USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Roxbury > Some recollections of the pastors and people of the Second Church of old Roxbury, afterwards First Church, West Roxbury > Part 3
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busy man. The story used to be told of him that one morning he drove into Parson Bradford's yard, the parson came out as usual to look for something for his dinner, and Mr. Mayo was a noted horse- trader withall. Mr. Bradford said to him, "Mr. Mayo that is a good looking horse you have, I want to get a good, sound, safe one, what will you sell him for?" Mr. Mayo replied, " the horse is good enough for me, but if you want him Parson Brad- ford you may have him for one hundred dollars, and have all your own way about it, no honest man shall have a word to say."
WILLIAM MACKINTOSH. An enterprising farmer, closely identified in parish interests ; in 1848 and '49, one of the Aldermen of the city of Roxbury.
JOHN S. MACKINTOSH. Connected with the wool
CHARLES H. LUNT.
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business in Milton and West Roxbury. An active worker in parish affairs, a good friend of its minis- ters, clerk of the parish a number of years, an active, enterprising citizen.
CHARLES G. MACKINTOSH. Interested in the wool business with the late Joseph H. Billings, early drafted into parish and town affairs, familiar with every nook and corner of the old town, its people and its interests, and the writer of this meagre ac- count of the old parish and some of its people. Served two years in the City Council of Old Rox- bury, succeeded Rev. E. B. Willson on the School Board, twelve years on Board of Selectmen, of West Roxbury.
CHARLES MORSE, one of the young men that used to walk from Boston of a Sunday morning to hear the good men preach in the old church. After he came here to live was an active worker in all things for the good of the parish, and whose seat was sel- dom vacant on Sundays. He and his family were always there to welcome whoever might conduct the services.
GEORGE G. NORTH. A man cheerful and happy
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under all circumstances, an important factor of the old church. He sat as a boy to the old choir singing accompanied by the bass viol and clarinet. In 1838, in the second year of Mr. Parker's ministry, an organ was purchased, and Mr. North was invited to take charge of it, and he continued to play it, and take charge of the music for forty-three years. Dur- ing all these years of a Sunday morning he would be seen tripping to church with his music under his arm, to faithfully perform his Sunday duty. For assistance in the choir he had such people as the Arnolds, Farringtons, Cheneys, Whittemores, Bow- thorps, and good music was given to the satisfaction of the congregation. After he retired Charles Aus- tin Mackintosh took charge of the singing for two years. At this time of writing Mr. North may be seen, sprightly and happy, going about like a boy at twenty, and is really eighty-two years old.
GEORGE R. RUSSELL. A retired merchant. A gentleman of the highest order, qualified to fill any position within the gift of his fellow citizens. A lover of his home, his lands, his horses, cattle and dogs. In his home life he was a plain agriculturist, neighborly, friendly to all, and a worthy example for
CHARLES A. HEWINS.
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all. Here he and his estimable wife lived in sim- plicity and happiness, raised up their family of chil- dren, sent them to the public school and dressed them in the plainest and most comfortable manner so as not to excite envy among those in the humbler walks of life. They were both connected with the best of families, and lived worthy for all to imitate. They were fond of helping those in need, always ap- proaching those they wished to help in the most gentle, kindly manner, fearing they might injure the feelings of the recipients. It seemed to delight them both when they could do a good turn to those less fortunate than themselves. To illustrate Mr. Rus- sell's kindness in approaching an unfortunate person : The writer was present one day when he called upon a man who had a mischievous son, saying, " Mr.
I have not called to make any complaint to you, but thought you did not know that your son is in the habit of throwing stones at the children going to and from school, which is a very dangerous thing." He neither upbraided the father nor the son, but it was evident the thing must be stopped. None could despise meanness, hypocrisy, or ingratitude more than he. In winter Mr. Russell would buy wood at auction so as to give work to some poor
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men to enable them to earn a little money. No case of want would reach him but that he would inves- tigate through some of the neighbors, and if worthy, send assistance. One autumn there was a reported case of highway robbery on Shawmut avenue, in Muddy Pond woods: bullet holes through the wagon top and one through the man's hat, clothes torn and the man badly scratched- what did Mr. Russell do but to go and see the man and talk with him-he came home feeling sure that the man was his own robber, as it proved to be. They were devoted friends of the parish, present at church with their family on Sundays, and inter- ested and devoted friends to the ministers.
FRANCIS G. SHAW came here from Boston from one of the oldest and most highly respected families, built a fine house for the time in a woody pasture, and beautified it with avenues, gardens, and lawns; although bred to a life of leisure he was one of the busiest men in the town, intensely interested in all living things, he only wanted to know what needed doing and it was done promptly. I can see the good man now, astride his beautiful blooded bay, with his blue frock on riding through the streets al-
..
CHARLES G. MACKINTOSH.
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most every morning to the stores and post office, and chatting with anyone that had anything interesting to say and to some that had not. His presence was like the sun after a summer shower. With these charming surroundings little Robert G. Shaw spent his early boyhood, trudging about the streets and to school, and he afterwards became the Col. Shaw leading his black regiment in battle. A monument to his memory stands on Boston common opposite the State House.
JAMES REED. A retired merchant, a quiet old school gentleman, interested in all that made a good citizen, fond of his land and his horses, and his hobby was a deer park. He built the cotton factory at East Dedham which originated the name of Read- ville and which now includes all of the old low plain section of Dedham.
REED TAFT. A genial, old-fashioned tavern-keeper, who was famous for getting up bird suppers, particu- larly in sleighing time. He and his wife and family filled their pew on Sundays in Mr. Parker's time, and did their part in the interests of the parish, although it used to be said that his tavern was a curse
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in the neighborhood. When the Washingtonian craze was at its height in 1845 some of the leading people in the cause thought it would be well to hold a meeting in Taft's Hall, providing they could ob- tain it. Mr. Frank Shaw and Mr. Cowing asked the old gentleman for the privilege and he very politely assented. A rousing meeting was held, some good reform talks were enjoyed, and good cheer prevailed generally. After the speaking the pledge was produced, many signed it, among them being both Mr. and Mrs. Taft, which gave great rejoicing, at the same time the old tavern continued as a standing curse for many years after. Mr. Taft had two sons, both became famous hotel keepers in Boston and vicinity. Charles established what is now Young's Hotel, and died young; Augustus established the Point Shirley house, famous for bird and fish dinners.
WILLIAM J. TAYLOR, a gentleman of leisure, a brother of Mrs. S. D. Bradford; generous, and hospitable, a perfect angel of mercy among the poor, the sick, and the afflicted. It was his life to go from the Bradfords, and carry comfort to those in need.
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GEORGE G. NORTH.
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SECOND CHURCH, ROXBURY.
CHARLES SAMPSON, JEREMIAH PRITCHARD AND JOHN A. EMMONS, all Boston merchants and sterling men, came here and took part in all the interests of the parish and town, and with their friends enjoyed their gardens, their horses, and their cattle. They were all willing helpers for any good cause, and many a one received from their abundance without knowing the giver.
HENRY W. WELLINGTON. A Boston merchant, a quiet, unostentatious gentleman, always in place when good deeds were to be performed, not only a friend of all mankind, but a great friend of beauti- ful cattle, which he had and took great pleasure in. His wife, Miss Lydia D. Colburn, was one of the most estimable young ladies of the parish, and no good work was performed but had her sympathy and help.
Theodore Parker, and Henry W. Wellington were school boys together in East Lexington. Both came upon the stage of life, and spent their busy and use- ful lives in and near Boston, and their love for each other as boys never waned through all the experience of the cares and anxieties of their active work. Mr. Wellington was also one of the
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standing committee of Mr. Parker's society during his career in Boston.
DEACON AARON D. WELD. A retired Boston merchant, a courteous gentlemen of the old Wash- ingtonian school, deeply interested in parish matters, a staunch friend of his ministers, first and foremost in all good works in his day. Owner of a large landed estate, the famous Weld farm, which was stocked with fine horses, oxen and cows, there he lived in luxury the last days of his life, loved and respected by all.
AARON D. WELD, Jr. A retired merchant, suc- ceeded his father on the famous Weld farm, exceed- ingly fond of his fine grass lands, horses, oxen, and cows. One of the most genial, sunny men when mat- ters were to his liking, but woe unto those who encountered his wrath.
MICHAEL WHITTEMORE, and his descendants, Capt. John, John A., Andrew, Henry, Miss Georgi- anna and J. W. Chennery, each and all were natural singers, and used to do the singing of the hymns for many years, all of them were fine singers
GEORGE R. RUSSELL.
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in their time, and their descendants have the same gift handed down to them. This family has always been a great help to the parish in all its interests as well as by their help in singing.
The following list of people all claimed the old church as their home, and many of them were con- stant attendants, and identified with all its interests.
MR. HIBBARD and family were among the church's most faithful attendants and workers in every good cause.
MR. THOMAS WESTCOTT and family were sure to be in their pew on Sundays, and always ready to help when called upon.
Mason Basto,
Henry Dudley,
John Chamberlain,
George Lindall,
Ebenezer Whiting,
William Whitney,
Tucker Whiting,
Theodore B. Moses,
James Wiggin, George W. Mann, Abner Guild,
Capt. Davis, a retired sea captain, Capt. Amasa Gay,
Otis Gay,
William Mayo,
George Morse,
Eben W. Whittemore,
James Barnard,
Mr. Baker of Brookline,
Samuel Whittemore,
Lemuel Richards,
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Joseph Williams,
Jacob Seaver's family, William P. Atkinson, Stephen Cabot,
Jacob Tidd, J. W. Balch,
Henry Hallett,
The Winchester family,
Thomas G. Whytal,
Joseph Harper, Alonzo Spear,
Daniel Childs,
Mr. Sanborn, Leonard Newton,
Alvin Newton,
Eben Dudley,
Mr. Smith, Stephen Palmer, Capt. Griggs, Brook Farm Delegates, B. D. Lyon, John Ayers, William Enslin,
B. W. Worley, James Hunt, Harrison Hunt, J. W. Wilcox, Hiram Thayer, Benjamin Guild, John S. Adams,
H. S. Greene,
Mr. Leeds,
Miscellaneous.
GEORGE B. HYDE. Teacher in the school house by the church, he afterwards became one of Boston's most popular masters.
DR. ABIJAH WELD DRAPER.
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WILLIAM F. BASTO succeeded Mr. Hyde, after- wards becoming an eminent physician in Roxbury and Boston.
CHARLES L. FLINT succeeded Mr. Basto and afterwards became secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture.
GEORGE A. SAWYER succeeded Mr. Flint, he afterwards established the G. A. Sawyer commer- cial school in Boston.
MR. THOMAS METCALF, who succeeded Mr.Sawyer, was one of the most faithful parish workers. He and his family were a great help in carrying on the singing. Mr. Metcalf proved to be an educator of high rank and afterwards became a professor in a western college.
All of these teachers were constant attendants of the old church during their stay.
I have written of the schoolmasters and I cannot refrain from writing the names of some of the faith- ful lady teachers of that time, or of the latter part of it, such as Miss Sarah E. Colburn, Miss Mary B. Willson, Miss Mary D. Wallace, Miss Josephine Hewins, Miss Ann Harper and Miss Richards. Some of them are now here, but most of them have gone to their final rest.
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The writer would like to mention the many worthy ladies that belonged in the families repre- sented here. They were many and among them were those of the highest order of character, but space forbids giving any adequate account of them and their many virtues, and the writer feels hardly equal to the task. From many of these families, sterling boys and girls have gone out into the world, filling places of trust and acquitting themselves well worthy of their ancestry. Some of the most brilliant have been taken away in their early man- hood, and have left memories that will be cherished long after them. In thinking over the people, the writer has confined himself to those who were strictly connected with the old Unitarian church, but no one knows better than he of the many gen- erous, noble men and women connected with the other churches.
In writing of the ministers I have refrained from any pulpit comments, and have simply recorded some of their sayings and doings as they went about in their daily life among the people. I have spoken of many of their virtues, if there have been any wrongs let them be buried in oblivion.
In closing the writer wishes to express his thanks
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FRANCIS G. SHAW.
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THE OLD STAGE ROAD.
to those who have so kindly loaned photographs to enable him to reproduce in these pages the kindly faces of so many of our old friends.
The Old Stage Road.
It may be interesting to the reader to trace the old road from Roxbury Hill, Elliot sq., to Dedham Memorial Hall, what might properly be called the old stage road, also a few of the land marks of seventy-five years ago, some continuing in existence at the present time.
Commencing at the First Church, Roxbury(Elliot), we proceed towards Dedham and at Hog Bridge we pass an old lean-to house for many years owned and occupied by the late Isaac Wyman, a successful market gardener; continuing up the hill on to Jamaica Plain, we come to the Capt. Joseph Curtis' house, very old, on the right, standing on the east corner of a forty acre farm extending from Centre street back to Jamaica Pond. This farm has been carried on by three generations of Curtises who
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stood among the best citizens of Roxbury, and was ranked as one of the best early garden farms about Boston; continuing on to the right of the present Soldiers' Monument, a short distance, we come to the Gov. Hancock house, on the right a few rods farther on, on the same side is the old May house ; bear to the left, continue up and over the hill, and in the valley back of the Bussey estate is another very old house; going on up the Walter street hill we come to the Newton road, now called Weld street, on the right; on the left once stood the old 2nd Church, with the ancient burying ground in the rear ; con- tinuing on down the hill we come to another old lean-to house owned by the late Abijah Seaverns, and on the left the old house occupied by Rev. Nehemiah Walter when he was minister of the 2nd Church. A little farther on the right was another lean-to house, occupied many years by the Dudleys ; passing on, on the right we come to the venerable house owned and occupied by Rev. John Bradford, and until recently owned by his descendants ; contin- uing on we soon come to the new 2nd Church (now the old), on the right with the school house beside it. Church street was afterwards laid out between them to Weld street. The house now standing opposite
WILLIAM J. TAYLOR.
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THE OLD STAGE ROAD.
the old church on Church street is the old school building ; continuing on we come to another old lean-to house owned by the Drapers and occupied by them; on the left an old store carried on by Aunt Betsey Draper. Continuing on this crooked road we pass another old lean-to house, owned and occupied by Ebenezer Corey, with wheelwright and blacksmith shop near by. The house stood on the spot where the Centre street end of the new stone church now stands, the barn, sheds and cow-yard where the rear end of the church and chapel now are; a little farther on to the right we come to an old house, with bakery attached, owned and occupied by three generations of Richardses ; a little farther on to the left, opposite the Orthodox church, we come to the old tavern house once kept by Nathaniel Richards; continuing on down the hill on the right is another old lean-to house, which was owned and occupied by the late Judson Chapin and now owned by his family.
A few rods beyond Chapin's house is the old cemetery, where conspicuously you read on the stones the names of Draper, Colburn, Whiting, Richards, Billings, Corey, and Chapin, the last resting place of the old families of the neighborhood.
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Next we come to the 'village store, Post office, West India goods, and loafing place, with dwelling house adjoining,-next an old house on the hill lately occupied by Benjamin Guild, now standing; next on the street was a shop with sign over the door "Lemuel Billings, Hatter," with dwelling house in the rear, a part now standing. On the opposite side of the street was a shop with sign over the front door " Benjamin Billings, Leather Dresser and Breeches Maker," with dwelling house beside it. Continuing on to the right was the Whiting tavern, and just beyond, under the buttonwood trees, was the old Whiting house recently torn down; directly opposite was the Rainwater Doctor's house, the home of Theodore Parker while he lived in Roxbury; on the opposite corner of Shaw's lane was another old lean-to house owned by Mr. Geo. R. Russell, and torn down by him. At the northerly corner of Spring and Centre streets, was formerly another old lean-to house, where William Mackintosh lived when he received his commission as Colonel of the Ist Suffolk regiment, and went from there to engage in the Revolutionary war. Continuing on up the hill, we come to another very old house owned for many years by the Davises and later by
HENRY W. WELLINGTON.
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THE OLD STAGE ROAD.
the late John D. Colburn, now by Mr. Elisha C. Colburn. Moving on a mile or so another old lean-to house stood on a high bank on the left; on the right another very old house belonging to the late David Draper ; continuing on to the left, over a part of the road for a long time disused, we come to a famous lean-to house owned by Drapers for many years, afterwards by the late Dr. Jeremy Stimson of Dedham. Passing on, crossing Mother brook and ascending the hill, we come to three little houses always occupied by colored people (Freemans and their descendants). Continuing on we come to Wigwam brook, running under the present railroad bridge and across the road, on the right stood the shop where the late Benjamin Bussey commenced business, making shoe and knee buckles, afterwards occupied by John D. Colburn for wool pulling and leather dressing. On the opposite side of the road stood an old house. Bearing to the right a short distance we come to a very old house owned and occupied by the Rev. Mr. Montague and his descendants, until demolished. A few steps brings us to Memorial Hall Square. It would be difficult to imagine a more crooked path between Boston and Dedham than this one of old time through Roxbury.
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Up to the time of the city charter, Roxbury used to be designated in three sections, Roxbury Hill, Jamaica Plain and Spring street.
Roxbury Hill, from Boston to Hog Bridge; Jamaica Plain, from Hog Bridge to rear of the Bussey Estate; Spring Street, from Bussey Estate to Dedham line.
The first name known for this long winding road through Roxbury was Centre street with the excep- tion of about a mile which passed by the old Second church and burying-ground, which was called Walter street, after the Rev. Nehemiah Walter, the first minister. The name Centre street continued until about 1855, when the selectmen, to compliment their chairman, Hon. Arthur W. Austin, voted to change the name to Austin street, and all the signboards so indicated until about 1863, when there sprung up a feeling that the street should resume its old time- honored name, and at a meeting of the selectmen the writer made a motion to change it back, the vote passed, and the old sign boards resumed their for- mer places. Since the writer has known, Walter street and a half mile of the end of Weld street have been unused until recently, excepting when the abut- ters would pull off strips of Walter street and enclose
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it as their own. Mr. Benjamin Bussey did his share of it and was allowed by the board of selectmen of Roxbury to set a good wall in the middle of the old sixty foot street in consideration of the many great improvements he made in both beautifying his extensive grounds, and the public streets. Mr. Elias Skinner was also very generous in enclosing and devoting a great deal of this old street to his own use without any equivalent whatever. The encroaching upon the streets of towns has been a prominent trait with many men.
Until within a few years there was a place at the crossing of the brook by the Dudley farm to drive through for watering purposes, another near Willow street, another one near Baker street, and another under the present railroad bridge in Dedham. The style of team before the railroad was built was usually a yoke of oxen, with a horse to lead. With patience and often with pride, the teamsters would walk be- side their team from Sharon, Stoughton, Dedham, Walpole, and Dover, all the way into old Boston with their loads of wood, hoop-poles, charcoal and other products and return loaded with lumber, bricks, goods for the stores, and material for the various manufactories. Later, horse teams, mostly two,
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sometimes three, or four, tandem, called string- teams, came into common use.
Brook ffarm.
As Brook Farm is likely to be long remembered it will be interesting to know in what hands it has been since 1825.
Ist. Mr. John Mayo owned it. He was an old fashioned farmer and butcher.
2nd. Mr. Charles Ellis cultivated it, and made it beautiful and productive at the same time.
3rd. The Brook Farm Association, famous in their day, next owned it, and for a time it drew many of the finest people in literary work about there.
4th. The City of Roxbury bought it for the poor at the time of the potato rot in Ireland, and when the noted ship fever raged among the emigrants, and used it for a number of years.
5th. After it had been idle some time and most of the buildings burned, for some unaccountable reason the Rev. James Freeman Clarke bought it,
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paying twelve thousand dollars, and thus it stood when the civil war broke out; he at once offered it to Gov. Andrew for military purposes and there the splendid 2nd Mass. Regiment was encamped, afterwards to be the pride of the nation, and what else could it be with the choicest of the young men of Boston and vicinity filling its ranks ? Soon after the war Mr. Clarke in delivering an address before the Norfolk Agricultural Society said that the only crop he ever raised that he was proud of was the 2nd Mass. Regiment.
6th. The well-known brewer, Geo. F. Burkhardt, bought it to establish a school for charitable pur- poses which has continued to the present time. I presume those that found it the hardest to till, were those comprising the old Brook Farm Association, composed as it was of the most cultivated people and also those of the humbler walks of life. It must have been hard for George Ripley, George William Curtis, and Nathaniel Hawthorne to have daily performed the commonest duties on the farm and for Mrs. Ripley and her associates to have daily attended to commonest household duties. There was one thing the farmers there succeeded admira- bly in doing. In the place where Mr. Charles
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Ellis used to raise the finest herds-grass they, in three years, produced luxuriant bulrushes.
After most of the buildings had been deserted and burned, the last visible relic of the Brook Farm Association remaining that the writer knew was a worthy man who had seen better days, who came along one day with a load of fish, in a delapi- dated wagon, drawn by a shoe-less horse and called at the village blacksmith's to have him shod. He said to the smith, "Now sir I want you to shoe my horse for just as little money as possible, for you know that I am a poor gentleman."
It will be a surprise to most readers to know that the boundary stones of Dedham, Newton and Brook- line were all within a half mile of the present West Roxbury Depot, as you go down Lagrange street, and Brook Farm used to be wholly in Newton.
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