built up before the Door, and had Green Tea, loaf sugar, Biscuits & Butter, Crackers & Butter, milk biscuit & cheese. Staid about three Hours. Play'd break the Popes neck, sat out for home almost an Hour before sun- down. Gat Home about nine o'clock
The next wedding was that of the eldest son, Ebenezer. When we consider the strong patriotic interest of the times, and the relationship of John Heath to his cousin, General William Heath, it is not surprising to learn that John's eldest son, Ebenezer, married the daughter of Colonel Joseph Wil- liams of Roxbury, who had taken so ardent a part in the late struggle for liberty. . He was twenty-six years old, she was twenty. According to the custom of the times a notice of their
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intentions was posted upon the door of the old Church in Roxbury, for three consecutive weeks before the wedding day. The original paper, yellowed with age, lies before me, dated 1790 :-
A MATRIMONIAL CONJOINT.
Mr. Ebenezer Heath of Brookline, and Miss Hannah Wil- liams of Roxbury : proposes to quit their present state of celi- bacy, and pursue the journey through the vale of affection to that extensive tract of troden path of land called matrimony -- Whoever hath aught, or impediment against this overture : are requested to exhibit their objections to
Thomas Clarke, Town Clerk.
As was customary there were great festivities in the two families, both before and after the wedding ceremony. We find from Betsey Heath's journal that she spent a fortnight at Colonel Williams, previous to his daughter's marriage, when there was much dancing and gayety going on; and this in- cluded a stay at the " Island." This was Noddle's Island, now East Boston, but then leased and occupied by Colonel Williams' eldest son, Henry. Here was exercised boundless hospitality, a daily record was kept of visitors, and boats were constantly plying between the Island and Boston. It may be added that the dining room, in daily use, was furnished with two dining tables, two tea tables, and two complete dinner services, and the stables contained forty- three fine horses.
Betsey came home early in January, but soon returned to the Williams' homestead, and on the 10th of the month we find recorded, " Preparing for the wedding. Roasted beef. Tuesday, Jan. IIth Pleasant. Today is the day appointed for the wedding. Mr. Bosson came to dress the gentle- men's heads. Among those present were all her brothers and sisters, and Eben's uncles and aunts : (here follows a detailed list of other guests) ... Mr. Emerson ... Mr. Bradford & wife (minister in Roxbury) and Mr. Porter (Rev. Eliphalet Porter of Roxbury). Seven late and a company did not come
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until evening. They waited for Mr. Emerson. Married at seven. Mr. Jackson made a prayer (Rev. Joseph Jackson of Brookline). Mr. Porter married them. Mr. Bradford made a prayer. Patty (the bride's sister) and I bridesmaids ; Mr. Emerson & Harry Williams the bridesmen. Eben dressed in dark coat, light cape, white breeches, striped waistcoat, they looked very well. Hannah dressed in white lutestring petti- coat and muslin gown. Patty, Nancy & I wore white. Had at a side-board cold meat, had a large cake dressed with an orange box of gold tip sugared almonds, sugar plumbs, citron, and small ginger bread toys sugared over. They had beef-a- la-mode and roast bacon, pork and tonge. Sung and acted Damon and Clora with Jo May."
There was tea drinking, and merry-making throughout the week at Colonel Williams' home. On Saturday "Eben and Hannah spent the day at Brookline. Set up the things, in the new house, " and on the following Wednesday "fifty gentle- men and ladies " drank tea at John Heath's. . "We danced in the kitchen, Bellsid & Granger here, one played on the fiddle, and one on the clarionet. Had a-la-mode beef, roast chicken, and bacon for supper. Some stayed till four o'clock." The "new house " was built just opposite to, and but a few rods away from, the "old " one, and was presented to Ebenezer Heath upon his marriage, by his father, John Heath ; who, having suffered from ungenerous treatment during his child- hood and youth, was desirous of placing every means of hap- piness and comfort in the hands of his only son. He also relinquished the active management of the farm, only stipu- lating that a sufficient amount of the proceeds should be set apart for his own maintenance and that of his wife during the remainder of their lives. So began the life of the new house- hold, closely allied to the old.
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It will be remembered that life was very simple in these early days of Brookline history. There were but compara- tively few residents in the town ; all attended the same meet- ing-house for worship on Sundays, and worked together and were mutually dependent on week days. The fathers of families were busy with their out-of-door occupations, the
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mothers, with the care of their children (and large families were the rule) and household affairs. Not only were sewing, washing, ironing, and the daily preparation of food necessary, but also the cloth must be spun and woven, the soap made, and all the water brought from an out-of-door pump.
There was much social visiting among friends and neigh- bors; in fact, in the diaries of the Heath family we find the infrequent entry "no company today" of sufficient impor- tance to be underlined. It was the established custom for a messenger to be sent early in the morning with "compli- ments" to a friend, and the message that if it was convenient certain of the family would come and spend the afternoon. By two o'clock the visit would begin, and if much lively conversation and gossip went on, the fingers of the women were equally busy with their sewing. Evening gatherings were also frequent. All the family would go, and while the elders conversed, the young people would dance or sing. Frequently the baby was brought too, and carefully put to bed in the hostess's spare chamber to sleep while gayeties were going on below. From an old journal we quote: "a great deal of Company to drink tea, quite a variety, Ladies very much dressed - Children of all sizes, infants crying, all appeared in good spirits."
It is noteworthy that many women of this period accom- plished their daily tasks, reared their children, participated in social duties, and found time besides to read, and ponder and write long letters and journals. My great-grandmother, Han- nah Heath, was a remarkable instance of such a woman. She was only twenty years old when she married and came to live on the old farm : a woman of ability and great strength and beauty of character, humble and devout. She brought up a family of nine children, not only ministering to their physical welfare, but ever mindful and anxious for their mental and spiritual growth. In addition to her necessary household labors, she was very ready with practical help for those in need, and her hospitable home was literally open to guests by day and by night. With a generous and sympathetic tempera- ment she combined both tact and discretion, and was deeply beloved by her children and by her friends.
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The diaries of my great-grandmother Heath, begun in the year 1805 and kept for many successive years, have been pre- served. Their pages are yellowed with age, but the ink is dark and the writing perfectly legible. The sheets of paper that make up these books are single, about nine inches long and seven wide; they are sewed together with stout linen thread, and the covers are of stiff brown board sewed on with silk to match. Once in a while a quaint old bullet- headed pin is found, for extra security in fastening the pages together. On the cover of the first of these diaries is written "year 1805, " and the first entry is in this wise : A list of our visits for the year 1805. Then follow the daily records of the year, sometimes brief, often quaint in spelling and phraseo- logy. A list certainly of visits paid and received, of tea drinkings and merrymakings, of visits of condolence and of helpfulness. To these pages are also confided the mother's aspirations for the large and increasing family, her hopes and fears for their temporal and spiritual welfare, and her prayers for help in all difficulties. To her devout mind God and his Providence were ever manifest, and she steadfastly sought Him in every joy and in every sorrow.
Ebenezer Heath showed the same active interest in all affairs of the church and of the town as had his forefathers. The first meeting-house in Brookline had been built in 1714-16. It was modelled after "the Meeting House in the South West part of Roxbury" and stood just west of the present par- sonage. In 1804 this old church edifice was inadequate to accommodate the population of the town, which had been increased by several new families who moved here soon after Dr. Pierce's ordination. When it was voted to build a new meeting-house on the spot where the present First Parish Church now stands, Ebenezer Heath took a lively interest in all that pertained to the new building, and with that thoroughness which characterized all his dealings in public affairs, accompanied Mr. Banner, the architect and builder, into the woods to choose the requisite timber. With his family he watched the raising of its frame. He presented at town meeting Mr. Stephen Higginson's generous offer of a
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new bell, and was appointed one of the committee to return thanks for the same. Later he assisted in selecting appro- priate hymns to be sung at the dedication of the new meeting- house.
At last the Sunday arrived, June 8, 1806, when services were held for the last time in the "old house". Dr. Pierce took for his text, " Lord I have loved the habitation of Thine house and the place where Thine honor dwelleth." "He preached very well," says an old diary, "the meeting house was crowded, they sung Old Hundred in the old house the last singing." On the following Wednesday the new meeting- house was dedicated, and, says the same diary,-"went to meeting, all hands were entertained, thought the performance very good, a great many people there. Thursday : Mr. Heath has spent the chief of his time the last fifteen months to build or aid in the building of the new meeting house, and today he has gone to pull down the old, or assist about it . . . . " and on the following Sunday -" Met in the new meeting house, the Old is gone forever." Ebenezer Heath always took great interest in the music of the church ; he was a member of the choir, and for several years was both president and secretary of the committee having the music in charge. He had a fine voice and excellent taste ; these qualities were inherited by his children, and with them he was a constant attendant at sing- ing school for years.
He was ardent and public-spirited in the cause of education. When a child he was a pupil in the old wooden schoolhouse which stood on the triangular piece of ground where Warren and Walnut streets diverge, then the centre of the town. In 1793 this building was taken down and replaced by a brick structure, which served not only for school purposes, but for town meetings as well. It was at this brick schoolhouse that the people of the town met on the occasion of the funeral services held in honor of General Washington, and marched to the church in solemn procession to join in the service and listen to the sermon delivered by Dr. Pierce. When in 1824 the new stone schoolhouse was built, and the old brick one demolished, Ebenezer Heath planted an elm tree on its site,
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close by the old threshold, that it might be always marked and held in affectionate memory.
At this time there were two other school buildings in the town, one on School Street, the other on Heath Street. For many successive seasons the teachers of these schools boarded in the Heath family ; their companionship was prized, and the friendships formed were mutual and enduring. Mr. Heath's children were early sent to dancing school. One winter he loaned his "best room " to Mr. Stimson, the dancing master, for his class. The lessons, strange to say, seem always to have been given at a very early hour in the morning.
In this house a steadily increasing family was growing up: John, Susan, Ann, Hannah, Charles, Mary, Elizabeth, Frederic and Abigail. Not a day passed without some of them running across the yard to the " other house " or drink- ing tea with their grandmother and Aunt White, and they always dined there on Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving Day and Election Day were the great holidays. The observance of Christmas was unknown and fervent wishes for a. Happy New Year sufficed for that occasion. It was an established custom for Mr. and Mrs. Ebenezer Heath to entertain their minister, Dr. Pierce and his family, with other guests, on the day following Thanksgiving, when a fine dinner would be served, and equally abundant tea, and games and dancing would follow in the evening. To quote from a journal : " Our dinner was got in very good order and our company appeared to enjoy themselves ... we danced and played blind man's buff all the evening. Thirty-five persons dined here, twenty sat around the table in the parlor, and forty-two drank tea here." No wonder that next day is found the entry, "It took us some time this morning to put things to rights." Great affection and intimacy existed between Dr. Pierce's family and the Heaths. Not a week passed without mutual visiting, and no event of joy or of sorrow, of merry-making or of anxiety, was complete without the presence and sympathy of Dr. Pierce. The Heaths were stanch parishioners and workers in the church, and Dr. Pierce had a true appreciation of their worth.
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The grandfather, John Heath, died April 11, 1804, and on the first day of April, 1808, came another great sorrow. Susan- nah Heath, now the beloved grandmother, passed away from this world very suddenly "in a fainting fit." Her daughter-in- law, Hannah Heath, says of her, she was "one of the best Women that ever lived." The next Sunday morning Dr. Pierce preached from the text " Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God," and in the after- noon, "Our friend sleepeth."
Now only three were left of the large family which had formerly filled the "old house." Life went quietly on there for some months, then came another change. Dr. John God- dard has been twice married since the death of his wife Susannah, and was again left a widower, now with eleven chil- dren. He returned to the old house in Brookline, and wooed and won Nancy White, Susannah's cousin, a woman remarkable for her mildness, prudence, and exemplary devotion to duty. The time of betrothal was short. The old diary records the immediate arrival of a dressmaker, as "she is going to have a number of new gowns," later "called in to the other house, saw new gowns in plenty," and again, "Nancy ... is to go to Boston tomorrow to get the ninth new gown, for her mother is quite worried to think she has no clothes to wear." The wedding ceremony was not to be performed in the old house, but instead in the "other house," the home of her cousin Ebenezer Heath, and was to be very simple. An early breakfast was to be served, and viands were prepared and tables laid ready for the feast on the evening preceding the wedding day.
Mrs. Heath writes in her journal January 2, 1811 : "We were all busy enough in the evening, went to bed about 12.
"Thursday ... at length the said day is arrived. I arose a little after day, and exerted myself to the utmost to have everything in order-about nine the company collected. Nancy was married -we had breakfast a little after nine, there were twenty-three sot down together, everything was hot and in order - beyond my expectations -they all took leave soon after breakfast, Nancy left us in better spirits than I thought she could . .”
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Dr. Goddard and his bride set off immediately for Ports- mouth, and were accompanied by Ebenezer Heath's eldest · daughter Susan, a girl of fifteen years.
Nancy White and Hannah Williams had been young girl friends. Nancy was present at Hannah's wedding, and ever since they had lived as neighbors and cousins, with frequent daily intercourse. They were akin in tastes and sympathies and their friendship grew ever more firm and abiding. It will readily be understood that Nancy's wedding and the subse- quent parting was very hard for Mrs. Heath. In a letter written to the bride she says, "for twenty long years (you) have held the highest place in my heart " and elsewhere she speaks of "a time of discouragement when Nancy was here and comforted me as she has always done."
Aunt White and Betsey Heath were now alone. After many family conclaves it was decided that they should break up housekeeping, transfer their belongings to Ebenezer's house, and when not making long visits to their numerous relatives should make their home there. Dr. Goddard had urged Aunt White most strongly and affectionately to come to Portsmouth to live with them, and she consented to try the change for a time. In the October following Nancy's marriage the old journal says : "Betsey took leave of us at noon to make a visit to Portsmouth . . .. Aunt White shut up the old house today. O maloncholy thought, the Old house left to itself without an inhabitant - O time, time - what destruction dost thou make in families, it is twenty years since I came to live with this family, which was large - and pleasant -and now all separated and gone- . . the evening is delightful - the moon shines uncommonly bright - I feel as if it ought to wear a gloom for the separa- tion of my dear friends -but alas, it smiles at my weakness- and I will endeavor to change my feelings to love and grati- tude that we have lived so long together - and enjoyed so much -may I never be ungratefull to my Maker - who has done so much for me."
The entry on the following Sunday has a pathetic note. After speaking of the illness of her baby, Frederic, Mrs.
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Heath says : " Heard a young Man preach that I did not like at all, owing I suppose to my own wicked heart -for not at- tending properly to the subject, seeing the pew empty so lately filled, and the anxiety I felt for Frederic." On Thanksgiving Day she writes, " the children appeared to enjoy the day. Aunt White dined with us for the first time on this occasion - the children have always dined at the other house on thanksgiving days."
Susan, Anne, and Hannah, were charming and popular girls, and took part in all festivities of Brookline, Boston, Rox- bury, and Dorchester. They danced exceedingly well, and were lively and witty in conversation. Like their father they possessed sweet voices in singing ; their elder brother played the flute, their younger brother had a fine tenor voice, and many happy evenings were spent in music. They were all fond of reading, especially Susan, who for several years kept careful lists of the books read ; she had also a good deal of native artistic talent which would have been well worth cul- tivating. She was ambitious, and painted three or four land- scapes, the view seen from the window, which was quite extensive. What is now the Reservoir was then a lovely green meadow, and Boston was so distinct that on one occasion when a fire broke out in Charles Street and spread to Beacon they watched it through the spy glass, and distinctly dis- cerned the particular house in which they were interested, as it burned to the ground. Nothing shows the changes wrought by time more than these old paintings, which are still in good preservation. Both Susan and Hannah also sketched the "old house " in water colors.
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