Framingham City (part 1 of 2)

Framingham City

At this time there were tliirty-three houses on the westerly, and thirty-one on the easterly side of the river. The number of inhabitants was " above three hundred and fifty souls."

No Central Village-Site. - A peculiarity of our town is, that there is no central point marked out by nature as the village-site, to which all material and social interests easily gravitate. The geographical centre was broken, swampy land, inconvenient for roads and uninviting for settlement. The original meeting-house site, in the old cemetery, was pitched upon, because it accommodated the more thickly settled out-districts, viz., Rice's End, Pratt's Plain, Park's Corner and Salem End ; and because it was nearer to Sherborn Row {now South F'ramingham) than the Sherborn meeting-house was, and thus would bring these families within the statute which required all settlers to seek civil and religious privileges in the town to whose meeting-house their residence was nearest. The site of the present Central village was selected as a compromise of conflicting interests, with which nobody was quite satisfied. The lands most eligible for home-ste.ads and for cultivation were distant from this point, and were distant from each other. And what added to the difficulty of centralizing and uniting our early population was the fact that these detached clusters of settlers were each a little centre of its own in previous associations and social ties. The Stones were a power by themselves, and were given places of honor in Sudbury church and town, to which they were strongly attached. The same was true of the families at Rice's End. The Pratt's Plain settlers had received like favor from Sherborn church and town. The Bigelows, Learneds, Whitneys and Mellens had common associations formed while they lived in Watertown. The Havens were large landholders, and were somewhat isolated. The Salem End families had been mutual sufferers from the witchcrail delusions and judicial trials at Danvers, and had taken refuge and found a peaceful home in this then wilderness land. The Reading and the Roxbury colonies, which located in the northerly part of the plantation, had each its separate interest and ties. The selection by Col. Buckminster of his homestead farm in the upper valley of Baiting Brook, naturally brought his old neighbors to locate near him, and to consult his wishes and follow his lead.

And the fact that the settlers on the east side of the river held their lands in fee simple, while the settlers on Danforth lands had only leases, was a circumstance, perhaps trival in itself, but which had its influence in separating interests. The lea.sed farms held several valuable rights in common, from which the east-side settlers were debarred. Mr. Danforth was a man of large views and well-defined aims. He planned to build up a township of enterprising men by leasing the land on easy terms, and securing to each tenant a right of pasturage and fuel in the reserved commons, which embraced a tract of about

The diverse social elements were slow in assimilating, were often agitated by disturbing influences, and once came perilously nearer a destructive explosion. The ministerial lands were the subject of unchristian contention, and the commons, which were intended to be a band of union and mutual advantage, became a field for individual avarice and over-reaching.

First Meeting-House. - To meet the needs of the many families who could not go to the neighboring towns to attend public Sabbath worship, and to strengthen their appeal to the Legislature for an act of incorporation, our settlers proceeded, in the summer of 1698, to erect the frame of a meeting-house, and cover it in. This house stood on the high land in the east central part of the old cemetery. As originally built, it was in size thirty by forty feet, and two stories high, fronting the south. It was so far finished that Sabbath services were held in it the next year. It was boarded and clapboarded, but not painted. The windows on the front side were of uniform size, and in regular order; on the ends, and north side, they were put in where, and of .such size, as individual pew-owners pleased - probably many of them without frames. Originally there was one large double door in front ; but individuals were allowed, or took the liberty, to cut doors at the ends and north side, wherever most convenient to reach their respective pews.

Inside, the walls were unfinished. The pulpit stood on the north side, opposite the great door. A gallery extended across the ends and front side - the east end and half the front was called the "women's gallery," and reached by the " women's stairs," at the southeast corner ; the west end and half the front was called the " men's gallery," and reached by the men's stairs," from the southwest corner. A " bar " across the centre of the front gallery indicated the dividing line, which was not to be crossed by either sex. Long seats of the rudest construction ran around the galleries, next the walls, and in front.

On the lower floor were two bodies of seats, or benches, separated by an alley - the cast range allotted to the women, the west to the men. The deacons' seat was in front of the jiulpit. Under (he g.alleries were long seats, running parallel with the walls. By special vote of the town, individuals were allowed to take away portions of these long seats, and build pews, against the walls, six feet by four and one-half or five.

The site selected was " the most accommodable spot" on the ministerial land for the scattered population. It brought " the seventeen families " nearer to a place of worship than Sherborn meoting-house. The east side settlers gravitated to the Great Bridge by easy paths from Rice's End and Sherborn Row. The people from Nobscot and Stone's End had paths to Pike's Row, and thence by the Edgell place on nearly a straight line to the meeting-house. A road from the Hemenways through Temple Street, met the road from Salem End on the present R. W. Whiting place, which then ran east past the house of C. J. Frost, about twenty rods east of which it received the path from the Mellen and Haven neighborhoods, and then led direct to the meeting-house.

The First Minister. - August 21, 1700. The town made overtures to Mr. John Swift, of Milton, then supplying the pulpit, to continue their minister, offering him, in case he should be settled " one hundred acres of land and ten acres of meadow." [The land comprised the tract, whose bound.aries extended from the bridge by the old cemetery, southwesterly to Duck Pond and the southern declivity of Bare Hill; thence southerly to Sudbury River; thence as the river runs to the bridge aforesaid.]

May 22, 1701. The town "voted to give a call to Mr. John Swift to abide and settle with us, the inhabitants of Framingham, as our legal minister." Chose Abial l^amb, David Rice, Benjamin Bridges, John Town, John Haven, Peter Cloyce, Sen., Samuel Winch and Thomas Drury to give the call in behalf of the inhabitants.

" Voted, To give Mr. Swift, in addition to the land and meadow, £60 in money yearly, and find liim in hia wood (thirty-five cords) ; to fence in twenty acres, with a good ditch where it is ditchable, and wliere it can't be ditched to set up a good five-rail fence ; and also to give £100 towards the building of a house, one-fifth of the same in money.*'

Externally, the meeting-house was not attractive, nor was it very comfortable within. But all the people had helped to build it, and all loved it as their sanctuary, and as marking the " God's Acre" where their dead were buried. With a small enlargement in 1715, it met the wants of the first generation of settlers, but the second generation and the new comers demanded something better, and with great unanimity in 1725 voted to build a new house on the old spot. Through the opposition of a minority, actuated by ideas of location, and in part by a purpose of land speculation, the building was delayed, and the question of location came near splitting the town asunder, and actually rent the church in twain.

The Second Meeting-House was built in 1735. It stood at the northeast corner of the centre Common, (just inside the present fence), fronting south. Size fifty-five by forty-two feet, thirty feet between joints. Had three stories. Doors on south, east and west sides. £550 was granted to build the house, and finish ithe outside - though it was not painted till 1772. £350 was granted, at different times, for finishing the inside of the house, The pulpit was on the north side, and double galleries extended around the other three sides. The committee was instructed to build a pulpit, a body of long seats below, leaving an alley between the men's and women's seats, lay the floors, make seats in the lower gallery, and two pair of stairs (men's and women's) to said gallery. The space next the walls under the galleries was reserved for pews.

The new meeting-house, though standing literally " in the woods," and surrounded by swamps, became a potent factor in town affairs, and as a converging point for the town highways ; and between 1735 and 1745 these were readjusted and laid out in the main as they exist at present.

The population had increased from 350 to 900. The appropriations for ordinary town expenses in 1745 were £735, old tenor - £200 for highways, £300 for preaching, £135 for schools, £100 for incidentals. The first pastor, Mr. Swift, died Ap ril 25, 1745. His successor, Mr. Matthew Bridge, was ordained February 19, 1746. The town granted him a settlement of £000, old tenor, and a yearly salary of £2ti0. The expenses of his ordination were £109 8s. 2d. ; including £96 9s. 4d. for keeping the ministers and messengers two days ; £3 18s. ; for chickens, £10 2s. for beef and £0 .3s. for tavern bills.

As a result of the contest about the ministerial land, growing out of the claim and seizure of said lands by the lessee of Mr. Danforth, a divided sentiment had obtained in the church, aggravated by difficulties with the first pastor. The settlement of a new minister was the occasion of the culmination of the alienated feeling. The majority was uncompromising, and the minority seceded and took steps which led to the organization of a .second Congregational Church in October, 174G. A small meeting-house was built, and Mr. Solomon Reed was ordained pastor of the new church in January, 1747. The new organization numbered over eighty members, and maintained a separate existence about ten years, when a part returned to the old church and a part united in forming the Fir.st Baptist Society in Framingham.

Emigrations. - Framingham contributed largely of her enterprising inhabitants towards the planting of colonies at several new centres. A considerable number of our citizens became grantees of Oxford in 1713. Among them were Town, Barton, Elliott, Lamed, Gleason, Lamb and Stone. Some Mellen, How and Haven families removed to Hopkinton between 1715 and 1720. The Bents, Steveuses, Stones and Howes were among the early settlers of Rutland. Others become incorporated with Holliston in 1724, with Shrewsbury in 1727, with Grafton near the same date and with Templeton a few years later.

In the Wars. - The following Framingham names are found on the rolls of the expedition to Canada in 1G90: John Jones, Francis Moquet, Daniel Mack Clafelin, Joseph Trumbull, Caleb Bridges, Daniel Mixer, Daniel Stone, Jr., Samuel Wesson, Jacob Gibbs. They enlisted in the Sudbury company, and were sharers in the grant known as the Sudbury-

Canada Grant of 1741, which was located in Maine, embracing the present towns of Canton and Jay. The survivors of this company, while prosecuting their claim in 1741, met several times at Mr. Moquet's tavern in Framingham.

Forts and Garrison-Houses. - The war known as Queen Anne's War came on soon after the incorporation of the town. It was declared in May, 1702, and terminated by the treaty of Utrecht, March 30, 1713. This w.is a period of general alarm, in which Framingham participated; though few of our men were drafted into the service. In the expedition to Port Royal, September 16, 1710, Joseph Buckminister was captain of grenadiers in Sir Charles Hobby's regiment, and sailed in the brigantine " Henrietta." Others from Framingham in this expedition were David Rice, died April 20, 1711 ; Jonathan Provender; Benjamin Provender, died January 21, 1711; Joseph Adams.

Ample pi'ecautions were t.aken to meet hostile visits from tlie Indians, who scourged the frontiers. A sentry was posted on the top of Bare hill, during the time of public worship, on the Sabbath, to give alarm, in case of the appearance of the savages. Several forts or garrisons were built in different parts of the town, by neighbors clubbing together for mutual protection. From the vote of the town in 1710, for distributing the ammunition, it is probable that at that date there were not less than four such garrisons. The location of three of them is known. One stood near the then house of Joseph Buckminster, a little to the southeast of the present house of E. F. Bowditch; another at Salem End, between the present houses of James Fenton and Dr. Peter Parker, on the north side of the brook; a third on Mellen's Neck, to the north of Josejih A. Merriam's. The fourth was probably located near the south end of Learned's Pond. The Salem End fort was built of logs, with a watchbox above the roof at the gable end, and w.os surrounded by long pickets firmly set in the ground. This outer defence had a heavy plank gate, hung on wooden hinges. There was a stoned-up cellar underneath, where food could be stored, and a well just outside the gate. When an alarm was sounded, all the femilies within reach hurried to the fort. It is a current tradition, that on a dark night, when the neighboring families were collected here, with two watchmen in the sentry-box, the dogs gave warning that an enemy was near. The sentries fired in the direction whence the sounds came, and the alarm ceased. The next morning, blood was discovered near the gate, and tracked across the swale to near the Badger farm.

Mr. Barry gives the following : " An aged inhabitant of this town relates an instance of narrow escape from death, on a like occasion, which occurred to his grandmother. Having gone alone to the yard to milk, about two hours before sunset, she carefully looked around to see if there were Indians in the neighborhood. Supposing herself secure, she proceeded to her work, and while in the act of milking, an Indian (who, as was their custom, had disguised himself with brakes, and crawled along on his belly) suddenly struck her in the back with a knife. She instantly sprung, and by the etlbrt twitched the knife from the Indian's grasp ; and before he could rise, had advanced so far, that she succeeded in reaching the house, with the knife in her back. An alarm was immediately given, by three successive discharges of a musket, which soon brought a reinforcement from the neighborhood of what is now called the Silk Farm, where was a garrison well provided with powerful dogs and arms. On pursuing, however, they found no traces of the Indian. The woman survived her injury."

The farmers went to their work in the fields, carrying with them fire-arms for protection. The husband would go with his wife to the barnyard, and watch while she milked the cows. " An aged woman of this town heard, from her grandmother, an accountof this practice in her day ; the latter adding, that her husband's presence was, after all, of no great service, for instead of watching for Indians, he would throw himself upon his back, and sing loud enough to be heard through the neighborhood." (Barry.) »

At this datte, and for many years after, one or more dwelling-houses in every district was built so as to be arrow-proof and bullet-proof. A description of the Learned house, which stood where Mrs. Katherine Fames now lives, will answer for all. It was a twostory house without a leanto. The frame, i. c, the sills, posts, girths and plates, were of heavy timbers. Instead of studs in the lower story, logs split in half were set upright, face and back alternately, so as to match by overlapping the edges. The space under the windows on the back side was filled in with bricks ; on the front side and ends with two-inch planks. The lathing was nailed to the logs on the inside, and the boards were nailed in like manner on the outside. The doors were of planks, and the windows were provided with inside shutters.

Some of these ganison-houses were lined with planks instead of split logs. The Dr. Stone hou,se, which stood on Pratt's Plain, near the arsenal ; the John Eames house, built where is now R. L. Day's house ; the Nathaniel Haven house, which stood west of Washakum Pond (the Charles Morse place, now in Ashland) ; the original Nathaniel Eames house, late Jonathan Fames', were plank-lined garrison-houses. A similar house, built about 1730, by Nathaniel Haven for his son, and placed on the opposite of the road from the father's, is still standing, as is the Nathaniel Eames house. The former is owned by Joseph Morse.

Father Ra lle's War. - This war lasted from 1722 to 1726. Its principal theatre was in the province of Maine; but the French Indians from Canada made assaults on the infant settlements along the entire northern border of Massacliusetts ; and all our towns were called upon to contribute their quota of men. Framingham shared in these levies. Colonel Joseph Buckrainster, then in command of the South Middlesex Regiment, sent troops to the relief of exposed points. Jona. Lamb was employed to transport military stores from Boston to Rutland, then a frontier town. In Sergeant Thomas Buckminster's " Rutland Scout " were David Pratt, Philip Pratt, and Thompson Wood, of Framingham. Gideon Bridges, Jeremiah Belknap, Hackaliah Bridges, Simon Goddard, Jeremiah Wedges and Benoni Hemenway were out in a detachment from August 25th to November 28, 1722. Daniel How, Benjamin Hemenway, Mark Whitney and Daniel Rider, of this town, served in Captain Samuel Wright's Rutland Company, from November 10, 1723, to June 10, 1724. Jeremiah Wedges and Uriah Clark were in service at Fort Dummer, Feb. 1st to May 31, 1724. In 1725, June to November, Daniel How, promoted to be sergeant, Thomas Walkup, Benoni Hemenway, John Stone and Samuel Hudson, apprentice to Jonathan Ragg, were in Captain Samuel Wright's company.

French and Indian Waes. - This town was not the theatre of any of the thrilling events of these wars, which were the final struggle of the French Government to secure control of New England, in which that power utilized to the fullest extent the savage tribes of our northern border. Our men, however, took an active and honorable part in the defence of the frontiers. Joseph Buckminster, Jr., was colonel in commission and command of the South Middlesex militia at this date, and was prompt in enlisting and forwarding trooi)s as called for by the provincial authorities.

In the memorable expedition against Louisbourg in 1745, in Capt. Kphraim Baker's company. Sir William Pepperell's regiment, were Lieut. John Butler, (who died in the service), Philip Pratt, James Clayes,

John Nixon (then eighteen years old), John Seaver, Robert Seaver, the father, and his two sons, Joseph and Benjamin (one of whom died at Louisbourg). Jonathan Youngman, Jonas Gleasoii and Sheans Berry were out in the same expedition.

Capt. Josiah Brown (of Sudbury) and his troopers were ordered out on an alarm September 23, 1747. On the muster-roll are the names of Lieut. Thomas Winch, Corp. Daniel Gregory, Clerk Daniel Stone, Trumpeters Jonathan Belcher and Nathaniel Seaver, Centinels Samuel Winch, Phineas Gihbs, Jonathan Maynard, Isaac Read, Benjamin Eaton, William Brown, John Bruce, Elias Whitney, John Hemenway, Micah Gibbs, Samuel Frost, Joseph Brintnall, Matthew Gibbs, John Gould, of Framingham.

Daniel Brewer, John Harris, Isaac How, John Parmenter and William Hutson were in Lieut. John Catlin's detachment at Fort Shirley, December 10, 1747, to October 31, 1748.

John Edgell, an apprentice to Jacob Pike, of this town, was impressed, and joined Capt. Josiah Willard, Jr.'s company at Fort Dummer, February _10, 1748. He was in a detachment of men under Sergt. Thomas Taylor, marching from Northfield to the fort July 14th, when they fell into an ambush of French and Indians. Two of Taylor's men were killed, and eleven taken prisoners and carried to Canada. Edgell was among the latter. He lost everything of arms and clothing ; and during the march to the north was subjected to great hardshij^s, by which he was inca|iacitated from labor. He, with the other captives, was sold to the French, and remained in Canada till the last of September, when he was released and returned home.

Jonathan Brewer was out in the campaign of '49 ; stationed at Fort Dummer. He and John Nixon, both of whom were distinguished officers in the War of the Revolution, took their first lessons in camp and field service in this war.

The active militia of Framingham at this date numbered about 170 able-bodied men, and 90 on the alarm list. Of our men, not less than 160 were out at different times during this war - some of them of course being counted more then once, as having enlisted or been drafted for successive expeditions.

In the opening camjiaign of this war, in 1754, the following men of this town enlisted in Capt. John Johnson's company, and were out three months, viz., Jonathan Brewer, Simon Learned, Joseph Butler, Phinehas Butler, John How, Eliab Brewer, John Pierce, Simon Gleason, Phinehas Gleason, William Dunn, William Graves, Phinehas Graves, Michael Haven, Simon Pratt.

Ebenezer Newell's Roxbury Company, and received a commission as lieutenant; but before marching he was transferred to Capt. Jonathan Hoar's Concord Company, and was promoted September 8th to be captain. The company was attached to the Crown I'oint expedition, and was in service till December 17th. Jonathan Gibbs was lieutenant in the same company; Amos Gates was sergeant; Ebenezer r.outwell was corporal ; George Walkup was drummer, and in a short time was promoted to be drum-major. Jonathan Tread way was taken sick and sent home on furlough November 3d, and died December 17th. Other Framingham men enlisted in Capt. Newell's company at the same time as Lieutenant Nixon, and were in the Crown Point expedition, and discharged January 3, 1756 : Sergeant Shears Berry, Sergeant Isaac Gleason, Corporal Jonathan Belcher, Abijah Berry, Eben. Darling, John Darling, John Edgell, Simon Edgell, Thomas Nixon, Joseph Sever, Benjamin Tower.

Four men from this town joined Capt. Stephen Hosmer's comi>any, for the Crown Point expedition, one of whom, David Sanger, died at Albany, December ir)th. Three of our men were in Capt. John Taplin's company, same expedition ; and six others enlisted jn different companies, making fortyfour in all who took part in this first campaign of the war.

In 1756 thirty-eight of our men were in the service. Capt. John Nixon and his company were stationed at the camp near Lake George. His brother Thomas, aged twenty, was ensign, and Simon Edgell, twentytwo, was sergeant. Benjamin Angier, William Puffer, Jacob Towusend, Isaac Allard and Ensign John Stone died in the service this year. Daniel Coller was taken captive by the Indians near Lake George. Francis Gallot was taken prisoner at Oswego, when that fort was captured, August 14th.

The year 1757 was long remembered as the year of great preparations and great disappointments. The expedition against Crown Point and Ticonderoga was popular, and officers and men enlisted readily - to be balked in their expectations by the order of Lord London, who sent them on a fruitless expedition against Louisbourg.

"In obedience to an order from your Honours of the 10th of May, 1 757, I have taken effectual care and caused every person, both upon the Alarm liist and Tnained band List, in the Regiment of Militia under my command and also the respective Town stoclts in said Kegiment, to be furnished with Arms and Ammunition accordingtolaw.and now ready with my whole Regiment, to meet and confront the French in any part of the Province, at a minute's warning, even with seven days' provisions. ** I am. Tour Honours most obt. eerv'.

The regular companies from this neighborhood, last year, remained in the service ; and most of our militia were called for in one or other of the " alarms '' about Fort William Henry. Timothy Pierce, son of Thomas, was made prisoner at the taking of this fort and carried to Canada.

In 1758 seventeen Framingham men were with Col. Ruggles' regiment, mostly in Capt. John Nixon's company, on the New York frontier ; Ensign Thomas Trowbridge and fifteen men were in Capt. John Taplin's company, raised for the reduction of Canada, and ten men enlisted in Captain Aaron Fay's company for the same destination. Micajah Gleason was in the expedition against Louisburg.

Ralph Hemenway enlisted and marched with his company, but was taken sick and lay in the hospital for some time. The General Court allowed him for his extra expenses, £3. 5. 0.

1759. Niagara was invested by Gen. Prideaux, July 6 and was taken on the 21th. Ticonderoga was reached by the division under Gen. Amherst, July 22, and after a siege taken ; when Crown Point was abandoned by the French, who retired to the Isleaux Noix, at the northern extremity of the lake.

Capt. John Nixon, with many of his old officers and men, turned out March 31, and was stationed at Worcester, in Col. T. Ruggles' regiment, till April 30. At this date his company was reorganized, and attached to Col. John Jones' (of Hopkinton) regiment, which marched under Gen. JeflVey Amherst, for the invasion of Canada. The company was in service till Dec. 20. The Framingham names are as follows :

John Mattliews, aged 40. Joseph Stone, aged 37. Dan. Tombs, Jr. (Hopk.), aged 19_ Gilbert Dench (IIoi*.), aged 17. Ebenezer Haven, aged 22. Esau Northgate, aged .37. Allen Flagg, aged IS. Daniel Haven, aged 45. Jotioph Bigelow, aged 24. John Gould, aged 38. Phinehas Graves, aged 24. Elijah Drury, aged 22. Isaiali Taylor, aged 25. Micah Gleason, aged 17. Peter Gallot, aged 24. Daniel Haven, aged 20.

Isaac Fisk, Jr., served through the campaign. While returning home he was taken sick between Crown Point and No. 4, and with great difliculty got as far as Mt. Grace (in Warwick), seventy miles from home. His father went with a horse to fetch him to Framingham. But he was so ill that he could not get on or ott'ahorse without help ; and the father was absent seven days, and he was not able to do anything for about six weeks. Expenses allowed by the General Court, £1. 1. 4.

Capt. Nixon'.s company was in service from April 15 to Nov. 17, 1761. It was a popular company, and numbered thirteen officers and eighty-eigiit privates. Eight of the officers and twenty-three of the men were from Framingham.

" The petition of Ralpli Ilemmenway, of Framingham. "To his Exoollency Fra Beniarrt : *' Humbly aheweth that his son, John HemniPuway, enlisted in 1701 under Capt. Brigham, of Southborongh, Col. Whitconib's regiment, and continued in service till the army broke*up'; and in his return took the smalt-pox, and was taken down six days after his return home, and continued thirteen days, and died ; by reason of which your petitioner was put to great trouble and cost : he had to move his family half a mile distant; and could not take them home in less than three months; and paid two nurses i;i. 4., besides 16 shillings for necessaries. Prays the C'Ourt to allow him, as others are allowed in such cases.^'

Miscellany. - 1754. The first four months of this year are made memorable by the prevalence of a fatal distemper, known as the great " sickness." The town records notice the death of seven persons as victims of the disea.se; but it is nearly certain that other deaths occurred, which were not recorded : The Goddard family, living on the i)lace now of J. H. Temple, and the families living north of the Mountain, appear to liave been the greatest suffers. Rev. David Goddard, minister, of Leicester, while on a visit here, was taken down, and died .lanuary 19. His mother died February 4tli, and his father, the Hon. Edward Goddard, died February 9. Others of the family were sick but recovered. Joshua Hemenway, Jr., died January 30.

The distemper broke out in Holliston about the middle of December, and between that date and March there were forty-six deaths in a population of four hundred. " Four families were wholly broken U|), losing both their heads. The sickness was so prev.alent th.at but few families escaped. For more than a month there were not enough well to tend to the sick and bury the dead : tlio' they spent their whole time in these services ; but the sick suffi'red and the dead lay unburied; and th.at, notwithstanding help was procured, and charitable assistance afforded by many in neighboring towns. In the height of the disease there were from two to five burials each day." [.lournal of Rev. Mr. Prentice.] The selectmen applied to the Legislature for aid, and " the sum of £26, 1."?, 4, was granted and |iaid out the public treasury to the selectmen of Holliston, (in consideration of the calamitous circumstances occasioned by the late mortal sickness that prevailed there), to be applied forthe use and relief of such jioor, indigent persons as ni.ay most need the same."

and continued near four and a half minutes. The sliock was the most violent ever known in the country. Its course was from northwest to southeast, and it extended entirely across New England and the Middle States.

1756-7. During this winter snow fell to the deptli of nearly six feet. The following extracts from a journal kept by Henry Eames, indicate the progress of the storms : " Dec. 17, 1756, snow 15 inches deep. Snow 20th day, 15 inches more. Snow 23d day, 7 or 8 inches more. Cold rain, 26th day; 27th, warm three days, then some rain. Jan. 3, 1757, cold N. W. snow, about two or three inches. Jan. 9, about noon very hot fog, then rain. 17th, very cold N. W. wind. 22d, rain, and thaw very fast. 24th and 25th, snow to the value of 10 inches ; the night after, eight inches more. 30th and 31st, thawed away most of the snow th.at came last ; the whole depth above 4 feet and 4 inches. Feb. 2, snow and hail seven inches deep. 5th, snow seven inches deep more. 6th, rain most of the day. 7th, snow three inches deep. 10th, S. wind and rain, till the snow wasted the most of it."

Slaves and Colored Inhabitants. - The number of slaves returned in the preceding t.able is seven. Perh.aps no better ])lace will occur for giving a list of the Negro slaves (so far as is known) owned at different times by Framingham families.

In 1716, John Stone held as a slave, Jane, wife of John Jackson, of New London, Connecticut, who commenced a process to recover her freedom.

Phebe, owned by Captain Simon Edgell, was baptized in 17<i7. The following bill of sale refers to this Negro girl, who was assigned by Mrs. Balch to Captain Edgell. It will show the mode of conducting such transactions :

''Know all Men by tliene Presents, that 1 Josiah Kichardson Jun. of Sudbury in the County of Middlespx, gentlelueu, for aud iu coimideratiouof the Buni uf one Pound nix Bhillings and eight pence, hivvful iiioney, to me in hand well and truly paid at the ensealing hereof by Klizabetb Balch of Franiingham widow, the Receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, and for the consideration thereof, Iht Sdt to the said Klizabeth Balch and to her heirs and uasigus forever, -I Negro female Child named Phehe, of about two years old, with her wearing apparel she now hath. And I the said Josiab t'ovenants to aud with the said Eliv.abeth Balch and her heirs and assigns, that the said Negro Child is my Slave for Life, aud that 1 have good right to sell and convey her iu mauucr aforesaid for the term of her natural life ; and that by force and virtue hereof the said Elizabeth Balch shall iiold her the said Phebe for a slave for the ternt of her natural life. In Witness whereof, 1 the said Josiah Richardson Jnn., have hereunto set my hand aud seal this 13th day of August 1764.

Rev. Mr. Swift owned five slaves, which were disposed of in his will, dated September 1743, as follows : Francis, negro man, to his sou, Rev. John Swift, of Acton ; Guy, negro man, to his son-in-law, Rev. Phillips Payson, of Walpole ; Nero, negro man, to his son-in-law, Ebenezer Robie of Sudbury. His two negro women. Dido, wife of Nero, and Esther, her daughter, he left for the service of his wife until her decease, after which they were to be the property of his daughter Martha, wife of Major John Farrar. Nero, or Nero Benson, was trumpeter in Captain Isaac Clark's troop in 1725. He married in 1731, Dido Dingo. He was a member in full communion of Mr. Swift's church ; and in 1737 transferred his relation to the church in Hopkinton, showing that his spiritual liberty was not restricted. He wa.s admitted to Rev. Mr. Loring's church in Sudbury, November 9, 1746, and died at Sudbury, July 3, 1757. He left a wife and three children, one of whom, William, was ow«ed for a time by Joseph Collins, of Southborough.

Cato Hanker was owned by Joseph Haven, Esq., and was born in his house (the David Nevins place). He was a shoemaker, and received his freedom ; and April 10, 1721, bought for ten shillings, ten square rods of land of Daniel Haven, where he built a small house. The house stood on the north side of the road, a short distance to the eastward of the David Haven house, on land now owned by the Sturtevants. Iu his old age he was accustomed to tell that he had many times stood in the road east of his house, and " fished both ways " in time of high water. He left a son, William.

A noted character of the class under consideration was Prince, sometimes called Prince Young, but whose name is recorded as Prince Yongey, and Prince Jonar, by which last name he is noticed in the town records iu 1767. He was brought from Africa when about twenty-five years old, having been a person of consideration in his native land, from which circumstance, perhaps, he received his name. He was bought by Col. Joseph Buckminster, Jr., and was afterwards owned by his son, Dea. Thomas Buckminster. He married, in 17H7, Nanny Peterattucks of Framingham, by whom he had several children, among them a son who died young, and a daughter Phebe, who never married.

Prince was a faithful servant, and by his honesty, temperance and prudence, so gained the confidence of his first master, Col. Joseph Buckminster, that he was left with the management of a large farm during his master's absence at the General Court. He occupied a cabin near the turnpike, and cultivated for his own use a piece of meadow, which has since been known as Prince's meadow. He gave as the reason for choosing this spot, that it resembled the .soil of his native country. During the latter part of his life he was off'ered his freedom, which he had the sagacity to decline, pithily saying, " Massa eat the meat; he now pick the bone." Prince shunned the society of persons of his own color. He always appeared in public armed with a tomahawk ; yet he was a favorite with children, and would bear great provocations from them. He learned to read, and possessed the religious turn of mind characteristic of his race. In his last sickness, he remarked with much simplicity, that he was " not afraid to be dejid, but to die." He passed an extreme old age in the family of Dea. Thomas Buckminster, and died December 21, 1797, at the age of about 100 years. - Barry.

Brin, commonly called Blaney Grusha, was at one time owned by Col. Micah Stone. He is named in the tax-list of 1757. He was in the military service during the Revolutionary War; was at the battle of Bnnker Hill. He died February, 1820.

Anothernoted character, still well remembered by many of our inhabitants, was .lim Riggs. He was a mulatto, born in St. Domingo ; was owned as aslave at the South; escaped from slavery, and alter many adventures, reached this town. According to his own account he was hostler to Gen. (then Col.) Washington in the campaign of 1755, aud was then nineteen years old. He was in service, in the Revolutionary War. He built a shanty near Lavvson Buckminster's gristmill, back of Jlrs. Newell's house. He did jobbing, and made baskets in the families of Buckminster, Belknap, Home, and the families of How, Eamea and

Haven at the south part. He died at the house of John Wenzell, Sen., in 182S, and was buried in the South Cemetery. He must have been about ninety-two at his death.

Other colored men of note who have lived in Framingliam, were Crispus Attucks, Peter Salem and Cato Hart. Their biograpliy properly belongs to the next chapter.

The strong race prejudice existed in this town as elsewhere. Pews in remote corners of the meetinghouses were specially assigned for the occupancy of negroes. As late as 1826, when the First Baptist Society built its meeting-house at the Centre, pews for the exclusive use of colored people, were constructed in a kind of attic gallery, reached by separate stairs.

Dr. Ebenezer Hemenway was in practice in this town from 1760 to 1784. He lived on the Loring Manson place (now W. B. Ward), and had a gristmill on the stream.

Taverns. - Jonathan Rice kept a tavern and store, a little south of S. D. Hardy's, 1708, and for many years. Jona. Maynard had a house of entertainment before 1723, at the Aaron Bullard place, south side of Bare Hill.

Daniel How opened a tavern about forty-five rods southeast of the old Charles Clark place, in 1720, which he sold in 1736, or '37, to Samuel Gleason, who continued the tavern for many years.

Francis Moquet kept tavern at the old Buckminster stand (near E. H. Warren's store) from 1729 to 1735. He afterwards bought the place next east of O. F. Hastings', where he had a tavern and store as late as 1749. After Mr. Moquet left the Buckminster stand, Col. Joseph Buckminster took it, and sjjent his days here, as did his son, Joseph, and grandson, Deacon Thomas.

John Trowbridge, Jr., had a public house before 1757, and for many years thereafter. January llj 1759, he sent the following petition to the General Court: "The Petition of John Trowbridge, Jr., of Framingham, sAewc//(, that he entertained Capt. Eiulicott's Company on their march from Boston towards Albany, in the year 1757 ; that on application to him he cannot obtain payment, although (as he is informed) the said Endicott has received the billeting money for his whole company; that he apprehends he is left without remedy against the said Endicott, by reason of his not being present with his company when they received their entertainment at his house; praying for relief."

"Jan. 11, 1759. Josiah Drury, of Framingham, petitions for license by the General Court, as an Iniiholder in said town, the person who lives in his neighborhood who had for some time kept a Tavern, not having renewed his license, and the selectmen judging the place convenient for that business." The Court of Sessions were impowered and directed to grant the license prayed for. The tavern was at the east part of the town.

War of the Revolution. - October 21, 17G5, the town " voted to instruct their representative in the General Court : 1. To promote and readily join in such dutiful remonstrances and humble petitions to the King and Parliament, as have a direct tendency to obtain a repeal of the Stamp Act. 2. That you do not give your assent to any Act of Assembly that shall imply the willingness of your constituents to submit to any taxes that are imposed in any other way than by the Great and General Court of this Province, according to the institution of this Government."

September 26, 1768, Mr. Thomas Temple was chosen to join the Committee in Convention at Faneuil Hall, in Boston, "to consult such measures as may l)e for the safety of the Province."

Crispus Attucks. - The quartering of trooi>s on (he town of Boston, and the exasperation of the people at such an attempt to overawe and coerce them, prepared the way for the tragic scenes of the 5th of March, 1770, known as Tlie Boston Massacre.

Crispus Attucks, who is admitted to liave been the leader of the party, was a mulatto, born near the Framingham town line, a short distance to the eastward of the State Arsenal. The old cellar-hole where the Attucks family lived is still visible. He was probably a descendant of John Aultuck, an Indian, who was taken prisoner and executed at the same time with Capt. Tom, in June, 1676. Probably the family had intermarried with negroes who were slaves, and as the otlspring of such marriages were held to be slaves, he inherited their condition, although it seem.s likely that the blood of three races coursed through his veins. He had been bought by Dea. VVilliam Brown, of Framingham, as early as 1747. But he thus early acquired some ideas of the value of manhood and liberty, as appears from the following advertisement in the Boston Gazette of October 2, 1750:

" Ran away from his Master, William Brown of Framiogham, on the 30th of Saptember last, a mulatto Fellow, about twenty-seven years of age, named Crispus, 6 feet 2 inches high, short curled hair, bis knees nearer together than common, and had on a light coloured Beaver-skin coat, plain brown fustian jacJict^ or brown all-wool one, new buck-skin Breeches, blue yarn stockings, and a checked woolen shirt. Whoever will take up «iid Runaway and convey him to his aforesaid Master, shall have ten pounds old tenor Reward, Jlnd all neces8.ary charges paid. And all Masters of vessels and othei-s are hereby cautioned against conceitltng or carrying off said Servant, on penalty of the law."

A descendant of Dea. Brown says of him : " Crispus was well informed, and, except in the instance referred to in the advertisement, was faithful to his master. He was a good judge of cattle, and was allowed to buy and sell upon his own judgment of their value. He was fond of a seafaring life, and probably with consent of his master, was accustomed to take coasting voyages. The account of the time says, " he lately belonged to New Providence, and was here in order to go to North Carolina."

He was of huge bodily proportions, and brave almost to recklessness. John Adams, who defended Capt. Preston at his trial, says: " Attucks was seen about eight minutes before the firing at the head of twenty or thirty sailors in Cornhill, and had in his hand a large cord-wood stick. . . . He was a stout fellow, whose very looks were enough to terrify any person. . . . when he came down upon the soldiers by the sentrybox, they pushed him off; but he cried out, ' Don't be afraid of them ! They dare not fire! Kill them ! kill them ! Knock them over ! ' " At the firing he was killed instantly, two balls entering his breast. He was about forty-seven years old.

May 28, 1770, the town, by unanimous vote, declared against "the pernicious practice of purchasing and drinking Foreign tea, and also of trading with the importers of English goods ; " and March 2.'5, 1774, it was endorsed, "That we ourselves, or any for or under us, will not buy any teas subject to duty ; nor knowingly trade with any merchant or country trader that deals in tliat detestable commodity." And the declaration was made : " And since such means and methods are used to Destroy our Privileges, which were purchased by the Dearest Blood of our Ancestors, those that stand foremost in a proper Defence of our Privileges, shall have our greatest Regards ; And if any shall be so regardless of our Political Preservation and that of Posterity as to Endevor to Counteract our Determination, We will treat them ill the Manner their conduct Deserves."

May 18, 1774, the town chose the following Committee of Correspondence : Joseph Haven, Esq., Capt. Josiah Stone, Dea. William Brown, Ebenezer Marshall, Lieut. David Haven, Joseph Buckminster, Esq., and Maj. John Farrar.

Capt. Josiah Stone, Joseph Haven, Esq., and Dea. Wm. Brown were appointed delegates to the Provincial Congress, which met at Concord in October. Capt. Stone, with Dea. Brown as his substitute, was sent to the Second Congress ; and Joseph Haven, Esq., and Capt. Stone were sent to the Third Congress.

September 9, 1774, the town voted " To purchase, at the town's expense, five barrels of powder and 5 cwt. of bullets or lead, for an addition to the town's stock."

September 30, 1774, voted " to purchase a chest of 25 fire-arms and two field-pieces, of such size as the Committee shall judge proper." Joseph Winch, Daniel Sanger, James Glover and Captain Benj. Edwards were the committee. This meeting was adjourned for four days, and public notice was given requesting that " every person above the age of sixteen years shall attend, to consider and determine with regard to the Militia as the whole body shall judge proper." A very full meeting convened, and it was voted " that there be two Militia Companys besides the Troop in this town : and that each company choose such officers as they judge best to have command in this day of distress in our Public Affairs."

The Provincial Congress, which met in October, adopted a plan, providing that all able-bodied men should be enrolled, and that those should assemble immediately, and elect their proper oflicers, and that these company officers should assemble as soon as may be, and elect field oflicers: and that the militia, so organized, should be .subject to the orders of the Committee of Safety.

At a meeting of the town, November 8th, " it was voted to accept the resolve of the Provincial Congress relative to the Militia." And this led to the formation of two companies o( minute-men.

" We, the subscribers, from a sense of our duty, to preserve our Liberties and Privileges; And in coiuplianco with the Resolves of the Provincial Congress, together with the desire of our superior oificers, voluntarily enlist ourselves Minute-men, and promise to hold ourselves in readiness to march at the shortest notice, if requested by the oflicers we shall hereafter elect."

This paper was signed by Simon Edgell, Thomas Drury, Samuel Abbot, James Clayes, Jr., John Fisk, iloses Learned, Matthias Bent, Jr., John Eaton, Lawson Buckminster, Frederick Manson, and others, to the number of sixty-eight.

*' These may certify that in Framingham, on the second of December, 1774, a number of men enlisted as Minute Men, and was formed into a companye ; then made choice of Mr. Simon Edgell captain, Thomas Drury first lieutenant, Lawson Buckminster second lieutenant, oflicers for said Companye according to the directions of the late Provincial Congress in their Resolve in October 2G, 1774. "Signed

At the same time a second company, comprising sixty men, was enlisted, and organized in the same way. The ofiicers elected were : Thomas Nixon, cap- tain ; Micajah Gleason, first lieutenant; JohnEames, second lieutenant ; Samuel Gleason, ensign ; Ebenezer Hemenway, clerk. Some of the other leading names were : Peter Olayes, Abel Childs, Moses and Nathaniel Earaes, John Farrar, Jr., Jona. Hemenway, Jona. Hill, Needham Maynard, Asa and John Nurse, Jona. Temple, Joseph Winch.

These compiinies at once put themselves in active drill in the manual and field mantpuvre. Each man was required to provide himself with a musket, bayonet, cartridge-box and thirty-six rounds of ammunition. The companies met as often as once a week, and squads of men, by arrangement, would meet at the houses of the officers, and spend evenings going through the manual exercise. Says one of them : " 1 have spent many an evening, with a number of my near neighbors, going through tlie exercise in the barn floor, with my mittens on."

These minute companies were in part composed of the young and adventurous spirits among us ; but many of our most substantial citizens enlisted, and were faithful in drilling, and ready to " fall in" when the emergency came.

1775. " January 2, 177-5. At a town meeting duly warned, it was voted, that there shall be a contribution for the town of Boston under their present Distress. And Maj. John Trowbridge, Gideon Haven, Daniel Sanger, Benjamin Mixer, Ebenezer Marshall, David Patterson, Deacon William Brown and Dr. Ebenezer Hemenway were chosen a committee for that purpose; and next Wednesday and Friday at 1 o'clock were appointed as the times when the people should assemble at such several places as the committee shall designate, to bring in their subscriptions."

Capt. Josiah Stone and Deacon William Brown were chosen delegates to the Second Provincial Congress, to meet at Cambridge the 1st of February.

Capt. Benjamin Edwards, Joseph Nichols, Daniel Sanger, Capt. Amos Gates and Col. Micah Stone were chosen a Committee of Inspection, " whose duty it shall be to see that the Association of the Continental Congress be duly carried into full execution."

The Battle of Lexington and Concord. - April 19, 1775. The news that the British troops were on the march for Lexington and Concord appears to have reacheil Framingham before eight o'clock in the morning. The bell was rung, and the alarm guns tired; and in about an hour a considerable part of the two companies of minute-men and one company of the militia 'were on the way to Concord, which place they reached about noon. Capt. Edgell went on foot the entire distance, carrying his gun. Those living at the extreme south and west sides of the town were a little behind the party from the centre and north side.

Soon after the men were gone, a strange panic seized upon the women and children living in the Edgell and Belknap District. Some one started the story that " the Negroes were coming to massacre them all !" Nobody stopped to ask where the hostile negroes were coming from ; for all our own colored people were patriots. It was probably a lingering memory of the earlier Indian alarms, which took this indefinite shape, aided by the feeling of terror awakened by their defenceless condition, and tlie uncertainty of the issue of the pending fight. The wife ofCapt. Edgell and the other matrons brought the axes and pitchforks and clubs into the house, and securely bolted the doors, and passed the day and night in anxious suspense.

Our companies reached Concord, not in season to join in the fray at the North Bridge, but in season to join in the pursuit of the flying British column. From the evidence preserved, it appears that a part of our men participated in the daring assault at Merriam's Corner, and that all had arrived and were active in the more successful attacks in the Lincoln woods. Captain Edgell and Captain Gleason had seen service in the Indian wars ; they were cool and daring, and kept their men well in hand, which accounts for the few casualties of the day among them. Captain Nixon and our two captains, who acted in concert, well knew the need of discipline in harassing a retreating enemy, and that most casualties happen on such occasions from rashness and needless exposure. A single deliberate shot, from a man behind a safe cover, is eft'ective," when a dozen hurried shots are harmless.

Our captains kept up the pursuit till the British reached and passed Cambridge ; and then the men disposed of themselves as best they could for the night.

The following incident shows the value of presence of mind in emergency. In the pursuit from Concord, when on the borders of Lexington, Noah Eaton (2d), of this town, fired upon the British, and squatted behind a knoll to reload, just as a regular came up on the other side of the knoll, and as it proved, for the same purpose. Eaton instantly brought his gun to his shoulder, and demanded a surrender. The soldier laid down his musket, when Eaton proceeded to reload. Seeing the state of the case, the soldier remarked, '- My gun is empty, but I could have loaded in half the time you take, as I have cartridges." The soldier returned to Framingham with his captor the next day, and continued in his service.

Josiah Temple, then living at Lechmore Point, Cambridge, started with a detachment of militiamen to intercept the British, on their return, and in the .severe skirmish which took place just on the line between Lexington and Cambridge, received a musketball in the shoulder, which he carried to his grave.

Daniel Hemenway, a member of Captain Edgell's company, was the only one of our minute-men who was wounded that day ; but he kept on with his comrades to Cambridge, and remained in the service fourteen days.

As will appear from the muster-rolls, all our Framingham men followed the British as far as Cambridge, and passed the night there. And only eight of the total oi one hundred and fifty-three returned home the next day. The rest remained in the service for longer or shorter periods, as indicated below.

Captain Edgell took seventy-seven men to thescene of action, thirty-eight of whom returned at the end of four days; the others continued in the service from ten to nineteen days. Captain Edgell was out twentytwo days. The second company marched under Captain Micajah Gleason, Captain Nixon having been promoted. This company numbered forty-nine men, who were in service from three to twenty-eight days. Captain Jesse Eames took twenty-four men of the militia to Concord and Cambridge that day, most of whom were out ten days.

It was at the earnest entreaty of the Committee of Safety and the general officers, that Captain Edgell, Captain Gleason and Captain Eames, and so large a part of our minute-men and militia remained at Cambridge. The Executive Committee had summoned the Provincial Congress to meet April 22d ; and they begged these minute companies to hold the ground till more permanent companies could be enlisted.

On that day Captain Gleason resigned command of his minute company, and immediately raised from his own men, and other companies on the ground, a company of fifty men, and reported for duty. His commission is dated April 23d, and his company was that day mustered into service.

The next day, Lieut. Thomas Drury, of Captain Edgell's company, resigned his commission, and commenced recruiting a company for the eight months' service. On that and the few following days he enlisted sixty-three men. His commission as captain is dated April 24th, and his company drew pay from that dale.

April 24th the Committee of Safety sent ten sets of beating papers to Colonel Jonathan Brewer, a native of Framingham, but who, since 1770, had resided in VValtham, on the border of Watertown. He promptly raised a regiment, composed of eight companies and 400 men.

Colonel, .lona. Brewer, of Waltbam, born in Framingham. Lieutenant-Colouel, William Buckminster, of Barre, born in Framingham. Major, Nathaniel Cudworth, of Bast Sudbury. Adjutant, John Butler, of Peterborough. Quartermaster, Charles Dougherty, of Framingham.

The same day, April 24th, Captain John Nixon was tendered a commission as colonel of a regiment ; and on the 27th the Committee of Safety ordered that he receive nine sets of " beating papers," which he was to send to such men when in the array near New York, in the Revolutionary War ; at which time Francis Asbury, the first liishop of the church in the United States, was actively at work in that region.

The first class consisted of Jona. Hill (leader), Benj. Stone, Isaac Stone and their wives, and Matthew Stone. They first met for religious worship in the dwelling-house of Henj. Stone. This was one of the earliest - if not the earliest - church of the order, gathered in Massachusetts. The records of the old Needham Circuit) do not extend back of 1791 ; and there is no doubt that the Saxonville Class helped to make up the reputed number of thirty-five members.

For several years the church in this town was visited by various preachers, viz.: John Hill, Bishop Asbury, Jesse Lee, Ezekiel Cooper and George Pickering, through whose missionary zeal Methodism was firmly established in New England.

For thirty-five years the growth of Methodism in town was slow, and confined to a few families. In 1825 Mr. Lewis Jones, who w.as an earnest man and a successful worker in the denomination for a thii-d of a century, gathered a class at " The Corners," north of Saxonville, of which he was appointed leader. The names of the members of this class are as follows :

A prominent and worthy member of the church during this comparatively early period of its history was Jotham Haven, a local preacher, father of the late Bishop E. O. Haven.

During the single decade that the society continued to worship in the church at the " Corners," it enjoyed only a scant prosperity. The Conference preachers who served it were C. Virgin, Peter Sabin, N. B. Spalding, Paul Townsend, Thomas W. Tucker, George Pickering and Willard Smith. The society, in the year 1842, considering themselves financially too feeble to support a Conference preacher, Rev. L. P. Frost, then teaching in Wayland, near by, was engaged to supply the pulpit, which he did most acceptably.

In 1880 the present tasteful and commodious house of worship was erected, at a cost, including the land, of about $10,000. It was dedicated January 6, 1881.

The Saxonville JRelirjious Society was incorporated February 22, 1827, and a meeting-house was built the same year. Religious worship was at first conducted by ministers of the Unitarian denomination, and subsequently for a time by the Methodists and others. A Congregational Church was organized May 26, 1833, which later took the name of the Edwards Church in Saxonville.

A Universalist Society was formed November, 1829, and built a meeting-house, which was dedicated September, 1832. The society employed ministers, who entered upon their pastoral duties without the form of a regular installation. After maintaining preaching for about twenty years, the society dissolved.

Catholic Churches. - Mission work was commenced at Saxonville by Rev. George Hamilton as early as 1844, which resulted in the organization of St. George's Parish and the erection of a church, which was opened for public worship September 14, 1845. The successors of Fr. Hamilton have been Rev. Edward P^arrelly, Rev. John Walsh, Rev. Anthony J. Rossi, a graduate of St. Mary's Seminary, near St. Louis, Mo., and Rev. James E. Rogers.

This parish purchased the church edifice at the Centre, built by the Universalists, and later built a commodious church at the South Village, which is now known as St. Stephen's Church. Regular worship is maintained at both i)laces. This parish is in charge of Rev. John S. Cullen.

The pastors have been. Rev. Bradford H. Lincoln, installed March 30, 1854; dismissed Nov. 2, 1855. Rev. Samuel W. Foljambe, installed April 20, 1856; dismissed December 31, 1858. Rev. Theron Brown (Y. C. 1856), installed December 15, 1859; dismissed November 29, 1861. Rev. Samuel Brooks (B. U.

R. Darrow, installed February 1, 1874; preached two years. Rev. Henry G. Safford {B. U. 1858), installed December 12, 1875; dismissed 1885. Rev. E. S. Wheeler.

iSI. John's Church, Protestant Ejnscopal. - On application of Charles R. Train, George Eastwood, T. C. Hurd, J. W. Brown, A. R. Esty and others, the parish was duly organized December 21, 1860; wardens, J. W. Brown, A. R. Esty ; clerk, T. C. Hurd. Services were held for a time in the town hall ; then in the old Utiiversalist meeting-house. In 1870 a tasty stone church was erected on the west slope of Bare hill, and first occupied on Easter Sunday, 1871. It was consecrated June 12, 1872.

A Methodist Episcopal Church was gathered at South Franiingham in February, 1869, and formally organized at the Quarterly Conference held at the house of H. W. Carter, November 5, 1869. There were at this date about twenty members in full connection. Services were held in Waverley Hall till the autumn of 1873, when the Kennedy property was purchased by the society, and the hall since known as " Irving Hall " was fitted up for a place of worship. The dedicatory sermon was preached December 21, 1873, by Rev. William R. Clark, D.D. A new and handsome church edifice has lately been erected.

The South Con<ireijational Church, composed largely of members dismissed from the church at the Centre for that purpo.se, was organized at South Framingham, January 2, 1873. The tirst meetings were held in Nobscot Hall. A commodious chapel was built and dedicated in 1874. A large and imposing church edifice was erected in 1883. The original number of members was 57; number January 1, 1889, 239. Rev. D. M. Bean (Y. C. 1858), was acting pa.stor, 1873- 79; Rev. Wm. R. Eastman (Y. C. 1854) was installed February 12, 1880, dismissed 1888; Rev. Frederick E. Emrich was installed .lanuary 29, 1890.

The First Universalist Society of South Franiingham was organized April 28, 1878; re-organized under the statute April 5, 1882. The original number of members was twenty-seven. A neat church edifice was built on Franklin Street, and dedicated Nov. 9, 1S82.

A Presbyterian Church was organized at South Framingham two years ago, which has worshipped in a hired hall. A contract has just been made for building a church on the corner of Hollis and Winthrop Streets. Rev. J. W. Flagg is pastor.

Cemeteries. - The Old Burying- Ground. As was customary in those days, the tirst burials of the dead were in the grounds immediately surrounding the meeting-house. And as these grounds were included in the " Meeting-house Lands " reserved by Mr. Danforth, there was a manifest propriety in using them for this sacred purpose.

This ground was fenced in with "a good four-foot wall " in 1805-06 ; but it was much neglected, and cows and sheep were pastured thereon. About the year 1850 a system of improvements, in charge of Mrs. J. J. Clark and Jos. G. Bannister, was begun, and has been carried on more recently by Dexter Hemenway. The walks have been graded and graveled ; the head-stones righted up or buried on the top of the graves, and the grounds generally put in order. The expense of these improvements has been borne in part from the avails of the " May Festival," originally started by some public-spirited ladies as early as 1849, and continued annually to the present time.

South Burying- Ground. - This small plot of land, one-half acre, was set apart for burial purposes in 1824. January 24, 1824, Joseph Haven executed a deed of this land, to Levi Metcalf, Obed Daniels^ Elias Grout, John Wenzell, and others, " proprietors of the South Burying Ground in Framingham." In 1874, the surviving proprietors deeded the laud to the town.

In 1883, Willard Howe donated to the town the sum of $2.50, 10 be known as the "Howe Cemetery Fund," the annual income of which is to be used " for the care of the South Cemetery in Framingham, and especially of Lot No. 14."

Saxonville Cemetery. This Burial Lot, then comprising oue acBe, was purchased by the town of Charles Fiske, in 1838. In 1865, Mr. Fiske sold to the town another acre, on the easterly .side.

Edgell Grove Cemetery. - June 27, 184C, the town appointed a committee, consisting of Moses Edgell, N. S. Bennett, Warren Nixon, Patten Johnson and Dexter Esty, to procure a lot of land near the Centre village for a new burial place. In 1848 nine and a half acres of woodland, lying northwest of the Common, was purchased of Colonel Edgell, and formally consecrated by appropriate ceremonies. In 1858 three acres additional, lying on the southwesterly side, were purchased of James W. Brown ; and about three acres on the northerly and northeasterly sides, were by deed of gift, made over to the town by Colonel Edgell at his decease. April 30, 1862, James \V. Clark donated to the town eight and a half acres, lying on the southwest side, and in 1876 gave a deed of the land lying upon the southeastern line of the original grounds. Other lands have been purchased, so that the present area is twenty-eight acres.

By his will. Col. Moses Edgell bequeathed the sum of 120,000, a part of which is to be expended in building within the grounds, a chapel ; and the remainder is to constitute a permanent fund, the income of which is to be expended in the care and improvement of the cemetery. George Phipps bequeathed the sum of $500, the income of which is to be applied, 1, in the proper care of the donor's own lot ; 2, for the general benefit of the cemetery. There is also a fund of about $500, the income of which is at the disposal of the trustees. There is also a fund, now amounting to $6010, contributed by owners of lots, the income of which is to be applied to the perpetual care of the said lots. And it is worthy of record that from the avails of the annual " May Festival," organized May 1, IS-IS, and managed by the ladies, ther« have been expended for improvements in this and the old cemetery, not less than $9500.

Industries. - Such was the situation of the town, and such the character of the inhabitants and such the facilities of obtaining water power that the chief dependence of our people from the first, was on home productions and manufactures. Wool and tlax for garments, corn and the smaller grains for food, grist and saw and fulling-mills, tanneries and most of the mechanical tr.ades came with the early settlers, and grew in numbers and scope with the growth of population.

Stone's corn-mill at the Falls, built in 1G59, and the saw and fulling-mills there before 1735, have already been noticed. Savil Simpson built grist and saw-mills on Hopbinson River in 1707 ; and Col. Joseph Buckminster put in a grist-mill on the brook near his house about the same date.

The mechanical trades essential to the wants of everyday life were introduced early. Most of the first comers had some practical knowledge of the use of carpenter's and shoe-makers' tools. Some men had a smattering of several trades. Thomas Eames, a settler in 16(59, was mason and brickmaker. Isaac Learned, cooper, was here in 1679; John How, carpenter, 1G89; Isaac Clark, carpenter, 1692; Caleb Bridges, bricklayer, Benjamin Bridges, blacksmith, the wife of Joseph Truuibull, weaver, were here in 1693; Jeremiah Pike, spinning-wheel maker, 1696; Jose|>h Buckminster, tanner, 1703; Jonathan Rugg, blacksmith, 1704; Jonas Eaton, carpenter, brickmaker and tanner, 1706 ; John Singletary, cooper, 1709; Dea. Moses Haven, shoemaker, 1710 ; Ebenezer Hemenway, weaver, 1711; Jonathan Maynard, weaver, 1713; Joseph Haven, shoemaker, and Ebenezer Boutwell, tinker, 1721. William Ballord, the tailor, and Thomas Temple, the cabinet-maker, came later, but before the old French War. Professional weavers made only the better class of dress goods, woolen and linen, and linsey-woolsey; the mother of the family usually had a spinning-wheel and loom, and made the common clothing goods.

Forges were established by Andrew Newton on Hopkinton River in 1745, and by Ebenezer Marshall on the same stream, at the site of Cutler's mills in 1747. These turned out axes, hoes, scythes and farming tools generally. Later a forge was put in on the river, north of Addison G. Kendall's.

Manufactures. - It was not till after 1800 that the water-power of Sudbury River and its main affluents was fully utilized for manufacturing purposes.

The Revolutionary War taught our people to depend on themselves for the necessaries of life, and the rude machinery of the household and the fullingmill met the demand. But the return of peace and prosperity created new wants which these primitive appliances could not supply. Immense importations from abroad were made, and foreign luxuries became home necessities. This state of things w^s suddenly arrested by the breaking out of hostilities between England and France, and the restrictions placed upon commerce by these governments aimed directly against each other, but indirectly affecting our country. The embroilment of our government led to the embargo act of 1807, and the interdict of commercial intercourse with England and France of 1809, and culminated in the declaration of war against Great Britain in 1812. This embroglio threw our people again upon their own resources for supplying the need of clothing and commodities. Extensive manufixcturing establishments were started for almost every sort of merchandise.

The dams already constructed on the Hopkinton and Sudbury Rivers and Cochituate Brook were brought into use for new and more complicated ventures.

The first of the new enterprises was the cottonfactory on the Hopkinton River, at what is now Ashland Centre. January 23, 1811, Samuel Valentine, Jr., bought the privilege of Samuel Clark, and in connection with Aaron Eames, Elias Grout, Fisher Metcalf and others, organized the Middlesex Manufacturing Company. Buildings were erected and the manufacture of cotton goods commenced. The enterprise had a varied history till 1828, soon after which it came into possession of James Jackson, a man of energy and business tact, through whose influence the village of Unionville sprang up, which flourished and grew into an important centre. Mr. Jackson sold the property in 1852. It is now owned by the Dwight Print Company.

Cotton Factory at Saxonville. - The starting of this enterprise was only a few months later than the one at Unionville. In the same year Hopestill Leiand, of Sherborn, bought the Deacon Brown priiilege on Cochituate Brook, of Ebenezer Brown, and erected a cotton-mill. February 6, 1813, Calvin Sanger, Aaron Leiand, Joseph Sanger, Leonard Dearth, Benjamin Wheeler, Luther Belknap, Hopestill Leiand, Jr., Comfort Walker, Moses Adams, Lewis Wheeler, Micah Adams, Joseph L. Richardson, Phillips Clark and Elias Whiting were incorporated a.s the Framingham Manufacturing Company, for the inirpose of manufacturing wool and cotton, with power to hold real estate to the value of $30,000, and personal estate to the value of $50,000. The next year, Mr. Leiand sold six acres, with corn and grist-mills, to this com- |)any, and thirty-two acres to Calvin Sanger - all the interest of the new enterprise. Mr. Walker located here, and the company started with energy and soon gathered a considerable number of families, having children old enough to work in the mill, opened a store in charge of Samuel Murdock, employed a blacksmith (Joseph Prichard) and did a large, though not profitable, business for a number of years. The property eventually passed into new hands represented by I. McLellan, of Boston. The factory building was burned in 1834. In July, 1844, this privilege 'was sold to William H. Knight, who put up a building and set up machinery for spinning woolen yarns. Mr. Knight sold to the city of Boston.

Woolen Factory at Sa.Tonville. - Apri] 5, 1822, the following persons, viz., Jere. Gore, John S. Harris, Stephen Gore, Jr., Ephraim Jones, all of Boston, and Abner, Benj. and Eliphalet Wheeler, of Framingham, bought of Charles Fiske, Isaac Dench, Josiah Stone, Abel Eaton, Abner Stone, and others, the land on both sides the river, together with the water privilege and buildings, dwelling-houses, etc., at the Falls in Saxonville, and the next year built the first woolenmill. February 4, 1824, the parties above-named were incorporated under the name of the Saxon Factory Company, for the purpose of manufacturing woo! in the town of Framingham, with power to hold real estate, not exceeding the value of $100,000, and capital stock to the amount of $200,000. May 8, 1824, Jere. Gore and his associates sold the entire estate and water rights, for $20,000, to the Saxon Factory. The canal had been dug and a mill erected in 1823.

February 8, 1825, the Saxon Factory and the Leicester Factory were, by act of the Legislature, " made one corporation, for the purpose of manufacturing wool, cotton and machinery in Leicester and Framingham."

June 11, 1829, Joseph Head, Henry Gardner, Edward Miller, H. H. Jones and others were incorporated as the Saxon Cotton and Woolen Factory, for the purpose of manufacturing cotton and wool in the town of Framingham.

February 16, 1832, the name of the company was changed to that of the Saxon Factory. The statistics of this company April 1, 1837, were: Woolen-mills, 5; sets of machinery, 11; wool consumed, 744,000 lbs.; cloth manufoctured, 268,640 yards; value, $311,- 800 ; males employed, 105 ; females, 141 ; capital invested, .$415,000.

In 1837 the New England Worsted Company purchased the entire property of the Saxon Company and removed their worsted machinery from Lowell to Framingham. The main business since then has been the manufacture of worsted carpet-yarns and woolen-blankets. In 1858 this entire property was bought by M. H. Simpson and Nathaniel Francis, and the name changed to the Saxonville Mills. No change was made in the kind of goods manufactured. During the late Civil War the company filled large orders for blue Kersey army cloth. The statistics for 1805 were: Number of mills, 4; sets of machinery, 25; pounds of scoured wool consumed, 2,000,000; gross value of stock used, $800,000 ; yards of blanketing manufactured, 1,500,000 ; value, $900,000 ; pounds of yarn manufactured and not made into cloth, 600,- .000; value, $300,000; yards of army cloth made, 150,000; value, $200,000; males employed, 393; females, 390. Statistics for 1875: Mills, 2; capital, $800,000; value of goods manufactured, $850,000; males emploj'ed, 263; females, 2G8. In 1878 the company commenced the manufacture of hair-cloth, in imitation of seal-skin ; but the move was not a success. The mills were burnt in 1883, and re-built on a difterent plan - a large single story edifice.

Carpet Factory. - In 1829 Mr. Wm. H. Knight bought of Col. James Brown the old fulling-mill privilege on Cochituate Brook, changed the cotton-thread machinery and immediately commenced the manufacture of carpets. His means were limited, and not at all commensurate with his skill. At first he would purchase wool only sufficient for a single piece of carpeting, work it up, take the piece to Boston, and from the proceeds buy more wool. The business prospered, and in 1839 Mr. Knight bought the "bridge lot," eighty rods below the fulling-mill site, where he put in a dam, erected new buildings and started large carpet works. In 1844 he purchased the old cottonmill privilege, where he put in m.achinery for spinning woolen yarn. Controlling and using these three water-powers, which embraced the whole fall of the stream, his business rapidly increased, so that in 1845 - only fifteen years after his humble beginning - the returns show : Amount of wool annually consumed. 465,000 pounds; yards of carpeting produced, 199,037 ; value, $149,530; males employed, 191 ; females, 41.

Mr. Knight sold all his property and water-rights on Cochituate Brook to the city of Boston, June 25, 1846. The buildings connected with the bridge lot works were burnt on the morning of March 20, 1847.

Paper-Mills. - In 1817 Dexter and David Bigelow erected a mill on the Hopkintou River, for the manufacture of writing-paper ; and in 1828 Calvin Shepard and Son purchased the site of the Dench Mills, on the same stream, and put in paper-making machinery. These privileges are now in Ashland. In 1837 the stock manufactured was 278 tons ; value of paper, $46,000 ; males employed, twelve ; females, eleven ; capital invested, $50,000.

Book- Bindery. - Otis Boynton established a bookbindery here in the spring of 1822. In 1833 John J. Marshall joined the concern, and a book and stationcry store was opened. The business was carried on till February, 1864.

Hatters. - Daniel Bridge, felt-maker and hatter, built a shop in the Centre in 1781, and remained here a few years. In 1823 Silas Hunt and Ira Mitchell established a hat manufactory, where is now Otis Cliilds' dwelling-house. In 1845 four hands were employed, and the net income of the business was $2500. The business was given up in 1852, Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Jones removing to Milford.

Tanneries. - Colonel Joseph Buckminster and Jonas Eaton built tan-worka very early. Joshua Eaton, soon after 1723, established a tan-yard near Schoolhouse No. 7. David Stone and Jonathan Hill had a tannery north of Saxonville before 1769. They sold to John Stone, of East Sudbury, who sold March 17, 1788, to Elijah Clayes, who carried on the business till March 27, 1790, when he sold to Micah Fiske, by whom and his sou Charles it was conducted for half a century.

In 1780 Thomas and Ezekiel Williams of Roxbury, tanners and curriers, bought the Mixer Tannery, on Roaring Brook, near Southborough line, where is now the brick-yard, which they sold in 1790 to Benjamin Eaton, Jr., who continued the business, and died there.

There was a tannery north of the Albert G. Gibbs house, known as the Dench Tannery, but by whom started is uncertain. In 1809 Joseph Bennett sold it to his son Nathaniel S., who sold April 21, 1817, to Lewis Keyes and Francis Dana, who sold December 8, 1818, to Aaron and Henry H. Hyde, who carried on the business for many years. These tanneries were operated on the cold process, requiring at least six months to properly cure the hides. The introduction, elsewhere, of the hot liquor process, and modern machinery, broke. up the business in this town.

Straw Braid and Bonnet Manufacture. - In 1799 or 1800, the wife of Joseph Bennett and her daughter, Betsey, commenced the plaiting of grass and rye straw, which material was made into hats and bonnets ; and thus a profitable business was started, whicli continued for some years. The bonnets were trimmed around the edges witli nipping braid made of three strands.

The following memorandum shows that Mrs. Mary Rice, wife of Capt. Uriah, started a like business at nearly the same time: "Oct. 2, 1800, we began to work on straw bonnets and trimmings; and cleared $340." Mrs. Rice carried on the business for about fifty years. Her trade was principally in Boston, Salem, Gloucester and Portland.

Maj. Benj. Wheeler went into the straw braid and bonnet business in 1807. His trade was largely with the South, and amounted in some years to $.30,000. About 1813, Capt. J. J. Clark commenced the bonnet business, which he continued till 1830. The wife of Joseph Sanger was also engaged in the manufacture of straw bonnets.

The starting of this business in town created a new and profitable family industry. The braid was made by the girls and boys at home. The winter rye was cut in June; the straw scalded and cured. That part which grew within the sheath was cut in uniform lengths, and whitened by brimstone fumes, and split on a hand machine, coarse or fine, according to the demand and the skill of the braider. The fine braid was known as " Dunstable." A smart girl would braid 10 to 12 yards per day of the fine, and 18 to 24 yards of the coarse. Pine braid was sold at 3 to 3} cents per yard. Store-keepers took it in payment for goods. They sold their goods for two prices, cash price and straw price ; the latter being considerably higher tlian the other.

The wife of Lovell Eames commenced manufacturing bonnets in 1825 ; and about 1830, her son Horace took charge of the business, and added a distinct department of bleaching and pressing, for himself and the bonnet makers in this and the neigliboring towns. Franklin Manson commenced working for Mr. Eames in 1836; and in 1840, Mr. Manson took the business into his own hands. In 1844, Mr. Manson entered into partnership with George Richardson, for the manufacture of straw bonnets. Tlieir straw shop (now Liberty Block) was built in 1845. The partnership was dissolved at the end of two years; and soon after Mr. Manson built a shop, and carried on business on his own account, till 1804.

Alexander Clark commenced the manufacture of straw bonnets, as a distinct business in 1838, and with his brother Newell continued till 1853, when he began the manufacture of palm leaf hats and shaker hoods, which lie and his son kept up till a late date.

Augustus Richardson built a new shop, where he manufactured straw goods to a large extent, for some years ; and was succeeded by George P. Metcalf and H. K. White.

Curtis H. Barber succeeded to the business of Mr. Manson in 1864, and now has a large manufactory of his own, near the Baptist meeting-house.

Massachusetts Silk Company. - March 14, 1836, Thomas G. Fessenden, Geo. C. Barret and Wm. H. Montague were incorporated as The Massachusetts Silk Co., " for the [jurpose of raising, reeling, throwing and manufacturing silk, in the town of Framingham." Capital stock $150,000. April 25, 1836, the directors bought, for $7150, the home farm of Col. Nat. Fiske, containing 139 acres, with buildings, etc.

A little before this date, Wm. Buckminster, Esq., planted what is now known as the old agricultural grounds, with mulberry cuttings, with a view to the feeding of silk worms. The trees flourished ; but the worms were not a success.

Framingham India Rubber Com-pany. - May 16, 1836, Wm. K. Phipps, Dexter Hemenway and Isaac Stevens were incorporated as the Framingham India Rubber Company, ''for the purpose of manufacturing all articles consisting wholly or in part of Indiarubber, in the town of Framingham." Capital stock, $70,000. Wm. K. Phipps was the originator of the project. He was of an inventive genius ; and had discovered a method of dissolving rubber, and spreading it on cloth, etc. The company commenced work in the summer of 1835, in Mr. Phipps' shop. After incorporation, they bought three-fourths of an acre of land, and built a large shop where they manufactured large quantities of rubber-coated canvas for car-tops, cloth for aprons, using silesia for the base, and some rubber shoes. The price of the raw rubber was six or seven cents per pound. Besides the corporators, James Boyd of Boston, Samuel Warren, Micah Stone, John Ballard (2d), and Gardner Kellogg were stockholders. The comjiany carried on business for three years ; sold the real estate to J. J. Marshall, who converted the shop into a dwelling-house (now owned by Mrs. M. F. Tracy and Mrs. J. Hammond). The stockholders met with no loss, and made no gain.

Soon after Mr. Phipps' success in dissolving rubber was known. Dr. Simon Whitney commenced making experiments and discovered a new process. May 16, 1836, Simon Whitney, Geo. Bullard, W. E. Faulkner,

Water Power India Rubber Company, " for the purpose of manufacturing all articles composed wholly or in part of India rubber, and also various kinds of machinery." Capital stock, $130,000. This company erected a shop on Stony Brook, just below Bullard's Bridge, where they made men's wearing apparel, aprons, bonnets, etc. The name of the company appears on our tax-list 1830-42. The shop was removed to the William Moulton place, and is now W. C. Wight's livery stable.

The Oossamer Rubber Company began work at the South village in 1876, and removed to Park's Corner in 1877. The Para Rubber Shoe Company commenced business at the South village in 1884. The history of these last two enterprises belongs to a separate section.

Hasiiiigs' Carriage Manufactory. - Hollis Hastings commenced the manufacture of harnesses and carriages in 1832. In 1835, he bought the old Town House, and reraoyed to the corner, south of bis father's wheelwright's shop, where he carried on carriage and harness-making in all their braucheH, with success, for about thirty-five years.

Fire Department. - In 1818 a fire-engine was purchased by subscription ; and the town appropriated $70 to build an engine-house. It was placed directly back of Symmes' harness-shop.

Fire-wardens were first chosen in 1819. In 1823 a set of fire-hooks, a harness for the engine, twentyfour buckets, and poles for the wardens were purchased, at an expen.se of $100. A fire-engine was procured atSaxonville in 1828 or '29; and an enginehouse was built there in 1833. In 1835 the town voted to remit their poll taxes to all regularly enlisted firemen. In 1841 a new engine was bought for the Centre, and the old tub removed to the South village^ and a company formed there. An act to establish a Fire Department iu.Framingham was passed February 3, 1847, which was accepted by the town, and the department organized in 1853.

There are now owned by the town two steam fireengines, one located at the Centre and one at Saxonville. A hook-and-ladder company has been organized at the South village. There is also a well-appointed hose company. A .system of fire-alarms has been established in each of the villages. The handengine was transferred to Nobscot, where a full and efficient company has been formed.

Railroads. - The project of building a railroad from Boston to Worcester was agitated as early as 1827. The charter was granted June 23, 1831. Two routes were surveyed, one where it is built, and the other through Framingham Centre. The route through the Centre was regarded as the most feasible ; but the Wheeler brothers and others interested in the turnpike strongly opposed this plan, and their opposition led to the selection of the southern route. The road was opened for travel to Angler's Corner Aprils, 1834; to Ashland September 30, 1834; to Worcester June 30, 1835.

The first train through this town consisted of an engine (the " Yankee," weighing six tons) and seven cars, of about the size of a stage-coach, with doors at the sides. The train stopped at the South Framingham station for a while, and then stopped at Farm Pond to take in water, which was passed up in pails. The fare between Framingham and Boston was seventy-five cents in .summer and $1 in winter.

The opening of the railroad gave a great impetus to the business life of the South village, and caused a declension as marked in the Centre.

The Saxonville Branch Railroad was opened in 1846. The Milford Branch was completed and opened in 1847. In 1850 a branch was built connecting the South and Centre villages.

Tiie Agricultural Branch Railroad, from South Framingham to Northboro', was built in 1854; and purchased and extended by the Boston, Clinton & Fitchburg Company to Fitchburg, in 1865. The Mansfield & Framingham Railroad was completed and opened in June, 1870 ; and the Framingham & Lowell Road in August, 1871. The last three roads

Banks. - The Framingham Bank was incorporated March 25, 1833 ; the persons named in the act as corporators were Micali Stone, Dexter Fay, Sullivan Fay, Elijah Perry, Rufus Brewer, Moses Edgell and Josiah Adams. Capital stock, 1100,000 ; increased in 1846 to $150,000, and in 1849 to $200,000. It was changed from a State to a National bank in November, 1864. The successive presidents have been Josiah Adams, Micah Stone, Oliver Dean, Sullivan Fay, Francis Jaques, Moses Edgell, James W. Clark, I. S. Wheeler, J. J. Valentine. Cashiers: Rufus Brewer, William H. Foster, Edward Illsley, Francis Jaques, Francis T. Clark, James J. Valentine, Fred. L. Oaks. The first dividend was declared April, 1S34; and in no instance since have the regular semiannual dividends in April and October been passed.

The South Framingham National Bank was organized June 14, 1880, with a paid-up capital of $100,000. President, James W. Clark ; cashier, F. M. Stockwell. The succeeding presidents were Adolphus Merriam and Franklin Manson. Fred. L. Oaks succeeded F. M. Stockwell as cashier. In 1888 this bank surrendered its charter^ and its business was assumed by the older bank.

Framingham Savings Bank. - This institution was chartered in March, 1846, and commenced business the following May. Col. Moses Edgell, in whose mind first originated the idea of a savings bank in this town, was chosen president at its organization, and held the office till 1871. He was succeeded by George Phipps, who remained in office until his death, February 19, 1876. Charles Upham succeeded Mr. Phipps, and died in oflice, March 10, 1880. Luther F. Fuller, Adolphus Merriam and F. E. Gregory have since held the office. The secretaries and treasurers have been Rufus Brewer, Edward Illsley, Lorenzo Sabine, Coleman S. Adams, L. F. Fuller. Amount of deposits November 1, 1846, $4969; amount November 1, 1882, $1,314,318.58.

A branch, for receiving and paying deposits, was opened at the South Village in March, 1883, and the bank removed there the next year. In August, 1885, an injunction was placed upon the bank, since which date its business has been confined to the care of its securities, adjustment of losses and bringing its afliiirs into shape for a fiill resumption of business.

The Farmers' and Mechanics' Savings Bank of South Framingham was incorporated April 23, 1883, and commenced business in May. President, Willard Howe ; Treasurer, George E. Cutler. Amount of deposits, March 1, 1890, $403,982.

Boston Wateu-Wokks. - Cochitaate System. - The act, authorizing the city of Boston to take the water of Long Pond was passed March 30, 1846. It conferred the right to construct a dam at the outlet, eight feet higher than the floor of the existing flume. In 1859 the Legislature gave the city power to raise the dam two feet more.

Aug. 13, 1846, the city received a deed from W. H. Knight, conveying all his riglit and title to Long and Dug Ponds, and the adjacent lands, which had been purchased by him of the Framingham Manufacturing Company, and of individual owners, and comprising, beside the water privilege, one factory building situated at the upper privilege, 83x33 feet, three stories high, and filled with worsted and woolen machinery, in full operation ; also two large dwelling-houses and six acres of land adjoining ; three dwelling-houses and one acre of land at the middle privilege; and at the lower privilege, one factory, 147x33 feet, three stories high, with ells, all filled with machinery in complete working order ; also one other factory, 100x33 feet, three stories high, filled with carpet looms. The price paid Mr. Knight was $150,000.

Sudbury River System. - The act authorizingthecity of Boston to take the water of Sudbury River, Farm Pond and their affluents, in and above the town of Framingham, was passed April 8, 1872.

A temporary dam across the river, below the mouth of Eames' Brook, to turn the water into Farm Pond, was built immediately ; and also a trench was dug from the southerly end of the pond to Beaver Dam Brook, by which the water could be conveyed into Cochituate Pond.

In December, 1875, and February, 1 876, the city of Boston made seizure of the lands bordering on Hopkinton River and Stony Brook, for the purposes of storage basins ; and proceeded to construct three dams - No, 1, below the junction of Hopkinton River and Stony Brook ; No. 2, on Hopkinton River, and No. 3, on Stony Brook. Reservoir No. 1 covers 126 acres; No. 2, 154 acres; No. 3, 285 acres; Farm Pond, 190 acres. The combined holding capacity is 4,847,552,989 gallons.

These basins and the conduit were so far finished that water was let into Chestnut Hill Reservoir February 13, 1878, though the dams and basins were not considered finished till the succeeding winter.

These figures do not include the cost of Chestnut Hill reservoir, and the distributing service below, nor the cost of hind, construction of daui and baain No. 4, completed at a later date.

New.spapers. - The first newspaper established in this town was the Framliigham Courier, a good-sized folio, printed and published weekly by George Brown. It was started in April, 1835, and was continued for leas than a year. The Framingham Gazette was established in June, 1871, by Pratt & Wood. The Framingham Tribune was established in October, 1883, by Charles J. McPherson.

Saxonville Post-Office. - This office was established March 5, 1828, Francis A. Bertody, postmaster. He was succeeded by Charles Fiske, January 4, 1830 ; Henry F. A. Richardson, February 28, 1854 ; Samuel P. Griffin, June 22, 1855 ; Samuel S. Danforth, August 15, 1859; John R. Clark, August 15, 1801; Luther F. Fuller, May 30, 18G5 ; Patrick Hayes, Jr., 1885; J. W. Parmenter, 1889.

The South Framingham Post-Office was established February 12, 1841, Jo.seph Fuller, post-master. He was succeeded by Edward A. Clark, April 1, 1844; Samuel O. Daniels, July 7, 1849; Willard Howe. July 1, 1853; John B. Lombard, 1885; Edward F. Phinney, March, 1890.

Provision for the Poor. - By his will, dated 1728, Abraham Belknap left £10 for the support of the poor of the town. In 1736 the town granted £5 for the relief of a poor family. And the custom prevailed for many years to take up a contribution on Thanksgiving and fast days, and to pay for the board and clothing of the sick poor out of the town treasury. Overseers of the poor were first chosen in 1741. In 1757 the overseers hired the house, built by Rev. Mr. Swift for a study, for a work-house. A workhouse, 32xlG feet, was built in 1771, on the Centre Common, a few rods northwesterly from the present town hall, where the able-bodied poor were placed and kept at work. It was taken down or removed about 1805. In 1813 Col. Micah Stone left to the town a legacy of about $10,000, the annual income of which was to be applied to the support of his own needy descendants, if any, and the balance to the general poor. For many years the custom prevailed of Idling out the town's poor to the lowest bidder for terms of five years. In 1823 Col. James Brown took them ; in 1828 John Wenzell was the lowest bidder. In 1832 the town purchased the farm of Mrs. Solomon