Brookline Town (part 1 of 4)

Town Officers

Board of Health. - Dr. T. E. Francis, Dr. Robert Amory, Desmond Fitzgerald. Water Board. - Edward S. Philbrick, Cliarles K. Kirby, Oliver Wlryte. Commissioners of Sinking Fund. - J. C. Abbott, William A. Welhnan, Charles

Source changes here: from History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men, by Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Ed, published 1884; 53,465 words in this source stream.

Brookline Town

His early education was such only as was afforded by the common schools of his native town, which at that period were kept only during the winter months.

but such as they were he improved, so that by close application and study, and with scarcely any instruction, except what he himself was able to glean from books, he became a successful teacher, not only of the grammar school but in the teaching of music, and also of penmanship, his success was marked ; became so marked that in the following year a committee from the town of Holland, Mass., waited upon him with a request to him to take charge of a school in that town. Leaving the paternal dwelling in 1808, he took up his residence in Holland, where he taught some two years with good success.

Mills Village (so called), which, upon accepting, he immediately entered with energy upon the work before him, teaching some seven years in the town with such success that upon his resignation the school committee gave him the highest praise possible by the statement period the richest man in Massachusetts), invited him to accept of a partnership with him in conducting a business enterprise in the city of Boston; but the offer, though a very advantageous one (one which, if accepted, was reasonably sure to bring him a com- He seemed to have had no desire for riches, but rather, caring naught for wealth, offered daily invocations to the Lord " more of his grace than goods to lend."

He was postmaster of Milton for thirty-seven years, judge of the District Court, major of the First Regiment Massachusetts Militia, deacon of the Third Religious Society of Dorchester (of whose choir he was leader for nearly thirty years), town clerk of Milton, and a member of the school committee.

In the early days of the temperance movement he enrolled himself as an ardent worker in the cause, and was for many years prominent in his efforts for the suppression of the evils resulting from the traffic in intoxicating liquors, delivering addresses in many places, ete. His sound sense made him a believer in moral as opposed to legal suasion, and as he believed so he taught.

He left not riches, founded no professorship, endowed no institute of learning, but his whole life was spent in the service of his fellow-men. He died Aug. 26, 1864, leaving a name which will ever be honorably inscribed in the annals of the town.

By Bradford Kingman

Topography of the Town. - Brookline is the most unique and picturesque town in the vicinity of the metropolis of New England. It lies in the extreme northeast corner of Norfolk County, in latitude 42° 19' 32" north, and longitude 71° 00' 7" west and one-half miles. In 1855 the northerly part of the town bordering on the river was ceded to Boston, so that the northerly bounds as now situated are the

_and a quarter miles, and on West Roxbury about two His passion for study commencing in early life was | continued through middle age, and with such diligence | and three-quarter miles ; on the southwest it is bounded by West Roxbury, about three-quarters of a mile, and on Newton about one mile; on the northwest it is bounded by Newton about three-quarters of a mile, It runs northeast and southwest about four and three-tenths miles, and southeast and northwest about one and two-thirds miles. Previous to the setting off the northerly portion of the town the territory comprised four thousand six hundred and ninety-five acres ; since that time it contains four thousand three hundred acres, or about seven square miles, and has forty miles of roads. Hills. - Brookline is not what might be termed an elevated township, but like most towns near the seashore the land gradually rises from the water to the | interior till it reaches the highest point, which is Lyman's, or Cabot's, Hill, which is three hundred and thirty-six feet above high-water mark.

and Heath Streets, on the south of Boylston and north of Heath Streets. On the east, at a short distance, is the residence of Hon. Theodore Lyman, M.C., and formerly the home of his late father, Gen. Theodore Lyman, - a magnificent residence, with a lawn and location bearing a strong resemblance to

Next in order is Hyde's Hill, on the southerly side of Newton and nearly opposite Clyde Street. This hill is occupied as a farm by William J. Hyde, and

The third highest hill is on the westerly side of South Street, nearly opposite Grove Street, near the standpipe of the Brookline Water-Works, which is three hundred and six feet in height.

southeast westerly of Newton Street, isa long range of highland called Walnut Hill, or Denny's Hill, with an average height of two hundred and eighty-three feet.

Hill, but which has lately been known by the name _of Goddard Heights. This land has been owned in | the Goddard family for a long time, hence the name. | Abijah W. Goddard is the present proprietor.

to the summit. In 1869 an avenue was built over this hill to Brighton, that the many visitors might have an easier ascent to the top. A fine macadamized road-bed was thoroughly built, with paved gutters, and a plank walk laid for pedestrians. Previous long time, till of late new owners have appreciated Some have resorted thither upon the advice of their physicians, and with satisfactory results to their health ; for, curious as it may appear, the air is warmer in the winter season by four to six degrees on the hill than in the valley below, while the cool, refreshing breezes This hill, from its peculiar position and prominence, is destined to become more and more sought after as a | place of residence by those who appreciate widely-ex-

On some fine afternoon in summer-time let the reader start from the easterly end of Summit Avenue on Beacon Street and by slow degrees make the ascent. As he nears the summit the prospect widens, till he sees a beautiful panorama spread out before him in nature's loveliness at his very feet. Let us notice a few only of the many fine objects to be seen from the highest point on the hill. Looking to the southwest we see the famous Chestnut Hill Reservoirs, two picturesque sheets of water, with the unequaled drives around the same, the granite-arched entrance to the _inclosure, and the fine borders of granite, and grass, so charming to the eye. Farther to the left may be _ seen some of the other hills of the town, also famous | for their location and the views to be had from the _ same, as Aspinwall's, in near proximity to where we stand, while farther away are Fisher's, Lyman's, Chestnut Hills, and Goddard Heights at the extreme south part of the town, and as we turn our eye still farther are the villages of Dedham, Hyde Park, and Roxbury Highlands, with their towering church Passing these and still farther spires distinctly seen. away, our eyes catch glimpses of the Blue Hills of Milton, from which Massachusetts derived her name, and again to the north of these are Dorchester Heights, rendered famous in the Revolution, and then the full bay is spread out before you, with the white sails of large and smaller craft floating back and forth on the blue waters, while steamers are lively bearing hundreds on excursions of pleasure to near and remote places, while now and then the majestic floating-palaces bound for foreign countries may be seen. Directly to the east may be seen the gilded dome of the State-House, with Beacon Street dividing the waters of the Back Bay, and the elegant residences crowded on both sides of the same, also broad |

Commonwealth Avenue, which, together with the many fine residences, public buildings, and churches in the new section of the capital city, makes a fine picture.

To the left of the city we cannot fail to notice that ever-to-be-seen granite monument, standing on the ground rendered memorable by the battle of Bunker's Hill. A little stretch of the vision to the north of this colossal structure are the cities of Malden and Somerville, and the towns of Everett, Arlington, and many others. Casting our eye to the left of the above-named places, we see the tall chimneys of Hast Cambridge, showing enterprise in the manufacturing business.

To the north of where we now stand is the seat of learning named in honor of John Harvard, with the numerous buildings belonging to the same, while farther on to the westward may be seen the tower and cemetery of Mount Auburn, and the tall chimney of the United States Arsenal at Watertown, from whence, if it be near sunset, we may hear the gun and see the smoke of the powder. 'To the north of this eminence, in the distant view may be seen the snow-capped White Mountains of New Hampshire rising majestically, also the towering '* Monadnock" is distinctly visible, while to the west in solitary grandeur is the lofty '' Wachusett." From this elevation we have named some of the many distant views, we will mention a few of those near at hand. With the exception of the rocky conglomerate ledge at Roxbury, there are but few of the rough, ragged rocks or chitecture, and are embowered in groves of fruit and ornamental trees. The business portion of the town or village is a short distance to the southeast on the one hand, nestling at the foot of the mount, while on the east and north is the beautifully winding and circuitous Charles River, up which Winthrop and his party made explorations, also the rural settlements at Longwood. The rear slope of this hill contains a natural growth of woods, while the surrounding prospect is beautified by evergreen foliage of many a shade, orchards laden with fruit, vintages bearing the ripening clusters, and if it chance to be late in autumn, all is lighted by the rich tints of the maple, birch, beech, and elm. Another and remarkable feature of the view is its uninterrupted distinctness in the lines of avenues and streets, all of which are clearly defined, while to the ocean the picture expands with equal breadth and beauty. Within a few years, on one of the large buttonwood-trees, which were the last of the many trees remaining on the summit of this hill, was a tin signal used by the United States Coast Survey as a point from which they made their calculations. This drive over Summit Avenue was the favorite drive of Professor Agassiz. On his first visit to this place early in the afternoon, he was so charmed with the view that he remained till dark to take in the inexhaustible richness of the prospect ; for four succeeding days he took the same drive, and ever afterwards it was his most frequent place of visitation.

President Eliot is often seen on horseback communing with nature alone on this grand height, and is said to have pronounced this one of the most delightful spots in the country.

One of our own townsmen, who has had an ample opportunity of observation, a gentleman of taste and culture, says, '"'In all my travels in Europe tever have I seen so much loveliness as presents itself to the

The valleys between these hills are fertile, adorned with grass and grain of every kind, and flowers of every hue; gentle rills wind through the meadows, marking their courses by a fresher green and a belt of luxuriant growth, - these all blend in perfect harmony, and present a prospect fraught with all that is rich in agriculture and pleasing in rural scenery. With this |

Another has written: 'To depict the beauties of this place, or to make manifest to others the inward emotions and ecstasies which well up in the bosom of

The next prominent elevation is that well known as the Aspinwall Hill, of little less height than some of the other eminences in the town, but none the less beautiful. This land is on the southerly side of Washington Street, and extends from Cypress Street on the east to Beacon Street on the west, and to the rail-

1803 erected the mansion-house on the same, now oceupied by a grandson of the doctor, of the same name. 'The view from this mansion commands a fine landscape picture for miles around, and although not as high as some others, the scenery is delightful.

by building superior streets and laying out the lands for residences, which we notice are now coming into market through the Aspinwall Land Company, an association organized for the purnose of placing some of the best land, for the erection of fine buildings, to be found in the town. The surface of this hill is well covered with wood, consisting of the sturdy oak, chestnut, and walnut.

Fisher's Hill, sometimes called Henshaw Hill, is two hundred and forty feet high, and is near the corner of Brighton and Boylston Streets, has a fine broad top, from which the view of the surrounding country is exceedingly elegant, and on account of the eleva- and on the southerly side of the old Boston reservoir. The prospect from this hill, like all the hills in Brookline, is fine, but quite limited in comparison with many The north side of this is covered with residences, and there are more fine locations here to be found.

To the north of the village of Brookline, and near to the village of '' Allston," is an elevation known as '"' Babcock Hill," on which is a mansion-house, which has formerly been occupied as a private residence, where at one time Holmes Hinckley, Esq., of the '' Boston Locomotive Works," had his home, and later occupied by Shadrach Robinson and the Hon. Alanson W. Beard, late collector of the port of Boston, but is now a hotel, known as the '"' Hawthorne House."

Rivers and Ponds. - The town of Brookline is well watered by numerous small streams, some of which are not of sufficient size to be dignified by the The principal stream is tioned '' Bradley's" Hill, formerly called " Walley's" Hill, from Thomas Walley, who resided near the corner of Cypress and Walnut Streets. Capt. Bradley purchased this property about 1820, and erected upon the same several small tenement-houses, or bought and removed thither old houses, till the settlement became notorious. Meeting-House" which he erected on the highest part of the hill, in which Capt. Bradley would imitate church worship from an old pulpit which he had, and from which he would hold forth on the Sabbath to a base crowd, and generally winding up the service by treating "all around." This church, so called, was an old barn, with a spire erected on the same, so that north boundary of the town previous to the change of the line between Boston and Brookline in 1855. This river, which has been called '' Massachusetts," - the Indian's name of which was '' Quinobequin,' - rises in Hopkinton and Milford, and flows through the towns of Bellingham, Franklin, Medway, Medfield, Sherburne, Natick, Dover, Dedham, Needham, Newton, Weston, Waltham, Watertown, Brighton, Brookline, Cambridge, and Charlestown, to Boston Harbor. The tide extends up about four miles from Boston to while it was only a carpenter-shop. oddity Mr. Bradley delighted. Just previous to his death a Mr. Hart purchased the premises and _ removed the buildings to other localities, and the land now belongs to the "Goddard Heirs." This is a delightful spot of land, and will no doubt eventually be used for elegant residences. It lies just south of the extraordinary circumstance in its nature, and such as By this phenomenon the towns of Brookline, Boston, Brighton, Newton, Roxbury, Dorchester, and a strip from the towns of Dedham and Watertown, form an island, or rather are circumscribed by the waters of Charles

Harbor. larly circuitous that in passing from Dover to Sherburne over its bed in a straight line to its estuary or outlet is fourteen miles, while, taken by the serpentine course of its water, it measures thirty-eight and into the " Back Bay," sometimes called ' Charles River Bay," the centre of the stream forming the boundary line between Roxbury (Boston) and Brookline. The early settlement of the locality called " Muddy River" was named from the fact that this river was naturally muddy, owing to its peculiar location. itants there were two landings on this stream, known as "Cotton Landing" and " Aspinwall's Dock," where bricks and wood were landed. In order to a proper understanding as to how these docks were of use, direction, it empties into Muddy River near the works of the Brookline Gas Company. its rise near W. B. Cowan's farm and the vicinity of Warren Street, running in a northerly direction, and between the old reservoir belonging to the city of

Stearn's (now William Stearn's) land, and running northerly to "' Swallow Pond," so called, at the corner of Freeman and Essex Streets, and from thence on to hood Cemetery," and uniting with the waters leading from " Hammond's Pond" at the southwest corner or outlet of the pond, and running southerly through the meadows to the west corner of Brookline, where there was a sufficient accumulation of water at Newton through what is well known as " Bald Pate Meadows," through the south part of Newton by Palmer's, through " Brook Farm" to Charles River, near "' Cow Island." This stream was known as " Pond Brook," or "* Palmer Brook."

| its source in the northeasterly corner of Brighton District, and then running northerly across Brighton Avenue and the Albany Railroad, it empties into This forms the boundary line between Brookline and Brighton at the extreme northwest corner.

Ponds. - There are but three sheets of water in the town, viz.: the original " Boston Reservoir," on Boylston Street, the " Brookline Reservoir,' on the summit of '" Fisher's Hill," and one pond known as ''Swallow Pond," sometimes called ' Hall's Pond," where it is said they have never been able to find any bottom.

"Trees both in hills and plaines, in plenty be, The long liv? Oake, and mournful Cypris tree, Skie-towering Pines, and Chesnuts coated rough, The lasting Cedar, with the Walnut tough; The rosin-dropping Firr for masts in use; The boatman seeke for oares, light, neat grown, Sprewse, The brittle Ash, the ever-trembling Aspes, The broad-spread Elme, whose concave harbors waspes ; The water-spongie Alder, good for nought, Small Elderne by th' Indian Fletchers sought, The knotty Maple, pallid Birtch, Hauthornes, The Hornbound tree that to be cloven scornes, Which, from the tender Vine oft takes its spouse, Who twinds imbracing armes about his boughes. Within this Indian Orchard fruits be some, The ruddie Cherrie and the jettie Plumbe, Snake murthering Hazell, with sweet Saxaphrage, Whose Spurnes in beere allays hot fevers rage, The diars [dyers] Shumach, with more trees there be, That are both good to use and rare to see."

_ company, numbering forty-seven in all, who removed Another stream rises in the low ground around | Hammond Street, and running southerly of " Holy- | from Mount Wollaston by order of court. They removed to New Town with the impression that New Town would be the metropolis of the colony. In May, 1634, scarcely three years from their beginning, they complained of straitness for want of land, especially meadow, and requested leave to look for en- Messengers were sent in different directions to explore, remove to Connecticut. The question of their removal occupied the attention of the court for several days ; the principal reasons for their removal were want of accommodations for their cattle. '" So as they were not able to maintain their ministers, nor could vote upon the question of their removal to Connecticut, and of the deputies fifteen were in favor of their departure and ten against it. and two assistants were in favor of granting their request, and the deputy and all the other assistants opposed to their removal. Upon this state of things there grew up great differences of opinion between

The enlargements of land granted by Boston and Watertown to quiet the people in New Town (now Cambridge) were what is now Brookline, Brighton, about one hundred men, women, and children, composing the whole of Mr. Hooker's congregation, left New Town, and traveled one hundred miles through a trackless wilderness to Connecticut. They arrived safely at Hartford, and laid the foundation of that city.

viously been assigned to individuals. These grants, or donations, of land to New Town were made upon condition that Mr. Hooker's company should not remove, as appears by the following, ©

"Also it is ordered, that the ground aboute Muddy Ryver, belonging to Boston, & vsed by the inhabitants thereof, shall hereafter belonge to Newe-Towne, the wood & Timber thereof groweinge & to be groweinge to be reserved to the inhabitants should revert to Boston if they remove from thence - took effect immediately, and a committee was appointed to settle the boundaries between New Town and Muddy River, who made the following report in April, 1636:

"We whose names are underwritten, being appointed by the Court to set out the bounds of the New Town upon Charles River, do agree that the bounds of the town shallrun from the marked tree, by Charles River, on the Northwest side of the Roxbury bounds, one and a half miles North east, and from thence three miles northwest, and so from thence five miles Southwest; and on the Southwest side of Charles River, from the Southeast of Roxbury bounds, to run four miles on a Southwest line, reserving the proprieties to several persons, granted by special order of the Court. "WILLIAM SPENCER.

The above description was undoubtedly intended to restore the territory of Muddy River to Boston, or as much of it as the committee judged expedient.

After the enlargement of New Town was settled (in April, 1635), Ensign William chosen to set out the bounds between New Town and Roxbury, whose report is as follows:

"The line between Roxbury and New Town is laid to run southwest from Muddy River near that place called ' Nowell's Bridge' a tree marked on four sides, and from the mouth of the River to that place; the south side is for Roxbury, and the north for Newtown.

" WILLIAM JENNISON." This line was intended to carry out the gift of Boston to New Town, by which the whole of Muddy River, more or less, became a part of New Town, and

"We whose names are underwritten being appointed by the towns to which we belong, to settle the bounds between Boston (Muddy River) and Cambridge, have agreed that the partition shall run from Charles River, up along the channel of Smelt Brook to a marked tree upon the brink of said Brook, near the first and lowest reedy meadow; and from that tree, in a straight line, to the great red oak, formerly marked by agreement, at the foot of the great hill, on the northermost end thereof; and from the said great red oak to Dedham Line, by the Trees marked by agreement of both parties this 2. 8. 1640 (August 2, 1640).

The boundaries of the town of Brookline have, for the most part, remained as originally laid out by the different committees from the adjoining towns, and as agreed upon in 1639 and 1640. The _ principal changes that have been made were on the easterly and northerly borders of the town, adjoining Roxbury, Boston ; these have been varied several times. The first of any account was made in 1824, when a committee was chosen to establish the boundary line between Boston and Brookline. sisted of the mayor and aldermen of Boston, and the selectmen of Brookline, who proceeded to view the premises, and agreed upon the bounds. Upon the 22d day of February, 1825, the Legislature ratified

1844, the act having been signed Feb. 24, 1844. On account of the annexation of Brighton to Boston, it became desirable that Boston should be joined

"Secrion 2. The said inhabitants hereby set off to the city of Boston shall continue to be a part of Brookline for the purpose of electing state officers and members of the executive council, senators and representatives to the general court, representatives to Congress, and electors of president and vice-president of the United States, until the next decenial census shall be taken, or until another apportionment shall be made; and it shall be the duty of the board aldermen of said city of Boston to make a true list of the persons residing on the territory hereby annexed to said city, qualified to vote at such elections, and post up the same in said territory, and correct the same as required by law, and deliver the same to the selectmen of said town of Brookline seven days at least before any such election ; and the same shall be taken and used by the selectmen of Brookline for such election, in the same manner as if it had been prepared by themselves.

"Section 3. This act shall not be construed to divest or deprive the town of Brookline of any legal rights of drainage which it now possesses.

"Section 1. That part of the town of Brookline contained within the line described as follows: beginning at a point in the centre of the channel of Charles River on the boundary line between the town of Brookline and the city of Cambridge, where the westerly line of St. Mary's Street, in the town of Brookline, extended in a northerly direction, would intersect the said boundary line; thence running southwardly by the westerly line of said St. Mary's Street extended to the scutherly line of Brighton Avenue; thance continuing in the same direction by the westerly line of St. Mary's Street, to the northerly line of Ivy Street; thence turning a little and running to the present boundary line in the centre of the channel of Charles River; thence by the centre of said channel of Charles River to the point of beginning, - with all the inhabitants and estates therein, is hereby set off from the town of Brookline and annexed to the city of Boston, and shall constitute a part of the sixth ward thereof, until a new division of wards shall be made; and such territory so annexed shall form part of the county of Suffolk: provided, that the said territory and the inhabitants thereon, set off as aforesaid, shall be holden to pay all such taxes as are already assessed or ordered to be assessed by said town of Brookline for the present year, in the same

Again, in 1872, the Legislature was called upon to change the course of Muddy River for the purpose of public improvement, and for sanitary uses, etc. This act was approved April 27, 1872.

Geology of the Town. - The geological formation Its principal features are of the amygdaloid or conglomerate rock, '" Brochant" describes this rock, so common in this vicinity, as a kind of * wacke,'' a substance intermediate between basalt and clay, resembling indurated clay. A range of hills and ledge of this conglomerate species of rock extends from Chestnut Hill on the west to Cohasset, and towns on the South Shore.

Graywacke is sometimes beautifully amygdaloidal, - that is, it contains numerous rounded or almondshaped nodules of some other mineral. Such is the These rocks are commonly

In the westerly portion of the town, near where the ancient saw-mill formerly stood on Newton Street, and also on Hammond Street, are some beautiful speci- It is found in rounded masses and in small quantity. tion of the town near the New Jerusalem Church on High Street, are occasionally found some clear, fine ther, that all paupers who have gained a settlement in said town of Brookline, by a settlement gained or derived within said territory, shall be relieved or supported by said city of Boston, in the same manner as if they had a legal settlement in said city of Boston.

In the extreme westerly portion of the town there is some slate rock, but not enough to make any note of, while just over the line is a large amount of that kind of rock, near Newton Centre.

Although this rock is prominent in the limits of Boston Highlands, this rock in no place rises to anything like mountain ridges, and for the most part it occupies extensive plains or gently undulating ground. Diluvium also is so abundant over every part of it that it is only occasionally, and at distant intervals, to be seen. Among these, the most noticeable in Brookline, and perhaps the best and most marked, is in the vicinity of the First Parish Church, where there are some fine samples, which are plainly to be seen. The next best is the ledge beyond the dwelling-house of Timothy Corey, near to the line of

On account of the low level, and the transported fragments spread over this rock in many places, it is But it is quite evident that it underlies nearly, if not all, of the surface of the town of Brookline and the immediate vicinity to the depth of seventy-five to one hundred feet at least.

The bed-rock of this conglomerate mass may be seen in the gravel-bank at Babcock Hill, on Harvard Street, owned by John Gibbs and others. There may be seen one of the clearest proofs of the glacial drift in the striated surface of these rocks, showing it to have been the original surface of the rock previous to the deposits of the drift period. The material of which this hill is composed is not very different from the other hills in the town, but is a confused mass of pebbles, clay, and bowlders, with some sand.

this section of country was covered with ice to the depth of from one to two thousand feet, hiding all trace of the earth's surface, and that this field of ice crept over the same in a northwest and southeasterly and in its course took everything with it that could possibly be moved, bearing in its folds large bowlders and various débris, polishing and grooving the tops As this mass of ice melted, the accumulation of stone and rubbish of every description that adhered to the same was deposited wherever it chanced to be, and The hills of Brookline and Boston also are the results of these deposits. If we penetrate to the centre of Corey, Aspinwall, or the other hills near by, we should find a mass of clay, pebbles, and bowlders mixed in the most confused manner, the matter remaining to this day just where it was left ages ago. Around these hills, and near the central core of till, we find beds of sand, clay, and The lowlands in the vicinity of the gravel, from the washing and waste of the bowlder clay. The black peat, or soils of the low ground near the brooks and rivers, are of a more recent formation, and are composed of vegetable matter.

Description of the Land. - The soil of Brookline and vicinity has from the early settlement of the country been of excellent quality for agricultural and horticultural purposes, as umay be seen from the following letter, written in 1629, one year previous to the settlement of Boston, by Rev. Mr. Higginson to his friends in London:

"T have been careful to report nothing but what I have seen with my own eyes. The land at Charles River is as fat, black earth as can be seen anywhere. Though all the country be, as it were, a thick wood for the general, yet in divers places there It is thought here is good clay to make bricks, and Tyles, and earthern pots, as need be.

"But it groweth very wildly, with a great stalk; and a broad and ranker blade; because it never had been eaten by cattle, nor mowed by a scythe, and seldom trampled on by foot. It is scarce to be believed how our kine and goats, horses and hoggs, do thrive and prosper here and like well of this country. Our turnips, parsnips, and carrots, are here both bigger and sweeter than is ordinary to be foundin England. Here are stores of pumpions, cowcumbers, and other things of that nature. Also divers excellent pot herbs, strawberries, pennyroyal, wintersaverie, sorrell, brookelime, liverwort, and watercresses ; also leekes and onions are ordinarie, and divers physical herbs. Here are plenty of single damask roses, very sweet; also, mulberries, plumbs, raspberries, currants, chessnuts, filberds, walnuts, smalnuts, hurtleberries, and hawes of white-thorne, near as good as cherries in England. They grow in plenty here."

The soil in this vicinity is mostly composed of the graywacke, of a deep brown color, and is among the best in the State, as it contains more calcareous matter than the slate variety, decomposes more readily, tile and well wooded upon the arrival of the English settlers, as we find the following statement as early as 1633, that there was "good ground, large timber, and a store of marsh-land and meadow." was " arable ground and meadow." While the land in most parts of the town is well adapted for the purpose above named, there is also a one visiting the city and riding for pleasure would be surprised to find within a circle of six miles from the State-House a place of such uncultivated territory. To the west of Newton Street there is an extensive tract of land which is comparatively an unknown region. Once heavily timbered, the original forest was with birches, alders, red maples, and many trees of larger growth. were exterminated elsewhere, and foxes, muskrats, minks, owls, and other wild game have until recently, and do perhaps still, tempt adventurous sportsmen to tramp through these rocky and swampy fastnesses.

The land lying hereabouts- on both sides of the street, both in Brookline and in Newton, to the extent of several hundred acres, was in the year 1650 conveyed by Nicholas Hogdon, of Boston and Brookline, to Thomas Hammond and Vincent Druce. John Druce, his son, received it by will from his father.

Erosamon Drew, whose name is spelled in six dif- - ferent ways in old documents, came from Ireland in his youth. He married Bethiah, Vincent Druce's | for fifty-five pounds to Krosamon Drew, from " Vincent Drusse and Hlizabeth his wife," in which an im- . perfectly scrawled V for his name, and E for hers, are their only attempts at penmanship.

The passer-by upon the street would scarcely notice the grassy entrance to this curve, and perhaps fail to observe, unless attention was called to it, an old roof, to be seen almost on a level with the street, below the Yet this curved bit of road was the original street or old road dipping down into the valley, for what good reason nobody now living knows, unless it was because down here was " Erosamond Drew's saw-mill,"' and there must be a way to get to it.

A brook, which is the natural outlet of Hammond's Pond, flows through the swampy lot opposite and under the road. bushes and young trees of this swamp, which was once an open meadow, and was flowed at certain sea-

Below the level of the road, down the declivity of the hill, and standing endwise to the now deserted and grassy old roadway, is a low house' (the roof of which was above mentioned) falling into It is not less than This was Erosamon Drew's house, and over the brook close to it stood his saw-mill, and here all the sawing of boards for miles around was accomplished. The owner of the saw-mill was evidently a thrifty and good citizen, as he held various offices of trust in the town, being one of the selectmen, assessor, a member of the grand jury, and one of the committee on building the first church.

Ann, the only child of this parentage who lived to marry, was born in 1683. In 1710 she became the wife of Samuel White, Esq., and was the Madam Ann White of whom an account was given.

July, 1675, was mortally wounded in the battle near Swanzey. He was brought home, and died in his own house ; he was but thirty-four years of age. His son John, who was but a child then, was probably the father of the doctor who settled in Wrentham.

From one of the sons comes a branch of the Goddard family, so that there are still lineal descendants of Erosamon Drew in existence. An old deed of Isaac Hammond in 1693 conveys land bordering on the saw-mill lot to Erosamon Drew. By another deed in April, 1731, Drew conveyed ten acres of his land to his son-in-law, Samuel White, will and affection which he hath and doth bear toward him,' which was certainly a very substantial proof of his satisfaction with his daughter's marriage.

This deed was witnessed by James Allen, the first minister of this town, and " hugh scot; but Hrosamon Drew's signature, alas, was only "his mark,"' - a round scrawl, for he could not write his name.

boards is so narrow, rough, and winding as to be At the side of the road, and near the end of the house, is a little patch fenced with brush, which was every summer blooming and gay son-in-law, wife, and two children for his being * helpful to him in his old age." In fact, from 1711 to this late date he seems to have been at short intervals bequeathing all his worldly goods to this beloved sonin-law.

that time never came, and the Tories were forced to escape to the British provinces, where they stayed It was sold and The old saw-mill came into the hands of one of the Jacktill their property was confiscated. divided among many owners, and so remains.

For many years Erosamon Drew's old house was called " the huckleberry tavern,' because the tenant then occupying it was skillful in making a kind of wine from the abundant huckleberries of the surrounding pastures, and on election days and other festive occasions the scattering residents of the adja-

Title to the Soil - When the success of the plantation at Plymouth had become well known throughout a large portion of England, it aroused a great interest in the cause of colonization, and preparations Between 1620

In 1628 an energetic movement was made, having A patent? was granted to Henry Rosewell and others, conveyin view the settlement of Massachusetts.

ing land lying between a line drawn three miles north of the Merrimac and a line drawn three miles south of Charles River, and extending east and west from the Atlantic to the Western Ocean. In the following year (1629) the number was enlarged, a royal charter obtained creating a corporation under the thither for the mild stimulants of society and huckleberry wine. The old saw-mill was taken down about thirty years since, and time, with the slow fingers of decay, is taking down the old house. It was a curious old place, the roof behind sloping almost to the ground.' A part of the old flume and some of the stone underpinning of the saw-mill are still to be seen,

The jurisdiction over and general property in the soil within the limits named in the above royal grant was conferred by the charter given to the Company of the Massachusetts Bay, while at the same time it was conceded by the colonial government that the native Indians had a prior right. In other words, the power given in the English charter was little more than a right or permission to purchase of the natives. |

The usual course of proceeding in such cases was to obtain, from the chief or sachem of the .tribes inhabiting the territory wanted, a deed of release, which was based upon such consideration as might be agreed upon, the General Court confirming their title, or such conditions as they thought best.

from them, signed by " Chickatabut," chief of the Massachusetts tribe. the evidence of which we find in the following confirmatory deed given, over fifty years after their first settlement, thus establishing the fact that the same was honorably purchased and amicably arranged :

Indian Deed

'Go all to Mhome these prests. shall come. I Charles Josias, ALIAS JOSIAS WAMPATUCK, sone and Heire of Josias Wampatuck, late Sachem of the Indians Inhabiting the Massachusets in New England, and Grandson of Chickatabut, the fformer Sachem Send greeting : -

"ForasmucH as I am Informed, and Well Assured from Severall Antient Indians, as well those of my Council as others, that upon the ffirst Comeing of the English to Sitt Downe and Settle in these parts of New England, my Above-named Grandffather, Chickatabut, the Chiefe Sachem, by and with the Advice of his Councill, for encouragement thereof, upon Divers good causes and Considerations him thereunto moving. Dip give, grant, Sell, alienate convey and confirme unto the English Planters and Settlers, respectively and to their Severall and respective heires and Assignes forever. ALL THAT NECK, TRACT OR PARCEL OF Lanp, scittuate, Lyeing, and being, within the Marracuuserts Coxony, in Order to their Settling and Building a Towne there: now knowne by the Name of Boston, as it is Invironed and Compassed by the Sea, or Salt Water, on the Northerly, Easterly, and westerly sides and by the Line of the Towne of Roxbury on the Southerly side, with all the Rivers, harbours, Bayes, Creekes, Coves, flatts and appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging. As also severall other outlands belonging unto the st Towne on the Southerly and Easterly sides of Cuar.es River. And the Island Called Deer IsLanp, Lyeing about Two Leagues Easterly from the said Towne of Boston, betweene Pudding-Point Gutt and the Broad Sound, soe called, s? Island containeing One Hundred and Sixty or Two Hundred Acres of Land more or less; with the privilidges and appurtenances thereunto belonging.

particular Alotments and other Conveniences, and given, Alienated, and Transferred, to and from one another, Haveing been peaceably and quietly possessed, used, Occupied and Enjoyed, for the Space of about ffifty and flive years last past by the said first Grantees heires Successours and Assigns. And now and Ahawton, Senior, my Councellors (by and wt! the allow- | | QuIETLY without any manner of Reclaime Challenge or Contraance and advice of William Stoughton and Joseph Dudley, Esq?s my Prochain Amy's and Guardian's), as well for the reasons and Considerations abovemencond as for and in Consider- | ation of a Valuable Summe of Money to me and them in hand welj and truely paid by Elisha Cooke, Elisha Hutchinson Esq's, Mess's Samuel Shrimpton, John Joyliffe, Simon Lynde, John Saffin, Edward Wyllys, Daniel Turel Sent, Henry Allen, John Faireweather, Timothy Prout Sen", and Theophilus Ffrary, of Boston, afforesaid, for and in the behalft of themselves and the rest of the Proprietated Inhabitants of y¢ towne of Boston, above- | said the receipt of which stsumme of Money as ffulland Lawfull | Consideration, w

© The 22d of the last moneth 1640. - Brother Courser of Boston hath sould and resigned up his Lott at muddy river, it being 10 Acres, to our Brother Alexander Beck of the same towne.

Leyveritt in the full proportion of land as it now lieth, shall by this order be confined unto them, although their Lotts doe amount to a greater quantity of land than was intended at the graunting thereof:

" The 26th of the 2nd moneth 1641. - Our brother Mr. Wentworth Day hath graunted unto him 100 acres of land for his great Lott at Muddy River, out of a parte of that land which was appoynted for the Comune.

"William Hibbins hath Confirmed unto him that fresh marsh which was formerly graunted him, at muddy river, valued at 10 acrs formerly but proveth to bee about 18 acres bounded with a rock on one side and a great swampe on the other.

"31st of the 3d month - Our brother Robert Turner is graunted that land which lieth betweene his lott and Cambridge nue line soe fare as the lemyts of his lot retcheth, it lieing along by the side thereof and noe further:

"The 7th of the 12th month 1641. - There is granted unto Robt. Reynolds three acres of marish at muddy river for which he is to pay six shillings eight pence unto the Town, according of the Aspinwall family and others. Then came the land of Rev. John Cotton, since passed into the hands of the Davis family. Next was Thomas Leverett, south of the Cotton estate, and bounded on the north by a brook. The other was the land between Thomas Leverett and Roxbury line.

Early Settlement of Muddy River. - During the first seventy-five years of the settlement of Boston the territory comprising what is now known as Brookline was known as '" Muddy River,' or " Muddy River Hamlet," otherwise called '' Boston Commons." The name of Muddy River was given to it on account

" This 4th day of 1st moneth 1642. - At a general town meeting upon lawfull warning, It's Ordered that the residue of the Townes Lands not yet disposed of (excepting those that are layd out for commons at Boston, Braintry and Muddy River) shall be devided amongst the present Inhabitants (together with such as shall be admitted within two months now next following) and yt in this manner, vizt: a greater Proportion to them that have had lesse than their due, and the lesse to them that have had more and proportionable to them, that have had none and this is to be done by the select men chosen for the towne's businesse."

We see by the foregoing list of allotments that the most of the land was in the hands of residents of Boston, and but a small portion of the names of proprietors of the soil are represented in the present population. The easterly section of the town had only five owners adjoining Muddy River, and running westerly as far as the "great hills' or thereabouts.

Chief Justice Sewall was the largest owner, at a later period, who came into possession of his estate by marriage with a daughter of John Hull, the mintmaster, including lands around ' Cottage Farm," "Chapel Station," " Longwood," and the " Stearn's" farm. Adjoining his estate on the south boundary was that of William Colborne, afterwards the estates

There is but little mention made of this place in the early history of the colony. The first we find in print is in '* Winthrop's Journal,' page 88, where mention is made of Indians heing assembled at that place, as follows :

"Notice being given of ten Sagamores and many Indians assembled at Muddy River, the Governor sent Captain Underhill with twenty musketeers to make discoveries; but, at Roxbury, they heard that they were broken up." two miles from their town, where is good ground, large timber, and store of marsh land and meadow. In this place they keep their swine and other cattle in the summer, whilst corn is on the ground, at Boston; and bring them to town in the

"Two miles from the town, at a place called Muddy River, the inhabitants have farms, to which belongs arable grounds and meadows, where they keep their cattle in summer, and bring them to Boston in the winter." river, doing much hurt to very many. Thereupon the Indians afterward reported, that they had caused it by their ' Powow,' that is ' Worshipping the Devil.'"

River: When it stood still, it flamed up and was three yards square. When it ran, it was contracted into the figure of a swine. Jt ran as swift as an arrow towards Charlton! so up and down about two or three hours. They were come down in their lighter, about a mile, and, when it was over, they found themselves carried quite back against the tide to the place they came from. Divers other credible persons saw the same light, after, about the same place."

"This account of an ignis fatuus may easily be believed, on testimony less respectable than that which was adduced. Some operation of the Devil, or other power beyond the customary agents of Nature, was probably imagined by the relaters and hearers of that age; and the wonder of their being carried a mile against the tide became important corroboration of the imagination. Perhaps they were wafted, during the two or three hours astonishment, for so moderate a distance, by the wind. But, if this suggestion be rejected, we might suppose, that the eddy, flowing always, in our rivers, contrary to the tide in the channel, rather than the meteor, carried their lighter back."

" Boston is two miles northeast from Roxberry ; its situation is very pleasant, being a Peninsula, hembed on the South side with the bay of Roxberry, on the North side with Charles River, the marshes on the back side being not half a quarter of a mile over, so that a little fencing will secure their cattle from the wolves. The greatest wants be wood and meadow ground, which never were in that place; being constrained to fetch their building timber and fire wood from the islands in boates. It being a neck they are troubled with three great annoyances of wolves, rattlesnakes, mushketoes, etc.''

The inhabitants of the hamlet of Muddy River remained under the care and jurisdiction of the town of Boston till March 29, 1686, at which time the subject of schools was brought to the attention of the parent town as follows, as appears on the early records of Boston:

Muddy River, '' Motion for a schoole, referd to the selectmen to consider of & to make theire report of it to the Inhabitants at ye next towne meetinge." river for a writinge school for theire children was read at a publique meetinge of the Inhabitants of this towne the 8th of March 1683, that use & the selectmen apoynted to choose a place for the erectinge of a house:"

In answer to said Motion, 'It was voted that the selectmen take this matter into consideration and inquire into the reason thereof and represent it to the next General Towne Meeting what is necessary to be done therein."

We find nothing further in reference to any action of the town, neither any report from the selectmen. Thus matters remained till the 18th of December of that year, at which time the president and Colonial Council, in answer to a petition from citizens of the hamlet of Muddy River, granted them exemption from town rates, and liberty to choose their own officers, thus practically becoming a separate municipality, although still belonging to Boston.

Bartholomew Gidney & Jonathan Tyng

"Tn answer to the petition of ye Inhabitants of Muddie River, prayinge to have libertie to erect a school &ca. upon the hearinge thereof, The President & Councill doe order, That henceforth the said Hamlet of Muddie River be free from Towne rates to ye Towne of Bostone, they maintaininge theire owne high wayes and poore and other publique charges ariseinge amongst themselves, And that within one yeare next comeinge they raise a school-house in such place as the two next Justices of the Countrie (upon a publique hearinge of the Inhabitants of the said Hamlet) shall determine as also mainetaine an able readinge and writinge Master there, from and after that day, and that the Inhabitants annuallie meete to choose three men to manage theire affaires"

" January 19th 1682. Ata full Meeting of the Inhabitants of Muddyriver they Voted the acceptance of the late grant of the president in council as the same was read and is expressed."

The acceptance of the above order one month after it had passed the Colonial Council, and the provision made for the maintenance of a schoolmaster, with

The privileges accorded to the early settlers were of short duration, as we find the following vote of the town of Boston, dated March 16, 1689-90:

A few more years rolled on. The people of the hamlet had increased, had been successful in their business, were in a better condition to regulate af- In 1698 they applied to the General Court for a confirmation of their former privileges, which the people

" To the Hon. William Stoughton, Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts, the Honorable Council, and the Representatives in General Court assembled, 25th May,-1698:

"Whereas in the year 1686, the Honorable Joseph Dudley, President, William Stoughton, Deputy President, and the Council, in answer to the petition of the inhabitants of Muddy-river, praying liberty for a school among them, é&c., did order, that the Hamlet of Muddy-river be free from Town rates to the Town of Boston, and other privileges, as in said grant, on the other side, may more at large appear ;

"'We, your petitioners, do humbly pray, that the said granted privileges may be confirmed unto the said Hamlet, with the addition, that the inhabitants may choose such officers amongst themselves, as may assess the inhabitants their due proportion, as may be thought sufficient and expedient for defraying such necessary charges to said school, and other things; and that one constable may be chosen, who may be sufficiently impowered to collect the rates for the County and the Hamlet; and your petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray,

What became of this petition, or whether any action was had upon the same, we have no information. The above petition was simply an aid to a former tion from taxation and the permission given them to manage their affairs in their own way, and they aspired to be a town by themselves. 11th of March, 1700, they sent a petition to the parent town to be a district or hamlet -separate from the town.

This petition was not very favorably received by the town of Boston, and instead of listening favorably to their request, they rebuked them sharply for their presumption and reproached them for their ingratitude for past favors, and exercised over them all the authority they possessed in language as follows:

"Upon the Petition of the Inhabitants of Muddy River to be a District, or Hamlet, separate from the Town for these reasons, following, viz., the remoteness of the situation, which renders them incapable of enjoying equal benefit and advantage with other of the Inhabitants of Publick Schooles for the instruction of their children, relise of their Poor, and Repairing of their Highways.

"Their petition being read and reasons given therein debated, It was voted in the negative, and that though they had not for some years been rated in the Town rate, yet for the time to come, the Selectmen should vote them in the Town Tax as the other Inhabitants, and as formerly they used to be, and for their encouragement it was voted that the Selectmen should provide a schoolmaster for them to teach their children to read, write and cypher, and order him his payment out of the Town Treasury.

The treatment which their petition received at the hands of the people of Boston was such as to make the inhabitants of the hamlet the more determined to become separated. They accordingly resolved to apply to higher power, which they did in the following language:

"The humble petition of the Inhabitants of Muddy River. Humbly Sheweth, That they are a Hamlet belonging to Boston, have been lately settled there and sometime since in the year 1686 being grown to a good number of inhabitants represented to the Government then in being, praying to be acquitted from paying duties and taxes to the Town of Boston, being then willing to bear their public charges of Bridges, Highwaies and Poor, and were accordingly then released and ordered to maintain a Reading and Writing Schoole as the order annexed will show, which accordingly we have ever since done, and now further humbly pray that being grown to a greater number of good settled inhabitants we may be allowed a separate right to which may further encourage us as we are able to settle a minister and other benefits amongst us, and we shall ever pray. " SAMUEL SEWALL, JR., "THOMAS STEADMAN, SEN'R, <" THOMAS GARDENER, SEN'R, " JosEPpH WHITE, " BENJAMIN WHITE, " JoHN WINCHESTER, SEN'R, "SAMUEL ASPINWALL, " JostsH WINCHESTER.

"Read in Council - The General Assembly sitting, June 17, 1704, and ordered, That the Selectmen of Boston have a copy of this petition and be heard thereon at ye next Session of this Court. Isaac ADDINGTON,

" November 1, 1704. In Council, Ordered, That the Selectmen of Boston hee notified to attend on Saturday morning next, the fourth, current, November 4, 1704.

The town of Boston continued to oppose the setting off the hamlet by every means in their power, as may be seen by the following documents :

"At a meeting of the Freeholdars and other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston duly qualified and warned according to law, being convened at the Town House in Boston, the 12th day

Elder Joseph Bridgham, Capt. Ephraim Savage, Capt. Bezour Allen, and Capt. Oliver Noyes, - To be a Committee to consider and draw up what they should think proper (on the behalf of this Town) to lay before the General Court at their next session relating to a petition of sundry of the Inhabitants of Muddy River, that the said District be dismist from the Town of Boston and be admitted to be a Town of themselves. . " Attest JoseEPpH Prout, Town Clerk."

"That they have been as easy in this Town as they could in reason desire. That they have not urged anything in their petitions to the contrary. This Town has never called on them ye Country. They have not been enjoined to watchings and wardings, either stated or occasionally, which has layn heavy on ye body of the Town. That they have constantly had ye lating to a petition of sundry persons of Muddy River, praying to be dismist from the Town of Boston and admitted to be a town of themselves. that several sessions of the General Court had passed after the time set for the hearing thereof and that consequently the matter then fell, however if it be again revived by any new petition or order, we think it proper to lay before the Court the unreasonableness of their demand, they having been hitherto enumerated, and the town charges, now increasing upon us and the body of ye town abounding with poor, and such as are not capable to defray, but rather greatly increase the charges for the Inhabitants of Muddy River at such a time, and being themselves now grown more oppulent and capable to be helpful to ye town, to be sent from us seems most unreasonable, and in them very ungrateful and may bea bad example to others to will best suit themselves without any due regard to ye public Intrist, the charge of the Road upon ye neck is great and is still growing and ye petitions and Inhabitants of Muddy River that way, than all of the rest of the town. Several other things might be instanced which the Selectmen are well acquainted with and we think they ought (if the General Court see cause to proceed on the petition) to pray to be heard therein. ""LIsHa Cook. "In the name and by order of ye Committee. "Tn council, June 15, 1705. " Read and ordered a hearing before this Court, on Tuesday the 19th Currant. And that the Selectmen of Boston be notified thereof. "TsAAC ADDINGTON, Secretary.

\ead in ye House of Representatives. iesolved that since the time of hearing of There should be a hearing thereof on /ryday next at three of the Clock in ye afternoon and that ye Selectmen of Boston be notified thereof.

Upon ye desire and Regular motion for a Schoole in that part It has bin allowed them. That lately there has not been more levied on them (and not always so much) as would defray the charges incident in that Part of ye Town and when as they mention in ye petition, it would in them in time to support the charge of a stated ministry thereby importing ye present inability, which seems a very preposterous arguing. "The law requiring a settled ministry thereby as one qualification for a Township and some of the subscribers since ye signing have declared ye contrary Intentions. And that which makes this ye desire, the more unreasonable is that they have been hitherto supported by the Town, while they were not able to be enumerated. That it may be a precident of ill consequences to ye public to divide Townships into small slips of land rendering them weak and every charge a Burden, tending to starve learning and religion out of ye countrey, especially when no reason of state requires. Ye consideration of which we submit to this honorable Court.

"We humbly offer further to this honorable Court that such a separation is contrary to ye undoubted right and interest of Boston, there being 500 acres of land comon in that part of the Town, which is the Town's right, but on a separation can be of no service to the Town. That the Town is very much straightened in its present boundaries by our former too easy concessions as was that of the Neck to Dorchester, or the Lane to Newtown would so much more if Muddy River so near to us should be separated from the Town. Stumney Marsh, &c., would have a precident to desire the same so that Boston would only be confined to this Isthmus of a mile long which was never thought sufficient bounds for a Townshipp, especially at this time when Boston is daily ye centre of all foreign poor, of saylors widows, and the refuge of our distressed neighbors from ye frontier who Insensibly grow upon us, so that upon the whole, we hope your Excellency's honorable Court will not grant the Sd. petition. "June 22, 1705. " Per order of the Selectmen, " JosepH Prout, Town Clerk. " EePHRAIM SAVAGE; > ""Brzour ALLEN, "OLIVER NoYEs,

In consequence of the continued strenuous opposition to the petition of the people of Muddy River, another petition was sent to the Legislature in the fall of 1705, signed by thirty-two citizens of that village, as follows :

"To his Excellency, the Governor, Council, and Assembly, in General Court convened. The humble petition of the inhabitants of Muddy River, sheweth.

"That at a session of this honorable Court, held at Boston on 13 August, 1704, the said inhabitants exbibited their humble petition praying, that the said Muddy River might be allowed a separate village or peculiar, and be invested with such

The prayer of the above petition was granted on the thirteenth day of November, 1705, as appears by the following record of the town grants :

"Ata great and general Court for her Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, begun and held, at Boston upon Wednesday, 15th May, 1705 and continued by several prorogations unto Wednesday, 24th October, following and then met, 13th November, 1705.

"Ordered, That the praier of the petition be granted; and the powers & Privileges of a Township, be given to the Inhabitants of the lands commonly known by the name of Muddy River, The Town to be called BRooktyn; who are hereby enjoined to build a meeting-house, & obtain an able Orthodox among them, within the Space of Three Years next coming. "Provided, That all Common Lands, belonging te the Town of Boston, lying within the bounds of the said Muddy River, not disposed of, or alloted out, shall still remain to the Proprietors of said lands. "Which order, being again read, was concurred, and is consented to,

Origin of Towns. - The early history of this section of country has a peculiar charm to those who | are descendants of the early settlers, and they may _take just pride in the fact that this is one of the _ finest specimens of a New England town. The origin of these bodies politic has a curious and interesting It is believed to have been an institution | originating in and peculiar to the colonies, as nothing had existed like them in any of the older countries. The ' Hundreds" or Tithings of England may have suggested the idea, but those have a different purpose. They are for the purpose of civil and domestic police, while the division of a territory into local districts, bounded by geographical lines, the inhabitants clothed with corporate powers and duties like the towns of

_old Massachusetts, is an institution originating in the colonies planted here. It is highly probable the result, in part, of accident at first, like many other measures of the early settlers, while, later on, their wisdom, foresight, and good judgment led them to adapt their policy to the condition of the people. _ Many of the early towns simply had the name changed _ by order of the General Court, as, for example, 'that

Trimountain shall be called Boston,' while other set- _tlements, in process of time, were allowed to organize and take on the form of town government on certain conditions, such as the support of the gospel, maintenance of highways, and the general management of municipal affairs, and the support of free schools, The chief requisition in the incorporation of this town being the building of a meeting-house and the

"To be made a Town, then, in 1705, was to be admitted to an equal partnership in that great company of Massachusetts municipalities, which were gradually but surely building up the Colony into a erand Commonwealth, fit to take its stand and do its whole share in establishing and upholding an Independent and United Nation. The old Colony of Plymouth, with all its cherished Pilgrim associations, after

| just threescore years and ten of separate existence, had been made a part of Massachusetts, only fifteen years before, under the new Provincial Charter. There were at that time about eighty-two towns in Massachusetts, not including such as have since fallen within the jurisdiction of Maine, or other adjoining States ; there are now, I believe, more than three hundred and forty. Brookline was the eighty-third, if my careful friend, Mr. W. H. Whitmore, has counted correctly ; and she was not slow in attesting her title to be included in this goodly fellowship. Her records, indeed, afford ample evidence of the patriotism and | public spirit which have characterized her inhabitants

The inhabitants having been duly organized and become a town, entered immediately upon the duties of a municipal corporation. The first meeting was held at the old school-house on Monday, March 4, 1706, and

"Voted that five Select-men be chosen to manage the affairs The parsons chosen by vote of ye Inhabitants to serve as Select men for this present yeare were Leut. Thomas

"Voted that the Burying-place should be on a spot of Land on the south side of the Hill in Mr Cottons farm pointing between the two Roads if it can be attaind.

"At this Meeting of the Inhabitants they were desired to manifest their minds concerning their Building a Méting-house In Brooklin and setling an Orthodox Minister there which proposal was declined by them and left to further consideration ner being chosen Assessors of the province Tax to be levied on this Town for this present yeare, mad Oath to perform the work, and office of Assessors as the Law Directs adminisr to them by Josiah Winchester, Town clark, on March, 25, 1708

Ecclesiastical History. - Attending Church in Roxbury. - On the 10th of December, 1672, the meeting-house belonging to the church in Roxbury, where the people of Brookline attended, needing repairs, it was, '" after much debate with love and condescending one to another, concluded by Voate to build a ' nue' meeting house as near the other as conveniently may be;" and on the 14th of April, 1674, the selectmen and the committee met at Sergt. Ruggles', and " there toke account of the number of hands that were hired In the construction of this building the people of Brookline contributed £104 5s., and worshiped there until the erection of their own church, in 1715, one-fifth part of the church being allotted to them, they having contributed in that proportion towards the parish expenses.

For many years previous to the incorporation of the town of Brookline the people subjected themselves to great inconveniences before they were able to erect a house of worship, and united with a neighboring society. 'Tradition informs us that they assembled regularly with the church in Roxbury, and according to the records of that church many were admitted members on equal terms with its own members, to partake of the benefit of gospel ordinances.

"Tn the year 1698 the Select men of Roxbury with the Deacons being a commite choson by the Town of Roxbury for seating people in the meting House they sent to the Inhabitants of Muddyriver to request of them to send sum Men to set with them selves In sd commitie to Act for and in behalf of the rest of the Inhabitants in that Respeet upon which motion the Inhabitants of Muddyriver being notified did convean to gether to consider of this matter and cam to this result that they would chuse by voate three men and send to assist In managin the matter aforesaid. the persons chosen were Leut. Thomas Gardner. Sarg't Benjamin White & John Winchester who met and sat with them at time and place appointed at which time it was demanded what Right and previledg the Town of Roxbury did aprehend that the Inhabitants of Muddyriver ought to injoy in sd Meting-house and it was Granted they ought to have a fifth part and accordingly to defrey one fifth part of the expens & charge that did arise for Repairing sd Metinghouse. at which place namely at Mr. John Rugglses house at ye Flower-de-luce in Roxbury upon the 21 of February In the year 1699 thes three men chosen as a foresaid by the Inhabitants of Muddyriver did on behalf the Rest of the Inhabitants defray the fifth part of all past and present charges their part amounting to six pound & four shilings."

March 2, 1713. - ' Voted that three men be chosen and appointed to surveigh the limits of this town and to find the center or middle thereof and to inquire where a Convenient Place | may be Procured whereon to build a meeting-house; as neare |

"Voted that Samuel Aspinwall, John Druce & Peter Boylston be appointed a Committee to Manage the afaire relating to the Meeting-house aforesaid."

"Ata Meeting of the Inhabitants of Brooklin. Regulerly assembled on December 24 1713. Mr Caleb Gardner jun'r did offer and tender freely to Give and bequeath raifie and confirme unto the Town of Brooklin above said. a piece of Land nigh to his dwelling House, Lyeing west ward therefrom on the left hand of the Road way Leading to Roxbury. where on to build a Meeting house for the Publick worship of God.

"Voted that Leut. Thomas Gardnar Leut. Samuel Aspinwall Mr Joseph White. Mr Thomas Stedman and Mr John Sever, be a Commite for the sd Town to treate with Mr Caleb Gardnar above sd about the Bounds of sd piece of Land, and to

"Voted that Leut. Thomas Gardnar. Leut. Samuel Aspinwall Mr Erosamond Drew. Mr Thomas Stedman & Mr John Sever be a Committee to Manage the Concern or affair of Building the above said Meeting-House."

The committee of the General Court decided upon the above location as the best, and no further opposition was manifested. It must be borne in mind that at this time the cemetery lot on the south side of the

Street nor the old '" Worcester Turnpike" had been thought of. The spot where this old meeting-house stood is that now occupied by Mr. John Townsend as a stable-lot, formerly the old parsonage ground. "meting-hous spott" contained about one-quarter of an acre of land, and cost about fifteen pounds and eighteen shillings. The building stood with the side to the road, having entrances at the east and west ends, and a door in the centre of the front.

On account of the extra expense incurred in the erection of the meeting-house, Dec. 2, 1713, it was "voted not to send a Representative to General

"The young carpenters, when the frame was raised, played at leap-frog on the ridge-pole. They lived to be, the one eighty-one years of age and the other eighty-three, and each came to the same place of worship in his old age supported by two canes or

The meeting-house was forty-four feet long and thirty-five feet wide. It originally contained but fourteen pews and several long benches. a gallery, and probably long benches therein for the children, who, in those days, never sat with their parents. Afterwards fourteen more pews were added on the floor and four in the gallery. There was no steeple to this house till the town voted, in September, 1771, to build one.

It is generally supposed that those who assisted at the raising had a pretty good time, with plenty to eat and to cheer, as was the custom at raisings in those

October 31, 1715. - Att a Town meeting. Legally Warned that whereas a Demurr being raised among the inhabitants of the Town Concerning the cost and manner of the Dinner that was Provided att the Raising of the meeting House." "Voted that they do Allow both of the cost and manner thereof." "Our meeting-house - our meeting-house, - It stood upon a hill, Where autumn gales and wintry blasts Piped around it loud and shrill,

'"' No steeple graced its homely roof With upward-pointing spire ; Our villagers were much too meek A steeple to desire. "And never did the welcome tones Of Sabbath-morning bell Our humble village worshippers The hour of worship tell." hour-glass for measuring the time. was an immense sounding-board, a thing common in early days. A clock was a luxury not yet aspired to by the fathers of the town.

May 16, 1715. - Voted, "that the committee shall lay the lower floor and gallery floors, fill the walls with brick and laithe & Plaister with lime, to set up all the Windows and Glaze them and to make and set up all the Doors, to be performed with convenient speed, and that they shall also Clapboard the house throughout." Also voted, the committee "shall glaze the windows with Diamond glase."

The building having at length been completed, it was dedicated to public worship June 3,1715. Rev. Nehemiah Walter, pastor of the First Church in Roxbury, and for several years colleague with the famous " Apostle Eliot," preached the sermon. Next came A principal part of the lower floor was divided into long seats, and shall think meet: and consequently a committe was elected : to wit: Josiah Winchester sen'r Erosamond Drew. Samuel Aspinwal. John Druce John Winchester Thomas Stedman & Benjamin White Jun'r.

"The Committe Chosen to dispose of the vacant room in ye meeting house whereon to Erect Pews & to vallue the same having concluded that Affair made their return. And by order of the select men it is here Entered % me John Seaver Town Clerk May 1-1718 & is as followeth -

"To Capt. Sam'll Aspinwall the said Committe ordered that he should have that spott or room at the westerly Corner of the meeting house, & vallued it at three pounds and fifteen shillings who accepted thereof

"To Lt. Thomas Gardner the said Committe ordered that he should have that spott or room between Capt. Aspinwall's And the westerly Door of the meeting house and vallued it at four pounds & ten shillings who accepted yr of

"To John Seaver the said Committe ordered that he should have that spott or room between the westerly Door of the meeting house & the stairs leading to the mens Gallerrie & vallued it at four pounds « five shillings who accepted thereof

"To John Druce the said Committe ordered that he should have that spott or room on the left hand of the going up the stairs. into the mens Gallery & vallued it at three pounds & ten shillings who accepted thereof.

"To Joseph Gardner the said Committe ordered that he should have that spott or room on the left hand of the coming in at the Southerly Door of the meeting house & vallued it at three pounds & ten shillings who accepted thereof women's Gallery & the Easterly Door of the meeting house & vallued it at four pounds and ten shillings who accepted thereof. "To Ensign Benjamin White the said Committe ordered that he should have that spott or room on the right hand of the coming in at the east Door of the meeting house & vallued it at three pounds who accepted thereof, "To Benjamin White Jun'r the said Committe ordered that pounds and ten shillings who accepted thereof. "To William Sharp the said Committe ordered that he should have that spott or room between the stairs leading up into the

"To Peter Boylston the said committe ordered that he should have that spot or room at the North corner of the meeting house between Benjamin White's and the minister's Pew & vallued it at three pounds and ten shillings who accepted yr of

When Hon. Jonathan Mason purchased the house formerly belonging to Deacon Benjamin White, now the residence of Hon. Theodore Lyman, he removed the old farm-house to make room for a new one in 1809, and between the floors was found a paper containing the following account of the manner in which the congregation were seated on the ninth day of March, 1719, as follows:

"Tn the front foreseat in the gallery, are seated Caleb Gardner, Josiah Winchester, Samuel White, Henry Winchester, Joseph Adams, Robert Sharp, Thomas Cotton and Samuel Clark, Jun.

"Tn the foreseat in the side gallery, are seated Joshua Stedman, William Gleason, Dudley Boylston, Addington Gardner, John Taylor, Stephen Winchester and Philip Torrey.

"Tn the women's foreseat, in the body seats are seated the wife of Josiah Winchester, sen., the widow Ackers, the wife of Joseph Gardner and the wife of EKdward Devotion.

"Tn the second seat, are seated the wife of William Story, the wife of Joseph Goddard, the wife of Thomas Woodward, the wife of Daniel Harris, the wife of John Ackers and the widow Hannah Stedman.

"Tn the third seat, the wife of James Griggs, the wife of Samuel Newell, the wife of Abraham Chamberlain, the wife of Ebenezer Kenrick, and the wife of Robert Harris.

"Tn the foreseat in the side gallery, the wife of Joshua Stedman, the wife of William Gleason, the wife of Dudley Boylston, the wife of Addington Gardner, the wife of John Taylor.

Second Meeting-House. - The old church edifice, after standing more than fourscore years, was quite inadequate to accommodate the increased population of the town. The congregation received quite a large accession, soon after Dr. Pierce's ordination, of Dorchester people who removed here, following their fellow-townsmen in whom they took a just pride. Among these were the Robinsons, Withingtons, Leeds, Tolmans, and others.

The subject of building a new meeting-house was soon agitated, and some mischievous person, probably desiring to facilitate the matter, set fire to the old one. It was soon discovered and extinguished after some damage to one of the rear corners.

This, however, was found to be impracticable for various reasons, and the vote was reconsidered. On the 5th of September of the same year it was voted a few days. Mr. Peter Banner, an Englishman. This man settled in Brookline, and for many years after his death his widow occupied the house in Aspinwall Avenue, until recently occupied by Mr. Melcher.

No pew on the first floor was priced at less than one hundred and sixty dollars, and none in the gallery at less than one hundred and ten dollars. The highest cost of a pew, including a bonus paid for a choice, was five hundred and twenty-five dollars,

The next day the work of demolishing the old church commenced. The ancient pulpit, which had been faithfully pounded and belabored by the fists of the energetic Mr. Jackson, was denuded of its upholstery, and carried into the parsonage attic, where it served as a

The hour-glass, whose sands had run through many a tedious hour for the unfed souls in the old house, or had needed turning only too quickly for the more devotional, now served its time in fleeting minutes among the attic treasures of the little ones. The Jackson had bathed the infant brow of many a now gray-haired father and mother of the town, was turned to domestic uses in the pastor's house.

The ancient church for many years, instead of having a sexton, was taken care of by a slave belonging to the Sewall family, as Henry Sewall's bill against the town for the services of his "slave Felix" in that capacity is still in existence.

little house on the Aspinwall estate, close to Washington Street. He was succeeded, if we are correctly informed, by Capt. Benjamin Bradley, who served for was the only undertaker and constable in the town for He lived to lay away all but two of his own large family in the cemetery whither he had carmany years.

Previous to Dr. Pierce's time there had been presented at various times to the First Church four silver tankards. One was the gift of Edward Devotion, in 1744; one the gift of Miss Mary Allen, daughter of the first minister, in 1750; one was given by Miss Ann White, and one by Mrs. Susanna Sharp in 1770. In the same year two silver cups were presented by Thomas and Mary Woodward, and two more were given by William Hyslop in 1792. 'This ancient silver is still the property of the church, just as it was presented.

Third Meeting-House. - The meeting-house and the minister grew old together. There would have been something incongruous in the building of a modern church, with stained-glass windows and new and fashionable appointments, while Dr. Pierce was the only minister. The house and the minister were in perfect adaptation to each other. Many regretted that the fine, substantial old edifice should be taken down. It much resembled Dr. Putnam's church, on Roxbury Hill, and might have been as well preserved till the present day; but there being no cellar under it, furnaces could not be introduced, and it was not thought advisable to refit a building which must be warmed by stoves. It was also difficult for Mr. Knapp to preach in it. In 1848 the new church at present standing was built. was laid June 1, 1848. Dee. 1, 1848. by Dr. Charles Wild, in the spring of 1849.

acknowledging our unworthiness of such a privilege, and our inability to keep covenant with God, unless Christ shall enable us thereto, in humble dependence on free grace for divine assistance and acceptance, do in the name of Jesus Christ, freely covenant and bind ourselves to serve the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, cleaving to him as our chief good; and unto our Lord Jesus as our only Saviour, prophet, priest and king of our souls, avouching the Lord to be our God, and the God of our children, whom we give unto him, counting it a high favour, that the Lord will accept of us, and our children with us to be his people.

"We do also give ourselves unto another in the Lord, covenanting to walk together, as a Church of Christ, in all the ways of his worship, according to his word; promising in brotherly Love, to watch over one another's souls, and to submit ourselves to the discipline of Christ in his church, and to attend the seals and censures, or whatever ordinances Christ has commanded to be observed by his people; beseeching the Lord to own us for his people, and to delight to dwell in the midst of us. That we may keep our covenant with God, we desire to deny ourselves, and to depend on the free mercy of God and merits of Christ; and, wherein we fail, to wait on him for pardon, through his name, beseeching the Lord to own us, as a Church of Christ, and to delight to abide in the midst of us."

This covenant was read in public, and the church gathered by the Rev. Ebenezer Thayer, pastor of the Second Church of Christ in Roxbury, Oct. 26, 1717, At that time seventeen males and twenty-two females were united in church fellowship.

First Church. - The church having been organized, and the meeting-house completed, the next in order On the 23d of July, 1718, "to seek divine direction in the ordination of a minister." Rev. Dr. Cotton Mather and Rev. Dr. Colman officiated on that occasion.

On the 18th of February, 1717, the following persons were chosen to treat with Mr. James Allen, viz.: Lieut. Thomas Gardner, John Winchester, Joseph White, Ensign Benjamin White, Josiah Winchester, Capt. Samuel Aspinwall, and Erosaman Drew.

Mr. Allen having accepted the call extended him, he was ordained Nov. 5, 1718, as their first pastor. Rev. Benjamin Colman, D.D., and Rey. Benjamin Wadsworth, D.D., made the prayers on that occasion ; Rev. Cotton Mather, D.D., gave the charge, Rev. Jeremiah Shepard, of Lynn, gave the right hand of fellowship. Mr. Allen preached his own sermon, as was customary in the early days of the church settlements: text, Matthew xxiv. 45, 46, 47: " Who then is a faithful and wise servant ?"'

Rev. James Allen was the son of Peter and Mary Allen, born in Roxbury, Mass., June 5, 1692; graduated at Harvard College, 1710. piety and talents.

churches in this region just before the middle of the last century, he was active in the new measures which But from certain causes, to such excesses did it lead, that he, who had during its progress considered it as the work of God, in a public and explicit manner ascribed it to a very different origin. This led many to join a new society, which had for its pastor Mr. Jonathan Hyde, a zealous but illiterate layman from Canterbury, Conn., who was ordained Jan. 17,1751. Mr. Allen preached in this town for about twenty-eight years. He lived on the south side of Walnut Street, nearly opposite Cypress Street, where he died of a lingering consumption, and was buried in the Brookline Cemetery. The character of Mr. Allen, as given by his contemporaries and by others who were well acquainted with him, is that of a pious and judicious divine, and the seven publications of his do honor to his head and He died on the 18th of February, 1747, aged fifty-six.

6. "The Eternity of God, and the Short Life of Man Considered." A sermon on the death of Samuel Aspinwall, A.M. Psalms cii, 11-12. Aug. 13, 1732.

After the decease of Mr. Allen, Rev. Mr. Walley, who had been supplying the pulpit during Mr. AlIlen's last illness, preached occasionally, and May 13, 1747, the following was the action of the town:

Several candidates supplied the pulpit till Feb. 12, 1748, when the town voted as their '" choise' Rev. Cotton Brown, of Haverhill, Mass., who was ordained their pastor, Oct. 26, 1748. Rev. Mr. Cotton, of Newton, and Rev. Mr. Walter, of Roxbury, offered prayers; Dr. Appleton, of Cambridge, gave the charge; Rev. Mr. Townsend, of Needham, gave the right hand of fellowship ; Rev. Samuel Cook preached

Brown, and grandson of Rev. Rowland Cotton, of | Sandwich, Mass., and a lineal descendant of Rev. | John Cotton, of Boston, who formerly held a large | amount of land in Brookline, among the earliest allotments. He was born in Haverhill, Mass., about 1726, | graduated at Harvard College, 1743. gaged to Mary Allen, a daughter of his predecessor, Mr. Allen, and the house known as the " Walley" | house was erected for him to live in. lady, however, died in 1750, and he died in 1751, at the early age of twenty-five, having been pastor two

'' He was a gentleman, who, by the happiness of his genius, his application to study, and taste for polite literature, his piety and prudence, his sweetness of temper and softness of manners, had raised in his friends the fairest hopes, and gave them just reason to expect in him one of the brightest ornaments of society and a peculiar blessing to the church." Mr. Brown was buried in Brookline Cemetery. | Rev. Samuel Haven, afterwards of Portsmouth, | N. H., from 1752 to 1806, was invited to settle as pastor, but did not accept their offer.

accepted. But certain difficulties arising among the He | afterwards became pastor of a church in Rehoboth, Mass., where he passed a long life in the ministry, | highly beloved, respected, and eminently useful.

as hastily settled. Of him Dr. Pierce remarked in an anniversary sermon, that "though professedly ortho- | dox in faith, he was destined, during a short ministry, to give woeful emphasis to the apostle's monition, 'Lay hands suddenly on no man.'"

A bill presented to the town by Deacon Elisha Gardner for the expenses of this man's ordination possesses a curious interest when viewed with modern eyes:

Agreeably to his request, he was dismissed June 17, 1759. He delivered a discourse, Jan. 1, 1758, from Jeremiah viii. 20, entitled ""A New Year's pulpit, as on the 24th of December the church and parish were united in their choice of Rev. Joseph Jackson to be their pastor. A call was extended to him, who was then a tutor in Harvard College, where The following is the letter of acceptance of the call:

"Having by a Committe appointed by you for that purpose received an account of your proceedings with regard to the settlement of a Minister, and that the great nead of the Church, has disposed your hearts to make choice of me however unworthy, to take the pastoral charge over you, and to desire my answer to your kind Invitation right discharge of the Ministerial office, and from such light as I have been able to obtain, I find inyself disposd to accept of your invitation, with this Proviso, that it shall pleas'd to engage, fall short of thirteen Pounds, Six Shillings & Eight pence, that you will yearly during the time of my being your Pastor, Make up such deficiency, so as to make a sum equal to thirteen Pounds, Six Shillings & Hight pence ( annum which Sum I have been informed by certain Persons they supposed the condition would amount to.

"T ask this not from any desire of making a large estate or living in extravagance at your expense but on the other hand, that I may be so supported as to give myself wholly to the work of the Ministry without any incumbrance on my worldly Affairs - And also that fixing the said Sum may serve to prevent any future uneasiness, which Tho. I have no reason to expect from you in particular, might Nevertheless possibly happen If I Your compliance with this alteration in your offers [ may rather expect, by being you have already discovered to wards me. Thus my friends, I should choose to Settle among you, to spend & be spent for you, together with my reasons therefor, which I apprehend are no ways inconsistent with that Christian spirit which I desire to exercise to wards you nor with the Character of a Minister of | Jesus Christ.

"Tf he should so order it, that I should be your Pastor, may I have grace given me from above so to impart to you in spiritual things as that you may never have occasion to repent of bestowing on me these that are temporal That the divine blessing may always rest upon you, and that you may have direction | from Above in all your proceedings, is the earnest Prayer of him who wishes your welfare in this and the coming world |

On the 3d of March, 1760, Moses White, Isaac | Winchester, Elisha Gardner, and Joshua Boylston | were chosen a '" Com'ty to provide for y° Counsel ; - and the sum of Ten pounds to be assessed on the inhabitants to defray the charges of Said Ordination." After the usual preparation, Mr. Jackson was regularly ordained on the 9th of April, 1760. The Rev. | Seth Storer, of Watertown, and Rev. Dr. Ebenezer Pemberton, of Boston, offered the prayers; Rev. Dr. | Nathaniel Appleton, of Cambridge, gave the charge ; Rev. Samuel Checkley, of Boston, gave the right hand of fellowship; Rev. Dr. Samuel Cooper, of Boston, preached the sermon (from 2 Tim. i. 7), | which sermon was published.

Rev. Joseph Jackson was born in Boston about 1734, graduated at Harvard College in 1753 (commenced preaching soon after), and for several years was tutor in that institution.

"The great Parent of man, and the Supreme Disposer of all, was pleased, in his discriminating good- | ness, to favor Mr. Jackson with shining mental powers, which under the advantages of a collegiate education, were much enlarged. He was quick of apprehension, clear in perception, and in the compre- | hension of his understanding or soundness of judgment few excelled him. He was wonderfully endued | with talents which qualified him for the important work of the Gospel ministry, and made him a burning and shining light in this part of the vineyard of | the Lord, - whose praises is in all our churches."' imitation: his regularity and uniform punctuality were remarkable traits in it. Those well acquainted with him must have seen his amiable deportment in | the several relations of life - as a faithful, tender husband, an affectionate father, a just and equal | master; as a friend, true to his professions, safely to be confided in; as a minister, diligent, laborious, | skillful, yet so pertinently. He was a scriptural, intelligent, and edifying preacher, and judiciously noticed the dispensations of Providence for the instruction and benefit of his hearers. Above all, he was a man of piety and true devotion, - a sincere disciple and servant of Jesus Christ. He was an example in word, in conversation, in charity, in faith, in purity, and in all the virtues which adorn the Christian and minis- So he lived, and when he died he received the glorious reward of those who are faithful to the end. He died July 22, 1796, in the sixtysecond year of his age, and in the thirty-seventh year of his ministry.

Rey. Jacob Cushing, of Waltham, Mass., preached a sermon at his funeral, July 25,1796, from the text Luke xii. 35-37, which sermon was published.

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