USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Brookline > The Brookline, Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury directory 1871 > Part 2
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Shewell Thomas R. (Robert S. Davis & Co. 36 Bromfield, B.), house Tappan, near Gorham avenue
Turner F. B. manufacturer of fancy knit woollens, Thayer place, house do. Brookline
PAGE
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14
DIRECTORY.
O. C. SLEEPER & CO.
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DEALERS IN
MILLINERY AND
STRAW
26 Temple Place,
BOSTON.
WILLIAM T. MORRIS, CARPENTER and BUILDER,
Centre Street, opp. Orthodox Church, Jamaica Plain. Plans and Specifications furnished to order. Building and Jobbing, in all their branches, attended to promptly, All work executed in the best manner.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF
BROOKLINE.
IN the year 1848, while gathering local historical informa- tion for my first publication, I visited Brookline to collect facts about the Sewall family.
Some one there advised me to call upon Rev. John Pierce, D. D., who was familiar with such matters. The venerable gen- tleman was at home, and gave me a pleasant greeting. I still have a vivid recollection of his bland and cordial manners. His white flowing locks, were, to my young mind, indicative of lore, and of sage experience. He re- minded me of what he had written and published about the town, and put me in the way of obtaining some of his histori- cal collections. Ever since that time, I have had the ac- quaintance of his nephew, the learned antiquary, William B. Trask, Esq., who now kindly furnishes me with other histori- cal discourses, preached and published by the Reverend Dr. Pierce during his long residence in Brookline, viz.
A discourse delivered at Brookline, November 24, 1705, the day which completed a century from the incorporation of the town.
A discourse delivered November 9; 1817, the Lord's day after the completion of a century from the gathering of the church in Brookline.
Reminiscences of forty years, delivered March 19, 1837, the Lord's day after the completion of forty years from his settlement in the ministry.
Address at the opening of the Town Hall, in Brookline, on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 1845.
A discourse delivered in Brookline, at the request of its inhabitants, March 15, 1847, the day which completed half a century from his ordination.
From these writings I draw most of the following facts : -- The name of Brookline came, as the late Rev. Samuel Sewall
16
DIRECTORY.
(great grandson of Judge Samuel Sewall) conjectures, from one of the farms within its bounds, namely, the Gates' farm, hired of Judge Sewall, which was probably called Brookline because Smelt-brook, running through it, formed the line be- tween that and one of the neighboring farms, and this brook also separated that farm from Cambridge. Judge Sewall, in his journal, often mentions the name "Brookline" before the town was incorporated. Rev. Mr. S. also thinks it was Judge Sewall that suggested that name for the town.
In the former numbers of this Directiory, Mr. Kingman has sketched many events which I shall endeavor to avoid : repeating.
In 1633 the inhabitants of Boston took up farms here, where were then " good ground, large timber, marsh-land and meadow." Here they kept their cattle in summer, while corn was growing at Boston.
In 1639 five hundred acres were laid out for common pas- turage for the inhabitants here and at Boston. This was before any allotments had been made. The inhabitants, after adjusting the boundaries between this town and Cambridge, which was done in 1740, remained in quiet connection with Boston till 1686. They then set up a free school, and pro- vided an able reading and writing master. They also obtained leave from the General Court to manage their own affairs on condition that they should support their own expenses. They attended religious meetings at Roxbury, and enjoyed a right to a fifth part of the meeting-house there, on condition of their paying a fifth part of the charges for repairing the same. At length, being used to living alone, they came to the con- clusion, in 1701, that their town ought to be a district or ham- let separate from the parent town.
This desire was not granted by Boston, and they petitioned the Governor, Council and Assembly, in 1704, that they might be allowed to be a " separate village." Boston remonstrated, and their petition was rejected. But in 1705 another petition was presented, signed by thirty-two freeholders, and Was granted, and Brookline became an incorporated town 13 Nov. O. S. 1705.
By this act of incorporation they were enjoined " to build a meeting-house, and to obtain an able orthodox minister, ac- cording to the direction of the law, to be settled among them
1
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BROOKLINE DIRECTORY.
Within the space of three years." However, they were not able to comply with this last injunction. Their first repre- sentative was sent to the General Court in 1709.
The first meeting-house was raised in 1714. The church was organized 26 Oct. 1717. The Rev. James Allen, a na- tive of Roxbury, was the first minister, being ordained 5 Nov. 1718. He died 18 Feb. 1747.
The next minister was Rev. Cotton Brown, ordained 25 Oct. 1748, died 13 April, 1751. The third was Rev. Nath'l Potter, ordained 19 Nov. 1755, dismissed 17 June, 1759. .
Next came Rev. Joseph Jackson, ordained 9 April, 1760. He graduated at Harvard College, 1753, and was sometime a tutor there. This gentleman, who was the immediate prede- cessor of Rev. Dr. Pierce, died 22 July, 1796. Dr. P. says he was a "burning and shining light."
Dr. Pierce was ordained 15 March, 1797. Rev. T. M. Harris, of Dorchester, preached the discourse, which was pub- lished. " At this time," Nov. 1805, says Dr. P., " this town can number eighty-eight families, fifty-five of which are free- holdors, and seventy-nine constant residents."
In his " Centennial Discourse," delivered in 1817, Dr. P. says there were thirty-nine members originally composing the church, seventeen males and twenty-two females. "In some instances there have been members of this church for four and five generations in succession." ... " There are children of the seventh generation from one of the members."
In 1740 there were sixty-one houses in Brookline, and in 1796 there were seventy-two.
In 1817 there were ninety-seven houses. Only twelve of the occupants of the sixty-one houses of 1740 were lineal de- scendants of the original occupants of the former date. Dr. P. says that up to his time all the ministers of the church here had been liberally educated and received the degree of A. M.
In his Discourse, preached 15 March, 1847, Dr. Pierce says the total number of deaths in the town during the fifty years of his pastorate, had been 573; that is, 279 males . and 294 females, of which number 200 died at ten and under and seventy-four lived to the age of seventy and upwards. Nearly a fourth part, namely, 130, died of consumption.
When he came, there were seventy-two houses and seventy-
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BROOKLINE DIRECTORY,
two families, containing sixty-five voters. Of these sixty-five only three were then (1847) living, and but two persons were living that owned real estate when he came.
Until the year 1793, this town belonged to Suffolk county, but since then it has constituted a part of Norfolk. By the survey of Jonathan Kingsbury, of Needham, it contained 4416 acres, but alterations were made in its boundary lines, and in 1844 Elijah F. Woodward, of Newton, surveyed it, and found it to contain 4695 acres. The population has been as follows :
In 1800
·
605 inhabitants.
1810
· 784
66
1820
900
1830
1040
66
1840
. 1265
"
1844
. 1682
1855
. 3740
1860
. 5164
66
1865
. 5262
1870
. 6651
66
·
At about the beginning of the present century wealthy men began to come and erect elegant houses, and the old farms had to give place to splendid gardens and villas.
The good Dr. Pierce, in his "Town Hall Discourse," de- livered 1845, after beautifully describing the progress of Brook- line in respect to worldly comforts, sympathizing with the remark of one who declared it "a paradise," concludes with these suggestive words: "You will permit me, my friends to express the honest, the joyful conviction, that the most prevalent, the most available cause of your growing prosper- ity, is, under God, the almost entire, and, it is hoped, that there will soon be, the total disuse, of ardent spirits among you."
In 1845 the largest manufacturing business done here was · tanning hides, which amounted in value to $17,300. Wagons and sleighs were made to the value of $4,000, and Ladies' yarn hose to the value of 1,200. The hay crop was valued at $25,046. In 1865 some of the statistics of the census were as follows :
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BROOKLINE DIRECTORY.
Buildings erected
$44,000
Leather tanned and curried .
67,600
Milk sold
6,695
Value of pears
23,046
Beef dressed
46,875
Some of the most distinguished men that have ever be longed in Brookline are the following :
Judge Samuel Sewall, died 1730.
Rev. James Allen, A. M., died 1747.
Rev. Elhanan Winchester, died 1797.
Hon. Stephen Higginson, died 1828.
Dr. Zabdiel Boylston, F. R. S., died 1766.
Hon. George Cabot, died 1823.
Hon. Jonathan Mason, died 1831.
Dr. William Aspinwall, died 1823.
Rev. John Pierce, D. D., died 1849.
John Goddard, died 1816.
Gen. Theodore Lyman.
"Judge Sewall's father, Henry, died 16 May, 1700, aged 86. The Judge prepared the following epitaph to his mem- ory, in the burying-yard of the first parish in Newbury.
"' Henry Sewall, sent by his father, Henry Sewall, in the ship Elizabeth and Dorcas, arrived at Boston, 1634, wintered at Ipswich, helped begin this plantation 1635, furnishing En- glish servants, neat cattle, and provisions. Married Mrs. Jane Dummer 25 March, 1646, and died 16 May, 1700, aged 86. His fruitful vine, being thus disjointed, fell to the ground the January following.'"
" Judge Samuel Sewall, of H. U. 1671, was Fellow of Har- vard University a number of years, and one of its benefactors He went to England, in 1688, the year of the glorious Revo- lution. He was one of the first Counsellors, after the charter of William and Mary: In 1692 he was made Judge of the Superior Court'; and, in 1718, Chief Justice. He resigned his seat upon the Bench, 1728, as well as his office as Judge of Probate, and died January, 1730, aged 77.
Dr. Boylston, after receiving a good private education, studied physic with Dr. Cutler, an eminent physician and surgeon in Boston ; and, in process of time, arrived at great distinction in his profession.
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F
BROOKLINE DIRECTORY.
In 1721, the small pox prevailed in Boston. Having re- ceived information, in a letter from Dr. Cotton Mather, of the manner in which inoculation was practiced in Turkey, he boldly resolved, notwithstanding the inveterate prejudices of his countrymen against it, to commence the practice himself.
He first inoculated his own children and servants. En- couraged by the result of this experiment, in 1721 and 1722 he inoculated two hundred and forty-seven persons in Boston and the neighboring towns. Thirty-nine were inoculated by others, in the whole two hundred and eighty-six, of whom only six died.
Notwithstanding this wonderful success, the populace, head- ed and inflamed by some of his own profession (the most viru- lent of these opponents being Dr. Thomas, from Scotland, who betrayed the most ferocious passions, both in conversation and from the press, in a malignant opposition to his more suc- cessful competitor), were so exasperated as to render it unsafe . for him to travel in the evening. They argued that he ought to be viewed and treated as the murderer of those who should die in consequence of inoculation. To such madness did their passions transport them, that a lighted grenado was, one even- ing, thrown into the chamber of a young man who had been inoculated. He must inevitably have lost his life had not the fuse been removed by passing through the window.
Had Dr. Boylston gone, at this time, to England, he might have accumulated a large fortune by his skill in treating the small pox. He did not, however, visit that country till 1725, when inoculation had become common. He was then received with the most flattering attention. Chosen a member of the Royal Society, he became acquainted with some of the most distinguished characters in the nation. His communications to that Society, after his return to America, were ingenious and celebrated.
After a long period of eminence in his profession, he retired to his patrimonial estate, in Brookline, to pass the remainder of his days. He there expired, ou 1 March, 1766, and was interred in his own tomb, which bears the following plain , though appropriate and just inscription :
"Sacred to the memory of Dr. Zabdiel Boylston, Esq., Phy- sician, and F. R. S., who first introduced the practice of inoc- ulation into America. Through a life of extensive benifi- cence, he was always faithful to his word, just in his dealings,
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BROOKLINE DIRECTORY.
affable in his manners ; and, after a long sickness, in which he was exemplary for his patience and resignation to his Maker, he quitted this mortal life in a just expectation of a happy immortality, 1 March, 1766, ætat. 87."
The wish has often been expressed that a more suitable monument might be raised to the memory of a man so highly distinguished in his profession.
Mr. John Goddard, born in Brookline, 28 May, O. S. 1730, died 13 April, 1816, aged 86, a man of uncommonly extensive observation, and with a memory proverbially accurate. , He + had peculiar facilities for learning many facts relating to this little town, for he was not only a native, but spent a large portion of a long life in the place of his nativity. He was, moreover, for many years, Selectman, Assessor, and Represen- tative of this town to the General Court. He was son of John Goddard, grandson of Joseph Goddard, one of the founders of the first Congregational church in Brookline ; also, father of Joseph Goddard, born 15 April, 1761, and grandfather of Abijah Warren Goddard. These five generations of men all cultivated the same farm, and were members in full commu- nion of the First Congregational church.
- Rev. James Allen, the first minister of Brookline, died 18 February, 1747, aged fifty-six. The house which he inhabited has been down for more than half a century, but descendants of the rose bushes, which he set out about 1718, are now living and flourishing. He was brother of the Hon. Peter C. Brooks' mother, and of the last wife of Daniel Dana.
Elhanan Winchester, Jr., son of Deacon Elhanan, was born in Brookline in 1751, and baptized, in his infancy, by Mr. Jonathan Hyde, Separist and Pedobaptist. In process of time Mr. Winchester was converted to the Baptist faith was highly celebrated in preaching his doctrines, and admitted , numbers into the church by immersion. On visiting England, he embraced the doctrine of the final restoration of all men, preached it there and in his own country with considerable success, published a number of volumes defending his senti- ments, both in Europe and America. He died at Hartford, Conn., where, in the North burial ground, there is a monu- ment with this inscription :
" The General Convention of Universalist Churches, in memory of their departed brother, the Rev. Elhanan Win-
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BROOKLINE DIRECTORY.
chester, erected this monumental stone. He died 18 April 1797, Æt. 46.
'Twas thine to preach with animating zeal,
. The glories of the Restitution morn,
When [sin, death, hell, the power of Christ shall feel. And light, life, immortality be born."
Dr. Pierce was born at Dorchester, Mass., 14 July, 1773, son of a farmer, graduated H. U. 1793, died at Brookline, 24 Aug. 1849, aged 76. He was the pastor of Brookline from 1797 to his death, 52 years. In looking over a sketch of his life, by his daughter, Mrs. Pope, I notice facts which many can witness to. She says, " to the last he continued to feel an interest in the current events of the day. Loving friends brought him every luxury that wealth could purchase ; they covered his study table with rarest and most beautiful flowers, and never had he seemed to prize them so highly." His son- in-law, Mr. Hedge, writes as follows: "The trait which I recall with the greatest vividness when I revert to my ac- quaintance with Dr. Pierce, is his uniform cheerfulness." He was very industrious. Had he not been an early riser, it would have been impossible for him to have accomplished what he did, so great was the demand upon his time from those who sought his society. His liberality and hospitality were very great. He had a remarkable indifference to money. In regard to his religious belief, he said he chose what was best from all creeds. His doctrine was "eclectic."
Among the past [inhabitants of this town, who should be . mentioned with distinction and respect, is the late Dr. William Aspinwall, M. D., of H. U. 1664, who spent a long life as a · distinguished physician of this town and vicinity, who was successively Representative, Senator, and Councillor, under the Government of this Commonwealth; who watched over the interests of his native village with vigilance and fidelity; and who, in the times that tried men's souls, amid the political contests which raged in our land, was greatly instrumental in preserving this people from those disgraceful abuses which prevailed in too many other places. In treating the small pox, that dangerous and destructive malady, few, if any, cotemporaries had more extensive practice or were more suc- cessful.
"Not only," says Dr. Pierce, in his " Town Hall Address," "have natives of our town done worthily in their day and
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BROOKLINE DIRECTORY,
generation, but distinguished men from other places have been attracted by our beautiful village to seek a residence here. Among those, high in office in the government of the country, were the Hon. Stephen Higginson, member of the Legislature under the old confederation ; the Hon. George Cabot, a Senator 'of the United States under the administra- tion of Washington ; and the Hon. Jonathan Mason, also a Senator to Congress, whose place of residence has been suc- ceeded by a mansion erected by General Theodore Lyman, which, for taste and elegance, may vie with the palaces of Europe.
Since 1867 the valuation of Real and Personal property in this town has been over $10,000,000.
According to the Town Clerk's report, the valuation of personal estate for the year 1869 was $9,366,500
and of real estate 6,947,200
Total
$16,213,700
The highest taxes are the following :
Wm. F. Weld
$7,347
Mrs. N. I. Bowditch .
.
7,088
Mrs. Robert C. Winthrop
4,202
Wm. Dwight ·
4,162
Ignatius Sargent .
2,969
Amos A. Lawrence
2,140
David Sears
2,105
DEAN DUDLEY & CO.
No. 8 CONGRESS SQUARE, BOSTON, PUBLISHERS OF
Directories, Bazetteers, maps, Etc.
BOSTON ANNUAL BUSINESS DIRECTORY, AND MAP OF BOSTON AND ADJACENT CITIES ; BRISTOL COUNTY DIRECTORY AND HISTORY; CAMBRIDGE, MASS; CON- CORD, N. H .; DOVER AND GREAT FALLS; BROOK- LINE AND JAMAICA PLAIN; WEYMOUTH, QUINCY, AND BRAINTREE DIRECTORIES AND MAPS ; RICHMOND, VA. DIRECTORY, AND OTHERS.
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BROOKLINE DIRECTORY.
DORAN ROS.,
DEALERS IN
Choice Family Groceries !
IMFFEE
FLO
HYSON
BUTTER, CHEESE, LARD, EGGS, &c. TEAS, COFFEES, AND SPICES, Constantly on hand and for sale at the Lowest Cash Prices. Goods sent to any part of the Town free of expense.
Lyceum Hall Building, Washington St., Brookline. ALFRED DORAN, LEVI DORAN, ENOCH E. DORAN.
DORAN BROS., DEALERS IN Fresh and Salt Provisions, FRUIT, VEGETABLES, ETG., - ALSO - Poultry and Game of all kinds in their season.
CHOICE FRUITS, GROWN BY OURSELVES.
Lyceum Hall Building, Washington St., Brookline. All orders from persons in Brookline and vicinity promptly attended to. ALFRED DORAN. LEVI DORAN. ENOCH E. DORAN.
STREETS, PLACES, AVENUES, ETC.,
IN BROOKLINE.
Ackers Avenue, from Brighton south, near Boylston Alton Place, from Harvard to St. Paul .
Andem Place, from Washington, opp. Washington place Ann, from Browne to Still
Aspinwall Avenue, from Harvard to Longwood stream Auburn, from Harvard to Park
Avon, from Goddard's avenue to W. Roxbury line Beacon, from Milldam to Chestnut Hill reservoir
Borland, from Beacon to Chatham Boylston, from Washington to Newton line
Bradley's Hill, Boylston, near the reservoir
Brighton Avenue, from the Milldam to Brighton line
Brighton, from Boylston, at junc. Heath, to Brighton line
Brookline, from Brighton ave. to Brookline bridge
Brookline Avenue, from Washington to Milldam
Browne, from Powell to Pleasant Carlton, from Colchester to Ivy
Catlin, from Boylston, opp. the reservoir
Centre, from Winchester to Harvard Chatham, from Kent to Hawes
Chestnut, from Walnut to Jamaica Pond
Chestnut Place, from Chestnut street
Clyde, from Warren to Newton street Colchester, from Carlton to Kent
Corey's Hill, between Wash. and Harvard, n. Brighton line
Cottage, from Warren, to W. Roxbury line
Cypress, from Walnut to Washington
Cypress Place, from Cypress street Davis Court, from Washington, near Harvard square
Davis Place, from Western avenue, near gas house to R. R. Dudley, from Kent to Hawes
Dudley, from Warren, near Unitarian church to Warren, near Clyde Dummer, from Essex to Pleasant
Dymoke, from Dummer to Freeman
Egmont, from Dymoke to Pleasant
Elm Place, from Walnut n. High
Essex, from Freeman to Brighton avenue
Ewe, from Dymoke to Fortlı
Fairmont, near Reservoir and Warren street
Faulkner's Avenue, from Newton south east, near Grove Fay Place, from Washington, opposite the Railroad bridge
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BROOKLINE DIRECTORY.
PALMER, BACHELDERS, & CO.
PARKER BUILDING,
100
FLLEY& EDMANDS. J. W. PLIMTON& CO. PALMER, BACHELDERB& CO.
IMPORTERS AND DEALERS IN
DIAMONDS,
Watches, French Clocks, JEWELRY,
Sterling Silver and Plated Wares,
BRONZES,
MILITARY AND REGALIA GOODS,
No.162 Washington Street, 1 BOSTON.
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STREETS, AVENUES, ETC.
Forth, from Brighton avenue to Freeman
Francis, from Kent to Aspinwall Freeman, from Essex to Babcock Goddard's Avenue, from Cottage street to beyond Avon st. Gorham Avenue, from Cypress, n. Washington to Tappan Green, from Harvard to Pleasant
Grove, from Newton street to South
Hammond, from Newten across Boylston to Newton line Harrison Place, from Harvard n. Harvard square
Harvard, from Washington to Brighton boundary line
Harvard Avenue, from Harvard to Park
Harvard Place, from Harvard west, between Harvard ave- nue and School
Harvard Square, junction Washington and Harvard
Hawes, from Colchester to Beacon
Heath Avenue, from Heath west, n. Boylston
Heath, from Boylston, at junction Brighton, near Newton line High, from Walnut to Chestnut
Holden, East side Town Hall, from Washington to Pierce Ivy, from St. Mary's to Essex
Kent, from Beacon to Francis
Kerrigan Place, from Boylston, near Washington
Lake Side, from Warren, near the reservoir
Linden Place, from Harvard, east to railroad
Livermore's Lane, from Washington east, near Corey's Hill Longwood comprises all the territory north of Harvard
street and Longwood avenue, east to Longwood stream, Babcock street
Longwood Avenue, from Longwood station to Harvard
Longwood Stream, west to Babcock street
Marion, from Harvard to Beacon
Monmouth, from Hawes to St. Mary's
Mountfort, from St. Mary's to Essex
Newton, from West Roxbury line to Newton line
Park, from Washington to Beacon
Pearl Place, from Western avenue, or Milldam road, near Washington
Perry, from Aspinwall avenue to Francis
Pierce, from Harvard to Prospect
Pierce Lane or Reservoir Place, from Boylston to Chestnut Hill reservoir
Pleasant, from Harvard, near Longwood ave. to Brighton ave. Pond Avenue, from Washington, at stone bound, to Chestnut Pound, from Heath to Newton line
Powell, continuation of Kent, from Beacon to Freeman Prescott, from Ivy to Mountfort
Prospect, from Washington to School
Reservoir Place, see Pierce lane
School, from Washington to Harvard
Sewall, from Walnut to Chestnut
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BROOKLINE DIRECTORY.
HENRY WHITNEY,
HACK, BOARDING, AND
LIVERY STABLE,
Washington Street, opposite Town Hall, BROOKLINE, MASS. Is prepared to furnish GOOD HORSES and CARRIAGES, with or without drivers, at reasonable prices.
Carriages furnished for Funerals, Weddings, Parties, &c., at short notice.
Particular attention paid to Roarding Horses.
N. B. Carriages will be at the depot to convey people to and from all trains. Orders can be left at the depot or at the stable.
W. H. DUFFY,
LOCKSMITH,
TINSMITH, AND BELL-HANGER,
Green Street Jamaica Plain.
Saw Filing, Scissors Grinding, and all kinds of Job Work done in the most satisfactory manner, and at short notice.
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STREETS, AVENUES, ETC.
Sewall Avenue, from Harvard to Kent
Sewall Place, from Sewall street
South, from Newton street to W. Roxbury line
Still, from Browne to Freeman
St. Mary's, from Brighton avenue to Beacon
St. Paul, from Aspinwall avenue to Francis street
Summit Avenue. from Beacon, over Corey's Hill to the Tappan, from Cypress to Beacon [Brighton line
Thatcher, from Dymoke to Forth [Hall Thayer Place, from Washington, nearly opposite Town Toxteth, from Aspinwall avenue to Francis
Vernon, from Harvard to Marion
Wait, from Beacon to Pleasant
Walnut, from Washington to Boylston, near Reservoir
Walnut Hill, west of Newton street
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