USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The memorial history of Boston : including Suffolk County, Massachusetts, 1630-1880, Vol. III > Part 72
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88
ker Hill, from the slope of Copp's Hill, taken by an officer of the twenty-second regiment, at the time when Howe was encamped there, after the battle. The ruins of Charlestown, the tents of the encampment, the wharfed shore, with a few buildings and a ship on the Boston side, are shown. A view taken from the Navy Yard about 1825 is in Edes's History of the Harvard Church
iu Charlestown, p. 133. It was drawn by the wife of the late Commodore James Armstrong, U.S.N. A view of Charlestown in 1826, from the dome of the State House, is in Snow's Boston, p. 316. A view of Charlestown, from Copp's Hill, about IS40, is in Barber's Historical Collections of Mas- sachusetts, p. 364. - ED.]
1 Chelsea Bridge was built in 1803, at a cost of $53,000, under an act of the Legislature pass- ed in 1802, incorporating certain persons for the purpose of building a turnpike road from Salem to Charles River Bridge in Charlestown. One half of the 2,400 shares in this bridge belonged to the Malden Bridge Corporation, which was chartered in 1787 to build a bridge at Penny Ferry (ante, I. 393). The bridge cost £5,300, and was built in six months. Cf. Massachusetts Magazine for September, 1790 (ii. 515), for a de- scription and view of the structure.
2 Nathan Tufts, a wealthy citizen, who died in October, 1835, aged 71, was uncle to Charles Tufts, the founder of Tufts College, who was born July 17, 1781, and who died Dec. 24, 1876.
8 The Hon. Nathaniel Austin was High
Sheriff of Middlesex and Major-General of the Massachusetts Militia at the same time. His mother was a sister of Dr. Isaac Rand (II. C. 1761), a distinguished physician and president of the Massachusetts Medical Society. General Austin died here April 3, 1861, in bis ninetieth
Isaac Rand 1747
year. Cf. Wyman, Genealogies and Estates of Charlestown, pp. 32, 785, 786. See p. 564, note.
4 The contest between these rival corpora- tions was long and bitter. Both decisions of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts (1828, 1829) were against the older corporation (6 Pick- ering, 376; 7 Pickering. 344). The case was appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States, where it was argued for the plaintiffs by Mr. Webster. At the January term in 1837 Chief-Justice Taney delivered the opinion of the court, affirming the decree of the Supreme Judi- cial Court of Massachusetts. (11 Peters, 420.)
5 June 6, 1823, the town had voted to me- morialize the General Court in favor of a peti- tion then before it, that the contemplated new bridge should be toll-free to foot-passengers.
6 See a valuable report upon the affairs of the Charles River Bridge Corporation, printed in Mass. House of Reps. Doc., No. 71, 1827.
556
THE MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BOSTON.
ing it as a free bridge, to be maintained by Charlestown and Boston jointly ; adopted a series of resolutions, and chose a large committee to confer with the Boston authorities, and to promote the success of the plan. In 1845 a bill to re-establish the tolls1 on both bridges was introduced into the House of Representatives. Resolutions were adopted protesting against the passage of the bill, " as hostile to the interest of this town, and particularly burden- some to the laboring classes; utterly unnecessary, uncalled for, and in the highest degree arbitrary and oppressive," since there was still an unex- pended balance of $30,000 belonging to the bridge fund. The town's representatives were instructed to oppose the bill. Tolls were re-established for the last time by an act passed in 1854 to raise funds to rebuild or repair both bridges and to provide a permanent repair fund of $100,000.
The Middlesex Canal, one terminus of which was in this town, at the Neck, was chartered in 1793. The survey was completed in the summer of 1794, and the canal was navigable in 1803.2 In 1836 Boston Avenue, now known as Warren Avenue, was laid out. The same year the Charlestown Wharf Company and the Charlestown Branch Railroad were incorporated. The first named corporation was authorized to hold the water-front from the Navy Yard to Lynde's Point. The Fitchburg Railroad Company, char- tered in 1842, succeeded to the Branch Railroad, and acquired much of the Wharf Company's property. The Middlesex Horse Railroad Company was incorporated April 29, 1854.
In 1800 the National Government was seeking a site for a naval station. On March 27 it was " Voted, that it is the sense of this meeting that it will be of the greatest consequence to this town to have the Continental Dock and Navy Yard established in it; " and a committee was appointed to ascer- tain at what price the necessary land could be had. $73,200 was the price demanded by the seven owners of the land. This sum was deemed ex- orbitant, and another committee was appointed to make a just appraisal of the estates, under oath. They adjudged the land worth $25,180. The town then chose Dr. Aaron Putnam 3 its agent to proceed to the seat of Savona Tamam government, and endeavor to secure the location of the Navy Yard here. He was instructed 4 to oppose the Noddle's Island site, and to call to his aid the influence of our distinguished townsman, the Hon. Samuel
1 A previous, but unsuccessful, attempt had been made in 1840.
2 Cf. Caleb Eddy, Historical Sketch of the Mid- dlesex Canal. Boston, 1843. In 1807 a canal through Back (now Warren) Street was pro- jected, but the plan miscarried. [See Mr. C. F. Adams, Jr.'s chapter in Vol. IV. - Ed.]
8 Dr. Putnam was subsequently appointed agent for the United States; and in 1801 pur- chased and took about sixty-five acres of land for a Navy Yard. Cf. Wyman, Genealogies and Estates of Charlestown, p. 780.
4 His letter of instructions is recorded in the Town Records, ix. 461-63.
557
CHARLESTOWN IN THE LAST HUNDRED YEARS.
Dexter, Jr.,1 who was then one of the United States Senators from Massa- chusetts. The mission was successful.2
The establishment of a naval station in this town marked an epoch in its history. The ruin and desolation caused by the war had given place to prosperity, and the town had as- sumed the aspect of an enter- Name Dexter Jun C prising and successful community. The public buildings had been re- bttilt, the streets improved, and the principal ones furnished (1795) with signboards ; 3 the church and the schools were re-established on firm foundations, and were in a flourishing condition ; the fire department was well organized and well regulated ; and the finances, which had occasioned much solicitude,4 were in a satisfactory condition.
Notwithstanding the slender resources of the town after its destruction, the schools were not permitted to languish. As early as Sept. 15, 1777, a committee was chosen to "fit up the Block House with all convenient speed for a school-house." In 1780 the appropriation for schools was £6000; and in 1781 £100 "hard money." The next year there were three schools, - one within the Neck, taught by Timothy Trumball (H. C. 1774), Timothy Frumball the town clerk; and two others under the care of Samuel Tufts and Lieutenant Samuel Cutter. In 1792 Samuel Payson (H. C. 1782), the town clerk, was in charge of the grammar school. March 27, 1793, on petition of the town, an act was passed incorporat- ing Richard Devens, Nathaniel Gorham, Josiah Bartlett, Aaron Putnam,
1 The Hon. Samuel Dexter (H. C 1781), LL.D., resided in Charlestown for several years on a fine estate, extending from Main Street to Iligh Street on the southerly side of Green Street, now covered by Dexter Row, the Win- throp Church, and the mansions of Mr. Rhodes Lockwood, the Hon. Edward Lawrence, and ex-
2 Cf. Admiral Preble's chapter in the present volume, and Edes's Memorial of Josiah Barker, Boston, 1871. The dry-dock was constructed by the Hon. Loammi Baldwin (H. C. 1800), 1827-34.
3 It was not until 1826 that the streets gener- ally were named and the numbering of the houses Franklinseples begun. Feb. 7, 1831, the selectmen voted to num- ber the houses within the Neck "at once " at the public charge. Town-Hill Street was named Har- Mayor Sawyer. Cf. Story, Sketch of the Life of vard Street on petition of Governor Everett and Samuel Dexter ; and Reminiscences of Samuel others, dated Nov. 7, 1836.
Dexter, by Sigma. [See Mr. Morse's chapter on "The Bench and Bar," in Vol. IV. - ED.]
L Baldiom.
The Hon. Franklin Dexter (I]. C. 1812), L.L.D)., son of the preceding, was born here, Nov. 5, 1793.
4 In 1787-88 the town was obliged to sell some of its lands to liquidate its most press- eu. Bridge ing debts. In 1795 an elabo- rate report on the finances, signed by Josiah Bartlett and Matthew Bridge, is recorded. A new system for keeping the town's accounts was recommended, which sub- sequently was adopted.
558
THE MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BOSTON.
Joseph Hurd, Nathaniel Hawkins, and Seth Wyman as trustees of the Charlestown Free Schools. In 1841 the number of trustees was increased Samt Payson to eleven. Aug. 11, 1800, the trustees of the schools were authorized to erect a new building on the site of the school-house within the Neck to accommodate the school, the town meetings, and other publie business. It was built of brick, contained a town hall1 and a room for the selectmen, and stood on the site of the present old Harvard School-house on Harvard Street. The cost was not to exceed $3,000. In 1837 that part of the nation's " surplus revenue" which was apportioned to Charlestown,2 was set apart for the benefit of the schools. It was invested by the town treasurer in town notes. Only the interest could be expended; and it was pro- vided that this income should in no way supersede the annual appropri- ation for school purposes. In May, 1846, when the trustees' annual report was considered in town-meeting, its recommendation of an appropriation of $500 for teaching music in the grammar schools was indefinitely post- poned. At the annual March meeting in 1831 an attempt was made to establish an English high school.3 A petition for such a school was re- ceived and referred to the trustees for consideration. In the following April they reported upon the project which the town voted to indefinitely postpone. In 1836 there were two determined efforts in the same direc- tion. In March, 1837, the trustees, as requested, reported a scheme for such a school, which was ordered to be printed; and they were requested to look for a proper site and report their conclusions to the town. It was not until 1847-48, however, during the first year of the city government, that the High School-house on Monument Square was built. The corner- stone was laid Oct 7, 1847.
For five years (1778-1783) the Block House, already mentioned, served as the Sunday home of the people. June 24, 1780, it was voted to let the Training-field to the highest bidder, and use the rental to repair it. Sept. 10, 1781, the town chose a committee4 "to solicit subscriptions of the good friends of this town throughout this State to assist us in building a meeting- house." Oct. 27, 1782, the town voted to give to the First Parish " that piece of land commonly called Town-house Hill, for the sole purpose of
1 In 1815 a proposal to buy the Baptist meeting-house on High Street (see pp. 561-63) for a town hall was rejected because of the in- cumbrances upon the estate. March 11, 1816, the town voted to buy the Robbins Tavern lot on the Square at the corner of Harvard Street, for $5,200, at the same time rejecting a proposal to buy the Warren Tavern lot. During the next Iwo years a commodious building, three stories high, with cupola, was erected at a cost of about $20,000. (Cf. Town Records, xi, 25-)
The Warren Tavern, in which was Warren
Hall, is now occupied in part by George S. Mon- roe as a market, at the northerly corner of Main and Pleasant streets.
2 It amounted to $19,230.34, and was re- ceived May 5 and July 5, 1837. The total amount distributed in Massachusetts was $1,338,173.58.
8 April 4, 1825, the town voted to indefinitely postpone the second article in the warrant for the meeting: "To know what measures the town will take to establish a Classical Free School."
4 Judge Gorham, Capt. Cordis, David Wood, Jr., Capt. Eliphalet Newell, and John Brazier.
559
CHARLESTOWN IN THE LAST HUNDRED YEARS.
erecting thereon a house for the public worship of God; " provided it was built within five years, otherwise the grant was to be void. The new meet- ing-house was built the same year. It was a wooden structure,1 72 feet long, 52 feet wide, and 27 feet high to the eaves.2 It had an imposing tower and an elegant steeple,3 designed by Charles Bulfinch (H. C. 1781), of Boston. The building faced the cast, being directly opposite the head of Henley Street.4
In 1804 the meeting-house was widened to 84 feet; and Dr. Bartlett tells us "a convenient chapel, 26 feet long, 21 feet wide, and 1012 feet high, for parish and church meetings, lectures, etc., was built by subscription in the church [amounting to $411], in 1809," in the garden " of a valuable parsonage lot, bequeathed, in 1703, by Mr. Richard Sprague."5 March 5, 1803, the Legislature incorporated "a religious society by the name of the 'First Parish in the Town of Charlestown.'" The town opposed the petition of John Larkin and others for this act.6 The present brick meet- ing-house was dedicated July 3, 1834. In 1852 the building was remodelled and a Norman tower added; into which, in 1868, a chime of sixteen bells 7 was introduced. They were given by Miss Charlotte Harris, of Boston, in memory of many of her ancestors who worshipped here.
The Rev. Thomas Prentice (H. C. 1726) retired to Cambridge in 1775, and lived there, in the house in which he was born, during the remainder of his days; although he continued his ministrations to his scattered flock here. Dr. Budington says: "After an interval of something like three years, the public worship of God and the ordinances of religion were re-established under the ministry of the now aged Prentice." The first
1 Frothingham, History of Charlestown, p. 161, gives a lithographic northwest view of the build- ing as it appeared in 1799.
2 Cf. Bartlett, Historical Sketch of Charles- town, p. 170; and Budington, History of the First Church, p. 235.
8 Ang. 29, 1797, the lown voted to raise eight hundred dollars to discharge the debt in- curred in building this steeple which, including the tower of 72 fcet, was 162 feet in height from the ground to the top of the ball.
4 It was in this building that the services in commemoration of Washington were held, Dec. 31, 1799. Cf. Town Records, ix. 452-54.
When Washington made his northern tour, during the first year of his presidency (1789), he passed through Charlestown on Thursday, Oc-
Beng Trothingham
tober 29, when he wrote in his Diary : " Left Boston about eight o'clock. Passed over the bridge at Charlestown, and went to see that at
Malden, but proceeded to the College at Cam- bridge, attended by the Vice-President John Adams], Mr. Bowdoin, and a great number of gentlemen." Although he was not officially re- ceived here, he made one social call - on Major Benjamin Frothingham, a cabinet-maker, whom he had known in the army, and who was a mem- ber of the Cincinnati.
5 Captain Richard Sprague was the most mu- nificent benefactor of the Charlestown Church. He came from England with his father, Ralph Sprague, about 1628, and dicd, childless, Oct. 7, 1703, although he had been twice married. By his will he devised a large property to his nephews and nieces, to Harvard College, the poor, the Free School, and to the church. His uncle of the same name, who died Nov. 25, 1668, was also styled "Captain." Cf. ante, I. 384, 399 ; Budington, History of the First Church, pp. 148, 159, 192, 193; Soule, Memorial of the Sprague Family ; and Wyman, Genealogies and Estates of Charlestown, pp. 887-92.
6 Cf. Budington, History of the First Church,
p. 237.
7 Cl. N. E. Hist. and Geneal. Reg., xxiv. 284.
500
THE MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BOSTON.
celebration of the cucharist after the return of the inhabitants occurred Nov. 8, 1778, " with great solemnity and fulness of numbers beyond expec- tation."1 Mr. Prentice died June 17, 1782, at the age of eighty years, and was buried here with honors.2 His second wife was Rebecca, daughter of Lieutenant Ebenezer Austin. For nearly five years the church was without a settled minister. Mr. Joshua Paine, Jr. (H. C. 1784), eldest son of the Rev. Joshua and Mary Paine, of Sturbridge, received a unanimous call to the vacant pulpit in November, 1786, and was ordained Jan. 10, 1787. He was born Dec. 5, 1763. At his graduation the second honor, the salutatory oration, was awarded him. He received the honorary degree of A.M. from Yale College in 1787, and died here, of consumption, Feb. 27, 1788,3 when in his twenty-fifth year. Dr. Budington remarks: " Mr. Paine was the last of a long series of pastors who died in the ministry of this church and were interred in this town."
In November, 1788, a unanimous call was extended to the Rev. Jedediah Morse (Y. C. 1783), of New Haven, Conn., who was installed herc April 30, 1789, the Rev. Dr. Jeremy Leskmorte Belknap4 preaching the sermon. Dr. Morse was, ex officio, an overseer of Harvard College, and the unsuccessful candidate of the Orthodox party for the Hollis professorship of divinity at Cambridge, in the memorable contest which resulted in the election of Dr. Henry Ware in 1805. Dr. Morse resigned his pastorate 5 in August,
1 Church Records.
2 Cf. ante, II. 319; Budington, History of the First Church, pp. 140-43, 233, 234.
3 Church Records.
4 Dr. Belknap wrote as follows to his friend Ebenezer Hazard, for several years Postmaster- General at New York, and a family connection of Judge Samuel Breese, whose daughter Dr. Morse married, May 14, 1789 : -
" Boston, Jan. 24, 1789. . . . And now I must make an episode. You said in one of your late letters to me that probably Charlestown people would soon have to build a house for Mr. Morsc. I let this drop in a conversation with a daughter of Mr. [Richard ?] Carey, who is one of my con- gregation ; and 'know one woman by these pres- ents' was never more completely exemplificd. In a day or two it was all over Charlestown ; and the girls who had been setting their caps for him are chagrined; while some of the elders of the land are really enquiring how, when, and where the house shall be got. I suppose it would be something to Mr. Morse's advantage, in point of bands and handkerchiefs, if this report could be contradicted ; but if it cannot, O how heavy will be the disappointment 1 When a
young clergyman settles in such a town as Charlestown there is as much looking out for him as there is for a 1000 dollar prize in a lot- tery; and tho' they know that but one can have him, yet who knows but I may be that one ? A part of Payne's popularity there arose from this circumstance [referring to the Rev. Joshua Paine]. I say a part, for he was really an ami- able character. A Mr. [John] Andrews, who is lately ordained at Newburyport, is just such an object; and I am told that the linen comes in largely from the female part of the parish. I could tell you more, but it would be only expos- ing the weakness of some good folks. Do tell Morse, if he is not too far gone, that it will be much in favor of his popularity, and something in his pocket, if he can come to Charlestown with his neck clear of that fatal noose ; but if he cannot, I shall tremble for him, unless he should bring a yokc-fellow whom they must worship as much as they do him."- Belknap Papers (5 Mass. Hist. Coll.), ii. 97, 98. See also ii. 30, 31.
6 His successors in the First Church pulpit are named in Dr. Tarbox's chapter in the pres- ent volume. Among them was the late Rev. Dr. William Ives Budington (Y. C. 1834), whose
561
CHARLESTOWN IN THE LAST HUNDRED YEARS.
1819; and he was dismissed Feb. 22, 1820. He died in New Haven, June 9, 1826.1
Dr. Morse was a conspicuous figure in the theological controversies of New England, which marked the early part of this century; and his literary works were numerous. He was the author of the first geography printed in America. His pioneer work appeared in New Haven in 1784. The American Universal Geography, in two volumes, was brought out in 1792.2 His best known historical work is A Compendious History of New England, first printed in 1804, the name of the Rev. E. Parish appearing on the title- page as joint author with Dr. Morse. It was this book which provoked the controversy between Dr. Morse and Miss Hannah Adams.3 But Dr. Morse will be chiefly remembered as the leader and special champion of the Orthodox party in the Unitarian controversy.4 He was prominent in the efforts which resulted in the establishment of the theological seminary at Andover, and the founding of Park Street Church in Boston.5 In his own parish the two parties, Orthodox and Unitarian, were quite evenly balanced, with a small numerical preponderance in favor of the former. The Unita- rians, although numbering in their ranks three quarters of all the property holders of the parish, and nearly all the elements of culture, influence, and social standing in the town, withdrew peacefully from the church and soci- ety without demanding any portion of the church funds or plate, or even challenging their possession by those who remained ; and quietly established the Second Congregational Society, of which more is to be said presently.
Dr. Morse's ministry was marked by much internal dissension. In 1800 a considerable number of his parishioners withdrew and formed a Baptist Society. Its first meeting-house was built at the head of Salem Street, on the corner of High and Pearl streets. It was dedicated May 12, 1801. The Rev. Thomas Waterman was the first pastor. He was succeeded by the Rev. William Collier (B. U. 1797) in 1804. The parish was soon involved in pecuniary and other difficulties; and the meeting-house, which Dr. Bartlett describes as " handsome and convenient, with a cupola and bell," passed out
exalted character caused him to be held in the and its author curiously chose to consider the highest esteem by all who knew him; and his excellent history of the church he so faithfully pamphlet a hidden attack on his Orthodoxy and a step towards turning Harvard College into a Unitarian institution ! See Henry Stevens's Hist. Coll., I., No. 224. - ED.]
for J. Busigtin)
served has placed this community, where he was known and loved and honored, under lasting obligation to its author. The pulpit is now vacant.
1 Cf. ante, p. 553; Sprague, Life of Jedediah Morse, D.D .; Wyman, Genealogies and Estates of Charlestown, p. 686; Duyckinek. Cyclopaedia of American Literature, i. 161 ; and Dana, Memoir of the late Hon. Samuel Dana, pp. 14, 15,
2 [The Rev. Dr. James Freeman printed some rather damaging Remarks on This book in 1793,
8 Cf. Hunnewell, Bibliography of Charles- lown, Mass., and Bunker Hill. Boston : 1880, -a valuable compilation, - for a list of Dr. Morse's. publications.
4 Cf. Ellis, Half-Century of the Unitarian Controversy ; Budington, History of the First Church, pp. 150-58; and Dexter, The Congre- gationalism of the last Three Hundred Years, pp. 612-26.
5 The Old South was then the only Congre- gational Church in Boston which had not espoused the Unitarian faith. [See Dr. Tar- box's chapter in the present volume. - ED.]
VOL. 111 .- 71.
562
THE MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BOSTON.
of its hands. It was purchased in 1816 by the Unitarians.1 The Baptists, in 1810, built another meeting-house on the site of their present edifice on Austin Street.2 In 1811 there was another and larger secession from the First Parish to form the First Universalist Society, which built a meeting- house on the site it has ever since occupied.3 The Rev. Abner Kneeland was its first minister. The Rev. Charles Follen Lee is the present pastor.4
In 1815 the greatest secession in the history of the First Parish occurred. The Unitarians who withdrew at that time held their first meeting, Dec. 28, 1815, in Massachusetts Hall in the Indian Chief Tavern,5 the Hon. Josiah Bartlett presiding. It was voted to apply to the Legislature for an act of incorporation as the Second Congregational Society in Charlestown.6 An act was granted, Feb. 9, 1816, in which General Austin's name appears first in the list of corporators. Mr. Thomas Prentiss (H. C. 1811), a class- Thomas Prentifs. mate of Edward Everett and Chief-Jus- · tices Dunkin and Lane, was ordained its first pastor, March 26, 1817. He He was succeeded by Mr. died Oct. 5, 1817, in his twenty-fifth year. James Walker (H. C. 1814), whose ordina- tion occurred April 15, 1818. Dr. Walker James Walker resigned his pastorate, Feb. 18, 1839, hav- ing been called to the Alford Professorship of Natural Religion, Moral Philosophy, and Civil Polity, in Harvard College,7 from which he passed to the presidency of that institution, in 1853.8 He preached his farewell
1 Cf. Edes, History of the Harvard Church in Charlestown, pp. 60-63, 81-88.
2 Their pulpit is now vacant. Cf. A Short History of the First Baptist Church in Charles- town. Boston : 1852; and Christian Watchman (newspaper) for Jan. 4, 1828.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.