The history of Milton, Mass., 1640 to 1877, Part 11

Author: Teele, Albert Kendall, 1823-1901 ed
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: [Boston, Press of Rockwell and Churchill]
Number of Pages: 776


USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Milton > The history of Milton, Mass., 1640 to 1877 > Part 11


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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OWNERS AND OCCUPANTS OF HOUSES.


63. John Crehore, J. A. Crehore, Jonathan Mann.


J. O. Shaw, G. G. Kennedy.


67臺 G. G. Kennedy.


64. Wm. Crehore, Frankstan,


68. Isaac Davenport, I. D. Hayward. Heirs I. D. Hayward.


B. White, D. H. Elkins, Heirs D. H. Elkins, G. G. Kennedy. John Homans.


69. Isaac Davenport, I. D. Hayward, Heirs I. D. Hayward, G. C. Partlow.


65. Benj. White, D. H. Elkins, Heirs D. H. Elkins, G. G. Kennedy.


69'. I. D. Hayward, Heirs I. D. Hayward.


70. Wm. Davenport, Miss A. E. Davenport;


R. H. Stevenson.


66. E. Davenport, G. G. Kennedy.


71. R. H. Stevenson.


67. R. D. Tucker, E. Tufts,


72. R. H. Stevenson, Farm House.


102


HISTORY OF MILTON.


SEAVIEW From MAILTON HILLTE


CHAPTER V.


MILTON HILL.


THE township of Milton presents an undulating surface T broken by valleys of moderate depth, and rising into nu- merous summits, of which Milton Hill, Brush Hill and the Blue Hills are the principal.


Milton Hill occupies the north-eastern portion of the town. Rising by a gradual ascent from the southerly shore of the Neponset river, and from the marsh adjoining the river, it reaches the height of one hundred and thirty-eight feet above mean tide, nearly opposite the residence of Mr. J. Murray Forbes, and from this point gradually descends to the plain of East Milton, called in early days "Crane's Plain," and later " Pierce's Plain."


103


MILTON HILL.


The scenic beauty of Milton Hill can hardly be surpassed. From the summit, and along the easterly slope, is seen the river winding through the marshes, which its inflowing tide often covers, and converts into an inland sea. Villages and turrets, in- terspersed with patches of forest growth, appear on every hand ; while near and far the waters of the harbor and bay, stretching north and south towards the ocean, gemmed with islands, and alive with the activities of commerce, combine to make up a picture which the eye never wearies in beholding. Rare is the traveller over this hill who is not held enraptured by the scene.


Ibland View From Churchill House.


. The westerly slope presents scenery scarcely less picturesque. Academy Hill, from which rise the spires of the Milton churches, and the lower range of the Blue Hills crowned with forests, with the interlaying valley of green fields and cultivated lands, form a striking picture.


On this bold outlook the Indian built his wigwam. And here the first settlers erected their dwellings. In the year 1634 a bridge was built over the river near the mill; and from this time the travel was especially directed over Milton Hill. At first, and for more than twenty years, the way was only a bridle-path or common drift-way without definite boun- daries except as the first adventurers could find the easiest pas-


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HISTORY OF MILTON.


sage. The principal evidence goes to show that this first bridge was but a foot-bridge, and that all other passage of the river was by the ford near the bridge, or by the ferries.


FERRIES.


To accommodate the travel between the Bay and Plymouth Colonies the General Court ordered in 1635 that John Holman should keep a ferry at Neponset between the Captain's Point and Mr. Newbury's Creek. Again, in 1638 Bray Wilkins, of Unquity, received a license from the General Court to run a ferry-boat from a point of land between Granite and Neponset bridges called " The Ridge," (now plainly seen) to Davenport's creek, for which he was to receive a penny a person.


Not till the year 1654 was a definite road laid out from Braintree (now Quincy) to Roxbury over Milton Hill, and in the direct line which it now occupies. Thus for the long period of one hundred and seventy years, or until the opening of Neponset bridge in 1805, the road over Milton Hill was the great thoroughfare for travel between Boston and all points south, embracing the whole of Plymouth County.


NEW INHABITANTS.


The precinct inhabitants of whom mention is made in a pre- vious chapter, were followed by valuable accessions to our numbers from Braintree and Dorchester. Most of these settled in the easterly part of the territory near this road. They were doubtless brought into this section from consideration of safety, and of social and neighborly intercourse; and also from its proximity to the water, and to the open and cleared lands by the marshes, and the "Indian fields" along the route from the Bay to the Plymouth Colonies. Several of the inhabitants in this neighborhood, it is known, were engaged at some point on the river in building the "shallops" then in use. Among those thus occupied were William Salsbury, Anthony Newton, Walter Morey and Nicholas Ellen. Exemption from taxation, and free trade with all the world, stimulated greatly this enterprise throughout the Colony.


Here was one of the public landing-places of the town. An- other landing-place was located at that point on the river after- wards occupied by the Badcock and Briggs shipyard. This was found unsuitable, the approach thereto being difficult by reason of the steep and winding road, and on petition of John Gill, in 1658, it was changed to its present site near the bridge.


105


MILTON HILL.


Among the new inhabitants were Stephen Kinsley, An- thony Gulliver, and Henry Crane.


STEPHEN KINSLEY.


Stephen Kinsley received a grant of land at Mount Wollas- ton in 1639. He was one of six members who formed the Church at Braintree. He signed the Church covenant at its formation and was appointed Ruling Elder. He represented Braintree at the General Court before moving to Unquity. In 1656 he purchased a large tract of land of Hutchinson, in con- nection with his son-in-law, Anthony Gulliver. He was one of the three petitioners for the incorporation of Milton in 1662, and drew the petition. He was the first representative of the town to the General Court in 1666, and a trustee of the Church in 1664. He is generally spoken of as Elder Kinsley, but is some- times styled Rev. Stephen Kinsley, although never ordained to the ministry. The record of this excellent man is worthy of particular notice. He was a man of strong religious character, and of decided ability. In the trials and conflicts of the early residents he seems to have been the guide and comforter. Years before the corporate existence of Milton, or the establishment of a Church, he conducted religious services on the Sabbath with his friends and neighbors in the little meeting-house, and con- tinued the duty several years after incorporation.


We have no knowledge of the exact date of his removal to Unquity ; it is, however, natural to conclude that he came with his sons-in-law, Anthony Gulliver and Henry Crane. His house was on the hill, a little to the east of the residence of Cornelius Babcock, on the north side of Adams street. The cellar was filled up by Mr. Babcock, the present owner of the estate. Within a few years a spring of water remarkably pure and excellent has been discovered between the cellar and the street, where the pump now stands. This spring, though long covered by the soil of the hill, was found walled up, and with steps carefully laid, to facilitate its use to the early inhabitants. In his will, proved 1673, he mentions the children of his de- ceased sons Samuel, John, and three daughters.


ANTHONY GULLIVER.


Anthony Gulliver was born in 1619, and died in Milton Nov. 28, 1706, aged 87 years. He removed from Braintree to Un quity in 1646. He bought land of Edward and Richard Hutchinson, sons and heirs of Richard Hutchinson, bounded


106


HISTORY OF MILTON.


north by Gulliver's creek, to which he gave the name. He married Elenor, daughter of Stephen Kinsley, and had five sons and four daughters. Lydia, b. 1651, m. Jas. Leonard ; Samuel, b. 1653, d. 1676 ; Jonathan, b. Oct. 27, 1659 ; Stephen, b. 1663; John, b. Dec. 3, 1669; Hannah, m. Tucker ; Mary, m. Atherton ; Elizabeth, b. Nov. 6, 1671; Nathaniel, b. Nov. 10, 1675, m. Hanna Billings.


His house, built on Squantum street, on the north side of the brook, was taken down about thirty-eight years ago. The imported brick used in the chimney bore date of 1680. This house was known later as the Rawson house, - David Rawson having married into the Gulliver family.


At an early date Anthony Gulliver came into possession of a large tract of land in the central part of the town, most of which is now embraced in the estate of Col. H. S. Russell. This land was long owned and occupied by the Gulliver family, and here or on land adjacent thereto some of his descendants have lived ever since.


His second son, Lieut. Jonathan Gulliver, one of the lead- ing men of his day, married Theodora, daughter of Rev. Peter Thacher, Milton's first pastor.


Anthony Gulliver was the progenitor of a long line of solid and trustworthy men and women, who have been conspicuous in the history of the Church and Town of Milton, holding many of the important offices, and faithfully meeting the trusts im- posed on them for nearly two centuries. The family is still represented among our citizens. This name appears under various forms of spelling, as : Caliphar, Colliford, Cullifer, Gull- wer, Gouliver, Gulliwer, Gullifer, Gulliver.


GULLIVER'S TRAVELS.


It is said that Dean Swift received the suggestion of his " Gulliver's Travels " from one of this family. Capt. Lemuel Gulliver, who, according to James M. Robbins, once lived at Algerine Corner, returned to Ireland in 1723, and described the country and its productions and resources to his neighbor, Jona- than Swift, in the most extravagant and high-wrought colors ; in which line of description he was favored with especial gifts. The frogs, he declared, reached up to his knees, and had musical voices like the twang of a guitar, and the mosquitoes had bills as large as darning-needles ; from these and similar exaggerated stories, the fertile mind of the great writer conceived and wrought out the famous "Gulliver's Travels," which appeared


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MILTON HILL.


in 1726, exhibiting a singular "union of misanthropy, satire, irony, ingenuity, and humor." There is a letter of Pope to Swift, dated 23d March, 1727-8 [Bishop Warburton's Ed. 1766, Vol. 9, 76], as follows : -


I send you a very odd thing, a paper printed in Boston in N.E. wherein you'll find a real person, a member of their Parliament of the name of Jona- than Gulliver. The accident is very singular that the two names "should be united.


Our Jonathan Gulliver represented the town of Milton at the General Court in 1727, and received his name in 1659, before either of the wits was born; although Pope facetiously adds that perchance he was an Ana-Baptist, - not christened till of full age.


DAVID RAWSON.


The Anthony Gulliver house passed into the hands of David Rawson, son of William and Anne [Glover] Rawson, who was son of Secretary Edward Rawson. David Rawson married the daughter of Capt. Jonathan Gulliver, and obtained the prop- erty through his father-in-law. David Rawson was born 1683, and died in Milton 1759. His son David represented Milton at the General Court 1774, and was a member of the Provincial Congress at Salem 1775. He was a prominent and important man in the town during the eventful years of the Revolution. His name often appears as Moderator of those town-meetings when great principles were asserted and main- tained. He died in Milton 1790, aged 76 years.


HENRY CRANE.


Henry Crane was born in England 1621, and died in Milton March 21, 1709, age 85 years. He married, first, in England, Tabitha -; and, second, Elizabeth Kinsley, in Unquity, 1655; she was the daughter of Stephen Kinsley. He had ten children : Henry, b. 1656 ; Benjamin, b. 1657 ; Stephen ; John, b. 1659 ; Elizabeth, b. Aug. 14, 1663; Ebenezer, b. Aug. 10, 1665; Anna, C. M. 1687; Mary, b. Nov. 21, 1666; Mercy, b. Jan. 1, 1668 ; Samuel, b. June 8, 1669. Henry Crane was an iron-worker. His house was situated on the north side of Adams street at East Milton, in the rear and between the houses of Wm. Q. Baxter and E. B. Andrews ; at a later date the Pierce house was built between the Crane house and the street.


108


HISTORY OF MILTON.


The open plain in that section was called Crane's Plain. He may have been engaged as part owner or workman in the iron foundry established on Furnace brook, Quincy, in 1643. Bog ore for these works was found in the low land east of his house, and in various places in Milton. His children were born in Milton, enjoying only the early and common advantages of a farmer's home, and the simple education of a small country town; and yet in the stern encounter with the dark and troublous times in which they lived they evinced a spirit of real patriot- ism. Benjamin, the second of the ten children, when only eigh- teen years of age, enlisted in the company of Captain Johnson, King Philip's war, and was severely wounded in the desperate battle of Narragansett Swamp, Dec. 19, 1675.


Ebenezer Crane, the sixth of the family, in December, 1698, when twenty years of age, married Mary Tolman, daughter of Thomas Tolman, of Dorchester. In August, 1690, he enlisted in the Dorchester and Milton company of seventy-five men, with Sir William Phips' disastrous expedition to Quebec. Of the two thousand comprising the land force, two hundred were lost, and of the two hundred, forty-six belonged to this company. Ebenezer Crane was one of the twenty-nine that returned.


Abijah, the twelfth child of Ebenezer, was born in Milton, Nov. 2, 1714. He married, first, Sarah Field, of Braintree ; and, second, Sarah Beverly. His third son was John, born in Milton, Dec. 7, 1744. In 1759 his father, Abijah, was drafted as a soldier in the French war, but being a sickly man, John, then but fifteen years old, went in his father's stead and was commended for bravery. In 1769 John Crane assisted Gilbert Deblois in planting the " Paddock Elms," which came from Mr. Robbins' farm on Brush Hill. In 1767 he was in Boston, where he lived eighteen years on Tremont, opposite Hollis street. In 1773 he was one of the " Boston Tea Party," and the only man wounded. In 1774 he was commissioned Lieutenant of Artillery in R. I. In 1775 he marched on Boston with the Rhode Island army. He was one of the party with Maj. Joseph Vose that burned Boston Light; 1776, he assisted in the siege of Boston at Cambridge and Dorchester Heights, as Major in Knox artillery; August, he was at the battle of Brooklyn; September, he lost a portion of his foot by a cannon shot from the "Rose" frigate in the East river, and nearly died of lock-jaw; December, he was in Boston building powder- mills ; 1777, he was appointed Colonel of the new Massachu- setts regiment, Colonel Knox regiment reorganized; he was at the battles of Monmouth, Brandywine, Germantown, and Red Bank; 1780, he took part in the unsuccessful pursuit


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MILTON HILL.


of Benedict Arnold; 1783, he was commissioned Brigadier- General. He died at Whiting, Me., Aug. 21, 1805.


CRANE MEMORIAL HALL, QUINCY.


In the central part of Quincy may be seen a stately and beautiful building, erected for the benefit of the town in 1881 by the family of the third Thomas Crane, who was of the fifth generation in direct descent from Henry Crane, of Milton.


It is called the "Crane Memorial Hall." Located about two miles from the ancestral home, it stands a fitting memorial of this worthy and excellent family, whose branches have spread out through this whole section and more or less over the entire country.


GOVERNOR JONATHAN BELCHER.


At a later period the neighborhood of these families was en- livened by the advent among them of Gov. Jonathan Belcher. Governor Belcher was son of Andrew Belcher, of Cambridge, born Jan. 8, 1681; graduated at Harvard College 1699; and died at Elizabethtown, N. J., Aug. 31, 1757.


He travelled abroad for many years; became a merchant in Boston ; and was soon conspicuous in political life.


In 1728 he went, as agent of the Province, to England, and while there was commissioned by the King, whose acquaintance he had formed while he was Hanoverian Prince, as Governor of Massachusetts, Jan. 8, 1729-30.


He was sent home on the "Blanford," man-of-war, and was welcomed at Boston with great rejoicing.1


The picture of Governor Belcher here presented is from a painting in oil by Liopoldt, the property of the Massachusetts Historical Society.


1 Governor Belcher arrived at Castle William (now Fort Independence) Saturday night, Aug. 8, 1730. He attended divine service at Castle William on the Sabbath and landed Monday morning at the end of Long wharf.


Turrets and Balconies were hung with carpets, and almost every vessel was blazoned with a rich variety of colors. Between the hours of ten and eleven, His Excellency was pleased to embark for the place of his wonted residence, with a great number of Boats and Pinnaces, to attend him, while his Majestys Cannon were playing to inform the Town of his approach. Several Standards and Ensigns were erected on the top of Fort Hill and at Clarks Wharffe at the north part of the Town; and a number of cannon planted, which were all handsomely discharged at the arrival of His Excellency, and followed with such hurras as inspired the whole town : the bells all ringing on the joyful occasion. While the pomp was making its orderly procession, the guns which were bursting in every part of the Town were answered, in mild and rumbling pcals, by the Artillery of Heaven which intro- duced a refreshing shower tbat succeeded a very dry season.


From the Court House His Excellency was conducted by his Civil and Military Attend- ants to a Splendid Entertainment at the " Bunch of Grapes" and after dinner to his own pleasant and beautiful seat. - New England Weekly Journal, Aug. II, 1730.


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HISTORY OF MILTON.


During his residence in Europe Governor Belcher formed an in- timate acquaintance with Dr. Isaac Watts, the poet, who com- memorated the appointment of his friend to this honorable posi- tion by a very beautiful ode, which we copy in full from the "New England Weekly Journal " of Aug. 3, 1730.


To his Excellency JONATHAN BELCHER, ESQ., in London, Appointed by his Majesty King George II. to the Government of New England, on his return home.


Go favourite man : Spread to the winds thy sails ; The western ocean smiles; the eastern gales, Attend thy hour. Ten thousand vows arise, T'ensure for Thee, the waves, for thee the skies, And waft tliee homeward. On thy Native Strand Thy Nation throngs to hail thy Bark to Land. She sent thee Envoy to secure her Laws, And her lov'd Freedom, Heaven succeed the Cause, And make thee Ruler there. Thy name unites Thy Princes Honors, and thy Peoples Rights.


Twice has thy Zeal been to thy Sovereign shown, In German Realms, while yet the British Throne, Sigh'd for the House of Brunswick; There thy knee Paid its first debt to future Majesty, And own'd the Title, ere the Crown had shed Its radiant Honors, round the Royal Fathers head.


Long has thy Nation loved thee; Sage in youth, In manhood nobly bold and firm to Truth ; Shining in arts of Peace; yet 'midst a Storm Skillful t' advise, and vigorous to perform ; Kind to the world, and duteous to the Skies, Distress and want to thee direct their eyes ; Thy life a public Good. What heavenly Ray, What courteous Spirit, pointed out the way, To make New Albion blest, when George the Just Gave up the Joyful Nation to thy Trust? Great George rewards thy Zeal in happy hour With a bright Beam of his Imperial Power.


Go Belcher Go !; Assume thy glorious Sway ; Faction expires, and Boston longs t'obey. Beneath thy Rule may Truth and Virtue spread, Divine Religion raise aloft her head, And deal her Blessings round. Let India hear, That Jesus reigns, and her wild Tribes prepare, For Heavenly Joys. Thy Power shall rule by Love ; So reigns our Jesus in his Realms above. Illustrious Pattern ! Let Him fix thine Eye, And guide thine Hand. He from the world on high, Came once an Envoy, and returned a King : The Sons of Light in throngs their Homage bring While Glory, Life and Joy beneath his Sceptre Spring.


March 31, 1730.


I. WATTS.


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March 31


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MILTON HILL.


Governor Belcher purchased the Holman estate situated on the south-westerly side of Adams street, now owned in part by Mrs. A. H. Payson, between the years 1728 and 1730. This was his suburban residence during the term of eleven years in which he was governor of this Province. His advent here, at nearly the same time with Provincial Treasurer Foye, who was nephew of the governor, changed in no small degree the char- acter of this portion of the town. He projected large improve- ments on his lands ; and in preparing to build his mansion, an avenue fifty feet or more in width, and an eighth of a mile long, was graded and finished from the hill, where the mansion was to stand, to the street. And this work he required to be exe- cuted with so great nicety and precision that friends and visitors on their first entrance upon the avenue might " see the gleaming of his gold kneebuckles " as he stood on the distant piazza. The outline of the avenue is now plainly visible south of the brook on the south-westerly side of Adams street. Near the head of the avenue a barn was built, but the plan for the mansion was never carried out.


The work of grading was accomplished by the Provincial troops, which were marched out to his Milton lands by regi- ments on drill and fatigue duty. A regiment moved from Bos- ton on Monday, camped on his grounds for the week, and were relieved by a second regiment for the subsequent week.


The necessary retinue of servants; the showy equipage attendant, in those times, on high official station ; the move- ment of soldiers; the coming and going of messengers ; and the formal and informal visits of officials and ambassadors, which are sure to follow so important a person, even to his retirement, - all these gave unwonted life and importance to the hitherto quiet town.1 The governor seems not to have been averse to the customary parade; his costume was fully up to the requirement of the times. In portraits now extant he ap- pears with the Colonial wig ; velvet coat and waistcoat decked with rich gold lace ; lace ruffles at the neck and wrists ; with the attendant small clothes and low shoes, adorned with gold knee and shoe buckles. His person and presence were grace- ful and pleasing. He was a man of society and of affairs, and spent his money with an elegant liberality.


Official duties kept the governor for a greater part of the


1 In May, 1740, Governor Belcher's servant ran away and was thus advertised : - " The Governor's Negro Juba having absented himself, it is desired who ever may find him would convey him home. He had on when he went away a Gold laced Hat, a Cinnamon colored Coat with large flat brass buttons, and cuffed with red Cloth, a dark colored Waist-coat edged with a worsted Lace, leather Breeches, yarn Stockings, a pair of trimmed Pumps, with a very large pair of flowered Brass Buckles."


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HISTORY OF MILTON.


time at head-quarters in Boston ; and yet he failed not to iden- tify himself, in some measure, with the people and the interests of Milton. Here was his church home ; and when at his coun- try-seat on the Lord's Day, he attended worship in his own town, and in communion with his fellow-citizens. The conven- tional decorum of colonial days extended even to the place of religious worship, where the pews were formally assigned, according to rank and family, by a committee annually ap- pointed at the town-meeting. Our town records point out the exact position of his pew.


"Aug. 20, 1739. Voted to give liberty for the exchanging the present Ministerial Pew being the first on the easterly side of the southerly doors, for that which belongs to the estate of his Excellency Governor Belcher, being the tenth, the third on the westerly end of the Pulpit, and that the late Ministerial Pew so exchanged remain to his Excellency Governor Belcher's Estate on the same footing as the rest of the pews in our meet- ing house. Nehemiah Clap, Town Clerk."




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