USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Sudbury > The history of Sudbury, Massachusetts, 1638-1889 > Part 50
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As ancient is this hostelry As any in the land may be, Built in the old Colonial day, When men lived in a grander way With ampler hospitality ; A kind of old Hobgoblin Hall, Now somewhat fallen to decay,
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With weather-stains upon the wall, And stairways worn, and crazy doors, And creaking and uneven floors, And chimneys huge and tiled and tall.
The region about this old ordinary corresponds to the building itself, reminding one of the Sleepy Hollow among the highlands of the Hudson described by Washington Irv- ing. It is on the edge of the plain lands of the Peakham district, just at the foot of the northernmost spur of Nobscot Hill. To the westward, a few rods, is the upper branch of Hop Brook, with its faint fringe of meadow lands, over which the county road gently curves, In the near neigh- borhood are patches of old forest growth, whose tall trees tower upward like sentinels in the view of passers along the county road. Indeed, so aptly does Mr. Longfellow describe the place where the house is situated that we quote further from his beautiful verse.
A region of repose it seems, A place of slumber and of dreams, Remote among the wooded hills ! For there no noisy railroad speeds Its torch-race, scattering smoke and gleeds.
Along the highway to the eastward in the direction of South Sudbury, which from this place is about two miles distant, are still standing several ancient oaks. These trees were, doubtless, standing and had considerable growth when lot number forty-eight was of the town's common land, and owned by Tantamous and others who signed the Indian deed in 1684, by which the new grant lands were conveyed. Beneath them Washington and his retinue passed, and per- haps Wadsworth and Brocklebank when they sped in their haste to save Sudbury from Philip, and a long procession of travelers, since the opening of the way to Marlboro from the Hop Brook mill, has passed under their venerable shade. Soldiers to Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and the various expeditions to the west and north in the Revolutionary and French and Indian Wars have halted in their march as they approached this picket line of ancient oaks that were de- ployed at the approach to the Inn.
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Ancient Druid never worshipped Beneath grander oaks than these ; Never shadows richer, deeper, Than have cast these giant trees.
Monuments of earthly grandeur - Shrines at which the people bow, Yielding homage as to nobles Of the honored name of Howe.
Like an old baronial castle This weird structure holds its place, Through whose portals has departed Every remnant of the race. LUCINDA (BROWN) FAIRBANKS.
There is now about the place an aspect of vacancy, as if something mighty were gone, and very appropriate are still further words of the poet Longfellow.
Round this old-fashioned, quaint abode Deep silence reigned, save when a gust Went rushing down the country road, And skeletons of leaves and dust, A moment quickened by its breath, Shuddered, and danced their dance of death, And, through the ancient oaks o'erhead, Mysterious voices moaned and fled.
We will now briefly state something concerning the house, and the family in later years. The structure of the building is quaint. It has a gable roof which rests on low-posted walls, while L's extend from the main body toward the east and west. It stands by the roadside, facing the south, while here and there, not far from it, are the huge trunks of decay- ing trees, with branches growing more and more scant as the years pass by. It is said that in the house are eighty-one windows. There is upon one of the window panes, cut with a diamond, this sentence : -
What do you think Here is good drink Perhaps you may not know it, If not in haste, do stop and taste You merry folks will show it. William Molineux, Jr., Boston, June 24, 1776.
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The house was furnished with a hall, the typical kitchen of a country inn, the bar-room with its high counter, while outside and beyond the road and nearly in front was swung the red-horse sign.
Squire Lyman Howe, the last landlord of the inn and the one of Mr. Longfellow's poem, was a man rather imposing in appearance, somewhat dignified and grave. He was at one time a prominent singer in the Congregational choir, a school committee man, and justice of the peace. Years ago, he was a familiar object to the villagers of South Sudbury, riding in his chaise with the top tipped back, as he went to the post-office or to visit the district schools ; and he fitly represented, in his younger and more prosperous years, the family of Howe. He lived a bachelor and was the last link of an illustrious lineage. As a tavern-keeper, he did less and less business as his years increased, and finally the landlord died at the inn, the last of the name of Howe who lived at that famous house. Since his death, the place has been a resort for pleasure-seekers and people of antiquarian tastes. It has been visited from far and near, and so it will continue to be as time passes by. Traditions concerning it may gather and grow, and treasures of colonial art may be traced to it, till, like the alleged articles of the " Mayflow- er's " illustrious cargo, the original place of deposit could not have contained them all. Indeed, marvellous stories have already been told of the auction that followed the death of Squire Lyman Howe, but these stories are extravagant. A few articles that were rare and relic-like may have been sold, but, for the most part, it was only a commonplace sale at the inn when the landlord died. Probably the house was largely depleted of what it once contained; the family never was one of great wealth, and the circumstances attending the life of the last landlord would naturally scatter many of the furnishings of the old-time inn. The piano that was sold was the first one ever brought into the town. Strange stories have also been told as to occasional guests at this ancient "ordinary." It has been said that Captain Wads- worth here rested and refreshed his men on his way to the Wadsworth fight; that here Washington stopped and Lafay-
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ette lodged. That some of the traditions are true is prob- able, that some are not true is also probable ; as to its con- nection with Captain Wadsworth and his company, it is sufficient to refer to the date of the house and the date of the fight. That General Washington stopped there is quite probable, since he went from Marlboro to Boston and dined at Weston with Colonel Lamson who commanded the Fifth Middlesex Regiment in the Revolutionary War. As the Howe Tavern would be on his direct route it would be nat- ural for him to stop there and, at least, take a lunch with Mr. Howe, another of the colonels of the Revolution. But, though a part of the traditions of the place are improbable, there yet remains enough of reality to make this a favorite place, and it needs no embellishment of fancy to give to it a sufficient charm or make it rich in rare reminiscences. The old stage road that winds its way by it; the double eaves of its gable roof; the old oaks hollowed by the hand of time; the name and history of the family of Howe, - these, with the notoriety of Mr. Longfellow's poem, all con- spire to give the place a fame akin to that of the village of Grand Pré of Evangeline. What though the tales of the Wayside Inn were never uttered at Howe's Tavern at all under such circumstance, as the poet describes; other tales as touching, as thrilling, and grand, may often have been uttered within it. Groups, characteristic of colonial and provincial times, often sat by its fireside ; the inhabitants of Nobscot and Peakham gathered there from hamlet and farm, to sit and talk of a long fall night; the stage-driver and his passengers stopped there for lodging or lunch, the marketer halted as he was "going down " with his load, the teamster with his ox-wagon and yokes of slow steers, the transient traveler also, and the occasional errandless tramp. Such at times were guests at this house, and found refreshment and shelter within its time-worn walls. Surely, many scenes of a quaint character transpired there in the years of the town's early history, and though they have all passed by, the old house is suggestive of them, and stands a souvenir of other and busier days on an old stage road of the town. It recalls to mind an old family of Sudbury and familiar events in con-
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nection with it, and is a memorial of the typical tavern in those old-time days.
The taverns on the central road of the town were on the present Berlin and Boston highway, and from the " Gravel Pit " to the middle of the town. The first, passing westerly, was on the Captain Rice place, about half a mile from the Centre. Here, at an early date, was an inn which was kept during the Revolutionary period by William Rice. The house was a square, two-story building of medium size, with a large chimney in the middle. It stood a few rods north of the road and faced the south. It is many years since it was used as an inn. For a long time it was the homestead of Capt. William Rice, and was last occupied by his descend- ants. A short time ago it was burnt. Tradition says that formerly the road ran through the door-yard, and came out by Daniel Smith's at Water Row.
The next tavern west was the Wheeler-Haynes House, formerly the parsonage of Rev. Israel Loring. Walter Haynes kept a public house there in the early part of this century, but it has long since ceased to be used for that pur- pose. The third tavern was at the Centre, at the road- corner just north of the store, or at the angle made by the Berlin and Boston highway, with that leading from South Sudbury to Concord on the left side going north. This tavern was kept years ago by a Mr. Rice, who was killed at Wash bridge. Subsequently, in the early part of this cen- tury, it was kept by Dr. Kidder. About fifty years ago, it was kept by Joel Jones, and later, by Miranda Page, at which time it was burnt. A fourth tavern was at the Dr. Stearns place, the second house west of the Unitarian Church. It was not built for an inn, but was the residence of Thomas Stearns, a physician. After Dr. Stearns' death it was occu- pied by Webster Moore, who kept a public house there for some years. A tavern was kept at North Sudbury, well known as the "Pratt Tavern." Another was the "Puffer Tavern ; " and one quite old was kept at the north-west part by Jonathan Rice, a prominent man in town.
Such are some of Sudbury's old-time taverns. They had their day and disappeared, because the means of their main-
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tenance failed. One means, on which all these ancient hos- telries depended perhaps to a greater or less degree, was the sale of intoxicating drinks. Some received patronage from the old stage routes, and all of them from the passing trav- eler and his team. But now the great growth of the tem- perance movement, and the introduction of new modes of conveyance, have so changed the condition of things that the old tavern is needed no more.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
PHYSICIANS.
Early Mention of Physicians. - Biographical Sketch of Dr. Ebenezer Roby. - Ebenezer Roby, 2d. - Ebenezer Roby, 3d. - Josiah Lang- don. - Moses Taft. - Moses Mossman. - Ashbel Kidder. - Thomas Stearns. - Levi Goodenough. - Otis O. Johnson. - George A. Oviatt.
. . . Doubtless, after us, some purer scheme Will be shaped out by wiser men than we, Made wiser by the steady growth of truth. LOWELL.
AN early mention of a doctor in Sudbury is on page 155 of the first book of Town Records, where it is stated that " Alrake, Physician, was to have five bushels of wheat in consideration of his care of the Widdow Hunt." Another record on page 185 of the same book states that, at a select- men's meeting, "it was agreed with Dr. Chattock and payed him for his paynes and phisick hee gave to Debrah Wedge and agreed with him for a month to keep her for 2 shillings a week which month was out Sept the 5th 1702." We con-
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clude there was no surgeon in town up to the year 1673, as it was then ordered that " Mr. Peter Noyes do procure and bring Surgeon Avery from Dedham to the Widdow Hunt of this town to inspect her condition and to advise and direct and administer to her relief and cure of her distemper."
EBENEZER ROBY, M. D.
One of the most noted physicians of Sudbury was Dr. Ebenezer Roby who lived on the East Side. He was born in Boston in 1701, and graduated at Harvard College in 1719. He settled in Sudbury about 1725, and in 1730, mar- ried Sarah, daughter of Rev. John Swift of Framingham. He lived in the old Roby house which was recently destroyed by fire. He was prominently connected with town matters in Sudbury, where he lived and practiced his profession till his death. He was buried in the old graveyard at East Sud- bury, and the following is his epitaph : -
In memory of Ebenezer Roby Esq, a Native of Boston New England.
He fixed his residence in Sudbury in the character of a Physician where he was long distinguished for his ability and success in the healing art.
Born Sept 20th 1701 Died Sept 4th 1772 aged 71.
For a specimen of the charges of Dr. Roby see page 350. His son, Dr. Ebenezer Roby, Jr., born in 1732, also prac- ticed medicine in Sudbury, and died July 16, 1786, aged fifty-four. Dr. Joseph Roby, son of Ebenezer, Jr., was a practicing physician in East Sudbury till 1801.
JOSIAH LANGDON, M. D.
The name of Josiah Langdon is in the town records of Revolutionary soldiers with the title of doctor attached, which indicates that he was a practicing physician in town at that time. As he died soon after the making of the record, at the early age of thirty-two, his professional career was very brief. His death occurred in 1779, and he was buried in the Old Burying Ground, which indicates that his
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home was in the West Precinct. The following inscription is on the stone that marks his grave : -
In memory of Doctor Josiah Langdon who died Feb. ye 24th 1779 Æt 32 Mortuus Vivit.
MOSES TAFT, M. D.
Dr. Moses Taft practiced medicine in Sudbury towards the close of the last century. He lived at the "Centre," in what has been known subsequently as the " Barker house," and where a grocery store was once kept. (See period 1850-75.) He was buried in the western part of the Old Burying Ground. His grave is marked by a slate stone, inscribed, -
Doct. Moses Taft, Died July 22nd 1799 Aged 45. " Let living friends his virtues trace Then they" in glory see his face."
MOSES MOSSMAN, M. D.
Dr. Moses Mossman was one of the old-time physicians of Sudbury. He practiced medicine there towards the close of the last and the early part of the present century. His professional work extended over quite a portion of the neighboring country, reaching to Stow, Acton, Concord and Marlboro. The following is a specimen of his bills, which shows the expense of medical calls and medicine in those times : -
" To Doctor Mossman for doctoring Asahel Knight in his late sickness, 3 visits and medicine 2.75."
His home was in the northerly part of Sudbury at the Mossman place ; and it is said that, about the locality of his garden plot, the herbs still grow which the doctor used to cultivate. He was much beloved and respected as a citizen, and it was said that he was very religious. In one of his journals he states that on one occasion, as he was riding in a very dark night, while in communion with God, a light
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shone about the team to guide him. He died, Aug. 15, 1817, aged seventy-five, and was buried in the western part of the Old Burying Ground. At the grave is a slate stone with this inscription : -
In memory of Doctor Moses Mossman and Mrs. Mary Mossman his wife. Doctor Moses Mossman died Aug. 15, 1817, Æt 75. Mrs. Mary Mossman died Aug. 17, 1817, Æt 66.
They lived mutually active, and highly respected, and died much lamented.
" Our lives are closed and o'er, Our Saviour's praises now we sing, He saves us by redeeming power And takes us to our Heavenly King."
ASHBEL KIDDER, M. D.
Dr. Ashbel Kidder practiced medicine in Sudbury for about twenty-five years in the early part of the present century. He was born at Sutton in 1770, and studied medi- cine at Harvard College. Before and after the commence- ment of his medical studies he taught school. He married a daughter of Ezra Taylor of Southboro. He was lame and his health was not robust. He was a Free Mason and Master of Middlesex Lodge in Framingham. He was also justice of the peace, as is indicated by a record in his note-book of marriage ceremonies performed by him from 1815 to 1819. His practice extended over a considerable district and he was well known in the neighboring towns. As indicative of medical charges at that time we give the following found among his bills : -
"To Ashbel Kidder for doctoring Ephraim How of Ac- worth, while sick at Sudbury in 1812, to 30 visits 2 miles and medicine left each time 30.25."
He lived at Sudbury Centre in a house at the corner of the roads, which was used for many years as a tavern and was burned near half a century ago. (See chapter on Taverns.) He died in 1823, and left four children, - Almira, Francis, Dana, Caroline, and Ezra Taylor. A daughter of Francis D.
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is Mrs. Frances (Kidder) Adams, wife of Dr. Z. B. Adams of Framingham. Dr. Kidder and wife were buried in the Old Burying Ground, and afterwards removed to the Kidder tomb, Wadsworth Cemetery.
THOMAS STEARNS, M. D.
Dr. Thomas Stearns practiced medicine in Sudbury for some years previous to 1840, about which time he died. He lived at the Centre, in the second house west of the Unita- rian meeting-house, on the north side of the road, and since used as a tavern. He was an active citizen, of a positive nature, and energetic in the prosecution of his plans. He was interested in what pertained to the history of Sudbury, and gathered quite a collection of old documents, which, since his death, have been purchased by the town and are known as the "Stearns' Collection." He was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
LEVI GOODENOUGH, M. D.
Dr. Levi Goodenough was born in Derby, Vt., Oct. 30, 1803. He received his diploma from the Medical School of the University of Vermont, Sept. 16, 1828, and settled in Sudbury Feb. 12, 1830, where he remained till his death. He was a typical country physician. Having had the advan- tage of studying with a physician who kept a drug store, he acquired some skill in compounding medicines, and was accustomed largely to prepare and furnish the medicines he prescribed. In extracting teeth he made use of the "turn- key," which he never failed to adjust with due deliberation and care. As a citizen, Dr. Goodenough was public spirited, and a stanch advocate of reform; in temperance, his name stands among the pioneers. He was a professing Christian from early youth. On going to Sudbury, there being no church in it of his persuasion, he joined the Baptist Church in Weston, where he occasionally joined in worship. He also aided in the support of the Methodist Church, Sudbury, but he identified his interests with the Congregational Church of that place, all the meetings of which he took delight in attending whenever circumstances would permit. His in-
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terest in missions was very great and he gave freely in their behalf. He had two children by his first marriage, and named them Ann Haseltine and Adoniram Judson, after the well-known missionary to Burmah and his wife, Dr. and Mrs. Judson. His early educational advantages were lim- ited, but he was a lover of learning, and in after years became somewhat proficient in Latin and the sciences, while he practiced the most rigid economy that he might give a liberal education to his own children and lend a helping hand to others who were striving to the same end. In his declining years he became deeply interested in geology and mineralogy, and was enthusiastic in the collection of speci- mens and in calling attention to their marvellous structure. At about the age of fifteen he was thrown from a horse, thereby incurring injuries which rendered his after life one long struggle with disease and weakness ; yet he practiced medicine for over fifty-six years in Sudbury. He died, April 3, 1886, at the age of eighty-two, and was buried in Mount Wadsworth Cemetery. He married for his first wife Cynthia Rice of East Sudbury (Wayland), Feb. 11, 1830, and for his second wife Jerusha Dakin of Sudbury, Nov. 8, 1837. He adopted two children, Carrie and Grace; the former died young.
OTIS O. JOHNSON, M. D.
Dr. Otis O. Johnson practiced medicine in Sudbury for some years about the middle of the present century. He was son of John and Polly (Hemenway) Johnson, and born at Southboro, April 17, 1817. He studied medicine with Dr. John B. Kittridge of Framingham, and went from that place to Sudbury where he practiced homoeopathy. He lived at the Centre and South Sudbury. He afterwards returned to Framingham where he died, Jan. 8, 1882. He married Mary, daughter of Dexter Stone of Framingham, and had two children.
GEORGE A. OVIATT, M. D.
Dr. George A. Oviatt was born in Boston, March 30, 1849. He was the son of Rev. George A. and Isabella G. Oviatt. His paternal ancestor came from Wales and settled in Mil-
RESIDENCE OF NICHOLS B. HUNT, South Sudbury.
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ford, Conn. His great-grandmother on his mother's side was Polly, daughter of Captain Minot of Concord. She was present at the Concord fight, and was sent with the small children of the town, who were entrusted to her care, to a place of safety till the danger was past. Dr. Oviatt fitted for College at Hartford Latin School, and graduated at Yale in 1872. He received his medical diploma at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, March, 1875. April of the same year he commenced the practice of medicine in Sudbury, where he still resides. Jan. 20, 1878, he married Ella A., daughter of Nichols B. and Angeline (Brown) Hunt of Sudbury, and has one child, George Parker.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
TEMPERANCE.
Early Customs. - Effects of Cider Drinking in North Sudbury. - Con- nection of Taverns with the Liquor Traffic. - Drinking Customs in South Sudbury. - Common Use of Malt. - Extract from James Thompson's Account Book. - Dawn of Better Times. - Pioneers in the Temperance Cause. - Reformatory Measures .- Temperance Re- form.
An honest tale speeds best, being plainly told. SHAKESPEARE.
THIS town, now prohibitory as it relates to the liquor traffic, was formerly, we judge, very much like the average towns in the State in this matter. There is evidence that intemperance has, from an early period, made havoc and had its victims here. The following record is found upon the town book: "Upon the uncomfortable representations and reports concerning the [condition] of things at the Ordinary
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of this town, it is ordered this 4th of October 1684, that three or four of the selectmen in the name of the rest do particu- larly enquire into all matters relating thereto, and if upon examination they find matters there as they are reported that they advise with Mr. Walker and his wife, and labor by persuasion with them with all conveniant speed to take down their sign, and to lay down and relinquish their selling of . any drink."
In 1807, a vote was passed "that the town would use its endeavor to assist the selectmen in carrying into effect the law respecting Retailers and Taverns in said town [as they were related to certain persons] viz : those persons who mis- spend, waste and lessen their estates whereby they are likely to become chargeable to said town."
It was the habit of the people for two centuries to use spirituous liquors and special occasions had their special quantities. The farmer wanted his extra cider for his hoeing or threshing and his extra rum for haying ; and in the latter work he hardly thought it possible to get along without it. The carpenter wanted a good allowance for "raising," and on afflictive, and social, and gala occasions it was thought liquor was indispensable. In 1729, there is a record of payment " To David Baldwin for frame of Bridge 37 pounds ; to twelve men to raise said bridge who went into ye water 3 pounds, for drink &c 5s-1d " In 1759, there is a record of payment "To Caleb Moulton for material for new bridge and 5 quarts Rum 2-11-3." In 1747, Jona- than Rice rebuilt Lanham Bridge, and the next year there was a record in the town book of payment "To Mathew Gibbs for rum and for raising Lanham bridge 12 shillings." As late as 1816, on the occasion of Rev. Jacob Bigelow's funeral, we find the following in the record of the town's indebtedness for articles furnished : " To Daniel Goodenow for spirit and sugar &c $15.40."
In 1779, prices were established for the common commodi- ties, and among them for spirituous liquors as follows : " West India Phlip 15 New England Do 12 Toddy in pro- portion." Malted liquor was also early made use of. Malt was one of the articles granted the town after Philip's War
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