USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Milton > The history of Milton, Mass., 1640 to 1877 > Part 4
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Anthony Gulliver and Stephen Kingsley purchased, Feb. 26, 1656, of Richard Hutchinson and Edward Hutchinson, sons and heirs of Richard Hutchinson of London, a large tract of land, bounded northerly by Gulliver creek. (Suffolk Deeds, Lib. 3, fol. 5.) Eliakim, son of Richard, came to this country, took possession of a part of his father's estate, settled in Boston, 1668, married the daughter of Gov. Shirley, and died here, 1718. Edward, the eldest son of William, soon left Rhode Island and returned to Boston, where he spent a long and use- ful life in the service of the colony. He was sent in command of a troop of cavalry to treat with the Indians, at Brookfield, in King Philip's war, 1675, where he and his command were surprised, and many were killed, among whom was Capt. Hutchinson. Gov. Thomas Hutchinson, who owned a large estate on Milton Hill, a century later, was his great-grand- son.
THOMAS LEWIS.
Thomas Lewis appears as a member of the Dorchester Church in 1636. He was also a grantee of land in 1637. His grant was located in the bend of the brook, near the estate of Robert Badcock, and probably early came into the possession of Mr. Badcock, as his name does not appear after the year 1637.
1 Drake's Old Landmarks.
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BIOGRAPHIC.
ANTHONY NEWTON.
Mr. Newton was made freeman in 1671. He was one of the founders of Milton Church in 1678.
Thacher's Journal : -
Oct. 15, 1680. Brother Newton, Mr. Swift, and Mr. Holman came as messengers to give me a call.
Oct. 5, 1688. Goodman Newton and Goodnian Sparr were daubing. (Supposed painting.)
Mr. Newton was a shipwright, living near Gulliver's creek. He died at the age of ninety, in 1704. He had a son Ephraim, and four daughters, baptized between 1672 and 1682. Ruth, wife of Ephraim, was admitted to the church in 1688.
ANDREW PITCHER.
Andrew Pitcher appears as grantee of land in Dorchester in 1634. He was made freeman in 1641. In his will he names four sons, Samuel, John, Jonathan, and Nathaniel; and three daughters, Experience, baptized Sept. 25, 1642; Mary, bap- tized Nov. 25, 1644 ; and Ruth, baptized July 25, 1647. Samuel married Alice Craig, 1671; she died 1680. Nathaniel married Mary, daughter of Ezra Clapp, July 8, 1684. Experience mar- ried Joseph Ripley of Roxbury. Mary married Mr. Mills. John removed to Bridgewater and lived with Francis Godfrey, who named him in his will. Wife of John died, 1772, aged seventy- seven. Andrew died Feb. 19, 1661; his will bears date of December, 1660.
Thacher says : "Nov. 6, 1681, Goody Pitcher died " (wife of Andrew). Nathaniel had three sons, Nathaniel, Edward, and Ezra. He lived in the house of his father (the old academy house), where he died, in 1736, aged eighty-five years.
Thacher's Journal : -
Jan. 10, 1682. By the desire of Mr. Hare, I went to Nat. Pitcher's to a debate between Ben. Badcock and Mr. Hare about the Quaker's opinions. Sergeant Badcock moderator.
I showed their opinions as far as we went and confuted them.
May 11, 1682. Lydia went to Boston behind Nat. Pitcher.
Rev. Nathaniel Pitcher of Scituate, born 1685, was the first son of Nathaniel, of Milton. He graduated at Harvard College in 1703, was ordained at Scituate, Sept. 14, 1707 (Rev. Peter Thacher, of Milton, giving the charge), and died among the people of his first and only charge, Sept. 27, 1723. John
28
HISTORY OF MILTON.
Pitcher bequeathed property to A. Kennedy's children in 1794. Mary, daughter of Edward Blake, married Pitcher. Sarah Pitcher married Geo. Wadsworth, 1720.
WILLIAM SALSBURY.
Mr. Salsbury was a ship-builder, and lived near the river. He was in Milton in 1652. He had four sons: William, born 1659; Samuel, born 1666; Cornelius, born 1668; Joseph, born 1675.
Thacher's Journal : -
Nov. 25, 1680. General Thanksgiving, three and a half hours ser- vice. We had at supper Goodmen Stores, Man, Tiffany, Salsbury, Jordan, Henchaway and their wives, and Goody Salsbury.
ISRAEL STOUGHTON.
Israel Stoughton was a grand old Cromwellian soldier and Christian gentleman. He was born to lead and command. He came with the first settlers to Dorchester, in early life, possessed of abundant resources, which, with superior judgment and capacity to organize and execute, placed him at once in a com- manding position of influence and power in the town and col- ony. No sooner had he come into possession of the land south of the river than his vigilant eye discerned the natural advan- tages of the falls for a water-power ; the timber on the banks for the necessary building and for spanning the stream, and the place for the weir below. Here he saw an opportunity to meet a most important need of the people, as at that time there was not a water-power mill in the land.
On the 3d of November, 1633, the town granted him leave to erect a mill, which the First General Court, convened in May, 1634, in which he appeared as deputy for Dorchester, con- firmed. The mill was erected the same year, and proved of incalculable advantage to the whole community. Numerous important trusts in the colony and in the church were imposed on him, all of which he met with eminent fidelity and success.
At the time of the Pequod war Col. Stoughton was elected by the court commander-in-chief of the colonial forces, and led the expedition into Connecticut. After a long and exhaust- ive march he arrived on the field of action, soon after the battle at Mystic Fort, and, by his judicious and well-ordered plans fol- lowing up the daring exploits of Capt. Mason, he assisted greatly in routing the enemy, and in nearly exterminating the Pequod tribe. The colonial government proclaimed a Thanks-
29
BIOGRAPHIC.
giving, and Stoughton and his troops returned home in tri- umph.
In 1643 he visited England. Mingling with the leaders of the revolution, he became deeply interested in the cause of Cromwell, whom he honored and believed in, as the friend of New England and the friend of her rulers. He determined to devote his life to this service, and, returning home, made ready for the enterprise.
In 1644 he returned to London, in company with Nehemiah Bourne, and others who joined him from New England. He entered the parliamentary army as lieutenant-colonel, in the division of Gen. Rainsboro in Ireland ; but his career of service was short ; after two years he died at Lincoln, in 1645. A tran- script of his will lies before me as I write, dated London, July 17, 1644, in which he mentions his sons, Israel, William, and John, and two daughters.
To sonne William, I give one half of my small Library, for his en- eouragmt to apply himself to studies, especially to the holy Seriptures vnto wch they are most helpful.
Unto Harvard College, two hundred acres of land out of my purchased lands on the northeast side of Naponsett about Mother Brooke, and one hundred acres more, I give to the same vse, out of my dues on the Blew Hill side, provided the town will allow it to be laid out in due opposition to those former two hundred, that the river only may part them, to remain to the College use forever.
At this time Harvard College was in its infancy, and de- pended for its existence largely upon contributions from in- dividuals and towns. Twenty-five years later we find the town of Milton contributing £14 18s. for the erection of a new build- ing.
Israel died early. John was lost at sea 1647. William lived to become an eminent statesman and judge, and governor of the province.
BRAY WILKINS.
He was the son of Lord John Wilkins, of Wales. He was born in 1610, and died in 1702, aged ninety-two years. It is supposed that Wilkins came over in 1628 with Gov. Endicott. -(Mass. Colonial Records.)
Sept. 6, 1638. Bray Wilkins was authorized to set up a house and keepe a ferry at Naponsett River, and have a penny a person, to be directed by Mr. Stoughton and Mr. Glover.
30
HISTORY OF MILTON.
This ferry was between the Granite and Neponset bridges, running from the ridge in Quincy (a conical strip of rising land, in 1886 made a part of the new boundary between Milton and Quincy, distinctly seen from the Dorchester side, or from the cars as they pass along) to Sling point, on the opposite shore. Although the ferry was continued but a few years the locality bore the name of " Penny Ferry " for a long time.
Sewall's Diary : -
Wed. 7, 23, 1685. I rode to Milton lecture, before lecture I went to Anthony Gulliver and got him to go with me to Penny Ferry to show me the marsh he was to buy of Mr. Gardiner. Dined at Mr. Thacher's.
Bray Wilkins' land in Milton was located very near Gulli- ver's landing, which at that time was one of the landing-places of the town, where timber was floated out and the small coast- ing " shallops " entered. This must have been a lively, stirring place in those days. Wilkins may have " set up his house " on his own land, or near the landing, from which the distance to the ferry is short ; of this, however, there is no proof. He re- moved to Salem, and in 1660, with John Gingle, his brother-in- law, purchased the Bellingham farn, where he passed the rest of his life.
In 1692, when the witchcraft excitement prevailed at Salem, a sister of Joseph Putnam and aunt of the famous Gen. Israel Putnam, was one of the accused. She fled to the house of Bray Wilkins, under Will's Hill, and found security. A neighbor of the descendants of Mr. Wilkins, living in Middleton, thus writes respecting him : -
Much might be said about this enterprising Welchman. He was well known at Salem Village for forty-two years as a pious and good citizen, and a firm supporter of the church and parish. Among our early settlers, none stand higher than this Bray Wilkins.
Diary of Rev. Joseph Green, Danvers : -
1702, Jan. 2. Cold. I at study. Bray Wilkins dyed, who was in his 92d year. He lived to a good old age, and saw his children's children, and their children, and " peace upon our little Israel."
31
INCORPORATION, NAME, BOUNDARIES.
CHAPTER III.
INCORPORATION, NAME, BOUNDARIES.
A FTER a united existence with Dorchester of thirty-two years, the residents on the south side of the river, having grown into a vigorous community of twenty five or more fami- lies, expressed a desire to set up for themselves.
The principal reasons alleged for this separate existence were their remoteness from church, and deprivation of religious privileges. The families were scattered over a wide territory ; some at Brush Hill, some in the central and western parts of Milton, but most at East Milton. The nearest church was at Dorchester, many miles distant.
The river at that time was an impediment as well as a natu- ral boundary. There were fords at Mattapan and at the Lower Mills, and also a foot-bridge at the Lower Mills.
CHURCH SERVICE.
The route to church from all parts of the town could only be in the direction of the bridge, as there was no other passage over the river for those who walked.
But no apology was available for absence from public wor- ship ; and, could we enter the humble abodes of those who lived here two hundred and twenty-five years ago, we might witness a scene similar to the following in almost every family : -
On Sabbath morning the whole family is astir betimes, each dressed in Sunday attire, in readiness for church.
The father mounts his horse, with his wife upon a pillion be- hind him, sometimes with a child in her arms, and leads on towards the meeting-house, the children walking by his side if the weather is fair ; he fords the river, they cross on the foot- bridge.
· If it be rainy the oxen are hitched to the cart, and the whole family, packed into this vehicle, ford the river, and wend their way to the distant church.
32
HISTORY OF MILTON.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The following is a near approach to a correct list of the tax- payers who lived on the south side of the river at the time of incorporation, and the year of their settlement here : -
Names.
Year of Settlement.
Robert Badcock
1648
Richard Collicot
1634
Henry Crane
1656
William Daniels
1650
John Fenno
1660
John Gill
Anthony Gulliver
1646
Daniel Homes
1659
Thomas Horton
1662
Stephen Kingsley
1656
Anthony Newton
1639
Andrew Pitcher
1650
Robert Redman
1652
William Salsbury
1652
George Sumner
1662
Thomas Swift
1657
Robert Tucker
1662
Robert Vose
1654
Thomas Vose
1654
Samuel Wadsworth
1656
Nicholas Wood, Farmer to John Glover
1656
NEW ORGANIZATION. .
For many years prior to the establishment of the town of Milton, Dorchester had recognized the meagre religious privi- leges enjoyed by her citizens south of the Neponset, and had granted them liberty to maintain their own ministry ; and, by reason of their having religious worship among themselves, had exempted them from paying a proportional part of the salary of Mr. Mather.
There were still other considerations that influenced our fathers in seeking to become a separate township. The river- was a barrier between them and the more numerous residents on the other side.
They were in the outskirts of the town, needing care and
1656
David Himes
1659
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INCORPORATION, NAME, BOUNDARIES.
exposed to danger, and failed to receive the full benefits enjoyed by the central population and the protection of the central government. This arose from their position and cir- cumstances, as a natural consequence of out-residence.
As soon as the mother-town realized the aspirations of her sons for a home of their own, she readily assented to the idea and hastened to carry it into effect, as appears from the following action of the town : -
DORCHESTER. 5 (3) 1662. At a generall Town meeting orderly appointed for that end.
It was proposed and voted whether Unquity should be a Township of themselves, with such limitations and agreements as in a writing by the conimittee for such purposes is drawn up.
The vote was affirmative if the honored General Court please to give themselves thereunto.
WILLIAM BLAKE, Cleric.
Four days after the above action of the town of Dorchester a committee of the residents at Unquity presented to the Great and General Court the following
PETITION FOR INCORPORATION.
To the honoª Gene" Court now Assembled att Boston, 7th May 1662, the humble petition of us who are inhabitants of that part of the Town of Dorchester which is situated on the south side of the Naponsett River commonly called Unquatiquisset.
Humbly showeth That ffor as much as it hath pleased God for to cast the bounds of o' habitations in the more remote parts of Dorchester Town; as that we stand in a more remote capacitie unto a constant and comfortable attendance upon such adminstrations as doe respect sivill and ecclesiastical communion in the Town and Church of Dorchester.
And though indeed amongst all the inconveniences which we have hitherto sustained by this our uncomfortable disjunction from our brethren and neighbors, there is none more grievously afflictive unto our souls than that restraint which we have lived under, as to a constant attendance unto that Ministry, under the powerful and plentiful dispensation of which, we have, some of us, lived a great part of our lives, and would desire still, (if it were the will of God) untill we dy, upon which we have heretofore, (as we have opportunity) we shall still attend.
Yet notwithstanding, the difficulties and almost impossibiltyes of the constant attendance of us and our familyes have compelled not only our selves but also ye Towne of Dorchester to acknowledge some necessity of providing and settling a public ministry amongst our selves.
And to that purpose, ye Towne of Dorchester (divers ycars since) granted us liberty, by our own contribution to maintayne our own Ministry, but we finding by experience that the orderly managing of such an Affair as Settlement hath some dependence upon the exercise of Civil power, unto the effectual exercise of which [as to the attaynement of such an end], we find ourselves altogether out of a capacity as now we stand, therefore we have obtayned from the Towne of Dorchester by a second graunt liberty to become a Township of our selves.
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HISTORY OF MILTON.
A coppie of which graunt we here withall present to the view of the honorable Court.
Our humble petition to this honorable Court therefore is That [if accord- ing to ye terms and tenor of this graunt you shall in your wisdom judge us capable of being a Township] you would please by your authoritie to confirm the sd. graunt unto us.
And it being a more than ordinarie juncture of affairs with us as to our present settlement, we do also humbly crave our freedom from Country rates according to the accustomed graunt to new Plantations, we being, [by reason of our slowness and the straight limitts of our place as unable ffor public affayres as if we were a new Plantation.]
This our humble petition is.
If it shall bee by this honored Court accepted, wee hope wee shall doe what in us lyes to manage affayres in our communitie according to the laws of God and this Government, our present design beeing the promo- tion of the publique weale, which, that it may be the period of yor con- sultations -
so pray your humble petitioners STEPHEN KINGSLEY. ROBERT VOSE. JOHN GILL.
In the names of all the rest of the inhabitants.
ACTION OF THE GENERAL COURT.
The deputyes think meet to graunt this petition, viz. so far as it con- cerns ye Township - but do not think meet to exempt them from rates.
With reference to ye consent of ye Honorable Magistrates hereto.
WILLIAM TORREY, Cleric.
Consented to by the Magistrates.
EDW. RAWSON, Secretary.
By this action of the General Court that portion of Dorches- ter situated on the south side of the Neponset, and lying between the river and Braintree, and extending from the river and marsh to the extreme part of the Blue Hills, was set off into a distinct municipality, which, at the request of the citizens, received the name of MILTON.
SIGNIFICATION OF UNQUITY-QUISSET.
Hitherto, and from the first settlement, this section of Dor- chester had borne the old Indian name of Unquity-quisset. This, like all Indian names, was spelled in many different ways. We meet it as Unquatiquesset, Unkata-quaessett, Unkety-quissitt, Unquety-quisset, Uncataquisset, also Uncatie, Unquatie, Unquity, and Unquety.
For the purpose of ascertaining the Indian signification of this name, I applied, as in the case of " Massachusetts," to that
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NAME OF MILTON.
undoubted Indian authority, Dr. J. Hammond Trumbull, of Hartford, and received the following very satisfactory reply : -
HARTFORD, Dec. 9, 1883.
DEAR DR. TEELE : -
I have been asked, at least a dozen times, for an interpretation of Unque- ty-quisset, or, as Thomas Lechford wrote it, in 1639, Unkata-quaessett, and could never analyze the word until your letter gave me the clue just now.
It is plain enough, now I have seen my way to it.
You mention " the fall of water at the village," and describe the locality as at " the head of navigation on the river."
The name, which Eliot would have written Uhque-tukq-ees-et, or Weque- tukq-ees-et, denotes a place at the end of a small tidal-stream or creek.
The same name occurs in Charleston, R.I. as "Wequatuxet (and Tuckset) brook.
It marks the head of tidal water in a creek, river, or estuary.
The n of the first syllable is intrusive, indicating that the vowel was nasalized.
Yours sincerely, J. HAMMOND TRUMBULL.
NAME OF MILTON.
There are no data from which can be ascertained with entire certainty the origin of the name of this township.
Up to the time of incorporation it was embraced within the limits of Dorchester, and was known by the old Indian name of Unquity-quisset, or, by contraction, Unquity.
In the Colony Records, CXII., 141, appears the following order : -
There having been granted to the inhabitants of Unkety quisset within the township of Dorchester to become a township of themselves, upon the motion of your inhabitants it is ordered that the said Town shall be called MILTON.
Passed by the deputies with consent of ye honorable magistrates present. WILLIAM TORREY. Cleric. Consented to by the magistrates present.
ED. RAWSON. Secy.
There are several plausible theories, on either of which we may suppose the inhabitants may have been led to fix upon Milton as the name of the new town.
First Theory. - One theory is that it was named in honor of John Milton, the immortal poet, who was born, Dec. 9, 1608, and died Nov. 8, 1675.
In 1662 Milton was at the height of his glory. His fame arose not merely from his numerous and wonderful writings,
36
HISTORY OF MILTON.
but largely from his civil and political position. He had es- poused the cause of Cromwell, and had become Latin Secretary to the Protector.
Col. Israel Stoughton, a man of great influence in the Colony, who owned a large plantation on Milton Hill, joined Crom- well's army, and became colonel in General Rainsboro's brigade. Nehemiah Bourne, who owned land on Milton Hill, adjoining Col. Stoughton's, accompanied him as major; and others from this vicinity went with him to Cromwell's army.
In those exciting times our fathers may have taken the name of one of the leading characters then high in popular favor as the name of the town about to be incorporated.
Second Theory. - Another theory is that Milton took its name from the old mill on the Neponset.
In 1632-3, Israel Stoughton, finding a water-fall on the Ne- ponset river, petitioned the town of Dorchester for the right to erect a mill. The town granted it, with the privilege of cutting timber on the plantation for building the mill, on con- dition that he should construct a bridge over the river. In 1634 the General Court confirmed the grant. The mill was erected in 1633, on the north side of the river, a little west of Milton bridge, nearly on the site now occupied by the stone Chocolate Mill of Walter Baker; but, though standing in Dor- chester, it has always been taxed in Milton, as belonging to this town.
This is believed to have been the first water-power mill erected on this continent. It was, consequently, a point known throughout the colony as a centre of public resort.
Nov. 1634. Voted that " a sufficient cartway be made to the mill at Naponset at the common chardge, if the chardge exceed not five pounds."
Many suppose the town was named Milton from this old mill.
Third Theory. - A third theory, and by far the most probable, is that the town took its name from Milton in the old country. Such was the custom of the times. Plymouth, Weymouth, Dorchester, and other towns of Old England had already af- fixed their names to new towns here.
In England and Wales there are twenty towns and parishes 1 named Milton; and fourteen more of which Milton forms part of the name, as Milton-West, and Milton-Abbas.
1 See Dugdale's England and Wales.
37
NAME OF MILTON.
There are two Miltons in Kent county, one situated on the Channel between the Isle of Sheppey and the coast of Kent, a place of great antiquity, and a famous seaport. The other, " Milton-next-Gravesend," situated farther up the river.
Milton-Abbas, of Dorsetshire, is situated ten miles north-east of Dorchester. Its first name was Middletown, from the fact of its location in the centre of the county. In process of time the name was contracted to Milton, which name it bore for centuries. Here in A.D. 938, King Athelstan founded the famous Milton-Abbas. Immediately thereupon the town rose in importance; and, in the ancient time of " Abbatial grandure " was the central market of the county.
Portions of Milton Abbey still exist, photographs of which are in the possession of Hon. Nathaniel F. Safford, and can be seen at his residence.
In 1814 the late Hon. James M. Robbins, one of our most respected citizens, travelled leisurely through the whole of Dorsetshire.
On approaching Milton from Dorchester he learned that a family bearing the name of Tucker was a numerous and in- fluential family in that section, and that many of this name resided in the county. John Tucker, a resident of Weymouth, represented the borough of Weymouth and Melcom Regis at Parliament twenty years in succession previous to our Revolu- tion. He recalled the fact that Robert Tucker1 came to New England, sailing from Weymouth in 1635, and settled in Wassa- gusset, and, with others, gave to it the name of Weymouth.
1 BIRTHPLACE OF ROBERT TUCKER.
Subsequent investigations and researches have made it probable that Robert Tucker was a native of "Milton-next-Gravesend," in the County of Kent, which only makes more probable tlie supposition and argument that our town took its name from one of the Mil- tons in old England.
In August, 1885, and again in 1887, Deacon John A. Tucker, of Milton, made successive trips to England for the purpose of tracing out the origin of Robert Tucker, the ancestor of the Milton Tuckers. He went to Dorchester and Milton, and Milton Abbey in Dorset- shire, but failed to find in the records of the Milton Church any reference to his ancestor.
He visited the Milton in Kent, situated on the channel near the Isle of Sheppey. Here he found traces of the Tucker name, and was struck by the peculiar architecture of the an- cient houses with sloping rear and projecting front, so much like houses in Milton, Mass., of the olden times; but, on a careful examination of the church records, no entries of the Tucker name were discovered. From this place he went to " Milton-next-Gravesend," where is a very ancient church, " erected under the patronage of the Countess of Pembroke, between the years 1323 & 1377," named St. Peters and St. Pauls. At the rector's house he had access to the registry of baptisms, reaching back as far as 1558, - a ponderous volume of parchment, bound in leather, with brass corners. Here he found the following entries : -
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