USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Milton > The history of Milton, Mass., 1640 to 1877 > Part 50
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One Selectman and the Committee attended the Doctor at the meetings, and notes were taken of the names and ages of the inoculated, and of the result of their inoculation.
We have to be thankful, that amongst that large number of both sexes and all ages, no sickness has interfered during the course of their vaccina- tion. The inhabitants appeared pleased and so willing to attend, that we have reason to believe there is not at this moment twenty individuals in Milton, liable to the Small Pox.
The benefit obtained was great, the labour had been short, pleasurable, and easy ; our minds anticipated the possibility of a readiness with our brethren in the neighbouring towns to adopt similar measures, and we were prompted to address communications to that effect to fourteen towns in the county of Norfolk, a copy of which we take the liberty to present to your Excellency. We have the happiness to learn that in consequence of them about three hundred persons have been inoculated with the Cow Pox, in Dorchester, and that Dedham, Stoughton, Canton, and Sharon have
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TRANSACTIONS RELATIVE TO SMALL-POX.
called town meetings, adopted public measures, and raised committees to secure their inhabitants.
On the 26th August, being the adjournment of our town meeting, the committee made the following report : -
A due indulgence for the feelings of our people has suggested the idea of testing with Small Pox inoculation, such of the individuals who have gone regularly through the Kine Pock, as may desire it; this measure is in contemplation for the beginning of Oe- tober next; after it has taken place our views are to have a town register made up, wherein shall be recorded the names of the three hundred and thirty-seven individuals inoculated in July, and to obtain a vote for a periodical inoculation to take place in every year to come, and to raise a standing committee to carry the same into effect; thus we hope, under the Divine blessing, which has so peculiarly marked our progress until now, to be able to keep henceforth our town elear and strong, as a fortress against the pestilence.
The house of Mr. Stephen Horton, which was appointed by the town as the hospital to test with small-pox inoculation those who had been previously vaccinated, stood where the barn of John Craig now stands, on that long-existing passage-way open- ing from Pleasant street, nearly opposite the house of John Higgins, and running southerly for a quarter of a mile. To this house competent witnesses were summoned, and the experi- ments were performed.
MILTON, October 10th, 1809.
We certify, that in consequence of an invitation from the committee for vaccination, we attended this day at the house of Mr. Stephen Horton, ap- pointed as an hospital by the town of Milton, and that the box containing a phial of Small Pox matter, provided for them by Dr. Thomas Welsh, visiting physician to the Hon. Board of Health, of Boston, alluded to in his certificate of the 7th instant, was delivered over to us by Isaac Davenport Esq. for our inspection ; that we found the seal affixed upon it by the Doc- tor entire, and to correspond with the seal of his certificate; that it was opened in our presence, and the phial enclosed was found sealed up in a paper; that the Small Pox matter was taken out of it before us, and in- serted in our presence by Dr. Amos Holbrook in the arms of the following named individuals - to wit : -
Samuel Alden, Martin Briggs, Catherine Bent,
Joshua Briggs, George Briggs, Susanna Bent,
Benj. Church Briggs, Charles Briggs,
Ruth P. Horton,
Thomas Street Briggs, Mary Ann Belcher, John Smith,
represented to us to have been inoculated with Cow Pox in July last, under the inspection of said committee, and the attendance of Dr. Amos Ilolbrook, as appears by their town register produced to us; In witness whereof wc have hereunto affixed our signatures.
RICHARD D. TUCKER, Member of the Hon. Board of Health of Boston.
THOMAS WELSH, Visiting Physician to said Board.
ABNER CRANE, ¿ Committee for Vaccina- NATHAN CRANE, tion of Canton.
DAVID TUCKER,
WILLIAM PEIRCE, Selectmen of Milton.
EDWARD H. ROBBINS, Hon.
JOSEPH BABCOCK, JOSEPH BENT,
JOSIAH BENT, MOSES BELCHER,
DANIEL BRIGGS, ISAAC DAVENPORT,
STEPHEN HORTON, STEPHEN HORTON, JUN.,
JOSEPH ROWE,
SETH SUMNER, ELIJAH VOSE.
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HISTORY OF MILTON.
The patients were confined at the hospital, under the custody of Mr. Horton, for fifteen days, and at the end of that time were discharged with the following formalities : -
On the 25th. October 1809, according to appointment a number of respect- able witnesses met at the aforesaid Hospital, and the twelve children after being examined by Doct. Amos Holbrook and exhibiting their arms with the scar of the Cow Pox inoculation, performed in July last, upon the one, and the mark of the impotent effort of the Small Pox matter introduced on the 10th. inst. upon the other, were discharged from the Hospital, and a cer- tificate presented to each of them by the Doctor, the following is a copy of one of them :
JOSHUA BRIGGS,
YOU ARE HEREBY discharged from the Hospital, where you and eleven more appointed to that purpose have offered to all nicn, by the TEST of Small Pox inoculation, a convincing proof of the never failing power of that mild preventive the Cow Pox.
WILLST you remain a living token of mercy, your mouth, will delight to testify your gratitude, for a blessing great as it is singu- lar in its kind, so that the hearts of men may unite with yours in praise to the Almighty Giver.
AMOS HOLBROOK, Physician Chairman of the Committee
OLIVER HOUGHTON,
for VACCINATION. MILTON, 25th. Oct. 1809.
MILTON, 25th. Oct. 1809.
We certify, that agreeable to the invitation of the committee for vaccina- tion we attended this day at the house of Mr. Stephen Horton, appointed by the town as an Hospital, to test with Small Pox inoculation such of the in- dividuals, desirous thereof, who were vaccinated in July last under the in- spection of said committee, and the attendance of Dr. Amos Holbrook, and we found there the twelve children who were inoculated with Small Pox matter by Dr. A. Holbrook on the 10th instant, as appears by a certificate of that date, signed by eighteen witnesses ; that we found their inoculation had not taken ; that the inflammation occasioned to their arms by the intro- duction of variolous matter had subsided, the scabs disappeared, and the children in perfect health; whereby we rejoice that this additional proof should have been obtained of the never failing power of that mild preven- tive, the Cow Pox, against Small Pox infection, and gladfully have granted the present certificate, with an ardent desire, that wherever the same may be promulgated it may contribute to rouse the souls of men to zealous ex- ertions for the organization of a regular system to extend the blessing, and thus to attenipt to secure our happy land against one of the greatest scourges that ever afflicted mankind.
BENJAMIN RUSSELL, President of the Hon. Board of Health of Boston. GEO. G. LEE, Member of said Board. JOSEPH BABCOCK,
THOMAS WELSH, Visiting Physician to ditto. DANIEL BRIGGS.
NATHAN CRANE, ¿ Committee for Vaccination ABNER CRANE, of Canton.
ISAAC DAVENPORT, STEPHEN HORTON,
SAMUEL GILE, Rev.
ELIJAH VOSE.
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TRANSACTIONS RELATIVE TO SMALL-POX.
The pamphlet closes with the following letter from the Gov- ernor : -
BOSTON, 8th Nov. 1809.
To Messrs. DAVID TUCKER, WILLIAM PEIRCE and JOHN RUGGLES, jun. Selectmen of Milton : -
GENTLEMEN, - I duly received your two communications under date 23d September and November 7th, and have read with deep interest the recital of your conduct in promoting and attending to the inoculation of the inhab- itants of Milton with the Kine Pock, and in confirming by the most com- plete evidence, its infallible security against the Small Pox.
A copy of the card containing the result of the test to which the efficacy of the Kine Pock inoculation was wisely submitted by the town of Milton, is most gratefully received, and will ever be retained by me as conclusive proof of the fact it is intended to establish.
The prudence, care, and vigilance manifested in the measures you adopted, to secure the objects of your solicitude, from accidents resulting from the use of inefficient matter, or from unskilful and careless practition- ers, and to verify the efficacy of the Kine Pock in preventing that loath- some distemper, the Small Pox, entitle you to the gratitude not only of those who have been the subjects of your paternal regard, but to the grate- ful affections of all who are duly impressed with the futility of the disease, which may be prevented by the mildest of all disorders, as has been satis- factorily established in the United States, as well as in Europe.
The most extensive circulation of your experience on this important sub- ject, of the measures you adopted with the cautions you used, is undoubt- edly the first duty of humanity and patriotism, as it cannot fail of exciting the officers of other towns to adopt similar means, especially when the evi- dence is so perfect of the efficacy of the Kine Pock if administered with the watchful attention discovered in every part of your conduct throughout this interesting transaction.
The reasons you suggest for advising that inoculation should be adopted by the towns, and carried on at stated periods, under the inspection of officers selected for this purpose, and that a record should be made of their doings, are satisfactory, if not conclusive of the fitness of your pro- posal.
I pray you, gentlemen, to be assured that I am not insensible to the honour you do me in supposing me interested in your benevolent views ; to promote which, in every relation, I bear to my fellow-citizens will afford me the highest gratification.
I am not apprised of any thing which I can do at present to enforce or aid your patriotic design, but if any measure likely to be attended with this effect should occur to myself, or can be suggested by others, the same will be most cordially attempted by,
Gentlemen, Your obt. servt. C. GORE.
It has not been deemed expedient or necessary to reproduce these papers in their entirety ; but the somewhat copious ex- tracts here inserted seem needful to show the significance of the movement, and to recognize and perpetuate the noble work of 1809. Two copies of this pamphlet are bound up with the
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HISTORY OF MILTON.
" Milton Documents," at the Public Library, for the benefit of all citizens.
The policy introduced thus early in the century has been fol- lowed out to the present day. As late as the summer of 1885 is seen the published announcement of Milton's Board of Health, who now hold this in charge, of free vaccination for all the inhab- itants of Milton who will avail themselves of it, and the caution not to neglect so important a duty.
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MILTON LAWYERS AND PHYSICIANS.
CHAPTER XVI. MILTON LAWYERS AND PHYSICIANS.
MILTON LAWYERS.
OXENBRIDGE THACHER, JUN., ESQ.
O XENBRIDGE THACHER was the son of Oxenbridge, who was the eldest son of Rev. Peter Thacher, of Milton. At the death of Rev. Peter Thacher his son Oxenbridge, then a resident of Boston, purchased of the other heirs the homestead in Milton, according to the provisions of his father's will, and removed to this place, where he resided for thirty-five years, until his death. Oxenbridge, who was born in Boston, removed with his father to Milton. He graduated at Harvard in 1738. He first studied divinity, and began to follow the profession of his ancestors; but his voice being too feeble for the pulpit, he turned to the study of the law. He rose to great distinction at the bar. In the critical periods of our country preceding the Revolution he became a public favorite. His character and habits secured the confidence of the people, while his learning and ability gave weight to his opinions. He was ranked among the ablest asserters of civil liberty against the encroachment of the government. Mr. Adams says, " They hated him worse than they did Otis or Samuel Adams, and they feared him more." He appeared for the people as colleague with James Otis in the great case of "Writs of Assistance." In the report of that trial is the following : -
Thacher's reasoning was ingenious and able, delivered in a tone of great mildness and moderation, characteristic of the man ; but Otis was a flame of fire.
Mr. Thacher was a resident of Boston during a part of his life, and was the representative of that town at the General Court for three years, 1763-65; but he never deserted his Milton home on " Thacher's Plain." Here was born his son, Dr. Peter Thacher, March 21, 1752. He graduated at Harvard, 1769; was ordained minister at Malden, Sept. 9, 1770 ; was installed
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HISTORY OF MILTON.
pastor of Brattle-street Church, Boston, Dec. 14, 1785; and died at Savannah, Ga., Dec. 16, 1802, aged fifty. Rev. Thomas Thacher, of Dedham, his second son, it is believed, was also born in Milton, 1756. He graduated at Harvard, 1775; was ordained at West Dedham, June 7, 1780; and died Oct. 19, 1812. He was an eccentric, but able man. He used to say, " I can preach the best sermons, but Peter will beat me in praying." He preached a funeral sermon at Milton, on the Sabbath after the death of Rev. Mr. Robbins, and also gave the address at the opening of Milton Academy, Sept. 9, 1807, both of which were printed, and may be found in the volumes of Milton Documents, Milton Public Library. Oxenbridge Thacher, Jr., the ardent and intelligent patriot, who had so large a share in the resolute stand made for the preservation of civil liberty, was not per- mitted to witness the triumph of the principles he so ably asserted. He died in Milton, July 9, 1765, seven years before his father, the aged Oxenbridge. His wife, Sarah, died in Milton, July 3, 1764.
SAMUEL SWIFT, ESQ.
In 1768 there were twenty-five barristers in the whole of Massachusetts. Ten of these were in Boston; of this number was Samuel Swift. He was the second son of Col. Samuel Swift, born at the homestead on Milton Hill, July 9, 1715. He graduated at Harvard in 1735, and studied law with the distin- guished counsellor Jeremiah Gridley ; he was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery. He married Sarah Tyler, by whom he had one daughter. His second wife was Ann Foster, of Dorchester, by whom he had two sons - Foster, born Jan. 20, 1760, and Jonathan, born 1764-and four daughters. Foster was a physician in Taunton, and was the father of General Joseph G. Swift, U.S. Army, who was one of the first cadets at West Point. Jonathan became a merchant and settled in Virginia. President Adams often speaks of Samuel Swift ill his diary. He says, 1766 : -
Spent the evening at Sam. Adams very socially with brother Swift.
In a letter to William Wirt, who was writing the life of Pat- rick Henry, he says : -
Among the illustrious nien who were agents in the Revolution must be remembered the name of Samuel Swift.
When General Gage offered the freedom of the town to Bostonians who would deposit their arms in the British Arsenal,
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MILTON LAWYERS AND PHYSICIANS.
Mr. Swift opposed the movement. He presided at a meeting where it was covertly agreed to use their concealed arms, also pitchforks and axes, to assail the soldiers on Boston Common. This scheme was revealed to General Gage, and Mr. Swift was arrested. He was permitted to visit his family, then at Newton, upon his parole to return at a given time. At the appointed time he returned, against the remonstrance of his friends, and so high an opinion of his character was entertained by General Gage that he was permitted to occupy his own house under surveillance. From disease induced by confinement, he died a prisoner in his own house, a martyr to freedom's cause, Aug. 31, 1775. He was interred in his tomb, which had formerly be- longed to the father of his first wife, Samuel Tyler, Esq.
SOLOMON VOSE, ESQ.
He was the eldest son of Gen. Joseph Vose, born in Milton in 1768. He graduated at Harvard College, 1787, when nineteen years of age, in the class with John Quincy Adams and Thaddeus Mason Harris. Soon after graduation he established himself in trade at Charleston, S.C., where he was stricken down with a dangerous illness. A gentleman of Charleston, Richard Hamp- ton, took him to his home, and cared for him until he recovered, in gratitude for which he named his son Richard Hampton Vose. After returning from the South he applied himself to the study of law with Hon. Levi Lincoln, at Worcester, and there married Eliza Putnam Chandler. He commenced business as a lawyer in Northfield, Mass., in company with John Barrett, Esq. ; was representative to the General Court; United States assessor, and first postmaster of the place. Here were born his sons Rufus Chandler, George Howe, and Richard Hampton.
In the fall of 1805 he moved to Augusta, Me., where his youngest son, Edward Joseph, was born. Several of his family were educated in the college of his adopted State. George Howe Vose died while a member of Bowdoin College, at the age of nineteen. Edward Joseph Vose graduated at Bowdoin in 1825, studied law with Governor Davis, settled as lawyer in Worcester, and died there in 1831, when twenty-four years old. George Howe Vose, son of Rufus Chandler Vose, graduated at Bowdoin in 1850, and settled in Oakland, Cal., in which place he is now living.
Prof. George L. Vose, eldest son of Richard Hampton Vose, studied at the Lawrence Scientific School, Cambridge, and de- voted twenty years of his life to practical civil engineering in Massachusetts and other States. In 1872 he was elected Pro-
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HISTORY OF MILTON.
fessor of Civil Engineering in Bowdoin College, where he re- mained until 1881, when he was called to the same professorship in the Institute of Technology, Boston, still held by him.
Gardiner Chandler Vose, second son of Richard Hampton, graduated at Bowdoin in 1855, studied law with his father, and settled in Augusta, his present residence.
The life of Solomon Vose was prolonged but a few years after his removal to Augusta. In the midst of a career of use- fulness and success he died, greatly lamented, in 1809, aged forty-one years.
HENRY MAURICE LISLE, ESQ.
He was born in the West Indies, and died at Barbadoes in 1814. He came to Milton in the closing years of the last century, and remained until after 1807. He resided in the house next to Milton depot, then belonging to Daniel Vose. In 1800 he published an oration on the death of Washington. In the years 1804 and 1806 he was moderator at the annual town meetings. By vote of the town, Aug. 6, 1804, he was appointed to defend the town in a certain action before the Supreme Court. He was Grand Master of Union Lodge, Dorchester, 1806-7, and orator before the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, 1805. He was also orator at the Anniversary Festival of "St. John the Baptist," 1807. Both of these orations were printed, copies of which are found in Milton Public Library.
In 1803 he published a poem entitled "Milton Hill," which at the time gained quite a celebrity. A part of this poem is in- serted in the chapter on "Milton Hill."
JOHN ROWE, ESQ.
He was the eldest son of Jacob and Penelope (Phillips) Rowe, born in Quebec, Canada, July 26, 1765. On the 19th of October, 1772, when seven years of age, he was adopted by his uncle, John Rowe, a wealthy merchant of Boston. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1783, and entered upon the study of law. At the decease of Madam Belcher, John Rowe of Boston came into possession of the Belcher estate on Adams street, Milton. He leased the place, but did not reside here. At his decease, February, 1787, he left to his widow the personal estate, and the use of the real estate during her life; it then descended to the children of his brother Jacob. Jacob came to Milton, with his son Joseph, in 1807, and became a resident of the town, where he died in 1814. John Rowe lived in Milton before his brother Joseph. He had a law office in the Lewis
puuuuu of that period viLo a further postponement of twenty-two years.
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MILTON LAWYERS AND PHYSICIANS.
Vose house, and was in practice here and in Boston. He died in Milton, May 24, 1812, at the age of forty-seven.
LIEUT .- GOV. EDWARD HUTCHINSON ROBBINS.
Lieut .- Gov. Edward Hutchinson Robbins, the eldest son of Rev. Nathaniel Robbins, was a lawyer of much eminence. He was born in Milton, Feb. 19, 1758; graduated at Harvard in 1775, when eighteen years of age ; and died Dec. 29, 1829. In 1785 he married Elizabeth Murray. He lived for many years in the "Churchill House," on Milton Hill, where all but one of his seven children were born.
At the age of twenty-one he was elected a member of the Convention that formed the Constitution of Massachusetts, being the youngest member of that distinguished body.
He represented the town of Milton at the General Court for fourteen years, for nine of which he held the position of speaker, elected to that office first in 1793.
In 1802 he was elected Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts with Gov. Strong, and continued in that office till 1807. Then he was appointed Judge of Probate for Norfolk County, which position he held for eighteen years, until his decease. To this office he seemed especially fitted by the natural kindness of his heart, and by his ruling desire to bless and serve the distressed and dependent around him.
Though for the most of his life in public office, Mr. Robbins was none the less devoted to the interests of his friends and to his native town. He was the adviser of the town. His legal papers, now extant, are patterns of precision and accuracy, and as such are copied to this day. Judge Robbins' opinion and decision with the people of Milton were authority, and ended all strife. So great was his influence, and so great the con- fidence reposed in him by his fellow-citizens, that he may be said to have controlled the town and parish during his active life. We find him projector and leader in most of the progres- sive enterprises of the town, sanitary, educational, and re- ligious. And the influence and guidance of this distinguished citizen, it is generally believed, were wise and safe.
Mr. Robbins 1 was much interested in Maine and its settle- ment, then under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts. In 1783-4
1 It is from Lieut .- Gov. Robbins' alleged statement that it has been elaimed that Prinee Talleyrand, the distinguished French statesman, who, in exile, sought refuge in the towns of Maine until the overthrow of Robespierre, was born at Mount Desert. The personal memoirs of Talleyrand will not be published, however, until 1890. By the terms of his will they were not to be published until 1868. At the expiration of that period Napoleon III. obtained from the heirs a further postponement of twenty-two years.
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HISTORY OF MILTON.
he sent Col. Jonathan Eddy, of Sharon, Mass., afterward of Eddington, Me., to explore lands on the Saint Croix river. From this exploration and others he and another gentleman bought of the State, Oct. 21, 1786, Township No. 4, south of Calais, on the bay or river Saint Croix. Several men and families from Milton removed to this new town. He was much interested in his township and its settlement. He made several visits there between 1790 and 1802. The township was incor- porated into a town March 18, 1811, and named Robbinston, for its founder.
Mr. Robbins removed in the spring of 1805 from Milton Hill to the estate of his wife, on Brush Hill. The large farm of one hundred and fifty acres had been rented for many years, and was greatly run down. Under his management it soon recov- ered its natural fertility and attractiveness ; and in this quiet and homelike retreat he passed the last quarter of a century of his life, always faithful in meeting numerous and responsible public duties, and diligent in conferring happiness unto the many enjoying his constant hospitality.
The mansion on Brush Hill, built by James Smith in 1734, has been for one hundred and fifty years the resort of patriots, and men and women of learning from all parts of the country.
Children of Edward H. Robbins.
Eliza, born Aug. 26, 1786 ; died July 16, 1853.
Sarah Lydia, born Dec. 16, 1787 ; married Samuel Howe, Oct. 11, 1813 ; died June 17, 1862.
Anne Jean, born July 3, 1789; married Joseph Lyman, Oct. 30, 1811 ; died May 25, 1867.
Edward H., born March 24, 1792; married Ann Coffin, 1818; died Jan. 10, 1850.
Mary, born Oct. 16, 1794; married Joseph W. Revere, April 16, 1821; died Feb. 1, 1879.
James Murray, born June 30, 1796; married Frances Mary Harris, Oct. 7, 1835 ; died Nov. 2, 1885.
Catherine, born March 25, 1800; died Dec., 18, 1884.
JOSEPH ROWE, ESQ.
Joseph Rowe was the brother of John, and son of Jacob Rowe. He was born in Quebec, Canada, Nov. 27, 1770, and came to Milton with his father, Jacob, and his sisters, Mary and Penelope, where he resided for more than half a century, till his death, proving himself a highly useful and valued citi- zen. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar. For years
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