USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Milton > The history of Milton, Mass., 1640 to 1877 > Part 17
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The peaceful retirement which Dr. Follen enjoyed at Milton was balm to his wearied and exhausted spirits. The surrounding country was beau- tiful, and our accommodations were excellent. Our hostess was the widow of an excellent orthodox clergyman, who, with her family, ministered to us with that watchful kindness which is the recognition of that great bond of fellowship that should bind together all those who are disciples of the same Master. She often called upon Dr. Follen to lead her family devotions ; and it must be a source of melancholy joy to her to remember the truly Christian communion in which we dwelt together in her house.
Longfellow has left a record of his visit to Dr. Follen while he was boarding at Mrs. Gile's.1
Rev. Dr. S. K. Lothrop, with his wife and son, Thornton, was boarding at the same time with James Breck, who lived near by. The Doctors Follen and Lothrop were in constant and joyous fellowship during that summer in Milton. It was but two years before the burning of the Steamer " Lexington," on which Dr. Follen was a passenger.
But a short distance south-west from the Gile house, on the same side of Canton avenue, stood the house and cabinet-shop of James Breck. When the present Gilbert mansion was built by William H. Davis, the buildings were removed; the main house now stands on the south-west corner of Canton avenue and Harland street, and the wing on Harland street.
Within fifty feet of Canton avenue, on the westerly side of the main avenue to Col. Russell's mansion, stood the Samuel Keys house; no trace of it now remains. Mr. Keys married Hannah Gulliver, daughter of Nathaniel, son of Anthony, by whom he had six children.
The stone built into the wall in front of the Gilbert mansion on Canton avenue, bearing the inscription, " Boston I.G. 1776," was designed to mark the distance from that point to Boston, - eight miles. The lettering was done by Lemuel Gulliver. He placed upon it the initials of his father, John Gulliver, who put the stone in position. The I and J were then used indiscrim- inately.
1 Longfellow's Life, Vol. I., p. 297. Journal, Sept. 15, 1838. " A glorious morning; bright, and not too warm. Drove with Mrs. Eliot to Milton Hill to see the Follens. Found them buried in trees, in complete solitude and seclusion. The broad-fronted Ger- man is writing a book on the soul. Milton Hill commands a grand prospect over villages, fields, forests, and the city, to the great sea itself, stretching blue and vapory beyond."
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HISTORY OF MILTON.
POWDER-HOUSE.
The powder-house, now standing on the grounds of Mr. Gil- bert, east of the avenue to the mansion of B. S. Rotch, was built in 1811.
The committee reported May 6, 1811, that they are of opinion that one built of brick, eight feet square on the ground, six and a half feet high with an arch turned over the top, with a wooden roof, would cost one hundred dol- lars, and do recommend such a building for the consideration of the town. Voted to accept the foregoing report, and ordered the said Committee, with the Select men to build a Powder House on the Church land in Milton according to the dimensions recommended by the committee and of the materials by them set forth in the most prudent way at their discretion ; and the Select men are directed to make draughts on the Treasurer for the money to carry the same into effect.
In this building the selectmen met every year to make car- tridges for the annual muster, up to the time of the disbanding of the State militia.
Benjamin Bronsdon probably built the house on the south- east corner of Canton avenue and Poor-House Lane about a century ago. The land was conveyed to him by Isaac Daven- port, April 20, 1784; no mention of buildings. He was an extensive butcher. One of his buildings, in which is the large wheel used in his business, is still standing in the rear of Mr. Gilbert's barn. The cellar on the opposite corner of Canton avenue and Poor-House Lane is where the house of Stephen Babcock stood. This was burned twenty-three years ago.
POOR-HOUSE LOT.
The Poor-House lot of forty acres was given to the town for this purpose by Governor Stoughton, as appears by the follow- ing extract from the records : -
Feb. 28. 1706/7 Milton S.S. Memorandum. God having graciously put it into the heart of the Honble. Mr Stoughton late Governor to will and bequeath forty acres of his woodlot in Milton unto said Towne to be im- proved by the Select men of said Towne and their successors for the use and benefit of the poor of said Town forever, of which will M' John Danforth of Dorchester [in the right of his wife Elizabeth Executrix and heiress and lega- tee of the remainder of said Woodlot] is executor, therefore ye said Executor together with the Selectmen of said Milton and Mr John Dane a skilful sur- veyor did on the 26 of November enter upon the said land and measure off forty acres for ye said Town out of said woodlot next to Mr Walter Morey's land southeasterly ; a brook being the bounds of the westerly end, and a multitude of trees are marked in the lines which cut the said forty acres from the remainder of said Woodlot, all which then marked trees are agreed to be bound trees; and a platt of said land was then given to the Select men and it was then mutually agreed and the said Danforth granted there should be a liberty for said Select men their successors and assigns to
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drive carts and cattle through the remaining land of said Woodlot from the highway and parallel line in it by the side of said Morey's land unto the nearest corner of said forty acres.
The gate being shutt or barrs putt up after the men, carts and cattle, by such as shall use the said way so as no damage may accrue unto the owners of said lott, and when the said owners shall see cause to Fence out the said way the Select men and Towne shall make and maintain one half of the fence, and the way to be two rods wide.
Agreed to by us -
JOHN DANFORTH THOMAS SWIFT THOMAS VOSE GEORGE SUMNER MANASSEH TUCKER JONATHAN GULLIVER
Select-men
PROVISION FOR THE POOR.
From the first existence of the town until 1803 the poor were provided for in the families of citizens, as arranged from year to year by the town. In some cases, when the paupers were too numerous to be cared for in the families, houses were hired by the town, and put in charge of a keeper, as in the following instance : -
Dec 12 1754 - Voted that the town will hire Mr Ebenezer Tucker Jun. His house for a work house for the poor- that the Selectmen agree with said Tucker for his house. Mr Benjamin Crane was chosen Keeper of the work-house until next March meeting.
This house is now standing on Hillside street, near the Can- ton line, known as the " Johnson House." The following vote shows the action of the town regarding the first Poor-house :-
April 3 1803. Voted to enclose 4 acres of the poor house lot and erect a house thereon for a house for the poor.
The house was built in 1805, and a barn about the same time. In 1852 a new barn was built, costing $446, and in 1854 a new house, costing $2,675.90. In 1882 extensive additions were made to the house, and a new stable was built at the expense of $5,715.63.
PINE-TREE BROOK BRIDGE.
In 1680 the road from the pine-trees to the meeting-house was laid out, and the bridge was built, as appears from our records : -
At a public town meeting in Milton March 10th, 1680. If it be your minds to chouse Joseph Tucker Samuel Pitcher John ffeno Henry Glover and Ephriam Newton to be surveyors for the making of a new way and a
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cart bridge over the brooke in the Palill [parallel] line at the pine trees some time this summer who shall by their vote have power to warn every man and his team in the town and every male boy that is in the town above sixteen years of age who are not exempt by law to attend that work being legally warned ; and if anie do not attend tha shall be liable to pay the fine according to the order made by the Select men concerning delinkquents upon highways; it is also to be understood that the Sirvayers shall warn every man and hand liable to work once over before they warn one twise. This was voted in the affirmative the day above said.
At an earlier date, before the bridge was built, this way was used for travel to some extent. There were large pine-trees near the brook. One of these was cut down and directed across the brook; it was then squared down, and on this the foot-travel crossed, while by its side horses and carts forded the stream. From this circumstance the stream at this point, from the earliest times, has borne the name of " Pine-tree Brook." A century ago or more there was a passage-way for carts and foot- travel from Brush Hill to the rear of the present ice-houses, where a log was placed for foot passengers. It doubtless met the road from Pine-tree bridge over " Wigwam Hill."
BALSTER'S BROOK.
Balster's Brook, which empties into Pine-tree Brook, a short distance north of the bridge, took its name from Mr. Balster, a shipbuilder, of Boston, who, in early times, bought standing timber in this section of Dorchester, and used the brook, when swollen by rain and melted snow, for moving it.
In 1670 the brook, now called Pine-tree Brook, at the point where Brook road crosses it, near Mr. Dudley's house, was called Balster's Brook, and, perhaps, the whole stream originally bore this name through its entire length, except at particular points, and that Balster floated his timber into the Neponset. Such a conclusion would explain the prominence given to Balster's Brook in our earliest records. For twenty-five years after incorpora- tion Balster's Brook was the dividing line of the town.
At a town [meeting 11 March 1669 Increase Sumner and Ebenezer Clapp were chosen viewers of all the fence on the west side of Balsters brook and John Fenno & Henry Glover viewers of the same in all the rest of the town." Again, " At a town meeting Feb. 24 1672 William Denni- son and John Kinsley to be fence viewers on the east side of Balsters brook , and Ebenezer Clapp and George Lion to be viewers on the other side of the town.
This brook, thus considered, would form quite an equal divis- ion of the inhabitants two centuries ago, as we recall their residences.
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OLD HOUSES, CELLARS, AND LANDMARKS.
ANCIENT HOUSES.
In the vicinity of Pine-tree Brook are several ancient houses. The house on Robbins street, now owned by Mrs. Murphy, was built by Manasseh Tucker, or by his son, Ebenezer, and was devised in the will of Manasseh, approved May 3, 1743, to the widow of his late son, Ebenezer, and her children, Will- iam, and others. It was, therefore, built prior to the above date. It has been successively owned by John Ruggles, Samuel Wales, and John Myers.
William Tucker, son of the first William, built the Atherton Tucker house, now owned by John Welch. Ebenezer, son of the first William, built the Kendall house.1 For a time William kept store in a part of the Welch house ; he was called " Uncle Billy." Subsequently the brothers exchanged property, William taking the Kendall house, and Ebenezer the Welch house. At a later date William sold his Milton property to his brother Ebenezer, and removed to Sherburne. This same property, comprising the Kendall house and lands, was conveyed to Seth Sumner by Ebenezer Tucker. Elisha and Davis Sumner, sons and heirs of Seth, sold the same to Alpheus Cary; Ruby Cary, widow of Alpheus, to Hazen Morse, of Boston; Morse, to Jonathan I. Kendall, Sept. 5, 1827, and the Kendall heirs to Henry A. Whitney, the present owner.
On the west side of Robbins street, just south of the brook, Ebenezer Tucker long had a tannery. The vats have been filled up within fifty years ; and the stone used by Mr. Tucker for grinding bark now lies in front of Mr. Blackman's blacksmith shop on Canton avenue.
Quite an extensive business in cabinet-making was carried on by John Myers, in a large building, since burned, which stood in the rear of Mrs. Murphy's house on Robbins street.
Messrs. Lewis and Edwin Clapp, before and after the burning
1 On a pane of glass, in one of the easterly bed-rooms of the Kendall house, are scratched by a diamond or crystal these lines : -
Betsey Sumner, May 20, 1805.
Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, Peace in thy breast ; Would I were sleep and peace So sweet to rest.
The signature is carefully covered with scratches, but it is not difficult to make it out as Nancy Sumner. Betsey Sumner was the first child of Elisha and Nancy [Vose] Sum- ner, and the eldest sister of General Edwin Vose Sumner. These lines seem to be the outburst of a mother's heart, as she stands over her sleeping child on the morning of her tenth birthday.
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HISTORY OF MILTON.
of their cabinet factory, on Harland street, occupied the shop that now stands back of Mr. Safford's house, on the south side of Canton avenue.
MINGO HILL.
Not far west of the Kendall house, situated on a rise of land now owned by Mr. H. A. Whitney, on the south side of the avenue, was a small house long occupied by Mingo, an indian or negro, who lived to a great age. The hill is now called " Mingo Hill."
Mingo lived alone, and, in his later years, was greatly annoyed by the boys knocking at his door, out of pure mischief. All his watching was in vain ; the boys were too cunning. One even- ing, just at dusk, Mingo, hearing the hateful knocking, sprang from the back-door around the house as fast as his old legs would carry him, and, seizing the miscreant, exclaimed in triumph : "Now, Mr. Debil, ise got ye!" He was embracing the Hon. Edward H. Robbins, who had come to make his neighbor a call.
HARLAND STREET.
On the easterly side of Harland street, near the old dam, is a cellar now discernible, where once stood the house of Thomas Harling, who had a grist and saw mill at the dam. Harling was an Englishman, and married two Milton Voses. Many of our citizens remember the house and the mill, and also the miller. It was many years before Harland street was built. The passage-way to the mill was through the lane, nearly oppo- site the Kendall house, and along the edge of the woodland. Harland street took its name from Mr. Harling, but not his name. Near the same location, at the new dam, was erected, many years after, by Mr. Eliphas Clapp, a large two-story building, with water-power, which was leased by Messrs. Lewis and Edwin Clapp, his sons, as a cabinet manufactory. This was burned about twenty years ago.
" Master Babcock," grandfather of our citizen, Lemuel W. Babcock, lived in a house at the foot of the hill, on Canton avenue. He was a music-teacher of much distinction.
Lemuel W. Babcock, and before him, his father, had a black- smith's shop and a store on Canton avenue, a short distance north-east of his house, both of which have disappeared. An- other blacksmith's shop stood in the orchard, on the opposite side of Canton avenue.
Nearly opposite the opening of Atherton street, on the south
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side of Canton avenue, a house was built, twenty years ago, by Mr. Boardman ; it was burned after a few years.
BENT TAVERN.
Where the Atherton Tavern now stands, on the corner of Canton avenue and Atherton street, stood a house built by Rufus, or Lemuel Bent, about 1740, where a tavern was kept.
April 29. 1759. Lemuel Bent was authorized to beat his drums for enlistment of volunteers for His Majesty's Service in a regiment of foot for a general invasion of Canada.
Signed, THOMAS POWNALL.
Milton Nov. 25. 1761. Received of Josiah How on board the sloop whereof John Atwood is master, twenty five pairs of men's shoes and five pair of men's pumps to deliver to Capt. Lemuel Bent at Halifax when arrived, the dangers of the sea excepted.
This corner was a stirring place in those early days. Lemuel Bent, the tavern-keeper, was commissioned by Governor Pow- nall enlistment officer for the colony; and two years later he appears on the field of conflict as captain of his company.
BRADLEE TAVERN.
John Bradlee lived in Milton before the Revolution, and had five sons and four daughters. All through the revolutionary war he was captain of a company of the militia of Milton, and for a time in Col. Benj. Gill's regiment.
The old Bradlee house, built by Capt. John, was the house standing upon the site now occupied by the mansion of Mr. E. C. Eustis. A few years ago it was enlarged and modern- ized, and finally was removed to make place for the present structure.
Stephen, son of John, married Sarah Davenport, June, 1790. At his decease, in 1803, she moved to the old Bent Tavern, and there kept a public house called the " Bradlee Tavern."
Stephen was grandfather of John D. Bradlee, who was long coroner and deputy sheriff of the County of Norfolk, and held various town offices. John D. was the father of the present Selectman and Deputy Sheriff, J. Walter Bradlee.
ATHERTON TAVERN.
Major Jedediah Atherton, of Stoughton, married Mrs. Brad- lee, removed to Milton, and erected the present building in
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HISTORY OF MILTON.
1810, on the site of the old tavern, which took the name of Atherton Tavern. He died Jan. 17, 1824, leaving his widow the proprietor of the tavern, which position she continued to occupy till near the time of her death, in 1840. This house, built after the fashion of the square taverns of olden times, was a wayside home for the extensive travel over the "old Taunton road," which, in the days of stage-coaches and baggage- teams, required accommodations not needful in our time. It has been a popular resort for balls and parties and merry-making in days gone by.
" The panting horses halted, And travellers loved to tell The quiet of the wayside inn, The orchard and the well."
The old Atherton Tavern was purchased in 1885 by Mr. Wm. H. Talbot, of Boston, who, without destroying its identity, by various additions and embellishments, has converted the plain hostelry of other days into the present attractive summer residence.
Between the Atherton Tavern and the estate of John D. Bradlee, on the same side of Canton avenue, was the house of Capt. Thomas Vose. His estate was bounded in the rear by the parallel line which runs through the centre of Canton avenue, from the churches to this point, and can be traced westerly to the Canton line by sections of walls that have not been disturbed for two hundred years. The barn of Mr. Vose stood on the south-easterly side of the road, near which was a passage-way to his wood-lot and lands in the rear. Some of these lands continue in the family to this day, and a right of way to them over this passage-way still exists.
Captain Vose married Patience, daughter of Joseph Billings, who was born in the Billings Tavern. He was captain of a troop of horse. In the year 1757 he marched to the relief of Fort William Henry, at the foot of Lake George. He was then in the prime of life, and a man of note in the town. Patience, the wife of Captain Vose, was a woman of uncommon energy of character. At the decease of her husband she continued to carry on the farm with great success, superintending the work and riding on horseback in every direction over the extensive fields, to direct the laborers. In this house were born Daniel Vose, at whose residence, Milton Lower Mills, the famous " Suffolk Resolves" were passed in 1774; and Hannah Vose, who for forty years kept a record of the Sabbath services at the Milton church, including all preachers, texts, additions, bap-
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tisms, and other items of great value and interest in our day. This journal, now in the possession of Edmund J. Baker, is a monument which will perpetuate her memory.
Just south of the estate of the late John D. Bradlee, and on the same side of Canton avenue, stood the old Glover house ; the spot is clearly indicated by the outline of the cellar. Here lived in the last century Moses Glover and others of the family. Samuel Vose occupied the house at a later period ; it disappeared seventy years ago.
Mrs. David Sumner ("Aunt Debby " as she was called) lived in a house on the south side of Canton avenue, be- tween the street and the residence of Daniel Denny, near where the well is now seen. In front of her house was a famous herb garden, which she cultivated with great success. . Her herbs and cream she took to market in her chaise, and they always found a ready sale. To a friend who said to her, " You must find it very fatiguing to get in and out of your chaise so often," she replied, "I never get out of my chaise. When I get into the streets I make my voice heard, and the people come and buy to stop my noise." The house was removed to the rear, and taken down in 1884.
BILLINGS TAVERN.
Farther south, on Canton avenue, at the top of the hill, and directly in front of the Wainwright mansion, stood the Billings tavern, in the early part of this century, called the "Blue Hill Tavern," an ancient hostelry, and a famed resort for fancy din- ners and high living. Mr. Robbins is confident that all the Mil- ton Billings's, after Roger, were born in this house. I find the following reference in Rev. Peter Thacher's journal: "May 6, 1681, Goodman Man and I went to Mr Billings to see a horse." "Nov 14 1683 ; Goodman Billings died." The conclu- sion is, that this house was the residence of Roger in the latter years of his life, and that it was built prior to 1681. It was taken down in 1885, and the timber used in erecting a barn on Thacher's plain. For several seasons Daniel Webster was a guest at this house with his compeers. Their excursions through the woods for hunting, and to Houghton's Pond for fishing, are well remembered.
In this house was born Charles Howland Hammatt Billings, the distinguished architect. He was son of Ebenezer Billings. Joseph Billings, son of the Joseph who first kept the tavern, was a leather-dresser. In the field opposite his house, on the south side of the street, was his red factory. Here, General Whit- ney, who, in after years, followed the same business at the
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HISTORY OF MILTON.
Lower Mills, served his time as apprentice, and worked as journeyman. For many years the field about the factory was a peach orchard, of large, healthy, and vigorous trees, annually loaded with luscious fruit.
Hales' "Survey of Boston and its Vicinity," issued in 1821, thus speaks of this tavern : -
At the foot of the Blue Hills are situated the country seats of R. D. Tucker and Isaac Davenport, Esqs., as also that elegant tavern, boarding-house, and fruit gardens, kept by Ebenezer Billings, which is one of the most delightful summer retreats in this neighborhood.
On the corner between Green street and Canton avenue stood the " Davenport store," famed of old as a halting-place for all the teams. "Baiting for Horses " was in plain sight. The thirsty were also refreshed ; and, as all were thirsty in those days, it so happened that the weary traveller seldom passed this store without a friendly call.
BRUSH HILL.
The beautiful hill in the north-westerly section of Milton from the very earliest times has borne the name of Brush Hill. The tradition is, that shortly before the settlement of the coun- try a great forest fire swept over the hill, consuming the trees with everything in its pathway, and that over the burnt district sprang up a thick growth of bushes; from this circumstance it took the name of Brush Hill, which it has never lost. This hill was early occupied. The open fields, strong soil, and wide views drew many of the first settlers to this section.
On its southerly slope, commanding a charming view of the Blue Hill range and of the interlying valleys, stands the man- sion of Henry A. Whitney, as seen in the picture. This artistic modern structure presents a striking contrast among the build- ings of olden times. The estate of Mr. Whitney extends from Blue Hill avenue, southerly, over Canton avenue into the mead- ows and forest beyond, embracing, in part, the lands taken up by the Tuckers and Sumners of colonial days.
The old house near the paper-mill at Mattapan was probably built by James Boise for his own residence, soon after he pur- chased the Mill estate. June 29, 1765, he conveyed to Richard Clark the " northerly half of the dwelling-house in which he lived, and six acres of pasture land, bounded northerly on the ditch."
The George Hollingsworth house at Mattapan, just south of the canal, on the west side of Blue Hill avenue, is the Jackson house, built by Jonathan Jackson about 1712. It has been
TheWhitney Mansion
VIEW FROM VERANDA
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OLD HOUSES, CELLARS, AND LANDMARKS.
remodelled and enlarged, but most of the original building re- mains. Here lived Hugh McLean during the latter years of his life, and John McLean through his early life, until he entered on active business in Boston, and later for the summer months. Mark Hollingsworth bought the place of the Massachusetts Gen- eral Hospital, residuary legatee under the will of John McLean, Jan. 28, 1824 ; consideration, $3,500. (See Norfolk Deeds, Lib. 72, Fol. 14.)
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