USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Walks & talks about historic Boston > Part 4
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
Mr. Henry Irving Fairbanks, President of the Fairbanks Family in America, and his wife live in the bungalow near by and are custodians of the property.
The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company
The men who settled Massachusetts under John Win- throp were not adventurers or fighting men, but they were wise and courageous, and made preparations for defence and also for direct hostilities when occasion required. Their Charter authorized the Governor and Company "from tyme to tyme, and at all tymes, hereafter, for the special defence and safety, to incounter, repulse, repell and resist by force of arms, as well by sea as by land, and by all fitting waies, and means, whatsoever, all such person or persons, as shall, at any tyme hereafter, attempt, or enterprise the destruction, invasion, detriment, or annoyance to the said plantation, or inhabitants."
The John Winthrop Colony brought over quite a stock of ordnance, firearms, powder, munitions and equipments, for a number of men. Train bands were organized almost immediately upon their arrival, and these were drilled by veteran officers, who were paid for their services. As early as 1631, an order was issued for the monthly training of these bands. In 1636 there were ten of them, officered by leading men of the Colony, many of whom had belonged to the Honorable Artillery Company of London. The recol- lection of that organization, doubtless, prompted twenty-four of the Massachusetts officers in 1638, to form an Artillery Company in New England which would serve as a Military School, in which the officers of the scattered town companies could acquire uniformity of tactics and drill. They petitioned Governor Winthrop for a charter of incorporation, and the Military Company of Massachusetts as the Artillery Com- pany was first called, was organized in Boston on the first Monday in June, 1638. The officers elected on that day. ac- cording to the second article in the Charter, were all char- ter members. There was a captain, lieutenant, ensign, two sergeants, clerk and drummer. The Book of Discipline of that day says, "The Captain was expected to be a good pos- ture man himself, that when he sees any of his soldiers handle their arms in an indecent and slovenly manner. he
37
38
W'alks and Talks About Historic Boston.
may the better reprove them for the same. His place of marching with his company is some six feet before the first division of musketers." The position of the other officers is also clearly defined. The drummer, at that time, Arthur Perry, was quite an important personage, in the town as well
An Artilleryman of the Olden Time
as in the company. There were no newspapers, at that time. The first printing press was not brought over from England and set up in Cambridge, until 1639, so the drum beat sum- moned the faithful to Church, and to the weekly lectures, besides summoning the military to their colors for drill and parade. When the Artillery Company paraded, the Color was displayed early in the morning from the vicinity of the market, after which the Drummer, accompanied by a Sergeant, beat "to the colors" along the water side to Winni-
39
Wl'alks and Talks About Historic Boston.
simmet Ferry, and then back along what is now Hanover Street, to Tremont Street, which was then a cart path along the edge of the Common. Captain Robert Keayne lived on State Street opposite the First Church, now the present Mer- chants Bank Building. As founder and first Captain of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, Mr. Keayne de- serves more than a mere mention of his name. He was born at Windsor, England, in 1595, and joined the Honorable Ar- tillery Company of London in 1623. He came to America in 1635, in the ship "Defence" and commenced business as a tailor on the southeast corner of State and Washington Streets. He had some capital, and this with his industry and energy soon made him one of the leading Colonists. He was a firm friend and supporter of Governor Winthrop. He bought over 300 acres of land in what is now Revere. Be- cause he accumulated money, it was considered an offence by some of his townsmen and he was brought to Court for trial. The Court said among many other things, "Inasmuch as he was already wealthy and had but one child, and inas- much as he came over for conscience sake, he shall not strive to make money." The Church Elders decided to compro- mise the matter by his paying "Eighty pounds, Captain Keayne having promised with tears not to strive to make money." The incident shows the prevailing idea in the good Old Colony times, regarding the amassing of great wealth. The "Trusts" of today would have fared hardly at the hands of these rigid Puritans. Captain Keayne was highly respected by his fellow townsmen. He gave liberally to the town, the Church and the schools. He gave £250 to Harvard College, and a like sum for a Town Library and for introducing fresh water into his neighborhood. Every institution designed for the benefit of the people. received liberal donations from him. In his will he left £300 for a market place and building which should have rooms for the Townsmen, the Courts, a Library and an Armory. He died in his own house March 23. 1655. It is thought that he was buried in King's Chapel Burying Ground.
In the Bi-Centennial sermon before the Ancient and Hon- orable Artillery Company, Rev. Dr. Samuel K. Lothrop, speaks of Captain Keayne: "as belonging to the great mid- dling class of New England, who, possessing neither extra- ordinary wealth. nor extraordinary talent. vet have been eminent for their public usefulness, for their high moral
of
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
worth as men and for their faithful services as citizens."
Among the prominent men belonging to the Artillery Company was Humphrey Atherton, who came to America in 1635 and signed the covenant of the Dorchester Church. He showed a great taste for military affairs and occupied a leading position in the militia of the Province. He was fre- quently sent to treat with the Indians. He was a man of great strength and personal courage. He had several chil- dren and gave them peculiar names, which was characteris- tic of the times. They were Jonathan, Rest, Increase, Thankful, Hope, Consider, Watching and Patience. He was killed by a fall from his horse September 17, 1661. He was buried in the North Dorchester Burying Ground at Upham's Corner, where his epitaph may still be read:
"Here lies our Captain and Suffolk, was withal
A worthy magistrate was he, and Major General
Two troops of horse with him here came, such worth his love did crave,
Ten companies of foot also mourning, marched to his grave, Let all who read be sure to keep the truth as he has done
With Christ he now is crowned, his name was Humphrey Atherton."
Robert Turner was another officer of the Artillery Com- pany. He was an innholder and kept the "Blue Anchor Tavern on the site of the Boston Globe building. The rooms in the Tavern were designated as the "Cross Keys," "Green Dragon," "The Anchor and Castle Chamber," and the "Rose and Sun Low Room." He furnished lodgings and refresh- ments for the Selectmen, prominent officials and the Clergy when they met in Convention.
Robert Bridges was another character who figured promi- nently in the early history of the company. He was one of a committee of five to draft bills for "positive laws against lying, Sabbath breaking, profanity, drunkenness and kindred vices."
John Hull was captain in 1671 and was a silversmith. He made a contract with the Province for coining silver money, the first coinage being in 1652. He was allowed to take as his pay fifteen pence out of every twenty shillings. He amassed a large fortune out of this contract. The General Court desired to be released from it, but Captain Hull de- clined to do so. His daughter married Samuel Sewall, after- wards Chief Justice of the Province. There is a tradition that
4!
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
when dressed for the wedding and in the presence of the guests, her father placed her in his large scales, and piled the silver shillings on the other side until the scales balanced, and that was her wedding dowry.
The Civil War in England began in 1642 between Charles the First and Parliament. It was in 1633 that Oliver Crom- well came to the front as Leader of the "Independents" and became their soul and inspiration. Several of the Boston Artillery Company espoused the cause represented by Cromwell and served under him on the battlefield. We re- cord their names and some of the descendants are still among us. The roll of names is as follows: Col. George Cooke, Col. John Leverett, Col. Stephen Winthrop, Wm. Rainsburrow, Lieut. Col. Israel Stoughton, Major Nehemiah Bourne, Major Benj. Keayne, Major Samuel Shepard, Sur- geon Francis Lyall, Captain William Hudson, Capt. Thos. Marshall, Ensign Thomas Tucker. We have given only a few names of the many prominent citizens who served hon- orably in this old Artillery Company. From 1637 to 1737 there were 952 names, including the Charter Members, borne upon the rolls.
The position of those persons in the social, civil and mili- tary life of the Colony and Province indicate the respect which the people entertained for the company as well as the ability, prominence and influence of its members. They were the first in organizing churches and supporting them; they were the constant friends of public schools; they were prominent in framing and administering the laws of the Colony: they were foremost in the introduction of manufac- tures and in the extension of the trade of Boston; many of them were public benefactors, devoting somewhat of their wealth to religion, education and charity. They trod every battlefield of New England in the first century of the com- pany's existence.
Their loyalty to this country stands forth fearless and prominent. They planned, spoke and acted to hasten the birth of the Independency of the Colonies and the estab- lishment of the Republic of the United States. And what was true of the character, benevolence and devotion of the members of the company to the best interests of the com- munity, state and nation during the first one hundred years of its existence, has been true all the subsequent years of its history down to the present date.
TAHA
A Modern Artilleryman
The Late Moses E. Chandler, for Many Years an Active Member of the 1. & H. A. Company
Statue John Harvard
Cotton Mather and the Days of Witchcraft in Rew England
The name of Mather figures very prominently among the clergy in the early days of Boston. Rev. Increase Mather was pastor of the New North Church. Until the great fire of 1677, when his residence was destroyed, he lived in North Square. He then built a house on the corner of Hanover and Bennett Street, where he lived until his death. and here his celebrated son, Cotton Mather, spent many of his boy- hood days. For over 100 years this house was virtually the parsonage, for here, after the days of the Mathers, lived the distinguished Andrew Eliot, and here his equally celebrated son, John, for 50 years in the 17th century. They were pastors in succession of the New North Church from 1742 to 1813. On the corner of Hanover and North Bennett Streets may be seen the following inscription, on a tablet :
Rev. Increase Mather. Minister of the Second Church 1669-1673, removed to a house on this site after the Great Fire of 1676. It was later the home of Andrew and John Eliot, Father and Son, Minis- ters of the New North Church, 1742-1813.
A recent writer in his "Glimpses of Old Boston," published in the Boston Post, says: "This house was the first in Bos- ton to be visited by the garrulous John Dunton, a London bookseller, whose account of his residence here affords a very vivid picture of the Boston of the 17th century. ‘I made my first visit,' says Dunton, 'to that revered and learned divine, Rev. Increase Mather; he is the present rector of Harvard College; he is deservedly called the metropolitan clergyman of the kingdom. And the next to him in fame (whom I likewise visited at the same time) is his son, Mr. Cotton Mather, an excellent preacher, a great writer ; he has very lately finished the Church History of New England, which I am going to print. "Cotton Mather, the son of Rev.
45
46
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
Increase Mather, was born in Boston, February 12, 1663. He is said to have been a most precocious student, entering Har- vard College at the early age of thirteen. He tells us in his own words, that at the age of fourteen he had read Terence, Ovid, Virgil, and other Latin poets, and was so familiar with
that dead language, that he took notes in Latin of the sermon. He read the New Testament in Greek and he began to study Hebrew, which he mastered before his fourteenth birthday. He taught school for several years after he graduated from Harvard. Later he was ordained to the ministry and he be- came a colleague of his father, who was then pastor of the Old North Church of Boston, where he remained as colleague and pastor until his death in 1728. He was a most prolific
47
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
writer, being the author of nearly four hundred volumes, chiefly of a religious nature, the best known of which is his "Magnolia." But he stands out most prominently among the men of his time as a firm believer in
WITCHCRAFT
and as the principal leader and prosecutor in the trials of the so-called "Witches." The belief in "Witches" and "Witchcraft" was universal in those days. For three hun- dred years the Church of Rome sanctioned the most ex- treme punishment of persons whom they found guilty of witchcraft. Thousands of suspected persons were burned alive, drowned or hanged. In Germany it was estmated that in the sixteenth century, more than one hundred thou- sand persons accused and convicted of this sorcery, per- ished in the flames. The most enlightened men of Eng- land, even in the days of the Commonwealth, held the be- lief. The ministers entered earnestly into the work of stamping out this delusion, and, because of their powerful social influence, they did more to foster the wild excitement and produce the distressing results of what is known in his- tory as
"SALEM WITCHCRAFT"
than all others. Hubbard, the Puritan Historian, believed that "America was originally peopled with a crew of witches transported thither by the devil." Cotton Mather seems to have fully shared this belief as shown in his methods and that of his associates in dealing with witches in the case of the poor old Irish woman who was hanged as a witch. The circumstances are as follows: In 1688, a wayward daughter of John Goodwin, about thirteen years of age, accused a servant girl of stealing some of the family linen. The servant's mother, a wild Irish woman and a Roman Catholic, vehemently rebuked the accuser as a false witness. The young girl in revenge, pretended to be be- witched by the Irish woman. Some others of the family followed her example. They would alternately become deaf, dumb and blind, bark like dogs, purr like cats, but none of them lost their appetites or sleep. Cotton Mather took the cases in hand and hastened to the Goodwin home, to allay the witchery by prayer. Wonderful were the alleged
48
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
facts of his supplications. The devil was controlled by them for a time. Four other ministers of Boston, and one of Salem, and all as superstitious and credulous as Mather, joined him, and they spent a whole day in fasting and prayer in the house of the "afflicted," the result of which was the "delivery" of one of the family from the power of the "witch."
This was sufficient proof for the minds of the ministers, that there must be a witch in the case, and these deluded clergymen persecuted the ignorant Irish woman as such. She was bewildered before the court, and spoke sometimes in her native Irish language, which nobody could under- stand, and which her accusers and judges construed into involuntary confession. Mather and his associates had the satisfaction of seeing this poor old Irish woman hanged as a witch "for the glory of God." An epidemic broke out in Salem, and when the physicians found themselves unable to control it, they ascribed the malady to the
witches. People believed that Satan and his evil spirits had been permitted to overshadow the land with a ter- rible visitation. The terror in the people's mind caused them to forthwith accuse some individual. The afflicted and the accused became so numerous, that no person was safe from suspicion, and its consequences. Those who were ac- tive in the persecution, themselves became objects of suspi- cion. A constable, who had arrested many and refused to arrest any more, was accused, condemned and hanged." Sir William Phipps, the Governor, and near relations of the Mathers, and learned men who had suffered the delusion to go on, in their turn became objects of suspicion. The Gov- ernor's wife, one of the best and purest of women, was ac- cused of being a witch. Some prominent people were com- pelled to fly to save their lives, and near relatives of the Mathers were imprisoned. As might have been expected, malice and revenge made use of this terrible weapon to ac- cuse the innocent, and when the statements of the accused would move the Court in their favor, the accuser would de- clare that he saw the devil standing beside the victim and whispering words in his ear, and, incredible as it may appear, the judges on the bench would believe the statement. It was not until the magistrates in Church and State found them- selves in danger that they remembered the Golden Rule and saw the wickedness of their conduct and called a halt in the
49
W'alks and Talks About Historic Boston.
persecution. "A citizen of Andover, who was accused, was wiser and bolder than others had been, and immediately caused the arrest of his accuser on a charge of defamation of character, laying his damages at five thousand dollars. The public mind was in sympathy with this action, its effect was wonderful, and the atmosphere began to clear." It compelled the clergy to take action. At a convention held in June, 1693. they made the devil a convenient scapegoat for the sins and follies of magistrates, clergy and people by stating that "the devil might assume the shape of a good man and so deceive the afflicted." Governor Phipps, after his wife was accused. at once gave orders for the release of all persons under arrest for witchcraft. "A day of general fast and supplica- tion was held 'that God would pardon all the errors of his servants and people in a late tragedy raised among us by Satan and his servants.' Then followed many solemn de- nials by parties who had accused others, of the statements they had made.
Judge Sewall, who had presided at many trials at Salem, stood up in his place in church on that Fast Day, and im- plored the prayers of the people "that the errors which he had committed might not be visited by the judgments of an avenging God on his country, his family, or himself." Dur- ing the six months that this delusion was at its greatest height, nineteen persons were hanged, one killed by being pressed to death, fifty-five tortured and frightened to a con- fession of guilt and one hundred and fifty were imprisoned.
During all this time there was no such thing as mutual confidence. While other leading men saw the error of their ways and made open confession of them, and abandoned the belief. Cotton Mather, made no confession or retraction. He persisted in the belief and continued to write in its de- fense. As one historian says: "Mather's account of the de- lusion is unprofitable reading. It deals in the absurd fancies of a man deluded by bigotry, superstition and childish credulity." Robert Calef, a merchant, wrote many letters. which were published, in which he ridiculed the views of Mather and there was a long controversy between them. They aroused the anger of Mather, who used very strong language and prosecuted Calef for slander. Mather's let- ters were published in book form. Cotton Mather's kinsman, at that time president of Harvard College, to show his dis- approval, caused several copies of the book to be publicly
50
Walks and Talks About Historic Boston.
burned on the College grounds. It was a dark and unpleas- ant chapter in the history of the New England colony. It made a lasting and unfavorable impression not only on the civilized world but upon the minds of their nearest neigh- bors, the savage Indians, who turned from a religion which inflicted such cruelties upon one's own countrymen. It was of service to the Jesuits, whose missionaries were laboring among them and who presented religion in a milder and more beneficent form. The Indians, therefore, naturally allied themselves to the French in the wars which followed, which resulted in great loss and distress to the colonies.
The house shown in the cut was probably built by Cotton Mather and was his home for thirty years. He bought the site in 1688 and in 1718 sold the property to Mr. Turrell. In 1822 the property came into possession of John Howard, whose daughter sold it to John Miller. It remained prac- tically as it was built until 1846, when the front wall was taken down and the building extended to the street, and the site is No. 288 Hanover street. It was a comfortable look- ing dwelling and located in what was then, a quiet and pop- ular neighborhood.
Cotton Mather's Home
The Puritan Blue Laws
In this Twentieth Century all sorts of isms seem to drift naturally to Boston. Sometimes they find a welcome and in course of time gain many adherents, for in these days there is no arm raised to crush them or banish them to the wilderness. They may have to run the gauntlet of criticism or ridicule from the press, but as long as they keep within the pale of the law, no harsher measures are used. This toleration is in marked contrast to the methods which prevailed in this Puritan town of Boston from 1630 to 1700. The Puritan of those days regarded himself as his" brother's keeper," to save him from error. "In his opinion he was God's chosen High Priest." The laws of that day on the Statute Books, and the records of Court proceedings show his stern, unflinching character.
Having invited the persecuted of all lands to come to them, many "unsettled persons," and of unrestrained opin- ions, came to Massachusetts to disseminate their peculiar views. The Puritan then became alarmed. He saw clearly in that dissemination of differing opinions the disorganiza- tion of his church. His ideas on Church and Civil Gov- ernment were founded on deep convictions, and it must be remembered that he was not broadly educated. He felt that the country which he had conquered with so much toil and peril, was his own, and that he had "as good a right to regulate its internal affairs according to his own notions, and exclude all obnoxious persons, as had a house- holder the affairs of his family, and the avoidance of an unwelcome visitor." To guard his church and protect so- ciety and his domain, the Puritan went to the extreme in the passage of fiery penal laws, and he was implacable in their execution. There were no dead letters on his Stat- ute Book. A law once established must be rigidly en- forced. This iron rule of bigotry was condemned by not a few good citizens in those days, but it was many years before the rigor of those terrible laws was relaxed. The leading men, Governors and Ministers, were very strong
51
52
W'alks and Talks About Historic Boston.
and extreme in their views. "God forbid," says Governor Dudley in his old age, "our love for the truth should be grown so cold that we should tolerate errors."
"Better tolerate hypocrites and tares, than thorns and briers," said the well beloved parson, Rev. John Cotton. "To say that a man ought to have liberty of conscience is impious ignorance," said Parson Ward of Ipswich. "Re- ligion admits of no eccentric notions," said Parson Norton, the colleague of Ward, biographer of Cotton, and a chief per- secutor of the Quakers.
They forbade all gaming for amusement or gain, and would not allow cards or dice to be introduced into the Colony.
They fined families where young women did not spin as much flax or wool daily as the Selectmen required of them.
They would not allow a Jesuit or Roman Catholic priest to live in the Colony.
They forbade all persons to run, or even walk, except reverently to and from church on Sunday.
They doomed a burglar because he had committed his crime on that sacred day to have one of his ears cut off.
They commanded John Wedgewood to be put in the stocks for being in the company of drunkards.
Thomas Petit for suspicion of slander, idleness and stubbornness, to be severely whipped.
Captain Lovell was ordered "to take heed of light car- riage."
Josias Plaistow for stealing four baskets of corn from the Indians was ordered to return to them eight baskets of corn, to be fined four pounds, and thereafter to be called by the name of "Josias" and not Mr. Plaistow as formerly.
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.