Medford City (part 12 of 14)

Sir Robert Lawrence, of Ashton Hall, was a descendant of Sir Robert Lawrence, knighted about 1190. This Sir Robert, of Ashton, had a third son, Nicholas Lawrence, of Agercroft, whose fourth son was John, who d. 1461, leaving a son, Thomas L., of Ramburgh, in Suffolk. This Thomas d. 1471, leaving John Lawrence, oldest son, whose will is dated 1504. John had an only son, Robert, whose son, John (will dated 1556), was the father of Henry, John, William, and Richard. Of these, John d. May, 1590 : his oldest son, John, settled at Wisset (will dated 1607), and had son, Henry Lawrence, of Wisset. This Henry was father of John and Robert; and with this John, who emigrated to America, our record commences.

1 OLDHAM, THOMAS, of Scituate, 1650, and in 1635 aged ten perhaps ; m. Mary, dau. of Rev. William Witherell, of Scituate, 1656, by whom he had Mary, Thomas, Sarah, Hannah, Grace, Isaac (2), Ruth, Elizabeth, and Lydia. He d. 1711.

1 PATCH, THOMAS, came from Somersetshire, England, and settled in Wenham, Mass. He had six sons, as given below ; and two daughters, names unknown.

Concord, and lastly in Groton, where he d., July 12, 1762, aged 80. His wife survived him, and d. aged about 100 years. His children were - 3- 8 Lois. 9 Sarah.

Of these children, Oliver was wounded in the right shoulder at the battle of Bunker Hill. Simon was wounded in his thigh at the battle of White Plains ; and, being carried home to Groton, died there, Dec. 31, 1776, aged 27. The mother, Sarah (Wright) Patch, after the death of her husband, Jan. 19, 1777, m. Samuel Chamberlain, December, 1784; and d. June 12, 1793.

PERKINS, JONATHAN, was b. in Middleton, Mass., in 1791. His grandfather is believed to have emigrated from England to this town, which latter place was the birthplace of his father. This emigrant ancestor had twenty-four children, of whom Andrew m. Phebe Eliot, grand-daughter of the Rev. Andrew Peters, of Middleton ; and had eleven children, nine of whom are now living. Of these, -

PERRY, SANFORD B., b. Sept. 20, 1819, in Leicester, was son of William Perry, who was born there, Apr. 12, 1797. William was the son of Abijah Perry, b. in Princeton, Aug. 3, 1764, - son of Aaron Perry, b. in Mendon, Apr. 17, 1733. The father of Aaron was John P., who is supposed to be a descendant of Edmund Perry, who settled in N.E. about 1650. Sanford B. Perry m. Sarah Jane Barr, b. of James Barr, in New Ipswich, July 11, 1827. Her father was b. May 23, 1790 ; and his father, James, b. in Kilbarchan, co. of Renfrew, Dec. 12, 1752, emi-

He died Jan. 24, 1722, and has many descendants through the Clevelands; especially, of those now alive, are Rev. Charles Cleveland, of Boston, and Professor Charles D. Cleveland, of Philadelphia.

made freeman, 1646. Had children, who settled at Topsfield and Wenham, from which latter place Deacon William Porter removed to Braintree, about 1740 ; his son, Jonathan, moved to Maiden, about 1755 ; and his son, Jonathan, jun., moved thence to Medford, 1773. He m. Phebe Abbott, of Andover, and had - .

brothers, Richard and William, and to have been concerned in lands held under John Mason, in N.H. ; and lived at Portsmouth, 1631. Of these, Richard was freeman, 16*4 : John d. Jan. 18, 1703, aged 87 ; and William was ol Salem, 1648, afterwards of Beverly, where he was representative, 1685 and lb»b. He was a captain of Beverly troops, and had, for his services, a grant of land, where Dunbarton, N.H., now is. He j d. ^ Jan. 29, 1709, aged 72. He m., 1st, Hannah Bishop; 2d, Ruth Hall, by each of them leaving issue. His children were -

Marblehead. He and his oldest son died m 1745, during the expedition against Louisburg. His youngest son, - 4- 6 Freeborn Raymond, b. Peb. 20, 1741, m Mary Young, and moved to Athol. By a second wife, Sarah Powers, he had three sons and six daughters. He d. Peb. 11, 1817. 6- 7 Freeborn Raymond, oldest son of the last named, was b. June 4,

1 REEVES, JOHN, embarked, Mar. 16, 1634, aged 19, for New England, on board the « Christian," from London, and settled in Salem, where land was granted him in 1643. His first wile was Jane ; and 2d, Elizabeth . His children were -

(I am indebted for the following account to the kindness of Hon. James Savage.) 1 ROYALL, WILLIAM, of Casco, 1636, had been sent by the governor and company to Captain Endicott, at Salem, 1629, as a " cleaver of timber." Part of the town of Salem was early called Ryall's side. He purchased of Gorges, 1643, on east side of Royall's River, in North Yarmouth, and lived near its mouth. He m. Phebe Green, step-dau. of Samuel Cole, of Boston. Children : -

1- 2 William Royall was driven by the Indians from North Yarmouth, and remained at Dorchester some years. Freeman 1678 ; d. Nov. 7, 1724. Children : -

2- 5 Isaac Royall returned in 1757 from Antigua, where he had resided 40 years, settled in Medford, and there d. June 7, 1739. He m., July 1, 1697, Elizabeth, dau. of Asaph Eliot, who d. Apr. 21, 1747. His wife seems to have m., 1st, an Oliver, as Isaac R. mentions a dau.-in-law, Ann, wife of Robert Oliver, of Antigua. Elizabeth R., in her will, mentions gr.-ch., Dr. James, Thomas, Isaac, Richard, and Elizabeth Oliver. Children : - 5-10 Asaph, b. Apr., 1699 ; d. July 24, 1699.

mother was the only daughter of Sir William Pepperrell, and who took his grandfather's name on succeeding to the estate and title. He d. Dec, 1816, aged 70. Children - 17-21 William, d., unm., 1809.

1 SHED, DANIEL, of Braintree, 1647, from whom probably descended Ebenezer Shed (1), of Charlestown, who d. Apr. 17, 1770, aged 75 ; and m. Abigail Ireland, who d. Oct. 8, 1783, aged 83. He had, inter alios, -

Miss Austin, of Charlestown, and d. 1746. His ancestors are said to have had large possessions in Haverhill and Methuen ; and, as lately as 1798, Mr. Swan was urged to prosecute his claims by persons of respectable standing, one of whom, a public officer, desired to purchase a part of his claim. From a delicate sense of justice, Mr. Swan and his oldest son firmly refused to entertain the idea. In March, 1746, he m. Joanna Richardson, of Woburn, and had children as below. His house in Charlestown was burnt by the British ; and he went, with his family, to Concord. He d. Aug., 1808. Children : -

Nov., 1826, aged 70. He d. Nov., 1825. In Jan., 1787, he was appointed quartermaster-general, with the rank of major, under General Lincoln, in the time of Shay's rebellion. He had previously served under General Lincoln in the revolutionary war ; and, for his conduct in this later matter, received the written thanks of Gov. Bowdoin. He was afterwards deputy-collector of the revenue under Gen. Brooks. His children were - were born in Charlestown. He is said to have left his large property to his son William, on condition that he should pay two hundred pounds apiece to the other heirs. This son failing to do this, and dying soon after his father, the heirs appointed Rev. Zechariah, of Bradford, to divide it. He d. Feb. 4, 1671 ; and had, by wife Sarah, - William, bap. Jan. 10, 1627.

seven children, of whom the names of five are known ; viz., Sarah, m. Rev. M. Fisk, of Braintree, Nov. 7, 1672 ; d. Nov. 2, 1692. William, Jan. 7, 1679. Zechariah. Timothy. Nathaniel.

His dau., Sarah, was child of his first wife, as his servant, John Warner, testified that his master was a widower when this dau. married. . Fanner's

Register says that Mary, his widow, m. Rev. Samuel Torrey, July 30, 1695 ; and in 1700 she was certainly called Mary Torrey, as I have seen a document of that date so signed.

TUFTS, PETER, was b. in England, in 1617 ; parents and birthplace unknown. There are, however, persons bearing the name in Lancashire ; and, between Little Baddow and Maiden, co. Essex, there is a village called Tuftes. Peter Tufts was one of the earliest and largest land-owners in our town of Maiden ; and it is perhaps a fair supposition, that he named his home for his English birthplace. He is supposed to have immigrated 1638-40 ; and was admitted a freeman, May 3, 1665, being then an inhabitant of Maiden. He bought land in Medford, in 1664, of Mrs. Nowell, which descended to his son, Capt. Peter Tufts. His wife was Mary , who d. 1705, aged 75. He d. May 13, and was b. in Canterbury, Eng., Apr. 5, 1599. He came to New England, Sept. 18, 1634; and soon after was ordained minister at Charlestown. He had eleven children, five of whom were born in Charlestown. He is said to have left his large property to his son W illiam, on condition that he should pay two hundred pounds apiece to the other heirs. This son failing to do this, and dying soon after his father, the heirs appointed Rev. Zechariah, of Bradford, to divide it. He d. Feb. 4, 1671 ; and had, by wife Sarah, - 1- 2 William, bap. Jan. 10, 1627.

His dau., Sarah, was child of his first wife, as his servant, John Warner, testified that his master was a widower when this dau. married. Farmer's

Register says that Mary, his widow, m. Rev. Samuel Torrey, July 30, 1695 ; and in 1700 she was certainly called Mary Torrey, as I have seen a document of that date so signed.

TUFTS, PETER, was b. in England, in 1617 ; parents and birthplace unknown. There are, however, persons bearing the name in Lancashire ; and, between Little Baddow and Maiden, co. Essex, there is a village called Tuftes. Peter Tufts was one of the earliest and largest land-owners in our town of Maiden ; and it is perhaps a fair supposition, that he named his home for his English birthplace. He is supposed to have immigrated 1638-40 ; and was admitted a freeman, May 3, 1665, being then an inhabitant of Maiden. He bought land in Medford, in 1664, of Mrs. Nowell, which descended to his son, Capt. Peter Tufts. His wife was Mary , who d. 1705, aged 75. He d. May 13,

He m., 2d, Mary Cotton, Dec. 16, 1681, who was dau. of Rev. Seaborn Cotton by his wife Dorothy Bradstreet, dau. of Gov. Simon Bradstreet by his wife Ann Dudley, the poetess. Mercy Cotton was b. Nov. 3, 1666 ; and d. June 18, 1715. The issue by this marriage was - Cotton, b. June 11, 1686 ; d. July 28, 1686.

He appears, by his will, to have had a third wife, Prudence, who owned a house, which was secured to her by the marriage articles. Capt. Peter died, Sept. 20, 1721, aged 73. He was a freeman, Oct. 15, 1679. His property in Medford, left him by his father, consisted of seventeen acres of land, five of which were at "Snake Hole." He also had six hundred acres in Quabog, or Brookfield.

Jonathan Tufts was of Medford. Will dated Aug. 4, 1718. He d. in 1720 ; and Mras buried in Maiden, beside his father. He had, by his wife Rebecca, -

John Tufts was of Maiden. His residence was standing in 1821 ; and John Tufts, who was then alive, possessed a silver-headed cane, - an heirloom, descended from this early settler. He m. Mary Putnam ; and d. in Maiden, 1728. His children "were three b. in Medford, and four in Maiden ; viz., -

Adams ; was grad. H. C, 1749, A.A.S. ; lived in Weymouth ; Pres. of Mass. Medical Ass. about 1776. His funeral sermon, preached by Jacob Norton, is extant. He had an only child, - 55-91 Cotton.

The following branches I have not been able to locate authoritatively ; but those marked with (I?) rest upon the decisions of Dr. Boothe, whose large collection of genealogical matters relating to this family has been a very great aid to me.

This family differs from the one previously inserted from my own MSS., and is here given on the authority of Dr. Booth. It is probably correct.

William Turell, of Boston, is thought to have been the brother of the above-mentioned Daniel; -and, as "Farmer's Register " countenances the supposition, I insert the record of

1 "WADE, JONATHAN, was one of the early settlers at Ipswich, where he was freeman, 1634. His second wife was Mrs. Dorothy Buckley, whom he m. Dec. 9, 1660; and his third wife, Susannah , d. Nov. 29, 1678. He had two bros., Nathaniel

I find, in the church records, a copy of the inscription on the Wade Tomb, with the following remark on it : " The following is copied from a communication of Turell Tufts, Esq. ; there is apparently some error in it. - C. Stetson."

Major Wade's tomb was purchased by the late Ebenezer Hall, and is now in possession of his children. The old tablet removed by Mr. Hall was of red sandstone, and contained the following inscriptions : -

" Here lyeth interred the body of Major Jonathan Wade, Esquire, who departed this life the 24th of November, anno Dom. 1689, in the 53d year of his age.

" Also the body of Dorothy Wade, wife to said Jonathan Wade, Esquire, daughter of Honourable Thomas Dudley, Esquire, deceased the 1st of November, 1638, in the 40th year of her age.

" And Elizabeth Wade, his last wife, who was born the 7th of February, 1637, and deceased the month of June, 1688." [This last date was 1678.]

" Here lies interred the body of Mrs. Elizabeth Wade, daughter of the Honourable Jonathan Wade, Esquire, and Mrs. Elizabeth, his wife, who departed this life August 19, 1721, aged 34 years."

Parke, of Cambridge, who is believed to have been son of Henry Parke, a merchant of London. By his first wife, who d. Mar. 31, 1665, he had - 1- 2 Elizabeth, b. May 2, 1649 ; m. Daniel Markham.

Thfl earliest mentioned person by the name of Whitmore I have yet met if Tohn of " tamford, who was living in Wethersfield in 1639. He was Tndians in 1648' leaving a son, John. I have some reason to ^Ipect thai b' w^the father' of all of the name here, and that the following will give about the record of his children's births : - Thomas b. 1615 ; the ancestor of the Wetmores. Ann ' (?) 1621; m. George Farrar. Mary", (?) 1623 ; John Brewer.

Francis Whitinore, of Cambridge, owned lands there, near the Plain ; near Charles River, by the Boston line ; in Charlestown, near Minottamie ; near Dunbarke's Meadow ; and also in Medford and Lexington. His house stood on the dividing line between Cambridge and Lexington, and is mentioned in the act of division. He served in the Indian wars, under Major Willard, as the treasurers' books witness. His name, with his wife's, stands on a petition in favor of an old woman charged with being a witch; hence he can hardly have been of the extreme Puritan party, although a member of the church.

John Whitmore was one of the early settlers in Medford, at least at the period when the records commence. He m., 1st, Rachel, dau. of Francis Eliot, and widow of John Poulter, of Cambridge. His children by her were -

Dec. 24, 1680, he, with John Hall, Thomas Willis, Stephen Willis, and Stephen Francis, divided the Collins Farm between them ; Caleb Hobart having previously sold John W. one-fourth of this estate. In addition to this land, he owned the house shown on a preceding page, and also land in BiUerica and Charlestown. He was in service, under Major Swayne, against the Indians at Saco ; and his wife petitioned the General Court that her husband might be restored to her and her three infant children. The fall after his return, he was engaged in purchasing lands and building a house. His funeral sermon was by Mr. Turell, from Acts xxi. 16.

He was associated in business with his brother John, and also carried on the trade of a tanner ; he bought land of Stephen Willis, to be used as a tanyard. He also owned land near Marbey Brook, besides his property in Medford. *

Register Of Families, 563

John d. Mar. 26, 1753. His widow d. Mar. 27, 1783, aged 96. He was at first a housewright, but afterwards, went into business with his brother. He owned much property in Medford ; and his oldest son, John, having removed to Bedford, he resided there chiefly in his old age, and was so liberals benefactor to the church as to be mentioned with gratitude on the records. His daughters all left issue; and one of them, Susanna, left descendants, now living in Lexington, by the name of Chandler, who still preserve some relics of their ancestor. The family of Lane, when it emigrated from England, left property there, the rents of which were .paid to the heirs, John Whitmore's descendants included, until within fifty years, when the heirs, being numerous, sold the estate, and divided it.

He d. Oct. 25, 1748, and his wife removed to Conn. He was a leading man in Bedford, being selectman, treasurer, and clerk. The town, during his life, sent no representative.

He was a graduate of Harvard College; but bodily weakness prevented him from active pursuits, though he was a schoolmaster for a short time. The manner of his death was very peculiar ; he having died in consequence of an illness produced by a dread of the smallpox. He d. Mar. 10, 1760. His widow d. Oct. 10, 1765.

He removed to Boston , and with him the name departed from Medford J within a year or two, one of the name has occasionally resided there ; but now he also has gone.

His wife dying Sept. 27, 1849, he m., 2d, Oct. 30, 1851, Mary E. Blake, widow of George Blake, jun., of Boston, who has by her first husband two daughters. v

Cambridge with wife Jane. In a petition to Andros, 1688, he states his age to be 86, and that he had lived in Cambridge near sixty years. He d. 1690, aged c. 90. His children were -

Benjamin Willis m. Ann Gammell, of Medford, and was probably connected with the Medford branch ; very likely as son of Benjamin (13). He was killed at Louisburg, leaving a son, -

Hon. William Willis has kindly furnished me with these facts, and is better informed on the genealogy of the family than any person now living. His antiquarian taste has found this a welcome field for research.

WYMAN, JAMES, of Medford, was b. in Woburn, Sept. 28, 1726. His father was Joshua Wyman, by his wife Mary Pollard. Joshua was fifth son of William Wynian, by his wife Prudence Putnam ; was b. Jan. 3, 1693, and d. c. 1770. William W. was second son of Francis W., of Woburn, who came here at an early date, and m., 2d, Abigail Bead. William was b. 1656. His father, Francis, d. Nov. 28, 1699, aged c. 82. James Wyman, of Medford, m. Susanna Cutter, Mar. 18, 1756, who

Addenda

All the dates of births, &c, recorded in the first volume of the town-records, being all previous to the year 1718, have been incorporated in the preceding Register. The second volume, covering the period between the years 1718 and 1809, contains many dates of which the limits of this work forbid the insertion.

For the assistance of any who may have traced their genealogy to a Medford stock, a list is here inserted of the names not previously mentioned, which are to be found in the second volume of the town-records, and the dates of their appearance thereon.

As to the strangers who are mentioned on our records, I find that Adrian Lubert Andriesse, of Batavia, was born in Boston, Feb. 9, 1799, and baptized at Medford, July 7, 1805. Charles Dabney's child, which Mr. Albree had to nurse, was baptized July 4, 1742, and named Charles.

Of those not of American birth or parentage, I find, besides the slaves and their children, that Jacob Auld, one of the " Scotch-Irish," had, by wife Ann, a daughter, Margaret, born Mar. 19, 1750.

There remains one class of unwilling settlers in our town, - the Acadians ; or French Neutrals, as they are called on our records. Of these exiles from Grand Pre, three are mentioned on the records, as follows : -

Corrigenda

Hannah, second -wife of Caleb Brooks (No. 1-3), was born March 5, 1644. John Ilall (No. 2-10) married Jemima, daughter of Captain Joseph Sill. Percival Hall was not representative to Provincial Congress, as he died twenty-two the Royalls. The wife of Isaac Roy all (No. 2-5) was buried from the house of Dr. Oliver, at Dorchester; which strengthens the probability of her first marriage. He had a daughter Elizabeth, born 1741 ; died July 9, 1747. 538. Colonel Royall (No. 5-11) had a daughter, who married George Erring, of Boston.

He (Colonel R.) died 1781; and his wife died 1770. 542. Rev. Zechariah Symmes had twelve children : names as given in their place. ,, 550. There is no probability, considering the dates, that James (No. 246) was son of

,, 556. Hezekiah Usher (No. 1) married, first, Frances . Hannah (No. 5) was daughter by second wife, and was born Dec. 29, 1653. He married his second wife, Nov. 2, 1652. ,, 556. Hezekiah (No. 1-2) married Bridget Hoar, 1686, and had no children. All those

558. Jonathan Wade (No. 1) had Mary, baptized October, 1663, who married William Symonds ; also daughter Sarah. Prudence (No. 5) married, second, Rev. Seaborn Cotton. 558. Jonathan (No. 1-2) had Deborah, baptized March 24,1667; Prudence, June 6, 1669 ; Catharine, Aug. 27, 1671, - died soon; Catharine, June 22, 1673; Susanna, June 10, 1677; Dorothy, July 10, 1681; all before Dudley (No. 2-8). 563. Technically, Bedford was a precinct of Billerica when John Whitmore resided

Note. - The compiler desires to offer his thanks to the following gentlemen for valuable aid in pursuing his investigations : to Dr. Booth and Dean Dudley, Esq., for the Tufts ; to Rev. A. H. Quint, for the Halls ; to T. B. Wyman, jun., for the Wtmans, and others ; and, finally, to Hon. James Savtge, for very many facts and corrections throughout the whole extent of this Register.

Source changes here: from History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : Containing Carefully Prepared Histories of Every City and Town in the County, by Drake, Samuel Adams, published 1880; 10,304 words in this source stream.

Medford City

IKE most of our towns, the outline of Medford on the map is quite irregular. Its greatest length is about three miles and a half, and its greatest width is about the same. Its northern boundary line, inclined somewhat to the northwest and southeast, is upon Stoneham. Its eastern boundary is upon Somerville, and reaches to Mystic River. Its southern Ime, very irregular in form, tending always towards the northwest, crosses the river at a point about a mile from its mouth, then contiimes on the Somerville line, and crosses again to the north bank near the crossing of the Boston and Lowell Railroad. It then follows the east bank of the river (here flowing south) with Arlington opposite, till it reaches Mystic Pond. The east shore of the pond is Medford's west boundary to the line of Winchester, when the line turns and runs due east for nearly a mile and then northeast to Stoneham line again.

Substantially, these have always been the bounds of the town ; Stoneham was a part of Charlestown until December 17, 1725, as was' Somerville until March 3, 184-2. Arlington, formerly West Cambridge, was formed from Cambridge and Charlestown.

In 1754, according to Brooks, Medford petitioned for and obtained an enlargement both at the north and the soutii, at the expense of Charlestown. The river seems then to be the south bound of ^Fedfonl, and the land then added seems to have comprised the farms of Mr. Smith, James Tufts, Jonathan Tufts, and Colonel Royal ; and probably it embraced all of Medford now lying south of the river. Medford then contained only about 2,000 acres. In 1817 some land was set off" from Maiden to Medford. In 1875 a part of Everett was annexed, and in 1S77 a part of Medford was given to Maiden.

river receives but two or three little tributaries, as Whitmore^s Brook, fleeting-house Brook, Winter Brook, etc. The most noted hill is Pine Hill, near Spot Pond, though the surface is very much diversified, and luunerous ranges of hills abound.

The origin of the name of Medford is unknown. No town or hamlet of the name appears in the Enghsh gazetteers now. In Dudley's letter to the Countess of Lincoln, dated March 28, 1G31, he states that the new-comers were obliged to " plant dispersedly .... some of us upon Mistick, which we named Meadford." It seems, however,^ that Governor Cradock was a cadet of the family at Caverswall in Staffordshire, and that very near there was a hamlet called Mayford, but formerly spelt Metford. Cradock's widow and daughter describe their lands in New^ England as " in our manor of Metford in N'ew England." Again we notice''' that the parish of ]\Iaidford, now Towcester, in Northamptonshire, England, was called Medford in the seventeenth century. Either of these may have given a name to our town, especially as Dudley was born in Northampton.

The town is first mentioned in our records of the General Court, September 28, 1G30, when Meadford is taxed £3. It is accordingly considdered as the seventh town in the state in chronological order.

Brooks states that about 1080 the inhabitants petitioned for an act of incorporation and were answered by the General Court that the town had been incorporated under a general act in 1630, and could at any time organize and choose a representative. He adds that Stephen Willis was elected representative February 25, 1684. But the printed records of the legislature contain no such answer, nor is any deputy recorded from Medford during the time of the first charter, that is, until 1086.

Mr. Nathaniel Wade and Peter Tuffts, in behalf of the inhabitants of Meadford, the Court judgeth it meete to grant the petitioners request, and declares that Meadford hath been and is a peculiar, and hath power as otlier towns, as to prudentials, &c."

In fact, the views expressed by Frothingham [Hisforj/ ofCharledomn, 70 - 92) seem entirely correct. Medford was a plantation rather than a town unto the date of the new charter. Its records begin with the first Monday of February, 1677, when "Joseph Wade, John Hall, and Stephen Willis were chosen selectmen for ordering of the affairs of \h^ 2)1 ant alio V for the year ensuing." '

It is indisputable that the first establishment of Medford came from the grant in 16:J4, by the General Court to Matthew Cradock.- He is thought to have owned some 3,.j00 acres; and though he never came to New England, he sent his servants and supplied them with money to build a house, a ship-yard, a bridge, and to make other improvements. Wood writes to this effect in IG^-i. After Cradock's death, his widow and daugliter, in 16.52, sold their land to Edward Collins. In 1656 Collins sold the house and 1,600 acres of the land to Eichard Russell of Charlestown; and in 1661 the latter sold the house and 1,200 acres to Jonathan Wade. In 1677 the Russell heirs sold 350 acres to Peter Tufts. Collins seems later to have sold a farm of 500 acres, one eighth going to Caleb Hobart of Braintree (who sold, in 1678, to his brotherin-law, John Whitmore of Medford), and other parts to Stephen Willis or Willowes (another brotherin-law), John Poulter (step-son of Whitmore), Thomas Willis, and John Hall. Thus a family settlement sprang up at this point. In 1660 Collins sold 400 acres to Thomas Brooks and Timothy Wheeler.

The following extracts will give some idea of the early settlement at Medford. Wood's New England's Prospect (Prince Society edition, p. 43) has the following descriptions, which we modernize in copying.

That Governor Cradock's plantation was established prior to September 28, 1630, is evident from the proceedings of an inquest taken from the colony records of that date : -

" A jury impanelled to inquire concerning the death of Austen Bratcher .... dying lately at Mr. Cradock's Plantation," adjudged Walter Palmer guilty of manslaughter. The date of this occurrence is thus fixed between the courts of September 7 and September 28. - Ed.

Medford, a very fertile and pleasant place, and fit for more inhabitants than are yet in it." Again, p. 44, lie writes : - " The next town is Mistick, whicli is three miles j from Charlestown by land, and a league and a half by water. It is seated by the water's side very pleasantly ; tliere are not many iiouses as yet. At the head of this river are great and spacious ponds, wjiither the alewives press to spawn. This being j most of his cattle. On the east side is Mr. Craddock's plantation, where he has impaled a park, where he keeps his cattle, till he can store it with deer. Here, likewise, he is at charges of building -ships. Tlie last year, one was upon the stocks of a hundred tons ; that being finished, they are to build one twice lier burden. Ships, without either ballast or loading, may float down this river; otherwise, the oysterbank would hinder them which crosseth tlie channel."

In Winthrop's Journal, page 74, Vol. I., of the edition of 1853, we find the following passage : - " The governor, being at his farm-house at Mistick, walked out after supper, and took a piece in his hand, supposing he might see a wolf, (for they came daily about the house, and killed swine and calves, etc. ;) and, being about half a mile off, it grew suddenly dark, so as, in coming home, he mistook his path, and went till he came to a little house of Sagamore John, which stood empty. There he stayed, and having a piece of match in his pocket, (for he always carried about him matcli and a compass, and in summer snake-weed,) he made a good fire near the house, and lay down upon some old mats, which he found there, and so spent the night, sometimes getting wood, but could not sleep. It was (through God's mercy) a warm night ; but a little before day it began to rain, and liaving no cloak, he made shift by a long pole to chmb up into the house. In the morning, there came tliither an Indian squaw, but perceiving lier before she had opened the door, he barred her out ; yet she stayed there a great while essaying to get in, and at last she went away, and he returned safe home, his servants having been much perplexed for him, and having walked about, and shot off pieces, and hallooed in the night, but he heard them not."

Histohv Of Middlesex Couxty

"The governourj Mr. Xowell, Mr. Eliot, and others, went over Mistick River at Medford, and going N. and by E. among the rocks about two or three miles, they came to a very great pond, having in the midst an island of about one acre, and very thick with trees of pine and beech ; and the pond liad divers small rocks, standing up here and tiiere in it, which they therefore called Spot Pond. They went all about it upon the ice. From thence (towards the N. W. about half a mile,) they came to the top of a very high rock, beneath which, (towards the N.) lies a goodly plain, part open land, and part woody, from whence there is a fair prospect, but it being then close and rainy, they could see but a small distance. This place they called Cheese Rock, because, when they went to eat somewhat, they had only cheese, (the governour's man forgetting, for haste, to put up some bread)."

John Dunton visited Medford in 1686, and writes a trifle about it.^ He says he " took Sanctuary in a Publick, where there was extra-ordinary good Cyder, and tho' I had n't such a Noble Treat as at Captain Jenner's; yet with the Cyder and such other Entertainment as the House aff'orded (togetiier with my Landlord and my Landlady's good Company), I made a very pretty thing on't."

" By this time, the rain was over, tho' it still remain'd Cloudy ; and tiierefore I thought it was best taking Time by the Fore-lock, and go back to Boston while it held up, there being nothing remarkable to be seen at Medford, which is but a small Village, consisting of a few Houses."

Captain Francis Goelet was here in 1750. In his journal^ he writes: "Passed through Mistick, which is a small town of about a hundred houses, pleasantly situated ; near to which is a fine country seat belonging to Mr. Isaac Royall, being one of the grandest in North America."

The fact that llie references are so few is a proof that Medford was an exceptionally ([uict ])lace, with few attractions to travellers. On this ])(iint a most competent critic^ writes as follows : -

" Of so flourishing a town as Medford, the settlement of which had been made as early as (hat of any other, except Charlestowii, in the bay, it is remarkable that the early iiistory is very meagre. From several statements of its projidrlimi of the public charges in the colony rates, it must be concluded that it was, within the first eight years, superior in wealth at different times to Newbury, Ipswich. Hingham, Weymouth, all ancient towns, furnished with regular ministers. Yet the number of people was certainly small ; and the weight of the tax was probably borne by the property of Governor Cradock, there invested for fishing and other purposes. When that establishment was withdrawn, I suppose the town languished many years. Simon Bradstreet and James Noyes preached. The consequences of their subsequent destitution of the best means of religion were very unlia])py. The town was poorly inhabited, the people much divided, occasionally prosecuted for their deficiencies, aiul long in a miserable condition. A long period of happiness at last arrived in the times of Turell and Osgood ; and, for more than a century, Medford has appeared one of the most thriving villages in the vicinity of Boston."

The families connected with the town during the first century from its foundation were those of Wade, Hall, Willis, Brooks, Whitmore, Tufts, Francis, Bradshaw, Symmcs, Royall, Blanchard, and Seccomb. Descendants of most of these still remain in the town or its vicinity. Boston having in this case, as in many others, drawn largely from its rural neiglibors.

hidian lll.sliir/j. - The renowned Sachem of the Pawtuckets was Nanepashemit, who removed from Lynn, in 1615, and took up his abode on Mystic River, where he was killed in 1619. During his short and eventful residence in Medford his house was placed on Rock Hill, where he could best watch canoes in the river.

The histories represent him as living in Medford, not far from the river or from the pond, and on the tops of iiills.^ This eminent Grand Sachem was the father of Sagamore John of Mystic, Sagamore

liemiiants of tlic Indian tribes were common till the bcgiiiiiiiij; of the present century. In Medford they lived in Turkey Swamp. So late even as our day farmers in Medford have ploughed up stone arrow-heads, stone drills, and other Iinlian weapons and tools. No Indian necropolis has yit been discovered, though one probably exists on the borders of our pond."

" Some years ago Mr. Simms, the present superinlcmlent of the Mysti<: Water-Works, called my attention to some human boucs which he had discovered near the road leading from Curtis Street to the euginc-housc. On visiting the place and making slight

After the death of Nanepashemit, his wife, as queen and squaw sachem, reigned. She married Webcowit, the physician of the tribe, "its powwow, priest, witch, sorcerer, and chirurgeon." In 16:37 the Squaw Sachem deeded a tract of land in Musketaquid (Concord). In 1639 she deeded a tract to Charlestown (now Somerville) ; also another tract to Jotham Gibbon of Boston. This last deed is as follows : -

"This testifies that I, the Sachem which have riglit and possession of the ground which I reserved from Charlestown and Cambridge, which lies against the Ponds of Misticke with the said ponds, I do freely give to .lotham Gibbon, his heyres, executors, and assigns for ever ; not \riUing to have liim or his disturbed in the said gift after my death. And this I do Avithout seeking too of him or any of his, but I receiving many kindnesses of them, and willing to acknowledsj-e their eicavalions, we discovered the skeletons of an adult and of an infant within a few inches of the surface, the head, in each instance, turned toward the west.

" At that time it was not suspected that they were Indian remains, and nothing more was thought of the matter until last month, when ilr. Simnis again brought me a few bones and a speeimi'ii of red ochre which had been dug up near the place where the skeletons had been previously discovered.

" A new road has been constructed the present year, leading more directly from the reservoir on the top of College Hill to the Pumping Works on the Mystic, and at the junction of this with the old road the workmen engaged in making a sidewalk found eight or ten skeletons of adults, within a foot of the surface, the heads all placed toward the west. The bones were for the most part quite fr.agile, only a few of the longest being strong enough to bear removal from the clayey soil in which they were embedded. The molar teeth were very much worn down, though otherwise in excellent preservation.

" Near one of the largest skeletons was found more than a peck of red ochre, that lay as if originally deposited in some receptacle - perhaps a basket - which had a circular form.

" Underneath the same skeleton was dug out a fine stone chisel, made of dark pojphyry, whose length is about six inches and its breadth about two inches on the cutting edge. This is preserved in the museum of Tufts College.

" A few stone arrow-heads picked up near the remains, together with the discovery of the stone chisel and the red ochre, which was the favorite war-paint of the Indians, would seem to indicate strongly that this is the necropolis of the .Medford Indians, whose existence had been suspected, but could not be determined until these excavations for a highway had been made through it.

"Its location is on the northwest slope of College' Hill, about midway between its summit and the .Mystic River, at the junction of the two roads leading from Cm'tis Street to the engine-house of the Mystic Water-Works.

" The 15th of the 2d mo., 1639 : -Wee, Web- Cowet and Squa Sachem, do sell unto the iidiabitants of the towne of Charlestowne all the land within the Hne granted them by the Court (excepting the farmes and the ground on the west of the two great ponds, called Misticke Ponds), from tlie south side of Mr. Nowell's lott, neere the upper end of the ponds, unto the little runnel that cometh from Capt. Cook's mills, which the Squa reserveth to their use, for her life, for the Indians to plant and hunt upon, and the weare above the ponds they also reserve for the Indians to fish at whiles the Squa liveth; and, after the death of Squa Sachem, she doth leave all her lands, from Mr. Mayhue's house to neere Salem, to the present Governor, Mr. John AVinthrop, sen., Mr. Increase Nowell, Mr. John Willson, Mr. Edward Gibons, to dispose of, and all Indians to depart ; and, for sattisfaction from Charlestowne, wee acknowledge to have received, in full sattisfaction, twenty and one coates, ninten fathom of wampon, and three bushels of corn. In witness whereof, we have here unto sett o'r hands the day and year above named. " The mark of Squa Sachem., m'c. " The mark of Web-Cowet, m."

" Mr. Francis Norton and Nicholas Davison (Mr. Cradock's agent) do, in the name of the inhabitants of Charlestown, lay claim to the tract of land reserved to Squa Sachem during her lifetime, and which is at present possessed and improved by Tiiomas Gleison of Charlestown ; this land bounded on the east by Mystic Pond, on the west by Cambridge Common, on the south by the land of JMr. Cooke, on the north formerly in the possession of Mr. Increase Nowell.

" This demand and claim was made in the person of John Fennell and Mr. William Sims, the 25th of March, 1662, at the house of Thomas Gleison.

Silgamore John, whose Indian name was Wonohaqnahani, lived in Medford, and probably occupied at times the house of his father. He was friendly to our ancestors; he gave them permission to settle, and afterwards apprised them of the premeditated assaull of the unfriendly Indians. He (lied 111 Midlnrd, December 5, 163.3.

" Tiie testimony of Benjamin Crispe, aged about 51 years. Testifieth and saith that about twentysix years agoe, Squa Sachem told raee often times, that shee had given unto Jotham Gibbons 500 acres or more of land, lying neer the brooke, that now goes by the Name of Capt. Cooke's brooke, which said Land has a house built upon [it] long since, and part of the said Land fensed in; and further this Deponent saith that Major Gibbons possessed the wliole Land, for his soune Jotham Gibbons about 26 years agoe, and further this Deponent saith that Major Gibbons would have had mee improove this Land that now is in controversie for bis sonne, Jotham Gibbons, and sent by his men unto mee to fence in the said Land, and this was about the time above said. Cliarls-towne, 17, 10, 1663.

"The testimony of Eichard Beers, Benjamin Crispe and Garret Church, Testifieth and saith tliat Mr. Thomas May hew lived at Mistick alias Meadford in the yeare, one thousand six hundred thirty and six. Charls-Towne the 17th of the 10th, 1663.

" I, Thomas Convars, do furtlier testify that I was sent to those Gentlemen for a resignation of this land now in controversie and no other. Charlstowne, 17, 10, '63.

"I, Joseph Hills, aged about 60 yearcs, testify that about 1638, Mr. Davison lived at Meadford house, who sliewed me tlic accomodations of the t'arine, being about to take llie saiil fanue and stock of himandCaptaineWill. 'I'ini;-; and 1 l.-lifvlhat Mr. Mayhew did not then dwell at Meadlunl house to the best of my Kiu)wledge. 17, 10, 1663.

Tlie old two-story brick house in East ^ledford, on Ship Street, is one of the most precious relics of antiquity in New England. That it was built by Mr. Cradock soon after the arrival of his company of carpenters, fishermen, and farmers, is abundantly proved. It has been called the Fort and the Garrison House, because its M'alls were so thick, and because it iiad close outside shutters and port-holes. It is certainly well placed for a house of defence. It is on laud slightly elevated, where no higher land or rocks could be used by enemies to assail it, and is so near the river as to allow of reinforcements from Boston. Its walls are eighteen inches thick. There were heavy iron bars across the two large arched windows, Avhich are near the ground, in the back of the house; and there are several fire-proof closets within the building. The house stood in an open field for a century and a half, and could be approached only by a private road through gates. As the outside door was cased with iron, it is certain that it was intended to be fire-proof. There was one pane of glass, set in iron, placed in the back wall of the western chimney, so as to afford a sight of persons coming from the town.

"The bricks are notEnglisli bricks either in size, color, or workmanship. They are from cigiit to eight and a half inches long, from four to four and a quarter inches wide, and from two and a quarter to two and three quarters inches thick. They have the color of the bricks made afterwards in East Medford. They are hastily made, but very well burned. They are not like the English bricks of tlie Old South Church in Boston. Tiie house has undergone few changes. Mr. Francis Siiedd, who bouglit it about fifty years ago, found the east end so decayed and leaky that he took a jjiirt of it down and rebuilt it. There is a tradition that in early times Indians were discovered linking around it for several days and nights, and tliat a skirmish took place between tiiem and tiie white men ; but we have not been able to verify tiie facts or fix tlie date.

"The park impaled by Mr. Cradock probably included this house. It is undoubtedly one of the oldest buildings in tJie United Slates ; perhaps the oldest tliat retains its first form.

large. It stood about five hundred feet north of Ship Street, and about five hundred feet west of Park Street, opposite Mr. Magoun^s ship-yard, and was taken down many years ago by that gentleman.

" The third house was built by Major Jonathan Wade, who died in 1689. It was sometimes called, like the otlier two, a fort, and is yet standing in good repair, and used as a comfortable residence. It is seen from the main street as we look up the Governor's Lane. Its walls are very thick, and it is ornamented with what have been called portholes. When first built it was only half its present size; the addition was made by Benjamin Hall, Esq., about seventy-five years ago."

The lloyall House, so called from having once been occupied by Colonel Eoyall, is of course of less antiquity, but it is of interest as a specimen of the style in which the rich men lived in the colonial period. The present aspect of the place is thus described by Mr. Drake : -

"The Brick quarters which the slaves occupied are situated on the south side of the mansion and front upon the courtyard, one side of which they enclose. These have remained unchanged,, and are, we believe, the last visible relics of slavery in New England. The deep fireplace where the blacks prepared their food is still there, and the roll of slaves has certainly been called in sight of Bunker Hill, though never on its summit.

" At either end of the building the brick wall, furnished with a pair of stout chimneys, rises above the pitched roof. The cornice and corners are relieved by ornamental wood-work, while the west face is panelled, and further decorated with fluted pilasters. On this side, too, the original windows are seen.

" The Eoyall House stood in the midst of grounds laid out in elegant taste, and embellished with fruittrees and shrubbery. These grounds were separated from the higjiway by a low brick wall now demolished. The gateway opening upon the grand avenue was flanked by wooden posts. Farther to the right was the carriage-drive, on either side of which stood massive stone gate-posts, as antique in appearance as anything about the old mansion. Seventy paces back from the road, along the broad gravelled walk, bordered with box, brings you to the door.

" Behind the house, as we view it, was an enclosed garden of half an acre or more, with walks, fruit, and a summer-house at the farther extremity.

" This summer-house, a veritable curiosity in its way, is placed upon an artificial mound, with two terraces, and is reached by broad flights of red sandstone steps. It is octagonal in form, ^itli a bell-shaped roof, surmounted by a cupola, on which is placed a figure of Mercury.

" Without lingering in the hall of entrance farther than to mark the elaborately carved balusters and the panelled wainscot, we passed into the suit of apartments at the right hand, the receptionrooms proper of the house. These were divided in two by an arch, in which folding-doors were concealed ; and from floor to ceiling the walls were panelled in wood, the panels being of single pieces, some of them a yard in breadth. In the rear apartment, and opening to the north, were two alcoves, each flanked by fluted pilasters on which rested an arch enriclied with mouldings and carved ornaments. Each recess had a window furnished with seats, so inviting for a tete-a-tete, where the ladies of the household sat with their needlework ; these windows were sealed up in winter. The heavy cornice formed an elaborate finish to this truly elegant saloon.

" The second floor was furnished with four chambers, all opening on a spacious and airy hall. Of these the northwest room only demands special description. It had alcoves similar to those already mentioned in the apartment underneath, but instead of panels the walls were finished above the wainscot with a covering of leather on which were embossed, in gorgeous colors, flowers, birds, pagodas, and the concomitants of a Chinese paradise. On this side the original windows, with the small glass and heavy frames, still remain."

DistingiiisJied Citizens. - The most noted citizen of Medford in the early part of the eighteenth century was undoubtedly John Usher. He inherited considerable money from his father, and increased it by successful business, first as a bookseller and afterwards in foreign trade. He was a counsellor imder Dudley, and counsellor and treasurer vmder Andros. He was a son-in-law of that Samuel Allen, a Loiulon merchant, who bought out the claims of the Mason heirs to the proprietorship of New Hampshire. Usher was made lieutenant-governor there in 1692, and was thenceforward engaged in endless controversies with the settlers.

Office remains, and quotations will be found iu the fourth volume of Palfrey's history. This author writes : "Usher's want of personal dignity provoked gross affronts His invariable style of speaking and writing had a ludicrous peculiarity, consisting partly in the omission of connecting words. The following is a specimen of his characteristic manner : ' Acts of Parliament ought not to be laws for plantations, unless had representatives in Parliament, if may write plainly, are not for Kingly but for commonwealth government, which pray HLera nos.' " Lord Bellomont speaks of Usher's choleric temper, and, indeed, his administration was at a time and under circumstances calculated to provoke the mildest temper. As the representative of the claimants of the soil under a royal grant, he had to wage a ceaseless contest with the actual settlers, - " squatters," as they may be termed.

He held office at intervals, often going to Massachusetts or to England, until 1715, when he was displaced. Vaughan wrote then^: "We pray Lieutenant-Governor Usher may have his quietus, which he said he had often w'ritten to England for. He complains his office is a burden to him, and so 't is a pity but both were eased."

He withdrew to Medford, where he died September 25, 1726. His widow sold his estate of 504 acres and his house, to Colonel Royal, December 26, 1733, for £10,350.

He left a son. Rev. John Usher (H. C. 1719), a clergyman at Bristol, .R. I., whose son was also ordained, and descendants are still living iu that state. An own coushi to Lieutenant-Governor Usher was Robert Usher of Dunstable, who left descendants, one of whom, Robert, moved to Medford, where he died in 1793. Of his sons. Rev. James M. Usher has been prominent in political affairs, as has also Roland G. Usher of Lynn, late United States marshall for Massachusetts.

In 1724' Medford acquired as its pastor Rev. Ebenezer Turell. He was a clergyman of considerable note, an author in a small way, a clearheaded and useful man during his long ministry of over fifty years. He oppo.sed Whiteficld inul his revivals, but he also wrote against uitdici-all. He married Jane, daughter of Rev. jiciiiaiiiiii and he printed biographies of his wife mid his father-in-law. Mrs. Turell was one u[ ,,ur few American authoresses before the iicvuliilinn, mul she was perhaps the most able of thiiii. llcr memoirs show that she possessed a decided piutical I I'uliivv, IV. yyi.

inclination, and iier religious convictions, though strong, had not the morbid tendency so often shown in the writings of that date. A century after her death her poems were quoted and praised in BlacJcwooiVs Magazine, when any literary ability in an American was deemed a wonder. Both husband and wife may be included among our notabilities.

" Before her second Year was compleated she could speak distinctly, knew her Letters, and could relate many Stories out, of the Scriptures to the Satisfaction and Pleasure of the most Judicious. I have heard that Governour Dudley, with other Wise and Polite Gentlemen, have plac'd her on a Table and setting round it own'd themselves diverted with her Stories. Before she was four Years old (so strong and tenacious was her Memory) she could say the greater Part of the Assembly's Catechism, many of the Psalms, some hundred Lines of the best Poetry, read distinctly, and make pertinent Remarks on many things she read.

' I Fear the Great Eternal One above, The God of Grace the God of Love : He to whom Seraphims Hallelujah's sing, And Angels do tlieir Songs and Praises bring. Happy tlic Soul tliat does in Heaven rest, Wliere with Ills Savior he is ever blest ; Witli licavcnly Joys and Kaplnre is possest. No Tlio'K l)u't of his God inspire Ids Breast. Happv ,uv tliev tlii.t walk ill "Wisdom Ways, That Iread h.i' i'allis, and shine in all her Rays.'

" When I was first inclin'd (by the Motions of God's Providence and Spirit) to seek her Acquaintance (which was about the Time she entered her nineteenth Year) I was surpri/'d and charm'd to find her so accomplish'd. I found her in a good measure Mistress of the politest Writers and their Works ; could point out the Beauties in them, and had made many of their best Tho'ts her own : And as she went into more free Conversation, she discours'd how admirably on many Subjects !

'Now while the Eartli's with beauteous VcnUire dy'd And Flora paiuts the Meads iu all her Pride; While laden Trees Pomouia's Bounty own. And Ceres Treasures do the Fields adorn. From the thick Smokes, aud noisy Town, O come, And iu these Plains a while forget your Home.'

"The Peoplej among whom she liv'd the last eight Years of her Life, both Old and Young liad a Love and Veneration for her ; as a Person of the strictest Virtue and undefil'd Religion. Her Lmocence, Modesty, Ingenuity, and Devotion charni'd all into an Admiration of her. And I question whether there has been more Grief and Sorrow shown at the Death of any private Person, by People of all Ranks, to whom her Virtues were known ; Mourning, for the Loss sustain'd by ourselves, not for her, nor as others who have no Hope. For it is beyond Doubt that she died in the Lord, and is Blessed."

About 1737 Isaac Royall returned from Antigua, where he had gained a fortune, and established himself at Medford. He died two years later, leaving a son, Isaac, and a daughter, Penelope, who married Henry Vassall.

The son inherited a grand estate, and lived in the house still known by his name,^ iu a style proportionate to his wealth and standing. He was a representative fromCharlestown from 174'3 to 175£, was chosen a councillor in 1753, and afterwards annually until 1774, when he was one of the Mandamus Councillors. He was probably not a man of strong nerve or decided opinions; certainly a lover of the province in which he lived and had been honored. Timidity seems to have caused him to fly to Halifax and thence to England when hostilities commenced liere. He always claimed that he left intending only to go to Antigua for his health. His propcty was, however, sequestrated, and he never returned, dying in London in 1781. He left three daughters, married respectively to Thomas Savel, Sir Wdliam Pepperell, the younger, and George Erving, aud through them has many descendants now iu England. By his will he gave the town one hundred acres of land in Granby in aid of the schools. He also gave to Harvard College 2,000 acres in Granby and Royalston, which gift was to endow a professorship of law, physic, or anatomy, as might be deemed best. Iu 1815 the Royall Professorship of Law was accordingly established.

The Royall property in Medford was kept together, and it seems that in 1805 the legislature gave a deed of the land to Robert Fletcher of London, ami that the heirs sold their rights to him in 1806 for £16,000. Jacob Tidd, in 1810, bought the estate.

In the first half of the last century :\[edford had reason to be proud of the three sons of Peter Seccomb. These were Rev. John of Harvard, Massachusetts, afterwards of Nova Scotia, whose clerical position did not prevent him from giving utterance to certain humorous compositions which make a pleasing contrast to the bulk of our early literature. The best-known of these is a poem entitled FalJier Abbey's Will, often reprinted. Another son was Rev. Joseph Seccomb of Kingston, New Hampshire, and the third was the faithful and diligent town-clerk of Medford for many years, Thomas Seccomb.

Prior to the Revolution tlie following graduates are to be credited to : Thomas, John, Simon, Joshua, Simon, Cotton, Simon, and Cotton Tufts, Aaron Porter, Ebenezer Turell, xVinmi C. Cutter, William Whitmore, Samuel and Edward Brooks, William Symmes, Samuel Angier, David Osgood, John Bishop, and E^ihraim Hall. Since that date the list has greatly increased, and still grows.

The most distinguished citizen born in the town was John Brooks, governor of Massachusetts for seven years from 1816 to 1823. He was born in Medford in 1752, his family being one of the most numerous and prosperous of the original settlers there. He was placed in charge of Dr. Simon Tufts, a noted physician of the town, with whom he studied medicine until he was twenty-one. He then settled in Reading, where he married, but abandoned his home at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. He was in the fight following the battle of Lexington, and joined the army besieging Boston. He served throughout the war with great credit, arriving at the rank of colonel. Later he received the position of major-general in the state militia. Returning to Medford when peace was declared, he attained a prominent place as a physician, whilst political honors were also freely bestowed upon him. The inscription upon his monument sums up his character. " He was a kind and skilful physician; a brave and prudent officer ; a wise, firm and impartial magistrate ; a true patriot, a good citizen and a faithful friend. In his manners, he was a gentleman ; in morals.

Histoby Of 2Middlesex County

pure ; and in profession and practice, a consistent Christian. He departed this life in peace, on the 1st of March, 1825, aged seventy-three." His son John, a lieutenant of marines, was killed September 13, 1813, at Perry's victory on Lake Erie.

Other branches of the Brooks family have produced notable men. Samuel Brooks (cousin to Caleb Brooks, father of governor John) had sous, Thomas and Edward. The grandson of the former was Rev. Charles Brooks, who was born and died at Medford, a writer on many subjects, and especially noteworthy as the historian of his native town. Edward Brooks had a son, Peter Chardon Brooks, who acquired a large fortune in commerce at Boston, but wlio retained always a home in Medford. His descendants have continued to reside there, and have been generous benefactors to the town. A nephew, William G. Brooks, was an antiquary of some note, and was the father of four clergymen, one of them being Rev. Phillips Brooks of Trinity Church, Boston.

Maria (Gowen) Brooks,^ called by Southey " the most impassioned and most imaginative of poetesses," was born in Medford in 1797. At fourteen she married Mr. Brooks, a wealthy Boston merchant, who had interested himself in her education. Widowed in 1823, she went to Cuba, which subsequently became her home, and where she died about 1845.

Her most important work, ^ojo/«tf'^; or, The Bride of Seven, was published in 1825, in Boston, subsequently in London, and has recently been republished in this country. Southey, between whom and this gifted authoress a close friendship subsisted, gave her the name of Maria del Ocvideide. Her son. Colonel Horace Brooks, U. S. A., entered West Point through tlie interest of Lafayette.

Rev. David Osgood, the successor of Mr. Turell, was an author of some note ; Brooks gives the titles of some twenty pamphlets published by him.

Rev. Convers Francis and his sister, Mrs. Lydia Maria Child, are both to be reckoned among our native autliors, although the former happened to be born in a neighboring town. Tlieir father was a Medford man, and tlie i':imily had been here for several generations. Mrs. Child Has l)orri at Medford in 1802. Her lilcvarv career began before she was twenty, bein- imhlished in 1821, and The Rebels in 1822. The eatahigue of lier ])riuted works is too lengthy for our space, not lo men- ' tion contributions to newspapers, controversial essays, etc., which her busy pen has produced. It is sufdcient to say that she achieved success in fiction, biography, aesthetic literature, and what may be termed the literature of the kitchen ; her Frugal Housewife having had a prodigious sale. But the governing purpose to which much - we may say most - of Mrs. Child's literary life has been dedicated was the abolition of slavery, and in this cause her labors were unremitted until tlie day when emancipation became a fact assured by the logic of eveiits. Her Apj)eulf(jr Africans, printed in 1833, was the first American antislavery book. From that time this dominant motive may be traced m the long list of Mrs. Child's publications. In 1841, in conjunction with her husband, David Lee Child, of Boston, whom she married in 1828, she edited The Antislaveri/ Standard, in New York. It should be no small gratification to one who is now " looking towards sunset," to know that emancipation achieved was the legitimate result of persistent agitation and unwavering devotion to a cause by herself and others of a like bfe-purpose with herself. Mrs. Child now resides in Wayland.

Mrs. Susanna Rowson, author of the once celebrated novel, Charlotte Temple, resided here from 1800 to 1803, in a house afterwards occupied by the Hon. Timothy Bigelow.^ Here she kept her excellent school for young ladies, and here some of her books were written. Such was the purity of her ciiaracter, that though she had been an actress and was a novel-writer, rigid Ortliodox people, who abhorred both, intrusted their daugliters' education to her. Her life has been written by the Rev. Elias Nason, a former resident of Medford.

We may also recall the fact that Rev. John Pierpont, also an antislavery and temperance reformer, and a voluminous author, preached for seven years in Medford, and died here in 1866.

Several of the clergymen who iiave been settled here for a time have been eminent as autliors, but none perhaps are distinctively coiniccted witii our town. Rev. Edward B. Hall, who was born here, spent nearly all his life in Providence, and most of his writings are connected with liis pastorate there.

' uf Cilciicl Tiniclliv Hiual.iw, of Wor.'islcr, anil a lawyer of some note. lie was born in 1707, and died in 1821. Mr. liiiielon- served many terms in the Massachusetts legislature. His son, John P. Bi-elow, was mayor of Boston ; his daughter, Kalherine, married Hon. Al.hotl lawreuee. - Ed.

settlement. Every settler was of necessity a soldier encamped in a hostile country. Every generation had a war, and the martial spirit of New England has never flagged. As a little town, the Medford contingent was naturally joined to the troop of some neighbor. In 1658 the Medford men were allowed to join the Cambridge band instead of the Charlestown troop. It is greatly to be regretted that no one has made use of the abundant records remaining, to prepare a suitable account of the military organizations of colonial times.

As a matter of curiosity we insert a copy of a petition from the wife of a worthy citizen, who survived the perils of war to be for many years the deacon of the church at Medford and the ancestor of a (|uite numerous family. The writer was a niece of Eev. John Eliot, and may have iioped to obtain special favor througli her influential relative.

"Petition of Rachel Win f more. "To the Hon. Simon Bradstreet, Esq., Governor, and the rest of the Honored Magistrates now sitting in Boston, The humble petition of Eachell Whitmore, wife of John "Whitmore.

"Whereas, your Petitioner's husband was impressed into the Countryes service against the Indian Enemy, and is now with Major Swayne at Newechawanick, and your Petitioner and her two children are very weake and ill, and unable to help ourselves and do any thing for our Belief and the rest of the family, as severall of the neighbors can and have informed your Honors. Doth therefore humbly request the favour from your Honors that her husband John Whitmore may be dismissed the present service, and that your Honors would please to pass your Order for the same, that he may return to his sick family, and your Petitioner shall, as in duty bound, ever pray, &c.

We find Medford names in such lists of soldiers in the French and Indian wars as have been examined, but we cannot positively identify them.

There was a company of militia in ^ledford before the Revolution ; and, when troublesome times came, they were ready for duty. It was the eighth company in the first regiment of the first brigade of the third division. Seth BuUard was captain ; William Burbeck, first lieutenant ; and Ezekiel Plympton, second lieutenant. It belonged to Colonel Thomas Gardner's regiment. In 1775 it was commanded by Captain Isaac Hall. " This company came out," says the adjutant-general, "on the 19th of April, 1775, and were in service five days, and were undoubtedly in the battles of Lexington and Concord." The names of the men composing the company on that memorable occasion are all recorded on the muster-roll; and they were all Medford men, as follows : -

In the company commanded first by Captain Isaac Hall and then by Caleb Brooks were six other Medford men : Benjamin Floyd, James Wyman, Jonah Cutler, John Smitii, W^illiam Bucknam, and Jonas Bond. Tiiey served eight months in 1775-76.

After the Revolution there was a company of militia in the town, which was disbanded in 1840. The Medford Light Infantry was organized as an independent corps in 1785, and resigned its charter in 1828. The Brooks Phalanx lasted from 18-11 to 1849. The Lawrence Light Guard was formed in 1854, and a large number of its members enlisted in the national forces in 1862.

A Soldiers' Monument was dedicated September 6, 1866, to the memory of those who fell in the war, and it bears the following names : Lieutenant-Colonel J. G. Chambers, Lieutenant William H. Burbauk, Edward Gustine, L. M.

Histoey Of Middlesex Couxty

Ix 1699 the town engaged the Rev. Benjamin Woodbridge of Portsmouth as their minister. Before that time Rev. Benjamin Colman and Rev. John Hancock had preached for a few months; and probably the college at Cambridge had sent occasional assistance. Mr. Woodbridge did not satisfy his parishioners, and a quarrel of several years' continuance ensued. He died in 1710, but not until 1713 was his successor. Rev. Aaron Porter, ordained. He served till his death in Wli; and November 25, 1724, Rev. Ebenezer Turell was ordained. For fifty years Mr. Turell discharged his duties acceptably, receivhig a colleague in 1774, and dying December 5, 1778, aged seventy-six years.

The third minister was Rev. David Osgood, chosen in 1774, who officiated for forty-eight years, and died December 12, 1822. During his ministry the majority of his fiock had embraced Unitarian views ; at his death they chose Rev. Andrew Bigelow. Very soon the portion of the society which retained the Calvinistic tenets asked for and obtained dismission, and the church was divided. Those remaining were duly incorporated as the First Parish of Medford, "March 31, 1824. In 1826 Mr. Bigelow was obliged to leave from illiiealth, and February 28, 1S27, Rev. Caleb Stetson was ordained. His ministry lasted twenty-one years, and closed by his resignation, March 24, 1848. August 1, 1849, Rev. John Pierpont succeeded, and remained till iS.jf;. April 1."), ISo?, Rev. Theodore Tebbells w;is iii>i;illr(l, and to him succeeded Rev. Edward ('. Tnunc, April 17, 1861. He remained until lS(i7; and M;inli 3, 1860, Rev. Henry C. DeLmiir, thr prcsmt |ia>liir, was ordained.

as we have seen, in 1823, and its pastors have been the following : Rev. Aaron Warner, ordained September 1, 1824, dismissed October 2, 1832; Rev. Gordon Winslow, ordained June 12, 1833, dismissed November 12, 1834; Rev. Levi Pratt, ordained August 19, 1835, died August 9, 1837; Rev. A. R. Baker, onlniied April 25, 1838, dismissed September 2(1, IMS; Rev. E. P. Marvin, ordained Februarv 25, ls52, dismissed November 8, 1865; Rev. James T. McCoUum, ordained November 8, 18(35, died November 25, 1874.

The Third CoiHjregatwnal '[TnuUiuian) Church, called also the Mystic Church, was an offshoot of the Second Church. It was established ^lay 9, 1847, with sixty members, and its first pastor was Rev. Abner B. Warner. The list of ministers is as follows : Rev. Abner B. Warner, ordained October 27, 1847, died May 26, 1853; Rev. Jacob M. Planning, ordained January 5, 1854, dismissed February 17, 1857 ; Rev. Elias N^ason, ordained November 10, 1858, dismissed November 19, 1860 ; Rev. Edward P. Hooker, ordained November 13, 1861, dismissed March 31, 1869; Rev. Sohni Cobb, ordained November 3, 1869, dismissed March 12, 1874.

The two churches for some time felt that there was no need of maintaining distinct organizations, especially as the cstablislnneiit of an Orthodox Church "in West Mrdlurd divw uiiich from both. The death of Mr. Met 'ollom just at this time perhaps brought the matter to a crisis, and the two churches combined chose as 'their pastor Rev. Charles H. Baldwin, who was instaUed June 30, 1875. The Mystic ( Imreh Imildiug was enlarged, and re-dediralrd .iaimaiy 12, 1S76.

1828, when the first church was built. It was rebuilt ill lS-i5, mainly by the exertions of Rev. Mr. Pickering. The custom in this denomination of making annual changes in the preachers prevents us from offering a list of those who have held this place. The present minister is Rev. T. C. Watkins.

The Baptists of iledford were without a church until July 7, 1841, when a regular organization effected. The record of ministers is as follows : Rev. G. W. Bosworth, settled September 8, 1841, resigned, 184-5; Rev. B. C. Grafton, settled July, 184.5, resigned April, 1846; Rev. G. C. Danforth, settled August, 1847, resigned October, 1848 ; Rev. E. K.'^Fuller, settled April, 1849, resigned April 1, 1854; Rev. T. E. Keely, settled October 1, 1854.

Owing to financial and other questions the society dissolved in 1856, but a portion immediately reorganized as the Central Baptist Church, with the same minister, officers, and edifice. The list continues : Rev. T. E. Keely, settled September 9, 1856, dismissed July 31, 1857 ; Rev. G. M. Preston, settled 1858, dismissed June, 1868.

During his term the church resumed the name of the First Baptist, and received back the old members. Rev. J. C. Hurd was settled November, 1S6S; dismissed May, 1870. Rev. J. G. Richardson was settled May, 1871; dismissed May, 1877. Rev. J. P. Abbott was settled December 19, 1877.

Grace Churcli, Episcopal. - The rectors of this church have been : Rev. David G. Haskins, chosen March, 1848, resigned February 18, 1852; Rev. Justin Field, chosen September 14, 1852, resigned December 31, 1859; Rev. George A. Strong, chosen January, 1861, resigned June 1, 1863 ; R«v. Charles H. Learoyd, chosen September 1, 1863, resigned 1872; Rev. Charles L. Hutchins, chosen September 15, 1872, present pastor.

The first building, of wood, was consecrated May 11, 1850; the present stone edifice, built at the expense of Mrs. Gorham Brooks, and costing about $40,000, was given to the parish, and consecrated May 6, 1873. At the same date Dudley C. Hall, Esq., gave a rectory, costing, with the land, about SI 1,000; and an endowment fund of $15,000 was raised by the parishioners. The church is steadily growing in strength and numbers.

The West Medford Congrecjational Clmrcli {Triniiarran) . - As already mentioned,, this church is a branch from the older churches, organized in June, 1872, with twenty-six members, of whom sixteen came from the Second (Trinitarian) Cimrch.

There have been but two pastors, the first being Rev. Edwin L. Jaggar (who resigned in 1874, owing to ill-health), and the present minister. Rev. Marshall M. Cutter. The church building is on Harvard Avenue, West ^ledford, with a present capacity of three hundred and fifty seats. The membership has risen to over seventy.

The following tax-list is copied from the Jeff'ries Papers, published in tlie New Eiif/laml Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. XXXII. pp. 316, 317.

"This List was perfected by the Selectmen and Commissioner of Meadford, this 31 day of August, 1588. "Nath. Wade, \ " Peter Tufts, y SeJectmen. " Stephex Willis, ) " JoHX WuiTMOEE, Coiimissioiier. " JoHX TuKfTE, Coiistaile."

Trail,- and Ma,n;/ar/,/n'.s: - '['he only large branch of manufacturing wliich has been carried on iu Medford is that of shi])-i)uilding. July 4, 1631, Governor Winthrop launched at Mystic a bark of some tJiirty tons called The Blessing of the Bay. In tlie next two years the servants of Mr, (Jradock built at least two vessels luic, cmc brini; of two iiundred tons' burthen, i'or the next centnrv

Fuller, Rogers, Stetson, Waterman, Ewell, Curtis, Foster, and Taylor as worthy " to be held in grateful remembrance for many generations." From 1803 to 1854 there were built at Medford five hundred and thirteen vessels, with a total of :l:',:l:ZW tons, valued at 810,449,-270. This industry, liiiue\('r, has j),issed away.

For many years the business of making bricks lias been carried on here, and in the last census it figures as (he main local industry. Distilling has also been long a special industry here, and Medford rum is still famous. Another local industry was the manufacture of Alcdfoi'd crackers, established by Mr, I^'ancis.

TUFTS COLLEGE.! TuPTS College is situated on an eminence formerly known as Walnut Hill, now College Hill, in the soutiierly part of Medford, near the boundary line of Somerville. The grounds comprise about one hundred and twenty acres, lying in convenient shape, and ample for all present and future needs of the college. The buildings consist of a main hall in which are recitation-rooms and laboratories, with chapels and library, and three halls used chiefly as dormitories, and containing between sixty and seventy suites of rooms for students. Tiiese buildings occupy the summit of the hill, and command a view which in variety, interest, and beauty is rarely surpassed.

Tufts College owes its existence to a conviction in the minds of influential Universalists that tlie usefulness and prosperity of their denomination required the establishment of higher institutions of learning. Nearly fifty years ago several academies were created in New England and New York under the control and patronage of the denomination, and the experience of these schools showed that the college is indispensable to the scheme of education. The movement that resulted in the founding of Tufts College began in 1847. Eev. Thomas J. Sawyer, D. D., had then recently left the church over which he had been settled, in the city of New York, to accept the principalship of the Clinton Liberal Institute in the same state. Here, seeing still more clearly the necessity of higher institutions, he in April, 1847, issued a call through the denominational papers for an educational convention to be held in the city of New York on the 18th of ilay foUomng. This convention was largely attended by representative men of the denomination from New England as well as New York, and as the result of its two days' session measures were inaugurated for raising by subscrip-

1 Communicated by Professor W. R. Shipman. of Tufts Coition §100,000, which sum, it was agreed, would be necessary to found a college. The following autumn Kev. Otis A. Skinner of Boston was appointed general agent for raising funds, and in the spring of 1848 entered upon what proved a most difiicult task. It was a very large sum to be raised at that time in a small denomination little accustomed to giving, and with no general interest as yet in the cause of education, and the subscription was not completed till the spring of 1851. On the 16th of September in that year the subscribers to the fund met in Boston, and elected trustees representing all the New England states, with New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

The original convention had expressed the opinion that the college should be located in the valley of the Hudson or the Moliawk ; but the board of trustees, to whom the question of location had been referred, found that the principal part of the subscriptions to the fund had been obtained in Massachusetts, and that the promise of pecuniary support would be greatest in the vicinity of Boston. Very advantageous ofi"ers of land and money were made by Dr. Oliver Dean of Franklin, Mass., on condition that the college should be located in that town ; but after mature consideration the present site was chosen. Twenty acres of land, afterwards made up to about one hundred acres, were given by Charles Tufts of Somerville, and the institution located upon it received his name, in accordance with what has been a very common custom in the founding of American colleges. Other prominent benefactors of the college at the outset or during its earlier years were Silvanus Packard and Thomas A. Goddard of Boston, Dr. Dean of Franklin, Dr. William J. Walker of Newport, K. I., Mr. Wade of Woburn, and Timothy Cotting of Medford. While the first subscription of $100,000 for building purposes was raised only by the utmost exertion, probably no other college in the country has received during its early }ears, for current expenses and permanent funds, so large an amount from so many donors as Tufts College.

The question of location having been decided early in January, 1852, application was immediately made to the legislature of Massachusetts for a charter, which was granted in the usual form and with all the usual privileges, April 21, 1852. The charter authorized the conferring of all except medical degrees, and this restriction was subsequently removed. The first board of trustees, after incorporation, consisted of twenty gentlemen.

of whom Dr. Oliver Dean was president; Eev. Tliomas Whittemore vice-president, Eev. Otis A. Skinner secretary, Benjamin B. Mussey treasnrer. These offices liave subsequently been held by Rev. Thomas Whittemore, D. D., Dr. Dean (re-elected), and Hon. Israel Washburn, Jr.,LL.D., presidents; Silvanus Packard and Hon. Charles Eobinson, Jr., vice-presidents ; Eev. A. A. Miner, Eev. Lucius E. Paige, D. D., and Hon. Newton Talbot, secretaries; Tliomas A. Goddard, Hon. Eichard Frothingham, LL. D., and William H. Finney, tre;isurers.

The presidency of the college, tliat is, of the Board of Instruction and Government, was first tendered to Eev. Thomas J. 8awyer, D. D., but he declined the position, and Eev. Hosea Ballon, 2d, D. D., was made its first president. He held the office until his death, in 1861, and in tiie following year Eev. A. A. Miner, D. D., LL. D., was elected as his successor. Dr. Miner, resigning in 1875, was succeeded by Eev. Elmer H. Capen, D. D., the present incumbent.

The erection of the main college building was commenced in the spring of 1853, and the cornerstone was laid by Dr. Ballon, president elect, in the presence of a large gathering of people, on the 19th of July following. The address on this occasion was delivered by Eev. Dr. Miner. This building was completed in the summer of 1854. The three dormitories have been erected later, the last in 1871.

The college was informally open for freshmen and sophomores in September, 1854, seven students being in attriulnicr, ;nid instruction given by the president am! lliiic pi-dlcssors. The formal opening of tiie ciillrgc and installation of the president took place August 22, 1855. The first class admitted after the formal opening numbered twentyone.

The course of instruction was, in general, the same as that of other New England colleges, but only the degree of A. B. was given till 1866. Since that year the degree of B. Ph. has also been given on the completion of a course the requirements of which were changed from time to time, but in 1875 were made to coincide \vith the A. B. course, with the exception of Greek, for which additiomd French and German and certain optional studies are substituted. A department of civil engineering was opened in 1867, in which the degree of C. E. is conferred on the completion of a three years' course. The object of this department is to give professional instruction in connection with such studies of the regular course as can properly be pursued. The regular course, which includes about four fifths of the whole number of students, prescribes the studies of the first two years, but in the last two years admits elective studies to the extent of one third the entire requirement, with additions according to the desire and ability of each student.

The board of instruction consists of the president, ten professors, and one special instructor. The physical and chemical laboratories are provided with all that is necessary to give extensive and thorough practical instruction in these departments. There is also a cabinet of ample size, and admirably selected, for the purpose of illustration in the several branches of natural history, in which department practical instruction is given, as well as in those previously named. The library contains 18,000 volumes and 5,000 pamphlets. The whole number of students graduated from 1857 to 1879, inclusive, is two hundred and seventy-nine.

In 1869 a divinity school was opened, which is under the same board of trustees and the same presidency, and at present occupies a part of one of the college halls, but is in charge of a distinct faculty, consisting of three professors, one instructor, and one non-resident lecturer. At the head of the school is Eev. Thomas J. Sawyer, D. D., whose connection with the founding of Tufts College has already been mentioned, and who after more than half a century of active labor in behalf of manifold denominational enterprises is still rendering efficient and most honorable service. The course of study in the school occupies three years for college graduates, or four years for those who enter without such preparation. The degree of B. D. is conferred upon those who complete the full course of studies. In special cases students are also received to partial courses, and may receive diplomas certifying to such attainments as they have made. The degree has been conferred upon forty graduates.

Source changes here: from History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, by Drake, Samuel Adams, published 1880; 8,859 words in this source stream.

Medford City

£ most of our towna, the I outline of Medford on the map is quite irregular. Its greatest lengtli is about three mile? and a half, and its greatest width is about the same. Its northern boundary line, inclined somevhat to the northwest and I uutlieast, is upon Stoneham. I Its eastern boundary is upon SomerriUe, and reaches to Mystic Kvet. Its southern line, very irregular in fonn,4ending alwtiys towards the northwest, crosses the river at a point about a mile from its mouth, then eontiniies on the Somerville line, aud crosses agaip to the nortli bank near tlie crossing of the Boston and Lowell Bailroad. It then follows the east bank of the river (here flowing south) with AriiDgton opposite, till it reaches Mystic Pond. The east shore of the pond is Medf ord's west boundary to the line of Winchester, when the line turns and runs due east for nearly a mile and then northeast to Stoneliam line again.

Substantially, these have always been the bounds of the town ; Stoneham was a part of Charlestown ontil December 17, 1725, aa was Somerville until March 3, 1842. Arlington, formerly West Cambridge, was formed from Cambridge and Charlestown.

In 1754> according to Brooks, Medford petitioned for and obtained an enhirgement both at the north and the south, at the expense of Charlestown. Tlie river seems then to be the south bound of Medford, ahd the land then added seems to have comprised the farms of ^Ir. Smith, James Tufts, Jonathan Tufts, and Colonel Royal ; and probably it embraced all of Medford now lying »]uth of the riTer. Medford then contnnied only about 2,000 acres. 'In 1817 some land was set otf from Maiden to Medford. In 1875 a part of Everett was annexed, and in 1877 a part of Medford was given to Maiden.

river receives bat two or three little bibataries, as Wliitmore's Brook, }Ieeting-house Brook, Winter Brook, etc. The most noted hill is Pine Hill, near Spot Fond, though the surface is very. much diversified, and numerous ranges of hills abound.

The origm of the name of Medford is unknown. No town or hamlet of the name appears in the English gazetteers now. \a Dudley's letter to ^e Countess of Lincoln, dated March 28, 1631, he states that the uew-comers were obliged to " plant dispersedly .... some of us upon Mistick, which we named Meadford." It aeems, however,' that Governor Cradock was a cadet of the &mily at Caverswall in Staflbrdshire, and that very near there was a hamlet called Mayford, but formerly spelt iletford. Cradock's widow and daughter describe their lands in Xew England as " in our manor of Metford in New England." Again we notice ' that the parish of Maidford, now Towcester, in Northamptonshire, England, was called Medford in the seventeenth century. Either of these may have given a name to our town, espedally as Dudley was bom in Northampton.

The town is first mentioned in our records of the General Court, September 2S, 1830, when Meadford is' taxed £3. It is accordingly conxiddered as the seventh town in the state in dironoli^cal order.

Brooks states that abont 1880 the inhabitants petitioned for an act of incorpontion and weire answered by the General Court that the town had been incorporated under a general act in 16S0, and could at any time oi^nize and choose a representative. He adds that Stephen Willis was elected representative Febraary 25, 1684. But the printed records of the legi^latuTe contain no such auswer, nor is any deputy recorded from Medford during the time of the first charter, that is, until 1686.

Mr. Natlianiel Wade and Peter Tuffts, in behalf of the iahabitants of Mcadford, the Court judgeth it meete to grant the petitioners request; and declares that Meadford liath been and is a peculiar, and Ittth power as other towns, as to prudentials, &c/' In fact, the views expressed by Frothiugham [Eiiiof) o/Cftarleatowtty 70 - 92) seem entirely correct. Medford was a plantation rather than a town until the date of the new charter. Its records begin with the first Monday of February, 1677, when "Joseph Wade, Jolm Hall, and Stephen WUlis were chosen selectmen for ordering of the affairs of ^plahtaiiou for the year ensuing." ^

It is indisputable that the first establishment of Medford came from the grant in 1634, by the General Court to Matthew Cradock.^ He is thought to have owne4 some 3,500 acres ; and though he never came to New England, he sent his ser\'ants and supplied thein with money to build a house, a ship-yard, a bridge, and to make other improvements. Wood writes to this effect in 1634. After Cradock's deatli, his widow and daughter, in 1652, sold their laud to Edward Collins. In 1656 Collins sold the house and 1,600 acres of the land to Bichard fiussell of Cliarlestown ; and in 1661 the latter ^Id the hou3e and 1,200 acres to Jonathan Wade. Li 1677 the Bussell heirs sold 350 acres to Peter Tufts. Collins seems later to Iiave sold a /am of 500 iicres, one eighth going to Caleb Hobart of Braiutree (who sold, in 1678, to his brotheriu-Iaw, John Whitmorc of Medford), and other parts to Stephen Willis or Willowes (aiiother brotherio-law), John Poulter (step-son of Whitmore), Thomas Willis^ and John Hall. Thus a family settlement sprang up at this point. Li 1660 Collins sold 400 acres to Thomas Brooks and Timothy Wheeler.

The following extracts will give some idea of the early settlemdit at Medford. Wood's New England* 9 Froipect (Prince Society edition, p. 43) has the following descriptions, which we modernize in copying.

' That Gofanor Credock's plantation was established prior to September 28, 1630, n evident from the procecdingin of an in- ^uest taken from the colony records of thai date : -

" A jury impanelled to inquire concerning the death of Austen firatcher .... dying btely at Mr. Cradock's Plantntion/' ad. judged Walter Palmer guilty of manslaughter. The date of this oeenncnee » thoa fixed betireen the courta of September 7 and September SS. - Xn.

'^ The next town is Mistick, which is three miles from Charlestown by laud, and a league and a half *by water. It is seated by the water's side very pleasantly ; there are not many houses as yet. At the head of this river are great and spacious ponds, whither the alewives press to spawn. This being a noted place for that kind of fish, the English resort hither to take them. On the west side of this river the Governor has a fann, where he keeps most of his cattle. On the east side is Mr. Craddock's plantation, where he lias impaled a park, where he keeps his cattle, till he can store it with deer. Here, likewise, he is at charges of building ships, llie last year, one was upon the stocks of a hundred tons ; that behig finished, they are to build one twice her burden. Ships,* without either ballast or loading, may float down this river^; other-, wise, the oysterbank would hinder them whjch crosseth the channel."

'^ The governor, being at his farm-house at Mjatick, walked out after supper, and took a piece in , his hand, supposing he might see a wolf, (for theycame daily about the house, and killed swine and calves, etc. ;) and, being about half a mile off, i( grew suddenly dark, so as, in coming home, he mistook his path, and went till he came to a little house of Sagamore John, which stood empty. There he stayed, and having a piece of match in his pocket, (for he always carried about him match and a compass, and in summer snake-weed,) .he made a good fire near the house, and lay down upon some old mats, which he found there, and so si)ent the night, sometimes getting wood, but coidd not sleep. It was (through God's mercy) a warm night ; but n little before day it began to rain, and having no cloak, lie made shift by a long pole to climb up into the house. In the morning, there came thither an Indian squaw, but perceiving her before she had opened tlie door, he barred her out ; yet she stayed there a great while essaying to get in, and at last she went away, and he returned safe home, his ser\'ants having been much perplexed for him, and liaving walked about, and shot off pieces, and hallooed in the night, but he heard them not.'*

"The govemour^ Mr. Nowell, Mr. Eliot/ and others, went over Mistick Biver at Medford, and going N. and by E. among the rocks about two or three miles, they came to a very great pond> liaving in the midst an island of about one acre, and very thick with trees of pine and beech ; and the pond liad divers small rocks, standing up here and there in it, which they therefore called Sjwt Pond. Tliey went all about it upon the ice. From thence (towards the N. W. about half a mile,) they came to the top of a very higli rock, beneath which, (towards the N.) lies a goodly plain, part open laild, and part woody, from whence there is a fair prospect, but it being then close and rainy, they could see but a small distance. Tliis place they called Cheese Bock, because, when they went to eat .somewhat, they had only cheese, (the governour's man forgetting, for haste, to put up some bread).''

John Dunton visited Medfonl in 16S6, and writes a trifle about it.^ He says he ^' took iSanctuary in a Publick, where there was extra-ordinary good Cyder, and tho' I liad n't such a Nobic Treat as at Captain Jenner's; yet with the Cyder and such other Entertainment as the House afforded (together with my Landlord and my Landlady's good Company), I made a very pretty thing on't."

'' By this time, the rain was over, tho' it still remiiiii'd Cloudy ; and therefore I thought it was best taking Time by the Fore-lock, and go back to Boston while it held up, there being nothing remarkable to be seen at Medford, which is but a small Village, consisting of a few Houses."

Captain Francis Goelet was here in 1750. In his joumaP he writes : ^' Passed through Mistick, which is a small town of about a hundred houses, pleasantly situated ; near to which is a fine country seat belonging to Mr. Isaac Boyall, being one of the grandest in North America."